Kobe's Haters.. Where did they come from? AND, MSNBC Sports Writers Dont Read

Ever hear of the website MSNBC.COM? Well, that site, has for years, .... Wait let me gather myself.
OK

MSNBC.COM as well as many sports commentators and other writers, have for years blamed Kobe Bryant for Shaq leaving the Lakers.



For the record, the summer before Shaq was essentially fired, he spent the summer running up and down the b-ball court in Hawaii during practices YELLING at the Laker's owner, Jerry Buss to "PAY HIM HIS MONEY". Shaq, at the time was trying to get a HUGE paycheck to add to what is already the largest salary in the NBA. His health was in decline, he was a fat slob, most people did not really like him AND he was already the highest paid player in the NBA, yet he screamed at HIS BOSS for more money. (Just for the hell of it, take the next two weeks off from work, come in slightly hung over, and while sitting at your desk working dial up your boss on speaker phone and SCREAM AT HIM TO PAY YOU MORE MONEY and then, after you do get fired, and you file suit for wrongful termination, tell everyone that you deserve more money because of all of the work you'd done in the past. Remember, you are already the highest paid player on the team, and lately you have visibly been giving less than 90%)

Now picture this.... You are an already incredibly wealthy man, you are supposedly attempting to win as many NBA titles as you can, and instead of putting your head down, collecting the 10s of millions that you earn playing a child's game, you spend time screaming at your boss in front of enough media outlets, that for almost two weeks, the only news in sports was that Shaq was screaming at Buss to get paid more money.

Sure, Kobe and Shaq weren't necessarily buddies. I mean, in Kobe's rookie season they were rumored to have actually come to blows during a practice. But get this, they managed to play/work on the floor as basketball players to win 3 titles and to go to at least 5 if not 6 Western Conference finals. The fact that Kobe Bryant even threw hands with Shaq as an 18 - 19 year old has always made me respect him. The fact that a grown man could literally start fighting with a child just out of high school has always made me consider Shaq to be essentially exactly what he is, a super-large child with bully-tendencies. (Now remember, all of this is in the news. Everything I am writing can be found, researched and read.)

Now I'm not really saying the guys over at MSNBC are stupid, but I read a lot of sports columns and am shocked at how often this crabby "Shaq-trade" rumor is made about Kobe. I've always wondered how Kobe "pre-rape accusation" couldn't do anything wrong, and was considered by the media to be the kid who was being bullied by Shaq, ("pre-rape accusation" Kobe was the Prince of the NBA) could turn into Kobe the selfish punk loner whiner almost immediately after he was accused of raping someone. I've always wondered if it is some strange and continued white-racist fallout (over 90% of the sports writers who jump on Kobe are white guys and the black guys are bona fide sellouts and shadows) regarding the simple idea that Kobe A) is a mega-wealthy man of color, B) essentially walked out of the courtroom as a mega-wealthy man of color who boned a blessed and sacred blond, C) let them (the writers/reporters) down by getting accused of something many of us are seconds away from being accused of if/when ANY woman decides to cry-wolf and/or D) just plain hating and crappy writers.

Fact is Shaq screamed and yelled at his Boss Mr. Buss to get paid more money. Fact is Jerry Buss isn't a punk. Fact is, the Lakers were in the process of making sure to re-work Kobe's much more impending contract renewal (his youth and talent vs. Shaq's girth and greed), and planned on working with Shaq at seasons end. Final fact, Shaq asked to have his contract essentially maxed out, which if you know anything about Shaq's contract you have to understand he is one of the last guys playing who was grandfathered into the old NBA contract/salary rules that didn't have certain yearly "caps". Shaq literally gets paid over 20, and maybe even over 30 million dollars a year to play ball (Shaq still receives money from the Lakers plus just over 20 million from Miami. He actually took a paycut to play with the Heat because he could see Dwayne serving as a comparable Kobe -smart move from a ring stance but pig-headed in the long run. Why pig headed? He didn't take the Lakers offers because that would have meant he "lost" to the corporation, and Shaq would rather leave than appear to be weak.). He was making over 20 million a year (in salary alone) when he continued to scream about getting "his money".

