Game 7

Ignoring the big red elephants in the room (keep T-Mac? Yao Ming's contract?) for the time being, it's time to all convince ourselves that Houston has a chance today, right? With the game's top closer, Kobe Bryant, in his legendary, celeb-stocked home arena, with two 7-footers in the post and a 6 ft. 10 guy waiting in the wings, undermanned and offensively challenged Houston shouldn't stand a chance against L.A. But this series has flashed a blazing middle finger to all convention and predictability, as Houston has scratched and clawed, playing stifling defense and hustling with a reckless energy juxtaposing heaviliy with L.A.'s rather lackadaiscal, arrogant sense of entitlement that they come out and play with. The Lakers are the most talented team in this league, at least in my opinion, and they've looked like it at times in this series, such as Game 5's 40 point blowout, but then there have been the double digit 1st quarter leads for Houston in games 3 and 6 that lead to blowouts on Houston's side. Starting a 6 ft. 6 offensive non-entity at center in Chuck Hayes and relying on great drive and kick passing and three point shooting to score points, Houston is playing with a fire that could go out at anytime. It's a testament to the work ethic and attitude of the Houston role players that they are even taking this thing to a Game 7; Aaron Brooks has emerged as one of the quickest, most explosive scoring points in the league, while Artest and Shane Battier are stellar perimeter defenders who will be asked to score plenty as well. Shane needs to hit his open threes, while Artest needs to play within the offense and take it the hoop instead of shooting one-foot fadeaways and jacking up a plethora of threes that slowly chip away the paint off the rim. Hayes and Scola MUST stay out of foul trouble because of lack of post depth and height in the paint. Hayes plays the best defense on Gasol because of his stout base and strength, while Scola was a major factor in Houston's Game 6 victory with his scoring and rebounding. He's the only guy on the team right now who can score down low. Carl Landry, Von Wafer, and Kyle Lowry will need to provide scoring sparks and some up-tempo energy off the pine as well, and the big thing will be getting off to a good start. Every time Houston has won since Yao Ming went down, they have exploded to crazy fast starts in the 1st quarter, developing a cushion firm enough to withstand LA's inevitable scoring runs. Since that has been the trend of the series, I would assume a fast start is essential, but we all know in Game 7 rulebooks are torn to shreds when nerves and adrenaline are running rampant. I sure wish Houston would have the chance to close out at home, but what more could you ask for than a Game 7 against the arrogant, Charmin-soft Lakers at the Staples Center? Houston should prolly get smashed today, but with the "heart of a champion" and the way we never know which Lakers team will show up or how much energy they will come out with, anything truly is possible. Just ask Kevin Garnett

