Welcome to the blogosphere! good to have you... but don't tell Bob Costas!
...about Mayweather, I saw the show and IMO you were quite appropriate. Now PBF is one of my favorite fighters, but he is doing the sport an incredible disservice by ducking Miguel Cotto and you were 100% right to ask him about it. In fact, you could have even gone further. Mayweather said that Cotto can't pull in PPV numbers (not true), and that "no one should eat off his plate", yet didn't he eat off Oscar's plate? If he is ever to regarded as a serious champion amongst REAL boxing fans, he will have to fight Cotto. You were as professional as you needed to be. Champions should fight the best.
Anyway, good luck on the blogging front. Perhaps you will find more freedom in this sphere... not that you are known for holding back... which is the way it should be... good luck.
Mar 30th, 2008
Jemele
MODI
Thanks for the welcome.
Obviously, I have certain professional obligations that prevent me from being TOTALLY unfiltered, but I think I'll be real enough, LOL.
As for Mayweather, obviously his legacy is set. But I agree with you. He has to fight Cotto. This Wrestlemania stuff is entertaining, but....misguided. In a weird way, it made more sense for him to jump to MMA. At least people consider that a legitimate sport. But what are we to make of someone who participates in Wrestlemania?
I dunno.
Mar 30th, 2008
Mizzo
Damn, sorry I missed it. Remember at the NABJ when Don King and Bob Arum both took shots at PBF? I think for this reason and others he's used to being on the defensive--even when he deserves it. Keep pushing Jemele. I haven't seen the interview, but I feel confident telling you to not apologize for something you aren't getting smacked over--especially on a show where dude almost got his ass kicked by Jim Everett.
Apr 2nd, 2008
Mizzo
Oh, as far as PBF fighting Cotto, I think dude has earned the opportunity to take some time to ease back when he's basically carried the sport.
Apr 2nd, 2008
Kelley L. Carter
First of all, don't act like "Friend" isn't that thang. I put you up on that episode and they're all just as funny! Second of all, remember how when Ike Turner's autobio was about to come out and I was reading it to review it and couldn't put it down? I think that was one of the rare times in my LIFE that I didn't sleep for like 36 hours. I just read that book straight through. I damn near remember every line in that book. I have a feeling this will be similar.
Apr 4th, 2008
Michael
The show has gotten really obnoxious. The first few seasons are the best. Interesting, though not surprising, that Steven, who slapped the hell out of Irene for suggesting he was gay, is, in fact, gay.
Apr 6th, 2008
mizzo
Every little step I take...you will be there...damn now you have me singing this ish and doing the roger rabbit....yeah right imagine my big ass doing that ;) bobby was the truth back in the day...the brotha got me paid many a night to the remix of rony.
Apr 8th, 2008
Jemele
I noticed that! What I can't believe is how old Trishelle looks.
Apr 9th, 2008
rashad
I live in DC..there's no way I'm checking that site out, no telling what I'd roll up on
Apr 12th, 2008
btodd
love the new site. why didn't i get the contract :( and yes. this story is a doozy.
Apr 23rd, 2008
C4
I'm glad you spoke your mind and I really wish this could be read by a bigger audience. There is no justification for 50 shots on an unarmed civilian whether it's black or white. What is worst is the acquittal of the officers, not one showed even a shred of remorse for their actions.
Apr 26th, 2008
T. Rose
My mom called me at 9am that day to tell me what the verdict was, she was mad like it was me that was killed and the cops got off. I have no doubt in my mind that when the cops pulled out on Bell and his friends that they were sure it wasn't a cop but the people they were beefin' with earlier that night and in that circumstance anyone would flee for their safety. One thinig that got swept under the rug is that this was to be the last day of the undercover sting on the strip club and after not finding any wrong-doing by the club I bet these cops were itching for some "action". Cops feel like they are themselves above the law and as a result they don't and never will use proper judgement when it comes to firing their weapon on a black man. What's worse is that instead of black cops giving the benefit of the doubt they are so "institutionalized" by their white co-workers and the media that they act like white cops. Even worse than that the judges reasoning onb why the cops weren't guilty was because he felt that the witnesses were not credible and not believeavble, WOW! So forget the common sense, they are no guilty based on a feeling that you have. I have a very friend that's a cop in Jersey and I wouldn't change places with him for all the money or benefits in the world.
Apr 26th, 2008
Jemele
Well said, everyone.
Apr 27th, 2008
KK in the GR
This whole sordid saga is almost too fantastical to be true...except it is. Amazing. I wish we could go back to '01 and 'renig' on Kwame from the git
Apr 30th, 2008
big frank
i would really considder Bobby Jimmy and the critters rappers. He was more of a Wierd Al Yancovich type. He spoofed Whodini's Song Big Mouth (Big Butt) and Neveau's Rumors (Roaches) The songs were pretty funny when they came out.
May 1st, 2008
bomani
gotta be fair on this one. the prosecution blew the case the same way the o.j. case got blown. don't need good lawyers when you're up against bad ones.
May 1st, 2008
BMoore
What up Miss Hill.....just thought I would chime in a lil something. I must say I 99.5 percent agree with you. Drew Gooden...outta line for getting in some he said between Lebron and Deshawn. But.....that is his boy though. So with that said I think of it like....yeah im cool with you (LeBron) we hoop together and get $$$ the same way and you are you King, but Deshawn is my boy from the crib, known him since back in the day. Hell...we even got matching beards! lol....So I can see Gooden going back to his homie and saying yo...LeBron said this about you. Now if Gooden was still on the Cavs he probably keeps his mouth shut, but since he was distanced from him and no longer with LB on the day to day, he started to chatter a little bit. Not that I condone his behaivor, but I think thats why he said what he said to DeShawn. On another note...LeBron should have known telling something to Drew about his homie from the crib was going to get back to him, but im sure the King didnt care...he's the King.
And in regards to Jigga....I think he was just doing his homie King James a little favor. They probably talked, Hov was in the studio and was like..."you want me to get at em a lil something" And that was it. Jay-Z has already said many a time that LeBron is his little homie. So thats just a case of Big Homie holding down lil Homie. lol. After listening to song, its obvious J didnt put to much thought into it. He says, LeBron, DeShawn and overrated a couple times in it and its over. Nothing to major. Plus like you said J is a business man and im thinking he gotta show love because he knows LeBron is a free agent in few years and the Nets will be in Brooklyn around then....so he's probably thinking business. I got you now you got me later. hahaha......just my thoughts.
May 2nd, 2008
Tony Rose
A little of the subject but I wanted to comment on the Cedric Benson arrest. Is it just me or is it nowhere if the cop that felt "threatened" and "feared" for his safety and felt that he had to pepper spray a"muscular" man was white or black. I have ready several articles on the arrest and can't find one mention. Usually there would at least be a little caption saying the cop was black or white to either dispel the thought of racism or question whether that might have been a factor. If I had to make an educated guess I would say the officer was white, what do you guys think. Maybe I'm wrong but I doubt it. Being that it took place in Texas, not the most black friendly place in the country, I'll give Benson the benefit of the doubt.
May 7th, 2008
William A. Campbell
I appreciate your thoughts on the story, and I did enjoy your article. I was left wondering what was going on behind it though and that's why I found you on fb and why I came and read this blog post. You really answered my question.
May 7th, 2008
Jemele
Tony, what's amazing is that many members of the media immediately discounted the possibility that Benson may have been unlawfully harrassed. I mean, it's not exactly a hard-to-believe theory: Well-off, black man accosted by the police? Yeah, I think we've seen that before. Although, it's interesting that now that Benson's friend has corroborated his story, we're once again seeing how we can jump to conclusions.
May 7th, 2008
Jemele
William, I appreciate you coming to the site. Although, I could personally relate, I hope people understand I have nothing against Malone personally. This is a tragic, yet triumphant story.
May 7th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
I am so glad you wrote this- it's not fair that athletes get held up as heroes and then do things like this!
May 8th, 2008
Antonio J Mickel
I can relate to this. We have so many fathers that are not being fathers to their children. I was raised by my grandmother raised me. My father did not deny me but he was not around during my childhood. Hopefully, Karl will admitt that he made a mistake in denying his son and establish a relationship with his son.
May 8th, 2008
Jemele
A lot of people have asked me if I think Karl Malone will feel obligated to reach out to his son because of my story and others. To be honest, I seriously doubt it. My theory is that this is mostly due to the fact he impregnated Bell's mother when she was 13. He'd rather deal with the backlash than answer questions about what he was doing with a 13-year-old.
May 8th, 2008
Jay Fitty
Love the site! Funny, I had the same thoughts when I first heard this on ESPN. And speaking of Sean Bell, you should check out my blog on myspace (Murder N.Y.P.D) if you haven't already.
May 9th, 2008
Aaron (DC)
That has to be skit from Dave Chapelle that never ran. Though sadly, I know from a college friend who was subjected to such an inspection that this does, in fact, happen.
May 12th, 2008
Jemele
Aaron, I wish it were a skit. It's a real song. And I'm going to pray for your friend that was subjected to that inspection.
May 12th, 2008
Chuck
Would you feel this way if it were Tony and Jesse? Or Toni and Jessica??? Hmmm... Just a thought...
May 13th, 2008
Jermaine
Now I respect LeBron's overall game even though Skip may have some different opinions, but you know the boys in the locker room had to be all over him about his mama standing up for him! But Kevin Garnett has got to man up! Bron's Momma was pushing him around with those bows! No wonder they can't win on the road:)
May 13th, 2008
Jemele
Yes, Jermaine, the boys will give him hell. But he was on Mike and Mike's radio show Tuesday morning and he apologized for cussin' at moms.
May 13th, 2008
Jermaine
Thanks for your response..
May 14th, 2008
MCBias (of sportsonmymind.com)
I agree with you that it's impossible to transcend culture and be truly color-blind (or gender-blind, or what not). However, the frustrating thing is when it seems like someone has never spent one moment thinking from a minority (or majority) perspective. For example, I'm always distressed when an athlete is accused of a crime by how many folks instantly assume guilt or innocence based on the previous interactions of their race with the law. I know Costas was saying how hard it was to be write about race as a white male, but I can't help but think that all he needs to do is have a few more friends of a different race/economic status.
May 14th, 2008
Aaron (DC)
Jemele, just saw your piece on Page 2 re Momma 'Bron. Hadn't considered that Lebron would be opening the floodgates for abuse from opposing fans. Though I bet Sabrina would be time enough for anyone who wanted to mess with her. Though I think the most interesting aspect to me is the vaguely Oedipal relationship guys like Lebron and AI seem to have with their moms. That might be a big ol' can of worms that no one wants to dig into, but its fascinating in a mildly unsettling sort of way. It reminds me of the Meryl Streep/Liev Schrieber relationship in the Denzel Manchurian Candidate remake.
May 14th, 2008
Joe
Your blog stinks. the format is hard to deal with. And your writing is not impressive.
May 14th, 2008
Ryan Looney
I'm a Pats fan, so I'm biased. But what I thought TB was talking about was the way the Herald's story was picked up.
It led sports pages across the country on the eve of the Super Bowl, all of the prominent sports writers/bloggers ran with it, and generally turned it into a circus. The Herald issuing an apology for not checking on its source is one thing, but what about the rest of the Media for not checking on the source of the source?
Scandal does sell. There was a great story going on about a team of hard working veterans working on a perfect season, which is "good news," that took an immediate back seat to a story about a story about "bad news." It resonated throughout the Super Bowl, 4 months after the cheating scandal and penalty. Where is the accountability of trusted sources picking up stories that were never true?
May 14th, 2008
mike (boston)
GUN. CON. TROL.
stop gun violence.
May 14th, 2008
mike (boston)
well excuse me coppah, mister crime stoppah! haha friggin Dragnet rap, that brings me back. to hell.
Damn, you look sexy
Let's go to my yacht, in the West Keys
Ride my jetskis, loungin in the palm trees....
classic, james joyce-type prose there.
really, Kid Rock shoulda made the list and - yup - Soulja Boy. he turribul.
May 14th, 2008
Joe
As Ryan said, Brady was talking about the media running with the Rams walkthrough story around the timing of the Super Bowl, not the Spygate story generally.
May 14th, 2008
Jemele
OK, guys, maybe it's just the hardcore newspaper person in me that has me somewhat biased. But I can tell you, unequivocally, for a newspaper, that good news does indeed sell. The number of papers you sell for a championship is just ridiculous.
What I didn't like about Brady's comment is that he seemed to overlook the fact that the Patriots had indeed been caught cheating. Not only that, his coach had as much to do with the story advancing as anyone else. Belichick lied. The Herald story is unfortunate and embarrassing, but the fact remains that it was the Patriots who generated this story. Obviously because we're a network on a 24-hour news cycle, anytime we analyze something it seems as if it's overblown. That's fair. But Brady's comments seemed to insinuate that the media was behaving without provocation. That just isn't true.
