Manny Stiles presents Sports Augury - 2007 NBA Finals Edition

From the guy who introduced you to the Sports Shaman and his divination of the Super Bowl, I present Sports Augury for the 2007 NBA Finals!

The Sports Shaman

After he saw the events unfold during the Super Bowl and how they corresponded with the reading, he was mildly intrigued. He agreed to do more readings throughout the Sports calendar. Well, I saw him last week and since my beloved Phoenix Suns were no longer in the playoffs (I try not to divine things close to me, I let them happen), I asked if he would do a similar reading for the NBA Finals.

He asked me if Steve Nash was playing (he likes saying "Steve Nash"), I said no and he said "Well let's do it anyway"

SS prepares the set and setting

Again, if you forget how this all came about or what the hell it is skim through this... whenever you do a divination, there is preparations that must be arranged. Cleansing of spaces, laying of particular items and garments and burning of mystical vapors before the reading can begin. I was able to procure some fresh alpine turmeric and copal resin to cleanse and prepare the area for the reading... (smells nice, too).

This is a description of actual events. I was not allowed to use a recording device or any electronic device but was allowed to take notes on paper and pen (writer's cramp - I'm too used to typing!) even though the Sports Shaman reads at no particular pace but what the cards allow, I was able to keep up with him better this time (the layout helped)

We entered the chamber backwards as to "re-enter the womb" and to envision a realm of non-duality (nothing is good or bad, it just is). I concentrated on "wanting no outcome but the proper outcome that is to be". In other words, I was supposed to NOT root for the Cavaliers to beat the effing Spurs... just root for an outcome to happen... Ok, "just let it happen", done. Oh well, on to the cards!!!

The reading took place Tuesday with a Crowley adapted Rider-Waite deck. The readings depicted are actual and true and were not altered by any of my "wishes, wants or anticipations" but in parenthesis is "Manny's take" on the translations. The Sports Shaman has never been to the city of Cleveland nor to San Antonio. He could not care in the outcome of the actual games, as he states often "I can't make a difference in the outcome, so outcome makes no difference to me".

Those unfamiliar with tarot readings need to understand that the laying out of cards is NOT a future telling method, but similar to the laying down of a picture and interpreting it's meaning. Call it "entertainment" or have a reading, understand it, encompass it's scope and be wildly entertained...

With the area prepared he told me to be quiet for a moment (no easy feat). He sat and meditated for about 20 seconds before leaping up! Then the Sports Shaman stated he needed to "Smoke a toad, first!"... and left the chamber. I thought, what the funk is THIS going to be about? And he came back in (backwards again) with a thick cigar, a lighter and a cigar cutter. I asked where the "toad" was. He said "I'm smoking it." as he lit up. "It's a Carribean blend called flor de todo (flower of everything) - I call 'em toads for short".

Oh... ok, that wasn't as bad as it could have been... I've learned to never assume with the Sports Shaman, he just might whip a real toad and light it on fire... never know!

So he fired up the stogie, concentrated on the team names and threw a little dusty pile of white sage onto the incense burner

The Reading

Sports Shaman suggested we do a separate reading for each team. But then he was extremely fixated on "seven game series". Seven is very important psychically and in divinations. "seven this...seven that...WHY is there seven? Why not 9 or 5 or 11... seven is significant" On and on (I couldn't write it all)

He wanted to do reading for each of the seven games. I asked "what if it doesn't go seven games?"

Keep in mind that Sports Shaman knows VERY little about the game of basketball. He understands the concept of the game but never played it (or any activity with orbs). He knows Dr. J, Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, (maybe) Kobe Bryant? and Steve Nash (and a few Suns do to being at my house a few times when Suns games were on). Bu tthat's about it about basketball. Once when watching a game a goaltending was called. Sports Shaman was fascinated that the "cylinder" extended theoretically into space...

So he pondered the names of the teams. (I forgot to bring him pictures of the team logos to examine)

"A Cavalier is a horseman by definition, with an epee and a funny hat. A Spur is a tool used by a Horseman - with an aggressive brutal rowel. Could it be an irony switching of roles where the spur uses the cavalier?"

He asked about the teams' histories in past Finals. I explained the Spurs odd-year run and that this was Cleveland's shot to end the longest championship drought of any of America's 50 largest cities with at least 2 sports teams.

He pondered on how it wasn't only a East-West matchup but also the North-South alignment created a presence of irony. "Irony in an event indicates a symbolic significance to the event."
I started to explain the history of the coaches relationship - and he stopped me and he didn't think the coaches were significant as the series being a seven game format.

"seven... WHY seven? What does it mean?"

