"Spygate" reared its ugly head again. The Boston Herald reported that the Patriots videotaped the St. Louis Rams walked through prior to Super Bowl XXXVII. For Pete's (Rozelle) sake, what was that all about? I know NFL teams try to get a competitive edge by doing advanced scouting, but this is ridiculous. It definitely crossed the line and I hope the league seriously looks into this new allegation. Commissioner Roger Goodell said that the Patriots turned in all video material pertaining to the 2007 and 2006 seasons. But what about tapes prior to 2006? If there is evidence that New England had any kind of an added "advantage" with those tapes, then they should be stipped of their titles just like Olympic athletes get stripped when they are caught cheating.

Continue reading "Cheating Patriots"

When Pau Gasol was gift-wrapped by the Memphis Grizzlies to the L.A. Lakers, one Western Conference GM said, "Are you f***ing kidding me?" As for my reaction? I say, "CHAMPIONSHIP!"

In his first game as a Laker, Gasol posted 24 points and 12 rebounds. And dude only had one practice. The Spaniard looked like he has been playing in the triangle offense for years.

Before seeing Gasol's Laker debut, I was a little concerned on how well he and Andrew Bynum can co-exist when Bynum comes off the IL. But after watching The Spaniard vs. the Nets, I can see he is real comfortable working at the top of the key. This makes an interesting high-low offense. I can see Gasol lobbing passes to Bynum. I can see Gasol hitting that 15-footer if the defense sags on Bynum.  Oh, man! I can see Gasol lifting that Larry O'Brien trophy in June!

Continue reading "Gasol makes the Lakers the team to beat"

Am I the only soul on this planet (besides Steve Kerr) who thinks the Shaq deal is good for the Suns and bad news for the Lakers? My feelings went from "euphoria" when the Lakers got Pau Gasol to "grave concern" upon hearing the news that Shaq was back in the West.

Don't get me wrong here. I don't like the Suns. I think the whole organization has short-man's complex. They've always felt slighted and disrespected. Ever since they lost out on a coin flip that had Lew Alcindor's face on it, the Suns have played second fiddle to the Lakers, Spurs, Rockets, Jazz and Mavericks and it is killing them. Well, all that changed with The Diesel coming to the Valley of the Suns.

As a diehard Lakers fan, I am fearful that The Diesel will stand in the way of the Lakers' 15th NBA championship. He will make Amare play better. He will benefit from playing with the best point guard in the Association in Steve Nash. He will add toughness to a soft team. And, he will keep that lockerroom in stitches.

Continue reading "LAKERS AND SUNS RIVALRY JUST GOT HOTTER"

Lakers officials are not publicly saying it but trading for Pau Gasol signaled three things: 1) Kwame Brown was unable to shake off the public criticisms and desperately needed a new address, 2) Kobe Bryant finally got his wish and having an All-Star sidekick means he'll remain a Laker for life, and 3) Andrew Bynum's knee injury is a lot more serious than what the team is revealing.

When Bynum's kneecap popped out of place last January, I thought for sure the Lakers were dead in the water. Then, the injury report came out and it read that Bynum was expected to have a full recovery and should be ready by mid-March. Well, not so fast. L.A. Times columnist Kurt Streeter sat down with Bynum over the weekend and reported that there is still some swelling in the knee. Not good. The severity of the injury most likely played a key role in the Lakers going to Plan B and got the Gasol deal done ASAP.

Continue reading "BYNUM'S KNEE INJURY IS SLOW IN HEALING"

The NBA's All-Star weekend is one of my favorite times of the year and All-Star Saturday night is a national treasure that should be enshrined in the basketball Hall of Fame.

You have the Slam Dunk contest, the 3-point shootout and the recently added Skills Competition. Nothing compares to it. Many have tried to duplicate but failed replicate. This is the one All-Star weekend the fans can truly enjoy and most have great memories from it. Who can forget Jordan vs. Dominique in the 1988 Slam Dunk showdown in Chicago? Or, Larry Bird holding up his index finger even before his final shot went in to claim the 3-point shootout. How about Magic Johnson's triumphant return to the NBA in 1992, hitting three consecutive threes to finish the game? Truly magical.

Stars become superstars overnight. Kobe. Vince. T-Mac. All of them went from "fresh faces" to "faces of the league." Kobe was barely out of high school when he wowed the crowd in 1997. McGrady was still an unknown Raptor when he went head-to-head with cousin Vince in Oakland back in 2000. Ahhh, yes. Vince Carter. Vinsanity was born when he pulled out the reverse 360 dunk off the wrong foot on his first attempt. TNT's Kenny Smith proclaimed the contest over when Vince dropped the between-the-legs-off-one-bounce dunk in the final.

Continue reading "DON'T SLAM NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND"

I've always thought Superman is white, wears red boots, stands 6-foot-4 and resides in Metropolis. Now, I know he's black, wears white Adidas TS, stands 6-foot-11 and lives in Orlando.

If you don't believe in superheroes then you haven't seen Dwight Howard. If you still think a man can't fly, then you missed Saturday's All-Star Slam Dunk competition. It might say NBA player on his calling card but that is just secret identity stuff. Dwight Howard is Superman. Sorry, Shaq. I'm a believer. I believe there is a real-life superhero who lives among us and he just flew right over the city of New Orleans and performed a highlight deed that will forever be known around basketball circles as the "Superman dunk."

Continue reading "IT'S A BIRD...IT'S PLANE...NO, IT'S DWIGHT HOWARD!"

 

If Kobe Bryant is not named MVP this season then there is something seriously wrong with the voting process.

After his 41-point masterpiece against Phoenix in Shaquille O'Neal's Suns debut last Wednesday, I saw a player who is on a mission. I saw a player who has dropped the "hot dog" off his plate and has become more efficient on offense and equally determined on defense. The Kobester looks totally zoned in on winning another NBA title!

He took 25 shots mostly against first-rate defender Raja Bell and made 16 of them in the Lakers' 130-124 victory over the Suns. Taking 25 shots in a game is nothing new to Kobe. He can take shot 25 shots in his sleep. But Wednesday night against the Suns, Kobe's shot selection was perfect. It seemed like all his FGAs were good looks and were well within the framework of the offense.

Continue reading "KOBE IS PLAYING LIKE AN MVP"

A moment of silence won't be necessary because his message was loud and clear.

Myron Cope, the colorful sportswriter and radio personality, died last Wednesday at the age of 79. For 35 years, Cope was the voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That raspy voice that forged legendary catch phrases has been immitated but never quite duplicated. He distinguished himself by being real. He was fanatic and critical. He called it as he saw it. He was passionate about football and the Steelers. He captured each and every moment with his bombastic delivery.

He was partly responsible for coming up with "Immaculate Reception" in describing Franco Harris' unforgettable catch and run that capped the Steelers' improbable playoff victory over the Raiders in 1972. During the Steelers' decade of dominance in the 1970s, Cope came up with the idea of waving Terrible Towels, which has become the flag of Steeler fans all over the world. He created pet names for hated division rivals. He called the Cincinnati Bengals the "Bungles." He stamped the Cleveland Browns the "Brownies." Cope was also proficient in monikers that later become name brands. He once described Jerome Bettis' running style like being run over by a big bright yellow bus. Bettis cashed in on Cope's call and a nickname was born..."The Bus."

Continue reading "STEELERS LOSE THEIR VOICE"