Monthly Archive for August, 2008

NBA at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on August 29, 2008
in NBA
. 1 Comment

It’s a trade that will get a ton of play because Patrick Ewing, Jr. is now a member of the team that was luckily awarded his father over a dozen years earlier, but it means so much more to myself and other Knicks Fans.

The Knicks traded the rights of the one and only French Dunking Dummy, Frederick Weis.


The French Media called it “le dunk de la mort” - the dunk of death - and it truly was, for the 7′2″ Frenchman’s NBA career- but also for the New York Knicks’ Franchise.

The Knicks were coming off a Finals appearance in the strike shortened 1999 season, one without the usual help from their Hall of Fame center, Patrick Ewing.  They were an 8-seed who made the Finals, but still an 8-seed, so they had the 15th pick overall, just out of the lottery.

So instead of opting for local favorite Ron Artest- or foreign born players like Andrei Kirilenko, Wang Zhizhi, Todd MacCulloch, or Manu Ginobili- they went with the, well… tall Weis, who would try to come over from Europe in a year or two.

The following season the Knicks went 50-32 and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

But then THAT dunk happened.  The United States was taking on the French national team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics when that stupid Guard for France tried to make a pathetic behind-the-back pass. Vince Carter stole it and the rest is history. The greatest dunk of all-time not only changed a man’s life, but set the Knicks’ Franchise into a tailspin that almost ten years later they are still trying to get out of.

Soon after the Olympics ended, the Knicks traded the beloved Patrick Ewing to the Seattle SuperSonics. They have never made it out of the First Round since.  A wasted 1st Round Pick who seemed to have been embarrassed into staying overseas for his entire life was the reason for this decline.  No, not the sole reason, but like the Billy Goat and the Chicago Cubs, the Knicks needed to exercise this demon before they could officially move on.

And now they can. Frederick Weis is now the property of the Houston Rockets. It’s just an added bonus that the Knicks get back the son of their own “Goldenchild”.

So, Houston- denounce those rights this minute. You don’t want any of that cursed Frenchman.

Trust me.

Unless, of course, you want someone to stand next to Yao at all times to have him not look like a freakishly tall stick figure that runs awkwardly and will never play in all 82 games of a season in his career and will probably not be able to play past 32.

Then, and only then, is this trade worth the possible cursed implications for the Rockets.

Politics at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on August 29, 2008
in Thoughts
. 5 Comments

Hillary Clinton must just be absolutely furious right now.  

She’s gotta be thinking that McCain could easily keel over in a couple years and then, suddenly, she’s not the first woman President, but instead a first-term female Governor of such a sparsely populated state is thrust into history.

Oh, and she rocks the pants-suit hotter than you ever could, Hillary.

The media will soon bombard you with the idea that Sarah Palin could beat Barack Obama in basketball.  She was the starting Point Guard on the lower division State Champion basketball team in High School and once even said, ”Everything I need to know, I learned on the basketball court.”  Man, I can’t wait until Charles Barkley uses that line when running for Governor of Alabama.

After finishing 2nd in the Miss Wasilla Pageant, Sarah Palin majored in Journalism at the University of Idaho and was actually a Sports Reporter in Anchorage (which I guess explains the RUDY-themed entrance music, I don’t know).

I’m going to appear to stay impartial here, but I do have to just say one thing… her kids’ names are: Bristol, Piper, Track, Willow, and Trig.

So she’s that Mom.

 

(and who wants a VP with a daughter with the same name as the city where the Evil-Four-Letter resides)

Thoughts at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on August 26, 2008
in MLB, NBA and Thoughts
. 0 Comments

- The real loser in the whole 9-year-old Jericho Scott Little League ban story?  The now-not-originally-named New York Jets Wide Receiver, Jerricho Cotchery.

