June 2008 Archives

Looks like everyone is wanting to ask Kobe how their ass tastes...

I admit I'm not Shaq's biggest fan I think he gets away with a lot because he's "media friendly" and everyone loves a clown. But when I see this I blame the parents above all else. So when I read an article titled "Shaq corrupting Arizona youth" and this comes up. I believe the parents are to blame because you're the one that should teach your kid what's acceptable and what isn't. I guess to them it is.

Saturday night represented a chance of a lifetime for David Diaz, 34-1-1, and he tried to make the most of it as he defended his WBC lightweight title against Manny Pacquiao.

Unfortunately, it just was not meant to be. Coming into the fight, many pundits wondered if Manny would be able to maintain his greatness and bring his power with him as he traveled mover up into another weight class.

That question was answered in a mighty way as he showed great strength and power, knocking the very durable David Diaz out in 9 rounds. Pac-Man thoroughly dominated the game but out-classed David Diaz for almost every second of the nine rounds the fight lasted. A perfectly delivered short left hand to the head sent Diaz face-first to the canvas and the fight was over. The official time was 2 minutes and 24 seconds of round nine.

With this win Pac-Man has to now be truly considered the best pound for pound boxer in the sport today. Check out the Round 9 destruction.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said it's "ridiculous" to reward untested rookies with lucrative contracts, and wants the issue addressed in contract talks. Goodell said he favors lowering salaries offered to rookies, but allowing a provision for those players to renegotiate their deals after proving themselves on the field.

Unfortunately, I don't agree with him at all. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Only the top 10-15 players in the draft get an excessive amount of money. The rest of the draftees get a reasonable contract. If this proposed change in the pay scale does occur, it will hurt more individuals than it will help. Once they lower the salaries of the Jake Longs of the worlds, the Matt Flynn's (7th round) will be hit as well.

2. The life span of a NFL player is 3-4 years. For 80% of the rookies, this will more than likely be the only contract they will get from a NFL club.

3. If an owner can't afford the economics of being in the NFL, then he/she should sale. The last report that was made public, all 32 NFL teams were making a profit.

Furthermore, the NFL does not always pay "deserving" players. How many times have "deserving" players received the axe after earning their money. How many times has it been reported that a team has cut a proven veteran player only because his salary was too big for the club to take on?
Players should get paid for whatever amount that they sign for. The bigger problem is that teams are not selective or creative in who they give guaranteed money to. For every first round bust, there are just as many late round gems that are found by scouts who do their research.

Maybe, just maybe, some GMS are wising up

Nowhere near as many 'upside' picks this time around, at least not in the earlier picks. The poster child for upside over real skills, DeAndre Jordan, was relegated to the second round. Now that may be partially because his workouts reportedly were awful (which hasn't stopped people from picking a guy in the top ten before) and his agent didn't work him out for teams picking in the twenties because they were sure he'd be gone by then (stupid move if the story is true, especially since he was dropping in the mock drafts over the last month), but it was refreshing to know that GMs weren't so in love with potential this year that they were willing to blow a high pick on a guy whocan't play. A few years ago this guy would have gone in the top 10. The same thing applies to the Magic Frenchman Alexis Ajinca, who showed on a few boards as a possible lottery pick in the last week or so despite averaging all of five points per game in Europe. He didn't go until the twenties, but a few years ago he too would have ben a top 10 pick llike Darko Millicic in 2003 and Nickiloz Tskitishvilli the year before that.

With the first pick in the 2007 NBA Draft the Boston Celtics select Greg Oden out of Ohio State University. Wasn't this suppose to happen? Was this not the exact idea that Gm Danny Ainge had envisioned when he and Celtics management decided to tank the season?

Surely if the Celtics would have landed the number 1 pick in the draft they would have taken Greg Oden, had another bad season and been in this years lottery. There's no way they we're sending the number 1 pick to Seattle for Ray Allen or KG. Also it was quite possible that Pierce, now Finals MVP, could have gotten traded. It's funny when I think back on how the Celtics we're devastated they didn't get the 1 or 2 pick in the draft. Fast forward to today, they are reigning NBA Champions and used the "disappointing" 5th pick to land Ray Allen, who they clearly wouldn't of won the 'chip without, Danny Ainge is now a genius and the Roman Empire of basketball is back. Seems like to me Ainge was just lucky they actually didn't land the number 1 pick. Nothing more, nothing less.

Being lucky in the NBA or having the chips fall your way is probably the most important thing in determining whether you'll have a legit shot to be a winner or not. Of course you have to have good management making sound decisions but too much is decided on the ping-pong ball lottery system. It seems like every draft the teams that are in most need of the top few picks never get them. Any way you want to slice it, that's a fatal flaw for the overall competitiveness of the league.

The NBA Draft has come and gone which does nothing but provide a tease for me for the next NBA season. While most cannot live without their NFL football, I am a basketball fanatic and each year I can not wait for the next season to begin once one ends.

First things first with the NBA Draft; these kids should have been drafted a year ago. The farce otherwise known as the NBA Draft age limit is just that; a huge farce. These kids go to school, pretend like they care about school for a year, and then go right to the league which was their intention in the first place.

It does help the NBA GM's not make big mistakes (for example, De'Andre Jordan was projected as a lottery - top 5 pick had he come out of high school) because it exposes whether a guy can really play. But maybe the GM's need a different assessment tool than a 2 hour workout and dinner with the coach and GM. Here's to hoping that college basketball and the NBA stop profiting from what William Rhoden would refer to as 40 million dollar slaves.

These kids can't accept a meal, can't get a tv, or accept a ticket to a basketball game. Meanwhile they can appear on television and help the NCAA make millions of television dollars all the while Miles Brand and David Stern pretend to do this all in the name of whats good for the kids. Whatever!

I normally reserve this spot for an athlete who is doing something good to uplift his community and maintain a sense of awareness with what is relevant in their environment.

This feature will be a little different, because the following athlete is becoming a revolutionary in the sport of basketball. Specifically for those forced to go college for a year before being able to play in the NBA.

Brandon Jennings will go down in history. He has found a crack in the armor of David Stern and the NCAA.

Jennings, who had trouble qualifying for school because of standardized tests, has opted to play in Europe for a year before entering the 2009 NBA Draft, presumably. The kid is talented and would have been exciting to watch in college, but his hopes are a little bigger. David Stern and Myles Brand are probably both in their offices plotting the next "hook-boogey" move to prevent something like this from happening.

By Jennings exposing the loophole in the rule created by Stern, he would be able to wiggle around wasting Lute Olsen and the Arizona Wildcats time by not going at all. By playing in Europe, he will be paid pretty nicely and be taken care of. Plus, he gets to hone his skills on the international stage, which would silent all these whack draft experts who will doubt him next summer.

I see the age-limit rule as a way to make sure that Brand's foundation would not be compromised. By Stern throwing Brand a bone, Brand would be able to ensure that the cash cow known as the NCAA will continue to prosper, even if for a year. Brand figures it will keep the game fresh. But if last night's draft proves anything, we will continue to have double-digit numbers of freshman being selected in the first-round.

The Dream Team. We all remember the 92 Olympics when pro athletes finally got the nod to participate in the Olympics for their country. No other team benefited more than USA in Basketball, as a team filled with names such as Jordan, Barkley, Magic, and Bird simply massacred all they saw in Barcelona.

To put it in perspective, 10 of these players that played on the team were named to the 50 greatest players to ever play between 94 feet. To say it was one of the greatest teams to ever play would be an understatement. It was the greatest team to ever suit up. They won by an average of over 40 points (43.8) and Head Coach Chuck Daly never had to use a timeout. Talk about domination.

The 96 squad wasn't as dominating, but they were more than able to handle the competition. Keeping several squad members, such as Barkley, Malone, Pippen, Robinson, and Stockton, and adding a few others like Shaq and Hakeem "The Dream", the team won by a margin of 32.3 in Atlanta. Not too shabby.

The '00 squad led by Vince Carter, was not even close to as invincible as the last two. They plowed through their games at first, but then suffered stiff competition from Lituanua twice and France. The positives are Vinsanity may have made the most jaw dropping dunk in basketball history in Sidney, and again, the USA captured the gold medal.

Watch this:

We fast forward to Athens, with the 04 Olympics. Many star players didn't want to show up. Match that with the aura of invincibility being stripped with the closeness of the Sidney Olympics. It was a disaster. Losing three games in the tournament put the Americans in 3rd place, for a bronze medal.

So, with a bittersweet memory, we must thank the 04 team for losing.

Lets get the appetizer out the way.

Jevon Kearse: DUI on Tuesday. Not much to say here. Probably will be on Pros vs. Joes within the next 2 years.

Javon Walker

They found one of the suspects. The suspect claims that Walker got into the car willingly. I pray that whatever issues and demons that Walker is facing he overcomes.

Ahmad Bradshaw

Interestingly enough, Ahmad Bradshaw has been locked up in Virginia since June 15th for a previous offense.

According to his representation, Bradshaw violated his probation, stemming from an incident that occured before he was drafted by the Giants. No other information has been provided. Where is the coverage at for this story? The Associated Press normally makes a big deal out of these things. Unless I missed something, this is a pretty big deal.

Between the Giants and Cowboys, their offseason has had more drama than a Tyler Perry movie.

It's that time again. Season is over and it's time for a start of new careers and new faces of franchises. This year's biggest question is what direction the Bulls will go with the number 1 pick. They will either get a Chicago native in point guard Derrick Rose or the best player in college basketball last season in Michael Beasley.

