Feb 2009
Where IS the Local Sports Media - How About Doing Some Investgative Reporting?
02/28/09 12:47 Filed in: College
Basketball | College
Football
It's been more than a week since the brain surgeons
snatched Renardo Sidney from the Bruins, and the
brilliant investigative reporters of the Los Angeles
media have yet to utter a word as to what really
happened. Within a day or so, his "commitment' to
UCLA was vanquished, and he orally announced his
intentions to attend that other school. Something
major happened, most likely something below-board,
with rumors being rampant in the air, not not in the
media.
When will local sports reporters step up and investigate and report on these types of stories?
The local media has totally ignored the NCAA investigations of the brain surgeons football and basketball programs, and were it not for Yahoo Sports and the likes of Charles Robinson, Jason Cole, and Josh Peter, we would never have known about all of the rules violations and illegal activity involving reggie bush, not to mention the pay-off in the civil lawsuit stemming from the hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal benefits he and his family received while at sc, and also the outrageous conduct of oj mayo under the noses of sc's basketball staff.
Yet another story is going unnoticed by the local sports media, and apparently by both sc basketball fans, as the brain surgeons have removed their basketball games from television coverage. Their Cal game Thursday, today's game at Stanford, and also both of next weeks final Pac-10 regular season games have been taken off their TV schedule. Why? Rumors fly, even including the one that has sc knowing they are facing significant NCAA sanctions and are trying to appease the gods and retroactively ban themselves from TV exposure.
Why are not any LA Times sports reporters, anyone at the Daily News, or any local TV or radio reporters reporting on these stories?
theHoundDawg
When will local sports reporters step up and investigate and report on these types of stories?
The local media has totally ignored the NCAA investigations of the brain surgeons football and basketball programs, and were it not for Yahoo Sports and the likes of Charles Robinson, Jason Cole, and Josh Peter, we would never have known about all of the rules violations and illegal activity involving reggie bush, not to mention the pay-off in the civil lawsuit stemming from the hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal benefits he and his family received while at sc, and also the outrageous conduct of oj mayo under the noses of sc's basketball staff.
Yet another story is going unnoticed by the local sports media, and apparently by both sc basketball fans, as the brain surgeons have removed their basketball games from television coverage. Their Cal game Thursday, today's game at Stanford, and also both of next weeks final Pac-10 regular season games have been taken off their TV schedule. Why? Rumors fly, even including the one that has sc knowing they are facing significant NCAA sanctions and are trying to appease the gods and retroactively ban themselves from TV exposure.
Why are not any LA Times sports reporters, anyone at the Daily News, or any local TV or radio reporters reporting on these stories?
theHoundDawg
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Except for Good-Guy Andy Roddick, Tennis Sucks
02/23/09 15:35 Filed in: Misc.
I said at the beginning, I would not write about the
boring game of tennis, but this issue needs
discussion.
Unlike selfish female stars like Venus Williams, who made a patronizing reference during her trophy presentation, Andy Roddick bypassed the Dubai tournament due to the flagrant anti-Semitism of the United Arab Emirates in prohibiting Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer from participating in their tournament. In fact, when news reports incorrectly stated that he bypassed Dubai due to a hernia, he first won the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships, then announced to the world that he was not injured but refused to go to Dubai due to their refusal to grant a visa to Peer.
theHoundDawg
Unlike selfish female stars like Venus Williams, who made a patronizing reference during her trophy presentation, Andy Roddick bypassed the Dubai tournament due to the flagrant anti-Semitism of the United Arab Emirates in prohibiting Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer from participating in their tournament. In fact, when news reports incorrectly stated that he bypassed Dubai due to a hernia, he first won the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships, then announced to the world that he was not injured but refused to go to Dubai due to their refusal to grant a visa to Peer.
theHoundDawg
Scumstripe Legacy - The House that 'Roids Built
02/18/09 08:29 Filed in: Baseball
Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Jason Giambi, nim-rod,
the list goes on.
