What A Slap In The Grill!!

Then again, it is Sports Illustrated.

SI's NBA preview picked the Golden State Warriors to finish with the 12th (that's right twelfth) best record in the WESTERN CONFERENCE. Behind the Lakers, behind the Timberwolves, even 3 spots behind the Utah 'freaking' Jazz.

Maybe I'm being overly optomistic, but there's no way in hell that the Lakers add Kwame Brown, an 18-year old draft pick and a coach who's only there for the money and finish ahead of Baron Davis and a cast of players that's improving at a geometric rate.

And Minnesota? Did they make some huge move that I'm not aware of? Did LeBron and Dwayne Wade sign there in the off season? I've always liked the T-Wolves, but brother they are going to stink this year.

My other favorite picks of the braintrust over at SI;

- Nuggets finishing 2nd in the west

- Celtics finishing 11th in the east

- Sacramento 6th in the West

It is to laugh. Do us all a favor, SI, and put Kobe Bryant on the cover every week from now until the all star break...

Stroke Me Stroke Me... Stroke!! Stroke!!

I'm not sure if I understand what the 'controversy' is surrounding Teddy Bruschi's decision to come back to practice this week.

I've heard several commentators insinuate that he's 'taking a risk', and that 'this could end tragically and I don't think I would be willing to put my life in my hands like that'.

Huh?

Basically, people are treating this like it's a knee injury or that he's got some bizarre Reggie Lewis/Eddy Curry heart condition. The last time I checked, no one in the history of the world ever had another stroke because he was hit too hard or ran too fast. What exactly are these people afraid will happen? Do they really think that an offensive lineman is going to chop block him and that Teddy will shout out, "Blood Clot!!" and lose all sensation in the right side of his body?

C'mon now, the doctors have cleared him, he feels no ill effects and is back in shape. There's no reason NOT to let him play. Am I supposed to believe that another 8 months off will give his blood time to 'not clot' or his arteries a chance to 'not close up'?

Welcome back Teddy...

Employee #8 vs. Pau Gasol's Beard

A few random thoughts while watching the preseason matchup of Heat v. Grizzlies (Yeah, I know there's a 'playoff' baseball game on, but it's basically the racist white jerks of Orange County vs. fairweather Cubs fans like Wilbon who are suddenly in love with the 'pale hose', so who cares?)

- Hakim Warrick is the shit. In 10 years, people won't wonder how a team with Carmelo Anthony and Warrick won a NCAA championship, they'll wonder how any team playing against them managed to come within 40 points.

- Jason Williams is still an idiot. Sacramento will eventually look like geniuses again for giving up on the biggest show boat since the Pacific Princess.

- Gasol's new beard rules. How do you say "rugged, Dan Haggerty-esque motherfucker" in spanish?

- Damon Stoudamire's a Grizzly? Let's just hope that Darius Miles is able to FedEx him a weekly 'care package' from the Pacific Northwest.

- The Heat have too many players. James Posey could be THE man on half a dozen other teams. He'll be lucky to get 10 minutes a night on this roster.

All Dickau All The Time...

Your 2005-2006 Boston Celtic!!

Nice of Dirty Dan Dickau to get a Boston meat-head haircut to go with his new address. Wassa matter Dan, afraid your 'emo', Spokane Washington hairdo would get you the 'Dee Brown' treatment by Celts fans?

Check out the transcript of an online chat the Dickster had with the fans right here.

Too True...

Since the NBA pre-season is upon us, here's a reminder of all that's nice in the Association...

Pro Athlete Lauded For Being Decent Human Being