For many years I have been a fan of what Artest has been able to accomplish while operating inside the lines of an NBA court. Lets not confuse this with what Artest has done in his personal life or in the stands while punching Detroit fans. I am a fan of the Artest that has the ability to shut down your best offensive player while being one of his teams top scorers.

For several years I have been excited at the idea of Artest in a Lakers uniform. Every time I would hear a rumor stating that the Lakers were in talks to acquire him, I would become excited like a child on a sugar high in anticipation of the thought of it being true.

When the rumors became a reality yesterday, how did I react? Like the child that had come down off that sugar high. I was sad and a little down because the writing was on the wall that Ariza would not be coming back to the purple and gold next year. I had finally gotten my wish but was not pleased at the price that was paid to make it happen. As a fan of the purple and gold, that was me reacting with my heart and not my head.

I was sad that one of the most important pieces on this years championship run would not have the opportunity to come back and defend the title. I was always a fan of number three since he arrived via trade a year and half ago. I loved his athleticism, his defensive play and the fact that he was selfless and willing to play his role and leave the spotlight to Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

When I started to think with my head I realized that as much as I love Ariza and will miss him in southern California next season, the Lakers got better by acquiring Artest. No matter how you slice it, he is the better player of the two. Artest is better offensively, a former defensive player of the year and a perennial NBA All Defensive First or Second Team member. He is one of the few talents in the league that is capable of shutting down your best offensive weapon while putting up 20 points or more on any given night. Most importantly he gives the Lakers a toughness and grit that they have not had since early this decade when guys like Rick Fox, Horace Grant and Robert Horry fulfilled those roles.

Despite winning a championship this year, I thought that was something the Lakers lacked. Historically many of the championship teams have had a player that will figuratively "punch you in the mouth" and use tough, physical play to take you out of your game. Players that come to mind who fulfilled that role on championship teams are Danny Ainge, Kurt Rambis, Dennis Rodman and Bruce Bowen. When teams try to intimidate the Lakers, they now have a "patriot missile" to answer the physical "scud missile" of the other team.

Its obvious that an "arms race" was taking place around the league. The Spurs picked up Richard Jefferson, the Cavs landed Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando traded for Vince Carter. The Lakers could not just sit back and rest on their laurels of what they accomplished this year. Everyone else around them was trying to get better and they knew they must do the same.
Are there risks with Artest that don't come with Ariza? Without a doubt. Artest is known to make selfish plays by taking shots out of the flow of the offense, not to mention that he is capable of going off the deep end mentally. However, I think there will be enough strong minds on the Lakers to keep him in line.

The accomplishments of Phil Jackson as a head coach and Bryant and Derek Fisher as players speaks for itself. Those guys command respect and if Artest is as serious about winning a ring as he claims to be he will stay right mentally and fulfill his role. Artest is only making $6 million per season for the next three years, which by NBA standards is cheap for a player of his caliber. So if he doesn't fall into place, he should be easy to move.

The Lakers realize that their championship window only has about three more years left in it. Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak knows that his window will only last for as long as Bryant is at his peak. Thursday's move clearly signifies that the Lakers are going for broke to maximize the potential of this window.

Thank you Trevor Ariza for your role in bringing championship number 15 to the Lakers franchise. I think I can speak for all Lakers fans in saying that you'll be missed. On that note, everyone's favorite NBA soap opera, "As The Laker Turns" just got a whole lot more interesting. See how next seasons drama unfolds starting in November.

Anaheim Ducks re-signed former Norris trophy winner, and team captain, Scott Niedermayer, today ending speculation as to the defencemans intentions for the upcoming season.

The Ducks got his services for 1 more year at $6M. This is a small discount for his services from this past years $6.75M salary.

The greybeard captain assured team officials of his intent to return over the weekend, prompting the trade of fellow defenceman Chris Pronger to Philadelphia (more on that here.)

It also hastened the return of Teemu Selanne, a long time Duck winger and franchise leading scorer.

Selanne cited Scotty's return as emphasis on the teams desire to win now, as opposed to rebuilding the team, and both players are excited at their prospects.

Looks like GM Bob Murray knows what he's doing afterall, eh folks?

Now we just have to finalize the deal for Wiz, get Frenchie and Marchant back, and Rock this.

I can't wait for September!

Ok, remember 2006?

That's when it started, for me.

Who is this guy?

He's so...so different.

Where has he been all my life?

Ok, so that's a little much, I'll admit.

OR IS IT?

In 2006, Juan Rivera hit .310 with 23 HRs, 85 RBIs in 124 games.

He was on fire through July-August.

He was pencilled into starting LF last year, maybe platooning with GA, and certainly a significant number of DH spots.

Then, it all went awry.

He broke his leg in winterball, severely, and took the majority of the 2007 season off to recover, appearing in only 14 games.

