Halftime Hype

Chalk is Cheap
I already tweeted this great headline, "chalk is cheap" but it's worth mentioning on the blog. Lebron may be the Most Valuable Player in the NBA. He may have the coolest kicks. He may have the most emphatic dunks. He may be the greatest thing that's happened to basketball since Kobe. But he is definitely not the best leader and has proved nothing and will continue to remain unjustified hype until he can take home a title. After all, chalk is cheap. I don't believe that the Cavs will win the championship next year, but at least they've elevated themselves to contender status. What everyone is waiting to see is how the two superstars will get along. Until this point, LBJ has never had to share the ball with anyone better than himself. How (much) will he facilitate with the acquisition of Shaq?

Danny Ferry said himself that this trade will wind up being a hit or miss deal - and I agree. I'm that Shaq won't be able to contribute anymore - even if he receives enough passes - just because he's closing in on retirement. It's not secret that Shaq isn't as beastly as he was several years ago. It's the fact that he may drastically hurt the team which Ferry should fear. When he came to Phoenix, the Suns were the best team in the Western Conference and subsequently missed the playoffs during Shaq's full year. You could attribute a drop in standings to the loss of Amare, but that's still no excuse for going from the penthouse to the outhouse.

In order to get some scoring from Shaq, though, the Cavs need a playmaker or more specifically, a passer, who can throw the ball into Shaq when he has position. Despite Lebron's high assist numbers, he is a scorer not a passer. Which means if and when the Cavs get hold of a passer, the point guard will have to find a way to appease the Big Aristotle and #23. My primary issue here is that even when Shaq was playing with arguably the best passer in the game and two-time MVP, Steve Nash, he was not able to take the Suns into the postseason. Last I remember, the Cavs wanted to win in the NBA Finals.

Also, as Shaq's previous teams have experienced, Mr. O'Neal has some fine print. Every time he moves on with another team, he doesn't technically move on for awhile. What I mean by this is that he never forgets to acknowledge all the shameful people in his past engagement (i.e. Kobe, Wade, Van Gundy, etc.). Make sure your players have thick skin, Ferry, especially that Mo kid, and make sure that they're out of the gym when Shaq is shooting free throws - you don't want them to learn bad technique.

Hego Turkoglu?
Having traded for Vince Carter, the Magic basically embraced the fact that Hedo's departure is imminent, especially since he opted out of his contract and had previously rejected an extension. What interests me in this deal is what the Magic sacrificed to get VC. They gave up on this year's playoff sensation, Rafer Alston, a somewhat effective big man who could possibly contribute more if he received more minutes, Tony Battie, and a promising mid-range shooter and a developing scorer, Courtney Lee. Although, in the end, this was at the worst a decent deal for the Magic. They needed someone who can create their own shot. In the Finals, we saw that the Magic didn't know who to turn to in clutch time. Imagine how much things would have changed if it were Vince Carter dunking that alley-oop pass in the final second instead of Courtney Lee missing it off the glass. Besides pick-and-rolls and Howard drawing double teams and kicking the ball out, the Magic couldn't design a complex strategy.



The only issue with this trade is similar to that of the Cavs: how will the ball be distributed among themselves? Vince Carter is currently surrounded by three other All-Stars in Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard. Each player has their own unique style and way of contributing, but in order to do so, they need the ball in their hands. Surely, the statistics of those All-Stars will decrease in the upcoming season. And when they do, how will the players deal with it? Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard still haven't reached the primes of their careers and are working to build a reputation. Even if Rashard Lewis is okay with a drop in numbers, will his two All-Star teammates acquiesce?

Plus, Vince Carter, just like Shaq, is no longer a young powerhouse in the game. We saw him fade out during his time with the Nets and I'm afraid this may be the last stop of his career. However, the Magic have given themselves a better chance of winning it all with this transaction and in the end that's all that matters.

Roundup of Draft '09



As expected the Clippers selected undoubtedly the best player in the draft, Blake Griffin, with the first pick. Something has to go very wrong for Blake to turn into the busts of Clippers' past, but as I was watching the best briefing in sports, Around the Horn, my favorite sportswriter, J.A. Adande, made a great point: the Clippers are already stacked in the front court. And "who's going to pass Blake the ball? Baron Davis?" If anything the Clippers should look for a shooting guard and get an upgrade over Steve Novak. Not that Novak is a bad player, because he's not (I was at the game to see him drain a game-winning three pointer over the Nets during the season), but there were some promising guards in this draft that the Clippers could have taken. Still, it's not too late to trade for one.

Memphis really did themselves a favor drafting Hasheem Thabeet. Regardless of what analysts may say, the Magic have given O.J. Mayo support in the front court and this could get them to the playoffs. I won't go as far as to say that he is the perfect replacement for Pau Gasol, but with a little more work, he could become a threatening presence in the league.

