Wednesday, March 15, 2006

What I'm thinking

by SonDog

Ron Artest played better defense on Kobe Bryant on Tuesday night than any player I've ever seen. If this guy keeps his head screwed on straight, he's one of the 7-8 best players in the NBA. I'm not exadurating. And I'm not an NBA scout. That being said, if I were a betting man (which I am), I would put money on Artest (which I have) not making it 18 months without a serious incident that warrants suspension from both the Kings and the NBA. Remember, this is the honeymoon period where Ron-Ron can do no wrong (see Owens, Terrell and Philadelphia).

For Northern California sports fans: Who was/is the most hated and most scrutinized player (by way of the media) in A) MLB B) NBA and C) NFL in 2005/2006? If you answered A) Barry Bonds B) Ron Artest and C) Terrell Owens, you would be correct. Is there just a touch of irony in this for us, or should we finally admit that the mass-media is racist and has a homophobic tendency towards the San Francisco gay-pride parade? I'm just asking.

When Yao Ming puts in his iPod (as shown in the pre-game special on ABC on Sunday), what type of music does he listen to?

Syracuse's Gerry McNamara reminds me of Mike Bibby in so many ways. I'm not saying he will be the player that Bibby has become, but Jerry Mac will find a spot in an NBA rotation as every team can use a zone-busting 17-18-ft jump shooting specialist. He's money when it counts. I'm telling you, somebody will get a steal in the later portion of the first round of the 2006 NBA draft. That being said, I picked Texas A&M to beat the Orangemen in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Go figure.

Mike Bibby, with 7.3% less pigment.

In case you're wondering, I could write a freakin' novella on the Barry Bonds fiasco and how the hypocritical sports writers are showing their... wait a minute... that's for an entirely separate column.

Hey, have you heard that Barry Bonds did steroids?

I'm over MySpace.

I will be leaving on Monday for my annual Spring Training pilgrimage to Arizona. Last year, BH and I had the pleasure of conversing with several players (remember Jim Brower, BH? Remember how we asked him how his arm felt after throwing 3,000 games the year before and how he said he felt "great?" Remember how he blatantly lied to our faces for about 5 minutes, yet we stood there and asked him for his autograph? Remember how he was released about 60 days later because he sucked harder than (there are so many inappropriate comments I could put here, are there not?)? Ahhhhhh, the memories. At least we have Rickie Weeks' autograph "for our kids.") At any rate, I'll do my best to report as much as possible from the desert. I'll keep a close eye on batting practice and the mid-inning outfield jogging to see how the young Giants are progressing. With that, # 9 through #2 of the much-anticipated part III of The Indispensables will be hitting the site after my religous experience that is Spring Training week.

BH (with camera) and I scouting the action in Scottsdale, AZ in March 2005. The Giants failed to listen to our scouting report that the team was too old to contend. Huston Street, however, gained some valuable pitching advice from BH on his way to AL Rookie of the Year. Much more on this during a later date.

One last note: Stapes, I apologize that we haven't had any NCAA tournament blogging on here. I really do. However, I fully speak for myself here when I say that fear that my minimal level of knowledge when it comes to the RPI and bracketology would simply be an embarrassment to the site and prove counter to the distaste we show towards sports columnists who try to sound like experts. I wish you well in your NCAA tourney pool, but I want to win that money. Seriously, I do.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've also never been into the March madness scene as much as I should have. My bracket is he type of thing anybody who has watched a single college game during the year scoffs at. Who the hell picks Nevada to beat Villanova?! Stapes, you need to get Son to post your bracket next year and win us all some loot.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, I have Ohio losing to Duke for the championship....did I drink before filling this thing out?

Anonymous said...

My bracket is horrible. Last night I looked at it after taking a few hours away from sports (stuck in a meeting) and it dawned on me that I'm just a dumb as the rest of the country.

Sonny has my bracket via email, but posting it would cause you guys to lose credibility and advertising.

Anonymous said...

Oh Yeah...and go Cal. I'd be happy is they win their first round game. If they did they would have to play Texas in Dallas - super not fair. NCAA games are supposed to on neutral floors so this is bullshit.

Roscoe Galt said...

It's become the chic pick, and I don't know why I didn't put it in my bracket, but I'm taking Winthrop over Tennesee.

Lunatic Fringe said...

And how have you not added to our Jim Brower discussion, BH?

Roscoe Galt said...

What?

Roscoe Galt said...

Are you alluding to my use of the word "chic?" I mean it to be the "sheek" version of the word.

Anonymous said...

Huh? Was that directed to me? No, not in the least.

Don't you remember talking with Jim Brower and he said his arm was "still there" but he was "feeling great?" Then, he goes out and gets slammed and released? The joys of Spring Training. We need to do a combo article on the night club night with the A's. One of the top-3 celebrity moments of my life.

Roscoe Galt said...

Thank you. My mind is at ease.

Roscoe Galt said...

I loved that Brower said, "I think we're going to have a good year." If by "we," he meant Atlanta, then in hindsight I sort of agree.

Roscoe Galt said...

My kid uses the balls I had autographed to throw at his mom and I and the dog.

Anonymous said...

You didn't keep the Ricky Weeks autograph? It also had Corey Hart and Ned Yost on it, I believe. That one is in a glass case "for my kid."

Roscoe Galt said...

Oh, I still have all the balls. It's just that once the kid can get into the glass case, he likes to play with it, not use it. I kind think I'd rather him be able to do what he wants with it than doing nothing other than stare at the ball.