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Archive for the 'Varsity's Take' Category

TLN’s Game Preview: Lakers vs. Clippers

Published by Andrew Rafner on October 9, 2008 in Varsity Shootaround. 13 Comments

After an unassuming loss to Utah Tuesday night in Anaheim, the Laker preseason Tour de Love rolls up to the bleeding heart of the Golden State’s Central Valley.

A bastion of both agriculture and a newspaper called the Bee, the Lakers venture to Fresno, California, for tonight’s second preseason contest against inter-city rivals and Staples Center co-tenants, the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers come into their first preseason contest on the heels of the resignation/firing/deportation of longtime General Manager and Laker Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor, in addition to fielding a roster of which only four are returning from last season.

With newcomers Baron Davis, Marcus Camby and rookie Eric Gordon leading the new Clipper charge, the Red, White and Blue across the hall look to become something more than an afterthought in Los Angeles basketball lexicon.

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TLN’s Game Preview: Lakers vs. Jazz

Published by Andrew Rafner on October 6, 2008 in Varsity Shootaround. 16 Comments

10:02:02 PM Jim Murdoc: can you have the pregame ready by sometime tomorrow?

10:02:12 PM Andrew Rafner: haha

10:02:12 PM Jim Murdoc: TUESDAY, SON!

10:02:14 PM Andrew Rafner: wow

10:02:18 PM Andrew Rafner: it just got real

And boy it is real. The 2008-09 season unofficially kicks off with the hallowed first game of the preseason at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.

I will spare you the requisite “I missed doing pregames so much” speech and save that for opening night. I will not make any mention of Game 6 in Boston. I will not get giddy over Pau and Andrew in the frontcourt.

Why will I forgo all that juicy postulation and inane analysis?

To put it simply: at this point, it is useless. It is useless to try and glean something from the paltry haphazard undertaking that is NBA preseason, more specifically, Laker preseason.

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Team U.S.A. Pre-Game Report: U.S.A. vs. Spain

Published by Andrew Rafner on August 15, 2008 in USA Basketball and Varsity Shootaround. 14 Comments

Disclaimer #1: I had a wonderful vacation, and although I missed the Angola and Greece games, I still feel the spirit and ferocity of the Screaming Eagles pulsating through my body.

Disclaimer #2: America. Apple Pie. Fifty States. Eagles. Money. Amber waves of grain. Abe Lincoln. Declaration of Independence. Guns. Mickey Mouse. Baseball.

As much as I love the United States of America and their National basketball team, I have room in my heart for another darling.

I love the Spanish National basketball team.

Not in the same way I love the ol’ Screaming Eagles, but the kind of way you love this year’s Tampa Bay Rays.

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Team U.S.A. Pre-Game Report: U.S.A. vs. China

Published by Andrew Rafner on August 9, 2008 in USA Basketball and Varsity Shootaround. 19 Comments

Hey kids, it’s your old friend Varsityoptimism here, and no it is not October and no you are not hallucinating. I am here to dust off the old Pre-Game pen to breakdown the U.S.A. Screaming Eagles first Olympic match up against Host nation China. And after the stunning Opening Ceremonies that aired last night, if you do not have full-blown Olympic Fever, then you are not a member of the human race.

From the 2,008 light-up drums, to the kite flying Chinese Pop Star, to the spectacular and unforgettable torch lighting, I for one was stunned by the imagination, perfection and beauty that the Chinese were able to accomplish in what will be remembered as one of the proudest moments in Modern Chinese history.

Unfortunately for China, Sunday’s game with the Screaming Eagles will not be as triumphant. Yao Ming will finally put down Sichuan earthquake hero Lin Hao and suit up for the Chinese National team’s first contest.

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Stay Cool, I’ll See You in the Summer League

Published by Andrew Rafner on July 24, 2008 in 2008 Summer League and Varsity's Take. 18 Comments

It happened so fast. As quickly as it began, it was over.

No, I am not talking about the magical 2007-08 Lakers season; I’m talking about the 2008 NBA Summer League.

Somehow, the big wigs over at the NBA offices thought it would be a novel idea to collect nearly every Rookie and dude gunning for a roster spot in Las Vegas for a week of footloose and fancy free playing glorified pickup games. The rosters are amalgamations of marginally talented players, most of whom will never see the fourth quarter of a blowout game, let alone a NBA preseason contest.

The Lakers delegation to the Las Vegas Summer League was no exception. With the exception of Coby Karl and former San Antonio Spur James White, no other member of the roster has had any NBA experience. That fact alone could make any Laker fan cringe at the thought of sitting through 40 minute Summer League contest.

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The Ron-Ron (Bill-Bill?) Question

Published by Andrew Rafner on July 13, 2008 in Varsity's Take. 125 Comments

There are few names in Professional Sports that inflict fear and general clamor into the hearts of all who speak their names. Were they not ridiculously gifted with physical prowess, they would be just another undiagnosed sociopath or schizophrenic.

By now we all know the names of these loose cannons whose off court/field antics are as notorious as the Unabomber or Tom Cruise: Chad Johnson, Mike Tyson, Dennis Rodman and Terrell Owens to name a few.

And then there is Sacramento Kings Forward Ron Artest. The de rigueur trade commodity supposedly coveted by Laker fans citywide. The 28- year old Artest has, over the course of his award-winning career, played for three teams and has been seemingly banished from his last two.

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Fool Proof Summer Kit for SUCCESS!

Published by Andrew Rafner on June 24, 2008 in Varsity's Take. 25 Comments

It is currently 112° outside. I’ve had nine Otter Pops in the last two hours and there is not a lick of NBA basketball on.

Yup.

That sounds like summer.

I have long since buried the 2007-08 season in a shallow and easily accessible grave and have been pining for some sort of respite from beach days and staying up all night.

If I may, I would like to humbly submit the Varsityoptimism’s Fool Proof Summer Kit for SUCCESS! These are things you can do to save yourself from Summer sorrow and certain heat exhaustion, use them as necessary and as often as you can…

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TLN’s Finals Preview: Lakers vs. Celtics [Game 5]

Published by Andrew Rafner on June 15, 2008 in Varsity Shootaround. 52 Comments

When you see the words “Varsity Shootaround” above a pregame article you have come to expect a certain tone: Light, airy, and irreverent.

I’ll probably make some joke about how Rajon Rondo looks like a kitty cat or how Doc Rivers’ face looks like it is made of a Fruit Roll-Up.

I will most likely write about Kobe and Phil. I’ll express my hope that Lamar Odom decides to play basketball on that given night. I will give you storylines. I’ll offer a silly prize for the winner of the trivia challenge.

I usually have a structure. A formula that I try to follow to provide the Lakers Nation with a pregame primer that may or may not provide some gem of wisdom that has not been spouted off about already. I try to convey hope and optimism to the people (I do not do this as well as Vic the Brick, but hell, I try).

Not tonight.

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