Derrick Rose and the beat up Bulls are about to embark on a brutal 9 game road trip that will define their season.

The Bulls annual circus trip was always the unofficial end of any hope during the early 2000′s. It was easy to have blind faith in those young Bulls teams like the ’02-’03 squad with Jamal Crawford, Jay Williams, Eddy Curry & Tyson Chandler. You wanted to believe that they could compete against NBA competition in hostile environments, but once the trip began, the real circus was wearing white, black & red.

Since D Rose has arrived on the scene, the trip has gotten far less daunting, but this compressed asinine schedule that the owners had to make happen has presented the Bulls with another grinding trip. After they beat up on the Bucks at the U.C. Friday night, they will play their next 9 games on the road. It all starts with an eastern conference finals rematch with Miami on Sunday. Then, it’s Washington, the 76ers, the Knicks, the Bucks, the irrelevant Nets, the soon to be contracted Hornets, MJ’s lottery squad (Bobcats), & the Celtics.

When you look at those teams, it doesn’t strike fear like the old Texas triangle used to in the 90′s. There’s at minimum 5 wins there, and possibly more. Personally, I can’t wait for the Sixers game…Love that squad. However, this is a beat up Bulls team that’s been playing without it’s 2nd best player. I applaud Luol Deng for attempting to play vs the Heat, but a wrist that needs surgery will not be close to 100% all season. And with how active Deng is defensively, it’s conceivable that he could tweak it and cause further damage. If that happens, then you know this will be the trip that defined this team’s season. It will also be time to start thinking about the NFL draft and next football season. Yes, I didn’t mention Chicago’s baseball teams on purpose.

There are 6 off days on this trip, so it won’t completely kill D Rose’s injured toe….At least, I hope. That being said, it would still be wise if he was resting the toe he can’t bend at this point in the season. The Bulls say it’s Rose’s call, and that’s as smart as putting Joakim Noah back in the game with 3 minutes left of a blowout. Thibs can’t help himself, and will go to the limit on this trip to ensure the Bulls remain in contention for the #1 seed in the east.

Look, I love Tom Thibodeau as a coach. Watching as much NBA ball as I do, I realize just how lucky the Bulls are to have him instead of…I don’t know…Vinny Del Negro. But no coach is perfect, and Thibs and the Bulls need to be smart about the minutes he puts on Rose, Deng, Noah & Rip Hamilton on this trip.

It’s a fine line to balance because it is imperative that Bulls get the #1 seed if they want any shot to beat the Heat 4 out of 7 times. The Heat knows they don’t need the top seed come April. That’s the beauty of having more than one star on your team. Thibs knows he has one, and needs every advantage to topple the big 3. A lot can happen over the next two weeks, how this team comes out of this trip health wise will determine how deep this team goes into the post season. I’d like to think Thibs knows he has to watch his player’s minutes, but I’d also like a hot brunette who has a sick body and doesn’t ask an infinite amount of questions.

@Louie_Ruffolo8

By signing only a 4 year deal, Kevin Love will become a free agent the same summer that the Bulls will finally be done with the Carlos Boozer error.

Leave it to Timberwolves GM David Kahn and penny pinching owner Glen Taylor to somehow not fully commit to their franchise player. I get it, a 4 year $62 million extension for Kevin Love is a hell of a lot of money, but Minnesota isn’t exactly a destination city for NBA stars. And if your star player wants the full 5 year max extension, why not oblige and lock him up for the duration?

With Derrick Williams and Wesley Johnson, the Wolves have two quality swingmen moving forward. However, the franchise players are Love and rookie sensation Ricky Rubio. If you have the foresight and want to envision a championship contender in ‘Sota down the line, Love and Rubio will be the guys who will give the best small market team in basketball that opportunity.

But look at what Love is dealing with here. Taylor epitomizes a small market owner. He is petrified of locking himself into another max contract like that of Kevin Garnett’s $126 million cap killer back in the day. That being said, the landscape is different, and a 5 year $80 million extension for Love is nowhere close to Garnett’s massive deal. Taylor loves having “flexibility,” but what good is that if your franchise player is already planning on leaving your team?

