The All-American World Cup Side

My starting eleven would look a good bit different

If you have listened to your fellow countrymen discuss the World Cup you've undoubtedly heard this argument: "if America actually used its top athletes for soccer, we could win the World Cup. Easy."

This is a sore loser's attitude towards not being as successful in the tournament as many fans would have like to be, even if the U.S. did perform better in 2014 than most experts prospected before the tournament. Instead of accepting where we are as a nation, ranked solidly in the top 16 teams in the world, many Americans use this excuse as a band-aid to the real dilemma.

It will take time and money to build the infrastructure necessary to compete with the elite squads. Soccer is growing in this country, and the time may come where we are listed among the favorites to win soccer's highest prize. For now it's a dream we entertain every four years. And to be honest, we may never be at the same level as some of the teams such as Germany, Brazil and Spain.

Some of that is the lack of interest from American youth (though interest is growing with each passing generation), but most of that is cultural. Until the passion of soccer is ingrained into our beings as it is across other countries, we will remain standing like wallflowers while the cool kid favorites dance every four years.

In the mean time, what if we did put everything we had into the game? What if our top athletes did play the beautiful game? It's not guaranteed that our guys would have the skill set to play at the top level, but that's the fun in writing: I can be a dreamer. To be a professional athlete, you have to have a certain baseline amount of athleticism.

Here is the squad I would have taken to Brazil, assuming the top American-born athletes chose soccer instead of their respective sports.

Goalkeeper- There is arguably no better person on the planet to have in goal than the man who was the stronghold for this year's team. Tim Howard became a legend in the last month and for his performance against the Belgians should never have to buy a drink in an American bar again. But for his backup... I have long said Kevin Garnett is the perfect goalie because lanky people are good at sports. Also up for contention are Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis. Imagine any of these three's length and trying to put a ball in the upper 90 past them.

Defensemen- Typically on the outside of 4-4-3 lineup the leftback and rightback are a bit faster and smaller than their centerback counterparts. Give me two of the elite safeties in the NFL who already demonstrate defensive prowess: Richard Sherman and Eric Berry. Both run a sub-4.5 40-yard dash and posses quick hips required for turns to keep up with teams looking to make crosses from the wings.

The first centerback is one of the following tight ends from the NFL: Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski. Jimmy Graham gets the nod because he has avoided injuries in his career. The second starting centerback is LeBron James, though coach Reaves would urge him to press forward as much as the game would allow.

With the Jimmy and James tandem, the two in the middle will force oppoents to get past over 13 feet and 500 pounds of defense if they were able to get the cross off or during set pieces (which would probably be more frequent with my squad. Increased size/strength = increased believablity in opponent's flopping.)

Kobe with the strong left foot

Midfielders- Players here must have the ability to play defense as well as be the driving influence to setting up offensive plays.

On the right side of the pitch is Cam Newton. Again his combination of height and speed, along with his growing vision is seeing the entire field while passing make him a sensible choice. Chris Paul's court vision, though smaller and a little slower, make him a viable backup option.

Kobe Bryant starts on the left side for my team. Born in Italy, he grew up around the game and has long been a supporter of the beautiful game. Because of his background of playing he makes an easier transition to setting up crosses and passes with his left foot than many other Americans. He also is the sort of leader you want on both ends of play.

In the middle is Andrew Luck, who has proven to be a natural athlete and leader in the NFL during his first two years, providing another big body to have in the middle during set pieces as well.

Forwards- Here is where our athleticism frustrates opponents to no end. Our front line not only is tall - good for finishing crosses with headers but also an envious collection of speed for all other countries.

The three starters: Falcons receiver Julio Jones (6-3, 4.39 40-yard-dash), Arizona Cardinal cornerback Patrick Peterson (6-1, 4.34) and Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson (6-5, 4.35). And off the bench you have a choice of Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook and for short bursts of speed New York Jets running back Chris Johnson, who boasts the fastest 40-yard dash ever at the NFL combine (4.24 seconds).

As impressive as this team is, there are still spots up for grabs on the 23 man roster for the World Cup, but we just rub it into the rest of the world's faces by winning with only 16 players.