2008 was rough, too, for a variety of reason, and the slugger-in-waiting was limited to 89 games with the Angels outfield depth chart his biggest opponent that season. (Outfielders Garrett Anderson, Torri Hunter, Vlad Guerrero, and Gary Matthews Jr. all competed along side Rivera for playing time.)

Then the off-season happened, and to be honest, I was a little bummed.

Juan Rivera made it to the off-season a free agent, able to sign with any team, alongside lifetime Angel Left Fielder Garrett Anderson.

In a move that surprise many (read: Me), the Halos ponied up for an extended contract, all but handing Rivera the starting role with his shiny new 3-year contract.

Angels fans said goodbye to a declining GA and hello to their first new left fielder in years.

And whats' happened?

Rivera's responded well to playing time, and seems to be starting to get hot.

Real hot.

The 30 year old turns 31 on Friday, and has had a heckuva season to so far this year. In 66 games, he's batting .307 with 13 homeruns and 43 RBI's, with 3 homers coming in his last 6 games.

With Angel power numbers lagging significantly behind career averages for big boppers Guerrero and Abreu, the Angels have felt very little dip in production thanks to the resurrected big bat of Rivera, and the just-getting-his-legs-under-him Kendry Morales.

Throw in Catcher Mike Napoli's ability to get streaky with the long ball, too.

This power potential has been an absolute revelation for Angels fans and management alike, provider hitting depth throughout the lineup unlikes years passed.

Top it off with Torii Hunter's amazing MVP numbers (17 HR's, 56 RBIs, .306 average and about all the highlight reel catches you can imagine in CF) and the Angels have some formidable presence in the box for the first time in years.

The best part, however, might just be what it translates to on the field instead of the box score: Angels baseball is suddenly fun again.

Sure the bullpen is still shaky at times, and our infield is a big question mark from time to time, but all in all, the Angels are just starting to play to their potential.

Isn't it fun to watch, halo fans?

My Man crush on Rivera is going stronger than ever.

The Angels are a full 10 games above .500 baseball for the first time this season, and hold a 2 1/2 game lead on the AL West, with their next two games coming against second place Texas in Arlington.

The starting pitching, young, old, and in between, has been lights out.

And all seems right in the baseball universe.

Let's keep that Halo lit, fellas.

The Ducks were the first team in the NHL to strike this off-season, sending Defenceman Chris Pronger and Ryan Dingle (who?) to Philapelphia For 2 Draft Picks (including #21 this year...), youngster/prospect Luca Sbisa, and Joffrey Lupul.

Wait, what?

LUPUL?

Didn't we trade him to GET Pronger in the first place?

Yes, Yes we did.

Three years later, the Ducks - - facing salary cap issues Undid the deal and got a pretty good return on their end. Not only do they get a versatile forward who knows the players and put up great numbers playing w/ the likes of Getzlaf and Perry in Lupul, they get a great draft pick this year, next year and ayoungster w/ some potential.

Did I mention this all has to do with Niedermayer coming back?

YES HE IS.

Apparently the Ducks coaching staff has received word from the All-Star captain that he will seek to return to hockey and sign a contract with the Ducks this off-season.

AWESOME day for Ducks fans, because not only do we get our Captain back, committed for a full season, it also means Selanne'll probably finish out his contract, too, as he was basing his decision on Scotty N. and is signed through next season.



YEEHAW Ducks fans, can't wait for September!

I was never truly away, but I figured that every time I mentioned a winning streak this past year, something happened and it ended.

The Angels took 7 in a row from the NL West, so I wasn't about to blog about it to blow the whole thing.

They went and did that on their own, this time, losing the last 2 of a 3 game set in Anaheim against cross-town rivals (and best-record-in-baseball-holdin') LA Dodgers over the weekend.

I just..I'm dumbfounded.

I won't get into the hype about the Freeway series.

I won't get into the Dream Weaver match up comparisons.

I won't even talk about the anemic hitting of Bobby Abreu w/ the bases juiced.

I want to continue my personal mission.

Erick Aybar must go.

He is downright awful.

Is unclutch a word?

Oh my FREAKING god.

The guy swung at a pitch Saturday night, with RISP yet again no less, that fooled him so badly it was an embarrassment.

Halfway through the swing, it looked like he realized he was screwed, and by the time he was square to the pitcher in his swing, the ball actually hit him.

Not clipped him, not buzzed him.

Hit him- - almost in what looked to be "The tenders" no less.

If Kendrick and Arredondo are on short leashes and sent back down to figure it out, this guy should have been gone months ago.

Sure, he makes some "great" plays defensively, but they are totally negated by the botched routine plays. When any sort of "decision" needs to be made, he almost always overthinks then overthrows, and seriously, the guy has got a million dollar glove with a ten cent head.

Plus, he just flat out sucks in the batters box.

He's so bad, I'm actually trying to become more "sabremetrically enlightened" just so I can compare his awfulness to league average replacement numbers.

More on that to follow.

is ANYONE with me on this? Post it!