So I spent a lot of time thinking about what team to call my team when it comes to the NBA.

TEAMS I DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER CONSIDERING:
Lakers: I don’t like Kobe. Never liked the Lakers. Don’t think there are actual Laker fans out there, just people who want to show off their money.
Clippers: Another LA team.
Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings: Nothing to really interest me. Cali teams already started out badly.
Raptors: Canada? No thank you. Besides, they’ll probably lose Chris Bosh real soon, so who’ll be left on their team?
Mavericks: I like Mark Cuban. I think he’s a funny owner. But, I just can’t see myself rooting for anything that comes out of Dallas (except for my wife, of course).
NOT THAT MUCH INTEREST:
Atlanta Hawks: no reason in particular.
Grizzlies: Just suck enough that there can a turnaround in the future.
Bucks: If Bill Simmons the Sports Guy became the GM of the Bucks, I’d definitely root for them. But that’s never gonna happen.
Pistons: overrated. besides, Isiah Thomas never appealed to me. The story between Thomas and MJ are funny, and MJ got the better burn by freezing Thomas out of the OG Dream Team.
Timberwolves: Same reason for the Grizzlies. They might turn it around real soon. Okay, not real soon, but some day. Don’t wanna really put that much effort and stress into either teams.
Pacers and 76ers: Meh.
Jazz: Has to be the worst name in any pro franchise. The Jazz? In Utah? really? Hahah. New Orleans Jazz makes more sense, don’t it?

TEAMS THAT WERE INTRIGUING:
Houston Rockets: Yao Ming. I like Yao Ming. But, not enough for me to root for a Texas Team. That goes for the Spurs too. I love Tim Duncan, but I have to admit, I’m not a basketball purist, and I find his game, though fundamental and effective, boring.
Nets: I used to like this team when it had Kidd, Carter and Jefferson. But they’re all aging and gone. Carter probably won’t be there much longer. Jay-Z having an interest in that team doesn’t do much.
Heat: Intriguing. Especially if they do make a play for Bosh. Wade’s amazing. But for some reason, I’m not feeling them so much.

TEAMS THAT I GAVE A GOOD THOUGHT
Nuggets: good team. young team. promising. But, don’t like Billups.
Trailblazers: how much more amazing would this team have been if they picked Durant, instead? Can anything good come out of Portland?
Knicks: Great history. Maybe Lebron will play for them in 2010. But I can’t root for the Knicks. Too much memory lingers from the Bull vs Knicks days and when I always thought that Starks was a punk.
Cavaliers: I felt like I’d be jumping on the Lebron bandwagon. And what happens in 2010, when he bolts? Why put myself through that?
Suns: I like(d) their SSOL (seven seconds or less) style they played. But they’re all getting old.

TEAMS I CONSIDERED LONG AND HARD:
Bulls: Michael Jordan. I can name the 5 starters of each 3 peat teams, along with the 6th and 7th man off the bench.
Hornets and Magic: Chris Paul and Dwight Howard are my two favorite players in the NBA. But, what if they leave the team in the near future? do I root for the team they land on? That doesn’t sound so right and loyal to the team.
Bobcats: I lived in South Carolina before. Close to Charlotte (at least from Cali). MJ is part of the organization. But so far, MJ’s track record in the front office isn’t so great (Kwame Brown, anyone?) Just because I adored MJ the player, doesn’t mean i have to adore MJ the GM. But just because I despised Isiah Thomas the player, I feel absolutely, I should despise Thomas the GM. LOOK WHAT HE DID TO THE KNICKS!!?!!
Celtics: Huge Boston sports fan. Love the Pats. Love the Red Sox. But, it’s like jumping the band wagon at this point. It’s like the year that the NY Giants won the super bowl, all of a sudden you see Giants jerseys EVERYWHERE. Even Eli Manning. That never happened before.
Thunder: Durant. Durant. Durant. Geez. There’s no question who was the better pick. Durant’s a beast and Oden’s seems to be missing every other game due to injury. Sure there were jokes that Oden looked much older than he really was, but he’s body’s behaving as if Oden’s much older than he really is. But c’mon? Thunder!? Next to Jazz (in Utah) it’s a horrible, horrible franchise name. Thunder. Geez. And dude, they screwed the Seattle fans. Not cool. Thunder. Psh.

SO THAT LEAVES US WITH:
The Wizards.
I really thought long and hard over this. Much more than I should’ve. And I’ve invested too much in the Wizards over the years living in DC. And we have a good core. butler, jamison and arenas (if he ever gets healthy). I’ve had good memories sitting in the MCI center watching the games. The first professional basketball game I ever went to see was the Wizards. Good seats too. And getting excited with fellow DC citizens as we made into the playoffs hoping to end Lebrons runs, only to end up losing to the Cavs. In trying to figure this out, I realize I was too emotionally invested in this team to quit them and try for another. And honestly, the Wizards solidified my choice to go to Wesley Theological Seminary in DC, because Jordan was there. Only to be heartbroken that after only a month making the decision to go to DC, MJ was fired.
Why are all the DC teams dysfunctional?

Maybe we’ll get the number one pick, and not waste it this time. (Kwame Brown.. geez). So here’s me rooting for the lottery pick!
*sigh* One of these days, the Skins and the Wiz will have a real good year and a good playoff run. And if Armageddon is near, maybe it’ll happen in the same year!

