The NBA Is Going Soft

I remember growing up and watching Michael Jordan get the hell knocked out of him constantly during the playoffs. First it was the Detroit Pistons and the "Jordan Rules" which were basically, anytime Jordan gets in the lane, try and kill him. How many times would you see Bill Laimbeer or Dennis Rodman body check MJ out of mid-air? How many times would you see Isiah Thomas try and undercut him?

It was constant, and it didn't end with the Pistons. Once the Bulls conquered Detroit, it became the Knicks who would apply the same tactics against Jordan. I didn't like that other teams were deliberately trying to hurt him, but you could understand the reasoning behind it.

You weren't going to stop him, so you might as well try to hurt him. Luckily for Bulls fans, all any of it did was piss Jordan off, and considering Michael was already the most competitive person on the court, pissing him off only made him more dangerous.

You know what I don't remember as much from all those series? Flagrant fouls being called. There were a few in the most egregious cases, but for the most part, the refs let it go. The league let opponents try and take out it's marquee player.

That's not the case these days.

The one thing that's been driving me nuts this postseason in the NBA is the constant flagrant foul calls. It seems you can't touch anybody anymore. Right now if LeBron James goes to the hole and catches an elbow in the chest, whoever delivered that elbow is going to get a flagrant called on him.

One of the worst cases I've seen came last night when Al Horford was called for a flagrant foul on Kevin Garnett. As Garnett went to the basket, Horford committed a good clean, hard foul. He didn't go after his head, instead he used his left arm against KG's chest to stop him, and with his right arm he swiped at the ball.

Garnett fell to the floor afterwards, despite Horford's effort to hold him up, because generally when two guys who are 6'10 or taller collide in mid-air, somebody is going down. Horford was then hit with the flagrant.

It was a bad call.

I use it as an example, but it's not the only one I've seen.

I understand that the NBA is in a constant battle against ill-informed "fans" who claim that the league is full of nothing but a bunch of thugs and gang-bangers, and that they have to make sure their corporate sponsors still want to fill the arenas and commercial breaks with advertisements (though those same corporate sponsors don't have a problem sponsoring the NFL where the goal is to beat your opponent into submission, wonder why that is?). I also understand that it's a superstar driven league, so the league is going to take extra precautions to protect its superstars, but it's getting ridiculous.

These are the playoffs, and throughout the history of the NBA, the playoffs get a lot more physical. It's a large part of what makes the NBA playoffs so exciting. Now I'm in no way condoning fights amongst the players, and I understand that the constant use of the flagrant fouls helps keep some fights from happening, but the NBA is playing scared.

By trying to cut off all physical play, the NBA is actually taking away a large part of what makes the playoffs so exciting, and it could end up hurting them more in the long run than a few punches ever could.

Who's The Second Best Team In The NFL?

We all know that the New England Patriots are the best team in the NFL right now. I'm pretty sure the only way they don't go undefeated is if an asteroid strikes in Boston and blows the whole place to hell.

The question is, who's the second best team in the NFL?

A few weeks ago it was obviously the Indianapolis Colts, but ever since they lost to New England at home in Week 9, the Colts have looked pretty mediocre. They followed that loss with another one against the Chargers in Week 10, a game that saw Peyton Manning throw a career worst six interceptions.

They finally got another win this last Sunday against the Chiefs, but it wasn't exactly a victory to be proud of. Anytime you need a last-second field goal at home to beat a Larry Johnson-less Chiefs team, you're doing something wrong.

Whether it's the rash of injuries they've suffered the last few weeks, or whether they just haven't gotten over that loss to New England, the Colts look lost and extremely beatable.

The team that was supposed to take over their spot in the NFL hierarchy was the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they came out and laid an egg on Sunday, losing to the New York Jets. That just shouldn't happen, and anybody who loses to the Jets cannot be considered an elite team.

So you know what that means?

The horrible, mediocre, little brother of the AFC has stepped up and taken a seat next to the Patriots.

That's right. The NFC is starting to catch the AFC, at least at the top, anyway.

Right now I'd have to say the Dallas Cowboys are the best team in the NFL, non-Patriots division, of course.

If it wasn't for Tom Brady and Randy Moss, Tony Romo and Terrell Owens would be the story this season. Romo threw 4 touchdown passes on Sunday, all to Owens, as the Cowboys improved to 9-1 on the season.

The lone loss? To the Patriots.

The third best team in the NFL might be from the NFC as well, because as much as it pains me to say it, the Packers are 9-1 too. Though to be completely honest, I'm not sure I buy into Green Bay's performance. I mean, they lost to the Bears, how good can they be?

