Twice Baked Potatoes

Ingredients

• 4 large russet potatoes, each about 3/4 pound each, scrubbed and dried
• 2 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1 scallion, finely chopped
• Freshly grated nutmeg, optional
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the potatoes directly on the rack in the center of the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Pierce each potato in a couple spots with a fork and continue to bake until tender, about 30 minutes more. Remove potatoes from the oven, and turn the heat down to 375 degrees F.

Hold the potato with an oven-mit or towel, trim off the top of the potatoes to make a canoe-like shape. Reserve the tops. Carefully scoop out most of the potato into a bowl. Take care to leave enough potato in the skin so the shells stay together. Mash the potato lightly with fork along with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the butter and sour cream. Stir in the scallion, nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Season the skins with salt and pepper. Refill the shells with the potato mixture mounding it slightly. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the potato filling. Brush the reserved top with the remaining butter and season with salt and pepper.

Set the potatoes and lids on a baking sheet, and bake until heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved


SOURCE

Twice Baked Potatoes

JJ Watt

The Texans take JJ Watt with the #11 pick in the draft. Here are a few Watt videos.

Houston Texans Official 2011 Draft Board

We know the Texans have struck out for the most part on drafting football players. What if they could draft anything? Here's what I imagine the Texans draft board might look like, followed by their analysis of the draft picks.


1st Round Grades:

The Paul Reiser Show
 Texans Analysis "We feel this show has alot of upside potential.  Paul Reiser vehicles seem to have a lasting impression with the public. Judging by their decision to replace Conan O'Brien with Jay Leno, we know NBC knows high comedy."

Lindsay Lohan

Texans Analysis "Disney Actresses tend to kill it at the box office.  What mother wouldn't want their child to emulate Lohan? Should be well grounded and regimented for the next 18 months."



Pong

Texans Analysis: "Quite simply, we see Pong as the replacement for the babysitter.  Kids will spend hours mesmermized by the graphics and fast action."



New Coke

Texans Analysis: "Take something that everyone in the world loves and make it better? I'm sold! Bill Cosby is backing this, everyone loves Bill Cosby! This is a can't miss prospect."



Chris Gaines

Texans Analysis: "Off the record, Garth Brooks says this guy is a gold mine. Garth knows music like we know tight ends."




Beirut, Lebanon

Texans Analysis: "Everyone wants sea side property. We hear we can get land dirt cheap here. World Class gun ranges as well."



Oldsmobile

Texans Analysis: "We've always been big on the American automobile, and our insiders tell us that this one appeals to the most people. We feel it will be the Rolls Royce of Middle Class America."



Jakob Dylan

Texans Analysis: "We're getting Bob Dylan with twice the stamina and a tenth of the price. Now I know how the Colonel felt when he discovered Elvis."

Vegemite

Texans Analysis: "Austrailia flat out sells. Come on, who wouldn't eat Yeast Extract!"

Salmon Salad with Red Chile-Caesar Dressing

Ingredients
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
2 peeled garlic cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste
1 teaspoon red chili paste
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 cups chopped Romaine lettuce leaves
2 cooked salmon fillets, broken up into 2-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
1 cup seasoned croutons


Directions
In a blender or food processor, combine lemon juice, oil, Parmesan, garlic, anchovy paste, red chili paste, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Puree until smooth. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper.


Arrange lettuce leaves on a serving platter and top with salmon and croutons. Pour over dressing and serve.


SOURCE

Salmon

5th Annual Father's Joy Charity Golf Classic

There are tons of worthy and fantastic charitable organizations throughout our great city.  I want to let you know about one of them.  It's called Father's Joy.  You can read more about the organization here: http://fathersjoy.org/ but I will give you a brief story about how I came in contact with the charity.

I married into a great group of friends with my wife Allyson.  Among them are Kristin and Shannon Tassin who have a family we could all stand to emulate.  The Tassin's oldest daughter Abby was born with Down Syndrome.  On a day that should have been met with great celebration, they were given overly negative, devastating news about what their child could not achieve.  The hospital had no literature or counseling available to assist the parents of a special needs child.  Through the power of prayer and the incredible will of this family, the Tassin's vowed to help other parents have a better parenthood experience than they did and to remind the entire world what special gifts each child brings into the world regardless of his or her disability.

