The recipe

A few weeks back, I posted "The recipe" for the first time. This is the second installment of random thoughts and observations...

The Pistons' win over the Bucks last night sure was a joy to watch. 30 assists on 42 baskets says a lot. So did Lindsey Hunter's pass to Tayshaun Prince for a super slam toward the end of the third, when Linds could have easily laid it in, but gave it to his teammate for the flush. I stood up in the bar and told all the Pistons' faithful: "That's why they win! Unselfishness!"

Michael Redd got off finally (29 points), but other than that, Detroit's "D" was ruthless (six steals, six blocks, great outlets leading to a season-high 28 fast break points).

Most of the night, it appeared as though the Pistons were in cruise control. I think that shows how this series will be over in four games.

"We're not playing Milwaukee -- we're playing ourselves," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said after the game. That's right, Flip. This is a merely tune up for the conference semis...

... Did you see Kobe's BOOM on Steve Nash last night? Oh my goodness. Talk about MVP (Most Viciously Posterized). I saw that on espn.com this morning and giggled, shook my head, and just sat and thought about the dunk. Then I watched it again. What an athlete. And what a statement. Really, Nash should not be the MVP (it was announced yesterday that he'll win the award for the second straight year). He isn't the MVP. Kobe is. I feel as though the writers who voted for Nash last year felt compelled to vote the same way this year because Nash had a better season. But if you take Kobe off the Lakers, there's no way they beat the Suns last night. There's no way they even make the Playoffs. To be honest, they'd have a tough time winning 25 games without No. 8, soon to be No. 24 (he's changing it next year). Odd...

... Keith Jackson is retiring. The legendary ABC announcer, known for his saying, "Whoa, Nellie!" will leave the broadcast booth at age 77. The thing is, this isn't the first time he's announced his retirement. In 1998 he planned to retire after that season, so as he went around to different colleges, they honored him and bade him farewell as a celebration of retirement. Then, the next season, he just kept announcing games and I was bewildered. I had thought he retired. Turns out, he just couldn't walk away. This time, he says it's for good. I just hope he doesn't make a second farewell tour. The first one ended up looking pretty arrogant, if you ask me...

... The whole Brett Favre thing in Green Bay really annoys me. Just because he's had a great career there doesn't mean the Green Bay organization has the right to throw away seasons just to accommodate his departure. What I mean is, after last season, why would they possibly want him back to lead the team this year? He was arguably the worst quarterback in football. 29 interceptions? Why not play Aaron Rodgers? Heck, with the fifth pick in the draft this year, why not draft Vince Young? There's a great chance he'll be available there. He may end up being a superstar. An even bigger one than Favre ever was. At the very least, he would undoubtedly be more effective than Favre will this year. I don't know what the Packers are thinking. He cannot be resurrected. His better days are buried beneath a gigantic pile of smelly cheese...

... With the ninth pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select... Santonio Holmes! Wide receiver from The Ohio State University. Oh man, let's hope not. I'm out.