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NOTES ON A SCORECARD

February 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

With all due respect to Mychal Thompson, Vic “The Brick” Jacobs and almost every Laker fan I come in contact with, Kobe Bryant is not better than Michael Jordan….

Granted, Kobe is a great player and on his way to cracking the Top-Five, but he still has a long way to go before he’s on Jordan’s level….

Here’s three reasons why MJ is better:

1) Jordan was much better defensively, taking on the opponent’s top scorer on most nights and usually shutting him down. He played hard on almost every possession and made life miserable for his opponent. Kobe, on the other hand, has always been overrated defensively and doesn’t play hard all the time. He’s always been a gambler; going for steals, drifting and attempting to get cheap baskets off of spectacular plays. I never saw MJ get lit up defensively the way Kobe does and, unlike Kobe, don’t remember opponents taking him off the dribble and blowing by him.

2) Michael was much stronger physically and it was almost impossible to take the ball from him. I think he’s pound-for-pound the strongest player in NBA history; which is why he was such a great defender and finisher.

3) When you look at their career field goal percentages, it’s obvious Jordan was better at getting to the basket and finishing; another tribute to his strength. Kobe has never shot 50% in a single season, while MJ was a career 50% shooter and shot over 50% six times. This shows Michael had better shot selection and finished around the basket better than anyone in NBA history.

As for those who say Kobe is a superior outside shooter, the stats don’t support it. Bryant is a career 34% shooter from three-point range, while Air Jordan’s career total was 33%….

I love Kobe and am a lifelong Laker fan, but he is not the player Jordan was….

Now, when Kobe gets his sixth championship, maybe I’ll say he was Michael’s equal. If he gets a seventh, maybe he’s the greatest player ever….

But he has a long way to go….

One last thing….

The hell with Kobe being the greatest player in history, he’s not even the greatest Laker. I have him third, behind Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar….

Magic has five championships, all with the Lakers, and Kareem has six, five with Los Angeles….

If Kobe wins his fifth as a Laker, then we can begin the conversation about him being the equal of Magic and Kareem. And when he wins his sixth, he officially becomes the best Laker ever to wear the uniform….

But hold on, people, he’s not there yet….

Woke up this morning, scanned the headlines and came across this gem on SportsbyBrooks:

“This morning venerable NBA writer Ailene Voisin of the SACRAMENTO BEE speculated that Kings Coach Paul Westphal’s recent punishment of Spencer Hawes was related to illness of Westphal’s wife. That is, that the stress of that situation was affecting Westphal’s judgement.

Voisin called Westphal’s punishment of Hawes “excessive” while noting:

And this from an unconventional thinker who considers right-wing blowhard Rush Limbaugh one of his friends?”

Reaction: Westphal is one of the genuinely nice people I’ve ever known and this is a cheap shot by Voisin. I don’t know exctly what went on between Paul and Hawes, but to bring his politics and friends into this is totally out of bounds and Voisin should be suspended by her newspaper….

Arnie Spanier, my old radio partner and long-time friend, worked in Phoenix years ago and invited then Suns’ coach Westphal to his wedding. Not only did Paul show up, he gave a nice toast and was friendly and cordial to everyone there….

This is the tyoe of person he is….

Yes, Westphal is a Conservative Republican, but what does that have to do with anything? I’ve known him for years and have as high an opinion of him as anyone I’ve ever dealt with in sports. He’s honest, sincere, a man of his word and doesn’t deserve to be disparaged just because Voisin disagrees with his politics and disapproves of his friends….

In her world, I guess being a Republican makes you “an unconventional thinker.”….

And so what if he’s a personal friend of Limbaugh? It’s none of Voisin’s business who Westphal associates with and she comes across as an uncaring, elitist blowhard….

Especially with Paul’s wife struggling with her health. Westphal has been shuttling back and forth between L.A. and Sacramento to help care for her and this must be the toughest thing he’s ever dealt with….

For Voisin to speculate that Westphal’s suspension of Hawes was a result of “the stress of his wife’s illness affecting Westphal’s judgement” is absurd and cruel….

And then she criticizes his politics and calls a friend of his names?….

Check that recommendation that she be suspended. She should be fired….

So why did Westphal suspend Hawes? It was probably because of his pathetic one-rebound performance in a loss to the Suns, followed by these post-game comments about Westphal’s substitution patterns:

“All year we’ve kind of been dealing with that,” he said. “When you think you have kind of gotten over that hump, it comes back up again. That’s the philosophy, so you’ve just got to deal with it. Everyone up and down the roster has had a taste of that, so everyone can relate. I think it’s kind of tough, the not-knowing part on a game-to-game basis, to get in that rhythm. But that’s the way it’s going and there’s not a whole lot you can do about it.”

Reaction: I like Hawes as a player and think he has a bright future, but he’s soft and sometimes frustrates the Kings coaching staff by not playing hard. In the game against Phoenix, he got pushed around, didn’t play hard and got one rebound; which is totally unacceptable for a seven-footer….

Should he have been suspended for a game? It’s not for me to say, because I’m not in the locker room and don’t know what’s happened during the course of the season….

Maybe this has been going on for a while and Paul wanted to send a message to the young guy that he needs to toughen up and play harder….

Evidently Voisin has it all figured out, though. Westphal is a right-wing nut job who associates with a right-wing blowhard and has completely lost his mind because his wife is ill….

I know it won’t happen, but Voisin should be getting ripped nationally for this….

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Notes on a Scorecard

February 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Very interesting story in the AP today, regarding Raiders’ coach Tom Cable and his alleged history of violance against assistant coaches, wives and girlfriends:
No punishment for Cable’s conduct
Associated Press

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable will not be punished by the NFL after an investigation into allegations of domestic violence against women and a fight with an assistant coach.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday that Cable’s role in the training camp altercation with assistant Randy Hanson warranted an evaluation under the league’s personal conduct policy.

