Life at a Crossroads

Herman Blume: What's the secret, Max?
Max Fischer: The secret?
Herman Blume: Yeah, you seem to have it pretty figured out.
Max Fischer: The secret, I don't know... I guess you've just gotta find something you love to do and then... do it for the rest of your life. For me, it's going to Rushmore.

That is an exchange from one of my favorite movies, Rushmore. As many of you know I am a huge movie fan, and sometimes I wonder why I like watching and analyzing them so much. Then recently I thought about it, good movies entertain us but also provide some sort of life experience or life lesson we can learn vicariously.

A few weeks ago TNT was showing Tom Hanks movies throughout the weekend and I found myself mesmerized, as always, by one of my favorite Hanks movies, Cast Away. There was something I always loved about that movie and I realized it is the ending. Hanks after returning from this tremendous journey finds himself at a crossroads, literally. Standing at an intersection of two highways in Texas Hanks character has to decide what direction he will go in immediately, but moreover what direction his life will take from this point forward. This is one of my favorite movie endings of all time because of the suspense it leaves us with, not yearning for a sequel but somewhat of an introspective look at ourselves, when we get to those crossroads; do we recognize it and what do we do about it from there?

Some of you may be asking yourself, what the hell is this fat man jabbering about. Well as some of you know, and now the rest of you will, in sort of a mutual parting, the University of South Carolina and myself have decided to go in different directions. I am no longer working with the basketball program but will remain employed with the athletics department for a few months while I seek other opportunities. This is one of the few major crossroads I can recall in my young life.

Many of you have gone through similar experiences. Some of the major crossroads in ones life deal with obvious subjects like deciding to ask a women to marry you or deciding that it is time to begin a family and to try and have children. Also some have had the same fate with job opportunities and maybe decided that the career path you were on is not the one you want to continue.

So here I stand, like Hanks character, at one of those crossroads. I could look back count my mistakes, but where does that get anyone. I would rather remember all the good times that where had here at South Carolina and the fun places I have traveled. Also, over the last week since this news broke I have consulted with many friends and some family over where I go from here. If they say a man is measured by the friends he keeps than I truly feel like Jimmy Stewart at the end if “It’s a Wonderful Life,” I must be the richest man in town.

From this point forward, my new life begins. Where it goes nobody knows, but it is sure to be one hell of a ride just like the first life.

Here Come The Warm Jets: Week 12 2008

It's a few days later, and I still don't really believe that game.

The Jets just played a basically perfect game? On the road? Against the best team in the AFC? That had been undefeated? A week after winning one of the biggest regular season games in franchise history?

That all happened?

Seriously?

I didn't just go on a three week Hunter-Thompson-ian bender and hallucinate the whole thing?

Well, assuming I don't awaken from a fever dream and turn out to have been in bed with Victoria Principal the whole time, then here we are, with the Jets 8-3, and arguably the best team in the AFC.

This feels weird.

I'm uncomfortable.

I don't know what I'm supposed to do with myself. It's like those awkward conversations with a hot girl where you're not sure exactly where you should put your hands (on your side, cross your arms, behind your back, moving around punctuating your sentences....)

All I can say is let's see what happens this week against Denver at home. If this kind of incredibly high level of play continues, expect a full-fledged cognitive meltdown on my part.

If not, then expect another kind of meltdown.

Either way, keep reading every week, to see me have a meltdown.

Be afraid. Be very afraid

I'm in Atlanta, which means instead of getting the battle atop the NFC I got the battle atop the NFC South.

Granted, it was a good game. I didn't watch or anything, but it was important and all that. but I would have liked to have seen the defending Super Bowl champs against the Greatest Show on Retractable Turf (I would love to say that's my line but...)

So I didn't see the win, didn't see Eli throw for three touchdowns with no picks and complete passes to at least 6 different receivers (None of which were named Plaxican't Burress, who's decision to take his kid to school or whatever it was has fucked up my fantasy team to no end).

I didn't see the Giants prove they could win without Brandon Jacobs in the backfield, but Ward's 60+ yards on 15+ carries shows that two heads are better than one.

