Le Basketbawl

Unfortunately one of the “True Good Guys” in the NBA Brandon Roy will not play this Sunday in Arlington, Texas when the NBA All-Star Game takes place. Roy announced last Saturday that his sore hamstring would keep him out of action until the All-Star break and rather than risking missing more time with the Portland Trail Blazers he will sit the game out. However as bad as New York Vinnie feels about the Portland star missing the contest a deserving player will be taking his place. The “Los Angeles Times” reported Monday that NBA Commissioner David Stern named Los Angeles Clippers Chris Kaman to take his spot on the roster.

Back in December New York Vinnie was pushing pretty hard for Kaman to be named to the NBA Western Conference All-Star Team. New York Vinnie is a guy who likes to see people rewarded for dedication and hard work and Kaman’s numbers are certainly a reflection of that. Kaman did not allow himself to stagnate and just get by. He dedicated himself to being a better player and eventually that will pay off either with the Clippers or as a Free Agent for another team. So New York Vinnie is very pleased that Kaman was given his propers by the Commissioner and will get to shine in the spotlight!

Sunday night after the New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl Number 44; New York Vinnie thought  about all the teams over the past few years that have finally broken through and won the Championship of their Sport after being ridiculed for years. The NFL not only has the Saints but the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers who did what at one time folks thought would be impossible. In Baseball we have witnessed the Red Sox win two World Series Titles and the White Sox also copped one. But there is still one city that has suffered for Frickin decades; longer than even New York Vinnie has been on this Planet.

That of course is the city of Cleveland, Ohio who have a Frickin rabid fan base for all their Pro Teams and who are always waiting until next year. During the Nineties The Cleveland Indians wennt from the Frickin sewer to the top of the American League and made it to the “Big Show” twice but could not get the Frickin ring.

Cleveland Browns fans are just Frickin nutsy-cuckoo; there is just no other Frickin reason to explain their devotion to a franchise that is truly a Frickin joke or a nightmare dependant on your perspective. This team that plays in Cleveland is not even really the Frickin “Real Browns“ as that team moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens in 1995. Browns Team Owner Randy Lerner is as Frickin clueless as New York Vinnie’s “BOYS” Team Owner James “EL DOUCHE” Dolan. They are now like on their newest management team in 11 years; New York Vinnie believes this may be number 37.

However there is one team in  the city of Cleveland that could actually end the Frickin drought that goes all the way back to 1964. That of course would be the Cleveland Cavaliers who have won their last 11 games despite the fact that they have had neither of the team’s two point guards for the last 8 contests.  The “News-Herald” is reporting that the Cavaliers will most likely not make any moves before the NBA Trading Deadline which is on February 18.

The rumors out of Cleveland are the only way the team is going to make a move is if they could acquire Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison. New York Vinnie thinks that Cleveland General Manager Danny Ferry is doing the right thing. This team has the best record in all of the Frickin NBA; why would you mess with that?

Now; if you can bring in a Jamison or Carlos Boozer that would be making you a better team. But reports out of Indiana are that the Pacers are looking for the Frickin  Sun and the Moon for Troy Murphy; that is not going to be worth it for the Cavaliers. Iguodala is not what this team needs; they need a quality power-forward what they term recently as a “stretch-four.” So if you can’t make the team better why make a move at all? If its not broke; don’t fix it, right?

As of Monday February 8, the Cleveland Cavaliers are playing the best ball in the NBA. Sometimes when you make that one pass too many you throw the ball away. Unless the club can get something that puts them a lot closer to the basket they should take their shot with the team they have.

New York Vinnie knows where my Frickin bread is buttered; Le Basketbawl is a Internet Site that is devoted to the NBA “The Greatest Game On Earth!” However New York Vinnie could not allow this moment to pass without giving it some mention. It was a moment that for many years many folks would never ever happen; but we seem to be breaking through  a lot of barriers over the past few years we never thought we would see!

And when it comes right down to it is this not the Frickin personification of the “Great American Dream“? That if you want something Frickin bad enough and you Frickin work had enough you can accomplish anything! So with that in mind we are starting a new feature here at “The House That New York Vinnie Built.” The first winner of the “NEW YORK VINNIE SALUTE” is the winner of Super Bowl Number 44 The New Orleans Saints!

The New Orleans Saints and New York Vinnie both came onto this planet in 1967; however New York Vinnie had a far less rocky childhood than the NFL team had. For years they were the Frickin joke not only of the NFL but of all of Professional Sports. Who can ever forget the pictures of those  poor Frickin fans wearing bags over their heads and calling their team the ‘Aints! But through it all their fans stuck by them. And when tough times came to the City Of New Orleans the Saints stuck by them.

After “Katrina” struck a few years ago the “Superdome” the home of the Saints was in ruins. It was the temporary home to the victims of the storm and the structure itself was badly damaged. The team had to play the 2005 season based out of the “Alamodome” in San Antonio, Texas and LSU Stadium in Baton Rouge.

With all the loss of life and material goods the City of New Orleans could not suffer another major loss. There were rumors that the Saints would leave the city and move to another location. That move would have devastated the City for most likely decades. However the “Superdome” was repaired and the Saints were back the following season and went all the way to the NFC Championship game before their season ended. They were looked upon to be a power the following year but they never lived up to their potential and fell by the wayside.

