Bleacher Report - Articles by Anthony Hammett

Jeffrey Earnhardt To Make Nationwide Series Debut For Key Motorsports

Anthony Hammett — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:46:40 -0400

It is official.

The grandson of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and son of Kerry Earnhardt, Jeffrey Earnhardt, will make his Nationwide Series debut this weekend at Watkins Glen.

Earnhardt began the year driving the No. 31 Rick Ware Racing car, co-owned by Stanton Barrett. He attempted to qualify at Dover earlier in the season but wrecked his primary car in practice and was not able to get the backup car into the field on qualifying time.

The Rick Ware Racing team is a new team and was outside of the Top 30 in points, so Earnhardt was not locked into the field before his qualifying lap.

This weekend is different. Earnhardt will be driving the No. 40, Key Motorsports Fabsgrill.com Chevrolet for this weekend, and at least one more race at Montreal later in the season.

Scott Wimmer will be his spotter and trainer for the weekend.

With no pressure to qualify in order to make the race, Earnhardt feels more confident and can focus more on race experience rather than worrying if he will even make the field.

“The fact that I don’t have to qualify into the show because they’re in on points with the [No.] 40, that’s a big relief as a driver,” Earnhardt said.

“It helps out definitely being a rookie coming back into this deal and just not being able to race every weekend."

“It takes a lot of pressure off my shoulders, and helps me worry more about just getting the car right and getting all the marks down, and getting me comfortable getting back in the car.”

Earnhardt wants to run a limited schedule for the rest of the season so he can retain his rookie status for 2010, in hopes of contending for the Rookie Of The Year Award.

Earnhardt has road race experience. He finished second in a NASCAR Camping World East Series race in 2008. Driving Montreal for the No. 40 Key Motorsports team also shows that they have confidence in his road race ability.

I look forward to see how he handles the challenge this weekend.

Credit: Scenedaily.com

Atlanta Re-signs Williams For Five Years, Wishes It Had a Center For Next Season

Anthony Hammett — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:05:20 -0400

Marvin Williams will be an Atlanta Hawk this season, and for years to come if the team chooses to keep him.

According to Ric Bucher of ESPN.com, Atlanta re-signed Williams Wednesday to a five-year extension worth around $40 million.

Williams is a four-year pro selected No. 2 overall by the Hawks in the 2005 NBA Draft. Many fans remember that draft as the one where Atlanta passed on Deron Williams and Chris Paul.

Williams struggled his first few years in the NBA, but he began to show signs of life last season. He developed a nice touch on his mid-long range jump shot and fought aggressively defensively.

Williams averaged 12.5 PPG over his four year NBA career. He improved last season by averaging 13.9 PPG. He also improved as a rebounder. His career average is 5.5 RPG, but Williams improved that last season to 6.3 RPG.

The re-signing of Williams gives Atlanta assurance to have more depth on their roster overall. I would assume that Williams would be a starter, with Maurice Evans coming off the bench.

With the acquisitions of Jamal Crawford and Jeff Teague, it would appear that Atlanta will not try and re-sign Flip Murray. I could be wrong, but this is just a hunch coming from me, because it would be tough for that many guards to get paid that much money and all get playing time.

If Atlanta makes any more moves at all, I would suggest the Hawks go out and get a bigger forward or another center to help out in the post with Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia.

No matter what, the addition of Marvin Williams makes the upcoming season for the Hawks brighter.

Credit: Ric Bucher of ESPN.com

Atlanta Falcons Sign Marty Booker and Robert Ferguson to Replace Harry Douglas

Anthony Hammett — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 01:41:08 -0400

The preseason has not even started yet and the Falcons already have roster issues to deal with.

Mini-camps began without a noticeable face around. Roddy White is holding out until he gets a contract extension. Rumors have it that he wants "Larry Fitzgerald money."

You may remember than Fitzgerald got an extension for two years and $20 million. It has been said that White is looking for four years and $40 million. That's an issue within itself.

But as if things couldn't get worse, they did this past week. Wide receiver Harry Douglas tore his ACL and is lost for the season.

The second year player from Louisville played a vital role last season in Atlanta's re-emergence into a playoff team. Douglas led the team in punt returns as well as catching 23 catches for 320 yards and one touchdown.

The Falcons were forced to address their wide receiver issue through the free agent market. They began by working out Ike Hilliard and Robert Ferguson. Ferguson was obviously more impressive between the two and Atlanta signed him to a one year contract.

Ferguson last played for the Minnesota Vikings, but can be remembered mostly for a few good seasons in Green Bay catching passes from Brett Favre.

The Falcons did not stop with the signing of Ferguson. It was later announced that Atlanta had also signed Marty Booker. Booker has started 116 games in his 141 game career. He has 523 catches for 6,522 yards and 36 touchdowns. He played six seasons in Chicago and four seasons in Miami.

The Falcons say the signings were more to replace Douglas rather than trying to move forward without Roddy White. Each day that White misses practice during camp, he is fined heavily. Eventually, one would think the two sides can come to an agreement.

Atlanta hasn't had to deal with a holdout issue this big since Jamal Anderson pulled his attempt after the Super Bowl. All Falcon fans remember how that turned out after he got his payday. Let's hope that fate doesn't go the same way if White does get his pay day.

Credit: D Orlando Ledbetter of AJC.com

Back-To-Backs With LeBron and Shaq Highlight Atlanta's Interesting Schedule

Anthony Hammett — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:51:37 -0400

With the release of the 2009-2010 NBA schedule, hardcore basketball fans are searching up and down their favorite teams' schedules trying to determine which games are wins and which games are losses. For Atlanta Hawk fans, there is much reason for hope in the upcoming season. After many years of being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and outside of the playoff hunt, it would appear as if the Hawks have made a turn for the better in their franchise. This slide show will present ten games that I feel will be difference makers for the Atlanta Hawks in this upcoming season. Of course, every game in an NBA Regular Season has significance, but these are games in which the Hawks will be tested and also games in which possible conference positions could be determined. The Hawks Starting 5 will be able to contend with any other team in the NBA. Al Horford has come into his own. Josh Smith and Joe Johnson have developed into team leaders. Mike Bibby is back and adds veteran leadership to control the team. The bench got deeper with the additions of Jamal Crawford and drafting Jeff Teague from Wake Forest. The futures of Flip Murray and Marvin Williams with Atlanta remain undecided as they are still free agents. If Atlanta can bring both players back, they will be extremely deep and talented.

Begin Slideshow

Tom Watson Leads the 138th British Open after Three Rounds

Anthony Hammett — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:52:43 -0400

Tom Watson is defying the odds with every stroke he takes this week at Turnberry.

The 59-year-old Hall of Famer, who won on this very same course in this very same tournament against arguably the greatest legend in golf history, Jack Nicklaus, in 1977 in the famous "Duel In The Sun", leads by one stroke entering the final round in the 2009 British Open.

That's right. 2009. 32 years later, Tom Watson is leading the entire field and going places no other professional athlete has gone before.

Greg Norman was in this situation last year. He led after the third round of this tournament. He was 53 at the time and could not hold on in the final round.

That was a mind-boggling story within itself.

Tom Watson's story surpasses that by drastic proportions.

To begin, he has six years seniority over "The Shark". To top that off, Watson hasn't won on the PGA tour since 1998. He was inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame in 1988. He was a legend before the turn of the millennium and had nothing left to prove.

He started becoming a regular on the Senior Circuit in 1999 and went on to win the British Open three times, as recently as 2007. There is just something about England and Tom Watson that go together.

The "Duel In The Sun" occurred in 1977, at the very same golf course that Watson now has a chance to make history at. It was a showdown between Watson and Jack "The Golden Bear" Nicklaus. Stroke for stroke and hole for hole they tried to match each other.

In the final two rounds Nicklaus shot a 66 and a 66. However, Watson was one stroke better that weekend, and shot a 66 and a 65.

Watson again topped Nicklaus in 1982 at Pebble Beach at the U.S. Open on his famous chip-in on the 17th hole. In four of Watson's eight major wins, Nicklaus was runner up.

Watson has won the British Open five times, the Masters twice, and the U.S. Open once.

He led the PGA tour in wins six years; led in money won five years; led in scoring average three times; and was the PGA Tour Player Of The Year six times.

That's an outstanding resume. The remarkable thing about it is that we are two decades past all of that. In 2009 we are talking about Tom Watson again.

Words can't describe how remarkable of a feat it would be if he won. This would top Michael Jordan's comeback with the Wizards. It would top Magic Johnson's comeback with the Lakers. It's better than Brett Favre attempting to come back again.

It's bigger than Nolan Ryan throwing a no-hitter at 40 and a better feat than Mark Martin winning in NASCAR at 50.

