Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard More Like Joker Than Superman

Courtesy SIKids

Everyone by now has either seen or heard about the video
that made the rounds yesterday when Stan Van Gundy
addressed the media about whether or not it
was true that Dwight Howard told Orlando Magic
management to fire the coach. To me however this
isn't the story, the story is that players like
Howard have been doing this forever, and constantly
get away with it. It's quite annoying. You can go
all the way back to when LA Lakers Magic Johnson
had Paul Westhead fired in favor of Pat Riley, to
when the Bulls Michael Jordan got Doug Collins
fired in Chicago, and those are only NBA examples.

I guess I'm just curious to figure out where did it
all go wrong in Orlando. Before dropping their 5th
straight game last night, the Magic was 32-18, that
doesn't sound like a team in turmoil. Not too long
ago Dwight Howard signed a waiver in his contract
just prior to the trade deadline that ensured he
would be with the Magic until at the very least the
end of next season. He didn't have to do this, he
could have either been traded or left at the end of
this season. They are constantly competing as one
of the better teams in the NBA's East, and went to
the Finals not too long ago with the very same core
group of coach and star. I don't get it, what gives?
Wish I knew, but I will tell you this, and this is
just a got feeling; everyone is waiting for Stan
Van Gundy to get fired, and that may just happen,
but if someone in management did tell the coach that
Howard wanted him fired, then I believe that they are
either playing them against each other and will keep
who they think will serve them best, or they are
siding with the coach, and are just plain tired of
Howard's act and want to expose him to the rest of
the league to show them what a Prima Donna he is.

Like I said it's just a gut feeling, but right about
now this self proclaimed "Superman" is behaving alot
more like a character from Batman named the "Joker",
and ruining a good thing for a team that can actually
compete at a high level. Time to suck it up Cupcake !

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Don't Believe In Plays, Believe In Players - Al Davis

NBA Lockout Starts To Turn Stomaches

Courtesy: NY Daily News

In most cases when there are strikes or lockouts in
professional sports leagues, I like to take a wait
and see approach before I choose to side with anyone
if anyone at all. In the case of the NFL lockout
I found the both sides had some good points, and
that's why it was necessary to compromise, which
they eventually did, and move on.

The NBA lockout has become an embarrassment of sorts
these last few weeks, because it seems that there is
something else going on which we as a society have
been trying to fight in recent years, BULLYING.
David Stern has made this battle one that could very
easily be broken down in the simplest of terms to
show how one can bully another, and though some may
call that "tough business negotiating", it's still
a form of bullying. Michael Jordan seems to be the
biggest hypocrite of all the owners, and has hunkered
down more than anyone, forgetting what it's like to
be a player, and thinking it's Cleveland in the NBA
playoffs all over again. There seems to be no
negotiating going on from the owners at all, I say
seems, because I am not in the room, but everything
we hear indicates that Stern is saying "this is what
we want in order to lift the lockout" and every time
the players give the owners say it's not enough.
Keep in mind that when these talks started the split
was 57% players 43% owners, a number I will be the
first to say is, and was unfair to the owners.
That number is now 51/49 players or maybe 50/50, but
Stern is threatening to only give the players 47%
if they don't accept the current deal which would
call for more concessions from the players on other
issues. Once again, I am not in that room with them,
but this to me comes across as trying to put a choke
hold on the players union, and not negotiating, but
trying to crush their partner, NOT opponent, partner.
The ABA was considered an opponent, the players work
with you to generate revenue with their play.

David Stern, Michael Jordan, and the rest of the
owners really need to show a little good faith here.
The players have already reduced the salary gap from
14% in their favor to about even. The NBA is about
to approach the "we don't care" status with the public
that the NHL reached when they sat out a whole season
in 04/05. Sign a 2, 3, 4 year deal, and continue to
work behind the scenes to bridge any other concerns you
have with each other. Show the fans ,and the public,
that they aren't just a meal ticket, but that you care
about whether they suffer in this or not. This is
getting really tired. Stop being a BULLY Mr Stern !




Tweet Thank You Al Davis !

LeBron Bashing Aside

Image: AP

As I tweeted last night, LeBron James took
his talents to South Beach and Mark Cuban
took the NBA Trophy to Dallas.

The Cavs owner Tweeted that this is a lesson
for everyone, there are no shortcuts, NONE.
He's right, but should have just kept quiet.

I also tweeted that LeBron couldn't carry the
jock of Michael Jordans sons. Right now this
is true, and though this was in reference to
the comment Scottie Pippen made earlier last
week, when he said that LeBron is a better all
around player then Jordan was, my comment was
not based on pure talent. Jordan would have
ripped your heart out last night, LeBron can't
get out of his own way. Maybe if he grows up
first, then he can play Championship ball.
It doesn't matter how many players in the league
like Queen James, the difference is they are
willing to beat him to a pulp to take the trophy
home for their team and their fans.

By the way, this isn't bashing, just the cold truth.

A List, Imagine That

In our world of lists, where someone is always
coming up with a new list for something, I thought
I would share this list of two sport athletes that
a friend of mine shared with me. I particularly
like number 2, but am completely dismayed at how
far they took this list with number 8. Hope you
enjoy it and feel free to let me know who you think
they left off and should have added.