9.20.2010
Squatta's Paradise!!!!
Randy Quaid and his wife were arrested over the weekend for allegedly squatting in a guest home in California. Who knew Quaid had ties to the punk community? In all seriousness though, this could very well be another example of a "celebrity" not knowing how to manage their money properly. Either way, that is a great mugshot and I am fairly certain it will make it's way onto a poster at some point.
9.07.2010
Basketball starts in seven weeks!!!!
August was a very long month for me. I tried moving down to Richmond until I realized how horrible my neighborhood was. Live and learn I guess. I realized throughout all of this madness that Rochester, NY really isn't that bad and I feel more comfortable referring to this place as "home" now. In fact, I feel so at home that I actually have a bedroom completely set up for the first time in nearly five years! Living like a hippie/boxcar Willie got old after a while. If and when I try to move again (Denver????), I am going to make sure I have a lot more money saved, more work lined up, and have a place lined up that isn't in the middle of the ghetto.
In other news, the Cro Mags are playing Buffalo next month! I will more than likely be in attendance for this experience, as well as possibly their shows in Baltimore and DC the following two weekends.
I didn't really pay much attention to sports over the last month. Unfortunately the time and access wasn't really there for me. No worries though, I will be back up to full steam in time for the start of the next NBA Season.
Big ups to Boise State. When I fell asleep last night, it looked like they had the game easily won. Virginia Tech made things interesting and Boise State came back to win the game in the fourth quarter. It looks like this team just might be competing for the national title this year.
In other news, the Cro Mags are playing Buffalo next month! I will more than likely be in attendance for this experience, as well as possibly their shows in Baltimore and DC the following two weekends.
I didn't really pay much attention to sports over the last month. Unfortunately the time and access wasn't really there for me. No worries though, I will be back up to full steam in time for the start of the next NBA Season.
Big ups to Boise State. When I fell asleep last night, it looked like they had the game easily won. Virginia Tech made things interesting and Boise State came back to win the game in the fourth quarter. It looks like this team just might be competing for the national title this year.
7.27.2010
Rock Steady Crew 33rd anniversary/ Jimmy Cliff!!!!
I would really like to be in attendance for this show on Sunday. It is doubtful that I will make it. I will passing through that area one day earlier and it really doesn't make sense to change trip plans to see this show. But it would be nice. There are at least ten artists on this list that I would like to see for the first time, some I have been waiting a long time to see (EPMD!!!!). Hopefully, they will do a few more dates this year.
I saw Jimmy Cliff at the Party in the Park a couple weeks back. I was happy to be able to have this opportunity. He played a lot of classic songs like The Harder They Come, Vietnam (Afghanistan), Many Rivers To Cross, and I Can See Clearly Now. This was a free show and there was more diversity in the crowd at this show than I have probably ever seen at any single show.
Chris Coghlan injured celebrating.
Chris Coghlan is headed to the DL with a somewhat hilarious injury. . Well, hilarious I guess if you're not Chris Coghlan or a Marlins fan (all 9000 of you). Didn't he learn anything from Kendry Morales? I'm guessing even more teams are likely to tone down their post game celebrations after this.
Matt Garza dropped a gem on em
I've seen a lot of baseball games over the years. I was watching when Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds made "history." I saw Cal Ripken's 2131 consecutive game. I saw Stephen Strasburg's MLB debut. I remember Joe Carter celebrating like a child. I remember Bo Jackson dominating the 1989 All Star game. I even saw a brawl live at Silver Stadium once when I was in elementary school. But one thing I recently realized I have never seen from start to finish was a no hitter.
Last night, Rod Carew was making an appearance at Frontier Field. I have a 1985 topps Rod Carew that I really wanted to get signed. But I am lazy and decided at the last minute not to go. While flipping through channels, I saw the Tigers were playing the Rays on ESPN. It was a pretty slow night for sports so I figured I would check that out. Then I saw Max Scherzer was the starter for the Tigers and I knew I was going to see a good game. I dropped Scherzer after he was recently hit kind of hard by the Indians. That was his only poor start since he has returned from the minors. I really don't have very much patience though. I remember thinking I bet Scherzer throws a gem just to spite me (yes, me). When I realized Scherzer had sent down the first six batters he faced, I thought there is an outside chance for me to finally see history. Then I quickly realized that Garza was no hitting the Tigers! This went back and forth for almost six complete innings, with each pitcher merely walking one batter each in the first four innings. One thing Harold Reynolds pointed out on MLB tv last night was that Garza was very fortunate to be facing Max Scherzer on a night where he was pitcing like he was. This made it easier for Garza to quickly return to the mound for each inning. The lone exception being the sixth inning, where Garza spent about half hour watching his team put up four runs, all on one hit (a Matt Joyce grand slam). After this, Garza returned to the mound in the top of the seventh with a 4-0 lead. I remember thinking the first pitch would probably be lined up the middle for a single. All Garza did was retire the next nine batters. I couldn't believe it. I had witnessed a no hitter finally! I can thank Matt Garza, Max Scherzer, and (most importantly) Ben Zobrist for this. Below is a must-see video, which MLB will probably take down before you read this. Here is the box score.
Last night, Rod Carew was making an appearance at Frontier Field. I have a 1985 topps Rod Carew that I really wanted to get signed. But I am lazy and decided at the last minute not to go. While flipping through channels, I saw the Tigers were playing the Rays on ESPN. It was a pretty slow night for sports so I figured I would check that out. Then I saw Max Scherzer was the starter for the Tigers and I knew I was going to see a good game. I dropped Scherzer after he was recently hit kind of hard by the Indians. That was his only poor start since he has returned from the minors. I really don't have very much patience though. I remember thinking I bet Scherzer throws a gem just to spite me (yes, me). When I realized Scherzer had sent down the first six batters he faced, I thought there is an outside chance for me to finally see history. Then I quickly realized that Garza was no hitting the Tigers! This went back and forth for almost six complete innings, with each pitcher merely walking one batter each in the first four innings. One thing Harold Reynolds pointed out on MLB tv last night was that Garza was very fortunate to be facing Max Scherzer on a night where he was pitcing like he was. This made it easier for Garza to quickly return to the mound for each inning. The lone exception being the sixth inning, where Garza spent about half hour watching his team put up four runs, all on one hit (a Matt Joyce grand slam). After this, Garza returned to the mound in the top of the seventh with a 4-0 lead. I remember thinking the first pitch would probably be lined up the middle for a single. All Garza did was retire the next nine batters. I couldn't believe it. I had witnessed a no hitter finally! I can thank Matt Garza, Max Scherzer, and (most importantly) Ben Zobrist for this. Below is a must-see video, which MLB will probably take down before you read this. Here is the box score.
7.23.2010
Dog days of summer
It's around that time of year again. July is about to turn into August and for sports fans there's not a whole hell of a lot going on. Baseball is starting to heat up, but there's still a lot of games to be played. I hope the Dodgers get Roy Oswalt, but I don't really see it happening. They need to acquire some sort of starting pitcher(s).
NBA summer league wrapped up over the weekend. I saw way more games this year than I ever have. I obviously have a better opinion of Luke Harangody now. I do think he will have a somewhat solid future in Boston. I think my original assessment of the Minnesota Timberwolves is correct. This team is going to be terrible this year. If Kevin Love and Michael Beasley are your best options, you have problems. Chase Budinger started has career off for me as one of those Brian Scalabrinesque punching bag players. I realized quickly however that he does have a great game and his athletic abilities give him tremendous upside going forward. He should show even more improvement in his second season. Is Eddy Curry's NBA career finally over? Unfortunately, it looks like Michael Redd's is. Bummer about Epke Udoh and David Lee, looks like the Warriors are going to be using a lot of D League Select players again this season. Did John Wall really already win rookie of the year? This Chris Paul mess is kind of ridiculous to me. I think he will be a Knick before the season starts though. I hope he doesn't go to the Lakers. Speaking of which, the Lakers have quietly assembled a team this offseason that might just be better than the Heat. And that is without Chris Paul. They have already added Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, and Theo Ratliff this offseason. Finally, a Lebron vs. Kobe showdown in the finals? Check out the Nets roster next time you have a second, not exactly the Blueprint for success. Tracy McGrady to the Bulls?
NBA summer league wrapped up over the weekend. I saw way more games this year than I ever have. I obviously have a better opinion of Luke Harangody now. I do think he will have a somewhat solid future in Boston. I think my original assessment of the Minnesota Timberwolves is correct. This team is going to be terrible this year. If Kevin Love and Michael Beasley are your best options, you have problems. Chase Budinger started has career off for me as one of those Brian Scalabrinesque punching bag players. I realized quickly however that he does have a great game and his athletic abilities give him tremendous upside going forward. He should show even more improvement in his second season. Is Eddy Curry's NBA career finally over? Unfortunately, it looks like Michael Redd's is. Bummer about Epke Udoh and David Lee, looks like the Warriors are going to be using a lot of D League Select players again this season. Did John Wall really already win rookie of the year? This Chris Paul mess is kind of ridiculous to me. I think he will be a Knick before the season starts though. I hope he doesn't go to the Lakers. Speaking of which, the Lakers have quietly assembled a team this offseason that might just be better than the Heat. And that is without Chris Paul. They have already added Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, and Theo Ratliff this offseason. Finally, a Lebron vs. Kobe showdown in the finals? Check out the Nets roster next time you have a second, not exactly the Blueprint for success. Tracy McGrady to the Bulls?
G-Funk Era
I was flipping through the channels last night and I happened upon the "Welcome to Death Row" documentary on the Fuse network. Whenever I get the chance to I always check stuff like this out. Like a lot of people born in the early 80s, I grew up listening to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. You could say that these were my favorite rappers in sixth grade. Being so young, I don't think I realized how influential and important these musicians were going to be for hip-hop. I don't think very many people at all could have realized how tremendous of an impact this sound was going to have on the music industry as a whole.
