Crawford's boys and the Lakers beat the Spurs - 2008 NBA Western Conference Finals (NBA officiating corruption)

Knock at the door

Who is it?

Goons.

Who?

Hired goons. (emphasis added)

Hired goons?

Credit: Scene by 'Simpsons'

Unfortunately, this is not just a scene from Mr. Burns world ('Simpsons'). Though if it were, David Stern would be saying 'ahh Popovich, I hope Crusher and Low Blow (hired goons) didn't hurt you.' Teams all over the league are hearing that metaphorical knock, every time they match-up with a higher rated team. And the hired goons are the NBA refs.

Not too long after I writing about how bad officiating was very costly to the Jazz in their 2008 Western Conference Semifinals vs. the Lakers, I’m back telling you how it happened again in the Lakers vs. Spurs 2008 Western Conference Finals.

I hate to be saying it. I don’t want to be marginalized as a ‘conspiracy theorist’. But I’d be derelict to my commission of telling the truth if I didn’t write about what is painfully obvious: That the refs officiating is affecting games in the Lakers favor.

Game 1 of Lakers vs. Spurs set the stage for the series

Before the now infamous no-call of Fisher on Barry at the end of Game 4 there was terrible officiating in Game 1 of the Lakers and Spurs. In that game, the Spurs went up by 20 and blew the lead and the game. But what happened besides the Spurs choking that enabled that to happen so fast? Because championship teams do perennial championship teams 20 point leads in half a quarter?

The NBA knows that once a game gets much past 20, viewers tune out. The refs call the game accordingly and we all know it.

Knowing that, Derrick Fisher mugged Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker on their drives to the lane. There were no whistles to stop it. The rest of the Lakers followed suit and the rest of the rattled Spurs started taking all types of off-balanced shots. The Spurs would lose a game that never should have even been close.

The Spurs would never get that Game 1 choke out of their heads. Losing a 20 point lead in an opening game on the road against another good team is hard to recover from.

The game 4 dagger, The nail in the coffin, or rather the whistle in the pocket!

The NBA stated that through the benefit of instant replay, that Derrick Fisher appeared to foul Brent Barry at the end of Game 4. That was an announcement worthy of the accolades of Slick Willie (Bill Clinton) himself. The announcement is a shady attempt by the NBA to exonerate themselves and sell themselves as sincere and fair.

The league got the benefit of the bad call and are pretending like they were upset by the lack of the call. But if they really cared, then would they not say that the refs that missed that call will no longer be allowed to officiate for the rest of the playoffs?

That would make sense given the amount of qualified refs at their disposal. But there is no chance of that happening. That would counter the message the league has already sent to their refs. The message is that the league is more prosperous when big market teams win and refs it is advantageous to the refs to realize that and act accordingly.

The NBA is well aware of the growing belief among its fanship that the NBA is rewarding refs when the higher rated team wins; whether with monetary bonuses or the opportunity to ref more games, including the higher paying playoff games. But the league has calculated that such considerations will subside and fans will be happy with sensationalism over substance.

Joey Crawford continues to be a black eye for the league and an open sore for Spurs fans

If this is a truly hot button issue, why then would Joey Crawford be in the building, let alone refereeing the pivotal Game 4 of the 2008 Western Conference Finals, given his intrepid history with Spurs superstar, Tim Duncan?

Crawford was suspended for months for the unfair treatment of the Spurs star, Tim Duncan. The NBA can say that he served his time, but this is not a societal issue. This is a business matter. Fans of the San Antonio Spurs deserved better than having such an egregious figure ultimately control their fate. Crawford was right there watching Brent Barry's knees buckle right before he got off a shot that could not even hit the rim.

The Spurs played a sub-par series, but what is overshadowed is that people would say the same thing about the Lakers had the calls went the Spurs way and it was Spurs going into Game 5, up 3-1. I don’t recall a series in which the officiating had such a big effect on the total landscape of the series. But I am not surprised.

Last thought

It is sad that the league is emasculating it's own legacy. We all lost the chance to see the Spurs have a fair chance at going for that illusive back to back championship and solidifying their dynasty with five rings in ten years. All that said, the NBA is banking on the idea that not many fans will be put off by this and that even more will be sold on the ‘dream series’ of the Celtics and Lakers.

They would be right. I have no delusions that my writing and that the writing of others will be anything but a fly buzzing in the league officials ears. The league knows they got what they want and that this is going away sooner or later. As long as the league discretely cheats in moderation they know they will be fine.

In the meantime, if the Lakers go on to win the championship, don't forget the asterisk. Phil Jackson should be able to appreciate that.




NBA Officiating Corruption Articles:

The refs: The Lakers sixth man? - 2008 Western Conference Semifinals (NBA Officiating Corruption)

Crawford's boys and the Lakers beat the Spurs - 2008 NBA Western Conference Finals (NBA officiating corruption)

Six Part Series: Consider the reality, not the source - Part 1: It doesn't take a convicted felon... (Link connects to other six parts)

Ex-NFL player, Rich Tylski and his wife brutally abused their daughter regularly

Former NFL offensive lineman Rich Tylski and his wife have lost custody of their seven-year-old daughter for "maliciously" abusing her. As part of a plea deal, the couple disclosed to the details of their abuse of their daughter.

