Passing on some links edition!
1) Tom Ziller of NBA Fanhouse has been doing a top fifty players in the NBA writeup. Ziller is a smart basketball analyst, so even if you don't agree with his rankings, you should read his writeups for each player (he's up 43 as I'm writing this.)
2) This is from a couple of years ago - I got the link reading FreeDarko - but it is awesome. It compares college football teams to rappers. For example, Penn State/KRS One. "They'll be the first to tell you how important they are in the scheme of things and new jacks need to give them respect, but that doesn't shake the fact that they haven't been relevant in years."
3) Watch this YouTube video of the intros to the 1989 All Star Game. It's the Ultramagnetic MCs rapping aout each player, and coach. Even the trainer. It's beyond awesome (thanks, Ball Don't Lie and Detroit Bad Boys)
4) Kelly Dwyer taking on Larry Brown.
5) From Bethlehem Shoals in SLAM Magazine comes a pretty hilarious series of columns called "Portraits in Patriotism". Read them all now, or maybe you simply hate freedom and apple pie and your mother?
Friday, August 29, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Dream or Redeem?
Alright folks, you knew it would happen, but now let the debate officially begin. Dream or Redeem, who you got? Ok on the surface everyone says right away, Dream Team no doubt. Well the debate really can’t be complete until the careers of all the member or Redeem team are complete. I guess the best way to do it is to say if you took the teams in the years they played (1992 and 2008) and try and compare them that way. However there is no way you can’t let your evaluations of the Dream Teams overall careers sway your thought process.
Remember in 1992 Bird and Magic were retiring and old and basically crippled, and David Robinson was only in his third year not yet peaked to his MVP form. Also, players like Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen still had most of their better years ahead of them. Not much different than this years team, while some of the players are established like LeBron, Kobe, Wade, Melo, and Tayshaun Prince, clearly guys like Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams still have bright careers in front of them with multiple MVP’s and Championships possible.
The biggest variable in comparing what the teams accomplished is evaluating the competition. I guess you could make some debate because international players had not yet truly begun to migrate to USA basketball in 1992, but part of that reason was they weren’t good enough. There are the rare exceptions like Arvydas Sabonis who was an All World player over in Europe at the time, but cases like his are few and far between. In 1992 there were only 11 foreign born players total in the league.
In 2008 Argentina has 4 NBA players including All-Star Manu Ginobili, Australia has 1 present, 1 past (Chris Anstey) and two soon to be in St. Mary’s sophomore Patrick Mills and Matt Nielsen who plays for perhaps the best team in all of Europe Lietuvos Rytas, Croatia has one current and one past, Lithuania has 2 current and one past, Russia has one, China has 3 including a multiple time All-Star in Yao Ming, Germany has 2 including former league MVP Dirk Nowitzki, Spain has 6 guys already in the league and Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez and Ricky Rubio all on their way, and Greece has 2 or 3 that have been drafted by NBA teams but they prefer to stay home and play because of money.
Now again the old school people are going to tell me how the Dream Team was a collection of some of the greatest talent in NBA history and they were not even challenged. Well I would argue that when it was all said and done Jordan, Bird, Magic and Barkley are the four that would be in the top echelon of great players. And when this group is all said and done with their careers the chances are pretty high that Kobe, LeBron and perhaps one other like Chris Paul or Dwayne Wade could be in those discussions. Also we tend to look back more fondly on some guys like Clyde Drexler and Chris Mullin because they were our childhood heroes. But look at the numbers and guys like Carmelo Anthony and Michael Redd are statistically better players than them.
The Redeem team appeared well on its way to steamrolling everyone until the medal round games. In the semi’s they had a tough match-up with defending Olympic champion Argentina but pulled away to win by 20 in the end. The gold medal game turned out to be one of the truly special games in Olympic and plain basketball history. I like a freak stayed up and watched the whole thing live. Some may also use this against the Redeem team, the fact that they had a tough gold medal game whereas the Dream team dominated Croatia by 32 points. However, I think it shows how this team was constructed as just that, a team. When things got tight it didn’t turn into a who’s who of NBA All-Stars, they continued their high intensity defense and it was clear on offense that when a big play needed to be made the ball would be in the hands of Kobe.
I am not totally sure that if the Dream team would have played tougher competition that thing’s may not have been so rosy with them. They had some big time ego’s on that team with guys like Jordan, Barkley, Malone and Bird to name the 4 most prominent. While the team oozed greatness I think we saw as Americans that we cant just slop together an all star team and run the other countries off of the floor. If Redeem team and Dream team matched up one thing is for sure, the game would be a close contest. I have seen with my own eyes how Redeem team reacts, but interested to know how the Dream team would have reacted.
I am not sure what all I am saying here, but I think the main point is don’t just sell short the Redeem team. Like I said some of the reasons for doing so is we already know the final accomplishments of the careers of the Dream team and have yet to find that out with the Redeem team. Also, we have fond memories of watching Bob Costas and Matt Goukas announce the games of our childhood heroes’ on NBC on Sunday afternoons, and now maybe we are a little more jaded fans of the game who scrutinize a little more. I for one would take the Redeem team, but maybe I am living in the now too much.
P.S.
Quick question, who the fuck guard LeBron and stops him on Dream Team?
P.P.S.
I don’t know everything in the world, but I know class and people can think whatever they want about Coach K but he is class all the way. After the game was over all the players immediately went over to the announcers table and shook hands and embraced an emotional Doug Collins who was on the 1972 Olympic team that got jobbed out of a Gold Medal against the USSR. I have no doubt that Coach K was the one who orchestrated that, because Collins early talked about how Coach K had him address the team before the Medal Round.
Remember in 1992 Bird and Magic were retiring and old and basically crippled, and David Robinson was only in his third year not yet peaked to his MVP form. Also, players like Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen still had most of their better years ahead of them. Not much different than this years team, while some of the players are established like LeBron, Kobe, Wade, Melo, and Tayshaun Prince, clearly guys like Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams still have bright careers in front of them with multiple MVP’s and Championships possible.
The biggest variable in comparing what the teams accomplished is evaluating the competition. I guess you could make some debate because international players had not yet truly begun to migrate to USA basketball in 1992, but part of that reason was they weren’t good enough. There are the rare exceptions like Arvydas Sabonis who was an All World player over in Europe at the time, but cases like his are few and far between. In 1992 there were only 11 foreign born players total in the league.
In 2008 Argentina has 4 NBA players including All-Star Manu Ginobili, Australia has 1 present, 1 past (Chris Anstey) and two soon to be in St. Mary’s sophomore Patrick Mills and Matt Nielsen who plays for perhaps the best team in all of Europe Lietuvos Rytas, Croatia has one current and one past, Lithuania has 2 current and one past, Russia has one, China has 3 including a multiple time All-Star in Yao Ming, Germany has 2 including former league MVP Dirk Nowitzki, Spain has 6 guys already in the league and Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez and Ricky Rubio all on their way, and Greece has 2 or 3 that have been drafted by NBA teams but they prefer to stay home and play because of money.
Now again the old school people are going to tell me how the Dream Team was a collection of some of the greatest talent in NBA history and they were not even challenged. Well I would argue that when it was all said and done Jordan, Bird, Magic and Barkley are the four that would be in the top echelon of great players. And when this group is all said and done with their careers the chances are pretty high that Kobe, LeBron and perhaps one other like Chris Paul or Dwayne Wade could be in those discussions. Also we tend to look back more fondly on some guys like Clyde Drexler and Chris Mullin because they were our childhood heroes. But look at the numbers and guys like Carmelo Anthony and Michael Redd are statistically better players than them.
The Redeem team appeared well on its way to steamrolling everyone until the medal round games. In the semi’s they had a tough match-up with defending Olympic champion Argentina but pulled away to win by 20 in the end. The gold medal game turned out to be one of the truly special games in Olympic and plain basketball history. I like a freak stayed up and watched the whole thing live. Some may also use this against the Redeem team, the fact that they had a tough gold medal game whereas the Dream team dominated Croatia by 32 points. However, I think it shows how this team was constructed as just that, a team. When things got tight it didn’t turn into a who’s who of NBA All-Stars, they continued their high intensity defense and it was clear on offense that when a big play needed to be made the ball would be in the hands of Kobe.
I am not totally sure that if the Dream team would have played tougher competition that thing’s may not have been so rosy with them. They had some big time ego’s on that team with guys like Jordan, Barkley, Malone and Bird to name the 4 most prominent. While the team oozed greatness I think we saw as Americans that we cant just slop together an all star team and run the other countries off of the floor. If Redeem team and Dream team matched up one thing is for sure, the game would be a close contest. I have seen with my own eyes how Redeem team reacts, but interested to know how the Dream team would have reacted.