May 14th, 2008
Richter
I'm so tired of it being said the Patriots cheated. Unless you're the incredibly anal type of person that considers any rule violation cheating, it's ridiculous to say it, and it always has been. Is it illegal to decipher the opposing teams signals? Nope. Check the rulebook. You can get them pretty easily in PDF format after a cursory search in Google. Goodell himself said that it is both not an issue that teams try to decipher signals, and that it is in fact expected around the league. So what did the Patriots do wrong? They taped from the sidelines, rather than from an enclosed location (legal), or instead of using a scout on the sidelines (also legal). Oh my, what a transgression. Belichick clearly is the anti-christ. Media darling (well, up until recently, anyway) Mike Shanahan admitted to SI in 2002 that he has a guy up in the stands that does this every game, and has the signals figured out as early as the FIRST QUARTER sometimes. So spare me the sanctimonious crap, Jemele, stop telling Tom Brady, perhaps the most well spoken athlete in sports today and possibly ever, how to handle his media appearances, and stop calling the Patriots cheaters, when they're just doing what everyone does. Oh, and reading text at an angle sucks, my neck hurts enough from throwing my hands up in disgust at the media nowadays.
May 15th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
Bron's Momma is a joke and always has been- I guess she was afraid she was not gonna be able to milk him for his money anymore if he got hurt. Most people forget she wasn't even in his life until he was a junior in high school and she saw he was gonna be famous. Great role model.
May 15th, 2008
Greg- Clarksville, TN
Don't jump the gun- who said it was over?
May 15th, 2008
Ryan
Jemele, thanks for replying. It makes sense that good news sells better than bad news as a rule, but in this case bad news sold pretty well.
The Pats did cheat, and they deserved all the press of the initial Spygate scandal. But it's not fair to say they generated this walkthrough story.
I look at it like this: if I heard from a friend that so and so was messing around behind my friend's back, then spread the story to another person before finding out it was a lie, I'd apologize for spreading the false story. I wouldn't feel completely responsible, but I would understand that I spread a damaging story that wasn't true.
In that way, ESPN (as the most visible carrier of the story) should apologize to the Pats, or have some sense of accountability-- even though ESPN didn't create the story.
As a fan and a daily checker of ESPN (okay, hourly), I expect better from the WWL.
May 15th, 2008
Jemele
Not sure what else there is left to do. The Patriots have been punished. There is no videotape. What can the commissioner do next?
May 15th, 2008
Jemele
I wrote a column about him cussing at her for ESPN.com that was pretty tongue-in-cheek. What surprised me is that so many people were so anti-Gloria. Look, my mom had her share of issues too, but I'd never disrespect her. Most people who seem to know Gloria's history feel as if she deserved it. Interesting.
May 15th, 2008
Jemele
To Richter: I agree there is a huge culture of signal-stealing in the NFL. But the Patriots were not supposed to be videotaping, and they did it anyway -- even after the league warned them about it.
I don't think the Patriots are tainted champions. I still think Belichick is the best coach in the NFL, and Tom Brady, the best quarterback. I like that Belichick doesn't give a you-know-what about making things easier for the media.
But if what they were doing wasn't cheating, why go through such lengths to hide it? Why defy the commissioner after he warned you?
To Ryan: That's a fair point. But the moment Arlen Specter got involved, this took on a life of its own -- something I also don't agree with because of his monetary ties to Comcast, who has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with the NFL network.
But even minus the walkthrough tape as a smoking gun, there was still a lot there. And I don't know if you've seen it yet, but Matt Walsh told the New York Times that Belichick instructed them on how not to get caught and what they should say if they did.
May 15th, 2008
Richter
Jemele: Should the Patriots have been videotaping from the sidelines, given that it was eventually prohibited in a league memo in 2006? Absolutely not. That's about as far as my agreement on the matter goes, though. You ask (and it has been brought up multiple times) why the Patriots went to such lengths to hide it. First, I ask in response, who said they did? The same scribes screaming about the Pats engaging in subterfuge that would make the KGB jealous also describe the Patriots videotaping presence on the sidelines as brazen. Which is it? I don't think the Patriots went to any great lengths to hide what they were doing, given that they had employees in Patriots logo gear on the sideline, and much of the footage includes coaches on the opposing sideline acknowledging the presence of the camera. The lengths the Patriots went to in hiding their activities was on par with what you do when you're about to jaywalk: you look both ways for cars, and over your shoulder to see if the cops are nearby. Maybe there's a crosswalk up the block, but you just want to cross the street without getting busted. Yeah, it's against the law, but no one is about to call you a career criminal for doing it. That's my objection - what the Patriots did was the equivilant of a misdemeanor, but the media and fans are treating it like a felony, and in some cases a capitol offense. And I think that's how they thought of it, and what they expected if they were caught - a slap on the wrist. As far as defying the commissioner goes, this is really where I thought the Patriots were in the wrong, not because of the filming. I don't like Goodell, but his office represents the foremost authority of the league. Following a directive he leveled at your club (and to a lesser extent, others) is a good idea. Not doing so is to some extent a sign of disrespect. Is that worth a first round pick and a huge fine? Not in my mind. But that's open to debate, at least. The idea that deciphering signals from the sideline rather than from the coaches' box or the stands is a heinous, reprehensible violation of ethics and constitutes the worst kind of cheating, on the other hand, isn't, to me anyway.
May 15th, 2008
Leon
Jemele, I guess I don't know too much about this, but in your blog you called Mama James Sabrina, but the link you posted for the Slam article calls her Gloria, and then you call her Gloria in the comments section. Is one of these a middle name, or is someone trippin?
May 16th, 2008
Leon
Even better than the topless toe sucker headline is the fact that it's Eva Mendes.....who saw that coming?
May 16th, 2008
Leon
I've got some catchin up to do on this site, and I'm doing it now! I like the second one better, I've got no idea why Sue Simmons is tossing the F-bomb out on TV, plus I'm from Minneapolis; we've already seen that one before. That model though, the second time she fell it looked like she was tryin to crip walk and just couldn't make it happen! Priceless!
May 16th, 2008
JB
Great podcast. How about an Iron Man review?
May 16th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
Not saying she deserved it, but I've never heard a single reporter say anything good about her.
I once heard a reporter say he took LeBron and his mother along with other family friends to Applebee's and when he said he was leaving she screamed for everyone to order a dessert because he was leaving. Real class act.
Besides the earlier comment I made about her not being in his life, I would never think that Lebron shouldn't still love her, support her, and welcome her back with open arms- that's what family is all about! He also shoudln't be cussing at her either- no matter what she did, no mother deserves to be talked to like that from their child.
I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, Jemele, I love your writing and you as a person and columnist, just think Momma James is shady.
May 16th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
Second one!!!!! So hilarious! The first one is very funny, but it happens alot (think Danyelle Sargent on ESPNews) but that second one, a thing of beauty!
May 16th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
GREAT PODCAST! Thank you so much for recognizing and respecting a truly great man and author in Jason Whitlock- one of my favorite ever!
May 16th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
Jemele, I hate to be "stat boy", but that 1995 Michigan State team was the #3 seed and lost to #14 Weber State that season- I remember this because I was in London watching this game on satellite TV. North Carolina was the #2 seed in that region.
May 16th, 2008
Greg- Clarksville, TN
Who said we've gotten all the evidence?
May 16th, 2008
Miranda
I will never forgive you for this....never. I am now compelled to forward this to friends who will undoubtedly stop speaking to me. I will NEVER forgive you for thi.
May 16th, 2008
Miranda
So now, we can't just dismiss Walsh's recollection of what went down during his tenure with the Pats as "disgruntled employee"...not after the things he says in his interview to be aired Sunday.
May 16th, 2008
Jemele
Greg, you're right. I stand corrected.
May 17th, 2008
Jemele
I've found the truth is always somewhere in the middle. Given the culture of cheating in football across the board -- high school, college and the pros -- the majority of coaches engage in shell games to gain an edge.
Do I think Matt Walsh is trying to make himself more important than he actually was? Absolutely. But that doesn't mean that he wasn't coached on how to help the Pats gain an edge.
Listen, I covered Nick Saban when he was at Michigan State, and I can tell you that guy treated his football practices like they were classified military secrets. He knew everyone who was supposed to be at his practice and if a blade of grass was out of place on the field, he could see it. Coaches behave that way because they know what other coaches are capable of...hell, they practice it themselves!
So given that culture, yes, I completely believe Walsh when he breaks down how they were instructed not to get caught.
May 17th, 2008
Richter
This will be my last comment on the matter.... You believe Walsh, despite the video evidence to the contrary? The man is standing out in the open, in blue and white Patriots gear, behind a camera. Are we really going to believe that he went through an elaborate routine every game to avoid detection by NFL authorities, just so he could place himself out in the open for the whole world to see? It doesn't add up.
By the way, you work for ESPN.com Jemele, mind asking them where the article by Gregg Easterbrook calling for a lifetime suspension of Belichick disappeared to? It sure was pulled fast after being put up.
May 17th, 2008
Jemele
Let me be more clear. I was on the fence about this whole notion that Matt Walsh had videotaped a walk-through before the Super Bowl, mostly because it was right after 9/11 and I couldn't imagine how tight security must have been. There is no way security was randomly letting in people with cameras. That's why I said I completely believe that Walsh is trying to make himself more important than he actually was, but that does not mean there isn't some truth to what he's saying.
Belichick telling Walsh how not to get caught when taping or "scouting" other games is no different than what I'm sure 500 football coaches tell their staffs. I wasn't saying it in the sense that it made Belichick extraordinary, just in the sense that I could see it being something a football coach passes on to his staff. Kind of a no-brainer, if you ask me.
A lifetime suspension? That might have been a bit harsh. I will say that had Goodell suspended Belichick for one game, maybe even two, this situation never reached this point.
May 17th, 2008
Randy
I think your characterization of LBJ's PSA as a "punking out" is a bit unfair. It appears that you are saying that a person who only gives some effort to a cause, but not 110%, is a punk. Essentially, you call on all athletes to be Muhammad Ali or stay at home. By that standard, we've all punked out. If I gave only one dollar to homeless person but had the means and ability to give two dollars, should I not have given my dollar at all? I think not. And I'm sure the homeless person would concur. Every small effort helps. Even paltry PSAs. If Lebron's PSA only changes one person's mind, it did something. And in my mind, that's better doing nothing at all.
May 17th, 2008
Jemele
Randy, I realize I don't have a popular view, but I truly believe that to whom much is given, much is required.
I know I'll get accused of being a LeBron hater, but I think what he was game-planned. For him to all of a sudden offer himself up to ESPN...well, it just sounds like something put together by his PR team.
LeBron is extremely corporate, and there's nothing wrong with that. But he doesn't make a move unless it a) benefits him b) is safe and c) allows him to maintain his mainstream appeal.
That's why he's only "talking" and not "signing."
I'd say the same thing about Kobe Bryant. Don't cut a PSA and then refuse to talk about it on camera. Either you feel strongly about the issue or you don't. The reason he didn't want to be in camera is because he didn't want something that strong on the record, to be replayed over and over.
Look, I'm glad LeBron educated himself, but I'd rather hear how he really feels than how a PR team tells him to feel.
May 18th, 2008
Jeff McMillan
I would proudly wear a Martina Navratilova jersey -- if they made them. Maybe I'll just have to duplicate her haircut instead.
May 18th, 2008
Steven Gaither
If Candace Parker keeps puting it down like she did yesterday, I just might have to consider it.
May 18th, 2008
Chris Cason
There should be nothing wrong with it at all. Candace Parker will be to the WNBA what LeBron James has been to the NBA. It's just a stigma about wearing something with a womans name on it that scares guys off also. Fear of having your man-hood called into question is also a concern but if they can play, they can play.
May 18th, 2008
Abdul Young
Jemele, you already know how men are being around sports so much. You know any self-respecting man would get clowned by each and every one of his boys for wearing a WNBA jersey. I don't care if its free...we're not going to wear it.
May 18th, 2008
Mike Z
I would consider wearing a Candace Parker jersey, but not because I'm a WNBA fan, but because she's smokin hot.
May 18th, 2008
Z Clay
Never thought about the concept until now and upon further ruminating, I just can't see it. I don't know if that's sexist or just a matter of style, but I cannot see myself rocking a Cynthia Cooper jersey, and she was as good as they came. The only female name I see myself sporting on my back is my mom's name, or future daugher (you know, little league parental support).
No self respecting male I know would do it in good conscious.
May 19th, 2008
Steve
Jamele, this doesn't have anything to do with race, WTF mate?!?!?!
May 19th, 2008
JB
Nope, can't wear it.
May 19th, 2008
Jay Jay
Women can wear nba jerseys but men cant wear wnba jerseys.
May 19th, 2008
Alfons Prince
It's nothing wrong with it, but I do not see myself in a WNBA jersey. Unless I was married/dating one of the women in the WNBA.
