Nope.

Thoughts on Team USA after their 119-82 destruction of Spain:

Ron Artest to Houston. No NBA summer is complete without the Rockets picking up yet another forward who is supposed to put them into title contention.

Watching the NBA Draft on ESPN -- Both Ric Bucher and Stuart Scott just pronounced Yi Jianlian's name as, phonetically, "EE GIN LIN." That's how you really pronounce it (See "Poor Charlie: The Underdog Story" below)!! I don't know at what point they stopped butchering it as "EE GEE-ON LEE-ON," but hopefully those days are over.

Stop crying L.A. fans, the Lakers have a better chance than any team to come back and win the title next year.

Sorry Kobe. Maybe next year.

Despite embarrassing themselves to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, life isn't over for the Los Angeles Kobe Bryant and Friends. L.A. is a year early anyway. Was Pau Gasol the missing piece that made them title contenders? For sure, but that puzzle also had a giant piece named Andrew Bynum who happened to be missing for the entire end of the season. Gasol is a seasoned scorer and an incredible athlete in his own right, but he doesn't bring the strength and mean streak that Bynum does (ask Shaq). Bynum is the cornerstone of that low-post defense, and Boston would have found the paint to be a far more unfriendly place if they ran into two long, athletic 7-footers there. When Bynum returns from surgery next year and joins Gasol on the frontline (assuming this roster stays together -- I'm looking at you, Kobe) and the Lakers move Lamar Odom for a player with a pair of rocks in his sack (rocks > talent), they will be competing for the championship for years.

But they will not be alone.

Another team also started making noise a year early. Last October, the Portland Trailblazers were expected to be one of if not the worst team in the league. They had just traded away Zach Randolph, their leading scorer and rebounder, and banked their entire future on #1 draft pick Greg Oden, the center of the future. Then they watched Oden shut down for the entire season following microfracture knee surgery. It didn't leave them with much. Their players were, on average, the youngest team in the league by far at 24.06 years, 1.29 years younger than 29th youngest Seattle (0.55 years separates #29 from #22). The players also had the least amount of experience at 2.87 years, 0.60 years less than 29th least experienced Chicago (0.46 years separates #29 from #20). This was a team that didn't have a front court player who cracked double-digits in scoring the year before. Their one lone bright spot for the season was Brandon Roy, a promising but hardly explosive sophomore combo guard who missed 25 games his rookie season to injuries. Well, at least if they're terrible, they'll get another high draft pick, right?

Ever since General Manager John Paxson sold his soul to David Stern, and the Chicago Bulls beat the 98.3% odds of winning the draft lottery, the Internet has been rife with arguments over whom Chicago should take with the first pick of the draft: Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley. It's an epic debate reminiscent of Greg Oden vs. Kevin Durant last year, but there's even more at stake for the Bulls. What makes this decision especially intriguing is that Rose and Beasley provide platinum-level solutions to the the Bulls' two biggest needs: competent playmaking at the point and reliable low-post scoring. Well, if you need both, why not take both?

There's a young, 6'11" 240 lb power forward on the Milwaukee Bucks with serious potential. He's dropped 48 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in individual games. He hit 6 three-pointers in a game, proving he has true NBA range, and recorded 5 blocks in another, proving he has the length and athleticism to be a force on defense. But his first season in Milwaukee saw him miss 43 games to injury, and his second saw him lose his starting spot to politics in the form of another 6'11" 240 lb forward named Yi Jianlian.

Stop. At this time, I'd like to pause for this important public service announcement from all the people of China:

EE JIN LIN.

That's how you pronounce his goddamn name. EE JIN LIN. Not EE JONG LEE-ONG like how every single sports broadcaster is butchering it other than Bill Walton, who at least comes close with EE JIN LEE. I know it's not as easy as YAO MING, but, thanks to me, you'll figure it out much sooner than the 1:00AM SportsCenter crew will (if they ever do).

We now return you to your original article, the story of Charlie Villanueva.

Charlie's story is one of my all-time favorite NBA stories. When he was 10, Charlie began losing his hair. His family discovered he suffered from Alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease that results in the loss of hair on one's head and sometimes, as in Charlie's case, all over one's body. By the time he was 12, Charlie was completely bald, which as anyone who grew up awkwardly different from all his or her peers can attest to, meant he was in for a long, painful childhood being teased and laughed at by his classmates.

