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Kobe Bryant and the Lakers turned back Denver 4-2 and then last night Dwight Howard and the Magic eliminated the Cleveland LeBrons by the same 4-2 series score.
So the NBA, TV and Nike get half of their dream Finals, the Kobe half. Sorry, LeBron. Wonder if Nike has a Muppet version of Stan Van Gundy ready?
What do you think of this Finals matchup? Who wins and why? I 
am inclined to say L.A. in 7 but not at all sure, Should be a good one. Definitely find myself rooting for Orlando, partly because I like Van Gundy, a blast of fresh air, and partly because this is clear Goliath/David stuff, with L.A. having mined nine NBA titles from 22 Finals appearances, and the Magic a bereft 0-for-1 (1995).
Take a dip in our poll and tell us why you voted as you did. (And does who you want to win differ from who you think will?)
Jacque dumps Panthers for Montreal: Panthers GM Jacques Martin (pictured) today leaves the club to become head coach of the Montreal Canadiens. Can't blame Jacques, leaving a place where hockey is an afterthought for a city where hockey is passionately embraced. Can't give Jacques much of a parting gift, though, either. His five years here, as coach, GM or both, were an ultimate failure. He was here to end the long playoff drought. He failed.
UM ends disappointing season on diamond: Jim Morris -- pictured here either kicking a game-winning field goal or displaying displeasure over a call -- knows the routine. Unless you get to Omaha around here, it's a down year. And so it was for the Canes, who once were over-ranked in the top five but who disappointed in the ACC and then in the NCAA regional. Spare me the fire-Morris histrionics, but we'll admit Jim has some work (i.e. recruiting) to do to make Miami a national player again and a major factor in a good baseball conference.
Fantasy baseball update: My Adler's Marlsox begin the week in a season-high second place in our 10-team league, with 61 1/2 points. No time for bragging, though. A handful of teams are within a handful of points so it's been a wild ride.
Check back. Adding more stuff to this post later.
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Go Magic and Dwight Howard...does anyone else find it nice to see a guy at the freethrow line without a chinese letter on his neck, "i'm the best" on his sholder, or some tribal thing going down his arm??? Just asking, I appreciate Howard's tat-less free throw show. Go Magic...go Stan the man!
Posted by: farringtons | May 31, 2009 at 10:12 AM
farringtons,
couldn't agree with you more- i am currently working on an all-NBA tattoo-less team; so far we have dwight howard, ray allen, chris paul,al horford...is there anybody else? let me know
Posted by: the shadow knows | May 31, 2009 at 10:35 AM
The Magic have won both of their meetings with the Lakers in this past regular season. They have a real good chance of upsetting the Lala Fakers. The Magic even have a better chance than the Cleveland Cavaliers ever did this year. The Cavaliers didn't even win a game against the Lalas this season. Good luck to the Orlando Magic! Orlando Magic in 6.
Posted by: ginrai | May 31, 2009 at 11:07 AM
A mamba snake is no match for Superman.
Posted by: ginrai | May 31, 2009 at 11:27 AM
ginrai,
the lakers have many more good players than do the magic; granted it is difficult to stop dwight howard, but after kobe bryant the lakers have pau gasol, lamar odom and a couple of others good for 20 point games now and then i am rooting for orlando, but don't think that they will be successful in this series. we'll see
Posted by: the shadow knows | May 31, 2009 at 12:38 PM
the black mamba will be taken down by the mighty dwight howard. if superman can knock the king of the throne then why cant he beat kobe?
Posted by: fin-fin-da-man-man | May 31, 2009 at 12:47 PM
has anyone wondered if garnett has tattoos but you just cant quite see them? and on that all nba-no tatoos team. at PG i have chris paul SG manu ginobili SF vince carter PF kevin garnett C dwight howard. any questions?
Posted by: fin-fin-da-man-man | May 31, 2009 at 12:51 PM
fellers,
kevin garnett definitely is inked, so we are in need of a forward- we may have to go back to karl malone to find one without writing on him! who started this insanity? rodman, shaq, or somebody before them? let me know.
Posted by: the shadow knows | May 31, 2009 at 01:12 PM
Magic advantages-
Alston vs. Fisher- Alston will be able to get by Fisher at will and make Laker defenders collapse into the lane leaving any one of the Magic shooters open pretty much anywhere on the floor.
Howard vs. Bynum- Bynum is gonna get abused here. Dwight is way to quick and far more athletic. Look for Bynum to be in foul trouble ALOT.
Gasol vs. Turkoglu- On offense Gasol should do well because he is a great post player, but on defense Turk will force Gasol outside of the paint which will cut down on Gasol's rebounding presence. This will also work the fatigue factor on Gasol.
Lewis vs. Ariza- Ariza is a bit more athletic, but Lewis will be able to work inside if needed against the smaller Ariza. Plus Ariza has shown to be streaky in these playoffs, if this holds to be true in the finals Lewis holds the clear advantage at both ends because he is an above average defender.
Pietrus vs. Kobe- Pietrus did pretty well against LeBron, but to say he can contain Kobe would just be plain stupid.