As for Kahn, the 4 year extension for Love shortens his leash and the countdown to the summer of Love (2015) has already begun. Kahn has assembled a nice young team, and the perfect veteran coach (Rick Adelman) to mold the talent. But much like Cleveland and Toronto when LeBron and Bosh signed shorter contracts, the pressure’s on Kahn to prove to Love that ‘Sota is where he should finish his career. We know how the ticking time bomb worked for Danny Ferry and Bryan Colangelo. LeBron and Bosh had one foot out the door the day they signed their shorter extensions with their original teams. The same goes for Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony. You’d think those situations would show owners like Taylor that you have to lock up your best players for as long as you can.

If things don’t turn around in the next couple of years and the T-Wolves remain a walk through squad, Love will have to look elsewhere. That’s where the 4 year extension gives him the flexibility as much as it gives the Wolves.

It could be that Taylor wants to preserve his cap space for a Rubio extension, but the slick passing Spaniard won’t re-sign there if Love isn’t happy and committed to Taylor’s franchise. That’s why keeping Love happy was essential, and the Wolves might have outsmarted themselves.

That’s where the Bulls come in. When the summer of Love arrives, that will also be the summer that Carlos Boozer’s albatross mercifully comes off the books. Sure, the Bulls could use the amnesty clause on him long before then, but knowing Jerry Reinsdorf, it’s not likely.

And we’ve all heard Love say that Derrick Rose is the best player he’s ever played with. We’ve also heard that Rose & Love have talked about playing together at some point. July of 2015 would be perfect timing with the Bulls having cap space to sign Love outright. And who knows, maybe Love becomes frustrated with Taylor and Kahn in 2014 and the Bulls could swing a deal using Boozer’s expiring contract in a package. With Kahn in charge despite the moves he’s made, anything is possible up there.

I’m always looking ahead and trying to find D Rose that other star to run with. With Love’s ability to knock down 3′s, rebound with the best of them, play the pick and roll game & his outlet passing, he is an ideal compliment to the MVP. Yes, it’s a long way off, but when the $75 million power forward is being replaced in clutch time by Brian Scalabrine, it’s impossible to not think of Love and D Rose finally teaming up in a non USA basketball setting.

@Louie_Ruffolo8

A no talent hack like Kristin Cavallari is at least smart enough to lock down someone with money. I'll give her that.

It’s obvious that Jay Cutler was unprotected on the field, but now we see he’s unprotected off the field too. It looks like Jay is going to be a baby daddy, and he is extremely excited about it. Now that his engagement is back on with Kristin Cavallari; she needed to lock it down this time by doing the good ‘ol baby trick. Jay is the one that broke off the engagement with her back in November. He was then spotted in the audience supporting her when she was quickly kicked off Dancing with the Stars and apparently things heated back up between the two. Now when I say Kristin did the ‘good ‘ol baby trick’… I mean, she knew what she was doing.  She purposely got pregnant to 1) be set up for the rest of her life marrying a professional athlete (if it lasts). 2) She knows that her stardom as a reality socialite won’t last in the limelight, but marrying the quarterback of the Chicago Bears will. And 3) Some girls have the mentality that if they have a baby by their squeeze, it’ll keep him around. Wrong!!! Pigs will be pigs and a lot of them wear jerseys.

I sound like a hater; but I’m not. Kristin Cavallari just seems off to me… like her intentions are not genuine. I was a not a ‘Hills’ watcher, but the episodes I did catch, the girl thinks her shit don’t stink! Though reality TV isn’t completely real, if you know how to read people, you can read she’s an arrogant asshole.  I’ve come to a conclusion why I’m bitter on the subject, and it’s this; clearly the Bears sucked balls this season, and it all went down hill when Jay Cutler got hurt.  It all starts with the QB, and if he’s googly-eyed and giddy over wedding bells and baby joy… how concentrated do you think he’ll be on the field?  Kristin doesn’t care if the Bears win or lose, let’s face it.  She’s got pussy control over him and if our 2012-13 season goes down like this last season, I might as well start watching softball or the WNBA.  Please shoot me.

Follow me on Twitter @SammiDsNutz

…or harass me at: Sammi@chicitysportsfan.com

The death of Joe Paterno has showed just how blind and stupid his supporters are.

What is it about the death of legendary figures that brings out the idiotic traits in so many people? Are they that indifferent to what said legend should be remembered for? My guess is they don’t care. All is forgotten when someone who aided and abetted  a serial child rapist dies. Not surprisingly, the eulogizing crew aka all of Paterno’s supporters like Matt Millen, Mike Ditka, ESPN & countless others (really, LeBron?) wanted to let you know just how great of a guy the football coach at Penn State was.

