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This offseason has been pretty interesting to say the least. Garnett leaving Minnesota to go to Bah-ston, Tim Donaghy getting busted for gambling and bringing a shame to the entire NBA organization, Kobe’s unhappiness in L.A. being publicized, Gilbert Arenas making the cover of NBA Live ‘08 (had to throw him in here somewhere), Andre Blatche getting busted for soliciting sex from an undercover police officer and Rafer Alston being arrested just a few weeks ago (Aug. 5th)  for supposedly spitting in the face of a parking attendant, in a drunken rage as his car was being towed .

So now, once again, Rafer was again arrested on a felony assault charge in the early hour on Tueday morning for supposedly slashing a man’s neck at Club Stereo in Manhattan. Queens-born Alston is already in trouble with his team, The Houston Rockets and seeing as they are stacked at the point guard position, this “minor” incident just jeopardizes Alston’s chances at probably even making the roster or retaining his job, period.

With that in mind, I’m glad Riley passed on Alston; obviously somehow knowing he’s a bit of a loose canon as exemplified by observing just how much of a retard he his for making news in the span of three weeks now. Actually, I wonder; what does the future hold for Alston? Could we be seeing Rafer (if lucky) sign or be traded to another team this year? Maybe NY, since he’s from there? But then again, NY, with point guards; Starbury, Mardy Collins, Nate Robinson and Dan Dickau, are pretty much stacked in that position as well. Hhhmmm I know the Clippers need help at that position as well, especially since their star player, Elton Brand is pretty much done for the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon earlier this month. Actually, wait, after double-checking myself, the Clips are pretty stacked there too; Sam Cassell, Brevin Knight, Jared Jordan and Guillermo Diaz. Actually, that poses a good question; if Alston were to be let go or traded, where would he go? I forgot my email, so leave your comments as to what you think about my question or what you think about casseroles.

I digress; back to my report:

According to Rafer’s lawyer, the man allegedly slashed told a story “virtually impossible” to believe and “this case is motivated by money.” I would love to hear how “impossible” the story is, that he told. According to reports, one of Alston’s ‘entourage’ got into an argument with the alleged victim and them apparently a huge fight broke out, to which Alston slashed the man’s neck. All in all, I find the whole thing both amusing and boring.

And for a turn of events; no details were given about the contract, but Yi finally brought his sorry ass over to Milwaukee and signed a contract with the Bucks. Now, aside from injuries, Charlie Villanueva is going to play less with Yi now on the roster. But hey, who really cares? Charlie V was a shadow of his former self last year and had to go down with a shoulder injury to top it all off. Yi actually held out so long, I kind of wish he didn’t signed so we could just make fun of the Bucks and toughen our law of allowing international players to come over to the States to play some B-Ball whenever the hell they want or whenever the hell their repected club, organization or team allows them too. Fuck that! That topic alone can ignite a long ass tirade from yours truly.

I apologize for the lackluster effort in reporting all this; my eyes are half closed as I write this, so leave me the hell alone. I feel like I haven’t slept in days since I got back from L.A. and oh yeah, no Kobe sitings seeing as how I think he was in Vegas the whole time raping…uhm I mean practicing for the international games you are now watching on TV.

Tags: Off The Court, Houston Rockets, NBA, 2007 Offseason, Echoflow Knows!, News by Erik Sierra
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After loosing the 2005 Eastern Conference Championship to the Detroit Pistons, Pat Riley radically and controversially dismantled that version of the Miami Heat and transformed it practically overnight. In the largest trades in NBA history, Miami acquired Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, Andre Emmet, Roberto Duenas (draft rights), and James Posey. Eddie Jones and Rasual Butler were sent packing in the trade along with Qyntel Woods, a few draft picks, and the draft rights to somebody named Albert Miralles.

Of all the guys the Heat acquired in that trade, I remember being most excited about James Posey. Walker had been and still is far from the player he once was when he first came up with the Celtics. Jason Williams was and is a quality player, but the questions about injuries were the same then as they are now. The other guys were throw-ins and never played any significant minutes for the Heat.

Posey certainly had some question marks hanging over his head at the time as well. After bouncing around from Denver, Houston, and finally Memphis, Posey put up some of his best career numbers in the 2003-2004 season for the Grizzlies (All 82 games played as a starter, 48% fgs, 39% 3pts, 13.7 ppg). Memphis even made the playoffs for the first time in their history that year and Posey started all 4 games before the Grizz were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. The 2004-2005 season was a disappointment for Posey. He struggled with injury and weight problems and only started 18 of the 50 games he played in for the Grizzlies that year.

