NBA Draft 2008

Anyone remember when we Kings fans collectively said, "What the f*@k just happened?" when Peja Stojakovic was selected at 14?  I'd do that over again if I could. 

As we approach draft day for the NBA on Thursday,  I can't help but get caught up in all the hype.  Jermaine O'neal has already been moved from Indy to Toronto for another eternally injured player in T.J. Ford.  Portland bought the 27th pick from New Orleans, and Michael Jordan's Bobcats swooped up the 20th pick from the Denver Nuggets, and there will certainly be plenty of other trades to come before the ball drops.  Also, the Miami Heat are reportedly not interested in Michael Beasley (they'd have to be crazy not to take him), being more enamored with O.J. Mayo.  And... Baron Davis might be on the move; New York/Detroit lining up as possible suitors.  

But, what about the Sacramento Kings?  Apparently, locked in at the twelve spot, the Kings have a myriad of choices to ponder.  More specifically two needs on the roster; whether Beno Udrih re-signs for the MLE or not, they could use a point guard, and the more obvious need is at the power forward.  Miki Moore is nothing more than an 8th man on the roster, good for an energy injection here-and-there, but definitely not a "true" starter.  Here's a select list that the Kings might have a chance for at 12:

PG:

DJ Augustin

Mario Chalmers

Jarryd Bayless

Russell Westbrook

PF:

Anthony Randolph

Darrell Arthur

Bayless and Westbrook are long-shots, but you never can tell who will slip in the draft!  If either are still around at the 12 spot you take them.  I'm not completely sold on Chalmers' upside, so Augustin seems to me like the best point guard possibility.  Between Randolph and Arthur, I'd take Randolph with hopes that his upside pans out over time.  If I were to have my choice of the six listed (throw in Roy Hibbert and a couple of foreigners) I'd take Bayless based on sheer talent alone!  My most likely selection would be Augustin.  

I surely hope that the Kings are able to sign Beno, and move any combination of Douby, Abdur-Rahim, Thomas, Artest, Moore, Williams, Wright, Johnson and (yes!) Garcia.  Hopefully, they can come out of the draft with a surprise talent and make a run at a playoff spot next year.  

No matter what happens, I ultimately trust whatever Geoff Petrie does, be it draft selections or trades.  I'm of the opinion that the man knows what he's doin'.  

And, it's funny how much fun the NBA off-season can be; draft, free agency, training camps, trades, etc.  It all solidifies my love for "The League."  

Go Kings!!!!!!!!!

L.B.M.

CHICO, HEEEYYY!!!!!!

Let me start by putting this little bit of personal info. out there;  I don't like live hip-hop music.  I am of the opinion that most rap artists, while extremely talented in the studio, are marginally talented when it comes to the stage.  While they are well apt at working the crowd into a collective stupor, something is lost in translation between microphone and monitor.  I think it can mostly be attributed to a couple of factors; the party schedule of rappers on the road, the inability to use take-after-take to get the lyrics and tone spot on, and the blinding pointlessness of the "Hype Man."  The latter of which is where my major beef is dry aged.  The Hype Man can take a decent hip-hop show and turn it into an Excedren sized headache.  

Snoop came to our steamy little town a few nights ago and changed all that for me!  For someone whose interest in rap was solidified when Dr. Dre's The Chronic came out, seeing Snoop Dogg at a small venue is a slice of rap-heaven pie.  He's unarguably one of the top 10 rappers of all time!  And his catalogue of hits proves his prowess at the top of Mt. Mass Apeal.  I would think its not too far fetched to guess that 90% of the Chico CA crowd that night was white, yet Snoop made us country bumpkins feel like his homies.  He smoked our weed and killed his set.  DEFINITELY worth the 50 bucks.  Big ups Snoop!

L.B.M.

WOW!

This is unreal.  You would think that the event committee would have had the roads closed for the race, no?  At least one dead, and 14 others seriously injured.

L.B.M.

To get it right you've got to get a light

Tonight, Snoop comes to town!  I can't wait!!!!

L.B.M.

Another brillian Mike Tyson moment

I totally understand that it's not cool to make fun of retarded people, but in the case of Mike Tyson (and Flavor Flav for that matter) I can't resist.  Apparently, Kid Dynamite had hired some dude to kill a gang member that Mike thought killed his bodyguard in the year 2000.  How fucking stupid is this guy?  The list of dubious accomplishments is longer than that of the Vick brothers!  It baffles me how many pro athletes have a super hard time keeping their noses clean.  I mean, how hard is it to participate in your sport, work your ass off, collect your huge paycheck, go home at the end of the day to watch you 60 inch HD Plasma and chill?  

