Zombies Hate Fast Food

Penn State Scandal

2012-02-20T16:41:00.000-08:00

By Payton Wales

So much has come to pass in just a few days. The downfall of a legend, a person whom most of the nation painted as a pillar of moral excellence has failed us, not just as a fan base or a state or nation but as a educator and caretaker. There is anger among so many, and rightfully so. After all, we are talking about child abuse and sexual molestation. It's ugly and it's gross and it's tough to deal with.

It hits closer to home for me. I was sexually molested and abused as a child over two years while under the care of child protective services. Enough so that there is no reason I should be the person I am today. Enough that I feel I should be some psychologically-twisted misfit. But I'm not, and that's due in large part to the love I received from my extended biological family who worked their asses off to eventually be my caretakers, a family who, until this moment, had little to no knowledge of what happened to me as a child.

That why this Penn State situation has me in knots. It brings up so many of the same questions I had growing up. When blame was passed around, I asked for more answers. When people called for Joe Paterno's head, I said "Wait wait wait." Not because I have loved Penn State my entire life and felt Paterno should be in the clear, but because upon reading the grand jury testimony, the first thing that struck me was Mike McQueary's actions.

I need to know why a 28-year-old man watched Jerry Sandusky perform "anal intercourse" on a boy "he estimated to be ten years old" and chose to walk away from the locker room without so much as a word to Sandusky. To take it a step further, he left the facility all together and went home to ask his father what he should do. WHY!? Why didn't he pick up a phone? Call the police. Call campus security. It does not add up. You can't tell me there wasn't a phone somewhere in the facility. Hell, it was 2002, more than likely McQueary had a cell phone. How does a 28-year-old man walk away from seeing the rape of a 10-year-old?

What's worse is the general public and some media have made excuses for McQueary. "It was one moment of inaction, how can you judge him?" "We all say we would do something but in the heat of the moment ... you never know." "Sandusky was a father figure to him and he was confused."

None of these excuses are acceptable, not in the least. If these excuses are not good enough for Paterno's inaction -- and they are not -- then how in the hell are people applying them to a man who is far more culpable than Paterno?

Don't get pulled into the malignant lie that because Paterno had all the power, or perceived power depending on your level of naivety, that it makes him more culpable than anyone else. That's a false and moronic assumption. Each man had the power to pick up a phone. One man had the power to stop the whole thing in its tracks as it was happening.

I heard Dan Patrick respond to a comment today about placing the blame on Paterno first with the comment of "you have to start somewhere." Yes, you do at the beginning, and that beginning was McQueary, not Paterno. That should have been the first media target. He should have been the first name read in last night's press conference, the first man fired.

Don't get these words toward Paterno's culpability confused with me coming to his defense. I want and need answers about his role and I'm not willing to lay blame until I know the whole story. I'm sorry; I can't do that. Blame should be placed where blame is due. Should Paterno have picked up a phone? Yes. Did Sandusky stay under his employ after the incident was reported? Apparently yes.

But what did Paterno really know? This is a huge question. What was Paterno told? All I know at this moment is what the Grand Jury testimony tells me: "Joseph V. Paterno testified to receiving the graduate assistant's report at his home on Saturday morning. Paterno testified that the graduate assistant was very upset. Paterno called Tim Curley ("Curley"), Penn State Athletic Director and Paterno's immediate superior, to his home the very next day, a Sunday, and reported to him that the graduate assistant had seen Jerry Sandusky in the Lasch Building showers fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy."

In the Grand Jury testimony, it appears the story told to Paterno by McQueary was an attenuate version. Why? Why would you ever dilute something so serious when reporting it to an authority figure? Yet both McQueary and Paterno's testimony are considered credible and accurate to each other.

The "mandatory reporting statute for suspected child abuse is located at 23 Pa.C.S. ?63l1 (Child Protective Services Law) and provides that when a staff member reports abuse, pursuant to statute, the person in charge of the school or institution has the responsibility and legal obligation to report or cause such a report to be made by telephone and in writing within 48 hours to the Department of Public Welfare of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

Did Paterno do his job to the letter of the law? Yes. I dare you to tell me different. He did exactly what he needed to in this instance because he was not the person who witnessed the crime, and Curley is Paterno's authority. Outside of McQueary, Curley is the only other person with the authority to report this for the school. Paterno did his job to the letter of the law up to that point. He took action, calling the person he trusted to do the right thing in a timely manner and, according to testimony, he trusted Curley to file the report and investigate. Anything beyond that is an assumption.

Did he say he should have done more? Yes. Does that mean he has been living in guilt for 10 years? I don't know. It is possible he just came to the realization his friend is a monster. I doubt he knew about all eight victims. It's possible he was convinced there was none. A lot of other people were, why is he different?

What did Curley and Gary Schultz, former Penn State vice president, tell Paterno after he presented this information to them? Did Paterno follow through again? There was a second meeting after all. I doubt there was zero discussion of the topic after it came up. Did these two men, who just finished being indicted for lying to a grand jury, possibly lie to Paterno?

They could have told Paterno campus police investigated and found nothing in order to protect their university and themselves. After all, it was reported Curley knew of the allegations against Sandusky. I'm not going to be naive and say they couldn't pull the wool over the eyes of a 75-year-old Joe Paterno. Anything is possible. It's possible they all conspired to sweep this under the rug.

Some other things I need to mention here. In the state of Pennsylvania, the law states campus police possess the same authority on campuses as municipal officers. Meaning, if Curley told Paterno campus police had become involved, then by all account the police had been involved. If this is told to Paterno, then what's his accountability since as a major authority figure at the school it could be assumed he would know this rule.

Also, how did Sandusky have so many people fooled? It's not as though he had two or three fooled, but by all accounts we might be talking hundreds of people who had known of previous accusations and yet still believed this man, believed he really cared about these kids in a genuine and compassionate way and not as the sick depraved monster that he is.

We keep labeling Paterno an enabler, someone who made it possible for him to rape more children, as if he handpicked the kids this monster attacked. But if we are going to label Paterno, then we need to label some other people, too.

Sandusky's wife, his children, his adoptive children, his foster children, child protective services, his friends, the people at The Second Mile Foundation, his bosses at any and all jobs since the first accusation then fall under this category of enabler, right?

Have we stopped to ask how so many people let this go on for so many years? They all knew of these accusations, all of them. Are they all enablers? Or is it possible somehow Sandusky convinced them all this was just false accusations? After all, that's what predators do. Cover their tracks, convince you they are something they are not. It's the personification of the saying, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Ask any profiler of child molesters and murderers, these people survive by convincing people there is no way accusations like this could be true about them. It's how they blend in for years, start families and hold jobs.

Sandusky is obviously an effective predator. Look at the facts. Not one of the current victims was picked in his first year in the Foundation. All were picked in the second year, after Sandusky had time to study their personalities and manipulate their minds. Just as he has done to the people around him his entire life to hide the monster he really is. We haven't even started to ask how many victims there were before he even arrived at Penn State. How many when he was in his 20s. What about his teens? How long has he had to learn to blend in, to convince others?

If that's a possibility, then it's very possible Paterno sat Sandusky down, confronted him, asked him for the truth about the situation. And it's also possible he convinced the coach the accusations were baseless, false or inaccurate. After all, look at how many others he fooled. Is this idea so far fetched?

Not for me. I've dealt with a predator firsthand. The worst part is it was a foster sibling, someone who was still under the age of 20. I told people for years and that sibling convinced everyone -- police, case workers, the parents, counselors -- that I was simply lying, lashing out at them because I had been taken away from my biological mother. So in this situation, this rabbit hole can be deeper, muddier and more complex than anyone can imagine.

I know I'm coming across as a Paterno defender, but I'm not. I'm a seeker of answers. As a person who has been through this type of abuse, I want answers. And I can tell you the other victims do too. I want blame to be placed appropriately because I know the guilt of placing anger, blame and rage on the wrong person. That guilt can come back to haunt you when you have been through something like this. I assure you as answers come in, and hopefully they will for the sake of all the victims involved, I will be more than happy to place blame where it belongs.

If Paterno is found to have been a conspirator in some way, then I will gladly place blame and call him a conspirator. But until then, until I have facts, he is just another man who fell victim to the evil devices of a well-trained predator posing as a caring and giving human being.

Trust me when I tell you what has happened in the last few days, the media spectacle and all of the people demanding this and that, is opening wounds that for some of these victims were just starting to heal. Hell, it's opened some of mine. But probably the worst feeling I have through this is so many people are losing focus on who is really guilty here, of who the depraved and vile monster really is and how our actions, riots, accusations, questions and most importantly lack thereof are affecting these victims.

Bozo Of A Lifetime, Part Deux!

2011-08-03T04:44:00.001-07:00

Damn you woodchucks. Quit chucking all my wood.

By Payton Wales

OK, so last week we reported about how a LeBron James fan got a full calf tattoo of the Brat Prince himself. So when it came across my wire last night that another fan(-atical) had gotten a full calf tattoo again, I immediately assumed it was some more LBJ ink.

I mean who else would be crazy enough to do such a thing? Certainly not a Dirk fan or Nash fan right? What about a Kobe fan? I know, right? No way! These were my thoughts too because Lakers fans are completely normal and not lunatics at all. You know, aside from our yearly panic to trade every one if we lose two games in a row. Other than that, completely normal.

