...Still 72 hours or so from guys actually signing, but let's take a look at where my predictions are at thus far. Not bad, though two of them were rather easy. Amar'e was seen in a Yankees hat on Saturday and on Monday he was introduced as a Knick. LeBron unexpectedly showed up to a Nike camp at U of Akron in a Yankees hat today...
LeBron James- New York Knicks
Dwyane Wade- Miami Heat
Dirk Nowitzki- Dallas Mavericks
Chris Bosh- Chicago Bulls
Joe Johnson- Atlanta Hawks
Amar'e Stoudemire- New York Knicks
David Lee- New Jersey Nets
Carlos Boozer- Miami Heat
Paul Pierce- Boston Celtics
Ray Allen- New Jersey Nets
Shaquille O' Neal- Cleveland Cavaliers
Monday, July 5, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Free Agency Predictions
It's been my thought for a long time that Chicago isn't an option because of Jordan's shadow, that Miami isn't realistic because it's an apathetic city (and Wade's apathetic city to boot), and that the Clippers and Nets are laughable. Cleveland or New York? Home or the big stage? State college or the big university a few states away? And so on.
Who knows what'll happen over the next few weeks or even how long this summer will last. Here's my best guess:
LeBron James- New York Knicks
Dwyane Wade- Miami Heat
Dirk Nowitzki- Dallas Mavericks
Chris Bosh- Chicago Bulls
Joe Johnson- Atlanta Hawks
A'mare Stoudemire- New York Knicks
David Lee- New Jersey Nets
Carlos Boozer- Miami Heat
Paul Pierce- Boston Celtics
Ray Allen- New Jersey Nets
Shaquille O' Neal- Cleveland Cavaliers
-Jesse
Who knows what'll happen over the next few weeks or even how long this summer will last. Here's my best guess:
LeBron James- New York Knicks
Dwyane Wade- Miami Heat
Dirk Nowitzki- Dallas Mavericks
Chris Bosh- Chicago Bulls
Joe Johnson- Atlanta Hawks
A'mare Stoudemire- New York Knicks
David Lee- New Jersey Nets
Carlos Boozer- Miami Heat
Paul Pierce- Boston Celtics
Ray Allen- New Jersey Nets
Shaquille O' Neal- Cleveland Cavaliers
-Jesse
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Free Agency
The time is (basically) finally here. After years of speculation, the 2010 class of free agents will be able to meet and talk with teams in 40ish hours. I find it intriguing that for the last two years all the talk was with LeBron James going to the New York Knicks and now, they aren't even thought of as one of the top three and sometimes four options for him. Nothing significant has changed with their situation in the last few months, nor has it changed with the Nets or the Heat, but all of a sudden those teams - along with the Cavs - are at the forefront of his options according to sources aplenty. The Bulls, on the other hand, made a big move in dumping Kirk Hinrich to the Wiz to clear up some more cap space and put them in the two-max capability with the Knicks.
In the past few days, sources have said it's a done deal that LeBron and Bosh go to the Heat, that LeBron and Bosh go to the Bulls, that Bosh goes to the heat, that Johnson goes to the Bulls and that Johnson goes to the Knicks. Clearly these all can't be true unless sharing players becomes the new sharing arenas. First Bosh said he is a centerpiece, not a side dish; and makes his own decisions...but then got on Mike & Mike and said everyone is waiting for LeBron to make first move.
I doubt everyone has their mind made up at this point. I'm sure a they have their top three to five choices, like you and I had when we applied to college, but are they in specific order? I'm not sure about that. Is each guy's time too valuable for them to waste it visiting several teams they have no interest in whatsoever - or will they be like girls at the bar who let guys they know they're not going home with buy them drinks just to feel pretty?
Whether LeBron James comes to the World's Most Famous Arena, wins one 'ship and usurps an aging (but still better than 90% of shortstops in the league) Jeter as NYC's favorite athlete, is yet to be determined. I have total faith in Donnie Walsh and the guys he's put in place to pitch the Knicks to the Association's top FAs that he'll put together a club that will win 50 games next year. As a faithful fan of the orange and blue, I don't need to win a 'ship next year, making the playoffs would be fine for me and hoards of other Knicks fans.
However it plays out, the power structure in the NBA will take a dramatic shift in 2010-11 and this will be the most exciting summer in quite some time for the game of roundball. With the USA out of the World Cup and baseball hitting it's middle of the season doldrums, the NBA will be on the front pages of many dailies and the lead item on nightly news across the country over the next few weeks.
