What’s Up in Hollywood Sports

By Kevin “Hollywood” Hastings

Regular season NFL action starts next Thursday with a rematch of the NFC title game when the Minnesota Bretts, I mean Vikings, visit the New Orleans Saints.  Last week we started counting down our teams in our weekly poll and we eliminated the Cleveland Browns from Super Bowl contention before the season even started.  Each week we eliminate one team from, in my opinion, Super Bowl contention.  This year’s game in Dallas’ new stadium is sure to be one of the best yet.  This week we are not going to eliminate any teams, but I do want to talk about a few topics we didn’t get in depth last week.  So hold on folks, here we go…

ALBERT HAYNESWORTH

What a loser!  This guy is ridiculous.  How many of you would voluntarily change positions in your company for $120 million?  Don’t forget Haynesworth is the guy who intentionally stomped on the Cowboys Center, Andre Gurode, three seasons ago with his cleats.  I thought that was the most horrific act I’ve ever seen on a football field.  To purposely stomp on another players face with your cleats is a disgrace.  He should have been kicked out of the league then, and if I was Shannahan, I would run his butt off.  Haynesworth couldn’t pass a conditioning test a pregnant woman could do.  He said “I condition on my own, and I will do the same next season.”  What conditioning Albert?  You can’t run for more than three minutes without taking a 10-minute bathroom break.  Give me a break you loser!

BRETT FAVRE

You suck. I’m tired of watching you.  I hate everything about you.  Get over yourself.  Quit making googly-eyed faces in the mirror to yourself.  Quit wasting our time.  You’ll never win another Super Bowl, so quit please.  In fact, in Brett’s only Super Bowl victory, the freaking kick returner was named MVP of the game!  How’s that for all-time greatness Brett? Favre is reaching the stratosphere of pretentious, me-first players.  That will forever be his legacy. Not his records but how he’s behaved the past few seasons. It’s really sad where we’ve come with Favre and I’m through with him.  We shall not mention his name for the rest of the season in this column. Maybe.

PANTHERS QUARTERBACK

I’m going to catch from heat for this one, but I can’t bite my tongue any longer.  In the pre-season games so far, Jimmy Clausen and Matt Moore both have completed just 49% of their passes.  That is a ridiculously low number.  Look, even though I think I can complete 49%, and I can, that doesn’t mean the Panthers are going to call me up tomorrow.  What they could do though is use the 2nd round draft pick they traded up for in this season’s draft.

That’s right!  Let’s put Armanti Edwards behind center.  It can’t get any worse can it?  In fact, Edwards had better numbers in college than Clausen and Moore.  He also ran for over 1,000 yards twice and won Two National Championships.  Moore and Clausen have been nothing more than glorified pretty boys who can’t complete a pass.  Maybe if Jimmy would spend less time gelling his hair he’d have more time to study opposing defenses or practice throwing passes to his own team.  Just because you went to Notre Dame doesn’t mean it’s a right to be a starting NFL quarterback.  Look what’s going on in Arizona with Matt Leinart.

I’ve lived here all my life as a Cowboys fan and have struggled to find a reason to pull for the Panthers at anytime.  If you go to the stadium, everyone is rude and the prices are stupid high.  They’ve never had a Top 15 quarterback, and the only player I’ve ever liked for them, Julius Peppers, was run off.  The Cats made the right decision in drafting Edwards.  They’re just making the wrong decision playing him at WR.  Did anyone see him muff punts or drop passes this pre-season?  I know I did, but what do you expect? Name me ONE former college star quarterback who has made a successful transition to WR in the NFL.  You can’t, and that’s why the Panthers don’t have Jimmy Clausen and Matt Moore returning punts and catching passes.  So why are they asking Armanti? Edwards can’t produce any worse than 49% passing!  Let’s give it a try for real and for fun.  The Panthers may have the team’s best quarterback ever on the roster, and he’s returning punts with He Hate Me.  Come on Fox, put the Two-time National Champion and Player of the Year at QB!  Oh wait, he’s back at the 5-yard line returning a punt.  I wonder if Peyton Manning had to return any punts for Indy?

What’s Up in Hollywood Sports

By Kevin “Hollywood” Hastings

Twitter.com/KevinHastings

Welcome football fans to the NFL!  After the longest six months of my life we are back to action next week.  Every year in my column we count down and eliminate each team in the league based on their chances of making it to the Super Bowl.  Obviously the top twelve teams are split evenly between AFC and NFC counterparts, and the rest of the rankings are a free for all.  If you didn’t know, the top six from each conference make the playoffs.  Each week we will eliminate one team from Super Bowl contention until we reach the big game.  So without further ado, I would like to use my first elimination for…. The Carolina Panthers!  Sike! I’m just playing, but it won’t be long before we say goodbye to the kittens.  Remember, all predictions are guaranteed wrong or I’ll give your money back!

This week we say Sayonara Cleveland Browns!  It’s been real and it’s been fun, but now it’s time for the real games, and they won’t be fun.  The Browns passed on Jimmy Clausen, Tim Tebow, and multiple other free agent quarterbacks to sign Jake Delhomme to a $7 million a year contract.  I wouldn’t pay Jake $7.00 to pick up my Bo-biscuits, much less sign him to a $7 million deal.  I don’t have to look at Cleveland’s schedule or the rest of the roster to know this won’t end well.  The Browns will go 3-13.

31.  Detroit Lions - The Lions have done well in the past two drafts.  The bad news is that they have been drafting in the top ten since before I can remember. Lions finish 5-11.

