Indiana Pacers’ Firepower
Roy Hibbert # 55 Height 7-2 Weight 280
Lance Stephensen # 1 Height 6-5 Weight 228
David West # 21 Height 6-9 Weight 250
Paul George # 34 Height 6-8 Weight 221
Ian Mahinmi # 28 Height 6-11 Weight 230
Tyler Hansbrough # 50 Height 6-9 Weight 250
Jeff Pendergragh # 29 Height 6-9 Weight 250
BRING SOME MORE CHARCOAL FOR THE HEAT’S FLAME
Let’s Go Heat
Miami Heat over takes Chicago Bulls in playoff game 4 88-65. LeBron James # 6 controlled the court with 27 points and 8 assists. On the sidelines Dwyane Wade # 3 controlled strutting his polka-dot suit with skin-tight flood water pants that gave a great laugh. D. Wade should not be criticized for his attire any more than President Obama should come under fire for the IRS applying more scrutiny to “Tea Party” organizations applying for tax exempt status.
It has always been a general practice for the IRS to target a certain area of the tax code to prevent abuse by some who would prefer not to pay taxes. In the past, deductions that have received more scrutiny have included the “office-in-the-home deduction.” During that time a lot of people were claiming deductions for offices in their homes to conduct their business, but closer scrutiny showed that their companies provided them with an office and did not require them to work from home. Allowing these deductions would have caused US taxpayers to pay more in taxes. Other deductions that the IRS has applied more scrutiny to in the past have included exemptions for children or the child care credit where an increasingly large number of people began claiming pets as their children. At another time in the past the IRS applied greater scrutiny to “Tax Protesters” who claimed that under the US constitution they did not have to pay taxes. Again, taxes not paid by these individuals caused the US taxpayer to pay more in taxes.
Each year the IRS can adjust its computer so that a certain area of the Tax Code gets more scrutiny than other areas simply because more abuse is in that particular area. This does not mean that these groups are unfairly targeted. It just means that the US taxpayer gets greater protection from abuses that may occur. For example, deductions such as office-in-the-home get greater scrutiny when the IRS computer audits 1 in every 5 and not 1 in every 8 returns claiming this deduction. This protects the taxpayers from those who would get by with claiming benefits under the Tax Code, which were not intended.
The Tax Exempt Division of the IRS determines whether organizations qualify for exempt status. There was a time when many entities were set up as churches in people’s homes. At that time, all applications claiming tax exempt status for a church in the home became an area where the IRS would apply more scrutiny to applications for 501 (C ) (3) exemption. Tax exemption under the tax code was intended to benefit the larger population and not a tiny group. Applying a higher scrutiny to tax exempt organizations referring to the name “Tea Party” is not out of the ordinary, especially since in this case those “targeted”were not denied. Those who criticize President Obama do so only because they do not understand what the term “targeting” really means. Think of “targeting” as being “closely scrutinized.” If you understood what it means to scrutinize closely you would be happy, unless, you like paying higher taxes.
In the first quarter of play-off game 3 between Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, LeBron James # 6 was dribbling the ball with his mind intent on making it to the rim when he gets broad sided with a bear-hug by one of the Chicago Bulls who is not satisfied that LeBron is called for a technical foul for breaking loose from his bear hug, the Bull then advances over to push LeBron with such force LeBron goes down and the Bull gets ejected from the game. “What was that Bull thinking?” Why after reviewing the tape did the Ref let stand the technical foul against LeBron for breaking free?
Two weeks ago, I wrote that the damage from the Boston bombings has not yet occurred and made mention of the Refs fining Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers a $25,000 fine for something he said. Someone was kind enough to give me an explanation on how important it is for NBA refs not to be ridiculed by negative opinions expressed by NBA players and coaches. “The NBA system is similar to the legal system which protects judges” this person explained. “Both the NBA and the legal systems operate more efficiently with the referees and judges being free from negative opinions. Well, then that explains it. But does that threaten to keep the system in the dark when it may need some light shed when the system does not operate in an efficient manner for all parties involved. Case in point is a nearly $90,000 fine imposed on me by a judge who ordered me to sign documents to transfer property to the opponent, where there was no evidence presented through the “court of law”. That fine was a Fla. Stat. 57.105, which lawyers out there know this is a fine for committing fraud upon the court. The court file contained no evidence to support the Motion for Summary Judgment, not one affidavit. “Did I miss something?” The court reporter’s transcript reflected no evidence (zip, nada, no evidence whatsoever) yet the judge ruled in favor of the motion and told me to sign documents to transfer property within ten days or I would be sanctioned. Well I thought the law gave you 30 days to appeal, so I didn’t sign the documents. Relying on what they taught me in law school and the law review, I was so wrong. “The law. Ha, what’s that?” You must be from another planet. Nobody brings law into the court room these days. In fact, the judge told me he would have me arrested if I did not sign. “But Your honor”, I said, “this is a civil case.” Ha, wrong again. “JA” (that stands for Judicial Assistant), “Call the Court Marshall up here and have her taken into custody until she agrees to sign these documents.” I’m sure you are thinking this is one of my fiction stories but there was a court reporter in the court room and this is on the transcript. If you want a really good read, check out my short story, “Never Too Big to Fail.” The moral of the story is that it does not matter how many degrees or MVP’s you hang on your wall, or how many billions you have in your portfolio, don’t forget that you are never too big to fail. That experience left me with the question, “Does the system work just fine, or does it work just for those doing the fining?”
