You Win DeShawn Stevenson, You Win

DeShawn Stevenson topped the charts of "ridiculous things ever done" with an ATM in his kitchen.

This is absolutely one of the most un-toppable things I've ever seen in my life. DeShawn Stevenson has basically turned his home into a bank for himself.

It's like DeShawn woke up one morning and was like "Yo, what is the most unrealistic, ridiculous, self-promoting, egotistical, funny thing I could do right now while I'm sitting at home not in the playoffs because I play for the New...Brook...Whatever Nets? Oh my god. I've got it, I'm gonna put an ATM in my house so I can be straight cash homie." I'm also interested to see if he's got a transaction fee on it so he feels like he's getting paid, when he's actually just trading money from spot A to spot B and back again. Anyways. Come on now, DeShawn this is like screaming at the top of your lungs, "I'VE GOT 5,000 DOLLARS IN MY POCKETS," in a crowd full of gypsies. Dude, you're going to get robbed, simple as that. At the same token, I'll give you credit. I can't fathom anyone else decided that their free time be devoted to buying an ATM. You have quenched my thirst for the ridiculous my friend and for that I praise you...and laugh at you.

This is the same guy that was walking around flaunting this t-shirt after he single-handedly stopped Lebron James(I'm kidding, he didn't single-handedly do anything):

Clever t-shirt to be wearing out the night after you were crowned an NBA champ even though you felt you deserved it more than some other people on your team (cough...cough...Jason Terry, J-Kidd, Marion) when you really didn't. It's OK though, because I have no idea how it feels to win an NBA Championship or anything close to that matter. DeShawn was like the #TeamHateLebron #1 mascot and for that I commend him. He actually was on #TeamHateLebron way before it was even cool to be on that Twitter team. He's like the hipster of the hate game.

Actually, Stevenson is bigger than all that. I'd go as far to say he means as much to #TeamHateLebron as Jordan meant to #TeamChicagoBulls. Lebron's boy Jay-Z wrote a diss about Nas, Prodigy and DeShawn Stevenson? Wait, which one isn't like the others? Check this out:

Seriously? Jay-Z wrote a diss song about a mediocre NBA player who does little more than defend? Wow, all hail DeShawn for inciting 'Bron's whole crew. Cleveland should go ahead and sign him on principle, just to keep the #TeamHateLebron squad buzzing.

I do also have to ask two things of DeShawn:
1. What the HELL is this tattoo?
2. Why did you go from playing on average 15 solid minutes with the Dallas Mavericks to playing on average 18 terrible minute with the New Jersey Nets?

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A Dynasty On Hold

Oklahoma City is probably going to have to wait a year before it can start it's jaunt towards dynasty.

 The Oklahoma City Thunder have had two opportunities now to show to us their newly discovered maturity, two opportunities to show us that they've taken the next step towards greatness. Unfortunately for the Thunder, they've run into the final push of the last great NBA dynasty and are just standing witness to maybe one of the greatest playoff runs we've ever seen.

This San Antonio team is like none of the previous four Spurs teams that won the title. Sure their "Big Three" has been through three of those four championships and of course Gregg Popovich has shown he is still the best coach in basketball despite being disrespected almost every year by media and the public alike. This Spurs squad is a well-oiled machine. They're like the last push of an army that will not stop 'til it gets what it wants. There is no storyline too them other than the fact they're really really old. There is no drama. There is no fluff. This is a perfectly assembled basketball team whose role players not only fit, but excel. No one wants to see them beat Oklahoma City, obviously Lebron vs. Durant is way sexier. But, San Antonio frankly doesn't give a rats' you know what. They're here for one more gold trophy and honestly who thinks they're going to be stopped? They have yet to lose a playoff game. They're 10-for-10. They destroyed the Clippers and Jazz who were far inferior opponents, but they really haven't let up that pace against this strong Thunder team. Yeah they've only won these two games by a combined 12 points, but they were in control from start to finish in both of them. Once you start methodically beating Oklahoma City, in my eyes, you're the team to beat and I think the rest of America is starting to agree with me.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think OKC is under performing or looking scared out there, the Spurs are just that damn good. Everything Scott Brooks attempts to throw at San Antonio they simply shove it right back down their throats, quietly and effectively. Durant and Westbrook are coexisting fine, but San Antonio is countering with a far superior Tim Duncan and a completely revolutionized Manu Ginobili. There is simply nothing the Thunder can do to stop this juggernaut, unless of course their raucous college-like crowd can somehow rattle this freight train, but I just don't see the San Antonio experience and maturity letting that happen.

And let's not forget about Tim Duncan's probable "last ride." I mean the man is on the verge of his fifth title, all of which he was the main man. Yes, I do think he was the Batman to David Robinson's Robin, so I'll count that '99 title as mainly his. But anyways, while everyone is hooting and hollering about Lebron and Kobe, Tim Duncan has quietly amassed one of the greatest careers in NBA history. If and probably when Duncan wins his fifth title I think it's fair to say we can enter him into the discussions of greatest player of all-time or at least the top 5 debate that includes, Kobe, Bird, Magic, Jordan and maybe Lebron? Isn't this all kind of wild though? You would have never put Tim Duncan in your top five. I mean, everyone knows that Tim Duncan is easily a hall-of-famer, but top five? It still doesn't register. He's the guy who has never said anything interesting, never shows emotions, never really makes any noise aside from when his shot banks in off the backboard. He has just put up monster numbers over the years, played within his system and hustled his butt off. But everyone forgets about him because he isn't flashy, doesn't really do advertisements and doesn't give a damn what people have to say about him or what his legacy might be. He just does his thing, which may very well include a handful of rings by late June.

Between Gregg Popovich's coaching and Tim Duncan's chase for a fifth ring, I don't see this being Oklahoma City's year. I know the dynasty was supposed to start this year and the Lebron-bowing-to-Durant sentiment was already set to begin, but the Spurs last gasp effort may be more than the league can handle. OKC will rise again next year and probably win their first, but for now it's the Spurs time to dance off into the sunset or in Tim Duncan's case just walk slowly into the sunset, emotionless.

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USA Hangs a Five-Spot on Scotland, Donovan Gets a Hatter

Landon Donovan capped off one of the better nights in U.S. soccer history by scoring his third international hatter.

 Sporting the freshest red & white striped uni's, USA went out last night, took Scotland behind the woodshed and beat them like a rag doll. Landon Donovan once again proved to me that I shouldn't automatically give Clint Dempsey the title as the United States' best player; he had one of those hat tricks. Landon controlled USA's offensive flow from the kick-off and Michael Bradley added a bomb in the 11th minute to secure what was a rare easy 5-1 victory for U.S. Soccer.