And that, my friends, is where my logic was way off the rail because, low and behold, as I was surfing the interwebs last night I came across this:

Now I know what you are going to say here, people. Payton, you're a Lakers fan and there is no Laker-on-Laker crime. But, other than applauding the guy's dedication, obviously ginormous cojones and the excellent work of the tattoo artist, I have to do it. It's just not fair to the guy we ripped into the other day. So, without further ado ...

First off, why does Kobe look like some important historical dignitary, like Nelson Mandela or Malcolm X? This isn't your normal Kobe look. Wouldn't the fist pump or the reverse beaver overbite be more appropriate?

The only thing this reminds me of is the look Kobe was giving Smush Parker as they were getting their ass handed to them by the Suns in the 2006 playoffs after being up three games. You know the "did that fat Twinkies-eating Mother F&%@$er just turn the ball over again? Why didn't I beg Shaq to stay?" type of look.

Second, the only way this tattoo gets any worse is if he was actually doing the reverse beaver overbite thing. So maybe that's a positive now that I think about it.

Third, why does Kobe have the coloring of Panthro from the Thundercats. I mean I get the Lakers colors are purple and gold, but this isn't even a true purple. This is just a weird bluish-purple haze marred by this guy's leg freckles. Dude, you are white, or at least a really pale minority. You could have added some color to this tattoo. Don't be afraid to make Kobe look like Kobe instead of one of the tribes' people from the movie Avatar.

Yes, I know what they are called, but I'm boycotting that movie. Why? Because it sucked! If I want to watch Dances with Wolves again I'll Netflix it. I certainly don't need to see it in space though.

Sorry got off topic there.

Anyway, it's pretty commonplace as a guy to know your "Man Rules." Getting a tattoo of another guy's face on your body is unacceptable unless they are a dead relative or friend or maybe a historical revolutionary leader. But making Kobe Bryant look like the latter does not qualify.

I just can't wait until this guy puts on some weight in the calf area and then we'll get to see the Fat Mamba, or as we would call it here at the PBT, Shawn Kemp.

Bring Back Our Sonics!

2011-08-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

Are you still as bitter as I am that the fan's most beloved franchise in Seattle was ripped away from them? Are you on the Bill Simmons' boat, refusing to refer to Oklahoma City as anything but a city and referring to the team as the Zombie Sonics? If you saw Clay Bennett broken down on the side of the highway, would you drive away, flashing him the finger as you wiz past?

Then here is just the marketing tool you need to show your support. This T-shirt, made by Homers Apparel Co., is available in ranging sizes and comes with a copy of the award-winning documentary, Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team.

Clay Bennett moved the team on April 18, 2008 to much displeasure from fans. A 28-2 vote by the NBA board of governors was all it took to move the franchise from its still-successful location in Seattle to Oklahoma City.

In addition to supporting the team with cotton PDA, buyers also support the organization Sonicsgate, fighting to bring the Sonics back to Washington; $5 from every T-shirt purchase goes to the organization.

Become a fan of Homers Apparel Co. on Facebook.

Foreign Players Make Out Big In Mass Exodus Overseas

2011-07-29T05:00:00.001-07:00

By Krystina Lucido

The NBA has officially been in lockout for 29 days, and instead of coverage heard during the NFL lockout about positions, demands and time expectancies, NBA players are taking a stand, showing league executives they don’t need an in-home league to play ball.

Starting with Deron Williams signing with Besiktas, a small mass of players followed, either signing contracts with international teams or at least considering the possibility should the lockout continue into the season as expected.

Keeping your face out there, continuing to make money playing a game you love, avoiding the loss of momentum -- there are plenty of reasons to play overseas as opposed to waiting out the inevitable here in the States. But who makes out best in his scenario?

Basketball made a huge outburst internationally, especially since the previous NBA lockout, which took place before the 1998-99 season. In 12 years, NBA Global boasts representation in countries including Africa, the UK, China, Canada and more. Though it has made such progress, international pride still holds more weight in most of these countries than anything else.

Players hailing from foreign countries have an advantage in the current mass exodus to international basketball waters. They stand to gain the most financially and in notoriety. It will be interesting to see when the tables turn and Serge Ibaka is the most popular player on the floor over Dwight Howard.

Paul Shirley understands what playing in Europe is all about. Author of the book, Can I Keep My Jersey?, this self-proclaimed basketball vagabond played for 11 teams in nine years, seven of which were international. Even though he never quite reached the status of a Kobe Bryant, his knowledge of the international basketball culture is well-documented.

"As far as the treatment of the players goes, it is true that if you're in Russia, I think (Andrei) Kirilenko is going to be a bigger name than whoever might go, Chris Paul or something like that," Shirley said. "I guess if the players are big enough, if by some miracle Dwight Howard wanted to play in Europe, I suppose he would be a big enough name that he would be the star there. But there is a lot of nationalism and loyalty to a home-grown talent and I don’t know if Americans can compete with that."

NBA commissioner David Stern has always pushed for a basketball culture to grow internationally, but the business aspects of the game in foreign countries are vastly different than what American athletes are accustomed to. Besiktas, for example, was already found to be involved in a futbol-fixing scandal and their funds were frozen as a result. Any player that previously played for an international team knows the luxuries are not nearly the same as the ones given to the basketball elite back in the States.

In his book, Shirley recounted multiple stints with international teams who housed him in small, unseemly living quarters and were late making payments for his services. The grass is certainly not greener across the Atlantic.

"I'm still owed like $53,000 from that team in Greece and another $15,000 by the team in Spain," Shirley said. "A lot of the money that's bandied about is theoretical. It's kind of like talking about the debt crisis, none of this is real. So it comes to actually getting teams to pay up; I think it will harder than people realize."

However, international players know this and are comfortable with it for three reasons. One, they are most likely not the culprit, since they are from these countries and would be treated well by their brethren. They are also reaping the benefits of already being internationally known and respected in their countries for playing in the NBA, which means if they return to actually play in their country, they are heroes. And they don’t even have to worry about making it onto a team.

American players are the ones who should be concerned. There is a cap on the number of American players that can be on one team, usually capped at two, though some teams extended that rule to three.

"I wouldn’t be surprised if that gets relaxed a little bit, maybe this year," Shirley said. "But in general, I've been watching carefully to see who gets these jobs because there just aren’t very many jobs. It's not necessarily fair, but it makes sense. The leagues want local interest in the game. If they just shipped over 12 Americans, there wouldn’t be as much interest, but it does cut down on the availability of jobs pretty quickly."

International clubs will not have nearly the amount of resources necessary to absorb 32 NBA teams into their coffers, but even the ones they do will be experiencing immense pay cuts. The face time players will get for their personal brands will prosper, but most of the tangible benefits they are used to receiving will remain unattainable.

Read my full interview with Paul Shirley.

Rookie School With Gilbert Arenas

2011-07-28T09:54:00.001-07:00

By Payton Wales

With the lockout upon us, the NBA cancelled a lot of its summer events, none more important than the Rookie School, a place where all NBA rookies go to learn about how to manage their new life. Money, groupies, work ethic, social media, etc. are all topics covered in the school.

Now, with the lockout, there isn't going to be a class. So it's up to the veterans to school the newbies on how to act in the NBA, and who better to teach than the master himself: Agent Zero, Gilbert Arenas.

Why is he the master, you ask? Well, because nothing says maturity and a grasp of the NBA lifestyle better than bringing loaded guns to the locker room for a practical joke and then a couple days later making fun of the whole event in front of a live audience during player introductions. It was a stay-classy moment if ever we saw one, and that is why we are ecstatic he will be teaching our rookies.

Today, we have two lessons from Agent Zero. Perk up your ears, kiddos and listen.

Lesson One: How To Treat Your Plethora of Dates

Below is a diagram of how your date should go, according to Gil. Don't forget to use social media to berate your date, and as always use your smart phone to take a picture of the hi-jinx so you can show the world exactly what you are talking about. Let's take a peek below as Agent Zero takes us on one of his blind dates via Twitter:

This is a perfect example of how your date should go, rookie. Don't let anyone like your mother or father tell you otherwise because, honestly, how would they know? Are they millionaires? Do they play basketball for a living? Do they have a black card? Did they ever get more women than Wilt on an off day? No, so ignore their advice and listen to Uncle Gil. Follow the rules below.

1. Don't let them think you respect them.
2. Make sure the world knows you don't respect them.
3. Treat them as you see them, in this case, like a prostitute.
4. Berate them as much as you can, women like that and it's sure to get you some action.

-- To be fair, people, the girl does look like a homeless Thundercat in that shirt. And what the hell is the blue thing supposed to be? Is that an Arch-Reactor? Is she wearing an Ironman suit? I mean, if there was an Ironman suit that looked like a character from the stage play Cats. I'm not so sure Gilbert did the wrong thing here. Regardless, let's move on to the next lesson.

Lesson Number Two: Organizing Women in Your Smart Phone

This was another lesson provided by Agent Zero via Twitter. Let's see what he has to say?

For those of you that need a closer look, here you go:

The lesson is pretty clear here. For optimal satisfaction, organize your phone as such. Some things to note while you look through this list:

Out of the 107 girls on the list, he only respects one. I'm going to assume its a family member and leave it at that.
Notice how there is not a list for "Plays Hard to Get" or "Girls I'd Date." That's because, as an NBA athlete, these categories should not exist for you, unless you are Doug Christie, in which case you only have one number in your phone anyway. I doubt his wife even allows him to keep his mother's number in his phone.

