Planning NBA All-Star Weekend

10 02 2010

Planning All-Star Weekend

What Cowboys Stadium will look like for the NBA All-Star Game (NBA Entertainment)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to run a major All-Star event for one sports league? Well, now you can meet the woman who’s managed that for two sports leagues — Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association.

Gail Hunter, Senior V.P. of Events and Attractions for the NBA, managed MLB’s FanFest — a carnival-like event held in a convention center — from 1991-98 as Director of Promotional Events for the league. Her effort from 1997-99 as Director of Corporate Marketing for the Seattle Mariners helped launch Seattle’s Safeco Field, one of the sport’s finest ballparks.

Since 1999, Hunter has worked in the Events and Attractions department for the NBA, where she runs a plethora of national and international grassroots ventures in addition Jam Session, which is the NBA’s answer to FanFest. Suffice it to say that Hunter has a lot on her plate.

She was kind enough to speak with me for a Q&A for SLAMonline.com regarding all her responsibilities as the NBA hosts its All-Star Weekend in Dallas.

Correction: I mention in the story that this is the NBA’s 60th All-Star Game. FAIL. It’s actually the 59th All-Star Game.


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Re-organizing fantasy NBA rosters

10 02 2010

Fantasy NBA (’10 over- and under-owned)

It’s late at night and I have enough other things to do without writing a 200-word intro to this article. This is in amNew York’s Wednesday edition, which you can check out later this morning if you live in New York City. It’s a simple piece which uncovers a pair of over- and under-owned players in ESPN and Yahoo! fantasy basketball leagues. Short story, Rasheed Wallace is a lazy son-of-a-gun and Udonis Haslem is one of the must under-appreciated players in the League.

Side note: I had uncommonly fantastic timing with George Hill. Something tells me he would prefer the attention I gave him in this story over the attention he’s receiving in other circles. Athletes should be banned from owning camera/smart phones. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just move along with your day.


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2010 could be an Amazin’ year

10 02 2010

While at a recent SABR (Society of American Baseball Research) event at the midtown library in Manhattan, I overheard a few grumpy Mets fans belittle their team’s chances in 2010. One said, and I’m paraphrasing, “You look at our division and we don’t have a chance to finish better than fourth.” So it goes for fans disillusioned by the Mets’ horrendous 2009 season. Mets fans are such a depressed lot that they’ve taken to dismissing their beautiful new Citi Field and reminiscing about that turd of concrete and steel called Shea Stadium. Yet I have a positive spin on the Mets; second place is clearly within their sights.

I’m not going to pretend as if the Mets don’t have holes on their roster. Their catcher situation is embarrassing for a big market contender and they haven’t done anything to improve their rotation after Johan. The Perez/Pelfrey/Maine/Niese quartet are all 28 or younger, but at some point you have to realize a player is who he is. If Perez pitches well, then he profiles as a fine No. 3 guy. The Mets lack a reliable No. 2, which is why they should’ve targeted Javier Vazquez, who went to the Yankees.

Second base is all right with Castillo, although the Mets should’ve saddled up and signed Orlando Hudson if that’s who they really wanted for the position. Now is not a time for the Metsies to be passive. Assuming Beltran is at full health by June, they have a lineup to be reckoned with. Jose Reyes (age 26), David Wright (27), Daniel Murphy (24) and Jeff Francoeur (26) are fine pieces, especially defensively. Jason Bay (31) and Beltran (32) are great at the plate and still young enough to avoid the “old” tag.

They’ll battle the Braves and Marlins all year for second place. The Braves might seem like an up-and-coming team but I’m not a big believer. They have great pieces in Brian McCann (25) and Jason Heyward (20), who will be in right field by summer solstice. But Nate McLouth is overrated, Melky Cabrera won’t be the same in Atlanta (he’s away from his best friend Robinson Cano and he thrived on New York’s electric environment) and their infield is sort of horrifying. Can Chipper Jones stay healthy and productive at 37? Is an even more fragile Troy Glaus really the backup option you want for Chipper? Who’s going to replace Adam LaRoche’s production at first base?

Plus, the Braves dealt their best pitcher from last season in Vazquez, who would’ve formed an awesome 1-2 punch this year with studly Tommy Hanson. Hanson is sick and will be a top 10 NL pitcher this year. Now they have old Derek Lowe, old Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrjens and Kenshin Kawakami to “scare” opposing batting lineups. It gets better. They opted not to re-sign Mike Gonzalez (31) or Rafael Soriano (30), instead giving 38-year-old Billy Wagner, a year removed from elbow reconstruction surgery, the same per-year contract that Gonzalez and Soriano ultimately signed with the Orioles and Rays, respectively. Good work, Atlanta.

