Photos of the Night

I went onto ESPN.com to try to find some photos of last night's Game 4 of the NBA Finals -- specifically pictures of either the scrum at the end when Pietrus tried to break Gasol's back (which Gasol kind of earned by dunking in the final five seconds with the game in hand -- nice sportsmanship), or of Kobe elbowing Jameer Nelson in the face and then (surprise!) finding Derek Fisher, the hobbling assassin, for the dagger.

Interestingly this morning, it was hard to hear anyone even mentioning the Kobe elbow as a factor in the game. The NBA's marketing and image people work hard to make sure everyone else is just a puppet. Nothing to see here! Just good, clean family fun! Kobe's a great guy!

What a sham. Sure, there are some pictures of the game, but there are endless f-cking pictures of nonsense, including hugging, chit-chat and -- ooh! -- celebrities. And the broadcasters even were saying things like, "Well, you're used to seeing celebrities in New York or Los Angeles, but this is Orlando."

Uh, yeah, did you know rich people can travel even more easily than us commonfolk? And did you also know that many, many star athletes (i.e., Tiger, Dwayne Wade, etc.) choose to live in Florida? And, also, that statement is stupid, Mike Breen, because didn't we see celebrities in Cleveland during the conference finals? Seriously, if they're there, they'll make there way to Orlando. It's on most maps.

Anyway, the following photographs are taken from the game story gallery on ESPN.com. Serious journalists, they are. I mean, I can deal with ABC flashing Rhianna up on the screen with her name underneath -- that's fine. I don't care that she's there, but she cares that we all know she's there, so fine. But on a purported sports Web site? Whatever, I know I'm wasting my time here. Let's move along to the photos.

I don't know whether to give Tiger props for going out in an outfit any of us might wear (shorts, a cap, etc.), or if I should come down on him for not dressing like a courtside celebrity should dress. His wife looks lovely, and he looks like he's from the school for exceptional people.

"These guys make how much money? Hahaha... I have that in my freaking sofa cushions!"


This is just odd to me. Is Tiger greasing the officials? ("Keep it fair, boys, keep it fair.")


This is nice. Dwight Howard hugging a fan. And then you see the two goobers in their Lakers jerseys without a shirt underneath. This is just wrong. Especially when you've got a gut like Goober #1 appears to. I'm sorry, but it's just terrible and you look like a tool. Basketball jerseys are not easy to pull off for fans, but if you're going to do it, at least wear a shirt underneath. This is the worst look you could go for with a basketball jersey.

Oh, wait. I stand corrected.

I'm Just Like Tiger Woods

I love golf and I really enjoyed the Masters again this year, but when this guy (Angel Cabrera, pictured) wins a major, it doesn't do much for the argument that this should be considered a "real sport." He's overweight, he's aging and he smokes. Then again, I guess that's why many of us love golf -- because we never feel truly out of it if guys like this can win.

I did feel bad for Kenny Perry, who seems like a truly nice guy but who imploded with two holes to go. Had this been Phil Mickelson, we'd be talking about it for months. Because it was Kenny Perry, though, it'll only sort of be remembered. Kind of like Jean Van de Velde.

But the inspiration for the title of this post was Tiger's situation on the 18th on Sunday. Playing well for most of the day, he hits his drive wayward and into some trees. Hell, I miss the fairway plenty. So he then has to punch it out. I'm also familiar with this shot. And then he shanks it and it rockets off a tree in a far different direction than he intended.

I'm telling you, I'm just like this guy. We were even born the same year and have hot wives. It's amazing you can tell us apart.

Woods Sizzzzzzlin'

Tiger Woods bum knee doesn't seem to be bothering him...in fact, a slight limp isn't slowing him down at all. Experts, like myself, thought the torquing on his knee would be too much for him since he swings so hard. Yeah, it really stifled him...he only reached a 600+ yard hole in two. In case you don't like him, tough...He's going to be in the final group both Saturday and Sunday.
I will give the anti-Tiger crowd this- ESPN's pro-Woods slant, especially when he's in 36th place is silly and sometimes annoying...but, they simply have to keep their cameras on him because you never know when he's going to do what he did on his final nine holes this evening. He shot a 30 for nine at the US Open. Simply amazing. Mickleson was also chipping and scrambling well on the same nine holes in which Woods topped his score by SEVEN strokes. Silly.

