Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Suns win and other Random Thoughts

Not really a good or close game tonight in Phoenix (though I can't really say I saw a lot of it).

Even though game four was a blowout, it bodes well for the series. It looks like Miami will finish off Detroit rather soon and I would really like to see a game 7 in the conference finals. I've said all along that the Suns-Mavs are going three, it would really be something for Phoenix to play seven games in all three series and even more impressive if they won all three. (That being said, I'm picking Dallas, I believe it's their year).

Because of the Suns blowout win, I got to watch a lot of the Indians game and Rescue Me.

Indians thoughts:

CC is awesome. Thats it.

I love fat pitchers. Wickman and CC rocked. Plus even the Tribe's non-fat pitchers did well. Whoo hoo!

Peralta is coming around. A homerun tonight; good sign for the Tribe and my fantasy team (The Sosa-Palmeiro All-Stars).

All this Jim Thome nonsense. ESPN was all over this "Tribe fans booing Thome" non-story. Whats the deal? First of all, what's the big deal, Thome left for more money and Indian's fans are booing? Holy shit that is crazy?!?! This is a story?

More Jim Thome nonsense. To you dumb Tribe fans out there: Lay off. Thome left for more money, and I don't blame him. I've discussed this here.

Scott Sauerbeck? What the hell?

Are the Tigers that good? Indians that bad? The guys over at Mistake By the Lake Sports use all kind of crazy numbers to show that the Tigers and White Sox are playing above their heads right now. I find all the sabermetric stuff interesting, but I sometimes have A) a hard time following it and B) a hard time believing all of it. To be fair, I trust this stuff a lot more in baseball than I do football and basketball (I've seen arguments that say Drew Gooden is better than Rasheed Wallace... use all the math you want, the bottom line is Gooden's inconsistency drives me bat shit insane).

Rescue Me thoughts:

Season premiere was tonight and it was awesome. It was hilarious tonight, funny as hell. Do I care that I keep harping on how sweet this show is? No. Am I going to keep telling everyone that I know to watch it? Yes. Should you be watching it? Yes. Am I going to stop this? Maybe. Really? Probably not.

It is the best show on TV. Watch it.

Seriously. It is good.

Really damn good. I've never seen a show that weaves humor (sometimes very dark humor) and drama so well. Plus the acting is amazing - Jon Stewart to Dennis Leary: "This show is so good, I have a hard time believing you're in it". In the same hour it can be gut busting and gut wrenching; I know I sound like a crazed fan, I don't care.

Finally:

This photo has been making the rounds on the internet(s) today and I am kinda torn. Sure Larry Hughes is wearing a "I Heart Strippers" shirt. And normally that's hilarious. But almost every blog I've seen has some kind of mention about the grieving process and his brother. Like it's bad that Hughes is out and about or not grieving correctly. I dunno, it just kinda rubs me the wrong way. I've never been a big strip club guy, but if thats what you like, thats what you like. Not saying people are trying to be mean or make fun, (lets face it, that shirt rules), but I mean, Hughes did sit out a lot of the Pistons series, so it isn't like his brother passed and was getting lap dances the next day. I dunno, at this point I am rambling.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Lack of updates and such

I figured I'd have more time this weekend to write some reviews and such... notsomuch.

Over the last 4 days, I'm pretty sure the earliest I've gone to bed is 4 am. As my buddy Vik says: "We still got it!"


Anyways, I'm watching the Indians-White Sox right now and I am pumped for Dallas-Phoenix game 4. Huge game tonight.

Also, 10 PM, FX.... RESCUE ME!

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Free Agents

The PD has a list of free agents that the Cavs should pursue... and it is not a sexy list:

Point Guard: Speedy Claxton and Milt Palacio.

Power Forward: Reggie Evans

Center: Nazr Mohammed and Joe Pryzbilla.

Awesome. An undersized point guard, a former Cavalier from the dark ages (post Kemp-pre LeBron era), a ball grabber and two stiffs. Sweet.

If those are the best free agents out there, I hope Danny Ferry is exploring his trade options....

Friday, May 26, 2006

Danica Patrick

little update today, I've been job applying and stuff.

ESPN.com's main story right now is how Danica Patrick never wins anything and is in danger of becoming the Anna Kornikova of her sport. Sweet. This is the same Danica Patrick who ESPN made into a star/household name at this time last year. Build 'em up just to knock 'em down huh boys?

(I do have some non-sports updates coming, some CD reveiws and my thoughts on X-Men: The Last Stand, I should get those done this weekend)

Thursday, May 25, 2006

ZOMBIE LIES

Bud Shaw has a nice column about... I'm not really sure. I mean, it is well written and stuff, but I'm not sure where he's going with this.

Shaw does bring out a "Zombie Lie."

The Cavaliers can pay him more to stay than he'll earn if he leaves as a free agent. His Nike deal increases if he goes to a bigger market. Call it a wash.

Zombie Lie is a term made up by Atrios reffering to the Jack Abramoff scandal. (Jack Abramoff is the disgraced lobbyist who pled guilty to corruption charges. Abramoff was a College Republican, he gave all of his money to Republicans. While some of his clients gave money to Democrats, when he was working with them, they gave more to Republicans and less to Democrats than they had in the past. So newspeople and pundits like to say that Abramoff gave money to both Republicans and Democrats; that this is a bipartisan scandal. But he didn't. And it's not.) No matter how many times that you prove that Abramoff gave money ONLY TO REPUBLICANS, people keep coming back with "Abramoff gave money to both parties". It keeps coming back, you cannot kill it.

