Conference 7.286::sports_90

    
    Will they be servin' food on this bandwagon?  If not, I ain't joinin'.
    
    Dickster
    

    I'm glad to see Buck Williams finally get a chance to play for a
    winner.
    
    Beyond that, I really don't care which one of Portland or Detroit wins.
    
    
    py

    
    Paul,
    I'm also glad to see Wayne Cooper get a chance at a title.I hope he
    gives it up after this year, win or lose. He could end up like Jim
    Otto, barely able to get around. Denver told him to retire two years
    ago because of his knees and back. They wouldn't offer him a contract.
    He signed with Portland as a free agent. When healthy, he was a very
    good center. Highly under-rated.
    
                                                   HOOT
    

    I'm on.  I'm on.  I've been a Buck fan for longer than anybody here. 
    Remember these key words, Laimbeer:  Don't F*ck with Buck!!!
    
    Dan

    
    I'm hoppin' on. I caint believe I am atually rooting for the same
    team as Dan!
    
    
    
    GO BLAZERS!!!!

 As second in command of ABTP (anybody but the Pistons, Ram is naturally our
 leader) I'm in.....

 mike

I'm kind of new at this bandwagon stuff, but I have been rooting
for the Blazers because of Buck...as far back as the Spurs series,
which is about as long as JoJ has been a_A's fan....

So, if Dan will make a little room for me somewhere up there, and
if Hawk brought an extra Freakin' Lunatic hat, I'll be ambling
my way right up on the old bandwagon...

JD, if you see any bodacious and triumphant Title hitchhiking, you'd
best be stopping, now son...

Chainsaw

    I am happy for Buck Williams, rooting for a fellow Houstonian (Clyde
    The Glide) to do well, and I've long felt that Porter is the Joe
    Dumars of the West in that he is a great player who doesn't get
    his due.
    
    That will change this year.
    
    Besides hoping that Buck will kick the s**t out of Laimbeer, I just
    want a great series. 
    
    Doc

    Getta outta here, ya infidel /Don.    This bandwagon is only for
    the true followers of the Portland TrailBlazers, a true team, fro
    a true city, fromm a true state, a real state.  Not Detriot (tm)
    
    I'm sure YOU have a hat for each team, o Carnac Vane.
    
    JD
    
    

    
    I'll bet the Pissons (tm) even sit on a_aluminum bench instead
    of a woodie huh JD.........  :^)
    
    Claybone

    Where's Ward Bond when you need him. I will hitch my wagon here as
    well. 

    COUNT ME IN....I've been a Buck Williams fan as long as Dan. Maybe
    longer.
    
    Besides, I know too many Pistons fans.
    
    JoP

Everyone getta ready, here come the Blazers:!:::


P is for Porter, no finer guard in the game
O is for ovation, the home fans never stop
R is for Robinson, Cliff's a monster off the bench
T is for threes, they'll rain down from the sky
L is for losers, the Pistons will be
A is for Adelman, Rick's the one
N is for nefarious, Detriot is rightly called
D is for Duckworth, the mightiest stud in the middle

T is for tenacious, the Blazer's defense will be
R is for rebounding, Buck, Jerome and Duck will windex the glass
A is for artistic, that's Clyde on the Glyde
I is for Inspirational, Ramon is that
L is for Laimbeer, dirtiest cheapshot artist in the world
B is for Buck, the man who is the heart of the team
L is for Lambada, they'll be dancing it in the aisles
A is for attendence, full, standing room only, of course
Z is for Zagreb, home for Drazen
E is for excellent, as most excellent the Blazers are
R is for reward, the title be it
S is for Slam, as in Clyde, Jerome and company...

GO BLAZERS, WHATTA TEAM!!!

From: clarinews@clarinet.com (MIKE BARNES, UPI Sports Writers)
Newsgroups: clari.sports.basketball,clari.sports.top
Subject: NBA Finals Matchups
Date: 4 Jun 90 21:53:32 GMT
 
 
	AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (UPI) -- Position-by-position matchups for NBA
Finals between the Portland Trail Blazers and Detroit Pistons. (Listed
with uniform number, name, height, weight, college and league
experience.)

Point Guards:

	30 Terry Porter, 6-3, 195, Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 5th NBA season
-- Averaging 21.1 points and 7.1 assists in playoffs. Hard-nosed defender
and excellent three-point shooter, has made 89 percent of his free
throws in regular season. Not flashy but dependable.
	11 Isiah Thomas, 6-1, 182, Indiana, 9th NBA season. -- Played best
game of playoffs in Game 7 victory over Chicago with 21 points, 11
assists and 8 rebounds. Pistons play better when he scores less -- he was
leading scorer in two of Detroit's three losses in Chicago. Still makes
the occassional bad pass. Underrated for his defense, especially on the
double-team.
	Edge: Pistons.

Shooting Guards:

	22 Clyde Drexler, 6-7, 222, Houston, 7th NBA season. -- Four-time
All-Star struggling with his jumper but still averaging 19.8 points, 7
rebounds and 7.4 assists in playoffs. Trail Blazers' all-time leading
scorer. Remains superb transition player and dunker. Often erractic in
past, now steadier than ever.
	34 Joe Dumars, 6-3, 195, McNeese State, 5th NBA season. -- No longer
the Pistons' secret weapon. With due respect to Thomas, Dumars is the
Pistons best guard. Always draws the most difficult defensive
assignment, which meant Michael Jordan in the conference finals. Still
led the team in scoring in the series with a 20.0 average.
	Edge: Even.

Centers:

	00 Kevin Duckworth, 7-0, 270, Eastern Illinois, 4th NBA season. --
Averaged 11.9 points in playoffs, down from 16.2 in regular season.
Excellent at setting picks and hitting soft jumpers. Appears to have
adjusted to wearing splint to protect broken bone in right hand.
	40 Bill Laimbeer, 6-11, 260, Notre Dame, 10th NBA season. --
Repuation as a dirty player overshadows his contributions on the court.
Is averaging 10.4 points and 9.6 rebounds in playoffs. Though he slumped
in conference finals, can hit the outside jumper and often is left open
for the shot.
	Edge: Pistons.

