THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC

A whole 4 games into the post-All-Star game and people feel the need to jump off the Rockies bandwagon. Losing 3 out of 4 games coming off a 5 day layoff is just too much, I cannot root for this team anymore. But really, there is no need to panic… I repeat, THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC.

Dinger's got his rally cap on and

is ready for the second half to start heating up.

They just could have easily won the last series against the division leading Reds. The NL Central leading Reds, the Little Red Machine that could, the team that has outplayed Wainwright, Carpenters, Pujols, Holliday’s Cardinals through 80something games, the team with the left side of the field as good as anyone in the league; Bruce, Votto, Phillips.

Then they come into Miami where people are more excited about signing Big Z than the Marlins. And on a night where Jimenez only goes 5 and 1/3, his shortest outing this year, the Rockies still look like they have it in the bag. Unfortunately Huston Street gave up his first blown save of the year and the Rox lost.

The streaky Rockies are 4 ½ games out of first place in the division and ½ games out of 2^nd, close enough to get the leaders looking over their shoulders as the leaves start to change. And with 2 teams coming out of the NL West, in a four horse race; it’s not going to be how you start but how you finish.

Show Me The Money

Has TBS influenced the 2010 NBA Free Agency? Has an odd couple in Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr lightened the wallets of a few NBA squads? Is ‘Jerry Maguire’ now a documentary instead of a romantic comedy?

Cause, although this may not be true, everyone in the free agency world is saying ‘SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!’

Tom Cruise or Scott Boris?????

The Collective Barganing Agreement (CBA) is looming large in everyone’s mind.

Darko Milic: 4 years, $20 million

Once a bust, always a bust.

JJ Redick: 3 years, $19 million

His shot may be smooth, but his rapping career is much more promising than his NBA career.

And some of the more proven players are taking advantage of a capless year with their wise negotiations and contract signings.

Paul Pierce (32 years old): 4 years, $61 million

His best move is still a travel and he has bad knees now.

Joe Johnson (29 years old): 6 years, $119 million

He, of all people, won the 2010 Free Agency lottery.

Will either of these players be worth $15-$20 million when they are 35 years old?

The hype to the 2010 NBA Free Agency is unlike one we’ve even seen before. And although it sizzled out faster than fat-free turkey bacon it has been worth the wait.

'The Blog', Lebron's Going Where????

Being the great blogger that I am, with the huge following that tends to be always be lurking in my shadows I do sometimes get some preferential treatment. Like getting to talk on the phone to LBJ prior to ‘The Decision’ that goes down tonight.

If you believed a word of that paragraph then you’ve probably already come back in time with your flux capacitor to tell us where Lebron is actually going.

But like all the millions of bloggers and well owners, GMs and coaches of the NBA nobody has any idea so I, Dr. Pure, have about as good of chance as anyone as getting this circus correct.

Lebron, WITNESS Dr. Pure's blog. BOOM!!

Here’s what could happen:

1. Stay in Cleveland 50%

I don’t think people know how scared Lebron is to leave his home town. He was born and raised in a suburb of the town he now plays; so he has never lived outside of his home and I don’t know if he really wants to leave his home cooking. There are also many pieces in Cleveland that are good enough to win a championship or 4. And any other place he goes, other than Miami, he will be playing around much less talent than already exists in Cleveland.

2. NYC 20%

LBJ has a competitive side that I don’t think many of us have seen yet. He does not want to be outdone, even by his good friends and Gold Medal teammates. And after signing* of Wade and Bosh in Miami he might think he has to go somewhere where he, himself has a superstar duo. Amare will give him that. Also “The Decision” that is going down tonight is right outside the city of New York which is giving a lot of Knick fans hope. But the fact that in the meeting earlier this week the Knicks showed up with Donnie Walsh, Mike D’Antoni and Allen Huston doesn’t really show him they want in that bad.

3. Miami 15%

Okay, this is the scariest proposition out there. But let’s get some facts straight… I don’t care who shows up, this team is and will always be Dwayne Wade’s team. Wade and Bosh haven’t signed and have been rumored to say that they may be willing to take less money to make a team. Lebron has been rumored to have an after-signing party in South Beach. And finally the smooth bargaining of Dwayne Wade. Just his presence makes Charles Barkley look to a class-act and one hell of a salesman in those T-Mobile commercials. And he may convince Lebron that himself, Wade, and Bosh will take less money and let Lebron have all the glory and the ball in key situations just to get him here. But in the end, won’t happen and Wade will still be the face of ‘El Heat’ and Lebron will end up just being another player with 10 championship rings.

4. Nets 10%

Why would LBJ want to go to a place where they would have to rebuild and take 4-5 years to build a team to even be able to win a championship? He’s been there, done that. Remember the last 8 years in Cleveland. And in another 8 years Lebron will be retired. But the Nets show up with Jay-Z and new owner Prokerov; 2 complete direct opposites that could bring together an irresistible feast for Lebron. A move to Brooklyn, a huge market and all the money to bring in whoever else they want.

5. Anybody else 5%

Chicago once looked to be a frontrunner, but now that everyone else is making up their minds and they aren’t thinking the Windy City the Bulls seem out of sorts. They opened cap room for 2 super stars now they aren’t going to get a single one. Time to rebuild maybe? And the Clippers, he’s not going into the gigantic shadow of Kobe for a franchise that has done anything in my lifetime.

So Lebron has some thinking to do. A lot of thinking to do. It’s all a matter of what he wants… glory? Fame? Twitter followers? Championship Rings? Fans? Criticism?

And all we can do is wait.

Paul and his 8 Reasons Why

Meet Paul.

His is a funny loving guy. Enjoys sports, especially soccer and rugby. Has a knack for predicting the winner of World Cup matches. Oh, and did I mention he has 8 tentacles.

Paul, casual as can be, picks him a winner.

Yup… Paul, the Oracle Octopus.

He is 5 for 5 on the outcome of the German World Cup games and is a national hero in Germany. And that’s no lie. Media from all over Europe gathered at Sea Life Aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, where Paul resides to see what the 8 legged sea monster predict another World Cup match.

He picked Spain, and obviously I’m going to agree with it. I’m a ‘sucker’ for this kind of thing.