This is a statement to all of mankind that age is just a number. Golf is a sport that gives everyone a fair chance as long as everything goes right on a given four days.

I must admit that I have become biased as I watch this week and write this article. I'm 25 years old with lots of life ahead of me. I have defied odds myself by making it to this point of my life.

It would be real easy for some of us to throw in the towel when times get tough. It'd be easy to stop trying when we are told we can not accomplish the impossible.

This week, Watson reminds us that the impossible does not exist. Anything is possible when you put your mind to it. I will be watching with great anticipation tomorrow in hopes of seeing the most historic sporting accomplish I may ever see in my lifetime.

Harvick May Want Out Of RCR Next Season For Stewart-Haas Racing

Anthony Hammett — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:47:49 -0400

The business relationship between Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress may be over after this season.

Reports came out this week that Harvick wanted out on his current deal with RCR at the end of the season to join Stewart-Haas racing in 2010.

Along with his move, Harvick would be bringing his two sponsors in Shell and Pennzoil with him.

Harvick is currently signed through the 2010 season with Richard Childress Racing.

Childress said in a quote about the matter. "Kevin will be driving the Shell and Pennzoil car next season."

That doesn't necessarily mean it would be for Richard Childress racing, since Harvick would be taking his sponsors with him if he were to leave.

Harvick replaced Dale Earnhardt after his untimely death in 2001. In just his third race in Spring Cup Competition, Harvick won at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He would win two races total that year and have six top fives finishes.

His most successful season with Richard Childress racing came in 2006 when Harvick posted five wins and 15 top five finishes.

For his nine year career with RCR, Harvick has 11 wins, 58 top five finishes, and 122 top ten finishes in 305 career races.

Harvick has fallen off considerably in 2009. He is 25th in the points standings with no shot to get back in the chase this season.

A change of scenery could be just what Harvick needs to get his career back on the right track (no pun intended).

Jeremy Mayfield Fails Another Drug Test for Methamphetamine

Anthony Hammett — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:30:55 -0400

Jeremy Mayfield has failed a random drug test for methamphetamine, again.

On Wednesday, NASCAR filed an affidavit with the court system asking that Mayfield's indefinite suspension be reinstated, after the courts had previously lifted the suspension and allowed Mayfield to attempt to drive again.

Mayfield's stepmother's testimony was also used by NASCAR in its affidavit. According to her, Mayfield used methamphetamine at least 30 times in seven years in her presence.

She has also included specific incidents in which she saw Mayfield use methamphetamine.

"I first saw Jeremy using methamphetamine in 1998 at Jeremy's shop on Jackson Road in Mooresville, North Carolina," she said.

"Jeremy cooked some of his own methamphetamine in his shop by the house until the stores took pseudoephedrine off the shelves.

In addition to making methamphetamine for his own use, I am aware that Jeremy has bought methamphetamine from others."

"Jeremy told me that he did methamphetamine before the [NASCAR awards ceremony in New York] when he drove for Ray Evernham."

"I saw Jeremy using methamphetamine in Myrtle Beach,'' she testified. "We left Myrtle Beach and traveled to Darlington for the race.

I saw Jeremy using methamphetamine again when we reached Darlington."

Mayfield denies the current allegations.

"I don't trust anything NASCAR does, anything (program administrator) Dr. David Black does, never have, never will."

He also strongly denies the accounts from his stepmother.

"Now they got this lying [expletive] to tell lies about me, someone I am embarrassed even uses the Mayfield name.

She's tried everything she can do to get money out of me, I won't help her, so I guess she found a way to get money from NASCAR by giving them an affidavit full of lies."

Mayfield's first positive test for methamphetamine came on May 1, and he was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR eight days later. Two weeks ago, the courts had granted an injunction lifting his ban from competing in the Sprint Cup.

Mayfield's attorney, John Buric, has filed an appeal of his own with 17 exhibits to counter NASCAR's wish to ban Mayfield indefinitely.

"There's nothing really to comment on other than we believe Judge Mullen was right and we don't believe there are any grounds for NASCAR to seek any stay from the 4th Circuit," Buric said. "The order should stand as it is."

"My only comment is that's their result," Buric told AP. "But what I want you to keep in mind is that test was performed by the defendants in the case.

Aegis Laboratories and Dr. Black are defendants in this case. I don't know if NASCAR has the right to ask the defendant to test Jeremy's urine sample. It ought to be done independently, but NASCAR didn't do that."

NASCAR will use Mayfield's recent failed drug test from home, along with Mayfield's stepmother's statements to prove that he is a danger to the sport.

"Because Mr. Mayfield's repeated and confirmed use of methamphetamine violates NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy, and because NASCAR must be permitted to protect the safety of its drivers, crews, and fans, as well as the integrity of the sport,

Defendants respectfully request that the Court immediately vacate its July 7, 2009 Order and reinstate NASCAR's suspension of Mr. Mayfield," court documents said.

They will also include that Mayfield's urine sample appeared to be "very dilute," which is a sign of an excessive consumption of water in order to "flush a drug" from the body's system.

Credit: Quotes were used from David Newton's article on http://www.espn.com

The Next Big Thing Is Now: Brock Lesnar Controls the UFC Heavyweights

Anthony Hammett — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 10:12:31 -0400

Professional wrestlers are not real athletes.

I have heard it all my life. They are just glorified stuntmen who read a script and go out and act out their role and exit the stage. They get a big paycheck and get on a plane and go do their play the next night in another town.

For people who think this, meet Brock Lesnar.

The former champion in Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation is putting all the doubters to rest one win at a time.

His popularity in the scripted world of wrestling prompted Lesnar an immediate chance to climb the heavyweight ranks of the UFC. This has upset some fans, as they feel his name got him spots above other contenders who had been training and fighting for longer.

He may not have deserved the opportunity, but he has taken advantage of it and never looked back.

Lesnar destroyed one small crony before meeting up with Frank Mir the first time. It had a pretty good buildup, and although it wasn't the main event, it had fan's interest.

Lesnar was aggressive early in that fight and opened some eyes. A supposed illegal shot to the head prompted the referee to stand the two back up, which lead to Mir making Lesnar tap out with a kneebar.

Since that fight, Lesnar has calmed his aggressiveness just a tad and waited for his moment to strike rather than just bullrush his opponent.

Before UFC 100, Mir said in interviews that he hoped Lesnar had the same strategy as before. In reality, this is because Mir realized that was his only chance. If he did not catch Brock in a big mistake, Lesnar was going to have his way with Mir. He did just that.

It was obvious from the start of round one who would control the fight. Mir was bleeding before round one was over and was taken down with ease by Lesnar whenever the two stood up.

It is scary to think about the potential of Brock Lesnar in MMA at this point. It is going to be hard for any heavyweight to match his strength. They can match the weight and size, but no one has his technique and upper body strength. It's going to take Brock making a mistake as a fighter for him to go down.

Everyone wants to see Fedor/Lesnar, but we all know that won't happen unless Fedor goes exclusively with UFC. Time will tell if that will happen. But, if it doesn't, get ready to watch a long run of Brock Lesnar dominating, whether you like him or not. Frankly, he doesn't care. He wants you to hate him. Just ask him.

Tony Eury Jr Returns to Sprint Cup As Crew Chief at Chicagoland

Anthony Hammett — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:06:28 -0400

Tony Eury Jr. is getting a second chance on NASCAR's biggest circuit.

The former crew chief and cousin of Dale Earnhardt Jr. will man a Sprint Cup crew chief pit box again Saturday night at Chicagoland when he leads Brad Keselowski and the GoDaddy.com No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet against NASCAR's best in the Lifelock.com 400.

This is a big opportunity for a man who just a few weeks ago seemed to have hit rock bottom in his racing career as a crew chief.

In May, Rick Hendrick decided to release Eury Jr. as crew chief for the struggling No. 88 team. Earnhardt Jr. started the year with problems in Daytona which quickly became problems every week.

Someone had to take the fall for the results. That person was Tony Eury Jr.

He has no ill feelings towards Earnhardt Jr.

“I think it just kind of ran its course,” Eury said. “There were definitely some things that happened and evolved that brought us to this point. In general, it was time.

There is no other way to put it. We just needed to try something different. Dale Jr. is not getting any younger, so let's give him the opportunity to work with somebody else and try something.

Definitely the road we were going down, it wasn't a bed of roses so let's try something different. That's where it was at.”

However, now Eury Jr. has a chance to work with a new driver and a new team. Keselowski has Tony Eury Sr. as his crew chief in the Nationwide series. Hopefully the transition between new crew chief and driver will go smoothly, beginning at Chicagoloand tonight.

