NBA- CP3 Deal Nixed.

It's thumbs down, Cp3.

Good move, David Stern.

A 3 team deal involving Hornets superstar Chris Paul was nixed today, per the Associated Press.

The NBA's League Office vetoed the deal after several owners questioned the deal's components. In the deal, the Lakers would have sent Pau Gasol to the Rockets, Paul would have gone to Hollywood, and Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, and Goran "The Dragon" Dragic would have been sent to New Orleans, alongside Lakers forward Lamar Odom.

The real winner here? New Orleans. For a rebuilding team, they would've hauled in the most talent, and the best cap flexibility. A nucleus of Odom, Scola, Dragic, and Martin wouldn't exactly be all-star quality per se, but, such would keep NOLA competitive out West. The Lakers would have mortgaged their entire stable frontline- with only the physically shaky Andrew Bynum remaining from the original cast of characters. Mike Brown seems to want to turn LA into a small ball team, and at this point in Kobe Bryant's career, I'm not sure if strategically, that is going to translate into another title run. Cap wise, dumping Gasol and Odom would give them enough space to pay Paul and extend him- with change left to grab an athletic, bench spark plug ala Brandon Roy. The Rockets would be able to unload cap room too, and would be able acquire an all-star center in the smooth Spaniard Gasol. From there, they can truly begin the rebuilding process.

On the veracity of the vetoing? I personally feel that the decision was legit, in that, the NBA had every right to stop a deal suspected to have been rooted in some form of collusion or rooted in some form of unfair coercion by one player (i.e. Carmelo Anthony). On the other hand, an argument can be made that this sort of voicing out of a desire to be dealt to a specific team happens all the time, and that it is impossible to execute deals of this nature of complexity without some discussions of specificity transpiring. The dice rolls more in the favor of the former, though, as in my view, it is better to be safe than sorry. The sure be no allowances made in regard to the collusion angle. It's an "all or nothing" situation. In the end, David Stern made the prudent choice- the right one.

The attention can now shift to possibly targeting Tyson Chandler, Dwight Howard, or Deron Williams. Same view applies, though. It is contingent on owners, and players themselves, to police what they make public, and what they keep behind closed doors. The Jason Kidd to Dallas deal from 3 years ago was a similar situation. Dallas' Mark Cuban was suspected of having colluded about throwing then Maverick Jerry Stackhouse into the mix, along with Devean George and cash. The deal fell apart, ironically, not because of the league office nixing it, but because of Devean George exercising his player rights/veto option.

Trades are complicated matters built on trust, potential talent, and most of all, potential financial flexibility. Free agency for the 2011-2012 season is compressed, and only looks to get more frantic as the days go by.

Stay tuned. The hits are surely set to keep coming in.

MC

NBA- Paul to the Lakers?

This caught my eye today.

Reports are swirling around that Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak may "ditch the Buss" (pun intended) and deal management favorite (and oft injured and combustible) center Andrew Bynum for superstar point guard Chris Paul.

With a trade for Paul, Mike Brown manning the purple and gold in place of Hall of Fame mentor Phil Jackson, and Kobe Bryant aging but in denial of it, a new era seems to indeed be knocking on the Lakers' doorstep.

With Paul, the Lakers would receive immediate help at the 1 spot, where they have relied for years on savvy veteran and Players' Union Prez, Derek Fisher. While D-Fish is steady, he's in the twilight of his hoops life and would not mind handing the keys to CP3. By trading Bynum, the Lakers enable themselves to potentially play small ball, with Lamar Odom at center. I have a feeling that the Hornets and Lakers will do a straight up deal, and, while both Bynum and Paul are set to become free agents within the next 1-2 years, expect both franchises to work around the new CBA's restrictions and throw in a few picks and cash to make the swap work.

The Hornets seems to be in rebuilding mode, and, with a middle of the road salary cap situation, they might as well deal Paul now instead of him building up a coup and losing him for nothing. Bynum would give the Hornets an instant go-to-guy in the paint, the first one they've had since Alonzo Mourning was in town. How will Bynum rise up to being option A? I feel like he's going to relish the role, and emerge as an all-star. Could it be that the screws were on too tight in LA? Maybe so. Hence, the small market atmosphere of N.O. could fit Bynum like Gumbo does a starving soul.

This and many other intriguing tales make up the days leading up to the opening of free agency.

Next thing we know, a team's going to be sold for peanuts.

MC

World Basketball- Fan Access

@LebronJames? @Swish41? @jjbareapr? @ReggieMiller31TNT?

Twitter, ladies and gents. it has bridged the seemingly uncrossable gap between fan, and celebrity.

The NBA has not been exempted from the power of social media. The NBA brass can post circulars banning use of Facebook and Twitter during games, but really, is it practical to spend time trying to curb player-fan interaction? Should David Stern even bother?

Make take is, no, the NBA should not bother. It would be better served beefing up security in arenas, ensuring that game fixing is eradicated, and slap heavy fines on players who act more like barbarians as opposed to athletes.