Tylski's wife demonstrated on a doll how she bent the child's leg all the way up until she heard a pop (break). Originally the child told the hospital she had fallen down a flight of stairs, but it was discovered that she had six or seven more old fractures in her hand that had not healed.

Tylski told the court that he excessively used belts beyond the scope of punishment. Mrs. Tylski accounted to the court that she had struck her child and also bent her fingers back many times between 2003-2006.

Logic says that bending bones til they break is worse than excessive spanking, but the court gave equal sentences to the couple. Each were required to take parenting and anger management courses for a year. The couple also voluntarily donated $12,500 to the child's college fund.

If the couple fulfills the courses, the charges will be dropped and they will retain custody of their daughter. Assistant State Attorney Adair Rommel said the arrangement was made to spare the daughter from testifying against her parents.

ShotsHeard Opinion

This is another sad example of the system failing children. These animals (parents) abused their daughter so bad that they actually bent bones out of place. The repeated striking of a seven-year-old is inexcusable as it is. Undoubtedly this girl has suffered trauma that will never go away. These parents are unworthy of their child. In my view this child should be taken away permanently. But even if we want to be bleeding hearts and give second chances, let's make sure that the welfare of the child is taken care of. A much more solid process should be in place to ensure the child's safety. Suggestions include:

• A much longer period of taking the child from the home. There should be a minimum of a two year period should. This would give the child time to heal and the parents more time to realize what they could lose.

• Up to the age of 18 (21 if the child chooses), the child and parents should be interviewed once a month to ensure proper treatment. Harsh fines should be in place if any coaching of the child is found. On the third strike, the parents should lose their child for another two years. If it happens again after that, all of the parent's assets should be taken and liquidated. All proceeds should go to the child after she is eighteen and the child not allowed to redistribute the wealth. The parents should be required to register all accounts with the state to ensure this. If this is not done; jail time.

• Starting at age 12, a yearly option should be allowed for the child to emancipate herself and go into foster care. The child can be facing mental abuse or not be able to recover from emotional scars and this should be an option. The idea that a child has to live in the fear of a big burly ex-lineman is preposterous!
  

20th anniversary: LBJ/Pierce commemorate, not re-enact the Dominique/Bird dual

Roughly 20 years ago Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins engaged in what many people consider the best mono ah mono dual in the history of sports, not just in basketball. The stakes were fairly high. It was Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals and both teams were legitimate title contenders (but not the favorites).

Twenty years later in another high stakes Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7, Lebron James and Paul Pierce put on a performance that reminded all of us of the Bird/Wilkins epic and had many analysts anointing it the remake of the classic Bird/Wilkins clash. It was a great game, but it was not the recreation the media is selling to you.

For LBJ and Pierce, the stakes were just as for Bird/Wilkins and arguably the duo are about as big of vaunted superstars in their respective era. Still, it was not the same.

Analysis

1. The Match-up

The Bird/Wilkins duo featured the two best small forwards of all-time. The three-time champion, Bird, squared off against the young Wilkins, the 'Human Highlight Reel’. Wilkins never went on to win a championship or make the 50 greatest of all-time. Danny Ainge, who was on the court for the game, downplayed that saying that he was one of the 30 greatest of all-times and that he’d be the one with the rings if he played with Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, who together with Bird make up the undisputed greatest front line of all-time.

Twenty years later, the match-up of Lebron James vs. Paul Pierce is nothing to scoff at. LBJ could be considered the best of all-time when it’s all said and done, though he’ll have a hard time surpassing Jordan, Bird, Magic, Russell, Duncan, Shaq and Kobe. Pierce on the other hand is a perennial All-Star. To parallel Danny Ainge’s line of thinking, had Pierce played with Shaq, maybe he’d be the one with three rings. But Pierce is about a quarter notch below Kobe’s level just as Dominique was about a quarter notch below Bird’s level, so there is room for error there.

LBJ and Dominique were the undisputed kingpins on otherwise mediocre teams. But while Bird was the crown jewel on a team of aging stars (and one diamond in the rough: the young Reggie Lewis), it is not really known who the leader of the Celtics is, KG or Pierce. To their credit, they don’t feel a need to be crowned, but rather equally yoked.

2. Bird’s Post Game 6 Rhetoric

Inexperience would cost the Hawks the chance to close out the series in Game 6 in Hotlanta (Cleveland had to win their game 6 to force a Game 7). Heading back to Boston, a confident Bird proclaimed,

"They had a big chance to beat us. I think now that we're going to come out and play like we did tonight but we're going to be at home and our shots are going to be dropping a little bit better and we're gonna be running a little faster. So I'd say Sunday's going to be a big win for the Celtics.”

Bird had won his three rings and was slightly past his prime, but yet he had put his legacy on the line. Or perhaps more accurately, he did not care what his legacy was. He had immense abilities and the heart of a champion. Bird lived for such gamesmanship. Unlike LBJ and Pierce who nervously awaited Game 7, Bird reveled in the pre Game 7 hoopla.

