Dave Smith

After a week of digesting the Lakers latest move, I’ve come to this conclusion: The team is better than a year ago and in great position to repeat as World Champions….

I’ve always been a big fan of Ron Artest, despite his sometimes wacky behavior, because it’s not everyday you can find a great defender who is also a 20 ppg scorer….

So to add him to the roster, at the bargain basement price of $6M per year, is nothing but a win-win for the organization….

As for Trevor Ariza, he needs to look deep into his soul and do the obvious; fire his agent. Because David Lee screwed up this negotiation about as badly as possible….

Here’s his quote regarding his client and the Lakers from last week: “All we’re looking for is a little appreciation for what Trevor has done,” Lee said Wednesday. “I don’t think they believe Trevor is serious about leaving, and that’s too bad. I didn’t think we’d be in this situation. I am disappointed and surprised by what I thought would be some feelings for the people who have given you everything they’ve got.”….

Reaction: In this market and this economy, the mid-level exception of $5.8M per year was about the best Trevor was going to do. So going into Mitch Kupchack’s office with an attitude and confronting him was poor strategy, to say the least. To say the most, Ariza should s***-can him….

Mitch played this thing beautifully, calling Lee’s bluff and forcing them to walk away. Meanwhile, Kupchack had Artest in his hip pocket and closed the deal….

Negotiating doesn’t get much better than that: Hardball the agent, call his bluff and then bring in a better player for the same price when the fool postures and threatens to sign with another team….

Now, Ariza is going to be stuck playing in Houston for the same price the Lakers offered. Talk about a kick in the groin….

I like Trevor a lot and wanted him to return, but Artest is a better player and the Lakers didn’t have much choice but to let him walk, based on the behavior of his agent. Hopefully, Trevor will come to his senses and do two things: 1) Fire his agent and 2) Go crawling back to the Lakers and re-sign….

On Saturday morning, I saw the single greatest achievement in sports history. Yes, I’ve seen a lot of great performances, but nothing comes close to Joey Chestnut devouring a staggering 68 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes during the Nathan’s Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in Coney Island….

And what a legendary battle it was, as Chestnut and his rival, six time champion Takeru, “The Tsunami” Kobayashi, both shattered the world record of 59 dogs, set last year by Chestnut and Kobayashi….

Last year, they finished tied at 59 and had to go to an Eat Off, where Chestnut put down 5 and the Tsunami 4.5. It was an epic battle and the single best sporting event I’ve ever seen….

But Saturday topped it, as Chestnut put down 68 to Takeru’s 65. What a battle, as the world record fel and both of them fought and scratched to the last second….

Sports does not get any better….

These two now form the greatest rivalry in sports and are this era’s equivalent to Ali-Frazier….

I look forward to the Nathan’s contest every year and in my book this has surpassed the Super Bowl. I’d watch this thing seven days a week over the NFL Championship….

So hats off to both Chestnut and Kobayashi, who epitomize what sports are all about….

Very interesting column I found this afternoon:

Man to receive lengthy prison term

SACRAMENTO — A Sacramento man is facing a three-year prison term for stealing Lance Armstrong’s bicycle while the seven-time Tour de France winner was competing in California.
Sacramento County court documents show 40-year-old Lee Crider is scheduled to be sentenced Monday for burglary and theft. He pleaded no contest June 1 to stealing Armstrong’s time trial bike and two other bikes from a trailer after the Sacramento prologue to the Tour of California in February.
Another man, 33-year-old Dung Hoang Le of Elk Grove, pleaded no contest June 1 to receiving stolen property. He has been sentenced to 90 days in jail, to be served on the sheriff’s work project, and three years’ probation.
A police report says he bought Armstrong’s $10,000 bike, a Trek Livestrong 1274, from Crider for $200. He later turned it in to police.

The reason I found this fascinating was because of the recent 24-day prison sentence Donte Stallworth received for commiting murder….

I know he wasn’t sentenced for murder, but in my opinion if you drive drunk and run a man over, it’s murder….

I guess if you’re really out to get someone, there’s now a way out. Just have a couple of belts, find the person you want to whack and run them over. Why bother with a gun or a knife, because in those cases you’re looking at a possible date with the needle….

But if you get drunk and kill someone, you’re looking at a month, tops…..

Just ask Leonard Little and Stallworth….