The NBA and LeBron James now has his own Zombie Lie. His Nike contract. Somewhere, someone said that his contract DOUBLES if he plays in Chicago, New York or LA. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. It doesn't matter where he plays, his Nike contract DOES NOT CHANGE! End of story. Even after a great playoff run, people still want this guy to bolt. I do not get it.

Bud Shaw doesn't get it, ESPN doesn't get it and lord knows which local columnist in Chicago, LA or NY will write the "It doesn't matter if we offer LeBron less money than Cleveland, his Nike contract doubles if he plays here" column first.

It looks like LeBron is going to resign in Cleveland. It looks like Mike Brown is open to hiring an offensive-minded assistant coach. It also looks like the Cavs might trade Z. Everyone can tell that Z doesn't fit in this offense. Is it because no one in Cleveland knows how to throw a post entry pass? Is it because he is too slow? Because Mike Brown's offense is "give the ball to LeBron and watch the magic happen"? I dunno.

I do know this: the Cavs will not stand pat this offseason. With three draft picks, Z dangling for trade and possible sign and trades with Drew Gooden, the Cavs will have a different roster by the time training camp rolls around.

By that time, LeBron should've signed his contract and all of his contract talk should be dead.

ZOMBIE LIES EAT MY BRAIN.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Jeb Bush for....

Commissioner of the NFL?!

I mean, I guess that is better than him running for President (though he said he won't in '08, but George said Jeb would make a great President).

Tom DeLay is not Smart

damn (via Atrios)

also, Fox News is classy (via Fark)

Monday, May 22, 2006

More Game 7 Thoughts

Vetern Cleveland fans know, this was to be expected.

Our fair city has a history of losing big games. And sure, yesterday wasn't exactly shocking, I mean, the Cavs did lose to the better team, it still sucks.

By any reasoning, the Cavs had a hell of a year. I'm pretty sure this will be the last time, ever, that LeBron will be an underdog.

People are already starting to hate the kid, mostly because ESPN and the media go nuts over him. I can't really blame them, growing up, I hated Michael Jordan. Absolutely hated him. I could never understand why kids in my class would wear Jordan shirts when he was beating OUR TEAM. I definitely got made picked on for wearing a Mark Price jersey to class (I bet they are all Cavs fans now... fuckers).

As much as this loss sucks, I refuse to put it with all of Clevelands other failures. I mean, this was predicted by everyone (okay, not 7 games, but the outcome). Sure it hurts, but come on, if the Cavs would have won yesterday, it would have been one of the great upsets in NBA playoff history. I don't get how, since the Cavs lost, it could be a great crushing defeat.

Yesterday, ABC ran down a list of Cleveland sport failures, and let me tell you, they were ill prepared. They started off with "The Catch", which I thought was really stretching it. For those of you who don't know, "The Catch" was a play made by Willie Mays during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series (ya, 1 out in game 1) versus the Indians. I wasn't aware that one in the first game of the World Series was really that bad.

So ABC starts off with "The Catch" and then we get "Red Right 88" and Brian Sipe. Then John Elway and "The Drive" and Ernest Byner and "The Fumble". They showed Jordan and "The Shot" over Ehlo. Finally, they showed Tony Fernandez's error and the Indians losing the 97 World Series.

I thought they missed a few there.

I would've put Pedro's game 5 Heroics. He came in from the bullpen in game 5 of the 98 ALDS and threw a perfect 6 innings. That was fun. Shut down the best offense in baseball. In Cleveland.

I also would've shown "The Shot II" This time was Jordan over Gerald Wilkins in 1993. This wasn't a close series, but he did hit the winning shot in Cleveland, at the buzzer, to send the Cavs home for the summer.

"The Modell". How about Art Modell moving the Browns franchise to Balti-less. I've said it before and I'll say it again: If you can't make money off of Browns football in Cleveland, you shouldn't be in the money making business.

How about "The Drop"? "The Non-Catch"? Grady Sizemore lost a fly ball in the Kansas City sun late last year and it sent the Indians on a downward spiral. I would almost call the entire last week of the 2005 season "The Choke".

There are more heartbreaks as well ABC. How about getting a superstar and having him eat himself out of the league (Shawn Kemp)... "The Twinkie"? How about the refs changing the rules and reviewing a play after another play has been run (Browns vs Jags) ... "The Bottles"? How about Jim Chones breaking his foot during the second round matchup vs the Celtics in 1976... "The Foot"? How about losing a NFL playoff game when you are up by 17... "The Butch Davis"? How about all of Z's foot injuries.. "The Feet"? (okay, I'm stretchin here).

Now if LeBron gets hurt or leaves in free agency, this series loss will hurt a lot more (cause it means that they blew their chance) but that it doubtful. However, it looks like the Cavs and LeBron will have many more chances in the playoffs.

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Also

with the Cavs losing, the broken leg Preakness and Bonds tying Ruth... I will not be watching ESPN tomorrow.

Game 7

Don't really have a whole lot to say, but I'll make this quick:

Dear ABC: What the fuck was that camera angle? I am trying to watch a basketball game. Please show a normal view.

Also: This loss wasn't that bad. This wasn't Mesa 97 or Red Right 88. The Cavs were supposed to lose this game. And they did. They were the underdogs, they didn't choke. Sure it sucks, but come on, this isn't The Shot.

As for the Cavs. LeBron almost pulled a Kobe Game 7 in the second half last night. Hello, the 3rd quarter was not the time to start setting up Drew Gooden.

Imagine the possibilites.... If LeBron can take this team this far, imagine what he could do with a point guard with shooting skills..... Or a power forward that has a nasty streak.... Or a shooting guard who can shoot....

Finally, I'm stealing this from The Cavalier at YaySports! and there's nothin you can do to stop me:

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7