Bandwagon is Getting Full Quick

I love America as much as the next guy. I cheer for all the Americans during the Olympics. I'm patriotic, but something has really stuck in my craw this week.

It's all the people coming out of the woodwork who are the biggest USA Hockey fans on the planet all of the sudden. Since when? Sunday night? Most of these people haven't seen a hockey game in years. Suddenly no one knows more about hockey than them, and they live and die with each game.

No one cared about the hockey team before they beat Canada. No one thought they would win anything. If the USA had lost Sunday night, no one would even know when they're scheduled to play next. Most people just like bagging on Canada.

I've never seen a bandwagon fill up so fast after one win. And don't even try to bring up the comparison to 1980.

Don't get me wrong: I'm not claiming I was on board with the hockey team before. I don't really care about hockey. It's dying/dead in this country. You know it's true. The Canada/USA game was on MSNBC in low-def.

"But they were the underdogs. They had no business winning that game. They're an inspiration!" The team is full of professional hockey players. It's embarassing they were written off in the first place.

I'll go to a hockey game if invited and enjoy myself, but I have a hard time getting too excited about the sport. Maybe hockey should just be an Olympic sport. (That might be the future.)

Like I said, I'll cheer for the team. I watched some of the game against Canada. I'll watch the Gold medal game, if they make it. I hope they win.

Root for USA Hockey, just don't act like you cared before they beat Canada.

Back on the Road

If you're a baseball player, or aspire to be a one, you better get used to the bus trip. And I'm not talking about the two-hour trip down the road. I'm talking about the bus trip that's between six and twenty-four hours long, and requires a hotel.

This past weekend I engaged in my first one since September 2007. Five hundred miles to Clarksville, Ark. Having been on upwards of 50 extended trips from 2003-2007 I was looking forward to hitting the road once again. Watch a movie, play some PSP, listen to an iPod, read a book and you're there. This one took about nine hours.

Then it's fast-food joints and hotel living for a couple of days with a few baseball games mixed in. For the most part it's fun, but there are certain unsavory experiences that go along with this kind of trip. Such as...

You're confined to where the bus takes you. You must go everywhere with 35 other guys. Limited choices of food. Roommates who may snore/smell bad. Limited opportunities to use the facilities. You better be able to hold it on the long trip there and back because of rule No. 1: No shitting on the bus. This can have lasting effects over the days following the trip. (Sorry for the graphic details but it happens.)

This was my first trip from a coach's perspective so certain things were new. I sat in the second row of seats instead of the back. I discussed who would play instead of playing myself. When critical of a player, I was an involved coach, not a bad teammate.

This trip featured a curveball. Instead of staying two nights and leaving Sunday after the game, we left Saturday night because the forecast called for a 90 percent chance of thunderstorms Sunday morning and afternoon. So travel time almost equaled time in Clarksville - never a good thing.

The trip there is always much better than the trip back. In this instance, the excitement came from just getting out of the snow for a couple days. But the ride home never goes fast enough. I usually direct my annoyance/anger unfairly at the bus driver for driving too slowly.

The ride home got brutal. Eating dinner before we took off lasted an hour too long. We were on the interstate for 20 minutes before we hit stop-and-go traffic. After a half hour of that two cops forced us to exit with no sign of trouble ahead. I wanted an explanation. The detour added a good hour and a half to the trip.

We left Clarksville around 7:30 p.m. and got home at 6 a.m. Some people are able to sleep well on a bus. Some aren't. If you're over six feet tall getting comfortable is going to be a challenge, so I'm happy to get an hour here and there. When I did manage to get to sleep, we pulled into a rest stop and turned on all the lights.

But that's life on the road with a baseball team. There's really nothing like it. Even though I had been away for a couple of years, I adapted with no problem. It's second nature at this point. I enjoy life on the road. I'm just glad it isn't a weekly thing anymore. The baseball, hotel and eating aspects are usually great. The travel involved- not so much.

