What the ...?

What the bleep is wrong with OKC? That generic logo? I swear I've drawn something like that 200 times in high school while bored in class. An emblem with intitials? and "Thunder" over it? Where is the thunder? Is it the red and blue lines going through it? How could the NBA look at this and not say, "Ummm....what the hell is this? We meant that we need your NBA team to have a logo. Not Your D-League team." Seriously?

I'm going to find the emblem I used to draw in high school and post it later.

By Land or Sea?

Michael Phelps is awesome. What he has done is admirable. Legendary. But I appreciate Usain Bolt's accomplishments more.

Sure, Phelps set 7 World Records, but there were also World Records set in 12 other events in swimming. It was commonplace, thus not as special.


The 100 meters is a major record to hold, as well as the 200 meters. Usain Bolt is THE...FASTEST...MAN...EVER. There's simplistic beauty in being the record holder in the 100. There's no pacing. No strategizing. Pure power. Raw speed. You either are the fastest, or you aren't. I know Michael Phelps is the most dominant swimmer ever (so far, in his events), but is he the fastest? That means something, at least to me. I hope Phelps swims the 50 and 100 m Freestyles in London 2012. There's nothing sexy about about outpacing the next man. Bolt would've won going 3/4 speed. Wow.

I have no doubt that Bolt's records will stand for a long time, unless he breaks them himself. He's only 21. I can't say the same for swimming events. Phelps times are 5,6, and up 10 seconds better than Spitz' were in '72. Bolt's are .45 seconds and .70 seconds in the 100 and 200, respectively, better than Valeriy Borzov's in '72. No special NASA suit.

Track records last, and it means something to break them, because it is hard to. The World's Fastest Man. No if. No and. No but.

BALCO Should've Made Uniforms

Record after record falls in swimming. While I'm impressed by the feat Michael Phelps might accomplish, the way EVERYONE who wins is setting a new world record, it takes some of the luster off. Shit, even the losers are breaking the old records in some races.

Are we really seeing the fastest swimmers ever, or are we just seeing the greatest invention in swimming ever, in the Speedo LZR swimsuit?

39-6

The Jazz are going down 0-3 tonight.
While I suspect that this game will be closer than the 2 in L.A. It will finish with the same results, the Lakers will be one game closer to the 16 win mark.
In Game 2, the Jazz seemed to set the tone for the retun home. They played it physical, and it helped them at certain points, while being allowed to play that way by the refs. Nothing dirty. It was good, hard basketball. Going back to Salt Lake, it will be exactly what they want, a game that will be called to fit their style. I mean, it was the only reason that hack they call Matt Harpring was inserted into the game. He's been terrible so far, but he was a preview of what they will attempt to do to Kobe. Play him very hard. Very physical. It hasn't worked, it won't work, and the Jazz won't win. The Lakers are just a better team than Utah. L.A. has too many options, and no fear of Salt Lake City.
Look for Deron to have a more consistant game, Boozer (who's been lost) to have a better game (not a 20+ game, but more in the 16-19 pt., 9 rebs area), and for the Jazz to get Kyle Korver more involved and pick where he left off in Game 2. Mehmet will probably get 14 and 6 (CB Jack from My Utah Jazz tried telling me that Okur would average 18 and 12, and he followed up his 21 and 19 in Game 1 with 16 and 5 in Game 2, I don't believe he will even best Game 2 stats for the rest of the series). Everone else has been invisible, except Paul Millsap and AK-47's decent defense. I can't see much changing, unless the Lakers have a poor shooting night, Deron keeps penetrating, Boozer leans to stay out of foul trouble and stop letting Lamar Odom's length bother him, Mehmet goes double/double, AK-47 shows up in the 4th Q, Ronny Brewer actually hits a jumper, someone on the bench contributes, and Matt Harpring hacks Kobe without whistles. Utah will need allof those things to happen to win. In Utah, in L.A., in China, the Moon.....wherever.
Oh, and I really hope Jazz fans boo D-Fish. Encourage the Lakers even more.

Random Thoughts Part 1

1.Just read ESPN's Writer's Round Table. Surprisingly, I agreed most with John Hollinger, of whom, I am no fan. He is correct on all three topics. Here are my thoughts on them:

• 1. The so called "triumverate" of SA, Dallas, and PHX is over. Definitely over. They may compete in the rgular season, but none will be a serious contender in next year's playoffs, except maybe SA (Pop is very good at what he does).
• 2. Not only will the Lakers have a chance to be one of the best teams ever, but they will break Chicago's single season 72 wins record.
• 3. Portland will be a top 3-4 team in the West next year. As a Laker fan, they kinda scare me. Especially in Portland. They are tall, long, athletic and they matchup up well. They will give the Lakers 2 of their 8 losses next year (in.....Portland).

2. Jazz fans shouldn't complain about foul calls. The refs are letting Utah play physical, and it will benefit them in Salt Lake. The tone was especially set in Game 2, highlighted by Matt Harpring's pathetic attempts to bully Kobe. The Lakers have been very aggressive driving to the basket and have earned the trips to the line.

3. Paul Pierce will turn into Paul Pierce and try to take over at the wrong time over the next couple of games after that dud he dropped Game 1. You'll see (I bet Bill Simmons has already though about this and has a column ready to come out agonizing over it as soon as Boston loses Game 2.)

* Update* Guess I was wrong. LeBron dropped another dud, and PP wasn't bad.

4. How boring is the Magic/Pistons series? I can't get invested in that matchup. I'll watch it, but I feel forced.

5. The NBA is going to review the Hack-A-Shaq and clock malfunction replays. I have two trains of thought on the Hack-A-Shaq strategy and how to handle it.

1.) If a player can't hit free throws, and is a detriment to his team, then he can either learn to make them, or take get off the court. Weaknesses should be exploited. Correct the weakness, and shut up.

2.) If a team is going to intentionally foul a player off the ball. The fouled team should be able to choose it's free throw shooter. That will stop the Hack-A-Shaq. Simple as that.

6. Thanks for reading my first of many posts. Stay tuned.