The big discussion of the draft emerged when the T-Wolved picked two points guards with at 5 and 6. How is that going to help them? Well, with Ruboi claiming that he won't play in Minnesota because it's "too cold" and his father saying that Ricky will stay in Spain for one or two more years, I quote Kobe Bryant when I write "Ship his [expletive] out!" As Jay Mariotti pointed out on yesterday's episode of ATH, the T-Wolves need to trade Rubio "while everyone still thinks he's hot." Give him to the folks in NYC, which qualifies as the big cities that Rubio is fond of, and get something in return. There's no way that Minnesota can keep both Rubio and Flynn, and Rubio has already expressed negative thoughts so you might as well deal him.

After the T-Wolves picked Flynn, Golden State disappointed everyone in the draft facility when they selected Stephen Curry. This is, without a doubt, a great selection by the Warriors. Having traded Jamal Crawford for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton, the Warriors desperately needed a better starter. This pick at least gives them a great chance of securing a playoff spot and who knows, maybe the Bay Area boys will overcome the odds once again in a David vs. Goliath match-up (i.e. GSW vs. Dallas).

Kudos to the stars with their steal of DeJaun Blair in the second round. I was surprised to see him slip so low, even in mock drafts, after how much he impressed the nation with his play in Pittsburgh during the tourney. Nevertheless, you could say that the Spurs replaced Kurt Thomas and Oberto with this move, which is another reason to praise the minds of this franchise.

Also, congrats to the Sacramento Kings for the kosher selection of Israeli prospect Omri Cassipi at 23. The guy has long arms and will hopefully be a good representative of his country and restore confidence in the NBA's foreign players.



DARKO?!
In case you didn't hear the news, the Knicks traded cash and Quentin Richardson to the Grizzlies for Darko Milicic. Tim Cowlishaw made an interesting point yesterday when he said "I'm still figuring out what happened to Quentin Richardson's career." I don't know why anyone would trade specifically for Darko. This trade just confuses me and there's no question that Memphis is on the better end of this deal.

Rumors
Amare has been the protagonist of many rumors lately. He knows that too, just check his twitter. He has been mentioned in rumors sending him to Golden State, but at this point, I don't think the Suns can afford to degrade their team further. Which leads me to...

Steve Nash is waiting to see how the organziation will conduct business this summer before making a decision about a contract extension. If I were Steve, I would let them know very clearly that I'm gone unless they can make amazing happen and surround me with the talent I deserve. But then again, I'm not Steve Nash.

Yahoo! Sports brought this to my attention and I think it's worth mentioning: There is the possiblity that Jason Kidd could head to New York (interest is mutual), Portland, or Cleveland. If he went to Cleveland, the Cavs would have a strong chance of winning a title with Kidd, Lebron, and Shaq. It seems that the point guard is always the glue in these scenarios.

Ed-Note: Soccer!
USA Soccer has never looked this good. Some are calling the semifinal win over Spain the greatest victory in US soccer history. While Jim Rome of ESPN may be burning on how this win isn't that significant, I strongly disagree. Spain had gone undefeated in their last 35 matches! They hadn't suffered a defeat since 2006. Team USA now has some global attention, but they have to finish the FIFA Confederations Cup with a win in the final game against Brazil.

Many gave them no shot at winning against Spain and they proved soccer/futbol fans wrong around the world. But before we get too excited, Brazil is probably the most fluid team in the world and their mesmerizing passes and speed make them one of the hardest teams to match up with. USA has to remember that if they can beat the #1 team in the world, they are capable of beating anybody. The main issue will be defense. If Tim Howard doesn't have to make miraculous saves and the defense does a good job of clearing out, USA will have a chance at winning the game. That said, the offense must show up and a spectacular performance from Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore will be instrumental in a USA win. Make sure to root for these newfound underdogs tomorrow at 11 AM on ESPN.

This offseason is unique for several reasons. Firstly, because this is when the preparations for next year's big moves begins. With the upcoming stardom of the 2010 free agency, it can be easy to overlook the wonders of 2009. Although, we shouldn't even get to the hype yet because only a few years ago we saw an interesting trade go through...

The Spurs have traded for Richard Jefferson? Really?! The guy has only been in Milwaukee for a year and the Bucks already whisked him away. He was averaging a steady 19.6 points this season and was shooting a career best 39.7% from behind the arc, according to NBA.com. What's more amusing, though, is not the Richard Jefferson point-of-view on this, but instead the Spurs' perspective. San Antonio recently saw their past successes basically get shot out the window with their silent but disappointing performance this year. Even without Manu Ginobli, they were no longer contenders as they had been for the better part of a decade. It was the Tony and Tim Show with three pointers here and there from Matt Bonner and occasional performances outside of the dynamic duo. Maybe the Spurs read my post about the formation and demoralization of dynasties. Maybe they read the posts of other sportswriters; maybe the media was finally getting through to management.

