I got nothing

Not much to say today, I just felt it necessary to post something. So we'll see where the road leads us...

Very disappointed that San Antonio lost. I realize I am the only person outside of the city of San Antonio that pulls for the Spurs, but I have been a huge fan since Sean Elliott & David Robinson came into the league. Obviously Tim Duncan helped reaffirm that loyalty. Either way, the better team won the series in my opinion. Dallas is so talented and is a terrible matchup for the Spurs. Despite horrible officiating, the Mavs pulled out a gutsy victory. I hope the Spurs go out in the offseason and pick up some serious athletes. Guys like Rasho Nesterovic, Robert Horry, Brent Barry, and Nazr Mohammed were useless in this series. Horry has clearly lost a step, and Barry never had one, but both might be worth keeping around for leadership and shooting. The other two, plus Van Exel, can go sign with the Knicks for 8 years/$64 million or something.

Staying in the NBA, the draft lottery was stimulating. Ok fine, that's an oxymoron, but I did watch it. Early feeling on the Bobcats (who are my favorite team, as the home team wins out immediately now; translation: I'd pull for the Bobcats over the Spurs, but that's the only team like that) is that the third pick in the draft is too high for who I want them to choose. Chief and I discussed how good Brandon Roy would look in a Charlotte uniform, but we doubt he will be chosen as high as third. Adam Morrison, Rudy Gay, or Andrea Bargnani each look more likely at this point. All three play small forward, while Roy is a shooting guard. It just seems like Gerald Wallace is better suited to play the three spot with his defensive prowess, athleticism, and inconsistent shooting stroke. None of the other three guys are quick enough to play the two spot, which means short-term that Felton and Knight could be the starting backcourt next season, and long-term that Wallace will be the shooting guard with Felton at the point. More on the NBA Draft in the next month, which will include a mock draft or two. Unlike the NFL Draft, I'll tackle this challenge.

Speaking of challenges, my college baseball bracket will not happen. I forgot I will not see a computer until Tuesday at the earliest, with little time to generate a bracket anyway. Oh well. On a related note, Carolina sure looked atrocious dropping two straight to become the first team eliminated from the ACC Baseball Tournament in Jacksonville. I am a huge fan of watching the tournament online for free on the ACC website, but watching my team blow leads two days in a row is no fun. This team is no different from every team we've had since my first year in school: talented with NO baseball IQ. As my roommate and I noticed a while back, Coach Fox's teams don't steal bases, bunt, or move runners over. They also throw to the wrong base, make stupid errors, and fail to limit the chances for the opposing team. Basically, lack of fundamentals and smart play on the field; that is the weakness. And every year, it costs Carolina in the ACC and NCAA tournaments. I would be ecstatic if the Tar Heels made it to Omaha, but I just don't like their chances right now.

The Red Sox were on ESPN three days this week, twice against the Yankees, once against the Devil Rays. As researched last season, it is always the Yankees and/or Red Sox on TV it seems. But next week, we get a fresh, upstart Detroit Tigers squad...oops, we get the Yankees playing a fresh, upstart Detroit Tigers squad. Awesome. My ESPN rant is nearing, I've almost had it with the monopolistic total-sports network.

Finally, tune in to auto racing this weekend. Not only is the Coca-Cola 600 going on in Charlotte (Concord), NC, but it is also the one day of the year people care about Indy racing, as the Indy 500 will take place Sunday as well. I'm liking Tony Kanaan at Indy and Jimmie Johnson at Charlotte. Either way, give racing a shot on Sunday, as it may be the best racing day of the year.

On that note, I'm out. Enjoy a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend. Hey, I'm on it.

MC Hammer, Kermit the Frog, & Shakira: Who ya kickin' out of the hot tub?

Going with random small paragraphs today, as most of what this week's thoughts are unrelated. Thus, no theme and no need for organization. Ride wit it...

