This weekend, GSP takes on Jake Shields, a fighter I’ve only seen Shields fight in the once, and I was so unimpressed, I don’t even remember who it was against, except that it was his fight in the UFC. Now, if I’m correct in saying that was his only fight in the UFC so far, then that’s the fight I’m talking about. Anyway, you can never be sure with primer videos. Since they’re obviously marketing tools, you really don;t know how competitive a fight’s going to be just based on those. What I do know is that Shields is riding the crest of a 15-fight, 6-year winning streak. Instead of me telling what’s more, just watch the vid below.

So yea...In my head, a few things hinge on this fight. If GSP disposes of Shields he like ought to, I suppose the UFC will finally stop putting him in fights in the welterweight division. That’s no expert opinion, but how many times will he have to defeat inferior opponents while waiting for a true challenge. Everyone knows who the real challenge is, and he’s up at 185. Rumblings at the rumor mill has it that the UFC is just waiting for the right tie to finally make it happen, but until then, there’s really no sense for GSP to fight at welterweight anymore, assuming he wins this Sunday. 


If Shields, shocks the world though, my instincts tell me that an immediate rematch is the direction they’re going to take. I mean, I suppose they owe GSP that much. That will, in turn (at least in this fan’s head), make the fantasy matchup of Bones and Spider a little more likely. I know Bones is too big, but with no real threat at middleweight, what’s Silva gonna’ do? Plus, he’s not getting any younger. Add to that the fact that that fight would be delish...


Dream-like scenarios aside...look for GSP to use that jab and left hook he’s been working on with Freddie Roach to be a factor in the fight, since based on the video above, it doesn’t seem like GSP will be too eager to take it to the ground. Plus, he’s got this... 

Since a lot of members of the blogger-verse are doing it. And, more importantly, since I’m done tiptoeing around my deadlines, let me get started on my own take. 

The man sprang up and surprised everybody back when he came in as the starting point guard of the Sacramento that, up until he ran the show, had no identity whatsoever. Chris Webber was the only established star, and even then was only beginning to come to grips with the fact that he was going to be balling in Sac-Town for the meanwhile. This was before the age of YouTube and viral videos, but “White Chocolate” made sure that you had enough of a fix with his nightly appearances on Sportscenter. He made the Kings the most exciting team in the league. He reestablished the basketball culture long lost in that part of America.

Here in Manila, it was nearly impossible to get hold of a Jason Williams jersey, so like most kids who played basketball religiously and had to get in the J-Will bandwagon, I toyed with the idea of switching my jersey number to 55 and shaved my head when he did. I took my dribble a little higher, shot a little farther, and practiced that left fling pass against the wall when no one was around. He captured everyone’s imagination. Yes, there were young Allen Iversons and Kobe Bryants doing their spectacular deeds. Vince Carter, who blew everyone’s mind with every dunk, came in as a rookie the same time he did, but the dude was just different. Well, to be completely honest, and just steer clear of any racial backlash, he was white. Apart from the time, and in spite, my dad taking me to the cinemas to see “The Pistol,” I had not seen anything that white come close to what he was doing on the court. I’m not sure any of you who have stumbled upon this blog are too young not to remember what kind of magic the man was, but just in case you’ve been celebrating 420 day earlier than I am, here’s a refresher...

I gotta' be honest, in spite of the slew of crazy athletic point guards that have stormed the league in recent years, if he had come into the league now, he'd still be his own beast. I mean behind the back fake to elbow pass?? Seriously?? We all had to wait for YouTube to arrive before we could truly understand what he just pulled-off right there.

Even when he toned down the act in his stops in Memphis and Miami, I was still rooting for the guy, waiting for that moment when he made my jaw drop (and not in that Glee-watching dude kind of way).

Also, you gotta' love him for this side of him...

Gotta' love the look on Matt Barnes' face...

So yea, good luck with whatever is you're going to do next, Mr. Williams. And to the rest of you mofos, Glorious 420 to y'all!

I knew that the Playoffs would be exciting, but the with the rest of the first games of each series nearly done, who knew it would be this good this quick?. In what most everyone considered a brooming waiting to happen, the Indiana Pacers nearly shocked the Bulls with solid play until they were reminded who’s season this has been so far. Three words: Fast.Don’t.Lie There’s a reason #gotdamnderrickrose was trending on Twitter, and in Game 1, he gave us all a good glimpse, setting a playoff career high with 39 points, and one incredible play after another that left the TV guys just laughing at how incredulous the things he was pulling off were.