Or maybe the Texans just woke up and realized they were not going to have a chance at pursuing titles unless they upgrade the quality of their roster. My primary criticism of this deal is that the Spurs may have just given up too much. They lost a hard-nosed defensive presence in Bruce Bowen, a bulky but somewhat effective forward in Oberto (not kidding), and a veteran presence in Kurt Thomas. I think those three role players may account for much more than Richard Jefferson. But there's no anger on the Spurs' players. Tony Parker has called RJ "a great wing" and a team with Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and now Richard Jefferson would a devastating match-up for most opponents.



Local free agency here in Los Angeles has also been well-documented recently. The Lakers must make up a decision on whether to resign Odom, Ariza, and Brown. Odom was on the books for $14 mil and a pay cut is imminent no matter where he goes, but he did play especially well in his contract year (surprise, surprise). Despite his anger at the beginning of the year, he has proven to be an exceptional x-factor and was very helpful in the absence of Bynum. Many teams will be watching Ariza after his growth this season. Throughout his pro career, he really hadn't made a reputation for himself other than being renown for his athleticism. This year he proved he can defend the quickest forward on the opposing team in addition to driving and shooting. As for Brown, the young man really made a name for himself by scoring and dishing out assists the second he came off the bench. Instead of his focusing on his lack of minutes he made the most of what he got and impressed everybody watching in the process. Teams will be eyeing this guard and will probably sign him as a back-up, although I believe the Lakers will resign him.

We have also heard talk of Hedo Turkoglu's departure from Orlando after he turned down a contract extension. I'm not sure where Hedo will go or what system he'd best fit in just because he is such a unique player. Nevertheless, while I was watching ESPN, it may have been Around the Horn, the only respectable part of that franchise, I heard of a possibly move to Detroit and that sounds about right. The Pistons are missing that extra piece to tone down Iverson's firepower and allow the Motor City's talents to mesh. This will all surely leave a major void to fill for Orlando.

There is also another departure, and not of a player's but rather an entire team . We have heard talk for a few months now that the New Jersey Nets are relocating themselves to Brooklyn. Now, the Nets owner has been graciously awarded a delay on his arena payments and can kick back and relax. A professional sports team in Brooklyn will definitely have an immense cultural impact. For years to come, rappers will be rhyming about this new team in their hood. The league would be allocating athletic representation to a city who desperately needs it. For decades, Brooklyn has only been known as a poor city full of African-Americans and the celebrities who emerge from the area have all prided themselves on their rags-to-riches journey. What better way to show the NBA cares than to designate a team to such a deserving region?

And of course, the big thing on everyone's mind right now is the NBA Draft. For some teams, draft day will turn out to be a historic moment that turned around their franchise. For others, it may result in a bust and a horrible decision may cost them, literally cost them, for the next few years. And for some, like the Lakers, this draft shouldn't matter that much at the moment. But as usual, this year we have foreign (Ricky Rubio) and domestic (the Clippers and other disastrous teams) hype. Will Brandon Jennings break into the association with a bang? Will Stephen Curry make an immediate impact? Will Ricky Rubio be the next Darko Milicic? Who is Milenko Tepic? (I found his name under the 57th pick for Suns on NBADraft.net's mock draft. He's from Serbia =)

What I'm concerned about in this draft is the resurgence of the league's currently "bad" teams. I always use the Clippers in video games but for some reason they can never get themselves together during the season. When you have Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Sam Cassel, and Cuttino Mobley you have to keep going after a ring. Lottery picks haven't really uplifted this team either. It even angers me to list all the people the Clippers could have picked when they chose to go a different way. Hopefully, Blake Griffin will be able to contribute right away. As for the Grizzlies, my apologies to all Memphis fans. After the Pau Gasol "donation", you all were disgraced and in return, Ricky Rubio, the latest foreign sensation seems like he can help. I'm particularly interested in is the performance of Stephen Curry. Two years ago, he had Lebron rooting for him and he was truly the talk of the town. This year we didn't hear as much about him, but he's still feared. NBADraft.net has him going to Sactown, where hopefully he can turn things around.

Also, make sure to keep an eye on ballers from around the world making their way to the NBA, the world's most coveted pro basketball league. There's a lot of hype currently surrounding Brandon Jennings, but I believe he will take the initiative to acclimate to NBA play this summer and be ready to woo the world during the season. I am very excited to report that this year's draft features the possible styles of this year's draft may include Israel, Spain, Ukraine, Serbia, France, Sweden. My only worry is that these boys will not represent their countries well, which we have seen from international players quite often in the past. However, most of these prospects are projected to be selected in the second round in mock drafts - which isn't a good sign for their position in the actual draft. Rest assured, though, there are plenty of other talented, home-grown prospects to fill the void.

