Yes, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens could co-exist in the same environment, if it comes down to it.

Well… for a few weeks, anyway.

Tony Romo is a capable quarterback (and by capable, I mean “able to throw the ball in the correct direction”), perfectly able to keep them happy. All that would be asked of any QB to succeed with two of the best receivers in the NFL at their disposal is: remain conscious most of the time, have a good sense of direction (always looking north/south) and maintain enough health to have one working throwing arm.

Easy enough, right? Even Joey Harrington couldn’t mess that up…

Too far? Ok, ok. Only Joey Harrington could mess that up.

Moss and Owens are at the back end of their careers, but still have a few more years left of productivity. Each reached the Super Bowl, each went home empty-handed — there’s plenty of competitive fire still a brewin’.

But of course we have to take into account their personalities when considering whether they could mesh. Between the two, they are the most high-maintenance receivers in the league. They constantly need to be involved in the offense at a high level or, like clockwork, they will let their QB, O-coordinator, team mom or whomever know just how upset they feel.

But let’s look at what drives them crazy the most: QBs.

They could easily find common ground based on their mutual dislike for certain QBs, and their recent “falling in love” with their latest QBs. Owens could share his love and adoration for Romo, while Moss reminisced about the time he and Brady were inseparable — well, when he wasn’t dating or impregnating super models, anyway.

But the same item that would bring them together, would just as quickly tear them apart.

Would T.O. be able to share his quarterback? I think it’s safe to assume that a receiver who sheds tears over his QB has serious potential to be somewhat like a clingy girlfriend on- and off the field.

And Moss, fresh off a QB break-up (from, like, the most dreamy QB ever!), would be on the rebound. His eyes would be wandering, looking for someone to replace Brady and repair his heart — or at least take his mind off it all.

T.O. would take notice and warn Romo that Moss was just using him to replace old Brady memories. Romo would try to calm T.O., claiming they would still be the good ol’ 9-to-81 duo like the old days. But after Moss hit double-digit TDs, T.O.’s quality time with Romo would diminish. Soon, the sleepovers would subside, ranch hangouts would be no more and as a result, more T.O. tears would flow.

No more buddy-buddy, Mr. Nice Guy Owens. No more tranquility in the Cowboys homestead.

Only jealousy, deceit and mischievousness lingering about. Something like a Desperate Housewives Receivers episode of sorts.

So Cowboys fans should be scared at the prospect of Moss coming to town.

It’s all fun and games, ’till someone gets hurt.

At Tuesday night’s political debate in Cleveland, Ohio, Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton referred to a Saturday Night Live skit as she accused the media of providing “cushions” for her opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, instead of offering him tough, fair and balanced questions.

Up until today, Brian McNamee could have accused House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform members of the same charge. Exactly two weeks ago, McNamee received a verbal beat-down from Republican members of the committee who openly lambasted him for being a “liar” and a “drug dealer” in very pointed, personal tones. Meanwhile, they lofted softballs at their new-found pal and “great American icon,” essentially putting him up in a Watergate Hotel room with extra pillows and as many of those little chocolate mints as he wanted.

Now, after a number of Clemens’ stories revealed gaping holes, the committee officially launched a federal investigation to see if the former Yankees pitcher is guilty of perjury or obstruction of justice. Yes, the same charge Barry Lamar Bonds is currently charged with, after the feds went after him for two-and-a-half years.

Bonds never received the “extra pillow” treatment during the beginning of his accusations stages, and the reasoning is explained simply as his lack of likability. People — especially Republican senators — feel a special bond with Clemens, and there were willing to cling to his every word until he deceived them… and even then, maybe, just maybe it was a mistake. Maybe he just… “misremembered.”

But maybe Clemens has breached an element of change similar to Sen. Obama; maybe his “extra pillow” treatment is warranted, given his ability to mobilize the masses and get people talking about baseball again despite its current state of being — infiltrated with drugs, accusers and pesky congresspersons with too much free time on their hands.

Clemens, with the help of The Mitchell Report and his mention in it, managed to conjure up unity and change in two different areas: fans and now, congresspersons.

