It was said that Spurs’ rookie center DeJuan Blair told his teammates on the Rookies team that he would grab every rebound. His saying was to be proven a reality, putting 22 points with 23 rebounds to make it the first 20-20 game in a Rookie-Sophomore game in history! The contributions brought out a 140-128 whopper over the Sophomores.

“He started getting the rebounds for us. He did what he said he was going to do,” said Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans. “That’s why I wanted to share the [MVP] trophy with him.”

Evans received the MVP with his 26 points. He was right: both deserved it. Russell Westbrook brought out 40 points for the Sophomores, but it wasn’t enough for a win. The rookies dominated almost every aspect of this game. First year guys, yeah, they can beat those guys who already have experience in the NBA. And that’s what really surprised me. The rookies wanted it more.

“We got our butts kicked in every aspect of the game,” said Patrick Ewing, the Orlando assistant coach who headed the Sophomore squad. “I know it’s an All-Star Game, but we didn’t play with enough pride in my eyes. They outplayed us, they outhustled us, they outscrapped us.”

“Everyone came out and contributed,” Brandon Jennings said, who had 22 points. “DeJuan Blair … that’s amazing right there.”

James Harden also had 22 points for the Rookies. Here are some other stats, says the Associated Press:

Miami’s Michael Beasley, who scored 29 points in last year’s game, had 26 points this time. Golden State’s Anthony Morrow had 15 points and Minnesota’s Kevin Love, who had predicted a lopsided victory for the sophomores, had 12 points and six rebounds. O.J. Mayo from Memphis had eight points and 10 assists.

Good game. More All-Star coverage for today. Looks to be fun!

From the press release, here are the players that'll be on the USA Basketball team:

Returning to the USA National Team for 2010-12 are 2008 Olympic gold medalists Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz). Rounding out the list of Olympians on the national squad roster are 2004 Olympic bronze medalists Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers) and Amar’e Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns).

Completing the list of National Team players are LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers); Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Al Jefferson (Minnesota Timberwolves); David Lee (New York Knicks); Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); O.J. Mayo (Memphis Grizzlies); Kendrick Perkins (Boston Celtics); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); Gerald Wallace (Charlotte Bobcats) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).

Is anyone worried! Does anyone even know what is going on with the National Football League right now? No, just stop. Stop with the Brett Favre saga. Just quit it. We all know he’s going to come back. Do we know what team? No. Most probably it’s going to be the Vikings, or some other team, like the Eagles. Just stop it.

Are NFL Fans stupid currently? The average NFL fan needs to know what is going on. Money problems. Heck, with what’s going on, we may not even see a Brett Favre play in the NFL! As of right now, the NFL is leaning towards an uncapped season in 2010. What’s the problem with that? Plenty. With that, there is a strong possibility of an NFL Lockout in 2011!

A lockout in the NFL! We’ve seen lockouts before. For the past few years we’ve seen these lockouts happen in such leagues like the NBA, NHL, and the MLB. Never in the NFL. That’s what brought sports fans together. They still had football. Now just imagine…a year without football.

People need to know what is going on. It’s just that simple. This league may be at stake. NFL fans, stop with the Brett Favre crap. Stop with who drafts who, who signs who, who trades who, who—whatever! Watch out. NFL will be at stake.

Something bad may be coming….

"And Billy Johnson goes all the way for a touchdown! And there he goes again, putting on those moves. He always does that when he scores. Putting on those moves. It's really fascinating to see! These probably feature more on his highlights than the touchdowns alone!"

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Player gets a ball. He runs all the way for a touchdown! And there he goes dancing away! ("Cel-a-brate good times, come on!) Gotta love those touchdown celebrations!

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It all started in 1965. His name was Homer. No folks, it's not the time to make fun of a fat, bald guy who says d'oh. But he is crazy and weird like the cartoon dad. Homer Jones started the touchdown celebrations after he scored with his little spikes to the ground. People were like, "HUH?!"

Most probably, yeah. But ever since that New York Giant did that, he pretty much changed NFL history. He gave the fans more love for the game after a touchdown was scored. It was a show for some people. It made them laugh, or at least get a good chuckle out of it. If not, come on, crack a smile, would ya?

Now do you ever see a player do those spikes? Not anymore really because of the rules, but we all remember seeing it all the time! It even happened if they didn't even score! It was just that good.

1980 then came with the Washington Redskins doing their little "High-Five bunch." After a touchdown is scored, all the guys huddle up together, jump in the air and slap each other a couple of fives.

