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Saturday, June 01, 2002
Lakers Dynasty On the Line  By Ben Maller Kobe knows it and so does Phil Jackson and everyone else connected with the Lakers. Lose today in Sacramento and forget about calling yourself a dynasty. The Lakers have the NBA's two best players and should win at Arco Arena despite being 2 point underdogs. History is actually on the side of the Kings though, Only once has a road team prevailed in a Game 7 of the Western Conference finals in the past 52 years -- the Phoenix Suns won in that situation at Golden State in 1976.  If the Lakers want to compare themselves to the ShowTime Lakers of the 80's and the Chicago Bulls of the 90's they must win tonight. A loss and they become just another good team that could have been great. Phil Jackson’s teams have won their last four elimination games, including a 27-point rout of the Kings in Game 5 of their first round series in the 2000 playoffs. Jackson’s teams have won 22 consecutive playoff series. 12 in Chicago and 10 in LA. He last lost a postseason series in 1994-95, when the Bulls fell to the Magic, 4-2, in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.  I know that Kobe wants it and I'm pretty sure that Shaq is aware of whats on the line but can these to great warriors overcome the horrible play of guys like Derek Fisher, Samaki Walker and Lindsey Hunter? They must in order to go into the history books. One thing is for sure who ever wins tonight I GUARANTEE will win the NBA Title. Past NBA Dynasty's Team Years Avg. Titles Celtics '80-'81 to '86-'87 61.6 3 Bulls '90-'91 to '97-'98 61.3 6 Lakers '79-'80 to '87-'88 59.3 5 Celtics '58-'59 to '68-'69 56.6 10 permalink Friday, May 31, 2002
"The Shaq Rules"  By Ben Maller Shaquille O'Neal is the NBA's best player, the one player that all 29 teams in the league would love to have. Yet, unlike basketball's last great player, Michael Jordan, he gets no respect. In 1995, Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune wrote a book about the inside story of Jordan and the Bulls. The book talked about the special treatment that MJ got from officials among other things. Anyone who has watched the Los Angeles Lakers play the last few seasons knows that's not the case with Shaq. So I pose the obvious question: why does the league's greatest player keep getting a raw deal from the Zebra's? I watch SportsCenter, listen to lots of sports talk radio, and read close to 100 newspapers everyday, and almost never see or hear stories about Shaq getting no credit from the officials.  The NBA is a league that has based much of its success over the last 20 years on the "superstar treatment." Players like MJ, Magic Johnson & Larry Bird always got the benefit of the doubt. Officials wouldn't dare call traveling on Jordan in his prime no matter how many steps he took. Yet time and time again the greatest basketball player in the world today, Shaq, seems to get screwed over by the refs. I could be wrong, but I don't ever remember Jordan or Magic fouling out of a big playoff game on a questionable foul call--that just wouldn't happen. Shaq can't say the same thing. In game 5 of the western conference finals in Sacramento, when the Lakers led by one point and Shaq touched Mike Bibby on the wrist he got called for his sixth foul with 3:22 to go in the game. I guarantee, if the officials had given the benefit of the doubt to Shaq, like they did Jordan and Magic, then the Lakers win that game.  Many sportswriters and sportsradio hosts have taken unfair cheap shots at the Shaq Diesel because he's bigger than everyone. It's not Shaq's fault that he's "7'1" and weighs 315 lbs. I have a feeling that at some point the calls will start turning around and O'Neal will get the breaks that other superstar players get. When that will happen I don't know, but if the Lakers are going to win their 3rd straight championship then it better happen tonight in game six. permalink Thursday, May 30, 2002
Title IX should go away  By Ben Maller Its 2002 and time for us to realize that Title IX is a silly outdated law. College sports are big business, they bring in tons of revenue that schools spend to build libraries and classrooms with and pay professors with the money they make. Men's basketball & football are the sports that make the real money for these colleges yet they often times are hurt along with other men's sports because of this stupid law. The 1972 statute known as Title IX prohibits any school or college that receives federal funding from discrimination based on sex in sports or academics. What this means is that many schools are forced to keep women's sports that nobody cares about and lose truck loads of money in expenses when 8 people show up to buy tickets. Because nearly all schools receive some federal aid, women have gained the opportunity to play many more sports under Title IX. But hundreds of men's sports programs have been cut nationwide, with Title IX often cited as the reason. Men's sports such as wrestling, swimming and track and field have been hit the hardest. I don't believe that all women's sports should go away. But a law is not needed anymore to force school's to keep there women's gymnastics team. If women's sports can make money they will stay and get lots of dollars just like a men's sport that makes money.  