The Fans

In a Gallup poll survey of 462 baseball fans between February 21-24 (after the congressional theatrics), 57% believe he lied to congress about his use of steroids. Even with that majority of assumed guilt from the court of public opinion, 62% still believe Clemens deserves to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The same question was asked about Bonds and he received 46% support. It should be noted that Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa both recorded numbers similar to Clemens’ 62% HOF support. So what does this prove? Likability comes into play when it comes to fans’ HOF support; but as of last year, McGwire has not breached “the block” of a HOF induction. It is very apparent baseball fans give players much more credit than HOF voters.

Weeks before George Mitchell shook up Clemens’ life, in a different poll, 60% of those surveyed said that players named in The Mitchell Report should be punished; 37% said there should not be punishments.

In the latest poll, opinions have flip-flopped; now, 55% believe baseball should not punish current MLB players named in The Mitchell Report.

What changed once the report was released? The report managed to drag the once-pure Clemens name through the mud, after many years of the former HOF “shoo-in” being labeled simply as competitive but likable. Bonds was treated like a villain during his chase for Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record; even the commissioner played a back-and-forth game about whether he wanted to be at the historic moment or not. The number of harsh judges stood at 60% after Bonds was seen as the most popular, best statistical player to get hit with the most scrutiny about steroid used; now that Clemens elevated his level of presumed guilt (remember that 57% of those thinking he lied to congress) as Bonds, many of the judges back down and managed to unite — or at least rethink individually or collectively, but all at once — and become more lenient all of a sudden.

Such amazement, no?

The Congressional Members

When we last left the House Oversight Committee partisan bias show two weeks ago, Democrats tended to pepper Clemens with more in-depth question, while Republican members took it easy on the man they labeled a “great American icon.” Here we are a few weeks later and now — just like after The Mitchell Report release, with Clemens’ name the biggest of the allegedly caught fish — Clemens has managed to unite a divide.

The committee’s chairman, Henry Waxman (Democrat), and the committee’s ranking Republican, Tom Davis, (a Republican), collaborated to send a letter over to the attorney general Michael Mukasey in order to spark a Department of Justice investigation into whether or not Clemens lied to them under oath, and may be guilty of perjury or obstruction of justice.

An excerpt:

Congress cannot perform its oversight function if witnesses who appear before its committees do not provide truthful testimony. Perjury and false statements before Congress are crimes that undermine the integrity of congressional inquiries. For these reasons, we take evidence that a witness may have intentionally misled the Committee extremely seriously.

We are not in a position to reach a definitive judgment as to whether Mr. Clemens lied to the Committee. Our only conclusion is that significant questions have been raised about Mr. Clemens’s truthfulness and that further investigation by the Department of Justice is warranted. We ask that you initiate such an investigation. The record of the Committee’s proceedings will be made available to the Department of Justice to assist in the investigation.

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman, Chairman

Tom Davis, Ranking Minority Member

For as much division as we saw before — historically, and especially with the last 7 years of extreme political bias from both Dems and Republicans — it’s amazing to see two conflicting party members united for a single cause and purpose — finding out whether they were duped by Clemens, their “great American hero.”

Just a little bit of help from baseball’s new “Uniter” and BOOM! Change.

So fear not, people of America, and baseball fans. Change is near, change is now.

And it comes by way of the man, the myth, the legend, the “great American hero”:

The Rocket.

Some NBA superstars demand trades when they feel like their team is inadequate. Some stay with their team against their will but phone in games. Others, who often get compared to larger-than-life deities, simply step up and proceed to carry their team to the NBA Finals.

For the superstars who prove they can single-handedly take their team to the “promise land,” teams find it in their best interest to go out of their way to stockpile as much talent as possible. In Cleveland, general manager Danny Ferry has but one goal, and one goal only: keep LeBron James happy. A player like James comes once in a lifetime; with his contract up in 2 years, the Cavs knew that adding talent around their star would be the best chance they have at keeping “The Chosen One” for the long haul.

So, to prove that complacency is overrated in the NBA, the defending Eastern Conference Champs traded away 60% of their roster. A shake-up with a bow around it and a note:

Dear Bron-Bron,

Thought you might like to play with these pieces; might just get us over that NBA Finals hump. Enjoy.

Thanks,
Management.

Unsatisfied with being the first-place losers, just before the 3pm traded deadline buzzer, the Cavs shipped out old parts — Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall, Drew Gooden, Ira Newble and Shannon Brown — and imported new ones — Wally Szczerbiak, Joe Smith and Delonte West. They also secured a 2009 second-round pick from Chicago.

