Memorial Day Flashback

It is weird not having an NBA playoff game to watch on Memorial Day. Because the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat used no more than five games to dispatch of their conference semifinals and finals opponents respectively, there has been an agonizing layoff before the start of the NBA Finals. In fact, the efficiency of the aforementioned teams allows for the Finals to begin in May for the first time in recent memory.

The Memorial Day holiday got me to thinking about a classic Eastern Conference Finals performance by Michael Jordan. It was on this holiday in 1993 that Michael Jordan lit up the New York Knicks for 54 points in Game 4 to even the series at two games a piece. I remember that game like it was yesterday, sitting in a crowded room at a barbecue in Queens, eyes trained on a 20" color television. The Knicks had home court advantage and had won both their games at Madison Square Garden, game 2 punctuated by "The Dunk".

This was the year the Knicks were going to beat the Bulls after being swept in 1991 and losing in 7 hard fought games in 1992. They were two games away, then the media started to publish stories about Jordan's gambling. All I thought was why couldn't these people wait until after the series to rile MJ. Knicks fans made the cardinal sin of believing the series was over. Since the Bulls started winning titles two years before the Bulls had never been down 0-2 in a series.

As Jordan kept pouring in the points I wasn't worried. Let them tie the series, the Knicks still had homecourt advantage. Then Charles Smith happened.

On that Memorial Day 18 years ago all I could do was shake my head at Jordan's greatness. I am sure LeBron James was watching that game as an 8 year old. Jordan's teammate Scottie Pippen recently said on-air, out loud that LeBron James can be better than Michael Jordan. I am not the only one that thinks that is ludicrous. Jordan would have willed LeBron's Cavaliers to multiple championships. LeBron has shown that he can close a game with consistency during this playoff run, but he needed Dwyane Wade's help to start the comeback that buried the baby Bulls in this year's conference finals.

The only time Jordan needed help coming back from a deficit was in the series clinching Game 6 of the 1992 NBA Finals where Portland blew a double digit lead to the scrubs (Bobby Hansen, anyone?) After coach Phil Jackson was resigned to play a Game 7. Jordan and the other starters came back in the game and finished the job avoiding what would have been the only Game 7 in MJ's Finals career.

So as this year's NBA Finals will finally get under way on Tuesday, let's see if LeBron can have his coming out party on the grandest stage of them all. Besidesn he is a year behind Jordan's pace for championship rings.

Thought of the Day

To all the soldiers continuing to fight for the freedom of the United States: be safe and thank you for your service!

Happy Memorial Day to all the families of the fallen soldiers who paid the ultimate price serving our country in every war in our history.

Thought of the Day

If you have natural ability to do something great, go for it. Don't be overly critical of yourself. You won't know if others will like what you do or not unless you put it out there.

The NBA Finals is set



There will be a rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals as the Miami Heat use an 18-3 run to close out the Chicago Bulls in five games in the Eastern Conference Finals 83-80 on Thursday night (May 26th). The Heat join the Dallas Mavericks, who used their own comeback power in consecutive games against the Oklahoma City Thunder to clinch the Western Conference on Wednesday night (May 25th).

Closing out games has been the Achilles heel of the Heat all season, but LeBron James and Dwyane Wade used a barrage of 3 point shots, each one deadlier than the last, sucking more and more life out of the United Center.

The Heat were expected to get to the NBA Finals once they put their super team together. Anything less would have been a disappointment.

Now we will see if they can finish the job against a 7 foot German playing out of his mind.

Thought of the Day

After 25 years the Oprah Winfrey show signed off leaving a void in daytime television. Many of her competitiors ((Donahue, Geraldo) have come and gone, but Oprah left on her own terms. She has moved on to bigger and better things, if that is possible: her OWN network. What began in September 1986 came to an end on the final Wednesday in May (25th). Oprah stood for the entire hour reminiscing on standout episodes, dropping jewels and words of wisdom to her audience: food for thought that became the staple of her iconic show.

As she walked off of the sound stage for the final time and hugged her staff backstage it felt like one of those "where were you" moments (i.e. Barack Obama winning the Presidency, Martin Luther King assassination). I did not watch every episode, but I know that Oprah changed or impacted the lives of millions of people.

Thank you, Oprah

Thought of the Day

Sometimes being your own worst critic can stifle productivity.

Thought of the Day

There is nothing more satisfying than finishing what you start.

