My Conspiracy Theory was Correct?

For those of you who know me well, you've probably heard me rant about how I thought the NBA was rigged. That said, I used to believe that games outcomes weren't steered, but controlled to a great degree. There are a lot of theories out there about how the game can be controlled...from salary cap breaks to things that simply make the game more entertaining, there is a lot of room and even some evidence of tampering.





My theory was elaborate, but plausible. The first element of my conspiracy was the officials. As we're seeing in each game of th 2008 playoffs, they can control the outcome of contests. For instance, we've seen 60 point swings during this year's playoffs in at least 3 series. I've heard for so long that the players are professionals...little things like crowds and environments simply don't affect athletes of this ilk. Well, if that's the case, something else is at play here...the foul counts don't help anything either.

The second layer of my theory was that the coaches were involved. Granted, not all coaches played along, but most do. Subtle changes in the rotation of players can make a big difference. We saw a bit of this last night as the Lakers held a slim lead and the Celtics came out of one of their last timeouts with only one of the big three in the game. Why would a coach do such a thing? Well, it's simple. That coach owes EVERYTHING to the NBA. What type of guy owes so much? An ex-player, of course. In fact, I can only count 7 coaches that didn't play in the league...most, in fact, had long, successful careers.

The third layer was that a superstar from each team needed to play ball wit the plan...this guy can't be just any good player, he needs to be a guy who, once again, feels somewhat in debt to the league for his status. I'm not talking about throwing the game, I'm talking about missing free throws, faking sickness or injury or even taking it easy from time to time.

Many have questioned my theory...and I understand them thinking I'm nuts. Afterall, we haven't heard a songbird come to the forefront and spout off about anything even close...until now.

Granted, this little birdie is a less-than reputable source in the fact that his character is clearly horrible...but even liars tell the truth sometimes. Tim Doneghy has started talking about various playoff series in which the league told officials, not just him, to keep certain players from playing their game. To some, this is sacrilege, but the story has legs as former Rockets coach was fined, and get this, $100,000, for complaining about officiating during the Rockets/Mavs series a few years ago.

This goes along with my vast theory as Van Gundy is just a good coach...not an ex-player. Like his brother who has also gotten into trouble with the league for complaining about officials, these two have never been tight-lipped about their displeasure about NBA officials...until last night.

If you saw the halftime story about Doneghy's account of the series in question, I found it laughable. Van Gundy wouldn't really talk about his problems with the refs and Stern's response, to me anyway, was not believable. Just like in the Roger Clemens case, the easiest thing to do is to start questioning the words of a proven liar...but what if both sides are liars? Then it comes down to the court of public opinion...Like a gameshow, Who's the Bigger Liar?

Regardless of what the public and eventually the legal system finds out, it doesn't matter who was the bigger liar...The biggest victims of such a conspiracy would be the fans first, and the game second.

Like all pessimists, I hope you can tell me I'm wrong someday...But I seriously doubt you'll be able to.

Is There Anything Redeeming About The NBA Finals?

Okay, NBA and David Stern, you got the series you wanted -- Lakers/Celtics. Hoo-freaking-rah. And sure, I guess I'm a little more likely to take an interest in this series because of the two franchises and that's exactly what they want. But there's so little that's redeeming about these NBA Finals and it irritates me that people still worship these clowns. To whit:

- Why would anyone cheer for Kobe? Can someone explain this to me? I mean, other than Lakers fans, why would you like him? He's a transparent, backstabbing, childish, adultering (and maybe rapist), juvenile brat who pouts and spouts off when he doesn't get his way... and who never really knows what's good for him or the team. I give the Lakers front office amazing credit for the way they put this team together and resisted the urge to dump Kobe last summer. It turns out that the Lakers are freaking good now and that the players Mitch Kupchak was stockpiling have nearly all worked out, and they'll probably be good for a while now. It's not inconceiveable that Kobe and the Lakers will be back in the Finals on a regular basis for the next five years. Yet just a year ago, the little a-hole was saying he wanted to leave... then he didn't, then he did. Maybe he just didn't realize radio shows in LA could eventually be heard by people in New York and vice versa. Or maybe he's just a crazy little brat who should stick to basketball and let others run the team. Shut up and play and make your $20 mill, Kobe. Ugh. Who would want to see him win? He deserves a 23-59 season, not a title.

- The Celts big 3. Well, these guys aren't awful, I guess. But it's kind of hard to root for guys who cruise into town to cash in on a fortuitous situation and wind up with a title. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen were their teams biggest stars for years and absolutely never delivered. Garnett couldn't get the T-Wolves out of the first round for years and probably sullied the image of Flip Saunders, which Flip is clearly still paying for. As for Allen, likable guy, but never a winner. If these guys win it all, will you feel happy for them? Maybe, I guess, since they've all been longtime players who haven't been able to win. But winning in a uniform they've spent the least amount of time in? I don't know. Also, Doc Rivers is not a very good coach. That will come to light in this series, I think.