Now remember, Gilbert is just giving you the blueprint here, but there are obviously many different categories by which you can list your conquests. Be creative, and if you are a pro, like Agent Zero, you should have your own stable of career NBA hoochies in no time.

Next weeks lesson: Password Protecting Your Phone, Multiple Phone Usage and special guest Shawn Kemp will stop by to teach you how to avoid your child support payments. School's out for the day.

-- It's obvious Arenas hasn't learned much, if anything, from his downfall in Washington, but can you get mad at him for this? At least he is being honest, and if he is joking around, he is blasting us for stereotyping players and that is just as good. It's no surprise this is what an NBA player's phone looks like. For that matter, I doubt any of the women are surprised either. They know they are on these lists and they know they aren't the only women in these players lives. Almost all of them, I said ALMOST, are not there for love anyway. They want the free ride, the fairytale. If you don't believe me, go google some of the sites out there dedicated to promoting groupie behavior among today's young women. OK... old women too.

As far as I'm concerned, if you are going to ride Arenas for this and say how bad it is, then you need to call out the hundreds of thousands of women who are willing to be on this list. Trust me, if you pick any 10 women you know right now, six of them would sleep with a pro athlete just to do it. If they were all married to a normal guy, I'd say at least four still would. And that, my friends, is the truth of the matter.

So is Agent Zero really wrong to put this up on Twitter? I say no.

Review: Captain America: The First Avenger

2011-07-26T13:30:00.001-07:00

By Payton Wales

Let me start this off by saying I'm not familiar with the continuum of good ol' Cap. Sure, I've read some of the different comic series he has been involved in, but never to the extent that I could be considered an aficionado. I say this so if I miss something or agree with something even though it isn't historically accurate, you nerds ... er ... people don't attack me. After all, I am one of you. A nerd, that is.

The First Avenger takes us through the origin story of the pint-sized Steve Rogers and his transformation into our hero, Captain America. Set in World War II, The First Avenger takes us on a nostalgic ride through the time period while showing there were evils far worse than Hitler in the heart of Germany during the war and, of course, our hero is here to vanquish them all.

First things first. I'll be honest, Captain America isn't going to be the action-packed thrill ride Ironman was. That's not to say it doesn't have its fair share of action, but this movie chooses to focus more on the story and the era it takes place in, something that gives this movie charm, especially compared to the CGI/whizzbang-heavy Thor and Green Lantern. Captain America does have it's share of CGI, but it manages to almost seamlessly blend it into the the atmosphere of the movie.

The cast also plays a massive role in bringing this movie to life. Everyone has hit their marks in this piece. I did struggle with Chris Evans as Captain America just a little bit, but it had less to do with his acting and more to do with what I was bringing into the film from his previous movies. After I got past my own preconceived notions, his performance became more real to me.

Haylee Atwell does a great job as Peggy Carter, the strong-willed soldier and love interest of Rogers. The best thing she does is not overplay, or underplay for that matter, her role. This seems to always be a problem in the superhero movies and it's affected even the best actresses. For whatever reason when we try to bring a woman lead from a comic book to the screen, it just doesn't translate well. Maybe it's the strong yet frail nature of those characters. Maybe its the fact that a woman in real life cannot live up to the ... ahem ... amplified features of the comic. Regardless, Atwell nails the complexities of the character.

Tommy Lee Jones is perfect as Colonel Chester Phillips. His deadpan delivery gives the movie the edge and comedic relief it needs. Another great performance is given by Hugo Weaving and the Red Skull, leader of Hydra, archenemy of the Captain and the world for that matter. It's nice to finally see Weaving's face again in a movie ... er ... sorta. The last one I can remember seeing his actual face in is probably the Matrix Revolutions.

This movie is one of Marvel's gems upon many misses. It delivers enough action to keep you entertained while delivering an origin story that can still hold the public's interest. Although, at this point, I think we can safely eliminate the origin story as the starter movie, especially rebooting from the origin. Do you hear me, The Amazing Spiderman? The First Avenger delivers the goods while helping to establish the blueprint for successful comic book movies in the future.

As good as Catain America was, it was not without its flaws. The movie teetered on being too long and even had a song and dance routine that prompted me to turn to my friend and say, "OK I get it. Can we stop now?" The plot of the movie itself was good, not overly ambitious, and from everything I can tell, stuck to the mythos of the comics. But as the movie approaches finality, some small plot holes, or "illogical WTFs" as I like to call them, do appear. I don't want to give away too much, but I'd really like to know what was actually wrong with that plane. Seems like they skipped an explanation as to why it had to be landed right there. At least tell me there is something wrong with the plane's navigation.

All in all, The First Avenger was an enjoyable ride, giving us a sense of nostalgia while providing some insight into why a character like Captain America was important to the American public during World War II and even beyond.

Captain America: The First Avenger should give you exactly what you are looking for in a summer movie: a lot good, some bad and worth your $10.

Rating: 3.5/5 Dribbles

Metta World Peace Is Here To Smash All You Knew About Ron Artest

2011-06-28T16:38:00.001-07:00

Photoshop by Payton Wales

By Payton Wales

Change is good. It may be cliche to say, but the thing with cliches is they are called that for a reason. In this case, the cliche, like most, holds plenty of truth.

Now, the change is coming for a player many once considered the black eye of the league. A player that, for almost his entire NBA career, has quietly but visibly battled his personal demons, and recently chose to open up to the world about his demons, bringing to light a subject many in the media and general public chose to ignore. Brushing them off as ploys to get attention or, even worse, the rantings of a lunatic, someone whose sanity would discredit the validity of the issues he had brought to light.

For Ron Artest, this is the case. His list of quirky behavior, starting all the way back to his first years as a pro in Chicago, is a long one. His campaign to work at Circuit City in his down time as a rookie, his outbursts on the court, his elaborate hair and, of course, the massive brawl in Detroit where, if truth be told, Artest was more protagonist than the antagonist he is now portrayed.

But that's how the media portrays Artest, and that is how the public receives him. Crazy, off his rocker and foolish. And, oddly enough, that is just how he perceives most fans, ignorant to think he should be held to some lofty, politically-correct standard that they put on our athletes, foolish because they chose not only to look at the highly-publicized negatives but failed to scratch away at the surface to see the positive accomplished by that same person.

Everyone questioned his sanity when he thanked his therapist after winning the championship. One of the last things expected to be heard from any male, and probably female, pro athlete, let alone a certified tough guy like Artest. But there he was, baring his soul to the world. The response, "told you he was crazy." For the record, Artest suffered with depression and anxiety disorders his entire life. The fact that he can admit it in today's society is a credit to his character.

Of course when Artest announced at the beginning of the 2010-11 season he would be donating more than half of his season's salary to various children's mental health organizations as well as auctioning his NBA championship ring for the same cause, people did all but institutionalize Artest.

So when Artest went to the county clerk in L.A. June 23 to put in an application to change his name, people were bound to have something to say.

Metta World Peace would be the new monkier and one the public would scrutinize well before it understood it.

Once news of the name broke, all the same accusations came up. He is crazy; he just wants attention, typical athlete narcissism. Except that's not what the last few years have been about at all. His actions throughout the last year have been about everyone but Metta World Peace.

Bringing to light a subject as taboo in sports society as depression and anxiety wasn't for his benefit. He didn't auction off his ring or donate several million dollars for attention. He did it so those who are less fortunate than he will get attention, receive help and maybe even respect.

Maybe the goal of world peace is unobtainable, but it is a beautiful thought and a beautiful goal. Maybe it doesn't have to be world peace in the literal sense. Maybe Metta World Peace is just trying to encourage everyone to find the peace within themselves. Maybe he is just trying to encourage thought.

Maybe Peace has it right. Maybe society is all twisted up and at war inside. The obsession with violence, hate, drama and destruction is seemingly unprecedented. We celebrate and follow musicians with names that depict violence, sex, murderers, weapons, money and historical crime lords. We love to watch reality TV, a constant reminder there are others out there more damaged than ourselves. Not to mention most of the movies out now celebrate death and gore as if it should be common place in everyday life.

Maybe it does make sense then to label Metta World Peace crazy. To try and mock someone who represents the opposite of what so many love and enjoy in this day and age. How dare he stand for something good and positive after so many years stumbling around as our champion of tomfoolery and violence, a court jester now trying to be a knight.

Maybe Metta has had it right the whole time. Maybe everyone else is crazy, maybe everyone else is slightly unhinged. After all who among us would give up millions and a championship ring for nothing in return but the knowledge that you made a difference? Would everyone not consider that person crazy?

The perception may be Metta World Peace is crazy, but to the people he has helped, inspired and given hope to, he will forever be the opposite. For them, Metta World Peace is exactly what his name means.

Besides maybe, just maybe, you have to be a little crazy to be exceptional and give the world something great.

Finally! A Ring to Remember

2011-06-13T15:14:00.001-07:00

Photoshop by Payton Wales

MIAMI -- For one group of wily veterans, June 12 will be the day that cemented their basketball legacies. For Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki, the night's victory also added the extra sweet taste of redemption. On the other side of the spectrum, LeBron James left more questions than answers.

When it was all said and done, the Dallas Mavericks hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy far above their heads after defeating the Miami Heat, 105-95, in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. It was the first championship in the Mavericks 31-year history.