Since the draft is today, I decided to put up a couple of my own top 5 lists. I'll give you the five players I feel are both the most overrated and underrated players in the draft. Another top 5 list is of the sleepers in the draft, meaning the prospect that some may know but some may not because they are not big prospects but could have good careers in the league. Finally I give you the top 5 players in the draft ranked by who I think will have the better career.

Yahoo is reporting that the Indiana Pacers have dealt Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto for TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, and the 17th pick. Good deal? Hard to tell.

O'Neal has been injured for most of the past two seasons while Ford has suffered more than one serious spinal injury during his career. If healthy, O'Neal provides an excellent complement to Chris Bosh in the Raptor frontcourt. The only problem is that his health is a big question mark at this point. That, and the fact that both he and Bosh have a tendency to turn into jump shooting big men at a moment's notice.

Also, Toronto is now without any draft picks, which may be what they wanted since they have Andrea Bargnani that they're still trying to coach up and Jorge Garbajosa coming back from injury. They also wanted to move Ford because he was about to become a high priced backup to Jose Calderon, who was beginning to outplay him whenver he stepped on the court.

Does this help them in the standings? Not really. They're in a division with Boston, and they finished second this season, so it's not like adding O'Neal is going to get them the division crown. They might be able to snag the fifth seed instead of the sixth? Maybe, if things break right for them.

So Shaq lost his badge for his Eminem impression? Look Shaq should have thought twice before ever uttering the words:

"Tell Me How My Ass Taste"

Especially when referencing that phrase to another man, but let's not blow things too far out of proportion. Was it in bad taste? Definitely, but I don't think it is bad enough to lose his Deputy Dog badge.

Being a "semi-retired" rapper, I can tell you, from experience, in the heat of the moment of a freestyle you say a lot of stupid things that you wish you could take back. Normally you say what you are really thinking, but some things are best left in your mind and not coming out of your mouth. I am sure Shaq, if he could, would take back everything because even Stephen A Smith could not save him from the bad press he is receiving.

Shaq is a big kid and he needs to grow up. But being a fake police officer is one of his joys in life. Let's not go overboard just because he made an "ass tasting" mistake.

George Carlin was a genius. RIP. My Favorite Carlin clip of all time is "Baseball vs. Football." Classic material.

One of my favorite things to say when it comes to drafting players is that I do not worship at the altar of potential. I'm convinced that drafting on potential is a recipe for disaster. For example, I endured the Kwame Brown debacle in Washington. I've observed the myriad draft-busts who were touted as being full of upside and better prospects than players who went on to have much better careers. It gets the coach fired and little else.

I dare anyone to name a successful draft pick that was made with the idea that a player who didn't have any grasp of the basics of the game would learn them all well enough to become a All Star caliber player. And don't say KG or Kobe; those guys clearly had high basketball IQs from day-one and just needed to get used to the pro game. They were not totally raw prospects who had to learn how to run pick and rolls or basic defensive rotations. It's just a bad idea to take a guy, who doesn't know how to play, in the hope that he'll learn.

We all know that the draft is about potential, and that no one really knows just how these guys are going to pan out. All potential is not the same, though. There are guys with skills who just need to improve on them or adapt them to the pro game. On the other hand, there are guys who flat out don't know how to play basketball but are great athletes with the right physical dimensions. I know that sounds crazy, so bear with me while I explain myself.

There are a lot of guys who are successful at the high school and college level and put up big numbers because they are greater athletes and/or are bigger than everyone else they play. If you're 6-foot-10, have great athletic ability, and a long wingspan you can average 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks per game in high school without even trying very hard. Remember, you're not playing against blue chip players most nights, and most nights you're up against guys several inches shorter and with less athletic ability. So you don't have to be a great fundamental player to dominate. At the college level, the competition gets better, but you can still score in double figures and pull down seven-plus rebounds a game. And that my friends, is enough, to convince some GMs that you could possibly be a great NBA player one day.

You may not be aware of this infamous rap video that Shaq has put out,

Now in this video he pretty much is dogging Kobe which is his right, I guess. Although it pretty much negates the fact that he and Kobe have "patched" things up during the Lakers/Heat game back in 2006 on Martin Luther King Day. Would MLK really would care if two professional athletes who did not like each other patched it up? I mean, if Shaq and Kobe can get along, there would be hope for peace in the Middle East.

Putting that aside, Shaq is blaming Kobe for his marriage ending. Apparently this stems from what Kobe said to the cops back in 2003 about how he should've paid off his accuser like Shaq does with his women. Now Kobe broke the "code" and he was wrong for that. But, its just as trifling for Shaq to blame Kobe for why his marriage ended. Gee Shaq, did it ever occur to you that, if you are cheating on your wife, maybe you might be to blame for it?

Even Jessica Simpson, with her lack of brain cells, would've figured that one out. But, I guess it is everyone's fault but your own. The story of his life. I notice how Shaq can bounce from team-to-team, and, yet, its everyone else's fault but his. Does anyone stop to think that, maybe, he might have some blame in all of this?

Don Imus is again drawing fire for including race into his radio show.
During an on-air conversation Monday about the arrests of suspended Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, Imus asked, "What color is he?"

Told by sports announcer Warner Wolf that Jones is "African-American," Imus responded: "There you go. Now we know."

Asked in an e-mail message what point he was trying to get across, Imus wrote: "I meant he was being picked on because he's black.'' He added that Dick Gregory, a veteran comedian and activist who is black, would be a guest on his show on Tuesday, to discuss the death of George Carlin. "We'll see what he thinks,'' Imus wrote. "I mean...come on!''

Its to the point now where Imus is either not too bright, or just doesn't care what he says anymore. Even if one is in the minority in thinking that the Rutgers issue was really overblown when it happened, one cannot dismiss this latest comment. He really should lose his job for - if nothing else, the sheer stupidity of it.

It's sad to say, but Candace Parker is the only reason that I'm remembering that the WNBA is in season.

It's not my fault though. They have a crappy TV deal, and the marketing people are still trying to figure out how to capture the attention of people who don't care for women's basketball.

Parker made history this weekend by being the second female to dunk in a WNBA game. As I have stated before, Parker has a lot of swagger and could be what the league needs. She could be the equivalent of what Lebron James is in the world of sports marketing, if they could find the right vehicle for her.

Today, the Team USA roster was announced, and the following players have been blessed with the opportunity to represent our country in this summer's Olympics.

Kobe Bryant
Lebron James
Carmelo Anthony
Dwyane Wade
Chris Paul
Deron Williams
Dwight Howard
Chris Bosh
Carlos Boozer
Michael Redd
Tyshaun Prince
Jason Kidd

Now, on paper, this team should score 115 points a game, and win the Gold. But recent international play from the U.S. has been only decent at best. With Coach K coaching this team, this should be an easy summer full of highlights and restore American pride on the international stage, right? Lets hope so. The international game is a fast-paced game and we have our work cut out for us.

My general expectations are based upon the basketball personality of the player and previous experience on the national team.

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1. Chicago
Michael Beasley
Ht/Wt: 6-7/220 lbs
Position: SF/PF
Drafted From: Kansas St.
Class: Freshman

The thing with this pick is that it doesn't seem like the Bulls can go wrong between either Beasley or Rose. Trying to determine if the Bulls should take Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley, now that's the hard part. The Bulls currently have Kirk Hinrich and Drew Gooden manning the prospects positions. Hinrich is more of a keeper than Gooden, so Beasley seems like a more sensible pick. But Rose is from Chicago, so there could be some hometown pressure for the point guard.

2. Miami
Derrick Rose
Ht/Wt: 6-3/180 lbs
Position: PG
Drafted From: Memphis
Class: Freshman

The Heat need a better point guard and Rose fits the bill. Fans of the team have to be excited with the thought of a backcourt with Rose and Wade. However, the Bulls may take a pass on Beasley and select Rose. If that scenario happens look for the Heat to trade down or take Beasley.

3. Minnesota
O.J. Mayo
Ht/Wt: 6-5/195 lbs
Position: PG/SG
Drafted From: USC
Class: Freshman

Mayo comes in and immediately starts for a team that had its issues with its guard play last season. Gerald Green anyone?

4. Seattle
Jerryd Bayless
Ht/Wt: 6-2/182 lbs
Position: PG/SG
Drafted From: Arizona
Class: Freshman

A big "need" pick here for the Supersonics. Bayliss is a burner who will be asked to dish to Durant and Green. He may take a year or two to develop, but he has the chance to be special.

5. Memphis
Kevin Love
Ht/Wt: 6-9/255 lbs
Position: PF/C
Drafted From: UCLA
Class: Freshman

This may be a risky pick, but Memphis likes Love and needs to take a frontcourt player no matter what. Love gives them a PF who can pass in the high post, knock down a jumper, and help rebound.

6. New York
Russell Westbrook
Ht/Wt: 6-3/190 lbs
Position: PG
Drafted From: UCLA
Class: Sophomore

The Knicks need to upgrade their backcourt dramatically, so taking the UCLA kid here makes sense.

7. LA Clippers
Eric Gordon
Ht/Wt: 6-3/190 lbs
Position: SG/PG
Drafted From: Indiana
Class: Freshman

The Clips have no perimeter game. A PG is a need, but there is hope that Livingston will return. Gordon fits can fit in any offense and might be the best athlete in the draft.

8. Milwaukee
Danilo Gallinari
Ht/Wt: 6-9/209 lbs
Position: SF
Drafted From: Armani Jeans Milano
Class: International

The Bucks need an upgrade at the small forward postion. Gallinari gives them another perimeter threat other than just Redd, if they decide to keep him.

9. Charlotte
Brook Lopez
Ht/Wt: 7-0/245 lbs
Position: C
Drafted From: Stanford
Class: Sophomore

With the rush on guards, MJ may get tempted to try and reach for one here. Hopefull staedy heads prevail and the Bobcatrs select Lopez. He will immediately contribute, and free up Okafor on the blocks as well.