The A.C.T.S. Conundrum

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First of all, I would highly recommend reading Father David's post from today. As usual, he articulates perfectly what I'm trying to say, especially in the paragraph where he talks about the spirutal "high" of retreats and how real faith comes after the high has subsided, abandoning the superficial "addiction" that the good feeling of Jesus brings and developing a truly meaningful relationship with him. My big beef recently, the thing that had really been gnawing at my bones for a couple weeks, has been trying to stand up for the ACTS retreat, something that has benefited my life in so many ways but something I have so many doubts and questions with myself. Sometimes I wonder what my purpose/intention in leading ACTS is, and if I am actually doing anyone (or myself for that matter) any good. I am SO sick of having to defend the validity of ACTS to the throngs of passionate doubters as well, not because I don't have respect for them, but because more often than not I agree with their attacks and the only counter-defense I can erect is one that is flawed and littered with holes. It becomes impossible to stand up for the values and spiritual lessons imparted by ACTS when my fellow leaders are living a life of blatant hypocrisy...this shatters the impact it has on the retreatants and prospective retreatants, and alienates me from the people who I call my friends yet have no been on a retreat. They cannot accept a retreat that leads to one week or so of spiritual fulfillment and excitement, only to rot and decay back into the selfish, materialistic life that they were living before. And you know what? Neither can I. So how can I continue to stand up for something that I believe so strongly in, but that is crumbling from the inside due to the moral corruption of the so-called leaders? I just feel that the impact is so foggy and so lost in the translation due to the poisonous mouths of those who are doing the false preaching themselves. This has been my major gripe, and really my only gripe, since going on my first ACTS retreat 4 years ago. I cannot look at the disgusting hypocrisy of my "peers" and continue to believe fully in the message we are spreading, just because I know they are not living it and it cheapens my experience and my dedication to these values. I want with everything I have for all my friends and loved ones to go on these retreats and experience the amazing gift of grace that one receives, and I encourage anyone who has any doubts or misconceptions to speak to Father David, but I realize that you may not want to be a part of something that from the outside appears to be a huge facade of Jesus-worship manafactured only to mask the rancid life that you live on the weekends. But also realize that one person does not make the ACTS team: it is a community, a flawed one, but a community that is strong and made up of enough staunch, passionate people that it has a powerful impact. Just like all of humanity, not everyone can be perfect in their morals and beliefs, but the struggle and the effort is what makes these retreats so powerful and the struggle so tragic. The struggle is not meaningful without the effort, and that is my main concern. There are too many who are not even willing to change their lifestyle, stuck in the muck of their own selfishness and even, horrifically, making this retreat all about them and their own struggles, a pity party replacing a drenching rain of God's gifts. The retreat is about gratitude, about forming bonds and strong relationships with God and the people around you, and about overcoming struggles with faith, passion, and a belief in something more than the material, not about embracing a cocaine faith that feels thrilling for a few moments but soon disappates before anything of substance can come of it. I'm not going to divulge the secrets of ACTS...that is something that must be discovered on your own spiritual journey, an unexplainable event experienced tangibly, and I'm not trying to recruit, but it strikes me like a funeral bell that there are these misconceptions out there, breeding hypocrisy, that ACTS is a pushy, cultish group of God-fueled puppets only reading from a dry manuscript that means nothing to them and only creates the illusion of being God-driven. ACTS is a thriving, struggling, loving community, and though I have my own struggles and doubts about its power, I know at the end of the day that I gain my own self-fulfillment and contentment from it, and recognizing that others are struggling with me in solidarity makes the journey all the more meaningful.

The Tired Madman

I've never been much of a sleeper, but this past year or so I've taken up my new profession as an Insomniac. Raging imaginations and a brain belching with satisfaction from a day's busy feast do little to satisfy the anxieties, stresses, and problems that keep me up all night. This only morphs me into a walking corpse the next day, and the next, and the next, basically setting me in some hallucinatory world where nothing makes sense and reality is surreal. Understanding me now? Because I sure don't. At least I don't look like Jeff Van Gundy yet, but when my hair starts falling out and big purple bags hang from myeyes, then I'll start to feel concern. My esteemed buddy Paul brings up the big, general existential fear of purpose, death, and the chilling realization that maybe we are just here, renting this place out until the great landlord evicts our sinful asses. With the end of everything innocent and connected to my seemingly brief childhood bombarding me these past few months at a rapid clip, it's pretty easy to lose track of life's importance and that an end always signifies a new beginning. Just with different people, and different places. That's the depressing part. Losing sleep just leaves you isolated too, as I wander the halls in a sleepy stupor just struggling to push a few funny words out to remind myself that I have a pulse. My madness is the opposite of divine sense, and my eye is anything but discerning. This year has been gratifying in various ways though, as I've always been toiling behind the scenes and I'm finally getting some gratification and assertions from people I care about that I don't go unnoticed. It's the kind of thing that helps one rest easier...

