Shaq and Kobe obviously had their differences while they were kissing on trophies and Shaq went public with a now infamous description of lower torso taste buds, but now is a new day and there might actually be a time where Shaq interviews Beans. Check the transcript with video link below and ask yourself is Shaq put off? Should he be?

Host Matt Winer, Analysts Brent Barry and Dennis Scott

Shaquille O’Neal calls in during NBA TV’s GameTime to discuss with Dennis Scott and Brent Barry the Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant passing up O’Neal on the all-time NBA scoring list.

O’Neal on Bryant passing him on the all-time NBA scoring list: “First of all, I’d like to congratulate Kobe and his family; he’s always been a great player. I can remember when me, him [Kobe] and Derek Fisher walked into the first day of practice. Kobe was practicing and shooting the ball by himself and he told everyone that he wanted to be the greatest Laker ever. I will be the first to say that he is the greatest Laker ever. He has a lot of great accomplishments, a lot of championships, passed up the great Jerry West, passed up Magic [Johnson], shot the ball more than Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] and he passed me up, so congratulations to Kobe Bryant and his family.”

Scott: “So much has been made of your relationship [with Kobe] but you’ve always had a way of pushing buttons, getting guys to play hard. Talk about that.”

O’Neal: “When I first came to Orlando, I can remember when you [Dennis Scott] picked me up and said, “Well big man, even though you are a rookie you are our leader so we go as far as you go.” In Orlando, we had a lot of trials and tribulations but you know in Orlando I jumped on you, you jumped on me. I jumped on Nick [Anderson], we jumped on [Scott] Skiles… That’s what great leaders do. The great John Wooden said, “The true definition of a great player is a player that makes his other players better.” I knew that Kobe is a fierce guy, a fierce competitor and, at times, I knew that if I made him mad he was going to play out of this world, and he knew that if he made me mad that I was going to play out of this world. So that’s why I tweeted earlier that we are the greatest Laker one-two punch ever created. There will never be a one-two punch more controversial, more entertaining and more dominant than Kobe and myself. So again, congratulations to Kobe Bryant and his family and keep shooting.”

Barry: “Your humility in all of this is pretty impressive. There’s no doubt that there is a process in all of this for every great player to get where he gets and you don’t do it without the help of great players like you, Shaq. Will Kobe pass Michael Jordan? I just want to ask you – he’s about 3,700 points away or so. Do you think he is going to get to MJ?”

O’Neal: “He probably has four or five years left and I don’t have my Shaq-alator in front of me, but he is probably going to average 25 or more points per season so he may pass Michael Jordan. He may pass Wilt Chamberlain. I am jealous of Kobe in the sense that his injury bug is a much bigger bug than mine. If you look at his career, he never really had a season where he had to miss six to eight weeks because of an injury. I think the most he missed because of injury was two weeks. I missed 250 games averaging 25 points a game. I did the math earlier and that’s another 5,000 points. If I would have done that, and if your father would have taught me how to shoot free throws the correct way, I wouldn’t have missed 5,000 (points). I may have only missed 3,000. I’m kind of upset that in my career I missed all those games due to injury and I missed a lot free throws. If I didn’t have that, I would have passed my idol – Wilt Chamberlain. It’s neither here nor there, and like I said earlier, congratulations to Kobe Bryant. As long as I passed up all my other idols – Hakeem [Olajuwon], Patrick Ewing and all those other guys, I think I did a great job. Like I said, he’s [Kobe] the greatest Laker ever. He told me that when he was 18-years-old and I believed him. I pushed his buttons and upset him at times but it made us play to the point where we were able to win three out of four championships and that’s all I was trying to do. That’s what all great leaders do.”

He is the greatest player of this generation and one of the greatest of all-time. At age 33 Kobe Bean Bryant is approaching the dusk of a Hall of Fame career. Last night in his hometown of Philadelphia, Bryant moved into fifth place all time on the NBA scoring list trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

Despite pouring in 28 points the Sixers would pose a late rally to steal a 95-90 victory in front of a sellout crowd at the Wells Fargo Center.

(H.Rumph Jr/AP Photos)

Last night against the Los Angeles Lakers the Sixers were outrebounded 55-35 and had to once again deal with a shortened roster due to injuries, not to mention the onslaught that Kobe Bryant dealt the home team in the first half.

Thank goodness for Lou Williams.

Williams scored 14 of his team-leading 24 points in the final period as the Sixers rallied late to pull out a 95-90 victory over the Lakers who continue to struggle on the road this season. The Sixers were without forward Elton Brand for the second consecutive game with a thumb injury. Williams, who leads the team in scoring seemed to will himself and his team to a victory that was much needed in the standings. 

The Sixers got help from the usual suspects, Andre Iguodala (12 pts. 4 rebs. 5 assts.) did a nice job guarding Bryant in the second half, while the bench provided a much needed boost led by Williams. Jrue Holiday was exceptional scoring 13 points and handing out six assists – turning the ball over only once. As a team, the Sixers committed a season and Wells Fargo Center low of four turnovers to the Lakers 16. The Sixers were once again unselfish with the pill, handing out 27 assists on 38 field goals.

Aside from Bryant’s 28 points, Lakers center Andrew Bynum had 20 points and a game-high 20 rebounds in 36 minutes of work, Pau Gasol also added 16 points and 11 boards.

It’s January here on the northeast. The prime Winter months. So what does my mind turn to? Baseball. Now I know the rosters of most teams aren’t full, and the list of guys who are getting invites to spring training aren’t even complete. But that doesn’t mean we can’t think, theorize, and debate about some truly important issues in the game coming up in the 2012 season. So let’s go.

