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Valentine's Day. Love all around. Flowers, rose petals, Cupid.
The trading deadline. Divorce. Gary Payton, Latrell Sprewell, Keith Van Horn, the entire Hawks roster. Courtney Love's air rage. Who wants 'em?
Love and divorce. Is there REALLY any difference between these two seemingly polar places to be?
The LeBron story just won't go away even if he denies ESPN which is not a good thing in any case. Refs busted for preening alongside LeBron? Well, the line of NBA officials queuing up for photos with Pat Riley starts on the left. Sadly, LeBron's life has become the story of Tom Wolfe's next novel "The Bonfire of the Gen Y."
One of the enduring memories of Atlanta's All-Star Weekend was the moment in the Rookie Challenge when Jason Richardson, in attempting to create an opening, bounced the ball off his defender's forehead. Imagine the reaction if he had tried to do that to Jerry Sloan or Norm Van Lier? Things have changed.
|  | | Do they play 'Beat on the Brat?' at Key Arena for Gary Payton now? |
Kobe Bryant has been unstoppable since his wife gave birth a few weeks ago. Laker fans are sending fertility pills.
The new Ramones tribute album featuring U2, Kiss and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers is loud, fast and out of control. Still waiting confirmation as to whether Gary Payton was the inspiration.
NBA All-Star Games, Isiah Thomas and more freeze-out accusations. This story line just won't die. This time, Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker got the cold shoulder playing a combined 27 minutes in the double overtime game on Sunday. What did they expect? The only time Isiah did ANYTHING for the Celtics was that nice pass in Game 5 of the '87 Eastern Conference finals.
This week's anti-war protests, where large congregations of Australian and New York women stripped naked to draw attention to their righteous cause, brought back some of my fondest memories of prior anti-war movements. Sadly, it seems to take a war to get people back to basics.
Imagine my shock and dismay to learn that Britney Spears and Madonna were nominated for numerous Razzies, awarded for contributing the WORST movie performances of the year. I think we know that the Atlanta Hawks would sweep the sporting Razzies if they existed.
I am stunned at the news that major retail stores are not allowing the cinematic masterpiece "Jackass" on their shelves. The missed endorsement opportunities for some troubled NBA players as spokesmen has kept me awake at night. I know that that line forms on the right. But please tell me where it ends?
Oh!!!! The relief in Minnesota. They're playing terrific, particularly Kevin Garnett -- who's never been better. Things are so good that the T-Wolves actually have a great chance to win three playoff games in the first round this season. Unfortunately it now takes four to move on.
The sequel to Kate Hudson's new chick flick, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," is already in the works. It's tentatively called "How to Lose a Fan for Life." The writers are focusing their research on the Knicks, Clippers and Bulls.
Congratulations to Jennifer Lopez on winning a $400,000 Super Bowl bet. How savvy, how shrewd. We'll see how good she REALLY is now that I hear her next wager is determining the over/under on the number of fans in attendance at the next Cleveland/Atlanta game.
|  | | Not even Bill Graham could've come up with this: Yao jammin' with the Stones. |
Thank goodness Ben Affleck is considering running for Congress. My head is dizzy with possibilities in anticipation of the political discourse with Magic, Charles and Arnold. It would HAVE to be better than what is out there right now.
Get your ya-yas out! The Stones are planning on touring China in April. Just think of the double bill should the Rockets not make the playoffs. Yao Ming and Mick on stage together …GOT TO, GOTTA, GOTTA, GOTTA GET AWAY!!!
Maybe Yao can wear those blue suede shoes?
The sad and disturbing news that "Dawson's Creek" is ending it's five-year run is only surpassed by hearing New York general manager Scott Layden gleefully talking this week about the state of the Knicks on ESPN Radio.
I used to think that being an NBA player was the greatest and most privileged job on Earth. I re-ordered the list after seeing Puff Daddy's entourage during All-Star Weekend.
Lollapalooza is back and I can't wait: Jane's Addiction, Audioslave, Incubus, Jurassic 5. Now, if only Shaqapalooza will take off this summer with Webber, Iverson and the Big Man himself, my life will truly be complete.
NBA veterans will now be permitted to report five days later to training camp. I'm sure Robert Traylor will put that time to good use by showing up in much better shape -- if that's even possible.
Pat Riley is one of the smartest men I have ever known. EVERYTHING is a calculation, a method to all the madness. But now rumors emerge that his blasting the referees and the luxury tax is part of a strategy to force his way out of his Heat obligations while still cashing in? Please ... somebody ... anybody ... tell me THIS is not true.
How sad and unjust that Michael Jackson feels betrayed by the recent British documentary on him. Now he knows what his fans must feel like listening to his latest CD "Invincible." Maybe he will even feel some empathy for Hawks and Clipper fans.
Imagine our relief when they let Vin Baker out of the hospital in Boston. Particularly the confirmation that he did, indeed, have a heart.
With Grant Hill still sidelined, Shawn Kemp's career in limbo and Tracy McGrady saying he won't wait forever to win a championship, suddenly Jerry Krause's rebuilding plan in Chicago looks good.
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Vince Carter still thinks the Raptors can make the playoffs. Could it be that Vince spent a bit too much time hanging around Snoop Dogg during All-Star Weekend? |
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Vince Carter still thinks the Raptors can make the playoffs. Could it be that Vince spent a bit too much time hanging around Snoop Dogg during All-Star Weekend?
George Bush is asking Congress for $2.7 million for security purposes for the 2004 Olympics in Athens. How much extra cash will be needed if Gary Payton is named to the team? In this cash-strapped economy, will this factor be considered in finalizing the roster?
With so many guys playing at a perfect level right now -- Duncan, Kobe, KG, Tracy -- let's not overlook Gilbert Arenas, a second-round draft pick, no less. If you're a personnel guy, how do you explain that to your boss?
With all due respect for the extraordinary contributions of Ben Wallace as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, I still think that Kobe is the league's best defender -- the load he carries on the offensive end not withstanding. If MJ could do both, why not Kobe?
Here's hoping that the NBA pays tribute to David Robinson the way it honored Joe Dumars by naming a league-wide community award after him.
I had to wipe the tears from my eyes when I heard Gary Payton come to George Karl's defense regarding the U.S. team's collapse in the World Championships. The Bucks don't have any salary cap space, do they?
Cleveland GM Jim Paxson was inspired by Mark Cuban's Atlanta billboard questioning Michael Finley's omission from the All-Star Game. Word is he's having one of his own erected in Cleveland for Ricky Davis posing the rhetorical theme, "Where's the Maturity?"
You know it's been a long season for Jay Williams when Jamal Crawford's AGENT starts blasting you in the media. How much fun to be a GM and deal with THAT nonsense on a daily basis?
I could not believe the irony of the All-Star coaching scene. To see the back-stabbing, positioning, jealousy, envy and posturing of the ASSISTANTS trying to move up a chair. How obnoxious, how callous!! Marv Albert and Dan Patrick should be ashamed of themselves. Is there no honor among thieves?
As we kiss our loved ones goodnight or slam the door behind them with bitter memories of days gone bad, I close my eyes to the sensuous rhapsody of my newest best friend, Jay Z.
I'm not trying to give you love and affection
Just 60 seconds of perfection, cab fare and direction
Happy Valentine's Day, everybody. And never forget that forgiveness sets you free.
Bill Walton, who is a regular contributor to ESPN.com, is an NBA analyst and shares his thoughts on "NBA Shootaround" at 7:30 p.m. every Friday for ESPN.
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