Cable was accused of breaking Hanson’s jaw and teeth during a fight at the team’s training camp hotel in August. The Napa County district attorney declined to file criminal charges in the case because of inconsistencies in Hanson’s story. Because there were no criminal charges, the league did not punish Cable.
Hanson did file a civil lawsuit against Cable and the Raiders seeking unspecified damages for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Shortly after Cable was cleared in the training camp case, he faced allegations of a history of domestic violence against women. Cable’s first wife, Sandy Cable, and former girlfriend, Marie Lutz, told ESPN that the coach physically abused them at various times during their relationships.

Cable has acknowledged striking Sandy Cable with an open hand. He said the altercation happened more than 20 years ago and was the only time he’s ever touched a woman inappropriately. Because that happened before Cable joined the NFL, Aiello said there were no grounds to punish him.

Police in Alameda investigated the second incident and did not press charges.

Cable could be subjected to confidential counseling if deemed appropriate by clinicians.

Reaction: Once again, it seems NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ignores violations against white executives or coaches, while dropping the hammer against black players accused of wrongdoing or conservative radio commentators….

If you’ll recall, Goodell labeled Rush Limbaugh “divisive” for giving his honest opinion about Donovan McNabb’s football abiltiy and the NFL’s desire to “see a black quarterback do well.” He also blocked Limbaugh’s attempt to buy into the St. Louis Rams because of the same politically correct nonsense….

But if you’re a white coach who admits to beating his wife, the NFL releases a statement saying he “will not be punished.” I guess it’s okay to punch women, but not to say McNabb “isn’t that good.”….

Bill Belichick was caught red-handed videotaping the opposing team’s coaches signals to their players, which gave his team an unfair advantage and is blatantly against the rules. It also wasn’t the first time he’d done it, with several other coaches saying he did it to them, as well….

His “punishment?: A $500,000 fine with NO suspension! Because Belechick is independantly wealthy, the fine was a slap on the wrist and a message fromt he NFL that they didn’t care what he did. He should have been suspended four games without pay, PLUS the fine. That would have sent a message that cheating will not be tolerated….

But when it comes to Limbaugh, Michael Vick, Pacman Jones, Plaxico Burress, etc, it’s prosecution to the fullest extent of the law….

If I’m Limbaugh, I’m hammering this topic for three hours today….

Now that an English rugby player has tested positive for HGH and we might finally have a reliable test, the pressure is on the major sports to begin testing immediately. Baseball has already announced that minor league players will be tested, but the players’ unions in the baseball and the NFL are already saying they are against it….

I know the public will be all for it and players will come under criticism, but I agree with their protests….

In my opinion, blood testing is an invasion of privacy and I would not allow it if I were a professional athlete. Nobody is sticking a needle in my arm and taking blood without my oermission….

It’s only a matter of time before there’s a dependable urine test and nobody would object to that….

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NOTES ON A SCORECARD

February 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Wow, after five games away and some actually claiming the Lakers are better off without him, Kobe Bryant worked his magic again in a come from behind win over the Grizzlies….

As usual, the Beanster nailed shot after shot down the stretch, including a three-point dagger with four seconds left to give the Lakers a one-point lead….

Question: How in the hell was Kobe so wide open for that three in the closing seconds? Leading by two, you’d think Memphis coach Lionel Hollins would have surrounded Bryant with all five players and not allowed him to touch ball….

Every time Kobe nails a dagger in the closing seconds, I simply cannot believe opposing coaches allow it….

It’s kind of like clock management in football; sounds simple in theory, yet there’s not a coach in the NFL who knows how to do it….

If I’m an NBA coach, there’s no way Kobe touches the ball in such a situation. If someone else beats me, so be it….

On the Lakers final possession, all it took was a screen by Pau Gasol to free Bryant for the shot. As soon as Gasol set the pick, two Grizzlies should have jumped the screen and surrounded Kobe; but I guess Hollins thought he was due to miss….

Unbelievable….

After reading the following in the New York Daily News, I’m calling bulls***….

“Talk about a gold medal couple!

Figure skater Evan Lysacek is dating fellow Olympic gold medalist, gymnast Nastia Liukin, People.com reports.

The couple, who first met in October 2008 while performing on the NBC special “Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular,” confirm that they have been dating since last summer.

“We became good friends and have become really close since then,” said Lysacek, 24, who noted that the relationship has become stronger since he escorted Liukin to the ESPY awards last July.

Liukin, 20, traveled to Vancouver to cheer on her beau, who became the first American man to win the Olympic gold medal for figure skating in 22 years.

“To see his dreams come true was amazing,” said Liukin, who won a gold medal for all-around gymnastics in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“Even though we’re not in the same sport, we got to connect at the same level because there’s nothing like the Olympics,” she said. “It was nice to be on [the] other side of things and be the support system, but I was nervous.”

Reaction: I’ve seen Lyasacek interviewed, watched his body language and don’t believe he’s dating Liukin. I also don’t believe he dated Tanith Belbin, either. Just my opinion, but I believe Lysacek would have more interest in Johnny Weir than either of these hotties….

After charges of spousal abuse were made against him, former Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield and his wife reached out to Dr. Phil, who took the two of them to dinner with the understanding the Real Deal and his third wife would go on the shrink’s show….

The result, to say the least, was interesting….

“The truth is Evander did not like Dr. Phil and what he was proposing,” a source said. “He felt he was totally man-bashing him. Despite all of Dr. Phil’s assurances there was a big clash of personalities and Evander simply didn’t want to do it.”

Reaction: I don’t believe Holyfield wanted to visit Dr. Phil and did it only to diffuse the domestic violence charges. Evander is old school, says the man of the house makes all the decisions and believes it’s perfectly okay to cheat on your wife….

Evidently he also believes it’s okay to discipline her….

His lawyers probably told him that going on McGraw’s show would be beneficial when it came time to stand in front of a judge….

