Zach Galifianakis

has a music video.

it is awesome.

I rarely get coments

So I'll respond. (the comment: "apparently you've never heard of kobe bryant or elton brand")

My point was and still is, that the NBA promotes big market teams with stars over better, smaller market teams.

Yes, the Lakers have Kobe and the Clippers have Elton Brand (who is great, but I wouldn't say a star), but my point was that ESPN showed 4 teams from a total of two cities. If you don't live on either of those coasts.... have fun!

(and I did say that I gave ESPN a pass on the Lakers-Clippers game cause it was the only late game, but it still doesn't excuse showing the Knicks)

When I turn on ABC or ESPN I see a lot of big market shitty teams, the Celtics, the Lakers, the Sixers, the Rockets and the Knicks. All of these teams have some great individual players (Pierce, Kobe, Iverson, McGrady/Yao and Francis/Marbury) but the teams are mediocre.

There are some great young teams who you rarely see on TV, the Bucks, the Grizzlies, the Nets get some TV time, the Hornets (and maybe if you showed Chris Paul, he'd be star). Add those teams to a regular rotation of the Spurs and Pistons (who both get a decent amount of time), the Cavaliers, the Mavericks, the Heat and the Nets. Those are good-great teams, most young. But they aren't in the power markets; you're New Yorks, Bostons, Phillys or Los Angeles. And those cities happen to have great players, but notso great teams.

I guess my point is this: if you want to build and expand the NBA watching audience, I'm not sure having the Knicks and the Lakers on all the time is the best way to do it.

Punk Rock

now this is rock and roll

Random Lyric

Maybe I'll
Quit playin solitaire cause
I'm tired of losing
To no one

Friday Random 10

Jack Johnson - Supposed to Be
The Coral - Goodbye
Dispatch - Elias
Ben Lee - Something Borrowed, Something Blue
George Harrison - Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
God Street Wine - Nightengale
The Animals - We Gotta Get Out of This Place
Smash Mouth - Heave Ho
Nick Drake - One of These Things First
John Lennon - Watching the Wheels

If You like the NBA at all

Read this column by Simmons. It is a delight:

Simmons: Jim Paxson, let's start with you. Last February, you traded a 2007 first-round pick to Boston for Jiri Welsch. Four months later, after you were fired by the Cavs, they traded Welsch to Milwaukee for a 2006 second round pick. To my knowledge, that's never happened before. Walk us through that.

Paxson: Absolutely. When you're making a bad trade, there are some inherent elements that need to be there. First, are you putting your own short-team interests ahead of the long-term interests of the team? With the Welsch trade, there were rumors I might get fired, and we needed another body to make the playoffs … really, why would I care about protecting future No. 1 picks if I was probably getting canned?

I hate ESPN

Not really, but I'm pissed. First, ESPN has a monopoly on sports news. There is no other network that can compete. There's no MSNBC to ESPN's CNN. So when TO goes off and ESPN goes nuts, theres no other network to turn to, just to see highlights. But thats not why I'm pissed at this moment.

This is why.

The NBA, more than any other sport plays to the Big Market Idea. They always play the Lakers or the Knicks or Rockets (cause of Yao). Nevermind that these teams suck. Or that they are horrendous to watch. They're in big markets (or have the most popular basketball player in the world) so ABC and ESPN shows them.

Tonight's 8:00 game on ESPN is the Knicks vs the Nets. Now who outside of NYC would actually watch that? The Nets are decent, though they have no big man and they can't play defense, but they can run and score; so they are kind of entertaining. The Knicks are horrible, everyone knew they'd be horrible. They should never be on national TV, they have the worst record in the NBA (with the highest payroll, though thats neither here nor there).

At 7:30 the Cavs play the Wizards. Two young and exciting teams; this game has two of the top scorers in the NBA with LeBron James and Gilbert Arenas. Both of these teams will be in the playoffs (they may even meet). If you're a basketball fan, this is a much better game than the Knicks vs Nets, it isn't even close.

"But Ben," you say, "you just love the Cavs, of course you'd rather watch them than the Knicks and the Nets." Well alright dear reader, how about this game: the Spurs play the Grizzlies at 8:00 tonight. The Spurs just happen to be the defending NBA champions and the Grizzlies are one of the top young teams in the league. Plus, Memphis has Pao Gasol and his hobo beard. That facial hair monstrosity alone is a better reason to watch SA vs Memphis.