Joakim Noah drops the double "F" bomb during Game 3

Bulls center Joakim Noah hurled a gay slur at a fan during the Game 3 loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday night (May 22). After Noah went to the bench with his second foul he was heckled to which he responded with "F--- you". But Noah didn't stop there, oh no. Heaven forbid he would realize that the game is being broadcast live in front of a national television audience and one of the, I don't know, 50 or so cameras in the building would be focused on him. Noah continues jawing with the fan and drops the double "F" bomb: "F--- you, fa----!"

Kobe Bryant was hit with a $100,000 fine for directing the same gay slur to a referee. Noah will most definitely get the same and possibly a suspension since it was directed off the court at a fan. Since the "Malice at the Palace" back in 2004 when then-Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest went into the stands after a fan who threw a drink at him, the NBA does not tolerate any hostilities directed at fans.

My thing is this would be a non-issue if it wasn't caught on camera. These players must be thinking 'can I get a cut-a-way when I'm having a meltdown'? They are obviously not thinking at that moment, I'm just saying.

See the offending video below:

Chris Bosh scores 34 to power Heat to win over Bulls

Chris Bosh said all the right things, but he had to have heard the Chicago Bulls' Carlos Boozer say that Miami has "two great players" before the series started. All Bosh has done is score 30 points in game 1 and 34 points in the Sunday night 96-85 victory over the Bulls in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Bosh has been the superstar of his own team (Toronto Raptors) for seven seasons just like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, but it seems to be easily forgotten. It is no secret that Boozer wanted to come to Miami last summer and may be throwing shade at Bosh out of envy. One thing is for sure, Boozer has not been playing like he should be talking about anybody. Boozer finally came to play in game 3 with 26 points and 17 rebounds, but he was no match for Bosh who routinely hit his jumper and executed a beautiful spin move on Boozer that led to a two-hand flush.

James had an efficient game with 22 points 10 assists and 6 boards and has emerged as the closer for the Heat going back to the end of the series against Boston. If Bosh continues to produce like this and LeBron keeps getting his Kyra Sedgewick (The Closer) on, the Miami Heat have to be favored to, dare I say it... wait for it... win the NBA Championship (gasp)! Who needs a bench?

Thought of the Day

Why do people who normally drive reckless all of a sudden become student drivers when they see a cop car?

This is very annoying.

Happy Birthday, Notorious

May 21st would have been the 39th birthday of the Notorious, glorious B.I.G. More than 14 years after his cowardly murder, B.I.G.'s impact is still felt in Hip Hop and in Brooklyn!

R.I.P.

Ohhhh Yeeaahhh!

Rest in Peace to one of my favorite wrestlers growing up. Randall Poffo a.k.a Randy "Macho Man" Savage died today after suffering a heart attack while driving in Tampa Florida. His wife of 1 year was in the car with him, but suffered minor injuries.

Savage rose to fame as a member of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the mid 80's. Savage was one of the most popular out of a memorable cast of characters in the WWF for his smooth wrestling moves like the flying elbow off the top rope and his signature between match interviews. It seemed like he was straining to talk and he would pop a neck vein at any minute whenever he spit out a "Dig It" or "Ohhhh Yeeeaaahh".

His epic matchups against Hulk Hogan were classic theatre. He will be missed.

Don Lemon Becomes "Transparent"

Shout out to CNN anchor Don Lemon for having the courage to disclose that he is gay on national television. Lemon said he knew he was gay since being "knee high to a duck". Lemon disclosed his sexuality and that he was abused as a youngster in his upcoming book "Transparent".

It is a shame that people feel they have to hide their sexual preference to advance in the media, music, and sports world.

Lemon is being a good sport about his revelation, tweeting like a man who has the world lifted off his shoulders. The joy of freedom.

Follow Don on twitter @donlemoncnn

Cleveland Wins the #1 Pick in 2011 Draft

In another huge step in moving past the departure of LeBron James (beating James and Miami during regular season was the first), the Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery securing the #1 and #4 pick.

Karma is smiling on Cleveland. The Indians have the best record in baseball and the Cavs have the chance to catch lightning in a bottle again.

Good luck.

