Yes, I've missed posting for a couple of weeks. Vacation and otherwise.
So for now, enjoy this video of Kobe Bryant jumping over a pool of snakes with the boys from Jackass.
(hat tip: Ball Don't Lie)
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Frustration
I've been sitting on these thoughts for a while and was tempered by the Subway Series two-game sweep, but knew it would resurface with a poor showing against the lovely team to the City of the South...
There is nothing more frustrating than rooting for the Mets, regardless of which era you live in or remember. I've been rooting for this team since I cared to remember about professional sports.
Granted, that was about the same time they won their last World Championship - 1986 - but I was an impressionable nine-year-old and when my mom was willing to take me out of Lowell (which, by the way, was a great school. Just look at the school's fight song) so I could go to the ticker tape parade, I was locked in.
I wasn't as invested as I am now, so memories of Marva K taking me to Shea for a Mother's Day game aren't clear. Nevertheless, thanks to the power of the Internet
(It's on computers now?) I've deduced that it was May 14, 1989 and I snuck past player's wife to watch Lenny Dykstra score on an error in the ninth for a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres. But the only memory I have is finally being able to see the green grass of Shea up close and my heart was set in stone, prepared to bleed Giants orange and Dodger blue for the rest of my days...
We'll skip past watching the 2000 Subway Series with a certain Yankee fan, quietly
forecasting the impending doom that was obvious to all involved. In fact, let's fast forward to 2006 and watching that yak of a curve ball by Adam Wainwright freeze Carlos Beltran like a deer in front of a Hummer. There was a feeling of absolute shock and awe. I mean, it was just two innings ago that Endy Chavez made a catch that would go down in lore as large as The Unnamed Pass & Catch between Elisha and David Tyree.
Nevertheless, there was also a feeling that the team was built for more than a one-year run. There was youth in Reyes and Wright. We had just stuck two young pitchers (John Maine and Oliver Perez) into situations made for last names like Clemens, Shilling and Beckett and they had performed adrimably.
Next year was now and they ran out of the gates in 2007, but then something happened.
Call it yet another injury to Moises Alou, a reality check for John Maine, the continued demise of Carlos Delgado, the continued implosion of a bullpen that relied too heavily on two guys (Joe Smith, Pedro Feliciano) because the others couldn't get out the Bad News Bears or a combination of all of the above.
The rest of the season became history and regardless what the history books will write, the Mets gave the Phillies the division title, not the other way around. Yes, the Philties won eight straight late, but they still only won by a game and needed Tom Glavine to deliever his worst performance in this Hall of Fame career on the season's final day to avoid a one-game playoff.
And now here we are. It's 2008 and Met fans, the flicklest of all in the Tri-State area which is saying a lot, were ready with boo birds from Opening Day, with boo birds for the high-priced No. 1 starter that everyone on this side of the world said the Mets needed. I say they because while I expected this team to compete, I didn't think they would run away with anything AND NEITHER DID PUNDITS, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.
Yes, the team management and front office expected to win the division (which, by the way, still has over 100 games left to be decided), but how many people said the Mets were the clear cut favorites? Let's see by a show of hands...
Keep them up if you thought they would do it due to a starting pitching staff with Pedro and El Duque rounding it out and taking pressure off Maine and Perez.
Keep them up if you said they would do it if Jose Reyes continued to struggle like he needed a lesson from Indians manager Lou Brown, Delgado still refused to take pitches the other way, Beltran continued to cater to rumors that he really wanted to be a Yankee so he could be a quiet star ala Bobby Abreu and the same bullpen that could hardly get anyone out last year was asked to do more with Mike Pelfrey and Nelson Figueroa lucky to get through the fourth inning.
Does anyone still have thier hand up? If so, please point them out to the attendents from Arkham Asylum can take them away. I believe a cell between the Joker and Poison Ivy just opened up.
Nevertheless, all this has happened and we're not world beaters without two veteran starters and an oft injured outfielder, an injury to the man who did a servicable job replacing him before injury befell him as well (Where are you, Angel Pagan?) and now, now is the still to fire Willie Randolph because he's clearly to blame.
He didn't help himself with the quotes he gave Ian O'Connell of The Record, a column I read and took nothing more than the same frustration that every Met fan with any reason has with a team that could and should be better.
Will they be? Who knows. Will they be better off with Willie gone? Maybe, but here's the $64,000 question that no one, and I mean NO ONE, has yet to answer for me.
I'll admit that Willie hasn't taken Reyes aside and been a mentor since he got the big contract (just a thought). He hasn't bridged the gap between the mix of Latin and American players (No Pedro and the lackluster play of Delgado hasn't helped that situation any) and you can question his bullpen use but it's not his fault he has to turn to them every night for three-plus innings. Nevertheless, who's taking over this team if Willie is fired that will lead them from the cellar to the penthouse? George Jefferson isn't walking through that door. Bobby Valentine isn't walking through that door. Davey Johnson, Gil Hodges or Ozzie Guillen aren't walking through that door.
And since the latter, who I think would be perfect for the job, is currently under contract with a first-place team, I'll wait for an answer. Until then, I'll ride out this season and hope that as the team gets healthy, they have a strong second half like Santana tends to do and like any true fan has to hope for with their team.
There is nothing more frustrating than rooting for the Mets, regardless of which era you live in or remember. I've been rooting for this team since I cared to remember about professional sports.
Granted, that was about the same time they won their last World Championship - 1986 - but I was an impressionable nine-year-old and when my mom was willing to take me out of Lowell (which, by the way, was a great school. Just look at the school's fight song) so I could go to the ticker tape parade, I was locked in.