I would have fired Shaq's ass too. If anyone can point to the day when Kobe fell from grace and Shaq became the George Foreman of the NBA please let me know, please. (and Oh YEAH, Jerry Buss is on record for saying Shaq was a business decision, and not an easy one)

I'm forced to think of what Roger "Rocket" Clemmons recently stated at a press conference "everything is so negative now" (a comment I'm sort of paraphrasing that The Rocket made to a media-dude who, for some reason, only wanted to talk about Clemmons having bad pitching days). To think I'm quoting a guy who was at one time asshole number one to the media, and now they lick his crack as if he is the third coming (Bird was the second coming).

King James, The Cavs, Eastern Conference Finals and stuff

I havent posted in a while because some really crazy things are going on in the real world. For one, the Professor, who is one of the sparks for Black Sports Guy creativity and insanity, is hiding in a cave preparing for the California Bar. He has to. I have friends who have taken the Cal Bar and passed, and when they were preparing for the bar they literally disappeared for almost two and a half months. So he's gone. I've told friends we have in common we must simply pretend he is in a coma from which he will awaken in August 2007.

PLUS I dont know if I've said anything about it on this blog, but I'm hosting the WORLDS FIRST INTERNATIONAL SHORT JOKE FILM CONTEST where people are supposed to submit short films based on jokes you either find online or jokes sent to you via email... its crazy. PLUSPLUS I have a new laptop computer that has Windows Vista on it, or Shitsa, whatever word you prefer, and that has been keeping me busy at night trying to get it to run programs I use in my other life as a struggling artist/filmmaker... and all of this culminated with my home workstation computer malfunctioning! HOW AND WHY WE MANAGED TO MAKE A GUY WORTH 90 BILLION DOLLARS AND HIS PRODUCT IS AKIN TO ME SELLING YOU A PAIR OF GLOVES AND WHEN YOU OPEN THE PACKAGE ITS JUST SOME FABRIC WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS "PATCHES AND UPDATES WILL FOLLOW" IS BEYOND ME AND IT PISSES ME THE FUCK OFF! But its too late to turn back. Gates could literally purchase the Caribbean and still have CHANGE, and you, me, we should be proud we helped him, and we should enjoy all of the crappy software.

So with that off of my chest, I feel after watching two exactly similar NBA games, on two totally different days, in the Eastern Conference Finals, I owe it to the ether to send some shout outs to King Lebron James since everyone else seems to want to call him "not-Jordan" and/or "not-Magic" because of the Cavs latest losses.

Writers are jumping all over James, or they were, after the first game the Cavs lost to the Pistons because Lebron made an amazing pass to "BrickLayer A" who proceeded to miss what would have been the winning bucket. Read that again...HELL let me say it again. Time was running out, the game nearly over, Lebron James (22 years old in his fourth season on a team that 4 years ago was essentially transparent) drove the lane and was covered by three Pistons. He threw a deft outlet pass to a wide open Don-Yell Marshal who waited at least 2 seconds to jack a three pointer (thats how open he was). He missed, not badly, but HE MISSED. The Cavaliers lost the game, and suddenly King James was depicted as a heartless punk who was afraid to take the shot... Afraid to take the shot because his perfect basketball play ended with his teammate missing a WIDE OPEN THREE POINTER. The final score ... Detroit by two -who really cares what the exact score was.

THEN, game two happened. The game pretty much looked the same as game 1, even the final score: Detroit by two. However this time Lebron took the last shot. He took the shot with one Piston squeezing his nipples and another Piston checking his anus for hidden vitamins, and missed. The refs didnt call any fouls because we are having flashbacks to a Pippen-less Jordan, when he was allowed to get raped whenever he went to the hole by the original Detroit Bad Boys back in the 80s. So the writers gave Lebron some props for taking the shot, but they still consider him a weak non-crunch time "not-Jordan" and/or "not-Magic".

