I planned on writing about the BCS stuff that happened earlier this week and how I think the new system will be even more of a joke, but that will have to wait for another time - I will get to this at some point.
Today's list is as self-centered as it could possibly get. This is a list of my favorite 7 things coming up in the next week. I will have the next week off of work for several reasons, some of which will be discussed below. I won't go too in depth about each one because frankly, I'm lazy and kinda rushing this blog.
Note - this does not include my brother's wedding, which is in 8 days.
7. White Sox game - July 5th: Yesterday, I decided to buy Jen and myself 2nd row seats along the first base line near where the ball girl (also known at US Cellular as a security officer) sits. I've had similar seats before, so that's why this doesn't go further down the list.
6. RibFest in Naperville: I've never gone to one of these things before, so I'm glad I'm able to go this year. Jen and I are going with her brother and his fiance. I should wear a plain white shirt and record the proceedings. With how messy I am, it could be a video that goes viral.
5. Fireworks in Peru: I'm going to be catching a fireworks show at Jen's aunt and uncle's in a town in western Illinois (Peru). I say it like this because I'm not sure the average person knows much about this. It should be interesting to see if they do any better of a show than these other folks or if it lives up to my theory that most firework shows are the same (a fireworks racist, I am not). It'll be fun seeing fireworks with the g/f for the first time though.
4. Writing the Best Man Speech: I have yet to start this, although I have an idea of what I'm going to say. I need to keep my crowd in mind when writing it. Funny speeches are really hard to write, especially when you don't know half of the people.
3. Meeting Jen's Dad for the first time: I'm looking forward to meeting her old man. It's been a while coming.
2. Bachelor Party: I won't be that tool who uses the word EPIC to describe what tomorrow will be like, so anyways, tomorrow will be legend.....WAIT FOR IT.....dary. Yeah, I went there. It's not a complicated set-up: a party bus is driving us to whirlyball, then back to the casino in Joliet. With how exciting this day should be, how could this be only #2 if the wedding is not included?
1. Picking Up the Tux: Not sure why, but this action will get me in the ultimate wedding mood. Something about looking like a sexy beast in a tux does it. Also, the whole picturing myself standing next to my brother as he marries the girl of his dreams thing too.
It's going to be a great week. A great week.
6/29/2012
6/22/2012
B List: Agony of the Heat (List 6)
This LBJ didn't make any promises about Vietnam. Instead, the basketball version declared that he would win "not 5, not 6, not 7..." NBA titles. In their own ways, both Lyndon Johnson & LeBron James would find ways to vilify themselves with their own words.
One down, "not 6" to go for LBJ Jr. to live up to his words. His team did what many thought they were capable of, but were unlikely to do, at least this time around against a talented Oklahoma City Thunder squad that features some of the best collection of young talent that the NBA has seen in quite some time.
I thought the Heat would win based on their experience from last year, but I didn't think they would completely dismantle the Thunder. Outside of a poor second half in Game 1 and poor 1st quarter in Game 4, the Heat destroyed the Thunder on both ends of the floor. LeBron showed what happens when the most talented player in the NBA puts forth maximum effort to achieve his goal. It's a scary thought for NBA teams who have to face him in the next 6-7 years.
Below are 7 (not 5, not 6) thoughts concerning the Heat as to where they stand now and looking forward to what could be a prolonged run of championships for the most hated squad in the NBA.
7. The Eastern Conference looks like a cakewalk for the foreseeable future. I know most Bulls fans would disagree, but I think last year was their best chance in the Miami/LeBron era to make it to the Finals. Outside of Rose, the Bulls have no legit scorer that can create his own shot. Over the course of history, the NBA has shown itself to be a sport where you need at least 2 of the top 10/20 talents on a team to win titles. If they don't land a big fish like Dwight Howard, I don't think they can reasonably beat the Heat in the near future. I think the Bulls have maximized their talents in each of the last two regular seasons. Even if Rose comes back mid-season next year, I don't think he'll be all that sharp.
The Pacers are a team on the rise, but outside of Granger, they don't have a complimentary superstar (although Roy Hibbert is developing into a solid player). The Celtics' realistic window for title shots was 2008-2010. The Knicks may have the best shot of rising from the ashes outside of these teams in the East, but that may be a stretch.
If you look at it objectively, it could be easy to see the Heat winning the East for the next 4-5 years if the teams above don't make major roster moves.
6. They should consider moving Dwyane Wade. I read this online earlier, and it made some sense. With how reckless and physical Wade has played in his 9 year career, his body has taken more of a toll than most of the same length career. In addition to missing 17 games this year due to injury, Wade has also missed significant time (20+ games in a year) in three other years due to injury. Wade's numbers don't show it yet, but I think there could be some value in trading him to get more depth, especially while he has some miles on the treads.
