Links: Dallas, Bernie B, Snitching, MoPete
What are the chances Bickerstaff ends up hosting “106 and Park”?
So…issue 108 of SLAM is pretty much dunzo, out the door and on the way to the printer. And I’m already on to the next issue, sitting here trying to think of a cover concept to make…whoops, almost gave it away. Anyway, it don’t stop around here.
“The Hills” was amazing again last night. When it works, the show is about friendships, and they got back to dealing with friendship problems again last night. They obviously edit the heck out of the show to make the situations look even worse than they actually are. But that’s what’s great about it.
Omar came by today to bask in the glory of his 300 review and said that I “be lookin’ tired as sh*t.” I was going to explain to O what it means to have a full-time job, but didn’t want to get into it.
I’m so far behind on “24″ right now that it’s laughable. I actually have four episodes saved on my DVR, and I’ve just got to find a free evening to catch up. Problem’s been that the last few weeks I’ve worked all day, then had to go home and write something else or edit something or whatever…just haven’t had a chance to completely veg on the couch.
Last night I went to bed early (by my standards) and realized the Mavs/Warriors game was still on, so I watched most of the second half of that. Golden State was playing nearly perfectly, and Dallas couldn’t do jack. By the fourth quarter Avery had given up, and that Barea dude got significant burn. Hey, the streak had to end at some point. I’m guessing the Suns weren’t happy about Dallas finally losing, considering they play the Mavs tomorrow night and surely didn’t want Dallas coming in pissed about turning in a stinker in Oaktown.
Going out of town this weekend to catch a few rounds of NCAA action. Not going with a press pass, just sitting in the stands with a few friends. Should be fun. I have no attachments to any of the teams, either, so I’ll be cheering for the underdogs throughout.
Not a whole lot happening in the NBA right now. Phoenix and Dallas are going to fight it out for the top spot in the West. The Sixers are playing their way out of the Oden/Durant derby. The Hawks are playing their way out of winning a top lottery slot, which means they’ll have to hand their pick over to Phoenix. Depressing.
A few stories worth mentioning today…
• Not much surprise that Michael Jordan announced Bernie Bickerstaff won’t be returning as coach for the BETcats. Bernie’s assembled a nice team down there, but they don’t seem to play very well for Bernie.
• How about Wedgie Evans snitching on former teammate Joe Forte? “(Forte) verbally went at the coach,” said Evans. “He didn’t want to go on the (disabled list). He couldn’t relate. He was a (jerk). When we lost games, he was laughing.” Evans is upset that he’d been logging DNP-CDs, but said he didn’t want to make a big deal about it. Instead he talked about the time one of his teammates made a big deal about it. Nice.
And did anyone else this stat last weekend: When Greg Oden grabbed 19 rebounds against Purdue, he broke the record for rebounds in a Big 10 tournament game that had been set by Reggie Evans, who had 18 in a game (twice) for Iowa.
Oden hasn’t grabbed anyone’s junk yet, though.
At least, not that we know about.
• Orlando doesn’t sound very big on keeping Jameer Nelson around after this season. Magic GM Otis Smith said, “Jameer has to understand that we expect more out of him,” and added, “I don’t think Jameer’s had the best of years.” Nice.
The Magic are going to try and sign Dwight Howard and Darko to extensions this summer, so Jameer might end up being the odd man out.
There’s been a lot of talk about Orlando using their cap room this summer to sign a scorer…what if they throw a ton of cash at Chauncey Billups? Just putting it out there…
• Things are looking cloudy in L.A., where the Lakers are so depleted by injury that assistants Craig Hodges and Brian Shaq had to dress out and practice with the team last week. The Lakers are clinging to the bottom of the Playoff standings, but things should start looking up: According to the LA Times, they play 11 of their last 18 at home, and their next seven opponents are Denver, Portland, Minnesota, Memphis, New Orleans, Golden State and Memphis. I want them to qualify either 7th or 8th so we get a Phoenix/Lakers first round series. I might have to actually travel out West for that one.
• And finally, could the longest-serving Raptor be on the way out? Say it ain’t so, Mo.
29 Responses to “Links: Dallas, Bernie B, Snitching, MoPete”
Mar.13 at 5:31 pm
allenp says:
first, bitches
Mar.13 at 5:32 pm
allenp says:
that was actually fun
Mar.13 at 5:33 pm
Elvis says:
first
Mar.13 at 5:33 pm
Elvis says:
or not!! 2nd
Mar.13 at 5:36 pm
PIMPN says:
KU = 07 CHAMPS
Mar.13 at 5:43 pm
PIMPN says:
THE SPURS NEED TO GET MO PETE THIS OFFSEASON!
Mar.13 at 5:58 pm
Julian says:
lamar odom is coming back thursday so the lakers’ season should start looking up. and isnt luke coming back soon too?