So I came up with as many guesses as I could - 5 isn't enough, 9 is too many and any even number just isn't American enough, Mickey Mantle's number, craps, dwarfs, deadly sins, it's an L upside down...I was grasping at straws to appease him...

I said well, "in baseball it's seven because after 100+ years, it just is..." (let's get to the reading, dude!)

THAT opened a can of worms - but a fascinating can at that.

"Baseball is backwards" he said

"What do you mean baseball is backwards?" I defended my life's love.

"The other games have more warlike context. Head to head conflict. Two cities battling it out for supremacy on a field of play. Baseball is more modern, not a symbol of war, but a game to be played and enjoyed more intellectually, not instinctively"

"That's why it's called the American Pastime..." I muttered. "But how is baseball 'backwards'?"
"In baseball, only the defense handles the ball. The defense brings the ball TO the offense in order to defeat them (get them out). The offense's goal is to get the ball far away and only the defense touches the ball" (I never thought about it like that, but yeah...)

"the other sports like football are more warriorlike. You can understand the movement, the battle, but the offense applies the ball. Basketball is more arcane with the weaving in and out. The esoteric rules and combinations of physical movements (running and dribbling at the same time)"

For a guy that can't pick up an orb with breaking his glasses, he sure thinks about these things too much...

Then he brightens like a light bulb. "I know what it is!"

"What what is?" I ask in trembling fear of what "it" could possibly be.

"I came up with a whole list in my head but if you keep trying to boil it down it is a logorhythym of social economics, commercial value... But why not 9? More games would determine a more true outcome... By eleven games the teams would know each other too well and they would even out. It's seven games because it's the perfect balance of how long you can milk a TV audience and still give the illusion of determining a true outcome" he stated matter-of-factly.

"Have you ever heard any NBA conspiracy theories?" I joked... but was relieved he derived an answer acceptable to allowing us to get to the reading (finally)

The Cleveland Cavaliers spread

Shaman chooses to read the Cavs first as he feels it is important as they are a percieved underdog.

First Card - Present Position

Eight of Swords - Jupiter in Gemini - Key word: Interference

Sports Shaman explains "this is a bad card for this position - trouble at the begining, fear of failure. They might be shitting bricks in fear of facing the Almighty Spurs". The next cards will determine the nature of this card's value more clearly.

Manny's take - the Almighty? Spurs??? Don't push it,

Second Card - Spiritual Position

Prince of Wands - Face Card

This card is laid directly above a sword card. Swords and wands conflict. SS says this card represents a person. A young man, swift and powerful, noble and generous with a sense of humor (leBron?) - HOWEVER - with the possibility of ill dignity from the Eight of Swords could represent too much pride.

Manny's take - LeBron has two teams to battle, The Spurs and his own.

Third Card - Instinct Position

Seven of Disks - Saturn in Taurus - Key word: Failure

"This reading is not looking good for the Cavs" says Sports Shaman... The Seven of disks represents earthly matter, money, unprofitable speculation, hopes decieved and disappointment. Sports Shaman thinks the team is on shaky ground facing a hard contest while investing energy on in house ocncerns. He says "if pride arises, pride will slack performance"...

Manny's take - You're right, this is not looking good for the Cavs.

Fourth Card - Passing Position

Two of Cups - Venus in Pisces - Key word: Love

Transitory love in the past position. Card represents harmony, perfect and placid joy and ecstasy. Yeah, like beating the Pistons. Now they're overconfident and lazy... "Folly, dissipation and waste come from this card" utters Sports Shaman.

Manny's take - Is this reading over yet... blech!

Fifth Card - Future Position

Seven of Wands - Mars in Leo - Key word: Valour

"Two sevens in this spread, hmmm." (Here we go again) the SPorts Shaman ponders before continuing "Energy feels itself at last gasp. Obstacles and difficulties arise, yet courage is found to meet them. Victory in small things. They have it in them. Wands are inspiration in their PUREST form."

Sports Shaman explains that this card was not paired with a trump card (thus magnifying the spread) so it may not be enough to overcome, but enough to make it seem really, really close...
Manny's take - Sounds like the Cavs-Pistons Playoffs series last year... Cavs rally back just to blow it at the end, yet still come out of it with someething. Maybe losing to the Spurs in an odd year propels LeBron to MORE greatness?

Overall Spread - Cavs

"LeBron is at the head of the reading, misplaced faith or not enough faith from his teammates is a central problem. LeBron's pride will win if they DON'T put enough faith in him. If they have faith in him and he knows it, his pride will be supressed and true ability will win all the team's conflicts"

"It's gonna be tough and they need to depend on a superstar while preventing a downward spiral in faith So much depends on conduct. Seven of wands when ill dignified represents quarrelling."

