Derrick White awakens the long, hard jinx

There’s a general rule of thumb amongst superstitious gamblers that you don’t talk about wagers while they’re still in play.  Of course, logic would tell you that the wager you’ve placed (or for heaven’s sake discussed with others) has nothing Continue reading Derrick White awakens the long, hard jinx

The NBA coaching carousel redux

About a month ago, I wrote (but didn’t publish) this piece on David Blatt, head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.  With LeBron James out due to injury, the Eastern Conference favorites had lost nine of ten ball games.  There were Continue reading The NBA coaching carousel redux

The tenuous tenure of an NBA head coach

Gregg Popovich became the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs in 1996.  Doc Rivers began coaching the Celtics in ‘04.  Erik Spoelsta started his tenure with the Miami Heat in 2008, five years ago.  That makes Spoelstra the third Continue reading The tenuous tenure of an NBA head coach

Nightmares of Nate: How one mighty midget manifested Miami’s main malady

For two full seasons, we’ve been told the best way to beat the Miami Heat is to out-rebound them.  They’re one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, weak down low, critics would claim, lazily pulling up statistics that Continue reading Nightmares of Nate: How one mighty midget manifested Miami’s main malady

Eliminator pools, penalty kicks and a bunch of pissed off Portuguese

There are two schools of thought when it comes to NFL eliminator pools. For those of you who don’t know, when it comes to sports betting, eliminator pools are perhaps the most entertaining way to gamble on the NFL season. 

LeBron James takes his talents… to Boston

I was living in Gainesville at the time.  Brotha E and I had ventured out to our local pool hall to toss back a few, delicious, bourbon cocktails and watch the NBA Playoffs.  The year was 2007; it was the Continue reading LeBron James takes his talents… to Boston

Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: The Running of the Bulls, Scorching Heat and one big, old Leprechaun

As some of you may recall, at the beginning of this NBA season, I suggested that only three teams (Boston, Los Angeles, Miami) had a realistic shot of winning a title and that if you found someone to take the Continue reading Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: The Running of the Bulls, Scorching Heat and one big, old Leprechaun