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NBA General

2007 NBA All-Star Game Live Blog – 2nd Half


Welcome to the 2007 NBA All-Star Game Live Blog. The action will get under way in a little less than half an hour and we’ll be covering it for you. Newest comments will appear at the top.

Postgame And the MVP is…Kobe Bryant. And he wasn’t even booed as David Stern handed him the trophy. The snoozefest is finally over and not a minute too soon. I can’t believe I missed Family Guy for this.

End of 4th This was never a contest as the West spanked the East by 21, 153-132. The West was only two points away from tying the all-time record for points in an All-Star game. But it really doesn’t matter because nobody would have been awake to see it.

1:00 60 seconds til the pain goes away.

3:01 Only 15 fouls in the game. Where are these refs during the regular season?

4:21 Looks like Kobe’s going to take home the MVP for the game but Stoudemire is a close second.

8:25 Thank goodness for Shaq. The Diesel showed off his ball handling skills as he tried to shake and bake on Mehmet Okur, but his pull up jumper came up short.

11:30 The crew is struggling for topics of discussion. Eva Longoria and Tony Parker’s wedding plans have taken over the show. Parker said he’s not involved in the planning. He’s just going to show up and get a wife. Kinda like Tyrus Thomas picking up his check.

End of 3rd Only one more quarter to go. The East are pathetic and they’re the healthy ones. The West is missing a ton of talent but hold a 119-88 lead. Caron Butler hasn’t received any love from his coach; he’s only played six minutes in the blow out.

1:25 At this point, the only thing that’s still up in the air is the MVP. Even Gilbert Arenas has admitted defeat in an interview with Aldridge.

4:42 The Suns are starting to take over the game. Stoudemire has 12 points in the quarter so far and Shawn Marion is throwing down some nice slams.

9:28 Eddie Jordan calls a time out as he tries to stop the bleeding with the East trailing 89-65. David Aldridge reported that Jordan admitted he didn’t feel he belonged at the All-Star game, and so far he’s right. The fans are going to start heading for the exits soon if he doesn’t motivate his squad.

Halftime Please let there be a wardrobe malfunction during Christina Aguilera’s performance. That’s the only thing that can save this halftime show. Well, at least Christina is holding down a job. When’s the last time Britney Spears was seen on camera without being drunk or pantyless?

Categories
NBA General

2007 NBA All-Star Game Live Blog – 1st Half


Welcome to the 2007 NBA All-Star Game Live Blog. The action will get under way in a little less than half an hour and we’ll be covering it for you. Newest comments will appear at the top.

End of 2nd The West take a 20 point lead into the locker room behind 17 points from Bryant. 14 shots in 13 minutes, just a typical night for Kobe.

2:30 Prince was at the game with Ludacris and Dave Chappelle. When did he become such a sports fan? Maybe Charlie Murphy was telling the truth.

5:25 Who knew Carrot Top was ripped? Too bad there’s no exercise to help his face. Yikes!

6:43 The West is starting to run away with this one, leading by 20. This is beginning to get ugly, but no lead is safe in an All-Star game. Eventually, some of the Eastern conference players will remember that the winners get a bigger check and start giving more effort.

8:45 Shaq put down a two handed slam and then gave McGrady a kiss on the face. Tim Hardaway’s not going to like that.

10:20 Does anyone else think that Tracy McGrady looks like a deer?

End of 1st The West are up 39-31 and Vince Carter provided the highligt of the quarter as he made a spinning drive that ended with a nice slam.

2:38 Amare Stoudemire is off to a hot start with 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in only 4 minutes. Can you say early MVP candidate?

5:00 Jermaine O’Neal tipped in a miss but it was for the wrong team.

7:14 Nevermind, Wade made up for his lack of effort as he threw down a nice alley-oop from LeBron. The game of can you top this started with a nifty slam from Kobe. As always, Bryant’s not afraid to jack it up. He has six shot attempts in five minutes.

10:35 Dwyane Wade had a perfect opportunity to wow the crowd on a breakaway and he hit a weak dunk instead. This is the All-Star game isn’t it?

Pregame Siegfried and Roy provided an awkward start to the game before John Mason did his usual annoying introductions. Is there anyone who actually likes this Deeeeeeeetroit Basketball idiot? Do the people in Detroit even like him? Can we recreate Tupac’s vegas experience with him as Tupac?

Can this pregame take any longer? Wayne Newton’s makeup is beginning to run. By the way, when did Wayne Newton start looking like the crazy cat lady who had too much plastic surgery? Let’s get this game on the road already.

Categories
NBA General

Barkley vs Bavetta race video

Here it is folks, the 3 1/2 court length race between the “Black Rhino” and 67 year old official Dick Bavetta.