The Lakers bench is better, but if Odom decides not show up (like he's prone to do) then the Lakers bench takes a series hit. Walton and Vujacic aren't good but Farmar is servicable. Courney Lee has played very well at times and could be a big factor.
Posted by: ginrai | May 31, 2009 at 01:47 PM
shadow this one is better than Murphy's. Check this out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuOOy39lV9Q
Posted by: r. duke | May 31, 2009 at 02:31 PM
wait maybe Elvis is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuOOy39IV9Q
Posted by: r. duke | May 31, 2009 at 02:32 PM
huh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuOOy3q91V9Q
Posted by: r. duke | May 31, 2009 at 02:34 PM
ok ok http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuOO3qlV9Q
Posted by: r. duke | May 31, 2009 at 02:38 PM
oh f*** it. It's gonna be one of those days...
Posted by: r. duke | May 31, 2009 at 02:39 PM
either ginrai has grown from being a pup or someone else is posting as him.
that last comment was more than what he would say in a month.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 31, 2009 at 04:08 PM
r.duke,
couldn't find anything on your youtube postings; sorry
Posted by: the shadow knows | May 31, 2009 at 04:08 PM
I'd like to see Orlando win the Finals. They are underdog but are talented and have legit shot.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 31, 2009 at 04:09 PM
Shadow.
Orlando has an explosive inside game and occasionally hits 3's like crazy.
If Laker pull off 2 - 0 in the series, I could see Orlando overwhelmed and no chance. Give Magic the confidence of maybe winning game 1 and Lakers will have their hands full.
If I were to lay $ down on the series, the Lakers would be the smart move.
Don't forget that recent Finals that Lakers were manhandled and easily eliminated...Celtics last yr and Pistons a couple yrs ago.
If the refs let the rough stuff go and let them play, expect Kobe to off his game and on the whining game.
Kobe not handling himself on the court and off when he was back and forth on demanding a trade showed a spoiled child. Dude will never be in Jordan status,,, ever. Maybe no one will (NBA) except Tiger Woods (other sports).
Posted by: Jimbo | May 31, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Pretty sure Varejo could be on the Tat-free team...but he is in that "not enough help for Lebron" crowd with the media right now...so it goes when you play with the King, and don't succeed :)
Dwade is the man! once again proven!
Posted by: farringtons | May 31, 2009 at 05:21 PM
The media always hype up Kobe and Lebron. It's so annoying as heck. Give both Tim Duncan and Dwyane Wade more props already.
Posted by: ginrai | May 31, 2009 at 06:54 PM
fellers,
i have not noticed any markings on dwyane wade; if he is uninked, he is the first player on the all no-tattoo team! have i missed something?
Posted by: the shadow knows | May 31, 2009 at 07:10 PM
I don't know about that shadow. One of the Patriots fans that blogs on here mentioned seeing a cherry tatood on Wades buttocks. He said either cherry or dingleberry, not 100% on that tho.
good point ginrai, agreed that Duncan never got the publicity he earned. He just went out and dominated winning Championships.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 31, 2009 at 07:58 PM
Greg,
You may want to know that the old adage: "birds of a feather..." keeps you in good company. Your buddy out here at the OC Register - Jeff Miller - was expressing similar caution prior to that A** whipping at Denver. This mis-match will be over before the need to play a game six back in LA.
Posted by: OC Dolphin | June 01, 2009 at 01:04 AM
I hate to side with a transformer toy, but I think ginrai may be on to something. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part because of my distaste for all things Kobe. In any event, in a series I will not be watching at all, Magic in 7.
In other news...
Does anyone have any shares of the former General Motors, now Government Motors, that they'd like to donate? I'm running low on tp.
It's sad to see what is happening to Susan Boyle. The British press in their typical fashion are doing their level best to destroy this poor woman. I hope she recovers soon and makes a fortune over here in the states.
Florida State beat Ohio State yesterday 37-6....IN BASEBALL! Too bad it's just baseball.
In my Al Gore global warming update, local gardeners in New York state may want to take special measures to protect their plants this evening, JUNE FUCKING 1ST, as a frost advisory has been issued for much of the state.
I read that Hugo Chavez is sending Obama a copy of Vladimir Lenin’s political work "What Is To Be Done?" I think someone should tell Hugo that Barry keeps a well-read copy of Lenin's manifesto under his pillow. He calls it his playbook for America (see Government Motors comment above).
Well I'm off. But I thought I'd leave you with this gift
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2457960/Kelly-Hall-wins-Page-3-Idol.html
The British do some things right after all.
Posted by: Tom | June 01, 2009 at 07:27 AM
Nice!
Posted by: OC Dolphin | June 01, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Tom,
ohio state, not one of my favorites, gags again at the higher levels of competition; don't they have no mercy rule in place? a 31 run loss-UNREAL.
Posted by: the shadow knows | June 01, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Tom, very good post. The Barry / Hugo news was quickly dismissed by the media as soon as it happens.
Right now here in Colorado most of the higher elevations continue to accumulate SNOW. Wednesday the forecast is for snow at elevations over 9k ft. Global warming is the biggest hoax in the last 30 yrs, right along with alien abductions, Big Foot, Cam Cameron as an NFL Head Coach.