The Sperminator Returns

I can't say I am surprised by the revelation that Arnold Schwarzenegger fathered an illegitimate child. The guy has been a dog for years. My question is how did this guy get voted as a government official? Why wasn't his groping issue pursued further? Where are all the FOX News people ?? I have to believe if this was Barack Obama making this disgraceful announcement we would have heard from Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, the Tea Party, and all the moral police calling Obama all kinds of names. The hypocrisy of the Republican Party is amazing. When one of their own screws up you never hear about it. The criticism is decidedly muted.

10 years this guy kept a love child secret. The child was two years old when he got voted into office. How embarrassing for Maria Shriver who defended her man in the face of the groping scandal. How pompous of Arnold to have this moment of confession AFTER he leaves office.

I'm disgusted.

Is LeBron James and Dwyane Wade Better Than Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen?

Next question.

Common A "Vile" Rapper?

To hear the Hip Hop historians of FOX News tell it, Common is a gangster rapper who should not have been allowed in the White House to recite poetry last week. Anyone who knows anything about music knows that Common  is one of the least threatening artists in music. If Common is gangster, Snoop Dogg never smoked a joint in his life.

I mean, to entertain this any further is ludicrous (pun intended - Ludacris had issues with FOX News pundit Bill O'Reilly). These guys are reaching for anything. After all the "good will" from Osama bin Laden's capture, it's business as usual.

Smh.

Is a Demotion in Sports Ever the Player's Fault?

I have been hearing about New York Yankees catcher, now DH, Jorge Posada pulling himself from the lineup last night (May 14th) because he was penciled in to bat 9th in the order. Now I understand that Posada was one of the "Core 4", but Andy Petite has retired, Derek Jeter is going through his struggles with eroding skills and closer Mariano Rivera is just a machine. If you are not producing like you once were and you are expected to hit for power changes have to be made. My point is, how can someone be so selfish as to feel disrespected by being hit 9th in the Yankees order when you are hitting .165?!! The average hitter has 4 plate appearances a game. Posada is not even averaging ONE hit in 5 at bats, let alone 4!

Are you kidding me? There are kids toiling away in the minor leagues who would give anything to hit 9th in the Yankees lineup. I love how a player's declining skills is never their fault. It is called age - it happens. Without performance enhancing drugs Posada is at the age where the skill of hitting a baseball drops off dramatically.

And for Posada to think this is coach Girardi's way of payback for Posada replacing him in the Yankee lineup when Joe Torre was coach is pompous thinking as well. The ego is an amazing thing very dangerous when uncontrolled.

You are hitting .165. Posada is lucky he is still playing right now. This is a child's game. Let's not forget that. These guys are getting paid millions to suck. Worried aboput where your hitting. How about taking the demotion as a challenge to improve your swing? No, there's nothing wrong...

That's just my thoughts ladies and gentlemen

Memphis Grizzlies Force Game 7 in Oklahoma City

I have been hoodwinked, bamboozled even (*in Snagglepuss voice*). I am convinced the Memphis Grizzlies are not an eight seed. Anyone who watched this team after the New Year and the last few games of the regular season know that they tanked the last few games to draw the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. After making the Spurs look really old and exposing the surprising 61 win team as a fraud, they have pushed the legitimate title contending Oklahoma City Thunder to the brink of elimination as well.

The 1994 Denver Nuggets. Now that was a true eight seed who stunned Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton and the top-seeded Seattle Supersonics (ironically now Oklahoma City Thunder) in a decisive 5th game (when first round series were 5 games instead of 7) and then took the Utah Jazz the distance in the second round before bowing out. The Memphis Grizzlies have matched that feat, but unlike the Nuggets have a legitimate chance of pulling the upset in two straight series for one reason: Zach Randolph.

I never thought I would be saying this, but Randolph has been a revelation in Memphis and the 2011 playoffs. He has been the best big man in the entire tournament and showed why in Game 6 (May 13th). Pouring in 30 points mostly on off-balance rainmakers over outstretched arms, and grabbing 13 boards, Randolph refused to let Memphis lose.

Tony Allen and Shane Battier effectively shut down the league's leading scorer Kevin Durant holding him to 11 points on 3-14 shooting.

If that happens again the Grizzlies will be headed to Dallas. Who knew?

Side note: The Grizzlies are making this run WITHOUT their "superstar" Rudy Gay who is out with a shoulder injury. Stay tuned....

Celtics lock Doc up for 5 more years

Why is this man smiling? Because he just became $35 million richer.