I can't leave without mentioning Yao Ming and the Rockets. Last week, good ole' prophet Fries pointed out the underrated characteristics of Ming and how valuable his free throw shooting would be in the playoffs. How does 10-10 and a Game 1 victory over the Lakers sound? I refuse to gloat, but I will say that I'm basking in the glow of my right-ness. But even I couldn't imagine the Rockets winning, and really outplaying in every area, the Lakers in the Staples Center last night. Anyone who watched the game, including even the most staunch Spurs' fan (cough cough), should have been able to see that the game wasn't a fluke. Battier and Artest played great, stingy defense on L.A.'s big three of Kobe, Odom, and Gasol, forcing guys like Trevor Ariza and Derek Fisher to beat them with threes. It didn't happen. If Houston can continue that kind of defensive effort, then Clutch City will indeed be back. Stay thirsty my friends

Does Houston have a shot? Eh, not really...

With the city bursting over the edges, bathed in a crazed excitement not seen since the "Clutch City" days back in the early '90s, does anyone really believe that the Houston Rockets have a chance to upset the Los Angeles Lakers, widely viewed as the most talented team in this entire playoffs and the already-crowned Western Conference Champs? Probably not, unless you live in Houston or happen to be Chinese. The Rockets are a fantastic defensive team, with two stout perimeter stoppers in the physical Ron Artest and charge-taking Dukie Shane Battier, and they have the advantage of L.A. having a few extra days of rust (along with a cross-your-fingers moment in Kobe missing practice today), but there isn't enough individual offensive talent on this team, and they are simply missing that go-to scorer in crunch time that can take over a game and send shivers down an opponents' spine (see Brandon Roy, followed by the Black Mamba). A healthy T-Mac in his prime would have filled that role, but all that whiny team-killer is good for now is looking dapper in a suit coat and cursing Houston's chances from the bench. Does it say something about the poor guy that Houston wins their 1st playoff series in around a decade with McGrady sidelined, or is it just a product of bad luck? You be the judge. Either way, I can't see Houston faring too well against the Lakers' bevy of talent. The regular season matchups tilted 4-0 (with a heavy 20 point scoring advantage) in L.A.'s favor, and Artest's boneheaded attempts to talk some trash and land in Kobe's head only resulted in more scoring outbursts for Bryant and embarassment for Mr. Artest, who was left with the painfully true remarks that Kobe had just "kicked his ass." Active, athletic bigs like Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom are the types that give plodding Yao Ming fits, as he struggles to keep up with their foot speed, but with his size and touch I think he should be able to get his 20-10, he just might be giving up that much and more defensively. The only reason anybody is giving Houston a shot is their defense, but if Yao can't contain the big men, does it matter if Artest can lock down Kobe? Houston beat a good, talent-heavy Portland team that just wasn't ready to make a deep playoff run yet, but L.A. is seasoned, much better, and they have Kobe Bryant in the 4th quarter. Enough said. I can't see this series going past 5 or 6 games in L.A.'s favor.

At the point guard spot, Aaron Brooks is matched up with veteran Derek Fisher. Brooks is crazy-fast with big testicles range and a smooth motor, allowing him to get in the lane against much bigger foes, but he still needs to learn how to play balanced and under control, and when to take his own shot instead of creating for others. He is immensely talented, however, and I think with his speed he should eat the slower Fisher alive. Point guard is L.A.'s achilles heel, and Fisher is a tad past his prime, but the guy can still lead a team, hit big shots, and get the ball in the hands of the Lakers' playmakers. He will be solid and fulfill his duties, but if Brooks can bring some of that Oregon Ducks' swagger, than he could be an offensive x-factor in the series.

Shane Battier will probably be matched up with Kobe most of the time on the perimeter, as he moves his feet better than Artest, takes more charges, and doesn't foul as much as Ronnie. No matter how good of defense Shane plays, however, Kobe dictates how many points Kobe gets, not anyone else. The guy is unstoppable, and there is only so much Shane can do. Battier was actually a big offensive player for Houston against Portland, knocking down the majority of his set three point shoots, and will need to continue to do so, along with playing stout defense, if Houston will have a chance to win. He probably has the biggest role of anyone in this series, and we will see if he has the legs to hang in there. If Houston takes this to a Game 7, you guys know who to thank-most underrated player around. Stay tuned.