Speaking of ESPN, they have done all they could to force the “Joe Paterno’s legacy outweighs the scandal” talk down your throat. Don’t ever forget, ESPN is a marketing company, and will do whatever it can to deliver their message in their context. And you better believe people will and want to believe it. If you don’t think that’s the case, check out the two tickets on eBay that are going for $35,000 for the memorial service. I wish I was making that up.

Just because the 85 year old Paterno passed away because of lung cancer (or a broken heart), it doesn’t mean he should be celebrated, nor remembered for his 409 coaching victories at Sicko U. I understand that 80% of his players graduated within 6 years, but what should be a the forefront of any Paterno obit is what he failed to do.

What he didn’t do was expose his disgusting right hand man for the child rapist he is. As the most powerful man at Penn State, it was on Paterno to take the necessary steps in removing that demented piece of garbage from the campus, not just the football program. Joe Pa did neither. He turned a blind eye because bringing to light the repulsive acts of Jerry Sandusky would have tarnished his program. Or at least, he thought.

Paterno knew of Sandusky’s acts before Mike McQueary told him that he saw Sanpervert and a 10 year old boy naked in a shower at the Penn State practice facility. He knew prior to this, because it was determined before Sandusky’s “retirement” that he wouldn’t be succeeding Old Pa.

So Paterno knew that his guy was molesting and anally raping boys all of that time, but refused to do anything about it. Even if we’re supposed to believe he didn’t know prior to 2002, why not say something after McQueary told him? Nobody would blame Paterno for doing the right thing and setting an example at that point. If he had, his legacy wouldn’t be shattered.

Instead, Paterno chose the image of the program over what’s morally right. This, of course, coming from a practicing catholic, mind you.

For Paterno to ignore more than 50 counts of sexual abuse to kids only reaffirms the fact that this scandal should define him. How many children’s lives could have been saved if Paterno had simply removed the predator from that school? Are you telling me that winning football games is more important than that? If that’s the case, then you’re probably some of the same people who sent death threats to Kyle Williams.

And no, I don’t believe that Paterno had no idea of what “rape and a man” was. Whatever he claimed to have known was enough to save future victims from Sandusky. But as we know now, Paterno cared more about wins on Saturday’s than the future of those innocent children.

So allow the stupid to try an inundate you with how great of a person Joe Paterno was. If you have a conscience and can stomach reading the grand jury report, I trust that you’ll be able to form the right opinion of a guy who doesn’t deserve your praise. People often use death to reinforce one’s legacy, or they see it as a chance to let people know how they want those to be remembered. But that shouldn’t happen with Joe Paterno, not when he covered up a deviant’s behavior for so long. No matter how much money he donated or games that he won, nothing can take away from Old Pa’s refusal to expose a sexual predator. That’s his legacy. Deal with it.

@Louie_Ruffolo8

This is likely to be the lasting image of Kyle Williams' NFL career. However, the young receiver has a close knit group of teammates standing behind him.

Football makes us crazy. As fans, so many of us live and die with our teams’ successes and failures. It’s hard to explain to those who aren’t as fanatical about America’s pastime, but for guys like me, it’s a way of life. And in Sunday night’s NFC Championship, I felt a world wind of emotions as the 49ers gave away a trip to the Super Bowl.

But as easy as it is to blame Kyle Williams’ special teams blunders, what’s more embarrassing and appalling is how some fans reacted via Twitter afterwards. Look, I’m as crazy and insane about my teams as anyone, but who is sending death threats on a social media site to a kid who tried his best?  Honestly, you have serious issues if you are doing that bullshit.

Fortunately for Williams, he has a tight knit squad that is standing behind him, and not just because it’s the politically correct thing to do. Credit Jed York, Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh for reestablishing a culture with the 49ers that is all team, all the time. Harbaugh often says, what’s best for the team is what’s best for the individual player.

The camaraderie that this Niners team developed this season is very much like the current Bulls team. The coach sets the tone, and the players buy in. There are numerous examples of teams in all major sports that pay lip service to unity and trusting and caring for one another. Look at this year’s New York Jets for example. They hadn’t even taken their uniforms off in week 17 before they were bitching, moaning & turning on each other. If there was ever a collection of individuals, it’s those ass-hats. But when Kyle Williams says he has the best teammates in the world, it’s easy to believe. These quotes are from CBS Sports…

“We all lost this game,” tight end Delanie Walker said. “We play as a team — it’s 45 of us out there. It’s not Kyle’s fault, so don’t go over there and act like it is. Cause it’s not.”