With his return to Cup action, Eury Jr. doesn't appear to be feeling any pressure or the need to outdo the team that released him earlier in the season.

“I'm at an organization right now where I can be a part of one, whether I'm the leader of it or just being a part of it. It means something.

To go out here and say that my goal this weekend is to out-run Dale Jr., no. My job this weekend is to go out here and get Brad Keselowski his best finish of the year.”

It isn't a full time return yet since Keselowski is only running a limited Nextel Cup schedule, but hopefully it will be a nice start to a comeback for a crew chief who has alot to prove to doubters.

Credit: Quotes above were taken from this article: http://www.thatsracin.com/115/story/13672.html

Michael Waltrip Leaving His Car In 2010 To Martin Truex Jr

Anthony Hammett — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:07:00 -0400

Michael Waltrip racing announced at a press conference live on Speed Channel from their race shop that Michael Waltrip would be running a limited schedule in 2010.

This means that in select races, MWR will be bringing four cars to the track.

Already with Marcos Ambrose and David Reutimann on board, MWR added another driver to their stable to replace Waltrip full time.

Martin Truex Jr.

This had to be in the works for a long time. Truex has not made it a secret that he was looking for other offers once his current contract with DEI/Ganassi was up. His future plans came to the forefront on Tuesday.

As said before, Waltrip will be running a limited schedule in 2010. He will keep his number and his sponsor for those races.

Truex will also carry NAPA as his sponsor. His new number will be No. 56. It turns out that No. 56 is important to Truex because it was a racing number that has been in his family for years.

Ambrose has done very well for his first year in Sprint Cup competition, and Reutimann is right on the verge of being a chase driver. The future has to look bright for Truex.

Swapping car makes isn't going to be that big of an issue. Many drivers are making it look easy over the last few seasons. If anything, maybe Truex can get a little better.

If he does, look for MWR to join the other teams like Rick Hendrix, Joe Gibbs, and Jack Roush in victory lane more than once in 2010.

The Evolution of Ted DiBiase: The Beginning of Something Great

Anthony Hammett — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:48:43 -0400

Mark it down on your wrestling calenders.

July 6, 2009—the night Ted DiBiase took his first steps as a superstar.

Sure, he was part of the best stable going into professional wrestling already. Although the tag team championships had slipped from their grasp, he and Cody Rhodes have made an impact on RAW for the last few months.

However, DiBiase's character has shown the need to step out on his own. You had to wonder why he never mentioned the boot from Randy Orton upon his return from filming his movie.

Those thoughts raised themselves at The Bash. DiBiase blamed Orton as being the reason he and Rhodes were not able to capture the tag team titles.

This was a beginning confrontation, but it would only be the beginning.

We fast forward to Monday Night RAW on Jul. 6. Ted DiBiase Sr. is the GM for the night. He comes out with Rhodes and his son to start off the show.

He cuts a promo hyping up the two and saying how well they were gonna do. He follows that by putting Rhodes in a one on one match against Henry.

He countered that by bringing up the obvious to his son.

"You're just a lackey to Randy Orton. You do his dirty work. You are better than that. You can beat him."

Lackey was the word DiBiase used at The Bash to describe how he feels he is viewed by Orton as a member of Legacy.

"I saw that fire in your eyes, son. You had not forgotten when Orton kicked your head off."

In wrestling, we call this foreshadowing.

It is also the build up of a potentially great storyline.

The WWE left themselves with many options.

Orton, of course, asks DiBiase to lay down for him and not even make it a real contest.

This insults DiBiase.

He gets in Orton's face and brings daddies into the mix.

"My dad made the match. Who, by the way, is better than your father ever will be."

These are words that could stay with Orton and be used at a later date.

DiBiase then goes on to say he won't lay down and not only would he wrestle Orton, but he would beat him.

The match happens and DiBiase is able to hang with Orton. There were times when it appeared he would have the match won.

Orton did a great job of selling him.

It ends with Orton getting his usual sneak victory with the RKO out of nowhere. He acknowledges DiBiase and walks away with the title after slapping him in the face gently.

DiBiase goes to his father and blames him for the loss. He says it's always about The Million Dollar Man and not about his son. He says his dad wanted to embarrass him.

When DiBiase Sr. tries to explain his reasoning, his son slaps him very hard across the face.

I must admit watching it live, I was stunned at how hard he slapped him.

This is where the options the WWE has, that I mentioned, come into play.

DiBiase could continue with Legacy before finally snapping and going out on his own.

He could make the jump immediately and begin his rise now, which I don't think is a good idea.

Or he could simply continue teaming with Rhodes and being a hitman for Randy Orton. Either way, the WWE has the ability to push Ted DiBiase from a mid carder, who fills a time slot and runs in to interfere on Orton's opponents, to a superstar.

The Night I Got To Be a Manager: A Tribute to My Father (Part Three)

Anthony Hammett — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:25:46 -0400

It's been long overdue, but I have finally gotten around to writing the third Installment of "A Tribute To My Father: A Professional Wrestler". Thanks for being patient with me, and hope you all enjoy this one just as much as the others.

This story takes place in a small town in west Georgia called Bowdon. Bowdon Junction was a small venue where weekly wrestling shows were held for the North Georgia Wrestling Association.

My father, as mentioned in previous articles, was a heel tag team wrestler named "The Texas Hangman." His tag team partner was named "The Tennessee Hangman." Together, they made the duo of "The Henchman."

At the time this story I am about to tell took place, they were the tag teams champions of the NGWA after beating the Armstrong brothers (Scott & Steve).

The Armstrongs were really over with fans in that area, so needless to say The Henchman didn't get cheered by anyone, ever.

The one thing in local wrestling that always helps a heel get over is having a manager. A manager likely plays a role in every match finish on the local circuit that he/she is involved in.

The Henchman were managed by "Big Daddy" Bagwell. Mike Bagwell was a cocky, arrogant, better than the fans manager who carried a golden cane and dressed in expensive suits.

He "invested" in the Henchman to bring him power over the people in his area. It was a great gimmick.

Time after time after time, Mike would distract the referee or slip something into the ring or simply get dq-ed to keep the tag titles on The Henchman. As a fan, it made me just as mad as it did the rest of the crowd every week.

Up until this point, I had no idea that parts of wrestling were staged. I was around nine. I went to the shows every weekend obviously and had a good time rooting for the good guys and booing the bad guys.

So here we are in Bowdon. The Henchman once again have won a tag match thanks to interference from "Big Daddy" Bagwell. They had defeated a guy simply called "Edwards" and Jerry "The King" Lawler's cousin, Steve "The Brawler" Lawler.

Lawler had apparently had enough while The Henchman were walking away and grabbed a microphone to cut a promo.

I was trying to solve my rubix cube (which I still haven't, 16 years later and counting), oblivious to my surroundings and not even listening to what the man had to say. That was, until he got to the end of his promo.

If I may paraphrase, it went a little something like this:

"I'm sick and tired of every single week not having someone to watch our backs like you punks do! And that's why we refuse to wrestle next week unless that boy in the front row in the wheelchair comes with us!"

I dropped the rubix cube and began to hyperventilate.

What? I said what?

It was not my first time in front of an audience before. When Dad first began wrestling as a baby-face, he used to bring me to the ring with him. But that was it. I had no role.

This was totally different. For one night, I became a character.

I had one week to be filled in on what to do. It sounded simple enough to me.

"Big Daddy" Bagwell carried a golden cane, as mentioned before. He often used it to help The Henchman win their matches.

I've come to learn that Dad had no idea Lawler was going to cut that promo. All he knew was that no one was doing a skit with me involved unless it was just me and him, because he didn't trust anyone else.

You can kind of guess where this story is heading.

So fast forward to that next Saturday.

The Henchman are in the ring waiting and Lawler's music hits and here we go. I have on my suit just like Bagwell did and I had my miniature cane. I high-fived the crowd and pointed my cane at him.

They were eating it up. He acted all mad and scared. It was a pretty good start.

The ending of the match was there. Mike had jumped up on the apron and slid brass knuckles into Dad. When dad went to use them on Lawler, he ducked and threw dad through the ropes in front of me.

I had mixed emotions. There was my father. The man who brought me into this world. The man who put food on my table. And now I'm supposed to hit him to make these fans happy? Are you serious? Should I?

Oh hell yeah!

He tried using the side of my wheelchair to pull himself up, and when he did, I clocked him over the head with that little cane and broke the crystal ball off of the top of it.

He got tossed back in the ring by Edwards and Lawler got the pin and became the new tag team champions.