I am not sure what all I am saying here, but I think the main point is don’t just sell short the Redeem team. Like I said some of the reasons for doing so is we already know the final accomplishments of the careers of the Dream team and have yet to find that out with the Redeem team. Also, we have fond memories of watching Bob Costas and Matt Goukas announce the games of our childhood heroes’ on NBC on Sunday afternoons, and now maybe we are a little more jaded fans of the game who scrutinize a little more. I for one would take the Redeem team, but maybe I am living in the now too much.
P.S.
Quick question, who the fuck guard LeBron and stops him on Dream Team?
P.P.S.
I don’t know everything in the world, but I know class and people can think whatever they want about Coach K but he is class all the way. After the game was over all the players immediately went over to the announcers table and shook hands and embraced an emotional Doug Collins who was on the 1972 Olympic team that got jobbed out of a Gold Medal against the USSR. I have no doubt that Coach K was the one who orchestrated that, because Collins early talked about how Coach K had him address the team before the Medal Round.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Oh Say
Here's a Nike commercial that features Marvin Gaye singing the national anthem. This should really become the official version - it's about halfway towards my longstanding idea to change the anthem to something new.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Favre, Phelps and Europe (and Lola)
I was going to do separate posts on each of these issues, but I am an important guy with lots of things to do so I will just combine them all into one post.
FAVRE
Listen, we all know I am huge Favre fan, but nobody wanted any of this any less than me. This whole comeback shit was just plain sickening. But at the end of the day I don’t really care. If he really wants to go slop around with the Jets for a year or two, fine that’s his choice as a grown up American.
I hate people who say it will somehow “ruin his legacy.” That is just self important sports fans who like to sound intellectual. It won’t ruin shit, because when I have kids and they ask me about Brett Favre I will talk about all the wins and good times in Green Bay. Does anyone even really remember Michael Jordan playing for the Wizards, I mean the fucking Wizards for crying out loud. Does anyone even remember Magic Johnsons failed comeback attempt?
The one thing I love about the comeback is that he went to the Jets, the most neurotic fan base in all of sports. Had he went to the Vikings they would have done back flips and proclaimed it Brett Favre month in the Twin Cities. They would have held parades and fairs. Even after the season was over and the Vikings won 6 games with Favre they still would have remembered the time fondly, a risk worth taking they would have thought. Not Jets fans, they are practical beside themselves (see Dan’s posts below). Nothing is more amusing to me in all of sports that watching and listening to the wretching of Jets fans during the season. As a great man once said, the Jets can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory better than anyone.
PHELPS
First let’s address the Olympics as a whole. Here is the typical American sports fans view on the Olympics:
About 3 months before the Olympics you see a McDonald’s commercial for the Olympics and you turn to your friend and say, “Oh fuck, the damned Olympics are on. What a crock of shit those things are, I hate the fucking Olympics, no way I am watching any of that shit.”
About 3 weeks before the Olympics there is a report on Sports Center and you turn to your friend and say, “Awww, I hate the fucking Olympics, but I would mind watching Misty May and Kerri Walsh roll around with each other in the sand. Plus I guess that Phelps guy is fun to watch and I want our Negro basketball players dunk on lots of greasy foreigners.”
Then the next thing you know you are in a hotel room in Bratislava, Slovakia watching men’s synchronized diving in German and yelling at the TV about how the Chinese team could have possibly scored a 9.5 on that dive.
Regardless of what your view on the Olympics is you have to marvel at what Phelps was able to do. Though swimming is a fringe or niche sport it doesn’t lessen the accomplishment, just like what Lance Armstrong did in the Tour De France. Phelps set 7 world records, breaking many of his own, and did this all over a span on 9 days. The physical demands of swimming make this and almost impossible feat. To have the ability to compete in such a variety of events and be the worlds best is truly spectacular.
And the race that he won by 1/100th of a second was truly special. Having been a competitive swimmer in my younger days the scenario he and Milorad Cavic found himself in is a nightmare every swimmer has. When you get about 10-12 meters out you know how many strokes it will take to complete the race and you can calculate when you are going to come up short and have to decided to stretch it out (Cavic) or take that awkward half stroke (Phelps). And here is the big kicker, whichever you decided to do has very little determination on whether you win or not. If they both chose to do the same thing another 9 times they likely would have split those decisions. The race was so close, NBC showed Phelps mother and coach’s reaction and they both thought he was touched out for 1st place.
I watched the race from a random bar in Columbia last night, and I have never heard a sustained cheer and then standing ovation for a non city specific sporting event. As the race was about to start the singer playing acoustic guitar continued to play and not a single person was paying attention, as they showed the team the crowd cheer. The ooed and ahhhed a little as Aaron Peirsol swam a slow 50 and then grunted a little as Brendan Hansen struggled in his breaststroke leg, but literally people came out of there seats as Phelps sprinted ahead and gave way to one of the most underrated closers in swimming Jason Lezak who finished off the race in style. The entire last 200 meters the crowd on their feet cheering as if the Gamecocks just scored the winning touchdown in the SEC Championship game.
EUROPE
Greasy foreigners, finally I can say it and have some fucking proof. I spent 8 days in Eastern Europe last week and while we had a blast these people truly despise bathing. Here is a list of some other things they dislike; underpants, especially the women, they hate undergarments of any kind, garbage cans in hotel lobby’s and other random public places it is impossible to find a trash can, leash’s for dogs, they just let these little fuckers roam anywhere, alarm clocks, in the three hotels we were in not one came with an alarm clock, the same can be said for air conditioning, and did I mention bathing?
Here are some things the love; natural breasts, what a refreshing change, 80’s music in every club and bar which was cool, speaking English (at least most people) which makes it easier on asshole Americans like me to travel, beer and lots of it, these people love to party and hate going to work, and American tourists in general, mainly because we have money and love spending it on shit.
We spent a few days in Prague to start our trip off. Prague is a great old world European city obviously overflowing with history. The drawback is that it is a huge tourist attraction and even though strolling through the old town square at night is beautiful it is a little bit of a cross between Main Street in Disney and Times Square. Clearly they try and placate to the American tourist as I mentioned above. While in Prague we had dinner at an old Monastery, visited the Old New Synagogue which dates back to the 9th century in the old Jewish section of town which also had several other temples, and famous Prague Castle the seat of the Habsburg Dynasty and the famed St. Vitus Cathedral. We also took a day trip to Terezin which was an old castle turned into a war prison which was used as concentration camp during World War II. It also housed Gavrilo Princip and the other 5 members of the Black Hand group of Bosnians who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand which prompted the start of World War I. We actually got a chance to walk into his isolation cell where he was housed for the reaming years of his life (go to this link and you can see some amazing videos of our time at Terezin, it is truly worth it to see these, http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/080808aaa.html).
After our time in Prague we then headed to the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava. Much smaller and cheaper than Prague, Bratislava is a quaint little city along the Danube River and Slovak/Austrian border. It has a beautiful town square which we stayed right in the heart of and has some really cool sights to see. Among those sites is St. Marten Cathedral, where 11 kings of the Habsburg Dynasty were crowned, and the Hrav Castle which sits majestically atop a hill overlooking the river. Also the town square (Hviezdoslav Square) was the sight of on e of the first major events that lead to the fall of communism in the Eastern Bloc. In March of 1988 thousands of students and other Slovaks held a candlelight vigil protesting the communist regime, they were repelled and beaten back by the secret police, all while the countries prime minister and other leaders watched from the famed Carlton Hotel in the square. We were lucky enough to also stay in the Carlton Hotel over looking the square, there was definitely an eerie feeling about that.
We then traveled down the Danube (not literally, but figuratively) to the capital of Austria and one of the most famed cities in all of Europe, Vienna. This is a marvelously beautiful city, and so rich in history and tradition. Unfortunately for Vienna the modern world has gotten hold of the city. On one side of the river they built this whole new modern part called Danube City full of these ugly ass post modern buildings that look like they belong in Tokyo or Dubai. It makes a beautiful city fucking hideous. However, if you want you can easily stay on the good side of the Danube and go tour the old city and see Hofburg Palace, St. Stephens Cathedral, the famed Vienna Opera House where Mozart and Strauss operas have been repeatedly performed, among others. You can also spend an evening at the Prater and amusement park just outside the old town square which contains a giant 200 foot Ferris wheel which overlooks the city (and I did not go on because that shit was fucking high). We unfortunately did not have a lot of time in Vienna, we only saw a very small portion of what there is to do there.
