The NBA and a “Trilogy Complete”

While watching the NBA’s All-Star Saturday, I found something on a movie station to get me through the endless commercials- Wild Things 2 (straight to video) followed by Wild Things 3 (straight to Skinemax). In the end, I probably have become the only man to have seen the whole Wild Things Trilogy. Considering the fact that I enjoy a really bad movie (they are so hilariously funny, and there are bonus points for topless girls), I had assumed I represented a significantly small portion of the country, but apparently, there are enough people watching to justify 2 sequels!

I’ll say this- Wild Things 3 was a mistake. By the 3rd movie, where the same illogical plotline is copied each time, with one vintage menage a trois scene, it becomes predictable in its illogical plot. Sometimes, a movie can be bad enough to make me laugh, and other times it can be bad enough to make me cringe. Wild Things 3 made me cringe but it did increase the number of scenes where hot girls decide to make out with each other, which was a plus. The other interesting thing is that each movie is 12 minutes shorter than the previous movie. The last movie was only 82 minutes long. By Wild Things 8, they’ll be down to just the menage a trois scene.

Anyways, I was able to multi-task and watch All-Star Saturday at the same time as Wild Things 3. Here are my thoughts:
1) Dan Majerle can still make a half-court shot! It was great to see him, as he somehow still hasn’t aged at all.
2) I think the skills competition is cool, but the players really should do more bounce passes, and I wouldn’t mind more than 4 competitors (Nash beat Boykins in the finals).
3) I still can’t believe how much everyone sucked in the 3-point contest. I thought Q-Richardson would certainly lose, but instead, he got hot and won. And what in the world is Voshon Lenard doing participating in this? He tore his Achilles, he’s out for the season, but he decided to spend time practicing JUMPING on his Achilles to defend his 2004 3-point championship. This is a terrible idea. But not as terrible as…
4) A dunk contest where you get as many chances as you need. In a stroke of marekting genius, the NBA realized they could get some great highlights by providing an incentive to try the hardest dunks possible. Chris Anderson went about 3 for 31 from the field during his dunk portion. I wish I was kidding. Fortunately, High School Rookie Josh Smith of the Hawks had some sensational dunks including a retro-Dominique windmill. It was sweet.

I've never seen a crazier NBA Trading Deadline period. Here are my initial thoughts...

NBA Trade Recap 5 Quick Notes:
1. Webber & 2 Scrubs for Corliss Williamson, Kenny Thomas, & Principal Skinner –
-I don’t blame the Kings for trading Webber. He hasn’t been the same since the latest knee surgery (2002?) Webber has no explosiveness anymore, and has become a small forward that takes lot of outside jumpers. In addition, he’s a huge defensive liability. Williamson & Thomas can play better defense, but the biggest problem I have with this trade is that the Kings are still stuck w/ 3-year contracts for each player.
-Advantage: Sixers, though I think Webber will be ineffective w/in 1 year.
2. Antoine Walker’s return to the Celtics – I still can’t believe that GM Danny Ainge changed his mind after shipping him out almost 2 years ago. Meanwhile, if Gary Payton was “unhappy” with his championship prospects in Boston, he may be suicidal in Atlanta.
-Did You Know: Apparently, Tom Gugliotta is still in the league and was a throw-in for the trade to the Hawks. Gugs! Who’d have known?
3. Baron Davis on Golden State – Why do the analysts keep saying that Baron is going home? Does anyone else realize that Oakland is many hours away from UCLA?
4. Isiah Thomas still not knowing that there is a salary cap – “In the Spurs deal, the Knicks are sending back $5.5 million in future salaries for the remaining four years, $27.3 million of Rose's contract. In the Rockets' deal, Thomas is sending back $8 million in future salaries and getting back $18 million in return.” - Associated Press
-Even the Associated Press has caught on to the fact that Isiah Thomas does not know there is a salary cap. At some point, you would think one of the interns in the NY Knick organization would at least let him play some NBA 2005 and teach him a little bit about salary caps. The Knicks have the largest payroll in the league right now and they just added more commitments!
5. Cavs trade another 1st round pick for another SG – The Cavs gave up a 1st round pick this past summer for Sasha Pavlovic for outside shooting. Then we just gave up a 1st round pick for a 33% 3-point specialist. That’s not that good. Next season, Luke Jackson will be back. I’m sick of GM Paxson wasting 1st round picks. For every 3 transactions that are good, Paxson has 7 transactions that are poor.