I know that death to web-sites and blogs are when they move around, especially when it's often.  Well, this was our first go at The Sporting Review, and I'm going solo for the WWWebb - A Sports Perspective.

It'll be hosted to a long-time home of mine, TotalSportsWorld.net, a leader in text-simulation and sports discussion.  I welcome you to join if you ever run across this blog. 

Direct Link to the blog :

http://www.totalsportsworld.net/forums/blog.php?u=241

Direct Link to TotalSportsWorld :

http://www.totalsportsworld.net/

Consider myself on the bandwagon.  The Tampa Bay Rays hold one of the best records in the Major Leagues, at 49-32.  I can't even explain to you how their doing it, they simply just are.  Either way, hopefully it's a sign of things to come in American League East; getting over the old song-and-dance that is the Red Sox/Yankees. 

The Celtics, although it's old news now, won the NBA Championship.  A six-game series, that really seemed shorter.  Los Angeles, other than a few quarters in a couple of games, never looked like they even belonged there.  But when you're facing the best defensive team in the league, I guess that is what happens.  On a Radio Forum earlier this evening, hosted at NowLive.com, some of my friends and I spoke about the whole situation.  The media blew this thing WAY out of proportion, especially with Kevin Garnett.  If the Timberwolves completely revamped, and added Pierce and Allen to their team, would it have had this luster that we saw during the playoffs?  No, because it's not just the Boston Celtics.  Would seemingly everyone REALLY feel bad for KG and want him to win a ring for once?  Some sure, but not the amount that seemed to jump on that the minute the trade happened. 

Not sports related, but I feel the need to put this somewhere.  I'm a server/bartender at a Sports Bar in Frisco, TX.  People, if you go out to eat, read this.  If you can not afford to AT LEAST tip 15%, don't come out to eat.  Go to McDonalds, Sonic, or some other place that's got good prices with no one making a living off your 'service grade.'  I shake bad tips off like Jim Brown did tackles, but for that minute afterwards, you won't meet a more pissed off guy.  WE make a living off of serving YOU, the least you could do, is pay 15%. 

A forty-four year drought was ended today when Spain defeated Germany for the 08 EuroCup.  Vaguely, a size versus speed matchup; the match wasn't even really the exciting part.  The Semi-Finals were the great games, at least offensively.  Spain took what was handed to them, and that was the win at the price of the Germans.  Congratulations to all my spanish readers, which I'm sure there are nada. 

Sport seasons have ended, practically.  The NBA Finals will end within the next two weeks, and then it's baseball here on out until we get to NFL Training Camp, and the College Football season.  That's what you might think, but the College Baseball World Series is nearing, and the MLB season is in stride this June.  For 'T.V.' sports fans, when ESPN airs Soccer, followed by Golf, they might be a little uninterested.  But, that Soccer game is the Euro 2008, and it is a blast thus far.  That Golf, is Tiger Woods returning from surgery, and possibly an open door for the U.S. Open. 

As of last January, USC committed the Number 1 player and QB of the 2009 High School class, Matt Barkley.  Barkley not only sounds like a good quarterback name, but he has that USC look as well.  Suprised?  No way, Pete Carroll is an incredible coach, especially when it comes to recruiting.  So how in the world, when they constantly bring in a Top 5 QB nearly every year, are they not turning them into championships?  120 Teams, I understand that.  But I think everyone knows, that every year, there are maybe 12 teams that even have the Talent to win a championship, then it comes down to coaching.  I fully expect USC to win a title in Barkley's tenure, even as early as this season possibly, but if they don't, does Pete's job hang in the balance?  He doesn't seem to want to make the jump to the NFL, again.  All sources really turn to him being a USC coach for life, and if that's the case, you better have two hands to count the National Championships he should win.

The Giants shocked the world when they upset the Patriots.  Well, with Plaxico wanting a new contract, Shockey seeming that he wants to play elsewhere, and Osi Umenyiora wanting a new contract.  Things seem to have gone bad quick, and Giants Center Sean O'Hara was quick to say that these players should be putting the team ahead of themselves.  I agree completely, but it's not their fault that they want more money.  The NFL's contracts, for big time players, have gradually increased year-by-year.  When Randy Moss and Terrell Owens get those huge contracts, off of years that they DIDN'T lead their team to a Super Bowl win, Plaxico has to be standing with his hand up saying 'Hello?'  No one expects to see the Giants repeat, especially with the NFC East getting better, and the Dallas Cowboys looking to be the best team in the NFC period.  But, if they don't get their act together, they might struggle to make the playoffs this year, especially since the target on their back just got that much bigger. 

