Blade Runner: 25th Anniversary Edition: Release Date: December 18th, 2007!!!

One of my favourite movies of all time is BLADE RUNNER! It is scheduled for a special edition DVD...Blue Ray and HD-DVD re-release Director's cut(Dir. Ridley Scott) in less than a week. I can't wait. Blade Runner...is one of my favorite movies and is noted by many critics as one of the best Science-Fiction movies of all time...some even say better than Star Wars. It was a movie way ahead of its time...set in Los Angeles in the year 2019! It foreshadowed many problems of modern URBANIA such as overcrowding...the police state...pollution and decay...and societal disintegration etc. It is truly a classic...and stars Harrison Ford...Daryl Hannah...Edward James Olmos and the vivacious Sean Young. If you haven't seen Blade Runner by now...you are truly sleeping. Go rent tha damn thing will ya. A very DARK film with sensational cinematography...reminiscent of film noir...Blade Runner also contained mystifying and eerie music composed by VANGELIS(Chariots of Fire fame).
Originally released in 1982 this Sci-Fi Classic has stood the test of time and has since become a Cult Sensation!
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Jimmy V Classic is underway in New York: featuring OJ Mayo and Bill Walker.

In case you're not in tune with College Basketball right now...the Jimmy V Classic basketball tournament is underway in the Big Apple...The tournament is named after the late North Carolina State coach Jimmy Valvano. The 1983 NCAA Champion head coach succumbed to cancer on April 28th, 1993 and this tournament is a tribute to the coach as well as a means to amass dollars to fight the dreaded disease. One of Valvano's greatest moments was his poignant speech at the 1993 Espy Awards. In that speech he taught people what life really means and he also wanted to stress for people to live each day like it was precious and to love and laugh each and every day. His famous words included the phrase "Don't give up. Don't ever give up!" Jimmy Valvano will forever be missed. Go to the V Foundation website for more info on the fight to cure cancer!
On to the tournament. A collection of talent that features many of the top freshmen in college basketball. OJ Mayo...Billy Walker...Derrick Rose...and Michael Beasley are some of the studs that are taking part in this once a year B-Ball showcase. These kids appear to be having fun as amateurs but make no mistake...all of these guys could have by-passed college and went straight to the pros if not for the NBA rule stipulating at least one year in college. This season is merely a pit stop on the way to fame and fortune for these elite ballers. Mayo is probably the most well known of them all. He hails from Huntington West Virginia, a place I am familiar with having visited Marshall University to watch my best friend play soccer for the Thundering Herd. Gotta be one of the best team names in college! Huntington is a small town and not really known as a hoops hotbed...but it produced the player some call the "Next Lebron". Last night Mayo's USC Trojans took on the Rose and the #2 Ranked Memphis Tigers. It was a pretty good game...close to the very end. Mayo showed flashes of why is considered the best freshmen in what Dick Vitale calls the deepest freshman class in about 30 years. He may be right. Other notable first year phenoms across the county include Kevin Love at UCLA...Jarryd Bayless at Arizona...and Eric Gordon at Indiana.
Mayo dropped 16 points in the 62-58 overtime loss to the stacked Memphis Squad that featured more experienced players like Robert Dozier...Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey. They were too much for the younger USC squad that had 3 freshmen on the court for many times during the game.
The earlier contest pitted Kansas St. against Notre Dame. State featured Beasley...a beast of a forward and Walker a sublime slasher/dunker and wingman and high school teammate of Mayo. How good is Beasley? Well he is only the nation's leading scorer
(26.7ppg) and rebounder(15rpg)...that's all!!!! He was on his way to a good one last night dropping 17 points in the first half...but the Fighting Irish decided they needed to take him out of the game by double and triple teaming him in the 2nd half and let some of the other K-State players beat them. The strategy worked as the team from South Bend won it 68-59 going away..holding the beastly Beasley to a measly 2 second half points. Two kids you probably never heard of...Luke Harangody and Kyle McAlarney did most of the damage combining for 37 points...While Harangody also hauled in 14 boards. Walker, the other blue chip prospect poured in 14 points for the losing Wildcats.
So 3 of the phenoms went down last night...too bad...because I would like to see as many games of these guys while they're in college as I can...The college game is one of pure fun and there is a greater sense of camaraderie. These guys are so good that this time next year they will probably be suiting up for some pro team in the best league in the world....the NBA.

VIDEO SPORTS REPORT: November 19th 2007

Raps lose a close one 106-100 to the Jazz. TJ Ford Offence in full effect:
22 shots...Game high 29 pts from the starting point guard! Too many times Bosh was pushed outside the paint...almost to the three point line on his post ups. C'mon Bosh Stephen Jackson is guarding you not Kevin Garnett. Not the way to win ballgames. I think the goal of Toronto's point guards should be 20 assists...forget the points because this team has enough shooters...Toronto got rid of Mike James because he was a SHOOT FIRST point guard...so TJ has to be a PASS FIRST distributor and facilitator! Jason Kapono, Andrea Bargnani and the rest of the players need to get in rhythm and that job falls to TJ and Jose Calderon.
Anthony Parker was 2 of 8 from the field finishing with a measly 5 points. As a shooting guard Parker has to be more consistent. It seems that Parker is "programmed" to shot the jump shot or 3 point shot. He can't seem to fake...drive...jab step and pump fake at all. He consistently just sits outside and bombs threes even with guys running out at him. I know Pro ballers are taught to block out the player closing out... but how bout the old fake shot...and run into the player trying to close out on you and get the foul play? Come on Mr. Parker you look like a robot out there...change it up and make yourself multi-dimensional.
Right now Parker is one-dimensional at best.
Not sure what coach Mitchell is doing with all these different starting lineups...but in my opinion he has to have a consistent rotation and stick to it...because guys seem confused...one game in...another out...One game start and another off the bench. Consistency from the head coach will help this ball team get back on track.

KG is da man...peep the new Addidas Campaign

CELTICS ARE 7-0 ON THE SEASON!!! REMEMBER BALLERS it's WE NOT ME!!!!

VIDEO SPORTS REPORT: Nov 15th, 2007

Raps blow a close one to the Jazz: Toronto sings the blues!

Barry Bonds Indicted: Like we didn't know.

A-Rod to re-sign for 10yrs/$275 mill: More Money, More Money

Celtics start season 7-0: Can they go 82-0?

T-Mac injured again: He and and cousin Vince down for the count!

Starbury on Pluto: Will he spill the goods on Zeke?

Leafs lose in Boston: Team in disarray

Sens are 15-2: The NHL's Celtics

RAPS THUMP WINCE AND THE NETS 106-69!!!!!

I must say that I don't think I have enjoyed a Raptors game more than I did the absolute annihilation of the vaunted Nets squad on Friday night. It couldn't have happenend to a better team either. Wow! I can't say that I saw this coming...but remember what I said after they almost blew the opener against Philly. I wanted to see this team develop a "killer instinct" to stomp on a team's neck and blow a team out. It seems that after this victory over the Nets that we have a new kind of Raptor team. A team that wants to make a statement to the NBA. A statement that says...if teams are going to take them lightly...they are going to get "DUSTED". The game was tremendous if you are a Raptors fan...tremendous ball movement. Great shooting...tough chest to chest defence...great bench play...tremendous running of the offence by Jose Calderon...Great hustle by Carlos Delfino...and Rasho Nesterovich playing like his years in Minnesota. I must say...I know that the Pistons are a stacked team and there just wasn't enough playing time for him...but my oh my is Delfino a player! He looks like he's sleepwalking out there but he is actually "playing harm". At the 5:40 mark of the game against Jersey...the Raptors bench had scored 27 of the team's 41 points. That's 66% of the offence from the 2nd stringers...which included Delfino...Rasho and a scorching Juan Dixon. Simply put...this team is the deepest in the L by far. Spots 6-12 of the Raptors are incomparable as far as NBA benches go. As for Calderon...again I see this team being run so much better when he is on the court than when TJ Ford is running the show. Against the Nets and TJ starting the game...the Raptors got off to a sluggish start...Then when Jose came in at the end of the 1st...the team started to play alot better as Jose got the offence flowing and got the rock to the his teammates where and when they like to receive it. Simply put...Jose is a better Quarterback for this team than TJ. Mark my words...there will be a point guard controversy on this team before the year is up. At some point Jose will be starting for the Raptors at point...or if not starting he will end up playing more minutes than TJ at the Point.

