KEEPINGITREALSPORTS.COM

Archive for June, 2008


Lil Wayne: The Carter III Album Review

In Stanley Fritz on June 30, 2008 at 12:00 AM

So for three years, this young man has had the opportunity to work on an album that would verify his deceleration as best rapper alive, and for three years he has fed his fans with countless songs, features, mixtapes and, interviews while growing a following that no one ever thought he could ever achieve. From the moment his popularity rose there have been arguments in which hip hop fans of all corners of the world have argued about Waynes lyrical status. Some say he’s the best, some say he’s over rated, others just refuse to hear from him, but no matter what the reaction or the belief he has been the dominant voice in hip hop over the past couple of years. So now with the release of The Carter III Wayne has the chance to finally establish himself as not only an entertaining artist with a cult following but also as the super rapper that he claims to be.

Lyrics 6.5-I thought he would step it up for his album but not really, its the same nothing outrageous a lot of corny Simile’s, great flow, great delivery, high energy, a lot of mumbling, he takes pauses in some of his verses which can be very annoying but he isn’t as painfully bad as some may claim. Wayne is by no way near a lyrical monster but his verses are enjoyable and he has moments where you will catch a line or two that will stick out, but if your looking for complex lyrics your probably looking at the wrong album.

Production: 7.5- The production is a lot like the lyrics, nothing horrible, but nothing breath taking either. Never the less the production is solid, with enough uptempo production to keep the heart pumping, a soulful track or two, the smooth mellow tracks which are usually used for the ladies, and and of course the production style that wayne is usually known for.

Songs/Content 7- In the eyes of many this album was supposed to be a statement album. The Carter III would finally prove that Wayne is by far the undisputed Number one rapper in the hip hop game. There would be no more arguments there would be no more criticism because after hearing this album, even the harshest wayne critics would be convinced. So every song on here had to be on an entirely different level from anything you have ever heard from him, including the mixtapes that have come out from him, this had to be on an entirely different level… and it wasn’t. There really is no point to this entire album there is no general feeling there is no direction, it could have honestly just been another mixtape. Songs like Mr. Carter, 3peat, Tie My Hands, and Dont Get It, grab you and make you want to listen, but Hov outshines him on Mr. Carter, in don’t get it he raps for three minutes and talks for seven, some listeners may be turned off by Tie My Hands content (introspective) but it shows that lil wayne isn’t all drugs money and sex, Dr. Carter is a fun song depicting what wayne feels he is to the game, but out of these outlined tracks everything else is enjoyable but easily forgettable. “La La ” is a total disaster, and “Nothing on me” is a mixtape material and filler”

Conclusion 7- As the last song plays and the music comes to an end two things will remain the same. Grass will continue to be green and Lil Wayne will still not be the best rapper alive. This album is by no means a throw away, but with the same regards it is not, and should not be considered a classic. Does he have good songs on this album yes, is the production good yes, can you listen to this album straight through, thats up to the individual listener. But to label this a classic or to give him the thrown as hip hops ultimate Elite Emcee would be a mistake, Lil wayne puts up a great effort, but leaves listeners with a decent outcome, better luck next time.


I love the holidays.

In Stanley Talouis on June 26, 2008 at 3:17 PM

For those of you who have come to know me, you know that I love football. And to me, the NFL Draft is like Christmas for a guy like me. But I also enjoy the NBA Draft. So if the NFL Draft is Christmas, does that make the NBA Draft Easter? Or if we ignore chronological order, would that make it Thanksgiving?

Makes sense. Just like on Thanksgiving, the day starts off with me thinking about all the good things that could happen. “Man, that turkey’s gonna be awesome.” is pretty similar to “Man, the Knicks are gonna draft a franchise player tonight.” The difference is that the latter usually doesn’t happen. And I know what you’re thinking. “Stan, you said you weren’t going to do an NBA mock draft.” Yeah, well I lied. You and I both know I couldn’t resist. I’m a prognosticator. How could I stay away from predicting the unpredictable? Its like gambling or eating Pringles. Once you start, you can’t stop. I think I have a problem. Is there a program for people like me? Anyway, before I get too far from the topic, I’ll lay down some ground rules.

1) I’m doing this based on the information thats already out.

2) I’m doing this on the chance that there won’t be any trades. (But we all know there will be.)

With all that said, here we go.

 

Chicago Bulls- Derrick Rose, G Memphis: Rose is the clear cut choice here. He’s the hometown guy, he’s an impact point guard coming into a league where point guard are changing the game. Personally, I’d try to package Tyrus Thomas and Kirk Heinrich and try to acquire another pick. I don’t see how they’ll work two guards like Heinrich and Rose together into the rotation. Can’t put either one of them on the bench.

Miami Heat- Michael Beasley, F Kansas St: I’m not saying they’ll keep him, but they’ll probably draft him and wait to see who wants to trade for him. Seattle is a possibility but neither him nor Durant play defense. Besides, I can see Durant playing the 4 if he puts on some weight. I think Minnesota or Memphis would be smart to trade up here to take Beasley. Then Miami can still take a guy like OJ Mayo or Jerryd Bayless.

Minnesota Timberwolves- OJ Mayo, G USC: Remember the last temperamental freshman phenom that got drafted by Minnesota. Goes by the moniker, ”Starbury”?? Yeah, that guy. I don’t know if Mayo is even going to Minnesota with all the trade possibilities, but I know he won’t be there for too long. I could totally see him leaving after his rookie contract expires.