1992 was around the time everything really got going. In early 1992, Dr. Dre introduced Snoop Doggy Dogg in the "Deep Cover" video, from the soundtrack to the film of the same name. That movie is worth checking out if you haven't seen it by the way. Anyway, this song basically introduced us all of things to come over the next few years from Dre and Snoop.
Later that year, Dr. Dre released the much anticipated Chronic album. Again, at the time I don't think very many people realized exactly how classic of an experience was going on right in front of them. As a child, I didn't really understand anything beyond the music. I didn't know who Suge Knight was, nor did I really care very much for that matter. I saw and heard things Eazy E said about getting royalties from The Chronic, but I didn't really understand what all of that meant at the time. By the time the winter of 1992 rolled around, I was in sixth grade, playing as much basketball as possible at the Monroe YMCA. By now rap music was providing my everyday soundtrack. When I couldn't get them myself, I would dub a lot of tapes from friends. I remember getting a lot of cassingles back then, too. One of them being Nuthin But A G Thang. Most of the videos released are similar on this record, simple shots of Dre and Snoop creating some sort of mischief throughout Los Angeles. While these videos introduced the world to Snoop and Dre, everyone who bought the Chronic was also introduced to Lady of Rage, Daz, Kurupt, and Nate Dogg.
There were several other great musical releases during the G-Funk Era, but only The Chronic is a perfect record. Eighteen years later, all of the music on here still sounds fresh to me. All of the artists mentioned in this post have gone on to do their own separate things in the music and entertainment industry. Snoop has released several albums and has become somewhat of an actor, most notably appearing in Half Baked, Training Day and Starsky and Hutch. The Lady of Rage unfortunately only released one album. She has done a handful of acting roles since then and recently was featured on the Eternia and Moss album "At Last." I hope that her run on Rock The Bells this summer will make her release another album. Kurupt and Daz remain active, although their relationship in Tha Dogg Pound seems to have soured (and desoured) over the years. Nate Dogg has obviously had his share of recent health problems. He has become one of the more respected voices in hip hop over the years, being featured on just about every release imaginable over the last two decades. I haven't heard anything noteworthy from Warren G since Regulate. I did walk across the street from him after he played here in 2000 though.
At some point, Detox is going to come out. I wouldn't be all that suprised to see most of the supporting cast from the Chronic feature on there at some point. While I do want to hear this record as much as the next hip hop fan, I am not really as excited about it as I was five years ago. Nothing will ever be on the level of the Chronic again, not from Dre or anyone.
While the production on The Chronic is on its own level, there are a couple other sadly overlooked groups from this era and more specifically from the very same region. The first group, Above the Law actually had some of their early work produced by Dr. Dre. I remember seeing their tapes around back in the day and skipping right past them. Groups like this are influential to the G-Funk sound in the same way that groups like Outburst and Absolution were important to the NYHC. They might not be the first groups people mention, but that doesn't mean they don't have a catalog full of bangers.
Another good west group from this period that probably wasn't quite as overlooked is Compton's Most Wanted. What is interesting about CMW is that they were mainly around at the same exact time as NWA. They fell off around the time The Chronic was released, as MC Eiht pursued a solo career as a rapper and an actor (Menace II Society). CMW has however released a few releases over the last fifteen years. None are as good as their first two records though.
Finally, I think it is great to leave you with a video from one of the great ghost writers of the G Funk Era. If he hadn't had vocal cord troubles, he would be one of the great MCs rather than ghost writer extraordinaire. Anyway, I'm not sure how many of you knew where "Y'all ready for this" came from either, so if you've read this all the way through, you now have received a small reward.
1992 was around the time everything really got going. In early 1992, Dr. Dre introduced Snoop Doggy Dogg in the "Deep Cover" video, from the soundtrack to the film of the same name. That movie is worth checking out if you haven't seen it by the way. Anyway, this song basically introduced us all of things to come over the next few years from Dre and Snoop.
Later that year, Dr. Dre released the much anticipated Chronic album. Again, at the time I don't think very many people realized exactly how classic of an experience was going on right in front of them. As a child, I didn't really understand anything beyond the music. I didn't know who Suge Knight was, nor did I really care very much for that matter. I saw and heard things Eazy E said about getting royalties from The Chronic, but I didn't really understand what all of that meant at the time. By the time the winter of 1992 rolled around, I was in sixth grade, playing as much basketball as possible at the Monroe YMCA. By now rap music was providing my everyday soundtrack. When I couldn't get them myself, I would dub a lot of tapes from friends. I remember getting a lot of cassingles back then, too. One of them being Nuthin But A G Thang. Most of the videos released are similar on this record, simple shots of Dre and Snoop creating some sort of mischief throughout Los Angeles. While these videos introduced the world to Snoop and Dre, everyone who bought the Chronic was also introduced to Lady of Rage, Daz, Kurupt, and Nate Dogg.
There were several other great musical releases during the G-Funk Era, but only The Chronic is a perfect record. Eighteen years later, all of the music on here still sounds fresh to me. All of the artists mentioned in this post have gone on to do their own separate things in the music and entertainment industry. Snoop has released several albums and has become somewhat of an actor, most notably appearing in Half Baked, Training Day and Starsky and Hutch. The Lady of Rage unfortunately only released one album. She has done a handful of acting roles since then and recently was featured on the Eternia and Moss album "At Last." I hope that her run on Rock The Bells this summer will make her release another album. Kurupt and Daz remain active, although their relationship in Tha Dogg Pound seems to have soured (and desoured) over the years. Nate Dogg has obviously had his share of recent health problems. He has become one of the more respected voices in hip hop over the years, being featured on just about every release imaginable over the last two decades. I haven't heard anything noteworthy from Warren G since Regulate. I did walk across the street from him after he played here in 2000 though.
At some point, Detox is going to come out. I wouldn't be all that suprised to see most of the supporting cast from the Chronic feature on there at some point. While I do want to hear this record as much as the next hip hop fan, I am not really as excited about it as I was five years ago. Nothing will ever be on the level of the Chronic again, not from Dre or anyone.
While the production on The Chronic is on its own level, there are a couple other sadly overlooked groups from this era and more specifically from the very same region. The first group, Above the Law actually had some of their early work produced by Dr. Dre. I remember seeing their tapes around back in the day and skipping right past them. Groups like this are influential to the G-Funk sound in the same way that groups like Outburst and Absolution were important to the NYHC. They might not be the first groups people mention, but that doesn't mean they don't have a catalog full of bangers.
Another good west group from this period that probably wasn't quite as overlooked is Compton's Most Wanted. What is interesting about CMW is that they were mainly around at the same exact time as NWA. They fell off around the time The Chronic was released, as MC Eiht pursued a solo career as a rapper and an actor (Menace II Society). CMW has however released a few releases over the last fifteen years. None are as good as their first two records though.
Finally, I think it is great to leave you with a video from one of the great ghost writers of the G Funk Era. If he hadn't had vocal cord troubles, he would be one of the great MCs rather than ghost writer extraordinaire. Anyway, I'm not sure how many of you knew where "Y'all ready for this" came from either, so if you've read this all the way through, you now have received a small reward.
7.15.2010
mish mash of nba news
Wes Matthews is leaving Utah for Portland and Raja Bell is replacing him.. It is kind of surprising that Bell didn't take the easy way out and sign with LA. Maybe he couldn't bring himself to team up with Kobe after all of these years. It seems weird that the Blazers would go through all of this just to sign someone to backup Brandon Roy. They could have a nice little team in place if some of their players can stay healthy for a full season (Grandpa Greg).
The Heat's roster is about to become more concrete in the next day or two. It has been funny to watch everything play out over the last week and to watch Lebron James become public enemy number one in several cities following his DECISION. What I love about all of this is that EVERYONE is talking about the NBA right now. People that I know don't care at all about sports have been asking me frequently what I think about all of this. My opinion hasn't changed since I first heard everyone was going to Miami.
All of this makes me think we're in for one hell of a basketball season. The Heat and Lakers are obvious giants right now, with Orlando, Boston, Dallas, and even Oklahoma City not far behind. The Bulls are going to be a question make for me until they actually play a game together. I realize I should say the same for Miami, but let's not kid ourselves here. I would love to include the Rockets in this list of elite teams but I'm just not ready to yet.
Shaquille O'neal, Richard Jefferson, and Luis Scola remain on the free agent market. I still firmly believe Scola will be wearing red and white again next year.
I am pretty sure I am going to see Jimmy Cliff tonight.
The Heat's roster is about to become more concrete in the next day or two. It has been funny to watch everything play out over the last week and to watch Lebron James become public enemy number one in several cities following his DECISION. What I love about all of this is that EVERYONE is talking about the NBA right now. People that I know don't care at all about sports have been asking me frequently what I think about all of this. My opinion hasn't changed since I first heard everyone was going to Miami.
All of this makes me think we're in for one hell of a basketball season. The Heat and Lakers are obvious giants right now, with Orlando, Boston, Dallas, and even Oklahoma City not far behind. The Bulls are going to be a question make for me until they actually play a game together. I realize I should say the same for Miami, but let's not kid ourselves here. I would love to include the Rockets in this list of elite teams but I'm just not ready to yet.
Shaquille O'neal, Richard Jefferson, and Luis Scola remain on the free agent market. I still firmly believe Scola will be wearing red and white again next year.
I am pretty sure I am going to see Jimmy Cliff tonight.