30.  Jacksonville Jaguars - This team wouldn’t suprise me if they went 8-8 but I’ve got them down for 4-12.  Maurice Jones-Drew is a fantasy beast, but the Jags don’t play fantasy football.

29.  Buffalo Bills - It’s been a long time since the glory days of the early 90’s.  The Bills currently have the longest playoff draught in the league.  Rookie RB, CJ Spiller, should be nice, but the Bills will be naughty.  Bills finish 4-12.

27.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I am more than likely missing the boat here, but I think the Bucs got some spunk.  I’ve got them down for a 5-11 season, yet don’t be surpised if they go 1-15.

26.  St. Louis Rams - The Rams add #1 pick, Sam Bradford, to the team.  It’s going to be hard for the kid considering you and I caught more NFL passes last season than his cast of receivers.  The Rams improve to 5-11.

28.  Oakland Raiders - Poor Oakland.  They get the #1 pick and draft, JaMarcus Russell.  Russell has flopped and they’ve found a replacement in Jason Campbell. I think Campbell has had a different Offensive Coordinator every year he has played and a horrible offensive line.  Bad news/Bad news.  The Raiders have a new OC and their line is worse than Washington’s.  Raiders go 5-11.

25.  Arizona Cardinals - It’s getting about the time where Tim Hightower, Larry Fitzgerald, Coach Whisenhunt and the rest of the team fly to wherever Kurt Warner is and beg him to play like Favre.  It won’t happen and the Cards go 6-10.

24.  Carolina Panthers - The good news in Carolina is that Delhomme is gone, and Bill Cowher isn’t coaching another NFL team.  The bad news is that Cowher isn’t coaching the Panthers either and the team needs playmakers.  Steve Smith broke his arm, and the #2 & #3 receivers are rookies.  A friend called me after Armanti Edwards dropped the punt in the game the other night.  He said “Armanti is struggling. What’s wrong with your boy?”  I replied “There’s a reason the Panthers aren’t scoring much.  They’ve got their best quarterback fielding punts.  I don’t see Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen dodging defenders.”  Be patient with Armanti. He’ll be ok. If worst comes to worst, put him in the Wildcat to get him warmed up and let him go.  It can’t get much worse.  Panthers go 6-10.

23.  Chicago Bears - Da Bears will be better on defense and offense, but Cutler makes too many mistakes and their running game is questionable.  The Bears will win and lose some they shouldn’t.  Bears go 7-9.

22.  Denver Broncos - In the past two offseasons the Broncos have traded their franchise quarterback and receiver and drafted Tim Tebow in the first round.  Either Denver knows what they’re are doing or the completely don’t know what they’re doing.  I’m confused.  Let’s put them down for 7-9.

21.  Kansas City Chiefs - The Chiefs could be your sleeper in the AFC.  They add OC Charlie Weiss and RB Thomas Jones to an offense ready to explode.  If their D can catch up, the Chiefs will be dangerous.  Write them down until then at 8-8.

20.  Seattle Seahawks - Pete Carrol takes his show to the great and rainy northwest.  Rumor has it that Charlie Whitehurst is breathing down Hasselbeck’s neck for playing time.  Carrol’s first season with the ‘Hawks should be entertaining. Hawks go 8-8.

19.  Washington Redskins - Every season the Skins win the battle of free agency.  This year they traded for Donovan McNabb and signed Willie Parker and Larry Johnson.  Will Free Agent….success mean winning football games?  It hasn’t happened before in Washington, not to mention the Haynesworth situation.  I think Shannahan summed it up best by saying “Albert apparently has gotten used to playing in the NFL without practicing.  That won’t happen under this regime.  He’s got to practice to play.”  Haynesworth makes millions but complains about practicing.  He needs to get a clue because I’ll practice football and he can write this stinking column if he wants to.  Jeez, what an idiot!  Redskins hang around at 7-9.

18.  Miami Dolphins - The Dolphins running game should be good as usual and they’ve added Brandon Marshall to the passing attack.  GM Parcells should have this team poised for a playoff run.  The Fish go 8-8.

17.  New York Giants - The G-Men haven’t gotten much publicity this off-season with everything happening in Washington, Philadelphia and Dallas.  The Giants will compete for a playoff spot, but I’m not sure they can make it.  Giants go 8-8.

16. Philadelphia Eagles - The Eagles jettisoned the greatest quarterback in franchise history, Donovan McNabb, to Washington in the off-season. Kevin Kolb better be good or Philly fans will have someone’s head.  Plus I drafted him in the 10th round of my fantasy draft to be my starter.  Go Kolb! 9-7.

15.  Tennessee Titans - The Titans have the winning formula with 2,000 yard rusher Chris Johnson, and it may not be pretty, but he always wins, Vince Young.  Jeff Fisher is the longest tenured coach in the league.  Put it this way, Fisher was coaching the Titans before there was ever an ESPN.com!  Titans go 8-8.

14.  Pittsburgh Steelers - Until Pittsburgh gets Big Ben back, they may struggle.  They may struggle with him because remember the Steelers missed the playoffs last season.  Steelers go 9-7.

13.  Houston Texans - Is this the year Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub lead Houston to the playoffs?  Nope.  Texans go 9-7.

PLAYOFF TEAMS

12.  San Francisco 49ers - The 49ers head into the season with depth at every position but one:  QB.  That’s not good enough to overcome their steller D come playoff time.  49ers go 10-6.

