The Wrong in LeBron

I want to start off by saying that this NBA season is going to the best since Jordan left the Bulls (the second time). It has all the necessary pieces; superstars, rivalries, young and upcoming talent, big name players in big time markets. Last season was a perfect set up to this year with Boston living up to their pre-season hype and Kobe, the leagues most popular international player, lead his team to the finals. Now with one of the best draft classes being inserted to the league, the sky’s the limit for the 08-09 NBA season. However, I do have one fight to pick. Two nights ago I was watching the Bulls play the Cavs and the game was going good, a little sloppy, but good. Then I see Lebron James come down on someone’s foot at the end of the first quarter and limp halfway down the court and then come out of the game for about 10 minutes. He comes back in the game and is fine. If this were a first time occurrence I would let it slide but Lebron has continuously shown signs of vaginitis before. I remember countless times where he overreacts to a minute injury and sends Cleveland fans into a frenzy. Watching Lebron is like watching a punter after he gets hit by a guy trying to block a punt. (side note: the next time Troy Aikman says, “give that guy an Emmy for that acting job” when a punter fakes like he got hit I’m going to turn off my TV). Anyways, the thing about Lebron is that he has all the talent in the world, but if he has any reason not to play in a game or go out for 10 minutes in a game he will take it. Remember when Jordan had the flu and could barely run and still dropped 30 something points against the Jazz in the finals? Yea everyone does. Jordan, Bird, and Magic would play through anything… well almost anything in Magic’s case. I would bet my life that Lebron will never have his Willis Reed moment. But, Lebron isn’t the only one to fault. What about Paul Pierce getting carried off the floor and coming back in that game 7 minutes later? I can’t even get mad about that, that’s just embarrassing for Paul’s sake. No matter who it is this generation of players need to brake the stereotype of being a “whossy” generation if it wants to gain the respect of more demographics and it needs to start with superstars. Whether you love him or hate him, one player that comes to mind is Kobe Bryant. You might ask didn’t he have a broken finger or a sprained wrist last year? You probably don’t remember because he didn’t make a big deal about it, he knew his team had a legitimate shot at winning a title and he played through the pain and ended up winning an MVP along the way. Even if players like Lebron and Pierce don’t toughen up, the NBA is still on the rise with some of the best talent the league has seen in years. I just hope that these guys figure it out and have their Willis Reed moment so they can shut up their critics like me.

Longhorn Safetys Drop BCS Championship

If I walked up to any safety in FBS and asked "I will toss this ball into the air very gently with little rotation, if you catch it you will have that shot at a BCS Championship" 99.99% would jump on that opportunity. All you have to do is catch the precious pig skin like you have done a million times. But this time we will just lob it to you....underhand...with no wobble or distorted spin. Unfortunately Blake Gideon was not up to that challenge. With the ever so powerful Tech offense once again on the move, Gideon had a chance of a lifetime. Harrell’s pass was deflected and its direction was changed in route to Gideon. "Game over, Cinderella done, Crabtree and Harrell’s Heisman’s are shot, storming the field out of the question." All of this fluttered through my mind as the ball proceeded to glide right into the hands...wait, I mean right through the hands of Gideon. The ball falls to the turf, and Gideons heart sinks with it. True freshmen, a stud in the secondary. How big are you if you start as a freshmen at the number one ranked school, and make the interception against a Heisman candidate to win the game? Or should I say, how quickly do you become hated after you drop the rock, and your chances at BCS glory.

I think most of America new that giving Harrell that second chance was the nail in the coffin. I expected them and Harrell to score. But before we can let Tech score, another Texas safety needs to hand over the #1 seeding to somebody else. Earl Thomas, a RS Freshan makes two critical mistakes. First off, on Techs 2nd play of the drive, Thomas misses a tackle on a bubble screen to give WR Lewis and Tech a first down. If Thomas makes this tackle, time continues to run, and there would be no time for Crabtree to make that catch. Thomas' second fault comes on the final play of the game. He has help over the top on Crabtree. He sees the ball in flight and reacts over to the sideline. Now, what he should be thinking is two things, either lay some serious hat on Crabtree to try to make him drop it, or two, hold him in bounds until it is blown dead...game over. Instead he see's that his CB has a weak attempt at holding Crabtree by the sideline, and just jogs by. If he bumps Crabtree out, or holds him in bounds, he does not score. So I would just like to thank Thomas for taking the last play of the game off so Heisman hopeful Crabtree can dance into the end zone.

It hurts to see two young players in Gideon and Thomas make such huge blunders to blow their lead. But it just speaks volumes about Harrell and Crabtree. If you give them that inch, they will take a mile. And if you give them that second chance, they will strip you of your #1 seed, and take tops of the Big 12.