The move gives James a solid outside shooter in Szczerbiak, a power defender to make the hustle plays as he gets healthier with Wallace, and a up-and-coming young point guard who can bring the ball up court with a little toughness.

But will this move fend off the thoughts of jumping ship to New York in two years?

Needless to say, the odds are against the Cavs. Even if these players turn out to be the major pieces to get the Cavs the title in the next two years, would LeBron still stick around? The number one goal in his mind, many a time, is to become sports’ first billionaire. Yes, championships will help, but from the standpoint of making money, where’s the money-making capital of the world? New York.

His buddy and great pal Jay-Z has a partial ownership of the New Jersey Nets, who should set-up shop in Brooklyn by 2010 or so. What’s stopping him from beauty pageant-waving his way out of Cleveland and into the city where moneymakers are insomniacs?
Kobe Bryant wanted out of Los Angeles… until the Lakers front office pulled off a coo, acquiring Paol Gasol from Memphis for practically nothing in return.

Shaq was having one of his worst pro seasons… until he was shipped out west to Phoenix to play alongside 2-time MVP Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and the fun and gun Suns offense.

LeBron won the Eastern Conference for the Cavs single-handedly, a la 2001 Allen Iverson with the 76ers, despite the charges he did not have the “fire” or “killer instinct” to get to the “promise land” of the sport…

Want to know what’s next for the kid who we already know is the cause of, and answer to, the big question: “Who’s Now?”

Sorry to tell you this, Cleveland, but herein lies LeBron’s future — he will soon be discussing his fondness to great, Big Apples, and there won’t be a thing you or your mounds of dollars can do about it.

Some of us in the “Madden Era” of video games often view professional sports trades only on the surface. With analysts, blogs, in-depth reports and the intricate details of games these days, many like to claim to be a little more than just Monday Morning Quarterbacks; we’re Monday through Sunday general managers, too.

But lost in the transactions are the more personal side — and effect — of the players, teammates and families involved. When a player gets traded from Los Angeles to Miami, they have to up and move their entire well-being. New houses need to be purchased, new schools to be enrolled into and new friends to be made. We see someone like Shaq taking a bit of time trying to adjust to the fast-paced Suns team after his trade to Phoenix; what about his family’s adjustment? That would seem to be much harder.

New Orleans Hornets big-man Tyson Chandler broke down his perspective on the recent trade which sent his teammate and friend, Bobby Jackson, to Houston, along with two other players and a 2nd round draft pick, in order to acquire Bonzi Wells and Mike James.

On the surface, the trade gives the Hornets depth. But on the other hand, New Orleans lost more than just a great player, Chandler explains in his NBA.com blog:

I always understand that it’s a business. The team is just trying to get better, trying to get deeper. To get something good like that, you’re going to have to give up something good. I understand the basketball decision of it and I understand Jeff Bower’s position. Even if I was the GM, just because I was friends with somebody doesn’t mean I would keep them on my team. The ultimate goal is to make the basketball club better.

But I look at it from both ends. We’re losing a friend and a great teammate. But on the business side, I can understand it, because we just got deeper and it will help us in the long run going into the playoffs.

These trades mature players quickly, whether they like it or not. They are always forced into viewing the game as the business it is, but the notion only comes to fruition when it hits home:

I had an appearance after practice yesterday, but I went over his house after that. He was packing and my daughter was in the room with him, because my wife took my daughter over there to play with the kids before they left. My daughter was helping him pack, bringing him hangers and just spending time. He and her had gotten really close, because he would always come, pick up my daughter and take her with his girls to the movies, Chuck E. Cheese, the museum, or just on family outings.

He was just sitting in there, getting his stuff together and we were actually watching the game, Miami and Houston. He was in there watching his team now. Normally, we’re teammates watching the game together, but he was watching the team he was about to go to. He was just moving slow and I could tell that he was going to miss everything.

The breakdown is one of the best ones yet by any NBA blogger. It’s touching, honest and smart. And, of course, quite depressing.