Movies watched on the trip:

• First season of Eastbound & Down - Very solid. "You're fuckin' out!" Kenny Powers features my kind of humor.  
• Half of Bull Durham - Terrible. I've seen it too much and it's most cliche choice ever for a baseball bus trip. Crash Davis is a loser. "Nuke" LaLoosh sucks. Susan Sarandon's character is a slut with no life. Thank goodness it was taken out after a lunch stop. 
• Zombieland - Not bad. Somewhat entertaining, but it didn't have a point. I guess it's hard to expect a zombie movie to have much substance.
• Role Models - Already seen it, but the second viewing passed the time. Some laughs.
• Beer Fest - First viewing. Okay, but the DVD player acted up so I missed part of the end.
• Taken - Third viewing. Liam Neeson kicks so much ass it could be sat through again.
• Pineapple Express - Already seen it. Not a good movie. Gets worse the more you watch it.

The best you can hope for is one movie you haven't seen that's halfway decent. Eastbound & Down was the winner on this trip with Zombieland finishing second.

The very healthy places I ate nutritious meals:

• Steak 'N Shake
• Larry's Pizza buffet
• McDonald's - breakfast
• KFC buffet

You'll notice two buffets. Remember I was in the South. Any restaurant without a buffet goes under in a month.

Cavs Bring In Jamison & Tiger Speaks

NBA Trade Deadline

The week of the trade deadline was once again a jumbled mess of salary dumps and last-ditch efforts. The Cavs made a move to get Antawn Jamison, not Amare Stoudemire.

I thought Cleveland already made its move to win the Finals in the off-season. The Diesel came to "Win a Ring for the King." Even though they have the best record in the league, Danny Ferry felt he needed to go get another somewhat high-profile player.

Jamison will obviously be more helpful than Zydrunas. He can do a lot of things well, and seems like he's able to accept a role. The Stoudemire idea wasn't going to work (see 08-09 Phoenix Suns.) I like that Ferry didn't give up J.J. Hickson for a quick fix that wouldn't have paid off.

If Jamison's first game as a Cav is any indication of things to come: Uh-oh! I don't care how anxious/nervous/excited he was, 0-12 is horrendous and unacceptable. You don't think he's already feeling the pressure? There's a ton of pressure on Cleveland. Mike Brown and LeBron are feeling it, and now Jamison is, too. Shaq would but he's no longer able to contribute enough to matter.

I'm not convinced the Cavs are the team to beat. Whoever comes out of the West is the favorite. I like the Lakers and Denver over Cleveland. I think Dallas, with its new acquisitions, could beat Cleveland. They should get out of the East, but that means they'll have to beat Orlando, which they haven't proven yet.

Wild Theory: Ferry brought in Jamison to replace LeBron after he leaves this off-season. Jamison is, of course, older and not nearly as good, but is a big swingman who can do a lot of things. He's a solid player. Ferry knows, like I do, that LeBron is leaving Cleveland after this year - win or lose. He needs to have some quality players that he can use to stay afloat after James bolts for a better situation (and better coach.)

The Lakers, Nuggets and Magic all are moving forward with the team they have in place. That's a reason I like those teams more than Cleveland. They already believed they can win a championship. Cleveland told the league, "We still need more help." Now Cleveland must try to incorporate Jamison with 25 games to play.

Tiger Finally Makes a Statement

Tiger came out of the woodwork to make a rehearsed, prepared statement. He said some good things, but he had to. No points for admitting to cheating and being irresponsible. That's been so well-documented it's old news. He's still trying to say it's between him and Elin. No it's not, quit saying it is.

He read that scripted statement so slowly and dramatically that he should be nominated for an Academy Award. The stares into the camera when defending Elin were laughable. The creepiest part: the shade of his skin. I guess his sex addiction rehab-ERRR-"inpatient therapy" must not allow him to get sunlight. He looked like Sammy Sosa.

Bringing up Buddhism was an interesting strategy. Apparently he's a Buddhist. He kept that hidden better than his affairs.

He's sorry, I get it. He's going to change his ways, I hope so. He's heavy into therapy and treatment, whatever. He could have just posted that speech to his Web site. It was similar to the releases he put on tigerwoods.com after the crash. Very controlled and non descriptive.

Here's what Tiger should do: Answer some questions, speak off-the-cuff and get on the golf course.

Mavs Make a Move; Cavs Ponder Another Trade

The 2006 Finals showed a lot about the Mavs, still does. They were a team that choked and couldn't finish. Yet Cuban is just now moving guys around in 2010.

That's why I really like the Mavs trade. I've been waiting for Dallas to get a decent center. Haywood is solid for what the Mavs need - shot-blocking, rebounding and a potential low post threat. Dampier and Gooden were okay five years ago.