"Tonight, we got vindication," Terry, who led all scorers with 27 points, said after the win. The vindication Terry is talking about is the 2006 NBA Finals in which he and co-star Nowitzki lost to the Miami Heat in questionable fashion.

"I really still can't believe it," said Nowitzki, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds in the Game 6 win. "We worked so hard and so long for it. The team has had an unbelievable ride."

Nowitzki also took home MVP honors, averaging 25.8 points and 10 rebounds over the course of the Finals.

The win also provided a slew of veterans with their first taste of a championship. Among them, Jason Kidd, Peja Stojakovic, Shawn Marion, DeShawn Stevenson, Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood made up a variable who's who of ringless veterans. That void is now filled, specifically for Kidd, who has been chasing a ring for 17 years, falling short twice in New Jersey. It's a career validation many of his contemporaries, including the great John Stockton, never obtained and one that puts him firmly into the conversation of best point guard ever.

For the Heat, the loss had the opposite effect for most of its players, specifically the ever-polarizing James, who scored 21 points and was left wondering what went wrong. He seemed to have a look of disbelief as he quickly shook hands and left the court. Dwyane Wade, who had been hurt in the previous game, seemed to be healthy, scoring 17 points in the loss. Chris Bosh, 19 points, and Mario Chalmers, 18 points, rounded out the scoring for the Heat.

James, who had fallen under a lot of scrutiny from the media and public, found himself labeled a vanishing act and rightfully so. In Game 4, James disappeared from the scoreboard, posting the lowest scoring total of his career with only 8 points in the game.

James followed that performance with a triple double in Game 5, but it was a quiet one as James seemed disinterested and discombulated, especially in the fourth quarter where he managed to score only 2 points. James' lack of scoring became a pattern that would continue throughout the series, playing passively even when his team was losing or other teammates, such as Wade, were injured and benched for a majority of the game.

The failure of the Heat had most of the American public in a tizzy, seemingly drunk off Miami's inability to keep their promise of seven-straight rings for the city. But more so than the Heat's failure as a collective, the media and public seemed to thrive on the failure of James, who 10 months earlier had turned his free agency into what some would call a circus of arrogance.

When asked if the criticism off the court was bothering him, James said, "Absolutely not, because at the end of the day, all the people that were rooting on me to fail, at the end of the day, they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today. They have the same personal problems they had today. I'm going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want to do with me and my family and be happy with that."

The quote drew the immediate ire of the American public and became the focus of the social media landscape, including one last jab from his previous employer, Dan Gilbert, via Twitter: "Congrats to Mark C.&entire Mavs org. Mavs NEVER stopped & now entire franchise gets rings. Old Lesson for all: There are NO SHORTCUTS. NONE."

The night belonged to Dallas and not everyone on the Heat was too bitter to show respect to the champions.

"All I remember is telling those guys that they deserved it," Bosh said. "Hands down, they were the better team in this series. ... All we can do is just admit it and move forward."

Dallas started the game with an early deficit, going down by 9 points with just more than six minutes to go in the opening quarter behind a poor shooting performance from Nowitzki who hit only one of his first 12 shots. But the Mavericks would close the gap behind the marksmanship of Terry and take the lead by the end of the first quarter, 32-27. The two teams exchanged the lead one last time late in the second quarter before regaining it by the end of the first half.

The Heat made runs at the Mavericks' lead over the next two quarters, each time being thwarted until finally, with 2:27 left to go in the fourth, Nowitzki hit a 17-foot jumper, giving the Mavericks a 10-point lead. The Heat would not threaten the lead again as many of their fans headed for the exits.

Mark Cuban gave credit and praise in the ceremony that followed to his team, coach and the fans, in particular the ones who made the trip to South Beach and made up well over a quarter of the night's attendance. Cuban made it his personal mission to exchange hugs and handshakes with every one of those fans before concluding his night in the American Airlines Arena.

The rest of the Mavericks hoisted the trophy above their heads and gave loud yawlps of victory while enjoying the moment they had fought so hard to obtain, one that no one could take away from them. The Mavericks center Tyson Chandler summed it up best.

"We had no champions on this team," Chandler said. "And we walked away with a team full of champions."

All of the Lights

2011-06-12T17:00:00.001-07:00

Photoshop by Payton Wales

MIAMI -- This was not where the Miami Heat thought they would be when this series started. Flying back home to Miami not for a parade, rather for Game 6 in a series they are down 3-2.

If you ask the Heat, they would say they should be up in the series 3-2. If you ask the Mavericks, they would tell you they should have won this already 4-1. The Mavericks may have a case though.

Game 3 was riddled with bad calls in favor of the Heat, including a buzzer beater at halftime that, upon further review, was a backcourt violation. The shot covered the margin of victory for the Heat and gave them a 2-1 series lead.

Truth is this series has been one of the closest in years. Both teams fought for every second of every game, giving viewers the feeling of an epic tug-of-war. The Mavericks, who started the series heavily depending on superstar Dirk Nowitzki, have come together as a team, playing better defense and increasing their scoring in every game.

The Heat, who looked to be unstoppable after Game 1, sputtered in the last two games, finding it hard to keep up with the Mavericks' late-game charges. LeBron James has seemingly lost confidence in the last two games, proving ineffective and almost nonexistent in fourth quarters, a far cry from his dominance in the Eaastern Conference Finals.

To add injury to insult, Heat guard and team leader Dwyane Wade severely injured his hip in Game 5, limiting his minutes and effectiveness as a scorer. Miami's role players have done a good job keeping them in the last two games, but their efforts have not been enough.

Tonight, there is an air of finality to the game for the first time in this series. Tonight, the Dallas Mavericks can close out the Heat, ending the hype and making waste of all the pomp and circumstance that started almost a year ago with "The Decision."

Tonight, all of the lights will be shining and these two teams will finally feel the full-on pressure of the Finals.

The Mavericks will know the pressure of closing out the Finals against a team fighting desperately to stay alive, a team trying to prove there is more to them than rumors of collusion and bad decisions, that they are more than two superstars and Chris Bosh, but rather a collection of like-minded individuals with good chemistry and a respect for team.

For the Heat, they battle not only the Mavericks, but also the American public. A public that wants them to lose, a public that has been disgusted with the hype, the media coverage and arrogance the Heat have garnered. Tonight, the Heat have one game to keep their dream alive and earn the right to play one last time, to prove the critics, the media, the Mavericks and America wrong.

Tonight, there is no place left for either team to hide. Tonight, it's now or never, and tonight we will see it, right before our eyes, under all of the lights.

The Once Future King

2011-06-09T18:15:00.001-07:00

Photoshop by Payton Wales

DALLAS -- LeBron James was a no-show June 7 in Dallas, turning only 8 points and 11 rebounds. Looking as if he were running on fumes drew comparisons to last year's playoffs, where it was widely agreed upon he quit on his Cavaliers teammates.

Tonight might be his last chance to prove these incidents were just a fluke. A chance for the Once Future King to prove he isn't just a spoiled prince but the leader everyone wants him to be, the one everyone thinks he can be.

For years, it's been about LeBron's greatness, his potential, his God-given abilities. Yet in the same breath, fans heard everything wrong about him -- his lack of maturity, his inability to be clutch, his unwillingness to step up in the moment, his selfishness off the court, coach killer, the Decision. It's been talked about to the point that the mere mention of his name invokes nausea.

Tonight is a chance to end all of it. A chance to put all the haters in their place, prove them wrong. He needs to. He has to. His legacy is at stake, and if he doesn't do something now, if he doesn't show up tonight, he may never be able to shake the monkey off his back, even if he wins a title in the future.

Tonight may not be an elimination night, but it's significance is still significant. Tonight can reveal a pattern with the King. Tonight can give fans some insight into the psychosis of the man that is LeBron James. It has the potential to reveal to them what he cares about in his life, how he views his own legacy. It all hinges on him, and how he plays tonight.

No one is saying he has to drop 55 points on the Mavericks or even 30. But he has to show up, he has to produce, he has to leave an imprint on this game. The talk of tonight's game cannot be about how Dirk Nowitzki played through fever and injury. It must be about the redemption of James.

If it's not, his legacy will take a hit, one it may never recover from. Though fans may say he was great when his career is done, if he fails tonight, if he fails this year, he will never have the chance to be considered "The Greatest."

Tonight is a chance for him to start giving answers, to stop leaving questions. Tonight, LeBron James can take a step toward what he claimed was his seven years ago when he arrived in the NBA. Tonight, he has a chance to take control of his kingdom and he must. If he doesn't, he may never get a chance again.

The light for greatness shines only briefly. When it does shine, it is up to us to step into it and give the world a glimpse of who we are, if only for a minute. We get a chance to establish a legacy, to legitimize our gifts. The light is shining for James right now and it will never be brighter than this season.

Tonight, we find out if James really wants to be king, or just a jester, content to live vicariously through the idea of what could have been.

Mavericks Find New Life in Game 4 Victory

2011-06-08T19:26:00.001-07:00

Photoshop by Payton Wales

DALLAS -- One man had the flu, the other flew the coup Tuesday in Dallas.

For three quarters in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Dirk Nowitzki looked like something you would see in the movie Dawn of the Dead. Sick from the flu and not sleeping the night before, it looked like the Mavericks' usual hero was laboring and going through the motions.

In the fourth quarter, however, he looked like Lazarus resurrected.

