The NBA, It's draft-tastic!

I'm sure that's not a word but it sure was fun to write. There weren’t many more exciting days on the NBA calendar than the draft this year with amount of talent coming into the league. A lot can be also be said for the amount of rumours that were flying around leading up towards draft day.

While we knew that Oden and Durant would go one/two, the Hawks at three (new uniforms and all) were hard to predict because, well, they can be dumb at times. Selecting Al Horford and then grabbing Acie Law IV at 11 was probably the best they could've made out from their early picks.

The real shockers came in at the five and six slots though. First, Boston traded the number five pick of the draft, along with Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West to Seattle for Ray Allen and a pick that would turn out to be Glen "Big Baby" Davis in the second round. Seattle then used the fifth selection to take Jeff Green out of Georgetown. I think Danny Ainge proved himself as a better G.M. than he has a reputation of being (awful).

Next, already knowing that Yi doesn't particularly want to play in a city where he would be one of seven Chinese people, Milwaukee selected him. Well, good luck working out that contract guys; should be a ton of fun, most of it lost in translation.

In a trade that didn't involve any of the day's picks, Isiah Thomas made a great move bringing Zach Randolph to the Knicks from Portland for Channing Frye and Stevie Franchise. Coming along to MSG were also Dan Dickau and Fred Jones in the deal. I don't see how this deal makes sense for Portland, especially considering the front-court they could have had with Greg Oden and Randolph.

The NBA Draft is here!

That night that's been the focus of most NBA fans since San Antonio won the championship against Phoenix has finally arrived. Experts are calling this year's edition the deepest in recent memory and even a casual college basketball fan could tell that just by looking at the names being thrown around in the top-12 area.

While there is a fairly good debate over who should go first overall, it really depends on what school of thought you're into.

On one side, there's the seven-foot who's a monster on defense, can score in the paint and has a huge presence. There is no doubt that Greg Oden will be a franchise centre and can be a team's centre piece for years upon years to come. Centres like Oden will win you championships more often than a high scoring swingman.

But, when they high scoring wingman has a limitless ceiling like Kevin Durant does, who knows where he'll take you. After wowing everyone in North America with his amazing talent and versatility last season, he propelled himself into the rarefied air that Oden was occupying.

There's no doubt that both of these guys are destined for superstardom, unlike the top players of the last few drafts. Both men will be shock and awe the Pacific Northwest for many years to come, but, if it were up to me, Oden's my man.

The player I'm really curious about is, my boy, Arron Afflalo of UCLA. I've seen mock drafts putting him in the early twenties and some in the early second-round. Wherever he, goes, I'm cheering.

It just keeps getting worse

I'll keep this short and simple. If Chris Benoit is even as much as mourned now, I may be sick. These is the last words on this site about the coward who was once regarded as one of the best techincal wrestlers and an inspiration to many.

It has been reported that his seven-year-old son, whom he suffocated to death, was in fact, mentally challenged and suffered from a rare disease know as Fragile X syndrome, which is often coupled with autism.

I'm ashamed to have ever rooted for, actually, lay eyes on Chris Benoit. What a piece of shit.

The one-eighty

With the news breaking that Chris Benoit's death turned out to be a double murder-suicide, everyone's stance on the tragic deaths of he and his family has completely reversed. While mourning and sympathy should still be given for his wife and son, none should go towards a man who killed his wife and his own flesh and blood.

The memorial and tribute that was broadcast instead of Monday Night Raw seems preposterous and nearly appalling. A tribute to a murderer? sickening...

I'm just glad to see that WWE has made the decision to strip both its website and its programming of Benoit tributes. It is a very appropriate move considering the monstrosities that were viewed on Monday night. It's a less than shocking move really.

Now, the wait is on for the toxicology reports to come back and see if this horrific event was, as speculated, related to steroids. This can be a very damaging blow to the WWE, who has claimed it tests for the substance and also has a wellness program in place. Criticisms will be laid on heavily if word was to get out that these regulations were shames and that pro wrestlers were still on the juice. They next week will be a tense one for the higher-ups of WWE.

A sad day in the WWE

Yesterday the bodies the of former WWE Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit, his wife and his son were found in the family's home just outside of Atlanta. Benoit, 40, had missed Sunday night's Vengeance pay-per-view event stating "personal reasons." It was also reported that he said his wife and son were coughing up blood at the time. He was slated to compete for the ECW Championship but was replaced by Johnny Nitro, who ended up winning the title from C.M. Punk.

The death of the "The Canadian Crippler" or "Rabid Wolverine" caused the cancellation of last night's Monday Night Raw program and even caused Vince McMahon, who was selling an angle in which he had been incinerated during a limo fire -and shamelessly played off like his real death- to show his face and announce that his "death" was a sham while offering his and the entire company's condolences to start the three-hour memorial show.

Currently, the police are investigating the deaths as a homicide; suggestions have even been made that Benoit had even killed his family and then taken his own life. Results of the autopsies should be announced later today.
It's greatly saddening, especially as someone who grew up on wrestling and still catches the occasional show when I can, to see this passing; especially with the allegations as they currently are. While he wasn't always a favourite of mine, he was immensely talented in the ring. He will surely be missed.

Another sad note

It should have been stated when the news broke on Sunday, or even in yesterday's post, but further sad news will grace this fine blog twice in one day. Former major league closer Rod Beck was found dead in his apartment on Saturday. Beck pitched for the Giants (1991-97), the Chicago Cubs (1998-99) and the Boston Red Sox (1999-2001) before finishing his career with the Padres (2003-04). He saved 286 games over his career.

Beck was well known for his wild style and appearance. He donned a handle-bar moustache and long hair to go with a menacing stare that rivalled the likes of Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn. He once left his team to go to rehab mid-season and, while attempting to make a comeback and working his way through the minors, became a folk legend by living in a Winnebago outside the stadium and sharing beers with fans after games.

There aren't many characters like Beck in today's game, which makes his passing have a greater impact on, at least my memory, a little more significant.

Jay almost tosses no-hitter

It's very easy to imagine that Jeff Baker isn't a very popular person in Toronto this morning. Yesterday, Baker spoiled Dustin McGowan and his hideous sideburn's attempt at a no-hitter with a single to lead off the ninth inning. It would have been only the second no-no in Jays history with Dave Steib holding the other. Is it just me or is this whole "taking-a-no-no-into-the ninth" thing happening more often than usual this season? Or maybe I'm just paying more attention this year...

Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey Jr. both had huge days on the career home runs list yesterday. Thomas inched closer to the illustrious 500-club by knocking out no. 499 during McGowan's performance. Meanwhile, Griffey, facing his former club the Seattle Mariners, slammed two solo shots out of Safeco Field. These put him into seventh on the all-time list at 584. He tied and then passed Mark McGwire. It seems like these milestones are popping up more often too, or again, maybe I'm just paying more attention. It’s funny what writing a blog does to you.