N(utzo) B(asketball) A(ssociation)

Yikes. Holy Trade Deadline. Sure, moving Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks was something even my sister predicted- but the slew of trades just before yesterday's trade deadline resembled the transportation system in India.
Where to begin? Is it Perk landing on the Thunder, increasing their size and tenacity to make them an immediate contender in the West? Is it Gerald Wallace, one of the most underrated superstars in the NBA, going to the Blazers where they can actually do some damage? Or maybe its Kirk Hinrich, the defensive stud who can play both sides, to the Hawks, who desperately need some defense to replace the ever-aging Bibby.

Wrong, Wrong, and Wrong. The biggest move in the NBA was a move didn't happen. Yes, it was the fact that Richard Hamilton, one of the most respected bosses in the league, could not be moved out of Detroit's basement dwelling Pistons.
Rip was set to make about 16 million this year, a hefty load that is difficult to move. Word was that he was going to be traded to the Cavs- woah, huge- and then be bought out and free to sign with a team of his choice. However, the terms of his buyout could not be agreed upon therefore leaving him with the Pistons.

Rip, a longtime member of team Jordan, is one of the more respected veterans in the league. Put him on a young team like the Thunder or Heat and you have yourself a championship.
R.I.P Rip

Trade Official!

After weeks of reporting, fans waiting on the edge of their seats, and mumble jumble from inside the locker room- the blockbuster trade is finally official- Timofey Mozgov is now officially a member of the Denver Nuggets!
The Russian born sooba-stah has been coveted by the Nuggets since the summer, and made it apparent that he would only sign an extension if and only if the Knicks completed a deal to send him to the Nuggets.
"Я очень взволнован !!!" said Mozgov, the former emotional and physical leader of the New York Knicks.

Crowds in Denver roared as the newspapers highlighted the superstar aquisition.
The 7'1, 250lb center is going to be the cornerstone in the newly revamped Nuggets. The Knicks, in return, got Renaldo Balkman, Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony, and Anthony Parker.
Yes, the Nuggets had to give up a lot to get him, but both sides do agree that it is a deal that is going to benefit both teams in the long-run.

Both cities, as well as all ESPN anchors, can finally rest now that this deal has become final. Nuggets for the championship!

Fran-chize

Stevie Francis was the original "franchise" but that nickname has since been diluted. In the wake of talks between NFLPA and the Commissioner over a new CBA, there is no certainty of what to expect next season. Will there be a 50/50 split between owners and the NFL? Will there even be such thing as a "guaranteed" contract? Will franchise tags still be used?
While the first of two questions are still a complete unknown, we now at least know that general managers are not keeping back from applying the franchise tag.
Thus far into what may be a nonexistent season, the following players have been given the franchise tag:
1. Logan Mankins, G, Patriots
2. Mike Vick, QB, Eagles
3. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
4. LaMar Woodley, LB, Steelers
5. N'gata, NT, Ravens
6. Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers
7. David Harris, LB, Jets - dumb move

What does this mean? Well, on a normal year, this would mean that the player given the franchise tag (only one player, per team, per year) would earn the average of the top five salaries in that given position. What does it mean this season? Absolutely nothing. The NFLPA, the side less likely to budge during negotiations, does not want a franchise tag possibility. They are in favor of longer, more lucrative and guaranteed contracts.

The aforementioned franchise tag is referred to as the "exclusive" franchise tag. The other option, the "non-exclusive" franchise tag. A non-exclusive franchise player may negotiate with other NFL teams, but if he signs an offer sheet from another team, the original team has a right to match the terms of that offer, or if it does not match the offer and thus loses the player, is entitled to receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.

kickin' knowledge, yo!

Fearsome Foursome

Who's the luckiest guy in baseball? That question can go multiple ways, but there is only one clear-cut answer. No, not popcorn eating Alex Rodriguez. No, not Terry "This is the best team in baseball on paper in history" Francona- the correct answer is fat Joe Blanton. The reason? Well, the reason is because of the (other) four guys below:

Yes, you are looking at the picture correctly. Its all-world Roy Halladay, the heater Roy Oswalt, Cliff "my wife is scared of yankee fans" Lee, and Cole "my wife's hottness makes me cooler" Hamels. Then, of course, is fat joe.

