BEST TIME OF THE YEAR!!!

AMTRAK SERIES

No it's not a subway series, but Amtrak is just as good. Just a short train trip south or north, depending on who your rooting for, is why this series is made for TV. Those not in the know or not from this mid-atlantic region from New York City down to Philly wouldn't quite understand. I live in NJ right above the cutoff where it turns from New York fans to Philly fans, from Giants or Jets fans to Eagles fans, from New York Knicks fans, to 76ers fans, and of course from Yankees fans to Phillies fans. You see this is bigger than just A-Rod versus A-Howard, or C.C. Sabathia vs. Cliff Lee. This is about the disdain and the dislike that New York and Philly fans have for each other. I've seen it many times in my life. I went to High School in Piscataway, NJ only 45 minutes from New York City. I went to College at Villanova, only 10 minutes outside of West Philadelphia. New York is the largest city in the country. New Yorkers think their city is by far the best in the world. Everything not New York is country and lame. Philadelphians hate this. They hate being the little brother of New York City. They hate that you would dare pass up the City of Brotherly love on I-95 in route to the City that never sleeps. They hate that you would actually pass up a Cheese Steak from Geno's or Pats for a slice of Pizza and Manhattan's bright lights. It's the arrogance of New Yorkers vs. the in-your-faceness of Philadlephia. The glitz and glamour of New York City vs. the blue collar hard work of Philadlephia. Philadelphia feels they're a tougher city, and that New York is always over hyped. New Yorkers feel like Philly just wants to be like them. Well it all comes down to this. It's not just about balls and bats or base runners. These are two cities that hate each other and might not even drink a beer in one of the other's bar, because it wouldn't quite taste the same. I live 54.3 miles from the new Yankee Stadium and 60.46 miles from Citizen's Bank Park in Philly. It's exactly 6.16 miles longer on the trip to Philly. With that said, I'm rolling with the Phillies, just something about the Yankess and their big pay roll doesn't quite sit well with me.

WHY?

I'd like to know what Blake Griffin was thinking at the exact moment of this picture to the left. I wish I could be inside his head to know his exact thoughts. Was he thinking why me? Was he thinking, is this really the team that is going to end my career? Was he thinking, I wonder if there's really a curse? I wonder will I get hurt and not be able to play on opening night? I have to be honest, I am extremely disappointed that Blake won't be playing tonight, but I'm not shocked. I wanted to see what he could do against the best team in the league in the Lakers. But it won't happen. It won't happen because he is on one of the worst teams in sports. A cursed team. I didn't even believe in curses until the very moment I saw how Griffin got hurt. It was a routine dunk, nothing special, landed fine and BAM!! Broken knee cap. It has to be a curse. Year after year it just never works out for the Clippers. I feel for Griffin. I fear for the foolish Los Angeles residents who actually root for the Clippers over the Lakers. I would want to get in their heads as well and ask why? Why do they think things will ever change? The same question that I want to ask Griffin.

So the NBA is back upon us. I have to say I am excited and this is my favorite time of the year. So here are my thoughts on some topics that some of my NBA fans may want to hear about.

TEAMS TO BEAT IN THE EAST

We know the Celtics were a depleted team last year without Kevin Garnett. He is the emotional leader and his return can't be measured. Let's keep a close eye on the situation with Rajon Rando. He's probably one of the top five point guards in the league now, but he didn't accept his contract extension offer from management. Rumors have it that Rondo is tough to coach and not so close with his teammates. Management was shopping him in the summer and that doesn't sit well with Rondo. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce both are good players but Father Time is chasing them. News today of Glen "Big Baby" Davis breaking his thumb in an altercation with an ex- LSU teammate is not good for the Celtics either, especially with Rasheed Wallace in town now. Davis will be out a few weeks and Celtics Co-Owner Wyc Grousbeck said he will be suspended. On paper the Celtics look good. But could chemistry be an issue this year? They'll win the garbage Atlantic division, but because of their age, they're still the 3rd best team in the east.

I will try to get through this paragraph without mentioning the King's name. We know he's great, arguably the best player in the league and will be in the MVP talk for the next ten years. So let's talk about the rest of the Cavs. Shaq's arrival should help if the Diesel is in shape. I played with him and when he's motivated he can't be stopped. But Shaq never makes it through an entire season without missing time. Delonte West, who's going through personal issues will be missed. Someone has to step up in his absence. The Cavs will be tough. And they have to be motivated after what happened in the playoffs last year. In my opinion, if they don't win it this year, they'll never win it.

