Friday, June 8, 2007
I'm not sure I want popular opinion on my side -- I've noticed those with the most opinions often have the fewest facts.
-Bethania McKenstry
As a nice change of pace from last week’s column, it feels good to write about sports this week while actually having something to say! Yes, there is some Finals action worth noting, and also some football news to touch on.
The NBA Finals this season features the Cleveland Cavaliers facing off against the San Antonio Spurs and in my opinion, the series could very easily end up a clean sweep. We’ve all heard plenty from the Lebron supporters and we’ve heard plenty from the sign0099.gifs, so now let me throw my two cents in.
It is all too easy to forget the cesspool of mediocrity that was the Cavaliers prior to King James’ arrival. Lebron is a fantastic player and I don’t think anyone questions that, but looking at his supporting cast, is this a team that can defeat a stout, veteran team from San Antonio? The answer, from me to you, is a loud, resounding no!
The comparisons between this year’s Cavaliers and last year’s Heat are frequent and unjustified. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I have heard someone claim, “James will take over the series and bring the championship to the East, just like Wade did last year!” Give me a break. The logic behind that sentiment is so skewed it is painful. Wade and James may be equally skilled, they may not be; that is a discussion for another day. The fact of the matter is, however, last year’s Heat squad was, much deeper and more talented than what the Cavaliers are putting on the floor right now. More importantly perhaps, the San Antonio Spurs are NOT the Dallas Mavericks. They will not allow an individual player to snatch the championship out from under them. The San Antonio Spurs define the word “team,” and Greg Papovich is too seasoned to let this series slip away.
I believe, with conviction, that if the final buzzer sounds at the end of any of the games in this series and the Cavaliers leave the court victorious, there will be a collective sigh of disbelief amongst the sports nation.
In other Finals news, the Ducks won the Stanley Cup. Who knew? Better yet, who cares? Emilio Estevez and his Flying V would stomp these bozos. I can’t stand hockey, but I love me some Disney.
Lastly, there’s some NFL news to talk about. Earlier this week, Trent Green was traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Miami Dolphins for a fifth round pick. Talk about a move coming out of left field; NO ONE saw this one coming.
The Dolphins have had their fair share of quarterback issues the past few seasons, including a few trades that never quite paid dividends. After giving up a second round pick for AJ Feeley and a second round pick for Daunte Culpepper, the Dolphins appear to have finally come out on the winning end of a deal. Trent Green for a fifth round pick? That sounds like a steal to me.
No one is looking at this as a blockbuster trade; it is what it is. This is simply a smart trade for both teams who each got fair value. Green isn’t expected to man the quarterback position for the Dolphins for years to come. In my opinion, he’s there to help maintain some semblance of a winning culture while John Beck will be preparing behind him on the depth chart, learning from a good quarterback. A fifth round draft pick is nothing to scoff at but, considering the circumstances, this was a good deal for Miami. Kansas City, meanwhile, has Damon Huard who proved he could direct the Chiefs offense last season, making Green indispensable. Getting a fifth round draft pick, where many talented players are still available, for someone who may have otherwise ended up on the waiver wire?
This trade was most certainly a win-win situation for both teams.
The Obscure Movie Reference for this week is “Midnight Run” starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. “Midnight Run” is not obscure due to the quality of its entertainment, nor is so simply because it does not have mass appeal. I consider “Midnight Run” to be obscure because although it did come out years ago (in 1988), it still surprises me that many from my generation have neither heard of nor seen this excellent comedic adventure.
There is nothing profound here: This is, more or less, your stereotypical “buddy cop” movie, but there is a certain comedic charm that De Niro and Grodin bring to the table that makes this laugh-fest worth watching over and over again.
In the gaming world, Sony fans have been promised an announcement on June 11th (this Monday for those of you without a calendar handy) that would keep fans of the floundering third generation system smiling. This announcement has been said to be something that fans of the Xbox360 could only dream of.
What is it? I haven’t the slightest idea, but I do know that promises such as this rarely live up to the hype. Really, throw something out there that meets the expectations set by this announcement….
Nothing? Exactly. Those who already bought the system are going to be waiting for something that allows them to tell their friends, “See, I told you it was worth $600.” while those who are considering purchasing one are looking for something that warrants a $600 purchase.
Unless it’s something to shake the foundation of next generation gaming, such as the exclusivity of a major franchise (say Grand Theft Auto or Madden), this announcement is sure to be a major disappointment for all involved.
The shortened season here in the MPL is really beginning to catch up to us. Next week will mark the halfway point of the season which means that individual owners are making a name for themselves. In next week’s edition, I’ll assess my surprises (both good and bad) for the first half of the MPL season.
Otherwise, this has been an uneventful week in the MPL. Games are being played, sure enough…but where are the upsets? It seems to me that those who are supposed to win are doing just that. I’m rooting for the underdogs next week.
The most exciting thing in the MPL this week would have to be Randy’s photo thread. There is a lot of fun to be had within those few pages so I suggest you all check it out.
I went to driving range the other day having never played golf before (outside of the “mini variety”) and my self esteem was absolutely shattered. I mean, hey, Tiger Woods can smash the ball off the tee for nearly 400 yards on occasion in his video game, so I saw no reason why I, a relatively healthy and strong-armed young man, couldn’t crack one a good 250.
Not only was my longest drive just over 200 (and that was an extreme rarity out of a bucket of 200 balls), but I somehow managed to mess up my ankle to the extent that I hobble a bit while walking. Keeping your feet planted is easier said than done, but when they’re firmly planted, yet they insist on moving, you’re in for some fun.
I have a lot more respect for golfers now than I previously had, but it still doesn’t change the fact that the sport is an absolute bore to watch.
In other nonsensical news going on in my life right now, as a 20 year old with an associates in Media Studies, pursuing a four year degree in English, my career path is anything but certain. I’d like to write, but unfortunately that is a tough field to break in to, and if you manage to do so, odds are you’ve struggled a long time prior.
That said, it was recently brought to my attention by my father (who works for the federal government) that there are some openings around the country for air traffic controllers, with the only pre-requisite being a high school diploma. The job, apparently, can quite easily put you into a six figure salary within three years. What that means for me, should I chose to pursue it, is that I would likely be moving to either Chicago or Virginia, neither of which thrill me all that greatly.
At least I know that at the end of the day, with the resurrection of John McClane, I will be safe from any terrorist wrong doing. But who is going to save the poor shmucks I’m trying to guide to a safe landing?
Yippee ki yay….
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