Then there's the late game: Lakers vs Clippers. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee, that is awesome. Two teams from LA, and the good team is the CLIPPERS.

Now to be fair, that is the only late game tonight. However, ESPN has a chance to show teams from 4 different markets (2 games, 4 teams) and they end up showing 4 teams from a total of 2 cities. Well done. Instead of showing good basketball, they decide to show shitty basketball from the biggest markets. I'm not sure that's the best way to win new fans.

The NBA, its Faaaaaaaaaaantasitc.

Francis Trade part 2

Have anyone seen any analysis saying the Francis deal is good for the Knicks?

The Sports Guy's readers don't.

Scottie Pippen doesn't.

The Daily Dime is lukewarm at best.

Jack McCallum doesn't like it either.

and even Sean Deveney thinks its retarded.

Francis to the Knicks

Does anyone think this is a good deal for the Knicks? Anyone? First off, the Knicks traded two guys who contracts come off the books after the season for a guy who has 4 years and $49 million left. Why? Does anyone think Marbury and Francis can co-exist? Anyone?

Also, how many shoot first point guards are needed on a winning team. Because, from what I can tell, history shows us that if you want to win a championship, having exactly 0 shoot first point guards is a good way to go. From my count, the Knicks now have 4.

Well done.

The Magic cleaned up with the deal, they now have two max contracts coming off the books after the season (Hill and Hardaway). Now they have one great young big man, one great questionable young big man and a ton of capspace.

Also, there's this little tidbit in the trade article:

Thomas has been given the go-ahead by owner James Dolan of Cablevision to spend whatever it takes in an effort at making Madison Square Garden the basketball mecca it once was.

When is the last time that the Knicks were one of basketballs elite teams? The lockout year the Knicks made the finals and lost. But that was an 8 seed, not exactly tearing it up. And the Knicks of the mid 90s almost killed basketball as we know it. Thug ball, slow down, walk it up, ugly, ugly basketball.

I'm just saying that Madison Square Garden hasn't been a "basketball mecca" since I've been following basketball, which was the 91-92 season.

Trading Gooden

Bud Shaw is against it.

I mostly agree, unless the Cavs are really floored, then I don't believe that Drew is going anywhere. And Chris Duhon doesn't floor anyone.

Kenyon to the Cavs?

Chad Forde has a rumor that has the Cavs trading Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes and Damon Jones to the Nuggets for Kenyon Martin, Andre Miller and Voshon Lenard.

This is probably a made up rumor with no basis in fact, however I kinda like the deal.

The Cavs would be getting a point guard and a power forward who can play both ends of the floor. Martin especially would give the Cavs a nice defensive mentality. Hughes would be missed, but he hasn't done much here anyways. So their starting 5 could be Miller, Pavlovic, James, Martin and Z. Imagine having Varejao come off the bench to play the 4 and move James to 2 and Martin to 3. Try scoring on that big lineup.

The problem I have with the deal is the long term salaries. Jones is a bad signing, but he's only got 3 years, Hughes has got 4 left and Gooden is a FA after the year. Martin has 5 years remaining, Miller has four while Lenard is gone after the year. I just worry that a trade like this could really hamper the Cavs ability to have future moves or signings.

Also, I'm not ready to give up on Hughes yet. True, who knows when he'll b healthy and who knows when if he'll really mesh, but less than a full season (which he's missed half of) I think is a bit early to be trading him. As for Gooden, I like him, I think some Cavs fans overrate him, but I think he fits this team well. I think the Cavs should hold onto him and let him walk after this season, like they did with Ricky Davis and the Clippers did with Elton Brand. Since other teams can't sign him to as big of a deal as the Cavaliers can, let some team sign Drew, and then match the offer. That way he has a nice team friendly deal, while still on the Cavs.

Also, ESPN.com has a trade generator thingy which is kinda fun to play with. It let me trade Gooden, Jones and Hughes to Minnesota for KG and I also learned that Kirk Hinrich is a free agent after this season (I want him in a Cleveland uniform before too long).

Here's the Deal

On Friday, we went out for Nicks birthday (I met up after I got out of work). Good time was had by all and I went to bed in preparation to work at 10 AM on Saturday morning.

I woke up at 7:20 on Saturday in a lot of pain. I wasn't sure what it was. I tried to get up and around, but I ended up crawling around on the ground. I managed to go downstairs and take some pills (ibuprofen) I had.

