|
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Taneo: He came, he saw, he sulked
By Paul J. Taneo
Free-for-all
In the third quarter of the Suns-Lakers Game 2 in Phoenix, Steve Nash scuffles with Sasha Vujacic and Kobe Bryant comes to the rescue of his Slovenian teammate.
Nash and Bryant argue. The audio does not zoom in on their conversation but one is tempted to fill in the silence:
“You think you are a big shot? You think you gonna get a second straight MVP?” Kobe growls.
“As a matter of fact, I think I will!” Nash, squinting and craning his neck upwards to look Kobe in the eye, shoots back.
“Well, prove it you deserve it in this game!”
“I already did, for almost 82 games in the regular season.”
“My dad says I deserve to be MVP.”
“My dad and 75 of 127 sportswriters think otherwise.”
Prrt! The ref breaks up the spontaneous debate.
For all the arguments as to who should be MVP, Nash or Bryant, it is futile, as according to reports, it is actually Lebron James who is giving Nash competition for the distinction. And even James himself is a distant second to Nash.
Even factoring out the statistics Nash and Bryant had amassed this season and trying to qualify their value to their respective teams would give the Phoenix Suns point guard the edge.
Nash has been, as he has always been for all teams he has played for, an all-around Swiss Army knife. He does it all. He shoots, passes, defends, steals, motivates. He probably advises his teammates, too, on matters of the heart. Heart on the hardcourt, heart that says amore in Roma.
That calls to mind Suns star center Amare Stoudamire, whose career 19.8 ppg and 8.8 rpg are missed, having only played three games this season. Missed but not that badly, with Nash and his crew stepping up all season long. That’s not even to mention Quentin Richardson and Joe Johnson.
Sure Bryant has been lighting up the scoreboards this season, breaking records. But still, Bryant has only towed the Lakers to seventh spot in the Western Conference, while the Suns have overcompensated by getting the second seed.
If Nash does gets named MVP for a second year in a row, Kobe can try to rain on Nash’s parade by helping (nay, make that carry) the Lakers to the second round of the playoffs. And if an upset is forthcoming, that won’t mean a thing. The MVP is chosen for what he had done in the regular season, not in the playoffs.
Whatever Bryant does, it’s as the saying (that sounds funny if you are Cebuano-English bilingual) goes, a lose-lose position.
STIFF AS A ROD. The Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex was barely half filled for the “Bad Boy” NBA Legends Tour last Thursday. For tickets priced beyond the affordability of most Filipinos, general admission being P500, those who wanted to see Dennis Rodman had better things to do with their money.
While those who did get to see the game between the American squad and retired PBA players, it was worth it. Seeing Rodman in the flesh is worth the price of the ticket. General admission, at least.
Rodman and half of his crew are giants. The average Filipino would be lucky to be as tall up to Rodman’s tummy. And those tattoos and body piercings. Rodman is curiosity. It was the novelty of seeing a former NBA star in the flesh, especially one as notorious as Rodman.
There have been stories, all denied by Rodman, that he has fallen into bad times. Perhaps that’s why he looked morose. But with a reported $300,000 talent fee for two games, he should at least smirk.
TORA-TORA DOUBLE VISION. Jimwell “Tora-Tora” Torion is a diamond in the rough and will stay that way for the foreseeable future. Torion can make his points in and out of the paint. He has adequate point-guard skills, but for a moment there it seemed he also had the talent of bilocation.
Two Fridays ago, you could see Torion, in green jersey, playing for the Toledo Landmasters in the MVBA, and if you jumped channels to the PBA, you could also see Torion, in green jersey, playing for the Sta. Lucia Realtors.
Torion with Toledo was an old game, while Torion with Sta. Lucia was a live game, days after Torion had gone back to the PBA.
It gives a whole new meaning to “journeyman.”
(paulotaneo@yahoo.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 30, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