I’m headed to GameStop first thing in the morning to trade in a my NBA Live ‘07…

• Shaq loses a close one in his Phoenix Suns.
• Kidd loses in Dallas debut.
• Phillies’ Ryan Howard wins $10 mil in arbitration.
• Getting to know new Washington National outfielder Elijah Dukes.
• Gary Sheffield hates Scott Boras, too, calling him a “bad person.” Oh, snap! Boras, you gonna let him call you names?!
• Will Leitch’s God Save The Fan book tour hits D.C. tonight, at the Barnes & Noble in Georgetown. Support the sports blogosphere, folks!
• The New York Times printed a story where they say John McCain has a constant battle within on ethics; and he may have had an “inappropriate relationship” (read: affair) with lobbyist years ago.

Years ago, in 2003, Terrelll Suggs was taught a lesson in humility at the NFL Draft Combine. Despite having set the NCAA record for sacks in a season, 24, during his junior year at Arizona State University, his 40-yard-dash time at the combine had many “draft experts” doubting his ability to perform at the highest level in the NFL.

After five years recorded in the NFL, Suggs accumulated 1 NFL defensive rookie-of-the-year honor, 2 Pro Bowl selections and just this week he was assigned the franchise tag with the Baltimore Ravens, the team that originally selected him 10th overall at the 2003 NFL Draft.

Do we still think the combine is the best judge for who can make it on the next level?

On the plus side, many other athletes are taught a similar level of humility at the NFL Draft Combine. Hundreds of soon-to-be professional athletes line up next to one another and compete individual skill drills to see who can impress the NFL scouts more. The athletes find out that even though they have many wonderful videos illustrating their on-field greatness, a simple slip-up at the NFL combine could make or break a career.

Situations similar to Suggs — of under-performing combine participants out-performing draft experts — happen quite often; but, in contrast, just as often, so does as the absolute reverse — draft combine star who goes on to lay an egg in the NFL (Um… Ryan Leaf, anyone?).

One may just conclude that a shiny, lucky coin may be as good a scout as some employed by the NFL.

If you are one of those types who can’t get enough of 40-yard-dash times, Wonderlick Tests, Shuttle drills and bench press numbers, you’re in for a real treat this week. Follow along this week as the NFL Draft Combine takes over your local NFL Network channel.

Consider it like a glorified American Idol of sorts. Or, even, a track-and-field competition with just a few more pennie$ at stake.

After a few mishaps, shake-ups and slips of tongue, the Jason Kidd deal is finally complete. Now, in a matter of days, Kidd will suit up with the same team that drafted him 2nd overall in 1994 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks.

With the trade speculation behind us, now we can carry on getting excited for the second-half of the NBA season!

The original deal had the Mavs giving up Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, $3 million and two first-round picks for the Nets’ Kidd and Malik Allen. The finalized deal swaps out the Mavs’ Stack and George for Trenton Hassell and newly re-signed retiree-to-be (aren’t they all?) Keith Van Horn. Also, the report mentions a $1.6-million trade exception, but I am not so keen to elaborate on how that fancy two-step works.

Just so you know, I stand by my original statement that the Mavs are the losers in the deal –

What happens to Dallas’s depth at that point? How do they keep up with the fast-running Suns (yes, even with Shaq Daddy) and the super-deep returning champ Spurs? Is it worth unloading Diop and Harris (two of their best defenders) just to get one great but aging point guard?

I think not.

But maybe the Mavs are just trying to keep up with the Joneses (Lakers & Suns) by making a move — any move — for a big name to join them in the arms race out West. Not that Kidd isn’t great — he most definitely is — but the apparent imbalance makes it believable that panic caused Mavs owner Mark Cuban to keep nodding his head as the Nets kept piling on the demand request (dessert) tray.

The Mavs are making it clear they want to win yesterday, and have no qualms in mortgaging their future (don’t mind my use of phrase presidential hopeful Barack Obama keeps saying on the campaign trail) to reach that goal.

Retaining George, a 3-time NBA champion, does help the Mavs in this revised deal. He has lots of experience (as is exemplified with the championship titles at such a young age) and is one less vital piece they had to give up. But still, they gave up a lot — too much even — to get get their Kidd.

Just to pile on top: With Kidd shooting 36% from the field, teams will be 100% more fearful of him contributing the game-winning toss, and less of him hitting the game-winning shot.

NBA commissioner David Stern walked away from this weekend on top of Cloud 9. His All-Star weekend in New Orleans was a soaring success, despite all the nay-sayers who predicted a sequel to the chaos that “rained” down on Las Vegas last year.