He got through it. Charlie took all the insults and mocking in stride and stayed focused on his dream of playing basketball. In this he succeeded, eventually becoming New Jersey State High School Co-Player of the Year with his classmate Luol Deng in 2003, being named to the Big East All-Rookie team in 2004, and winning the national championship the same year.

I remember the day in the Summer of 2005 when he was drafted #7 overall by the Toronto Raptors. Jay Bilas and the ESPN crew ripped into this pick mercilessly. Charlie's soft. Charlie plays unmotivated. Toronto already has Chris Bosh, why do they need Charlie Villanueva? After hearing all this, Charlie had to sit down and explain himself to Stuart Scott. He did so admirably, considering everyone just called him a complete bust before he even played a single minute of an NBA game. The day he arrived in Toronto, he picked up a newspaper and it was more of the same. Worst pick in franchise history.

Again with the insults. Again with the mocking.

He got through that as well. Again, he stayed focused. Again, he worked his ass off. Again, he'd prove himself to everyone. Everyone didn't have to wait long. In his sixth game as a Toronto Raptor, Charlie went out and dropped 26 points and 12 rebounds on Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis's Seattle Supersonics. Shut the fuck up, Jay Bilas. Two nights later, he went out and dropped 27 and 13 on Allen Iverson and Chris Webber's Sixers. Even louder now -- SHUT THE FUCK UP, JAY BILAS. He finished his rookie season averaging 13 and 6 with close to an assist, a three-pointer, a steal, and a block in 29 minutes a game. He also finished second to uber-rookie Chris Paul for Rookie of the Year.

Unfortunately, Toronto was still a dysfunctional team at the time, and they ended the season with a record of 27-55, well out of the running for the playoffs. Nevertheless, this gave Charlie plenty of time for his extracurricular pursuits. In addition to being a spokesman for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation to raise awareness about this rare disease, he also set up The Charlie Villanueva Foundation to combat bullying in our nation's schools and neighborhoods.

Take a step back one moment and read that again. In a decade that saw Columbine, Virginia Tech, and so many other horrific shootings by students who felt like they were outcasts from society, all politicians and media pundits want to do about is yell and scream about gun control, violent video games, and rap/rock music. Who is out there talking to the kids? Who is trying to hear what the bullies and their victims have to say and get a positive message out to them? Is your congressional representative doing that? Most likely no. Is your President? Definitely not. Charlie Villanueva is, and it is a crime that more people aren't.

It's been a rough two years since Charlie was traded to Milwaukee, and now he's stuck behind Yi Jianlian, a player Milwaukee promised 25 minutes a game to get him to sign on. I can't blame them. They are a business, and they just grabbed a crucial piece of the colossal Chinese sports market. And to his credit, Yi has been playing superbly so far. But don't sleep on Charlie. You can doubt him. You can insult him. But don't sleep on this guy, because he will come back with a vengeance and make you look like a fool. Again.

Al Horford - 8 points, 15 rebounds, 2 blocks

He'll probably be useful before the season is over, but don't trip over yourself picking this guy up off waivers right now.

I'm watching the Cleveland-Utah game, and they started showing some highlights of the Atlanta-Phoenix game, at which point Doug Collins mentions he can't figure out why Phoenix is playing so poorly, other than the fact that Amare Stoudemire isn't playing. Uh, what else are you looking for, Doug? That is their only post scorer and defender, and he's out injured. Shawn Marion may match up against a cupcake like Dirk Nowitzki, but he's not guarding the Tim Duncan's and Dwight Howard's of the world.

Look closely at that box score. Phoenix's starting frontline is 6'7", 6'8", 6'8", and they logged 117 minutes amongst themselves. All three, in reality, are swingmen (Marion, Grant Hill, Boris Diaw). None of them can bang in the post with a guy like Horford, even if he's just a rookie. The Suns gave away their best post defender ( Kurt Thomas, 6'9") and two draft picks to stay under the salary cap, and the guy they brought in to replace him ( Brian Skinner, 6'9") recorded twice as many fouls (2) as every other stat (1 reb) in 4 minutes. That's still better than their tallest player ( Sean Marks, 6'10") who played for 6 minutes and recorded a spectacular 0/0/0/0/0/0 and 1 foul.

Friday, when Horford has to go up against Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins, I'll be expecting something closer to or less than his average of 6 points and 9 rebounds.

