NBA: All Star Weekend and homophobia

Before I get to the upcoming NBA All Star Weekend I just want to congratulate Tim Hardaway for being relevant again. Congratulations Tim! In the realm of athletes behaving as stereotypes, making patently unsupportable homophobic statements on the radio easily trumps Carlos Zambrano's "Big Z's gotta get paid" moment of earlier this week. Hardaway's reasoning? He just plain doesn't like it. He didn't say it was against God or it wasn't natural, just that he, Tim Hardaway, hated homosexuals. For everyone's sake Tim, at least quote some ridiculously obsolete passage from the Bible when you gay-bash. You could have been thought an ignorant bigot for religious reasons. Now people think you're an ignorant bigot because you're a selfish idiot.

To be serious for a second, it's hard to justify asking professional athletes to be progressive thinkers, but for the position they afford in society they should learn when the right time to say, "I don't know. I'm just a ballplayer," is. I am sure there are tons of guys in the NBA who are self-labeled homophobes (as Hardaway is) and it's sad that that's the case. But then again maybe Scott Pollard hates black people. Maybe Don Nelson has a swastika tattoo. Maybe Tracy McGrady yells "ching chong ching chong ching" to Yao Ming in practice. They are humans with human prejudices. And even if Hardaway was hell-bent on speaking on the issue, there are less tactless ways to express his discomfort about playing with or against a homosexual player.

All-Star Weekend predictions:

February 16

NBA All-Star Celebrity Game: The West team is looking stacked with Jamie Foxx, Reggie Bush, and Nick Cannon. They do lack height (Bow Wow) and street cred (Jamie Kennedy) but with the WNBA's Tamika Catchings and the incomparable Greg Anthony coaching them they're in good shape. Meanwhile the East has size (Michael Clarke Duncan) and that's about it. I'm pulling for Donald Faison to take over the game but with Bobby Flay and David Arquette on the roster things aren't looking great. Plus the East is stuck with two female players: the WNBA's Katie Smith and Carrot Top. I'm taking the West.

Rookie Challenge Game: Rookies v. Sophomores is always a great game and the sophomore team is looking pretty good this season. A pair of seven-footers in Bogut and Bynum, a couple of guards that can handle the rock, and David Lee, the player that most personifies the white guy style of basketball: neverending hustle. But the rookies have a lot of talent which is why I'm going with them. Marcus Williams and Rudy Gay reunited, Foye, Morrison, Roy, Bargnani, etc. Not a game I would bet on, but I'm taking the rookies.

February 17

Skills Challenge: I'm taking Chris Paul, the dark horse who replaced Steve Nash. The competition lends itself to speed and accurate shooting. While Kobe may be the best shooter out of the four participants (Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, Paul) and Wade may be the fastest, Paul's my pick. But if Agent Zero were participating, they wouldn't even have to hold the competition.

Three-point Shootout: Speaking of Agent Zero, after watching THIS I can't help but take him. Yes there are three white guys in the competition, but if they let Arenas clown around while these guys are shooting (like he did with Stevenson) I would sell my home and donate that money to Dikembe Mutombo's hospital in the Congo. And I don't even own a home.

Slam Dunk Contest: After watching Nate Robinson get innumerable chances to perform his dunks last year, the complete loss of the contest's integrity was realized. Sure the top names have continuously declined to enter over the last ten or so years but the skewed judging was the icing on the cake. I get it, he's short. But don't treat him like the autistic kid in little league that got five strikes and was allowed to play as the fourth man in the outfield. It's tough to say who's going to win and while Ty Thomas and Gerald Green can absolutely fly, I have to go with Dwight Howard. He has that tall guy in the dunk contest chip on his shoulder which will push him to do something so impressive that he might risk a career-ending injury.

February 18

All-Star Game: Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Shaq, and Arenas. The East.

And I'm done for the day. Ian, thoughts?


Saj, that was brilliance. Unfortunately, I can't dedicate enough time to make readers guffaw even once. To aim for the half dozen that you must have invoked is all but impossible. Okay, I'll try just one. You ready? Here goes.

Poop.

Moving on...

Tonight
Celebrity game: Your assessment was 100% correct. I don't know how they let these teams become so lopsided. West will blow out the East until they find some way to make it interesting. Pick: West

Rookie vs. Sophomores: Every year, this game fails to disappoint. No, it's never close, but it's entertaining from tipoff to the final buzzer. It's as close as we can get to pick-up ball in the NBA. Even the actual All-Stars have a little bit of self respect, and when they want to, they can play some good defense on an NBA player. There is no rookie or sophomore that can say the same. Therefore, I agree with your warning: I wouldn't bet on this game.