5. No matter how many titles they win, Coach Erik Spoelstra will never get any credit. There aren't too many coaches who could go under the radar or get as little of the team's credit as Spoelstra has. Many people (perhaps idiots) speculated that he would be canned if they didn't win a title this year. I don't know a whole bunch about him other than his unusual rise up the ladder from video editor to coach. I know Pat Riley loves the guy - not sure how unconditional that love would be if they fell short again though. This buys Spoelstra at least another two years - of which I believe the Heat to win at least one championship in that time (possibly both). I'm not sure if it's fair that he doesn't get much credit, but he should get some.
4. LeBron needs to stay hungry and continue to play with a chip on his shoulder. Look at what happened with Dallas this year. Dirk was so out of shape that his coaches recommended that he take time off during the season to get back into shape. I'm not sure if he didn't think there would be a season or what, but the way he entered this year gave people the impression that one title was enough for him. I definitely don't see LeBron having the same problem in terms of entering the 2012-13 season with a beer belly, but I do think he needs to find a way to avoid the post-first-title hangover that seemed to accompany Nowitzki. Look at how LBJ played in this year's playoffs - he took his game to a level that wasn't surprising given his talents, but surprised people given his recent bad fortune in the playoffs. It goes to show how talented LBJ is that "bad fortune" in your career means making it to 2 NBA Finals & a conference final before the age of 27. If he can stay hungry and not get a hangover, I believe the Heat (including this year) will win 4 or 5 out of the next 6 titles.
3. Outside of themselves, the biggest obstacle to a prolonged NBA title run for the Heat will be the Thunder. I believe that the Thunder will remain the best in the west for the next 3-4 years, presuming they keep their core of Durant, Westbrook & Ibaka (I think Harden will sign elsewhere for a max contract). It will be nearly impossible for the Thunder to maintain their current collection of talent given potential salary cap problems. To those who know basketball, superstars like Durant rarely win at a young age - it usually takes one or two lumps to the forehead to know what it takes to win the title. I do think Durant will win one or two titles in his career, but I think it may not be for a few more years.
2. The Heat winning the title was good for the NBA. My friend Nick said he will continue to hate the Heat much like he hates the Yankees. I bet if you polled 100 random sports fans who their least favorite team in NBA/MLB was, the Heat and Yankees would be the frontrunners to win those titles. Think - what did it take for everyone to hate the Yankees so much? The answer: titles...and lots of 'em. If the Yankees currently had as many titles as the Cubs, do you think people would hate them as much? Sports fans tend to hate teams that have prolonged runs of success. People hated the Heat before they won anything, so you can only imagine now how much more they will hate the Heat if they go on a Bulls-like 6-of-8 run here. I believe this hate for the Heat will equal ratings gold for the NBA.
Unlike MJ, whose commercial appeal defined him more than his selfish, asshole attitude, LeBron doesn't have the same appeal with the mainstream media. I don't know if it's people still holding that bad 48-hour stretch of hosting a primetime show to declare where he was taking his talents and then stating how many titles he was going to win against him, but LeBron has taken the most shit from haters in the Twitter era of basketball. I think MJ should be lucky he didn't play in this social media era, because his attitude and personality would have gotten more exposure than it did back in the day, where it seemed like folks in the media were afraid to call out MJ on his discretions off the court.
1. My prediction: by the end of his career, LeBron will have as many titles as Jordan. While they won their first titles at the same age, LeBron also had a few more seasons underneath his belt. Both needed the help of other Hall of Fame/All-Star quality people around him to win it all (LBJ has Wade & Bosh, MJ had Pippen & Phil Jackson). Both needed to overcome the "so close, yet so far" feeling - LeBron losing to the Spurs & Mavs in separate NBA Finals, MJ being dominated by the Pistons for that three year stretch.
Once MJ got going, the only thing that really stopped him was his first brief retirement, which some conspiracy folks believe was a suspension for his gambling ways. In his last 6 full seasons with the Bulls, Jordan led them to titles, including setting a record for most wins in a year with 72 in 1995-96. I don't know if LeBron (or anyone) will ever beat this record, but I do believe LeBron, if surrounded with the right talent, can start a similar title run.
I know living in Chicago, we have the idea in our heads that MJ won these titles by himself - he didn't. Every superstar needs some semblance of talent around him to succeed on the biggest stage. I think the core of LBJ & Bosh (assuming my scenario above plays out and Wade ends up getting traded) would be as good of a starting point as anybody in the NBA for a prolonged run of titles.
Much of this stuff above is opinion and speculation, so feel free to dissect it. I'm not always the best when it comes to predicting what will happen.
All I know is, whether you hate the Heat or not, you better be ready to see them in the last two series of the NBA playoffs every year for a while.
One down, "not 6" to go for LBJ Jr. to live up to his words. His team did what many thought they were capable of, but were unlikely to do, at least this time around against a talented Oklahoma City Thunder squad that features some of the best collection of young talent that the NBA has seen in quite some time.
I thought the Heat would win based on their experience from last year, but I didn't think they would completely dismantle the Thunder. Outside of a poor second half in Game 1 and poor 1st quarter in Game 4, the Heat destroyed the Thunder on both ends of the floor. LeBron showed what happens when the most talented player in the NBA puts forth maximum effort to achieve his goal. It's a scary thought for NBA teams who have to face him in the next 6-7 years.
