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At the Intersection of Sports and Culture

Photo Credit for Header: Alex Foucre-Stimes

Top Ten Least Likely 2011 NBA All Stars

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When the story of the night in the NBA is the return of Chris Bosh to Toronto, you know the league is need of a little rest. In honor of this weekends 2011 NBA All Star Game in Los Angeles, I have decided to put together a list of the Top Ten NBA players least likely to be seen at the 2011  All Star Game.

10 – Matt Bonner (F, San Antonio Spurs): A quiet trip home to New Hampshire for some downhill skiing and mustache growing sounds about perfect to me.

9 – Greg Oden (C, Portland Trail Blazers): Rumor has it that the former #1 overall pick will be returning to Columbus, Ohio in an attempt to convince current Buckeye Jared Sullinger to stay in school beyond his freshman season.

8 – Kris Humphries (F, New Jersey Nets): Let’s get one thing strait, Kim definitely calls the shots in this relationship.

7 – Marc Gasol (C, Memphis Grizzlies): Sorry little bro, Malibu has enough room for only one Gasol.

6 – Richard Hamilton (G, Detroit Pistons): Poor Rip will be spending his all star break playing the role of Snake Plissken in the Piston version of Escape From Detroit.

5 – Gordon Hayward (F, Utah Jazz): I envision Hayward back in Indianapolis on the Butler campus spending a few nights on Matt Howard’s couch, reliving memories of his old college conquests.

4 – DeMarcus Cousins (C, Sacramento Kings): Are we even sure if Cousins has been cleared for air travel again?

3 – Luke Harangody (F, Boston Celtics): I lived in Boston my first year out of college and I can tell you that it is next to impossible to schedule an appointment for a good haircut.

2 – (tie) Robin and Brook Lopez (C, Phoenix Suns/New Jersey Nets): Video games, comic books, and soda pop beckon.

1 – Gilbert Arenas (G, Orlando Magic): Agent Zero got served, literally.

view of the Air Canada Centre courtesy of @_marzipancakes

“Veni, Vidi, Vici”

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He came, he saw, he conquered.  That about sums about Lebron James and Co. introduction to the Garden as members of the Miami Heat.  James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh combined to score 84 points in the Heat’s 113-91 rout of the New York Knicks. Believe it or not, the game was actually tied at the half however, thanks to a few highlight real dunks, and some incredibly poor shooting by the Knicks, Miami was able to pull away in the 3rd quarter.

New York fans were hoping for so much more.  After a sizzling 16-9 start, NY has now dropped two games in a row. Keep in mind that their last two opponents, the Boston Celtics and the Heat, are both considered title contenders.

I watched this game in a bar alongside VMS contributor and avid Knicks fan Dave.  His Knicks season ticket package did not include last nights game and when he went to look on stubhub, the average ticket was going for $350, that included 70K each for a few prized floor seats. Needless to say, he was more than happy to watch the game from a bar where we split a few beers and a plate of nachos for $70. Money well saved Dave. Money well saved.

Share your views.

NBA Hoops: The Return Disappoints

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We wanted drama.  We wanted to see someone foul LeBron James hard as he drove to the basket.  We wanted verbal sparring and double technicals. We wanted Cavs players to act and care like spurned lovers who had just been rejected by their high school sweethearts. We wanted to watch a hard fought, competitive basketball game that went down to the wire. We were all disappointed.

My major takeaway from The Return is that players don’t care as much as fans.  It made me sick for Cleveland when the Cavaliers bench was seen smiling and joking with LeBron during the middle of the first half.  This struck me as totally out of touch. Shouldn’t the Cavs bench be more aware of the damage The Decision has done to the people and city of Cleveland? Or, as fans, are we asking too much of our professional athletes to care as we do?

Share your views. Also know, I’m still not convinced the Heat are a legit contender this year.  The Cavs team they destroyed last night could be one of the least talented teams in the entire league.

View of the Day: November 17, 2010

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This photo was taken roughly 10 minutes prior to tipoff at American Airlines Arena before last night’s Miami Heat 123-96 victory over the Phoenix Suns. And where are all the people?  I can remember Miami having attendance issues last season, when they were a mediocre team at best, but this year?  With the three biggest off-season free agent acquisitions (Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh) I figured Miami fans would be turning out early and often.  I watched parts of this game and can tell you that the arena did fill up eventually.  However, we are less than a month into the season and I figured fans would be a bit more present/vocal.

What accounts for the overall malaise in Miami? Part of the economic turndown or are fans, like the Heat players themselves, just waiting for the playoffs to give it their best?  Share your views.

NBA Season Opener: The Miami Heat Will Not Go Undefeated

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This just in, the Miami Heat have lost a basketball game. Fans must now wait at least one more game before crowning the 2010-2011 Heat the best team since the ’96 Chicago Bulls.  Tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics was not as close as the final score makes it seem.  In the second half, Lebron James did the best he could to salvage a poor performance by Dwyane Wade, while the Celtics were led by their own version of “The Big Three” plus a very active/creative Rajon Rondo.

And while on the subject of nicknames, James, Wade, and Chris Bosh need a better nickname than “Miami Thrice” or “Three Degrees”.  Suggestions? One things for certain, it’s impossible for even casual NBA fans to not feel strongly, one way or another, about the Heat.  Love ’em or hate’ em, you’re going to be seeing a lot of them on TV this year.  So, you better get use to the view.