The Starting Five: Week of July 30, 2007
Posted by Jason Goodman on 07.31.2007
Memo to Jose Canseco: Fu –oh, I can’t say that here?
Hi Everybody!
Listen, there are two HUGE deals on the verge of being made tonight, so even if they fall through, here's a look at what COULD be! Welcome to The Starting 5!!!
Minnesota Timberwolves trade Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics???:
This could be the biggest NBA trade since the Lakers sent Shaq down to Miami. Kevin Garnett, who has averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game for virtually a decade, wil be joining newly acquired guard Ray Allen AND Paul Pierce as starters for the Boston Celtics this coming season. To say this could tip the scales of power in the Eastern Conference would be an understatement insulting the intelligence of every person reading this column, so I won't.
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But, COME ON!!!! Did ANYONE think, when the Celtics failed to get the 1st pick in the Draft, that they would be coming into the 2007/08 season as playoff FAVORITES?? Yes, yes, there's still the chemistry thing to get down but, as evidenced by the ‘Melo/Iverson/Camby experiment late last season, it doesn't take very long for good/great players to get on the same page. With a full 82 games to work out the kinks, look for there to be some disappointed faces in many East locker rooms this season, and a team who won't be mauled by every team in the Western Conference. It has been a long time since the Celtics, one of the most storied franchises in NBA history, have had anything major to look forward to. It seems that GM Danny Ainge may have finally given them what they yearned for.
Atlanta Braves Acquire 1B Mark Teixeria from the Texas Rangers???:
By the end of the night, we may also see 27 year-old slugger Mark Teixeria headed for the Atlanta Braves in a move that is practically guaranteed to make th 3-team race in the NL East even closer. Let's look at the last week: the Philadelphia Phillies traded for Chicago White Sox 2B Tadahito Iguchi, the New York Mets began to make a move for Minnesota Twins 2B Luis Castillo, the Phillies acquire Cincinnati Reds pitcher Kyle Lohse, and now the Braves reel in possibly the biggest trade-deadline-fish around in the two-time Gold Glove winner. The Mets are also looking forward to Pedro Martinez' return. People, if you're not already watching this Division, you better do something about it! It is most likely that your National League's World Series participant will be one of those three teams.
Bill Walsh Dies at 75:
William Ernest Walsh, Hall of Fame coach, man who led the San Francisco 49ers to 3 Super Bowl Championships(1982, '85, 89), seen by most as the creator of the West Coast Offense, passed away Monday morning after a long battle with leukemia. Walsh, nicknamed "The Genius" for his ability to brilliantly strategize, has been credited with changing the way American Football is played, by introducing the idea of using the passing attack to set up the running game. He was noted for his teaching ability, evident in the list of assistants who went on to become head coaches, such as George Seifert, Mike Holmgren and Dennis Green. Many of his assistants passed his teachings onto another generation of coaches, including Brian Billick, Andy Reid, Gary Kubiak and Mike Shanahan.
Walsh also created the Minority Coaching Fellowship program in 1987, which allowed such coaches as Marvin Lewis and Tyrone Willingham to get a shot in a then all-white atmosphere. That program was later adopted as a league-wide initiative. So without Walsh, many of the high-profile Black coaches in the league today may not have had their initial chances.
He was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2004, two years after his son Steve died of it at the age of 46, and came public with it two years later. He is survived by his wife, Geri, and two children, Craig and Elizabeth.
Rest Easy, Bitter Rivals:
This Just In: Michigan, Notre Dame, you may continue hating each other's guts for another 20 years. The schools have agreed to a 20-year extension on a contract which originally had them matching up annually through 2011. College rivalries are one of my favorite things about sports, and to know that at least one more generation will be witness to the madness and mayhem associated with this one brings a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat. Actually, I had no idea that this rivalry goes back 130 years, something which I find amazing. Amazing because, being admittedly unschooled in these matters, I thought the main rivalry in all college sports was between Michigan and Ohio State, but Notre Dame actually predates it by a full 20 years. Head coaches Lloyd Carr(Michigan) and Charlie Weis(Notre Dame) both agree that having the Wolverines and Fighting Irish continue to face off is great for college football, and I believe that's the only thing they're contractually allowed to agree on. Ever.
Two Intriguing Home Run Chases:
Tuesday evening baseball fans might be glued to their screens once more as, in the midcard event, Alex Rodriguez attempts again to be the youngest player to 500 home runs, and in the MAIN EVENT, Barry Bonds looks to tie Hank Aaron's all-time MLB Home Run mark of 755. This week, a little intrigue has been thrown into the mix, as the San Fancisco Giants head into he den of their most hated rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. You can't write drama like this, because nobody knows for sure what in the world will happen if Bonds ties – and maybe even BREAKS??? – the record in such hostile territory. For those unfamiliar with the level of this rivalry, think Yankees Red Sox, but with a little extra venom. Throw in all the regular Bonds-Haters, Bob Costas perhaps waiting outside the visitor's clubhouse with a tire iron, and Curt Schilling on hand to blog about it all, and this series will make for excellent viewing.
Meanwhile the Yankees, in the midst of another attempt at a playoff berth this season, are hoping A-Rod can just get another hit, much less his 500th homer. And what do you get for the man who seemingly has everything? Well, if you're Jose Canseco, you promise to show fans the "Real A-Rod" in your next tell-all book! The former half of the "Bash Bros." promises us that A-Rod is indeed a "hypocrite" who "was not all he appeared to be." As a Yankee fan, I am looking at Canseco as a total ingrate. As a human being, I am inclined to agree with Joe Torre's assessment that "Obviously, Jose needs the money."
Walkin Off
Congratulations, Alberto Contador, the first Spaniard to win the
Tour de France since 1995!
Alright, nothing extra of note for me to mention this week, except that NEXT WEEK I'll have some very special guests coming to help me get ready for the coming NFL season. I'll give you a hint: One of them runs a class of his very own for the 411 Movie Zone!