In a move that stunned the basketball world (much less me) Glenn "Doc" Rivers signed a 5 year contract extension to stay with the Boston Celtics. Citing Celtics pride and the desire to win another title with the Big 4, Rivers guaranteed he will be back in the fold for the 2011-12 season and beyond.

I, for one, thought Rivers was a goner after this year especially since it took so much for him to come back for the 2010-11 season after falling a Kendrick Perkins Game 6 knee injury short of winning his second NBA title in three years with Boston.

I definitely thought he would be out after GM Danny Ainge traded away Perkins before the trade deadline effectively destroying the team chemistry and the main reason, I thought, Rivers was returning in the first place. The Big 4 (Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett) and Perkins have never lost a playoff series when all were healthy and starting. With Perkins in Oklahoma City for the second half of the season, the Celtics effectively came back to the pack in the East and lost the gamble that Shaquille O'Neal would be healthy enough to fill in.

It was said (and my hope) that Rivers would take a year off to be with his family before throwing his hat back into the coaching arena and potentially landing in New York.

That won't happen now.

So why did Rivers make this surprising move? Could it be an emotional decision spurred on by the bitter loss to Miami in 5 games, knowing if Rondo was healthy they could have possibly won the series? Or could it be the possiblity of coaching his son Austin (named the #1 high school player in the country and on his way to Duke in the fall), as the Celtics have 2 first round picks in the 2012 draft - a draft Austin will most definitely be in after his obligatory year in college?

Barring any interruption to the offseason due to labor negotiations, it will be interesting to see how Ainge revamps the roster around the Big 4. They need a big man because as we saw Jeff Green was NOT the answer.

Thought of the Day

Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife. She turns 33 today!

Thought of the Day

Is there anything more annoying than a car stopping right next to you at a traffic light and the driver looking into your car?

Let me know.

Thought of the Day

I was thinking about the classic "Flu Game" (Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals) where Michael Jordan, ravaged by the flu and food poisoning, hit the go-ahead 3 pointer capping a 38 point night in a 90-87 win to put the Bulls ahead 3-2 in the series.

Jordan started feeling sick the off day between Games 4 and 5. The Jazz had won games 3 and 4 to tie the series going into pivotal game 5. I wondered if someone in a Utah restaurant or hotel wait staff intentionally poisoned Jordan's food to keep him out of the game.

If someone tried to take Jordan out, that person must be really sick when he/she sees footage of Michael's gutty performance. For good measure the Bulls went back to the friendly confines of Chicago for Game 6 to end the series.

That was one of the greatest NBA performances I have ever seen. I don't see anyone else playing that game the way Jordan looked.

That really worked out well, huh alleged Utah fan/poisoner

End of an Era

The way the Lakers went out tonight, a 122-86 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in an elimination game, was pathetic and embarrassing. I am no fan of Phil Jackson, but he did not deserve to go out like this. Frustration is no excuse for plays like LaMar Odom on Dirk Nowitzki and especially what Andrew Bynum did to JJ Barea in the fourth quarter.

Can't blame Kobe for this one. I would not be surprised if Gasol, Bynum and Artest are gone in the offseason.

That's all

Thought of the Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's of the world. Without your ability to bring life into the world none of us would be here. Thank you for continuing what God started.  A special tip of the hat to single mothers raising our boys and girls into young men and women to the best of their ability. In that regard thank you for being a mother and father, my Mom being one of those dual parents. Love you!

Special shout to my wife for being the best mother to our son! I love you!

Garnett turns back the clock; Verlander throws no-hitter

Kevin Garnett answered the call facing his first 0-2 playoff deficit as a member of the Boston Celtics. Garnett led all scorers with 28 points and 18 rebounds, his best playoff game since the 2008 championship season. Garnett also shut down fellow All-Star Chris Bosh holding him to 6 points. Paul Pierce also chipped in 27 points in the 97-81 victory. Shaquille O'Neal returned to action for the first time since early April and immediately threw in a reverse layup. The biggest lift came from point guard Rajon Rondo who went down with an ugly dislocated elbow, but came back in the game. The Celtics are now back in the series, but if they want to win, Garnett will have to continue to outplay Chris Bosh as he did tonight.

