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Wake at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on August 19, 2008
in Thoughts
. 5 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.

Tennis at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on July 30, 2008
in Tennis
. 2 Comments

At last month’s Wimbledon, sisters Venus and Serena Williams faced each other once again in the Final. But in more important news to me, which somehow I had not realized yet, Venus and Serena Williams are Jehovah’s Witnesses. It came up in an interview about why they cannot vote, although they support, presumptive Democratic Nominee Barack Obama.

Now I’ve lived next door to Jehovah’s Witnesses, so it really surprised me that Venus…

and Serena Williams…

are…

Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Imagine that knocking at your door.

Now I guess there are no rules against photo shoots and on-court fashions like these, but I do think there’s one thing where Serena Williams just went too far- As a Jehovah’s Witness you cannot vote, amongst many other rules, including not being able to celebrate Christmas. So, I just thought her support of the Grinch was a little out of line.

Thoughts at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on July 2, 2008
in NBA, Olympics and Thoughts
. 0 Comments

- The rumors are true: Mike Francesa will be leaving The Fan, splitting up the most successful sports radio duo in history- and heading to Cleveland to host a local sports talk show. The Program Director of the Cleveland station has been letting people go for years and has not signed any big names to long term deals, instead just going the syndication route. Francesa was asked why he would take a pay cut, leave his hometown, leave a station that was contending for the best station in the country- and take this job, and Francesa responded, “LeBron James is gonna do it in a couple years, right? So why shouldn’t I?”

- I don’t know what is worse- having Manny Ramirez push down the Traveling Secretary and the following George Costanza jokes or the United States’ top two track stars named “Gay” and “Hooker“.

- I don’t understand why everyone is saying Baron Davis to the Clippers doesn’t mean anything- that the Clippers will still be bad. People- Elton Brand was hurt last year. There was no PG. The team was a mess. Now they have a healthy Brand, a great PG coming off his most injury-free season, a rising Sophomore who developed possibly more than any other Rookie last year, a Center who has developed into a very solid double-double guy, and a decent, not good, but decent bench. They are not adding Davis to the team from last year. They are adding him to a much better team- one with one of the most solid post presences in the League. The Clippers could easily get the 4 seed this next season. Easily.

NBA at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on June 19, 2008
in Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and NBA
. 0 Comments

- James Posey is the new Robert Horry. Or at least he could be. Whether he re-signs with the Celtics or do what every Laker fan is talking about and sign with them for 5 years and $30 million, he’s got a great chance to get another ring next year.

- Did you notice Sam Cassell chasing after the game-ball at the end of the game yesterday? Big Baby launched the ball high into the air while the extra-terrestrial point guard was running at him. Cassell followed its trajectory as chaos ensued on the floor and pushed some teenagers out of the way to get to it as it bounced over the scorer’s table. Then ABC cut to another shot and I never found out who got the ball. I’m assuming Sam did, though.

- Not to sound like Seinfeld here, but what was the deal with Paul Pierce sucking on the Larry O’Brien trophy? He was like deep tongue-kissing it in the locker room. It was just a bit weird. It was a series between teams from the only two states that allow gay marriage, though, so… you never know- it’s a slippery slope.

MLB at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on June 18, 2008
in MLB and New York Mets
. 0 Comments


The Angels always like to keep a spare helmet around just in case Barry Bonds signs with them as a DH.

I had the pleasure of attending Willie Randolph’s last game as Manager of the Mets on Monday.

Poor, Willie. He thought the moves he was making this game actually meant something.


A guy who acted like this game actually meant nothing was Pedro Martinez. It was kind of refreshing, I’m not criticizing him. He was the life of the dugout.

Pedro was actually messing with some 5-year-old in a Mets jersey. It was probably funny to that kid, but the rest of the adults around just thought Pedro was being really strange.

Another strange thing was that every time the Mets got the third out, a mad rush of kids would crowd right into our seats and yell at Carlos Delgado to throw them the ball (since Carlos usually had the ball).