Still hurt like hell.

Finally it dawned on me what actually hurt. My shoulder. My left one. The same one I injured almost a month ago.

It was dislocated.

So I called home, delirious, and told them, between shouts of pain, that I hurt real bad and my shoulder was dislocated. Then I called 911 and had them meet me outside. Curbside pickup.

Then I went to the hospital and sat around for a little while. They weren't as helpful or cool as the last time. Anyway, 5 hours, 2 x-rays and not too many drugs later, I was on my way to Hudson with my parents (who drove down to pick me up).

So, to recap, I dislocated my shoulder while SLEEPING and had to go to the hospital. I can't drive. It hurts without me moving it. I hate the pills I have to take. I hate having to miss work and class.

Good times.

IPod Video

I just got one, 60 gigs, which is more than my C drive.

This thing is pretty badass, I got the complete catalogues for the Beatles, OAR, Dispatch, Jack Johnson, Reel Big Fish along with a bunch of other random albums, and I've only taken up 10 gigs. This thing is huge!

I'll make mix cds and playlists every now and then, but I'm an album guy. I like listening to a CD all the way through, every track. And the iPod lets me do that, it reads the albums and the tacks from the MP3 tags, it is awesome. I can't crank 5-6 albums a day at least, I'll listen to an album on the way two or from class. Another 2 while working out and a few more while studying.

I tried to upload some of my music videos, but it looks like I can only use certain formats (I haven't really dug that deep yet).

So far I've downloaded some of the Battlestar Galactica episodes (I've heard a lot about the show and I wanted to check it out). The video plays great, I can watch the episodes while I ride the bike at the gym for 45 minutes (I'm still not allowed to run).

I've really re-discovered some great albums I haven't listened to in awhile.

The first is Better Book Ends by The Littlest Man Band. These guys are great, they're a solo project from Scott of Reel Big Fish. The entire album is pretty kick ass, a bit mellow, but gorgious harmonies and melodies. I recomend It's You, Better Man, Always Sayin', Happened Again and Wrong Bed.

I've also gotten to listen to Royal Crown Revue's Mugzy's Move. If any album can be traced back to the start of the Neo-Swing movement of the 90s, this is it. There are some great tunes on here, Hey Pachuco! (from The Mask soundtrack and marching bands everywhere), Mugzy's Move, Beyond the Sea, Datin with no Dough, The Rise and Fall of the Great Mondello and Barflies at the Beach.

Ringo is considered Ringo Starr's first real solo record. It's the last album that has all four Beatles appear on it (albiet not all on the same track). Lennon, Harrison and McCartney all penned some tunes for Ringo. Lennon's I'm the Greatest has a lot of Beatle references and Ringo pulls off the song much better than I believe Lennon could've (sounds too egotistic with Lennon singing), Harrison plays guitar on the track as well. Photograph is another greatsong on here (one of Ringos hits). It was written by George and is a really great song. Ringo also had a minor hit with a cover of You're Sixteen (You're Beautiful, and You're Mine). Oh My My is another great song, not as big as the others, but along with Devil Woman, one of the more rockin tunes on the record. McCartney's Six O'Clock is okay, its not bad; it does have Paul, Linda and Ringo, so its still pretty neat. The origional closer (the reissue has some additional singles) has Ringo's farewell to the listener and he thanks all who helped make the record, including the big 3, its kind of neat. Then there are two of my favorite tracks of all of the solo Beatle years, Ringo's megahit, It Don't Come Easy. This song just kicks ass, thats all I can say, just listen to it. The final track is called Early 1970, which is real cute song in which Ringo talks about visiting all the other Beatles. For a Beatle fan like myself, its great.

Well, I could go on, but thats what I've been listenin to on the iPod. I also bought Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah!, and honestly... meh

Random Lyric

Now it’s over I’m dead and I haven’t done anything that I want
Or, I’m still alive and there’s nothing I want to do
I will never say the wordProcrastinate again;
I’ll never see myself in the mirror with my eyes closed

I hate Record Companies

Apparently, ripping a CD you own to your ipod is now illegal. Or at least they say it is.

World B. Free

cast your vote to let the Cavaliers know that you want World B. Free's number retired. Joe Tait and Terry Pluto think his number should be retired. Those are the two foremost Cavalier experts around. If they think it, I'd go with them.

hmm... maybe Wade is better

right... 43 pts, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 blocks and 2 steals.

