NBA TRADE DEADLINE DEALS

Wow....what a Trade Deadline Day.  Most of the time, a few guys get dealt....mainly just role players....while big names stay put despite all of the rumors.  This year, you had a ton of action.  All kinds of action.  You had names like Chris Webber, Baron Davis, Antoine Walker and Gary Payton changing addresses....while guys like Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Peja Stojakovic, Carlos Boozer, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Jason Kidd and Steve Francis involved in major trade rumors...but nothing done.  And there was a bunch of minor deals....many of which are quite meaningful. 

SEVEN teams made two different trades....which is quite astonishing.  Championship contenders San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers made some deals.  You had the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, New Orleans Hornets, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks.....some of the worst teams in the NBA.....making deals. 

As the Sportz Assassin....I gotta break it down for y'all!!...

  

KINGS GET:  Brian Skinner, Corliss Williamson, Kenny Thomas
SIXERS GET:  Chris Webber, Michael Bradley, Matt Barnes

BREAKDOWN:  CHRIS WEBBER TRADED TO THE SIXERS

  

HORNETS GET:  Glen Robinson
SIXERS GET: Rodney Rogers, Jamal Mashburn

BREAKDOWN:  It is actually a trade that isn't a trade.  The one person that matters is Rodney Rogers.  He'll most likely back up newly acquired Chris Webber for the Sixers playoff run.  The other two in this deal are trade filler, if you can believe that.  Neither Robinson nor Mashburn have played all season.  Robinson's contract expires after the year....giving the Hornets cap space to go after a free agent [if ownership ever really did that].  Mashburn most likely will never play in the NBA again....and his salary is 80% insured....so the Sixers don't lose much there. 

  

WARRIORS GET:  Baron Davis
HORNETS GET:  Dale Davis, Speedy Claxton

BREAKDOWN:  This is one of those trades that works out for everyone involved perfectly.  Too bad it won't be obvious right now.  Neither team is going to the playoffs....but each really made a mark on it's 2006.  For G-State, adding Baron Davis gives them a star player to help build on a team that already has Richardson there.  If he can stay healthy...this is a great deal for the Warriors.  For the Hornets, Dale Davis' contract expires.  So, along with Glen Robinson, they'll have a ton of money and cap space to try to go after and get what they want to build their team.  They got out from under two contracts that weighed them down [Davis, Mashburn] to try to quickly build a playoff team again. 

  

WARRIORS GET:  Nik Tskitisvilli, Rodney White
NUGGETS GET:  Eduardo Najera, Luis Flores, future first round pick

BREAKDOWN:  Denver gets Najera....one of those tough guys that fits well to what George Karl wants to do.  Najera will bang, scrap, defend and be a pest which that team needs.  They part with Tskiti and White who have been busts since entering the NBA. 

  

SPURS GET:  Nazr Mohammed, Jamison Brewer
KNICKS GET:  Malik Rose, 2 first round picks

BREAKDOWN:  Mohammed will be a lovely addition to back up Duncan and Rasho.  He'll block shots and be another effective defensive player for an already steady defensive team.  They did deal Rose away, who played bigger than he was.  Which makes him a perfect fit for New York.  The first round picks will be very late in that round....so it is doubtful that Isaiah Thomas will make anything out of them.  Probably Popovich could have. 

  

ROCKETS GET:  Vin Baker, Moochie Norris, 2006 second round pick
KNICKS GET:  Maurice Taylor

BREAKDOWN:  The Rockets go for some backcourt help with Norris, a former Houston Rocket.  Think about it.  Houston dealt for David Wesley, Jon Barry, Mike James and Moochie Norris for their backcourt.....which basically was Jimmy Jackson and Charlie Ward when the season started.  They deal Mo Taylor, who lost his starting job to Juwan Howard.  Why is Vin Baker still in the NBA?  So, New York deals for Mo Taylor and Malik Rose today.  I guess they are trying to corner the market on undersized power forwards.

    

ROCKETS GET:  Mike James, Zendon Hamilton
BUCKS GET:  Reece Gaines and two second round picks

BREAKDOWN:  Again, the Rockets go after guard help.  With Bobby Sura and David Wesley out there....they really don't have too much power there. 

