It won't be long before we unveil our first Basketball list, of which we are most looking forward to.  With that said, we are thinking of the sudden retirement of Brandon Roy, who only five years ago was the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Roy was the star of the Portland Trail Blazers and was a three time All Star.  The Shooting Guard also made a Second Team ALL NBA Squad and was the centerpiece of the Blazers team.  Roy would twice average over twenty points a season, but his final year (only his fifth) would see him miss many games.  He retired due to a degenerative knee condition and what was meant to be a solid career has been abruptly cut short. 

We then ask this.... We know that Brandon Roy does not have the numbers to make the Hall of Fame, nor are we certain that he would have ever made more than a bubble candidate.  Are we wrong with that assumption, and if we are not, does he deserve a future rank on our annual basketball list?

Gang..... Our Christmas Day is here.....

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have announced their selections for this year's class, and the selections to us, really don't come as a surprise.

We will take a look at this group based on our rankings and give a few random (which is what we do best) thoughts on the selections.

Selected:

5. The Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Peppers should have got into on their first year of eligibilty, and it was only a matter of time for them to get in.  When they were nominated this year, many (including us) thought this would be the year.

8. The Beastie Boys

Again, another previous nominee that you knew HAD to get in eventually.  Their influence and impact are undeniable and we are thrilled to see another of our top ten selections inducted.

15. Guns 'N' Roses

If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is expecting that Axl Rose will reunite with Slash, they might as well forget it.  As big a deal as that would be (and it would be massive), the two mortal enemies are unlikely to share a stage together.  Regardless, we believe that this was a legitimate first ballot selection and the Hard Rock superstars are legitimate candidates for Cleveland.

59. The Small Faces/131. Faces

We felt (and still do) that they really are not the same band, but regardless we have no problem with this induction; although we wonder how much the Hall is hoping for a Rod Stewart speech as the result of this.

108. Donovan

We don't have a problem with it, but never thought it would happen. Donovan just seemed a little on the weird side to make it.  Guess we were wrong.

157. Laura Nyro

So....If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is celebrating Women in Rock....This is the selection?   No disrespect to Nyro, but she should be not be the lone female representative this year.  Honestly, this just feels wrong.

355. Freddie King

King was selected but now classified as an "Early Influence" Candidate.  Not upset with this inducted, but baffled by the placement.

Passed Over:

13. The Cure

We were pleasantly surprised that Robert Smith and company were nominated in the first place, and that first nomination could bode well for their future shot at induction.  We will certainly be pulling for them as there really is no band like them inducted.

33. Heart

In the "year of the woman" for the RRHOF, we thought the Wilson sisters would propel Heart to induction.  It didn't happen, and we are wondering if their best shot has passed.

57. War

Another act who has been nominated before, War was just lost amongst this group of heavyweights.  Chances are, they will be nominated again, but we wonder if they will be forgotten for awhile.  We think that will be the case.

76. The Spinners

This is a bit of a heartbreaker for us as we have been hoping for the Spinners to get inducted for awhile.  They just had their first nomination, and we suspect it was a token one at best.  Hopefully, that is wrong.

77. Eric B. & Rakim

We would have bet a small chunk of change that Eric B. & Rakim were going to get in.  A pattern of inducting an African American act annualy has emerged; especially from the more urban scene has transpired so we readily expected that would be the case here.  Not only was Eric B. & Rakim not inducted, nor was any true urban act.  A bit of a surprise here.

159. Rufus & Chaka Khan

We didn't think they had a decent shot this year, but they could easily find their way back for nomination.  Although their sound in different from the Spinners, we wonder if they cancelled each other out. 

174. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Didn't you think this would be the year?  After the success of the Runaways movie and the push of "women in rock" from the Hall itself, it just thought that she would leapfrog other candidates.  It didn't happen, and don't be surprised if her window just aprubtly closed.

So..... This was the result of the Hall celebrating Women in Rock?   Pretty lame if you ask us.  Otherwise, we are happy for those who got in, and arguing the entry of the three heavyweights (GNR, The Beasties & RCHP), it should make for an entertaing (and for the Hall, high revenue) show.

Congratulations to all inductees!