Forget about the Mets' "Citi Field", the new Bronx stadium needs to be named "The House that 'Roids Built"
In listening the nim-rod yesterday, what struck me the most was his continual excuse of him being “young and stupid”. “Young and stupid” may be an excuse for a lot of things, and for a lot of people, especially people who are young, who are stupid, and who are struggling to get by in society - what nim-rod conveniently left out was the fact that while he and his "cousin" were young and stupid and injecting "unknown" substances into their bodies (for three years), mr. nim-rod was making $20 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! For that kind of money, you hire someone not young and not stupid, to provide some intelligent direction to your life, your career, your choice of injectables.
And exactly where were the team coaching, training, and medical staffs when all this was going on?
theHoundDawg
Forget about the Mets' "Citi Field", the new Bronx stadium needs to be named "The House that 'Roids Built"
In listening the nim-rod yesterday, what struck me the most was his continual excuse of him being “young and stupid”. “Young and stupid” may be an excuse for a lot of things, and for a lot of people, especially people who are young, who are stupid, and who are struggling to get by in society - what nim-rod conveniently left out was the fact that while he and his "cousin" were young and stupid and injecting "unknown" substances into their bodies (for three years), mr. nim-rod was making $20 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! For that kind of money, you hire someone not young and not stupid, to provide some intelligent direction to your life, your career, your choice of injectables.
And exactly where were the team coaching, training, and medical staffs when all this was going on?
theHoundDawg
Keep Michael Vick OUT of the NFL!
02/16/09 15:17 Filed in: NFL
There is no more vile, disgusting person on the
sports scene than Michael Vick. He received little
more than a slap on the wrist for his despicable
actions, and I am extremely angry that there is so
much talk about all of the NFL teams that may be
bidding to sign him.
This miserable excuse for a human being should not be rewarded with a new contract for millions of dollars. He has forfeited his right to compete as a professional athlete, and should spend the rest of his life in pain, suffering as did the poor animals for whom he had so little regard.
Express your disgust with the prospect of Vick resuming his NFL career by signing the Petition at Care2.com to Ban Michael Vick from the NFL-Permanently, to be sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
theHoundDawg
This miserable excuse for a human being should not be rewarded with a new contract for millions of dollars. He has forfeited his right to compete as a professional athlete, and should spend the rest of his life in pain, suffering as did the poor animals for whom he had so little regard.
Express your disgust with the prospect of Vick resuming his NFL career by signing the Petition at Care2.com to Ban Michael Vick from the NFL-Permanently, to be sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
theHoundDawg
Dodger Starting Staff Ages Quickly
02/12/09 08:53 Filed in: Baseball
I've written a few posts this off-season about the
makeup of the Dodgers' starting staff, basically
referring to the lack of experience and depth. In the
past week, Ned has gone the other extreme, signing
every out-of-work cast-off he could find.
This characterization does not include Randy Wolf, who is a capable starter, and should fit well as the number four or five starter. His one prior year with the Dodgers started well, but ended early due to injury, but given his effectiveness and history, I felt then he should have been re-signed despite his missing half of that 2007 season. He was decent last year with a bad Padre team, and then went 6-2 down the stretch with Houston.
The same cannot be said for the other two out-of-work re-treads signed this week, neither of whom saw the majors last year - Jeff Weaver and Eric Milton. Milton was 0-4 with a 5.17 ERA in Triple-A last year, and Weaver, who went 7-13 with a 6.20 ERA with Seattle in 2007, sat out last season altogether. The chances of either making the team and contributing are below minimal, but the cost is low, and who knows, it might be worth the gamble.
Meanwhile, there appears to be no progress with Manny, and Adam Dunn is off the boards.
theHoundDawg
This characterization does not include Randy Wolf, who is a capable starter, and should fit well as the number four or five starter. His one prior year with the Dodgers started well, but ended early due to injury, but given his effectiveness and history, I felt then he should have been re-signed despite his missing half of that 2007 season. He was decent last year with a bad Padre team, and then went 6-2 down the stretch with Houston.