But Pat Riley had and still has a history of resurecting careers. Posey seemed to fit the mold of a “Pat Riley Guy” to the T. He was a tough defender and a capable scorer who would give the Heat depth off the bench that is so crucial if you want to make a serious run at a championship.

James did not disappoint in the 2005-2006 season. He started 63 games that season and even reminded Heat fans of the late 90’s era Heat, when he was suspended in the first round of the 2006 playoffs for helping Kurt Heinrich meet the floor of the United Center. Antoine Walker took over as the starter for the majority of the playoff games, mostly because Walker was more effective in that role then he was as a bench player. But Posey was crucial as the Heat’s 6th man and averaged over 27 minutes per game in the playoffs. The Heat went on to win their first NBA Championship that year with JP shooting 42% from beyond the arc and hitting clutch shots along the way.

The defending champs were a major disappointment last season and could not not make it out of the first round of the playoffs. Posey’s numbers during the regular season were about the same as the championship year, although he only started 19 of the 71 games that he played in. Again, this was not necessarily an indictment of Posey’s play, but had more to do with Walker’s poor play as a bench player. That’s not to say that James didn’t have some problems along the way.

Midway through the 2006-2007 season, James Posey and Antoine Walker were suspended from the team for “Weight and Conditioning” violations. This raised some eyebrows since it coincided with Pat Riley going on leave to have surgery. #42 was also arrested during the season for a DUI charge. It’s possible that all of this contributed to the Heat not being as aggressive as some had hoped in regards to trying to resign him. Riley called Posey a “limited” player and was never clear if the Heat had any strong interest in resigning him.

And now James Posey begins the new chapter of his career with the Boston Celtics, who have gone through an even more dramatic transformation this offseason then Miami did heading into 2005-2006. It remains to be seen if the results will be as favorable.  But once again, Posey will bring his toughness and now, his championship experience to another contender as he is expected to be the 6th man on a team with title dreams. For all the big names on the Celtics, J.P. is the one with the jewelery that Pierce, KG, and Ray Allen have been chasing their entire careers.

Tags: Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, 2007 Offseason, Ben Ellingsworth, Boston Celtics, Free Agency by Ben Ellingsworth
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Celts pick Posey to get tough
By Mark Murphy
Boston Herald Sports Reporter
Sunday, August 26, 2007

Reggie Miller would have added a nice offensive punch off the bench.

But James Posey, the 6-foot-8 forward who agreed to a two-year, $7 million contract with the Celtics [team stats] yesterday, offers an upgrade in two areas of greater need.

The swingman, who alternated with Antoine Walker as sixth man when the Miami Heat won the 2006 NBA title, is one of the most energetic players in the league, as well as one of its finest defenders.

That combination makes Posey one of the NBA’s most highly regarded role players, and it has earned him a reputation for tough defense and the eternal scorn of Chicago fans after two playoff appearances against the Bulls.

As playoff matchups against Richard Hamilton, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson and, in particular, the Bulls’ Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas have illustrated, Posey is a rugged defender who relishes tough assignments. His defense on Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki during the 2006 Finals was vital to Miami’s defeat of the Mavericks. His rough play against Deng, Thomas and Kirk Hinrich over the last two playoff seasons has earned Posey two ejections.

In terms of grit, no addition could have been more important for a Celtics team that already has Paul Pierce [stats], Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

“The sixth-man role in Boston has always had a special meaning, and that is a role that James is perfectly suited to - that he thrives in,” Posey’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said yesterday.

Posey, who had been close to signing a deal with New Jersey, was initially considered too expensive for the Celtics when director of basketball operations Danny Ainge expressed interest in early July.

But after Miller decided Thursday night to remain retired, the talks with Posey gained new life.

A downturn in the free agent market also had helped lower Posey’s price. The Celtics, with approximately $3.5 million of their $5.6 million mid-level exception left after signing Eddie House, suddenly became one of the best deals remaining on the market. Reportedly, the Nets had only their $1.8 million biannual exception to offer.

But it was the allure of playing with Pierce, Garnett and Allen that ultimately won Posey over.

“He got the taste of winning a championship in Miami, and you don’t lose that taste,” Bartelstein said. “Financially there were some better situations he passed up, but he’s very excited to be with the Celtics.”

Posey’s contract includes a player’s option for the second season.

Click Here for the link to the original story in the Boston Herald.

