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The wheel is turning and you can't slow down
You can't let go and you can't hold on
|  | | Patrick Ewing had his No. 33 retired at Madison Square Garden. |
With Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant exhibiting an unbelievably consistent level of perfection both on and off the court, last Friday's tribute in Madison Square Garden will serve as a strong reminder that it all had to come from somewhere. Congratulations and thanks to Patrick Ewing for a lifetime of making this game and world a better place. You would think that the Knicks would at least let him invite who he wants to his own party.
You can't go back and you can't stand still
If the thunder don't get you then the lightning will
That was certainly some special reunion at the Garden. And now that the Spice Girls are talking about getting back together again, do you think there is any chance that Posh, Baby, Scary, Sporty and Ginger could give some advice about comebacks to the Clippers' Andre Miller?
Celtic fans in their befuddlement are wondering whatever happened to the "rub of the green." They need look no farther than the recent passing of Red's brother, Zang -- the genius spirit who designed the leprechaun logo. Now that's a brand!
What will happen first -- if at all? Peace in the Middle East, or Vin Baker posting his first double-digit rebounding game this season?
Won't you try just a little bit harder
Couldn't you try just a little bit more
Was I ever-so-relieved to find out that MTV had to reschedule their contest to select an emcee host of their next rap contest because of an overwhelming turnout in Times Square that unfortunately got out of hand. Now if they will only give me enough prior notice so that I can clear my calendar. I live for the chance of introducing my newest favorite rapper, 50 Cent.
Speaking of 50 Cent, so nice to hear that his new hit, "Money to Burn," is being played incessantly at Madison Square Garden these days.
Whatever happened to Danny Fortson, the fourth-leading rebounder in the league last year? Didn't he used to play for the Golden State Warriors? Haven't they moved into playoff contention now that he's been relegated to the oblivion of the bench? You know something's up with your career when you are not getting playing time behind Erick Dampier.
First, it was music sampling. Now Mike Myers will be film sampling. How about game sampling? Wouldn't it be great to see Dampier tap into Nate Thurmond's post game?
|  | | Let's not get carried away praising the duo of Sam Cassell and Gary Payton. |
I nearly fell off my chair when I heard the comparisons of Milwaukee's new backcourt of Gary Payton and Sam Cassell to Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe. Don't you think that's a bit premature -- particularly since the Bucks lost three of the five games they've played together.
Am I the only one surprised at the reports of improved team harmony in Seattle since Payton's departure? The Sonics are 5-1 since the exorcism.
Would I have loved to see Payton play in that first Bucks game at Seattle. But knowing that with Gary it's all about "the team, family and the game," I can certainly understand why he had to sit that one out.
Round, round, Robin run around
Gotta get back where you belong
Knock-off shows are all the rage these days. The TV show "My Big Fat Greek Life" is such a hit that they're already planning a spin-off called, "My Big Fat Life." Stanley Roberts is looking for work, isn't he?
Now that the Kevin Garnett-Stephon Marbury feud has finally been put to rest, we can concentrate on a really important one. This tiff between Avril Lavigne and Britney Spears is simply too perfect. Avril claims SHE has a better body than Britney. Both are wrong. The best body -- of work -- belongs to Norah Jones.
Little bit harder, just a little bit more
Little bit farther than you've gone before
What would ever lead Byron Scott to think for even a moment that Latrell Sprewell's tardiness would have a negative impact on the Knicks. I had no idea that Byron was so out of touch!
The Atlanta Hawks' season has been so dreadful that Pete Babcock has taken the unusual step of apologizing to his underachieving players. Shouldn't he be going door to door with hat in hand to the Hawks' few remaining season-ticket holders to beg forgiveness instead?
The summer tours are being announced: Ozzfest 2003, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Disturbed and Ozzy Osbourne ... Metallica's Summer Sanitarium Tour, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Deftones. This is just too hard to call. What are the Olympians to do? USA Basketball, in an egregious omission, has failed to alert the national team of the pending conflicts. Is it already too late for the guys to withdraw?
The Pacers are playing really well. What must Ron Artest have done to be suspended by his own team after Indiana's vociferous complaints regarding Ron's suspensions by the league for the "crazed behavior" that we already know about.
I am well aware of the rage about panel discussions and their impact on shaping our thoughts. I simply can't wait for the one with Artest, Dennis Rodman and Mike Tyson. Maybe they can get Gary Payton or Stephon Marbury to moderate.
Vlade Divac and Chris Webber offered Arco fans $5 each to boo Jon Barry and Corliss Williamson the other night. Clipper fans are wondering why they can't get such a deal.
Never has the inside strength of the Western Conference been more evident when you realize that it has five players averaging a double-double. Meanwhile, Jermaine O'Neal is the lone player in the East doing so.
The sadness of closure, the sense of finality ... it's often so overwhelming, Kobe Bryant's scoring streak of 40-plus points ending at nine games, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" ending after seven seasons and Juwan Howard's $18 million contract expiring after this year.
|  | | Gilbert Arenas wouldn't be passed over now. |
DeSagana Diop, Kirk Haston, Michael Bradley, Samuel Dalembert, Trenton Hassell. Those are just some of the 30 players selected ahead of Gilbert Arenas in the 2001 NBA Draft.
I used to think that the 1992 Dream Team of Michael, Magic and Larry was the greatest collection of talent ever assembled until I saw the recent footage of Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra and Yasmine Bleeth in the "Baywatch Hawaiian Wedding" movie. I feel a strong need to take a second look to confirm.
The nominees for the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize have just been announced. I'm scouring the list and still can't find Gary Payton's or Rasheed Wallace's name anywhere. there must be some mistake.
Small wheel turning by the fire and rod
Big wheel turning by the grace of God
Congratulations to Greg Ostertag, who recently blocked his 1,000th career NBA shot and is continuously redefining courage and commitment while playing NBA basketball after donating one of his kidney's to his sister.
With advance orders nearing 7 million copies for the new "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" book, I wonder how many times Amare Stoudemire's name is mentioned. More importantly, how can the Phoenix Suns sales force get its hands on that mailing list?
I don't get the sense that the Orlando Magic miss Mike Miller. They're 4-1 since they made the trade that brought them two bigger, multi-faceted starters and an inside presence. Suddenly, there's a new dawn in Central Florida and just in time for spring break.
Kobe's recent scoring streak-to-glory must always be kept in perspective and relevance to the brilliance and dominance of Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 50 or more points a staggering 118 times in his career. I'm more than willing to cut Kobe some slack here, though. He is only 24.
My week started at The Rosa Parks Civil Rights Museum in Montgomery, Ala., with the re-affirmation that the softest of voices often carry the most powerful messages. If dissent, disagreement and protest are the lifeblood of our democracy, then why are those who are rattling the sabers of war these days so obsessed with stifling those truest of American ideals? Furthermore, why, when an alternative thought is proffered, is the response a personal attack that does not address the issues being raised? Thanks Rosa. Thank you, Toni Smith. Thank you, Thomas Jefferson. And thank you, Patrick Ewing.
I remain a proud patriot for peace.
Every time that wheel turn 'round
Bound to cover just a little more ground
Won't you try ...
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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