In the earlier game the Memphis Grizzlies came back from a late 4th quarter deficit to force overtime against Oklahoma City where they went on to win the game 101-93. Zach Randolph continues to impress becoming the first player in this year's playoffs to score 20 points and pull down 20 rebounds in a game. He and Marc Gasol are making my trumpeting of the importance of Kendrick Perkins look bad. I am happy for the city of Memphis being that they are bracing for a massive flood that has leveled parts of the Midwest in recent days. The Grizzlies are giving the fans somethign to cheer about.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander threw the second no-hitter of his career Saturday (May 7th) and second in three days this season. Verlander dominated the Toronto Bluejays carrying a perfect game into the 7th inning before walking his first batter. The ball 4 pitch hit 100 mph on the gun. Nasty.

In other baseball news Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier's hit streak was snapped at 30 games after he went 0-4 against the New York Mets on Saturday (May 7th). Ethier took some criticism for taking a game off during the streak earlier in the week. The all-time record is 56 consecutive games with a hit by Yankees immortal Joe Dimaggio. Dimaggio played in all 56 games he hit during the streak widely considered as a record that will never be broken.

The NBA title is in reach for LeBron, Heat

I must say... to say these NBA Playoffs have been unpredictable would be an understatement. 61 win team in San Antonio? Bounced in the first round. Orlando Magic (my pick to go to the NBA Finals)? Bounced by Atlanta. Two-time defending champs? Down 0-3 to the Dallas Mavericks! Yes, I just typed that. Can't call Dirk Nowitzki soft anymore. Phil Jackson was a different coach tonight. Up out of his chair, yelling at players. I had never seen him panic like he did in game 3. The coach notorious for letting his team play through another team's run has never been down 0-3 in a series.

If Dallas can kill Jason Voorhies (the Lakers), all the teams I predicted would prevent the Miami Heat from winning the NBA Title would be out of the playoffs. The Heat are already up 2-0 on Boston. What that says to me is that the Heat have no excuse not to reach the NBA Finals and win it all. The way they are playing right now they look like a team that was waiting for the playoffs to start before showing what they can really do. If this is the case, the Bulls will not beat them four times in a series.

That leaves Dallas and Oklahoma City. Dwyane Wade beat Dallas by himself in the 2006 NBA Finals after being down 0-2. Oklahoma City has Kendrick Perkins... (check out my blog at http://www.theurbandaily.com/ to see why that is important).

Thought of the day

Why hate on somebody else? Just work your butt off to get where that person is or better.

Random Thoughts



I saw a cop on the cell phone while driving a patrol car. Is he gonna pull himself over? How hypocritical is that?

People are funny. How does a guy who can barely walk straight come into a hotel and ask if the bar is still open? It happens more than i could imagine. How about you don't need any more drinks.

Just my thoughts ladies and gentlemen.

Dirk, Dallas go up 2-0 on Lakers

That 2010 NBA Finals rematch is looking a lot less likely after two games. The Dallas Mavericks beat the L.A. Lakers 93-81 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Semifinals series effectively putting the two-time defending champs on the ropes.

Tonight's unsung hero was reserve guard JJ Barea who did what he wanted on the court mostly against Lakers reserve Steve Blake. Kobe Bryant got help from center Andrew Bynum who poured in 18 points and grabbed 13 boards, but Pau Gasol remains a non-factor. Gasol scored 13 quiet points on 5-12 shooting and heard the boos from the Staples Center crowd as Dirk Nowitzki did what he wanted against him. Who knows how that will affect his fragile psyche going forward. Nowitzki was an equal opportunity assassin on this night as he torched LaMar Odom and Ron Artest with equal aplomb.

Barea scored as many points (12) as the entire Lakers bench. Derek Fisher was the only starter that did not score in double figures, but Blake and Matt Barnes went a combined 0-7 from the field with no free throw attempts in 30 combined minutes. That is not how you win games if you're the Lakers. Assistant coach Brian Shaw could have threw on his #20 throwback and went on the court tonight. Bryant dropped 23 points on a controlled 9-20 shooting. After being criticized for taking too many shots in Game 1, Bryant must be wondering what else does he have to do. Odom going 3-12 off the bench is not Sixth Man of the Year numbers.

Dallas has had the toughest road through the playoffs thus far vanquishing an equal opponent in Portland with relative ease in six games and stomping on the Lakers twice on their home floor. The Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks are playing the best ball in the playoffs and they have everyone's picks to meet in the Finals (Boston and L.A.) on the brink. If this keeps up there may be a rematch of the 2006 Finals (Miami beat Dallas 4-2) not the 2010 version.

