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Happy Birthday to Lori, Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday Lori ... what do I get her?
In one of those simple twists of fate that dominates our lives, my wife Lori's birthday was Monday and my dad's was Tuesday. In another twist, Lori's dad and I share the same birthday, although not the same year.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
|  | | Jay Williams' frustrations with the Bulls finally boiled over. |
The Jay Williams story this past week in Chicago brought back eerie, sad and ironic memories, particularly for those of us who try to keep thinking that things are getting better over time. But then again, some of us are old enough to remember that Rumsfeld, Cheney and the gang were around way back then, too.
How tough on young Jay -- whose dreams of making it to the NBA, like mine 29 years ago, are being shattered by the struggles of a directionless, expansion team plagued by selfishness, greed and individual agendas. What makes this so tough is that all of this comes on the heels of a college career that was so perfect in all ways. It doesn't help that Jay is playing terribly and having trouble relating to his teammates who often have no idea how great it can be on a special team in a joyous environment. The two most important lessons for Jay here are that he can only change the misery, isolation and loneliness by his own positive actions -- on and off the court. And that he must do it within the confines of the system. Jay, just never stop complaining when things aren't going right. Accepting failure, lack of commitment, sacrifice and dedication is the worst thing that you can do. Whenever I hear of a divorce, my first reaction is always congratulations.
YOU TOLD ME GOODBYE -- HOW WAS I TO KNOW
Just ask Michael Jordan. You don't think that some of Michael's Wizards teammates were part of the theatre musician's strike in New York do you? With Michael's last game at Madison Square Garden over the weekend it is more than a bit appropriate that the music has stopped.
YOU DIDN'T MEAN GOODBYE -- YOU MEANT PLEASE DON'T LET ME GO
Leadership by example is the best kind. With 12 of their last 18 games on the road, including a six-game trip out West, you can only hope and pray that the Wizards match MJ's intensity the rest of the way as they fight for the eighth playoff spot. Maybe some of Michael's teammates just thought it was to dark to play -- indoors.
Who would have ever thought that the Pacers losing Brad Miller to a foot injury might do more to alter the playoff picture than the Spurs losing David Robinson to his debilitating back problems? The Pacers have lost 11 out of 12 but play eight of their next 10 at home. And they say that they will not wear the yellow road jerseys anymore this year because they feel it's bad luck. Funny, I always thought it was the players INSIDE the uniforms that counted. It must be Corky's fault.
With as much as I travel, do I EVER miss the old days of California's PSA: Pacific Southwest Airlines. Twenty dollars for a roundtrip anywhere, free drinks and "stewardesses" -- that's how long ago this was -- in hot pants and mini-skirts. Plane loads of singing Deadheads, that was fun. I don't know if Lori is going to want me flying on Hooters Air, however.
I WAS LOSING TIME -- I HAD NOTHING TO DO
There's been a lot of talk about the Orlando Magic since the big trade. They're 7-3 since the deal went down, and Tracy McGrady just broke Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando record for the most points in a half with 37. Also don't overlook the fact that Memphis is 9-6 since the All-Star break. If the Magic keep playing this well, can we expect them to hold to their pledge to lower ticket prices next year?
|  | | Foreign exchange program: NBA got Yao, China gets Mick and the Stones for the first time. |
The Rolling Stones are celebrating their 40th anniversary in China. Most of the population in China has never even heard of the band. Can you imagine going through life without Mick Jagger? Can you imagine the next 15 years without Yao Ming?
I love jersey retirement ceremonies, the honoring and recognition of past greatness. Congratulations to Dan Majerle joining Phoenix's Ring of Honor. I sure wish that Charles Barkley and the Colangelos would kiss and make up. Enough time has gone by. Forgiveness sets you free. Charles belongs up on that wall, sooner rather than later.
For those scoring at home, the Nuggets ended their 14-game skid at Miami this weekend. Jeff Bzdelik is 2-0 against his former boss/mentor, Pat Riley. I didn't realize that Riley is also an aspiring newspaper copy writer who contributed Saturday morning's headline -- "Heat beeped" --after Friday's controversial loss to the Mavs.
TOMMORROW COMES TROUBLE-TOMMORROW COMES PAIN
You have to love the basketball fans in Chicago: a sellout crowd of almost 23,000 for the Clippers-Bulls game over the weekend. How sad for Elton Brand with a new stress fracture in his leg.
