Carried Away?

Aircraft Carrier Deck Will Host College Basketball Game | Playbook

Rumor has it that this is the ship from which Bin Laden's body was cast and buried. Freaky for some to think about that and honorable to others to have the game played on a vessel that was a part of making the world a safer place, and ridding the civilized world of the body of a mass murderer.

The game is scheduled for my wifes birthday! So she may get her trip to the coast after all. Not really, but it sounded good. They are playing in San Diego so the imperfect one will miss this one. Not that I could get on board the USS Reagan in September anyway. The Big Ten team will be Michigan State rather than Wisconsin, so the missus wouldn't be an easy sale on this one. Which is more than likely a good thing because they will be playing against the 2011/12 National Champs, my North Carolina Tar Heels. Approximately 7500 will be able to attend, the Nationally televised game and attendees will consist of mainly military personnel. The game marks the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11, one of our nations most tragic events. It is bitter sweet because it is also one of my more favorable memories, as it is also the week after my eleventh Anniversary, and my celebrating my wifes birthday for the eleveth time with her. Should be very interesting and well secured so unless you have a pass I suggest you not attempt to attend. No tickets will be sold. It is said that if there is inclimate conditions, that the game would be held below deck. An amazing story, so what's your take? Feel free to leave comments below.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

What Just Happened!?

 

 

What happens when you take a group of guys that can bang in the paint, but do not play the transition game as well? You go to the low block right? Well what happens when the opposition collapses into the paint and forces the tough shots inside? You kick it outside right? What happens if the back court doesn't knock down the open J? Then you put in the slashers, and let them penetrate right? What if none of that works either? Wait, let's also throw in the biggest, "What Happens... What happens if you play poor perimeter defense, and the other team shoots lights out! Then you go home defeated! Phil thanks for the excitement in Tinseltown. It was a great run. Kobe, I hope you retire a Laker and your attitude changes for the better, as you look for positive ways to motivate your teammates, but just know that I am not holding my breath, for that, or for Koach K, to coach my beloved Lakers. I have heard that Byron Scott was content with where he is, but would consider being back in LA again, this time as head coach, and that would be a beautiful thing! So Mitch, what say you? You got another, "What Just Happened" in you for the NBA community? I hope so! Mitch "I Make It Happen" Kupchak, do it to it Mr. GM!

It would not bother me a bit to see the next generation in a tough, high flying, up and down, shoot two hundred and twenty shots between the two teams, at a very high percentage, fire fest! Bring on the Bulls and Grizzlies! Then let all the front runners ask, "What just happened!" I am not a fan J. Noah, but I would take them in 7 against the Grizzlies, although, I would be pulling for the Grizzlies, if I had to choose a team. Jerry West has them where they are today, like it, or believe it or not... Happy Mother's Day Hoop fans of the motherhood sorority!

I Saw The Light

I was happy and somewhat eager to see the final score of the Lakers and Mavs. I had anticipated that the Lakers would play with a hunger that would lead to a blow out. Kobe had 32 points and Bynum, Odom, and Gasol all had double - doubles. The bench out played the Mavs bench, and the Lakers won by 19.

Then the Dodgers, Andre Ethier had another hit and extended his hit streak to 30 consecutive games! What a perfect sports night. All this is great because I haven't jynxed him yet, and I am believing in his surpassing D'Maggio's major league record by three (3) games. Yes, I called it here first! Fifty-seven straight!

Well in an imperfect world, an imperfect Christian realizes that the perfect nights sleep is calm and ends well with a joyful wake up call. I was up on and off all night concerned about a sick mate and then ridely awakened too early by reality. I picked up my phone checked the Dodgers page and Ethier had safely reached base for the 30th consecutive time! That was great news, then came the not so great. The Lakers had dropped Game #2 at home to fall behind in the series by as many games. Am I panicking? No. I feel that they can still win this thing, but next year will be a reconstruction like no other, and I think it will be ugly. Beginning with a replacement for Coach Jackson. But in the mean time will Pau come thru in this series against Dallas, and can Mr. Ego refrain from taking that one nasty momentum shifting shot that turns the game around in favor of the bad guys? You know the double coverage, off balance, man open in the corner - but I'm a selfish non- passing shooter - shot.