1: Who is the real Josh Hamilton?
(Author’s Note: This question was written before his recent relapse in Dallas. That, in no way, colors this question. I am not about to somehow take that relapse and make it a baseball issue, because it isn’t. It’s a life issue.)

It’s a vitally important question. Every move the Rangers have made, big and small, goes on the theory that they get back the guy who was the 2010 AL MVP in a cakewalk, dominated the Home Run Derby in 2008, and led the Rangers to the World Series, rending the flesh from the bones of the Rays and Yankees as he did it. Without a healthy and destructive Josh Hamilton the Yu Darvish signing doesn’t mean as much, Nelson Cruz can’t continue on his attempt to become the world’s best possible Pedro Cerrano, Elvis Andrus’ Rey Ordonez career path becomes a little bit more noticeable, and the attempt of the Rangers to defend their American League pennant becomes infinitely harder, if not impossible. It’s a key to the season that can’t be overstated.

No one, at least no one sane, should expect his 2010 MVP season to come out. It’s up there with the best seasons that a center fielder has ever had. But he could pull off the 2008 year where he was top-10 in the MVP voting, and top-10 in 6 offensive categories. But if he can’t, and his 2011 season was not an aberration but rather a course correction from a Ken Griffey Jr. in Seattle-type career to a Ken Griffey Jr. in Cincinnati-type career, the Rangers are in more trouble than they realize.

You can plan for Nelson Cruz to suddenly discover Buddhism. You can even budget for Elvis Andrus to become Rey Ordonez to the point that he shows up wearing #0 and rocking a terrible blond dye job. But what you can’t have if you’re the Rangers, is your cleanup hitter, the face of your franchise, suddenly showing up and experiencing a permanent power shortage.

2: Will Yoenis Cespedes be the guy who changes the recent fortunes of Cuban baseball players?

It’s not exactly a hugely successful list over the past few years. Alexei Ramirez, Kendry Morales, and Aroldis Chapman have tantalized. Jose Contreras and the Hernandez brothers are journeymen to be kind and the jury’s out on Dayan Viciedo.

It is in this climate that Yoenis Cespedes enters. As a “measurables” guy, he’s a phenomenon. This video proves that.

But who is he as a hitter, and as a player? That’s the question. Because, much like boxers from the monolithic and terrifyingly dominant Cuban National Team, there are variables you just don’t have to account for with American or even other Latin American prospects. It’s far beyond understanding the language. It’s dealing, for the first time, with freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want to do it.

It’s also being yanked from the support system you’ve known all your life, and playing against grown-ass men with jobs and families to support instead of college kids. And because the footage on the Cuban athletes is so limited, and they are coming over at the apex of their prime in a best-case scenario, you are essentially playing a game of blind man’s bluff with someone who you’re only getting a few prime years from. If you’re anyone but the Marlins, where the marketability of Cespedes makes him a highly profitable figure, I can’t advise signing him to a big-money deal.

3: What is the actual difference between the ownership morasses of the LA Dodgers & the New York Mets?

Close your eyes, readers. Now remember what the Dodgers were to you, what they represented. Depending on your age and where you grew up, that might have meant different things. To someone who grew up in the 50’s and 60’s, they meant Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and a legacy of integration that will remain the gold standard for major American sports. If you grew up in the 70’s and 80’s it’s Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Fernandomania, Orel Hershiser, and Tommy Lasorda.

The key is that the Dodgers have always been one of the shining franchises in Major League Baseball. So it’s understandable that when they ran into ownership trouble, Bud Selig stepped in and did everything short of taking Frank McCourt’s keys away. Now the question is this: Why in the world couldn’t you do that with the Mets?

I mean, the Mets are, by any objective measure, in a far worse state than the Dodgers are. They had to close an instructional league team, fire Pacific Rim scouts, and cut payroll to a drastic degree just to keep themselves afloat. They have more loans going than I can ever imagine seeing an MLB team having. And yet, nothing.

No discussion about whether or not a franchise who clearly can no longer compete on a major league level in the biggest market in the sport should be owned by the same people who ran it into the ground. No discussion on what in the world is going on with the books that a franchise who owns their own network, and has a gleaming jewel of a stadium, is so cash-poor that they can’t even FATHOM of resigning the man who might be the best player in their franchise’s history, and are about to trade the other contender for that honor. But we don’t talk about the Mets in the same way we talk about the Dodgers. The Mets aren’t the same kind of glory-laden franchise. They don’t have the same kind of rich history. But that doesn’t mean MLB should let the Mets die on the vine. It’s past time to do something about this.

Thank you for reading this, and for being interested enough to comment hopefully.

The last great catch in a season that included plenty like this

The New York Football Giants for the second time in four years are Super Bowl Champions, defeating the New England Patriots 21-17 in a game that will once again be remembered for one of the great catches in Super Bowl history.

Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham hauled in a 38-yard reception from Eli Manning in the midst of two defenders – toeing the sideline on the opening play of the Giants 88-yard game-winning drive that ended with running back Ahmad Bradshaw scoring on a 6-yard run.

(Getty Images)

Does Wes Welker’s drop make him “That guy” Keyshawn Johnson talked about?

For all of the bouquets that the Giants could pass around, the Patriots have their share of blame to pass around. It doesn’t start with Wes Welker’s dropped pass, it just ended that way. Aaron Hernandez dropped a critical ball and Deion Branch over ran a pattern or you could argue that Brady threw the ball behind him. There was a non-existent running game and the inability to stop the Giants running attack.