Turner South is now owned by Fox Sports, so that means most of my Atlanta Braves watching is affected. Not real sure what the theme of this network is, as the "My South" campaign features individuals reading what "My South" is to them in a spoken word performance setting. Most of the featured individuals are African-American, which I assume is meant to tap into the large population of this demographic in Atlanta and many other southern cities that carry the network. However, billboard commercials advertising the network (meaning spots run right before returning to the program/game) also feature Tiffani-Amber Thiessen; nothing like southern girls from Long Beach, CA. The musical commercials this season are Travis Tritt, who was on the last year or two as well, and MC freakin' Hammer. Quite a change from Baby of the Big Tymers, Da Birdman, who was the hi-hop artist last year. My point is: who is Turner South targeting? I'm not sure they have any clue.

On a somewhat related note, Ron Gant is the new color commentator. One friend and I agree he is pretty good, but a little less talk of his playing career in the present tense would help...as in Ron, you're retired, remember?

Moving to music really quickly...Shakira's new "Hips Don't Lie" is a catchy song, but mainly for a reason not involving her. The loop at the beginning and end of the track is from Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz mid-nineties single "Deja Vu," which I loved (confession: I own the CD, and remember buying it at American Fare, a precursor to Wal-Mart, along with a Queen Latifa album...review that one Kev). Her actual singing in the song is lacking; I enjoy the spanish part, but her high notes in English are tough to stomach. Honestly, she songs like a female Kermit the Frog. But the video is nice, I enjoy the Latin dance, the beats, and Shakira is pretty good looking.

Moving to sports, the NBA Playoffs are hot right now. Tune in just to watch the TNT Studio show, with Ernie Johnson Jr, Kenny the Jet Smith, and Sir Charles Barkley. High comedy. Also, no one has pointed out the fact that Phoenix claimed Tim Thomas off waivers from Chicago after he was put on the inactive list for refusing to play for the Bulls. So we have Alonzo Mourning, who refused to play for Toronto, and Tim Thomas, who refused to play for Chicago, both making a difference for playoff teams after playing the "you don't have any authority" card on their former teams. In an upcoming NBA column, this will be addressed further, but I have a huge problem with the league's lack of authority over players. They argue seemingly every call (see: Pistons, Detroit), blame losing on their coaches (see: Knicks, New York), and when unhappy demand and receive a trade or release. The NBA must do away with this selfishness and inmates running the asylum mentality if it is ever to compete with America's top sports.

Great story running on ESPN.com right now under the "E-Ticket" heading about a group of guys who have played basketball every Saturday morning for the last thirty-five years. Trust me, it's a lot more interesting than it sounds. If you have thirty minutes, click on the link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=saturdaygame

Clemson may have become the Mullet Capital of America in my time living here. I love it.

College baseball is winding up its regular season, with the national tournament on the horizon. I have been challenged to put together a Field of 64 for this tournament as well, which will most likely make an appearance here at some point. Get hype. It is one of my sports dreams to not only attend the College World Series in Omaha, but also to see collegiate baseball become a big deal in American sports. So start the grassroots campaign.

WWE Vengence in Charlotte on June 25th...who's in?

I've had enough for today. Do me a favor and spread the word on The Blue Team if you enjoy it, as I'd eventually like to allow comments and have some reader interaction going on. What a concept, sounds like a real blog instead of me ranting and raving all the time. Feedback is still welcome and, as always, thanks for reading.

Lemme be ya manager...

Weekend Wrap-up

NBA, Bonds, Braves, Applebees in today's docket.

First, NBA. Kobe and the Lakers are done for the season after being blown out by Phoenix on Saturday night. I am still drinking the "Kobe is the best player in the NBA" juice, but I am quite confused by his non-shooting performance in the second half. I think this stubborness will continue holding him back and making people question his intentions. I too may question his intentions at times, but his talent is unmatched. If the Cavs win two games against Detroit, I will be shocked. The Spurs/Mavs series is already looking good and Suns/Clippers will be fun to watch. Don't really care about the Nets/Heat unless Vince Carter and D-Wade get into a classic duel.