May 19th, 2008
Alfons Prince
I understand this side of the equation completely. I just don't think because someone makes a lot of money, it automatically makes them a role model. I feel that as a community, blacks have gotten used to having someone else raise their kids. Also, we cannot compare the athletes of today to the ones during the 60's and such. The circumstances are totally different. In my opinion.
May 19th, 2008
Alfons Prince
I concur completely with this post.
May 19th, 2008
Jemele
Steve: I'm going to assume that was sarcasm?
You know, I'd like to think of myself as a renaissance woman, but I 'm going to have to side with the majority of the men. MAN LAW! :)
May 19th, 2008
Jon Shecket
For me, maybe Katie Smith or Jessica Davenport.
May 19th, 2008
Jemele
Iron Man was FANTASTIC. Had you asked me a couple years ago, could RDJ be a super hero?...I would have said, huh? But he really pulls it off.
May 19th, 2008
Joey
ugh Jemele you are so wrong. soooooo wrong. always. ugh.
May 19th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
LOL! Jemele those aren't bugs, those are MONSTERS! Holy crap I would scream if those were in my room!
May 19th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
Being an LSU graduate and HUGE Lady Tigers fan, I would wear jerseys/shirts for Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus, Tamika Johnson, Quianna Chaney, Erica White, Scholanda Hoston, and any other Lady Tiger
May 19th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
I was the same way- WTF Kobe? You do a PSA, but "don't want to be controversial?" Kobe Bryant could be the most puzzling athlete in all of sports just by the sheer stupidity of his actions and some of his thinking.
May 19th, 2008
May 19th, 2008
Jim Trageser
Hate to side w/ your boyfriend, but ...
And Jemele: If you were unattached and out on the town, and saw a guy wearing a WNBA jersey, would that appeal to you?
May 19th, 2008
Aaron (DC)
God bless Bernard Rosen, 72, of St. Petersburg! Older than John MCCain and he's still gets the urge to handle his bidness. Although I'm betting he's getting chemical help, which actually seems like a waste/ Hopefully he's got a hook-up for some of the generic ED meds, and he's not heading to Fantasy Land loaded up on the name brand stuff.
May 19th, 2008
Alfons Prince
Lakers in 6......
Kobe is too close to the Finals for him to let the Spurs stop him. The experience edge that the Spurs had over the Hornets, is now gone against Kobe, Fisher, and Phil who have not only been in the NBA Finals, but beaten these Spurs to get there.
May 20th, 2008
Chris Cason
This is the challenge Kobe Bryant needs. In order to claim your place as on eof the best than you have to beat the best. I see this series only going to six games with the Lakers winning.
May 20th, 2008
bmoore
Hell to the nah....i dont care if Candace drops a Wilt like 100 pts in a game. Theres no way no how I would ever wear a women's jersey. Ever Ever Ever...Ever Ever. Man Law indeed.
May 20th, 2008
Jemele
Emotionally, I would like the Lakers to win it. For one, I'd love to see another Lakers-Pistons final (yes, I'm counting out the Celtics) and two, Kobe needs to return to the Finals to validate himself as one of the greatest ever. To me, he deserves that validation and to stand alone apart from Shaq. Regardless of what many people think of him personally, it's hard not to admire him as a player because it's clear he wants to be great. I respect that.
May 20th, 2008
Robert
I mean WTF?????? I mean reall if you want to pound your pud....just stay at home! And to form a circle around someone....I think I may have caught a charge...sigh...shakin my head.....What is the world comming too!
May 20th, 2008
Jason
J.Hill,
One match up you did not mention or maybe you just discount is Phil vs. Pop.
I think this series will really showcase who is the better big game coach.
Phil and Pop have faced off before but never was the playing field this even.
We know Phil will work the zebras into better calls for Kobe and possibly Pau.
Just like Kobe need to win without Shaq to be validated as this era’s best player, Phil need to win without having the best playing in the league, playing at their highest level to end the talk that his greatest coaching achievement is being in the right place at the right time. I am not a Phil fan, but I think he will out coach Pop and put to bed this notion that Pop is a genuine coaching guru. Having Tim Dun and coaching in a league that went euro with a roster full of euro players has padded Pops’ resume. It’s time to check those references.
May 20th, 2008
Jamil
Of course I would. Fellas need to be a little more secure. Would I wear it out and about? No, but that's not because it's a woman's jersey - it's because anyone over 30 wearing any jersey better be at the damned game (or, OK, a bar - but that's it).
This is also coming from a guy in a relationship with a former Villanova women's basketball player, but hey...
May 20th, 2008
Alfons Prince
LeBron does dribble too much, but I wouldn't say that he hasn't developed offensively. A year ago, Bron's shot was worse than it is now. Against the Spurs, everytime he shot, I looked at who was going to get the rebound. Now, there is a chance of it going in. I do agree that LeBron needs more of a 'killer instinct' but I think in time that too will develop.
May 20th, 2008
Invisible Man
As a Cavaliers fan, I think you're dead on. The team has no offense to speak of, and frankly, it's time LeBron stopped with the silly threes. But the over-dribbling happens, I think, because his teammates are not getting open and even if they did, they tend not to hit the shots. Unless they're hot, who cares if Delonte, Sasha, Wally or Damon are open in the corner? And other than Z or Joe Smith, who's going to consistently hit a 15-foot jumper?
Sigh.
May 20th, 2008
Jamil
By the way, it's well-noted (by Eddie himself) that he mailed in his "effort" in The Golden Child.
When describing the absurdity, it's also important to note his ridiculous name (Chandler Jarrell - OK, I admit that I've seen the movie a million times) and the completely stupid love story element. How, and better yet, when the fuck did she fall in love with Eddie Murphy? They were together for about three days, weren't they? I remember as I was watching Boomerang, "Why are women falling all over themselves - including the beautiful Lela Rochon and Halle Berry - for Eddie's ugly ass?"
May 20th, 2008
Jamil
(sorry, last entry was cut off)
By the way, it's well-noted (by Eddie himself) that he mailed in his "effort" in The Golden Child.
When describing the absurdity, it's also important to note his ridiculous name (Chandler Jarrell - OK, I've seen the movie a million times) and the completely stupid love story element. How, and better yet, when the fuck did she fall in love with Eddie Murphy? They were together for about three days, weren't they? I remember as I was watching Boomerang, "Why are women falling all over themselves - including the beautiful Lela Rochon and Halle Berry - for Eddie's ugly ass?"By the way, it's well-noted (by Eddie himself) that he mailed in his "effort" in The Golden Child.
When describing the absurdity, it's also important to note his ridiculous name (Chandler Jarrell - OK, I've seen the movie a million times) and the completely stupid love story element. How, and better yet, when the fuck did she fall in love with Eddie Murphy? They were together for about three days, weren't they? I remember as I was watching Boomerang, "Why are women falling all over themselves - including the beautiful Lela Rochon and Halle Berry - for Eddie's ugly ass?"
May 20th, 2008
JB
That 3 when they were down 1 was a killer. Just a killed their momentum and was so unnecessary. He needs to realize in a Game 7 and being the biggest superstar on the court, if he drives hard to the rack, he's getting the call, no ifs ands or buts.
May 20th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
45 points. PERIOD
May 20th, 2008
Mike Z
I totally agree. LeBron doesn't have "it", and I'm not sure if he ever will. I'd rather have Chris Paul or Kobe Bryant any day.
To Greg from TN I say - game 7 loss. PERIOD.
May 20th, 2008
Jason
My dear, sweet brother Numpsy!
May 20th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
I agree Mike, but would you say the same thing about Dominique Wilkins after having 47 against the Celtics in 1988? Even the best players lose- Lebron does take dumb shots from time to time, but he's one of the more clutch players in the NBA today.
May 20th, 2008
Jemele
I disagree that LeBron's shot looks better than it did last year. He's still the same streak shooter he was when he got to the league.
He just needs one shot he can make on a consistent basis to prevent people from using double teams to shut off his angles to the bucket.
But, for sure, there is no excuse for someone his size not to have a post game. Can you imagine how insane he could be down low? He could get himself in better position to dunk at will. Think of how he could pass out of the double team.
I think LeBron is a coachable player, but I don't see Mike Brown having the authority or credentials to help him sharpen his offensive game. LeBron, on offense, is basically coaching that team -- and that's the problem. Given the lack of talent he has, it's hard for his skills to work in tandem with his teammates.
May 20th, 2008
Jemele
Chandler Jarrell? Can you think of a worse name for any character?
May 20th, 2008
Jemele
Don't get me wrong. Phil Jackson is a great coach. People like to knock him for consistently coaching the best player in the world, as if he drew it up that way.
Anyway, but if you ask me, would you rather have Pop or Phillip...I'm going with Pop.
I always lean toward the coach who can do less with more. Yes, I realize Pop has Duncan, who you could argue in terms of results might be the player of the millenium. But look at how much Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli have grown under Pop.
Besides, his personnel evaluations are brilliant. He's so good at mixing and matching parts to make a complete fit. He also knows how to make the tiniest adjustments to win series. Case in point: Taking Bowen off of Chris Paul and putting him on Peja, which was 60 percent of the reason the Spurs won that series.
Pop is the best coach in the NBA.
May 20th, 2008
Crossy
I agree, if I saw a guy wearing a girl's jersey, I would think that was a little borderline too. I had a similar discussion with a co-worker of mine about wearing a White players jersey. He said he would never wear a White players jersey no matter how good they were. I think the thought process may be somewhat similar here...
http://thecrossyclassifieds.blogspot.com
May 20th, 2008
Crossy
I've got Lakers in 7. This will definitely be a fight to the finish. I think Odom and Kobe will do well in this series, but Gasol is definitely gonna get used like a shoe horn. lol All in all, it will be interesting.
By the way - Barkley is a straight fool for the cockroach comment...I love that guy!
May 20th, 2008
Crossy
Jemele - funny you chose to blog about scarves today...lol I'm actually wearing one right now :) However, to my defense it was raining and a tad bit chilly out. I recently saw Kanye West wearing a scarf w/a t-shirt and jeans so...maybe its something that started in hollywood?
May 20th, 2008
Mike Z
That list is freakin hilarious. Whoever made it did some research. PhD? check. Soccer fan? check. Traveling? check. Looks like I'm a bona fide white dude.
May 21st, 2008
Mike Z
Well Greg, I disagree that LeBron is clutch, though that is an entirely different discussion. Additionally, if Dominique Wilkins is who Bron is aspiring to be like, than his 45 point outburst was valiant. I guess I hold LeBron to a higher standard than Dominique, and I think Bron is setting his sights higher as well, as his jersey number selection indicates.
May 21st, 2008
Chris Cason
The one thing I noted that he did a lot in the Game 7 against Boston was the 24 second clock would be winding down and he instead of trying to move towards the rim, he'd bring the ball back out towards the half-court line to open up his defenders stance and he would still pull up for a jumper. Understand this LeBron wants to be the best but that edge hasn't come yet. It was there last year in game 5 of the Detroit Pistons series, but he still needs more to his game. No one could stop him in the post but when he gets doubled he is going to make the right pass.
I believe he's going to start being criticized for not being selfish enough. The guy is so good at a young age that you have to find some flaws in his game but he's damn near unstoppable NOW. Given the right coach, and a true point guard and another reliable post player and this team could do damage.
Another thing about the over dribbling thing, just like we are WITNESS, his team,ates also fall under that category to often and it doesn't help when you have to run pick and rolls with Ben Wallace of Zydraunas Ilgaukas. (Hopefully I spelled that right.)
May 21st, 2008
billmac
It's difficult to work in an offense when there is no offense. 3/4ths of the sets involve LeBron getting the ball at top of the key and letting him penetrate, pull up for a J, or sending Big Z out for a high pick and roll. It's the most atrocious and disgusting offensive system in the league, hands down. Couple that with no playmakers around him (unless you consider Zydrunas Ilgauskas a playmaker) and it's a recipe for diasaster.
LeBron needs someone else who can create. Larry Hughes was suppossed to be that man, and it initially looked like he failed. I'm not so sure any wing-man will work very well in that offense though.
Danny Ferry needs to put the pressure on Mike Brown to pick the tempo up or hire an offensive mind for the coaching staff. LeBron is being wasted, and he can't appreciate the general public wondering if his game is overrated. If Danny find help this off-season (Michael Redd) you have to think LeBron starts a behind the scenes getaway plan.
May 22nd, 2008
Blake Redgrave
I missed out on the 90210 heyday, but I did watch pretty much the entire run in syndication back around 2001-2002. I'm with you in your belief that this will only, at best, be an imitation of the original (and, at worst, an imitation of The Hills), but aren't you just a little bit morbidly intrigued? I sure as hell am.
May 22nd, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
This site is hilarious! I like to think of myself as "culturally open-minded" and I wouldn't say that I fit the full criteria of the site, but it really made me think "DAMN I am white!"
May 22nd, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
Hilarious!
