The last leg of this race to an NBA championship is about to be a collision like one we haven’t seen in awhile. Imagine a big Diesel-powered truck matched up against a quick German sports car. There are two scenarios that could happen here: the BMW takes off and just blows the truck away, because it can’t keep up OR the truck simply runs over that poor little sports car and eliminates it from contention. So the big question of the finals is: what happens with SHAQ?????

It can be said, that the team that executes its game plan the best will win—well this year we aren’t just talking about offensive and defensive philosophies, but more importantly the tempo of the game. Both teams are confident, both teams are hungry, both teams believe that if they control the game to their style of play, they will win.

The beautiful thing about this NBA Finals, is that anything can happen. If you criticized the last few championships, because you didn’t like equally matched teams, battling it out with similar offensive and defensive philosophies—you are going to love this series!! Dwayne Wade and Dirk Nowitzki have proven they can do almost anything on the court. Shaq, well he is Shaq, not only the most dominating force in the game, but his entertaining personality gives the fans something that no other player can provide.

Championship games are always a battle of will. Two teams with different styles of play, who is going to inflict their will on the other? Pat Riley definitely has the edge when it comes to winning championships, what old tricks does he have up his sleeve? He’s been there as a player, does Avery Johnson have what it takes right now to get there as a coach? Who is going to be the unexpected hero? Who is going to make the play that turns the game/series? With so many questions looming—let the games begin. As you watch the NBA finals: anticipate the unpredictable and expect the unbelievable!!!

This is definitely my favorite time of year in sports. There truly is nothing like March Madness!! The beauty of sports is reveled in this 64 team, winner-takes-all tournament. It doesn’t matter what school is on the front of your jersey or what your record was before you got there, everyone has the same chance to win.

What makes it so special?

-amateurism- these kids don’t get paid, there are no bonuses for making the tournament, the simplistic beauty of competition is demonstrated by the unity and passion that they play with.

-equality- once you make the tournament, every team has the same dream—to win. . . and every team has a shot at that dream.

-story lines – Each team has a story of what got them there, and every story is uniquely scripted by the different characters (players/coaches). We love the tales of players overcoming insurmountable obstacles to achieve greatness—because these stories give us hope in our own lives.

-involvement- the NCAA tournament is a time in sports where fans feel like they are truly involved in the action. Part of it is because they get to fill out brackets with their favorite teams and follow the action with the friends. Everyone has their favorite team and the team or teams that they love to hate!! So when filling out your bracket, do you put that team that you absolutely despise in the winner’s bracket, knowing you have a better shot at getting the pick right, or do you credit that unheard of 13 seed team with the upset—just so you can cheer even harder against your arch rival?

Whether you are a die hard fan or simply looking for a dramatic tale to unfold, I hope you enjoy this year’s tournament as much as I do!!

This is the only weekend that I can walk through the hotel lobby (in heels) and be considered short!! It is also the only time that I don’t have to answer the question, “do you play basketball?” I thought Houston did a great job with the all-star game this year. Although my schedule was a little on the busy side, I really enjoyed myself.

From hospital visits, to running a clinic for special Olympic athletes, I love the fact that this weekend is more than just basketball—that I have the opportunity to make a difference in these kid’s lives!! Every year the NBA host city opens a reading and learning center, which is exciting to be a part of—knowing not only that your simple interaction with these kids means a lot, but also that you are leaving something behind to make their lives better!!

Moving on to the events:

-on the way to the celebrity game Nelly tired to recruit me for his team, stating that they needed some height. Although I did not participate, I did have the opportunity to cheer for two my teammates: Becky Hammon (nwbl) and Swin Cash (wnba). At one point I felt like I was watching a bad game of noon-ball (when the old-timers get together and play pick-up at lunch). When you get to the point in the game where you are 0-everything, that’s when it’s time to get the ball to the shooter. In case you didn’t know, SHE is the teammate standing next to you that actually plays the sport for a living!!

-skills challenge was a great time, but the highlight was definitely the dunk contest. Creativity matched with ridiculous athletic ability left the crowd stunned and amazed! Props to both of the finalists—your originality definitely made this one of the best dunk contests in a long, long time.

-goooooooooooooo east!! O.k. I had to give a little shout out to my boys in the east, especially the four pistons who competed in the game. As always, the game starts a little loose, with guys show-boating their skills. Then there comes a point when the competitive side kicks in, and the game starts to heat up a little bit. Bragin’ rights for the next year are on the line—and just like you would expect when the best of the NBA competes—it came down to the wire!!

Athletes love other sports. I must first point out that there is a mutual respect among professional athletes. If I am flipping through the stations and see Andy Roddick in a match–I can appreciate the fact that he is one of the best at what he does. The same goes for Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor with beach volleyball, or any other athlete who is dominant in their respective sport. The irony comes in when professional athletes think that they can compete with athletes in their other respective sports.

My favorite example is when a football player comes up to me and says, “Oh, I could post you up.” O.K. granted most athletes played other sports in high school (come on that was high school) and yes, they must have a decent amount of athleticism in order to be playing on the highest level. Boys seriously, you are going to beat me or my teammates one-on-one?

The first thing you notice when you try to crossover sports, is that your body has been trained specifically for a different sport. For example, when I play against football players, their stamina is built for quick sprints and then they rest. I’ve never had so many “20 second timeouts” in a one-on-one game!!

Then the skill comes into play. Most athletes embrace the challenge of playing professional sports–therefore, they are intrigued and motivated to learn a new sport. Because they are so dominant in their respective sports, and challenge themselves on the highest level, they think the crossover is going to be very simple. Not so fast–but I will admit it is quite entertaining.

Don’t get me wrong. There are definitely multi-sport athletes and I am NOT referring to them. I am simply talking about the average baller who is constantly talking trash about his game and steps on the court and before he knows it he just lost to a girl. Oops, better luck next time, but keep talking . . because it is amusing to listen to.

With the NBA Finals once again close to home in Detroit, I had the opportunity to watch my favorite player in person. If you ask a little kid to pick any player in the NBA they wanted to be, odds are Tim Duncan isn’t going to be the first name on their list. They love the charisma of players like Wade, Iverson, and Nash. High-flying dunks and ankle-breaking crossovers are what keep their attention. You would be pressed to find a gym where kids are practicing a reverse pivot off-the-glass jumper, or a baby hook shot going either direction. Although, Duncan isn’t going to blow by his defender or finish a play with a windmill slam, what he is going to do is give you the consistency the wins games and eventually championships.

As a post player, I might be paying a little more attention to Mr. Dependable’s performance than the average fan. Here’s why I am so impressed with Duncan as a player. His career double-double average of 22 points and 12 rebounds is not only a great feat in itself, but it also demands attention from the opponent’s defense. The inevitable double team does not faze him, as he is deft at scoring over or passing out of multiple defenders. His consistency is not isolated to the offensive end, as his shot-blocking and rebounding provide a solid defensive foundation. Granted he is a bit “stoical” in appearance, his contribution to the game is quite “dynamic”.

In the quest to win a championship, I will take “consistency” over “flashy” any day. As we saw, titles are won through defense and execution. Both the Pistons and the Spurs are similar teams when it comes to these areas, which is to be expected as their coaches have comparable philosophies on this subject. Don’t get me wrong, I was definitely cheering for the Pistons to win: but as a fan of the game, I respect the skills that Duncan brings to the floor. So in the light of sportsmanship, I want to congratulate the Spurs on a hard-fought championship, and commend Duncan on a MVP that is in some cases less-appreciated, but definitely well-deserved.