Castles Made of Sand...

Three years ago I remember sitting in front of my television, shaking my head in disbelief at the discussion going on between NBA draft prognosticators.  "Greg Oden is the real deal!  This guy is a franchise cornerstone!  The Blazers would have to be out of their minds to take Kevin Durant over this guy!"  Oops.

I don't get to say this very often - especially about basketball - but, I told you so.  Well, not you, but my television and my dogs at least.  I couldn't understand why people thought a 275-pound dude with a 50-year-old face and tooth-picks for legs was the heir-apparent to Shaquille O'Neal.  Three years, 82 games (of a possible 248) and about $12 million later, Portland announced this morning that Oden will have his third micro-fracture surgery in three years, and miss the rest of the season.  Again.  It's like Grant Hill all over again.

The NHL is changing the way it selects the all-star teams.  The pool of players will still be chosen in the usual manner.  But then two captains will be chosen from the pool, and those players will be responsible for picking their teammates.  Like street hockey.  (Or pond hockey, if you're from Manitoba, like me.)  On a professional level.  I love this idea.  At first I thought well, the obvious choices for captain are Crosby and Ovechkin.  Then I read some thing that changed my mind.  One sports writer suggested only one of them be chosen captain.  Then we'd get to see if one would actually pick the other.  What if Ryan Miller is a captain?  Does he pick Crosby?  Would Crosby pick his own goaltender, or a good one?  Is it physically possible for Daniel Sedin and Hendrik Sedin to play on different teams?  Seriously, everybody should do this.  The NBA for example.  Kobe and D-Wade for captains.  Does Kobe pick LeBron?  Who's mister irrelevant?  Shaq?  Does Kobe pick him, then sit him on the bench?  You want drama?  I give you drama.

Oh, and a note to Todd Haley.  You coach professional football.  These aren't kids anymore, they're grown-ass men.  If you don't like the other guy running up the score, stop him from scoring.  Period.