I wasn't as invested as I am now, so memories of Marva K taking me to Shea for a Mother's Day game aren't clear. Nevertheless, thanks to the power of the Internet (It's on computers now?) I've deduced that it was May 14, 1989 and I snuck past player's wife to watch Lenny Dykstra score on an error in the ninth for a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres. But the only memory I have is finally being able to see the green grass of Shea up close and my heart was set in stone, prepared to bleed Giants orange and Dodger blue for the rest of my days...
We'll skip past watching the 2000 Subway Series with a certain Yankee fan, quietly
forecasting the impending doom that was obvious to all involved. In fact, let's fast forward to 2006 and watching that yak of a curve ball by Adam Wainwright freeze Carlos Beltran like a deer in front of a Hummer. There was a feeling of absolute shock and awe. I mean, it was just two innings ago that Endy Chavez made a catch that would go down in lore as large as The Unnamed Pass & Catch between Elisha and David Tyree.
Nevertheless, there was also a feeling that the team was built for more than a one-year run. There was youth in Reyes and Wright. We had just stuck two young pitchers (John Maine and Oliver Perez) into situations made for last names like Clemens, Shilling and Beckett and they had performed adrimably.
Next year was now and they ran out of the gates in 2007, but then something happened.
Call it yet another injury to Moises Alou, a reality check for John Maine, the continued demise of Carlos Delgado, the continued implosion of a bullpen that relied too heavily on two guys (Joe Smith, Pedro Feliciano) because the others couldn't get out the Bad News Bears or a combination of all of the above.
The rest of the season became history and regardless what the history books will write, the Mets gave the Phillies the division title, not the other way around. Yes, the Philties won eight straight late, but they still only won by a game and needed Tom Glavine to deliever his worst performance in this Hall of Fame career on the season's final day to avoid a one-game playoff.
And now here we are. It's 2008 and Met fans, the flicklest of all in the Tri-State area which is saying a lot, were ready with boo birds from Opening Day, with boo birds for the high-priced No. 1 starter that everyone on this side of the world said the Mets needed. I say they because while I expected this team to compete, I didn't think they would run away with anything AND NEITHER DID PUNDITS, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.
Yes, the team management and front office expected to win the division (which, by the way, still has over 100 games left to be decided), but how many people said the Mets were the clear cut favorites? Let's see by a show of hands...
Keep them up if you thought they would do it due to a starting pitching staff with Pedro and El Duque rounding it out and taking pressure off Maine and Perez.
Keep them up if you said they would do it if Jose Reyes continued to struggle like he needed a lesson from Indians manager Lou Brown, Delgado still refused to take pitches the other way, Beltran continued to cater to rumors that he really wanted to be a Yankee so he could be a quiet star ala Bobby Abreu and the same bullpen that could hardly get anyone out last year was asked to do more with Mike Pelfrey and Nelson Figueroa lucky to get through the fourth inning.
Does anyone still have thier hand up? If so, please point them out to the attendents from Arkham Asylum can take them away. I believe a cell between the Joker and Poison Ivy just opened up.
Nevertheless, all this has happened and we're not world beaters without two veteran starters and an oft injured outfielder, an injury to the man who did a servicable job replacing him before injury befell him as well (Where are you, Angel Pagan?) and now, now is the still to fire Willie Randolph because he's clearly to blame.
He didn't help himself with the quotes he gave Ian O'Connell of The Record, a column I read and took nothing more than the same frustration that every Met fan with any reason has with a team that could and should be better.
Will they be? Who knows. Will they be better off with Willie gone? Maybe, but here's the $64,000 question that no one, and I mean NO ONE, has yet to answer for me.
I'll admit that Willie hasn't taken Reyes aside and been a mentor since he got the big contract (just a thought). He hasn't bridged the gap between the mix of Latin and American players (No Pedro and the lackluster play of Delgado hasn't helped that situation any) and you can question his bullpen use but it's not his fault he has to turn to them every night for three-plus innings. Nevertheless, who's taking over this team if Willie is fired that will lead them from the cellar to the penthouse? George Jefferson isn't walking through that door. Bobby Valentine isn't walking through that door. Davey Johnson, Gil Hodges or Ozzie Guillen aren't walking through that door.
And since the latter, who I think would be perfect for the job, is currently under contract with a first-place team, I'll wait for an answer. Until then, I'll ride out this season and hope that as the team gets healthy, they have a strong second half like Santana tends to do and like any true fan has to hope for with their team.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Before we get going, did you guys catch Kobe putting up 25 in the second half to rally his team from a 20 point deficit; that is why he is the MVP.
Now that we have that out if the way, it is 2:30 in the morning and I just got back from my 12:01 screening of the new Indiana Jones movie. Overall I would probably give it a B-, not as good as Raiders or Last Crusade, but still decidedly better than Temple of Doom. Obviously I was psyched about this movie coming out; I mean I went by myself for a midnight showing.
THE GOOD
Action packed as every Indiana Jones film should be. Director Speilberg and Cinematogropher Kaminski combine again to shoot a wonderful film. There were limited CGI special effects even though there was action throughout the entire film. The writing was right on point, with that trademark smart ass attitude of Dr. Jones and Harrison Ford’s perfect delivery of those lines. Shia LeBeouf’s character was not as annoying as say Jar-Jar Binks. He offered some good delivery and played a worthy partner to Indiana. As usually the back story and history of what Dr. Jones was searching for is amazing and based in truth with some Hollywood twists thrown in which makes it interesting. And the set pieces of some of the places they were going were also extremely detailed and well done. Great references to Dr. Jones the elder and Marcus.