I can tell you that Abby is one of the happiest 11 year olds I know.  She is thriving in her public school classroom and participates/enjoys all the same activities of everyone her age.  She is proof of God's love for every child and the shining star of what Father's Joy is all about.

But that's just scratching the surface of the story of my passion for the Tassin's work.

Most of you know me as the slightly sarcastic, sometimes hard-headed wind bag that wakes up every morning with you on Sports Talk 790. Well, to be fair, all of that is true.  There's also a part of me that likes to go out, party, and hang with the 'fellas at the local watering hole (drinking a Bud Light of course).  Now let me fill in you on the part of me I haven't talked about on the air.  I was also almost a father. 

My wife and I are looking forward to being parents someday.  We thought that someday was 2 years ago.  We were expecting our 1st child when a doctor told my wife that something didn't look right on one of her tests.  The doctor could not determine exactly what was wrong, but suspected that our child had a birth defect.  The doctor tried to convince her to end the pregnancy, but we told them we would love our child unconditionally and wanted to have the baby.  Unfortunately we lost our child a month later.

It was a devastating blow to us and my sorrow was later accompanied with anger when we met with a "genetic counselor" at the behest of my wife's physician.  I could not believe the negativity and discouragement coming from this trained professional when it came to the idea of raising a special needs child.  It's just not right for anyone to tell a parent or a child that there is no hope.

There's a small part of us that will probably always be missing, but it also reinforces our belief that all children are a precious gift given by God that should be given every opportunity to fulfill their potential regardless of the obstacles in front of them.

This is why we play....

Please join me for The 5th Annual Father's Joy Charity Golf Classic: presented by Reliant Energy, Friday May 13th at Wildcat Golf Club. http://fathersjoy.org/golf/index.html

You can sign up with a team of 4 or just bring yourself!

We will have a nice breakfast beginning at 730am with an 830am shotgun start.

Snacks and drinks will be provided on the course as a courtesy to all of our golfers, and a big lunch will be served after the round of golf.

You could win a 2011 GMC Terrain from Beck and Masten Buick GMC. http://www.beckmasten.com/  Don't say it will never happen! Last year we had a golfer sink a hole-in-one for a 2010 Buick Lacrosse!

We'll have some killer door prizes for many of our lucky golfers and the winning teams will be walking away with a pretty sophisticated piece of electronics. Hint: YOU WILL LOVE it!

Our longest drive, closest to the pin, and three raffle ticket winners will have the chance to make a shot for $1 MILLION DOLLARS!!! 
Golfers can buy million dollar raffle tickets ahead of the tournament for $20 by emailing info@fathersjoy.org

Oh, did I mention that you'll have your picture taken with Houston Texans Cheerleaders? I didn't?!? Well, you and your team will have your pictures taken with Houston Texans Cheerleaders!

If you can't make it out for golf, no sweat! You can still help Father's Joy!  Our silent auction goes live this Wednesday morning and you have a chance to bid on some fantastic items. http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?vhost=fathersjoy

How would you like to have a private lunch for 2 with yours truly and Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey?
Private Lunch for 2 with Rockets GM Daryl Morey and Matt Jackson

Want to dine with former Rockets Head Coach and current ESPN broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy?
Private Lunch for 2 with Jeff Van Gundy and Matt Jackson

Maybe football's your thing, how about lunch for 2 with Houston Texans Tackle Eric Winston and me?
Private Lunch for 2 with Eric Winston and Matt Jackson

If you're into golf, we have a Masters Flag from this year's tournament autographed by the 2011 Masters Champ Charl Schwartzel

Hole and gallery sponsorships are still available. If there is any way you would like to contribute to this great cause, we appreciate all of your support.  If you sign up yourself or a  foursome to play, before May 4th, you will be entered in a drawing  for you and a friend to be my guest at an Astros game. (Food and Drink Included).  Just write 790 in the comments section when you sign up to play!
http://fathersjoy.org/golf/sponsorship.php

