Paul Rudd, Steve Carrell mock “The Decision”

I don’t watch the ESPY’s because they already have a championship trophy for each sport, along with individual awards like MVPs, so I don’t see the point. I’ll admit that the year the Detroit Pistons took the show hostage, I watched with beaming eyes.

Other than that, I don’t really get into it.

I did catch this great clip though, and it’s hilarious. Sounds like there was plenty of other funny stuff on the show this year, so maybe people don’t watch it for the athletes, they watch it for the Saturday Night Live factor.

Here’s two of the funniest people on the planet, Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd, absolutely destroying Jim Gray and LeBron James in the spoof of “The Decision.”

Spot on job by Rudd and Carrell, classic!

Praise Jesus, but don’t forget Rondo

You read this blog. You know that I love “He Got Game.” Last night, Ray Allen did just that, have game. He was incredible and he had a record setting performance during Sunday night’s Game 2 103-94 victory.

I’m going to be honest with you, I didn’t see the first half. I’m not going to lie and say I did and talk about each shot he was hitting — I’m not Mitch Albom. In fact, I only saw five of his 32 points. That’s not saying much, but I did see the record setting 8th three-pointer that he hit in the game.

I was visiting a friend who lives a ways away and we went to see a movie. I knew it would interfere with me watching Game 2, but I figured catching the second half would be enough. Well, “Get Him to the Greek” was great and I laughed quite a bit, but I missed out on one of the best first halves a player has ever had in the NBA Finals.

When I walked out of the movie theater I grabbed my phone to see that the Celtics were up 52-39. I was pretty surprised, but when I opened the box score, my draw dropped to the floor. Allen had 27 points in the first half! I couldn’t believe it, and obviously I knew that his three-ball had to have been dropping. I called my friend’s brother to get a quick recap, “Jesus is 7-for-7 from three!”

Damn, I missed out.

One of my favorite players ever

I should’t have to tell you that Elden Campbell was one of the most important players during two NBA Finals runs for the Pistons in 2004 and 2005. His defensive presence on Shaquille O’Neal was unheralded — and completely under-appreciated. He absolutely shut O’Neal down.

First when Shaq and the Lakers lost to the Pistons during the 2004 finals, and again when O’Neal and the Heat were taken down in seven games in the 2005 Eastern Conference Finals.

During that 2005 series, Campbell played just over 40 minutes — primarily in one-on-one situations vs. O’Neal. I can honestly say, I remember O’Neal only scoring one field goal on “The Big Easy” during that series.

Campbell was so instrumental on both those Pistons teams, I could get into it so much more, but at another date I will — for now, enjoy this awesome picture that I jacked from Ball Don’t Lie awhile back.

Oh yeah, back when Elden was a Laker and filling in for an injured Shaquille O’Neal, he dropped 40 points on the Knicks.

Ron Artest DOES NOT want to fight Ben Wallace

Seriously?

After Ron Artest admitting to drinking Hennessy during halftime (circa 1999-2002), he also said that he still wants to fight Ben Wallace.

“I see Ben, I’m on my guard now. I’m always in the mood to fight him. … I’ll get suspended 10 games, 15 games (because) I’ll just fight him right there. It won’t go into the stands.”

I’m going to say this one more time (even though if you read this blog, you damn well know the answer), I’m a huge Artest fan, but dude is nuts with this statement.

Wallace thinks the same.

“He said he wants to fight me?” Wallace asked reporters before Wednesday night’s Pistons-Bulls game.

“Yeah,” a reporter responded.

“Well, [you] need to test him and see if he’s still drinking,” Wallace said.

Wallace is my guy, always has been, but in no bias whatsoever — Artest is talking crazy, unless he wants his ass handed to him.

Allen Iverson is great in press conferences

We all know that I have had enough of Allen Iverson, but it’s something I won’t be able to get away from.

Most of the people I talk to, or the things that I read on Twitter and whatnot are very positive, everyone is excited about AI’s return to Philly. With all of that positivity and especially after yesterdays emotional press conference, it’s made me think, am I a bad person for wishing this didn’t happen for Iverson?

No.

Iverson plays to the camera well, he always says what you want to hear in press conferences. His press conference in Detroit was so overwhelmingly positive, even joking at the whole “Practice?!” moment. Then he misses a practice in Detroit and things go downhill. Again, similar situation in Memphis.

AI wants his way, if he can’t get it, he’s going to bitch and complain. He wants us to feel like he is the victim.

@CV31 tweeting before surgery

When it comes to the NBA and Twitter, I think there are two pioneers: Shaquille O’Neal and Charlie Villanueva.

Both players took the Twitterverse by storm and really the sports world, if you ask me. They where the first major pro athletes I heard about in the national media for their use of the popular social networking tool. Charlie V made it big time when he tweeted during halftime of a game last season. It really changed how Twitter and the sports world would collide.

Well, @CV31 is at it again. Since the league won’t let him “tweet” during games anymore, he’s decided he’d tweet in his hospital bed, right before surgery to repair his broken nose.

The surgery, by the way, was a success. He’ll more than likely pull a Rip Hamilton and play with a mask. He’d be the third Piston since Hamilton to play with a mask, joining Carlos Arroyo and Antonio McDyess.

The power of Twitter.

Pistons Pulse: with Dave Pemberton (Ep. 2)

Here’s round two of me joining The Oakland Press’ Dave Pemberton on “Pistons Pulse.”

In this episode we’re talking about the team’s expectations, the arrival of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, Chris Wilcox and the renaissance of Ben Wallace.

Make sure that you’re reading Pemberton’s blog with The Oakland Press, “Pistons’ Point.”

You also should be following him on Twitter.

Five years ago today…

Pistons Pulse: with Dave Pemberton (Ep. 1)

Monday I joined Dave Pemberton, Pistons’ beat writer for The Oakland Press, on the very first episode of “Pistons Pulse.” The web-based show is dedicated to the Pistons and the NBA, and airs on his blog Pistons’ Point via The Oakland Press.

In this episode we talked about the Pistons’ upcoming Western Conference road trip, the development and expectations for Rodney Stuckey and some of the biggest surprises of the young NBA season. So far, I’ve shot two episodes with Pemberton and I have a feeling we’ll be doing some more together.

Great stuff, hope you enjoy.

Check him out on Twitter, The Oakland Press and Pistons’ Point – he’s got your Pistons’ hookup

I apologize for having a chin strap, it was an experiment gone wrong. I shaved today.