In a shocking upset, “Sir Cumference” beats Dick “the fixer” Bavetta”. The best part is when Charles says, “and we’re gonna give 2 blackjack hands to charity.”

Youtube

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NBA General

Stakes go up to $50,000 in Bavetta vs Barkley race

Update: Barkley vs Bavetta will take place at 8PM ET on Saturday on TNT. Bodog has Bavetta as the favorite at -340 and Barkley at +220. This is going to be good.

It’s not listed on the 2007 NBA All-Star Weekend schedule yet but the must see event will be the footrace between Dick Bavetta and Charles Barkley. Originally a $10,000 bet with proceeds going to charity, TNT has upped the stakes and $50,000 will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas.

The race will be 2 1/2 times the length of the court (235 feet). The smart money is on Dick Bavetta by about 20 feet. The degenerate gamblers that we are, we actually looked for a place to bet on this.

Remember the last time the Chuckster opened his big mouth and said he could hold his breath longer than David Blaine?

Links:
[Philly.com]: Bet on Bavetta

Categories
Chicago Cubs

Odds and Ends: Kerry Wood’s evil hot tub


Kerry Wood makes an early bid for the upcoming “Dumbest Non-Playing Injury” list we’ve been meaning to do on Sportscolumn blog. Wood is out for a few days after slipping and landing on his stomach and chest getting out of a hot tub. It’s gonna be that type of season, Cubbies fans.

In other news…

[Flash Warner]: Why Isn’t Hardaway In Rehab Yet?

[Can’t Stop the Bleeding]: Kenny Smith on John Amaechi

[WBRS Sports Blog]: Handicapping The Entire All-Star Weekend

[James Mirtle]: Analysis of Forsberg to Nashville

[Jeff Little]: Looking at past McDonald’s All Americans (1991-1995)

[DC Sports Blog]: Yeah… this isn’t representative of Sixers fans

Categories
Boston Red Sox

Dice-K’s Japanese beer commercial and the Feds

We know that Dice-K mania is about to get underway real soon with pitchers and catchers reporting but this is a little ridiculous. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in Washington, D.C is looking into whether a Matsuzaka commercial for a Japanese beer aired in Japan might merit some punitive action.


Our jurisdiction runs to false and misleading ads,” said Resnick, who pointed to a 1995 ruling that says the bureau would consider unacceptable any ad “which depicts any individual (famous athlete or otherwise) consuming or about to consume an alcoholic beverage prior to or during an athletic activity or event,” or an ad that states that drinking alcohol “will enhance athletic prowess, performance at athletic activities or events, health or conditioning.

Did we mention that this ad only aired in Japan? MLB International said they sanctioned the spots and the use of the Red Sox trademark but are a little concerned. Maybe what they should be concerned about isn’t whether Dice-K is drinking a beer on camera (very impressively we might add) but whether drinking Asahi Super Dry is making him fat.

Here’s the commercial. As Tim Hardaway would say, there are more important things to worry about than Japanese beer commercials. We should be more concerned about President (George) Bush and all the people dying in Iraq.

Links:
[AdFreak]: U.S. looking at D-Mat’s beer commercials
[Reason.com]: Feds Continue to Assert World Jurisdiction

[Boston Herald]: Trouble brewing for Dice: Pitchman’s beer ad catches flak

Categories
NFL General

Does Michael Irvin have some unemployment in him?


Maybe that comment Michael Irvin made in December about Tony Romo having “some brothers in that line somwhere” finally caught up with him. According to the NY Post:


One industry source believes the decision has already been made, and that some at the network view the outspoken Irvin as a ticking time bomb, ready to explode into a public-relations nightmare.

ESPN did not confirm or deny the report, but issued a statement, saying: “We are currently in the process of discussing studio assignments for next season.”
There is speculation that newly retired Bill Parcells could end up at the network, but there is no indication that a deal is imminent.

Upgrading from Michael Irvin to Bill Parcells is like upgrading from Kyle Boller to Steve McNair. It won’t nearly be as fun to watch in a Titanic sort of way but at least it won’t make you cringe every 5 minutes.

What exactly will Irvin do if he’s fired from ESPN? Maybe he can team up with Bryant Gumble for the NFL Network broadcasts and make that the biggest pig fuck in the history of sports broadcasting.

Links:
[NY Post]: JD SINGIN’ THE BLUES AS GARDEN RETURN NEARS
[The Fanhouse]: Michael Irvin Could Have A lot More Time to Do Illegal Stuff

Categories
Golf

Golf and gambling… so happy together



Owww my arm

Whether it’s nassau, skins, wolf or flying camel…wait, scratch that last one… golf is a game that is so much better when there’s a little money at stake. So… welcome to the World Series of Golf.