Chris Bosh is starting to get into form after battling through pre-season knee troubles...and he really is playing well...did you see his rebounding and blocks in the Jersey game...he was all over the glass like a Windex specialist...the box score shows only 2 blocks for Bosh...but he changed alot of other shots as well. CB4 looks like he's on a mission to prove that even though Kevin Garnett is now in the East...that he is the best big man in the East. The so-called experts have KG and Dwight Howard rated higher than Bosh...they must be nuts. Bosh is a stud plain and simple...and we in Toronto are spoiled because we see him everyday. The league will start noticing his abilities soon enough.

Il Mago...do you know who that is NBA? Well you better pay attention to the 2006 #1 overall pick...this is his season to breakout and become a sensation. After 2 games Andrea Bargnani looks like a different baller than the one who came into the league as a rookie last year with a deer in the headlights look. He's stronger...more relaxed and seems to have an edge to his game this season. 2 games in and Bargnani is the leading scorer for the Raptors. He's tough in the post and he's playing tremendous defence inside...using his 7 foot frame to alter shots in the paint. Against Jersey he had no registered blocks...but to me it seemed like he had at least 3 or 4. Did you see the threes Bargnani hit in the game? Lord have mercy...especially the one over Darrell Armstrong where he pumped and jabbed twice then drained the trifecta to add insult to injury. I mean...Bargnani's range is unlimited. He's hitting shots at least a foot and a half behind the line. It's bad enough that centers and power forwards have to come out and guard a big man beyond the arc...but against Bargnani they are pretty much guarding him at half court! Unbelievable.

Let me break down some more stats on the game:

Biggest blowout on the road for the Raptors in team history.

28 assists...to only 19 for Jason Kidd and the Nets.

Only 12 turnovers...compared to 19 for the Nets...Calderon and Ford...15 assists and only 3 turnovers combined...with Jose laying a goose egg in the turnover category.

1st opening road win since November 5th, 1999 which was coincidentally against these same Nets.

Raps shot 59% from the three point line!!!! They shot 50% overall for the game.

They out rebounded the Nets 37-34 which is crucial for the team.Delfino and Bargnani tied for the team lead with 6 boards each.

My STAT OF THE GAME was steals...Toronto had 10 for the game and is more active this year...trying to force more turnovers. Delfino led the team with 4 and Dixon and Calderon had 2 apiece.

Also, Jorge Garbajosa continues to ride the pine. 6 minutes for him in the ballgame...that makes 12 minutes in total in the first two games. Is this just precaution from the Raptors coaching staff or is there some tension between Jorge and the organization over his decision to play in the Euros in his home country of Spain? The Garbo watch continues.

Overall this was a tremendous game for the Raptors. In my opinion it was one of the best games in franchise history. To go into New Jersey and thoroughly destroy a team that is picked to be in the hunt for the Atlantic Division crown and picked as one of the top teams in the east is a great accomplishment. The Nets looked old and slow...except for Richard Jefferson. Wince Carter wanted no part of Delfino and his physical defence...as the former Raptor scored a measly 7 points on only 6 shots on a night when he scored his 15,000th point. This game sends a message to the rest of the NBA and especially the Eastern conference. The TORONTO RAPTORS are for real!

Big game today against the Celtics! I guess that's an understatement. Personally I think the Raptors will trounce the Celts...especially if they play with the intensity that they brought against the Nets. Boston has the "Big Three" but not much else. Plus Toronto doesn't like to lose at home. That is a fact. After the Celtics game the Raps play 3-of-4 on the road so a win at home today is key because the team wants to get out on the road with momentum on their side.

Next game: At Milwaukee Tuesday,November 6th.

Next game: At home vs. the Magic Wednesday, November 7th.

Lates

Drew

RAPTORS WIN 106-97 OVER THE SIXERS ON OPENING NIGHT!!!!

It's Raptors time again folks...and trust me I am stoked and juiced for this upcoming season. Got my fantasy squad all picked and it's looking good. Picked Marion with the third pick overall. Got a couple Raptors on my team as well...Jose Calderon and Anthony Parker. Can't wait for all my points to rack up! I finished 2nd last year as the rookie in the pool...so it's no where but up for me this year...I want the top spot! Dragonstout watch out because here comes the Enigma!

So I go on the Internet...specifically the sports network Stateside that starts with an E and ends with an N...and I see that nowhere are the Raptors picked to win the Atlantic Division. Some of the knucklehead "experts" have the Raptors finishing as low as 8th in the East. For goodness sakes Stephen A Smith has even mentioned the Knicks in his improving teams in the East this season...but no mention of the Atlantic Division champs. I guess the Raptors just happened to win their first division crown in franchise history. What kills me is that these so-called experts act as if the Raptors are not in the NBA but in the NBDL or the Euro leagues! When asked about the U.S. media slight at halftime of Toronto's opening game with the Sixers...Chris Bosh said that it's better for the team if they are under the radar. I agree with him to some extent...but it's time for Canada's team to get some respect! This Raptor team...in my estimation is the deepest team in the NBA. It also moves the ball better than any team in the league except the Captain Canada Steve Nash's Suns. The point guard combination of TJ Ford and Jose Calderon is maybe the best 1-2 point guard tandem in the L as well. So what gives? Well the Raps are a poor rebounding team...this must be improved for them to step up to Elite Status. The defence leaves alot to be desired at times during games...and this must be shored up as well. I see Bosh getting better and Andrea Bargnani looks stronger and much more confident than last year. Add to that the increasing confidence of Jose Calderon and this team is set for a great season.

So even though America doesn't RE-COG-NIZE the Raps skill, depth and talent...all of us here in the T-Dot know what time it is. I think the Raps will battle the Nets for the Division Crown and I think they will have no problem with the Celtics. Toronto will wear their "Big Three" down all year and will be the ones standing when all is said and done.

Tonight's game was going well for the Raps...they moved the ball flawlessly to build up a 22 point lead in the 4th quarter...but then the air came out...Toronto got casual and Andre Iguodala and Kyle Korver started making buckets...buckets and more buckets! Big shot by Bargnani with about 4 minutes left to thwart the Sixers comeback...He buries the three with about four minutes to play as he's fouled by Sam "I Am" Dalembert. WOW! Huge play. But credit must be given to TJ ...who before the Bargnani three...hustled back down on defence to knock the ball away from Iguodala from behind with the Sixers down 1 and a chance to go ahead. TJ kudos to you for using your blinding speed to make a big defensive play that turned the tide back in the Raptors favour and saved the day. If TJ can use his quickness on the defensive end this season...while not gambling too much...the Raps will be much improved.

I think Toronto will learn a valuable lesson from the opener and it's good that it occurred in the first game of the season. When you have a team down big...you must put your foot on their neck and take their heart out! You can't relax...This should have been a 40 point Raptor blowout...instead the Raps squeek out a close win on opening night against a young and hungry Sixers squad. Mo Cheeks...it's do or die time for you as the Sixers head coach. You better get results or you will be out of a job faster than TJ can go coast to coast.

Some notes from the game:

Willie Green is a monster...he can shoot and he can get to the bucket at will...and remember he had knee surgery a couple of years ago!

Jason Smith is a nice baller...20th overall for the Sixers...he will be a solid contributor to the Sixers squad.

Andre Iguadala will get paid...whether it's this year or next. If Philly doesn't sign him by midnight tonight(Wednesday Oct, 31st) He becomes a restricted free agent. I don't think Philly wants this scenario to play out...because there will be a team out there that will offer him so big time dough...trust me on that!

Lastly. How on earth did the Heat let Jason Kapono go. I mean...I know they are salary-capped out but my goodness the guy is the best three point shooter in the league(52% last year)...and he looks like on of the best shooters in the league period. This kid can bury the rock with the best of them! I like his game...and especially the way he moves without the basketball. He can hit jumpers from all over the court and will be a thorn in the side of opposing defenders for the rest of the season!

Raps win 106-97. Player of the game(It's a tie)...TJ Ford 14 pts...12 assts...Andrea Bargnani 20 pts...5 rebs and 2 blocks! TJ should be an ALL-STAR this year and will be in the top 3 in ASSISTS in the L...mark my words!

p.s. What happened to Jorge Garbajosa...only 6 minutes in the game. Could there be something going on behind the scenes between head coach Sam Mitchell and Garbo...or is the team just working the vet in slowly as a precautionary measure to ensure his still healing broken leg doesn't become an issue later on in the season and for the playoffs? You tell me. Let's watch the minutes of Garbo going forward.

NEXT 2 GAMES:

RAPTORS AT NETS 7:30pm FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2007. IN NEW JERSEY.Wince Carter here we come!!!! First statement game of the season. Will the Raps have the mindset to go into the swamp and slay the Nets? Can't wait for this one!

