MAVERICKS (NO NOT PALIN AND MCCAIN)

I didn't want to react to the big Mavs-Wizards trade until I saw some results. First, the primary departed players, both of whom I liked. Josh Howard had proved to be a starter but not a finisher. Usually good for an early scoring punch in a game but invisible at the end. It was time. I've always liked Drew Gooden but his foul trouble and inconsistent play was a problem..

Right away, everyone said Caron Butler was the big get and he is an upgrade from Howard. In the wins over LA and Atlanta Butler was out sick. These games showed the real value of the trade was Brendan Haywood. The Mavs have never had a 5 play this consistently. Desean Stephenson has shown his value as a defender and spot shooter.

Earlier I said the Mavericks were the deepest team in the league. The well just got deeper.

OLYMPIC HODGE PODGE

With the elimination of both US teams, my fixation with curling has vanished. It truly was like watching a train wreck.

These cross country ski events with everyone racing each other are more interesting than the first ones based solely on times.

Still think USA men's hockey has a good shot at gold. Canada hates Russia and I don't think Russia is as good as USA. So the Canada drubbing of Russia should be taken with a grain of salt.

Glad to see that bizarre speed skating lane change snafu with that dane or dutch guy or wherever he is from. I was fully sick and tired of hearing how he was so much more wonderful than any other human ever. Yeah, the coach was wrong, but ultimately it's the players responsibility.

At least we should get Parks and Recreation, Community, Scrubs and Better Off Ted back next week. I miss Lem and Phil.

ADDICTED TO CURLING

I have no idea why there is so much air time devoted to curling. I can't understand why I am transfixed with curling. Maybe it's because I think I can do it. You just sit there wondering why they put the stones where they do. And does the sweeping actually have an effect?!? Sadly, Team USA hasn't had much luck with the curling, men and women.

Team Canada men's ice hockey had to go to a shootout to beat the Swiss. I thought this was the single greatest collection of talent ever assembled. The Canucks get Team USA tonight. We'll see.

WHY DID NBC HIDE THE MEN'S DOWNHILL

I am very upset with NBC and their Olympic coverage. They are overly preoccupied with showing all these newer extreme Olympic sports. Interestingly, these are televised every year in the X games and several other times in their other competetions.
Guess what is not televised every year on multiple occasions. Men's downhill skiing! One of the most thrilling and memorable things I ever saw was Franz Klammer hurtling down a mountain at 100 mph with the edge of one ski barely touching the snow.
NBC had the opportunity to show the downhill for both men and women live in the afternoon but opted to show them in the evening on delay. My guide on DirectTV had the downhill on different nights. So I missed the only thing I was looking foward to.
I can see hockey most any night and we've been repeatedly told Team USA has less chance than they did in 1980. The extreme athletes clearly care more about the X games and the cross country skiing NBC is showing is a good excuse for a nap.

THE NBA SALARY CAP IS A JOKE

The NBA has turned into the MLB. Much like the Yankees, Red Sox and one other team can pick and chose whatever players they want, the Celtics, Lakers and LeBron's team get whoever they want.
This luxury tax crap turned the salary cap into a joke. Just like in baseball, 2 or 3 owners understand you make more money by competing for the championship every year while the rest are terrified of spending and hope the players fall in their laps. Problem is, as soon as anyone gets good, one of the three chosen teams will cherry pick that player.
Just look at it: the Lakers have Kobe, Gasol, Artest, Bynum and Odom. Celtics have Garnett, Pierce, Allen, Wallace and Rondo. The players listed are already enough to overflow the cap and upcoming deadline moves will give them more.
The Cavs have LeBron and Shaq and are about to recieve the gift of Amare Stoudemire. And in the off season they will retain them all plus add either Duane Wade or Chris Bosh.

JR. PULLS A SR.

First I want to say how much I wish NASCAR would have gone ahead and replaced the wing with the spoiler for this race instead of waiting for Martinsville. I think, if the drivers try to run smart, the racing back in the pack would have been better. Since I have DirectTV, I watched most of the race on the Dale Earnhardt Jr channel. Once he got moved back into the pack, due to a bad 1st pit stop decision, it was clear this package was not good for cars 6th in line and farther back. Jr struggled continually with lanes that would stall and cars that wouldn't suck up.
Fortunately, no one caught Jr up in their wreck. Fortunately NASCAR extended the green/white/checker rule to allow for a green flag finish. This thinned allowed Jr to make that bold move from 10th to 2nd on the final lap. Had it not been for a little bump that got his car loose breaking from the pack entering 3, Jr might have had the momentum to get next to McMurray. For a brief moment I thought I saw a 3 on that car.