11.  New York Jets - The Jets talk all kinds of smack and backed it up come playoff time, but it’s a new season.  The Jets are struggling with injuries right now, and in my opinion a shaky QB the Jets season may not be as grand as the Jets hope.  Jets finish 9-7.

10. Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons should have a pretty good offense, and if their defense steps up they can challenge the Saints in the South.  But it didn’t happen last season, so they have a challenge.  Falcons will meet the challenge and go 9-7.

9.  Cincinnatti Bengals - The Bengals have three players with their own reality shows in Dhani Jones, Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco.  I’ve never heard of a team with this problem.  The Bengals could go 13-3 or 4-12.  Bengals go 10-6.

8.  Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens will be a little different this season as the offense will carry the defense for the first time in years.  Ray Lewis will feel like he’s in heaven.  Ravens go 10-6.

7.  New England Patriots - The Patriots have Tom Brady and Wes Welker removed from knee reconstruction surgeries.  Coach Bill Belichick will be the first coach in forever to be both the Offensive and Defensive Coordinator.  Lookout NFL.  Pats go 10-6.

6.  Minnesota Vikings - Adrien Peterson fumbles.  Brett Favre is back.  Who cares. Vikes go 10-6.

5. Green Bay Packers - The Pack made the right decision in forcing Brett Favre out of town and choosing Aaron Rodgers to play quarterback.  Rodgers is quickly becoming one of the best in the league.  The Packers can make the Super Bowl and go 11-5.

4.  San Diego Chargers - San Diego has the talent to win as usual.  And as usual, they have Norv Turner head coaching.  That’s going to make them one of the best in the league during the regular season.  Bolts go 11-5.

3.  Dallas Cowboys - America’s Team comes into the season as one of the heavy favorites.  Problems in the secondary will be the downfall of this team because the only way they stop the pass is sack the quarterback.  Cowboys will win the Super Bowl, go 11-5.

2.  Indianapolis Colts - The Colts still have Peyton Manning and the rest of the horsies behind him. Another year with Peyton, and as usual, they’ll be pretty good and go 13-3.

1.  New Orleans Saints - Drew Brees is on the cover of Madden.  That’s not the news Saints fans wanted.  The Saints won’t win the Super Bowl, but until they get dropped, I have to rank them here.

There you have it folks. Now email me why I’m wrong!

What’s Up in Hollywood Sports

By Kevin Hastings

Yes it’s almost football season and next week we’ll have our high school football edition on newstands.  If you want to know What’s Up in Local Sports be sure to check out Calvin Hastings’ article each week.  Calvin hits the high spots each week keeping you informed of What’s Up with your favorite teams.  Coming this Fall you can watch live coverage of the Gaston & Lincoln County Games of the Week along with Burns Bulldogs games online with the What’s Up Shopper.  This Friday night at the Gaston County Jamboree in Cherryville will be our first broadcast of the season.  This will be a practice run for our broadcast teams, but feel free to tune in and follow the action.  The Tailgate Show will start at 5pm, with North Gaston vs. West Lincoln at 6pm; followed by East Gaston vs. Burns at 7pm; Bessemer City vs. West Meck at 8pm; and Cherryville vs. West Caldwell at 9pm.

My column generally covers proffessional sports with a few opinions and lower level sports mixed in. This week we’re talking a little baseball trade deadline.  I haven’t had much time or space to write this Summer, but baseball is really starting to lose me.  I did write a few weeks back how I would give up baseball entirely if the St. Louis Cardinals can afford to give Matt Holiday $140 million but couldn’t find a way to sign Albert Pujols, and they may trade him.  What?  Uh give that $140 million you gave to the no hitting, flyball dropping left fielder.  Or, perhaps we could trade him instead?  The way baseball works sometimes amazes me.  At the trade deadline the Houston Astros decided to have a fire sale and just give away their best players for a bunch of minor leagues.  Whooppity Doo if you’re an Astros fan or really any fan of any other team besides the Yankees, Red Sox or Phillies.  There are 32  teams in Major League Baseball, but somehow these are the only three teams Houston could “afford” to deal with.  I understand rebuilding and what not, but how does the Yankees always have enough players in their farm system to trade for whomever they want?  Shouldn’t they be out of players by now?

Astros management said St. Louis was interested in Oswalt, but they didn’t want to deal the Missouri native to an in division rival.  But they dealt him to the Phillies who are in the National League!  Either way, Houston has to go through Oswalt to make it to the World Series and even if he were dealt to an NL Central team, Houston is nowhere close to being competitive; so it doesn’t really matter.  What the deals boiled down to for Berkman and Oswalt is that the Yankees and Phillies could afford to eat those contracts while St. Louis, who is the #13 spending team ($93 million) can’t afford to pay the remainder of the deal.  What about the other 30 teams who wanted Oswalt or Berkman?  Once again the unbalance and unfairness of baseball doesn’t matter to MLB or anyone else as long as the New York Yankees prosper.  The Yanks payroll is now $206 million.

The Cardinals have a good team, lineup, rotation and defense.  They have the best player in the game and maybe the best 1-2 starting pitching too.  What kind of chance to the Cards have this season?  Let me put it this way.  Lance Berkman was the best player on the Astros for years and every year we had to beat an Astros team built around Berkman.  Now?  Berkman is batting 7th on the Yankees.  Seventh!  What about Oswalt?  Oh he’s the 3rd best pitcher on the Phillies!  Write it down now, the Cardinals or anyone in baseball have no chance to beat either the Phillies or the Yankees.  It’s getting to be ridiculous.  Thank God it’s almost football season where real mean decide real games.

