Shaq tired of being "screwed" by the refs

The Miami Heat's first round opponent in the Eastern Conference playoffs has been favorable so far, having the edge with the team's multiple dimensional offense and star power. However, things haven't been going smooth For their star Center. The refs have racked up the fouls on Shaq, which has got him all riled up. After Game 3 in the best of 7 series, Shaq publicly criticized the refs for their poor officiating. The league saw this as a blatant verbal attack, refusing to condone such behavior. As a result Shaq was fined $25,000.

Expecting a big name superstar like Shaq to keep his mouth shut is impossible. He's going to express himself whether people like it or not. While in the heat of battle this man is known to throw his weight around in the low post and send opposing players to the floor by shoving, jabbing, kneeing, and elbowing (when he clobbers players coming to the basket they can only hope he doesn't break their bones or crack a rib cage). This just means he's a physical player. It doesn't qualify him for an automatic foul every time down the court.

At the moment the Heat are up 2-1 in the series against the Bulls. The main concern for Miami is shutting down Ben Gordon (scored 30 points in Game 1) and point guard Kirk Hinrich. In the meantime Shaq will have to keep his emotions in check and co-exist with the referees. He can get offensive support from Dwayne Wade, who will be trying to put together another terrific all-around performance, dare say...a triple-double. I look for Miami to head to the second round with brimming confidence.

Pat Riley will have his squad ready for any late-game surprise design plays if needed. With Antoine Walker and Jason Williams coming off the bench, producing and playing valuable minutes the Heat have nothing to worry about. All Shaq Diesel needs to do is keep his mind on the game, refrain from cursing at the refs to avoid technical fouls, and bring his best game. If one ref in particular though continually makes crappy calls he should be replaced or heckled nonstop by the crowd while they throw trash on the court.

Cavs vs. Wizards series, notched 1-1

After a fantastic performance from Lebron James (triple-double) in Game 1 the Wizards stormed right back in Game 2 to prevail 89-84. Behind shooting guard Gilbert Arena's 30 point explosion the Wiz had their A game clicking on all cylinders. Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison also contribued 21 points a piece. The Eastern conference first round series looks to be tight.

The Cavs still have their work cut out for them against Washington. It will be no short mountain to climb in advancing to the second round. They have to maintain an offensive spark and not rely too heavily on Lebron James. He will probably put together at least a 40-point scoring performance, but Big Z, Flip Murray, and Damon Jones will have to come through some in the clutch. Drew Gooden needs to bring a strong rebounding game while getting his 10-14 points a game. Behind King James anything is possible for Cleveland, who determine their own destiny.

L.A. teams boast presence in playoffs

Both the Lakers and Clippers have emerged in the playoffs at the same time for the first time ever. For one franchise that has a long history of sucking this is quite a turn around. Obviously, the Lakers experienced their fair share of glory in the postseason. Kobe Byrant looks to lead his team to the second round in the Western Conference. Averaging over 30 points a game in the regular season as one of the top scorers in the league, Byrant wants to show that he's a versatile star that will deliver in the clutch. The problem is the rest of his team doesn't contribute enough and may end up watching his magnificent performances on the court.

On the flip side, the Clippers have worked hard to clinch a playoff berth, burning opponents that underestimate them. This is a team that anybody in the league used to be able to slaughter. They got beat so bad that they were accustomed to bending over and taking it straight up the rear end. Now lead by a hit cast which includes former Duke standout Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Sam Cassell, and ex-Rockets player Cuttino Mobley. This Clippers team have stormed their way through the West to reach the promised land (For the Clips this is as close to a miracle as anything. Forget the NBA Finals, they're just glad not to be known as the team that sucks every year).

The truth is both L.A. teams have earned a spot in the playoffs and deserve it. They have their work cut for them. The Lakers are down 1-0 to the Phoenix Suns. Byrant finished Sunday's game with 22 points. Lamar Odom will need to step it up, relieving some pressure from the superstar on offense. The Clippers battle the Nuggets and won the first game of the series 89-87. This series could go either way. If Carmelo gets hot, going on a scoring tangent the Clips will be in trouble. The action will heat up this month as both L.A. teams will fight and claw to stay alive.

NBA Playoff Preview: Cavs vs. Wizards

In his third season in the pros Lebron James leads the Cleveland Cavailers to the playoffs for the first time since 1997-98. Backed by a now healthy Larry Hughes, the pressure is lightened from James' shoulders. Their opponents in the first round, on the other hand have no intentions of going easy on the Cavs. The triple threat duo of Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler will be a force to reckon with. If one player has an off-game expect the other two to deliver big.

As far as experience Washington has the edge since they have more veteran guys who been around the block in the postseason. Cleveland will need a source of instant offense out of big Z. His scoring can be streaky, but when he's hot the Cavs better feed him the ball. I anticipate Lebron completing a few 40-point plus performances in this Eastern Conference Series. Everyone knows the superstar can score, but we'll all see how well he can play defense. It will be put to the test in the opening round.

