Monday, March 26, 2007
Final 4 is Set
There is only four teams left vying for the ultimate prize in Hotlanta. #1 Ohio State (my pick to win it all) won the South region Saturday and was the first team to secure a spot in Atlanta aftr beatin Memphis 92-67. Super freshman Greg Oden had 17 points and nine rebounds and dominated the game with his shot blocking prescence while in the game. The Buckeyes have looked vulnerable at times during the tournament but have continued to survive and advance.
Monday, March 19, 2007
March Madness???
Shhhh! Don't tell anyone but the first two rounds of March Madness were fantastic! Don't let all the one month (every March) college basketball fans fool you; the level of competition, emotion and skill level was at its highest. All that the wannabe NCAA basketball fans want (besides their picks i.e. brackets to win) is a series of underdogs to root for and favorites whos demise they see as their divine right to ridicule and laugh at. Duke is a perfect example. Anyone who reads my blog knows that I am no Blue Devil's fan, but I was surprised how quick the media were to trash their favorite school. Dickie V, whom I am a big fan of and ESPN, has never been afraid to play favorites. Duke has been their undisputed college basketball mascot for almost two decades. ESPN, always trying to feign objectivity took this opportunity to trash the Blue Devils following their humbling first round loss to VCU. It led SportScenter, it was on the front page of their website, and every radio talk show host proclaimed how this was proof that they did not love their mistress Duke.
Wow! Congratulations ESPN! You took the opportunity to kick a program (that has been the face of an enire sport and made tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars for you) while its down. What a statement. What a stand for journalism! You certainly have made your point! Jump ship and get out before it goes down and proclaim that you didnt fund the voyage. Dont look now true college basketball fans but I think Atlas has shrugged.
Wow! Congratulations ESPN! You took the opportunity to kick a program (that has been the face of an enire sport and made tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars for you) while its down. What a statement. What a stand for journalism! You certainly have made your point! Jump ship and get out before it goes down and proclaim that you didnt fund the voyage. Dont look now true college basketball fans but I think Atlas has shrugged.
Friday, March 16, 2007
No Worries in D-Town
Every pundit, every hater, every Spurs fan, every Suns fan, etc. has been waiting for the Mavs to lose following that 17 game win streak that was just ended by Jason Richardson and the Warriors. I heard "Warr-iors!?" all day from the haters mimicking the cult classic movie. All I could say was, "hey, if you are that excited about one loss than they must be doing something right."
That was not the cou-de- gras though; that came two days later when the Mavs let a double digit lead slip away to Super Nash and the Suns in the waning seconds of Wednesday's game. To many of the haters out there (and you know who you are), it was another sign of The Mavs inability to close out close games against tough competition. What a joke! The Mavs have the best record in the NBA, they have the best record against the elite (2-1 over Suns, 2-1 over the Spurs this year), and oh by the way they knocked both of those teams out of the playoffs last year. Don't forget the last time the Mavs and Suns hooked up Dirk hit a J in the last seconds to seal a victory.
To me it showed what a great OFFENSIVE player Nash is, and what a great competitor he is as well. To Mav fans and anyone who watches more than a handful of their hometown team's games a year it was just an aberration and maybe even a much needed wake up call for a Dallas team that has devoured the competition for much of the year...
That being said, they need to get it together and start winning again. The Mavs Maniacs are not used to losing anymore, especially not two in a row.
Look for my next post on the first weekend of March Madness. (The first round should be a national holiday!)
That was not the cou-de- gras though; that came two days later when the Mavs let a double digit lead slip away to Super Nash and the Suns in the waning seconds of Wednesday's game. To many of the haters out there (and you know who you are), it was another sign of The Mavs inability to close out close games against tough competition. What a joke! The Mavs have the best record in the NBA, they have the best record against the elite (2-1 over Suns, 2-1 over the Spurs this year), and oh by the way they knocked both of those teams out of the playoffs last year. Don't forget the last time the Mavs and Suns hooked up Dirk hit a J in the last seconds to seal a victory.
To me it showed what a great OFFENSIVE player Nash is, and what a great competitor he is as well. To Mav fans and anyone who watches more than a handful of their hometown team's games a year it was just an aberration and maybe even a much needed wake up call for a Dallas team that has devoured the competition for much of the year...
That being said, they need to get it together and start winning again. The Mavs Maniacs are not used to losing anymore, especially not two in a row.
Look for my next post on the first weekend of March Madness. (The first round should be a national holiday!)
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Teflon Coach
Why do some people seem to get breaks with the media? Why are some public figures roasted at the steak every time they step out of line while others get away with highway robbery? There may not be an answer to the question of unexplainable public perceptions. One thing is for sure, Coach K is definitely one of those public figures who always seems to come out of scandals looking clean. Why? Is he really that powerful, I think not. The latest scandal coming out of Duke is the intentional foul or flying forearm/elbow by Gerald Henderson to UNC'S Tyler Hansboro that knocked the Tar Heel to the floor, breaking his nose, and spouting blood all over his jersey and the floor. It was late in the game and was the Dukies fourth loss out of five to their hated rivals.