Tags: NBA, Miami Heat, 2007 Offseason, Boston Celtics, News, The Groves Report!, Free Agency by Groves
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James Posey may be getting close to joining  Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets next season rather then returning to the Miami Heat.

From the New York Post:

“We’ve been talking and talking for a while,” Posey’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed yesterday. “And while it’s hard to get into specifics, yes, the Nets are in the running. I would think there will be a decision soon.”

It is still possible that Posey could end up returning to the Heat, but either way an answer appears to be comming soon.

From the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

“I don’t want to get into the teams, but I expect something to get done later [Friday] or [Saturday],” Bartelstein said.

Tags: Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, NBA, 2007 Offseason, Rumors, Ben Ellingsworth, Free Agency by Ben Ellingsworth
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Here’s some interviews I stumbled upon. The first two by Maurice Brooks at nba.com, J-Wills off of the nba.com/heat

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y., Aug. 20, 2007 – Two years ago, Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O’Neal teamed up to help the Miami Heat win an NBA title. On Monday, the twin towers, along with Donald Trump, hosted the 4th Annual Zo’s Million Dollar Shootout at the Trump National Golf Club. NBA.com hung out with the two legendary centers on the 13th hole, between Mourning hitting the ball into the water and O’Neal swinging and missing.

Catching Up With Zo

Maybe Mourning will have a second professional sports career when he is done playing hoops. On second thought …
(David Dow/NBAE/Getty)

By Maurice Brooks

Brooks: What’s up, Alonzo? The East is going to be completely different this season with the Celtics acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Talk a little bit about what Boston’s offseason deals do to the conference.Mourning: I think it is going to be great. This makes things more interesting and gives the East a totally different look. Everybody is always quick to label the East as a jayvee league, but we won the championship two years ago and the Pistons won it a couple of years before that.
I think Garnett will balance the league. Bringing over a great player from the West will help make things more competitive and I’m excited about the challenge. This is my last year and I expect my team to go out with a bang. I think this is great.

Brooks: You guys just got a little deeper by picking up Anfernee Hardaway. Do you think he still has anything left?

Mourning: I think Penny coming back is good for us. He’s healthy, he’s hungry and he wants to prove to the world that he can play this game at a high level. He’s talented and versatile and he can play the one, two and three, which gives us another dimension off the bench. People aren’t going to recognize him. He’s in great physical condition. He is going to shock the world when people see how well he can play the game right now. He has fresh legs and he is hungry. He’s going to get back in there and showcase his talents.

Brooks: He is not the only former star traveling the comeback trail. Allan Houston and Reggie Miller, two of the best shooters in NBA history, are also talking about lacing up the sneakers again.

Mourning: All you got to do is get Allan open and he can knock it down. I don’t know how well he is going to play defensively. You never know. He’s been out the game a little while, but if he gets into a rhythm he can be a very good player. He won’t be the player he was a couple of years ago, but he will be a very good addition to a team.

Brooks: What about the Knick killer (watch this)?

Mourning: Reggie is a Hall of Fame-type of player who can provide leadership off the bench. He is a veteran who will give a team a lift. He is a guy who is not trying to prove anything. He simply wants to help out and be a part of the process.

Brooks: A year after winning the title, you guys got swept by the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. What happened?

Mourning: We had health problems last year. We were out of sync. We had some guys who came into the preseason very complacent. We had a lot of different health issues that affected our rhythm.

Chatting With The Diesel

Don’t let this picture fool you. Unless it is for charity, Shaq has no business holding a golf club.
(David Dow/NBAE/Getty)

By Maurice Brooks

Brooks: What’s the deal, big fella? What are your thoughts on the Celtics getting Kevin Garnett? Does it remind you of 2004 when you were on the Lakers with Kobe, Karl Malone and Gary Payton?O’Neal: Yeah, I played on the most stacked-deck team in the history of the game and we didn’t win the championship. Obviously having KG come over is going to make the Celtics better, but now they have a lot of pressure on them. They’ll be the most watched team in the league. They have a lot of heat on that team. A lot of heat. Ray (Allen) was the go-to guy. KG was the go-to guy. Paul (Pierce) was the go-to guy. One or two of those guys is going to have to make some sacrifices.

Brooks: Does this make Boston one of the top three teams in the East?

O’Neal: I never really thought about it like that. Cleveland is going to do what they do. New Jersey is going to do what they do. We’re going to do what we do. It’s going to be competitive. Boston is top five I guess.