The same cannot be said for the other two out-of-work re-treads signed this week, neither of whom saw the majors last year - Jeff Weaver and Eric Milton. Milton was 0-4 with a 5.17 ERA in Triple-A last year, and Weaver, who went 7-13 with a 6.20 ERA with Seattle in 2007, sat out last season altogether. The chances of either making the team and contributing are below minimal, but the cost is low, and who knows, it might be worth the gamble.
Meanwhile, there appears to be no progress with Manny, and Adam Dunn is off the boards.
theHoundDawg
Scumstripe a-rod is a Liar and a Cheat
02/09/09 11:09 Filed in: Baseball
With the report of a-rod's positive 2003 test for
illegal steroid use, we had to go back and post the
video of his interview with Katie Couric, where he
DENIED ever using the stuff:
Breaking
News
See Peter Gammons' exclusive interview tonight on ESPN Sportscenter
where rodriguez admits to three years of illegal steroid use!
theHoundDawg
See Peter Gammons' exclusive interview tonight on ESPN Sportscenter
where rodriguez admits to three years of illegal steroid use!
theHoundDawg
Alfred Aboya - the Second Coming of Brad Wright
02/08/09 18:54 Filed in: College
Basketball
In 1980, UCLA recruited two highly sought after
centers, Stuart Gray, and Brad Wright, who both came
to UCLA in 1981, playing for coach Larry Farmer.
Stuart Gray won the starting center spot for the
1981-2 season, and kept it for three years,
underachieving all along the way. He then decided to
leave after his Junior season, and Wright stepped in
as the starter for the 1984-5 season, under new coach
Walt Hazard. Wright not only played significantly
better than he ever had in his three seasons as a
back-up, but oh so much better than Gray ever did.
Wright averaged 10.5 points per game, and brought
down 8.7 boards per game that senior season. Gray's
best efforts were 9.9 points per game, and 7.9
boards. The Bruins missed all the tournaments in
Gray's junior season, and thought they also missed
the NCAA tourney in Wright's one season as the
starter, they did win the NIT.
For three years, Alfred Aboya played behind Lorenzo Mata and Kevin Love, and in the shadow of fellow countryman and front-liner, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Well, Mata graduated and Love was one and out, and Luc Richard left early as well, and Aboya is the starting center, and playing lights out - solid defense, stellar rebounding, and providing offense that most who watched him the last three years never imagined, much like the situation with Wright was almost 25 years ago.
The similarities are striking, and maybe there will be a tournament title - and not that "other" tournament - in the offing this season as well.
theHoundDawg
For three years, Alfred Aboya played behind Lorenzo Mata and Kevin Love, and in the shadow of fellow countryman and front-liner, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Well, Mata graduated and Love was one and out, and Luc Richard left early as well, and Aboya is the starting center, and playing lights out - solid defense, stellar rebounding, and providing offense that most who watched him the last three years never imagined, much like the situation with Wright was almost 25 years ago.
The similarities are striking, and maybe there will be a tournament title - and not that "other" tournament - in the offing this season as well.
theHoundDawg
Lakers Hit Stride and Dominate on Key Road Trip
02/08/09 15:07 Filed in: NBA
The end of January saw the Lakers begin a key 6-game
road trip, with key stops in New York, Boston, and
Cleveland. One game into the trip, and they lost
Andrew Bynum for much, if not all, of the rest of the
season. However, with Lamar Odom re-joining the
starting five, he has brought renewed enthusiasm to
the team, and with his brilliant third-quarter this
afternoon against Cleveland, the Lakers finished the
trip 6-0.
Down 10 points at halftime, and with a flu-ridden Kobe Bryant at half strength at best, Odom put in 15 points and hauled down 10 rebounds, as the Lakers outscored the Cavs by 13 in the 3d, and never looked back, as they won by 10, handing Cleveland their first home loss of the season.
The Lakers made a statement on this road trip, most emphatically in Cleveland and in Boston, as they wrapped up tie-breakers against both teams, which could be the difference come playoff time.