To this day, that was the only time I've ever gotten to be an actual character in a wrestling event. Even at nine, the adrenaline rush is unbelievable. I can only imagine how good it will feel now. Hope you all enjoyed the read.

Bobby Lashley Vs. Bob Sapp: Tonight!

Anthony Hammett — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:12:24 -0400

Bobby Lashley will try to take another step in his pursuit of an MMA career tonight when he faces his toughest opponent yet.

Bob Sapp will be the first "established" fighter Lashley has had to square off against the squared octagon.

Out-weighing Lashley by over 70 pounds, Sapp clearly has the size advantage over the former WWE superstar to go along with the MMA experience.

Sapp has an MMA record of 10-4-1, facing Lashley's 3-0 record in MMA fights.

Lashley was a former Army Ranger and WWE Superstar. He also has amateur wrestling background experience, which makes me him very versatile when it comes to competing in an MMA event.

I fully expect Bobby Lashley to find a way to overcome the size difference against Bob Sapp. If he does not, it will be hard to take him seriously as a real fighter.

You see, Lashley is fighting the same arguments that Brock Lesnar faced. It is hard to take a professional wrestler seriously when they want to compete in a real sport.

What most of the world is failing to recognize is that professional wrestlers are just as much, if not more, of athletes than anyone else. The only difference is, their outcomes are scripted.

Just because the result is determined does not take away from the fact that they still put on a show. That show requires extreme athletic talent.

I dare anyone to try and tell me Kurt Angle isn't a real athlete. Brock Lesnar is putting those claims to rest as we speak.

So, Lashley will attempt to try and silence the critics once more tonight. I do not know if he will be victorious, but I cannot wait to watch.

Monday Night Raw: The Donald Trump Era

Anthony Hammett — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:32:42 -0400

Come on. Admit it. You all thought Ric Flair was going to be named the new GM of RAW this Monday night.

Everything was set perfect for it. Vickie Guerrero quit in the previous week. The episode was three hours. The event was in Charlotte, NC.

So Vince comes out and I almost turn the channel. I mean, don't get me wrong. I love Ric Flair. I just hate predictability, and wanted to watch some of the College World Series.

But, I gave it a chance. In return, Vince rewarded me.

It is true that Monday Night RAW has been on the decline for a while now. There have been many complaints, and too many to go into in an article like this.

But Vince has chosen to listen to the public and try to make drastic changes on the spot rather than wait until his ratings fall within the competition's range.

Vince's answer to the problem? Put Donald Trump in charge. Now, for anyone who actually believes that Vince did this in real life, please stop watching wrestling.

As far as a storyline goes though, he fills the void of the person in control, and he kills his character in the process. This is a little better route than the fake death routine that didn't go over so well.

Will it work? The good news is, as I mentioned above, he has an unbelievable advantage over his competition. So, he can try things and if they don't work he can try something else.

Regardless of what happens, no one can ever say that Vince McMahon won't try anything to make his company a better product. Not all of his ideas are good, but he makes us see what will happen anyway because....he can.

Granny Has a Purse and It Is Loaded: Part Two of My Tribute to My Father

Anthony Hammett — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:24:15 -0400

I'd like to begin this article with a correction from the previous one. My father informed me that his chest problem he had before his retirement was not diagnosed a heart attack and was not the main reason he had to retire from wrestling.

He was wrestling against a former WWE Superstar, Bull Buchanan. He took a body slam and landed shoulder first.

He says his arm still isn't right to this day because of it. That's just how it goes in wrestling sometimes. It's just a shame it had to end his career.

But anyhow, this article isn't about the end, but rather the pinnacle of his career. Dad had long stopped being "Hogansville's Own" and transformed into The Texas Hangman.

He was a top tag team wrestler in most of the independent ranks in the Southeast.

For those who live in Georgia, he wrestled often on TV69 for a company that was sponsored by Gallery Furniture, which was known as "The company owned by The Wolfman."

As The Texas Hangman, my father was a heel. His partner had a speech impediment, so Dad had to pick up the slack cutting promos and getting heat from the fans, while his partner focused on being the technical wrestler.

Getting heat from the fans is done in several ways. In a small local promotion to the biggest stage of World Wrestling Entertainment, the easiest way to do this is to simply talk about the town you are in in a negative way.

So this was obviously his first technique. Normally, just cutting a simple promo doing that and insulting your opponent in some way and ending it with bragging about your ability is enough to do this. Dad always took it a thousand times farther.

Another way he got heat was pulling illegal swaps. The two wrestlers had similar body build (although you could very easily tell them apart).

They wore the same outfit. They had the same mask. His partner, The Tennessee Hangman, would take a body slam and hold his back and roll out of the ring.

They would then huddle up and walk around in a circle, Dad would hold his back and pretend to be hurt and roll into the ring.

When I look back on it now, I can't help but think about how angry something so simple like this actually made those fans.

I was right there with them screaming "HEY REF! THEY SWITCHED." But as always, the referee was one second too late.

But, these tactics still weren't enough for my father. He took advantage of every moment he had from the time he walked through the curtain until the time he left the arena.

There were times his partner wouldn't be able to tag my Dad because Pops was too busy jawing with a certain fan in the crowd.

He has gone so far as to be shot at and attacked at a red light after a show. These stories will come in future installments.

The story that follows is a series of events. They all revolve around a certain fan. We simply called her Granny.

Granny was an old woman staying in an old person's home in the Carrollton, GA area. She got the chance to leave her facility once a week and she used that time to come to the wrestling shows.

She sat in the front row and was always the most avid fan. She carried a purse with her and never let it leave her arm. This will come into play later in the story.

Because I was in a wheelchair and at the show every week too, we naturally became friends. I can't really tell you why old people and disabled people hit it off so well, but I have found it to happen that way more often than not.

I was about eight years old at the time. It was a typical Saturday evening and Dad was the main event. Granny was there as usual and she had her purse with her.

We had always wondered what she carried in that purse, but no one asked. We just knew that she held onto it for dear life and always pointed it when she got angry at bad guys.

It was a point in the main event when The Tennessee Hangman was taking bumps in the ring while Dad drew heat from the crowd. He had picked Granny to harass for that night.

I won't go into detail some of the things I've heard him use on fans before, but I can promise you that some of them wouldn't get the WWE TV PG rating. But on this night, he had pushed Granny too far.

The Tennessee Hangman eventually got a tag to my dad. Unfortunately for him, it was also a hot tag for Scotty Riggs. He beat up on both of them and tossed Dad out of the ring.

And that is when it happened.

As he rolled outside the ring and onto the cement floor beside the roped off area in front of her, granny drew her purse back and swung it with all her might and connected.

We will never be able to confirm what was in that purse because granny never opened it, but dad swears it was a brick. He laid there motionless for a few seconds before making his way back into the ring.

After the show though, he said her shot was worse than any other bump he took in the match.

Granny got her revenge on my dad. She attended shows for a few more months until we were informed that this certain show a few months after the incident would be her last. We had decided to reveal his identity to her in the locker room.

I had been talking to her during the show and I asked "Would you like to meet my Dad?" "He is one of these wrestlers."

She had obviously assumed that my father would be a baby-face since no bad guy in his right mind would bring his disabled son to the wrestling show. She was in for a shock.

When we got to the back and she saw the masked man, she freaked out and wanted to run the other way. He pulled the mask off and calmly apologized for making her upset and showed her that he was not a bad guy in real life.

I don't know if she ever looked at wrestling the same way again, but I'd at least hope she forgave him for all the times he raised her blood pressure.

So, now you know the story of Granny and the purse. Hope you enjoyed the read. There are many many more to come.

Kobe Bryant: Not Happy in Game 1 Press Conference

Anthony Hammett — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:45:37 -0400

Did anyone see Kobe Bryant's postgame press conference?

There was Kobe. Sitting there almost reluctantly as if he was being forced to answer questions that he really didn't want to have to answer.

He did his usual "push my tongue into my cheek after every word I say" thing (see the Colorado alleged rape press conferences for verification) and answered every question short and quick.

What are you angry about? Your team just destroyed the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. All we've heard is, "Kobe needs that fourth ring without Shaq." You got one step closer tonight. Why not just smile?

Or maybe he should stay angry, because he has L.A. off to a great start after one game. Bryant scored 40 points in Game 1 and could've had more had he not set out some of the fourth quarter.

Why the NASCAR Playoff System Is Flawed

Anthony Hammett — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:36:23 -0400

There he is. Your reigning back-to-back-to-back NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion—Jimmie Johnson, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a remarkable feat within itself. But why is it compared to championships that Jeff Gordon or Richard Petty or Dale Earnhardt won?

I realize that most sports have a playoff system. It all starts with the regular season. For NASCAR, that would be the 26 races prior to the Chase For The Cup.