Bird called the win and when it was all said and done, there was nothing the Hawks could do about it. The Hawks all played with the extra fire of proving Bird wrong and still came up short. Perhaps a Game 7 in the Boston Garden would not have been so close, had Bird not talked his trash.

3. Two unstoppable stars

Bird was splitting double and triple teams, making shots on curls, rainbow fade-away shots out of the post, splitting triple teams, shooting left handed hooks from his ankles, hitting tear drops, slivering between players in the air for shots, nailing jumpers off of screens and making defensive stops on the other end.

Dominique, who was still a raw talent, was able to get in the zone and expand his range. When he jumped he was in the air forever and nobody was usually within a foot of blocking it, before he swished or banked it in. He was still able to throw in a few of his patented tomahawk dunks for good measures.

In the end, the more chiseled Bird, respecting Wilkins explosiveness. He made every shot out of fear that if Dominique had a chance to make the game winning shot, there would be nobody that could stop him. Bird would not miss when Atlanta needed a stop. In the end Bird outscored Wilkins 20-14 in the 4th quarter.

As the clique goes, Bird and Dominique were unstoppable, making shots at will. At the end of the 08 game, we saw LBJ throwing up an ugly shot that could not draw iron. When the Celtics needed a big shot to stem the tide, it was journeyman and little used reserve PJ Brown (4-4) hitting a jumper and putting a nail in the coffin.

4. The supporting casts

It’s important to note how much better the supporting casts were for the ‘88’ teams over the ‘08’ teams.

The Celtics had the best starting line-up in NBA history. In addition to the greatest frontline of all-time (Bird, Parish, McHale), they had a Hall of Fame quality back-court. Ainge was money from the outside. On a lesser team he would have made more all-star teams and had a string of 20 ppg seasons. Before going to the Celtics, Dennis Johnson, who some call the most under-rated PG of all-time was the leader of a Sonics team that won a championship. Though One time at school, I was trying to argue DJ’s greatness to a bunch of Lakers fans and I was stupefied by the response, “He’s the only black guy I’ve ever seen with freckles.” What do you say to that?

Contrary to Ainge’s account that they were all spectators come the 4th quarter. The Celtics starting line-up came to play. All fiver players were in double digits. McHale went 10-14 from the field and was 13-13 from the line, while adding 13 boards. The Chief, DJ and Ainge score 14, 16 and 13 respectively. DJ and Ainge added 18 assists to Bird’s 6 to keep up with Doc Rivers 18 assists. The starting line-up held the fort, allowing Bird to conserve his energy for the 4th quarter, in which he would score 20 of his 34 points.

Even the lesser Hawks had solid weapons. The Hawks had not one, but two dynamite point guards. Doc Rivers relegated the explosive Spud Webb to the bench as he went for 16 points and 18 assists. Randy Wittman was a deadly shooter. He went 11-13 from the field. Kevin Willis was a beast on d and on the boards. He also went for a modest 11 points and 11 rebounds double-double.

The superior quality of the ‘88‘ supporting casts over the ‘08‘ is the reason that the score was 118-116, 20 years prior to the ‘08’ 97-92 game. The teams combine to shoot for 58.8 percent in ‘88’. The ‘08’ teams combined to shoot a mere 46.2 percent. That’s a big discrepancy. The ‘08’ teams are marginally better on defense, but clearly the ‘88’ teams were offensively superior in their Game 7 and in general.

5. Lasting sights and sounds

I can still hear Tommy Heinsohn amazed voice proclaiming “It’s a dual.” Or the other more stoic old school play by play announcer saying “It’s Bird’s turn,” as Bird nailed a curl in a string of consecutive baskets.

Then there was the crowds of ‘88’. Besides the unique fashions, you could just see the amazement on the crowds’ faces. A poster proclaimed, ‘Our Bird can fly higher than any hawk.’ Then there was a waving sheet on a rafter stating that it was ‘Bird’s Nest.’
I’m sure Heinsohn gave a lot of Tommy points to LBJ and Pierce.

The crowd was reacting to the many amazing plays. In 2008, LBJ and James combined to shoot 50 percent on mostly a few impressive in your eye jumpers. The shots were good and the intensity of Game 7 was there. And even Pierce/James outscored Bird/Dominique 86-81. It’s things like that that make the game comparable on paper. But although Pierce and James put on an ‘instant classic’, Bird and Wilkins engaged in a timeless epic.

No walk-off knock-offs here

Long before there was Red Sox nation and Yankees Country, there was Wally World. In a summer game in 1989, a still prime Wally Joyner hit a a 3 run walk-off home run verse the Tigers. Angels fans were clamoring for days, even without the benefit of the internet. (I was bummed though, since I missed the shot as I had to leave the game early after my mental brother was kicked out for jumping on the field in pursuit of a foul ball.)

On another night in the early nineties, some friends and I kept sneaking down from our on the field seats, but in the outfield. By the last inning we had made it first row, behind home plate. The Angels were down 0-4 but had come back to tie it 4-4 with fan favorite Dick Schofield at the plate and the bases load. The long-time Angel walked on four pitches as the other team walked off the field with their heads down.