From the  jump, the Giants were in attack mode despite coming up short in the opening drive the offense was able to move the ball effectively. Jason Pierre Paul was a force early on - batting down two passes and was able to put pressure on Tom Brady.

The Patriots were unable to stretch the field, due to the fact that tight end Rob Gronkowski was regulated to no more than a decoy. As the game wore on, it was obvious that Gronkowski had nothing to give (could he have caught that Hail Mary?). While the Giants used every weapon in their arsenal – a team effort to get the job done.

Tom Coughlin thoroughly out coached Bill Belichick in what has to be his finest hour. Ditto for Eli Manning, who in this season stepped out of his brother Peyton’s shadow – into his own sunlight.

Four years ago, the New York Giants prevented the New England Patriots from becoming only the second undefeated team in NFL history – edging the Patriots 17-14. The game-winning drive that included a miraculous catch by David Tyree before Eli Manning sealed the victory with a touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress.

What seemed like an impossible rematch as the NFL emerged from its lockout, is now a reality as both teams are looking to win their fourth Lombardi Trophy.  In 2008, I went against the grain and history - going with the Giants. Call me crazy, but I’m going with the G-Men again!

Make no mistake, the most important player for the New York Giants is defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul who is in his second season. What JPP brings as a defensive player is well-known by both teams – 16.5 sacks and one of if not the NFL leader in batted down passes. But one area that may be overlooked by some is his role on special teams. Very nimble for a man his size, the 6’5, Pierre Paul’s wingspan is that of a man who stands 7-plus feet. In Week 14 blocked a game-tying field goal attempt against the Cowboys to preserve a comeback victory for the Giants. Pierre-Paul has been drawing double-teams which opens things up for fellow linemen Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora who can wreak just as much havoc. Tom Coughlin will turn JPP loose on third down and don’t be surprised if JPP is covering Pats tight end Rob Gronkowski for his first 5-7 yards on some plays.

The Giants secondary will feast or starve on the production of the lack thereof by the front seven a huge responsibility falls on the linebackers as they will have to contend with Gronkowski, who is less than 100 percent and Aaron Hernandez who will see the ball more than he has so far in the playoffs. If the Giants can get Brady to move east and west in the pocket he’s sure to land into the arms of one of the Giants defenders.

Expect the Patriots to run some screen plays as well. If the Giants secondary can keep everything in front of them they’ll be alright – they cannot afford to be picked apart by Brady and Welker. But if Brady can complete 3 or more deep balls, the Giants will be in trouble.

I feel a big game on the horizon from wide receiver Victor Cruz, possibly even record-setting. The Patriots have alot to deal with defensively from the Giants power running game with a healthy Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs to their three-headed receiving monster of Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and Cruz. If Eli Manning can stay upright and get the time in the pocket the Pats secondary may get taken apart. Another added wrinkle to look for in the Giants attack has been the screen play to Bradshaw or Jacobs.

Vince Wilfork is the key to the Patriots success in defending the pass and the run.  Wilfork played out of his mind in the AFC Championship game tallying six tackles (three for losses) and a sack. Wilfork’s play was timely and essential to the Patriots holding off the Baltimore Ravens.  Wilfork’s success at the line of scrimmage will determine the output of fellow linemen Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter and Kyle Love. I believe that the Patriots linebackers have to play down in the box more than the Giants because of New York’s running attack.

New England’s secondary has its work cut out for them - the Giants are looking to mix things up using the height and speed advantages of their wideouts. They also have to be wary of the screen pass.

I think the Patriots fall back on ‘ol reliable today, Kevin Faulk may get 6-8 touches but they will be in situations where he can make an impact especially in the Patriots short passing game. If BenJarvus Green-Ellis is successful early that would be a huge plus for the Patriots offense. I think Danny Woodhead will line up all over the field and not just as a decoy, you better believe if Woodhead is on the field he’s one of Brady’s three options.

I’m hoping in a small way that Chad Ochocinco has an impact in this game, like Randy Moss four years ago he came to the Patriots for this moment. I don’t know how a man his size has done it so well for so long but Wes Welker is going to get his Brady will take his downfield shots with Deion Branch 2-3 times in this game. Ten years later, Tom Brady still has that draft snub chip on his shoulder it’s fueled him in good times and bad. He’s on the brink of history in this game and he’ll do everything in his power not to let is slip away again.

Prediction: Only cats have more lives than Tom Coughlin who for the past three years has been on a death watch only to have his team rally around him. Whether they rally out of guilt or accountability, they play for this man and that’s all that matters in the end. The Giants have come all the way back from losing their grip on the season to winning the NFC East to becoming NFC Champions. You can add Super Bowl Champions to that list as well – cementing the legacies of Coughlin and Manning.

Giants 33 – Patriots 24

Ndamakong Suh: Got arm? Kevin Love: Got face?

I know people will say Ndamakong Suh had a “history” of questionable plays but has he ever stomped on another player’s face? Not to my knowledge. What makes this play bad more than the imagery is the sound of Scola’s head hitting the floor. Dude could have been seriously hurt. Scola’s a physical player and Love most likely was sick of Luis doing whatever it took to limit his effectiveness down low, but that was outta hand. In the 80′s or 90′s this would have been nothing, but with the NBA “cracking” down on physical play doesn’t this enter the Bill Duke-Menace to Society-interrogation of Kane top of the scale?

