Josh Q. Public: Knowledge is power!
Public Knowledge:
1. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. From Big Unit to Big Eunuch. Traded for nobody. The Yankees reached a tentative agreement with Arizona to trade Randy Johnson to Arizona for reliever Luis Vizcaino and three minor leaguers. There was a time you’d be embarrassed to even mention Vizcaino in the same breath with Johnson. If you dreamed about that trade you’d have to wake up and apologize. Now? Not so much.
2. Jason Taylor earned himself the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Thank goodness, I gotta think he got it due to Shawne Merriman’s steroid use. Merriman finished the season with a league leading seventeen sacks to Taylor’s 13.5. If Lights Out didn’t get suspended he clearly would have surpassed Michael Strahan’s single season record of 22.5 But then again, if he didn’t use performance enhancing drugs, maybe is performance would have not been so enhanced.
3. The Dallas Mavericks extend their streak to twelve. Wauwatosa, Wisconsin’s own Devin Harris just kept attacking. Attacking I say. He pushed it, pushed it real good. Scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter. He made all four of his shots on lay-ups. He scored on three straight penetrating drives in a 92-second span to put the Mavs ahead for good. This is one very scary ball club. Very scary indeed.
4. Kobe Bean overcame a scoreless opening 16 minutes. Kobe Bean finished with 42 points, 10 boards and nine dimes. Kobe Bean kept the Lakers alive after they blew a 21-point lead. They blew it. Moe Tilden style. Kobe Bean put them right back in it. Then, With 4 seconds left in regulation and the Lakers down by a bucket, Kobe Bean made the unselfish play. John Salmons: “Everyone expected him to take that shot. No one thought he would pass it.” Not me. Not you. But pass he did. Passed to NYC playground legend. Passed to the Grim Reaper from the West Fourth Street Cage. That’s right, passed to Smush Parker. Smush makes the lay-up and LA goes on to win in overtime. Kobe Bean may be the best player in the NBA right now. Then why do I hate him so much?
5. This is why we get pissed at athletes. Fantasy pitching phenom Jake Peavy was 
headed for a goodwill tour of the Dominican Republic with other major league players when he double-parked to drop off his bags. He was told by airport police to move his car. The airport police told him he couldn’t park his car there. You know, war on terror and all. Peavy responds: “Write me up a ticket and I’ll pay for it.” He was arrested. It’s that attitude. It’s why we killed Rocket for complaining about carrying his own luggage. It’s why we railed Latrell Sprewell for saying ”I have a family to feed.” It’s why we never believed Mo Vaughn when he said, “It’s not about the money.”
6. Who’s got next. The Czar is gone. So is Pat Riley. Sorta. Who’s next? Doc Rivers? Bill Simmons and Celtic Nation would love that. Lawrence Frank? I think he needs to go more than all the others, but doubt he will. Mike Woodson? Quite frankly, the Hawks are an abject disastah. Zeke? I dunno, it sure seems like he’s got something over little Jimmy Dolan. Snuff films? My money is on Bob Hill. HC of the SSS. Two weeks ago, the Sonics dropped six in a row. Now, they’ve taken ever-loving beatings in four of their last five games. Quite frankly, they just look ter-uh-ble.
7. Is it just me? I honestly do not care about The Ohio State/Florida game. I just don’t. Ok?
8. The Touchdown Maker. The Record Breaker. Mr. Everything. LaDainian Tomlinson wins the MVP. No kidding. Who else was going to get it? LT scored an NFL-record 31 touchdowns this season, 12 more than runner-up Larry Johnson. In only one other season did the NFL leader in touchdowns win the title by a double-figure margin. In 1987, that dancin fool, Jerry Rice (23 TDs) had 12 more touchdowns than Johnny Hector, Mike Quick and Charles White (they all had 11 TDs).
9. How does Tom Brady not make the Pro-Bowl. Honestly. It’s just gross. Who do you want as your QB? Who do you want as your QB when you absolutely positively need it overnight?
10. Outside the Tri-State area, is anybody rooting for the Giants? This is the most unlikable bunch of footballers I have seen in a long long time. The Sack Exchange Jets come to mind.
11. I’ll tell you what. Peyton Manning better bring his A-game on Saturday. The Chiefs are going to run the rock down the Colts’ throats all day.
12. This week-end could be the last we hear of Tony Romo.
13. Bill Cowher will announce his retirement Friday. Cowher has coached the Steelers since 1992. Only six other coaches lasted at least 15 consecutive seasons with their first NFL team. All six are in Canton: Curly Lambeau-Packers, Tom Landry-Cowboys, Chuck Noll-Steelers, Steve Owen-Giants, Bud Grant- Vikings and Hank Stram with the Chiefs.
Peace out homies. Six Two and Even!
Need More? Dallas Cowboys, Isiah Thomas, Kobe Bryant, LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers, MLB, NBA, NFL, New England Patriots, New Jersey Nets, New York Giants, New York Knicks, Random Notes, Roger Clemens, San Diego Chargers, Tom Brady, Uncategorized
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Mannning definitely needs to bring his A game in the 25 minutes (if lucky) they will have the ball on O…me thinks old friend Ty Law does something big – as long as he isn’t back to the guy who got chased and caught by a cop a couple of years back….
KC played one dome game this year (in St.Louis). What did Larry’s Johnson do? Season high 172 yards on 27 carry’s and one TD. I say he doubles those totals this weekend. Seriously, If Fantasy-Bust Ronnie Brown could rush for 115 last week in a game which the Dolphins trailed the entire game, what’s LJ going to do? What’s the over/under on how many camera shots we are going to see of Peyton Manning on the sidelines with a sour puss of his face as the Chiefs run for first down after first down and keep the ball for 43 minutes. I say 6 and will take the over. The Colts still could win the game, but they will have to score a TD on every one of their six possessions in this game.
bird, good to see you back. you are right my friend. law will definitely have something to say in this one
yup chompers, the chiefs can’t get caught though. they don’t have to respond to every manning bomb to harrison. just play their game and the should be all right.
including the post season, Law has 7 career picks against manning. 2nd most? Terrell Buckley – 5. You heard it here first. You’ll hear it again on sportscenter tomorrow.
wow, the manical master does it again
I almost cannot bring myself to mention this, but Kobe’s offensive stats this year are almost the stuff of legend. He is shooting almost 48% and 85% from the line. Now he has almost completely abandoned any semblance of a defensive game, but he is playing so well offensively that I could see myself not objecting to a Kobe MVP campaign.
LeBron has slightly better overall stats, but that .699 free throw percentage is gonna bite the Cavs in the ass soon.
funny you should mention Kobe’s d. Not very tenacious. Gilbert Arenas lit him up for 60. Michael Redd 45. D-Wade 40. Vee Dot Carter 31. Even Gerald Wallace BBQed him. But you’re right he’s having an MVP year. I still don’t have to like him.
Easy on the Johnson trade…. there is more to follow.. trust me.. you’ll see. Even if its not unitl the all star break – some of these prospects that they are stockpiling from the sheff and johnson trades will be traded for who? who knows.. but this is just a stepping stone my friend. I can tell you are nervous. Did you read Bob Klapish on ESPN today.. insiders say that come 2008, Johann Santana will be wearing those beautiful pinstripes.. and these prospects wil be the package sent back to Minny…
OR, smoltz at the break.. OR, rocket OR – who the hell knows.. but I cant wait to see it all unfold!
Oh – and Jason Taylor – yeah he only had 13 sacks, but 10 (count them 10) forced fumbles, 4 picks and 2 TD. Thats DAMN good.