Random Observations on the Wonderful World of Sports

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---And the number one player on the PGA Tour is............Tim Clark? The South African golfer played brilliantly on Thursday, putting an abrupt end to Tiger Woods' comeback story.

---All eyes were on the most dominant athlete in sports this week, and I'm sure that Tiger is far from satisfied with his performance. However, I thought Tiger played well, all things considered. His knee did not seem to cause any problems, and with a few more tournaments Tiger will be in prime form by the time the Masters roll around.

---Manny says no to the Dodgers-----again. I'm loving this. Manny, do the right thing and sign with my Giants. Do not return to the hated blue.

---Charles Barkley is back and better than ever. Sir Charles expressed genuine remorse in his first night back on air, and all is forgiven. The sports world was just not the same in the absence of the world's greatest commentator.

---Somebody break up the Clippers. After beating my Warriors on Monday night, the inept Clips knocked off the defending champs on Wednesday night. A major shocker. The Celtics are going to be fine, and in all fairness they were without Kevin Garnett. However, who would have guessed that the Big 3 in a Celtics-Clippers game would consist of Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, and Zach Randolph?

---Still, Mike Dunleavy better start shopping for another job. He should be fired at season's end.

---Speaking of the Celtics, I am not a fan of the Stephon Marbury signing. Yes, it is a no-risk move, but it is also a no-reward move. Marbury is a petulant player who is bound to cause more trouble.

---You heard it here first: The Utah Jazz will be in the NBA Finals.

---With an underrated superstar in Deron Williams, a lights-out shooter in Mehmet Okur, a defensive master in Carlos Boozer, and a Hall of Fame coach in Jerry Sloan, the Jazz are blossoming at the perfect time, conjuring memories of the John Stockton-Karl Malone days. Lakers and Spurs, beware.

---If the Jazz do win a championship this season, it will be in honor of their late owner Larry H. Miller. Very few owners were as passionate about their team as Miller was.

---Two Bulls legends also passed away this week. Johnny "Red" Kerr and Norm Van Lier will be sorely missed.

---The player of the month in the NBA is Nate Robinson. With a string of 30+ point games, a rousing victory in the slam dunk contest, and an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman", Robinson has emerged as the face of Mike D'Antoni's New York Knicks, an exciting young team on the rise.

---Memo to Don Nelson: Please don't sit Jamal Crawford. That risks alienating a player who should be in our long term plans.

---That sound you hear, that is the sound of the Detroit Pistons collapsing.

---Play of the week in the NBA: Devin Harris' half-court prayer to defeat the Sixers.

---Number 1's are dropping like flies in college basketball, setting the stage for what should be a wildly entertaining March Madness. My pick---subject to change---to win the NCAA Tournament is Pittsburgh, despite their recent loss to Providence. DeJuan Blair will be the dominant force that will push Pitt over the top. But once again, this year's NCAA Tournament is completely up for grabs.

---Big game tomorrow for the Cal Golden Bears. They battle UCLA in the national spotlight at Haas Pavilion. Mike Montgomery's inconsistent team needs this win. Go Cal!

---And finally, congratulation to newlyweds Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen. What is the over/under on how much time before a cheesy nickname is devised, like Brisele, or Tomchen?

Random Observations on the Wonderful World of Sports

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---A week has passed, and A-Rod is still dominating the news. Get over it, people.

---In no way do I condone the use of performance-enhancing drugs, but the sad truth is that the vast majority of players used steroids. It truly was the Steroid Era, and it is time to move on.

---Any talk of placing an asterisk by Alex Rodriguez's name is nonsense. Much like Barry Bonds, A-Rod's accomplishments are unfairly diminished in the public eye. With or without steroids, A-Rod was and still is a superior talent. A-Rod should not have used PED's, but if you are going to place an asterisk by his name, you minus well place an asterisk by the numbers of Neifi Perez.

---On a scale of 10, I would give A-Rod's apology a 7 on the sincerity meter. He seemed to genuinely regret his actions, but it is hard to believe that he only used steroids for three years. And his attack on Sports Illustrated writer Selena Gomez came across as nasty and desperate.