If you don’t know anything about these Philadelphia 76ers know this – Doug Collins has a resilient group of young men. The Sixers once again bounced back from another 20+ point loss to the Miami Heat only to rebound with a win - avoiding back to back defeats so far this season. Tonight, it was the Atlanta Hawks who were defeated soundly by the Sixers two weeks ago. Six of the nine players used by Collins scored in double figures as the Sixers defeated the Hawks 98-87 in a huge road win in which the Sixers were without Elton Brand who missed last night’s game with a thumb injury.

Rookie Nikola Vucevic led all Sixers scorers with 15 points.

(John Bazemore/AP Photos)

One of the characteristics of a solid team is the ability to produce regardless of whose in the lineup. The Sixers have displayed this trait over a spam of nearly three weeks. First, center Spencer Hawes goes down and misses ten games, insert rookie Nikola Vucevic who goes down against the Heat two weeks ago, insert fellow rookie LaVoy Allen for Vucevic and now an injured Elton Brand as Vucevic and Hawes return to the lineup.  

The Sixers bench was a source of strength again last night as they scored as many points as the Hawks starters (54), led by Nikola Vucevic who scored 15 points in 20 minutes of action. LaVoy Allen (4 pts. 4 rebs.) started in place of the injured Brand and more than held his own against the Hawks’ Josh Smith (9 pts. 10 rebs. 5 assts. 7 blks.). Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams scored 14 points each in their return to the Atlanta area as well as Jodie Meeks who had 10 points and 5 steals.  Evan Turner broke out of his shooting slump with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Spencer Hawes had his best game since returning to the lineup with 14 points – playing a total of 31 minutes.

Andre Iguodala was once again the facilitator of the offense coming close to a triple-double yet again with 9 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists, once again doing an outstanding defensive job on the Hawks’ Joe Johnson (16 pts.). Atlanta was led by Jeff Teague with 21 points.

The Sixers face three of the top teams in the Western Conference as the Lakers, Spurs and Clippers visit the Wells Fargo Center.  

One-third into the season and the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat come into their second meeting of the season with identical records(16-6). For three quarters, the Sixers played like they were ready to challenge for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Miami Heat went on a 15-0 run in the final period while LeBron James had six of his eight assists in the 4th quarter as the Miami Heat defeated the Sixers 99-79 – snapping the Sixers four-game winning streak.

Dwayne Wade led all scorers with 26 points.

(Michael Perez/AP Photos)

Through three periods of their meeting with the Miami Heat last night, the Sixers showed no letdown from their Wednesday night victory over the Chicago Bulls. The home team came out and went blow for blow with the team the beat them two weeks ago buy 20+ points. Andre Iguodala (10 pts. 7 rebs. 6 assts.) had a couple of dunks including the one above on Joel Anthony as the Sixers would only trail the Heat 25-24 after one.

Coach Doug Collins offered his thoughts after the game. “I thought the first half was a terrific game in terms of execution. Both teams moving the ball, very few turnovers. I thought the game was really well-played, and then the second half, both teams went through a stretch where neither team could make a basket. I think they missed 10 straight shots, and we missed eight of nine. So we never really could, in that period of time, make the push that we were hoping to be able to make.”

Iguodala was the only frontcourt starter to score a point for the Sixers as staring center Tony Battie and surprisingly Elton Brand would go scoreless.  Brand would grab six rebounds in only 22 minutes of action. The Sixers starters would only score 34 points Jrue Holiday (11 pts. 7 assts.) and Jodie Meeks (13 pts.) in addition to Iguodala’s 10. Lou Williams continues to stake his claim for the all-star team as he scored 13 points but shot 6-17. Thaddeus Young led all Sixers with 16 points.

The Sixers struggled from the floor - shooting at 39 percent compared to 51 percent for the visitors – despite only seven turnovers the Sixers lost the battle on the boards 42-38.

The Heat weathered the storm that the sellout crowd at the Wells Fargo Center represented – withstanding every dunk and run that the Sixers made. Collins summed up the Heat’s fourth quarter as a 15-round bout, “They just overwhelmed us in the fourth quarter. They put a push on us, and we didn’t have any resistance, so credits to them. They knocked us out in the fourth quarter, but it sure wasn’t because we weren’t giving any effort.”

The Heat placed six players in double-figures as James was two assists shy of a triple-double (19 pts. 12 rebs. 8 assts.)  Chris Bosh contributed (12 pts. and 5 rebs.) Nick Cole and Mike Miller powered the bench with 23 points on 9-15 shooting – including 5 for 7 from beyond the arc. But it was Wade, who continued his torture of the Sixers with 26 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

The Sixers travel to Atlanta for a meeting with the Hawks tonight.

The 2012 NBA All-Star starters were announced exclusively on TNT

It’s that time already huh? I have to say, covering the Sixers that the MVP’s of this Philly team are Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand. Neither has stats that jump out but their glue is what will make Philadelphia stick moving forward. Glamor wise, if any of the Sixers belong on the team, it’s Iguodala. Sitting in press row when the quarter sheets are passed his line will be 10, 10, 10, 4, 3, 2. Yeah crazy. The Chicago win was huge and yeah Derrick Rose was a little sick, but it was still a Philadelphia win nevertheless and Iguodala shined. The panel gives their choices for reserves and total balloting is below. Should be a pretty good discussion who belongs and who doesn’t league wide. Interested to see what you all have in mind…

TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com

Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber

Eastern Conference All-Star starters:

Derrick Rose Chicago Bulls Guard

Dwyane Wade Miami Heat Guard

LeBron James Miami Heat Forward

Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks Forward

Dwight Howard Orlando Magic Center

Craig Sager interviewing Chicago Bulls guard and All-Star Derrick Rose on his selection as a starter on the East All-Star team

Rose: “It means a lot knowing that hard work pays off.”

