NBA History is Made in Blue and White.

Round One of the NBA Draft was tonight, and an epic domination occurred. Let me paint the picture for you: The Washington Wizards choose John Wall as the first pick (like there was any doubt, he's the best player in the nation). Skip to the fifth pick, where DeMarcus Cousins is chosen for the Sacramento Kings-the first big man to be picked in the draft. Now to the 14th pick, Patrick Patterson is going to the Houston Rockets, where former UK player Chuck Hayes also is on the team. The 18th pick of the OKC Thunder goes to Eric Bledsoe, who is then promptly traded to the Clippers. Finally, jump to the 29th pick from the Orlando Magic...and they chose Daniel Orton! There you have it folks, a record FIVE players from the University of Kentucky were picked in the first round. That is now the record for the most players picked in the first round from one university. Complete Wildcat domination. Sorry for the short post, but there's really nothing left to say, this night speaks volumes for itself. Go Cats!

With Time to Spare

What a thriller!!! I am not a huge soccer fan by any means, but I always enjoy watching the high stakes World Cup. This year I'm rooting for two teams for my two homes: USA and Argentina. Argentina has been manhandling everyone with their star player, Messi, and it's been great to watch the amazing team and the outbursts of hot head Maradona on the sideline. The U.S., on the other hand, has fallen into the routine of coming from behind after allowing early goals.

This morning was a crucial match for the USA against Algeria. If they didn't win, England and Slovenia would advance, and resulting in an early exit for Donovan & Co. From the start, the game was intense and exciting. So many attempts at goals that were so close! The most frustrating part is that the terrible reffing for the U.S. continued as a goal was waved off for offsides-the stupidest rule ever in the history of sports. It was a horrible call because the player was onside! Seriously, how many more goals are going to be taken away from us?? At the 85 minute mark my hope was dropping exponentially. There just wasn't enough time. But then there are four minutes of added time, which leads to one last sliver of hope to score. And in the 91st minute, we did indeed score! It was incredible, and just a huge sigh of relief. We won our group!!!!! Take that England!!! I'm so excited for the next round, penalty kicks are into the picture, and the pressure is increased. Let's go USA and Vamos Argentina!!!

The Real Breakdown of the Lakers Roster

PAU GASOL-looks like a camel and is the whiniest player in the NBA.

KOBE BRYANT-a rapist and a thug with those half-lidded lazy eyes that make you want to punch him.

RON ARTEST-another thug who no one likes. He isn't real loving towards fans. Consequently, he was cut out of the NBA's commercial to the fans in which the words "fans we love you, thanks for a great season" appeared.

ANDREW BYNUM-with all this draining of the knee, he is being contacted by the makers of Drano, the pipe unclogger, to appear in advertisements.

SHANNON BROWN-looks oddly similar to the musical artist Chris Brown, you know, the one who beat up his girlfriend. His doppleganger is more like a dopple-I'm gonna smash your head-er.

JORDAN FARMAR-looks like a leprechaun with those ears that stick out so much, he could probably go sailing because of all the wind they could pick up.

LAMAR ODOM-the third thug, and as ugly as the rest of the team.

DEREK FISCHER-"helped" his daughter, and her eye, by not re-signing with the Jazz (where the best place in the country to get treatment for that is located) and then signing with L.A. to be "closer" to his daughter (who's at a hospital in New York). I guess he'll just see her sometime, though she might not be able to see him back.

SASHA VUJACIC-first of all his name is Sasha. Second, he's just a mini Gasol: whiny, annoying, and ugly.

ADAM MORRISON-does he even dress out? Not to mention, he's that Gonzaga player who led to the nation's halt in rooting for Gonzaga.

LUKE WALTON-makin' daddy proud by giving quality minutes riding the pine

DIDIER ILUNGA-MBENGA and JOSH POWELL-Wtf? Who are these guys? Have they always been there?

R.I.P. Big 12

So as you've probably all heard...the Big 12 conference is being taken apart team by team, and will inevitably meet the same fate as the SWC (Southwest Conference). I thought the Big 12 was doing reasonably well, as well as any conference can do in the midst of the juggernaut of the SEC. Now teams are jumping off of the Big 12 ship faster than the passengers of the Titanic! Oklahoma State and Colorado to the Pac-10 (Texas and Oklahoma to follow?), Nebraska to the Big Ten, Texas A&M may move to the SEC, and who knows what's left in store-besides some much needed reevaluation of conference names, i.e. Pac/Misc-15.

I suppose in the end every sport at every level all boils down to money. Unfortunately, this fact is greatly illuminated by this recent chess match. Even the Mountain West is adding a team (Boise St.), but let's be serious, who cares about that. The question is, how much more shifting is going to take place? Will there eventually be only five conferences left?

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about these changes. I love everything about college football, even the BCS (it's not perfect, but it's the best we can think of), so I am a little of leery of all this. However, the facts remain that the programs will still be good, and the SEC will continue to be the most dominant conference. I guess we'll just have to wait until the end of August to see how it all pans out!

The Rivalry Resumes

Anyone who has a pulse should be aware that the biggest rivalry in the NBA is about to be rekindled (since 2008) tomorrow at 9ET. That's right-another NBA finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. They hold thirty-two championships, Boston with seventeen and L.A. with fifteen.

I was listening to Mike and Mike in the morning on ESPN radio, and they brought up an interesting point on the subject of rivalries. The question to debate is: how much of a rivalry is based on the past and how much depends on the present? Are these players playing for the sake of their reputations, or to maintain the legacies of the former greats that graced the wood floor before they did. In my opinion, it's most likely 50-50. Half of the tension and rivalry that will take place during the finals stems from the past. The other half is due to their current desires to win the trophy and shift the victorious tide to their side.

It is sometimes difficult to create lasting rivalries nowadays because every player seems to be in transit. They're enemies, now they're teammates, now they're enemies again. It's a constant game of swingers. Though, I think it's easier for the Celtics-and the rest of the nation-to hate the Lakers. Because how is it even possible to like a team that consists of a belligerent thug, a rapist, an ugly, gangly guy that looks like a camel, and a bunch of other whiners? The Celtics are stacked with many more likable players (exception: Sheldon Williams), such as Rajon Rondo with his cute little boy face and kiss-off-the-glass lay-ins, and Ray Allen, who is the coolest guy on the court.

So to gear up for the finals, I'll include a couple of Onion articles that provide entertaining commentary for the storied rivalry of the Lakers and Celtics.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/pau-gasol-googles-lakers-celtics-rivalry,2468/

http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-celtics-lakers-finals-to-allow-sportscaster,17518/