Second, Barry Bonds has 713 home runs. Not that ESPN has covered it or anything. In other news, a kid in Mongolia picked his nose. Awesome.

Third, the not so Hot-lanta Braves. I'm feeling an entire blog devoted to the Braves coming up soon, but I'll touch briefly on things for now. Obviously the team is disappointing, sitting in third place behind the Phillies and waaaaay behind the Mets. Yes, it is early, but the struggles thus far will continue to be struggles for the entire season unless something drastically changes. I personally do not like the makeup of the batting order, as no true leadoff hitter and very streaky guys batting five and six hole lead to what is going on right now. As a team, the Braves are 14th in walks (101), lead the league in strikeouts (242), and are 13th in on-base percentage (.324). Add those three stats up and you get horrendous plate-discipline and a lack of quality at-bats. The pitching has been bad in key spots, but in general, the bats are to blame for the extended slump.

Finally, Applebee's uber-enunciating singing guys have a new commercial spot. This time, "The Applebee's Guys" are covering an old song by Bobby Darrin called "Mack the Knife," altering the lyrics to fit the new Steakhouse Sensations. I would say if the goal of Applebee's ad campaign is to make songs stick in your head or have people recognize the commercials, then they have succeeded. However, death threats and general annoyance seem to be packaged in as well. I don't know anyone who really wanted to see the dang singing fishermen ads again. Therefore, shout-outs to Foote, Cone, & Belding of Chicago, the ad agency who created this monster. And don't worry, there are more ads to come.

With that, I'm out. Soooo sit right back enjoy this tale, a tale of a tasty shrimp...

Derby Picks

Kentucky Derby Trifecta:
1) Point Determined
2) Barbaro
3) Cause to Believe

I know nothing about horse racing and have watched no coverage. But, the blind squirrel does find the nut occassionally, correct?

Updated Post-Race Results:
Don't have to worry about me gambling on horse racing anytime soon. Point Determined fought traffic all day and never got near the front, finishing ninth. Cause For Belief caused nothing to happen, coming in thirteenth. But, Barbaro went off the last quarter-mile or so, winning by seven links. Just before the final turn, I saw him moving up quick and said aloud in (to no one) in my best Stephen A Smith voice, "it's ooo-vah" because it was, indeed, over. Dominant performance, maybe this horse will actually pull off the Triple Crown since I've never seen it happen.

But the best part of the race took place afterwards during NBC's coverage. The interview with the winning jockey was nearly indistinguishable, as I have little clue what he said. Then, when showing the crowd reaction, we had the pleasure of hearing a very clear, "oh sh*t!" from one onlooker. I mean very clear. I laughed, LOL-ed if you will.

And my life has reached a low point, as I spent at least seven minutes today writing about horse racing. Sigh.

Found: NC State Coach

"In two-plus seasons with the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies, Lowe led the team to back-to-back franchise-best records of 23-59 in both 2000-01 and 2001-02."
- Article on PackPride.com

And that pretty much sums it up. But before I get to bashing NC State like any Carolina fan would do, let's attempt to look at the reality of the now-filled NC State coaching position.

Obviously Sidney Lowe was not choice numero uno of the NC State administration or its fans. Yes, everyone will say, "Sidney was always a candidate," "Lowe has a solid resume," and "He has the potential to be better than anyone already offered the job." It is even possible that people will forget in ten years that Lowe was not the first choice, or even the eighth choice, for the job.

However, the present time shows us that Lowe was an afterthought, offered the job solely because of his ties to the school and because he would not further embarrass his alma mater by turning them down. Candidates turned the job down for varying reasons: money, the fan pressure, unrealistic expectations, etc. Here is where my optimism begins.