  

MAVERICKS GET:  Keith Van Horn
BUCKS GET:  Calvin Booth, Alan Henderson

BREAKDOWN:  Good deal for both teams.  If you take this deal plus the Mike James deal the Bucks made...all this points to them trying really hard to re-sign Michael Redd this offseason.  Of course, they're going to have to look at upgrading the talent elsewhere on the roster....orRedd is headed to Cleveland.  As for Dallas...this is a solid move.  KVH, though not great and WAY overpaid, is certainly serviceable as a backup for Dirk Nowitzki.  He can stretch the defense like no one other than Dirk and Finley can.  And Dallas got him for a couple of throw aways. 

  

CELTICS GET:  Antoine Walker
HAWKS GET:  Gary Payton, Michael Stewart, Tom Gugliotta, first round pick

BREAKDOWN:  Quickly, all the Hawks did was deal away a guy who's contract was expiring for a future first round pick.  As for Boston....they brought Toine back into the fold.  As I said to my buddy YCS a while back, I think Walker will head to Boston in a deal....it makes sense.  Ainge let it happen.  After the Sixers pulled off a big deal, the Celtics made this one to counter.  If it doesn't work out....let Walker, uh, walk.  All it cost you was, really, a first round pick.  It should be noted that Gary Payton will try to get the Hawks to buy his contract out so he can go back to Boston.  So it even gets better for everyone. 

  

CAVALIERS GET:  Jiri Welsch
CELTICS GET:  first round pick in 2007

BREAKDOWN:  Welsch adds some 3-pt shooting to a team that is poor in that aspect.  He'll come off the bench.

  

HEAT GET:  Steve Smith
BOBCATS GET:  Malik Allen

BREAKDOWN:  Nice catch by Miami.  Smith brings championship experience and veteran leadership to the Heat.  He also brings outside shooting and an ability to get to the line.  Charlotte gets major organizational props for dealing Smith, an elderstatesman who wasn't going to win anything with the Bobcats, to not only a title contender but to Smith's original NBA home.

Randy Moss Is A Raidah

              

The St. Paul Pioneer Press.....and Randy Moss’ agent.....says that the receiver will be dealt to the Oakland Raiders for LB Napoleon Harris and the #7 pick and a later round pick in this year’s draft. The trade cannot be done until March 2....the start of the NFL’s new year. Neither team will confirm the deal.

Adding Moss gives the Oakland Raiders one of the best receiving corps in the league. They can throw Moss on one side and Jerry Porter, who the Raiders gave a contract extension to, on the other. All the while, Ronald Curry [who came off a breakout season] is a very adequate third receiver. Also, the one team that doesn’t really mind Moss’ antics are the Raiders.

As far as talent goes.....the Vikings may have gotten the short end of the stick. But, that is what happens when (A) you are dealing a controversial player and (B) everyone knows it. Technically, replacing Moss will be difficult. But, with that #7 pick....they could go after USC’s Mike Williams or Michigan’s Braylon Edwards in the draft. Also, there is a bevy of free agent receivers and possible salary cap casualties out there like Mushin Muhammad, Plaxico Burress, Isaac Bruce, Derek Mason and Laverneas Coles. Dealing Moss away saves $2M to their cap.

So why the deal? Moss wore out his welcome in Minnesota....and, to them, the headache wasn’t worth the results. Randy Moss is the biggest playmaking receiver in the NFL......but, with him, the Vikings were still an 8-8 team. This is Daunte Culpepper’s team now....and Moss’ actions were really tearing the team apart. He walked off the field before the end of their season finale against the Washington Redskins. The next week, after a TD catch against the Packers....he faux mooned the crowd. He’s had three run-ins with officials during his career that have gotten him fined...and even had a shouting match with a sponsor on the team bus.

BARRY BONDS SPEAKS OUT

            

Let me start off by making this statement: I really think that I am one of a very select few people that can separate an athlete on and off the field. I mean, I am a Laker fan....and I love Kobe Bryant on that court. Man, is he awesome. Off the court, I think he’s a jerk. A prima donna jerk.

Same thing with Barry Bonds. The two differences is that, one, Kobe seems like a jerk to me by things that happen around him and stuff people say about him. Barry Bonds does it himself. Listen to him....and you’ll find him to be a jerk. I mean, any one who complains that his job of standing in left field is a hard job has massive stones. The other difference is that Kobe will stand in front of the camera....smile and pal around like he’s a regular Joe. A nice cat if you really know him. Barry Bonds could care less what you or I think of him. I mean, do you really ever see him steppin’ and fetchin’ for the media just so he gets some image points?? Nope. So, he’s a jerk that knows he’s a jerk and could care less he’s a jerk. Sometimes it is him saying things that most people won’t say.....like some of the stuff he says about the untouchable Babe Ruth. Sometimes it is just whining. Sometimes it is just contradicting yourself....which he did a lot of Tuesday.