10. New Jersey
Anthony Randolph
Ht/Wt: 6-10/220 lbs
Position: SF/PF
Drafted From: LSU
Class: Freshman

Even if the Nets do decide to keep Jefferson, they need a guy who wants to rebound and play D.

11. Indiana
D.J. Augustin
Ht/Wt: 5-11/180 lbs
Position: PG
Drafted From: Texas
Class: Sophomore

If at the very least Augustine will force Tinsley to be on his best behavior. If Augustine develops a jumper, it should be an even better pick.

12. Sacramento
DeAndre Jordan
Ht/Wt: 7-0/240 lbs
Position: PF/C
Drafted From: Texas A&M
Class: Freshman

The Kings need Forwards, plain and simple. Jordan's upside and physical tools outweigh the many question marks about his skill level.

13. Portland
Joe Alexander
Ht/Wt: 6-8/200 lbs
Position: SF
Drafted From: West Virgina
Class: Junior

The Blazers could be too intrigued by Alexander's all-around talent to let him slip any further, even if it will take him considerable time to develop. They also could very well trade this pick.

I must admit that I have gone back and forth when comparing Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan. With the completion of the finals almost a week old, it is more apparent to me than ever that Kobe Bryant is not Michael Jordan. But you won't find my saying that with any great amount of joy or venom. It is hardly an insult, as some national media seem to believe, to say that Kobe Bryant is not Michael Jordan.

Similar to watching Tiger Woods dominate the US Open on 1 leg, Jordan gave us moments of greatness that are etched into our hearts and minds. So when someone is compared to Jordan, the comparison does not stop at a comparison between the 2 players from a skill issue. It extends to moments in time that a given player gave you.

So what? Kobe Bryant is no Michael Jordan. He is still a darn good, check that, great basketball player. He is the best player in the game today and has been so for quite some time now. In fact, name me another shooting guard in the history of the game that you would rather have. To me, saying Kobe Bryant is no Jordan says a heck of a lot more about Michael Jordan as a player than Kobe Bryant. Think about how good Kobe is on most nights. This is the same guy who against the San Antonio Spurs went almost scoreless in the first half and then went bananas in the second half; bringing the Lakers back from a 20 point deficit to win a game.

I am a big believer in Karma. When I was a very young Bona Fide Sports Expert, my mom caught me trying to watch a little Cinemax After Dark. As I cursed at her under my breath, I turned and ran into my door. When I was Bona Fide Balling at Ohio State, I once used another girl's car, who liked me, to take out what would be my first true love on our first date. Of course, my first true love was also my first heartbreak (I've never have gotten over it). Some may say these types of things are coincidental, but I don't think so. I believe things are predestined based on your actions in the past. So, in reality, we shouldn't be surprised that Kobe Bryant, with a chance to solidify his legacy, is going home a loser. In retrospect, it is clear that this had to happen, that it needed to happen.

From the day Kobe demanded a trade, this was destined to happen. Karma works in mysterious ways. Most would think the best way to punish someone is to just take everything from a person, but if a person doesn't have much to begin with, how much of a punishment is it? Kobe whined, cried, criticized, moaned and bitched the entire summer. He threw his teammates, coach, GM, and an organization that has coddled him for his entire career under the bus.

Kobe is the best basketball player on the planet, but he is no saint. He has been a horrible teammate at times. No matter what he says, he had a lot to do with Shaq's leaving. And, we will never truly know what happened in that hotel room in Colorado. What we do know is that, unlike other superstar athletes who keep their dirty laundry behind closed doors, Bean has shown in a very public way the dirt under his fingernails.

Despite all the negativity Bryant has brought, the basketball gods have been good to him. He should have been a Charlotte Hornet. Instead, he was blessed to be placed on a team that had the most dominant center of our generation, a coach with a history of transforming talented players into legendary ones, an offense that matched up perfectly with his skill set, and on top of that, he got to play in LA. You could not have asked for a better situation.

He won three rings. Regardless if you are a sidekick or the 12th man, there aren't a lot of players in any sport that have three championships on their resume. Kobe though never seems content with that. He's similar to a spoiled rich kid who is upset that his older sibling got an Escalade and he only got a Yukon. The immaturity was evident. Sometimes you don't realize what you have until it is gone.

This isn't the first time Karma has struck down Kobe. The Colorado rape case was a smack in the face to a person who thought he could do no wrong. The stigmatism of being accused of rape is a hard one to shake. If it were anyone else in the NBA, you wonder if they would have gotten as much rope. As I stated before, no one knows what really happened. But the majority of people, especially the way the case ended, gave Kobe the benefit of the doubt and hoped the experience would change him. In many ways it did, but it one major way it didn't.

Some people are just built in a way that they don't like to play second fiddle to anyone. I know this from experience because I am one of them. It is the reason I am not writing for some local paper that won't let me speak the truth. Kobe wanted that spotlight. He wanted to be "the man." But, the way he went about it was wrong. And the basketball gods have punished him for it. Those first three Shaq-less years were tough and he took his hits, sometimes fairly, sometimes unfairly. But he got a taste of what it is like to be "the man" without the soldiers to win the war.

Curt Schilling talked much and normally didn't know what the hell he was talking about (I recall him on Capital Hill saying Jose Canseco was a fraud). Schilling exaggerated a lot. To hear him tell it, he got shot in his ketchup-induced ankle before pitching in the 2004 World Series. I don't like Curt Schilling.

It is one thing to be a blow hard, but it is another thing to be an ass and a snob, while being a blow hard, and Schilling is both. With that being said, if he has pitched his last gamem I have to give credit when credit is due. He was a clutch pitcher, not as great as he would tell it, but clutch nevertheless.

Hall of Famer? Lets not get carried away. He was a good pitcher who had some spectacular games, nothing more, nothing less.

As seems to be the case every off-season, several high-profile wide receivers are coming into the season unhappy about their situation. Let's have a look at a few of them and their beefs:

#1: Terry Glenn - After missing 15 out of 16 games last season, Terry is healthy and ready to go for 2008, but his injury history has Jerry Jones concerned. Jerry wants Terry to sign a waiver so that if his right knee forces him to miss games the Cowboys only owe him $500,000 instead of his full $1.7 million salary. Glenn's point is that injuries are part of the game and a freak incident could end up costing him over a million dollars. The counterpoint is he got paid for all of last season while not playing for most of it. Glenn's recent comments indicated that he is resigned to signing the waiver and getting ready for the season.

#2: Plaxico Burress - After helping the NY Giants knock off the previously undefeated Patriots and win a superbowl, Plaxico wants a raise! His current contract pays him an average of $3.5 million a year over the next 3 years, which is a little low for a 1,000-yard, 12-TD, Superbowl-winning catch-making star like Burress. Plaxico has expressed confidence that something will be worked out before training camp, but negotiations are still ongoing.

#3: Chad Johnson - Chad demanded a trade out of Cincinnati before the NFL draft. The draft has passed and he is still a Bengal. He claimed he was not going to report to mini-camp. He showed up, but did not practice. He has just had a surgery on his right ankle that the team recommended he have done months ago, and is scheduled to recover in time for training camp. Meanwhile he still wants to be traded. The Bengals refuse to trade him, and he has threatened to sit out the regular season if he is not dealt. This is an ugly situation. Chad has not elaborated too much on why he wants to be dealt. There has been speculation that he sees a potential pay day from another franchise (the Redskins have been rumoured as willing to pay him). From his public comments, it could also be inferred that he is simply unhappy and wants a change of scenery for a fresh start. Either way, the Bengals have publicly refused to entertain the idea of trading Johnson, so he could be stuck in Cincinnati.

If the Seattle Mariners could get anything right, perhaps it could begin with the current shakeup of the organization.

With the firings of both Manager John McClaren and GM Bill Bavasi this week, they may have saved the franchise via a heart jolt.

Sometimes, it isn't the fact that you did poorly, it is just that you have gotten placed in a bad predicament. McLaren caught that problem by taking over Mike Hargrove's skipper spot after Hargrove suddenly upped and quit. McLaren did a good job at first, keeping the Mariners in the race and garnering some adulation as a guy who took the reins and kept fighting, even after jumping on the horse late.

But after the 9 game losing streak, the end of McLaren's job came. Sure, it was hard to see then but the Mariners fell out of the race in the very competitive AL West.

No one saw it because the Mariners were a 100-million dollar team and had what may be the best contact hitter in our era, Ichiro.

However, it was the tipping point to the collapse of a club. A managers worth isn't how he behaves when he is winning, but when slides happen in tough periods. It was a task that nice guy McLaren was not capable of handling.'

CEO Howard Lincoln recently declared that no player was off-limits to a potential deal. THis is a step in the right direction as well. Perhaps this will light a fire under the team to make a move in the right direction. Not just for this year, because their playoff hopes are dashed since they are behind the Angels by 18 games; but for pride; for not being the first team on a 100-million payroll to lose 100 games.

Ohio State - FAILED
New England - FAILED
UCLA- FAILED
Memphis - FAILED
Los Angeles Lakers - FAILED

In 2008, I have boldly predicted five champions (two in the matter of two days with the Final Four). I have been wrong for five times. 0-5 in 08 for the self proclaimed Bona Fide Sports Expert.

They have coined it:

THE BSO CURSE

It hit an all time high with the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics NBA Finals. Before the Finals started, 100's of emails flooded into my box from anxious fans of both teams wondering who I was going to pick. Forums across the land discuss what the pick would mean for both teams.

