Good Lookin Out

I love road side signs. They provide entertainment on what usually is a very dull drive from point A to B. I particularly like this sign because who hasn't fallen victim to a dreaded speed trap? I know I have about twice. And both times I not only would have laughed my a$$ off after seeing the cop but would have been very appreciative. This is a community I'd be proud to live in.

Rules are Rules, or at Least They Should Be

GRAY



Thorough Thursday:
Hit the Books Bro



Derek Rose is going to be a great NBA player. As a Chicagoan, and as an avid basketball fan, I am simply amazed by his talent and composure at such a young age. I have been more than willing, on several occasions, to drop upwards of $50 to sit within arm’s length of the ceiling in the United Center, just to watch him play. And best of all, he is a player I can really get behind as he embodies so many attributes that I admire, ones that are so Chicago….stoicism, poise, self-reliance, and humility. He’s the rawness basically. So when I heard this morning that the University of Memphis had been charged with major violations for the 2007-2008 team that Rose played on, I hoped that he would not be implicated in any wrong doing as I worried that this image may be tarnished. After looking into the story further, my fears were confirmed when I read that the allegations include "knowing fraudulence or misconduct" on an SAT exam by a player on the 2007-08 team. Sources confirmed that the player was indeed Derek Rose.

Though the full story is not out yet, it sounds to me as if Rose’s SAT numbers were altered or manipulated in some way in order to meet a minimum requirement for either admission, or some provision within the athletic department that allowed him to hoop. Many will argue that this is not a big deal because Rose is clearly a star in the NBA, who wouldn’t have attended college had it not been for the 1 year rule. He did what he had to do, served his mandatory year of college, and now he is fulfilling his destiny in the NBA, so who cares about his SAT score? Well you know what? I do. I think its garbage and I’ll tell you why.

I’m not what you would call a staunch conservative when it comes to rules, but I do know that when you break a rule too much, chaos ensues. And that’s what we have here. Of course Rose will be OK, and his Final Four run and career in the NBA serve as justification for any SAT snafu. But it sets a horrible president for Division 1 athletics and I think the athletes are the ones who miss out. The problem is, illegal perks, SAT/ACT score alterations, and athletic boosters in general don’t just exist at top schools with top recruits, they exist at the bottom schools as well. For every Derek Rose at powerhouse Memphis, there are plenty lesser ballers at schools like Illinois State, Northern Iowa, and Wisconsin Milwaukee who receive similar treatment at their schools from coaches and boosters who want to win and keep their jobs just as bad as any big time coach in a big time program. And that has created a culture in which far too many college athletes, (including a great many who aren’t good enough to go pro) are encourages from day -one not to value their education and not to worry about the rules because push come to shove, we will bend or break them for you.

I do believe a special lifestyle should be assigned to college athletes, because they do something that most cannot do, and people pay money to see them do it. But Rose and every player who has had the rules bended to be admitted or maintain eligibility represent a slap in the face to the rest of us who do what we have to do, before we get to do what we want to do. Rose is a kid of sound intelligence; Simeon is a good public high school. If the rule is that you need a damn 1000 on your SAT to be admitted into Memphis, make him take the test until he gets 1000. My problem is that the very rules that are being exploited and broken are the ones the NCAA set in place to protect the interest of the student athlete. I can’t say that I blame Derek Rose, but I regret that he doesn’t experience failure of scoring too low on his SATs, and the redemption of working hard to improve the score. Sure, Rose doesn’t really need that lesson in his life,….but countless other athletes really do.

The Toughest Sports To Play...My Take

GRAY
Like sports? Me too, but I always find myself wondering which ones are the hardest to play. Fortunately for you, I happen to know which sports in this crazy world are the most impressive….to EVERYONE. And I will give you the reasons why. So if you’re looking to be impressed and entertained, I’ll tell you which athletes you should be in awe of, and for what reasons.

Defense…if you like defense, be impressed by tennis players.
Tennis-Hardest sport to defend at the highest level.


For a singles match, it’s one man or woman protecting one side of the court that is 39 ft long and 27 ft wide. In essence, oneperson protecting 1,053 square feet from a tiny yellow ball that is only allowed to bounce ONCE. Thus, you have to be everywhere at ONCE. Couple that with the fact that you have gunners like Roddick serving the ball at 140 mph and Nadal returning shots near 80 mph and it puts Tennis players heads and shoulders above other athletes in terms of keeping the other side from scoring. No other athletes in no other sports have to cover this much ground, this quickly in the name of defense…and by the way, these matches go on for hours.

Offense…if you like Offense be impressed by MLB baseball players
Baseball-Hardest sport to play offense at the highest level

Using a round bat to hit a round ball that is barreling toward you at speeds up to 100 mph literally sounds impossible. In fact, had you never heard of baseball and never seen it done before, you probably would think that was impossible. Thus, hitting a baseball is the hardest single thing to do in professional sports. And it just happens to be the essence of this highly skilled game. There need be no argument here, because the greatest offensive baseball players in the history of the game,… only hit successfully about 3 out of every 10 tries.