First off....he held a news conference to tell the media that he hates them getting into his business. A time honored celebrity tradition. You hate the people that helped make you a household name. And before we get into this....remember, I am not part of "the media". I write a blog. Just my takes on things in the world of sports. I have NO journalistic intent. I’m just some guy, with a computer, who loves sports and loves talking about it. I, too, find the media contradictory as well. I mean, they bash Jason Giambi for basically saying nothing.....and now they are bashing Barry Bonds for saying everything. And they are really bashing him for bashing them. Oh, then he says that the media "don’t bother" him.

    

Okay...back to my writing here. So, Barry doesn?t like the media asking questions. Hey, why not go up to Washington....go into the White House...and tell George Bush that you don?t appreciate the US GOVERNMENT going through your business. I mean, after all, wasn?t it grand jury testimony in a federal case against BALCO that made you admit to using steroids?? The media?s job is to report on this stuff.

In all actuality, the media really has laid off the steroid problem in baseball. I mean, Jose Canseco is saying all of this stuff was going on in the last 1980s. So, it has been over 15 years that there has been admitted steroid abuse.....yet it "breaks" now?? Steroids, it seems, is like promiscuity to athletes. Everyone around the game knows about it. The coaches, staff, other players and the media. And just like they don?t report on guys with women on their arms that aren?t their wives....they also aren?t reporting what?s going on with the performance enhancers. They have to now....since there is heat from Senator McCain, an investigation into BALCO which links the sport, and by a book by a former athlete who used steroids and is singing like a bird.

Bonds goes on to smack Canseco about "fictional stuff" that he isn?t sure if it is or isn?t true. I will say this about Canseco. He may be a snitch who needs some money.....but when baseball set up a lax testing system that gave everyone advance notice of the testing...and STILL over 5% of players tested positive for steroids....well, I guess there is fire there. And it is getting out of control. And it is important since it really affects everything that has happened in the last decade or so. The 70 McGwire put up....and the 73 Bonds put up. Those great seasons Sosa had. Everything. Every thing.

Of course, his big defense [other than the legal restrictions around him discussing steroids] is "yeah I have lied.....but you guys have lied too!" Wow. An argument that a 5-year old may make. "Yeah...but you did it too!" That usually is followed by something about your friends and jumping off a bridge. He even pulled the ?alcohol and tobacco is worse? card as well.

He went on to whine "you need to clean out your closets before you start trying to clean mine!"

He also said that he is"not willing to talk about other athletes, because that?s not my style." He then goes on to talk about Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. He says "I don?t have anything to talk about Jose".....then says "You gotta come with a whole lot more. It?s just to make a buck. I was better than him then...and I?ve been better than him his whole career."

So I go back to my original point. I am 29 years old. Barry Bonds is the greatest baseball player in my lifetime. He is one of the greatest baseball players that ever lived. To me, he is worthy of his MVP awards. He is worth of his single season home run record. He is worthy of passing Hank Aaron.

But, he?s still a jerk.

CLICK HERE if you want to read a transcript of Barry Bonds press conference

Wild, Wild, Wild Weekend

JEFF GORDON WINS DAYTONA 500 IN DRAMATIC FASHION

        
Gordon is NASCAR's equivalent of Barry Bonds and Kobe Bryant:  hated by many, yet loved by many. 

I’m not a NASCAR fan...nor do I claim to be an expert in any way. But, I caught the final 30+ laps of the Daytona 500 yesterday...so I "can" talk about that.  For more in depth coverage, check out The Diecast Dude's (Mostly) NASCAR Blah Blah Blog.

In my NASCAR fantasy league....I have Tony Stewart as my main driver. When I got home and picked up the race....Stewart was leading and had been leading for quite some time. So, I decided to keep watching to see if he could hold on. He couldn’t. That’s what gets me.

Again...I am not a racing fan. Only in the past few years have I even cared about what has been going on at a race. All I know is I cannot stand the cautions. I know they are necessary for safety reasons...duh....but I just don’t like ‘em. I mean...all the momentum of what is going on gets [pardon the pun] the brakes slammed on it. I saw a couple wrecks...one looked to be a doozy...in those final laps. And that may have cost Stewart the 500. It seems to me that the wrecks enabled the field to "catch up" to Stewart...and when the restarts happened, Stewart then was crushed.