THE BAD
Well first of all Cate Blanchett’s character was horrific, one of the worst movie villains of all time. There is one action sequence with LaBeouf which is pretty hokey, but very amusing nonetheless. The very end of the movie was pretty cheesy, but you could see it coming a mile away, and you know why they ended it that way, but it still sort of sucked. Also, there is one major “twist” in the movie which is so painfully obvious that it got absolutely no reaction from the crowd like it should have.
THE CONFUSING
Being an Indiana Jones nerd I have done a great deal of reading leading up to this film. The one thing Lucas said he liked about the David Koepp script was that it did not have any cheesy references to the first few films, but it did, especially in the beginning. Lucas has stated repeatedly that this is the last installment of series, but in true Hollywood fashion they have left the door open for LaBeouf to star in a sequel.
All in all it is worthy of being part of the series, and if you are a fan of these movies you will enjoy this one too
Now that we have that out if the way, it is 2:30 in the morning and I just got back from my 12:01 screening of the new Indiana Jones movie. Overall I would probably give it a B-, not as good as Raiders or Last Crusade, but still decidedly better than Temple of Doom. Obviously I was psyched about this movie coming out; I mean I went by myself for a midnight showing.
THE GOOD
Action packed as every Indiana Jones film should be. Director Speilberg and Cinematogropher Kaminski combine again to shoot a wonderful film. There were limited CGI special effects even though there was action throughout the entire film. The writing was right on point, with that trademark smart ass attitude of Dr. Jones and Harrison Ford’s perfect delivery of those lines. Shia LeBeouf’s character was not as annoying as say Jar-Jar Binks. He offered some good delivery and played a worthy partner to Indiana. As usually the back story and history of what Dr. Jones was searching for is amazing and based in truth with some Hollywood twists thrown in which makes it interesting. And the set pieces of some of the places they were going were also extremely detailed and well done. Great references to Dr. Jones the elder and Marcus.
THE BAD
Well first of all Cate Blanchett’s character was horrific, one of the worst movie villains of all time. There is one action sequence with LaBeouf which is pretty hokey, but very amusing nonetheless. The very end of the movie was pretty cheesy, but you could see it coming a mile away, and you know why they ended it that way, but it still sort of sucked. Also, there is one major “twist” in the movie which is so painfully obvious that it got absolutely no reaction from the crowd like it should have.
THE CONFUSING
Being an Indiana Jones nerd I have done a great deal of reading leading up to this film. The one thing Lucas said he liked about the David Koepp script was that it did not have any cheesy references to the first few films, but it did, especially in the beginning. Lucas has stated repeatedly that this is the last installment of series, but in true Hollywood fashion they have left the door open for LaBeouf to star in a sequel.
All in all it is worthy of being part of the series, and if you are a fan of these movies you will enjoy this one too
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
With the 1st Pick…
Either Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley. This decision will be agoniozed over for the next month as much as any 1/ 2 picks have been in any sport; think Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf. Well hopefully neither one of these guys blows up like Leaf. The buzz is though that these two are the clear favorites to go in the top 2, although OJ Mayo is shooting up draft boards all over the country. I still think it will be Rose and Beasley or Beasley and Rose. The best predicter of the Draft www.nbadraft.net has yet to update their mock draft since the Lottery order was announced, so they still have Rose going in the top spot. I will do a point/counter point on each guy.
Making the case for Derrick Rose. He has overwhelmingly been the top choice amongst NBA execs for almost a year now, and a Chicago native. He made the Memphis Tigers a legit title contender and lifted them to another level. He has a great shooting touch and already has NBA range. He can create and get to the basket as well as anyone in the draft. He has a chance to raise a teams level of play exponetially.
Making the case against Derrick Rose. Well Chicago has a pretty solid NBA back court. Now I know Kirk Hinrich isn’t as good as Rose, but he is a productive NBA point. The Bulls get all of their scoring from the backcourt with Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng. Being a Chicago native may also be a drawback here, especially with the temptation of young athletes today, giving Rose a boatload of money and fame and unleashing on his hometown could prove to be costly.
Making the case for Michael Beasley. Ahhh, have you seen him play? He is Kevin Durant but with some physical size in his repetoire. Beasley has a good shooting touch, probably from 18 feet right now in the league (though he showed the ability to hit the college 3). He does a great job of taking the ball at defender and can score in traffic and shoot a very high percentage, and the Bulls need a ton of frontcourt scoring. A relentless rebounder, Beasley also has a better defensive game than most give him credit for.
Making the case against Michaeal Beasley. Well the Bulls have drafted a power forward with their last 2 top ten picks, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. There are some who think Beasley to be a little bit in between positions and may take a year or two to develop his game. Chicago is looking to move back into the mainstream media and taking the local boy over Beasley would just seem to be a better fit.
Looking at all I don’t think you can really go wrong. If you draft Rose that would make Hinrich expendible, and he is tradeable. On the other hand taking Beasley fills an immediate need for froncourt production in the scoring column night in and night out.
Making the case for Derrick Rose. He has overwhelmingly been the top choice amongst NBA execs for almost a year now, and a Chicago native. He made the Memphis Tigers a legit title contender and lifted them to another level. He has a great shooting touch and already has NBA range. He can create and get to the basket as well as anyone in the draft. He has a chance to raise a teams level of play exponetially.
Making the case against Derrick Rose. Well Chicago has a pretty solid NBA back court. Now I know Kirk Hinrich isn’t as good as Rose, but he is a productive NBA point. The Bulls get all of their scoring from the backcourt with Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng. Being a Chicago native may also be a drawback here, especially with the temptation of young athletes today, giving Rose a boatload of money and fame and unleashing on his hometown could prove to be costly.