I GUESS we should offer our congratulations to Dennis Johnson for becoming the new coach of the Clippers. He is now the sixth member of the 1986 Boston Celtics championship team to patrol the sidelines along with Bird, Carlisle, Ainge, Vincent and Parish.
Stunning that the Clippers game against the Celtics over the weekend was delayed because of an irritating and foul odor. Do they really think this was an outside job?
NOW DON'T THINK TOO HARD -- CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'
A lot of talk last week about Kobe Bryant becoming the youngest to 10,000 points. Shaq's about to become the fifth youngest to 20,000, after Wilt, MJ, Oscar and Kareem.
It was a tough week for the Cavaliers last week. They lost by 26 to Memphis, their theme movie, "Cradle 2 the Grave" fell to sixth in the box office standings and Stanley Roberts turned them down to play for the clownish Globetrotters. Only five weeks until the Cavs' final home game when they will unveil new uniforms and logos for next season. Everyone in attendance will get a free T-shirt. What are they going to do with the extra 19,565 seats in the 20,565-seat Gund Arena?
The Cavaliers are lobbying very hard for the re-implementation of the territorial draft.
Madonna has a new children's book out this fall. Can't wait to see if Dennis Rodman will appear as a pop-up character.
The clouds have broken in Seattle. Since Gary Payton was traded to Milwaukee, Sonic television ratings have gone up 74 percent.
|  | | Unlike the Nets' win total, Bruce Springsteen's ticket sales is rising. |
Bruce Springsteen just sold out another three shows at Giants Stadium for this summer's tour, bringing his current total to 10. That's five more sellouts than the Nets have victories since the All-Star break.
Speaking of sellouts, the Hawks have turned it around. They had their first packed house of the season to watch Vince Carter's resurrection. He threw down 43. I don't think that the FREE post-game concert by the R&B group Mary, Mary had anything to do with the wild turnout.
If Tyrone Hill plays a major role in the Sixers' spring run, will Larry Brown's wife, Shelly, get recognition as Executive of the Year?
Interesting to see Ray Allen and Karl Malone voice concern about not getting paid to play in the upcoming Olympics after they signed their contracts. But then again, when we see the negotiating style for the trouble in the Middle East these days, we can certainly see where they get their inspiration and tactics. Isn't the goal to try to make a deal?
NOTHIN'S FOR CERTAIN -- IT COULD ALWAYS GO WRONG
I had the privilege of spending an emotional weekend in Tucson with my family as we celebrated Senior Day at the University of Arizona. I love college campuses.
As I was walking through the student union -- a magnificent complex -- I was reminded how much I enjoy the lively discussions and exchanges of ideas. I met a person who was lamenting the job market. While pondering his dismal future, he was noting that in the last two years alone more than 2 million Americans have lost their jobs in this country. He wondered how many more people were dependant on those incomes. Someone else said not to worry -- it would all be fine. All we had to do was destroy the environment, waste all of our natural resources, give massive tax breaks to people who already have all the money anyway and to start a war. He then said that if anyone objected all that needed to be done was to call the whiner a traitor and all would be fine. I staggered on ... more than a little concerned.
Just down the hall, I came upon some fellow Americans chatting up golf. Moving closer, I heard one whisper in the hushed tones of the sport the question vexing everyone's heart and mind: What are we going to do in April when the international focus of celebrity, sport and business convenes at Augusta? And on the way in Martha Burk is protesting for inclusion, fairness and equal opportunity, while on the other side of the street the Klu Klux Klan is demonstrating on behalf of the country club. Things were really getting weird so I moved on -- and hopefully out -- to the peace and serenity of the desert solitude.
COME IN WHEN IT'S RAININ' -- GO OUT WHEN IT'S GONE
But then I was drawn, as if by a magnetic field, over to a saintly man with a cherubic smile standing in the shade of a beautiful Saguaro cactus. I could not get over the intensity of the man's eyes. As he peered deeply into everyone's soul, he calmly repeated the same question to one and all "Are YOU ready to die on the streets of Baghdad? Are YOU ready for YOUR children to do the same?"
I love college -- I love America.
I remain a proud patriot for peace.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
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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