Small Forward:

	25 Jerome Kersey, 6-7, 225, Longwood College, 6th NBA season. --
Team's leading scorer in playoffs at 21.3 points per game. One of game's
top rebounding small forwards (8.9 rebounds per game in playoffs) keys
NBA's top front line on the boards. Great shot blocker and transition
player, as evidenced by winning play in Game 6 agaisnt Suns.
	10 Dennis Rodman, 6-8, 210, SE Oklahoma State, 4th NBA season. --
Sprained ankle plagued him in conference finals and still not fully fit.
Best defensive player in the league, believes he can stop any player.
Can score, given the ball in the right spot. Had 13 points and 9
rebounds in Game 7 vs. Bulls.
	Edge: Even

Power Forward:

	52 Buck Williams, 6-8, 225, Maryland, 9th NBA season. -- Steadying
influence on Trail Blazers, has perennial underachievers playing for
title. Hard worker led club with 9.8 rebounds per game while scoring at
13.6 clip. Hits only 70 percent of free throws.
	53 James Edwards, 7-1, 252, Washington, 13th NBA season. -- Age has
begun to show as season extends into June. Was held to single digits in
four of the seven conference final games. When his is on, his fallaway
jumper is unstoppable.
	Edge: Trail Blazers.

Bench:

	3 Cliff Robinson, 6-10, 225, Connecticut, rookie. 44 Drazen
Petrovic, 6-5, 195, Yugoslavia, rookie. 21 Danny Young, 6-4, 175, Wake
Forest, 6th NBA season. 42 Wayne Cooper, 6-10, 220, New Orleans, 12th
NBA season. -- Robinson can be explosive and has been seeing more time in
playoffs. Petrovic is streak shooter who has been bothered by hand
injury. Young provides steady backup to Porter. Cooper remains an
excellent shot-blocker.
	23 Mark Aguirre, 6-6, 232, DePaul, 9th NBA season. 15 Vinnie
Johnson, 6-2, 200, Baylor, 11th NBA season. 22 John Salley, 6-11, 244,
Georgia Tech, 4th NBA season. -- Aguirre has adjusted to coming off bench
and adds punch both on offense and the boards. Johnson is renowned for
his ability to heat up a game with his outside shot. Salley enjoying
excellent postseason scoring points, blocking shots and holding court
with the media.
	Edge: Detroit

Coaches:

	Rick Adelman, 1st full year. -- Former Portland guard has used
low-key style to unify team that was in disarry last season. Team 59
wins (20 more than last year) and 24 road victories are franchise
records.
	Chuck Daly, 7th year. -- Master at using bench to keep tempo in
Detroit's favor. Has team believing that defense wins game, not an easy
task in the offense-minded NBA. He's taken the Pistons to finals three
straight years.
	Edge: Pistons.

Intangibles:

	No Portland player has appeared in Finals, and team's starting unit
averages just 27 years, 2 months of age. However, Trail Blazers want to
show they're as good as league's more publicized teams. Team is 9-0 at
home and has one of league's loudest crowds.
	Detroit is gunning to become only third franchise to win
back-to-back titles. Starting unit averages 30 years, 5 months, oldest
of NBA's final eight. Daly could be off to NBC after this season.
Pistons have home-court advantage and might need it -- they've lost 20
straight games at Portland since 1974.
	Edge: Pistons.

        Detroit in 6.

    The Mozart of Basketball in Europe is a real winner, first 
    year with the profs and first year in the NBA Finals.
    
    Let's go BLAZERS.

   In my unabridged dictionary, next to the word `Choke' there is a team
   picture of the Portland Trailblazers.

   Mike JN

    
    You got that right, Mike! Bill Walton hit it square on the head when he
    said, "Portland quit playing with about 7 minutes to go in the game".
    After what I saw last night, I don't see how Detroit can win this
    series. 

    Blazers bandwagon?  Bah!
    
    Basketball sux.
    
    Mark.

       Is it FOOTBALL yet??
                                              Denny

    Hockey is for weenies who cain't throw a ball 10 ft. in da aya..... :-)
    
    HTH.
    
    

      I hope the blaizers take it.  They beat them until the mid of 4th
    per, then decided to find a way to loose.
    
      Its nice to see a team push the "dirty" BOYS around.  Thursday will
    belong to Portland.
    
    	Tim
    
    
      P.S.  I'm not normally a jumper,  but count me in.  BEAT the CHEAT!

    No problem guys.  We showed we could play with those dirty players
    from Detroit.  Home-cooking helped as the Pistons got 18 more foul
    shots then we do - especially in the 4th quarter when mugging and
    mayhem were allowed.  Laimbeer is the dirtiest player in the league,
    unreal....
    
    But we didn't play well down the stretch.  One game is not to BLAM!
    
    Go Blazers, teh wagon be rolling!!!
    
    JD

The trailblazers looked real good against the Pistons... for 40 minutes!!!
In fact, the pistons looked overmatched for most of the game.  

The blazers started heaving up prayers with 5 minutes to go...  
They're not playing the suns or spurs now...


			Wake up and smell the coffee....

				Bob 

 That maybe true Hawk but I so sick of watching that bum take those dives
 over silly little contact it ridiculous. He goes down court  puts an
 arm lock on the guy then falls away and gets the call. And he's forever 
 pushing people from behind and getting away with it.....

 mike

    Portland should have been able to steal that game last night. the
    Pistons were physically and emotionally exhausted from the Chicago
    series. Portland lost their poise in the final 5 minutes and resorted
    to 1 on 1 ,taking terrible shots.
    
    When Detroit turns up the defensive intensity they are almost
    unbeatable. Portland is impressive. they seem to match up well,but
    their bench is a bit thin compared to Chicago. Detroit's threesome off
    the bench will make the difference in this series as Portland's
    starters tire late in the game.

	JD, it's quite understandable that you don't understand the
Piston's brand of basketball.  You who prefers the "might as well
watch the fruits prance around the Wang Center in their tutus" brand
of basketball can't appreciate the manlier aspects of the game.  Get
out now before this bandwagon of yours collapses.

				/Don

    Portland looked like Phoenix in the last 5 minutes.  You can't protect
    a lead by shooting 20 footers.  Gotta drive that lane as if you aren't
    expecting a whistle boys!  
    
    Mike

If the Pissed-Ons weren't playing basketball, they'd probably 
be a hit squad for the mob.  I've never seen such dirty basketball.

I won't even mention Laimbeer.  The guy is a disgrace to the game.

Go Blazers...
'Saw

    >Portland looked like Phoenix in the last 5 minutes.  You can't protect
    >a lead by shooting 20 footers.  Gotta drive that lane as if you aren't
    >expecting a whistle boys!  
    