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 4TH, 2007 AT HOME VS. THE CELTICS...FIRST GAME FOR THE RAPTORS ON CBC! Wow...talk about exposure. Toronto will surely be Canada's team now!

KG...you better bring your buddies Ray Ray and The Truth for another Atlantic Division battle.

ANTOINE WALKER...SAYANARA TO THE GREAT B-BALL CHUCKER!!!!

No more smiles in Miami for Walker and Riles

Well...You knew the odd love affair between the Miami heat and Antoine Walker could not last forever as the Heat dealt the often out of shape veteran to the Minnesota Timberwolves...for essentially Ricky Davis and Mark Blount. Ricky Davis you ask...why? That's a very good question. Who in their right mind would trade for a tool like Davis...who's never seen a shot he didn't like. Apparently part of the reason for the trade was due to Blount and Al Jefferson not getting along when they were together in Boston. It's a familiar place for the former Iowa Hawkeye as Davis played for Pat Riley in 2000-2001 but was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers after that year and played a little with Bron-Bron before the brain trust in Cleveland realized that they better jettison Davis before he got a chance to pollute the mind of THE CHOSEN ONE...LB23. Good decision for them because Davis has a less than stellar reputation...and is not really known as a team player. Also going to the Twin Cities is Wayne Simien...the standout Power Forward from Kansas...who got about as much time as I did on an NBA court in his short 2 year NBA career. The 250lb banger averaged 3.3 ppg and a measly 10 minutes a game since entering the league in 2005! Thanks for playing the stud Mr. Riley. What's with these veteran coaches not playing young players and therefore hindering their development? I know the NBA is or was a man's league...but how does a stud coming out of college like Simien start only 2 games in his entire career? Riles...you got to mix it up and play the youth along with the veterans...that way when you lose a player like D-Wade for an extended time you can throw the young guys into the battlefield with no worries. Same thing he did with Dorrell Wright who averaged about 8 minutes a game his first 2 years...and then finally was shown some confidence from Riley last season when he averaged just a shade under 20 minutes a game while starting 19 games.

Larry Brown is the same way...he doesn't really play young players early on...and then when it's time to throw them into the fire when an injury or injuries occur they can't deal with the pressure. My advice to Riley is to get with the program...the NBA is getting younger and younger so it's time to play the kids or get left behind.

Another interesting thing about the Heat is they may be one of only 6 teams this season without an international player! Wow...in this day and age when teams are clamouring to get overseas to find the next Manu Ginobili...the Heat are still stuck in 1990. Hey at one point they did have Rony Seikaly so I guess they at least tried years ago to GO GLOBAL. Compare that to teams like the Raptors, Spurs and and Rockets who have several overseas players and the Heat are shockingly out of step with the newest NBA trend to play more foreign players...especially ones with experience, talent and poise.

As far as Walker goes...I was never a fan...didn't appreciate his game in Boston...couldn't take him in Dallas and was dismayed at his willingness to shoot threeswithout conscience in Miami. Walker doesn't do much well. He can score a little...plays no defence and does not make other players on his team better. At best he is the 4th or 5th option on offence at this stage in his career. Will the T-Wolves buy him out...possibly...because they're in rebuilding mode and want to play younger players like Al Jefferson, Craig Smith and Corey Brewer. Maybe another disillusioned team will take a chance on the chucker Walker...but right now it's too soon to tell. I hope that stupid shimmy he does less frequently than in the past...is buried for good!

By the way...the Heat lost by 17 to the Spurs yesterday and finished the pre-season at 0-7...as they went winless in the pre-season for the first time in their 20-year existence...OUCH!

Other NBA news and notes:

Adam Morrison is out for the year with a torn knee ligament...I am of the opinion that Morrison's best days were at Gonzaga...what do you think?

Amare Stoudamire is back on the court after minor arthroscopic surgery on his right knee...Good to hear Stat is back on the court...Reports say he was throwing down viciously upon his return to practice...which was open to the public. Let's hope the Matrix doesn't pull the rug out from under the Suns' season...the Steve Nash clock is ticking...and Stoudamire looks like he's ready to take on Timmy and the Spurs out west come playoff time.

First the Portland Trailblazers fans were let down when Greg Oden went down with a bum knee a couple months ago and now the Sonics...owners of the 2nd pick in the 2007 draft found bad luck of their own as Kevin Durant sprained his ankle after dropping 21 in a double overtime loss to the Warriors yesterday. The rookie phenom is on crutches now and is probably out for his game tonight(Wednesday) against the Blazers...The NBA draft's 1-2 punch...looks more like one-two Crutch.

You may not have heard of him...but Rodney Stuckey...I love that name...a rookie out of Eastern Washington who is having a great pre-season for the Detroit Pistons...broke his hand tonight in a game against the Washington Wizards...this after starting red hot...scoring 10 points in only 13 minutes of burn. What a shame...I was really looking forward to watching this young cat do his thing on the court this year. Hopefully he's as fast a healer as Jorge Garbajosa!

That's all I gotta say

Lates

Drew

WHAT A SUMMER OF SPORTS IT WAS!!!!!

Hey folks...it's been a while since I've posted...took a few months off to regroup...but I am back and it's going to be a great fall/winter season for sports...Over the summer...a lot has gone on in the world of sports...Mike Vick has been found guilty in the dogfighting case...what an idiot. I was told by an inside source a couple months ago that Vick was told time and time again to quit the dogfighting ring...and he was told even before he started crossing state lines with his dogs. Why didn't he just bail out and listen to the smarter people in his life? Was it ego...was it stubbornness...or was it merely the fact that Vick...like many athletes believe they are untouchable...that the law can't bring them down? Remember...for many of these sports stars...no is not an answer they want to hear. They've always gotten what they've wanted and they always have people around them boosting them up and telling them they are the greatest thing since Wonder bread. Vick you were wrong...you should have stopped many years ago and now you are going to pay the price. Millions of dollars lost...reputation tarnished and jail time. I think he should be given a 2nd chance after he serves whatever time he gets...but I have a simple question...was it worth it Mike?


KG to the Celtics for the entire Boston team....wow what a blockbuster deal...Danny Ainge finally did something worthwhile in Beantown. Now it's time for Doc Rivers and crew to put up or shut their traps. The triple threat of Paul Pierce...Ray Allen and Garnett makes the Celts a sure fire playoff team in my estimation. They should really be one of the top teams in the east....but they have no bench so we shall watch to see how well they do and if these guys can avoid the injury bug this season. My question to Ainge...was the decimation of your team worth it?


Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron's Major League Baseball record. I must tell you...I am undecided about Barry Bonds. He's a great baseball player...possibly one of the best to play the game...but I can't agree with the way he handles and deals with the media...his personality leaves much to be desired. It seems obvious that about a dozen years ago...when baseball was going through the lockout and fans were skipping games...baseball turned a blind eye to a lot of abuses...not the least of which was the proliferation of steroids among the masses. Remember Brady Anderson...well look him up...and tell me what you think about his monstrous 50 HR season and compare it to his home run production in the rest of his career. Now I'm not saying he did juice...but something seems fishy about that year. As for Bonds...well...he has the record...but if he did steroids...was it worth it?


Marion Jones...the latest track athlete to admit or be caught for using steroids(the clear). Clearly this plea by Jones was to avoid serious jail time. I remember watching her run in the Olympics and World Championships several years ago and wondering to myself...was this a man I was watching? She just seemed to be so much better than the other women runners...heck...she had better times than many men racing back then as well. Why couldn't she run clean? Was it because everybody was using something? Was it for her legacy or was it greed...for the love of the money? We'll never know...until she writes her book. My question to Marion...was it worth it?

Sports is under siege right now...Everybody wants to be da man...the best...the world champion...the titlist and on and on and on...but where do adults and the kids who look up to these athletes draw the line? How much support should they show them How far will they go to be the best? It seems more and more athletes are willing to cheat, lie and swindle their way to fame and fortune. I am kinda sick to my stomach with sports these days? Is anyone honest anymore...is anyone clean anymore...does anyone want to win fair and square anymore? I don't know. The Tour De France bike race is a sham...baseball is under a cloud...and track and field is a joke as well and don't for a minute think that football players don't get a little "help" to recover from injuries every week either. Maybe the government has to get really tough on athletes...maybe parents have to monitor their kids more and note any behavioral changes they may see(roid rage a consequence of steroid use). I'm not sure what the solution is....short of throwing sports by the wayside...but that clearly isn't an option. My question is for the next generation of stars to hit the scene...is it worth it to destroy your body to get to the top?