Artest will also do his share of guarding Kobe, as his bulky frame and pushy tactics might get under Bryant's skin moreso than Battier's and fire up this team, but like I said above, getting under Kobe's skin might not always be the best strategy. Lost beneath his defensive effort and fabulous Game 6 in Round 1 was Ron's relatively horrible offensive series. Whether it was the tiresome work of keeping up with Roy or just a side-effect of his broke jumpshot, Ron couldn't hit anything consistently except layups and free throws. That would be okay if he didn't think he had to take every three pointer or 18-foot fadeaway shot that came around. If Ron can play with offensive discipline, stay stringent on his defensive duties, and get his Humvee body to the free throw line, than the Rockets will be okay. Trevor Ariza has been a big surprise for the Lakers, as his shooting has skyrocketed and athleticism been on full display. he will most likely be the guy Houston most often ignores on defense, so if he makes shots, than watch out. All I can say is, don't mess with the "Tru Warier" dawg.


Luis Scola has been a godsend at power forward, scoring with his arsenal of quirky, herky-jerky fakes, jives, and awkward hook shots. He can also hit the 15-footer with consistency, and plays physical, hard-nosed defense with his opponent. Unfortunately, he is matched up with Odom, who will exploit all of his athletic weaknesses. Odom is one of the most versatile players in the league, a 6 foot 10 forward who can run point, attack the basket, post up, and hit the outside shot. He will test all of Scola's abilities, and I see this being a major matchup problem for Houston.

At center, big Yao Ming takes on Pau Ga-Soft, whose Charmin-grade post moves and French pastry physicallity in the lane are screaming for an Artest body slam or a Yao Ming jump hook at the least. Gasol really is a talented, athletic player with freakishly long arms and a great shooting touch, and his quickness and solid range will test Yao's defense and rebounding ability. Big men like Gasol and Boozer (the past two years) have given Yao major defensive issues with their ability to hit 15-18 foot jump shots, as Yao doesn't have the speed to close out on them. He should be able to score at will, but like I said above, he will give up just as many points. This matchup is even.

Finally, the bench. Laugh if you will, but losing Mutombo was a big deal. He was Yao's only official backup, and since he was rested the entire regular season he had the energy to play major minutes, providing a defensive presence at the rim and great rebounding help despite his age and lack of mobility. Now, the only backup big men Houston has are Carl Landry, still looking a step slow from a scary gunshot wound, and Chuck Hayes, an undersized fullback of a power forward known more for his hilariously bad free throw hitch than for his basketball ability. Landry is a guy who can score and clean up around the rim, a really valuable bench guy, while Hayes, despite being only 6 foot 5, can guard anyone in the paint with his strength and rebound with the giants, even if he cannot make a layup. The major two bench guys for Houston, at least offensively, are Kyle Lowry and Von Wafer, two unheralded players who are enacting HUGE roles. Lowry was an afterthought in the Rafer Alston trade, but has quickly proved his mettle by stepping in at the backup point guard role and often outplaying Brooks. Lowry can bull his way into the lane and score at anytime with a body made for driving, while Wafer, who barely even made Houston's summer league team, played so well in the preseason that he earned a roster spot and made Luther Head expendable. Wafer plays with reckless abandon and doesn't know when to turn the switch off, but has an incredibly explosive first step, shocking leaping ability, and an unconventional but deadly three point shot. He is instant offense off the bench, and some much needed scoring punch/energy for a relatively dry, defensive-minded squad. That's what makes him and Lowry so valuable. The Lakers have Bynum coming off the bench now, and we all know what he can do when healthy. He will give Yao problems with his size and athleticism, and if any of Houston's bench is forced to guard him, look for Bynum to dominate inside. Not a good depth matchup here. Shannon Brown has been playing like Wafer as of late for L.A., so look for those two to trade buckets, while Sasha Vujasic is an x-factor with the three point shot. I give the bench advantage to L.A. just because of Bynum. Let's hope Yao makes him his bitch:)

33 years and counting...