I guess "that’s racin’!" Which is fine....but I as a non-racing enthusiast didn’t enjoy it. I suppose it is like in basketball when late in the contest we get to see teams fouling to "lengthen the game". It isn’t fun to see...but it is a strategy to steal away a win. Maybe it is sour grapes. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who hadn’t done squat all race, took the lead from Stewart....then Jeff Gordon took it away from Earnhardt. Gordon kept it and won his third Daytona 500. Stewart ended up 7th.

There was 4 lead changes in the final 9 laps...and judging by the commentators it was great action. It was a heck of a sight to see. Unless you were rooting for #20. Crap!

NBA ALL STAR GAME

              
                            Vince, to Vince, for the jam

The East beat the West in the NBA All Star Game, 125-115. Allen Iverson won the game MVP with 15 points and 9 assists.

This wasn?t, despite what Shaq said, one of the best All Star games ever. In a weekend where Josh Smith blew everyone away [and made a name for himself] with the dunk contest, Carmelo Anthony got off in front of the hometown crowd in the Rookie Challenge and Phoenix Suns Q Richardson, Steve Nash and a mixed bag of Phoenix hoopsters won other challenges....the game itself really didn?t have that kind of individual explosion.

LeBron, the first time All Star, didn?t try to make a statement. Kobe and Shaq, on the court for the second time as opponents, didn?t really have much to do with each other on the court [though Kobe was booed during pre game introductions]. Duncan and KG were their normal selves. Even the shoes, which tends to be a funny side note during the game, weren?t outlandish [aside from the Shaq Shoe-Phone that made it?s way around the front row]. Seven guys on both team averaged double figures with Ray Allen leading the game with a mere 17 points.

I am one of those idiots that enjoys the NBA All Star Game. To me, it works pretty well. It is the ultimate pick up game where you get to see greats play on the same team. I mean, a Duncan-Garnett front court with a McGrady-Kobe backcourt!?!?!? Sick! And that team LOST! You get to see that street ball mentality come out early in the game. Alley-oops. Crossovers. No look passes. But, when it gets crunch time...everyone buckles down.

My favorite play was the Kobe Bryant alley-oop to Amare Stoudamire. The Vince Carter dunk after the pass off the glass was nice. As was Shaq blowing by Yao for the dunk.

One suggestion. Instead of making fans vote for a center, two forwards and two guards....break the categories down a bit.Go ahead and set it up for one center, one point guard, one shooter, one slasher and one posting forward....so we don?t have TD and KG on one end and Grant Hill and LeBron on the other. Just a thought.

NHL RE-CANCELS SEASON

         
                                                             What was that aboot???

Wow. That was pretty heart gouging! After the season was officially cancelled mid-week...Friday there was some hope and possibility that the season could be saved. ESPN made up the term "uncancelled" and many experts were reporting on the immanent 28-game NHL season.

Oops!

Instead, it turns out they were just doing a autopsy on the deceased season...and found out why the passing occurred. Former players and current owners Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky went to the players and tried to help bang out a deal....basically telling them that this was pretty much the best they?d get.

I?m not getting into the details...I?ve already done so [THE PUCK STOPS HERE].  But, how cruel is that to give hockey fans that sliver of hope [which everyone overblew into a deal] yet to pull the carpet out again. Congrats, NHL!!! Yet another obstacle you must deal with to win fans back.

THANKS, DUKE!!!

               
              With Duke's win over Wake...Carolina pulls into the lead

Let me say this. I didn?t root for Dook against Wake Forest....but I can?t say that I am angry that Dook won that game, either.

Yesterday, Duke beat Wake Forest 102-92

A week ago, North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest were tied at 8-2 for the ACC lead. The bad part for me, a UNC fan, is the fact that we had lost already to Duke and Wake. So we need them to lose. Duke immediately lost their next to games....at Maryland and at Virginia Tech. Surveying Wake?s remaining schedule...this game against Duke may be the only legit shot for a loss. And it happened.

So, basically, the Carolina loss to Duke is meaningless...except for the smack talk. Carolina lost it?s ACC lead...but now has it back. Carolina dropped from its #2 ranking in the nation...but losses to Kansas and Kentucky will almost assuredly get that back.

So, as of now...the Tar Heels lead the ACC with an 10-2 mark, the Deacs are second at 10-3 with the Blue Devils at 9-4. Carolina wins out....and they win the ACC regular season title and the top seed in the ACC tournament. That is big, since it keeps them away from BOTH Duke and Wake....playing only the winner in a possible ACC title tilt.

ENOUGH WITH THE YANKEES AND RED SOX!!