All things considered it was a good trip, well except for the plane rides. Listen, there is no way to sugar coat it, 9-11 hours on a plane fucking blows. I don’t care how many movies they show or how many books you have to read, it is still miserable. And no international incidents were caused by anyone in our travel party, and I didn’t take down any historical monuments (ala Clark W. Griswold).
Lastly, while on my trip to Europe I officially became a Godfather. Our good friend Josh and his wife Jennifer gave birth to a bouncing baby girl named Lola Joy Reinitz. And who else to choose as a god father than a fat Italian guy right? Everyone is healthy and fine and the big plus is the baby’s initials are LJ which means a bevy of Larry Johnson throwback jersey’s for the youngster, and no I don’t care that she is a girl she is still getting LJ gear!!!
FAVRE
Listen, we all know I am huge Favre fan, but nobody wanted any of this any less than me. This whole comeback shit was just plain sickening. But at the end of the day I don’t really care. If he really wants to go slop around with the Jets for a year or two, fine that’s his choice as a grown up American.
I hate people who say it will somehow “ruin his legacy.” That is just self important sports fans who like to sound intellectual. It won’t ruin shit, because when I have kids and they ask me about Brett Favre I will talk about all the wins and good times in Green Bay. Does anyone even really remember Michael Jordan playing for the Wizards, I mean the fucking Wizards for crying out loud. Does anyone even remember Magic Johnsons failed comeback attempt?
The one thing I love about the comeback is that he went to the Jets, the most neurotic fan base in all of sports. Had he went to the Vikings they would have done back flips and proclaimed it Brett Favre month in the Twin Cities. They would have held parades and fairs. Even after the season was over and the Vikings won 6 games with Favre they still would have remembered the time fondly, a risk worth taking they would have thought. Not Jets fans, they are practical beside themselves (see Dan’s posts below). Nothing is more amusing to me in all of sports that watching and listening to the wretching of Jets fans during the season. As a great man once said, the Jets can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory better than anyone.
PHELPS
First let’s address the Olympics as a whole. Here is the typical American sports fans view on the Olympics:
About 3 months before the Olympics you see a McDonald’s commercial for the Olympics and you turn to your friend and say, “Oh fuck, the damned Olympics are on. What a crock of shit those things are, I hate the fucking Olympics, no way I am watching any of that shit.”
About 3 weeks before the Olympics there is a report on Sports Center and you turn to your friend and say, “Awww, I hate the fucking Olympics, but I would mind watching Misty May and Kerri Walsh roll around with each other in the sand. Plus I guess that Phelps guy is fun to watch and I want our Negro basketball players dunk on lots of greasy foreigners.”
Then the next thing you know you are in a hotel room in Bratislava, Slovakia watching men’s synchronized diving in German and yelling at the TV about how the Chinese team could have possibly scored a 9.5 on that dive.
Regardless of what your view on the Olympics is you have to marvel at what Phelps was able to do. Though swimming is a fringe or niche sport it doesn’t lessen the accomplishment, just like what Lance Armstrong did in the Tour De France. Phelps set 7 world records, breaking many of his own, and did this all over a span on 9 days. The physical demands of swimming make this and almost impossible feat. To have the ability to compete in such a variety of events and be the worlds best is truly spectacular.
And the race that he won by 1/100th of a second was truly special. Having been a competitive swimmer in my younger days the scenario he and Milorad Cavic found himself in is a nightmare every swimmer has. When you get about 10-12 meters out you know how many strokes it will take to complete the race and you can calculate when you are going to come up short and have to decided to stretch it out (Cavic) or take that awkward half stroke (Phelps). And here is the big kicker, whichever you decided to do has very little determination on whether you win or not. If they both chose to do the same thing another 9 times they likely would have split those decisions. The race was so close, NBC showed Phelps mother and coach’s reaction and they both thought he was touched out for 1st place.
I watched the race from a random bar in Columbia last night, and I have never heard a sustained cheer and then standing ovation for a non city specific sporting event. As the race was about to start the singer playing acoustic guitar continued to play and not a single person was paying attention, as they showed the team the crowd cheer. The ooed and ahhhed a little as Aaron Peirsol swam a slow 50 and then grunted a little as Brendan Hansen struggled in his breaststroke leg, but literally people came out of there seats as Phelps sprinted ahead and gave way to one of the most underrated closers in swimming Jason Lezak who finished off the race in style. The entire last 200 meters the crowd on their feet cheering as if the Gamecocks just scored the winning touchdown in the SEC Championship game.
EUROPE
Greasy foreigners, finally I can say it and have some fucking proof. I spent 8 days in Eastern Europe last week and while we had a blast these people truly despise bathing. Here is a list of some other things they dislike; underpants, especially the women, they hate undergarments of any kind, garbage cans in hotel lobby’s and other random public places it is impossible to find a trash can, leash’s for dogs, they just let these little fuckers roam anywhere, alarm clocks, in the three hotels we were in not one came with an alarm clock, the same can be said for air conditioning, and did I mention bathing?
Here are some things the love; natural breasts, what a refreshing change, 80’s music in every club and bar which was cool, speaking English (at least most people) which makes it easier on asshole Americans like me to travel, beer and lots of it, these people love to party and hate going to work, and American tourists in general, mainly because we have money and love spending it on shit.
We spent a few days in Prague to start our trip off. Prague is a great old world European city obviously overflowing with history. The drawback is that it is a huge tourist attraction and even though strolling through the old town square at night is beautiful it is a little bit of a cross between Main Street in Disney and Times Square. Clearly they try and placate to the American tourist as I mentioned above. While in Prague we had dinner at an old Monastery, visited the Old New Synagogue which dates back to the 9th century in the old Jewish section of town which also had several other temples, and famous Prague Castle the seat of the Habsburg Dynasty and the famed St. Vitus Cathedral. We also took a day trip to Terezin which was an old castle turned into a war prison which was used as concentration camp during World War II. It also housed Gavrilo Princip and the other 5 members of the Black Hand group of Bosnians who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand which prompted the start of World War I. We actually got a chance to walk into his isolation cell where he was housed for the reaming years of his life (go to this link and you can see some amazing videos of our time at Terezin, it is truly worth it to see these, http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/080808aaa.html).
After our time in Prague we then headed to the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava. Much smaller and cheaper than Prague, Bratislava is a quaint little city along the Danube River and Slovak/Austrian border. It has a beautiful town square which we stayed right in the heart of and has some really cool sights to see. Among those sites is St. Marten Cathedral, where 11 kings of the Habsburg Dynasty were crowned, and the Hrav Castle which sits majestically atop a hill overlooking the river. Also the town square (Hviezdoslav Square) was the sight of on e of the first major events that lead to the fall of communism in the Eastern Bloc. In March of 1988 thousands of students and other Slovaks held a candlelight vigil protesting the communist regime, they were repelled and beaten back by the secret police, all while the countries prime minister and other leaders watched from the famed Carlton Hotel in the square. We were lucky enough to also stay in the Carlton Hotel over looking the square, there was definitely an eerie feeling about that.
We then traveled down the Danube (not literally, but figuratively) to the capital of Austria and one of the most famed cities in all of Europe, Vienna. This is a marvelously beautiful city, and so rich in history and tradition. Unfortunately for Vienna the modern world has gotten hold of the city. On one side of the river they built this whole new modern part called Danube City full of these ugly ass post modern buildings that look like they belong in Tokyo or Dubai. It makes a beautiful city fucking hideous. However, if you want you can easily stay on the good side of the Danube and go tour the old city and see Hofburg Palace, St. Stephens Cathedral, the famed Vienna Opera House where Mozart and Strauss operas have been repeatedly performed, among others. You can also spend an evening at the Prater and amusement park just outside the old town square which contains a giant 200 foot Ferris wheel which overlooks the city (and I did not go on because that shit was fucking high). We unfortunately did not have a lot of time in Vienna, we only saw a very small portion of what there is to do there.
All things considered it was a good trip, well except for the plane rides. Listen, there is no way to sugar coat it, 9-11 hours on a plane fucking blows. I don’t care how many movies they show or how many books you have to read, it is still miserable. And no international incidents were caused by anyone in our travel party, and I didn’t take down any historical monuments (ala Clark W. Griswold).