The Saints and the Indianapolis Colts dominated their conferences all season long and this was  the game that America wanted to see. Chances are that if you were like New York Vinnie and had no allegiance to either club you were rooting for New Orleans to finally get the Frickin monkey off their back. Sunday they did it.

We live in an age of Frickin turbulence and discord; when the little guy always seems to get kicked in the Frickin teeth. Sunday night the New Orleans Saints represented the little guy and this  time they won!

If you are a regular here at “The House That New York Vinnie Built” Le Basketbawl then you are well aware that I have been looking forward with great glee to the New Jersey Nets setting a record at the end of the season. As of Sunday the Nets  are on pace to easily become ”The Worst NBA Team Of All Time” as it looks like they will come far below the 1972-1973 Philadelphia Sixers record of 9-73. Right now New Jersey is at 4-46 and will easily come in far below the infamous mark set 37 years ago.

The Nets have not done too many things well over the past couple of seasons which has led to their present situation. One man who has rightfully shouldered a lot of the blame is New Jersey Team President Rod Thorn; who has made some Frickin terrible moves. However New York Vinnie agrees with one decision that he made according to reports from the “Star Ledger.”

According the reports from the paper; the reason that Del Harris left the Nets last Tuesday as an assistant coach under interim coach and General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe was that the veteran coach’s agent was told quite bluntly that his client would not become New Jersey’s head coach next season. The paper reports that the agent Warren LeGarie suggested to Thorn that the Nets President send Vandeweghe back to the front office and allow Harris to take control of the bench to prepare for next season.

Reports indicate that Thorn told the agent “Hold it right there. All due respect, he will not be the next head coach here. So if he has any delusions about that, you should let him know it’s not going to happen.”

Frickin Del Harris is 73 years old and took one team the 1981 Houston Rockets to the NBA Finals where they lost to the Celtics. We are not looking at Riley, Jackson or Auerbach here! He has not been a head coach in the NBA in forever. New York Vinnie for once thinks that Rod Thorn did exactly the right thing. Del Harris is not the future for any team especially one that is starting from scratch like the Frickin Nets!

This has been a truly Frickin insane season for the Washington Wizards so it almost seems Frickin fitting that they would be involved in this situation. The “Associated Press” reported Saturday that the game scheduled at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. on Saturday between the Wizards and the Atlanta Hawks has been postponed. The reason is the storm being referred  to as “Snows-A-Palooza” that buried the Mid-Atlantic region. Neither team could get to the city so the game has been postponed and a re-scheduled will be announced. So far there has been no connection made between the inclement weather and Gilbert Arenas.

Now This Would Be Frickin Hilarious! However as much as New York Vinnie would love to see this take place not even Frickin Donald Sterling could be this much of a Frickin Half-Wit! A reporter for “FOXSports.com” senior college basketball writer Jeff Goodman is reporting that the Los Angeles Clippers are considering Isiah Thomas to  become the team’s new head coach and General Manager. Former head coach Mike Dunleavy gave up his bench duties on Thursday to according to him devote more of his attention to his front office duties. Clippers Team President Andy Roesser said that Dunleavy was replaced on the bench by assistant coach Kim Hughes because the team needed a “fresh voice.”

The Los Angeles Clippers and Zeke would be enough to possibly to  move the Clippers to Seattle! As bad as that team has been historically they would be shaken to the club’s very Frickin foundation were Thomas to be in charge. This would take Donald Sterling from being one of the worst Team Owners in the history of the NBA to Numero Uno! Even Frickin Sterling could not seriously entertain this as much of a Frickin Imbecile as he is!

Thomas who drove “MY BOYS”  the New York Knicks back to the stone age is currently the head coach of Florida International University in Miami. The team is 7-18 in its first season under Zeke’s guidance.

New York Vinnie unfortunately has to write  about Frickin PUDS that play in the NBA far too Frickin often. Sometimes a guy that New York Vinnie thought was a quality human being turns out to be a Frickin Munecho like Gilbert Arenas. So when a true quality guy comes  along like Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy New York Vinnie appreciates what they bring to the hardwood on a game by game basis. Roy has not played since re-injuring his right hamstring on January 20, as the team played against Philadelphia.  Now reports are surfacing that he could end up missing the NBA All-Star Game due to the injury.

The “Columbian” reported Friday that Roy was expecting to return to action Saturday as the Blazers host the Los Angeles Lakers at the Rose Garden. However the hamstring is still causing him considerable pain and at this  point his return is in question. The guard who was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference All-Star squad is not happy knowing when he will return to playing.

Roy told reporters “It’s frustrating to me. Trust me; It’s very frustrating, especially being in this race. I’m surprised that I personally haven’t healed as fast. We don’t want to say for sure I’m playing (against Los Angeles.) There’s a chance I’ll play. But there’s also a chance that I’ll wake up and it’s a little sore. So, we’re just going to keep it open.”

Portland has three game remaining between now and the All-Star Game to be played in Arlington, Texas on Valentine’s Day. Roy told reporters if he can not play before the contest he will sit the game out. It is just another sign of what a quality man he is that  he thinks about his team’s  needs over personal glory. It is also another reason that if Justice exists on this planet that he will be able to play. For all the guys that do things for Frickin messed up reasons you have a quality guy like Roy to balance the scales. New York  Vinnie is pulling for Roy to be able to play!