Making the case for Michael Beasley. Ahhh, have you seen him play? He is Kevin Durant but with some physical size in his repetoire. Beasley has a good shooting touch, probably from 18 feet right now in the league (though he showed the ability to hit the college 3). He does a great job of taking the ball at defender and can score in traffic and shoot a very high percentage, and the Bulls need a ton of frontcourt scoring. A relentless rebounder, Beasley also has a better defensive game than most give him credit for.
Making the case against Michaeal Beasley. Well the Bulls have drafted a power forward with their last 2 top ten picks, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. There are some who think Beasley to be a little bit in between positions and may take a year or two to develop his game. Chicago is looking to move back into the mainstream media and taking the local boy over Beasley would just seem to be a better fit.
Looking at all I don’t think you can really go wrong. If you draft Rose that would make Hinrich expendible, and he is tradeable. On the other hand taking Beasley fills an immediate need for froncourt production in the scoring column night in and night out.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
How West Won It
Two big reasons why the Hornets beat the Spurs in game 5 tonight to go up 3-2 in the series:
1) Teaneck's own David West. 38 points on 16-25 shooting. 14 rebounds. 5 assists. 5 blocks. Only 2 turnovers. That's a serious stat line right there.
West played pretty terrible in the two games in San Antonio, and was obviously pissed off about it. He came out in this game determined to play better. At the same time, he didn't seem to be forcing the issue. The shots he took were in the offense, and it wasn't all mid-range jumpers, either.
It was an exhilarating performance by West, and one that I think shows that he'll be a force in the league for the next several years. When you can bounce back from adversity under the national spotlight, that shows character and the will to be a great player.
2) Finally knocking Tony Parker on his ass a few times. Tony Parker has been killing them by penetrating, getting to the paint, and either taking it to the basket or sucking in the defense and passing out to wide open shooters. The Hornets decided to beat on Parker a little bit more tonight, setting some tough screens on him, fouling him when he drove, and so on. And lo and behold, Tony Parker didn't go to the paint as often in the second half.
I seem to remember a time when Tony Parker was considered a bit soft. It's nice to see an NBA coach remember that, too.
1) Teaneck's own David West. 38 points on 16-25 shooting. 14 rebounds. 5 assists. 5 blocks. Only 2 turnovers. That's a serious stat line right there.
West played pretty terrible in the two games in San Antonio, and was obviously pissed off about it. He came out in this game determined to play better. At the same time, he didn't seem to be forcing the issue. The shots he took were in the offense, and it wasn't all mid-range jumpers, either.
It was an exhilarating performance by West, and one that I think shows that he'll be a force in the league for the next several years. When you can bounce back from adversity under the national spotlight, that shows character and the will to be a great player.
2) Finally knocking Tony Parker on his ass a few times. Tony Parker has been killing them by penetrating, getting to the paint, and either taking it to the basket or sucking in the defense and passing out to wide open shooters. The Hornets decided to beat on Parker a little bit more tonight, setting some tough screens on him, fouling him when he drove, and so on. And lo and behold, Tony Parker didn't go to the paint as often in the second half.
I seem to remember a time when Tony Parker was considered a bit soft. It's nice to see an NBA coach remember that, too.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Where have all the Cowboys gone?
What happened baseball? What happened to you? You had me, and then you lost me. Those few years with all different types of teams winning the World Series, man that was fun. But along the way something happened. We lost the superstar players, and maybe some of it is baseballs terrible marketing, they just expect things to sell themselves. But I ask you, who are the stars in baseball nowadays? Where are my Hall of Fame players?
Now maybe it is just the cycle in sports, and it takes a few years for the turnopver of a new generation of players. We are realizing that potential in the NBA now, it took a few years but those yougn stars are now beginning to take over the league, heck this is even true in hockey with the emergence of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin (both appointment viewing for me this NHL Playoff season). But baseball seems to be lacking in this resepect. Their seems to be a lost generation of players and part of that is because of the steroid era and there are still residual effects. Guys like A-Rod, Manny, Magglio Ordonez, Pujols, Chipper, Miggy Tejada, Todd Helton, Bobby Abreu and obviously Bonds.
Now Martin and some other baseball junkies are going to tell me about all the great young players in the league, and while I understand that, they have yet to captivate me and that is my point. I know Evan Longoria, the Upton brothers, Connor Jackson, Hanley Ramirez and Prince Fielder just to name a few. I do believe in about 3 or 4 years we will be comparing some of these guys to the all time greats but right now the league is mired with guys whom I have never heard of and who just don’t sell tickets or move the TV meter.
I ask you who are the best pitchers in baseball right now? Jake Peavy, Brandon Webb, Johan Santana, Chien Ming Wang, Carlos Zambrano just to name a few. But again I ask you, are any of those guys appointment viewing. Listen I love baseball, I love Chien Ming Wang but he doesn’t even positively make me tune in to the Yankees. Here are some of theleague leaders in ERA right now are Edinson Volquez, Aaron Cook (didn’t we go to middle school with him), Shawn Marcum and some guy from the KC Royals named Zach Grienke (the Royals havent been relevant since Mark Gubicza pitched for them).
The overall point is ten years ago or so you could always positively identify the top players in the game. Those players made me tune in to watch them play. I watched Pedro pitch, Tony Gwynn hit, Barry Bonds or McGwire mash, Kenny Lofton run and the Big Unit mow guys down. Now I am watching Cliff Lee pitch, Pedro Lopez hit, Carlos Quentin (I have never even heard this guys name until I looked at the league leaders) or Dan Uggla mash, Michael Bourn (I loved his movies) run, and Javier Vazquez mow people down (didn’t the Yankees pay this guy about $14 mill one year to go .500?).
