Can't Stop the Tank.

Tank Johnson managed to do something good for a change.  He was arrested and pending blood tests, authorities were ready to bring the legal hammer down on him by charging him with a DWI.  However, tests came back indicating that the Tankster's blood/alcohol concentration was below the legal limit and therefore he was only charged with speeding.  The Bears released Tank before the results of testing were disclosed. 

Although the commish has the league's best interests in mind, hopefully this situation will at least inspire him to think carefully before suspending players for pending charges.  The Bears may indicate to the media they would have cut Tank anyway, but its not a coincidence he was cut as soon as this news was reported.

Rashard Lewis Signing Makes the Magic Contenders....

..... for the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference.  Its a nice pickup, but the Magic still don't have viable options at the 2 or the 5.  I'm a Duke fan and I like JJ Redick and all but lets be serious here. 

Introducing the Daily Hate Rankings

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I'm quick to draw a line in the sand.  My hate list is almost like the point of no return, its like smoking cigarrettes, or getting your first piece of sweet . . . potato pie; it takes alot of work to get off of it just like resisting the craving for these vices.  Its not just for athletes, any team or person is fair game and it only takes one ignorant comment to cement your ticket.  

The two mainstays on this list are both teams and will probably never fall out of the top 5.  The teams are the Dallas Cowboys and the North Carolina Tarheels.  The other spots change pretty often depending on current events.  So here goes nothing; the very first Daily Hate Rankings.

1. The North Carolina Tarheels

My relationship with the Tarheels is of the kind that you wish they lose every game.  Its not even the team that is the overriding factor, but the fans.  The three biggest Tarheel fans I know are site co-founder Robert McNeil, Olend "Champ" Williams (co-founder Khris Williams' older brother), and my father.  I've lived with each of these guys at some point and anyone who's ever lived with a Carolina fan knows how they are. When Carolina wins even meaningless games, you either get: 1) a text message laced with enough obscenity and profanity to make Richard Pryor uncomfortable 2) a phone call in which your immediate reaction is to snatch the phone away from your ear and stare at it like someone just insulted your kinfolk, or 3) an in house visit to make sure you're personally aware that Carolina beat the University of Idaho State Tech at Boise A&M by 40. 

To sum up my Carolina hatred, my wife posed the question of whether I would root for Carolina if I had a son who played college basketball there.  My response?  I would hope that he averaged 30 a game while Carolina went 0-30.  I can see the articles now: "Williams Jr., can score the ball, but he doesn't make the players around him better." My response? Should have gone to Duke son, should have gone to Duke.

2. The Dallas Cowboys 

Their fans are very similar to Carolina fans and there seems to be a good overlap between the two groups.  (Champ and my Dad are also Cowboy fans)  My hatred for the Cowboys runs deep and I must admit to getting evil tingles as a young boy during the Buddy Ryan era with rumors that Eagles players had assassination lists on their towels for Cowboys' players.  I won't go as far as saying I'm glad Michael Irvin got hurt on our Vietnam mine-filled jungle-like Veteran's Stadium turf, but ummm, we didn't have to play against him anymore.

3. Mike Vick

I believe Mike Vick is the the biggest ganster in America, Frank Lucas style.  Anytime people are ratting on you and have their face and body blacked out, you know there's something going on that's hasn't come to light yet.  Not to mention, we're still waiting on Mike Vick to become a good quarterback.  I've always maintained, Mike Vick is a top 10 NFL "player," but he is not even close to being a top 10 NFL "quarterback."  Talk to me when you pass for 3,000 yards in a season buddy. 

When my boy Donovan McNabb passes for more yards and approximately the same amount of TDs as you in half as many games, it may be time to go into Kordell Stewart mode.  Go ahead and play a little RB or WR and be a pro-bowler there.  Remember that 291 yard 3 TD game against the Bengals in week 8, after which Vick proclaimed that he just proved he was a "real" quarterback?  He only managed to eclipse 200 yards once more the rest of the season.