7.13.2010
Brad Miller in the house
I was just thinking that I hope the Rockets use their mid level on a decent older big man. Looks like they might be getting that in Brad Miller. While I was quietly hoping for Shaq, I'll take this. If this gets finalized I will post more info on my love hate with Bad Brad.
More NBA news
Apparently Al Jefferson is on his way to Utah. For some reason, Minnesota is trying to sign another point guard in Luke Ridnour. While he's not a bad player, there's no reason for them to add another point to the mix, especially with Ricky Rubio coming over next year. I guess this should open the door for a potential Johnny Flynn trade. Minnesota will definitely be one of the three worst teams in the NBA next season. Utah won't exactly make up for Boozer's departure with the addition of A Jefferson, but it is s tart. His health will be a major concern though. The NBA's landscape continues to make exciting and drastic changes.
I am content with the lineup the Rockets will be bringing o the table to start the season. That is of course assuming they resign Luis Scola. They would also be able to add a veteran with a mid level exception contract if I'm no mistaken.
RIP George Steinbrenner.
I am content with the lineup the Rockets will be bringing o the table to start the season. That is of course assuming they resign Luis Scola. They would also be able to add a veteran with a mid level exception contract if I'm no mistaken.
RIP George Steinbrenner.
Between Earth and sky info/Alpha & Omega- Life Swallower
Trial was a band that I was very into in the late 90s. I was fortunate enough to see them twice in Buffalo and once in Syracuse. I was even more fortunate to interview Greg Bennick in Syracuse in 1999. People like him are one of the reasons why I first got into hardcore and stayed into it for as long as I have. In this day and age of "Hot Topic Hardore," it is very refreshing to see people playing hardcore with actual emotion again. Not only that, but Greg Bennick definitely takes activism to another level. If you want to get a feel for how much he has done outside of the four walls of hardcore, simply google search his name. Even I was amazed and somewhat shocked just how far he has come in the last ten years.
Between Earth and Sky is a new band featuring Greg Bennick on vocals, as well as ex-members of Catharsis, By A Thread, Gob, and Strain. With Bennicks vocals sounding similar to previous efforts, it is hard not to make the Trial comparison here. Even some of the music reminds me of them. There are a couple more melodies and less mosh than Trial though. I don't have a record player anymore, but I still intend to get this at some point. If you click that link you can also preview one of their songs. I am interested in hearing more from Band of Mercy as well.
Alpha & Omega- Life Swallower (6131)
California's Alpha & Omega are a band that kind of crept up on me. I had heard their name before, but didn't really remember hearing anything that earth shattering. When I saw them in Philly last year, I was blown away. And that was with somewhat of a scab lineup and what appeared to be an ill vocalist. I immediately picked up their Devil's Bed ep. Out today, this full length is the follow up to that ep. They seem to pick up right where they left off. Biohazard and No Warning mixed with a little bit of metal for good measure. There's a couple acoustic guitar parts on here and spoken vocal parts, which leads me to believe this band might be going completely metal at some point, which probably wouldn't be to my liking. I like the mix on this record though, it is just enough metal mixed in to keep my interest. Honestly, there's really no throw away tracks on here. Ultimately, it is the vocals that make a good hardcore band and luckily frontman Luis Hernandez has a great set of pipes. This band is about to go on tour with Bane, Cruel Hand, and Trapped Under Ice. I really want to hit up a couple of the shows in September.
Between Earth and Sky is a new band featuring Greg Bennick on vocals, as well as ex-members of Catharsis, By A Thread, Gob, and Strain. With Bennicks vocals sounding similar to previous efforts, it is hard not to make the Trial comparison here. Even some of the music reminds me of them. There are a couple more melodies and less mosh than Trial though. I don't have a record player anymore, but I still intend to get this at some point. If you click that link you can also preview one of their songs. I am interested in hearing more from Band of Mercy as well.
Alpha & Omega- Life Swallower (6131)
California's Alpha & Omega are a band that kind of crept up on me. I had heard their name before, but didn't really remember hearing anything that earth shattering. When I saw them in Philly last year, I was blown away. And that was with somewhat of a scab lineup and what appeared to be an ill vocalist. I immediately picked up their Devil's Bed ep. Out today, this full length is the follow up to that ep. They seem to pick up right where they left off. Biohazard and No Warning mixed with a little bit of metal for good measure. There's a couple acoustic guitar parts on here and spoken vocal parts, which leads me to believe this band might be going completely metal at some point, which probably wouldn't be to my liking. I like the mix on this record though, it is just enough metal mixed in to keep my interest. Honestly, there's really no throw away tracks on here. Ultimately, it is the vocals that make a good hardcore band and luckily frontman Luis Hernandez has a great set of pipes. This band is about to go on tour with Bane, Cruel Hand, and Trapped Under Ice. I really want to hit up a couple of the shows in September.
7.12.2010
David Stern just held a press conference.
Am I the only person that finds humor in the fact that the NBA holds their annual summer meetings at a casino?
Anyway, after the Sacramento Kings/Detroit Pistons game (Demarcus Cousins in the house), David Stern held a press conference to discuss what went on at said meeting, as well as to field the obvious Lebron James questions.
Highlights of the meeting:
- David Stern referring to Lebron's press conference as "illl conceived and poorly planned/executed".
- Stern making mention that the league probably will not investigate as to whether or not Miami's new dream team tampered with any rules.
- David Aldridge getting completed played by Stern, after asking how Stern felt about teams spending what he thought was over one billion dollars in "new money."
- Brian Windhorst getting "oh you're the one" after he introduces himself during the conference. Windhorst has been covering the Lebronse and also broke the Mark Cuban tampering allegation story last night.
-Deserevedly so, Dan Gilbert will be fined 100,000 for his public Lebron tirade in his letter to the fans last week.
- Stern says they a have a "long way to go and lot of time to get there" in reference to the new collective bargaining agreement. He seems optimistic about everything. It seems kind of eerie to me that the NBA is now finally just as popular as it was BEFORE the last lockout. Hopefully everything works out, there is plenty of time.
Anyway, after the Sacramento Kings/Detroit Pistons game (Demarcus Cousins in the house), David Stern held a press conference to discuss what went on at said meeting, as well as to field the obvious Lebron James questions.
Highlights of the meeting:
- David Stern referring to Lebron's press conference as "illl conceived and poorly planned/executed".
- Stern making mention that the league probably will not investigate as to whether or not Miami's new dream team tampered with any rules.
- David Aldridge getting completed played by Stern, after asking how Stern felt about teams spending what he thought was over one billion dollars in "new money."
- Brian Windhorst getting "oh you're the one" after he introduces himself during the conference. Windhorst has been covering the Lebronse and also broke the Mark Cuban tampering allegation story last night.
-Deserevedly so, Dan Gilbert will be fined 100,000 for his public Lebron tirade in his letter to the fans last week.
- Stern says they a have a "long way to go and lot of time to get there" in reference to the new collective bargaining agreement. He seems optimistic about everything. It seems kind of eerie to me that the NBA is now finally just as popular as it was BEFORE the last lockout. Hopefully everything works out, there is plenty of time.
Phoenix close to reshaping their roster.
In what is a best case scenario for both players, Josh Childress will be going to Phoenix, along with Hedo Turkoglu. Those two players (along with Hakim Warrick and Channing Frye) are going to replace Leandro Barbosa and Amare Stoudemire, or at least try to. I think Childress will put up good numbers in Phoenix, while Turkoglu should bounce back from his mistake season in Toronto. While their roster is filled out more now, I think most Phoenix fans are still upset that Amare is going to be playing his home games in New York. This combination of players might actually end up being good enough to sneak into the playoffs again, especially with the west not being as tough as in previous season. It is tough to tell at such an early stage, but Phoenix might actually have improved their roster this offseason.
Original story here...
Original story here...
7.11.2010
Two movies I'm stoked to see...
I've always been a sucker for action films. I could give you a list of some of my favorites, but yours is probably much cooler. Both of these upcoming movies I am about to mention feature some of my favorite (OLD) actors of the action variety, mixed in with some of the newer generation of tough guys and girls.
First up is The Expendables, which is due out August 13 . I remember walking by the poster to this in the theatre a while back and laughing at the ridicilously long cast of washed up action actors. While this movie clearly was made for 1997, I'll still take it in 2010 against all of this Avatar nonsense. I realize this movie will be lucky to earn a tenth the money that shit show brought in. That doesn't mean I won't be entertained for a couple hours. This movie will be a great warm up for September...
I really don't need to say anything about Machete. Anyone with access to a computer that has seen Grindhouse has been anxiously awaiting this one for quite some time. It looks like that wait will be over September 3. Danny Trejo has been all over the place over the last twenty five years in the film industry. He is mainly known for his roles in Robert Rodriguez films Desperado, From Dusk Til Dawn, and Planet Terror. He also recently had a great cameo role on the TV show Breaking Bad. Robert Rodriguez has supposedly had this role in mind for Danny Trejo ever since they shot Desperado together. The rest of this cast and the accompanying trailer make me excited at the least.
Both of these films are sure to be instant classics in the bad ass tough guy category.
First up is The Expendables, which is due out August 13 . I remember walking by the poster to this in the theatre a while back and laughing at the ridicilously long cast of washed up action actors. While this movie clearly was made for 1997, I'll still take it in 2010 against all of this Avatar nonsense. I realize this movie will be lucky to earn a tenth the money that shit show brought in. That doesn't mean I won't be entertained for a couple hours. This movie will be a great warm up for September...