That's how many years in a row a Hawkeye has been picked up in the NFL draft, and the quality of that number has just skyrocketed since Coach Kirk Ferentz arrived at Iowa in 1999. Everyone from left tackle Robert Gallery getting picked up at number 2 overall in 2004 to Bobby Sanders, 2007's NFL Defensive Player of the Year, falling to the 2nd round, Kirk has used his NFL experience (coordinator with the Browns for almost a decade), pro-style offensive/defensive coaching tactics, and stable of well-qualified assistants to develop connections and future NFL players just as well as top programs like Oklahoma and Florida, incredible considering the disadvantages he has to work with at Iowa compared to other top programs. Iowa will never stand atop the Rivals recruiting rankings with the state's climate, flat plains, and general mass of Caucasians, amassing a glut of 4 and 5-stars like Easter candy, but its what Kirk and crew are able to do with their players once they arrive at Iowa that is the amazing thing. Player development and improvement is a key sign of a coaches' ability, and Kirk is as sterling as it gets. That definitely shows in this season's draft of Hawks, where pure athletic talent isn't overabundant but hard work and productive college careers are. Shonn Greene, fresh off a gawd damn grandiose one season where he shattered every record in the Iowa books while nabbing the Doak Walker Award for best running back in the nation, is the quintessential example of great coaching and greater effort overcoming expectations and lack of pure physical talent, while Mitch King, a 4-year starter who played with more intensity and reckless abandon than any Hawkeye in recent memory, made up for being criminally undersized with a motor that never stopped and leadership that can't be taught in the classrooms. Two great Hawkeyes who weren't highly recruited, but bided their time and became superstars on a national level. Let's start with Greene, Mark Sanchez's new workout buddy...


Greene, the newest member of the New York Jets as the first pick of the 3rd round, should factor in as a direct backup immediately and eventually succeed as the main back under the bright city lights. New coach Rex Ryan obviously wanted Greene, as he traded up 3 draft picks to nab him right off the bat on day 2, and gloated over the "pound and ground" attack that he desires. That is definitely Greene's preferred style, as his robust size, pulverizing rushing style, and frenetically quick feet for a guy his size all combine to make him a complete rusher. He won't be a speedster, as he possesses average burst, but once he hits the hole he has as much quickness as anyone. Iowa didn't use him as a receiver much, but he proved at the combine that he can definitely catch passes out of the backfield, important for the Jets in their offensive scheme and for grooming a young QB like Sanchez, who will be looking to dump off plenty with NFL defensive pressure in his grill. Thomas Jones, the incumbent Jets runner, had a great season last year, one of the best in the AFC, but he is on the decline for a running back (age 31), he is disgrunted and holding out of training camp (not good with a new coach), and is seriously underpaid and looking to be overpaid. This is all setting up for a very Shonn Greene future.

The very next pick of the 3rd round went to the St. Louis Rams, and they selected Iowa defensive back Bradley Fletcher. Fletch showed as much improvement as anyone on the team from his junior to his senior season, becoming a legitmate All-Big Ten lockdown corner and our most reliable cover guy. He has the speed to hang with NFL wideouts, and he is a more than solid tackler, but he is undersized and might get pushed around a bit if he stays at corner. His combine numbers got him drafted this high after a relatively quiet college career, but with his athleticism and tackling ability I envision a Charles Godfrey-esque move to safety. The Rams have a horrible secondary, and look for Fletcher to start off on special teams and move into a starting role right away.

Right guard Seth Olsen was snatched up by the Denver Broncos in the 4th round. He has been our most consistent lineman for at least 2 years, and was a valuable leader last year. He has fantastic size, but is a bit slow to play tackle, so look for him to immediately move into a backup role for Denver with an eventual starting spot coming up. The Broncos were known under Mike Shanahan for having a faceless, autonomous unit that stressed the "oneness" of the group over having individual guys. They had amazing success, with some absurd streak of having a different 1,000 yard rusher every year, and they had few defections, but they are rebuilding somewhat with new coach Josh McDaniels and I think Olsen will fit right in with the zone-blocking running scheme, which is what he ran at Iowa. Seamless transition.