---It was a fun All-Star weekend in the Valley of the Sun. The game was a slaughter, but Shaquille O'Neal's wildly entertaining performance on the court and on the dance floor made the game worthwhile. And once again, the slam dunk contest was spectacular.

---Nate Robinson is a deserving slam dunk champion. His dunk over Dwight Howard is one for the history books.

---LeBron has announced his candidacy for next year's dunk contest. Judging by his impressive slam at the end of last night's game, he has every intention of putting on a show.

---Memo to Craig Sager: You're covering the NBA All-Star Game, not a disco dancing party from the 1970's.

---Steve Kerr was an indispensable part of the Bulls dynasty in the '90's, and he seems to be a real nice guy, but he is making a series of dubious decisions as GM of the Suns. First, he puts Amare Stoudemire on the trading block. Then he fires Terry Porter halfway through Porter's first year at the job. I realize that Phoenix is not experiencing the same success that they experienced during the D'Antoni years, but Kerr is making a series of knee-jerk decisions that will only dig a deeper hole for this franchise.

---Does Dwayne Wade have some type of injury, or is he just trying to make a fashion statement with that flashy tape under his eye?

---You can almost see the air coming out of Duke's balloon. After a tough loss to the rival Tar Heels last week, Mike Kryzewski's club fell to Al Skinner's inconsistent Boston College team last night. The Blue Devils have star power with Greg Paulus, Kyle Singler, and Gerald Henderson, but I do not see this Duke team getting past the Sweet Sixteen.

---Quick shoutout to University of San Francisco head coach Rex Walters. Under his leadership, the shorthanded Dons put up a good fight against the mighty Gonzaga Bulldogs. It will take some time, but Walters will eventually lead the Dons to the NCAA Tournament.

---Matt Kenseth is your 2009 Daytona 500 winner. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......Whoa, I'm sorry, I just got a little sleepy there for a second.

---According to buddy Mark O'Meara, Tiger Woods is better than ever. I believe it. I would be shocked if Tiger isn't a strong contender at Augusta come April.

---And finally, Brett Favre says he's retired. David Letterman put it best: Is it really that time of year already?

NBA Midseason Report

The All-Star break is upon us, as we get ready for some scintillating dunks and major star power this weekend in Phoenix. But first, allow me to take a look back at the first half of the 2008-2009 NBA season, as well as look forward to the upcoming playoff push.

TOP 3 MVP CANDIDATES

1. LeBron James: The best player in the game now has a stellar cast around him, and the Cavs have their sights set on a championship.
2. Dwight Howard: They call him Superman for a reason. The best big man in basketball is an astonishing talent with a Shaq-size personality.
3. Chauncey Billups: Certainly, the Nuggets were already a good team before the Billups-Iverson trade, but Billups has made Denver a viable threat in the West.

TOP 5 TEAMS

1. Los Angeles Lakers: As faithful readers already know, I am not a Kobe fan, as evidenced by his absence on my MVP list. However, much to my dismay, the Lakers are the best team in the league right now. Andrew Bynum's injury makes it much tougher on L.A., but if Lamar Odom continues to play with the same unstoppable intensity that he displayed in Cleveland this past Sunday, Phil Jackson's team are the favorites in the West.
2. Boston Celtics: This has been one streaky team, but the reigning champs are still my pick to win the East. The Big 3 has continued their brilliant play, but it has been the unexpected productivity of the bench, led by Glen Davis and Eddie House, that has kept the Celtics amongst the elite teams in the NBA.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Boston should definitely be worried about the Cavs, however. King James has found his wingman in Mo Williams, and it is mighty difficult to beat Mike Brown's team at Quicken Loans Arena.
4. San Antonio Spurs: The veteran Spurs are just gliding along, as they always do in the regular season. But come playoff time, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, and surprise performer Roger Mason will be back in the championship discussion.
5. Orlando Magic: When Jameer Nelson went down, you could almost hear the air being sucked out of Amway Arena. However, The Celtics and Cavaliers cannot afford to overlook this very dangerous team.