Below are 7 (not 5, not 6) thoughts concerning the Heat as to where they stand now and looking forward to what could be a prolonged run of championships for the most hated squad in the NBA.
7. The Eastern Conference looks like a cakewalk for the foreseeable future. I know most Bulls fans would disagree, but I think last year was their best chance in the Miami/LeBron era to make it to the Finals. Outside of Rose, the Bulls have no legit scorer that can create his own shot. Over the course of history, the NBA has shown itself to be a sport where you need at least 2 of the top 10/20 talents on a team to win titles. If they don't land a big fish like Dwight Howard, I don't think they can reasonably beat the Heat in the near future. I think the Bulls have maximized their talents in each of the last two regular seasons. Even if Rose comes back mid-season next year, I don't think he'll be all that sharp.
The Pacers are a team on the rise, but outside of Granger, they don't have a complimentary superstar (although Roy Hibbert is developing into a solid player). The Celtics' realistic window for title shots was 2008-2010. The Knicks may have the best shot of rising from the ashes outside of these teams in the East, but that may be a stretch.
If you look at it objectively, it could be easy to see the Heat winning the East for the next 4-5 years if the teams above don't make major roster moves.
6. They should consider moving Dwyane Wade. I read this online earlier, and it made some sense. With how reckless and physical Wade has played in his 9 year career, his body has taken more of a toll than most of the same length career. In addition to missing 17 games this year due to injury, Wade has also missed significant time (20+ games in a year) in three other years due to injury. Wade's numbers don't show it yet, but I think there could be some value in trading him to get more depth, especially while he has some miles on the treads.
5. No matter how many titles they win, Coach Erik Spoelstra will never get any credit. There aren't too many coaches who could go under the radar or get as little of the team's credit as Spoelstra has. Many people (perhaps idiots) speculated that he would be canned if they didn't win a title this year. I don't know a whole bunch about him other than his unusual rise up the ladder from video editor to coach. I know Pat Riley loves the guy - not sure how unconditional that love would be if they fell short again though. This buys Spoelstra at least another two years - of which I believe the Heat to win at least one championship in that time (possibly both). I'm not sure if it's fair that he doesn't get much credit, but he should get some.
4. LeBron needs to stay hungry and continue to play with a chip on his shoulder. Look at what happened with Dallas this year. Dirk was so out of shape that his coaches recommended that he take time off during the season to get back into shape. I'm not sure if he didn't think there would be a season or what, but the way he entered this year gave people the impression that one title was enough for him. I definitely don't see LeBron having the same problem in terms of entering the 2012-13 season with a beer belly, but I do think he needs to find a way to avoid the post-first-title hangover that seemed to accompany Nowitzki. Look at how LBJ played in this year's playoffs - he took his game to a level that wasn't surprising given his talents, but surprised people given his recent bad fortune in the playoffs. It goes to show how talented LBJ is that "bad fortune" in your career means making it to 2 NBA Finals & a conference final before the age of 27. If he can stay hungry and not get a hangover, I believe the Heat (including this year) will win 4 or 5 out of the next 6 titles.
3. Outside of themselves, the biggest obstacle to a prolonged NBA title run for the Heat will be the Thunder. I believe that the Thunder will remain the best in the west for the next 3-4 years, presuming they keep their core of Durant, Westbrook & Ibaka (I think Harden will sign elsewhere for a max contract). It will be nearly impossible for the Thunder to maintain their current collection of talent given potential salary cap problems. To those who know basketball, superstars like Durant rarely win at a young age - it usually takes one or two lumps to the forehead to know what it takes to win the title. I do think Durant will win one or two titles in his career, but I think it may not be for a few more years.
2. The Heat winning the title was good for the NBA. My friend Nick said he will continue to hate the Heat much like he hates the Yankees. I bet if you polled 100 random sports fans who their least favorite team in NBA/MLB was, the Heat and Yankees would be the frontrunners to win those titles. Think - what did it take for everyone to hate the Yankees so much? The answer: titles...and lots of 'em. If the Yankees currently had as many titles as the Cubs, do you think people would hate them as much? Sports fans tend to hate teams that have prolonged runs of success. People hated the Heat before they won anything, so you can only imagine now how much more they will hate the Heat if they go on a Bulls-like 6-of-8 run here. I believe this hate for the Heat will equal ratings gold for the NBA.
Unlike MJ, whose commercial appeal defined him more than his selfish, asshole attitude, LeBron doesn't have the same appeal with the mainstream media. I don't know if it's people still holding that bad 48-hour stretch of hosting a primetime show to declare where he was taking his talents and then stating how many titles he was going to win against him, but LeBron has taken the most shit from haters in the Twitter era of basketball. I think MJ should be lucky he didn't play in this social media era, because his attitude and personality would have gotten more exposure than it did back in the day, where it seemed like folks in the media were afraid to call out MJ on his discretions off the court.