But why even have them? All your points go away after those races and you're left with a 10-race sprint for the championship.

I've said it a thousand times here, but I am not a fan of Kyle Busch. However, it is unbelievable how far he ran away from the rest of the field in the first 26 races last season. He was head and shoulders better than any other driver on the circuit.

His points reset after 26 races and he had a horrible 10-race stretch.

Jimmie Johnson, on the other hand, began the chase outside of the top five. He finished consistently for the last 10 races and had the championship won by his last start.

Again, I get it. The Tennessee Titans can go 15-1 in the regular season and choke in the playoffs and it is all over. I understand that.

But NASCAR was never judged on this scale before. Petty, Earnhardt, and Gordon dominated the field on a weekly basis throughout the entire season in order to be crowned champion.

But that got boring and viewers began to tune out the last races of the year once the championship had already been decided.

So NASCAR implemented this new playoff system and it has sparked viewer interest, but it has also stepped on the toes of traditions.

My resolution is simple: I would implement half-championships.

Think about it. You still have the 26 races to run as hard as you can to win half of a championship, and you still have your playoff system to earn the other half.

For guys who are simply good at sprint runs, this would make it more challenging to win a whole championship rather than just be handed one for a few good races.

What do you guys and gals think?

Jameer Nelson To Be Activated For NBA Finals

Anthony Hammett — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:38:32 -0400

Rachel Nichols is reporting that Jameer Nelson will be activated and will be on the roster for the Orlando Magic, but his status in uncertain for Game 1 of the NBA Finals when they face the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nelson suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder against the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 2, and was excepted to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery.

However, Nelson's rehab was ahead of schedule and he said he felt better as the playoffs progressed.

The report out of Orlando after Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals was that Nelson had improved so much that he could possibly be added to the active roster against the Lakers in the finals.

Nelson practiced with the team throughout the week, but the Orlando Sentinnel had reported earlier in the day that he had not improved enough to make the roster.

However, late word out of Orlando is that the Magic have decided to activate Nelson. It still is unclear if he will start or how many minutes he will play, but he will be wearing a uniform tonight instead of a suit.

Normally, the point guard controls the offense, but Orlando has relied on Turkoglu to run the high pick-and-roll as the focal point of how they play.

Nelson specializes in getting Magic superstar Dwight Howard the basketball where he likes it, in the post. Alston struggles with that, as do the rest of the Magic players.

If they want to beat L.A., Orlando must find a way for Howard to be efficient.

Game 1 is Thursday at 9 p.m. EST on ABC. It may not be LeBron vs. Kobe, but it's still the NBA Finals.

Basketball fans, unite and watch!

Brian Westbrook Has Minor Surgery to Clean Out Bone Spurs in Right Ankle

Anthony Hammett — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:50:04 -0400

The Philadelphia Eagles' Pro Bowl running back went under the knife in a minor procedure to clean out bone spurs in his right ankle.

The surgery should heal quickly and not affect Westbrook returning to the Eagles' before the preseason begins.

The Eagles let Correll Buckhalter go in the offseason to the Denver Broncos. They drafted LeSean McCoy to be his replacement from the University of Pittsburgh.

However, someone on their roster who rarely saw the field last season is opening eyes in training camp.

Lorenzo Booker has been playing with the first team offense and having success. There is a big difference in success in practice and success in a game.

However, this can only be promising news for a team which is currently without its all-time leader in yards from scrimmage in Westbrook.

The Eagles are hoping rookies like McCoy and first-round selection Jeremy Maclin can come in and fit in with the rest of the young players they have on their offense and make big plays to help Donovan McNabb.

It is well documented that McNabb has usually been the most talented player on his offense. The receivers he usually has to throw to are below average when compared to other receiving corps in the NFL.

If you don't believe me, just have a look. Todd Pinkston, Freddie Mitchell, James Thrash, Kevin Curtis, Greg Lewis, Jabar Gaffney.

Donte Stallworth had one big season and Terrell Owens had a nice career in Philadelphia, outside of the controversy.

But McNabb continues to play like a pro bowler. He makes the players around him better and it is time the players on his roster take that next step to make the offense consistent.

Who Is Calling the Shots in the WWE Outside of the McMahons?

Anthony Hammett — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:34:34 -0400

I'm sure this article has been done more than once here in the B/R community, but since I am a relatively new comer, I'd like to share some of my opinions and analysis on the matter.

World Wrestling Entertainment has made Vincent Kennedy McMahon Jr. a billionaire. He took a dream that began as an announcer for his father's local wrestling promotion and turned it into a monopoly for its field in today's society pretty much.

Currently, according to Wikipedia (so there's no guarantee that it's 100 percent accurate, but it's what I have, so work with me), the McMahon's hold 70 percent of the economic interest of the WWE and 96 percent of the voting power.

The WWE was once a dictatorship under the McMahon rule until October 1999. It was then that the WWE went public and joined the stock market universe and allowed their fans to buy into parts of the company.

When this happened, a board committee had to be part of decisions rather than McMahon answering to no one.

Vince McMahon is obviously the majority owner and chairman. His wife, Linda, is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). His son, Shane, is Executive Vice President of Global Media. This means he controls their international matters. Stephanie McMahon-Levesque is the Executive Vice President of Talent and Creative Writing.

But where does it go from there? Who really has the pull behind the curtains and in the headquarters? There's a few ideas to be thrown around.

Triple H

This one is pretty obvious. He is married to Stephanie McMahon. He is on the writing team for RAW. He gets more alone time with the McMahons than any other wrestler in the company. It'd be pretty easy for him to get any idea he had to be approved if he wanted to be that way.

Undertaker

From what I hear, The Undertaker has almost as much stroke as Vince McMahon does over wrestling matters in the WWE. He is one of the few wrestlers who has been able to intimidate McMahon, which is not an easy thing to do.

He is easily the leader of the Smackdown locker room, and is looked to for advice by almost everyone in the company. Its been said that if you can get on his good side, then you would have a spot with the company.

Randy Orton

Something about this whole story just doesn't make sense to me. It wasn't that long ago that Randy Orton was a strike or two away from his WWE departure. He was suspended for substance abuse. He has been in rehab. He has anger issues that have been documented outside of the ring.

I guess all it takes is having a title around your waist to get pull power in the WWE. Randy Orton complaining to Vince about Kennedy after their tag match on RAW was one of the main reasons that lead to Kennedy's departure with the WWE this past week.

It doesn't appear Orton will lose his title anytime soon, so his say so on matters can only increase. Here's to hoping he is mature enough to handle the responsibilities and not act out of selfishness.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So who is it? If you had asked me a year ago, I'd tell you without a doubt that Triple H was the person with the most pull. I don't know if I feel that way anymore. The simple fact that Undertaker replaced his old wife Sara with current girlfriend Michelle McCool says enough about his status with the company. She isn't with him for the looks, I'd hope.

But this recent development of Randy Orton's character may be the straw that breaks the camel's back for the rest of the wrestlers in the WWE. This is the first time that I can remember that even Triple H has agreed to take a backseat to a wrestler.

Honorable Mentions

Shawn Michaels - He is the guy wrestlers can ask for advice and Vince can come to when it comes to making moral decisions.

Michael Hayes - Big influence on the Smackdown brand. Doesn't always conduct himself in the best ways in public when intoxicated with alcohol.

Brian Gerwitz - Head writer on RAW

Ed Koskey - Head Writer on ECW

Dear Sports Media: LeBron Didn't Make the NBA Finals

Anthony Hammett — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:27:31 -0400

ESPN didn't get the memo. You'd think the Worldwide Leader In Sports would be on top of current events.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated from the playoffs and did not live up to their end of the bargain of creating the "Dream NBA Final."

We can stop covering LeBron James every second of the day.

Sure, it's interesting to some sports fan based on his reaction at the end of Game Six. The league has determined that he will not be fined for his actions, which I am okay with.

What I am not okay with is having to analyze why he reacted that way and if it is justified rather than discussing the keys to the NBA Final that will happen.

For those who don't know, James walked off the court after the Game Six loss to Orlando without shaking the opposing teams' hands.

He put on earphones in the locker room and boarded the bus without speaking to anyone or attending the mandatory post-game press conference.

Whether you agree with what he did or not, he did it. The NBA did not find fault in it. The issue is over. It's time to move forward.

This is similar to the question, "Did OJ do it?" on a much smaller scale. The verdict has been determined. It's not changing. Why discuss it?

Whether the NBA wanted it or not, Orlando and Los Angeles is an intriguing finals matchup.

Orlando lives and dies by the three-point shot and also has a dominant low post player. The Lakers have big men who play with a different style and the best player in the game.