Brooks: I talked to Alonzo earlier today and he was going on and on about how Penny is in tremendous shape.

O’Neal: Yeah, Zo said Penny looks fabulous. He says he looks good, but I haven’t seen him play yet. You can tell he wants to play because he signed a non-guaranteed contract. He wants to come out and prove himself. Hopefully he comes in and plays well.

Brooks: I read that you said you were going to get Yao 24-inch car rims as a wedding gift. Did you keep your word and what made you think of that as a gift?

O’Neal: They asked me what I was going to get him and that was all I could come up with. I haven’t got them for him yet, but I live in Houston, too. I may just go by his house one day and take his car.

Brooks: I’ve been checking out your golf swing. Do you play much?

O’Neal: I don’t play at all. Zo asked me to team up with him two years ago for his charity and I’m here for a good cause. I’m having a good time.

Brooks: Let’s talk hoops for a second. The postseason didn’t end well for you guys. What went wrong?

O’Neal: Last season wasn’t our time. We had a lot of injuries and stuff like that. It just happens. This is the first time in my career that I’m going to have over four months to rest in the offseason, so this year there are no excuses.

Insider Interview with Jason Williams

Want to know what your favorite HEAT player is up to during the dog days of summer? HEAT Insider sat down with Jason Williams for this exclusive interview to discuss his knee, the HEAT off-season moves and his future with the team.

HEAT Insider: How is your summer going, and how do you stay busy during the off-season?

Jason Williams: “I don’t do too much. I have a house up in Orlando , so I spend much of my time there. Other than that, I work out preparing for the season, play a lot of golf and hang out with the kids.”

HI: How about your knee? How is that coming along?

JW: “It feels great – just about pain free. This is the best I’ve ever felt. I’ve been doing a lot of weight training on my knee – about five days a week. You wouldn’t even know that I had surgery. I should go into the season at 100 percent.”

What preventative measures are you doing on your part to keep healthy this season?

JW: “I’m keeping a positive attitude and hoping for the best. I’m going to continue taking care of my knee. The best thing I can do for it is making sure it’s stretched.”

HI: The HEAT has made several new additions to the team, such as Smush Parker and Penny Hardaway. Are you excited about playing with these guys?

JW: “Yes. I’m excited, but being in the NBA you get used to roster changes. Ever since I’ve been in the league, I’ve had new teammates every year. It’s something that you get used to. Pat (Riley) knows what he’s doing, so if we have new guys here, you know they can play and they deserve to be here. I can’t wait to get back on the floor and play with my new teammates.”

HI: Are you expecting the team to bounce back this season?

JW: “I expect to win the championship every year. If you don’t expect that why even play? We’re going to get back here in October (for training camp), take it one day at a time and see how good we can be. Hopefully, we’ll be hoisting the trophy come June.”

HI: You’re heading into the last year of your contract. Are you looking to end your career in Miami?

JW: “I would love to end my career here. I love the city and the fans. If it’s up to me, I’ll stay here. All I can do is play well and hopefully everything else will work out.”

Tags: Off The Court, Local Topics, Miami Heat, NBA, News, 2007 Offseason, Uncategorized by Groves
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From NBC6.net

POSTED: 8:37 am EDT August 24, 2007

Cuba’s foreign minister said rumors about Fidel Castro’s deteriorating health are untrue. Felipe Perez Roque made the comments to reporters while attending the Forum for East Asia-Latin American Cooperation in

Brazil. Cubans were hoping Fidel would make a public appearance during his birthday celebrations nearly two weeks ago.

When asked if the 81-year-old Castro was still in charge of Cuban affairs, Roque said, “He is being informed and consulted constantly.”

Tags: Local Topics, Non Basketball, Ben Ellingsworth by Ben Ellingsworth
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Well, there’s not a whole hell of a lot going on in the sports world today, or rather at all really since the Garnett trade so I thought I’d put some rumors that are supposedly dead.

1. Reggie Miller has put to rest the rumors that he’s coming back to the NBA and accepting Danny Ainge’s offer to come play for the C’s. He says that although he’s been doing twice-a-day workouts to see if his body could handle the “physical stress” of playing an entire NBA season, he says that he now knows that he cannot put up with the “mental stress” of playing. I’m glad Reggie decided not to come back because if he did I would’ve burned him here for the shit he talked about Karl Malone for joining the Lakers in search of a ring and all the other vets he was ragging on for doing the same and also I’m glad he didn’t come back because I too understand the “mental stress” of working out, playing basketball as a job, collecting a million-plus paycheck and getting laid in practically every city you go visit to play the local team. Actually, no, I lie, I don’t know what that ‘mental stress’ is but I sure as hell would like to find out. I just suspect that since Reggie retired, his wife probably put his nuts in her purse and that’s the real reason he’s not coming back.