                         

I don?t live in the northeast section of our country. So, just a news flash to everyone up there....not everyone cares about your teams!  As an AOL blogger...I'll read Monponsett for Red Sox news or Coztanza's Commentary for Yankees views. 

Sure, we have to listen to the Red Sox World Series talk and the Patriots dynasty. Sure, the Yanks-Sox ALCS was one of the most classic moments in sports history.....but do we really, really, really, really, really need to have the Yankees-Red Sox thrown down our throats constantly??? OKAY!! WE GET IT!! YOU GUYS DON?T LIKE EACH OTHER!!!!

The freaking season opens up with *gasp* the Yankees vs Red Sox. Randy Johnson vs Curt Schilling...former Diamondback teammates [and World Series co-MVPs]...will be on the mound for the opening game, which ESPN gladly set aside for it?s own opening. So, we baseball fans, have to see ESPN and Peter Gammons drone on and on about the Yanks and Sox. Every strain, every pitch, every word.

It has already started. This week, there was smacked lobbed from several Red Sox at Alex Rodriguez...the "missing piece" to a championship puzzle that was never completed. We get the pleasure of having reporters implanted in their spring training sites to keep the hype going. Why not head down to the Marlins, Braves, Cardinals or Giants spring training digs?? They are contenders too...and only the Yanks OR Red Sox can get to the World Series. We have the "Countdown" to Jason Giambi?s arrival in camp so they can kill him loudly about the steroids.

Why isn?t anyone even worrying about Barry Bonds?? He, too, admitted to taking steroids...and he?s the much better player. And he?s set to do something significant soon. What is that?? Hmmm.. Oh, PASS BABE RUTH FOR ALL TIME HR HITTER FOR A LEFT HANDER!!!! Just a little focus there, please? I?d be willing to bet it will be ESPN?s Pedro Gomez that gets that assignment...while they?ll have 25 people in Florida to report on both the Red Sox and Yankees.

At least this does move Jose Canseco a bit off the map...which he needs to go.

MAYBE MCCOMBS WILL STILL OWN THE VIKES?

             

Gotta love that NFL!

After people were trumpeting the idea of Reggie Fowler buying the Minnesota Vikings and becoming the NFL?s first majority minority [nice oxy-moron] owner.  Well...to be safe, I'll say first African American owner....since Rams owner Georgia Frontiere is technically a "minority owner" since she is a woman.

Anyway, apparently, his business dealings aren?t all kosher. He?s been sued at least 35 times over the past 15 years for his business dealings. He borrows heavily against his commercial properties...and is the landlord for a business owner that has been involved is a college points shaving scandal.

Fowler?s Spiral Inc owns a flight-simulator factory in Colorado, a cattle ranch in Texas, real estate company in Arizona, "Shammy Man" car washes in Phoenix and some other minor holdings. The "Shammy Man" business relationship with Joe Gagliano is raising eyebrows as Gagliano was involved in the point shaving scandal that rocked Arizona State a few years back. Fowler?s people state that he only owns the land that the car washes are on....and Gagliano ?rents" the land for his businesses in a tenant-landlord relationship. Conveniently, Fowler is intending to sell those plots of land where those car washes sit when he moves to Minneapolis to watch over his biggest investment...the Vikings.

What may keep Fowler away is his non-payments on several [read: three-dozen] bills that have gone to court. Fowler dismisses them as minor...many people around the NFL are wondering why a multi-million dollar business fails to pay its bills and that it looks poorly on the NFL and a franchise that is already having issues with a new stadium. What that means is that many people don?t think that Fowler actually has the money to buy the Vikings...which the rumored price is $625M.

Fowler also has been taken to task about his athletic "achievements". He claimed to have played in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders and in the Little League World Series when he was 11. Instead, he admits, he was cut in training camp by the Bengals and the Edmonton Eskimos [not Calgary]...and was in a All Star tournament when he was young that "they called a World Series".

He also doctored his resume that stated he had a degree in business administration from Wyoming....when actually he received a degree in social work. He admits that he did so to look good for employers...but that he hasn?t bothered to correct his resume since he?s his own boss now.

NBA'S SLAM DUNK CONTEST

The Slam Dunk Contest tends to bring out the greatest dunkers ever. Dr. J. Michael Jordan. Dominique Wilkins. Harold Miner.

Harold Miner? Well, he did win the thing twice...which will forever be his mark in the NBA books. But, as people complain about who is in the dunk contest....or better, who isn’t....there have been some historic "huh" players that entered the competition.