Don't expect too much drama outside of the draft during this offseason, and if some trades do go down it's ultimately to prepare for next year's extravaganza. Many teams are looking to go younger and free up cap space and don't be surprised if this doesn't turn out to be a blockbuster summer, because general managers are eagerly awaiting to evaluate their team in season play. I'm expecting several trades to happen throughout the course of the year after we realize how much potential each individual has. Until then, we await draft day.

I have decided to cover an issue on everyone's mind today - one that's not related to sports or music but to a greater cause, peace.



If you own a TV - and have made the digital switch - or happen to have stumbled across the news, you are definitely aware of the ongoing election protests in Iran. Nearly 30 years ago, the shah, and peace along with it, were thrown out in exchange for a dynasty of ayatollahs. Some may disagree with how fruitful this new ruling class has been, but ever since that radical revolution the United States and the Islamic Republic haven't exactly been friends. Those of us in the U.S. have associated the Iranians with extremism and terrorism. Now, however, is the dawn of a new age. We are finally seeing the next generation rise against their elders as they defy the common law of their government. This election has evolved into a revolution on multiple fronts.

First, in the literal sense, this is a rebellion by the Iranian people. Although, Iran exemplifies the fountain of youth expression. Many of the protesters you see on television, especially those advocating for reform, appear to be college-age students. It's rare to see such a large mass of youth unite against such a leader, though. Sure, you have your riots in Zimbabwe from the disappointing results. And you have young, defiant kids everywhere willing to stand up for what they believe in. But Iran's radical clerics are now waging war against, seeemingly, the majority of their population.

What we're seeing now is a thunderous crowd of people ready to overturn a ruthless regime. In '78, the world witnessed a change in powers when the shah was replaced. You could say it all went downhill when the first signs of uprising began in January 1978. This wasn't an ordinary rebellion; the people were not particularly mad at economical distress and the troops didn't have any political opinions. Iran was trying to ally with the massive Soviet Union and this new mob of anger was inforcing their agenda. The revolution led to a colassal halt in Westernization and marked the beginning of what's been a mostly disastrous thirty years.

What seperates these youthful demonstrators from the previous generation, is not only who they're supporting, but also their ingenuity. I don't know how many elders in Iran are Twitter users, but I've seen a lot of tweets from Mousavi's fans. My mom, who was around for the Islamic Revolution of the late-70s, mentioned the impact of what they're doing pretty well when she said: "CNN is getting the news served to them. The anchormen/women aren't doing anything." That's all true. Reporters in Iran have been warned not to come out of their hotel rooms - I suggest the Iranian government look into coining the phrase "hotel arrest." The journalists and field reporters there are relying primarily on social networking, mainly from the young Moussavi voters, for material to broadcast. Whether it's through amateur video, Twitter, Facebook, or any other technological method, the grass roots organizers of the Moussavi campaign have been busy.



Thirty years ago, imagine if the Shah's supporters could have tweeted about the eventual corruption they may face. Or if the Ayatollahs could make more promises of good fortune over their Facebook. Imagine all the people...

All of this has really been hurting the incumbent president, Ahmadinejad. Even though we can all agree that he's outspoken, and downright senseless, he might be getting a slight bit more support if he were able to utilize the media better. While his campaign is the only side being covered on Iranian state television, he has failed to strike a global chord. How often do you see writers documenting any good things that the man has done? On the other hand, his main opposition is being praised for his reformist methods and for possibly breaking silence between Iran and the United States, in addition to the rest of the world.

Many, though, are failing to realize how horrible of an impact an Ahmadinejad re-election could have. I'm not going to exagerate and frighten you with World War III possibilities, but if this candidate does come out on top, it will be a major setback for the world. Everybody and anybody could be in danger with the Iranians refusing to back down their nuclear production. Sanctions may not be enough to cripple the country. Hoards of youth may end up dying for a lost cause in these upcoming protests as well. Politics, not money, may turn out to be the root of all evil in this case.

Obviously, there still is an amount of uncertainty over a Mousavi administration and how it would turn out. Needless to say, diplomacy may be on the way. We in America may be able to engage in rational discussions with a country gradually gaining more power on the global front. And even if complete peace isn't restored to Iran, it probably will never happen, it seems like anything is better than another 4 years of Ahmadinejad. These likely fradulent elections have proven the need for an integretable democracy, which has not been achieved under the supervision of Supreme Leader Khamenei.