Now maybe it is just the cycle in sports, and it takes a few years for the turnopver of a new generation of players. We are realizing that potential in the NBA now, it took a few years but those yougn stars are now beginning to take over the league, heck this is even true in hockey with the emergence of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin (both appointment viewing for me this NHL Playoff season). But baseball seems to be lacking in this resepect. Their seems to be a lost generation of players and part of that is because of the steroid era and there are still residual effects. Guys like A-Rod, Manny, Magglio Ordonez, Pujols, Chipper, Miggy Tejada, Todd Helton, Bobby Abreu and obviously Bonds.
Now Martin and some other baseball junkies are going to tell me about all the great young players in the league, and while I understand that, they have yet to captivate me and that is my point. I know Evan Longoria, the Upton brothers, Connor Jackson, Hanley Ramirez and Prince Fielder just to name a few. I do believe in about 3 or 4 years we will be comparing some of these guys to the all time greats but right now the league is mired with guys whom I have never heard of and who just don’t sell tickets or move the TV meter.
I ask you who are the best pitchers in baseball right now? Jake Peavy, Brandon Webb, Johan Santana, Chien Ming Wang, Carlos Zambrano just to name a few. But again I ask you, are any of those guys appointment viewing. Listen I love baseball, I love Chien Ming Wang but he doesn’t even positively make me tune in to the Yankees. Here are some of theleague leaders in ERA right now are Edinson Volquez, Aaron Cook (didn’t we go to middle school with him), Shawn Marcum and some guy from the KC Royals named Zach Grienke (the Royals havent been relevant since Mark Gubicza pitched for them).
The overall point is ten years ago or so you could always positively identify the top players in the game. Those players made me tune in to watch them play. I watched Pedro pitch, Tony Gwynn hit, Barry Bonds or McGwire mash, Kenny Lofton run and the Big Unit mow guys down. Now I am watching Cliff Lee pitch, Pedro Lopez hit, Carlos Quentin (I have never even heard this guys name until I looked at the league leaders) or Dan Uggla mash, Michael Bourn (I loved his movies) run, and Javier Vazquez mow people down (didn’t the Yankees pay this guy about $14 mill one year to go .500?).
Monday, May 12, 2008
Reasons Number 1,275 to 1,278 Why "Inside the NBA" Is The Best Show On TV
Tonight on Inside the NBA on TNT, the following things happened:
- Ernie, Kenny, Charles, and Magic made fun of LeBron's mother for getting into it with Celtics players after Paul Pierce dragged LeBron into the first row where his mother happened to be sitting.
- Charles Barkely introduces America to the phrase "anal glaucoma." Which is a reason to stay home since "I can't see my ass going to work today."
- In an end segment about embarrassing performances, they showed a clip of "The Magic Hour".
The point of it all is that these guys make the show fun, and make the sport fun. Yes, it's the playoffs, and, yes, the games are all important. But it's still just sports, and it's supposed to be entertainment.
There are no smarmy jerks yelling at each other, and not as much rote spewing of cliches and talk of "storylines." It's three guys (sometimes four, though Magic is usually terrible) who enjoy the game, and in particular enjoy making fun of each other.
I mean, they are not afraid to "go there" just because someone might get offended. Now, can you picture them doing the same "Magic Hour" bit on ESPN? Of course not - ESPN takes itself way too seriously. When it's not trying to be the MTV of sports, anyway.
This is why I continue to call it the best show on television. By far.
- Ernie, Kenny, Charles, and Magic made fun of LeBron's mother for getting into it with Celtics players after Paul Pierce dragged LeBron into the first row where his mother happened to be sitting.
- Charles Barkely introduces America to the phrase "anal glaucoma." Which is a reason to stay home since "I can't see my ass going to work today."
- In an end segment about embarrassing performances, they showed a clip of "The Magic Hour".
The point of it all is that these guys make the show fun, and make the sport fun. Yes, it's the playoffs, and, yes, the games are all important. But it's still just sports, and it's supposed to be entertainment.
There are no smarmy jerks yelling at each other, and not as much rote spewing of cliches and talk of "storylines." It's three guys (sometimes four, though Magic is usually terrible) who enjoy the game, and in particular enjoy making fun of each other.
I mean, they are not afraid to "go there" just because someone might get offended. Now, can you picture them doing the same "Magic Hour" bit on ESPN? Of course not - ESPN takes itself way too seriously. When it's not trying to be the MTV of sports, anyway.
This is why I continue to call it the best show on television. By far.
Coach D'Antoni
As you all are by now no doubt aware, the Knicks have hired Mike D'Antoni to be their new head coach.
A lot of the focus of the "pundits" has been related to whether or not the current personnel of the Knicks can play D'Antoni's up tempo offensive style.
The answer, of course, is no, not with the team as currently constructed.
The problem is that the question is all wrong.
If anyone really thought that the Knicks had all the right pieces and were really just one good coach away, then we're dealing with insane people who probably also think that deep down Dick Cheney really is a good guy who wants to be loved.
As it stands, though, the Knicks need to be completely and utterly overhauled, gutted, and built back up from scratch. The current team was put together by one of the most incompetent and misguided NBA executive of all time, a man whose name we would do well never to speak again, because I fear that even the sound of his name in the air can poison it with the stench of failure and misguided arrogance.
If you're going to strip a team down and build it back up again, then you would do well to bring in a coach that has a unique vision of exactly what he wants to do and exactly who the right people are to do it with. Mike D'Antoni is this indeed.
In addition, you'll want someone with experience and a record of success so that he can withstand a couple of rough years. Because make no mistake, and harbor no illusions: the next year or two isn't going to be necessarily pretty. Expect no magical one-year turnaround like the Celtics had this year, unless D'Antoni can bring Amare with him. Which he can't.
