The Starting Five

I’ll have a Celtics piece up on SLAM as soon as it’s posted. Crossed off one of the people I most wanted to interview last night in Cheryl Miller. The GOAT gave me great stuff. Have a great Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Are the Celtics too old to repeat? (Temple 3)

Cameron Maybin is looking forward to wearing 42. (Sun Sentinel)

LeBron James’ Jewish connection. (Forward.com)

5 Villanova students arrested for stealing from Lincoln Financial Field (Philly.com)

Did Jesse Jackson Jr. raise 5 million in exchange for Senate seat? (Chicago Sun Times)

Sylvester Brown speaks out regarding his termination (The St. Louis American)

Get it!

Mark “The Bird” Fidrych passes away at 54. Anyone remember his rookie year? (Freep)

Yao leads Rockets over Hornets. (Houston Chronicle)

The Bull Wonder leads Chicago past Detroit. (Chicago Sun TImes)

Orlando Hudson goes for cycle in Dodgers home opener. (CBSsports.com)

Zeke might land at Florida International. (NY Daily News)

Why supplanting the dollar would be good for America. (Time.com)

Finally? Minnesota court confirms Al Franken winner in Senate race. (NY Daily News)

I’ll have a report from the Sixers/Celtics game tonight posted on SLAM tomorrow. The Sixers really need this win to avoid the Celtics in the first round. Be Peace my people and have a great day.

I’m not a Phillies fan, but I remember listening to Phillies games just to hear Harry Kalas describe what I couldn’t see. Harry Kalas died today after collapsing in the commentators booth before the Washington Nationals home opener. There’s no question his incomparable talent affected my writing style. It wasn’t merely his distinctive voice. It was his measure of knowledge, wisdom and professionalism that drew any fan of the sport into his world and gave them comfort like no other. He was a Phillies radio and TV broadcaster for 38 years and was the master of ceremony when old Veteran’s Stadium opened in 1971…replacing another great in Bill Campbell. Many of the legends are beginning to die off, thus creating a void the sport most likely will never recover from. I remember hanging out with the fellas, grilling steaks, having a couple brews and feeling almost as if we were at the game simply because of Mr. Kalas. He made the steaks taste that much better. Maybe his huge spirit helped push the Phillies to the 2008 World Series title after so many years of not living up to potential or just having bad teams. He made another World Series Championship winning call in 1980 as well. Among his signature calls were “Struck ‘im out! and It’s waaaaaay outta here!” His most memorable call was most likely Michael Jack Schmidt’s 500th home run. Thanks for you greatness Mr. Kalas, you’ve been a gift to the city and went out the best way possible, on top.

Wrote a little something different this time out. Just trying to entertain and stay in my lane. This game was dig it playoff material. It’s astounding how the Cavs have taken over the league with fun, teamwork and Mike Brown defensive discipline. I noticed something this time out. I noticed all the interior picks the Cavs set to free up wing and elbow threes, kick outs to the top of the key, skip passes for open jumpers or mad mismatches leading to yet another nasty oop from the about to be reigning king. Kobe and the crew might have Phil Jackson focus, but this young Cavs team is HONGRY (yeah I said it). There’s something real about this team and it’s not just about confidence and precision. We’re all about to find out what type of special talent LeBron James is. Click on the Iguodala sick about to bang on LBJ flick to access the piece on SLAM. Be Peace, Mizzo.

Growth is measured in many ways. Kitchen walls across the country are tick marked by youngsters who cannot wait to increase another inch or two. Maturity in spirit and mind enable people to withstand the trails and tribulations life presents. Pronouncing and praising a person’s inward expansion, saying that they did better, is an outstanding compliment. On Friday night, the Atlanta Hawks (46-34) secured home court advantage for the first round of the ’09 playoffs with a thrilling 122-118 victory over the Indiana Pacers (34-45).

The night’s performance showed the results of growth and development. Last year’s Cinderella slippers no longer fit this team. These are no longer the city of Atlanta’s ugly stepchildren. Call them kin to T.I.

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TSF is gearing up for the NBA’s second season. Jerold Wells Jr. will be working the Hawks/Pacers tonight and Anthony Gilbert and I will be in Philly to report on the Cavs and Sixers tonight as well. The atmosphere should be festive as these teams battle for playoff position.

The Cavs have much more at stake tonight in their quest to secure the number one overall seed in the post season.

Of course this is all hypothetical until it actually…maybe…probably goes down, but we can dream a little beforehand right?

Given that last year’s Boston/Lakers match up gave us all a chance to reminisce with bliss of old school, NBA Finals normalcy, there is a great chance we’ll actually get to see the two baddest basketball players on the planet battle for it all.

Fans of basketball the world over debate which player is better every single day, but seriously…is there a right answer?

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TNT NBA Thursday concludes its regular season coverage on Tuesday, April 14 at 8 p.m. ET featuring the Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers followed by the Utah Jazz @ LA Lakers

TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Smith on the Lakers chances of winning a championship with Andrew Bynum back: “What he does is give them every component now to make a championship team. You need a big man, now they have one (Andrew Bynum). You need a guy to take over the game, now they have one in Kobe Bryant. You need a great guy to come off the bench, now they have that in Lamar Odom. You probably need a great coach, and they have that in Phil Jackson, so right now they have all the components to be a championship team and they don’t have a weakness that you can attack everyday.”