After Scotland scored to cut the lead to one, USA went on the offensive. The second half proved to be their half as they scored three goals en route to a rout of the Scots. Without striker Jozy Altidore and attacking midfielder Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan took it upon himself to lead the Americans and did so in vintage LD fashion. He made scintilating runs left and right and simply commanded the ball all night. On his first goal he simply wouldn't be denied after he placed a rebound in the top of the net. On goal two he executed a give-n-go with Jermaine Jones that ended in a wide open Donovan shredding twine. On his hat trick goal, he finished off a beautiful Michael Bradley through ball. This hat trick was the third of Donovan's US career once again making him the only American with more than one hat trick on his international resume. On the fifth USA goal LD added an assist to his silly night by lifting a ball over the Scotland defenders right onto Jermaine Jones' head for a beautiful cap to one of the better nights in U.S. Soccer history. I just wonder why this guy still plays for the Galaxy when he had been tearing it up for Everton, but that's for another time.

This was the biggest win in the Jurgen Klinnsman-era, besides maybe that 1-0 victory over Italy earlier this year. I don't expect the good times to end anytime soon under the German. Next up on Wednesday comes a major test as the Brazilians roll into town looking to embarrass the Americans, I have a good feeling U.S. will have something to say about that.

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Alex Smith Running His Mouth? What a Joke!

Despite leading the 49ers to a 13-3 record, Alex Smith simply cannot run his mouth

  ESPN.com-CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jon Beason may not play offensive tackle, but he's certainly not afraid to protect his quarterback.

Beason, the Panthers' three-time Pro Bowl linebacker, fired back Friday at San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith via Twitter after comments he perceived were a slam on Carolina teammate Cam Newton.

Beason wrote, "Alex smith, don't hate on Cam (because) your stats would've gotten u cut if Peyton decided to come 2 San Fran. Truth b told. That's after a 13-3 yr."

Smith used Newton as an example earlier this week that big stats don't always equate to wins.

When Smith was asked Wednesday about the 49ers finishing 29th in NFL in passing yards per game last year, he defended the offense by pointing out the team's record. The 49ers went 13-3 and won their division before losing to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship.

"I could absolutely care less on yards per game," Smith told a group of reporters. "I think that is a totally overblown stat because if you're losing games in the second half, guess what, you're like the Carolina Panthers and you're going no-huddle the entire second half. Yeah, Cam Newton threw for a lot of 300-yard games. That's great. You're not winning, though."

Wait, Alex Smith is talking smack? The guy who before last year had won like 12 games in 4 years? The guy who has a career passer rating of 76.4? That guy that threw only 1 TD in his rookie year to go along with 11 INTs and nine fumbles? The guy who had the best season of his career and still would have been sniped if the broke-neck Peyton Manning had said he was taking his talents to the Bay Area? You have got to be kidding me.

Alex Smith you had a phenomenal season for your own career. You won 13 games and almost led your squad to the Super Bowl. You only threw five picks, which was something of a miracle. You turned it around, and this is how you repay the world? Running your unimportant mouth about Cam Newton, who looks to be more of a higher superstar status than you will ever sniff.

First of all, just because your defense was phenomenal and Jim Harbaugh saved your career doesn't mean you can just take shots at a guy whose career is about a thousand times brighter than yours was, even when you were the first overall pick in '05. Jon Beason had it right, you were still going to get the axe if Peyton Manning decided he wanted to play for your team. You know that no one really cares about if you take your squad to a NFC Championship game and they still have the audacity to even think about cutting you. Don't take out your bitterness on Cam Newton just because he likes to put up freakish stats on a horrendous team. If he played for your 49ers squad, he would have put up bigger numbers and he'd have a Super Bowl ring.

Get out of here Alex Smith, don't be mad because your career year's are meaningless.

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What The NHL May Have Lost With The Devils Winning The East Instead of The Rangers

The NHL would have much preferred these two going up against each other, rather than Quick v. Brodeur.

 As the puck slowly slide towards the goal line and eventually over it last night, my first reaction was really? An epic series was going to end without a Game 7? Come on, it's actually not going to happen? And then I thought, we're not going to have L.A. vs. N.Y.? It was like all the bad things that could happened, happened all in one split second. But then I realized one good thing, at least we're not going to see the Coyotes and the Devils. That would have been scary. I'm also sure the NHL was quite relieved that the Kings took care of business quite easily, but I'm also confident that they league was praying that the Rangers could have pulled it out. The Devils winning the East wasn't the end of the world for the league, but I think it does take away from what could have been a major step in the right direction for the NHL.

Imagine if it was New York and Los Angeles? West Coast vs. East Coast? Two relatively unsuccessful, yet major franchises going at it for their newest chance at glory and in the Kings case, their first ever. Both squads had their shot at glory in the 90s(Kings in '93 and Rangers in '94) but only New York took advantage. This would have been a great opportunity for L.A. to get theirs against their far east rival, but it simply wouldn't be so. Also consider the other markets affected by this series. San Jose and the rest of Northern California would root heavily for the Rangers, being that their down south rival thinks their city is the greatest in the world. On the other end, both Philly and Boston would be rooting for the Kings as their inferiority complexes would flame up. New York, L.A. would have been fantastic for the sport of hockey and for the NHL. Just look at what the Boston and Vancouver series did for the league? Everyone seemingly was rooting for Boston because they incorrectly thought that it was U.S.A vs. Canada even though there were plenty of American players on the Canucks. Honestly for the NHL it doesn't matter why people watch, as long as they're watching.

I'm not saying this Kings, Devils series isn't going to be great, or that no one will watch it. I'm just saying that something about west coast vs. east coast would unite the country in a way only really the Olympics can. And honestly, Jersey is Jersey, and the Prudential Center isn't the mecca of sports like the Garden is. Leaving the Garden dormant for another June is just a travesty to the Arena. This will be the 12th straight June that neither basketball and hockey will played in MSG and that is just seriously unfortunate.

I didn't really believe the Rangers had a great chance against the sizzling hot Kings, and I don't really think the Devils do either. Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty and co. have the zoned-in Jonathan Quick and if the "hot goalie" syndrome has showed us anything in the past, you can be sure that the Kings will have the upper hand. But that isn't the point.

As epic a series this upcoming one may be, the Rangers/Kings one would have been that much more memorable.

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Will Kobe's Lakers Disappear Like Isiah's Pistons?

 
Fast forward to 2:28 to hear the comments.

"It's not like one of those things that like the Bulls beat the Pistons and the Pistons disappeared forever. I'm not going for that s**t."