The Start of Tradition

Last night, November 2nd will go down in history for 5 young men. On November 2nd, 4members of house @ john 3:16, and one true player disguised in a 12 year olds body participated in the 2008-2009 White's only basketball fantasy league. Now let me first get this out in plain view, this has no intention to be degrading to any race, or nationality. There are no racists here, just simply five dudes that wanted a challenging league with such few members in the league.

Everyone that knows fantasy sports knows that five people is just too few to have a league with. If this was true, it would simply be one all-star team vs another team. Kobe Bryant, Deron Williams, Tracy McGrady, and Dwight Howard would all be on the same team. There is no fun in this. There isn't that sleeper pick, or intense free agent signings when there are so few many teams in the league. That is why we decided to make a whites only league. Whites only was loosely regarded as the only rule, however Europeans, Argentineans, and Brazilians were all drafted as well. This easily cuts available picks to about 1/6th of the players in the NBA. Once again there is no racial thoughts behind this, but it simply makes for a very difficult draft class, and completely throws out all power rankings provided by ESPN, FoxSports, and countless other analysts.

These simple rules made for one hell of a tough draft session. With no LeBron, Kobe, Chris Paul to be taken in the first round, we were forced to think hard and out of the box on how to fill out 5 positions as effectively as possible. While most 9th overall picks might have consisted of Tracy McGrady or Dwight Howard, our was the Russian sensation Andre Kirilinko who gets his annual booty call out of generosity from his wife. Many in a "typical" drafting scheme might think it is hard to pick between a Baron Davis and a Deron Williams or Jason Kid. But i think choosing between Steve Blake, Luke Riddnhour, and Beno Udruch is much more difficult. Also, while your last pick might be a Brandon Stucky, or possibly even Lamar Odom, we name drop Walter Hermann. I bet many people playing Fantasy Basketball have no idea in hell who the heck Walter Hermann is. I don't think Rasheed Wallace knows who Walter Hermann is. Truth is however that he plays on the Pistons and is averaging about 8pts a game and 3 boards. That is key player stats in our league. Hurt players were drafted (Manu Ginobli in 3rd round), suspended players (Brad Miller) and rookies that have not even squeaked there new shoes on the NBA court (Joe Alexander).

We are way stoked on ourselves and our league right now. Season starts tonight. While most of you are but hurt Greg Oden went down early this season, I just feel truly privileged to have stolen Jason Kapono and his 3pt percentage in the last round. Here is my team and the round they were drafted in.

Yao Ming
Turkoglu
Manu Ginobli
David Lee
Steve Blake
Kevin Love
Beno Udrich
Jason Kapono

My prediction for the league championship will be between Andrew and Travis. Andrew jumped on Jose Calderon in the first round and has great big men in Bogut, Okur, and Dunleavey. Travis has great guards in Kidd and Hinrich. If Paul Gasol and Kaman can hold down up front, he just may be the champion.

Once again, this has nothing to do with race, nationality, or ethnicity. But strictly limiting the leagues available players to make it one hell of a tough draft for five people.

NBA Basketball Preview

The time is here. The 82 game season where teams clash and sneakers squeek. It's always tough to predict outcomes, but everyone tries to do it. Here are my thoughts, and predictions, and the rationale I have behind them.

Rookie of the Year

Micheal Beasely: Hands down, honestly the only one that can compete with him will be Greg Oden. Yes, Greg Oden is still considered a rookie as he sat out all of last season with knee surgery. However, he is injury prone. Try to look back at when he has been healthy for a season?? Well not the one year he was at Ohio State throwing up free throws lefty, not this last year where his knee check up turned into a forgotten rookie season. So the next most talented player will be Mike Beasely. Supported by two other impact players in Dwayne Wade and Shawn Marion, I think this is a lock in as long as his health holds.

Most Valuable Player


Kobe Bryant: It's a tough call between Kobe and Lebron, but Kobe has a supporting cast this year. Even more so than last year. I know this might hurt some numbers at times as others like Bynum and Gasol will be throwing down dunks and hooks. But now it will be more difficult to double team him. With two towers down low, more double downs low will occur, leaving Kobe open for jumpers and perimeter shots. Lebron once again is stuck in a Barry Sanders scenario. No supporting cast, but will still plug away the numbers. The fact is, the numbers will be close, but the Lakers will be one of the best teams in Basketball, and that will tip the scales on voting.

Sixth Man of the Year
Rodney Stucky: Many names come to mind when thinking about the sixth man of the year. Ginobli, Stackhouse, and this year Lamar Odom. However, I feel that many of these use to be six man studs, will be thrown into the starting lineup. Mike Finley won’t be able to play the minutes as he is getting aged, and Manu will have to step up. Lamar Odom will soon jump in the lineup when they forget how dynamic he is compared to Vladimir Radmanovic. Rodney Stuckey however is still in Billips shadow. He stepped it up in the playoffs when Billups was sidelined, and he has had one hell of a pre-season. Look for this young man out of Washington where he played 1-AA basketball to impress the crowds and sportswriters.

