Quick Hits

The NBA has morphed into middle school. Rumors are flying around everywhere, and people's feelings are being hurt. Rajon Rondo is being floated to Memphis, apparently. This whole issue of Rondo being traded, which came out of NOWHERE this weekend made me step back think about his effect on the team, but more importantly, the team's effect on him.

Who effected who more? Did Rondo's performance effect the Celtics, or did the Celtics effect Rondo's performance? If you are someone who thinks that Rondo is the only PG for the C's then you think that Rondo should not be traded. If you think that the C's effected Rondo's performance, then maybe you are okay with Rondo's name coming up in trade rumors.

If the Celtics, players and staff, had an effect on Rondo then who is to say that the C's can't go and get another PG who they can mold. Mike Conley Jr. is someone who has come up. Conley averaged 10 points a game and 4 assists. That is comparable to Rondo. Rondo had 11 points a game, however he had 8 assists a game. A lot of time assists are a product of the system. Rondo's third year in the league saw his assists jump from 5.5 to 8.2. Conley is heading into his third year. Conley also takes better care of the basketball, he had 1.7 turnovers a game. Rondo had 2.6 this past year. Up from 1.9 the previous year.

This is a tough deal to make. People came to love Rondo. He was the driving force of the Celtics playoff run. One thing that Rondo has continually struggled with is his inability to rise above weaker players and dominate them. This series against Derrick Rose was unreal. However, his series against the Magic was less inspired. Rondo plays down to weaker competition, a big problem.

I trust Danny, as do most people these days. This team, these players, have a great ability to make each other better. Whether its Rondo or Conley or someone else, I still think this team will be a contender. The other players on the team will not let it be any other way....

The US Open at Bethpage was truly that, an Open. My goodness. The story lines were unreal, they are the types of stories you only see at the US Open, because it is just that, an Open. The Masters would not have had a Rickey Barnes torching the golf course, and then later torching himself in his last 27 holes. The Masters would not see David Duval, ranked 889 in the world (I didn't realize rankings went that high) finish in second place. The US Open is awesome for that reason. Lucas Glover won with grit and steely resolve. That is what it takes to win the US Open.

One of my favorite things about this particular Open was how the television coverage was so scattered. It allowed us to see guys like Drew Weaver, a Virginia Tech Grad who was 100 yards away from the shooting that occured there his sophomore year. Trevor Murphy, a Vermonter, was another highlight. On Saturday night he was one of the last group to finish. Getting to watch him finish with two birdies and a lot of good golf shots was neat. That would not have happened had the rain not screwed up everything.

Watching Tiger at the Open was strange. He hit the ball so well all week. He just could not make a putt. I was glad he stuck around and was still in it. Is there anyone else in sports who is never out of it? I find myself saying to myself, "If he can just string a few birdies together he can win." A Sunday birdie for Tiger is like making up two shots on everyone, especially when his name is on the leaderboard. People start to see his name. His name invokes such fear.

The US Soccer team is wide awake after a terribly embarrassing start. Italy and Brazil tore them apart, however they managed to get into the semi-final of the Confederations Cup. That seemed like it was as far as they were going to go. They had Spain in the semi-final. The team who had not lost in 35 matches. The team who had won their last 15 games. The reigning European Champions from last summer. So what happened? The old Spain showed up. The Spain who everyone knew before their great summer last year. Spain are constantly loaded with talent. Constantly loaded with high expectation, and last summer was the first time they held up their end of the bargain.

The old Spain showed up against the US. They could not finish, they got no bounces in their favor. The two goals the US got were good goals, but little bounces in Spain's favor would have changed the outcome. The US took it to the Spanish early. Spain came in thinking they could cruise through the game. Even after the US scored 30 minutes into the game, I was still waiting for the Spanish offense to unleash its fury. They did, and Tim Howard was equal to it in net for the US. He was outstanding.

Let's be honest. This game meant much more to the US than to the Spanish. This is the Confederations Cup. This is a warm-up for Spain, a warm up for the World Cup. The US had something to prove, both to themselves and to the world. The outcome was a surprise, but in hindsight it should not have been. If I asked you what the US is ranked in FIFA's ranking what would you guess? Take a second and think about it.... okay, ready? The US is ranked 14th in the world. The 14th best team in the world beat the top ranked team in the world in a game that meant more to the US than to Spain. Not as big a surprise now huh?

Here are a few links to check out as you pass the time today...

Players Celtics should go after...

In Danny we trust...

A sad story about a coach in Iowa being killed...

Bill Simmons' open letter to Blake Griffin. This is a shocking history of a terrible franchise...