Magic Wands: February 13, 2009

-Lucky day today... use it wisely.

-Keyon Dooling made his first visit to Orlando since a somewhat testy summer between he and the Magic. But as Brian Schmitz reports, Dooling is still close to his Orlando teammates -- especially Jameer Nelson. The Florida native's father is also sick and his family will not be driving up from Fort Lauderdale for the game. I speak on behalf of all Magic fans when I wish his family the best and a speedy recovery for his father.

-A chronicle of The Curse from long-time Magic beat writer Brian Schmitz after Nelson's injury. He only hits the highlights, leaving out the countless poor draft picks, crippling contracts and questionable transactions in the years since Shaquille O'Neal left.

-Still great to see No. 10 around the Magic. Would have been nice to see him retire as a member of the Magic (experienced point guard... don't know if he can still play 20 minutes a game). Darrell Armstrong was on Magic Overtime with Dante & Galante. Watch the whole episode on their blog.

-In these times more franchises will probably be doing this and more. But The Orlando Sentinel reports that the price for season tickets will not be increasing in Amway Arena's final season.

-H-O-R-S-E makes its premier at All Star Weekend on Saturday night. Kevin Durant, O.J. Mayo and Joe Johnson will be you competitors on the outdoor court in Phoenix. Wish they got bigger names to be in it, but we will see how the inaugural event goes.

-Mike Bianchi received a letter from Denver that makes you love athletes again... or at least remember why having Adonal Foyle on the team is so good.

-With injuries to Jameer Nelson and Chris Bosh, Ray Allen and Mo Williams have been named to the All Star team. Williams was named Bosh's replacement Tuesday ending a lot of screams and shouts from Cleveland about his exclusion. Which brings up the question: who is going to back up Dwight Howard at center now?

-Elgin Baylor filed a suit against the Los Angeles Clippers claiming owner Donald Sterling treated him and players in a racist manner. My first thought was, no way could you be suing him when he stood by you for 20-plus years while the Clippers struggled on the court. Sterling is guilty of not caring about the product on the court if anything. Then I read the story and thought about it more and there might be something to this. It is always sticky with race in the NBA and the outcome of this case could be interesting.

Magic Wands: February 6, 2009

-I finally discovered Magic Overtime with Dante & Galante (and I know it is eight episodes in... I am not always in Orlando). And all I can say about this clip is: "I dunk from free throw line but the mascot move." What am I talking about? First watch this. Then go to about 1:08 to enjoy some Polish Hammer hilarity. (Sorry Marcin, we believe you can do it... and apparently so does Anthony Johnson and Mickael Pietrus... sorry for publishing that on the Internet so you cannot bet future new Magic players that you can do it)

-I don't care who you are. In these times this report from The Associated Press is a very good thing.

-A ringing endorsement (OK maybe not ringing) of Jameer Nelson as an All Star from CelticsBlog, no less.

-With Jameer Nelson out, Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel wonders who might be available through free agency or trade. Among the names he bandies about: Keyon Dooling, Carlos Arroyo and Jason Williams.

-This is quickly turning into the Jameer Nelson wands. I do these as the week goes on so you can notice how the week started out so cheery and then turned to this. But it is important that you read Kyle Hightower's transcript of Otis Smith's press conference.

-Monday was point guard injury day: Chris Paul is day-to-day with a groin injury and Chauncey Billups turned an ankle against the Spurs on Tuesday.

-Gregg Poppovich never ceases to amaze. He gave Spurs all stars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker the day off Tuesday against Denver as San Antonio embarks on its annual rodeo road trip.

-I will have more on this later, but the Magic made it official Thursday trading Keith Bogans for Tyronn Lue. Welcome Lue back Sunday night.

Magic Wands: January 9, 2009

-Marc Stein's Weekend Dime on ESPN.com has some interesting minutiae. Box One is all about how Stephon Marbury might end up a Celtic. But if you scroll down to the bottom of the page you will find another interesting tidbit. Last Friday (when the Magic defeated the Heat) was the first time in 29 years that all NBA teams were in action in one day. Happy New Year.

-Last Friday's win over Miami gave Orlando its best 33-game start at 26-7. That mark ties the 1994-95 club (that went to the Finals) and the 1995-96 team (that lost to the 72-10 Bulls). Pretty good company.

-ESPN has some predictions for the '09 year. Interesting things might be coming down the pipe for the NBA. Mostly the salary cap implications of the recession. For the first time in a long time, don't be surprised that the salary cap actually decreases.

-Mark Cuban is going to save my job and change journalism's and newspaper's future.

-You know that moment after a timeout when the crowd stands up and cheers the team, pushing them to a big win? Well Keyon Dooling would love to know when that moment is in New Jersey. It got so bad that they began booing him after he missed a free throw (a rare moment, they probably should keep that ticket).

-Courtney Lee earned his first start Tuesday against Washington. He has certainly earned that playing time and my nice column this week espousing how awesome it is to get a draft pick right. David Thorpe in his weekly Rookie Watch says Lee has become successful because he is filling the role the Magic need. It is so easy when you do something better than anyone else can on a team.

-Way off topic. But Magic Kingdom without Space Mountain? A crime against humanity... or at least Orlando.