nba musings

NBA Musings gets around
* Nat from Heels on Hardwood was nice enough to ask me to write up a Celtics preview for her blog. It was fun to actually start thinking about basketball again. This off-season has been crazy long. You can scope that out @ Heels on Hardwood – Match Ups – Toronto Raptors v/s Boston Celtics

Update 9/19: Zoe has been found! Yayyyy!
Help find Zoe! * John from Red’s Army has an adorable boston terrier named Zoe who is lost. If you live in the Foxboro, MA area or surrounding area, please visit this special blog and see how you can help: http://missingzoe.wordpress.com/. Today’s tip: If you see her, please call Foxboro Animal Control at 508-384-2523 BEFORE trying to approach her.  She’s a timid little dog.  She might be more likely to run off than walk over.

There’s actual new Celtics news? What hell you say?
* The Boston Globe recently posted a couple of Celtics tidbits. The first is about KG and his progress recovering from knee surgery. Sigh. I know it’s unrealistic, but I had kind of hoped his health wouldn’t be an issue once the season started. The second update has to do with Rondo and his contract extension. Actually, there isn’t much actual news on that. Just a confirmation that Danny Ainge plans to talk to Rondo’s agent and they may or may not be on the same page. Read the full articles @ The Boston Globe – Garnett making progress | Ainge to Rondo: We’ll talk

Kerry Rhodes is writing checks with his mouth
* So… apparently Kerry Rhodes is running his mouth about embarrassing the New England Patriots and rattling Tom Brady. Now, there was a time in the not-so-distant past when I would have called out Rhodes for being a yap-yap poodle better at flapping his gums than playing football. But, I’ve evolved. Like a veteran, I just grin and shake my head. I am content to pat him on the head like he’s a sassy toddler and say, “Awww, you’re so cute.” *wink* The quotables can be perused @ The Boston Globe – Rhodes wants to embarrass Patriots

This just in: Michael Jordan is a vindictive bitch
* While I was away, trying to resolve my domain relocation drama, Michael Jordan was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. I watched his speech while yacking it up with the peeps on Twitter and I thought he sounded like an ungracious ass. Other people didn’t have a problem with it. Actually, I didn’t have a problem with it either. I just thought he was being himself. One time, my mom and I were watching a Lakers game and she turned to me and said, “I don’t like Kobe. He’s not nice like Michael Jordan.” Wow. So, not only can my mom not pronounced Yao Ming’s name correctly to save her life, she actually thinks Michael Jordan is “nicer” than Kobe Bryant. Only someone who knows nothing about MJ would say that. He was, is and will always be – a dick. But, you know that line in Heathers when Veronica asks Heather Duke why she’s such a megabitch? Well her response is exactly what MJ would probably say, “Because I can be.” Mike Wilbon has a similar take. Read it @ The Washington Post – The Speech: That’s MJ

Kanye to NBAMusings.com: You ain’t no Beyonce (via Kanyelicio.us)

Thoughts on the now imfamous Stephon Marbury July 21st HAVE AT IT Ustream broadcast:

I’m not going to recap the whole thing, but if you weren’t there to see it (and if you weren’t, I honestly and sincerely PITY YOU because it was epic) — Ball Don’t Lie, Red’s Army and Banner 18? all did a great job of breaking it down. But, I will explain just exactly why it was so incredibly and ineffably awesome (and why it ultimately made me complete the 180 degree turn I was already making in terms of my opinion of him as a person).

First of all, it was just raw, gritty, balls out, truth spewing honesty. As someone who once worked in PR, I’ve really come to appreciate unfiltered honesty. Unfiltered honesty is what makes Shaq, Ron Artest and Charles Barkley so popular. So why wouldn’t it also make Steph more likable? Division 1 sperm? Are you kidding me? Priceless.

Secondly, it was incredibly funny and entertaining. The guy can time an answer and deliver a snarky quip with the best of them.

Finally and most importantly, he showed heart. There was a brief section where he started talking about his mother and what she means to him. I don’t recall the exact words, but I remember being touched by how sincerely he was speaking about his love and appreciation for her and all she’s done for him. He was basically like, “Don’t even get me started… that woman is the world to me.” If that doesn’t move you, you are made of cold heartless stone.

Ultimately though, he could’ve said nothing. He already had me at, “I have nothing but love for Boston.”

ps. For the record, I do realize that reading his tweets and watching his live streams do not qualify as truly knowing him as a person. Even though it all appears to be off-the-cuff stream of consciousness, I’m aware that he’s controlling his own spin and trying to change the public’s perceptive of him — which by definition is public relations. I’m ok with that. Whatever Starbury’s selling, I’m buying.

Steph 1, Haters 0