Jordan's Bulls ended the "Bad Boy" dynasty in Detroit

Kobe is of course talking about the "Bad Boy" Pistons of the late 80's that included Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Bill Laimbeer. This team won back-to-back NBA Finals in '89 and '90. They were of course the last hurdle for Jordan's Bulls before they went on a freakish run of six titles in eight years(one and a half years without MJ). In those two championships years the Pistons defeated the Bulls twice in the Eastern Conference Finals in six and seven games respectively. But then in '91, Jordan finally willed his squad to an absolute domination of the Pistons as they swept them and went on to win the first of six titles. Detroit made the playoffs the next year but then were ousted by Patrick Ewing's Knicks. The Pistons went ten years without advancing past the first round and 13 years until they reached another NBA Finals. What Kobe meant about the Pistons "disappearing forever" is that they needed to completely rebuild their squad in order to get back to where they were. The ugly crumbling of a dynasty that had so much success, similar to Kobe's Lakers.

Despite Kobe brimming with confidence as he always is, I think he's wrong. This Lakers squad is cooked. Pau Gasol looked extra soft, like his Memphis days working for Downey. Ramon Sessions was clearly not the answer. Metta World War is so inconsistent it hurts. Andrew Bynum has concentration issues that mimic a seven year old with ADHD. This team will need to completely rebuild if it wants to get back to the top, and the 33-year-old Kobe really doesn't have the time to wait, nor will he want to. Let's say I'm wrong though. Let's say this team does respond and its players get back to the playoffs again, who says they're in the same stratosphere as the Thunder? No one. While Jordan is a more superior all-around player than Durant will ever be, Durant's Thunder squad is deeper and strong than some of the early Bulls teams. Los Angeles will never again beat Oklahoma City in the playoffs, that is if they can consistently get there still.

So while Kobe's historical reference was pretty witty and a great sound bite, he's wrong. This Lakers team has to make some major Deron Williams/Dwight Howard-like move in order to even have a chance of beating this dynasty in a making in Oklahoma City. But they won't. The Lakers will fade off into the sunset and Kobe will sit unfortunately one ring shy of the MJ argument and he will probably remain one of the most under appreciated players in the history of the NBA.

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A Major What If For This Year's NBA Season

Eric Gordon and Kyrie Irving could have been a lethal combo in Los Angeles

 After watching the San Antonio Spurs absolutely demolish the upstart Los Angeles Clippers I got to thinking about this currently assembled squda. Of course the Clippers inadequacies were probably far overshadowed by the Spurs overarching wisdom of the game and Gregg Popovich's ability to coach any group of individuals and make them champions. However, there was a major move that stretched back all the way into last year that almost already determined how this Clipper team would fare.

Around the trade deadline last year the Clippers decided to shed the major contract of Baron Davis in order to make room for a future acquisition(cough...cough...Chris Paul). Los Angeles sent Davis and an unprotected first round pick for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon. That trade seems harmless on the surface, a deal centered around getting rid of a mistake contract and opening up options. The Cavs were jumping all over it because they got a first round pick. But here's where this trade burns the Clippers. That 1st round pick was unprotected, which means the Cavs had the pick no matter what cellar spot Los Angeles finished in. Well, the Clippers won the lottery and then watched their traded rights in Kyrie Irving head to Cleveland. If they had simply protected that pick at a top-3 or a number pick the Clippers future would be mighty magnificent.

Think about the squad the Clippers would have if they had simply protected that pick and drafted Kyrie Irving. With Irving coming in ready to fill that point guard role immediately(as we saw in his Rookie of the Year Award) Los Angeles wouldn't have had to thrown the bank at the Hornets for CP3. No offense to CP3 as I believe he is the finest point guard in all the land, but depth swamps top-heavy-talent teams as we're seeing with OKC and San Antonio. Kyrie Irving would start at the point, Eric Gordon at the 2, assuming they went out and signed Caron Butler he would play wing, Blake Griffin at power forward and Chris Kaman at center. That means Bledsoe, Foye, Williams and DeAndre Jordan would come off the bench and you'd be looking at a solid top nine and a young up-and-coming squad. As in Oklahoma City-young. Gordon has shown that he can score at the elite level if he could only stay healthy. They also would have Chris Kaman to bang around in the paint. The depth and youth of that squad would be exciting and potentially be the team that battles OKC for Western Conference supremacy. Actually make that a three-way youthful juggernaut in the Thunder, Grizzlies and Clippers.

I give credit to Bill Simmons for realizing this situation, but I was just so interested by it and now that the Clippers are out earlier than they wanted to be, I thought it'd be appropriate to speak on it.

This is all a major "what if." I get it. Classic Los Angeles Clippers though, slinging unprotected draft picks like they were candy. Anyways, I just believe the trio of Kaman, Kyrie, Blake and Eric Gordon is just way more tantalizing than Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The Clippers will be a good team in the West for years to come, but the youth and potential of that "what if" Clipper squad is just too exciting to pass up. Unfortunately, we will never see that squad and I should stop thinking or dreaming about it. But enjoy the thought of such a young and explosive team. Maybe throw it on your 2K12 or whatever NBA game kids play these days.

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The Real NBA Finals

The Thunder and Spurs are in about to embark on a Western Conference clash for the ages.

 When Derrick Rose tore his ACL back in the first round series against Philly, it looked as if it was going to be straight smooth sailing for the Heat in the Eastern Conference, they were coming off a monster Game 1 victory over the Knicks and had no reason to believe they would be upset by the Pacers in the 2nd round or the Celtics/Hawks/76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. But then Chris Bosh tweaked his abdomen to such a serious point that he still remains in question for even the Finals. It was then that the attention turned immediately to the West, where thought we were going to watch the Thunder and Lakers go at it, and then watch that winner battle to the death with the Spurs. Yet, instead we sit here today and realize that the NBA Finals will be played over the next week in what will be formally known as the "Western Conference Finals." The winner determined in that matchup(either San Antonio or OKC) was already thought to be too strong for the Big Three's version of the Heat, but without Bosh, Miami has no chance, and neither do the Celtics, Pacers or 76ers.

The beauty in a Thunder, Spurs matchup lies in truly just the storyline. It's the hardened championship-tested veterans against the wildly popular and seriously talented upstarts looking to forge their own legacy silver lined with the word "dynasty." Both teams are at the apex of their game, and are making strong cases to why they should be crowned Western Conference Champs and eventually NBA Champions.