The Lakers now sit on top of the NBA, both with the league's best record, and with talent, depth, enthusiasm, and the confidence that they'll be back in the finals this year, but with a far different result.
theHoundDawg
Down 10 points at halftime, and with a flu-ridden Kobe Bryant at half strength at best, Odom put in 15 points and hauled down 10 rebounds, as the Lakers outscored the Cavs by 13 in the 3d, and never looked back, as they won by 10, handing Cleveland their first home loss of the season.
The Lakers made a statement on this road trip, most emphatically in Cleveland and in Boston, as they wrapped up tie-breakers against both teams, which could be the difference come playoff time.
The Lakers now sit on top of the NBA, both with the league's best record, and with talent, depth, enthusiasm, and the confidence that they'll be back in the finals this year, but with a far different result.
theHoundDawg
Los Angeles Lakers #24 Kobe Bryant Jersey |
Los Angeles Lakers #16 Pau Gasol Jersey |
Los Angeles Lakers #7 Lamar Odom T-shirt |
Bruins and Clippers Both Getting it Together
02/07/09 21:22 Filed in: College
Basketball | NBA
Since losing two of three games in late January,
including an embarrassing meltdown against
Washington, the Bruins have played with an intensity
they had not shown this season, and fueled by the
best play ever from Alfred Aboya and Nikola Dragovic,
and the most consistent all-around play of the season
from Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday, the Bruins are
on a role, winning the last four by an average margin
of 22.7 points.
Since that awful second half in Seattle, the Bruins have played with more maturity than at anytime this season, not an easy thing from a team so young. Plus they have received solid play from a dozen different players, and as a result, they are playing like the team that so many experts picked to continue the run of the past three years, despite the critical personnel losses following last year's tournament and resultant dependence on so many freshmen.
UCLA has basically played 40 minutes of solid defense in virtually every game this season, but in these last four games, their offensive play has matched the defense in both intensity and results, averaging 85 points per game in that stretch, leading to consistent and totally dominant results.
I never thought this young team could make it four straight final fours, like some believed, until watching them the past few games. Now it looks like they could do it.
With newfound life, due to the return from the injury list of so many key players, the Clippers also continue to play their best ball of the season, scoring over 120 points for the second straight game, producing consecutive 20+ point victories.
This is the team that looked so good for a brief period following the trade for Zach Randolph, and now again really looks like a legitimate, quality team. Too bad they could not have gotten it together earlier in the season, but like I alluded to yesterday, the future for the Clippers actually looks brighter than it has in a long, long time.
theHoundDawg
Since that awful second half in Seattle, the Bruins have played with more maturity than at anytime this season, not an easy thing from a team so young. Plus they have received solid play from a dozen different players, and as a result, they are playing like the team that so many experts picked to continue the run of the past three years, despite the critical personnel losses following last year's tournament and resultant dependence on so many freshmen.
UCLA has basically played 40 minutes of solid defense in virtually every game this season, but in these last four games, their offensive play has matched the defense in both intensity and results, averaging 85 points per game in that stretch, leading to consistent and totally dominant results.
I never thought this young team could make it four straight final fours, like some believed, until watching them the past few games. Now it looks like they could do it.
With newfound life, due to the return from the injury list of so many key players, the Clippers also continue to play their best ball of the season, scoring over 120 points for the second straight game, producing consecutive 20+ point victories.
This is the team that looked so good for a brief period following the trade for Zach Randolph, and now again really looks like a legitimate, quality team. Too bad they could not have gotten it together earlier in the season, but like I alluded to yesterday, the future for the Clippers actually looks brighter than it has in a long, long time.
theHoundDawg
Clippers Find a Bandaid or Two - Win a Game
02/06/09 23:13 Filed in: NBA
All it took was a bandaid and a couple of ice packs,
and the Clippers won a game.
Actually, after weeks of suffering with the heart of the team on the sideline, today meant the return of Zack Randolph, on the heels of the recent returns of Marcus Camby and Baron Davis. Tonight also marked the first contribution of the season from the underachieving and also sometimes-injured Ricky Davis.
