PHX v. DET

Now you know being the Pistons fan that I am, I have to touch on last nights demolishing of the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix 105-83. Two nights ago, Phoenix played Dallas in Dallas and won 129-127 in OT. The Worldwide Leader dubbed that game the game of the Century. But, watching Phoenix and Detroit, I was reminded why Phoenix will not win the NBA championship. The key to beating Phoenix other than executing in the half court, is to make Steve Nash a scorer and not a distributer. As long as he's not passing the ball around, those guys for Phoenix are just regular players. Of course, Phoenix v. Dallas was entertaining, but I don't think either one of those teams has what it takes to win it all. Dallas has the pieces but I don't think that Dirk can do it when the lights are the brightest. For Dallas to win, Jason Terry & Josh Howard will have to lead them to victory, with Dirk serving as support. Your NBA Champ will come from either San Antonio, Miami or Detroit. Those 3 teams have what it takes to win a 7-game series when the pressure is on.
By the way, I don't think that Mike Dantoni guy coaches very much.

Tourney Talk - Round 1

• ORU let me down. I really believed that they would pull out the W. But, my bracket is still looking better than an unnamed friend of mine.
• Thank God for Winthrop.
  
• I believe that Michigan State can defeat the Tarheels today for 4 reasons:
• NC is young, young, young
  
• MSU plays great defense, rebounds and is tough
• Izzo is a great coach
• Drew Neitzel is a clutch, hard nosed player

• I had Illinois defeating VaTech and they lead the entire way until they were outscored 12-zip in the final 3 minutes. VT turned up the pressure and the Illini wilted. That was a Big Ten style game. It's ugly to watch, but every possession counts.
  
• I loved to see Duke go down vs. VCU. Eric Maynor is fun to watch, as they say, he has ice water in his veins.
• I can't believe Tennessee scored 121 points in a 40 minute game! They're better than the Phoenix Suns.
  
• Must see games today:
• Louisville v. Texas A&M - I chose A&M in my bracket because of the dynamic Acie Law IV, but it is very hard to choose against Pitino.
• Carolina v. Michigan State - As I said, Roy Williams run & gun youth goes up against Izzo's tough minded, blue collar team
• Xavier v. Ohio State - Thad Matta goes up against his former troops. Xavier isn't afraid of OSU and would love to beat them in the tourney since OSU refuses to put Xavier on their schedule
• Eric Maynor and VCU against whoever they're playing.
  

March Madness

On the eve of March Madness, I have got to send a shout-out to my alma mater, Oral Roberts University. ORU is a 14 seed and will face Washington Sate in the 1st round. I have placed the fate of my bracket on the fact that I believe ORU will win 2 games in the tourney this year. They have 2 outstanding seniors in Caleb Green and Ken "King" Tutt. They also have a solid coach in Scott Sutton (yes, Eddie Sutton's son). Watch out for ORU! We have God on our side and we are expecting a miracle.

da spurs!

I woke up this morning and as I perused my requisite morning internet sites, I read that the San Antonio Spurs have a 13- game win streak. WOW! I totally forgot that they were even in the NBA. They have to be one of the most insignificant teams in the league, next to Seattle & Milwaukee. The difference with the Spurs is that they are actually a good team and can win a championship.

NIT here we come!

Well, my Michigan Wolverines showed their true colors in the Big Ten Tourney and bowed out in the Quarterfinals to The Ohio State University. We will not be going to the big dance thanks to the fact that they shot 32% from the field, and their best player, Dion Harris, shot a woeful 1-13. This was probably one of the biggest games of his career and he couldn't buy a bucket. After the game, Tommy Amaker had a sound of resignation in his voice. He doesn't know what the future holds in regards to his future in Ann Arbor.
Hey, I have an idea ... The people in Lexington want to get rid of Tubby Smith. Let's bring him in.

Pokey, Pokey, Pokey ...

This whole Pokey Chatman situation is interesting. Mind you, I don't really follow women's b-ball but I may watch the Women's Final 4. She made a decision to jeopardize a pretty decent job with LSU to have "inappropriate" relationships with some members of her team. LSU women's team is a major program. I can't help but think that if there was a similar situation in the Men's game where a coach had a relationship with a member of his team, this would be a much larger story. But, because this is a woman and she's having a relationship with another woman ... the outrage is not there. She was basically fired because she had a sexual relationship with one of the student athletes that she coached.

Hell to the Victors

There's not too much to be said about Michigan's BBall loss to #1 Ohio State on Saturday. They choked plain and simple. Michigan lead most of the game until the final 3+ minutes when they choked and went scoreless. Turnovers, missed layups, missed free throws ... what a disappointing game on senior day.

Tommy Amaker's response was thus, sometimes you don't get what you deserve.

You're right Tommy, these kids deserve a coach who knows what he's doing. Michigan deserves a basketball team that strives to be the Leaders and Best. You're not getting the job done, plain & simple.