I really don't need to say anything about Machete. Anyone with access to a computer that has seen Grindhouse has been anxiously awaiting this one for quite some time. It looks like that wait will be over September 3. Danny Trejo has been all over the place over the last twenty five years in the film industry. He is mainly known for his roles in Robert Rodriguez films Desperado, From Dusk Til Dawn, and Planet Terror. He also recently had a great cameo role on the TV show Breaking Bad. Robert Rodriguez has supposedly had this role in mind for Danny Trejo ever since they shot Desperado together. The rest of this cast and the accompanying trailer make me excited at the least.
Both of these films are sure to be instant classics in the bad ass tough guy category.
7.09.2010
a few smaller signings to report
Apparently, Mike Miller to the Heat isn't exactly a done deal yet. I think it will be soon. Why would you want to go anywhere else at this point?
Raymond Felton is about to sign with the Knicks. That team is slowly coming together, although i still plan to laugh out loud when I see their final roster.
Travis Outlaw signed with the Nets and Kyle Korver signed with the Bulls. I know that the Bulls got Boozer, but was this second to Lebron for both teams otherwise?
Tyrus Thomas resigned with the Bobcats. The Nets expressed interest, like they're going to with Luis Scola. I am hoping Schola resigns with my Rockets. They still need to grab another power forward somehow too.
The top free agents are now Scola, Josh Childress, Ron Brewer, Richard Jefferson, Al harrington, and JJ Redick. I bet somewhere the Nets brass are more than a little upset at their haul. They could still get Childress or Scola but I don't really see that happening unless they really overpay for one of the two players. I see the Nets keeping their cap space to sign players over the next couple seasons.
It is a little early to tell, but right now I would say that the "winners" of this offseason so far are the Lakers, Heat, Bulls, Knicks, Bucks, and Thunder. Obviously, the Heat have gained the most. The Lakers are still going to be the defending champions and Steve Blake has been one of the best, quiet acquisitions so far. The Bulls did fairly well, although they could have done better. The Knicks are bummed on missing Lebron, but they still improved to a 45 win team. The Bucks and Thunder quietly will keep improving.
In baseball news, Stephen Strasburg pitched fairly well again tonight, eight strikeouts and one run in six innings. Not bad.
Raymond Felton is about to sign with the Knicks. That team is slowly coming together, although i still plan to laugh out loud when I see their final roster.
Travis Outlaw signed with the Nets and Kyle Korver signed with the Bulls. I know that the Bulls got Boozer, but was this second to Lebron for both teams otherwise?
Tyrus Thomas resigned with the Bobcats. The Nets expressed interest, like they're going to with Luis Scola. I am hoping Schola resigns with my Rockets. They still need to grab another power forward somehow too.
The top free agents are now Scola, Josh Childress, Ron Brewer, Richard Jefferson, Al harrington, and JJ Redick. I bet somewhere the Nets brass are more than a little upset at their haul. They could still get Childress or Scola but I don't really see that happening unless they really overpay for one of the two players. I see the Nets keeping their cap space to sign players over the next couple seasons.
It is a little early to tell, but right now I would say that the "winners" of this offseason so far are the Lakers, Heat, Bulls, Knicks, Bucks, and Thunder. Obviously, the Heat have gained the most. The Lakers are still going to be the defending champions and Steve Blake has been one of the best, quiet acquisitions so far. The Bulls did fairly well, although they could have done better. The Knicks are bummed on missing Lebron, but they still improved to a 45 win team. The Bucks and Thunder quietly will keep improving.
In baseball news, Stephen Strasburg pitched fairly well again tonight, eight strikeouts and one run in six innings. Not bad.
RIOTFEST CHICAGO
I really like the lineup for this festival, several bands that have meant a lot to me at various points in my life will be making appearances. I usually bail on events like this and I can't imagine this being any different. Midwest people should definitely take note though.
LOL
YANKEES SUCK!!!
I really hope another team steps up and makes a better offer for Cliff Lee. It would be unfair for the Yanks to get him.
Lebron fallout
I hope all of this is the last I will mention of all this free agency drama, but only time will tell.
As you have probably heard by now, Dan Gilbert issued an open letter to Cavs fans shortly after Lebron's reality tv special was over last night. Here is the letter. I would now like to rip this letter step by step.
"...who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening"
Cheap shot number one from Mr. Gilbert. If I was 25 and my options were to stay in Cleveland or go down to Miami with my best friends I would make the same exact decision. Hell, this team makes ME want to move down to SOBE at some point in the next year or two.
"You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal."
Actually, you do. I have been comparing Kevin Garnett to Lebron for about eight hours now and I will probably continue to do so for the rest of the summer. He was stuck in a very similar situation for a few more seasons. I don't blame Lebron for not wanting that to happen to him.
"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE
You can take it to the bank. "
Who exactly does Gilbert plan on acquiring with his spare parts on his roster? They have less than ten million to work with under the salary cap and no player is going to want to play there now. I know it is good to be optimistic but I don't think you should be publicly lying to your franchise on the night it's biggest superstar ever just walked.
"Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.
Sorry, but that's simply not how it works."
Ok, first off why is Gilbert trying to connect all of this spirituality nonsense with this Lebron thing? Who made him God?
"This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become."
I think he is trying to say that we should teach our children to make as much money as possible, but never to worry about your own happiness and to make competing secondary. In a sport where you are defined by how many titles you win, Lebron decided to go somewhere where he will make a little bit less money, but more than likely win plenty of titles. Maybe if Cleveland could have acquired someone of the likes of Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Kevin Garnett, or Ray Allen, none of this would have happened. Instead, the running mates they acquired for him included Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace (not playing like Ben Wallace for the most part), Delonte West (who supposedly banged Lebron's mom), Mo Williams, Anthony Parker, Antwan Jamison, and an old Shaq. While Jamison and Williams are good players, neither is someone I would build a championship roster around.
"Sleep well, Cleveland.
Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day.... "
Sorry, but this is also not true. Cleveland fans are in for a long bumpy ride now.
One other thing I would like to make commentary on is the fact that Dan Gilbert is saying that Lebron quit during the playoffs the last two seasons. I would love to give a long winded tirade about Delonte West, Lebron's elbow, playing over 100 games per season (Olympics and Playoffs included), and the Celtics being a great team, but I don't have to do all of that. It is simple. If Lebron quit on the team during the playoffs at any point, why would you want to give him $128 million for six more seasons and keep him as the face of the city? Why were you going to try to get Chris Bosh as his running mate? Winning doesn't matter to you, money does! I say, the Cavs are completely in the wrong in all of this and Lebron is a genius for leaving. The only thing he did wrong was publicly drive the stake through Cleveland's heart. Now that I know what a prick Dan Gilbert is though, I am GLAD he did things the way he did.
Again, these are just highlights and I want to see the whole games again now, but I don't see how Lebron could've "quit" in those other games.
I hope to not make any more mentioning of Dan Gilbert this summer, but we will see what happens. I can say that Cleveland has yet to make any moves since all the statements were issued. Miami has already signed Mike Miller. Miami will be filling this roster with decent players, minimum salary be damned.
With Michael Beasley in Miami now, you know Al Jefferson will be getting traded soon. I think teams will hold out until his value goes down even more, now that all GMs know about Minnesota's crowded frontcourt.
In the next couple days, I will write about the idea of Shaq and Tm Duncan on the same team, at the same time. I don't care how old they are, you better be fouling them whenever you get the chance.
7.08.2010
Finally
We can go back to normal sports programming. Well all of us except those of you in Cleveland that haven't killed yourselves yet. Cleveland has already issued a statement. We all know that Miami is going to be a force next season, but what is going to happen to the Cavs now? They have little to no cap space to work with and a bunch of crappy spare parts in Antawn Jamison, Anderson Varejao, Daniel Gibson, Delonte West, and the like. They will be one of the worst teams in the eastern conference next season. Everyone is talking trash on Lebron for doing this but I really honestly don't blame him. Players are defined by championships and Lebron was never going to win one in Cleveland. Everyone is already ordaining the Heat as this championship team. I think the Lakers, Magic, and Celtics will all have things to say about that next season. All of this also depends on what Miami fills those other seven or eight roster spots with as well.
David Lee is going to Golden State afterall. The few Knicks fans I have talked to so far hate this trade. Read my post earlier for my thoughts on it. I'd rather get a prospect in Randolph than nothing for Lee at this point. What do i know though.
Ryan Gomes to the Clippers...
Not many players are left. I will leave you for now with the obvious video...
David Lee is going to Golden State afterall. The few Knicks fans I have talked to so far hate this trade. Read my post earlier for my thoughts on it. I'd rather get a prospect in Randolph than nothing for Lee at this point. What do i know though.
Ryan Gomes to the Clippers...
Not many players are left. I will leave you for now with the obvious video...
What do you get when you combine Avery Johnson, Jay-Z, and some Russian tycoon?
NO BIG NAME FREE AGENTS!!!!!?!??!?!?!?! When they put up that billboard last week, I thought for certain that the Nets would get at least one top tier free agent. These thoughts were confirmed once again when they took project Derrick Favors with the third overall pick. Now cut to a little over a week later, and the Nets haven't added anyone else to their roster. Now with Carlos Boozer gone to Chicago and Lebron all but gone to SOBE, it looks as if the Nets are going to be the team that will be left scrambling for the free agent remains of David Lee, Luis Scola, Josh Childress, Tyrus Thomas, Raymond Felton, Ron Brewer, Brendan Haywood, Al Harrington, Mike Miller, Travis Outlaw, Kyle Korver, Shaq, and Richard Jefferson. I would imagine a lot of these players eyes are lighting up at the idea of New Jersey, Minnesota, or the Clippers paying them more than what they are worth. I also expect Dallas and Houston to make some moves via sign and trade still.