This election will also test Obama's foreign policy. During Obama's campaign some criticized for his inexperience, especially Sen. McCain. He's never been in the military and may not posess as much expertise in battle as his opposing POW. Although, this may turn out to form Obama's legacy: dealing with Iran. If he's successfully able to have peace talks with the Islamic Republic and fix matters overseas, he will be forever remembered as the Great Diplomat. If he fails to capitalize on this crisis, or actually make things worse, it could potentially destroy his presidency. Let's hope he'll take the first route.

Overall, this election has been historic and will be retold as a tale of rebellion and as a display of advances in communication. FYI, yours truly is of Iranian descent.

Throughout the season, many NBA experts, regardless of their legitimacy, had declared the Cleveland Cavaliers would definitely make it out of the Eastern Conference Finals, possibly en route to an NBA championship. Just like the Lakers, this team had its own elements of success. Their tallest player was a bald, Eastern European draining mid-range, and at times, three point, shots at 7'3". Their point guard was a guy who could make a 67-footer at the halftime buzzer of Conference Finals game, only to miss a potentially game-winning field goal at the final horn. For Pete's sake, their power forward looked like a chia pet. Yes, these were the players many believed would make an NBA Finals appearance. This ball club had the league praying for a Lakers-Cavs match-up.

Deep down, everyone wanted the entertainment of a Kobe vs. Lebron finals series. The sportswriters would have finally had an answer to the "who's best" debate. The league would have generated seven figure sums. Fans would have had historically brilliant amusement. Unfortunately, though, the Orlando Magic ended up as the best of the East. The series, in a sense, was almost as disappointing as the Spurs sweep of the Cavs only a few years ago. Only more reason for the Cavaliers to be ashamed that they didn't make it to the main stage. The hype had been on their side for so long, and they failed to capitalize. Even people who don't know what the initials of the NBA stand for, let's call them the "uninformed witnesses", were confident that the two greatest players of the association would meet in the highest stage of play.

Of course, the main embarrassment of this postseason was Lebron James. Despite stellar scoring performances, you can only outscore an entire 12 man team so many times. People may say that Lebron now has help, but I don't know if I can agree. Regardless, this was a chance for Lebron to prove himself as a leader and prove that he's more than a one man scoring (and rebounding) machine. Whatever the cause, whether it was pressure or lack of assistance, 23 was not able to guide his team to the promised land. My primary criticism of Lebron is that he hasn't yet learned how to "measure" games like Kobe. He hasn't developed the ability to sense when he needs to pass to his teammates, the most suitable play to run under circumstances, and when he must take over, which he seems to be doing too often. I always see clips of Kobe voicing his opinions in the huddles and resembling a coach, but I rarely see footage of Lebron giving feedback to his teammates during timeouts.



Danny Ferry has to do a better job of satisfying Lebron and his own Cleveland constituents. Right now, not to sound biased, but it's clear that the Los Angeles Lakers will be contenders for the next 2-3 years, and will likely be victorious unless somebody stops them. Boston and Cleveland may very well be the only teams that could put a speedbump on the Lakers' success. Until now, we haven't seen anybody capable of giving LB a breather. Everytime he steps out of the game, the flow of the game rapidly deteriorates. Mo Williams? Sasha Pavlovic? Big Z? Ben Wallace? Are these players able to carry on their team in Lebron's absence. Boston did a rather exceptional job of proceeding with the postseason without Kevin Garnett. And I'm sure a squad with Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, and Derek Fisher would perform phenomenally better than a Lebron-less Cavs team.

The bigger issue for Ferry, more urgent than adding talent, is keeping his superstar. If Lebron were to depart and head for the East Coast, a very likely possibility, Ferry could be blamed for demoralizing the franchise. If Lebron were to leave, Danny Ferry would be to the Cavs as Jimmy Carter was to Iran - he would create an era of isolation and a never-ending chain of bad news. The team would probably function as poorly as the Lakers team the first few years after the Shaq trade. As for the players stuck on that team - they will be praying for free agency. I don't want to get into the intracies of a mediocre team - the lottery picks, screw-ups, trial and error, etc.

Although, there is a glimmer of hope for this otherwise haughty bunch. In the build-up to the trade deadline earlier this season, the Cavs were believed to have traded for the Big Cactus - after the deadline of 12 ET, though. A James-O'Neal powerhouse would be O'Neal's most fitting pairing and would have elevated the Cavaliers to a throne of dominance. Not many people in the league have the physical stamina to contain that type of a dynamic duo for 48 minutes. If Lebron beats you to the rack, your center would have to step up, in which case he could either draw contact or dish it out to Shaq. And if Shaq gains posession, he could draw a double team, back you down as far as he wants to create a SportsCenter highlight reel or, if he's feeling generous, kick it out to a three-point shooter or somebody slashing to the rim - basically what Orlando should have been doing the entire series.