But what the strange thing was, was that someone from the dugout would throw Delgado a ball and he would switch the game ball out for that ball and throw the ball from the dugout into the crowd. Weird. Anyway, Carlos stopped throwing the ball into the stands after he struck out and grounded out (he ended up going 0-4 with 2 K’s. Classic Carlos).


So what ended up happening was this mass of people leaning against the dugout and continuing to yell at Delgado or anyone else to throw something at them. This made the security guard mad.

This power hungry douche would climb out of the dugout between each half-inning and just start yelling at 7-year-olds to go back to their seat. Come on, Man- these little kids who have enough money to live in Orange County and have great seats to Angels games just want one good thing in their life. Let them lean over and look at these players. They’ll never have another chance like this… until the A’s come into town next week.

THE FANS

The guy with his last name on the back of his jersey…

The guy who wears any sort of shirt about Baseball to the Baseball game, whether or not it has anything to do with the two teams playing.

Not only do we have Jort wearing friends, but the one has the cell phone clip on his pocket. I didn’t think those existed anymore.

And then, finally, my most hated part of Angels’ Games… the Rally Monkey. I would eradicate this if I had just one wish. I mean, other than wishing for an infinite number of wishes.

And somehow, everyone in the crowd seemed to have them.

Thoughts at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on June 16, 2008
in Golf, NBA, NBA Draft 2008, NFL and Thoughts
. 1 Comment

- If I hear one person mention the words “Willis Reed” and “Tiger Woods” in the same sentence this week, I’m going to light myself on fire.

- I can’t help it. I told you so.

- I don’t really think I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m going with… Brook Lopez = BUST.

- Here in LA, Laker fans are absolutely going crazy. Not “crazy” like cheering and happy, but “crazy” like this series is wrapped up… for them. In 7. In Boston.

- Speaking of Los Angeles, we need to seriously consider making rules for TIVO and telling people when they can and cannot tell people about what has happened on a sports game, sitcom, reality show, or whatever.

Last night I emerged from a play (I had TIVO’ed the game) and one usher was just shouting - “The Lakers won! Celtics lose!” for no reason. We had just watched Glinda and Elphaba sing to each other, possibly a very touching moment for some, and the usher thought it was a good idea to let everyone know what had happened in the game. Thanks, Dick.

First off, these were people going to see a PLAY. A PLAY. Not at the Dodgers game or a Kings game, not even at a comedy show- it was a freakin’ PLAY. The majority of these people get hungry when you mention the word “Kobe”, not think of one of the greatest players of our time. I don’t think they cared enough to walk right out of the show and hear what happened.

And second, on that topic, way to ruin the show for these people, Douche. These nice old ladies just saw a great Musical and want to talk about it and they get bum-rushed by Lakers news- You are an usher at Pantages Theater, not a security guard at Staples! The old ladies were so confused, they were still in the Land of Oz, they didn’t know what was going on.

And last, but certainly not least- I TIVO’ed the game, ASS. I turned my cell phone off, didn’t check it at intermission, stayed far away from any person that said words like “Ball” even though they were talking about the dance they just saw or words like “Perkins” even though they were talking about where they were going for dinner after the show. I managed to ignore every one and every thing and all I had left was a straight shoot down Hollywood Blvd. back home, ignoring random Homeless Men in Lakers jerseys, the blonde-black midget, and Tom Petty Spiderman- or anyone else who talks to me.

I, too, have let the proverbial cat out of the bag before, once telling a friend “Oh, you missed that last ‘Office’ where they kissed at the end?”, so I know both sides of this. And I have since tried my best to understand that you cannot tell anyone anything about anything on TV unless you preface it with “Did you watch… (blank)… yet?” I don’t care if it is Game 7 of the NBA Finals or the 3rd episode of the 5th season of Tila Tequila, I don’t talk about anything on TV to anyone.

And that should be your rule now, too.