Those were both walk-offs! Literally the Angels could score the winning run, strutting around the bases if they wanted too; hence the term: walk-off. The walk-off was a rare but inspiring feat. It was a revered feat and we all knew what a walk-off was.

Somehow as attention spans shortened, and Sports Center and other brands craved ways to keep the low attention peeps satisfied; the term walk-off got watered down. All of the sudden any home team that came up and hit a ball into the outfield as the winning run sprinted in to beat the throw, qualified as a walk-off. That is not a walk-off people.

Perhaps the media feels justified by the fact that the team walks off the field. But that was not considered a walk-off back in the day; at least not in my circles. Nor was it always portrayed as a walk-off until about the last decade or so.

So yesterday, Garret Anderson came up with the bases loaded and one out and then walked on four pitches. The walk is the lesser of the two walk-offs, but it still counts. It's almost as embarrassing to the other team as the home run as the pitcher just looks like he was too scared to throw it in there and give up a game winning grand-slam.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia's said, "It was a walk-off win and we'll tak it." Indeed it was Sciosc (Soash). It was a first degree walk-off. A jack would have been a second degree walk-off. Everything else is just fool's gold.

Drew Carey: A sports revolutionary

Comedian Drew Carey is revolutionizing sports management as we know it. Carey, who is a huge soccer fan and now a minority owner of the MLS expansion team, Seattle Sounders, announced that every four years, season ticket holders can vote on whether to keep or fire the team's general manager.

Undoubtedly, all the elitists and professionals 'in the know,' will tout how terrible an idea this is. Some of their arguments will be correct and other arguments will be blather based on the Mel Brooks's philosophy of protecting their phony bologna jobs.

The dirty little secret of experts and executives is that they believe so many fans lean toward imbecilic on their knowledge concerning the intricate nuances of sports. Of course that's not a commentary on sports insiders. Human nature seems to relegate experts to a sense of elitism over the layman.

But if fans are avid and see the effects of management, then are they not qualified to make reasonable judgements on the quality of the the players, managers and executives. Fans do not have to be in the weight rooms, the clubhouses, the suites or even sitting courtside to understand the trends and many intricacies and how they affect their teams. Just as it bugs me to no end to see a professional sports player denigrate a reporter for not knowing what it's like to actually be playing (as if it's so complicated), so am I equally irritated to see sports executives pretend they are so much higher than the sports fans they allegedly cater to.

A 2004 book, 'The Wisdom of crowds' by James Surowiecki is built on the premise that crowds have received the unfair connotation of rowdiness and sub-par intelligence. He gives many antedotes to the contrary; such as the idea that the average of fair goers guesses for an ox's weight at a county fair was equal to the ox's exact weight.

It's true their are many unseen variables that go into managing a team that are not understood by fans and a GM could be unduly fired by fans. Consequently a GM's long term aspirations on his team's behalf could be sacrificed in order for that GM to increase his fan satisfaction that correlates with his job security. The DNA in building dynasties and perennial winners could be altered. Cost cutting sacrifices that could build a team's assets and long-term prowess would be less of an option and could even ironically result in higher ticket prices.

Still, as we enter the 'multimedia age', fans are becoming quite knowledgeable. Many fans have sports high IQ's and sensibilities that are higher than the leaders of their teams. Also the average sports fan can benefit and become more invested in his team's future by included in such a weighty decision.

We also must remember this is a season ticket holder vote and not just some online sports poll. Presumably, season ticket holders are very informed on their team's dealings. These are the fans at the heart and soul of any team's success.

Shotsheard cannot directly support or deny Drew Carey's groundbreaking policy of letting the fans control the fate of their team's GM. Their are pros and cons to both and nobody should say otherwise.

However, Carey has stumbled onto a new age business concept that is working in nearly every other industry, including even the 2008 presidential race. It's the concept that the consumers should have direct influence on the end-product. Video game makers have been doing it for years to gamers' intense satisfaction. With billions of dollars rolling in and the sports industry booming, big wigs should not be fooled into thinking that catering to the consumers is not an integral part of success.

In the meantime New England Revolution (soccer team) should abdicate their name to Seattle so that they can be called the Seattle Revolution, in honor of their part-owner, Drew Carey.

2008 NBA Conference Finals Predictions

Who’s perfect? Say it with me. Who’s perfect? Shotsheard is 12-0 on playoff predictions and with the margin for error tightening, it’s going to be tough to stay that way. Still here are the picks that could see me get two more notches closer to the coveted 15-0.

Before the NBA even tipped off, I was texting a friend, asking who he wanted to win in the championship; The Silver and Black (Spurs) or The Dynasty (Celtics). The mid-season Gasol trade threw a wrench in my sureness and at that time with Bynum expected back by mid-March (his season is now over), I was (unofficially) changing my prediction for the West to the Lakers. So how do I feel now? Read on.

Lakers vs. Spurs

How important has the emergence of a big man at the center position been for the Lakers? Andrew Bynum’s pre-injury emergence and then Pau Gasol’s experience boosting the Lakers even more has taken the Lakers from a one and done playoff opponent to a team with a legitimate chance to win it all (even the favorite in most the experts eyes). And were the Lakers to have both big men healthy, they’d be the clear-cut favorite against the Spurs.