The point is, this isn't a hire intended for the short term. This is a hire to prepare for three years from now. If everything goes to plan, they'll be able to rid themselves of the bad contracts and useless players, adding draft picks and getting the rest of the team experience in the Seven Seconds Or Less system. Then they'll have the cap space necessary to get a big-name free agent that can put them over the top and in position to make a run at the Finals for the next four or five years after that.
That's the plan, anyway. And if Donnie Walsh is as smart as he seems to be, then the fans and the media will give them the leeway to make that plan happen. Which will include allowing for another mediocre and possibly playoff-less year next year.
We should also keep in mind that they are obviously not going to be keeping these same 12 guys next year. I'm as curious as anyone to see exactly what they do (can they trade Curry or Randolph? do they bring back Steph at all or pay him to stay away? etc.) Ultimately, though, a little patience is necessary.
So while I personally would have preferred Avery Johnson to have been the coach (mostly because I like rooting for him, for reasons I can't adequately explain) I am ultimately happy that we have someone like D'Antoni instead of a retread like Rick Carlisle or Scott Skiles or Sam Mitchell.
And the optimist inside me (I can't seem to kill it, no matter how much vodka and rib tips I ingest) imagines if maybe one day the Knicks can be as exciting and as fun to watch and root for as the Suns were the last four years. Wouldn't that be something? Isn't that what we've been dreaming of? Wouldn't that be the cure for what the last eight years has done to us Knicks fans?
At least with this hire, it is possible. And possibility is all you can ask for at this point.
A lot of the focus of the "pundits" has been related to whether or not the current personnel of the Knicks can play D'Antoni's up tempo offensive style.
The answer, of course, is no, not with the team as currently constructed.
The problem is that the question is all wrong.
If anyone really thought that the Knicks had all the right pieces and were really just one good coach away, then we're dealing with insane people who probably also think that deep down Dick Cheney really is a good guy who wants to be loved.
As it stands, though, the Knicks need to be completely and utterly overhauled, gutted, and built back up from scratch. The current team was put together by one of the most incompetent and misguided NBA executive of all time, a man whose name we would do well never to speak again, because I fear that even the sound of his name in the air can poison it with the stench of failure and misguided arrogance.
If you're going to strip a team down and build it back up again, then you would do well to bring in a coach that has a unique vision of exactly what he wants to do and exactly who the right people are to do it with. Mike D'Antoni is this indeed.
In addition, you'll want someone with experience and a record of success so that he can withstand a couple of rough years. Because make no mistake, and harbor no illusions: the next year or two isn't going to be necessarily pretty. Expect no magical one-year turnaround like the Celtics had this year, unless D'Antoni can bring Amare with him. Which he can't.
The point is, this isn't a hire intended for the short term. This is a hire to prepare for three years from now. If everything goes to plan, they'll be able to rid themselves of the bad contracts and useless players, adding draft picks and getting the rest of the team experience in the Seven Seconds Or Less system. Then they'll have the cap space necessary to get a big-name free agent that can put them over the top and in position to make a run at the Finals for the next four or five years after that.
That's the plan, anyway. And if Donnie Walsh is as smart as he seems to be, then the fans and the media will give them the leeway to make that plan happen. Which will include allowing for another mediocre and possibly playoff-less year next year.
We should also keep in mind that they are obviously not going to be keeping these same 12 guys next year. I'm as curious as anyone to see exactly what they do (can they trade Curry or Randolph? do they bring back Steph at all or pay him to stay away? etc.) Ultimately, though, a little patience is necessary.
So while I personally would have preferred Avery Johnson to have been the coach (mostly because I like rooting for him, for reasons I can't adequately explain) I am ultimately happy that we have someone like D'Antoni instead of a retread like Rick Carlisle or Scott Skiles or Sam Mitchell.
And the optimist inside me (I can't seem to kill it, no matter how much vodka and rib tips I ingest) imagines if maybe one day the Knicks can be as exciting and as fun to watch and root for as the Suns were the last four years. Wouldn't that be something? Isn't that what we've been dreaming of? Wouldn't that be the cure for what the last eight years has done to us Knicks fans?
At least with this hire, it is possible. And possibility is all you can ask for at this point.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Filowitz's Friday Five
1) I really hope Chauncy Billups isn't hurt for the playoffs. The only way to save the East right now is to have Boston-Detroit in the conference finals, with everyone healthy. Actually, I don't think Detroit beats Orlando without Billups.
2) The Jazz are going to win two home games in a row. The Lakers have looked great, but the Jazz have been close in both games, on the road, without all of their best players playing their best. Though it would be nice if Carlos Boozer decided to show up for a playoff game or two.
3) As I was talking about on the podcast this week, the most impressive thing about New Orleans has been their defense and their poise. In game 2, it was the defense that won it for the Hornets. In game 3, they were right there with the Spurs, on the road, until a good old-fashioned San Antonio 8-0 run in the fourth quarter. The Hornets don't seem to get rattled, they don't fold, and they commit on the defensive end. This bodes well for anyone wanting to see them win the series (people like me, for example.)
4) The Boston-Cleveland series has been unconscionably boring. How can a game have that many All Stars and first team All NBA guys and produce this Knicks-Heat-circa-1998 type scores. It's 2008, guys. It's okay to score more than 85 points, even in a playoff game.
5) Kobe deserved the MVP, so congrats to him. However, I don't think an injustice would have been done if Chris Paul, LeBron, or KG won it, either. So what does that say about the value of the award? Let me put it this way: Kobe has one. Shaq has one. Steve Nash has two. I love Steve Nash and all, but, um, no. No.