The final Iowa guy picked up in the draft was tight end Brandon Myers going to the Oakland Raiders, who surprisingly traded up to get him in the 6th round. I never would have thought Myers would get drafted and King not, but I'll take it. With the Raiders' recently checkered draft history, including the selection of Hawkeye Robert Gallery 5 years ago (widely considered a bust), I don't know how happy I should be, but Myers will start off right away as the backup and a blocking tight end for pass catching threat Zach Miller. Myers was supposed to be a career backup, but due to injuries to talented starter Tony Moeaki, Myers was forced to step in and essentially became a 2-year starter. He doesn't have great speed, but he does have excellent hands and made a more than capable possesion guy. He also has the size to be a valuable blocker.

A plethora of black and gold headbusters were also picked up as undrafted free agents. Mitch King, who should get some reps at fullback and linebacker, is too small to play D-end in the NFL, but has more heart than most of the players taken ahead of him and the speed to beat most NFL O-linemen. I guarantee he will stick with someone, whether it is the Tennessee Titans (who picked him up) or not. Matt Kroul, his 4-year counterpart on the D-line and a steady run stuffer, is also undersized, and without the quickness of King I can't see him sticking with the NY Jets. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up center Rob Bruggeman, who I think will actually stick with somebody. The former walk-on was a key part of the Iowa resurgence on the O-line this past season, as his strength, work ethic, and smarts all made him the leader there with Olsen. He might not have NFL athleticism, but I really think with his work ethic he can make it. Finally, wideout Andy Brodell was picked up by the Green Bay Packers. Brodell showed against Texas in the Alamo Bowl that he has the speed and moves to be a playmaker, slicing up NFL cornerback Aaron Ross like swiss cheese, but he doesn't have the speed of most pro wide receivers and will probably make a team on special teams, if anything. I'll always remember that Alamo Bowl performance, though...


Here's a little Mitch King to send you off...

Yao Ming, Underrated???

Everyone's favorite square-headed, 7 foot 6 Chinese man is the best center in the NBA. Period. What, you don't agree? You don't like his penchant for layups when an inch off the ground would guarantee a dunk, or you don't like his choice to shoot fadeaway jumpers instead of power finishes, or you marvel at his lack of footspeed?The guy is one of the least athletic players in the entire league, and he lacks that swagtastic aggressiveness befitting guys like Amare Stoudemire or Shaquile O'Neal, in his prime anyway, or guys that are beleived to be the great ones. This is a player who was widely considered to be a novelty act, another oversized foreigner with skills whose size would inevitably be the death of him (a George Murhesan, basically). So why is the man I affectionately call "The Big Poo-Nanny" the best big man in the league? Let's start with the statistical evidence, 1st pairing him with the guy who is widely considered to be Yao's biggest challenge to the title of best center in the league today, Dwight Howard. There is no denying Howard is a physical freak, with a chiseled body usually reserved for the gods and sick hops rarely seen on men his size. The general consensus is that Howard is the better ballplayer, but is that really the case? Maybe more exciting, but in no way better. I think it just reflects the common basketball fan's obsession with rim shattering dunks and superhuman characteristics on their athletes, or something that makes greater than us, with skills mere mortals could never hope to acheive. Sportscenter has pounded this image into our heads, and we have complacently taken the beating. Stromile Swift has been on ESPN's Top Ten Plays more times than Yao has...does anybody give a Chinaman's ass who Stromile Swift is (he specializes in sitting on the bench and looking dapper in a suit for some team, I just can't remember who because he's traded every summer)? Hell no! Most fans would probably think that with Yao Ming's height, they could be in the NBA, or just as good. Sure. You try bending over to tie your shoes at 7 ft. 6 without tipping over like the leaning tower of Pisa, only falling over in the process. Hell, I'm 6 ft. 5 and had trouble walking in a straight line in 8th grade! In this flashy, superficial modern era of ESPN, when true substance and the passion of sport is replaced with 30 second blips and sounds and Dr. Dunkensteins all over the world rule the highlight reels, a good ole' fashioned finesse big man like Yao Ming goes unappreciated for the skills that he brings to the table. Also, when we become blasted with so much fan hatred and criticism making fun of Yao's inability to jump or move laterally, we as fans start to let that poison seep into our subconsciousness and view Yao Ming with preconceived notions that he's going to suck, so every time he misses a blockout or lays the ball in softly over an embarassingly smaller defender, we scoff at our television in pompous disgust!! Well let me show you the stats first, and then you can be the judge...

