What’s up everybody? It’s your boy B-Wood blogging for the first time! I’m excited to be the newest member of “the yard.” I’ve got a lot to say and look forward to saying it right here on my blog.

First off, you may have been wondering what I’ve been up to since the season ended! Well, like most NBA players not in the playoffs, I took a little time off but am right back in the gym (and weight room) working out to get ready for next season. My wrist is 100% percent healed from the surgery I had to repair the wrist ligaments that I tore in training camp last season. I’m pretty much back to the way I was before the injury – 100% healthy! I’m looking forward to October and helping my Washington Wizards to a successful season.

I’ve been watching a lot of playoff basketball and have been surprised at the big deal that has been made about the “hard” fouls guys have been committing. I think a lot of the fouls that guys have been penalized for have been “regular” fouls that have been blown out of proportion. The new league rules have made things worse in a way. I can understand teams wanting to protect their superstars but things have gone beyond that. .

Back in the days of the Detroit Pistons’ Bad Boys and bruising New York Knicks, hard fouls and intimidation used to discourage players from being so aggressive and attacking the basket. Those days are long gone! Nowadays, you’re going to get ejected, suspended or fined for a “hard” foul. It’s a shame.

A lot of was made about my “hard” foul on LeBron James during our playoff series last year. I still don’t think that was a hard foul and I didn’t have any ill intentions when I did it. But, I think we all know that anytime you touch LeBron James, you’re going to be sent to the showers! You accidentally bump into him and you’re going to be “rub-a-dub-dubbing” in the locker room bathtub! I’m not sure how that foul would have been interpreted this year. Who knows if I would have been suspended a game or not? Each case if different and you never know how the league will react, especially these days.

Speaking of LeBron, he fully deserved the MVP award this year. He was the most dominant player on the league’s best team – it was a clear-cut choice. Kobe played well (as always) but it was LeBron’s year. Same goes for Dwight Howard – he really deserved the defensive player of the year award. He was the best defensive rebounder and shot blocker in the league.

Jason Terry was also my choice for Six Man of the Year. He’s as important as Dirk is to the Dallas Mavericks. I pretty much agree with all of the leagues’ choices for awards this year...

You may not know it but I’m a big baseball fan. I was shocked at the recent suspension of Manny Ramirez! Like most fans, I didn’t see that coming at all! I was disappointed because it really leaves us fans in limbo because we don’t know whether to believe him when he says it was accidental or if he took the banned substance on purpose. Baseball can recover from this steroid scandal error but it’s definitely going to take time. At the end of the day, fans want to go to the games to be entertained and as long as players don’t continue to come out dirty, fans will support. .

I was also shocked by another Manny recently – this time it was Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s destruction of Ricky Hatton! I’m a huge boxing fan and was completely blown away by Manny’s domination and second round knockout of Hatton! Don’t get me wrong, I thought Manny would win but thought it would go at least 8 or 9 rounds. Manny was too explosive, too quick, too powerful, too everything in that fight! I haven’t seen anyone taken out like that since the early days of “Iron” Mike Tyson! I’ve been a big fan of Floyd “Money” Mayweather for quite a while and am glad that he’s coming out of retirement to fight Juan Manuel Marquez this summer. Most fans want to see Floyd and Manny face off after the Marquez fight. I don’t think anyone can beat “Money.” He’s always quicker and in better shape than his opponents. He’s also such a smart fighter and I’ve never seen him hit hard enough to be in trouble. For Manny to beat “Money,” he’d have to hit him hard enough to hurt him and I can’t see that happening.

Well -that’s all for my first blog! Catch up with you again soon .

Brendan