A couple of months ago I went to Las Vegas for a broadcasting Conference and Job Fair. I must say that the NABJ conference was an amazing event. Well organized and informative and useful. I met so many great people there and will never forget the experience. I attended seminars and focus groups and panel discussions as well as getting my reporting demo tape looked at by various News stations and Sports networks. So many great events...I got to see Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton speak. Stephen A. Smith hosted a wonderful ESPN breakfast. David Aldridge was part of an interesting panel on the media unfairly coming down hard on the NBA. Don King was there...Floyd Mayweather Jr. was there...I left Vegas clearly inspired and focused on my goals within the media industry. I'll post some pics up on Wednesday October 24th.

Lates

Drew

MR. HAMILTON COMES UP 1 POINT SHORT!!!!!

HAMILTON CONGRATULATES RAIKKONEN

Well...all good things eventually come to an end and unfortunately the fairy tale season that Formula One's first black driver...Lewis Hamilton was enjoying crashed in a sea of controversy and anguish...as Kimi Raikkonen took home the 2007 Formula 1 title by a measly 1 point over the British phenom. It was a title that seemed a cinch just a couple races ago...but a disastrous spin out in Shanghai and a monumental error early in the race at Interlagos, Brazil doomed Hamilton to a 2nd place finish in the race for the world's "best driver". I was pulling for Hamilton to win the title if not the race...not for me...but for the you kids growing up...especially the ones in poor neighborhoods. I wanted these kids to see that anything could be accomplished...as long as hard work and perseverance were there for motivation. Now don't get me wrong...although a disappointing finish to the season for British racing fans in general and McLaren fans in particular...the season was in fact a great success for Hamilton...as he had the greatest first season in Formula 1 history. 4 Victories...various pole positions and podiums show that this kid will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
The final race...the only race in South America was full of anticipation and suspense as 3 drivers...Hamilton...Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso(Hamilton's teammate) all had a shot at the title. Hamilton led Alonso by 4 points coming in and only needed to be within 2 places of Alonso if he won...or finish in 5th if Raikkonen won to claim the first F1 title for a rookie in the storied race series glorious history. Problems right from the get-go though for Hamilton who started in the 2nd spot...he got boxed in by Felipe Massa(pole position) allowing Raikkonen to overtake Hamilton to leave the Briton scrambling in 3rd right off the bat. Wow...I was going crazy watching it and was screaming "noooooooo" as Hamilton lost his 2nd place position. Then a few turns later...Alonso came charging down on the rookie driver...the rook choked and had to brake hard and before you knew it Hamilton was off the course and into the gravel...and back in like 8th place. But the worst was yet to come. On around Lap 7...Hamilton's car started to slow down drastically...I was losing it big time after this...he was having gearbox problems as the software that controls the hydraulics failed putting him in neutral for over 30 seconds...an eternity in Formula 1. He fell all the way to 18th place! Man I was thinking the fix was in...did somebody jam the computers that run these multi-million dollar cars or was this just bad luck...remember all year Hamilton's car performed fault free...but this was just too much on the last race of the season. Compound the gear box malfunction with tire problems which resulted in 3 pit-stops and the quest for the title was all but dashed. Watching the last 15 laps was so painful to watch because you knew the title was all but over. Massa led for most of the race but gave up the position of course to Raikkonen...so that meant Hamilton would have to finish in 5th or better...but he could only make it back to 7th...a tremendous achievement to say the least. In the end...Hamilton lost the title by one point...and I believe he succumbed to nerves in the final part of the season...the pressure was a bit too much...the stakes just a tad too high...in this multi-billion dollar sport where grown men race in "toys" that travel in excess of 180 miles an hour. Lewis will not admit to being overwhelmed but he was. He put on a brave face after the race...congratulating Raikkonen on the title and graciously being optimistic about next year. As for Alonso...he will no doubt be jettisoned from the McLaren camp...possibly to Toyota, Renault or even Ferrari. Could you imagine that duo...Raikkonen and Alonso...wow...they would be very hard to beat. Hamilton will be back...he will have learned a lot from this season of controversy(spy scandal and fights with team boss Ron Dennis and Alonso) and he will come back strong and try to win it. The pressure will be immense...especially from the British media...whose ability to heat up the "pressure cooker that is Brisish sports and entertaiment is unrivalled. It was a great season in Formula 1...and a lot of new fans were made over the last several months. The talent of the drivers is very high and interest growing at a rapid rate...I can't wait till next year!

Lates

Drew

MR. HAMILTON DOES MONTREAL...BUT CAN TORONTO BE SAVED?????

Lewis Hamilton is in for a great career. In case you don't know who Mr. Hamilton is...let me give you some background info on the 22 year old. He's an Englishman. He races cars for a living. He drives a McLaren Mercedes and he is currently the Formula One points leader. Yup you heard it...he is the best driver in Formula 1 after just six races. In fact in his first 6 races he has finished on the podium. That means he has been no lower than third place for the first 6 times he has raced in the biggest and baddest racing circuit in the world. One other fact...Mr. Hamilton is the first black driver in the history of Formula 1. Wow. It's suprising that in all these years of F1 and Lewis is the first black man to grab the reins of one of the most sophisticated machines the world has ever seen. Currently sitting at 48 points...a clear 8 points ahead of his teammate Fernando Alonso...Hamilton is rewriting the history books each time he lines up in the starting grid. Heck I want to be a racer...mmmnn...maybe I'll just stick to driving my car to and from work and to the mall on weekends.

On Sunday, Hamilton took the Canadian Grand Prix...on the circuit named after the great Canadian racer Gilles Villeneuve! I loved Gilles...he was so daring and so true to the sport...I always wonder why he had to die so young? As for Jacques...his son...he seems to be missing the spotlight and has said that Hamilton is basically getting too much hype and he really hasn't done anything special...FOOEY! Well Jacques you had your time in the sun...so please stop criticizing the man who may have the biggest impact in a very elite sport since Tiger and golf. Hamilton is the real deal and just because he's a rookie...don't think he doesn't have an eye on the prize. Alonso is the 2-time defending Formula 1 champion but if Hamilton has his way...he is going to challenge the Spaniard for the 2007 title...and why not? Who says a rookie can't make an impact? If Larry Brown(ex-Pacers/Sixers/Pistons/Knicks coach) was heading up the McLaren team you know Hamilton wouldn't have a shot in hell of the title...because Larry doesn't trust young talent too much...he prefers the veterans on the basketball court.

But McLaren's leaders are progressive thinkers who know a good thing when they see it. Years ago...Hamilton told them that one day he would drive for McLaren...He started in go-carts and

has successfully progressed to the ultimate racing series.
Currently Hamilton-mania is almost as big as Hulkamania 20 years ago in wrestling...it's growing and is about to reach epic proportions as long as L.H. keeps winning. What can't this young prodigy do? He started in go-carting and said after the win in Montreal today that he dedicated the race to his father and that he owes all his success to his PAPA. Sounds like a familiar story by a particular golf icon that has been dominating the PGA for the past few years. Yup...Hamilton's meteoric rise echoes that of Tiger Woods...but don't get me wrong...Hamilton is good...but he still has some time yet to be compared to Eldrick...but you know his impact on young black boys and other future racers of colour cannot be understated. He success will show kids that they can achieve pretty much anything they put their mind to.

I wish we had an icon here in Toronto that could solve this problem of youth violence and guns....I hate to get political on a sports blog but with all this shooting going on in the T-Dot...my question is...WHERE ARE ALL THE FATHERS? Where are the the Anthony Hamiltons(Lewis' father)? It seems like whenever the news comes on there is a shooting in an economically depressed neighborhood and I see the press conferences and the crying and tears and sorrow...I see the women and the mothers and the aunties and the grandmamas...but what happened to Daddy...Papa...Father? I am calling all the fathers out right now. I am imploring you to stop having children and leaving the women high and dry. Kids need their daddies! Kids need to know what the world means. They need to know about growing up. They need to know about sex. They need to know about love. They need to know about finances. But most of all they need to know about life and that violence is not the solution every time things go wrong or are not in your favour. Too many youth are not getting the guidance and love at home and are turning to the streets and strangers for a sense of belonging...that's why they join gangs...to feel wanted and needed. Parents please don't expect the school system to bring up your kids! Toronto is getting very scary folks. Just yesterday a young man was gunned down in the north west end of the city...and for what? I have no clue. Senseless this carnage is. But you know what was the worst part? These kids....and I call them kids because they are not men yet...they don't care anymore...they shoot people in broad daylight...they shoot people in malls when people are shopping...they shoot people at funerals for other slain youth...they shoot TTC drivers...they shoot car salesmen...they shoot innocent shoppers...and they shoot girlfriends going to pick up their boyfriends after pickup basketball games.