I didn't see the defensive line get to Warner only once (J. Tuck, a Man with a capital M), but I did notice the stats and how they shut down the Cardinals' run game. Warner did throw for 300 yards or something like that, but it's like Spagnolo did against the Eagles a couple of weeks ago. Look back on that game and as great as McNabb looked, the mission was to shut down Westbrook and that's what they did.

I didn't see Manning and company fail to score after a long kickoff return by Dom Hixon. I didn't see Corey Webster and Aaron Ross get beaten by one of, if not the best receiving corp in the league, but I did see that Kenny Phillips led the team with seven tackles, which means GM Jerry Reese still knows what's he's doing even on a no-brainer pick like that.

I might not see next week's game against Washington, the first of three NFC East games in a row, but here's the catch. What I haven't seen is the same thing that the rest of the NFL hasn't seen.

The Giants, as a team, play a complete game.

Think about it. Then think about the fact that Tom Coughlin and the coaching crew were going to say something like that anyway, that this team has few stars and plenty of reasons to play with chips on their shoulders, that after running the table on the road last year they're perfect at home in a season where it looks like they might stay there for January.

If I was another team in the NFL, and I don't give two shits or a fuck who you are, I would take head to the title of this post and know the defending champs are hungry and will only get better next year with the return of Osi...

Muddling The Present For A Clearer Future

Busy day for the Knicks.

Let us say goodbye to Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph. I have to admit, they were starting to grow on me a bit. Jamal is a better player today than he was when the Knicks got him. Say this for him - he tried hard, he tried to listen to the coaches, and when he was on (which was too infrequently) he was exhilirating to watch. I'll also give Randolph some credit - he was playing hard this year, too, when every indication would say he'd tank it. Unfortunately for him, he'll always be a good numbers guy on bad team (the Shareef Abdul-Rahim Hall of Fame.) So the Clippers are perfect for him.

Let us pretend Mardy Collins never happened.

Let us say hello to Al Harrington. Some nights, he will be very good. Others, he will be awful. Believe me, I've watched a surprising number of Warriors games over the last two years. There is no in between with Al Harrington.

Let us say hello to Cuttino Mobley, and congratulate him on still being alive and periodically useful.

Let us try to ignore Tim Thomas and hope he goes away.

And let us not forget what this is about - cap space for 2010. All of these contracts expire by 2010, so the Knicks can make a play for one of the big free agents of that summer (LeBron, Wade, Bosh, and others.)

This is also about totally undoing what I*&!h did to the team, especially once Starbury, Curry, and Jerome (Big Snacks) James are finally gone.

As I said in my Disciples of Clyde post earlier today (also go ahead and listen to the new episode - we make Rudy Gay jokes, you'll love it) this ultimately will lead to mediocre basketball this year, and a big free agent in 2010. That makes me reasonably happy.

Since no one could undo this mess quickly, and we couldn't expect otherwise, reasonably happy is about as good as we can hope for right now. So let us sum up: nice job, Donnie Walsh. Let us hope it all pays off in 2010.

Here Come The Warm Jets: Week 11 2008

I had to wait a few days to write this game up, to let it all sink in. And to recover.

Because that game just about killed me.

Let's start with where it ends up - the Jets are 7-3, in sole possession of first place, and in strong control of their season's fate. If they go 4-2 over the next six games, they should make the playoffs.

The next six games aren't easy: at Tennessee, home vs Denver, at San Fransisco, home vs Buffalo, at Seattle (I will be attending this game), and then home vs Miami. Not easy, but you can find 4 wins in there, especially if the team keeps playing as well as it has for most of the last three games.

So, yeah, the win vs the Pats was huge.

Getting to that win? A freakin roller coaster.

First they come out looking completely unstoppable. Go back to what they did in week 2 against the Pats. The Jets got the ball first, drove down the field, stalled, and missed a FG.

This time, they come out on the first drive, and score a TD.

Also, in that week 2 game, after Patriots scores Gostkowski kicked everything into the end zone for touchbacks. This time, Leon gets to run a kick back for a TD, and the field position in general was better.