However, since lack of confidence has never stopped us from making picks before, let me give you three reasons why it's a smart pick to take the Sophomores tonight.

1. Chris Paul. He is far and away the best player in the game. He'd be an outright All-Star if he had a healthy season. When Jason Kidd and Steve Nash hobble into retirement, the heir to the Brilliant Point Guard Play throne will be Chris Paul's. He's the reason a team like New Orleans could turn their franchise around. Point guard, not center, has turned into the most important position in the sport. (And even when Paul's taking a blow, Deron Williams is no slouch of a backup for the second year players.) The Rookie's best counter was Rajon Rondo, but unfortunately for both the Rooks and the viewers, he was not tendered an invitation. Tommy Heinsohn must be furious.

2. Experience and talent. There's a reason the Sophs have won the last four in a row and five of seven since this format began.

3. Size. Bogut, Bynum, Granger, and Lee are too much of men for Millsap, Bargnani, and Gabage-osa.

Pick: Sophomores


Tomorrow Night

Skills Challenge: This is a star studded field! We have three of the five biggest stars in the league (arguably THE three biggest stars) as well as the most promosing young point guard in the game. Honestly, any of these four can win. LeBron is the best passer, Wade is the most fleet of foot, Paul has no pressure, and Kobe is the best player on the planet. I see them breaking even on most obstacles except two: The jump shot and the bounce pass through the target. Kobe's got the inside track on nailing the jumper, but come on, the other three are top NBA players. All four should conceivable nail it. The bounce pass, however, is right up two players alley: Paul and LeBron. I'd like to take Paul, because as the shortest player, he has the shallowest angle from his hands to the floor and through the target. However, I think LeBron makes up that time along the way by doing everything just a bit smoother than Paul. Pick: LeBron.

Three Point Shootout: I think Arenas disappoints, much like his choke job against the Blazers. He's one of my favorite players, but 3 point shootout isn't his game. That video is great, but he's shooting slow one arm set shots from 3 feet inside the arc. You want to see a guy made for this contest? Dirk. Seven footer with a picture perfect, effortless jumper. There hasn't been a guy more tailor made for this competition since Larry Legend himself. Look for Arenas and Kapono to catch on fire, but not enough to topple the defending champ. Pick: Dirk Nowitzki.

Bavetta vs. Barkley: Lock of the weekend, take the guy in shape over the guy who could be confused with a dwarf-planet. Pick: Bavetta by a half court.

Slam Dunk Contest: I wish the Skills Challenge participants were dunking instead. It's really a shame that NBA superstars skip what used to be the exhibition event of the weekend. Still, here's what this year's Slam Dunk Contest will offer: The best judge dunkers EVER. Dr. J, Jordan, Dominique, Kobe, and Vince. That is an amazing lineup of judges. Unfortunately, this amazing lineup of judges might be judging the most questionable lineup of dunkers in the history of the contest.

Saj, I'm sorry, but you picked the guy I rank last in this competition. Dwight Howard, at 6' 10", cannot win the Slam Dunk Contest. Amare tried to win it as a big man a couple years ago and it was a disaster. They're too big. They don't stay in the air long enough and nothing looks too good when they do it. Tyrus Thomas I feel is also too tall, as well as unprepared, as he's admitted to just be showing up for the money. I feel you on Nate. Last year was a travesty. Smart money is on Gerald Green. I feel he is this contest's best dunker since Jason Richardson. The guy jumps out of the gym. Definite Nique possibilities. Pick: Gerald Green

All Star Game pick to come this weekend...

Sunday

All Star Game: A lot of stars on both sides. The West has the long established lineup of Kobe, Tmac, KG, Duncan, and Dirk. The East, outside of Shaq, are young STUDS who will be running this league for the next fifteen years. Wade, LeBron, Arenas, and Bosh looked up to these West stars. Now it's time to show them what they're made of. This game will be VERY entertaining. Pick: East

MLB: Big Z's Gotta Get Paid; Rivera too

Carlos Zambrano is a grown man and can say what he wants to the media and I was not surprised when I read that he used the media as a conduit to express him desire for a long term extension with the Cubs before the season. Basically Zambrano, whose contract is up at the end of the 2007 season and who figures to use Barry Zito's contract as leverage, told the Cubs to sign him to an extension before opening day or he's leaving them after the season.

On the surface, this was a smart move by Zambrano. Call the Cubs out in the media. He wants that contract signed before he gets a chance to injure himself or have a subpar season. And there is one move here for the Cubs: acquiese. If they don't sign him they have to not only deal with a disgruntled ace but they have to explain their sudden frugality as they've already stuffed millions into that team this off season.