A few thoughts: that game for the Pacers can be one of two things. Having come that close to winning a game against a heavily favored team only to have it slip away can end a series in a certain way. Sort of like when Nick Anderson missed those four straight free throws in game one of the Finals. After that, it was like they had the soul sucked right out of them (in spite having a couple more close games en route to that 4-game sweep). Hopefully (if only for good TV), they can build confidence from that performance. I’m not sure they can play any better than they did, though. Tyler Hansbrough played out of his mind, shooting like he was alone in a gym, the way he drilled jumper after jumper. Daren Collison was toe to toe with D-Rose until the final minutes of the fourth. And Hibbert and Granger also had their moments. 


Anyway, if the first day of the Playoffs was good, the second was even better (although not for this Laker fan). As I am writing this, the number 1 & 2 seed in the West lost Game 1 for the first time in the history of the NBA. Boston and New York came down to  the last shot. And at this very moment, the Nuggets and the Thunder are locked up in a real battle. So here in Manila, people might be looking forward to the Holy Week, but hoop heads are going to be treated to some ‘holy shit’ basketball-wise. 

In case you still haven’t heard, the Lakers came out flat against the Hornets, while Chris Paul played his best game of the season with 33 points 14 assists 7 rebounds and 4 steals as he led his team to an upset win on the road against the two-time defending champs. Curiously, this happened recently...

see it from a different angle...

I’m a fan of lap dances myself, but if Nicki Minaj and that humongous thing behind her can induce a performance like the one Paul just had, “GoootDaaamn”. I wonder if the wood Paul gathered from that lap dance was the reason he was able to pick the Laker defense apart. Well, having an extra leg always helps. 


I can’t find a video just yet, but there’s something about the Kobe Bryant post game presser that elicits some concern from me as a hard core Laker fan. If you recall during the past two championship runs, Kobe Bryant would be as grumpy as a dude who can’t score on his chick whenever the Lakers lost. After Game 1 against the Hornets, he was very calm, laughing, even joking with the members of the press. I understand a lot of it can be confidence in what his team can do, but I also understand that it could be overconfidence. There was no sense of urgency in his demeanor, his tone, or his face. I won’t ever doubt the Lakers, I’m just saying that the Lakers might have become bored  even by the 1st round now. Cocky bastards, I know...


Anyways, enjoy hoop heads!

Western Conference talk -- In case you missed out on it or just read a tweet, Andrew Bynum stepped on DaJuan Blair’s foot, slid and in the process hyperextended his right knee. Phil Jackson said that the big man, vital in the defensive schemes of the Lakers, may be out a couple of games. Bynum, despite the initial fear (understandably so) on his face after the incident, was more optimistic afterwards, saying he’ll be fine. MRI’s revealed a bone bruise confirming he’ll be ready, albeit doubtfully a hundred percent for the 1st game of their series vs. New Orleans.

In that game against the Spurs, Gregg Popovich opted to rest his big 3 and allowed the Spurs’ B team to grind it out with the struggling Lakers, in spite of Chicago threatening to catch them for the overall top seed and home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Curiously, though, “Pop” then decided it was a good idea to play his stars the next game against the already eliminated Suns. Throughout the past couple of weeks, bloggers and sports heads have been debating the subject of resting stars and manipulating games to choose a better match-up. As it turns out, Karma would have none of that. 

While both will reportedly be good to go for the first round, it’s a truly tough break for the top two teams in the West. And while you may think the East have it better, Joakim Noah hurt his ankle in yesterday’s game vs. the Knicks, while Ronnie Brewer, an important part of the Bulls’ rotation, hurt his wrist in the same game. For Boston, Shaq is still hurt, Kristic (aka the dude they got for Kendrick Perkins) is also hurt, while Jermaine O’Neal has given up looking for both his legs since it was reported missing since 2005. And two of the Miami Thrice have been known to be prone to alien abduction around this time of year. So no one has fully been spared. 


All beware!

This weekend, the NBA Playoffs are officially on. But in case, you’re too busy with work, stressed with bills, mortgages, or crazy ex-girlfriends, which have led you to forget, here’s something to get your blood pumping for some great hoops.

Nice, eh? But a couple of things stood out: 1) Did that vid just open with LeBron talking about what it takes to win in the post season?!? Who-How-Whu---nevermind. Must be on Wikipedia or somethin’...or Twitter. 2) If you ever thought, Chris Bosh was one big flapping vagina, well know this...he likes his titties just as much as the next guy. Need proof? Skip to 1:45 of the video above.


It’s been a fun season, what with all the back stories starting from the craziness of the free agency period, the evil alliance down in South Beach, the Melo trade rumors all season long, the break-out seasons of some young stars. But now the real season starts. Blake Griffin treated us all to a few years worth of highlights in his first season, but now, he’s got to let the men play. 

