MYSM #2: Jingle Bells - Pistons Style

This Christmas carol is made humorous solely through the efforts of Rasheed Wallace, although he doesn't appear to be actually singing.

The other Detroit Pistons present: Will Blalock, Amir Johnson, and Jason Maxiell

Rasheed might just have a second career when his NBA days are over.

Enjoy, and, once again, Merry Christmas!

MYSM #1: True Meaning of Christmas

On this Christmas Eve, check out these videos of injured L.A. Clipper point guard Shaun Livingston giving back to the community and sharing the true spirit of the Christmas holiday.

Merry Christmas!

Shaun Livingston Christmas - Episode 1 of 4

Shaun Livingston Christmas - Episode 2 of 4



Shaun Livingston Christmas - Episode 3 of 4



Shaun Livingston Christmas - Episode 4 of 4

Shut It DOWN!

Yes!! Finally!!

One post only tonight since I'm heading out of town tomorrow (again). I may post during the day tomorrow, though, so stay tuned. Or peruse my archives for any posts you've missed (I'm most proud of my Vick, tennis, and Knicks trial coverage, if I do say so myself).

But tonight's post is a happy occasion. Perhaps the happiest I have ever felt while posting. I'm happy because the Boston Celtics lost Wednesday night, and lost at home.

Not because they lost for just the third time this season but because they lost to an Eastern Conference powerhouse - the Detroit Pistons - that exposes how overrated they really are. Sure the Celtics made some errors here and there (including Tony Allen falling for the pump fake by Chauncey Billups), and Doc Rivers made a few coaching blunders (i.e., putting Allen in the game at all), but this is what the game is all about. No one really cares about what happened. It's all about who comes away with the W.

It was a tight game, but the Pistons prevailed in the end by 2 after Billups scored the game-winning free throws. Pistons coach Flip Saunders said that no one will remember this game next week, but this one game says a lot about the Celtics. This one game has the potential to dampen the noise from the Celtics bandwagon. It shows that they may be good but if they want to get out of the East, much less win a 'ship, then they have some work to do. The rest of December we'll get to see them play some pretty good competition so we should get a decent picture of what they are going to do.

Better luck next time, Big 3.

More Assault On Athletes

Scary story out of Moscow today. 20 year old, #6 tennis player in the world Anna Chakvetadze was bound, along with her dad and a housekeeper, in her own home by 6 men who took off with over $300,000 worth of cash and jewelry.

Of course this brings to mind the Sean Taylor murder, but something doesn't sound quite right here. For starters, why do they have that much cash on hand, and who would know that? It makes me wonder if this wasn't some kind of revenge or set up to avoid another incident from occurring. I won't be surprised if that turns out to be the case. .

In the past, we might have told her that she needs to leave Moscow to avoid situations like this, but as we have seen recently, things like this can happen here, too. But once again, if this truly was a burglary, then just a few extra precautions go a very long way.

I hope this doesn't affect her too much, and at least she wasn't physically hurt like when Monica Seles was stabbed. She has studied psychology, which she credits with helping her break into the top 10, so maybe that study will benefit her here, too. Although it would be understandable if she takes time off, I do hope that the returns soon because she's a very talented player and tennis would be less well off if in her absence.

The Real 'Criminoles' Are Actually Paid To Be There

I don't usually say this, but this one makes me want to say, "Oy vey." What in the world were these people thinking?

Somebody thought it was a good idea to have the Florida State University football team take internet classes, even though they attend a perfectly good university where they can attend classes in person. It was interesting when Boston College started having its football team take night classes, but on-line class? That sounds fishy already. You've heard me wax philosophic on the farce that is NCAA's alleged emphasis on student-athletes, but this fiasco is near the top of the list of reasons why I don't buy what they're selling.

Instead of actually taking the exam themselves, some bright teacher's assistants and tutors decided that it would be a good idea to give multiple football players (as many as 25) and other student-athletes the answers to the internet exam. In addition:

The school's investigation found that a tutor gave students answers while
they were taking tests and filled in answers on quizzes and typed papers for
students.

According to one tutor, this had been going on since the fall of 2006.