Next week we will talk some high school football, some college, and some NFL.

Be sure to follow Hollywood Sports online at www.whatsupshopper.com

Follow Kevin On Twitter!

What’s Up in NASCAR

By Kevin Hastings

Clint’s vacationing again, wish I had it made like teachers do, so I’ll be letting you know What’s Up in NASCAR this week.

No race last weekend but that didn’t mean there weren’t any fireworks.  The Nationwide series still raced and boy what a show the guys put on near the end of the race. Well, some say it was a show, others say they just showed their butts.  Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski’s feud has just about went too far.

This all started last year when Keselowski, who’s got a dirty reputation in the garage, sent Carl Edwards flying into the catch fence at Talledega.  That crash was especially frightning during live television.  It’s amazing that these guys can wreck like that and not have any scratches after hitting the wall upside down in mid-air at 200mph!

Of course, since then Edwards and Keselowski have traded paint from here to Timbuktu in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series.’  Edwards got his flying car revenge after sending Keselowski into the air in Atlanta earlier this year.  It looks like the problem just keeps getting worse as Edwards wrecked Keselowski in the final straightaway for a win at Gateway.  Brad pushed Carl out of the way in Turn 1 and when Cousin Carl caught up near the checkered flag he knew just what to do; dump him.

Edwards turned Keselowski around then took the checkered flag as complete mayhem ensued behind as Keselowski bounced off the walls and multiple other cars causing thousands of dollars worth of damage.

But the real damage is the way NASCAR looks by not punishing Cousin Carl and letting these drivers play bumper cars until someone’s killed.  Then when the fans stop caring who’s fault will it be?  You can blame the drivers for their poor track decisions but you can blame NASCAR for not taking care of the situation.  You just can’t have 3,500lb. cars flying in the air careening off other cars and fences.  It’s not safe for the drivers or for race fans.

Former NASCAR Champion and TV analyst Dale Jarret said, “We’ve seen guys being a lot more aggressive driving in the Nationwide and in the Cup Series, and I think it’s just a product of what our sport has become. That’s not saying it’s right or wrong. It’s up to these drivers more to police what is happening between themselves, and what NASCAR determines and what they decide to do will be interesting to see. If I had to guess, I would say they’ll put Carl on probation or something like that and make him think about what he’s doing.”

Car owner Chip Ganassi added “I think someone has to be the referee in this, and I think NASCAR does a good job of that.  Let me preface this by saying that it’s very hard to police. I think each guy should be allowed one move — but I don’t think you should be allowed to use your car as a weapon.  I just thank God that nobody gets hurt in any of these things because I wouldn’t want to see that happen. I don’t think that’s what NASCAR had in mind when they said, ‘Boys, have at it.’ I’m positive that’s not what they had in mind.”

There you have it boys.  Rubbin’s Racing but Wrecking’s Wreckless.  It’s all good and fun til someone breaks a leg or gets killed out there.  This weekend’s race is at Indianapolis Speedway with no banking.  You think there’s gonna be some paint trading?  Stay tuned!

What’s Up in Hollywood Sports

By Kevin Hastings

If you’ve been paying any attention to ESPN the past few weeks and months you’ve heard non-stop about the World Cup in Africa for the first time.  I’m happy for the people of Africa in attaining the World Cup.  I’m sure the whole nation of South Africa and the continent of Africa are buzzing with excitement.

I’ll admit I was part of the excitement at first.  I never played soccer except when I was five and realized that a game with that much running, that little scoring, and nothing but kicking a ball was not for me.  Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to bash soccer, just trying to offer a few suggestions that maybe could help the game and get us Americans involved in the rest of the world’s favorite sport;  no matter how boring and simple.

I never watch soccer except for the World Cup.  When I studied in England while I was at Appalachian State, we watched a few games in the pubs, and was, for the most part, pretty fun.  But, you have to realize I just wrote that we were in a pub.  If you’re in a pub in one of these countries that live and die by the sport then of course it’s probably going to be fun to watch because of the atmosphere, the people, and the booze.  Trust me, the booze helps. I just never could understand why people are so excited about a game they play for 90 some odd minutes (we’ll get to that in a minute) and hope they tie or score one goal.  Really?  This is the best sport in the world?  No, but it does have potential.  The problem is that someone has to change the sport for good.  That someone is me.

New Rules For (Football) Soccer:

Rule #1:  Shorten the field.  It sounds so simple, but the best way to ensure a high scoring game is to shorten the field.  There’s too much space out there and too far to run to do anything.  Soccer is the only sport I know where half the opposing team doesn’t cross the other half of the field and try to stop the other team from scoring.  Why run around in wide open spaces for two hours not scoring and playing keep away from the other team?  This is an actual soccer strategy.  “Let’s play keep away for 2 hours and hope we tie!”  Not if I’m the commissioner.

Rule #2:  Get rid of off-sides as a penalty.  If you let your man behind that‘s poor defense.  It’s stupid to wait for the referees to bail out the defenders for not doing their jobs.  If your job is to play defense then play defense, and don’t let the other team behind you.  Period.

Rule #3:  No games end in ties.  There’s not enough room in this paper to write about how ridiculous ties are.  I don’t care how you decide who wins; just get a winner.

