Bay Area Sports Blogging

They did it!  Team USA men's basketball team has brought back Olympic Gold.  After being disappointed time after time, this year's team, nicknamed "The Redeem Team," has redeemed the country's dominance over basketball.

The Gold medal game between Team USA and Spain was a nail biter.  Spain was neck and neck with Team USA up until the last few minutes.  It took incredible play by the NBA's finest to squeeze out a victory.  This game felt like it could have gone either way.

The Summer Olympics 2008 began grandly with an impressive opening ceremony choreographed by Zhang Yimou, a movie director.  The ceremony was topped off by Yao Ming carrying the Chinese flag along with a small survivor of the devastating earthquake that rocked the country a few weeks prior.

The lighting of the Olympic torch was a signal to the world to cease violence for just this moment.  What should have been a celebration of competition and sportsmanship turned ugly in what seemed like 24 hours.

Over the weekend, an American Todd Bachman was fatally stabbed by a Chinese man.  His wife, Barbara Bachman, was seriously wounded as well.  The couple were the parent-in-laws of the US Men's Volleyball coach, Hugh McCutcheon.

The Olympics are set to begin in Beijing, China later this week.  In the past, I have not cared too much about the Olympic games, neither summer games nor winter games.  But something about this year's games has piqued my interest.  It probably has something to do with the Olympics being held in China, and the expansive high definition coverage of the event.

Marco Belinelli is officially a bust.

I had been a big fan of his when he was drafted and lit up the Summer League a year ago.  He seemed like a dead-eye shooter.  Instead, he turns out to be a streaky shooter with an unorthodox shooting form with no defense whatsoever.

Rather than working to improve himself in the Developmental League during the season, Belinelli sat himself on the bench and played less than inspired ball in the few minutes he was given to showcase himself.

I remember watching the commercials for the Fathead wall stick-em posters when they came out about two years ago.  Back then, I thought they were a great idea.  Giant, life-sized reusable wall posters of athletes in action poses!  My walls were a bit empty, and I was looking for something to fill up space.  I should get a Fathead!  Then I saw their price.  Friggin $150.  One hundred and fifty dollars.

A couple of days ago, I saw a forum posting saying that some Fatheads are $19.95.  $150 for a wall poster? No way.  But $20? That sounds reasonable.  I go check out the website and see that they are clearing out older versions for $20.  If you want a Shaquille O'Neal / Miami Heat Fathead or a Ray Allen / Seattle SuperSonics Fathead, here's your chance.  The regular price of the Fathead has dropped to around $100.  Much better than $150, but still way above what I'm willing to spend.

The official start of NBA free agency started today, and there has been several major announcements already.  The biggest move so far has to be Elton Brand signing with the Philadelphia 76ers for 5 years worth an estimated $82 million.  There has been some talk about how Brand and the Clippers had a predetermined deal in place for Brand to resign with the Clips, but that Brand and his agent, David Falk, turned their backs on the deal.  I doubt we will ever know the truth, but it does make for good drama.

The second biggest move is the Baron Davis move, which directly relates to the Elton Brand move.  Davis agreed to a long term deal with the Clippers days after Elton Brand opted out of his contract with the Clippers.  Some were reporting that there had been shady dealings under the table between the Clippers, Elton Brand, and Baron Davis.  Whatever agreements took place seems to have vanished as Brand bolted for Philly.  Also interesting is that there has not been an official report of Baron Davis actually signing a deal with the Clips.

Baron Davis, the face of the Warriors' resurgence, opted out of his contract yesterday night.  The choice was a bold move on his part as he leaves $17.2 million behind.

Rumors have Davis going to the Los Angeles Clippers were he will play in front of his hometown fans.  Elton Brand, who also opted out of his contract, is expected to resign with the Clippers at a lower rate thus giving them their own version of the Big-3 in Davis, Brand, and Kaman.

There have also been rumors with Davis heading to the New York Knicks to play under D'Antoni's wide-open offense.  Although Davis is a West-coast guy, there would be no complaints if the Knicks offer a max contract.

That familiar sizzle of meat hitting a smoking hot grill.  The weather starting to warm up.  A bunch of damn kids running around the streets.  That means summer time!  And what is summer time without the annual Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest at Coney Island in New York.

This will be the 93rd Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest.  Joey Chestnut will be there defending his mustard belt while former six time winner Takeru Kobayashi will be gunning for the championship.  Also competing at the event is Pat Bertoletti and Sonya Thomas.