A Magical Season

Get ready for another season of ball-busting, hardcore offense from the world’s biggest and sweatiest men! And no, it’s not gay porn.

We’re talking about the NBA here, fer Chrissake, and the 2007-2008 season will make its way into our boob tubes beginning next month! In light of this, there will be another contributor for the Revolution who’s propped to give his two cents of everything basketball and then some, so watch out for his entries soon!

The NBA had experienced a groundbreaking off-season headlined by KG’s trade from ‘Sota to the C’s, joining Paul Pierce and also-acquired marksman Ray Allen to form perhaps the scariest troika after…well…the Holy Trinity. Whether or not they will deliver the promise of an NBA championship remains to be seen, at least, until the team figures out how to supplant their bench as thin as Jason Williams’ receding hairline.

Aside from this major move, one that garnered attention at the beginning of the free agent signing last July was the acquisition of Rashard Lewis by the Orlando Magic.

Let me begin my rave by saying that I have been a fan of the team since the “Shaq Attaq” days, and after all these year, I pride myself in perhaps being one of their more faithful fans outside Florida. Sad, but possibly true. The franchise has unquestionably made cringe-worthy moves that would have smitten the basketball gods and NBA fans alike, starting with Penny Hardaway’s reign of malfeasance, to one of the most disappointing transactions in league history where they “stole” Grant Hill from Detroit in exchange for Ben Wallace.

Despite all, Orlando has carved out a respectable basketball outfit that even its denizens can be proud of. Fond memories of Tracy McGrady scoring in bunches and Shaq’s backboard-breaking dunks (one in Phoenix and another in New Jersey during his rookie season) are among the highlights in the franchise’s history. However, perhaps the greatest season from the team came in the ‘99-’00 season, where a cast of unheralded journeymen and role-players led by Darell Armstrong busted their asses off night in and out to produce a .500 record. Not the best by any stretch, but considering that everybody passed them off as a lottery team, it speaks volume about hard work and determination. That’s why people love underdogs.

Fast-forward to the present, and the Magic are entering the season with a solid core led by All-Star and future Hall of Famer (suck on that, Penny!) center Dwight Howard, along with the entry of sharp-shooting Lewis, both of whom will comprise their inside-outside game that will be difficult to contain. Also, with a real coach in Stan Van Gundy and steady improvement from Jameer Nelson, a 46-plus win season seems to be a likely scenario. So screw the Bucks. Who cares about the Cavs? Hell, I don’t get a flying fuck about the C’s…okay, maybe a little bit. Here’s a toast to a Mickey Mouse year, shit-ass voice and all.