Momma There Goes That Man

So I’m watching the Bucks/Clippers game and I see Steve Blake and Andrew Bogut mixing it up. Or at least trying to anyways. Check it out for yourself:

So as I’m watching this “altercation” unfold, I can’t help but assume that Andrew Bogut is retaliating against Blake for that man-move that he made against Ilyasova underneath the rim a few seconds earlier. While I began to chuckle, I quickly realized how weak that was and how it would have turned out so much differently had an “enforcer” from the early 90′s had dealt with it.

And when I say “enforcer” I mean grown ass men like:

• Bill Laimbeer
• Rick Mahorn
• Xavier McDaniel
• Anthony Mason
• Charles Oakley
• Dennis Rodman

See, now these muthafuckas were some bad dudes.

These men had passion, commitment and most importantly, they had balls.

Xavier McDaniel swears to this day, that if he EVER sees Dennis Rodman in public, he will “jump from his seat and punch him in the face like it was 1987″. 20+ years and the man STILL wants to get back at Rodman for a dirty play during a game in which the X-Man got suspended. What passion!

Bill Simmons, The Sports Guy, had once asked a current NBA player “What makes Oakley more intimidating than everyone else”? the player simply answered, “There’s a lotta tough guys in the league but Oak just don’t give a fuck”.

I’ve read that quote over and over and that shit just does not stop being funny.

Which brings us to the looming question, SO WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?! Where did all our “enforcers” go???

To sum it up, players started to making some serious money back around the mid- 90′s. So with such polished price tags, owners started bitching to the league about less “valuable” players inflicting excessive force on their blue bloods thus, making a case that Championships were at stake. Unfortunately, the league went overboard with their solution and implemented ridiculous rules and limitations that many could argue, took the “fun” out of the sport. Ejections and suspensions were increased, while taunts and hand checks were decreased. The final blow to the “enforcers” came in the 97-98 season when new rules stated that players could not use their forearms to “impede” the progress  of an approaching opponent. Damn.

Today, the occupation of “Enforcer” in this league is virtually non-existent. The closest guys we have to fitting the description might be guys like Ron Artest and Anderson Varejao, that type of crowd. But I wouldn’t really categorize them under “enforcer” more than I would as simply “pesky defenders”.

But then again who knows! Perhaps Andrew Bogut will perform CPR and breathe new life into a dying artform. Perhaps we should brace ourselves….. for the nastiness….. that is….. Andrew Bogut.

After the game, reporters asked Bogut about Brandon Jennings and how quick he was to defend Bogut against Blake, here’s what the former Ute had to say…….”That’s the way he is, he’s a guy with a chip on his shoulder, too, and I stick up for him, he sticks up for me and I think we have a team that’s pretty good with that.” Sure buddy, you two are a regular Batman and Robin duo. God help us if this is the future of “enforcing”…….God help us all.

Dave E. Gold

(theg0at)

Last night during a timeout during the Lakers game, I switched over to the Charlotte Bobcats game to see DeMar DeRozen drive the lane and get fouled by Larry Hughes in a three-point game. The crowd exploded in disgust asking for a jumpball, but would not be able to convince the officiating crew as DeRozen would step to the line and knock down both free throws. You’re probably asking why this is significant. It’s only significant because it marked the beginning of the “Michael Jordan pissed from courtside” era of Charlotte Bobcats hoops.

10 years ago, who would have guessed that Jordan would have been sitting courtside wearing crew cut sweaters and ripped jeans, yelling at referees for bad calls as the majority owner of a basketball franchise. Definitely not me. It was hilarious. I love that he still maintains the same intensity (just look at his face) that he had as the leagues most prestigious hooper of the ‘90s. Jordan was essentially getting his Mark Cuban on – which means good news for the fans in North Carolina.

