Dante’s Speak, Installment 23
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18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22
Is there a better month during the year than March? The NBA is gearing up for the stretch playoff run, March Madness is upon us, Spring Training has begun, Tiger Woods is again atop the PGA rankings and NASCAR fans have returned to Daytona, this time on motorcycles. All is right with the world. The month of March is about cheering for the underdog and it begs many questions. Can Winthrop beat Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament? Can #98 Steve Wckrhoirsldrhsky hit a fastball off Mariano Rivera? The guy that won the Daytona 500, is he the one that pours milk on himself? Will little Jameer Nelson get eaten alive playing a big man's game? The answers are No, No, unfortunately No and an emphatic NO! Here is how my perfect month of March would break down:
The Magic finish 13-3 during the month of March. With upset wins over Sacramento, Seattle, and Phoenix, the Magic then handle their business against the sub-500 teams and finish the month in the fourth spot of the Eastern Conference playoff race. I realize this is difficult, maybe even downright crazy to think this could happen, but like I stated, this is MY perfect month so I can do whatever I want with it. The Magic have found a spark and his name is Jameer Nelson. After close observation and four months of guarding Steve Francis in practice, Jameer has shown he's ready to lead this Magic club. He has brought back the fastbreak that has been missing the past two months, he's allowing Steve-O to get open looks coming off screens, he actually looks for Dwight Howard on the block and he's hitting the open jumper.
What more could you possibly want from a point guard? OH, that's right....height, I forgot. He's only 5'10" he couldn't possibly survive in the NBA, that's why he fell to the 20th pick. Well, I have news for ya, Jameer CAN play this game, and he's gonna be around for a long time. He's gonna be one of those guys we sit around and talk about 30 years from now and laugh out loud about how all those teams passed on him way back in 2004. "Remember Dorrell Wright? HAHA Robert Swift? HAHA...STOP IT, I can't breathe."
Doug Christie opts to NOT have surgery and will join the team for the playoffs. This would be outstanding. By placing Doug on the Injured List we can give him time to work out whatever it is he needs to work out, rest that ankle and come back healthy. The bottom line is the Magic need his veteran experience come playoff time. Basketball becomes a halfcourt game and the Magic will need his defense and playmaking ability. Again, this hasn't happened, it's just part of my perfect month.
Vince Carter, Glenn Robinson, Darius Miles and Latrell Sprewell compete on the second season of "Biggest Loser" on FOX. Instead of losing weight though, fans would cast votes based on whose conduct was most detrimental to their team during the 2004-05 season. The winner gets a giant contract to not produce for the team of his choice.
Jennifer Aniston admits publicly that she is, in fact, dating a one, Dante Marchitelli, and that their reality show, "How Lucky is This Guy?" premiers this Spring.
The Boston College Eagles run away with the NCAA Tournament. After losing the Big East tourney, the Eagles snag a #2 seed in the Big Dance and go on to win the Championship, thanks to pregame pep talks from Manny Ramirez, Tom Brady, Larry Bird, Michael Dukakis, and Mike Eruzione. The Eagles stumble out of the gate, needing a pair of free throws to narrowly edge the UCF Golden Knights. Again they look sluggish but pull out the win over Holy Cross to get to the Sweet 16. The Eagles start to find their rhythm and win decisively over Gonzaga. Next up the Louisville Cardinals. BC is up big at halftime when a frustrated Rick Pitino quits after screaming to his team, "Pervis Ellison is not walking through that door folks"! Next up the Final Four! Illinois puts up a fight but ultimately they are no match for a fired up Eagle team that has Billy and Mickey Curley in attendance. Finally, it's the Championship game where a three pointer at the buzzer beats the North Carolina Tar Heels. A parade ensues in Boston where Red Sox fans take advantage of yet another opportunity to scream obscenities about the Yankees.
NASCAR cuts it's race down from 500 laps to 10. Imagine my joy if the Daytona 500 was reduced by 490 laps. Also, NASCAR decides to hold the Daytona 500 during Bike Week. This way I can be driving down I-4 here in Orlando and while the biker in front of me has his beard caught in my windshield wipers, I don't mind, because when I look down next to his motorcycle I see Jeff Gordon in his side car.
Finally, the perfect end to my month of March is watching a Spring Training game in each city here in Florida. I get a phone call from the people over at MasterCard and they want to fund my entire trip for their "Priceless" campaign. The first game is at the Red Sox training facility in Ft. Myers against the Yankees. Burt Reynolds sings the National Anthem. Randy Johnson is on the mound and his first three pitches are hit out of the park for home runs. I look to my right and see Ben Affleck, I make a joke about A-Rod, we laugh. Over on my left I see lifelong Sox fan Stephen King talking to his glove. This is disturbing for the first three innings, but we get used to it. Our trip concludes right here at Disney's Wide World of Sports, and during the seventh inning stretch we all watch Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson compete in Dizzy Bat. But this is just MY perfect month, it may be different for you.
Dante welcomes your comments, questions and alternative opinions. E-mail him here.
Dante’s Speak is solely the opinion of Dante Marchitelli and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA. Marchitelli has served as radio producer in the Orlando Magic's Broadcast department for six seasons.
