
This is what you call a renegade post. A blogger that blogs on a blog like this is best to blog about 1 topic at a time. I can’t do it. On Mondays, I anticipate a Tommy-gun like approach first thing most weeks to get this party started.
So, let’s do this. If the D Media Empire slaps the blogging cuffs on me, you may never see this again. Otherwise, consider this “radio” guy filling out a radio show run sheet.
So what rocked my sports world this weekend? Muchas Cosas Interesantes Aqui:
1. I feel even more conflicted about My opinion from last week about how good Blake Griffin will be at the next level . He destroyed Syracuse on Friday, including a play where he hit his head on the backboard! …
Then, against North Carolina, he looked like the only guy on the court for the Sooners that was ready for a street fight. The Sooners never had a chance, but with his 23 point/16 rebound performance, he certainly showed me what he could do with a constant double-team from a squad that has talent everywhere.
I still caution us all to remember how dominant Larry Johnson was at UNLV, Christian Laettner at Duke, Corliss Williamson was at Arkansas, Marcus Camby was at UMass, and even Kenyon Martin was at UCinn, before we go and claim that the NBA has never stopped anyone like Blake. They are all nice players, but none of them were “Change-the-franchise” types. Is he? I think he is a perfect 2nd or 3rd banana at the next level, but he did show his quality in defeat.
2. So, who here thought the Mavs were in a good spot up 35-20 in the early part of the 2nd Quarter yesterday in Cleveland?Sorry, but if you thought the Cavs were sweating for a second, it is possible you also believe that pro wrestling is real. The Cavs let the Mavericks feel good about themselves for a bit, and then they started to get after it. The ease with which they snapped the Mavericks’ neck late in the 2nd and early in the 3rd was both decisive and depressing.
As I wrote 2 weeks ago this morning when the Mavs met a similar fate in their ABC game at Los Angeles, this team is short on offense and defense. If you want the specifics, go back and read what I wrote that day. This team is not bad enough to be caught by the Suns, not good enough to catch anyone in the #7 spot (I don’t think).
They are lost in the sea of mediocrity. Neither fish nor fowl, they are the 2009 Dallas Mavericks. If ever a team needed to change their identity, it is this group – but I have been saying that for 24 months now, since that horrible week in Golden State. Still waiting.
3. Tiger Woods. I hope you realize what you are looking at with this guy. So, tell me, did Tiger adjust the entire NBC Sunday line-up? I promise you that my Tivo had golf on NBC until 5:00. NBC did not leave the air until 7:00. At 5:00, the leaders were making the turn. Was that a weather consideration, or did they just decide to haul off and move everything 2 hours for Tiger in prime time?
Oh, well. When my phone started receiving text messages at 6:30 from friends who realize that Tiger is the “stop whatever you are doing and run to your tv” guy of this generation, I think we all know that it should be in prime time. I never got a text message because Davis Love, III, is reeling in the leaders. Not once.
4. My cute little Dallas Stars are just playing out the string. It is a huge buzzkill after last spring and the thrilling month they gave us in the 2008 playoffs, but now, this team is trying to survive the last 2 weeks and preparing for a summer that could be filled with change. They are so beat up it is approaching comical stages. They lost 3 defensemen in the last 2 games to injuries, and the blue-line they put out tonight in Phoenix will in no way resemble an NHL blue-line.
5. The USA got a hard earned tie in El Salvador on Saturday night. It was cool to see them fight their tails off to pull even late after being down 2-0, but of course, one might ask why they were down 2 goals in the first place. They sit on top of the group right now, and play T&T in Nashville on Wednesday night. It is tough to tell where we are these days, because the USA is in a spot where they have pretty much shown what they can do against the Concacaf field, and the only thing that matters now is whether they can A) win in Mexico and B) stand up against the best of the world. So far, those are 2 questions that still seem very much in doubt.
By the way, it appears it might be a rough year at FC Dallas. 2 home games for 0 points to start ’09.
6. Tell me if this is great? Awful? Or, the most hypnotic thing you have ever seen?
So nice to see that someone actually knew there was a soccer game on Saturday. I was sitting the car Saturday night running errands and told the significant other that in any other country in the world, a national team game would be on the radio. Here? Not so much. And you are right Bob, why is the US down 2-nil on two headers? Bradley needs to have a stern talk with the back line. oh i just love soccer tech talk. lol and what i caught of the FC Dallas game… serious lethargy going on there.
Bobby Knight is like an old, delirious, white version of Charles Barkley. Pure gold!
self-correction… one of those goals while not actually a header was set up by a poor piece of in the air defense.
Why not a peace sign and call it,a peaceful Monday Blog?
You keep mentioning LJ like he was not anything in the NBA. He was a legit star in the league until he hurt his back, which he never fully recovered.
I thought the same thing as Jason, you seem to be reducing Grandmama a little bit Bob. He was a hell of a player for a few years there, or so I remember it.
6. Metallica was dead to me 5 years ago, so, funny.
A “peaceful Monday Blog” is about the worst name imaginable. Bob, please don’t follow the path of the Washington Bullets.
To Jason and Gunter- I promise, I appreciated the great career LJ had. But, when he was his team’s best player, the Hornets were not very good. Only after Alonzo took over being “the man” did the Hornets take off. If Blake is “the man” I don’t like it. But, if he is 2nd Lt. to Kevin Durant or someone like that, now we have a perfect fit. Does that make sense? I like him as a 2nd, Not a 1st. But, he can still play in an all-star game.
James Hetfield calling Bobby Knight “Pops” is the highlight of the NCAA tournament so far. Of course, I picked Wake to win it all, so I may not be the best judge.
Also – why Machine Gun Monday? He told you – He’s a radio guy. They have a saying: “If it alliterates, it obliterates!” Actually, that’s not a saying at all, but it will be soon, because they only thing radio loves more than alliteration is rhyming.
Hi Bob, thrilled to see you on this blog. I agree with you about Griffin. I don’t think he can be your best player if you are going to win a championship. I’m curious if you think he could play a young Amare role on a team like the Suns or Buls?
Also, how confident are you feeling about the Chelsea vs Scousers matchup? Blue is the colour!
Can’t speak for Bob…
…but considering the Scousers pulled off the Premier League double against Chelski this season, I’d say I’m feeling rather confident.
Granted, I would rather play somebody different just because Liverpool have been matched up against Chelsea four out of the last five years.
Has a very Dallas vs Edmonton feel to it that was nice in the beginning, but gives me a little tired head.
Bob, I agree with your two questions regarding the US national team. I think El Salvador exploited the lack of central midfield creativity on the US. They defensively packed it in and nick goals on the counter attack. I think the rest of the teams in CONCACAF will follow this same blueprint. What are your thoughts on Bob Bradley tatics in the game? He doesn’t have a plan B…Maybe not even a plan A.