The Tribune

Watching the grass grow

As most sports fans know this is the most boring portion of the sporting calendar!

Nothing, zilch, nada, zero.

Yes, there have been moments: Portugal’s thrilling 1-0 victory in extra time of the European Championship.

Serena wining Wimbledon over her sister Venus, again!

Not to be forgotten, Andy Murray and his brilliant Wimbledon championship as well.

I must admit this time of year sporting wise, I will watch anything, from the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas to tiddlywinks tournaments, even the Golf Channel and fishing on ESPN.

Recently I’ve been gravitating toward two basketball teams in the same city. I will watch them play anytime, any place.

I refer to the 18 wins and one loss LA Sparks and my rebuilding, young, exciting and soon to be up and coming LA Lakers.

Girl power

Whenever you want to see basketball fundamentals executed flawlessly, I always tell people to watch the WNBA as the ladies execute impeccably.

No team in the WNBA is performing like the Sparks, who are clicking on all cylinders, and leading the Sparks on the way back to glory in top form is Candace Parker. If she doesn’t get league MVP it will be a shocker and, more importantly, a robbery!

I predict the Sparks to win the WNBA title and return some form of purple and gold glory to the rafters of Staples Center.

Future stars

Speaking of purple and gold, Laker fans smile, the future is very bright. I’ve been stuck to the TV all day, watching the NBA summer league and it’s quite entertaining.

Point guard DeAngelo Russell is the real deal at point guard, as well as prize rookie Brandon Ingram at the forward spot, despite his spaghetti frame. Add talented youngsters Jordan Clarkson at shooting guard and Julius Randall at power forward to the mix and the Lakers’ foundation for future success is strong.

Veterans Luol Deng, Jose Calderon and Timothy Mosgov will add skill at needed positions and provide veteran leadership and mentoring to the young guns. And with new head coach Luke Walton at the helm, the future is very bright for the Lakers.

So I’m now serving notice: my Lakers are on the incline while some of you denied oxygen in the womb ‘Laker Haters’ who’ve been having their moments with me over the last three years, your teams are on the decline. So you will hear my mouth again, no more silence from me. I’m hitting back.

I’m so excited now I can legitimately retort. I’ve made a list of these ‘Laker Hating’ fools that I’ve put together for the last three years, alphabetically and all. I’ve been biting my lip waiting for my moment. Well, my moment is here, verbal jabs and insults are on the way, be warned.

Oh, and next season in free agency when Russell Westbrook arrives to be the face of the Laker franchise and ‘official superstar’ on the team, break out the muzzle and call the police for me, I’m going to be roasting ‘Laker Haters’ like a pig on the spit!

No, my Lakers aren’t championship contenders this season, but they are returning to relevancy, which is all I need to run my mouth. Can you imagine?

Anyway until next week, go hard or go home!

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1. Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net