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Within the last 48 hours, in relation to just the Chicago Bulls and LeBron James, I have literally heard the following transactions "could possibly" take place when the free agency shenanigans begin this Thursday:
"Sources say that LeBron James and Chris Bosh have confirmed that they will both sign with the Chicago Bulls."
"Sources say that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have confirmed that they will both sign with the Chicago Bulls."
"Sources say that LeBron James and Joe Johnson have confirmed that they will both sign with the Chicago Bulls."
Now let me ask you something, if I make every single prediction that could come to fruition on July 8th, does that make me a credible source or does that make me sound like someone who's just wasting their breath? You want to know the truth about this upcoming free agency and the future of the NBA? Realize I have no clue WTF I'm talking about, but I'm going to attempt to separate the what's real and what's not.
Last week gave even more indication that my childhood is over when Rasheed Wallace, one of my basketball idols, and the most cantankerous power forward of my lifetime, took off his Forces, and announced his retirement from the NBA.
When I use cantankerous to describe ‘Sheed, it's meant it in the most complimentary way possible. From the moment he came on the college basketball scene at North Carolina, it was obvious he was one of the most boisterous and skilled players we would ever see. You could also tell he was the consummate teammate. The man played with Jerry Stackhouse, Jeff McGinnis, and Donald Williams to form one of the more formidable teams in college basketball.
I think that I know you people out there, so it is safe to say that a few of you have probably played the game of spades once or twice in your day. As we near the climax of "The Summer of '10" on July 1st, we're seeing teams pull out all the stops to try to acquire stars like never before. In effect, teams are gutting their entire roster and cap space to try an acquire 2-3 franchise players to amass a super squad in hopes of making a title run.
Its risky, but if you are to succeed then the rewards can be plentiful and bountiful. We've seen this strategy put to work by the Boston Celtics, who mortgaged their long-term future for immediate short-term success by trading away all their young talent (Al Jefferson in particular) to acquire Jesus and the Big Ticket. Result? A 3-year run at a title and 2008 NBA Champs. They ran "A Boston" in spades terminology, went for broke and succeeded. There are 3-4 teams attempting to "Run A Boston" this summer, will it work? Let's break this down a bit.
I'm going to admit this straight up...I didn't watch the draft.
I say this bitterly as I've been known to get my "Light Skin Simmons" on and go NBA Draft Diary here on ETSF. Its funny because usually I do a draft diary while drinking "libation" and watching it with friends as well.
However, after looking at the 2010 Draft Board...I can immediately tell you who effed up, and I have to question...WHAT IN BLOODY BLUE HELL WERE THEY THINKING???
Two months from now, we’ll be able to look at a Thursday and know we’ve got football not only on that day, but also on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. It’s so close, but still seems so far away, and in the meantime, we got to find a way to make up for that time.
When it comes to making it up, it goes for all fans, or at least the majority of fans I know. Granted, there are some people who can literally watch baseball every day, and while that’s cool for them, the majority would rather talk about what’s coming up with football instead of a sport that’s actually being played right now. Luckily, the beginning of the downtime has brought us some good stories, and this may be one of the years when waiting on football season isn’t so dreadful.
I know that some of you have really gotten into the spirit which is the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and for that I am proud of you. It takes a certain sacrifice to sit down and watch a sport that you might not really care about otherwise, but you know its a big deal globally and you want to be a part of it. I get it. See, I've been a soccer fan since the late 90's, so I've become accustomed to watching a match for 90 minutes and seeing only one goal or sometimes no goals scored. Doesn't faze me.
However, I know it fazes you. You want to see action, you want to see goals, and you want to see someone win. Get outta here with these freaking ties you say. Understandable. So when we finally see a breakthrough in a soccer match, we see unbridled celebration by the players. Literally the entire team becomes unhinged and a player's raw emotion comes out. Sometimes, its a premeditated celebration...something that he's thought about for years, and he finally gets a chance to do it on the world stage. Sometimes, its just someone running around like a crazy man. That works too.
So why is it that we in the States cast stones at our favorite football players for doing similar celebrations when in fútbol it is beloved by the entire world?
What you’re about to read is the most overly ambitious, incredibly naïve, yet most authentic and challenging post I’ve ever written. If the answers to this problem were already out there, then it would be one thing. In essence, this is part thinking aloud/talking with folks who teach or went to school at HBCUs/my own personal views. The irony of all this is I don’t even know if this can work. Hell, it may not, but the object is to try. With that said, let’s begin.
Its an interesting fact that Kenny brought up to me last week, we've reached an astonishing feat in that today's post is our 500th post. Its weird, really, that we've written so much just a little over two years time. We have the ability to reach thousands of people with our voice, and if you've never heard the mission statement, then understand it as this:
"Ed The Sports Fan was created to serve as a palette for aficionados of athletic competition, to consistently providing original & thought-provoking content at all times."