We'll get this started by talking about the Dallas Cowboys, and some recent happenings within the last week.  Pacman Jones was 'kind of' reinstated yesterday by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.  He'll be allowed to participate in the Cowboy's OTAs, Training Camp and Preseason Game.  If he keeps his nose out of trouble, later this year Goodell will decide whether or not a full reinstatement is possible.  This is great news for the Cowboys, as Dave Campo can get him in action and really see what we've got.  Plus, if he doesn't get reinstated early enough, he should at least be able to teach some of the young guys a thing or two.  Terrell Owens also has been re-signed through the 2011 season, extending his contract to four years including this upcoming season.  With the shape that T.O. is in, it's completely possible that he'll be a productive receiver up until 2011, and maybe even after.  Finally, Greg Ellis is complaining about reps in the OTAs that he's recieving.  He is upset because he is getting less, and last year's first round pick Anthony Spencer is getting more.  Maybe we should all remind Greg, that when he was drafted, he recieved more and more reps because of his youth and ability.  He is still capable of being a great player, but he means nada to the Cowboys if he's not healthy, and guess what this move does.  Keeps him fresh, healthy and involved.  Greg Ellis, Shut Up!

So we're having to wait almost a whole week before the NBA Championship Finals get underway on Thursday.  So am I going to hype up this series like everyone else on television that wants to say this is going to put the Celtic vs. Laker rivalry back in the front pages?  No way.  This is not your old Celtic/Lakers matchups, and to be honest, it's really no where close.  Now, there is a lot of 'Star Power' in this matchup, Kobe, KG, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Pau Gasol.  This series will be a good one.  The one thing it won't be, is Magic, Kareem, Bird, etc. etc.

So a long standing business is standing.  Let's say the 'Best Business' award is about to be announced, and that business has all but won it.  Then there is this little business who's been around for years, but after getting new management, has been climbing and climbing and is considered the young and 'hip' company.  If that company, the latter I mean, didn't win the 'Best Business' award, it wouldn't be that big of a dissapointment.  Why?  Because the way they're growing, you know they're bound to win one soon, and probably a handful of them as well.

That is an analogy for the NHL Finals.  Detroit, the long standing business; Pittsburgh, the young and hip upcomers.  I think everyone thought this would be a good series, but I don't think that many people really thought the Pens were ready to win it yet.  Unless you're from Pittsburgh of course.  With that said, I thought the series was over once Detroit won in Pittsburgh in Game 4, taking a 3-1 series lead.  Going back to Detroit last night, the Pens held on for three overtimes to get the win, and come that closer to notching the series tie.  What they now have, is a situation where they should easily be able to tie this series.  They're younger, so they won't have the size of a hangover from the 3-OTs that Detroit will.  Also, they're going back to Pittsburgh, where their fans are rabid about the Pens success.  I look for this series to get tied up, and go to a Game Seven.  If that does happen, this might end up being a 'Dream Series' for the NHL, as it did before it started. 

I recently purchased a subscription to Rivals.com, a web-site I've visited for years now but was never able to access their insider information, available only to subscribers.  Well, it was money well spent, just in the last three days I've found more information than I know what to do with, so this blog might also be featuring some information of news acquired via Rivals.com.  Things such as recruit signings, recruit rankings, etc. etc.  I would suggest anyone who's seriously interested in collegiate sports to sign up ASAP.      

The NBA Draft Lottery was tonight before the first game of the Eastern Conference finals between Detroit and Boston.  Fourteen teams involved, the Miami Heat had the highest chance to land the Number 1 pick, at 25%.  The worst was the Golden State Warriors, with the best record for a lottery team, had something like a .05% chance.  Either way there were a lot of teams that could have used the help of a number one pick.  Seattle, with last year's Number Two pick Kevin Durant there, could definetely use someone along side the young man.  Mike D'Antoni could use some help in New York, getting it off on the right foot.  Instead, the team with the 9th spot and a 1.7 chance of winning, the Chicago Bulls will pick first when the Draft begins.  It's already started on who they're going to pick, Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley?  I guess it really just depends on the Coach they bring in, as that spot is still vacant. 

This is why I love the NBA Lottery.  Some people hate it, because they're team stinks and aren't even guaranteed a Top 3 pick if they hold the worst record in the league.  Only two teams that has had the greatest chance of winning, holding the worst records since 1994.  There's no doubt in my mind that 'tanking' occurs in professional sports, do you think the Dolphins were really that happy after their first win?  I mean sure, a win is a win, but I'm pretty positive the owner didn't want it to continue so that he could get the best player coming out of College months later.  The Miami Heat were a perfect example of a team blatantly tanking.  Whether it was Dwayne Wade finally coming back healthy, only to suit up for the rest of the season.  By suit, I don't mean jersey, I mean Shirt, Tie and Jacket.  Pat Riley took the last month of the season off so he could being 'scouting' for the Draft. 

Oh, and if you're wondering, the Boston Celtics won Game 1 at home later.  A Home team winning in the playoffs?  No way.

Dallas, Texas held the first Football Forum earlier this week.  A gathering that will more than likely become annual, held College Football coaches, School's Athletic Directors and even a College's President.  Regardless, the age old question of 'Should Division-I(FBS) adopt a playoff system for their postseason?'  Of course they should, but many of the coaches talked about their players and how they'll take bowl memories with them forever.  Gary Patterson of TCU even spoke of how College Basketball has 64 teams involved in a playoff, but only ONE team wins at the end of the season, whereas in the Bowl era 32 teams win at the end of the season.  Well Gary, I don't think any of us are talking about a huge playoff system here.  4?  8?  12?  Hell, even 16 we'll take gladly, because right now the BCS does NOT give a definetive champion.  Even if the Number One team wins the Championship, the number Three that might have just dominated the number Four will raise questions about how they could have beaten number One.  You don't have to get rid of bowls.  Those International Bowls, and Emerald Nuts Bowls....they'll continue to go unwatched but played.  This is for the Elite to battle it out on the field, instead of a computer mathmatically eliminating them. 