As for the Marlins, they definitely have the resources to be dangerous. Their starting rotation could be the best one through five in the division. Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco are nasty. If Cameron Maybin evolves into a poor man’s B.J. Upton from the 2008 season, then the Fish have something. Of course, it’s entirely within the realm of possibility that the Marlins trade Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla for prospects by July, welcoming Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison onto the pro team. The Marlins can’t be perceived as a guaranteed threat since they walk the fence too often between 70 and 85 wins. They really can go either way, especially if MLB permits them to lower their payroll during the year and trade a couple of veterans.

We can dismiss the Nationals as contenders for the NL East. That’s easily settled just by the fact that the Nats’ most prominent off-season acquisitions were Jason Marquis and Pudge Rodriguez. Strasburg and Co. are going nowhere anytime soon. Likewise, the Phillies and Mets won’t be battling for position in the East, only for a different reason. The Phils are really, really good with the additions of Roy Halladay and Placido Polanco. Their only loose end is closer, but that’s an issue that can be solved during the season. Of course, if Halladay or one from the Utley/Howard/Rollins trio suffers a major injury, then the division race opens up. For now, let’s not deal with too many hypothetical scenarios.

Mets fans shouldn’t drive themselves crazy. The Phils might be the unquestioned leaders of the division but the Braves and Marlins have enough roster holes for the Mets to easily steamroll their way to second place.


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Super Bowls don’t determine greatness

9 02 2010

For all you Peyton Manning critics who claim he can’t reach NFL immortality now that he’s lost a Super Bowl, take a deep breath, relax and chew on the following few paragraphs. As much as credentials for quarterback greatness might have once swung too far toward statistics, the argument for who’s the best has pivoted too much to the other side of the pendulum, the one that looks at Super Bowl rings as the absolute precursor to a legendary resume.

I get why all quarterbacks are measured by the number of Vince Lombardi trophies they raise during their career. Football is the consummate battle and quarterbacks are the ringleaders, thus making a championship the ultimate test of their leadership, toughness and talent. Yet those critics who claim that quarterbacks should be measured by their Super Bowl rings will also endorse football as the ultimate team sport.

Football advocates cite each position’s reliance on the other as the reason for why football promotes teamwork better than any other sport. The quarterback is dependent on the offensive line to protect him and the wide receiver catch his pass. The running back is reliant on the quarterback to properly hand off the ball and for everybody else to block. The defense works essentially the same way, with linemen and defensive backs realizing that their job is based at least somewhat on whether the other performs his role.

So if football is the ultimate team sport, why put so much of the onus on quarterbacks to win the Big Game? Sure, they receive most of the glory for winning, but that doesn’t mean critics should double up on a misguided placement of responsibilities by labeling them as “not great enough” if they don’t win one Super Bowl, or multiple in the case of Manning. He’s won “only” one Super Bowl. He’s “just” 9-9 in the playoffs, although the 9-9 critics fail to point out that he’s 9-6 since 2003 and 6-3 since ’06.

Manning will — and should — go down as one of the sport’s greatest quarterbacks. Whether or not he’s number one is simply a matter of preference for an era. Old-timers consider Johnny Unitas the greatest because of his toughness, leadership and ability to pique interest in football at a time when baseball was still America’s game. Some prefer Joe Montana because of his cool under pressure and the great defenses he faced in the ’80s. Others hold Manning in the highest regard because of more athletic defenses running far more complex schemes during his era. You really can’t go wrong as long as you take time to tailor your pitch. Just don’t hold a quarterback responsible for the entire actions of a team at every moment of his career.


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Olympic athletes and nutrition

8 02 2010

The Olympic Eating Plan

Olympians aren’t normal people. Their athleticism and conditioning level are almost beyond belief. Their work ethic and will to succeed are even rarer. Not many people in this world have the gumption to work nearly every day for most of their lives to achieve a goal which may only last for minutes at one time in their lives. That’s the life Olympians choose, with the uncertainty that they’ll ever get more than one shot at the Olympics.