Yes they're 9-1, but they haven't really played anybody this season. They've only played one team that currently has a winning record, the New York Giants. Everybody else is .500 or worse.

There won't be a rude awakening for the Packers though, because the rest of their schedule is a lot like the first half. They only have one tough game, and it's going to be a very important one, as they travel to Dallas on Thursday November 29th to play a game that will settle homefield advantage in the NFC.

Make no mistake about it, whoever emerges from the NFC is going to get their ass whipped by New England in the Super Bowl, but it's nice to see that at least somebody in the conference is good enough to at least be mentioned with AFC teams.

Foul Balls

John McDonough Leaves The Cubs - Apparently, I'm not the only one who's excited about the nice start the Blackhawks have gotten off to this season. (Second place and 4-0 against Detroit, bitch!) Cubs president John McDonough is so excited by the Hawks performance, he done quit his job!

Cubs president John McDonough will be introduced as the new president of the Blackhawks at a noon news conference Tuesday at the United Center.

"He's as good as anyone in the country and just happens to be living in Chicago," Hawks chairman Rocky Wirtz told the Tribune on Tuesday. "I've watched the job he's done with the Cubs throughout the years. He's a guy that I think has great vision, leadership and I think he'll be a terrific addition to the Hawks organization."

Obviously, with the uncertain future of the Cubs ownership McDonough couldn't be sure he'd still have a job by this time next year, so he did the smart thing and went to the Blackhawks. He'll either be seen as some kind of savior, or the Blackhawks will continue to be lousey and nobody will notice.

MJ In Orange and Blue? - I watched the Illini beat Arizona State in the first round of the Maui Invitational last night, and I was very impressed by what I saw. For more you can check out what I wrote at FanHouse.

You know what I wasn't prepared for, though? Seeing Michael Jordan in orange and blue.

As MJ sat at courtside with his daughter Jasmine watching his son Jeff play for the Illini, I wondered: What happens if Illinois and North Carolina meet in the tournament this spring? What's MJ wearing to that game?

The Garland Trade: The Day After - Yep, still pissed!! Seriously, Kenny Williams gave up a 28-year old pitcher entering his prime - one who's stayed healthy his entire career - for a 33-year old shortstop who's probably going to leave after this season anyway.

I know that this isn't going to be the Sox only move this offseason, but it's a pretty shitty way to start. Maybe tomorrow we'll trade Javier Vazquez for Barry Bonds.

The Illini Could Be BCS Bowling! - The BCS is facing a crisis right now. As currently constructed, only two teams per conference can be allowed to play in a BCS bowl. It's never been a problem before this season, but it could become a large one after next week.

You see, the BCS has always been able to rely on Notre Dame to win nine games so they could justify giving them a spot, but that's not happening this season. Then there's Hawaii, who is vulnerable to a loss this week against Boise State, which would knock them out of the BCS picture.

So that would mean the BCS will have to take two teams from four of the six BCS conferences. Of course, that becomes a huge problem since only the top 14 teams in the BCS rankings are eligible to play in a BCS bowl. So what's the BCS to do? Expand.

In an attempt to avoid a potential headache at the end of the regular season, the commissioners of the six BCS football conferences have voted to expand the pool of BCS at-large candidates from 14 to 18.

The new rule goes into effect only if there aren't enough teams among the top 14 of the final BCS standings to fill 10 slots in the BCS National Championship Game, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Rose Bowl.

So how does this affect the Illini? They're currently ranked 17th in the BCS.
And obviously, all of this is way less complicated than coming up with some kind of playoff system.

Ben Gordon Talks About Chordan and Peepen

Not sure if it was the guileless enthusiasm of the reporter or that half the interview was in Spanish, but this as relaxed and fun as I've ever seen the Bulls.

Ben Gordon discusses his hopes for next year and the big shoes they have to fill.

Speaking of big shoes, Andrés Nocioni discusses Luol Deng's, and the location of Michael Jordan's old locker. Even when you don't understand it, it's fun to watch.

via Thank You Isaiah

23 Versus 54

Michael Jordan's and Brian Urlacher's respective softball teams met for their second annual competition Monday at Mayfair Park in Westchester, Illinois.

As Fornelli wrote yesterday, this event happened hardly steps from his apartment but he didn't know about it until the next day.

At least someone had the decency to send him some photos (put into a youtube presentation), which I share with you below.

Fornelli would have posted it but he's at the Mayfair Park backstop right now.

Alone.

Weeping.



[EDITOR: The slideshow, apparently, was put together by someone named SameriBri. Thanks!]

