Over the past month, I have been receiving a ton of emails from readers around the world focusing on everything and anything from immediate column feedback to compliments on my ideas to questions for my reasoning to the standard angry email from a Toronto fan.  Emails have been pouring in from fans around the globe, from Memphis to Germany, from Los Angeles to Hong Kong.  I appreciate all of the reader feedback, and will initiate this column in an attempt to offer personal responses to a select number of emails from fans who decided to take time from their day to provoke my level of thinking in terms of the NBA.  I will post questions and comments in this public forum, so if you have something you?d like to say or ask, feel free to contact me and don?t forget to leave your name and current location.  As of now, we will call this the Give and Go Reader Response column, but am desperately searching for someone to provide us with a better title.  RealGM thanks you for your interest and we hope to continue providing you with extraordinary analysis of the greatest professional sports on the face of the earth.

I would like to use this forum as a means to offer a couple of ?awards? to certain readers.  Without further ado, the first Give and Go Reader Response column?

Best Personal Experience Story:

?Here is something many sports fans might not know about.  There was a kid by the name of Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje. He was staying after one of the Blazers practices to improve his game.  Standing on the opposite end of the court were Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells, they were heading out of the practice facility when they looked down court to see Ruben by himself working out.  Rasheed bends over, picks up a basketball and says to Bonzi, ?Watch this.?  He throws the ball, purposely striking Boumtje Boumtje in the head, sending him to the ground.  He was helped up from the floor as Wallace and Wells left the practice facility laughing.  Now I know Rasheed may seem like a good guy in Detroit but after hearing about this I have always had utter hatred for both of those people, not saying I don?t respect the game of Wallace, Wells not so much, but as a person, I have absolutely no respect for either player.  Boumtje Boumtje was a guy who was given a chance to play in the NBA, staying after practice by himself to try and get better and help the team, he became of victim of such a horrible act.  When I saw Rasheed win his ring with Detroit I immediately thought of this story and about how much Wallace did NOT deserve that ring.?

-- Aren Bigler, Portland, OR

JMW: Pretty intense story.  Boys being boys?  Rookie hazing?  Awful humans?  Either way, comical if you are on one side, disgusting if on the other.  Personally, I think Rasheed is a great talent, but don?t know the guy on a personal level where I?m in a position to judge his character or integrity.  However, you have to wonder if he?s tried this move on Darko.  Now that would be high comedy?

Shortest Email Body (Almost) Possible:

?No.?

-- Kevin S. Cummings, Santa Cruz, CA, in response to 5/4/07 article asking whether the NBA should adopt the NHL reseeding playoff policy.

JMW: Well, Kevin, my response would have to be: Yes.

Best Idea Expansion:

?The NBA also needs to seed teams in a manner that guarantees home court advantage.  Either seed everyone based on records or guarantee a higher seeded division champion home court even if it has a worse record.?

-- Chad Hansen, Location: Unknown

JMW: I agree.  I also think it?s stupid that the Bulls and Rockets had home court advantage over the Heat and Jazz, despite being the worse seed.  
The league needs to select one of these two options:
A) Seed the top 8 teams in each conference 1-8 regardless of division, or
B) Continue with the silly 1-4 among division winners and next best, but at least ensure those top 4 seeds are awarded home court!
Option C) 1-4 with division champs + next best and floating home court is dumb.

Least Likely to Be a Successful Franchise Owner:

?The suns and spurs knew they were going to play each other, does it really matter if it?s in round 2 or 3 (I think not). I don?t think the spurs or the suns were like man I really hope we can make it to the western conference finals... our season is now complete. Point is both those teams have their eye on the championship and I?m sure don?t care if its round 2 or 3 that they play each other for the western conference championship.?

-- Robert Baker, Whereabouts: Unknown

JMW: Well, I?m pretty sure that the team owners, host cities, parking lot owners, and everyone else who financially benefits off of postseason games would like their team to play an additional postseason series every year.  Mountains of money are made when your franchise is successful and reaches further heights in the playoffs.  Imagine the revenue brought in when you sell 20,000 tickets at an average price of $200 per seat, plus parking money, plus food and drinks, jerseys and memorabilia, programs, fast food joints and liquor stores near the stadiums, and even bums and ?street musicians? who collect annual wages during the playoffs.  

Most Confusing Self-Contradiction:

?I am thoroughly against reseeding teams after the first round and I hate the fact that the NHL does it.  First and foremost, it takes away the spontaneity of the tournament format.  How would you like it if the NCAA reseeded teams after every round?  If people love Duke so much, we should ensure that Duke, UCLA, Ohio St., Florida and all the other power conference teams are guaranteed trips to the sweet 16 and Final 4.  Who cares if Loyola Marymount or Heaven forbid, George Mason make a dramatic run as America's darlings?  In fact the NHL is the king of having 6, 7 and 8 seeds make it to the final four.  I believe this enhances their sport and makes things much more interesting.?

-- Tony Robinson, No Clue

JMW:  Tony, I am honestly confused.  First you say you hate the reseeding policy that the NHL uses, and then even convince me to hate it wholeheartedly by arguing about the NCAA Tourney Cinderella teams.  But then you violently reverse your stance and say that the NHL reseeding enables 6-8 seeds to make it to the Finals, and you love it.  Did I read this wrong?  Do you hate NHL reseeding or love it?  

