FanNation

Garnett hardly a fit for 'League of Clutch' Commercials

Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics is now being featured in Gatorade's new "League of Clutch" series of commercials playing on ESPN and throughout the NBA Playoffs. While the initial thought of this does not strike casual fans as odd, for those die-hard fans out there like myself, please take a moment and think about Kevin Garnett's reputation prior to his trade to Boston. Garnett and his Minnesota teams lost in the 1st Round of the playoffs in 7 straight seasons before 2003-2004 and he was not able to get his team to the postseason again until wearing the Celtic green. So does Kevin Garnett fit the Gatorade League of Clutch commercial or did Gatorade get it wrong? You decide.

Dirty play & trash talking don't help Wizards

Memo to the Washington Wizards: keep talking. The Wizards have been running their mouths about the Cleveland Cavaliers for weeks, calling LeBron overrated, saying the Cavs could not beat the Wizards in the NBA Playoffs in 3 straight seasons and more. Now it seems that Washington is acting like the little boy who doesn't get his way after making a fuss as they resort to dirty play. Gilbert Arenas, the supposed "star" of Washington and poster-boy of this team seems to think dirty play is just fine and Brendan Haywood was ejected in Monday's Game #2 after a flagrant foul where he shoved LeBron James in-air causing him to crash to the ground. While Haywood's teammates may think this obviously dirty play was acceptable, let's hope the league office does not. What ges overlooked are the more subtle plays like when Arenas set a "pick" where he walked into Delonte West as the ball came up the court. The play I witnessed looked like a playground act of distracting the victim and tripping them as they walk by - possibly fun for little kids, but not acceptable for professional sports. David Stern needs to take a look at game tapes for games 1 & 2 and review the Wizards' play. Should suspensions occur? Definately. Heck, it seems like the Wizards had this planned coming into the series. From the Game #1 fight to the dirty plays in Game #2 and the extra trash-talking throughout, maybe Eddie Jordan and the Wizards front office should be investigated. No matter what, this is not hockey and this kind of play from Washington is no acceptable.

Carmona deal may mean Sabathia will walk

The Cleveland Indians locked up one member of their starting staff to a long term deal on Thursday, but it was not C.C. Sabathia. Fausto Carmona, a 19-game winner in 2007, signed a 4-year $15 million deal with club options for 3 additional years. Carmona, who went 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA in 2007 and is 1-0 in 2 starts in 2008, is just 24 years old and was the winning pitcher in the famous "bug gate" playoff game against the New York Yankees in the 2007 AL Playoffs.

Cueto leads Reds to win in MLB debut

Johnny Cueto came into the 2008 season as an option to make the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation. With an impressive spring he not only made the rotation but was named the Reds' #3 starter, making his Major League Debut earlier today. Not only did Cueto impress in his debut, but he became one of just 3 starters in Major League history to allow 1 hit or less, strike out 10 or more and get a win in his debut.

With the win, the Reds improve to 2-1 heading into a home series with Philadelphia starting Friday night.

George Mason, Davidson keep their coaches

It's an annual tradition, the opening of high-paying college basketball coaching positions for teams in major conferences and attempts by the coaches of successful mid-majors to fill those spots. But two of the bigger names in the mid-major world are staying put at George Mason's Jim Larranaga and Davidson's Bob Mckillop both seem to be staying put despite numerous job offers. Larranaga was recently courted by Providence, his alma mater, but turned down "a very substantial package" to remain at George Mason where he is now under contract through 2015. McKillop has been mentioned for the St. John's job and others, but with Stephen Curry announcing that he will be back for his junior year, it's hard to imagine anyone would leave Curry, especially since McKillop has been at Davidson College for 20 years.