This team was impressive last year. They were one of the best 3 point shooting teams in the league. They bring in Vince Carter to replace Hedo Turkoglu. Vince is a different type of player, but he can score with the best of them as he averaged 20 ppg last year for the Nets. Jameer Nelson is back and if he was healthy last year during the playoffs the Magic maybe wearing some jewelry right now. But it all rests on the broad shoulders of Dwight Howard. We know what he is defensively, the question is did he add some offensive moves to his off the chart athleticism? Did he improve his free throw shooting? If so, pencil them in to the NBA Finals. If not, the Cavs and Celtics will be swooping in for the kill. My opinion? This is the best team in the East.

This is my sleeper team in the east. No, they're not going to challenge for the Eastern Conference Finals, but they will be much improved. If Gilbert Arenas stays healthy this team can knock off a few people. The Wizards have added Randy Foye and Mike Miller to the fray. The Wizard were destroyed by injuries last year and the firing of Eddie Jordan who's now with the Sixers. Brendan Haywood is healthy this year, and when Antoine Jamison returns to the lineup this team can really score. Flip Saunders is an offensive coach, and the Wizard I think can easily finish anywhere from 4th to 6th in the Eastern Conference.

TEAMS TO BEAT IN THE WEST

It's rather juvenile to even talk about the Lakers. They are the defending champions. They have Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and the Laker legacy behind them. Why would they not be in position to repeat as champions? The only question would be the loss of Trevor Ariza who was instrumental in the Lakers success in the playoffs last year. They added Ron Artest, who is more than a viable replacement and brings toughness to a Laker squad that has been questioned about that for two years now. But what if Andrew Bynum finally becomes tough and grows into the man child he suppose to be? If so, pencil in the Lakers for maybe two or three more championships. But it may not happen. He went to St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, NJ. They have been rivals with my high school for 20 years. They produce softies. It may never happen.

One of the best franchises in sports over the last decade. The only time this team seems to struggle is when they're not healthy. They have battle tested veterans, guys who have been there before and probably, after Phil Jackson, the best coach in the league in Greg Popovich. Duncan is the best power forward to ever play the game. Tony Parker is the best not talked about point guard in the league and Manu Ginobili in my opinion, is one of the best European players ever to play in the NBA. They also added Richard Jefferson this year, who's been to the NBA Finals, Antonio McDyess and a beast from the Big East in Dejuan Blair. The Spurs arguably could be the best team in the league.

This has been formulating for awhile now. Brandon Roy is the biggest star in the league that nobody talks about. Maybe it's because he plays in boring Portland. Maybe it because here on the east coast we're not staying up late unless it's to see Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. But the kid is teetering on top five player in the league status. He's not there yet, but let's revisit that by the end of the year. LeMarcus Aldridge averaged 18 pts per game last year. Rudy Fernandez is another guy that can be a factor for them. Let's not forget about the addition of Andre Miller who I think is one of the more steady point guards in the league. But will he start or come off of the bench behind Steve Blake? He may not be happy if it's the latter. But the season really all falls on Greg Oden. Is he really the beast that he was said to be in high school? If he can do that then the Blazers may be challenging in the West.

No doubt the team with the most tatoos in the league. Not sure what to say about this team. They said bye bye to Dahntay Jones who was a very good perimeter defender. Their starting five is making so much money they don't have much cash to improve their team. With Chauncey Billups, J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin, Nene and Carmelo Anthony, the nuggets can play with anybody in the league. The questions are the bench guys now. The Birdman Chris Anderson can bring the energy, Ty Lawson had 29 pts in a pre-season game and can really be a viable backup to Billups. But where will the points off the bench come from? Used to be Smith, but now someone else has to fill that roll. Who? That remains to be seen.

NO YOU DIDN'T!

So, I didn't have a problem with Mark Sanchez eating a hot dog on the sideline. What I did have a problem with is him trying to hide it and also him putting a little mustard on it! To me that was hilarious. You wanna hurry up and eat it, but you wanna make sure you have the right condiments on it. Can't have your hotdog without the mustard! Good thing the Jets won the game, or the fans would've accused Sanchez of doggin' it out there on the field!