Retire Already!!!!

Will Ron Chapman just please go away??? (story)

As a fellow radio broadcaster, I definitely respect the fact that Ron Chapman has made it 45 years in this insane business (BTW, if I'm still doing Tickers 30 years from now, please shoot me). But all the hoopla surrounding his retirement is ridiculous! He didn't cure AIDs or anything...he was a freakin' DISC JOCKEY!!!

As for the successor to the KLUV throne, Jody Dean, let me again say I wish nothing but failure on him. After working around Jody for several years at KRLD, I can say with all honesty that the man is a complete tool and a-hole. Don't believe the hype!

A T-Shirt Only A "Mo-Fo" Could Love

"Adios, mofo." – Gov. Rick Perry's inadvertently on-camera dismissal of a Houston TV reporter, after he misunderstood the reporter's final question about Perry's school finance plan. Later Perry apologized for the "inappropriate banter" that he insisted was actually directed at aide Robert Black.

You've heard the story, now you can get the Rick Perry "Adios, Mo-Fo" T-shirt!!!! I came up with the above design and stuck it on some shirts that you can check out at this link. And if you like it, order yourself one...or 20.

Enjoy...

End of the Line For Fin?

Mark might send Mike packing...

They might not have any picks (yet) in next week's NBA Draft, but it is starting to be a busy offseason for your Dallas Mavericks. First the news that Shawn Bradley plans to call it a career (mercifully)...now sources are saying that Mark Cuban may waive Michael Finley to avoid paying the huge luxury tax on the 51-million he still owes Fin on the final 3 years of his contract.

What a perfect opportunity for Cuban to continue moving this team in a new (hopefully younger and more athletic) direction. He already has his young coach in the Little General, Avery Johnson. Now Cuban has a chance to get rid of a huge non-contributor (Bradley) and a player past his prime (Finley)...in less than a week!

San Antonio Does it Again...

Once Ron Jeremy and Jeff Foxworthy were done singing the National Anthem...

...Tim Duncan and the Spurs dethroned the Pistons

Count me with the rest of the nay-sayers who thought Detroit would use the momentum from their Game 6 victory in San Antonio to win Game 7, the series and their second straight NBA title. It was a close game, but in the end, the Spurs had just enough to take the championship.

Looked like Tim Duncan was kinda sleepwalking for the first two quarters of this game. However, he woke up in the 2nd half, scoring 17 of his 25 points to secure Finals MVP honors. Hell, he even made 5 of his 6 free throw shots in the game.

As we already peek ahead to '05-'06, the Spurs will probably be odds-on favorites to win again. As for Detroit, it depends a little bit on their coaching situation. If Larry Brown runs off to that front-office job in Cleveland, a new head coach will bring a completely new dynamic to this team, which could be good or bad.

So congrats to the Spurs and their fans...even Justin Neeley, you a-hole!

The Mantis Calling It Quits???

Bradley apparently tired of being posterized

It looks as if we might be spared having to ever watch Shawn Bradley plodding up and down the AAC court again as the Mantis is set to call it a career. And what a career it was...

After being chosen SECOND OVERALL in the '93 draft by Philadelphia, Bradley lasted 2+ seasons with the Sixers before being shipped to New Jersey. With the Nets, he made it nearly 2 seasons before they got tired of his act and sent Bradley south to Dallas midway through the '96-'97 season. And that's where the Mantis has been ever since.

If this is the end for Bradley, here's how his career stats will wind up:

PPG: 8.1 RPG: 6.3 BPG: 2.5

Take those numbers and add them to all the cash that Mark Cuban has shelled out to keep Bradley around for so long (The deal calls for him to earn $14.5 million over the next three seasons, including $4.5 million in 2005-06) and you've got the definition of DISAPPOINTMENT.

Off the court, Shawn Bradley seems like a nice enough guy. Unfortunately, his presence in a Mavs uniform over the last 8+ seasons simply became a punch line that will live long after the Mantis has gone away...

And the Title Goes To....?

Can Big Ben and his 'fro beat back Tim Duncan and the Spurs?

After 4 blowouts, 1 overtime thriller and 1 somewhat surprising road win, the NBA Finals come down to tonight's Game 7 in San Antonio between the Spurs and Detroit Pistons.

Don't ask me why, but I'm leaning towards Detroit to come out victorious and repeat as NBA champs. Their Game 6 victory obviously gives the Pistons the momentum (before that, they had not won in the Alamo City since '97). Plus, I think Detroit will perform down the stretch, while San Antonio sputters (note to Tim Duncan: you're a great player, but get some free-throw practice in during the offseason).

My prediction...Detroit 93, San Antonio 87.

Check out the top Game 7 Performances in NBA Finals history

Labor Harmony in the NBA (for at least 6 years)

A new CBA for the NBA

Well, I didn't think they would do it, but the National Basketball Association and its players union have come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement...less than two weeks before the old agreement was to expire and a lockout would have been put into place.

The most interesting thing to come out of the new CBA is the raising of the age limit for entering the NBA draft from 18 to 19...which means, starting in '06, the days of high school players hoping to jump to the pros trying to become the next Lebron, Kobe and T-Mac will be history.

The folks who have to actually be upset about this agreement are over at the National Hockey League. The NBA's labor squabbles had taken some of the focus off of hockey's problems. I'm sure Gary Bettman was hoping that pro hoops would go into a nice long lockout so he could say, "See? We're not the only ones with problems here." Sorry, Gary...

So Very Disturbing...

Charges Against Teen Upgraded After the Dog He Allegedly Raped Dies

When I first read stories like this one, I start to wonder about the future of America with these knothead kids wandering around. But then my second thought is that stories like this always make me feel a lot better about my own life. There have been times when my dating scene wasn't going too well, but never this bad. Yikes...

Close But No Sweep...

Rangers take 2 of 3 from Nats...


...hit the road for a huge series with the Angels

'Batman Begins' Definitely A Good Restart

Great first weekend for the new Caped Crusader

I used a rare Friday night off to take in a movie...and chose 'Batman Begins,' starring Christian Bale as the Dark Knight. After that last batch of Batman movies we got, with George Clooney, Chris O' Donnell and even Alicia Silverstone sparing us to death, I went into this movie with very low expectations. I am happy to report that my expectations were easily met...and surpassed.

First of all, Christian Bale is a perfect choice to play Bruce Wayne/Batman. He is thoroughly believable as the troubled billionaire trying to fight the demons of his past.

Secondly, the supporting cast is very strong. Michael Caine as Alfred was a great choice. Besides being hot, Katie Holmes was good as Bruce Wayne's love interest. Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman were all also very solid as well.

Most importantly, director Christopher Nolan did an excellent job of telling the story of just how Batman came to be. Most everyone knew the part about Bruce Wayne's parents being killed, but we hadn't seen how he traveled the world trying to find meaning in his life...and getting the training to become the Dark Knight. Nolan shows that in this movie, which I think reveals just how dark and disturbed Bruce Wayne is and what pushes him to become Batman.

I think even someone who isn't a Batman fan would enjoy 'Batman Begins.' The story is told in such a way that it would be a good movie even if Bruce Wayne never donned the cowl and tights.

Bottom line: Go see 'Batman Begins'...it'll definitely keep you entertained for 2+ hours.