Dave Smith

With all the talk about a possible trade for Kirk Hinrich, the Lakers need to stand firm with their original offer: Sasha Vujacic and Adam Morrison. I know the Bulls want to make a run at Dwyane Wade and would rather have Jordan Farmar than The Oven, but if I’m the Lakers it’s take-it-or-leave-it….

Hinrich has two years and $17M remaining on his contract after this season and The Oven (Sasha) has $5.5M coming next season….

Hinrich was an All-Star just a few years ago and one of the best defensive PG’s in the NBA. Sure his numbers are down, but that’s because of the emergence of Derrick Rose. Because of this, Hinrich’s minutes are down and the Bulls are looking to move his contract….

How about this for a counter offer? Derek Fisher and Morrison for Hinrich….

Fisher and Morrison have expiring contracts, which the Bulls are looking for, and the Lakers keep Farmar….

I like the way Jordan has been playing lately and some in the Lakers organization believe Farmar is a better player than Hinrich. I don’t agree, but would hate to see Farmar go unless the team is getting a real star in return….

So here is my final offer to the Bulls: Either Vujacic and Morrison for Hinrich or Fisher and Morrison; take your pick….

If they say no, remind them they can’t make a run at Wade unless they clear out Hinrich’s contract. Then wait for them to accept….

I know Fisher is a popular player and has made some huge shots, but he’s been awful this season and become a liability. How does a Hinrich/Farmar/Shannon Brown sound compared to what we have now?….

Goodbye D-Fish or goodbye Sasha….

What an excellent match last night between Andy Murray and Maran Cilic in the Australian Open semi-finals. The 6′6″ Cilic easily won the first set, but Murray hung in there, wore Cilic down and won in four exciting, athletic sets….

I know Roger Federer is playing great and will probably defeat Jo Wilfried Tsonga in his semi-final match; setting up a Federer-Murray final….

I like Murray in this match and believe the 22-year-old Scotsman will pull off a dramatic upset….

Of all the sleazy, dishonest, reprehensible politicians I’ve ever seen, John Edwards has to rank #1 on the list….

After cheating on his cancer-stricken wife and then threatening an aide into taking the blame for his pregnant mistress, I thought we’d heard the last of this weasel. But now something new has surfaced; a sex tape….

Evidently, Edwards and his mistress made a sex tape and the most disturbing thing is the mistress is pregnant!….

So not only does he cheat on his dying wife, he also makes a sex video with his pregnant mistress? He has to be the lowest form or life on earth….

According to a new book on the whole sordid affair, Edwards tried to get the mistress to abort and then ordered an aide to step forward and claim he was having the affair and knocked up the skank….

Wow, what a vile creature….

And to think this guy came within a couple of votes of being a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Had the Florida vote gone the other way, it would have been President Al Gore and Vice President John Edwards….

Just the thought of the mentally deranged Gore and the immoral Edwards in the White House is chilling….

From the first time I saw Edwards I knew he was a corrupt snake, so it’s laughable it took this affair and cover up for people to realize what a low life he is….

He made his money being a slip-and-fall lawyer, making up stories to bilk corporations and the medical industry out of millions of dollars. He shut down one hospital by convincing a stupid jury that babies born with cerebal palsy were the result of doctor malpractice, not a birth defect….

Then, it was learned that this “champion of the poor,” who was loudly denouncing Republican tax cuts and demanding the rich “pay their fair share” did everything in his power to hide his own money….

Despite tens of millions of earnings one year, he paid only $500,000K in income tax; the result of hiring the best lawyers in the world to hide, shift and move his money….

Reminds me of Ted Kennedy, who hid his money in the Fiji Islands while screaming about corporate greed and the rich not paying enough taxes….

I hope Johnny-Boy is proud of himself and thinks about his wife undergoing chemotherapy while he’s skirt-chasing….