2) The Jazz are going to win two home games in a row. The Lakers have looked great, but the Jazz have been close in both games, on the road, without all of their best players playing their best. Though it would be nice if Carlos Boozer decided to show up for a playoff game or two.
3) As I was talking about on the podcast this week, the most impressive thing about New Orleans has been their defense and their poise. In game 2, it was the defense that won it for the Hornets. In game 3, they were right there with the Spurs, on the road, until a good old-fashioned San Antonio 8-0 run in the fourth quarter. The Hornets don't seem to get rattled, they don't fold, and they commit on the defensive end. This bodes well for anyone wanting to see them win the series (people like me, for example.)
4) The Boston-Cleveland series has been unconscionably boring. How can a game have that many All Stars and first team All NBA guys and produce this Knicks-Heat-circa-1998 type scores. It's 2008, guys. It's okay to score more than 85 points, even in a playoff game.
5) Kobe deserved the MVP, so congrats to him. However, I don't think an injustice would have been done if Chris Paul, LeBron, or KG won it, either. So what does that say about the value of the award? Let me put it this way: Kobe has one. Shaq has one. Steve Nash has two. I love Steve Nash and all, but, um, no. No.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Filowitz's Friday Five
1) Let us say goodbye to the Philadelphia 76ers. They gave Detroit more of a series than anyone expected. Considering how this season started, with them battling with the Knicks for the worst record in the East, to make the playoffs as the 7 seed and take two games from the team with the second-best record in the league, it's a huge accomplishment. They've got some intriguing young talent, Iguodala, Dalembert, and in particular Thaddeus Young and Louis Williams. If they pick up a guy who can shoot to take Willie Green's spot in the lineup, they could have something very interesting next year.
On a side note, can we stop with the revisionist history on Billy King? He gave out some contracts that are completely indefensible, like the ones to Dalembert (he's paid way more than what he plays like), Willie Green, Kevin Ollie. He was rarely able to put a good team around Allen Iverson in his prime. He was, and is, an atrocious GM. Which is why the Knicks are definitely hiring him.
2) Let us say goodbye to the Denver Nuggets. Way back in November, Kris and I both pretty much nailed this team: plenty of talent, good enough to make the playoffs, but not quite good enough to do much once they got there. Nice job by me and Kris (just don't go look and see what we said back then about the Bulls. Yikes.) It'll be interesting to see if they give another try with this group, or if they blow it all up. My guess is they fire George Karl, bring in Avery Johnson, and try to find a point guard in free agency. And, by the way, JR Smith is awesome, and insane. I'm not sorry to see the Nuggets go, but I will miss getting to see JR's brand of batty ridiculousness. He can do this.
3) Let us say goodbye to the Phoenix Suns. And not just this year, but the whole recent conception of the Phoenix Suns, where saying "Phoenix Suns" meant something different in the NBA. Actually, I'll point you to some places that said goodbye better than I could, such as Simmons' column, Henry Abbot's TrueHoop post, and Kelly Dwyer's take on Ball Don't Lie. But before we go, we must say F You to Boris Diaw. I think it's all his fault.
4) Let us say goodbye to the Dallas Mavericks. I never wanted to see them here in the first place - I would have preferred to see Golden State. Two years in a row they fail in the first round. To me, this is just proving that Josh Howard is way overrated. He wasn't great against Golden State last year, and he came up very small against New Orleans this year. You can't put it all on Dirk, especially if you have a second so-called star on the team that's not doing anything in particular to help the team win. Sorry to see Avery Johnson get fired, but he'll get a job with someone soon, and he'll succeed (as long as he stops micro-managing the point guards.)
5) Let us say goodbye to the Toronto Raptors. If a playoff series happens and no one can watch it, does it make a sound? It does if Dwight Howard is putting up Moses-Malone-like numbers, which he did in this series (who gets three 20pt-20reb games in a series?) The Raptors have some great players in Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon. They have some interesting players like Jamarrio Moon and Anthony Parker. They just need to get some freakin' time on national TV, so people can see that they play entertaining, up-tempo basketball. Stupid anti-Canada bias.
On a side note, can we stop with the revisionist history on Billy King? He gave out some contracts that are completely indefensible, like the ones to Dalembert (he's paid way more than what he plays like), Willie Green, Kevin Ollie. He was rarely able to put a good team around Allen Iverson in his prime. He was, and is, an atrocious GM. Which is why the Knicks are definitely hiring him.
2) Let us say goodbye to the Denver Nuggets. Way back in November, Kris and I both pretty much nailed this team: plenty of talent, good enough to make the playoffs, but not quite good enough to do much once they got there. Nice job by me and Kris (just don't go look and see what we said back then about the Bulls. Yikes.) It'll be interesting to see if they give another try with this group, or if they blow it all up. My guess is they fire George Karl, bring in Avery Johnson, and try to find a point guard in free agency. And, by the way, JR Smith is awesome, and insane. I'm not sorry to see the Nuggets go, but I will miss getting to see JR's brand of batty ridiculousness. He can do this.
3) Let us say goodbye to the Phoenix Suns. And not just this year, but the whole recent conception of the Phoenix Suns, where saying "Phoenix Suns" meant something different in the NBA. Actually, I'll point you to some places that said goodbye better than I could, such as Simmons' column, Henry Abbot's TrueHoop post, and Kelly Dwyer's take on Ball Don't Lie. But before we go, we must say F You to Boris Diaw. I think it's all his fault.