William’s fellow wide receivers were there for him as well…

“Go on now,” Tedd Ginn Jr. said. “It’s too much for him right now.”

“I’m talking for Kyle,” injured receiver Josh Morgan said. “You have any questions, ask me. He’s not talking today. I got it.”

Even guys from a defense that played their hearts out were there for their crushed teammate…

“He’s our teammate,” Ray McDonald said. “Mistakes happen, and he made one that came at the wrong time, but we’re behind him 100 percent. Don’t doubt that.”

“Kyle better not beat himself up over this,” safety Donte Whitner said. “He’s going to have the support of me especially. We had one great season, he better not forget that.”

A day later, unified Niners hadn’t changed their tune…

“Guys are friends, not just teammates,” guard Adam Snyder said. “And I don’t know if it’s like that everywhere. So this is a special place. There’s a special thing here that is going to keep guys here for a long time.”

Sadly, this is likely to be Kyle Williams’ sports legacy. Devastating losses like this one don’t go away. A year ago, I empathized with Bears fans who saw their dream season thwarted by Jay Cutler’s knee injury. It sucks, plain and simple. For me, I’m still not over the 1990 NFC Championship Game where the Niners lost to the Giants in eerily similar fashion to what transpired Sunday after Roger Craig’s fumble. As fans, this kind of heartbreak doesn’t away easily. And for Kyle Williams, he may never live down his mistakes in the biggest game of his life. But whenever he’s feeling as dejected as so many fans are today, at least he can relish the fact that “the best teammates in the world” have his back. That has to count for something, right?

@Louie_Ruffolo8

I can't see the Ravens stopping the Brady to Gronkowski duo this Sunday. If the Pats advance...

...how cool would a Brady vs Alex Smith-the team he grew up rooting for Super Bowl be?

Last Friday, I wrote about how the NFL’s Divisional Round was the last great football weekend because it was the last time fans would feel like we had a full slate of games on top. And true to it’s word, the final 8 lived up to that premise. Well, 7 of the final did. Let us not forget the ultimate reality check that kicked the Broncos ass on Saturday night. The final four is here, but there is a sense of inevitability,, as much as finality when it comes to the AFC Championship.

Ed Reed’s not so subtle criticism of Joe Flacco this week was not as shocking as it was untimely. You don’t have to be Bill Walsh to know that Flacco inspires minimal confidence in his teammates. And, it’s not like Flacco was awful against a stout Texans defense last week (14-of-27 for 176 yards with two touchdowns and no picks), but you never get the feeling that Flacco can will his team to a win. Perhaps it’s his Hogan-esque mustache & sarcastic tone with the media that has even his most die hard supporters fearing what he’ll do this Sunday. If it’s not the mustache, maybe it’s because he’s as uncomfortable in the pocket as Kris Humphries is checking into games on the road. He holds the ball too long, and it’s his self doubt and reluctance to make certain throws that Reed is referring to.

Perhaps Flacco will have his moment like Alex Smith did a week ago. I wouldn’t bet on it. The Ravens were 4-16 on 3rd down last week, and the Ravens allowed 4 sacks on those 3rd downs. If that happens this week, Brady and CO. will be wearing those gaudy conference champion hats by the middle of the 3rd quarter.

And who knows, maybe the Ravens aging & beat up defense has one (or possibly two) more defining performances in them. But with Tom Brady coming off a 6 TD masterpiece, it’s difficult to imagine the Pats offense slowing down considerably this week. I mean, it’s not like the Broncos defense is horrendous. So figure that the Pats will score at least 27. And say the Ravens score a defensive touchdown…Does Flacco have the ability to score 21 points in him on the road against a defense that bends but doesn’t break? Sorry, but I don’t see the Ravens hitting two of their patented chuck it deep to Torrey Smith plays to put them in scoring position.

That’s why it’s almost a forgone conclusion that the Patriots win this game. You never know in the NFL, Flacco will be forced to make more plays than he’s capable of making. That’s why the real intrigue is in the NFC…

Giants and 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. It just feels right. These teams have battled 7 times in the playoffs. Let’s go back, before we look ahead…

1981 Divisional– The game before “the catch” started the Niners on their run to Super Bowl XVI. Joe Montana and the Niners won 38-24.

1984 Divisional– Montana threw for 309 yards and 3 TD’s as the Niners won 21-10 en route to becoming the league’s 1st 18 game winner in one season.