But when Dr. Phil started in with the new age crap about making a marraige work, the old school beliefs surfaced and Evander could take no more….

By the way, Dr, Phil pulled off one of the greatest scams in history when he came out with his lion of weight loss products. For a man as grossly overweight as McGraw to actually convince silly women that he was an expert in weight loss is astounding….

A fat guy selling a weight loss plan? Now that’s a guy with some stones….

What’s next, Dr. Phil shampoo and conditioning products for men?….

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WEEKEND NOTES

February 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Frank and Jamie McCourt divorce case is getting more interesting by the day, as now the lovely Jamie has requested $1M per month, double what she was previously requested….

Here are the details, courtesy of TMZ:

“The judge in their divorce case just unsealed more than 1400 pages of documents. But the best part is the lifestyle of the rich, the famous and the dysfunctional.

- For the last 5 years of their marriage, Jamie and Frank took $2.31 million per month in salaries and perks — almost entirely on a tax-free basis.

- Frank’s financial advisor testified, “During the marriage the parties used the business to fund whatever they needed, or wanted, as it was their personal ATM or credit card.

- Jamie claims … Frank’s 2008 personal financial statements put his net worth at $834,900,000 and valued McCourt Enterprises in excess of $2 billion.

- Frank spent $52,000 in clothes since November and dropped more than $81,000 on a December vacation … according to Jamie.

- As for Jamie’s request for just under a million a month, she claims it’s necessary “to maintain her accustomed marital lifestyle.”

Reaction: When are we going to come to our senses and realize that people can survive just fine on a couple of million dollars and don’t need to “maintain her accustomed marital liftstyle.” Since I believe Frank made the money through his businesses, Jamie should get the house, a check for $10M and be shown the door….

To be fair, I don’t know how much Jamie had to do with the family fortune, but it’s my understanding it wasn’t much….

A man who earns millions on his own should never have to give half to his wife. She never produced a movie, made a basket, hit a golf ball or closed a business deal. A house a car, a couple of million is more than enough….

By the way, the same goes if the woman made the money; the man should get a pittance and be sent on his way….

Unbelieveble story on the web last Friday:

“Michael Jordan will be at the Tiger Woods apology event, his wife Elin Nordegren will not — this according to Tiger’s former Ryder Cup teammate.

PGA great Brad Faxon went on the Dennis and Callahan radio show this morning and said, “I know Michael Jordan’s going to be there. I know Elin is not going to be there.”

MJ and Tiger are famously close — Jordan has been described as a mentor to Woods.

Faxon — who shared a spot with Tiger on the 1997 championship Ryder Cup team added, “I think Tiger really wants some friends there. That’s why this thing is really a mystery to me.”

We’ll see if he’s right in about 90 minutes.”

Reaction: The last guy Elin wants to see at the apology event would be Jordan, one of the few men in the world who put Tiger to shame when it comes to partying, philandering and cheating on his family. MJ is legendary in his pursuit of cheap, blonde skanks and Tiger would be an idiot to allow Jordan anywhere near the place….

If I’m Elin, I’m assuming Michael “mentored” Tiger right into the pants of every cheap homewrecker in the country. If the two were that close, only a fool would believe MJ wasn’t coaching El Tigre on the fine art of cheating on your wife and covering it up….

Nobody was better at juggling skanks and making cheating arrangements than Air Jordan and Tiger could not have had a better “mentor.”….

If I’m Nordegren, MJ is off limits forever if Tiger wants to reconcile. No contact whatsoever with Jordan or it will cost you $300M….

That also goes for caddie Steve Williams and the rest of Team Tiger. All of them had to know and all of them had to be helping with flights, hotels, phone calls and other arrangements to make sure Woods had one of his hoes waiting for him….

If Woods is a man of his word and wants his family back, everyone is fired and he wipes the slate clean….

Update: Jordan did not show up at the event, so maybe Team Tiger finally did something right….

As for the speech itself, I wasn’t impressed. Reading off a script, crying a few crocodile tears, inviting only Tiger-friendly press and then walking off without answering any questions did more harm than good….

He should have spoken from the heart, without notes, and then stood there like a man and answered questions….

By the way, I think he was lying about there never being any domestic violence. Elin chased him with a club and then smashed the back window of his Escalade, which constitutes domestic violence….

And his mother put her foot in her mouth with the following quote: “I am upset the way media treated him like he’s a criminal. He didn’t kill anybody, he didn’t do anything illegal. They’ve been carrying on from Thanksgiving until now, that’s not right!”

Reaction: Wrong, Mama Woods. Read the following exerpt from Sports By Brooks.com: ”
“On December 11, the NEW YORK POST reported the following: Michelle Braun said she sent at least four escorts on pay-for-sex dates with the randy Woods a total of “six times” from late 2006 and 2007, charging him a total of $60,000.“The most was for a girl in Manhattan” — whose name is Loredana, Braun said. “He paid $15,000 for her.”Some of those trysts involved Woods hiring two prostitutes for one encounter, according to Braun, who said Woods would call her on the phone to order up the female company.“He liked girl-on-girl,” Braun said. “He had sex with them together.”

Evidently, Tiger was involved in illegal activity….

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NOTES ON A SCORECARD

February 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Interesting game last night, as the Kobe-less Lakers lost a tough one to the hated Celtics. 87-86….

Four things jumped out at me: 1) Pau Gasol is still soft and disappears when a tough guy like Kendrick Perkins is playing him 2) Derek Fisher has to be removed from the starting line-up and 3) The Lakers can’t win a championship unless Andrew Bynum plays well. 4) Against really good teams like Boston, the abscence of Kobe Bryant and his ability to create shots down the stretch is invaluable….

It’s too bad Bynum only played 28 minutes, because he got off to a great start and looked like he might go 25 and 15. Unfortunately he got a couple of cheap fouls, got out of rythym and only had 14 and nine….