The Spurs still have enough in their defensive tank to contain Gasol and Kobe. That makes Odom the x-factor. A great series by Odom, likely means advancing and anything less leaves the door open for the Spurs. Ask Clippers and Heat fans how reliable Odom is for that to happen.

We’ve seen Bowen contain Kobe in the past just as he clamped down on Stojakovic to help the Spurs come back from 0-2 on the Hornets. Also Duncan had to constantly play middle man between a driving Chris Paul and alley-oop receiving Chandler. He can now anchor himself on defense more and that should translate to more concentration on the offensive end. Remember Duncan missed the last 10 shots of Game 7 against the Hornets and the Spurs still controlled the entire game.

And who do the Lakers have that can stop Parker and Ginobili? The media loves to hype up that Kobe can allegedly play great defense when he wants to. But have we really seen that out of him? It's a myth. He's not the glove. He's not Michael Jordan.

Despite those tough words, I see the worthiness of picking the Lakers who have a lot of offensive firepower even at times though they did look sloppy against the Jazz. But I have to go with the defending champions, who can take credit for beating the two toughest teams that are still not alive: The Suns and Hornets.

Pick: Spurs

Celtics vs. Pistons

We can talk about the Pistons going to six straight conference finals. But the Pistons have been sliding ever since they beat the Lakers in the 2004 Finals. Tayshaun Prince is the one hitting game winning shots, because guys like Billups and Hamilton are an eighth of a step slower.

The Pistons defense is not what it was. Flip Saunders does not ever get on them to have defensive tenacity and if he were to do that, they still are not the same defensive powerhouse that they were when a prime Ben Wallace anchored them. Also, we must remember that the C's were a silly James Posey foul away from sweeping the Pistons in the regular season.

The Celtics, who hold home court advantage, have dominated at the allegedly new Boston Garden, having went 8-0 at home in the playoffs so far. Also in the last quarter of Game 6 in Cleveland, the Celtics showed signs of coming out of their road coma, though ShotsHeard has to admonish them for not winning a road game in Hotlanta or Cleveland, going 0-6. They have simply been a team without an identity on the road. The Big Three seemed to act like winning on the road was an entitlement, while role players followed their lead.

This is the match-up we’ve all been waiting for; but as usual, the Western Conference playoffs have stole the Eastern contestants thunder. Nonetheless who ever wins this series has enough in the tank to compete in a championship series. So once we get over our Western Conference playoffs withdrawals, this should be a fun series; assuming these teams can regularly crack 85 points. But don’t hold your breath. Brace yourself for the ugliness.

Pick: Celtics

Other 2008 NBA Playoffs Predictions

NBA Western Conference: 2008 playoffs first round predictions

NBA Eastern Conference: 2008 playoffs first round predictions

2008 NBA Second Round Predictions

2008 NBA Conference Finals Predictions

2008 NBA Finals Prediction

The refs: The Lakers sixth man? - 2008 Western Conference Semifinals (NBA Officiating Corruption)

I hate conspiracy theories. For every true conspiracy theory there's countless manufactured wacky conspiracy theories.

But it's hard to be too trusting of the NBA's administration of Lakers playoff games in light of Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. In that game, the worst officiated game in league history, the refs single handedly snatched the series out of the Kings hands and handed it to the higher television rated Lakers. In the aftermath, there were credible reports that the referees received incentives for their overall performance in the series.

So in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the 2008 Western Conference Semifinals between the Lakers and Jazz when I saw Kobe get the benefit of an unlikely foul (not to be confused with the many ghost fouls he often gets), I thought here we go again. My feeling was confirmed by bad call after bad call.

Here are the MANY BAD CALLS I WITNESSED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER ALONE:

• Lamar Odom took a back door pass and dunked it in. A ghost foul was called on the trailing Boozer.

• Jordan Farmar drove to the basket for a layup over AK-47. A Jazz player reached at the passing Farmar, modestly getting all ball. The ref called it giving Jordan a free continuation shot that he would have otherwise not taken. It went in and he consequently got the and one.

• With two seconds left on the shot clock, Walton was forced into a turnaround fade away shot. Harpring did not defend conservatively, but still got all ball on a shot that was not close and would have had a very high degree of difficulty. It was a classic bail-out by the refs.

• Carlos Boozer got an offensive rebound and went back up with the shot with two Lakers draped on him. There was no call. On the transition the other way, Sasha Vujacic who has terrible ball handling skills, sloppily ran it up court and then kicked it out of bounds. The ref next to the play called no foul (as there wasn't one). A ref from the other side of the court called a foul on Kirilenko. Instead of the Jazz taking the ball, Vujacic made two bonus free throws.

• On a play away from the ball, Derrick Fisher did his typical flop on a AK-47 hand check. Fisher went flying about seven feet and was rewarded with two more bonus shots.

• With just under two minutes to go Pau Gasol got away with a push-off on Okur on a long offensive rebound. Gasol turned a 50-50 ball into a 100-0 ball. After getting the board, he then passed off to Odom for a dunk and a 103-100 lead.
  

