AP/Mark J. Terrill

Fearless Prediction 2

I made the right prediction saying the Pistons might upset the Lakers in game 1. They did. Partly because I found that the Lakers didn't give respect to them just like they did three years ago to the Sixers. Coincidentally both teams are coached by Larry Brown... Pistons go-to guy Rip Hamilton, who scored 12 points and 5-16 shooting, said they need to come out and play the same way they did in game 1 to win game 2. If he does think this way, he didn't do his homework. This Lakers team is a great adjusting team. They were down and wore down by the Spurs for two games. In game 3 they turned the table and went on winning the rest of the games in that series. Pistons didn't play well last game. The Lakers showed no energy, and it's the reason the Pistons won. Pistons need to bring more energy than the Lakers. They need to stop all the role players scoring. The Lakers' success has long been relying on the role players like Fisher, Fox, George, and this year, Payton, Malone and Rush. If the Pistons can just stop these guys contribute, they can let Kobe and Shaq score all they want, Pistons can still win.

As far as my prediction, I think this one will be close and Lakers know that they have to win this one. The determination alone can cover the entire Detroit. Lakers will win this one barely.

AP/Paul Sancya

Darko

A lot of discussion surround the Pistons drafting Darko Milicic last year in the draft. If Pistons drafted Camelo Anthony, they will have a better chance to beat the Lakers. I agree. Teams in the NBA have history of getting personnel to push for a championship run. Sixers in 2001 acquired Dikembe Mutombo by giving up future shot block king Theo Ratliff. The Pistions fired Rick Carlisle to get Larry Brown, I believe the reason is to get themselves over the hump and get a ring. If that is the case, why not get Camelo Anthony. Maybe the Pistons didn't expect themselves to have a chance so fast to win championship. Anyway, even if Darko is a future Dirk Nowitzki, Camelo Anthony is not very far behind. Camelo may be only 2/3 as good as Darko, but bottom line is the Pistons can use Camelo right away. They were almost sure Darko had to sit for a few years before he can even be an impact.

AP/Gene J. Puskar

O Canada

This national hockey league, is more like inter-national. Hockey is the sport in Canada. Most people in Canada rooted for the Calgary Flames to win. They almost won it when the controversial shot that looked like it went over the line was called no goal by the NHL. That goal could have won the cup for Calgary. Instead, the series turned back to Tampa Bay and the Lightning won on home ice. This sport and this series went more than just between Calgary and Tampa Bay. It's about Canada and United States, although the Canadians cared about this so much. It's ironic that Canadians who are in love with this so much failed to win it and an American team won this while Americans give no attention to it. It has been a long time since the last Canadian city team won one, the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.

AFP/Paul Barker

Euro 2004: England's weak shot

England has high expectation going into every big soccer event. This team is well and better known than other teams and thus has higher goals just because most players are playing in the English Premier League, and the Premier League games are shown in other countries, I believe, more than any other leagues in the world. After seeing them play in two friendlies, against Japan and Iceland, I can dare say this team won't go very far. Their defense has always been their Achilles' Heels. Japan team could shoot at will at the English goal. The stars in the English team are well known in the soccer world simply because of the league they are playing in, not their ability and skills. In the same group as France, Croatia, and Switzerland, England should be able to advance to the next round second in this group B, but the resistance to advance more is just too much.