sgoodcore

I think LA and Boston are the only top-tier teams. When they play their best it doesn't matter what the team they're playing against does.

For the Kobe case its not the same but generally its a weird number situation, which is why I brought it up before someone else could. I'm not really sure why he changed. He never, that I remember, gave a good reason.

Just added a member to the family:

#23, #66, and #99 are iconic in their respective sports. There's a difference and you know it sir. And he could have said "I'm changing my number to #XX because I am not Michael Jordan and #23 is and always will be his number. I want to be LeBron not Michael."

this was literally the first thought that went through my head immediately after hearing he said that at the beginning of the year. everybody laughed at me. lebron is a great businessman. he knows exactly what he's doing and he knows exactly how significant a number is to an athlete. LeBron should have known when he entered the league he should not have worn 23. Every single "great" player had a number. Odd I should say this given Kobe's jump to 24. That all said, no one wears 66 or 99 in the NHL. There's a reason for that.

The Celtics were injured last year. KG was nowhere to be found. It seems its the Lakers and the Celtics + 28 other teams at this point. No other team is an elite, top-tier team in the NBA.

Sure, all true but that means for my money Orlando is not a top-tier team. They don't have the horses yet. I don't begrudge anyone from taking the team seriously. All I'm saying is I don't. And nothing is going to change my mind about that except them playing a few good games of basketball against a very good team like the Celtics.

Vince Carter is not consistent, I agree with that. I completely disagree with the rest. I think Orlando would be the 2nd best team in the west, and I think they could give LAL a run for their money. The Magic would destroy a team like the Suns in the playoffs. (maybe not destroy the Suns, but easily win in 5 or 6) I'm just stating my opinion. Turk did a lot more for the Magic than they realized. Fact is, when your BEST player can't be in the game late its a HUGE issue. Its why Shaq never won without a killer sidekick like Wade or young Kobe. Proof is in the pudding and right now Orlando's pudding tastes like fail.

Orlando's go-to players do not seem to bring "it" every night. They'd be about the third or fourth best team in the West, if that. Vince Carter isn't exactly reliable. I'm not sure outside of Orlando playing well against a good team there's anyway my mind is going to change.

No one on the Celtics is playing beyond their ability though. I mean Rondo had that amazing night but its more about consistency with them than one player carrying them. Not totally sure because I've been watching more baseball than basketball other than the Lakers but I just get the feeling Orlando isn't a top-tier playoff team.

It seems Howard might just be a tad overrated or his team might be. From the way people talk about them, they should have run all over the Celtics.

I think that pretty much sums it up well. When Philly is pumping on all cylinders they're extremely good team. Leino, Briere, Richards, Gagne, Giroux, Van Riemsdyk are all top-6 tier NHL talent when they're on their game. And Carter, one of their best pure scorers is hurt. Not to mention Pronger is playing like a stud.

That's predicated on the Lakers missing shots allowing the Suns to get out on the break. If the Lakers push the ball in to the low-block and get high percentage shots they should quell some of the ability for Phoenix to get out in transition. It'll be an interesting series though. As a Lakers' fan I would be okay with Phoenix winning if they also won the title because getting Nash a ring would be cool.

Eh, screw Hossa. He should have stayed in Pittsburgh.

You realize you're asking for a realistic answer to a wholly unrealistic question, right? If this became reality, as stated before economic principles would work to drive the price down a good amount. I for one make a good enough living I feel comfortable with not doing this for anything less than a ridiculous sum of money. For some people, whether you agree or not, wasting a year of their life on horrid music is a big, big deal. Maybe a big enough deal to drive them pretty crazy. That's their opinion based on their life. Not sure how you can disagree with that or say that means they already have "too much" money. For a good amount of people music is their therapy.

I see Philly as a much better team than their record. And Chris Pronger, a guy who can play 30+ minutes a night is a beast in the playoffs.

Okay, so maybe I'm wrong.

Really pulling for a Chicago v. Philly Stanley Cup Final.

Also 1000% accurate. I think its mostly accurate but I'm not sure I would go so far as to skewer the character of someone I've never met.

That's pretty scathing

Personally, an enjoyable year of my life is priceless. And music makes it even better. I'm not missing shows and listening to something I loathe for that long. But more importantly missing out on stuff whereby listening makes things much, much better. Bidding for my year would start at a cool $5 million.

You think its snobby to say you could not listen to one artist for 10 hours a day for an entire year? Maybe its a sign people have better taste than to do whatever for money. Frankly, a year of my life is worth a whole lot. Especially if that year is going to be plagued with horrendous music I don't like as its soundtrack. In terms of what you gross I agree but I'm not sure its nets out in your favor.

Don't want highjack this highly important question posed here but I honestly do not believe the "benefits" of paying an interest rate on your mortgage outweigh the benefits of not. All the interest is thrown away. Even if you're in the highest tax bracket more than half of the money is just gone. If you invest the half that's just thrown in to the fire you'll do better than using the money from the interest on your house as a tax write-off.

I'm not sure of anywhere outside of being damn near perfect at the stock market where anyone can make 4% or more on investments right now.

I think I will not be alone, if LeBron leaves Cleveland for New York, Miami, or Chicago I will lose much respect for him. His words will ring hollow and he'll look like a major front runner. I already have a bit of distaste for the idea that "a kid from Akron" would be a Bulls, Cowboys, and Yankees fan. He grew up in a city with all three teams at some point and two for his entire life.