Most diehards already know about the salary cap being two million higher than originally anticipated. Most of you also know that this will only make it easier for the Heat to add Lebron to the mix. A few years ago, I would have created a team like this in NBA Live and it simply would not have been fair. It still will not be. I still don't know if they are better than the Lakers though. They still have about seven spots to fill if Lebron decides to go down to Miami. At this point Lebron's best option would be the Bulls. That would be a well balanced team, without having to worry about the egos (like in Miami). You would already have a good point guard in Derrick Rose, an improving big man in Joakim Noah, as well as the addition of rebounding machine Carlos Boozer. This team really wouldn't be all that fair, either. I would love to see Lebron go to a team where he still has to do some work to get to the finals. Going to the Nets or Knicks or staying with the Cavs would all provide these scenarios. It would appear as though he is now going to the Heat though. It is very funny to look back at what I've predicted, as well as what everyone else has predicted in the last week. I've gone from thinking he was staying with the Cavs, to the Nets, to the Bulls, to the Mavs, to the Heat, back to the Bulls, to the Knicks, and now I'm finally sold on him going to the Heat, but the Knicks and Cavs are still in the hunt. The salary cap reduction was the final piece of the puzzle for me. I know it's not a lot when we're already talking about signing players for upwards of 20mil a piece anyway, but an extra two mil will help the Heat sign another veteran player. Also, anyone notice how lower level players like Jared Dudley, Charlie Villanueva, and Dejuan Blair have been tweeting that Lebron is going to the Knicks? And what does Ochocinco know?
Lebron is obviously dominating the wires today, but David Lee's name has come up in rumors again. David Lee has always been a good, one dimensional player in my book. He will fit in perfectly in Golden State, where they might actually be one of the few teams to play LESS D than the Knicks. I'm still not totally sold on Anthony Randolph as a player, although getting him out of Don Nelson's camp is a good start. I absolutely love the idea of Ronny Turiaf in a Knicks jersey. I can imagine him quickly becoming a garden fan favorite. He would provide adequate backup minutes to Amare and they could even play alongside at times to make a killer offense/defense combo. They still will need a point guard and I am sure they will be bummed about not getting Lebron. At some point you have to move on and take what you can get though. Knicks fans will have to wait a little longer I guess.
Jermaine O'neal to the Celtics? That team is going to be crippled this year. Luke Harangody might actually get a chance to continue what he is doing in summer league play.
More updates, photos, and reviews will be posted later today. It is going to be insanely hot on the east coast again today. I will probably spend the whole day indoors again. I am sure all of these free agent soap operas will keep me busy.
Most diehards already know about the salary cap being two million higher than originally anticipated. Most of you also know that this will only make it easier for the Heat to add Lebron to the mix. A few years ago, I would have created a team like this in NBA Live and it simply would not have been fair. It still will not be. I still don't know if they are better than the Lakers though. They still have about seven spots to fill if Lebron decides to go down to Miami. At this point Lebron's best option would be the Bulls. That would be a well balanced team, without having to worry about the egos (like in Miami). You would already have a good point guard in Derrick Rose, an improving big man in Joakim Noah, as well as the addition of rebounding machine Carlos Boozer. This team really wouldn't be all that fair, either. I would love to see Lebron go to a team where he still has to do some work to get to the finals. Going to the Nets or Knicks or staying with the Cavs would all provide these scenarios. It would appear as though he is now going to the Heat though. It is very funny to look back at what I've predicted, as well as what everyone else has predicted in the last week. I've gone from thinking he was staying with the Cavs, to the Nets, to the Bulls, to the Mavs, to the Heat, back to the Bulls, to the Knicks, and now I'm finally sold on him going to the Heat, but the Knicks and Cavs are still in the hunt. The salary cap reduction was the final piece of the puzzle for me. I know it's not a lot when we're already talking about signing players for upwards of 20mil a piece anyway, but an extra two mil will help the Heat sign another veteran player. Also, anyone notice how lower level players like Jared Dudley, Charlie Villanueva, and Dejuan Blair have been tweeting that Lebron is going to the Knicks? And what does Ochocinco know?
Lebron is obviously dominating the wires today, but David Lee's name has come up in rumors again. David Lee has always been a good, one dimensional player in my book. He will fit in perfectly in Golden State, where they might actually be one of the few teams to play LESS D than the Knicks. I'm still not totally sold on Anthony Randolph as a player, although getting him out of Don Nelson's camp is a good start. I absolutely love the idea of Ronny Turiaf in a Knicks jersey. I can imagine him quickly becoming a garden fan favorite. He would provide adequate backup minutes to Amare and they could even play alongside at times to make a killer offense/defense combo. They still will need a point guard and I am sure they will be bummed about not getting Lebron. At some point you have to move on and take what you can get though. Knicks fans will have to wait a little longer I guess.
Jermaine O'neal to the Celtics? That team is going to be crippled this year. Luke Harangody might actually get a chance to continue what he is doing in summer league play.
More updates, photos, and reviews will be posted later today. It is going to be insanely hot on the east coast again today. I will probably spend the whole day indoors again. I am sure all of these free agent soap operas will keep me busy.
7.07.2010
Now that Carlos Boozer has joined the Bulls...
Is Lebron the next piece of the puzzle? Everywhere you look you get a different report, but I think it's down to New York and Cleveland, although this deal makes me wonder about Chicago again. This has been the most ridiculous year of rumors and roller coaster rides from LBJ and it would be kind of ridiculous if he does all of this just to remain in Cleveland. The New Jersey Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and and LA Clippers all have yet to use their cap space to lure in any free agents. After this, only David Lee, Luis Scola, and Ray Allen will remain for top tier free agents. Josh Childress has become a real wild card in recent days. He will be able to cash in on one of these teams with remaining cap space.
Even if they don't sign Lebron at this point, the Bulls will be a much improved team. The addition of Carlos Boozer will only make things easier for improving center Joakim Noah. If they can add a shooter like Ray Allen, or even Mike Miller or Anthony Morrow, this team will be able to run all over team.
For Utah, this was kind of a foregone conclusion for a long time anyway. Boozer had links to either the Bulls or Heat long before the free agency period kicked off. While it is a tremendous loss, Jazz fans shouldn't give up all hope just yet. Paul Millsap will be a serviceable replacement and AK47's contract comes off the books at the end of this season. Plus they still have top point guard Deron Williams. This team is more than capable of still competing for 45-50 wins.
The Oklahoma City Thunder quietly continue to build one of the best rosters in the NBA.
If everything I have heard and read today is true, the best remaining free agents are Lebron James, Luis Scola, David Lee, Ray Allen, Josh Childress, and Shaq. I really am starting to wonder what the Knicks are going to do if they don't get Lebron. Having Amare is a good starting point, but it doesn't even guarantee them a spot in the playoffs.
Seriously, all of this Lebron hype is starting to get ridiculous.
I saw Jesus Montero and Ivan Nova play for the Yankees Triple A Farm team this week. I can't express enough how much of a nerd I have become about baseball again. I even got Matt Fox's autograph at the second game I went to! Anyway, Montero only played in one of the two and obioiusly Nova only pitched the one game. I can see why the Yankees are taking their time with bringing Jesus Montero up to the bigs. He is still a very young, raw catcher. Not only that, but they obviously already have Francisco Cervelli waiting in the wings as well. IF Montero gets everything together, the Yankees brass will have a problem on their hands in a couple seasons.
Ivan Nova appears almost ready to join the Yankees roster. While their rotation doesn't have a lot of room, he could be very valuable out of the bullpen later in the season. He can throw hard and he did strike out nine batters in 6 and 2/3 innings here. He does however still possess some control problems, as there was four walks to go along with those nine stikeouts. If he can work on his control, Nova could be a good third or fourth starter in a couple years.
This was my first time seeing Pat Neshek in person as well. Unfortunately, he didn't make veganism look too good the night I saw him pitch. He gave up a home run and just really didnt't seem to have it. I really hope he regains his 2006 form at some point. This might have been Wilson Ramos' last series in Rochester. A lot of reports have him linked to Seattle in a possible Cliff Lee trade. It would be good for him to get out of Minnesota's organization.
Tomorrow I am going to post up reviews of the new Roots and Alpha & Omega records, as well as the obvious Lebron nonsense..
Even if they don't sign Lebron at this point, the Bulls will be a much improved team. The addition of Carlos Boozer will only make things easier for improving center Joakim Noah. If they can add a shooter like Ray Allen, or even Mike Miller or Anthony Morrow, this team will be able to run all over team.
For Utah, this was kind of a foregone conclusion for a long time anyway. Boozer had links to either the Bulls or Heat long before the free agency period kicked off. While it is a tremendous loss, Jazz fans shouldn't give up all hope just yet. Paul Millsap will be a serviceable replacement and AK47's contract comes off the books at the end of this season. Plus they still have top point guard Deron Williams. This team is more than capable of still competing for 45-50 wins.
The Oklahoma City Thunder quietly continue to build one of the best rosters in the NBA.
If everything I have heard and read today is true, the best remaining free agents are Lebron James, Luis Scola, David Lee, Ray Allen, Josh Childress, and Shaq. I really am starting to wonder what the Knicks are going to do if they don't get Lebron. Having Amare is a good starting point, but it doesn't even guarantee them a spot in the playoffs.
Seriously, all of this Lebron hype is starting to get ridiculous.
I saw Jesus Montero and Ivan Nova play for the Yankees Triple A Farm team this week. I can't express enough how much of a nerd I have become about baseball again. I even got Matt Fox's autograph at the second game I went to! Anyway, Montero only played in one of the two and obioiusly Nova only pitched the one game. I can see why the Yankees are taking their time with bringing Jesus Montero up to the bigs. He is still a very young, raw catcher. Not only that, but they obviously already have Francisco Cervelli waiting in the wings as well. IF Montero gets everything together, the Yankees brass will have a problem on their hands in a couple seasons.