Should We Be Celebrating Osama Bin Laden's Death?

It depends on who you ask apparently. To the families of people who lost their lives on 9/11 it may not be so much celebrating, but relief, closure even. Athletes, retired and active, have all weighed in on the killing of Bin Laden. Many have rejoiced in the capture of the most wanted man in the world, but a couple question the validity of celebrating another killing.

So goes the logic of Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall and Milwaukee Bucks guard Chris Douglas-Roberts (above) who took it a step further by tallying up the number of lives lost (including U.S. troops) and the amount of money spent trying to capture bin Laden.

To his credit Douglas-Roberts argument was more thought out than Mendenhall initial statement which made it seem like he was defending bin Laden. It may not be Christian-like to be happy about someone's murder even if it is one of the most evil men in the world, whose disgust for everything American was well known, but I can give a pass to the families affected. Emotions take over. And from what I have seen, the families of victims have expressed more sorrow only because the death of bin Laden will not bring back their loved ones.

Fortunately I did not have a close family member or friend perish in those heinous attacks, but i still felt satisfaction that bin Laden was found. It was said he did resist being taken peacefully so deadly force had to be used. I believe closure is important for the grieving. many people never found remains of their lost loved ones so bin Laden being killed is a relief.

Is Douglas-Roberts and Mendenhall wrong? They both  make good points. Retaliation for bin Laden's death is a real possibility. one that will keep Americans looking over their shoulder until Al-Qaeda's forces have been completely destroyed. People only see that these two did not immediately say "Way to go" and took anything else as sympathy for bin Laden which is wrong.

It would be interesting if there would be a little more venom towards bin Laden if these two athletes lost a loved one in the 9/11 attacks.

Clippers Blake Griffin to be named NBA ROY today

In a move just as surprising as Derrick Rose being named NBA MVP, Blake Griffin will be named NBA Rookie of the Year (ROY) on Wednesday (May 4th). Griffin, who was drafted in 2009, had his actual rookie year delayed by a broken kneecap that kept him out of the entire 2009-2010 regular season. Because Griffin never played a game last season, he is eligible to win the ROY honor this year.

Besides averaging 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds, good enough for top 10 in the league in both categories, and being one of a handful of rookies voted to the NBA All-Star team, Griffin gave us fans a highlight a night with poster dunks like the one pictured above (on former Knicks center Timofey Mozgov, who I edited out the picture to protect the Knicks brand). Griffin also took home the Sprite All-Star Slam Dunk Contest title by jumping over a car and dunking an alley-oop pass thrown by former teammate Baron Davis out of the car's sun roof.... just let that sink in. Ordinary stuff for Griffin.  

Congratulations, Blake.

Hopefully he will stay in L.A. for a long time and continue to turn that team around. He has really made an impact in making the Clippers relevant again.

Francisco Liriano throws first no-hitter of 2011

In what has been an unremarkable season for the Minnesota Twins thus far, Francisco Liriano walked five Chicago Whitesox hitters en route to a complete game no-hitter on Tuesday night (May 3rd). Both of these teams were picked to contend in the American League Central yet find themselves looking up at the surprising Cleveland Indians.

Nothing like a no-no to spark a team.

LeBron's 35 powers Heat to 2-0 lead over Boston

The Heat have beaten the Boston Celtics three straight times now going back to the regular season after a 102-91 win last night (May 3rd), all three wins coming not so coincidentally after center Kendrick Perkins was traded. LeBron James ran all over Boston scoring 24 of his 35 points in the second half. The play of the night was a spin move James put on Rajon Rondo that left Rondo on his back en route to a two-handed slam. The symbolism of Rondo on his back cannot be lost there. The Celtics look like the older team right now and history suggests this series is over.

Boston has been down 0-2 in a playoff series 9 times and only came back to win the series once against the Lakers in 1969. The most recent 0-2 hole Boston found themselves in was in 2004 when they were swept by Indiana. The Miami Heat see the finish line. So imagine my disgust when coach Erik Spoelstra and LeBron James spat out cliche after cliche at the post game press conference about how "the series begins now" and "we did what we were supposed to do, we defended home court". Spare me, please!

