Turf Toe

Late-March, Early-April Maddness.

So, here is my spread, UCLA 58, LSU 53.  That's what I'm calling in this weekend's game and yes, I am rooting for UCLA, yes, I love a bandwagon, yes, I am a fair weather friend and yes, I don't care anymore about Big Baby and the LSU team overcoming adversity and defying odds to make it to the Final Four, that's why we have George Mason to write about.  Me, I want to see them boys from the 'Wood (er, Westwood, not Ingel) come all types of correct and beat down LSU for a game in the Big Show.  UCLA Fight, Fight, Fight.

Also, Clipper at the six seed for home court, Lakers at the eight, USC another national championship, Hillary in '08 and Shamrock Shakes all year round, I need more than a  month each year to show off my Grimace tattoo.

There is No Crying in Basketball.

I know, the Zags lost the game to UCLA and I know though UCLA was the higher-seed, that the Gonzaga was the hand’s-on favorite to win the game behind, "The Greatest Hesher That Ever Lived", Adam ‘The Wizard’ Morrison.  And, not to get all Alt-Weekly Plaschke on you, but, here it comes:

Simply, it was the greatest game ever.

In years from now, when I am gone, my children's children will talk about this game and remember that I was there.

For one moment, Wooden was once again coaching from the sidelines, in his quite way and once again, UCLA wins.

Sorry, might have been my breakfast.

But, it really was a game to watch, what with the back and forth and the last second heroics by UCLA and the steals and the announcers freaking the fuck out as J.P. Batista, who, I feel lost the game for Gonzaga, missed the final basket. 

And that's the point here.  Sometimes, when the media, myself included, hypes the holy hell out of something, it loses all focus and will and all of that that makes the game so damn compelling to start with.  But last night, as the Clippers fell, as Kobe sat in his bed dreaming of the eight seed, UCLA, a frosh team if their ever was one, came and fought and won.  And for that I say Dayenu.

Giving Up The Ghost.

Now that the Sacto Kings, or Queens, as Shaq (I miss you Shaq: Do you dream of me like I dream about you?  The two of us, like homies, riding go-carts, eating 10,000 calorie hamburgers, laughing and giggling as we practice our free throws, shopping for teal and green five button suits) used to say, have passed the Lakers for the number seven spot and New Orleans, or is it Oklahoma City is hot on their tails for the number eight, isn’t it time that Kupchak and Dentist Jerry Buss give up the ghost and actually start that ‘rebuilding process’ they won’t really talk about?  Um, guys, Kwame  Brown doesn’t count as rebuilding in anybody’s book.  I say, it’s done for the Lakers this season and they will miss the eight spot by two games.

Case in point was last night’s game, a must win for the purple and gold.  Did they think that Sacto wasn’t going to come correct and ball the last third of the season?   They traded their head trip of a boy, Albanian wunderkind Peja Stojakovic for an even more of a head tripper, Tru Warier Ron Artest?  Say what you will about Artest, the albums, the sheer psychoness, but the dude can ball and last night he shut Kobe down.  Down, Kobe, down.  I think we have the makings of a Dodgers vs. Angels rivalry going this season.  Guess who the Lakers are?

Questions or comments for the Toe are always welcomed.

Clippers on a Roll!

Coach Mike Dunleavy scores his 500th win behind Fire!’s elusive brand of basketball-torial play.  In fact, last night Fire! scored 24 points, came correct with three blocked shots, had a career-high totals of 23 rebounds and four steals and even managed to look a little less weird, what with his hair and all.  It’s amazing what a dominant game can do for you looks and self-esteem.  What really needs to be said about Fire! is this:  is this kid playing for a max contract or what?  And to think of the fact that Sam Cassel didn’t even want to come to the Playoff-bound Clippers.   For Shame, Sam.

And what about our other LA Team?  Kobe left the building without talk to the media after their drubbing by the Sonics a few night ago.  I predict they'll fade and won't even get the 8th seed. 

At least Kobe will have baseball to look forward to.  Speaking of baseball, I think I am the only person in LA really waiting for April 3rd?  I can’t sleep at night waiting for opening day, all my Dodger-hate is starting to come to a froth.