1. My prediction: by the end of his career, LeBron will have as many titles as Jordan. While they won their first titles at the same age, LeBron also had a few more seasons underneath his belt. Both needed the help of other Hall of Fame/All-Star quality people around him to win it all (LBJ has Wade & Bosh, MJ had Pippen & Phil Jackson). Both needed to overcome the "so close, yet so far" feeling - LeBron losing to the Spurs & Mavs in separate NBA Finals, MJ being dominated by the Pistons for that three year stretch.
Once MJ got going, the only thing that really stopped him was his first brief retirement, which some conspiracy folks believe was a suspension for his gambling ways. In his last 6 full seasons with the Bulls, Jordan led them to titles, including setting a record for most wins in a year with 72 in 1995-96. I don't know if LeBron (or anyone) will ever beat this record, but I do believe LeBron, if surrounded with the right talent, can start a similar title run.
I know living in Chicago, we have the idea in our heads that MJ won these titles by himself - he didn't. Every superstar needs some semblance of talent around him to succeed on the biggest stage. I think the core of LBJ & Bosh (assuming my scenario above plays out and Wade ends up getting traded) would be as good of a starting point as anybody in the NBA for a prolonged run of titles.
Much of this stuff above is opinion and speculation, so feel free to dissect it. I'm not always the best when it comes to predicting what will happen.
All I know is, whether you hate the Heat or not, you better be ready to see them in the last two series of the NBA playoffs every year for a while.
6/21/2012
Moving On After Moving Out - A Reflection of Life After Three Weeks On My Own
It's the same place, but it isn't.
The roads all run the same directions that they always have, but driving down them almost feels like driving through a foreign area for the first time.
The faces look at me the same, but the way I look at them is much different than before.
In the three weeks I've been away from the place that I called home for almost 27 years, I've briefly visited there about twice a week. Each time I go back, a slow but steady progression towards this place not feeling like home sinks in.
Don't get me wrong, it has nothing to do with the people or pets that live there. They couldn't be any better of a family than one could ask for. I think this feeling has more to do with my new place feeling like an actual home.
With a nice living room set-up (about to get a step closer to complete with the rest of the furniture being delivered on Saturday), a nice comfy bed that me and the lady share (oh, and the cats share as well), and more and more things to call my own (like the beautiful grill), I think having a place of my own as well as owning some particular items for the first time is making me feel more independent. As a result, I feel like this place is home now, not the place in Oak Forest.
I admit, it's weird to go back home and see that my old room is already occupied by my sister, who had the room repainted and also adjusted the bed to a different spot of the room. This overhaul of life back at my old home is making me realize that I am happy with my new home.
It is weird seeing the faces of my family and realizing that I am just a visitor in their home. It doesn't change my love of them, but I can't help it for saying that it does change the way I view my relationship with them. Now more than ever, I view my moving out as a chance to have a new relationship with them, one where I talk to them on the phone or share talks with them online (except for my dad - I'd love to see him telling me all about his metal detecting adventures while talking on Facebook).
I look forward to this new relationship with them and the place I used to call home. I also look forward to having them as regular visitors in our home.
The roads all run the same directions that they always have, but driving down them almost feels like driving through a foreign area for the first time.
The faces look at me the same, but the way I look at them is much different than before.
In the three weeks I've been away from the place that I called home for almost 27 years, I've briefly visited there about twice a week. Each time I go back, a slow but steady progression towards this place not feeling like home sinks in.
Don't get me wrong, it has nothing to do with the people or pets that live there. They couldn't be any better of a family than one could ask for. I think this feeling has more to do with my new place feeling like an actual home.
With a nice living room set-up (about to get a step closer to complete with the rest of the furniture being delivered on Saturday), a nice comfy bed that me and the lady share (oh, and the cats share as well), and more and more things to call my own (like the beautiful grill), I think having a place of my own as well as owning some particular items for the first time is making me feel more independent. As a result, I feel like this place is home now, not the place in Oak Forest.
I admit, it's weird to go back home and see that my old room is already occupied by my sister, who had the room repainted and also adjusted the bed to a different spot of the room. This overhaul of life back at my old home is making me realize that I am happy with my new home.
It is weird seeing the faces of my family and realizing that I am just a visitor in their home. It doesn't change my love of them, but I can't help it for saying that it does change the way I view my relationship with them. Now more than ever, I view my moving out as a chance to have a new relationship with them, one where I talk to them on the phone or share talks with them online (except for my dad - I'd love to see him telling me all about his metal detecting adventures while talking on Facebook).
I look forward to this new relationship with them and the place I used to call home. I also look forward to having them as regular visitors in our home.
6/19/2012
What's 55 inches that me and my girlfriend both love equally?
Our TV, you perverts.
This will be bad news for the relationship that me and the large-and-in-charge 55" TV have developed since I moved in on June 1st. It will also be bad news for my good luck in betting on the playoffs, which seems to happen more often than not for some reason. (Although, the novice gambler in me says it's probably a good thing that my gambling outlets will be shut down).