Commemorates the Spurs-Cavs finals. Just to clarify, I did not make this graphic. Found a link to it on Twitter.

All in all, the key point here is that Lebron must be happy. A dismayed puppet will result in a dispirited James, which is a very bad thing for the Cavaliers. On the other hand, a Knicks-Lakers finals would be fun to watch.

I think it's safe to say that the Lakers are officially the franchise of the decade. In the immediate years following the Shaq trade, the Lakers were victims of their own despair. They have now exemplified different variations of glory at its highest honor. At the beginning of the decade, the Lake Show was a numerous-headed monster that couldn't be stopped. The Lakers of today, however, are a combination of several styles that find creative ways to attack. Back in the early 2000's, the supporting cast was a bunch of veterans who had enjoyed playoff prosperity. Nine years later, the bench of the purple and gold consist of determined youth motivated to win under the leadership of a single soul: Kobe Bryant. The championship night riots might have been more lively in the early part of this decade, but there are plenty more jerseys to be found on the streets today. If you haven't already caught on, this is an entirely new team with a memorable road to the title.

You might be wondering how a bunch of young boys beat older men in Hedo Turkoglu (a.k.a. The Turkish Michael Jordan) and Rashard Lewis. In that case, just think about their shortcoming last year. After "cake walking" to the NBA Finals, the Lakers were utterly embarrassed and disgraced the city of Los Angeles with their poor performance. The first round was a complete joke, with not even a touch of brutality as we saw in this year's match-up with Utah. There were no technical fouls and they didn't show a bit of the intensity they dominated with this postseason. Defense? It wasn't in their vocabulary. As many already know, while playing at Staples during a critical Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Lakers gave up a 24-point lead. They didn't have the will to close out games. They couldn't find the energy to drive to the rim and stop the NBA's biggest madman in Kevin Garnett. The boys didn't have the intangibles in the arsenal of every championship team, either. Key word here: EXPERIENCE.



The opposite of cake walking, though, is effort - something the Lakers didn't have in their postseason campaign last year. Did we see Kobe Bryant scowl and model his teeth angrily last year? Did we see Lamar Odom scream en route to three points plays like he did this year? Did Derek Fisher outperform his younger counterpart on the opposing team as well as he did this year? They didn't even have a Shannon Brown to come off the bench and score within the first few seconds he was inserted into the ball game. Was the media making such a big deal about winning without Shaq? Was Trevor Ariza making game-changing steals in the last minute of ball games? Was the post-game parade on anybody's mind at all (I don't think I even saw the word "parade" anywhere until the Rose Parade this January)? Was there a Josh Powell to praise Kobe every timeout? Was there a retired player (cough, cough, Alonzo Mourning) around to criticize the game's greatest coach of all-time? The answer to all of these questions, without a doubt, is "no."

A big part of this postseason has been the people who haven't been involved on the court. Even though Kobe will continue to say that winning without Shaq means nothing, we all know what he's really thinking - "Shaq, tell me how my ass tastes." The criticism from the Big Aristotle last year may have, indeed, spurred these amazing games from Kobe. Kobe knows that the future generation of sportswriters (that probably includes me) would always hold that potential accolade against him: oh, you didn't win without Shaq; you only won as the obedient sidekick. And even though that doesn't mean anything to real fans of the game, it's nice that Kobe got that accusation out of the way. Plus, former center Alonzo Mourning has began many debates with his controversial comments accusing Phil Jackson of "just showing up" and Kobe doin' work as the primary coach. Well, what did you think of the Zen Master's hat last night?



Congratulations, Lakers. Phil Jackson can smoke his victory cigar in honor of the late Red Auerobach (sorry if I mispelled his name). Kobe can smile. Lamar can eat his candy. Adam Morrison can go shopping for suits. And DJ Mbenga can do what he does. Enjoy the parade and thank you for restoring pride to Angelenos and energizing Lakers fans all over the world. I leave you all with this last tweet by THE_REAL_SHAQ:



Btw, an explanation of my culture recommendations in the "Culture" box which appears under my tweets on the right column of this blog: The Rhumb Line, the debut album by Ra Ra Riot, is a blend of semi-fast rock that isn't too sleepy but has chill tracks, The Soloist by Steve Lopez is on there not because it became a movie (which I haven't seen yet) but because it brought light to a part of Los Angeles I don't (like to) read much about, Always Looking Up by Michael J. Fox is an inspiring story by another embattled warrior in this world, Freedarko Present the Macrophenomenal Basketball Almanac is the best modern analysis of any sport I've seen so far, and I've already wrote a review about J.A. Adande's book and it's on the box 'cause it's a relatively recent read which I enjoyed. I'll try to update once or twice a month, but until then take my word for the current picks.