Lastly, while on my trip to Europe I officially became a Godfather. Our good friend Josh and his wife Jennifer gave birth to a bouncing baby girl named Lola Joy Reinitz. And who else to choose as a god father than a fat Italian guy right? Everyone is healthy and fine and the big plus is the baby’s initials are LJ which means a bevy of Larry Johnson throwback jersey’s for the youngster, and no I don’t care that she is a girl she is still getting LJ gear!!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Here Come The Warm Jets: Favre Clarification
For most people I associate with, I'm one of if not the only Jets fan they know.
Which means that they've all been asking lately what I think of the Brett Favre trade. So I tell them.
That, of course, gets the follow up of, "What, are you nuts? How, as a Jets fan, can you not be excited?"
Allow me to explain.
First, allow me to qualify. I fully understand that as it seems right now, 38 year old Brett Favre is better than Chad Pennington, and better than Kellen Clemens. Meaning, I fully understand that having Favre on the team makes it more likely that the team will be better this year. If the equation is "better team" = "happy fan" then I seem to be mathematically eliminated from hating this deal.
There are a few mitigating factors to it, which should make it clearer why I still stand by my initial reaction of being filled with expletive-laden frustration.
1 - He is not our guy. Brett Favre is a Packer. He is the Jesus of Green Bay. He took a dead franchise and dead fan base and revived them both. Seeing these types of athletes on other teams always feels wrong; it feels somehow fake. Sure, he'll be wearing the jersey and helmet of my favorite team, and once the games start I'll be able to push these feelings aside. But once the games are done, it'll feel like a sham, somewhat emptier than normal. And for those making the Vinny comparison, at least Vinny was a New York guy. Vinny was a Long Island paisan coming home, making the home fans proud. Favre, as well know, is from Mississippi. He's going even further from home, certainly from a cultural standpoint. Maybe if he was from Lodi I'd feel different.
2 - The team was going to be better this year without him. As I've pointed out before, last year the team had seven losses by seven points or less. So, sure, they were 4-12, but with some breaks and better line play on both sides of the ball, they could have just as easily been something like 7-9 or 8-8. They spent a lot of money in the offseason fixing the problems on the lines, so the odds were that the team was already going to be in the vicinity of 7 to 9 wins, even with Clemens or Pennington at QB. Bottom line is that no QB is good behind a crap offensive line (or even a line playing like crap for one game, just ask Tom Brady after the Super Bowl.) The line getting better means Clemens or Pennington were going to be better. Now Favre comes in, and say the team wins 9 games, Favre just gets to add to his mythology without really earning it.
3 - If the team isn't ready to win right now, why waste a year of developing a young QB? No one reasonably thinks that the Jets are winning the Super Bowl this year. At the very least the Patriots, the Colts, and the Chargers are better teams, not to mention Pittsburgh and Cleveland. And that's just the AFC. So, if that's the case, why not see what you have with Clemens? If he starts to come into his own, you are in great shape for 2009. If he's awful (which is what he was looking like last year) then you get a good draft pick and take another young QB in the first or second round and start over from there. Now we get one year of Brett Favre, two at the most, which means a year or two (but probably just one) of just good enough to be watchable but not good enough to do anything really interesting, which means a middle-round draft pick and another year or two of Clemens getting no game action. If it's not getting the team any closer to the Super Bowl now or next year or two years from now, why is this supposed to be exciting for me?
4 - I'd rather have relevance from success than from purchases. Maybe this is some warped old-world immigrant way of thinking, but I hate that the columnists all say that this finally gives the team relevance. It's not relevance earned, it's relevance paid for, which feels phony (and goes back to point #1). If the Jets were going to be relevant on the NFL landscape, I'd like it to be because they did the right thing as a franchise, built a tradition of drafting and signing the right players, being smart about how to build a team, and creating an overall culture of excellence. Like the Steelers have done, or the Pats have done under Kraft. I actually thought the Woody Johnson-Mike Tannenbaum-Eric Mangini regime was starting to do this, laying the foundation that might have started paying real dividends in the next three years. I'm not saying that the Favre thing undermines it altogether, but it certainly doesn't feel as genuine as the alternative.
5 - He's 38 years old. I've been of the opinion that Brett Favre has been washed up for about five years. He did have an excellent year last year, but that seemed to have as much to do with having an incredible defense and a strong offensive line than anything he was doing on his own. In his prime, Brett Favre by himself wins you an extra two to four games in a season. Now? You're lucky to break even, given how many bad interceptions he throws (see: the NFC Championship game against the Giants last year.) Old QBs can get really old really fast. Does he even have one more good year in him? I'm not totally convinced.
Look, I'll be super honest: if the Jets start out something like 6-2 and Favre looks like the real Brett Favre and he's making Coles and Cotchery look like Toon and Walker circa 1986, I'm sure I'll be giddy and writing laudatory columns on this site looking to name Favre President for Life. Right now I've got misgivings and feel like this move doesn't at all align with my personal philosophy, but I'm not that much of a masochist.
At the same time, the one thing I want more than anything as a Jets fan is to see the team win the whole thing. Not as a fluke, and not as a stunt. And let's be honest about something else - if the Jets do win the Super Bowl this year or next year, what does the story read? It reads "Brett Favre wins Super Bowl." Not the Jets, but Brett Favre. I'm not saying I'd hate that necessarily, but I'm not sure, today, that I'm going to love it as much as I should, either.
Which means that they've all been asking lately what I think of the Brett Favre trade. So I tell them.
That, of course, gets the follow up of, "What, are you nuts? How, as a Jets fan, can you not be excited?"
Allow me to explain.
First, allow me to qualify. I fully understand that as it seems right now, 38 year old Brett Favre is better than Chad Pennington, and better than Kellen Clemens. Meaning, I fully understand that having Favre on the team makes it more likely that the team will be better this year. If the equation is "better team" = "happy fan" then I seem to be mathematically eliminated from hating this deal.
There are a few mitigating factors to it, which should make it clearer why I still stand by my initial reaction of being filled with expletive-laden frustration.
1 - He is not our guy. Brett Favre is a Packer. He is the Jesus of Green Bay. He took a dead franchise and dead fan base and revived them both. Seeing these types of athletes on other teams always feels wrong; it feels somehow fake. Sure, he'll be wearing the jersey and helmet of my favorite team, and once the games start I'll be able to push these feelings aside. But once the games are done, it'll feel like a sham, somewhat emptier than normal. And for those making the Vinny comparison, at least Vinny was a New York guy. Vinny was a Long Island paisan coming home, making the home fans proud. Favre, as well know, is from Mississippi. He's going even further from home, certainly from a cultural standpoint. Maybe if he was from Lodi I'd feel different.
2 - The team was going to be better this year without him. As I've pointed out before, last year the team had seven losses by seven points or less. So, sure, they were 4-12, but with some breaks and better line play on both sides of the ball, they could have just as easily been something like 7-9 or 8-8. They spent a lot of money in the offseason fixing the problems on the lines, so the odds were that the team was already going to be in the vicinity of 7 to 9 wins, even with Clemens or Pennington at QB. Bottom line is that no QB is good behind a crap offensive line (or even a line playing like crap for one game, just ask Tom Brady after the Super Bowl.) The line getting better means Clemens or Pennington were going to be better. Now Favre comes in, and say the team wins 9 games, Favre just gets to add to his mythology without really earning it.
3 - If the team isn't ready to win right now, why waste a year of developing a young QB? No one reasonably thinks that the Jets are winning the Super Bowl this year. At the very least the Patriots, the Colts, and the Chargers are better teams, not to mention Pittsburgh and Cleveland. And that's just the AFC. So, if that's the case, why not see what you have with Clemens? If he starts to come into his own, you are in great shape for 2009. If he's awful (which is what he was looking like last year) then you get a good draft pick and take another young QB in the first or second round and start over from there. Now we get one year of Brett Favre, two at the most, which means a year or two (but probably just one) of just good enough to be watchable but not good enough to do anything really interesting, which means a middle-round draft pick and another year or two of Clemens getting no game action. If it's not getting the team any closer to the Super Bowl now or next year or two years from now, why is this supposed to be exciting for me?
4 - I'd rather have relevance from success than from purchases. Maybe this is some warped old-world immigrant way of thinking, but I hate that the columnists all say that this finally gives the team relevance. It's not relevance earned, it's relevance paid for, which feels phony (and goes back to point #1). If the Jets were going to be relevant on the NFL landscape, I'd like it to be because they did the right thing as a franchise, built a tradition of drafting and signing the right players, being smart about how to build a team, and creating an overall culture of excellence. Like the Steelers have done, or the Pats have done under Kraft. I actually thought the Woody Johnson-Mike Tannenbaum-Eric Mangini regime was starting to do this, laying the foundation that might have started paying real dividends in the next three years. I'm not saying that the Favre thing undermines it altogether, but it certainly doesn't feel as genuine as the alternative.