Bobcat fans, if there are any of you out there, I hope you’re ready for what is looking to be a promising era of Michael Jordan basketball in a new light. I can’t wait to see more of MJ yelling at refs, talking getting on the guys he employs and even taking on a few of them in some shooting contests – because we know how much he likes to compete. I’m more than ready to see one of the most competitive men of my lifetime attempt to make the Charlotte Bobcats relevant – are you?

Dakota Simms

I think part of my dislike of LeBron James is due to his personality. The guy is a jackass, no two ways about it. He’s shown his ass plenty of times and is only a few seasons away from proving he is nothing more than freakish athlete with no rings. A dime a dozen in this league.

So for all those of you who agree with me and need a breath of  fresh air, allow me to introduce to you to Dakota Simms and Jaylin Fleming. Now these two young cats have got it all. They got form, handling and accuracy and along with the overall basic fundamentals that any NBA dreamer should have. And amazing part about all this, is that they’re only 9!  Seeing these kids has given me hope and inspiration that one day, the league will be drafting young men who truly rely on skills rather than physics.

Unfortunately, the last 15 years or so, these so called “child prodigies” have been appearing and making headlines. Claims being made of colleges already scouting them and low whispers of NBA prospects. They’ve come and gone, most fading away, probably cause so many things can happen between the ages of 10 and 18. But with these two young men, we have a lil something extra, something different about them. The first being their skill set, starting with an uncanny display of ball control and handling, combined with a ridiculous accuracy and consistency behind the 3 point line. I can’t help but notice but these boys seem to be extremely polished off for their age. And I’m not the only one that’s noticed apparently, which brings me to my second reason why these two aren’t just another prodigy claim. Dominique Wilkins, the Hall of Famer himself, has drilled with Dakota Simms and declared him “ahead of the curve”. And lil Jaylin Fleming is already being coached by both Ken Konecki, an acclaimed mid range shooting coach and Ed Palubinskas, President of the National Basketball Shooters Association. Wow, talk about having your eye on the prize.

When you watch the videos, take notice to the difference in their personalities, attitude and communication skills. Simms definitely seems to be a bit more humble and well spoken, sorta like a Mr. Dwayne Wade, while Fleming has that sorta self assurance swag, like a Mr. LeBron James.

Uh oh, smh.

But enough about what I think, check ‘em out for yourself.

I hope both boys continue their success and make something of their talent.

Dave E. Gold

(theg0at)

“If I really wanted to, if I really wanted to win the scoring title, I could win it every single year. Every single year, I could really do it. But it doesn’t matter to me.” – LeBron James

Pfffffft!

So I’m up to bat to post today and I say to myself, “Ok, I’m gonna have a lil fun with my co-author P. Barnett over here and pour some salt in that wound from last night. A shovel’s worth of salt at that. I was gonna talk about Kobe’s 9 turnovers and his flimsy 11 points; and about how soft Gasol looked, so soft that he made the Snuggles bear look like Gerard Butler in 300. It was gonna be EPIC. And then, I saw the clip.

Yes, the clip.

Over the years, I’ve taken alotta shit from people about how rough I am on LeBron and how I refuse to see how “great” he is. Well today is the day where all my conversations and all my debates become solidified. The video says it all. His tone, his expression, they say it ALL. I mean c’mon, can this guy make it any simpler for me?

When I break down his game I come to the conclusion that he really has none and pound for pound is nothing more than a physical specimen who just so happened to pick up the game of basketball. Talent and physics are NOT the same and I can make that argument all day, everyday.

What this video confirms for me is this: LeBron is overrated, overhyped and if you ask me……sizzled out. That invisible ceiling y’all pretended you couldn’t see, well, it’s there. Shit, even Nike’s puppet commercials insinuate the notion.

So bit of advice LeBron, try focusing more on winning games against teams like the Spurs instead of assuring the public that the scoring title is on the table because you choose to leave it there. 6 years in, it’s crunch time homie and all that “check my stats” shit is played out. Talent wins you championships. Physics gets you scoring titles.

So for the love of God, put up or shut up.

Seriously.

Dave E. Gold (theg0at)