Signs, signs, everywhere are signs...dollar signs

So, tonight the San Antonio Spurs take on the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Sunday night's game was the stuff legends are made of: 15 tie-ups, countless lead changes, overtime, the whole kit and caboodle for a dramatic, nail-biting game. Both teams played well, and San Antonio's victory was more the result of a favorable timeclock rather than actual superior skills. The ref, of course, didn't help much, with several questionable calls favoring the Pistons in fouls. Even crooked refs couldn't stop the Spurs. On their side, Ron Horry stepped up to the plate in the last quarter to finally justify the 13-season-old first-round draft pick which placed him in the league and the five rings which sparkle on his resume. Horry's playing style for the first three quarters, no, scratch that - the first 13 years - can almost be described as lazy; he vanishes from the in-the-paint tussles where the battles which decide the fate of games are fought. Horry found redemption Sunday night in his ability to mobilize under pressure; in the last quarter and overtime alone he scored 18 points, 15 of which brought the Spurs to a tie or a higher score than the defending Pistons. Instead of coattail-riding himself to a championship this year he has the opportunity to be the highlight reel.
Oh, the Pistons. Last year's scrappy fighting team has given way to a typical defender's attitude. The scrappy band of characters which overthrew the pampered superstar Lakers has itself morphed into a team which takes winning for granted - a luxury that Larry Brown knows he cannot afford, given Game 5's finish. The Pistons' unique advantage in the NBA is the team's composition of characters - Detroit wins not with superstars like Kobe, but with a hodgepodge of entremely unique skills and players. Rip Hamilton's mask, Ben Wallace's legendary hairstyle, Larry Brown's diminuitive tantrums on the sidelines - all contribute to the watchability of this team; not to mention their likability. Even a die-hard Pacers fan has difficulty despising the Pistons, who, despite the franchise's past of snatching up North Carolina's NCAA aspirations, make the NBA worth the 3-and-a-half hour games and blatant wallet-slimming franchisement. Rasheed Wallace stood out on Sunday night by playing like -well, like a Tarheel. Larry Brown would be proud - oh wait.
The Draft looms over this weekend. Speculation has been rampant, not only over who the Buck's first pick would be, but also over whether or not there will even BE a next season as players and officials squabble over pro sport's ubiquitous black mark - paychecks. Fans would be hard-pressed to decide which players create more drama - the unions or the actual athletes.
David Stern: "LeBron, is something in your eye bothering you? Maybe that speck?" (*Trips over plank*)
Players to watch this year include Hoosier/Tarheel demigod Sean May - speculated (*crosses fingers and sacrifices goat*) to go to the Pacers. One can only hope. Sending May back to the Amber Waves of Grain would provide perfect closure to the May family's history with Indiana. If he doesn't fill Reggie Miller's shoes, there's always a chance that Ashevill native Rashad McCants wold look simply stunning in the yellow-and-pinstripes. Rowr. Andrew Bogut...sigh. Certainly not the headliner to breathe life into the somewhat flaccid ratings of draft viewership of the last few years. Vague memories of last year's lonely vigil haunt me - nobody else would watch it; the only one I could coax to share my chair was a Corona, and Lord knows he didn't last long. The NBA should put that Williams boy in the spotlight to pep up sports fans. A freshman fresh off of the championship-winning team? Now that is a recipe for ratings. Drawing NCAA fans into the avariciously tainted professional arena would do double-duty as a godsend to the league by lending credibility to francihses as well as creating ready-made fans. More to come, sports fans.

Possibly upcoming thoughts:
Jackson's Acquittal
More on the NBA Finals/ Draft
2008 Elections...already?
Brangelina

In the Beginning was the Word...

*The opinions expressed in this blog are solely the opinions of Lorin Wilkie. Any corporations, people, politicians (not to be confused with aforementioned "people"), events, or places mentioned cannot be credited or blamed for their appearance here. Easily offended people (Democrats, Duke fans, Baptists) should read a their own risk. Sue me, and you'll get nothing. The rest of you...Dig in.