Ivan Nova appears almost ready to join the Yankees roster. While their rotation doesn't have a lot of room, he could be very valuable out of the bullpen later in the season. He can throw hard and he did strike out nine batters in 6 and 2/3 innings here. He does however still possess some control problems, as there was four walks to go along with those nine stikeouts. If he can work on his control, Nova could be a good third or fourth starter in a couple years.
This was my first time seeing Pat Neshek in person as well. Unfortunately, he didn't make veganism look too good the night I saw him pitch. He gave up a home run and just really didnt't seem to have it. I really hope he regains his 2006 form at some point. This might have been Wilson Ramos' last series in Rochester. A lot of reports have him linked to Seattle in a possible Cliff Lee trade. It would be good for him to get out of Minnesota's organization.
Tomorrow I am going to post up reviews of the new Roots and Alpha & Omega records, as well as the obvious Lebron nonsense..
Post-Holiday updates
It was a long holiday weekend and I didn't really feel much need to post the same old NBA rumors and nonsense. Honestly, some of this free agent drama has been a bit much for even me this year. When media outlets make a big deal out of Lebron James signing up for twitter, I think we clearly have a problem.
At first when I heard Lebron was going to make his announcement on ESPN at 9PM tomorrow night, I thought it was just another ridiculous episode in the soap opera has been the 2010 free agency period. At least I know we are nearing the end of all this. Most experts seem to think Lebron is now going to either the Bulls or Knicks, with the Heat and Cavs still in the picture. I would still love to see him go to the Nets. I don't think that Heat team would be fair. I hate the Bulls and Knicks so I don't want to see him go to either team. Cleveland would be really upset if he were to leave, but I don't think he would go through all of this drama just to say he wanted to stay there all along. I hope a wild card team like Dallas or Houston steps up with a sign and trade today.
ESPN has reported that Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade will sign with the Miami Heat. This doesn't come as a major surprise, although it does bring a mild conflict to the whole Bosh/Lebron pairing. Very few people seem to think that all three of these players would be able to coexist together. I just don't think it would work financially. They would have to sign about five or six minimum salary players. Either way, Miami is going to be a very competitive team for at least the next five seasons.
I could see Carlos Boozer teaming back up with Lebron in Chicago or Cleveland. I don't see why the Knicks want to sign Boozer now. Teaming him up with Amare would seem weird, although i guess anything is possible in Mike D'antoni's system. Raymond Felton had been linked to the Knicks as of late.
David Lee is quickly going to become one of the most sought after free agents if he isn't signed by tomorrow. If the Bulls and Nets don't end up with any other marquee free agents, I expect them to offer David Lee big money. Same goes for Ray Allen.
I really hope the Rockets make some noise. They have done nothing so far. At least keep Luis Scola.
At first when I heard Lebron was going to make his announcement on ESPN at 9PM tomorrow night, I thought it was just another ridiculous episode in the soap opera has been the 2010 free agency period. At least I know we are nearing the end of all this. Most experts seem to think Lebron is now going to either the Bulls or Knicks, with the Heat and Cavs still in the picture. I would still love to see him go to the Nets. I don't think that Heat team would be fair. I hate the Bulls and Knicks so I don't want to see him go to either team. Cleveland would be really upset if he were to leave, but I don't think he would go through all of this drama just to say he wanted to stay there all along. I hope a wild card team like Dallas or Houston steps up with a sign and trade today.
ESPN has reported that Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade will sign with the Miami Heat. This doesn't come as a major surprise, although it does bring a mild conflict to the whole Bosh/Lebron pairing. Very few people seem to think that all three of these players would be able to coexist together. I just don't think it would work financially. They would have to sign about five or six minimum salary players. Either way, Miami is going to be a very competitive team for at least the next five seasons.
I could see Carlos Boozer teaming back up with Lebron in Chicago or Cleveland. I don't see why the Knicks want to sign Boozer now. Teaming him up with Amare would seem weird, although i guess anything is possible in Mike D'antoni's system. Raymond Felton had been linked to the Knicks as of late.
David Lee is quickly going to become one of the most sought after free agents if he isn't signed by tomorrow. If the Bulls and Nets don't end up with any other marquee free agents, I expect them to offer David Lee big money. Same goes for Ray Allen.
I really hope the Rockets make some noise. They have done nothing so far. At least keep Luis Scola.
7.02.2010
Apologies to all Knicks fans.
I may have spoken to soon about you not getting any good players in free agency. I still don't see Lebron going there, but it looks like Amare might be headed there.. If they can secure Amare, this could potentially be huge for the Knicks. This would give them a presence in the paint and they would still have enough money for a few other decent players to pair alongside Stoudemire. I don't know that Hakim Warrick and Channing Frye will be able to adequately replace Amare, but I guess Phoenix has to try and start somewhere. Even though I've always considered Phoenix to be a bitter rival, a big part of me will be sad to see this Phoenix team finally split up and start over. I bet Steve Nash is wishing he was able to sign on with Mike D'Antoni now, too. Aside from this slight curveball, this free agency is going according to plan.
It is ridiculous to think that these players will be making 15-20 million each to play basketball next season. I think Rudy Gay has the most to live up to out of all those players. I understand Memphis wanting to keep him locked up, but 80 million over five years? Now they have to hope this team pans out this season. I still think they could be one piece shy of that.
Apparently, Lebron is supposed to make his big decision this weekend. I still hope it involves the Houston Rockets. I doubt it will though. I just hope he goes anywhere other than the Bulls or Knicks. I like the Nets and Mavs most out of his potential suitors, but I know the Bulls and Cavs have the best odds. I am sure you will be able to hear the entire state of Ohio breathe a gigantic sigh of relief if he chooses to stay there. They are moving in the right direction with Byron Scott.
I think Chris Bosh will make his decision last out of the big three. Carlos Boozer, David Lee, and Josh Childress (missed that fro for too long) are going to quickly become hot commodities for teams that don't get one of the big name free agents.
Does Steve Blake signing on with the Lakers mean Derek Fisher isn't returning? That would be a deeo team with Fisher.
It is ridiculous to think that these players will be making 15-20 million each to play basketball next season. I think Rudy Gay has the most to live up to out of all those players. I understand Memphis wanting to keep him locked up, but 80 million over five years? Now they have to hope this team pans out this season. I still think they could be one piece shy of that.
Apparently, Lebron is supposed to make his big decision this weekend. I still hope it involves the Houston Rockets. I doubt it will though. I just hope he goes anywhere other than the Bulls or Knicks. I like the Nets and Mavs most out of his potential suitors, but I know the Bulls and Cavs have the best odds. I am sure you will be able to hear the entire state of Ohio breathe a gigantic sigh of relief if he chooses to stay there. They are moving in the right direction with Byron Scott.
I think Chris Bosh will make his decision last out of the big three. Carlos Boozer, David Lee, and Josh Childress (missed that fro for too long) are going to quickly become hot commodities for teams that don't get one of the big name free agents.
Does Steve Blake signing on with the Lakers mean Derek Fisher isn't returning? That would be a deeo team with Fisher.
7.01.2010
Free agency has opened
Eight hours into the period, I have noticed two trends about the summer of 2010 already. It appears as though a lot of the marquee players are going to stay (Joe Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, John Salmons, and Tyrus Thomas are all working on new deals already). Judging by what most analysts are saying, my judgement of the Knicks has been right all along. You completely clear your roster and now you have little to no talent to pair these superstars with. Yeah you can sign two of them, but what then? I have said all along and I'm standing by the statement that I doubt the Knicks really land any big names this month. For a minute there, it looked like Joe Johnson might end up in the Big Apple. Now it looks like he will be one of the first big names to resign. If most of the big names remain with their teams, the Knicks will be scrambling to try to get Lebron or Amare, two players who I also could see staying with their teams.
It doesn't appear like this is going to really take very long at all. In fact, I think by Monday a lot of the smoke will have cleared. Of course, that still leaves players three days to change their mind.
It looks like the Cavs are getting Byron Scott instead of Brian Shaw. Is Chris Paul a part of this process and do they immediately begin recruiting Lebron to stay?
The Celtics are keeping Doc Rivers. I think that means most of their big three stays intact, although I could see Ray Allen accepting a larger offer elsewhere.
Drew Gooden has been scooped up by the Milwaukee Bucks. I am liking this team more and more by the day, as they are quietly adding depth in all of the right spots. That is going to be a good team again this year.
The Rockets reached out to Chris Bosh as free agency kicked off. What is really amazing to me is that they appear to be the first team to have met with him. Whether or not the Rockets can acquire Bosh, Joe Johnson, or Amare Stoudemire is still up in the air. Either way, there are a lot of reasons to look forward to the next couple seasons as a Rockets fan. First, Yao Ming should be back at some point this season. Not only that, but if he gets hurt again, this is the last year we have to deal with that. With all that talent though, I really hope he plays a full season this year. Give him a day off every seven to ten days! Also, this will be the first full season featuring Kevin Martin in this lineup. Let's not forget that Houston gets the Knicks first round pick the next two seasons too.
More updates to come later, today..
It doesn't appear like this is going to really take very long at all. In fact, I think by Monday a lot of the smoke will have cleared. Of course, that still leaves players three days to change their mind.
It looks like the Cavs are getting Byron Scott instead of Brian Shaw. Is Chris Paul a part of this process and do they immediately begin recruiting Lebron to stay?
The Celtics are keeping Doc Rivers. I think that means most of their big three stays intact, although I could see Ray Allen accepting a larger offer elsewhere.
Drew Gooden has been scooped up by the Milwaukee Bucks. I am liking this team more and more by the day, as they are quietly adding depth in all of the right spots. That is going to be a good team again this year.
