General: Sterno's Talkin' Smack -- Episode #41

Sterno's Talkin' Smack. No holding back here. It's all trash, all the time. Welcome to the Wednesday morning edition of the show.

On today's jam packed agenda, are the blockbuster trade in the NBA, the latest on the Baylor University saga, and some observations in MLB.

Smack This: Golden State Warriors -- A couple of weeks ago, we spoke about the lowly Los Angeles Clippers. As we discussed, they are, and have been, the laughing stock of the NBA for years. However, another team in the state of California is making their way up the ladder of disgust. Today, we talk about the latest move by the Golden State Warriors.

You remember the Warriors, don't you? Chris Mullen, Tim Hardaway, and company, were an exciting group. Too bad, those days are gone. While things seemed to be looking up, with great young talent like Gilbert Arenas, and Antawn Jamison, there was a bright future. Well, just like that, the lights have gone out.

Earlier this off-season, Arenas bolted to Washington to replace Michael Jordan, and now Jamison is gone too. Yesterday, the Warriors pulled off a blockbuster deal with the Dallas Mavericks, that will send one team upwards, and the other; well south.

Here are the specs on the nine player deal. The Mavericks get Jamison, along with guard Jiri Welsch (who?), Chris Mills, and Danny Fortson, while the Warriors obtain sixth man extraordinaire Nick Van Exel, eighty year old Avery Johnson, Antoine Rigaudeau, Evan Eschmeyer, and Popeye Jones.

May I ask what the heck the Warriors were doing here? First of all, the only impact player here is Jamison. He is young, talented, and hasn't come close to reaching his potential at this point. Fortson will also get some minutes, and add some much needed beef to a lineup with stick boy, Shawn Bradley, at center.

What did Dallas give up? Nick Van Exel is a good player, and yes he can start for the Warriors, but taking a hundred shots to score points is nothing big unless your name is Allen Iverson. Look at these other jokers Golden State got! Avery Johnson is like a hundred years old, and needs a cane. Popeye Jones is known mostly for his name, and that he tries hard. Yeah, Travis Knight tries hard too. Do they want him? Oh, and Antoine Rigaudeau. Who is that? Sounds like Franscesco Rinaldi's cousin. I guess that they need pasta out west?

Here's some reaction:

"This makes us bigger and younger and more versatile,'' said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks' president of basketball operations. It's a move that makes sense not only in the short term, but it keeps us healthy three or four years down the line.''

That it does! As for the geniuses over in the Warriors organization, they found a spin for the media that just doesn't cut it.

"In the short term, we have added talented players to our roster, while also providing an opportunity for some of our younger players to step up and play larger roles in our overall development,'' St. Jean said. "In the long term, this trade will provide us with some flexibility that we may not otherwise have had.''

Yeah, right! In the short term it's dumb. For the long term, its dumb. Have fun missing the playoffs yet another season.

Warrior's management -- Smacked!!!

Smack This: Baylor University -- Okay, this has got to stop. Whatever was in the soup over in the cafeteria at Baylor, was bad news, because these people are nuts! Incase you haven't heard, there has been another weird development in the Baylor Basketball nightmare.

Seriously, at the beginning this was a sad, sad story. A Baylor basketball player was missing, and nobody knew where he was. Then, we found out that there was information surfacing as to the involvement of a friend, and teammate, Carlton Dotson. In addition, there was some funny business going on within the athletic department.

Now, it has gone from some funny business, to complete insanity. Apparently, coach Dave Bliss, is in a lot more trouble than we thought. Not only was he not a good basketball coach, and doing some things that the NCAA was against. (no, there were no "roll tide," stories here, ala Mike Price) Now, Bliss, we come to find out, may have had significant involvement with covering up the murder. Oh, boy.

Here's what we know. A tape has come out, that was recorded by another Baylor staff member. On this tape, Bliss specifically states, that a cover up is feasible, and talks about ways to keep things quiet. It is possible, that Bliss knew exactly who did what, and when, and told nobody. This has gone from a coach resigning from an organization, to a man who may have his life flash before his eyes, behind bars.

The latest comes from Bliss' ex-assistant, who has added some new information of her own. Bliss' former assistant said yesterday that she often felt frightened of the ex-Baylor University basketball coach's behavior and his treatment of his players. In fact, on several occasions, she contacted University executives about these incidents to no avail. She went on to call him an, "angry man."

When approached about these instances, University assistant Vice President of Personnel services, Jaffus Hardrick, told her, "He doesn't act like that. Go back to work."

Oh boy. There's trouble in Baylor, folks.

Who knows what will come up next? Maybe, Bliss is responsible for the blackout in the Northeast. After all of the information that has surfaced recently, would you really be shocked? I know I wouldn't.

Baylor Drama -- Smacked!!!

Smack This: Major League Baseball Observations -- That's right folks. I am here to give some observations on the latest and greatest in the world of Major League Baseball. Without further hesitation, here goes!

First, let's talk about the pitching of the Yankees again. Now, David Wells is questionable following some back issues, and Jeff Weaver has still looked terrible. So, now what? Sterling Hitchcock to start game four? I hope not for the Bomber's sake!

The San Francisco Giants haven't looked much better. Yikes. They have lost six straight games and without Barry bonds in the lineup, they are as powerless as Popeye without his spinach. I mean, Alfonzo has been in the clean up spot. What a joke that it. He has seven homeruns, for crying out loud. Do you think they wished they had resigned Reggie Sanders? Sanders, has more than twenty five homeruns for the Pirates!

Oh, how can I forget to bring up Mike Piazza? I think all of those fickle Mets fans who were crying to have him dealt, can now be heard at the local bars, screaming for a contract extension. Good job by Piazza, as it was a great decision to finish the season on the field. Two bad this little winning streak they are on is pointless!

Lastly, can we stop talking about Pete Rose? Let the guy in. Don't let him in. I don't care anymore. Stop talking about it. Between the arguments for, and against, the television coverage on the issue, and Rose's constant need to talk about today's player, I am sick to my stomach. The guy deserves to be in the hall. After all, Barry Bonds is the biggest jerk of all time, and has no class, yet we beat his press appeal to death, now don't we?

MLB -- Smacked!!!

One for the Road: Today's one for the road is a salute to ABC. Thank you, during a time where I can only watch reality television, for giving me a dosage of football that allowed me to sleep like a baby. No, the Rams and Bucs' meaningless game this past Monday night wasn't a barn burner. It simply wet my appetite for the real thing. Again, thanks! That's it for me, now beat it!

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 that gets smacked!