I understand that last statement is debatable, but Kobe Bryant has done a lot to help his cause to that claim by simply advancing when LeBron couldn't.

So please, ESPN. Any other sports network that may come across this article as well, this is my plea to you.

Give credit where credit is due and actually cover basketball, which is your job.

Leave the behind the scenes reactions to TMZ. They are good at that kind of material.

Dallas Cowboys Release Greg Ellis

Anthony Hammett — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:14:21 -0400

The Dallas Cowboys continue to try and rebuild their roster by cutting old ties with players.

Terrell Owens was a victim to Dallas' new game plan in 2009 and is now with the Buffalo Biils. Greg Ellis became the latest member of the departure club today.

The Cowboys wanted to get younger and give Anthony Spencer a chance to take the starting linebacker job. DeMarcus Ware also made it easier to make this decision based on his high sack totals.

Dallas had at first said they would try to trade Ellis this offseason, but gave him his outright release today.

Ellis had 77.0 sacks in 11 seasons with Dallas. He had 8.0 sacks last season.

Ellis began his career in Dallas as a defensive lineman before moving to outside linebacker when Dallas began using a 3-4 defense.

The fact that Ellis can play both linebacker and defensive end can do nothing but help his value in the free agent market. It should not take him long to find an employer.

As a Falcons fan, I'm all for Atlanta giving him a chance. He can fill a few holes in their defense if they need him to.

Jamaal Anderson has struggled at defensive end playing opposite John Abraham. Two of the starting linebackers are gone and he could also fill that role as well.

Jameer Nelson Could Return to Magic for NBA Finals

Anthony Hammett — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:31:42 -0400

The suit may no longer be needed for the Orlando Magic point guard.

ESPN.com reported that Jameer Nelson could possibly return to the Magic rotation for Thursday's Game 1 of the NBA finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Orlando Magic spokesperson Joel glass said Nelson had made satisfactory progress following last February's surgery. Facing the Dallas Mavericks on February 2, Nelson took a nasty spill, landing on his shoulder in the third quarter.

Nelson was expected to be out for the remainder of the season and the playoffs.

The Magic were expected to fall once Nelson went down. He had played in 42 games before the injury, and was averaging 16.7 points per game and 5.4 assists per game.

Anthony Johnson was the backup point guard, but it was obvious that he alone would not be enough to keep the Magic playing the way they were since Nelson was the director of the offense.

Then, at the trade deadline, the Magic picked up Rafer Alston from the Houston Rockets. "Skip to my Lou" stepped right in and flowed with how Orlando plays as a team.

Hedo Turkoglu became the decision-maker with the ball and Alston was simply asked to play defense, score, and when need be, pass the ball to Dwight Howard.

Alston managed 12 points and 5.1 assists per game for the Magic. The scoring was a bit down, but the assist numbers were consistent with Nelson's before his injury.

Now, these reports about Nelson returning bring up some questions for Orlando. Does Nelson jump right back into the starting rotation? How many minutes does he play each night?

Does Orlando use the current style they have adopted where Turkoglu controls the offense with the high pick-and-roll, or revert back to the more conventional point guard-controlled offense that Nelson ran?

After Game 6 against Clevelend, Magic president Bob Vander Weide said he wanted Nelson to go through a few more medical checkups before a final decision was made on his status for the finals.

"Once we have the tests, doctors will be able to see if he has possibilities to return to the lineup," he said.

As mentioned above, a lot of questions will need to be answered.

Of course, all of this talk could simply be speculation and Nelson could remain in a suit, watching from the bench as Orlando attempts to win its first NBA Championship in franchise history.

Quotes pulled from Sports Ya article. Special thanks to the writer of that article.

http://www.sportsya.com/english/news.php/Orlando_Magics_Jameer_Nelson_might_play_the_NBA_finals_series_against_LA_Lakers.html?id_estruc=283&id=209921

Do You Believe in Magic? The NBA Finals Begin Thursday

Anthony Hammett — Sun, 31 May 2009 12:48:29 -0400

That's not Shaquille O'Neal. There's no Penny Hardaway. You won't see Nick Anderson. Dennis Scott didn't make the big three point shot.

But the Orlando Magic are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995—the only other time they have made it this far.

This squad has a different look in 2009, but the players still fill similar roles.

Rafer Alston was acquired from the Houston Rockets this season at the trade deadline after Jameer Nelson was lost to a season-ending injury.

Nelson was having an All-Star caliber season, and Orlando found the perfect guy to fill his shoes until he can return healthy next season.

Mickael Pietrus reminds me of Dennis Scott. He catches the ball on the wing and he just lets it fly. If there's a hand in his face, he is likely shooting it anyway. If he doesn't shoot it, he is trying a pump fake and attempting to go down the baseline to the basket.

It's obvious that Dwight Howard and Shaquille O'Neal could be compared. They have very similar styles and are sharing similar success for their Orlando careers. Shaq went to the NBA Finals in his third season. Dwight Howard did it in his fourth.

Howard struggles with free throws. Shaq struggles with free throws. Dwight has a dominant presence in the post. Shaq has a dominant presence in the post. They have both broken things attached to a backboard.

Rafer Alston has more flash and flare than Penny Hardaway did, but he also plays with more reckless abandon. This can be good and bad. At times, it appears that his shot selection might hurt the flow of the team's offense.

Then you realize that this is Stan Van Gundy's Orlando Magic. They want to shoot three point shots as much as they can. Playing from the inside out is too easy for them, I would guess. Maybe they want a challenge.

Whatever it is, the nights that Dwight Howard gets 40 points, as he did in game six, are very rare.

You can't really compare Rashard Lewis to Horace Grant, because their styles are so different. Grant's role was strictly to be a defender and get rebounds. He could hit the mid-range jump shots, but it wasn't asked of him all that often.

Lewis, on the other hand, is part of Orlando's three-point arsenal. They have seven guys on the current playoff roster who can make three-point shots on a regular basis. All of them are trying to shoot the three point shot when they are in the game as well.

Orlando has never had a player like Hedo Turkoglu before. He is a "point forward." This means he plays the forward position, but he plays like a guard.

Orlando likes to let Turkoglu control the ball and come off the high screen to become a passer or take a jump shot. It is perfect for setting up their three point shots to other players and in return it gives him relatively high assist numbers.

Courtney Lee is an unsung hero. He has played with a fractured sinus cavity and looks like Rick Hamilton wearing that mask. He is still hitting big shots for Orlando when he is called upon.

This current rotation can put up 100 points a night with regularity. The Lakers can as well. This series may not've been what the NBA front office had initially hoped, but I do not think it will disappoint them too much once it is over.

The Magic entered the 2009 NBA playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. They lost a heartbreaker to Philadelphia in game one of the first round by two points. They won game two and it appeared they would get rolling in the playoffs.

Game three to Philadelphia led to another setback in Orlando's quest to advance, as they lost again by two points.

I am not in the locker room every night after a Magic game, so I can't verify what changes were made. All I know is Orlando came out in game four and they meant business. They finished off the 76ers in six games and advanced to the next round.

Then along came the Boston Celtics. The Celtics were the defending NBA champions. They were coming off of a tough first-round series themselves that went seven games against the Chicago Bulls. They were without their star player, Kevin Garnett.

The first four games of the series were split between Orlando and Boston. The Celtics would then take advantage, winning on their home court in game five. After this game, Dwight Howard criticized his coach for not making the offense get him the ball more.

The Boston Celtics had a record of 32-0 in their history when leading 3-2 in a seven game series. The odds were not in Orlando's favor to make a comeback.

I will not sit here and say Howard's comments were the main reason for the turnaround, because they are just words.

Orlando still took a lot of three point shots, but it did appear that they made an attempt to get Howard the ball more.

The Magic won game six and went on to win game seven as well.

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were next in line.

It had appeared since the beginning of the playoffs that all of the media networks were pushing for a LeBron vs. Kobe NBA Final. All of the commercials we seen in between game action were centered around those two players.

Orlando landed the first punch on Cleveland's home court and stunned the Cavs. It was the first loss that Cleveland had suffered in the 2009 playoffs.

Game two had the potential to be a big turnaround for Cleveland. Orlando had taken with just a few short ticks on the clock left after "Who Do?" Hedo Turkoglu hit a two point runner just beyond the free throw line to give Orlando the lead by two.

Enter LeBron James.

First off, Rashard Lewis is the main person to blame with the outcome of that game. Mo Williams got to throw the inbound pass in uncontested because instead of standing in front of him with his hands in his face, Lewis stood to the side and watched the pass go in and protected the back corner of the three point arc.