May 22nd, 2008
Robert
I know The Golden Child was bad, but waht about Pluto Nash where he was a space man or some shit! I think I like Charlie Murphy better now.....at least he is funny. Somewhere doen the line Eddie got corny as hell!
May 22nd, 2008
Maese
I know you dont need an editor here, but I think you really buried the lede.
Look, they can go shave the hair of Brandon and Dylan and glue authentic sideburns on these new pups.. and it'll never be 90210. It just won't, so no mock outrage from me.
But for Michael to bail on Bmore and move to Beverly Hills is a friggin joke. It's a joke for Bmore, for The Wire, for this faux-90210, but mostly for a great young actor.
If the entire student body of West Beverly High isn't shooting up that WMD by Episode 3, I'm throwing my TV out the window.
May 22nd, 2008
Joe Daniel
If you think that's makes you feel old what about Real World XXXXV!!!!
May 22nd, 2008
Michael Hewlett
Hollywood has run out of ideas so the only recourse is to go back to old-school shows and make them new again, hence the recent reboot of Knight Ridder. I'm cringing along with you on this 90210 and I am truly sad that Tristan Wilds is on this mess as the corny black friend. But then again, the original had no black people. This is progress, pathetic, but progress nontheless.
May 22nd, 2008
J-Ray
Stuff White People Like never ceases to crack me up. I, however, am white, and own zero scarves.
May 22nd, 2008
billmac
Maese, very Jim Romesque....good stuff. Does anyone know when the re-make of Melrose Place is coming out???? I hear Jason Taylor is looking for a job.
May 22nd, 2008
The guyw ho called '911' b/c my thing was caught in a j
if humping a gas tank is wrong, I don't want to be right.
May 22nd, 2008
Jon
This guy is still smarter than Kobe Bryant.
May 22nd, 2008
Invisible Man
I never, ever watched the original 90210 - but I feel you. Remaking that show? The remarkable thing to me is that the CW, apparently, has reached the very bottom of its shallow trough if they need to remake shows today's kids have hardly even heard of. I mean, did they really run out of ideas for shitty teen dramas?
And damn, I hate the CBF role. Growing up in private school, that basically describes every role in every student play that I was forced to portray. in the '80s. Twenty years ago. (Or more, depending upon which play we're talking about.)
I'm off to count my gray hairs.
May 22nd, 2008
billmac
I like your stuff Jemele, and have been hanging out here for the last couple days....but this is a bit over the top. Kobe would have zero titles without Shaq, and the Lakers have been a step above medocre since Diesel left. It's lucky they swung a deal for Gasol othwerwise it'd likely be the same ol' 1 man team going nowhere.
And I don't think it's so cut and dry that he's the best player on the planet. LeBron James averaged more ppg, assits per game, rebounds per game, and did that with 4 starters who would be lucky to start on the Lakers squad.
Fisher > West - Fisher
Odom >Ben Wallace
Gasol > Z
Vujicic = Wally
LeBron outplayed Kobe several times this year, and would have the same amount of championships if you gave him Shaq for three years. LeBron got a cast of nobodies to the championship, Kobe couldn't have done that with that cast.
Jordan never had anyone in his class for title of best player. That's what elevates him to his current status. Kobe's throne can be debated, MJ's never could.
Not to mention Michael damn near averaged 20 ppg without any knees and carrying the weight of a PF. I think Michael in his prime would have been worth another 12-14 points so I don't agree that Michael would have struggled to get his. Not to mention all the differences in today's game....no hand-checking makes it easier to score, the 5 foul penalty benefits scorers, and as you stated...the oevrall intelligence is down.
Michael in his prime and Kobe's athletic abaility are similar as you stated, but Michael still gets the edge in IQ, competiveness, and overall game.
May 22nd, 2008
Jemele
Actually, you made my point for me. As you said, when MJ played, he had no equal. And that is because, as I said, the evolution of today's player is completely different compared to the players MJ played against.
For one, today's player is physically and athletically more gifted than players of yesterday. The guys Jordan played against didn't lift weights or condition in the offseason. Guys these days condition and do football-like workouts all year long. They are not as fundamentally sound, but there is no question they are more physically gifted.
And you brought up another unfair criticism always launched at Kobe -- that he would have never won without Shaq. But without Kobe, the Lakers would not have won that third title. Shaq pulled his usual and was out for most of the season, and Kobe carried them throughout the entire regular season. How many games did Kobe close out because Shaq couldn't shoot free throws? I know Shaq is one of the most dominant players in NBA history, but Kobe was the best perimeter player in the league even then.
Michael in his prime would definitely dominate now. I never said he wouldn't. What I said is we would assess his brillance differently because he would have athletic equals if he played today.
And how exactly could you prove that Kobe's IQ is not as good's as Jordan's? I need some evidence on that. And you are wrong about their overall games. They are, at worse, identical. Kobe has every shot Jordan had a few he didn't. He's a better 3-point shooter, for sure. It took Jordan to his early 30s to be a good outside shooter.
And as always, we forget...Kobe is just 29! He could play six or seven years at a high level, just based off his physical conditioning, which is on par with MJ's.
May 22nd, 2008
billmac
I'll take MJ's post-up game, defense, and competiveness. Kobe is a better shooter, although I'd still rather have the ball in MJ's hands at the end of a game. And your point about Shaq not being able to win without Kobe is noted. Dwayne Wayne did the same thing though. It's a 2 superstar league when it comes to winning titles. Kobe didn't do anything without Shaq while LeBron was leading just as bad a supporting cast to the NBA championship. I don't Kobe could have gotten Cleveland to the finals last year with that roster because he's never accomplished anything more than big scoring statistics since Shaq left. And I'm still I little confused on your MJ argument regarding his competition. It wasn't too long ago he was schooling the new age player while playing for the Wizards. Although the guys may be more athletic in todays game, I don't think it translates to better defense. And it's not like he left the game 20 years ago. He dropped 27 on Seatle at age 39 or 40 against Ray Allen and Desmond Mason. 41 (forty-one frickin' points at age 39) on Ron Artest against the Pacers. 33 on a young Memphis team with Shane Battier and Pau Gasol.
He wouldn't have any trouble with a guy like LeBron, T-Mac, or anyone else you'd throw at him from today's game. Just 2 years ago Artest was considered the preier on ball defender in the league and Jordan shredded him with no knees and early on-set man boobs.
Kobe is one of the best pure scorers of all time, but he walked into the perfect situation with a early 30's Shaq, in a huge basketball market, and with the greatest basketball coach of all time.
May 23rd, 2008
Jay Fitty
I remember that article and if you remember I did say that was a pretty bold statement, no matter how true it might be. But after witnessing Kobe play possum for three quarters against San Antonio and then single handedly erase a 20 point deficit and get the win, I'm convinced. Like Jay-Z said: "And if I ain't better than B.I.G., I'm the closest one". 'Nuff said.
May 23rd, 2008
Jemele
Bill, you also forget that LeBron is in the EASTERN CONFERENCE. Put Kobe in the East and I guarantee he takes almost any team to a top-4 seed, too. I could easily throw your argument back at you and say that and say that LeBron wouldn't have been able to carry the Lakers (not in their current form, but the last couple years) to the playoffs at all.
Could LeBron have gotten Kwame Brown, Smush Parker and Chris Mihm to the playoffs? Because those three guys made up the Lakers, what, three years ago?
May 23rd, 2008
Chris Cason
Unfortunately in todays sports/entertainment world it's all about ALL ACCESS and who can provide more coverage. Shows like TMZ and other websites dedicated towards catching athletes and celebrities in bad places just shows that there is no more privacy when you reach that level of celebrity.
May 24th, 2008
billmac
I really do think LeBron would have posted better records with those players than Kobe did....not saying he would have gotten them any further at the end of a season. IMO, LeBron is the better offensive player. Kobe is the better pure scorer. LeBron has been making those around him better the minute he stepped into the NBA. Kobe, by many coaches/writers/radio personalities, finally figured it out this year while playing with Andrew Bynum, Odom, and Gasol. Put those guys around LeBron, and he's at another level too.
I guess I'm just unable to wrap my head around a guy being named better than MJ when he has half the titles and accomplished those feats with the most dominant big man in NBA history. As as Shaq left he won a title with another 2 guard, not as good as Kobe. It just shows how important Shaq is.
Anyways, I'm not convinced if you replace MJ with Kobe in his prime you get 6 titles for the Bulls. I'm thorughly convinced if you replace Kobe with MJ you've got those 3 titles.
Jemele, I think it's awesome you're willing to come on here and mix it up. There are about zero other sports personalties that do this to my nowledge. Major props to you.
May 24th, 2008
Em
I wanna hump you Jemele!
May 24th, 2008
Aaron (DC)
Dudley Moore's Arthur. Steve Carrell could star, with Judd Apatow writing/directing.
May 24th, 2008
Mike Z.
Your point about Jordan being so beloved because he wasn't so heavily scrutinized is very well said. I agree with everything you've said. I would take Kobe over LeBron any day of the week. Also, Kobe Bryant is just getting started. He's got his own young team now and could put himself in a solid position to compete for the NBA title every year for the next 5-6 seasons. When we look back on Jemele's article, after Kobe has 4-5 more NBA titles under his belt, in addition to the 3 he won with Shaq, she'll look prophetic and we'll be looking at the next young star to compare with Kobe Bryant, the greatest ever.
May 25th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
I would personally love to see some more Back to the Future, but that really wouldn't be a re make- I would say maybe another version of ET?
May 25th, 2008
Jemele
Bill, I don't deserve any extra credit for coming on my own site. Besides, if you have an opinion that you really believe, you have to be prepared to defend it. Even if the rest of the world thinks you're crazy :)
May 26th, 2008
Richter
I'd love to meet the white people who enjoy all the stuff listed on this site, because I'm ambivalent about most of it and detest the rest. Juno? Apple Products? LAWYERS? Yeah, all my friends and relatives that are white LOVE lawyers. In fact, when I'm bored, I often contemplate hiring a lawyer just to spice things up. Like, for entertainment, at all those dinner parties I apparently throw.
Proof that Dave Chappelle, for all the laughs he's given us, brought some of the laziest, most unfunny racial humor around into the mainstream. I'd like to meet him some time, so that I could tell him that when he pretends to be a white guy, he sounds like a black guy pretending to be a white guy after a bong hit and particularly vigorous round of performing fellatio.
May 26th, 2008
Coach Eagle 22
Dang...If I were an english teacher (I teach math), the kids would definitely understand the concept of irony through this example.
It's a shame that you deal with this nonsense on a day to day basis ...or maybe you don't...maybe you're not the masochist that I am and don't waste your time reading the vile comments left after each and every one of your ESPN columns.
Keep doing what you do!
May 26th, 2008
mizzarc
One fact all of your Jordan fans seem to forget is, Jordan played in a Very weak NBA. The league had just expanded and didn't have the quality players to actually fill those teams. He didn't have any competition in his time. People like to bring up Ewing, Malone, Barkley and so on, but if they were winners, they would have found a way to win... no matter how good Jordan was. Isiah figured out how to get through Bird and Magic.
Here is something to think about. Last week on Rome, he interviewed Oscar Robinson. Oscar said in so many words... Jordan is considered the best player of all time because of everything surrounding him off the court. I forget if there was any follow up on the question, but it seems to me that he doesn't think he is the best of all time and i find that to be pretty powerful.
Now as an admitted Laker fan, I still think Magic was a better player than Jordan. I would still start a franchise with Magic before I did Jordan and I am going to go to my grave with that one. I know all you bulls fans are going to bring up the fact that Magic lost to jordan in the finals, but none of you bulls fans seem to remember the lakers did Lose Worthy in that series... and that pretty much sealed the series for the Bulls. Scottie could then guard Magic and Jordan didn't have to gaurd anyone.
We all know Jordan couldn't hold Worthy, and he could hold Magic either, so the Lakers would have had a huge advantage just like the Bulls did the other way. But with Magics bets option being Tony Smith in that series… it makes it a little bit harder to win.
I know I didn’t defend Kobe much, but it is a hard thing for me to do. I don’t like Kobe. It really annoys me, that he is on my favorite team, but the man is good and is probably a better player than Jordan or he will be when all is said and done. If we are just going to look at the amount of rings a person has when comparing players, everyone should just say Bill Russell is the best player ever and shut up until someone has 12.
May 26th, 2008
Jason
First, full discloser, I don’t think MJ is the greatest basketball player of all time. Most popular, yes by a country mile. Most significant, no. I have heard this argument countless times and one thing that amazes me is no one brings up how large a role the NBA b.k.a. Dr. Evil - David Stern played in creating Michael Jordan.