Seattle Supersonics- Jerryd Bayless, G Arizona: Someone’s gotta be the guy to get the ball to Durant. Bayless is a bit of a shoot first type player but I think he’s smart enough to adapt his game around playing with Durant. Personally, I think Seattle (like several other teams) would benefit from trading up to take Mayo. Imagine it. Durant is a big time, crunch time scorer and Mayo would be the best sidekick in the league. He plays defense, he can play three positions, and he can score at will.

Memphis Grizzlies- Kevin Love, F/C UCLA: I originally didn’t think that Kevin Love would be a top 10 pick because of his issues with athleticism but his work ethic is pretty good and rumor has it he’s lost 15 pounds and put on some muscle. Memphis clearly lacks an inside game and if they refuse to send Mike Miller, Mike Conley and this pick to Miami in order to take Beasley, this is a decent backup plan.

New York Knicks- Russell Westbrook, G UCLA: I had to stop myself from wanting Danilo Gallinari here. Gallinari is unlike many European prospects. He’s not soft. He loves contact, he’s tall, quick, and very athletic. Plus he can shoot. My issue is that too many people are calling him an Italian version of Toni Kukoc. I’m no expert but the last time I checked, Kukoc was far from a franchise player. I’m not completely sold on Westbrook but the kid has a motor man. Plus, he’s got crazy hops and he plays tenacious defense. Thats right. Levitation homes. (Tenacious D… look ‘em up)

LA Clippers- Eric Gordon, G Indiana: I was thinking Joe Alexander here, but he’s got absolutely no basketball IQ and looks lost out there sometimes. I don’t know how close Livingston is to coming back so I’d say go with a guard. (Side note: When are the Clippers gonna finally put it together and stop teasing their fans in the beginning of the season. Furthermore, the Clippers could possibly trade Elton Brand and this pick to Miami and take Mayo. Yeah, they’d have no inside game, but its the Clippers. Who cares?)

Milwaukee Bucks- Danilo Gallinari, F Italy: Remember that Mastercard commercial with Don Nelson coaching the Mavericks and he was speaking all the different languages? Could you imagine Scott Skiles having to do that with Yi Jianlian and Gallinari? It’d be like the UN on that team. I just think that’d be funny. To be honest with you, the Bucks are better of taking Joe Alexander. He fits into the Scott Skiles mold.

Charlotte Bobcats- Joe Alexander, F West Virginia: The guy with no basketball IQ would get to play for one of the greatest basketball minds in the world. Works out well. If Alexander is gone by the time the Bobcats are on the clock, I could see Gallinari going here.  

New Jersey Nets- Brook Lopez, F/C Stanford: He works hard and he’s smart. The Nets lack depth in the low post and Lopez would help solidify that frontcourt with Josh Boone and Krystic.

Indiana Pacers- Kosta Koufos, F/C Ohio St: This is quite the downgrade from Jermaine O’Neal, but they can afford to take the risk since they got TJ Ford in the deal. I think Koufos doesn’t look like he’s completely into it. Just my opinion.

Sacramento Kings- DJ Augustin, G Texas: I didn’t think that Augustin would slip this far, but the Kings do need a guard and they’ll luck out if he falls this far. I also like the chance of the Knicks trading Eddy Curry and the 6th pick to the Kings for an expiring contract and this pick. The Knicks could still get a valuable guard here and they’d send that albatross packing.

Portland Trailblazers- Anthony Randolph, F/C LSU: You know the Blazers are going to do something crazy and you can’t miss it. Its like that episode of the Simpsons where the Italian mob was fighting the Japanese yakuza on the front lawn. The little one is just standing there and you know he’s gonna do something cool. The Blazers are the little Japanese dude.

Golden St Warriors- Robin Lopez, F/C Stanford: The other Lopez twin gets to stay closer to home. They might be a little overloaded in the frontcourt with this pick but they can probably use it to trade up.

Phoenix Suns- Mario Chalmers, G Kansas: Seriously, if Robert Sarver trades this pick, I’ll officially become a Suns fan so I can boo him and get him removed from the entire state of Arizona. I know people are still pissed off that he passed on Rajon Rondo for some cash that ended up going to Marcus Banks. MARCUS BANKS!!!!

Philadelphia 76ers- DeAndre Jordan, F/C Texas A&M: The Sixers need help on the inside and like I’ve been saying… why don’t the Knicks trade Zach Randolph to the Sixers with the 6th pick for Andre Miller, Rodney Carney, and the 16th pick? That way Philly gets the guy on the inside they lack, the Knicks get a younger, cheaper replacement, a good swingman, and a veteran point guard.

Indiana Pacers (from Toronto)- Brandon Rush, G Kansas: I really like this kid’s game. He’s a good defender on the perimeter, he good shooter and he attacks the basket. Do the Pacers even have a shooting guard? Holy crap… I just realized. Kareem Rush is on the Pacers. How funny would it be if the Pacers drafted his younger brother and gave him more minutes. Talk about sibling rivalry.

Washington Wizards- Donte Green, F Syracuse: A lineup with Arenas, Jamison, Butler, Green and Haywood would be pretty impressive on the offensive end. They all have to learn how to pass though.

Cleveland Cavaliers- Darrell Arthur, F Kansas: Varejao’s gone. Write that down. He’s not going to be in Cleveland for long. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you his replacement. I could also see Roy Hibbert going here.