SEC Media Days, Cam Newton Street, Hold the Joe But More Kobe Please

We find ourselves in the middle of the beginning of the unofficial kickoff of college football. A little wordy, huh? It is easier to call them the Southeastern Conference Media Days, where coaches begin to make excuses for why their team will not live up to expectations (Steve Spurrier and Joker Phillips), respond with numerous wild card answers (John L. Smith and Les Miles), or simply fulfill an obligation to their conference (Nick Saban). 

No matter how your coach answers, the SEC Media Days are the biggest of their kind for the most competitive league in any sport so enjoy the make-believe camaraderie and hopefully we get a coach to drop gems like Missouri's T.J. Moe, "They say girls are prettier here, air's fresher, and the toilet paper is thicker."

Couldn't agree 'Moe', T.J.

This lonely student's sign reads: Protect the Paterno statue.

Some Students Ask for More Joe Please:
In more Joe Paterno news, students -- a population of two -- are camping out in order to protect the statue, which remains erect outside Beaver Stadium.

An anonymous flight from Ohio read "Take down the statue, or we'll take it down for you" (a hopeful me desires for this news to be true).

I wish I would have made note of this in my last post, but the chances of the statue being vandalized is somewhere around 100%. This is all the more reason to take the thing down from its current location and follow my instructions. Students from Penn State have tweeted that "these few students do not represent the entire campus population."

All the more reason for the "protesting" students to take advantage of their parent's investment -- because it does not last forever -- in room and board, and go back to their dorm and hold their own Paterno-crazed pity party.

Cam Newton Way Should be a toll road if plan comes to fruition:
He has NFL records. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year. He has a statue at his alma mater (Can you even call it that when he only spent eight months there and did not receive a degree from there? Or Blynn Junior College? Or Florida? I digress.). But getting a road named after him? You must be out of your mind.

He is a 23-year-old admittedly "very immature" quarterback. And while -- speaking from experience-- this is to be expected for a man of his age, let's give him some time before we Georgians give him such an honor. For one, it would cost the residents of Scarborough Road in South Atlanta money, time and effort to change their address. Residents also report to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that they are not ready to name a street after a person with a scandaled past.


A second hearing is still on the agenda where the proposition will likely be shot down. If the road does pass a second vote, can we all agree it should at least be a toll road?

Give me more Kobe
NBA Commissioner David Stern has come forward saying that at the next olympics it is possible we see the 23-and-under rule enforced. Within these parameters, USA basketball would still be able to use NBA professionals with onlythree players over the age of 23. This would help protect players in the NBA from participating in the Olympics and coming home injured a la Blake Griffin and Kyrie Irving.

If Stern gets his way, you won't see Kobe or LeBron in USA unis anymore.

Thirty-three-year-old Kobe Bryant thinks the same way I do about the Commissioner's proposal, "It's a stupid idea," Bryant said. I could not agree more with the Olympic gold medalist.

Whether or not to play should remain up to the players, who risk injury and fatigue in the next 82-game season. Some argue that NBAers in international play makes for a competitive disadvantage for the rest of the world.

Um... is that not the point of competition? To be the best? In addition to winning another gold this summer clips such as these will be recorded for all Americans to "Ohh" and "Ahh" over.

Kobe also told a Y! reporter earlier this week that it is "possible" he retires at age 35. Say it ain't so. Sure Bryant is made fun of for the number of shots he takes, but a 1 1/2 years ago he ranked as the ninth best player of all time (and his stock is only rising). Of course, he may be modeling his career even more so like his idol Michael Jordan by testing retirement and coming back as a player-manager down the road.

2011-2012 Hawks: Where to now?

If you are a fan of mediocrity, then I have the perfect franchise for you. Do you want a consistently top-10 team that never has a realistic shot at winning the championship? Heck, this franchise fired a coach that had improved the team's record for three consecutive seasons. Would you like to root for a team with no real identity and the quietest "Superstar"--by salary numbers alone--player in the NBA? What about a team that drafts the same type of player three years in a row? The Atlanta Hawks are for you.