Dads have to be there. Dads need to be there. Dads must be there...it's plain and simple. We have reached an epidemic right now. Calling all fathers. Please don't shirk your responsibilities. Be a part of your kids lives...because we want all these kids to become Lewis Hamiltons...we certainly don't want them to end up like Jordan Manners and the young man killed yesterday. I don't know his name...but do I really need to say it? Fathers it's time...As the Nike slogan goes...JUST DO IT!

Lates

Drew

Click here for Hamilton's

beginnings.

THE UNLUCK OF THE IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello everybody...haven't been blogging for a minute...took a little breather at the end of a great Raptor season. Now like all Dino fans I was disappointed with the way the season came to an end...but I was really proud of the many accomplishments that the Raptors gave the fans this season. Chris Bosh making 2nd team All-NBA was one of the best accolades that the team received. Bosh is simply one of the best in the league. He will get better despite a frustrating playoffs against the Nets. I told you guys Lawrence Frank would do a number on CB4! He can always be guaranteed to make teams beat him with their 2nd...3rd and 4th options...but he will never let the Number One guy beat him. As for Vince Carter. Well he may not be in the swamp next year...Rumour has it he may be heading south to Orlando. Who knows he may consider Portland now that they have the number one pick in this Junes draft and some very nice pieces to go along with their future franchise to be...whoever that may be.
Apparently Vince did cherish beating the Raptors at the A.C.C. this past playoffs...
According to a New Jersey paper...

The Nets still have not taken down the chairs hanging
from the wall of their gym, which represented each
road victory they earned this season. When asked
whether chair removal would be his job, Carter
replied, "I'll take the second one from the right,"
which had the Raptors logo on it.... 

Alas Raptor Fans...you still have some more booing to do in the future!

Now I have been watching the NBA playoffs from a distance and here's what I see...

Isn't it too bad Tracy McGrady can't make it out of the first round.....NOT! Listen...T-Mac deliberately deceived Toronto when it came down to re-signing with the Raptors. Instead of staying here and forming a ridiculous tandem with Wince Carter...T-Mac decided he wanted to be a man and bolted for Orlando. Of course we all know what happened after...He failed to get out of the first round...even after he basically came on TV and said that he was happy to be "finally getting out of the first round"...NOT. Then he goes to Houston and guess what...He can't get out of the first round despite saying..."It's on me". What's that saying about KARMA? It's a b$%#ch! Too bad T-Mac but the curse of the Raptor is with you forever...ha ha ha ha!
Better luck next year...and look...you even gone and got your revered Jeff Van Gundy fired. But at least he got a TV gig the right after he was canned.

Warriors/Jazz series...very good series. I thought the Warriors could pull it off...but the size and strength of the Jazz was too much for the overachieving Golden State team. I thought the key to the Jazz series win was the emergence and dominance of Andre Kirilenko. Remember a couple weeks before he was crying out of frustration and by the time the Warriors series was over he had so much confidence again...scoring...distributing...rebounding and blocking every shot in his vicinity. Will he be a valuable fantasy player again?...possibly. For some reason I think his wife Masha had something to do with his strong play...not sure why but any woman who says they would let their NBA husband cheat for one day out of the year...has something to do with his fine play in the series.
Another thing...What in the world is Stephen Jackson's problem? He needs to go to counselling because he argues every call and is always vex with someone...particularly the ref who made the "wrong" call against him. He brought a certain type of fire to the Warriors...but I think Chris Mullin should deal him...lest his "Bad attitude" rub off on players such as Monta Ellis and Mikael Pietrus. From the series you could see that Jackson was influencing Matt Barnes and Baron Davis as the two of them were constantly griping about the officiating during the games.

Suns/ Spurs...was a travesty! Plain and simple. I actually thought that after the Suns tied the series up at two that they were going to take the series over the AGING San Antonio squad!
Don't think for a minute that Greg Popovich didn't know that his team was losing it's historical edge over the "Soft in the past" Suns. Pop knew he had to do something because the Suns were brimming with confidence and ready to go another step towards a finals berth. So what does he do? He sends the equivalent of a "hockey bruiser" to cheap shot Steve Nash and luckily for the Spurs this calculated move worked in their favour because the coaching staff of Phoenix could not keep Amare Stoudamire and Boris Diaw from acting like Knicks players while trying to rush the scene. Let me see...The Spurs lose bench player Horry meanwhile the Suns lose an All-Star and 1st team All-NBA player in Stoudamire and a valuable piece of their rotation in Diaw. Seem a little lopsided...YES. ..and sorry Commissioner David Stern's explanation was as lame as Horry decision to cheat the Suns out of at least a game 7 in the series. What has the NBA come to? I can't believe to this day that they actually suspended the Suns guys! Well Nash will have to wait til' next year and he ain't getting any younger folks. The way Nash skedaddles around the court during a game he probably runs as much in one game as most point guards do in 2 or 3 games. He's got more mileage than some NASCAR drivers. Spurs are up 2-zip on the Jazz...going back to Utah. This series is over...although the Jazz have not lost at home this playoffs(6-0). That could change come Saturday though. Spurs in 5.

Is there any good ball being played in the EAST? Wow...I think the only series I watched was the Raptors...and not just becaue I am a Toronto guy...but there just hasn't been any compelling storyline in the East this post season. Pistons K-O'd the Magic...EXPECTED. Cavs thumped the Wizards...EXPECTED. Pistons dumped the Bulls....EXPECTED. Cavs handled the Nets...EXPECTED. Although if VC did anything that series it could have went the other way...But he shrunk under his shell faster than a turtle on the run...and TURTLES DON'T RUN!

This Cavs/Pistons series is awful...no feeling...no drama...and the Cavs should actually have won game one...Lebron...it's your time buddy! Show us what you got!

As for Danny Ainge and the Celtics. Danny my boy...looks like you should have stayed with Baseball. You are simply BAD LUCK to the Celtics organization. He should never had tried to chat up Kevin Durrant's mother and never had tanked all those games towards the end of the season! Wouldn't you like to have been a fly on the wall when Danny found out that his team didn't even make the top 3. How on Earth do the Portland Trailblazers get the number one pick? Well Portland can't mess this one up can they? Wait...weren't they the ones that took Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan way back when? Yes they were! Well they have only one option. GREG ODEN. Just come out Kevin Pritchard and tell everyone you are picking the next dominant center. Don't kid people into thinking you may take Durant...or Noah...or Wright. In fact Brandan Wright of UNC is going to be a TERRIFIC NBA player folks. I think he will be the stud of the draft despite it being one of the deepest ever. Don't forget Acie Law? Atlanta are you going to finally select a point guard? You better.
"To me," said ESPN's college guru, Jay Bilas, "Brandan Wright [North Carolina] is No. 3. He will be very good. Al Thornton [Florida State] is a beast. Julian Wright [Kansas] would be the second-fastest player in transition on the Phoenix Suns right now, after [Leandro] Barbosa. Mike Conley is the best point guard in the draft. Down there around 12 or 13, somebody's going to get Acie Law [Texas A&M], a very nice point guard, although Conley is the best point guard."
Portland missed out on the first pick last year despite having the league's worst record...but they made up for it at the most perfect time possibly in their history. Hoops is back in the Pacific Northwest. Now will the Sonics stay in Seattle considering they will get a franchise player? It's hard to tell...but it is definitely a shot in the arm for ball in that area. Now some may be saying damn...no team from the East will get Durant or Oden. Hey wake up people...Especially Raptors fans...We don't have to deal with Durant or Oden come playoff time...until the finals if they make it there down the road. To get there they will have to go through some tough Western Conference teams and slug it out with most of the best forwards and centers in the NBA. Thank God. You can have them west!

The Finals should be Spurs/Pistons. Two great teams...with no flashy star...but you know it would be a great final despite the low ratings...Maybe Mr. Bron Bron has something to say about that. I am going to try to watch the rest of the playoffs despite my anger at the Suns/Spurs outcome. Tim Duncan...still one of the 3 best players on the planet and it ain't a joke. This cat does it all...scores...rebounds passes and blocks shots like his life depended on it. He and Dwayne Wade have the best bank shots in the business.

Finally. Danny Ainge...it really sucks to be you right now!

