With Blake Griffin around, the world may soon have to tweak one of Benjamin Franklin’s most famous phrases to, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death, taxes and Blake Griffin highlight reel dunks“.

The powerful and talented star of the Los Angeles Clippers was at it again during a recent matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In L.A.’s 112-100 home victory on January 30th, Griffin ignited the home crowd with yet another highlight reel dunk, this time treating Oklahoma City center Kendrick Perkins as if he were a Kia.

For those that live in a bubble, the aforementioned automobile reference is referring to Griffin’s final performance during the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, where the former Oklahoma standout jumped (and dunked) over a car.

For those that missed the reference, Blake Griffin dunked over a Kia during the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Consider this a “Two for Tuesday” special at The Wife Hates Sports, as we present to you both videos (via YouTube), featuring Griffin’s ridiculous “pump you up” slam over Perkins, plus his Kia-inspired finale in last year’s dunk contest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w_Vy0lDk_A

Blake Griffin dunks over Kendrick Perkins during the Clippers 112-100 victory over the Thunder on January 30,2012 (YouTube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41EFwuBqEUA

Blake Griffin dunks over a Kia during the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest (YouTube)

In Blake, we trust.

The strike shortened NBA season is already twenty games in for most teams, and the Chicago Bulls currently have the best record in the Eastern conference, while the Oklahoma City Thunder currently are perched on top of the Western Conference.

The upcoming week features a number of key matchups, headlined by the Sunday evening star studded game between the Bulls and the Heat.

In KP’s inaugural NBA Power Rankings, the aforementioned Bulls and Thunder have earned the top two spots.  The surprising 76ers and Nuggets are also featured in the top ten.

Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls headline this week's NBA Power Rankings

KP’s NBA Power Rankings: January 29, 2012

* Statistics and rankings include results up to January 28, 2012

1. Chicago Bulls – 17-4 (101 points)

Chicago’s 87.0 points per game allowed is tied for the lowest in the NBA this season.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder – 16-3 (97 points)

Kevin Durant and the Thunder have the best record in the Western conference

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook each are in the top ten in points per game average, combining for over 47 points per game.

3. Philadelphia 76ers – 14-6 (90 points)

The Sixers are outscoring opponents by nearly 12 points per game and the team’s 11.7 differential is the best in the NBA this season.

4. Atlanta Hawks – 14-6 (73 points)

In his first season seeing significant playing time, point guard Jeff Teague is averaging 12.4 points per game, 2.1 steals per game and shooting nearly 48% from the floor.

5. Miami Heat – 14-5 (71 points)

Despite an injury to Dwyane Wade, the “Big 3” each is still averaging more than twenty points per game, with LeBron James headlining the trio, scoring 29.2 per game.

6. Denver Nuggets – 14-5 (71 points)

The Nuggets have six players averaging in double digits, headlined by Danilo Gallinari, who leads the team averaging 17.9 points per game.

7. Houston Rockets – 12-8 (61 points)

Shooting guard Kevin Martin is averaging 20.1 points per game this season, and over his last three games played, he totaled 85 points in that span.

8. Dallas Mavericks – 12-8 (57 points)

With 16 games under his belt this season, it’s important to note that Dirk Nowitzki (17.5 ppg) is currently more than five points below his career average.

9. Indiana Pacers – 12-6 (56 points)

Danny Granger leads the team in points per game (16.8) and steals per game (1.5).

10. Orlando Magic – 12-7 (56 points)

Dwight Howard continues to put up gaudy numbers with the Magic.  His 15.6 rebounds per game are nearly two boards more per game than any other player in the NBA.

11. Portland Trail Blazers – 12-8 (52 points)

Of qualified players, Jamal Crawford currently leads the league in free throw percentage, missing just three on the year and posting a 94.9 percentage from the charity stripe.

12. San Antonio Spurs – 12-8 (49 points)

Kawhi Leonard has been a youthful compliment to the team, starting ten games on the year, and averaging 7.2 points per game.

13. Los Angeles Clippers – 10-6 (48 points)

Chris Paul leads the league in the steals to date, posting 2.55 per contest.

14. Memphis Grizzlies – 10-9 (42 points)

The Grizzlies have been very balanced offensively.  Just how balanced?  Tony Allen (9.9 ppg) is sixth on the team in scoring.

15. Utah Jazz – 11-7 (41 points)

Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and C.J. Miles are the only three Jazz team members to currently average in double figures on the season.

16. Boston Celtics – 9-9 (39 points)

Even with all the injuries and trade rumors, the Celtics have found a way to win four straight, including a huge comeback against the Magic a few days ago.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves – 9-10 (39 points)

Kevin Love’s 18 double-doubles (in 19 games) are currently four more than any other player in the NBA this season.

18. Los Angeles Lakers – 11-9 (29 points)

Kobe Bryant can't be pleased by the Lakers' 11-9 start this season

Kobe Bryant, averaging 30.0 points per game, leads the league in scoring and is the only current NBA player to average thirty-plus on the season.

19. Milwaukee Bucks – 8-11 (22 points)

Andrew Bogut, the team leader in rebounds and blocks, recently suffered another major injury and will be out for significant time.