I hope Lebron is as mature as he seems during interviews. I mean the kid is 22 years old, and essentially is the ONLY reason the Cavs have, for two years, competed well in the eastern conference playoffs. The coach STINKS, and I say that because when I watch the game, especially when I watch Lebron on offense when he doesnt have the ball, I swear I've seen him biting his fingernails WHILE ON THE FLOOR. Last night for at least two stretches, I couldnt even find him on the floor because he was so far away from the action STANDING STILL that he was off camera.. and I'm not saying for a second or two, I'm saying long enough that I was wondering where the hell he was. THAT is a coaching problem, mixed with a guy who is learning to play basketball while getting paid to do so. Remember, always remember, coaches teach and motivate. No one is teaching Lebron, and somehow, me, Ricci, a pretty average fan realizes that none of the players from the past were as raw as Lebron AND he is still THE MAN on the floor.

The other issue I have with people calling Lebron "not-Jordan" and/or "not-Magic" is first of all, Jordan was "not-Jordan" until he was given Pippen and Phil Jackson (to say the least). PLUS Jordan learned the game of basketball from freaking DEAN SMITH!!! Do you know it is hard to even appreciate how amazing Dean Smith must have been to the world of basketball until you realize that you will be hard pressed to name a championship team that didnt or doesnt have at least one North Carolina player on their rooster, or a coach who was schooled by Dean! So, the fact is, until Jordan was given a good coach and at least one seriously talented player, he was "not-Jordan" so, in other words, GET OFF LEBRON unless you are prepared to help the idiots in the Cavs front office find him a nice co-playmaker and a real coach.

Secondly, Magic Johnson, as we have stated on this blog should NEVER be compared to anyone playing basketball. PERIOD. Until a rookie takes on a world championship team playing all of the positions on the floor, scoring 40+ along with grabbing rebounds and dishing passes, as Magic did against the 76ers in his rookie season, NEVER COMPARE MAGIC TO ANYONE... not only is it unfair, it actually makes you (writers, commentators) sound/read/look like a total imbeciles.

So with that off my chest. I'm pulling for the Cavs to win this thing. I've said so on this blog in my NBA Playoff picks and I think they can do it if their coach figures out how to keep them hopping after half-time.

peace.

Professor and Ricci are sick of nigga shit

ORIGINALLY POSTED BY THE PROFESSOR on FRIDAY APRIL 27, 2007

I have a response brewing to this post, and believe it, "nigger vs. nigga" and perhaps the "4-dead in Kansas City..." may get copied to each month because they need to be seen and are, sadly, consistantly current problems in the USA.

Please study the below clip of this Chris Rock standup CLOSELY. What he is saying..word for word..IS CORRECT.

I have been saying that Black people are about 600-800 years away from being "normalized" in the United States of America. My theory is that, in order to consider ourselves actually "free" from the affects of slavery, we have to be "out" of said slavery at LEAST as long as we were "in it"..plus 200 more years.

Doing the math, that places us "in" slavery for 400 years, freed from slavery for 142 years; then we must add 258 to get to the requisite number of years "out" of slavery that Black people were "in" it (that being 400); plus 200.

Thus, the minimum year that American Black people should ALL be "normalized" "Americans", with no hang ups, [here] no "hustle" mentality, [here] no penchant to fight just because they feel they were disrespected [here] [here], no cities where gun violence and fratricide are a WAY OF LIFE [here], where there is no "honor" in "not snitchin'" [here], where drugs are legal BUT Black people dont have to make Marijuana a "religion [here]; where Black people are seen as just regular people without the stigma of crime, con artistry, unemployment, victimization, ignorance, violence and death as their foretold lots in life... That year is 2515 AD. That's right, the 26th century. I added 50 years for good measure.

I figure, by THAT time, all this (what Ricci and I like to call..) "nigga shit" should be ancient history. Sort of like seeing a "viking" today sailing in a wooden boat and landing at the Santa Monica pier. Or having a visogoth walk down the middle of Cherry Hill, NJ. People would think he was part of a parade or something. Eventually, these time travelers would realize that their time is over and THANK GOD FOR IT. You see, Mongols, and Huns, and Vikings, and Romans, as well as Spartans, Nazis, klansman, hip-hop generation gangsters, crips, bloods, killer hutus, killer tutsis, radical islamists, , current murdering Philadelphians... These peoples' time is UP. Some dont realize it yet..but their time is done. By 2515 it should all be ancient history and we'll all be better off for it.

