08.29.08 Where Amazing Happens: Promise

Why do we love basketball? There’s plenty of sports out there, why this one? What makes this game so special?

You wait on draft night, who will your team pick? The draft can change a franchise’s fortunes in the blink of an eye. Will this be the next Duncan or the next Kwame? Everything or nothing, all hangs in the balance. The pick is…

A little man, kind of funny looking, walks up to the podium, this is the commissioner of the NBA. This is David Stern. His presence, or more importantly, his voice has been attached to all the great memories we have of this night.

“With the third pick the Chicago Bulls select… Michael Jordan!”

Will this happen again?

Your team has made its pick; he’s hyped as a special player. He’s one for the ages, they say. He’ll do great things, they say.

You start to dream about the MVP trophies, the game winning shots, the championship parades… You’re team has a date with destiny!

You see the promise, and soon, so will everyone else!

In his first game, the hope of your franchise doesn’t explode. The true vision of his greatness will have to wait. You know it’s coming, but not tonight.

Now a few weeks have gone by and you’re still waiting. The promise is still just promise. You want results.

Sure, you’ve seen the glimpse of what he can be, but what if he never gets there? What if the pedestal is too high?

You’re franchise has wasted this opportunity. They could’ve picked anyone, anyone but this scrub.

You sit in front of your TV on all-star weekend, hoping the rest will give him the spark he’s lacked. The rookies once again lose to the sophomores, and he didn’t even put up a fight.

All-star weekend comes and goes, with it, your playoff hopes. The team is losing and your big pick, the bet of the franchise has let you down.

Still, you decide you’ll tune in and watch his last few games of his rookie season, hoping he’s better next year.

The game is close; you’re up against a tough team. This team will go to the playoffs that you’re team won’t.

He has the ball with mere seconds to go left on the clock in the fourth quarter. The score is tied! Like Jerry, like Magic, like Larry… Like Mike, he steps on the floor after his team’s last timeout is used. He’s calm. He’s confident. This is his moment. This is your moment. What happens next?

What happens next?

Please visit www.sportsviews.com

08.27.08 Top 5 Most Annoying Players

Considering I spent the last week listing NBA nicknames, without having the stones to rank them, I figured I would throw out a Top 5 list today. I sat at my computer trying to think of some list different than “Top 5 Players of whatever” I decided maybe I should go negative. It’s working for John McCain, why not me? I couldn’t go with “Top 5 Worst Players in the NBA” because if we get to watch them, they’re not the worst players in the NBA. So, I decided I would pick the five players that I find the most annoying to watch. The guys that when they walk on the court you want to throw anything you can grab at the TV.

5. Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets

Allen Iverson may be the best little man to ever play the game, but every time I see him I think of the player that mainly was the cause of the NBA becoming the place of the punk kids that make millions and have no respect. There’s no doubt that Allen Iverson is an extremely tenacious player, but would Michael Jordan or Bill Russell ever openly complain about having to go to practice?

4. Brad Miller, Sacramento Kings

I know people say not to judge a book by its cover, but if you were to look at Brad Miller no one would ever think he was a professional basketball player. He looks more like the guy who sells you tools at Home Depot. Whenever I see him play I think “There’s the new NBA logo right there!” If Brad Miller can play basketball, maybe Kobe Bryant and LeBron James really aren’t that great of athletes, just better than people like Brad Miller.

3. Deshawn Stevenson, Washington Wizards

I’m listing Deshawn Stevenson because of him mouthing off about LeBron James. I’m listing Deshawn Stevenson because he mouthed off to anyone that wasn’t named Earl Boykins. Actually, even that would’ve been going too far. Anytime an average player calls one of the premier players in the league “overrated” that average player is an idiot. When your career average in 8.7 ppg you have no room criticizing a player who’s racked up a career average to the tune of 27.3 ppg. It’s not about LeBron James, if Deshawn had bashed Boris Diaw he would’ve been out of line. Plus, you’re trademark is a hand gesture lifted from a wrestler? Seriously?

2. Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks

I never really cared about Jason Terry until three years ago. Back when the Mavericks went to seven game with the Spurs, whenever Jason Terry would be interviewed I’d turn the TV on mute. He talks about faith and tries to sound like the good and hard working player, but I’ve never bought it. He’s either both lying and being too over the top with it, or he’s telling the truth and he’s just an over the top person. Either way, he’s that guy you work with you don’t want to sit by in the break room. You know who I mean…

1. Sasha Vujacic, Los Angeles Lakers

How could I not rank this guy as #1? From his rat-looking face(maybe a little harsh) to his annoying chest pounding, this guy sucks. He’s a good player, no doubt. He can shoot a mean three point shot, but I always root against the Lakers because of this guy. The last guy in the NBA I want to see wearing an NBA ring is Sasha Vujacic. If he does win a ring my hopes of him going to Europe, where I’ll never have to see him again, greatly diminish. How about this for a new rule? If you average less than ten points a game, you can’t show off, ever. If you do, you get an immediate ejection. Take note David Stern!

