NBA Finals Update

So the most anticipated NBA Finals in recent history are in full swing. By now you've already heard all the Celtics vs. Lakers hype and you've had time to digest the first two wins by the Celtics. The first game had the drama of Paul Pierce coming back from what seemed to be a season ending knee injury only to nail 2 huge three-pointers and lead the Celtics to a 10-point win. It seemed almost magical. A writer couldn't have written a better story. Well that was until game two.

Game two, Leon Powe bursts onto the scene. The Celtics' reserve forward who was buried on the Boston bench during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons, exploded for 21 points thanks to some super helpful calls by the officiating crew. This didn't really bother me because I'm not exactly the biggest Lakers fan (or Kobe fan for that matter), but it made me wonder about the integrity of the game, especially when the halftime special was on none other than Leon Powe! Did anyone else find that a little suspicious? I know my NBA conspiracy theories are widely known and mostly disagreed with, but come on. The first time this dude has gotten serious minutes since March and he blows up for 21 against Kobe and the Lakers, and he also just happens to be the focus of the halftime heart-wrenching story. Hmmm. I just don't know. I'm hoping that ABC has already filmed all of the halftime specials and that they just pick the one that involves the player that is playing the best at halftime of that particular game.

Basically all of this boils down to money. The NBA is interested is making as much money as possible. If you think the most hyped series in Finals history is not going 7 games, then you got something else coming. Can you imagine how many people will be tuning in to ABC for that final game!?!?! David Stern is seeing nothing but dollar signs right now. Don't be surprised to see the Lakers win at least two now that the series shifts to L.A.

Tomorrow: N*E*R*D "Seeing Sounds" Record Review

RailHawks Update

A quick update for all you soccer fans. The Carolina RailHawks ended the month of May with a huge win Wednesday night against defending USL-1 champions, the Seattle Sounders, winning 2-1. That puts the RailHawks tied for 3rd in the league with 13 points and a 3-0-4 record. They're the only undefeated team in the league. Excellent play by new comers Matt Watson and Martin Nunez have helped a good defensive team become more offensive minded. The next home game is June 10th (first round of the US Open Cup). The game will be played on field 2 at WakeMed Soccer Park and tickets will all be $10 and parking will be free. This is because the main stadium field will be replaced this month. If you have any questions about the team or want to come out to see them play, let me know!

New Internship

Two weeks ago I started an internship with the Carolina Railhawks. The Railhawks are a professional soccer team that plays in the United Soccer League. They actually have three different teams: the USL team, a women's team, and an under-23 team. I am working on marketing and sponsorships for the 2008 season. So far it has been a lot of fun. The vice president of marketing for the team is my direct supervisor and it has been neat to get to be involved in the process of lining up sponsorships and preparing for the upcoming season. The first game is an exhibition game this Friday against UNC-Greensboro. The Railhawks also play an exhibition game against the MLS New York Red Bulls at the end of this month. I encourage everyone in the Raleigh area to come check out our games. The team plays at Wake Med Soccer Park which is an awesome facility. They actually held the 2007 NCAA Men's Soccer Finals there.

On a more humorous note, Saturday I went to get my haircut. I had been growing my hair out

for quite a while (since before Christmas) and it was getting pretty long. I dropped Ashley off at a dance competition she was going to and then I went to the "hair stylist." I told them that I needed a little bit of a trim but that I didn't really know what direction I should go with my hair because it can be kind of hard to manage. I told them that I'd like to keep it long but that I needed a style of some sort to keep it in instead of the unkempt mess that it had become. So the "stylist" cuts my hair and me not being one to really care that much, I just paid and left. I pick up Ashley and she starts laughing hysterically. She said I needed to go back and just get the "stylist" buzz it all off because it looked horrible. So I did which didn't bother me that much because I usually keep my hair pretty short anyway and it was only recently that I started growing it out. It was just a funny situation to be it. My hair's pretty lame a

nd it grows faster than pubescent boys.

Oh yeah, one other thing. They announced the brackets for the NCAA Tournament tonight. Carolina supposedly got the "Top Overall Seed." They got hosed if you ask me. Sure they get to play their first two rounds at the RBC Center in Raleigh and if they get past that they'll play the next two rounds in Charlotte but have you seen their bracket? Tennessee and Louisville? Come on! How does the #1 overall seed get the toughest bracket? Then Arizona State beats Arizona twice this year and Arizona gets in and ASU doesn't? That's jacked

up. I'll return later this week with my picks for the Elite Eight, Final Four, and Champions.

Check This Out!

Here's a really cool invention our teacher showed us in business class. It's seems like a good idea and I wonder which car company is going to buy it up first. The funny part of this video is the old school two door cars that they used for the demo. You'd think they could've hooked up a car that was a little nicer. It's cool either way though. Check it out:

Super Bowl Hype

The Super Bowl is Sunday and I'm so ready for it to be over. I hate that they have the Super Bowl 2 full weeks after the NFC and AFC championship games. I think a big problem we have in sports is over analysis. Every afternoon this week you can watch NFL Live on ESPN for several hours and hear so-called experts talk about the same things over and over. Nothing new has happened to either team between today and yesterday! Quit talking about Tom Brady and his boot! We'll find out if the Patriots are the greatest team ever on Sunday; why waste time discussing it now? Just get on with it already.

The Future

We had an interesting discussion today in Sports Marketing Class on the future of the field. My group was assigned the WNBA. LAME! Their outlook is not so good. Their major opportunities would be to expand to new markets but several teams have folded recently, including the Charlotte Sting.

College football is another interesting one. To me they have the best product, but until they have a playoff system (even if it was just a 4 team playoff) they will not be as successful as they could be. It'll never happen though. The conferences make way too much money off of the bowl games. Maybe if the NCAA was more willing to share some of the profits they make off March Madness, then the conferences would be more willing to let go of the chokehold they have on the BCS System.

Another one we discussed with a not so positive outlook is the Olympics. They have the best media contracts and a worldwide audience but scandals and doping have tainted the achievements of the athletes. I feel like they've kind of oversaturated the Olympics with too many sports too. It seems like when I was a kid they only had half the sports they do now but maybe I was just less aware of the random, obscure sports like ice dancing, curling, rhythmic gymnastics, etc.

Well here's the future of basketball: Derrick Freakin' Rose!!! This guy is incredible!



How can you watch that and not believe that Memphis will be in the Final 4 this year?! Who cares that their Coach is John Callipari, one of the slimiest guys in the business. This kid is the real deal!