The result was a 21-point win, something seldom seen in Clipperland this season (or last, etc.).
If Chris Kaman can find his way to a return to action, the Clippers could field a representative team for the rest of the season. Don't get me wrong, at 11-39, they're not gong to make the playoffs, but with this group of front-line players healthy, plus the talent of Eric Gordon and Al Thornton, and the recently discovered Steve Novak, they can compete with most of the NBA's teams, and if this group can stay together, unlike Clipper teams of the past, they could well be a playoff contender next season.
Final Clipper note: In tonight's win against Memphis, the Clippers set a franchise record with 16 three-pointers, shooting 55% from outside the line.
Non-Clipper note: Speaking of injuries, Milwaukee has almost equaled the Clippers in that department, having now lost 60% of their starting five for extended periods. First it was two-guard Michael Redd with tears to the ACL and MCL, then Luke Ridnour broke a thumb, and now Andrew Bogut's lingering back pain has been diagnosed as a stress fracture, and he'll miss several weeks as well.
I don't remember a spate of major injuries in the NBA like what has occurred over the past three-four weeks.
theHoundDawg
Actually, after weeks of suffering with the heart of the team on the sideline, today meant the return of Zack Randolph, on the heels of the recent returns of Marcus Camby and Baron Davis. Tonight also marked the first contribution of the season from the underachieving and also sometimes-injured Ricky Davis.
The result was a 21-point win, something seldom seen in Clipperland this season (or last, etc.).
If Chris Kaman can find his way to a return to action, the Clippers could field a representative team for the rest of the season. Don't get me wrong, at 11-39, they're not gong to make the playoffs, but with this group of front-line players healthy, plus the talent of Eric Gordon and Al Thornton, and the recently discovered Steve Novak, they can compete with most of the NBA's teams, and if this group can stay together, unlike Clipper teams of the past, they could well be a playoff contender next season.
Final Clipper note: In tonight's win against Memphis, the Clippers set a franchise record with 16 three-pointers, shooting 55% from outside the line.
Non-Clipper note: Speaking of injuries, Milwaukee has almost equaled the Clippers in that department, having now lost 60% of their starting five for extended periods. First it was two-guard Michael Redd with tears to the ACL and MCL, then Luke Ridnour broke a thumb, and now Andrew Bogut's lingering back pain has been diagnosed as a stress fracture, and he'll miss several weeks as well.
I don't remember a spate of major injuries in the NBA like what has occurred over the past three-four weeks.
theHoundDawg
Signing Day - The Day After
02/05/09 19:07 Filed in: College
Football
Late yesterday, UCLA cemented a top recruiting class
with the signing of receiver Randall Carroll, a
speed-burner that the brain surgeons thought they had
locked up. The Bruins had earlier signed TE Morrell
Presely, who sc also thought was set in red and
yellow.
Scouts.com's final listings actually rate the Bruins at number four in the country, though neither rivals.com nor ESPN have them in the top ten. Regardless, with an emphasis on the offensive line, yesterday was a major UCLA success.
The brain surgeons had their typical highly rated group, but one thing stands out. While sc did tremendously well nationally, even with the loss of Hawaii's Manti Te'o to Charlie Weis's Irish, the Bruins had the better class of California recruits, and that bodes well not just for now, or for the 2009 season, but for the entire Neuheisel era.
theHoundDawg
Scouts.com's final listings actually rate the Bruins at number four in the country, though neither rivals.com nor ESPN have them in the top ten. Regardless, with an emphasis on the offensive line, yesterday was a major UCLA success.
The brain surgeons had their typical highly rated group, but one thing stands out. While sc did tremendously well nationally, even with the loss of Hawaii's Manti Te'o to Charlie Weis's Irish, the Bruins had the better class of California recruits, and that bodes well not just for now, or for the 2009 season, but for the entire Neuheisel era.
theHoundDawg
UCLA Recruiting Nets Hope for 2009
02/04/09 19:09 Filed in: College
Football
National Signing Day in Westwood, thought rated at
only No. 16 in the country by rivals.com, and No. 10
by scout.com, on closer inspection, looks like some
major talent will be helping the Bruins really begin
the next, hopefully winning, phase, of the
Rick Neuheisel era, this coming season.