Buckle up, we're in for a wild ride.
In the past few days, sources have said it's a done deal that LeBron and Bosh go to the Heat, that LeBron and Bosh go to the Bulls, that Bosh goes to the heat, that Johnson goes to the Bulls and that Johnson goes to the Knicks. Clearly these all can't be true unless sharing players becomes the new sharing arenas. First Bosh said he is a centerpiece, not a side dish; and makes his own decisions...but then got on Mike & Mike and said everyone is waiting for LeBron to make first move.
I doubt everyone has their mind made up at this point. I'm sure a they have their top three to five choices, like you and I had when we applied to college, but are they in specific order? I'm not sure about that. Is each guy's time too valuable for them to waste it visiting several teams they have no interest in whatsoever - or will they be like girls at the bar who let guys they know they're not going home with buy them drinks just to feel pretty?
Whether LeBron James comes to the World's Most Famous Arena, wins one 'ship and usurps an aging (but still better than 90% of shortstops in the league) Jeter as NYC's favorite athlete, is yet to be determined. I have total faith in Donnie Walsh and the guys he's put in place to pitch the Knicks to the Association's top FAs that he'll put together a club that will win 50 games next year. As a faithful fan of the orange and blue, I don't need to win a 'ship next year, making the playoffs would be fine for me and hoards of other Knicks fans.
However it plays out, the power structure in the NBA will take a dramatic shift in 2010-11 and this will be the most exciting summer in quite some time for the game of roundball. With the USA out of the World Cup and baseball hitting it's middle of the season doldrums, the NBA will be on the front pages of many dailies and the lead item on nightly news across the country over the next few weeks.
Buckle up, we're in for a wild ride.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Free Agency in the Morning
...Might as well be our new title for the next few weeks as it will dominate sports talk and my interest. For now, here's a quick video of cher boy on TV in the city LeBron used to play in.
Racing hits Mid-Ohio
---
Updated LBJ chances:
New York Knicks: 39%
Chicago Bulls: 30%
Cleveland Cavaliers: 25%
Everyone Else: 6%
-Jesse
Racing hits Mid-Ohio
---
Updated LBJ chances:
New York Knicks: 39%
Chicago Bulls: 30%
Cleveland Cavaliers: 25%
Everyone Else: 6%
-Jesse
Friday, June 4, 2010
The Chase for LeBron Analogy
Thanks to my man Troy Boy who inspired me today, here is the story of LeBron's free agency, played out by highschoolers getting ready for prom.
First, our protagonist, the second hottest girl in school. The hottest girl, Kobina, is already dating the senior who happens to be a slugging catcher/ all-state QB/ regional MVP point guard. LeBrontina is hot, but she is on a break from her boyfriend that she's been seeing for the last few years.
Cleveland Cavaliers: The Boyfriend
The sort of ex-, but not totally broken up quite yet boyfriend. They've gone steady for a while, known each other since they were kids, living next door and all. However, LeBrontina has always had a crush on the guy from the next town over who used to date that dimepiece Jordan for years. The couple has had a nice run for years, but she's yet to reach her peak as an individual stuck in this relationship. At this point, she knows his strengths and his faults and they aren't going to change anytime soon. Late this semester, it seemed like she started giving up on the relationship with him and realizing that she'll never be her best as long as they're together.
New York Knicks: The Comeback Kid
Back in grade school this dude was awesome, hung out with the cool kids, chased cute girls around the playground, basically lived the life of grade school superstar. But when he hit the teen years, his skin broke out, he didn't know what to do with his hair and got some serious orthadontical head gear. He lost most of his coolness, but still had lots of friends come over because it was one of the greatest houses in the country. People talked about him a lot, but only to say how sad it is that a kid with so much opportunity and potential spoiled it. Then all of a sudden, he came back after the summer before senior year, P90X'd and with cool hair and still all that money and the big house. The kid was back! Now since some of his boys dropped off, his limo is virtually empty and can invite whoever he wants to chill with him and LeBrontina can bring her friends and their dates.
New Jersey Nets: The Mystery
The comeback kid's cousin. He was very cool when comeback had the headgear, but never got the props he deserved in the hallways due to the fact he lived in a bad part of town and wore strange clothes. His dad just skipped town last month and now has loaded European foster parents who want to give him all sorts of new toys. Problem is, even when he was 'on', everyone just viewed him as the comeback kid's cousin and he hit a really really bad rough patch over the last two years. With this new family and rumors they're finally going to move to a good part of town looming, no one really know what to expect from this enigma.
