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Absolutely awesome..
S
Monday, April 16, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Book Review: The last season
SO I went to the bookstore and noticed that in the bargain section was Phil Jackson's "The Last Season". An ironic title seeing as how he came back to coaching the Lakers a year after he wrote this book.
I had heard that there was a lot of gossip and kobe trashing in this book, and it was in fact the case. I ripped through the book 250 so pages in about 2 hours. It was pretty interesting, but to be honest when there was no drama going on, I was kind of bored.
The book recounts the 2004-05 season which ended in a loss to the Pistons in the finals. The most interesting incidents to me all involved either Kobe and Phil or Kobe and Shaq. I am amazed that Kobe and Phil can even be in the same room together, much less work together after this book was published. From the numerous times that Kobe is ripped for being selfish, narcissistic to Phil saying he wasn't too suprised about Kobe's rape arrest early in the book. Phil and his ghost writer do not pick bones or mince words.
There was some interesting analysis of film study and the preparation that goes into the gind of an 82 game season and the playoffs. But mostly it just help reaffrim my ideas that Jackson's style of coaching is to not coach. He relies on players to figure it out themselves or become self motivationg, while doing all of his weird woo-woo crap. I am not a Jackson fan and I think that it will be a shame if he ever passes Red Auerbach on the all time championships list, as Jackson is not fit to breathe the same air as Red as a coach. Furthermore, I think that jackson is kind of a scumbag for writing this book, then returning to the Lakers. It seems that his inability to deal with Bryant any longer, could be fixed by giving him more money. What a tool.
It's also interesting that he mentions how bonded and close he felt to Shaq, yet this season he has been critical of the Diesel incurring Shaq's Benedict Arnold comments.
Overall the things I learned from this book, are that both kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson are pieces of shit and they deserve each other. And to rot in the cellar of the Western conference for the rest of both of their careers.
S
I had heard that there was a lot of gossip and kobe trashing in this book, and it was in fact the case. I ripped through the book 250 so pages in about 2 hours. It was pretty interesting, but to be honest when there was no drama going on, I was kind of bored.
The book recounts the 2004-05 season which ended in a loss to the Pistons in the finals. The most interesting incidents to me all involved either Kobe and Phil or Kobe and Shaq. I am amazed that Kobe and Phil can even be in the same room together, much less work together after this book was published. From the numerous times that Kobe is ripped for being selfish, narcissistic to Phil saying he wasn't too suprised about Kobe's rape arrest early in the book. Phil and his ghost writer do not pick bones or mince words.
There was some interesting analysis of film study and the preparation that goes into the gind of an 82 game season and the playoffs. But mostly it just help reaffrim my ideas that Jackson's style of coaching is to not coach. He relies on players to figure it out themselves or become self motivationg, while doing all of his weird woo-woo crap. I am not a Jackson fan and I think that it will be a shame if he ever passes Red Auerbach on the all time championships list, as Jackson is not fit to breathe the same air as Red as a coach. Furthermore, I think that jackson is kind of a scumbag for writing this book, then returning to the Lakers. It seems that his inability to deal with Bryant any longer, could be fixed by giving him more money. What a tool.
It's also interesting that he mentions how bonded and close he felt to Shaq, yet this season he has been critical of the Diesel incurring Shaq's Benedict Arnold comments.
Overall the things I learned from this book, are that both kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson are pieces of shit and they deserve each other. And to rot in the cellar of the Western conference for the rest of both of their careers.
S
Monday, April 9, 2007
The NBA MVP debate
This year the MVP award seems to be a 3 horse race with Dirk Nowitzki holding a slight advantage over Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant.
I really think the MVP is the most misunderstood and wrongly applied award in sports.
First it's Most VALUABLE player not best player in the league, or as has so often been the case best player on the team with the best reguar season record. If it's the best player in the league award, Kobe wins in a landslide.
