PUBLIC ENEMY #1 and #1A

Am I the only basketball fan outside of Oklahoma City that can’t stand Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka? Perkins, scowl and everything, plays dirtier than most but complains about every call. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have him on my team, but he is so dirty.  Did anyone see the play against Houston last night where he HELD Chandler Parson’s hand to prevent him from playing D against a 3-point shooting Thabo Sefolosha? The worst part of it was that the ref was right there and didn’t even make the call.  I understand home court but this was ridiculous. How is that basketball? You can’t see it from this pic but there’s a referee standing direclty behind Perkins.

As for Ibaka, he just annoys the heck out of me.  Somebody tell him the finger wag after a block was coveted by Mutumbo.  While the PF is a stud, his 13 ppg and almost 8 rpg don’t do him justice.  I just don’t understand how this guy became a tough guy after just 4 years in the league? I wish the Charles Oakleys and teh Bill Laimbeers were here to knock him on his ass.  And how did this guy slip to the 24th pick in the draft? Oh well, looks like the winner in the West is going to come down to the Clippers and Thunder.  But the way these 2 guys are playing, I don’t think the Clippers bigs are ready to mix it.

NFL DRAFT: ARE YOU READY FOR THE FOOTBALL?

This could be quite possibly the most boring NFL draft EVER! And the funniest part of it all is that I’m a Kansas City Chiefs’ fan.  Don’t get me wrong, I know most games are won in the trenches, but how can you have an NFL draft without a stud? Where are the RGIIIs, the Andrew Lucks, the Cam Newtons? How about an Elway or Marino?  For the first time in a long time, the Chiefs “won” the first pick in the draft and you’re coming at me with an ERIC FISCHER from Central Michigan? I hear the mid-American conference is a tough one.  Now if Fisher turns into an Orlando Pace, you can throw it in my face, but geez, quite possibly the most boring draft ever. I guess I gotta entertain myself with “I wonder how low Mantei Teo will fall?” and Roger Goodell’s “big homie” hugs!

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.485

If you’re wondering why the Lakers can’t get over the .500 hump, look no further then their biggest problem, coming from their biggest man, Dwight Howard.  He’s shooting .485 from the free throw line.  Called “free” for a reason.  Called “charity stripe” for that same reason.  Yet big Dwight, who runs up and down the floor so lackadaisically, just can’t seem to put it together.  Imaging how frustrating it is to make a stop on the defensive end, come down with the ball, get it to the big guy who gets fouled, is sent to the line, and misses both free throws.  And its not happening once a game, he went 3 for 14 from the line yesterday. I mean talk about demoralizing to the rest of the team.  You can see it in Kobe’s body language.  You can even see it in Nash’s body language.  Missing freethrows has gotten contagious.  I bet you didn’t know that Howard made 67% of his freethrows in his rookie year? Howard is a perfect headcase.  You knew in the first quarter that he wasn’t gonna have a decent/respectable day from the line.  You can see it in his eyes.  Try to focus for pete’s sake.  We’re not asking for much, just 50%.  Just run up and down the court with energy.  You have bad hands. That’s why people don’t pass you the ball often.  You goaltend at least 1 shot a game.  I’m frustrated.  What good is it going to do for the Lakers to make the first round of the playoffs. So we can all watch them get swept by the Thunder?  I’m predicting that they’re not going to make the playoffs so we don’t have to worry about it.  The Lakers should’ve traded Howard before the deadline.  Big mistake by Jimmy Buss. Then again, so was hiring D’antoni.

TIME TO CASH IN ON THE SUPERBOWL!!!

If you haven’t placed a wager on the many Superbowl odds and prop bets so far, you’re probably the only person in the WORLD!!! Go to Docsports right now, and that’s an order. This is probably the most interesting game in ages.  You have the aging Baltimore Ravens trying to “win one for Ray” and the San Franciscoe 49ers trying to “just win one.” My heart wants the Ravens to win but my gut is telling me the Niners are going to blow them out.  San Francisco is favored by 4 points and even though that line has fluctuated between 4.5 and 3.5 over the last 2 weeks, I think it’s not even gonna be close.  The 49ers are putting up big points and I don’t think the Ravens office has enough mojo to hang with them.  So head over to Docsports and take the 49ers with the points, take the over, and thank me in the morning. Enjoy the game!!!

What’s Going on in LAKERLAND?!?!

