WHAT A JOKE

Boy oh boy is David Stern finally getting what he deserves. The self proclaimed crowned king of major sports commissioners has a serious problem on his hands and here's a bet he does nothing about it, as usual when an NBA star is talking his talk. Carmelo Anthony, who is under contract with the Denver Nuggets is saying publicly, he will only sign an extension, which Denver has had on the table for months, with the New York Knicks or New Jersey Nets. What a great guy. I'm taking my ball and going home and I'll only play where I want. The trouble is, the owner in Denver is already paying a boatload of cash for him to play at a "superstar" level for his team. The league should take Carmelo's comments serious and hit him exactly where it hurts the most. Fine his "backside", fine the Knicks and Nets for tampering and remove them as destinations sites for his upcoming free agency.

Stern, for years has tended to side with players over ownership. The NBA could quickly in the future be looking at a league concentrated in the larger media type cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami etc. And if you're an owner in places like Sacramento, Minneapolis, Cleveland and Charlotte you're out of luck but please keep writing those checks.

Bottom line...Carmelo is a spoiled brat bum of a player that shows no willingness to ascend to greatness on his own. And just like his compatriot, LeBron James, will hopefully never earn a ring to legitimize his self importance.

Strike Two

You officially have to feel a little snake bit if you're a fan of the NBA Portland Trailblazers.

Strike One - Back in 1984, the Trailblazers bypassed a certain North Carolina Tar Heel hoopster named Michael Jordan to draft 7'1 Sam Bowie out of Kentucky. Bowie had serious leg issues and never had much of an NBA career. Micheal Jordan had a legendary career, winning 6 NBA titles and is regarded as the greatest player of all time.

Strike Two - The 2007 NBA Draft came down to either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant as the #1 pick held by the Trailblazers. They chose Oden and he's been sidelined most of his NBA career with, leg issues. Sound familiar? Kevin Durant just led the USA to its first World Championship since 1994 and appears ready to take his place among the greats of the game.

Better luck next time Portland. Only one strike left.

NBA Free Agency - Winners and Losers

I am so tired of the NBA. Not sure if I'll put any time or effort into watching next season. This whole free agency farce has taken any love I've had for the game and flushed it. At least my wife will be happy not to hear me scream at the TV.

Losers

1. LeBron James - that's right, LeBum is at the top of my list. He sold out pure and simple. Gave up. Quit. Admitted he isn't the anointed one. Needs his hand held to be successful. Talent he has, grits and guts are lacking. I can't for a moment think that the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson or Larry Bird pulling this move. It's about competing, beating the other guy that drove these true legends of the game. Rings happened because they were great. Surely, LeBum will be bowed down to by all media sorts but his troubles have just begun and he hasn't a hint about it.
2. New York Knicks - How would you like to be a Knick season ticket holder right now. For two years you have been told that the gutting of the roster and the pitiful excuse of a basketball team was all about signing LeBum in his free agency year. Well, you lose again because LeBum is not coming and now your team is likely worse than ever and you'll be still be paying through the teeth for the right to boo your bums. Carmelo is only another 360 or so days away from his free agency. Good luck with Amar'e as your centerpiece.
   
3. ESPN - A used to think ESPN was the Messiah of sport networks. They did things better than the major networks. Not anymore. That masquerade of a show last night flashed their true colors. Do anything to STAGE an event. Nothing is real anymore. Innovation is a thing of the past.
4. David Stern - Nice league!! The inmates are running the show. But then again you have repeatedly promoted individuals over your teams. Owners get no bang for their buck with you in control. You only have to look what teams have dominated winning championships to realize the fix is in.
5. Miami Heat - I'll make this bet right now. They will never win a NBA Championship with James, Wade and Bosh. The Lakers of the late 60's with West, Baylor and Chamberlain tried and they failed. You need a 8-10 man rotation and you're out of cap space. Besides, how long will it take before one of those primadonnas gets their feeling hurt. It's my team.
   

Winners

1. Dan Gilbert - No longer held hostage by LeBron. Nice to hear honest true emotions of an owner not having to kiss the ass of his should be superstar. Plenty of cap room. Can now build a Team.
   

Replacement Refs: Not a Big Change

When has the NBA not used the equivalent of replacement refs? Certainly not in my lifetime. Officiating has been broken ever since the day the league decided to scrap the rule book and and let the games become Vince McMahon-like entertainment exhibitions.

There was a time when referees were independent and acted like it. Now, they are too aware of the game clock, which players are involved in a play and how the call will be perceived by the fans, teams, owners and league officials. And they too often want to be part of the drama of the game. This game to game inconsistency and uncertainty gave room for rogue refs like Tim Donaghy (pictured) to operate.

This may be an opportunity for the league to re-invigorate the referees profession.