5 - He's 38 years old. I've been of the opinion that Brett Favre has been washed up for about five years. He did have an excellent year last year, but that seemed to have as much to do with having an incredible defense and a strong offensive line than anything he was doing on his own. In his prime, Brett Favre by himself wins you an extra two to four games in a season. Now? You're lucky to break even, given how many bad interceptions he throws (see: the NFC Championship game against the Giants last year.) Old QBs can get really old really fast. Does he even have one more good year in him? I'm not totally convinced.
Look, I'll be super honest: if the Jets start out something like 6-2 and Favre looks like the real Brett Favre and he's making Coles and Cotchery look like Toon and Walker circa 1986, I'm sure I'll be giddy and writing laudatory columns on this site looking to name Favre President for Life. Right now I've got misgivings and feel like this move doesn't at all align with my personal philosophy, but I'm not that much of a masochist.
At the same time, the one thing I want more than anything as a Jets fan is to see the team win the whole thing. Not as a fluke, and not as a stunt. And let's be honest about something else - if the Jets do win the Super Bowl this year or next year, what does the story read? It reads "Brett Favre wins Super Bowl." Not the Jets, but Brett Favre. I'm not saying I'd hate that necessarily, but I'm not sure, today, that I'm going to love it as much as I should, either.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
I Am Filled With Expletives And Not Much Else
Brett Favre is a Jet.
This would be great news if it was 1996.
Unfortunately, it is 2008. So this is the opposite.
The only thing that would make me happy right now is if the Packers signed Browning Nagle, for symmetry.
The only good news is that they didn't give that much up, I guess.
Am I supposed to say that I can't wait to watch him throw all those "adorable" interceptions that make him so endearing to people like Peter King?
Am I supposed to say that this is going to take the team to the Super Bowl when I know that it won't?
No. I'm supposed to say fuck a lot. Which is what I'm doing, believe me.
Fuck.
This would be great news if it was 1996.
Unfortunately, it is 2008. So this is the opposite.
The only thing that would make me happy right now is if the Packers signed Browning Nagle, for symmetry.
The only good news is that they didn't give that much up, I guess.
Am I supposed to say that I can't wait to watch him throw all those "adorable" interceptions that make him so endearing to people like Peter King?
Am I supposed to say that this is going to take the team to the Super Bowl when I know that it won't?
No. I'm supposed to say fuck a lot. Which is what I'm doing, believe me.
Fuck.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Across the Pond
Yeah, I know I havent been around much lately. Usually my summers are filled with trips to the beach and lots of golf, but a new coaching staff has squashed all that nonsense. This has been perhaps the busiest summer of my life, and it only promises to get more so as we lead into the fall.
I will be taking my many talents, including my unwavering patriotism and complete hatred for all foreigners, across the pond to our sister continent, Europe. I will be traveling with the University of South Carolina mens basketball team over to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria. As always, I will be representing my basketabll team and my university as I go on this trip. Moreover, I will be representing the great DeBlasio family name, the town of Teaneck where I was reared, the great state of New Jersey which mad me the jaded soul I am today and the country of America (the self proclaimed, a proclaimaition I happen to agree with, greatest nation on the planet).
I plan to do this in pure George W. fashion, by making fun of things I don't understand, not caring when I pronounce foreigners names wrong and generally being an obnoxious American. Wish me luck, and lets hope I dont create and international incident.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!
I will be taking my many talents, including my unwavering patriotism and complete hatred for all foreigners, across the pond to our sister continent, Europe. I will be traveling with the University of South Carolina mens basketball team over to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria. As always, I will be representing my basketabll team and my university as I go on this trip. Moreover, I will be representing the great DeBlasio family name, the town of Teaneck where I was reared, the great state of New Jersey which mad me the jaded soul I am today and the country of America (the self proclaimed, a proclaimaition I happen to agree with, greatest nation on the planet).
I plan to do this in pure George W. fashion, by making fun of things I don't understand, not caring when I pronounce foreigners names wrong and generally being an obnoxious American. Wish me luck, and lets hope I dont create and international incident.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Album review: Nas - (Untitled)
This is a response to an email from a friend about Nas's new album. I wrote my review below, then read this from XXL, the LA Times and the only review I actually agree with...
Anyway, read on for my humble thoughts on an album I heard about, awaited and was both disappointed and surprised.
I don't listen to ask much hip hop anymore either. As an art form, it's almost pushing its older generation of fans away with what passes for what is considered the best.
I mean, people who listened to The Who and the Rolling Stones may not have liked Aerosmith and Van Halen, but there were similarities. There is nothing similar between KRS-One and Rakim and T-Pain and Young Jeezy, expect they're each on top of the game.
Nas' album isn't like the rest of the stuff out now, so I don't see how its going to sell. The controversy around the title of the album can only push record sales for so long...
Then again, if fans like you and I get the album and listen, maybe we'll come back. Probably not, but it's worth a try.
Let's see. Lyrically speaking, Nas is, has been and will always be one of the greatest of all time. There's no denying that and the concepts on some of the tracks are absolutely classic. "Fried Chicken" with Busta Rhymes, about how we love the food that's going to kill us, and "Project Roach", about the insect that stays alive just like the people described by the word I've left out of this review on purpose.
He could be considered "preachy" on this album, especially on "We're not alone" where he's basically saying that aliens exist and have been to Earth, but it's a touch refreshing to have someone saying something on a song that isn't just about money, drugs and hoes.
"Black President" is about the obvious, but then again who else is out there rapping about Obama. Granted, he's using a 2Pac cut that says "Although it seems heaven sent, we ain't ready to have a black president", but he clearly puts his weight behind the Democratic representative, however much any rapper that dropped in the early 90s has with a young voting public that probably was in diapers when Illmatic dropped.
It's an album that needed to be made. It's refreshing, but still a hard listen as it seems sometimes the topics, production and the occasional track like "Make the World Go Round" just doesn't fit. I'm proud to add it to my collection, but I wonder how many tracks from it I'll be listening to months from now...
----------------
Now playing: Nas - Make The World Go Round (feat. Chris Brown And The Game)
via FoxyTunes
Anyway, read on for my humble thoughts on an album I heard about, awaited and was both disappointed and surprised.
I don't listen to ask much hip hop anymore either. As an art form, it's almost pushing its older generation of fans away with what passes for what is considered the best.
I mean, people who listened to The Who and the Rolling Stones may not have liked Aerosmith and Van Halen, but there were similarities. There is nothing similar between KRS-One and Rakim and T-Pain and Young Jeezy, expect they're each on top of the game.
Nas' album isn't like the rest of the stuff out now, so I don't see how its going to sell. The controversy around the title of the album can only push record sales for so long...
Then again, if fans like you and I get the album and listen, maybe we'll come back. Probably not, but it's worth a try.
Let's see. Lyrically speaking, Nas is, has been and will always be one of the greatest of all time. There's no denying that and the concepts on some of the tracks are absolutely classic. "Fried Chicken" with Busta Rhymes, about how we love the food that's going to kill us, and "Project Roach", about the insect that stays alive just like the people described by the word I've left out of this review on purpose.
He could be considered "preachy" on this album, especially on "We're not alone" where he's basically saying that aliens exist and have been to Earth, but it's a touch refreshing to have someone saying something on a song that isn't just about money, drugs and hoes.
"Black President" is about the obvious, but then again who else is out there rapping about Obama. Granted, he's using a 2Pac cut that says "Although it seems heaven sent, we ain't ready to have a black president", but he clearly puts his weight behind the Democratic representative, however much any rapper that dropped in the early 90s has with a young voting public that probably was in diapers when Illmatic dropped.
It's an album that needed to be made. It's refreshing, but still a hard listen as it seems sometimes the topics, production and the occasional track like "Make the World Go Round" just doesn't fit. I'm proud to add it to my collection, but I wonder how many tracks from it I'll be listening to months from now...
----------------
Now playing: Nas - Make The World Go Round (feat. Chris Brown And The Game)
via FoxyTunes
Monday, July 28, 2008
A Somewhat Sad, But Still Somewhat Hopeful Day
Renaldo Balkman's unlikely career with the New York Knicks is over.
The Knicks traded Balkman to the Nuggets for a second-round pick in 2010, along with Taurean Green and Bobby Jones, both of whom are expected to be released since neither has a guaranteed contract.