1985 Wild Card– The Giants won 17-3 before they came to Chicago to get shutout 21-0 against the Bears.

1986 Divisional– The Jim Burt game…

The Giants won 49-3 on their way to a title.

1990 NFC Championship– The Niners were 14-2 and coming off a 28-10 win vs the Redskins. A 3-peat & the title of greatest team ever was in their sights…

In one of the greatest games ever played, a three-peat was thwarted and the Giants eventually won their 2nd Super Bowl thanks to one of the best hits in NFL history that, basically, ended Joe Montana as we knew him…

The Niners were still winning the game after Montana went out, and led 13-12 late. They were running out the clock when Roger Craig ended the 3-peat dreams. Matt Bahr eventually kicked his 5th field goal of the game, and the G-Men went on to beat the Bills 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV…

The Niners extracted revenge in ’93 with a 44-3 beat down in the Divisional Round.

They didn’t meet again until after the ’02 season in the Wild Card round. It was another classic…

So here we are. Two of the most storied franchises in the sport fighting for a spot in pro football’s premiere showcase. I don’t know about you, but this is football heaven for any fan who grew up in the 80′s & 90′s. After the Giants whooped the Packers ass last Sunday, Fox should do the right thing and have Pat Summerall and John Madden call the game. Unfortunately, Joe Buck will be at the ‘Stick reminding us how lucky we are that he’s calling the game. Whatever. I’d rather have Jack Buck in his current state call this game.

The Giants are red hot and have the gambling public behind them. With the way the clutch Manning is playing, it’s hard to pick against this team. And don’t let me forget about Jason Pierre-Paul and that deep and talented pass rush that had Aaron Rodgers looking over his shoulder last week.

That being said…There is something going on with this Niners team. I had doubts they could win a shootout game vs Drew Brees, but there was Alex Smith morphing into the player so many thought he could become 7 years ago. It’s been quite the transformation for #11 and the entire organization. Win or lose this Sunday, the Harbaugh Effect is no joke. And with sloppy conditions expected thanks to rain pounding the Bay Area this week, it will be the perfect playing conditions for the Niners to capitalize. Defense, running the ball, special teams play (led by the Tony Montana Squad, Andy Lee & David Akers) & a few play action passes to to Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree.

This will be another vintage thriller, but it just feels like it’s the Niners’ year. I’m probably wrong, but Jim Harbaugh inspires the type of confidence that Joe Flacco can only dream of.

The picks…

PATRIOTS -9 over Ravens

NINERS -2.5 over Giants

Last week: 3-1

Playoffs: 5-3

Regular season: 144-102-10

@Louie_Ruffolo8

It's been a while since I've banged out a Sammi's Finest, but I'm back, bitches.

Sammi’s Finest 8.0: These offbeat briefs are extremely overdue and packed with porn, flaming tampons, and colons… and I’m not talking about the punctuation.

Want to win a colonoscopy by Ozzie Osbourne? Oh God, can you even imagine him telling you to bend over in that voice of his?  That’s pretty frightening.  All joking aside though, he really is teaming up with CBS and New York Presbyterian Hospital for the annual CBS Cares Colonoscopy Sweepstakes. Check it out here: http://promotions.mardenkane.com/cbs/cbscares12/ The lucky winner will be treated to a three-day trip to New York, which will include airfare, hotel accommodations, $500 in spending money and, yes, a trip to the doctor’s office to be violated.  The contest runs from now until March 31st. An explanation of the procedure on the website says, “As the colonoscopy begins, you will be given a drug that will make you feel like you’re at a Black Sabbath concert, but without the music. If the doctor starts to look like Ozzy, please report the side effect to him or the Prince of Darkness… whomever you see first.”

Is condom use mandatory for Porn Stars in Los Angeles? Yes. That would correct Alex, for $500. The Los Angeles City Council voted on Tuesday, January 17th to require that porn stars wear condoms on all porn movies filmed in LA.  What fun is that?? …Not only for the porn stars, but also for all the perverts wanting to see that late night straight pipe!   Let me ask you a serious question.  Not all porn stars, in fact the majority of them are not stars; so why are they called porn stars? Why aren’t they called porn actors / porn actresses? It’s more of a rhetorical question really… I don’t watch that horseshit.

