Hey folks, I didn't get a chance to check in with you Saturday as it was a travel day and a busy one at that. It started at about 5:45 a.m. taking my son to the rink for hockey. Thankfully my wife understands she married a sports guy and was able to carry the ball the rest of the way as there were two more hockey games to complete the tournament and she had to call on grandparents to get the youngest to his basketball game. She's the family's M-V-P -- no question!
But I digress, and allow me to stray a little farther off the path.
Okay back to the travel day. When we hit the ground in Los Angeles it was straight to the famed Coliseum to watch some college football with USC vs. Notre Dame. There was a brief thought of going to Staples to check out Miami and the L.A. Clippers, but one of the best rivalries in the history of college football won out. Wasn't much of a game as USC pummelled the Fighting Irish 38-3. There was a quick run through the Hollywood district on the way back to the hotel, including a look where they filmed part of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The cab ride back along Sunset Blvd. back to the hotel took us past many famous L.A. landmarks like the Viper Room and then down Rodeo Drive to the hotel.
The hotel itself is famous as scenes from the movie "Pretty Woman" were filmed here. In other trips out here to L.A., I shook the hand of Muhammad Ali getting out the elevator, and the same lobby bar has produced sightings of Bruce Willis, Bow Wow -- he was Lil Bow Wow back then -- and various other stars.
Once in the hotel a quick peek into the Lobby bar on the way to the room had me doing a double take at a familiar looking 6-foot-10 guy. You know that "hey I know that face look"? Well it turned out to be former NBA player Olden Polynice. I guess he was just hangin' out. Didn't speak to him as it was time to hit the sack and get some sleep. I know some might think the night is young at 10:50 p.m. PT but I was still on Eastern Time, and at close to 2 a.m. sleep was the only option. A quick nod to Miami Heat president Pat Riley, waiting to get on the elevator after the Heat got beat, or should I say robbed, in a close one by the Clippers. It was a better game than USC-Notre Dame; maybe we should have gone there.
Too bad Miami got a bad deal in the waning seconds of the game. I guess the referees eventually got it right but awarding Miami the ball after the fact allowed the Clippers to set up their defence and make it difficult for Dwyane Wade to get a good look. If the play had stood, the Heat would have taken the lead as Wade's steal on the inbound pass would have led to a breakaway layup by the Heat and a one-point lead.
I just get that feeling every time I come to Los Angeles and walk into the Staples Centre -- and I'm sure it will happen again tonight when I get off the bus about two and a half hours before the game. Amazing to think back as a courtside witness (sorry LeBron) to history as Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Raptors back on Jan. 22, 2006. It started out like any other Sunday night but ended with a buzz that people still talk about today.
I'm told by the Los Angeles Media Relations Department that some of the big names missed Kobe's performance that night as they thought it would be the one where they would give the tickets to someone else. After all, it was Toronto on a Sunday night in January right? No Jack Nicholson, no Denzel Washington and no defence for Kobe that night.
In another rambling I will give you all the details of that night but no question, it was special to watch. Sam Mitchell doesn't like to talk about it, while two members of his coaching staff, Jay Triano and Alex English are holdovers from that night as are two players Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon. Funny how things change over time as Bosh is now being mentioned as potential MVP candidate -- an award that Kobe garnered last year. Just a guess, but I think some of the big stars will be sitting courtside tonight.
The Lakers have been slow starters early in the season, but have managed to come back and put opponents away.
It looks like Los Angeles has its sights set on making it back to the finals. They are the only team in the NBA with one loss and are only a few wins away from the 16-1 start of the title-winning 2001-02 team. A look at the Lakers defensive rankings shows that they learned a thing or two after being shut down by the Boston Celtics in last year's title series. It was widely accepted that young big man Andrew Bynum would have helped on the inside but he was unable to play. He is fighting through an injury right now and remains day to day.
Things might finally get settled in New York between Stephon Marbury and the Knicks. It will be interesting to see what other teams are interested in "Starbury" when he clears waivers.
And finally, the war of words between Charles Barkley and LeBron James over the impending free agent frenzy starting July 2010 has me landing on the side of the one-time "round mound of rebound." LeBron is a terrific player but right now he is under contract and committed to the Cleveland Cavaliers and in a sense married to them. So, until there is a "divorce," nasty or not, between the Cavs and "King James," LeBron should not be making eyes and flirting with other teams.