It is by far David’s greatest accomplishment. Starting in the late 80’s the NBA moved from being
Jordan employer to becoming Jordan’ living, breathing platform. Think about it, name one Jordan moments that we missed? Double nickel return to the garden, Bird Boston garden square off, Nique slam dunk contest. We were even granted access into the previously secret early morning weight lifting sessions. The NBA was completely dedicated to MJ and the Bulls in a way that we had never seen a professional sport league devote to one of its teams. The NBA created legions of Jordan fans, whom overlooked his flaws (personal & professional) and even learned to rationalized MJ’s poor judgment calls. Could you imagine an African American Athlete today saying something like Republicans buy tennis shoes too? When asked about the outrageous price of their signature footwear. That would cause a Sharpton – NCAAP town hall meeting for sure. You really cannot take anything away from what Mike did on the court; he played with a passion and flair that many of us had never seen before. However, if you look at Jordan’s NBA career objectively, which was something that rarely happened during his playing time. For an example of this see the wax poetics of Bob Costas, Marv Albert and many others on MJ and the Bulls. I think Jemele’s point is when you strip away all the hype and you look at skills, accomplishments, and at the speed they developed into a complete player the distance between MJ and Kobe is not as large as some may think and Kobe is still growing. The only points that I would add to that is MJ’s advantage is he had the complete support of the NBA to add in his accession as the greatest of his era. Kobe’s advantage is he like every other basketball player under 35 years old; he got to see MJ do it and took notes on how to run the league. At some point someone is going to replace MJ as the best basketball player of all time, we should prepare ourselves. Maybe that process has already started.
May 26th, 2008
billmac
absolutely sickening.....
May 27th, 2008
billmac
1 comment I've seen several times now, is the lack of competition Jordan faced vs. what Kobe has faced.
I don't think that's a valid argument at all when you look at the teams Kobe won his championships against.
The Pacers.....Reggie Miller and who else? The Dunkin' Dutchmen, an old Mark Jackson, Dale Davis, etc.
How about the loaded 76'ers team that the Lakers dismantled. A 1 man show in Allen Iverson with a supporting cast of Eric Snow, Matt Geiger, Dikembe, and Aaron Mckie.
The Nets had some star-power in Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson but absolutely no answer for Shaq.
I just don't see how anyone can claim Kobe is going against better competiton when his 3 titles came against those teams. I'd say a Stockton/Malone Jazz squad is equally as good as any of those teams. Same with the Sonics and Blazers. None of the 3 listed teams were as good as a Magic-led Lakers. None of those 3 teams are as good as the Detroit/Boston teams Jordan took his Bulls through.
If anything, I'd say the league is more watered down now. More teams mean more opportunites for players who otherwise would be playing over-seas. And today's player may be more athletic, but it doesn't translate to a better ball player. I used to think as we progressed forward, it automatically meant sports got better due to the evoling athlete. Basketball has detiorated though. I still love it, but I don't think for a second todays NBA equals the play of the late 80's early 90's. I'd go as far as saying a late 80's Detroit team would beat todays Pistons as well as a mid-late 80's Celtics squad to today's Celtics. I don't even think today's Cavs could beat the Cavs of the late 80's (Mark Price, Ron Harper, Craig Ehlo, Larry Nance, Brad Dougherty).
Again, I love the drama of the NBA and the playoffs, but to me, the competition is down and the product is weak.
A side-note as well...Jordan would have 7 or 8 titles had he not been suspended/retired/quit/pursued another profession...whatever you want to call it.
If Kobe reaches 6 titles, I'd consider it, but even then it'd be hard for me to forget about all the clutch plays and game winners from Jordan. And 3 of Kobe's titles came with one of the most dominant big-men in NBA history, who then went on to win a title in Miami with a worse team. Props to Kobe if he can pull it off this year though, as San Antonio and Detroit/Boston are much better competiton than the 76'ers/Pacers/Nets from the early 2000's.
May 27th, 2008
Rashad
I'd hate to see what type of venom he had for the male nigger. Whenever I see or hear of emails like this I wonder if they read and re-read their work, and then feel a sense of accomplishment before they hit send. What made you not list his name?
May 27th, 2008
Robert
YOu know it is a sad day when A yong African American Woman can not express her veiws on sports without being called out of her name. I am a African American male who checks this sight daily for a Jemele's point of view on sports. Do I want to see Pistons and Spurs..No....But she did not right that column to please me, and If I did n ot want to read it I could have closed it. When you use the word NIGGER in that context it offends all african americans...not just Jemele! If anyone is a nigger in this situation it would be the person who wrote these hateful things. So do you root for the niggers on the lakers too. I hope the person who wrote that hate filled message reads this comment........I do not know Jemele, other thatn what I read, but from what I gather she is to professional to say what I am about to........FUCK YOU!
May 27th, 2008
Asad
Um..the link is broken..
May 27th, 2008
Asad
Um....the link is broken..
May 27th, 2008
Jemele
I amended my post because the blog I linked to was taken down. Verry suspicious.
May 27th, 2008
billmac
is this the blog Jemele?
http://necolebitchie.com/2008/05/27/more-drama-for-kobe-bryant-plus-vanessa-goes-off/
May 27th, 2008
Rashad
I think Juanita Jordan penned these wife/girlfriend rules
May 27th, 2008
billmac
Plus Brent gets the call if he wants it...he didn't, he decided to take a dribble and look for a shot.
Ref still should have called a non-shooting foul and given two free-throws. Brent is cagey enough to have known to jump into Derek after he left his feet.
Reggie was probbaly crying on the set after watching Brent waste such a beautiful opportunity to jump into a defender.
May 28th, 2008
Jay Fitty
Ok, I agree, a non-call on the foul was a good call, due to the way the officials let the teams play all game. But was it a foul or wasn't it? The officiating has to be consistant because that call at the end of a game should be a foul, at least I think. I'm pulling for the Lakers so I cool with it but will this affect the way calls go the rest of the series?
May 28th, 2008
Jemele
I'm not arguing with the outcome either, but it was a foul and I'm not so sure we should be OK with a system where it's understood you can't call certain things at certain times or that a player isn't going to get the RIGHT call because he "didn't sell it enough."
May 28th, 2008
Crossy
I'm a huge Lakers fan, but I know that Fisher fouled Barry. However, I agree that it was a good "no call" though.
Barry pushed off on Fish as he was jumping in the air...that's y Fish tried to back off from fouling him. I think the refs noticed Fisher's backing off, more than the actual contact. Just my opinion. If you look at the replay...u can clearly see the foul, but watching the game live, the contact didn't look as deliberate.
Bottom line is: if Kobe was Brent Barry, the foul would have been called. Also, even though people brought up the Joey Crawford drama, the Spurs still managed to get to the line a ridiculous amount of times.
I agree with your last point Jemele...the Lakers showed up, and the Spurs just couldn't get over the hump...
May 28th, 2008
Crossy
Ok, i'm 25...and this makes ME feel old!
This reminds me of how I felt when Jagged Edge remixed Jodeci's "Come and Talk to me." I felt like that song had just came out...there should be a grace period for certain songs/shows. And some...just don't need to be touched!
May 28th, 2008
Jamil
I just can't get with the "good non-call" scenario...in any situation. If it is a foul by the book, then call it. As a Cavaliers fan, I wish the Spurs nothing but misery, but it was such an obvious foul. Like Jemele said, there's no way you can lay the entire loss on that, but come on! "Good non-call"? If you're a Laker fan.
May 28th, 2008
Jamil
The more things change...
May 28th, 2008
Jamil
I agree, Jemele. Hell, it's not like he skipped practice to get drunk with his friends. This wouldn't have been much of a story without the Matt Leinart situation coming to pass.
May 28th, 2008
Ron
Yeah, it's supicious in a Bristol, CT, kind of way! lol
May 28th, 2008
rashad
i defer to the sage wisdom of hubie brown who said that it was a foul, but the Spurs lost that game, because they didn't stop Walton or Radmanovich
May 28th, 2008
Asad
I'm not really a big fan of the Spurs, but I believe in fair play...Joey Crawford screwed the spurs, and he should be suspended if not fired for his mistake...that foul was so OBVIOUS, its preplexing why Spurs' players including Popovic weren't more angry after the game...
May 28th, 2008
dpalm66
*Slow clap*
On a wholly unrelated note, congrats on having a webspace outside of the 4 letter. It's nice to read your non-Disneyfied opinions.
May 29th, 2008
dpalm66
RE: TJ Ford...
Ford was NICE in my NBA 2k8 Season once I traded him to my Hawks...
May 29th, 2008
Mizzarc
Yes it was a foul, and it should have been called (Laker fan here) but seriously in a year or so nobody but SA fans are going to remember or care about this call. This clip is just going to go away like many other moments in sports. It is two role players deciding a game. This isn't one of the Greatest Players Of All time hitting a game winning shot of in the finals where he blatantly pushes the man who is guarding him out of the way. We see that play all the time, and i am still waiting on D.S. to tell us that a foul should have been called on that play.
May 29th, 2008
Mizzarc
When i was refering to the competition in the league, i was talking about the league as a whole, not the finals competition. The Lakers played nobody in the finals. All of those teams were just terrible. The Lakers usually played their toughest competition in the Western Conference Finals. The finals were just a formality to them.
May 29th, 2008
Jamil
As a Cavs fan, Doug Collins' hiring made my day. Scratch that - the entire month of May. Toss the first weekend of June on top.
Honestly, my big fear was that they'd hire just the guy you mentioned - Avery. Knowing we too have one of those Dirk coaches in Mike Brown, it kills me to see a guy like Avery on ESPN when that scratchy N.O. accent needs to be up in LeBron's ear. I'm hoping that Avery sits out a year and does TV while waiting for the Cavs to Doug-Collins Mike Brown after next season.
May 29th, 2008
Asad
Doug Collins will be to the bulls what Hubie Brown was to Memphis, granted Hubie couldn't lead the grizzlies to many playoff wins but he completely turned that franchise around. Doug Collins is smart, defensive minded coach that can give this team the boost they need. Mark my words, Chicago Bulls will be in the playoffs next season. Also, whats up with that cheap shot on Dirk? He doesn't have the "it" factor, you and I both know refs gave the finals win to Miami, with wade his free throw shooting antics...Dirk is a superstar, and one of the best players to ever play this game. This years' Mavs would destroy the pistons, I really believe that...:-)
May 29th, 2008
Richter
If you really believe that this year's Mavericks would destroy anybody in the playoffs aside from the lower seeds in the Leastern Conference, you're crazy. That said, the Pistons don't want it bad enough anymore. Typically, I hate expressions with such nebulous connotations, but in this case, the shoe fits. The Pistons only seem to care enough to put up a good performance when they've been beaten down, like a demonstration of their machismo is of more value to them than the chance to compete for a championship. Flip Saunders is part of the problem, but some of those players look really complacent. Rip Hamilton still seems to have the fire, and Stuckey is very impressive, but the rest of that team goes through spells of looking like they just don't care, and in the playoffs, that gets you killed.
I'm a Celtics fan, but I agree that the Cs don't have that top tier, game dominating superstar that would definitively control this series, but they have infinitely more hunger than the Pistons right now, and that makes them the better team. Will it be enough to top the Lakers, once the finals start? Honestly, probably not, but I'll take my chance with the hungrier team any time. Besides, everyone knows the Lakers shouldn't even be here - the Pau Gasol trade is still the second shadiest dealing in the NBA the past 5 seasons or so.
May 30th, 2008
billmac
It surprises me the same coaches get recycled every year. What makes Paxson think the 4th time is a charm? It's unfortunate too, because Collins might be the best NBA analyst around.
Maybe Chris can get off Duke's bench and not have to wipe up coach K's sweat anymore? It'd definately be nice not watching Chris run out on the court to mop up slippery puddles after the Dukies take another flop.
May 30th, 2008
Michael Tillery
Jemele you should see some of the ish I get. I know you could imagine. Nice interview on hoopsaddict.
May 30th, 2008
rashad
Collins is good for one year only, then he burns out. And in terms of Flip, when ESPN shows him in the locker room, you can clearly see the players blowing him off.
May 30th, 2008
Jemele
Dirk Nowitzki is a Robin masquerading as a Batman. There are several guys like that -- (cough) Kevin Garnett, Rashard Lewis, etc.
May 30th, 2008
Jemele
I love Mickey Mouse. I love Mickey Mouse. I love Mickey Mouse.
Sorry, my programming is on the fritz :)
May 30th, 2008
May 30th, 2008
Clenard
Sorry Jemele, but you're a born and raised Piston fan. Greg Anthony's best years were with the Knicks. Somewhere along those lines, I don't see either of you being the biggest Jordan fans around. Just think all of Kobe's finals appearances have been with all star big men. Sure Jordan had Pippen & Grant, then Pippen & Rodman, but Kobe has had basically the same supporting cast with big men vastly superior to Cartwright, Purdue, Wennington, Longley, a 90 year old Parish, and the late Brian Williams. Your argument is a candle in the sun, it doesn't even out.
Houston, TX
May 30th, 2008
Alfons
I agree completely with point #2. Especially when in addition to the rape charge, you doled out over $4 million for a "Please Forgive Me" ring.
