Thanks again to Mike in Melville for keeping the blog humming. I'm back behind the wheel, and there's stuff going on. So ....
* I'm sitting here in my Dirk Nowitzki-for-MVP T-shirt that was sent out to influential NBA writers (ahem, sarcasm alert) before he and the Mavericks choked in the 2006 Finals. The shirt is badly faded, the white lettering has turned purple, and someone splashed bleach on it. Anyway, these are better days for Dirk, who broke down with emotion after leading Team Germany to its first Olympic berth since 1992.
Great moment for Dirk, but it will create chaos in my brother's household when the Games begin next month. His wife will be waving the German flag and shouting indecipherable phrases in her native tongue while my brother will be chanting, "U-S-A! U-S-A!" (I embellish. That is not really going to happen. They live in Atlanta and haven't watched a basketball game involving NBA players, like, ever. Plus, on Aug. 8 they will already be tailgating for the Alabama-Clemson opener at the Georgia Dome on Aug. 30.)
* Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News correctly warns fans of the Oklahoma Thunder not to expect a title any time soon, or ever. Personally, I'm gearing up for the Knicks-Thunder matchup in the 2038 Finals.
* My man Woj is at it again, reporting that restricted free agent Josh Childress is weighing a three-year, $20 million offer from the Greek team Olympiakos. Childress is frustrated with the Hawks' refusal to move him in a sign-and-trade. The situation reflects the serious challenge NBA teams face in competing with Euro teams with their undervalued dollars. The Nets' Boki Nachbar also has shunned the Benjamins for the Euro, agreeing to a three-year, $14.3 million deal with Dynamo Moscow. Nachbar has a buyout after each year to explore returning to the NBA.
* Point guard Keyon Dooling is headed to the Nets in a sign-and-trade with Orlando in which the Magic get the Nets' $3.3 million trade exception. Nice depth move for the Nets. Not only that, but Dooling is one of the funniest guys in any NBA locker room.
* Matt Barnes is signing a one-year deal with the Suns.
* Another member of the Indiana Pacers is in trouble with the law. The only solution I can see is trading for Artest and Zach Ranndolph to clean up the team's image.
That's all for now. I've already had enough fun for one day but I'll be back shortly with more anyway.