I also think it's unfair for the players to be judged for having won the award previously. If the guy was the MVP last year and he's the MVP this year too, then good for him. That's why I think that Nash's case is the strongest of any of the years he won simply based on how much better he has played this year than the last two. I also think that it says more bad about the NBA that Steve Nash might win 3 straight MVPs, putting him in the same class as Russell, Chamberlain, and Bird, then it says about how great he is as a player. But if you look at the stats and the winning streaks, Nash has been better this year than the last 2. He's averaging career highs in assists and 3 pt shooting. He also completely took over the win over The Lakers on Sun.
But is he more valuable to the Suns than say Tim Duncan is to the Spurs? I'd say no. You take Nash off the Suns and replace him with a top 20 point guard like Stephon Marbury, and they will still make the playoffs, though they wouldn't be a 2 seed or have a prayer in hell of winning anything. You put Chauncey Billups on that team and they might be sitting CLOSE to the same spot. Whereas if you were to replace Duncan with a top 20 guy from the 4 spot (as outside of Shaq and Yao EVERY center sucks) like Al Jefferson whose numbers are comparable to the Dunk's and that team also is not a contender and may struggle to be a 7 or 8 seed. So you have to really look at who could be replaced with a similar payer and influence the team's success the most.
Take Dirk off the mavs and they still make the playoffs. Take Kobe off the Lakers and they make the lottery. Kobe is simply more valuable to his team than ANY other player is to theirs. And I am NOT a Kobe fan or admirer. I think he's robotic, sociopathic and ruthless. I also think that he should get the MVP this year. This year he managed to use his scoring to help his team end a huge losing streak, while keeping them in the playoffs and the higher seed bracketing most of the season.
Need more proof of Bryant's value? Let's compare the supporting casts of the big 3. Nowitzki's supporting cast includes Devin Harris, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse(off the bench) Josh Howard(an all-star), Erick Dampier, and more. Nash has Amare(An all-star) Marion(An all-star), Leandro Barbosa(should be 6th man of the year), Raja Bell, Boris Diaw... Kobe has Lamar Odom,Smush Parker(The worst Starting PG of all time), Andrew Bynum, Luke Walton, etc... Kobe does not get the same kind of help, when he passes to an open teammate you gotta bet the defense isn't that worried.
I think that Nowitzki will end up winning it, and he has been great this year and last, but he isn't the most valuable player. The MVP should be the guy who without him, you wouldn't have a team, and that's Kobe Bryant.
S
I really think the MVP is the most misunderstood and wrongly applied award in sports.
First it's Most VALUABLE player not best player in the league, or as has so often been the case best player on the team with the best reguar season record. If it's the best player in the league award, Kobe wins in a landslide.
I also think it's unfair for the players to be judged for having won the award previously. If the guy was the MVP last year and he's the MVP this year too, then good for him. That's why I think that Nash's case is the strongest of any of the years he won simply based on how much better he has played this year than the last two. I also think that it says more bad about the NBA that Steve Nash might win 3 straight MVPs, putting him in the same class as Russell, Chamberlain, and Bird, then it says about how great he is as a player. But if you look at the stats and the winning streaks, Nash has been better this year than the last 2. He's averaging career highs in assists and 3 pt shooting. He also completely took over the win over The Lakers on Sun.
But is he more valuable to the Suns than say Tim Duncan is to the Spurs? I'd say no. You take Nash off the Suns and replace him with a top 20 point guard like Stephon Marbury, and they will still make the playoffs, though they wouldn't be a 2 seed or have a prayer in hell of winning anything. You put Chauncey Billups on that team and they might be sitting CLOSE to the same spot. Whereas if you were to replace Duncan with a top 20 guy from the 4 spot (as outside of Shaq and Yao EVERY center sucks) like Al Jefferson whose numbers are comparable to the Dunk's and that team also is not a contender and may struggle to be a 7 or 8 seed. So you have to really look at who could be replaced with a similar payer and influence the team's success the most.
Take Dirk off the mavs and they still make the playoffs. Take Kobe off the Lakers and they make the lottery. Kobe is simply more valuable to his team than ANY other player is to theirs. And I am NOT a Kobe fan or admirer. I think he's robotic, sociopathic and ruthless. I also think that he should get the MVP this year. This year he managed to use his scoring to help his team end a huge losing streak, while keeping them in the playoffs and the higher seed bracketing most of the season.