Posted by: Jimbo | June 01, 2009 at 11:13 AM
thanx TOM for the news clip.
this site is very informative...
saw on espn.com title of article was "Fins interested in Plaxico "LaBandit de singal shot" Burris. not one word read that Fins are actually interested in this chump but Plax "One Bullet Barney Fife" Burris is interested in Miami. Go to Cleveland, Oakland, Washington or Detroit and take "Bad News" Vick with ya. Plax couldn't hang with Coughlin, Cowher,,, what makes him think that Parcells, Ireland, Sparano want him??? ain't happening.
Posted by: Jimbo | June 01, 2009 at 11:22 AM
Jimbo
Is that what that's called, a "news clip"? In any event,you're welcome.
Posted by: Tom | June 01, 2009 at 02:18 PM
shadow I was trying to hook you up with skit from Mad TV where Will Sasso playing Elvis is sitting in back of his limo saying some outlandish s***. So outlandish that even his lifelong "yes men/friends" are looking at him like WTF. Sasso also does hilariously over the top violent impression of Steven Segal.
Posted by: r. duke | June 01, 2009 at 02:21 PM
Personally I'd like Vick and Plaxico to hook up with Jerry Jones. BUT I do want to thankyou once again Plaxico for catching winning TD against Patriots in SB. I mean that sincerely.
Posted by: r. duke | June 01, 2009 at 02:25 PM
Ginrai- Hate to burst your bubble old boy, but, D-Wade is not in the same league with Kobe and Lebron. He could not carry there jock straps.
Posted by: naplesjackpatsfan | June 01, 2009 at 02:32 PM
naples, I agree, Wade is B Team material.
Posted by: Jimbo | June 01, 2009 at 04:12 PM
Wade is B team material? Wade is 6'4" which puts him at a huge disadvantage to Kobe and Lebron who are 6'7 and 6'8. Yet his averages are on par with those two and sometimes even better. Don't let the media distract you from the facts.
Posted by: cubancane | June 01, 2009 at 04:34 PM
Wade carried the Heat in the 2006 Finals ,and with mostly aging veterans on that team. I've never seen either Kobe or James do it. Kobe owes his championships to Shaq. If the Lalas wouldn't of gotten the steal of the century from the Grizzlies by getting Gasol last year ,or the Jazz letting go of Fisher, the lalas would of made another first round exit ,and Kobe iobe Beano Bryant would of been whining to be traded to the Chicago Bulls. Lol!
Posted by: ginrai | June 01, 2009 at 04:40 PM
Finally the Florida Panthers can do better now ,and have a great chance of going the right direction.
Posted by: ginrai | June 01, 2009 at 04:45 PM
Blah, blah, blah. Bitter, bitter, bitter. Excuse, name calling, excuse, more name calling. Blah, blah, blah. Bitter, Bitter.
Posted by: OC Dolphin | June 01, 2009 at 06:14 PM
Good riddance to Martin.
Posted by: Yitz | June 01, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Oh I did also mentioned the Lalas owed their 2000 and 2002 championships to the crooked David Stern and his Lala favored Nba officiating? Well I mean it! Lets face it, it is the obvious that the Lalas didn't win it clean. Two straight finals {2004&2008} loss is proof of that.
Posted by: ginrai | June 01, 2009 at 10:36 PM
ginrai = eminem
OC = sasha cohen
Ha, ha, ha, he, he, ooh, ha, ha, ha....
Scoreboard!
Posted by: OC Dolphin | June 01, 2009 at 11:14 PM
OC Borat was one of funniest movies I ever saw. Plus his wife is a major cutie. Eminem is a fem...
Posted by: r. duke | June 02, 2009 at 12:28 AM
Eminem is a world class mens room stall shoe tapper...
Posted by: r. duke | June 02, 2009 at 12:30 AM
I mean Eminem teabags old mens nutsacks...
Posted by: r. duke | June 02, 2009 at 12:31 AM
That is to say Eminem could have starred as the transvestite in The Crying Game...
Posted by: r. duke | June 02, 2009 at 12:33 AM
In other words Eminem prefers salty dicks to beautiful vaginas...
Posted by: r. duke | June 02, 2009 at 12:37 AM
Cote you rule for allowing free speech.
Posted by: r. duke | June 02, 2009 at 12:38 AM
duke, you did see this right?
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/offbeat/2009/06/01/moos.butt.stunt.cnn
Posted by: OC Dolphin | June 02, 2009 at 12:42 AM
HA HA HA that was too funny. It seemed like Eminem rather enjoyed it. He appeared to be making love-bite motions with his mouth. Maybe he's not the homophobe he is made out to be. Maybe he's just plain GAY!
Posted by: r. duke | June 02, 2009 at 12:48 AM
Stated differently he's a major sword swallower...
Posted by: r. duke | June 02, 2009 at 12:50 AM
For the sake of precision, it would appear Mr Slim Shadey likes 'em long fat and turgid...
Posted by: r. duke | June 02, 2009 at 12:55 AM