Charlotte Bobcats (from Denver)- Roy Hibbert, C Georgetown: Okafor needs some help. I think Hibbert can help. Especially on the defensive end.

New Jersey Nets- JJ Hickson, F NC State: Honestly, I have no clue why Hickson would be good here. I ran out of ideas after Philly.

Orlando Magic- Courtney Lee, G Western Kentucky: The general consensus has Lee going here to the Magic because of their needs at the 2 guard spot. And these are the same people that drafted and barely gave playing time to JJ Redick. Go figure.

I’m gonna be honest with you… nothing else interests me here. Unless there are some insane trades, there isn’t much else that would surprise or intrigue me. However, I will say this. I’d like to see where Joey Dorsey and Chris Douglas-Roberts land. I can see either one of them falling to Memphis at 28. CDR could also end up in Boston to back up Ray Allen. Who better for him to learn from?

Last season, we saw the most draft day trades in the history of the NBA draft. Could we see more? I’d like to see more. That’d be awesome. Also, if Zach Randolph does get traded, would he be the first player in NBA history to be traded on consecutive draft nights? And if that’s the case, whatever team he ends up on officially has the dumbest GM in the history of the planet. Well, here’s hoping for a great night at the Garden. Oops, excuse me. I mean a great night at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Man, I love the holidays.


Just when you thought it was over…

In Stanley Talouis on June 24, 2008 at 2:01 AM


Just a few thoughts on this.

- I like this. Just when you thought things weren’t going to get interesting, they do. This is just when everyone needs. And I mean everyone. The media needs a little more to talk about over the next few days before the draft. Shaq needs to remain relevant after doing nothing in the second half of the season and in the postseason. Kobe needs to go to Beijing with a colossal chip on his shoulder. Can you imagine what a motivated Kobe Bryant would do in these international games? He’s already pissed off after losing to the Celtics. And if losing wasn’t enough, the Lakers were completely obliterated in the last game. Now, Shaq pretty much verbally smacked him and its all over the internet. Whether Shaq was joking or not, its all about perception and an angry Kobe is a force to be reckoned with. We should officially call this summer, The Return of Black Mamba. No more joking in the press conferences. No more smiles. Just hard work and motivation. I can taste that Olympic gold already.

- Why did Shaq have to bring Patrick Ewing into this. Its not all Patrick’s fault the Knicks didn’t win any titles with him around. If you’re going to blame anyone, blame Hakeem Olajuwon, or Michael Jordan, or John Starks. Or for that matter, blame Pat Riley for leaving Rolando Blackmon on the bench and letting Starks go 2 for 18… million.

-


I’m so conflicted.

In Stanley Talouis on June 23, 2008 at 4:06 PM

Game 6 NBA Diary
When the Knicks played the Spurs in the 98-99 NBA Finals, I was at the barbershop getting a haircut during Game 5. Subsequently, it wasn’t my best haircut. Tonight, without even realizing the error in ways, I ended up at the barbershop once again during a Finals clinching game. Luckily for me, I was done by the end of the first quarter. No drama, no bad haircuts. Its just too bad that this NBA diary begins several minutes into the second quarter. Before I begin, there are a few things I noticed while at the barbershop.

- Rajon Rondo is redeeming himself for Game 5. He’s got three steals already. He might just beat out Chris Mihm for T-Mobile Player of the Game. Oh yeah, and Robert Sarver? Remember when you traded the draft rights for Rondo to the Celtics for basically nothing? Joke’s on you, huh?

- Holy crap, its Big Baby Davis. Doc Rivers never ceases to amaze me with his rotations.

- Did Kobe make a bet with someone that he could outscore his teammates in the first quarter of every game?

9:55pm- James Posey just hit an open three to take a six point lead. And then a steal, followed by another three from Eddie House. Maybe defense really does win championships.

10:00pm- Ray Allen is still in the locker room after getting poked in the eye. Oh wait, here he comes. Is this going to be another Willis Reed comparison?

10:02pm- How am I supposed to find the balance between watching this great game and watching The Office on TBS? More or less importantly, I want to order chinese food before halftime but I dont know what I want.

10:14pm- Kobe just split the defense and kicked it out to a semi-wide open Jordan Farmar, who eventually turned it over. He may not be back after halftime

10:16pm- Personally, I like the Celtics’ chances tonight. Dick Bavetta isn’t calling the game so at the very least, it’ll be a decisive win with no conspiracies.

10:19pm- Halftime stats. Celtics have a 23 point lead. Paul Pierce is insanely close to a triple double. And I think Mike Breen has mentioned Ray Allen’s kid like 10 times already. Mike, we get it. Its on his mind. Side note: I sometimes wonder what players think about on the free throw line.
10:29pm- Crabmeat fried rice with fried crabsticks. Yeah, I know. I like crab.

10:44pm- According to Mike Breen, the Lakers might not be able to come back because “it can be so deflating, especially when the crowd is so loud”. Thats some damn good analysis.

10:48pm- This game is over. It really is. It feels like the Celtics just want it more. And I know that sounds so cliche, but they’re playing like the world is going to end tomorrow. And Ray Allen just hit a wide open three after a steal by Rondo. Come on. Seriously?

10:56pm- So far this game, outside of Kobe’s 3 3-pointers in the first quarter, I haven’t seen Black Mamba check in.