It will be good news for someone though - you guessed it: the girlfriend!
From next week until football season starts, yours truly will likely cut back on my sports watching consumption. I guess this is really nothing new - as the NBA winds down every year, baseball remains the only competitive sport in its regular season for a couple of months that I give a crap about.
But with having the new TV, I feel like I need to be watching sports on it twice as much as before. I figure - this TV is about twice as large as the one I have downstairs; hence, twice the sports consumption. Will I watch more baseball on TV than before? I'd say likely, particularly on Saturdays when the lady is at work and the Fox game of the week is on.
With less sports on, Jen and I won't have to argue about who gets to watch the big TV and who has to watch the tiny, puny, pathetic TV in our room (ok, it's just tiny, puny and pathetic compared to the living room TV). So far during our time here, I've had the luxury of many evenings watching the last two rounds of the NBA playoffs while the lady has cooped herself in the bedroom watching her shows. I'll probably end up watching a few of these shows that she watches on demand, like True Blood & Game of Thrones as the summer commences and the sun sets on the NBA.
Once football season begins, it'll be another 17-week tour of duty over at Tim's and his version of the Big 3 - his 70" and two 32" TVs. I can't wait to watch games on the LeBron of his TVs, just as long as it never randomly turns itself off in the fourth quarter of a close game! (Zing - even I can find a time to lamely make fun of LeBron!). Had to get that reference out while I still can - dude has been playing unreal this playoff season.
A playoff season that I've been able to enjoy the past three weeks thanks to the luxury of my gigantic television. Soon, it will be relegated (and hopefully not fall asleep on itself) to several months of baseball and perhaps whatever golf or tennis major happens to be going on at the time.
I can't wait for that first NFL game and first college football Saturday of watching the early non-conference action. Until then, to the TV, I say - it's been nice knowing you. Jen will take good care of you to make up for the times I leave a dragged out baseball game on for too long.
6/15/2012
B List - What's Your Fantasy: Favorite Fantasy Football Fings (List 5)
Ever since my work for the day has been done this evening, I've been in fantasy football mode. I just set up the fifth installment of the league I am commissioner of: Super Bowlek Nothing gets a bunch of football nerds going like discussing how awesome their fantasy football teams are doing or who they drafted a month before the league started.
In this blog, I'll discuss the newest B-list item: my favorite things about fantasy football, from studying to in-season stuff, in no particular order, but numbered anyways:
(7) Increased Football Awareness - I appreciate how much more people are aware of second-string running backs on teams that they would not normally follow. People watch more games and more coverage of the games than ever before. Some of that has to do with gambling, but the spike in ratings lately has to be more fantasy football related. People are watching more and becoming more aware of things going on in a game. The only thing I don't care about this is that it becomes all about fantasy and can't take enjoyment out of a good game if your player isn't doing so hot. This is a pet-peeve of mine for people who gamble as well. I've been able to find a good balance between betting and simply enjoying a game - I'd like people to do this for regular games as well.
(6) Beer - Don't get me wrong, I enjoy having a few cold ones a few times a week, but something about enjoying a good beer during the draft process seems American to me. This year will be no exception.
(5) Dumb Moves - There's always that one person in your league who makes some bad moves that leaves everyone questioning the integrity of the league (or quite the opposite: makes people happy the person is in the league). I have weeded out most of the folks who would do this, as I'd like my league to be as competitive as possible. But there's no avoiding it. It makes the league more interesting when there's at least one dumbass in it.
(4) Constant Checking of Fantasy Scores - It's hilarious to see people get worked up about their team's score from the opening kick at noon until the Monday Night game is complete. With more Thursday night games this year, this process will be extended a little longer in the week. I am one of these people when my teams are good. Last year, all of my money league teams sucked, so I didn't follow my teams as religiously. If things change this year, I will likely be one of these idiots again.
(3) The Afternoon of the Draft - I don't know why, but I've gotten the biggest kick out of setting up all the seats for the draft, buying the draft board and stickers, and all that other jazz. When it comes to fantasy football and all the leagues I enter, I take the most pride in my league, so I try organizing and setting it up as best as I can.
(2) Watching the NFL Games W/ Friends - I enjoy watching people's reactions to every play that their fantasy player takes part of. If their running back fumbles the ball, the profanities that come out of my friends' mouths is enjoyable to say the least. People (including myself) get way too serious about their fantasy football teams, to the point where it becomes annoying about 98% of the time fantasy football comes up as a topic of conversation. Yet, for some reason, I still love this aspect of it. Guess I'm a glutton for punishment.
(1) The Draft Itself - Nothing beats the actual composition of your team, from first pick to last. Not only that, but the bickering, yelling and teasing that comes from the draft are always priceless moments. Anyone who has never done an in-person draft and who is a big fantasy football person, I recommend doing one just to experience it once. I believe you will like it better than doing the draft in person and never want to go back. I am to the point where I do three drafts per fantasy season in person and I really don't want to do it online anymore.