All proceeds for golf and silent auction items benefit the wonderful programs of Father's Joy. http://fathersjoy.org/programs.htm

I can't express enough my heart felt thanks for your consideration of Father's Joy and The 5th Annual Father's Joy Charity Golf Classic.  We plan  to have a great day of golf and fellowship and to raise money for a great cause.   For more information or to sign up for the golf tournament call 281-630-2885 or click here: http://fathersjoy.org/golf/sponsorship.php

From the bottom of my heart I thank you for taking a few minutes to hear our story- Matt Jackson

Thoughts on Milo Hamilton's comments on Lance Berkman

Astros Hall of Fame Broadcaster Milo Hamilton stopped by for his weekly visit Monday morning with Adam and me. You can hear the audio here. http://www.sports790.com/pages/mattandadam.html?article=8479756
Milo had some very fair but pointed criticism of former Astros  All Star Lance Berkman.

Let me start by saying Lance Berkman was one of the most pleasent individuals to cover from a media perspective.  He never ducked the media in good times or bad and generally gave thoughtful and or funny responses to questions.  Berkman also never took himself too seriously which made it fun to call him "Fat Elvis" or "The Big Puma" etc.  He was an oustanding baseball player (borderline HOF caliber) for 12 seasons in Houston.

Berkman was clearly a naturally gifted hitter who could dedicate himself to his craft without having to dedicate himself to staying in shape.  When his poorly trained body betrayed him at an advanced age, he was no longer a good player.  This off season, he clearly spent time getting in top shape and in the early going is reaping the benefits.

Would I have been motivated to play for the last couple of Astros teams? Maybe not...but that didn't seem to affect Roy Oswalt's performance for the team under the same circumstances.  What has Ichiro Suzuki had as motivation to excel for the Mariners 6 of the last 7 years?  Why did Dale Murphy ever try hard for the Atlanta Braves?  Being the face of the franchise has its responsibilities and to some extent, Lance Berkman probably did not totally fulfill his end of the bargain at the end of his tenure.  If Berkman had prepared for the 2010 season with the same vigor as 2011, he'd be collecting on another multi-year deal and quite possibly still the face of the Astros franchise.

Lance Berkman was an asset to the Astros both on and off the field.  No one was more involved with charitable endeavors, and his devotion to and expression of  his faith is to be commended.  Like all of us, Lance was not perfect and there is nothing wrong with being critical of the short comings of a player, just like Lance could say I leave much to be desired as a talk show host.  We can celebrate Lance Berkman for the great player that he was in Houston and still wonder what could have been with a slightly more dedicated approach.  Lance, if it makes you feel any better, I'd say the same thing about Babe Ruth.  Best of luck in St. Louis this season and thanks for the memories.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

NFL Draft QB's

The NFL Draft commences Thursday night. Let's take a look at the prospective QB's in this year's draft.


Cam Newton - Is he a one year wonder? His feet are a weapon but he'll need time to learn how to read defenses and get proper foot work on his drops from center.


Blaine Gabbert - Another guy who has alot to learn about footwork and the center snap. Gabbert seems to have happy feet in the pocket. His arm strength is adequate. I would not spend a 1st round pick in the guy. I don't see a future Pro Bowl QB.


Andy Dalton- You can't question his leadership or his character. The big question with Dalton is arm strength. Average arm strength can be overcome with superior timing. He reminds me alot of Jim Harbaugh.


Colin Kaepernick- I think Kaepernick's biggest issue might be staying healthy. He looks so skinny out there that you figure he's going to be broken in two pieces given his reckless style of play. He has a very awkward delivery and certainly did not run a pro set at Nevada.


Christian Ponder- He has big time arm strength, but has trouble staying healthy. I'm not crazy about Ponder's decision making. Not a guy that I would draft.


Jake Locker- I swear this kid played 10 years at Washington. I don't understand how it's possible that he could be drafted in the 1st round. Simply put, Locker is inaccurate. If your team drafts Jake Locker, prepare to be drafting a QB in another 3 years.

