Tuesday, August 05, 2008

basketball tries to keep up

"OK, now you've fudged the bucket. You've gone and given me too many things to know." - Arab rap sensation Group X.

Is basketball unable to keep up with the rest of our fast-paced world? Here in Portland, the addition to a new all-star (yet curiously unproven) center Greg Oden was promoted by the Trailblazers as something fantastic. And just before the Oden mania could quite take hold, the team elected to have him miss his first season so he could undergo knee surgery and properly heal. Had I actually seen him play, I might have been let down. But the point is that Oden, now back in the gym and ready for the new season, was their best bet to reignite flailing ticket sales. Their motto "Ready Or Not, Here We Come," was strangely fitting for the young team aiming to prove themselves during the 2007- 2008 season.

So, how can basketball hope to compete with new, exciting sports such as box lacrosse? Perhaps by playing three-on-three? Please welcome the second annual Trailblazers Street Jam, a benefit for Special Olympics Oregon. The idea has apparently caught on, as a brand new summer leage has formed, calling itself the 3BA.

The 3BA is three-on-three basketball action based loosely on the idea of arena football - with former college and current professional players matched against each other in a shorter court. The shot clock is also shorter, prompting more action, more dunks, and more three-pointers, which is the best part of the game. Basically, the idea is to make this new summer basketball league quicker and more exciting, much like indoor lacrosse. Oregon Live has a great write-up on the first match between Portland's team, led by A.C. Green, and Seattle's team, coached by Shawn Kemp.

And as for the emerging sport of cheerleading, what is there to say? Really - our emerging sports writers are new at this - what is there to say? Does anyone know when the cheerleading season starts? Is it in the fall, during football season, or in the spring, after basketball? Does it have a season?

Here's a question we can pose: who is the best all-time celebrity cheerleader?
Paula Abdul Hayden Panettiere Gwen Stefani

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