Oklahoma City is the hot ticket right now. They dismantled the Mavericks in a quick and orderly fashion and now they have the Lakers on the verge of extinct, but more importantly they have already beaten that locker room to shreds. Russell Westbrook, who is both their Achilles' heel and go-getter is currently playing some of the best basketball we've ever seen out of him. You know the basketball where he plays as a point guard and not a shooting guard. Ice water is coursing through Kevin Durant's veins. Serge Ibaka holds daily block parties. James Harden has made his case for sixth man of the year award. And finally Kendrick Perkins hasn't smiled since 1996 and along the way has made Andrew Bynum look like the schoolboy he is. The Thunder's youth, athleticism and tenacity is truly a beautiful sight. Yet the question remains: Can they keep this level of maturity up? Or will the wise and clever Spurs push them in the other direction.

A dynasty is coming to a close here in the 2012 playoffs. But, I'm not talking about the Lakers who are crashing and burning with clubhouse drama, I'm talking about the San Antonio Spurs who look poised to finish this fantastic run on one final high note. I could sit here and talk about how phenomenally efficient Tim Duncan is or how spectacularly clever Manu Ginobili is or how Tony Parker commands a basketball court, but it all doesn't matter. Without Gregg Popovich at the helm, this group of aging veterans would just be a group of aging veterans, most likely swallowed up in the first round thanks to the compressed lockout season. But the 2012 NBA Coach of The Year wouldn't let it happen, absolutely no way would he let it happen. Instead of fading into the sunset they're barreling toward what could be a fifth NBA title since 1999. Pop will go down as one of the greatest coaches of all-time, a man that could control a locker room full of monkeys and a man who has a general disdain for losing and a serious penitence for championships.

I know there are still going to be some people who think that Bosh will return in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Heat will get right and get back on track. But I'm not even sure that I thought a fully healthy Heat squad could beat the Spurs and Thunder, who are just shredding the Western Conference, when it was supposed to be a "gauntlet." Unless these two squads beat each other up in the WCFs so badly that someone either gets seriously injured or they are just physically and mentally drained, there is no way a team from the East will beat either one. 

So while we watch the Thunder dispatch the Lakers tonight, just like the Spurs did last night, we will be on the precipice of one of the greatest Western Conference Finals in NBA history. A seven game set for sure, with most likely an NBA title on the way as well. Let us see just if it will be a smashing close to the NBA's latest dynasty or a explosive beginning to a new one.

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Translating Manchester City Into The American Sports Language

This could be the site in Manchester City for years to come.

 So I'm sure a lot of you who know absolutely nothing about soccer and don't really care to learn were pretty intrigued when you watched Manchester City win the Premier League, lose the Premier League and win it back in 90 minutes. The scintillating soccer from what most people consider as Manchester's "second team" was so stunning in those last four minutes that I'm quite confident everyone who tuned in on Sunday could not believe their eyes. Still many Americans had no idea how the Premiership works or what the hell happened on Sunday and why it was so disgustingly dramatic. They also probably never heard of Manchester City since it has been swallowed up in the shadows of one of soccer's most famous clubs, Manchester United. But it's City's time now in the Premiership and I'll try my best to translate what that means in the American Sports Language, because we all know that very few Americans get club soccer or soccer in general.

Even though Man City has been like the Mets or Jets of the Manchester club soccer scene(a second tier squad in a two-squad city), the organization has taken a dramatic turn in the last few years. This turn around all started with the financials. In 2007 City was sold to Middle Eastern businessman Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan(yeah that's a full name) and things changed instantly. Shinawatra re-energized the organization by pumping boatloads of cash into the transfer market. In the '07/'08 season, Manchester City had spent about 45 million euros on transfers. In '08/'09, City had its first of many monster spending summers, dishing out more than 125 million euros almost a 300% increase from the year before. Particularly large signings came in the form of two Brazilian strikers, Jo and Robinho, Both of which turned out to be major busts eventually leaving after only a few years. City followed up that insane summer with several more. In the last three years Man City has paid around 350 million euros for the services of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Joleon Lescott, Roque Santa Cruz, Yaya Toure, David Silva, Mario Balotelli, James Milner, Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero. Unlike the first two signings who came and went faster than Freddy Adu's stardom in the U.S, these 10 players are all still currently with Manchester City.

Basically Manchester City has become the New York Yankees of the Premier League. They spend ruthlessly, obnoxiously and sometimes the spend like they've never touched a euro before. Like the Yankees of the mid-2000s, those first three seasons of bank abuse didn't exactly lead to soccer glory. In '08/'09 with growing expectations that coincided with their growth in payroll, City finished a disappointing sixth, fired their head coach and brought in a new one. The next year, they underachieved again finishing fifth, but at least had the opportunity to play for the Europa League the next season. Europa League is like the NIT of the European Club Soccer. An invitation to the Europa League for City was sort of like receiving a participation trophy in pee-wee sports, just consolation. Finally, in the third season of the big spending era, City crept out of the shadows finishing third in the league and winning the F.A. Cup for the first time since 1969. The expensive pieces were finally coming together for Man United's red headed step brother, and the 2011-12 season was to be their year.

The final piece to the puzzle was a Argentinian speedster by the name of Sergio Aguero. Manchester City signed the 23-year-old for 38 million euros and has gotten nothing but spectacular play. Aguero has 23 goals in 34 appearances for City and earned the team's Player of the Year Award. He also was the one who scored that scintillating goal in the 94th minute to give Man City its first Premiership title since '68. Aguero will be forever etched in the memory of Man City fans for breaking through that 44-year league title barrier.

So like the big spending Yankees of the mid-2000s that eventually turned into the 2008 World Series Champions, it has taken time to mold this group of high priced individuals into a championship caliber club. I'm quite confident Manchester City will turn this into a streak of various Cup and League titles and maybe shifting the league and city of Manchester on its head. Americans know all about Man U, which is probably the most famous English side, but they will soon know Manchester City and know them well.. That is of course, if they weren't already encapsulated by that fireworks finish that happened on Sunday.

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Old School Trash Talk Enters The Twittersphere

We thought the LeSean McCoy-Osi Umenyiora beef was done, but Osi fired back.

ESPN.com- Osi Umenyiora apparently isn't ready to let his feud with LeSean McCoy die down.

On Mother's Day, the New York Giants defensive end tweeted, "Happy Mothers Day Lesean Mccoy! Enjoy your special day!!"

Last summer, Umenyiora referred to the Eagles running back as "Lady Gaga" and "she" after McCoy tweeted that the defensive end is "overrated" and "soft" and the third-best defensive lineman on the Giants.

On Sunday, McCoy tweeted, "Lol let the beef begin."

Umenyiora recently joined Twitter and it didn't take him long to take a jab at McCoy. Umenyiora later tweeted to former teammate Brandon Jacobs, "u know the beef is never over. Never."

