khandor’s sports blog

In his 8th race of the Beijing Olympic Games … the new King of Athletics … just ran, quite possibly, what will be remembered for the ages as the single GREATEST RACE OF ALL-TIME.

On the date of his 22nd birthday, King Usain [Lightning] Bolt establishes a new World Record in the one event which previously had been thought to be ‘untouchable’ for a long, long time … the 200 m mark of Legendary American Sprinter, Michael Johnson [i.e. 19.32 ... from the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996] …

by, at last, running through the Finish Line … and,

INTO A 0.9 HEADWIND …

The man’s country of birth is irrelevant.
The language of the video is irrelevant.

The only thing that’s RELEVANT … is 19.30.

Simply … The Best … this corner has EVER SEEN.

Kudos to Mr. Bolt!

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UPDATE:
These are different versions, each in a different language, from a different part of the world.

ii

iii

The Lightning BOLT … heard round the world!

According to JE Skeets, Ball Don’t Lie, a reader [referred to as 'the Patriot'] has called into question the patriotism of Team USA members, Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh,

The 10-man rotation, starring the Great Brick Wall of China

on account of their physical stance during the pre-game playing of the US national anthem.

” … Am I missing something here? Is this not the Olympics where you are representing your country against all other countries? Even in a regular NBA game you should put your hand over your heart during the national anthem so it boggles me even more so they did not do it during the Olympics. Maybe Chris Bosh has spent too much time in Toronto and forgot how that works. Dwight claims to be Superman, but other than apple pie and baseball, nothing is more American than Superman — no excuses for him. I lost all respect for these two stars. My vote is to force these two to sign with a European team like the rest of the clowns that have left the good ol’ USA in search of the almighty dollar.”

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Are you missing something there, ’the Patriot’?

Well … for the record … please let it be known in the blogosphere that individuals with this specific attitude toward others make this corner disgusted.

Commendations to all Olympians, everywhere … irrespective of the country they’re from … for displaying the best of our human traits … in pursuit of excellence, and through collaboration with one another.

Dragic headed to Phoenix

In comparison to some prospects who do not want to ‘risk’ working out for a NBA team prior to the Draft … with an attitude like this:

This young man [6-4, 200 lbs] has a chance to make it in the ‘Valley of the Sun’.

I was practising with the national team, because we have qualification for Olympic Games. Then my agent called me. He said, ‘You must go to Phoenix.’ So … so, 6 [AM] in the morning I pack my stuff and I go to Paris, Paris to LA, and LA to Phoenix … so I was trying like 15 hours … so, I’m exhausted … but, but I have strength for this, so … Like this is my life, basketball, so … I’m going to do everything that takes. - Goran Dragic

A scintillating performance by … The Fastest Man in Recorded History

Usain [Lightning] Bolt!

Wow.

This is the answer which was given in this space [August 4, 2008]  to the following question:

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5. Carlos Boozer and Chris Bosh will be fighting for the back-up Center minutes; who should win the job?

This is a silly question.

If Team USA wanted to dominate the international competition this year … the most potent line-up it could put on the floor would see Carlos Boozer at the 4/Power Forward AND Chris Bosh at the 5/Center positions, not ‘fighting for the back-up Center minutes.

For further explanation, see the link provided in the answer to Question #3.

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that was asked by the good folks at Upside and Motor, in their Team USA Blogger Roundtable [to which this corner had not received an invite ].

10 days later …

Raptors’ Chris Bosh emerging as a leader for the U.S. team: Draws rave reviews from coach, teammates with strong showing on defense

and it is somewhat gratifying to see that one or two others in the basketball community [at-large] have at last begun to ‘see’ what this corner has known about this young man [Chris Bosh], as a Center in the NBA, for a VERY LONG TIME …

De-constructing the mystery that is Chris Bosh [April 21, 2008]

It never ceases to amaze what some so-called ‘NBA experts’ think they understand about the game.

The exodus of borderline, 2nd tier NBA players continues … Pargo to play in Russia.

Unlike some in the blogosphere, who may have seen Jannero as a valuable 6th Man for last year’s upstart Hornets … e.g. Terrible News: Pargo Goes To Russia … this corner has a very different perspective on the two moves that Jeff Bower (GM) has made, thus far, this off-season: (i) Signing James Posey; and, (ii) Not re-signing Mr. Pargo.

With all due respect.

Jannero Pargo stinks, as a legit PG in NBA.

The Hornets are soooo much better off without him as their 6th man, it’s not funny.

James Posey [G-F] is a much more versatile/valuable basketball player … and the Hornets will be able to, either: (a) Go out and sign a far superior back-up to Chris Paul, at a more cost-friendly amount than what Pargo got to go to Europe … e.g. (ironically, former Hornet) Devin Brown comes to mind right away; or, (b) Use Mike James as their back-up PG.

Either case is a significant upgrade for the New Orleans Hornets.