For what it is worth, the future of the Hawks,
Joe Johnson (left) and Josh Smith

After a rough stretch during the beginning of this millennium, the Hawks have earned a playoff berth each of the past five years and finished fifth or better in the Eastern Conference in those seasons. That being said, or written, when was the last time the Hawks were thought of as legitimate title contenders? Since moving to Atlatnta in 1968, they have yet to make the Conference Finals and are 19-28 in their past five playoff runs, including being on the wrong end of multiple blowouts.

Don't take this as me bashing the Hawks. I will pull for them when next season tips off next season as I have since I moved to Georgia 13 years ago--minus a few years where I cheated on them with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. The "get-in-the-playoffs-as-a-five-seed-and-lose-any-big-game" cycle needs to be stopped, but how?

Many fans alike are in favor of blowing up the current roster, which causes me to raise the questions, "Why and how?" Sure the new ownership group could get rid of all the big contract guys for nothing, but that would only leave the Hawks not making the playoffs and maintaining irrelevancy in the contention for the Larry O'Brien trophy.

Unfortunately there are no quick fixes. The only tradeable assets available to the Hawks are players that could keep them in contention and of those players, few of them would be highly sought after by other teams.

Joe Johnson is a $20 million dollar a year player that, especially in the postseason, has come up small. This year he shot a career low 37 percent on the season and had games of 11, 9, and 15 points in the Boston series. Not superstar contract worthy.

The Hawks best player this year, Josh Smith, has failed to make an All-Star game because as good as he is, Smith is known more for his long jump shot misses instead of his electric athletic abilities. He proved this stereotype true again in Game 6 versus Boston when, with 10 seconds left to play, Smith launched an ill-advised two pointer instead of differing for a better shot.

Which brings me to the question raised in my title, where to now? Back to a four or five seed and an early exit from the playoffs. Unless--the hopeful Hawks fan says-- Al Horford can return from injury to All-Star form, Jeff Teague continues to improve as the floor general, and Zaza Pachulia is back for the playoffs to hustle more than anyone else in the league.

Linsanity vs. Tebowmania: No Real Comparrison

With New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin exploding on to the sports scene in the last week, ESP'Lin' and many other media outlets were too quick to compare the young man to Denver Broncos' quarterback Tim Tebow following the NFL season.

'Lin'sane in the membrane

Again, we as a society have fallen prisoner to comparisons. I will be the first to admit that I am as guilty as the media giants, but why can we not just enjoy their impacts each as its own entity? If you examine more closely at the duo's road to stardom you will notice they have more contrasts than similarities.

Recruitment- It starts early on when looking for the differences in this couple. Tebow was rated as one of the top prospects to come out of high school in years. His recruitment was done early and often, and Tebow had the leisure to choose between two football powerhouses Alabama and Florida, going with the latter. Lin, a California native, was unable to garner enough attention from his hometown school and first choice, Stanford, to merit an athletic scholarship.

College Experience- Tebow won two BCS National Championships, was a Heisman Award winner, two-time SEC Champion and All-American, and named to the All-SEC team three times. He compiled a 48-7 record with the Gators and scored more touchdowns than any previous player in NCAA history. He was the king of college football and is considered by some to ever play at the collegiate level. On the other hand, Lin went to Harvard, where more students have become presidents (5) than played in the NBA (3). More impressive is that Lin graduated with a 3.1 grade-point average and a degree in Economics.

Part of the mania, Tebowing took the nation by storm

Draft- Although he was told "no" by experts over and over during the entire draft process, the Broncos traded three draft picks with the Baltimore Ravens and took Tebow in the first round as the 25th player in the 2010 NFL Draft. Lin was not selected in the 2010 NBA Draft. However, he did earn a contract from the Golden State Warriors, who later cut him. After being claimed off waivers by the Houston Rockets, Lin averaged seven minutes a game in preseason scrimmages. He was cut by the Rockets before the start of the sesaon. The Knicks picked up Lin and sent him the the NBDL, the Association's developmental league. If not for injuries to two starting point guards on the Knicks, Lin would have remained the 12th man on the roster of a sub-.500 season.