When I blindly put my faith behind "Neo" Bryant and the Lakers, even I was surprised by the reactions. Boston fans rejoiced. Laker fans wondered was Bean strong enough to break the curse.

The comeback in Game 4 sealed the Lakers fate and mine as well. The death threats started to come in, the YouTube comments started to get vicious, calls for my retirement, threats of virus being put on the site and some just generally hurt that I let them down.

By the time the Game 6 destruction was over, Boston fans across the nation were offering me dinner at the finest restaurants while Laker fans just wanted my head on a platter.

0-5 in 08

So the question begs: "Am I really cursed and the deeper question is why?" Did all of a sudden, I lost my powers like Superman when exposed to red kryptonite (or is that white or is it blue, but you get my point)? Why am I having a problem beating a model that went to the University of Michigan for goodness sakes?

There is only one more major sporting event left on the calendar to predict this year.

THE WORLD SERIES

I am already hearing the whispers:

"Don't pick my team"

But I carry on like a pitcher who is winless at the all star break or a batter going through a 0-40 slump. But if it is a curse what cause it? I have three theories:

"See what had happened was...."

This term should be very familiar to all of us. It is used when someone is about to lie or about BS.

As the Javon Walker story continues to unfold, we are reminded of how un-smart buddy is.

According to thedirty.com, Walker has rushed to his defense to clear up what happened.

Here is his account:

"I was just back at my room, and at about 5:30 in the morning, I got a knock at the door," he told the Web site. "I opened it, and three guys with guns were there. They cracked me in the head a few times, knocking me unconscious. They then robbed me of everything I had; my watch, money, everything. Somehow they got me to a car and dropped me off in the street. That's what happened."

Please Re-Read that two more times, and when you stop laughing at this genious, lets break this down.

As you know by now, the Metropolitans fired Skipper Willie Randolph Tuesday. The Mets brass giving Willie his walking papers should come as no surprise to anyone paying any kind of attention to baseball this year. The Amazin's had the highest payroll in the NL, then added Johan Santana, and still have been stinking up the field pretty much all season long.

Not to be undone by the team, management fired Willie in the middle of the night... while everyone was sleeping, one game into a westcoast series vs. the Angels. So they sent the man on a several hour plane trip already knowing they were about to fire him and did it while the lights were off? Wow. Kudos to GM Omar Minaya and Mets owners, Jeff and Fred Wilpon. You've now trumped the Yankees brass into being the biggest idiots in town. Well I don't know about going that far, but they're now at least in the discussion.

I understand the business side of sports, even though I don't always agree. The Mets were really struggling under Willie"s watch, and management for whatever reason believed that they should be the class of the division (I had them finishing 3rd). Whether it was the forever slumping Carlos Delgado coming up small or their lights-out closer Billy Wagner blowing saves, the losing continued and something had to change. The Skipper is usually the first to go. But the reality is that this team is old and injury-prone; plays with that Gasol-Odom type heart or lack thereof; and just isn't as good as the payroll suggests. This is the Mets doing, not Randolphs. As we all know, even a good Manager can only truly affect the outcome of so many games.

For those who are not aware of the story by now, ESPN.com writer, Jemele Hill has been suspended for referring to rooting for the Celtics comparable to rooting for Hitler. I've gone online and read various reactions to what she wrote and I noticed a majority were offended by it. Now while I admit I never considered myself a big fan of Ms. Hill, I am not that offended by such a reference. All she said was that it was comparable to rooting for Hitler and she was speaking more as a fan than an impartial journalist. Since she writes an editorial why are we to expect objectivity?

I find it laughable that ESPN is bothered by this especially when they are well aware of Ms. Hill's history with this sort of thing. I guess when someone else reacts to a point where ESPN has to take notice, then they decide to do something about it. What I do not understand is why this is out in the public? I mean shouldn't ESPN have just kept this "in house"?

How come this article made it to the website if it was so offensive? I mean ESPN has the authority to censor what goes on their website and what does not. So are the editors who allowed this to be published going to get punished too or just Jemele? Where is the accountability? I mean. I really have no pity for ESPN (or Celtics fans since I do not like Boston sports teams) over this since they played a role as well. This is like Rush Limbaugh being criticized for his comments about Donovan McNabb being overrated and how the NFL wanted a black QB to succeeed. It was not politically incorrect either but like Jemele, you knew who you were dealing with when you hired him, didn't you?

Simply put they were the better TEAM. They were the best TEAM all year and. in the end, the best TEAM usually wins. I wasn't a believer. I saw them get taken to seven games by the worse playoff team in the league, the Atlanta Hawks, and I shook my head. I saw a one-man team take them to seven games and shook my head even harder. When they played against the Pistons, I boldly predicted the Pistons would win because the Celtics weren't ready.

What I failed to realize is all those trials and tribulations through the first two rounds of the playoffs turned a team who thought they could win a title to a team that knew they could win an NBA Title.

When they came back from ten down in the 4th quarter against the Pistons to clinch the Eastern Conference Championship, you saw a preview of what was to come in the NBA Finals.

You know the saying:

Defense Wins Championships

There was no better illustration of that than the NBA Finals. When the Celtics locked in defensively, they were 20 points better than the Lakers and that were obvious from Game 1. Similar to how they shut down Lebron James, they slowed down Kobe Bryant and just snuffed out the rest of the Lakers. Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Derrick Fisher and the bench were non-factors in this series. TEAMs win championships not individual playersm even individual players as great as Kobe Bryant.

What was evident was that the Celtics were a TEAM. If it wasn't Paul Pierce, it was Ray Allen. If it wasn't KG, it was Kendrick Perkins or Leon Powe. If it wasn't Rondo, it was Eddie House or James Posey. This wasn't just the Big 3, this was the Big 12. A total TEAM effort. That is what beat the Lakers.

Speaking of the Big 3, you have to be happy for them. Kevin Garnett suffered, and I mean suffered, for a long time in Minnesota while biting his lip about incompetent management. There is no one I am aware of in the league who doesn't like and respect Kevin Garnett. KG is the main reason that Celtics are holding a trophy right now. Besides being one of the five best players in the game, the way he changed the attitude and work ethic of that locker room can not be understated. I am happy that he has his ring and has solidified his place as one of the greatest power forwards ever.

I left Jesus Shuttlesworth for dead after the Cavs series. I am not sure what happened. Maybe he got a hold of that "Roger Clemens," but from the start of the Pistons series, he has been their most consistent player. I know he has been having a medical issue with his son that he didn't want the public to know about, which I respect more than you can know. I hope everything turns out well. Ray is a good guy and has always been a solid player.

Paul Pierce deserves credit. Not for the acting job he did on his knee, not for his offensive performance, but for the outstanding defense he played in the NBA Finals. It was above and beyond exceptional. When the Celtics were getting blown out in Game 4, he asked for the responsibility of guarding Kobe Bryant and that changed the complexion of the entire series. It will be his defensive performance that will be talked about for years to come. No matter which way you look at it, he is now a Celtic legend. When you are a Celtic legend, you are never forgotten. Not bad for a player who thought he was going to be traded last summer.

At the beginning of this series I stated it was one where a legendary player became immortal. In the end, it was a legendary TEAM that made its mark as part of an Immortal franchise.

I know hate mail will be swift and flammable after this article, but someone's got to say it. Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson are the best NBA broadcast team in years.

Not only is the play-by-play stellar with these two guys and Mike Breen, but the history lessons are amazing. Mark Jackson's wonderful technical breakdowns of offensive and defensive sets is refreshing and educational. Throw in Van Gundy's emotionally charged banter about poor officiating, the lack of Laker defense, KG not showing up at the end of games, Phil Jackson's weird substitution patterns and you have probably the most entertaining and informative broadcasts since Marv Albert and Doug Collins during the Jordan years.

If there was a defining moment in the past week's Finals, for me, it would be during Game 2 when Kobe was being exposed on defense by Paul Pierce (Yes, I realize there's a joke in there somewhere, like when wasn't he being exposed, but bear with me). When Pierce would back Bryant down to the paint, there would be help coming to double team. When Pierce gave up the ball, Mark Jackson made a comment on how stellar Kobe's defense was and how Bryant was 1st Team All Defense this year. A statement that sent Van Gundy into a rant on how if Kobe was 1st Team All Defense, why does he need help? And those words were followed by careful examination of Kobe's "defense" and how Kobe's being assigned to the 1st Team All Defense was nothing more than a glamour pick and more hype than substance. You can't buy this folks! You can't!

You're not going to get banter like that from your usual fly-by-night network broadcasters! Not one of them is going to step outside of their preprogrammed radio talk show host voice overs to call out the NBA's darling!

But these guys did, regularly and without affection for the Lakers or Celtics, Bryant or Kevin Garnett, or Phil Jackson or Doc Rivers. These guys did their jobs! No sugar coating, no ego stroking, just calling the game the way they saw it. And I couldn't be happier as a basketball fan to hear announcers say what every real basketball fan is thinking while they watch the action themselves.

When Kobe scores 5 points in the third quarter of Game 5, when KG misses 3 of 4 at the free throw line, when Paul Pierce makes the Laker defense look like a high school team, when Rondo commits turnover after turnover and Doc doesn't pull him, when Vajucic steps out of the way for a Ray Allen layup instead of being a man and taking the charge, you can count on these two guys to call them out on it.

And though the games were stinkers in big stretches this past week, I can tell ya, Van Gundy and Jackson make them bearable for me.

Javon Walker....Sigh

Walker was found knocked out on the side of the street early Monday morning in Vegas after an apparent robbery.

Reports are stating that Walker was living the good life all weekend, buying large amounts of expensive bottles and spraying the crowd with them.