Sometimes Your Friends Suck

I worked last night and while I was there I was informed of something that had happened on Monday of which I had no idea.

My friend Anthony informed me of a softball game that took place at Mayfair Park. A park that is about 4 blocks down the street from where I live.

Wow, a softball game. Who the hell cares?

Well, it's who was playing in this softball game that deserved the attention. Michael Jordan and Brian Urlacher faced off against each other with their own teams. Yes, that's right. Michael Jordan and Brian Urlacher played softball less than half a mile from my apartment.

And nobody told me until Tuesday.

I can't find any stories about the game anywhere, but I do know for a fact that it happened. They're currently talking about it on the Waddle and Silvy Show on ESPN Radio here in Chicago. They're supposed to be posting pictures on their website today, so when they put them up, I'll put them up here.

I have no idea why Michael Jordan and Brian Urlacher would choose to play a softball game in Westchester, but what the hell do I know. Maybe that had something to do with the fact there was absolutely no media attention of any kind present during the game.

Yep, I would have had an exclusive.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, MJ rolled up to the field in his Carolina Blue Bentley. Which I could have stolen had I been informed of the game. So thanks, Anthony.

MJ Will Be Tearing Up Kams This Fall

First, it was Fornelli who tore up the town of Champaign, Illinois. Now, another legend prepares to invade the town.

Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan's son, Jeff, is expected to announce he will attend Illinois as a preferred walk-on and enroll for the summer session that begins June 11, a university source said Thursday.

According to the source, "Jeff Jordan has applied and was accepted. All indications are that he will enroll for the summer session. We're expecting he will make the announcement very soon."

As of now, Jeff Jordan has not yet received any text messages from Kelvin Sampson, so it's likely he'll stay in Champaign too.

Jeff had scholarship offers from Valpo and Loyola, along with some interest from Northwestern and Illinois State, but it's not like his daddy can't pay for his college.

Besides, you know when weighing the options, MJ reminded his son that there will be a lot more girls in Champaign than any of those other schools, and daddy needs to do something when he's in town.

Enjoy my leftovers, bitch.

Dance Like Mike

It's nice to know that MJ is enjoying his recent divorce. Look at the skill displayed. Bumpin and grindin all while still smoking the cigar. This all happened a few weeks ago in Cabo San Lucas.

There's a reason this man is the greatest basketball player of all time.

Seriously though, can't he find better looking women to dance with? I'm kinda disappointed in Jordan. I could pull those two, and I can't even dunk.

(From Deadspin)

Did You Know Jordan And Pippen Were Good?

It feels kind of odd to realize it's been nearly ten years since MJ and Pippen were teamed together on the Bulls. It makes me feel really old.

As you may have read here this weekend, Jason Kidd and Vince Carter became the first teammates since Jordan and Pippen to record a triple-double in the same game.

Well, thanks to We Are The Postmen, here is the video of that game in 1989.

Ten bucks says that somewhere, Jordan and Pippen are watching this game tape and MJ has tricked Pippen into a $5,000 bet that they both get triple-doubles in the game.

"That's unpossible!" says Pippen. "You're on!"

Championships Are Fireproof

Panger gave this story a brief mention in the High Five yesterday, but it's a pretty slow news day, so I'm going to expand on it.

Sorry, but I don't want to talk about the Masters. Tiger didn't win, and the guy who did seems really boring, so screw it. I can't believe I watched it for nothing.

Anyway, back to Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc.

I'm sure you all remember Longley from his years with the Bulls, and his three championship rings.

Well, he lost his $2 million home in Fremantle, Australia on Friday night.

The former Chicago Bulls player managed to get his partner, his two children and their two friends out of the family home in Montreal Street before it went up in flames about 3am (WST) today.

The converted industrial premises was well alight by the time fire crews arrived but all five occupants escaped without injury.

"I was asleep and heard a bang, an explosion, and it was already on fire and got the kids out," he told Nine News at the scene.

Crews were able to stop the fire from spreading to an adjacent garage which housed up to five of Longley's vehicles, but the home was left gutted.

Thankfully, everyone was safe, but Longley lost a lot of his memorabilia from his time with the Chicago Bulls. There was also the worry that he'd lost his three championship rings to the blaze.

He didn't.

The fire destroyed sporting memorabilia dating back to his days with the Chicago Bulls as well as an extensive art collection, including paintings by Australian artists George Haynes and Sam Abercromby.

But as he sifted through the wreckage it emerged the three championship rings he won with the Bulls in the 1990s were intact.

Despite all of this, Longley was able to keep his sense of humor.