20. Cleveland Cavaliers – 7-11 (6 points)

Kyrie Irving (17.6 points per game) and Antawn Jamison (15.3 points per game) are the only two players to average in double figures.

21. Golden State Warriors – 6-12 (5 points)

Of qualified players, Brandon Rush leads the league in three-point field goal percentage, posting a 57.1% percentage from behind the arc.

22. Phoenix Suns – 7-12 (4 points)

Marcin Gortat leads the team in points per game (14.8), rebounds per game (10.1) and blocks per game (1.6).

23. New York Knicks – 7-13 (1 point)

The Knicks have four players that average in double figures, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Iman Shumpert and Tyson Chandler.

24. New Jersey Nets – 7-13 (-1 point)

Deron Williams (19.4 ppg and 8.6 apg) has played well, but the team has struggled to perform.

25. New Orleans Hornets – 4-15 (-9 points)

Eric Gordon leads the team in points per game (21.0), steals per game (2.0) and even blocks per game (1.5).

26. Toronto Raptors – 6-14 (-11 points)

He’s only appeared in 13 of the team’s 20 games, but Andrea Bargnani is averaging 23.5 points per game, nearly ten more than any of his teammates.

27. Sacramento Kings – 6-14 (-26 points)

Defensive minded DeMarcus Cousins leads the team in rebounds (10.9 per game) and blocks (1.4 per game).

28. Washington Wizards – 4-16 (-27 points)

JaVale McGee leads the league in blocks per game, with an average of 3.15 per contest and 63 total blocks in Washington’s 20 games.

29. Detroit Pistons – 4-17 (-31 points)

Greg Monroe leads the team in points per game (15.8), rebounds per game (9.5) and steals per game (1.3).

30. Charlotte Bobcats – 3-18 (-45 points)

The Bobcats are 1-10 on the road and 0-8 versus the Southeast division so far this season.

* All stats per NBA.com

The Wife Hates Sports’ NBA Power Rankings system has a method to its madness, attempting to be different and not just rank by popularity and record.  It mixes a secret formula of six completely different categories, meshed into a points system.  The categories don’t just include team results regarding record, but how each team has performed recently, as well as incorporating some statistics on both a team’s offense and defense, too.

It’s no secret that Charles Barkley has a strong opinion about almost everything that exists on Earth.

That’s why when “Sir Charles” makes an appearance on Saturday Night Live, entertainment ensues, especially when Barkley is given the opportunity to toss out a few zings at members of the sports world.

Such as what happened in the most recent episode of SNL, specifically during the skit where Barkley presented the world with his “Charles Barkley Postgame Translator App”.

As during most postgame press conferences, coaches or sports stars throw out cliches more than Drew Brees slings touchdowns, ranging from “take it one game at a time”, to “we tip our hats to our opponent”, and so on.

But with the “Charles Barkley Postgame Translator App”, you the sports fan gets presented with the real story behind every postgame line.

"Sir Charles" zinged sports stars during the SNL skit featuring the "Charles Barkley Postgame Translator App"

The skit itself featured some comical jabs pointed at the likes of Bill Belichick, Rex Ryan, Kobe Bryant, Mike Shanahan, Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat and the New York Mets.

Personally, I felt that Barkley’s best shots were at Rex Ryan and the Miami Heat, but see for yourself, and perhaps you will feel differently.

No one has perfect aim, just look at LeBron James in the fourth quarter.  That’s why KP and TWHS are bringing a new spin to Throwing Tomatoes, to be brought out on occasion.  The stories in sports that are deserving of a tomato will still be targeted, but the occasional innocent bystander will get hit from time to time, too.

So as the sports world turns, the stories pile up and more sports frustration emerges.  Don’t sweat it, The Wife Hates Sports has them all covered – in lycopene, that is.

Throwing Tomatoes: June 23, 2011

Target: Ron Roenicke

Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke delivered a complaint via the media after his team was given an ol’ fashioned beatdown at the hands of the Boston Red Sox.

“Interleague is not fair,” Roenicke told Chris Jenkins of the Associated Press. “That’s all there is to it.”

Hey Ron, how do you think the Rays, Blue Jays and Orioles feel?  Each has to play the Yankees and Red Sox 18 games a piece.  Do the math: That’s 36 out of 162, for approximately 22% of the season.  Go back to your Pirates, Cubs, Astros and quit cryin’, because after all…

Target: Los Angeles Lakers

A pre-NBA Draft report stated that the Lakers offered Lamar Odom to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the #2 pick in the NBA Draft.  Listen, I know this isn’t the deepest of drafts, but c’mon now – Odom (31-years-old, 14.4 ppg, while starting 35 of 82 games on the year) for the number two pick in the draft?

Innocent Bystander: Khloe Kardashian

On top of that offer, doesn’t Khloe Kardashian come as a package deal with Lamar?  Shouldn’t that mean that the Timberwolves should be receiving draft picks, too?  Tip your waiters…

This trade offer reminds me of the annoying fantasy owner that every league has – you know the guy, he offers up the most absurd trade offers DAILY!  For example: A backup catcher and/or a fifth starter with a 6.00 ERA for Evan Longoria – and not to be confused with Eva Longoria.