Umenyiora has said that he and McCoy have been going at each other for a long time, but the Eagles running back really drew his ire last summer with the "overrated" and "soft" tweets, which was in reference to news about Umenyiora's affidavit about general manager Jerry Reese allegedly promising him a raise as part of the players' lawsuit against the NFL during the lockout.

"I refer to him as she because that is something that a woman would do," Umenyiora told ESPNNewYork.com last June. "You can sit over there and be a Twitter gangster all you want to but on the football field is where you are supposed to address these types of things.

"I have always referred to him as that because he is woman," Umenyiora continued. "We have a lot of animosity toward each other personally and on the football field is where I thought it was left. But he has decided to take it off the football field and say some things that I just have no respect for."

The Eagles and Giants have hated each other for years, that's obvious. Philly's inferiority complex has been pretty apparent for years and New York is irked just enough by their I-90 rival to answer back. The most recent bout of trash talking between these two cities came via Twitter and through two of the team's most outspoken players.

Classic Osi Umenyiora here. Guy loves to talk and will never back down from a fight whether it be verbally or Twittorically(whatever that means). I thought this shot was alright, but the Lady Gaga comments a while back were much funnier. Actually when Osi referred to McCoy as a "Twitter gangster" I thought it was hilarious. Twitter has to be the softest form of trash talking. I'd be more offended if someone decided to go after me via Facebook. But I guess Twitter is the way guys get their distant trash talking done these days. I'm assuming we are long removed from the days of Ochocinco sending his opposing cornerbacks deodorant, aspirin and other toiletries which is the ultimate form of smack talking.

I'll give Osi credit, he's won two Super Bowls so he obviously has the "scoreboard" argument on his side. But really you're going to go back at McCoy long after this beef seemed settled? Was Osi mad because the Rangers were getting more play than the Giants offseason for the first time in 18 or so years? Had to get the Giants back on New York's radar? C'mon man, you call yourself a champion and you let little stuff get you going? McCoy can talk all he want, but he has no pedigree to back it up. His stats aren't mind-blowing and his Eagles have won absolutely nothing.

Keep acting like Twitter gangsters and we'll see how much people want to shut down the NFL because of its "violent nature."

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The Josh Hamilton Dilemma

Josh Hamilton might be the best hitter in the MLB, but his off-season won't go so simply.

 We watched Josh Hamilton mash an MLB record-tying four home runs against a surprisingly good Orioles team a few nights ago and that brought about a ton of questions about the future. Is soon-to-be free agent Josh Hamilton the next Albert Pujols? How much will his next contract be? Just what is this guy all about?

Well for one we know this guy can hit the heck out of a baseball. In his first full MLB season Hamilton batted .304, hit 35 homers and drove in 130 RBIs. Even though he couldn't win rookie of the year because he had lost his eligibility in Cincinnati the year before, Hamilton was immediately seen as something special. His 2008 home run derby was one of the most infamous home run derby's ever. It was only fitting that in the final year of the old Yankee Stadium we would get a memorable derby, and Hamilton provided it. The 27-year-old at the time mashed balls to parts of Yankee Stadium never touched before. Call it Hamilton's coming out party, but for him to put on such a show in baseball's championship kingdom, it set his career ablaze. Two years later Hamilton won the MVP with a monster .359 average.

It has been all gravy since 2007 for Josh Hamilton, but the previous years were not so magically. Hamilton's early years in baseball were filled with hard drugs, questionable characters and wrong turns. He was heading absolutely nowhere. Baseball wasn't saving him, as it took a family member's swift action in order to turn his life around. This is the major reason why Hamilton remains one of the most perplexing big time free agents of all-time.

Who is going to pay him? How is he going to be paid? Where is he going to go? The obvious move would be for him to take the hometown pay cut and stay in the place that has brought him nothing but blue skies. The Rangers will have money to spend, but they most likely won't dish out the 24-26 million a year many scouts believe he deserves. Hamilton is a different case than most free agents. He isn't injury prone, which is the usual excuse to why a great player doesn't get paid. He is a proven quantity, being a four-time all-star. His walk year is going as every walk year should: 17 HRs, 40 RBIs and a .407 BA through mid-May. There are plenty of reasons to put the pen to paper on a heavy deal with this guy. But his drug problems are so serious and so potential that a team has to be hesitant to sign him. A relapse is simply so easy and so instant for Hamilton that it should make any major market team fear his social presence. New York, Los Angeles and Miami are too wild for Hamilton right? Yes, but unfortunately they are the teams with the most money.

This chase for Hamilton could be anti-climatic. He might just ink a fair deal with the Rangers and call it a happy ending, but the money that a big time franchise throws at him will make him think, think long and hard. So while we watch Hamilton put together one of the better seasons in recent memory, let's remember that the drama won't stop in October.

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A Look Ahead To The NHL Eastern Conference Finals

The Rangers and Devils will forever be linked by the '94 ECFs, but will it happen again? Let's hope.

Madison Square Garden was teeming with anxiety last night. The type of anxiousness that causes panic attacks, heart attacks, strokes, and ultimately long lasting depressions. Despite the fact the Rangers were on the power play and had an extra attacker(a 6-4 man advantage) there was no way in the world the blueshirts were going to light the lamp. They're not clutch, they're an overrated #1 seed. But then as Ryan Callahan, the team's hero, and Brad Richards, the team's ugly contract, whacked away at the season, they finally found the twine and the rest was history. Marc Staal's goal was an afterthought, the Rangers had won the game with 6.6 seconds left in regulation and the OT goal was just happened to be a necessary formality. Stunningly New York was going to Washington on Wednesday with an opportunity to seal the deal on what has been a viciously intense and exciting playoff series. 

Across the river in Newark the night before, the Devils had continued their dominance of the surprisingly lethargic Philadelphia Flyers scoring 4 goals for the 3rd consecutive game and tightening their grip around the Flyers' throat. Yet the key play of the game happened well before Game 4 concluded. With frustration mounting and with the game and series slowly fading away from the Flyers, Claude Giroux threw an elbow to Dainius Zubrus's head earning him a suspension in Game 5. But it doesn't matter what the repercussions were. The Philadelphia Flyers were rattled. They were stunned and they were acting exactly how the Pittsburg Penguins were acting in the series before. All that maturity the Flyers had supposedly garnered in their first round matchup with the Penguins had gone out the window. Sore losers. That's the only way I can put it. When things are going good for the Flyers, they're veterans, when things go South, bitter school boys. I don't expect the Flyers to recover and win Game 5 because the Devils are in their heads. The experience and maturity New Jersey has is just too much for a Philadelphia comeback, especially when their best offensive threat is missing in action.

The prospects of a Devils, Rangers Eastern Conference Finals are growing immensely. While both team's have a bit of work to do, both have the necessary momentum to do their due diligence and make this series a reality.