For this WeightWatchers.com story, I looked at the strict nutrition plans Olympians must adhere to if they wish to maximize their athletic ability. As with any great athlete, the mental discipline and desire to be the best ranks just as high. So the athletes must follow a year-round nutrition regimen, which they might not always enjoy but ultimately understand that it helps them achieve their goals. And I know that I’ll be keeping my eye specifically on Madeleine Williams to see how she performs for her country. I can’t wait for the Olympics to start this weekend.


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Super Bowl questions

7 02 2010

Here are my questions in preparation for Super Sunday:

Which company will disappoint with the worst commercial(s) — Budweiser, Go Daddy or Monster.com?

How anti-climatic will Tim Tebow’s commercial be?

Why the hell don’t I watch the NHL more? I’m checking Caps/Pens on NBC and in the first half of the first period Sid has scored two goals and there have been three mini-fights/altercations.

How many new camera angles will CBS introduce for today’s game?

At what point of “The Who”‘s performance will I turn my attention to something else? For the record, I like the band. It’s just that their best work is from the ’60s.

Will Reggie Bush repeat Devin Hester’s opening kickoff against the Colts?

More Kim Kardashian and less of anything else would make a good Super Bowl today.

How many shots do we get of Kim Kardashian, Bush’s girlfriend, in the stands?

Why hasn’t KK’s enterprising self allowed fans to auction for her to discard various pieces of clothing as she sits in her seat/luxury box?

How many times will I curse CBS for showing us Archie/Olivia/Eli/Cooper Manning instead of KK?

At what point does Jim Nantz break down, cry and thank all the viewers for joining him on an emotionally gratifying sports telecast?

Will Freeney line up on the left side if he does play, thus using his good ankle for his push-off from the line?

How long does Freeney last? How many times does CBS show trainers working on Freeney on the sidelines?

When does Peyton split the seam with a perfect pass?

Which receiver — Dallas, Garcos, Pierre, Wayne, Bush, Colston, Devery — will get 100 yards first?

If Tony Dungy is interviewed during the game, will he act as if the Colts already won?

Will we see a rushing touchdown in this game?

Which linebacker — Gary Brackett or Jonathan Vilma — will have a bigger game?

Does Vilma crush his former The U teammate Reggie Wayne if Wayne runs an under route across the middle?

How many beers can I drink before halftime so that I’m sober enough to enjoy the second half?

In a related question, how many beers will I go through before I start yelling without regard to anyone else at the party?

Who will be the game’s MVP?

Can we finally get a streaker that the Super Bowl deserves?


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Rice, Emmitt where they belong

7 02 2010

The NFL’s all-time leaders in rushing and receiving yardage, Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice, were elected to the Hall of Fame today. That means it’s time to roll out YouTube videos catching the great ones in action. Here it is, starting with Mr. Rice:

Rice makes a big catch on Monday Night Fooball during his rookie season.

A quick wrap-up of Montana to Rice.

Rice becomes the NFL’s all-time touchdown leader.

And now for Mr. Smith:

Truly horrible sound quality but a great look at Emmitt’s toughness.

Great highlight package from the most consistent rusher of all-time.

Smith becomes the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.

And who can forget Emmitt’s legendary broadcasting career.


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Let kids be kids

7 02 2010

I’m a big George Carlin fan primarily because of his outlook on social issues. One of his philosophies which I found most appealing was his stance on how parents should treat children. (I use the past tense since he died in 2008, although it feels like he should still be alive.)

His thought process was to let kids be kids. Let them daydream and poke each other in the eyes. Let them eat mud and shoot wet spitballs at each other during Spanish class.

Carlin believed that parents and their schedules killed creativity and the forming of a free spirit. After all, we’re on strict schedules for most of our lives, so childhood is a unique time for a human being to simply learn about life.

That’s why a couple kid-related things I noticed the past few days made me wonder why we do what we do to those young’ns. First, there’s this story about a 12-year-old girl in Queens, New York who scribbled “Lex was here 2/1/10″ on her school desk. She ended up in handcuffs and sent to the local police station. Then she was assigned eight hours of community service. This girl, who also drew a smiley face and wrote that she loved two of her friends, was simply conveying the innocent emotions of a child. Maybe she knew what she was doing wasn’t entirely acceptable, but what exactly do the adults who called her into the cops think they’re establishing by over-reacting the way they did? They surely didn’t earn her trust.

Another kid-related issue. I was at the Shake Shack on the Upper West Side the other day when I noticed something I hadn’t seen outside of a pack of kindergarteners visiting my college campus — a kid on a leash. The boy was probably 3 or 4 years old, and he was with a woman who looked to be his mom. And he was wrapped in some brace that went around his torso with a rope-like extension that was held by the woman. I can understand parents concerned about their kids’ well-being, especially in New York City with all the crazy cab drivers we have. But a leash?