Fighting through a severe sinus infection, Nowitzki found a way to deliver his usual fourth-quarter magic, scoring 10 of his 21 total points in the quarter while also sparking a 21-9 Dallas run to propel the Mavericks to an 86-83 victory and a 2-2 series tie.

"Just battle it out," Nowitzki said about playing through the illness. "This is the Finals. You have to go out there and compete and try your best for your team. So that's what I did."

Nowitzki, whose fourth-quarter heroics in these playoffs have become something of legend, found that legend growing when he hit another game-winning layup with only 14.4 seconds in the game.

The win also found Nowitzki's supporting cast jump into the scrum and help their leader. Tyson Chandler, 13 points and 16 rebounds; Shawn Marion, 16 points; Jason Terry, 17 points; and DeShawn Stevenson, 11 points, were all major contributors in the win, especially the latter, who manged to play lockdown defense on LeBron James.

James, who is considered one of the league's most unstoppable players, was held to only 8 points on 3-of-11 shooting, the lowest point total of his seven-year career. The single-digit scoring performance ended his streak of 433 straight games in double figures.

The poor performance also drew eerie parallels to last year's Conference Finals against the Celtics, where it was widely considered James quit or became disinterested in his team's outcome. James' poor performance could be also be attributed to exhaustion, considering he has averaged 44 minutes per game in these playoffs.

"I've got to do a better job of being more assertive offensively," James said. "I'm confident in my ability. It's just about going out there and knocking them down."

Despite James' poor outing, the Heat still managed to keep the lead for the majority of the game thanks to Dwyane Wade. Wade, who led all scorers with 32 points, kept the Heat competitive all game. But with 30.1 seconds left, Wade missed a crucial free throw that would have tied the game.

Seconds later, Wade fumbled an inbounds pass but managed to knock the ball to Mike Miller for a potential tying 3-pointer with 6.7 seconds left. The shot fell well short and the American Airlines Center erupted in loud cheers upon realizing their team avoided the dreaded 3-1 deficit. No NBA team down 3-1 in a Finals series has come back to win.

In a series that many critics thought the Heat would run away with, the Mavericks have shown a high level of fortitude and fight on the way to a series tie. So far, the margin of victory in all four games is the lowest it's been since 1998.

"This series is a jump ball," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "These guys live for these type of moments. It's about execution and disposition in the fourth quarter, being able to close out. We have a golden opportunity in the next game."

The Heat may have the opportunity June 9, but the Mavericks seem to have the momentum, and their bench, a renewed vigor. The only thing anyone can be sure of is this series will remain just as unpredictable in its last three games as it has been in its first four.

Bosh Last-Second Shot Secures Game 3 Win For Heat

2011-06-06T07:38:00.001-07:00

Photoshop by Payton Wales

DALLAS -- Dwyane Wade looked like a man possessed June 5, refusing to let the Dallas Mavericks defeat his Miami Heat. But it was Chris Bosh who became the Game 3 hero.

Bosh, who had 18 points on the night, seemed timid throughout the night, passing up wide-open shots on numerous occasions and drawing the criticism of many. But all of that came to an end with 39.6 seconds left in the game when Bosh hit a 17-footer to give the Heat the win, 88-86.

"This series is turning out to be an absolute series of endurance, mental and physical," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We didn't expect anything less than the competitive physicality of this game tonight. Our guys really competed. At times it was a little uneven, but we found ways to make plays on both ends of the court, to grind this game out in a very enduring win."

The Heat were up 81-74 with 6:32 left in the game and seemed poised to close it out. But Dallas, much like in Game 2, had other intentions, sparking a fourth-quarter rally behind Dirk Nowitzki's heroics. Nowitzki, who had 34 points and 11 rebounds on the night, put up 12 straight points in the fourth quarter, including one if his patented off-balance fadeaways.

The rally wouldn't be enough this time though as Wade just wouldn't let the Heat resign. Wade, who scored 7 points in the fourth quarter and 29 on the evening, relentlessly attacked the Mavericks defense, hitting big shot after big shot to keep Miami ahead every time the Mavericks threatened to take the lead.

Wade also had 11 rebounds on the night. When asked about the win, Wade said, "We felt this was a must-win, and we put it upon ourselves to get the home-court (advantage) back."

The final seconds saw Shawn Marion play lock-down defense on LeBron James, forcing a 24-second violation, leaving the Heat pounding their heads with frustration. Jason Terry then missed a jumper from the elbow, which opened the opportunity for Bosh to hit his game-winner.

"I don't know the number of times we climbed out of holes," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said about the loss. "But it's just always going to make the game harder."

Dallas, who was without center Brendan Haywood, found it hard to aggressively protect the paint, worrying about foul trouble for most of the game while also stumbling on offense. While Nowitzki has been consistent, the rest of his starting five has not, struggling to produce points to help the 7-foot power forward.

Jason Kidd had 9 points in the loss and Marion only added 10 to close out the night. It goes without saying if the Mavericks are going to win Game 4, they will need to receive bigger contributions from their starters in what Nowitzki said is "basically a must-win situation."

The Game 3 victory bodes well for the Heat historically. Since the NBA Finals went to the 2-3-2 format in 1985, the winner of Game 3 in a tied series has won all 11 times.

The Heat will look to extend their lead against Dallas June 6 at the American Airlines Center.

Mavs v. Heat: Game 2 Recap

2011-06-03T18:51:00.001-07:00

Photoshop by Payton Wales

MIAMI -- It was one of the biggest comebacks in NBA Finals history, and the Miami Heat were on the losing end of it.

Dirk Nowitzki walked away the hero, scoring 24 points, including the game-winning layup with 3.6 seconds left to help the Mavericks seal the Game 2 victory, 95-93, against the Heat. Nowitzki's layup capped off a monstrous 15-point comeback by the Mavericks late in the fourth quarter. The win evened the series with the Heat at one game a piece.

Dwyane Wade, who had 36 points, had a chance to win the game for Miami, but his desperation 3-pointer was off the mark as time expired.

With 7:15 left in the fourth quarter and the score, 88-73 in Miami's favor, Dallas looked more like boiled lobster than a contender. Then, Wade hit a 3-pointer in the corner. His celebration that followed, including 15 seconds worth of posing with his follow-through in the air, was just enough to irritate and motivate the Mavericks, proving to be the turning point of the game.

From that point on, the Mavericks would play lockdown defense, only allowing the Heat to score a three by Mario Chalmers to tie the game with 24.5 seconds left, a shot that would tie the game 93-93. Jason Terry, who had been ineffective in Game 1 and the first half of Game 2, was the catalyst for the comeback, hitting a couple big jumpers to get the Mavericks off and running. Terry finished the game with 16 points.

Shawn Marion also added 20 points and eight rebounds to round out the box score for the Mavericks.

"I thought defensively we really got into them," Nowitzki said postgame about the rally. "We pressured them full court and we scrambled defensively. We even gave up some offensive rebounds, but we kept scrambling."

Miami's collapse was one of historic proportions and it also dealt them their first playoff loss in 10 games at home. The next three games will be in Dallas, starting with Game 3 on June 5. If Miami wants to get back down to South Beach, they must win at least one game.

Dallas Looks to Even The Score With Game 2 Win

2011-06-02T18:09:00.001-07:00

Photoshop by Payton Wales

MIAMI -- Game 1 was anything but an offensive exhibition for either team and Game 2 doesn't look to get any better if for no other reason than Dirk Nowitzki's injured left hand.

Nowitzki, who tore a tendon in the middle finger of his left hand in the middle of Game 1, was 7-for-18 from the field May 31, a shooting performance well under par for the 12-year veteran. Things only look to get worse. The Mavericks look to overcome a poor shooting performance as well as improve their rebounding numbers to try and seal a Game 2 victory.

The mood seemed light at the Mavericks shoot around June 2 with players cracking jokes about Nowitzki's injured finger and imploring him to go the Ronnie Lott route and cut the digit off to ensure a championship. When asked about how they felt Nowitzki's injury would affect him and the team, his teammates tossed the jokes aside and showered the forward with praise.

Long-time teammate Jason Terry said, "I think Dirk can shoot the ball with his eyes closed, with no hands, if he had to, especially in a game of this magnitude." Terry went on to say a shooter can actually benefit from a hand injury because "it helps you lock in even more."

One thing is for sure, Terry and the rest of the Mavericks are confident in the abilities of their leader for Game 2 the question is: are they confident enough to help out this time? The Mavericks shot a playoff-low last game and are hoping to find some way to break out of that slump, including breaking through the Heat's impeccable perimeter defense and learning to play a little of their own.

Miami became comfortable behind the 3-point arc on 11-of-24 shooting, a total no other Maverick opponent has accomplished this year. While Dallas put on one of the worst shooting performances of their 2011 season, there is obvious room for improvement with both teams. The true question is who will have the will to make them?

One thing is for sure, whether the scoring is low or high, America is watching. Tuesday night's telecast was the highest overnight figures for an NBA Finals opener since the 2004 series between the Pistons and Lakers. If those numbers are any indication of what this series could turn out to be, then we should be in for a great one.

Miami Heat Win Game 1, Continue Finals Dominance Against the Mavericks

2011-06-01T07:08:00.001-07:00

Photoshopped by Payton Wales

MIAMI -- The Dallas Mavericks' road to redemption stumbled coming out of the blocks May 31, when the Mavericks lost to the Miami Heat, 92-84.