    No room to drive in the lane.  The Refs kept the illegal defense
    whistle in their pockets for the last 7 minutes or so.  Pistons would
    play the ball on the perimeter, and the other 4 would be in the paint. 
    If the refs don't force them to open it up, and the Blazers don't hit
    the open J quickly, there's not much offense left.
    
    I'd be more patient in drawing out the D.
    
    Dan

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    	
    	Count me on this bandwagon!  ABTP all the way!
    
        After leading 90-80 with about 7 minutes left, the Blazers were
    outscored 25-9.  Portland was able to successfully answer every
    Piston challenge except for last one.  They completely abandoned the 
    inside game at the worst time.  Porter looked intimidated and threw up 
    a couple of wild shots, and Clyde was forcing it. 
    
    	If they can play a full 48 minutes, they'll have a good chance to 
    win game 2.
    
    						 Glen J.
    
    

    Waaah....
    
    Laimbeer got called early for his play as much as he got away with.
    
    How come no one complained when Philly manhandled Chicago? Last night
    was nowhere near the severity of that series or Detroit-Chicago.
    
    Blazers panicked because they hadn't been there before and they got
    in foul trouble.  Drexler had 4 and 5 for a long time.  Williams and
    Kersey had their share too.  Without the bench depth to be able
    to go to, Drexler had to play and play safe instead of getting another
    guy that could drive to the hoop.  The bench depth is once again a
    factor...
    
    Part 2 of the Daly Double starts tomorrow night...

    I have this bad feeling about tonight's game.  Portland played almost
    perfect basketball Tuesday night (for 3/4 of the game anyway) and still
    lost while the Pistons played poorly.  I don't see James Edwards
    missing bunnies, and I can see Dumars picking up his play also.  I'm
    definitely a memeber of ABTP, but I'm worried that Tuesday's game may
    have been a demoralizer for the Blazers.
    
    					Steve

 Sorry Walt, but if Lambieer got called for even 1/2 the stuff he gets away
 with he wouldn't even make it to halftime.....

 Agree though that the Blazers' paniced and hey got give credit where it's
 due Isiah delivered when they need it most....

 mike

 ps...it's official we're the worst team in the league we lost to Jerry's Kids
 last night 18-14 or something like that.... ;^)

    We lost to the Orioles 19-0 Monday... who can figure... we got
    JYD tonight.
    
 >Sorry Walt, but if Lambieer got called for even 1/2 the stuff he gets away
 >with he wouldn't even make it to halftime.....
    
    Yeah, but wouldn't 80% of the league?

    Go Orioles, what a team!
    
    oops, wrong league... :-)

    Yeah Paul... wait, if we played the Orioles and I like the tigers,
    and I play 1B... does that make me... psyche yeah, I like that...
    
    -Dave Bergman  

 Well Walt, you maybe right but 80% might be a bit high. I guess the thing
 with Bill is the innocent act he tries to pull. For me it's the stanlaski's
 that get to me especially when instigates the contact and then takes the dive.
 Hey it's a smart play if you can get away with but that doesn't mean I got
 to like it.

 mike

True Hawk and I didn't like Jabbar's act either ;^)....

 Porter get 2 million and Koncak, Rassemusen also get 2 mill +. I'd say
 Portland got a better bargin....

 mike

 ps. and one bad game doesn't make a player bad. what Zeke how many times
 has he failed to deliver?

    Portland gets in foul trouble more often than not.  Any team that has a
    physical style of play experiences this.
    
    Mike

    
    	Blazers 106, Piss-tons(tm)105 ot.  
    
    	Another in a long line of exciting games in this year's playoffs.
    The goats of game 1(Drexler and Porter) came back with strong efforts
    last night.  Portland made their free throws down the strecth, while
    Zeke missed 3 in a row and Salley missed one that could have iced it.
    Thus far, the games have been decided by which team makes their free
    throws during the last seconds.  This doesn't surprise me too much 
    as these are two *very* evenly matched teams.
    
    	Great playing by Robinson and JoJ's lost twin (;-) off the bench.
    They scored when needed and played excellent defense.  
    
    	1 down 3 to go!  It's Rip City time!
                                               
    					           Glen J.

    Whatta game, whatta game, whatta game.  I thought Portland was in
    deep doo-doo after Duck and Kersey went out, but I know the world
    isn't ready for Bill Laimbeer to be a hero
    
    JD

   	I can honestly say that if Portland goes on to win this, I will
   always have been a Portland fan for as long as I can remember.

   Weathercock JN

    Well folks, the ol bandwagon is a heading back home to the manly
    West, land of giant trees, swarty women, manly food and good brews.
    We leave the urban blight and fruity "Palace" for the WAR MEMORIAL
    Coliseum....
    
    A split, and we a shoulda had bof games.  The Sissy eastern refs
    tried to take the game away be fouling out Duck and Jerome, but
    the Princess and the whiner couldn't pull it out for the Pistons
    in their sissy palace.
    
    The land isself will rise up to do in the Pistons, the trees will
    smite them, the mountains rock them, and Buck and the boys will
    crush them.  Hop on the bandwagon, we's heading home - no more wuss
    beer like Stroh's only good beers on the horizon.
    
    Go Blazers!!!!!!
    
    JD Wagon master

    Does anyone think this series is coming back to Detroit?  I think
    Detroit will be VERY lucky if it does!
    
    Mike

    re JD in 255.60
    
    >    Well folks, the ol bandwagon is a heading back home to the manly
    >    West, land of giant trees, swarty women, manly food and good brews.
                                    ^^^^^^
    
    JD, what the heck is a SWARTY woman? Does that mean she has warts
    on her nose that sweat?
    
    Rich
    

    RIch, Yep Swarthy is co-rect.  Voluptious, vivacious wommen.  And
    for the women readers, the Norfwest has real manly men, with huge
    lats, but with manners...
    
    JD

    Just seen this on cable
    
    
    Tired of being a girly-mon like Lufey? Tired of Lufeylikelittlelats
    LLLL(tm)? Well Here it is!!! 
    
    The Official JD Lat Builder workout kit!!!!  
    
    Yes folks, you can have lats like JD.  What? You say its impossible but
    NO!!! Thanks to this revolutiony new lat builder you too cain be like
    our hero JD. Leave LLLL (tm) behind. Get all the Babes!!! Order
    today!!!
    
