SportsTalk With AJ ROK

Welcome to SportsTalk with AJ ROK, real talk about sports!

Aiight, let’s kick things off with something everyone is talking about it, THE NBA LOCKOUT IS OVER! Yeah the season will be shortened from 82 to 66 games, but yo it’s good to be able to see some NBA ball again. I caught a few college games but face it and no disrespect to the collegiate level but ah, there just aint nuthin like the NBA! Ya never know how much ya miss something til its gone. Yeah it’s not a complete season, but for us who were afraid we lost the season, we will gladly take what we can get at this point!

After five months the players and owners, who could not come to an agreement and were about as far away as the Republicans and Democrats of the current administration. But unlike our bickering politicians, who were busy playing politics, the owners and the players were big enough to bury the hatchet for the sake of the game, to end the second lockout in the leagues history. Quick tweet ya congressman, maybe our government can learn a thing or two and follow suit and do what’s right for our country!

Now it’s back to the business of basketball, Commissioner David Stern who is confidence the fans will return as well is kicking things off with five games on Christmas Day, maybe there truly is a Santa Claus. Shortened season or not, it will not be short on interesting subplots and storylines to watch play out like a best-selling, John Gresham novel.

You have Mark Cuban’s Mavericks defending their crown and hoping to do what few champion teams have done before, win back to back titles. Then we still have LeBron who got more press last year for his mass exodus from Cleveland and the way he handled it, still chasing his first title. Can he redeem himself and restore his legacy. Will The Big Three finally live up to the hype, hmmm, inquiring minds want to know? You got my team, The New Look Knicks trying to show the world they can hang with The Boston Celtics and truly become serious contenders in the East again… oh yeah let’s not forget Chris Paul’s arrival to the City of Angels’ other team, after the NBA blocked his trade to Kobe’s crew.

Like the squad formerly known as New York Nets, who were once considered second hand citizens to The New York Knicks in the Tri-State area, ended up outshining the larger than life Knicks, at one point, the move of CP3 to the Clippers has the potential for the lesser-regarded Los Angeles franchise to move out of the shadows of its Staples Center co-tenants. I’m saying even if the Knicks haven’t won a ring in decades they’re still the more storied franchise in NY and Madison Square Garden is still the world’s most famous arena. It’s gonna be great to see CP3 breaking ankles in his new uniform on a larger stage, setting up Blake Griffin for several SportCenter Top Ten Highlighting slamdunks. But it won’t be enough really outshine the Lakers in the long run, it’s gonna be a real interesting storyline as the lockout- shorten season plays out. Wouldn’t it be good for the sport if the Lakers were knocked down a peg or two and weren’t the favorite in their own gym for the next few years.

Shoutout the reigning MVP, Derek Rose, who agreed to a five-year contract extension worth a little more than $94 million. A Southside Chicago baby b-baller’s dream, to start and become a superstar for the home team. From no. 1 pick in the draft to Rookie of the Year to All-Star to becoming the youngest player to become league MVP in just three years. Crazy thing is he is only getting better, we haven’t seen his best yet. Another great storyline to watch is can the 23 year old, Chi-town born and bred superstar bring the championship back to The Windy City, a feat the Bulls hasn’t manage to accomplish in the post- Jordan era!

Congrats to Magic Johnson on his expanded role on ESPN and ABC’s Pre-Game Show. Beginning Christmas Day at 2 pm, the Kia NBA Countdown will originate from the ESPN Los Angeles Production Center at L.A. LIVE, across the street from Staples Center. Johnson will become a featured analyst, joining Jon Barry, Michael Wilbon and Chris Broussard. He will also continue to interview NBA stars and provide analysis on SportsCenter and other ESPN shows.

In other sporting news, shout out to Baylor’s dual threat quarterback, Robert Griffin III for adding Associated Press Player Of The Year honors to his list of accolades. If nothing else it will add a few more zeros to his future NFL contract. The aspiring lawyer, already winner of the Heisman Trophy and the Davey O’Brien Award, came back better than before after the torn ACL in his right knee, which cause him to miss the last nine games of the 2009 season. Griffin could lead the 15^th ranked Bears to tie Mike Singletary’s senior season record of 10 wins in 1980, with a win in next week’s Alamo Bowl against Washington.

Ending things will a lil NFL talk! I think I’ll break down the playoffs in the next edition but couldn’t leave without mention the battle for the King Of New York, oh wait that was Jay Z and Nas, my bad, I mean the battle for bragging right in New York. I’m talking about the upcoming Giants/ Jets showdown. While both teams lost games they should have won, both at this point are still in control of their own destiny. But make no mistake this is a must win game for both teams. What better bragging rights is there than being team responsible for knocking the other out of the playoffs. Ok with that said it’s hard to choose for this New York fan, but I feel that the best of the Giants is still a little better than the best of the Jets and I think that’s what it’s going to boil down to, both teams bringing their best for their hometown fans! My prediction G-Men, while I expect both Manning and Sanchez to air it out often, it will probably be close and could even be decided by a field goal. Til next time, this has been SportsTalk with AJ ROK!