Big news teaser… and some Kim K commentary

Apology

I know; it’s been a while. For that, I apologize.


Teaser

Within the next week, there will be some big Banter news, possibly the biggest since we went live early in 2009. Now since nothing is finalized yet, I will keep you captive for a few more days.

Kim K Commentary

Banter favorite, Kim Kardashian, was at it again today posting a twitpic for no discernible reason except to show cleavage. At the time of this posting, over 45,000 people had seen it.

However, my real problem with the picture has nothing to do with her and everything to do with her grammatically and politically incorrect followers that commented on the picture. I know I sound like an old man, but I couldn’t believe some of the stupidity being spewed.

@MarktaylorJr proposes marriage while giving out his personal email address:

kobemarkbone24@yahoo.com i love u my lifelong dream is to marry u nd my mother told me to always follow your dream

Pearls of wisdom indeed.


@mariih02 had some other thoughts:

I HATE UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU !!! WITH ALL MY HEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BITCH

I'd say that's a bit harsh.


@alisharivera uses the comments section to show her strong grasp of the English language:

i got sunglasses like dat but dey black wid stones

Ahh, got it.


Why did this piss me off so much? I’m not sure. Maybe, I'm just depressed at the state of the interweb.

Trades That Make Sense: Hornets-Knicks

The New Orleans Hornets trade Chris Paul and Emeka Okafor to the New York Knicks for Danilo Galinari, Kelena Azubuike, Ronny Turiaf, and Eddy Curry

New Orleans says yes because:

-The deal saves the team more than $54m over the next four years.
-They will lose Paul for nothing next year.
-They are not in a position to compete right now.
-The team can build around a Darren Collison (who filled in admirably for CP3 last year) - Marcus Thornton - Danilo - David West foundation.

New Orleans says no because:

-Chris Paul is the franchise.


New York says yes because:

-Chris Paul will save basketball in New York.
-The starting five of Paul - Raymond Felton -Wilson Chandler - Amare Stoudemire - Okafor makes them contenders for a top-3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

New York says no because:

-Unless Donnie Walsh's pain meds caused him temporary insanity, New York could not say no to this deal.

Separated at Birth

NBA PF Hedo Turkoglu and Wesleyan two-sport star Brian Mahr

In a word: awesome

Soccer Idea of the Day

Once the offense has the ball inside the 18-yard box, offsides cannot be called.

Offsides is meant to be a deterrent to goal-hanging. Once the offense has the ball that close to the opponent's net, goal-hanging is not an issue. The 18-yard box would be the equivalent of the blue line in hockey.

Thoughts?

A Refreshing Thought

Vikings' LB Chad Greenway had this to say regarding the potential of a holdout for a new deal, "I have a full year left on my contract and I'm going to honor that and do what I need to do. I wouldn't be a South Dakotan if I didn't honor my word that way."

I just gained a bit more respect for the state.

NBA Mock Draft

My first and only shot at this:


1. Wizards: John Wall, PG, Kentucky - If this surprises you, clearly you have not been paying attention.

2. 76ers: Evan Turner, SG, Ohio State - Talent distribution on this team could not be worse as their bigs are terrible while the guards are very, very solid. Turner will be too good to pass up here, though.

3. Nets: Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech

4. Wolves: Wesley Johnson, SF, Syracuse

5. Kings: DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kentucky - Apparently, the enigma known as DC wowed the brass in Sacto, and they are clearly unafraid to take risks on players with character flaws (see Tyreke Evans, 2009).

6. Warriors: Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest

7. Pistons: Ekpe Udoh, PF, Baylor - Joe Dumars and Co. would be stuck in no man's land here as the rest of the draft's prospects could very well be busts if taken this high. Udoh would help defensively right away, and in Motor City, that carries a lot of weight.

8. Clippers: Luke Babbitt, SF, Nevada - Should be able to spread the floor for last year's top pick Blake Griffin.

9. Jazz: Greg Monroe, PF, Utah

10. Pacers: Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina - Another Tar Heel in the Hoosier State.

11. Hornets: Gordon Hayward, SF, Butler

12. Wolves: Paul George, SF, Fresno State

13. Raptors: Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas - Ho hum guy that won't wow you but will be a dependable presence for many years. Seems like what you would want from a late lottery pick.

14. Rockets: Craig Brackins, PF, Iowa State - My surprise of Round 1.

15. Bucks: James Anderson, SG, Oklahoma State

16. Grizzlies: Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky - Amazing that a team with four of the top 16 picks couldn't win the NCAA tournament.

17. Bulls: Dominique Jones, SG, South Florida - A Ben Gordon-type with better point guard skills. His scoring will be a welcome addition to this team in desperate need of it.

