Put the gun down- the NBA Lockout is over! I know- I was worried too, how would we live without watching basketball games intermittently scheduled throughout the week on TNT? “But Blake, the NBA is just a bunch of lazy whiners playing glorified pick-up basketball and making more money than most of us could dream of! Why exactly are you happy it’s back?” you may ask, and foreseeing your query, I compiled this list of eight reasons why I am excited the NBA lockout is over.

1.The GOP Debates where hardly satisfying my desire to see spoiled millionaires squabble.

2. I was getting sick and tired of not watching defense.

3. Charles Barkley. Without the NBA how could he be thrust into the spotlight to say horribly offensive and politically incorrect things?

4. I won 2/5^ths ownership of the Memphis Grizzlies from Kenny Rogers in a poker game and I need those ticket sales like Mark Cuban needs constant attention and validation from the world around him.

5.  Players were threatening to leave the United States go play in China. AS IF THEY DIDN’T STEAL ENOUGH OF OUR JOBS!

6. I pre-ordered 10,000 “Miami Heat: 2012 NBA Championship Runner-Up T-Shirts”.

7.  The hardwood revarnishing industry couldn’t afford to take a hit like this.

8. “We Got Balls!” is my fantasy basketball team name. Anti-trust litigation or not, the biggest crime would be me not getting to use that gem in league play.