NBA News, Notes, and Observations: May 29, 2008

ESPN and ABC need to stop shoving the KG and Bill Russell conversation down our collective throats. I love Bill Russell. I love KG. But the dramatic lighting and the dramatic music is so artificial. Only someone who cries watching Armageddon would think this conversation chills-inducing.

But my biggest problem with the piece is when Russell tells KG that he'll give him one of his rings if KG doesn't win one.

Doesn't Russell have any kids? You would give KG a ring after one unsuccessful season with the Celtics? Are you kidding me? Wouldn't you think Paul Pierce would be more deserving of one of Russell's rings by now?

Just awful.

Two Interesting Reads

If you're into Sports Business news then you should definitely check out Darren Rovell's Sports Biz page on CNBC.com. Rovell wrote an interesting piece on Kobe Bryant's viral ad campaign. He's also got another great article on the prospect of foreign ownership of professional sports teams in the United States.

The other piece is Sam Smith's latest blog entry on HoopsHype where, in the wake of the Josh Howard revelation and Joakim Noah arrest, he mentions that it's alcohol and not pot that is the real problem among NBA players.

Flopping Fines

The NBA announced they would start fining players for "theatrical flopping." It's definitely a step in the right direction, but it will be difficult to determine what's a flop and what's not.

I say forget the fine and start issuing either technical fouls or personal fouls for flops.

The game of soccer invented the flop and even they've started handing out yellow cards for players taking dives and faking injuries.

As for the other issue on the competition committee's agenda, there's still no change in Hack-A-Shaq. I guess Shaq will have to solve the problem the old-fashioned way—by making his free throws.

Trivia Answer: Bob Pettit

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