Rule #4:  Let everyone know exactly how much overtime play there is.   The current system involves “stoppage time” where a referee holding a stopwatch without anyone seeing it, secretely decides how much overtime is to be played and arbitrarily blows the whistle ending the game when he sees fit.  Absolute rubbish!

Rule #5:  When the referees make a call they have to tell the players, coaches, other referees, the fans, and everyone else what they’re calling.  The refs now are allowed to blow their whistle and just point in the direction of who’s ball it is.  There are no hand signals, no special penalties, no explanation.  Just a referee with no liabilty calling whatever he wants.  No wonder fans in other countries beat up and threaten the lives of soccer refs.  We would do the same if refs were allowed to do this in baseball, basketball and football.  I can’t imagine the outrage if a ref in the Duke-Carolina game just blew his whistle, pointed the other way, and took away a game winning shot with no explantion other than he just felt that way. I tried to get into this game, but when the refs have complete control and do whatever they want it’s just ridiculous.  I can’t fathom how a soccer fan can cope with this problem.  That’s all I can think about the sport and I don’t watch and don’t care who wins.

Soccer is a good game for kids.  Gets them healthy and promotes teamwork.  However, until soccer gets its rules and act together, it will never catch on in this country no matter if the refs cheat for us to win.  Americans will support a sport it deems as having satisfactory rules but right now soccer has rules that wouldn’t fly at your local YMCA.

What’s Up in Hollywood Sports

By Kevin Hastings

A few weeks back I gave you all plenty of reasons to watch this season’s NBA Playoffs after the Bobcats were eliminated in their first appearance in the tournament.  After a few grueling weeks of basketball it’s all come down to a Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals! Welcome back to the 80’s!  Actually the Celtics beat the Lake Show two seasons ago in the Finals, so it’s not been that long.  Now it’s Kobe, Phil, Gasol and Odom versus Rondo, Pierce, Garnett and Allen. The NBA is Fantastic!

If you haven’t watched or don’t watch NBA basketball I understand.  There’s usually little defense and a lot of standing around on offense.  Not with these two teams.  If you like the game of basketball, you don’t want ot miss this series.  I can’t see either team winning this in less than six or seven games.  Kobe is looking to cement his place among the game’s greatest of all-time.  Phil Jackson is looking for his 11th ring. The Celtics Big Three have turned into The Supporting Three, as PG Rajon Rondo, has upped his game and is prepared to lead the Big Three along with the help of Rasheed Wallace, Kendrick Perkins, Nate Robinson and Big Baby Davis!

Either team can win, and I think the Celtics have the better team.  It’s really hard though to pick against Kobe.  I’m going Lakers in 7.  If you like basketball, don’t miss this series.  Yeah the idea of the Celtics or Lakers winning another title can make your stomach turn, but this series has the potential to be one of the best basketball played series in NBA history.  Stay tuned.

Sage Hastings (2007-2010)

R.I.P. SAGE HASTINGS:  I wanted to take this spot to say goodbye to a good friend and family member.  Over the holiday weekend my family’s cat was hit by a car in front of our house.  Growing up we always had cats outside, and I was never close to them because I am allergic to cats.  I got Sage for my then future wife when she moved in with me because she had always had a cat in the house.  Since the day Sage came into our lives we kept him in the house except to potty, and I never had one itch from him.  Sage was one of the dogs as he ate dog food and did dog tricks like sitting & begging when I got the treats out for him and his sibling dogs.  Sage liked to curl up with Ozzie, our Collie, and take naps.  He would wrestle with the Yorki and terrorize the St. Bernard mix. Sage lived a happy life relaxing in the air conditioning and playing with the family.  You never know how much you’ll miss a pet when they’re gone, but when one if taken from you pre-maturely it stings a little bit more.  I wish I was here to do something but I wasn’t.  To Sage: Me, Amy, Ozzie, Roscoe and Bailey will miss you buddy.  We’ll all see you soon!

What’s Up in Hollywood Sports

By Kevin "Hollywood" Hastings

As of press time the NBA playoffs looked like this:  Orlando has clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals and is waiting on the winner of the Celtics and Cavs series where Boston is up 3-2.  The Eastern Conference Finals will begin Monday night.  In the West the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Phoenix Suns for a right to play in the NBA Finals.  The Westeren Conference Finals begin on Sunday in L.A. I’ll preview the West before I get into slamming Prince LeBrick and the Revolution.

The Lakers had a little trouble in the first round with up and coming Oklahoma City Thunder and future best player in the league, Kevin Durant.  In the second round both the Suns and Lakers swept their opponents and now get to battle for the Finals.  The Suns’ Steve Nash is a fan favorite and a joy to watch on the pick and roll.  Nash doesn’t get that much credit as a shooter, but according to John Hollinger’s ratings on ESPN.com, Nash ranks as the all-time best shooter.  That’s not a misprint, read that again.  Not Reggie Miller or Larry Bird.  Not Craig Hodges or Michael Jordan.  Not even Dell or Stephen Curry can claim he’s the best shooter ever.  So how can Nash and the Suns beat the Lakers?  Well, they’re going to have a little trouble with that even with the greatest shooter in NBA history.  The Suns don’t matchup well against the Lake Show down low; so Nash, Barbosa and Grant Hill are going to have to step up and outplay Kobe, Artest and Derek Fisher. I don’t know if Phoenix can pull the upset, but I’ll be pulling for them.  I just can’t bet against Kobe in the Westeren Conference Finals.  Lakers win the series 4-2.