Weekend Sports Notes

Tiger Woods is a Good Golfer
I told you guys this a few weeks back, but maybe this will help you understand just how great Tiger Woods is at the gentleman's game:

The PGA, like many individual athlete sports leagues has rankings that roll over from year-to-year...And Woods wins a lot of tournaments (he's entered two and won two in '08). So, it's not a surprise that he's got a commanding lead on the rest of the golf world. But, the point gap between Tiger and Mickleson (#2) is the same as the gap between Mickleson and #1000in the PGA standings. Seriously.

It's estimated that Woods could take three years off from the game and would still be in the lead.

Mrs. Tiger Woods dominates the other PGA wives off the course as her husband does on the course

Good News...Finally.
My fellow BS writers don't really care at all for racing, let alone open wheel racing. I thoroughly enjoy the IRL and believe Indy is still the best race and racing venue in the world. For years, I've been pleading and begging for Champ Car to stop the charade and fold itself into IRL. Well it looks like it might happen in '08. If you're not a NASCAR guy, you know this can't happen soon-enough. Here's to the possiblity of the IRL returning to the national consciousness as it was before the split.

Super Mario

The State of Basketball in the State of Basketball
For the first time in a long time, when the AP poll comes out Monday morning four college basketball teams from the state of Indiana will be in the top-20.

Butler has been very good all year, IU has been standing around and watching Eric Jordan beat a whole bunch of teams all year, Notre Dame is suddenly a Big East contender, and a youthful Purdue team has grown up a season early.

It kind of reminds me of the days when Phelps, Knight and Keady were prowling the sidelines.

Weekend Sports Notes

Tiger Woods is a good golfer.
-In Woods' first tournament of '08, Tiger is a mere 8 shots up after three rounds at the Buick Invitational. Unlike in every other sport, I actually like seeing this dynastic play in golf...Tell me golf is worth watching when Woods isn't atop the leaderboard.

Nice Job, Pacers.
-The Indiana Pacers allowed the Miami Heat to break out of one of their longest losing streaks in the franchise's history and get their first win of 2008. Hey Pacers- You've already pissed off the city by having a bunch of malcontents on the roster...The ONLY way you'll get the fans back is by winning. Shut up, stop going to strip clubs and win games.

Brennan's stock dropping.
-In something I'm putting in the category of "couldn't happen to a better guy" Colt Brennan's Senior Bowl week has yielded him a dropping NFL stock and a widely-held opinion that he simply doesn't have a strong arm.

Maybe if he cries like he did in his BCS game, he can get the pity of NFL teams and get picked on the first day.

Suck it, Sanctions.
-The over-rated Indiana Hoosiers got beaten on their home floor by an OK UConn team. Eric Jordan looked very human in the game as the Hoosiers seemed to be out-of-sync the entire game. So let me get this right- when your offense is based on standing around and watching a player score, and that guy is off, you can't score very easily...Huh. The best part is many IU fans are already jumping off of Sanctions' bandwagon...after only two losses. Imagine what they'll be saying if the spirited Boilers beat IU in Bloomington. Can't wait!

Go Giants!
-I know we're a week away from the game, but it's never too early to say it- Suck it Patriots and their shills at ESPN...Get 'em Eli. Hopefully Eli doesn't remember who he is for just one more game.

When asked if the Giants were dirty, he responded that the game was nasty...and that "This isn't tennis." I don't know why, but I really like that quote.

Stupid ESPN
-ESPN's new college basketball add campaign with little heads popping out of people's arms, necks and stomachs are nasty and kind of sick...but I do think of Jay Bilas and the other "heads" as leaches that tend to suck the life out of sports...ironic.

Nice choice on the college gameday (which doesn't work for basketball at all, by the way) SIU v. Creighton over Purdue v. Wisconsin...That worked out well.

Twaun Finding His Game.
-E'Twaun Moore seems to figuring out the college game as the season progresses. He led the Boilers in scoring off of the bench and is creating shots for himself with ease and regularity. It's nice to see that the guy who beat Eric Jordan head-to-head in high school might become the player that we all thought he could be.

Hummel continues to be the straw that stirs the drink for the Boilers....and JuJaun Johnson had one of his best Big Ten games versus the Badgers.

If Purdue can win just half of their remaining games, they should be in the dance...but I'm hoping they can win nine or ten, including the BT tournament...That would make them a solid 4 seed, in my opinion.