The top couple of players according the the "experts" are DL Iuta Tepa, OT Xavier Su'a Filo, and receiver Ricky Marvray, but a couple of others look to be the key guys to help bring respectability back to Westwood: Running back Damien Thigpen, and the real key to the recruiting class, and to the 2009 season, QB Richard Brehaut.
Come September, it will be the right time to forget the injury-plagued quarterbacking of Ben Olson and Patrick Cowan, and the 5-yard passes and drive-stopping interceptions of Kevin Craft, and give the reins to Brehaut. Another rookie qb year doesn't sound so good after last year's fiasco, but Brehaut is not Kevin Craft; he's the guy to lead the team now, not to sit in the wings for a year or two.
See what info and stats ESPN has on him, and check out the video.
the HoundDawg
The top couple of players according the the "experts" are DL Iuta Tepa, OT Xavier Su'a Filo, and receiver Ricky Marvray, but a couple of others look to be the key guys to help bring respectability back to Westwood: Running back Damien Thigpen, and the real key to the recruiting class, and to the 2009 season, QB Richard Brehaut.
Come September, it will be the right time to forget the injury-plagued quarterbacking of Ben Olson and Patrick Cowan, and the 5-yard passes and drive-stopping interceptions of Kevin Craft, and give the reins to Brehaut. Another rookie qb year doesn't sound so good after last year's fiasco, but Brehaut is not Kevin Craft; he's the guy to lead the team now, not to sit in the wings for a year or two.
See what info and stats ESPN has on him, and check out the video.
the HoundDawg
Manny, Now IS the Time to Get It Done
02/04/09 12:52 Filed in: Baseball
Now is the time for Boras and the Dodgers to get
together and get this done. It seems after Boras
rejected the Dodgers' one year - $25 M offer, that
their original offer of around $45 M for two years is
about to be put back on the table, and would look
much more attractive to the agent, after months of
hype, but no actual offers from other teams. Boras
needs to stop dreaming, look at reality, and get a
deal done now.
If not, then maybe the Dodgers do need to look elsewhere. Adam Dunn looks pretty good from here.
theHoundDawg
If not, then maybe the Dodgers do need to look elsewhere. Adam Dunn looks pretty good from here.
theHoundDawg
Citi Has Better Ways to Use Its Money - Say Goodbye to Mets' Ballpark
02/03/09 16:56 Filed in: Baseball
Way back when, like last year, when banks ruled the
world, Citibank decided to commit $400 Million to put
their logo atop the new ballpark that would be home
to the Mets. Since that commitment by their
over-paid, under-ethiced leadership, their stock has
tanked, they have had net losses of $28.5 billion,
they've announced layoffs of 53,000 employees, and
they gladly accepted $45 billion in federal bailout
aid.
It's time to pull the plug on this, and other such naming-rights deals, by corporations that can't maintain their primary business in a stable, profitable fashion, and certainly by corporations that accept Federal aid.
Use that $400 Million to keep a few of those 53,000 employees working, to keep a few thousand hard-working American taxpayers enduring hard financial times in their homes, and to lower those 25% credit card interest rates and $39 late fee charges.
theHoundDawg
It's time to pull the plug on this, and other such naming-rights deals, by corporations that can't maintain their primary business in a stable, profitable fashion, and certainly by corporations that accept Federal aid.
Use that $400 Million to keep a few of those 53,000 employees working, to keep a few thousand hard-working American taxpayers enduring hard financial times in their homes, and to lower those 25% credit card interest rates and $39 late fee charges.
theHoundDawg
Injuries Are Hand Grenade to NBA Order
02/03/09 16:09 Filed in: NBA
In what seems like one fell swoop, the NBA landscape
has had a dramatic overhaul, due to an incredible
spate of injuries over only a couple of days.