Lates

Drew

CHUCK SWIRSKY BOMBARDED BY HATE MAIL FOR VOTING FOR BARGNANI OVER ROY FOR ROTY!!

Brandon Roy

So now it comes out that our "Salami and Cheese" delivery guy Chuck Swirsky has gotten hate mail over the fact that he was the only media member with voting power who cast his rookie of the year ballot for Toronto's own Andrea "Il Mago" Bargnani. He was the only one of 128 sportswriters and broadcasters that didn't vote for Roy. To say Swirsky is a staunch Raptors supporter would be an understatement and does not give off much hint of impartiality when heard over the airwaves bellowing out catchphrases and accolades for the Raptors players. He is pro-Raptors to a fault but he brings so much excitement and hype to the broadcasts that we don't mind his pro-Raptor stance. He could be a little more unbiased sometimes but he is great for the game of basketball and the NBA uses his "sound ups" when they show Raptors highlights which means they like the way he calls the games...especially when the Raps are winning. Now Chuck's position with respect to his Rookie of the year pick is not new to us. He's been saying year long that he would vote for Bargnani when the time came and that's exactly what he did. Now you ask...what is the consequence of Swirsky's vote? Well because Swirsky went totally against the grain...It cost Roy the opportunity to be only the third UNANIMOUS winner of the Rookie Of The Year...as Ralph Sampson and David Robinson did in 1983-84 and 1989-90 respectively. Chuck Swirsky

So the Blazers fans are all up in arms because Swirsky "dissed" Roy. C'mon give me a break. Swirsky has the right to vote how he wants and does not feel inclined to go with the consensus which was ROY for "ROTY"! Why should he? Swirsky watched Bargnani all year and saw a steady improvement from a guy who was according to him...the 3rd or 4th option on a playoff bound division winning team...A team that also clinched home court advantage in the 1st round. Roy was part of a Portland squad(32-50) that is rebuilding for the future and was not a playoff contender. Roy had a tremendous season...he led all rookies in scoring with a 16.8 points per game average while shooting 46% from the field and 84% from the charity strip. Bargnani meanwhile 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds. In my opinion the difference is that Roy was a top scoring option on the Blazers and was consistent from day one...while Bargnani came on from early in the new year...struggling out the gate as a big man in the league. It's generally known that guards can develop quicker and have a faster success rate than big men in the NBA. So the fact that Roy adjusted and was so successful was not a surprise to me. Roy won 3 rookie of the month awards while Bargnani won 2. Even Jorge Garbojosa won rookie of the month as well. Roy is a hell of a player and just what the Blazers needed after all the years of being called the "Jail Blazers". They are rebuilding with CHARACTER GUYS and team players. The organization wants to forget names like Bonzi Wells, Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire and Ruben Patterson and is now well represented by first rate players such as Roy, Lamarcus Aldridge, Martell Webster, Joel Przybilla and others.
As Chuck says he can understand if the Blazers fans are frustrated...but he can't understand the hate spewing from the keyboards of those OREGONIANS! Last year the same thing happened when Utah's TV analyst Ron Boone voted for his guy Deron Williams...who lost out to Chris Paul of Nawlins/Oklahoma City. He probably got hate mail from Nawlins/Oklahoma City fans too...but maybe not...with all the stuff going on after Katrina...don't think those people had time to type a whole lot of bad things about Boone.
Let's go back and look at all the ROTY winners that WEREN'T unanimous like Sampson and Robinson to see if the Blazers fans are justified in their vilification of Mr. "Book it" himself.
1984-85. Michael Jordan
1985-86. Patrick Ewing
1986-87. Chuck Person
1987-88. Mark Jackson
1988-89. Mitch Richmond
1990-91. Derrick Coleman
1991-92. Larry Johnson
1992-93. Shaquille O'Neal
1993-94. Chris Webber
1994-95 tie. Grant Hill and Jason Kidd
1995-96. Damon Stoudamire
1996-97. Allen Iverson
1997-98. Tim Duncan
1998-99. Vince Carter
1999-00 tie. Elton Brand and Steve Francis
2000-01. Mike Miller
2001-02. Pau Gasol
2002-03. Amare Stoudamire
2003-04. Lebron James
2004-05. Emeka Okafor
2005-06 Chris Paul
2006-07 Brandon Roy
So Mr. Roy joins a list of some pretty good players...in fact many future hall of famers that weren't unanimous ROTY winners as well...so Blazer fans not sure if you can really complain!
Plus...was Roy that much better than Bargnani and Rudy Gay to warrant a unanimous selection?...I don't think so. He probably shouldn't have even been that close to being unanimous anyways...but that's just my opinion. Enjoy the award and spew the hate towards a more deserving target...the NBA schedule makers and television networks ...who cause the league to spread out the games too long and leave us drooling for the next one during playoff time.
As for Swirsky...I think he may have a tough time in Portland next season when the Raptors play the Blazers. My solution...bring the RAPTOR mascot along for protection because who's really going to mess with a dinosaur with sharp teeth?

Lates

Drew

NEW NBA POSITION: POWER GUARD!

Baron "B-Diddy" Davis has redefined the point guard/power forward positions...to combine and
become the NBA's first POWER GUARD!!!! You heard it here first...on DUNKUVERYMUCH...

A quote from commenter Mullensboy:

"Baron is balling out of control. I think there going to have to make a new position for the type of game he plays, like "strong guard". I saw Dirk,try to post him at the foul line, but Dirk could not back him down, as a matter of fact, on the play Baron knocked the ball away and that lead to a fast break! I really want to see him play against Nash. As far as the beard, both Tariq Trotter aka Black thought and "grandma said knock you out" Baron Davis are rocking the TPB hard".

I elaborated on Mullensboy's "Strong guard" moniker and came up with POWER GUARD...just to keep in line with NBA vernacular.
Who knows...maybe NBA and college scouts will be looking for this powerful/strong guard type in the future.
Baron stands at 6'3" and 213 lbs...that's a big boy that can get to the hoop at will and bounces players who try to physical him like they are pin balls hitting a bumper. How do you guard him?
With a smaller quicker guard such as Jason Terry...no chance he just powers up and over them.

Maybe try using an agile small forward like Devean George on him. Done Deal...Baron just uses his quickness and blasts by him for a finger roll or rim rattling two-hander...this also after knee surgery to boot. What can't this man do when healthy? Hopefully we will continue to see in the playoffs and throughout next season.

WARRIORS/MAVS NEXT GAME TUES MAY 1ST...9:30 pm(EST) on TNT.

RAPTORS HOST THE NETS in GAME 5 TUES MAY 1ST AT 7 PM on THE SCORE and TNT.

Will the Raps sink or swim tonight? It's time to put up or shut up! TJ is sick with the flu...boo hoo....so start Jose then damn it! You'll see...how the ball will move and Christopher Bosh will get going early.No more excuses...Bosh it's time to make Mikey"Dread" Moore look like the scrub

he really is! Jason Collins should be fouled out by the 3rd quarter. I heard Sam will start Mo Peterson and Bargnani again. He wants to go small and force one of the Jersey Bigs to have to go outside and guard Bargnani. If the Raptors lose folks it will be the last game as a Raptor for Peterson...take that to the TD Bank! Not sure if starting Mo will work...I'd rather him play the "Slovenian Slayer"...Rasho Nesterovic. Why not use Rasho more for his size? Make the Nets pay in the paint and for goodness sakes trust me when I say this...RASHO is the key. The Raps need to use him on the duck-ins in the paint

and he needs to be more aggressive when he's in there and make either Collins or Moore have to guard him...When Bosh gets it in the high post he should look for Rasho down low...they haven't used each other effectively in a TWIN TOWER fashion all series...what a shame...If the Raps will not use Rasho they will ultimately have to go out and get a true banging 7 footer for next year. The first time Carter goes to the hoop remind him why he shouldn't be near the key. Whoever is guarding Kidd whether it's TJ or Jose...pick him up as soon as the Raptors make/miss a shot or a free throw. It's simple...clog his fast break lane up from their half of center. Mix up the

coverage as well...some zone and man throughout the game will throw off the Nets. Don't settle for jump shots...especially Bosh early on. Get to the hoop and put the NETS in foul trouble. GO RAPS GO! Don't disappoint the fans! WEAR RED PEOPLE!

Lates

Drew

WHO's GOT THE BETTER TEDDY PENDERGRASS BEARD(TPB)?

