This article basically deals with the East Conference (of the NBA), being weaker than the West Conference, and the suggestion that the top four teams in the final standings, be automatically "seeded" in the Playoffs.

But that is incidental.

Of consequence, New Jersey, like a child with an inferiority complex, and willing to do anything to get attention, has driven itself to frantically embrace ANY "celebritydom", (no matter whether it be exalted or base), for instance in the case of The Sopranos.

How embarrassing it is to see New Jersey revel in their "association" with The Sopranos, while all others hold New Jersey in contempt, not only for that assocation, but for New Jersey so childishly taking "pride" in it.

It should be a wake up call for those Italian Americans who likewise see
no negativity to The Sopranos "defining" the Italian American Community.
===================================================
ON THE NBA
Seeding May Be Planted From Dismal Finals
Los Angeles Times
Mark Heisler
June 15, 2003

SAN ANTONIO — On the bright side, just because you can't put on a marquee event anymore doesn't mean you can't be a spectacle.

...(During the Finals) basketball wasn't even the worst of it, next to the Nets' incredibly cheesy attempts at promotion, with their unending obligatory allusions to "The Sopranos" and their relentless search to produce home-grown celebrities, who would admit to being from there.

Their own Joe Piscopo served as nightly emcee, doing a takeoff on the old "Saturday Night Live" intro, screaming, "Live from New J-E-R-S-E-Y "

Not that Joe isn't current, but for his first appearance they ran a graphic under his image on the scoreboard screen, identifying him as "Comedian."

Then there was the public address announcer, who seemed to be trying to make up for decades of local indifference with each plea to "Make a difference" or "You have all summer to rest," delivered at ear-splitting decibel levels.

This was embarrassing the New Yorkers present, lest they be confused with this Holiday Inn lounge act, so near Manhattan and yet so far.

Manhattan was Cary Grant in a tuxedo, drinking martinis with Claudette Colbert in an evening gown.

New Jersey was represented by a nightly video of James Gandolfini, brandishing a footlong cigar and telling the fans they'd better cheer.

The New York Post's Pete Vecsey trashed the whole mish-mash as "indescribably distasteful," asserting with only slight exaggeration that it was another reason "why mortgage rates and the Finals TV rating both sank below five"

On the other hand, as the athletes say, New Jersey is in the past and we're not looking back. Hopefully

..The Nets' Richard Jefferson ...showed rare perspective with gems like: "Congratulations to the Devils ( NJ Hockey team). I'm extremely happy for them and their organization. But I have the feeling that even if both of us win, the tourism in Jersey will not go up."...

Seeding May Be Planted From Dismal Finals
http://www.latimes.com/sports/
la-sp-nbacol15jun15,1,5357756.column?coll=la-headlines-sports