    Comes complete wif
    
    A chocolate bar - for that quick burst of energy on the way to JDesque
    lats. 
    
    The secret Lat builder 
    
    and a lite beer - JD sez it helps replenish the vital nutrients that
    huge lats need wifout filling you up. 
    
    Already people in da Norfwest is getting huge lats!!!
    
    
    Call now!!!
    
    CALL TODAY!!!

   Dammit DD, you forgot to give us the number!

   Hawk,

   Re: LameBeer and  the MVP
   	I couldn't agree more. Win, lose, or draw, he has proven himself
   one of the real gentlemen of the game.

   Mike JN

    Oops the number is
    
    1-800-BIG-LATS

    Laimbeer went to Notre Dame?  No small wonder he turned out to be
    such a prolific whiner.  He had good training.
    
    Mark.

    JD, you make a fine wagon master.  Let's all hoist one in JD's general
    direction.  Hip hip.
    
    I honestly think that this series will head back to Detroit, where
    Portland will have to win one...and now they know they can.
    
    Didja notice the way that Rodman was limping about 8 times worse after
    he commited the bonehead foul (the hand to hip push, which he so often
    gets away with) than when he came strutting on court seconds before
    that?  That's the old play that so many NFL receivers pull after they
    drop one.  It takes 'em about 8 minutes to get back ont their feet and
    straighten up and limp off the field.  All that really hurts is the
    ego...
    
    And Daly and Laimbeer were whining to the officials after the game!?!
    Have they no shame?  Detroit got all the home cooking.  They;ve clearly
    got the refs "respect" in this one.  Amazing to see Isiah foul out. 
    Surprised he didn't slap the ref about the head and shoulders for the
    call.
    
    Dan

It will most definitely go back to Detroit because I think Detroit will be
able to win a least 1 game.  I think Portland is going to rely on the homecourt
once too often and blow one.


But as has been obvious since game 1, I'm not sure if Detroit really knows
what do do with Portland!  The Trailblazers are a balanced team in their own 
right.   I think playoff experience has been the reason for the close games
(and 6 Lambeer 3 pointers!), not the Pistons abundance of talent.  Unless 
Portland goes belly up, I say Portland in 6. 

			Bob 
.  

We all live on the Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon
We all live on the Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon
Jump aboard, and join the fun, in our Blazers bandwagon
And we'll roll across the land from Detroit to the Promised Land
OHHHHH
We all live on the Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon
We all live on the Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon
Clyde the Glide and Terry P, Kevin Duck, and Kersey
Are all aboard and riding free on our Blazers Bandwagon
Ohhhhhhh
We all live on the Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon
We all live on the Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon
Buck is up front, with Rick, Drazen and Cliff,
Many more are all aboard, singing for the horde as the banner begins
to wave (begins to wave..)
OHHHHH
We all live on the Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon
We all live on the Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon, Blazers bandwagon

    the badwagon be rolling through the plains heading for ol' Colorado,
    where we'll get some Telluride beer, some Coors, rocky mountain
    oysters, and some cowgals and head on our way.  The wagon is 
    growing every second, as folks are beginning to believe in the 
    manly men of the Norwest.
    
    Passed over a river, saw some guys fishing, one guy had caught a
    fish and it was a flopping and wiggling, bug-eyed, gasping for air.
    Reminded us all of Bill Laimbeer....
    
    C'mon abouard, Join the Show.....
    
    JD Wagonmaster Supreme

    Oops!  Bandwagon hit a big rut yesterday - a 6-11 pouting rut!
    
    NAZZ

    So /DOn, is BIll Laimbeer an example of Manliness?  A guy who whines
    and cries and sneak shots and grabs and holds?  Or Isiah, who give
    scalp massages?
    
    Just wanna know?  
    
    Laimbeer and Isiah would make great soccer players...
    
    JD

    
    re -1
    
    That's why soccer is such a wimp sport.  Don't allow nothing!
    
    Bruce

    
    Did any one see the ref totally ignoring Digo Maradona when he tried
    to whine ? Infact Maradona just backed out.  I hope NBA refs take few 
    classes from their Soccer counterparts. Soccer refs don't care much 
    even for the superstars.
    
    I only watched parts of the fourth quarter but watched the most
    important and best part of the game, do I have to say it ? Well for 
    newcomers, Laimbeer fouled out of the game. 
    
    -- Ram Nori

    
    	Blazers were taken out of this one early with foul trouble to 
    Buck and Duck(2 fouls each in the 1st quarter).  That was a blow 
    from which they never recovered.  38 Portland fouls to 26 Detroit
    FWIW.
    
    	Blazers couldn't handle the 3-guard lineup.  The microwave came
    alive for the first time in a while and Dumars was hitting everything.
    My sincere condolences to him with his father passing, especially 
    a week before father's day. :-(
    
    	Portland came out with a lot of emotion and it seemed like they 
    were relying too much on the home crowd to win it for them.  Just 
    like the adjusted after losing game 1, they'll adjust and bounce back
    on Tuesday.
    
    						 Glen J.
    
	
                          			 

    Pure and simple, Portland's inept outside shooting finally cost them
    big.  They have had phenomenal success while shooting in the low
    40s throughout the playoffs.  Yesterday, they couldn't even hit their
    lay-ins.
    
    I've never seen so many air balls on put-backs in my life.  
    
    I'd love to see Portland win this, but it will take much better
    shooting now that Detroit's guards have found the range.
    
    Pete

    Hawk,
    
    You miss the point.  What it means is the NBA refs, who rely on
    name recognition more than simple home court advantage, are calling
    touch fouls on the 'unknowns' like Duck, Kersey, Robinson, etc,
    while letting the 'known entities' such as Mr. Cheap SHot Whine
    KIng Laimbeer, Salley, et at get away with murder.   It's amazing,
    Kersey drives the lane, gets bumped, hacked, raked by about 4 Pistons,
    and it's called "Good Defense", on the other end, someone drives,
    is bumped, and tweet, whistle on the "physical" Blazers.
    
    And it's not just this series, the thing I LOATHE about the NBA
    is the total inconsistency of the reffing - rare is the game when
    the moron in the striped shirt can call the game fairly.  It's funny,
    but my fiance, who never watches, says "Is this game fixed for
    Detroit?"
    
