So much going on in the world of sports. Baseball play-offs, college and pro football, and of course the start of the NBA regular season is Tuesday.
California Angels (I can’t bring myself to type Los Angeles) and New York Yankees play Game 6 tonight in the Boogie Down. NY leads 3-2 in the best of seven. Boy I’ve never heard so much criticisim over the manager’s decisions. I even went out and questioned the moves by Yankees skipper Joe Girardi. And how about the umpires? These guys have been terrible.
This Tuesday night we have the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers opening up the season. I see those two and the Orlando Magic coming out of the East. As for the West, I really like the Denver Nuggets. But of course the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers will have something to say as well as the San Antonio Spurs and watch out for the Portland TrailBlazers.
I was watching the Nuggets and Lakers finishing out the preseason Friday night on ESPN. Lamar Odom and Chris Anderson got into a small argument; both players had to be separated. Kenyon Martin jumped in and threw Odom aside. I don’t get these guys trying to be tough guys during the games? Why in the world do they shake hands, hug and do little dances before each game only to get into fights with each other during the game? Odom had mentioned he took up boxing in the off-season; OK Lamar, now you’re ready to get into the ring.
I get a kick out of listening to Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson announce games on ESPN. Van Gundy said he didn’t think Nuggets rookie Ty Lawson was ‘Athletic’. Obviously JVG never saw Lawson play for Carolina the past couple of years. JVG said that Lawson pushes the ball up the court but doesn’t elevate to the rim. Huh? How many 5′11″ guys are skywalkers? Lawson has blinding speed and is strong, that qualifies for being athletic. Lawson managed 29 points in 29 minutes.
Jackson mentioned during the broadcast Lawson’s college teammate Tyler Hansbrough as being one of the greatest college players of all-time.
JVG disagreed.
I enjoy listening to these guys for this kind of banter. They know the game and aren’t afraid of speaking their mind; too many guys are worried about upsetting people. Speak the truth! Jackson played at the highest level and of course JVG has been coaching for a long time.
The NBA officials are back. This means the replacement officials are out. After watching a few games the past couple of weeks I thought these guys did a good job.
I’m really starting to ‘feel’ the plus/minus stat the NBA utilizes.
-Coach Finamore
Hoops135@hotmail.com
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