And then came my favorite. This really brought the movement of the touchdown celebrations. Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. This guy really showed how to get it done. Yes yes, I know, just one move, but still. He just did this little jiggle-wiggle move with his legs.

Check it out:

Nice, right? Am I right? Johnson ended his career nicely, too, with 337 catches for over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also had a combined number of about 6,000 return yards. The touchdown dances after all those scores made it seem so better. All 33 of them (yeah, he had eight returns for TD's).

White Shoes Johnson had it all. The talent, the speed, the hands, and the moves. Nice bros, my brother. My bruh.

And then came one of the other fan favorites: The Ickey Shuffle. It was so bad that it was good, like an analyst for NFL Network once said. Bengals running backs Ickey Woods did a little move to the right, a little to the left. His 18 touchdowns in his rookie year (including playoffs) made him have a lot of time to do this and he was excellent. Yet, another guy who you'd rather watch his celebrations than the touchdown alone.

Some touchdown celebrations, like you just read, were just funny, fun, or just for no good reason. Some guys did it for a reason. Like Ravens kick/punt returner Jermaine Lewis who made a return for a touchdown in the 41-7 Super Bowl win over the New York Giants. He put his hands in the air in the honor of his son who died.

Then there is Ken Norton, who did a combination of punches on the pad on the goalpost for his father and his boxing career. Or a bunch of other NFL players honor people whenever they score. That finger in the air. It showed respect, and love. Love for the game, love for the person.

And we all know this Packers fans: The Lambeau Leap! Thanks to LeRoy Butler for starting this. Now every Packers player does it. And speaking of the Packers, how about Desmond Howard? In college, after returning a kickoff for a touchdown, Howard made the pose of Heisman Trophy. And that's funny, because he later won it.

And who can't forget The Dirty Bird dance? A lot of people say Jamaal Anderson started it. You are wrong. It's tight end O.J. Santiago who started it. I swear, when he did that, he got the moves. He had the moves. Nice move, bruh.

And sometimes, touchdown celebrations are downright crazy and stupid. Like Randy Moss on the Vikings. He made a touchdown and then pretended to take of his pants and shake his bare butt at the fans. Mooning. He was later fined $10K. Not so nice, bruh.

One of my other favorites is Joe Horn's touchdown. A future Hall-of-Famer and along with that, a Hall-of-Fame touchdown celebration. He knew he was going to score in that game. When he scored, he took out a cellphone from the padding and pretended to call his children. It was classic. The best, bruh! He was later fined $30K. Not cool, NFL.

And there is Terrell Owens, with his memorable touchdown celebrations. A few was when he took a Sharpie under his shoe and he signed a football after a touchdown. He also played with pom-poms. Along with that, when he was on the Niners, he scored and did his pose on the Star. He also did it a second time, being knocked out by a Cowboys' safety.

Sometimes there is mocking on touchdowns. Like take a look at Joey Galloway. Showing off his big ol' guns there on his arms. Nice biceps! And then here is the best touchdown celebrator: Chad Ochocinco. Known for many.

Sometimes it comes to playing golf with the pylon, or wearing the Hall-of-Fame jacket on. My favorite has got to be the Riverdance. Nobody will forget that. That's the best. And then there is Ochocinco jumping into the Dawg Pound, getting beer thrown on him along with a guy putting up the finger at him. Not a nice gesture, bruh. And then, against the Colts, he faked a propose to a cheerleader, who went along with No. 85. And then there is another one where Ochocinco takes out a sign and it says "Please NFL, don't fine me again!" He was later fined.

Then there is Reggie Bush in the NFC Championship against the Bears a few years ago after an 85-yard-touchdown. He did a large flip along with The Roosevelt. Nice. And there is Brandon Jacobs, who's wife got pregnant. To give out the news, he scored a touchdown and put the ball under his jersey, pretending he was pregnant. Good deed, bruh.

Touchdown celebrations are fun to use. Just have to love it. Deion Sanders does some moves, too. He loves it! The touchdown dance has been used in so many ways. It's used everywhere when it comes to the NFL, CFL, Arena, College, High School, or hell, even PeeWee. You don't think they do it? They do!

Touchdown celebrations just made everything better and makes you feel better about a touchdown. So people, don't get made sometimes on the touchdown celebrations. You too, NFL executives who fine people for them. Lay out. Relax. There are fun. They show the moves.

When it goes from touchdown spiking to the jiggle-wiggle. Or to cellphones or Sharpies. Or to pregnancy and deaths. It'll always be special, unless if it's the Randy Moss case. But whenever they do it....

They got some nice moves, bruh.

