April 24, 2019 Posted in  Baseball, Hockey, NBA, NFL News

Ah, the old TV blackout. The source of frustration for all local sports fans as far as the local teams go. Let’s face it, world; Sports blackouts are so twentieth century. The population of metropolises has become too great to justify allowing blackouts to exist.

Well, then, how are teams going to fill up their stadiums? First off, run heavy promotional offers, like half-price admission, free hot dog and soda, bobblehead, free programs to the first X number of customers, etc… Teams can also require a viewer to fork over a monthly or annual fee for watching the games. But blacking games out is a huge PR nightmare.

Last I checked, the time machine has not been invented. It never will. Blackouts should not be around in the twenty-first century.

Game on, fans.

May 31, 2018 Posted in  NBA

Armageddon is here in the NBA, the good (King James (LeBron James)) vs. the evil (The Golden State Warriors). This is an example of genuine greatness vs. manufactured greatness. LeBron is the GOAT. The Warriors have four Hall of Famers all on the same team, whereas the Cleveland Cavaliers have just one guy (LeBron) who is a perennial All-star. I hope David slays Goliath in the NBA Finals. LeBron is David and the Warriors are Goliath. But the odds are against him. I say Warriors in six.

January 24, 2018 Posted in  NBA, PSAs

Tom Brady. LeBron James. Two examples of authentic greatness. 8 Super Bowl appearances. 8 NBA Finals appearances. Who did the two each have around him? Nobody.

Stephen Curry. Kevin Durant. Draymond Green. Klay Thompson. All Golden State Warriors at the same time. This group is the epitome of manufactured greatness, meaning they didn’t have to work hard because, as the old adage goes, “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” That is used by those with a rather weak ideology.

To be the best, you gotta beat the best. Don’t join forces with the champs just because you can’t beat them in the championship round. Joining a title holder who won the title two seasons prior is gutless, because they really don’t need you to win the championship...

July 9, 2017 Posted in  Lakers, NBA

Lonzo Ball’s second showing was much better in Summer League, but not even a triple-double could save the Los Angeles Lakers from their pathetic defense as they fall to the Boston Celtics 86-81 in Las Vegas on Saturday evening.

Let’s be clear, the Lakers will make the playoffs this season. They will learn not to put in a terrible effort on defense. I know they only have rookies and second year players on the summer league squad, however, I want to see the team play harder on defense. The turnovers are also a major red flag right now. I fully expect these things to be rectified by the start of the regular season.

Lonzo is the epitome of a transcendent talent and smarts. It rubs off on the rest of the team. I thought offensively the team played well, like the Houston Rockets...

July 8, 2017 Posted in  Lakers, NBA

Lonzo Ball wasn’t really balling tonight as the Lakers get defeated by the Clippers in Summer League’s opening night.

Ball had 5 assists and 5 points and shot mostly bricks tonight. Can’t expect everything from a rookie first night on the job. I expect Ball to be overwhelmed the opening night of the ’17-18 season, but he will come along very nicely. I expect the Lakers to be the eight seed in the Western Conference and Lonzo Ball, LaVar Ball’s son, to win Rookie of the Year.

March 3, 2017 Posted in  NBA, PSAs

Every Thursday night basketball fans are treated to a blooper reel known as Shaqtin’ A Fool. This segment is under attack from those on the liberal side.

Let’s face it, America; humor is not going to disappear. It is good for keeping morale up. We cannot let the McGees ruin our fun. The McGees are JaVale and his mother Pamela. They are whining about Shaquille O’Neal making fun of him frequently.

Hey, JaVale and Pamela, it’s humor. Nobody is taking it seriously. ESPN has a similar feature called “Not Top 10.” No one is complaining over that. I applaud JaVale wholeheartedly for trying so hard. He should learn to laugh at himself sometimes.

My biggest beef is with media pundits who put themselves above Shaquille’s level on the basis Shaq is only trying to have some fun...

October 27, 2016 Posted in  NBA

I apologize for being a couple of days late, but here is my 2016-17 NBA Predictions.

Most improved team: Los Angeles Lakers

Division Winners:

Atlantic: Toronto Raptors

Central: Cleveland Cavaliers

Southeast: Atlanta Hawks

Northwest: Portland Trailblazers

Pacific: Golden State Warriors

Southwest: San Antonio Spurs

NBA Champion: Cleveland Cavaliers over San Antonio Spurs.

MVP: Kawhi Leonard

Playoff Predictions: West

1 San Antonio over 8 Houston Rockets

2 Golden State over 7 Memphis Grizzlies

3 Portland over 6 Dallas Mavericks

4 L.A. Clippers over 5 Oklahoma City Thunder

East:

1 Cleveland over 8 Miami Heat

2 Atlanta over 7 New York Knicks

3 Toronto over 6 Boston Celtics

4 Chicago Bulls over Indiana Pacers

Second Round: CLE over CHI, ATL over TOR, SAN over LAC, GS over POR.

Semis: CLE over ATL...

June 24, 2016 Posted in  Lakers, NBA

The Los Angeles Lakers in 2015-16 were just pathetic. There are those who would say it is the fact that they do not have any good players on their roster. To that I would reply that they have five good players. D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, Larry Nance Jr., and, with the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, Brandon Ingram. They also have serviceable players, like Roy Hibbert, Marcelo Huertas, and even Nick Young. They also drafted a center with their second round pick, but I expect him to keep playing overseas while the Lakers retain his NBA rights.

The biggest problem with the Lakers? We need look no further than the head coach, Byron Scott. Coaching can take a bad team to the playoffs, and it can keep a decent team out of them. Coaches matter...

May 12, 2016 Posted in  NBA

My favorite blooper reel, Shaqtin’ A Fool, is about a few weeks away from being crowned. Here are my “highlight” plays, my top ten.

10: Marcus Smart, greatest flop in NBA History. Boston vs Atlanta playoff series.

9. James Harden, pulling an Otto Porter countless times this season.

8. JaVale McGee, checking into a game with his warm-up pants on.

7. Josh Smith, a new record 25 step travel.

6. Rajon Rondo, annoying the referee who was trying to get him to inbound the ball.

5. D’Angelo Russell, playing defense against his own teammate.

4. Drew Gooden, trying to flop but failing to successfully do so.

3. Dirk Nowitzki, bunny-hopping three times while posting up a defender.

2. Garlon Green, after the other team misses a free throw, he dunks the ball in his own hoop.

1...

April 14, 2016 Posted in  Lakers, NBA

For the Lakers’ faithful, this has been the worst season in franchise history. Who will carry the torch going forward? D’Angelo Russell is the most viable candidate, but the answer, unfortunately, is not on the team right now. Especially with the night Kobe Bryant had vs. the Utah Jazz tonight.

Kobe scored 60, yes, that’s right, sixty points in a come from behind victory.

I remember being a sophomore in high school when Kobe was drafted, leaving Tim Duncan as the only player that was active, before I graduated high school, that will play in 2016-17. His finest hour was sweeping the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals, to win his 4th title, first as the key player on his team.

What lies ahead for Kobe?

Congratulations on a great career, Kobe Bryant. Good luck in your future endeavors.