The Bush administration made a mistake in defending the law, arguing that a lawsuit by male college coaches and athletes should be thrown out. The suit against the Education Department contends that many colleges and universities have trimmed men's sports -- rather than adding women's teams -- to achieve equality. They are right and should win the case. Here is hoping we can end this title IX right NOW. AP Contributed to this report permalink Wednesday, May 29, 2002
The end of baseball?  By Ben Maller Labor problems will not kill baseball, but steroids will destroy it. I love the game of baseball, its history, the thinking that goes in to playing the game, and almost everything about it. Labor is a serious issue and should be addressed, but even if there is another strike, the fans will come back and they will overtime support the game again. If it comes out that all the homer records set over the last 10 years are bogus because of steroid abuse, then the game will be on life support. Ken Caminiti, who many thought, and some said they knew, did steroids, admitted as much to Sports Illustrated in an interview that will be out this week. Caminiti admitted that he was on "The Juice" in 1996 with San Diego when he batted a career-high .326 with 40 home runs and 130 runs batted in. The Padres won the NL West in '96, but would they have done it had Caminiti been clean? That's the point. If we start suspecting that every great player is on steroids, then how can anyone get excited over the records that are being set? Caminiti says he does not regret using the illegal drug, and went on to add that at least 50% of the players in baseball are on steroids. Just a couple of weeks ago, Jose Canseco said that 85% of the players in game are on 'roids. Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers told Sports Illustrated: "Basically, steroids can jump you a level or two. The average player can become a star and the star player can become a superstar. And the superstar? Forget it. He can do things we've never seen before." So if that's the case, with no steroid testing in place, how do we know how good Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, Mike Piazza, Jason Giambi, Luis Gonzalez, Gary Sheffield and all the other baseball stars really are? The great thing about the Game is that it's always been 3 strikes and your out, 90 feet to first base and so on. The core of the game has been basically the same. Thus we have been able to compare Babe Ruth to Mark McGwire, or Alex Rodriguez to Ernie Banks. If it's true that half the players in the game are cheating, then forget about it. How good would Willie Mays have been on Steroids? How many homers would Reggie Jackson have hit on the juice? That said, I completely understand why the players are doing it. In fact, I hate to admit it, but If I was a player and it was the difference between a 3 year career and a 10 year run with a big contract I would do it, and so would most people. That's the problem. Bud Selig, the so called commissioner is just a freaking puppet to the owners, and so the problem continues. I wonder what Kenisaw Mountain Landis would have done if he was commissioner today? Can you say 400 men out of baseball? permalink
Big Ben's "Insider Notes" Eastern Finals:   Boston Celtics at New Jersey Nets– Game 5 (Series tied 2-2) * The Celtics are 6-1 in Eastern Conference Final Game Fives when the series is tied 2-2. * In Game 4, Boston’s Paul Pierce missed the first of two foul shots with 1.1 seconds left, with the Celtics trailing by two points. Pierce missed the second intentionally, and Tony Battie could not convert the putback. Pierce is shooting only 63% (40-63) from the line in this series, after making 81% of his foul shots in the regular season. * The Celtics have started poorly in three of four contests against the Nets. Game 2 was the only contest in which Boston did not trail after the first quarter. Overall, the Celtics have led for only 8 minutes and 39 seconds of the 48 first-quarter minutes in this series. * The Celtics have won three of their last four road games, after losing the first three this post-season. * Paul Pierce shot 75.0% (21-28) from three-point range against the Nets during the regular season. He is shooting 18.2% (4-22) from three-point range in this series. * New Jersey is 6-2 at home this post-season, but lost its last game. * The Nets are 8-0 this post-season when Keith Van Horn scores 14 or more points, and 1-5 when he scored under 14. Van Horn had a wrap around his left elbow yesterday but is expected to play tonight. * Kerry Kittles has led the Nets in scoring in each of the past two games, averaging 20.5 ppg in that span. Kittles was 4-for-7 from three points range in Game 4, after going 0-for-17 in the first three games of the series. * Jason Kidd is averaging a triple-double: 18.