Friday, May 28th, 2010 at 3:08 pm  |  21 responses

Alana Beard on Ron Artest, Kobe and The W

New “Mind of an Athlete” blog talks about the amazing Lakers win.

In case you had any doubts, Alana is hitting the ground running with her blog on SLAMonline. Already, it should be obvious how witty, intelligent, and on-point her writing style is; but today she kicks it up a notch.

Alana analyzes Ron Artest’s last-second heroics (Ben’s note: as a Suns fan that shot physically hurt me), Kobe, and a few miscellaneous WNBA topics including the Indiana Fever’s acquisition of Shavonte Zellous. Be sure to leave Alana a comment and/or a question and she’ll hit you back. — Ben

by Alana Beard / @Alanabeard20

Suns Lakers BasketballThe NBA – where Ron Artest, “Just playing ball” and “Queensbridge” happens!

How crazy was the game last night! I literally stayed up for the entire game. For some odd reason, normally when the clock hits 10 p.m., I’m out like a fat kid in dodge ball.

But this is why we watch sports…for moments like this. The excitement after hitting a game-winning shot is beyond control. You literally run around like you have “ants in your pants.” Believe me, I know the feeling. Well, let me take that back. Everyone except Kobe runs around like that. Kobe is used to it. That’s just what he does. Sorry to all you Kobe “dislikers” – I’m not a fan of the informal term “hater.”

So, here’s my problem. Everyone is criticizing Ron Artest for such a poor shot, but if it had gone in then everyone would’ve been praising him. I mean, OK, rebound, new shot clock with less than a minute left, of course we want Kobe to take the shot, but he was WIDE OPEN people! Granted, I would for sure want Kobe taking a shot with three, four, five sometimes six (normally, his teammate is in the way) people on him in this situation, but dude, he was WIDE OPEN! Jessica Simpson would have taken that shot – he was WIDE OPEN! And, he’s from Queensbridge…whoop whoop!

Enough about the NBA, how about the Indiana Fever’s big steal? They acquired Shavonte Zellous from the Tulsa Shock. That’s huge. Zellous had a pretty good rookie debut last year and may have a little touch of the sophomore slump but I think Zellous and my buddy, Shay Murphy, coming off the bench this season will give the Fever a major spark.

Expect big things this year in the WNBA. Each year the talent gets faster, stronger and more athletic. We are evolving and I can’t wait to see it all unfold!

I’ll leave you with this random question, speaking of “evolution,” how many of you like the new Gatorade commercials? I LOVE them! It totally gives you a clear picture of the Gatorade evolution in about 30 seconds…. maybe a minute, who’s counting?

P.S. I also love that song they used for the commercial too…shhhh!

Until next time…

When you say I CANT…I WILL.

- Alana

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  • http://albayanos.com LeoneL

    Very nice! HE WAS WIDE OPEN!!! Haha

  • http://slamonline.com Tzvi Twersky

    If you took that shot, how quick would coach have benched you? Just saying. Good post though!

  • rashado

    we’re all enjoying the evolution of the women’s game too alana. i’m curious what wnba players think about the idea of having women join the nba. it has been the focus of many intense discussion amongst me and my friends. i personally think that it would enrich the game much in the same way the globalization of the game has done. besides we need the strong and good female role models to be more visible in our society for our kids, and what better place than the nba?

  • http://scstudinva@yahoo.com scstudinva

    Hey Alana what do you think about Keri Hilson?

  • Yyang

    except he wouldn’t have got benched because it was a good shot

  • http://www.nba.com doyouwantmore

    Alana you are hilarious, in a good way.

  • Mr. Robinson

    “When you say I CANT…I WILL.” I say You cant give me your phone number… WILL YOU GIVE ME YOUR PHONE NUMBER!?!?!?

  • topnotch

    womens basketball misses you. but you have a smart shot, and you have a good shot- they are not one in the same. He was open, he can knock down the three – he was confident- he took it. he took a good shot.
    if the shot went in or didnt does not matter it still was not a smart shot, considering the shock clock was such a huge part of the game at this point.