“One disaster was averted in that I did manage to get a pair of shorts on as we left so the public was spared having to face a 7ft naked ginger,” he said.

All of this comes as bad news for Longley's former teammate Michael Jordan, who upon hearing news of the fire made a bet with Charles Oakley that only one of Longley's rings would remain.

That dude will bet on anything.

Michael Jordan, NBA Pimp

In a news conference last Tuesday, Michael Jordan, part-owner of Charlotte Bobcats, mentioned he liked the look of Kevin Durant:

"The kid in Texas [shows] all the right signs. But it's still college and not the pros. Physically, I don't know whether he can stand [up to] an 82-game season or the physical [nature of] our game."

Well, that didn't sit too well with the Grand Pooh Bah Stern and the flying monkeys in the NBA front office. Apparently, they believe Jordan's qualified praise could be taken as a potential inducement for Durant to turn pro early.

So they've fined the Bobcats $15,000.

However, the NBA front offices felt Jordan's transgression wasn't quite as bad as Celtics GM Danny Ainge, who sat in Kevin's mother's lap during the Big 12 Tournament and hand-fed her chocolate-dipped strawberries. That cost him thirty large.

By the way, the article also mentioned Jordan almost never gives interviews to the media. I'm sure this experience will inspire him to change that approach real soon.

Unless, of course, it's what he planned all along.

Speaking of HORSE....

I found this by accident. I was scouring the intertubes in search of the new McDonald's commercials with Carlos Zambrano and A.J. Pierzynski when I came across this.

What's always bothered me about this classic is that we never find out who wins though, let's face it, Jordan does.

Cuz he's Michael Jordan and he wouldn't allow the game to end until he won.

The Flu Game

As I've been reading over at the NBA Fanhouse, I've discovered that Marcel Mutoni and J.E. Skeets are NBA YouTube connoisseurs.

It was Mutoni who turned me on to a YouTube user by the name of Hoopsencyclopedia, who has some of the greatest Jordan videos ever put together on these interwebs.

I'll only post one here for the day, but seriously, I could spend the entire day watching his work.

Here's the infamous "Flu Game" from the 1997 Finals against Utah.

Is MJ To Blame For Pippen's Return?

I'm sure you're all aware Scottie Pippen wants to make a comeback to the NBA.

You're probably also aware Pippen owes U.S. Bank about $5 million.

So what exactly happened to all the money that Pippen made during his NBA career? Sure, he didn't make as much money as the players are paid today, but he made more than enough to survive.

Turns out, Michael Jordan probably has a bunch of Pippen's money. Henry Abbott of ESPN and True Hoop received a pretty interesting email from SI's Andrew Lawrence involving bets made between MJ and Pip back in the day.

News of his imminent financial demise hardly surprise. Rather, it calls to mind the absolute coolest Jordan story I'd ever been told -- courtesy of the AP's Jim Litke, the George Washington on my sports journalism Mt. Rushmore. That said, I take everything Jim says as gospel, this story especially. It starts with Jordan shooting around at practice at old Chicago Stadium when he looks up and notices the m&m race on the jumbotron. Curious, he asks one of the Bulls' staffers what's up and learns what he is seeing is actually a dry run-through of the night's in-game entertainment, in which the jumbotron and m&m race factor prominently. (I'm pretty sure this was before shooting t-shirts out of an air cannon captivated a nation.) Naturally, MJ wanted to know if the winner of the race was predetermined. Of course the 8-bit graphics betrayed the answer: a resounding "yes".

So later that night, Phil calls a time out and Jordan & co. repair to the bench. As he's sitting down, he looks up at the jumbotron to see the m&m race about to start. So he nudges Scottie.

MJ: "Bet you 5 grand yellow takes this."

Pip: "Bet."

I'm told this went on for years before Scottie ever got wise...

Oh Scottie, I'm sure you know the old saying: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me over and over for years, and I'll have to make a comeback a few years after I retire to pay off all my mounting debt."

(Via the Fanhouse)

Dwight Howard was Robbed

I watched the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night, and I can't believe what they did to Dwight Howard.

I guess it's true, big guys will never win one of these things.

No matter what they do, they're always at a disadvantage versus midgets like Nate Robinson. Robinson is allowed to attempt the same dunk 42 times until he finally completes one. Dwight Howard nearly touches the top of the backboard, and dunks on the first try, and MJ gives him an 8.

Charles had it right, MJ is the Russian Judge.

If Dwight had leapt to the top of the backboard, and then did a backflip off of it and dunked on the way down, maybe MJ would have given him a 9.