Hughes

Looks like Larry Hughes will miss the rest of the season, due to a second surgery on his finger.

This is a huge blow to the Cavaliers playoff aspirations (not making it, cause they will, but getting the 4th seed or advancing). The Plain Dealer has a list of replacements, and it doesn't look good, the top two are Jimmy Jackson and Ricky Davis....

OSU Fired O'Brien Improperly

Now, if this was a real world situation, I could see that. But sports teams fire coaches for any number of reasons, poor play, poor conduct by players or we have a chance to get Larry Brown.

I was unaware that coaches could dispute their firings in court. O'Brien screwed up by giving money to a player, so OSU fired him. Maybe they were also sick of his teams play, I dunno. But so far it looks like it has worked out for OSU.

Kinda like when the Pistons fired Carlise for Brown. Carlise wasn't that bad, he had two 50 win years. But the Pistsons got Larry Brown, who they thought was better than Carlise, so did it matter how Carlise left? They wanted him replaced, so they replaced him.

Maybe I'm comparing apples to oranges here, but it seems to me O'Brien did something wrong, and OSU decided to fire him. Even though what he did wrong wasn't all 'that bad'. I dunno, it sounds justified to me.

Paul Begala

is smarter than I am

Suck it Jess

Boo ya

Random Thought

Is is possible to get anything done while wearing pajamas? I wanted to get some shit done today, but I also was tired/too comfortable. Alas, nothing got done (except reading the paper, watchin OSU kick some ass) and listening to some music (and finding this).

New Toothpick Stuff

He's now in a band/rap group called Loose Cannons, check them out.

I love me some Toothpick/Doug Ray, he opened for OAR and Robert Randolph in one of the best concerts I've ever seen, and he played at one of our classic parties. This being said, I'm not really caring for this Loose Cannons stuff... it seems to overproduced and schlocky. I dunno, I prefer his stuff with the accoustic guitar, some of his songs are redone under the Loose Cannon names, High Life, New York City Girls and First Time (which was a Bad Ronald song first).

And maybe the website is supposed to look like shit, I dunno, but see if you like any of this new stuff.

Indians Prospect

Franklin Gutierrez is part of a nice article on MLB.com:

No prospect had a greater impact than Indians outfielder Franklin Gutierrez. The soon-to-be 22-year-old played center every day for the champions and hit .364, good for eighth among Series leaders. Thanks to four walks and three extra-base hits, Gutierrez posted an impressive 1.026 OPS. The experience could help Gutierrez as he tries to find a spot in the Indians' outfield this spring.

Some fan reaction to the Crisp trade

This is why I was against the deal, even though everyone loves Marte and thinks the trade should help the Tribe for years to come, it looks like a salary dunp, and fans are pissed. I like the deal on a baseball standpoint, I dislike it on a PR standpoint.

More Dunk Contest Stuff

Pluto gets some fan reaction for his 'dunk constest is stupid' stance.

I basically agree, the dunk contest is a vehicle for up and coming stars. When Carter won, he was a hot young player. But guys who are superstars haven't been in it in ages. And like it or not, LeBron's been a superstar from day one.

Random Thought

So there was this woman today at work.... she had facial hair. Now I don't mean the flimsy mustasche we've all seen time to time. this was like around the mouth, mustasche, chin, little bit of cheeks. it was kind of like stubble. it wasn't all up the face, sideburns and stuff, just mostly extended chin area. it was fucked up. why wouldn't you shave/wax that, i mean, it was discomforting. maybe i'm a dick, i dunno.

Random Ten

Adam Sandler - She Comes Home to Me
Badly Drawn Boy - Silent Sigh
Beach Boys - Wouldn't it be Nice
Queen - Somebody to Love
Phish - Heavy Things
Less Than Jake - Dopeman
The Kinks - Skin and Bone
Jono Manson Band - Miss Fabulous
Neil Diamond - We
Bob Dylan - Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues

Rookie Report 06

ESPN looks at some rookies who could shine in '06:

3B Andy Marte, Indians (22): While the Indians are as much in love with Aaron Boone as is possible for a power-position player with a .677 OPS, the club will find it perilously difficult not to give the hot corner job to Marte when Boone struggles again in 2006. (Boone's OPS in the second half was only .730, so forgiving Boone's wretched first half doesn't make him look much better.) Marte is a sterling defender with good bat speed and excellent plate discipline; the right-handed hitter's limp 2005 debut in Atlanta in 66 plate appearances was probably just a fluke. The only way Marte isn't going to be starting every day in Cleveland by June is if the Indians put Casey Blake back at third to give Brad Snyder a shot.