Michael Cooper.....yep Coop....was in the inaugural dunk contest back in 1984. He finished dead last out of 9 competitors.

In 1985, you had Jordan, Nique, Erving, Nance, Dunkenstein Griffith, Orlando Woolridge and Clyde The Glide in the contest. You also had Terence Stansbury. WHO???? Exactly. Stansbury was a rookie for the Pacers...who were hosting the All Star weekend in ‘85. Only Jordan and Nique finished better than....uh..."Stansbury the Mansbury"?? Well, Stansbury had the "Statue Of Liberty" dunk that got him a perfect 50...and he actually had a dunk-off to see who would face Wilkins in the finals. Terence finished his 3-year NBA career with just over 6 ppg.

Stansbury was back in 1986...when little man Spud Webb won the whole thing. Dominique Wilkins was joined in the contest by his brother Gerald. Jordan sat this won out. Stansbury was back at it in 1987...where Jordan won his first dunking contest. Stansbury wasn’t in the 1988 dunk contest...since you have to be an active NBA player to compete in it.

Stansbury is Indiana's #43

How about Shelton Jones? His lone NBA season, 1989, he played for 3 different teams. But, he was in the dunk contest as a Sixer. Or Billy Thompson? He was Laker taken by the Miami Heat in the 1988 expansion draft. He was in the 1990 dunk contest. Or Blue Edwards? Or Blue’s Utah replacement David Benoit? Mahmoud Abdul-Raof was in the dunk contest???

How about Alan Houston? The 3-pt contest...yeah. But the dunk contest? Antonio Davis was in the same competition in 1994. In 1996, Doug Christie was in the dunk contest.

One of those years Baby Jordan won....he had Jamie Watson, Antonio Harvey and Tony Dumas as fellow dunkers. Maybe Ray Allen is most angry that Kobe Bryant beat him in the 1997 dunk-off? Or maybe that Allen was also beaten by Chris Carr?

Anyway, the dunk contest has had it?s share of "who the heck is that" players...so don?t get too mad that it is continuing to this day.

Nance, Nique, Spud, MJ, Walker, Dee, Miner, Ceballos, Rider, Barry, Kobe, Vince, Mason and J-Rich

 

 

Former Redskins Michael Westbrook To Fight In Cage Match

Sometimes it is nice to go back and look at former Redskins to see what they are up to. Some start businesses...some become active in the community.

Some become professional cage fighters.

Yep. Former first round pick Michael Westbrook will fight former NY Giant Jerrod Bunch in a cage match on March 6. This will be Westbrook’s first fight. Well...second. Remember he planted down teammate Stephen Davis during a practice a seven years ago and did a number on him. He could make several thousand to several million dollars on this...depending on how many Pay Per View hits occur.

On the undercard is Butterbean Ecsh.....the fat tub of goo that "fought" in the 1990s.

What is cage fighting? Well, it is what it sounds like.....fighting in a cage. It isn’t wrestling or boxing...just fighting until someone gives up or is in medical dire straights. They only DON’TS in this are eye-gouging, hair pulling, groin smacking, biting, or spine smashing. Everything else is cool! Break some arms...snap some twigs....beat someone to a bloody pulp.

             

Westbrook was the #4 overall pick in the 1995 draft. Up until that point, he was known as the guy who caught the "Kordell Stewart pass at Michigan". After that point...he was known as the guy who never fulfilled his potential and has issues with his teammates. Now he many be known as a freak.

Mark Gastineau tried his hand at boxing. We’ve seen Dennis Rodman, Lawrence Taylor and Kevin Greene jump into the wrestling ring. Heck, many of those guys were football players at some point in their life. We saw Manute Bol and Refrigerator Perry fight in "Celebrity Boxing".

Here is the much talked about Westbrook attack on Davis during a Redskins practice

For more info on this fight...which is on Pay Per View on March 6...go to king of the cage

THE PUCK STOPS HERE

                

The No Hockey League. BLAME IT ON THE RED SOX!!!

The last time the Stanley Cup wasn’t awarded was 1919 because of a flu epidemic. 1919 was also the last time the Boston Red Sox were defending World Series champions. They are currently the defending champs. Curse Of The Zamboni???

Fitting that a sport who has ties as a major part of their records….kind of ended their season in one. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman today announced the cancellation of the 2004-2005 NHL season. This news came at really a shock to no one….since rumblings of this occurring were evident even during last season

                                    

So…who wins? Technically no one.