Having watched all the Lakers games this season, the level of frustration has not only surpassed my wildest nightmares, but depending on the game I’ve watched, every Laker has taken a piece of the blame.  I can’t just blame Mike D’Antoni.  I do remember though how much better the NY Knicks became after they fired him.  But c’mon, a team with Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard and you can’t even win 50% of your games? Here’ my take, if anyone cares: Steve Nash: I understand he’s old, but c’mon, how many momentum killing turnovers can you have… CLEAN IT UP. Kobe Bryant’s biggest problem is holding onto the ball too long and taking WAAAAYYY too many shots…SWING IT AROUND BUDDY! Dwight Howard, I know you’re injured but ho about some intensity.  You’re supposed to be Superman for pete’s sake…. and STOP SMILING! As for Pau Gasol, I honestly feel for this guy.  He’s been playing out of position for a long time now.  Get your ass on the block.  Stop shooting anything outside the paint. And DEMAND THAT YOU START!!! I’m watching the Lakers up 10 points against the Jazz at the half but I’m not feeling comfortable.  The Lakers always blow it in the 2nd half.  Let’s see if they can pick up their 3 win of the year… I mean it almost February, why not!

MATTY ICE

NFL season is well under way. Heading into week 9, we pretty much have an idea of which teams are good and which teams suck.  For example, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars… SUCK! Atlanta Falcons, NY Giants and Green Bay Packers… GOOD! For all of you out there that like to bet on NFL Football, I have a lock for you this week. Sunday Night Football, Dallas Cowboys against the Atlanta Falcons, in Atlanta.  The Falcons are favored by a measly 4.5 points.  The Falcons, as many of you already know, are 7-0 this year. They have a top 5 quarterback in Matt Ryan, top 5 running back in Michael Turner, a top tier tight end in Tony Gonzalez and top tier wide receivers in Julio Jones and Roddy White. They’re defense isn’t as great but are ranked 10th in passing. Fortunately for them, the Dallas Cowboys are coming to town.  The same ‘boys who are ranked 28th in the league in rushing. They have an overrated quarterback in Tony Romo, no running game, a diva WR in Dez Bryant and an aging defense.  Now its time for you to cash in on this.  Take the birds, put the house on it… Thank me Monday morning.

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE NBA-MAS

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am pumped about the NBA season which is set to kick off Tuesday night! Maybe it’s because I’m a Lakers homer, but c’mon, you gotta admit Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant on the same team sounds intriguing? How about the Clippers adding Grant Hill, Odom and Jamaal Crawford? Will Blake’s knee hold up? The scariest move for me was the Heat signing Ray Allen. A consistent shooter on a dangerous team like that.  I have them as favorites to win it all. I like what Boston did in picking Jason Terry but it ain’t gonna be enough. Not only are KG and Paul Pierce 1 year older, but they have no depth. I can’t wait for the annual Knicks’ Amare v. Carmelo drama to begin.  With Harden gone from OKC (BIG MISTAKE), I can’t see the any legitimate threat for the Lakers in the west.  Not even Iguodola in Denver is gonna make a difference.  Then again, isn’t it true that every NBA team is 1 injury away from going to the cellar? Look what happened to D-Rose and Chicago. Truth be told, I don’t even think he’s coming back this year.  Chicago might end up being a lottery team. Hang on folks, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride!

NATIONALS: JUST GOT WORSE

Just when you thought the Nationals had turned over a new leaf: Stephen Strasburg comes back successfully after elbow surgery, rooie Phenom Bryce Harper is tears it up in the bigs, the Nationals win the NL East for the first time in a real long time… but then this happens… Up 6 runs to 0 in game 5 of the NLDS, at home, up 2 runs in the 9th and boom!!! COLLAPSE/CHOKE. I almost feel sorry for them. I wonder how Albert Pujols feels with the Cardinals adavancing without him and him not even making the playoffs? Maybe if Pujols had hit his first home run before the All-Star break he would’ve given the Angels a chance. Oh well, what’s $250 million to the Arty Moreno.  On to the NLCS, Giants vs. Cards.  Anyone outside of St. Louis and San Francisco interested in this series?

BOO HOO MARK CUBAN

So it seems that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban got his feelings hurt when Jason Kidd left his team in the offseason for the New York Knicks.  Let’s ponder the move: Mavericks were on a downhill spiral after winning the Championship 2 years ago.  They lost Jason Terry.  The Lamar Odom project was a failure.  The Knicks on the other hand have a roster filled with stars in Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire, and Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks are headed to the playoffs while the Mavs are slowly on their way to the lottery. I don’t blame Kidd and frankly, even if the Knicks sucked, and it was his decision, he was a free agent.  As for Cuban, apparently he is not used to people “defying” him and not getting his way.  Sucks…. Welcome to the real world. I know you’ve been there before but your loud mouth has clouded your view.  Believe it or not, they’ve done a decent job retooling this offseason, adding Darren Collison, OJ Mayo, Chris Kaman and even an over-the-hill Elton Brand.  Cuban’s mistake was not hanging on to his roster, specifically Tyson Chandler and JJ Barea, after winning the title and bring them back for another run. Oh well, I wouldn’t worry about Jason Kidd, he wasn’t going to make much of a difference.  My guess is that the Lakers and the Thunder and gonna put a whoopin on the Mavs this year.