Right now, I 'd like to give us Black folks a "pass". I mean, we've only been out of slavery for a measley 142 years. In Earth time, that is incalculably small. Literally. In Earth time that finite bit of time isn't worth a decimal. And look at what we've accomplished since then! The list of Black achievement is nearly endless. BUT.. much of that achievement is negated by the magnitude of our collective ignorance and lack of self respect. We kill each other as if we are in a civil war. Blinded by greed and seduced by power, we seem inebriated with "the dark side" of the Force. And we all know what happens to folks who love the "dark side" [here] [here].

Some of you will think I'm as big an idiot as Jason Whitlock (me and Ricci like to call him Shit-lock or "Fat"-lock). Well, sorry folks, I'm not that stupid. Whitlock blames hip-hop for all our society's ills. I believe hip-hop is just "music". Period. Hip-hop grew out of the society, not the other way around. In other words, Hip-Hop is not "creating" society..Society "creates" the Hip-Hop. And even as much as I think Whitlock is a dumbass, I still wouldn't think of physically "harming" him, under any circumstances. I'd rather debate him. He might even turn out to be a nice guy, just "misinformed".

The problem is cultural. It's an American thing. And we ARE Americans FIRST and FOREMOST. I do not think Black people truly realize this. And THAT is a direct consequence of slavery. We dont even really know if we "belong" here. ..142 years later and we still dont really know(??)

I'm not sure how many of us have to rip somebody off or get ripped off. How many of us have to get shot, or shoot somebody. How many of us have to get pregnant knowing full well we can get an abortion and only good things will come of it. How many of us have to lie to someone in order to "get over". I'm not sure how long it will take before we get it into our heads that we BELONG HERE. This is OUR Country. We dont have to FUCK it up. You dont HAVE to take that money to kill that "nigga". Life doesn't HAVE to be fucked up all the time. It's up to us to make that decision.

Sadly, as a collective, we aren't up to the challenge just yet.

"What we got here is... failure to communicate.. some men you just caint reach." If this is the way you "wants" it..this is the way you "gets" it.

Movie Review: SPIDERMAN III

If you like your movies CHEESY.
If you like your plots full of holes.....
then Swiss-cheesy Spiderman III is for you.



If you are a fan of comics, especially the crazy fight sequences and super-powers.
If you enjoy crazy special effects.....
then Swiss-cheesy, crazy special effects, great 'superhero' stuff, Spiderman III is for you.

Its really a sign of the times that this movie is doing so well in the box office. I mean it finally occured to me that the 'Pokemon' generation of kids are now the people going to the movies. So if you think about it, the horror that is/was Pokemon which managed to have a slew of young followers is now the root of the entertainment node of the largest group of 'young movie-goers'.

[This is NOT a good thing by the way. I've always felt entertainment would suffer from this generation of kids because Pokemon was one of the most retarded cartoons in the history of toons...yet it had a HUGE following (has?).]

So the result is a cheesy, bad plot, special effects movie is now one of the biggest blockbusters of all time. Wow...

Spiderman II is the BEST of the Spiderman movies. Rent Spidey II, and then wait and rent Spidey III.

NBA PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS.....!

OK.
Here
We
GOooo

After watching the first round of the playoffs from the sanctity of my sturdy bed-side chair, I will NOW unveil my predictions for the NBA finals.

WARNING: I do not know what I'm talking about. I have not researched any of these teams other than what I have heard and witnessed during the playoffs. I'm an NBA 'semi-fan' in that there are certain teams I enjoy watching because they have brought back the concept of 'the extra pass' and team defense, which is what basketball is ALL ABOUT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Eastern Conf. Finals - Bulls vs. Cavs [reasons: The Bulls can handle Detroit ..gonna be a series, but they can handle Detroit (they have actually handled them pretty well most of the regular season and that was before ding-Deng took his game to the next level. PLUS playing and beating the WORLD CHAMPION HEAT will help this young squad PLUS PLUS Ben Wallace gets to play his old buddies in round 2..) The Bulls will make the Eastern Finals! Cavs vs. Nets = Cavs. I like a young team vs. an older team, especially when the old team has two players who are 'iffy' with regard to the size of their testicles in the first place (R.Jefferson/V.Carter)... PLUS: King James is in the MOOD for a finals of some kind even if its just the EASTERN finals.

