San Antonio Super Spurs?

     The adjectives "nasty, destructive, methodical and reborn" are just a few of the many that are attributed to this insane twenty game win streak for the San Antonio Spurs.  As the trio of Duncan, Ginobli and Parker are viewed as getting "old" in the basketball sense, the team as a whole is one of the youngest in the NBA, coming in at an average of 26 years old.  The Spurs have played ten to eleven deep throughout this run and it is the depth of the bench that has added to this amazing feat.
     The rebirth of Ginobli and Parker have undoubtedly led the way as Duncan, while seemingly losing a step has shown that he has just enough left in the tank for another championship run.  Who would have thought though, that this, of all teams could last into another Western Conference finals, especially against a young and faster team in Oklahoma City.  The Thunder were the prohibitive favorites by  many to roll through the West and battle the Miami Heat for a title.  That seems to be on the back burner for now as the Spurs keep rolling along as if  they are on a mission of no mercy.
     Is there anybody that can match their defensive consistency as they have only allowed over 100 point once throughout the playoffs?  Can even the Heat, with or without Chris Bosh, stop this steamroller from Texas?  Duncan, with his three championship MVP's, four titles, and steady leadership might have something still left to prove. While his spot in NBA lore is already solidified as arguably one of the top ten players this league has ever seen, a fifth title would be especially sweet. This original "Big Three" has been playing as if they were 24 again and there looks as if nobody is going to stand in their way.  A look back at the past 14 years has shown the Lakers and Spurs in the NBA finals 12 times with only the Mavericks breaking that barrier twice.  The West was undoubtedly looking at the Thunder as the new "team to beat" from their conference, but the old regime does not want to go quietly.
     Twenty games in a row dating back to the regular season is the longest such streak in the NBA and the Spurs look as if they are determined, focused and just plain relentless.  The West has been tough for so long, you almost feel bad for the "ringless wonder" in Miami.  Just when you would think that the boys from Miami seem to be on the verge of plowing through the playoffs and getting LeBron his elusive championship, the men in San Antonio are spurring through the league with no remorse.  Duncan will win his fifth, LeBron will be left at the altar yet again, and the talents from South Beach will have to go back to the drawing board to build their bench in order to get over this hump that is the Western Conference.

Sports in NJ--You Bet!!!

     One thing Governor Chris Christie can never be faulted for is not trying to improve the state of NJ for all residents.  Since Governor Kean, this state has seen swindling politicians promoting embezzling, pay to play and taking from our schools to line their pockets for their own good.  Christie may be abrupt, to the point and not beat around any bush, but that is the perfect remedy for this long dismayed state.  Christie has battled to balance a budget, make our school districts safer with the strongest anti-bullying laws in the country, ended all possibility of pay-to-play and outright roned with authority to help both sides of the political fence to somehow get along for the good of all constituents.
     Christie was blunt to come out and tell jersyans to get the hell off our beaches during hurricane Irene, then the next day, reverse that by telling them to get the hell back on the beaches so the economy does not suffer.  This kind of leadership is exactly what the "rough around the edges" state of New Jersey needs to hear.  We, as a state, are not prone to pacifying feelings (just ask the bennies that vacation here) and do not need a leader that thinks we are ignorant or soft.  Just tell us what it is and keep it moving.  That right there is Christie's strongest point.
     Now, at a time where our governor can advance our state monetarily by the billions of dollars, I applaud his gruff and directness by battling the "man" to allow sports betting in NJ.  With the casino industry in Atlantic City and our four racetracks, this is an opportunity that past leaders failed to capitalize upon when placed in their lap.  Christie has made the claim that in the next three months, we will be able to place legal bets on sports.  He may be the only one this state has ever seen that has the gumption and wherewithall to accomplish this feat.  At a time where, although in his tenure, Christie has only added about 35,000 jobs to this state in a troubling economy, this may be the revenue needed to amply assist our state for decades.
     Anyone opposed to this must understand that half the revenue will, and should be applied towards gambling addictions for the unfortunate that need help.  Also realize this: addiction is prevalent in any society and is part of the human makeup.  It is not a disease that will ever be conquered.  As a community, we can only try to help the best we can.  Do not let that sway the opportunity to build our towns, teach our children and improve the quality of life for all in this state. Chris Christie has pretty much stayed with his word throughout his governorship and taken this bankrupt, dilapidated and severely suffering state and carried us on his shoulders.  He refuses to allow democrats and republicans to stay divided without resolve.  Christie has become a national symbol by coming up with ways to allow both sides fair ground to stand on, as long as it is for the good of the people.
     Allow Christie the opportunity that he has afforded us, as his constituents: backing in a pical battle that can only improve our state.  Right now, the criminals take the bets and make the money.  People will always place bets on all sports.  Why not regulate it, tax it, and control it for the good of all?  Give Christie the support he needs after all the support he has given to us over the years.  Just remember, come 2016, the state of NJ may very well never see the likes of a governor as Christie has been as most likely he will be running for president; that, my friends, you can surely bet on.