Just because:
NFL: Redskins
NBA: Wizards
MLB: Red Sox
NHL: Capitals
Premier League Soccer: Chelsea
National Soccer: South Korea (duh) and England (Rooney, Terry!)

I think I’m covered.
Wow, what a pointless post.

The NFL season is over. (Can’t wait until September).
So I’m slowly getting back into the basketball thing.
As I was watching a couple of NBA games here and there (what the heck is wrong with the Wizards?) I begin to realize similarities in the UMC and the NBA and NFL in how they do business with their players. And also players that reflect the type of pastors we have in our conferences.
It might be a long stretch, but I had a lot of driving to do last week, and therefore, had a lot of time for silly thoughts.

I think there are pastors out there like Anquan Boldin: someone who is unhappy with their current situations and want out. For Anquan, it’s about the money. For clergy, it can be all sorts of reasons. But some clergy may contact their DS (the general manager) and asked for or demand a trade.

I also think there are pastors out there like a Stephon Marbury and right now, Gilbert Arenas: players who are just eating the salary cap without any contribution to the team. In other words: Dead weight. That may sound harsh, but c’mon, we all know some pastors in our conference that aren’t as affective as they once used to be for various reasons. And I’ll just leave it like that. Or even players like Shaq. C’mon. He’s old. He lost his touch. Sure, he’s rejuvenated a bit this year, but it can’t hide the fact that Shaq isn’t quite pulling Shaq’s weight. Even though he is fairly ineffective, his name and his history will still land him a job.

There are also pastors like Deron Williams and Chris Paul. Young talented players who are very good leaders and lead their team like veterans. Although, personally, I feel that there needs to be more young clergy given the chance to lead a well balanced team (church).

I also believe there are clergy like a Kobe Byrant and a Terrell Owens. (No, I’m not that big of a Kobe fan). They’re more worried about their indiviual stats and status than the team itself. For TO, the first few years are great. Charamastic, provides results, gets people to buy in to his ability and talent. But after awhile, the other shoe drops, and we start to see the selfishness, look out for number one or “I love me some me” side of TO. For Kobe, he can’t really trust his other players, so he takes the load on his shoulders. Nevermind he has Pau Gasol or he had Shaq, it’s all about Kobe. 61 points at MSG is impressive. But it was 61 points, THREE assists and ZERO rebounds. Or his 81 point game: 6 rebounds and 2 assists. He has 4 other players on the court with him. Compare that to Lebron James’s last game at MSG: 52 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists. Who would you want leading you?

And of course, they’re clergy like Lebron James. Just a great all-around player and leader. Gets his teammates involved. If he needs to step up, he’ll step up, but will get others involved in the game plan.

Or a Kevin Garnett: a wiley veteran. Been in the game for a while, but still has the intensity and love for the game, and still bring the results, and still bring the best out of others.

There are players like Sam Cassell: journey men, played for many teams. And there are players like Paul Pierce, Kobe Byrant, played with one team their entire career. I guess I could on a different tangent with Kobe, how he demanded a trade from the Lakers, but then had a change of heart because of the promise Lakers showed. It’s like how a pastor feels burned out at one setting, then the pastor has a change of heart, spends more time with God, and sees that God has a lot of plans for her/him with the current setting, and s/he is able to set aside his/her frustrations and no longer see limitations, but possiblities.

I can go on and on. But I will stop here. Care to add any to my list?
I worked out that the DSes and the Cabinet are the GMs, since the GM can decide who to try to bring in and who to ship out.
I couldn’t decide if the Bishop is more of a team owner or the Commish. And the teams, themselves are the local churches.
The coaches, see they could be the pastors too, but I decided they were like the SPRC or the lay leader.

In about 4 hours, the NFL season will kickoff with my Redskins playing the New York Football Giants, the luckiest of champions in recent history.

Almost everyone has the Redskins finishing last in their division (the toughest division in any major league sport, in my humble opinion). At best, experts have them finishing 8-8.

I think we will do well. And this is only the beginning of the new Zorn era, and hopefully it delivers.
Either way, I’m just glad that the season is finally starting.

I was responding to Kevin’s comment, than realized, it was such a long comment, I should just post it.

I learned that the Packers made the Jets sign an agreement that they cannot pursue a trade with the Vikings. If they trade Favre to the Vikings, the Jets will have to give up 3 first round picks.

But no mention of what would happen if they happen to trade Favre to the Bears. Or even the Lions. However, I don’t think the Jets would do that.

I don’t think this is what Favre wanted. He puts himself in a worse position in making the playoffs. The AFC is a much stronger conference, and he is in the same division with the almighty Patriots and Brady. The best the Jets can do is make the wildcard, assuming that the Patriots are going to own the division.
But the competition in the other division is crazy.

AFC South: The Colts will probably win the division. But the Titans and the Jaguars can make a run for the wildcard.

AFC North: Steelers, Browns, Ravens, Bengals: all of them have a chance to make the playoffs. Well, maybe not the Ravens

AFC West: Maybe Broncos make a run at the wild card. Or even Chiefs.

So, after this whole drama between the Packers and Favre, it seems like, in the end, the Packers emerge with the victory.

With all this said, I think the toughest division in any sport is the NFC East. I know in the last 2 seasons, 3 of the 4 made the playoffs. I feel like my ‘Skins are the longshot in the division, but we look pretty good. I think we can surprise many people.

Back to work.