Or, get rid of refs altogether. Think about it. It may be possible to bring back the integrity of the game by letting the players call their own fouls - "street rules". Let the players call fouls and work things out on the court. Players know what is or is not allowed in the context of a game. Let courtside - not on-court - officials decide the really hard fouls or when replay is needed to be used.

One thing street rules will prevent ... it will stop the flop. What player would dare flop if his peers are calling the game. Regardless, unless we have a return to the basics of Dr. Naismith's' game, it doesn't matter a lick who's blowing the whistle.

Finally...It's Over

This had to be the longest NBA season of my life and thankfully the NBA Finals ended last night. I had minimal interest at best. I confess to not being either a Laker or Magic fan. As the NBA goes there seem to be more and more teams each year I grow to dislike or am disinterested. But if pressed, I hate the Lakers. The team of my youth were the Russell/Bird Celtic's and since my relocation to the Valley of the Sun, I love the Nash led Suns. I was raised in a basketball family and I love the GAME of Basketball. Maybe that's why I'm having a fallout with the NBA version. I admit being a basketball snob and a bit of a purest and I hate that the best players in the world are held to less of a standard when it comes to the rules of the game. Traveling, palming, grabbing, slapping, flopping, ball at three quarters court late in a game, superstars being protected are just some of the items that cause me to rant. And I have been know to rant. I would recommend the College game but they are close behind in the same tactics. So for now, its down to the high school level for those of us who want to see rules enforced like they were originally written. If only the NBA would see the error of their ways and bring back the the most beautifully played game we have. It would be "Fantastic".

The Monday Morning Fullback

1. My new favorite coach in any sport is Mike Singletary. In his first game as a NFL head coach he sent a player to the showers and called out his team. Mike spelled out to his batch of spoiled brats there was no 'I" in TEAM and if anyone thought there was had better take a remedial spelling course. Can you imagine if other professional coaches take this lead? We could clean up the kids in no time. Only wish TO was still a 49'er.
   
   
2. "Midnight Lute" struck again. This time he swooped in and plain old quit. There are rumors of health issues and if there are then I apologize in advance. But this guy single-handily may have destroyed an University of Arizona basketball program he built from the ground up. He's always been a bit pompous but the guy could coach. My troubles with Lute are two-fold. First as one of the highest paid if not the highest paid employee of the State of Arizona, we fellow tax payers deserve the truth, and I for one can handle the truth. Secondly, he just played with the lives of kids who had looked to him for his expertise. A complete recruiting class is gone and players who might have left after last years travesty are stuck with their third coach in as many years. Tucson is going to start looking a lot like Corvallis and Pullman
   
   
3. We are heading down the homestretch of the presidential campaign and why is it Obama continues to get a free pass? I know McCain is no treat but when did the mainstream media decide tough questions aren't part of the process. Hey folks, it's tougher than tough out there and the next bozo who works out of the West Wing had better be prepared for the toughest job of his life. America will be watching and we we remember.
   
   
4. Fox, Fox, Fox. Let me count the ways I hate thee. At the very least they set a record for viewership in the 1:30-2:00 AM time slot for Friday's or was it Saturday's game three of the World Series. All 1000 of those glued to their sets get an 99 cent gift certificate to the Waffle House.
   
   
5. Bud Selig. You're a bigger moron that I even thought. Repeat after me. I am the commissioner of Major League Baseball. The World Series is a premier event. Get rid of Fox. Now. And find a national television network (NBC) that pledges to showcase the World Series. Not run away and hide from College Football on Saturday and NFL on Sunday. You are the problem for the sport. Do us all a favor and pull a Lute Olson.
   
   
6. The NBA starts another season this week, oh boy, so look for my predictions for the 2008-2009 season. I'll have a couple of surprises.
   
   
7. Let's get this boring World Series over and get on to the Hot Stove League.

NBA Refereeing

Convicted felon Tim Donaghy may be doing the NBA a favor by focusing attention on the refs. He says that several series were thrown in the past few years by crooked refs conspiring with the league.

While that may or may not be true, what is true is this: rules in the NBA are interpreted from night to night, based on location and player involved. As a result, of course viewers (and players and coaches) are going to think there's a conspiracy.

The real conspiracy, if there is one, is that the league gives refs way too much leeway from game to game and even minute to minute. Or perhaps even tells them to cal the game based on the situation.

Case in point, Game 2 of the Finals. Even during a game in which the Celtics were beneficiaries of crowd-pleasin' refereein',the worst call went against them. In the midst of the fourth quarter Laker rally, the refs ate their whistles while a Laker took five steps from mid-court with nary a dribble on the way to a dunk. Any elementary school player would have expected to hear a whistle on the play. But not in the NBA. Why break up a potentially historic comeback?

Why make the call at that point? Easy. Because it's the right call. And it'll make the next call - no matter how difficult - much more palatable for fans, players and coaches. The real challenge for the league is to have the refs achieve game-to-game consistency without regard for venue, situation, score or player status.