Spinach and Strawberry Salad

Ingredients
2 bunches spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces
4 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds


Directions
1. In a large bowl, toss together the spinach and strawberries.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar, paprika, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. Pour over the spinach and strawberries, and toss to coat.


Nutritional Information  
Amount Per Serving  
Calories: 235 | Total Fat: 15.9g | Cholesterol: 0mg


SOURCE

Salad

NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released its schedule for the season on Tuesday.  Yes, the NFL released a schedule of games that currently will not be played as scheduled...but whatever.  Here's the Texans schedule:

 Sunday Sept. 11 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Noon CBS


Sunday Sept. 18 at Miami Dolphins 3:15 pm CBS

Sunday Sept. 25 at New Orleans Saints Noon CBS

Sunday Oct. 2 PITTSBURGH STEELERS Noon CBS

Sunday Oct. 9 OAKLAND RAIDERS Noon CBS

Sunday Oct. 16 at Baltimore Ravens 3:05 pm CBS

Sunday Oct. 23 at Tennessee Titans Noon CBS

Sunday Oct. 30 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Noon CBS


Sunday Nov. 6 CLEVELAND BROWNS Noon CBS

Sunday Nov. 13 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Noon CBS

Sunday Nov. 20 BYE WEEK

Sunday Nov. 27 at Jacksonville Jaguars Noon CBS

Sunday Dec. 4 ATLANTA FALCONS Noon FOX

Sunday Dec. 11 at Cincinnati Bengals Noon CBS

Sunday Dec. 18 CAROLINA PANTHERS Noon FOX

Thursday Dec. 22 at Indianapolis Colts 7:20 pm NFLN

Sunday Jan. 1 TENNESSEE TITANS Noon CBS


I double dog dare you to find 9 wins on the Texans schedule.  I got up to 6 and then I was stumped.  Seriously, nothing short of 4-2 in the division will get this team in the postseason.

The tentative week 1 schedule Nationally includes a Thursday night tilt between the Packers and the Saints, a 9/11 prime time matchup with the Cowboys at the Jets, and Monday night double header featuring the Patriots @Miami and Oakland @Denver.

The Thanksgiving Day games include the Packers @ Detroit, Miami @ Dallas, and San Francisco @Baltimore.

Christmas Day the Packers play at Chicago. Most of the week 16 schedule will be played on Saturday December 24th.

I hate to be so negative, but has anyone else been paying attention to Astros top prospect Jordan Lyles early struggles AAA Oklahoma City? Lyles is 0-2 with a 7.07ERA in his 1st three starts.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=543475


This is the type of video that makes all of the internet worth while.


Brian Wilson is very close to becoming my favorite MLB player.


This call may be slightly homerish, but I like it...."GET UP!!"

Handicapping the Rockets Head Coach Search

The Rockets and Rick Adelman had "Irreconcilable Differences", so Houston is looking for a new head coach. Here's how I would handicap the field.

Mike Brown (4-1)- The former Cavs head coach is a Greg Popovich disciple which certainly won't hurt him in the eyes of Daryl Morey or Les Alexander. He was NBA coach of the year in 2009, but the Cavs whacked him after the 2010 season because they thought it would help keep Lebron James in Cleveland. His teams play good defense, but he obviously would have no Lebron James on this roster.

Lawrence Frank (6-1) - The Major Applewhite look-a-like did a fantastic job with an undermanned New Jersey Nets roster. He was offered but turned down the head coaching job at the University of Tennessee. Not a traditional coach by any means, but certainly young enough to relate to this roster.

Stan Van Gundy (8-1) - 1st Things 1st...SVG would need to be fired by the Orlando Magic. If he was already out of work, SVG might be the favorite. His teams traditionally bring it on defense (this year not withstanding) and he has a good relationship with Dwight Howard, who you would have to assume would be a Rockets trade target in the off season.

Mike Woodson (10-1)- The former Rockets guard coached the Atlanta Hawks for 6 seasons. His team improved its win total every season on the job. A Larry Brown protege his offenses are nothing to write home about but his teams could grind out an opponent and force them into a ton of bad shots.