Barkley comments on the selection of N.Y. Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony: “Carmelo Anthony doesn’t deserve to be starting for the East. Chris Bosh has played very, very well all season.”

Smith comments on Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh deserving to be a starter instead of N.Y. Knicks Carmelo Anthony: “Chris Bosh has solidified himself as a staple in the All-Star Game this year.”

Webber comments on Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh: “Bosh should definitely be in there too [as a starter].”

Barkley comments on the Philadelphia 76ers on the All-Star East team: “Philadelphia deserves two guys. I just couldn’t decide between Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams.”

Webber comments on the Philadelphia 76ers on the All-Star East team: “You can’t go wrong with either of them [Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams].

**** **** **** ****

Western Conference All-Star starters:

Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers Guard

Chris Paul Los Angeles Clippers Guard

Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder Forward

Blake Griffin Los Angeles Clippers Forward

Andrew Bynum Los Angeles Lakers Center

David Aldridge interviewing L.A. Clippers forward and All-Star Blake Griffin on his selection as a starter on the West All-Star team

Griffin: “It’s an honor to be on the list.”

O’Neal comments on L.A. Clippers Blake Griffin dunk on Monday night over OKC’s Kendrick Perkins: “He [Griffin] is the new Superman. Blake Griffin can have my cape. That dunk is Top 5 in the history of dunks.”

Barkley comments on the Denver Nuggets: “Denver deserves two All-Stars.”

Smith comments on the Denver Nuggets: “Denver deserves two All-Stars…I go with Nene and Ty Lawson.”

Smith comments on L.A. Lakers forward Pau Gasol’s statistics as a possible All-Star: “The problem is that he’s competing with what he’s done in the past. He hasn’t had the same impact on the game that he’s had in the past.”

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Projected Eastern Conference Reserves

Barkley:

Chris Bosh Miami Heat Forward

Deron Williams New Jersey Nets Guard

Joe Johnson Atlanta Hawks Guard

Josh Smith Atlanta Hawks Forward

Andre Iguodala Philadelphia 76ers Forward

Danny Granger Indiana Pacers Forward

Darren Collison Indiana Pacers Guard

O’Neal:

Joe Johnson Atlanta Hawks Guard

Josh Smith Atlanta Hawks Forward

Roy Hibbert Indiana Pacers Center

Andre Iguodala Philadelphia 76ers Forward

Chris Bosh Miami Heat Forward

Amar’e Stoudemire New York Knicks Forward

Rajon Rondo Boston Celtics Guard

Smith:

Joe Johnson Atlanta Hawks Guard

Josh Smith Atlanta Hawks Forward

Roy Hibbert Indiana Pacers Center

Chris Bosh Miami Heat Forward

Danny Granger Indiana Pacers Forward

Carlos Boozer Chicago Bulls Forward

Louis Williams Philadelphia 76ers Guard

Webber:

Joe Johnson Atlanta Hawks Guard

Josh Smith Atlanta Hawks Forward

Roy Hibbert Indiana Pacers Center

Chris Bosh Miami Heat Forward

Andre Iguodala Philadelphia 76ers Forward

Jrue Holiday Philadelphia 76ers Guard

Ray Allen Boston Celtics Guard

EJ:

Rajon Rondo Boston Celtics Guard

Joe Johnson Atlanta Hawks Guard

Chris Bosh Miami Heat Forward

Luol Deng Chicago Bulls Forward

Roy Hibbert Indiana Pacers Center

Josh Smith Atlanta Hawks Forward

Andre Iguodala Philadelphia 76ers Forward

Projected Western Conference Reserves

Barkley:

Kevin Love Minnesota Timberwolves Forward

LaMarcus Aldridge Portland Trail Blazers Forward

Rudy Gay Memphis Grizzlies Forward

Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder Guard

Marc Gasol Memphis Grizzlies Center

Nené Denver Nuggets Center

Al Harrington Denver Nuggets Forward

O’Neal:

Kevin Love Minnesota Timberwolves Forward

LaMarcus Aldridge Portland Trail Blazers Forward

Rudy Gay Memphis Grizzlies Forward

Mo Williams Los Angeles Clippers Guard

DeAndre Jordan Los Angeles Clippers Center

Tyreke Evans Sacramento Kings Guard

Pau Gasol Los Angeles Lakers Forward

Smith:

Dirk Nowitzki Dallas Mavericks Forward

Kevin Love Minnesota Timberwolves Forward

LaMarcus Aldridge Portland Trail Blazers Forward

Rudy Gay Memphis Grizzlies Forward

Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder Guard

Nené Denver Nuggets Center

Ty Lawson Denver Nuggets Guard

Webber:

Kevin Love Minnesota Timberwolves Forward

LaMarcus Aldridge Portland Trail Blazers Forward

Steve Nash Phoenix Suns Guard

Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder Guard

Marc Gasol Memphis Grizzlies Center

Nené Denver Nuggets Center

Danilo Gallinari Denver Nuggets Forward

EJ:

Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder Guard

Ty Lawson Denver Nuggets Guard

LaMarcus Aldridge Portland Trail Blazers Forward

Kevin Love Minnesota Timberwolves Forward

Al Jefferson Utah Jazz Center

Marc Gasol Memphis Grizzlies Center

Kyle Lowry Houston Rockets Guard

Forwards: LeBron James (Mia) 1,360,680; Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 1,041,290; Amar’e Stoudemire (NYK) 383,734; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 367,914; Chris Bosh (Mia) 324,605; Luol Deng (Chi) 276,205; Paul Pierce (Bos) 215,020; Carlos Boozer (Chi) 175,828; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 152,362; Josh Smith (Atl) 119,638.

