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Anchored by the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, and runner-up Lebron James, the All-NBA First Team was announced on Wednesday.

The NBA didn’t go all defense, however, as the top 4 scorers in the league all made the first team squad:

• Dwyane Wade - 30.2 ppg
• Lebron James - 28.4
• Kobe Bryant - 26.8
• Dirk Nowitzki - 25.9

Wade was voted into the first team for the 1st time, while Bryant and Nowitzki were both selected their 4th times, respectively.  For James, who was listed on every first team ballot, it is his second appearance on the All-NBA team. Dwight Howard was also nominated for the 2nd consecutive season.

Of the 5 selections, Wade is the only player already eliminated from the 08-09 NBA Playoffs, while Dirk could be joining him as early as tonight (they trail Denver 3-2 in best of 7 series).  Howard, who’s Orlando Magic suffered a devastating loss last night after a horrible 4th quarter, could also be joining Wade on the “I’ve started my summer vacation” list.

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At only 24 yrs old, Lebron James has already accomplished more than some basketball players could hope for in a lifetime.  NBA Finals appearance - check, best record in the NBA - check, USA gold medal - check, etc.  On Monday, Lebron added to his already impressive basketball legacy by winning the 2008-2009 NBA MVP Award, given to the league’s most valuable player.

James has been the favorite to win the MVP since March, despite strong efforts from Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant  (2007-08 NBA MVP) and Dwyane Wade.  Those four players essentially made up the entire competition for the award.

Fitting in his MVP season, Lebron James is the only player in NBA history to lead his team in the following stats (all in one season): Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals and Blocks.  Think about that for a second… he led his team in EVERY single statistical category, with the exception of perhaps 3-pointers and free throw shooting.  This means Lebron was everywhere - doing everything to help his team win.  Most 24 yr olds are too busy trying to be cool, whereas this kid has the maturity (& swagger) to do it without even trying.  James is an exceptional role model for young athletes and other aspiring NBA players.  He is proof that, if you play hard every minute and you play team oriented ball, you can succeed.

2008-2009 NBA MVP Voting

Lebron James easily won out over fellow players Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.  Receiving over 90% of the first place votes, King James tallied 1,172 total points in the voting.

• Lebron James, 1,172 pts
• Kobe Bryant, 698
• Dwyane Wade, 680
• Dwight Howard, 380
• Chris Paul, 192

Accepting the award in his hometown of Akron, in the area he grew up in, Lebron continued to praise his team and suggest that individual awards come when your team wins.  Making the players around you better and playing hard were the messages highlighted by the much-deserved NBA star.

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Not a surprise to most NBA followers today, after Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is announced as the Rookie of the Year for the 2008-09 season.  Rose excelled early and late, including a late regular season run and eventual #7 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Derrick Rose seemingly had all the necessary skills to excel in the pro game and he showed no delay in exhibiting them to the Chicago & NBA faithful.  Coming out of Memphis and an NCAA Championship loss to Kansas, Rose was selected with the #1 pick in the NBA Draft in hopes that he would revive basketball in Chicago - make it relevant again.  Not since Michael Jordan last laced up his sneakers for the Bulls have they really had optimism looking forward.  Tyson Chandler was a disappointment, as was Eddy Curry.  Elton Brand was a stud, but didn’t even perform well enough to win the Rookie of the Year outright.

2008-09 Rookie of the Year Voting

Other contenders for this year’s ROY Award included Grizzlies guard OJ Mayo, the Heat’s Michael Beasley, Brook Lopez of the Nets and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook.  The final order, as reported by NBA.com include:

1. Derrick Rose (574 votes)
2. OJ Mayo (246)
3. Brook Lopez (127)
4. Russell Westbrook (73)
5. Eric Gordon (22)
6. Kevin Love (16)
7. Michael Beasley (7)
8. 6 other rookies received at least 1 vote

Derrick Rose is the easy winner this year after leading all rookies in assists and finishing 2nd in scoring.  His maturity and leadership were outstanding, especially considering he was brought into a previously under-achieving situation.

Having stolen Game 1 from the Boston Celtics, Rose’s impact can’t be underestimated and his accomplishments are well deserved.

Derrick Rose Jerseys - Chicago Bulls

Fresh of a demolishing 2008-09 season in the NBA, the awards voters rewarded Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard w/ the league’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Starting the season on a mission to dominate the league in both blocks and rebounds, Howard wasted no time setting the tone on both ends.  Keeping up his stats during the season was definitely a challenge, but something Dwight Howard has sought since the summer.  After discussing the game w/ other great centers, Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo, Howard determined that winning slam dunk titles wasn’t enough to be remembered by.  Not for the league’s “superman”… he wanted awards and domination.

