Because the week is so full, let's just hit the topics in no particular order...
NBA Playoffs
I was actually going to post a ridiculous prediction blog about who would win every first-round series and see how wrong/right I could be having not watched more than a handful of games all season. You know, for giggles. I don't despise the NBA. I'm a realist. I don't expect overpaid players to bust their ass for all 82 games in the regular season. I just don't. They take defensive possessions off, stand around and watch the star player score and run amok on the basic rules Naismith laid out a century ago (Apparently Pau Gasol inherited the Ewing travel). However, then the playoffs roll around. The games are given a Red Bull and the intensity is worth watching. My example: I watched most of the second half of the Lakers-Thunder on Sunday. There, I admitted it. First step to recovery... Anybody see Kobe's block of Durant in transition? When does that happen in the regular season? It doesn't. You know why? The key to that play isn't the vertical leap and block, it's the wind sprint Kobe does to get back. That kind of hustle only exists in the playoffs. Just ask Ron Artest, who is now playing defense. Just ask him nicely. (Side note: Can anybody imagine Kevin Durant playing basketball in the 80's, before supplements and weight gain regiments? How skinny would he have been. I'm thinking Manute Bol with an eating disorder. The bearded guy from those African infomercials would have to quit his day job and raise money for the Feed-Kevin fund)
NHL Playoffs
If the NBA regular season gets Red Bull, the NHL gets Chernobly! (If you haven't seen Hot Tub Time Machine, you aren't laughing right now) Remember the Winter Olympics and what it was going to do for hockey? That lasted about 72 hours. Wait, didn't I leave a blog around here about that? I think hockey is completely under-appreciated. But playoff hockey is like an explosion of speed, sweat, desire, energy, pain, violence, facial hair and ups-&-downs. (Ironically, that same description was used to describe the career of Ron Jeremy; weird) Playoff hockey keeps you on the edge of your seat for three hours while you try to figure out the mascots for Phoenix and Nashville, at the same time you figure out which Canadian provinces used to have a team. Do yourself a favor, get out an Atlas or GPS device and locate Versus on your TV and watch some hockey.
Brian Davis
I've gotten a few emails and texts this week as the resident competitive golfer to ask about the end of the Colonial on Sunday, where a player (Brian Davis) brushed a twig on his backswing, called a penalty on himself, and (essentially) lost himself the tournament. I'm not going to get on some high horse and say that it 'shows why golfers have more integrity than other athletes.' This is the same sport that produced Tiger 'Lay Em if you See Em' Woods. But, it was an interesting end to a tourney, from a man who had never won on the PGA Tour. The rule makes sense. He was in a hazard (no water, just mud and brush), which means he shouldn't be entitled to improving the lie of his ball, meaning he can't remove any nearby impediments. Brushing a twig while taking the club back isn't intended, but it's part of the rule. The lost message here is that HE was the only person who even noticed it, and still called it upon himself. That takes stones, knowing what you are giving up (400K, 2-year Tour exemption, probably some sponsor $$), but it's the rule. And, let's be honest... By yesterday, somebody watching a million replays would've called him on it. Strange way to end something, but a good day for golf. Why? Hell, I don't know why. People (AP) have said that, so it must be true, right? Right???!!????
NFL Draft
I plan on doing something a bit more formal on draft night, mainly because I want to see how many times Chris Berman gets flustered trying to fill time and segments. The NFL Draft is growing in ratings and I have no idea why. The time between picks is nauseating, especially when you consider that almost every conceivable option, at every conceivable pick, has been dissected for the past few months by every network. By the time Roger Goodell hits the stage for the 16th pick, we know every possible player available and really don't care what the pick is. Especially in a year with no sexy names available. Don't believe me? Name a player you are excited about in the draft... A player you will pay extra attention to next year in a regular season game. Yeah, hard isn't it. I like Ndamukong Suh, but I don't watch games for the DT. Sam Bradford?! Eh. Hope it works out, St. Louis.
High School All-Star Games
Saw a few of these on TV the past few weeks, headlined at the start by the McDonald's All-Star [Pickup] Game. You want to know why NBA players take games off? Because from a young age, they have been put on a pedestal and told they are special. These games are a complete joke. And you know what fuels them? Me, you and more college basketball craved fans. Why? Because we want them to play at our schools. We pay $9.99 per month to read "insider" message boards that post Tweets from kids about where they might play ball in college. Recruiting has become more interesting than the games themselves. The last time I seriously played a video game was probably NCAA Football by EA Sports. No joking, I would simulate 80% of the season, play the big games to make sure I won, and then spend most of my time recruiting. It was more fun than playing the actual game. So, now we allow kids to make their college choice on national TV at the halftime of these greedy games. I had an ego in high school with no athletic ability. Think about these kids.
I really didn't want to end this blog on a negative rant, so I'll leave with this: Donovan McNabb wants the Redskins to consider adding Terrell Owens to Washington. Oh please, powers that be, make this happen. Pretty please!
- Will
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