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg and 10.3 apg in the series. Kidd and his wife Joumana found the behavior of the Boston fans disturbing. During Game 3, some FleetCenter patrons with the words ''wife beater'' written on their backs were jumping up and down in front of Joumana and the couple's 3-year-old son, T.J. When Kidd went to the line in Game 4 with 5:45 to play, a section of the sellout crowd began chanting, “'Wife beater.” The references were to an incident in January 2001 when Kidd, who was with Phoenix at the time, was arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge of striking his wife. Source: Stats Inc. permalink
Western Finals:   Detroit Red Wings at Colorado Avalanche: Game 6 (Avalanche lead 3-2) * Four of the five games in the series have been decided by one goal. * The road team has won all six overtime games between these archrivals since their first playoff meeting in 1996. * Detroit is 0-4 in elimination games since defeating St. Louis in Game Seven of the 1996 conference semifinals. Three of those four losses have come at the hands of Colorado. * Detroit has scored seven of its 13 goals in this series in the third period. * Steve Yzerman's third-period tally in Game 5 was the 67th of his career in the postseason, tying Hall of Famer Gordie Howe for No. 1 on the Red Wings' all-time list. Yzerman has competed in 170 playoff games to date, as compared to Howe's 154. * Colorado has alternated wins and losses in its last nine home games (WLWLWLWLW). * Since 1996, the Avalanche have a 9-5 record in Game Sixes. However, they have won five of seven Games Sixes following a win in Game Five. * The Avalanche have been credited with 104 blocked shots in the series. The Wings have 45. * Colorado center Peter Forsberg missed the regular season with leg injuries but has returned to lead all players with 27 points in the playoffs on nine goals and 18 assists. * Avalanche center Joe Sakic has nine goals in the playoffs and has added 10 assists. * Colorado forward Dan Hinote broke a bone in his left leg in Game 5 and will be out indefinitely. Hinote was walking with crutches and wearing a soft cast on the lower portion of his leg Tuesday at Colorado's practice facility. Hinote was hurt blocking a shot in the third period of Colorado's 2-1 overtime victory Monday night. Source: Stats Inc. permalink Tuesday, May 28, 2002
Ben Maller rescued by LAFD  Ben Maller A big thanks to the Los Angeles Fire Department for a quick response. After what turned into a seven hour flight from JFK to LAX (Extra 2 Hours in plane because of delays) Me my Mom, Dad and brother Mike were stuck in an elevator at LAX. We where jammed in elevator number one at parking garage six across from the Delta terminal with the doors jammed and us stuck inbetween the 3rd and 4th floors the only way out was to call 911 on the cellphone. The fire department showed up with lights and sirens on in literally 5 minutes and in another 5 minutes they had pried open the elevator door with some kind of ax and freed the Maller family. Fine work guys! Thanks again to the quick response by LAFD I was able to update this website for you and get some sleep in my own bed instead of a urine filled elevator at LAX. permalink
Big Ben's "Insider Notes" NBA Western Finals:   Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings– Game 5 (Series tied 2-2) * The Lakers came back from a 24-point deficit to win Game 4, as Robert Horry nailed a three-pointer as time expired, giving L.A. the 100-99 victory. * Los Angeles has beaten Sacramento in six of its last eight games at Arco, though Sacramento took Game 2 of the series 96-90. * The Lakers grabbed 11 offensive rebounds in Game 1 and have increased that in every game with 18, 19, and 25. * The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant has taken no chances with room service in Sacramento. He reportedly brought enchiladas from L.A. Bryant suffered from a case of food poisoning before Game Two because of a bad bacon cheeseburger he ordered from room service. * Shaquille O’Neal was 9-for-13 from the free throw line in Game 4, including six