The Lakers have battled much of the season to overcome injuries to a handful of key players, but none to the core of the team. They overcame a few weeks without Jordan Farmar, and a handful of games with out Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic, Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, and Kobe has played through injuries. The Clippers, of course, have had to play much of the season without the heart of their team, including weeks and months without Chris Kaman, Zach Randolph, Baron Davis, Ricky Davis, and Marcus Camby, plus time missed by the likes of Mardy Collins and Mike Taylor.
But now, these feelings are shared by much of the league's elite, with the high-flying Orlando Magic losing star point guard Jameer Nelson perhaps for the season, with New Orleans losing MVP candidate Chris Paul with an injury that may or may not keep him out for a length of time, but that could be a nagging problem for the rest of the season, and of course the Lakers will now be without Andrew Bynum for maybe three months.
New Orleans is not an elite team without Chris Paul, and having him at less than full strength, or not at all, could well keep them from the playoffs in the tough, tough West. Nelson means as much to the Magic, but with their record and in the mediocre East, they could coast at sub-.500 the rest of the season and still make the playoffs, and hope that Nelson could possibly be back by then.
Paul is listed as "Day-to-Day". Whenever I hear that, I think back to the 1983 baseball season, when Dodger catcher Mike Scioscia was injured in the first week of April, and listed as "Day-to.Day", he never played another game the rest of the season.
The Lakers, however, have super depth, and proved last year they could get pretty far without Bynum. Plus this year, they have an underrated and finally fairly health Chris Mihm to play some of those minutes, and I see the Lakers getting by just fine, with Bynum returning in time to get back in game shape before the playoffs,
theHoundDawg
The Lakers have battled much of the season to overcome injuries to a handful of key players, but none to the core of the team. They overcame a few weeks without Jordan Farmar, and a handful of games with out Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic, Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, and Kobe has played through injuries. The Clippers, of course, have had to play much of the season without the heart of their team, including weeks and months without Chris Kaman, Zach Randolph, Baron Davis, Ricky Davis, and Marcus Camby, plus time missed by the likes of Mardy Collins and Mike Taylor.
But now, these feelings are shared by much of the league's elite, with the high-flying Orlando Magic losing star point guard Jameer Nelson perhaps for the season, with New Orleans losing MVP candidate Chris Paul with an injury that may or may not keep him out for a length of time, but that could be a nagging problem for the rest of the season, and of course the Lakers will now be without Andrew Bynum for maybe three months.
New Orleans is not an elite team without Chris Paul, and having him at less than full strength, or not at all, could well keep them from the playoffs in the tough, tough West. Nelson means as much to the Magic, but with their record and in the mediocre East, they could coast at sub-.500 the rest of the season and still make the playoffs, and hope that Nelson could possibly be back by then.
Paul is listed as "Day-to-Day". Whenever I hear that, I think back to the 1983 baseball season, when Dodger catcher Mike Scioscia was injured in the first week of April, and listed as "Day-to.Day", he never played another game the rest of the season.
The Lakers, however, have super depth, and proved last year they could get pretty far without Bynum. Plus this year, they have an underrated and finally fairly health Chris Mihm to play some of those minutes, and I see the Lakers getting by just fine, with Bynum returning in time to get back in game shape before the playoffs,
theHoundDawg
Pittsburgh Wins Record 6th
Super Bowl
Steelers 27 Cardinals 23
02/01/09 19:15 Filed in: Marketplace
| NFL
In what may have been the classic Super Bowl
in the game's 43 year history, Pittsburgh overcame
several stupid fouls, including a disgusting,
unwarranted act by the early star of the game, James
Harrison, to score in the last minute on a fabulous
pass play from Big Ben to Santonio Holmes, and then
hold on to defeat the upstart Cardinals, and their
jerk qb, k warner.
Thus ends the 2008 NFL season (What Pro Bowl - ugh). Another year with no LA team, but renewed, meaningless hype.
theHoundDawg
Thus ends the 2008 NFL season (What Pro Bowl - ugh). Another year with no LA team, but renewed, meaningless hype.
theHoundDawg