Month: May 2006 (Page 15 of 20)

Jordan, James and Bryant?

The comparison of LeBron James to Michael Jordan is premature, but putting Kobe Bryant in Jordan’s footsteps is a complete joke. I continually argue with my friends about the fact that Kobe’s arrogance and selfishness affects his play and ability to win.

Bryant totally collapsed against Phoenix, then ran off the court without shaking hands with Steve Nash or Shawn Marion after the Lakers had blown a 3-1 lead to lose the series. This is the typical “me” approach that Bryant has always taken. James, on the other hand, respects the game and his opponents. Skip Bayless writes an excellent article comparing the three superstars.

Proof that Jay Mariotti reads TSR and Bullz-Eye

While perusing Jay Mariotti’s latest inflammatory article in the Chicao Sun-Times (the man is nothing if not a lightning rod), the lastest target being the lowly Chicago Cubs, I noticed that Mariotti made the following statement regarding Cubs GM Jim Hendry’s offseason moves:

Hendry left them two bats and two arms short.

Which is funny, because in late March, I wrote the following in my BE Baseball Preview:

…they did make some good moves, getting a legitimate leadoff hitter in Juan Pierre and bolstering the bullpen with Bobby Howry and Scott Eyre. But they’re still two bats and three arms short of being competitive…

I’m flattered, really. But would it kill you to give credit where credit is due, Jay? But I’m not one to throw stones, so I will simply say, you’re welcome, Mariotti. Now quit copying off of my test.

Couch Potato Alert

Now that we’re in the second round of the NBA playoffs, the schedule is set for the entire week, with TNT handling most of the games. There are four MLB games on national television this week, with two Red Sox/Yankees games on consecutive nights.

NBA
Mon, 8 PM: New Jersey @ Miami – TNT
Mon, 10:30 PM: LA Clippers @ Phoenix – TNT
Tues, 7 PM: Cleveland @ Detroit – TNT
Tues, 9:30 PM: Dallas @ San Antonio – TNT
Wed, 8 PM: New Jersey @ Miami – TNT
Wed, 10:30 PM: LA Clippers @ Phoenix – TNT
Fri, 8 PM: Miami @ New Jersey – ESPN
Fri, 10:30 PM: Phoenix @ LA Clippers – ESPN

MLB
Mon, 7:05 PM: Minnesota @ Texas – ESPN
Wed, 1:10 PM: Colorado @ St. Louis – ESPN
Wed, 7:05 PM: Boston @ NY Yankees – ESPN
Thurs, 7:05 PM: Boston @ NY Yankees – ESPN2

Wimbley has more than just football in plans

Kamerion Wimbley should play a perfect role for the Browns’ 3-4 defense when the season starts full throttle in August. For now though, Wimbley is focusing on much more than just his role in the Browns’ defense.

Mary Kay Cabot of The Plan Dealer wrote just after the draft about Wimbley’s plans on being a solid role model for young children in the city of Cleveland. His plans are to work with juvenile delinquents and show them a different path in life.

Kamerion’s life has been a series of ups and downs since he was a child. His parents divorced when he was real young and then when he was eight; his mother (Yolanda) was arrested for possession of drugs with the intent to sell.

Kamerion and his siblings were shuffled into foster care before being adopted by their grandmother.

“I definitely think the adversity helped me get to where I am today and helped me adjust under stressful situations,” said Wimbley.

It also helped formulate his life’s work.

“There were a lot of people who were influential in helping me get to where I am today,” he said. “I’d just like to show my appreciation by giving back to the youth or the underprivileged who are in situations similar to myself when I was coming up.”

After she was released from prison, Yolanda cleaned up her act and moved down to Florida, where Kamerion played for the Florida State Seminoles. Since then, they have had a solid mother-son relationship that is still growing today.

Now with the Browns, Kamerion would love to teach kids the strength and courage that he had growing up.It sounds like the Browns got much more than another cog in their 3-4 defense.

Nash MVP again?

Steve Nash was selected MVP today and I couldn’t have been more disappointed. Although Nash is a great player, he doesn’t belong in the elite category of players that have won this award in back to back years.

Nash is an excellent team player and continues to improve the players’ stats around him, but he still hasn’t won an NBA Championship. Professional athletes are judged on how many Championships that player brings to an organization. The fact that he won MVP last year, when he wasn’t even in the finals was surprising but acceptable. This year Phoenix will not win the NBA Championship and probably won’t even make the finals.

I believe the MVP should be awarded to a player that can carry their team to Championships or at least the finals. I agree that there are exceptions to every rule, like youth, trades, injuries and things of that nature. This being said, if a player is going to be MVP for two years running, their team should be playing in the title game at least one of these years.

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