Happy Friday, folks. My last post was a review of Maxim's 2011 Hot 100 list that I took way too seriously. But hey it was fun, okay? The lovely Sarah Shahi came in at #24 on the list. I didn't mention her in my overrated/underrated post because I thought 24th was a good place for Shahi to be at on the list.The Aftermath: So we've had a few days to recover from the madness that we call "Paul Allen's management style". Rich Cho is long gone, and Allen stated that it was a "chemistry" issue that sent Cho packing. I still think it's nonsense. I mean, if Paul Allen wants to have chemistry with someone, he needs to go out and join eHarmony. Paul Allen is kind of a weird guy, and can be socially awkward. Guess what? Rich Cho is the same guy, who is quiet and keeps to himself. So when Allen and Cho aren't BFFs right away, it shouldn't surprise anyone. Allen obviously has a different opinion.
Since Cho was fired, all Blazers fans have been getting is a steady dose of "hey, it's Paul Allen's team and he can do what he wants with it, so shut the hell up". I'm still of the opinion that this change of direction at the top for Portland is troubling and shows a clear lack of direction. Some Blazer fans have sort of bought into the change, convincing themselves that it was a positive move. But I'm not so sure about that. Regardless of all the craziness, Joel Freeman says that the Portland GM position is still an attractive job.
I guess we'll see in the next few weeks. I think Paul Allen should just go ahead and hire himself as the GM and save himself the trouble of firing about 3 or 4 more GMs in the coming years. It would probably save him some time as well, and definitely save him some cash. Whoever the Blazers hire as the next GM is going to be even more of a puppet than Rich Cho was anyway.
NBA Finals: Last night, Miami punched their tickets to the NBA Finals, where they will face the Dallas Mavericks. I have been pretty apathetic about the playoffs since Portland made their exit, but I think Miami and Dallas is a good matchup that will provide some intrigue.
Dirk and the Mavs annoy the hell out of me. The Miami Heat are not much better in my book. But I'll be pulling for Miami to win the title because I really, really can't stand all this 'Dirk is better than Larry Bird' talk as of late. To say that Dirk Nowitzki is a better all-around player than Larry Bird all time is simply ridiculous.
The thing about the Finals that I'm looking forward to the most is the rematch of LeBron vs. Deshawn Stevenson. Hopefully it'll be as good as it was the first time, when Stevenson actually called LeBron overrated. I'm hoping for a brawl between the two players, if I'm being completely honest. LeBron isn't exactly what you would call "likable", but Stevenson is just a straight up douchebag. And he has a tattoo of Abe Lincoln on his neck. I wonder how many times a day he has to explain what it means to people who see it.
Colts WR Taj Smith: If you're looking for a good read for the day, check out this article by Greg Bishop of the New York Times. The lockout is practically killing Smith's already-slim chances of making it as a professional football player. And if anyone could use the money that you get as an NFL player, it's Taj Smith. To say Taj Smith has had a rough life so far would be a huge understatement. His two older brothers have died tragically, one was burned to death and the other killed himself instead of surrendering to police. This article sure makes you want to root for the kid.
Bishop writes of an experience Smith had 12 years ago, "...an armed man stopped his friends as they walked home and told them to remove their sneakers. When Smith’s friend balked, he was shot, and his blood splattered across Smith’s face. He washed it off at the nearest gas station, went home and curled up in bed. He told neither his parents, nor the police." Talk about overcoming adversity.
Ohio State Buckeyes: It seems that as each new week passes by, we find out more dirt on the Ohio State football program. And the more lies come out of Jim Tressel's mouth. Next to Tressel and the Buckeyes, Chip Kelly's payments to Willie Lyles looks squeaky clean! Ha! Former Ohio State "star" Ray Small talked to the school newspaper saying that he sold a couple of his Big Ten championship rings and also "got special car deals" in his time on the Ohio State football team. He also added that "everyone was doing it" and that he doesn't see "why it's a big deal" either.
Ohio State did not dismiss Small's charges but also didn't sound as if it would try to find out any more about them.
Then, just today, Small came out and said that the reporter twisted his words and that he never said that "everyone was doing it." This dude only came out and recanted what he said because he pissed all his former teammates off and probably the entire city of Columbus, Ohio as well. So, no, I don't believe that the reporter twisted his words at all. He probably said what he said, not thinking it was going to be this huge deal and piss everyone off. And then when it all hit the fan and the story went national, he was like "oh damn" and called up to say his words had been twisted.
It's a little too convenient, if you ask me.
That's all for now folks, have a good 3-day weekend.