In the book "Pacific Rims" by Fulbright Scholar Rafe Bartholomew, the author commented on how Filipinos seem to have more access to their hoops idols, hinting that it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to see a toothless geriatric man pose for pictures and share conversation about each others' families with a team's starting point guard, or, for cagers to attend regular "fans day" events set up by diehards whose devotion to the game is, at least overtly speaking, 10 times more rambunctious that Jack Nicholson to his Lakers on his best day. Are Asians- Filipinos in particular- just a warmer bunch? Are Western cultures predisposed to placing celebrities on pedestals that are meant not to be reached, much less, even gazed upon?

Those in the NBA community have, for the last few years, discovered something that Filipinos have known for a very long time. To "love" the games is to go beyond marketing slogans. It is to be "amongst the people"- at the venues, in a personal capacity, in an obvious caring manner. This isn't to say that NBA-ers who help those in need aren't sincere. It's just that those in the Philippine Basketball Association, for example, tend just not be themselves, without a hug from a fan, without going to a fan's kid's baptismal celebration, or, dancing for spectators during a team party organized by fans club officers. To Pinoys, interaction is part and parcel not only of being a fan unto an athlete and vice-versa. Such also permeates the very fabric of being seen as either snobbish, or, upright. To "interact" to Pinoys is to be humble, and such is a valuable trait in Philippine society. Even if an athlete, or actor, or politician in Manila isn't the most "courteous" sort, so long as he or she makes an effort to show even a wee bit of warmth, all sins tend to be forgiven. It's both a boon and a bane- depending on who you're talking to.

Twitter and Facebook have made the NBA more "within reach". It's a positive, I think, and those who know better should capitalize for a healthier synergy between fans and the league's superstars. No supression, no regression.

MC

PBA- Sonny Jaworski's Tribute To Alberto "Big Boy" Reynoso

At 6,2", Alberto "Big Boy" Reynoso muscled his way through defenses like few others. In the 1960's and 70's, Reynoso played alongside greats such as Robert Jaworski, Freddie Hubalde, etc. In the 3rd week of November 2011, the former Toyota Super Corollas star succumb to a lingering illness. He was a mere 71 years of age.

On the night of November 27th, Robert Jaworski was a special guest at ringside before a match between the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Barako Bull Energy. The Big J was on hand to deliver a brief tribute to his former teammate "Big Boy" Reynoso.

I managed to capture his speech and post it here.

MC

Super Shot of the Day.

Ira Newble. Mike Dunleavy. Enziguri (Kick).

Ouchie.

Philippine Basketball- SBC/SSC Brawl

See this article as a preamble- http://sports.inquirer.net/27417/ssc-coach-files-charges-vs-red-lions-after-brawl

Under no circumstances, and I mean, no circumstances, must a coach beat on another coach, nor, must players beat on other players or coaches. What occurred today in the SBC gym was a deplorable display of conduct- no matter who started what. This could have very easily occurred during an NCAA Finals ballgame, in a venue such as the Ultra or the Smart Araneta Coliseum, and emotions would have been ever rawer and higher strung in such a case.

As a coach, you are expected to be a mentor towards young athletes to try and always espouse qualities which point to sportsmanship, discipline, and responsible citizenship. What SSC Coach Roger Gorayeb and SBC Coach Frankie Lim did today harkens back to what USED to happen during the glory days of the NCAA, when the likes of Ateneo, La Salle, San Beda, and Letran used to slug it out- literally and figuratively, both with basketball glory on the line, and, sometimes, with nothing on the line but a bit of extra ego-calories.

I say fine both sides, and suspend those who needless through elbows, punches, etc. In a battle like this, nobody wins.

Okay, maybe the media wins a notable story for their newswires to be filled with, but you get what I mean, right?

MC

NBA- Easy Come, Easy Go

Once empty basketball stadiums will soon be packed with NBA fans frothing at the mouth.

Ladies and gentlemen, the NBA is back. Only days removed from a 3am press conference featuring members of the NBA brass, along with NBPA player representative Derek Fisher, newswires have been absolutely on fire with gossip about who's going where.

Rajon Rondo's been rumored to be on the trading block, not necessarily because he's become a pariah in Boston, but because Danny Ainge seems to covet another all-world point guard in the Hornets' Chris Paul. I can't help but feel a little bit sorry for the NBA-owned Hornets, with both Paul and forward David West being reported as "wanting out". Chris Paul, though, purportedly wants to head to New York to join Amare and 'Melo to form yet another Superteam.

I told you it had gotten crazy since a couple of days back.

Apart from the CP3 issue, there's Dwight Howard supposedly being courted by the Prokherov's Nets, Tyson Chandler of the Mavs expecting to be on a new team before you can say "uncle", Brandon Roy's meniscus-less knees possibly going to Chicago, Baron Davis possibly making a Hollywood comeback, maybe with Washington's Rashard Lewis in tow, and the Amnesty Clause taking the current basketball lives of livin' large (contractually) ballers such as Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood. Free agency begins on December 9, and this, early, we've already burnt down a few forests' worth of talkies.

It's a ridiculously voluminous amount of gossip for 2-3 days- and we've only just begun.

Finally off the negotiating table- and (almost) on to the hardwood.

I love this game- don't you?

MC