Need more proof of Bryant's value? Let's compare the supporting casts of the big 3. Nowitzki's supporting cast includes Devin Harris, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse(off the bench) Josh Howard(an all-star), Erick Dampier, and more. Nash has Amare(An all-star) Marion(An all-star), Leandro Barbosa(should be 6th man of the year), Raja Bell, Boris Diaw... Kobe has Lamar Odom,Smush Parker(The worst Starting PG of all time), Andrew Bynum, Luke Walton, etc... Kobe does not get the same kind of help, when he passes to an open teammate you gotta bet the defense isn't that worried.
I think that Nowitzki will end up winning it, and he has been great this year and last, but he isn't the most valuable player. The MVP should be the guy who without him, you wouldn't have a team, and that's Kobe Bryant.
S
Saturday, April 7, 2007
What i would do with the first pick in the NFL draft
So there seems to ba a lot of controversy over who The Raiders should take with the # 1 pick. Here's my take in the form of an open letter to Mr Al Davis.
Dear Mr Davis,
I know that the season has been rough. And your team hasn't been the same since the 48-21 pounding by Tampa Bay at the hands of the coach you just let get away. But take heart you sir have the first pick in the draft and the vision to bring your team squarely into 4th place in the AFC west.
Take Jamarcus Russell. Take him now, and don't look back. You love the long ball and a QB with this kind of an arm comes around once a generation. And he's a winner to boot.
Don't get seduced by the amazing upside and pro readiness of Calvin Johnson. He may be the next Randy Moss, but guess who you have sitting angerily on the edge of your bench. The real Randy Moss. And he's only 30. Save the money that you'd spend on Johnson and get Moss some motivational time with Tony Robbins.
Don't even think about thinking about taking Brady Quinn. The guy NEVER beat USC in 4 years or won a bowl game. If ever there's a bad track record, re-read the last sentence. He also has less size, strength, speed and arm strength than Russell. And he WANTS to be the # 1 pick. Do you really want a guy who's openly lobbying to be the pick while talking about how he's a Browns fan? Wouldn't it be really cool you could compare Russell and Quinn head to head? Well you could, it was called the Sugar Bowl. Quinn went 15 for 35 with two TDs(YAY) and 2 picks(BOO). Plus gotta love an accurate QB who can't complete 50% of his passes in the biggest and last game of his career. Quinn shouldn't even be an option at the # 1 spot. If for some reason you've decided that you are TRYING to lose and want to pick the less clutch version of Peyton Manning minus the pedigree, vision and work ethic, then at least trade down and get an extra 3rd rounder or something.
So take Jamarcus, and when he becomes a franchise QB you can send me a check.
S
Dear Mr Davis,
I know that the season has been rough. And your team hasn't been the same since the 48-21 pounding by Tampa Bay at the hands of the coach you just let get away. But take heart you sir have the first pick in the draft and the vision to bring your team squarely into 4th place in the AFC west.
Take Jamarcus Russell. Take him now, and don't look back. You love the long ball and a QB with this kind of an arm comes around once a generation. And he's a winner to boot.
Don't get seduced by the amazing upside and pro readiness of Calvin Johnson. He may be the next Randy Moss, but guess who you have sitting angerily on the edge of your bench. The real Randy Moss. And he's only 30. Save the money that you'd spend on Johnson and get Moss some motivational time with Tony Robbins.
Don't even think about thinking about taking Brady Quinn. The guy NEVER beat USC in 4 years or won a bowl game. If ever there's a bad track record, re-read the last sentence. He also has less size, strength, speed and arm strength than Russell. And he WANTS to be the # 1 pick. Do you really want a guy who's openly lobbying to be the pick while talking about how he's a Browns fan? Wouldn't it be really cool you could compare Russell and Quinn head to head? Well you could, it was called the Sugar Bowl. Quinn went 15 for 35 with two TDs(YAY) and 2 picks(BOO). Plus gotta love an accurate QB who can't complete 50% of his passes in the biggest and last game of his career. Quinn shouldn't even be an option at the # 1 spot. If for some reason you've decided that you are TRYING to lose and want to pick the less clutch version of Peyton Manning minus the pedigree, vision and work ethic, then at least trade down and get an extra 3rd rounder or something.
