Obviously, I love sports, I run a sports blog for crying out loud. I also, and you might not know this, love me some alcohol, especially free alcohol. Last night, these two great loves formed like Voltron into one fantastic event thanks to the good people of Ciroc Ultra Premium Vodkas when they invited myself and a bunch of other fellow bloggers and media members out to watch the Wizards play the Celtics at the Verizon Center.

The reason Ciroc was throwing this bash (other than to provide us with samples of their fine alcohol) was to promote responsible drinking and providing all event goers free metro cards so they could have a safe ride home after the game without any sort of drunk driving going on. I even personally took the metro home after the game. Buzzed driving is drunk driving kids, remember that.  Take a cab or public transportation if you’re boozing it up like a champ.

Anyway, I was there with Punte (aka Josh Zerkle aka Monday Morning Punter) from With Leather, the House of Punte Podcast and Kissing Suzy Kolber, Phil the main man from Gunaxin, Don Everest from TheMatadorSports and Kevin Burke from The Hoop Doctors amongst others….including the gorgeous Ciroc girls and Wizards cheerleaders.  You want pics? You got pics. Bam. Read the rest of this entry

Washington Wizards rookie point guard John Wall is one smooth customer.  He is in the middle of answering a reporter’s question when someone dares to rip a fart right in front of him.  While he does pause mid-sentence for a brief second, he keeps going with the answer with only a mild smirk entering his face.  Definition of smooth, yes?  Check it:

Like silk.  This kid is going to be a superstar if he keeps his cool like that.  Oh wait…whats that?  He doesn’t always keep his cool you say?  Well dang. There goes that.

I looked up this morning and realized we’re almost done with June.  It feels just like yesterday I was making fun of Joe West and lamenting having to work on a holiday weekend.  Now, we’re a few days away from July 4^th, the summer’s mid-point.  I’ve been told this is what happens when you get older and have a real job.

I guess I’m ok with no longer having summers off, but part of me would like one more college summer.  College summers are basically the same as regular college, but instead of class, you get a “Joe Job” where you work just enough hours to financially support yourself.  Then, you get to hang out with your buddies the rest of the time going to baseball games, playing entire seasons of Madden in two days, taking road trips to places like Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts, and going out during the week.  The other cool thing about college summers is that because so few people actually stay at school, those who chose to stay behind form this weird social bond where everyone bands together and hangs out.  By summer’s end, you’ve meet all these cool people you had no idea existed.  Of course, the social order is restored when school resumes, and the gorgeous girl that lived across the street forgets you existed, but whatever.  College summers were great.   

Nevertheless, the summer of 2010 is running full throttle from soccer games to Armando Benitez comebacks.   I guess you can’t really fight it: just let go and enjoy the ride.  Regardless, take some time to read between the headlines:

• Jay-Z and Eminem added a second Yankee Stadium concert to their upcoming tour.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that the Limp Bizkit Reunion Tour will be making a stop at PNC Park.

• Portland Trail Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchett was fired hours before last night’s NBA Draft.

Hey Paul Allen, Pat Riley called, he wants his move back.  What I don’t understand is that Pritchett asked to stay and work the draft after he was let go.  That’s so sad.  “Hey, look, I know you think I suck, but can I just stay here for a few more minutes and work for you?  Please?”  And if I’m the Blazers, can I trust him not to draft the next Ruben Patterson?  I hope this means the Jail Blazers are coming back because their wanton disregard for coach and community was truly something to behold.  What’s Latrell Sprewell up to these days?

• Former Pro Bowl Quarterback Mark Brunell is filing for bankruptcy.

The story says Brunell made an estimated $52M in his career.  That’s a lot of dough to blow through.  How do we think he did it?  Messy divorce?  Drug or alcohol addiction?  Fancy cars?

The[bankruptcy was the] apparent result of a string of failed real-estate investments.

This is the worst pro-athlete bankruptcy filing ever!  Gimme a gaggle of mistresses, a five gram-a-day coke habit… something!  At least Mike Tyson enjoyed wasting his money.

• The Wizards selected John Wall with the first pick in the NBA draft.

I don’t think John Wall is anything like Kwame Brown, so the Wizards are probably pretty safe there.  However, they couldn’t help themselves and had to do their best to draft undersized power forwards and make a stupid and expensive trade.  So make of it what you will.  Some franchises are unlucky, and others are just stupid.  Despite new ownership, the Wizards still fall under the latter.

• After firing their manager earlier in the week, the Florida Marlins are targeting Bobby Valentine as a replacement.

I have a lot to say here, but instead of ranting about it, I’m going to use a haiku.  They’re more graceful, poignant, and most importantly, easier to read:

Marlins owner sucks

More of a douche than Big Stein

Sucks to be O’s fan

Fin.

• Chicago Fire defender Krzysztof Krol is marrying a Playboy model he stalked on Facebook.

I hope all the ladies out there reading the Deuce take this gal’s lead: if you want us to stalk you, please put your phone number up so we can call you.  Makes the stalking a lot easier…  And this has been your “Being a Pro Athlete Totally Rules” update. 

• League malcontent Rasheed Wallace is reportedly retiring. 

Speaking of the Jail Blazers, Rasheed was one of the original ones.  Let’s see him out with a quote from one of my favorite ‘Sheed stories:

In one of their final touching moments together as Jail Blazers, [Rasheed] Wallace and [Bonzi] Wells were at practice when Wallace suddenly reared back and chucked a basketball at teammate Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, who was shooting jump shots with his back to them. According to The Oregonian the ball struck Boumtje Boumtje so hard he fell to the floor and lay writhing before eventually walking off. By then Wallace and Wells had run away, giggling like schoolgirls.

That’s such a dick move, but damn, it’s funny.  Good night, sweet prince!

Ok, that’s it for me.  Everybody have a great weekend, if you need me, Lindsay and I will be planning our birthday parties.

Its the 16th championship title for the LA Lakers as they beat the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals by the score of 83-79. Shockingly, their Wheaties box is already set to go out to your local grocery store. Check your store shelves in a month or so for it if you want it. Personally, as a Washington sports fan I had no horse in this race but in the interests of not being a sore loser I wish the Lakers and their fans congratulations for an excellent season.

Even though it would’ve been a heck of a lot cooler to see Phil Jackson lose one of these things for once.  That guy is friggin bullet-proof. Also, can people put the rest the whole Kobe is as good as MJ now b/c he won almost as many titles?  Kobe wasn’t even the best player on the team for the ones he won with Shaq. He was the Jimmy Olson to Shaq’s Superman. Kobe is an excellent player, but he is no Michael Jordan.

If you don’t believe me, look up the stats on Basketball-Reference.com and you’ll see, its not even close. As a matter of fact, Lebron and Dwayne Wade are probably closer to his skills than Kobe is.

Nevertheless, congrats Lakers. John Wall is now gonna be gunning for you. TO BE THE BEST YOU GOTTA BEAT THE BEST!