For three quarters, the game was back and forth, a battle of who wanted it more. But when the dust settled, Miami's three superstars emerged victorious. LeBron James posted 24 points and 9 rebounds, Dwyane Wade added 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Chris Bosh posted 19 points to secure the Game 1 victory.

Dirk Nowitzki had a game-high 27 points, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter as he tried to help the Mavericks close the gap on the Heat late in the fourth quarter. Shawn Marion added 16 points and Jason Terry had 12 points, but it wasn't enough to help the Mavericks pull off a win. They shot 25-of-67 from the floor, their worst performance so far in these playoffs.

The offensive performance by the Miami Heat wasn't much better, shooting only 31-of-80 from the field on 38 percent shooting. But it was their 11-for-24 performance from behind the arc (45 percent) and their staggeringly-high rebound advantage that helped to propel them to a win.

When asked about the loss, Mavericks center Tyson Chandler blamed it all on "Finals jitters," while head coach Rick Carlisle promised “we’ll play better” June 2 for the Game 2 matchup, still on the Heat's home court.

The Mavericks, who are known for their outstanding ball movement, found it hard to get open shots due the stifling defense the Heat put up, specifically in the first and third quarters where the Heat held the Mavericks to 17 points in each quarter.

Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki talked about the Mavericks offensive difficulties postgame saying, “They’re very good defensively. What makes them so good, they’re so athletic on the wing that even when we swung it sometimes, they’re able to cover a lot of ground, LeBron and Wade, and still run out at our shooters or contest shots on the weak side.

“They’re long and active on the perimeter and when we do get that opportunity to swing the ball, we have to knock shots down. That’s what it comes down to. When we do have some looks, we have to knock them down.”

The Mavericks might have more difficult roadblocks to overcome due to an injury suffered by Nowitzki. Early in the game, the Mavericks power forward suffered a torn tendon in his non-shooting hand.

“There’s a torn tendon in my finger,” he said at the postgame press conference with his hand in a brace. “It was just on a freak play. [Chris] Bosh got a bounce pass and stepped in. I thought I stripped him clean and then I kind of looked down and I couldn’t straighten my finger out anymore."

So the lingering question is will Nowitzki be ready to play come Thursday night? The true extent of the injury is still unknown, but Nowitzki will wear a splint for the rest of the series.

One thing is clear, the Mavericks will have to play a lot better if they want to defeat the Heat and regain the redemption they have been seeking since 2006.

Revenge, Superstition, and Atonment Are On The Line For The Mavericks

2011-05-31T18:28:00.001-07:00

MIAMI -- There is a lot on the line starting tonight, and the Dallas Mavericks know it.

Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry are still feeling the sting from 2006. It was a title run with the Mavericks in the driver's seat, until the Miami Heat came back from a 2-0 deficit to win the title. But the true sting of it was the controversy that followed it. There were enough one-sided bad calls on behalf of the Heat to make even diehard anti-conspiracy theorists, such as Mike Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser, question the validity of the title.

Then add all the hopes and dreams of the basketball purist that ride on the shoulders of the Mavericks, a burden they inherited from the Chicago Bulls and their collapse against the Heat. Knowing the majority of America is in your corner is a great thing, but its also pressure -- a lot of pressure -- either to crack under or to motivate you.

Dallas seems ready for that pressure and so does Miami. Both have overcome pretty big teams to get to the championship and done it in grand fashion. Dallas finished off the Lakers in a four-game sweep, denying the champs a shot at a three-peat. The Heat made quick work of the Boston Celtics, winning the series in five games and denying them a shot at a second-straight Finals appearance.

Dallas seems to have the advantage on paper. They are two deep at every position and have been shooting lights out since the playoffs started. The Mavericks have also directed their focus on defense and managed to ratchet up the defensive intensity with every team they played. And, of course, let's not forget the German, quite possibly the most unguardable player in the NBA today. His numbers have been Hall of Fame-worthy in the 2011 playoffs.

Miami, on the other hand, has deficiencies on their bench. But what they lack in depth, they make up for with their stars: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. It's a three-headed monster that at times can be absolutely devastating, accumulating massive amounts of points in quick periods of time. Miami is also sporting one of the best defenses in the league and has overcome all odds to make it to the Finals.

Regardless of the turnout of this series, one thing is for sure, you will be tuned in to witness, you will watch intently to see if LeBron can overcome all his haters, self-inflicted of course. You will watch to see if Dirk can solidify his legacy and his place among the all-time greats. You will watch just because you know, no matter the outcome, you will have witnessed something great.

The Musical Stylings of Daniel Artest

2011-05-23T19:22:00.001-07:00

Basketball and music go together; it’s a perfect marriage of sports and music. Other sports come close, but none are as perfect a match for music as basketball. The individuality mixed with the concept of team, the bravado, the flamboyant style, all a perfect match no matter what genre.

This is why the PBT wanted to bring you, the reader, a music section to keep you up-to-date with new music, what your favorite players are listening to and even dig into the crates and pull out some classics.

Our first contribution to this section is a special one. We managed to get the one and only Daniel Artest to the PBT to talk about ball, his big brother Ron, and music. Hopefully, this will be painless, considering Daniel is a 6-foot-6, 280-pound bruiser and has years of battling Ron on the courts of Queens Bridge to give him legitimate tough guy status. Let’s just say, if anyone at the PBT disagrees with anything he says in this interview, no one is saying anything.

You can also follow Daniel's weekly blog over at The No Look Pass It's a great read and some great incite into his life.

So, without further ado, the musical stylings of Daniel Artest.

Payton Wales: What you are doing now in relation to basketball?

Daniel Artest: Right now, I'm just doing a lot of teaching, coaching young kids and what not. I'm actually going to be working with this freshman in high school. He's really good, started as a frosh on his varsity team. I know with my knowledge and experience I can help him be the best.

PW: Very cool. It’s always good to hear about someone coaching young men. Speaking of which, you are a family man, raising three-fifths of a starting squad. Tell us about them.

DA: I am very blessed. I have three sons: the twins, Josiah and Nathaniel, are 2 years old, and then the youngest is Elijah who is 10 months. They, along with my wife, are all huge blessings in my life.

PW: Speaking of family, you and Ron must have had some battles on the courts growing up. If you and Ron played to a game of 11, what’s the final score?

DA: 10-10. But we won’t finish (laughs) because we’ll argue about the score.

PW: Nice, sounds like my brother and I. Basketball has taken you a lot of places worldwide. What are your favorite places to play ball in the world? Best courts? Best competition?

DA: I’ve played everywhere: Rucker Park, The Cage (W. 4th St.), Venice Beach in California, and at home in QB. Those are some of the best courts in the world. There is great competition there, plus all of the history that goes along with those places makes them great. The best competition overall is hands-down NYC. Playing at home made me a tough player. When I go out of town to play, I find that they have never really played against a physical player. It's a long night for them.

PW: We’ve talked before about how hard it is for others to play against you, but who is the best or most unstoppable player you have played against, outside of Ron?

DA: Oh man … too many to name but @Chomocide (Corey Williams) is probably one of the best I've seen.

(Editor’s note: For those of you who don’t know who Corey Williams is. He is a 6-foot-3 guard from the Bronx who brought the pain while playing at Alabama State University and is currently crushing people in Australia for the Melbourne Tigers gaining 2010 MVP honors.)

PW: If you could play any other sport for a living, what would it be?

DA: I really can't see myself playing nothing but basketball. I love hooping.

PW: Fair answer. Who are your favorite teams, from the pros down to high school?

DA: San Antonio Spurs, St. John's Red Storm, Lasalle Academy (Ron's high school)

PW: Music is a big part of basketball culture and your brother is very involved in the music community. Is music just as important to you? If so, what’s your preferred genre?

DA: Music is important to me. It’s been in my life just as long as ball. I'm the type of person that's in love with my radio. I listen to a lot of stuff, but I love to listen to hip hop.

PW: What’s the first album you can remember listening to and falling in love with?

DA: Busta Rhymes "The Coming." I've always been a fan of his since I was a little kid. He’s extremely talented, funny and full of energy.

PW: What is the album that most reminds you of growing up?

DA: Hard to pick just one. NYC was the home to great music when I was growing up. In the Bronx, you had Big Pun (Capital Punishment, 1999). In Queens, you had Mobb Deep (The Imfamous, 1995), Nas (Illmatic, 1994; It Was Written 1996) and Capone & Norega (aka CNN, The War Report, 1997).

Mahattan was Mase (Harlem World. 1997), Diddy (No Way Out, 1997) and Camron (Confessions of Fire, 1998). In Brooklyn, Jay-Z (Reasonable Doubt, 1996; In My Lifetime Vol. 1, 1997), Biggie (Ready to Die,1994; Life After Death, 1997) and Staten Island was the Wu Tang Clan (Enter the 36 Chambers, 1993; Forever, 1997). It was amazing back in the early to mid-90s.

PW: What album or song do you feel exemplifies your life?

DA: "In The Zone" by the late Wayman Tisdale. It's a jazz album. Once I'm in my zone, it's hard to stop me, whether it's basketball or life.

PW: Is there a song that reminds you of your first crush? Who was the crush?

DA: Maxwell, "This Women's Work." My first crush was my wife Amber Artest. Once I met her, I've had to have her forever and now I do.

