Thank you Cris Carter

Sean Salisbury—no friend to this blog—has been axed by ESPN. When leaving, he noted: “I have grown as much as I can at ESPN and decided to expand my horizons. I have created a brand and it’s time to expand into other opportunities in TV, radio, Internet, publishing, movies and public speaking, among others.”

I can understand if he’s trying to spin this his way, but ESPN is the biggest game there is. What kind of movies could this guy possibly make?

Kenny on the Salisbury brand:

What Brand is that? If salisbury was a cereal brand he’d be the crumbs that fall between your stove and countertop, into an unreachable space never to be cleaned until you replace your appliance. And I hope that’s where his career goes.

Breaking: Yao done for the year

Too bad. T-Mac can’t get a break in his career. I like that guy.

Pat, who you cheering for now?

The problem with high expectations

I’m terrified about this Tigers team. It’s really hard to build a winning baseball team, and our pitching is very suspect. But our lineup is so good that we’re likely the favorite in a deep AL Central.

I’m not pining for the old days (when Opening Day was one of the few times we were in contention) but it’s hard getting used to being an “elite” team.

Also, I’m really tired of people acting like Willis is undeniably a great addition to our rotation. He’s been brilliant in the past, but that was a long-time ago in baseball years, and in a much weaker league (without the DH.)

Tiger Woods

If this guy keeps working on his game, he’ll be quite a golfer.

(I’m watching the Pistons game late on DVR, don’t call me)

Amir Johnson is rugged! He might average five blocks a game soon. And that foul from Shaq was ridiculous.

Memphis will survive

You can’t ask for a bigger college basketball game—number two at an undefeated number one, and the teams are in-state rivals. So big a college game that even I–notoriously anti-NCAA–watched it.

Not only was the match-up unbelievable, the game couldn’t have been closer. Both teams had chances to win in the last minute of the game.

All that being said, I was still pretty bored. I’ve said it ten thousand times, but I’d almost always rather be watching the NBA. The talent level is so much better. Aside from Rose (who didn’t have the ball when some guy for Memphis was chucking up a terrible shot that cost them the game), how many guys on either team could play in the league?

The passion at that level is great, though it led to a ton of sloppy play. The college atmosphere at a game of that size is very cool. But, if I had League Pass, I would have been watching Jazz-Hawks and Spurs-Hornets. But that’s just me.

(Also, Simmons’ thoughts on the Kidd trade make sense to me. Though Pat thinks Kidd is still a good defender.)

I think the Cavs just got better

But not Stones/Celtics good. Then again, they beat us last year with Lebron and Boobie alone.

Best NBA regular season ever

That Kobe Bryant is decent at basketball. Uhh… the pinky didn’t seem to be bothering him.

Shaq was great too. I love the NBA right now.

Also, I saw exactly zero minutes of the game, but Chris Paul threw considerable ink on the stat page (31, 11 dimes, NINE steals) against “defensive upgrade” Jason Kidd.

More later, must sleep.

Lions in 08!

Via Brohan, via KSK—the most optimistic Lions fans that aren’t Zach Juett:

The Kidd and the Mavs, together again

Despite his talent and one-time “best current player at the position” status, I’ve never been a huge Jason Kidd fan. So I certainly don’t think an aged Jason Kidd makes the Mavs a Spurs-conquering contender, or improves the team in any kind of long-term way.

That being said, I’ve become obsessed with the importance of ideas like chemistry and leadership and tone-setting. The Sheed trade changed the Pistons in ways I could never have expected or anticipated. Dominating the Eastern Conference for a few years also changed the Stones in ways I could never have expected or anticipated—although they were all negative. Who knows which way this one goes.

Who’s getting the shots at big moments? A still shell-shocked Dirk? a still emerging Howard? a gimpy JKidd? Kidd is fearless, he will take the shot. But he probably shouldn’t.

This team seems more in need of Shaq’s sunny demeanor than the Suns. I think Dirk would do a lot better if he didn’t have to be the center of attention all the time. And Shaq, regardless of current playing ability, is always the center of attention.

My hope for the offseason—Beasley goes to the Supersonics.

Imagine the Western Conference at that point, to a casual fan:
Seattle—Beasley, Durant, Green
Portland—Oden joining a near-playoff team
Lakeshow—Kobe, Odom, Pau, Bynum
San Antonio—the dynasty
Houston—Yao and TMac
Utah—potential title team
Dallas—Howard, Dirk, Kidd
Phoenix—maybe the best team in basketball
Denver—Melo and AI
Golden State—the most fun team in the league to watch

Those are ten legitimately exciting, need-to-see-them-in-person teams. The NBA is in a very good place right now (so we’ll probably have another unwatchable Cavs versus powerhouse slaughterhouse of a Finals…)