Hey all, I am really pleased about two things regarding the NFL Playoffs this past weekend.  First, the Packers won and will now host the NFC Championship game at Lambeau Field this Sunday.  Second, I was a perfect 4 out of 4 on picking the winners of each game.  If you read my posting on Thursday (1/10) you would have saw my predictions for each game including the two amazing upsets.  Most so-called experts were not nearly as accurate, so I am feeling pretty good about that.  On Saturday, the Patriots and Packers won as expected, though Green Bay had to overcome a 14 point defecit within the first few minutes as a result of a couple fumbles.  Then Sunday was the day of upsets, the more improbable taking place in Indianapolis where the Chargers defeated the Colts.  The Chargers won this game despite injuries to some key players as well as some very questionable calls by the refs (that favored the Colts).  The Cowboys lost to the Giants and this was the first time the NFC #1 seed lost in the Divisional round since 1990 when the new postseason format (6 teams) was put in place.  Here's a little nugget I heard on the radio this morning... The Cowboys have not won a playoff game since 1996 (11 seasons).  During that span, 25 of the other 31 NFL teams have won at least one playoff game.  For a team considered a dynasty in the 1990's, that streak of medocrity has to really be a bitter pill for owner Jerry Jones and his huge ego.

My picks for this week are not nearly as exciting as last week.  I am picking both home teams and am hoping to see the Green Bay Packers face the New England Patriots on February 3rd down in Phoenix, Arizona.  If this happens, it is sure to be a ratings BLOCKBUSTER.  Brett Favre, one of the greatest players of all-time (and most popular) vs. the undefeated Patriots trying to go 19-0.  I know I am getting ahead of myself because both teams will have tough games this week, but I am starting to get excited.  At the beginning of this season, I had no expectations of the Packers going to the Super Bowl and it has already been a dream season.  I just hope the dream stays alive.  Go Pack Go!

**Remember, if sports aren't your thing, don't leave quite yet.  As always, be sure to check the end of my posting for the special features "Check this out," "Quote of the day" and "Download this."  No matter what I ramble about any particular day, you can always count on those tidbits at the end to hopefully make your stop at Kickin' it Old School worthwhile.

On Friday, I was watching NBA Basketball on ESPN and the analysts were having a discussion about who the best point guards were right now.  I thought right away that it would make a great topic for a Top 10 list.  So here is OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 10 NBA POINT GUARDS TODAY:

10.  Andre Miller, Phi (9th season) - Now playing for his 4th team, Miller is an incredibly durable player missing just 3 games in his career thus far.  Never a big time scorer, he is tied for 13th all time for assists per game (apg) at 7.6.  He could get traded to a contender prior to the trade deadline.

9.  Deron Williams, Uta (3rd season) - Williams has made huge strides each season and is sure to move up this list quickly over the next couple of years.  Currently averaging 19.0 points per game (ppg) and 9.1 apg.  Utah made the playoffs last year and is heading there again this year owing a lot of that success to their point guard.

8.  Gilbert Arenas, Was (7th season) - Arenas, more of a shoot-first style of point guard, is a 3 time all-star.  A fantastic scorer, but ranks a little lower on my list because of his lesser assist totals.  He is the only player on this list not to be a 1st round draft pick out of college, but he did win the Most Improved Player award after the 2002-03 season.  He only played 8 games this season before going down with an injury, but is sure to be back with a vengeance next year.

7.  Baron Davis, GS (9th season) - Davis is having a great season averaging 22.0 ppg, 8.2 apg, 2.3 steals per game (spg) and over 2 three-pointers made per game.  He is a 2 time all-star despite a very injury prone career.  Davis has missed 115 games just over the last 4 seasons.  When healthy, there are not many better point guards in the league.

6.  Chris Paul, NO (3rd season) - I love this kid's game and he is moving up this list very quickly despite being the youngest player to make my Top 10.  He made an immediate impact winning the Rookie of the Year award after the 2005-06 season, but continues to drastically improve seemingly on a monthly basis.  Paul is currently averaging an impressive 21.7 ppg, 10.4 apg and 2.8 spg, but more importantly has his New Orleans Hornets in playoff contention for the first time in a while (2003-04).  Keep an eye on him, he is going to be one of the great ones over the next decade.