There is hope for the NBA yet. Any and every distraction from the Tim Donaghy referee scandal is great for the league’s image, obviously. I’m sure the NBA spin doctors are already speaking in double- and triple- negatives at this point — “What ref scandal? We didn’t not not know about that! Maybe it was a figment of your imagination…”

A few glowing remarks from this weekend’s NBA fun:

• The 2008 Dunk Contest Soars
• Mike Wise (Washington Post)
• Jason Whitlock (KC Star)
• J.A. Adande (ESPN)

With Shaq Diesel in the desert, Paol Gasol in Hollywood and Jason Kidd Texas-bound, there are lots of reasons to tune in to the second-half of the NBA season.

Last night we saw creativity, showmanship and theatrics to last us for many years to come. When the smoke cleared, the biggest man in the competition, Dwight “Superman” Howard, emerged victorious.

Needless to say, the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk competition did not disappoint.

The last big man to have the same explosiveness and hops as Howard used to be my personal favorite player in the league, Shawn Kemp, before drugs, alcohol and baby mommas (Kemp allegedly fathered 13 children with 9 different women) took over his life.

Those who surveyed the video vault of YouTube.com were able to see most of the dunks Howard used to bring home a win; of course, a few “super” props and a few thousand of his closest friends screaming in the background didn’t really hurt his chances, either.

The contest hasn’t been as fun as it was since Vince Carter brought home the 2000 championship in one of the top-2 all-time greatest performances. (How can you deny His Airness vs. The Human Highlight Film?)

Argue with me if you must, but the most notable and creative jam last night was Gerald Green’s “birthday cake” dunk. I could go on to try and explain it, but it’s best if you see it for yourself. Ah… who says NBA players aren’t creative?

As much as I’m almost completely tired of seeing Charles Barley all over my TV (his cell phone commercials with Dwayne Wade played every commercial break — and I like the “finally made the 5″ one, too), he correctly predicted both the dunk contest and 3-point shootout winners last night.

The 2008 3-point champion was last year’s champ, Jason Kapono of the Toronto Raptors (formerly of the Miami Heat) with a record-tying 25 in the final round to seal the victory.

The 2008 All-Star Game begins tonight at 8 p.m. Can it possibly top last night’s fun?

* * * * * * * * * * *

BONUS LINKS:

• TNT did a great job telling the story of the 27-year-old rookie, Jamario Moon, from Goodwater, Alabama.
• The NBA created a page where you can see the top-10 dunks of each of the four participants.
• The Washington Post put together an in-depth story of how Caron Butler went from being a drug dealer in Wisconsin to an All-Star in 2008.
• Someone must be writing and boozin’ –  tries to say the Daytona 500 is better than the Super Bowl. Um… wow.

While many of us “outsiders” assumed triple-double machine Jason Kidd was Dallas-bound, true “insiders” — so inside they were part of the deal — knew otherwise.

What initially lined up as a deal stacked heavily in favor of New Jersey — The Mavericks offered Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, $3 million and two first-round picks — ended up on the chopping block not due to its imbalance, but instead, thanks to a rejection by Mr. George, and an outspoken exploitation of a lesser-known NBA trade loophole by Mr. Stackhouse. If Stack went to the Nets, it would be by name only, as they were expected to buy out his contract immediately, and due to a rule implemented by the league 3 years ago, he would have to sit out 30-days before he re-signed with the Mavs. So, in fact, he would not be “part” of the deal, per say.

The deal still may be in play, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein. If the Nets can convince George to rescind his trade block by working out some type of deal, the 34-year-old Kidd may end up rejoining the team he was drafted to in ‘94 and subsequently shared Rookie of the Year honors that season along with Grant Hill.

But seriously, a 34-year-old for 2 first-rounders, a great young guard, a defensive big man (Diop) and a player whose headed back to his original team once the teams sign at the dotted lines?

What happens to Dallas’s depth at that point? How do they keep up with the fast-running Suns (yes, even with Shaq Daddy) and the super-deep returning champ Spurs? Is it worth unloading Diop and Harris (two of their best defenders) just to get one great but aging point guard?

I think not.

But maybe the Mavs are just trying to keep up with the Joneses (Lakers & Suns) by making a move — any move — for a big name to join them in the arms race out West. Not that Kidd isn’t great — he most definitely is — but the apparent imbalance makes it believable that panic caused Mavs owner Mark Cuban to keep nodding his head as the Nets kept piling on the demand request (dessert) tray.