2. There’s a slight possibility that Riley’s constant denial of The Heat going after Ron Artest may actually be valid; thus rendering that rumor dead. But, then again, it IS Riles and he’s known for being somewhat of a ‘chess master’; never revealing anything until the very last moment, so by then, the competition is left helpless to counter attack and the fans are left wondering, season ticket in hand, “Who the fuck is Alexander Johnson.” LOL.

3. And last but not least; speaking of Miami, I have quite a girl. She gave me the heads up regarding a rumor stemming from an extremely reliable source within her office, that Cuban Communist Dictator Fidel Castro died earlier today. As the story goes: her coworker is dating some dude who’s brother is a high-ranking official in the Cuban military and he called him from Cuba within the past hour to inform him that yes, the man died today and so he passed the information back to her. Schools and shops were immediately closed and the word is supposedly slowly making its way over here but the Cuban government is trying to keep this, for obvious reasons, under wraps as much as possible.

So if this news does crack the 90 mile gap between Key West, FL. and Cuba, my suggestion to my fellow Miami residents is watch out because the streets are going to be hectic tonight. People are going to be waving flags, banging pots and pans and whatever other objects they can create noise (music) with. There will probably be people dancing on cars, shooting guns in the air and whatnot. So I guess now all the Cubans here who ‘claim’ to have been millionaires back in Cuba will be packing their shit up and will be going back…..no?…….yeah, I didn’t think so either. Just remember; you heard it here FIRST!

Tags: NBA, Non Basketball, Local Topics, 2007 Offseason, Rumors, News, Echoflow Knows!, Free Agency by Erik Sierra
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One of the best things about International sports competition is the chance too root for the “bad guys”. For example: In the World Cup, Englishmen who support Manchester United (The Pride of Europe!) a chance to cheer for Steven Gerrard, who plays for Premier League arch-rival Liverpool (The Pride of Derelicts). Tottenham Hotspur (Irrelevant) supporters get to watch John Terry, who plays for cross-town rival Chelsea (Vomit inducing), and is now the Captain of Team England. (Yes, this was also an excuse to trash Liverpool and Chelsea. You can guess who my team is.)

Basketball fans get to experience a similar phenomenon when it comes to the Olympics, the World Championships, or currently in the FIBA Americas Tournament. A perfect example for Americans: Miami Heat fans getting a chance to root for the “Big Diesel’s” former teammate, Kobe Bryant.  

This is the first time “The Mamba” has played for the U.S. team in International competition.  Nobody would dispute that Kobe is one of the all-time greats and is probably the most talented basketball player on the planet right now. And without rehashing all the things that have been said about Bryant over the years, lets just say that Kobe is a guy that you either love or hate.

But we sports fans can be a selfish group. If Kobe were ever traded to the Heat, you can bet your life that there would be thousands of #24 jerseys throughout American Airlines Arena. Same goes for Phoenix, Chicago, and yes, even Denver. Any fans who say they hate Kobe would become fans eventually if he suited up for their favorite squad.

Then again, maybe we throw around the word “hate” a little too much. I don’t know Kobe. I don’t like the things I’ve heard about him over the years. I get the impression that he’s a jerk and only thinks about himself and not his teammates. Supposedly, he tried to throw Shaq under the bus when Kobe was arrested in Colorado. But then again, I don’t even know the people who have said some of those things, so who knows. But I, just as you have, enjoyed watching him play throughout his career even if it was to jeer at my television screen.

So now that Kobe has ‘USA’ written across the front of his jersey, am I being hypocrite when I’m jumping out of my chair when he throws it down against Venezuela? But if we accuse Kobe of putting himself before the best interests of his team, then wouldn’t Americans be hypocrites if we don’t root for him to bring the glory back to the “Dream Team“?

Having Kobe playing for Team U.S.A. is like playing in a pick up game when you were in high school, and having the best basketball player in the school play on your team. Only you couldn’t stand the guy. You were happy to have him there on your side during the game so you could brag to your friends later how YOUR team kicked their ass. Nevermind the jerk you were playing with scored just about all the points.

So lets go, Kobe! Kick some Brazilian Ass! Stick it to Puerto Rico! Maba-ize Canada! Bring the U.S. back to the Dream Team days, and once were done with this tournament… go to hell.

