For those of you who missed out on LeBron James’ antics in yesterday’s 30 point loss to the Nuggets, allow me to inform. James sat alone at the end of the bench during a timeout when the rest of his team was huddled up. Now, yes, this was not a playoff game. It was just another of 82 Snooze-fests on the Cavs schedule. However, someone needs to remind me of all the times Michael Jordan sat alone at the end of the bench during a timeout. LeBron needs to cut the prima dona bullshit and play. Play when his leg hurts a little bit. Play when his team is getting run out of its own building by a mid-level Western Conference team. Play in the fourth quarter. He needs to start playing, shut his mouth about Jason Kidd, and be a star the may Jordan was a star. LeBron will never be better than Jordan. And he will never, if he continues this season’s trend, be the team player and LEADER that Michael Jordan was.
I’m happy to here that Richard Zednik of the Florida Panthers (hockey) is recovering well from his surgery to repair his severed carotid artery. In last night’s game against the Sabres, Zednik’s teammate, Olli Jokinin fell to the ice, with his skate in the air, and literally slit the throat of Zednik. While I am one for hyperbole, this is still one of the worst sports injuries I have ever seen. Zednik is being credited for reacting quickly, applying pressure to his own neck, amidst the copious amounts of blood pouring out to the ice, and skating over to the bench. Zednik left a trail of blood on the ice in his tracks. When I saw the video last night, I stood covering my mouth in shock. When I saw it again this morning, I had the same reaction. Just a horrific injury, but I’m glad that he is doing well today.
UCLA suffered a big loss last night in Seattle to the Washington Huskies that moved them down to the number 6 ranking in this week’s ESPN USA TODAY poll. Darren Collison had a horrendous shooting night, which led directly to the loss. While Kevin Love has been special and is vitally important to the Bruins success, Collison is they’re most important player. He is the second fastest Point Guard in college basketball, behind North Carolina’s Ty Lawson, and is the catalyst for their offense. If he’s not scoring at least 10 a game, defenses can drop a man into the paint to double Love, making him less effective. UCLA really doesn’t have another dynamic scorer. Josh Shipp is a great athlete, but not capable of taking a game over. Hopefully for the Bruins, Collison will get back on track.
Later this week, when we get internet in the apartment I intend to do a rundown and analysis of either the top 10 contenders for the title, or a breakdown of the power six conferences. Send me along a comment as to which you would rather see and I will post accordingly.
I also intend to move away from sports for one day and breakdown the Oscar Best Picture Race. You know, because I’m qualified to do that.
Saturday, I attended the BC/Duke game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Two days later, I am still incapable of describing what this meant to me, not only as a lifelong Duke Basketball fan, but as a sports fan. I had been inside the doors of Cameron Indoor once before, sneaking in on an early Sunday September morning, before team pictures. Standing in the empty gym filled me with an excitement that I rarely experience. However, nothing can compare, as a sports fan, to the feeling I got walking towards Cameron on Saturday, knowing that I was going to see Duke in person and stand, and jump, and scream, and sweat, and cheer amongst the Cameron Crazies. Tyrese Rice made every effort to spoil my Saturday, having an epic game for BC, but, in the end, the Devils won by 10, behind great games by DeMarcus Nelson and Kyle Singler.
Cameron looks like a church from the inside and the out. At the top of the gym there are stained glass windows, which add to the religious experience. Other than the game itself and the fans, there is no pomp and circumstance. You don’t need any. During the timeouts, no one is throwing free T-Shirts into the crowd, there is no video board trivia, there is no video board. The scoreboard is not gawdy. It just tells you the score. That is all you need.
In the months since I graduated from college I have found it difficult to enjoy very much. Completing the cross-country life goal, while satisfying, was also almost taxing. I haven’t felt joy like I felt on Saturday in quite some time and it felt good to feel young again, to act as though every bit of my life hinged on the result of the next play.
I had the opportunity to go to Wednesday’s big game between Duke and Maryland at Cameron Indoor, and as much as I would love to go, I know that I shouldn’t. I should let Saturday sit in my mind. I don’t want anything to taint how great that experience was. On Saturday, I completed another life goal, and this team, despite the sore legs and throat, from jumping and screaming, it was anything but taxing. It was epic, even if it was just another ACC conference game in the middle of February.
Game o’ the Day: Rutgers @ Tennessee. Yes, I am going with another women’s basketball game. If you’re a sports fan, this is the clear game of the day. While Kansas and Texas are playing in the Big 12 tonight, and that game is important for conference bragging rights, the Rutgers/Tennessee game is important for national bragging rights. Rutgers is coming off of a huge win last week against previous number 1 UConn. Tennessee has only one loss this season, to Stanford. Last year, Tennessee ran Rutgers out of the arena in the national championship game. Tonight, Tennessee could be without their star, Candace Parker. Rutgers would love to grind it out against Tennessee. I just don’t think they can do it. The Lady Scarlet Knights might be more athletic overall, but if Parker plays at 80% or better, I think the Lady Vols can win. I think Candace will play, and I’ll take the Lady Volunteers 68-59 over Rutgers tonight, though it may not be the last time they play this season.
I likely will not be back tomorrow, as I hate going to Panera on consecutive days. However, check back just in case. Again, continued thanks to those of you who read this daily or semi-daily. I really like having an outlet to ramble about sports and really appreciate anyone who takes time out of their day to read my rambling.
Mid-Atlantic Bias 
Wonderful post. Perhaps attending a Duke basketball game will cure all of my woes, also.I’d be more interested in your breakdown of the top 10 contenders, because I think it’s kind of a crapshoot behind say UCLA, Georgetown, Duke, UNC, Kansas and Memphis…but what do I know.I’m happy you had a wonderful time.I agree with your sentiments on Richard Zednik, as well. Absolutely horrifying. I found Shaun Livingston’s injury to be more excruciating to watch, but both were terrible.