18. Thunder: Avery Bradley, G, Texas - A shutdown guard that did very little in his one year college stay.

19. Celtics: Eric Bledsoe, PG, Kentucky

20. Spurs: Eliot Williams, G, Memphis

21. Thunder: Solomon Alabi, C, Florida State - The defensive presence they could have used in this year's playoffs.

22. Blazers: Quincy Pondexter, SF, Washington - They struck gold the last time they went with a Washington player.

23. Wolves: Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas

24. Hawks: Jordan Crawford, SG, Xavier

25. Grizzlies: Damion James, SF, Texas

26. Thunder: Kevin Seraphin, PF, France

27. Nets: Trevor Booker, PF, Clemson

28. Grizzlies: Larry Sanders, C, VCU

29. Magic: Devin Ebanks, SF, West Virginia

30. Wizards: Hassan Whiteside, C, Marshall



Thoughts

*Kentucky C Daniel Orton will not be drafted in the first round. Thunder GM Sam Presti has been sending out signals that his team loves the big man. I can see right through this brilliant ploy (Orton is not that good and has two questionable knees), and I think all the other GMs will too. Although, that might be giving Dave Kahn too much credit.

*Last year, Dave Kahn drafted two point guards in the top six picks. This year he's trying to trade franchise cornerstone Al Jefferson. How long can we let this go on?

And He Still Got the Job?

This sums up the pathetic state of refereeing at the World Cup:

Last year, referee Massimo Busacca urinated on the field during a game in Qatar he was working.

FIFA still hired him to work the world's most popular event.

I am befuddled.

They Did What?!

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, "Kevin Pritchard and the Blazers rejected the Wolves' offer of the No. 4 pick for Nicolas Batum a couple of week ago."

This cannot be true.

Would the Wolves really be this dumb?

Could the Blazers be even dumber?

Banter will be back full time...

...beginning on July 1.

I will try to put out a mock NBA Draft at some point next week too.

Trades That Make Sense: NBA Pre-Draft Blockbuster

Minnesota Receives: 2nd overall selection (Evan Turner) and Courtney Lee [Trades 4th overall selection, Ricky Rubio, Wayne Ellington]

Philadelphia Receives: 3rd overall selection (Derrick Favors), Devin Harris, and Yi Jianlian [Trades 2nd overall selection, Samuel Delambert]

New Jersey Receives: 4th overall selection (DeMarcus Cousins), Ricky Rubio, Wayne Ellington, and Samuel Delambert [Trades 3rd overall selection, Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Yi Jianlian]

________________________________

Minnesota's Rotation: Jonny Flynn, Courtney Lee, Evan Turner, Kevin Love, Al Jefferson, Corey Brewer, Ramon Sessions

Philadelphia's Rotation: Lou Williams, Devin Harris, Jrue Holiday, Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Yi Jianlian, Derrick Favors, Thad Young, Mo Speights

New Jersey's Rotation: Ricky Rubio, Joe Johnson, LeBron James, DeMarcus Cousins, Brook Lopez, Terrence Williams, Samuel Delambert

Three Things I Learned at the Yankee Game

Thanks to loyal Banter reader and good friend @CMG1983, I was able to attend last night's Rays-Yankees Game at the Stadium. We sat in the Legend Suites, four rows behind third base with an unlimited, 8-inning buffet.

Here's what I learned:

1) Tracy Morgan does not like being called Brian Fellows. Prior to the game, we were sitting underneath the Stadium enjoying a feast when Mr. Fellows walked in amongst a four-man posse. I called him by this name, and he returned a death stare in my direction. Lesson learned.

2) Alligator tastes delicious. At the pregame feast, we indulged in the reptilian delicacy known as "alligator fritters." I'm not sure if it was the tail or the stubby legs that tasted so good, but I had more than my fill.

3) Miguel Cotto, the professional boxer from Puerto Rico, is much more disciplined in preparation for his big June 5th event than I am. As Cotto stuffed his face with sushi and fruit, I was devouring reptile.

Tale of the Tape

Cotto vs Banter

Miguel -- First Name -- Miguel

Puerto Rican -- Nationality -- Croatian

5'7 -- Height -- 6'0

147 -- Weight -- 194

67" -- Reach -- 74"

30 -- Age -- 26

Stadium Slugfest -- June 5th Event -- Wedding

Tribal logo on right shoulder -- Tattoo -- None

Edge: Banter

Best Trucking Since... Yesterday

Trucking

I haven't seen a trucking this bad since Corey Gleason introduced himself to the catcher from Great Britain in the summer of 2004.

Fear the Deer, No Really

I picked the Hawks to win the series but if the Bucks get eliminated, we have to wait until October to see this again.

That's too long.

Let's Go Bucks, baby.