Bleed Ranger Blue

     With the Eastern Conference Finals between the NY Rangers and NJ Devils complete and a full day to grasp the loss as a Rangers fan, I can say that I'm still going with my initial feeling: utter disgust and disappointment.  The Rangers, in first place the full season and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs continually left themselves in precarious situations that caused them to play as if every game was a game 7.  This was never more evident than in the Devils series as they were out hustled and looked very weary after a year of blocking shots and being just plain beat up.
     I have to give kudos to the one player that myself, as well as others, were not sure what he had left in the tank for another run.  That is none other than the true king, Martin Brodeur.  Marty played as if he was 25 again, and clearly proved that there is no better goalie this league has ever seen.  They will be a formidable opponent for the LA Kings in the quest for the cup.
     The Rangers let leads slip away, as well as dug there own holes in trying to mount comebacks throughout this postseason and not disposing their opponents when they had a chance.  This might have been their mantra the whole year, but that is not how the playoffs can be won.  Good playoff teams finish and close the door when the opportunity arises.  Good playoff teams do not lose sight of what got them to the point they are playing at.  Good playoff teams not only fight, but never give up.  With every series, the Rangers seemed to lose a little bit of their identity.
     Although Ottawa seemed to give them fits at times, and yes, they needed a comeback in game 6 to force it back to the Garden for game 7, their theory and style seemed to never waver.  The Capitals matched their energy, shot blocking and wits to wear the Rangers down and in turn, get to King Henrik.  That is where the playoffs turned for the Rangers.
      When the Devils came to town, the Rangers were not only worn out, but the Devils forced them from game 1 to change their style of play.  Each game, the shot blocking became less, and the energy seemed to dissapate.  As soon as the Devils started cracking Lundqvist, the series was all but over.  But one thing the Devils did better than any one else from what I've seen throughout the playoffs has been an amazingly simple theory; puck awareness.  Each forward, defenseman, and even Brodeur seemed to have radar on the puck and was able to ascertain the very move of the puck.
     The Rangers lack of puck awareness cost them the chance to go to the finals and meet the Kings.  This is the one area that utterly disgusted me because the Rangers are better than that.  There is a great hope though for next year and moving forward as we see the likes of McDonaugh, Kreider, and all the other youngsters that have a bright career ahead of them.  This is going to be an exciting club for years to come, and as a fan, even though I am utterly disgusted at this years result, I am still proud to be a fan.  Thank you Rangers for the exciting year and good luck to the Devils.  Kill the Kings!!!

NY Mets--Do You Gotta Believe?