Physically Demanding…if you like finely tuned athletic machines, be impressed by NFL Football Players
Football-the most physically demanding sport at the highest level.

Playing in the NFL takes years off your life. That is a fact, and it’s evident in every bone-jarring collision that is as routine in football as a fly-ball, or a jump-shot are in other sports. The game is a constant barrage of violent hits, played by real life giants. The evidence…The average size of an American adult male is 5”9” 180 pounds….the average size of a NFL player is 6”1” 245 pounds….and not only are they enormous, but they move faster than we can ever imagine. Soccer has football beat on endurance running close to 8 miles a match, but their body does not take the same punishment. Boxing definitely takes a toll on your body, but boxers do not strap on the gloves for a fight once a week for 16 weeks straight.


If you like overall athletic prowess and skill…be impressed by NHL Hockey players
Hockey—the hardest sport to compete in at the highest level



This game is played on Ice people, ICE! A near frictionless surface, no other team sport can boast such a distinction. To be a professional hockey player you MUST,..(even if you’re a benchwarmer) be a world class skater. As if that weren’t enough, hockey players don’t touch the object of the game with their hands, but instead use a long wooden stick, extended away from their bodies, in order to control a slick puck that is also on Ice people, ICE! Hockey has every sport in the world beat in terms of difficulty because at the end of the day in all the others,…you still standing with your feet on the Ground.

Questions? Comments? Good. Glad to clear that up for you.

Playoffs Optional?

In the West corner is 3 time NBA champion and the 2007-08 NBA Most Valuable Player, Kooooobe BRYant! And in the East's corner is the Chosen One, your 2008-09 MVP, the King, LeBRON Jaaaaames!

That introduction would no doubt be read by Michael Buffer as he gets us ready to rumble prior to the NBA Finals. The basketball world has been abuzz about a potential match-up between the Lakers and Cavaliers since the playoffs began. The Lakers finished the regular season with the 1 seed in the West and the Cavs won an NBA best 66 games. Everyone then expected these MVPs to lead their teams to the finals to duel not only for the NBA championship but for the crown of best player in the NBA. But with the Lakers tied 2-2 versus the Denver Nuggets and the Cavs trailing 1-3 against the Orlando Magic, talks of a dream match-up may have been premature.

Kobe's Lakers are a good team, but they are not great. Andrew Bynum has forgotten that he is 7 feet tall and looks like college would have done his body good. Lamar Odom remains an enigma. He can do so many good things on the court, but right now remains a liability by committing stupid fouls and missing layups and free throws. They also don't have much production coming from their point guards. Derek Fisher should get lost on the bench, Jordan Farmar can not score or slow even Anthony Carter and Shannon Brown is too busy getting tattoos.

Lebron's Cavs are not a good team, plain and simple. They do not have a coach nor do they have that second superstar that many championship teams have. The Lakers have Pau Gasol and the Cavs answer with Anderson Varejao? Mo Williams may have had an All-Star caliber season, but he did so by mainly being the recipient of the kick out from Lebron on the drive. Lebron is great, but even Michael Jordan did not win without significant help. Danny Ferry has tried but come up short in building a great team.

All that being said, these two teams were the best teams in their respective conferences during the regular season. Which is why I understand Nike's move to push an ad campaign featuring puppets of Kobe and Lebron living together. Not that ratings would struggle without Nike's efforts but isn't the fact that neither team is showing dominance the reason why you play the game? Isn't this the argument made every year against the BCS? Championships are not handed out, they are earned. Right now there are 4 teams, NOT 2, fighting to earn their rings. Remember that as ESPN shows their Kobe/Lebron montage for the 100th time.

Good For Morale

GRAY
Funny Photo Friday
Self Esteem Boost

If you are a guy, who has been to his fair share of taverns and watering holes, then you have no doubt seen creative displays on a wall in front of a urinal. Many bars like to put up fun facts, silly bar jokes, a list of top pick-up lines, or even pornography to keep their male patrons amused while peeing. But all of those efforts pale in comparison to the bathroom featured in the photo above.

When holding his penis, there is no better sight to a man than the face of a woman who is impressed by it. So big, medium, small, every dude in this bar is walking out of that bathroom with a smile on their face and a renewed energy to find a real-life girl who may make that same facial expression later. And that pursuit of a real-life woman will certainly lead to more money in this bar’s pocket. So big ups to whoever thought of this lil scheme. And I’m just going to assume that in the woman’s bathroom, there are guys on the door of each stall with their hand stretched out….offering either flowers, engagement rings, their free time, or big stacks of money.Happy Hunting.