The defense never looked good in this game, but in that first part of the first half, they were holding the Pats to FGs.

The offensive line never looked better. Just about every time Thomas Jones ran the ball, he was four yards up the field before a Pats defender could touch him.

The score gets to 24-6, and it was tempting to think "statement game."

Then there was that little crack - the offense goes conservative, three-and-out, the defense goes conservative, the Pats go 68 yards in 1:29 and score a TD.

So now we're a little nervous.

Then Belichick vastly outcoaches Mangini in the second half. They come out in a no-huddle shotgun offense, and the defense has no answer. The offense is too conservative in the first half, trying to run the clock out, and they fail.

So the Pats tie it up. And that familiar sinking feeling returns, that mixture of naseau and shock at the realization that we're going to let the goddamn Pats come back after we had them dead.

But then, Brett Favre seems to earn his season's money, driving the team 67 yards in 7:06, scoring a TD to seemingly put the game away.

Then the defense continues its poor play on this day, and let the Pats drive for a TD, 62 yards in 1:03, with that crazily perfect pass from Cassel to Moss on the very last play to tie it.

At that point, you knew whoever won the coin toss was winning the game. Or, more likely, you just figured the Pats would win, because they always seem to in these types of games.

So, yeah, the Jets win the toss. Get the ball at the 20. And Favre promptly gets sacked for a 5 yard loss.

At that point, I thought the game was over. In all other Jets seasons, it would have been. Three-and-out, punt, Patriots drive for a FG, game over.

Lo and behold, Favre completes a pass on 3rd and 15 to Keller, and there is life.

Then a methodical drive down the field. And Feely actually makes the FG.

Like I said, the swings from up to down to up to down to up again just about killed me.

The best text I got all night was from my friend Greg's girlfriend, in the midst of the Pats comeback, who said:

"My boyfriend has become possessed."

The other one was one I sent to Kris:

"I will live twenty less years because of this team"

Cashman for a Day

If I were allowed to steer the Good Ship Yankee for a day and map out the proper strategy for this pivotal offseason below is how I would focus my efforts. The Yankees failed last year because of inconsistent hitting and injuries. The lack of quality starting pitching was a factor but was more of a detriment early in the season than later, it did contribute to the ginormous hole they dug themselves and may have led to the offense pressing and not performing as well.


My Yankee Lineup in 09
C Posada
1B Swisher
2B Cano/Hudson
SS Jeter
3B ARod
RF Nady
CF DeJesus
LF Damon
DH Matsui

SP Joba
SP Wang
SP Peavey
SP Greinke/Lowe
SP Hughes/Pettitte/Mussina

Bullpen
Mo
Marte
Coke
Bruney
Edwar
Veras

I would very much avoid making a 6-7 year commitment to a starting pitcher, CC Sabbathia or anyone else. The smarter move is to try to trade for Peavy. I would give up whatever it takes for him, including Cano. If you give up Cano you sign Hudson or Eckstein. Don't forget the impact Joba had when he became a full fledged starter, he stared down and beat Beckett head to head in Fenway, he is the number 1 they need if they will take the kid gloves off and let him flex his muscles, you have enough in the bullpen with Marte and Mo.

I would prefer to trade Matsui and sign Abreu but I believe Abreu will want too many years and maybe its just time to move on. If you could trade Matsui and sign a professional right handed hitter to replace him I wouldnt object. Or trade him and resign Giambi to be the DH. I don't trust AJ Burnett he has Pavano written all over him and Lowe is a safer bet who has proven he can pitch in big markets. I would take Pettite back on a one year deal for 10 mil or less, I would rather have Mussina and would be willing to do the same one year deal. The Yankees should use their developing farm system to put them in position to win rather than signing a ton of free agents who will block the farmhands and thus devalue them. The key to the offseason is filling centerfield. Melky is not the answer, neither is shifting Jeter there or Swisher. Cameron is a possibility but DeJesus fills all of your needs and is young enough to play there for a while. I would try to get him and Greinke in a deal and be willing to give up anyone but Cano, I would consider giving up Hughes for Greinke.

