The Starting Five

Following their loss in the NFC Championship Game, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb made it clear that the Eagles needed  more “weapons” in order for him to remain in Philly.

The Eagles were able to draft wide receiver Jeremy Maclin out of Missouri and Pittsburgh running back LeShon McCoy. The offensive line was bolstered with the free agent signing of Stacy

Andrews from the Cincinnati Bengals and used one of their two first round draft picks to acquire left tackle Jason Peters from the Buffalo Bills.

My focus today is on the Eagles’ wide receivers - who don’t happen to have a Larry Fitzgerald or an Anquan Boldin at their disposal. What they do possess in the way of depth, experience and explosiveness should prove to be an asset in the 2009 campaign.

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There is good on this planet and there is diabolical evil. When does life choose the meeting point? Good wins in spells but unfortunately there are moments where evil goes hard enough to snuff out the greatness of man in a fleeting yet horrific slice in time. In the space thereafter we are then left with a choice. A choice which is the origin of shaping and shifting a futuristic perspective. Because of the presence of evil, do we take the soul of a man and squash it into an assumed hellish abyss or do we properly advance history…documenting the total scope of his walk in full appreciation of his life?

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Just wanted to get a discussion going on quarterback rushing totals and why the numbers aren’t given much respect. When a quarterback scrambles for a first down, that doesn’t factor into the result? How about a qb sneak at the goal line late? Doesn’t have an affect on the game? Does running the ball actually hurt quarterbacks in respect to career perspective? I tell you what, you really learn to appreciate John Elway researching his stats.

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Because my comp was on the blink, Ed Hill’s conversation about McNair’s Alcorn State days, a McNair column and a Michael Jackson piece to be posted tomorrow. Have a peace Thursday evening. Wake up nice and chill on Friday. It’s the weekend baby!

4 charged after bodies dug up at Ill. cemetery. Hundreds of graves disturbed at final resting site for many famous Blacks…including Emmett Till. (MSNBC)

Racist swim club director now says club doesn’t discriminate and that he never heard any racist comment and doesn’t know why the group’s membership was rescinded. OK dude. (Philly.com)

Raptors finally add Turkoglu in 4 team trade. Marion to Dallas. Uh…Toronto. Portland.Toronto. Portland. Uh…Portland! I know, I know, he just wanted to play there because of larger presence of Turkish culture. (NY Times)

Steve McNair had taped suicide prevention video. (Chicago Sun Times via AP)

Will the Lakers be able to resign Lamar Odom? (LA Times)

Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade tries to clear the air over a reported rift with Riley (Miami Herald)

Michael Jackson resolution faces GOP opposition. What are you thoughts on this? Are you really pressed? (Huffington Post)

Dedicated to all you backstabbers…

Having some computer issues today. I almost have everything back in order. Until then, dig this here from our man Branson Wright. He’s another link in the chain. Try to support him on Cleveland.com daily. Here, he speaks with Jeff Capel of University of Oklahoma, Isiah Thomas of Florida International, John Calipari of Kentucky, Sean Miller of Arizona and Bobby Huggins of West Virginia. This is where LeBron James got in the poster shot that was erased from the face of the earth by Nike.

Some of the best high school players in the nation and many of the top college coaches in the country are all in attendance at The LeBron James King City Classic. The championship game is at 11:30 AM (Thursday) today at Cleveland State’s Wolstein Center.

Still the death continues in a couple of links below. We’ll obviously never shake it. Interviewing Howard SID Ed Hill today regarding Air McNair. Any football or questions relevant to Air’s life, shoot me an email. Finishing up a piece on Michael Jackson after this is posted.

I’m sure most of you read Whitlock’s he ain’t learn nothing from that wack Sean Taylor death column hit piece on McNair. Can a brotha have a funeral before you kick his casket down the steps? Anybody can write that trash. Seriously. He’s trying to stay relevant. Dude just waits for someone to get into some BS and then slams them for it. Even in death. Nothing is off limits. That’s his hustle. Crap ain’t objective, is not informative, serves no purpose, definitely doesn’t help, exacerbates stereotypical thoughts of Black men by others, is lazy, lacks substance and it straight up sucked.

Fox trot, spam bot, words rot, corporate got, writer not, mouth slot, lip stick shot?

Go ahead, keep getting ya Becky on.

Ya column is garbage.

Have a great hump day. The year is flying by isn’t it?