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If I hear one more person say Tyler Hansbrough is everything that is white right about college basketball…

Marvin Webster found dead. May he and his son rest in peace. (NBA.com)

Marshawn Lynch will be suspended 3 games for gun charge. (Buffalo News)

Denver has won 8 straight. (Denver Daily News)

Celtics defeat Nets. New Jersey eliminated from playoff contention. (Boston Herald)

Suns defeat Hornets, but are eliminated as well (NBA.com)

Andrew Bynum could play tonight. (L.A. Times)

WNBA Draft is today. Tune in if you can. (WNBA.com)

Jadakiss and the LOX might return to Bad Boy? Word? (MTV)

Danny Glover comments on race and the Obama administration. (The Nation)

Rip Van Winkle Special…

39-0. Beating up on the opposition by a 25 point margin. Totally shutting down Angel McCoughtry (whose team shut down Courtney Paris and Marissa Coleman) at critical times to ensure victory.

Complete domination.

Geno Auriemma gets one for the off hand. He’s won 5 in the last 10 seasons and that’s with Pat Summitt trying to kick his ass in Tennessee.

Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Renee Montgomery…closeness, team chemistry, friends to the end…champions. I thought Desiree Bryd was going to kill Montgomery early just by sticking out that boom and backing her down into the lane for the dish or the finish…that is until adjustments were made. Angel McCoughtry started off hot…hitting four of her first six shots…to keep Louisville competitive until the fire power began to pop hot and send the Cardinals home without the D.C. visit.

Tiffany Hayes is only going to get better.

You’ll hear the pundits criticize this season because of Tennessee’s off year, but UConn beat whoever they played against and never choked.

They’ll be comparisons to the other two UConn undefeated champs but I think this team would give any team save ’83 USC a run for their money–that includes Chamique’s ’98 team and any of those Louisiana Tech and Old Dominion squads in the 80′s.

Whatcha think?

Who is the best women’s team of all time?

I can admit I was wrong. My foot is still in  mouth, so I’ll write what I have to say.

Yeah, I knew UNC was the best team, but just didn’t want to admit it. Maybe it was that Maize and Blue slip up that will forever horror my soul this time of year. I could care less and neither could you for it’s all immaterial. The North Carolina Tar Heels are the champions of this season’s collegiate scene. Because of work, my view of the game was limited to the first half, but that didn’t matter as well. Carolina shot out the box with disciplined precision, size, power and sauna wet jumpers splashed from the fingertips of hawk eyed Wayne Ellington–the MOP. Dude gave me flashbacks to to the game of Donald Williams’ 1993 dream and hit from anywhere and everywhere.

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The 2009 Basketball Hall of Fame class is announced the day Carolina wins it. (USA Today)

Speaking of Mike, his son Marcus chooses UCF. (Orlando Sentinel)

Can Louisville, who boasts one of the baddest female talents on the basketball planet in Angel McCoughtry, stop UConn from going undefeated? (L.A. Times)

Jemele comments on racial profiling and Black athletes. (ESPN.com)

John Hope Franklin and reparations. (Huffington Post)

Get it NY!!

Crazy how sports changes in a year. Last year this time, Derrick Rose and Memphis lost dramatically to Kansas on a legendary Mario Chalmers bomb. Depending on my work schedule, I would love to live blog tonight as well. We’ll see. Hope you all had a decent weekend. I’m covering a panel this morning discussing high school drop out rates that’s moderated by Stephen A. Smith. Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, future Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins, Keith Russell, Ken Shropshire and Gary G. Cobb are among the panelists. I’ll have a report this week. Have a good Monday.

Dante Stallworth was already in a substance abuse program. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Gary Washburn comments on Geno Auriemma discussing race. (Gary Washburn’s Sports Blog)

Ashley Fox’s excellent series on North Philly: Bernard Hopkins. (Philly.com)

Africa for the Africans. (The Nation)

Jamie Foxx fights off crazy dude in Philly. (CBS3.com)

Earthquake kills at least 50 in Italy (NY Times)

What is the value of an African American life? (Powahatan Today)

The Sixers defeat the Pistons 95-90 to clinch a spot in the playoffs. It was a shame the near sellout crowd didn’t get another chance to cheer on Atom, but trust they’ll get their chance next season when he suits up in his old number three again. The game was great….much better than what was expected. Everyone was pumped Villanova was in the Final Four, which created a festive atmosphere the city needs every night in the Wachovia Center. Iguodala is stepping up big time and had 31, while their other leader, Andre Miller, had a triple double. Click on Dre’s pick to read the piece on SLAM. I hope you all had a great Sunday.

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

These Wizards/Cavaliers games are events that put me a couple of steps ahead of where I was before the day began. That’s nothing arrogant, for these games give me a sense of humility I would never get if I wasn’t there. Gilbert is back! Thank God for that. Pray for Abe please. Abe Polin not looking so good truly hurt, but that wasn’t the only thought I struggled with…

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Just some short interviews I felt were timely because the Kings 143-141 loss to the Warriors. Kevin Martin tossed in a career high 50 but was offset by Monta Ellis’ career best 42. I’ll start off with Kevin Martin. What fans don’t see is his attention to off the court responsibilities. Kevin has a hand in all kinds of charities and is one of the few who does so much around the league. His are the eyes of a killer on the floor. He just has that knack for scoring. Some players have it, some don’t. He’s had his share of injuries this year, but last night will go a long way to showing NBA fans this cat is a true fire starter offensively.

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