        The New York Mets, long the red-headed step child from Flushing is doing what none could have ever imagined in 2012; win ball games with a star-less roster.  Several games have been played with a complete nine man roster of home grown talent that, except for David Wright, make less money than what they are still paying Bobby Bonilla.  These kids have shown a mettle that their cross-town big brothers have lacked.  The youngsters are making baseball fun again, while the Yankees look boring, clueless and altogether lost while waiting for their bats to liven up the Bronx.  At 24-20 and in fourth place in the NL East, the Mets can not claim to be smothering their opponents with flawless baseball, but they remain a fresh breath of air in a long season that is hard to keep watching.
        Wright, the Mets only proven star is tearing the cover off the ball batting over .400, while David Murphy has become the constant two-out hitting machine that has become the norm in this short season.  There are names like Baxter, Nieuwenhuis, Tejada and Johnson that are making a major league impact for a lineup that would be hard-pressed to win a minor league championship.  Yet these individuals, with a solid starting rotation and bullpen, have made for an interesting start towards the all-star break.  The one individual in the lineup that they sorely miss is the big bat of--no I'm not going to say Jason Bay--Ike Davis.  While many can most likely say that they expected nothing of Bay, and yes, I am one of them, we all expected Davis to have a solid year. 
         That has not been the case as Ike has been dismal at the plate batting just around the .160 range with not enough power to make the fans look the other way.  Ike may need a break down in AAA for a bit in order to find that stroke that was prevalent at the beginning of 2011 before injury closed his season.  The Mets, however, seem to stay on track by taking control of the later innings and converting on two-out, two-strike pitches better than anyone in the majors.  For now, as fans, we are enjoying this season for what it is; hope that a second wild card is in our cards.  The Mets, if nothing else, have taught us once again that money does not always buy happiness--the Yankees will attest to this.  As a fan, it is in my blood to follow this dismal franchise with the only motto I can ever live by--You Gotta Believe!!

Double Standards in Civility--Crippling the American Dream

     For many generations, American politics has been eroding before our very eyes.  Republicans and Democrats seem to costantly find new areas to attack the other verbally or through the media in order to discredit the opponent in the eyes of the public.  While this remains a practice that is accepted, social media has taken these words, actions, and plots to soaring heights.  Politicians remain unfocused as to the idea that their jobs entail serving their constituents and the Constitution that this great country thrives upon.  This is even more predominant when a story such as Jan Brewer, the Arizona Republican Governor decided to grab Democratic President Obama's arm and wag her finger in his face in a heated discussion on an Arizona tarmac. 

     It is disturbing that the two major parties have come to this level of disagreement on how to lead the country in these tragic times of a recession, unemployment, healthcare and various other issues that need to be addressed to move forward.  Brewer, for all that she has accomplished within her state with balancing the budget and creating jobs has no right to grab anyone like a child, let alone the President of the United States.  Brewer has taken civility to an all-time low and this is what will ultimately destroy our country.  The very people that should be concerned with the welfare of our nation are fighting, bashing and circumventing the system in order to just prove a point and put another person down.  These are the types of men and women who are running our country. Just take a good look at the GOP primaries recently and you will see backstabbing, arguing, malicious rhetoric, and personal attacks rather than debating solid, real-time issues that affect the growth of the country.

     Obama did the right thing and kept his cool in a rather precarious situation with Brewer.  If those roles were reversed, the calling for his dismissal, for the sole reason of him being a black man and Brewer a white woman, would have been monumental.  Brewer needs to step back and re-evaluate her situation and ask herself if that is how she would teach her own children to act in that same situation.  This is yet another reason why the American public needs to assess how they go about voting at all elections from local, to state, to the federal level.  Voters need to take serious time and research all candidates that represent them, not just on a presidential level.  In N.J. there has been talk of moving the school and local elections to November because of only a 9-13% turnout in April.  That is appalling that for officials trusted in the education of our children that there is such a poor turnout.

     This needs to be addressed and quickly as it's no wonder why the U.S. is ranked 23rd in the world in education.  The politicians need to step up and do their civic duty and work together on an even playing field, but the public needs to vote for those that will progress their town, state, or country, not regress it because of personal gain.  Let all politicians know and understand that morals, civility and progress will win come election time.  Let them know that we will not stand for double standards where it is alright for one politician to grab and yell at another, let alone the leader of the country.  It is troublesome to see that the lack of civility in this election year has been at an all-time high and that eventually it might even cripple the American dream.  Yet there is one way to make the change--to vote with confidence and authority by doing your research and choosing the right candidate, not just the candidate who can persuade the public through countless lies and sneaky jargon.  