Guards: Derrick Rose (Chi) 1,514,723; Dwyane Wade (Mia) 1,334,223; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 547,110; Ray Allen (Bos) 382,147; Deron Williams (NJN) 208,697; Jose Calderon (Tor) 132,167; Richard Hamilton (Chi) 111,368; John Wall (Was) 96,606; Kyrie Irving (Cle) 96,346; Joe Johnson (Atl) 66,145.

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 1,600,390; Joakim Noah (Chi) 236,497; Tyson Chandler (NYK) 163,077; Joel Anthony (Mia) 101,307; JaVale McGee (Was) 63,765; Al Horford (Atl) 50,396.

Forwards: Kevin Durant (OKC) 1,345,566; Blake Griffin (LAC) 876,451; Pau Gasol (LAL) 470,353; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 468,435; Kevin Love (Min) 373,880; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 279,500; Tim Duncan (SA) 185,069; Lamar Odom (Dal) 142,830; Danilo Gallinari (Den) 110,245; Rudy Gay (Mem) 95,228.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,555,479; Chris Paul (LAC) 1,138,743; Ricky Rubio (Min) 397,456; Steve Nash (Pho) 276,268; Russell Westbrook (OKC) 262,186; Kyle Lowry (Hou) 185,584; Monta Ellis (GS) 156,603; Chauncey Billups (LAC) 120,961; Jason Kidd (Dal) 114,924; Manu Ginobili (SA) 111,273.

Centers: Andrew Bynum (LAL) 1,051,945; DeAndre Jordan (LAC) 322,056; Marc Gasol (Mem) 285,525; Nenê (Den) 207,102; Marcin Gortat (Pho) 136,168; Kendrick Perkins (OKC) 99,811

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Throughout everything, Dundee remained loyal to Ali

Growing up, he was a name. Pop would talk about Ali, but Angelo Dundee’s name would be attached. By the time he trained Sugar Ray Leonard, his name was commonplace in our household. His name was Dundee, but in my eyes, Loyalty is his name. You could also make a case for Mr. Dundee being the best coach ever. He was more than a motivator, he was a man. This is the best tribute I’ve read on Dundee’s passing. Rest in prowess sir. Go down that Soul Train line just one time why don’t you.

Andre Iguodala has been embattled in Philadelphia since the departure of Allen Iverson – often the subject of trade rumors and the object of the fan’s frustrations. Through it all, Iggy has remained professional. In what is shaping into a special season, the accolades are starting to come in – a possible spot on the 2012 Olympic Team and a very real shot at earning a spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star roster. Last night in the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls the small forward put on a full montage of his skills with a collage of dunks, steals and assists – earning a standing ovation from the 18, 325 in attendance that may have turned the corner on Iguodala.

With their convincing 98-82 victory over the Bulls we know the Sixers already have.

(H. Rumph Jr./AP Photo) 

The Sixers placed five players in double figures had five players grab more than five rebounds and handed out 26 assists on 40 field goals made – a team effort indeed as the Sixers continued to take advantage of their home cooking as they would route the Chicago Bulls 98-82 last night. 

The Sixers have played selfless ball at both ends of the floor but it’s been the team’s defense that has been the backbone of their 16-6 start. 

“That was a tremendous game our guys played. Defensively, we were so good. When you play against Derrick Rose you have to do everything in your power to try and keep him away from that basket and out of that paint. This was a game that our big men did a wonderful job. Our whole game plan was try to keep them out of the paint, off that foul line, and then make [Joakim] Noah, make [Taj] Gibson, make [Carlos] Boozer, make those guys jump shooters. Make them two-point jump shooters. I thought we did a really good job with that.”  The Sixers out rebounded the Bulls 43-37  (Elton Brand, 8 rebounds) and held the trio of Noah, Gibson and Boozer to 8-20 shooting.

Doug Collins is a firm believer in the Sixers bench as a strength and knows that in order for the team to reach peak performance the bench must be effective. “One of the keys for us tonight was our bench. We talked about dominating their bench. They actually started two guys who normally come off the bench. [Kyle] Korver normally comes off the bench with C.J. Watson and [Ronnie] Brewer, and Taj Gibson, [Omer] Asik gives them a pretty potent bench. So I told our guys, “They’ve got those two guys starting now, so we’ve got to do a great job.”

Rookie LaVoy Allen has filled in nicely for fellow rook Nikola Vucevic who was filling in for veteran Spencer Hawes. Collins added “It’s just amazing for me to see how much Lavoy Allen has grown. He is really become a force for us. He has been terrific.” Last night Allen’s progression continued with a career-high 15 points and 6 boards. Lou Williams (14 points 6 assists) and Thaddeus Young (19 points and 8 rebounds) were solid as both logged 27+ minutes of game time.  

Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 18 points on 8-17 shooting, Rose was the only Bulls starter in double figures as the team shot only 43 percent from the floor. Collins suspected that Rose may not have been at full strength. “I think Derrick Rose is a little under the weather today, I’m not sure. I think at shootaround, it was my understanding, he might have gone home or something, and they’re on a nine-game road trip. I think they play back-to-back tomorrow night. We had that 20-point lead, and I just kept looking at that clock just knowing that with 5:47 to go, and they were at 15…I just knew he was coming back, and when he didn’t, I knew he probably wasn’t feeling well.”

