Because everyone else is doing it: NBA Style

I suppose I should write something about the NBA Draft, but not because I am particularly interested in this draft. To be honest, I'm much more interested in the suits that the players will be wearing to the draft. I will also continue to ignore the fact that basketball might not be played come fall anyway, and I will also continue to ignore the fact that is Draft is pretty weak. But hey, why not?

First, of course, I must talk about the ridiculousness that is the NBA lottery. What kind of sports league is it when the worst team, that tanks the season 3/4 of the way through, isn't guaranteed the first over all pick? Well that's the NBA -- the worst team has not received the first overall pick since 2003 when LeBron James went to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Oddly enough, the Cavs received the first pick this year, but not with their own pick, which had a 19% chance of being the number one pick, but with the LA Clippers pick (from the Baron Davis trade) which had a 2.8% chance of being number one. Dan Gilbert and Cleveland prove the more you whine and complain the further you will get enough life, the "Code of the Bitch" we'll call it.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Pick from the Clippers and the God of Stern): It seems that they will go with the talented but in my mind unproven Kyrie Irving. Loads of talent but really hasn't had the chance to show it because of injury. But hey, no risk, no reward.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Now this team is just a mess. They have a great talent in Kevin Love but his partner up top is Darko Milicic, and as much as I have a soft spot in my heart for some Darko, an upgrade is needed there, Especially if they want to us the Memphis Grizzlies as a model. But Minn. probably doesn't want to have a team in Enes Kanter, an unproven Turkish center, and Ricky Rubio. So they will take Derrick Williams and whatever faults he has, he makes up for them in confidence.

3. Utah Jazz (pick from New Jersey Nets): Unless they think that Devin Harris can make some noise with an improved team, the freshman from Kentucky, Brandon Knight, will be their pick.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (their own pick): Now here is where the draft will get interesting. Will the Cavs take another player, on top of Kyrie Irving, who did not play last year? (Yes, I know Kyrie played a bit) If they do, they will take the center from Kentucky Enes Kanter. But for the sake of parody, I say the Cavs will take Jan Vesely, a 6' 11" power forward that can dabble a bit as a small forward. You just know how teams love to take players that don't naturally play in the post and then are shocked when it doesn't work out.

5.Toronto Raptors: Now I'm going to assume they are going to make a logical pick. A young turkish center that will be able to fit into a town with a decent size turkish population. On top of the fact they will be able to push Bargnani to power forward and actually get some rebounds from the center position. Enes Kanter to the Raptors.

6.Washington Wizards: With two decent big men I could see them passing over the European big man, Jonas Valanciunas, for a Maurice Morris. And now that I come to think of it, a young small/power forward that can score will sell create more buzz and potentially sell more tickets. Morris to the Wizards.

7. Sacramento Kings: Kings will probably draft big again this year, in part because they don't want to bank their future on DeMarcus Cousins and they most likely will be losing Samuel Dalembert (most likely to Miami). The almost 7-footer to Jonas Valaciunas to the Kings

8.Detroit Pistons: I have no idea what the Pistons will do. After years of making questionable picks, last year Joe Dumars finally got one right with Greg Monroe. What it really comes down to for the Pistons is whether or not they believe in Rodney Stuckey. If they do, the 6' 9" man Bismack Biyombo will be the pick because Joe D loves athleticism over all else. But if the basketball gods are good to us Detroit fans they will visit him the night before the draft and tell him to take Kemba Walker. Here's hoping for a miracle. Walker to Detroit

That's the top 8 and really that's enough. Anything further and I'm just rambling as well as the fact that it is just a crap shoot in this draft. It's really a shock that the Cleveland Cavaliers didn't complain about the lack of quality in this draft and get the players replaced. But I guess you can't get everything. They can't get good players to replace LeBron and we won't be able to watch basketball next year.

Finally Its Over!

As most people mourn the end of two major sports in the US and European soccer( yes it did end awhile ago but still), I am rejoicing.

There are 3 reasons why

1. No more creating reason for why I should root for some team I really don't care but feel like I must because of the stage that the game is played upon.
Example: Barcelona v Man U
What everyone saw: two power house fighting it out in the final of the Champions League.
What I saw: a battle between the new and old glory hunting fans.

