The D.A.Y. Ben Wallace was worth the money
and Gilbert vs. Ron Ron in basketball, not craziness
The Finals rematch with the leadership battle between Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki never happened. This is supposed to be one of those big statement games of the year and it ended up as the worst of the three games played. Last week at this time I was on a plane heading to Vegas. Today I might have to go to IKEA and then help prep my apartment for my girlfriend’s friend who is staying over this weekend, before we go to an Oscar party on Sunday. It does not get more opposite or any less balling.
CHICAGO 84 CLEVELAND 78
The first half was everything the Bulls were hoping for out of the season. Ben Wallace leading the way on a smothering defensive effort against one of their key divisional rivals. LeBron sat for a bit, and in that time the Bulls opened up a lead with a 12-0 run. The Cavs responded from their ugly 9 point second quarter with a 31 point third, but they couldn’t complete the comeback down the stretch. LeBron hit a late pull-up three to bring the Cavs within four, and then after passing up a shot he secured a big rebound and put it back, but he didn’t take the next one. I thought we could put the “LeBron is not clutch and doesn’t want the big shot” talk to bed after the playoffs last year, but I’m really not so sure. The guy said on espn that he intends to become a global icon and he wants to be mentioned in the same breath as Muhammad Ali as far as impacting the world. He’s still young, and slightly less progressive politically. He is gettin’ money though. Speaking of which… BIG BEN boooooooonnnnnnggggggggg!!! Ben Wallace, the biggest name free agent of the offseason had his best game as a Bull. 14 points, 19 boards, 7 blocks, and he even hit both of his free throws. LeBron had 29 in the loss on 28 shots, while Larry Hughes had 20 on 26 shots.
WASHINGTON 109 SACRAMENTO 106
With 0.7 left, Brad Miller threw a beautiful pass to John Salmons, who drained the miracle three to tie the game and we’re going to overtime… no wait… it was a two… no wait it was a three, but it was after the buzzer. The refs reviewed it, the Wizards won the game. The Kings are the Nets of the west. They have the painful loss down to a science. This game had a little bit of everything, a blown 17 point lead by Washington, Gilbert vs. Ron Ron, Bibby vs. Butler, 47 combined turnovers, and best of all this quote from Mr. Artest “I tried to do a little bit more, but Coach just stopped going to me.” Ah… Mussleman. Good luck with all that. The final numbers are big. Gil hit 3 of 8 threes and a whole bunch of free throws on his way to a 43-7-7 and 9 turnover game. His shot has been a little off, and Gilbert has adjusted by earning trips to the line. He really seems like he’s evolving to the next level, especially since the Portland disaster. Caron added 25 while Mr. 50 gave them 21 points on over 50% shooting. Is the Jamison injury a blessing in disguise? The Wizards lost Larry Hughes, Jared Jeffries, and now Antawn for a while and they’ve been able to survive. Eddie Jordan’s job security was being questioned this year? Artest scored 32 and the staying put Bibby had 30.
DALLAS 112 MIAMI 100
This was much uglier than a 12 point win. Josh Howard landed on Jason Kapono’s ankle on his way down from nailing a three and Shaq nearly killed little Devin Harris with a flagrant with the game out of hand. I don’t think it was malicious, it was just what happens when you outweigh another man by 250 pounds or so. Dirk led the way with 31 and 11 and was very aggressive going right at Haslem and not just settling for jumpers. If he did that in the Finals, the Mavs would already have their ring. Oh, and this was the 10th win in a row for Dallas. Their third 10 game winning streak of the season.
30 Responses to “The D.A.Y. Ben Wallace was worth the money”
Feb.23 at 10:45 am
Noyd says:
Yea, good point Sam. What is up with Lebron? He can get to the rim anytime he wants, like AI about 7 years ago, except he can plow over anyone and score, yet he doesnt seem to do it when his team needs him to. Is he afraid of getting fouled and then having to take free throws? I think this is a legitimate issue now. I think he’s a great player, but he doesn’t have that killer instinct that separated the superstars from the all-time greats. He’s still young though. From the first quarter I saw of the Heat-Mavs game(I fell asleep, now that’s BAAALLLINNNN, maybe even ballin outta control), the Heat are in big trouble. Shaq has got to turn back the clock about 6 years for them to have a shot at the playoffs. Let’s see what the Diesel has left in the tank. Remember, he’s probably played about an extra season and a halfs to two seasons worth of playoff ball. So really, this could be considered his 16th season. Oh yea Sam, Ikea can be ballin, but only if you get their cinnamon rolls. Jim Jones has officially ruined that word.