First, we'll start with the career point averages. Ming averages about 19 ppg, while Howard averages 17. Not much of a disparity, especially considering Howard came into the league as a raw high schooler who could do nothing but catch and dunk (one could argue that is still all he does, simply with more power), while Yao had Chinese professional experience. First off, Chinese pro basketball is about as competitive as Howard's high school league, but I digress. Howard's career field goal percentage is 57 percent, while Yao's is 53. Once again, not much of a disparity, especially considering about 90 percent of Howard's shots are dunks and Yao is taking much tougher jumpers and hook shots. So, both of these guys are making more than half of the shots they take, and seem to be reliable post options at anytime. Yao is obviously the most offensively skilled of the two, while Howard is much more physical and explosive, so where is the big seperation in stats that decides this debate? Definitely not in the blocks per game, where both big men have a 2.0 career average. Howard is considered to be more of a defensive stalwart, but Yao clogs up the middle with just as much ferocity. If you're huge, you're huge, and people are going to have a tough time shooting over you no matter the quickness level. Both guys have been questioned on their character (not the bad connotation of character in today's sports world),and that they lack the killer instinct to take over a game and just have the want to brutalize their opponents. Howard has been called too goofy and too lackadaisacal, not taking the game seriously at all times, while Yao's cultural alienation and soft-spoken nature have been used to excuse his at times passive play and unwillingness to demand the ball when he is obviously the best option. In playoff games, defense and free throws are often the seemingly minuscule factors that decide close games. When the interior battles get more physical and cuts/bruise become a daily occurence, having a big man able to knock down free throws at all times is a huge benefit and rare luxury that hasn't been afforded to many teams over time. It is almost like having an unstoppable weapon when you can just throw it inside every time, expecting either a layup and a foul for an easy two. This, my friends, is what seperates Yao from his evil antagonist, Dwight Howard, whose kryptonite is his barely 60 percent free throw shooting. His stroke may not be as caveman-esque as Shaq's, but it is difficult for men built like Howard to stroke with the purity of Yao, who is a career 87 percent free throw shooter, astonishingly high for a big man and one of the best all time, period. Having a guy like Yao in clutch situations, such as the playoffs, is so much more valuable than having a guy like Howard, who, when the defenses tighten up, can really only score on putbacks and dunks. In Ming, Houston has an automatic two points whenever they please. Yao is too tall for smaller, athletic bigs, while physical, pushy hacks like Greg Oden will only send Yao to the line, where he is most dangerous. The biggest Yao critics will probably wonder why Houston has never left the 1st round of the playoffs in Yao's tenure, or why he doesn't dominate more than he does with these kind of so-called skills I've been harping on, but it is just not in the poor guy's personality to dominate. He has gotten better at demanding the ball and playing with a fiesty edge, but he still has a lot to learn.