That’s it for today. I’ll see you guys Friday!

In the mean time, head over to www.sportsviews.com

8.25.08 Best NBA Nicknames, Part III

Welcome back for the third edition of The Quick Report. This is your place for good old NBA discussion. In the first two blogs I threw out the nicknames of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson and other player as the best of the bunch. Well, I have six more entries in this trilogy. I said on Thursday evening that I would be posting three blogs on the best NBA nicknames, and now that’s come full circle. So, let’s take a look at the final six names I’ve chosen.

“Air Jordan” – Michael Jordan

Where better to start than with the true king of the NBA? The nickname of “Air Jordan” for Michael Jordan became the greatest marketing slogan that any athlete has or maybe ever will have. The moniker of “Air Jordan” became the chosen words for the greatest single shoe line in history. One could argue that “Air Jordan” is the single most famous nickname in the history of sports. Why not have it belong to the greatest athlete ever in sports?

“The Glove” – Gary Payton

In his prime, Gary Payton was one of the best defensive guards of all time. His considerable skill on the defensive end was what gave him the nickname “The Glove.” Gary Payton would steal the ball just like a pickpocket would steal your wallet. Payton’s defense lent itself to giving Michael Jordan his toughest outing in the NBA Finals in 1996 when the Bulls went up against the former Seattle Supersonics.

“Pistol Pete” – Pete Maravich

I have a friend who claims this player as his favorite of all time. Some call Pete Maravich the greatest player to never really be a winner at the highest level. There have been NBA historians that have speculated that if Pete had played with a three point line he would’ve averaged over fifty points a game. Pete Maravich was one of the most creative scorers and passers in the history of the NBA. I don’t know about you, but “Pistol” seems a good fit.

“Larry Legend” – Larry Bird

This may be my favorite NBA nickname of all time. Larry Bird has long been a favorite of NBA fans for his old school image. His career-long rival, Magic Johnson, was about flash with the Showtime Lakers. Larry Bird was the hard working blue collar athlete from Indiana. His playing with the NBA’s greatest franchise in the Boston Celtics just adds to his stature. Many people throw around the “legend” label easily, but Larry Bird no doubt earned it.

“The Human Highlight Reel” – Dominique Wilkins

I see so many people talking about Michael Jordan or Julius Erving when the conversation of the great early dunkers is mentioned, but I sometimes wonder if Dominique Wilkins was truly the best of the bunch early on. Wilkins had a power in his dunks that neither Michael Jordan nor Dr. J. could match, but he could also match style with anyone. His ability to finish plays with thunder and flare is what gave Dominique Wilkins his nickname of “The Human Highlight Reel.”

“Mr. Clutch” – Jerry West

What better way to end a trilogy of the best NBA nicknames than with the logo himself? Generally the argument as to which player has been the best at closing out games in NBA history comes down to Michael Jordan vs. Jerry West. Michael Jordan probably sneaks through as the winner in the debate, but Jerry West can still make the argument that he was the first great shooting guard in basketball.

There you have it! That’s all three parts of my blogs on the best NBA nicknames of all time. I’ll throw something out at you Wednesday. I’m not sure what, but I’ll think of something!

Please visit my main site http://www.sportsviews.com

8.24.08 Best NBA Nicknames, Part II

 

 

 

 

Welcome back for the second edition of The Quick Report. You can view the first part of my Best NBA Nicknames blog in my archive. For this round I’ve selected six more cool NBA nicknames to throw at you. As I stated before, this blog happens to be apart of a three blog series. You should expect part III on Monday evening. Though, for now, let’s see what part two has to offer. 

 

“Flash” – Dwyane Wade
 
In the last two NBA seasons I don’t think anyone could really still call Dwyane Wade “Flash” but as many of us have noticed, the nickname has come back to it’s full worth in Beijing. Dwyane Wade’s ability to find seams in the defense and snake his way to the rim at lightning quick speeds is really awe inspiring. One moment Wade is in front of you and in a flash he’s just hit a reverse lay-up on your basket.
 
“Earl the Pearl” – Earl Monroe
 
Many basketball historians credit Earl Monroe with being the player that inspired the over the top nicknames we see today. Oscar Robertson may have been “The Big O” and Jerry West was certainly “Mr. Clutch” but none of those have the flare of  “Earl the Pearl.” “The Pearl” is a nickname that is a remnant of a time when basketball became not just a game, but a marvelous show as well.
 
