Jazz Not Playing the Same Old Tune..............Unfortunatly!!!!

For those of us who have been life long Jazz fans, the days of Stockton and Malone seem like only yesterday. The days when the Jazz could put anybody out there with Stockton and Malone and the Jazz would win. The days when 15 breath-taking assists, 30 power filled points and unflinching hard work were all in a nights work. The days when losing was unacceptable and it was expected that each player who put on a Jazz uniform better be willing to bust their ass. The days when the phrase "Stockton to Malone" would keep opposing coaches up at night and strike fear into the hearts of their opponents. The days when it seemed like Stockton was breaking a new record every year, Malone was piling up points and awards. The days when the other team knew that if they drove to the hoop.........they were going to pay. The days they would also pay on the offensive end when a perfect dish was handed to a mack truck and all they could do would be to get the hell out of the way. The days when we took it all for granted. They days when we were watching greatness every single night and didn't even realize it.
So what happened? Why aren't the Jazz of today like that? They have one of the best point guards in the league and 20 and 10 power forward and they have the same coach, so what is missing from this team? I can answer that with one word.....................Leadership!!!! This current edition of the Utah Jazz has ZERO leadership. Their power forward is completely injury prone and doesn't even come close to bringing it every night. Malone worked harder then anyone in Jazz history and he brought his game every single night. The players on the current Jazz team can't look to their power forward to set the example or the Jazz would have nobody left. Now, the current Jazz point guard shows a lot more promise, but is still falling way short. Since the Jazz's run to the Western conference Finals in 2007, D-Will has not proven he can take over a game. Sure he has moments but they are never sustained and who do the Jazz have taking game winning shots......................THEIR CENTER!!!!!! That is never a good sign. D-will seems very different this year. Is it the contract, is it the injuries or is it the fact that he isn't playing to the level he wants to be playing at? Stockton was always about the team first, but he knew exactly when to take over a game. Example: Stockton scored 15 points, including the game winner, in the 4th quarter against the Rockets to personally send the Jazz to the Finals for the first time. D-Will hasn't learned to do that yet and you RARELY see him get in the face of his teammates trying to get them fired up. If this current Jazz squad is going to have any success they need to get real leadership out of their superstars. The players need to know that D-Will is going to hold them accountable if they are slacking, not running the plays right and really hurting the Jazz's chances for winning. The players need to know that Boozer is going to be there every game and that he is ready to go into battle with them. It always starts at the top and the Jazz need more leadership, fire and desire to win from their stars then they are currently getting. If D-Will and Boozer can somehow tap into the hearts of Stockton and Malone then the Jazz will be right back in the Finals, but until that happens the Jazz will have a first or second round exit every single year!!! It's time for the Jazz to start playing that old tune again of passion, leadership and an atmosphere where losing is simply not tolerated!!!!

Beware of Vipers.............and I'm not Talking about the Car.

Unfortunately I am a very trusting person and tend to take things at face value; however this has lead to me getting burned time and time again. Although I may not be able to change my overly trusting nature I feel I need to do a public service and put out a warning…………..BEWARE OF VIPERS!!!! Now I’m not talking about the car or even referencing some kind of serpent; what I am talking about are people. There are certain times in life when you feel that you have been totally deceived, betrayed, lied to and it always comes out of the blue. The reason it always hurts and appears to come out of nowhere is because it is someone you have been close to. It’s someone you trust, someone you relied on; maybe even someone you loved. These Vipers build your confidence in their apparent loyal and true intentions and then they will strike and suck the life completely out of you. So why do we keep surrounding ourselves with these Vipers; it’s because they are almost impossible to spot. They are experts at slithering into your inner circle, your mind and/or heart. Vipers are only worried about what can benefit them and they could care less about the consequences, and that is the only way you can spot them. They are completely selfish human beings. They are the type who would watch their work, family, friends and the world burn if it got them ahead. That’s why it’s so important to spot these Vipers before it’s too late. Pay attention to the way those close to you handle their friendships, work relationships, their marriage or relationship and you can even pick up on it through their conversations. Do they lose interest once the conversation is no longer about them? Do they go through friends like water? Does love and relationships appear to mean very little to them? Are they being fake to people you know they can’t stand? Do you see them outwardly lying to others? These are all questions that can be asked to help identify these Vipers. Now, there is no way to completely protect yourself from being bit by these spin-less lowlifes, but if you watch for the signs it will make your life much easier. I hope this public service announcement has helped and remember you can’t get bit if you keep your distance. Always be on the look out and BEWARE OF VIPERS!!!!!!

Gotta Love Baldness..........not really!!