Thoughts?

Here Come The Warm Jets: Week 10 2008

The standard Jets fan reaction to the 47-3 decimation of the Rams was:

"What team are we watching right now?"

None of us could really believe it. The typical Jets team always blows a game like this, following up a promising win in a big game like last week's win in Buffalo with an uninspiring and dispiriting performance in a game they should win, at home against an inferior team like the Rams.

And it's not like we were crazy to think this Jets team wouldn't be different. It's the same team, after all, that struggled to beat Cincinnati and Kansas City, and actually lost to the crappy Raiders.

Not this day, though. This day, every phase of the game was working. They could run whenever they wanted to, Favre made a few throws when he had to, the defense was dominant, forcing tons of turnovers (Elam's strip sack leading to Pace's TD was really pretty - Elam faked dropping into coverage, then blitzed on the blind side, so Bulger never saw him). Heck, even Jay Feely was kicking long field goals like it weren't no thang.

So, yeah, that was nice. They took care of business in a game they were supposed to win, and looked really, really good doing it. Not perfect (Favre still made some throws that would have been intercepted by a good team) but really good.

Now, if this is going to be a real season, they have to go to New England on Thursday and win. Big matchup, against their biggest rival, with first place on the line. Real teams with real hopes win this game.

But, hey, I'll at least say this - it's nice to actually feel nervous about a Jets game this late in the year. To see one that actually matters after the weather turns cold.

This will be a real measure of progress. To see if this team really is starting to come together, the way it's looked the last two games. To see if Mangini is really a good coach or just an average one. To see if the whole Favre thing will actually pay off.

Given the history, we should expect the Jets to lose in a tantalizingly close yet annoying fashion, like throwing a pick in the end zone on first and goal at the 2 with less than a minute left and trailing by 3.

This is the same year that saw the Phillies win a World Series and a black man elected President. So, to combine some things, "Why Can't We Can?"

Kris and Dan Answer NBA Questions

This is a segment we started last NBA season. Like most things in my life, it started strong and then fizzled at the end, like a John McCain Campaing.


1) Is Rudy Gay this years breakthrough superstar?

DAN
If he played on any other team but Memphis, yes. Well, not any other team. He wouldn't be on Charlotte or Oklahoma City, either. Or the Hawks.

Rudy Gay is fantastic. He's an athletic scorer, that can shoot from long range and finish spectacularly. He can create his own shot off the dribble. He is really exciting to watch, capable of a 'get out your seat yelling DAMN' play at any moment.

This year, he will average something like 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.

The only people that will know this, however, are the hardcore hoop addicts. The League Pass subscribers. The ones who might actually see a Memphis Grizzlies game. The casual fan will hardly notice, because they hardly even know there's a team in Memphis, and Memphis isn't going to be on national TV unless they make the playoffs, which they won't.

So, no, unfortunately, Rudy Gay will not be a breakout superstar. He will be an All-Star, and he will be the league's best-kept secret, taking that title from Chris Bosh.

KRIS
I must admit, I sort of like Dan’s theory; if an NBA game is played in Memphis, does it really count?

I also agree with everything Dan said about his skill and athleticism as a ball player, Gay is fantastic. He came into college with a tremendous amount of hype, but never fully materialized. Some of that could be due to the fact that his game is just more suited for the NBA. His rookie season was good, but enigmatic, much like his college career. He has worked on his outside shooting to become a very good NBA player.

I do believe he can be the nreakout star of the year, even playing in Memphis. I point to one of the things Dan said about him; He is really exciting to watch, capable of a 'get out your seat yelling DAMN' play at any moment. He has that eye popping quality and explosiveness to his game that could make him a Sports Center favorite, like a young Amare who first gained fame by just thunder dunking on people before his game was fully refined.

So I am saying yes, I think he will be this year’s breakout star, but still a pretty good secret.



2)Can a team that starts Matt Barnes and Raja Bell, voluntarily, win a playoff series even though they have 3 potential Hall of Famers also starting in Nash, Shaq and Amare?