This is how we differentiate ourselves versus any other sports publication on the net. We don't knock anyone else's hustle, but we just do what we do, because we know if we did anything else you'd talk real bad about us immediately. Here's the thing though, we're just getting started. Here are a couple of reflections I'd like to share with you today...
All hail the Los Angeles Lakers. They are on top of the basketball world.
What we witnessed last night can't be more accurately described as "All Hell Breaking Loose." That easily was one of the worst/greatest games I've ever seen in my entire life. We had a supremely dynamic shift in the officiating in the first half into the second half, which had me insanely perplexed. We had a Los Angeles crowd that seemed stunned for almost the entire game, then came to life like a church congregation late in the game. We had a Boston team that looked phenomenal, playing their A-Game for 3 1/2 quarters, then literally fell off a cliff for the rest of the game.
But most importantly, the epic (bad) shooting performance of Kobe Bryant in Game 7 ultimately led to the best team winning the NBA Finals.
It’s safe to say that desperate times call for desperate measures. Tonight signals Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals, and by now, there’s nothing else to be said, in terms of strategy, players, and coaches. As much as people have said, it still seems like there’s one man that hasn’t been asked to make sure the desired result of what’s best for the NBA will happen. Without further ado, this is my personal open letter to the greatest winner in NBA history, the one and only Bill Russell.
There's no doubt about it, Phil Jackson is the greatest coach who our generation has ever seen. You can debate what type of talent (be it Michael & Scottie and Kobe & Shaq/Gasol) he's had around him and what difference that would make, but the man has won 10 championships in 19 seasons and is on the brink of #11. He's set the bar so high that it almost seems egregious that Doc Rivers has found a way to match wits with the Zen Master. (Doc is 7-5 in the finals against Phil)
However, did you know that this is only the 4th Game 7 Phil Jackson has ever coached? This is the first Game 7 for Phil in the finals and there has never been more on the line than what will take place tomorrow night. Let's hop into the Hot Tub Time Machine and check out Phil's other appearances in Game 7 with the Bulls. Yes, the Lakers did go 7 games with the Kings back in 2002 but I refuse to believe that game should've existed in the first place. I think you'll notice a theme start to set in. Anyway, let's reflect to '92 and '98.
A sickening display has, once again, reared it's head in this year's NBA Finals. It's one that truly isn't surprising, but still isn’t right. In the midst of the Celtics being one win away from winning their second NBA title in three years, people would rather talk about the legacy of Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, and what’s wrong with the Lakers, instead of simply giving Boston their credit. However, that’s why ETSF is here. See, we (well, not Ed, but I do) see it as one of our roles to scream at an injustice when we see it, and attempt to correct a wrong. That’s what today’s post is all about. It’s more of a call-to-arms to what’s on the line for Boston, outside of that big gold trophy.
(Shoutout to Rich at 6magazine for the great photos and being a tag-team partner for the event, much appreciated boss.) If you ever wanted a reason to do things you love in life, this is the testimonial you can use to live by.
The good folks at Nike decided to invite yours truly to come and be a part of a big announcement being made in New York City this past Wednesday. That announcement is the formation of the World Basketball Festival. This summer, five of the world’s best basketball teams and top musical performers will meet throughout New York City for the inaugural World Basketball Festival, a four-day celebration of the performance and culture of the game created by NIKE, Inc. and USA Basketball, that Nike has committed to reprising every two years. Nike will host the WBF at 3 prestigious basketball venues in NYC, those being: Times Square, Rucker Park, and Madison Square Garden.
Nike also aligned this announcement with the launch of their Fall 2010 collection, with the focus on their three basketball brands: Nike, Jordan Brand, and Converse. I'm going to break this down diary style, so pay attention and take notes.
Just understand that what you're going to experience starting on Friday is going to be downright absurd. For the next 3 weeks you're going to receive so much coverage of the 2010 World Cup that if you are not properly prepared you might feel inclined to start drinking heavily. Wait...you already do that? Ah well, then maybe you'll want to listen to the latest Justin Bieber CD on repeat. Yeah, that's definitely more excruciating.
Sometime last year, fellow blogger and friend Jeremy K. Smith and I collaborated and did a comparison of the NBA's best players to the best rappers of this era. Lets make this thing we call futbol a little more relevant and do a comparison to some of the greats in "the association."
The NBA Finals are supposed to be the greatest time of the year for all basketball fans. We get to see the two best teams, with some of the best players in the NBA, go at it, and they do it all in the name of the Larry O’ Brien Trophy. However, leave it to the officials to call these games in a manner that’s been so awful, so pathetic, and so unnecessary that it’s taking the fun out of the entire thing.
Last night, three events took place that, depending on who you ask, had a huge amount of magnitude. One was the debut of Stephen Strasburg for the Washington Nationals. The second was Game Three of the NBA Finals, and the third was the Jill Scott and Maxwell concert. Granted, if you asked me this question three months ago, the obvious choice would be to hit up the concert, and not even give the other two events much thought at all. However, as the day got closer, the decision wasn’t as easy, but in the end, I settled for going to the concert, thus missing the two games.