The Chicago Bulls were true to their name in tonight’s game. Outside the arena I heard the scuttlebutt in the huddle, “Chicago’s going to win tonight.” I thought I was in Chicago. Actually, I was on the wrong side of the American Airlines Arena. I was with the Bulls fans. How did I get here? Well, that’s another story. To go on with this story, the Bulls came on the court bullying their way from offense to defense. With that strategy they managed to stay a shot ahead of the Heat. Then, my boy, Udonis Haslem # 40 came in with a put back, (I’ve been hanging around the guys too long. That’s my basketball slang for putting the ball back into the rim when it is bounces out). That tied the score 12-12. Then Mario Chalmers # 15 hits a triple that gives the Heat a 2-point lead (15-17). LeBron took a steal and went like a locomotive to the rim. All the red bulls in the house got out of LeBron’s way making a clear path to the basket. Norris Cole # 30 gets the ball to Ray Allen # 34 who gives Miami a 6-point lead. (15-21). The Bulls respond; Jimmy Butler # 21 comes back with his second triple. LeBron gets through under the rim (18-23). The Refs are running out of breath from blowing the whistle. Another foul on Nate Robinson # 2. There is so much Red Bull on the floor from touching, holding, tackling, clawing and slinging body parts, testosterone is flowing up in here. After awhile, I couldn’t tell if more “red” was coming from the Chicago Bulls or from the fire of the Miami Heat. LeBron James # 6, 4-time MVP gets into a serious tangle with Joakim Noah # 13. Noah is fuming and gets so mad he gets a technical foul. (20-23) The Bulls gang up on LeBron 5 to 1 at the end of Q1 but the MVP manages to get through and get the ball in. (20-25). LeBron was like the monster in the commercial who was trying to keep it “clean” until his opponent had to talk about his past. Remember it was the Chicago Bulls who stopped the Miami Heat’s 27-game winning streak. “Oh you want to go there, well let’s bring it on.” In Q2 the Miami Heat put some charcoal on their fire. Up til then the Bulls were dishing out disrespect with disregard. But when the Heat came out of their huddle the season’s changed. The wind started blowing and leaves started falling off the trees. Chris Anderson a/k/a “Birdman # 11 came back in Q2 and he got physical, drawing a flagrant foul. We all have our limits. An elbow after the whistle gets a technical on a Bull. Then Nate Robinson gets a taunting technical foul called for something so x-rated the ref can’t repeat it on the air. This place is on fire with fiery red Bull. There might be some holes in the locker room tonight.
Good defense by the Heat forces Nate Robinson to shoot an air ball. Then Carlos Boozer # 5 shoots an air ball. Noah hits LeBron sending him down. Up to now there are 5-technical fouls and 1-flagrant. The Heat kicks it up a notch. Dwyane Wade # 3 runs the baseline and climbs up to the rim (38-44). LeBron hits 3 (38-47). LeBron passes to Wade who slams it in with a kick (38-49). Norris Cole hits 3 (41-52). Norris comes back and hits another 3, that’s cold (not cole) (41-55). Robinson takes an offensive foul when Shane Battier # 31 takes a stand. Robinson goes down and is slow getting up (41-58). LeBron throws up to the rim where Wade meets the ball and finishes (47-60). Boozer responds with 3 (43-60). Chris Bosh # 1 smoothly ducks the defense and dunks. A Chicago turnover allows Wade to give the ball a new home, advancing the score 47-68. LeBron forces a jump ball and the ball goes to Wade who hits a long 2 (47-72). LeBron steals and “Oh, my God,” what an awesome side-door pass to Wade. (Many houses in Florida don’t have side doors but I’m from Detroit where you needed more escapes to get out the house.) That was a sneaky pass that went un-noticed out the side-door. Hold on, did I miss something? That Bulls shot was so far off it looked like it hit a team-mate in the head. It was about as crooked as the score (51-75, Q3, 3:30). Chris Bosh # 1 hits one from the corner. LeBron comes with a behind-the-back pass to Ray Allen # 34. Then LeBron passes to Birdman who goes up and swings from the rim (54-82). Birdman rejects Chicago’s offense and sends the ball back down to Allen for 3 (54-85). Q3 ends with the Heat up 56-85.