Feb.23 at 10:56 am
Boing Dynasty says:
Im fairly confedant that Muhammad Ali would hit his free throws.
Feb.23 at 11:37 am
Gnar Gnar Duckets! says:
Can anyone ever have the impact that Ali had? I don’t think it’s possible.
Feb.23 at 12:15 pm
Rick Kang says:
Who cares about being a global icon? Try being a champion first… For LeBron to reference Ali as a model is both lofty and foolish — while Ali at least appeared to have political-significance, LeBron is just a supremely-talented ballplayer and ultimately, only an entertainer at best.
Save the Global Icons for people who actually deserve to be Global Icons (aka nobody).
Feb.23 at 12:31 pm
Nadav Mor says:
doing the whole “last week at this time” after an awesome event is great. painful, but fun.
Feb.23 at 1:23 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
This IKEA is in New Jersey. No cinnamon rolls or sweedish meatballs are worth the trip. Driving through the Lincoln Tunnel on a Friday is worse than the Vegas strip over All-Star.
I think I’ll be playing that “last week at this time” game in my mind a lot this weekend.
Feb.23 at 1:33 pm
Chris says:
Sam your girlfriends got you going to ikea AND an Oscar party, will you being wearing your Doug Christie jersey?
Feb.23 at 1:35 pm
Noyd says:
True that Sam, I did the same thing when I came back from Hawaii a few months ago…I still do it, with thoughts like, “Damn, 3 months ago I was in Hawaii” etc. When’s a good time to let that thought process go? By the way, while in Hawaii I bumped into Ernie Johnson(TNT was covering the Kauai Classic or something). Real nice dude, of course I mentioned SLAM when talking to him. Should have said something about Chuck and his golf game though.
Feb.23 at 1:38 pm
bigmike407 says:
Why doesn’t LeBron take over like he should be doing? Who on the Bulls can check him? Oh, and how does “Hibachi” drop 43 on a team with Ron-Ron? Did he ever guard Arenas at any time in the game? If he did’nt, I think Musselman is still drinking. I definently agree w/ Noyd about LeBron. I thought it was getting there after 2 game-winners in the playoffs. But I guess I was wrong.
Feb.23 at 1:49 pm
Hersey says:
Microsoft, Coca-cola, LeBron James I find it amusing that LeBron wants to be a global icon, as if there’s a formula. I don’t think LeBron is willing to go to jail standing up for his principles. A championship isn’t anywhere on the horizon for the Cavs either.
Feb.23 at 1:50 pm
Donn says:
I hate ikea…it’s just so freaking huge and it seems, once you get in that death trap, never ending. It’s like being in a maze that has no exit. IKEA is like a Costco on steroids and not some regular steroids but the kind of steroids that makes a baseball player hit nine hundred home runs after the age of 35 and makes his head so big that he looks like a living bobble head. And speaking of BAALLLIINNGGG!!! the swedish guy who created this monster is the richest guy in the world. Who knew that the key to being the richest man in the world is cheap furniture and an alan wrench.
Feb.23 at 1:51 pm
Nadav Mor says:
It’s okay Sam, last week I was in the States watching NBA games on HD during primetime. Now I’m back in Europe waking up at 4am to watch the games on the internet.
ballin?
Feb.23 at 1:52 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
For better or worse, Ali didnt go to jail, he went to Canada.
Feb.23 at 1:54 pm
The Culbert Report says:
I just can’t stop laughing at Pat Riley’s karma.
Pat’s probably sitting in a dark room somewhere muttering “Trying to make the playoffs with an elderly roster and no Wade is not particularly baller to me.”
Feb.23 at 1:54 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
Def not ballin’ Nadav
Feb.23 at 2:21 pm
mutoni says:
I don’t recall Ali ever pushing…lawnmowers!
Feb.23 at 2:51 pm
Paniscus says:
Sam, “slightly” less politically progressive than Ali? I hope that you were aiming for drastic overstatement, because “tool for the the system, socially regressive, and politically unaware” is more apt. Outside of pure athletic ability there should be no comparing Ali and James. I realize that I’m an asshole for taking pleasure in his recent on-court failure, but I feel that his public image has been manufactured from the start. I just like to see him get his comeuppance. Ali was concerned about his sport and the world. James is concerned about hawking products and his place in the world and how his sport is a means to those ends.
Feb.23 at 2:59 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Yes Paniscus. That was more understated sarcasm and then I jokingly inferred that it’s all good because Lebron is getting money. What do you expect though? His mentors/idols/heroes are Jay-Z and Michael Jordan. Money? yes. Impact on the world? yes. Putting themselves at financial risk for a cause? not in a billion years.