I guess he was worried about Delonte West catching it from the corner. It's still not a good enough excuse for me.

Hedo Turkoglu can take some of the blame as well. He knew that a three point shot was the only thing that could win Cleveland the game.

He knew that LeBron James was going to take the final shot. He knew that was his man to cover. He knew that a pick was coming to try and get James open.

However, neither Lewis or Turkoglu executed properly and LeBron James had the easiest chance you could ask for to have a Michael Jordan moment and he delivered.

As an Orlando fan, a needle went through my balloon of excitement and made it explode. All the momentum that Orlando had taken from Cleveland in game one was taken back and then some by one single shot in game two.

But, like any good team does, the Orlando Magic did not focus on that loss and played with desire and heart in games three and four. LeBron was one win away from not living up to his end of the bargain for the dream NBA final.

Game five was LeBron's time to shine. He shined for the entire series pretty much, but it was only LeBron shining. Other key role players had selected good moments, but struggled for the most part.

After Cleveland's win in game five, the series could've easily went back in their favor if they were able to win game six and force a game seven back in Cleveland. I would've probably said that Orlando would have no hope if that were the case.

However, Dwight Howard and the rest of the Orlando Magic made sure that did not become an issue. Howard finished with 40 points and Orlando never trailed.

So, as you can see, the Magic have defied the odds repeatedly in the NBA regular season and throughout the NBA playoffs, from losing their All-Star point guard, to players criticizing the coach, to 32-0 records for teams leading after leading 3-2 in a seven game series, and to the NBA Conspiracy Theory of wanting a LeBron and Kobe final.

They've answered the call every other time this season. Here's to hoping they do it for four more games.

Jeffrey Earnhardt Attempts To Qualify For First Nationwide Race At Dover

Anthony Hammett — Fri, 29 May 2009 01:55:44 -0400

This weekend could mark history in Dover, DE.

Jeffrey Earnhardt, the son of part time driver Kerry Earnhardt and nephew of Sprint Cup racer Dale Earnhardt Jr., will attempt to make the field for the Nationwide race in the Heluva Good! 200 on Saturday.

The 19-year-old grandson of NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt will be driving the No. 31 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet that his father Kerry has driven once this season. The team is co-owned by Stanton Barrett and has an affiliation with Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

He finished fifth in the points in NASCAR's Busch East Series in 2007 and won the Most Popular Driver Award at the end of the season.

Jeffrey realizes the challenges of having a lack of experience and having to race against some of the best drivers on the planet.

"I can't wait to make my start in the Nationwide Series and race at Dover," said Jeffrey Earnhardt. "Right now, I'm just working on getting comfortable in the car and getting some experience. I know there's some tough competition in Nationwide, so I'm looking forward to learning a lot from the guys in the field. I want to run a good race and get used to the car."

Jeffrey Earnhardt will run a limited schedule for the rest of 2009 and hopes to put together a full-time ride in the Nationwide Series in 2010.

He would like to one day race for the company his grandfather built, but knows he must prove himself first. Dover could be a nice starting point, if he can qualify and make the field.

"It would be great to be able to race for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. We all have to work hard and earn that opportunity."

It appears this kid is modest and wants to do things the right way. He doesn't expect his name to get him any special perks that no other driver would get, and in this scenario it won't.

My personal opinion would be that this kid never gets the opportunity for a ride with DEI. I would like to be wrong, but if I know Teresa Earnhardt like I think I do, I don't think I will be.

Orlando Magic: The Time to Shine Is Tonight

Anthony Hammett — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:56:52 -0400

This was supposed to be the NBA's dream series.

Kobe vs. LeBron.

Watch a commercial in between playoff games, and you can easily see what I'm talking about. From Vitamin Water ads to puppets, the NBA is brainwashing fans into believing Cleveland vs. Los Angeles is the only finals matchup that matters.

Los Angeles has done their part so far by taking a 3-2 series lead on the Nuggets headed into Game Six. The Nuggets will have the home court for that game, but LA seems poised to overcome the doubters and advance.

Cleveland is a different story.

If Rashard Lewis holds his hands up and tries to block Mo Williams' vision on the inbound pass to end Game Two, LeBron never catches the ball to shoot it and the series is over already.

For Orlando fans, let's hope that one extra lifeline isn't enough to revamp the life into King James and his disciples.

If the Magic were going to suffer a letdown, it would be expected to happen after the big shot in Games Three and Four. The letdown did not come then. Orlando answered King James by winning the next two and putting themselves one game away from the NBA Finals.

I usually wait and write a recap after the game, but tonight I wanted to do things differently. I want Orlando fans around here to get excited. This is something that doesn't happen all that often. Your team is THIS close...

It all comes down to tonight. Now, if for some reason Cleveland does find a way to win at home tonight, it is not the end of the world.

However, doubt will slowly start to creep into Orlando's mind, along with confidence building for James and Company.

Please don't attempt 38 three-point shots tonight. It worked last game. But it's just not the most effective way to be productive.

If for some reason Dwight isn't making his inside shots or free throws, then obviously you have no choice but to take the cuffs off of Alston, Lee, Lewis, and Turkoglu. I'd much rather see Orlando try to drive and penetrate first, though.

The biggest key for Cleveland is someone other than LeBron James making a shot. Much has been made throughout this series about King James trying to do too much, but anyone who has really watched the series knows that he has tried to get his teammates involved. No one is knocking down their open shots.

I'm very excited and wish tip-off was minutes away. Until then, I will just sit patiently and wait. Here's to you, Orlando, and all the fans on B/R.

Let's get it going!

Changes For The Atlanta Falcons In 2009

Anthony Hammett — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:22:22 -0400

Once you take a look around the Atlanta Falcons training facility in Flowery Branch, it's pretty obvious who the new face in town is.

Tony Gonzalez

Tony Gonzalez will add a dimension to the Falcons' offense that they have lacked since Alge Crumpler.

The difference is Gonzalez is even better than Crumpler was. That's not a knock on Alge Crumpler, who was very productive when healthy during his time as a Falcon. He just isn't the all-time leading receiver from the tight end position.

If Tony Gonzalez can catch at least 20 passes in his first year with the Falcons, he will have equaled the number of catches every tight end on the Falcons roster had last season combined.

Offense

Normally, after a year Atlanta had last season offensively, you wouldn't want to change much. However, Tony Gonzalez must get the opportunity to do what he does best, which in turn will open up every one else on the offense to have more space to work with.

Look for Mularkey to come up with creative ways to get Gonzalez the ball by lining him up on the weak side sometimes, and maybe even using him in the slot when the situation calls for it.

If Ryan can connect with Gonzalez on short, intermediate routes over the middle of the field, it will make it much easier for Michael Turner to convert a run with a short yardage situation.

The short intermediate pass will also eventually cause the safeties to move in some, which in turn gives Roddy White and Michael Jenkins the opportunity to burn the opposing defense with deep routes.

Defense

The defensive will have a different look in 2009. Veteran leaders such as Keith Brooking and Lawyer Milloy will not be returning.

Mike Peterson has come over from Jacksonville and will likely fill Brooking's role as one of the outside linebackers. Curtis Lofton will likely stay at middle linebacker and continue to develop his role as the vocal leader of the defense.

The Falcons also lose defensive tackle Grady Jackson but replace him with rookie first-round pick Peria Jerry from Ole Miss.

Jerry and Babineaux will plug the middle, while a hopefully healthy John Abraham rushes the passes and stuffs the outside counters and screens.

Jamaal Anderson has disappointed since his first-round selection and will likely be challenged for the other starting defensive end position by Kevin Biermann and Chauncey Davis.

The secondary is a major area of concern for the Falcons. It isn't as much failure as it is the unknown. William Moore was selected in the draft from Missouri to hopefully take Lawyer Milloy's position. He will be competing with Thomas DeCloud.

The one definite for Atlanta is that Chris Houston will be one of the starting cornerbacks. The question is, who will be the other?

Brent Grimes, Chevis Jackson, Von Hutchins, and David Irons are the other cornerbacks that will likely take turns competing for that position throughout mini camp.

Von Hutchins, if he is healthy, should be the front runner for that position. Chevis Jackson and Brent Grimes are smaller in height and would be better suited as nickel cornerbacks, rather than lining up on oppenents' outside receivers.

Again, though, that is just my opinion. Nothing has been confirmed yet.

The Falcons have a tough road ahead of them, and they will be competing in one of the toughest divisions in the National Football League.

It will be very exciting for Falcons fans and the rest of the NFL viewing world to see how everything plays itself out.

If I Could Go One-on-One with Michael "The Burner" Turner

Anthony Hammett — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:39:58 -0400

If you were a reporter, and you walked into the Atlanta Falcons' locker room, you'd more than likely scope it out to find where Matt Ryan is and take off running in that direction.