Before I point out some issues with his getting robbed, Walker does have signifcant injuries, so I would like to pray for his recovery.

Now that we got that out the way, lets look at the issues I have a problem with.

1) On a weekend where there was no significant sporting event happening in the city, Javon Walker decides to party it up. No Young Jeezy, Diddy, or other athlete in sight except for Charles Oakley (side note: Why are you in Vegas anyway?) So instead of blending in, which wouldnt have mattered because no one knows you by face, you decide to stunt.

This must have been what it felt like to watch Ali, to watch Ruth, to watch that transcendent athlete that made you sit in your seat and watch in awe. I remember what it felt like to watch Michael Jordan. Jordan did things that made me get up and go in the front yard and try the things he did. He moved me; he moved us to try to be him. This is Tiger Woods.

He is the guy that right before our very eyes is moving us. He has us sitting in our seat watching in anticipation of his next miracle shot. I think we have been waiting for another athlete to take the mantle and move us like Jordan moved us. You know how Mike would make one of the reverse lay-ups where it seemed like he hung in the air for days, seemingly deciding when he would release yet another gravity defying shot? This is Tiger Woods.

Eagles out of the sand; putting shots from 50 feet out; 300 yard drives with one knee. This is Tiger Woods. The things that we want to see again that Mike had was the determination, the will, the concentration, the doing the impossible....THIS...is Tiger Woods.

As great as Lebron is, he doesn't move us like Tiger. As great as Kobe is, he doesn't move you like Tiger does. Tiger Woods is now placing himself on the Mount Rushmore of legendary athletes. He is now there along with Jordan, Ali, Gretzky, and Ruth. What I witnessed this weekend and today was a man so brilliant that he moves me. THIS...my friends, is Tiger Woods.

He is so good that we will tell our kids about him; and they will tell their kids about him. Memories of his performances will be etched in stone. He has long ago been so great that he is more than a golfer. He is bigger than the sport he plays. When the US Open began, I thought that Tiger's winning this event was near impossible, but then I remembered....THIS...is Tiger Woods.

I'm not a big golf fan, but nothing is more fun in sports than watching the best at the peak of their game. In what may have been, by far, the most difficult tournament victory in his career, Tiger once again separated himself from every golfer in the world. Woods beat Rocco Mediate, the 158th-ranked golfer in the world prior to the tournament, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego.

The most amazing aspect of the whole week was that Tiger was playing on a bum knee. You could even see him grimace on almost every drive he hit. I have never seen someone look some dominant while limping to a finish. At one point on the weekend, golf analyst Roger Maltbie asked Tiger if the pain in his left knee was getting any worse. "Yes it is," he said with a big smile.

There's absolutely no point in debating the greatness that is Tiger Woods anymore. If we weren't past that point already, Tiger took us past it in one magical week.

For those who have no idea what I mean by "Ref Assignment" I will explain it to you. If you go on NBA.com the night before a game, particularly in the playoffs, you know which refs will work that particular game. Then those who usually take the odds in Vegas know who to side with.

If a "Joey Crawford" is going to work a Spurs game, the Spurs won't get the calls and may end up losing the game. It happened against the Hornets as well as the Lakers. The disturbing part of all this is, "Since when are the refs a part of the game?" They are supposed to be unbiased spectators of the sport, making sure the game is not shady. But today in the NBA everything is shady. Many thought it was shady for the Celtics to get KG and Ray Allen and the Lakers to get Pau Gasol out of Kwame Brown. And both teams are vying for the Larry O'Brien trophy.

Many scream "conspiracy." Perhaps Stern wanted this matchup to boost what would've been dismal ratings for the Spurs against anybody. Yet the referee scandal still lingers and no matter who ends up victorious, many will wonder if it was scripted or not. Did the best team really win? After all, how else to explain why Dick Bavetta, who is currently under investigation for this referee scandal, is still officiating a Game 5 of the NBA Finals? As I said, it does not matter which team wins the championship. The fans end up on the losing end wondering whether what they are seeing is real or scripted.

The one thing we can take from Game 5 is that the Lakers have heart. They could have quit and to be honest I thought they would. The task they have in front of them is a daunting one. I will go as far to say that if the Lakers won the NBA Championship that it would be the greatest comeback in league history. The Lakers once again blew huge leads and Kobe did not play well after the 1st quarter, but they ground it out. They did what they had to do to extend the series. Until a team has four wins anything is possible. I don't think you will see a lot of people jumping back on the Lakers bandwagon, but they are at least waiting at the bus stop.

The Celtics are playing a dangerous game. Anyone who is watching this series can see when the Celtics lock in defensively, they can strangle the life out of the Lakers. That is why they can come back from any deficit; but the Celtics have been notoriously slow in starting games and this time they couldn't come all the way back. Paul Pierce has been outstanding the last two games. Now I am not a coach, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night so the Lakers may want to either: (a) force him to make 1000 jump shots; or (b) double him. Up to this point the Celtics defense on Kobe Bryant has been nothing short of brilliant throughout the series, but, with that being said, the longer you play Russian roulette with a serial killer, the more likely you will get shot.

The pressure is clearly on the Celtics. If the Lakers win Game 6, the amount of pressure on the Celtics will be bigger than THE HULK for Game 7 with the best player in the league trying to cement a legendary comeback. Celtics fans, you don't want that.

It was not that long ago when Marcus and Michael Vick seemed to be on top of the world. Older brother, Michael, was arguably the face of the NFL while younger brother, Marcus, was the starting quarterback for a top-5 college program. The Vick brothers were known for their athletic abilities at the quarterback position, but now they are known for the mistakes they have made off the field.

The Vick brothers are both from the East End section of Newport News, VA. This area of town is known for crime, drugs, and poverty; an area known by locals as simply Bad Newz. It was the football field where the Vick brothers had decided they would spend their time instead of the streets. It is a dream of many, from the same area, that sports will soon get them out of their situation for good, and for the Vicks it seemed like their dreams had finally come true.

There is hardly anyone outside of Boston that could of foreseen this. As the minutes tick down Fathers Day, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking at elimination. Kobe couldn't foresee this himself, as the MVP looked at the clock at the end of game 4.

It was all good just a week ago for the Lakers. They were coming back from a serious lead on the Boston Celtics, and even though they lost, they could hold their heads held high. They were coming home to take the momentum and grasp control of the series.

All seemed well when they won game 3. Although it wasn't as powerful as they would have liked it, they were home and still had the momentum. All this changed in the third quarter of game 4, where the Lakers somehow reverted to the Lakers of old.

Because of this, Kobe has to take over Game 5 to have any chance to win., It has been proven throughout this series that he cannot rely on his teammates, and for any type of victory to happen, he has to lose the team aspect and get savage again.

Expect him to go off tonight, his assists to be down, and his points to be up. Expect more cuts to the baskets, more dunks, more high tempo basketball that got him robbed from the MVP. Darth Kobe is to return.

The only question, is it to late?

I feel like Chicken Little! I've been yelling about the sky falling for so long that when the proverbial falling of the sky happened last night it seemed that the impact was somehow worst than I foretold. I'm speaking of the fall of the Kobe vs MJ conversations that have dug their way into every sports show, column, blog from here to Croatia.

You see, with the 6 for 19, 17 point shooting performance of Kobe Bryant, I see a lot of people running from their greatest player to ever play the game tag, they'd bestowed upon Kobe Bryant all season. Don't get me wrong, he's the best scorer the NBA has to offer at this time, but my opinion was that he was not better than Jordan (sorry Mark Jackson) and he was not the greatest to ever play the game, by far.

Sure, he's up against one of the best, if not the best, defensive team this year. And yes, Boston's had his number even during the regular season, but seriously, 6 for 19 in what was a route until Doc Rivers reminded his team they could play defense. They then shut the Lakers and Kobe down for the 2nd half of last night's game. By the final horn, Kobe and the Lakers surrendered what supposed to be the biggest route in NBA Finals History. And again looked exposed as being the all offense and no defense machine that they were.

I say insert league here because I dont know if Marcus "Sidekick" Vick is on someone's practice squad or if he is in the AFL2 league, but he is up to his old antics again.

The charges? DUI, Running from the Police, Driving on a Suspended license, and reckless driving. Funniest thing about it all? It was a bicycle cop who stopped him. I guess his Nike Sparq Training kit is in the mail somewhere.

The chick? Riding dirty also. Intoxication in public.

If you can get in touch with Mama Vick, please do so. She might be under the hair dryer at the salon and doesnt hear the ringtone her neice put on her Razr for her so she can know when one of her sons is calling. Im guessing its Locked Up by Akon.

News Courtesy of Crunk and Disorderly.

Sigh... I have been getting adjusted to Europe the past week and have been behind on my sports. I havent watched a single minute of the NBA Finals, and according to what Ive seen on here the last couple of days, its over. So, with that said, unless the Fak...I mean Lakers (just throwing a couple of jabs at my boys) pull off 3 straight, I will be shifting my focus.

My weekly Feel Good Friday will return next week, But I do want to put something in the atmosphere.

The line between sports and entertainment has always been a blur do to the cross promotion of athletes as athletes/entertainers. Now more than ever, have athletes being made into bankable celebrities for a wide-array of products.

I do want to create a spin-off thought/opinion/question to the exceptional article penned by Mark Easterling below about the One and Done rule.

At what point does talent go out the window, and the marketability of the athlete come into making personnel decisions by the NBA?

Truth is, there are very few SUPERSTARS in the league in the sense of handling their business on and off the court. Their are a lot of great players, but who is going to cash in off the court? A lot of these players do not understand the business aspect of the league and how they can increase their earning potential through various off-court ventures.

