It’s just too long to wait. A whole week…seven days and seven nights and so many things can happen. When I first started these blogs, I used to write every night. Now, I have to wait a week before I write these entries. Well, this week shows that 168 hours is too long and things can change so quickly. I jotted some down as they happened last week and now it’s time to take a look.

Would he wear a dress to the induction?
Dennis Rodman was mentioned for the Hall of Fame. Several names were announced for the 2008 induction, including our own Mr. Bill Davidson, and the debate began to rage about whether Dennis the Menace should be enshrined. You know what I think? I think he should be a LOCK for the Hall.

Most don’t remember the Dennis that came from Southeastern Oklahoma State, the shy kid with so much enthusiasm and so much athleticism. I remember how excited he would get, his fist raised in the air in a childish exuberance, you just knew he couldn’t contain himself. He played with heart, he played with emotion, he played with passion. His numbers are good and they warrant entry. Unfortunately, I think the voters are going to always look at the Dennis of today – the tatts, the piercings, the marriages, the erratic behavior and the crazy stunts. And they are going to put that ahead of his credentials.

Worm, you’ve got my vote, but I guess you’re going to have to wait. And so does another Dennis…but that’s later.

Boos for Big Ben
So Ben Wallace made his long-anticipated return to The Palace this weekend and even before Mason could get his name out, the boos started. Sure, there were some cheers for him, but mostly Big Ben got the boo birds going.

Was it deserved? No. Was it expected? Kind of. Did you really think the fans would give him a warm, heartfelt welcome back? Did you think we would stand and cheer and ring the gong and wear the wigs? No way. Ben is the enemy now. He wears someone else’s colors and he plays in a different city. He is now trying to beat us and we must beat him.

I just hope that when the summer rolls around or we see his ‘fro flowing in the breeze as he walks down the street, we stop, shake his hand and wish him well. He did do a heck of a lot for this city and this organization. We will have to wait and see how the ultimate reactions play out.

Vegas, Baby, Vegas
Finally, I heard that after the All-Star Game and the showing the NBA gave, that it is speculated that Sin City will never get a franchise.

Here’s my take…when you have a team, you have one, maybe two guys that are going to have entourages. That’s expected and that can be managed. However, when you get two teams with 15 guys on each team and every one of the players is the star, they are all going to have entourages. That’s 30 entourages (or is it entouri?) and that sounds like trouble. Even Ari Gold couldn’t handle that.

Couple that with the fact that you had celebrities from every entertainment sector – movies, TV, sports – and they all have entourages, and you have more cling-ons than a Star Trek convention. Sorry – that one just popped into my head when I said the word cling-on.

That is what happened in Vegas…that and the fact that Los Angeles is only a few hours by car so entourages could travel easily. I don’t think you are going to see that kind of trouble/element/concentration of hangers-on when Las Vegas gets a team. I think they still have a legitimate shot at a franchise. Wait and see…

Freckles and Red Hair
We lost a dear friend and opponent this week when Dennis Johnson passed away at the very young age of 52. This is another guy that deserves to be in the Hall of Fame and it is a travesty that he wasn’t inducted before he passed.

I didn’t realize it until I read a recent column by Bill Simmons (The Sports Guy on ESPN.com) and he showed how DJ’s numbers are almost identical to Joe Dumars’. Ironically, DJ was on the same ballot as Joe and was passed over. He wasn’t even on the ballot this time.

One thing I remember about DJ, and I only really remember him from his days with the Celtics, is that he was the only guy who scared me because I knew what a great defender he was. He could shut down Isiah, Joe or Vinnie at any time and he could do it in a variety of ways. He would get good position on Isiah and force him into a double team. He could stay with Joe, who was constantly moving and keep him in front of him and challenge his shot. He would be physical with Vinnie and body him up, knocking him off rhythm.

And he looked so slow and so awkward…those long arms, those black shoes that made him look slower. The methodical way he would look over the defense, work a pick and roll and throw a perfect pass to a cutting McHale. Man, he used to p@#$ me off.

The other thing I remember so vividly about Dennis Johnson was that lay-up. I will never forget him cutting to the basket in 1987, after Larry Bird had done the improbable and was looking for someone to pass to. I can see Joe chasing him and I see him rise on the left side of the rim, the ball in his right hand…not an easy shot by any means and made more difficult by the chaotic nature of the situation. I can still hear Johnny Most making the call… “into DJ, who lays it in”…that image will forever be ingrained in my memory.

And I will never forget DJ’s look…the reddish hair and the freckles.

The NBA has lost a true champion and a great man. They also lost an opportunity to reward a great player with a Hall of Fame induction.

They just waited too long.