In 25 minutes, Fisher shot 1-9, had only one assist, got beat off the dribble by Rajon Rondo and threw up a horrendous air ball as the game ended….

By the way, why did Gasol call time out with five seconds left and the Lakers in the middle of a fast break? I’m assuming it came for the bench, but it was a stupid-ass thing to do….

How many times did he get pushed off the block and get bullied by Kendrick Perkins? Sure, Gasol is talented and sometimes plays hard, but for God’s sake he’s soft….

Lamar Odom had the ball and was driving to the basket when the whistle blew, and who knows what might have happened? Everyone let up when the time out was granted and Odom missed a lay-up, but I’d love to have seen what would have happened had they played on….

There should have been at least four seconds on the clock after the T.O, but the refs mistakenly allowed time to run off and there wasn’t much time to do anything with only 2.2 left….

It doesn’t really matter, because it was a practice game, Kobe wasn’t there and in the end the playoffs are what’s it all about….

Well, I guess the Cavaliers management are fans if TheSportsgod.com, because they did exactly as I advised: Forget about Amare Stoudemire and deal for Antawn Jamison….

Now they have a quick, high scoring wing player to match up with the Hawks, Magic, Celtics and Lakers in the post-season….

Another positive is they didn’t have to give up J.J. Hickson, who has shown promise this season….

With a starting line-up of Anderson Varejao, The Big Ingrate, Jamison, Mo Williams and LeBron James, I now have them as the favorites ot win the NBA championship….

Unlike any other team in the NBA, they have a player to match Kobe; and I’ll take their remaining four against the Lakers supporting cast….

Sure, the Big Moses is a shell of his former self, but if Andrew Bynum continues to coast and loaf on the boards, the Lakers are in trouble….

If Andrew begins to play hard at both ends, though, and goes back to the pre-knee injury Bynum of last season, I like the Lakers….

But as it stands now, Cleveland will be hoisting the trophy after the Finals….

As a huge fan of Tiger Woods, may I offer a little advice: Forget about the scripted press conference this afternoon….

It’s a huge mistake to read from a prepared statement, in front of invited guests only, and then not answer any questions. This gives the impression you don’t mean any of this and only making an apology to appease his sponsors….

The way to handle this is to throw away the prepared statement, speak from the heart for about five minutes and then open the floor to questions….

What’s the worst thing that could happen? We all know he cheated on his wife with multiple women, lied and disappointed his family, sponsors and fans….

If someone asks about infidelity, simply come clean and admit it….

I’d answer this way: “I’ve had a privelidged life and thought I was bullet proof. I was selfish, thoughtless and believed the rules did not apply to me. Yes, I betrayed my family and my only hope is Elin will give me another chance to make things right.”….

If someone asked about the car crash, I’d tell the truth: “Naturally, Elin was furious when I told her I’d been unfaithful and broke out the back window as I drove away. She thought she had a great husband and father and I hurt her deeply. I don’t blame her and deserved what I got.”….

If questions arose about the other women, I’d answer them honestly: “It got to the point that women were so easy it was like a hobby. It’s difficult to resist women when you’re in my position and I thought only of myself and my pleasure. It was inexcuseable and I wouldn’t blame Elin of she divorced me. I hurt my family deeply because of my selfishness and take full responsibility. When you cheat on your wife, you’re also cheating on your kids, which makes it even worse”….

If he sat there like a man, made no excuses and answred questions honestly, people would quickly forgive him and he could get back to dominating the PGA Tour….

But inviting only Tiger-friendly people to the press conference, reading off a piece of paper and then walking outy without answering any questions is only going to make things worse….

The criticism of Tiger over the years has been he’s overly concerned about his image and comes across as phony. So holding a silly gathering like this only reinforces the perception….

As most of you know, I’m a huge fan of Sarah Palin and burn with anger after every biased, unfair portrayal of her in the press. I think she’s very bright, honest, an excellent public speaker and eminently more qualified to be in office than our current President….

I was also the first to call for John McCain to select her as his Vice Presidential candidate. A week before, I said on the air that Palin would be a great choice and my selection. A week later, there she was on the podium accepting the position….

Her support of McCain in the upcoming Arizona Senatorial election, however, has disappointed me greatly….

Just a few days after speaking at the Tea Party convention, she throws her support behind someone who is the antithesis of the Tea Party movement?….

McCain is everything American people hate about politics and should be voted out of office. He was right alongside George W. Bush in supporting the bailouts, increasing government spending to record levels and amnesty for illegal aliens….

Even worse, he opposed W on tax cuts and supported cap and trade….

He’s a phony-baloney, flip-flopping, big spending, open borders, big government liar; just like President Bush….

For Palin to completely sell out and support him is disturbing….

McCain’s opponent in the Republican primary , J.D. Hayworth, is a true conservative and in line with everything the Tea Party movement stands for….

We need to vote out the likes of McCain and the rest of the big government, country club politicians….

On his show yesterday, Rush Limbaugh defended Palin and made the point that “McCain plucked Sarah from obscurity, made her a household name and as a result she is a multi-millionaire and possibly the next President of the United States. So she owed him big time and it’s why she will campaign for him.”….

All of this is true, but she’s still selling out. She does not agree with McCain politically and was silenced, muzzled and told to shut up during his Presidential campaign….

After the convention, McCain-Palin was up by three points over Obama-Biden and riding a wave of momentum. At the Republican convention, Palin made one of the best speeches I’ve ever seen and was treated like a rock star at every campaign stop….

Apparently jealous of Sarah’s popularity, McCain ignored her pleas to go after Obama’s associations and corrupt Chicago political ties. She was relegated to the background, told to shut up and the result was a rapid decline which cost McCain the Presidency….

She was a jolt of energy to the campaign and if Team McCain had listened to her and used her properly, they would have won….