1994. 1997. 2006. 2008. Rangers 3, Devils 1. Yet, the only series that really comes to memory is the '94 ECF finals which remains among the greatest playoff series of all-time. A series that will forever be remembered for a captain's guarantee, two overtime goals by a no-name third liner and a spine-tingling call by Howie Rose that I can confidently say will never be topped in pitch or fervor. It's a series that Rangers' fan cling to as their only great memory and a series that Marty Brodeur probably loses a ton of sleep over. The Rangers and Devils have met three more times since then and none of the series have come within the stratosphere of interesting. But then again none of those series were for the Prince of Wales trophy. 

The thought of a potential Rangers-Devils series makes me giddy. It is the New York rivalry since the Islanders haven't been relevant since the 80s. Brodeur vs. Lundqvist. Callahan vs. Parise. New York vs. Newark. I can see this series concluding in dramatic seven game fashion with several OT games throughout. 

While most of the players were still strapping on their first pair of skates when the '94 series happened, one player remains: Martin Brodeur. For Marty this is probably his last go around and it gives him a chance to exact some revenge on a franchise that stole away his fourth Stanley Cup. But will the nightmares of Matteau haunt him once again? Or will it be his time to seize back his reputation from the one team that has owned him? We can only hope that sometime next week these two teams will be hitting the ice in Madison Square Garden for what may just be a recreation of that epic spring of '94. 

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Having Fun At Bryce Harper's Expense

Bryce Harper just ain't for me.

Bryce Harper appeared on a cover of Sports Illustrated back in 2009. He was proclaimed to be baseball's Lebron; A teenager who received just far too much publicity for his age, even if he was for real. The article read something to the tune of this, the kid can smash home runs, he can hit for contact, he can throw the ball a million miles an hour, blah, blah, blah. They made him out to be some mythical sports legend who was going to enter the league hit .400 and smash 60 home runs every year. While that was all a product of the immense hype this kid got when he was in high school, he was drafted first overall in 2010 by the Nationals and did just step into his first Major League batters box less than 2 years after being drafted. In eight games Harper has hit .308, drove in three ribbies and even stole home.

While everyone is sitting here clamoring over another cookie cutter phenom story, I'm less than amused. Bryce Harper is a practice hero. He's that kid in high school who you could not stand for a minute. It'd be day three of preseason and Bryce Harper would be stealing the bases like he was Dave Roberts, Game 4 2004 ALCS. He's the guy the coaches just ate up and he made everyone look bad when he'd still be hustling in practice the day after a huge series. Harper just picked up after his sophomore year, earned his GED and went to some no name JUCO near where lived. There he slaughtered the JUCO scene as any phenom would do. Hearing this story made me laugh. Who is this kid kidding? Finish high school bud, enjoy your time there, fraternize with women, experiment with the classic high school no-no's. At the very least, have friends. But nope, Harper just focused in on baseball, forewent the normal high school life and set his sights on an MLB career. I'm sure Bryce hasn't stopped for a second to look around and soak in all the positive things in his life. He'll just keep chugging along, kissing up and trying oh-so hard. Just a practice hero, school boy (you know what).

Jokes and feelings aside pertaining to this kid's route to the show, he did it and he's here. Through eight games he's shown us a glimpse of what should be a bright future. Cole Hamels already sent him a "Welcome To The Show" plunking, so I guess the young gun is here to stay. Just because this kid is going to be a superstar doesn't mean I have to sit here and gush over him. I'll give credit where credit is due, but practice heroes just aren't for me. There's a time for all that hustle in practice, but those Gatorade commercials aren't real Bryce, so just tone it down a little bit. Enjoy your time in the Major Leagues, because who knows what's going to happen tonight, tomorrow or in the coming years.

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Ranking The Top 5 Horse Names From The Kentucky Derby

"I'll Have Another" not only won yesterday's Kentucky Derby, but he also had the Derby's best name.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you I know anything about the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, Belmont, Foxfields or horse racing in general. I wouldn't know the slightest thing of how to get onto a horse. I actually no nothing about horses other than that they're enormous animals that run fast with little people on top of them and that people throw bet the kitchen sink on them when they race. I love the major horse races not for the actual race or even the money involved, but just the quality opportunity for people throw on some ridiculously pastel-oriented garb, consume large quantities of grandpa's favorite cough medicine and bet a lot of money. One other thing I enjoy about the race is the clever horse names. This year we'll give you the top 5 horse names from this year's Derby and why we like them, but don't expect us to engage in jockey talk or horse size or whatever horse racing people chat about.

Honorable Mentions:
Sabercat
I see where they went here, on some futuristic tangent. Unfortunately no points are awarded to horses with names that belong in Star Trek. If you had spelled it Sabrecat it may have been slightly more amusing, since that's the same mistake the Buffalo Sabres made when they created their team. I'm not sure anyone in Lilly Pulitizer or Brooks Brothers enjoys this name in the slightest. This handle is better suited for our weirder, more "unique" friends over yonder.

Daddy Long Legs
Clever. Horses do have long legs and while they don't look anything like that awkward, gangly not quite a spider, spider I like the name. This moniker couldn't crack the top ten not out of effort, just out of sheer nonsense. If we were racing and betting on things I wanted to step on, this would be on the top of my list.

5. Done Talking
This owner went the aggressive route here. I guess he's all walk and no talk right? Well when your horse finishes 14th with 50-1 odds, I'd say you go ahead and reverse the name to keep your dignity intact. All kudos to this horse for putting action over his words, but it all back fired. Actually maybe they named the horse "Done Talking" because he "neighed" a lot less than the other horses. The Kentucky Derby isn't about talking smack though. It's about being classy and while keeping your mouth shut is a eloquent act, naming your horse after a revered silence is a little bit pompous.

4. Rousing Sermon
I enjoy the vibes of this name. This horse obviously got people out of their seats with his stirring stampeding. Maybe this stallion was a pastor in his past life or maybe his neighing is just so uplifting and holy that he has actually God. However, an eighth place finishes tells us that maybe he wasn't so in tune with God and maybe his sermons are better suited for a backwoods Mississippi Baptist Church rather than on Telecare. But nonetheless, this name is clever even if it's a lie, sin or whatever you want to call it.

3. Optimizer
This is just straight up funny. I imagine this horse to be some robotic horse who can run faster than a car, jump higher than Blake Griffin and can, believe or not, speak. Unfortunately, his jockey probably forget to oil this machine forcing him to finish 11th. After the race though he spoke candidly to NBC reporters, apologizing for forgetting to set a reminder for the training staff to oil him. Maybe we'll see this horse in the next transformers movie galloping with Meghan Fox on top of him as Shia Labeouf tries to catch up riding a mechanical donkey behind her. OPTIMIZER ASSEMBLE!