THE BOTTOM FIVE

1. Sacramento Kings: Firing coach Reggie Theus only a few months into the season was laughable, as if he was the problem. The Kings have talent in the likes of Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia, but this is a dismal team far removed from the Chris Webber/Vlade Divac glory days.
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Much like the Kings, firing coach Marc Iavaroni was an idiotic decision. Judging by the Iavaroni dismissal, and last year's baffling Pau Gasol trade, it looks like the front office for the Grizz has no interest in winning.
3. Los Angeles Clippers: Oh, Donald Sterling, how the hell do you still have a job? The Clips have a loyal fan base, but they remain a laughingstock.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder have a dismal record, and they are years away from from being a winning franchise. However, they have far more talent and play with far more heart than any of the above three teams, with a budding star in Kevin Durant.
5. Washington Wizards: I saw this team in person last month when they were in Oakland to take on my beloved Warriors. They looked about as lifeless as a CPR dummy. Antawn Jamison and DeShaun Stevenson provide the occasional spark, but the Wizards are once again struggling without Agent Zero.

The Storyline to watch in the second half.................................

The fate of Amare: It appears that Steve Kerr has every intention of trading away Amare Stoudamire. First of all, this would be a disastrous move by the Suns, completely eliminating their already questionable chances of making the playoffs. Stoudamire is one of the game's finest talents, and shipping him away would be one of the ten dumbest moves in NBA history. But if he is going to be traded, what teams would benfit most from his arrival? Surely, if Amare were to land in Cleveland alongside LeBron, the Cavs have to be considered the obvious frontrunners in the East. But I'd say the Detroit Pistons are the team most in need of Amare Stoudamire. The Allen Iverson trade has not worked out well for the Pistons, and Michael Curry's team has looked surprisingly flat at The Palace of Auburn Hills, a place that used provide a spectacular home court advantage for Detroit. If Joe Dumars acquires Stoudamire, Detroit is once again in the championship hunt.

The Marion-O'Neal trade: Today, the Miami Heat sent Shawn Marion to Toronto in exchange for Jermaine O'Neal. Erik Spoelstra's Heat are an infinitely better team than the disappointing Raptors, and Dwayne Wade and Jermaine O'Neal will make for a potent duo if O'Neal can stay healthy. Then again, so do Shawn Marion and Chris Bosh. The trade is a win for the Heat, but I think the Raptors will start to play better basketball with Bosh and Marion running the show.

And just for fun, here are predictions for tomorrow night's festivities: Kapono 3-peats in the three-point shootout, Joe Johnson wins H.O.R.S.E., and Dwight Howard repeats as Slam Dunk champion. On Sunday night, look for the East to squeak by the West.

King James bests Prince Kobe at the Garden, leaving no doubt as to who's better

They say that in order to be an all-time great, you must have a signature performance in the most famous basketball arena in the world, Madison Square Garden. Whether it be Michael Jordan lighting up the Knicks or Reggie Miller giving the choke signal to Spike Lee, the Big Apple has been a place where stars shine. On Monday night, Kobe and the Lakers came to town, and Bryant scored a whopping 61 points. The Knickerbocker faithful chanted "MVP!!! MVP!!!", loving the fact that Mr. Selfishness was once again acting like a one man team. Little did they know that two nights later, LeBron James would be even greater, making the stat page look like a video game: 52 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. It's the biggest triple-double in thirty years, and King James kept New York fans hoping and praying that he suits up for the Knicks in 2010. The water-cooler debate in the sports world today is which superstar turned in the better performance, as if it was even close.

Yes, scoring 61 is awfully impressive, a remarkable feat that can only be accomplished by an incredibly gifted athlete. Never have I denied the fact that Kobe is a world-class talent, as I am constantly wowed by his stunning athleticism and amazing scoring ability; I've simply said that he is not a team player. Just look at the rest of Kobe's line on Monday night. Along with the 61 points, Kobe had zero rebounds and three assists. Apparently Kobe "me-first" Bryant thinks he plays for the Harlem Globetrotters, not the Los Angeles Lakers.