Manny's take - the Cavs will be under a lot of pressure and if anyone (cough, cough Drew Gooden) says anything to the media that can get blown up, it will wreck this team. They need everyone to keep cool and for this thing to go seven games to have a chance (Game 7 in San Antone...yikes!) LeBron could do something Magic-ish, something Michael and Kobe never did - win a Game 7 AND on the ROAD!

The Cavs were 2-0 against the Spurs this year.

The San Antonio Spurs spread

First comment Sports Shamen makes about the Spurs while shuffling the deck -"Their rowel is still HOT from raking the Suns!" - "yeah, thanks for rowelling it in, Sports Shaman!" I responded.

Sports Shaman belts out another ponderment "But when you heat metal, it loses it's temper"
Sports Shaman flips the first card...

First Card - Present Position

Ace of Cups - Face Card

"BWAAAAAAAAAAAH!" I chortle from my familiarity of the card and the Cavs doom reading.
"Do we need to continue?" jokes the Sports Shaman.

The Ace of Cups represents the element of water - It is a primordial card and essential form of the Holy Grail (Larry O'Brien trophy?)

"Recieving the impressive. Divine inspiration. SO positive it's ridiculous, even in the eternal sense - destiny is written in a way" he adds.

Manny's take - if a trump card comes up, I'm going to Loss Vegas and betting heavily on a sweep

Second Card - Spiritual Position

Knight of Cups - Face Card

Sports Shaman looks at the card ans asks "Do the Spurs have a star?"

The biggest but no one knows it.

This card has a Knight riding a galloping horse (with clear, visible spurs on his heels) he is holding a large cup (the Stanley Cup?), has dark hair, dark eyes and has a large star on his armor surrounded by smaller +stars (Tim Duncan?) and the horse is galloping towards the sun. Sports Shaman states "The team and the star are in perfect accord. Everything is well dignified (two of the same suit showing). The next card should be telling as well..."

Manny's take - I hate the Spurs.

Third Card - Instinct

Nine of Disks - Venus in Virgo - Key word: Gain

"So well grounded... consider that the Spurs pulled 'gain' in the same position where the Cavs pulled 'failure'" Sports Shaman sounds like a funeral home director at this point as I check my notes, yup he's right!

"Spurs are so confident and it's not hubrus. The have a wellspring of inspiration" What's that? Crushing Suns fans' Summer parade plans?

Manny Stiles - It doesn't taste that bad for vomit

Fourth Card - Passing Position

Eight of Disks - Sun in Scorpio - Key word: Prudence

Disks and Cups, like peanut butter and chocolate happiness... on and on positive signs for the Spurs. Prudence is an indicator that they respect the victories that got them here, not overproud. The card also represents intelligence applied to material affairs (knowing your ring size?)

Manny's take - Only a hard trump card could sway this now... COME ON, TOWER!!! Tower card, tower card, tower card.... Stop!!! (I'll settle for a Ten of Swords if it means a Spurs loss but no one has to die

Fifth Card - Future Position

Four of Cups - Moon in Cancer - Key word: Luxury

"MORE dignified" Sports Shaman finally gets me to understand this bodes well for the Spurs. 'Nuff said. I look at the card more closely.

FOUR of cups. Obviously, there are four cups on it. It is pleasantly shaded and looks celebratory, like a fountain spraying FLOWING water into four trophy like cups... four titles for the Spurs? There's "an outcome" I suppose

Overall Spread - Spurs
"It's pretty clear that they are so prepped that if they should take it easy and follow their destiny the more success they're gonna have. It "seems " biased, but I don't have a personal preference that's for goddam sure" surmised the Sports Shaman. "The Cavs have one thin ghost of a chance - a game seven - they will have to overcome trouble with team and star balance - LeBron might slip up and have things be misinterpreted under tension and the glare of the spotlight. If that happens it might erode team confidence at the wrong time. They can't afford a rift in morale..."

Then Sports Shaman informs me he wants to do a reading specifically for Game 7 (if neccessary) and I delightfully agree (I'm getting him a barrel of numbers and letters cookies - but ALL 7's for Christmas). Besides, I'm a fan of Game 7's no matter what.

Manny's take- Sounds like the Cavs need to pull a "15 strong"-like run - it CAN be done, but I guess I'll finally admit the Spurs will probably win. (unless someone found that genie lamp) But I'm not betting on it (I'm not much of a gambler) and I'm still rooting for the Cavs (and a Game 7)