11:01pm- As much as I hate the city of Boston, you have to give it to them. Chanting MVP while Paul Pierce is shooting free throws is sort of a double entendre. Not only are they saying that Paul Pierce is worthy of the NBA Finals MVP award, but in a way they’re mocking the Lakers crowd, who obviously don’t understand the rules of chanting “MVP”.

11:03pm- By the way, I did pick the Lakers to win this series. I admit it. I was wrong about the Celtics. But could you blame me? The Celtics were barely winning games against Atlanta and Cleveland. However, I’m going to go with my original preseason pick. Yes, thats right. Before the season started, I picked the Celtics to win the title. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m glad Boston is about to win. Kevin Garnett deserves a title. Paul Pierce and his 11 stab wounds deserve a title. Ray Allen a.k.a Jesus Shuttlesworth deserves a ring. How else is Denzel going to be able to get out of jail early in “He Got Game 2: Papa’s Coming Home”??

11:11pm- God I can’t wait for this game to end so I can start hating the entire New England area again.

11:17pm- You know a game is over when Trevor Ariza is in the game in the fourth quarter of the NBA Finals.

11:19pm- T-Mobile Player of the Game? You guessed it. Chris Mihm. On a more serious note: Its Rajon Rondo. But wouldn’t it be funny if Chris Mihm was a choice?

11:29pm- I cant even think of anything funny to say right now. I might as well just stop now and start studying for my test tomorrow.

11:31pm- The Celtics just broke the record for most steals in an NBA Finals game. Next up, the record for most lop-sided victory. That record is 42 points. The Celtics are currently up by 36. Ray Allen also just tied the record for most three pointers in an NBA Finals game at 7.

11:39pm- Thats a damn good “Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey, Good Bye” from the Boston crowd. In unison, loud, and clear. Kudos to them.

11:49pm- They might be able to break the point differential record right here… never mind.

11:51pm- Was that the first ever NBA Gatorade bath? Now that floor is going to be sticky. And I don’t know if that huge circle mop is gonna do the job.

11:55pm- I knew Garnett was going to cry.

11:58pm- Apparenty, Kevin Garnett thinks that anything’s possible.

 

So, now that the Celtics have finally won it, I can go back to hating the entire city of Boston. But first, I have to say that there aren’t too many people in sports that I can say deserve a championship more than Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. Three men that anyone can say they truly admire in sports. They give everything they have to their teams. When Kevin Garnett was trying year after year to get out of the first round, he stayed loyal to his organization. To this day, as we just saw, he holds Minnesota in high regard. Ray Allen would probably have never left Milwaukee if he hadn’t been traded and he’s always been a loyal, respectable guy. Paul Pierce stuck around in Boston when he could have left several times. And how about Doc Rivers going from lame duck coach to NBA champ.

As a Knicks fan, there’s so much to hate about this Boston team. PJ Brown, Sam Cassell, the city of Boston itself, and in some cases… the color green. Thats right. I said it. That city makes me hate the color green. However, for the very limited time span involving the NBA Playoffs, I put aside my hate for everything New England related and rooted for the Celtics. Not because I don’t like Kobe. Not because I don’t think Phil Jackson is that great of a coach. (Side note: I think he’s a hell of a coach and I think Red Auerbach was wrong to say that Phil Jackson has always had great players to win him championships. Red Auerbach may be a legend, but he’s wrong. The way I see it, Red had as many good players as Jackson had, if not more.) My reasons for wanting the Celtics to win this year goes beyond words. Primal screams are necessary to explain my thoughts on it. When Kevin Garnett screamed at the top of his lungs, thats what I wanted them to win for. When Doc Rivers was doused in Gatorade, thats what I wanted them to win for. When Paul Pierce held that trophy up for the crowd, thats what I wanted them to win for. The Celtics winning the championship not only solidified the careers of three hardworking individuals, but it also shows that there’s something to be said about sacrificing and winning as a team.

As always, here are a few things going around the sports world that have piqued my interest.

- Pacman Jones doesn’t want to be called “Pacman” anymore. Instead he wants to be called by his given name, Adam. Personally, I’d have picked a better video game character. “Niko Bellic” Jones, anyone?

- How about George Martin walking across the country for 9/11 workers… what a guy.

- How about that new Giambi mustache. He looks like the second coming of John Holmes. No pun intended.

- To all the people that thought the Mets were finished because they were four games under .500 and seven games back in the division, I say to you… eat it. The Mets have won three of their last four games and are about to start a series against the worst team in baseball. Oh yeah, and they’re three and a half games back in the division. Its never over til its over.

- In a new mock draft, Chad Ford has the Knicks taking Russell Westbrook from UCLA… over DJ Augustin. I don’t see it, but hey, thats why he’s Chad Ford and I’m not. Furthermore, I don’t think I’ll be doing a mock draft this year. It gets harder and harder every year with stupid general managers, trades, and international players.