Dumb shit.

L.B.M.

It's a game of runs!

Oops.  Up by 24 at one point, the Lakers couldn't hang on.  Man, that is sooooooooooo fun to watch!

L.B.M.

Cheers to the end of days.

Yesterday after work I was driving down The Esplanade and was awestruck by the enormous wall of smoke to the south.  It looked like something out of a Michael Bay movie, only Bruce Willis was nowhere to be found and Will Smith was at The Staple's Center rooting for the Lakers (he's supposed to be a Sixers fan, right).  Anyway, it got me to thinkin/trippin.  I somehow am deeply connected to the weather; when Mother Nature rears her angry head back and blows, I don't seem to function properly.  I have even been known to get a bit pissy!  But that's neither here nor there.  It is, however, this connection that has me worried about our future on this planet.  

It's no secret that we humans have damaged our earth beyond repair.  And, it seems to me that ever since El Nino scorched California earlier this decade the weather has been slowly evolving, faster than before.  We have been shattering temperature highs, and squandering rainfall lows.  I have this vision of our climate ten years from now, and it resembles.................. this!

L.B.M.

And I pray that the fires throughout the state are 100% contained soon!  People's lives are being ruined.

More Finals

As an avid Sacramento Kings fan watching the Lakers get beat up in the first two games of the Finals is glorious.  The Celtics are playing some amazing defense, and the refs seem to really be impressed by it because they are taking "home calls" to the next level.  

However, I picked the Lakers understanding that they were going to lose the first two games.  Throughout the Playoffs the home team has gotten it done.  2-3-2 being the series format, I saw it happening like this; C's take 2 in Boston, Lakers take 3 at home, Game 6 to Boston, and Game 7 (an epic one to be) the Lakers come out on top.  

Oh yeah, I hope Ron moves on........... he's like a bad case of herpes.  You can't get rid of him you can only hope to suppress him.

L.B.M.

Game 1 goes the way of the C's

Paul Pierce goes down in third, is carried off the court, put into a wheel chair, rolled into the locker room and apparently seriously hurt.  He then returns after only two or so minutes had elapsed, checks in, and KILLS IT!  Amazing stuff yo.  Willis Reed comes to mind.  The back-to-back three's that Pierce drained seemed to put the Lakers collective heads in a box, like Spacey did for Brad Pitt's Gwenyth.  Not to mention Kobe was relatively cold all night (9 for 26 from the floor).  When Kobe's cold Gasol must do the bulk of the scoring or the Lakers will come up short.  

An aside; Phil Jackson takes a timeout right as Paul Pierce makes his Reed-like entrance, just as the crowd begins to work themselves into an apeshit frenzy.  PURE GENIUS!  The Bostonians instantly quieted themselves.  It just goes to show how phenomenal a playoff coach Jackson is.  It really hurts to say that too.........

I can't wait for Sunday's game.

L.B.M.

A tee with a view.

I long for a round of golf back home!!!!!!! An early tee time in The Valley begins under the chilly vail of fading fog and ends with a glass of Syrah on the 19th hole, and clear skies to inspire the soul.  This is the island hole at Eagle Vines, a Johnny Miller creation.  Serious golf heaven!

The Mamba v. The Big 3

For those of you who know me you are well aware of the fact that basketball is in my blood.  As a young buck I have a loose memory of the Lakers/Celtics rivalry that saved the NBA.  I really started to pay attention when Jordan started to take over, and I've been addicted  ever since.  

This year we NBA fans have been given the gift of Lakers/Celtics all over again!  This time the Celtics have a core group who have spent the better parts of their respective careers searching for the right combination of teammates to help take them to the promise land.  KG was buried in Minnie, The Truth had a couple of good runs with Antoine Walker at his side in the JV league that was the Eastern Conference, and Ray-Ray bounced around the league in cities that some people had forgotten even had NBA teams.  We all know what Kobe and Shaq were able to do earlier this decade, but now Kobe has the team to himself and is playing like a BEAST!  

I can't wait for this bitch to get going............. My pick?????? Lakers in 7.

Thane, whatcha say homie?

L.B.M.