With this upcoming draft class, there is a lot of talent, but who can the NBA depend on to hook up with McDonalds? Who has the ability to make our incredible sponsors T-mobile a boatload of money by adding their talents to the Dwayne Wade/Charles Barkley combo? I am having a hard time imagining these one and done players with enough bravado to even challenge themselves to make money outside these contracts.

Or is it a deeper problem that the league is trying to fix its "image problem" and holding its certain individuals with a little bit of personality coming to the forefront?

i respect some of Lebrons game on court, but lets keep it real. The majority of his endorsements were "rebound" endorsements after Kobe got caught up. But, you have to credit his marketing/publicity team for some of the deals they have made for Lebron. I do believe that Lebron will soak up many more endorsements, but who will follow in his footsteps?

Series is over. Not much else to say. You saw the game. No need to break it down. The Celtics deserve the Championship.

When NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing was a freshman at Georgetown, the Hoyas worked out with members of the Washington Bullets (now known as the Wizards). Ewing will always remember one question he got from one of the Bullets.

It was Mitch Kupchak, saying to me, 'Why are you in college? You should be in the NBA. You're ready to play right now," Ewing said. "In his mind I was ready, but my college experience was something I've always treasured."

Times sure have changed since Ewing was a freshman in 1981. During that summer's draft the first three picks were underclassmen, but the rest of the first round picks were all seniors. In the 2007 draft, only six of the 30 first round picks were seniors.

As of June 12th, 13 freshmen have already declared for the 2008 NBA Draft. All of those 13 freshmen are expected to be taken in the draft with the probability of the first five picks all being freshmen. Also, for the second year in a row, the top pick is considered to be a choice between two freshmen. Unlike Ewing, who will always treasure his college moments, the kids of today cannot wait for their opportunity in the NBA.
----------------------------------------------------

As the only player in the history of Major League Baseball to blow out his ACL while arguing with an umpire and being tackled by his manager, Milton Bradley holds a special place in the hearts of BSO readers worldwide. So it was with great pleasure that I read that Milton was up with his old tricks with the Texas Rangers now.

Upset that the Rangers play-by-play guy made some negative comments about him he decided, as he put it:

"Introduce himself"

Normally when Milton introduces himself to someone he is pissed off at, violence ensues. Unfortunately, the powers that be with the Rangers intervened before anything could escalate. So we will just have to wonder what would have happened if Bradley had gotten the chance to introduce himself properly.

Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy is claiming that Game 6 of the Lakers-Kings series in 2002 was fixed in the Lakers' favour by NBA higher-ups that wanted L.A. in the finals. Anyone who saw that game saw this as a very real possibility as the Lakers got every late call, shooting 27 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Several calls stand out as particularly ridiculous such as Mike Bibby being called for a foul for getting elbowed in the face by Kobe Bryant and bleeding as a result. Former King Scot Pollard's immediate reaction to Donaghy's statement was: "I knew it. We never had a chance to win that game." Pollard and Vlade Divac both fouled out of this game, forcing the Kings to use Lawrence Funderburke to guard Shaq down the stretch.

On the flip side, Donaghy is a desperate man. He's about to go to jail and is angling for a lighter sentence. David Stern attempted to dismiss the allegations by discrediting Donaghy, calling him a "felon" and a "criminal" repeatedly in his statement. And it's a fair point: Donaghy is not the most credible person. He's an admitted liar and cheater. The problem is that many fans already thought something was up immediately when this game happened. Ralph Nader, consumer advocate, publicly called for an investigation into the way the game was officiated.

Another point is that, if the NBA was really fixing games, how have San Antonio and Detroit been so successful over the last few years? The Cleveland-San Antonio finals got terrible ratings and the refs certainly didn't do the league's golden child Lebron James any favours as his team got swept.

So as these questions continue to swirl, NBA fans are now left to hope that, rather than being corrupt, the remaining NBA referees are simply incompetent. Either way, the NBA has a very serious problem on its hands and needs to rebuild the credibility of its game officials. David Stern talks in platitudes about transparency and accountability, but we have yet to see any measures taken, at least publicly, to institute either.

It is time for the NBA to do something to restore public faith in their product or risk losing fans and becoming the running joke of the sports world.

This was not a thing of beauty and it definitely won't be shown on ESPN Classic. The Celtics had a chance to put the stake in the heart and just couldn't do it. KG and Paul Pierce played as if they already knew they were predestined to lose. With that being said, if I were the Celtics, I wouldn't be too concerned, because even with their best two players playing like garbage, they could have won the game.

Game 4 is a game they have to win because they don't want the Lakers to get even because then you are looking at a three game series and the other team has the best player. If they lose this series, they will look at the 4th quarter of Game 2 and the missed opportunities in Game 3 as reason why.

The Lakers didn't play well. I thought Odom was high on something. I am not sure what he was high on, but he didn't play like he was aware that this was the NBA Finals. This is not NBA Street or Live Lamar. You are allegedly a smart player, so why are you playing so stupidly? The Lakers can't win without Odom playing, at least, a decent game. He is not expected to be great, just serviceable. Pau Gasol just has to play like a man and not like a little girl. That should be the theme for the Lakers: Play like men not like little girls.

Kobe Bryant is a serial killer. He won the game plain and simple (with an assist from SASHA!!!). He is a closer and still should be the number one reason I would be nervous if I were a Celtics fan. Do you really want to give Kobe Bryant two shots in Boston to win the NBA Finals? That is why I feel Game 4 is the most important game of the series. If the Lakers win Game 4, they will have all the momentum and it will be easier for them to win Game 5. If the Celtics can win Game 4, the series is over. Mark the tape.

Michael Strahan is going out a winner after 15 seasons!

The gap-toothed defensive end who went to seven Pro Bowls and recorded the fifth- most sacks in NFL history ended his almost certain Hall of Fame career on Monday by informing the New York Giants that he planned to retire just four months after helping them win the Super Bowl.

In walking away, the 36-year-old defensive end is passing up the final year of a contract that would have paid him at least $4 million this season.

Personally, I think this is a money issue and it's a very sly way for him to go to the table for more money. Rather than threatening to holdout, he says he's thinking of hanging it up and moving on with his life. Since he is up there in years, and the fact that he "hinted" at retirement last year, it doesn't look like he's just being greedy. My guess is, with the threat of retirement, Strahan puts GM Jerry Reese in a position where Reese has to seriously consider offering him more money to insure Strahan stays on the field another year and doesn't retire.

Strahan more than likely has received offers from major networks and no doubt he would be paid pretty nicely, just not 4 million a year.

So what the big question is what will Michael Strahan do? If it were about money, the smart thing to do would be to play and make his 4 million this year. Or, alternatively, start the Mike and Tiki show. I am pretty sure that would be a hit.

Phil, you reminded me why I used to hate you so much. You'd fallen off my 'I got nothin for that guy' list because you'd managed to avoid falling into your old habit. But now you've relapsed in a huge way.

Phil, please, for the sake of everyone.....SHUT UP ALREADY! Your team did not get hosed by the refs. Yes, there were some bad calls, but you got plenty of makeup non calls in the second half. Your guys got called for seven more fouls than the Celtics did, just seven. And since they got in the penalty relatively early in more than one quarter, a lot of free throws came from non-shooting fouls. That's life, Phil. Tell your guys to stop reaching in and fouling on putbacks of offensive rebounds. And while you're at it, tell them to stop shooting so many friggin jump shots if they want to go to the line more. You don't get a lot of fouls called on jump shots, Phil. You know that.

But you're back on my list because you went back to your Bulls coaching days with your latest complaint. Just like you were prone to do whenever my Knicks won a game against your team, you cried about the foul shots, or lack thereof, that your team got. So now you're back on my list, Phil. Now the refs, being human, are going to call it your way in game three.

Kobe Bryant will have to pull out a saw-offed shotgun and start blasting in order to get in foul trouble early, and I full expect the 'if he's got three fouls at halftime, he can murder the other guy in the second half because we're not going to give him six' rule to be in effect with Kobe like it used to be wih MJ. If your team doesn't win game three, then the Apocalyse is upon us and we'd better all say our prayers.

Stop crying Phil, it's bad form! Of course it works for you, so I don't expect you to stop. I haven't forgotten how your team got the biggest gift ever from the refs in game six against the Kings six years ago. You're back on my list Phil, and this time you're not coming off.

Now that the weekend has given everyone the opportunity to let the shock of Floyd Mayweather's retiring wear off, let's talk some boxing.

Mayweather is an enigma...no one can argue that Mayweather isn't a supremely talented athlete. Also without question was his work ethic, as he maintained one of the toughest training regimens ever. He's going to leave the sport undefeated, but in the eyes of many, his legacy is anything but secure.

In remembering his career, I'm going to recall that Mayweather's best performances came against boxers with mediocre skills.

Sure there were exceptions. Diego Corrales, although not a skilled boxer, was in his prime a top flight opponent. And in his day, Jose Luis Castillo was legitimate.

But who else. Arturo Gatti had a lot of heart but even good fighters used him as a punching bag. Ricky Hatton was past his prime, and I've always thought he's overhyped, no style or substance there other than he plays the "I'm an average joe" card. Zab Judah was knocked out by Kosta Zsu, knocked out by Migel Cotto, but yet Mayweather couldn't finish him. PB could have knocked out Baldomir but was more than happy to win a decision, and the fans booed him for not going for the jugular.

And the biggest, most promoted, highest revenue grossing fight in history, Floyd vs De la Hoya? A farce, one of the worst fights I've seen. And there wouldn't even have been a fight if it weren't for Oscar pressing the action.