Kids sometimes have to learn from their mistakes. It’s apart of growing up. When you put play dough in your mouth and realize it’s not an edible food, you learn not to make the same mistake again. So if a kid wanders off and trips and cuts his face, he’ll probably learn not to repeat his actions. Without a leash, he can’t learn what’s right from wrong. All he understands is that he’s under the control of someone else. His freedom is hastened, which doesn’t help a child establish a foundation for common sense which can help guide him through the peaks and vallleys of life. It’s all about the parent retaining total control over the child, even when the situation might call for respecting the freedom of the child.


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Quotes of the Week III

5 02 2010

I was sure I’d catch a great quote on Super Bowl Week’s Media Day, but it seems as if teams these days are concerned about providing the opposition with poster board material. So, there isn’t much from the Super Bowl. Thankfully, the rest of the sports world gave us enough humor.


A Georgetown student admonishing an obscene chant from a fellow student during the Jan. 30 Georgetown-Duke contest which President Barack Obama attended:
“Dude, the president of the United States is right there.”

Willis McGahee in a Twitter response to ex-The U teammate Bryant McKinnie’s claim that he was too injured to represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl:
“that’s bull shit.”

Kobe Bryant after he went against Allen Iverson in a Jan. 29 contest:
“We can score when we’re 70 years old.”

Herschel Walker after he won his first MMA bout with a third-round TKO victory:
“First, let me thank my opponent for giving me the opportunity to fight him because it’s tough to fight an old man.”

Anonymous scout/coach/front-office representative of a NFL team speaking to Pro Football Weekly:
“Brett Favre is amazing. He is really fun to watch…he looks like he has another 10 years left in him.”

Ex-Cincinnati wide receiver and NFL Draft prospect Mardy Gilyard speaking from experience about the intense interviews given by the New England Patriots to draft prospects:
“They know everything. They know if you blink wrong, if your eyelash falls out, your shoe’s untied, if you put on one little sock and one big sock, they know exactly what order you put your pantleg on. They know everything. The NFL knows everything.”

NFL agent Neil Schwartz discussing new collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the league and the player’s union:
“If we can’t get this resolved, we will collectively be the dumbest people on the planet.” Let’s hold Neil to that statement since it appears likely the cast of Jersey Shore will lose their ‘Dumbest People’ title to the NFL and its players.

Kobe Bryant on what he said to Phil Jackson in the huddle before his game-winning shot against the Celtics on Jan. 31:
“I didn’t say give me one more chance. I said give me the damn ball.”

Jets head coach Rex Ryan in a message to Dolphins fans the same night he was caught on a cell phone photo flipping off a taunting Dolphins fan:
“I want to just tell everybody in Miami, hey, we’re coming to beat you twice next year.”

Ron Artest on his pregame pushing match with Paul Pierce before the Lakers-Celtics Jan. 31 contest:
“If you’re not strong enough, you shouldn’t be fighting with me. If you really can’t match my strength then why even try to pick a fight? Why even try to tussle?”

Kevin Harlan in response to a sideline shot of JaMarcus Russell wearing so much jewelry at an NBA game that he looked like a cross between Mr. T and Master P on the cover of “Da Last Don”:
“If he spent as much time in the film room as he did at the jewelry store, he’d be a much better quarterback.”

Warriors head coach Don Nelson on Vladimir Radmanovic:
“He’s been disgraceful when I’ve played him. But I’ve got to get something out of him.”

Jaguars guard Uche Nwaneri writing to fans on a team message board after a pro-Tebow local bank teller failed to give Nwaneri one thing Tebow could do to help the Jags on the field:
“this is my top 5 things you should know before you assume Tim Tebow will [be] the tebow jesus in teal town.
5. He cant throw. PERIOD.
4. He cant read any coverage other than probably cover 2 or man cov. PERIOD (the only cov. in college lol)
3. the QB wildcat WILL NOT WORK IN THIS LEAGUE. PERIOD
2. He doesn’t know how to take a snap from center, nor is he even comfortable enough to.
1. HE CAN’T THROW. and thats really something you either have or not, never seen a qb who couldnt ever throw, just all of a sudden beable to throw just because hes now in the NFL.”
PERIOD!!

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on the state of his team:
“We suck right now.”