• Emboldened by the refs non-calls icing the game, Gasol got an even bigger push-off on Okur and went back up for a the back breaking dunk to make the game 107-102 with 20.7 seconds left.

I'd love to believe that the conspiracy theory is not true. I'd love to believe the Lakers just got the benefit of home court calls. I even feel a little silly strongly considering it without any tangible proof besides the terrible officiating. Still, I can't help but think that the check's in the mail.




NBA Officiating Corruption Articles:

The refs: The Lakers sixth man? - 2008 Western Conference Semifinals (NBA Officiating Corruption)

Crawford's boys and the Lakers beat the Spurs - 2008 NBA Western Conference Finals (NBA officiating corruption)

Six Part Series: Consider the reality, not the source - Part 1: It doesn't take a convicted felon... (Link connects to other six parts)

Scurrilous Trojans: Mike Garrett and Tim Floyd allowed OJ Mayo to cheat

Corruption In College Coaching Articles

Jim Calhoun's greedy remarks are indicative of a warped system

Kelvin Sampson: A cheater trying to prosper

Scurrilous Trojans: Mike Garrett and Tim Floyd allowed OJ Mayo to cheat

Borseth: Pathetic on many levels

Considering the Reggie Bush allegations and today's OJ Mayo taking gifts allegations ShotsHeard asks, when did it all go wrong for USC? Maybe there's a SC insider that could tell you. Ahh you see that play on words? Did I mean Sports Center or USC? Fresh. I serve the eggs and milk straight from the chickens and cows.

All joking aside since the situation at USC is sick; ShotsHeard believes the corruption starts with athletic director Mike Garrett and onto coach Tim Floyd. If you go to the USC campus, you will see Garrett's Heisman Trophy along with the Heisman trophies of Charles White, Marcus Allen Carson Palmer and Matt Leinert and at least for now Reggie Bush. As tainted as Bush's trophy is, a much more sickening sight will greet you.

O.J. Simpson's Heisman is proudly displayed with the others, signifying that sports accomplishments, even those of murderers (and O.J. is clearly a murderer even if a court of law failed to punish him) outshines basic humanity at USC. Never at any point did Mike Garret (who won his Heisman just three years before O.J.) take the initiative to not only stand against that as a fellow Heisman winner, but as the head representative of USC athletics, he allowed it to be displayed.

On the heels of Reggie Bush receiving thousands of dollars in perks while at USC there's a new controversy involving a big name (not a 'star'). OJ Mayo, a kid who reportedly came from an impoverished background received money, a television and thousands of dollars from a Rodney Guillory, who was an intermediate for Bill Duffy Associates (sports agency).

Espn's 'Outside The Lines' uncovered a mountain of evidence that shows that Guillory spent thousands on Mayo while being bank-rolled by BDA. Mayo is now signed with BDA.

How much of a blind of an eye did coach Tim Floyd and Mike Garrett tun? Guillory is a man who was reportedly in coach Tim Floyd's office when Mayo faxed his letter of intent to USC. This is the same Guillory who got former USC guard, Jeff Trepagnier in trouble for accepting agent kickbacks. Floyd and Garrett knew who Guillory was and what he was about and knew what was up when Mayo strolled around campus in thousands of dollars in new clothes.

Floyd clearly wanted success. Garrett on the other hand was too busy enjoying his status as a football god and the man who swung the biggest sac on campus to think that this could ever come back to him.

The truth comes to the light as it so often does. Now we will see if USC has a leader with the common sense to get rid of Garrett and Floyd. That's right; it is common sense. This is not a tough decision that needs to made in the spirit of vindication. It's simple ethics and common sense. If USC keeps Garrett and Floyd around continue to show the world that USC has no integrity and that they put money and glory first.

Corruption In College Coaching

Jim Calhoun's greedy remarks are indicative of a warped system

Kelvin Sampson: A cheater trying to prosper

Scurrilous Trojans: Mike Garrett and Tim Floyd allowed OJ Mayo to cheat

Borseth: Pathetic on many levels

Cedric Benson: Crying for his mommy

What is a baby bear, but a cub. Neither the Chicago Cubs fans or the Chicago Bears fans will be wanting Cedric representing the windy city after his cry-in with the law.

Cedric Benson recently shamed himself by allegedly driving his 30-foot boat drunk and resisting arrest. He then utterly humiliated himself and quite possibly destroyed what was left of his mediocre career by crying for his mommy after taking a facial of pepper spray.

Contrary to unsaid rumors, Cedric's mommy was reported to be one of the 15 passengers on the boat and not off buying Pampers for him and the rest of the goons on that boat. That's right; goons not Goonies; because everybody on that boat is pathetic by association.

Consequently, Benson is compounding the situation and showing his lack of character standing in complete denial of the charges, despite a police report, test and booking picture that paint a damning picture.

Is it possible Benson is innocent and fighting to protect his reputation? File that under 'A' for anything's possible. So with perception being reality (and probably in this case, reality being reality), Benson is compounding the situation by fighting misdemeanor charges instead of apologizing and recommitting himself to football.