Speaking of betting against Kobe, let’s talk about Prince LeBrick James and the Michael Jordan wannabes.  Ever since Jordan retired from the Bulls in ‘98 leaving us with wanting more, the league has tried to shove “The Next Michael Jordan” down our throats.  Please stop.  There will never be another Michael just like there will never be another Magic, Kareem, Bird, Oscar Robertson, or even another Kobe.

Jordan wasn’t only the best offensive player on his team or the most athletic player on the court.  Jordan had it all.  He was the best passer, shooter, ball handler, perimeter defender and leader on the basketball court.  Jordan just didn’t want to win; he needed to win.  He had to win.  Jordan didn’t win though until he accepted that he needed his teammates. Yet he was still the boss of them.  Jordan led teams to 6 NBA Championships, 1 NCAA Championship, 2 Gold Medals, and as Dean Smith once said “Jordan lost his first scrimmage ever at practice in Chapel Hill.  For the next three years no matter who we put on him or who we put on his team in practice he never lost another srimmage again.”  That’s Michael Jordan.

Flash forward to 2010, and all I hear about is LeBron this, LeBron that.  King James is the next Jordan.  King James is the best basketball player on the planet.  King James is unstoppable when he wants to be…. What?  When he wants to be?  You never had to qualify your statements about Jordan being the best with “when he wants to be.”  I’m sorry Jordan just was the best no matter what game or what time of day it was.  Being the best and winning the most games and awards isn’t conditional.  It’s something you have to work for to achieve.  When Michael was in high school he got cut.  His games weren’t aired on TV, and he wasn’t being labeled as the NEXT.  He wasn’t given over $100 million from Nike when he graduated high school.  Jordan had to work for everything he earned.

Prince LeBron just doesn’t get this.  He doesn’t undertand how to be the best.  He wants everything given to him.  He’s never had to earn anything in his life, and you just aren’t given NBA titles for being the best basketball player in the league.  LeBron also must not understand that his window is closing.  Sure, he can play for 10 more years, but do you know how many players in the league are capable of willing their teams to victory and uplifting them to an NBA title?  Dozens fill the league like that, and they want to win a ring too.  Kobe was named the next Jordan, but he’s not.  He’s not as nice as Michael and not as beloved and revered.  Kobe was accused of raping a woman.  Kobe isn’t Michael.  Yeah he’s got four rings, but three of them were on the coattails of the most unstoppable force in NBA history in Shaquille O’neal.

All of this came to a head last Tuesday night when it looked like LeBron just quit on his team and the fans and people of Cleveland.  When Cleveland needed James the most he buckled under the pressure.  Michael Jordan would have never let his team lose by 32 points at home in the playoffs during a crucial Game 5.  Now LeBron and the Cavs head to Boston for Game 6 down 3-2.  From the looks of everything you can count on Boston winning this series and LeBron leaving town.  Cheaters are cheaters, and quitters are quitters.  LeBron James will never be a champion by quitting or leaving his team when the chips are down.  He says Jordan was his childhood hero.  Well LeBron, now’s the time to Be Like Mike; too bad you never will.

What’s Up in Hollywood Sports

Hollywood

By Kevin Hastings

A few weeks back I wrote how if I were a Carolina Panthers fan I would be pretty upset about the third off-season in a row in which the Panthers had questions at quarterback and wide receiver.  We watched Delhomme toss jump balls in Steve Smith’s direction for years and the rest of the NFL had figured out that strategy.

Well the draft came and went and the Panthers hopefully hit the jackpot.  Why?  Well the cats not only drafted a quarterback to replace the now departed Jake Delhomme but they drafted three of them!  Jimmy Clausen, Tony Pike and Armanti Edwards made their debuts this past week at Panthers practice.   Carolina got real lucky this season having Jimmy Clausen fall to them at #48 in the draft.  Mel Kiper Jr. had Clausen rated as the #1 quarterback but he did say that Clausen could drop into the late 2nd round because most teams in the NFL now have their franchise quarterback or didn’t want to pony up the dough for QB early in the first.  You can’t miss on picks like that and teams weren’t willing to make the pick and take the chance on Clausen.  Well the state of North Carolina thanks the rest of the leauge.

Clausen immediately steps in as the most hyped quarterback coming to Carolina in team history.  Delhomme was brought in as a backup and possible starter and don’t get me started on Kerry Collins and Steve Buerlein.  But what if Clausen fails?  I think that’s ok because the Cats have backup plans in Matt Moore and late round draft pick from Cincinnatti Tony Pike.  After some years of grooming, Pike might actually be the best QB out of the group.  This plan is better than the last few seasons in which they had Delhomme at the helm and no possible savior of the franchise waiting in the wings.  Now the Panthers have three possible starting NFL quarterbacks and Armanti Edwards.