3 Bubble Teams-

Houston Rockets: Look out fans, these guys could be in the top 3 of the west, or they could drop out completely. If the health of Tracy and Yao can be consistent through most of the games, these guys will compete for an NBA championship. However, if these two go down once again like they are prone to do, it could be tough to make it once again in the west. The addition of Ron Artest is risky, but I think they have some even keeled players that will combat his intensity. With Shane Battier coming of the bench to lock up shooters, and drain threes, the rockets could be this years NBA champs. Just watch out for the injuries to creep up, and Artest to search for some fans to lay the smack down on.

Atlanta Hawks: These guys surprised us all in the NBA playoffs against the Celtics. The good part is that this was a young team gaining experience, and the better part is that most of them are back. The only hit they took was one of their men of the bench Josh Childress took some big cash to play across seas. They still bring back veteran Mike Bibby, and explosive young guns Joe Johnson and Joe Smith. The only question mark I have is Marvin Williams. He has underperformed every year in my opinion. His defense is poor, but his numbers should see improvement. Lastly, Al Horford is a true workhorse. He boards with the best of them, and throws elbows down in the paint. Many analysts have the Hawks as on of the bottom 4 teams in the east. I think they will once again prove to be you guns in the NBA playoffs come time.

Toronto Raptors: The raptors look to be a shoe in for the playoffs. They bring back a very similar team that made it last year, and add a veteran in O'neal. Yes he is injury prone with a poor attitude, but the dynamic duo of O'neal and Bosh down low looks real good on paper. Jose Calderon is a shifty point guard that will put up 10 points and as many assists weekly. He will be a consistent ball distributor. The 2 and 3 position could be week for this club, but with Kapono launching threes off the bench, and former first round pick Barganani grabbing some boards, this team could put the hurt on the eastern conference.

Team to Watch: Many people are stoked on the Blazers this year as they are up and coming, but I think they already established that they were for real last year. Now by adding Oden, Bayless, Fernandez, and turnover prone Jarret Jack, we can really predict a playoff team. However, I think the team to make the biggest jump from last years poor play are the Miami Heat. These guys will contend for a playoff spot. With Dwayne Wade seeming to be healthy, it could be his big comeback year. Late in the year the Heat added Shawn Marion who can defend at some many positions, and will get you some boards. They also added rookie of the year candidate Beasely to the squad. Adding some toughness to the paint. Haslem and Beasley will be wreaking squads in the paint, scrapping boards up along with Shawn Marion. Mario Chalmers will have lots of bite off at point guard. As long as he kicks the herb before games and meetings, I feel he will produce some decent numbers. They have a nice shooting player able to come of the bench in James Jones. Lookout for this squad, they are on the rise.

Disgrace to You, Your Team, and the Sport

I hope that you have watched this video in its entirety. I laughed in the beginning. I really didn't have a problem with the batter trying to sell that he was hit by the pitch. People exaggerate taking a charge in basketball, getting tripped in soccer, and running into the kicker in football. I get this, it's strategy. It's pushing the limits of the referees. Although it might not be the pretty part of sports, it is a part none the less.

I don’t get ticked off until this punk goes off on the umpire. He made the right call. Know that you got caught. Put your lid back on, step into the chalk box, and try to knock that ball right back up through the pitchers head. I honestly was waiting for the pitcher to unload a 4 seam right by the batters ear hole, but realized to wasn’t realistic as the score of the game was close. As the clip shows up, the batter gets K'd hard swiffing air on high cheese. He then proceeds to cuss out the umpire. What a flipping prick. How low to you have to get, to fake an injury to the limit the trainer has to come out and realize your acting up a skit. How ridiculous is his action to attack the one guy that really had nothing to do with the play. He simple called strike 3 when you whiffed on some high heat, and called a ball when your styling elbow wrap wasn't glazed. Tip your cap to the pitcher for sitting you down, suck up your pride, and go grab some Gatorade, and a dip. Don’t try to belittle the umpire. I hope your coach looked at tape of the whole act you created, and beat your butt elbow until you bleed through the wrap. I pray that batter apologized to the coach for making the coach look like an idiot on tv. He did what any good manager would do, stick up for his player. However, his player just simply had a stick up his rear.

This is truly sad to see. I hope this is the low valley of this collegiate baseball player’s career. Unfortunately all I can see is him turning around and verbally assaulting the umpire for letting the pitcher throw him out at first in his next at bat from his swinging bunt.

In a nut shell....Go home kid, your a disgrace to the game, and your coach and teammates have no reason to stick up for you. I hope this nationally televised baseball game took that angry stick you have up your rear, and you were able to digest that humble pie. Now go study "MEAT".