What's crazy is all the people who have proclaimed to have seen the replay of the mugging and have then turned around and said that it was obviously unintentional. What are they looking at? Why are they defending Duke? Does Coach K have dirty pictures on most of the media and is holding them over their heads daring them to say something negative about his program? What a joke! Coach K is like Tim Robbins character in the Shawshank Redemption, "He crawled through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side."
I don't think Coach K is evil, or that he even runs a dirty program, but I do think that he receives preferential treatment for no reason other than the fact that a) he has been tremendously successful and b) he schmoozes the press.
His comments after the game did little to suppress the feeling that he had given out the order for the hit on Hansboro. "The game was over, or at least the outcome was, Coach K said. "I don't know why those kids were out there in the first place. I guess that's what happens, so be it."
I guess this is what happens when the media lets an individual become bigger than the game and allows him to wield too much power.
What's crazy is all the people who have proclaimed to have seen the replay of the mugging and have then turned around and said that it was obviously unintentional. What are they looking at? Why are they defending Duke? Does Coach K have dirty pictures on most of the media and is holding them over their heads daring them to say something negative about his program? What a joke! Coach K is like Tim Robbins character in the Shawshank Redemption, "He crawled through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side."
I don't think Coach K is evil, or that he even runs a dirty program, but I do think that he receives preferential treatment for no reason other than the fact that a) he has been tremendously successful and b) he schmoozes the press.
His comments after the game did little to suppress the feeling that he had given out the order for the hit on Hansboro. "The game was over, or at least the outcome was, Coach K said. "I don't know why those kids were out there in the first place. I guess that's what happens, so be it."
I guess this is what happens when the media lets an individual become bigger than the game and allows him to wield too much power.
Mavs Win 16th Straight
The Mavs won yet again Tuesday, defeating New Jersey 102-89 at home. The win makes them the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the NBA. Point Guard Jason Terry led Dallas with 24 points. Dirk Nowitzki had another superb game with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Dirk is now considered in many circles (see www.espn.com and www.nba.com) to be the front runner for MVP of the regular season. He has led the Mavs to a NBA best51-9 record. When will the Mavericks ever lose again? Well after a four day break, they hit the road for a two-game West Coast trip that begins in L.A, against the Lakers on Sun. Then they play Golden State on the second day of a back to back. They will then hurry home to meet Phoenix on Wednesday on ESPN. The Mavs will have to play some of their best basketball of the year to win all three and keep the streak alive.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
One For The Ages
NCAA
-What a game between UT and Texas A&M Wednesday night! The Instant Classic went to double OT where the Longhorns held on to win 98-96. Kevin Durant (30 points,16 rebounds) and Acie Law (33 points, 5 assists) stole the show by carrying their teams on their backs. Seemed that every time their respective teams needed a big shot they were there to step up and drill it. I can't wait to see how these two teams perform in the NCAA Tournament. A&M looks like a two seed and could creep up on a one seed or drop to a three depending on their showing in the Big 12 Tournament. UT looks like a solid four or five seed to me...
-Hey Mavmaniac! Thanks for the comments! As far as a bracket buster, I would look at Butler as a Mid-Major in the George Mason Ilk. I would not be surprised to see them in the Final Four especially if they get a easier bracket. They won the preseason NIT Tourney and with a record of 26-5 with wins over teams such as Notre Dame, Indiana, Gonzaga, and Tennessee they are ready to take on the big boys. UNLV is another good choice as a bracket buster. They are fast and athletic! They are 24-6 this season with big wins coming against Arizona, an underrated Nevada team, My Texas Tech, and Air Force which is another team that could make some noise come March.
-What a game between UT and Texas A&M Wednesday night! The Instant Classic went to double OT where the Longhorns held on to win 98-96. Kevin Durant (30 points,16 rebounds) and Acie Law (33 points, 5 assists) stole the show by carrying their teams on their backs. Seemed that every time their respective teams needed a big shot they were there to step up and drill it. I can't wait to see how these two teams perform in the NCAA Tournament. A&M looks like a two seed and could creep up on a one seed or drop to a three depending on their showing in the Big 12 Tournament. UT looks like a solid four or five seed to me...
-Hey Mavmaniac! Thanks for the comments! As far as a bracket buster, I would look at Butler as a Mid-Major in the George Mason Ilk. I would not be surprised to see them in the Final Four especially if they get a easier bracket. They won the preseason NIT Tourney and with a record of 26-5 with wins over teams such as Notre Dame, Indiana, Gonzaga, and Tennessee they are ready to take on the big boys. UNLV is another good choice as a bracket buster. They are fast and athletic! They are 24-6 this season with big wins coming against Arizona, an underrated Nevada team, My Texas Tech, and Air Force which is another team that could make some noise come March.
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