Who’s Armanti Edwards?  If you don’t know and you’re reading this article you should be ashamed of yourself.  Armanti is so good and so well-liked at Appalachian State the former QB is just called ‘Armanti.’  Usually when a person is referred to as one name you can look forward some great memories.  It’s not totally your fault though if you haven’t seen the Greenwood, SC native play quarterback you’re not alone.  When Armanti was drafted as a WR out of Appalachian State, ESPN’s Chris Berman looked at Mel Kiper Jr. and asked him “how many passes did Edwards catch against Michigan in the Upset at The Big House?”  Well Chris that answer would be ZERO!  He was the quarterback!  So yeah you’re not alone.  Here’s a brief bio of Armanti Edwards courtesy of Wikipedia:

He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09.  In addition to leading the Mountaineers to consecutive NCAA Division I Football Championships in 2006 and 2007, Edwards became the first quarterback in Southern Conference history to lead his team to four straight conference championships.He became the first quarterback in NCAA Division I history to throw for 9,000 and rush for 4,000 yards in a career. Later he would become the first quarterback to pass for over 10,000 yards and rush for an additional 4,000 yards in a career. He is also the first back-to-back and two-time Walter Payton Award winner, given to the Football Championship Subdivision’s most outstanding offensive player, receiving the award in 2008 and 2009.  In 2006, he led the Mountaineers to the FCS National Championship as a true freshman, beating the Minutemen of UMass 28–17. He finished the 2006 season with 2,251 yards and 15 touchdowns passing, and 1,153 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing. Edwards was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year at the end of the season

Edwards started the 2007 season by guiding Appalachian State to a 34–32 upset victory over fifth-ranked Michigan in a game that was named the “Biggest Upset of 2007” by Sports Illustrated.In the game, Edwards threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns while also totaling 62 yards and a touchdown on the ground. On December 7, in a semifinal playoff game against Richmond, Edwards set the single game FCS rushing record for a quarterback, rushing for 313 yards and 4 touchdowns on 31 carries.He also completed 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and 3 touchdowns. Edwards had been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Heisman Trophy in the 2008 season. Edwards established himself as a threat through the air and along the ground, and garnered elite status within the division. He and the Mountaineers won a third consecutive national championship, beating the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens 49–21 on December 14.

To summarize, Armanti Edwards is a football player and scoring machine.  Look for Armanti quarterbacking the Wildcat along with running by DB’s while clearing up space for Steve Smith.  Clausen may be the steal of the draft but Edwards could quickly change people’s mind.  Stay tuned America.

What’s Up in Hollywood Sports

By Kevin Hastings

The good news is that the Charlotte Bobcats landed their first playoff spot in team history.  The bad news is they drew the hardest team in the NBA to match up with and didn’t win a single game in the series.

I was high on the Bobcats heading into the tournament until they were “rewarded” with playing the Orlando Magic in the first round.  The Magic have the leagues best big man in Dwight Howard and boast one of the deepest benches in the NBA.  Orlando got beat in the Finals last season against the Lakers and this season are poised to get back to the championship round.   The Bobcats main weaknesses reared their ugly heads as Charlotte had trouble scoring the basketball and stopping the opposing team’s point guard.  The front court defense stepped up though, virtually eliminated Howard from the series by double teaming him constantly and aggravating him enough to get him into foul trouble.  It didn’t matter because Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter just proved too much on offense for the Cats to keep up with.

Charlotte’s first playoff season in team history ends amidst questions and speculation on all things Bobcats.  Will Larry Brown return to coach the team next season?  How many trades will Jordan have to put together to get out of their salary cap hell?  Will team leader Gerald Wallace be back after another poor shooting season?  Will Jordan seriously look into and consider changing the name of the team now that Bob “I named an NBA team after myself” Johnson has sold majority ownership to Jordan?  For Bobcats fans all of this will be answered soon enough.  Remember this is the off-season of LeBron so stay tuned.

Until then I would highly recommend checking out the rest of the NBA playoffs.  For years I’ve heard grumblings from the area that “the NBA is stupid; they never play defense; it’s a one-on-one game; I don’t see no Tar Heel blue out there; I’m not watching these overpaid muscle bound ninnies play ball.”

Guys, I hear you.  Ever since Jordan retired from the Bulls the second time the league has suffered a bit in it’s watchability, but trust me when I say this… The NBA is back!

After years of growth the young guns have grown up and so has the league.  If you haven’t watched in a while this is the season for you.  There’s no real dominant team that you have to say is the favorite.  Every team can be beat, and every game is a battle.  Here’s a quick recap of who and what to watch for this post-season.

Watch LeBron and the Cavaliers run the break.  LeBron is a freak of an athlete with a mixture of Jordan’s leaping ability, Magic’s passing ability, and Scottie Pippen’s defensive prowess. The Cavs will put on a show for you down low too with Shaquille O’Neal and Antawn Jamison working the post.

Watch the Celtics, old age and all, play hard nosed playoff defense.  PG Rajon Rondo is fun to watch wiggle in and out of defenses looking for three future Hall of Famers to pass it to.

Watch the Orlando Magic shoot 3-pointer after 3-pointer and the best big man in a generation board, block and dunk all over his opponents.  This team goes ten deep and I mean deep.  So deep even fans have time to boo JJ Redick every time he touches the ball as the 10th man.

Watch the Atlanta Hawks run the floor and crash the boards.  This team is like a playground team that runs everyone else home with dunks, alley-oops and 3-point baskets.

Watch the Milwaukee Bucks pour their hearts and souls into each game as they play without their leading post player and former #1 overall pick C Andrew Bogut.  PG Brandon Jennings is a passing genius and if you’re not careful he may drop 55 points on your point guard.

Watch the Utah Jazz’s Deron Williams improve play after play, game after game.  In 20 years we’ll still be talking about the 2006 draft as the greatest point guard draft in a generation and maybe ever. Williams and Carlos Boozer will remind everyone of Stockton and Malone only this tandem is stronger and more physical.