in a row in the fourth quarter when the game was in doubt. * The Kings opened up Game 4 shooting an incredible 71% percent from the field, connecting on 15- of -21 field goals in the first quarter to take a 40-20 lead at the end of the period. * The Kings are 9-1 this post-season when outshooting their opponent from the field. * After making 16 of 17 free throws in Game 1, the Kings have made just 62 of 99 attempts (62.6%) from the line in the past three. * Sacramento will again be without All-Star forward Peja Stojakovic, who has yet to make an appearance in the series. Stojakovic has been nursing a sprained right ankle and the team has indicated that he might be ready for Game Six on Friday. * Kings forward Chris Webber has led Sacramento in the playoffs, averaging a team-leading 23.4 points and 10.7 rebounds. Webber has recorded double-doubles in eight of the 13 playoff games, including six of the last nine. * Mike Bibby has scored 20+ points in seven of the last eight games. But Bibby scored just three points in the second half of Game 4, after devouring Derek Fisher as well as Kobe Bryant in the first half for 18. Source: Stats Inc permalink
Big Ben's "Insider Notes" NHL Eastern Finals:   Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs: Game 6 (Hurricanes lead 3-2) * Eight of the 13 goals this series have come on the power play. * Carolina has emerged victorious in Game 6 of each of its first two series -- against New Jersey and Toronto -- clinching each of those series with those wins. * Carolina won the first two games at the Air Canada Centre this series. * Entering the third round, Carolina’s BBC line of Bates Battaglia, center Rod Brind'Amour and rookie Erik Cole scored 14 goals and 17 assists in series wins against New Jersey and Montreal. This round, they have rung up a measly three assists, two by Brind'Amour. * Carolina defenseman Glen Wesley has gone 30 postseason games without a point. * Toronto is 4-0 in elimination games this post-season. * Toronto has scored just five goals in the first five games of the series. Of those goals, just one has come on five-on-five play. Three have come on the power-play -- including Darcy Tucker's fluke goal in Game 5 -- and the other came with Joseph pulled for an extra attacker in Game 2. * The Maple Leafs’ Gary Roberts has 19 points this postseason, second only to Colorado's Peter Forsberg, His 1.12 points-per-game average this postseason is the second-highest ever for a player 35 or older (Wayne Gretzky in 1997). * Toronto coach Pat Quinn, who missed game 3 and Game 5 while being treated for a heart condition, will be behind the bench Tonight. Source: Stats Inc. permalink Monday, May 27, 2002
Big Ben in NYC: Day 4
 By Ben Maller New York - It was a very emotional and sad day on Sunday. I visited ground zero for the first time since the attack and was overwhelmed by the amount of destruction and carnage. On my last trip to the big apple back in August on the 17th me and my brothers visited the World Trade Center less than a month before the attack on New York & America that would forever change the world. The saddest thing about visiting the site had to be the pictures of the police, fire and civilians who lost there lives, close to 3,000 of them. I look at the faces of those men and women and many are around my age and some younger. There was no reason this should have happened. I hope we cut the balls off of the guys who planned this and funded it. Then we can really torture them! The site itself looks like a giant construction zone. I stopped by the Wintergarden hotel where I visited in August only to see most of it still boarded up and construction taking place. I don't think Television does justice to the area of destruction. Its almost the entire lower half of Manhattan that was knocked down or damaged. Seven total buildings where destroyed and many more than that had major damage. Thanks to my brother who lives here miss reading a bus map I had the chance to walk all the way from the WTC site across the island to the Brooklyn Bridge. The streets are a complete mess they all need to be paved and the whole area still has a thin layer of the white powder from 9/11. I did get to see the 2nd half of the Lakers game against the Kings. Hats off to Sacramento for a great choke job. The Kings blew a 20 point lead over the final 36 minutes and where just 11 seconds away from being up 3-1 with 2 of the final three games at Arco Arena. Robert Horry yet again proved to be the LA version of John Paxon with the Chicago Bulls in the early 90's. New York is great but I'm looking forward to heading back to the West Coast and working at Fox Sports Radio again on Tuesday. Have a great Memorial Day! permalink |
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