The Sports World

It is nice to write about something as meaningless and unnecessary as sports again. However, please continue to keep Jason Ray’s family, the victims & families at Virginia Tech, and Christie Smith in your prayers.

Random thoughts on sports, both recent past, present, and near future:

On a national scope, three major events right now. The NBA Playoffs are underway, which basically means the NBA season has finally commenced. After six months of boredom and tanking, the good teams are remaining and their stars will begin taking it to the next level. Of course, the excitement of the playoffs can be destroyed with an NBA Finals matchup of San Antonio & Detroit, or enhanced with Phoenix & Cleveland. Either way, I unashamedly love the NBA Playoffs. LOVE it. After discussing the matchups and big picture of the post-season with a few friends, I really have no gauge on who will win the title. San Antonio and Detroit have a huge advantage because of each team’s defensive prowess. Houston could say the same thing, but I just don’t see them going three rounds to even make the finals. I like Chicago’s squad, but there is no way they can ride four jump shooters to a title. Denver was the darkhorse, until they beat San Antonio in the first game of that series…now they’re the lighthorse I guess. Thanks, I’ll be here all weekend.

Seriously, as a buddy mentioned to me, Detroit should be the favorite because of their balance, experience, hunger, and the fact that they will be more rested if they make the finals than their counterparts. Cleveland looks to be the only Eastern Conference squad who could give the Pistons a run, seeing as Dwayne Wade is playing at about 65% health. Out west, I almost always pick the Spurs. However, I think Dallas will come back, defeat the pesky Warriors in a long series, then gain some confidence as they roll back to the finals. But go Spurs. And go Raptors, like anyone in Canada has anything else to cheer for, besides…

The NHL Playoffs. The NBA & NHL have identically long regular and post-seasons, but exactly the opposite color of dudes playing their sports. And I have no clue why. Either way, I love everyone, so I watch the mullets in hockey just as much as the afros & dreads in basketball. The NHL has already moved to the second round, with Vancouver the lone remaining representative from the Great White North, hence why Canadians have only the Canucks to cheer for besides the Toronto Raptors. Keeping this short and sweet, I like the Buffalo Sabres to roll through the east, even though the New York Rangers looked nasty in the opening round. Out west, Anaheim is the team to beat in my mind. What a great Stanley Cup Finals matchup that would produce, for all 17 of the hockey fans to watch. By the way, I love how last year everyone in North Carolina, especially the Triangle area, became a hockey fan for two months. Now, no one watches the playoffs since the Canes are not participating. And we want a Major League Baseball team in North Carolina? We don’t support the Bobcats, only support the Canes & Panthers when they’re winning, but we want a team in the state that has 81 home games a year? Just stick to college athletics and NASCAR.

Finally, the NFL Draft is coming up this weekend. Straight up, the Panthers should pick Patrick Willis, the linebacker from Ole Miss if he’s available at the fourteenth pick. They shouldn’t even use the entirely-too-long fifteen minute time block that’s allotted to them to make that selection. However, if he’s gone (which he should be), then we have a problem on our hands. I’m not a huge fan of picking a safety there if his name is not LaRon Landry, but I guess I could deal with Reggie Nelson. No other linebacker is supposed to be selected that high, with that Timmons guy from FSU as the only viable candidate. A WR is a possibility, as the draft has lots of those. Personally, if Willis is gone, I’m hoping Jamal Anderson, the defensive end from Arkansas, slides to the Panthers. Mike Rucker is a great human being, but not a healthy football player. I really think a decent safety can be had later in the draft while an elite pass rusher should be taken as early as possible. All I know is if I read one more mock draft that has the Panthers taking Greg Olsen at tight end in the first round, I’m going to flip out. I could be wrong, but it just doesn’t make sense that the team would waste its first rounder selection on the position it values the least. Yes, I’d love to have a great threat at tight end, but John Fox, Marty Hurney, et al do not value that spot. Last time I checked, they’re still in charge. My guess is we end up with Ted Ginn Jr. or a defensive end.