- Although its incredibly old news, as a Mets fan I have to throw in my two cents on the firing of Willie Randolph. First off, I dont think he should have been fired due to the fact that he’s had to deal with injuries and a short bench. He’s also had to deal with the pressure of a front office that doesn’t support him and a general manager willing to throw him under the bus at any given moment. In my opinion, its as much the players fault, and its as much Omar Minaya’s fault, as it is Willie’s. If you give your manager a 41 year old outfielder with a history of injuries, what are you expecting to happen. When you give an overrated second baseman a 4 year deal on the downside of his career, what do you expect to happen? I’ve said this time and time again. I think Omar Minaya feels that he missed out on winning a championship with the 1994 Expos and trying to bring back as many of those guys as possible. Don’t be surprised to see Rondell White in a Mets uniform. Don’t believe me? Then why are there two members of the ’94 Expos on this current Mets roster? As if Cliff Floyd has stayed, there would be three. Also, take into consideration that managers don’t play the games. It wasn’t Willie that made Billy Wagner blow those three saves. It wasn’t Willie that made all those errors. It wasn’t even Willie that signed all these washed up veterans. The point is that firing him was a bad idea, and it makes the Mets front office look stupid for firing him on a road trip… after a win. If you wanted to fire him after the 2006 NLCS (when Beltran didn’t even swing), then do it. If you wanted him gone after the collapse last season, pull the trigger. If you wanted to fire him before they went on the road trip, go right ahead. But don’t fire the guy at 3am in the hotel after his team beat a very good offensive team.

Any questions or comments, email me at s_talouis@yahoo.com


Breaking News Met Fans

In Lincoln Ricketts on June 17, 2008 at 1:14 PM

According to ESPn.com, I sadly report that while we were sleeping (except for me, I got you faithful readers) Willie Randolph has been fired, one of the good black managers of this time have been kicked to the curb. I would not put the entire blame it on him, blame endy chavez and  carlos delgado for hitting  under .220. Pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto also were cut loose. What I don’t understand is that they cut him overnight after they beat the angels 9-6, they fired him 2 hours after the win. Mets won 2 str8 and they still cut him loose. Bench coach Jerry Manuel takes over on an interim basis for Randolph.

Let’s some accomplishments shall we.

Randolph was hired in November 2004 and, boosted by the addition of Carlos Beltran and Martinez, the Mets showed immediate improvement. They went 83-79 in his first year, stopping a slide of three straight dismal seasons.

The Mets did far better the next year, tying the crosstown Yankees for baseball’s best regular-season record (97-65) and winning the NL East for the first time since 1988.

Randolph is the first manager in major league history to have his team’s record improve by at least 12 games in each of his first two seasons

He came in second place in the 2006 NL Manager of the Year voting

Any questions: Link2ja@yahoo.com (Srry stan I felt like doing it too)


This Could Be It…

In Stanley Talouis on June 16, 2008 at 4:39 AM

This time, I thought I’d take a page from the book of Bill Simmons… my idol. Unlike him, I’m not a Celtics fan, nor do I live in Los Angeles. I’m merely a basketball fan. And as a basketball fan, I’d like my readers to delve into the mind of a basketball fan. Therefore, this is going to be my very first NBA diary. For those not familiar with an NBA diary, I’m going to watch the entire game and chronicle my thoughts throughout the game. So here we go. Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

9:09pm- I have a weird feeling that Kobe’s going to try to score all the points in this game.

9:11pm- Some bump on Fisher. Looks like a phantom push to me. Maybe if a politician was shot in the crowd, we could see Fisher’s reaction time like that boxer in Snake Eyes. By the way, Snake eyes = awesome movie.

9:12pm- Nice shot from Garnett, followed by a really wide open shot by Fisher. Like I said, some bump, huh?

9:20pm- Maybe the Celtics are baiting the Lakers into another huge lead and then coming back again.

9:22pm- I told you Kobe was gonna try to score all the points.

9:23pm- 14 of the Lakers’ 24 points. He’s already outscored both the Celtics and his own teammates!!!

9:24pm- Thats it. Kobe’s left the game. Black Mamba just checked in. And will someone let the Lakers fans know that you’re not supposed to chant MVP after your player has already won it. Thanks to Jeff Van Gundy for pointing that out as I was typing this.

9:26pm- What a pass from Kobe… oops I mean Black Mamba to Gasol. After Odom’s lucky lay-up, its 31-15 and here comes a timeout. Now I can go do my taxes.

9:31pm- Garnett just got called for his second foul. And Kendrick Perkins is already not playing. Hmmm… is Dick Bavetta here. Yup, found him.

9:33pm- Is Sasha Vujacic in a contract year? His playoff performance reminds me of what Jerome James did to parlay his $30 million contract. Thank God for Donnie Walsh.

9:34pm- I wish I had a laptop. I’d be a lot more comfortable.

9:36pm- End of the first quarter. 39-21 and Kobe has 15. Umm… Doc? You might want to tell your guys to play some defense.

9:43pm- Wow. Chris Mihm is alive. How obscure of him.

9:45pm- Back to back fouls on Chris Mihm. Thats gotta be the highlight of his season.

9:46pm- Stupid Tony Allen. Wait for your team to come back after you make a good play. Don’t spoil your one good play of the year. Here comes another tv timeout. I’m gonna go rotate someone’s tires.

9:52pm- Interesting play there. Ronny Turiaf called for a charge and no one helps him up.

9:54pm- Garnett picked up his third foul. Looked like all ball to me. Here’s a thought. If the Celtics win the title tonight without Garnett’s help, would he feel good about the win?

9:56pm- The Lakers have been outscored 18-8 this quarter and haven’t scored in the last 5 minutes. 18 points already for Paul Pierce and Kobe just shot a “you shoulda had that” look to Pau Gasol. NBA… I love this game.

10:03pm- Maybe Cassell should just stop shooting. Holy crap, Odom just scored. Its because he’s from Queens.