The moment we hear "I Love L.A." in this series, we'll know it's over. It was a nice trek up the mountain; a grueling 82 games along with playoffs, which a mandatory journey. It takes all kinds of players to make a championship: the superstar scorer in clutch time (which for the most part is Kobe), the "glue" of the team (Fisher), the lean, lanky forward who brings a unique tenacity to the game (Lamar), the post presence who can usually get the job done (Pau), the quick shooter who's not always reliable but has killer moments (Sasha), the guy whose always recovering from an injury (Bynum) the energetic man off the bench (Shannon Brown), that trash man who earns his minutes in garbage time (DJ Mbenga), the speedy, athletic defender who's known for slashing to the rim (Ariza), the annoying ball handler who can take some bad shots but when he makes them, we could all care less (Farmar), the forward waiting to get playing time (Powell), the smart player who knows how to play the game but won't ever reach stardom (Luke Walton), the really foreign space cadet whose still learning how to play (Sun Yue), and that dude in the suit who blends in with the coaching staff (Adam Morrison).

That is a breakdown of your eventual 2009 NBA champions. Those are all the different part that have collaborated together to form one dangerous mass. During the season, there's always been a few guys on the floor that could hurt you. At the beginning of the year, the Lakers were known for their infamous "Bench Mob," with Farmar and Vujacic as the centerpieces, sparking game-changing runs. When Andrew Bynum went down earlier this year, it was Josh Powell and Lamar Odom that stepped up and rose to the occasion. Whenever Fisher needed a breather, Lakers fans were always confident that Shannon Brown wouldn't let them down. Amidst touch frontcourt match-ups, Pau Gasol made sure his presence was felt. Even DJ Mbenga had a series of games towards the end of the regular season when he was racking up several blocks per game (I believe he even surpassed his career high of 8 points, too).

Ultimately, though, Kobe Bryant has been the heart and soul of this team. He's been there and done that. Yet, he never gets tired of chasing perfection. For him, the game of basketball is no longer just a simple sport; it's a physical art, requiring determination and skills to spur success. He has tasted victory champagne. He has outfitted himself with championship jewelery. He has fought with his teammates. He has basked in praise. He has been shot at with criticism. He's suffered horrible injuries and exhausting illnesses. But none of these obstacles have ever slowed him down. Each and every day #24 strives to be the best. He doesn't care about his competition, as long as he takes home the title. Only he feels such a strong urge to lead a parade down Figueroa.

Take a look back at his MVP year. The off-season prior to last season, he was advocating for a trade and sending mixed messages to different sources. Lakers fans didn't know how what to say. From one standpoint, the game's greatest player wanted to leave an organization he was a part of ever since he entered the league as a clueless rookie. But on the other hand, he only considered abandoning the City of Angeles to chase his passion: a championship. During training camp, his comments were a distraction to the entire team. On opening night, his hometown fans booed him. Things couldn't have been any worse. But he grew from the incident and went on become the NBA's Most Valuable Player. So the next time you see him grinding his teeth, biting his jersey, or scowling just think: Have we ever seen anymore so dedicated to winning?

In the midst of a crucial political election in Iran, some sources are saying that multiple candidates have claimed victory, while more confident reporters have informed us that Ahmadinejad (sorry if I spelled his name wrong) is ahead. Regardless, I'd hate to see a monkey who's been compared to Hitler once again take control of one of the most dangerous countries in the world. How would another Ahmadinejad reign impact the world? Obama would just have another pain to deal with another pain and the media would be hyping up a World War III.

Related Read:

"The Revolution Will Be Twittered" by Andrew Sullivan

As I've voiced earlier, these playoff have belonged to the young'ns, to use a Civil War term. Whether it was Birdman flapping his wings or Derrick Rose hitting clutch shots, it has been a new generation of newcomers who have taken over professional basketball. However, until the Finals came around, we, fans of the game, weren't able to watch the talent of All-Star point guard, Jameer Nelson. Needless to say, Jameer Nelson won't ever go down in history books - at least, not yet - and certainly not as an "All-Star." Ok, he can score and pass. There are many point guards who are capable of doing that. Is his performance really that impactful on the outcome of games? We've seen former street baller, Rafer "Skip to My Lou" Alston outperform the opposing PG and guide the Magic past challenging opponents, namely the Cavs. We have yet to see him fully shine and show his skills to the nation.

Personally, I think he's still holding on to his college success. While he's a good shooter in this league, having shot better than 50% on his field goal attempts this year, he really hasn't distinguished himself from other players on the court. I'll admit, his college accolades are rather impressive; in 2004, he won: Oscar Robertson Trophy, John R. Wooden Award, and Naismith College Player of the Year. Those awards, though, are given to the best players, who later turn out to be great marketers in encouraging players to go to college when they perform brilliantly in the NBA. Just look at some of the All-Star players of have previously been presented with the John R. Wooden Award: Marcus Camby in '96, Tim Duncan in '97, Antawn Jamison in '98, and the list goes on and on. Do you honestly belive that we can compare Jameer Nelson to any of these players?