Like most Knicks fans, I like Balkman's energy and the flashes of potential he shows. But I also recognize that this was not the most intelligent of basketball players, and that it didn't seem like he had the mental makeup to be the kind of 20-minute-per-game energy guy he is destined to be.
Sorry to see him go, but the move makes some business sense for the Knicks. They needed to shed some guaranteed contracts (more of these types of moves to come) and this way they actually get something (the draft pick and cash considerations) out of it.
And, hey, maybe this move to Denver, in what was basically a salary dump, will finally get Balkman's mind focused on basketball, and he can turn his potential into an actual NBA career. Sometimes a young man has his head up his ass, so if he gets kicked hard enough in said ass, he begins to finally see clearly, or at least takes his head out of there long enough to see who kicked him.
Or maybe Balkman starts hanging out with JR Smith and robs a Dollar Tree wearing a Dick Cheney mask and a Zach Randolph Trailblazers jersey. Anything is possible.
The Knicks traded Balkman to the Nuggets for a second-round pick in 2010, along with Taurean Green and Bobby Jones, both of whom are expected to be released since neither has a guaranteed contract.
Like most Knicks fans, I like Balkman's energy and the flashes of potential he shows. But I also recognize that this was not the most intelligent of basketball players, and that it didn't seem like he had the mental makeup to be the kind of 20-minute-per-game energy guy he is destined to be.
Sorry to see him go, but the move makes some business sense for the Knicks. They needed to shed some guaranteed contracts (more of these types of moves to come) and this way they actually get something (the draft pick and cash considerations) out of it.
And, hey, maybe this move to Denver, in what was basically a salary dump, will finally get Balkman's mind focused on basketball, and he can turn his potential into an actual NBA career. Sometimes a young man has his head up his ass, so if he gets kicked hard enough in said ass, he begins to finally see clearly, or at least takes his head out of there long enough to see who kicked him.
Or maybe Balkman starts hanging out with JR Smith and robs a Dollar Tree wearing a Dick Cheney mask and a Zach Randolph Trailblazers jersey. Anything is possible.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Album review: Skillz - The Million Dollar Backpack
This is a response to an email I received from a friend, informing me about an interview with the aformentioned Skillz.
Skillz first appeared on the scene as Mad Skillz, a new voice from Virginia with an album that dropped 12 years ago. "The Nod Factor" and a couple other tracks like "Extra Abstract Skillz" which featured Q-Tip. It's easily one of the best albums during a golden era in hip hop, what with "Reasonable Doubt" out around the same time.
Nevertheless, losers like me kept an ear out for Skillz and I can remember being on a bus in Cancun with some overgrown athletic women (Kris, you were there in spirit), listening to The Best of the Superfriends mixtape.
Long story short, here's a quick review. I've got a couple more in the vault on the way with my thoughts on Nas's Untitled album next.
I've heard the album and while it's got a couple of quality tracks, overall it almost seems like a personal album, showcasing Skillz ability to use a variety of styles. I don't know what kind of album I would have wanted or expected from him, but I just made a mix with songs from Skillz, The Carter III and Untitled. There are a bunch of Skillz tracks, but not as many as I would have originally thought and they were the first to go when I had to cut tracks off...
That being said, there are times when I listen and hear the voice that I enjoy. But it's weird hearing Hip Hop Died again, a song I feel like I heard a year ago. For the most part, I like the concept songs, but the somewhat negative review on the second site you sent has a touch of truth behind it.
He name-drops all over the place and you have to imagine that Jeezy is someone he ghostwrote for and My Phone, which is all these celebs that he's gotten phone numbers from. The catch being that he loses the phone at the end.
Sick is the only track that sounds like the old Skillz, which I guess is part of getting older. I like that track, but one could argue it's more name-dropping (Lines like I was sick back when Big Boi and 3000 were the best of friends), but it's more about the flow with me. He slows it down a couple too many times and that's just not great...
Preaching to the Choir, a story track, is a breath of fresh air but if he's dropping So Far, So Good as the first track then I don't know what to say cuz that's one of my least favorite tracks on the 14-song effort
----------------
Now playing: Skillz - Hip Hop Died (Prod. Khari Ferrari & Skillz)
via FoxyTunes
Skillz first appeared on the scene as Mad Skillz, a new voice from Virginia with an album that dropped 12 years ago. "The Nod Factor" and a couple other tracks like "Extra Abstract Skillz" which featured Q-Tip. It's easily one of the best albums during a golden era in hip hop, what with "Reasonable Doubt" out around the same time.
Nevertheless, losers like me kept an ear out for Skillz and I can remember being on a bus in Cancun with some overgrown athletic women (Kris, you were there in spirit), listening to The Best of the Superfriends mixtape.
Long story short, here's a quick review. I've got a couple more in the vault on the way with my thoughts on Nas's Untitled album next.
I've heard the album and while it's got a couple of quality tracks, overall it almost seems like a personal album, showcasing Skillz ability to use a variety of styles. I don't know what kind of album I would have wanted or expected from him, but I just made a mix with songs from Skillz, The Carter III and Untitled. There are a bunch of Skillz tracks, but not as many as I would have originally thought and they were the first to go when I had to cut tracks off...
That being said, there are times when I listen and hear the voice that I enjoy. But it's weird hearing Hip Hop Died again, a song I feel like I heard a year ago. For the most part, I like the concept songs, but the somewhat negative review on the second site you sent has a touch of truth behind it.
He name-drops all over the place and you have to imagine that Jeezy is someone he ghostwrote for and My Phone, which is all these celebs that he's gotten phone numbers from. The catch being that he loses the phone at the end.
Sick is the only track that sounds like the old Skillz, which I guess is part of getting older. I like that track, but one could argue it's more name-dropping (Lines like I was sick back when Big Boi and 3000 were the best of friends), but it's more about the flow with me. He slows it down a couple too many times and that's just not great...
Preaching to the Choir, a story track, is a breath of fresh air but if he's dropping So Far, So Good as the first track then I don't know what to say cuz that's one of my least favorite tracks on the 14-song effort
----------------
Now playing: Skillz - Hip Hop Died (Prod. Khari Ferrari & Skillz)
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
News & Notes
With the Record's great columnist Bob Klapisch out due to injury, I'll be taking over his space for a while...
At least on this website, in a similar manner with which he operated.
News Item: Shockey traded to Saints
The company motto, seemingly around the Giants and NYC (at least according to Kellerman and Kenny on 1050 ESPN) is that this is addition by substration. That is foolish.
While Shockey's numbers may be varied at times and he did drop passes, he was a legit threat, or at least was considered so by opposing defensive coordinators. That means they planned for him, wondering whether to use a strong safety (too small) or linebacker (too slow) to defend him.
Shockey was also a quality blocker, something the replacement everyone is crying for, Kevin Boss, isn't right now. While I'm not saying they shouldn't have done the deal, let's not forget what the crazy Oklahoman brought to the table.
With that being said, Shockey's exit no wmeans that this is officially Elisha Manning's team. The old guard of Fassel's era (Barber, Strahan, Shockey) are gone. Toomer is part of that, but you never really hear from him. We now live and die with Elisha...
By the way, when was the last time a defending Super Bowl Champion was albe to play the "Us against the World" card two years in a row? According to the world at large, the Giants will be lucky to make the playoffs behind the Eagles with a healthy McNabb and the Cowboys, the greatest team that hasn't won a playoff game in the last decade.
News Item: 'Dancing' Taylor goes to Redskins
Once again, the Redskins place well in the off-season standings with the biggest trade of the off-season. Or at least the last one...
Don't be truly fooled by this. It was necessary for the Skins after a season-ending injury to Phillip Daniels. They needed to fill a hole and the Dolphin great does just that.
Will he be motivated to be great? Yes. Will he make a difference? Sure. Will he be the same All-Pro, Defensive MVP candidate he was in Miami? Of that, I'm not sure. Will he make the Skins good enough to make the playoffs and compete for a Super Bowl? Once again, we'll see but the cards are stacked higha againt himm and his teammates playing in the toughest division in the NFC.
News Item: Yanks just 4.5 gams back.
Despite what Kris read, I wasn't bashing the Yanks with my movie pitches in a previous post. I was just stating the obvious, that this Yankee team is a touch old with young players mixed in (Somewhat like their neighbors in Queens). But I heard an intersting fact the other day.
The Yanks were only a game off the pace they set last year, a year that saw them in the playoffs. Granted, they only had the Red Sox in front of them at the time, but this year they're only three back in the wild card and have nothing but people coming back from injury to help.
It's a scary time to be in the American League right now, but to steal a page from the Wilpons; In his first season at the helm, Joe Girardi will manage meaningful games in September.
