March Madness!

I will confess, I don't follow college hoops as closely as I used to. Throughout the season I check in on the rankings periodicaly, we always know who has the strong programs and who the top coaches are, but for the most part I don't buckle down until tourney time. This is when the cream rises to the top, when that college player they have been harping on all season really proves they have the grit and pedigree to carry their school to destiny. Honestly, there is no better basketball than March Madness, on any given night anyone can win, and it delivers some of the most exciting basketball the tournament so far has been a perfect example.

While there were upsets, no Cinderellas have been invited to the Final Four dance with the Elite Eight consisting of 4 number ones, 2 number twos and 2 number threes, the best of the best are here. I didn't complete a bracket at the beginning of the NCAA's, so it would be presumptuous to sit and pick a winner based on who's left. What I will guarantee though, is some exciting basketball and some great moments, however, you don't have to follow college hoops that closely to know all of that.

"Bosh Baby Drama" Is Poor Journalism By The Star's Feschuk.

Well everyone loves drama and Chris Bosh is in the middle of it. Amidst allegations of abandoning the mother of his child and cutting off financial support during her pregnancy, the Raptors power forward is under a lot of scrutiny. I'm not one to comment on court cases before they've been ruled on, but regardless of fact or fiction this is news. Society wants to know everything about our athletes good or bad, however we tend to hone in on the bad. With the Raptors dismal season some people would love to have something to point to, or explain how it all unraveled yet I don't think this is the reason.

As a writer, and someone who is a fan of basketball, I consume all information on the sport and it's players. Unfortunately while it is newsworthy, I feel this story is not a story for a "sports columnist" to write. This is a personal matter, and Bosh's status by virtue makes it a public one, but there are no merits to this story being connected to his on court play or the Raptors performance. "sports columnists" shouldn't be trying to get their Maury Povich or TMZ on with sensationalist journalism making "deadbeat dad" comments.

Oh I know Feschuk, you didn't make the headline, "Your editor wrote it." You are a sports writer, not a celebrity insider, nor are you a family matters analyst. You're a reporter but you report on basketball, if a player murdered someone would you be writing the investigative story for the Star? I think this is in bad taste, I'm not saying this to absolve CB4 of the accusations he is facing, I just think that you should know better.

However I'm sure you'll find out next time you're at a Raptors practice, or in the locker room, or when you are trying to get any news or information from players. I'm sure they would be glad to sit and chat and have a latte with you, knowing any misstep they make off the court is just as fair game as any move they make on it. I think you'll really have to rely on twitter as a source for quotes as I don't think anyone will be talking to you.

If you are going to pin this crappy season on Bosh and his baby drama you really haven't been paying attention. I think you really need to take a bigger look at the picture here, and maybe you haven't been following this ball club as closely as you would have us believe. But then again, you are a sports columnist right?

Protect Ya Neck.

Awesome yet scary at the same time, no more words necessary.

Steroids In The NBA?

I just read an interesting story on Fanhouse posing the question if the NBA has a steroid problem, which I recommend you read.

A lot of the discussion centres around speculation on Golden State Warrior Stephen Jackson's 8th NBA season which is shaping up to be the best of his career. Jax is posting career highs in scoring (21.2), assists (6.6), rebounds (5.0) and most importantly minutes, clocking in at 40 a game, leading the league. Now no one has any knowledge or info that he has been taking any performance enhancing substances, the speculation comes from him performing at such a high level later in his career.

While I'm not here to put Stephen Jackson on the stand, I'm saying that it is entirely possible that players would do whatever is necessary to gain that competitive edge. With only so many spots available in the NBA and the "perception" that steroid usage is not a basketball thing, the league may want to stop worrying so much about what people are smoking, and start determining if people are injecting.

NBA TV, Where Objectivity Happens.

I love this highlight almost for as much as the reaction by the hosts as much as what actually happens. Generally, I find C-Webb and Gary Payton to be a little extra most of the time. But here they are just some normal dudes loving watching a guy getting crossed over. I would be going off the same way with my boys.

Patrick Chewing.

NBA great and Orlando Magic assistant coach, Patrick Ewing must have been paid handsomely to do this Snickers commercial. I found myself watching it over and over again, not sure if I'm in love but definitely entertained.

If only one lesson is learned it's never stop under the net on a basketball court if a 7', 275 pound beast is coming your way, (while eating a Snickers bar of course). You think Patrick was secretly wishing it was Michael Jordan?

Smush Parker Spits Venom At The Mamba.

I don't really know how to call this one. First of all, I'm not sure when this interview went down, (likely after his time in Los Angeles), but Smush Parker calls out Kobe Bryant as the reason behind the Lakers problems. Now Smush definitely has been putting it down in NYC and has the rep and respect on the asphalt, but he doesn't come close to what he's accomplished on the hardwood.

As an NBA player, he has played on 6 teams in 5 seasons, and ironically his best career stats are in LA playing with the guy who he is dissing. I don't know where you are right now, (truthfully, it's not worth my energy to look), but as a player who is trying to find his place in the league you may want to think twice before shitting on one of the league's best. I'm just saying.

Thanks to SportsbyBrooks for the tip.

The Big Show?

Shaquille O'Neal has been spouting off at the month on some dumb shit lately. Recently targeting Chris Bosh and Stan Van Gundy and even saving some choice words for Patrick Ewing. Now, most of the time he's kidding or he will just lay the facts down as they are, but I feel like now he's taking it to new levels of ignorance. Almost like he's trying to get his WWE on.

Yes Shaq, you are the most dominant player in the game and yes you're having a great season this year, but come on dude. Only because it was his birthday this week, and Outside The Boxscore came through with this classic video, I'll let it slide.