"You Can Close the Book on the Olympics........Thank God!!!"

                                       

Of course the subject line is stolen from Bob Uecker's "Harry Doyle" in "Major League".....but the last two words were uttered by my wife as I told her the Olympics were indeed over.  Here is that, and some other musings.

ON TO VANCOUVER:  The Games are over....so my wife's shows are on [and the only two NBC shows I watch, "The Office" and SNL, are back].  I still love my ideas I stated on How To Make The Winter Olympics Better.....but the 2010 Vancouver Games could be a success to us in more ways than one.  Since the most beautifullest city in North America is three hours behind the east coast.....live events will fall into place at good programming times.  Not to mention that American athletes [including all participating NHLers....if the NHL does participate at all] will have easy commutes to the games and, I think, have a better shot at medals. 

NEGRO LEAGUES:  Today, a 12-member committee will be meeting to vote on 39 candidates from the Negro Leagues to be elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame this July.  If a candidate gets 9 votes, he's in.  Quite a great thing, when you consider all the great players that came thru those leagues....and many who never left.  The committee is made up of true Negro League historians who actually know what they're talking about.  I'll have more on this when the announcement comes. 

TEXANS CONSIDERING A DEAL:  Very smart.  Five weeks ago, I made a blog entry called Hey, Texans....Don't Draft Vince Young!!....and they may actually be heeding my word [notthe Young thing....but drafting #1 overall].  I think D'Brickashaw Ferguson is the guy they need to target....but he isn't worth the #1 overall pick [but he won't go past 4th].  Click on the link to see why I think this is a great move for Houston.

NBA PLAYOFF PROBLEMS:  It took just two years in for the inevitable NBA playoff problem....the two best teams meeting in the conference semi-finals.  The way it is set up now, the Mavericks and Spurs [easily the best teams in the West] would play each other in the Western semis.  Not cool, eh?  Well, the NBA needs to address this.  They cannot do what the NHL and NFL does, which is re-match everyone up in the 2nd round instead of having a true bracket.  The NBA doesn't like that.  The solution most are considering is seeding the three division champions and the best non-champion in the first round.  So, under that system if the playoffs ended today, Mavs would be #1, Spurs #2, Suns #3 and Nuggets #4.  Of course, making the Nuggs the #4 seed would mean that the #5 seed, the Clippers, would have home court advantage over Denver since they have a better record [that's been an NBA rule]. 

Now, don't scold the NBA for this problem.  Even the NFL has had issues with this.  Take this year, for example.  In the divisional round of the playoffs....the Colts [who had the NFL's best record] drew the Steelers while the Broncos got the Patriots.  Denver had the better matchup since Pittsburgh had a better record than New England and was the hottest team in the NFL at the time [and, uh, still is].  And look what happened.   

NFL, SLOW YOUR ROLL:  One of the reasons the NFL is at the head of the class in the sports world is that it is a year 'round thing.  Truth be told, the season is pretty short [just 4 months with a 1 month playoff]...but there is never any stop in activity.  Right now is the combine, which the NFL Network has been covering all week.  We have the draft, free agency, mini camps, blah blah blah and then it is training camp time once again.  C'mon, NFL....take some time off.  After the Super Bowl....just wait a month until getting back into the grind again.  We all need it. 

                                    

KG'S BAD PASS:  Alright, let me say this first;  sure a basketball to the face hurts....but not enough to be taken out on a stretcher.  If ya don't know, Kevin Garnett was called for an offensive foul during a home game.  KG was upset with the call, and lobbed the ball toward the stands.  Apparantly, it hit some dude in the face.  The dude acted like he was shot, or something, and had to be taken out of the arena on a stretcher.  Oh my god!!  I'm sure there will be a lawsuit coming [which will most likely be followed by him dropping it when KG gives him some shut up money and a signed pair of sneakers].  KG went over to offer his apology and the guy gave him the "there's no way you can apologize for this" look.  Even the Wolves site said "Before leaving, Garnett went over and apologized to the fan. Later in the period, the fan was taken from the Target Center on a stretcher - which appeared to be a bit much - and was booed by the crowd."