Time will tell. But what changed my whole outlook on the playoffs was something by far bigger than the playoffs. I really believed with my entire being that the Lakers would be victorious in the game last night. I was nearly sick at my stomach when I saw the score. Frustrated I moved on to check my email,and that's when I received a prayer request that brought me back to earth. A request for intecessory prayer. A friend concerned for another friend, and it all hit me... it was sobbering actually. This is just a game, but today is a day that you have experienced life in. It was not guaranteed, nor was it promised, but it is here and so are you. As a Christian and a sports lover we should strive to face each challenge head on and help someone else make the best of their day and challenges along the way. So, needless to say I got over the loss quickly enough, and prayed. However, I'd be a liar if I said that I wasn't thinking hours after the prayer request about Game 3. Thinking about it with confidence and hopeful for another victorious series both on and off the court. Life is not just a game, but we should make it just as fun!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

#1 or One #?

My Philosophy is: You never know what one is capable of, until that one has done it.

Heisman jinx, Jamarcus Russell comparisons, and all of the negative press you can throw at Carolina's new adopted football son. Who is this manchild? Cam Newton that's who. His father took full responsibility for possible commitment to NCAA rules violations, and was banned from his sons biggest game, the NCAA National Championship. To show that he's a man of integrity (said with heavy sarcasm) he shows up abruptly on National Television to give Cam a hug after he and his team win. So, this goes to show you how much his father cares about his son. Hmmm be selfish and turn this into an all about me event and help scar my sons reputation a bit more, yeah the run down to the field is worth it. Sorry, I am just not a fan of greed, or stupidity. Most critics have said that Carolina has made a crucial mistake. The so called experts have rated Cam as a C+ pick. So did Carolina make such a huge mistake after all? Cam is no slouch, but is Coach Rivera the Cus D'Amato of the new era NFL? And can he fuel the fire in a QB that will have to be the Mike Tyson of the new era NFL to make Carolina a success? Charlotte is not NY, or LA, the fans won't pay top dollar in the Dirty South just to boo you. No instead they will stop going to games. So now Mr. Richardson did you indeed make the right choice? Back to our QB, Mr. Newton how do you silence the critics? The same way Cus and Iron Mike did... by swelling the mouths of the nay sayers shut by knocking opponents out! The only factor here is Cus dealt with a fatherless Mike Tyson like Mike was a D'Amato, like his own son. Cam on the other hand has a corrupt father that he is very close to. For the sake of the Panther Nation I pray that the Panthers have a game plan to sign that ego of Cams and a plan to keep daddy far, far away from the negotiations table. It's already evident that Cam's father is caring of one thing... money! How do I justify saying that? For grins and giggles let's say the money that he took costs Cam his collegiate career. Dad has a fist full of dollars and Cam has no shot at a Heisman or #1 draft slot. So, you tell me it wasn't 'bout the Benjamins! Cam I wish you well and to your father all I can say for him is that I'm praying!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

What Are The Odds Of A Threepeat?

Lakers - Hornets:
OK I picked the Lakers up big over the Hornets last night in Game 5. I like most just have a hard time going against talent, experience, size, and home cooking! So what are the Lakers odds at a 3peat? Better than the odds that the racist, or the extreme right, or the extremely stupid, and yes even better odds than the Don in trying to say that OUR President doesn't have a birth certificate! A picture is worth a thousand words so here ya go...

OK on to the next series.
Heat - Sixers: I missed the call on the blow out, because it didn't happen. I felt that Miami should have won by an average of 20 points and swept the series. Well they say the big boys get geared for the big games, and I guess a W is a W in the first or last round as long as it's in your teams favor.

Spurs - Grizzlies: I felt that the Spurs would rebound in Game 5 of their series with Memphis as well, but it will be tough to take 3 straight from a young unafraid Grizzlies squad. Wow, what a barn burner in SA! Just what a young team doesn't want to give a crafty veteran squad, hope, and confidence! The Grizzlies not only gave the Spurs one shot at OT, but two, and they took full advantage of it and live to see another day! Great overtime game!

