On a related note, has anyone picked up the "Ultimate Jordan" DVD that came out late last year?  I meant to snag one, but waited too long and they seemed to all completely disappear from my local Targets and Walmarts...

I also picked this up back when it came out originally, and agree totally with Virex, it is well worth picking up....especially if you are a Jordan fan.  I always wanted to have something to watch, seeing Mike in his "glory days" again, plus its nice checking out the dunk highlights too.  I think sometimes people forget they way he flew in his younger days.  That Bulls disc set looks great too, I might have to pick that up.  I followed the Bulls so closely from 88 through all their championships, and that was some fun basketball to watch.

On a side note....it is really great that we can discuss players, teams, and b-ball in general here without it becoming an all out war.  It might sound cheezy, but its just nice how we can all admit whether or not our favorite player(s) and/or teams might have gotten away with something...or not...and not have to get all mad about it.  Just another reason why JD is so great, just a real nice community you guys run here.  Anyways...on the subject of Shaq, I noticed Sportscenter had a little segment this morning asking that if Shaq shot freethrows better (I think someone mentioned in the 70-80% range) if he would be considered the best player ever.  Although I will agree he is obviously the most dominant in the game now, and one of the best centers of all time, I think saying he is the "best player ever" is a slap in the face to many who have come and gone and played the game 100% all the time...in all aspects....Jordan, Bird, Magic are three of the more recent ones that come to mind, along with others from the past...Oscar Robertson, Wilt, Bill Russell, Dr. J, etc.  Any thoughts on this?

Update to yesterday's Superman casting news....Filmforce posted a correction that Depp apparently asked to try out instead for the role of Jor-El, not Lex Luthor.  Things will probably continue to change.

In other news, filmforce and SuperHeroHype are both reporting that Brendan Fraser might be up for the role of Mr. Fantastic:

Fraser is Mr. Fantastic?

Boy, that does look nice, thanks for posting Scott.  I've always been looking forward to a Juggernaut figure, and it looks like they made him nice and big.  Its kind of funny the difference with following Marvel Legends over Star Wars....the news kind of goes on the backburner after Toy Fair, since the waves are further apart than Star Wars collectors are used to...but once those first pictures from overseas start showing up, let the excitement begin again .

I thought that they were a little touchy with whoever was guarding Shaq too, that's what got my started on him getting a lot of calls.  Nice post Brent, I agree with you.  I'm still a big NBA fan, and follow it closely, but it does sadden me that it has become overly physical, and not as much of an "art" as basketball once was.  I'm all for dunks and highlights, but the constant bumping and fouling (especially in the playoffs) I could do without.  A friend of mine and I were just talking about that the other day, how much the game has changed even since the Pistons "Bad Boys" and Bulls days.  Those were physical games back then, but they are the norm anymore.

Cool tat, that is very well done too.  I remember Insider had a special article awhile back on Star Wars tattoos, there are really some amazing ones out there...some true artists.

Being a Han fan, I think this might be my favorite figure of all time...at least judging by the pictures.  The likeness/paint look excellent, he has great articulation (all those ball joints) without looking strange, and can be neutrally or self-posed.  All that, along with the vintage cardback, makes this pretty spifftastic in my book.  This whole line looks great so far though, sounds like Luke is up next.  Thanks for the link Scott.  If they keep doing two per week, we should be getting some nice images of the ESB waves over the next couple of weeks....then on to the ROTJ, which we haven't seen much of yet.

Filmforce.ign.com has a few casting rumors (courtesy of DarkHorizons) concerning the upcoming (someday...) Superman film.  Here's who is being rumored as of now:

Clark Kent/Supes:  Henry Cavill
Lois Lane: Rose Byrne or Selma Blair
Jimmy Olsen: Adam Brody
Lex Luthor: Johnny Depp (although it sounds as if he's not sure he wants the role)

I'm not really familiar with Cavill's work, but its always nice to see a somewhat unknown get cast in these parts, as opposed to the "big stars".  It'd be nice to see Rose Byrne get the Lois part, since she's a Star Wars alum.  Brody is on the Fox show, The OC, which my wife and I watched a lot of this year.  I could see him playing Olsen.  Depp would be pretty cool as Luthor, every movie I have seen him in he has been pretty darn good.  I'm sure these will all changes in a couple of months

You can check out the whole story HERE

I thought this was a game the Wolves could have stolen as well, but unfortunately it didn't work out that way.  The thing I don't understand about Kobe is, he is one of the best players in the league, and probably the best guard, and you're telling me he can't get his shots in the flow of the offense?  I guess that's one of the things that really bugs me about him, his either selfish, or entirely too selfless play...if you know what I mean.  You know he could have scored more in the first half, but luckily LA didn't really need it.  I just think, after watching him for a number of years now that he seems to take the first half off a lot...only to come back and shoot like crazy in the 2nd, to make it look like he's "clutch".  Don't get me wrong, that guy can hit a game winner better than most anyone in the league now, but it seems like he intentionally "saves" his scoring for the 4th quarter...and the league, play by play guys, and media just eat that up.  Definitely a weird game for the Lakers, like Matt said.  Weird game overall, didn't ever seem like anyone was trying to run away with it....kind of a boring game in many ways it seemed.

Disappointed Minny couldn't pull this one out though, thought it might be a better chance than Game 4.  You know Kobe will try to go for 40+, so it looks "amazing" that he gives this performance after sitting around all day in a court room.  I thought it was funny (I think Barkley said it), that the media makes such a big deal about him playing well after a day in court...because all he has to do is mutter a couple of words and sit all day, like Charles said "if he was scooping coal all day, then came to score 40, that is more impressive".  Other than Szczerbiak, it didn't seem like any of the Wolves played particularly well in this game....Garnett had a tough night shooting, and Spree was off the majority of the game too.  Hopefully we can get the next one.

I agree with what Matt and others have said about Phil Jackson, I have really lost a lot of respect for him.  When he was in Chicago, I used to think he was a good coach, but I'm beginning to wonder.  He's just had himself in the perfect situations for coaching.  Tim Floyd could probably go to the finals with this Lakers team .  Its funny, he'll probably go down in the books with the most NBA titles, but definitely isn't the best coach.  Also, I was curious, how is Shaq able to get away with ramming his shoulder into the defender on every single post move he does?  Now I know that a lot of stars get no calls or sometimes preferential treatment from the refs (KG included), but I have been watching and playing basketball as long as I can remember...and I always thought that what Shaq does is an offensive foul.  He shouldn't be able to do that, just because he's bigger.  A foul is a foul.  That attempted intentional fouling of Shaq that the ref didn't call was unusual though, both teams were complaining about it.  Strange.  And...not that he needed it I guess, but on that note it amazes me that after all these years, playoff experience, rings, etc. that Shaq still can't shoot at least 50 or 60% from the line.  I mean, all you do is play basketball for a living, not like he doesn't get enough practice (this is a problem with a number of players though, not just Shaq).

Anyways, Lakers up 2-1, and I'm worried the Wolves might have missed their chance to steal one out there.  We'll see though, have to have faith in them .  Meanwhile, Pistons - Pacers Game 3 tonight, as well as the lottery to determine who gets the top pick in the draft this June.  We know it won't be any of these teams