Western Conf. Finals - Suns vs. Jazz [reasons: I have no idea. No, seriously, I think the Jazz have learned how to beat the Rockets and Yao just isnt capable of lifting his game to the next level. Meanwhile Boozer has learned this nifty post season trick and become, essentially, unstoppable. I'm a HUGE T-Mac fan, and it would be nice for him to get through a first round for once, and he might go crazy and push the Rockets through, plus they are playing at home for the final game... hmmmm, screw that: RETAKE- SUNS vs. HOUSTON... The Rockets will get through the first round and the Warriors will 'behave' and lose.. .. plus all of this intense play will finally wear on Steve Jackson just enough to cause him to do at least one drive by while in Houston resulting in his removal from the series while he sits in a court room (just joking, JUST JOKING.. I like Steve's game, but I dont like B-Davis ability to get injured. Davis will NOT make it through the next series, and thus, the Warriors wont.)

CHAMPIONSHIP: Cavs vs Suns.

WINNER: SUNS - as if the Bulls would even have a chance. Should the finals result in Bulls vs. Suns, I'll take this one more level and predict SUNS IN FIVE.

Now if you win any money on any of these picks, let me know because I wont win a DIME.

Nigger vs. Nigga - For The Record

I just want to get on record regarding all the hullabaloo (I've ALWAYS wanted to use that word.. and now I HAVE.. did you know it actually has a definition - "a damorous noise or disturbance or uproar") regarding the trend over the last few years of black folks heading to the media, into courtrooms and into city halls, to demand that lawmakers help them figure out how to stop young black folks (and some old ones as well) from using the word "Nigga" in their daily conversation, music compositions, literary musings -whatever. I'm also trying to get on record to help the 'white man' who in some states has actually acquiesced with this older ilinformed group of black idiiots, and created resolutions to 'ban the N-word'.

First, lets start with a lesson in good old fashion english.

Read this sentence: They're on Their way over THERE and once They're THERE they will be where they are.

Now read this sentence: THERE on They're way over THEIR and once There They're they will be where they are.

Same sounding word, yet it is written three different ways and not only that, has three totally distinct meanings. The words in question in today's lesson not only have different meanings and spellings, THEY DONT EVEN SOUND THE SAME! So to the tone-deaf, to those who hear what they want to hear and not what is actually said, PLEASE learn from this post and lets move on to more important issues.

I'm not going to hold anyone's hand durnig this discussion. If you do not understand the above in view of what follows, GOD HELP YOUR STUPID ASS.

Okay, banning the use of the word NIGGER would be great, however, the only people who use the word NIGGER are white racist assholes who want to desparately condemn a man of color, reminding him that there was a time when his nigger ass was essentially equal, if not of lessor value to a stray dog. People who use the word NIGGER know exactly what they are doing. They are attempting to inflict pain, attempting to terrorize and are not in any way shape or form happy about the presence of black/brown people .. anywhere. People who say nigger will not be stopped. However, it would be nice if there was a resolution created that would allow me to have someone arrested for calling me NIGGER because it is akin to that same person putting a gun to my head or putting a rope around my neck. Nigger, as a word, sends chills through the body and soul of ALL people of color. It is a word of HATE and condemnation. The last time someone screamed NIGGER at me, I was in West Virginia, outside of a McDonalds, a truck full of young white men rolled by me, and the whole phrase screamed at the top of one of the young white males mouths was "GO HOME STUPID NIGGER" -ahh the love.



For the record: NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER... say it so you can feel it!

Now, the current trend, to head into city councel meetings to ban the word which is used in 'pop' culture and amongst many young african American men and women, is both misguided, illinformed and most importantly a true waste of our civic leadership's time because they should be working on health care and educational reform matters. (note: the characterization 'african american' is not one by which I abide. I'm an American. I happend to be a brown skinned American, and I do not mind being called a black American because I would prefer to be grouped with the wonderful people of color in this country who have overcome and performed amazing accomplishments verses the freak screw up savages of Africa who A) sold my people into slavery in the first place, and B) continue to this day to kill more people of color per month than any American hood could ever eclipse)(Note2: I am not calling all of Africa screwed up. I have visited Conakry Guinea and found it to be as nice as East St. Louis or Detroit, maybe even South Side Chicago..? Plus, I know that the other joke about the phrase "African American" is that it totally disregards the fact that Africa is a continent containing MANY independent COUNTRIES.)

