No drama at all, boring games, too many sweeps. The playoffs were so much better years ago. It seems like the Suns, Mavs, Spurs and Lakers had some amazing 6 and 7 game series in the last decade, and in the 90s it was the same for the Pacers and Knicks, plus you had Jordan and the Bulls. Remember the Lakers-Kings and Lakers-Blazers series? True, the league gave the series to the Lakers back then but they were unbelievably dramatic games. The Kings in 2002 were one of the best teams ever – the best passing team I’ve ever seen. Back in the 78 series the Washington Bullets got by the Iceman and the Doctor, beating the Spurs and Sixers in 6 games each, then outlasted the Sonics in 7 games, winning the title on Seattle’s home floor. The quality of play is much worse now. We can only hope for a 7 game series between the Lakers and the Celtics.
Archive for May, 2010
Are these the worst NBA playoffs ever?
May 22, 2010Should the Washington Wizards change their name back to the Bullets?
May 22, 2010New Wizards owner Ted Leonsis hinted today in an article in the Washington Post that he would consider a uniform change for the Washington Wizards and was noncommittal about a possible name change. Changing back to the red, white and blue uniforms is a no-brainer. When Leonsis’ Caps went back to red white and blue (mostly red) uniforms, it coincided with the Caps’ resurgence in the standings and most importantly among fans. The Nationals also play in red, white and blue uniforms.
Going back to the Bullets name would restore the franchise’s great tradition. The Bullets won the NBA title in 1978 and appeared in the finals four times during the 1970s. They had two of the greatest players of all-time in Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld.
When the late Abe Pollin changed the name in 1997 to Wizards, he did it because he said it wasn’t an appropriate name for a city that had suffered so much gun violence. However, no one ever thought of the Bullets in that way. Initially the meaning was “faster than a speeding Bullet.”
Rather than a ceremonial change, which did nothing to decrease gun violence in the city, the Wizards should go back to the Bullets, and ensure that a majority of the charity and community service work they do goes toward alleviating the problems that result in gun violence. They could start by establishing an Abe Pollin community center where teens could play basketball. In fact, build a few of them in some of the parts of the city that need them most.
In an article on Examiner.com, former Bullet Kevin Grevey, a starter on that Bullets championship team, said he would love the team to go back to the Bullets name. Excerpts from the article are below:
“The name Bullets, once synonymous with winning, had become known for mediocrity, and finally futility in the previous decade. Merchandise sales were also near the bottom of the league. The team had gone away from its stars and stripes uniform to a plainer version in recent seasons.
Grevey, other ex-Bullets, and legions of fans disagreed vehemently with the name change.
“I don’t think there’s anything we can relate to in the name Wizards in Washington. Could you imagine them changing the name of the Redskins? It would be horrible,” Grevey said.
“Never once did I wear a Bullets uniform and feel embarrassed about it being used in a way other than players running down the floor speeding like a bullet. I think it was a stretch.
“But it was also a smart business decision, making the move to the arena almost like an expansion team. New coach, new players, new colors, new name, new city…so it was a windfall financially to change the name.”
The area around 7th and F Streets NW at the Verizon Center has been revitalized in the last decade. An area that once had abandoned buildings now is full with nightclubs, restaurants, and retailers, and Pollin financed the arena with $200 million of his own money. Pollin also gave back to the community through numerous charities.
Pollin died at the age of 85 in November 2009. Capitals owner and Wizards minority owner Ted Leonsis recently signed an agreement with the Pollin estate to purchase the remaining percentage of the team, and Leonsis should get control of the Wizards before the end of the NBA playoffs, and possibly as early as the end of May.
Whereas the Bullets name went from excellence in the ‘70s to mediocrity in the ‘80s and to futility in the ‘90s, the Wizards have now failed to make the playoffs in nine of their 13 seasons. The Big Three of Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler helped the team to four straight playoff berths, but only made it past the first round once.
The Wizards name, logo, and colors never caught on in a big way, and Wizards merchandise does not rank among the top half of NBA teams. Meanwhile, retro versions of old Bullets uniforms have become huge sellers.
Would Grevey like the Wizards to someday change their name back to the Bullets?
“Of course I would. Everybody who played for the Bullets was disappointed to see the Bullets change the name. It was Abe Pollin’s team and he deserved to do whatever he wanted to, and he did it for an admirable reason because of the political correctness. I just wish they were called the Bullets.”
Leonsis recently took down the much criticized Washington Mystics “Attendance Champions” banners from the Verizon Center and has a well-deserved reputation for listening to fans. The Caps have become one of the most fan-friendly franchises in the NHL, and Leonsis answers all email from fans. Is it possible that Leonsis might change the name back to the Bullets someday?
“I hope he does,” said Grevey. “I think Ted will hear from the fans and I think a lot of fans would love to get back to the great history that we have.”
Click here to read Part 1 and Part 2 of the article about Kevin Grevey and the 1978 NBA champion Washington Bullets.
Kornheiser and Wilbon: Who cares about New York and Chicago?
