The Sun Rises Again in Phoenix?

When the words came out of Shaq’s mouth at the press conference in Phoenix, I knew that he was ready to work. The Big Daddy is a player who needs to be motivated to play his best. First there was playing in Orlando towards getting the big contract. Then there was playing for the Lakers to win a championship. Then there was playing for the Heat to prove he could win another championship without Kobe.

Along the way, the media doubted him. First, Shaq couldn’t do anything but dunk. (so he developed a jump hook). Then, the media said that Shaq couldn’t shoot free throws and asked teams to employ Hack-a-Shaq at the end of games (Shaq, like he always says, made his free throws when he needed to). Then, Shaq couldn’t win a championship (so he sought out Coach/Guru Phil Jackson and he promptly won 3 of them.

Agreed, Shaq is no longer the player he was back then. He will not score 30 points per night or shatter backboards with reckless abandon like in his heyday. But the man can still play a significant role. When the Heat acquired Shaq, it was a big risk. They had made the playoffs the year before and had a nice nucleus with Caron Butler, Eddie Jones, and Lamar Odom. So naturally, the Heat trade away all those players and acquire Jason Williams, Gary Payton, Antoine Walker, and Alonzo Morning. In addition, the Heat had a talented young player named Dwyane Wade. But what happened in the playoffs? Wade took over games and Shaq played his role as a double-double defensive presence. Wade was humble, unlike Kobe, and Shaq knew that this was his golden ticket.

Well, Willy Wonka has again arrived in Phoenix. Shawn Marion was a great player, but only when playing with Steve Nash. Nash can and will turn Atlanta Hawks reject Boris Diaw into a suitable substitute. But now what have they added? They now have a frontcourt of Shaq and Amare Stoudemire…Pretty scary!! The last time we saw a front court like this was when David Robinson and a young Tim Duncan rode off to the championship. Shaq will guard the big men in the west while Amare (whom Shaq has known since he was 13—no Kobe issues here) will be freed up to be an offensive beast. Then add MVP Steve Nash and you have a scary lineup.

Shaq was the player who liked to coast into the playoffs as the 6th seed and win the championship. He can be lovable with the media and great in icy/hot commercials. Just don’t doubt him. Not yet.

Rudy Roots for the Red Sox??

From: The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Yankee fans won't like it, Red Sox fans won't like it and Rudy Giuliani certainly won't like it.

When Topps baseball cards hit the stores this week, about one in every 70 packs will include a picture of Giuliani, fist raised in victory, celebrating with the Sox on the field after their World Series win.

Giuliani wasn't really there, of course. For years, the former New York City mayor has been known as a die-hard Yankee fan. But he did alienate some Yankee fans by declaring in October that he was rooting for the Sox in the Series — "I'm an American league fan," he said — and Topps ran with the idea.

"We took that and thought it would make for a funny card, since the Red Sox won," said Clay Luraschi, baseball brand manager for The Topps Co. "We thought, let's put him in the championship dog pile."

Rudy Giuliani is front and center with the rest of the Red Sox. He said Giuliani's withdrawal from the presidential race didn't dampen his enthusiasm for the card. Giuliani — who also appeared, by himself, on a 2004 Topps card — was not consulted about the new card, Luraschi said. Messages left Tuesday at Giuliani's campaign and work numbers were not immediately returned.

Topps did something similar a year ago, inserting George Bush into the stands and Mickey Mantle into the dugout in the background of Derek Jeter's card.