Celtics - Anthony/Stoudamire I mean Knicks: The Celtics get the benefit of waiting for their opponent after sweeping the Knicks in the first round. Shocked, not really, but definitely didn't see the broom coming in this series. I am telling you now, that even without Perkins, the Celtics may be a mature team, but they are not a dead team!
Magic - Hawks: I did see a big win coming in this game as well. The drubbing that Orlando put on Atlanta at home, was a confidence builder, but will it lead to over confidence for game 6? Time will tell.

Bulls - Pacers: I really expected the Bulls to sweep the Pacers, but they were one game shy of that. Leagues youngest team in the playoffs, and best record in the NBA regular season, but will drive and youth allow them a title? I say not yet, but again time will tell.

Nuggets - Thunder: George Karl, Ray Felton, Ty Lawson, brotherhood! Other than saying that Durant is a  beast, nuff said!

Mavs - Blazers: That is the other match up right?

OK on to more important issues, here's some playoff look-a-likes for you kiddies:

Ashton K, and Kyle K...

Kurt Thomas now a Bull could be a bigger thug double for Dizzell!

And last but not least... Steve Urkel said that Shane Battier should yell, "Oh did I do that every time he gets an assist to Zach Randolph who looks just like his best bud Eddie Winslow...

So who else has an NBA look-a-like? Marc Gasol does not count, his brother is not a great actor because he flops well in Hollywood, although he and a few others are deserving of Oscars, but he is also a Laker!

Don't Mourn A Thumbnail, Celebrate The Masterpiece!

What is the Big Picture in all of this? The t-shirt says, "Carolina Victory," and the wine compliments it. I like the Scuppernong whether anyone else does or not. Many of y'all are probably guessing that I drank the entire bottle, all by myself, after the Carolina game against Kentucky, on Sunday. Well for the record I did not! I did have one celebratory glass, however. Celebrate a Carolina exit from the NCAA Tournament, you ask? Yes, celebrating indeed, and here's why...

1. Doubt is a sin. Never allow a the haters and naysayers influence your faith!
2. It's a really great feeling to see your squad advance beyond the enemies camp. (We usually do, but in the rare occasions that we don't you can hear from the obnoxious camp that needs a moment to cheer.)
3. Reaching new heights, and doing the unexpected, so later you can say, "That's my family!" and "I told ya so!!" is just priceless!

UNC had a great season, period! They manifested the essence of what it is to be a Tar Heel! The displayed heart! Heart that makes a unit beat as one! Heart that thrives on being resilient, strong, and not willing to accept wearing the badge of failure. 2011 is not 2010, it is a new year with a new team, and a new outlook on whom it is they need to be, and whom it is that they represent. And represent they did! The 2011 team knew that they were better than an NIT team, even when the media and naysayers tried to ingurgitate the fear of last seasons mediocrity into them at the beginning of this season.

North Carolinian's are a proud people. We excel in the heat of the battle. We dig in, and we give our all. So let me go back in time a bit, and divulge where THE University gets its name from, and how the most fierce rivalry in all of sports got started...

In Colonial days, North Carolina was a heavy producer of tar, pitch, and turpentine. It was nearly a century later during the Civil War that a fellow from a Duke regiment asked of a fine but battle weary UNC regiment, "Any more tar down in the Old North State, boys?" Even in colonial times they talked trash, and tried to taunt us, and are not considered North Carolinian's just property holders.

A UNC man said unphased by his arrogance said, "Not a bit. Jeff Davis bought it all up."

The Dookie then asked, "How's that, what's he going to do with it?"

The UNC man replied with the final answer to the over confident and arrogant Dookie, "He's gonna put it on your heels to make you stick better in the next fight!"

Gerneral Lee, was so inspired by this story, that his said remark was: "God Bless the Tar Heel Boys."