Have you seen the Phoenix Suns play with Marcus Banks at the point instead of Steve Nash? Rigid half-court sets. No fluidity. Just constantly kicking the ball out to the perimeter, hoping somebody knocks down the three. It's terrible. How good would they be if a real playmaker like Sergio Rodriguez or Rajon Rondo was backing up Nash at the point? Nope, those draft picks were sold off for cash in the same draft year. How good would they be if they had Luol Deng, who's bound to be an All-Star this year? Nope, sold off back in 2004. All because Robert Cheapskate Sarver is scared to death of even sniffing the luxury tax.

Now this year, they trade Kurt Thomas, their best post defender and the only guy on the team who could even slightly slow down Tim Duncan, and TWO first-round picks for a SECOND-ROUND pick?? Your best player and key to the offense is going on 34 this season, and you give up your next two years' first round picks? I like the Brian Skinner pick-up, but are you counting on Grant Hill, a solid but clearly over-the hill veteran, to take you over the top? Are you hoping the two 6'5" rookie swingmen you didn't sell off in the draft can contain Duncan?

I see Chicago and Dallas drafting wisely and developing their young guys. San Antonio is the master of finding talent late in the draft and letting them develop overseas with an eye to the future. I see Houston picking up free agents and trading for players who actually fit their needs (Swift, Battier, Scola). What the hell is Phoenix doing?

I could care less if this was happening in New York or Philadelphia. The most infuriating part is that Phoenix should be competing for championships every year. But, unlike some crazy NBA analysts, I never think they have what it takes to beat a Dallas or San Antonio in a seven-game series. The Mavs and the Spurs only need to play a good series to beat Phoenix (which apparently is a lot to ask for one of those teams); Phoenix needs every single thing to go their way.

Denver broke the bank to put Allen Iverson next to Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin. Boston broke the bank to put together Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. I'll give Sarver credit for paying for Nash. That was a money move. He gave Amare Stoudemire the extension he deserved, which was an obvious move. He extended Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa (jury's still out on that). But he is killing his team thinking what's he done is enough and can nickel and dime the rest of the way to a championship.

Rob, you are not there yet. If they don't win this year, it's not on Nash. It's not on Stoudemire or Shawn Marion. It's not Mike D'Antoni. It's 100% on the shoulders of Robert Sarver, who is quickly building the worst franchise in the league around one of its brightest teams.

I surfed over to the NBA home page at ESPN today and thought I saw a headline that said, "Phil Jackson takes a stand at the doorstep of the Basketball Hall of Fame." As some of you may know, Phil Jackson will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame tonight, though not without the usual healthy dose of controversy that surrounds all things Phil Jackson. Months ago I read an excellent article by Sports Illustrated's Marty Burns:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/marty_burns/12/22/phil.jackson/ind ex.html

The basic gist of it is that Phil Jackson specifically told his friend and long-time assistant coach Tex Winter that he would refuse any invitation to Springfield unless Winter received the same honor. Tex Winter is the most successful disciple of Sam Barry, the inventor of the Triangle Offense, and the one who brought it to Phil Jackson's Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers teams. Indeed, he is as much responsible for Jackson's 9 championship rings as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant were.

Though Winter has received the John Bunn Award for Lifetime Achievement from Naismith, he was nominated and passed over six times for actual induction into the Hall of Fame, which means he is no longer eligible to be nominated again. Indignant, Winter has also stated that he would not accept an invitation anymore even if he received one.

When I heard that Phil Jackson was TAKING A STAND, my impression of him just skyrocketed. Here is a man standing up against all convention and turning down glory in the ultimate display of well-deserved loyalty to a close friend and indispensable colleague.

But no. The headline actually said, "Phil Jackson STANDS at the doorstep of the Basketball Hall of Fame." That's quite different. That means Jackson is selling out.

Is Tex Winter going to hate Phil Jackson for accepting the induction? Doubtful. You never deny your friends their success just because you couldn't achieve it yourself. Does Tex Winter belong in the Hall of Fame? That's questionable. Would Phil Jackson be up for this honor without Tex Winter? Undeniably no. Come on, Jax. Are you really going to do your friend like that? What're you worried about, your legacy? You've won 9 championship rings. You have the winningest record in NBA history. You are arguably the greatest professional basketball coach ever. Who cares if there isn't a bust in the shape of your head in some room in Springfield, IL?

You are no Pete Rose. What you would be doing is in no way dishonorable. Perhaps disrespectful to some, but screw it, you're the same guy who said you gained greater insight into basketball by dropping acid. Make a stand right here, Jax, and I guarantee you people will take notice. Like the coolest kid in school standing up for the nerdy outcast helping him with his homework. It may cost you a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame, but no one will ever question the strength of your word or the size of your cajones. Now that's a legacy worth having.

