Ok, I’ll admit it, I’m not a big basketball guy; probably because I’ve never been good at it. I can throw a baseball, I can catch a pass, but I can’t make a left-handed layup to save my life. I feel like the movie “White Men Can’t Jump” was made especially for me. Only, instead of the original title, it would be “White Men Can’t Jump…Or Shoot….Or Dribble.” That’s how bad I am.

However, that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the game. Clutch threes, slick passes and thunderous dunks never get old, and some of the biggest moments in sports history have come from the game of basketball.  Here are just a few great NBA moments. (I apologize for the intro. It’s a little weird)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3iJN_oM4yk

That being said, the Western Conference playoff series between the Spurs and Warriors is shaping up to be a great, memorable match-up. You can just tell it’s great basketball, whether you’re a fan of the game or not. Two games already decided in over-time? Priceless. (Game 1: Spurs-129, Warriors-127 (2 OT); Game 2: Warriors-100, Spurs-91; Game 3: Spurs-102, Warriors-92; Game 4: Warriors-97, Spurs-87 (OT); Game 5: Spurs-109, Warriors-91).

Growing up in East Texas and only 1.5 hrs away from Dallas, my loyalties did, and always will, lie with Dallas-based teams. I’m a die-hard Rangers fan, and I love my Cowboys, Mavericks and Stars too. So, you can imagine how difficult it is for me to praise the Spurs. They pretty much outplay the Mavs year-in and year-out, and Gregg Popovich often casts himself off as one of the most arrogant S.O.B.s on the face of the planet. But give credit where credit is due. The San Antonio Spurs have turned themselves into a league powerhouse and Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and the gang are proven winners. (4 NBA Championships. 14 straight seasons with at least 50 wins)

That’s something Golden State is not. The Warriors have made the playoffs only twice in the past 19 years, and they haven’t been to the NBA finals since they won it all back in 1975!

Now, revamped and ready, the Warriors are stacked with up-and-coming talent (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson) and may just be young enough, and cocky enough, to pull off an upset over the veteran savvy Spurs. (If they can stay healthy)

Either way, it’s turned out to be a great series to watch for basketball and non-basketball fans alike, and I hope the last game(s) is/are just as exciting as the first five were.

This blog is mostly non-sports related (it’s my blog, I can do that), so if you’re looking for my take on current sports stories, sorry, you’re fresh out of luck. Instead, I’m going to talk a little bit about my other passion; movies.  

I consider myself to be a film connoisseur of sorts. I enjoy newer movies, but I really love the older ones. John Wayne is one, if not my favorite actor of all time, and westerns have always had a special place in my heart. I guess it’s just the Texan in me.

Even now, when modern day filmmakers make an attempt at a western, I’ll make sure to go see it. Sometimes I’m pleased (“Open Range”, “3:10 to Yuma” remake), but other times I leave the theater dissatisfied (“Cowboys and Aliens”, “True Grit” remake - Jeff Bridges tried, but the Duke’s shoes are some big ones t to fill).

So, you can see why the last movie I really got excited about was “Django Unchained”. Everything since then I could really care less about. Even “42”, which I’ve been told is good, but have yet to see. Harrison Ford always does a solid job (except for “Cowboys and Aliens”) but the under-the-radar actor they got to play Jackie Robinson kind of made me balk (see what I did there).

Lately, a bunch of my friends have been raving about the new “Iron Man ” movie, and while I like superhero movies just as much as the next nerd, ever since “The Avengers” it’s been hard for me to get excited about them. I mean, why go to a movie with just one superhero when you can see them all?

Really, this is a question posed as a blog. Does anybody have a movie in mind that you would recommend I see? Like I said, I’ve watched a lot of the old ones, but are there some new ones, either in theatres or recently came out, that you liked? Let me know, because I’m afraid I’ll have to wait until the summer blockbusters before I can get excited about a new movie again. Until then, I guess I’ll just keep “True Grit”, “Bull Durham”, “El Dorado”, “Major League” and “3:10 to Yuma” on a constant cycle in my DVD player. 

If you watched Sportscenter yesterday, you might have seen Bryce Harper's ejection from the Nationals game against Pittsburgh. While it may have been a disputed call (third base umpire John Hirschbeck called a swinging strike three), Harper's reaction was enough to get him tossed.

The 2013 Major League Baseball season is just a little over a month old, but there have already been some great ejections this season. Here are just a few from the folks over at Sports Illustrated.

http://mlb.si.com/2013/05/06/bryce-harper-ben-zobrist-david-price-players-vs-umpires/

Over the years, the NFL draft has gradually become an unofficial American holiday. Perhaps it’s the furious fast-pace environment, or maybe it’s the promise of a renewed future, but fans from all over the country will be glued to their TV’s tonight in hopes of seeing their team’s next franchise player.

General managers, coaches and front office staff prep months and months for the NFL draft, tirelessly watching video tape, interviewing players and conducting rigorous workouts and tests. But even with all the delicacies of modern-day research and technology, there are always a few surprises. A lot of “sure things” have turned out to be anything but (Tim Couch; 1st overall (1999): Jamarcus Russell; 1st overall (2007): Ryan Leaf; 2nd overall (1998))

And some players that no one talks about today will be the future NFL stars of tomorrow (Tom Brady; 6th round (2000): Jared Allen; 4th round (2004): Marques Colston; 7th round (2006)).

If history has shown us anything, it’s that NO ONE has a crystal ball. Mel Kiper and Todd McShay can sit there and make all the predictions they want, but the truth is, they don’t have a clue. Neither do the teams and neither do the players. Only time will tell.

Many envision Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel going number one in this year’s draft. I can see that, especially with the help the Kansas City Chiefs need. Not only would Joeckel be the first Aggie drafted number one (Von Miller was drafted second overall in 2011, Ryan Tannehill was drafted eighth last year), but he would be just the third offensive tackle taken first overall since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

No one doubts Luke’s ability, he’s got talent. And unlike some first-round busts in the past, he has his head on straight. I believe that, combined with his intelligence and athleticism, will make him a great addition to any team, whether it’s in the first round or the last. So, to Luke and all the other Aggies going into this year’s draft, I say good luck and Gig’em!