Chicago Bulls: The Fantasy
The childhood fantasy of LeBrontina. She had pictures of this guy, shirtless and wet, hanging all over her room and inside her locker. All the girls in biology class had a crush on him because he was the essence of cool when they were kids. He had the hottest girlfriend for seemingly forever and his swagger was through the roof. After they broke up he was never the same again. Over the last couple years, though, he's seems to have gotten his act back together and has a lot to offer LeBrontina.
LA Clippers: The Weaker Brother
Like Bruce Buffer, Ozzie Canseco and Billy Ripken before him, he always lived under the shadow of his amazing older brother. To recap, the older brother is a three sport star and handsome as Steve McQueen. This redheaded stepchild has it even worse than the other lesser known and accomplished brothers, because he is also semi-retarded. LeBrontina has mentioned that it seems like this guy finally has his life together, but everyone in town knows there is no chance it happens. She might go on a date with him before prom to help build his self-esteem up but even that is a maybe.
---
Who will Lebrontina let buy her a corsage and then poke the pin through her dress, most likely stabbing her breast, all the while she smiles and pretends it doesn't hurt? I don't know for sure, and I don't think that she does at this point either. But I know for sure where I'd go.
---
Since this is an NBA post, here's this from Betsy: 10 Worst Tats in The Association
and not totally related: Five Most Overused Sports Cliches (add 'He knows how to win' to the list)
-Jesse
First, our protagonist, the second hottest girl in school. The hottest girl, Kobina, is already dating the senior who happens to be a slugging catcher/ all-state QB/ regional MVP point guard. LeBrontina is hot, but she is on a break from her boyfriend that she's been seeing for the last few years.
Cleveland Cavaliers: The Boyfriend
The sort of ex-, but not totally broken up quite yet boyfriend. They've gone steady for a while, known each other since they were kids, living next door and all. However, LeBrontina has always had a crush on the guy from the next town over who used to date that dimepiece Jordan for years. The couple has had a nice run for years, but she's yet to reach her peak as an individual stuck in this relationship. At this point, she knows his strengths and his faults and they aren't going to change anytime soon. Late this semester, it seemed like she started giving up on the relationship with him and realizing that she'll never be her best as long as they're together.
New York Knicks: The Comeback Kid
Back in grade school this dude was awesome, hung out with the cool kids, chased cute girls around the playground, basically lived the life of grade school superstar. But when he hit the teen years, his skin broke out, he didn't know what to do with his hair and got some serious orthadontical head gear. He lost most of his coolness, but still had lots of friends come over because it was one of the greatest houses in the country. People talked about him a lot, but only to say how sad it is that a kid with so much opportunity and potential spoiled it. Then all of a sudden, he came back after the summer before senior year, P90X'd and with cool hair and still all that money and the big house. The kid was back! Now since some of his boys dropped off, his limo is virtually empty and can invite whoever he wants to chill with him and LeBrontina can bring her friends and their dates.
New Jersey Nets: The Mystery
The comeback kid's cousin. He was very cool when comeback had the headgear, but never got the props he deserved in the hallways due to the fact he lived in a bad part of town and wore strange clothes. His dad just skipped town last month and now has loaded European foster parents who want to give him all sorts of new toys. Problem is, even when he was 'on', everyone just viewed him as the comeback kid's cousin and he hit a really really bad rough patch over the last two years. With this new family and rumors they're finally going to move to a good part of town looming, no one really know what to expect from this enigma.
Chicago Bulls: The Fantasy
The childhood fantasy of LeBrontina. She had pictures of this guy, shirtless and wet, hanging all over her room and inside her locker. All the girls in biology class had a crush on him because he was the essence of cool when they were kids. He had the hottest girlfriend for seemingly forever and his swagger was through the roof. After they broke up he was never the same again. Over the last couple years, though, he's seems to have gotten his act back together and has a lot to offer LeBrontina.
LA Clippers: The Weaker Brother
Like Bruce Buffer, Ozzie Canseco and Billy Ripken before him, he always lived under the shadow of his amazing older brother. To recap, the older brother is a three sport star and handsome as Steve McQueen. This redheaded stepchild has it even worse than the other lesser known and accomplished brothers, because he is also semi-retarded. LeBrontina has mentioned that it seems like this guy finally has his life together, but everyone in town knows there is no chance it happens. She might go on a date with him before prom to help build his self-esteem up but even that is a maybe.