ESPN Article: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=PhilJackson

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-27-130/Steve-Nash-and-Yao-Ming--Making-Som ething-Happen.html

Athletes playing for charity don't grab headlines nearly as well as "Vick Kills Dogs" or "Beckham Signs $50 Billion Contract," but I never get tired of hearing about the positive impact athletes and sports can have on society. Bravo Steve Nash and Yao Ming.

Note to Gene Wojciechowski, it's time to retire, sit out the sports writing game for a few years, then try to make a comeback for a much smaller contract with a contender.

Read this "article." Are you kidding me? This is the type of analysis I'd expect from a 14 year old on a MySpace forum. John Hollinger is probably somewhere wiping his ass with a printout of this right now. Where do I even start? I could write for days what's wrong with this, but here are the top 3:

1. The pick for greatest record of all time has been broken. Talk about nostalgia over logic. I heard Oprah's magazine is looking for a new columnist.

2. Time and time again the argument on why certain records are better than others are based on completely unrelated stats from said players' lives. How does Sadaharu Oh retiring at 40 and Jack Nicklaus winning majors until he was 46 have anything to do with their two records?? You're going to punish a baseball record because that sport is more taxing on a player's body than golf? Shouldn't Oh's record be even more impressive given it took him less time to reach it (not that any of this makes sense anyway because you're comparing apples to elephants). Please feel free to re-read the article and pull out all other completely irrelevant statistical analysis yourself.

3. How do you have a collection of the greatest records of all time and not a single Wilt Chamberlain record on there?? Forget the 100-pt game that only the most cerebrally damaged of NBA analysts would believe Kobe could surpass (he never will). Forget the 50.4 ppg average that you could bet your family's life on never being surpassed. There is no record more unbreakable in any major sport than Wilt averaging 48.5 minutes per game in 1962-1963. Wilt played every minute of every game. These days you just don't let 8-digit investments tax their bodies like that, and you don't let scrubs on the court for that long. Wilt was a different breed of athlete playing in a sport that was not yet wholly a business, and that's why his records still stand the test of time.

The general rule in the NBA goes that if you stand pat in the off-season, you're not going anywhere in the regular season. For those who need evidence of that, take a look at the 2006-07 Miami Heat, who went from world champions to swept out of the first round by the same team that spanked them by 42 on opening night. The following teams (for the most part) did not do the same this summer, and the players further below likewise are heading into the new season with new situations and some with new zip codes as well.

FIVE TEAMS TO WATCH IN 2007-08

1. BOSTON CELTICS - Duh. For those just coming out of a coma (and somehow decided they needed to read this blog before all other things, thanks!), they now have Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen teaming with Paul Pierce. That's three perennial All-Stars and at least one future first-ballot Hall of Famer. If they filled the rest of the roster with guys from the local YMCA (which they might have to, given the salaries of their Big 3), they'd still make the Eastern Conference Playoffs. This goes Double Duh if they manage to get Miller Time out of the booth.

2. HOUSTON ROCKETS - Before the KG trade, the Rockets were the hottest team of the summer. With all respect to Chuck Hayes, they finally filled their PF spot with Luis Scola, arguably the best player in Europe the past few years. I realize people said the same when they got Stromile Swift two years ago (minus the best player in Europe part), but people were still banking on Swift's potential while Scola is a proven commodity. And anyway Swift helped them get Shane Battier, so that didn't turn out so badly either.

Then Houston got Mike James and Steve Francis (more on him later) to fill the backcourt. I don't know what that means for Luther Head, who has been commendable the last two years, but Rafer Alston and his aggravated assault and public intoxication charges are probably on their way out of town. With Bonzi Wells also apparently on board and Rick Adelman at the helm, this team is now expected to finally get out of the first round, but I wouldn't be surprised if they also ended up being the team coming out of the West. Oh yeah, they still have Tracy McGrady and that really tall Chinese guy, too. I heard they're pretty good.

3. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS ? The new young team to watch, kind of like Orlando last year, except even better on paper and hopefully much better in action. They shipped out all the old heads (except Raef LaFrentz's unmovable contract and Darius Miles's unmovable knees) and built this team entirely on very huge potential. They have three F/C's capable of dropping a 20/10 with LaMarcus Aldridge, Channing Frye, and Greg Oden (plus an absolute steal in Josh McRoberts with the 37th pick). They have a magic backcourt with Sergio Rodriguez (though he'll probably play behind both Steve Blake and Jarrett Jack for now) and Brandon Roy. And they have two kids with sky high ceilings to man the 3-spot with Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster.