Watch the 7-foot tall Dirk Nowitzki shoot threes like Larry Bird.  Trust me I’m not exaggerating.  7-footers don’t come around too often that play like Small Forwards.  If Dirk’s not in the right place you can be sure PG Jason Kidd will find him or another teammate in the right spot.

Watch the ageless Spurs and the shiftiness of PG Tony Parker and SG Manu Ginobili.  Ginobili is a gift from the basketball gods who shoots left handed but takes it to the rim with both hand with reckless abandon.  Don’t forget Manu was the best player on the Golf Medal Argentina team that waxed the floor with USA Basketball a few years back.

Watch the Phoenix Suns score 120 points per game.  Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire are masters of the pick and roll.

Watch the Trailblazer’s SG Brandon Roy’s mid-range game.  He’ll toy with defenders until he can get his shot off even with a knee he just had surgery on before the playoffs.  Portland can’t win it all this season, but they’ll be a force in the future.

Watch the Denver Nuggets try to pull together and win one for their head coach, George Karl, as he missed games with his battle with throat cancer.  Big Shot Chauncey Billups runs an offense as well as anyone in the league and Carmelo Anthoney is one of the Top 5 players in the NBA.  Utah should beat this team, but I wouldn’t miss one of their games if I had a choice.

Watch the defending champion Lakers try to outsize, outsmart and out muscle opponents in defense of their title.  Kobe is pure basketball genius on the court and can match fadeaways with Jordan shot for shot.

Finally, I want you all to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Check them out if you get a chance.  The Lakers may put them out of the first round, but they’ll be back with a vengeance next season.  OKC may have the game’s next best player.  Forget LeBron, Carmelo, Kobe and D-Wade.  The Thunder have a kid who’s the youngest ever NBA scoring champion at 21.  His name is Kevin Durant, and he’s 6’9” with a jumper like Reggie Miller’s and rebounds like James Worthy.  Watch Durant’s silky smooth shot, and you’ll think to yourself that people that age and that height should never be able to do things with the ball like Durant does.  TNT Analyst Kenny Smith said it best during All-Star Weekend, “How can you guard someone who never misses?”  That’s Kevin Durant, and now that’s the NBA.  A can’t miss watch.  You’ll thank me later.

What’s Up with Hollywood Sports

By Kevin Hastings

This past week has seen a few trades in the NFL that make you say “He got traded for what?” Franchise quarterbacks and wide receivers are getting traded for chump change and possibilities.  Future Hall of Fame running backs are getting cut like a waitress in an empty restaurant.  It won’t be long before we see the headline “Panthers Trade Coach Fox To Browns For 5th Round Pick.”  Guys I’m for real… it’s getting ridiculous!

The Denver Broncos traded embattled wideout Brandon Marshall to Miami for a 2nd Round this year and a 2nd next season.  The Dolphins got an absolute steal from Denver who wanted to get rid of Marshall for all the complaining he does about being underpaid, which he was.  In 2007 the Dolphins selected WR Teddy Ginn Jr. as the #9 pick in the entire draft.  Rumors abound that the Fins will now trade Ginn after acquiring Marshall.  So for a Top 10 pick Miami gets a bust who never panned out, and for two 2nd round picks Miami gets possibly the best all-around wide receiver in football.  Go figure.

The Philadelphia Eagles traded the greatest quarterback in team history to the division rival Redskins for a 2nd round pick.  I can’t even begin to describe how idiotic a move I think this is for Philly.  As a Cowboys fan I was excited that McNabb was finally leaving the division but now that he’s on the Redskins, the Boys and the Eagles will both have to deal with a pissed off McNabb.  So what kind of value can the Eagles get with their 2nd round pick?   Here’s who the Eagles have picked in the 2nd round since 2003:   RB Lesean McCoy; DT Trevor Laws; WR Desean Jackson; DE Victor Abiamiri;  OT Winston Justice; WR Reggie Brown;  LB Matt McCoy; TE LJ Smith.  If anyone would have offered Philly any of these players for McNabb, the Eagles would have told that team where to stick that offer.  But if that team offers a 2nd round pick, well that’s a great offfer!

2009 Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes was traded from the Steelers to the New York Jets for a 5th round pick.  5th Round! I have a better chance of making the team than the kid who they draft in the 5th.  Holmes was a budding #1 receiver and Super Bowl MVP.  Getting a 5th round pick for Holmes is basically saying the Steelers would have almost paid someone to take Holmes off their hands.

What really makes you mad is the fact that other teams than the one you root for are making trades for established veterans for a pack of peanuts and some draft picks.  You think to yourself “Dont we have some peanuts and a 5th round pick? Nah, we don’t need McNabb.  He may be a future hall of famer, but we got Matt Moore!”

When it comes down to it what are you really trading for when you trade an established veteran for a draft pick?  Nothing more than a chance to gamble on some college kid who may or may not pan out.  I’m not saying trading for picks is stupid.  In fact, that’s the best way to build your team’s base as opposed to free agency.  The problem is teams have to realize that at some point your giving up a player who you know is good for an unknown commodity.  This only happens in sports and on “Let’s Make A Deal.”  This never happens in the real world.  Would McDonald’s trade the rights of the Big Mac to Burger King for an undisclosed item under the King’s serving tray?  No they wouldn’t, so why do sports teams continue to do this? We’ll never know why some people make the decisions they do, but what we do know is that every coach, every GM, every owner thinks they have the answers to all the team’s problems.  There’s a reason there’s so much turnover in sports jobs.  Everyone’s trading something for nothing and that never works.