Hell, I did 33 wonderful days in L.A. County Jail; for three unpaid speeding tickets. I guess I was a far bigger threat to society. After all, what’s killing someone compared to not paying a ticket?

So Lee Crider steals Lance Armstrong’s bike and is looking at three years, probably at San Quentin or Folsom, and Little and Stallworth do a month at a glorified country club….

Sure, the bike is worth $10,000 and Crider should go to jail, but three years? While people literally get away with murder and do a month?….

This is some system of justice we have….

Just when I thought the Lakers had put a stranglehold on the Western Conference for the next five years, the Spurs go out and make a great trade which puts them right back in the World Championship picture….

In return for only Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas, the Spurs get versatile small forward Richard Jefferson from the Bucks….

The Spurs gave up virtually nothing, and in return get a player who averaged 20 points, shot 40% from the three-point line and is one of the best defenders in the NBA. What a steal….

Another reason San Antonio is arguably the best organization in sports.. Not only have they won four championships in the past decade, they’re also always at or near the salary cap, which frees them to make deals like this….

All of a sudden, the Big Three has turned into the Big Four. A starting line-up including Tim Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Jefferson is scary. And how about their depth? With Drew Gooden, Michael Finley, George Hill and Roger Mason coming off the bench, this team is scary….

Yes, they need to do better than Matt Bonner at center, but with Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford running things, help is probably on the way….

And if they weren’t deep enough already, the Buck will certainly release Bowen and Oberto, because if they do so in the next few weeks they don’t have to pay them. As for Thomas, the Bucks have no interest and will buy him out….

This means in addition to getting Jefferson, the Spurs will be free to resign Bowen, Oberto and Thomas at reduced rates. I would assume they’ll bring back Bowen and maybe one or two of the others….

So why would the Bucks do this?

Well, they were hit as hard as any team in the NBA by the bad economy and needed to get out of Jefferson’s contract, which pays him $30M over the next two years. They also need to resign their tweo best young players, Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions….

So in reality, the Bucks traded Jefferson for Villanueva and Sessions…..

This will get them $10M under the cap and keep their young talent in house. So it was also a pretty good deal for them….

But San Antonio made out like bandits and should be commended for again making a bold move to possibly win another championship….

This is why you can’t stand pat after winning a championship. On paper, the Spurs are now as good as the Lakers and now Mitch Kupchack and company need to make sure of three things:

1) Make sure they get a player in Thursday’s draft who can make an impact; hopefully a defensive guard with a quick first step.

2) Re-sign Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom. With Jefferson in San Antonio, it’s imperative the Lakers bring both of them back.

3) Bring in a mid-level guy who can contribute.

The ball is on your court, Dr. Buss….

When I was growing up, my father once sat me down and explained the baseball facts of life. “There are four possible outcomes at the end of a baseball day”, he said, “and here they are in order of importance.”

Best case scenario: “Angels win, Dodgers lose.”

Second best scenario: “Both lose.”

Third best scenario: “Both win.”

Worst case scenario: “Dodgers win, Angels lose.”

Now, I understood scenarios one and two, but I thought the great one had misspoken with number two. “How could the Angels losing be better than them winning,” I asked him.

“Because,” said my dad, “i’d rather see those miserable b******* lose than us win.”

I learned right then just how intense my father’s level of hatred was for the Dodgers….

Over the years, the old man has not mellowed with age; to the contrary, he despises “Brooklyn” more than ever….

So it was with no suprise I picked up the phone last evening and dad was furious about the Angels losing two out of three to the hated ones….

He was calling for the firning of everyone in the Angels organization, from the owner down to the clubhouse boys. “This is unacceptable!” he yelled into my ear “and heads should roll!”….

Nothing like enjoying retirement….

As much as I hate to admit it, I like this Dodger team and believe Joe Torre is a tremendous manager. Sure, they play in a weak division, but Torre has done a brilliant job handling the whole Manny Ramirez circus and bringing along the young talent….

After winning Game One on Friday night against Chad Billingsley, it sure looked good for a sweep. Certainly the Halos had the edge in the Weaver brothers matchup and you also had to like the Angels chances with John Lackey on the hill yesterday. So it was a great disappointment not to win the series….

Sure, there are a lot of games left and nobody will care if the Angels win the World Series, but dammit this is the Dodgers and I hate losing to them….