Roy Jones Jr. on his April 3 fight against Bernard Hopkins:
“Now I can finally terminate the ‘Executioner’ once and for all. My new nickname for this fight will be ‘The Terminator.’”

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti showing that he should stick to football team ownership:
“If I’m a Yankees fan, I’m upset we’re not winning 130 games with the roster that they have and the money that they pay out. I think it’s a disgrace they only beat the average team by 10 games in the standings with three times the money. I’d fire that GM. You don’t need a GM. All you have to do is buy the last Cy Young Award winner every year.”

Jersey Shore quote too good to leave out
Snooki on her manners in public:
“I’m not trashy unless I drink too much.”


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How to play football (I don’t mean soccer)

5 02 2010

Ready, Set … Football

I’ve written in this space that football has overtaken baseball as America’s sport of choice. Surely not an original thought, I know. But I do speak the truth, or so I like to think. That makes this article I wrote for WeightWatchers.com especially relevant to all Americans. (If the Cowboys can still call themselves “America’s Team” then I certainly would like to be “America’s Sportswriter.”)

In an admittedly simple piece meant for the novice football player in all of us, I introduce how to play, dress and train to play a pickup football game. Experts in the article include a former NFL player, a former NFL trainer and a current NFL dietitian. When I do it, I do it big. Thanks to the help from these experts, you can quickly form even the biggest soccer fan in your family into a full-time American football player.


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Why NY beats Cleveland

4 02 2010

For nearly a year, we’ve heard varying arguments for why LeBron James should stay in Cleveland or go to New York once he becomes a free agent. The pro-New York arguments claim that ‘Bron could make more money and expand his brand since New York would provide him a larger stage. (New York City is clearly our nation’s largest media market while the Cleveland-Akron area comes in at 18.)

The pro-Cleveland arguments cite ‘Bron’s loyalty to his hometown (he grew up in Akron) as well as the belief that in our high-tech, social media-savvy era, a superstar athlete like ‘Bron wouldn’t gain that much more popularity by playing in New York rather than Cleveland. But has anyone taken the time to explain why that theory might not be true? I will, and I’m glad I’m here to make Cleveland sports fans more disgruntled and insecure than they already are.

Let’s first take a gander at the NBA’s top selling jerseys. The NBA reported a couple weeks ago that Kobe Bryant had the top selling jersey at the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue and on NBA.com for the second consecutive season. LeBron came in second, again. Not to knock my boy Kobe, but ‘Bron would be the leading jersey if he played for the Knicks. There’s a reason Kobe ranked first, and it’s not just because the Lakers are the defending NBA champions. He plays in Los Angeles, home to the country’s second largest media market. Angelinos swear by him because he’s one of the biggest stars in a city full of them. LeBron would have the same sort of popularity in New York. ‘James 23′ on a Knicks blue and orange uniform would look positively orgasmic to any Knicks fan. And think of how many casual basketball fans in the New York area would suddenly become Knicks followers if the game’s best (or second best) player joined the team.

You might be thinking to yourself, “Moving from second to first on NBA jerseys sold through only the NBA Store and NBA.com isn’t that big of a deal, you idiot.” You’re right. So let’s consider Times Square. According to the Times Square Alliance’s 2008 Annual Report, nearly 500,000 people entered Times Square during a typical Spring day by way of foot, bus or vehicle. That’s more than Cleveland’s entire city population, according to the 2000 U.S. census. Furthermore, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that just under 2.1 million people lived in Cleveland’s metro area in 2009. According to the study, only two metro areas in the country lost more residents than Greater Cleveland since 2000. Meanwhile, New York City, home to 8.3 million people according to 2008 U.S. census estimates, remains the center of the country’s media attention.

Think of all the times per day a major TV network displays a shot of Times Square. The Today Show, ESPN’s NBA studio show, nearly any program on CNN or FOX News. The amount of eyes on Times Square isn’t confined to just people who are physically in New York. The square has open access to people all over the country — and the world. Now imagine Nike buying a huge LeBron billboard with him sporting his new Knicks jersey. This isn’t to diminish his past and current presence in the square or any other part of the city. But there is no doubt that Nike, the NBA and the Knicks would make LeBron a prominent part of Times Square, not to mention other advertising spots around the city. There’s a lot more attention focused on New York, and the city offers a hell of a lot more unique advertising opportunities than does Cleveland. And with ‘Bron officially a New York athlete, there would be more incentive to focus on him than to let the Kobe Bryants and Peyton Mannings of the world shine in the country’s largest market. Cleveland sports fans have to understand that LeBron has outgrown their city. He needs the primetime spotlight of New York.


