Monday, June 25, 2007

The Monday NIGHT Run-down: Because a lot can happen in a day

  • KG trade talks continue, this time with a proposed trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. While I wouldn't mind Kobe Bryant shutting up about his situation, since KG has handled the exact same situation with much more class, I don't want to see KG in a Lakers uniform. Not only that, but in the reported 4-team deal, Jermaine O'Neal, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom all switch teams, but none would end up on the Wolves. The Wolves would be receiving "young players and draft picks." Indiana and Boston are the other two teams in the trade. Indiana doesn't have a first round pick this year, and Boston's is fifth and L.A.'s is 19. Young players and draft picks are not enough for KG, since Kevin McHale will develop the players poorly, and screw up the selections. The best reported deal so far is any one in which Amare Stoudemire ends up in a Wolves uni.
  • Speaking of uniforms, in hopes of turning around their "worst franchise in the league" status, the Atlanta Hawks have changed logos, jerseys, and colors for next season. While I like the new color scheme, and the logo is the same (just with the new colors), the new jersey is ridiculous. The thing has a collar on the front and the back, and does the stupid alternate logo on the back of jersey idea. The lettering looks sharp, but the side panels are a disaster. There will probably be more on this over at Uni-Watch tomorrow.
  • Tank Johnson was released today by the Chicago Bears. Seriously? Pacman Jones made it longer than Tank? Unlike Pacman, Johnson has actually served time for the crimes he has committed, so it was only a matter of time before he screwed up again (which he did). I'd say this is good news for the Vikings, but the Bears still have Brian "Vitamin Water" Urlacher, so they stand no chance.
  • The Twins are playing the Toronto Blue Jays this week, and actually dropped the first game of the series 7-5 tonight. They managed to score 5 runs against former Cy Young winner Roy Halladay. One of the goals of this series is to avoid a celebration for Frank Thomas, who is sitting at 499 career home runs. Plus, if I was Thomas, I wouldn't want my career milestone to be acheived at the Metrodome.
  • Chauncey Billups opted out of his contract with Detroit. Over all the years McHale has been GM, this is probably the one guard he should have offered a long term deal after his last season with the Wolves. After screwing that up, he freaked out the next few seasons, locking up horrible guards like Mike James, Troy Hudson, and Marko Jaric. The Wolves have struggled to find a capable starting point guard since, but hope that Randy Foye can fill that role this year. Billups is expected to try and re-sign with the Pistons.
  • Takeru Kobayashi may have to pull out of Nathan's Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest next week on the 4th of July. He claims to have an arthritic jaw which hinders him from eating. While this may seem logical, what I think seems even MORE logical is him not wanting to get shown up. In the past, Kobayashi has had virtually no competition in this contest, winning the last 6 years, this year a competitor named Joey Chestnut is prepared to defeat him. Chesnut, who narrowly lost last year, set the world record for hot dogs eaten with 59.5 at a contest in Arizona, but Kobayashi wasn't there. Kobayashi is listed as "day to day" with his condition. If he shows up, this could potentially be the most exciting 12 minutes of competitive eating the world has ever seen.

That's it for the Monday Night Run-down, but stay tuned for Courtland's post tomorrow.

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