Also, unlike Blazers teams of the past, this team is all class. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better young guy to lead your team right now than Brandon Roy, and future of the franchise Greg Oden is straight Tim Duncan when it comes to both talent and humility. Given Oden's amazing one-year run to the NCAA Finals, I'm predicting Portland knocks off Denver, Golden State, or the Lakers for one of the final playoff spots.

4. CHICAGO BULLS ? They didn't make as many dramatic changes as the teams above, and it's actually starting to look unlikely that they'll be able to get that big post player they desperately need. KG is in Boston, Pau Gasol looks like he won't leaving Memphis with his best friend now joining the team, and Indiana will not be sending Jermaine O'Neal to a divisional rival when he seems pretty intent on joining either the Lakers or Nets. They probably did the right thing drafting on talent instead of need, but they may regret having Joakim Noah instead of Spencer Hawes when they once again find themselves unable to get any points within 5-10 feet of the basket in May. Unless you believe never-was Joe Smith or won't-make-the-team Aaron Gray is the answer to that. Still, they have a fantastic core of players, Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas are both on their way to becoming All-Stars, and Noah is perfect insurance for Ben Wallace. I know it's an imprecise statement, but they really are one move away from NBA champions.

5. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS ? My sleeper team this year. Last year after they traded Allen Iverson to Denver for Andre Miller and spare parts, they were 5-18 and looked like the worst team in the entire NBA. Instead, Andre Iguodala busted out and they played .500 ball with the new squad, being one of the few teams with no hope that nevertheless did not tank their games. Thaddeus Young is a freak athlete and Jason Smith is a gamer, but other than drafting those two and the surprising development of Louis Williams (fantasy sleeper alert), they haven't done very much in the off-season. They once again look like the worst team in the Eastern Conference. So expect them to make a push for the playoffs. Yeah, I basically have them down so I can be the only person who says, "I told you so!"

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES ? Sam Mitchell is so lucky he got Coach of the Year, because Toronto wanted Marc Iavaroni bad. Memphis has him and the athletic talent to run his style.

ATLANTA HAWKS ? Those kids are developing fast! People have Charlotte ranked ahead of them because they have Jason Richardson now? I would take Joe Johnson and Atlanta's talent over the Bobcats any day.

PHOENIX SUNS ? Steve Nash has incredibly defied biology and gotten better every single year in Phoenix, but at some point, age must catch up to him. If the Suns fizzle out in the Western Conference Finals for the fourth time in a row, they're going to really regret (even more) selling away Sergio Rodriguez and Rajon Rondo last year when they would've been fantastic understudies to Nash.

DALLAS MAVERICKS ? It's time for redemption.

FIVE PLAYERS OR DUOS TO WATCH IN 2007-08

1. GREG ODEN & KEVIN DURANT ? Okay. Next.

2. AL JEFFERSON ? One of my favorite nerdy things to do last year was to compare Jefferson's stats to Dwight Howard's, who many have already coronated the next dominant big man of the NBA. Quite honestly, they were pretty on par after January, with Howard getting the edge in rebounds and blocks and Jefferson getting a big edge in scoring. Now that Jefferson is on a team where he'll actually be the #1 option, I'm looking for a Jermaine O'Neal-like Most Improved Player season but with more points (or a Zach Randolph-like MIP season but with more blocks). His name definitely belongs up there with guys like Amare Stoudemire, Howard, and Bosh now.

3. STEVE FRANCIS ? He developed such a bad reputation that Portland didn't even want to take the chance of letting him meet Brandon Roy or Greg Oden. This guy used to be Stevie Franchise! He was a 3-time All-Star. The problem is he let all that go to his head, but I think all that time being third or fourth banana in New York really taught him a few things about humility. A lot of fans say Houston is taking two steps backwards letting Francis back into their locker room, but I think he's coming back a man reborn. He knows he doesn't need to be the franchise star here. We all know T-Mac and Yao will be consistently great (except T-Mac's FG%), but Francis will be the key to how far they go in the playoffs.

