This, that, and the other

It’s been a while, and I have to say I’ve missed writing. So, now that I’m settled into the new confines (with an incredibly strong air freshener, and a new roomie that keeps his peanut butter in the fridge), my dear readers, you can expect updates at least weekly. The goal will be two or three a week though. I really want to travel back in time and rip the Gay Accountant for admitting that he lied to Jays fans about injuries, and I’d like to get to a few other things I missed, but the moment’s gone, and Wednesday was busy, so let’s get right to it.

First off, Kobe Bryant. Wednesday, during a live radio interview, Kobe said the following: “I would like to be traded.” And the NBA will be forever changed because of it.

The fact he backtracked a couple hours later doesn’t change the fact he said it—live, on air. Reading the transcript, Bryant was undoubtedly led to this answer. In fact, the question the on-air personality poses to Bryant isn’t even admissible in a court of law.

But in the court of the sports fan, legal mumbo-jumbo isn’t worth a nickel. And in the ultra-rare company Kobe Bryant keeps as one of the most polarizing athletes in North America, it’s worth even less.

Time was a man could be thrown out of his sport for demanding a trade, but now it’s a weekly occurrence, and in some cases it may even be justified.

Allen Iverson was given a free pass from fans for demanding a trade, fans practically encourage Kevin Garnett to demand a trade, and I think it’s well within Bryant’s rights to ask out of L.A.

He is one of the three or four best players in the league, he has only a few prime seasons left, and given the help of a real basketball player or two, could easily lead a team to a title or two within the next couple years. The Lakers are not that team though. He’s tried to do it on his own, he’s tried to be a team player (in the end, his coach told him to stop passing), and neither way worked. The Lakers aren’t going to be a contender any time soon, so he wants out.

It’s unlikely the Lakers will trade him, but if they do, we’ll at least find out whether or not Bryant’s teammates were the problem the last couple years.

Next up, game two of the Stanley Cup Final. Memo to Ottawa: get aggressive. Ottawa had one good shift in the game, and much like game one (which they also lost), it was the first shift. Mike Fisher went out there and hit the first thing in a black sweater and didn’t stop. Then when Fisher left the ice, the Ducks started to hit back, and the Sens quickly went into a defensive shell and couldn’t find their groove again. Coach Bryan Murray tinkered with the lines, united and breaking apart the Spezza-Heatley-Alfredsson line with minimal results, and again the line committed costly turnovers, specifically Dany Heatley losing the puck to Samuel Pahlsson for the game’s only goal. Speaking of Pahlsson, it’s not so much that his line with Rob Niedermayer and Travis Moen is doing a great job neutralizing the Spezza line, as much as they’re simply controlling the play against the Spezza line, and not allowing the Sens big guns to get out of their own end.

The bright side for Ottawa? Ray Emery is willing, and seemingly able to do it on his own. Over at Sportsnet.ca, columnist Jim Kelley is keeping a Conn Smythe tracker. After game two, he’s elevated Anaheim’s J-S Giguere to the top spot, but as I mentioned Monday, Emery should be in the mix. Before it was cool to question Ottawa’s toughness, leadership or character in the playoffs, their goalies were always the goats. With Emery, that’s no longer the case.

Two other hockey notes from Wednesday. The Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to name Sidney Crosby team captain some time Thursday. For his sake, I sure hope the Penguins don’t struggle out of the gate in October. For their sake, every hockey writer in Canada is hoping they do, so they have one more reason to pile on Crosby. After just two seasons in the NHL, Crosby is becoming a polarizing star like Kobe Bryant and others. Despite his immense talent, it seems a lot of people are lining up to despise him. Slap me if I ever become on of those people.

And Jim Balsillie, who seems unwilling to go away, has re-upped a deal with The City of Hamilton (sorry, for some reason I thought it was necessary to use the corporate name) to secure exclusive rights to Copps Coliseum, leading to more speculation regarding his future plans for the Nashville Predators, whom he’s agreed to buy pending league approval. For the love of the people in my hometown, please stop jerking them around. Anyway, that’s the last NHL to Hamilton talk around these parts until a deal is done (at which point, I’ll really start kicking myself for moving out west).

Check back Friday for thoughts on Mark Cuban, the Calder Cup Final and anything else that may get my attention.