This is going to be an "Ed raging against hypocritical capitalism and silly rhetoric all in the name of getting money" post. I'm just giving you a heads up now.
Over the last couple of months, I've heard tons of news where the Big 10 (+1)is looking to bring on an additional 1 to 3 teams into their midst. The Pac-10 could look to bring in as many as SIX teams into their conference. The Big 12 is laying out ultimatums to Nebraska and Missouri like commissioner Don Beebe has ANY power at all whatsoever. The Mountain West has even gotten into the mix and proposed bringing in Boise State into their ever improving conference.
Somehow this thang we call college sports has turned into something where money can be made while athletics and school spirit were always at the forefront, and changed into the only thing the higher ups really care about. Making college sports ALL...ABOUT...THE MONEY.
It is with great sadness, anger, disappointment, frustration, and dismay that I write today’s post. What I am about to say is something that has been said by plenty in the past year, as well by Pau Gasol recently, who, even though he told the truth, should still shut the *bleep* up, because he’s a second-fiddle for the other team. The ugly truth is one of my childhood heroes, The Great Kevin Garnett, is dying a slow basketball death right before our very eyes, and there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it.
Game Two was a culmination of many things we already know. Ever since KG hurt his knee last season, he just hasn’t been the same. He’s always been a fiery dude, and no one can ever question his leadership. It just seems like once his knee left, other attributes left as well. The man seems to get more frustrated than ever. He’s gone from the best player in the arena, to that ornery old man that you hoop with at the gym. You know the one that, despite their age and their diminishing athleticism, is still nice on the court, but he’s just too crunk for his own good. He’s gone Bushido Brown on Dwight Howard, we’ve seen him drag himself up the court more and more, and just seeing this reminds me of another one of my childhood heroes who met his demise before our very eyes about six years ago. With that said, lets flashback to the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals, when the Sacramento Kings took on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Note: Today's post is presented by The Rev, the mastermind behind The House that Glanville Built. Enjoy.
Right now, Kobe Bryant is like a shark that smells blood in the water. He can sense it. He can taste it. And he’s never been hungier than right now.
He sees LeBron’s crown at the NBA’s pinnacle is getting tight on the king, and he wants to reclaim his post that he never really relinquished. He’s out for LeBron’s blood. Kobe feels Magic’s five titles in his grasp, and he wants to equal the greatest Laker champion ever. He’s out for Magic’s blood. He sees the Celtics in front of him, and he wants revenge. Kobe’s out for Boston’s blood. And yes, on the horizon, he can sense Michael’s six championships aren’t far away, and he wants to legitimize the Kobe-MJ conversation. He’s out for Jordan’s blood. Kobe Bryant doesn’t just want to be in the history books, he wants to be at the forefront of that history. He has blood lust right now.
As fans, I think we should all be ashamed of ourselves for what has transpired in the last 12 hours. Somehow, we've let a soft, sensitive, sissified 1st-base umpire who's testicular fortitude was tested by the apex of perfection and in jest dropped the proverbial ball in egregious fashion, that we've let the second most important athlete of the 1990's go away without any fanfare whatsoever.
The pundits of professional sports have conveniently swept Ken Griffey, Jr.'s career under the rug as a #2 story as if we've never seen a perfect game before. You'll see plenty more perfect games before you see as great a baseball player as Junior. (Hell, we've seen two already in this 2010 MLB season before the All-Star break) So pay respect, and tip your cap to someone who at 40 years old can still be called, "The Kid" and everyone knows the deal.
There are plenty of things that can be said about this recent version of the Boston Celtics. They have their young floor general, and, after Game Six, they have a reliable back-up point guard. Of course, they have Paul Pierce, the staple of the Celtics for the past 12 years, and also have the greatest shooter in my lifetime, in Ray Allen. However, there are two players on this team that have been near the top of my favorite players list for the past 15 years. They came in the league together, and with four more wins, will be able to win a championship together. Those two players are none other than Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett.
I think there are a couple of definining moments in this 2010 NBA playoffs that none of us will truly forget in a long time. There was the Rondo switcheroo on LeBron James, there was the formation of Kobe's new go to move (the multiple head fakes, not to actually fake you, but to get his balance and get his shot off move) against the Suns, the LeBron YUUUUULE on James Johnson, the Russell Westbrook YUUUUULE on Lamar Odom, the the Kevin Garnett forearm chops on Dwight Howard, the multiple fake deaths of Wince Carter and Fall Pierce, and the Slovenian Cage Match with Goran Dragic and Sasha Vujacic.
However, there hasn't been anything as sentimental, egregious, outstanding, and hilarious as Game 5 and 6 for Ron Artest as he proved that he is the single biggest enigma in the NBA. The things that he is capable of doing and not doing
Ron Artest is the most important player in the 2010 NBA playoffs, and its not even close.