    JD

    	REFing works this way.  When my team wins they called a good
    game, when my team loses, they called a lousy game.  It's a damned
    if you do and damned if you don't proposition.  By the by you didn't
    see me in here whining when the Trailblazers beat the Pistons. 
    And to listen to some you would think it was a close game (it wasn't).
    
    				/Don

>                                                        It's a damned 
>    if you do and damned if you don't proposition.
    
    	So damn all of you then. :-)
    
    	Blazers will shine tonite!  Clyde is gonna glide!
    
    
    						 Glen J.
    
p.s. - Thought I heard that Dumars will be playing tonight, but will 
       miss Thursday's game.

    Dumars has changed his plans.  He's going to play tonight and Thursday.
    He'll go to the funeral on Friday and then return to Detroit for
    Sunday's game if it's necessary.
    
    John

I don't know about hoops reffing, but no reffing is easy.

I just finished an excellent book by Jerry Markbreit, the NFL
ref.  I think it's called "Born to Referee".  You should all check
it out.

I do agree with JD.  The NBA officiating often times seems very
inconsistent, which is one reason why I dislike watching
hoops all that much.

'Saw

    Hey 'Saw - I read that book by Markbreit.  Has that dude got an
    ego or what?  "They realized I was the best ref they ever saw and
    tried to do anything they could to keep me" is typical of the kind
    of thing Markbreit says throughout the book.  But I guess in order
    to be a good ref you gotta have a big ego.
    
    Speaking of refs, why no Earl Strom so far this series?  He's still
    the best even though he's 60.
    
    NAZZ

    What you need on a team these days in the NBA is guys who get the
    benefit of the doubt.  It's hard to come by, but anyone can tell who
    they are - Magic, Bird, Jordan, etc.  Unfortunately, in this series,
    there are just 3 guys who get that benefit, and they all play for
    Detroit - Thomas, Laimbeer and Rodman.  That's why Hawk is correct when
    he observes that the advantage the Pistons are receiving from the refs
    has nothing to do with the home court (or something like that).
    
    Dan

    I guess the line that really got me was the line Dumars had - they
    said how he worked on his free throw shooting, because after winning
    the MVP last year in the playoffs, he knew he'd start geting all
    the calls.
    
    And you could sub Dumars with Ewing, or McHale, or Barkley.
    
    JD

    Agreed Hawk.  I love hoops with a passion, but the NBA has long ago 
    started taking on the look of a made_for_TV event.
    
    Start with the commericals.  There are ZILLIONS of 'em.  Even in the
    mildly exciting Game 2 I was having trouble maintaining interest.  The
    last few minutes was a comedy-affair as far as I was concerned - 15
    minutes of commericals rapped around 1 minute of basketball!  In this
    respect I find baseball refreshing.  Commerical breaks between innings
    and when pitches get yanked.  Otherwise, just pure sport.  
    
    Move on to the refs.  It's well-documented that the NBA has converted the
    once fine craft of basketball into a full-contact, rock_em_sock_em,
    almost_anything_goes affair.  There's more pushing, shoving, and
    elbowing going on under the boards than in most heavyweight prize
    fights.  Why let so much go?  Simple.  TV executives have developed an
    equation (based on substantive Nielson ratings data, no doubt) that
    indicates fan interest begins to wane if the game gets too long. 
    Cain't cut back on commericals, so some fouls have to go.  Hence
    the current sad-excuse-for-hoops we now observe.  Once again baseball
    is refreshing in this respect.  Umpires have limited effect on the
    game and are thus immune from network pressures.  The only possible
    area where an ump might be pressured is to expand the strike zone to
    speed the game along.  Given the trend of the networks, I'd say we
    should keep our eye on this.
    
    
    - ACC Chris
    

    Oh, one more thing that kills me about the NBA is the absolutely absurd
    zone defense calls.  I consider myself fairly hoops-knowledgeable, but 
    I couldn't begin to define for anyone exactly when a team is playing an 
    "illegal" defense.  There are a few humorous aspects to this though.  
    One is that, regardless of the situation, you can bet the guilty teams 
    coach will scream at the refs about how he's totally wrong.  (Actually, 
    this holds true with just about any foul called during the game, another 
    sickening aspect of watching the FANtastic NBA.)  The other is when a 
    defensive player trips or falls or something, somehow resulting in an 
    illegal defense call.  HAH!
    
    What a joke.  If the average hoops fan can't understand the rule, GET
    RID OF IT.  The definition of hoops defense in my book is to stop the
    opponent from scoring without committing a foul.  In an attempt to
    remain FANtastic, they've invented silly rules that are
    difficult-to-impossible to understand that make no logical sense as far
    as "sport" is concerned.
    
    (Again, notice how the purity of baseball flies in the face of such
    made_for_TV rules.)
    
    
    - ACC Chris

    re:last 2
    
    Well put Chris,I couldn't agree with you more about the last few
    minutes. I got sick and tired of being manipulated,Thursday night and
    finally went to sleep at 11:30 with the score tied at 94.
    
    I knew there was a chance I might miss something great,but I was tired
    and I could see this game going on forever. I put the VCR on and
    watched the next day.
    
    Look for all sports to continue to extend the timeout periods as they
    can stuff more and more commercials at the captive viewer.
    
    Even though I missed a tremendously exciting overtime period,I didn't
    feel too bad. 

   If you see the defensive assignments shifting, ie. coverage by one
   man, then the next, then possibly another, as the ball handler moves
   around the court... and there are no picks involved, you've got an
   illegal defense. That's easier to spot. The same things hold true for
   coverage/defense away from the ball... harder to spot but just as
   illegal.

   Mike JN

    Anybody need a parachute ???
    
    Pistons up 3 games to 1.   Almost time to turn out the lights, boys.
    
    Bob Hunt

    First, ACC_Chris - you're way off base with the speed of an NBA
    game.  NOTHING is worse than the endless parade to the foul line
    to shoot 1-and-1 in an NCAA game.  BOoooorrrrinngg!!!!  Despite
    its faults, the NBA is by far the most entertaining sport of all
    to watch.  Last night's game was tremendously exciting, despite
    the zillion time outs.  It had tons of strategy, incredible athletic
    moves (especially by Drexler), and showed once again that there is
    no substitute for experience.  BTW, the refs did an exceptional job
    last night, IMO.
    
    I must admit that the Little Princess SND (tm) last night.
    
    NAZZ
    
    SND (tm) = sucked no d*ck = a player you can't stand who played a game
    much better than you hoped he would.