May 30th, 2008
Richter
Kobe can never be better than Jordan, because he is incapable of single-handedly carrying the league forward into a new era. Jordan was on a different level when his game was on, both in terms of personal skill level and as a leader. Those Kobe jumpers that rimmed out against the Spurs would have killed his team if Ginobili were healthy. Those same shots went in for Jordan more often, often enough that no one came back. Jordan carried an entire (inferior) team for protracted periods, and while Kobe has improved as a facilitator, he's still far behind Jordan in that respect. It's like comparing a great general against a great solider - even if the soldier is a slightly better shot (which I wouldn't even agree with in this case), the General is infinitely more important. Kobe may have his own platoon now, but he's a long way from being the French Marshall of basketball Jordan was.
May 30th, 2008
Richter
Is it incredibly stupid of him to do, given his status and previous extramarital problems. It's also human nature. The average man (or woman for that matter) isn't inclined towards long term pair bonding - people are naturally promiscuous. I don't hold it against him that he wanted to look elsewhere in this case, just that he did it after taking a vow not to.
May 30th, 2008
billmac
No.
May 30th, 2008
billmac
To follow up, if he wins this year...impressive. But why does he have to be in Jordan's co.? Jordan had six, I'mnot convinced Kobe can win 3 more. Possible yes, but not sold on it yet.
May 30th, 2008
Mike Z
amen sister
May 30th, 2008
Jag Desai
Hey Jemele love your work, i do have one suggestion, when you post links on your blog, can you make it to where it opens in a new window. Its a pain to click on the link and then go back and read the rest of your blog. But i still do it cause you rock. lol
May 30th, 2008
billmac
sorry Jemele...I was really pulling for Detroit in this series. The finals is basically unwatchable for me, as either the Lakers or Celtics have to win it. I'd rather cry in a corner.
Can't believe Detroit came out in the 4th quarter looking like second graders afraid to catch the ball. How many damn turnovers did they have for God sake? Awful time to decide to get lazy and careless.
I'm thinking Boston has a great chance in the finals which means the Lakers will be victorious.....damn it.
I can't believe I'm saying this....but maybe he IS better? Ultimately, it depends on how many more championships he wins, but this league is just too hard and too tough....Celtics in 6! :-0
May 31st, 2008
Raphael Garcia
I'll try to help you out. Here are five really good/great fights. Try to watch them if you can.
Clay Guida v. Tyson Griffin @ UFC 72
Tito Ortiz v. Frank Shamrock @ UFC 22
Chuck Liddell v. Keith Jardine @ UFC 76
Dan Henderson v. Wanderli Silva
Matt Hughes v. Georges St. Pierre
Some of the best of recent fights. And if you want a knockout that boxing may never top.
Phil Baroni v. Dave Menne @ UFC 39 -- Youtube this one and don't blink.
Jun 1st, 2008
rashad
to me this is like a having a smooth jazz vs. traditional jazz argument. smooth jazz is MMA, and real jazz is boxing. smooth jazz has a huge following, and far be it from me to besmirch it. But traditional jazz is what I grew up on and its what i'm used to. And until I feel boxing is where it should be, I'm not migrating to MMA.
Jun 1st, 2008
Robert
YO Jemele...DO not feel bad I do no like MMA either....When I can not find anything on Tv...I look at the box set of THE WIRE...I know this is of the topic...but how suprised were you when lil ass kanard shot OMAR??????/ MMA is not my cup of tea.
Jun 2nd, 2008
Jemele
Raphael: Thanks for the breakdown. I'll look into those fights and maybe they'll change my mind.
Although, I think part of my reluctance to get into MMA is that I don't think it's a sport of skill, but brutality. If you like that, I love it. But I love the NFL because despite the hits, there is a strategy within the game that's fascinating. It's about moves and counter-moves. I love defensive struggles more than offensive showcases. Same with basketball and baseball. There's a game within the game.
I do wonder about the future of MMA because it appeals to such a select group -- 18 to 34 year old men. Aren't the most successful sports the ones that can appeal to everyone? And I just don't see that capturing the interest of the casual fan. That's the one thing NASCAR has as such an advantage. That sport appeals to kids, men, women...everybody. That's why it's growing.
Why would women ever get into MMA? Can't say I've seen a whole lot of hot guys, LOL. And the thing that men love about the sport -- the brutality and force -- are exactly what most women wouldn't like about it. And those same women aren't going to feel real comfortable about sending their kids to that, either.
And Robert, as for Omar...they tried to make a point with his death. He was shot by a nobody, and his murder didn't even make the papers. A legend on the street, but in the larger scheme of things, he was just another brotha that got killed.
Jun 2nd, 2008
dpalm66
Robert: How dare you. Some of us were waiting for season 5 on DVD, and now it's ruined. Ruined! [/joke]
Jemele: Try thinking of MMA as one-on-one, really FAST football. For every strike, hold, hell, even step, the comptitors are choosing a play to run, while at the same time trying to counter what their opponent is doing. Only, instead of different formations, these guys are calling on completley different skills sets: BJJ, Muy Thai, Wrestling, Boxing. I can see how people are turned off by the brutality, but I consider that people not seeing the forest for the trees. It's these people who say hockey is unwatchable because of the hits, but can't appreciate a Gretzky breakaway goal. Give it a shot.
I mean: I love Mickey Mouse. I love Mickey Mouse. I love Mickey Mouse.
Jun 2nd, 2008
dpalm66
He may just be 29, but he came into the league at 18. That's what's so decieving about these ages of today's stars: 29 used to be entering his prime, now 29 means 12 years in the Association, getting pounded night in night out, playing more playoff minutes before 30 than anyone EVER.
(Even if I hate agreeing with Simmons, he was right about this) If Jordan played in the non-contact NBA of today, he would average 45 ppg.
Besides, if you talk bad about Jordan, Oak will stomp you. And no one wants that.
Jun 2nd, 2008
Aaron (DC)
The problem with MMA is that despite all the controversy, rarely does it ever satisfy our natural if barbaric bloodlust. Most fights I've seen -- and admittedly there haven't been a ton -- come down to whether or not some guy is going to tap out. Watching guys endure grueling stress positions can be perversely entertaining for awhile, but it gets dull pretty quick. Where as KOs always satisfy.
Jun 2nd, 2008
Raphael Garcia
Jemele -- You should also check out the Uriah Faber v. Jens Pulver WEC fight from June 1st. It lived up to the hype and was actually a much better example of what a fight should be like. A MAJOR step over Kimbo Slice. And besides, Uriah is called the California Kid and from what I hear the women love him. Might help you out some more.
Jun 2nd, 2008
Nick
I agree with Raphael about the Faber v. Pulver fight. But the fight before it was possibly the most exciting I have seen in a while. Two guys, neither giving an inch and despite the large number of blows landed neither could gain much advantage. The fight had everything, a lightning fast pace, brutal blows, techinical skill, and psycological warfare. Torres never took his eyes off Maeda, even when he was on the ground and Maeda attacked him with kicks. Torres kept his eyes locked to Maeda while parrying the blows away with his own leg. It was the MMA equivalent of an NBA player staring his defender in the face while draining a three, never looking at the ball or the hoop. Watch this one fight, and if you don't like MMA at least you gave it a fair shot.
Jun 3rd, 2008
Chris
Jemele,
I have to say at first I understand how you feel. The first few times you watch I'm sure you might think why the heck am I watching this. The sad thing I suppose we both need to understand is that Boxing is no longer a spectacle and just doesn't have the cast or marketing aspect to bring it back to the level in the Tyso Era. MMA offers a few different things you might need to sit back and take a second look to. It does have that wrestling hype that type of entertainment the WWE has enjoyed for so long. Beyond that MMA is REAL and the characters involved get the crap beat out of them. The downside....matches can last not even a minute long..try explaining that to Pay per view clients. But jemele looks like MMA is something we'll need to be getting used to ..
Jun 3rd, 2008
dpalm66
Actually considering moving out West...never been to LA LA land, but you make it sound really touristy. I graduated from Columbia last year, and realized that this southern boy has done NONE of the tourist stuff for NYC. And I am strangly okay with that. Maybe the need to be a tourist comes with age (zing!)
Oh, and regarding the guy who kept licking his lips? I thought LL Cool J was a Queensboro boy. Huh.
Jun 4th, 2008
Jay Fitty
I feel you on this post. I'm origianally from NYC and I've never gone to any of the tourist spots, outside of being in the WTC and the Empire State building when I was a messenger there. I recently took my girlfriend to NY for her first time there and her fascination with the city helped me appreciate it more. And that was the first time I really enjoyed the trip back home. So, go 'head be corny. Just means you had a blast!
Jun 4th, 2008
DVA
Obama still got a white mama!!!
Jun 4th, 2008
Robert
Jemele....I got the point they tried to make...but Kenard....DId you remember that he was the little boy pretending to be Omar, after the shootout at the Barksdale stash house in season three.......But I agree with your point 100% I went back and watched Kimbo Slice and I still can not get into it. I love football and basketball...but MMA is not doing it for me. Someone please tell a MMA fight that will change my mind..I feel like i am out of the loop.
Jun 4th, 2008
TallBrownBald
I am not as old as your grandmother or uncle but I was not sure I would live to see this day either. It seemed distant as reacently as a year ago. What a great day for our country.
Jun 4th, 2008
Jag Desai
It is a historical day, however i dont know if its only me, but i feel like even though he should be a shoe in for the Presidency, he wont win. And that will be a sad day if McCain beats Obama, cause i will always believe Obama lost cause he was Black not cause McCain was the better man. Just my opinion. But a historical moment for all Americans especially minorities.
Jun 4th, 2008
Jag Desai
Hey Jemele you should tell Mickey Mouse to put you on Around the Horn. I would love to see you go head to head against Woody and Jay, i think you would be great on that show.
Jun 4th, 2008
Jamil
I'm going to be blunt. If the kid and his mother were Black, they would've had to reclaim that tape from the evidence room at the police station. After recovering her shoe from the crack of his dead ass.
Jun 5th, 2008
Jag Desai
Wtf was that. And after that he told her to shut up again. If i would done that i wouldve been lucky if i still had teeth left let alone allowed to talk again, Wow.
Jun 5th, 2008
Jay Fitty
I missed most of the game but it seemed that the Lakers were just going through the motions. That's how they usually do anyhow (check Utah, Kobe said "we'll be ready next time). I'n still giving the advantage to L.A. in 6.
Jun 6th, 2008
Ben
So you're using your blog to pick on players physical appearance? Saying Pierce could use pro-active and is "nasty" is unprofessional.
Jun 6th, 2008
Jun 6th, 2008
billmac
take it easy Ben...
I thought D Fish played Cassel well. He was hitting shots in Fisher's grill and using cagey veteran moves to get the shots off. Truthfully, they were terrible shots that went in.
I think LA's problem will be rebounding and toughness. I just don't see how they bang with Perkins and Garnett. Lamar Odom isn't built for this. If he isn't scoring, he's a major liability out there. Boston dominated the offensive glass and they will continue to do that unless Turiaf gets major minutes, which of course limits the Lakers offensively.
Perkins isn't a major offensive weapon, but he's sure as hell a better rebounder than Oberto.
Jun 6th, 2008
Alfons
Game 1 didn't change anything at all for me. I said Lakers in 6, and I'm sticking to it. It took an unbelievable effort from Piece for them to win Game 1, and now that he's going to be nursing a hurt knee, who's going to step up? I see no one in a Celtics uniform getting it done.
Jun 6th, 2008
Sha-Ron
I would not be surprised if the Lakers won out the remainder of the series. I agree with your assessment of Paul Pierce. I am a lifelong Knicks fan but Rasheed and Pierce have been my only favorites since they've come into the league. Is it me or is your "As good as/better than" Jordan Kobe Bryant settling too much for jumpers? Don't get me wrong -- I love Kobe but MJ would've switched his tactic after missing his first few shots before going back to the Jumper. One of the reasons I think the Lakers will dominate after this loss is the balance, youth, depth and Mamba. Think about it: The big 3 were productive, the Lakers played sluggish and they were still in it through the 4th.
I know you're from Detroit and Live in Orlando but PLEASE pray for my Knicks!
Jun 6th, 2008
Mike Z
The only thing game 1 assured is that the Celtics won't get swept. Lakers in 5.
Jun 6th, 2008
TallBrownBald
I had the Lakers in 6 before it started and still do. On a really off night on the road they were right there in the 4th. The Lakers will be much better in game 2 and even better at home. If I was a Celtics fan that would have me worried today. I bet it has Doc worried.
Jun 6th, 2008
Niles
I'm in the minority apparently. I expected this series to go to the Celtics in 7, but I'm not so sure now. Both Pau and Lamar are too soft in the post. Fisher looked crappy on defense. Kobe will undoubtedly do better in the next 5 (or 6?) games, but contrary to popular belief, he can't win it all by himself without the help of Pau and Lamar. I'm leaning to the Celtics in 6 (win game 2, game 5 in L.A., and game 6 in Boston.)