The best fighters in the welterweight division, Antonio Margarito, Paul Williams, Sugar Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto, PB didn't fight or flat out ducked. He had execuse after excuse for why he wouldn't fight these guys. What's more, the money would have been top notch, and although anything can happen in fights, I think Floyd could have handled these guys. Yet he still didn't go after them.

I hear a lot of people talk about PB not having any power, but he had best kind of power because he was so fast fighters couldn't see his punches coming, and the ones you don't see hurt the most. That's the frustrating part...Mayweather could have knocked out most every opponent, but, more often than not, he chose to go the safe route, not take any risks, and win boring decisions.

Here's a statement for you. Floyd is the Vince Carter of boxing. All talent and no heart. He didn't want to take the chance of losing. Gus D'Amoto, the late great trainer of Mike Tyson, used to explain fear. He said that no matter what they say, every fighter feels fear. Some harness it to their advantage, and others let it eat them alive. PB let fear get the best of him, and that's why he didn't knock Zab out, why he didn't close out Baldomir. Because he was afraid of the risk involved, worried his reputation might be ruined, scared he might get hurt. That's why instead of attacking he counter punched for his whole career.

Everybody is not built to be a writer for BSO. You have to be special. You have to be different. You have to be creative. You have to have no fear. You have to speak the truth even when a lie is easier to writer. You have to be a leader not a follower. You have to be Bona Fide. You have to be willing to be infamous.

If you have those skills talk to "Ya Boy". EMAIL FOR MORE INFORMATION

Just a week ago it was a foregone conclusion that the Lakers would be the 2008 NBA champs. They're representing the Western Conference where real ball is played, not the J.V./Rec league ball that's played in the east, Remember? We all heard the Kobe-Jordan comparisons, Phil Jackson passing Red Auerbach for the most NBA titles ever was being discussed and the Lakers would be back on top. The Boston Celtics were just roadkill, you know... just in the way of where Kobe and LA belonged.

When you think about it, it's not like you had to be a Lakers fan to think they were going to cruise by the C's relatively easy. I myself was sold on the Lakers winning the 'chip after seeing how they surgically removed the fight out of the defending champs in five games. What we failed to realize was that the Celtics have gotten better as they got deeper in the playoffs. They are no longer the team that struggled to get by Lebron and his hype-men, nor are they the squad that played tight against a young Hawks team.

Boston's role players have decided that they are not going to just roll over. What was suppose to be the Lakers big advantage has not materialized. In the first game they got a lift from Cassell and P.J Brown while bullying the Lakers on the glass. They also played good defense on Bryant (whether he wants to admit it or not) and got some key momentum 3's from Pierce. Game 2, a game I thought the Lakers had to have was won on the back of a second round draft pick named Leon Powe. Understand that this wasn't suppose to happen and defintely wasn't part of the plan. If you show me a team that allows Leon Powe to become a force in the NBA Finals, i'll show you a loser.

I find it interesting if not surprising when Terrell Owens got paid by the Cowboys ESPN and other media types just acted like it didn't happen. Acted like he hasn't been a success with the Cowboys. Acted like it wasn't a big deal. ESPN.com actually lumped it in with a story about Pacman "Make It Rain" Jones. But when a story comes out about T.O. missing a drug testing call so now he is scrutinized for more drug tests it is splashed on the front page and even suggested that Owens may be on something illegal.

First off this is not an unusual occurrence. If you miss a call and you have never tested positive for anything you are subject to more testing. The NFL is suppose to keep this information confidential, but with Owens it is all about finding any information and spinning it in a negative light. Terrell Owens maybe a lot of things but two things we know are that he has never been in trouble with the law and has never tested positive for anything. On top of that anyone who knows Owens knows he treats his body like a temple, so once again this is much to do about nothing. Don't get caught up in the negative spin. This is sports not fox news.

The Celtics made a crucial mistake in Game 2 and we will see if it comes back to haunt them. In boxing when you have a fighter on the ropes, you have to finish him. You have to go in for the kill and the KO. That wa,y whenever you run across him again, he has in the back of his mind that he can never defeat you. But when you let him off the ropes, get a couple of good shots in before the end of the fight and have you wobbling, even though you may win on points, psychologically the other fighter is in better shape for the rematch.

The Lakers got those final punches in. But with that being said, they still face the daunting task of winning 4 out of the next 5 games against a team that looks like they have their number. Until the 4th quarter of Game 2, the Celtics have clamped down on the Lakers defensively to the point that they are smothering the Lakers into submission. Now, it is yet to be seen if the 4th quarter was a sign of things to come, or just the Celtics easing off of the gas pedal a bit.

It is pretty obvious the Lakers must win all their home games to have any chance in this series. I don't think it is possible for them to win two games in Boston, but if they just have to win one I think that is possible. The Lakers have to hold on to the hope that the Celtics are not the same team on the road as they are at home and use that to their advantage. The Lakers have not lost at home so it won't be impossible for them to win all three, but they will have to step up their defensive intensity.

A couple of side notes. Paul Pierce should be ashamed of himself for leading people to believe he is hurt when, in fact, there is absolutely nothing wrong with him at all. Seriously, there is nothing wrong with him. The reason he didn't want a MRI was because he knows that his knee is fine. If I was the commish I would suspend him, but that is just me. Also the refs in this game were horrible. Very inconsistent and shouldn't be allowed to ref another finals game.

It's a horse! Everyone needs to calm down. Same thing with Barbaro last year! People act like these horses are superheroes. I always find it funny when the commentators act as if they can get into the mind of the horse.

"Big Brown is simply more relaxed than his competitors. He senses the moment but is not overwhelmed by it."

Give me a break let me tell you really what Big Brown was thinking.

"My foot hurts and if they think I am going to run this long ass track today they can kiss my ass. As soon as this race is over. I will do my best Paul Pierce impression and hopefully take that nice Philly back to my room."

And that, my friend, is why we don't have a Triple Crown winner again this year.

And that my friend is why we don't have a Triple Crown winner again this year.
I gave Cedric Benson the benefit of the doubt on his boating incident because, from all accounts, he was telling the truth and the police went a little overboard. (Aren't I clever with words?).

With that being said, it is hard to be taken seriously when you get pulled over for a DUI not even a month later. Is he is incredibly stupid or just a drunk (probably both). Either way, look for him to be cut not because he is a drunk but because he is a drunken garbage player.

The Philadelphia Phillies are the front runners in the NL East Division race and show no signs of slowing down. A big reason for that has to be the dominant play of the second basemen. Chase Utley is currently the best second basemen in the game. Probably the only time I heard George Bush say anything that made any kind of sense, was when he said if starting a team today, Utley would be his first position player he'd draft.

I mean, to say that he is the best position player the Phillies have is saying a lot. They only boast Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins, you know, the two players that won the last two MVP awards in the National League, other than that, i'd say those two are alright. As great as J-Roll and the best power-hitter in the game are, they have holes in their game. You'd be hard-pressed to find a hole in Utleys game. It used to be his defense when he first came up, but now you can turn on the tube and see him regularly making spectacular plays in the field.

We can sit here and talk about numbers or how he's leading the majors in homers as a second basemen, but stats never tell everything. The real story is, how does the man do it? I mean out of college he was a wirey kid with a quick bat but no one projected him to be an all world baseball player.

Game 1 can be pretty easily broken down. The Celtics dominated the boards and defensively clamped down on the Lakers and specifically Kobe Bryant in the second half. The Lakers played a very sound 1st half, but they made a crucial mistake when Paul Pierce got hurt. (More on that in a second.) They relaxed and allowed the Celtics, while Pierce was in the locker room, to believe they could win without him. So when he came back on the floor, they rode that energy to a victory.

Kobe has to play better. The Lakers as a whole played well until they started to miss a lot of open shots in the 4th quarter. The defense the Celtics are playing on Kobe is very similar, if not the same, to what they played on Lebron James. It is designed to force the other players to win games and frustrate the superstar into tough shots. You could see Kobe fighting the urge to go Kobe circa 2004. Overall he made some very pretty passes, but he seemed confused by the defense. Great players though make adjustments and I would not be shocked if we see a dominant performance in Game 2.

I have nothing against Paul Pierce and I am sure his knee is hurt, but if you get taken off the court in a wheelchair only to return a few minutes later then you couldn't have been as hurt as you were letting on. I don't think it was intentional and he played a very solid game, but please spare me the Willis Reed comments or how courageous and miraculous it was. It would have been miraculous if we find out tomorrow he has a blown ACL. Then I will be impressed. Don't over-blow something that shouldn't even be a story. He got a little scared overacted a bit realized it wasn't as bad as he first thought, came back on the floor and hit some threes. The story ends there.

With the high drama of the NBA Finals in full swing, I can't think of a better time to come out with my ALL NBA teams.

A couple ground rules before we start. First, I don't differentiate between point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, etc. The best players are capable of playing multiple positions, so there are 2 guards, 2 forwards, and a center. Also, my picks are not based on likes, because there are several players on these teams that I hated to watch play and almost always rooted against. But that doesn't necessarily mean that particular player wasn't effective. Feel free to weigh in on this, because if there're players I missed I definitely want to hear about it. So without further adou, here it is.

ALL NBA 1ST TEAM:

G) Kobe Bryant: The spot normally reserved for Magic now goes to"Darth Kobe". 3 titles with another possibility for a 4th this year proves he's a winner. Kobe can lock down the toughest players on D, score points in prolific fashion, and he's an assassin when it comes to finishing games. In the triangle offense LA runs, Kobe regularly brings the ball up the floor so handling those duties won't be a problem. In my opinion, Kobe's offensive arsenal is the 2nd best ever, he can shoot, cross over, post up, pull up mid-range J, and dunk nasty too. I love Magic, but I simply can't leave Kobe off this team any longer. It's to the point where I actually wonder if Kobe is somehow related to Mike, how can one player resemble another so much.

