Back to Work

  The spring semester at OSU finally ended today and the first half of my second stint in college is officially in the books.  While I was learning more about journalism in a challenging reporting class, I allowed the daily and weekly pressure of writing for that class affect my responsibilities to this site. But enough about me...
  In my last entry, I chided Kobe and the Lakers for their lackluster effort going into the All-Star Break.  Of course, following that hiatus the Lakers came back and won 17 of their next 18 games.
  But here we are into the second round of the NBA playoffs and it looks as though the Lakers haven't yet turned the switch to "ON."
  Game Three of this Western Conference Semifinal series is now in the second quarter as Dallas holds a two-game advantage coming into tonight.  Anyone who has been a Mavs fan for very long knows that the good feeling of this series lead can easily disappear though.  Please fill the next moments with your own disheartening flashback to the 2006 NBA Finals.  (If you listen closely, you can hear another whistle blown as Dwayne Wade goes to the free throw line again to shoot in Game Five...)
  Right the Mavs are on top by two early in the period.  Can they finish the job they started in L.A.?  It's possible, but a statement must be made tonight.  Even with a Laker win, the Mavs can't come across as if they've folded.