Benson spent a little too long suckling at his mommy's teet for her to get around to teaching him the whole choose your battles concept. The platoon running back has only been mildly serviceable in his first three years in the league. He's rushed for 1,593 yards, 10 TDs and a 3.8 yards per carry, while missing 13 games.

His goons undoubtedly are too busy talking crap on the 'pigs' and thinking of ways to con the system than to look at the reality that he is not some prize player and that he's more than expendable.

There, there Cedric. It's ok. When your career goes down the drain, you can spend more time with your mommy anyways.

Living the Ruthian Dream

Friends and I often joke about the joys of doing nothing when unemployment hits. The dream of waking up and having "a cool buzz and some tasty waves," in the words of Spicoli.

As good as that dream is; we forget that it's just an awesome consolation dream. We all really want to be the star quarterback that throws for 700 yards in the Super Bowl, the superstar slugger that hits the walk-off home run in the World Series after having pitched a perfect game, or the guy that sinks a buzzer beating 40 foot fade away three over a double team in game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Long before we were dreaming of living the dream, the orphan turned superstar, Babe Ruth was doing it, making a killing on the field and partying like a rock star off the field. For instance on this day of May 7th, 81 years ago in 1917, Ruth allowed only two hits out-dueling the legendary Walter Johnson 1-0. Ruth hit a sacrifice fly to score the only run.

Ruth was always getting the best of Walter. In 1916 alone, Ruth out-dueled Johnson in all 4 games he faced him, including a 13 inning affair. Then to solidify his superstar on superstar dominance, Ruth hit the only two jacks Johnson would give up for two years (1918-1919).

Before being traded to the Yankees and building a majestic stadium and obliterating every offensive record with a Roy Hobbs type of thunder, Ruth was winning three World Series in four years with the Red Sox (1915, 1916, 1918). And the four-peat did not happen as a result of Ruth not bringing it. In 1917, Ruth who was 24-13 with six shutouts, a 2.01 ERA and a .325 batting average.

In all of his Red Sox World Series appearances, Ruth was 3-0 with a 0.87 ERA, throwing 29 2/3 scoreless innings at one point. In 1918 he led the league in home runs, while only taking 317 at-bats. He went on to pitch and win the first and last game of the 1918 World Series.

In 1919, his last year with the Sox, he belted 29 home runs, more than doubling the previous record. And for all the Red Sox ingratitude, they sold Ruth, their soul to the Yankees. Ruth pronounced a curse on them, and the Sox did not win a World Series for 86 years. Yes Ruth 86'd the Sox fans and Mr. Buckner who was not even born yet!

That is living the dream. Or is it? He actually one-up'd his dream with the Yankees, because that is what Ruthian dreamers do!

Kobe wins lifetime achievement award / MVP / ShotsHeard 3MVP

Is Kobe Bryant the best player in the league? Skills-wise yes, though LBJ is closing the ranks each year. Of course, most of us would build a team around Duncan over Kobe, so right there we know best does not equal most valuable.

Lamar Odom nailed it when he said Kobe has been the best player for the last two or three years. He was a top five player for about the last five or six years. He won three rings and two scoring titles. And as he was on the verge of presumably winning a few MVPS, all of the sudden there was the Shaq riff and then the alleged rape in Colorado.

But Kobe made his own bed. At one point, he was playing for MVP while his team was playing or not playing for the eight spot. After three years of Duncan, KG dominance of the trophy, we saw three years of finesse dominance by Nash and Dirk. At no point was Kobe snubbed, like stars in the past (ala Jordan winning his first MVP over Bird).

We all knew the best player was not the most valuable player in the league. But we feared that this created a subtle guilt that lingered in the back of many elite media types. We knew it could snub someone and it did!

For this, Kobe does win the just invented ShotsHeard 3MVP award. It goes to the third most valuable player. He's used to that honor at least. Twice, his previous highest finish in the MVP voting was third.

My interchangeable one and two on my MVP ballot goes to Chris Paul and Kevin Garnett.

CP3 did it at both ends of the court with 21.6 points and 11.6 assists. At 5'11" (6'0" officially) he was just too fast and crafty. Guys like Stojakovic and Chandler who have sub-par one on one games, looked like proverbial studs all year long with Paul dishing them the rock. Oh and Paul did it on the defensive side too, with 2.7 steals per game.

How valuable was the addition of KG to the Celtics? We all know about the 42 game turnaround. How about the fact that the Celtics went from a negative 3.1 pt. differential to a 12.0 pt. advantage. That's a 15.1 pt swing. Besides anchoring the offense, he anchored a defense that gave up only 87.1 points a game. T-Mac said it was the toughest defense he ever played against.

Meanwhile, the people trying to justify Kobe's MVP were talking about how he deserved it because he was finally making his teammates so much better. It's a preposterous argument. Bynum's time was due, Fisher is still the same gritty player he's always been and the Gasol trade proved to be the real difference maker in their quest for the one seed. The Gasol-less Lakers were blown out by the Rockets in the middle of defending the Lakers defending their all-time win streak against the Rockets (Going for 21 of the needed 33 to break the record). The Lakers were 5-5 without Gasol.

