David Ramsey   Gazette sports columnist David Ramsey offers opinions, views and thoughts on the world of sports

When I think back to Michael Jordan’s greatest shots, part of the memory is the world-class defense he had to conquer.
When he scored at the buzzer against the Cavs to win a 1989 playoff series, Craig Ehlo was in his face, playing superlative defense. Jordan scored anyway. (It was Jordan’s second basket in the final seven seconds of that game.)
When His Airness scored against the Jazz to win the 1998 NBA Finals, he had to push Bryon Russell out of his way. Bulls coach Phil Jackson recently called the push a “Heisman offensive move” in a tweet.
When LeBron James scored at the buzzer in overtime Wednesday night to give the Heat a victory the Indiana Pacers in the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals, he had to do …
What exactly? I’m not discounting LeBron’s stupendous greatness. I am wondering why the Pacers defense allowed him a free ride to the rim.
It was one of the most bizarre endings in NBA history. Why didn’t the Pacers foul LeBron and at least force The World’s Greatest Player to win the game with two free throws.
Why?
I never will understand.

I’m a big fan of George Karl. He’s become, in his advanced middle age, a fine diplomat for the NBA. He’s conquered cancer. He’s turned the Nuggets into one of pro basketball’s most consistent franchises.

But he struggles – and struggles  mightily – when it matters most. Karl’s Nuggets tumble annually in the playoffs, with the exception of 2009.

Another tumble will leave an indelible mark on King George. The Nuggets delivered a horrific effort in Tuesday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors, who were playing without David Lee, their second-best player. The Nuggets enjoy homecourt advantage in this series. The Nuggets enjoy the blessing of superior talent.

The Nuggets should win this one.

If they don’t, all eyes will turn to George Karl. Blame will be heaped on him.

As it should.

Received a call Tuesday from a Gazette reader named Bob. He wanted to offer his thoughts on my column that bemoaned the invasion of weekday night games into the college football schedule.

Everyone knowns – well, maybe not everyone – that college football should be played in the sunshine on Saturday afternoons.  (I understand why games might be played on Saturday nights in the blazing south.)

“I agree with you,” Bob said before asking a question:

Why bother complaining? Is it going to change anything?

“No offense, my friend” Bob said, “but it’s hopeless.”

Is it pointless to complain about something that is unlikely to change? This is an honest question, by the way.

It is hopeless?

The Associated Press reported today that Carmelo Anthony leads the NBA in jersey sales.

Here’s an excerpt from the report:

“Anthony took over the No. 1 spot on the league’s sales list Tuesday, moving past MVP LeBron James.

Anthony was No. 4 last year on the list, which is based on sales at the NBA Store in New York and on NBAStore.com since last November. The reigning Eastern Conference player of the week edged past Kevin Durant in the scoring race after averaging 41.8 points last week. The Knicks remained first in team sales, followed by Miami and the Lakers.”

I believe Carmelo made a mistake when he forced the Nuggets to trade him. He could have placed his stamp forever on the franchise.

But New York is New York. It’s the biggest market in America, and Carmelo dived into a giant pool of endorsement opportunities.

He was never going to lead the NBA in jersey sales while playing for the Nuggets. Never as in ever. Was not going to happen.

And he might soon silence everyone who doubted his motivation to escape Colorado. The Knicks, led by Carmelo, on a serious roll and back, with good reason, in the discussion of who will  reign as the next NBA champion.

Brittney Griner would not have started at center this season for the mens team at the Air Force Academy. Or at Colorado. Or for any other NCAA mens team. This is not to dismiss Griner’s greatness in the women’s game. This is just stating the obvious. She’s too light, too lacking in sophisticated post moves and too slow. She excelled in the women’s game because she stood far, far above every other player on the court.

There’s been an uproar about Griner this week after Mavericks owner – and maverick in general – Mark Cuban said he might pick her in the upcoming NBA Draft. The general theme of the uproar has been that Cuban is a publicity hound.