I’ve been critical of Andrew Bynum this season because of his lack of effort on the boards and going long stretches without playing hard. But watching him dominate in the post brings up the following question: Why doesn’t he get more touches?….
When you have a 7′1″, 22-year-old center who was scoring at will, you’d think Phil Jackson and the staff would make sure he touched the ball on every possession….
Hell, he shot 12-14 last night against Indiana, but should have had 25 shots….
In my opinion, Bynum should touch the ball on every possession, because if he’s single covered he’s going to score. And if the opponent decides to double team, he can pass the ball to wide open teammates….
Every time I see Derek Fisher launch a three-point shot before even one pass is made, I find myself yelling down the bench for a sub….
Then I remember I’m simply a guy watching on television and Phil can’t hear me….
If I coached the team, the first thing I’d do would be installing the following rule. On every possession, the ball goes into the post, to either Pau Gasol or Bynum. Anyone launching an early shot without the ball going inside first comes out of the game….
Of course, I’d probably make an exception with Kobe, but still want the ball going inside before we launch a three….
Winning basketball is played inside-out, not outside-in….
I keep reading that Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley are going to fight on May 1 and I still don’t believe it….
The reason? Despite his claim that he’s “The greatst fighter in the history of boxing” and “a fighter who steps up to all challenges,” the Pretty Boy has always carefully selected opponents he knew he could beat….
Arturo Gatti, Ricky Hatton and Juan Manuel Marquez are all tough guys and good fighters; but too small to pose a serious threat to Floyd….
Oscar De La Hoya was bigger than him, but past his prime and not serious about fighting….
Mosley, on the other hand, poses a serious threat. Not only is he bigger and stronger than Floyd, but has a great chin, tremendous hand speed and will take Floyd to hell and back….
I don’t believe Mayweather really wants this fight and will find a way out….
The obvious escape hatch is to play the Manny Pacquiao card: Accuse Mosley of being a drug user and demand ridiculous, intrusive testing….
Shane was involved in the BALCO mess and admitted to using performance enhancing drugs. His explanation? He had no idea what he was taking and was somehow tricked into taking steroids….
I don’t believe this and neither does anyone else….
Since Floyd and Shane are both Golden Boy fighters and beholden to De La Hoya, will the drug testing demands be dropped in order to go on with a luctative show?….
If Mayweather doesn’t demand the same testing he did for Pacquiao, he’s a complete hypocrite….
One reason the fight might actually happen, however, is because De La Hoya allegedly paid off Mayweather’s $6M IRS bill in return for the Pretty Boy fighting for Golden Boy Promotions…..
If the Pretty Boy and Sugar Shane actually step into the ring on May 1 and Floyd has not made drug testing demands, it would lead me to believe Mayweather owes Oscar for fixing his tax mess….
This is going to be fascinating if the fight is actually signed….
It’s not often a great money making opportunity comes along, but after reading the following headline and story, it’s time to begin planning an exotic vacation:
“Barack Obama Is Pulling for Saints in Super Bowl”

“I think both teams are terrific. I guess I’m rooting a little bit for the Saints as the underdog. Partly just because, you know, when I think what’s happened in New Orleans over the last several years and how much that team means to them, I’m pretty sympathetic.”
The President made the comments to ABC reporter Diane Sawyer and Las Vegas must be shaking in their boots at the prospect of losing millions of dollars….
With his recent track record of attempting to get the Olympics for Chicago, participating in the comical Global Warming Conference and campaigning for three losing candidates, the Colts seem to be a sure thing….

Lately, this guy is the kiss of death….

Is it just me, or has Andrew Bynum fallen out of favor with Phil Jackson?….

Every time he gets on a roll and having his way around the basket, the Zenmaster takes him out of the game for several minutes….

I can understand sitting him down when he’s not hustling, but Phil gets him out of there when he’s playing well….

Andrew doesn’t get nearly enough touches on offense and seems a little hesitant this season. Maybe it’s the back-to-back knee surgeries, but I also think he’s not happy with the coach….

Body language tells a lot and I don’t like the way Bynum is carrying himself….

Granted, he doesn’t play hard all the time, isn’t nearly a good enough rebounder and still hasn’t developed the angle bank shot he needs. But he’s 22, has soft hands and still could be a star player….

If the Lakers are attmepting to trade him for Chris Bosh, they’re going about it the wrong way….

By the way, I still wouldn’t make that deal. As good as Bosh is, the result would be Pau Gasol playing center against Cleveland, Boston or Dwight Howard and Orlando….

And after the Finals loss to the Celtics two years ago, I never want to see the soft Spaniard at center again….

Unless you get a point guard like Chris Paul or Deron Williams in return, I’m not trading Bynum….

I have a great idea for all of to make a lot of money betting the Super Bowl; let’s find out who President Obama likes and play it the other way….

The way this guy is going, doing the opposite will result in lots of cash….

First, he goes to Eurpoe to campaign for Chicago getting the Olympics and is embarrassed when the I.O.C. eliminates their bid in the first round….

Then he goes to Copenhagen to participate in that farcical global warming summit and the conference is a complete disaster….

Finally, he goes to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts to support Democratic candidates; only to watch all three of them go down in flames….

So I’m going to be watching the news wires, listening to talk shows and viewing the cable news channels; all in the hope the President will make a prediction….

Then it’s off to Las Vegas to make a large wager the other way. After that, a tropical vacation awaits….

As a big tennis fan, I’m enjoying ESPN’s coverage of the Australian Open. It’s the first major of the year and as usual the play has been brilliant….

One thing I particularly enjoy is the dramatic improvement in women’s tennis….

Not their play, of course, but their physical appearance….

When I was growing up, the women’s players were a horror show, with one more hideopus than the next. I remember breaking out the barf bags looking at the likes of Rosie Casals, Martina Navratilova, Hana Mandlikova, Billie Jean King and almost all the rest….

Chris Evert was kind of hot, but for the most part the women’s tour was perceived as predominantly lesbian group with really ugly players….

Nowadays, however, the players are so hot that I hardly miss a match. It seems like it’s one 18-22 year old European supermodel after another taking the court and a treat for any red blooded, American male….

Unfortunately there don’t seem to be any good looking Americans, but what the hell….

I prefer European women anyway….

These chicks are tall, statuesque, blonde, shapely and smart enough to show a lot of skin. The outfits are very sexy, which adds to the viewing experience….

Who needs the internet?….

Predictions: I like Scotland’s Andy Murray on the men’s side and Serena Williams to win the women’s draw….