When the non-believers taunted the Tar Heels this year, the Heels responded in a positive way unlike last seasons squad. Credit Coach Williams who made the appropriate changes, and saw his team turn a lackluster start into a marvelous season! The other kid (name unmentioned for obvious reasons) was given a chance to improve, and just was not the man to lead the point, so Coach Williams brought in Marshall law! So cut to the chase man! Why did you celebrate after the loss to Kentucky?

In a nutshell, a very good Kentucky team humbled, what will be not only, a good Carolina team, but if healthy and focused next season, will be a "great" Carolina team. The momentum swing and game changer for me was when the refs missed a travel call, and allowed John Henson to pick up his third foul at the end of that same play. Not to take anything away from Kentucky. But at that moment, I knew it was going to be a long day for my Heels. Kentucky won, no excuses, and our guys made a valiant effort to advance, we just came up a little short to a very good Kentucky team. Without questioning, Kentucky played well, they shot from the perimeter well. They hit key three point shots, and got the job done. Kentucky played the D they needed to, in order to win, and they did so in the round of the Elite Eight! And again cut to the chase and make your point please...

My point is: Carolina was there! Not only was Carolina there, in the NCAA Tournament, and not the NIT, they were there with a team that had two freshmen, and a Sophomore in the starting line up when only they felt like they belonged there! So, Mr. & Mrs. Naysayer from early November, how's your crow taste now! Well I have four words for you: "Get used to it," because Coach Williams and crew will have another batch ready for you this fall as well! GO HEELS!!!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Blowout's & Comebacks

OK first things first, college hoops (Carolina basketball). I have to start by saying the Heels advanced. However, and I hate to point it out, it was a sloppy victory. They have proven that they can persevere and chip away at a huge lead. They have made some great comebacks this year. However, when you give a great team a huge lead, they can usually close even against another great team. Both Carolina and Washington played sloppy and turned the ball over way too much today. The long lead passes are wonderful, when you have an open man, but the great ones no when "not" to force a pass. Magic Johnson threaded the needle in college and as a pro, but understood what ball management was about. That's why he was a National Champion, an Olympic Champion, NBA World Champion and most of all a smart and legendary winner. The Heels must play with more discipline, fewer mistakes, and still have fun! Henson has to ditch the Garnett block the dead ball mentality! He must play bigger and stronger in the paint and he must play smart! Thomas' foot was on the line, so even with a goal tend it would have only been a two point field goal instead of a three pointer. One more time with my redundant word of the day; "However," Henson should have been nowhere near that last shot. He also took a major risk going after the previous shot. He didn't even have a player close enough to him to have to box out. The worse thing that could happen did. His hand-eye/foot coordination let him down in such a way that gave the opposition one last breath, and in doing so, almost took the last from his team. They are young and they are tough and get high on emotion, but that needs to harnessed. Self discipline will make or break you.

Duke gave up a huge lead. Very uncharacteristic of a Coach K team. Congrats on win 900 Coach Ksnarls! Again that's all the good I have in me, and I don't know how long, if ever again I can say anything good about the bad guys.

Wisconsin and the Bucky-Bo express! Coach Ryan is going to find an athletic big man one day and when he does, Coach Matta, Coach Izzo lookout! He's already boasting one of the highest home game winning percentages in the land, so lookout if Bucky gets not only smart coachable kids, but athletic ones as well! Can you imagine a UW team with a dominant big man, a shooter, defensive stoppers, and a couple of leapers!? Yeah 100-0 at home again over the next 5 years, and probably close to the same record on the road! Seriously, trade one of his bigs for UNC's Zeller/Henson (a mature Henson), or OSU's Sully. Bo's guys would be where Thad's guys are... in the #1 overall!

Speaking of #1 overall, I was so disinterested in the thrashing that OSU put on George Mason that I did some research for NASCAR. Yes OSU is very deserving of the #1 overall and I have them taking it all. But I pray that my Heels prevail and shake up the college hoops world! Oh back to NASCAR, word on the street is that according to the experts the new Buick Regal is to heavy and a tad off pace with its competition, however, I say put her on the track, she's one fine ride! I think the Regal belongs! Hope Buick's back!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7