Jun 6th, 2008
Ernest
First off, "wow". What's very unfortunate is that in ANY sport, especially the NBA, when a player is SO DOMINANT and seperates himself from his closest competition that the rest of the league is looked at as watered down. It's unfair to the 90's and ALL the GREAT players who played that they are looked at as no competition. No need to name names, we all know the hall of famers and all time greats that played in that decade. So what does that say about Michael. 6 titles. Wait?..MJ didnt have Kareem. So for anyone to say Magic was greater (and Magic was great) than MJ is rediculous. So MJ has more titles, NO BIG MAN (Kareem is the all-time scoring leader IN CASE anyone forgot), more points, more game winners on the BIGGEST stages, much greater competitive drive, less supporting cast, etc etc..but yet, Magic is greater. Well, I'm never going to get that one. And yea, James Worthy really would have made a difference in the 91 Finals. Look, the Lakers truthfully should have gotten swept. Not really sure how a team can lose ALL THREE games at home in the Finals but should have won.
Who cares about the off the court BUZZ MJ recieve during his playing days! . MJ got it done on at the HIGHEST LEVEL on the BIGGEST stages throughout his whole career. How soon do we forget. Across the board, his numbers overall are the best ever (referring to titles, MVP's, FINALS MVP's, all-time points, playoff numbers, ALL NBA and defensive first teams, defensive player of the year, etc etc). What more did the man have to do to get the ultimate on the court respect. He won. He made is competition look very lame . But yet, his off the court buzz is whats talked about. Maybe, just maybe his off the court buzz was a result to his dominance and greatness on the court, I dont know, just possibly.
Kobe is the closest thing to MJ. He has the all around game that has greatly seperated himself from his closest competitor. However, he has a loooong way to go. It's laughable how its already being assumed he's going to get 4-5 more titles like it's that easy. Come on.
But can someone please shed light on the hand checking, or lack there of these days. All i hear is Kobe this, Kobe that. His offensive arsenal this, his offensive weapons that. Listen people, MJ average 30 (yes 30!) points per game for his CAREER with defenders being allowed to literally karate chop him on his way to the paint. Does anyone not notcied that KOBE cant be touched?!..how does all-nba defender bruce bowen suppose to guard him. By rule, you can barely breathe on Kobe, or anyone in today's game. No touching!..Today's game is SUPER finese. That why MJ was able to come back old and crusted for the Wizards and still drop his 50pt games becaue its easy today. If MJ prime was now, he might get 37 ppg easily just because you can cruise to the paint, and if your'e touched, to the line you go. Kobe greatly benefits that. So actually, offensive weapons wise, it's unfair to compare the two in their different era's. But greatness and best ever wise, not EVEN CLOSE to being an argument. MJ.
Jun 6th, 2008
Jemele
Gotta agree with Niles. If Gasol and Odom shrink, the Lakers are done. As much confidence as I have in the Lakers, if the Celtics win game 2, this series is over.
Jun 6th, 2008
rashad
thank you for the shoutout jemele. as far as the series, doesn't anyone remember lebron struggling from the field against the celtics? lebron shot horribly, and he kept blaming it on him not hitting shots. kobe was saying the same things..this is not about hitting shots, the Celts can flat out play D.
Jun 7th, 2008
Crossy
I agree with Mike Z...the only thing Game 1 solidified is that the Celts will not get SWEPT. lol I know the Lakers will win Game 2 because they will adjust to the D the C's put on Kobe as well as the early foul trouble Odom and Turiaf got in. I'm still calling for the Lakers to take it in 5.
Also can Trevor Ariza get some game time? We really could use his defense and size...and I think Walton's mistakes really hurt the flow of the Lake show's offense at crucial points in the game.
The key for game 2 will be agressiveness and big bench scoring.
Jun 7th, 2008
Crossy
Jemele, check out my "Perfect Paragon" blog on Kobe. I agree with your thoughts on both players...it's time for people to evolve with the times...
Madonna has...lol
Here's the link http://thecrossyclassifieds.blogspot.com
Jun 7th, 2008
billmac
I wish more people would talk about what a fker Paul Pierce is. Getting wheeld off the court aside, the guy is constantly over-acting on any contact.
Defensive player hedges out on screen, Paul acts like he's getting tackled for a loss.
Paul gets knicked in the face, Paul acts like an eye might fall out of his skull.
Paul gets knocked to the floor on a hard foul, Paul acts like he might not be able to get up.
He's like a cleaner looking version of Dennis Rodman with all of the over-acting. It's pretty funny of you're paying attention to it.
Jun 8th, 2008
Asad
I think Glen revelaed a little too much information...
Jun 8th, 2008
kk in the gr
totally disagree with you J. celtics in 6 or 7. believe dat.
Jun 8th, 2008
billmac
I just cannot see how Lamar is expected to keep Perkins off of the glass. I commented on it earlier, but what a mismatch. Lamar needs to be an offensive machine to make that match-up work and he hasn't.
Perkins has been beyond disruptive, even when he doesn;t get a rebound or score. The help LA is playing to keep Perkins off the glass and keeping him from easy lay-ups has freed everyone up.
I expect Lamar to become a weapon in LA, but it doesn;t change the fact that he's a major liability in a physical game. More Turiaf please.
Jun 8th, 2008
Demond
you got a point, but when one team shoots 30 more fouls shots, it’s impossible for the other team to win. It’s just too hard...they had a chance, but once again there was a questionable foul that probably shouldn’t have been called . so ticky tac. The Lakers D was awful, Phil should of sat Radman and gave Ariza more minutes.
Jun 9th, 2008
KK in the GR
Why are you stunned?? I had TOLD you the Lakers were gong to fug it up. Like I has said - Celtics in 6 or 7. Go EAST!
Jun 9th, 2008
kk in the GR
cosign
Jun 9th, 2008
Richter
How about instead of trips to the foul line, you look at the number of fouls called? Oh, because it's not nearly as interesting as carping about free throw disparity. The final tally was 27-20, in case anyone was wondering. The Celtics went to the line so much more not because they weren't being called for fouls and the Lakers were, it was because they lived in the paint and constantly drew contact, and the Lakers decided to be a jump shooting team. Were there some ticky-tack calls? Yes. Would the game have flowed a bit better if the refs swallowed the whistles on some of the less agregious fouls? Sure. Did they determine the game with their officiating? Heck no. The Celtics won because they're better rebounders and better defenders. Period. And there were a ton of non-calls on the Lakers going over the back or pushing in the back on rebounds. That Lamar Odom "rebound" where he threw the ball off P.J. Brown was a joke, he climbed P.J.'s back to collect the ball. Seriously, whining about the officials in this game should be taken with a grain of salt, because the Celtics are simply the better team.
Jun 9th, 2008
Mike
I wonder how much money Delaney had on this game?
Jun 9th, 2008
Joe
I agree with Richter. In fact, Kobe wasn't TOUCHED on that play when he got a T for complaining about getting fouled. Kobe's not going to the line running his offensive game that way. Jordan would have slowed things down and started pounding at the defenders in the post, getting to the line. Kobe settled for high-degree of difficulty shots then bitched when wasn't bailed out.
Jun 9th, 2008
Jun 9th, 2008
Jemele
To be fair, the NBA sets itself up for situations like these because it's made inconsistent officiating apart of the game.
The viewer knows calls are only made at certain parts of the game, that stars are given certain calls, that officials have a better relationship with some players and coaches than others.
While I don't think the Lakers lost because of officiating, the NBA leaves itself open to criticism because of those factors. The inconsistent officiating eats at the credibility of the league and unfortunately in a series like this, that becomes the headline and not how well the Celtics played.
Jun 9th, 2008
dva
No words at all! I was wondering what happens to caucasion kids when their parents don't WHUP DAT ASS! I wonder no more; the PARENTS get their asses beat...
Jun 9th, 2008
TheCyborgMJ23
Kobe NBA Finals Stats vs Michael Jordan NBA Finals stats Updated
1999-2000 vs Indiana Pacers
Kobe 15ppg 4rpg 4apg 36.6%FG
2000-2001 vs Philadelphia
Kobe 24ppg 7rpg 5apg 41.5%FG
2001-2002 vs New Jersey Nets
Kobe 26ppg 5rpg 5apg 51%FG
2004 NBA Finals
22.6ppg 2.8rpg 4.4apg 38%FG
2008 NBA Finals vs Boston
27ppg 3.5rpg 7apg 40.8%FG
Michael Jordan's NBA Finals Stats
http://www.nba.com/ jordan/index.html
1990-1991
31.2ppg 6.6rpg 11.4apg 2.8spg 55%FG
1991-1992
32.3ppg 4.8rpg 6.5apg 52%FG
1992-1993
41ppg 8.5rpg 6.3apg 50%FG
1995-1996
27.3ppg 5.3rpg 4.2apg 41.5%FG
1996-1997
32.3ppg 7rpg 6apg 45%FG
1997-1998
33.5ppg 4rpg 2.3apg 42.7FG
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!
Jun 9th, 2008
billmac
Kobe needs to learn how to bob his head up and down like he's getting punched as he dribbles. It works for Paul Pierce.
Jun 9th, 2008
Richter
It's not that Michael wasn't an a-hole when dealing with his teammates. It's that he could also inspire and lead without resorting to those sort of tactics when things were going against the Bulls. Kobe doesn't, and I doubt he can. Michael came across as being pissed off that he was losing, whereas Kobe comes off as being pissed that his teammates can't live up to his lofty standards. Also, Michael didn't have the spoiled brat label and the rape trial skeletons in his closet that Kobe does. Is it fair? I dunno, maybe, maybe not. But it doesn't change the fact that for the majority of people, Michael would still be the better teammate, or at least the teammate they'd prefer.
And really, stop trusting your lying eyes when comparing Michael and Kobe - Kobe won't ever be Michael, let it rest.
Jun 9th, 2008
Richter
Or maybe Kobe could actually drive the lane instead of shooting fadeaway after fadeaway.
Jun 9th, 2008
Jemele
In the realm of today, I doubt seriously that people would have seen MJ's berating of his teammates as "inspirational." He was not Mr. Nice Guy. He cussed them out when they were down in games, and essentially behaved a lot like Kobe did. He spent a huge chunk of his career not wanting to be involved with his teammates, but because we've romanticized MJ, we forget how he really used to act.
I say this not to denigrate MJ or lionize Kobe. I say this because, again, MJ has almost become a figment of our imaginations, where we don't remember when he lost, the times he was a pretty piss-poor teammate, how he also struggled against strong defensive teams. Contrary to popular belief, he did have weaknesses and spent most of his career doing the same things that Kobe is criticized for. Except for one thing: MJ never pouted the way Kobe did against Phoenix in the playoffs a few years ago. Even I know MJ would never have done that.
Jun 9th, 2008
billmac
Curt Schilling should forever shut his pie-hole. Why anybody listens to him is beyond me? Was it not enough when he ran his mouth about the steroid use in baseball, and then got in front of Congress and said he had no knowledge of steroid use and thought the game was being unfairly targeted? What an a-hole.
And Michael didn't need to blast teammates. He won every championship he should have. Take away the #45 season, and the guy just flat out owned. Once he learned how to get it done under Phillip, everyone else was playing for second place and he knew that.
Jun 9th, 2008
billmac
he could do that as well. Would a combination of the two be suffice?
Paul Pierce hasn't had a screen set for him in his life where he hasn't acted as though the hedger has bumped him. He's an icredible flopper and Mark Jackson should be suspended game 3 for agreeing that Pierce is the best offensive Celtic of all time.
And I'm a little confused by Kobe in regards to officiating. He didn't complain when Brent Barry got fouled. Now the officials are being lopsided? I see how this game works.
Jun 9th, 2008
Raphael
Flat out...someone needs to punch Schilling in his mouth.
Jun 10th, 2008
billmac
by the way, who remebers LeBron taking more free throws in 1 game compared to the entire Boston squad?
It's about aggressiveness.....the Lakers don't have a line-up tp bang. Gasol should be playing the 4 and Bynum the 5. Their current set-up is a complete mis-match if Lamar can't exploit Perkins or KG on the offensive end. As the cliche goes...the Lakers are a jelly donut, soft in the center.
Jun 10th, 2008
rashad
MJ was a huge jerk, but its hard to argue with the results. Kobe is still earning the right to an ass. By the way, MJ never looked timid in an NBA finals game, the way Kobe looked until game the second half of game 2.
Jun 10th, 2008
Jay Fitty
I'm about tired of Curt Schilling running his mouth about how black athletes act. First it was Barry Bonds and now it's Kobe. He's a pitcher and his claim to fame was a bloody sock, before that he played second fiddle to Randy Johnson in Arizona. And I know, he's said some dumb -ish regarding other white athletes but he seems to most black athletes who aren't "saints" (like he is, yeah right!) as misguided and troublesome. I wish Cyrt would stick to pitching or retire his old ass (and most of this heat comes due to the fact that I am a die hard Yankee fan)!