I tend to agree with a lot of what ACC Chris said.

In fact, over the past several weeks, where we've had discussions
in here on how soccer won't ever be big because of TV, and how
hoops has changed to placate the TV audience, I'm seeing a trend.

It's truly a scary trend, and maybe it deserves its own topic, but
for now, let me say that if things keep evolving like this, I see
something akin to Stephen King's "Running Man" taking place.

Imagine the NBA finals of the future.  The outcome is solely determined
by polls and surveys of fan response, and while they game might be
"played", the Network will cut in scenes to manipulate the outcome.

Blazer up by twenty?  Well, we'll just cut in a few shots of Isiah
Thomas Jr running up the score.  Oops, a foul on Danny Dumars?
Never, couldn't happen... Mr Director, run that close up of a hand
getting nothing but ball.

What, Lenny Laimbeer took a swing at someone?  Quick, cut in that
shot of Buck Williams Jr making an upper cut...no, no, we'll use
the stunt double who looks like him, just superimpose Buck Jr's face...
yeah, that's it...


Carrying the analogy further, we get to a point where society won't
allow real sports to continue, preferring instead to let the 
Glass Teat (a phrase coined by Harlan Ellison) spoon feed manipulated
sports to the opiated masses, and executing people who go to the
park on Sunday afternoon to shoot hoops...

Yep, certainly is FANtastic alright....


Gawd, this might make a great story.....

Chainsaw

    Chainsaw, I wants an autographed copy of that book....  :-)

I'd write it Hawk, except that the copyright owners of 
"Running Man" (Stephen King) and "Fahrenheit 451" (Ray Bradbury)
are still alive, and would probably sue the hell outta me.

Still, it might be worth it, because this trend is pretty bad IMO.

TV can be the great educator, or the Glass Teat.  It's unfortunate
that people in this country really can't make informed decisions
as to how it should be viewed....

'Saw

    	Great, exciting game last night.  Hey ACCaught, I would rather
    watch wombats fornicating on channel 2 than a boring college basketball
    game.
    
    				/Don

    re: Saw
    
    You're right 1Way, and I think I observed some of what you're talking
    about last night.  With the Blazers all but counted out and Drexler
    falling out of bounds with the ball both the refs were ready to point
    their arms downcourt - Detroit Ball. 
    
    But then outa the corner of mine eye I thought I spotted a guy with a
    CBS jacket (I think it said "DIRECTOR" on the back of his chair) waving 
    and screaming frantically at the refs, who quickly huddled and somehow
    came to a consensus that Laimbrain had somehow fouled Drexler, despite
    barely touching him!  After the game as the refs were walking out they
    kinda looked at Mr. Director and shrugged their shoulders with a "We
    did our best" look!  
    
    re: Nazz and /Don
    
    My how we have gigundo chips on our shoulders, don't we?!  At no point
    did I bring up college hoops in this discussion.  We're critiquing the
    FANtastic NBA here, not the (admittedly superior) college game. 
    
    Unfortunately I can't gloat very much, cause ever since the NCAA
    started signing those multi-million dollar deals I've noticed a
    depressing trend toward NBA-like TV manipulation.  Solutions to the
    problem of the endless free-throw contest at games-end are readily
    available from the coaches, but we all know by now that these
    knowledgable folk are likely the *last* to be consulted on rules
    changes.  
    
    :^(
    
    
    - ACC Chris
    
    

    Good game last night.  Detroit's outside shooting was great.  Usually,
    it falls apart, but not last night.
    
    Hawk, the one and only reason I want Portland to win was because
    of Laimbeer.  I used to defend him, pointing out how he gets by
    with smarts instead of ability, but his act has grown old.  He's
    an embarrassment to mankind, let along basketball.  If a 2 year
    old whined and cried like he does, the kids britches would be red
    all the time from getting whumped.  He's a spoiled rich brat who's
    never grown up and caint stand when anything doesn't go his way.
     I expected him to stay on the court and hold his breath til he
    turned blue unless the ref changed the call.   It's a sickening
    spectacle.  And he's a cheap, dirty wimp.  For once in his life
    I'd like to see him go mano-to-mano with someone, and more importantly,
    against someone his size.
    
    Isiah cracked me up after the game - he made it sound like the Pistons
    were the ones' who came back froma   big deficit, when if fack,
    the Pistons were up by 16 and came withing a 1/10 of a second of
    blowing it.  
    
    And the fans, well, Hawk, they are different from eastern fans,
    but they've sold out every game since 1977, so they aren't fickle
    and their loyalty caint be questioned, unlike most other fans, such
    as Knicks fans, Sixers fans, Celts fans.....The crown at a blazer
    game is more blue collar than the crowd you'll get at a Celts game.
    
    As for officiating, it was as it has been all year, inconsistent.
    The Pistons sat outside shooting jumpers, hence the lack of fouls,
    but the Pistons still got the benefits of most calls - isiah hacked
    Porter at the end of the game, VJ throwing buck to the ground, etc...
    
    Interesting how we'll have 2 back-to-back repeats...
    
    JD

Well Portland had their chance, and blew it with 2 chances in Portland.
Have to give credit to Detroit. Obviously they know how to win and Portland
isn't quite there yet.


		Maybe Portland can salvage something out of this by 
		beating Lambeer to a bloody pulp in game five.  Yessir,
                I'D like to see Duckworth heave Lambeer into the stands.

				Bob 

   Gotta side with Janoshawk on this one JD

   I have a soft spot for the underdogs, and actively dislike Detroit, so
   I was pulling for the Snailbraisers.

   Between Dickless Stockton and the refs, by the end of the game I was
   yelling my guts out for Detriot to cream ya.

   The Little Princess was awesome. And Lamebeer was getting shafted.
   There were various and sundry womens requiring attention at the bar I
   watched the game in, so I didn't see EVERY play, but I saw most of
   them. A Portland guy would dribble down the court, stop, take two or
   three steps, throw the ball up, and crash into a stationary defender.
   I'd say `hmm... interesting... what'll they call... the travel or the
   charge?'.... TWEEEEEET! Foul on Lame-beer. Then the network wienies
   would go on and on about what a good call it was, how wonderful
   Portland was, blah blah blah.... I was gagging big time. I didn't think
   anyone could turn me into a Pissed-on (tm) fan, but somehow, they
   managed. The Refs and the announcers did everything they could to hand
   the game to the Portland Snailbraisers (tm), and it was only Portland's
   poor free throw shooting that allowed detriot to walk out winners.

