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The Perfect Storm

Colorado may be in a state of Emergency due to a massive snowstorm that pummeled the state with up to four feet of snow in some areas, but there is another storm brewing in Denver on the basketball court.

This week it was announced that Philadelphia’s 76ers Allen Iverson was traded to the Denver Nuggets for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first-round 2007 draft picks. The 76ers threw in Ivan McFarlin to sweeten the deal.

Take Iverson and mix in a little Carmelo Anthony, after serving his 15 game suspension for sucker punching New York Knicks' Mardy Collins, and you have the perfect storm.

Between 2001 MVP Iverson and Anthony leading the league in scoring with 31.1 ppg, this duo is going to do more than sell tickets, which they have already done plenty of.

The Nuggets, already a playoff contender, have upped their offensive threat with two players who can easily put 60-points on the board a game just between the two of them.

Granted both Iverson and Anthony have less than stellar track records off the court. Both have had run-ins with the law off the court. And on the court as can be seen by this latest incident, the two have limited self-control.

But at the same time Iverson brings 10 seasons of experience to a young Denver team that could use both leadership and vision. While Anthony has potential to be the next superstar in the NBA, he is still young. Anthony has led the Nuggets well, but Iverson will add depth to the chemistry on the team.

Iverson has already said he is thrilled to be coming to Denver, and it’s no wonder considering the team he is coming from.

The 76ers never gave half as much to Iverson as he gave to them by single-handedly turning them into a viable threat.

Putting Iverson into the run and gun offensive Denver runs is ideal. Combined with Earl Boykins, Marcus Camby and Nene the Nuggets now have the ability to do something they haven’t had in year – go deep in the playoffs.

While the odds of Denver winning it all are still marginal, Iverson widens that margin a bit and perhaps will give the Nuggets a late season shot in the arm to get them through.

Denver’s weakness is still on defense. Neither Iverson nor Anthony put up too much of a fight on defense. That will pose a problem against better teams such as LA or Miami who can match the high scoring points.

Denver will have to run their game from start to finish and take other teams out of it early, something it doesn’t always do.

If nothing else the Iverson/Anthony combination promises to be an exciting show.

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Victory Gin Reviews

Trans Fat Fight

It was only a matter of time.

After all the government controls what we see on television, read in books and hear on the radio. It was inevitable that one day it would control what we eat.

That day is three months away in New York City.

Tuesday the New York City's board of health banned trans fatty acids in all foods. Trans fats are basically 99 percent of all fast food. It is that synthetic material that makes McDonald’s cheeseburger wrappers transparent. Oh, and it also kills millions of Americans each year.

Yes, anyone with an iota of brains is smart enough to know that trans fats are unhealthy. So why is the government playing the part of Mom telling us what we can and can’t eat?

Is it this the next step in a totalitarian Big Brother society, or just the government trying to address a spreading epidemic of obesity caused by fast foods containing trans fats?

The new law requires all restaurants from MacDonald’s to Krispy Kreme to phase out all trans fats by July 2007. While this will make food in NY City healthier, is this going to fix the problem?

In a society where fast food has become a way of life for the general public eliminating trans fat is like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. Someone who eats five burgers a week and exercises by walking to the fridge and back isn’t going to benefit much from the new law.

The real underlying question here is why is the general public unable to eliminate trans fats from their diet on their own. When society reaches a point where it can’t control itself perhaps the government should step in.

But if that’s the case where is the line drawn?

By the same logic the government should ban other things that are bad for us like smoking, drinking or even driving which kills millions every year with accidents.

Whenever government steps in and regulates what the public can or can’t do, whether it is with food or free speech, there is a slippery slope that leads to a dictatorship.

So where does this leave NY City?

After a lifetime of trans fats, millions of overweight New Yorkers are literally addicted to this synthetic substance. Whatever soy-based substitute is used, those fast food addicts won’t be satisfied.
People will be driving to upstate New York to get their weekly fix of “real” burgers and fries. Trans fat smugglers will hollow out Tickle Me Elmo dolls to smuggle Big Mac’s and Whoppers into the city.

A black market will spring up overnight for trans fat products. The price of a KFC drumstick will be equal to crack. Shady characters will hang out in the alleys off of Broadway offering “real burgers.”

The crime rate is sure to skyrocket, as the trans fat ban will turn brother against brother and father against son. When the trans fat is out of the fast food junkie’s system doctors predict they will do anything to get a fix. Including kill.

Yes, be prepared for a violent year in NY City, as the streets are sure to run red with the trans fatty blood of fast food addicts.