Hopefully Mr. Pargo has a great time and enhances his basketball career in Russia … but, he will not be missed by his former team.

[as a follow-up to last week's entry ... Ranking Jose Calderon as a PG]

Given the list of players who customarily play the Point Guard position for their respective teams in the NBA, this is how they now rank, in the eyes of this corner:

[previous ranking]

1. Deron Williams [5] … the best combination of PG skills today
2. Chauncey Billups [1] … when healthy, still formidable
3. Chris Paul [7] … only drawback is his lack of size
4. Tony Parker [4] … still plagued by periods of erratic decision-making
5. Steve Nash [3] … inconsistent D & now age beginning to take their toll
6. Jason Kidd [2] … major slippage noticed this past season; REBOUNDING king
7. Baron Davis [6] … multi-dimensional but where will playoff success come from?
8. Jose Calderon [8] … physically sound, steadily improving & just entering the prime of his career

That said … if there was one game to be played next season with the outcome to determine the fate of the hypothetical team GM’d by khandor’s sports blog, in the NBA … Brandon Roy would have the ball in his hands with the shot clock ticking down, on behalf of that team.

NOTE: Thanks to those who submitted comments and voted during the past week; unfortunately, not enough in total to serve as a valid ‘informal’ poll.

Despite having the 2nd best basketball player in the world today on their roster, it’s as though the Management Team in Cleveland is still searching in the dark for a roadmap, detailing how to get their crew safely to the Land of Milk and Honey.

Cavaliers acquire Williams in three-team trade

It says in this corner that … the Cavaliers are no closer today to winning the NBA title, one day in the future, than they were yesterday, before this latest transaction occurred; or, than they were several months ago, when they last attempted (in vain) to upgrade the personnel on their team …

Cavaliers just went backwards

The immmediate take on the ramifications of this three-team trade?

Sam Presti & the ‘Oklahoma Whatsitsnames’ just improved their team, again.

All this time … who knew that Donald Sterling, Elgin Baylor and Mike Dunleavy were … really Truly, Madly, Deeply … actually Swedish, at-heart?

How else to explain the dizzying array of transactions this team has engaged in during this NBA off-season?

LA Clippers Recent Transactions

Q1. How good can Clips Nation expect their team to be this season?

A1.  The presence of a multi-purpose PG like Baron Davis … the stability of a solid big like Chris Kaman … the interior shot-blocking of Marcus Camby … and the promising growth of a solid young player like Al Thorton … not to mention all the other small part pieces they now have … is going to make this year’s version of the Clippers a gigantic potpourri, which no one in his right mind SHOULD try and predict an outcome for just yet, cause it would be utter MADNESS.

Who the heck can tell right now what on earth the Clips are actually going to look and play like once the 2008-2009 season starts? … with any type of accuracy.

What is known is this.

It SHOULD be a tonne of fun watching/following the progress (or, the lackthereof) for this team, this season … from a distance.

Thus far, there’s a lot this corner likes about one Michael Curry, new head coach of the Detroit Pistons.

Courtesy of True Blue Pistons, Curry gets a positive vibe from Kwame Brown

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“What I was hoping for with him and what I got is that he didn’t use anything as an excuse,” Curry said of the most significant off-season addition to the Pistons’ roster, the 6-foot-11, 270-pound veteran big man signed as a free agent. “He put it all upon himself. He didn’t use the way the coach used him or injuries or being young when he came in the league – none of that.

“He took responsibility for himself and, really, once he did that, for me it was easy. That’s one of the biggest things – to get athletes to hold themselves accountable. Whether he did that when he was 18 or 19 – I’m pretty sure I was mature at 18 or 19, but I wouldn’t have been ready to be thrown into a No. 1 pick or right into the NBA and handle that kind of responsibility. Whether he acknowledged responsibility at that time didn’t really matter to me. The fact that now he does is the only thing I want to judge him on.”

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Other Detroit Piston Information from this Off-Season

When the Raptors changed directions with their team, dating back to Feb/2006 and the hiring of Bryan Colangelo (GM), one of the options they had at the time, was to hire Michael Curry, as a young Assistant GM, to work extensively with Wayne Embry (Interim GM) for a period of time and, eventually, to assume full control of the Basketball Operations, on behalf of MLSE, for the franchise in Toronto.

Had this happened, back then, it would have been intriguing to see how the on and off-court development of the Raptors might have been effected and, possibly, be in a different position than it is today (i.e. better off or worse).

A former (and highly effective role) player in the NBA, one-time President of the NBAPA, former Vice President of Player Development for the NBDL, and former Assistant Coach for the Pistons, with a Masters Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, Michael Curry has the type of diversified basketball background it takes to eventually become a solid head coach in the NBA (in the mold of men like Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, and Gregg Popovich).

Time will tell … if Joe Dumars (Pistons GM) has Struck ‘Gold’, once again, or if this latest coaching move is simply ‘Strike Two’.