Rod, Justin, and Karen discuss the Whitlock Meme, NBA free agency, Malik Beasley, Justin Tucker suspension, Dillon Brooks restraining order, 49ers corner back arrested for obstructing justice, Ketel Marte reveals fan joke that made him cry, Ed Ogeron ex-wife gets 8 million, Dolphins/Steelers, WNBA expansion, WNBA Strike, Lia Thomas’ records struck from UPENN, Red Panda fell, WNBA couple split up after trade, Mike Brown coaching the Knicks and Masai Ujiri out at Raptors.
Balls Deep Sports: (Protected Content)
What it do Rod, Karen and Jan Gilbert,
15 years, 9 NBA finals, 4 championships, 3 MVPs and 3 teams later, LeBron James just wrapped his 21st NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 24-8-7. I remember cackling in my mom’s kitchen while LeBron announced he was going to Miami and then my eyes almost falling out my head reading Dan Gilbert’s runaway slave letter about LeBron going to Miami and lying about the Cavs winning a title before the Heat. LeBron signing with Miami was a flash point for me realizing just *how* racist Cleveland fans can get and that I probably knew way too many white people.
I know LeBron hasn’t retired, he’s still on the Lakers and Luka is working out like Rocky for next season, but is there any part of LeBron James’ legacy that is surprising or wild to y’all? LeBron’s career outlasting Skip Bayless is hilarious to me while I also blame RINGZZZ culture for at least part of the NBA’s negative discourse problems.
I hope y’all have a good weekend and I’m always glad when y’all take time off. Welcome back and thanks for all the dope shows.
Peace,
Dough
It’s so interesting watching the NBA landscape change yet again. Yesterday was the 15-year anniversary of The Decision, and that ushered in an era where teams tried to stack stars and build superteams. And now, watching this quiet but busy free agency…well, between the salary constraints and watching OKC and Indy in the finals, it looks like building a winning team really takes just one superstar, a decent no. 2 and really good role players who fit. Which is why I’m not so thrilled with the Lakers roster. If this was a game of 2-on-2, I’d pick us. But it’s not — and I have no faith in Rob to construct a winning roster. It will take us a couple years and a new GM.
Also, it was announced a couple weeks ago but since sports news is slow right now…Max Kellerman is back! He’ll be part of the announcing crew for the Canelo fight in Sept. I’m glad he took his time, got his money, and is back at his favorite sport and where he excels. True story: Max awarded me Call of the Day on the local ESPN radio show here in LA. It was because I said I liked him better than Marcellus. Anyway, I won a gift certificate to Langers Deli and will always have a soft spot for Max.
Go Hornets!
Salutations to the BEST Sports trio, still jetlagged as I type but that didn’t stop the Paravai-Kaaran from witnessing his own Balls Deep Reporting. Location: 1st black owned barbershop in the city of Münster (like the Munster cheese). I always go there to chill & collect intelligence report anytime I’m around. A BMW dropped a YN on crutches, he comes in greets the owner of the shop and starts describing how he got injured. In my head I’m like sounds like an NFL play. Without prompt, while we were wishing him a full recovery (he had also said that he’s out for 9months- a year), he started talking about falling in love with one of his coaches and that they tried to keep it hidden until the season was over. But management found out and fired the coach. The way he phrased it even had me wondering at first, then shop owner asked American or German before asking if it was a woman? Behold fired coach walks in and it’s a blonde German woman (good looking too). That’s how I met a player in the NFL German Football League team Cologne Centurion for the first time. Just from those few minutes, I now know that dude will be shopping for a new team and why later while I’m walking and trying to figure where I’m at, I walked right into him and his girl fighting on the street? Oh “there’s nothing else to do Sal”, I ran so fast and messed up my sense of direction but after I gave him the peace sign first and he returned it back smiling (he Nigerian too lmao). Paravai-Kaaran out!