I had the Heat winning this series in 7 games, but the way these first 2 games went it may be over before that. The Celtics didn't look too good on their home floor against the Knicks, who could have easily went up 2-0 on Boston in their first round series but did not have near the defensive ability of Miami. This series validates what I have been saying since Perkins was given away: Boston is not the same team without their enforcer in the middle. Kevin Garnett has taken Chris Bosh out of the series thus far, but Paul Pierce and Ray Allen (who were never defensive stoppers until teamed up with Garnett) cannot stay in front of James or Dwyane Wade. When these two get to the rim, who is there to deliver the hard foul to make them think twice about coming inside? He is in Oklahoma Ciy right now.

I mean can Shaquille O'Neal at least try to give it a go? Seriously, he is on the internet getting piggy back rides from a girl in Hoopz that is half his size, a girl who could have dopped him and injured him further, yet he can't get on the court and fill the lane? Talk about stealing money! Boston brought Shaq in for this time of the year. Horrible.

I was the main person saying the Heat would not win a title this year. Since that statement in late October, the Celtics have traded away Perkins, the Atlanta Hawks beat Orlando and the only real center in the Eastern Conference in Dwight Howard and currently have a series lead over the Chicago Bulls, the Memphis Grizzlies upset the San Antonio Spurs in the first round and are giving Oklahoma City all they can handle, and the Lakers are having trouble with the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals.

If the underdogs keep winning series, the Heat can walk to the Finals and actually win it. They have to finish off Boston first, which they will. The question is will it be in 7 games or 4??  

Fox "News" At It Again

This is just ignorant.

Freudian slip? Secret Service better keep an eye on those guys...

Derrick Rose Wins MVP

On Tuesday, to the surprise of no one, Derrick Rose became the youngest player (22) to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player award. Rose joins Michael Jordan as the only Chicago Bulls player to win the award. Rose led the Bulls to the best record in the NBA without major pieces of his supporting cast for long stretches of time. Forward Carlos Boozer has been out with a litany of ailments and center Joakim Noah was injured in the early portion of the season. The team still won 62 games.

Rose and the Bulls are currently down 1-0 in the Eastern Confernce Semifinals to the Atlanta Hawks. Rose has a long way to go to catch Jordan in MVP awards (His Airness won 5!) and rings, but his team needs to win Game 2 and get back in the series. Every Bulls team that has won 60 or more games in a season went on to win the NBA championship.

Kudos to the Young Mom

I witnessed a young Black lady discipline her young son when he answered her call with "what". She got out of her seat and immediately got in his face and told him never to answer her like that again. To quote the young lady "You say 'yes, mommy'".

Absolutely.

Far too often I see kids these days answering their parents like they are talking to someone their own age. I remember if I ever thought of saying anything other than "yes, mom" I got the answer to the question "what did the five fingers say to the face?"

In this touch a child it's child abuse age we live in, it was great to see a young Black mother take this stance. We don't give young people credit for disciplining their own children because maybe they never learned discipline themselves, but when someone gets it right, without loudly embarrassing the child, all praises due.

Obama can't win

I guess Obama really did have other things to think about besides people questioning his birth certificate. And even still after DNA evidence verifies it is indeed Osama Bin Laden who was killed in a firefight in his $1 million mansion (not a cave, as many expected), there are still brain surgeons that are saying that this was a political ploy by Obama to raise his poll ratings, that because there is no pictures of Bin Laden's corpse being drug through the streets, that the death is a fake.

This man cannot do anything right in some people's eyes. I will give credit to Rush Limbaugh, one of Obama's staunchest detractors, who on his Monday radio show applauded, praised , and even said "Thank God for President Obama" on his airwaves. Now THAT needed video evidence for me to believe it was real.


I may still need a long form version of the radio transcript, but I digress.
Obama's rating should go up. The man showed patience sitting on intelligence he had since AUGUST of 2010 before giving the word on Friday to launch the attack. Obama achieved in a 40 minute military strike what 8 years of the Bush-Cheney regime could not nor came close to doing. The man continues to clean up the mess the previous President left for him, yet he continues to catch hell from people who cannot see past his skin color or that he is not from the same party as they are.

Can we give the man some credit, please?!
If Bush would have done this, I would tip my hat. Obama has done his best with what he was given. And the biggest issue someone like Trump can come up with is whether he was born in the United States. Forget the economy and the unemployment rate.

The skepticism that Bin Laden is really dead is amazing to me. There is DNA evidence! The same DNA evidence that grants wrongfully accused civilians who have been locked up for 25 years their freedom.

Common sense....