4. Carmelo Anthony

When keeping it real goes real wrong.  You can keep it real Carmelo without starring in "Stop Snitching."  His refusal to go back into the game in the Olympics after being benched for bad shot selection doesn't help.  Or how about the now infamous stick-and-move resulting in a 15 game suspension.  Carmelo's a great talent no question, but at some point you've got to grow up and stop perpetrating stereo-types that demean young African-Americans. 

5. Terrell Owens

You came to play for my Eagles and 49ers fans warned me about you.  I accepted you and you delivered leading us to the Super Bowl and playing a courageous game resulting in a 3 point Eagle loss.  Then you threw my boy Donovan under an 18 wheeler.  You trashed Andy Reid and trashed the organization.  Then you leave the team and go play for the number 2 ranked hate team?  The only reason he's not higher is because we beat the daylights out of the Cowboys when it mattered last season and TO was a non-factor.

Others receiving votes: Allen Iverson

This has nothing to do with his likely undeserved bad reputation off the court.  Its more lingering resentment for his selfish play over the years.  Its my firm belief that AI is a 2 guard in a point guards body and his inability over the years to share the basketball has forced teams to pair him with a defensive player at the PG position to cover his defensive inefficiencies.  (AI has always been a great off-ball defender)  Many AI fans indicate that he didn't have help in Philadelphia, but how many running mates have divorced AI to go on to play at near all-star levels?  Jerry Stackhouse, Larry Hughes, Andre Iguodala?  His attitude towards the game has always been questionable, leading to the "practice" interview which will forever remain the best athlete interview of all time.

Recently however, AI has shown a willingness to share the basketball and to put winning first.  He's shown an ability to co-exist with a superstar in Denver with Carmelo.  Finally, despite rumors and reports, he's had a relative clean off the court record since getting to the league. 

I actually feel bad for putting AI on here because I'm over my AI hate.  I just hated him for so long it takes a while to get all of that out of your system.

A large contributing factor is also just outright player hating on my part.  I went to Miami for spring break back in 2000 I believe and went to an AI party in South Beach.  I was talking to this blazing hot chick at the moment he arrived at the party and suddenly, my words meant nothing and she disappeared.  I searched frantically to find her only to see her amongst the huge mass of women flocking to AI.  He stood at the top of the stairs with his entourage pointed at 3 or 4 women who stepped up and left with him.  The party was never the same and neither was I.  The 6ers played the Heat the next day and AI was suspended for the game for missing practice or arriving late. (the exact reason escapes me)  I will leave the real reason to your imagination.

Random Thoughts Tuesday

Imagine how great of a player Clyde Drexler would have been if he had two arms instead of one.  (his right)

Or how great Dominique could have been if his pass button wasn't broken.

I'm a big martial arts movie fan and I have been trying to get my wife into Bruce Lee movies lately.  "Enter the Dragon" is always on Spike TV and while watching it my wife asks me what my favorite Bruce Lee movie is.  I immediately respond, "Game of Death" the fight scenes RULE and Kareem Abdul Jabbar sky hooked that dude off the second floor!  I vaguely remembered the movie as I hadn't seen it in about 15 years.  Spike TV showed this movie last weekend in a Bruce Lee marathon and I completely forgot that for 90% of the movie there was a crappy Bruce Lee lookalike pretending rather terribly to be our hero, not to mention tons of cheesy inserts from previous Bruce Lee films.  Well there's still "Return of the Dragon" and that classic Chuck Norris fight.

Speaking of Dragons, I finally got Berry Gordy's "The Last Dragon" on DVD which I watched during Game 4 of the NBA finals.  (Lets you know how boring it was)  Oh what memories.  Busta Rhymes is a liar if he says he didn't pattern his image after Sho-Nuff. (Although that video where Busta wears the Sho-Nuff costume is priceless)

Jimmy Walker died Monday.  Not this Jimmy Walker, but the former Providence guard from the 60s and father of NBA player Jalen Rose.  Our thoughts and prayers are with him.