The team is halfway through a tough week with back to back games against Miami and Atlanta. Next week offers the Lakers, Spurs and Clippers. Collins sees what’s ahead – confident that the team will meet the challenge.

“You start looking at death row here when you are looking at the schedule coming up with the teams we are playing. We get a shorthanded win at home against Orlando, now against Chicago, now we’ve got Miami. It would be nice if we could somehow finish off this week. It’s going to be tough.”

In the Part I of our discussion, Fritz Pollard III gave me his position on Tim Tebow, Robert Griffin III and some insight into how the decisions made in the media can impede the progress of Black youth in America.

Mr. Pollard and I conclude our conversation but not before he adds more of his unique insight into Mike Singletary and college athletics - he even gives us his Super Bowl prediction.

RG: Going back to Tebow, there has been a racial backdrop to the story of course – in my opinion his style of play is now being praised by the media as opposed to when a Black quarterbacks were critiqued for same style of play. It’s been discussed many times that players like Randall Cunningham or Kordell Stewart were anything but a quarterback.

FP III: It’s very interesting  – I really don’t look at his style of play.  He’s a very good runner, so why didn’t they say he could be a running back as for many times they would take minority quarterbacks out of college and they would say, “Well you need to be a running back or you need to be a receiver.” What he is is a running back because he cannot throw a football, and that was really evident when they played New England. He’s not a drop back passer, and I don’t think he’ll ever be a drop back passer because he just doesn’t throw the ball that well. He’s a tremendous runner, and he probably throws on the run better or than most quarterbacks that I’ve seen. He throws on the run about as good as (Ben) Roethlisberger but he’s still not in Roethlisberger’s league.

You just need an equal playing field, but it also depends on where you’re playing too. You know, you’re playing in Denver Colorado so what do you expect, that’s what you get in Colorado it’s predominantly white,  just like if there was a team in Utah it would be predominantly white. And from their upbringing, they’ve never been around Blacks, they don’t know how to talk to Blacks or they’ve been taught another way that Blacks are lower than them, and this goes back to the Indians where they did this stuff. So they have a lot of bigotry that they were taught when they were growing up and they don’t know until they finally get to see some (minorities) on their team. But you can see that they don’t associate with them because of the way they sit on the benches, they’re still separated. It’s just one of those things that’s still going on.

RG: If your grandfather could pick a quarterback or player that most resembles him who would it be?

FP III: I would probably say Cam Newton would remind him a lot of himself. They used to call my grandfather “The Black Torpedo” because he ran so low to the ground and he was so fast and he threw the ball. And throwing those balls back in his day was something because the ball was more like a rugby ball. And I could look at pictures from my grandfather holding me as a baby and see how big his hands were. That’s why he was able to throw that ball. He was one of the premier quarterbacks that started throwing the ball. And people copied from him, and he didn’t mind, he helped guys that went to college and taught them about throwing the ball down field.

Some whites grew up around minorities, and weren’t from the other side of the tracks, there were some whites that lived on our side of the tracks too. And they grew up playing ball and everything else with Blacks and they spoke like them and everything but they were accepted later just because they were white. And they were accepted because they had these skill sets from playing with Blacks when they grew up, it’s just a totally different scheme on how people get there. But if you look at their upbringing, it was the same as Blacks, cause they were considered lower class people.

RG: Did your grandfather ever have contact with players from his day – say Sammy Baugh?

FP III: I don’t ever recall him mentioning Sammy Baugh. Of the modern players he mentioned Joe Namath. But of the other players that he was most impressed with was Randy White (formerly of the Dallas Cowboys) . My grandfather called me and wanted me to come up because he had someone who he wanted me to meet. So I drove up to New York and once I walked in the door, I knew who it was – it was Randy White. And we had a great conversation talking football all day long and he was such a nice man.

RG: I was watching the marvelous game Vernon Davis had against the Saints, and as he’s crying in Jim Harbaugh’s arms I’m hoping that in his heart he’s thanking Mike Singletary.

FP III: That whole team should be thanking Mike Singletary, especially that defense. Where do you think that defense came from? It came from Mike Singletary.

RG: Well, you know the twist has already been put on this to make it seem that Singletary was too hard on these guys. He took Davis off the field two seasons ago and ripped him in the press, it was obvious that no coach before him cared enough to do that. It seemed like a light went off in Davis head. Now the media is making it look like Harbaugh is just what the doctor ordered.

FP III: In my opinion, if he hadn’t done that he (Davis) probably wouldn’t be in the league right now. He was acting like a kid and you can’t do that as a professional athlete – carry yourself to a higher standard and set the example, and he wasn’t doing that. No matter how much talent you have, he was going down the wrong path – that’s why Singletary benched him.

RG: Singletary brought accountability to that team, which is something that you’re taught as a child and somewhere along the way with Davis (and other athletes) that got lost.

FP III: He was being told what he was too much and he was probably passed along because of his talents and he probably got away with a lot. And I’m just not talking about minorities – many athletes get away with a lot in school and what not because they are star athletes. I look at Randy White when he was at Maryland, he could’ve been one of the great talents at middle linebacker when they drafted him. Randy White is still considered a freshman today at the University of Maryland because he couldn’t pass any courses. And so he couldn’t be a linebacker because he couldn’t remember the plays – so how could a middle linebacker call the play? Dexter Manley was another example.