Here’s how it works. The buy in is $10,000. In each round, a player plays against those in his group of 5 or 6. Each hole starts with an ante. After each golf shot, a player can stand, bet, or fold. The objective is to take all the other players’ money from your group and advance to the next round. Theoretically, you could knock everyone in your group out playing one hole. The final “table” is a group of six playing for $450,000 in prize money. The winner takes home $250,000.

This tourney is open to amateurs only but anyone who wins loses their amateur status so there will be no repeat champions. This rule makes it a little hard to get any kind of momentum as viewers won’t be able to pick favorites and villains year after year. Unless of course the same amateur loses every year and goes kicking and screaming like Phil Helmuth. Hmmmm… that could be an easy way to get famous even if you suck at golf. NBC has signed on to air the tournament.

We’ll be watching for it in May but what we’re really looking forward to is the World Series of Flip Cup. Now, why can’t that be on NBC?

Categories
NBA General

Around the Rim: Even Vegas Won’t Touch Him


1. Banished
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but too bad for Tim Hardaway he’ll never make it to Vegas. That’s because David Stern has banned Hardaway from appearing at any NBA functions over the All-Star weekend after he publicly blasted John Ameachi and other gays for their lifestyles. You can’t blame Stern for his decision; he can’t release a loose cannon like Hardaway and trust him to properly represent the league during their annual self promotion weekend after he demonstrated zero self control on the radio. Like it or not, Hardaway will be now always been considered a homophobic, venom-spewing hate monger instead of the originator of the killer crossover.

2. In Search of Seven
A familiar face could be returning from retirement after the All-Star break. 41 year old Scottie Pippen says he is seriously considering a comeback, but he wants to play for a contender, perhaps Phoenix. Pip says that this is the best he has felt in the past five years. The last time Pippen was in the league was during the 2003-04 season when he played for a Michael Jordanless Chicago Bulls team. Well, played might be a bit of an overstatement considering that he only saw action in 23 games. No matter how old some of these guys get, they just can’t sit at home and roll in their millions like Scrooge McDuck. Guess six rings isn’t enough.

3. High Hopes and High Hoops
Dwight Howard has big ideas for his performance during Saturday’s slam dunk competition, but it seems like the league isn’t going to let them come to fruition. Howard wants the hoop to be elevated for several of his attempts, but his requests have been oddly denied. One move that Howard has been practicing in Orlando is a 360 slam with the rim set to a height of 12 feet. Another dunk that Howard has been working on is an “East Bay Funk Dunk” type maneuver between his legs with the rim set a full foot and a half higher than the regulation setting.

Thursday’s Player of the Day: Kobe Bryant vs. Cleveland 41 min, 34 pts (FG: 9-22, 3FG: 2-7, FT: 14-15), 6 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl

Buzzer Beater: The Kobe Bryant/LeBron James is becoming one of the best individual rivalries in the game today. In the past week, we’ve seen these two compete in their only pair of games this year. In the two games, Bryant scored a total of 70 points but went home as the loser both times. James, on the other hand, put up 56 points as his team walked away with a pair of closely contested victories. It’s probably not too hard to see these two hooking up in a classic Finals series one day, but it’s definitely not this year.

Categories
NBA General

Kevin Durant might not want to play for the Celtics


First there were rumors that Greg Oden might not come out of college after this season, now Kevin Durant’s father is saying he might be back at Texas next year. What is it about playing for Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge that has the #1 and #2 picks so worried? Could it be that 18 game losing streak? Or maybe it’s the prospect of playing for Memphis or the Philly that has these two potential superstars so worried.

In an interview with the Dallas Morning News, Kevin Durant’s father, Wayne Pratt hinted that Durant might need one more year to season.


There’s a chance he would come back to Texas next year. Kevin is so young. There’s not a rush for him to go to the NBA. Right now, we’re not even talking about that. We’re talking about winning the Big 12, and Kevin continuing to progress academically.

There’s certain things that Kevin has to show and do before that decision is made, and we still have some things we need to see. It’s a total thing – mentally, physically, all those things have to be intact before a decision can be made. My wife and I have pretty good jobs. There’s no rush for him to go to the NBA.

It’s a good attitude but they have regular jobs… the 2007-2008 rookie scale is $3.9M for the #1 pick for the first year and $3.5M for the #2 pick. Take the money and run, Kevin. No one will blame you.

Links:
[Dallas Morning News]: Will Durant go pro? Don’t go there
[NBPA.com]: Rookie Scale