I like Caron Butler for Josh Howard.  Howard is more of a "bad team" player. He'd be better in a situation where there isn't a lot pressure. A team where he can burn everyday and no one will care. He's too fragile, and lacks the desire to make a team better. Butler will be much better for the Mavs.

Stevenson might be able to rattle a few cages in the West, also. He's always tried to get under LeBron's skin, why not Melo's and Kobe's?

This puts the Mavs into the running, but still behind the Lakers and Nuggets. I'll have to see how Carlisle handles the situation, but Dallas' chances have greatly improved. The Western Playoffs will be even better than last year.

Ferry Looks To Add Another Piece?

The Cavs are still desperate. All this Amare trade talk is crazy. Once again Danny Ferry is grasping at straws, trying to make it look like he's doing everything he can to get a title. It's not going to work. They already made their move when they brought in Shaq. That wasn't the right move, and bringing in Amare now doesn't make sense.

Does Ferry realize the Suns tried this very thing last year? Did he think, "I've got to try that combo with LeBron!" Mike Brown won't be able to handle that situation. Shaq isn't going to like it, and will make things uncomfortable. I think the Cavs need to move forward with the bigs they have now.

I'll be interested to see what shakes out before the trade deadline on Thursday. The Celtics needs to do something. As for the Lakers, just one thing: Get rid of Vujacic. I'm sure they've tried unsuccessfully. Get anything for him. I can't believe Morrison can't beat him out for 11/12th man.

All-Star Game Always Entertaining

As snow fell and blew again last night, it confirmed my theory that weather/Mother Nature will be the end of us all. Look at the what's been going on lately. Thirty inches of snow in D.C. in one week? An earthquake that devastated an entire island country? Hurricanes that ruin everything in its path? (At least hurricanes provide motivation for football teams.) Floods, blizzards, dangerously low temps and tsunamis? Weather will do us all in.

And now an erratic list of thoughts during last night's All-Star game:

-I don't care for Dwight Howard's act. He's not funny, and his commercials are self-serving. He said before the game that he has "no beef" with Shaq, and he's never "tried to be him." "I'm my own person," he said. Yet after somehow hitting a three, he stares in disbelief at his hand. Shaq's been doing the stare-at-my-hand thing for years.

-After the whistle, LeBron tried a nonchalant windmill that missed - just do that in the dunk contest. The lob he caught from Wade was dunk contest worthy, also. LeBron said before the game, "It's all about the fans. It gives them a chance to see me." Thanks for your modesty. If he really thought that he would have already entered a dunk contest.

-TNT always does a good job of promoting the NBA. But their announcer/reporter rotation is questionable at times. They don't need five guys in the studio, while leaving Reggie to do color commentary. Reggie is not good. He's a hype man. He throws out nonsensical, often demeaning comments that are abrasive and absurd. McHale needs to start calling games. He's the next man in, and he seems very capable.

-Craig Sager continues to amaze everyone. The suits and ties are to be expected, but the run-on questions and general stupidity are what stands out. TNT needs to get rid of the interviews with guys on the bench. We don't need David Aldridge leaning over two guys to ask a pointless question. Sager was able to get the quote of the game out of Melo after asking him how scoring 17 points in the first half was so easy. "It looks easy. A lot of hard work goes into that craft."

-The NBA All-Star game is the best all-star game by far. I still love watching it every year. With that many "Alpha Dogs," there's going to be some serious competition. Dwayne Wade deserved the MVP. Seven dunks, including a lob to himself on the glass. He was the most spectacular player, and he didn't force as many shots as LeBron and Melo did.

-George Karl could have used a better rotation. Durant should have played more. Dirk should have gotten more shots, he was feeling it throughout the game. Melo hit shots, too, but he also came out gunning with the intention of scoring the most points. The West should have won.

-Deron Williams fouling Wade with 12 seconds left was the dumbest play I've seen this year. Maybe he couldn't see the score because of the huge jumbo-tron. It doesn't matter, there had just been a time out. Williams went down a notch or two after that bonehead play. And what's up with his hair?

-This year featured the ugliest shoes I've ever seen in an ASG. The weird blue and pinkish red shoes were not a good look. Chris Webber's Dadas from 2002 thought those shoes were bad.

-The half-time show dragged on for what about an hour. Two really long performances, followed by introducing the Olympic team was too much. Did Kobe need to have his $2M earring in during that introduction?