That's natural and it is expected. The quarterback gets and rightfully deserves the glory. However, the Falcons have another player who is just as important to the offense.

Michael "The Burner" Turner got his chance to shine in Atlanta and he took advantage of the opportunity in a big way.

Turner ran for over 200 yards in his first game with his new team against the Detroit Lions in Week One, and he never slowed down.

He finished the year with 1,699 yards rushing, and a 4.5 yards per carry average. His 17 touchdowns broke Jamal Anderson's previous team record of 14.

So, what makes Michael Turner tick? Here are a few things I would like to ask the MVP runner up from 2008.

What made you decide to go to Northern Illinois?
Were you recruited by anyone else?
Did you expect to get drafted higher than you did?
What was it like playing with LaDainian Tomlinson?
What are some things that you learned in your four years of observing him?
Do you like your nickname?
What made you decide on Atlanta in the previous off-season?
Boxers or briefs?
What are your first impressions of Tony Gonzalez as a teammate?
What are your realistic goals for the near future in the National Football League?
If you were stuck in a foxhole, and only had one teammate to stick it through with you, who would it be?
Is Matt Ryan really that good?

How do you feel about the Michael Vick situation, even though you never had the opportunity to play with him?

I realize that Turner may not be able to give me an answer on the last question, but every good journalist must ask the tough question. The boxers and briefs question is not football related, but I am almost certain that it would get a chuckle.

Here's to hoping that Michael Turner can stay healthy in 2009, and that he runs the Falcons all the way to the Super Bowl.

Live By The Three, Die By The Three; Orlando Magic Takes a 3-1 Series Lead

Anthony Hammett — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:21:44 -0400

The Orlando Magic are one win away from the NBA Finals.

The Magic stared adversity in the face Tuesday night and answered the call.

Once again in this series, Cleveland played better than Orlando in the first half. They took an eight point lead into the half.

Throughout the night, it became apparent that Orlando would shoot the three point shot whenever they were given the opportunity to.

All in all, Orlando attempted 38 three point shots. They made 17 of them.

Rafer Alston finished the game with 26 points, netting six of 12 three point shots. Dwight Howard did the post work with 27 points, going seven of nine from the free throw line.

Hedo Turkoglu chipped in with 15 points and eight assists. Rashard Lewis had 17 points and so did Mickael Pietrus.

It wasn't until the overtime period when Dwight Howard took matters into his own hands and started taking the ball to the rim.

LeBron James turned the ball over eight times Tuesday night. Many of his turnovers were in the fourth quarter and the overtime period.

If Cleveland has any chance to mount a comeback, that number must go down drastically.

DeLonte West and Mo Williams continued to struggle. They were a combined 0-6 from three point land and 12-30 overall from the field.

If it weren't for Rashard Lewis falling asleep at the end of Game 2 and not getting his hands in the face of the inbound passer, LeBron never catches the ball to make the shot and this series is over tonight.

However, Orlando will need to go into Cleveland and try to end it on the road in Game five and avoid a trip back to Florida for Game six.

I have been one to criticize Stan Van Gundy more than most throughout this entire playoff run. At one point, I even called for his job and said I thought he was holding Orlando back rather than helping them.

I must say that it appeared that Van Gundy was in control tonight. The set inbound play where Lewis hit the three point shot to make the score 100-98 was all schemed. The pick and the position were perfect along with the mismatch (Wallace had to switch off the pick and couldn't get around Howard to contest Lewis's shot).

King James, your time is running out. If you don't do something positive in Game 5, we may all be witnesses to another season where Cleveland falls short.

Remembering the 1998 Atlanta Falcons

Anthony Hammett — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:47:44 -0400

The photo shows a team in disgust. For most Falcon fans, that is not what we remember.

It's hard to believe it has been 11 years since the Falcons last made a run through the playoffs and to the Super Bowl.

"Since" may be the wrong word to use. "Only" would be the word that could be used here. But only was enough for just one season for all Falcon fans to believe.

Jamal Anderson was taking over the full-time load that Craig Heyward had fulfilled. Chris Chandler was signed from Houston to be the starting quarterback. Tony Martin was brought in as an extra target to go alongside Terrance Mathis.

Ray Buchanan was the standout cornerback. Jessie Tuggle had been a Falcon for life and manned the defense overall. Eugene Robinson brought veteran leadership to the secondary (until the night before the Super Bowl).

The Falcons had a lot to build on, but no one saw their 1998 run through the NFC coming.

You can thank Denver and Minnesota for that.

It had appeared destined that the Vikings and Broncos would meet in the Super Bowl. Randy Moss had emerged in Minnesota and Randall Cunningham was better than ever. Minnesota and Denver controlled all of the playoff talk through the regular season.

Meanwhile, Atlanta flew under the radar. I find it hard to believe that a team can go 14-2 and go unnoticed, but Atlanta pretty much did.

Atlanta got off to a fast 2-0 start before going on the road against San Francisco. Nothing seemed to go right for the Falcons on that day, and the Niners walked away with the victory.

Something in that loss woke the Falcons up.

They won their next three games to get to 5-1, before losing to the Jets. They would not lose again until the Super Bowl.

The most memorable win for me that season had to be a week in New England where Atlanta beat the Patriots 41-10. It was at that moment that I realized how good Jamal Anderson was and that the Falcons were no joke.

Dirty Bird Fever had taken over.

The Falcons avenged an earlier loss to San Francisco during the regular season to tie the season series at 1-1. The matchup was set for the division round of the playoffs. San Francisco at Atlanta.

As a 15-year-old kid addicted to sports, I was in heaven. I had never felt this feeling before.

Every single season I had to deal with all of my friends bragging about how good their Cowboys were, or how good the 49ers were, or how good the Broncos were.

It was finally my turn. I didn't know how to react. I was used to home games being blacked out. I have lived in Georgia all my life, and if games don't sell out in the NFL, the home market gets blacked out.

At that time, I didn't understand the blackout rule, so I just assumed since it was a home game that I would have to catch the highlights. I'm glad that it did not result to that.

The rest is history. The Falcons found a way in the final seconds to squeak by San Francisco 20-18 and advance to the next round against Minnesota, thanks to Terrance Mathis' HUGE touchdown catch against the 49ers.

The close win might've done even more to help Atlanta go unnoticed. The Vikings had all but reserved their plane tickets to Miami. The champagne was on ice in the Metrodome and all that was left to do was pop the cork.

But, as the old saying goes, "That's why we play the game".

The first half looked hopeless. The Vikings had a double-digit lead in the second half. It would take a miracle for Atlanta to get back in it.

A drive at the end of the third quarter or the beginning of the fourth (I can't remember the exact time) was saved on a few crucial third down conversions until Atlanta finally reached the red zone.

Chandler threw a pass into the end zone between double coverage and hit Mathis on one knee. Touchdown Falcons. They made it a one-possession game.

Later in the game, Gary Anderson missed a field goal that would've made it a two possession game. He had not missed a kick all year. There goes the miracle I was hoping for.

But where there is a will, there is a way. The Falcons managed to tie the game and sent it into overtime. Unfortunately, Minnesota would touch the ball.

The biggest play of the entire season had to be on an incomplete pass. Cunningham dropped back in the pocket and flung the ball at least 50 yards down the field to Randy Moss on a 9-route (straight down the field).

Eugene Robinson was the safety coming over the top to help the corner. Buchanan had been beaten bad on the play by Moss so it was up to Robinson.

At the very last second, he leaped when Moss leaped and got a fingertip on the ball and knocked it down. Instead of a first down in field goal range, the Vikings had to punt.

It was at that moment that my heart began to race. My palms started to sweat. I had to turn the TV off and leave the room and return every 20 seconds or so because I just couldn't bare to watch in between commercials.

Jeff Hullinger's words still ring in my ear to this day from the radio broadcast:

"The kick is up. He knows it. They know it. And The Falcons are going to the Super Bowl!"

Words cannot begin to describe how good of a feeling that is. I mean, sure, I'm not the towel boy. I didn't sit through all of the practices or study the films. But, I was with them. I gave them every Sunday and in return they tried to give me viewing pleasure.

Of course, all dreams must come to an end. One prostitute later for Eugene Robinson the night before a Super Bowl and all momentum was gone. Atlanta moved the ball on Denver okay, but choked every time they got near the red zone.

The only highlight for Atlanta in that Super Bowl was Tim Dwight returning a kickoff for a touchdown.

But that Falcons team will never be forgotten by Falcons fans who watched. They took us on a ride we hope to go on again someday, but it was needed more than ever around that moment.