10:09pm- For some reason, Tony Allen has been in the game almost the entire second quarter. I wonder if Doc got confused and didn’t realize that Tony Allen wasn’t Ray Allen. Wait, now they’re both in. Thats gotta be really confusing.

10:12pm- What a move by Odom. Should’ve been a foul.

10:14pm- If I were Dick Bavetta, I’d avoid any controversial calls. I mean, Tim Donaghy just came out and threw you under the bus last week, and he makes a great point, despite being a liar.

10:15pm- End of the second quarter, 55-52. Kobe had no points in the second quarter. He’s relatively calm at halftime talking to Michelle Tafoya. I wonder which one of his teammates he’s going to kill in the locker room.

10:40pm- Ray Allen just tied the game. How about that Jesus Shuttlesworth?

10:41pm- Celtics take their first lead of the game with Paul Pierce’s free throws. Kobe’s back in. Black Mamba fell alseep on the bench.

10:42pm- Never mind. Mamba’s back. He chased down a loose ball and put it back up for the points and the foul.

10:54PM- Celtics just took a timeout after a surprisingly clutch three pointer from Radmanovic. Maybe Doc would feel more comfortable winning in Boston. On a side note, Dark Knight looks awesome and I can’t wait until that movie comes out. Even farther side note, why is Wendy’s saying that their food is better than fast food when its actually fast food? Frankly, I thought the whole “good food, fast” promotion was cool.

10:58pm- Christ, Sly Stallone can’t even smile anymore. Can’t Congress step in and regulate the use of Botox? I think thats more of a threat to human life than steroids are.

11:01pm- Holy crap. Its Brian Shaw. Almost forgot he was an assistant coach in LA.

11:04pm- Doesn’t PJ Brown always looks like he smells something bad? Kinda like the way Kurt Thomas always looks angry, and Sam Cassell always looks surprised.

11:05pm- I’m telling you, Cassell should just stop shooting.

11:07pm- Thats the third time Dick Bavetta has called someone out of bounds in virtually the same spot. The fix is in. Thats right, I said it. Furthermore, (tangent time) why don’t more coaches just try to get the oppposing team’s best player fouled out? Worked for me in NBA Live and to a lesser extent, NBA 2K. Kobe has four fouls in the third quarter. I’d make him work.

11:10pm- Horrible pass by Eddie House after he had the open lane. I think Mike Breen is legitimately excited about this 18 hole playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate tomorrow. He keeps bringing it up. Even more than he might have to.

11:12pm- End of the third quarter, Lakers up 79-70. On the bright side, if the Lakers win, I get a little more practice at this NBA diary thing.

11:17pm- I dont know what the hell is going on, but three different cops cars just sped past my house. That can’t be good.

11:20pm- I kinda want that new Samsung phone. And apparently, Mars is still stuck in the 1970s. My vote for T-Mobile Player of the Game? Definately Chris Mihm.

11:26pm- Wow… Sam Cassell just threw Vujacic to the ground. Really hard.

11:27pm- Smart play by the wily veteran Cassell. Contact and the foul.

11:37pm- EVeryone keeps bringing up the Celtics turnaround from last season. Technically, if the Knicks were to win 66 games or more next season, that would be the largest turnaround in NBA history. I’m not saying its going to happen, but a man can dream, right? oh yeah, the Celtics just tied the game with about four minutes left.

11:46pm- What did Paul Pierce just yell out when Lamar Odom was at the line? Sounded like he said porn.

11:50pm- I think one of the best part about sports is reading the players’ lips when they’re upset. Makes you remember how human they are.

11:51pm- I’m convinced that Laker fans didn’t get the memo that Kobe won the MVP. Either that or they’re hellbent on reminding him every time he shoots free throws. I hope this doesn’t become a trend in the NBA.

11:55pm- A steal followed by a wide open dunk that caused Mark Jackson to say, “Mama, there go that man!” I’m calling MSG as we speak. Gus Johnson and Mark Jackson together in the booth? Magical.

11:58pm- Get ready for the longest 26.8 seconds of your life. Garnett should’ve just dunked that. Or at least pulled it down to try and draw the foul.

12:00pm- Why is Rondo still on the bench? He hasn’t played the entire fourth quarter.

12:02pm- Ouch. Thats a bad miss by House.

12:05pm- House redeemed himself but its too little, too late. Thats the game. Lakers win, 103-98.

12:09pm- Kobe wins T-Mobile Player of the Game. There goes my vote for Chris Mihm.

So, I guess its on to the “Final Four” for Kobe. This sucks though. I was hoping this series would end tonight. I like watching The Office re-runs on Tuesday nights. Now I have to flip back and forth. Sounds like a lot of work to me. Anyway, after watching this game, I’m taking a few things from it.

1) Chris Mihm needs to play. Seriously. Why not? Its Chris Mihm, candidate for T-Mobile Player of the Game.

2) Doc Rivers has to come up with a better plan with who he’s going to play. I don’t see how Rajon Rondo could miss the entire fourth quarter. I know Tony Allen played well, and Sam Cassell did alright late in the game, but I think Rondo gives them the best chance to win.

3) Kendrick Perkins and Leon Powe need to step up in Game 6 because without them, things like this happen.

As always, here are a few things I’ve been thinking about.