Even after she destroyed Joe Biden in the Vice Presidential debate she was censored. She kicked Biden’s ass all over the stage and totally debunked the theory she wasn’t bright enough to hold such an important job. From start to finish she dominated and I was proud of her….

Still, McCain inexplicably kept her out of sight….

This is why I’m so disturbed she’s campaiging for this idiot. If she wants to be known as a “Rogue” and independant thinker, I can’t think of a better way than to support J.D. Hayworth, who mirrors her philosophy and would make a much better Senator than McCain….

Instead, she’s sold out….

Reminds me of 1960, when John F. Kennedy selected Lyndon Johnson as his VP, over the objections of his brother Bobby….

Even though JFK detested Johnson and thought of him as a corrupt bumpkin, he needed Texas to win a close Presedential election. Bobby threatende to quit the campain and told his brother he’d rather lose than run with someone he hated. But he was overruled by Jack and Joe Kennedy Sr, who put winning the election over integrity….

And isn’t it ironic the same corrupt Chicago political machine got a candidate similar to Kennedy elected almost 50 years later?….

As it turned out, the Kennedys did not win the election. Sure, they wound up in the White House, but only because the corrupt Chicago political machine, along with organized crime, phonied up the vote with names from dead people….

The cemetary vote and phony registrations won the election for the Kennedys….

And now, on a smaller scale, we have Palin selling out and supporting someone she doesn’t like and treated her like an intern….

Americans respect people who stay true to their principles no matter what, and Palin selling out is a red flag….

Leadership should never be compromised….

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NOTES ON A SCORECARD

February 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Looking at this potential Amare Stoudamire-for-J.J. Hickson-and-Zydrunas-Ilgauskas trade, my initial reaction was the Cavaliers shouldn’t do it. Now, after thinking about it some more, I’m
even more convinced this would be a bad deal for Cleveland….

This Stoudamire and Big Moses thing was tried in Phoenix and failed miserably, for two reasons:
1) Neither one of them play any defense and
2) Both of them want the ball in the post and got in each other’s way….

The Suns tried playing Amare in the high post and it was a disaster….

They didn’t get along, the experiment was a disaster and eventually Shaq was shipped out of town….

And all this was with Steve Nash at the point; who is one of the
greatest and most unselfish PG’s of all time. If he couldn’t get both of
them involved and make it work, no one can….

In my opinion, the Big Ingrate and Stoudamire will get in LeBron’s way;
especially late in games when Cleveland’s offense is giving the ball to
King James and everyone else stands and watches….

When he drives to the basket, it’s going to be awfully crowded down
there, with both the Big Immobile and Amare wanting the ball….

The Cavs will also have to agree to an expensive, long term extension
with Stoudamire; which would be fine if they get rid of Shaq once his
contract expires at the end of the season….

But for now this pairing hasn’t worked and will not work….

If they want to win the championship this year, they need to address the problem which cost them last season; thier inability to cover the wing players of the Magic in the Eastern Confernece Finals….

Last year the Cavaliers were big, slow and couldn’t guard the quicker
Orlando players. On the other end, it was the same old probleml: LeBron bringing the ball up the floor, dribbling a million times and then
trying to make a play with the shot clock winding down….

Menawhile, his teammates watched like they’d bought tickets….

In my opinion King James is most effective moving without the ball,
coming off screens and then catching and making plays….

Apparently Coach Mike Brown disagrees….

Cleveland should forget about Stoudamire for two reasons: 1) Hickson is a good young player and looks like he could be a star in a year or two. Plus, he’s a lot cheaper. 2) Amare doesn’t address the afforementioned problems which cost them last season….

I’d try and make a deal for the Wizard’s Antawn Jamison, who is cat
quick, a great scorer and would spread the floor for LeBron and Shaq.
Jamison would also improve the Cavs inability to guard wing players in
the post-season….

It’s a tough call, because Stoudamire is such a good player, but I’d
either go with Jamison or simply keep the current team together and take my chances….

Hickson makes them better defensively than they were last season and everytime I see him play I like his upside….

A decision also has to be made about the Big Ingrate. His $20M a year
deal expires after this season and I can’t imagine Cleveland wanting him back at anyhting less than one year at the minimum….

He’ll storm off in a huff if this is the offer, so the Cavs need to
think long term about this….

Without Shaq, can Stoudamire and James play effectively together? Will Amare’s lack of defense prevent the Cavs from winning championships?
Will the fact that Amare has already had microfracture surgery on his knee scare Cleveland away from a huge, long-term deal?….

It would sure as hell scare me….

And will the development of Hickson stop the Cavs from making any deal involving him?….

When I read about the Georgian luger dying on a practice run, I had two reactions: 1) Sympathy for his family and friends and 2) Shock that the Winter Olympics were going on….

Like 90% of Americans, I had no idea the Winter Games were this year and did not know they had begun….

After seeing the luge track and the accident, though, I believe someone should be prosecuted for negligent homicide….

To have steel poles without padding along the course is incomprehensibly stupid and dangerous….

The safety of the athletes should be top priority and one look at the course should have set off red flags….

They should have padded the poles and also made them collapsable….

The funniest thing I read regarding the Olympics described “longtime
friends” and figure skaters Tanith Belbin and Johnny Weir sharing a
suite in the Olympic Village. “Although roomates, Weir and Belbin have
seperate bathrooms and bedrooms,” said the column….

Reaction: Why is it necassary to point out the two of them have seperate
bedrooms? Anyone who has seen Weir’s outfits or heard him interviewed
knows he has about as much interest in women as Richard Simmons….

Then, after reading he decorated the suite with pink pillows and sheets,
there was this:

“We’re both divas. The only way they could make us both happy was to put
us together,” said Weir.

Actually, they chose to share, and Weir has been getting the suite in
shape since arriving earlier this week. Belbin was delayed by the
blizzards back East and didn’t arrive until Thursday night.