 

- The Los Angeles Lakers reported that Kobe Bryant has not decided yet when he is going to have surgery on his pinky.  He is going to take a few days to contemplate the situation.  ”Contemplate the situation”?  He injured his pinky before the freaking All-Star Game.  He hasn’t had time yet to schedule his surgery?  For someone who was so anti-Shaq, especially Shaq’s “I got hurt on company time, I’ll heal on company time”, Kobe better not miss even a second of training camp.  What is there to think about?  You need to fix your finger, you’ve been playing hurt.  It takes about a month to heal.  In the words of your omnipotent sponsor… JUST DO IT

 

- The Los Angeles Dodgers have basically the same record before and after the Manny Ramirez trade, including 2 wins in the last 9 games and 4 straight losses since Manny cut his hair, even if it was ever so slightly.  The requirement by Joe Torre for Manny to cut his hair, along with a ton of close losses, pitching problems, and still some alleged problems in the clubhouse, is causing Dodger fans to speak out against the Brooklyn born Manager.  I don’t really think these fans actually believe that Manny’s shorter hair is really negatively affecting him- but, Man, it sure seems like it.  Maybe LA fans are really this stupid.  Maybe they just need something to complain about.  It’s just too nice here everyday.  It makes you stupid.

Rap at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on August 19, 2008
in NBA, Rap and Sports Talk Radio
. 1 Comment

As all of my reader(s) know, I love rap about sports.

So, because of that love, I must re-distribute (AKA blatantly re-post other people’s hard-earned content) this quick rap about LeBron James from over a year ago, but just now making its rounds on the Internets.

The biggest Sports Talk Radio Show in Los Angeles (possibly the biggest radio market if you cede that people in New York are on public transportation and don’t get the radio) had it’s main host and co-host, basically, not believe in LeBron. But it was soo much more than not believing; they belittled him.

So this had to happen to them:

Link to file

We all should learn something from CAVSBOARD.com. Your eyes don’t lie. Admit to greatness when you see it or can see it coming. Admit to reason. Stop being unreasonable, even if you think it creates “ratings”. “PTI” works because Wilbon and Kornheiser are good together, not because they disagree all the time (which they don’t). That’s why I don’t watch “Around the Horn” or anything Skip Bayless does. Someone has told them to just dissent to whatever is reasonable because it gets good ratings. Although there is some point to that (intelligent and thoughtful, yet passionate discussion of differing sides is good TV or Radio), but that LA Radio Host (Steve Hartman) just differs from the norm for the hell of it. It is almost unlistenable at times when he tries to corner people for any statement they make, when the public can clearly tell what is meant.

Wake at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on August 19, 2008
in Thoughts
. 4 Comments

There have obviously been millions upon millions of wishes by the living about what to do with their corpse when they have died. Some want to be buried with a loved one, some want a closed casket, others want to be cremated- and then there is Angel Pantoja Medina of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Angel was a 24-year-old who apparently knew he was going to die soon. So when his body was found dead underneath a bridge, his family immediately knew what to do with it- and they honored his last wish.

 

He wanted to stand up during his entire wake. So he did- for 3 days, in his mother’s small, government sponsored apartment. It’s the way Stephen Hawking wants to go now, too.

The owner of the Marin Funeral Home told the AP that Angel was embalmed with a special embalming fluid that allowed him to stand upright, just leaning against the wall.

Angel did not want to be dressed in your typical suit, though. As you can see, Angel has on what probably is an Ed Hardy knock-off T-Shirt with the long white sleeves underneath (you know you rocked this same look in 8th grade). He also has on his Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses, silver cross necklace, and to top it off, a New York Yankees hat. Sadly, though, this was just one last prank his brother Carlos played on poor Angel.

You see, Angel was a huge Red Sox fan.


The police are still investigating his murder.

Olympics at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on August 15, 2008
in NBA and Olympics
. 0 Comments

The two best players on the United States Men’s Basketball Team could also be the downfall of the team’s Gold Medal hopes.

Everyone knows LeBron James and Kobe Bryant can create for themselves. In fact, creating something out of nothing is when they are at their best. Driving to the hole and pulling up, going to the rim, or dishing to a teammate for an open layup when the offense is stagnant is their best quality.