Is there a better month during the year than March? The NBA is gearing up for the stretch playoff run, March Madness is upon us, Spring Training has begun, Tiger Woods is again atop the PGA rankings and NASCAR fans have returned to Daytona, this time on motorcycles. All is right with the world. The month of March is about cheering for the underdog and it begs many questions. Can Winthrop beat Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament? Can #98 Steve Wckrhoirsldrhsky hit a fastball off Mariano Rivera? The guy that won the Daytona 500, is he the one that pours milk on himself? Will little Jameer Nelson get eaten alive playing a big man's game? The answers are No, No, unfortunately No and an emphatic NO! Here is how my perfect month of March would break down:
The Magic finish 13-3 during the month of March. With upset wins over Sacramento, Seattle, and Phoenix, the Magic then handle their business against the sub-500 teams and finish the month in the fourth spot of the Eastern Conference playoff race. I realize this is difficult, maybe even downright crazy to think this could happen, but like I stated, this is MY perfect month so I can do whatever I want with it. The Magic have found a spark and his name is Jameer Nelson. After close observation and four months of guarding Steve Francis in practice, Jameer has shown he's ready to lead this Magic club. He has brought back the fastbreak that has been missing the past two months, he's allowing Steve-O to get open looks coming off screens, he actually looks for Dwight Howard on the block and he's hitting the open jumper.
What more could you possibly want from a point guard? OH, that's right....height, I forgot. He's only 5'10" he couldn't possibly survive in the NBA, that's why he fell to the 20th pick. Well, I have news for ya, Jameer CAN play this game, and he's gonna be around for a long time. He's gonna be one of those guys we sit around and talk about 30 years from now and laugh out loud about how all those teams passed on him way back in 2004. "Remember Dorrell Wright? HAHA Robert Swift? HAHA...STOP IT, I can't breathe."
Doug Christie opts to NOT have surgery and will join the team for the playoffs. This would be outstanding. By placing Doug on the Injured List we can give him time to work out whatever it is he needs to work out, rest that ankle and come back healthy. The bottom line is the Magic need his veteran experience come playoff time. Basketball becomes a halfcourt game and the Magic will need his defense and playmaking ability. Again, this hasn't happened, it's just part of my perfect month.
Vince Carter, Glenn Robinson, Darius Miles and Latrell Sprewell compete on the second season of "Biggest Loser" on FOX. Instead of losing weight though, fans would cast votes based on whose conduct was most detrimental to their team during the 2004-05 season. The winner gets a giant contract to not produce for the team of his choice.
Jennifer Aniston admits publicly that she is, in fact, dating a one, Dante Marchitelli, and that their reality show, "How Lucky is This Guy?" premiers this Spring.
The Boston College Eagles run away with the NCAA Tournament. After losing the Big East tourney, the Eagles snag a #2 seed in the Big Dance and go on to win the Championship, thanks to pregame pep talks from Manny Ramirez, Tom Brady, Larry Bird, Michael Dukakis, and Mike Eruzione. The Eagles stumble out of the gate, needing a pair of free throws to narrowly edge the UCF Golden Knights. Again they look sluggish but pull out the win over Holy Cross to get to the Sweet 16. The Eagles start to find their rhythm and win decisively over Gonzaga. Next up the Louisville Cardinals. BC is up big at halftime when a frustrated Rick Pitino quits after screaming to his team, "Pervis Ellison is not walking through that door folks"! Next up the Final Four! Illinois puts up a fight but ultimately they are no match for a fired up Eagle team that has Billy and Mickey Curley in attendance. Finally, it's the Championship game where a three pointer at the buzzer beats the North Carolina Tar Heels. A parade ensues in Boston where Red Sox fans take advantage of yet another opportunity to scream obscenities about the Yankees.
NASCAR cuts it's race down from 500 laps to 10. Imagine my joy if the Daytona 500 was reduced by 490 laps. Also, NASCAR decides to hold the Daytona 500 during Bike Week. This way I can be driving down I-4 here in Orlando and while the biker in front of me has his beard caught in my windshield wipers, I don't mind, because when I look down next to his motorcycle I see Jeff Gordon in his side car.
Finally, the perfect end to my month of March is watching a Spring Training game in each city here in Florida. I get a phone call from the people over at MasterCard and they want to fund my entire trip for their "Priceless" campaign. The first game is at the Red Sox training facility in Ft. Myers against the Yankees. Burt Reynolds sings the National Anthem. Randy Johnson is on the mound and his first three pitches are hit out of the park for home runs. I look to my right and see Ben Affleck, I make a joke about A-Rod, we laugh. Over on my left I see lifelong Sox fan Stephen King talking to his glove. This is disturbing for the first three innings, but we get used to it. Our trip concludes right here at Disney's Wide World of Sports, and during the seventh inning stretch we all watch Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson compete in Dizzy Bat. But this is just MY perfect month, it may be different for you.
Dante welcomes your comments, questions and alternative opinions. E-mail him here.
Dante’s Speak is solely the opinion of Dante Marchitelli and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA. Marchitelli has served as radio producer in the Orlando Magic's Broadcast department for six seasons.