PW: What are the top 10 songs on your iPod/mp3 player.
DA: 1. Styles P: "Born in these streets"

2. The Beatles: "Eleanor Rigby"

3. Sam Cooke: "Basin Street Blues"

4. Busta Rhymes: "Show me what you got"

5. The Beatles: "PS, I Love You"

6. Wayman Tisdale: "Watch Me Play"

7. Ron Artest: "Champions"

8. Busta Rhymes: "Enjoy The Ride"

9. The Beatles: "HELP"

10. Jenn-Jenn: "Close Your Eyes"

PW: What song are you ashamed to admit you like? Why do you like it?

DA: "Love Me Do" by The Beatles. I just think it's catchy.

PW: Who is an artist that people would be surprised to hear you like. Why do you like them?

DA: Israel and New Breed. They're gospel. A lot of people don't listen to gospel. I love it because it's uplifting, and when I'm down, I rely on God's word to lift me up.

PW: You’re from Queens Bridge. There are a lot of great hip hop artists that have come out of there, Nas being one of them. Who are some artists from there people don’t know about?

DA: Nature, Cormega, World Wide Warriors, Bars & Hooks. They are dope rappers.

PW: Do you get down with rock ‘n’ roll? If so, what’s your absolute must-have album?

DA: I really don't listen to rock 'n' roll. I guess anything by the Beatles.

PW: Who is an artist you think is crazy but brilliant all at once? Why?

DA: Lady GaGa. Why? Because she's "crazy and brilliant." (laughs)

PW: What current hip-hop artist do you still see yourself listening to 10 years from now?

DA: None. Today’s artists aren't good. I only listen to mid-90s hip hop.

PW: Has a song ever made you cry? If so, which one?

DA: "You Are Worthy." It’s a gospel song that bought me to tears.

PW: What do you think is the perfect wedding song?

DA: "Share My Life" by Kem. It's a great song. The words are amazing.

PW: Song you want played at you memorial service. Why? Who would you want to sing it?

DA: I'm too young to think about dying. (laughs)

PW: Music someone would have heard if they were walking around your house when you were a kid.

DA: A lot of "The Temptations" music.

PW: What artist do you wish you could be or have their talent?

DA: Styles P. He's a lyrical genius.

PW: If you could have any person from any era sing you happy birthday, who would it be?

DA: Whitney Houston. She's an amazing singer, very beautiful and powerful voice.

PW: Your brother is tied to music in a strong way with his own music label and career, but what song not written by Ron himself reminds you of your brother?

DA: "Ante up" by M.O.P. That song is like Ron on the court, all energy!

I am Daniel M Artest and I approve this message. {end}

Urbana Steals Bases And A Win Against Kenwood, Secures Spot In Quarterfinals

2011-05-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

TIMONIUM, Md. -- After four days of rainy weather, game cancellations and unplayable field conditions, the Urbana Hawks boys baseball team got their chance to play May 20 and simply decided they didn't want to stop, taking the 5-3 win against the Kenwood Blue Birds.

The Hawks, riding the momentum of the day after closing a win against Dulaney earlier in the morning, opened up with a three-run first inning against Kenwood senior Shane Campbell. Campbell, who will play for the University of Maryland next year, seemed to struggle with his control in the first inning, resulting in four walks and one hit before he could retire the side. By then, the damage was done and Urbana took advantage of their speed, stealing multiple bases outright and several others off fielding errors.

Stolen bases were commonplace for Urbana throughout the game. When asked about the 15 total Urbana stole, Hawks coach Mike Frownfelter said, "In pregame, we looked at how strong their catcher's arm was. We saw a weakness and took advantage of it."

Kenwood countered Urbana's first-inning onslaught, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first to keep within striking distance. Over the next two innings, Campbell, who finished the game with 11 strikeouts, regained his ball control and was almost perfect over the next two innings, striking out four of six batters and grounding out the other two. Kenwood capitalized on his performance, evening the score in the bottom of the third with a walk-in run.

That was the last run the Hawks Jeff Bynaker would surrender to Kenwood. Bynaker made the most of this opportunity, using it to finish his first complete game of the season. The senior pitcher, who had six strikeouts for the game, allowed his team to do a lot of the defense for him, earning him high praise from his coach.

"We just needed him to throw strikes," Frownfelter said. "Three games in two days, we just needed someone to eat up innings and Jeff did a great job of that."

Bynaker was also responsible for the Hawks final two runs, driving in one and then stealing home off an infield error in the fourth inning to help to lead the Hawks to victory.

Blue Birds coach Don Keener said there were no surprises in Urbana's style of play.

"We were pretty prepared. We just didn't hit the ball," he said. "We had a chance to break this open or at least get the lead. There were just too many walks, four or five runs were walks.

"It's just a tough way to lose, but we fought them to the end. They're not a bad team."

Earlier in the day, the Hawks, who finished the season with a 6-12 record, defeated the 14-4 Dulaney Lions, 2-0, in a 10-inning game to advance to the third round of the Maryland 4A Boys Baseball Championships, setting them up for the matchup against Kenwood.

Urbana will try to prove they are more than their record in the semifinals May 21, where they play the winner of Westminster v. Thomas Johnson.

Bulls Withstand Heat, Still Running Around in Miami's China Shop.

2011-05-17T15:22:00.001-07:00

CHICAGO -- The rumors of the Bulls' demise may have been premature.

Going into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, many critics gave the Chicago Bulls little chance to win the series. Most said they would be swept or only win one game, if only by some type of luck. But the Bulls had other plans Sunday, serving notice to the Miami Heat with a 103-82 drubbing. The message in the notice was simple: You've won nothing and this will not be easy.

The Bulls dismantled the Heat in Game 1 behind 28 points from Derrick Rose and a superb defensive effort by Luol Deng on LeBron James. The win gives the Bulls a 1-0 series lead with Game 2 coming up May 18. The Bulls, who swept the Heat in the regular season, will look to maintain their home court advantage in the playoffs with a win Wednesday.

How will they do it? With the same formula as Game 1: attack the offensive glass, plenty of man-to-man switching and a gritty, hard-nosed defense that has been the staple of any defense Tom Thibodeau is part of. In Game 1, Johkim Noah and Carlos Boozer wreaked havoc in the paint on the offenisive glass, providing the Bulls with plenty of second-chance opportunities. The two also provided great help defensively, while also providing some much-needed scoring.

The Bulls "Bench Mob," as they like to be called, also provided a spark by extending the lead and playing lock-down defense. But the plays that may have blown the lid off the game were two monster dunks by Taj Gibson late in the game. The Bulls, behind the energy of Gibson's two-handed slam and put-back tomahawk, gained a momentum the Heat would never overcome to finish out the game.

Miami's Chris Bosh had 30 points in the game, but it was not indicative of the defense being played on him or the rest of his team. Bosh was the option Chicago wanted Miami to use, and use it they did. As much as they feed Bosh, he was only capable of carrying the Heat so far without the help of Miami's two true stars in James and Dwyane Wade.

It may only be one game and one win for the Bulls, but in the scheme of things, it's really four games for the entire season. Four games that displayed a defense Miami cannot elude. Four games where the idea of a true team won over the idea of three self-entitled superstars. Four games where we saw the defense we expected from the Boston Celtics in the playoffs come shining through in the form of the Chicago Bulls. It's four games where the insecurities and self-doubt the Heat displayed early in the season has a chance to surface again. This time when it matters most.

One game can make a difference. One game can create doubt. One game can remind players there were three others they couldn't win as well. In that case, one game can really be four.

And that's just how these Bulls like it.

Blake Griffin: Rookie of the Year

2011-05-04T21:13:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES -- For a season of brilliant numbers, highlights and rejuvenation of a franchise, Blake Griffin was rewarded on Wednesday, April 4, 2011 with the T-Mobile NBA Rookie of The Year Award.

Griffin was the first rookie in 21 years to be a unanimously receive the award.

Griffin, who missed his intial rookie season due to a fractured kneecap, was eligible for the award this year because he never played in a regular season game in 09-10.

Griffin received every first-place vote from a panel of 118 media members. Griffin is the first unanimous choice since San Antonio's David Robinson in 1990, and is just the third player in NBA history to accomplish the feat. The other was Ralph Sampson in 1984.

Griffin played all 82 games leading all rookies in scoring and rebounding. Griffin also finished 12th in the entire NBA in scoring (22.5) and fourth in rebounds (12.1) while ranking second among rookies in assists (3.8).

Lakers Game 2 Preview

2011-05-04T18:49:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES -- Forget the blame game. It makes no sense to use it here. Although you could use it, if you really wanted.

The Lakers squandered a 16-point third-quarter lead. They were seemingly outcoached, ended up with Pau Gasol guarding Dirk Nowitzki on the perimeter while up by 1. One foul and two free throws later, they were no longer winning, and then the questionable call that would have sent them to the line, but apparently the ref lost his whistle.

No, there is definitely enough blame to go around, but what would be the point. It's over. The Mavericks stole one in L.A. and now it's the Lakers turn to redeem themselves. This is where they like to be after all. Backs against the wall, critics saying they can't do it, fans jumping off the bandwagon as if it were the sinking Titanic itself. This is right where they like to be.

The problem with Game 1 was simple: Kobe Bryant was hitting from everywhere and just destroying whoever Dallas threw at him, scoring 38 points in the process. How can that be a problem, you may ask? Because his teammates followed suit, choosing to, all of a sudden, shoot from the outside as their court leader was and stop feeding the post players, which was playing to their strengths early in the game. The rest of the Lakers fell in love with the three and that in turn allowed Dallas to get up-court faster, pushing the Lakers to the brink until the Mavericks saw their opportunity to seize the game.

