Random Thoughts on USA Game Day

Rajon Rondo and Team USA take on Lithuania on Saturday in their first exhibition game since leaving the USA  and arriving in Spain.  The game will be at 3:00 PM ET and will be televised on ESPN and ESPN 3.   Team USA will also be playing Spain on Sunday at 3:00 PM.  Spain is considered by most to be the favorites to win the gold and so this will be a challenge for the US team.  The game vs Spain will be carried on ESPN 3.  Both games will be streamed online on FibaTV.com.    I hope Rondo plays well and I hope USA wins, but most of all, I hope Rondo stays healthy and doesn't get hurt.  

Remember Robert Swift?  For years, Swift was reported to be on Danny's wish list.  Swift was picked 12th by Seattle in the 2004 draft just before the Celtics nabbed Al Jefferson at 15.  Reports persisted for years that Danny was trying to trade Al for Swift and that Danny still really liked him.  Last year, Danny finally got his man, sort of, when Swift came to play for the Celtics Summer League team.   After a couple of knee surgeries and a lack of playing time, Swift was out of shape and wasn't very impressive.  Now,  Swift, who has more tatoos than playing time, has signed to play in Japan with the Tokyo Apache. Hopefully this closes the chapter on Danny wanting Robert Swift in Boston. 

I love the Grand Theft Rondo tee shirts.   If you haven't gotten yours yet, check them out here.  Personally, I'm waiting for the Grand Assault Perk shirts. Or, the Grand Jumper Ray shirts.   Or even maybe the Grand Concussion Scal shirts. 



The league really needs an overhaul from the top down.  The referees are corrupt.  The star players are getting together to skirt around the rules to make "super teams".  LeJerk and his ego are running wild and making demands and making a mockery of the league.   The latest is that part of ESPN's deal with LeJerk is that they have to feature him in an article weekly through the offseason.  And yet, the one thing that the league chooses to investigate  is Rudy Fernandez asking for a trade.  And, they fined him $25,000 for "public statements detrimental to the NBA."   And Herr Stern doesn't think the refs very obviously fixing a game by calling 21 fouls on one team and just 6 on the other in the 4th quarter of a game 7 isn't detrimental to the NBA?   If an independent company took a poll of all NBA fans, I would hazard a guess that at least 80% would say that the officials are corrupt or incompetent.  In doing the Comments from the Other Side last season,  I saw a LOT of fans ready to give up on the league because of the poor officiating and the star treatment and the obvious bias toward certain teams in the league.  Something needs to change. 

The Globe had a report on Perk's progress with his rehab, his thoughts on Shaq and Danny's comments that he would have to earn his starting job back once he returns.
"I don't see it threatening me at all," he said. "I gotta work hard. I know I gotta fight to get back to where I was. It's no problem with me. Hard work is not a problem."
Ho can you not love this guy?  Hard work is not a problem.  And having to fight for his starting job, even though he should have earned it already, isn't a problem.  He's got to be one of the hardest workers in the league and he will be back 100% this season.  I have no doubt.   He also said that he is fine with the team signing Shaq.  Perk is a team player and he just wants to win  He will do whatever it takes for the team to win regardless of his personal situation.  I love Perk. 

Kobe was very vocal about being one up on Shaq when he got his 5th ring.   Bill Simmons has a theory that Shaq signed with the Celtics because of Kobe's boasting.   The Celtics are Shaq's best bet to get that 5th ring and best of all, get to throw it in Kobe's face that it was the Celtics who beat him.  In one sense, I really want the Celtics to beat the Fakers in the finals this year to win the rubber match.  But, another part of me would love to see the Fakers get beat in the first round.  But, the bottom line is that Shaq wants that ring bad.  And I can see him showing up in great shape and really helping this team as they win Banner 18 this season. 

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