MYSM . . . A Little Bit Late

Funny stuff. Congrats to King James on the MVP award.

Running 'Fore the Weekend

I've seen PTI numerous times but today is the first time I ever noticed that they call their countdown the "rundown" - that's what I get for always trying to multi-task. Rest assured that I thought I was the only one running it down on a daily basis. I see I have company. Good company. Without further ado:

1. They're calling this a blockbuster trade, but I think that's just because it involved so many players. The main points of the trade is that LeBron the Cleveland Cavaliers get Ben Wallace from the Chicago Bulls and supermodelWally Szczerbiak (that's a lot of consonants) from the Seattle Supersonics, and the Cavs sent Drew Gooden and two other players with whom I'm not all that familiar. The Supersonics get Donyell Marshall and two other players whose names you probably wouldn't recognize. Interesting. So I guess this means that the Cavs have finally decided that LeBron will score all the points, since this trade means that the Cavs will be playing 4 on 5 in every game. Not their best work.

2. Some people don't like to eat at other people's houses if they think the house is dirty. Usually this is not a problem, and you can politely decline a meal or two. But when you are there for nearly three weeks, and you bring your own food in the house, at some point the host is bound to get upset. Which brings me to #2: I am thoroughly amused by the fact that China is upset at the U.S. for deciding to bring its own food to the Olympics this summer. Recently, China has had some issues with food quality. Not "oh this meat may have not been refrigerated" issues. More like "oh **** how did that poison get in there" problems. I'd bring my own food, too.

3. The New England Patriots decided not to hit Randy Moss with the franchise tag. This whole concept is funny to me, but I guess this means that he will have some bargaining chips now. You have to wonder about the power of the NFLPA (players association) when "getting slapped with the franchise tag" is a concept that made its way into the collective bargaining agreement. Something seems fundamentally unfair about this given how short their careers can be.

4. The New Jersey Nets' Richard Jefferson is in trouble for allegedly choking a man to unconsciousness who wanted him to leave a private party. Um. I'll just wait for the entire story to emerge.

5. University of Tennessee All-American baller Candace Parker has decided to forego her senior year of college and enter the WNBA draft. Hmm. She would likely be the top pick of the draft, going to the Los Angeles Spark. L.A. = one of top markets = endorsement deals. And Hollywood. Can't forget that. Yeah, this is probably a good move. And she's going to graduate before the draft. I'd call this a good move.

And one for the road: The Boston Celtics dropped another one to Golden State. Just a few hours ago, ESPN said that the Phoenix Suns/Celtics game might be a preview for the NBA Finals. Slow down, boys.

Have a great weekend!

Rundown from the Run-Down

I've been a little under the weather, so here's a snippet of today's stories:

• The Cleveland Cavaliers handed the Boston Celtics their second loss of the season. The only two free throws that Ray Allen (88% FT shooter) missed came when the Celts were in a position to seal the game. LeBron James and Kevin Garnett exchanged some words near the end. You mean everyone doesn't love LeBron?

• Michael Vick is set to stand trial in April on state charges for dogfighting. A plea deal is expected to be reached, so no April circus. 12 more days until we find out how long he'll be in jail on the federal charges.
• Race car driver Helio Castroneves beat out Mel "Scary Spice" Brown for the Dancing with the Stars title. Floyd Mayweather was scheduled to dance during the finale but pulled out due to an anke injury. Right. He's just trying to get ready for that fight he joined the show to promote. December 8th. Pay-per-view. (Yes, the advertising did work.)

R.I.P. Sean Taylor.

The Mavs and the Cav-Nots

Bron Bron has a problem. Well, let me take a step back. LeBron is OK, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are not.

The Cavs opened their season Wednesday night at home against the Dallas Mavericks, probably wishing they could close it back up again, losing 92-74 to the Mavs.

Man, NBA fans are really getting the hang of this booing your home team thing. First the Laker fans last night, and now the Cavs fans - twice. Once at half time and again at the end of the game.

I think the booing was as much for the players as it was for the whole organization that failed to make any real power moves over the summer after being unceremoniously swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals last season. Their only acquisitions were guard Devin Brown, and forward Cedric Simmons from a trade with the New Orleans Hornets . . .

In addition, the Cavs are missing some "key" players from their "run" to the Finals -- Sideshow BobAnderson Varejao, Sasha Pavlovic, due to contract issues. Pavlovic will be back soon, now that he just signed a 3-year deal whose terms have not been disclosed. He revealed during the Cavs game earlier in the night (more on that later) that he was having some documentation issues and he missed two flights, but he should be back soon. I'm going to need him to get it together a little better than this.

Varejao is still overseas while he holds out for a better deal. Well, if their first game is any indication, the Cavs may want to give the man what he wants or look for someone else to help them out. I believe the Cavs WAY overachieved in making it to the Finals last season, but without some changes this year, they may just barely make the playoffs if at all.

Granted, the Cavs opened the season tonight against ehe Western Conference powerhouse Mavs, a team that many thought would make a run at a ring last year but ended up making history by losing to the 8th seeded Golden State in the first round (and with Nowitzki as their leader, I see this being the rule rather than the exception).

But the Mavs made the Cavs look like a D-III team. LeBron had 10 points on 2-11 shooting, and no points in the first half after he sat for a while with foul trouble. Said LeBron about his team, prior to tonight's game:

"We didn't do any reshaping," James said candidly. "We didn't do any regrouping. You start to think a little bit, 'How are we going to continue to get better?'"

"We're worse," James said. "We're not as good as we were if we have those guys. We all know that. Those two guys are a big part of our team. There's no reason to sit here and say we're better without them. Hopefully something happens."

Hopefully. Well, Bron Bron, you have to at least do your part, too. Kobe did his part, scored 45 points in the loss. No sense making it worse for the fans with your own terrible play, even if you are trying to make a point to the powers that be. At least Kobe's "fans" only booed him at the beginning of the game.