Links of the day (6/30)

Links for the day: (some old, some new)

• Now it all makes sense. Instead of building a good team, Isiah had a better way to win basketball games...
• In case you haven't yet seen it, check out OJ Mayo's final high school play...
• Joey Gathright hasn't proved much in the Majors yet, but as this video teaches us, hes the man...
• Gilbert Arenas shows us the difference between a player of his caliber, and someone like Deshawn Stevenson...
• If theres a sudden increase in people moving to New Mexico, this could be why...
• It might be time to pull the plug on this amusement park ride...
• Whats wrong with a place having vermin, foul odors, and a little E Coli, when the food is good?
• Brandon Kelley takes on the toughest of issues: Gays and their energy...
• OMG! The Iphone is here! See me with mine in about 3 years when i can afford it...
• For all those that don't believe the Sonics want to re-sign Rashard, read on...
• What to do when you have a rude drive thru worker? Just do what this guy did, Punch her in the face...
• So this is why old people are so popular in Colombia...
• If you ever thought it was cool to have super human powers, Cracked warns you to the downfalls...

Oh and as of right now the Mariners are 10 games over .500, 5 back in the west and only 2 behind in the wild card...

Yi of little faith

Back again already due to high demand for more of my insight (at least that's what I tell myself) as it pertains to this years draft. some thoughts about the whole draft (not just about Seattle's)

• Who the fuck is Yi Jianlin? His reps had a list of "acceptable" cities that could draft Yi, mainly those with large asian populations. Milwaukee was NOT one of those cities, and wouldn't ya know it? They drafted him. Of course this could cause WWIII between the US and China, and most likely he will be traded (to GS, who badly wanted him, is a city he wants to play in, and made a trade [Jason richardson for Brandan Wright] that could lead to the move). But if he ends up playing for someone other then the Bucks, it will be a shame. The draft isn't about where a prospect wants to go, its about which team drafts the rights to sign him. We have already seen this in the NFL, when Eli made a mockery of it (who looks like an idiot now?). Yi needs to shut the fuck up, play basketball, and be happy that hes in America making millions instead of in communist China. (Would you be happy making millions to play some basketball for the Bucks? I sure would)
• Joakim Noah, who in the hell was dressing you? Or for that matter who the hell made that suit? and who the hell let him go to the draft like that? Usually there are more then a few crazy lookin suits, but this draft everyone was lookin pretty clean... I guess Joakim made up for it all by himself. Still can't believe that suit...
• Kudos to Portland, who not only rebuilt its team and image in one draft, but provided a first for a draft (at least that I have seen). Billionaire owner Paul Allen straight up bought the Sun's #24 pick, ESPN sayin it went for around 3 mil. Can anyone picture Paul sittin there and learning that he could just buy picks, and getting angy that no one told him this before? I mean 3 mil? He probably had that sittin in his pocket. If this becomes the new trend, I may one day have to see about buying a second round pick and getting someone for my pickup hoops squad...
• Boston... not even gonna go there. I do however need to say Thank You to Danny Ainge...
• The draft panel wasn't too bad, you know what your getting from Bilas (loves every college kid), from Stephen A (lots of yelling and hates any pick that HE didnt predict) and Marc Jackson (underratedly good). But Mike Tirico... Go somewhere with yourself
• Congrats to the spurs for pickin up more internationals that wont be in the nba for a few years
• Weirdest part of my draft night: My two favorite players in the Draft, Al Horford and Acie Law IV were BOTH selected by the worst GM ever, Billy Knight of the Hawks. For once I think the Hawks did a great job and got two really talented players. Look for my Acie Law Hawks jersey soon...
• Props to Rodney Stuckey from Eastern Washington, going to Detroit at #15, and to Marcus Williams who joins the defending Champion Spurs...
• I liked the Mavs pick of Nick Fazekas, as now Dirk has somebody to party with...
• One of my big draft winners was the Chicago Bulls. Noah at the 9 gives them flexibility to do something with Ben and bolsters their front line, along with second round picks Aaron Gray outta Pitt (how does a college proven 7 footer from a good conf. fall that far? is he really that much worse then Spencer Hawes?) and JamesOn Curry, who is tremendously talented when hes not busy selling weed in the bathroom to undercover cops.
• How does a First Team All American fall until the second to last pick in the first round? Alando Tucker to the Suns is a huge coup for them. and if anyone wonders how all these teams at the back end of the draft (playoff teams) stay so good, and why crappy teams at the top stay there, it's because those teams in the playoffs are better run with intelligent people in their front office. Tucker is the next Josh Howard (wilson chandler went to NY before tucker was taken, proving why Isiah is in lottery hell and the Suns were a few games from the Western Conf. Finals)
• As always, the Sports Guy's NBA Draft running diary is a must read.

2007 NBA Draft

Welcome to my new (and probably ill-fated) blog. It's my turn to act like I know more then others...
First things first, Welcome Kevin Durant. (and Jeff Green) In one draft the Sonics have comepletely rebuilt the team (and some would say made it easier to move, more on that in a few). The team is now younger, more athletic, and better defending. The three point shooting and points lost with Ray Allen will be replaced by Wally and Kevin (three pointers and scoring), not to mention the much improved defense added by Green and Delonte West. Factor in the money saved from trading Ray, which helps in the re-signing of Rashard. When Wally's contract expires in two years, that will only free up more money for a team who will be looking to add hopefully one last piece for a championship run. Another factor I like about this team is all of the front court scoring we have. Lewis, Green, Durant, Wilcox, and even Nick Collison can all get points inside, which takes some pressure off our guards. All in all I was very impressed with the moves and draft picks made by our front office, and I fully trust young Sam Presti and the rest of his front office to run this team correctly.

Also There has been alot said about the Seattle Sonics packing up and leaving town, since That Dousche Bag Who Owns Starbucks sold The Sonics (for a hefty profit) to Oklahoma City Businessman Clay Bennett. While Bennett has said he will look into moving the Sonics to somewhere like Kansas City or Oklahoma City, I believe he is blowing smoke. His threat of an October deadline to agree to build a new arena is just a weak attempt at forcing the Washington State Legislature to be called to a Special Session (the only one who can call it is Chris Gregoire) which wont happen. Reasons he wont leave?

1. Has a lease with Key Arena through 2010 which would be VERY expensive to get out of
2. Seattle is the 13th rated market, whereas KC and OkC are somwhere like 32nd and 41st
3. He would have to get approval from the city in question to either build a new stadium or move into an existing one (which wouldnt be any different really then Key Arena so why pay so much to leave something for the same thing?)
4. He would have to get approval from the NBA and its boards to move, and they do not want the team to move

In the end, he would have to pay way too much money to move to another city where he would not make as much as he would here in Seattle. More likely, Seattle will agree to a newer stadium down the road when the lease is nearly up in 2010.

Links:

• David Stern's thoughts on the Sonics and the first mentions of the Indian proposal
• Greg Johns offers insight into a possible new home for the Sonics, provided by none other then a local Indian tribe.
• A former Sonics Coach pops up again in the NBA, as the Maverick's newest assistant coach.
• British authorities find and disarm a car bomb in London, and another possible carbomb is being investigated in an apparent attack by Islamic extremists.
• And people say that we spread propoganda here in America?
• Ever wonder who were the greatest movie basketball players? Thankfully Cracked answered this question for us.
• They also tell us what we were supposed to learn from the best 80's cartoons.