Richard Jefferson

Jefferson has barely anything to do in the NBA Trade Rumors because of his untradeable contract. Says Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo!:

League sources say the Spurs have raised (Richard Jefferson’s) name in trades talks but found out quickly there’s no market for him and his contract.

Boo hoo. Jefferson has been, shall I say, a disappointment with San Antonio lately. Hasn’t been doing much and the Spurs are in a hole. They just lost to the Lakers without Kobe and allowed Pau Gasol to look like a weirder-looking version with the talent of LeBron James! And they are 29-21 now, I believe.

Might as well have to at least try to ship him off. Tyrus Thomas and Amare Stoudemire have been in talks with the Spurs so far with the Richard Jefferson issue.

Brendan Haywood

With Joel Pyrzbilla and Greg Oden out for the season with the Blazers, they have been looking at Wizards’ center Brendan Haywood. But what would Portland offer for him? The Wizards suggest Rudy Fernandez and/or Nicolas Batum.

Other teams in the mix for Haywood have been the Rockets, Heat, Bobcats, and still a bit of the 76ers who may offer Andre Iguodala for him and Caron Butler.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks have been looking at a lot of guys lately. They have extremely strong interest in Caron Butler as of late. They have also gone into Kevin Martin of the Kings, in which they would give up Erick Dampier and Josh Howard. They would also give up those guys for Andre Iguodala. I expect the Mavs to get somebody by the trade deadline.

Amare Stoudemire

Here we go again. Amare Stoudemire has been getting all the interest he wants still. The Detroit Pistons are now in the mix. But here’s a crazier scenario with Stoudemire in the mix of a deal between the Sixers, Pistons, and Suns together! Writes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic:

Possibilities with Philadelphia could be stronger with two fronts, a deal between bringing in swingman Andre Iguodala for Stoudemire with perhaps young power forward Marreese Speights or a three-way deal involving Detroit with Pistons guard Ben Gordon winding up in Philadelphia and the Suns getting Iguodala and Detroit power forward Chris Wilcox.

Good deal. And like last time in the trade rumors, those same other teams have interest in Amare like the Nets, Bulls, Spurs, you know…

Marcus Camby

Marcus Camby is in the rumors, too! With the Clippers out of playoff contention, there’s been rumors off Camby being shipped off. Interests for Camby include the Knicks and his old team: the Nuggets.

Camby would most likely fall in New York. It has been said that Darko Milicic will be the suitor if the Clippers were to ship him off.

Tyrus Thomas

Tyrus Thomas has been in the rumors. The Nuggets have been looking for a big man lately, and Thomas seems their best option. Also, Thomas can fall with the Celtics or Lakers if the Kirk Hinrich rumors were to fall.

Along with that, the Spurs and Kings have been looking at Thomas. Spurs could offer Manu Ginobili’s expiring contract along with the Kings putting up Kevin Martin. There is also the Blazers, who are in very deep need of a big man. Rudy Fernandez or Nicolas Batum would be offered most likely.

Milwaukee Bucks

Luke Ridinour, Hakim Warrick, and Joe Alexander may all be on the move. Writes the Journal Times:

Some people in the know claim the Milwaukee Bucks are dangling veteran point guard Luke Ridnour, who is having a stellar season, along with veteran forward Hakim Warrick and young forward Joe Alexander, whom the Bucks chose with the eighth overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft but have since soured on.

A lot of trade rumors lately. I’d really like to see one of them actually happen!

Two Weeks Earlier

Brett Favre looking to go to the Super Bowl since over a twelve years now! In field goal range, Favre looks to bring the ball up more right for a game-winning field goal. Favre drops back, runs to right and throws…it’s picked off! PICKED OFF BY TRACY PORTER! He ends the hopes of a fourth-quarter win for Minnesota. Saints can win this……[Overtime] Garrett Hartley for a 40-yarder. And it’s in! The Saints are going to the Super Bowl! Bourbon Street is going crazy! Saints going to their first ever Super Bowl! They’re gonna face the Colts! Saints win, Saints win! WHO DAT!

Tracy Porter. One little-known IU Hoosier, gets drafted by the Saints in the second round. 2008 season? Wasn’t much. This season changed it all. If it weren’t for this guy, heck, New Orleans wouldn’t even be in the Super Bowl….

Porter began playing at Port Allen High in Port Allen, Lousiana. He was a playmaker, doing such positions as quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and cornerback. He played fantastic in his Senior Year, with 93 tackles and eleven interceptions. He went on to go to Indiana University, to play for the Hoosiers football team.