If the Lakers are to win tonight, they will have to keep feeding their twin towers in the post, specifically Gasol. They will need to try and get Nowitzki in foul trouble early. Bryant will need to get to the basket a bit more and draw fouls on the opposition. The Lakers will also need to make sure they close out on defense and deny the ball to the Mavericks wings, forcing Nowitzki to take a full load on his shoulders and make him tired.

The Lakers should win this game easier than Game 1. It could be argued they got hosed in Game 1 and should have won that one, but that's in the past and tonight is the future. For the Lakers, the future is still bright and well-lit like the Santa Monica Pier.

Well, that and the red glow from Mark Cuban's face, but that's another post entirely.

Los Angeles Lakers: Round 2 Preview

2011-05-02T19:05:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES-- The Lakers finished off the Hornets rather easily in their first-round matchup. But to hear the critics tell it, they struggled to win the series, 4-2.

In the Lakers' two losses, the Hornets played as close to perfect as a team and a point guard, Chris Paul, can play. And they won ... barely. In almost all of the Lakers' wins, the outcome was decided before the fourth quarter even started, something contenders like the Heat and Bulls cannot lay claim to.

Critics tell an entirely different story when it comes to those teams. They talk of their dominance and how easily they dispatched their opponents. It's a falsehood. Perhaps that is the reason so many critics have picked the Lakers to lose this series. Why they picked Dallas to win, a team critics said had no chance at making it to Round 2. They were too old, too tired, too disjointed. Now, after dispatching the Trailblazers, they are Laker killers.

What would prompt such outrageous claims outside of the world of jealousy and a hatred for dominance?

Maybe it's the make up of the Mavericks. True, they are old and slower, but they have their perks too. Dirk Nowitzki is damn near unguardable and was absolutely unconscious as a player to start this season. He is still hungry, he wants to win terribly bad and witnessing that means the Mavericks will go as far as he can carry them. And that might be the Mavericks downfall.

Jason Kidd is there, an older and slower version but still steady, smart, crafty and a now beyond capable outside jump shooter. Kidd can still lead a team and still has a knack for coming up big when it counts. His downfall is he is slow enough for someone like Derek Fisher to guard and for someone like Matt Barnes to dominate.

Tyson Chandler has emerged as a defensive presence in the paint, helping to anchor a Dallas defense that in previous years had been known as soft. Chandler should disrupt the paint for the Mavericks and help on the boards, but he won't prevent a bigger, stronger, faster Andrew Bynum from continuing his emergence as the league's second-best center. Chandler will not be able to match Bynum's offensive output.

From there, the matchup gaps become redily apparant, well, minus Mark Cuban's running snark and commentary. But honestly, who can possibly match up with that?

Pau Gasol will give Nowitzki just as much trouble on the offensive end, and the people who claim Shawn Marion, DeShawn Stevenson or a 70-percent healthy Caron Butler can hold Kobe Bryant in check are in for a rude awakening. Bryant may be aging, but that age has him at the third-best player in the world instead of first or second. Ron Artest will be a nightmare for Marion, or anyone else he guards, while Matt Barnes will finish you off what Artest doesn't do first.

The X-factor, as usual, is Lamar Odom. As he goes, so will the Lakers bench. When he gets going, so do they. With no one to guard Odom, the second string will see various opportunities open up for all the role players. As we saw this season, the Lakers bench is more than capable of lighting up opposition just like the first team does.

It comes down to depth as well as offensive and defensive weapons, and the Lakers have them in abundance, not even considering the Lakers' experience making it to the Finals or their success against the Mavericks throughout the last decade. Dallas may have three players who can make life tough for the Lakers, but Los Angeles has six or seven of their own, and that will prove to be too much for the Mavericks.

Of course if critics tell it, Lakers equals Kobe Bryant and he, according to them, is washed up, no longer consistently great. Only time will tell, but when the dust settles out west, the Lakers will be the only gunslingers still standing.

Series Prediction: Lakers in 5

Keys to Winning:
-- Establish the post presence early
-- Heavy focus on the defense of Jason Terry, Marion and possibly Butler, if he plays.
-- Getting Lamar Odom involved and productive. His productiviy will improve the rest of the bench.
-- Make Mark Cuban lose his mind. This should be the most entertaining part of this series.

Lakers v. Hornets Game 5 Recap & Preview

2011-04-28T17:18:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES -- Asset or Liability. It was the question of the hour when Kobe Bryant took the court with a bad ankle Tuesday night in LA.

For about 15 minutes it looked as if he were a liability and then it happened, early in the second quarter Bryant received a pass from Gasol at the top of the key and as Trevor Ariza closed the distance Bryant took two quick steps to the lane and then exploded through the air just as Emeka Okafor did the same. When the dust had settled Kobe was giving that same cocky look he had 12 years ago when he wore the No. 8 and Emeka Okafor had become another poster, victimized by the Mamba.

Bryants' dunk incited the crowd at the Staples Center and sent the Lakers players on a wave of mutilation that the Hornets would never recover from. Bryant scored 19 points including another highlight reel dunk in the third quarter as the Lakers beat the hornets 106 - 90 to take a 3-2 series lead and put the Hornets on the brink of elimination.

Game 6 is Thursday in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS --

Andrew Bynum, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds in Game 5, will look to continue his emergence as the anchor of the Lakers front court and Pau Gasol, 16 points in Games 5, will look to continue his improvement in play as the Lakers try to eliminate the Hornets from the playoffs.

There will still be question about Bryants' ankle and whether or not he can give the Lakers the same boost he did in Game 5 but one thing is for sure, the Lakers seem to have that sense of urgency back. There isnt much to say about tonight other than what we know, we are in for a hell of a game and it's win or go home for the Hornets.

Can Chris Paul provide one more sting on the Lakers or will his great postseason play end tonight.

Lakers v. Hornets: Game 5 Preview

2011-04-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES -- Game 5. Most Lakers fans would expect this to be an elimination game for the Hornets. Instead, the Lakers enter this game tied 2-2 in the series. The news doesn't get any easier from there. The Lakers' main scoring option, Kobe Bryant, has a severe left ankle sprain that occurred in Game 4.

Bryant, who has refused to have an X-ray or MRI performed, insists he will play in Game 5 no matter what and has received around-the-clock treatment in preparation for the game. With no question about Bryant's will to compete, the only question left is do the rest of the Lakers?

In their two losses, the Lakers have seemed anything but ready to compete. True, players like Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum have shown up for every game and posted great numbers, but the Lakers' normally steady and consistent players Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom have struggled in the series, even seeming passive and content at times.

The Hornets have been near perfect in their wins with their bench players and starting point guard Chris Paul posting career numbers in those matchups. To say they have been anything short of brilliant would be an insult. Aaron Gray has provided a huge lift off the bench, proving to be a disruption to Gasol's game. Jarrett Jack has played excellent as well with his high shooting percentage and heroics all contributing to the Game 4 victory.

The Lakers have been here before -- as recently as last year when they played the young, up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder. Again with the series tied 2-2, the Lakers found that sense of urgency and put together a great playoff run on their way to the title. This Game 5 will be pivotal for both teams. Whoever takes this game will control their destiny, forcing the other team to win two games in a row to get their playoff miracle.

The positon the Lakers are in is one coach Phil Jackson feels plays to the teams strengths, saying, "They certainly play better when they're in a desperate mode, there's no doubt about that." When asked about his teams demeanor toward Game 5, Jackson said, "They were somber. They understand the nature of we to have to do with this ballclub."

One thing is for sure, the Hornets are not taking this lightly, and they don't feel as though they have accomplished anything yet. Rather, they have been humble, almost fearful, that at any moment the Lakers could flip a switch and end the series with ease. It's with calm and catioun that they fight for every possesion, something the Lakers should take note of.

If Paul can come out and dominate the Lakers' defense as he has in Games 1 and 4, the Lakers may find themselves digging out of the grave in Game 6. But if history tells us anything, it is the Lakers will get themselves aligned for the next two games and make sure they deny Paul the opportunity to sting them any more than he has already.

Zombies Hate Fast Food

Penn State Scandal

Bozo Of A Lifetime, Part Deux!

Bring Back Our Sonics!

Foreign Players Make Out Big In Mass Exodus Overseas

Rookie School With Gilbert Arenas

Review: Captain America: The First Avenger

Metta World Peace Is Here To Smash All You Knew About Ron Artest

More Questions Than Answers Left Behind After the Finals

Finally! A Ring to Remember

All of the Lights

The Once Future King

Mavericks Find New Life in Game 4 Victory

Bosh Last-Second Shot Secures Game 3 Win For Heat

Mavs v. Heat: Game 2 Recap

Dallas Looks to Even The Score With Game 2 Win

Miami Heat Win Game 1, Continue Finals Dominance Against the Mavericks

Revenge, Superstition, and Atonment Are On The Line For The Mavericks

The Musical Stylings of Daniel Artest

Urbana Steals Bases And A Win Against Kenwood, Secures Spot In Quarterfinals

Bulls Withstand Heat, Still Running Around in Miami's China Shop.

Blake Griffin: Rookie of the Year

Lakers Game 2 Preview

Los Angeles Lakers: Round 2 Preview

Lakers v. Hornets Game 5 Recap & Preview

Lakers v. Hornets: Game 5 Preview