FanNation

The Fans in Utah Need to Take More Antidepressants

I live in Utah and am not surprised to learn that we, as a state, are near the tops in the nation when it comes to the number of prescriptions for antidepressants.  I am also an NBA fan, and more to the point, a fan of the Utah Jazz.  As the draft nears, I think of the steals the Jazz have had in the draft, with the likes of Karl Malone and John Stockton coming in the middle of the first round.  I think of Andrei Kirilenko at the 24th pick and given a redo in the 1999 draft would likely have gone above Jonathan Bender, Trajan Langdon, Alek Redojevic, William Avery, Dion Glover, Cal Bowdler, and everybodies favorite poster, Frederick Weis, putting him in the mid-first round, at a minimum.  The Jazz have made some draft day steals in the second round also, with Shandon Anderson, Bryon Russell, and most recently, Paul Millsap. 

The New Jordan Rules

Hypocrisy Abounds in the NBA

So let me get this straight.  Last year, David Stern, the commisioner of the NBA, suspends both Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire in a pivotal playoff series between the Spurs and Suns for leaving the bench.  Why?  It's black and white, if you leave the bench, you get a game (or more).  Personally, I didn't like it because I'm a fan, but I understand the rule.  Then we see a scuffle in the Hawks/Celtics series where we witness a darling of the NBA (Kevin Garnett) illegally, as the rule is black and white, contact an official.  We also have during that same incident two players from opposing teams admit in the media that they stepped on the court (Marvin Williams and Kendrick Perkins).  Yet despite those actions, no suspensions.  Darius Songaila got a game for contacting Lebron James' face.  David West, DeShawn Stevenson, and even the retaliation to Songaila's blow, Zyndrunas Ilgauskas, all contact the face of an opposing player, yet no games are missed.  Am I missing something?  Do we not suspend David West because the Hornets, led by MVP candidate Chris Paul have become somewhat of the darlings of the NBA?  Do we not suspend DeShawn Stevenson because all he does is enrage Lebron James causing his performance to be elevated and the ratings to soar?  Do we not suspend Zyndrunas Ilgauskas because Lebron doesn't have enough support as it is and he desparately needs that inside presence to secure better ratings for the NBA in round two?  Can we really suspend Kevin Garnett when the Celtics appear to be struggling with the lowly Atlanta Hawks? 

Seriously???

Seriously???

So I just read a story about George Karl and his vow to be "tougher" on players.  Here's the link http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/specials/playoffs/2008/05/01/nuggets.karl.ap/index.html?eref=fannation and all I have to say is Seriously??? 

So why is this a big deal.  First and foremost, I want to say to George Karl, "Why start now?"  He has never been tough on players, be it in Seattle with Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton, to the Big Three in Milwaukee and now with the Denver Nuggets.  I've heard him speak, he's a nice enough guy, but why start now?

Sports Ramblings

A Brand New Experience

This may come as a shock for some of you, I'm 29 years old, am very familiar with computers and the internet and this is my first attempt at a blog.  Now that you've had that giant gasp, let me tell all of you a little about me, what my blog will be about, then tell you what it won't be about, then state that I can change the rules at any time, because it's my blog.

A little about me.  I am a huge basketball fan.  I played growing up and I still play, not professionally, but I still play.  I actually declined 4 athletic scholarships (from smaller schools/programs) to follow my longtime girlfriend to a different school, larger school with a much larger and better athletic program.  Note to self and others, don't follow a long time girlfriend or boyfriend to a school, interests change from high school to college and that includes people.  Back to basketball, in addition to playing hoops, I also officiate hoops.  One good thing about a blog is that you can't throw things at me, you just get to leave comments, some nasty, some good, which is pretty much what I get when officiating.  I officiate high school and various recreation leagues and would one day love to be in the NBA.  However, I actually call three-second lane violations, carrying or palming the ball, and traveling, which pretty much dashes my dream.  Good thing I have those degrees to keep me employed and my mortgage paid!