Innocent – But Damn Sexy – Bystander: Eva Longoria

For the sake of the visual, there's always a way to tie in the beautiful Eva Longoria

Target: Joe Ricketts, Chicago Cubs Owner

Ricketts, owner of the Cubbies, has been sued for harassment, and some of the comments that he apparently said are INEXCUSABLE.

He should also be sued for the product he’s putting on the field, too.  Somewhere – but who knows where – Bartman has to be nodding his head in agreement.

Target: Ron Artest

Ron Artest wants to change his name to “Metta World Peace”.  Wow, eat your heart out, Ochocinco.

Will the back of Ron's jersey say "World Peace" next season?

Target: Jennie Finch

Former USA Softball beauty Jennie Finch is back in the news, this time because of the announcement of the birth of her and husband Casey Daigle’s second child.  The kid’s name: Diesel Dean Daigle

She may be beautiful, but Jennie Finch could use help naming her kids.

I hope the kid came out with a thick skin.  Ten bucks says his older brother Ace Shane took a step back and said, “Yikes”.

Target: Jim Riggleman

One word: QUITTER.

Target: Donovan McNabb

McNabb was seen working out with several former teammates in Philadelphia.  Anyone else think there’s more to this, as in the fact that it’s a kick to the crotch of Mike Shanahan for all he and the Redskins put him through last season?

Innocent Bystanders: Redskins Fans

Honestly, with the way Donovan played last year, I honestly don’t think these fans care all that much.  And with the number of holes on Washington’s roster, they shouldn’t.

Target: TMZ

TMZ approached Greg Oden in Las Vegas and asked if he was LeBron James.  When he said no, they then inquired if he was a basketball player.  Ouch.

Innocent Bystander: LeBron James

For once, LeBron is not a direct target, but being compared to an underachieving Oden is unfortunate.

Innocent Bystander: Greg Oden

At least he didn’t hurt himself trying to avoid the TMZ cameras.

And finally, the current faces of team frustration in sports:

Kansas City Royals – Five straight losses and now owners of the worst record in the AL

Florida Marlins – The Fish have just two wins in the month of June

San Diego Padres – The Padres are 14-26 at home.  One other team is playing that poorly

Houston Astros – 12-games below .500 at home, Houston is that other team.

This has been Throwing Tomatoes, where the red fruit never quits.

Throwing Tomatoes is a feature that Kevin Paul started five years ago when blogging in the Fox Sports community.  It has been featured numerous times, including on the Fox Sports home page on several occasions.

Remember the good ol’ days when a sports legend played his butt off for one franchise, retired twenty years later, then down the road was humbled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony as his own statue gets unveiled outside the stadium he played at for his entire career?

Since, we’ve gone from being humbled to gorging on nothing but humble pie.

Our star athletes make a “decision” to bolt home states for the company of two other superstars and boatloads of cash, not to mention balmy weather, oodles of hot chicks and endless parties.

In a speech, our President questions the fact that a legend in hoops doesn’t have a statue erected in Boston.  A few months later, the city obliges.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar feels "slighted" by not having a statue, and maybe he should, KP says.

And most recently, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has gone as far as to complain about not having a statue erected in his honor, stating that he feels “slighted”.

But then again, these things are getting handed out like candy on Halloween, so maybe legendary sports stars like Kareem have a legitimate gripe.

These days, everyone seems to be getting a statue.

Nick Saban coaches Alabama for a few years, wins a national championship and he’s already got a statue outside of Bryant-Denny Stadium.

We are going overboard.

In fact, when it comes to statues, we fell off the deep end a while ago – and if we keep this frenetic pace, the American sports world will give off a feeling of Ancient Roman times, where statues of every Tom, Dick and Harry were littered throughout the land.

Statues and more statues: If we keep this frenetic pace, our sports cities will begin to look like Ancient Rome

This is not a knock on the talents of Bill Russell, LeBron James, or even the outspoken Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but more so the fact that our country has become soft when it comes to awards in sports.

Every individual that has accomplished something in sports is taking a direct flight to a life-like, lifesize frame in bronze, and every kid who participates in a sport gets a ribbon or a trophy, even for finishing in last place.

The beauty of competition is being lost, and if people keep winning something, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that much of our nation’s youth could lose the drive to finish first – when in the old days – that was the only place that got awarded.

That brings us back to the statues.

Statues should provide a significant reason to be marveled upon.  They are there so when a Dad takes his son or daughter to the big game, he can say, “That right there is a legend, he stayed loyal to our town, gave back to the community and won six titles, too” – and not, “That right there is a guy who won a title, left two years later for more money and we never saw him again”.

That’s what it’s coming to, my friends.

We need to once again embrace the fact that it takes a lot to earn a statue – and that a statue needs to be presented to us, and not something that we beg for, or come to expect.

That goes double for you, Kareem.

It needs to be a “million to one shot”, and not what it has instead become.

“MILLION TO ONE!”

Video (YouTube): Seinfeld clip where Kramer (the ASSMAN) gives Jerry a gift – a mini-statue, Fusilli Jerry