Christianity- Tebow is the most polarizing figure in sports because of his well-documented, out-spoken faith. He has taken a stand on many controversial topics. Though not given the same platforms as Tebow  has over the last two seasons, Lin has been given standard answers when speaking about his faith. Lin has been very appreciative to God for his talents during press conferences much like many other athletes after recognition.

Lin is the brightest star in NYC... for now

Individual Production- "All Tebow does is win!" Sure he does have miraculous comeback wins over the Dolphins, Chargers, and Bears and he threw the winning touchdown pass in his first playoff game. However, he had 18 touchdowns and 13 turnovers this season, too. I am in no way trying to discredit his wins and good moments (as I have been so often been accused of), but in football more than any other sport the importance of a solid overall "team" is necessary. Tebow did benefit from a ball-hawking defense and the league's top rushing attack. Since moving to the starting lineup that was missing its two superstars, Lin has led the Knicks to 7 consecutive wins and is averaging 24.4 points and 9.1 assists per game.

Undoubtedly, both athletes have defeated the odds stacked against them and taken advantage of a little good fortune thus far in their young careers, but the sample size is too small. The New York media has helped blow Linsanity out of the water, and more than likely, the madness will cool down, unless we have the next Steve Nash on our hands. Tebowmania will unquestionably crank back up as the NFL's summer workouts begin. Regardless, enjoy their performances, personalities, and let Linsanity be Linsanity and Tebowmania be Tebowmania.

*As someone who loves wit, it was incredibly difficult not to use every Jeremy Lin pun I have heard while writing this. You're welcome.

NBA Draft

I won the Geography Bee when I was in 6th grade, but I was lost as everybody else watching the 2011 NBA Draft last night. In a record setting year, 4 of the first 7 players and almost 15 total players were playing basketball overseas last year. It was hard to watch at some points because I felt so lost from location to pronunciation of names. ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy admitted on some prospects he has never heard of them. I loved the honesty shown by the TV crew. They did not hold back talking about the problems in Cleveland or the weaknesses of the prospects.

Admittedly it was a very week draft class. There will be some solid role players but none that we will look back on and be amazed by their careers. Most likely to become a star? Maybe Cleveland Cavaliers Kyrie Irving or Minnesota's Derrick Williams... but even these two are going to franchises with tremendous issues.

After today will we finally be done having to listen about former BYU G and new Sacramento King Jimmer Ferrdette? He was all the media wanted to talk about. Luckily for me the no defense playing and low percentage shot taking guard was taken by Sacramento, and because the team is no good and is in a small market hopefully we will not have to hear from him for a while. Do not get me wrong, as a former white guard and current lover of the defenseless J.J. Redick, I am pulling for him. I do not see how he is getting as much love as he does (He is a version of Tebow-lite.). Nor do see him becoming anything more than a solid bench player in the league.

The best story of the whole night was when Marquette's Jimmy Butler was selected as the final pick in the first round by the Chicago Bulls. He was kicked out of his home by his mother when he was 13. "I don't like the look of you. You gotta go." are the last words he remembers from her. At 23 with all of the resources I have, I am not sure I could go and be as successful as he has been without the support of my family. Here is the full article by ESPN's Chad Ford. A true inspirational story of perseverance and never giving up on a dream.

Also, I hope I am as lucky as Washington Wizard's Jay Vesely when I get my first real job. How about the kiss he got from his girlfriend after his name was called. ESPN's Stuart Scott said, "You know... some people just got it going for them."

One Week Down

Last night I completed my first week working at The Gainesville Times. After one week do I dare say this may be my favorite summer job? Last summer's job of working for Samford definitely had the best benefits (lived with and near friends, free rent, better pay, some free meals), but this summer at The Times is going to be a good one. I update schedules and prepare the agate part of the newspaper when I get there, write a story or brief depending on the day, and then I sit at my cubicle watch and talk sports with the sports writers. Finally I have some sports conversations in Gainesville, not too many of those when you go to an all girls school.

Yesterday, I almost got my chance to get my name on an article. It was going to be the headline of the sports section. During editing we noticed the press release had been sent a month late and my story got moved to the third page and a "From staff reports" author. My time is coming. I will not do this for every article I write, but these are the first two I had in the paper that made it online. Mostly to my family, but if you would like for me to send you links to stories I write I can copy you an email and send you the links. Let me know.