LeBron lightens up on the bench with some humor while Shane Battier # 31 hits 3 from a pass by Norris Cole (56-89). Norris “Cold” hits 3 to cool the place off (55-91). Birdman jumps and blocks. Ray Allen scores and draws the foul. Do I see flames? We need some more “Cold” because the house is on fire. Noah takes a technical foul. Taj Gibson # 22 takes a flagrant. Gibson with hands flying and lips flapping is literally thrown out. Nearly picked up by the elbows. When Ray Allen finishes scoring at the free-throw line from all the fouls, the Heat is up nearly a half-a-century. A foul by Nazr Mohammed #48 sends Wade to the floor. Birdman is moving like a feather in the air and on the court, he just looks so restricted with all those tattoos. I wonder if they restrict your range of motion. They must not because I can’t imagine Birdman moving any faster. Norris Cole passes to Mike Miller # 13 who passes the ball back to Cole sending it to the rim. That was a nice “Cold Miller Beer” to quench tonight’s raging hot Bull.
Milwaukee Bucks go down in the 4th game, round 1.
Recap of the first round.
Game 1 Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks, Heat won 87-110.
The stars were out for game one. Rihanna came to play in Miami. Game one was the beginning for the Heat defending their NBA Championship, but for Rihanna and her new movie. “This is the End.”
Picture of Rihanna drawn by David “DH The Great” Hardeman, with colored pencils and ink pens. ”DH the Great” never had an art class. After being shot five times a higher power blessed him with life plus an awesome ability to draw. Five bullets didn’t mess up his basketball game either. You will hear more about DH the Great’s art and his soon-to-be released book, “A Million Tears.”
Game 2 Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks, Heat won 86-98.
In the second quarter of game 2, Dwyane Wade # 3 bucked his way right up the middle through the Bucks’
defense and scored. Wade posted the highest points in game 2.
Game 3 Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks, Heat won 104-91.
Chris “Birdman” Andersen # 11 under the rim had tenacity and the heart of a lion. Udonis Haslem # 40 contributed his monster slam.
Game 4 Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks, Heat won 88-77.
Call me a queen now!
LeBron James the King of Queens
Tuesday April 15, 2013, will be a day to remember. The crowds were not congregated at the post office in lines waiting to mail their income tax returns. The crowds gather elsewhere. It will go down in history as the day the Miami Heat bench (minus LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Mario Chalmers, Chris Bosh, and Udonis Haslem) take a stand to claim their place in history.
NORRIS COLE # 30 plays basketball as smoothly as John Coltrane played his sax and Thelonious Monk played his piano. In his College town of Cleveland among his family and friends a/k/a the Cole Mobile entourage, Norris Cole steps up to the plate and bats 16 points, plus 11 rebounds and 9 assists. A former football player, Norris Cole’s stamp as an athlete comes towards the end of this basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers when Norris throws down a wicked knuckle ball play, normally thrown in baseball without spin but some waving whips and dips causing erratic and unpredictable motion. With seconds left in the game and the clock ticking down his final play puts Cole in the history books. The Heat is up by only 1 point. Cleveland’s phenomenal guard, Kyrie Irving # 2 from Duke has the ball racing towards the rim with enough time to score. Heat and Cavalier fans are all holding their breath, knowing that if Kyrie makes this shot the game is over and Cleveland wins. Cole is breathing hard and sweating, running right in step alongside Kyrie. Cole is sweating but he is stone cold adamant that he will not let Kyrie score. Norris knows his time is limited. His conviction refuses to let Kyrie snatch a win from the Miami Heat. He must stop Kyrie from making that winning score. Norris locks his vision, like a laser on the ball in Kyrie’s hands. Still moving with enormous speed, Norris goes into a zone and becomes one with the bouncing ball. The clock is quickly running down, 3 seconds, 2.5 seconds, 2.4 seconds. Cole must do something and do it fast. Cole’s pulse is throbbing. At just the right moment, with 2.2 seconds, Cole launches out and strikes between dribbles, without touching Kyrie, Cole makes a clean sweep taking the ball right from Irving’s hands as Kyrie continues a dribbling motion (minus the ball). Kyrie is in emotional shock, not knowing what just happened. Norris Cole executes with perfect precision then turns and races to the other end. The clock runs out and that’s the end of that story. “Oh, did I say the Heat wins 96-95 with Cole’s first double-double of his career, 16 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists.
