The picture’s a bit different in West, though --- battle for No. 8 slot is a tighter affair, and there’s interest from close NBA watchers. Granted, last team in draws either Spurs or Suns, and both are going to be hard to knock off. But --- let’s say Steve Nash’s injuries continue to nag at him. Let’s also take into account that playoff basketball slows down and focuses on half-court sets. The Suns suddenly seem beatable, right? The Spurs are a bit tougher --- they thrive in half-court sets, and they’re definition of consistent.

Still, let’s say Lakers get No. 8 seed --- a possibility we’ll investigate. The Lake Show has reached 4 of last 5 Finals --- granted, with a vastly different chemistry. But Kobe is still a rare player. Let’s say Minnesota gets in just under line --- they were No. 1 seed last year, and possess arguably league’s most game-altering player in Kevin Garnett. And if Nuggets --- a young, eccentric mix of quality players --- get nod, they might have enough firepower to run a full series with either San Antonio or Phoenix.

Since No. 8 seed in West could, theoretically, knock off a potential No. 1, we decided to investigate who’s most likely to come out as No. 8 in late April. We evaluated only Lakers, T-Wolves, and Nuggets, because let’s be honest --- as good as Clippers have played this year, do you honestly see them anywhere near NBA Playoffs? We thought so.

Each team is assigned 3 (highest), 2, or 1 (lowest) points in four different categories: Personnel, Coaching, Remaining Schedule, and Intangibles. Scientific, no?

Personnel: The Lakers have Kobe, who is arguably best player in game. He’s struggled without a presence in middle (no offense to Chris Mihm…), and there’s serious strains on his image following rape trial and tumultuous breakup of championship run Lakers. Beyond Mr. Bryant, though, Los Angeles doesn’t have much. Caron Butler was promising as a rookie, but hasn’t done a ton since then. Lamar Odom is second key to this team --- he needs to play at level he’s capable of playing at, and he hasn’t been doing that. He goes in tank more than Vince Carter claims he went in tank in Canada, especially against higher-level foes.

The Timberwolves have an amazing team on paper. Garnett, reigning MVP, can beat you every which way. Sam Cassell is an experienced, showstopper point guard, and Latrell Sprewell can still score in buckets. Wally World gets injured, sure, but he’s got game. The problem is, entire team has underachieved this year, which creates a need for big games from Trenton Hassell and others. That shouldn’t be necessary given this squad, especially when Sprewell is playing for 14 million per (even though he’s apparently below poverty line).

The Aikido Controversy is now a part of British Aikido History. It was a long and difficult fight to protect true history of British Aikido from false claims of Mr Jack Poole and The British Aikido Board. Sport England totally exonerated Henry Ellis. The BAB were instructed to give Henry Ellis a full public apology after admitting that Mr Poole had received an award to APPEASE him. The BAB also admitted that Mr Poole could only substanciate his history from 1968.

The Controversy (Why such a controversy)

Two years ago I received a circular, via British Aikido Board, inviting me to Mr Jack Poole's celebratory seminar of "47 years in Aikido". At that time this would have placed Mr Poole as first ever for Aikido in UK in 1952. This is a very serious statement and offensive to those like myself and others who took part in birth of British Aikido, and its subsequent promotion. So why controversy? Mr Poole was an immediate beginner in my Dojo at Slough, Berks, in 1968. One does not have to be a nuclear scientist to calculate that 1968 from 2000 is 32 years (not 47 years) However British Aikido Board in its wisdom refused to answer my subsequent complaint, against Mr Pooles claim, and at National Seminar 2000 awarded him a bronze samurai statue to celebrate his "40 plus years of Aikido".

The article that follows details these events and has been built up as events unfolded.

Yours in Budo Sensi Henry Ellis

For history of British Aikido, read Sensei Ellis's article "Positive Aikido" in "Fighting Arts International".

The Final Analysis

On 29th February 2000 Sensei Ellis sent an official letter of complaint to British Aikido Board, letter was addressed to British Aikido Board secretary Mrs S Timms, subsequently Mrs Timms arranged a meeting at "The Hut" with Sensei's Foster, Ellis, Eastman, and Mrs Timms herself to discuss matters detailed in letter. It was agreed without doubt that no one had ever heard of Mr Poole prior to him being a beginner in Sensei Ellis's dojo in 1968.

At British Aikido Board meeting held on 23rd September 2000, British Aikido Board executive denied having received "official complaint" when matter was raised by Sensei Derek Eastman. If British Aikido Board executive did not receive letter, why? It was as a result of this letter that above meeting took place, so I will ask question again, why was this important official letter that directly affects history of British Aikido not placed before whole of executive committee?

In brief evidence against Mr Poole that was offered to British Aikido Board:

Sensei Ellis has not one photo of Mr Poole as a beginner in 1968 but several.

Both these photes clearly show Mr Poole as a beginner and were taken in 1968

A video taken in 1968, clearly showing Mr Poole as a beginner. Witnesses to these dates: > Chiba Sensei > Ellis Sensei > Eastman Sensei > Goodwin Sensei > Staverou Sensei Students from that time. When Mr Poole was asked by a senior member of British Aikido Board "Jack, when and where did you actually start your Aikido", Mr Poole's reply was "errgh, I can't really remember when I started".

On strength of that brief statement British Aikido Board awarded Mr Poole with a fine samurai statue to celebrate our new leader.

Once again I repeat that only reason for controversy article being placed on our Internet site is not malicious but simply to protect true history of Aikido in UK.

As of today’s date, 13th October 2000, we have not yet received any advice from a lawyer as to any threatened action. We intend to keep article on our website and if Mrs Timms and Mr Poole wish to contest truth then we patiently await your legal response to change hard facts into fiction.

Jack Poole And his forthcoming "Celebration of 47 years of Aikido" By Henry Ellis Sensei The Controversy

Recently, I received a letter from British Aikido Board, enclosed were usual documents of a previous general meeting, amongst papers was a A4 size photo of Mr. Poole, inviting everyone to above celebration, including me. The content of poster was of great concern to many others and me who shared in birth of Aikido in Britain. If you have not read my story in "Fighting Arts International " No 93, and Aikido Today Magazine No 36, they are to be found on this web page.

Why all this concern?

As I have stated above, history of Aikido in UK is very well documented. Kenshiro Abbe Sensei introduced Aikido in 1955, his first student was Ken Williams Sensei, (see Aikido Today Magazine #43). From that early group of selected students, only ones to survive are Williams sensei, Haydn Foster sensei, and myself Henry (Harry) Ellis. Williams sensei was made National coach for Aikido in UK, and I was assistant National coach.

During those great early years, we traveled all over British Isles, also to France and Belgium.

If we are to believe Mr. Poole’s claim to 47 years of Aikido, then this would place him back in era of 1952/3, this is two years before arrival of Kenshiro Abbe sensei to UK. None of early teachers had ever heard of Mr. Poole, that is until Mr. Poole came to join my "beginners class" in 1967/8 at my dojo in Slough, Berkshire.