2. No more watching just to combat against the popular result.
 Example: Dallas v Miami.
What everyone saw: a battle between "good" and "evil" and a fight for the honor of all sports
What I saw: A bunch of people being so ridiculous it made me defend and support LeBron and the Miami Heat's preseason actions.

3.No more just watching out of the fear of missing something epic.
Example: Boston v Vancouver
What everyone saw: A battle between two teams that haven't won a title in years/ever.
What I saw: An extremely overrated series that ended in a riot. The riot being the best part.

Yea, I am probably just bitter because its been a shit year for As Roma, Detroit Pistons and an average year for the Red Wings. But besides those facts, I love not having the obligation of watching a final. So I encourage you to paint a house or write a book, but in the end you are just going to read this blog and probably watch some bad TV.

Another weekend review

Being sick means I get to stay home all weekend and watch as many sporting events as I possible can. And running a blog means I get to tell you what I thought about this weekends events, pretty cool! Well no, not really but I'm going to anyway.

On Friday we had game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup finals, where Vancouver beat Boston 1-0 on a scrappy  as all hell goal. Really a game only for the true fans, and when I say true fans, I mean fans of these two teams. Game 3 & 4 were 12-1 in favor of Boston and then a goaltender duel in game 5 but my biggest fault  seems to be the bad blood between the two teams. I know what you are thinking, "how can bad blood between two hockey teams be bad for the series?" Because this year the nonsensical fighting and douchebagery just seems like a love story in a bad action movie. Vancouver is up 3-2 and besides the fact that I hate Boston sports, the summer cant officially start until both the basketball & hockey come to an end. We're looking at you hockey.

On Saturday there was the Gold Cup, yes the Gold Cup. And for those that have no idea what on earth the Gold Cup is, thats really not shocking, the advertising/coverage for this tournament has been non-existent. And with the USA-Panama game being on Fox Soccer Channel, it was only the second game of the Gold Cup televised in english so far. The US men's national team joined in the failure of the this tournament by not just losing to Panama, but being completely out maned and out classed over 70 minutes of the game. The central defense completely fell apart and gave away 2 relatively early goals, US were able to nip a goal but Panama was just too strong, literally.  A very sobering moment for US soccer fans.

The most exciting sports moment of the weekend in came on Sunday and it was not the NBA Finals, it was F1 & the Grand Prix of Canada. Despite the hours of rain delay, for those that stuck with it or mostly likely, those that had nothing else to do and just left the TV on in the back round were rewarded with a great race. Rain delays, crashes, safety cars and the eventual winner over coming two driving penalties and coming back from last place to take the lead on the last lap  and win the race. Well done to Jensen Button of Mclaren.  F1 one has kinda been like the show Camelot, just as i'm about to throw in the towel, someone takes their top off. Thank god for F1 Button isn't a prude.

And Yes, NBA Finals. Dallas won. I could talk about it here or I could spin it off into another blog post and I feel like watching Camelot if you catch my drift.

to be continued

-Max
 

Beneath the Surface

While it is hard to argue that the NHL playoffs are more exciting than the NBA playoffs, at least for a person whose favorite sport is neither hockey or basketball, the NBA have the NHL beat this year. And it had nothing to do with the sports themselves.

In the Stanley Cup Finals we have the Boston Bruins v Vancouver Canucks. Boston Bruins have not won the Cup since 1972, Vancouver has never won in their 40 years of existence, nor has a Canadian team hosted Lord Stanley's cup since 1993. There's also a great match up between 2 top goalies, Roberto Luongo and Tim Thomas, with great players such as the Sedin twins, Zdeno Chara and Tomas Kaberle playing, as well. And while we are guaranteed some great hockey (in my mind, there are very few better things in the world than playoff overtime hockey), there is something lacking. Hype.

Sports can only sell themselves so well and besides the fact that neither team has won the cup in a long time, there aren't many subplots to the Stanley Cup Finals, at least not for a neutral.