• G) Michael Jordan: I don't need to say anything here, if you disagree please find the nearest bridge and jump off it.

• F) Larry Bird: Bird won't have this spot for long because as soon as Lebron James wins a title and/or becomes clutch, Bird will have to go to the bench.

Career averages of 25ppg 10 rebounds and 6 assists along with 3 titles gets Bird the nod. He hit so many game winners his nickname should be the "Iceman". At 6'9" and one of the greatest shooters ever, there are only a few players I would rather have the ball at the end of the game.

My favorite Bird moment was when, with 3 seconds remaining in the game and down a point, he told Xavier McDaniel, at that time on the Seattle Supersonics, that he was going to dribble left, pull back, and shoot it in his face. McDaniel said he was ready, the ball was inbounded and Bird dribbled left, pulled back, and shot it in his face.

• F) Tim Duncan: I can't think of another player that I've ever liked less than Duncan. He's so fundamentally sound that he comes across as a robot. He gripes virtually every time he shoots. Is there another player ever, other than Karl Malone that has done more moaning and groaning to the refs than Duncan? With that being said he's taken ordinary teams to titles and is so consistent it's scary. He owns the paint, if KG had some of Duncan's intangibles; I believe he would have a ring already.

• C) Kareem-Abdul Jabbar: I initially wanted to go with Shaq or Wilt, but Kareem is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history and they had to outlaw the dunk while he was in college so he wouldn't score 100 pts every game. Also, he's one of the very few centers who over his career connected on 75%-80% of his foul shots, so you definitely can't do hack-a-Kareem, like you could do with Wilt and Shaq at the end of games.

It is what you all have been waiting for. Check out the video to see why The Lakers and Neo Bryant will bring home the NBA Title:

Here are the predictions from the rest of the BSO staff:

Robert Bonnette: Celtics in 6
Terence Turner: Lakers in 5
Amber Fox: Lakers in 5
Carl Davis: Lakers in 6
Omar Curran: Lakers in 6
Joslin Lofton: Celtics in 7
JP Sutherland: Lakers in 6
Adam Thomas: Lakers in 6

Would also like to point out that Miss Amber Fox won the Super Model vs. BonaFide Sports Expert NBA Playoff Challenge. By getting 13 out 14 series correct up to this point, it is mathematically impossible for me to catch her seeing that I only got 10 of 14 series correct. So I bow down to Miss Fox as this is the 2nd time she has defeated me in a basketball-related challenge, but we will see what will happen when football season starts.

ForeverAFox.com

If you ever believed for one second that Ocho Cinco was going to sit out the entire season, you are probably the same person who thinks that Roger Clemens never used steroids. So it wasn't surprising to me in the least the Chad declared he would be attending training camp.

The situation is eerily similar to the Terrell Owens Eagles fiasco. Here's why. Chad is absolutely correct in his assessment of the Bengals organization, but because he can't keep his mouth from running 100 MPH. he can't get his wish to be traded or get a new contract. Chad's coming to training camp will probably be more distracting than if he would have stayed away.

In the end, just like the Eagles, if the Bengals continue to be hard-headed. they will fail and the team will struggle. Eventually Chad will get released, suspended, traded, or cut. He will get his money with another team and the Bengals will be worse off for it. They should have taken that 1st round pick from the Redskins when they had the chance.

Give me control of the NHL and I guarantee you within six months it will be the 2nd highest rated sport behind the NFL. There is nothing better than playoff hockey and when you add in an elimination game for the Stanley Cup and three overtimes you get the best game of the year period in any sport. Yes better than the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals or Indy or Daytona 500. You didn't have to be a hockey fan to enjoy what happened last night. A lady friend who I had over (what can I say I am Bona Fide and no it wasn't Amber Fox) who I am confident has never ever seen a hockey game in her life was totally enthralled with the drama of Game 5. When I say enthralled I mean every time there was a shot on goal she jumped off the couch.

The game was magnificent I can not tell you how impressed I was with Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury who stopped 55 out of 58 shots many in spectacular fashion. How about Petr Sykora calling his shot a la Babe Ruth for the winning OT goal. Just a great night for hockey and hopefully the night that turns around the league. I know I will be tuned in for Game 6 will you?

Do you believe me now? I told you years ago that T.O. wasn't a bad guy even when the entire world (and especially Skip Bayless) said he was the worse person in professional sports. Just the thought was ludicrous considering the police blotter is always filled with professional athletes and Owens has never been in trouble with the law. I told you that Owens main problem in Philadelphia and San Francisco was trusting the media (yes I am talking to you ESPN) and saying things that everyone else was thinking. I told you that the majority of the Eagles were in T.O.'s corner not Donovan McNabb. When he went to Dallas I told you it wouldn't be a problem no matter how hard the media would try to make it out to be. They say T.O. is a team obliterator (thanks again Skip), but every team he has been on has been successful. Ironic isn't it.

So it is good to know the Jerry Jones ignores all the negative stuff and concentrates on what is important. T.O. has produced big time with the Cowboys and he deserves his contract extension and unlike the Eagles who try to be hard asses with their players (which is why they will never win a Super Bowl under Andy Reid) Jerry Jones knows how to keep his players happy. With that being said what is up with the hat Terrell (obviously a Photoshop hopefully anyway)?

Aside from injuries and off-field issues, Travis Henry is definitely a talented NFL running back. However, if you've been paying even a little bit of attention to Travis Henrys career, then i'm sure your not too surprised that the Denver Broncos released Henry from his position. Here's the kicker... they questioned his commitment. Basically saying he was irresponsible. Why aren't we surprised?

Well, the legend of Henry is well-documented, he is said to have fathered nine children in a six-year span. By six different woman people! I mean he's even making the late "Ol Dirty Bastard proud with this reproduction rate. Not that were doing math but to think that a man put in 81 months worth of pregnant time in, all in a six-year span?! Talking about "ball 'til you fall", this truly has to be some type of feat.

Look I understand we're alI weak for women to some extent, but I always wondered when an athlete like Henry is rolling the dice so carelessly and after it so hard, does he ever think the dice might land on Human Immunodeficiency Virus? Let's all hope that this serves as a valuable lesson for Henry about commitment and that he now understands that his priority is to commit to his children, off the field, before another football team.

For the 2008 NBA FInals, David Stern got exactly what he wanted. Actually most fans couldn't even argue with this match-up. The Classic, Lakers Vs. Celtics. Some of us even had the video game coming up around 1990 or so. (No one could see me!)

Boston has the PGA Tour going against KB24 and the Lakers. When you look at the rosters, you'd think Boston should be able to pull it out. The problem is the fire that burns inside of Bryant these days trumps whatever the opponents are throwing at him. I mean when's the last time you saw Bruce Bowen looking that bad on defense? People understand that Bean is locked in. He is not cheating himself or his team out of their true potential. He is Neo and basketball is The Matrix.

The Celtics need Pierce to come close to Kobe's scoring output to have a chance. Glenn Rivers (there's only one Doc!) needs to realize this. I mean if Garnett, EVER, played up to his true potential... the possibilites, just maybe the C's would be unstoppable. For instance, if he stops shooting fade away jumpers sometimes; played as aggressively as his ice-grills (or facial expressions); maybe he'd average 30ppg and 12 to 15 rebounds a game; and maybe it would be a different story. But why would that change now at this point? He is who he is.

Make it Rain is back in the building, well kind of. Roger Goodell reinstated PacMan Jones temporarily and if he stays out of trouble he will be fully reinstated on September 1st. Meaning he can't make it rain, lose $20,000 in Vegas, punch any strippers or females in general in the eye, spit in anyone's face or pay hush money to people who are facing life for attempted murder. This will be a tough task for Jones, but if he hasn't learned by now he is never going to learn. This was the right move by Goodell because regardless of all of PacMan's failings he has never been convicted of a felony while players who have, have been giving a lot less punishment.

Once again is there a more entertaining team than the Dallas Cowboys? You got T.O., Jessica Romo (who knows if they are still together or not), Horse Collar Williams, a lame duck coach, an assistant coach waiting in the wings, Make it Rain Jones and on top of all that an owner who thinks he is bigger than the NFL. I don't know who made the final decision to have them featured on HBO "Hard Knocks" series but they deserve a raise.

The Jamaican sprinter set the world record Saturday night with a time of 9.72 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix, .02 seconds faster than the old mark held by his countryman, Asafa Powell. The amazing thing is that Bolt has made no secret of the fact that he sees himself as a 200m specialist. Earlier in the week he was still undecided if he would even enter the 100m Jamaican Olympic trials.

However, after becoming the fastest man on the planet he confirmed he would now double up in Beijing.

In writing this story, I was left to wonder where they hype has gone from the world of track and field. I remember back in 1992, Reebok set out to boost interest in their Track and Field shoes by televising short advertisements capitalizing on a friendly rivalry between two decathletes destined for the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. They ran frequent ads showcasing the Dan and Dave phenomenon, hyping up the inevitable matchup of the two American greats.

The whole deal fell apart when Dan O'Brien failed to qualify. To most it didn't matter who actually won the vents, but the fact it was an air of electricity around the sport that had been vacant for some time.

I kind of miss those times, even if they don't live up to the hype.

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If last night's fight taught us anything, its that these matches are very entertaining. Kimbo's legend grew as he defeated James Thompson, in a VERY GOOD fight. You dont get fights like these from boxing anymore.

We also witnessed what many MMA fans knew about Kimbo, is that his mat game is weak. But you can not deny those hands.