JoePa--Final Thoughts

     Joe Paterno, the legendary footbal coach of Penn State University has died at the age of 85 after being relieved of his duties under the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal involving young boys.  Let's put this aside for the moment and understand just who JoePa was in the grand scheme of things.  Joe was the NCAA all-time winningest football coach with 409 career victories in 46 years as a head coach. He coached at Penn St. for 61 years altogether and built a monumental program that will most likely never be seen again in any lifetime.  Paterno took his team to 39 bowl games and saw over 250 players from his program move on to the NFL.  Joe lived on campus, donated millions of dollars back to Penn St. in many facets, and indelibly touched the lives of many individuals throughout his life in a positive and personal level.  JoePa WAS Penn St.  He lived for Penn St.  He was probably one of the most influential and powerful men who the collegiate sports world has ever seen. 

     Paterno, on a political level could sway votes within the state, and was responsible for most, if not all of the hirings from president of Penn St. on down to the coaching staff.  To say the least, JoePa should be lauded for all that he had done for the Penn St. football program, as well as the university itself.  Yet for all of the good that he had done, for all that he had accomplished, there was one moment in his life where Joe could've been a true hero.  There was that one moment where Joe could've saved the Penn St. "brand" from a monumental failing.  It was all about the "brand" for Paterno and the insular community that he had built.  Nothing more, nothing less.  If JoePa had come out in 1998 and confronted the allegations of Jerry Sandusky and taken control, that very "brand" would've been saved because Joe would've been looked at as a hero for stopping the monstrous abusing of innocent children.

     Joe Paterno would have been lauded by the community and the sports world as a hero that would not allow innocent children to be hurt and molested under his watch.  Instead, JoePa decided to bury the paperwork, force the retirement of Sandusky and hope that it would never resurface under his watch.  Joe decided to allow that monster to roam the very campus that he was supposedly banned from WITH children, even as recently as 2007 in a closed practice.  Joe decided to ignore McQueary and his claim of walking in on Sandusky and a boy in the shower in the Penn St. locker room in 2002.  Joe Paterno had not one chance to stop this evil man, but several.  Yet, the great hero, the wonderful man, the monument that was Penn St.decided to let evil walk amongst his university.  That hero turned into a goat and faltered because of the "brand" that he was trying to protect.

     So, in these final thoughts of Joe Paterno, it is human to feel sorry for the loss that his family has now incurred.  It is natural to remember the good that he had done for so long as a leader in the Penn St. community at Happy Valley.  It may also be easy for all of us to say our goodbyes to a man that many looked to as a mentor and friend.  Yet, for all of this, it is also not easy to feel sorry for a man that would not protect our most valuable resource as a country--our children.  JoePa might have been many things to many people over the course of his 85 years, but one thing he was not, was a hero to the boys that needed him most.   Only Joe Paterno knows if he could've done more for those battered and abused boys.  Only Joe Paterno knows if he, himself, will rest in peace.

JoePa-The Monument, The Man,The Despicable Fiend

     Joe Paterno, the legendary head football coach of Penn State since 1966 is in the midst of one of the worst scandals that is known to man.  We all know how much of a monster Jerry Sandusky is and what he did, or allegedly did to those poor children. He will pay for those despicable sins by spending his life in prison.  Joe Pa though, as well as Spanier, Shultz, Curley, McQueary, and the rest of the Penn St. officials and coaches should also be held accountable with not only their jobs, but with a full investigation into their culpability in enabling a monster to roam the campus with full priveleges.  It is unthinkable that Joe had no knowledge of Sandusky's behavior as Joe IS Penn St. Anything that went on with his players, coaches or anyone in his circle, he had full disclosure.  Paterno can no longer hide behind the cult fraternity that he has erected for 60 years.  The trustees that are meeting today need to act swiftly and surely to destroy this cult that remained secretive and despondent to the gravest of situations that humanity can ever witness.  There must be someone within this University that has a level of decency and morality left within their souls.  Joe Paterno may have been a monument at Penn St. and the all-time winningest coach, but he is also every bit as despicable as Sandusky.  How can this man, who has been looked at as a role model and father figure for three generations turn a blind eye to children in need of a hero? Ignorance is not an excuse anymore, Joe.  Those poor children need answers to why these acts were allowed to go on for sol long. In 1998, possibly only one young boy might have been harmed, but because JoePa looked away, more unfortunately followed.  Joe and his complete coaching staff need to be relieved of their duties immediately! It's time to tear down the monument that is Joe Paterno and realize the despicable fiend that he really has become.