The Dead Zone

As the NBA and NHL are in the midst of their ridiculously long playoffs and MLB has started to settle into another season of haves and have-nots, I feel the pending arrival of "The Dead Zone".

Of course, as a child it didn't matter. Who cared if SportsCenter was only a half hour long? It was all boring baseball highlights anyway--a sport we would much rather play than watch on TV. We were celebrating our freedom from homework and bedtime.

However, as the years have worn on and our energy level has wained, often in direct proportion to our waistlines expanding, the summer for many of us has become a time of forced withdrawal. We long for the sounds of pads popping, sneakers squeaking, and of nets flexing--all bringing the hope of our favorite team winning it all. For those of us who's teams are still alive in the playoffs, we have the luxury of delaying the inevitable withdrawal. For those that have to quit cold-turkey, the angst may already be setting in.

There is something a little embarrassing about being jazzed up for OTAs, summer leagues, and spring games. Many scour the internet for news on how the ESPN Top 100 are doing at summer camps and whether they have decided their futures yet, just so we can feel a hint of the intoxicant we so crave. We beg beat writers for any information they can gleam from mini-camps and "inside sources".

Our wives and significant others often enjoy "The Dead Zone" as they know this is the time for weekend projects and gatherings. A time when our honey-do lists can no longer be wriggled out of by an impassioned plea to see the game. It is now that we should be putting in the time and energy into building good will for future pleas. For as much as we dread it, "The Dead Zone" allows us to remind them why we're worth it when they become weekend widows.

So to all of my fellow junkies, as bad as it gets always remember that this time of withdrawal only makes the high that much sweeter.

NBA Playoffs, Bulls v. Celtics

After the thrilling comeback win by Boston tonight, I had to say, "This may be the greatest first-round playoff series of all time."

So far, 3 of the 5 games have gone to overtime. Ben Gordon and Rajon Rondo are having coming out parties. The defending champs have been slugging toe-to-toe with rising upstarts. Derek Rose has alternated brilliance and typical rookie jitters on a game-by-game basis. And, oh yeah, the reigning Finals MVP, Paul Pierce, has had moments that remind us why he is The Truth. Throw in some cold-blooded shot making from Ben Gordon and the "which-role-player-will-step-up-tonight" quality of this series and it has become must-see tv.

I can't believe this series isn't getting more coverage. Did anyone NOT expect the LeBrons to sweep the artists formerly known as the Pistons? Did anyone expect Utah to actually challenge the Lakers? Then why have those two storylines dominated the headlines?

This, I believe, is the fatal flaw of the NBA and, specifically, David Stern. He and the league became so enamored with the cult of personality surrounding Michael Jordan, they forgot that the NBA was brought back from the brink by the Celtics and Lakers, not just Bird and Magic. They forgot that in that game Jordan scored 63 in double-overtime on April 20, 1986, he lost. Yes, Larry Bird did refer to him as God disguised as Michael Jordan, but he still lost. The Celtics won.

Back to tonight's game and this season's series. Neither of these teams is the same as they were for most of this season. Chicago got substantially better after the big trade with Sacramento, and Boston lost perhaps the best defender in the league--certainly the best pick-and-roll defender--in Kevin Garnett. To make matters worse for the champs, they've also lost his backup, Leon Powe. These changes have made the teams so evenly matched, neither can impose their will on the other for more than a quarter or two.

I can't imagine Game 6 will be any different on Thursday. I, for one, can't wait to find out. Let me know if you feel another series is/was better and whether you're as enthralled as I am.

Full disclosure--I am a life long Celtics fan. So, of course I am rooting for the C's to win, but regardless of outcome this is truly Fan-tastic. Enjoy!