The NBA Champion was crowned last night. Unfortunately I did not have a chance to write about it today. Where there’s a will, there isn’t always a way nowadays. Anyways, as anyone who reads my blog knows, I picked Dallas to win. I was wrong. I admit it. But what have we learned here. Numero uno: Pat Riley is a great coach. Now I knew he was a very good coach, but he did most of his damage with the showtime Lakers of the 80’s. I was still a twinkle in my father’s eye back then. He had some good years with the Knicks and in his first stint as the Heat coach, but he didn’t win anything. When you don’t win, it tends not to matter how good you really are. Today, Dwayne Wade is everyone’s vote getter for best player in the league. A month ago he was just very good.

Number two: The Mavericks lost because they lack a formidable inside presence. Dirk may have developed more of an inside game this year, but it was not adequate enough versus a team of "gangsters", as Mark Aguire described many of the Heat players on Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith. If Dirk will not make his presence felt in the low post, then Mark Cuban needs to open up his seemingly bottomless pocketbook and find someone that will. However it won’t happen. He has some ridiculous amount of money invested in Erick Dampier. We’re talking in the realm of 50-60 Mil. News flash. He ain’t that good. When the game is close during crunch time, you need a higher percentage shot than a wild off balance jumper from Dirk or Jason Terry. Dirk did knock one down at the end of Game 5, but that leads me to my next point.

Number tois: Dwayne Wade may be the best player at doing what he does best on the offensive end. In a "true" centerless age of the NBA, oversaturated with 6’10� guys who are strictly jump shooters and 6’10� who think they’re jump shooters, D-Wade does what he does. Although he did show that he has 3 point range during the playoffs, he only averaged one three point attempt a game during the regular season. Granted, he only shot 17% from long range. The point is, he did not force it. I know 90% of the NBA is practicing very hard on shooting the three this off season. A good make percentage from deep is 40%, which not that many players can claim. Wade, while playing “his� game shot 50% from the field, including his putrid three point shooting percentage. Wade is a 6’4� shooting guard. Extremely impressive. Only people like Shaq and those who score most of their points on lay ups and from close range, shoot in the 50th percentile.

Another reason for writing this blog now is so I could talk about soccer. Since the game will kick off 7am Pacific, I can’t really write about it tomorrow. Here’s my two cents. As if I know that much about soccer. Bruce Arena needs to sit Brian McBride and start Eddie Johnson or go to a two forward formation and sit someone else. Actually I would still say sit him and put Landon Donovan at the other attack position. I know McBride is a warrior for the U.S., but he just needs to realize himself that he is not what is better for the team. I do think that he should start DeMarcus Beasley, but DeMarcus needs to step his game up. If he is not offensively involved or can’t make anything happen offensively, it seems to affect all other aspects of the game. Tomorrow is not the time for that. I am really into this. I have been anticipating this game for a few days now, and I expect to go in to work late tomorrow. If Italy wins we advance. We need them to show that they're good for something other than Chicken Parmasean. Relax Italians. I know that probably isn't authentic Italian food.

Since it’s tomorrow in the East, I will give you the tommorow’s picks early. You know I wouldn’t leave you without free picks. That’s what I started writing this blog for. Here’s the deal:

WORLD CUP:
italy over czech republic
brazil over japan
croatia tie austrailia

MLB:
BRAVES over b jays
D RAYS over d backs
RANGERS over fathers
ROYALS over pirates
twins over ASTROS-rocket crashes in first start
marlins over ORIOLES
WHITE SOX over cards
marines over DODGERS

HOME TEAMS IN CAPS
happy betting!!