"The Latest on the Lockout and more..." (December 1, 1998)

So it seems that the lockout will continue until well into the New Year. The NBA officially cancelled their Christmas games just last week, like we didn't see that coming. Personally, I don't really care anymore. Don't get me wrong. I do miss NBA basketball. But I am getting fed up with positioning between the NBA and the players association (hereafter, the union). If they can't figure out how to cut their billion dollar pie, then screw all of them. Hard cap, soft cap, skull cap, put a cap in their collective ass, I don't care anymore.

Has anyone seen those new Nike ads? I love the one with Samuel Jackson. "Three guys playing horse on their driveway. It's fantastic!" Or how about Spike Lee trash talking Regina Miller at her prep-school basketball game. Very nice.

Hoop-LA's unofficial mascot until the NBA lockout is over And now onto more interesting matters, the NCAA. It's back and will from here on in, be the official basketball of Hoop-LA until the lockout ends. So without further adieu, NCAA basketball, Hoop-LA style. So UCLA is the best basketball team. Now that I have that out of the way, let me reiterate that I love UCLA. All shall bow before the power of the Bruins. But in all seriousness, there are a few good teams out there. Duke looks great. I hate Duke. So good. So well coached. Damn, I hate them. So damn talented. Langdon, Brand, and a host of others. But at least they lost. I would hate to see them go undefeated. Stanford looks good. Deep team. A lot of returning starters. Tall team as well. UConn looks awesome. El-Amin and Hamilton are great. UNC doesn't rebuild, they reload. Another blue chip squad. Look for them to get better as the season progresses. Maryland is the Stanford of the east, except not as smart. Deep. Talented. Returning starters. You can't count out Mateen Cleaves at Michigan State. Kentucky still has some pop. Turner at point guard, Magloire at center and Padget at forward still are a formidable unit. Besides, Tubby Smith is a great coach. Just a note here, Lamar Odom at Rhode Island is a superstar in waiting. He's the real deal. I saw him on TV, and he's awesome. 6'9" and all the skills of a point guard in a power forward body. I see him as a do-it-all small forward. It's much too easy to pigeon-hole him as a Scottie Pippen or Grant Hill type player. He has skills. All around talent and can jump through the roof. Keep an eye on him.

I guess that's it. Or should I say, I guess that's enough. Until next time, fellow NCAA lovers.

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