I'm Convinced that He's Convinced

Throrough Thursdays:
Inside the mind of James Harrison

Those of the BUSE nation that know me personally know that I have a couple theories about people and their behavior. One of which is that stupid people are often thoroughly convinced in their own stupidity. James Harrison is officially one of those people. Harrison, is the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker who made almost all of the big plays for the modern Steel Curtain in their Super Bowl win against the Cardinals this February. Because he came to the Steelers as an undrafted free agent, he has always carried himself with a chip on his shoulder and has now earned the respect as one of the games top linebackers. He got a new contract, lots of money, and apparently, a profound perspective on the duties of a champion. This week Harrison spoke out about his decision to resend an invitation to the White House from President Obama. Harrison, who also skipped the team visit after winning the Super Bowl in 06, will be the only Steeler who not in attendance. When asked why, he offered an example of his blindingly faulty reasoning,

“If you want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers, invite us when we don’t win the Super Bowl. As far as I’m concerned, he would have invited Arizona, if they would have won. I don’t feel the need to actually go. I don’t feel like it’s a big deal to me.”

Right off the bat. Harrison is an idiot. It doesn’t even make sense, so don’t argue that he’s entitled to his opinion, because stupid opinions are particularly maddening. Harrison is grinding my gears right now because there are 3 reasons why he should have never came to this decision.

He is an adult—so he shouldn’t have the reasoning skills of a small boy. Why is he taking offense to the fact that the White House invitation is only being afforded to him because he won the Super Bowl? Of course it is. The same way every team doesn’t get a trophy, a ring, a parade….the winners get certain shit James. You have been playing sports all your life why are you confused.

He is a pro football player—your status alone should make you want to accept an invitation to meet the man who runs the country in which you make a living. I realize Harrison is a millionaire star athlete now, but recognize the significance of the moment as well as your rightful place in that moment. Nobody is tripping because you aren’t going; he’s the damn president. Humble yourself and accept the invitation, show up, take a picture and shake the man’s hand. Honestly, do you think Obama is really geeked up to meet James Harrison, no. He has important things to do, like fix the world. Obama is offering YOU a privilege, not the other way around.


He is a black man—leave it to Harrison to not understand the social significance of meeting the first black president. Regardless of if he voted for Obama, you live in a country where people died for your right to vote, and died for Obama’s right to hold office. I’m not saying that he needs to be a champion for his race or a social pioneer, but understand that as a black man, you look silly in your overt ambivalence towards an opportunity to meet Obama. It is a big deal James; it’s much bigger than you. (Or your enormous head) (Easily on steroids btw.. but the whole NFL is so whatever)

Harrison is a grown man, so I’m not mad at him for choosing not to do something he doesn’t want to do. But I’m furious at how he arrived at that conclusion. He used disgustingly poor logic and despite getting blasted for it, he hasn’t even attempted to clean up his reasoning and make it more respectable. I hope he never gets invited to anything, Literally, again….White House visits, birthday parties, weddings, wine tastings......in fact if I’m on the Steelers, I’m turning down the next invitation he gives me.

Age Doesn't Matter at the Ball Field

Everyone who attends a Major League game hopes to leave the stadium with something they did not bring. Whether it be a win, a buzz or something more concrete, such as an autograph, depending on the person. However there is one thing, that given a chance, every fan goes crazy for, a game ball. Fans near either dugout stand and scream for one every half inning. Fans down the baseline risk ejection leaning over the rail as a ball rolls their way (often not caring if it is fair or foul). And when a ball is hit into the stands either a giant game of 500 or a mad dash ensues.

Yesterday, Buse was fortunate enough to take in a game between the White Sox and Twins. In the bottom of the second inning Jim Thome stepped up to the plate and hit a foul ball towards our general direction. This prompted Grey to ask if we had a chance of getting a foul ball, which he then answered with a probably not, seeing as our seats were in row 33 of section 134 underneath the LG Skyline seats. Meaning someone would have to drop their souvenir for us to have a chance. Two pitches later Thome hit the ball directly over us, once I saw the ball disappear I began looking down again. Seconds later the ball came down two rows in front of me, bounced back into my chest. After a minor squabble with Grey the ball was mine! My first ever game ball! But before I had finished reveling in my minor accomplishment, I was asked to give the ball up. A dad, a row ahead, asked, "How about giving the ball to my daughter? It's her first Sox game."

Therein lies the problem. Being publicly called out by some dude I've never met to give my souvenir to some little girl I'll never see again. Being asked angered me because once I declined I looked like a jerk, but I could live with that. Because, guess what, I'M A FAN TOO!!! Just like you, DAD, I walked in hoping for a ball. Just because you're a little kid it doesn't mean you are more deserving or entitled to a ball. I'm now reminded of an episode from Rocko's Modern Life. Rocko gets his first ball at a game only to be pressured into giving the ball to the puppy dog eyed little boy near him. The decision to or not to eats at Rocko all episode until he finally gives in and gives the little boy his ball. Rocko justifies his decision by acknowledging how noble a move it was thinking the boy will cherish it forever. However the episode ends with the boy taking the leather off and unraveling the ball to get to the center. Moral of the story: keep your trophy ball because not only did you earn it but what are the chances of you getting another ball? Little kids have a lifetime left to earn their, let them wait.