Busy Busy Busy

I've been pretty busy the last few days, but read this. It's a bit long, its about the cartoon riots. Food for thought.

Reform

We're going to reform Washington....

Cartoons and Free Speach

the Rude Pundit, who is always awesome, is especially awesome here.

Cavs trade talk

There's some rumors going around about a Gooden for Duhon trade. I had 1100 on in my drive home from work last night and Cavs fans were not pleased with this rumor.

Not that I can blame them.

Am I a Drew Gooden fan? Not really, I think he's way too inconsistent and makes too many dumb plays. I wouldn't the Cavs trading him at all, I think Wild Thing and Marshall could hold down the power forward position. The fans calling last night kept saying you don't trade Gooden for a role player, and Gooden is a double-double every night and one even said Gooden should be the third option on the team (I guess over Z or Hughes, your guess is as good as mine).


Ya, Gooden averages a double-double, but that is misleading. Because one game he'll get 18 and 14 and the next game 4 and 6. So he averages a double-double, but he doesn't get it every night.

So, I'm all for trading Gooden, just not for Chris Duhon. Now if we got Ben Gordon in the mix deal (I heard the Bulls were kind of fed up with him) I'd be down for that. Gordon and Duhon for Gooden? Though, the player I really like on the Bulls is Kirk Hinrich, I really hope the Cavs make a run at him when he's a free agent during his and LeBrons walk year. A pass first point guard who can shoot the three? Yes sir.

But Gooden for Duhon is a too much for too little, the Cavs would at LEAST need to get a draft pick out of the deal, if not another player.

Super Bowl Refs

There were some calls I thought were messed up, a horse collar tackle not called, Hasslebacks block that somehow was a penalty, that offensive pass interference. Not that I'm saying Seattle got screwed. Cause they sucked.

But the refs sucked too. Bud Shaw has a column about it and the Sports Guy mentions it about 2394839087 times during his SB Running Diary.

Update: Holmgren rips the refs to Seattle fans.

Terry Pluto also thinks Tom Friend is a Whiny Bitch

only he doesn't say the whiny bitch part. But Pluto still thinks Friends article is a piece of crap.

More Steelers stuff

My brother has an idea why I tried to root for the Steelers yesterday but then couldn't:

i think i know why you started rooting against the steelers. cuz for a day, they were made out to be the lakers of the NFL everything was the steelers, i didn't care who won, until i started seeing commercials of only steelers players talking and holding the trophy and they didn't show one with a seahawk in it until halftime, and it was a combination of both teams

This makes perfect sense to me, and I'm suprised I didn't think of it earlier (though it may just be physically impossible for me to root for Pittsburgh or Michigan). Ever since I was a kid, I always rooted against the team that the network featured, mostly because when I was growing up, the Cavs always faced the Bulls in the playoffs and lost.

And if you watched those broadcasts, it was the Michael Jordan show, with Scottie Pippen supporting and they played other teams. Even though the series were competetive, all anyone could talk about was the Bulls. And this happens with the Yankees, Red Sox, Lakers and most big market teams.

That could be it, it really was Pittsburgh week. Bettis was the main story, the Steeler players were out at the Pistons games and all this stuff. Even though Seattle had the NFL MVP (who didn't do shit) and a Superbowl winning coach (who coached like shit), you never heard anything about them (due to their performance, was it justified.....?)

Bonnaroo 06

look at this artist list (there are more to come, bold the bands I'm pumped for):

Radiohead

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Phil Lesh & Friends

Beck

Elvis Costello & the Imposters

Bonnie Raitt

Death Cab for Cutie

moe.