   Mike JN

    Mike,
    
    If you Janos would watch the replays, you'd notice that Laimbeer
    is never stationary, he alwasy throws a hip, or a leg, or somethign
    at the guy, usually when the guy is in the air, and usually the
    cry baby is the guy who initiates contact, then he flops.  It didn't
    work last night, so billy baby throw a tantrum.  Whah....
    
    JD

   Chainsaw

   Harlan not only coined the phrase, he wrote a book by the same name
   (The Glass Teat) which I have. I've talked to him a couple times. The
   guy has a bent mind. Two of his books of shortstories.... Paingod...
   I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream.... Weird, huh?

   Hawk,

   I wanta see that toad sex feature... lemme know when it comes out on
   video

   Mike JN

I Have No Mouth is by far and away one of the most powerful short
stories I've ever read.

Harlan is out there, but if you listen closely to what he says, he
has an amazing insight into life as we know it.  God, does that
term "Glass Teat" conjure up a powerful image or what?

I'd love to meet the guy sometime...what a mind...

As an aside, Science Fiction is perhaps some of our most scathing,
and accurate, social commentary, and it is very often overlooked...

'Saw


re the toads:

	Too cool.  But don't they know that the Veterenarian
	General has determined that Marlboro's after sex while
	riding on the female toad has been found to cause cancer
	in laboratory rats???

    Good call on that 3 pointer as time ran out.  Young was clearly too
    slow getting that shot off.
    
    Mike

    
    Too bad the Georgia Tech refs weren't there. Last night was infinitely
    closer to call than that screwing MSU took.

    A heck of a game last night. I only wish Danny Young had pulled
    the trigger .05 seconds sooner ... :-(
    
    And I don't consider this series over. I expect Portland to regroup
    and beat Detroit in Game 5, then who knows ?
    
    No, I honestly don't expect the Pistons to blow a 3-1 lead (and
    I picked the Pistons in 7), but these are two pretty evenly matched
    teams. I heard a few stupid announcers blathering about "the Piston's
    domanance", but this series could easily be 3-1 Portland, or at
    least 2-2. 
    
    If I was Detroit, I wouldn't let up at all ....

    >Does anyone think this series is coming back to Detroit?  I think
    >Detroit will be VERY lucky if it does!
    
    >Mike
    
    Hey Mike and JD... I think you're right, I don't know if it will
    or not... Slasher, thanks for taking care of the girly men in here,
    my friend...
    
    -Walt

    Thanks Walt!  Pistons D and experience are schooling Portland. 
    Princess even said last night that the tribulations with Boston and LA
    have prepared them for this series.
    
    Mike

    
    ahem...there was no foul called on the play.

    	No problem Walt, us "real men" gotta stick together.
    
    				/Don

    Walt,
    
    I never said it wouldn't go back to Deetriot.  I'm simply rootin
    for the Blazers because of Laimbeer.  If the Pistons dumped him,
    I could root for him.  But he's the wimpiest guy in the world.
    
    However, I predict here and now the end of the Pistons' empire after
    this series.
    
    They won't be able to hide Laimbeer forever.  Edwards is old.  VJ
    is showing signs of losing it, and when streak shooters lose it,
    they lose it FAST.  Salley and Rodman have yet to show the capability
    to carry the offensive load.  That leaves the Princess and Joe Dumars
    to carry it.
    
    Daly will get out after next year. 
    
    JD

    Hawk,
    
    No foul, but it shoulda been on Duck, because of the arms.
    
    JD

    Right, the Duckworth pick was a no-call...
    
    Laimbeer undercut a couple of those fouls, no argument there.  But
    foul #6 was lame...
    
    re Thomas' comments.  They were down when he went out with 3 fouls.
    They came back without him.  If you noticed, he said nothing about
    his 19 points he scored in the 3rd.  I think they were under the gun
    and talked about "us" and "we" and not "I".  That's a captain for you.
    
    Any comments on how the free throws went last night?
    
    and Dan....
    
    
    If Young takes that shot in the Forum, does it count?  I bet it does...
    
    -Walt

    You know, JD, listening to your past few notes regarding Bill Laimbeer
    brings a smile to my face. Sorta nostalgia, ya know? Brings back
    memories of Nazz and the \Slasher from a few years ago.
    
    But then I am awaken from my reveries by the memory of John Devlin
    telling Nazz and \ that Bill Laimbeer was a such a smart basketball
    player and only Celtic fans could not appreciate his "skill". I
    do believe that if the Celtics were playing the Pistons today you
    would be extolling the grace and marvel of Bill Laimbeer.
    
    Rich
    

    RIch,
    
    If you read my note, you will notice I said how I used to consider
    him smart, etc.  But it isn't just this series, it's been building.
    
    So there, wrong again.  ;-)
    
    And it's really funny to see Slasher and Hawk extolling the virtues
    of him.
    
    His whining has gotten worse, to last night when I really thought
    he was going to start crying.  C'mon Bill, give it a break, act
    like a man.   Heck, I almost respect Parrish now for cold-cocking
    him.
    
    JD

In game four James Brown approached the Pistons bench to listen to what
was being said during a timeout.  Well Billy boy simply said " If they
(the refs) want to keep on falling for it, I will keep on doing it".
Billy boy is a very smart and dirty basketball player, plain and simple.
Pistons are a very tough bunch in the final two minutes of a basketball
game.  They have suceeded where the Suns could not.
    
    
Greg        

    >Good call on that 3 pointer as time ran out.  Young was clearly too
    >slow getting that shot off.
    
    True, but if Detroit were down, and Izzy took the shot, you know it
    would have counted.  I wanted the refs to count it just to see
    Laimbeer's reaction.  Something like /Don reaching the betting window
    just as the gun sounds...
    
    Dan

    OK, JD, I'll accept your explanation. And, if you will recall the
    tremendous uproar among the Larry Bird Jihaad, Parrish had an ankle
    that was in terrible shape. Old Billy boy kept kicking it and stepping
    on it. Parish looked to the ref's for help and got none. You were
    one of the noters in here calling us whiners. 
    
    Now perhaps you can see why Parish just said enough is enoughh and
    clocked the creep. Ironically, Parish was a one-legged man at that
    point and Billy boy wouldn't even get up to challenge him. He cowared
    on the floor like a wet dog.
    
