Bawlin' Cawlin' 01-28-09

4-6 in their last 10 games, I'm not feeling overly confident about the Hawks walking into the Garden tonight. But, if you were to tell me that 44 games into the season Atlanta would be a few games ahead of Detroit for the #4 seed in the playoffs, I think I'd be marginally satisfied and perhaps even a bit impressed. A little like when the timid, not-overly-hot girl turns out to be the most ferocious tiger in bed. Rowwwl!

The real question at this point: does Atlanta stand a good chance of beating Deeeeetriot baaaaasketball in a 7-game series. If Miami somehow sneaks into the 5 spot, I'm almost positive Atlanta would beat the Heat, but I have to like my chances that the Hawks could beat Detroit regardless. In other words, provided the current momentum (last 10 games notwithstanding) continues, Sue's is making the bold prediction that we'll see the Hawks in the second round this year.

From good news to the UGH department, we have the most recent news on the squabbling Hawks ownership. This is ridiculous. I mean, the Hawks ownership is more dysfunctional than the Brady Bunch family. Only instead of the Brady's the family is comprised of fucking crackheads. The gist:

"The [Hawks and Thrashers] and the arena lost $48.9 million in the 2002-03 season; $37.3 million in 2003-04; $12.5 million in 2004-05; $24.8 million in 2005-06; $27.2 million in 2006-07; and $23.1 million in 2007-08."

Wonderful. Look, if the 8 of you can't pull your collective money-grubbing shit together, I'm going to nominate and openly campaign for new ownership of the hopefully-soon-to-be-formerly-named-Spirit Group's primary holdings, the Hawks and Thrashers. Actually, I don't really care about the Thrashers. You can run them into the ground for all I care. But the Hawks have potential, dammit! Stop squandering an excellent opportunity to make the Hawks one of the most popular franchises in the league. We have rappers, for Christ's sake!

My leading candidate for new ownership. Knows how to turn a flippin' profit, ya'll.

You'd have to search pretty meticulously to find my explanation for liking so many various professional teams. Hell I tried and I couldn't even link you to it. But suffice to say that I used to live in Houston and I like to see them do well. Which is why this makes me a little sad. An All-Star in 'o2, '03 and '04? Waived by the Grizzles after not even playing a single second? Francis is only 31...I can't believe he fell of so fast. He may not even play in another NBA game again. Poor Stevie Franchise. With such a hyperbolic nickname, perhaps you were destined to be such a minor flash in the pan.

Can we please get football back soon? The distractions are not helping. Thanks. Onto the picks.

Record
OBJ: 7-3
Joe Friday: 8-2

There's exciting, then there's "I just beat Contra without the Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-B-A-Select-Start code" exciting.

Today's Picks

OBJ 1: New York (PK) over Atlanta

I have a serious gambling problem. Not in that, I-can't-buy-diapers-for-my-kid-because-I-just-leveraged-next-month's-salary-on-the-coin-flip-outcome-of-the-Super-Bowl-problem, but I can never bring myself to bet against my own teams in any way (see: 1-2 picking Texas teams). But New York's been playing real well recently (4-1 last 5 games), and Atlanta has not (see above). I just see New York pulling this game out. Yes, I'm hinging my bet on a team that features Zach Randolph as the leading scorer. And yes, I see that the Baby Hawks are 9-13 on the road, while New York is a paltry 13-9 at home. I hope I lose this one.

OBJ 2: Detroit (-1) over Minnesota

My O-ridge pick here was Denver (+4) over New Orleans, but then I heard that annoying SJF voice in my head saying, "I always look to see who played the day before, and then bet against them or ignorer it altogether." Damn you, SJF.

Joe Friday 1: New Orleans/Denver OVER 199.5

Joe Friday 2: Atlanta (+1) over New York

Well this makes sense. Now I'm really torn between going up a full game on SJF or rooting for the home team.