Free Agency Drama

I've been faithfully keeping up with my favorite blogs and sports news sites to stay up to date on all the latest draft and free agency drama in the NBA, the Marsha Brady of sports, and it's less popular and less attractive sister - the NHL, the Jan Brady of sports. First, I'd like to point out that if you're looking for drama, forget Jersey Shore or The Hills or the new season of Real World and just tune into the spectacle that is the NBA free agency. Where will Lebron go? Will Dwayne Wayde and Chris Bosh go with him? And for us Lakers fans: Will the Lakers stop lowballing Derek Fisher? Will Shannon Brown resign? Will Adam Morrisson return? I mean who's going to chase the loose balls and restock the basketball racks?! The NHL free agency theatrics are just as nail biting for Ducks fans: Will Teemu Selanne come back after all? Will Bobby Ryan stay with the Ducks? And on it goes. I need a Tums just thinking about it.

In a time of such uncertainty, it's nice to know that I can count on two things:

[ Phil is back! Photo by Christian Peterson, Getty Images. ]

1. Phil Jackson is coming back to the Lakers. Looks like another Lakers three-year reign is in our future! I can see Kobe now - the Larry O'Brien hoisted high in one hand, the 2011 Finals MVP trophy in the other while awkwardly trying to lift up six fingers. 

[18 year old Etem in his shiny new Ducks uniform.]

2. The Ducks hit it big with 1st round draft pic and local Long Beach native, Emerson Etem. The quick center was just as happy to join the Ducks as the Ducks were to have him. "I couldn't have fallen to a better organization. They're just all class," said Etem. "With the Ducks picking me, a California-born hockey player, I just have so much opportunity. It couldn't be a better fit for me." Emerson finished out the 09-10 Season with 37 goals, 28 assists, 65 points, and 28 PIM in 72 games with Junior League team the Medicine Hat Tigers. Not too shabby.

Here's a little about Etem, courtesy of the official Ducks site. Seems like a well rounded young man with excellent taste... well excepting the Ke$ha reference.

EMERSON ETEM'S FAVORITES

NHL Player: Ilya Kovalchuk
Shootout move: “Around the Puck”
Goal celebration: “Stick in the air”
Movie: Life is Beautiful, Happy Gilmore
TV Show: Family Guy
Actor: Will Ferrell
Music Group: Bad Religion
Website: NHL.com
Book: Catcher in the Rye 
Pump-up song: “Tick Tock” by Ke$ha
Home cooked meal: Anything Mexican
Activities away from the rink: Surfing, Soccer, Basketball

Don't forget to check out our Calendar by clicking here to see where you can celebrate the birth of our country in true American fashion, by blowing stuff up!

Cheers friends!

- Amy

On my iTunes: Arctic Monkeys' "Fluorescent Adolescent" 

A GOOD SPORTS READ

Press week has descended upon us again as quickly as Shannon Brown on the fastbreak dunk. No sooner than we started this issue was it already press deadline. It is a sports-lovers dream season right now: the NHL Playoffs just wrapped up, there's only one game left to decide the 2010 NBA Champions (Come on Lakers!), the MLB is in full swing, the World Cup is kicking off, and just four days left to the Wimbledon Championships. Seeing as my creative juices have been drained (all to good use towards the July issue of The OC Gazette - it's gonna be a GREAT one), I have compiled some of my favorite sports blog posts from this week- and there have been so many good ones to choose from. So enjoy SoCal Sports fans. Enjoy.

For: Anaheim Ducks Fans

Blog Source: Anaheim Calling 

Title: Jen Plays A Game

These female Ducks bloggers play the old "Kill, Bang, or Marry" with the entire Ducks Roster. Hilarity ensues. (Author's Note: Credit must be given to Eric Doerr for the Anaheim Ducks blog post.)

For: Lakers Fans

Blog Source: Ball Don't Lie (One of my current favs)

Title: Behind the Box Score, where the Lakers left it all out there

This NBA blog is edited by Trey Kirby and is full of witty insights. It's funny, it's enlightening, it's awesome. This is a good run down of last night's game.

Blog Source: ESPN

Title: Kobe's Legacy Nearly Complete

David McMenamin proves that despite Kobe's cool demeanor, he is in fact taking down names. He won't be finished until he's beaten all the records and outshined all his competitors. One thing on the list? That fifth ring. 

I'll let you part with this inspiring video of last night's game highlights to get everyone pumped for Game 7 tomorrow night. (Fun Fact: This is just the 2nd Game 7 in the last 16 years of the NBA Finals. The last was when the Spurs won in 2005.)

- Amy
On my blip.fm: Beirut's "Postcards from Italy"

Shannon Brown Comes to the Irvine Spectrum

I'll never forget when Trevor Ariza attended Fashion Week at the Irvine Spectrum last year. And I wasn't there. One of the biggest regrets of my life. That and not becoming a painter. The next basketball season came, Trevor Ariza was let go for Ron Artest and my dreams of meeting one of my favorite Lakers were shattered. [ I still love you too Ron Ron - you're the funniest Laker I've had the pleasure of speaking with to this day. ] But rest assured readers, I won't be making that mistake again!

[ Two of my favorite Lakers (Shannon and Kobe), plotting their attack. ]

[ The Rebel Yell ]

This Saturday the Irvine Spectrum will play host to one of my other favorite Lakers! The heavens are shining down on me, giving me another shot at chasing my dreams! Go Go Gadget Legs, a.k.a. Shannon Brown, will be at the Verizon Wireless Spectrum store, signing autographs and meeting fans. It's so reminiscent of the Trevor Ariza situation to me since I've had two friends tell me that they heard through the grapevine (I realize how secondhand this info is, and therefore may not even be true) that the Lakers said there wasn't a spot for Shannon Brown on next season's Lakers roster. I replied with exclamations of disbelief and a gaping, mouth-wide-open look of wonderment. Shannon Brown is a play maker! Not a spot for him on the Lakers? How many times has he made a play that has changed the whole tenor of a game? Just like my precious Trevor Ariza? I was assured by these said friends that it wasn't that the Lakers don't understand he's a great player, but that it was purely about the money. And the fact that the Lakers didn't have any. I still refuse to believe that the NBA is all about money and not basketball. Maybe I'm in denial, but sometimes coping with the truth is just TOO much. Is anything sacred anymore? McChicken nuggets aren't made with real chicken; Britney Spears lip sings her concerts; and now the NBA is all about money instead of basketball?

[ Shannon Brown being a playmaker. Feb 16th, 2010 - Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors. ]

Well I know one thing that is left pure and undefiled, the athleticism, grace, and explosiveness of a Shannon Brown dunk. So don't miss seeing this amazing up and coming athlete. Lakers girls and Power 106 radio will be there to entertain, and there will even be chances to win Lakers tickets! Rub his tummy for good luck heading into the playoffs. The way they're playing, the Lakers could use all the help they can get. Here's the details, and I'll see you there!

P.S. A big congrats to Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Ducks. He is only the 18th player in NHL history to have made 600 goals in their career. He's now keeping company with the likes of hockey greats Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. Orange County loves you Teemu, you handsome Nordic devil, you.

- Amy
On my iTunes: Charlie Mars' "Back of The Room"


Shannon Brown at Verizon Wireless Store

April 03, 2010
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless store near The Improv.
For more information, please call 949-450-1050 or visit www.verizoninsider.com/shannon.