So take Jamarcus, and when he becomes a franchise QB you can send me a check.
S
Thursday, April 5, 2007
My thoughts on sports
I want to start this blog by explaining where I am coming from and giving some of my thoughts. That way later on when I start blogging on various issues in the sporting world I'll have established some views in public.
I have been a sports fan as long as I have been alive.
I was an all city point guard in high school until I blew my knee out being bridged by a guy who will soon be playing in the NFL.. So I put an inordinate amount of importance on running a team and balance.
I was a pretty good tennis player as well and taught swim team...
Michael Jordan is my favorite athlete of all time with Barry Sanders and Bo Jackson coming in close seconds.
I think that Peyton Manning is a choker as evidenced by his failure to win at Tennesse 4 years in a row followed by Tee Martin a never-was leading them to the title the next year.
I think Tom Brady is the most underrated player in the NFL, and his true greatness won't be known until he retires with 5 or 6 rings.
My favorite sports teams of all time are the 2002 Angels in baseball, the 2004 Pistons in basketball, and the 2001 Patriots in foorball. All of them are in my opinion the essence of teams playing as greater wholes, rather than the sum of their parts.
I hate hearing about Brett Favre, and his every year retirement hostage taking of the Packers.
I don't watch baseball until the playoffs come around...
I think that Barry Bonds is everything that's wrong with sports and if I were Bud Selig, I'd wait until he got to 754 home runs and then suspend him for life Pete Rose style.
I think Pete Rose gambled on his own team, and should be suspended for life.
I like the Vikings, the Patriots, the Nash-led Suns, and the Red Sox.
I think Robert Horry has had the career I would most like to emulate. Never complaining and ALWAYS coming through in the clutch.
I think Kobe Bryant is as close as we will ever get to another Jordan.
I also think in his prime 88 Jordan where he won the MVP, The defensive player of the year award, the All-star game MVP, and led the league in scoring at 35 ppg, would beat in his prime Kobe 21-14. And Kobe only gets 14 if he makes every shot he takes.
I think isaiah Thomas is the best pure point guard of all time. Even better than Magic.
I think Magic Johnson and Larry Bird saved the NBA.
I think Dr J saved it first.
I think Bill Russell is the second best player of all time and the greatest winner in the history of sports.
I think Phil Jackson is overrated.
I think Shaq is overrated as a player and underated as an ambassador of the game.
I think Jim Brown is the best running back of all time followed by Barry Sanders, and Walter Payton.
I think Joe Montana is the best QB of all time followed closely by John Elway and Dan Marino.
My fav sports movie is The great white hype a boxing movie with Damon Wayans and Woody Harrelson.
The Spurs are the most boring team I have ever watched in my life.
Dwayne Wade is great, Lebron is overated.
No one appreciates Allen Iverson
Dominique Wilkins is the most underated player of all time.
Larry Bird talked more shit than any player ever followed by Michael Jordan and Gary payton.
Rick Reilly and Bill Simmons are the best sportswriters i have ever read.
Peter King is annoying.
PTI and Around the Horn are my favorite sports shows.
A-Rod needs to get the sand out of his vagina and realize that the other side of making 250 Million dollars over 10 years is that people in the media expect you to win championships. It's kind of like a job....
I would love to be a back up quarterback for the Colts.
Vince Young is the most domainant football player I have ever seen, purely in terms of impact on a game. I watched him beat USC single handidly and then watched him beat the texans in the nfl. I've never seen a football player win a game alone.
I hate face and chest painters.
I think you are only allowed to wear jerseys until you are 15.
I think that women's sports will get the same amount of attention as mens when they stop having pro championship basketball games ending in the 50s.