BTW ... Brent Petway has the worst haircut in the history of the world.

I love Indian food too but ...

I'm sorry, but this request by Kanye is ridiculous and a waste of money. You mean to tell me he couldn't find any good Indian food in the whole of NYC that he had to order out to London? This is what's wrong with our people. What a waste ...

LONDON, England (AP) -- If Kanye West were to walk into the British Raj's dining room and order dinner, it would cost the rapper about $17.50. But since the restaurant is delivering -- from Wales to New York -- it's going to cost a bit more.

For a feast of onion bhajees, chapati breads, biryanis, pappadums, a specially prepared fish dish and vegetables on the side, the bill will top $3,900, plus travel and accommodation for the restaurant's head chef.

The meal was requested for West and seven guests by a music promotion company, the restaurant said Sunday. The company had previously ordered food from the restaurant near Cardiff, Wales, for an after-show party for a Snoop Dogg concert in London.

But this is different. Normally, they don't deliver outside a 3-mile radius of the restaurant, which is about 150 miles west of London.

"I was horrified when I heard about this request because of the distance involved," said the restaurant's head waiter, Tarik Mohammed. "It's a long way, and our reputation is on the line. We are doing every thing to make sure the food gets there safely and every thing is aboveboard."

The meal will be prepared, cooled, shrink-wrapped and packed in dry ice in the British Raj's kitchens and -- along with head chef Kaysor Ahmed -- will be helicoptered from Wales to London's Heathrow Airport on Tuesday.

From there, the chef is to hop a flight to New York -- monitoring the food's temperature all the way -- clear customs, and head for Manhattan, where the meal is to be served during a meeting Wednesday.

The fee was arrived at by estimating the restaurant's takings for two evenings, the time Ahmed will be away, Mohammed said.

Sucks being a Lakers fan

Watching the Lakers/Suns game yesterday I gained a greater appreciation of Phil & Kobe. At one point the Lakers had Shammond Williams, Aaron McKie, Kobe, Kwame Brown & Ronny Turiaf on the floor. I felt sorry for Kobe and all Lakers fans. But then I realized that this has got to be Phil Jackson's best coaching job. Smush Parker is their starting point with Shammond Williams backing him up!?! Maurice Evans also started yesterday. Smush and Mo Evans are 2 players who couldn't even hack it on the Pistons bench and now they're starting for the Lakers? Until yesterday, I had not even seen Aaron Mckie play in a good 3 years. I actually thought he was retired. And to hear that the Lakers are interested in bringing in Deep in debt Grandpa Scottie Pippen .... Sucks being a Lakers fan! I mean, can you really get excited about Scottie Pippen or Smush Parker for that matter?
That team is competitive in the Western Conference and they don't have 1/10 the talent of other teams in the West. Kudos to Phil.

Conclusive evidence that white men can't jump

Only because this video is hilarious ...

Give Credit where it is due

I have to give credit where credit is due. The Michigan Wolverines beat Michigan State the other night 67-56. Tommy's boys finally came to play and played with pride & passion. Dion Harris put the team on his back, hit big shots and carried the Wolverines to victory. Which brings me to this point ... Lester Abram is a 5th year senior and since he was a freshman, he has been regarded as the glue that holds this team together, as evidenced by the fact that he is the first 3-time Captain in Michigan BBall history. In past years, when Michigan has floundered down the stretch, it was often blamed on the fact that Lester was hurt and unable to be on the floor. Many people said that Michigan is a better team with him on the floor, against Michigan State, Lester was basically invisible. Watching that game the other night, I realized that Lester may be named the captain, but the team must follow Dion. If it weren't for Lester's 6 free throw attempts (in the final minutes of the game) he would've put up a big donut. Maybe, Dion has deferred to Lester as captain, but he is the true leader of this team. Keep leading Dion. If Michigan can beat OSU on Saturday and make a serious run in the Big Ten tourney, they can make it to the Big Dance.

A Little Bull

Word is out of Chicago Bull camp, that the Bulls are trying to talk Antonio Davis out of retirement. From K.C. Johnson of the Tribune: "Antonio Davis waved off a question about whether he was retired when he visited the Bulls' practice last Saturday. It is said that Davis is enjoying retirement. But his skills—leadership and rugged rebounding—appear to be what the Bulls are lacking."
Maybe I'm a little ignorant, but didn't they pay Big Ben Wallets $60M to provide leadership in rebounding? In a recent game vs. Orlando, "Donnie" Darko lit up Big Ben for 14pts, 16rbs & 5 blocks. In the same game, D-wight Howard had 21pts & 16rbs (11 TO's YIKES!) Let's see ... what did Big Ben have, 3pts, 8rbs.
Chicago is done. They're trying to lure Toni Kukoc & Antonio Davis (& his brawling wife) out of retirement. It looks like a sign of desperation, they're grasping for straws. When it comes down to it, they are a jump shooting team and those type of teams don't win in May and June. They need an offensive inside presence.