- I don’t know how long Jeremy Shockey is going to be on the team but having a shouting match with the general manager isn’t a good sign. People keep saying, “Well, they won the Super Bowl without Shockey so they must be better without him.” Has anyone ever considered the fact that other NFL teams hadn’t had time or enough information on Kevin Boss to gameplan against him? Or how about the fact that the Giants average one yard per carry more when Shockey plays? Its only one yard, but it matters. You can’t subtract a guy like Shockey and be better. Thats not how it works.

- I keep saying it but I don’t blame Willie Randolph for the team’s problems. He’s not out there with Billy Wagner blowing saves. Three blown saves in the past week or so. Thats three more wins they have had.

- Is Ken Griffey Jr. serious about waiving his no-trade clause to go to Tampa Bay? Oh wait… they’re a contender. Almost forgot.

- I went to the store today to buy some yogurt and it was 3 for 2 bucks. Thats almost 70 cents each. Eventually, I’m going to have to take out a second mortgage to have some godamn dairy!


Don’t Worry, There’s Time

In Stanley Talouis on June 10, 2008 at 12:16 AM

Here’s a quick disclaimer:

To Laker fans, get down from that ledge. Don’t be so shocked. The Celtics are actually not that bad. That is to say, they’re damn good. But remember, they’ve been here before… against the Hawks… and the Cavaliers. So calm down. You have the current MVP and he hasn’t shifted into “I’m going to kill everyone on this team if we don’t win” mode.

To Celtic fans, calm the hell down. Remember Atlanta and Cleveland. I’m not saying luck had a lot to do with it but you guys are damn lucky to have home court advantage with that atrocious playoff road record. These next three games are the real test.

Now that I’ve got that out of the way, I can begin. Obviously, unless you’re suffering a power outage too, the Celtics have gone up by two games against the Lakers. I said the Lakers would win in seven games and I stand by that statement. The Lakers are (usually) a deeper team and have more offensive weapons for the Celtics to deal with. However, you wouldn’t know it by the last two games. Kobe simply isn’t Kobe, and no one else is really stepping up. Pau has taken a step back and is having trouble dealing with KG. The Celtics bench has come alive and their younger players are playing like seasoned vets. Leon Powe’s Game 2 performance has to go down as one of the most efficient NBA Finals games for an under-25 player. 21 points and 2 rebounds (6-7 shooting, 9-13FT) in only 15 minutes. If he can keep that up, my prediction’s going to be wrong. The one knock on the Celtics is Doc Rivers. I still don’t think he can manage a rotation well. Sam Cassell did absolutely nothing in six minutes and there was no reason for Rajon Rondo to play 42 minutes when you have Eddie House and Tony Allen on the bench. And with PJ Brown being as old as he is, why not give “Big Baby” Davis some run, especially when you’re up by more than 15?? PJ Brown is one of the oldest players in the league at 38 and he contributed six points and three boards in 23 minutes.

Umm... Doc, there's actually 12 guys on the team.

Another thing I’ve noticed and everyone else should have is the difference in foul shooting. How could David Stern sit there and watch the Celtics take 28 more free throws? Had the difference is foul shots not been so huge, Game 2 might have gone a different way. While I can’t really speculate on what might have happened, the Lakers only lost by six.

So now what happens? The Lakers go back home for three games… unless they get swept, then its actually two games. If the end of Game 2 was any indication, Kobe won’t show up… but I think Black Mamba might. I don’t know what he said to his teammates but it looked like it worked. Sasha Vujacic hit a three, then Vladimir Radmanovic made a steal and took five steps on his way to a dunk that cut the Celtics’ lead to four. Kobe hit a couple of clutch free throws to cut the lead to two after a Rajon Rondo missed jumper. Posey was fouled on the other end and calmly hit his free throws to extend the lead and eventually put away the game.

If the Lakers can play an entire game the way they played the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, this should be a hell of a series. History isn’t on their side, though. The Lakers have never come back from a 2-0 deficit in the Finals, and the Celtics are 7-0 all time when they lead 2-0 in the Finals.

Like I have done in the past blogs, here’s how I feel about a few things going on in the sports world.

- The Bears cut Cedric Benson. He’s had two DUIs in the past few months and its not like he ever made an impact on the field, so goodbye Benson, hello either Shaun Alexander or Matt Forte.

- Ken Stabler got arrested for a DUI too. Isn’t he a little old for things like this? I guess once a Raider, always a Raider.

- My guy Michael Strahan finally decided to call it quits. I’m happy for him. The 7-time Pro Bowler is a first ballot Hall of Famer. He’s fifth all-time in sacks, holds the single season record, and he won a championship. May he be as successful in all future endeavors as he was on the field.

Michael Strahan shows off the hardware.

- Terrell Owens was placed in the reasonable clause testing program for performance enhancing substances. Dude, this would all be averted if you would pick up your phone.
Maybe Rosenhaus can get TO a cellphone plan with more anytime minutes.

- Ken Griffey Jr has finally hit his 600th home run. One can only watch Griffey and wonder what he could have accomplished if he was always healthy.
Sweetest swing in baseball.

- The Mets finished a series against the Giants and things were looking up. They had won 7 of their last 9. Then they got swept in a four game series to the Padres for the first time since 1990. The Padres. A team they should have and could have swept. But no. They got swept. Wanna know the scores? 2-1, 2-1, 2-1, and 8-6. History was made. Yeah, thats right. The first time a team has won 4 straight games by a score of 2-1. Obviously, the first 2-1 win wasn’t against the Mets, but if it had been, would you be surprised? That said, I still don’t think Willie Randolph should be fired. I think the baseball gods had something to do with this.
I respectfully disagree.