Chris Finch (20-1)- Daryl Morey hand picked Finch out of no where once to lead the D-League Vipers. All he's done is win a championship and is in competition for a second. Given the difficulty of not knowing which players you might have on a night-in night out basis, that says something about his ability. The lack of a star on the Rockets roster seems to indicate to me that the Rockets could take a chance on a relative "no-name" coach and not worry about player's respecting him.

Ettore Messina (35-1)- The reigning Euroleague coach of the year, Messina has won 4 European championships in Russia and Spain. He was considered a strong candidate for the Toronto Raptors job a couple seasons ago and I think he is on the Rockets radar.

Jeff Van Gundy (50-1) - A guy can dream can't he? JVG still wants to coach and live in Houston. There's currently only 1 job that will allow him that combination.

Cornbread Panzanella Salad

Ingredients
8 ounces cornbread, cut into cubes (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup cubed fontina cheese
1/2 cup cubed cucumber
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper


Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Toss gently to combine. Place in a serving bowl and serve.


SOURCE

Special Cornbread

NBA Playoff Weekend Review, Incredible Fan Unity, Things That Make You Say "Doh"!

In the words of Bill Worrell, "Shane Battier with a COLD BLOODED Three!"
How was your weekend? I bet it wasn't betten than Shane Battier's. He hit the game winning 3 pointer for Memphis and his wife gave birth to their 2nd child. Now that's WINNING!

The 1st weekend of the NBA playoffs were nothing short of exceptional. The Bulls and Heat barely escaped heavy underdog upsets from the Pacers and 76ers. The Hawks beat Orlando on the road despite 46 and 19 from Dwight Howard. The 8th seeded Grizzlies knocked off #1 San Antonio. Chris Paul had 33 points 14 assists, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals in an upset win over the Lakers


This has to be one of the most well organized, unified efforts from a fan base ever. It's the brand new Portland Timbers of MLS.


Speaking of the Timbers, their mascot uses a chainsaw to saw a log after every goal...that's a new one.

These moments in sports are not at all embarrassing.


Keep you're eye on the ball dude!


This one is only embarrassing if you're French. When did Vince Carter have hair?


This is incredible. To have a missed and made goal on both sides of the ice in 15 seconds is crazy.


This was the easiest 2 points scored in the history of the San Francisco 49ers.


This is a Homer Simpson "Doh" if ever there has been one.


This ref needs to go back to school.


This is a pretty incredible recreation of the 1986 Buckner Ball in World Series Game 6 using the old Nintendo game RBI Baseball.


File this video under great Best Man Speeches gone Mad....

Western Conference Playoff Preview

Western Conference Playoff Preview

#1 San Antonio Spurs vs #8 Memphis Grizzlies (Regular Season Series 2-2)

Why The Spurs Can Win: The Spurs are probably the deepest team in the playoffs. Every player understands his role. Gary Neal is a designated gunner off the bench. Richard Jefferson plays defense. Dejuan Blair rebounds and gives hard fouls. Still the Spurs will go as far as Tim Duncan can take them. He is clearly showing his age but is still a productive force on the defensive end and when San Antonio really needs a bucket.

Why the Grizzlies can win: Duncan is going to have a hard time keeping Zac Randolph off the offensive glass. The Spurs aren't a great defensive team to begin with. If they don't win the rebounding battle Memphis will keep the games close. Tony Allen and Shane Battier will be able to share minutes and try to wear down Manu Ginobli.

What Happens: The Grizzlies lack a closer with Rudy Gay on the shelf. The games are all close, but the Spurs prevail. Spurs in 7.

#2 Los Angeles Lakers vs #7 New Orleans Hornets (Lakers won the season series 4-0)

Why the Lakers can win: The Lakers are just too big. With David West out for the season, Pau Gasol is going to have a field day on the low block, and he won't have to guard anyone on defense.

Why the Hornets can win: Chris Paul has the ability to raise the level of his teammates. Could Marco Bellinelli have a hot series shooting the 3? Is Andrew Bynum's balky knee enough of an issue that Emeka Okafor can play zone and just sit back and block shots?

What will happen: The Hornets are clearly the worst team in the Western Conference Playoffs. It's tough to see anyone outside of Chris Paul giving them regular scoring production. Lakers in 4.