May 21, 2010I’m so sick of Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon constantly talking about how they are from New York and Chicago, respectively. Who cares? You’ve been in Washington longer than those places but you’re constantly disassociating yourselves from DC by bragging about how you’re from New York and Chicago. Wilbon now lives in Phoenix but still writes for the Washington Post. People shouldn’t write for a newspaper unless they live in that town.
Another thing – they both like watching the World Cup but won’t admit that they like soccer. Like every other sports media person in the U.S., they find it fashionable to bash the sport because it’s not cool among the fat sportswriters.
Kornheiser: learn about performance enhancing drugs
May 21, 2010Tony Kornheiser just said the dumbest thing I’ve heard in a long time. On PTI, he said Lance Armstrong doesn’t have a swelled head and doesn’t look any thicker, so he must not be using performance enhancing drugs. In cycling, athletes use erythropoietin, or EPO, to boost their levels of red blood cells and give them more endurance. Muscle building steroids have nothing to do with it.
Will LeBron James sign with the Wizards? Is it such a crazy idea?
May 20, 2010Ok, I don’t pretend to understand all the salary cap stuff, but is it so crazy to think LeBron James could end up in Washington? The main hurdle would seem to be for the Wizards to trade Gilbert Arenas and his huge salary. I’m sure they’ll try to do that anyway now that they have the chance to draft John Wall. LeBron would like to play with Wall according to recent buzz.
He wants to be known as a global icon, and while Washington isn’t New York and doesn’t have the international ties of the Nets’ new owner, it is an international city. Also, with young players like Wall, JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche, and Nick Young, the Wizards are on the way up, though it’d be another year before they could compete for a title, even with LeBron. The Wizards already have more talent than the Nets and the Knicks. The Bulls clearly have the most talent of the teams that are being talked about. But I don’t think LeBron would want to follow in MJ’s footsteps.
Also, could New York be too big for LeBron after growing up in Akron and playing in Cleveland? Would Washington be a nice compromise between Cleveland and New York?
Personally, I think he will stay in Cleveland, sign a three-year deal, win a title, and then move on so he gets the best of both worlds.
DC is definitely the place to be for sports stars, with Alex Ovechkin, John Wall, Steven Strasburg, and Donovan McNabb.
Nobody thought Reggie White would ever end up in Green Bay. They had a lot of years between their glory days and their subsequent Super Bowls. It has been a long time since the Bullets were great, but they do have a great history – you just have to go back a ways.
How about changing the team name back to the Washington Bullets and seeing James in a red, white, and blue uniform?
Preventing deaths from wandering, accidental drowning of children with autism spectrum disorders
May 19, 2010Wandering-related factors such as drowning and external exposure are leading causes of death of children and adults with autism, according to studies and reports.
Jim Moody of the National Autism Association called for more awareness and prevention of wandering at last month’s Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee meeting in Washington, D.C.
Wandering is most closely associated with Alzheimer’s disease but it is also a major problem in people with autism, who often have compromised communication abilities, impulsive behaviors, and a lack of a sense of danger.
Click here to see the rest of my article on examiner.com.
Lady Luck! Washington Wizards get top pick in NBA Draft Lottery, chance for John Wall of Kentucky
May 19, 2010Lady Luck visited the Washington Wizards Tuesday night. She was Irene Pollin, the widow of former Wizards owner Abe Pollin.
After years of frustration in the NBA draft lottery, the Washington Wizards struck gold and won the top pick.
Irene Pollin wore Abe Pollin’s 1978 Washington Bullets NBA championship ring for good luck to the lottery selection show in Secaucus, New Jersey.
Click here to read the rest of my article on examiner.com.
Responding to email
May 14, 2010It’s pretty rude when people fail to respond to emails that have specific questions or suggestions. I wrote about it a year ago.
I recently got email responses from Dr. Francis Collins, Director of NIH and the most accomplished geneticist in the country (well, his assistant responded, but close enough). I also got responses from another researcher who is the most famous in his field, Caps and Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, and Washington Post columnist Mike Wise. They weren’t always the responses I wanted but it’s still professional to respond.
These people are pretty busy but I respect them for responding to email.
Geico commercials – best and worst
May 14, 2010Worst Geico commercial: woman in boardroom says to Gecko, “British? I thought you were Australian?” Just awful. The two accents are nothing alike. All the most recent commercials are terrible except the one in which the caveman brings his luggage to a fishing boat and asks the guys to wait while he gets a cappuccino. That’s pretty good.
Former Washington Bullet Kevin Grevey on the ’78 NBA title season, Kentucky, and the Wizards
May 13, 2010
Kevin Grevey of the Washington Bullets shoots over former Kentucky teammate Rick Robey of the Boston Celtics.
Before the Redskins won their first Super Bowl, and before Maryland and Georgetown won national championships in college basketball, the Washington Bullets gave D.C. its first championship in 36 years when they won the NBA title in 1978.
Before the blue and bronze of the Washington Wizards, there was the red, white, and blue of the Washington Bullets. Local musician Nils Lofgren wrote a hit song, “Bullets Fever,” that was played over and over during the spring of 1978 on Washington radio stations. The name Bullets was synonymous with winning, as they made the playoffs 18 times in 20 seasons in the ’70s and ’80s.
For the rest of my article on Examiner.com, click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.
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