- In a recent wave of coaching changes, Flip Saunders was fired and Michael Curry was promoted, Vinny Del Negro is about to accept the Bulls coaching job, and Terry Porter is the new coach of the Suns. No love for Avery Johnson?
A winning percentage over 70% and no job?

- Floyd Mayweather Jr has decided to hang up the gloves at 31. Is this just his way of going out on top or is he afraid of Oscar De La Hoya? Personally, I’d go with the latter. Do you really think he’d pass on making over $20 million? I mean, he doesn’t really need it, but more money is still more money.
Goodbye boxing, hello WWE.

- Kelly Pavlik beat the snot out of some Welshman in three rounds. Man he’s good.
This is the next great middleweight.

- Now that the Red Wings have won the Stanley Cup, Dominik Hasek retired again. This time, I’m pretty sure he won’t be back.
I owned him in NHL 2002.

Any questions or comments? Email me at s_talouis@yahoo.com


Is it Over

In Lincoln Ricketts on June 9, 2008 at 2:01 PM

KG and Kobe

Is it over or just beginning, Dwayne wade and the Heat overcame a 0-2 deficit, can the Lakers? Locking up Kobe is no easy feat but the Celtics did it. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and KG are showing the Lakers how the Big Three can dominate even though Leon Powe really make them win the game. Maybe the halftime special on his life helped him score a career high 21 points. The main question is….Can anyone stop Paul Pierce?


Its a ratings bonanza!!

In Stanley Talouis on June 1, 2008 at 7:54 PM

The stage is set and its official. The Lakers and the Celtics are going back to the NBA Finals together for the first time since 1987. I don’t know if anyone out there is surprised or even if they should be. Both the Lakers and the Celtics had the best records in their respective conferences. And its no secret that this is the matchup that the league desperately wanted to see. Do you honestly believe that David Stern was going to sit around and let the Spurs play the Pistons again? Outside of the basketball purists, and the fundamentalists, who would watch Borefest ’08? I know I wouldn’t. I’d rather watch Major League Badminton on ESPN8.

How can I possibly ignore this? This is the first time I’ve been anticipating watching the NBA Finals since that ’99 Knicks debacle against the Spurs. This matchup has all the storylines. Can Kobe finally win a ring without Shaq? Can Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce finally get their own rings? Can Phil Jackson become the new Red Auerbach?  Its all enough to give anyone a sports boner. The only question left to ask is whether or not this series is going to live up to the hype. I can answer that right now. Its an emphatic no.  There’s no way this series can live up to the standards set by these teams in the late 80s.

There were a combined seven future Hall of Famers in this series, not including the two Hall of Fame coaches in K.C. Jones and Pat Riley. In this 2008 series, I count 5… four of them are definite. The only difference I can find in this ’08 series is that there’s no clear cut favorite. Back in ’87, the Lakers were well-rested, healthy, and had home-court advantage. The Celtics were coming off of a hard-fought conference finals win over Detroit and they had some injury issues that entire season. It wasn’t going to be a sweep, but it was a foregone conclusion that the Lakers would win. These days, there’s no one with any clear advantage. The Lakers are younger, they play an uptempo style, and Kobe has the ability to take over games whenever he chooses. The Celtics play aggressive defense, they’ve only lost once at home and I really think that Kevin Garnett is going on a killing spree if the Celtics dont win.

As a New Yorker, I despise Boston and everything it stands for. As a basketball fan, I’d like Kevin Garnett to win a championship. He truly is one of the more loyal and hardworking players in the league. On the other side, I think Kobe deserves to win a ring without Shaq, despite his attitude over the past few years. So what it comes down to is that like so many other people getting ready to watch this ratings bonanza, I’m waiting to see a great series between two of the best teams in the NBA. For once, this is something that David Stern can admit to orchestrating.

Here’s a few things going on in the sports world that I’ve been thinking about.

- ManRam has hit his 500th homer and Junior is on his way to 600. Its good to see milestones for players who deserve it.

- Kimbo Slice beat the ear off that Thomson dude on primetime television. Its amazing what Youtube can do for people’s careers. Who knows where Kimbo would’ve ended up if Hurricane Andrew didn’t take everything he had.

- Did anyone really take Vince Young seriously when he said he thought about retiring after his rookie year? He plays the most glamorous position in the NFL, he’s only 24, and there’s millions of dollars left to be made. I don’t think he’s that stupid.

- Jason Taylor knows the Dolphins aren’t going to trade him because when they could have, they didn’t. And believe me, they could’ve gotten a lot out of Jacksonville. Maybe they have a lot in store for him in Miami.

- Literally two weeks ago, the Mets were six and a half games back in the division and everyone was calling for Willie Randolph’s head. Since the Coloradio series, the Mets have won 4 of their last 5 games (5-5 in their last 10) and they’re only 4 games out of first place. A little patience and who knows what might happen.

- The Yankees are almost 100% healthy again and Joba’s about to move to the rotation. Things are looking up for the Bombers. 

- in a country that prides itself on free speech, why was Rasheed Wallace fined 25 grand for criticizing the refs? Sports writers don’t get fined when they criticize players, do they? Refs and umpires have been doing a crappy job all over the place. In the NBA, they don’t call fouls. In Major League Baseball, they don’t call home runs. Sheed was right. Why fine him?

 

Any questions or comments? Email me at s_talouis@yahoo.com