-Dear David Lee, Your left handed lay-up is not welcome here. Continue getting 12 boards a game, but don't expect to get much playing time if you're ever invited back. Regards, The All-Star Game.

-Some JSJ Awards from last night:

• Best inbounder: Chris Kaman
• Slowest player: Tim Duncan
• Best screen-setter: Tie, Tim Duncan and David Lee
• Biggest knee brace: Tim Duncan
• Most out-of-place looking jumper: Zach Randolph
• Worst offensive play: Missed lay-up by Randolph
• Over-the-hill Award: Tim Duncan
• Most annoying: Dwight Howard
• Should have sat out with an "injury": Tim Duncan

What's The Deal, LeBron?

If LeBron won't enter the dunk contest, get him in the three-point shootout. What's the real reason he won't participate?

Every all-time great has won hardware at All-Star Saturday. Is "The King" better than Bird, Kobe, Dr. J and Jordan? Maybe one day, but he's not above participating in the dunk contest or three-point shootout.

This take suggests that if requested by the league office, a player must appear in All-Star Saturday twice in their career. I agree with some of that opinion, but I don't think the league should force them to participate.

A player like LeBron James should want to participate on Saturday.

Winning the three-point shootout or the dunk contest is another notch in the belt. It's a rite of passage. Saturday night is all dunks and threes. LeBron does both those things as much as anyone in the league.

I don't understand why he keeps ducking the Saturday events. It's because he doesn't want to look bad by not winning. But he would win the dunk contest by just entering the damn thing.

LeBron could recycle old dunks and make them look so much better. Watch a couple tapes from over the last 15 years. Dominique did it with just raw power. LeBron could win so easy. [I need to note that Vince Carter is the best I've seen.]
 

But if no dunk contest, win the three-point contest instead. He's seventh in the league in three-point attempts, averaging over five per game. Win that and nobody doubts his shooting skill ever again.

Wild Theory Alert: There is one more thing LeBron could do (other than multiple championships): Win both contests. On the same night, while competing in the Shooting Stars competition. He could do it, and you know it. He would be the greatest All-Star ever.
 

One argument is he's already won a couple ASG MVPs that he doesn't need to do anything on Saturday. Maybe that's right, but then he should've been in the dunk contest early in his career. If Jordan and Kobe could do it, shouldn't LeBron be able to do it, too?

LeBron would rather dress up in a bow tie, and act up for the camera on the bench. I'm not interested in that.

Dunk or shoot, LeBron. Dunk or shoot. You've already waited too long.

Disclaimer: It is recommended that all "Wild Theories," here and in the future, be ignored.

Colts Blew It

It's the second time in three years I've been let down cheering for greatness. Two years ago I was banging the Patriots and Tom Brady drum as they attempted to grasp immortality. This year, Peyton tossed the title of G.O.A.T. to Tracy Porter.

Just a few thoughts on the game.

1. The Colts should have passed to convert a first down when they took over after the goal-line stand. They were too conservative, and it allowed the Saints great field position and kick a field goal. I also didn't like the third down running play that was stuffed on the final series.
2. Obviously, the onside kick was critical. All momentum shifted to New Orleans. A ballsy call that luckily paid off. I've never seen such an aggressive pile. It seemed like it took 10 minutes for the refs to pull everyone off. Hank Baskett should have recovered it, but is anyone surprised he didn't?
3. Manning made some ill-advised, poor throws. He made some great ones, too, but just like Favre, he will be remembered for the INT. He was almost picked right before the INT by Porter on an out-route. The pass in the end zone that Garcon interfered on was dangerously close to another back-breaker. I was surprised at the mistakes he made.
4. Kudos to the Saints. The defense making big plays and scoring touchdowns is what they did all year. Drew Brees did what he does - accurately completed passes. His 32 completions tied Tom Brady for most in a Super Bowl.

Manning as the greatest ever is off the table for now. He can still get there, but he needs to win two more rings. I felt the Colts were the best team all year, just like the 2007 Patriots were, but neither cashed in on the ultimate goal. They both join the ranks of forgotten Super Bowl losers.

Panthers Need Tourney Win

There's too much coverage of the Super Bowl to go over it here. I did write a Super Bowl column last week for The Simpsonian, which includes a prediction. I'm going with Colts 30, Saints 24.