4. EDDY CURRY & ZACH RANDOLPH ? Both these guys had breakout/comeback seasons last year. They became the dominant low-post scorers most teams in the league would kill for. And that's all the good news. They're both total black holes with no concept of how to pass out of the post. They both play zero defense that involves more than standing on the block and taking up space. They both are size 50DD's. Now they play together. I kind of wish New York still had Francis with Stephon Marbury so they'd have two overpaid guys who do the same exact thing and have the same exact problems in both the frontcourt and backcourt (still lots of love to Starbury for all his off-court enterprises though).

5. MARVIN WILLIAMS ? Chris Paul takes all the glory for the draft class of 2005, and deservedly so, but Williams went a long way last year toward becoming the player many people thought he would be. They have a solid core with Josh's Smith & Childress and Joe Johnson, and they had a great draft filling their biggest needs with Al Horford and A.C. Law 4. But Marvin Williams is on the cusp. He will likely break through before the Hawks break into the playoffs.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

BRANDAN WRIGHT ? Remember when people thought he was the 3rd best player in the draft?

SUMMER LEAGUE STANDOUTS ? Louis Williams, Ty Thomas, Marco Bellinelli, will they make a difference or end up like Randy Foye last year? I'll tell you who still won't make a difference: Nate Robinson and J.J. Redick.

ROBERT SWIFT ? Had a lot of promise before an injury took him out for the whole year last preseason. Robbed us of his new shaggy hair and way too many tattoos for skin that pale look.

DARKO MILICIC ? 3 teams in 3 years. People still have hope for this guy? Will he ever be good?

YI JIANLIAN ? I'm already guaranteeing he plays in Milwaukee and will be better than Darko and Nikoloz Tskchikawhatever. But will he be better than Charlie Villanueva?

RAYMOND FELTON & SEAN MAY ? Very disappointing sophomore seasons, but this UNC duo is what can make the Bobcats good. Them, and suckering someone into trading for Adam Morrison.

Reggie Miller left the game on a high note. In 2004, after 17 seasons with the Pacers, he'd gone from face of the franchise to role player and locker room leader. The Pacers were coming off a 61-win season, and all the talk was about how close Jermaine O'Neal got to the MVP and Ron Artest getting Defensive Player of the Year. Before the season, I even predicted the Pacers toppling Detroit and going to the Finals.

Then somebody threw a cup of beer at Ron Artest. And everyone thought their entire season was done.

Reggie Miller came off the IL to a team missing its three top scorers and said, "Screw it, I'm retiring after this season. I'm going buck wild." The guy goes old school Reggie and manages to keep a team starting Fred Jones, Anthony Johnson, and Austin Croshere in the playoff hunt until Jermaine and Stephen Jackson get back. They even take Detroit to 6 games in the second round before Reggie takes his long walk away from the court and into the broadcast booth.

Allan Houston and Penny Hardaway are done. Their bodies gave up on them. They didn't retire; they were waived. You can bring up guys from the NBDL who cost less (veteran minimum for those guys is $1 million) and whose talent and health will outweigh Houston and Hardaway's experience. But Reggie is still healthy, and his two main talents are that he's a 6'7" SG and a deadeye shooter. Height and shooting are talents that don't fade with age. Go to Boston, back up Ray Allen, and the Celtics'll be everyone's sentimental favorite to win it all.

Come on, Reggie. Boston retired 31 for Cedric Maxwell, but put on that 45 like MJ and give us something to really cheer about next year!

LeBron James's sports marketing firm, LRMR Marketing, today signed Ted Ginn Jr. to a five-year contract worth over $15 million. LRMR Marketing is a company composed of LeBron and his three childhood friends Richard Paul, Maverick Carter and Randy Mims (hence L.R.M.R.). Tedd Ginn Jr., drafted ninth in this year's NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins, also happens to be a long-time friend of LeBron and RMR.

I have no problem with LeBron working on his business image. If he cares more about becoming a billionaire than becoming an NBA champion, that's his concern (forget becoming a global icon like Muhammad Ali, he made it pretty clear he doesn't care about that when he put his marketing deals in China ahead of supporting a way to curb the genocide in Darfur). But having your boys manage your business portfolio? You have to be Michael Jackson-level delusional to think the world works like an episode of Entourage. Of course LeBron is successful now; he's so hot, his image sells itself. But let's say in 10 years his career ends up more like Grant Hill's than Michael Jordan's. You think his hometown buddies can keep him in Nike commercials and hosting major awards shows? Or you think that $15 million they're giving an undersized, injury-prone wide receiver, in a league where quality receivers are a dime a dozen, will still be paying dividends? I admit, LeBron's got balls. He just doesn't seem like he's got brains to match right now.