Kobe is STILL BETTER than Lebron

GRAY

No Tuesday Tutorial
Just the facts of an important issue.

I will make no secret, I love Kobe Bryant, and he’s my favorite player in the NBA, (besides the Birdman Chris Anderson….”Birrrrlll”!) But I am a journalist at heart, and I can analyze anything objectively. Thus, I need to put a stop to all this “Lebron has surpassed Kobe” talk that I am hearing from everywhere. Because the Kobe hatred and Lebron love seem to be inversely related, I have to squash all that and tell you why Kobe Bryant is the best hooper on the planet,..Still BETTER than Lebron James. Lebron’s statistics have largely been distorted, this year, so I will take each popular Lebron argument and dissect it to help you realize your mistake.

Argument. Lebron scores more points, has more assists, and grabs more boards. He gives your team more than Kobe.

True, but misleading for these reasons. In terms of points, Lebron plays in the East, plain and simple. There is less defense, less defensively sound big men, and most importantly, less coaching in the Eastern conference. If Kobe played in the East, his scoring would be off the charts, i.e.(81 against the Raptors, 61 against the Knicks, both of them away games!) Assists—I can admit that Lebron is a better passer and assist man, but Kobe plays on a team in which the offense goes through him. Lebron’s plays on a team in which he is the offense. No matter who shoots on the Cavs, the offense is designed so that Lebron is the one giving them the ball. It doesn’t work that way with the Lakers when you have players like Gasol, Bynum, and Odom who can score regardless of who is passing to them. Give Lebron his props, but don’t hold it against Kobe that he plays to his team’s strengths.

Same thing with rebounds, Lebron is required to do a lot of rebounding for the Cavs, but Kobe has 2 seven footers and the game’s best rebounding swing man in Odom, on his front line, rebounding is not his responsibility.

Argument. The only knock on Lebron was his free throws and defense, and this year he shot 78% from the line and made 1st team all defense.

Kobe still shoots better from the line at 85%. And defensively, it is not even close. Lebron made the Defensive 1st team because of his stats, lots of steals and lots of blocks. But when you’re 6 “8”, and leaving your man for weak side blocks, that’s not great D, that’s aggressive athleticism. Because what doesn’t show up in the stat line are the countless times his efforts for weak side blocks left his man wide open for jump shots, lay-ups, and offensive rebounds. Secondly, steals are also a misleading statistic. They too are NOT great defensive plays, but mere mistakes by the offense, they are turnovers.

Perfect example—Chris Paul made 1st team all defense this year, (largely because he led the league in steals) but in the playoffs against Denver, he got lit up by Chauncey Billups for 23 points and 7 assists per game. He’s supposed to be the BEST defensive pg if he is on the first team all defense, but the guy that he’s guarding scores 5 more points than his season average during the playoffs? Steals aren’t defense people, because Chris Paul and Lebron James can’t stop anyone from scoring unless they make a mistake. Kobe doesn’t make the 1st team all defense (this year for the 7th time) because of misleading stats. It’s because he defends multiple positions well, and locks you down, makes it hard for you to dribble, shoot, and pass.

Argument. Numbers don’t lie, in every major category, Lebron is better this year, including the win column.

The Cavs had the best record in the league.Let’s not forget this is just one season. Kobe is just one season removed from being the MVP so it’s ridiculous to say that Lebron has now solidified his spot above Kobe after just one season of having the numbers to back the claim. Secondly, sometimes, numbers do lie…..this year Kevin Durant averaged more points, more assists, shot better from the three point line and the free throw line, and made fewer turnovers than Carmelo Anthony….is Durant now better than Anthony? Of course not. Don’t be false “witness” to Lebron’s greatness, he had a great season, but stop saying he is better than Kobe.

TrackFiends.Net

Monday Mullings: Need More Sources

File sharing and free downloads have evolved into a huge subculture in the world of music. I for one spend countless hours, seeking, sifting, and selecting tracks on Limewire…hoping for the perfect download that does not begin with a longwinded, narcissistic rant by either by DJ Kay Slay or DJ Drama…..and preferably ones that do not end with some fellow insisting that I “hit up Trackfiends.net” because it’s “got that fire” and I can “cop an exclusive sound kit”. I do it because I love music, and Limewire just happens to be the freest and easiest way to enjoy the music I love. But is it wrong? Morally? Is it really a moral issue? I’m starting to think so and I’m mulling over the question today, is it OK to download free music? Here’s how I break it down, but I’ll need some spirited comments to help form my decision.

Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free. It’s a true adage that applies to every situation in life , especially this one. Perfect example—D4L’s Shake that Laffy Taffy is literally, the most heavily downloaded song of all time. (by leaps and bounds)….but their album, which was shitty, sold like shit….and we haven’t heard from them since. So in this world of all to frequent one hit wonders, downloading comes in handy because paying any amount of money just to bump Laffy Taffy would be absurd. That song should be permanently assigned to track 1 on the mixed CD’s of 8th graders at a juke party in 2005. Thus, my guitar doesn’t gently weep for D4L. Though their record may have sold better had it not been for free downloading, they put out an inferior product that doesn’t deserve to be bought. So here, I feel good about my downloading practices.


On the other hand, there are artists like Eminem. I bring up Slim Shady because his blindingly hot new album the Relapse has inspired this blog. He is extremely talented, with a loyal fan base that buys whatever he puts out. But Eminem got money, knew it, and took it out his pocket and threw it when he attracted the casual rap fans with the Marshall Mathers and Slim Shady LPs. That’s where the real bucks are in any form of entertainment, and Limewire challenges that. The problem is, that in the world of Limewire, the casual fan downloads, he doesn’t buy. Albums have always been and will always be leaked, so people are going to get free music forever. But when a bootlegger hooks up a casual fan with that leak, the money train stops, the casual fan is perfectly fine with downloading each one of the songs he likes, and then moving on. And that, in essence, to me is in fact stealing. Why the difference between Eminem and D4L? Because stealing is relative, just like everything. You steal a French fry off my plate, I let it slide. If you steal my car, we’re going to fight about it. Musically, D4L is a French fry, and Eminem is a beastly Mercedes. So I’m not alright, morally, with taking money out of Eminem’s pocket but then enjoying his music all the same. Regardless of how successful he is or how much money he already has. That’s his livelihood; the fruits of his labor, so exploiting that seems a little wrong.

Hence my frustration BUSE-nation. Determining how I feel may not change my behavior, because money is tight and I’m not too excited about paying 1 buck a song for the ITunes model. I have 1,000 songs on my iPod, but please believe I wouldn’t even own one if I knew filling it would cost $1,000. A few things to keep in mind, Limewire is not illegal, it’s just a loop hole. They make money when people upgrade to Limewire Pro, which gives you a license to file share, but that license costs $25 and the program cost $21. But as long as you keep clicking “no” when you’re asked to upgrade to the Pro service, you have an unlimited trial membership and you can use the service for free…forever. So who are you cheating, the system or the artists? And is it wrong either way?

Funny Photo,..well Video Friday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsG5uq9xOKo

I love Nike. Not their shoes because they suck. Not their clothes because they are far overpriced, and definitely not their practices because I don’t like the idea of a 5 year old in Indonesia making my hoopin shoes for a penny an hour. No, I love Nike’s marketing. It’s brilliant, beyond reproach, and ahead by leaps and bounds compared to all other athletic apparel distributors. Proof of that bold statement lies in the two commercials I’ve posted on today’s blog.

Nike’s marketing team is simply genius because they realized that with NBA commercials that tell us how “amazing” the playoffs are running every ten seconds, fans do not need to be reminded that Kobe Bryant and Lebron James (the NBA’s two best players) are on a collision course to the finals. Instead of a commercial showing a montage of their career highlights, or a black and white film reel of the two stars dribbling a ball as young children……Nike ignored those clichés and went in different directions. Great comedians make fun of themselves, and Nike does a great job of poking fun at their own spokesman with these lil puppet commercials.

LeBron really does take the whole chalk clapping thing too far. And he reminds us after every game that he is playing extra hard because its the "playoffs"

Kobe has told the media thousands of times this year that this years Lakers team is "hungry". And he revels in the fact that he had "3 rings" before he was 30.

What better time than during the NBA playoffs to make fun of Kobe and Lebron for their respective egos and personalities? If you have ever watched a game of these two, or listened to either of them speak at a press conference, you can’t help but laugh at these ads. SO even though you have seen em a bunch by now, watch again and laugh out loud at work like I do.

As always, Vive Guayama! (Now at full strength)
Alerta! Los Brujos!

The Good Ol' Days?

In an event meant to highlight the link between Robert E. Lee and Kappa Alpha Order, the members of this fraternity dressed in Confederate uniforms and waved confederate flags. The antebellum-themed 'Old South' event was held on the campus of the University of Alabama. It also just so happened to parade past Alpha Kappa Alpha, a well known black sorority, while they celebrated their 35th anniversary. Both events occurred peaceably, however Alpha Kappa Alpha alumna, Joyce Stallworth, was quoted saying, "They were being insensitive. I don't think they understood the broader implications of what they were doing."

I hope these college students did not understand the broader implications of their actions. Anyone who does, knows that a celebration of the 'Old South' is akin to Germans celebrating the Nazis. Southerners must let this part of their 'history' fade away. What from this chapter of their history is there to be proud of? Losing to the North? A generation of dead men? The destruction of their land? The near end to our union? Or the enslavement of an entire race?

