General: Sterno's Talkin' Smack -- Episode #65

Sterno's Talkin' Smack. No holding back here. It's all trash, all the time.

Welcome, my friends, to a very special edition of the program. Today's discussion centers around Kobe Bryant, some comments from the world of football and another genius move from Mark Cuban.

Smack This: Kobe Bryant -- Well, the dream of the media is now officially a reality. That's right folks. Kobe Bryant is going trial in what I will call O.J. Part Deux. In a media circus that will certainly rival the days of Dennis Fung and Judge Ito, Kobe will stand trial to see once and for all, whether or not he committed a technical foul unlike any he had before.

So, what does this mean? It means that Kobe could face up to life in prison for assaulting that famous teen in Colorado. Depending upon who you ask, the case is either very strong against Kobe, with explicit details, or it is very weak, and full of conjecture. How many millions of people will turn away from the NBA and on court festivities once the Bryant case hits the air waves?

Answer -- all of them!

I told you guys this when the story first broke and I am sticking to my word. This is all a bunch of blah to me. Kobe's reputation is the only thing that will be destroyed by this. I don't think he did anything. It's another case of a stupid girl with a crush who got turned down once the fun was over. I wasn't there. That's for sure. I just don't think that the sex was anything but mutual. As for Kobe cheating on his wife; there's no defending that.

Kobe Bryant -- Smacked!!!

Smack This: Thoughts from the NFL -- What a week it was in the NFL. The Chiefs stayed undefeated at 7-0 by beating the Raiders on a play that looked oh so similar to the one that we saw at the end of the Rams - Titans Super Bowl a few years ago. The only difference is that this one still had a silver lining for the loser. That's right. Mark Tuiasosopo came in and finally breathed some life into an offense lead by stud turned zombie Rich Gannon.

Maybe Callahan will get a clue this week and start the kid. The season is over for Oakland anyway.

What about my New York Giants? How disgraceful are they? Do you think that maybe, just maybe, Jim Fassel has something to do with the special teams mishaps that have cost that team for the past three years. If it wasn't for his mishandling of that phase of the game, the Giants would 4-2. Yes, even with the offense playing like eleven donkeys in a stable. Some offense we've got. We can't hold on to the ball, let alone put it in for six.

How about them Cowboys? Bill Parcells' crew sits atop the NFC East at 5-1 and to say I am shocked would be an understatement. Everyone knows that it takes the "Tuna" two years to turn things around. How is he pulling this one off you ask? You can thank one man. Quincy Carter. Carter has been terrific and whatever backwards confidence Bill instilled in this guy by naming him over Chad Hutchinson (I could start over him), it has energized him times ten. Oh, and what about Terry Glenn. This guy ditched his Super Bowl teammates, was the one receiver not even Brett Favre could make look good, and now he's leading the Cowboys to victory?

The best coaching job this season however, does not belong to Bill Parcells, if you can believe that. It belongs to his old defensive coordinator Bill Bellichik. What Bellichik has done with that New England Patriots team is mind numbing. The way they beat the Jets and Giants with practically no offense, other than a big play or two, and then went and took the Dolphins in overtime (even if they got lucky that Olindo Mare missed a 39 yard field goal) is unbelievable. Brady hasn't been anything but mediocre all year, they have no running game, and they have less first downs in the 1st halves of games than any team over .500. Still, they are in first place. Nice job coach!

Tidbits from the NFL -- Smacked!!!

Smack This: Mark Cuban For President -- Yet again Mark Cuban has given me a reason to like him. I love when he gets into it with David Stern. I love it when he gets all over the refs and says screw you to the fines. In fact, other than that ridiculous comment about the Kobe issue being good for basketball, Cuban is batting a thousand with me.

Now, he has taken the cake. We all knew that when Dallas made that deal for Antwain Jamison, that it made them a better team. Cuban took a sixth man in Nick Van Exel, who came off the playoff of his life, and sold him and his highest value. However, in dealing Raef LaFrentz and Tony Delk for Antoine Walker of the Celtics, he has outdone himself. What a steal for the Mavs. While everyone wants to talk about the Lakers, assuming Kobe is on the floor, it is time to talk about Dallas.

They made huge strides last year and were on the verge of greatness. Now, they have a front line of Nowitski, Jamison, and Walker, with a backcourt of Nash and Finley. Are you kidding me? That is a starting five that can rival any. They can post you up, pull you to three point land, and hit free throws like no other team in the league. If their bench gives them anything, and I mean anything, they will be a force this year in the NBA!

As for the Celtics, this isn't a great start for Danny Ainge in the front office. While Walker was a bumb in the playoffs two years in a row, he still didn't warrant this dumping.

Boston Celtics management -- Smacked!!!

One for the Road: Finally, Eric Lindros is hurt again. Boy, am I loving this. I don't feel bad for this guy. Not even close. Once again the overpaid and under producing franchise known as the "Blueshirts," are lost without a star. Bure and Lindros make a nice tag team up in booth in their suits!

Hit me up with feedback at eSports (click the Write the Editor link) or on my homepage at http://www.suite101.com/myhome.cfm/theycallmethecloser. Come on and click that link already! You can't possibly agree with everything I say!

See ya' all next time folks! Until then, don't be the one who's smacked!