I hate soccer, but watch the world cup religiously for the fan atmosphere... You NEVER see games with that kind of energy in any other sports.
I have been a sports fan as long as I have been alive.
I was an all city point guard in high school until I blew my knee out being bridged by a guy who will soon be playing in the NFL.. So I put an inordinate amount of importance on running a team and balance.
I was a pretty good tennis player as well and taught swim team...
Michael Jordan is my favorite athlete of all time with Barry Sanders and Bo Jackson coming in close seconds.
I think that Peyton Manning is a choker as evidenced by his failure to win at Tennesse 4 years in a row followed by Tee Martin a never-was leading them to the title the next year.
I think Tom Brady is the most underrated player in the NFL, and his true greatness won't be known until he retires with 5 or 6 rings.
My favorite sports teams of all time are the 2002 Angels in baseball, the 2004 Pistons in basketball, and the 2001 Patriots in foorball. All of them are in my opinion the essence of teams playing as greater wholes, rather than the sum of their parts.
I hate hearing about Brett Favre, and his every year retirement hostage taking of the Packers.
I don't watch baseball until the playoffs come around...
I think that Barry Bonds is everything that's wrong with sports and if I were Bud Selig, I'd wait until he got to 754 home runs and then suspend him for life Pete Rose style.
I think Pete Rose gambled on his own team, and should be suspended for life.
I like the Vikings, the Patriots, the Nash-led Suns, and the Red Sox.
I think Robert Horry has had the career I would most like to emulate. Never complaining and ALWAYS coming through in the clutch.
I think Kobe Bryant is as close as we will ever get to another Jordan.
I also think in his prime 88 Jordan where he won the MVP, The defensive player of the year award, the All-star game MVP, and led the league in scoring at 35 ppg, would beat in his prime Kobe 21-14. And Kobe only gets 14 if he makes every shot he takes.
I think isaiah Thomas is the best pure point guard of all time. Even better than Magic.
I think Magic Johnson and Larry Bird saved the NBA.
I think Dr J saved it first.
I think Bill Russell is the second best player of all time and the greatest winner in the history of sports.
I think Phil Jackson is overrated.
I think Shaq is overrated as a player and underated as an ambassador of the game.
I think Jim Brown is the best running back of all time followed by Barry Sanders, and Walter Payton.
I think Joe Montana is the best QB of all time followed closely by John Elway and Dan Marino.
My fav sports movie is The great white hype a boxing movie with Damon Wayans and Woody Harrelson.
The Spurs are the most boring team I have ever watched in my life.
Dwayne Wade is great, Lebron is overated.
No one appreciates Allen Iverson
Dominique Wilkins is the most underated player of all time.
Larry Bird talked more shit than any player ever followed by Michael Jordan and Gary payton.
Rick Reilly and Bill Simmons are the best sportswriters i have ever read.
Peter King is annoying.
PTI and Around the Horn are my favorite sports shows.
A-Rod needs to get the sand out of his vagina and realize that the other side of making 250 Million dollars over 10 years is that people in the media expect you to win championships. It's kind of like a job....
I would love to be a back up quarterback for the Colts.
Vince Young is the most domainant football player I have ever seen, purely in terms of impact on a game. I watched him beat USC single handidly and then watched him beat the texans in the nfl. I've never seen a football player win a game alone.
I hate face and chest painters.
I think you are only allowed to wear jerseys until you are 15.
I think that women's sports will get the same amount of attention as mens when they stop having pro championship basketball games ending in the 50s.
I hate soccer, but watch the world cup religiously for the fan atmosphere... You NEVER see games with that kind of energy in any other sports.
My new Sports and Pop culture blog
So I have branched out an effort to keep myself from littering my other blog sinns of attraction with too many references that are not related to dating and meeting women.
This blog will NEVER have a article on meeting women or dating, instead it will be my outlet on sports talk, movie talk, books that are not on self development. et al...
S
This blog will NEVER have a article on meeting women or dating, instead it will be my outlet on sports talk, movie talk, books that are not on self development. et al...
S
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