But their worst quality is during the same exact situation, when they do not attack, but rather pull up; often a 20-foot 2-point shot. This shot, in all aspects of basketball- from my Rec League Team, to Syracuse basketball, to the NBA, to the Olympics- just infuriates me. I can take it when the Cavs have passed the ball around for 20 seconds (more likely LeBron has dribbled the ball at the top of the key for 20 seconds and Varejao is running up to set a pick) and now there’s no time left on the shot clock- yes, then I understand you can jack it up. I even understand Kobe wanting to be part of the scoring offense after he’s dished out 3 assists in the 1st quarter. I get that. But can you please tell me why LeBron and Kobe insist on pulling up from 20 feet, with a defender in their face, with 15 seconds left on the shot clock, when Chris Paul is open on top, ready to set up a play?

A great example of how this can literally lead to the demise of your team is Andre Iguodala (the new $80 million man) in the 2008 NBA Playoffs. Now I’m not trying to compare his shooting ability with Kobe’s, or even LeBron’s, but the concept is the same. In the first 3 games of the playoffs, Andre shot 7 for 33 (including 0-6 from 3-point range), a brilliant 21%. However, the Sixers won 2 of those games. In the following games, he continued to shoot even more. Many times, especially in the pivotal Game 4 in Philly, he would shot some off-balance 18-foot jumper early in the shot clock. I understand he wanted to become the Man on this team, but when he had other guys carrying the scoring burden (Andre Miller was playing great and should have controlled the ball even more), Iguodala should have just concentrated on Defense and distributing the ball. The Sixers ended up losing the next 3 games and were eliminated. Iguodala’s shot eventually fell in the last two games, but it didn’t matter because he had tried to assert himself into the offense by taking bad, long, guarded jumpers in Game 4. It was excruciating for me to watch- and I’m not even a Philly fan.

And it’s not even the selfishness that gets to me- I don’t mind that, Kobe and LeBron are the two best players in the world- it’s just a sincere hatred on my part for taking a shot that you have no business taking, especially on a team with Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony- not Ben Wallace and Wally Szczerbiak. It is purely inexcusable. Move the ball. Everyone on this team can play and create. Don’t be a ball stopper, and even worse, don’t jack up stupid shots.

And this is what I think could lead to their downfall. Yes, Boeheim has apparently not taught anyone, including re-teaching Carmelo, how to play zone defense, and yes, even open 3’s and free throws haven’t exactly been falling- but this awful decision making from your two top minute-getters is what could be the difference between a single-digit game against Lithuania or Argentina or a loss against them.

Not that I actually think this team will ever lose- but Coach K still has some coaching to do.

photo via dunkonu’s Flickr

Mike and the Mad Dog at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on August 15, 2008
in Sports Talk Radio
. 1 Comment

It’s a sad day in Gotham.

Olympics at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on August 14, 2008
in Gymnastics and Olympics
. 0 Comments

Due to the current popularity of Olympic Gymnastics, I decided to do a list of the TOP GYMNASTICS MOVIES OF ALL-TIME.

And, without further ado… here’s the list:

Come on, I’ve never seen a Gymnastics movie- get off me! And Footloose and Bring It On (which have Gymnastics aspects to them) do not count.


But if YOU want to make a list, go watch:

1) Stick It

2) American Anthem

3) Flying/Dream to Believe/Teenage Dream - starring a pre-”Wonder Years” Olivia D’Abo and a young…
Ohhh! Damn, Keanu!

You can basically find that whole movie here: YouTube

But who can resist… a GYMNASTICS OFF!

Olympics at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on August 11, 2008
in NBA and Olympics
. 0 Comments

Being in Beijing right now is surely a crazy time for an American Athlete. Especially one as internationally revered as Kobe Bean Bryant.

So it’s somewhat understandable that Kobe forgot one of his greatest sporting accomplishments when commenting on his recent game against China:

“I am fortunate enough to have played in four NBA finals and numerous big games but it was just different. You felt like there was so much more support because it’s the USA and obviously how proud the fans are here of their country.”

Now I’m not sure which one of his 5 NBA Finals appearances Kobe is “forgetting” about- but I’m going with one of the last two.

And probably the last one.