Cleveland finished the regular season over .600 while positioning themselves in second place in the Central division. The Wizards didn't clinch a playoff spot until last week. Gilbert Arenas will be the guy to guard tight and watch closely for the Cavs. He's the top scorer on the team (27.5 ppg). Both teams seem to be match up well. This will be an exciting series no matter who prevails in the end.

Andruw Jones starting to heat up in April

The Atlanta Braves can credit much of their success in the last 6 seasons to their centerfielder, Andruw Jones. Last night he slugged two homers to help his team clobber the Mets. Not only is Jones batting .322, but he also has 22 RBIs. Making diving and leaping catches is far from common from the versatile superstar. His offensive outbursts fuel the club, being a main reason why the Braves win the division every year.

Having the sensational power hitter in the lineup Andruw compliments other top players like Chipper Jones (when healthy), Adam LaRoche, and Marcus Giles. The last 5 years Jones has hit at least 35 homeruns, some counting huge towards the end of the regular season. This is a guy any team would want to have on their squad especially in the playoffs. I personally, wouldn't mind seeing him in a Cubs uniform. Yeah, like that's ever going to happen. Keeping him those Andruw...just not against the Cubs.

Hall of Fame pride

Greats of the game

There is no doubt in any baseball fan's mind that Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays left the game with integrity and honor. Their names are etched in the record books as two of the greatest players of all-time. Both Hall of Famers hit over 500 homeruns and batted higher than .300 at least 6 times in their careers. They were the pride of New York and San Francisco in the late 50s to mid 60s during their prime. Legends like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays left their mark on baseball for eras to come.

Baseball players have changed in their approach to performance on the field. Now stars and lesser known players are trying too hard to boost their level of play and become bask in the glory of super stardom. Unfortunately, players today continue to lie and cheat to make a name for themselves rather than concentrating on making a positive impact to help their team win or improve without using illegal, banned substances. Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays made mistakes. They even got suspended for working for an Atlantic city casino. It wasn't their questionable outside activities which lead to their baseball fame, but their impressive career performances obtained through their natural ability.

Greats don't come along that often anymore. Too many players are tarnishing the game by using steroids, trying this in secrecy while reaping outlandish salaries and bonuses. Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, and Ted Williams never wanted to jeopardize their careers or damage the sport by taking unintelligent risks. They cherished the game too much. That why players like Mantle and Mays will always be remembered as true elite baseball stars as their names are enshrined in Cooperstown. Every fan can feel good knowing that they honestly deserve the honor. Today's stars I'm not so sure about.

Homerun power from a less notable Major Leaguer

Every year players get hit more and more homeruns. Fans come to the ballpark to see the long park, it's no secret. So far in the first two weeks of the season Detroit's Chris Shelton is helping to charge his team's offense. He's already hit 6 homeruns and is not a likely power hitter. No one can predict which players will come out of no where and hit 30 or more homers in a season.

Detroit isn't got an all-star lineup, but they do have a decent mix of players with the likes of Ivan Rodriguez, Dimtri Young, Brandon Inge, and Jeremy Bonderman. They're still growing as a franchise and won't dominate anyone in the American League. Players like Shelton can a sweet catch for a team who has struggled to get to .500 in the last 5 years. This year when guys getting stronger and having better bat speed they could be 3 times as many homeruns hit compared to last season. Who knows what players will turn out to the most pleasant surprise in 2006.

Actor Michael Keaton criticizes Pirates' owners

The home opener could've gone better than expected for the Pittsburgh Pirates' owners. Actor Michael Keaton was invited to throw out the first pitch. That's not all he threw out. He voiced his opinions with constructive criticism. Keaton felt the franchise wasn't making any strides in becoming a contender in the National League because the Pirate owners will not spending enough money to sign the right mix of talent on the team. In his view, the fans who were sick of seeing their team lose weren't being vocal or outspoken enough to let the owners know what a crummy job they were doing.

The Pittsburgh native is a proud Steeler fan who wants to see a turnover with the Pirates, who have suffered a long drought without a championship, much less a playoff birth. The Pirates team payroll is slightly above $43 million. None of top players on the team are receiving high salaries. It's an issue of direction the owners expect the franchise to go in for the next 5 years. They better start working on retrieving high-caliber stars who can make an immediate impact or the Pirates will continue to go no where.

Nats' Guillen still fiery and hot under the collar

Since the recent Mets vs. Nationals game, outfielder Jose Guillen's temper has resurfaced on the field. He didn't like the pitcher's intentions in one at-bat which came close to turning into an ugly scene. Pitching too far inside in recent years had caused Major Leaguers to react defensively and defiantly. Pitching this way is a part of the game. In Guillen's case, he tends to overreact sometimes. In Friday's game in Shea Stadium, Pedro Martinez came high and tight inside on Guillen, who began to shout at him then walked toward the mound with a squeezed bat in hand.