So Weir got busy organizing. He even did the wash in the first two days he was in Vancouver.

“I’ve laid out her towels, I’ve done laundry,” he said, drawing =
quizzical looks. “I love doing laundry.”

“I have the hair products. I have the curling iron, the gels … and the pomade. And I lit candles so it doesn’t smell.”

Belbin noticed the aroma immediately and praised Weir, saying his =3D
housemaking had paid off. She spent only a few minutes in the apartment, but said “it smells amazing,” to which Weir responded the suite “smelled like wet dog” when he moved in.

Along with all those necessary accouterments, Weir hung a poster of
Audrey Hepburn, even though Belbin had suggested Cher. Apparently, Weir
didn’t have time to shop.”

Reaction: Why can’t anyone just come out and say Weir is gay? Everyone
is so scared and politically correct that the press uses terms like
“flamboyant” and “diva” to describe him….

I’ll say one thing, though. If Weir isn’t gay he’s pulled off one of the
greatest accomplishments of all time. He’s managed to sneak a hot chick
into his suite and have her live there withuot suspicion….

Looking at the red hot Belbin, I would probably wear tight clothes and
act “flamboyant” as well; if that’s what it took to get her into my
suite for two weeks….

As much as I’d like to believe that, the odds of Weir being straight are =

about the same as Dave Smith winning People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful

Person” contest this year….

Just when I thought John Edwards could not sink any lower, I’m reading reports that he’s allegedly proposed to his skank and plans to move into a $3.5M home with her….

Presumeably after his cancer-stricken wife dies….

The two of them deserve each other…

Do you realize how close we came to Vice President John Edwards in 2000?

This lying, cheating low life would have been a heartbeat from thePresidency….

One thing I love is the description of Edwards as someone whose “heart
was in the right place” when he got into politics and he was “a good man
until corrupted by the Washington political scene”….

This guy was a low-life scum bag from day one; an ambulance chasing slip-and-fall lawyer who took bogus cases and talked stupid jurors into
awarding outrageous sums of money his clients….

He wasn’t “corrupted by Washington,” he was corrupt all along….

I’m no fan of George W. Bush and could go on and on about what a lousy
President he was, but thank God he won the election in 2000. I voted
Libertarian, not for Bush, but an Al Gore-Edwards team is frightening….

Gore is a hypocrite, a liar and proven to be a con man now that we know the whole global warming claim was a hoax….

Gore helped invent this fraud because he was heavily invested in carbon offset companies which made him hundreds of millions. He also wanted to promote his science-fiction movie, which was based on made up evidence and fraudulent documentation….

To think this phony actually won the Nobel Peace Prize for made up
statistics and phony science. The people who awarded this clown the
award should demand he give it back….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With:

SURE, GET RID OF KOBE

February 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Everywhere I went today; the gym, the market, walking the dog and on the internet, I noticed a fascinating thing is going on: Almost everyone is telling me the Lkaers are better without Kobe Bryant and should get rid of him….

Yes, I’m impressed with the way the team has played in the three games without Kobe, but there is no way they win the championship without him….

It’s one thing to play unselfishly, move the ball beautifully and beat teams in the regular season. But when it comes to the playoffs and winning close games against good teams, you have to have a great closer like Bryant….

He’s the best clutch shooter in the NBA, gets to the free throw line in the closing minutes and plays lock down defense when properly motivated….

But there is no doubt the Lakers are playing their best basketball of the season without Kobe. They’re moving the ball, playing unselfishly and defending at championship levels. Hell, they’ve held three consecutive opponents under 90 points and two of them are championship contenders….

Pau Gasol looks like he has a new lease on life and playing as if a giant weight has been lifted off his shoulders. There’s a bounce in his step, a smile on his face and the past two games he’s averaged 21 points and 19 rebounds. He’s also not the soft guy who disappeared in the Finals against the Celtics….

He’s challenging shots, rebounding and become a real force in the post….

The big question is this: Is Gasol playing well because of Kobe’s abscence or Andrew Bynum?….

In my opinion, he’s playing much better because Kobe is not there….

With or without Bynum, Pau would get lots of touches. With Kobe playing, however, Gasol hardly touches the ball ….

The solution is simple: If Bryant shoots less and pass more, the Lakers are unbeatable. Can you imagine what a force this team would be if they were this unselfish with Kobe on the floor?….

His teammates are not Kwame Brown, Smush Parker or Chris Mihm, so there is no reason Kobe shouldn’t trust them and keep the ball moving….

Here’s another thing: I’ve said for years that Kobe is the most overrated defensive player in NBA history and I’ve seen nothing to change my opinion. He goes for low percentage steals, drifts, leaves his man open and gets beaten off the dribble consistently. Sure, he can lock his opponent down when he feels like it, but unfortunately he doesn’t feel like it often….

I had Steve Kerr on my show last year and asked him about what it was like to be guarded by Bryant. “I loved it when he guarded me,” he said. “He drifts, goes for steals and left me open all the time. Of course, if he wanted to he could lock me down and I wouldn’t be able to get a shot off. But fortunately for guys like me he doesn’t defend hard all the time.”….

This is why he’s not as good as Michael Jordan. As talented as Kobe is, he’s not the defender Michael was, isn’t physically as strong and doesn’t finish around the basket as well….

The evidence is MJ is a career 50% shooter while Bryant has never shot 50% for a season….

And here is a much bigger question: With Kobe’s contract expiring after next season, I’d be very careful about giving him a five-year extension at the maximum level. I know he keeps himself in great shape and has an unbelieveable tolerance to pain, but next season will be his 15th and he’s also been going deep into the playoffs and playing for the national team during the summer….

He’s approaching 40,000 minutes played, which is when players normallly begin to decline. He’ll be 32 next season, but he’s a very old 32 and there’s a lot of tread on the tires….

If you give him five years and around $130M, which is what it would take, the deal would expire in 2016, when Kobe would be 37….

