Phoenix’s trade for Shaquille O’Neal didn’t exactly work like they hoped it would. Instead of hoisting another trophy over his head, Shaq is instead, sitting at home after the Spurs sent Phoenix packing after the first round. Quite frankly, we miss the big fella. O’Neal is always the life of the party and without him we just feel empty inside, especially when the press conference’s coming rolling around.
Most people were shocked to hear about Marvin Harrison being interviewed in connection with a shooting last week. After all, this is the NFL equivalent of David Robinson being connected to a child prostitution ring. Most people just couldn’t comprehend the idea that one of the league’s squeakiest goody-two-shoes could possibly be involved in the incident. Well, almost everyone. ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio seems to think that Harrison is basically 50 Cent in pads.
The guns bullets were advertised as being able to penetrate…listen to this…48 layers of kevlar [armor] at 50 meters. Now who wears kevlar other than police officers? This gun is designed to be a cop killer.
We’ll be the first to admit that we don’t know Marvin Harrison from Adam, so it is indeed possible that he committed this crime. We’re going to reserve our judgment on that one, but we do have a problem with Paolantonio’s comments about Harrison choosing to establish a business in a bad part of Philadelphia. Last time we checked, there’s no law against being rich in a poor area, Sal.
Links:
[Sportaphile.com]: The Sports Media Turned On Marvin Harrison Already
If you thought the biggest news from this past weekend’s Kentucky Derby was the horrible injury and subsequent euthanasia of Eight Belles then you’d be wrong. Move over Beyonce and Jay-Z. Step aside Posh Spice and David Beckham. Beat it Brangelina. We’ve got the next big power couple right here! Or at least Randy Moss’ next one-night stand. That’s probably more like it.
The Patriots wide receiver was caught doing a little dirty dancing with Alysha Harris, a.k.a. Miss Kentucky USA, at a party during Kentucky Derby weekend. Some might call this scandalous behavior, but she is promoting her state. Just not in the manner the crown-givers were hoping for.
Those commitments include promoting the pageant’s sponsors, community service programs, charities, literacy throughout the Commonwealth, awareness of ovarian cancer and breast cancer, and youth anti-drug campaigns. …
In the interview competition, the contestant must talk with judges about her successes, talents, goals and ambitions. Attention is focused on the contestant’s poise, charm, self-confidence and ability to communicate, as well as the substance of her answers.
We think Randy would agree with the judges on Alysha’s astounding “ability to communicate.”
Links:
[SportsWrap]: Randy Moss Gets His Freak On With Miss Kentucky Alysha Harris
[MadisonCourier.com]: CCHS graduate receives crown of Miss Kentucky USA
If you thought Miguel Tejada had it rough after having his true age exposed to the world, try being told you’re a fat ass by an underhanded journalist looking to make a name.
1. Through to round two
The Hawks still shocked the world, even if they didn’t shock the world. Nobody expected Atlanta to make it past Game 4, but the Hawks forced a deciding game against the Celtics in Boston on Sunday. Unfortunately, they forgot to show up. The Cs saved their season by destroying the pesky Hawks 99-65, advancing to the second round where they must now face the defending Eastern Conference champions. LeBron James and his Cavaliers have been patiently waiting to see who would survive the David vs. Goliath battle to the bitter end and can now finally game plan for the league’s top trio. Paul Pierce led Boston on Sunday, scoring 22 points, followed by Kevin Garnett’s 18-point, 11-rebound double-double. Ray Allen was subpar, connecting on just 3-of-12 attempts for seven points, but it didn’t even matter in the rout. Boston’s beatdown included a near record performance, holding Atlanta to the second fewest points scored in a Game 7 since the shot clock came into play.
2. Lakers now 5-0 in playoffs
Kobe Bryant’s first MVP reign has yet to become officially official, but that’s not preventing him from making other players bow down. The Jazz felt the wrath of the soon-to-be NBA’s newest king of the mountain yesterday when Bryant dropped 38 points to go with six rebounds and seven assists in a 109-98 series-opening victory for the Lakers. Kobe converted a franchise playoff-record 21 free throws in the contest, missing only two during the entire contest. Game 2 goes down Wednesday night. The Jazz played a decent game except in the second quarter when they were outscored 29-17. Carlos Boozer (15 pts, 14 reb) and Mehmet Okur (21 pts, 19 reb) each recorded a double-double in the loss and Deron Williams dished out nine assists to go with 14 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Bryant and his buddies. Pau Gasol posted 18 points and 10 rebounds while Lamar Odom scored 16 and grabbed nine boards.
3. Bye-bye Bynum
With a 1-0 lead in the second round of the postseason, everything appears to be ice cream and cherries for the Los Angeles Lakers. Not so fast. The Lakers got some bad news from Andrew Bynum over the weekend when he told the press that a return to action this season is highly unlikely. Many believe Los Angeles needs their true center to compete with some of the West’s forces in the post, but so far, so good for LA. The Lakers have an incredible opportunity to take it all this year, but they have to be concerned about the future. Bynum could be a critical piece to the puzzle over the next five years as the Lakers are primed to be amongst the elite of the league with all their players basically peaking in their careers.