Pedro claimed that he wasn't attempting to him Guillen. Pitchers like to throw inside to brush hitters off the plate. This is normal and should be expected. However, the former Pittsburgh Pirate got hot under the collar and was ready to take a swing at the veteran right-hander. Jose's had issues in the past few years with conduct and attitude. He'd be okay if he channeled his anger and all that aggressive energy into his hitting.

The Nationals will probably have to contest with Guillen's off and on again bad temperament again this season. Advising him to take anger management may help as well as the coaching staff learning how to discipline him as a ball player. Guillen's hit 30 or more homeruns in the past 3 seasons. Beginning his career in Pittsburgh, he was scouted as a promising young prospect while in their farm system playing Single A ball for the Lynchburg Hillcats. From there he was traded to the Angels then to the Oakland A's for a short stay. He's finally found a new home in Washington. Guillen, despite his brooding nature, can provide power for any team and serves as an asset in the clutch.

New Orleans/Oklahoma Hornets making a run for the playoffs

After finishing dead last in the Mid-Western division last year, no one predicted the Hornets to a chance at clinching a playoff spot. Thanks to restructured lineup and rookie sensation, Chris Paul they're very much alive in the hunt for the final seed in the Western conference. Now at 2 games below .500 the Hornets are 36-38, trying to work magic in the final two weeks of regular season play. The main reason the Hornets have a shot is because of one dynamite player.

Chris Paul finished with a triple-double last night as the Hornets beat the Warriors in overtime. Putting on a spectacular show, Paul scored 18 points, dissed out 16 assists, and grabbed 11 rebounds. He's a shoe-in for rookie of the year honors. If the Hornets do make the playoffs he deserves most of the credit, boasting one of the best rookie years of all-time being compared to Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan. With the hurricane diaster effecting the team's home location and schedule the Hornets have rose to every challenge in their path.

Up next on the schedule is the Raptors, which despite their record shouldn't be taken for granted. It favors the Hornets that Chris Bosh is injured. Winning the next 5 games could very well position this New Orleans/Oklahoma team in front of Sacramento. Key players to watch are David West, Desmond Mason, and Cory Snyder. Their contribution and impact will determine whether or not the Hornets squeak into the postseason. However their outcome unfoils, Chris deserves the recognition of having an incredible rookie year.

Fans openly display their disdain for Bonds

Barry Bonds received an unpleasant greeting for the home opener in San Diego, to say the least. This is just a taste of what the slugger has in store for the season. Fans made their anger known, holding up signs making remarks towards Bond's steroid use and reference to the size to his testicles. The most gruesome part occurred when a fan threw an oversized syringe on the field, trying to hit him while strolling to the plate (Yes, this actually happened). Barry was on the tail end of vicious heckling.

The rest of Giants players had to suffer the most since reporters put them in uncompromising, awkward positions by asking only questions about their controversial, hulked-up teammate. How embarrassing it must've been for these guys, who are trying to make a good first impression on Opening Day (That's before some of them get busted for using illegal banned drugs). Omar Vizquel knew his veteran teammate had a rough day because even the kids in the stands were giving Barry a hard time. I could only imagine the trash talk they dissed out..."Hey, Barry it's no need to wear that cup in your pants anymore since no longer have any BALLS!...BAR-ROID! BAR-ROID! Don't drop your STEROIDS! STEROIDS! STEROIDS! "Where is your drug dealer fat head?"

Kids can be so cruel, but since Bonds has tarnished their favorite pasttime he deserves it. The whole locker room and clubhouse environment must be uncomfortable. None of the players probably want to talk to Barry and try to dodge him after the game. This is only Day 1. Who knows what kind of torment Bonds will go through until the end of the season? That's if he makes it that far.

Phoenix Suns uncertain about postseason minus Stoudamire

The Sun's Steve Nash feels adamant about being unable to propel his team in the playoffs without Amare Stoudamire. Back up and new addition, Boris Diaw and Tim Thomas can't match the superstar's offensive output and intensity on the court. Nash is known to put on some scoring clinics, but will he run out of steam in the postseason? I think so since the reguar season has worn out most players. Having the rest of team healthy is also a concern. Sprained ankles, torn achilles, pulled hamstrings, and ruptured discs can occur out of the blue. It can a devastating blow for teams in serious contention in the playoffs.

I understand Steve Nash's doubts as all the pressure will be riding on him to make the big shots and plays if Stoudamire is indeed restricted not to play. Since the big man's injury, teammate Shawn Marion has put together an extraordinary season, recording highs in rebounds and blocks. He's the only other main scoring option besides Nash for the Suns. I expect if he receives enough touches he will have some big, influential games come playoff time. Marion brings such great energy and emotion, thriving on hot streaks. Phoenix should put their trust in him and rely on the small forward to give them a jolt of adrenaline.

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