Feb.23 at 3:36 pm
Paniscus says:
Fair enough. I’d just rather that he’d compare himself to Jay-Z and Jordan rather than Ali. I’ve been in this forum before saying that it’s ok to have an agenda, including chasing dollars. I just don’t appreciate it when somebody takes the high road when they spend all of their time on the low road, you know? Whether it’s Barkley criticizing Amaechi for publicizing his book or James setting the goal of being global icon when he’s really just after global merchandising. I just value honesty that I sense from the likes of Rasheed, Gilbert and Etan, who are all totally different types of guys, but all have the common trait of representing themselves as they are. LeBron’s an amazing talent and he could be huge like Jordan, but at this rate and on his present course he’ll never be important like Ali. Sorry if I was too critical or combative in my last post.
Feb.23 at 4:07 pm
Rick Kang says:
Not too critical by far, dude… Unforunately, the example Mike set is unrealistic and far too much to expect from anyone. Mike (and Swooshie and Wieden&Kennedy) created his global presence, predicated on on-court excellence. Ali meant something because in his time, an outspoken black athlete was as rare as a Yinka Dare assist. All LeBron means is $$$ for Nike and Gloria and hisself. Nuthin’ wrong with that, true — but concentrate on yer game first (and don’t hire boys to do the job of men).
Feb.23 at 6:31 pm
jbn74sb says:
I think an outspoken black athlete in Ali’s time was far less rare than now. At least in terms of marquee guys. Back then Jim Brown and Bill Russell were both huge and were outspoken and socially active. I can’t think of a single star black athlete currently that has an outspoken position on any subject of any import.
Feb.23 at 9:37 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
It’s kind of scary—I think the most outspoken black celebrity at all these days is Bill Cosby, and he’s got nothing at all to lose.
Feb.24 at 12:14 pm
francis says:
The nba doesn’t want socially active players because that’s not what attracts corporate sponsors. They don’t even want the players to comment about anything socially relevent, if what’s being said has a negative effect on $$$$. Just ask Tim Hardaway, he got canned for saying something stupid…no doubt! But was he not voicing a legitimate concern among the players. Oh, and Labron if you want be a global icon take a page from Oprah’s book. feed the poor, cloth the homeless, build schools in poor neighborhood’s, or homes on the southside of chi-town. Give away a couple of car’s from time to time and you might just make it…Otherwise, shut the f@#% up and play ball.
Feb.24 at 12:27 pm
francis says:
Russ, It’s true Bill Cosby’s has nothing to lose because he’s a billionair. He has “I don’t give a f@#% money” coming out his a$$. And when you have that kind of paper you dont have to worry about what people think.
Feb.24 at 1:27 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
I think LeBron has already become the icon of this generation’s ball player, much like Iverson was the last one. Guys wanted to be like Iverson by “being true to themselves” no matter what, even if it meant they were making the wrong choices. LeBron is the new breed, where it’s more important to have a different face to present to different people at different times, just like in his commeicals with “the LeBrons.” He’s basically a politician that’s trying to lock down as many consticiuencies as he can, as opposed to a politican that cares about making real change. The two things that he had spoken out on this year was getting other members of his draft class to make shrewder deals and challenging Stern on the new ball. He is still very very very young though, and this is the first time he’s had to deal with any backlash (other than the Cleveland fans booing him in 4th quarters and the fear of him leaving the Cavs).
Feb.25 at 5:14 pm
DEVILb0y says:
If he doesnt work on his late game performances, he’ll be the global icon of chokers replacing nick anderson, who gave the world one of the most memorable game choking moments against houston in the finals, for which he will forever be remembered…
Feb.25 at 5:18 pm
DEVILb0y says:
one more thing Ron Ron dont play defense anymore..I dont even think he’s interested in winning anymore..WTF? Is this the alph smpaon effect after that fight in boston shot own his career..what a waste
Feb.25 at 5:19 pm
DEVILb0y says:
Imeant Ralph sampson’s career after the fight in bos.
Feb.25 at 6:20 pm
David says:
It’s probably useful to remember that Ali was a mix of (over)confidence, talent, charisma, and didn’t have any reservations about saying his mind. LeBron has the first three but I haven’t heard him share any really meaningful opinions (basketball is only a game and money is only money). Barkley is the only person I can think of that has been willing to talk about social problems but he doesn’t seem to be serious enough to try to do anything. But it would be funny to see him challenge Bush to a foot race.
Oct.28 at 8:44 pm
The Beast From the East says:
He is the best b-ball playa in da world!!!!