Lowe could be given slightly more leeway by the fans due to his status as a cherished alumnus. It is possible that the expectations, though unchanged, will be met with more patience. It is true that Lowe could become the perfect coach for this position, but it will surely take some time. His on-court coaching abilities must be fairly solid considering his work in the NBA as both a head coach and an assistant. Certainly, Lowe can sell a kid on the mantra, "I know what it takes to develop you into an NBA-quality player." Hopefully that advantage will help overshadow some of the challenges he will face.

There are glaring drawbacks to hiring Sidney Lowe. He has lost head coaching jobs twice in the NBA, first with Minnesota, then with the Grizzlies. In his defense, both teams were less than five years old when he coached them. This would be similar to saying Bernie Bickerstaff is a terrible coach based only on his work with the Bobcats, which is unfair considering the players on expansion teams. Nonetheless, it is still disconcerting when one of the major feathers in the cap of Lowe is the above quote, bragging on his record of 23 wins, 59 losses. Ouch.

The second drawback is no collegiate head coaching experience. Duh. Lowe has never recruited a player to college, never given a speech as a head coach to alumni asking for donations, never dealt with players declaring for the NBA Draft, never coached in the NCAA or NIT tournaments, and never coached against Duke or Carolina. Hmm, that pretty much speaks for itself. However, recruiting success will depend as much on who Lowe hires on his staff as it will on Lowe himself. Think of recruiting like a major league bullpen: you have to have middle reliever, specialists to get the ball to the closer. The assistants will make the initial contacts, observe players, form relationships, and then pass them on to the closer, Lowe. Sidney Lowe will certainly need experienced assistants who have pre-existing relationships with recruits and AAU coaches in order to make the transition as smooth as possible.

The final drawback is the job itself. Coaching NC State is not a position that lends itself to learning on the job. Expectations are still high, Carolina and Duke are still really good, and the Wolfpack still play in the ACC. Already, State's team next season is not expected to be as talented as this past year's team that underachieved to a 10-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Recruits for this coming season may be released from their letters-of-intent, and already the top recruit for 2007 has rescinded his verbal commitment. Just because a new face is involved does not mean the demands and responsibilities of being the head coach of the NC State Wolfpack have changed.

My opinion is that of a wait-and-see attitude. Lowe will be very passionate about NC State, both on the floor and in his recruiting. In time, he may very well be the perfect man for the job. For now, it is hard to say that NC State did a good job of handling his hiring. He should have been a candidate from the beginning in some capacity, even if he was not the first choice. I do not think that Lowe, at this point, is a better coach than Herb Sendek. In fact, being a supporter of Sendek, it will take a great deal of success to prove to me that State is better off without him. However, I will admit that because of the situation created by the Raleigh-area media and some (a lot) of the NC State fanbase, Sendek probably needed to leave because no one was happy. It remains to be seen who will have the last laugh.

Who knows, the NC State fanbase may change its ways a little bit after getting punched in the stomach. Thus far, I have heard few people remorseful about the situation, saying instead that Athletic Director Lee Fowler is an idiot and should be fired for "botching" the search. Hmm... hate the coach, run him off, and then get mad at the AD for not hiring who you want...but it's not the fans who are the problem. Riiight. Hopefully the fans will chill out a little bit and support Lowe and the program no matter what...or at least until the first time they get blown out by a certain shade of blue. Again. Just like the good ole days, huh?

NBA, NHL, NFL Draft

The NBA Playoffs are captivating this season. Kobe, LeBron, Chauncey, Arenas, Dirk, & the Clippers are now must-see TV. If I had DVR still, I'd be setting it to record nearly every game on TV. I know, the NBA has declined in popularity in recent years. NASCAR, MLB, and the NFL have each grown. But mark my words: the NBA is on its ways back. In ten years, it could very well be back to the level it was in the late eighties, early nineties. I firmly believe that to be possible. But, the future aside, tune in to the playoffs in the present and watch the drama. And, scroll on down and read my feature on Kobe below this entry.