Porter didn’t disappoint there. He was the Hoosiers’ main guy at corner. His Senior year was the best, putting up 83 tackles and six interceptions, having the honors on the Big Ten Conference First-Team. Porter ended his career with IU with 211 tackles and 16 interceptions. The interceptions was placed second in team-history. Along in the Senior year, the Hoosiers went to the Insight Bowl, but losing in a heartbreaker to Oklahoma State.

After a good career at IU, Porter declared for the NFL Draft…

April 26, 2008

With the 40th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints select…Tracy Porter, cornerback, Indiana University….

Porter did well at the Combine to make it to the second round. Porter ran a 4.37 in the 40-yard-dash, which is impressive, being the tenth-fastest there. Porter looked to show off his skills on the field now. But, 2008 wasn’t the year. His rookie season was not much, having 25 tackles, one interception, and a sack.

2009 will be totally different.

The Saints went on to become 13-0, later going on a three-game losing-streak to end the season. At 13-3, nobody expected them to do much in the playoffs. Porter recorded 57 tackles, two forced fumbles, and four interceptions. Also, in the 46-34 victory over the Dolphins, Porter picked off a pass that would go for a 54-yard-touchdown. That  season really made up for the rookie year, in my opinion.

Entering the playoffs, the Saints captured victory over the Cardinals, 45-14. Porter wasn’t a big playmaker in that game, only recording five tackles—nothing else. Following the next game in the NFC Championship, Brett Favre was trying to lead the Vikings to victory with minutes to go in the game. Favre led them down to what would be a 50-yard field-goal. He had to get them closer to ensure a made kick. With a broken ankle, Favre was being chased and ran to the right. He threw a crazy pass which was intercepted by Porter. Porter returned it to where the Saints could end it. They didn’t. Overtime. But it was no problem. They marched down the field after winning the coin toss, letting Garrett Hartley win the game for them. This win was sweet on Bourbon Street. Porter had eight tackles in this game, along with that interception. If Porter didn’t make that pick, who knows what would’ve happened? The pass most probably would have been incomplete. What if that field goal was made? See?

In the Super Bowl, the Saints made a touchdown off a Jeremy Shockey catch. It was Manning time. Could Manning tie the game? They were marching down the field. They were now up at the 30-yard-line, 3rd and 5. Manning was hooking up nicely with Reggie Wayne. This play was costly for the Colts. Manning looked at Reggie the whole time and threw a quick pass to him. Wayne didn’t see it coming. Only Porter did, who returned it 74 yards for a touchdown. It was all over from there. 31-17, Saints. If Porter didn’t do that there, who knows? Colts may have easily tied the game, made a comeback, and win.

Saints fans need to be very fortunate for Porter. Nobody will probably ever know of Porter’s heroics. I did. Tracy Porter was a hero for the Saints. The true one. He let the Saints go the Super Bowl. He stopped Brett Favre, he stopped Peyton Manning.

For those of you who don’t know Tracy Porter.

It’s time to know him now….

The Saints were undervalued. With losing to teams like the Buccaneers with their starters, the Saints were not favorites entering the playoffs. They proved everyone wrong. And then, the heroics of Tracy Porter came in the NFC Championship game. After that pick, it was over. It happened last night in the Super Bowl, against a high-powered Colts’ team.

The first quarter started off hot for Indiana. 10-0. But in the second quarter, it all began to slip away. The Saints made mistakes, but they know. They know how to stop Peyton Manning and this Colts’ offense. Amazing job by Gregg Williams with the defense. As a Colts’ fan, I wasn’t all that bad about Indianapolis losing to be honest. 2006 was more memorable, more intense. This season was destined for New Orleans. They needed this.

Trade rumors have been coming up lately. It's time to discuss the latest I just found:

Tracy McGrady

Many teams have been eying Tracy McGrady throughout the year so far. The biggest interest is coming from the Washington Wizards, who have lost Gilbert Arenas for yet another year. It's been since 2006 they have been satisfied fully with him. It was reported that the Wizards would give up Brendan Haywood and Caron Butler for T-Mac. The Wizards have also been eying his teammate, Luis Scola.


Another team includes the 76ers, who would swap Andre Iguodala for Tracy McGrady to free up some cap space. The New York Knicks have been a contender for T-Mac all year so far as well. Chicago was also in contention, but now with them winning again, it looks highly unlikely.

“He is under the care of our athletic training staff,” Team Spokesman Craig Kelley said. “Nothing we have seen changes our diagnosis that he is questionable. He has a third-degree, low basketball sprain.”