To an extent it is important that Southerners do not completely forget this part of their past. The Germans attempted to erase all that connected them to their Nazi past. Clearly the incorrect way to embrace one's history, because if for nothing else history is there to learn from. So Southerners never forget your past, but stop celebrating something that conjures such negative sentiment. The Confederates were not some cool rebels meant to be romanticized. They stood for a divided America in which it was perfectly acceptable to enslave other human beings. People of the south, move the hell on already.

Van Gone-dy

The winner of this year's coach of the year award in the NBA was Mike Brown. Brown has been heralded throughout the playoffs by all for involving his assistants to the point of them taking practices and the huddle over. Brown also said he runs his game plans by his star player Lebron James for approval. What a great coach. Despite the lack of a real coach the Cavs were still the Eastern Conference's best team. Which goes to show that players, such as the dynamic Lebron James, win games. That being said coaches can still cost their team games and that is exactly what Stan Van Gundy did last night against the Boston Celtics in a critical game 5.

Van Gundy decided to ignore the lone dominate player on his roster as his Orlando Magic blew yet another double digit lead to fall behind 3-2 in their best of 7 series. Players like Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis were instead called upon to dribble the clock out (since they have no point guard) and then proceed to take a horrible 3. Isn't it common sense that when you have a big man the other team can not guard, you get him the ball in the post late in games and have your other players spot up for the shots he creates? Has Shaq not won 4 rings over the course of his career? Come on coach. You lost the game for your team and possibly the series.

There is a reason Pat Reilly took over for the Miami Heat in 2006. He knew the team would not meet its championship aspirations with Stan Van Gundy at the helm. While this Orlando team can remain a force within the East for years to come, if they want to win a championship last night was a perfect example of why Van Gundy must go. Under the pressure of the big lights he has become a whiner constantly complaining about his team, who wilts when the game is on the line.

Movies Done Right

You don't have to be a member of the screen actors or writers guild to be an avid movie fan. Nor is it expected of you to attend ComicCon yearly to be considered a fan of comic books. So when both worlds collide it is easy to understand why the public gets so excited. An epic tale like that of Batman's has survived for decades and through countless interpretations. Making it no wonder these fantastic stories draw wonder, awe and excitement once combined with Hollywood. However the special effects and star power of Hollywood coupled with a timeless story and characters is not always a recipe for success.

Success by Hollywood's standards is measured in dollars and cents but as a fan I am more concerned with the actual product. Meeting and exceeding the expectations of comic book movie adaptations are hard without a doubt. With movies such as the Hulk (2003) receiving much hype and appearing to be promising with lots of action only to lack a compelling story. Movies like the Hulk fail because they take entirely too many liberties and lack a strong well developed villain. Liberties must be taken to make the movie yours but Hollywood must know when to say when. The X-Men trilogy may have grossed extremely well but the story suffered with each movie. Key and loved characters were missing or dramatically altered (Gambit was not in any of the 3 movies and Rogue was hardly a shell of the character made famous in the cartoons).

Although we know who the heroes are and have heard the stories, it is still important that the heroes be properly developed once on the big screen. Do you think it is a coincidence the best superhero movies have been sequels (Spider-Man 2 and Batman Dark Knight)? No, both movies had a prequel that identified and developed the major players and a story. Both movies also took the time to let the audience get to know both the heroes and villains while forming a solid foundation for future films.

With many more comic book movies lined up for future production and release, one can only hope that the characters and stories are not only kept intact but also given time to grow. Although all movies ought to stand on their own merit, poorly done sequels and trilogies do still tarnish previously successful films. So once Spider-Man 4 and 5 are released or Iron Man 2 we all can only hope the directors, producers and writers are not over zealous and deliver another sound product.

Racial Profiling at its most Hilarious

Gray
Funny Photo Fridays: Somebody has it out for this TV news anchor.












This photo is the funniest version of racial profiling I have ever seen. Sure, it may be a coincidence that the man suspected of rape is apparently the twin brother of the anchor. (I mean the police sketch and the man to the right are staright up identical. In fact, I would arrest him during the next commercial break.) But if you are the director of this newscast, why would you have that anchor, read the story associated with a graphic of a police sketch that implicates him as a rapist. Let the other anchor read this story, that way you can give my boy here a head start to run from the cops.

Black people have a lot of hang ups about white people thinking that "all black people look alike", particulary when it comes to police sketches and suspect descriptions. So I hope the police in this case handled the situation delicately. Because without question, that is the most generic looking black man I have ever seen, as well as the most generic looking sketch of what a black man lis supposed to look like. For perspective on how funny this is, you can't do better than Dave Chappelle."

"That's why I think Asian people should just chill out. It ain't so bad with the whole look alike thing. For instance, a lot of people think all black people look alike. And we don't get mad or all bent out of shape about it, we usually just call these people 'Police'. "

Back Monday with more realness.

Bakers Square Anyone?

Whether on the big stage like Paul Pierce or small stage like Caciques, humility can not be forgotten. After game 7 Paul Pierce, the captain of defending NBA champions, admitted that he and his team took the Bulls for granted. And this past weekend Caciques was hassling Guayama's coach asking about the slaughter rule with an eleven run lead in the fifth inning. The Bulls pushed the Celtics to the limit as a seven seed. And Guayama not only came back to win that game but won game 2 as well.

