At last I read somebody not preaching doom and gloom (hear that Magic Johnson)? Ira Winderman who writes for NBCSports.com wrote an interesting article on the Celtics, Lakers and Spurs. Despite the fact all three teams were eliminated early doesn't necessarily signal a changing of the guard. Winderman points out all three could make changes (draft, free agents) that would allow them to remain contenting teams. Another writer looked at the situation in this manner. "Moreover, does crashing and burning in the second round officially constitute the end of a dynasty? The Spurs won a title in 2003, then lost in the semifinals in 2004. Then won another title in 2005, but lost in the semifinals again in 2006. Yet, they won another title in 2007. Point is, one playoff debacle does not mean the Lakers have reached the end of the line." The same could be said for the Celtics (minus Shaq) and Spurs.


We watched son's follow in the footsteps of their professional dads. A funny thing happens on the way to a professional career, superstar dads and sons who were only average players. Sometimes the story changed, the son actually was a superior athlete to the dad. Just a few examples we can look at, there are others not mentioned here. From the not to distance past the name Dolph Schayes of the Syracuse Nationals and 76ers can be mentioned. Shayes completed a Hall of Fame career and on the 50th anniversary of the NBA he was selected as one of the 50-All Time Greats. Danny Schayes had an 18-year NBA career playing for seven different teams. Without being critical we could state son Danny had an average NBA career. We can also say with a degree of comfort neither of the Jordan boys will come close to matching the exploits of dad Michael. Joe "Jellybean" Bryant was a good player for the 76ers and other teams however son Kobe has had a Hall of Fame career. The jury is out on Ralph Sampson III at Minnesota and Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr., only time will tell.

We should all be suspicious anytime ESPN dispenses pearls! One of the talking heads says "with their top (Mizzou) scorers returning and with Texas and Kansas in transition Missouri could move up in the Big-12." On the surface the assessment is probably not too far off base however new coach and new system in place. There will be an adjustment period for the players and coaching staff, how long the adjustment we can only speculate at this time.

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com wrote an article on Shaq now that the Celtics have been eliminated. There are Doc River's quotes regarding Shaq but the key is something I wrote several months back. I thought the Big Aristotle or Cactus or whatever he's called was holding Danny Ainge's kids for ransom. How could the Celtic's pay such a large sum of money for someone who in the best case scenario would be a part-time player? For reasons only known to Ainge he trades their only low-post presence in Kendrick Perkins. True Perkins was coming off an injury, more true he was/is no offensive threat. This is the key piece however, Perkins gave the Celtics a presence down low the oft-injured Shaq was unable to provide. I remember Kareem Abdul Jabbar playing considerably past his prime, can we say the same about Shaquille O'Neal? Shaq has one more year on his Celtics contract but why play another year based on this past season?

Fans don't boo nobodies!
Reggie Jackson