Slam Dunked. The Rigging of the NBA's Showcase Event

I cannot believe the sheer ridiculousness of last weekends's Slam Dunk contest. It was the single most rigged event I've ever seen and keep in mind I watch Japanese wrestling videos on YouTube.

I should have known all along that no matter what Blake Griffin was going to win the contest to keep momentum going into the All-Star game itself.

The writing was on the wall a couple years back that the dunk contest was on life support. Especially when Dwight Howard won just because he put on a Superman cape then proceeded to not even dunk the ball. I will forever call him the greatest Slam-Throw contest winner of all-time.

That was obviously rigged and I think its officially been rigged ever since. During the celebrity game Friday they literally ran a crawl at the bottom of the screen showing Justin Bieber's tweets to vote him as the game's MVP. Then that first ballot, Hall of Fame tool wins the game's MVP. Now that's not a big deal, I don't care. But I do care when something I've always loved like the dunk contest is so blatantly prefabricated and used as engine to cross promote.

I didn't mind when it was announced that the four dunkers (Jevale McGee, Demar Derozan, Serge Ibake and Griffin) would have coaches to help. The infusion of those guys was a welcome addition.

I also didn't mind when "Chocolate Thunder" Daryl Dawkins presented Derozan's dunk as the "East Bay Funk remix" (a nod to J.R. Rider's classic) or when Ibaka had all the pageantry of the flag guard or whatever that was.

But then they got the kid acting like he lost his stuffed animal (Cheryl Miller's bad acting in this should go into the Broadcasting Hall of Shame), then the Mom comes down from the stands to kiss all the judges (And Brent Barry no sold it), Howard's on the mic acting like all these guys suck (Because he's the greatest of all time. Because you know, throwing a ball into a hoop while wearing a cape is hard) and finally they drive the Kia Optima out with the pre-fabricated logos on. Then I knew the fix was in. The cherry on top was added when the Crenshaw choir came in to sing "I Believe I Can Fly." That was a truly sad moment. I was waiting for Vince McMahon to present a novelty check to Griffin for being the best YouTube sensation in the World.

They put this budding superstar in a contest with three guys that the average fan know nothing of and then the winner is chosen by fans' text voting. Makes sense.

I love Blake Griffin, but I refuse to let the NBA jerk me around and insult my intelligence. My B.S. Meter hit levels it hasn't touch since Vanilla Ice said he didn't sample Queen.

Congrats to the NBA, YouTube, KIA, Sprite, TNT and Kenny Smith for pulling of a rig that even the most experienced truckers couldn't drive.

Why I Weep For The Future Of This Country

What If Minnesota's Hockey Team Weren't The Wild?

Interesting read from the Wild's website. Personally I always liked the Blue Ox or White Bears name. I don't think something like the White Bears ever had the chance because it sounds partial to the suburb of the same name. There was an uproar when one of the local papers thought the name "Skeeters" should've been the team's nickname, but people seemed to forget that Mosquitos aren't around in the Winter. But I digress...

I'd pretty much ignore the uniform renderings since they're just pasted on to current Wild uniforms, but lets just be happy Northern Lights or Freeze wasn't chosen.

Super Bowl Preview

Sunday's big game is upon us, I litterally dreamt last night of a 38-27 score with the Packers prevailing. Dear God No. Some things to keep in mind...

Aaron Rodgers looks like the temp from The Office so I don't trust him. (Not fair he's really good and I respect him for getting out of Brett Favre's shadow)

Clay Matthews is without a doubt sport's most blatantly 'roided up athlete.

Head coach Mike McCarthy's lazy eye makes me uncomfortable.

BJ Raji gave himself his own nickname ("The Freezer", in homage to William "The Refrigerator" Perry), making him instantly hate-worthy because anyone who gives themselves there own nickname (Lebron James!) is a complete dick.

Packer offensive coordinator Dom Capers (and his Toupee) referred to himself in the third person during an interview on ESPN.

The Steelers have been there before and besides some bathroom stall tomfoolery seem to have their stuff together and have the experience necessary to take the title home back to Pittsburgh.

FINAL SCORE: Steelers 72- Packers 5

Take it to the bank and........PACKERS SUCK!

Timberwolves Continue To Be Bad At Timing

Yesterday Wolves owner Glen Taylor and Minneapolis mayor RT Rybek announced plans for a $155 million dollar renovation of Target Center. Of course specifics of how this exactly would be financed were not disclosed.

In semi-related news, the AEG group who want to bring a team to Los Angeles (and I believe two will end up there) showcased renderings of their proposed stadium in downtown LA in the same complex where the AEG owned Staples Center lies. Not to mention the announcement of a $700 million naming rights deal with Farmer's Insurance.

Memo to Mr. Taylor, Farmer's Field is being built, at least one NFL team will play there and the Vikings are a strong candidate to play there. I know it must be tough to see St. Paul get a lot of attention and the University enjoy a new football stadium while the Twins are the toast of the town with Target Field.

That said, the Vikings are between a rock and a hard place, any attention to local stadium financing needs to be focused on the purple. Unless Taylor can pony up the money privately, stick with what you got.

P.S. even the Saints are getting $20 million for funding of a new stadium backed by new Governor Mark Dayton. Shocked to see Dayton so pro stadium but nonetheless...