You know growing up I never thought that I would go bald. I always thought that was something that happened to geezers and people in nursing homes. It wasn’t until someone gave me a box of Rogaine that I was faced with the reality of male pattern baldness. This was especially difficult considering the fact that the box was given to me during a driver’s ed lesson……………I was 16!!!! Nothing like going to your Jr. Prom and having to wear a toupee.
It’s also really uncomfortable watching TV with people when you are losing your hair. When the weather man says, “Storms through this evening then the clouds start receding back” there is always that awkward silence and everyone try’s not to look at the bald man. “I’m not only the hair club for men president, but I’m also a client.” Yeah that is NEVER comfortable. People will however try to make me feel good about being bald. I’ve heard things like, “you look good bald” or “at least you have a nice head for it”. First of all I don’t even know what that means “I have a good head”. I have also heard “you wear it well” which I thought was a weird comment considering I was naked at the time. My favorite is “It’s the in thing.” Baldness has never been in. It just happens to be socially acceptable. If baldness were in or hip then people wouldn’t be wearing toupees………they would be wearing bald caps. I don’t think a woman has ever said, “You know I really prefer a man with half a head of hair.” NEVER!!!! There is however one benefit of being bald; you know what you are going to look like in thirty years. It takes out the guessing work about what you will do when/if you start losing your hair such as: will you shave it, comb it over, try to salvage every last strand, go with the bald Hulk Hogan mullet. You just don’t know what you are going to do with it………..but you or someone you know will be forced with those decisions and you will see a tall skinny bald man laughing when it happens!!!

Great Bald-Man Advocates:

1) Larry David
2) Bruce Willis
3) Jason Alexander
4) Chris Daughtry
5) Vin Diesel

Williams vs. Paul – What really matters?

Tonight marks the first meeting of the year between point guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams in what has become one of the most intriguing rivalries in the NBA. Of course maybe calling it a rivalry isn’t the appropriate word, due to the fact that D-Will has absolutely torched CP3 in head to head match-ups. I think Paul needs to get the best of Williams a little more often then twice in 10 games and even in those two wins by the Hornets; D-Will’s numbers were just as good. However you want to term tonight’s match-up, these two point guards will be forever linked. The Jazz had their choice on who to select with the third pick in the draft and they went with Williams. Paul was taken fourth by the Hornets and that set everything into motion. They play the same position, they were taken 3rd and 4th in the draft and the question continues to be raised on who is the better player. Paul is the NBA darling. Everyone is in love with Chris Paul and his game while D-Will has taken a back seat. Paul is already a two time All-Star, was Rookie of the Year, finished second in MVP voting last year and was an all NBA First Teamer. D-Will on the other hand is yet to be named an all-star, received one first place vote for Rookie of the Year (that vote was from Ron Boone), finished all NBA Second Team and was nowhere to be seen in the MVP voting last year. Paul is currently leading the league in assists and guess who’s second…………..that’s right D-Will. Paul is leading point guards in all star votes this year and last time I checked D-Will wasn’t even in the top ten. Everything imaginable points to Paul being the better player. Everything expect for the fact that D-Will absolutely dominates Paul almost every time they play each other. Paul can’t match up with Williams’ size and D-Will is great at posting up Paul and getting him in early foul trouble. Everything mentioned above is the reason D-Will dominates this match-up. Williams takes the lack of respect for his game personally and Williams is soooooooo much better when he plays pissed. Say what you will about the numbers, the awards and the accolades that Paul is receiving, but there is only one stat that matters in my mind……….WINS!!! When it comes to wins in head to head competition Paul is no match for the best point guard in the NBA; Deron Williams. Tonight’s game will be another example of how great a player Williams is and how he takes this match-up personally. My prediction is that the Jazz win tonight and D-Will will have a better game than Paul in every statistical category with the exception of rebounds. Bottom Line: D-Will has more fire, more tenacity and an unquenchable thirst for winning and those attributes don’t show up on a stat sheet. D-Will is the best point guard in the NBA and when it is all said and done he will be the best point guard in Jazz History.

Can D-Will Deliver?

What kind of player is Deron Williams? What type of fire, heart and nasty competitive resolve does this young point guard have burning within him? As crazy as it may seem, we may get our answer tonight. It is going to be interesting to see how he plays tonight after coming off a lose to the Lakers in which D-Will went 4-18 from the field, while only going to the free throw line twice. Does D-Will take bad games personally and show an utter refusal to allow back to back bad games. Its games like these that separate good players from superstars. Karl Malone never EVER had bad back to back games. If he had a poor shooting game or didn’t play up to his expectations you could guarantee that he was going to bounce back the following game with all out physical dominance. It was as guaranteed as the sun coming up every morning. Can D-Will show that same desire to always be at his best and furiously make up for the times he’s not? I have no doubt that D-Will wants to win, but is he at the level where he can put the team on his back and carry them to the promised land. I will never forget during the Finals in 1998 when the Jazz looked dead in the water. It was Game 5 and the Bulls had a 3-1 series lead and were looking to close out the Jazz in Chicago. I can still hear the sound of Bob Costas yelling, as Malone took over the game, “Karl Malone is personally sending this series back to Utah.” Even as I type it………it still gives me chills. That’s what I have been waiting to see from D-Will and we may get a glimpse tonight on whether or not he can do it. The Jazz need him to come out aggressive and take the lead. It is time for D-Will to show that with or without Boozer the Jazz will be a winner, because he has been unable to show that so far. It’s a New Year and we need to see a new D-Will. We need to see the D-Will of old. The D-Will that took the Jazz to the Western Conference Finals in only his second year. The D-Will that doesn’t care who he is playing and will never back down and attack with fury!!!!! D-Will………….now is the time for you to DELIVER!!!!!