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Sporadic Lakers thoughts

1 02 2010

Another Lakers win sweetened by KG's disgust. (Photo by Jim Rogash / Getty Images)

Consider the following sentence before reading this post: I’m about to shove the Lakers down your throat, so if you’re a Celtics fan or just really hate the Lakers for some odd reason, then go away. Now. Please.

My first thought after Kobe hit his latest game-winning shot — a turnaround from the free throw lane with 7.3 seconds to go to put the Lakers up 90-89 — was how much I’m gonna miss him once his career is finished. I’m not an outwardly emotional person, but I can say with confidence that I will cry the day he retires. I think most Lakers fans feel that way. There are very few athletes who give fans of that team a certain air of security during a game, as Kobe does for us Lakers fans. Among the current players in the major sports, I’d say Peyton, Brady, Mariano and LeBron are the only other players who leave their fans confident that a game will end in their favor. Of course, Mariano doesn’t play an entire game and position players obviously have a difficult time single-handedly winning a baseball game. Don’t ask about hockey, although Crosby could be included in that group.

Back to Kobe. What made today’s win especially sweet is that I listened to Bill Simmons’ newest podcast with J.A. Adande in which Simmons — ever the Celtics fan — claimed he’d rather have Bird or Jordan take a game-winning shot over Kobe. Once Adande chose Kobe as his last-second, go-to guy, Simmons casually noted that 82games.com had shot down Kobe’s perceived clutch ability with a damning Game Winning Shot Opportunity equation. (The category is defined as 24 seconds or less in a game, team with the ball is either tied or down 1 or 2 points.) For a guy who proclaims himself as the V.P. of Common Sense and has staked his reputation as a sports writer who forms opinions based off his “feel” of a game, I thought it rather convenient for him to bypass the “No kidding, I want Kobe with the game on the line” argument and stick to the stats.

Adande stuck to his guns and a quick look through the Lakers’ schedule this year shows why. Here’s a run-through of his game-winning moments:

  • Hit two FTs with 18 seconds to extend lead to 3 points in 3-point win 11/3 vs. Thunder.
  • Hit buzzer-beating 3 for a 1-point win 12/4 vs. Heat.
  • Hit buzzer-beating 2 for a 1-point win 12/16 vs. Bucks.
  • Hit back-to-back 3′s in 2OT for a 6-point lead with 2:37 left in 9-point win 12/26 vs. Kings.
  • Hit buzzer-beating 3 for a 1-point win 1/1 vs. Kings.
  • Hit jumper with 7.3 seconds left for a 1-point win 1/31 vs. Celtics.

For full disclosure, Kobe did miss a last-second jumper Jan. 24 vs. the Raptors. So sue him. He’s made three buzzer-beaters and hit another game-winner Sunday, which makes him 4-for-5 on last-second or near last-second shots that determined a game’s outcome. Hopefully he’ll save a few for June.

More random thoughts

I love how Ron Artest, toward the end today’s game, got tripped up at the free throw line and ended up in the stands behind the basket. …

Andrew Bynum had 19 points and 11 rebounds during the type of game that should make Lakers fans hope he isn’t traded for Chris Bosh. I love Bosh’s game but Bynum has a bigger body, will eventually have a better post game offensively and he’s a true shot blocking presence. I want to see him grow up in the purple and gold. …

Tomorrow in Memphis, Phil Jackson can become the Lakers’ all-time wins leader with a win and Kobe can become the Lakers’ all-time scoring leader if he scores at least 29 points. The man Kobe would pass on the scoring list — Jerry West — worked as a general manager for the Grizzlies, the only NBA team aside from the Lakers that he’s ever known. Now that’s creepy. …

It’s fitting that Kobe will become the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer within six months of Derek Jeter becoming the Yankees’ all-time hits leader. Think of all the similarities in their careers. Both are the most recent legends on teams with extended lists of Hall of Famers. Both were rookies in 1996 and immediately joined a playoff-contending team. Both won copious amounts of championships early in their careers only to lose two championships in the long journey it took to win their next in 2009. Just as Yanks fans will honor Jeter one day in Legends Park, Lakers fans will eventually get to see Kobe’s jersey hang with West, Elgin, Kareem, Magic and all the other greats to sport the Lakers purple and gold.


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