Joe Ticket comments on the NBA, MBL, and even life itself.

To all the folks who wrote and called me while I was laid up with a broken collarbone (don’t worry, Lipshitz, Levine and Cohen are making sure I get my just compensation), I thank you..when your hurt (and miss work)it makes you think about how lucky it is to be unhurt , healthy , and normal. Everyone has aches and pains, I guess that’s normal, but when you have a heart attack and die at age 58 like Tim Russertthat really makes you think. So today think about taking a walk and listening to the birds sing. Think about going to a ballgame with you dad. Think about bringing home some fresh cut wildflowers to your wife. Think about how lucky you are to even have your life in this day in time, in this wonderful free country. We are all annoyed at the price of gas, at political boondogles, the lack of healthinsurance for everyone, the decline in our homes values or even the prospects of maybe losing our homes..but keep the faith, hang in there, it could be worse, you could live in a repressed society, you could be very ill.. All too often we take these days we are blessed with for granted and we bitch about traffic and curse about spilled coffee on our new shirt..big deal, get real..start thinking about what really matters. Its your relationships to your friends and family and how you treat people that you don’teven know. Its about your communications in that private space reserved for you and the lord, its about helping others and in that way you help yourself to a much richer life..what does it have to do with tickets, with sports, with music entertainment..that’s the question for you to ponder today. 

I am not going to say I told you so but the Celtics are on the verge of their 17th world championship leading LA 3-1 in the NBA finals. Doc Rivers has established himself as a top flight coach skillfully employing his deep and talented bench to take advantage of matchups and tempo all season long. Danny Ainge managed to assemble a group of players that have bought into the “Celtics “style of selfless team ball playing. One piece brought another as key contributers Eddie House, PJ Brown, Ray Allen all came to Boston at the beheast of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce who were on a mission for a ring befor the final bell sounded on their brilliant careers. The fact that Rajon Rondo emerged as a fine creative point guard capable of defending and rebounding and knocking down clutch junpers when left alone cannot be ignored. This is what happenns in championship seasons in all sports for the winning teams, things just come together perfectly. This nucleus will be back again next year, Perkins and Davis and Rondo and Tony Allen all a year more mature, so I see the Celtics and the Lakers, if Andrew Bynum regains his mobility, back at it in 09 for one more time. While Kobe Bryant is certainly great he is no Jordan, not now anyway. Obviously I am assuming that the Celtics can win one of three from Lakers and if you want to bet me otherwise please email me , I can use the extra money! Beantown is getting ready for another parade and the hits just keep on comin..Next up The Red Sox, and then The Patriots on this victorious merrygoround., Round and round she goes when it ends nobody knows..

As for baseball, the word is out that instant replay is coming soon to a ballpark near you. I am in favor of it on one condition that it not be used for balls and strikes that it only be used when the umpires have a consensus that maybe the call needs to be reviewed like on a homer down the line or a play at the plate when the ump isn’t in good position. It should not be on demand by the managers, those guys always think the ump blew the call when it goes the other way. Surprise teams The Florida Marlins and The Tampa Bay Rays continue to play exciting ball in front of sparse crowds wilst having the lowest payrolls in the game, proving that you cant buy love and happiness or guarantee victory between the lines. In a sign of the times both clubs developed superior young talent often acquired form other clubs in trades of their emerging stars who would have commanded salaries exceeding their teams capacity to pay for them. They also are signing their young players to longer contracts in essence tying them up for the extra one or two years when they will be hitting their prime..its a winning formula and to the clubs that overspend on aging, questionable talent..smarten up and yes that includes the Yankees, the Red Sox and the Mets and in fact it appears that those clubs are taking the hint. The Red Sox best production on the hill has been from Lester, Buckholz, Papelbon, etc and this kid Masterson looks real good too. On paper the Sox seem to have the best ballclub and manager Tito Francona usually knows how to play his cards by now.  JD Drew is finally comfortable at the plate and playing great all around ball in right. Coco Crisp is the best 4th outfielder in the league, Ellsbury is the real deal if .285, 70 stolen bases and an acrobatic catch a game wets your whistle and Manny is well Manny and even though Ortiz is on the shelf they wont miss a beat. I will not insult my Yankee readers( although my Sox readers want me too, ) with a beat down, lets just say SEE YA…there are a few other good ballclubs in the AL for sure- the Angels are solid as long as Vlad gimps it out and the Ozzie whipped White Sox come to mind..I still want to see the Tigers take batting practice but a theoretically thumping lineup doesn’t translate to wins. Good pitching beats good hitting in the long run. The Phillies, the Cubs and the Diamondbacks are all playing well and even though the slugging stick thin Soriano is out for 6 weeks, I see them going all the way in the National League, setting the stage for what would be a historic Championship Series between the Red Sox and the long overdue Cubbies. I for one will be trying to make it to at least one game in each city and of course with my connections I’ll in the front row as Uke would say. It will be chilly in October in Boston and Chicago but I think everyone should be sufficiently fueled up to stay warm.  But for now you can satisfy your urge to see the best baseball on the planet by going to National Ticket Agencies MBL page and clicking on your team and picking out your game…and psssst take your dad!

Well its time to put down the pen and do my rehab in the pool down here in sunny South Florida. I should mention that the NFL season is right around the corner and tickets to all games for all teams are allready on sale and actually moving quite well. Baseball is the national pastime but football is king..at least in the ticket industry. Get your sports and concert tickets at the lowest priced ticket agency on the internet, National Ticket Agency. Cheers – and I promise to write more often as I feel up to it..

NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE PART 3- The Pacific Division

I write this while watching an ESPN inspirational story of a young man named Gunner Esiason who just tossed a touchdown pass in a high school game. Not so remarkable except that he has cystic fybrosis. I am so impressed with  his desire to compete , to live as normally as possible and to succeed despite his severe handicap. It  is quite remarkable. You might recognize the last name, his dad was a famous quarterback in the NFL and is now a highly regarded commentator, ex Cincinnati Bengal Boomer Esiason. Unfortunately illness knows know social bounderies, spares no person rich or poor and is just plain heartbreaking as hell. One thing though that I see more often than not though is the will that these kids have to survive, to deal with it, to improve , to enjoy life and to make the best of things in spite of incredible odds that would destroy the will of most mortals. A kid like Gunner makes you appreciate your own life situation and your individual blessings no matter what your personal lot in life may be. Remember when your broke there is someone that is poorer, when your sick , there is someone dying, and when your sad there is someone who may be heart broken. As we approach the holiday season and our Thanksgiving feast and the Christmas and Hanucka lights shine bright on every city street,  reach deep into your heart as you look around at the world that turns and do the right thing.

 The economy is not good, in fact it’s probably a recession, money is tight, people are losing jobs and homes and charities that do so much good are strapped for cash. It’s so bad that many are folding and that means that people in need will suffer more. We need people like you and me and our neighbor next door to step it up and just plain give more, whether of means or just getting by on a shoestring whatever money you can spare is desperately needed by the charity of your choice.  As a kind and civil  society we have made great strides in finding cures and medicines that ease the pain and provide the ray of hope that keeps dreams alive and something like homelessness can happen to anyone. There are so many vital causes , you surely will find your own personal reasons in deciding where you will lend a helping hand. Just look into your heart. If you have never donated money or time to charity, now is the time.  

Here is a good one to start and for you to consider. www.esiason.org . Every post from now on in will link to a worthwhile charity for you to consider. Also my plans for 2008 are to develope my own online charity site . I have reserved the name www.give123.org. I plan on featuring over 100 underfunded charities that need your help. As well National Ticket Agency will be donating a portion from every sale of event tickets to my favorite charities.

 Ok now then let’s take a look at the the final division of the NBA in my series of reviews. The Pacific Division features alot of great ballplayers led by one Kobe Bryant who is generally regarded to be the most talented basketball player on the planet today and certainly one of the worlds greatest athletes right up there with Tiger, Arod, and anyone else you can think of. Is he a team player , a winner , a good teamate, a good guy well you have to decide that. Personally I think he is a fierce competitor who wants to win, is frustrated when the play around him doesn’t reach certain levels and I would take him on probably 28 of the leagues teams in a heartbeat. I only want him on my team though if he gives it up to charity and not just to satisfy his accountants rants but from the heart..in fact I wish all wealthy professional athletes and successful people of all walks would give more..but I regress. This is about about the National Basketball Association from here on in.

WESTERN CONFERENCE PACIFIC DIVISION

The Phoenix Suns are a powerhouse and could take the title this year. I say this because Steve Nash is still in his prime and he now has another weapon Grant Hill to dish to. Raja Bell, Shawn Marion , and Amare Stoudemire are all super stars making this an All Star team. So barring injuries they are arguably better than the Spurs. We shall see. > Get your Phoenix Suns tickets here.

The Golden State Warriors actaully beat a better Dallas team last post season pretty badly so that makes them pretty good , right. Baron Davis is dynamite and Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson are nice players but I am afraid that should they eak into the playoffs this year they’ll probably get bounced. Still a good take and Baron can really shake and bake. > Get your Golden State Warrior tickets here.

The Los Angelos Clippers are no longer the “other” LA team. They are better than the Lakers and have been for a while now. Problem is that their star center/ forward Elton Brand is out till Febuary and point Sam Cassell may have lost a step. I doubt they can break .500 but that may be better than the “other” LA team. If the two were combined now that would be interesting. > Get your Los Angelos Clippers tickets here.

The Los Angelos Lakers are Kobe Bryant. As goes Kobe so goes the Lakers. He’s that good and he is certainly worth the money to see in person as he’s practically unstoppable. The problem here is that his motivation is questionable and the supporting cast is just average save for Derek Fisher who’s decent and the injured Lamar “Lefty” Odum. Bryant can sinlehandily win games but not enough of them to make a diference in the standings. > Get your Los Angelos Lakers tickets here.

The Sacramento Kings are still woefully shorthanded in too many areas and if they manage to stay above the lottery line that will be a moral victory. Mike Bibby their best player is out for 2 months and that puts the burden on the talented but shall we say troubled Ron Artest. Still though always remember it’s the NBA, the greatest show on earth so don’t be a  no show and go , show your support. > Get your your Sacremanto Kings tickets here.

Hey everyone, buckle up and use your blinkers! Get there in 1 piece. I remind you , National Ticket Agency is always your best place to buy tickets for all NBA and NHL games this winter. The NFL is in full swing, I will refrain from gloating over the Pat’s ( I think I did that already enough) and I remind you that the best tickets for the money , the best seats are from NTA. You know what I say NTA has you covered!