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Don’t watch much TV outside of sports and politics, but this Michael Jackson memorial event has me intrigued. Definitely want to see the performances and I can’t help but to think why didn’t BET do it up like this? I know there was short notice but I just wasn’t impressed with the performances. Going forward, the turnout in Los Angeles might rival other huge events like President Obama’s inauguration or the Million Man March. Mike was that big. There are less than 20,000 seats available for the fans inside of the Staple Center, but trust the crowd outside will greatly outnumber that. One other thing: No one had the mass appeal of Michael Jackson. Not Elvis, not the Beattles, not Sinatra. Squash that. Mike was loved by all walks of life, not just one race.

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Just some questions I have. Something just doesn’t seem right. That the case hasn’t officially been ruled murder/suicide raises all kinds of flags. I’m no investigator, but while I won’t speculate what happened, questions have to be asked. If I missed a few or if some have already been answered, please comment.

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There’s so much celebrity death going on. I knew somebody who was tragically murdered as well and I wish it all would stop, but time stops for no one. There will be more death. There will be death around your corner, on your street and in your neighborhood. You will know some and will have heard of others. Steve McNair’s death is the most searched event in this site’s history…even over a holiday weekend. He was that dude. Played with great chill and was the face of the Tennessee Titans for a decade. He and Eddie George rocked the NFL block with poised and proper professional athleticism. Lining up against a McNair led team meant you were in for a straight up bar fight. He won and he smiled doing it…even though he was in ridiculous pain. His years on this earth would have been painful because of all the wear and tear but now his sons are missing a Father. His family is missing a son and a brother and his wife is missing her husband. I hope you all are listening when stuff like this happens. Women are no different but we as men need to understand the importance of raising our kids with one woman. I look at my three kids and wonder what would have been. How would they be different? Would they be more earth grounded as a result? Life never knows. If you are out there, stop. If you are in a marriage you don’t want to be in and there is no shot at reconciling, then step clean. Come on brothas. The sins of the Father affect his grandchildren. I’m not judging Air. I loved him. I rocked an authentic jersey of his for years. It was sturdy like him. I was proud to wear it and now I truly know why. He was really the first Black quarterback to be drafted and given the keys to the organization and he damn sure showed and proved. How will Vince Young be affected? He still owns the Division 1-AA total passing yardage record. I thought he’d come in and wreck passing shop in Tennessee but Fisher relied on his penchant for winning the moment instead of the big bang play. All that fight was on our mind when he drove 87 yards in the Super Bowl and was one step from taking an already crazy game into overtime. He was shedding lineman and linebackers on that final drive like his life depended on it. His legacy was defined by that moment…even in defeat. He was the toughest athlete I’ve ever seen…bar none. What a quarterback. What a player. What a fighter. What a teammate. What a friend. What a husband. What a Father. Hold ya own and love the ones you are with. If it works out, generations of your family will shine. We miss you Air. Even in death you still teach us.

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Two found shot to death in Nashville, TN condo.

Double homicide or murder/suicide?

Damn. What is going on?

Reports say the bodies of Steve McNair and a woman identified as his girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, 20, were found earlier today in a Nashville, TN condo around 1 pm local time. Sources say the bodies were found by McNair friend and body guard Wayne Neeley. Neeley then called his friend Robert Gaddy who made the 911 call. McNair was shot multiple times…including once in the head. She was shot once in the head. There was a pistol found near her body. Officials haven’t determined if the shooting happened late last night or early this morning. McNair did so much for the city on and off the field and just opened a restaurant. The third pick out of Alcorn State played 13 seasons in the NFL for the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens. He was a three time pro bowler and was Co-MVP with Peyton Manning in 2003. He was a player I personally connected with because he left his soul on the field win or lose. He played hurt, banged up and bruised his entire career. He was a true leader on the field. How many games did you watch of him leading a team down going into the fourth to victory? The 2001 Super Bowl was one of the most exciting games I have ever seen. What a finish!

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All kinds of stellar moves are going down and the biggest IMO is Artest going to LA. There is also the possibility Sheed goes to Boston in another move that decides the NBA Championship. Shaq in Cleveland, Vince in Orlando? Jefferson in San Antonio? Damn…David Stern has to be loving the current state of the league. I don’t know about Allen Iverson in Memphis but yet and still, I think the NBA is beginning to creep into taking over baseball for that second slot. Anyone who hates on the league is just throwed [sic] off. Yeah, it’s early, but who does this? Who would you like to see dance in the confetti reign?

There will be other shoes to drop. Where does Andre Miller land? How many sign and trades will go down after July 8th? So many possibilities as teams jockey for 2011. (Still don’t think LeBron is going anwhere) These are gonna be a very interesting next two seasons huh? Right now, I’m going with Boston over the Lakers in 7…especially if Sheed signs with the C’s. Of course, the Celtics have to be healthy, but I just don’t see a more cohesive unit. Who ya got?