Article 1
Article 2 (almost headliner)

So after one week of work I am taking next week off and chaperoning the FBC Gainesville Youth as we head to Passport Camp in Wingate, North Carolina. It is the same camp that I helped staff two summers ago (another amazing summer job). Looking forward to completing the cycle: camper, staffer, and now chaperone.

The one negative about going? I am going to miss the last two games of this year's NBA Finals, which are as anticipated, if not more than, any other Final series I can remember. Not getting to warch a Finals series featuring the Mavericks and Heat is normal because the last time these two teams met our family was in England.

The Ten All-Time Best NBA Players

About a week and a half ago, in a press conference following the Dallas Mavericks sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Head Coach said he believes his 10 time All-Star and 2006-2007 MVP Forward is "one of the ten best players of all time." Needless to say, he was overreacting a tad to a great series by Dirk Nowitzki, who may barely make the cut as a top ten white player of all time. But it got me thinking, who are the best to have ever played in the NBA? You can look other places, but let's face it. Unless their list looks like the one below, they are wrong.

1. Michael Jordan- There is no question here. If you look at any respectable list, MJ is the best. In fact, he and Wayne Gretzky are the only two athletes to be the undisputed number one in their respective sports. I was only lucky enough to catch the tail end of His Airness's career, but if you want to be amazed and see exactly how far ahead he is to everyone else go to YouTube. No other justification needed.

2. Wilt Chamberlin- Looking at Wilt the Stilt's statistical lines are unfair to the competition. After a brief stint with the Harlem Globetrotters, Wilt dominated the game like no one had before or likely will again. He is the only player to score 100 points in a game, average 40 and 50 points in a season. He led the league in rebounding 11 out of his 14 years, and also led the league in assists one year. The NBA had several rule changes because of his dominance in the lane.

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabaar- Kareem had the most unstoppable offensive move to ever enter American sport. His Skyhook shot was impossible to block and though his opponents knew what to expect there was no way of defending it. Because of the Skyhook's effectiveness Kareem holds the title as the NBA's all-time leading scorer. The record-tying five time MVP has not received the same recognition as some of his Showtime Laker teammates, but in my mind is the best Laker to have ever played.

4. Magic Johnson- Speaking of getting some recognition during the Showtime Laker days. Magic is the face of that time period in Laker history. His name says it all, Magic. He was magical in the way that he passed the ball and still was able to put up haughty scoring and rebounding numbers, second all time in triple doubles. He holds the NBA record for most assists per game (11.2). Standing as a 6'9 point guard he was able to see the entire floor. He did play one playoff game at Center scoring 42, pulling down 15 boards, and had 7 assists. Though he was forced into early retirement because he contracted HIV, he has become a successful businessman and philanthropist.

5. Larry Bird- Along with having a blond moustache to die for, Bird had a game to envy. He is one of the most clutch, offensive and defensive players to have ever played, coming up with big shot after big shot. The consecutive 3 time MVP averaged 24 points a game for his career. His friendly rivalry with Magic Johnson boosted both of their popularity. Bird was the first player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better on field goals, 40% on 3-pointers, and 90% on free-throws in a single NBA season. Larry now is trying to bring his home state Indiana Pacers back to relevance as the general manager.

6. Shaquille O'Neal- Other than maybe Wilt Chamberlin, there was no one person as dominant as Shaq was during his prime. Specific strategies, Hack-a-Shaq, were formulated just to slow him down because there was no stopping him. Standing at 7'1 and a thick 325 pounds he was a force that could not be reckoned with. Adding to the legacy of Superman, he is a registered police officer, actively pursuing a doctorate, a rapper, an actor, and starred on his own reality TV show called Shaq Vs. Easily my favorite personality in sports.

7. Bill Russell- Yes he was a great center, a five time MVP in in fact. But he is known for being the winningest player to have ever played the game. In my book you have to be doing something right in order to win 11 out of the 12 championship series he played in. He along with Wilt Chamberlin are the only two to pull down 50 boards in a single game. The Association later named the Finals MVP after Bill to honor his career success in the Finals. Russell is also considered to be the first African-American to be a superstar in the NBA as well as the first African-American coach for the three years in Boston he served as a player-coach.