2. El Padrino
If you don't have your english to spanish dictionary strapped to your left leg, I'll help you out with this translation. El Padrino means "The Godfather" in english. If the owner had simply slapped "The Godfather" as his horse's name then you might as well won the award for Worst Attempt At a Clever Name Ever. Instead, he went the spanish route and not only does "El Padrino" sound badass but its meaning is equally gangster. Can't you just see this horse sitting in the barn smoking a fat Cuban and delegating his inferior horses toward organized crime tasks? Yeah, totally inconceivable, but the thought is quite amusing. El Padrino finished thirteenth overall, but that doesn't mean he won't get his. Don't be surprised if Kentucky Derby winner, "I'll Have Another" wakes up with a human head in his barn tomorrow.

1. I'll Have Another
When I heard this was the epithet of the 2012 Kentucky Derby winning horse I was stunned. "I'll Have Another?" That has to be the greatest name I've ever heard. Not only does this horse drink absurd amounts of alcohol, but he also does it with class and a winning attitude. He's never said no in his life, because he always wins and always wants to have a good time. I'm sure this horse was out in downtown Louisville buying everyone drinks and accepting return drink offers like it was his job after the race. Add to the fact that he won the Derby and you probably have the greatest winning name combo ever. Also this name just reminds of this SNL skit for some reason.  

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The World May Rejoice; We Have A Playoff!

It's no longer a concept...it's a reality.

We've been clamoring over a playoff for years now. We've been clamoring over how ugly the computer ratings can be. We've been clamoring to get rid of the Bowl Championship Series. So the announcement of the addition of a college football playoff to the BCS system has been the best news the NCAA has given us since they took away Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy. For once a true winner will be decided and in a true fashion.

Most importantly a playoff removes the possibility of co-champions, which is uglier than the cash incentive USC boosters throw at their potential recruits. There should never be a co-champion in any sport, that's like saying a tie is a legitimate way to end a game. That's like saying, "Well bud you had a good regular season and won the second most important bowl game, so we'll give you a little compensation." Actually no, you're just ruining the glory for the team that actually won the National Championship game. A winner should always be unanimously decided, just like a National Champion. Remember when LSU and USC somehow split the National Championship in 2003? No, I don't either. USC won that National Championship game because they were clearly the better team.  Ladies and gentlemen, a playoff will rid college football of controversy. Well, actually it won't. Only a new controversy will be born between the #4 and #5 BCS teams, or as as they'll see it, the difference between getting into the playoff or not. But at least the controversy will be further away from affecting the National Champion.

When I read of the details of this new playoff system I actually was pleasantly surprised. Instead of rotating all three playoff games through the four major bowl sites, the BCS committee actually gave the higher seeds an opportunity to play the semifinal at home. Absolutely stunning. I thought the bowl site rotation was going to be a stunt that the BCS put forth to truly avoid a true playoff, but no, they took a more pure route. Giving the top seeds home advantage in the semis makes this playoff system viciously exciting. Imagine Stanford coming into LSU in Death Valley or Alabama heading to Michigan in the Big House?  How about last year's match ups? Andrew Luck vs that vaunted LSU defense? Justin Blackmon vs. Dre Kirpatrick? Epic. I'm like a giddy school child thinking about these raucous crowds in a seriously meaningful game. College football just got a whole lot more exciting and got a whole lot more attractive to a nation way more interested in the NFL.

I give credit to the BCS, as weird as that sound. They'd been the committee that was strangling college football by looking at producing revenue more than benefitting the game. But this playoff system is a true mixture of revenue and purity in college athletics that should help college football expand to great heights. Don't be surprised if this is just the tip of the iceberg. This system is going to be wildly successful, and if the BCS realizes it, expanding the playoffs even more will help the NCAA explode with revenue.

So while everyone can rejoice in the fact that we'll have playoff football in 2 years, realize that this is only the beginning of good things to come to college football.

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The Best Case Scenarios For Teams To Beat The Heat

It's all sunny skies in Miami, who's going to rain on their parade?

Watching Derrick Rose and Iman Shumpert fall to the ground in agonizing pain on Saturday wasn't simply tough to watch, it brought about a unfortunate realization; the Heat are going to have an easy ride to the Finals. Well at least we expect them too. Lebron's lack of composure in the 4th quarter can surprise anyone, so you never know what's going to happen. Anyways, we break down the best case scenario for all the team's we think have at least a slight chance to beat the Heat.


Atlanta Hawks
Best Case Scenario:
The Atlanta Hawks are like your lazy, s**thead best friend. They're awesome, bring a lot to the table and you know they can do big things. But they're not sure where the table is, how to do those big things nor do they really care to do them. They only wake up for test day and do the essays the night before. They always mooch and never spot you any money. But for some reason you just love them. This team is immensely talented especially when they have their star big man Al Horford. Josh Smith and Joe Johnson are great players, but only when they want to be. When they show up, they can beat anyone. When they're asleep at the wheel, they're already in the ditch on the side of the road. If the Hawks want to beat the Heat, which I'm confident they can, a bunch of things have to fall into place. One, Joe Johnson has to hit his shots. I would think that Spolestra would put Lebron on JJ and if he does then Johnson must use his size(6'7") to match Lebron on the offensive end. If LBJ gives him an inch he better be firing for that twine. Josh Smith needs to alleviate Lebron's intensity on Johnson by being a monster in the paint against Chris Bosh, and no I don't mean hitting his ridiculous turnaround fadeaways that hit the moon when they go up. I'm talking about quick, aggressive moves in the paint that end with Chris Bosh on a poster. Kirk Heinrich has to hit his threes and Zaza Pachulia needs to continue to dominate the boards. Finally we have Marvin Williams who could be the key to a series between these teams. If the starters on both teams cancel each other out then, Williams slashing abilities off the bench could be the difference. I actually think the Hawks will come to play if they stay focused enough to get there. This series would ultimate be slugfest and it will probably entertain some hard fouls from Josh Smith and you can bet on an ejection. I'm not saying the Hawks are going to beat the Heat, but I think out of all the team's in the East, Atlanta has the best chance to dethrone Miami, that is of course if they come to play.