Dwight led the league in both rebounds and blocks - only the 5th player in NBA history to do so.  In the process, he helped his teammates earn a #3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

King James is 2nd? You Must Be Joking

Other notable votes included a (what the eff were they thinking) Lebron James in 2nd place and (deserved) 3rd place for Heat guard Dwyane Wade.  The nomination of James as the 2nd place defender is a joke.  Yes, he played great defense when chasing down opponents, but he’s the “sexy” pick if you will.  TV announcers and other ass-kissers have been touting Lebron for several weeks, despite the fact that he is an average one-on-one defender.  Seriously, they couldn’t find any other players averaging 30 minutes or more that play better defense?  Kobe (barely), Artest, Battier, Paul (can’t believe I’m saying that even), etc.

Coach of the Year Award - Mike Brown

In other NBA news, Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown received the Coach of the Year Award for leading the Cavs to the NBA’s best record and homecourt throughout the playoffs.  This award will soon be followed by a MUCH DESERVED MVP trophy for Lebron James - the same Lebron that I just dissed on the Defensive Player voting.  He is a dominate force and his team is the best - that is easily going to earn him the MVP over Bryant, Wade and Howard.

Dwight Howard Jerseys - Orlando Magic

Football News from NFL.com

Before he played in his third Super Bowl, Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner received 2008 Walter Payton Man of the Year honors. The announcement was made Sunday on the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., before kickoff of Super Bowl XLIII.   Continue reading on NFL.com

Kurt Warner is a class-act and a great inspiration for fans throughout the NFL.  What he did this year in Arizona is simply amazing.  Here’s hoping that the Arizona Cardinals re-sign him to a new deal (if he’s not retiring)!!

Go CARDS!!

Kurt Warner Jerseys

Football News from NFL.com

Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington won The Associated Press 2008 NFL
Comeback Player of the Year award Wednesday, the second time in three years he has received the honor.   Continue reading on NFL.com

Pretty crazy that Chad Pennington could win not one Comeback Player of the Year Award, but two of them… and both within a 3 yr period.  Absolutely nuts…  The award is a reminder of how being persistent and believing in yourself can help pay off.  Rotator cuff surgery… no problem.  Casted away by the New York Jets in favor of Brett Favre… no problem.  Chad Pennington continued to practice, play hard and help his team(s) win.  He is a great example to young football players everywhere.  The Miami Dolphins are lucky to have picked Chad up during the offseason - he has put together an MVP-type season and helped turn around an ugly 1-15 2007-08 Dolphins season.

Baseball News from L.A. Times

The Giants’ second-year pitcher wins by a comfortable margin. Brandon Webb of the Diamondbacks finishes a distant second.  Tim Lincecum won the National League Cy Young Award by a comfortable margin today, taking home pitching’s highest honor in his second major league season. Continue reading on L.A. Times

Aside from a few insignificant awards and the NBA’s MVP award, all of the other awards have pretty much been decided.  The list includes a number of first time NBA winners, but also features a coach who’s won his 2nd Coach of the Year award.  Whether you agree with the list or not, these are the players (& coach) who the voting members chose this year.

Here is a quick summary of the winners:

• Rookie of the Year - Kevin Durant, Seattle Supersonics
• NBA’s 6th Man - Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
• Coach of the Year - Byron Scott, New Orleans Hornets
• Most Improved Player - Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic
• Defensive Player of the Year - Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics

The MVP award should come next and is basically a deaheat between the Hornets’ Chris Paul and the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant.  It would be the first MVP award for both basketball players and deserving (for either) as well.

Who’s your favorite? (let us know in the Comments)

The Boston Celtics acquired superstar Kevin Garnett in the hopes that he could help resurrect their team and bring it back to respectability.  With his worth ethic and strong determination to win, getting Garnett was a no-brainer for GM Danny Ainge.

After leading the Celtics to the NBA’s best single season turnaround this year and making Boston one of the top defensive teams in the league, Kevin Garnett was rewarded Tuesday w/ the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award.  This is the first time that Garnett has won the award - he had previously won an MVP while w/ the Timberwolves, but no defensive awards.

Garnett handily beat out the Nuggets’ Marcus Camby (last year’s winner) and 2nd runner-up Shane Battier from the Rockets.

The Celtics do not play tonight, but will resume their hunt for another NBA title tomorrow night (8pm EST) against the Atlanta Hawks.

There’s a lot of people out there who don’t like wearing jerseys of players who only play good offense - they want a jersey of the league’s defensive specialists or the defense juggernauts (ie: Wallace, Camby, Rodman, Oakley).  If that’s you, you’ll surely want to pickup a Garnett jersey (or Celtics’ jersey).

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