As is my routine, this morning I was getting ready for work with SportsCenter on the tv in the background.  And with the raging case of ADD that I have, my gaze tends to dart back and forth between the tv and the mirror where I am applying my eye makeup.  Really, it's a wonder I haven't taken out an eyeball with an eyeliner pencil yet.  But I digress.  So there I was, gazing upon Purple Jesus, as the Monday Night Football crew interviewed him after last night's game, and he's talking about how he never wants to let up or take it easy and just wants to play hard all the time, and I switch my focus back to the mirror...and I catch myself grinning like an idiot.  Because it's just awesome to hear a player who is THAT GOOD talk about how much he loves playing.  And that makes him all the more awesome to watch. And this is a player on a team that I'm supposed to be rooting against, for my own allegiance's playoff "hopes."  And here I am goofy happy, like I just opened my door to see someone left me a plate of freshly baked cookies and a bottle of Goose, just to watch him play and listen to him talk about playing.  Which makes me all whiny and girl-like...why can't any players on the teams I root for make me feel this way?

Well, here's a start.

To be fair on Lawrence, I was skeptical about Williams and Boone as well.  But let's be honest here- Jason Collins is completely useless.  Every game he started hurt my soul a little bit on the inside.  And as I've said, I'm sure he is a wonderful guy.  He's just not a very good basketball player.  And though I wasn't sure it was possible, he has regressed even further this season; his defense isn't even particularly solid anymore.  Also, Magloire was their "big free agent signing" from the off-season, so I guess you have to give him a shot.  But yeah.  Those 2 clearly were not getting it done.  And unfortunately, we're still playing the "what if" game with ol' Nenad's health.  And, I am sorry to say, Malik Allen isn't getting the job done either. 

Quick aside here...I had the good fortune to run into RJ and Malik at a bar near my house the night before they played the Wizards.  Both very nice guys.  But if anyone talks to Malik, could you tell him I'm gonna need reimbursement for the money I lost betting on the Nets after he guaranteed a victory?  Because he messed that call up, big time.

Anyway.  So speaking of that Wizards game, I went to it.  Obviously.  If you don't think I marked off every time the Nets were coming to town on the Wiz schedule as soon as I moved down here, you clearly don't know me at all.  And I made sure to get seats where I could see the Nets bench.  And the most notable thing about that bench was that Sean Williams was always on it.  He didn't get into the game once.  And I wasn't sure why, and no one ever said why, other than "coach's reasons" or whatever.  And I was sad.  Because, while it took him a little time to get his feet wet, so to speak, the last several games I'd watched him play in, he was starting to look like a real motherfuckin beast.  All the "athleticism" and "upside" with which I'd heard him described was starting to show, and I was really looking forward to seeing it on display in person.  Wistfully, it was not to be.  And, relatedly or not, the Nets got their asses whooped.  (Though I haven't ruled out RJ's apparent hangover as a possible causal factor there...you're supposed to go out drinking the night AFTER a game, not the night before.) 

What did I get to see from Sean Williams at the Verizon Center that night?  Why, a raging case of ADD just like mine!  I've never seen anyone so delighted by the Kiss Cam, t-shirts on parachutes, children's musical chair competitions and mascot antics as Sean Williams.  While I should a) be annoyed that our promising rookie is paying absolutely zero attention to his coach; and b) make an obvious "He must have gotten soooooo high before the game" joke, I can't do it.  I was absolutely delighted watching his childlike reactions to something as silly as the Kiss Cam.  You know when you play peek-a-boo with a baby and it gleefully squeals and claps its hands together?  That was Sean Williams! With all the timeout and between-quarter entertainment!  It was so ridiculous how much he enjoyed this stuff, it was amazing- I couldn't even be mad. 

So now we're gonna see this kid - and that's what he is, a kid - get the start.  And maybe I'm being hopelessly optimistic here (what choice do I have?) but I predict good things.  Not to mention how well Boone has been playing this year and should continue to do (more optimism).  He showed flashes last season but made a lot of rookie mistakes...I'm incredibly pleased to see he's built on that experience.  

So here we go, Nets fans (all...both of you?).  Time to see what the future looks like in the Meadowlands (because we all know it's still another few years before any pro ball is played in Brooklyn).  I'm feeling good about the immediate future. 

These good feelings are estimated to last about...3 days.

But it's nice to have that happy hopeful feeling again. 

As a final random note...come on, Bok.  You can't tell me your innocence is lost here?  You're telling me in Slovenia they have 40-year-old athletes that are better at that age than when they were younger?  It's silly. And I refuse to believe there are no PEDs in the NBA (looking your way, Carlos Boozer...).  But that's another discussion for another time.  Let's leave it at this:

"I like baseball because it's so different from basketball," Nachbar said. "It's at a slower pace, and I enjoyed going to games, hanging out with my friends and eating a hot dog."

Me too, Boki!  Call me!