Jordan prefers Thompson

Superhuman Michael Jordan has asked, of all people, Nugget legend David Thompson to be his Hall of Fame presenter. The decision is as flattering to Skywalker as it is shocking to the media who have covered Jordan and know of his undying loyalty to Dean Smith and the North Carolina Tar Heels program.

But Jordan so looked up to Thompson, whom many forget was a special physical and skilled talent, that he chose the former Nugget to be his best man come induction day.

A nice story and better compliment to DT, who for all his gifts, had a bittersweet career due to drugs and then injuries.

Smith is fortunate with punishment

J.R. Smith, the loose cannon, is fortunate the only punishment he received from the NBA is seven games for his reckless driving that killed a friend. And honestly, he's already paid the biggest price -- seeing his friend die and then having to look that family in the eyes.

Hopefully one day Smith will wake up and see how self destructive his behavior is and mature. Yes, he's still young and we all, self included, make stupid mistakes but Smith is a trouble magnet. It all starts with him with attitude, on and off the court and while he has mad scoring ability he needs to reign in his personality some, gain some discipline and control to thrive on the court and in life.

Nuggets mystery continues

The mystery continues.

The Nuggets once gave up a first rounder for center Johan Petro. Puzzling to say the least.

Now the team has resigned the hardly used, barely playable 7-footer.

Is he protection in case of injury? Yes. But how much protection if he can't board or score?

Only the Nuggets know.

Or more accurately, only the real followers of the Nuggets know.

Balkman busted driving skunked

Renaldo Balkman, a favorite here, but a deep bench player for Denver didn't do himself a favor getting cracked for drunk driving in Florida. O.K., so it's labeled "suspicion of DUI" but we're calling it rocked and rolling. Foolishness. Maybe the Nuggets' forward should have a sit down with teammate J.R. Smith about crazy driving.

Hopefully Balkman learned his lesson, is thanking God he didn't hurt someone nor himself and will take the legal beat down and be prepared for next season.

Balkman did solid work in his time on the court for the Nuggets last season, showing he can be a board hungry, ball aware scrapper, truly an asset to the team.