Wow, what a week. Baseball is starting, basketball and hockey are ending, and the NFL draft is heating up. Tragedy, triumph and turmoil surrounded the week. But, at the end of the day, we still have two truths. and a lie.
Truth: Brett Favre will be back in the NFL next season.
This has been cute, this little "will-he-or-won't-he" game he's been playing for three months. But at the end of the day, don't we all think if Brett was really retiring, he would have done it already and been hunting on his ranch, not having biweekly press conferences to address the situation?
He may genuinely be torn right now, but that just means the Packers are going to do whatever they can to keep him. With negotiations for cornerback Charles Woodson heating up, the Pack can sign the impact player Favre is looking for, some protection on the offensive line and draft a young play maker. Then No. 4 will be back under center. If he was retiring, he would have left already. My money is on Brett being there and having a good season.
Truth: The Bulls and Lakers will snag the final two playoff spots in the NBA.
Both teams are involved in tight playoff races, Chicago with Philadelphia and Los Angeles with Utah. But both of these long-time winners should prevail.
The Bulls beat a tough Nets team Tuesday night and should have an advantage over the Sixers with an easier schedule. In addition to having an easier schedule, their balanced nucleus of Tyson Chandler, Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich and Andres Nocioni serves them better than the two-headed monster of Allen Iverson and Chris Webber that is surrounded by nothing.
Out West, the Lakeshow will get the spot because of one reason, and one reason alone: not Kobe, but Phil, as in Phil Jackson, the Hall of Fame coach. He's come back and changed the culture of that team. Not only will they get in, but they'll steal a couple games from the Spurs in the first round, just enough to put people on alert that they will be legit next year.
Lie: Barry Bonds will pass Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list.
Tony Kornheiser made this point on "Pardon the Interruption" a few weeks back and I laughed. I thought there was no way Barry wouldn't leave the Babe in his dust, but I've come around.
It's just not in the cards for Barry Bonds to pass the Bambino, who may or may not have put a curse on him. Bonds hasn't gone deep this season, and with each day that passes, the day when Bonds' steroid suspension arrives creeps closer.
Kornheiser pointed out that something will happen to prevent Bonds from reaching Ruth, and he's right. Whether it's a curse, a suspension and subsequent retirement, or maybe his ridiculous TV miniseries about himself, I don't see Bonds getting to 714. Babe will solidify his place as number two in history - at least for a few more years until Alex Rodriguez gets close.