The National League Lacrosse Championship was played Monday night.  The NLL, opposed to the MLL(Major League Lacrosse) is an indoor/box lacrosse game played in practically a hockey rink, but no ice.  If you aren't familar, I'd suggest you check it out.  Either way, the Portland Lumberjax faced off against the Buffalo Bandits; the Bandits winning in front of a sell-out crowd 14-13.  With all that being said, here's a few of my opinions. 

Lacrosse is said to be the fastest growing sport in the U.S..  I know that the money in that league doesn't hold a candle to the NFL, but ESPN U isn't exactly a great television contract.  I understand you're in the ABC/ESPN family, but you don't get seen but by a small percentage of Sports viewers.  Hockey took a step back by signing with Versus, but if you were to go on Versus, TBS or even TNT your exposure would triple at least.  What drives Professional Sports?  Not money, not excitement.  The answer is YOUTH.  If everyone born from now on, didn't want to be a football player anymore, then the NFL would cease to exist in some decades.  So for those markets in the South or West, how are those kids ever going to find this sport to even decide if they want to play it?  Also, the Championship game was aired TODAY, two days after it happened.  Sell the product at least well enough to have a slot on ESPN 2 for your crowning champion ceremony.  Lastly, I wish that Portland had won for the sake of the sport.  Some people from the West would realize, 'Hey, we had a team?  And we won the Championship?  I've got to check this out!'  There's a fan, and there is a stepping stone in the growth of the sport.  Instead, Buffalo won, in an area that Lacrosse is well known and played.  But, I guess that's how the dice rolls.

OJ Mayo

In case you haven't turned on a television in the last two days, let me explain before I go on this.  O.J. Mayo, USC's Guard that announced earlier this year that he would be going pro, was reportedly getting kick-backs.  Since the seventh grade, Mayo has been sought after since those days, and Rodney Guillory was there from day one.  BDA Sports Management apparently put Guillory in charge to lure O.J. Mayo towards their agency when he eventually went pro.  That involved Flat-Panel TVs, clothing, cash and more; ammounting upwards to $100,000.  The question here is who to blame.  USC?  O.J. Mayo?  Guillory?  Well let me be the first to point the finger at the NCAA.  Now it may be a marginal blame, because I do think that all parties involved were wrong in doing what they did.  Whether it was to give, accept or turn the other cheek. 

The NBA, along with the NCAA came to the agreement to make a pro-prospect, or any college basketball player attend a minimum of one year in college.  So, no more high school stars being drafted(See LeBron James, Kwame Brown, etc.)  This is where the NCAA, and the NBA can benefit.  The NBA draft is two rounds, and would likely need an expansion for this to work, maybe three rounds?  Allow high schoolers to be drafted, IF they enter the draft of course.  Make it so high schoolers can ONLY be drafted to play in the NBA Developmental League for the first two/three years in their career.  Meanwhile learning the game, getting better, and taking classes within the league to learn things like Money Management.  This would boost the D-League's ticket sales tremendously.  Now for the NCAA, they extend that if a player signs to a college, he must stay a minimum of three years before being able to declare for the draft.  What this does is make the turnaround a little bit longer in college, actually forces these kids to learn something instead of barely getting by for a year and declaring like they have in the past.  There's no doubt in my mind that guys like Mayo, when signing with USC, knew that unless an injury stopped them, they're declaring the next year.  Students, and tremendous athletes like Mayo have a chance to further their education, learn the game, and also add to the March Madness factor down the road.  How would you like to have seen a Kobe vs. Carmelo Final Four game?  Exactly.  Either way, something needs to change, and I sure hope that the USC basketball program gets punished in such a way that will make any kids or programs cautious with their future.  If a system like this is implemented, then you have teams making a decision.  Picking the best college player, a guy who can help right away, but won't be a Jordan like presence.  Or draft on a whim that a guy from high school will fill his potential, but has to sit in the D-League for a couple of years before they're able to touch them. 

For those of you that didn't know, the reason for the lack of writing on my part was that I was in Las Vegas for a business trip.  Let me tell you, beware.  The amount of money whether won or lost won't be discussed, but make sure before anyone plans a trip like this, they know how to play the games.  I visited the Sports Book section of the Rio Casino, and I have never been overwhelmed like I was at that moment.  It was almost a heavenly glow coming from the lights on the wall, and I didn't make a bet.  I couldn't be sure of anything.  Football season around?  I'm all over it, like grease on gears.  If you're going to go the sports betting route, make sure you have internet access, and know everything that is going on with each team.  Because they won't give you that information in the casinoes, letting you bet blindly.