News Item: Mets vs. Flithies for the NL East
Yes, the Marlins are only .5 games back and the Braves haven't officially called it in and traded Mark Teixeira (although I don't know who's going to take him, a Scott Boras client in his walk year when most if not all contenders have 1B locked up)...
But tonight starts the biggest three-game series of the year for both the Mets and Flithies. For the Cheese Steak Boys, they had a chance to run away from this division a couple of weeks back and decided to go into the tank against the AL (4-11). They've realized that Adam Eaton was bantu fodder and Joe Blanton is much better and hope that Brett Myers can hang.
The Mets, and all their front-running fans, should just shut up. I didn't think we would run away with anything this year, but I didn't cry a river and call for everyone's head when they played like crap for the first 6 to 8 weeks of the season.
Nevertheless, who would have thought Delgado would remember to go with pitches the other way and Oli Perez would come down to Earth for a couple of consecutive starts and Mike Pelfrey would remember that it's pretty hard to hit a 92-MPH sinker in the strike zone.
But that's all for not since the season starts today and today is when Johan Santana can earn his HUGE contract. We overpaid him for starts like tonight and I don't expect, I demand he produce with at least 7 innings with less than 3 runs. If he can do that, we'll be OK...
At least on this website, in a similar manner with which he operated.
News Item: Shockey traded to Saints
The company motto, seemingly around the Giants and NYC (at least according to Kellerman and Kenny on 1050 ESPN) is that this is addition by substration. That is foolish.
While Shockey's numbers may be varied at times and he did drop passes, he was a legit threat, or at least was considered so by opposing defensive coordinators. That means they planned for him, wondering whether to use a strong safety (too small) or linebacker (too slow) to defend him.
Shockey was also a quality blocker, something the replacement everyone is crying for, Kevin Boss, isn't right now. While I'm not saying they shouldn't have done the deal, let's not forget what the crazy Oklahoman brought to the table.
With that being said, Shockey's exit no wmeans that this is officially Elisha Manning's team. The old guard of Fassel's era (Barber, Strahan, Shockey) are gone. Toomer is part of that, but you never really hear from him. We now live and die with Elisha...
By the way, when was the last time a defending Super Bowl Champion was albe to play the "Us against the World" card two years in a row? According to the world at large, the Giants will be lucky to make the playoffs behind the Eagles with a healthy McNabb and the Cowboys, the greatest team that hasn't won a playoff game in the last decade.
News Item: 'Dancing' Taylor goes to Redskins
Once again, the Redskins place well in the off-season standings with the biggest trade of the off-season. Or at least the last one...
Don't be truly fooled by this. It was necessary for the Skins after a season-ending injury to Phillip Daniels. They needed to fill a hole and the Dolphin great does just that.
Will he be motivated to be great? Yes. Will he make a difference? Sure. Will he be the same All-Pro, Defensive MVP candidate he was in Miami? Of that, I'm not sure. Will he make the Skins good enough to make the playoffs and compete for a Super Bowl? Once again, we'll see but the cards are stacked higha againt himm and his teammates playing in the toughest division in the NFC.
News Item: Yanks just 4.5 gams back.
Despite what Kris read, I wasn't bashing the Yanks with my movie pitches in a previous post. I was just stating the obvious, that this Yankee team is a touch old with young players mixed in (Somewhat like their neighbors in Queens). But I heard an intersting fact the other day.
The Yanks were only a game off the pace they set last year, a year that saw them in the playoffs. Granted, they only had the Red Sox in front of them at the time, but this year they're only three back in the wild card and have nothing but people coming back from injury to help.
It's a scary time to be in the American League right now, but to steal a page from the Wilpons; In his first season at the helm, Joe Girardi will manage meaningful games in September.
News Item: Mets vs. Flithies for the NL East
Yes, the Marlins are only .5 games back and the Braves haven't officially called it in and traded Mark Teixeira (although I don't know who's going to take him, a Scott Boras client in his walk year when most if not all contenders have 1B locked up)...
But tonight starts the biggest three-game series of the year for both the Mets and Flithies. For the Cheese Steak Boys, they had a chance to run away from this division a couple of weeks back and decided to go into the tank against the AL (4-11). They've realized that Adam Eaton was bantu fodder and Joe Blanton is much better and hope that Brett Myers can hang.
The Mets, and all their front-running fans, should just shut up. I didn't think we would run away with anything this year, but I didn't cry a river and call for everyone's head when they played like crap for the first 6 to 8 weeks of the season.
Nevertheless, who would have thought Delgado would remember to go with pitches the other way and Oli Perez would come down to Earth for a couple of consecutive starts and Mike Pelfrey would remember that it's pretty hard to hit a 92-MPH sinker in the strike zone.
But that's all for not since the season starts today and today is when Johan Santana can earn his HUGE contract. We overpaid him for starts like tonight and I don't expect, I demand he produce with at least 7 innings with less than 3 runs. If he can do that, we'll be OK...
Friday, July 18, 2008
Filowitz's Friday Five
1) The 15-inning All Star Game felt exactly like insomnia. You kept saying, "when will this thing finally end?" Yet you're still lying there, awake, tortured, restless, knowing that the longer it goes on, the worse you're going to feel the next day when it's all over. Thank the Lord what's-his-name got that hit off the guy with the beard, and letting us all finally go to sleep, before the hallucinations (i.e. JD Drew pitching) started.
2) I agree with Kris - Brett Favre needs to go away forever. I can't believe it's to the point that ESPN has a "Favre" category on the bottom crawl. I'm getting so annoyed with this saga that I kind of wish Favre would get his wish, and be forced to play for some crap team like the Falcons, and then suck horribly (which he kind of has for the last 4 years, don't tell Peter King) so everyone can mock him. If he can't go away, he can at least give us schadenfreude.
3) In case you missed it, the Knicks signed guard Anthony Roberson, more or less because of how he played in practice and one summer league game (apparently, the guy can really shoot.) This means the Knicks have more guys under contract than there are roster spots. Most media members thinks this means the end of Starbury. Me, I agree with the Posting and Toasting guys, and think this spells the end of Mardy Collins. I don't really see the point of Mardy Collins. What does he do well? Play defense? Eh. If they made him go away, he would not be missed. Of course, they should still get rid of Starbury. By the way, did you see his head tattoo? Maybe we can get Starbury to box Jose Canseco next.
4) I can't seem to get excited for the Olympics. Not even a little. I'll work on it over the next few weeks, but I'm not making any promises. Track and field and swimming do not make my man-parts stir in any way, shape, or form.
5) In self-promotion news, we've relaunched the political humor blog Suck My Caucus. We've now got it at our own URL, www.SuckMyCaucus.com, instead of hosted by Blogger. If you've been reading us, be sure to switch to the new site. If you haven't been reading us, now's as good a time to start as any. It's updated every weekday with jokes about politics and other things in the news. Read us every day, or subscribe to our feed, or do whatever it is you do when you want to let yourself laugh for a change.
2) I agree with Kris - Brett Favre needs to go away forever. I can't believe it's to the point that ESPN has a "Favre" category on the bottom crawl. I'm getting so annoyed with this saga that I kind of wish Favre would get his wish, and be forced to play for some crap team like the Falcons, and then suck horribly (which he kind of has for the last 4 years, don't tell Peter King) so everyone can mock him. If he can't go away, he can at least give us schadenfreude.
3) In case you missed it, the Knicks signed guard Anthony Roberson, more or less because of how he played in practice and one summer league game (apparently, the guy can really shoot.) This means the Knicks have more guys under contract than there are roster spots. Most media members thinks this means the end of Starbury. Me, I agree with the Posting and Toasting guys, and think this spells the end of Mardy Collins. I don't really see the point of Mardy Collins. What does he do well? Play defense? Eh. If they made him go away, he would not be missed. Of course, they should still get rid of Starbury. By the way, did you see his head tattoo? Maybe we can get Starbury to box Jose Canseco next.
4) I can't seem to get excited for the Olympics. Not even a little. I'll work on it over the next few weeks, but I'm not making any promises. Track and field and swimming do not make my man-parts stir in any way, shape, or form.
5) In self-promotion news, we've relaunched the political humor blog Suck My Caucus. We've now got it at our own URL, www.SuckMyCaucus.com, instead of hosted by Blogger. If you've been reading us, be sure to switch to the new site. If you haven't been reading us, now's as good a time to start as any. It's updated every weekday with jokes about politics and other things in the news. Read us every day, or subscribe to our feed, or do whatever it is you do when you want to let yourself laugh for a change.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Pitching Topher Grace around MLB
OK, I want to get through this while it's still on my mind and there's still some sort of All-Star hangover, especially for those of us who tried to stay up and watch the whole thing...
