Blogging on Meds

SHIT!!! Kobe’s now talking of playing pro hoops in Europe, specifically Italy - probably Milan. I thought it was kinda cool that Josh Childress went to Greece to play for the next few seasons and earn some money that the NBA wont allow these guys to get paid. I also thought it was maybe a good idea that Lebron James would even consider playing in Europe as well. But now two of the leagues best players considering a move across the Atlantic, seems a little more realistic than I wanted it to be. I mean, Kobe grew up part of young life watching his pops, “Jelly Bean” Bryant, play in Italy - so maybe it’s somewhat fitting for him to follow suit.

Boston Globe/Associated Press story here…

If Italy comes knocking with big money next summer, the NBA could lose its biggest star in Kobe Bryant. In lieu of a report that Cleveland star Lebron James would strongly consider playing in Europe for $50 million for one season when he becomes a free agent in two years, when asked by The Boston Globe about the report Bryant said he would take a similar deal by a pro team in Italy if offered when he becomes a free agent next summer. The Associated Press originally reported that Bryant could have interest in playing professionally in Europe. “I’d go. I’d probably go,” said Bryant, during a USA Basketball press conference on Friday morning. “Like Milan or something like that, where I grew up or something like that? Peace out.” Bryant continued: “Do you know any reasonable person that would turn down 50 (million dollars)?”

We (U.S.A.) get Pau Gasol and Dirk Novitski, you (Europe) get Lebron and Kobe. That’s not a fair trade.

Why aren’t these European clubs paying their own stars huge amounts of cash to stay in their perspective leagues? Is the NBA that much better than the Euro leagues as a whole? Is it pretty much the opposite for the M.L.S. (Major League Soccer in the US) vs. all the badass soccer leagues in Europe?

But think about it, really really really $50 million per season for an adult to play a game that involves wearing baggy shorts and throwing a ball around? That’s fucked… That’s a whole other story…

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Pierce scores 19 and guards Kobe in second half, C’s mount 21-3 run to end 3rd qtr, most exciting 4th qtr of my life—Posey, House hit big shots and Ray Allen gets numbers 1 and 3 on Sportscenter’s Top Ten, C’s trailed by 18 at the half, “Is this for real?” and “Wow” most texted phrases across C’s nation…

Superstars: Ray-Ray cuts like a samurai sword through Laker butter; The Truth vs Kobe 2nd half match-up…

All haters forever hold your peace. The 2008 Boston Celtics are better than the LA Lakers. The end. Taking a 3-1 series lead, the C’s have Boston on a natural green high. Break out your parading wear, folks, because next week the Duck Boats should be tooting through town, spewing confetti on the green masses, trophy raised high. 

Usually I’d go to Bob Ryan or Dan Shaugnessy for the game’s money quote, but their hyperbolic myth-makery can’t compete with Globe beat writer Mark Spears’ cold, hard facts:   

The Celtics overcame a 24-point deficit en route to a stunning 97-91 victory over the Lakers in Game 4 last night at Staples Center. Boston owns a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with Game 5 here Sunday. The Celtics can win their first title since 1986 with one more victory.

So who was the player of the game? In the 4th quarter, Ray Allen morphed into a human highlight reel, driving to hit some gorgeous lay-ups. But it was The Truth who saved the day. At halftime, with no fouls, PP told C’s coach Doc Rivers to put him on Kobe Bryant, the league MVP, and one of the best 4th quarter scorers ever. And it worked.

After the victory, Pierce stormed the tunnel at the Staples Center, arms raised, shouting, “That’s how you do it!”

In the postgame press conference, Kobe was asked how you deal with such a loss. “Whine a lot,” he answered. “Drink a lot of beer. Do a few shots. Do 20 shots.” I usually hate Kobe’s existence, but that was a perfect answer.

How many Globe covers can The Truth handle (this is at least the sixth in a month)?

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The Los Angeles Lakers beat defending Champs the San Antonio Spurs in a home game Thursday night, 100-92.  MVP Kobe Bryant led his team to the finals with 39 fuckin points.  Looks like a Lakers-Celtics showdown might be a possibility after all.

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Prior to dawning Celtic Green, Mr.Garnett was my favorite non-Celtic. A lot of this appreciation was centered around the fact that he looked dope in a uniform that incorporated green. It was easy for me to fantasize what it would be like to see him dominating alongside Paul Pierce and making that team legit, I’ve seen enough potlucked together Celtic teams, the Antoine Wiggle, Rogers and Delk jacking awful threes, trades for injured white dudes, etc.

Mr. Ainge made this dream a reality and the Celtics have delivered thus far aside from a perplexing series against the Hawks. My brain cannot grasp why they almost blew that series, I’m hoping that it was as simple as Bibby (who is a dead ringer for 2nd place White Rapper John Brown) was calling in hookers in the form of fat white chicks to their hotel rooms before each road game causing lethargic play.

This post is not about sports, Boston, basketball or anything other than competitive swagger.

As you see in the pictures accompanying this post, KG has not only brought a winning team oriented mentality to the Celtics, he brought a serious swag and a signature look, the sketchy towel wrapped around the neck or head, the premier post-game / bench look. This can also be modified into a look similar to something the king of swag’s Jim Jones, signature new look, which he’s repping on the cover of his latest CD:

Once again my white skin permits me from doing anything this cool so I have to celebrate how good this looks on brothers. Seeing cool black people in green with sketchy towels makes me almost hate how white skin looks in those uniforms, how did I ever think, Bird, McHale, or even fucking Greg Kite looked remotely cool or intimidating in those uniforms when something like this exists. Pasty white skin looks negative cool in anything white and sleeveless, sorry any-dude-USA wearing a wife beater, in case you didn’t know you look like an asshole.

Thank you KG for all your contributions, I hope to see dudes rocking the towel look this sticky New York Summer.

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In the conversation / argument over who should be the NBA MVP, some of his Celtics teammates are making a case for Kevin Garnett over Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, and King James. While their argument is understandable I was amused at the multiple mentions of Garnett’s practice intensity:

P.J. Brown: “Just being able to see him since I’ve been here, he’s one of the most intense players that I’ve been around,” said Brown, who went to the Eastern Conference finals with Miami in 1996-97. “His practice habits are unbelievable and unmatched by anything that I’ve ever seen.”

Paul Pierce: “Everything he’s done for the culture of the team, his impact on the game, is just tremendous,” Pierce said. “The way we go about practice every day, the focus on games, spending some time with him on the bus . . . Those are things that can’t be measured when you talk about MVP.”

The quotes reminded me of this legendary Allen Iverson press conference:

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