Well, after eating a late dinner and TiVoing the first few minutes of the game, here I am writing a running diary of the NBA Finals, game one.

This should be a dandy of a series. I don't really know who's going to win, but I'm thinking it's going six or seven games, no doubt.

And my first observation of the game: who is Jack Ingram and why is he signing the national anthem?

When the PA announcer tells everybody to get up and on your feet it seems rather unnecessary to say on your feet. How else you gonna get up? And that was the most forced DeSagana Diop introduction ever.

I'm glad the NBA started to use the trophy in logos and stuff, but the massive one at center court might be a little much. Also on that logo note, I'm glad the NBA went back to the classic script on 'The Finals'. And that's the analysis you get from an art minor.

Who is Mike Breen, and why is he the play-by-play man at the NBA Finals?

Boy Dwyane Wade just blocked a 7-footer. Get off him.

Hmmm... The Würzburg X-Rays, not a real fierce nickname for a team.

Let's call a foul on the guy guarding Shaq every time down, that'll make the game cruise right along.

I've got some German ties, hence my name. And from what I know about Germany, I find it interesting that Dirk's dad wanted him to play handball. 'Cause in Germany it's all about the fußball (soccer). Speaking of fußball, to really appreciate that sport, you've got to go visit a country when that country wins a big championship – that'll get you fired up.

I bet an elbow to the jaw from Shaq stings a little.

I'm glad Jason Williams has reappeared on a huge stage in the NBA. I enjoyed his years in Sac-Town with CWebb and the crew. Too bad that Kings team never could get past the Lakers, I would've liked to see them get a ring.

Is this 'Freeze Cam' really much of a new piece of technology. You hit pause and zoom in. Amazing.

Jerry Stackhouse is another guy who came into the league with a lot of hype and then just kind of fizzled out. I never really cared too much about him one way or another though, so I don't really care that he's making an appearance in the finals.

Watching Shaq shoot free throws never gets less painful. I'm pretty sure there could be several lane violations while Shaq's shooting free throws and it wouldn't matter too much.

Is Alonzo Mourning's jersey tight just because he likes it that way, or it because the guy is ripped out of his mind? I'd take some kidney disease if it ended up in me looking like that.

Pretty good first half of action there.

I was a little preoccupied that third quarter, but I'm back to provide some fourth quarter analysis.

Dallas had a 10-point lead, now it's 6.

Boy, Wade gets a steal, blows two layups and finally gets the foul. I'm not sure how he missed that first one though.

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen the ball bounce off the top of the backboard twice. That was interesting.

So, back to the handball thing. My mom informs me that handball is pretty popular in Germany, but still not as popular as fußball.

Dallas starting to run away here, the Heat needed to turn it up.

Well, the Heat just sorta fizzled out there at the end. But still a solid game, I still contend that this will be a good series.

Boy Jason Terry didn't answer Stu Scott's question at all.