Yup, everything was going well for Mr. Zambrano until... well, remember those Leon commercials for Budweiser? Not only did he refer to himself in the THIRD PERSON, but he also said, ""[Cubs general manager] Jim [Hendry] spent a lot of money. I hope he has more for 'Big Z.'" BIG Z? So instead of looking like the stud pitcher who deserved $100+ million he looked like a "cut the check", "gotta feed my children", "I'm Terrell Owens" spoiled professional athlete. Not helping your case, Carlos.


I agree. They were going to have to give him this money. Where do athletes learn to shoot themselves in the foot? Public perception plays a role in big contract negotiations, well, except in the case of JD Drew.

But this Zambrano development isn't even the big extension story in baseball. The story that Rivera and the Yankees haven't agreed on where he'll spend the rest of his career should be troubling to all Yankee fans, and be a breath of fresh air to all other fans.

Saj, I pose this question to you. In the last ten to twelve years, has there been a more meaningful, important, high impact player in baseball than Mariano Rivera?


That's a difficult question with no right answer but I'm going go ahead and say that no, there has not been a more meaningful, important, high impact player than Rivera. But there's an obvious caveat there. Closers have an objectively lower value than position players or even starting pitchers. So you can say that Manny Ramirez's 140 to 160 games a year were, in aggregate, more valuable than Mariano Rivera's 80 to 100 innings. But when you consider how much better Rivera was than the average closer, how long he performed at such a high level, and the psychological effect he had on opposing teams (i.e. "shortening the game") he occupies a special space in the last ten years of baseball (and I'm intentionally ignoring Barry Bonds here).

He was even more important in the playoffs, for the perennially playoff-bound Yankees, where bullpens shrink to just the few guys you can trust and maybe even a starter or two. Plus he gave up that stolen base to Dave Roberts in the 2004 ALCS which, for me, was very meaningful and important.


We seem to be on the same page. Would you agree that, if Mariano Rivera played for another team, the Yankees would not have won four championships?

How can I make such a claim? Well, in the six season from 1996 through 2001, whether he worked the 8th or 9th innings, the only times the Yankees did not win the World Series was when Mariano blew a save. When he didn't blow a save they were undefeated in postseason series'. The Alomar homerun in 97 and the LuGon single in 2001 were his only postseason blown saves in that timespan, and the Yankees lost both those series.

Therefore, if the Yankees 90's dynasty had any other closer - you know, the closers all the other perennial postseason teams had (Braves, Seattle, Mets, etc.) that continually blew saves - then the Yankees would not have been a dynasty at all, but rather like all the other perennial contenders, winning one (1998), maybe two championships. To conclude otherwise would be foolhardy, as closers played such an important role in playoff games, much more than in the regular season.

Mariano Rivera affected more World Series than any other player of the last twelve years - not Manny Ramirez, not Barry Bonds, not even Derek Jeter's overrated postseason play (look at the stats, Yankee fans, and including close &late) was as important as Mariano Rivera. And since the yearly objective of almost all players and teams is to win the World Series, Rivera can count himself as the most meaningful, important, high impact player in the last decade.

NBA: Stephen Jackson, Good Samaritan or BETTER Samaritan?

Just read on http://www.espn.com/ that Stephen Jackson, formerly of the Pacers, testified to firing his gun for the purpose of breaking up a brawl during the October 6th nightclub incident in which he was also hit by a car. This is a prime example as to why there should be no sports franchises in hollow, boring cities like Indianapolis or Cincinnati. If Stephen Jackson played for the Knicks or Nets he would have been at the 40/40 club snuggling with one of the girls from America's Next Top Model and giving Ray J props for peeing on Kim Kardashian. He most definitely would not be getting run over by 23 year old fake gangbangers from Indianapolis.

And that's the problem with this country. There are too many boring and useless cities. I say we dissolve their municipal governments, fence off the cities and their surrounding suburbs, and watch them slowly disintegrate. Hartford should come first as insurance companies and the Hartford Civic Center are both the work of Satan. If all goes well there we can move to Minneapolis, Bismarck, and possibly Des Moines for good measure. As for Stephen Jackson, he's with the Golden State Warriors now. And we all know nothing bad can happen in Oakland...


If Stephen Jackson played for the Knicks, they'd finally have someone that can play the shooting guard position. Oh wait, they have eight of those.

If Stephen Jackson played for the Nets, management would do whatever they could to make sure he and Marcus Williams never made eye contact. No mobile device would be safe.

Go ahead, give me more teams. Stephen Jackson would be a disaster anywhere. The Pacers definitely pulled off addition by subtraction when trading him to Golden State. Larry Legend works his magic again. Now only if Danny Ainge could convince him to coach the Celtics next year...


Dude, you're missing the point.