6/12/2012
Turn the Heat Up: NBA Finals Preview (OK, more of a LeBron rant)
Outside of my B-lists, I haven't found much time to write lately. That's what packing and moving and trying to settle into a place will do to a guy.
Probably won't be too long with this blog, but I figured I should get my NBA Finals blog in before deadline.
As you may have read before, here's the predictions I made before the playoffs started. For once in my life, I got a Finals prediction right, with several predictions coming in exactly as stated.
Now, about 30 minutes away from tip off, I've already read plenty of stuff about how LeBron is going to choke again, how he will never win a title, how he's not the best player in the league.
Some of this I believe to be the product of the 24/7/365 (this year, 24/7/366) news cycle that requires networks such as ESPN to have a loud opinion at all times. And as in the news, whatever bleeds, leads, so we have the negative nonsense that drips from the mouths of a-holes that ESPN dares to call analysts.
In this day and age, the target of everyone's venom is LeBron James, whose biggest crime was to make a fool of himself on national television and decided he had had enough of playing with a below average basketball team. He's such a jerk, all the $2.5 million in ad revenue that came from The Decision went to the Boys and Girls Club of America. What a dick. So as he said the words, "I'm taking my talents to South Beach", so began the unreasonable hate of LBJ, a hate that many sports fans seem to thrive in.
The energy exuded as people talk about him makes me think that LeBron killed your family and made you watch. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that no, he didn't kill your family. The dude dribbles (and many times, "dribbles") and shoots basketballs for a living - not exactly stuff that people need to get all worked up about.
Yet, every time I look on Twitter, Facebook or any NBA-related programming on TV, all I ever hear about is how is LeBron going to choke this time, how LeBron sucks, how LeBron will never be Jordan, etc. I do think, at least here in Chicago, there is the constant need for us to compare the players that are considered the greatest now to Jordan, which is not fair to anyone - not Jordan, not James, not anyone. When we hear the words MVP and greatest, we don't want to believe that there will ever be another Jordan - which any reasonable person would agree is not going to happen.
In Jordan, we had a guy who hated to lose. You got the feeling that Jordan would run over his mother in the lane if she was standing there if it meant an inch closer to victory. With LeBron, you don't get that feeling. In that way, I can see a reason to shake your head at with James.
I think in all aspects of life, we should embrace and respect greatness, whether it's on a basketball court, a concert stage, or even a kitchen. Not only that, but we should want to see the great want to be great and do whatever they can to be great. We shouldn't want people to settle for mediocrity. If the most talented at their craft consistently show the urge to be great, it can be a great thing to witness.
What we saw in Game 6 with LeBron James just flat out taking over the game on the brink of elimination was a thing of beauty. If you hate the guy after a performance like that, you're suffering from a severe case of jealousy. We should want to see great. What many people have hated from LeBron is when he has looked average in the past when we know what he is capable of.
I know this is not much of a preview, but I just wanted to stress how it doesn't do us as sports fans any good if James doesn't win this year. Do you really want another year of losers like Skip Bayless saying that LeBron sucks (while touting incompletion machines like Tebow)? The annoying chatter will only get more annoying, will only take up more air time. WE. DO. NOT. WANT. THAT. If you do, you're a sadistic person and you'll get what you'll ask for.
Of course, the Heat have to earn it, which they will do if they win. The Thunder are a great team, probably a little deeper than the Heat. I don't need to get into match-ups - not really my thing anyways.
I'm banking on the Heat's experience from last year to play a role in this year's Finals. I expect a split in the first two games, Heat taking two of three at home, then taking home the crown in a great 6 game series.
I was called a Heat apologist from a friend of mine. I can see why he might think that, but in reality, all I want to do is find the Truth, which is somewhere in the middle of everyone's unnecessary hate of LBJ & the Heat and my "defending" them.
I'm no Heat fan - just a fan of folks not being dumb when it comes to criticism. If you're going to hate LeBron, hate him for his effort if he doesn't show his full display of talents. Don't hate him for some decision that 98% of us would agree is a reasonable one - leaving a fledging business to become a co-CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
For the next two weeks, I'm rooting for the Heat because I want to be able to watch the NBA next year without hearing the same narrative play out another year. Is that too much to ask?
Probably won't be too long with this blog, but I figured I should get my NBA Finals blog in before deadline.
As you may have read before, here's the predictions I made before the playoffs started. For once in my life, I got a Finals prediction right, with several predictions coming in exactly as stated.
Now, about 30 minutes away from tip off, I've already read plenty of stuff about how LeBron is going to choke again, how he will never win a title, how he's not the best player in the league.
Some of this I believe to be the product of the 24/7/365 (this year, 24/7/366) news cycle that requires networks such as ESPN to have a loud opinion at all times. And as in the news, whatever bleeds, leads, so we have the negative nonsense that drips from the mouths of a-holes that ESPN dares to call analysts.