But, if this was a heavyweight boxing bout that went the distance…..looking at the scorecard you’d think that the owners won. If what they say is true….many owners may have been better off not having a season than red-lining through a season. They also achieved three things. First they showed solidarity and the ability to stand firm on their issues….what they wanted to do. Second, they actually got the players union to crack into accepting a salary cap. Sure, they were millions apart on the cap number…..but they made the union flinch. Third, Bob Goodenow, the guy in charge of the union, looks bad and has lost some of the player’s support. He may not be their guy when a deal is finally reached.

So what happens now? Unless Goodenow fears his job is in jeopardy [which may be regardless of what happens] and caves in to the NHL in the near future….probably nothing goes on. Many players have signed with European teams for the season [with clauses they can come back to America if the NHL season begins]. However, there are many who aren’t playing at all. With the season cancelled and the players elsewhere…it is conceivable that the two sides won’t meet until late summer or fall when training camps are set to open. The next NHL game you see may have replacement players. The next time you see legit NHL players on the ice together will be in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Of course, using replacement players is rather dicey. Not only would the NLRB like to see what is going on?but Quebec and British Columbia prohibit using replacement workers in a labor dispute. There is also items like the 2005 Entry Draft that need to be sorted out.

This is a sport that is fragile at best. I mean, aside from the Stanley Cup Finals [which does get upstaged by the NBA Finals], this whole gridlock is the only time you see hockey as a main story. The only time many of us bother to talk about the league. Fans still have hard feelings toward Major League Baseball for canceling the 1994 World Series. Imagine what kind of outrage there would be in the NFL stopped playing. Yet, aside from their fan base and sports media?.no one really cares about the NHL. For many of us?.that just means more NCAA hoops on ESPN and more NBA highlights on SportsCenter.

The NHL is priced out of its fan base?.and whether you believe it or not, there is a solid fan base. Look at the ECHL who does better than some minor league baseball teams and definitely better than any of those lower tier basketball leagues. But, those fans watch affordable hockey. Hockey that you take your entire family to. Not when you are charging more than the NBA or MLB?.much more popular sports in the US.

The NHL also has an identity crisis?..one they really need to address. I mean?it is the sport of Canada?.played in the United States?.by Europeans. There is no franchise in Quebec City?.but there is one in Raleigh. No team in Winnipeg?but one in Anaheim. A sport that is played on ice?in cities like Miami, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Nashville and Phoenix.

The NHL also has the ?thug? image it has to shed. Sure, fighting is a part of hockey?.but in the past few years there have been two instances that have warranted trials for vicious hits while on the ice. You also have the Mike Danton situation where the Blues forward put a hit out on his agent.

At the core issue is two things?..the players? salaries are outweighing the NHL?s intake?.and the fact that the league over expanded and underutilized their assets to try to get some quick money. How can hockey work in 30 cities?? The NBA just expanded to 30 teams?.and the NFL, who doesn?t even have a Los Angeles franchise, has just 2 more teams. So how can hockey do that, yet charge the same amount of money for tickets??

In my mind, the NHL will never be the same. There may be some franchises folding. There may be some sweeping rules changes to open up the offense. In any event?the NHL, as we know it, is dead.

SPORTZ ASSASSIN ARENA in Boston, Mass

What has this world come to??

The Fleet Center in Boston will be no more. After Charlotte based Bank Of America acquired FleetBoston...they decided not to keep the naming rights of the stadium [Bank Of America Stadium in Charlotte houses the NFL’s Carolina Panthers]. The building will still be there....but the name is coming down off the walls. The new name will be........well, you name it. Well....until they find a permanent sponsor.

That is what the owners of the building are doing. You name it. No, not some elaborate voting process or but submitting an entry thru the newspaper.....it is done the ol’ fashioned way.

Ebay for it!!!!!!

That’s right....there is an online auction for the right to call the arena whatever G-rated name you want for a day. While there won’t be a new signs around with your newly acquired arena....the name will be on the JumboTrons inside and outside of the arena, the official web site and if someone calls the arena box office...they will answer "thanks for calling YOURNAME Arena." You will get four luxury seat tickets to the events held the day you get to name the arena...as well as a photo collage of it all. You’ll also get a parking spot in front of the arena, Pretty cool, huh?

You could name it "Sportz Assassin Arena".....or "Boston Garden"....or "The House That Bird Built"....or "Wife’s Name Center"...or "Celtics Rule Center"...or "Go Sox and Pats Arena"....or "Chico’s Bail Bonds Coliseum"...etc.