But doesn’t the uproar just give Cuban what he seeks?

You know, attention?

Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports offered an interesting analysis of Cuban’s comments on Griner.

Spears said this is an extremely weak draft for male players. Spears believes Cuban – and anyone else – should consider selecting Griner in the second round of the draft.

George Gwozdecky handled his farewell to the University of Denver about as well as any coach could handle a press conference after he had been fired.  He spoke honestly, but not bitterly. He at times struggled with emotions, but never lost his composure.

He said he was “stunned and shocked” by DU’s decision to dismiss him after 19 seasons, but also said the leaders of the university have the right to make decisions about the hockey program’s future.

Best of all, he said this:

“I’m not done coaching,” he said. “I repeat: I am not done coaching.”

That’s good news for those of us who have appreciated and admired Gwozdecky’s work over the decades. Deep in their hearts, even the most hard-core Colorado College fans will have to admit they will miss Gwozdecky.

I realize LeBron James brings otherworldly size and talent to the basketball court.

This presents a challenge to the mere mortals who must try to cover him.

But the Chicago Bulls tactics in Wednesday’s victory over LeBron and his Miami Heat took defending somewhere out of the realm of basketball.  I’m all for tough, physical, legal defending.

I’m opposed to bringing football tactics on to the basketball floor.

Here are two examples of the Bulls rough stuff on LeBron. The NBA should be handing out fines soon – maybe today – for the assailants.

Here’s a nasty shot to the head:

And here’s a tackle on the basketball court.

During the second half of Soccer’s Snow Night, Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto began a ferocious effort to have the game called and American cost Jurgen Klinsmann was just as animated in his effort to finish the game, despite the surging snow and howling wind and freezing temperatures.

I can explain the motivations of both men with one sentence:

America led 1-0.

The United States went on to win the World Cup Qualifier at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. It was a special night. Eventually, tens of thousands of Colorado soccer fans will say they were in the stadium.

Costa Rica has no case. If Costa Rica had seized the early goal, Pinto would have been begging for the game to finish, despite the conditions. He was protesting for one reason only:

His team trailed, and it had virtually no chance to score.

Yes, the conditions were horrendous. I was there, standing and watching in the open-air press area.  Perhaps the game should have been called … before it started. Once the game arrived at halftime, there was little reason to suspend action.

Costa Rica coaches, players and fans are irate.

Here’s why:

They lost the game.

If Costa Rica had grabbed the lead, I promise you no one – no one – in the entire country would have wanted the game to be called.

CSU is finding out why seedings are important in the NCAA Tournament. The Rams reward for thumping Missouri is a date with … overall No. 1 seed Louisville.

But the Rams have a chance at a massive upset. Center Colton Iverson can tangle with anyone in college basketball. Coach Larry Eustachy looks as if he might explode on the sideline, but he’s an expert at pushing his teams to the outer limits of their skills and he knows all about the pressures and rewards of the Tournament. Eustachy and Iverson will not  be intimidated.

I know Louisville has won 11 straight games. And I know coach Rick Pitino is a borderline basketball genius.

But still …

I believe the Rams have a strong chance. I like this team.

And  if you’re doubtful about my optimism, I’d ask you to take a look at New Mexico’s Lobos, who were a popular selection to ride all the way to the Final Four.

The Lobos lost, as you most likely know, to Harvard in the first round. That’s what is most fun about the NCAA Tournament – huge surprises.

The surprises are not over. CSU could deliver another one  Saturday.

This surprises me. Chris Mooney is one of the classiest coaches I’ve met.

I saw him get angry during his one season (2004-2005) as Air Force basketball coach. Never saw him get mad enough to get ejected. That’s what happend at the end of a bizarre loss by Mooney and Richmond to Charlotte in the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

Here’s the story:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9053689/richmond-spiders-called-3-technical-fouls-lose-charlotte-49ers-atlantic-10-tournament