- Nice start times, ABC/NBA money-printing machine. Yes, tonight's Game 1 begins at.... wait for it... 9 effing o'clock, Eastern time! That's nucking futs! 9 PM!!! This is inexcusable. I understand the Lakers play in LA and thus, it's only 6 PM there, but people in LA don't even work that late so why not start it at 8 PM, at least, Eastern time, so that people in Boston can kind of enjoy it. Morons. And don't even get me started on the wait time we just had for the Finals to start. How come the Celts first-round Game 7 with Atlanta was on the same day as other Game 1s of the second round? How can you begin the second round without some teams being out of the first? Oh, you're in a hurry to keep things moving? Fantastic. But then why have four off-days before starting the Finals? Ohhhhh, so games can land on the weekend. Well-played, NBA. Not moronic at all.

- The NBA's archaic 2-3-2 Finals format. And it's only for the Finals! Brilliant! And don't give me the "travel" argument. These teams travel on private charter jets with the finest creature comforts, replete with masseuses and probably BJs from fluffers. I don't want to hear anyone feeling sorry for these guys for having to take a couple of cross-country flights. I have to do that for my job oftentimes and I don't get days off in between and I also don't get, oh, you know, three effing months off after a project. And if you're going to use this argument that, well, the 2-3-2 cuts down on travel, well, then, okay, I want to see Games 1 and 2 on back to back nights, and then one day off and then Games 3, 4 and 5 on three consecutive nights, with one day off to go back to Boston for Games 6 and 7. But that's not how it will be done. These guys are so delicate that they get days off all over the place. Oh, wait, that's right -- it's for money/TV reasons. Even this Sunday's Game 2 (Game 2 not until SUNDAY -- if it goes 7, it will take two weeks; ridiculous) will be at 9 PM, Eastern. For what reason? Idiotic NBA.

So tell me... am I wrong? What's awesome about this series?

Unwatchable

The NBA, as you know isn't the most interesting product on the television. But, in a typical summer, I usually really enjoy taking in quite a few playoff games. The reason is simple- for me, there's not much else that's sports-related and by this time, with only NHL, WNBA and MLB on the TV, I'm sports-starved.

As usual, I've tuned into the games as I flipped around. Problem is, the product is horrible to watch. It's not the fact that the quality of athlete isn't there. No one will argue that Manu Ginobli, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol, The Big 3 in Boston, and the veterans in Detroit aren't talented, but their games surely have become unwatchable.

I understand why the league instructs its officials to swallow their whistles a bit for the home teams, but what we've witnessed in the '08 playoffs has been goofy if not ridiculous. Last night contest in San Antonio was no exception. The Lakers were getting beaten up...that's what the Spurs do, but they were also getting jobbed while they were on defense. Derrick Fisher got 3 quickly in the first half and the superstar of the league (arguably) was getting smacked every time he shot the ball...and never went to the free throw line for shooting fouls.

I'm by no means a Kobe fan- the guy's an arrogant jerk...but, he does draw fouls. What we've been watching isn't basketball; it's really become like the Harlem Globetrotters, except the Washington Generals change every two games or so.

It's really no wonder the US has been less-than-stellar versus international competition the last few years. But, it's no less sad as it used to be one of America's past times.

Instead of watching the playoffs, I've caught up with Jon & Kate Plus 8 with my wife, Mythbusters reruns, Modern Marvels (any topic) or even Women's college softball (as long as Arizona's playing). I'd love to watch a classic Purdue game, but my pals at Comcast don't carry the Big Ten network, and my buddies at AT&T finally let me know that I can't get UVerse much to my chagrin. I'd love to tell you that I've dug into a book or tow during the last month, but I'm not much of a reader...In fact, reading books usually ends with me napping (a la watching Pistons v. Celtics)...so that's no good.

It's a good thing that it doesn't get dark until 9:00 in Indiana so I can stay outside as long as possible working on my skateboard skills or my killer raindrop jumpshot.

Thanks for nothing, Mr. Stern. I know I'm no longer in the ideal market age group, but seriously, not one of my friends finds the NBA worth a damn any longer.

NBA Nonsense

I don't like the NBA. I make no bones about that fact. But, I love to see Purdue guys do well. Here's our man, Carl sealing the win v. the Jazz last night:



Also noteworthy, Kenny Smith does his best Kobe Bryant impersonation. Very funny stuff especially since Smith really could leap back in the day...think Mr. Bill meets the Mamba.