RG: Who do you like to win the Super Bowl?

FP III: I like New England. I believe that they’re really hungry.

RG: As always Mr. Pollard it’s a pleasure speaking with you.

FP III: Thank you Ron, keep up the good work.

The Sixers have feasted on teams in the lower half of the Eastern Conference while enjoying an impressive home stand - sprinting out to a 14-6 start. Skeptics have lined up, reluctant to anoint the Sixers as a legitimate contender in the East.

Everyone can breathe easy now.

The Sixers outscored the Orlando Magic 21-9 in the 3rd quarter and led by as many as 19 points on their way to a 74-69 victory, sending the Magic to their fourth consecutive defeat.

(H. Rumph Jr./AP/Photo)

The Sixers shot out of the blocks hard in a week that will determine the true direction the team is headed in this sprint of a season. Doug Collins’ bunch improved to 15-6 with a gutsy 74-69 victory over a reeling Orlando Magic squad without point guard Jameer Nelson who is experiencing concussion-like symptoms. The Sixers and Magic battled back and forth in an ugly first half that saw both teams combine for 70 points.

The Sixers jumped on the Magic defensively in the second half, in particular the third quarter which saw the Sixers yield the Magic to only eight points. Both teams shot poorly from the floor (Sixers 37.5%, Magic 33.3%) but defending in a game like this puts some pearls on a pig of a game. Collins opened up his presser handing out pearls but was just as concerned about the way his team closed things out – allowing a 19-point advantage to shrink to single digits.

“That was a much-needed win for us here with what we have ahead of us this week. I thought our defense was fabulous until the last three minutes of the game. I let our guys know at the end of the game I was very, very happy with the win. I was not happy with the way we finished the game. If we’re going to be a team that’s going to be a legit team in the playoffs and stuff, then we can’t let teams score 18 points in the last three minutes and not get one stop. And so I let them know. I think you have to do that after a win and not after a loss.”

The Sixers held Dwight Howard to 17 points on 17 field goal attempts and no Magic player had more than six field goals made. Ryan Anderson had 14 points and 20 rebounds for the Magic, who won the battle on the glass 55-47 – the only portion of the game that the visitors would dominate.

The Sixers made a conscious effort to hit the boards and make Howard’s life miserable. Veteran Tony Battie made the most of his time filling in again for the injured Spencer Hawes (Achillies) going for eight points, nine rebounds and an exceptional defensive job on Howard. Elton Brand (8 pts. 7 rebs. 4 blks.) was solid in 30 minutes of action. Andre Iguodala, coming off of a triple-double flirted with another one as he scored 14 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. The Sixers bench logged heavy minutes in another solid performance led by Evan Turner with 12 points.

The Sixers face the Bulls for the first time this season Wednesday night.

I mean dammit man…Like Gigantor. Right?

Like Gus Johnson says…Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 23 year old defensive end had 86 tackles (1st among NFL lineman), 16.5 (4th)sacks and 2 forced fumbles this season…

No. A resounding no. So many other stories…if you look…and the monster above is one of them. This notion that quarterbacks control football seems lazy…and crazy. It’s not like Allen Iverson and the rest of the Sixers. Across a football field, so much talent factors into the outcome. As we’ve seen this year, less than 10 passes can get you a victory but a stout defensive front four that includes JPP propels your team into the Super Bowl.

Jason Pierre-Paul was added to the Pro Bowl this year despite not being on the ballot. In a December 37-34 Giants victory over the Cowboys Pierre-Paul became the first player in NFL history to block a field goal, get a sack and  force a fumble in the same game. His field goal block of Dan Bailey was the deciding play and is a big reason why New York is here in the first place after surviving the talented but overly dramatic NFC East. His sack total is 4th in Giants history. 23 tackles for losses and 29 quarterback hits do more to affect the game than the stat sheet shows.

Before landing at Central Florida, the 15th pick in the ’10 draft began his college career at College of the Canyons in California and was First-team All-WSC and also an All-American…amassing 49 tackles, 14 sacks, one pick, 19 tackles for losses and two forced fumbles.

The next season, JPP played at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas. His 70 tackles, 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles put him on the All American list for the second time.

By now, you’ve probably seen this video…

Very few humans can do that and if you find another defensive end so athletically gifted, my new career is an NFL player agent. Before the last Super Bowl, Temple 3 and I had a pre game phone conversation. I told him Justin Tuck would have a major influence on who won the game. Tuck was relatively unknown at that point but…his ’12 mirror, JPP isn’t sneaking up on any one.

This is a guy who took the starting defensive end job from Osi Umenyiora. Yes, injuries had a lot to do with the change, but Pierre-Paul has also simply been the better player of the two. Don’t count Osi out. Remember his big hit on Brady 4 years ago in this game where coming in Michael Strahan was perceived as JPP is now.

A strong case can be made that Jason Pierre-Paul will be the best player on the field Sunday. Tom Brady is a beast and his Hall of Fame worthy accomplishments aside, this game is played in real time…not in the past. Brady will be ready for this game and his star will shine all over the field but you know damn well Brady will know where #90 is at all times and that’s where the Patriots might be at a loss. How will Rob Gronkowski’s ankle hold up? Will he make a Terrell Owens like Super Bowl comeback? Will his blocking assignments affect his also freakish ability to catch passes down the seam where the Giants are not as affective? Will JPP and company have smacked Brady to the ground by then the same as Strahan and Umenyiora did in 42?

Should be interesting.