8. Oscar Robertson- The "Big O" averaged a triple-double during his first five seasons in the NBA averaging 30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 10.6 assists. He is the all-time leader for number of triple-doubles in a career with 181, averaging almost 13 a year throughout his career. To put this absurdity in perspective, LeBron James had four total TD's this year. Robertson is considered may the best college basketball player of all time for his stint with Cincinnati. The player of the year trophy has been named after him.

9. Kobe Bryant- Kobe is still climbing up the ladder of the best NBA players of all time. At his current pace he will pass Kareem Abdul-Jabaar as the NBA's all time leading scorer. He is ranked third and sixth on the all time pst season and regular season scoring lists. He is also a force on the defensive side of the ball,  having been named to 11 All-Defensive Teams. He holds more All-Star MVPs than any one else and has 5 NBA championships. Don't you know the Charlotte Hornets, now New Orleans Hornets are kicking, or I should say stinging, themselves in the foot for trading him on draft day.

10. Tim Duncan- Mr. Fundamental has quietly gone about business in San Antonio and become a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Rookie of the Year. The 13 time NBA All-Star is the only player in NBA history to be selected both All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams during each of his first 13 seasons. Because of his quiet demeanor he is often forgotten when the talk of all time greats is brought up. His style, though so effective, has been described as boring and quiet.

May 19

Big 10 commissioner Jim Delany formally proposed the idea of giving stipends to scholarship athletes. He is the commissioner of one of the biggest athletic conferences in the country which would immediately give an advantage to his large member schools. Also, the used to be golden boy of Big 10 clean recruiting, Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel has many rumors swirling around about his hidden dirty recruiting practices. The only way I like the rule, if it really is for the STUDENT-athlete, is if it is used as an incentive for the kids to stay in school and graduate. Otherwise, the floodgates will be opened and we will return to the days of the old Southwest Conference and the highest bidding school will receive the commitments from prospects.

As many of you know, or should have learned through this blog post, I love stadiums. There are none bigger, more attended, or more worshiped than the sanctuaries built in the SEC for Saturdays in the fall. Mississippi State is doing some much needed upgrading to the smallest football stadium in the league. When the $80 million dollar project is completed, Davis Wade Stadium will be much better on the eyes. Here is a look at the upgrades.

Kevin Durrant, the NBA's back-to-back scoring champion, has been wearing a backpack to all of his press conferences during this year's playoffs. It was announced today he will now be signing an endorsement deal with Nike and will keep the backpacks coming. As you can see in my profile picture, I am a huge fan of the backpack look and have been for quite sometime. I am not usually considered a trendsetter in fashion, but I like to think I am helping the movement.

The Conference Finals are underway. The Bulls showed surprised many with a win in the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals, but the Miami Heat, lead by their own version of two and a half men, won the second game. Heat Forward LeBron James, whom I have been very critical of, has begun to show the emergence of the clutch gene, hitting big shots in the second game. If he keeps this up I will gladly hop on the bandwagon. The other side of the bracket pits the Dallas Mavericks against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the I-35 rivalry. Mavericks Forward Dirk Nowitzki put on one of the most impressive playoff performances ever, 48 points on 15 shots and making all 24 of his free throws. I am pulling for the young Thunder. Now with the Hawks out of the playoffs I do not feel like I am cheating on Atlanta with OKC.

Changing of the Guard

Either the Celtics or the Lakers will not be playing in the NBA Finals for only the fourth time in the last eleven years. So are both teams done? Is this the last we will see of the NBA's two most storied franchises for a while? Is a new regime of the NBA elite upon us?

Some are saying they are too old. The Celtics have been teetering on the line of too old and the peak of their star players careers, while the Lakers seem too have serious locker room issues. Mr. Laker himself, Magic Johnson has called for the Lakers team to be "blown up" because the issues behind the scenes can not be fixed. The "blow-up" theory has been mentioned  the best option to solve the aging Celtics problems, too.