The old sports cliche goes anyone can beat anyone on any given day. The adage reminds athletes to remain humble no matter who you are playing against, because you never know when a team is going to have their 'Little Giants' moment. A lack of humility causes complacency and while competing there is no room for complacency. Had the Bulls gotten the ball to bounce their way at all during game 7, Pierce's admission may have come under different circumstances-if at all.

Learning and practicing humility while on the playing field is important because it often gives people a leg up later in life. Participating in sports is vital to the development of kids, since there many learn life's lessons. Being humble means you do not take things for granted, showing up is not enough. With humility in your approach you are more ready to take on any opponent or task at hand, while truly giving it your best. If someone like Derrick Rose, who has always been the best, can remain humble through it all, then us weekend warriors ought to have no problem following in his footsteps. Trust me, you will be better for it.

I've Had Enough of this Anti-Favre Sentiment

GRAY
Whoop That Trick Wednesday: Fans Need to Chill Out





All too often, fans feel entitled to form opinions about certain athletes based on non-tangible sports ideals like legacy, tradition, rivalry, and other concepts that are valued at a high emotional price when it comes to sports. In these cases, making decisions that go against these ideals upset fans greatly(…Examples…Jordan coming out of retirement to the Wizards after ending his career with the Bulls as a champion…..Johnny Damon leaving the Red sox as a free agent to play for the Yankees…)when these things happened, fans got pissed. So yesterday when the news broke that future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre is mulling another comeback to the NFL, this time with the Vikings, not surprisingly, many Packer fans, and football purists were outraged. Today Brett Favre is getting whooped by fans all over for merely contemplating a comeback with the Vikings. So on his behalf; I am going to whoop ALL of those fans who claim to have beef with good old #4.

You see, not only will fans never understand what it’s like to be a professional athlete, but conversely, professional athletes will never understand what it’s like to be a fan. The overwhelming majority of pro athletes, particularly football players, have been the stars of the teams they care about for their entire lives. They have never spent significant time, money, or energy on simply being a fan of their high school, college or pro team. We are from two different worlds. So while many things in sports are debatable topics for all of society, the urge to keep playing and keep making money is not one of these topics. No fan, anywhere, ever, should be hating on Brett Favre for thinking he can still play and wanting to collect a check because if the right people agree with Favre (i.e.. the Vikings) then your opinion is grossly irrelevant. Also, for the many Packer fans that feel betrayed because Favre would come back and play for the “rival” Vikings, and see it as Favre getting revenge on the organization that scorned him…Get over it…Really! Has Brett Favre not given Packers fans enough? He’s the most famous player in your team’s history, won your only recent Super Bowl, and actually made that small market Midwest town a relevant city throughout the 90s and up until 2007. He shouldn’t have to be buried in his game uniform to preserve his legacy. It should be cemented.


I’m sick of fans making a huge fuss about the greed, vanity, and narcissism of professional athletes, because in reality much of those perceived negative traits are overstated. I believe that because of their tremendous salaries, their extravagant lifestyles and the fact that they play a game for a living, pro athletes are subject to weighted resentment and conduct standards assigned to no other members of society. And while I agree that people of great wealth and prominence should be held to and judged by greater standards, I feel that their personalities should be analyzed a whole lot less and their motives should not be constantly called into question. As fans we like to think that “we” would act differently if we could switch places with some of these athletes. Perhaps more humble and more gracious and respectful, and certainly we would be conscious of how much fans love us, and give back to the community because we make so much money, and always play hard yada yada…etc….But this is not true. In a perfect world pro athletes would be role models and represent the best aspects and virtues associated with sport and tremendous wealth. But, they are people, who have the same flaws, insecurities, and personal defects as everyone else. Making millions of dollars or throwing and catching a ball for a living does not change that.

So relax outraged football fans. If Favre wants to play until he’s 80, let him play. If Favre wants to hold a grudge against the Pack, let the Pack worry about it. You are definitely entitled to an opinion, but Favre doesn’t owe you anything. So your opinion doesn’t really matter as much as you think it does.

The Proprieties and Improprieties of Drinking Games

GRAY


Tuesday Tutorial: Do's and Don'ts; Will's and Won'ts

This Tuesday, I want to address and provide insight on a topic that, despite my age, is still a very relevant issue. Drinking Games. As a 22 year old man, nearly 2 years removed from my college days and the youthful prime of my best binge drinking abilities, I have come to appreciate drinking games much more. It’s surprising how often they can make or break a night, and so I wanted to show my appreciation by giving you a little tutorial on some of our favorite games; instructing you when and when not to play them.