Yesterday featured some solid college hoops for the schools I've given time and money. Simpson snapped a 6-game losing streak by beating Wartburg 75-73. It was the seventh home game I've been to this year, and the first win I've seen. Out of those seven games, they could have won at least four. It's nice to see the team hasn't quit.

After that game I went home to watch a typical MVC barn-burner on ESPN 2. Northern Iowa beat Southern Illinois at home 55-52. UNI will move up from its No. 22 ranking this week, which is great for national recognition. They're out to a 21-2 start, including 12-1 in the MVC.

UNI will surely make the tournament again this year, but that isn't good enough. We know they're good enough to get invited, they've proven that since 2004. With four NCAA tournament appearances in the last six, they must win the first round game. If they want to earn some respectability, get a tourney win.

NFL Playoff Record: 8-2

Michael Irvin and Lane Kiffin Back At It

When I saw news scrolling on the Bottom Line about Michael Irvin, my heart started racing. I thought, "Here comes the crack-related arrest I've been expecting." As it turns out, it was an alleged rape at a Florida casino in 2007.

Irvin filed a countersuit for $100 million, claiming defamation. Is Dr. Evil his lawyer? How do you come up with $100 mil? But I digress.

I'm still fascinated by Irvin. He's on reality shows, NFL network and had a radio show in Dallas. He was fired this week after the lawsuit was made public, but the station says it was planning on firing him before this news.

He's being accused of rape in a civil suit that also includes his brother and another man. I don't want to speculate on what happened that night, because I always raise an eyebrow when a civil suit comes out years after the alleged offense.

Whether there's any truth to these accusations, Irvin has to fight to clear his name every couple of years. It's always something with the "Playmaker," and I'll be waiting to see what's next.

Lane Kiffin

This Lane Kiffin guy is really starting to get under my skin. He's accepted a verbal commitment from a 13-year-old from Delaware to play quarterback.

Does USC, a supposed college football powerhouse, need to be signing up 7th graders? When was the last time a 13-year-old lived up to the hype? Not even LeBron James was getting this kind of national exposure at 13.

I don't care for National Signing Day to begin with, so when Lane Kiffin agrees to a verbal commitment from a middle schooler I really roll my eyes. Kiffin's strategy of whoring himself out for media exposure has worn thin, and he's only been around a couple years.

Let me know how this kid is doing in 10 years. Then I might care about his "great skill set."

Signing up for USC right now was a bad play by this kid and his family. There's no reason to heap unnecessary pressure on a kid that age.

The biggest thing for me is this: If this kid is the best in the nation (which you can't possibly tell in 7th grade), why couldn't he wait until he's able to sign a letter of intent? Why the spectacle? USC is this kid's "dream school" so he would have picked them anyway, right?

This commitment made things worse for Kiffin and this kid. I hope the two days of fame now is going to be worth it later.

Not Feeling Media Week

I'm not into the Super Bowl media extravaganza this year. Considering I want to be the media, it seems strange.

I don't need all the extra hype. Every Sunday during the NFL season is Super Bowl Sunday at my house.

Every outlet is operating from Miami, err, "South Florida." Neither team is saying anything. It's so over-the-top in the coverage that ESPN is reporting on Ochocinco trying to ask questions at Media Day. Ocho knows how to get his name out there, though. Kudos, @OGOchoCinco.

I'm not intrigued by the Saints, or how great it would be for the city of New Orleans. I like watching them play, but don't care if they win a Super Bowl. Would prefer if they didn't, actually. The story of league doormat to Super Bowl contender, led by a great QB who's an even better guy has been done....last year with Warner and the Cardinals.

If the Saints do pull an upset, the people in New Orleans will turn the city into disaster zone once again. They're life will be complete, so why not burn the city to the ground?

I don't get into the commercials anymore, but hopefully there are a couple decent ones. If one happens to crack me up, great. The best ones that come to mind are the Bud-Weis-Er frogs, the "Wassup" guys and, the all-time greatest, "Cat Herders."

I'm ready for the game. I'm only interested in the Colts handling their biz. The only interesting storyline is if the Colts don't win - making this week even more unnecessary. Hurry up and get here, 5:25 CST Sunday.

Editor's note: JSJ is aware Dwight Freeney has a torn ligament in his ankle. This won't be the deciding factor.