Teddy Pendergrass...one of my favorite singers...was the preeminent rhythm and blues slow jam balladeer back in the early 80's. One tragic day about 25 years ago Teddy P as he is affectionately known was involved in a car crash that paralyzed the singer from the chest down.
But Teddy didn't give up...he came back and continued to make "Baby making" music for the masses. Some of his better know tracks include "Love TKO" , "Turn off the Lights" and "When Somebody Loves You Back". But he is also known for his trademark facial beard that made him a ladies favorite to go along with that deep and soulful voice. Teddy has just recently formed the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance(TPA) which is a non-profit organization that helps people with Spinal Cord Injuries build their lives. Congratulations to Teddy Pendergrass.
Now since Baron Davis is DOIN' IT during this years playoffs...with his Golden State Warriors on the brink of eliminating the Dallas Mavericks...and one of my favorite rappers is MC Blackthought of the ROOTS...I wanted to know which guy...Baron or Blackthought rocks the best Teddy Pendergrass Beard(TPB)?
Also check out Golden States Blog...it's pretty good.
LET DUNK U KNOW by picking your favorite beard below!!!!!!! Make comments under "have your say".

Baron "B-Diddy" Davis BlackThought

Baron's TPB while Ballin'!

Thought's TPB just chillin!

ARE THESE NBA PLAYOFFS NOT THE BEST IN YEARS???????

Wow...I must say that I am truly enjoying these NBA playoffs...except of course the thorough thumping the Raptors are taking from VinceNETS! Let's take a look around the NBA 1st round and see what the deal is with some of the players and series.

1. Must see TV....Dallas Mavs vs. Golden State Warriors. Despite Chuck Barkley calling it a terrible area...the Bay Area is thriving and going nuts right now for it's Golden State Warriors squad who are up 3 games to 1 on the 67 win regular season powerhouse Mavs. What on earth is happening to tilt this series on it's axis? ATHLETICISM pure and simple...Golden State is giving Dallas shooters...especially MVP frontfunner Dirk Nowitzki fits. His shots are rushed and his timing and rhythm is totally off due to the swarming defence of Warriors. Make no mistake...a Dallas loss would be one of the greatest upsets in NBA history. Don Nelson is showing a thing or two to his PROTEGE Avery Johnson and it makes for great drama. Baron Davis is off the chains...wish he was always healthy. But don't sleep on Stephen "shottas" Jackson, Montae"Most Improved" Ellis, Matt"Born in UCLA" Barnes, Mikael "French guy" Pietrus, Al"Thank God I'm out of Indiana" Harrington, and Andris "worst free throw form ever" Biedrins This team has athletes and they tip all balls in vicinity...rendering Dallas' passing as very ordinary. EASILY THE BEST SERIES IN THE FIRST ROUND.

2. T-Mac is back! Tracy McGrady is ballin' folks...not injured...not icing or resting his back but leading his team to a 3-2 lead in the series. Hopefully T-Mac won't pronounce the series over like he did with Orlando when they were up on Detroit a few years ago...then lost. He has yet to get out of the first round...can you believe that. Karma is a bit*&! Remember when you lied and bolted Toronto Tracy well that's why you haven't advanced to the 2nd round yet. Now that you have Yao on your side...you finally may get there T-Smac. Gotta love Utah's passing. They dissect defenses better than that doctor diagnoses illnesses...what's his name..."HOUSE". They move without the ball better than those people on "Dancing with the Stars". Jerry Sloan sorry Sam I Am took your Coach of the Year award. Not sure if Sam deserves it right now.

3. Lakers are done. Kobe thanks for coming out. Too much offence and speed for the Lake show to compete with again. It's a pity Andrew Bynum hasn't developed yet but watch out people because the greatest center ever...Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is showing him the ropes inside and it's just a matter of time before the Lakers are back at the top of the West.
Is it possible to say that Kobe isn't shooting the rock enough?

4. The Heat sweep is just embarrassing. Are you telling me they couldn't take ONE GAME from the upstart Bulls?....Give me a break. Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning should have retired after the title win last year...but no...they were greedy and wanted more. Of course the odds would have been much better for Miami had the Wademeister not gotten hurt. But gut out one game and show some pride. What an awful way for the defending champs to go out. First time in 50 years the champs were swept in the 1st round. Not a way to end your careers GP and AM. Can't say I'm sorry for Mourning...Hate seeing him flex those stupid biceps after throwing an inbounds pass or something like that. All those people wearing white shirts for nothing. The silence was deafening in Miami at the buzzer...you almost felt sorry for them. Maybe Pat Riley will be forced now to develop and PLAY some of the young talent such as Dorell Wright or Wayne Simien. Mr Riley I know you've won x amount of titles and you are a Hall-of-Famer...but take a pointer...you need to mix in the youth with the veterans so they can get better and feel what it's like in the playoffs. Finally...IS SHAQ DONE? It sure looks like it.

5. Don't sleep on Detroit as the Pistons lie in wait for the Bulls. Is Scott Skiles team ready for the Motor City Madness? Ben Wallace back to DeeeeeTRROOIIITTT! Damn Stephen King couldn't have wrote a better book! This will be one tough series for both teams. Will the Pistons continue to dominate the Bulls or will the Bulls slay the Piston dragon? Can't wait to see this one.

6. Lebron makes the playoffs for the 1st time last season. This year he gives the Cavs their first playoff sweep...wow...even those teams with Mark Price, Hot Rod Williams, Brad Daugherty, and Craig Ehlo didn't take out the brooms for an opposing squad...pretty amazing. Are you a witness to Bron Bron's history making feats. This was probably the least publicized and watched series simply because the GILBERTairs were GILBERTless. Plus no Caron Butler...easy pickings for Cleveland. But the last 2 games were close...could have went either way...that's why I'm not sure if the Cavs are ready for that next step...the Eastern Conference Finals.

7. Can Denver dump the Spurs? Melo and AI are trying their best to dethrone the guys with all the rings. Tim(Cookie Monster) Duncan will not let the Spurs go down without a fight. Did you see Ginobili's dunk the other day? I thought those slams were history for the Argentinian south paw. Is Steve Blake not the luckiest point guard in the NBA?

8. Dwight Howard...work on your 15 footer for next year...you will be unstoppable for it.

9. Is Bruce Willis sober today...what are the odds he's still intoxicated from the Nets/Raptors game yesterday? Will the latest Die Hard be a success? I saw a preview and I must say it looks BAD!(meaning good)

10. I saw Jessica Alba court side at the Warriors/ Mavs game on Sunday. She dating a guy named Cash Warren who coincidentally played on the same high school team as Baron Davis!

11. Who's a worse dresser Don Cherry or TNT's Craig Sager? Let the votes begin.

I really hope that the playoffs continue to sizzle...all the arenas except the Meadowlands are standing room only(can't wait for the move to Brooklyn). The fans have been treated to some high-quality basketball for the most part and the most of the star players have shone brightly this post season. Dirk Diggler where are you?

This FORD IS A LEMON!!!!!!! RAPTORS DEMOLISHED IN GAME 4!

the T.J. Ford Offense

As I sit here watching this Raptors/Nets game I am wondering if I have ever seen a worse playoff game in my entire existence on Earth. I mean...I've seen blowouts but this game has been over since the 1st qtr. No intensity from the get-go...just like in game 3...Too many threes for Jersey and way too many open shots for the home squad. Not to mention the Raptors were uncharacteristically careless with the ball...committing 10 turnovers in the 1st half alone.

T.J. Ford is NOT the point guard for the Toronto Raptors. Sorry Brian Colangelo...but he's not the one. I can't believe how careless he is with the ball. The announcers are saying this game is not typical of a TJ Ford game...PLEASE...spare me the team cheerleading routine. Can we say the truth?...TJ isn't ready to run a big-time team. He is Mike James squared. He over dribbles constantly and is out there on an island and sees no one open but himself. Jason Kidd is abusing him at every turn and it is embarrassing. At least use your speed to stay close to Kidd TJ. Take a charge...get a steal...do something to spark your team. In the 1st qtr...there were times when Chris Bosh would set the screen and TJ wouldn't even look for his All-Star forward on the roll. Jose "el Saviour" Calderon comes in and looks for Bosh...first with an alley-oop feed and then with a sweet bounce pass inside for a slam. The Raps also didn't establish Rasho Nesterovic or suprise starter Andrea Bargnani inside either. They just kept shooting from the outside...letting the Nets dictate the way they play offence. If Bargnani is in the game and he is guarded by Richard Jefferson...he has to bring him down low and make the Nets pay for the mismatch. Bargnani had that exact mismatch in the 2nd qtr but missed the bunny up close when the Raptors were making a run...and the Nets came back to score and the Raps never threatened again. Was the trade worth it?

