Monday Morning Dance Therapy

Monday mornings are tough. As the work week starts, we often need something to pick us up and remind us that things are going to be okay. That something is NBA players and other hoops figures dancing. This weekly column celebrates one of the finest things in life and gives you the kickstart you need to get the week started on the right foot.

The other evening I was at a party, and as tends to happen, I was talking about my childhood affinity for early 90s R&B groups. I mentioned Jodeci, of course, as well as Silk and Shai. There was a brief misunderstanding, and I was forced to explain to someone that Shai was a different entity than Shai Hulud. In fact, Shai probably could not have been any more different than those hardcore stalwarts. I might go as far as to call them "softcore." I'm not sure if that person thinks less of me now, but sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe in. And Michael Beasley and I believe in "If I Ever Fall in Love."

No Regard Daily Previews: See You In LA!

Big night tonight for NBA addicts. Not only do we get LeBron James tearing up MSG but, as we all know, live on TNT, Kenny, Ernie, and Chuck will be announcing the starters in this year's All-Star Game.

My appetite is whetted, and has been some time, anticipating what is going to be a show-stopping East vs. West battle come February. The league is chock full of talented talents with neither conference having a decided edge.

Will the NBA's wunderkid, Blake Griffin, get the nod? Does Minnesota's lovable Love have the national presence to beat out worldwide favorites like Dirk or KD? What about the East? Two Heatles starting? How about Chicago's precious Rose? We'll have these answers, and many more, within just a few short hours.

After the announcement, love him or hate him, LeBron will be taking his talents to Madison Square Garden, where he unquestionably owns the world's most famous arena. This is a must-watch. Expect James to shine under the bright lights, bait the New York fans, and perform at his best. I wouldn't bet against a triple-double and some sick, eye-popping highlights from LBJ tonight.

Get your popcorn ready, Association fans.

No Regard Reviews: The Association: Boston Celtics

During one my daily stops on ESPN.com's NBA page, I stumbled across a link labeled The Association: Boston Celtics. I had no idea what it was. To my surprise, I was ecstatic with my discovery:

A year long documentary of the Celtics 2010-2011 season, reminiscent of HBO's Hard Knocks and the 24:7 series.

So far there have been two 30 minute episodes, beginning with preseason story-lines and anticipation, through the quarter pole of the this year's campaign. In typical sports documentary fashion, the episodes present an abundant amount of behind the scenes footage including in-depth interviews, practice sessions, intimate game coverage, and player profiles.

One scene in particular stuck out for me as both intriguing and extremely enjoyable. It focuses on an injured Shaq watching his Celtics play Philadelphia from the trainers' room. Shaq's reaction, not surprisingly, is revolutionary. So is the celebration of the Boston team exiting the court immediately after the dramatic victory. Larry Frank's boyish smile as he giggles through the hallway and sneaks in a quick slap on the Diesel's chest is inspirational.

Of course, as a serious Celtics fan, I relish the opportunity to watch my favorite team from such a close perspective, but I promise that this fandom does not blind my ability to analyze the quality of the work. No matter how you feel about the Celtics, it's undeniable that their current roster is full of personalities, characters, and multiple hall-of-famers. Simply put, they are perfect for The Association: Boston Celtics.

Smell Yah Later, NFL!

While the majority of sports fans in the country are getting amped for the upcoming Super Bowl two weeks from now, Association junkies are secretly smiling for our own reason. The end of football marks the start of great NBA games on Sundays from here on out.

No longer are we handcuffed by the NFL on our day of rest, forced to watch the team from whatever city we reside in rush for two-yard-gains, throw incomplete passes, and punt on 4th down for 21 straight weeks. Finally, we get to engage in a lazy Sunday we can truly enjoy.

Stern and the scheduling crew are not wasting any time either, pimping the first Sunday Showcase with two salivating fixtures. First, the Heatles visit OKC to face off against Kevin Durant and Company, followed by a rematch of last year's Finals with Beantown visiting the Lakers.

Cheers to the end of football season!

Monday Morning Dance Therapy: Finally, a Baby Edition

Monday mornings are tough. As the work week starts, we often need something to pick us up and remind us that things are going to be okay. That something is NBA players and other hoops figures dancing. This weekly column celebrates one of the finest things in life and gives you the kickstart you need to get the week started on the right foot.

I honestly cannot believe it has taken this long for me to include a dancing baby in this column. What say you? This is supposed to be a place for "NBA players and other hoops figures dancing"? Well, I have a few things to say to you:

• Shut up.
• Everyone loves dancing babies.
• Who hasn't danced to that song?
• This baby's name is Captain.

That said, Captain, once you can actually support your own weight, I'm going to expect a little more.

Mikhail Prokhorov: Deal With It

"Yeah, he's a very interesting man. So, for me to just be in the room with him and just have a conversation with him, I would have loved that." - Carmelo Anthony

"This was no white knight sashaying into the States on a horse, but a basketball dummy on a donkey. This franchise has a long, illustrious history of sitcom moments, and this ranks with the most entertaining of all." - Adrian Wojnarowski

"So like the stern headmaster in a really wacky private school, he announced that he’s canceling the prom because his recalcitrant students lobbed a stink bomb into the science lab." - Dave D'Alessandro

"The Russian smelled a rat from an ocean away, and Mikhail Prokhorov swooped in Wednesday to stomp on it." - Ken Berger

"The deal is dead. Done. Denver, ‘Melo, Chris Sheridan, Woj, et al, shove it. The buck stops here... [Prokhorov] earned his stripes last night and he proved what should have been obvious from the get-go – no one becomes a billionaire by being a patsy." - Mark Ginocchio

Video Tribute, Please!

At No Regard, some of us are all about video tributes for players returning to their former teams in new uniforms. Big Z should have gotten one in his honor when the Heatles visited Cleveland earlier this season. He's the Cavalier leader in rebounds, was one of their best players during some terrible seasons, and was a solid foil to Lebron James.

David Lee got one when he returned to MSG.

So tonight, when the NJ Nets face Los Angeles in the Staples center, I'm hoping the home side has something cooking for the return of previously employed Laker backup guards, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic.

They don't need individual tributes, rather I'd prefer if the video presented some of the best highlights they shared together in purple and gold. Perhaps a slick give-and-go concluding in an easy layup in transition. Or maybe probing penetration from Farmar followed by a fantastic assist and wet three-pointer by Sasha.

Do the right thing, Lakers.

No Regard Daily Previews: No Melo Talk!

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight:
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns
The Nets and Nuggets need to work on their red-zone offense, because after Chris Broussard of ESPN reported on Sunday that the deal was, "on the 10-yard line," here I am two days later waiting for a touchdown that still hasn't formulated. At the risk of having a panic attack, we won't discuss the massive pink elephant that's going to be stomping around the Pepsi Center tonight and instead compare the two teams playing in the game as constituted.