Talked to Ron Artest’s people last night after the rumors began to swirl and the key word was “official”. So I waited and waited, went to work, fielded all kinds of calls, came home and turned on SportsCenter. The first image I saw was Ron Artest being interviewed by Stan Verrett and Ron Ron broke the news he was signig with the Lakers. I didn’t think this would happen because he played just above the MLE last season in Houston, so why in the hell would he sign with the Lakers for 3 yrs./18 (or 5 yrs. 35 ) million? Answer? He wants a championship. Look Ron is a straight up soldier. There are no friends when the game is on the line and there is no better teammate in this league. There is no bigger heart in the league. He’s probably my best interview and definitely keeps it 100%. Beans has to be salivating. Again, he’s coming for you Mike. So the Lakers, faced with either Artest or Ariza, went with the former in basically a MLE swap. This cat could bring the ball up, post up, d up, and also blow up. There will be instances next year where Ron will blow his stack, but ultimately dude is so good and so hood that it would be a monumental upset if the Lakers didn’t get out of the West. There will be all kinds of backcourt rips, blocks and Kobe/Ron Ron defensive scrambles that will lead to easy Lakers buckets on the other end. Their perimeter defense will just be sick. Artest gets to play with his boy Lamar Odom? C’mon, this won’t even b fair. What a versatile team this will be. Kobe no longer has to play the best perimeter player. He can just say “Yo Ron, get ‘em!”

Classic. Pam Shriver and Darren Cahill are calling this match one of the best they’ve ever seen. Serena Williams is going for her 11th Grand Slam title and Elena Dementieva gave her everything she had and more before ultimately succumbing 6-7 (4), 7-5, 8-6 . I’m not a huge tennis fan, but this was really a great match to watch. Both women played Rasheed Wallace hard and Serena fought off a match point in the second set at 5-4 to spur the comeback. Dementieva made some great returns but Serena subsequently pumped the fist seemingly every single time. There were challenges that just didn’t go Dementieva’s way in the second set that could have swayed the match and despite Serena missing on her forehand a couple of times late, she broke Dementieva to win at 8-6 in the third most likely because of her dominating serve and will to win. This is Serena’s second straight Wimbledon Final. Dementieva, 27, has yet to win a Grand Slam (She was an Olympic champion for Russia in Beijing) but seems talented enough to one day do so. Venus plays at 12 against Dinara Safina and if she wins, another all Williams Championship Final is in store.

Joe Dumars has had what should be considered a typical week for an NBA exec. He fired his head coach and former teammate Michael Curry minutes away from the free agency signing period…sending shockwaves through the organization…and has no coach in place before summer league begins, but being one of the most determined GM’s in the league, Dumars will do whatever to get the Pistons back among the NBA elite so risks have to be taken. Though free agents can’t officially sign until July 8th, the Pistons have locked up former UConn stars Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to multiyear contracts. Ben Gordon’s deal is reportedly 5 years, 55 million with Villanueva receiving a 5 year, 35 million dollar deal. Look for Gordon to compete for NBA Sixth Man of the Year award for seasons to come based on his scoring explosiveness…specifically in the 4th quarter. I’m sure after the Pistons were butt kicked out of the playoffs by LeBron and the Cavs, Joe reminisced about his former teammate Vinnie the “Microwave” Johnson and recognized the Pistons had to do something about their offense fading late in pivotal games. Ben Gordon, the former Chicago Bull, is definitely the answer. Gordon is Andrew Toney like with his scoring binges and has been known to put up 20 plus in a quarter. In Villanueva, formerly of the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pistons get a versatile forward who fits the Pistons hardworking likeness. He’s long, athletic and young. He’ll probably play both forward spots. Crazy how Dumars has done all of this without a coach in place by most likely selling a D Rock City championship pedigree to the top free agents on his wish list. Incredible the Bucks didn’t extend a qualifying offer to Villanueva and Dumars pounced. As far as a head coach, Avery Johnson would be a great fit for Detroit and when Doug Collins withdrew his name from consideration, Pistons fans envisioning the Little General on the sidelines is almost inevitable. When will the ‘Sheed shoe drop?

As evidenced in the recent passings of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and Alexis Arguello, we never know when our number will be called. I know we all have wished we were at a certain sporting event no matter how historic, you may even be makng plans for the next big event.

Today I’ve made a bucket list comprised of three events that I wish I had attended, three I would like to attend in the next calendar year and three in the future.

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