Perhaps it's bad karma for a Phoenix Suns fan like myself reading a book about the Lakers right now, but at least the book I read was about a Laker known for always losing the big game. Which would probably come as a surprise to most younger readers, considering the name "Jerry West" doesn't bring the term "loser" to mind.  However, as Roland Lazenby's excellent tome - "Jerry West: The Life and Legend of a Basketball Icon" - shows, Logo had some of the worst luck ever seen in the NBA.

It's hard to find a player whose reputation fluctuates as widely as that of Amar'e Carsares Stoudemire (yes, his middle name is 'Carsares').  One day fans and the media are vilifying him; the next he is treated like a deity.  One moment the Suns are looking to trade him; the next they are offering him a contract extension.  While Stoudemire can be a maddening, flawed star, he is also the sole post player in the League capable of putting 42 & 11 on the defending NBA Champions in the playoffs.

It's hard to call a perennial All-Star and future Hall-of-Famer a bust or an underachiever, but those labels are probably accurate when reflecting on the career of Vincent Lamar Carter.  Which I guess goes to show you what type of potential was seen in the man they called Air Canada when he entered the League in 1998, because, as mentioned, he should find his way into the Hall of Fame some day.  But to truly see what type of career Carter should have had, all you have to do is look at his current adversary on the Boston Celtics (and 1998 NBA Draft classmate), Paul Pierce.

Congratulations to Cal State Fullerton's Gerard Anderson, whose dunk versus Cal State Northridge during this year's Big West Tournament was named the 2009/10 NCAA Dunk of the Year by voters at The Hoops Manifesto.  Anderson garned 87% of the votes in the final, topping another of his dunks against Northridge from January.  Thanks for everyone who voted, and winners of our prize draws will be contacted shortly.

2009/10 Hoops Manifesto NCAA Dunk of the Year:

(To see all of the dunks that were in the running, click here).

They don't call Phil Jackson the 'Zen Master' for nothing.  Jackson is a genius in using mind games to tilt the balance of fate in his favour, whether that be via criticizing his own players, the officials or opponents.  So it was no surprise that Jackson came out with this ditty before the Lakers-Suns playoff series even tipped off (from The Associated Press):

ATLANTA, GA - The American Kennel Association today awarded the Atlanta Hawks its coveted "Best in Show" prize after the Hawks recent playoff performance.  The Hawks just concluded their season last night, losing their four game series to the Orlando Magic by a total of 111 points.

By the slimmest of margins, Cal State Fullerton's Gerard Anderson has pulled it off. Both of Anderson's dunks that were included in the 2009/10 NCAA Dunk of the Year Tournament have made it through to the finals. But it wasn't easy - Anderson's first dunk edged out Seattle's Charles Garcia by receiving only 50.8% of the votes (he had an easier time with Lance Stephenson, garnering 71% of the votes in their matchup). So we know that Anderson will win this dunk competition - but which dunk of his will reign supreme?

What in the name of  Goran Dragic is going on here in this Suns-Spurs series?  What kind of bizzaro NBA world have we stepped into?  Goran Dragic scoring over 20 points in the fourth quarter?  The Suns playing scrappy and tough?  The Spurs unable to hold the Suns under 110 points in a game all year?  The Spurs, not the Suns, coughing up huge leads?  Amar'e Stoudemire having a horrible game yet the Suns win by double digits? 

We've made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Dunk of the Year Tournament, and the Gerard Anderson train keeps on rolling. Both of the Cal State Fullerton product's dunks have advanced to the semi-finals of the the tournament. Will we see an all-Gerard Anderson final? First he'll have to get by Seattle's Charles Garcia and Cincinnati's Lance Stephenson.

It's time for me to come out of the closet (no, not that closet).  Ok, here it goes - I'm a Phoenix Suns fan.  I have been since the late 1980s.  Now, while I'm not ashamed to admit that (other than the fact that it shows how old I am) I did hesitate to write it due to my profession being that of a sports writer.  I feel writers should remain unbiased in order to keep their integrity in the eyes of their readers.  While I've never let my fandom of any team colour my articles (at least not consciously), I've always felt it was best to keep my team allegiances a secret.  But, considering no one is really reading this other than my mom (you are reading this, right Mom?!), I feel safe admitting it here.