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Sunday, June 8, 2008
Round 2!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
SMYRNA - I’m ready this time.
Got my snacks coming (turkey and cheese sammich courtesy of Wifey and an assortment of fine non-alcoholic beverages).
The only thing missing from Game 2 of these NBA Finals is a definitive answer on the Hawks’ coaching situation, which I know all of you are clamoring for these days.
Hawks general manager Rick Sund and coach Mike Woodson are still in the formative stages of their relationship. They’re still trying to get through the first few days. After speaking with Sund last week and with Woodson earlier this afternoon, it’s clear to me that the first priority for both sides is to come to some sort of agreement on how to proceed with Woodson as coach. But nothing appears set in stone just yet.
(Sund is also meeting with players and other staffers regularly since coming to town and is doing a rather thorough job of kicking over every rock to gain access to every bit of information he can about this team before making any official decisions. Having spoken with players and agents in the past seven days, they all seem to be impressed with his line of questioning and his forthright approach to the entire process.)
So in the absence of “news” on that front, can we yap a bit about basketball in general and these NBA Finals in particular?
The only thing worse than the fortnight of inactivity leading up to Game 1 was the seemingly endless two days between Games 1 and 2.
Even Wifey, no big fan of the game (or any sport for that matter), asked why there was no game on last night.
I couldn’t come up with a good answer and reminded her that she might want to rejoice in that fact with college football season just a couple months away.
Back to the game, though.
Could the build up be any more ridiculous? Bill Russell’s going to give KG one of his championship rings if he doesn’t get one the old fashioned way … man come on. I know the NBA and its broadcast partners are trying to facilitate drama here, but can we dispense with all the foolishness and just get to the basketball.
Fans were captivated by competitive games, thrilling series and superstar turns by players throughout the first three rounds of these playoffs (when TNT led the way with the best coverage the NBA gets) and now we’re going to dazzle everybody with staged sit down interviews and Jimmy Kimmel as a lead-in? Ridiculous.
And if they can’t find anybody more exciting to do the National Anthem in LA, I might skip that part for Games 3, 4 and 5. The old cat (James Taylor) for Game 1 was a complete bore. And then we get the Boston Pops tonight. Snore. Marvin Gaye’s version at the old LA Forum is my all time favorite.
I feel myself getting a bit bitter already, so I’ll stop here and keep hitting you up during the game.