“Magic” – Earvin Johnson
 
I’ve decided not to rank these nicknames because I feel that just isn’t need, but if one were to rank the greatest nicknames in NBA history, what would be #1? I don’t think I want to venture an answer, but Earvin Johnson’s hold on the word “Magic” would have to be very high. No one knows the greatest point guard in NBA history by any other name than “Magic.” Magic Johnson isn’t really even nickname. It’s who the player/legend is. 

 

 

 

“The Diesel” – Shaquille O’Neal
 
Out of the many, many nicknames Shaq has given himself I like “The Diesel” the best. When he was at his best, Shaq was arguably the most dominant player in history. The only way you could combat his size and strength was to foul him and hope he missed his free throws. “The Diesel” brings to mind thoughts of something massive and overwhelming. When he was in his prime, that’s exactly what Shaquille O’Neal was.
 
“The Black Mamba” – Kobe Bryant
 
I struggled with whether to include this one or not. “The Black Mamba” is named after a really deadly snake, but it’s also taken from a movie, Kill Bill, where the character of the same name is a female assassin. That’s kind of an odd choice for a male basketball player looking for a badass nickname, but it works. I don’t think anyone who watched Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals last season could argue that Kobe Bryant is extremely fatal to the opposition.
 

“Penny” – Anfernee Hardaway

 

“Penny” was to Anfernee Hardaway what “Magic” was Earvin Johnson. No one after 1993 called this guy Anfernee. He was Penny Hardaway. His career may have been derailed due to injury, but this guy is still Penny Hardaway. The best nicknames aren’t the ones the commentators use when a player puts on a game highlight. The best nicknames are the ones that stick.

 

Check back Monday for Part III. Until then check out the site I linked to below. It’s pretty cool.

  

For more blogs like this please visit www.sportsviews.com

See you all Monday!

 

8.22.08 Best NBA Nicknames, Part I

 

Welcome, to the first blog here at The Quick Report. What you’re looking at is an NBA focused set of ramblings by your’s truly. A few times a week you’ll see me throw out some comments on the world of the NBA. Well, expect maybe for this week. For the first installment of The Quick Report I decided I would start what will become a three part series. As you can read in the title, I’m checking out the best NBA nicknames of all time.

“The Big O” – Oscar Robertson

One could argue that Oscar Robertson is the best stat man in the history of the NBA. We all know that he averaged a triple double for an entire season. No one has even remotely come close to that in today’s NBA. What makes me select “The Big O” is just the cool, old school nature of the name. It’s so understated. Now days everyone tries to get creative with their nicknames. The Big O is simple and it’s legendary.

“The Answer” – Allen Iverson

I’ve always been saddened that “The Practice” never became Allen Iverson’s nickname, but “The Answer” works too. For a player that is arguably the best scorer since the days of pre-goatee MJ, “The Answer is the perfect nickname. You score, AI’s got the answer. Your team makes a rally in the fourth quarter, Iverson’s got the answer. It’s plain and to the point. Kind of like Iverson…

“Sir Charles” – Charles Barkley

Generally, when a person has the title of “Sir” in front of their name, it means elegance and integrity. Now, I’m not a Charles Barkley hater by any means. I actually think when he’s talking about basketball he’s often spot on the money. The thing is that Charles Barkley isn’t at all elegant nor does he have a lot of integrity. If he did, he would’ve knocked Kenny Smith out a long time ago. Well, I’m one to appreciate irony, so “Sir Charles” can’t be left off.

“King James” – LeBron James

I know a lot of people have a problem with this and I can understand that. LeBron James isn’t really the king of anything outside of Cleveland, but I like to think about the future. Despite it sounding good, “King James” will be such a great title for people like me when it comes time for LeBron James to win his championship. His championship that might be closer than some think.

“Starbury” – Stephon Marbury

Every other player on this list is a hall of fame talent. There’s no denying that. Stephon Marbury could’ve been one of those guys. Today, I doubt even he would contend he deserves to go into the hall. Still, this is about selecting cool nicknames, right? Starbury is just too marketable not to make the list. This guy could’ve had rappers singing about him and his nickname for years. Well, they still might, but just not in a positive way.

“Dr. J” – Julius Erving

I’ve kind of been feeling bad for Dr. J lately. Sure, he got his Dr. Pepper commercial, but did they have to use the Bulls theme as the music? I mean, Michael is the NBA guy for all time, but can’t the guy at least get some rip off music? The reason I pick the name is simple. It goes along with “Magic” Johnson in that the nickname became the guy’s name. You know the average person is more likely to know that Dr. J was a basketball player than Julius Erving.

Expect Part II of the series very soon!

Until then you can read my other writings at: http://www.sportsviews.com/profile/Kurosawa