LeBron, on the other hand, is a world-class athlete who understands that there is no I in team. Sure, LeBron came out last night looking to score, mindful of what Kobe had done two nights earlier. However, even when he adopts an offensively aggressive mindset, he still manages to produce 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Yes, his game has flaws, and LeBron is especially mediocre at the free throw line. But make no mistake about it, LeBron James is the closest thing that we will ever see to His Airness.

Kobe Bryant, meanwhile, is one of the most phenomenal scorers in NBA history. But he needs to realize that true greatness requires you to involve those around you.

(Kobe and LeBron face one another this Sunday at Quicken Loans Arena, as the Cavs look to maintain their home perfection. The last matchup between these two teams was won by the Lakers, though neither Kobe nor LeBron had great games.)

Random Observations on the Wonderful World of Sports

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---Congratulations to your 2009 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. After that toe-tapping, game-clinching touchdown catch by Santonio Holmes, I am convinced that he should participate on "Dancing with the Stars."

---I wouldn't rank Super Bowl XLIII as high as last year's epic between the Giants and Pats, but the game surely featured one of the most exciting fourth quarters in Super Bowl history.

---With an NFL record six championships, the Pittsburgh Steelers are, for my money, the strongest organization in professional sports.

---Despite the crushing defeat, the Arizona Cardinals will go down in history as having one of the most unexpected playoff runs in NFL history.

---I hear that Larry Fitzgerald plans on joining the Niners. What, you don't believe me???

---Solid coverage by NBC on Super Bowl Sunday. However, there's just something unsettling and odd about listening to Matt Millen revealing his keys to the game. Fair or not, I don't think he will ever be taken seriously again as an NFL analyst.

---Okay, I'll admit it: My picks were terrible during these playoffs. But hey, I still picked better than Chris Mortensen, right?

---I like Mort-----he's a knowledgeable football guy-----but he is Mr. Unreliable as a reporter.

---Magic Nation is holding their collective breath. Because if Jameer Nelson decides to undergo season-ending surgery, Orlando's title hopes take a massive hit.

---Sure, Kobe scored 61 at the Garden, but don't rejoice so fast, Lakers fans. Andrew Bynum is out again, for a minimum of 2 months. There should be a bet in Vegas every year on who gets injured first, Andrew Bynum or Greg Oden?

---Lakers-Celtics on Thursday night. Goooooooo Celtics!!!

---Now that Jameer Nelson's appearance in the All Star Game is very much in doubt, it is widely assumed that either Mo Williams or Ray Allen will take his place. As much as I admire Allen and his silky-smooth jump shot (he hit another game-winner tonight at Philadelphia), I mark my ballot for Mo Williams. As out-of-this-world as LeBron has been, it is the addition of Mo Williams that has made the Cavs a legitimate championship contender.

---ESPN.com's J.A. Adande reports that the Suns are shopping potential trades for Steve Nash, Shaquille O'Neal, and Amare Stoudamire. Whoa!!! What's next---the Celtics placing the Big 3 on the trading block?

---If the Six Flags theme parks decide to create a new roller coaster, I suggest they call it the Wake Forest. Dino Gaudio's team has had more highs and lows this season than a Mariah Carey tune.

---Rumor has it that Bob Knight is interested in the Georgia head coaching vacancy. Part of me would like to see Coach Knight stay at ESPN. His trademark irascible personality serves him well as an analyst.

---Manny by the Bay? I certainly hope so. It's probably still a longshot, but Manny Ramirez would make my beloved Giants instant title contenders.

---In his new book, Joe Torre is stirring controversy over his allegations toward Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenner family. In the excerpt that I read in Sports Illustrated, Torre makes the Steinbrenners come across as untrustworthy and standoffish. What a shock, because when we think Steinbrenner, we think classy.

---Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played another epic match at the Australian Open over the weekend, with Nadal once again getting the best of Federer. As I wrote back in July, this is the rivalry that tennis has been waiting for. However, Roger Federer needs to eke out a win over Nadal at some point or this rivalry will soon become too predictable.