In this day and age, the target of everyone's venom is LeBron James, whose biggest crime was to make a fool of himself on national television and decided he had had enough of playing with a below average basketball team. He's such a jerk, all the $2.5 million in ad revenue that came from The Decision went to the Boys and Girls Club of America. What a dick. So as he said the words, "I'm taking my talents to South Beach", so began the unreasonable hate of LBJ, a hate that many sports fans seem to thrive in.
The energy exuded as people talk about him makes me think that LeBron killed your family and made you watch. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that no, he didn't kill your family. The dude dribbles (and many times, "dribbles") and shoots basketballs for a living - not exactly stuff that people need to get all worked up about.
Yet, every time I look on Twitter, Facebook or any NBA-related programming on TV, all I ever hear about is how is LeBron going to choke this time, how LeBron sucks, how LeBron will never be Jordan, etc. I do think, at least here in Chicago, there is the constant need for us to compare the players that are considered the greatest now to Jordan, which is not fair to anyone - not Jordan, not James, not anyone. When we hear the words MVP and greatest, we don't want to believe that there will ever be another Jordan - which any reasonable person would agree is not going to happen.
In Jordan, we had a guy who hated to lose. You got the feeling that Jordan would run over his mother in the lane if she was standing there if it meant an inch closer to victory. With LeBron, you don't get that feeling. In that way, I can see a reason to shake your head at with James.
I think in all aspects of life, we should embrace and respect greatness, whether it's on a basketball court, a concert stage, or even a kitchen. Not only that, but we should want to see the great want to be great and do whatever they can to be great. We shouldn't want people to settle for mediocrity. If the most talented at their craft consistently show the urge to be great, it can be a great thing to witness.
What we saw in Game 6 with LeBron James just flat out taking over the game on the brink of elimination was a thing of beauty. If you hate the guy after a performance like that, you're suffering from a severe case of jealousy. We should want to see great. What many people have hated from LeBron is when he has looked average in the past when we know what he is capable of.
I know this is not much of a preview, but I just wanted to stress how it doesn't do us as sports fans any good if James doesn't win this year. Do you really want another year of losers like Skip Bayless saying that LeBron sucks (while touting incompletion machines like Tebow)? The annoying chatter will only get more annoying, will only take up more air time. WE. DO. NOT. WANT. THAT. If you do, you're a sadistic person and you'll get what you'll ask for.
Of course, the Heat have to earn it, which they will do if they win. The Thunder are a great team, probably a little deeper than the Heat. I don't need to get into match-ups - not really my thing anyways.
I'm banking on the Heat's experience from last year to play a role in this year's Finals. I expect a split in the first two games, Heat taking two of three at home, then taking home the crown in a great 6 game series.
I was called a Heat apologist from a friend of mine. I can see why he might think that, but in reality, all I want to do is find the Truth, which is somewhere in the middle of everyone's unnecessary hate of LBJ & the Heat and my "defending" them.
I'm no Heat fan - just a fan of folks not being dumb when it comes to criticism. If you're going to hate LeBron, hate him for his effort if he doesn't show his full display of talents. Don't hate him for some decision that 98% of us would agree is a reasonable one - leaving a fledging business to become a co-CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
For the next two weeks, I'm rooting for the Heat because I want to be able to watch the NBA next year without hearing the same narrative play out another year. Is that too much to ask?
6/08/2012
B List: 7 Wonders of This World - The "What If" List (List 4)
If only this and this would have happened, things would have been different.
We all have wonders in our lives on what could have been if something in our lives would have changed. It doesn't mean a regret, which is something one should never have anyways, as we all need to make mistakes in life on occasion to get on the right path.
There are certain moments that you can look back on and say, if only. This list is inspired by something that just happened today, leaving the sporting community wondering "if only..."
Below is a list of 7 athletes, actors and musicians who either had their lives or careers end tragically in my lifetime, with probably more of an emphasis on athletes. I'll rank them in order based on a combination of potential cultural significance of what they could have been and their relevance in my areas of interest (i.e. sports hold more of an interest in my life than music).
 |
| What could have been for Oden... |
7. Greg Oden - Tabbed by many as one of the next big franchise centers for years to come, Oden has only played 82 games since being drafted #1 by the Portland Trailblazers in 2007. He didn't play in a game until a year and a half after he was drafted, and from there, he just continued to get injured. Worse for them is that Kevin Durant was drafted by the Supersonics (now the Thunder), so they'll always have their own version of "what if". Despite his lackluster stats in that 82 game sample of a career (9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds per game), anyone who watched Oden in college and before know the type of talent that he had. In the absence of hindsight, three scoring titles and at the very least, an NBA Finals appearance, there was a good reason why Oden was drafted with the first pick. For the most part of NBA history, the staple of sustained success was with having a big talented guy at center. I hope he can eventually get healthy and make a comeback of sorts. I hate watching talent go to waste.