#3 Dallas Mavericks vs #6 Portland Trailblazers (Season Series Tied 2-2)

Why Dallas can win: Dirk Nowitzki is a closer. If the game is close late you have to like Dirk's chances of getting a shot off over the Blazers defense.

Why Portland can win: Portland has so many versatile defenders, the Mavs are going to struggle to score in the half court. If Dirk and Aldridge cancel each other out, the Blazers have more scoring options on the floor.

What will happen: Something is wrong with this Dallas team. I can't put my finger on it, but I don't like the makeup of the team. I think Gerald Wallace is poised for a breakout playoff run as a complimentary player and the Blazers win an ugly physical series. Blazers in 7.

#4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #5 Denver Nuggets (Thunder won season series 3-1)

Why the Thunder can win: They have the stars. Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook have the ability to take over the game on both ends of the floor. Kendrick Perkins gives them the depth they needed down low to combat Nene and Kenyon Martin.

Why the Nuggets can win: If team chemistry means anything, the Nuggets sure look like they are enjoying themselves. They play unselfish offense and have two legitimate starting PG's so their offense rarely sputters.

What will happen: The great thing about the Nuggets regular season was they didn't have to count on the same guy each and every night. That tends to be a problem in the playoffs when you are playing a great team who has a bonafide superstar. These games will be close and I'm not sure who the Nuggets will turn to for a game changing play. Thunder in 7.


"We're Not In Gainesville, They Don't Give a F---" by sportsxbrooks
Smartest Criminals Ever? They have these things called cameras and recorders inside police cars geniuses. Billy Donovan must be really proud of his Gators.

Eastern Conference Preview

Tell me this isn't the coolest football uniform you've seen in a long time. Too bad I don't care about Arizona State, because I love the uni.

The Eastern Conference Playoffs are set. Here's a preview.

#1 Chicago Bulls vs #8 Indiana Pacers (Bulls Won Season Series 3-1)

Why Chicago can win: The Bulls have the best defense in the NBA and the likely league MVP in Derrick Rose. Joakim Noah makes winning plays. Carlos Boozer brings much needed playoff experience.

Why Indiana can win: They don't have anything to lose. The Pacers are one of the younger teams in the post season and they do bring young legs and a high effort level. Tyler Hansbrough and Josh McRoberts can be frustrating players to play against. Roy Hibbert could give Noah trouble.

What will happen: Indiana will keep one of the games in Chicago close and one of the games in Indianapolis close. At some point the Bulls will turn on the "care" and sweep the series. Bulls in 4.

#2 Miami Heat vs #7 Philadelphia 76ers (Heat won season series 3-0)

Why Miami can win: They have the three best players in the series. Philadelphia likes to run and gun which plays into Miami's hands.

Why Philly can win: Doug Collins brings a ton of experience to the table as a coach. I have to imagine Eric Spoelstra is going to be feeling pressure should the Heat get down in a series. Mike Bibby can't guard Lou Williams. He could have a big series. Thaddeus Young is also a very tough matchup for the Heat.

What will happen: Lebron is going to anniahalate Andre Iguadola. The only shot the 76ers have is a huge series out of Elton Brand which gets Chris Bosh in foul trouble and turns the Heat into an exclusive jump shooting team. Heat in 5.

#3 Boston Celtics vs #6 NY Knicks (Boston won season series 3-0)

Why Boston can win: Championship experience, the Celtics have it by the barrel. Rajon Rondo should be able to blow by Chauncey Billups at will despite his poor play of late. Kevin Garnett is healthy giving Boston a defensive presence the Knicks don't have.

Why NY can win: If Shaq is not healthy, the Celtics are shorthanded down low and could have trouble handling Amare Stoudamire. Madison Square Garden will be off the chain with the Knicks 1st playoff appearence in 7 seasons.

What will happen: The Knicks don't play any defense. Unless Paul Pierce or Ray Allen have a horrific shooting series, Boston is going to score when they need a bucket. Celtics in 5

#4 Orlando Magic vs #5 Atlanta Hawks (Hawks won the season series 3-1)

Why Orlando can win: Dwight Howard...and that's about it. The Magic are a train wreck outside of the league's most dominant big man. Jason Richardson has been inconsistent all season long, and Gilbert Arenas is a shell of his former self.