Who knew that you could blow up a car using tampons? Two idiots in Pennsylvania were arrested for attempted arson after vandalizing a car and trying to blow it up using tampons. Patricia Deshong and Quentin Deshong were also arrested for public drunkenness and criminal mischief. Of course they were drunk. The tampons were found in the engine compartment and the gas tank and since there were ashes outside both of those areas, investigators concluded that the tampons were set on fire first.  Flaming tampons…Tampax should come out with a new line.

A man in Thailand who was mourning over the death of his girlfriend of 10 years married her at her funeral. Yes, he married her at her funeral.  Chadil Deffy had plans to marry his girlfriend Sarinya Kamsook but she died in an accident before they were able to set a date.  Yea because you waited 10 years to ask the poor girl!!!! During the combination funeral and wedding ceremony (the wedderal), Deffy put a ring on Sarinya’s dead finger as she lay in a coffin.  She didn’t say “I do” back obviously…  I can’t decide if that’s true love or true idioticness.

Oh My God, I thought I was the McNugget Queen!  Apparently not!!  A woman in California has been accused of offering sexual favors to a McDonald’s patron in exchange for his chicken McNuggets. A man at McDonalds who was questioned about the woman approaching his car told police Khadijah Baseer, the McProstitute, said she would perform sexual favors if he bought her McNuggets. But the guy declined…what a prude!!  I would’ve done it.  Kidding.

She is the ideal woman for any straight man.  A 27-year-old U.K. woman technically lost her virginity twice because she has two vaginas.  What?  Hazel Jones said that when she turned 18, she went to a doctor because her boyfriend said she was “different” in the genital area. How didn’t she know she was different in the genital area before the age of 18? She then found out she had two vaginas, two separate uteruses and two cervixes. She said, “Once I found out what it was I told everybody. I thought it was amazing and it’s definitely an ice-breaker at parties. And also an appetite loser.  If women want to have a look, I’m quite happy to show them.” Do they have to do a double take? She added, “I have a great sex life.” I bet you do, hussy. Doctors say if she gets pregnant she will most likely have to have a caesarean section. That shit CRAY!

Follow me on Twitter @SammiDsNutz

…Or harass me @sammi@chicitysportsfan.com

Amare Stoudemire & Carmelo Anthony were supposed to bring the Knicks back to prominence, but so far, it's been anything but a rebirth of basketball in New York.

There are few things more annoying than sports myths. Where they come from, and how they start is anyone’s guess. You know what I’m talking about, right? Utter silliness like the Cubs tremendous history stands out and makes me instantly nauseous. There are others like the St. Louis Cardinals having the best fans in baseball. Really, says who? It must be because creepy Cardinals nation calls their players by their first names, or how they have candle vigils when their precious players die. Ooh, don’t let me forget about the Dallas Cowboys being America’s team. Again, who decided this asinine statement to be true? It must be because the ‘Boys have a robust two playoff wins since their ’95 Super Bowl title. Cool.

Despite that ultra impressive list, one ridiculous myth tops my list. It’s the New York & Madison Square Garden are the “mecca of basketball.” And just so you’re aware, we’re putting in the “Knicks are a top flight organization in the NBA.” Totally. I know that they’re coming off of the stirring momentum from that championship in 1973, but what are they the mecca of, exactly?

The Knicks have been, and remain, an abomination and embarrassment in a league that so desperately dreams of them hoisting Larry O’Brien trophy’s. Donnie Walsh had this dysfunctional mess on the right track, but James Dolan and his puppet Isiah Thomas swooped in and killed all Walsh’s hard work just to bring Carmelo Anthony in at all costs.

Make no mistake, Melo is a tremendous talent, but didn’t anyone realize that pairing two ball stopping “I” players like Melo and the slowly decaying Amare Stoudemire together wasn’t a championship recipe? Yes, that Amare Stoudemire who is making Carlos Boozer’s effort on defense look like Bill Russell’s. The Knicks are currently 6-8, and just lost at “the mecca” to the abysmal Suns. The same Suns who just got run out of the United Center by 21 points to the D Rose-less Bulls. What real basketball fans are realizing is that Mr. LaLa can’t be your alpha dog on title contender. He doesn’t possess the mental fortitude to win at all costs. Winning is secondary to celebrity in Melo’s world.

In typical New York fashion, it’s the coach’s fault. Mike D’Antoni will, undoubtedly, be the fall guy for this train wreck, but his superiors have never given him the point guard that made his 7 seconds or less offense in Phoenix function so well. Melo is all wrong for D’Antoni’s system, but New York is a star town, and that’s what the Knicks care about. Building a cohesive team is irrelevant, throwing stars together is the Knicks blueprint for mediocrity. I mean, why wouldn’t you want to clog your salary cap with two ego driven players who make $20 million a year each? That makes perfect sense.