Tuesday, April 15, 2013, will go down in history as the day that Miami Heat player RASHARD LEWIS # 9 from the small town of Beaumont, Texas joins the big leagues. rebounds. Rashard moves his 235 pounds forward and hooks a pretty good size fish, scoring a game-high 19 points plus 3 rebounds. On the court Rashard is as relaxed as his deep-sea fishing venture with Rick Kalin, the winner of an American Airlines auction, where Rashard catches a pretty good size fish and experiences the wonders of the sea. Rashard learns there is no place like the tranquility of nature’s vast ocean. Rashard brings some of that experience with him in this game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Lewis relaxes his guard and has the most fun since he joined the Miami Heat.
Tuesday, April 15, 2013, will go down in history as the day that Miami Heat player JOEL ANTHONY # 50 becomes lighter, gets up off his feet and experiences levitation, scoring his highest points ever.
Tuesday, April 15, 2013, will go down in history as the day that Miami Heat player CHRIS ANDERSEN # 11 tries his wings with a dunk that elevates and solidifies him as “the Bird” man that COULD fly.
Tuesday, April 15, 2013, was the day that Miami Heat player JUWAN HOWARD # 5 steps in the shoes of Miami Heat Coach Eric Spoelstra’s, from the side lines Howard coaches the bench. “Looking good, Fab 5, looking like a coach.”
Tuesday, April 15, 2013, will go down in history as the day that Miami Heat player JAMES JONES # 22, winner of the NBA 2011 All-Star 3-Point Shoot-Out Competition, demonstrates what it takes to keep your muscles and mind limber and your game sharp no matter how many games you have to sit on the bench waiting, but ready when your number is called. Despite many days between playing, like an understudy in a Broadway performance, Jones steps on the court ready to play and he gives a winning performance with 14 points and 4 rebounds. Jones then steps in front of the camera with poise and tells the world to look out, the Heat is on.
Tuesday, April 15, 2013, is one day before Miami Heat player RAY ALLEN # 34 will select the winners of his Legend Pack Sweepstakes. Some lucky winners will be happy. “Hey Ray, I want the game worn Nikes to help me run faster in writing more creative, thought-provoking, educational, inspiring blogs. Let’s make a deal.”
Miami Heat player SHANE BATTIER # 31, my hometown boy from the Detroit area, knows how to take charge and get the job done. Whenever there is trouble brewing with a smothering score, this 6-foot-8 power-forward consistently banks triples, advancing the score by leaps to widen the Heat’s lead.
Miami Heat player MIKE MILLER # 13 is the thriller that went from the chilling cold of the Minnesota Timberwolf’s to Miami’s spanking Heat. Mike is familiar with Milwaukee’s chilling cold so I don’t need to tell you Mike to dress warm cause you know the Bucks will come to Miami intending to throw a chill on Miami. “Not to worry.” Miami Heat has a Trump card (not you Donald). Fans are ready with their White Hot Heat to help the Miami Heat escape the chilling cold. Burn the house down if necessary.
Today, Tuesday, April 15, 2013, will go down in history as the day that Miami Heat player JARVIS VARNADO # 24 comes out of obscurity and gets introduced to the world. Last Sunday, at family day he walked alone carrying a big stick, but expect Varnado, from the Sioux Falls Skyforce, and one number above Michael Jordan’s # 23, to be a force in his own right and one to be reckoned with. Today, Rookie Varnado – he plays, he speaks, and he shines. Oh, did I forget to say he smiles. Varnado left Mississippi for Boston then left Boston to create some heat in Miami. Unfortunately, today on April 15, 2013 Boston created heat and made history, but in a different kind of way.
JARVIS VARNADO # 24 
The Massachusetts Historical Society located in Boston, houses the ink pen used by President Abraham Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation, which became official in January 1863. It’s purpose – to give some freedom, create some order, and re-distribute some rights. A little over a hundred-years later in April, 1968, the King-maker, Dr. Martin Luther King, whose dream for peace gave definition to civil, and whose foot-race was for rights, got assassinated. King left the passion burning, but death put an end to his foot-race. This week, on Tuesday, April 15, 2013, one-hundred-fifty years after freedom rang the bells in Boston toll at least 3 deaths and more than 180 wounded in a heinous act, by two brothers who drank some cool-aide that puts a tragic stamp on what has been a harmless foot-race for a simple pleasure. 8-year-old Martin Richard, one of the three killed in Boston held a sign that read “PEACE.” What is it about Peace that brings death? The Boston Marathon organized by the Boston Athletic Association is the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon. Runners take time from their hectic schedules to run for a worthy cause and have some fun; instead, these runners got blasted with bombs and ball-bearings. As with any loss, only time can heal the pain but the race must go on.
