Airplane Rant.

Read it, don’t read it, I don’t care…just needed to get some things off my chest.

In no particular order of chronology or importance…

Not on the clock.  Airplane rant.  Afternoon rant.  Let’s turn and burn.

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1. Greetings and salutations, people.  Welcome aboard (the boat).  Let’s clear the list before the weekend.
2. Mayweather probably didn’t need to take the “coward” approach when saying he wouldn’t fight Manny again, but he IS Floyd and will do it HIS way. I am happy with whatever presentation route he uses, because we don’t NEED to see that fight again, and Floyd would have much more to lose than Manny.  Once again, Floyd agreed to the fight we all wanted (albeit three years too late), beat him soundly, and now can cruise his way to 49 or 50-0 as far as I am concerned.  Injury schminujury.  I wouldn’t mind Canelo getting another shot at Floyd though before he exits stage left.
3. Breaking icon’s records is a big deal. Willie Mays was an icon.  I felt NOTHING when A-Rod passed him on the home run list this week.  Absolutely nothing.
4. I didn’t see the actual shot yet, but I heard about it. The Par 3 short shot by Tiger was apparently borderline “embarrassing” for being a pro in general.  Having hope at The Masters was fun, but I guess I just need to internally accept that Tiger will continue to frustrate the hell out of me until he gets more practice time under his belt…or gets too old during that process.
5. I believe I have told you before, but if I haven’t, the Blackhawks are winning the Stanley Cup.  I have?  Too many times?  Oh, sorry.  Sorry to repeat myself.
6. Billy Donovan is inheriting an OKC team that might make him look GOOD next year. I think he could have left the Florida program in a little better shape, but that is not his problem now.  I think he is stern enough of a coach to demand attention from the pros, but cool enough to be able to let Durant and Westbrook do their thing in their way.  Of course, there still is the problem of living IN Oklahoma City, but that won’t be NOT fun until those stars bail.
7. Who would have thought a coach known more for NIT’s than NCAA’s would take over a program that already has a foundation on the recruiting trail? Take what Donovan did and the fact that White already knows the Florida recruiting area and you have a good blueprint for success.
8. I just made the decision the other day to write a book. Thanks, Bob.  Well, I am getting the wheels in motion at least.  I am taking the IDEA of what I am doing here and then tailoring it to a book style.  It will take research to back up my points with numbers, and I plan on writing one long “hook” every month.  I figure if I write one hook/ chapter each month, I might have something in about 4 years or so.  Maybe 2-3 years if I want a shorter version.  The hooks will not be time dependent and therefore not immediately age, and will be things that mostly I remember arguing vehemently with someone about at some time.  The writing will be my professional style more than this more casual style.
9. Also on the list of things to do will be the video rant Vince and I keep talking about. That will take a consistent effort on my part to allocate time.  Gotta figure that one out.
10. Yesterday was the 20^th anniversary of Reggie Miller’s 8 points in 9 seconds. If you someone have lived in a tunnel for the last 20 years and missed this gem, here you go.  http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/07/20-years-ago-today-reggie-millers-8-points-in-9-seconds-video/
11. Yesterday was also the anniversary of MY favorite press conference of all time, and from one of my main guys on the court. In case you lived in that tunnel mentioned in the hook before, here you go (It NEVER gets old):  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2456948-throwback-thursday-13th-anniversary-of-allen-iversons-famous-practice-rant
12. Maybe he did it. Maybe he didn’t.  Maybe he knew everything.  Maybe he knew a little.  Maybe he knew nothing.  I still am not seeing that Indy score change much with deflated balls or without.  Sure, it is not cool to try and cheat the rules, but I would like to know the level of knowledge before jumping to judgement.  That game was an ass whipping anyway, and I think he is smart enough to push the rules without obviously break them.  I admit to defending him more than I should do as kind of a fan of the guy.
13. After a week out of the country and then turning around and doing a week gone for work, I am getting off this plane, going home, and hugging my kitchen counter. Will be a quiet weekend for me for sure.
14. The Cavs are sorry for showing the video of a man throwing a woman who had a Chicago jersey on.  Read that sentence again.  Maybe if someone from the Cavs’ HR team would have said in that way “this MIGHT happen,” they wouldn’t have pulled the stunt.
15. Kid grows up in South Carolina. Kid goes to Notre Dame.  Kid proves he is a legit college QB.  Kid decides to transfer.  Coach needs QB.    Think Steve Spurrier isn’t on the phone right NOW calling someone close to that kid???
16. Of COURSE the Cowboys were the team that signed La’el Collins. Maybe they are trying to steal the old school Raiders image.  I know the kid might be totally innocent, but just saying they were VERY fast to the party after hearing he might be cleared.
17. I feel bad for the Wizards. They looked like they had it all going their way in a weak Eastern Conference, and then they lose the guy who makes them GO.  I think they can still beat the Hawks without John Wall, but they aren’t doing much after that if they survive.  Just plain old bad luck.  The people who said the Bulls were finally making a run don’t look too dumb right now.  At press time, his status was still uncertain, but I assume we will see some fancy, technologically advanced glove IF WALL plays in HIS series.
18. Not me. I was on the WITH Kevin Love Cavs bandwagon.  I was dumb.
19. I don’t remember Magic going up to Larry Bird’s mom and saying profane stuff, Matt Barnes.  Class it up, bro.
20. Sam Smith can’t perform for 8 weeks because of surgery on his vocal cords. I don’t dig all of his songs, but I have mad respect for one of the most unique voices we have heard in music, so get healed up, brother.
21. I am on the plan listening to my Shuffle, and the guitar and just happy aura of “Just Like Paradise” just never gets old to me at all. Slice it any way you want, Steve Vai was one of the best and had a niche sound.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4qh_9vH1Ww
22. The NBA has lacked quality big men for about 5-7 years as no one really owns the position and different playing styles has made teams really try to find the next Hakeem, Patrick, or Shaquille. That being said, this year’s free agency will definitely change the landscape in the NBA.  When looking on the list and finding names like Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan, Kevin Love, and Paul Millsap, you don’t exactly have slackers in the fold.  Should be fun.
23. Just in case you thought the San Francisco Giants were going anywhere bad, they just won 7 of 10 and that division now looks much more accurate to how it will end up.
24. Just in case you thought the Phillies were going anywhere, they are not.
25. Is this the 6^th or 7^th year when we thought the Mariners were ready to make some serious noise in the playoffs? I guess they are still stretching at 11-17 before really piling it on.
26. I see that Charley Hoffman is back on the leaderboard at The Players. That dude just suddenly got GOOD in his old age.
27. I just looked in the paper and it appears that the rebroadcast of Manny and Floyd is on this weekend.  Sounds like a nice relaxing Saturday night to me.
28. Well, that is it. Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed.  As one shepherd said to the other shepherd, I am going to get the flock out of here.  Talk to you this weekend.