Cards Boozing
Games like F*** the Dealer, Ring of Fire, Connections, Tourettes, Up and Down the River

Card games are excellent ice breakers and should be used primarily when boozing in a mixed gendered environment. In all card drinking games everyone takes a turn with all eyes on them, and often times, they are given the chance to interact directly with another person as a result of their turn. So whether that turn involves taking a card, predicting a card, blurting out an answer, or commanding another player to drink,…the opportunities for flirtation are endless as you can choose to zone in on any participant and run as much gizzle as possible within the confines of the game. For a mixed audience, card games are just ideal.

Do not however play cards when the audience is all one gender. For guys it’s a bad idea because card games are all games of chance, and men prefer games of actual competition based on skill. (Beer pong, beer dye, baseball etc.) Basically if we win in a card game with all guys, “we’re awesome”. If we lose, “the game is bullshit”. Card drinking games and an all male cast of players is one of the early stages of ridiculous “beer balls” that present themselves in an ugly moments later in the night. As for women, in card drinking games, no one gets drunk evenly. Someone ends up pulling the unlucky card that forces them to drink more than everyone else. This is bad for women because when they don’t drink evenly, one woman gets TOO drunk. A woman who is TOO drunk can only lead to night riding, or babysitting, both of which are undesirable circumstances for every woman involved.

Mobile Boozing
Games like Speed Quarters, Civil War (or any beer pong game with live rebounds), ClusterF***

These games are definitely tight. It’s hilarious to hustle around a table, or slide cups around in a fast-paced high scoring fashion. But these games should not be played in unfamiliar confines. All too often at parties you have the group of friends who want to turn the beer pong table into the Civil War table, or who want to turn the card table into the speed quarters table. When this happens, they bring uninvited intensity into a party and should they happen to be annoying, everyone now hates them. Mobile boozing games should be kept among friends, in those same friend’s homes and apartments. Don’t bring your mobile boozing to my house, because if I don’t know you that well, I can’t have you boxing me out for rebounds or breaking my drinking glasses with quarters.

Games that Should Never be Played again…
Anything that involves chanting…Zoomy Zoomy/Fuck You

These games suck. What is this? Kindergarten??! We all sing together now. We look like idiots out here pounding a table and then clapping our hands in unison. Not to mention, we’re grown ass men and women, I’m sure there is a quieter, less obnoxious way to booze effectively.

Flippy Cup

Great game, cool concept, but no one ever keeps score and EVERYONE cheats. People use two hands constantly and if they don’t flip successfully after 3 tries, they simply grab the cup and place it down and laugh as if it were some sort of joke. But really this game is a joke, it always sounds like a good idea, but you play 4 uninspired rounds before someone goes to the bathroom and then the game ends immediately. No staying power, people lose interest quickly.

When in Doubt???
Shoulders

I don’t have enough time to go into specifics, but odds are, you probably know why this game is so great. All you need is 5 players, and at least 2 of them girls, and you’ve got yourself a party. Splendid.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

With Game 7 on the horizon for the Chicago Bulls I want all fans of the team to remember one thing, this was a very good year for the Bulls. The outcome of the game tomorrow will not change this fact either. The Bulls finished the year at 41-41, which was eight games better than last year. And they made the improvements with two rookies leading the team in head coach Vinny Del Negro and point guard Derrick Rose. And to go along with their vast improvements on the floor general manager Jim Paxson has also set the Bulls up well for the future.

Derrick Rose surpassed the expectations of even a number one pick. He is the only point guard taken number one to have led his team to the playoffs during his rookie campaign (other number ones have taken their teams the playoffs but they were all centers). He ran away with the Rookie of the Year award, was a unanimous selection for the all rookie team, and even won the skills competition during All-Star Weekend in Phoenix. Derrick Rose is legit and will only get better as time goes on.

Then there is head coach Vinny Del Negro. Despite this blog once whooping up on the coach credit is due his way. Just like any other rookie he had a lot to learn. While watching him learn on the job may have been hard at times, watching this playoff series with the Celtics you see that Vinny has made a lot of progress over the year. He is making adjustments from game to game, using his personal to their strengths and has his players playing hard for him. While you would like to see IN GAME adjustments, I understand that becoming a good coach is a process and just hope that next year we will see Vinny mature even more as a head coach.

Speaking of next year, the Bulls have finally made the proper moves to secure a position in the Easts top 8. Unlike the team of only 2 years ago this team actually has a star, Derrick Rose, and stars in the NBA equal staying power. Jim Paxson made a move this year that next year will help the team once Ben Gordon leaves via free agency in nabbing John Salmons. But more importantly he landed two first round (mid-level) draft picks this year (one from the Thunder for Thabo). He also made moves to ensure that once 2010 comes, there will be money available to sign a Mr. Chris Bosh.

So Bulls fans, tomorrow just live in the moment and try to curb your disappointment. The Bulls should not have even been in this position, just enjoy it. The expectations before the season began were to fight for an eight spot in the playoffs, instead they earned the seven seed and have the defending champs on the ropes. Win or lose I have loved the product and will eagerly await next years season.