And of course, Odom is the same inconsistent swing man he's always been. Bryant did not ever come close into turning Odom into his Pippen. Odom's lack of zeal for Kobe's MVP status was also evident in his radio interviews. This is typical of the general feeling for Kobe among Lakers over the years. Kobe seems to not warrant much more respect than the Giants players ever gave Bonds.

For all the talk of Kobe "getting it" and sharing the ball with his teammates, why are his assist numbers not up? With Lakers improvement, it is true he realized he did not have to take as many shots (down to 20.6 from 22.8 last year, while logging two less minutes per game). So Kobe shooting less makes him more valuable? Almost across the board, Kobe's stats are worse this year than the last two years.

I have Kobe ranked third on my MVP ballot. But unlike my number 4 and 5; LBJ and Ginobili, he's within the margin of error so that I can accept the legitimacy of his first MVP award on some level. That level being that on a fair playing field, Kobe played at a similar level of Paul and KG. But it is clear that this was a lifetime achievement award and not an MVP. Still, Raja Bell has to be turning over in his future grave at the third most valuable player receiving the MVP award.

2008 NBA Second Round Predictions

I'm back to give you the second round NBA playoff predictions with uncanny accuracy! Eight for eight in the first round baby!

One guy patronized me, saying 'way to go out on a line and pick all the favorites.' But do you really want me to be the Andruw Jones of predictions; hitting 40 jacks while struggling to hit above the Mendoza line?

You don't come to ShotsHeard to see me be a big shot. You come to see me call my shots and then come through. Like Avery Johnson once said, "I don't take shots, I make shots." And so I'm back baby, like Frank the Tank kicking grocery carts in celebration.

Sure the second round is already underway with the Lakers, Hornets and Pistons winning their respective Game Ones'. So give me a yellow card if you want, but realize I come correct.

Lakers vs. Jazz

If it were not for the Jazz's C+ performance against the Rockets, I think I'd be willing to go for the home run on this and pick them. They match-up well with the Lakers and could steal a road game while taking care of business at home. I believe the series will go six or seven games with the Lakers coming out much more weary and battle scarred and an even tougher test of the Spurs or Hornets facing them.

Pick: Lakers

Hornets vs. Spurs The Hornets won Game 1 and have home-court advantage and I'm still picking the Spurs. But with CP3, Chandler, Stoy and West making an impressive foursome I'm wondering if I am making the wrong call.

Admittedly I have a Spurs bias. They are the sleekest team since the Bird/Magic days and they ended my Kobe/Shaq nightmare. Not to mention its hard to go against Obi-Wan and the Big Fundamental at playoff time. They're the champions and the team to beat as the tired cliche goes.

Pick: Spurs

Celtics vs. Cavaliers The Cavs are a better team than the Hawks, but they are dreaming if they think they will go seven games against the beast of the east. The C's blew out the Hawks every game at home and lost every road game by single digits. Don't expect the anomaly of the C's losing all their road games this series. All that said, I'm still excited to watch King James take on the Big Ticket, Ray Ray and the Truth.

Pick: Celtics

Pistons vs. Magic I believe this year is the Pistons last shot at glory and they will handle their business against the Magic. I love watching Turkoglu, but the Pistons have too much playoff experience, to think that the essentially rookie playoff Magic will take this one. I think the Magic may take it six or seven games, but unless the Pistons look old fast, they won't lose this one.

Pick: Pistons

Other 2008 NBA Playoffs Predictions

NBA Western Conference: 2008 playoffs first round predictions

NBA Eastern Conference: 2008 playoffs first round predictions

2008 NBA Second Round Predictions

2008 NBA Conference Finals Predictions

2008 NBA Finals Prediction

At least sportswomanship is alive!

These days, they say if you aren't cheatin' then you aren't tryin'. That saying is part satire and part true in American athletics. Sportsmanship has taken a back seat to winning.

Last week there were plenty of bad sportsmanship moments. Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers talked trash to the Angels' Vladimir Guerrero after he hit a squib shot to the second baseman (Vlad had words for him while rounding first after hitting a home run on his next at-bat). After making a shot, Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks taunted Paul Pierce of the Celtics who was kneeling on the ground (The Hawks lost their next playoff game to the C's by 25). Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks even flipped Jannero Pargo of the New Orleans Hornets down by his head on a fast break (The Hornets lost that series 4-1).

Meanwhile in an NCAA Division II women's softball playoff game, we see that real sportsmanship is not dead, as the Central Washington players showed us that winning is not everything in a game against Western Oregon.

After hitting a three-run home run, her first home run in high school or college, Central Washington player, Sara Tucholsky collapsed with a hurt knee while going back to hit first base that she had missed. The umpire ruled that she would be out if her teammates tried to help her around the bases and that if she could not make it home, she would have to settle for a two RBI single.

The Western Oregon players not wanting to win on a freak thing, picked her up and carried Sara around the bases, giving her the home run. They would have been justified to let her settle for a single, but they believed in a more sublime spirit of competition.

Western Oregon lost the game and thus were eliminated from the playoffs; but they created a legacy that will last longer than a championship would have lasted. And when these women go out into the real world as professionals and mothers, they will be the ones keeping the world right; not the win at all costs crowd.