  • nastierthanu3

    Mr robinson step ur game up a line like that wouldn’t work at the club but then again she did go to that other school in durham, no 4 letter words, so u never know:) I agree that u have to take a shot when ur open. Teams must respect u as a scoring option or ur man can effectively be used to double. The womens game is definately moving in a positive direction. I went to a game in the 1st season and watched rebecca lobo do her thing. The games were slow paced and often in the 40′s and 50′s but the talent level has sky rocketed and the final tallies have displayed this upward momentum. Also when u look at women sports in general didn’t start in the ncaa until the 70′s so their male counterparts have had over a century to develop to where we are now. Which is a place where somehow an unathletic jumpshooting guard can make big shots in a fast paced up tempo game, see john scheyer and jj reddick. Where the womens games has benefitted is from the very same lineage of their male counterparts. I.e. Coanching clinics, summer camps, workout regimines, aau…. So I expect to see the level of play really take off in the next 10 yrs, but the 1 thing that’s hot about the womens game is its still based on the gym rat. The time, spent not only when your by yourself, but when your by yourself with 9 other players. Everyone has played against” that girl.” The 1 that’s good enough to play with the boys. The girl who can shoot the lights out with a mens ball so u know she’s cash with a smaller one. The girl that has scored enough that u might have to play her a little close even though u might embarassingly enough bump into something or I should say somethings. For many women that’s a right of passage and a large piece of knowing ur not a girl ur a baller. F coach k

  • AB

    Top notch…point well taken, but explain a smart shot versus a good shot in Kobe’s game! Kobe doesn’t always take the “smartest” shot on the floor! However, in his mind its a “good” shot! Same goes for any athlete, we all have our own way of determining a good shot vs a bad shot. I guess it just depends on who you are and in this case it was a WIDE OPEN Ron Artest who in his word was “just playing ball.” lol.

  • AB

    Top notch…point well taken, but explain a smart shot versus a good shot in Kobe’s game! No comparison? Its Kobe, right? Kobe doesn’t always take the “smartest” shot on the floor! However, in his mind its a “good” shot! Same goes for any athlete, we all have our own way of determining a good shot vs a bad shot. I guess it just depends on who you are and in this case it was a WIDE OPEN Ron Artest who in his word was “just playing ball.” lol.

  • AB

    Rashado, great question. I will comment on your question in a later blog… Great question:-)! nastierthanu3, I like what you had to say. Im glad you have been able to see the evolution of the women’s game from that perspective. People tend to forget, the NBA didn’t start out being the NBA. It took 20 plus years for it to become what it is now! For that reason is why I know the WNBA is well on its way! Whoop Whoop

  • AB

    Mr . Robinson. that “pick-up” line leads me to believe you have a hard time getting numbers;-)!!! Wanna try another one to see if it works:-)!? Im interested to see what else you in your repertoire!

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Cheryl

    I so wanted that shot to go in. He got redeemed.

  • AB

    @scstudniva I absolutely love Keri Hilson. Shes one of my favorite artist.

  • Mr. Robinson

    @AB:If I can make the world, your eyes would be my sunrise. You are every wonder in this world to me…a treasure that time won’t steal away. You are MORE precious than any pearl, and I am especially grateful AND honored to even be blessed with the opportunity to be on the same threads with someone of your grace, stature, and unmatched beauty.

  • The Philosopher

    @Mr. Robinson: Alana is beautiful, isn’t she?

  • http://scstudinva@yahoo.com scstudinva

    Keri Hilson is my favorite artist also and your my favorite baller. Did you know she played ball in highschool she could probaly take you. lol jk

  • that dude

    I don’t get it. Why jessica simpson

  • COGGIE

    because jessica simpson has a sweet J,
    QUEEEEEEEEEEEENSBRIDE.

  • COGGIE

    BRIDGE

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