1. True or False: Dwight Howard is the now the reigning king of Slam Dunkdum.

Allen

False. True or False: Despite never winning an NBA Slam Dunk contest, Shawn Kemp still ‘reigns’ over Slam Dunkdom. True.

Maxwell

Not yet. Great dunks and solid creativity, but he still does not crack my top five. Howard is one of the best dunkers in the game right now, but he still has a ways to go. When it comes to the dunk contest you have to look at the whole competition. To crack the top five you have to beat top competitors. I can’t really argue that Gerald Green, Rudy Gay and Jamario Moon are the top dunkers in the NBA. Past dunk contests had matchups consisting of Jordan vs. Dominique, Dominique vs. Spud Webb, Vince vs. T-Mac, Steve Francis and Ricky Davis, and the 84-85 contest which had Dr. J, Jordan, Larry Nance, Clyde Drexler and Dominique Wilkins. Until the best dunkers in the game compete in the contest, Howard doesn’t make the hall of fame.

Christian

False: Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins both have it all over Dwight Howard. Period.

Sheena

True. He had a virtually flawless night at the Slam Dunk Contest last weekend, and now pictures of the guy with a red cape and the Superman logo added to his chest are everywhere. After seeing that image, there’s nothing left to be said.

2. Should the U.S. boycott the 2008 Olympics in China because the Chinese government violates human rights?

Allen

It’s a sporting competition for cryin’ out loud, and if the Western world doesn’t participate, well, then we give China — or Russia — the easy victory. It’s our duty to go to Beijing and win the Olympics to prove to them that they still have a long way to go politically, economically, and of course, athletically to match the U.S. and our democratic allies.

Maxwell

No. Too many athletes train too hard and too long for this event.  Punish the country but don’t punish the athletes who devote their lives to a single mission: a gold medal.

Christian

No, they shouldn’t. The Olympics aren’t about China. They’re about blood-doping, scandal and controversy. Or is that baseball? Ah hell, whatever. Let the games begin!

Sheena

I’m still surprised that Beijing got the bid to host in the first place. Nonexistent human rights aside, the pollution levels alone in that place should make people think twice about sending world-class athletes there. That being said though, the Olympics may just be what the country’s people need in order to stand united under one flag without political agendas.

3. What odds do you think the Huskies have of sweeping the Arizona schools this weekend and making it into the No. 4 spot in the Pac-10?

Allen

In addition to sweeping Arizona, grabbing the No. 4 spot would also depend on how three teams ahead of the Huskies (USC, Cal and Oregon) do this weekend. USC plays Oregon and Oregon State. Oregon plays USC and UCLA, and Cal plays No. 9 Stanford. It’s not going to happen.

Maxwell

Have faith. It is going to be tough. We are going against perimeter slashers like James Harden and Jerryd Bayless (two freshmen who are in the top five in scoring in the Pac-10), Chase Budinger is also a threat, averaging 17.5 points a game. The big men are no slouches, either; Jordan Hill and Jeff Pendergraph are big bodies who control the paint. If the Huskies want to party in March, the defense is going to have to be turned up, meaning full court pressure and in-your-face man-to-man each and every game. You can’t worry about what other teams are doing; it is time to step up and show the Pac-10 that Seattle can play ball. I put the odds at 60-40 in the Huskies’ favor. I see Venoy Overton having a big series as he shows some true grit and strength as the point guard of the future. Go Dawgs.

Christian

Well, since ASU, Arizona and USC would all have to get swept this weekend (which is ridiculously unlikely, since USC is hosting Oregon and Oregon State), then I’d say the odds are pretty much zero. It’s kind of hard to jump from ninth place to fourth place by wining two games.

Sheena

Pretty good since records alone show that the Huskies have beaten ASU the last 11 times they met. The Arizona game will be a bit tougher though, the Huskies will have to show that they want to close out both of this weekend’s final home games on a good note.