FanNation - The Republic of Sport

1. Does anybody think that Amare Stoudamire feels some sort of vindication right now. With the normally good natured Robert Horry turning into Chris Chelios and knocking Steve Nash into the scorer's table last night, you have to say that Mr. Stoudamire might just have a point here. Add that to Bruce Bowen's antagonizing style of play and Manu Ginobili's flailing elbows, and you have the makings of a team tettering on the brink of goonery.

2. Speaking of Stoudamire, the NBA would absolutely cut off their nose to spite their face if they suspend he and Boris Diaw for getting two steps past the coaches box after Horry's temporary insanity. The NBA has to realize that the vast majority of Americans outside of South Texas want to see the free-flying Suns win this series and could give a flip about the Spurs. No offense, but their style of play just does not excite me. They are kind of the throwback to the late-1990's-early-2000's isolate and grind style of play that turned the league's ratings down a few notches. The Spurs have a great team and Tim Duncan is Top 20 all-time, but they do nothing for ratings. Another Detroit-San Antonio NBA Finals will have me happily doing honey-do's for the lady.

3. The Ottawa Senators are a machine. Speaking of grinding, they absolutely willed their way to a 1-0 victory over Buffalo to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. The Sens defense was outstanding, as goalie Ray Emery garnered a shutout by facing only 15 shots. The Sens have done a great job deflecting potential shots on goal and have frustrated the Sabres offense. You really have to like their chances in a Stanley Cup Final against Anaheim or Detroit.

4. What would a Dallas Cowboys minicamp be without Terrell Owens waxing poetic about his year playing for Bill Parcells. Maybe if Owens would have done less talking and more catching, the Cowboys would have won a few more games last year. If that would have occurred, he and the Tuna could have had a lot better relationship. Accountability TO, accountability. That's what I have realized about a lot of these guys, that one attribute is severly lacking in professional sports.

5. Devin Hester, the new most overrated player in the league (I say that because this kid cannot hold the jock of one Adam "Pacman" Jones....Jones, while an idiot, is just a good of a return man (look at the stats), and combines that with Top 10 corner skills, and even has played some offense in his portfolio) will try his hand on offense. No doubt, Hester is a very skilled returner, but he's got Dante Hall syndrome. A dynamic open-field runner who has no position.............those guys become expendable in the Salary Cap era, where every man on your active roster must be able to contribute on 1st-3rd down at a traditional position.