The Rockets reached out to Chris Bosh as free agency kicked off. What is really amazing to me is that they appear to be the first team to have met with him. Whether or not the Rockets can acquire Bosh, Joe Johnson, or Amare Stoudemire is still up in the air. Either way, there are a lot of reasons to look forward to the next couple seasons as a Rockets fan. First, Yao Ming should be back at some point this season. Not only that, but if he gets hurt again, this is the last year we have to deal with that. With all that talent though, I really hope he plays a full season this year. Give him a day off every seven to ten days! Also, this will be the first full season featuring Kevin Martin in this lineup. Let's not forget that Houston gets the Knicks first round pick the next two seasons too.
More updates to come later, today..
6.30.2010
Forked Tongues/ Free Agency kickoff/Survival of the Dead
I went to the Such Gold show last night. It was really hot and I was really dizzy for some reason so I only stayed for Forked Tongues. If it hasn't rained yet, further evidence is outside some place next to Heat aka Soho(s). I wish I would've thrown up right on the door to that place, but I wasn't thinking about it at the time. Anyway, it would be really thoughtful of Dub Land to get an AC or maybe even a fan. Just sayin...
I only really saw Forked Tongues so I can't really comment on any of the other bands unfortunately. They were really good though. If you haven't heard them yet, check out their myspace It is great to see kids checking them out. I've known Dave and Chris for quite a while now and I know they put a lot of hard work into all of their music so it's good to see them get their due in Rochester finally. Their sound is a lot darker than their previous bands, and definitely heavier. The kids definitely eat it up though. Keep it up guys, good things are coming!
-The NBA's free agency period officially kicks off in 15 hours and I will be looking into ANY available information between now and training camp.
Lebron rumors are EVERYWHERE. It seems like every one has a theory for him to end up on the Heat, Bulls, Cavs, Knicks, Nets, Mavs, and Rockets. And of course the Rockets is my own personal dream theory. I still think the Bulls and Heat are his most likely destinations, with the Nets and Mavs picking up steam. The Nets trading Yi yesterday pulls them just about even with the Heat, depending on who you believe. What will happen if Lebron, Wade, and Bosh all end up on the same team? Will they be able to coexist? How many championships would that three be the centerpiece for?
I've never thought that Dwyane Wade was going to leave Miami. He is more than likely going to add a couple of the marquee free agents to his team. I would expect that to be a power forward and a wing player. I don't like the pairing of him with Lebron, but I know they will pursue that rout if given the opportunity.
Chris Bosh is in no way, shape, or form returning to Toronto this season. A lot of people expect him to pair with Lebron or Dwyane Wade, or both. I expect to see him on the Heat, Bulls, or Knicks next season. I hope houston makes a strong push for him though.
Once you get through the big three, there is Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, Carloz Boozer, Rudy Gay, David Lee, Ray Allen, John Salmons, Luis Scola, Brendan Haywood, Richard Jefferson, Ronnie Brewer, Tyrus Thomas, Raymond Felton, Al Harrington, and Brian Scalabrine.
Paul Pierce has officially added his name to the list of players that will become available in the morning. I would retire a Celtic if I were him. While I do think he might just be testing the waters, an offer might get made that the Celtics choose to refuse. This is quickly turning into Rajon Rondo's team. This team might end up losing a lot this summer.
I've always liked the idea of Joe Johnson STAYING in Atlanta, but that doesn't seem all that likely with the offers he is about to field. If anyone else offers him a max contract, I doubt he will go to New York. Unfortunately, Johnson will be the best free agent the Knicks get a response from and thus he will get their max offer. Other options still include the Heat and Bulls. If Bosh and Lebron go to Miami, I think Johnson is almost a lock to the Bulls. The Rockets and Mavs also could make some noise via sign and trade.
I've said all along I doubt Dirk will go anywhere else, However if Amare leaves Phoenix, they could make an offer for an interesting reunion between Dirk and Steve Nash.
I would like to see Amare Stoudemire stay in Phoenix so they can build on what they have. They will need to pay him very well in order to do that. The Knicks, Nets, Heat, and Bulls all could still make a pitch for his services.
I know Utah wants to keep Carlos Boozer, but as with Joe Johnson in Atlanta, I doubt they will want to match a max offer. The Knicks and Nets will likely be able to have the flexibility to do this and this is where I think he will end up. The Bulls remain a strong option too.
At this point if the Bulls, Heat, Nets, and Knicks don't each have two of those eight players, they will begin to scramble a bit at the second tier of free agents. I don't see any immediate movement with this group of players so I'll speculate more on that later.
Last weekend, I went to see Survival of the Dead at the Dryden. I am not usually a fan of zombie or horror movies for that matter, but I feel a certain amount of respect is owed to George Romero. I'm not sure what the deal with his last couple movies has been, a lot of short run/straight to video. Most people I told I was going to or had seen this movie had no idea it was even released. As I mentioned before, these kind of movies aren't usually my bag. I did however find myself entertained throughout most of the movie. Some of the "zombie kills" were very creative and entertaining to say the least (was that a mushroom or someone's head slicing in half?). The characters also use a lot of funny, overly cheesy one liners left and right. And there is definitely a "Samuel L. Jackson in Deep Blue Sea" moment in this movie. Of course, the finale had me feeling like I was playing Left 4 Dead. Against other zombie movies, I would give this a decent review, as I was entertained all the way to the end.
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6.28.2010
Vinnie Paz, Grave Maker
I finally posted a couple more record reviews! This is the closest I will ever get to doing a fanzine again. Speaking of which, I wouldn't mind archiving some old TRP issues on here at some point.
Vinnie Paz- Season of the Assassin (Babygrande/ Enemy Soil )
Philadelphia's Jedi Mind Tricks and (from all over) Army of the Pharaohs have been part of the soundtrack to my life for most of the last decade. Most of that has revolved around Vinnie Paz's rugged lyrical style. Whether it is due to the intense lifestyle or the heavy metal/hardcore influence, Paz's voice has gotten more and more rugged with each release. The subject matter has almost always stayed violent and angry throughout. I guess that's one way of getting out your frustration. On his debut solo release, Paz displays his versatility as a rapper. On the opening track "Beautiful Love" I am reminded of why I became obsessed with Jedi Mind Tricks As Vinnie says himself on the track: "I'm just giving the fans another anthem, this is just another example of my expansion." That basically sums up this whole record for me. While he is still always developing as a lyricist, it is good to see Paz still kill it on a tight beat. He also goes off like this on the joint "Righteous Kill." Produced by Lord Finesse and Davel "Bo" McKenzie, this is one of the tightest beat on the record. My only complaint about this record is that there's 21 tracks on this record and no interludes. I would have been happy with 16. Twelve of those tracks feature an eclectic bunch of guest appearances. Aside from his usual go to guys (Ill Bill, R.A. The Rugged Man, Demoz, Block McCloud), there are a few appearance that are somewhat surprising (Freeway, Clipse, Beanie Sigel, and Paul Wall). My favorite Paz verse of all the collabo cuts is on the track "Street Wars." Other producers featured on this record include DJ Muggs, Madlib, Shuko, Bronze Nazareth, DC The Midi Alien, Fizzy Womack (of the World Famous M-O-Fuckin-P!), Da Beatminerz, and 4th Disciple.
I really enjoyed this record, more than the last two Jedi Mind Tricks and at as much as Legacy of Blood. All of the heavy hitters on this record really make me excited to hear another JMT record. Check out the video, and tell me the guest appearance at the end isn't ill (one legged army dude...). That makes me feel even dumber for not going to Buffalo tonight.
Grave Maker- Ghosts Among Men ( Victory Records)
Hailing from the Northwest on their second LP and Victory Records debut, Grave Maker really rip it up. Of course when you play a style like this you know you aren't going to breaking any new ground. But I will always have a place in my mind for a band that plays good traditional hardcore. Most of my musician friends that don't like hardcore will call this an easy task, but I like to think differently. So many hardcore bands come and go but very few can actually have staying power. Bands like Terror, Bane, Madball, Sick of It All, and the like have been able to stick around mostly for the same reason. I'm not saying Grave Maker is in that class of hardcore bands yet, but I do think that bands like them and Trapped Under Ice can carry that torch far into the future. This album is twelve tracks of well produced, well written hardcore. They have all the chant sing alongs, the mosh parts, and the good fast parts that you need from a band like this. What sets this band apart from a lot of other current hardcore bands is the songwriting and the musicianship. This isn't just another run of the mill borecore band. I still have yet to see this band live yet and they are even playing in Buffalo tonight with Terror! I plan to see them at some point before this year is over.
Vinnie Paz- Season of the Assassin (Babygrande/ Enemy Soil )
Philadelphia's Jedi Mind Tricks and (from all over) Army of the Pharaohs have been part of the soundtrack to my life for most of the last decade. Most of that has revolved around Vinnie Paz's rugged lyrical style. Whether it is due to the intense lifestyle or the heavy metal/hardcore influence, Paz's voice has gotten more and more rugged with each release. The subject matter has almost always stayed violent and angry throughout. I guess that's one way of getting out your frustration. On his debut solo release, Paz displays his versatility as a rapper. On the opening track "Beautiful Love" I am reminded of why I became obsessed with Jedi Mind Tricks As Vinnie says himself on the track: "I'm just giving the fans another anthem, this is just another example of my expansion." That basically sums up this whole record for me. While he is still always developing as a lyricist, it is good to see Paz still kill it on a tight beat. He also goes off like this on the joint "Righteous Kill." Produced by Lord Finesse and Davel "Bo" McKenzie, this is one of the tightest beat on the record. My only complaint about this record is that there's 21 tracks on this record and no interludes. I would have been happy with 16. Twelve of those tracks feature an eclectic bunch of guest appearances. Aside from his usual go to guys (Ill Bill, R.A. The Rugged Man, Demoz, Block McCloud), there are a few appearance that are somewhat surprising (Freeway, Clipse, Beanie Sigel, and Paul Wall). My favorite Paz verse of all the collabo cuts is on the track "Street Wars." Other producers featured on this record include DJ Muggs, Madlib, Shuko, Bronze Nazareth, DC The Midi Alien, Fizzy Womack (of the World Famous M-O-Fuckin-P!), Da Beatminerz, and 4th Disciple.