People have been quick to count the Suns out after Kobe's game four winner. I figured I should hold off writing about Kobe's greatness until the Lakers advanced, but I do not think his greatness is necessarily contingent on one series at this point. But, it would help. I am very surprised at the Kings' success against San Antonio. Artest has been great, but Bonzi Wells is the real deal right now. Double-doubles all of a sudden for the former Ball State star. The Clippers and Mavs both looked dominant, but that's easy to do when your opponents give in as easily as Denver and Memphis did.

In the east, Detroit is expending just enough energy to win and will probably finish off the Bucks in game five. The Heat are in a battle with the deep, athletic Bulls. I still think Miami will win, mainly because they have a guy who can take a game over. But, it may take seven games to do so. I have seen none of the Indiana vs New Jersey series because it has been televised mostly on NBA TV. Apparently it has been a good series, but I have seen none of it. Finally, LeBron James and Gilbert Arenas are going back and forth, both doing their best to raise their games and lead their teams to victory. Captivating television for sure.

The "other" playoffs, the NHL, are also going strong. Already, Detroit and Dallas, the top two seeds in the west, are hitting the driving range for the summer, as their seasons were ended courtesy of Edmonton and Colorado respectively. San Jose has also advanced out west, with Calgary and Anaheim playing a deciding game seven Wednesday night. In the east, my Hurricanes advanced with an exciting 2-1 OT victory last night, eliminating Montreal. The Senators and Devils had already moved on while the Sabres blew out the Flyers last night to finish the series. I have seen only the Hurricanes' series, as OLN is not part of my cable package. I need civilization so I can get a decent cable hookup going soon, as losing out on post-season sports is killing me. But, at least I have Turner South (Bravos baby).

Finally, some quick NFL Draft thoughts. Passing on Reggie Bush is being blown up by the media, but it seems that NFL teams are not as high on the guy. After all, no one offered a great deal to either New Orleans or Houston in order to get the guy. One would think that if NFL Scouts thought he was truly a can't-miss prospect that people would have been falling over themselves to acquire him. It just seems that fans and the media are infatuated with him because he is more familiar than Mario Williams. Me? I've been driving the Reggie Bush Bus of Infatuation for three years now.

On the flip side, I did not realize Mario Williams was so new to most of the nation. Being an ACC fan, especially knowing Carolina had to prepare for Williams in the yearly matchup with the Wolfpack, I just assumed he was more well-known to people than it turned out. Obviously my "center of the universe is Chapel Hill" problem reared its head there. My only question in this situation is whether Mario Williams will impact a football game enough to garner the number one pick, especially when taken over Bush. Julius Peppers is the comparison most people make for many reasons. However, on the field in college, Peppers was clearly a dominant player. Williams showed flashes of being that type of player, but did not do it consistently. If you gave me Peppers coming out of college or Reggie Bush coming out of college, I'd have taken Bush. That being said, I think Peppers may have been a more productive prospect than Williams.

Ok enough of that. The Panthers took DeAngelo Williams in the first round, proving me to be exactly what I claimed to be: an idiot with no clue about the NFL Draft. In discussing the pick with friends, I have expressed concern over his size and running style fitting into the Panthers' offense. They have each defended the pick, stating that the Panthers need a gamebreaker, a back with explosive abilities. They may well be correct, as it seems this pick and the signing of Keyshawn Johnson are signs that the overly-conservative offensive days are numbered. Fact is the Panthers will probably not win the Super Bowl sitting on the ball and the addition of Williams will help add to the explosiveness of the offense. I have nothing against Williams, I think I was just higher on Maroney or White. Oh well, got to trust the Panthers front office I guess.

Quickly, I loved the Jeff King pick late. Solid blocking TE with excellent hands from what I've seen. Now if they'd just sign David Noel...Richard Marshall is an exciting player, but I only remember seeing him a few times in live action. He certainly has a ton of confidence. Hopefully he will not only be a solid DB, but also a dangerous return man. Finally, drafting Will Montgomery (C from Va Tech) may also be a good move. He is "just a football player," which translates as "he tries real hard and has the proper nasty lineman attitude."