Fattie boy joey isn't even the guaranteed fifth starter. Who cares? Not him. He has a guaranteed contract through the season which basically means he has a guaranteed ring at the end of the season. Sure, Yankees are still tough and the Red Sox put together a team that would make MJ's Dream Team look weak.

This pitching combination is going to manhandle the likes of the NL east this year, let alone the rest of the league. Fat Joe can lose every game and still end up victorious.

Let the training of Spring begin. Until 28'- phuck the fills.

Murderous Murph

A mere 23 games back from Boston for the lead of the Atlantic division in the eastern conference, the New Jersey Nets have already embarked on a much better season than last year. Already with five more wins than last season, the Nets are turning heads. Although they couldn't land Carmelo Anthony, and most likely won't this offseason, the newly charged Nets are really a force to recon with.
Whom, you ask, brought about this team overhaul? Someone must be playing lightsout, and it sure isn't Mr. Brook "what is a rebound" Lopez. Nope, not Devin "Hey mark cuban take me back" Harris, either. It's the man behind the man, Murderous Troy Murphy.

Troy is averaging a mean 3.9 points per game. 4.2 rebounds and .8 assists per game have brought Troy's game to a reputable level. All solid numbers.
Troy Boy comes from the skiing town of Sparta, NJ. He was part of the Fightin' Irish crew and put up monster numbers in college. He was drafted 14th overall by the Golden State Warriors. From there, he was traded to the pacers after 3 seasons to finally be shipped to his native state of NJ. The Nets have been the real Warriors of the NBA ever since the trade.

The main reason for the Nets success and Troy "the murderer" Murphy's resurgence is the fact that he has not been on the active roster. Murphy is in the final year of his contract and will make $11.9 million this season. That has not kept GM Billy King from asking Avery Johnson to not dress Murphy. He has an exceptional style of dressing, which been a huge factor of inspiration.

Said bosshog Travis Outlaw; "Dude can straight dress! Killer, yo!"
"Yo T Murph the murderer got more style then a candy store got candy," stated Jordan Farmar, the team captain, in an interview after a loss to the Knicks.

Troy has always been known to impact a team, but his recent streak of cheering and fist-pumping on the bench has been invaluable for a team looking to grow.
"When I'm out there playing, all I hear is Murderous Murph in my head. 'Do work, big man!' That is all I hear. That's when I become an animal," stated the 7'0 center Brook Lopez.

Most people who just look at stats don't appreciate the intangibles, especially those of bench players. Troy Murphy is by far the most important player on the roster. He exonerates a Franky Z like mentality. Basketball is 90% mental, so give the big murder-man a B+.

Arbitrati.....what?!

We have about a week before pitchers and catchers report to camp. That being said, the world of baseball is about to gain life again. We are past the type-A free agent signing stage and there is now little room for trading. Most teams have a solidified lineup set to begin spring training and all that is left for deciding who is in and who is out is a (not so) simple process called Arbitration.
I am a self-diagnosed baseball fanatic. I umpired for 4 years, played for 7, and watched for 22.
However, this process of arbitration is something that I have still yet to be able to understand.
Arbitration is as followed:

A player with less than six years of service time is eligible for salary arbitration if he:

1. is without a contract for the next season, AND
2. has been tendered a contract offer by his current team by the tender deadline, AND
3. cannot agree with his current team on a new contract, AND
4. meets one of the conditions below:
   1. has been on a major league roster or disabled list for at least three years, OR
   2. has at least two years of major league service but less than three, AND is among the top 17 percent for cumulative playing time in the majors in this class of players, AND was on an active major-league roster for at least 86 days in the previous season.
   
   
   
   
   So, basically, if your team doesn't want you, you can take them to court and defend the notion that you are in the top 20 percentile at your position in the entire league. In most cases, this is untrue. The last case of this actually working out was with Ryan Howard.
   