Sharp shooter Chris Bosh# 1 puts Miami on the score board with authority, then takes back Miami’s lead at 13-12. Mike Miller # 13 throws down a 3rd triple 19-18. Norris Cole #30 hits 3 to put Miami up 22-20. Chris Anderson a/k/a Birdman, who tonight looks like an iguana, lizard, reptile, as he bounces without wings to the rim. Shane Battier # 31 sneaks into the rim. Cole’s pass to Miller gives Miller a 4th triple. Norris comes back with 2 (43-39). Miami goes into half-time up 3 (48-45), but after half-time Mike Miller gets high. He sails three more three’s for a total of 7 triples and ends with 26 points. The Heat sails smoothly to its 59th win (89-79).
Miami Heat hit New Orleans Hornets with a 87-101 win. Dwyane Wade # 3 and LeBron James # 6 start the game with a show at the rim. After good ball movement Shane Battier #31 hits 3 from the corner 20-13. LeBron hits his 95th NBA triple, then 96th , then 97th triple back-to-back (31-19). James ends Q1 with 15 points, the Heat is up 10 (32-22). LeBron comes back in Q2 and hits his 98th NBA triple. Norris Cole comes galloping down the court ahead of the defenders and he gains 2. LeBron comes back with what would have been his 99th triple but steps on the line making it a 2-pointer. “That’s okay,” he says, then comes right back with his 99th NBA triple. “Give me my props”.( Q2 8:11 47-27). Refusing to stop, LeBron makes his 100th NBA triple (47-27). LeBron’s career high number of triples made in a game is 8. He sits down before half-time with 7. Dwyane Wade takes a pass and gets it to the rim hanging with one hand (55-33).
Is that Mike Miller # 13 up there hanging from the rim? Versatile. That’s a D. Wade move hanging from the rim. LeBron and Wade come back with some Friday night basketball entertainment at the rim. Wade with a long bom down the court, LeBron catches with one hand and throws it down with the other. Bosh hits from the corner (66-45). D Wade draws a charge by Eric Gordon. LeBron recovers the Heat’s ball, throws it up in the air to Bosh at the rim, then Bosh gets up off the floor (I mean really gets up off the floor) to the rim and comes down with a slide. With 2 on the shot clock Wade jumps for 2 (75-49 Q3 3:49). LeBron hits his 7th triple (81-52). Norris Cole # 30 feeling left out hits 3 (86-62), then Shane Battier’ comes back with his 3rd triple (101-81 Q4 3:25). The Heat hit 14 triples.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat rolls on with thousands of bikers, 3 blocks long, rolling through the streets of Miami from Flagler Street to Coral Way.
Remember the snow plow game, when the Miami Dolphins played New England after a bad snow storm on December 12, 1982. With minutes to go in the game the score was 0-0. The snow plow operator cleared a spot on the field specifically for the New England kicker to kick the winning field goal.
Well, the Miami Heat v Cleveland Cavaliers game on March 20, 2013 is bizarre like that. The game starts with a quick loan to fix a roof leaking some mysterious substance. That delays the game some 35 minutes. The game progresses with the Heat down 27 points in quarter 3, Cleveland is cheering, but when the Heat realize they drank the cool aide, they regroup with a great comeback. That’s only been done six times in NBA history. Ray Allen hits his third triple giving Miami its biggest lead over Cleveland (83-79). Then a crazy fan runs out on the court. Security grabs him by the seat of his pants and escorts him away. When that doesn’t work to distract the Heat, the Ref calls Mario Chalmers # 15 for a travel but over-looks an obvious walk by Tristan Thompson # 13. LeBron sees the “ogee-doke” and says “Oh no, I’m not falling in this trap, Pat Riley deserves better.”. LeBron steps on the gas and guzzles his motorcade out of there. He throws some magic dust to accelerate his team. He says, “Come on boys let’s get out of here.” Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, Chris Anderson, a/k/a Birdman, Shane Battier and the rest of the bench wake up to a 98-95 win over the Cavs. 24 straight wins and still counting. Now, they’re gunning for the Lakers.
Happy Birthday Pat Riley! One of the most nurturing coaches of all times, with the ability to gently yank and pull the very best out of a team. We love you we do.
“Good Better Best, never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is the best.”
Fans and playmates, come out and play with us. We are aiming to win our next 11 games – 15 more games and regular season will be over. These are the best of times. Be a part of history in the making.
