I change my vote!

Derrick Rose. MVP.  End. Of. Story.  I'm not sure whether this is a good thing exactly, as it will probably provide that extra anger for LeBron and Co., come playoff time....but whatever, he deserves it.

That was as impressive as it gets.  In the 4th quarter Miami let Wade and LeBron take turns attempting to keep Rose in front of them.  Neither could.  "Witnessing" Rose take over, I wonder if LeBron was remembering what it was like when NBA fans looked at him not with contempt, but with adulation.  Those days for LeBron are long gone now.  People want to root against him, and rightfully so.  What makes professional sports so appealing is watching the best athletes in the world demand to go up against the best and not shy away from that challenge.  LeBron couldn't handle what comes with being a superstar in the NBA.  He wants the praise and glory without the adversity.  This is what separates a "superstar" from a "geat player".  So Miami, the home of fake tans and fake boobs is now home to fake superstars.

WiscOhio State?

Wisconsin will NEVER morph into Ohio State as far as hated teams in the Big Ten....partly because they come across as sort of a cuddly teddy bear, not an evil dictator.  But the banked 3 pointer to win last night against Michigan, and thus probably ending Michigan's not-so-far-fetched chances of a tournament bid, sure added to that idea.  Hey Wisconsin, you're supposed to understand your role: beat Ohio State, drink beer, hunt, and don't get in the way of Michigan.  Ok?  Also, the fact that Wisconsin doesn't routinely cover up shady dealings, is not over-run by obnoxious fans, and their players don't choke opposing quarterbacks helps demarcate Ohio State as the evil empire they strive to be.

MONSTER 3-MAN PODCAST: Bulls, NBA trades, MVP, with Davis, and Anthony

and don't ignore the wonderful lyrical interlude by Davis...

(and please excuse my outburst at the 22:20 mark....it was at that moment that Wisconsin banked in a 3 to beat Michigan in hoops)...damn them!

KG...what happened?!?

My disdain for KG seems to grow by the day...can't he even act normal while cheering on teammates during the all-star game?  Good God.  Figuring out his psychiatric diagnosis will be an interesting task:

sudden onset rage, and irrational anger directed toward not necessarily anyone in particular at times, but rather just an amorphous being he perceives as doing something cruel to his family......or something. 

Steroid induced?

Team USA in London

The London Olympics are still over a year away, but with the ridiculous amount of talent in the NBA right now, and rising interest in representing Team USA, it sure will be interesting to see which 12 players get selected.  Most, if not all players will come from the 2008 Olympic roster and the 2010 World Championship roster.

Let's Review:

Team USA Beijing Olympics Roster (2008)
Anthony
Boozer
Bosh
Bryant
Howard
James
Kidd
Paul
Prince
Redd
Wade
Williams

The gimmes:  'Melo, LeBron, Howard, and Wade (of course barring injury or ego).  Kobe is likely but depending on his mileage at that time, he may just not have enough gas.  Bosh/Boozer...hard to say.  Maybe one, but probably not both.  Paul/D. Williams, again maybe both, but with the incredible amount of talent at PG right now, hard to say, at least one.  Redd, Prince, Kidd...no chance.


Team USA World Championship Roster (2010)
Billups
Chander
S. Curry
Durant
Gay
Gordon
Granger
Iguodala
Love
Odom
Rose
Westbrook

gimmes: Durant, Rose (I think).
in the hunt: Westbrook, Gay, Gordon, Curry, Odom (gotta factor in his versatility)
unlikely: Love, Iguodala, Granger, Chandler,
no chance: Billups


Then we have some other possibilities:
John Wall, Blake Griffin, Joe Johnson, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rondo, Ray Allen


Here's my guess as of February 2011:

Dwight Howard - best center, not even close
Blake Griffin
LaMarcus Aldridge - skilled big man, stepping in for Amare
Carmelo Anthony
Lebron James
Kevin Durant
Kobe Bryant
Dywane Wade
Eric Gordon
Derrick Rose
Russell Westbrook - can play a little SG also
Derron Williams

Point Guard is going to be the toughest call.  I don't know how you decide between Rose, Williams, Westbrook and Paul.  You definitely can't take all 4.  Deciding on 2 between Bosh, Griffin, and Aldridge?     I think Bosh is left out b/c he bailed on the 2010 world championships for no reason other than to enhance the myth that he's in the same league as James and Wade. The 12th spot will go to a shooting specialist: Eric Gordon? Steph Curry? Joe Johnson? Which 2 start among LeBron, 'Melo, and Durant?

notable omissions:
Amare - scared to play due to injury history
Paul - ditto
Rondo - possible selection only b/c of his Euro-esque soccer flops

glad I missed it...

UM 52
UofI 54

blah...

Enough is Enough

I had to laugh when I saw SportsCenter's teaser last night that read, "Rondo's Big Night".  Usually, this type of headline is reserved for, say, a 40 pt explosion, maybe a 12 point in 2 minute outburst, or how about a buzzer beater to win the game...Nope.  In this case it was a monster game of 11 pts, 11 assts, and 10 rebs.  Wow!!!!!!!!!  Amazing!!!!!!  Puuhhh-leeeaaaassseee.   Further, I noticed that ESPN also had a side by side column comparing Rose to Rondo...as if this is still a debate, especially with Rose coming off a beat-down of Derron Williams and Chris Paul.  (There was an adjacent poll which Rose dominated with 77%)  Rondo supporters point to his assisst totals and how he "runs his team".  This phrase is just an excuse for the fact that he doesn't need to do much other than find one of his three hall of fame teammates.  The bottom line is Rose can do everything Rondo does, but Rondo does maybe a tenth of what Rose does on a nightly basis.  If Rose only needed to score 8 pts a game and find his open teammates I think he'd be able to assume that role in his sleep.  Oh yeah, Rose also isn't the biggest wimp in the league.  Next time you see Rondo take on a screen without falling to the ground in agony, let me know.