Yao haters would probably like to point out that I failed to mention the rebound statistcs, where Dwight has a 13-10 career advantage. I will acknowledge that Dwight is a better rebounder, an immovable force impossible to block out who could just jump over you anyway, and that Yao doesn't chase the ball enough, but while Yao has good rebounding companions at power forward in guys like Luis Scola, Carl Landry, and Chuck Hayes, Howard has offensive-minded softies like perimeter oriented big Rashard Lewis and finesse swingman Hedo Turkoglu as his power forward companions. Those guys wouldn't venture into the paint if a flock of naked virgins were lying underneath the basket. So, the debate is over, right? I'm sure many of you still aren't convinced. I'm willing to acknowledge Yao's faults, but all I'm asking is that you appreciate his gifts, immense talents, and fantastic heart. For a guy his size, he moves incredibly, and just watch his brilliant one-half performance in Game 1 against Portland if you want an example of what this guy can do when he is aggressively attacking the basket. Hell, he almost broke Hakeem the Dream's playoff record of 1st half points, and we all know about the two rings Hakeen has on his fingers, right? I didn't even mention Yao's aptitude for passing out of double teams, with an assist record matching that of Shaquille O'Neal and Amare himself. He rebounds better than Amare, and has an almost identical career scoring arc. Shaq obviously surpasses Yao in virtually all categories, but this isn't about the best center of the past decade in a half, it's about the best center right now, and that man is YAO MINGGG

The Tangent Express

Ladies and gentleman, thought it may be approaching the wee hours of the morning, my one blog post a day must be sustained, plus I've wanted to rant and rave about this particular issue since Monday. Is anyone else uber-pissed at Kevin Westerman playing in the Texas A&M spring game? Not the fact that he played, but that it raises a few major gripes in my eyes. To me, it emphasizes all that is wrong with STJ athletics. It proves that a certain coach has his backwards-thinking head shoved so far up his traditionalist ass that St. Joes will never be able to evolve and transition into a potential state-title winning team. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we will ever be on the consistent level of a Dallas, Houston, or even SA school because of the wide talent pool and range of boosters, but let me explain my point here. Too afraid to deviate from the old school, wishbone-style offense made famous in the 50s by such legends as Forest Evashevski and some other dead irrelevant guy, STJ is faced with de-evolution. Being creative and open to change are crucial elements to STJ competing on a larger stage; playing physical, 3 yards and a cloud of dust football may tear apart the district when you have a cast of guys who play hard and play together (cliche, I know) and are just plain bigger than the runts from Hyde Park, but once we run into a bigger/more athletic squad, airing it out and throwing in some "exotics," what legendary Iowa coach Hayden Fry called trick plays, become a must. The playoff game against the Dallas school is all the tangible evidence you need that we have the skill position talent. There is something to be said for sticking to a certain system and style that you know brings success, and not changing your values just to "keep up with the times," but this is the same issue I have with a certain Theology teacher-when does sticking to one's values become plain ignorant and close-minded?

This is all brings me to my point about the strong-armed Westerman, and how embarassing it is that he didn't start his senior year. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong at any time, seeing as I have a generally limited view of what goes on with the team seeing as I never played football. But with Kevin, we have a guy who, in his last game at Patti Welder stadium (a playoff game no less), got in the game on the last drive, with a victory already assured, leading the Flyers down the field in about 30 seconds with a series of crisp passes. Of course, you're gonna let the senior finish the drive out, correct? Wrong. Kevin was promptly pulled for a young Andre (nothing against Andre here, just a pawn), who got to run 3 straight zero gain QB draws to end the game. Is this how you reward one of your seniors, already slighted by the coaching staff in the 1st place? Now, this guy is a QB on a frickin major conference BCS school, while the preferred option QB who started in his place is now living it up in Lubbock, Texas. How do you justify not playing him now? If he's good enough to make the Aggies roster, he was good enough to play in TAPPS. It is an embarassment for the program, and a sign of the obstacles that STJ will always face to innovation and change for the better if they cannot look past their own narrow blinders and see the stud right beneath their eyes, preventing us from making that small leap from consistent success to a potential state title. I'm starting to ramble, so let me clarify that I am no big Kevin fan by any means, and this is nothing against the guy who started ahead of him, but seeing K-Dub play in the spring game filled me not only with Flyer pride but also a real bitter taste in my mouth that never should have been there...