More On the Shaq Trade.

- Sorry I have been absent the past few days. No excuses, I just didn't get around to it.

While I was away there was, and still is, a lot of debate about whether the Suns did the right thing getting Shaq, mainly because they figure he can't run. The main and only relevant thing I will point out is that Shaq does not have to run. All he needs to do is rebound and throw outlet passes, two things he is great at. The 80's Lakers were the greatest running team in NBA history and they had Kareem at center and Kareem made Shaq look like a speed demon.

The reason they got Shaq was for the half court game that they will need at key times in the playoffs. Shaq will get his touches and points in that scenario and won't complain if he doesn't because the one thing Shaq has always been is a great teammate. Not once did he berate Kobe on the court when they were together and he never ripped Dwayne Wade at any point either. He fits in perfectly with the Suns, will be a huge mentor for Stoudamire, and will be a great leader for them.

- My first reaction is to say who in their right mind would take John Rocker seriously? He is after all little more than a brian dead hillbilly but I would have said the same thing about Jose Canseco a few years ago and he turned out to be right, so it is worth paying attention to what Rocker is claiming.

- Did you catch any of the footage of Mr. Clemens Goes To Washington? How the hell is his appearing in front of Congress supposed to be unbiased if half the Congressman he met with were asking for his autograph? Those family photos were also a complete joke. Do you suppose Roger toured the Smithsonian and went to the Zoo with some Senators too?

- The Senators deal to acquire Stillman and Commodore was brilliant. Stillman is a proven playoff performer and hardnosed guy who gives the Sens some much needed second line scoring potential. And Commmodore gives them another physical guy on the blueline. Giving up Patrick Eaves was not a big deal because he will never be more than a thrid line guy and Joe Corvo is a pretty average defenseman.

I also have to give the Sens credit for finally giving up on the vastly overrated Wade Redden. I have never thought of Redden as more than a 4th defenseman on a good team and it is no coincidence that Ottawa had their playoff breakthrough last year when he was no longer on the top pairing. He has never showed the slightest tinge of being pissed off after bad losses and was always shaky when the play got really physical. He will be shown the door at the end of the year.