I really enjoyed this record, more than the last two Jedi Mind Tricks and at as much as Legacy of Blood. All of the heavy hitters on this record really make me excited to hear another JMT record. Check out the video, and tell me the guest appearance at the end isn't ill (one legged army dude...). That makes me feel even dumber for not going to Buffalo tonight.
Grave Maker- Ghosts Among Men ( Victory Records)
Hailing from the Northwest on their second LP and Victory Records debut, Grave Maker really rip it up. Of course when you play a style like this you know you aren't going to breaking any new ground. But I will always have a place in my mind for a band that plays good traditional hardcore. Most of my musician friends that don't like hardcore will call this an easy task, but I like to think differently. So many hardcore bands come and go but very few can actually have staying power. Bands like Terror, Bane, Madball, Sick of It All, and the like have been able to stick around mostly for the same reason. I'm not saying Grave Maker is in that class of hardcore bands yet, but I do think that bands like them and Trapped Under Ice can carry that torch far into the future. This album is twelve tracks of well produced, well written hardcore. They have all the chant sing alongs, the mosh parts, and the good fast parts that you need from a band like this. What sets this band apart from a lot of other current hardcore bands is the songwriting and the musicianship. This isn't just another run of the mill borecore band. I still have yet to see this band live yet and they are even playing in Buffalo tonight with Terror! I plan to see them at some point before this year is over.
FA Madness V. 2
Less than three days until the free agency period kicks off, news around The Association is starting to heat up. I still don't think some of these big names are really going to go anywhere at the end of the day, but it will be interesting to see all the outlandish rumors sprout up this week.
As a diehard Rockets fan, I feel the need to get these rumors out there first. First off, Chris Bosh. Pair him with Joe Johnson (??!!!!) and a healthy Yao Ming? I don't know if they can keep Aaron Brooks around for all of this, but Houston would suddenly become a force in the West again. Of course, Bosh and Johnson will probably end up elsewhere, but it's nice to hope for this for a few days. One thing I haven't heard about Johnson is the possibility of him returning to the Hawks. All of these teams are going to pursue him, but he might have to much of an attachment to Atlanta at this point.
As some of you have probably heard, to kick off free agency Joe Johnson will be meeting immediately with the Knicks. Pairing him with either Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, or even possibly Dirk Nowitzki would obviously be a vast improvement for the Knicks. If they add two of those players and possibly a few other decent pieces, the Knicks will finally have a very competitive roster for the first time in a decade. Like I said yesterday, I really don't think Lebron is going to the Knicks. I could be wrong, but I think he has better options that will be on the table for him elsewhere. I can still say that for all max level free agents. I think the Clippers would actually be a better option for most free agents than the Knicks would.
I hope the Nets get at least one of the big free agents. I personally think they would be wise to just go for a power forward, unless they can of course get Lebron. They will be building on a good core for years to come and last season will soon be a distant memory for Nets fans. This is one of the funniest stories ever, though probably untrue.
I think all of this talk of Dirk becoming a free agent will only lead to him resigning in Dallas, possibly with Lebron as his teammate. I could see the Knicks and Suns making a decent pitch for him though.
It is going to be interesting to see all of these dominoes fall into place this week as free agency kicks off on Thursday.
As a diehard Rockets fan, I feel the need to get these rumors out there first. First off, Chris Bosh. Pair him with Joe Johnson (??!!!!) and a healthy Yao Ming? I don't know if they can keep Aaron Brooks around for all of this, but Houston would suddenly become a force in the West again. Of course, Bosh and Johnson will probably end up elsewhere, but it's nice to hope for this for a few days. One thing I haven't heard about Johnson is the possibility of him returning to the Hawks. All of these teams are going to pursue him, but he might have to much of an attachment to Atlanta at this point.
As some of you have probably heard, to kick off free agency Joe Johnson will be meeting immediately with the Knicks. Pairing him with either Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, or even possibly Dirk Nowitzki would obviously be a vast improvement for the Knicks. If they add two of those players and possibly a few other decent pieces, the Knicks will finally have a very competitive roster for the first time in a decade. Like I said yesterday, I really don't think Lebron is going to the Knicks. I could be wrong, but I think he has better options that will be on the table for him elsewhere. I can still say that for all max level free agents. I think the Clippers would actually be a better option for most free agents than the Knicks would.
I hope the Nets get at least one of the big free agents. I personally think they would be wise to just go for a power forward, unless they can of course get Lebron. They will be building on a good core for years to come and last season will soon be a distant memory for Nets fans. This is one of the funniest stories ever, though probably untrue.
I think all of this talk of Dirk becoming a free agent will only lead to him resigning in Dallas, possibly with Lebron as his teammate. I could see the Knicks and Suns making a decent pitch for him though.
It is going to be interesting to see all of these dominoes fall into place this week as free agency kicks off on Thursday.
6.27.2010
Dallas is about to court the NBA's most sought after Free agent...
I first mentioned this as a possibility last night. Obviously, again this is all speculation. The City of Dallas has been doing it's part to help get Lebrontothemavs though. Whether or not he ends up in Dallas will all be figured out within the next week or two. I like that and Chicago most out of his possible destinations. Again, I would not be rooting for either team if he went there. As a lifelong Rockets fan, the Mavs would be larger enemies than usual and the Bulls would become mortal enemies of mine for the first time in over a decade. Again this is all pure speculation, no one other than Lebron is going to be able to make this decision, apparently anyway. No matter where he goes, he is going to end up getting surrounded by some of the best talent in the NBA.
There hasn't been too much NBA news today, aside from the Celtics apparent interest in Brad Miller. Losing Kendrick Perkins was and is a big loss for the Celtics and it is going to effect a lot of what happens with the 2010 Free Agent Class.
I will be updating all free agent rumors in the next few days, as well as possibly doing an extensive (for me) free agent preview.
There hasn't been too much NBA news today, aside from the Celtics apparent interest in Brad Miller. Losing Kendrick Perkins was and is a big loss for the Celtics and it is going to effect a lot of what happens with the 2010 Free Agent Class.
I will be updating all free agent rumors in the next few days, as well as possibly doing an extensive (for me) free agent preview.
6.26.2010
NBA Free Agent Madness v. 1
All of us hardcore hoops heads have been waiting for this week for at least two years now. I started thinking about it when Lebron and company historically signed shorter contract extensions in 2006. As someone who loves playing fantasy basketball, I knew 2010 could potentially be an interesting summer. I didn't realize until this passed trade deadline how many teams were actually going to try to do a complete overhaul of their rosters. Call me crazy, but I think that if I were Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, or any of the number of other marquee free agents, I would want to go to a roster that already had a sense of team chemistry in place. Currently, the Heat and Knicks have next to nothing of value under contract. Granted, we know the Heat are going to resign Wade and possibly get two other big names. But what do the Knicks have to offer from a basketball standpoint currently? Yes, New York is the biggest city in the US for many BUSINESS decisions, but he can still make business moves there (and anywhere else) and be one of the richest athletes of all time regardless of where he signs his next NBA contract. On the court however, the Knicks offer three or four decent prospects to build around Lebron. David Lee is a free agent too, so getting him back would cost a little bit more this time around. The four players the Knicks currently have under contract are: Eddy Curry, Wilson Chandler, Toney Douglas, and Danillo Galinari. Eddy Curry is the biggest draft bust of all time in my opinion, even more so than Kwame Brown and Sam Bowie. What do I know though? The other three players are all great prospects, but none would really make me want to come to New York if I were one of the 2010 free agents. There are a couple other teams that haven't been mentioned much with the teams that are under the cap that might make a little noise, mainly the Dallas Mavericks. Everything is all speculation at this point, but the possibility of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, and Lebron James all in Dallas next year is ridiculous. All of the signings will beging at 12:00AM Thursday. Most people at this point seem to think that everything will start with what Lebron's decision ends up being. At least six teams plan to "wine and dine" the player in the coming days ( Nets, Clippers, Bulls, Heat, Knicks, and Cavs ) I think it is pretty ridiculous to think that a 25 year old is about to change the landscape of the NBA forever. I wonder who's had more blog articles written about them recently: Lebron or Stephen Strasburg. Anyway...
The other big non-free agent news this weekend is that Kendrick Perkins may have torn his ACL as well. Looks like Luke Harangody and Brian Scalabrine might get some serious burn next year! I wonder if any team has gone from the basement to the penthouse back to the basement in such a short span before. Now I realize that this team will be a lot better now than in 2006, even without Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kendrick Perkins. I really don't see why Paul Pierce would want to leave the Celtics though.
Sherron Collins is going to the Bobcats.
The other big non-free agent news this weekend is that Kendrick Perkins may have torn his ACL as well. Looks like Luke Harangody and Brian Scalabrine might get some serious burn next year! I wonder if any team has gone from the basement to the penthouse back to the basement in such a short span before. Now I realize that this team will be a lot better now than in 2006, even without Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kendrick Perkins. I really don't see why Paul Pierce would want to leave the Celtics though.
Sherron Collins is going to the Bobcats.
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