Bright Eyes

The Neville Brothers

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones

Buddy Guy

Damian Marley

Ben Folds

Robert Randolph & the Family Band

Dr. John

Matisyahu

G. Love & Special Sauce

My Morning Jacket

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Steel Pulse

Mike Gordon and Ramble Dove

Cat Power

Medeski Martin & Wood

Nickel Creek

Gomez

Atmosphere

Steve Earle

Blues Traveler

Amadou & Mariam

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks

Dresden Dolls

Son Volt

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Jerry Douglas

Soulive

Rusted Root

Devendra Banhart Band

Donavon Frankenreiter

Mike Doughty

Sasha

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

The Magic Numbers

Bill Frisell

Seu Jorge

Bettye LaVette

Dungen

Shooter Jennings

Rebirth Brass Band

Robinella

Andrew Bird

Steel Train

Jackie Greene

Devotchka

The Wood Brothers

dios (malos)

Toubab Krewe

The Motet

Marah

I-Nine

Balkan Beat Box

The Cat Empire

Streaky Cavs

I've been talking about this all year, when the team shoots, they win, its pretty simple Also a good indicator of a win? When Z is involved; established early and often. If both these things happen, the Cavs usually win.

Brian Windhorst has another good article on the subject today, mostly focusing on the new additions.

The Cavs are 17-4 when Marshall scores his average, 10 points, or more. But he's been very streaky and is shooting just .316 from 3-point range thus far. That's his lowest 3-point percentage and scoring average in eight seasons.

Damon Jones, who got four years and $16 million, shot 43 percent from 3-point range last season and averaged 11.6 points getting open shots for the Heat. The open shots are still there, but the makes aren't as frequent. He's shooting a respectable .357 on 3-pointers right now, but that's his lowest percentage in six seasons.

Like Marshall, when Jones is on, the Cavs are good, 8-3 when he scores 10 points or more. Those nights have also been more rare than anticipated when the contract was extended.

The Cavs are right where they should be right now. They are a team who wins at home and does decent on the road. Last year they were a team that did okay at home and crappy on the road. So they still lose to good teams on the road. Okay, but they can beat them at home, they're young, they're going to be a 4 seed in the East, and they match up well vs Detroit (as opposed to New Jersey).

I think people underestimated how bad the Cavs were when LeBron got there, and are now kind of pissed that they haven't made the playoffs yet. Just remember, they were Gawd Awful. They'll make it this year, no more worries.

I tried

I tried to root for the Steelers, I really did. It's like when Michigan is in a bowl game, and I'm like "I'll root for the Big Ten team"

And then I watch the game. "Fucking Michigan!" "I hate blue!"

Well, same shit happened tonight.

I thought I could root for the 'Burgh. But no. Once the game started I was all about Seattle.

Anyway, good game over all, although, here are some thoughts:

I thought the "horse collar" tackle was illegal

Was Mathew Lillard in the stands?

Bettis didn't do much of anything all game. After that entire build up, he was pretty much a non factor

The play of the game was Ben's 3 and 28 heave to Hines Ward (that set up the Roethlisberger one inch touchdown- which I think didn't make it, but was un-overtunable)

2nd most important play? Willie Parkers little run

Both QBs threw costly interceptions, like really really costly

Favorite commerical? Magic Beer Fridge

What was up with Seattles end of half and end of game play calling? 5 yard outs? 6 yards over the middle

Overall, a fun game to watch, though it would've been better with a major market team to stir up some interest....

I think I'm rooting for the Steelers

I'm not sure why. I was rooting for them vs Denver, but mostly I wanted to see everyone eat their words on Plummer. I was rooting for them vs the Colts, basically on pure upset factor. And I think I was rooting for them vs the Bengals cause I'm sick of their fans.

So I guess I'm rooting for them vs Seattle today. Maybe I'm hopin a team some of my friends like wins. So their team can win (the only time my team has won a title was the 2002 Buckeyes).

Also, Terry Pluto is rooting for the Steelers too.

Bush and Science

not that I'm the best analyist for this stuff (we all know about my Bio and Chem grades...) but read this.

Anna Benson is an Idiot

So says Jim Brady:

"I am afraid of gun-control lobbyists," the 29-year-old Benson writes on her Web site, annabenson.net, where she calls herself a "pistol-packing mama," reveals that weapons are placed "strategically" all over her house and urges everyone to obtain a firearm.

"I think that it is ridiculous that I am not allowed to protect myself in my private NY apartment because people like Jim Brady want to remove potential crime guns from the market," Benson adds.

Yesterday Brady told me: "Anna Benson sounds like an idiot. I'm honored to not have her on my team. ... She scares me. She's a head case."