Slow down. I do not think it is time to start over for either of these franchises. The most obvious reason is the way the contracts in Los Angeles and Boston are set up. The Celtics older players that are calling to be moved are too much a part of the history of the Celtics, a la Derek Jeter and the Yankees last summer. The big three all have huge contracts limiting to where, if they even could be moved. Yes the team is older, but they were just a few plays from advancing to at least a game seven with the Heat. All-Star PG Rajon Rondo, the grease that keeps the Boston machine running, dislocated his elbow and was limited to playing with one arm for the last two games.

Unless the Lakers can figure out a trade deal in which Andrew Bynum is sent to Orlando for Dwight Howard, there are very few moves that can be done to increase the talent on the already most talented starting five. The bench will be shaken up a little bit if they want to advance further in the playoffs next year. They are built to win now and it is too late to start to rebuild a new team around Kobe Bryant. Another factor that played a key role in the Lakers early exit is fatigue. The core of the Lakers has played 44 more games than the Dallas Mavericks over the past three postseasons. Add in an Olympic run and FIBA World Championship run, Kobe was too tired late this season to will his team to victory.

Stick with what you have at least for one more year Los Angeles and Boston. You have a good thing going and "blowing up" your teams would be too risky. Fix the depth on the bench, get some rest this summer, and you will both be good to go for another deep postseason run.

NBA All-Star Break

As I sit here and watch the All-Star game I must admit that I am entertained. Kobe Bryant, the greatest player in this era, is putting on a clinic for the younger guys. LeBron James is literally flying down the court. I am enjoying watching the 24 best players in the world show off their talents.

The same can not be said for the Sprite Dunk Contest. The show was rigged. It was unbelievably obvious the NBA was pulling for Blake Griffin to win. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy what he is doing in the regular system, but the favoritism shown last night was a bit much.

Griffin's coach was TNT analyst Kenny Smith, the only coach with direct communication to the TV broadcasters.

The final dunk, in which he jumped over a sedan, was accompanied by a choir. He had to make it to the finals so they could show off the official car of the NBA and use the choir they had invited. Griffin took off from the dotted line under the free throw line. His opponent in the finals, seven foot JaVale McGee, dunked from behind the free throw line and received four points less. McGee dunked two balls on two goals and on a another attempt dunked three balls on one goal. Both of those dunks were more impressive than Griffin's final dunk.

After last night I wanted to say the dunk contest was back after a long time of being down, but I was let down. The best dunker did not win because the NBA had already predetermined the winner.

Back to watching the game. There are two minutes left, and the All-Stars are starting to care and play some defense.

A Few Thoughts

Doesn't it seem like the media is just begging someone from the four remaining teams in the NFL playoffs to trash talk? More time this week has been spent praising the other team by oppenents, or by the media talking about the lack of trash talk. Can we just talk about the game?

Nothing good has happened to the Miami Heat since LeBron James's "karma" tweet in which he made fun of his former team after a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Since the tweet LeBron and Dwayne Wade have gotten hurt and  the team has lost its last 5 games. I guess its true what they say when they say what karma is. Right LeBron?

On another tweeting note Michigan QB, or former Michigan QB, Tate Forcier let the world know via twitter that he would be transferring. Way to be a man about it Tate. Hard to think back but Forcier was the starting QB when former Head Coach Rich Rodriguez won his first four games at Michigan.

Florida beat Auburn 45-40 last night. No, that is not a football score. Florida shot a solid 28% (Auburn- 39%) from the field in the win that kept Auburn defeated (0-4) in SEC play. Florida Coach Billy Donavan has never been beat by Auburn and keeps the streak.

Props to New Jersy Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov for saying he has had enough with the Carmelo Anthony trade drama. Who can blame him for not giving up his team for one player that wouldn't sign an extension on his current contract? It is clear Melo is counting down the days until he can sign with the New York Knicks.

Here is one you could have never seen coming... College Football Conference Rankings The SEC finishes the season ranked number one by ESPN Stats & Information. Ok. Everyone saw that coming and maybe this too but, the Moutain West Conference and the Western Athletic Conference were ranked as tougher conferences. Can we please take a closer look at those conferences that get automatic qualification into BCS games?