As I write this...today, February 13, the arena was called the Migala Report Center. Dan Migala bought the rights to name the arena today for $500...with proceeds going to local charities.

You may think this is stupid....but people are lining up to buy into this. Even having your name in lights just for a day could get your small business running. Most of the days up for bid are in the $2000-$3000 range...including a $33,000 bid for Wednesday...when the Celtics play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies. The game will be on Fox Sports New England for all of the locals and subscribers to NBA League Pass to see.

Tomorrow features the Beanpot tournament...the best collegiate hockey inBoston. Disney On Ice will be in town the rest of the month.

So, grab your wallet...or a few friends. Scrounge some money up to get your name, or your business?s name on an NBA arena.

Place your bid here....eBay - FleetCenter items in Experiences Finder

he Roid Rage

          

Since December....the sports world has been all abuzz about the use of steroids in Major League Baseball over the past 15-20 years.   

Actually....the sports world hasn’t really been “abuzz”.  Just the people covering it.  Well, not all of sports...just baseball.  And some of them don’t really care. 

There lies the real problem with baseball.   They just don’t get it.  I don’t think any of them do.  They possibly have the best “game” of all of the professional sports....but they just don’t know what to do with it.  There is more strategy [and time to figure strategy] than any of the other sports.  It is a game where you have guys from the inner city....the fields of the midwest....the lands of the far east....and all around Central America in the same game.  What other league can state they have that kind of diversity on their playing field?   

While the NBA’s David Stern and the NFL’s Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue are regarded as visionaries with their leagues....baseball has been mired in a funk for 30 years.  Despite cancelling the 1994 World Series....the league is still the Players Union’s whore.  This is a league where one team can spend $200M on it’s roster while another spends $20M.  The biggest renaissance of baseball has come from cool-looking retro stadiums and a home run race that now looks like it was pushed along by a needle.

Baseball has had a major strike that cancelled the 1994 World Series.  We had an All Star game end in a tie.  We just had a series of player-fan tussles this past season.  About 1/3 of the teams in the league pretty much know they have no shot to make a run for the championship. 

And every big admission from a MLB wrong-doer comes “out of the closet” in a written manner.  They are probably smiling a bit since they no longer look like the biggest waste on thelabor front...as the NHL is set to can its season.   

Jose Canseco, who has been talking about this book for about 5 years now, may finally be set to release it.  What has already been released....that shouldn?t have....is the BALCO grand jury testimony to the San Francisco Chronicle.  With those two forms of written document....the steroid whispers and finger pointing is now a full blown attack.  Canseco [the biggest NARC since Kobe Byrant?s songbird deal on Shaq,  even names President Bush in there] and his book will be viewed by many as just insider gossip and sour grapes from a guy that no one wants around anymore.  However, the BALCO testimony is admitted guilt.  So while the Canseco book may get people wondering....the testimony will get people informed. 

The attack has already ?forced? Jason Giambi [whose testimony was leaked] into holding a press conference to apologize for.....uh.....well.....he didn?t really say.  MLB seems to be disturbed....but that?s about it.  I mean, you?ve only got Roger Clemons, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire called out.  I mean, they are only three of the players that have lifted baseball back up into people?s consciences in the last decade.  

Lost in this, too, was the sudden death of Ken Caminiti....an admitted steroid user.    
 
So, now this steroid issue will linger on.  The Canseco book will be released, bought and read by media types that will then do a witch-hunt to hold those mentioned in the book accountable.  If you think Barry Bonds was cold to the media before....imagine his demeanor after the first question about his testimony.  Questions will come about the validity of his race to catch Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron on the all-time HR list.  Were all his records a result of the steroids??  Or was it just talent??  Maybe a combination of both. 

The funny thing is that, many baseball fans don?t seem to care.  Yeah, baseball haters are pointing and laughing....but the fans don?t care.  I mean, to us, most of them are already freaks of nature to begin with.  That's why MLB can get away with their feeble attempts.  Joe AverageFan doesn't really care.  Joe likes to see home runs and high scoring games.  Joe likes to watch SportsCenter and see an hour of tape measure shots instead of sac-flies and stolen bases. 

                       

A year ago, Pete Rose finally admitted to betting on baseball in his book.  Yeah...I bet most of you forgot about that.  A guy that many championed as getting a harsh sentence can now not find a break from even his staunchest supporters.  I guess we were better off wondering.  We seemed to like him better when our heads were in the sand. 

             

for more Sportz on baseball...check out the  Sportz Reds Baseball Bunch which will be heating up as the season moves along.