Anyway...
The Wizard of Ozzie - Grace stars as a media/public relations director for the Chicago White Sox and comedy ensues as he tries to contain Ozzie Guillen
(played by either Freddy RodrÃguez or John Leguizamo) while the White Sox battle with the Twins (and their PR guy played by Bill Murray) for the AL Central crown.
How about an animated feature for Pixar?
Cursebreakers - Grace voices Loyd Christopher, who despite growing up in Redmond, CA was always a Cub fan. He made his pro debut with the 1945 team and didn't get a hit, not until two years later with the White Sox. He bounced around the minors, but never made it back to his adopted home, Chicago, where he died in 1991. At the gates, he's given a chance to go back and get that first hit with the Cubs, only now its 2008.
There's some alternate plot with Joe Black, a New Jersey native who missed his chance to shine for his hometown friends with the Brooklyn Dodgers when Bobby Thompson hits his home run in 1954. Both are dropped back into bodies of late-season callups that make the playoff roster and eventually face off in the NLCS with a trip to the World Series on the line.
This needs a little more work, but you get the drift...
Now the coup de grace, Mindbender.
Grace played Ryan Church and the movie starts with his second concussion, this one in Atlanta when he takes Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar's knee to the head and goes black. We come back to Church in a hospital bed, his wife Tina (played by Maria Bello) looking down and asking him to "Open his eyes and see his son Mason." He notices that Brett Farve is announcing his retirement and then sees video of his first concussion, when he collided with Marlon Anderson in the outfield in March.
The movie moves back and forth, sometimes going back to Church in high school where he's complained of "migranes", other times we come back to present-day and the timeline can be judged by Farve's activity. Sometimes he'll see Farve retired, other times he'll be with the Pack. We're also watching the standing and the Mets and Flithies are neck and neck.
Church comes back in August and plays well for a couple of weeks, but after hitting a two-run double gets dizzy at second base. He scores the run and takes himself out, going back on the DL for two weeks and back again to the head doctor, played by Gary Oldman who looks slightly different each time Church sees him.
The movie ends with Church waking up in his own bed, Tina telling him to open his eyes because he's late. Whether he's late for batting practice, the World Series parade or another doctor appointment is never made clear. This would be pitched to IFC Films and would likely include him talking with football and hockey players about concussions and the modern athlete.
So whadda think?
Anyway...
The Wizard of Ozzie - Grace stars as a media/public relations director for the Chicago White Sox and comedy ensues as he tries to contain Ozzie Guillen
(played by either Freddy RodrÃguez or John Leguizamo) while the White Sox battle with the Twins (and their PR guy played by Bill Murray) for the AL Central crown.
How about an animated feature for Pixar?
Cursebreakers - Grace voices Loyd Christopher, who despite growing up in Redmond, CA was always a Cub fan. He made his pro debut with the 1945 team and didn't get a hit, not until two years later with the White Sox. He bounced around the minors, but never made it back to his adopted home, Chicago, where he died in 1991. At the gates, he's given a chance to go back and get that first hit with the Cubs, only now its 2008.
There's some alternate plot with Joe Black, a New Jersey native who missed his chance to shine for his hometown friends with the Brooklyn Dodgers when Bobby Thompson hits his home run in 1954. Both are dropped back into bodies of late-season callups that make the playoff roster and eventually face off in the NLCS with a trip to the World Series on the line.
This needs a little more work, but you get the drift...
Now the coup de grace, Mindbender.
Grace played Ryan Church and the movie starts with his second concussion, this one in Atlanta when he takes Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar's knee to the head and goes black. We come back to Church in a hospital bed, his wife Tina (played by Maria Bello) looking down and asking him to "Open his eyes and see his son Mason." He notices that Brett Farve is announcing his retirement and then sees video of his first concussion, when he collided with Marlon Anderson in the outfield in March.
The movie moves back and forth, sometimes going back to Church in high school where he's complained of "migranes", other times we come back to present-day and the timeline can be judged by Farve's activity. Sometimes he'll see Farve retired, other times he'll be with the Pack. We're also watching the standing and the Mets and Flithies are neck and neck.
Church comes back in August and plays well for a couple of weeks, but after hitting a two-run double gets dizzy at second base. He scores the run and takes himself out, going back on the DL for two weeks and back again to the head doctor, played by Gary Oldman who looks slightly different each time Church sees him.
The movie ends with Church waking up in his own bed, Tina telling him to open his eyes because he's late. Whether he's late for batting practice, the World Series parade or another doctor appointment is never made clear. This would be pitched to IFC Films and would likely include him talking with football and hockey players about concussions and the modern athlete.
So whadda think?
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Topher Grace in MLB at the Break - AL West
As I'm sure all of you are well aware of, That 70's Show is now in syndication on both ABC Family and The N, not to mention FX and likely one of your local affiliates.
It's one of my favorite shows from the late 1990's into the new century, mostly because the central character in the ensemble cast was played flawlessly by Topher Grace.
So why not look back on each of the MLB Divisions with movie pitches staring Mr. Grace...
(Stick with me on this, there may be a point or two worth reading)
AL West - The Josh Hamilton Story
This one was obvious in so many ways. Need I really spell it out?
OK, fine, using creative license with the story cuz I really don't feel like reading all that's been done about this guy. We'll start out with Hamilton (Grace) in the locker room at Yankee Stadium. He's on the phone with his sponsor/girlfriend, played by Ali Larter, and they talk like he's just another recovering addict.
Then he goes out and bombs 28 taters before millions on ESPN as the credits role.
We go back to Hamilton in high school, killing the ball and running around Raleigh, NC with Megan Fox on his arm.
She is too hot to not have a wild side. Hamilton, being the toast of the town and even more so after Tampa Bay drafts him No. 1, gets everything thrown at him and Fox does as well...
On second thought, I don't know if she can handle the role and what it needs because the duo are headed to a real bad place. I think Grace can handle the coke and the herion and the like based on his time in Traffic and that part can last long enough for her to die from an overdose, like Halle Berry did in Jungle Fever.
Well, maybe she didn't die in A Spike Lee Joint, but what's wrong with another excuse to look at the new mother.
Anyway, Hamilton goes down far enough into the gutter that he stumbles onto a Little League baseball field where Larter's son is playing. One thing leads to another and you can figure out the rest.
Unfortunetly, we'll end with the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles celebrating their division title at the Ballpark in Arlington. Hamilton heads back to the locker room and goes into a dark place, striking out to end the game and all. He looks like he's headed back down that bad road, then Larter's kid shows up with a big smile and everyone is happy again.
Hooray!!!
It's one of my favorite shows from the late 1990's into the new century, mostly because the central character in the ensemble cast was played flawlessly by Topher Grace.
So why not look back on each of the MLB Divisions with movie pitches staring Mr. Grace...
(Stick with me on this, there may be a point or two worth reading)
AL West - The Josh Hamilton Story
This one was obvious in so many ways. Need I really spell it out?
OK, fine, using creative license with the story cuz I really don't feel like reading all that's been done about this guy. We'll start out with Hamilton (Grace) in the locker room at Yankee Stadium. He's on the phone with his sponsor/girlfriend, played by Ali Larter, and they talk like he's just another recovering addict.
Then he goes out and bombs 28 taters before millions on ESPN as the credits role.
We go back to Hamilton in high school, killing the ball and running around Raleigh, NC with Megan Fox on his arm.
She is too hot to not have a wild side. Hamilton, being the toast of the town and even more so after Tampa Bay drafts him No. 1, gets everything thrown at him and Fox does as well...
On second thought, I don't know if she can handle the role and what it needs because the duo are headed to a real bad place. I think Grace can handle the coke and the herion and the like based on his time in Traffic and that part can last long enough for her to die from an overdose, like Halle Berry did in Jungle Fever.
Well, maybe she didn't die in A Spike Lee Joint, but what's wrong with another excuse to look at the new mother.
Anyway, Hamilton goes down far enough into the gutter that he stumbles onto a Little League baseball field where Larter's son is playing. One thing leads to another and you can figure out the rest.
Unfortunetly, we'll end with the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles celebrating their division title at the Ballpark in Arlington. Hamilton heads back to the locker room and goes into a dark place, striking out to end the game and all. He looks like he's headed back down that bad road, then Larter's kid shows up with a big smile and everyone is happy again.
Hooray!!!
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