First and Foremost, I want to congratulate Alonzo Mourning on winning an NBA championship with the Miami Heat. As much as I like watching Dirk play, I’m glad to see a formet Georgetown center get a ring. Especially one that’s gone through as much as ‘Zo. The man lost a kidney and almost died, yet he found a way to will his body back to competitive shape and made big contributions that led to an NBA title. I salute you, good sir.
That said, you want to know what I’m really going to miss about the NBA season being over? The commentators. Mainly, Hubie Brown in particular. That nappy-headed white man knows his basketball. It’s like listening to an old school guru, with a really calm demeanor. The total opposite of listening to Bill Walton and Steve “Snapper” Jones argue for four quarters like a lot of NBA on ABC fans were subjected to during the regular season.
Don’t get me wrong. I actually like Bill Walton. He’s obnoxious and opinionated, but he always makes his point. Plus, he tends to be pretty funny and entertaining when he’s not arguing with someone or talking about how great he was.
Still, Hubie is the man. I know he’s older than the Sphinx in Egypt, but I hope he’s got a few more years of NBA coverage in him. He’s like one of those old guys that’s been around a sport so long, that it’s second nature to them. Like Angelo Dundee and Emanuel Steward in boxing. Or that creepy dude with the pervert moustache that works with the US women’s gymnastics team. Hubie Brown is a real-life version of Mick from Rocky. I’m waiting for him to go on the air one day and say “You gotta be fast, Rock! You gotta eat lightning and crap thundah!”
I’m also a fan of the NBA on TNT crew with Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller. I like that mix of one journalist and three ex-players from the league’s most recent heyday. Although Charles Barkley tends to come across as bitter and cynical at times, it’s almost always entertaining. Plus, you have to repect him for not pulling any punches and saying whatever he feels needs to be said. Kind of like ListenToLeon, only with way more basketll talent. And money. And a much larger head.
Still, this playoffs was entertaining in my opinion. The league is in good shape with the stars that are out there right now. Folks need to watch out for Dallas next year, because I’m sure they have learned a lot from this finals experience and will smack folks around a little more come next season. Also, watch out for LeBron James, and of course, my boy Gilbert Arenas. I have a feeling Washington’s front office will make some moves to get more of a defensive presence next season to go along with all of those scorers that they already have. I think I’m making my return to the basketball court tomorrow, just because I’m going to miss watching it on TV. Let me get to bed and write a note to myself so that I remember to stretch in the morning.
Hustleman
It was a good playoff and Im back to paying attention to the NBA. Even though Im not a fan of the Heat or their style of play, I have to give them credit for being the tougher team. Dallas was just too soft to get critical stops on defense and crucial rebounds when they needed them. I look forward to seeing them play next year and also the Suns. I hope the league tries to adopt that uptempo style of games that forces player to actually be basketballers first and wrestlers second. Im still not sure the American game has learned anything from international play but time will tell.
Bah humbug…..grouchy/moody
MIAMI SUCKS….lol….BIG TIME
Hubie looks like Skeletor. LOL!!!
I was hoping it was all just a bad dream…
But naw… the Miami Lukewarms actually won.
Um, I can’t believe you think Washington is actually going to try to improve. They do this to you every year… and always let you down. Trust me… they are going to suck again
I am from Miami Miami and i must tell you last night was CRAZZZY! I went out and celebrated and almost died…literally. As a Miami Heat fan we deserve this win. We have been through so much shit and back and have been rebuilding for years now. And when we had Shaq we knew good things would come. I thank you for showing some type pf support and recognition! Peace out.
kikimia
Leon. You are a damn fool. I have spent the last unproductive day at work laughing hysterically at your musings and antics. Keep up the good work.
I am happy for the Heat only because I wanted Shaq to have something to throw in Kobe’s face. LOL
I’m going to miss basketball season simply because it is probably the only sport that you can’t actually sit back and watch grass grow, during the course of the game. (Ignore the fact that NBA basketball isn’t played anywhere in the vecinity of actual grass.) Baseball…snoooze. I will give football a higher approval rating than baseball for the simple fact that they make up for the unimagineably slow ass-ocity of the game by only playing 16 or so regular season games a year.
Which brings me to another point. I really don’t consider baseball players very good atheles. They sit down or stand still for a better portion of the game. Thats why they’re forced to play so many games a year, they don’t do enough work to constitute getting paid for a shorter season. This is just my theory and based solely on speculation.
Golf, basically you take away the ball and its called walking. Tennis, with the exception of Serena William’s ass.. its about as entertaining as a root canal. Volleyball is just gay, soccer is too foreign for me, rugby is also too foreign. While we’re at it, lets throw cricket in that category too. Polo is for rich people and horse racing is cruel. So basically… i’m assed out for another 5 months. Way to go Miami, you could have dragged it out to game 7 and given me one more day of NBA bliss…but nooooooooooooo gotta think of yourselves and end it in game 6. Thanks. I’m kidding though, I’m glad they won, I called it from the gate…Heat in 6. Whos the man NOW Leon, chea biatch.
Damn I wrote a lot, you’d think I thought this was MY blog or something =)
@ Woodrow, I agree. It was a good playoff this year. Every round was entertaining.
LOL @ MsDeGrate
@ Milleniagirl, HE DOES! That’s still my boy, though. Barkley’s head is ridiculous!
@ Jali, sorry to wake you up from that dream.
@ Hassan, Grumfeld is a good general manager. All of the teams he’s run recently either made the conference finals or the NBA finals within a few years of him being there. The days of Wes Unseld making idiot personnel moves are OVER! Mark my words, dammit.
@ Kikimia, be careful! Falling out of a moving pickup truck sounds like a hard way to die…lol
Thanks for the compliment @ 1969. I’m not going to make fun of Kobe, because I have already gone over the “Kobe Butt Sex Joke” limit
@ Rebecca, I like some of the sports you dogged, but I agree, basketball is easily the most fun to watch. Marry me. LOL
I need to know where the Kobe bootie jokes are…
yeah so it is Friday and happy hour is gonna be on and poppin today… looking forward to stories of your weekend shenanigans on Monday… I’ll be in DC tomorrow night for some Que boat party thing but I’m looking for a suggestion of where to go after that…
@ Jirzygurl, how about…my place?
:)
But for real, write me at HustlemanL77@yahoo.com so we can exchange info. I’m probably going to be in VA all weekend, but if I can make it back up to DC, I’ll let you know. Either way, I can suggest a few places to hang out down here.
Ur all sad don’t you think!!! writting dat much, who wants 2 write dat crap anyway!!!