So yes, the Knicks remain as big of an atrocity now as they were when Isiah was sexually harassing team employees–and somehow an out of shape Baron Davis is going to save this team and season? That’s as laughable as Melo blaming a sprained left wrist for his shooting woes (12 points on 5-22 shooting vs the Suns). How can he honestly say that when Kobe Bryant is lighting up the league like it’s the ’01 playoffs despite playing with a torn lunotriquetral ligament in his right wrist?! But hey, as long as Melo and LaLa are the kings of New York, all is well I guess. In Melo’s last 5 games, he is shooting 35 of 102. That is, of course, after he dribbles out the shot clock.

And what exactly makes New York/MSG a basketball mecca? Is it because Michael Jordan praised the Garden towards the end of his Bulls run? Is it because Kobe and LeBron followed suit because MJ said so? Maybe it’s because Rucker Park is there. Mecca my fucking ass.

We have plenty of outdoor courts in Chicago that street legends ball out on. Oh yeah, the greatest player ever played here too! Sorry New York, but you can’t claim MJ just because he made the Knicks his prison bitch his entire career. I know that loud mouth Knicks fans are somehow proud of their history, but come to the Chi sometime and look at the 6 trophies that are on display at the U.C.  One of our own is the league MVP, and unlike your star players, he actually has won a playoff series this decade.

I hope this dispels the notion that the Knicks have returned the league’s elite, and that New York/MSG is “the mecca.” Stop embarrassing yourselves. If you want to call New York the mecca of basketball– hell, by all means, feel free. The New York Knicks are a nonentity when it comes to the upper echelon franchises in the NBA. They live off a storied history that includes one more title than the Miami Heat. And with Melo & Amare (whose contract can’t be insured because of his deteriorating knees) “leading” them, we’ll have plenty of time to declare a new & legitimate mecca of basketball.

@Louie_Ruffolo8

"The Catch III" or "The Grab" as Vernon Davis called it will go down in 49ers lore. It also gave Alex Smith...

...his moment & put the 49ers one win away from the Super Bowl.

One of my all-time favorite announcers is WWE hall of famer Jim Ross. Good ‘ol J.R. always used to talk about a wrestler’s “moment” and it usually was an iconic event in one’s career. Over the weekend, a former number 1 overall pick who has been beaten and abused for 6 years finally had that moment that will forever define him.

Alex Smith’s career up to Saturday’s epic come from behind 36-32 thriller over the New Orleans Saints is a horror movie that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. He was drafted by a 49ers team in ’05 that had beaten the lowly Cardinals twice in ’04 for their only two wins. I know the ’08 Lions went 0-16, but that particular Niners team was so devoid of talent you could argue they were the worst single season team in NFL history. So Smith was, basically, walking into a glorified arena league type situation.

And by now you’ve heard the stories. He was publicly embarrassed by the suit wearing Mike Nolan, despite playing with a shoulder injury that required surgery in ’07. In Nolan’s delusional football mind, Smith was milking the injury as a cover for poor play. Idiotic, I know. And mind you, by that ’07 season, Smith was on his 3rd of 7 offensive coordinators, and was on his way to a career record of 19-31 from ’05-’10.

He was booed off of the ’Stick last season vs Philly pushing the Niners record to 0-5. The beleaguered Smith was being “coached” by the unconscionably awful Mike Singletary, who berated him on the sideline that night and almost pulled him. Oh, and the former Bear also called Smith “meek” while describing him. It was the low point and, seemingly, final nail in a bust of a pick’s career. He was all but gone from ‘Frisco, and how could you blame him for wanting to ditch a city that treated him like he killed their dogs. Too soon, Mike Vick?

Then it all changed once Jim Harbaugh rolled out of Stanford and shot to Santa Clara. The 13-3 record this season was met with skeptics who couldn’t wait to bust Smith’s balls and who used the term “game manager” about 14,927 times since September. But by the this point, nothing could bother the thick skinned QB. He had been through verbal bashings by narrow minded,  in-over-their- head coaches & had a franchise and it’s fan base want his head at the 50 yard line of the ‘Stick.

Smith’s mental toughness and haunted past has help elevate his confidence and ability. “You think my team can’t win when I have to make plays in critical spots, I could care less.” Smith’s had an edge about him all year. Perhaps that’s in part to Harbaugh’s coaching and the coach of the year’s belief in him. Or, it might simply be because he’s become immune to pressure after all of the bullshit he’s gone through both on and off the field.