My offer would be three years at the max, which would be around $80M. This would take him to age 35, when his skills would probably be in serious decline….

GM’s always have to think about the future and a five year extension through 2016 might just cripple any plans to rebuild. It could be a Tracy McGrady/Penny Hardaway/Allen Houston situation, where a once outstanding player is now destroying your salary cap and any chance of bringing in new players….

Maybe I’m wrong and Kobe will still be going strong at 37, but history and father time say otherwise. He’ll be in his 20th season and a shell of his former self….

A three-year extension at the max should make everyone happy….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With: ,

NOTES ON A SCORECARD

February 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

We all know the Lakers are not going to win a championship without Kobe Bryant, because he’s the best player in the NBA and one of the great closers of all time….

But the last two games, against Portland and San Antonio, have shown just how great this team can be when they play defense and move the ball on offense….

Despite playing without Kobe and Andrew Bynum, the Lakers won at Portland and last night easily handled the Spurs….

As great as Kobe is, I’ve always thought he shoots too much; resulting in his teammates standing around and watching….

The last two games have shown that when everyone is getting touches and playing unselfishly very good things happen….

Hopefully Kobe has been watching closely and makes sure this unselfish team play continues….

How happy did Pau Gasol look last night? Playing without Bryant, Pau looked like a kid on the playground….

He ran the floor, had a smile on his face, was involved on almost every possession and put up 21 points and 19 rebounds….

Gasol was also a force defensively, blocking six shots and changing several others….

Stu Lantz always talks about the importance of “keeping the bigs happy” and last night was a perfect example….

Searching the internet this morning, I found the best line yet regarding the Saints Super Bowl win over the Colts; courtesy of ESPN the magazine’s Jorge Arangure: “I’m sure when Peyton Manning was growing up he always wanted to throw the TD pass that gave the Saints a Super Bowl win. Now he has.”….

That’s very funny and I wish I’d thought of it….

By the way, I actually heard someone on ESPN mention the key play of the game was the Pierre Garson drop of Manning’s pass with a little over eight minutes remaining in the second quarter….

He must have read my column yesterday….

He’s right, because that play won the game for New Orleans….

Instead of a possible TD and a 17-3 lead, the momentum changed and the Saints went on to win….

From the eight minute mark of the second quarter to seven minute mark of the third quarter, Manning did not run a play….

The dropped pass combined with the onside kick and ensuing drive by the Saints kept Peyton on the bench for 15 game minutes and 45 total….

If I were New Orleans owner Tom Benson, I’d award Garson a ring and full playoff share….

Interesting story from ESPN.com:
“Steve Phillips, the former ESPN baseball analyst and New York Mets general manager, said Monday that he knew he had a sex addiction problem in August — two months before he was fired from his role with the network.

“What I want to do is take ownership,” he said in an interview with Matt Lauer on NBC’s Today Show. “I made some mistakes … I’m fully responsible for what I did.”

Phillips spoke publicly for the first time since he left the Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services clinic in Hattiesburg, Miss., the same clinic golfer Tiger Woods reportedly attended.

Phillips didn’t talk extensively about his time at Pine Grove, but did say that it is a place for people who are “broken” and “struggling to find answers.”

Phillips said he realized he had a sexual addiction problem in August, while he was having an affair with ESPN production assistant Brooke Hundley. That affair eventually included Hundley contacting Phillips’ wife at their home. It made its way to the New York tabloids, where Phillips was front-page fodder, in October.

“I recognized in August, I needed help,” Phillips said. “I started calling facilities.”

Reaction: Bulls***. He’s a guy with access to women and enjoyed having sex with them. There’s no such thing as sexual addiction for a man and claiming some kind of disease which necessitates going to rehab is absurd. He banged an ugly chick who turned out to be a psycho who contacted his wife. Knowing his career and job with ESPN was in jeopardy, he claimed he had an addiction and needed help.

Again, bulls***…

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With:

SUPER BOWL NOTES

February 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

When the Colts decided to tank a game in Week 14 against the Jets, I thought they were going to pay dearly for that decision….

After all, they were 13-0 and had a chance to make history by becoming the first team to go 19-0….

Instead, with a 15-10 third quarter lead, first year head coach Jim Caldwell pulled the starters and awakened the karma police….

And Sunday night at the Super Bowl, the Saints won their first Super Bowl in franchise history, 31-17….

That really sounds strange, doesn’t it? The New Orleans Saints are the World Champions….

If I were the Commissioner of the NFL, I’d deal harshly with teams tanking games to get ready for the playoffs. The fans pay top dollar for tickets and deserve the participants best effort. They already get ripped off with the pre-season games, so turning regular season games into a farce cannot be tolerated….

If I saw teams tanking, I’d fine the organization $1M and take away a first round draft choice….

That would put a stop to it real quick….

The Colts paid dearly for losing intentionally and ripping off their fans….

Near the end of the first half, however, a series of idiotic moves by New Orleans head coach Sean Payton seemed to be defying the Karma Patrol….

Down 10-3 with a third-and-goal at the Colts one-yard-line, he decided to run wide, lost a yard and set up a fourth-and-goal. Instead of settling for a field goal, he called time out to design a great play to tie the game….

At least I thought he was designing something he’d been saving all year….

Instead, he ran straight up the middle, got stuffed and came away with nothing….

So why call time out if you’re going to run a stupid play like that?….

With 1:30 left and the Colts inside their own 15, they ran a play up the middle for no gain, obviously hoping to run out the clock. Coach Payton should have called one of his three time outs immediately, but instead stood there with his thumb up his ass. After the Colts ran the ball on third down and came up short of a first down,. somebody finally woke up the Coach and he called a time out; but only after he’d wasted at least 45 seconds….

After the punt, New Orleans got the ball near midfield, but with only 30 seconds remaining in the half. Had there been 1:15 left, they might have scored the tying TD; but instead ran out of time and had to settle for a FG….