TRUCKS TRUCKS TRUCKS

NASCAR has got to do something to get the rear and front bumpers of the trucks to match up so the inevtable bump drafting will not be a suicide/homicide situation. At Daytona and Talladega the draft sucks trucks together too quickly because of the giant holes the trucks punch in the air.
Elliott Sadler looked to have the best truck early on, but as happens he got shuufled back. Then 2 idiots found each other and collected him. Fortunately, this also took master moron Kyle Busch out of contention. for some reason he had too get in the leaders way for much of the race.
Nelson Piquet Jr was quite impressive in his truck debut and Max Papis looked good also. The finish was the excitement we've come to expect from trucks at Daytona. On the back stretch, Jason White (in 3rd) pulled out of line to make his move. Todd Bodine the race leader moved up to block and brushed the wall. This opened the door for 2nd place Timothy Peters to go low enetering turn 3 and hold on to win.

I HATE IDIOT DRIVERS

In the Nationwide (they will be the sponsor of the second until the CEO needs bonus money) we saw an exciting race. Danica looked shaky early and was starting to get the hang of it until two morons found each other and she got caught up in their wreck. She may have a better future in stock cars than she did in IRL.
Many may have felt the shockwave of hatred a cussing directed at the smiling moron Carl Edwards. His inability to understand the size of his car and where it is on the track hooked 2 cars ahead of him, flipping my driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Of course he said it wasn't his fault. Apparently he is perfect because nothing has ever been his fault.
Thankfully Tony Stewart won the race with a dominant car. Sadly after wrecking 10 cars, Cousin Idiot finished 2nd. Let's hope this kind of stupidity doesn't invade the 500 tomorrow.
The trucks are tonight and I'll be watching.

THE SNOW!

Yes, I made some claims about giving my impressions about the action at Daytona. Record bad weather here in Dallas at first clogged the dish with snow then power outtages robbed me the opportunity to see the 2nd Duel race. Plus, it was pointed out to me that recovery from surgery caused me to use right for write. So for now I'll give my thoughts on what I have seen at Speedweeks and hope the weather cooperates for the Busch (I'm old school) race and postponed truck race.
The ARCA race was entertaining but passing was nearly impossible. Guard the yellow line and you couldn't be passed. That's what made Danica's 6th place finish even more amazing, after her infield excursion and amazing save.
The Shootout and 1st Duel race showed what I expected. Not much. The lead up races are exciting because of the pack racing, but it is obvious good cars are holding back allowing bad cars to win these races and leave everyone unable to predict what may happen on Sunday.

RECOVERY SUCKS

As previously mentioned, hydrocodone stupor had an effect on postings. Now I am out of that crap but recovery continues its slow trudge. Somehow I thought I would just snap back and be in better shape by now. 6 weeks means 6 weeks.
As you know, from your rib cage down is a sheet of muscle that protects what we in Texas call your innards. When a 6 inch gash is cut through that, from just below the belly button down, you quickly find out what that whole sheet of muscle is for. I never really knew how much I needed it.
All I will say about the incision itself is: IT'S DISGUSTING!
Hopefully, soon, I will get back to the sports commentary I started this blog for. I mean Daytona is this weekend! Maybe tomorrow and then daily commentary on all the races starting with the duels.

NOT SURPRISED

I'm not going to say I am shocked the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl. I said they would stay in the game until the end. I am surprised that the Colts basically wilted against a Saints defense that did not record a sack. Payton Manning usually stands up better against blitzing defenses.
The true difference in the game was the fearless coaching of Sean Payton. All other NFL offensive coordinators (Jason Garrett) should take note of how Payton kept taking chances, intelligently. Most coordinators make risky calls in bad situations, fail and go into a shell. They would have kicked the field goal before half time, because of the terror of not getting 3 points. And guess what, the Saints got the 3 beore the half anyway. Sean Payton coached a man's game, understanding each individual play did not determine the game. Understanding you can come back from failed gambles. Understanding how to get your team extra possessions and plays by getting to the line and running your plays.

WHO DAT? IS DAT PAYTON?

Any time you have an offense like the New Orleans Saints boast you feel there is a potential for them to stay in the Super Bowl or even win it. Most often these type games pit that explosive offense against a great defense. And it seems that defense shuts down that offense. But the Colts don't have a dominant defense. So I do not right off the Saints.
If the Colts were former basketball player Wolrd B Free, they would probably tell the Saints that they reminded them of a young them. Explosive offense and at best average defense. But it's a young them and that's the difference. With Payton Manning it seems they never run the whole playbook but when they have to use a play thay never put in a game before they are still proficient. Experience will be the difference at the end.
INDIANAPOLIS 35 NEW ORLEANS 31