Mar.13 at 5:59 pm
Max Airington says:
Certainly not a complaint, but I thought The Links were, um, dead?
Mar.13 at 6:00 pm
Chris says:
No Mo, he’s by far my favourite Raptor. If he leaves I dunno, I will be disappointed but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Mar.13 at 6:04 pm
tone says:
5th.. that felt really good
Mar.13 at 6:20 pm
albie1kenobi says:
just when we bid The Links farewell, it came back stronger than ever. i don’t Lang has posted this frequently in a year or so.
seriously though Lang, it’s good to have you here, but hmm… where are the quotes?
Mar.13 at 6:28 pm
Chris says:
I like Mo, he can hit the corner three, is a decent defender, is good for several “circus shots” per season, but dude is a ROLE player, that thinks he’s a starter. If he goes to any decent (read playoff) team, chances are he’s coming off the bench. I mean his minutes are being taken by Juan Dixon, Anthony Parker, and Joey Graham, not exactly a bunch of allstars
Mar.13 at 7:25 pm
coach says:
sam disrespected mo pete . the guy is better than parker or juan dixon .
Mar.13 at 7:49 pm
semtex says:
coach - what have you been smoking?
Mar.13 at 8:07 pm
Big L says:
Jameer has been the biggest disappointment for the Magic. Too many TOs, not enough assists, not that great a scorer. Chauncey or Mike Bibby would be dope in Orlando.
Mar.13 at 9:09 pm
chiphead says:
Gotta love that Brian Shaq.
Mar.13 at 9:20 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
Nice catch, chiphead. I’m blaming that on the new auto-spellcheck thing I have. The Links as they used to be are dead. Maybe. Probably. I don’t know. I’m just trying to post some stuff up here and feel my way along. Although I guess they’ll never be dead because it’ll always be called The Links.
Mar.13 at 9:23 pm
Ryan Jones says:
MoPete is a poor-man’s Pippen. Cavs need to pick him up ASAP. I am not kidding.
Mar.13 at 10:13 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I thought Jameer was Dwight’s boy? Then again Malik Rose was Tim Duncan’s boy, and we saw how well that worked out for him.
Mar.13 at 10:28 pm
Tom Jackson says:
Maybe we can get someone else to do a quotes of the day, or at least of the week… those were always good, coming from Lang. Also, Lang I know it’s mostly just because you don’t mention your personal life, but my thought has been for awhile now after reading about your days and weeks, do you like.. EVER see your wife? Hours of video games, SI articles, SLAM articles, SLAMOnline, traveling here there everywhere… I mean, damn man all I do is work an 8 hour shift for Expedia and go to the Y a few hours a week and my wife hates all the time on my schedule.
Mar.13 at 11:00 pm
Dblizzy! says:
We must be talkin reeeeeal poor huh Ryan?
Elvis, technically you were third… heartbreaking.
And Reggie Evans didn’t really snitch, cuz I heard about all those things when they happened. Come to think about it, I probably read them right here on The Links. Give yourself some credit Lang, you’re exposing shit you already exposed!
Mar.14 at 12:06 am
Co Co says:
Lang, I’ve been at Philips Arena for every one of these Hawks wins, and at first I didn’t know how to feel about it. There was a part of me that wanted them to lose, but then the fan in me woke up and I want them to win as many games as they can. Just hold onto the fact that Billy Knight probably wouldn’t take Durant or Oden if he had the first pick anyway. This would be the year he finally addresses our point guard situation! Billy’s incompetence is the only thing that gives me solace these last four games!
Mar.14 at 1:10 am
TC says:
MoPete a poor man’s Pippen? Make that a so very very extremely poor man’s Pippen please….
Mar.14 at 7:12 am
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
Ryan, what’ve you been smoking, mate?
Mar.14 at 7:14 am
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
Must get my hands on some of that.
Mar.14 at 10:54 am
Franchise says:
“What are the chances Bickerstaff ends up hosting “106 and Park”?” man i can’t stop laughing at that!
Mar.14 at 12:01 pm
Ryu says:
I would’t change Jameer for Billups. No way. I think he has a great potential, and he’s younger than C-Billz. Maybe he’s a kind of underdog that Billups used to be. Anyway, if the Pistons won’t make any miracle in the playoffs this year, I’m gonna say Billups is overrated. Yeah and it seems like there is a mad rivaly between the Hawks and the 76ers about who’s NOT gonna get Oden/Durant. Who understands these NBA teams nowadays.
Mar.14 at 2:02 pm
Ben Couch says:
“Oden hasn’t grabbed anyone’s junk yet, though.” Classic Whitaker. Beautiful.
Mar.14 at 3:05 pm
Mark says:
Give me the Suns tonight in a shoot-out that will give Nash the MVP edge.