Clock management, clock management, clock management….

To his credit, Payton made a great decision with the onside kick to begin the second half and the Saints converted with a TD to take a 13-10 lead. That took some balls and nearly made up for his asinine coaching in the first half….

The biggest play of the game? No, it wasn’t any great plays by Peyton Manning or Drew Brees. And it wasn’t the interception return for a TD by Tracy Porter which sealed the game for the Saints….

In my opinion, the biggest play of the game happened around the 9:00 mark of the second quarter, with the Colts leading 10-3….

On a third-and-four from their own 28, Manning hit WR Pierre Garcon in stride near midfield. Garcon had two steps on the defender and it was going to be off to the races. Instead, Garcon dropped the ball and the Colts had to punt….

Had he made the easy catch, he might have scored or at least gone deep into Saints territory. The Colts had all the momentum at that point and another touchdown might have been the backbreaker….

That drop was huge and in the opinion of Dave Smith cost Indianapolis the game….

So why is it that nobody else is talking about it?….

As for the rest of Super Bowl Sunday, here’s my opinion:

-THE COMMERCIALS:

Since I was out during the day and DVR’d the game, I didn’t see any of them. I fast forwarded every time CBS went to commercials, so thankfully wasn’t subjected to the stupid-ass attempts at humor.

-HALFTIME SHOW:

It hurts me to say this, because I’m a huge fan of The Who. I’ve seen them in concert several times and never been disappointed, because their music is great and they always put on a good show. I have all their CD’s and they are one of my five favorite bands.

All that being said, their halftime performance sucked. It’s really not their fault, because every musical act at the Super Bowl has been terrible. The setting just isn’t right for a concert, the sound is always terrible and football fans don’t give a damn and just want to get on with the game….

You just can’t mix a great sporting event with non-sports entertainment and I wish the NFL and network executives would undetstand.

The game itself was very good and it is was great to see Who Dat Nation have something to celebrate after Hurricane Katrina….

I know it won’t help people who are still suffering and won’t put displaced people back in their homes, but for a few hours, at least, the people of New Orleans finally had something to celebrate….

Filed Under: Dave Smith Tagged With:

NOTES ON A SCORECARD

February 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

After the Clippers made a nice run a few years ago, winning a playoff series and taking the Suns to seven games in the second round, I went on the radio and called for the organization to fire Mike Dunleavy….

People thought I was crazy, but having watched him coach I knew he’d taken the Clips as far as he could….

Even though the Clippers made the second round, his coaching blunders cost them two games and the series….

On the road in Phoenix, with a chance to steal one, the Clips led by three with a few seconds left and looked as if they were going to take control of the series. The situation called for a foul, but instead Dunleavy inexplicably inserted rookie Daniel Ewing into the game to guard dangerous Raja Bell. Ewing hadn’t played all night and hardly at all during the season, so the move was idiotic….

Predictably, Ewing lost Bell, who got open in the corner and swished a three as the game ended. Then, of course, the Suns won in overtime….

When the series returned to Los Angeles, Dunleavy was at it again, sitting Sam Cassell on the bench for nearly the entire fourth quarter of a heartbreaking loss which cost them the series….

Sam I Am was the Clips best player and team leader, so his riding the pine down the stretch was shocking….

I’d seen this act before from Dunleavy in Portland and knew it was time for him to go….

It reminded me of the Chicago Bulls of the late ’80′s, who made the Eastern Conference Finals against the Bad Boy Pistons, only to lose in seven games….

After the loss, Doug Collins was suprisingly fired….

It seemed like a stupid move, but General Manager Jerry Krause showed what a shrewd basketball man he was….

He knew Collins had taken the team as far as he could and to get past the Pistons they were going to have to change course. His choice to replace Doug? A relatively unknown assistant named Phil Jackson….

Ten championship later, I think Krause has been justified….

With the young talent the Clippers have, the offense Dunleavy runs is never going to work. With Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby and hopefully Blake Griffin, they need a coach like Mike D’Antoni….

Run, run, run, play exciting basketball and give the fans a reason to go to the games. With the Lakers sharing the arena, the only way to draw interest is to have the most exciting, high scoring style in the NBA….

Unfortunately Dunleavy is going to retain his role as GM and will probably not want to hire someone who coaches a breakneck style; because it’s totally the opposite of his philosophy….

Donald T. Sterling needs to make a clean break, relieve Dunleavy of all responsibilities and say goodbye….

Hire a young GM along the lines of Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti, a coach with the D’Antoni philosophy and turn those young players loose….

We all know how tough and competitive Kobe Bryant is and how much he wants to suit up for every game. It’s also very important for the Lakers to keep winning and gain home court advantage throughout the playoffs….

But it’s time for the organization to insist Kobe sits out a week and get his body right for the stretch drive and post-season….

Even though he still puts up big numbers, it’s obvious he’s hurting. He still has the torn ligaments in his finger and now his knee and ankle are hurting….

A week off to get his body right would do wonders….

Knowing him, however, he will refuse to sit out and probably put up his usual numbers over the next few games….

With the 24/7 Super Bowl coverage on ESPN, my head is about to explode. One “expert” after another joins the ESPN team onstage, breaks down both teams and gives his opinion on who’s going to win….

This was boring a week ago and nothing has changed….

Nobody has any idea who is going to win and all these dopes are guessing just like the rest of us….

Both teams are really good and who knows how the ball is going to bounce, who is going to make mistakes or if a blown call will decide the game….

I like the Colts, because of Peyton Manning, but who knows?….

I think I’ll boycott the four letter network until the Super Bowl is over….

I can make a few guarantees, though:

-The pre-game entertainment show will be awful

-All the commercials will suck

-A great band like The Who will be awful

-The post-game music show will be an embarrassment

-All the “experts” will continue to bore the hell out of us after the game

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:
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