It’s a wrap!  The Boston Celtics are World Champions again.  Their 17th NBA Title came on June 17th, I guess some things are meant to be.  The Celtics, led by Finals MVP Paul Pierce were about as dominant in this game as any team could’ve ever want to be.  Regular season MVP Kobe Bryant came out with a flurry in the first quarter scoring 11 points in the first 7 minutes of the game.  9 of these points coming via the 3 pointer.  However, a stifiling Boston defense would deny kobe the rest of the way only allowing him 3 field goals the next 3 quarters.  The rest of the Lakers team did not do any better.  On a night where the Celtics couldn’t miss throwing the basketball into a swimming pool, this was one of the most dominant performances in an NBA Finals this era will ever see.  The Celtics won 131 - 92, capped off by Ray Allens finals record seven 3 pointers.  Only Michael Jordans Chicago Bulls have ever one bigger in a Finals game, with a 42 point victory over the Utah Jazz in 1998.  But never such a lop sided affair in a Finals clincher.  You could’ve put together an All-Star team full of Kobe Bryants in this game, the Celtics were just poised to win the first championship in 21 years.  The Celtics defense was one of the best I’ve ever seen, maybe the best ever in the history of the NBA.  Give it up to Doc Rivers, he did one hell of a job preparing his team.  Speaking of Michael Jordan, I would have loved to seen his 1990’s team face this Boston squad.  Hypotheticaly it could of been the best seven game series in NBA Finals history.  But that’s just dreaming, and I guess we’ll never know.  I think if you asked Jordan himself though, he would tell you that this Boston Defense was one even he would have had a problem with.  This NBA Post-Season was fun, and brought back good memories of when I was a kid watching the NBA.  The past 20 years or so the NBA has kind of turned into a bunch of over paid Superstars just standing around.  Except for the Jordan era, which was phenomenal.  The 2008 Boston Celtics defined what team basketball is all about, and what a good bench and a few role players mean to winning a title.  The Lakers were the favorite to win this series, and most analysts agreed.  But when it came down to brass tacks, the Celtics were the better team offensively, defensively, and their bench completely dominated Los Angeles.  LA is being criticized for it’s Euro like style, which is kind of unfair considering this team is young and probably learned the most valuable lesson of all this series.  You can’t just sit back and be handed the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.  Phil Jackson, head coach of the Lakers said it best, getting to the Finals doesn’t mean you don’t have to play hard to win it.  The Lakers and Kobe Bryant will be back next year and with Andrew Bynum and a few key pick ups could be in contention again.  The Celtics with Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce returning will probably be the favorites again next year.  With a few key off-season signings, keeping some of those role players around for another year or two, and barring any major injuries, could become a full fledge dynasty again!  Things are good in Boston, the sports teams are flourishing.  I mean come on now, how could it get any better for Boston Fans.  Sox win the World Series and are probably a favorite to win it this year.  The Patriots will be pre-season favorites again and went 18-0 before losing the Super Bowl to the NY Giants.  And the Celtics are now World Champions of the NBA.  It’s been a long time coming to New England, and they can finally sit back with there feet up and brag a little.  Congratulations to the Boston Celtics on a stellar season.  And for those tool-sheds out there that are crying about their Lakers and making up excuses.  Be a man for once and admit they were just beat by a better all around team.  I know a lot of Laker fans, and 99% of the ones who know sports, can admit just that!

Signing off,

PogMan-

Liza and I went to see “The Happening” this afternoon.  Pretty Good, not as good as “The Sixth Sense” and “Signs”, but very M Night.  This movie is directed, written, and produced by  M. Night Shyamalan.  Those of you who have seen his other movies know he is “Twisted” and “Sick” in the head to say the least!  The Happening is no different.  I am not here to give away any of the movie’s secrets but I think most who have seen the Trailer for this film can just tell it is totally M Night-esque.  The main charachter is Mark Wahlberg supported by Zooey Deschanel.  Again, not to give away the movie, Mark plays Elliot Moore a school teacher who follows and preaches science religiously.  Zooey plays his wife, and John Leguizamo plays Elliot’s best friend Julian.  The cast is good, but not great.  I would’ve liked to seen a little bit more content in this movie.  It was only 90 minutes in length and I think if they added just another 20-30 minutes of content to get into things a little bit more it could’ve been an Excellent flick.  I’ll let the critics tell you whether to see this movie or not, but if I was asked if it was absolutely necessary to see this film in the theatre, I would say catch in on DVD.  Unless you are a crazed M Night fan, you aren’t going to be dissapointed paying matinee prices.  Liza said the movie was very “I am Legend” like and I think I have to agree with her.  Again, “I am Legend” was a very short film and they could’ve made the film better adding another 20-30 minutes of movie film.  Overall, I would give this movie a 2 1/2 out of 5 Stars calling it an everage film.  Maybe the DVD release will add some more film to this movie to make it a bit better.  But I can’t justify to myself saying that I would go see this movie again or tell a friend that you have to see this in the theatre.  Maybe I am right, maybe I am wrong…but it’s just my opinion really, which doesn’t matter to anyone but me.  Feel free to discuss this movies below and tell me how you felt about “The Happening”.