Best Idea for an Ultimate Fighting Championship NBA Match up:

?I want to see Pavlovic and Nachbar go at it. That will be a great match up.?

-- David Berg, Toronto

JMW: Okay, so maybe David didn?t say anything about them actually fighting, but that would probably generate the most interest between these two often-angry looking Yugoslavians.

Most Nostradamus-ish Person:

?Who on GS can stop Boozer? The Mavs did not have anyone with his inside presence for the Warriors to worry about. Boozer is going to eat them alive. Jazz in 5.?

-- Mark Linton, Probably Utah

JMW: Okay, Mark, you annihilated my Golden State prediction.  Touche.

Least Likely to Receive Gifts from me this Holiday Season:

?Baron Davis to dominate the Jazz backcourt and brutalize the helpless frontcourt with his vision and playmaking ability.
Question:
LOL. Look at the difference in rebounding for the "helpless frontcourt" of the Utah Jazz and just as a reminder, Deron Williams looks to be doing the same as you predicted Baron to be doing.  Don't you look silly now? LMAO?

-- Kevin Helquist, Again, Probably Utah.

JMW:  I hate the Warriors.  

My Favorite Private Detective:

?Wilbon must have stolen your idea? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/07/AR2007050701843.html?

-- Steven Nannes, Washington, DC

JMW: Thank you, Steven, for noticing that PTI?s Michael Wilbon argued very similar points on 5/8/07 in his column that I elaborated on 4 days earlier in my 5/4/07 ?New Playoff Plan Backfires? column.  Hey Kornheiser, I?m available on Fridays.

Plug of the Column:

?I'm an aspiring sports journalist.  Basketball has always been my passion and I have come to enjoy writing about the game I love.  I have a basketball blog at foxsports.com that I would appreciate receiving some feedback on.  http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/Hoffman?

-- B.Hoffman, FoxSports Blogger

JMW: B-Hoff, I liked it.  Keep at it and everyone give this kid a read.  

Favorite Comment about Western Finals:

?How low can the ratings possibly get with a jazz spurs western finals, is anybody gonna even tune in to watch that series at all? The warriors and the suns are the only reason why the ratings were even okay. Now everybody loves raymond reruns are gonna be watched by more people than a spurs jazz series. Not to mention the east is a joke and nobody even cares?

-- Scott Portner, Unknown

JMW:  Everybody Loves Raymond?Ha, I actually met Ray in Cabo San Lucas.  Funny guy.

Favorite Pro-Spurs Comment regarding the Suns ?Suspect? Suspensions:

?If you want to watch high flying, high scoring NBA basketball then don?t watch the playoffs because this is the way it has and will be.  Tivo the all star game and watch all that streetball crap to get what you?re looking for.?

-- Lane Wagenfuehr, 98% San Antonio, TX

JMW: The All-Star game is always somehow just as boring as the Spurs vs. Jazz Western Finals, and yet, I can?t figure out why.  Also, I prefer DVR to Tivo?anyone agree?

My Favorite Portland 2007 NBA Draft Lottery Personal Story:

?I have to admit that I was giddy as a school girl when I saw the 6th envelope being that of the Milwaukee Bucks.  I also must admit that I had no idea that meant that Memphis and Boston were out of the top three.  Being a Blazer fan since I started watching basketball in the early 90?s, all that mattered to me was the fact that the Blazers were in the top three.  After they pulled out the Grizzlies number four envelope and went to commercial, I immediately grabbed the telephone and called my brother.  We then talked about how all that mattered now was that the Blazers logo was not in that third envelope.  When the commercial ended and we got a glimpse at that Hawks logo, I basically jumped for joy.  It didn?t matter if they were number 1 or 2, it just mattered that they were either 1 or 2.  I can honestly say that I won?t forget that moment any time soon.  Now, here?s hoping Kevin Pritchard does the right thing and draft Oden, and, that he doesn?t do something stupid and trade out of the top 2.  Then he needs to try to trade Randolph for Rashard Lewis and both Seattle and Portland should be interesting teams to watch.  Thanks for the time.?

-Tim Dolan, Portland, OR

JMW: Yes, the feeling of winning the top pick in one of the most pivotal Draft Lotteries in history is an incredible feeling as an avid NBA fan.  Portland truly has an impressive foundation with which to build.  Thanks for sharing your excitement!  And we will close this edition of the Give and Go Reader Response column with:

Most Heartfelt Email:

?Never have I felt so ripped off as a fan regarding the Phoenix suspensions. I've been following the NBA for over 40 years.?

-- Richard Karl, Assuming Phoenix, AZ

JMW: One of my best friends was born in Phoenix and is the biggest Suns fan I?ve ever met, and he was very crushed the second they showed Amare meander onto the court.  He knew, I knew, everyone knew the Spurs lucked out again.  I feel for you.  Thanks for reading.

Do you have any better ideas for this column title?  Do you like hearing what the fans have to say?  Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts.  He can be reached at [email protected] for comments or questions.