The word which is used in 'the hood', in 'the burbs', in ivy league schools, in colleges, in business, in sports, in the bar, in the gym, riding in a car, walking down the street, .. the word which is used amongst FRIENDS and simply as a term, a modifier of a phrase, is NIGGA.



For the record: NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA NIGGA Say it so you can hear it.

Nigga has NEVER been used six seconds before a lynching. Nigga has NEVER been used one day before a cross burning. NIGGA has never been used to strike fear into the hearts of other men... except amongst crazy NIGGAS who are working their way towards an act of 'nigga shit' i.e. killing each other over drugs, girls, cars, money, shoes, colors..etc. The last time someone called me nigga, we were laughing, joking, enjoying personal conversation and it was said with a laugh about something I did or said. "nigga please.. haa haa".

For one last example, and to hopefully give someone some ammunition with which to HALT this waste of time and tax dollars:

When the great Bull Conner confronted people marching for civil rights, he demanded, with a slight threat for "You niggers better clear out of here before we clear your nigger asses out of here for you"..

Meanwhile, when DMX raps about his boys, his family, the crew he trusts with his life, his children's lives, his 'brother's lives', he says "Just cause I love my niggas, (Ruff Ryders) I shed blood for my niggas. (Ryde or die)" -this is about solidarity, about fraternization, kinship, and THIS WORD WILL NOT BE STOPPED.

Re-read this and practice (especially white people and any black person who is A) older than 55 or B) kowtowing to the media for their own personal gain and have yet to do anything for their community other than preach about Jesus) because one of my niggas is as white as a piece of paper, he's my nigga, I'm his nigga. We have been business partners, roommates, and are linked by friendship and respect. He has a hard time saying 'nigga' because he is white, and it is time for white people to really LISTEN because 'nigga' and 'nigger' are totally different words, with different definitions, meanings and intonations. My boy Wes, has managed to jokingly say the word in front of me more than a few times, and everytime he does, I know we are that much closer as brothers, or should I say.. 'bruthas'.

Finally, Nigga, Niggaz, Niccas, Niccaz.. even, nigger, these are all words, idioms, to censor them, and especially to censor them because some people have found them to be offensive is true censorship, which isnt what I thought the USA was about. Then again, I also didnt think the USA was into pre-emptive strikes, so who knows? Bottom line is, there are certain people who when faced with the opportunity to put down or threaten a person of color, will utter the word 'nigger' because it is the lowest term in our language. At the same time, without fail, you will not be able to stop close friends from sharing the word 'nigga' with each other because it keeps them bonded as 'family'.

Peace

NBA Playoffs: The Mavs vs. The Warriors

OKAY so the BLACK SPORTS GUY is gonna talk about SPORTS!!!!

Right now, in almost every paper/website you can find, most if not all of the sports writers are bashing Dirk Nowitzki because his Dallas Mavericks are looking as if they are going to lose the opening round series to the Warriors.

WARRIORSSSSS...COME OUT TO PLAY-HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYyyyyy

I think they, the Mavs, will lose, but I dont blame Dirk. The much ballyhooed seven foot German jump shooter can ball. If you ask the Professor he even says Dirk could have played back in the 80s when the NBA talent level just seemed that much greater... and for the Professor to say Dirk could have played back in the day is a HUGE statement because the Prof only feels a handful of people playing today could have played back in the Magic, Bird, Kareem, Barkley, Jordan, Pistons, Lakers, Celtics era.

I also find it crass that writers are jumping all over Dirk claiming he cant come up big in the big game because the Mavricks are losing to the Warriors. Hell, according to the stats, the Mavs hadnt beaten the Warriors in the regular season for TWO YEARS. Their first win against the Warriors was literally during the playoffs, and if you want to bring up all of the 'raise their level of play from the post season mythology' well, there you have it. IN TWO SEASONS the Mavericks couldnt beat the Warriors a single time. Suddenly, with their 'level of play raised' they have managed to win at least one out of 4 games. GIVE THEM CREDIT thats a 'raised level of play' right?