Signing off,

PogMan-

To all you Laker fans out there, pack your bags, and clean out your lockers!  Put the Kobe Jersey away until November, because this series is officially over!  Last night the Lakers had an unbelievable chance to get back into this series and maybe even win this thing if a little luck went their way over the next few games.  But not now, oh no…it’s over!  I said before the series started that the Lakers were still a bit too young to beat a veteran team like Boston, and it is coming to fruition.  The Lakers finally came out with the kind of intensity and drive I expected from them the first three games of the series.  But a messy third quarter from the Lake Show and a stifling defense from a “True” Championship caliber team, squashed that in about 13 or so minutes.  I’m going to go off on a limb here, but this Celtics team we are watching might be one of the best, if not “The Best” defensive team we have seen in a very, very long time.  If not Ever!  I would venture to guess that not even Michael Jordan and his crew back in the 1990’s would have a chance against this Celtic Squad!  They are good, damn good!  I text a buddy of mine last night and told him I had the “Lock” of the decade as far as betting goes and to put his “House” on the Celtics.  I didn’t even know the line on the game, but assumed the Celtics were a small underdog.  Well I was eating crow for about 35 minutes or so and then was finally able to relax with about 15 seconds left in the game.  Huge effort from my Home Town boy Ray Allen who sealed the deal with about 18 seconds left when he made the entire Laker team look awful by dribbling around 3 defenders and laying in what was the nail in the coffin.  Also huge props to Posey for hitting some huge Threes down the stretch!!!  But to me the player of the game is still “The Truth” Paul Pierce!  Talk about your gutsy performance.  It wasn’t the 20 he dropped on the Lakers, but the defense he put on Kobe.  I mean talk about locking down the best player in the league for a half.  WOW!  Nuff Said!  And to think he actually stepped up to Doc at half time and asked to guard the MVP.  Paul will be getting a ring soon, along with K.G., and my Home Town Connecticut boy Ray Allen.  All three of these guys have paid their dues and deserve this Championship!  The were the best team all year, are the best team now, and if they can avoid some salary issues and keep some key role players around, will be the best team for a few years to come!  Congratulations Boston, not only for last nights come back of 24 points.  18 point deficit at half-time.  Largest in NBA Finals history.  But for also making me able to sleep this off-season, as I hate the friggin Lakers!  This is my blog, so I can say it!  One other thing:  I am going on the record with my AM Radio pal Cowlin Cowherd to say that if the Lakers come back in this series I will officially change my middle name to “Kobe”.  You read it here first, and I will live up to this if it happens.  But I’m not worried, because no team in the history of the NBA Finals has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit!  By the way, this goes out to my little bro Mikey…Sorry Buddy, I know it hurts to be a Laker fan right now, but HA HA HA!!!  Love ya kid, Go Boston!!!

Signing off,

PogMan-

PogMan.com has a new theme.  I wanted to give a special “Thank You” to Bryan Hauer and his crew over at OmniThemes for offering a brilliant theme at an excellent and affordable price.  These days it is so much easier to publish a website and get it up and running for minimal costs thanks to people like Bryan and non-profit organizations like WordPress.  This site is still far from having all the content that I want on it but now that I have found a theme, a hosting company, and WordPress, I am well on my way.  Please keep checking back as I am updating content and stuff on a daily basis.  I would also like to give a special “Thanks” to Mike at OmniThemes for his technical support and for working on my Logo for PogMan.com.  He is working on it as I type this message and hopefully we have the Logo up and running on the site this evening.  Later all-

Site Admin,

PogMan-