---
Who will Lebrontina let buy her a corsage and then poke the pin through her dress, most likely stabbing her breast, all the while she smiles and pretends it doesn't hurt? I don't know for sure, and I don't think that she does at this point either. But I know for sure where I'd go.
---
Since this is an NBA post, here's this from Betsy: 10 Worst Tats in The Association
and not totally related: Five Most Overused Sports Cliches (add 'He knows how to win' to the list)
-Jesse
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Summer Dos and Summer Don'ts, Summer Wills and Summer Won'ts
Summer feels like it started already in many parts of the country and with it comes a whole host of new rules and changes in lifestyle. (Fistbump to Molly for the idea on today's blog).
Sun's Out, Guns Out
Absolutely a do. I don't see a reason for guys to not let the pythons (or gardner snakes) breathe in the appropriate environment. That includes the pool, beach, field, park, lake, backyard etc. It does not include church, restaurants, funerals and the office. A corollary to that is shirts off. Again, this is fine in the right forum - by bodies of water, in the backyard, on the field/blacktop, but let's keep it civil. Also, in recent years, manscaping has become awfully popular. Hair on our arms and chest is what makes us manly. Do you have any idea how much whiskey I had to drink to get the small patch that I have? Shaving hair off your chest and arms is akin to when women get breast reductions. God gave you something wonderful, don't abandon it.
Tanning
People look better with a little color on their skin than they do pasty. Back a few centuries ago, it was fashionable to be similar to the color of printer paper because that meant you were rich and worked/stayed inside all the time. It was also, in some cultures, cool to be really fat because that meant you had enough money to eat a ton of food. Neither of these things are cool anymore FYIsies. Get a little tan as early as you can in the summer and let it ride out through Week 2 or 3 of the NFL season if you can. It looks good and if done in moderation, it's healthy (not scientific, I just think so).
Play Hooky
Take a random weekday off and hang by the pool or go for a picnic. Humans weren't meant to be inside throughout the summer, so take a day and do something awesome outside. Get a tan, watch a daygame, go to the beach, take a nap on the deck, play frisbee with the dog.
Cookouts
Attend or host as many as possible. While all real men will grill into the winter months, this is the optimal time to fire up the gas or charcoal beast and throw some steaks, dogs, chicken breast, burgers and veggies on the open flame. Food tastes better this way and the epitome of American Summer is a BBQ. Do it often, or the commies and terrorists win.
Summer Love
Find one. Most of Nature finds it's mates in the Spring. For whatever reason, humans seemingly use the Memorial Day- Labor Day timeframe to have a hot and heavy relationship that flames out by Halloween. If you choose to go another route (or are spoken for already), this is the best time for dates. Gorgeous outside for daytrips on weekends and usually nice at night for outside patio dates.
Other things to cross of your summer bucket list every year
Get to a ballgame(s), go to a church festival, roadtrip to a lake or the ocean, get to the Derby and/or Indy 500, play kickball, join a softball league, play sand volleyball, get sunburnt, watch fireworks.
-Jesse
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
LBJ to NYC Now at All Time High Probability
Though I don't think he's made his mind up yet like some media and fans will have you believe, I think that he is now leaning towards leaving more than ever before after last nights shellacking by the Celtics. Mike and Mike said this morning that during non-Finals NBA playoff matchups, the team that loses G5 to go down 3-2 in a series only comes back 16% of the time. Clearly LBJ is one of the 2-3 best players on the planet and is capable of throwing up a 40-15-10 to bring his team back, but can he? Thursday night, the crowd in Boston will be hostile and there is no doubt the Celts have the mo' at this point with Rondo becoming the second or third best PG in the game right now.
I have full faith in Donnie Walsh and the guy who was brought in to learn everything about LBJ and give him the greatest pitch of all time, John Gabriel (love those initials, too). Mark Messier is the only somewhat close comparison to James' current situation. An Edmonton boy, drafted and played for the Oilers for several years, ascending to one of the best hockey players in the league. Leaves for NYC and after a few years, ends a five-decade long drought, becomes a legend, owns the city and becomes one of the five greatest players of all time.
I used to believe in jinxing sports outcomes in my adolescence, but now I realize what's gonna happen will happen, regardless of what I say or think out loud. As pessimistic as I was about LBJ being the savior the Garden needs last month, I am that optimistic right now.
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