Madden Nation or Shoot Myself?

Every once in awhile I will be flipping through some ESPN and Fox Sports looking for something to watch. Just browsing after a game has ended, or maybe one of the shows I watch. As the channel steady’s on ESPN2, some short chump wearing a proven all-pro wide receivers jersey is running his mouth. Saying how he is gonna pound it down your throat, beat you deep down the field, and stomp your quarterback so hard, it brings back memories of Trent Edwards at Stanford. No, he isn't talking about his football skills on the field, not even in a pick up tag football, but he is holding some white remote, screaming at the television, and running his mouth to some opponent in a chair. Honestly maddon nation enthusiasts, these guys are absolute claimers. These "elite" players talk crap about how much better they can mash buttons then you. If some guy kept running his mouth to me like they do in Madden Nation, I would kick him right in the throat. Or at least disconnect his controller. You know how upset that prick would be. "Dude, you DC'd my mote, it's cuz im so OP isn't it. It's cuz your a newb isn't it? Going around DC'in my mote...playa please!" Where once again I would proceed to kick that douche right in his face. Just above all his chains and necklaces, right between the fake rocks his got pierced through his attached ear lobes.

Honestly, these guys are freaking funny to watch for maybe like five minutes. I just realize how much these guys enjoy playing football on XBOX how it's not supposed to be played. I mean hell, you watch these guys run an offense and you know what they do? I give you a little taste. "First the claimed elite troller masher drops back in the pocket 15-20 yards, defeating the purpose of a pocket. He then runs left where he proceeds to throw the ball 35 yards into double coverage across his body." Great football huh? Except he will probably catch one of four of those roll outs and take it to the house. Then we get to see his gamer dance which looks like it was choreographed on dance revolution, and clown on the opponents’ mom and skills, and say how thats you mash buttons and click that analog stick.

Next time I stumble upon these ridiculous show of clowns wearing jerseys and fake ice, I will contemplating shooting myself. After my adrenaline subsides I will just turn the tv off. Then hop in my truck, find the Madden Nation bus, and personally reset all those fools XBOX's and mass delete there gamerscores for life.

Oh, by the way. If you are so lucky to hear one of their tips, you will never lose the game. My boy hollywood can run the same play everytime and get 5-7 yards. Everytime. But tell my hollywood, how come you dont win everygame? I'd take a play out of madden 96', run Key HB. Suck that dime package scheme!

Mike and Shaun Might Atone for Lack of Talent

I'll throw this out there right now, the San Francisco 49ers are my favorite team. I’m first of all very excited for the coaching decision that just occurred. It is plain and simple; Mike Nolan was not a competent leader. He couldn't keep a solid defense, and his offense has only stayed slightly above water thanks to one stud named Frank Gore. Mike Nolan was gutless. He never took chances, he would wear a damn suite and tie, but wouldn't give the rock to Frank Gore on countless 4&inch.

Mike never realized that he had a severely below par team. He never realized that the only success they had last year was from a 6th year veteran in Shaun Hill out of Maryland. Some of this might have been Mike Martz fault for getting down on his knees for JT O'Sullivan, but Nolan failed to establish he was the head coach. Not only did they start JT, but they failed to even mention Hill. When Alex Smith was still healthy, he was still projected above Shaun Hill.

Let me break down why Shaun Hill is the best fit for the 49ers. First and foremost, the 49ers are anything but explosive. They have an old hall of famer on a respirator, and an ex-QB running routes trying to get open down field. They have a freak of a TE who is strictly not human, but unfortunately his species was created with hands of stone. They also have no line what to speak of. Look at their tackle SIMS. Does anybody know who he was cut by??? The lower than life Raiders. The Raiders O-Line has been the swinging gate for years, but the 49ers stoop so low as to sign this buffoon. Didn't the 49ers just draft a linemen in Staley? Show some progression for the hell of it! Last but not least, they have abandoned the fullback. We no longer have Fred Beasely and William Floyd punching people in the mouth like they did for Ricky Watters and Garrison Hearst. We now have some scrub from Penn State who was an option quarterback trying to lay hat on backers and strong safety’s. It is a complete joke.

So this gets me back to Shaun Hill being a great 49ers quarterback. If you notice h always checks down his receivers. He goes through his progression. "ok, old WR and TE with no hands, here you go Frank Gore." That is Hill's thought process. He simply says, wow, my offense is extremely sub par, so I’ll give it to my only superstar....EVERYTIME! He does nothing special, which he shouldn't. As long as the terrapin keeps dumping the ball off to the shortest running back with two fake knees to come out of Miami, then were all ok.




For those of you who missed the entertaining news conference, here you go. I like Mike, he takes no crap, and we just might see some more of Walker and some less of that "thing" with long hair and no hands.