Vince Carter came out playing aggressive in the first half...and in the 2nd half it is Richard Jefferson who is hitting every jumper he takes.
Again...go back to my post about this series. I warned of the coaching mismatch in this series. Lawrence Frank looks like the coach of the year while Mitchell's facial expressions and body language show a very BEATEN man. He knows the series is over and has no clue why.
Bosh is again taken out of the game...and I can't for the life of me figure out why. He seems rushed...and he seems intimidated out there. He's not aggressive and sure when he gets the ball...Instead of taking Jason Collins off the dribble he settles for the 18 foot jump shot early on. Another point...I've never seen a team be on the short end of the bounces like the Raptors have in this game.
Not sure if the move to start Bargnani was the right one either. It put alot of pressure on the rook and it seems he wasn't up to task! He was slow on defence and gave up some back door plays to Carter in the 1st half . If he was aware and in the correct position he would have been able to slap away the alley-oop tosses.
Sam I Am is coaching like his hands are tied in an episode of 24. Problem is...there is no Jack Bauer on the Raptors!
What can the Raptors do? J Kidd has willed his team to a 3-1 lead...and you know what as tough as losing this series is going to be for the fans especially...I think this Raptors squad will ultimately come out better and learn something about playoff basketball from this series. Losing to Carter will hurt...and it will hurt for the whole summer and pre-season. In fact it will feel like crap and it's going to be a long summer folks. But think of the future...in a couple years this Toronto team will be one of the best in the league...trust me. Garbo get ready quick please we need you.
Game 5 will no doubt be a barn burner in Toronto...can the Raps prolong the inevitable? maybe...maybe not...but it was still a successful season and I really enjoyed watching this young team grow. If I can say another thing. If the Raps have any chance at all to come back...they have to take it one game at a time...but it looks like their hearts have been ripped out after this game 4 loss.

Other notes: Half-time interview by James Cybulski on TSN with Bruce Willis was a disgrace. Willis was obviously intoxicated...ranting with some kid that was sitting beside him. Cybulski asked him about his new Die Hard movie and he was rambling on about the fact that it's the best Die Hard...even better than the first. Then to conclude...Cybulski said thanks to Willis and the idiot Willis says "Yippee-Kayee motherf*&^*er"...a phrase from Die Hard.
Wow...what a shame when Stardom makes these stars make fools of themselves time and time again.
Raptors have not his 100 points once this series. That was never a problem for them this year...until now. The offence and ball movement has gone south for the winter!
At least the Raptors are not Dallas. The #1 seeded Mavs could go down to the #8 Warriors and as bad as the Raps loss would be...imagine being a Dallas fan. Last year the Finals...this year golfing in early May.

JASON IS LIKE AND ADULT PLAYING WITH HIS KIDDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just like Toronto Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell wondered...if Jason Kidd was hurt and dropped 16-16-19...points...assissts and rebounds respectively...what would happen if he weren't injured? Do you realize what it takes from the guard position to record at least 15 in each of those three categories in the regular season...never mind the playoffs? Obviously Kidd is a future first ballot Hall of Famer...but the game on Friday against a bewildered Raptors team has surely cemented Kidd as one of the best PLAYERS in the history of the NBA. With that Fantasy owner's dream game Kidd joined only Wilt Chamberlain(1967) and Fat Lever(1985) as the only players to record at least 15 points...15 assists and 15 rebounds in a single playoff game. Rafael Araujo couldn't accomplish that in a full season when he was in a Raptor uniform for Pete's sake. Short of taking Kidd out ala Nancy Kerrigan...how do the Raptors stop the best rebounding point guard since Oscar Robinson? He gets out in transition better than the cast of hit show "Prison Break"...and he seems to make the right plays and find the best available player shot-wise almost every time he touches the ball. His name is KIDD but he is treating the Raptor playoff neophytes like they are kids.
Toronto got off to a horrendous start on Friday trailing 9-0 with only 2 minutes and 9 seconds gone in the game. 3 of Jersey's buckets were in the paint and they killed Toronto in points in the paint simply because the Raptors refused to play any kind of defence. Remember Jerseys big men are Jason Collins and undrafted skinny big man Mikki "Mikey Dread" Moore...we're not talking about Shaquille O'Neal or Alonzo Mourning here. But it's not those two that are doing damage inside...it's the guard tandem of Kidd...Carter and Jefferson.
One thing that is apparent in this series is that the Raptors dearly miss Jorge Garbajosa's toughness and smarts in the paint. Plus the Spaniard's ability to step outside and drain 20 footers and 3 pointers would have helped to spread New Jersey's defence out and created room for Chris Bosh inside.Speaking of Bosh...where the hell is our 2-time All-Star? CB4 is averaging 12 points in the series...and scored only 11 in Friday's loss. When is he going to get decisive on the court? He needs to make up his mind quickly when he gets the ball. Either shoot...drive or pass...but he seems a step behind right now. Only if and when BOSH starts to play big will the Raptors have a chance to turn this series around. He'll need to score at least 30 today...no joking about that!
I said this before in previous posts. The Raptors have to realize what playoff basketball is about. Toughness and maximizing possessions. It also means NO LAYUPS and NO AND-1 LAYUPS! If the Raps are going to foul they must foul hard because the lack of toughness they have showed in this series is appalling. Bosh got a foul 50 seconds into the game and it seemed to set the tone for Toronto. They were passive from that point on and it was a layup line led by Vince Carter, RJ and Kidd the rest of the way. Mo Pete...who started the 2nd half in place of Joey "Lost in Space" Graham...tried to show some toughness late in the game as he took down Jefferson and was called for the flagrant...But that was way too late to help the Raps!
Carter...you knew coming in...was destined to break out in this series after flubbing his way through the 1st 2 games.
One more thing. TJ Ford...will you pass the rock. What's with your point guard scoring 27 points and taking 22 shots...2 more than Bosh and Anthony Parker combined? That is not the solution for winning in the playoffs if your Sam Mitchell. It seems that TJ doesn't make enough of an effort to get guys the ball in pick-and-rolls situations...I've seen him look off Bosh...and Bargnani several times this year...and it makes me sick to my stomach. We signed this guy to be a PASS FIRST point guard. The way he's playing now...he may as well be Mike James. They play the same game. Jose Calderon has been averaging one more assists than the so-called starter in this series and that is non-sense.
As for Kidd...I thought the whole injury thing before game three was a total PSYCHE job by the NETS. Deep down they know the Raptors are a better team than them...So in game one they throw Toronto off by wearing their alternate red jerseys...they lose game 2 and pull another trick out of the bag by claiming Kidd had a sore knee and according to head coach Lawrence Frank...was a "Game-time decision". Baloney. Kidd would play if one of his legs were falling off! "Injury gate totally took the Raptors mindset down a couple notches as even a thought of playing a team without their best player would have made any team overconfident and passive in the ballgame. The ploy worked and now it's up to Toronto to re-gain home court advantage. The Raptors will win tonight...I am confident in that...they are due for a "RAPTOR TYPE OF GAME"...because the first three games have been not even close to the way they can play....give alot of credit to Frank who I mentioned in a previous post "Be Careful What You Wish For" seems to make life difficult for opposing star big men like Bosh. A loss tonight and it is over for Toronto...so to say this is the biggest game of the season would be a severe understatement. A must win if there ever was is this game 4.

Other playoff musings:
1. Just finished watching the Bulls dethrone the Heat...terrible performance by Miami...especially down the stretch...Wade had 7 turnovers in the game andShaq had 16 points. Key stat Ben Wallace wen 7-of-8 from the line including 6 straight makes from the stripe. WOW!
2. Golden State is for real...Still the best series so far in the playoffs.
3. Despite Kobe's 45 in game 3...the Lake show is going down in 5.
4. Spurs are still my pick to win the West...with the Suns right there.
5. Gilbert Arenas learn to be humble. who cares if you are on the cover of a video game...your team needs your support.
6. Utah/Rockets series is getting nice...both teams have won their home games...series tied at 2.
7. The empty seats at the Meadowlands is embarrassing for the league and shows why the Nets are moving to Brooklyn.
8. Pistons/Bulls should be an incredible series with Big Ben facing his former team. My pick...Bulls in 6.
9. Sam Mitchell needs to get the upperhand because Frank is outcoaching the Coach of the Year.
10. No more excuses...Toronto needs a game from Andrea Bargnani. He needs to BRING IT!!!!

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Drew