For the usual suspects, it’s been business as usual. If, at the least, you’ve kept your pulse on the NBA, you know that save from some surprises from feel-good teams like the Sixers and Grizzlies, basically the same cast of teams are out to battle it out in the NBA’s second and more important season. But in case you’ve been living under a rock with a sack full of Diazepams and some tequilla, here’s a little bit of a refresher...

Yes, most pundits have it as inevitable. While, I'm sure everyone involved (fans included) are keeping their fingers crossed, they're also preparing for the worst. This may a satirical take on the looming lock-out, but it also may be the simplest way to explain why a bunch of multi-millionaires can't all just get along.

Nuff said.

Likewise...

But wherever your alliances may lie, you need to understand that the road to the NBA Title still goes through...

Damn straight.

I'll get straight to the point.

So yes, for the days leading up to that date, the Younghusband brothers (mercifully) won't be the object and root of girls' (and prime time news outfits') wet panties across Manila. It'll probably be dedicated to their new album much like the show back in '04 and unlike the one in '08 (which I tragically missed) that promoted their greatest hits double CD. But with a band that sounds better than your best illegal download on your Beats headphones live, it matters not. Here's a taste... 

So man-crushes and illegally sexy lines aside, I've been dying for another taste of a live Incubus experience for a while now. Probably not as bad as a 311 live gig, but I digress.

So there you go. Yet more proof that if you want something bad enough, the universe, (and not necessarily hard work as those successful, lucky sons of bitches would have you believe) will make it happen. 

Allow me to formally extend my apologies to Mr. Derrick Rose. You, Sir, have proven me wrong. Waaay wrong. 

I recall being asked by non-hoops junkie friends what the hype about John Wall was about. While, I only saw a handful of mixes on YouTube and a couple of games he played for Kentucky, I hastily quipped that he's (just) similar to a Derrick Rose with a little better jump shot. And while it remains to be seen what's gonna' happen with the rest of Wall's career, let's just say he has a ways to go to be mentioned in the same breath as Rose. D-Rose has just been ridiculously nasty and craazy good this year. I mean, I was blown away with the grit he displayed as a rookie when he gave Boston all they could handle in that classic of a playoff series. And I've always tipped my hat to the way he was able to make the Bulls remain relevant even with all the management problems they were having, plus the fact that they had Vinny Del Negro calling the shots. But this kid has just blown up like no one foresaw.

Or maybe they just didn't see this vid yet... 

Crazy hops. We all knew that. And if we didn't, this year's highlight reel alone should suffice. Body control, that's always been his calling card along with lightning quickness. But notice how his shot looks so much different now than it did back then. Now, I'm not really privy to his work ethic, but there's only one way to improve your jump shot. And that's through endless hours of working on it, even when you should be chillin' like the superstar athlete millionaire that you are. Also, notice how he levels down the amount of nastiness on occasion just to be nice, and then turns it up to another atmosphere upon whim. 

Back when Lebronapalooza was in full swing back in the ridiculously frenzied state of sports media during the summer free agency period, a story came up about how D-Rose did not want to have any part of the LBJ recruiting. I mean, that's what superstars do, in'it?  Kobe even sent Raja Bell a text or even rang him or something. He did the same to Ron Artest and Matt Barnes. if you're the leader of the team and you want someone to play alongside you, you reach out to them. Specially in this age of increasingly chummy vibe among NBA players.It goes without saying that none of those guys have anything close to what LeBron has (well, except for a little piece of jewelry Artest won last June, but auctioned out for some reason). So why did Rose not want LeBron on HIS team? I really don't know. I can, however, speculate that he knew that their styles wouldn't match. He needs the ball in his hands to create for himself and for his team. James is the same(although with this bad habit of massaging the ball and dribbling in place for eternity before chucking up that ill-advised fade away, but I digress). I know Heat fans are saying they could have done a similar thing to what D-Wade & James does, but then again what they're doing didn't get them a single win against the Bulls this season, much less the top seed in the East. We probably will never get the real reason behind Rose's refusal to actively recruit James back then, but with the D-Rose explosion this year, it'll just be turned into a spin on why Rose is so great. So again, my apologies for not seeing this coming, Mr. Rose. Can't wait to see you at Staples this June. 

(I would've ended this apology post with the best 2010-2011 D-Rose mix I could find, but the boss just came in. I'll see what I can come up with later, but for now feast your eyes on this beast.)

I didn't know what I was doing, so I was adding entries all in the home page of this blog. Blame it on the continually decreasing attention span I possess, or the fact that I work on this site during work hours. But, at least I got it figured out (I hope).

So yea, I'll see if I have the patience to transfer every post to this page, but if not, at least it'll (at the least the site format) stop being confusing for both the reader and myself from now on.

Alrighty then. Lay-tah...