And the fact that he isn't truly All-Star caliber, is only one of the things that bewilders me about the man ; the problem is that he's getting a little too much playing time now. Despite the fact that his minutes have been decreasing with every game (23 in Game 1, 17 in Game 2, and 11 in Game 3), I believe that if he plays less and the Magic stick with the system they've been using for the last four months during Nelson's injury, they will have a much better shot at winning the title. Take a moment to reflect on how much Rafer Alston has provided for this young Magic squad: equal quickness and ball-handling in comparison to Jameer, clutch play, and a valuable amount of momentum. The last thing the Magic need is to change around their line-up and replace a stable guard with one that has been absent for a player whose last game prior to the NBA Finals was on February 2. The Magic really can't afford to believe in Magic right now.

The rap game has been trashed for awhile now. Nas foreshadowed hip-hop's future struggles when he released "Hip Hop Is Dead" at the end of '06. There have been a few explanations about the demoralization of the genre, including a unique post here and there. And we've listened to many emerging artists who, in reality, probably don't have a decent voice - but they get airplay because they have used autotune. Autotune is now associated with the latest stage of rap. It has helped elevate rap artists to the same throne electronic artists and DJs around the world are occupying. Giving a song a more robotic feel, or for naturalists, a more chipmunk sound, it has helped producers to give their clients a high-pitch stability - as oppose to screwing up on their own, which is very likely. But in this Age of Corruption, it's time to move past autotune and recognize that good music isn't made automatically.

Finally, a track by a monarch of the modern age attacking his fellow subjects who have undermined the grandness of the melodic kingdom with imposterity (better known as the use of autotune). It's about time a member of rap's elite stood up and confronted the miserable productions that are relucatantly receiving airplay; after hearing some very pointless rap songs lately, it's great that Jay-Z is chastising his peers. Autotune can only sugarcoat a horrible song so much - as proven in "Birthday Sex" and other very stupid tracks. Plus, where the substance? Where's the quality that made the fast spit of words tolerable? Have you heard any of Asher Roth's songs besides "I Love College"? I have respect for the man, but when you're making songs called "Lion's Roar" with no real message you're disgracing what we call "rap."

And what better way to show youngsters real music, than by producing it. Instead of some oddball percussion and dull vocals, Jay-Z spices things up with some bold horns and a melodic tune to his lyrics. Personally, I've gotten tired of hearing rappers rhyme words like "nuthin" and "hustlin." There's plenty of creative poetry and no "T-Pain'in", taking a jab at the funny singer who brought autotune into his albums, on this record. But in the following verse he asks artists to get back to rap, in which he expresses dismay for the flock to R&B. We've seen various artists make the switch including Akon on his latest album, Freedom, and more obviously Kanye West on 808s & Heartbreak. I particularly enjoy an element of repitition in D.O.A. - "Na, na, na, na. Hey, hey, hey. Goodbye." Maybe it's just me, but Z is showing some class by using a line from a Goodie but Oldie tune.

I also became cognizant of Jay-Z's awareness of history when he claims that he's the "only rapper to rewrite history without a pen." He shows his respect for previous idols by mentioning "Sinatra at the opera." From a historian/economist's standpoint, Z doesn't forget to mention the lowlight of the 30's when he accuses his colleagues "I know we facin' a recession, but the music y'all makin' gonna make it the Great Depression." Throughout the song, he notes that he has an instrumental role in shaping culture when he says "I might bring back Versace shades." (I'm probably over-analyzing this, but Jay may be making a statement against Kanye's shutter shades in that verse.)

The murder of autotune lets us all know about his principles during the duration of the track, as well. The whole song is a testament to how seriously Jay approaches music and the qualities that distinguish music from sounds. This time he's not bragging about his money, at least not entirely, when he sings: "Ah, I'm a multi-millionaire/So how is it that I'm still the hardest n***a here?" And the man makes a good point: How come these young, over-night music stars are getting so much critical acclaim and enlargening their egos when their work has been detrimental to the progress of an entire category of music? Jay also attacks fellow rappers with lines about the projects and how it makes no sense to brag about street life - even though this man is heavily connected with Brooklyn.

In short, Jay-Z has sent an important message through D.O.A.: Let's stay focused and get back to producing quality music, so that we can't be accused of lazy abusers.

By the way, Lakers fans, y'all need to check out this track by Jay Rock.

Reminds you of Kobe and Gasol, doesn't it?