Why Atlanta can win: The Magic aren't nearly as good a shooting team as last year's squad. The Hawks can defend when they are not at each other's throats.

What will happen: I have a feeling that Josh Smith and Larry Drew are just about sick of one another. The Magic win a largely unwatchable series. Magic in 6.

Baseball

This story should be the 1st step toward legalized sports betting online throughout the country.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_17828879?source=rss

With the NBA season wrapping up Wednesday, here are some of the strangest plays of the year.


This is former Rockets guard Von Wafer's career in a nutshell...



Hard to imagine the T-Wolves only won 17 games with this incredible awareness.



The Clippers...well just being the Clippers.



Nice Dunk Javale McGee...


Seattle Sonics fans were always some of the best and loyal of the NBA. It was a crime to yank them out of that city. They are doing their best to preserve the team.


Boxer Khoren Gevor was disqualified from his title bout with middleweight champ Robert Stieglitz over the weekend due to excessive low blows. So naturally, he attacked the referee.


How clumsy are you people to need this product?!?!?!?

Carl Lewis for Senate, The Delusional Knicks, Point Shaving Scandal, World's Largest Pie Fight, Return of Winnie Cooper

Carl Lewis is running for Senate in New Jersey. While most people will remember his rendition of the National Anthem, I'll always be fond of this epic selection.

Why is this not a bigger story? This should be huge news. I'm honestly surprised that it does not happen more. I've said it once and I will say it 1000 times. If you want to stop point shaving, legalize and regulate sports betting.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6330566

The Jimmer has his 1st professional endorsement of sorts...He's hocking his own poster.

Check out the T-Shirt The NY Knicks are selling.  Nothing like trying to cash in on a 40 year old championship.


Surprised this does not happen more.


Yes I am a Star Wars fan and the song is pretty much stuck in my brain right now.



I love the idea of "The World's Largest Pie Fight".  Well Played Drake University.



Am I excited about Danika McKellar being in a new movie? You're damn right I am!

Newest Astro, The Real John Thompson?, Pirates Fan Tased and Assaulted, Dirk Gets Posterized

Someone in the Astros clubhouse has a great sense of humor. (Hint: It's Jason Michaels who put that up on Chris Johnson's locker.)

If I didn't know any better, I'd say that Harold Bell has it in for former Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson.  Read this scathing opinion piece in response to Jason Whitlock's Fox Sports piece on Jalen Rose and the Fab 5. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/658973-will-the-real-john-thompson-stand-up-for-jason-whitlock
Here's a brief excerpt that is flammable to say the least.
"If you interviewed 100 former Georgetown players off the record 90 will say John Thompson was a fraud!

He betrayed his wife and lifetime friend, protector and assistant coach Bob Grier (aka Bat Man) by stealing the affections of his girlfriend, Georgetown academic advisor Mary Finley. He also kicked Mike Riley, his former player and assistant coach for over three decades, to the curb and under the bus. The word loyalty to John is spelled O-N-E W-A-Y!"

Among the allegations against Thompson:
- Brown claims the former Hoya coach sold his players for $$$ through NBA agent David Falk.
- Brown says that with his job on the line in year 2, Thompson hung a banner in the Georgetown gym that said "John Thompson, the n***** coach must go!".  Everyone else at the school assumed it was a racist white guy with the school that hung the banner and the University held a press conference the next day to announce that Thompson's job was secure.
-Thompson dumped his family for a rich white woman who enabled him to make millions on real estate and slot machine deals.

Jenn Sterger is finally going to come clean about what a "victim" she was of Bret Favre's.  She will sit down for a 2 part interview with Good Morning America to talk about Bret's "little Favre". http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/how_brett_threw_gal_for_loss_N6Pn75rATMlTX2YjMSSEDK/1


Really? This happened at a Pirates game?  Rather liberal with those stun guns don't you think?


Dirk, that's pride F****** with you.