A very very long boy at that but a boy nevertheless

A very, very long boy at that, but a boy nevertheless.And look at the men around him. Although not as tall as Andrew, they are the giants of basketball: All-Stars Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Ron Artest, the head of the NBA Players Association and one of the best clutch shooters in the game, Derek Fisher, and a man who has finally matured into a fine all-around player, Lamar Odom.If you are just average, playing with those five will make you look way less than average. That is certainly the case with Bynum.The other thing is simply that he needs time to mature It’s a process. You cannot rush it, no matter how badly fans need instant gratification.Bynum is a very rich boy as well. He will have $50 million to play with over the next three years. So, fans think he should perk up instantly and turn into a nightly double-double machine much like Pau Gasol.Nope It doesn’t work that way.

You cannot throw money at a process and expect it to mature overnight Go throw $50 million at a seedling in the forest. Then come back in a year and see if it has matured into a full-grown tree.On Christmas Day, the Lakers take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was the matchup that David Stern hoped would come to fruition last summer in the NBA Finals, but Cleveland never made it that far.So, Stern instead has given NBA fans everywhere a Christmas present by scheduling the Lakers against the Cavaliers on this joyous day It is the "Kobe vs. LeBron" matchup. Not the Muppets, but the real deal.It is the return of Shaquille O’Neal to the Staples Center, where he and Kobe Bryant won three championships together.But Kobe and LeBron or Kobe and Shaq will not be the key matchups Instead, it will be Shaq versus Andrew The man against the boy. Goliath against David.Bynum may be asleep in his bed this Christmas Eve, but he won’t be dreaming of sugarplums and reindeer. He knows that Shaq is coming to town, and there will be nowhere to hide.But is Bynum mature enough at this point to know that he must not meet Shaq head on Does he realize that he must play down his urge to give the Staples Center fans their daily dose of instant gratification and out-muscle ShaqHas Bynum grown smart enough to outmaneuver Shaq and make the old giant work Does he have the savvy of a young Muhammad Ali taking on the fearful Sonny ListenMaybe; maybe not Only time will tell Maturing is a process So, chill out and enjoy the game..

Plexus Q1 Earnings Release on January 28th After Market Close and ConferenceCall on January 29th at 8:30 a.m E.T.NEENAH, Wis., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ Plexus Corp.(Nasdaq: PLXS), today announced it will release its fiscal 2009 first quarterresults for the period ended January 3, 2009 on Wednesday, January 28thafterthe stock market closes.Senior management will host a live webcast andconference call to review the results on Thursday, January 29th at 8:30 a.m.Eastern Time.What: Plexus Corp.'s Fiscal Q1 Earnings Conference CallWhen: Thursday, January 29th at 8:30 a.m. Eastern TimeWhere:888-693-3477 or 973-582-2710 with conference ID:79701905 http://(requires Windows Media Player)Replay: The call will be archived until February 5, 2009 at midnightEastern Time http:// via telephone replay at 800-642-1687 or 706-645-9291PIN: 79701905Contact:Dianne Boydstun, 920-751-5583, Please contact Dianne to switch from fax to email distribution About Plexus Corp. The Product Realization CompanyPlexus ( http://) is an award-winning participant in theElectronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) industry, providing product design,supply chain and materials management, manufacturing, test, fulfillment andaftermarket solutions to branded product companies in the Wireline/Networking,Wireless Infrastructure, Medical, Industrial/Commercial andDefense/Security/Aerospace market sectors.The Company's unique Focused Factory manufacturing model and global supplychain solutions are strategically enhanced by value-added product design andengineering services. Plexus specializes in mid- to low-volume, higher-mixcustomer programs that require flexibility, scalability, technology andquality.Plexus provides award-winning customer service to more than 100 brandedproduct companies in North America, Europe and Asia.SOURCEPlexus Corp.Ginger Jones, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Plexus Corp.,1-920-751-5487, . The AFC wild-card race is tighter than Anderson Silva’s Muay Thai clinch, and the field is more crowded than a Sarah Palin book signing.So which two teams are going to come out of this muddled, mediocre mess as the AFC’s Wild Cards Here is a look at each contender’s pros and cons: Baltimore RavensWhy They Will Be a Wild CardBecause they are a step up on most of the pack with an 8-6 record and should win in Week 17 when they play against JaMarcus Russell’s Oakland Raiders.Baltimore is also the one team of the group with no glaring weaknesses. The Ravens can pass the ball (Joe Flacco), run the ball (Ray Rice), and play above-average defense (second in points allowed, fourth in total defense thanks to Ray Lewis and Co.) Why They Won’t Be a Wild CardBecause Baltimore has to play a road game against their biggest arch-rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who also have plenty to play for And that road game at Oakland won’t be easy.

Just ask other playoff contenders Philadelphia, Denver, and Pittsburgh. Denver BroncosWhy They Will Be a Wild CardBecause Denver is also a nose above the majority with an 8-6 record and has a gift-wrapped win waiting for them after the holidays when the Broncos host dreadful Kansas City on the last week of the season. Plus Brandon Marshall might catch 35 passes over the next two weeks. Why They Won’t Be a Wild CardBecause Denver is faltering down the stretch just like the team did in 2008 New head coach, new players, same story. Kyle Orton has never been known as a big-game quarterback, Knowshon Moreno has some Tiki Barber-like fumble phobias, and Denver’s defense is slowing down like a unit full of zombies. Miami DolphinsWhy They Will Be a Wild CardBecause Miami has the power to elevate itself while dashing the playoff dreams of two of its competitors since the Dolphins play home games versus Houston and Pittsburgh to end the season.Chad Henne has proven that he can throw for 300 yards when he has to, even if he is throwing to the worst receiving crew in the NFL. And Ricky Williams has proven he can carry a Wildcat-less offense on his bong, I mean back. Why They Won’t Be a Wild CardBecause playoff teams don’t lose the games the Dolphins lost earlier this season to New Orleans, Indianapolis, and even last week’s tilt against Tennessee.Miami’s defense is aging up front and too inexperienced in the back. The Dolphins seem to be a player and a year away from making the jump to Super Bowl contender. Tennessee TitansWhy They Will Be a Wild CardBecause Tennessee is the hottest team in the NFL, winning seven of its last eight games, its only loss coming at undefeated Indianapolis. The Titans also have the best running back in football in Chris Johnson and the most improved quarterback in the league, Vince Young. Why They Won’t Be a Wild CardBecause they just lost two starting linebackers, Keith Bulluck and David Thornton, to season-ending injuries.