NBA Playoff Pick-a-thon Day 29: Dwyane Wade's Last Night of High School Eligibility

Well, dear readers, a lot has happened since the last time the San Antonio Spurs beat the Golden State Warriors in Oracle Arena, so naturally we have a lot of catching up to do. The sports industry is an endless oasis waiting for thirsty writers around every corner. My morning went something like this. 

1. Shit, I have no idea what to write about.
2. Googled current NBA stories.
3. Found gold mine and started writing. 

First of all, in the wee hours following the Warriors playoff exit Wednesday night, the Maloof Brothers finally sold the Sacramento Kings - not to Seattle, not to Las Vegas, not to Virginia Beach (???) but rather to...drum roll please...SACRAMENTO. That's right, this morning former NBA point guard and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson announced that a deal was signed selling the Sacramento Kings to the Ranadive Group for $535 million. 

                            

I repeat - five hundred and thirty five million dollars. An NBA franchise-selling record. The Kings. And we wonder why California is in economic turmoil. I hope the Ranadive Group has the Midas touch, because it's going to take a whole lot more cow bell than their current roster has to recoup their investment. 

                                  

In a way more interesting story, Dwyane Wade fulfilled a young high school girl's wish by attending her prom at Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School last night. No freakin' way, right? Why would he feed into crazy, stalker fans obsessions with famous athletes. Was it because she looked like this? 

             

Of course not. Please click on the link below to see the original YouTube video proposal inviting Wade to the prom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t2egOWkTHm4

I'm speechless...

Just kidding. I believe this young woman's last words in the video were, "Don't wait until the final buzzer to score a date with me to prom." Now you can't see him very well in the photo of the Facebook photos, but I'm guessing the guy next to her on the top and middle right images - AKA Back-up Plan - wasn't quite as excited to see Wade roll in as time expired.



According to our completely made-up source at Hollywood Underground the conversation went a little like this:

HS Kid: Sorry Wade, times up.
Wade (smurking): Overtime, kid.
HS Kid: But...But
Wade: Ain't your butt's I'm interested in, son

Then Wade shoved him to the ground, smiled at his date, and got "blown" for the offensive foul.

That's the best I could do on short notice. If there are Wade fans out there with proms coming up during the Eastern Conference Finals, please send your videos now so the rest of us can pray for a conflict of interest. Speaking of Eastern Conference Finals, let's wrap up the Semi's and get back on the winning track with this evening very small line-up.

INDIANA PACERS (-5.5) over New York Knicks: The Pacers are undefeated at home in the post-season and have gone 6-0 ATS dating back to late April as a favorite at the Banker's Life Field House. Meanwhile, although the Knicks are 7-3 ATS in their last ten as an underdog, they are 1-2 ATS in that roll in the playoffs with both losses coming earlier this week in Indiana. Look for Indy's bigs, their youth, and their  superior athleticism to put this game away early and often.

                
              "No, silly, I said you guys were a bunch of possies."

If it make anyone feel better - I know it did for me - Kyle agrees with this pick and recommends the UNDER. For more of Kyle's brilliant addition to TSZ, read on...

Vinny and Marco



KYLE'S CORNER

Hey everyone, 

As the weekend approaches my free time dwindles, so I have to make this short and sweet.
Recap: The good was the pitcher follow went 5-2 and the NHL game went almost exactly as predicted so 2-1 on the 3 bets, the bad was the overs which were a paltry 4-5.

NHL: 2-1, overall total: 35-21

MLB: 9-7, overall total: 83-57-6

If the above numbers and significantly large sample size don't make you believers in my system, I don't know what will!

Okay, so on to Saturday.

NHL 

Detroit @ Chicago: Chicago to win, by (-1.5), team goals over 2.5 or 3, game over 5.


          
LA Kings @ SJ Sharks: LA is the superior team and is up 2-0 on the series, this game will be razor close, no play.

MLB

Pitcher Follow: (bet on this pitcher's team to win):



CHC:   Feldman (3-3, 2.53 ERA)
CLE:   McAllister (3-3, 2.68 ERA)
PIT:   Burnett (3-4, 2.73 ERA)
CHW:   Santiago (1-2, 2.23 ERA)
STL:   Lynn (6-1, 2.88 ERA)
DET:   Sanchez (4-3, 2.05 ERA)
WSH:   Zimmermann (7-1, 1.69 ERA)

Overs: (Individual team overs have been cancer for me so no more)

SF:   Lincecum (3-2, 4.07 ERA) @COL:   Chatwood (1-0, 3.00 ERA) O*

BOS:   Dempster (2-4, 3.75 ERA) @ MIN:   Diamond (3-3, 4.08 ERA) O8.5

CHW:   Santiago (1-2, 2.23 ERA) @ LAA:   Blanton (0-7, 6.46 ERA) O9

ARI:   McCarthy (0-3, 5.63 ERA) @ MIA:   Koehler (0-1, 3.31 ERA) O8

LAD:   Capuano (1-2, 6.60 ERA) @ ATL:   Medlen (1-5, 3.44 ERA) O8

HOU:   Bedard (0-2, 6.67 ERA) @ PIT:   Burnett (3-4, 2.73 ERA) O7.5

TB:   Hernandez (2-4, 4.43 ERA) @ BAL:   Jurrjens (0-0, 0.00 ERA) O9

TOR:   Morrow (1-2, 4.69 ERA) @ NYY:   Phelps (1-2, 4.33 ERA) O8.5

Good luck!