On to the more-localized portion of our show. Brandan Wright declared for the NBA Draft and Tar Heel fans everywhere shed a small tear. Ok, that’s an exaggeration, but the tantalizing thought of, “my, what could have been” is now in the past. Truthfully, any knowledgeable fan would agree that Wright made the correct decision. Yes, college is great, and yes, life is so much fan…but $3.5 million guaranteed dollars is still $3.5 million guaranteed dollars. Hel-lo. There is little tangible gain in staying. Of course winning an NCAA Championship is awesome and no feeling or amount of money can replace that, but it is not guaranteed. The last time I checked, the $3.5 million dollars are guaranteed. End of discussion.

So what does that mean for next year? Not a lot really. Carolina will still be top five pre-season and will more than likely finish in the top five at the end of the regular season. As a regular reader would know (can you be a regular reader of someone’s blog who writes on an irregular basis?), I am madly in love with Deon Thompson’s game. His offensive moves are solid and he has the chance to be an All-ACC player in his college career. More PT for Big D is a good thing. Alex Stepheson will also benefit. Not much was made of Stepheson’s season in 2006-2007, but he should be a more-than-adequate sub off the bench for Roy’s Boys. I am quietly optimistic that his shot-blocking skills will prove solid enough to make a difference for the team’s defense, as lack of a shot-blocking presence has been an Achilles heal for the Heels in recent years.

In truth, the success of next season will depend greatly on the success of this off-season. How much improvement will the freshmen make? Can Danny Green step into the roll of a consistent offensive threat at the 3-spot, whether he starts or not? Vitally important is the re-development of Bobby Frasor after last season became a lost cause due to injury. There is no real backup to Wayne Ellington at the 2-guard spot (assuming Ginyard is a 3) and Frasor has also proven to be a steady point guard when healthy. Also, Mike Copeland will be called on for spot minutes next season. I am afraid of Deon Thompson trying to guard the 4-spot, so foul trouble could become a regular issue, forcing Copeland into more minutes. I can really see Copeland becoming the Wes Miller of next year’s team. No, not a short white guy who shoots threes, but a high-energy, scrappy player who the fans and especially the students can rally behind. Ultimately, the Tar Heels will be fine next season. I’m not sure a national championship is on the horizon, but a solid year and hopefully an ACC title to boot.

Quick thoughts, then I’m out. Sebastian Telfair is immature and selfish. He’s at a crossroads, much like Pacman Jones: either be a man and grow up or keep acting like a thug and remain immature. One will lead to a great NBA comeback story, the other to the NBDL and eventually cleaning toilets.

TNT’s studio show consisting of Ernie Johnson, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, & Kenny “The Jet” Smith (Tar Heel) is the best on television. I LOL-ed last night listening to a rant about Brokeback Mountain, the halftime show in Dallas, and Charles & Kenny’s quality time the previous evening. I’m not sure how they got away with it, but it was hilarious. Just like I said last season, it’s must-see TV.

The Braves are winning with smoke and mirrors. There will come a time this season that the starting pitching will be beaten up and broken down, and the bats will become silent in unison. As the boys and I have contended for three seasons now, this team’s reliance on the long ball looks good when it’s working, but can go into hibernation for extended periods of time. Please give us improved team speed and the ability to play some small ball when needed. Please.

I too am addicted to the possibilities of the upcoming NBA Draft. I will give my arm to have Kevin Durant on the Bobcats. More on that soon. Long drives on Fridays somehow lead to me talking to God in the car about the Bobcats.

Billy Gillispie is the right guy at Kentucky. I wanted State to hire him last year (and by wanted, I mean hoped they would not, because he’s good) and thought Kentucky should make a push for him after Donovan. In fact, I felt from the outset that if Donovan turned them down, he was the next best candidate. Sometimes a resume can be outweighed by potential and being a good fit. This is one of those cases.

Spoiler Alert for Bachelor watchers: Dear Andy the Midshipmen – please pick Amber.

Spoiler Alert for 24 watchers: Jack Bauer, please stop taking projects on your own. And quit producing a show that has stupid plot items that involve ridiculous inner-office politics.

I’m out. If sexy never left, then why’s everybody on my s-…