Although, her publisher also sounds pretty dumb:

Benson's flack, Ronn Torossian, fired back: "It's safe to say that Anna is saddened and sorry about the unfortunate experience that James Brady suffered. But by calling her an idiot, he's calling every responsible gun owner an idiot."

Job update

I gave my manager my two weeks notice.

But I'm not quitting.

Aparently, we're going to work out my schedule/availability, like when I say I can't work Saturdays and Sundays, I won't work Saturdays and Sundays.

"Lemme get this straight, when you asked for less hours, you got more?"
"ya"
"That's fucked up"
"ya"

Random Ten

Los Lonely Boys - Heaven (Live Accoustic Version)
Todd Rundgren - Bang on the Drum All Day
Faces - Maybe I'm Amazed
Toothpick - Green Monster
Gomez - Revolutionary Kind
Elton John - Meal Ticket
Gov't Mule - Soulshine
O.A.R. - Dakota
Royal Crown Revue - The Rise and Fall of the Great Mondello
The White Stripes - We Are Going to be Friends

Tom Friend is a Whiny Bitch

He is really really offended that LeBron isn't in the dunk contest:

He has Michael's ad agency, Michael's 23 and Michael's throne. So what's
wrong with Michael's dunk contest?
LeBron James is copping out again, copping
out on his responsibility as face (or co-face) of the league. The dunk contest
wasn't beneath a young MJ, and it wasn't beneath a young Kobe, but LeBron won't
risk it. Just like he won't risk a last-second shot. It's getting old.

I'm getting really sick of this last second shot business. Lets recap: On a West Coast road trip LeBron missed a few clutch jumpers and in the next few games, he passed it off.

So LeBron has no marbles. Fine. Whatever. Again, like Magic and Bird said, you have to learn to win. Most guys learned in college. Kobe failed in the playoffs before he won.

Maybe this is the eventual backlash for all of LeBrons hype, I dunno. But Friend seems really really pissed that LeBron is putting himself out there vs Josh Smith and Nate Robinson. Why should he? What for? If he wins, well, he beat Josh Smith and Nate Robinson. But if he loses? Oh my god THE LEBRON JAMES lost to some guys named Josh Smith and Nate Robinson.

Also, a young LeBron was drafted number 1, a young Kobe was what, 13? The point is, LeBron would've been the most famous guy out there from the get go. As for Jordan, he was facing another super star. If the NBA actually got McGrady, Kobe, Wade and Carter out there... I'm pretty sure LeBron would be dunkin.

Friend doesn't care that it's LeBron and scrubs, its his duty to dunk:

He has no memorable buzzer beater, no signature pressure moment, and, at
the tail of close games recently, he has clanked free throws or passed to a
surrounded, frightened Aleksandar Pavlovic. MJ only passed if Wennington was all
alone for a game-winning layup or if Paxson was wide open for a title-winning
jumper. Otherwise, the shot was going up, hell or high water. But LeBron, who
seems to have a nervous tic, gets a free ride from the public. Gets to act like
a 10-year vet. Gets to skip dunk contests, no questions asked.
He can't have
it both ways. He can't have a Nike miniseries, then opt for the skills
competition. He's only 21. He needs to pay his dues like the rest of 'em. It's
his duty to dunk.

Whatever. Like I said, I would love to see the Dunk Contest matter. That would be great. But no one of importance goes anymore. No matter what he 'earned' after he scored 25 points in his first game ever, LeBron has been a superstar. And no superstars are in the Dunk Contest.

Norm MacDonald News

An interview with Norm, talking about growing up in Quebec:

"My father would never let me learn it because the English and the French don't
like each other," he says. "So I took Latin in school instead. It didn't make
much sense because Quebec City was virtually 99 per cent French and zero per
cent ancient Roman."

that joke right there, thats why I love this guy.

also, there was this little nugget:

MacDonald's first CD is coming out in April. It will feature sketches with some
of his old castmates, like Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon.

Stephanie Tanner on Meth

heh:

After a three-day "lost" weekend, reportedly followed by an intervention staged
by her former Full House costars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, John Stamos and Bob
Saget, Sweetin checked herself in to the Promises rehab facility for six weeks
of intense treatment.

Ray Davies (The Kinks) to Write a Musical

a porn musical:

He explains, "I'm going to write a porn musical called Lola... I'm not a porn actor, so I have to do a bit of research, but I believe that society is so graphic that it's going to be my first Broadway hit.