Tags: International Basketball, NBA, Ben Ellingsworth by Ben Ellingsworth
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Well, on a slightly lighter note; I thought I’d put it out there that it happens to be staff writer Ben Ellingsworth’s birthday today. I’m not going to tell you how old he is, but as usual, nothing is going on in the basketball world today as is nothing in Ben’s life. LOL. So if you happen to know or see Ben, feel free to throw a basketball in his face; as a birthday salute, of course.

In other news, former Timberwolves, Warrior and Knick, Latrell Sprewell had his 70-foot yacht, known around Milwaukee as “Milwaukee’s Best”, reposessed yesterday by a federal marshall. Apparently Spree wasn’t paying the $10,000 a month nut on it and now is going to try to sell it to pay off the $1.3 Million he still owes on it. Hahaha. What a loser. And to think that three years ago, he rejected a $21 Million contract offer, saying it was insulting to be offered that and that he had “a family to feed”.  Shit son, if you’re stupid enough to turn down $21 Million dollars, then yes you are stupid enough to have your shit jacked from you. Spree has supposedly had problems with the yacht, including running it ashore and an indescribed incident that ended with Spree breaking his hand.

I’m glad though, seriously, that you can probably still afford to “feed your family”. Just no more fishing trips though, right? Damn.

So again, Happy Birthday Ben and a Nelson-like “Haha!” to you Spree. Happy sailing!

Tags: Articles by Author, Teams, Off The Court, Non Basketball, Local Topics, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Echoflow Knows!, Minnesota Timberwolves, 2007 Offseason, NBA, News by Erik Sierra
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After a great trip to L.A., I’m back in Miami and scouring the Internet for the latest hoops news. Unfortunately, the biggest story right now is a tragic one. 25 year old Eddie Griffin was killed last week when his vehicle collided with a train. It’s been said that Griffin had issues with alcohol and some are speculating that alcohol could have played a part in this horrific accident. From KHOU.com

“He was a secret binge drinker. He was not going out partying and doing all this wild stuff,” attorney Rusty Hardin said. “He was sitting in a room by himself drinking, and no one knew that was happening.” Hardin represented Griffin in an assault charge case several years ago.

In the running for the “Most Boring Story” of the summer is the Reggie Miller comeback drama. Am I the only person who thinks Reggie is being a prick for even considering this? I guess Reggie and everybody else outside of Indiana are not even thinking about how die-hard Pacers fans feel about his possible comeback, where he would be whoring out his services and coming off the bench for a ring. I know guys do this all the time but Miller is one of those guys who is an icon for the team he played with his entire career. This would be like Larry Bird coming back in 1995 to help someone like the Rockets win a title. But apparently, Reggie is still mulling it over.

Stephon Marbury, who is completely insane, thinks that Michael Vick is getting a raw deal from the press. Although I did think he made an interesting point about how hunting is considered a sport and dogfighting isn’t. I don’t agree with him but I hadn’t really thought of that.

I thought this article was really interesting. It contradicts some of the arguments about the NBA’s talent level being diluted.

“Nellie Ball” may be in jeopardy in the Bay area. Don Nelson and the Warriors seem to be at a stalemate.  

Ira Winderman is just as confused as we are about what Antoine Walker’s role on the Miami Heat will bethis year. I think that anything that prevents him from, you know, actually playing sounds like a great role for him. Maybe he can work the arepa stand in the AAA.

I also noticed that Ira has not commented about the Ron Artest buzz. I’m guessing because its bullshit. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald is a joke. I would be willing to bet a lot of money that there is no credence to his blurb about the Heat pursuing Artest. That’s not to say that it isn’t possible but I don’t think he has any information to support that. I believe he just puts things in his “Roundup” articles to generate buzz. I’ve even joked before about making up rumors about Artest comming to the Heat and then a few days later, its in his toilet rag of a newspaper. Look, I may be just some fan writing about my dumb ass opinions on basketball, but I don’t go out there and make things up. This guy works for a major newspaper. If your going to put something in your article, at least give us a hint on where that information is coming from. And please, don’t use the unnamed “source” thing either. Nobody likes you Barry and everyone knows that you have no real sources.

And finally, “Beware ze Milky Pirate.” (I got this from a “source“)

Tags: NBA, Miami Heat, Off The Court, 2007 Offseason, Trades, News, Rumors, Ben Ellingsworth, Free Agency by Ben Ellingsworth
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