So career defining performance vs the Saints can’t be understated. In the game of the year & one of the greatest playoff games ever, he was it’s best player. Most guys who play the most difficult position in sports wouldn’t have the mental toughness & fortitude to lead two 4th quarter touchdown drives in the biggest game of their lives. But Smith did, and he is two wins away from authorizing one of the biggest turnarounds in the history of the game. Nobody saw this coming. Not one person (sans Harbaugh) thought the Niners could win big games because of the right arm (how about the beautiful 37 yard pass down the left sideline & the strike through a tiny window to Vernon Davis for the game winner?!) and legs (the 28 yard TD scamper aka The Run was one of the best calls/plays in league history) of Alex Smith. It was a preposterous thought even a few weeks ago, but here he is…In the NFC Championship Game.

The guy who wanted to leave San Francisco last December is re-writing his own legacy in spectacular fashion. Game manager my ass– Alex Smith is developing into a top flight quarterback. How many guys can out duel Drew Brees in a playoff shootout? Smith did just that in his “moment.” Somewhere, Jim Ross wishes he could have called this game. And with two more wins, one of the most unlikely stories in NFL history will have played out like a movie that not one studio in Hollywood would ever believe.

@Louie_Ruffolo8

The Packers couldn't cover Hakeem Nicks who lit them up for 7 catches, 165 yards & 2 huge touchdowns in the Giants 37-20 beat down of the defending champs.

Being the NBA junkie that I am, the conspiracy theories are always flying and often impossible to ignore. Anyone who remembers Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals can attest to that. Fans who believe in conspiracy theories didn’t need Tim Donaghy dropping dimes on the association. Sadly, the officiating crew for the Giants-Packers NFC divisional playoff led by Bill Leavy brought back memories of that fixed disaster that helped propel the Lakers to their 3rd straight championship. What we witnessed was one of the worst officiated playoff games of my lifetime.

The fix was in for Green Bay on Sunday, and it almost ensured a Packers win. The Greg Jennings play should have been a fumble.(which was reviewed!) That was the first ridiculous call by Leavy’s band of incompetent clowns. The play was upheld after Leavy smoked a joint under the replay booth. It also gave Aaron Rodgers and Co. life, and quickly even the scored at 10. It didn’t end there, however.

On 3rd and 2 with 9:21 left in the 3rd quarter, Leavy’s bunch was at it again. D.J. Ware looked to pick up a 1st down on a draw play, but they marked him a full yard short of the line of scrimmage. Look, I know the imaginary first down line isn’t perfect, but it’s close enough to make you realize they blew another one. And don’t let me forget to mention that Fox never showed a replay. If you don’t think the fix was in, I can’t help you.

We’re not done. Late in the game, Leavy was at it again when a perfect hit by Osi Umenyiora on Rodgers resulted in a roughing the passer penalty. The game was over by that point, but this needs to be pointed out. Umenyiora did everything the new pussified rules allow and never made contact with Rodgers’ helmet. Ridiculous.

Thankfully, the better team won the game, and saved the league the embarrassment. The better big game Manning was sensational throwing for 330 yards & 3 TD’s, Hakeem Nicks became a household name & top 5 receiver & the Giants defense stifled an offense that most pundits dubbed unstoppable.

The performance of the Giants can’t be understated, but the officiating atrocities burn my ass. All season long it’s been annoyingly proven that you can’t get anywhere near a quarterback without risking penalty and/or fine. It’s a harsh and cold reality to fans who grew up like myself in the 80′s & 90′s when some of the premiere athletes on the planet were actually allowed to play the sport.

If the Packers had won this game, the Jennings fumble would go down with the “tuck rule game” in NFL lore. That was a potential 14 point swing.

But alas, the Giants overcame the officiating blunders and proved their metal. They are getting hot at the right time and deserve to be in the NFC Championship. With all of the New York money that will be coming in this week, they could be a favorite in the title game despite having to beat the Cowboys in week 17 just to get in this tournament. Much like their epic run in ’07, the Giants are proving that it’s imperative to get hot at the right time. I’m just glad that they were far superior than the defending champions on Sunday. Because if they would have lost in part because of Leavy’s idiotic brand of officiating, the NBA’s image issues would have crept into the most popular sport in this country.

@Louie_Ruffolo8