Jun 10th, 2008
Richter
A little backup to what I said earlier:
http://www.nysun.com/sports/lakers-cant-blame-referees-for-this-deficit/79658/
Jun 10th, 2008
Aaron (DC)
Here's my theory: The problem isn't Kobe's ego, its everyone else's. I think among the top 15-20 players in the league, the attitude today is about the same as what it was 20 years ago. They're great, you know they're great, they know you know they're great, and so they act accordingly. What is different is that now, midlevel guys have a much more inflated view of themselves than they have in the past. Everyone is overexposed these days, thanks to a 24 hour news cycle, the internet, etc. etc. So back then when Jordan would go off, a guy would think 'I better get my sh!t together, because he's Michael Jordan and I'm Nobody McWhatshisname.' Now, when Kobe goes off its like, 'How dare he talk to me that way. I'm Nobody mcWhatshisname! I was on the cover of Slam last week!'
Jun 10th, 2008
Roger
I see nothing "wrong" with Kobe being demanding. It just speaks to his competitiveness. This is the NBA Finals, after all.
And Jemele's right: Jordan was the same way, and that's why he knows he'd make a bad NBA coach ... because he'd demand of his players what he demanded of himself, and few, if any, can give that.
Kobe would also be a bad coach. But he's a damn good player, and I expect him to drop 40-plus tonight and make this series a bit more interesting.
Jun 10th, 2008
Richter
I expect him to drop 40-plus too- free throws, that is. Bennett "Phantom Foul" Salvatore and Joey "Tim Duncan Fan-Club President" Crawford reffing, along with Crawford's co-conspirator on the Brent Barry no call Mark Wunderlich.
Jun 10th, 2008
dpalm66
Bill Simmons, to the Jemele Hill blog. Paging Bill Simmons to the Jemele Hill blog...
Jun 10th, 2008
Richter
I was in L.A. for games 6 and 7 of the Kings-Lakers series, for a trade show. I've never seen an entire city of people walk around with [poop]-eating grins like the residents of L.A. did after game 6.
I watched three quarters of the game in my hotel room, then went down to the hotel bar for the conclusion of the game. Most of the people there were from out of town, attending the same convention I was, and after the final, fateful shot, everyone, nearly to the last man and woman (and cranky vietnamese waitress) in the place, thought the game was rigged. If there is even a shred of evidence that can be produced to support this allegation, the league goes from NBA to WWE overnight.
Jun 10th, 2008
Jag Desai
You have a boyfriend???, Sigh, and i thought you were the one for me,lol. But on a serious note, can we find out who the three officials were in that Game 6, and see if they have officiated in the finals. Or atleast 2 of them officiating a playoff game together, and see if there was a discrepancy in free throws in those games. I know you have a research team at Mickey Mouse, who can find this out. I still think it would be hard to rig a playoff game, especially the finals, with the whole world watching, that is just too risky. I guess anything is possible
Jun 11th, 2008
jag
Dick Bavetta , #16 Ted Bernhardt , #26 Bob Delaney were the referees for that game 6 in 2002. Delaney was a referee in the celtics-lakers game 2. I still dont see it adding up. The two instances that Donaghy talks about were widely criticized anyways. I think he is making this shit up, whats he gonna say next, that Stern made sure Patrick Ewing went to the knicks? I dont believe that liar.
Jun 11th, 2008
Rashad
If this conspiracy theory stuff is true, then someone paid off Doc Rivers last night, because he handed LA that game last night
Jun 11th, 2008
Aaron
I guess I'd be more likely to believe Donaghy if he cited a different game, or more games. His letter says the league frequently encouraged refs to manipulate games. Yet he only cited one instance, and it just happened to be the most controversial game the NBA's had in the past 30 years. Lakers-Kings Game 6 is the Zapruder film for NBA conspiracy theorists. I don't think that anyone who saw that game didn't think the officiating was at beast merely awful, and at worst calculated. So naturally, referencing that game to suggest the league is fixed would be the easiest way to gain credibility. But if the league makes a habit of rigging games, where are the other examples? Why didn't Donaghy reference any more games? And why didn't he cite any games that he himself participated in? Did the league only rely on certain refs to fix games? I guess my point is that people are treating what Donaghy said like its really deep insider information, when really its not. Its done up in lawyerly, official-sounding language, but the claims he's making are the same claims we've heard on talk radio and on the web for years. There's no smoking gun, no solid evidence to support to a conspiracy. It really comes down to what you want to believe. If you want to believe that the NBA is on the up and up, then Donaghy is a crooked guy who's lashing out. If you want to believe that the NBA is corrupt, then Donaghy is speaking the gospel.
Jun 11th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
I would have no ass left
Jun 11th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
Jemele-
I can't tell you how much I respect you for expressing your politicial opinion in a respectful way! OMG! A member of the media who actually believes in people voting for whoever they choose and recognizing open mindedness of the American public. I DO respect Obama for his accomplishments in life, being an upstanding family man of God, coming up from simple beginnings, and his stance on certain social issues. However, I think it is selfish to call him "black" to call him black is to say his mother never existed (quote from Tiger Woods).
I think it would be more appropriate to say "the first ethnic Presidential candidate".
Jun 11th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
The NBA is rigged......period
Jun 11th, 2008
Mizzarc
Here is the thing i think alot of people are missing about that game in 2002. Anyone who follows the nba closely knows that game was a joke (and I am a Laker fan Here). The refs gave the lakers that win, no if and or butts about it.
With that being said, if i was going down in flames for betting on games the first thing i would do is reference that game. It doesn't matter if i am telling the truth or lying, there was enough BS in that game, to at least keep the conversation going. Anyone with a brain, who follows the NBA could have predicted a year ago that this game was going to come up. It is almost too obvious. If Donaghy really wanted to blow the NBA out the water, he would have cited a better game that nobody knows about. I think it would have been more creditable.
Jun 11th, 2008
Randy
I don't quite understand why it's so hard to believe that the NBA would rig games. The fact that Donaghy cites this game in 2002 for support of his proposition actually bolsters his claim. If everyone already believed something fishy was going on in that game and then someone with inside information comes out and says that something fishy was going on in that game, that actually makes it more likely that something fishy was going on. His statement to the judge doesn't change that fact. He's at the sentencing phase in his legal proceeding. The time to tell this story for personal benefit would have been when he was negotiating his plea agreement with the prosecutor. Besides that, there are a lot of brothers doing a lot of time because a convicted felon turned over on them. I say that to say that his ratting on his boys doesn't make his story untrue. And it's a whole lot of brothers out there wishing that the fact that a convicted felon made a plea deal made their testimony untrue, but juries almost never discredit these guys. And I don't see why I should discredit Donaghy on the same grounds.
Jun 11th, 2008
billmac
the "theory" that he just came out with this now to lighten his sentence and it's all a bunch of bunck is a bit presumptious....
His testimony has to be true for that to happen. If he's lying and wasting Feds' time it certainly doesn't help....
Jun 12th, 2008
Aaron (DC)
That's jsut it though Randy: Donaghy didn't provide any inside information. nothing he had to say about Game 6 was any more nuanced than what the average Kings fan has been saying for the past six years. The only thing that lends his claim any shred of credibility is because he's an ex-ref. If its true that the league "frequently" encourages refs to fix games, then why is this the only game he mentioned? Shouldn't there be other examples?
Jun 12th, 2008
Jamil
Just goes to show you that you can take a brother out the ghetto, but you can't...well, you know. It doesn't matter how educated we get - most of us can still go there at a moment's notice.
Jun 12th, 2008
Ernest
Its really simple, MJ did not WHINE and CRY and MOAN after EVERY-SINGLE play that Kobe does...If he is not in the ear of the refs, he's definitely in the ear of Luke Walton (his no.1 victim) or some other teammate..not sayin Mike never got on anyone, but nowhere as NEAR as visible as Kobe does. It's flat out rediculous, right there in the middle of the court in front of everyone after every play. I hate Schilling, but he is right on with this one. Not enough people call out Kobe on this. As a basketball fan, its flat out sickening (literally) how a guy complains to everything around him after every play. The real question is has there been a bigger BABY in the HISTORY of sports than Kobe?
Jun 12th, 2008
billmac
"The real question is has there been a bigger BABY in the HISTORY of sports than Kobe?"
Ummm..........
I'll try Curt Schilling complaining about the unfair advantage hitters had b/c they were all juicing.
Until the congressional hearing that is....
Jun 12th, 2008
Randy
Aaron (DC), it may not have been anymore nuanced than what the average Kings' fan has been saying, but Donaghy's statements makes what the average Kings' fan has been saying more likely to be true. For example, if a crime occurs and the only person around to see it is a crackhead, that doesn't make it less likely that the crime occurred. The crackhead may have little or no credibility, but his corroborating testimony doesn't mean that the crime didn't happen. It means that the crime more than likely happened. As to why there are only two stories, I don't know. Maybe he's planning a tell all book. Maybe the judge only asked for two examples. At any rate, just because he only cited two examples doesn't mean there aren't more.
Jun 12th, 2008
Richter
Bad sign for the Lakers that Kobe can't beat this defense. Celtics with the huge comeback and the win. Ray Allen, finals MVP possibly? Two incredible layups to help put the game away. If he does win it, I think that arm sleeve becomes one of the most famous pieces of equipment ever. His game totally turned around when he started wearing it.
Jun 12th, 2008
Ronald
Footlong Tuna from Subway = 1060 calories, 62 grams of fat – 14 saturated, 88 carbs.
Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese from McDonalds = 1020 calories, 53 grams of fat – 24 saturated, 80 carbs.
Never get Tuna at a sandwich shop. It’s all Mayo.
Jun 13th, 2008
billmac
Paul Pierce has perfected the "I'm getting fouled bump" to perfection. I get a little upset b/c it's basically a flop, but he does it so damn well. Kobe made zero contact with him, but Pierce shimmies his body so well it looks like a bump/contact.
He did it to the Cavs, Hawks, and anyone else he has played since entering the league.
It needs a name. It's really that good.
Jun 13th, 2008
billmac
Randy, I basically agree. Knowing a little bit about the law and gambling cases, my likely scenario is as follows: Donaghy gives a story and if it checks out true (enough where the FBI believe him b/c limitations have already run their course) then he can play ball for a lesser sentence.
People keep talking about him making up a story to lighten his jail time. If it isn't proven true in the eyes of the feds, it doesn't lighten his sentence.
And by the way, the ineterviews with former Kings players seem legit to me. Several have already commented on how something didn't seem right. Maybe I'm giving too much credit, but I don't think several guys would be saying almost the exact same thing unless they saw it the same way in the same circumstances.
I doubt Scott Pollard and Doug Christie are having daily chates about the 2002 series that bounced them.
Jun 13th, 2008
Richter
If Posey keeps playing like this and winning rings, he won't be the poor man's Robert Horry, he'll be the next Robert Horry, period. Also, Pierce creates the contact during his moves, and Kobe did bump him, but it wasn't really significant enough to merit a foul. That said, he does sell it so well, I have a hard time faulting the referees for calling it. The Lakers are cooked at this point. Gasol sucks, he's ridiculously soft. He only plays around the rim on the offensive end, when he needs to be in the defensive paint, changing shots with his length, instead he's off covering someone 12 feet from the basket. Just an awful, awful help defender for someone with his length and ability. I never thought I'd see the day when Boston had arguably the three best teams and franchises in the big 3 American sports.
Jun 13th, 2008
billmac
Richter,
I have the picture to prove Pierce's mouth was already open, head tilted back yelling before contact occurs. It's a flop. He bobs his head like he's being ridden without any contact at all.
The result is exactly what Kobe did. Players back off him b/c they know they'll get hit with a foul if they're too aggressive b/c Paul already looks like he's being molested.
Anyways, I'm just glad Boston won and Kobe is playing mediocre. He had a nice game #3, but he has disappeared for LONG stretches at a time.
Jun 13th, 2008
kk in the gr
i'm so mad at myself. i should have bet you. i TOLD you the celtics were going to take it. that game was KWAZY. kwazy. i seriously don't think i've ever seen anything like it. and no you didn't say "poor man robert horry." clever.
Jun 13th, 2008
Randy
LOL @ Pau Ga-soft. And Ray-Ray did show that he had a little bit of Jesus Shuttleworth left in him on that play.
Jun 13th, 2008
Greg Pigott- Clarksville, TN
I can understand his frustration LOL!
Jun 13th, 2008
Aaron (DC)
How does it make it any more likely to be true? He provided zero detail. He didn't even name the two refs he accused. People keep comparing him to Cnaseco and Mcnamee. Both of those guys provided details. They gave names, specific incidents and detailed descriptions of how things went down. Donaghy provided no such thing. He alluded to a game that has been the subject of s