DAN
Raja Bell has started for a team that won a playoff series (the Suns.)

Matt Barnes has started for a team that won a playoff series (the Warriors.)

So, yeah, those two guys playing with Amare, Shaq, and Nash (and Grant Hill, and Barbosa, and Diaw, and that Lopez twin) can win a playoff series. I wouldn't bet on two playoff series, or three. But can they win one? Most assuredly.Keep in mind, a team that started Jameer Nelson voluntarily won a playoff series last year. And he wasn't playing with any future Hall of Famers (Dwight Howard is borderline at best.)

KRIS
Good point Dan, highlighting the fact that Barnes and Bell have won playoff series. And yes they do have a very talented team around them. As for Nelson winning a playoff series I think your Memphis theory applies here, if a playoff series happens in the Eastern Conference, does it really happen?

I am not sure how far the Suns can go though, if their veterans start to play old it could be an early exit for them, and I don’t see them as a championship contender.

However, while doing some exhaustive research for this question I did come across and obscure ruling. In the NBA Rulebook, Version 6.7, under Playoffs, Section 4, subset D article VII: Any team which starts Matt Barnes and Raja Bell, and not because of injury or death to a teammate, may not make the playoffs in the Western Conference. An exception to allow them to play in the Eastern Conference can be made if, and only if, America were to actually elect a Black man President someday (yeah right!!!).

Change I Was Personally Involved In

Readers of The Sherman Avenue Block Party!

It is my pleasure to announce that the Disciples of Clyde NBA Podcast is back for a whole new season.

Not only that, but we have a whole new web site. That's right, a new web site! Check it out.

And, wait, there's more!

We even have a new logo. Look at this:

Pretty cool, huh?

We're back to doing weekly podcasts. We'd sure appreciate it if you listened.

Thanks!

Oh, and one more thing:


(hat tip to The Sporting Blog for the sweet Undrcrwn pic)

Here Come The Warm Jets: Week 9 2008

Winning in Buffalo is huge. The Jets needed a win on the road against a good team, especially in the division.

I gotta say, though, while it was happening, this was not a confidence inspiring win.

The offense struggled in the red zone, settling for short field goals instead of touchdowns.

The defense, in the first quarter, looked completely out of sorts, and seemingly unable to cover anyone who ran on a pass pattern.

There was a stretch in the first half where the Bills had the ball for something like 30 consecutive plays, a result of them driving deep and then the Elam interception return for a touchdown. That just seemed wrong.

Then, of course, Favre threw another horrible interception returned for a touchdown.

And yet, there were many positives. Especially as I thought about it after the game was over.

The run defense was again spectacular. Kris Jenkins has been an unblockable monster, and was particularly so against the Bills.

The offense came up with two huge, clock-eating drives when they needed it most.

The first came after that strange sequence where the Bills had the ball for 30 straight plays. First, the defense had run back the touchdown. Then, the Bills drove deep again, and the Jets stuffed them on fourth down. If the offense had gone three-and-out there, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the Bills would have scored. The defense would have been exhausted, and the Bills wouldn't screw up a third time. Instead, though, the Jets put together a long drive that just about killed the rest of the half. Yes, Feely missed a short field goal, but the offense had to stay on the field at that point in the game, and they did.

The second came after Favre's interception. The momentum at that point was all in Buffalo's favor, the crowd screaming, the score close. If they go three-and-out there, or give the Bills the ball back with too much time, there's no way the Jets hold on. Instead, they put together an 8 minute plus drive, that ends in a field goal that put the game out of reach. That drive was all about the running game, the offensive line never looking better. And, yes, Favre made some key third down throws, that a confident veteran has to make.

It is heartening, after the first half of the schedule is done, that this team can go on the road, stop the run, run the ball in crunch time, and recover from a bad mistake to win a key game.

5-3, tied for first in the division, is not bad.

Now, if this is truly a different Jets team, they'll build on this win and take care of business at home against St. Louis next week.

And, hey, on this day, if ever, I can believe in change.

Go vote!