The NBA Finals on the other hand, have more substance than just the game itself. As with every series you have the aging star that no one knows how he is playing so well, Kidd and you have a super star at the top of his game but this series could be his final chance, Dirk. But this is not special, what is special is the emotion that the Miami Heat invoke from even the most causal fan. Whether you love them or hate them or simply fall somewhere in between, the Miami Heat and the personality of the players is what makes the NBA Finals.

The NHL could take a page out of the NBA's book and not try and crush young and talented players like PK Subban and encourage sport based on personality as well as excitement. And at the same rate, the NBA needs to look at why they are getting so much PR and that is because players are the main focus. Not the refs, not the owners, and not a potential Franchise tag.

Basketball and Hockey are great sports, but to neutral fans, the games are only as interesting as their subplots.

-Max

Unspectacular

Ah Memorial Day weekend, the most overrated sports weekend of all time.

We had the UFC fight, but we aren't going to cover that because Mountain Dew isn't our drink of choice.
Nor the Indy 500 because a faster, less popular NASCAR race really doesn't interest anyone.
The Indy 500: Look, watch us! There are women driving! No, they aren't very good, but look at them!

But, I suppose we should give thanks to the Champions League final, the Grand Prix of Monaco, and the French Open.

Nothing of note has really happened in the French Open (besides the roller coaster that is Women's Tennis), but there has been some good tennis and any chance I have to watch semi attractive women jump around in short skirts, I take. (Bring on the Women's World Cup!)

The Grand Prix of Monaco was memorable, two crashes that resulted in drivers being taken to the hospital, a battle between Vettle, Alonso and Button. But the battle was marginalized by a crash that brought out the red flag and Vettle and fizzy-pop took P1.

And of course the biggest game of the year -- no, not the Superbowl you small minded Americans! -- the UEFA Champions League! The battle between Barcelona and Manchester United or as I dubbed it: the cocksuckers vs the douchebags, with the Cocksuckers (Barcelona) winning easily. Barca is just like a ESPN top ten plays list, but you still have to sit through entire game to see those plays. A game that will be filled with millions of small passes, bore most to death but then have a couple moments of liquid football. Barca won and totally deserve the title.

But one thing that must be commented on -- many people are saying that "Barcelona is football" and they really couldn't be more right. The majority of their "fans" support another 1 or 2 clubs, so much for club loyalty. They make Man U fans look like diehards. Barca is the team for the people that support one club out of obligation but cant go without a fan circlejerk around the trophy. On top of fake fans, they have a player named Sergio Busquets, that was caught on camera calling one of Real Madrid's darker players a "Monkey." We also must not forget that Barcelona are in deep debt from purchasing players. So, when people say "Barca is Football" and they really mean a bit boring, a bit racist, followed by plastic fans and deeply in debt, well then those people are spot on.

I refuse to buy the Memorial Day weekend in hype but I will thank it for giving me Monday off of work and for the weekend coming to an end, which will mean the start of the Stanley Cup Finals (meh) and then of course the NBA Finals.

-Max

Man City v Arsenal

There really is no point to write about the game it self, but there is something to be said about the negative reception  of Man City's so called " negative football".
It is quite clear that City went into the match looking for a draw. Now many people will say this is terrible, it hurts the game but really they are just living in a fantasy world.

First, City was away at the Emirates and after Arsenal beat Chelsea at home a couple weeks back, it would be safe to say that Arsenal should be favored in every home match that they now play.  Not to mention Arsenal beat City 3-0 at city.

Secondly, Balotelli and Silva both missed this match, a big hit for any team, but maybe people lose sight of this fact because Man City has so much money.

Thirdly, Man City's goal at the beginning of the season was to finish in the top 4. Now(after the draw) they find themselves second on 42 points, 2 points ahead of Arsenal(but they still have a game at hand). For any team, if you can go on the road, get a draw versus one of the bigger teams of the EPL, that is a job well done. A great job if a team isn't looking for a title run.

Of course it is not what the average fan would have liked, a 0-0 draw in league play rarely is something to desire. But true fans will be able to understand the fantastic defensive performance by the Man City players and understand this is not Fifa, going for the win is not always the smartest thing a club can do. But I guess people just want to see goals and care nothing about the game or tactics. If that is the case, they should just got watch the NFL or NBA, and hey with those, you even get a halftime show.