Now these up to 25 football players may be suspended from playing in the upcoming bowl game - the upcoming terribly monikered bowl game, the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, and from playing in the first three games of the 2008 season. On another note, I really believe that they ought to re-think this whole name the bowl after the company sponsoring it idea.

I don't want to say that this is not surprising, but this is not surprising. It's also terrible, not least of all because it involved cheating. No, the most disappointing part of this story is that there are people in positions of authority and they think they are helping these kids when in actuality they are just doing them an extreme disservice. Then they "graduate" and can't function so well in the real world.

The kids (some, not all, since at least one blew the whistle) think it's cool because the teacher is cheating for them, but there's nothing cool about never being mentally challenged. Football of all sports is a short-lived experience, even if they do make it to the pro ranks. The least they could do is develop some skills, or just practice learning, so they can make a living after football. Someone else had to know this was going on and let it go on, and whomever they are, they should all be fired. FSU's athletic director, Dave Hart, Jr., pictured above, will be stepping down at the end of the year.

It should be interesting to see how this affects the Gaylord Hotels game. Ick.

Who's Going to Hawaii?

Where to start? What a difference a day makes in terms of news. Some days finding something interesting is a reach, and other days there are 10 items that are all worthy of a shout out . . . but not everyone can make the Pleats 'n Cleats cut.

Let's start with the 2008 Pro Bowl selections. Most of the selections (in the sexy positions anyway, i.e., QB, RB, and WR) are names that you know - Peyton, Brady, Moss, Favre, and yes, Brian "unselfish" Westbrook.

Of note, Sean Taylor received a posthumous selection as starting free safety, which was the first time that a deceased player had been selected to an "all-star" game in any sport since hockey player Pelle Lindbergh died in a car accident in the mid-80's. Taylor definitely deserved the selection with the numbers he had posted before his death, as evidenced by the fact that he was one of the leaders in votes received before he was killed. Seeing articles refer to him as "the late Sean Taylor" really brings back the sadness of his loss all over again.

But of course, as with anything involving selections by some means other than wins and losses, there is some controversy. Nothing to write to Roger Goodell about, in my opinion, but that's just . . . my opinion. Except for maybe Fred Taylor. But Taylor took some catches from my player, Maurice Jones-Drew, so I'm not crying too hard.

Plus, there's plenty of time between now and the Pro Bowl in February for some guys to get hurt so don't fret.

NFL = 'No Fun League'

The NFL sure knows how to put a damper on things. While most of the Atlanta Falcons organization has been trying to wash its hands of Michael Vick, a few of his fellow teammates decided to show their support:

Roddy White and four other Atlanta Falcons were fined by the NFL for
violating uniform regulations with tributes to Michael Vick during last week's
Monday night game.
. . .

After scoring a touchdown, White displayed a "Free Mike Vick" T-shirt
under his jersey.

He, along with tight end Alge Crumpler and cornerbacks
DeAngelo Hall and Chris Houston, were fined US$10,000 each. Crumpler, Hall and
Houston all wore black eye strips with written tributes to Vick, which the
league called "displaying an unauthorized personal message."

Wide receiver Joe Horn was fined $7,500 for pullig up White's jersey to show the black T-shirt with handwritten white lettering. . . .

Hall (pictured above), was also fined for the poster he's holding in the picture.

Roger Goodell will do anything to suck the fun out of football. A regular 'ol Debbie (or should that be Dougie) Downer. What's the point other than to keep people from expressing themselves in an already over-regulated business? If they can't express themselves on the field, when can they express themselves? These guys aren't seen much off of the field. You didn't see Goodell fining any Washington Redskins or Baltimore Ravens players when they wore a similar display following the death of Sean Taylor.

Of course not. That would have been horrible for PR. Well, just because it's popular to hate on Michael Vick doesn't mean that the rules should be applied differently on a case by case basis. That's what makes the rule of law legitimate - applying it the same way to everyone. When you start picking and choosing who gets punished and how, you lose credibility.

BUT we know the bottom line in the NFL is dollars and (not common) cents so the league will only care about losing credibility when it results in a similar decrease in the wallet. . . which, judging by how terrible teams can still sell out every home game, will not be anytime soon.