Ain't that super..

What's your favorite part of the Super Bowl? Is it the guacamole? The Bud Light commercials? The squares to bet on? The inevitable hungover Monday? The final push for an exciting day of football? Certainly not mine. I like the media craze surrounded the event.

From a PR background, I am partial to the existence behind the scenes of the game. The billion dollar advertising circus that forces the Super Bowl to be the biggest, most watched sporting event of the entire year.

Fun Facts

• 125+ million people watch the Super Bowl.
• Super Bowl is the leading party day, beating out even New Year's Eve.
• The average number of guests at any given Super Bowl party: 17.
• $55 million will be spent on food for game day parties.
• 10 million man-hours will be spent preparing Super Bowl Party food.
• Super Bowl Sunday is the second leading food consumption day, next to Thanksgiving

It's the inevitable. So, your team isn't in it? Can't stand to watch the Shittsburg Steelers win another? Me neither. As much I we want to naysay, we can't wait to watch. But it's not our fault. We're forced to be attracted to the game, and more impressively, the events surrounding it. This year, as you're watching Big Ben somehow escape a wrap-tackle from Defensive POY runner-up Clay Matthews, take a second to appreciate the effort.

Just Dye already.

Reports came out today on mlbtraderumors.com that former White Sox slugger Jermaine Dye is "shocked" that no one has called to obtain his (ancient) services, thus forcing him into contemplating retirement.

This should come as no shocker considering that he did not play one game last season. He diligently waited by the phone (no agent, represented himself) for a call from a team that needed him. Zip, zero.

"I will continue to stay in shape and hopefully someone will call. If nothing gets done by the end of the spring, I may call it a career."

Seriously, dude, get over yourself. You are looking for a guaranteed major league contract and you are like 45 and can no longer play the outfield. Taking an entire season off looks terrible- take a look at Sheffield. You should have swallowed your pride like Troy Glaus did, made your way through the minors (Again) and started fresh. All I hope is that the Yankees do not have you on their radar!

Excuses, excuses, excuses

Wheerv I been? A little weekend partying and I can't post in 5 days? Holy bagels, I could not even begin to conjure up an excuse good enough to justify my lack of commitment as of late to the DG community.
After thinking of what I could supply my (2) followers with as an excuse, I thought to myself, that is my next post. Best, and quite possibly some of the weirdest, excuses ever supplied by an athlete. Here goes:

1. Roger Clemens- everyone is familiar with this case of perjury. He is arguably the best pitcher ever, but the Rocket's legacy came to a staggering decline when multiple reports claimed that he was juicing. After his trained admitted to often injecting Clemens, the Rocket claimed that he "misremembered" the incidents.

2. Previously mentioned Mike Vick, back in 2005, got popped in Atlanta airport with a water bottle that conveniently had an extra compartment in it for hiding things. After security claimed that it smelled like marijuana, Vick simply stated that "it was used to hide jewelry."

3. Michael Irvin- The king of the endzone was apparently the prince of crack. In a 2006 traffic stop, a police officer found a crack pipe in Irvin's car. His excuse? He was holding it for a friend of his who he was helping recover from crack addiction.

4. Barry Bonds- While testifying in the BALCO investigation of 2003, the huuuge Giants slugger insisted that the clear liquid he'd received from trainer Greg Anderson and taken was merely flaxseed oil.

5. O.J. Mayo- he is now serving part of his two week suspension in the NBA for a banned substance. Mayo claims that the substance (DHEA) was an ingredient in an over the counter energy drink that he bought from a gas station.

6. Brian Cusing- Texans linebacker, last year, believes he tested positive for HCG because he has a unique medical condition stemming from overtrained athlete syndrome. Cushing's excuse in merely the latest in a long line of head-scratchers.

So, after I send my apologies, please realize that there are far worse perjury cases out there to dawn on. I shall do my best to continue writing, and I will surely keep out of gas station convenience stores.