4) Let us say goodbye to the Dallas Mavericks. I never wanted to see them here in the first place - I would have preferred to see Golden State. Two years in a row they fail in the first round. To me, this is just proving that Josh Howard is way overrated. He wasn't great against Golden State last year, and he came up very small against New Orleans this year. You can't put it all on Dirk, especially if you have a second so-called star on the team that's not doing anything in particular to help the team win. Sorry to see Avery Johnson get fired, but he'll get a job with someone soon, and he'll succeed (as long as he stops micro-managing the point guards.)
5) Let us say goodbye to the Toronto Raptors. If a playoff series happens and no one can watch it, does it make a sound? It does if Dwight Howard is putting up Moses-Malone-like numbers, which he did in this series (who gets three 20pt-20reb games in a series?) The Raptors have some great players in Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon. They have some interesting players like Jamarrio Moon and Anthony Parker. They just need to get some freakin' time on national TV, so people can see that they play entertaining, up-tempo basketball. Stupid anti-Canada bias.
The Good in Sports
We all know in the modern sports world we are inundated with all the bad things. Steroid scandals, gambling, guys cheating on their spouses, players getting arrested for punching women at strip clubs and the list goes on and on (I wont mention dog fighting so I don’t upset Andrew). And with all the negative reporting we obviously overlook the good people, the people of character, the people of courage, heart and determination.
Over the past few days some of these stories have broke, but of course not receiving the proper attention they deserve. Before we get into some of those we look back on some of my favorite moments of courage and character. There was this moment (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4880PJnO2E) a few years ago when then head coach of the Portland Trailblazers (or Jailblazers as they were known) Maurice Cheeks stepped out to help this young lady sing the national anthem after she froze up and forgot the words. Cheeks didn’t do it for himself, he was terrible and off key, but in order to help the young girl finish the job she had started. I had always been a fan of Cheeks from a distance, but from that day on I would be an advocate for Cheeks and his teams, always. Then there was the 1992 Olympic games when sprinter Derek Redmond’s hamstring popped down the backstretch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zi0_LjHHN4), but Redmond refused to give up. Though he knew he wouldn’t receive and medal he refused medical attention and began t limp the rest of the race, when from the crowd his father appeared to help him finish the race.
Some of you may have heard this story from a random Division II softball game out in the pacific northwest. Embattled in a tight contest Western Oregon's Sara Tucholsky hit a walk off game winning 3 run homerun. She being the third and game winning run, began to round the bases and after accindetally missing first she turned back quickly to touch it, in doing so tearing her knee apart. Unable to go on, and of course Umpires being sticklers for rules, and unable to have her teammates help her the opposing first baseman and shorstop, Central Washington's Liz Wallace and Mallory Holtman, picked her up and carried her aroudn the bases so that Western Oregon could rightfully win the game. That is character.
Now we get to courage. That is the story of Tennessee All-American and all time leading scorer Chris Lofton and his battle against testicular cancer. I know Chris Lofton a little bit, that is to say we exchange cordial hellos when we see each other and he would recognize me as the guy from South Carolina and that’s about all. I always liked him because he seemed failry humble amongst a team of outstanding personalities. During a random NCAA drug test it was discovered that Lofton had testicular cancer. Lofton silently, even to his teammates, battled the disease with surgery and radiation (to read more details go here, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?id=3376961). During the beginning of this season something seemed off about Lofton’s game, and he even looked a little lighter, but he never made any excuses. His scoring and shooting percentages were way down but all he would say is that he has to continue to work and his game would come back to him. Well now we all know that there was something wrong with Lofton, but he just fought the disease off and continued to play at a high level. That is courage.
Over the past few days some of these stories have broke, but of course not receiving the proper attention they deserve. Before we get into some of those we look back on some of my favorite moments of courage and character. There was this moment (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4880PJnO2E) a few years ago when then head coach of the Portland Trailblazers (or Jailblazers as they were known) Maurice Cheeks stepped out to help this young lady sing the national anthem after she froze up and forgot the words. Cheeks didn’t do it for himself, he was terrible and off key, but in order to help the young girl finish the job she had started. I had always been a fan of Cheeks from a distance, but from that day on I would be an advocate for Cheeks and his teams, always. Then there was the 1992 Olympic games when sprinter Derek Redmond’s hamstring popped down the backstretch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zi0_LjHHN4), but Redmond refused to give up. Though he knew he wouldn’t receive and medal he refused medical attention and began t limp the rest of the race, when from the crowd his father appeared to help him finish the race.
Some of you may have heard this story from a random Division II softball game out in the pacific northwest. Embattled in a tight contest Western Oregon's Sara Tucholsky hit a walk off game winning 3 run homerun. She being the third and game winning run, began to round the bases and after accindetally missing first she turned back quickly to touch it, in doing so tearing her knee apart. Unable to go on, and of course Umpires being sticklers for rules, and unable to have her teammates help her the opposing first baseman and shorstop, Central Washington's Liz Wallace and Mallory Holtman, picked her up and carried her aroudn the bases so that Western Oregon could rightfully win the game. That is character.
Now we get to courage. That is the story of Tennessee All-American and all time leading scorer Chris Lofton and his battle against testicular cancer. I know Chris Lofton a little bit, that is to say we exchange cordial hellos when we see each other and he would recognize me as the guy from South Carolina and that’s about all. I always liked him because he seemed failry humble amongst a team of outstanding personalities. During a random NCAA drug test it was discovered that Lofton had testicular cancer. Lofton silently, even to his teammates, battled the disease with surgery and radiation (to read more details go here, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?id=3376961). During the beginning of this season something seemed off about Lofton’s game, and he even looked a little lighter, but he never made any excuses. His scoring and shooting percentages were way down but all he would say is that he has to continue to work and his game would come back to him. Well now we all know that there was something wrong with Lofton, but he just fought the disease off and continued to play at a high level. That is courage.
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