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Shanoff’s Wake-Up Call: Again, CP3 for MVP

May 6, 2008, 12:08 PM UTC

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â†µToday's Calls: Chris Paul vs. Kobe Bryant, Clemens cheating vs. Clemens cheating, Ervin Santana vs. Joe Saunders, Albert Pujols vs. Ozzie Guillen, Cubs '86 vs. Cards '86 and More!â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Opening Pitch: When it comes to NBA MVP, are you going to believe the “voters” or your own eyes?â†µ

â†µâ†µBecause, today, the voters are going to say “Kobe.” Not a bad choice, though -- typically -- lacking much inspiration or imagination.â†µ

â†µâ†µBut if you watched last night’s Hornets-Spurs game, you could feel exceptionally good about supporting the MVP alternative: Chris Paul.â†µ

â†µâ†µPaul was sensational (30 points, 12 assists), but more remarkably, he has led the Hornets in something that hasn’t been done since 2001: Putting the Spurs in an 0-2 playoff hole.â†µ

â†µâ†µSure, in 2001, Kobe was on the last team to do it -- but Kobe was second-fiddle to Shaq.â†µ

â†µâ†µCP3 is the unquestioned leader (the MVP, if you will) of this entirely likeable, entirely uplifting Hornets squad, as of last night, affirmed as the NBA’s Story of the Year.â†µ

â†µâ†µEven down 0-2, I would never write off the Spurs -- this will be the biggest test yet of the decade-long Duncan Dynasty.â†µ

â†µâ†µBut I would write in Chris Paul ... for MVP.â†µ

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â†µMore NBA: I might not be willing to write off the Spurs just yet, but I AM willing to write off the Magic, who feel d-o-n-e vs. the Pistons after losing Game 2 last night.â†µ

â†µâ†µNo, the mismanaged clock at the end of the 3rd -- when Billups hit a 3 to put Detroit up 2 heading into the 4th -- didn’t really matter, as laughably egregious as it might have been.â†µ

â†µâ†µThat said: The NBA (heck: EVERY league) needs to modify its replay rules to allow officials to consult a replay monitor, particularly in the case of a clock malfunction (or “malfunction.”)â†µ

â†µâ†µQuote of the Day: “I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry.“ -- Roger Clemensâ†µ

â†µâ†µ(To clarify: Clemens unrepentantly denies his alleged cheating in baseball, but cheating in his marriage gets a “sorry?”)â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB Instant History ...â†µ

â†µâ†µMax Scherzer’s debut as a SP: OK, so he is no Jamie Moyer.â†µ

â†µâ†µPujols’ game-winning gallop? I was there. (See “Last Word.”)â†µ

â†µâ†µWho is the bigger fad: Ervin Santana (6-0 after his CG 4-hitter with 9 Ks) or his teammate Joe Saunders (also 6-0)?...â†µ

â†µâ†µHow hot are the Red Sox right now? They can survive 8 BBs from Dice-K, and still win their 4th straight. ... (Hey, weren’t the Tigers supposed to be hot heading into May? They have lost 4 straight ...)â†µ

â†µâ†µJays fans can thank the White Sox for being good for what ails ‘em: Toronto’s first 4-game sweep since ‘03 and suddenly only 1 game under .500 (and only 1 GB 2nd place in the AL East) ...â†µ

â†µâ†µBy the way, Ozzie Guillen has a point ...â†µ

â†µâ†µThis is just wrong. The rivalry between Red Sox and Yankees fans just went from “intense” to “insane.“ It’s sad to have to say this, but I sure hope there isn’t any sort of “retribution” in the future.â†µ

â†µâ†µNBA Coaching Carousel: If I were Mike D’Antoni, I would pick the Bulls over the Knicks. Better talent to fit D’Antoni’s system.â†µ

â†µâ†µNFL: The “Favre Jersey Kid” enters his 15 minutes. 12-year-old David Witthoft finally took off the Favre jersey he had been wearing for 1,581 straight days. Blame the parents.â†µ

â†µâ†µMore: I believe Marvin Harrison has some explaining to do.â†µ

â†µâ†µOlympics: So the IOC says that any sort of protest -- a gesture, clothing, a sign -- is against the rules, but won’t say what the punishment is? That’s not good: Expect protests to abound.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe bigger question is whether NBC will cover them with any sort of fairness or with the interest of the consumer in mind; this is the network that refused to show a replay of Eight Belles’ death.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(We can argue about whether it would have been appropriate to show that footage, but NBC’s decision-making makes it clear that when it comes to sports, they have very little interest in journalism.)â†µ

â†µâ†µStrat-O-Matic Update: My turn as the manager of the ’86 Cubs ended horribly, with an NL East-worst 70 wins, a full 18 games behind the surprising (and history-chaging) division-winning Cardinals. I should fire myself. â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: Albert Pujols is awesome. Last night, I was sitting 3 rows behind the dugout on the 3B side of Coors Field, the perfect vantage point to see Pujols truck from 2nd to home on a groundout to 2B in the 9th, leading the Cards over the Rockies. He looked like an NFL running back.â†µ

â†µâ†µUnrelated observation: Cards fans -- and there were a ton of them -- are the nicest opposing fans I have ever sat around.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(Speaking of Sketchiest Parenting Ever from the Favre jersey item, there was a couple sitting two rows ahead of me -- right on the dugout -- who brought their toddler and infant to the game. I’m not opposed to that per se, but the dad was holding the infant on his lap, fully facing the batter -- including when lefties were up, right in the line of fire of foul balls. It made me and others around me very uneasy.)â†µ

â†µâ†µDan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com.â†µ

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