5.  Chauncey Billups, Det (11th season) - Before becoming known as "Mr. Big Shot," Billups bounced around 5 different teams then landed on the Pistons as a free agent in June 2002.  He is only a 2 time all-star, but led the Pistons to an NBA Championship in 2004 (winning the NBA Finals MVP) and back to the Finals again in 2005.  He has developed a reputation of strong defense and leadership.  Detroit is again one of the best teams in the league with Billups averaging 17.3 ppg, 7.3 apg and his usual 90% free throw percentage.  Expect to see the Pistons at least in the Eastern Conference Finals again this year and they are my pick to go to the Finals in large part due to Chauncey Billups.

4.  Allen Iverson, Den (12th season) - I do consider myself an Allen Iverson fan and really enjoy watching him play the game of basketball (maybe more than any other player in the league).  Statistically, he has had a tremendous career with his career average ppg ranking #3 all-time only behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain (pretty good company!).  He is an 8 time all-star and won a league MVP in 2001.  The knock on Iverson is that he has only been to the NBA Finals once (2001) and has never won a championship.  That is what has prevented him from being considered as highly as he might otherwise.  A.I. is putting together another strong season in Denver averaging 26.9 ppg, 7.0 apg and 2.1 spg.

3.  Tony Parker, SA (7th season) - The French-born Parker is known outside of the NBA as the very lucky man who gets to be married to Eva Longoria (from Desperate Housewives).  On the court, Parker has not historically put up the same offensive statistics of some of the other guys on this list, but nobody else on this list has 3 NBA Championship rings on his fingers.  He helped lead the Spurs to championships in 3 of the last 5 seasons (2003, 2005 and 2007) and won the NBA Finals MVP last year.  He is 2 time all-star who continues to steadily improve and really turns it on come playoff time.  This season he is currently averaging 20.3 ppg and 6.6 apg.  Did I mention he was married to Eva Longoria???

2.  Steve Nash, Pho (12th season) - Nash is a true playmaker who seems to do as much or as little as he needs to do to make his team successful.  He is a 5 time all-star and impressively won back to back NBA league MVP in 2005 & 06.  Though the native Canadian is not known for his defense and has never won a championship or even made it to the NBA Finals yet, I still rank him highly on my list.  Steve Nash simply makes the players around him better.  It is recognized by most anybody who has watched him play and that is why he was twice named league MVP.  He is having another strong year averaging 17.2 ppg, 11.9 apg, over 2 three-pointers per game and a clutch 90% free throw percentage.  The Suns are my pick to win the Western Conference and Steve Nash is the major reason that will happen.

1.  Jason Kidd, NJ (14th season) - Kidd is the oldest member on this list (34 years old) and ranks #1 for me because of his complete game.  Kidd ranks #3 all time coming in to this season with 97 triple doubles in his career.  He is the only player other than the great Oscar Robertson to record at least 14000 points, 6600 rebounds and 9000 assists in a career.  He is an 8 time all-star and led his team to two NBA Finals appearances (2002, 03), though he has yet to win a championship.  He is nearly averaging a triple double this season with 11.6 ppg, 10.7 apg and 8.9 rebounds per game.  Kidd has been the subject of trade rumors and I really hope that he gets his championship ring soon, whether it is with the Nets or some other team.

Those are my Top 10 point guards.  The order is up for plenty of debate.  I don't think anybody is missing, but please let me know if you feel strongly about anybody.  Sam Cassell deserves to be on this list, but his play has fallen off quite a bit the past couple of years mainly due to injuries.  Raymond Felton from Charlotte is the next young player that I think could bump someone off the list within the next year or so.  Let me know what you think.

That wraps up our Monday night posting.  Thanks for reading.  We will go back to something movie related again tomorrow.  Adios for now.

Check this out:  Here's a little story that you may have seen before, but I always thought it has a sincere message with a little humor too...    A professor stood before his Philosophy 101 class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous - - yes.
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - - your family, your partner, your health, your children, your friends, your favorite passions - - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full."
"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else - - the small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. Play another 18. There will always be time for me to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal."
"Take care of the golf balls first - - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers!!

Quote of the day:  "Humankind has not woven the web of life... We are but one thread within it.  Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.  All things are bound together.  All things connect."  -Unknown (posted at an exhibit at the Milwaukee County Zoo)

Download this:  "Northern Sky" by Nick Drake