A little 'D' from D-Rose

Apparently Derrick (and the rest of the Bulls) can play a little D.  Last two games Derron Williams and Chris Paul combined stats:

8-23, 26pts, 7 TOs

PODCAST: Uniqueness of Wisconsin sports and College Hoops with Ryan Blanco

I'll say it, I'm Jealous!

I have to aknowledge it.  Wisconsin has the premium Big Ten sports environment right now...and I'm jealous.  In addition to having top notch football and basketball programs, lunatic fans, and a dedicated athletic department they have something that none of the other tradtional Big Ten powers have: realistic expectations.  It's really the best of both worlds, and it's something that essentially boils down to the culture and history of the university.  Michigan fans are spoiled.  Ohio State fans are spoiled (and obnoxious).  Wisconsin fans legitimately and sincerely can say that a season is a success without necessarily winning a Big Ten championship.  I guess this is due to the fact that their sports renaissance has been relatively recent.  This attitude matters for reasons other than sustaining the long term physical and mental health of their fans.  It has to help the athletes.  It seems that the lack of extraordinary year-in year-out expectations would limit the pressure.  Maybe the ceiling for Wisconsin athletics doesn't quite equal that of their Michigan and Ohio State counterparts but you wouldn't know that based on the last decade which has included a final four and multiple Rose Bowls.  Are they too drunk on brats and miller lite to know any better?   If it's at the expense of Ohio State then who am I to complain.

As the seconds wind down on Ohio State's undefeated hoops season, I can only think that Madison is the Mecca of the Big Ten...at least as of February 2011. 

Roll Out The Barrel

Wisconsin is trying to defeat #1 Ohio State for the second time this year.  The first?  The Badgers defeated then #1 OSU on the grid iron earlier this year.  Has one team every beaten the same school when they were ranked #1 in two different sports in the same year?  I doubt it.  kinda cool

Who says $30,000 + per year isn't worth it.......GO BLUE !!

AND WITH FOUR YEARS OF GRADUATE SCHOOL AT UOFM....

Packers....damn.

I wasn't exactly sure who I was going to be rooting for going into the super bowl.  It was gonna be one of those games where I had to see how I felt once the game started.  As it turns out I guess I ended up rooting for the Steelers. But that can't be...can it?  I mean, their QB is a rapist for God's sake.  Even though I'm a lifetime Bears fan I haven't developed a hard core hatred for the Packers (but it's growing). I think I was rooting for the Steelers simply because of how frustratingly close the Bears came to being in the super bowl.  Should I just be satisfied and happy that the Bears were 30 yards away from possibly being in the super bowl with Caleb Hanie as our QB?  Or, should I be pissed off and annoyed that the Bears were only 30 yards away from possibly being in the Super Bowl with Caleb Hanie at QB?  The Bears lost to the super bowl champs with their 3rd string QB.  Hopefully this bodes well for the Beloved, but I see this draft as maybe one of the most important in recent Bears history.  The Packers, as nauseating as it is to admit, are here to stay, and the Bears need to hit a home run in the draft in order to stay with them.  Offensive Linemen please?  Angleo, you're up...

A few other observations:

*even with a broken collar bone, Charles Woodson still looks like a stud
*A-Rod...wow.  I don't think we'll forget Cameron Diaz feeding you popcorn on live television anytime soon
*The best advice for picking the super bowl winner at the start of the playoffs is going with the team with the best 'unit', whether that's offensive or defensive.  I mentioned this earlier when the Bears started looking like a legitimite contender due to their defensive performances near the end of the season.  Trying to be objective, it seems like the Packers offense and Pats offense were 1 and 1a heading into the playoffs.  It's a pretty good way to widdle down to an eventual champ.
*The Packers in matter of 2 yrs go from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers.  Really annoying.
*Christina Aguillera forgetting the words?  c'mon man!  Isn't that the music equivalent of, say, Ichiro running to third instead of first?  Ok fine, maybe like forgetting how many outs there are, but still....

PODCAST: super bowl food, Big Ben, college hoops

Davis prefers meatballs over chili, and has never heard of matzah ball soup...welcome to downstate Indiana.

Feel Good Moment....I couldn't resist

Stories about professional athletes doing something wrong always make the headlines: Roethlisberger, Vick, Tiger, etc.  Frequently however, when athletes bring a smile to someone's face off the field of play it goes un-noticed or ignored.  DeSean Jackson, WR for the Eagles, made a surprise appearance on The View and it's a must-see.  If watching the kid's tearful reaction as his favorite player walks out doesn't cause goose-bumps, well....

(Back story:  13 yr old gets brutally bullied and beaten by 7 other kids, and the kids later post it on YouTube.  The victim appears on The View to discuss bullying and his favorite player surprises him)