Wrapping things up here, tune in to the NBA Playoffs and, if you have OLN, the NHL Playoffs as well. This is why everyone should have multiple TVs for optimal viewing purposes. Got to maximize your sports. Play on playas...

The Best

I really did not want to write anything today. For numerous reasons. But, one man left me no choice. That man is Kobe. Not Kobe Bryant. Just Kobe.

Certain special athletes reach the point where one name is all that is necessary. Michael Jordan is one of those, which is even more remarkable seeing as he has a common first name. But Kobe is a name that no one I know possesses. But has there ever been an athlete to reach one-name status in such a negative way as Bryant?

Kobe is synonymous with terms like “selfish,” “spoiled,” “a team cancer,” “accused rapist,” and “overrated.” But now, today, I am re-naming Kobe. Or should I say re-defining Kobe.

As someone who hated Kobe’s game and attitude before it was cool to do so, then took up for Kobe when everyone hated him, I feel it is my job to clue everyone in before the new trend takes off. So get ready, the Kobe love is on the horizon (if it hasn’t already arrived).

Kobe is now synonymous with “team player.” Ok, maybe that is a bit of a stretch, but he is at least helping make his teammates better. Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic, Kwame Brown (!), and my main man, Smushie Parker, are all playing the best basketball of their storied NBA careers. And by storied, I mean a kiddie book about caterpillars. Lamar Odom, Brian Cook, and Devean George are contributing as well. The point is Kobe’s greatness is raising the level of his teammates’ play, forcing them to believe in themselves and the team.

Kobe is also synonymous with “clutch.” This is nothing new, but people generally have said, “Kobe is clutch, but…” filling in the " …" portion with one of those above-mentioned synonyms on the negative side. Now, he is simply clutch, period. Big shots, big steals, key passes; he is doing it all in crunch time.

Kobe is next synonymous with “complete player.” His defensive abilities have always been strong, but he has not always chosen to apply these abilities. Not to be confused with Ron Artest, of course, but Kobe’s defense is solid on the ball and his help-side instincts are excellent. Watch any Lakers game and you’ll find him free-lancing off the ball for steals. He rebounds well for a guard, taking advantage of his size and quickness. Finally, Kobe has become a terric passer. Yes, of the basketball. He sets up his teammates to better succeed, but also recognizes the correct pass to make as opposed to just giving up the ball.

Lastly, Kobe is synonymous with “hands-down, bar none, the best player in the NBA today, period.” There has been great debate over Kobe’s greatness for many years, as his negative descriptions have overshadowed his talent. People refused to acknowledge just how great Kobe was because no one wanted him to be the best. With this rebirth, Kobe’s talent is now complimented by his public persona. The guy who credits his teammates, shares the ball, takes over in the clutch, and wins is easy for the fans to admire and for the media to anoint as “the best.” The fact that Steve Nash is reported to be awarded his second straight MVP award is hilarious. Who votes for this stuff? The only debate was Kobe or LeBron, as Nash should have been a very distant third at best. In my opinion, Kobe deserved the award before these playoffs began. Now, there is little question, as punctuated by his dunk over Nash in game 2.

In all honesty, Kobe does not need the MVP award. His not winning has further motivated him, much as Barkley (’93) and Malone (’97) winning over His Airness did for Michael. I’m not stupid enough to think he is going to carry the Lakers to the NBA Title this season. They could conceivably choke away the series against Phoenix and make me look like a moron within the week. But, the redefinition of Kobe has at least begun in full, winning over the fans and the media.

All in all, Kobe Bryant is raising his game and changing his image. It has been a work-in-progress since his trial, with a conscious effort by his marketing and PR people to make him enduring to the general public once again. His floor game has taken a longer time to evolve, with the old labels sticking around for a while. Now that everything is lining up, he has become the game’s best player and one of its most respected. Kobe will never be Michael, nor should he try to be. He has instead finally realized that he need only be Kobe. Used to, that was not enough. Now? Being Kobe means simply being The Best.