    Rich
    

    No, but see my previous note Dan... if were in the Forum it would have
    counted...

.102> Ripped City
    
    	Ouch!
    
    	Inexperience is killing Portland more than anything else.  
    No questioning that Portland has the talent, they just don't have
    the poise.  EWSPECALLY DUCKWOTH!  HE IS COMPLETLY TWO BLAM!
    
    	Kind of ironic that the home team has won only one game after 
    both the Piss-tons(tm) and Blazers won all their previous home games. 
    
 re: Hawk/Dumars
    
    	Definetely the most *underrated* guard in the game.  A true class
    act.
    
    						 Glen J. 

    	Yeah, but Dan I always beat the bell, kind of like the Pistons.
    JD, you waffle so much you should seek a career in politics!
    
    				/Don

    I know what Portlands problem is now.  John Wetzel, the assistant coach
    used to be an assistant at Phoenix, and was the head coach during the
    Suns' drug scandal.
    
    'nuff said ;-)

    Turn out the lights.
    
    Pistons take it all.  The "Microwave" cooks 'em.   Portland up 90-83
    with just a few minutes to go.  Vinnie Johnson takes over and scores 7
    of the Pistons' final 9 points including the game winner with 00.7
    remaining.
    
    Final 92-90 and a repeat champion once again.
    
    Bob Hunt

    
    	Oh well.  It's been a fun ride.  Portland had a *much* better
    year than anyone expected(myself included).  They have nothing to 
    hang their heads about.  They played hard and except for game 3, 
    were never out of reach of winning.  As long as they draft smartly 
    for depth and keep their nucleus intact, they'll be a contender for 
    a couple more years.
    
    	Two things killed the Blazers:  inexperience(team & coach) and 
    lack of bench play.  Game 2 was the only game in which Petro, Cooper,
    and Robinson were effective.  Adelman was simply outcoached.  Time and
    time again, he didn't call timeout to stop Detroit momentum and regroup
    his team.  And it certainly didn't help when Clyde fouled out.  
    
    	Thanks for the excitement Portland.  Good luck next year.
    
    						 Glen J.
    
    	

Next time you want lead the bandwagon JD, leave me at home ;^) hahaaa

 somebody get me a doctor, somebody get me a gun/fix/shot whatever....

 Can't say they didn't earn it or Isiah his award as MVP but god it hurts
 to know we're not the best in the east anymore.....

 mike

I hate this sportsmanship stuff when ya gots to be congratulatin'
a bunch of dirty players 8^)

Congrats, not that I really gave that much of a flying ____ anyway,
seeing as I didn't watch any of the games....


'Saw

Thank you NJ ekiM!

Now I'll take my basketball, backboard and hoop,  and go home 8^) 8^)

    
    Well, it looks like the next regularly scheduled Bandwagon is gonna
    have to be for the Red Sox.
    
    Hop on!  It's fast approaching the edge of the cliff, and ya don't
    wanna miss *this* ride!
    
    Dickster
    

    Well guys,  the bandwagon has been stripped by the holligans from
    Detriot (tm), the wheels are gone, replaced by old platic milk crates,
    the sheepskin seat covers have been despoiled, the womim are gone
    too....
    
    In the final tally, experience and lack of bench kilt the Blazers,
    and Daly outcoached Adelman.  I'm actually happy for guys like the
    Microwave, Dumars, Salley, Rodman, it's Laimbeer, the Little Princess
    and the Axtor, Mark Aguirre, that turn my stomach.
    
    The Blazers were lost in the San Antonio hoopla - remember folks,
    last year the Blazers won 39 games, this year 59, a 20 game
    inmprovement and made it to the finals.  Meahwhile, the western
    press keeps calling Phoenix the heir-apparant to the Lakers, whil
    IMO, the Blazers are the team to beat.   This was a team with many
    new faces this year, Buck Williams and virtually the whole bench.
    Petro, Robinson and one other rookie (not counting Ramos).   A team
    to watch.
    
    Terry Porter was too inconsistant in the finals, and IMO was one
    of the main reasons they lost the close games.  IN close games,
    the point guard is the one who makes it happen.  Porter didn't,
    Isiah did.
    
    Congrats to Walt Ashe and the Pistons!
    
    JD, ex-wagonmaster...
    

    Kudos to Detroit!  They got the job done and showed why they are
    champs.
    
    Walt's in heaven, AGAIN!

>Classic example of a player going for the stats?
 
    No, Porter is a classic example of the collar getting a little too
    tight.  Wade Boggs is and always will be *the* classic example of a
    player going for the stats.
    
    Dan

                       -< And don't you forget it! >-
Mike JN

    Hey,
    
    leave Wade alone today..........its his birthday!
    
    wheel

    re .144
    Wake up Mike ... you haven't been bets in the East for 4 years -
    ad you won't be for at least 20 more (unless you hop on the Detriot
    or New Jersey bandwagon .......
    
    
    HAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!!!

       Hey Dock, when's the last time Philly or Houston was 'best' in their
    conference?
                                     Denny

    Re 156.
    
       Don't rag on Mike,give the guy a break,at least when it comes
    to sports Mikes on the ball,he has his favorite teams and you have
    yours and at least Mike doesn'nt bandwagon jump.By the way Mr(s)
    Brooks how are your Houston squads doing.................probably
    the same as you,watching the good teams play.You and those clowns
    grono + whitegirl make a good trio.......all losers !!!!!!
    
    
    Tom

 Thanks Tom for the vote of confidence but I can get by on my own....

 Dock, obviously you don't know when I'm pulling your leg. I figured I give
 you a chuckle with those statements. One thing you can be sure of of is that
 we will be back. We've won championships in every decade except the fourties
 why should nineties be different?

 mike

    Re: 158
    
    Tom if your P-name is referring to the Dallas Cowboys you have just
    gained a friend for life.  

    
>    Tom if your P-name is referring to the Dallas Cowboys you have just
>   gained a friend for life.  


 It is. I guess you enjoy a good joke too when you see one... ;^)

 the boys messed up last year but will try to rectify themselves this year
 with O-fer....

 see Chuck Santos for details  ;^)

 mike

    The Cowboys will do remarkably better this year, just wait. Let
    your friend know about the Cowboys topic in the football notesfile.
    BTW, I take back the "friend for life" bit. :)

    
    For the Cowboys to be "remarkably better", wouldn't take much.

       Cowboys sip!!
                                        Denny