Sunday’s Player of the Day: Kobe Bryant vs. Utah 40 min, 38 pts (FG: 8-16, 3FG: 1-2, FT: 21-23), 6 reb, 7 ast, 1 stl
Buzzer Beater:
To apologize, Papa John’s will sell Cleveland residents a large, one-topping pizza for 23 cents on Thursday. The 23 is an homage to James’ jersey number. The company also will donate $10,000 to the Cavaliers Youth Fund.
The pizza chain’s T-shirts were featured during the Cavs’ games against the Wizards on Friday in Washington. Wizards fans taunted the Cavs, who won the playoff series that night in Game 6.
The shirts started after James complained about hard fouls, and Wizards center Brendan Haywood called him a crybaby.
With the UFC headed to London soon for a Chuck Liddell-less pay-per-view, British tabloid The Sun decided to compile a list of their Top 10 UFC fighters. It was a good effort, but, in our opinion, they should stick to ranking the best cricket players because they apparently know as much about the UFC as they do dental hygiene.
10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
9. Forrest Griffin
8. Wanderlei Silva
7. Matt Hughes
6. Rich Franklin
5. Quinton Jackson
4. Chuck Liddell
3. BJ Penn
2. Georges St. Pierre
1. Anderson Silva
These rankings are completely arbitrary, but one thing for certain about the world of MMA is that Frank Shamrock is one tough S.O.B.!
Links:
[The Sun]: Top 10 UFC fighters
[YardBarker.com]: Frank Shamrock’s Right Hand of Death
Before Zaza Pachulia got decimated by a Kevin Garnett pick during Boston’s Game 7 blowout, he was already a little loopy in the head. Following Atlanta’s home win in Game 6, Zaza did his best Ivan Drago impression for the crowd.
After getting pounded in Game 7, Pachulia was overhead saying, “He is not human, he is a piece of iron” about Garnett.
Links:
[TiricoSuave.com]: Zaza Pachulia Englishes The Shit Out Of The Microphone
The moment tears began rolling down his face after being selected fourth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, the Bears faithful began getting a sinking sensation in their guts. After Sunday, Chicagoans probably think even the name “Adam `Pacman’ Jones” would have sounded better coming off the commissioner’s lips.
Benson was arrested on Saturday night on an Austin lake after he failed a sobriety test while driving a boat, then failed another sobriety test on solid ground, refused to put on a life jacket and then resisted arrest to the point where officers were forced to pepper-spray him while practically dragging him to the patrol car. If Benson was just half as motivated in uniform then he might have more than 1,593 yards and 10 touchdowns in three friggin’ years!
Of course, Cedric’s story is completely different despite the fact that about 15 other people were on the boat and none were arrested. Oh, and none of those friends have stepped forward to support Benson’s claims of police brutality. But it’s still worth a shot.
The officer arrested Benson, who kept arguing and “continued to present himself as a threat,” the LCRA said. The officer then pepper-sprayed him.
Benson tells a much different story: “Even after they pepper-sprayed me, I have no idea why they did that. I was cooperative. I asked them several times why they did that, and they didn’t give me an answer.”
Once the boat docked, Benson refused to leave the LCRA boat, authorities said. An LCRA officer and Travis County sheriff’s deputies were “basically carrying/dragging him” to a car for transport to jail, the release said.
Again Benson gave a different account: “They kicked my feet out from under me and slammed my face down. They had a hose and were running it over my face. They were choking me and stuff, not with their hands but with the hose in my face. I couldn’t breathe. I don’t know if they did that because of the pepper spray, but I didn’t ask them to put the hose in my face.”
Benson said he declined a breath test once in custody on the advice of his lawyer, Brian Carney.
The former Longhorn has probably seen his last action in Chicago and he could spend up to six months in jail as a result of this little run-in with the law. A word of advice for the Kansas City Chiefs: Watch out for Jamaal Charles because in case you haven’t noticed, Texas running backs are a strange breed.
Links:
[SunTimes.com]: Troubled waters
[WBBM780.com]: Cedric Benson Arrested, Alleges Police Abuse
We knew that Jonathan Roy, son of hockey great Patrick Roy, was already a loose cannon after he skated clear across the ice to get his brawl on, but we had no idea that Todd Bertuzzi had a kid who was already following in his father’s footsteps.
Provincial police say a player on a midget team from Paris, Ont., took a two-handed swing with his stick during a Feb. 22 game and hit an opposing player in the abdomen.
The injured player, from the nearby town of Caledonia, was taken to Brantford General Hospital with a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding.
We’re guessing it looked a little bit like this only it wasn’t in an office and the kid got whacked in the gut.
Links:
[TheStar.com]: Teen charged after alleged assault with hockey stick