NBA Scandal and I am angry as hell!

I am sure that you, all 3 of my readers, have heard about the developing scandal in the NBA. Apparently, Tim Donaghy, a referee, is being investigated by the FBI for betting on games, including some in which he officiated. On top of that, the gambling is reportedly related to some crime families to which he is indebted. All around, this is a bad situation. But is that why I am angry? No! My anger is reserved for a certain ESPN writer: Bill Simmons.

So I am reading Simmons’ latest article about this whole Donaghy scandal and it is alright. I mean, I could have done without the cinematic opening, but otherwise I was reading a pretty good article. But then, I get to this part:

After Dwyane Wade and Miami received some Vince McMahon-level assistance in Games 3 and 4 of the 2006 Finals, I wrote an angry column about the “officiating crisis” (my words) that prompted Mavs owner Mark Cuban (tired of being fined) to post the link on his blog along with the sentence, “I never have to say a word again.” After Dallas squandered that series, Cuban was so traumatized by the officiating that he nearly sold the Mavericks before family and friends talked him out of it.

Holy crap. I almost lost it.

Let’s start this off by first pointing out that he is essentially giving credit to Marc Cuban for being the biggest baby in the NBA. He is making Cuban sound like a valiant hero, when the “man” nearly bailed on a team when they needed him the most. You don’t think that had any effect on the Mav’s exit this past post season? On top of that, Simmons seems to be boasting the fact the he was this man’s own hero; nice. Congrats.

Now, I realize that I cannot be impartial here, and that previous paragraph was anything but; yet there is still more to be dissected in this quote I have selected. In the first sentence, Simmons makes a reference to “Vince McMahon-level assistance in Games 3 and 4.” I suppose the McMahon reference is suggesting that Stern had the games fixed so that Miami would win; for the betterment of the game. Except, according to Simmons, this Miami team is boring. Well, if that were the case, where was Stern the previous year when we had to watch Detroit and San Antonio in the “Snooze Fest Defensive Championship?” Or how about this year when the Spurs swept the Cavs in what was another boring Finals? The argument makes no sense. Oh, and if I remember correctly, Game 4 was a blowout for Miami; what part of that was fixed? That also doesn’t make sense, Bill.

Anyhow, to further enrage myself, I proceeded to read his article that he linked to in the quote I wrote above. Basically, he suggests that the Mavs are the team of the future; or at least the style that they play. Well, I know hind sight is 20/20, but HA! I laugh right in your face, Simmons! Not only did the Mavs lose again, in the first round no less, but a team built in the Miami Heat fashion won the whole thing! “One guy creates every shot in crunch time, everyone else stands around and watches him, and every once in awhile those guys get to shoot an open jumper or finish a nice dish.” That is precisely how the Spurs won it all; but Simmons had the audacity to say that this formula wouldn’t work in the NBA anymore; by the way, he was talking about the Heat in that quote; Ha again.

So, Simmons doesn’t really talk about his super prototype anymore in this most recent article. I would argue that teams that play like the Mavs do cannot win championships (Suns, Warriors, the Kings of a few years ago). My proof? They haven’t won… Speaks volumes, doesn’t it? By the way, in what world are the Mavs exciting to watch? Shaq has more personality than the whole team; and their superstar is kinda slow and makes jump shots; jump shots. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for Dirk to hit another jumper.

Anyhow, enough of this rant for now. I know Simmons will never read this, but somehow I feel better after getting it off of my chest.

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