Boston Celtics
Best Case Scenario:
The ageless wonder Boston Celtics have dug themselves a grand hole losing Game 1 and losing Rondo for Game 2. Winning a series down a pending 2-0 isn't a small task, but the Celtics have the experience to do it. Boston's 23-10 post all-star break run was amazing; they looked young and they looked real good. In that run the C's went 3-0 against the Heat and did so in convincing fashion winning the games by an average margin of 13. Don't let that fool you, Miami practically packed it in the end of the season so don't expect the C's to destroy them. Rookie Avery Bradley has been the key to Celtics resurgence showing himself to be a lockdown perimeter defender and that is the first key to the series. If Bradley can remove Wade or at least deter him from going off, then Celtics will have the advantage assuming Lebron will curl up into a ball in this ECF clash. Paul Pierce will be Paul Pierce, making ugly shots left and right and getting to the line a bunch. But the key to the series offensively for the Celtics will be KG's patented 18 footer and Ray Allen's ability to come off the bench and just get hot. The Heat dismantled the Celtics in six games last year, but that's in large part because Lebron hit some lucky ridiculous threes and Wade went off in Game 1 and 6. If Bradley holds Wade in check, then expect this series to lean the Celtics way. I know the C's aren't "Atlantic ocean" deep, but I don't trust Battier, Miller, James Jones or Norris Cole the way I thought I would. One thing to watch for going forward with this team is the wear and tear a seven game series or two has on them. I get that the NBA gives teams 45 days off between games but as we've seen one wrong step can end your playoff run.

Oklahoma City Thunder
Best Case Scenario:
NBA fans are salivating over a Finals matchup between the Thunder and Heat. If the Thunder can avoid beating themselves with immaturity and selfishness then expect this epic series to happen. I'm so confident with the Thunder in this matchup that my only concern really comes in the Durant vs. Westbrook matchup. Yes, a matchup between teammates will decide this series. Durant and Westbrook have been one of the most beautiful, yet volatile relationships of best friends we've ever witnessed. Off the court they both endorse each other ten fold. Westbrook admits he has to get Durant the ball more and Durant says that he needs Russell's aggressiveness in order for him to be effective; i.e. have #0 shoot a lot in order to open up looks for KD35. But on the court it has been ugly at times. Westbrook seemingly forgets about his "once in a lifetime" scorer teammate and Durant is left struggling for his own looks. However, when these two are in sync(as we've seen in Game 1 and 2 vs the Mavs) it is a beautiful marriage of athleticism, talent and attitude. If these two play at the high level they can, I'm sorry but the Heat are no match. Wade and Lebron cannot score like Westbrook and Durant can. Ibaka can defend almost exactly like Lebron(2,3,4,5) and James Harden does a little bit of everything, something the Heat don't have once you get past LBJ. OKC is a much more complete team than the Heat, and really the only thing stopping them is Russell Westbrook's on court arrogance. I will guarantee you that KD will hit a game winning shot in Lebron's face that will absolutely demoralize the weak-minded James. I can't wait, repeat I CANNOT WAIT for this series.

San Antonio Spurs
Best Case Scenario:
Gregg Popovich is one of the most under appreciated individuals in the history of sports. For some reason, probably because he lacks flash or public appeal, Pop has won 4 titles and hasn't missed the playoffs in 16 years, but only has one coach of the year award and takes the backseat to Doc Rivers and Tom Thibodeau even those two only have one title combined. Pop managed his team so well this year often sitting Tim Duncan with the excuse that he's old that this Spurs team somehow snatched away the #1 seed in the West from the Thunder and once again look like a championship contender. The Spurs added some depth by acquiring Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw at the deadline to add to their ancient Big Three. The only way I see the Spurs beating the Heat is by just outsmarting them. Watching Popovich managerially embarrass Erik Spolestra would be as fun for the public as if they were at an American Science Fair. The basketball purists would be reveling in this strategic beatdown but America would be yawning. It's a distinct possibility that the Spurs could dominate the Heat who wrongly believe they're some wise group of veterans. But, no the Heat win solely because of pure athleticism on the part of Wade and Lebron. If Pop can meander into Lebron's head and let him know that he's still got a lot to learn, this wild scenario could come true. I'm not in the camp that wants to see Heat-Spurs, but I would like San Antonio's chances if they get there.

Los Angeles Lakers
Best Case Scenario:
Three things need to connect here for the Lakers to beat the Heat. One, Kobe Bryant needs to be Michael Jordan. He needs to continuously one up Lebron by being viciously clutch and relentless. If Kobe wants his sixth ring I think it is only fitting that he does it against the guy that everyone is inaccurately comparing to MJ. Kobe is the closest thing to MJ, Wade is next. Lebron is another family, but this discussion is for later. Anyways, the second most important key to this series is Andrew Bynum. I like Bynum and I hate Bynum. Enjoying Bynum is easy, he's a dominate shot blocker, a monster rebounder and an all-around solid post player. Yet, Bynum irks me. Sometimes the big teddy bear in Los Angeles seems like he doesn't care out there. He's too giggly, too smiley and just too damn goofy. Bynum is the anti-Kobe. I'm not sure he really gives a 100% all the time, and he really doesn't hate losing. However, he could have a Shaq like series against Joel Anthony if the Lakers get there. I'm talking 25+ and 15+ a game. I'm talking about making Anthony his son almost every trip down the court and on both sides of the ball. Thirdly, Ramon Sessions needs to be worth the 1st round pick he was traded for. Sessions has to control this offense and not let the ball get all sticky in Kobe's hands. The Gasol, Bosh battle should be included in the next Downey advertisement. Watching these two soft big man lightly bang each other in the post is going to be a travesty to playoff basketball and a lesson in whining at the refs. If history has anything to say about a Kobe, Lebron final is that it'll go Kobe's way. Well we hope.

Memphis Grizzlies
Best Case Scenario:
My last and final squad with an opportunity to beat the Miami Heat is the young, wild and restless Memphis Grizzlies. This team has talent pouring out of it's veins, kind of like the Hawks, but better. Zach Randolph has to find his form in order for this team to have a chance. But in Zach Randolph's mind returning to form is hitting 18 footers all over the place and being the man. Randolph actually finding his form is him manning the post and dominating Chris Bosh. Marc Gasol is going to be your classic big, big man. He's gonna bang down low, get boards, block shots, score a couple baskets. Rudy Gay might look like he's asleep at the wheel 24/7, but he cannot act like that. Gay's potential is immense, but he is just far too inconsistent and I'm just not sure how he can beat Lebron one-on-one. Tony Allen will be a key to this series in shutting down D-Wade. I believe Allen could guard Lebron, but would be better suited just denying Wade the ball. Leave this series up to Lebron to choke away on the offensive end. The Grizzlies need to be focused just simply to beat the Thunder and get to the Finals, so they need to be absolutely zoned in order to take down the Heatles. One thing that will be fun to watch is the high-flying nature of both of these teams. There will be dunks, wild and 1s and more dunks.

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