Dont get caught up in the Disney tales given to you by people like Celizic. He jumps all over Dirk calling him soft and pulls on the guys arm, tugging, 'come on Dirky Dirk, raise your level of play, be the 'MVP' you are supposed to be, put the team on your back...'. I dont get it. Dirk has been balling all season and people have been crowning him the best in the league on the best team in the league. So suddenly, when they get unlucky and run into an 8 seed in the playoffs who happen to be the team they simply seem to have trouble beating (again for the sake of repition, TWO YEARS and they were 0 - 6 against them), and suddenly its DIRKS FAULT?

Nah.

Dont let these writers fool you. They bring up 'rasing your game' in the post season as if only the teams that make it to, and win, the finals 'raised their game'. Uhhh hello, this is the NBA, these guys all raise their game in the post season, which means, if you have two teams who played each other really tough during the regular season, when, I guess, they werent playing their hardest and had their 'games lowered', then when both teams RAISE THEIR GAME in the playoffs why is anyone surprised that their contests, somehow, match the regular season.

Truth be told when the series started, at the tip of the first ball for the first game of the series, I thought the Warriors were going to get SMOKED! However, I listened. I listened closey. I listened for FACTS and didnt get caught up in the 'sports mythology' that includes fairy tales about men totally changing into some sort of comic book hero upon the start of the post season. See at the tip off of the first game of this series one of the commentaters announced the facts that I've been spewing: GOLDEN STATE HAS BEATEN THE MAVERICKS FOR TWO STRAIGHT SEASONS... then the guy said the mythology crap: 'but this is the post season so things may be different as the Mavs will be 'raising their game' - FORGET the fact, that like I said, the Warriors will as well. SO, I watched the first game laughing because you could feel an 8 getting ready to beat a one. You could see it. The Warriors just might OWN the Mavs, but writers out there, guys like Celizic do not want you to know this, or he's just dumb enough to believe what he writes.

Sure the Mavs might put together a three game winning streak. Sure.

They may suddenly change into 'the post season Mavs' who must be way better than the 'regular season Mavs' and maybe the Warriors will become the regular season Warriors who literally fell into the post season on the last game of the year. I mean, you have to play the games to determine the winner and at that point, anything can happen.

But this I know, up until the second game of the series, the Warriors were 7 - 0 vs. the Mavs. By the 4th game they were 9 - 1.

Now I'm simply a fan.

Not a sports geek, just a fan, and almost a casual fan of the NBA...however, this I know... in almost every sport I can think of, the team that owns a record like that against a foe, baring injury or murder (Stephen Jackson plays for the Warriors -he has 'gun' issues), I just do not see how they can be beaten. If there is one thing for sure, over 2 seasons the Mavs couldnt figure out the Warriors, and I'm pretty sure Celizic and his buds would agree... the Postseason is NOT the place to suddenly try to figure out how to beat a team.. Its just hard to picture.

So, believe not what you hear from these storied writers. Believe NOT that this is an NBA supernova mega-upset of all time. Believe NOT that if the Warriors win they have accomplished what only two other teams have accomplished in the history of the NBA.

No, no... NO! When you head to your favorite bar, casino, buds house or your couch to watch the Mavs vs. The Warriors, remember if this were any other sport and someone said "hey, that team has a 9 - 1 record against that other team" and you put your money on the table.. remember who you would really vote for if you were voting safe. This will not be an upset. The Warriors beating the Mavs is just another day in the NBA...

BUT WATCH CUZ THESE GAMES HAVE BEEN FUN.

Things that happen to PEOPLE... part 1

Just thought I'd post a little something that most of us know, but I want to have it etched in the digiverse by my hands:

Things that happen to white people: White people get attacked by bears, mountain lions, back-woods serial killers. Black people never get attacked by bears, mountain lions or back-woods serial killers.

Things that happen to black people: Black people get attacked by their girlfriends wielding an infant like a bat, which also means, black people can get killed by being used as a bat when they are young. White people never get hit by infant-bats.

I'm just sayin. OH. .. THIS is the article that hatched this post.

[NOTE: I tried, TRIED T-R-I-E-D to find a good crowd picture with a nice smattering of white/black/tan/ people........ but I couldnt, and that is both sad and part of the reality of the problem that can be spelled "America".]