Guess who's back......back again......

Richter's back, tell a friend.

Ok sorry for that, but yes I am back for all of those who have missed me. So as most of you know, I got a new job and let's just say, I work a few hours a week during the season. Things are starting to slow down somewhat though, so I will be back on here to spread my wealth of knowledge the way Ron Mexico spreads the occasional venereal disease.

Rangers got rained out the other night and that really dissapointed me, mainly because I didn't get a chance to watch the first game of the doubleheader which they swept, and secondly it disrupted the rotation, and as us Ranger fans know, you don't want to do anything to disrupt a pitching staff that is actually holding its own so far this year. I think the Rangers can be comptetitive this season, that doesn't mean I think they are playoff bound or even close to it. But I do think they will play meaningful games well after the all-star break. We will soon see.

As for college basketball and the championship, it was a great game but a rather boring tournament for the second year in a row. Very little upsets with the exception of Davidson, but I think this is a product of the parity that is in college basketball now. I mean it won't surprise me at all if a 16 seed beats a 1 seed anymore. I mean yes it will be monumental, but it won't be the story of the year. Davidson was a good team, and anymore just because you are a double digit seed that doesn't mean you aren't capable of pulling off a long run to the Final Four. I somewhat miss the days when Cinderella was a little prettier and a little less known. It's cyclical and I know it will turn around.

The NBA playoffs are on the horizon and I can't think of anything better to watch than the Western Conference playoffs. I mean has the league been this good since the late 80's? No way. Right now the NBA has a great collection of superstars, athletes, and actually decent people. I mean you can look to the guys in the league and think of them as role models, that is if you can get past the tattoos, but that just goes with society today. I am not afraid to say it, I love the NBA! I can actually watch regular season games now. The players play like they care, they hustle, and the league has teams like Denver, Golden State, Phoenix (pre-Shaq) and the Lakers who can run up and down and score at will. Now remember this all goes down the drain if we have to sit through a San Antonio vs. Detroit NBA Finals. At that time, I will hate the NBA and everything it stands for, and suddenly remember that they had a huge gambling problem with their officials and that the ring leader of that problem basically screwed my favorite team out of an NBA championship.

With that I will make a few outlandish predictions (that surely will rile at least one person up, you know who you are Chuck, don't hide, it offends me) and then act as though I am one of the smartest humans alive once they all unevitably come true.

Western Conference Semi-Finals
Dallas vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Phoenix vs. Utah

Easter Conference Semi-Finals
Boston vs. Cleveland
Detroit vs. Orlando

Western Conference Finals
Dallas vs. Phoenix

We finally get to see this series play out on the biggest of stages. I can only imagine what it will be like, when Steve Nash finally gets all the calls that he hasn't ever gotten in a big series and it is happening in Dallas in front of Mark Cuban. I can't think of a worse way to lose, if you are the Mavericks or a better way to win, if you are Steve Nash. There is a chance that Cuban will sell the team to a fan that has more than $500 cash on him in the parking lot after a Game 6 clincher in which Nash continually goes to the free throw line late in the game (see Wade, Dwayne)(see Games 4,5,6 of 2005 NBA Finals)(see Donaghy, Tim) to seal the series 4-2. If TNT wants drama, they will find it here.

Eastern Conference Finals
Boston vs. Orlando

Consider this Dwight Howard's coming out party. Chances are he will average a 25-8-4(the 4 being blocked shots) against the gritty, veteran Kevin Garnett. Boston will win, but they will also start to question themselves as to why they gave up on a great young center in Al Jefferson, who could be a premier player in the league for the next 7-10 years for KG, who was injured this year, and you would think he is on the downturn of a wonderful career. Huge series for Superman, but a Boston win.

NBA Finals Boston vs. Phoenix (Phoenix in 7)

What a great series this would be. I mean, I don't think you could ask for anything better than this. Look at the star power on the court. Nash, Shaq, KG, Paul Pierce, Grant Hill, Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, and Amarie Stoudemire. I mean what a collection of stars, or those that have been stars in the league. And you can't forget Doc Rivers, ohh wait, yes you can forget Doc Rivers. I jut have a feeling that with the help of some officiating, the league's best player for the last four seasons (Steve Nash) will get his due and bring home a championship. We all know that in the last 7 years either Shaq or Tim Duncan has won the championship, and I don't see why that should end now. And it leaves us with a great storyline for next season......."Will Kobe ever be able to win the big one with out Shaq".

MVP- Chris Paul
NBA Finals MVP - Steve Nash

By the way, you will also be getting your official El Richtor review of the Counting Crows newest album "Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings" either this weekend, or early next week. If you haven't heard any of the songs yet, I encourage you to go buy the cd. It is well worth the money!