 |
| He overdid everything - including drugs. |
6. Chris Farley - He'd be higher on my list if it wasn't a shock that he would end up dying in a very tragic way at an early age. Anything that Farley did, he overdid, whether it be in acting with his pratfalls or with his drinking and drug use. Farley's legacy for our generation was summed up in his appearances on Tommy Boy and Black Sheep, and the classic SNL skits such as the Chippendales auditions and Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker. I'm not sure how much more he could have done with his brand of comedy, as his range was limited to a very specific role (fat, aloof idiot who we couldn't help but love). Seeing what a similar actor in terms of lack of range (Adam Sandler) did with his "talents" over the years after a successful SNL stint, I'm sure there would have been a career full of movies for Farley had he stayed alive. However, I doubt they would have matched the appeal of his first two major roles (see: Beverly Hills Ninja).
 |
| Cobain hated the fame that his music created . |
5. Kurt Cobain - Like Farley, Cobain's demise was apparent to those who knew him best. Even in his lyrics, you could hear the wanting out of life that Cobain desired. In April of 1994, he shot himself dead at the age of 27 (no, it wasn't Courtney Love). I didn't get into alternative music (and music in general) until about 2-3 years after his death, so his death doesn't hit home with me as much as it might some others. I know some people who think Nirvana is overrated, and I admit that I haven't listened to them as much over the years as I did before - mainly because their library of music isn't as deep as most artists I listen to (and thus, I get sick of it quicker). However, there's no questioning the new era of music that came in with Nirvana and the album Nevermind. To many, Nirvana was music's answer to the fluffy era of rock music that preceded it, one that actually reflected the angst that many teenagers were dealing with. I don't know how much more Cobain could have done as a musician, but his early death will leave people wondering....if only. Could Nirvana have had as much staying power as Pearl Jam has? My opinion - no, only because I believe Dave Grohl already had Foo Fighters lined up before Cobain died. To think, Foo Fighters have been around since 1994 (its 19th year as a band). That's about five times longer than Nirvana lasted.
 |
| I'll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby |
4. I'll Have Another - In terms of a sports story, it doesn't get much sadder to see a horse miss out on a chance to win the Triple Crown because of a career-ending injury. I'll Have Another paid me a handsome sum back in May when he raced out of the 19th post as an 18/1 and took home the Kentucky Derby. He followed that victory up with another head-to-head victory over Bodemeister in the Preakness, en route to becoming the first horse since Big Brown in 2008 to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown. A swollen tendon is what will hold the horse from having a chance to be the first Triple Crown winner since 1978. If he would have won the Triple Crown, the marketability of the horse and horse racing in general would have had a short-term spike. Nevertheless, I'm sure his stud fee is through the roof, so no tears to be shed for his owners.
 |
| Biggie & Tupac's deaths left a hole in hip hop that will never be filled |
3. Tupac/Biggie - I know many of my friends aren't the biggest fans of hip hop music, but the deaths of these two rap legends left a hole in the hip hop industry that they have never really been able to replace. Both deaths were violent endings to Hall of Fame rappers, both of whom connected to their listeners in a rare way and brought hip hop music to new heights. It's unfortunate that these guys had to die when they did. To think that I've already lived four more years than either one of them did. I would probably have these guys up higher if I was a bigger hip-hop fan (I consider myself a fan of limited hip-hop, the small part of the genre that doesn't constantly rap about "big screen TVs, blunts, 40s and bitches"*). I wouldn't blame people having these guys as the biggest "what ifs" of our generation in terms of what could have came from their future talents. I believe they would have done more with their future talents than Cobain would have.
*A nod to the Steve Berman track on an Eminem record
 |
| Bias a couple days before his death |
2. Len Bias - For those of you who don't know who Len Bias is, I highly suggest you do a quick Google search and read everything about this guy's freakish athletic ability. Before Michael Jordan comparisons became the norm in the era of the 24/7 news media, Bias (from many accounts) would have been the closest thing to him in terms of his athletic prowess. According to Wiki, the Boston Celtics' famed coach Red Auerbach said he planned on drafting Bias for the Celtics for the three years before he actually declared for the draft. A few days after being drafted 2nd by the Celtics in the 1986 draft, Bias died of a drug overdose. I've heard that the 30-for-30 piece about him on ESPN (Without Bias) was well done, although I can't say I've seen it. All I know is that his death more than likely prevented the Celtics from continuing their dynasty into the early 90s (and perhaps allowed the Chicago Bulls to have a chance to secure their own dynasty with one less roadblock in the way).
 |
| One of the best athletes that's ever been around. |
1. Bo Jackson - With the talents that he possessed, Jackson could have been a Hall of Famer in both baseball and football. He had power and speed that the NFL had never really seen before, especially from the running back position (his Tecmo Bowl replica was probably the most devastating video game character ever). His limited NFL career had plenty of highlights, most notably the destruction of roided linebacker Brian Bosworth, who dared to talk shit to Bo. According to his Wiki profile, he is the first athlete to be named an all-star in two professional sports. His 4.12 speed in the 40m run is still the fastest recorded time at an NFL-draft combine. If he wouldn't have suffered his severe hip injury in the 1990 season, he would have had a good chance to become an all-time great running back (based on his 5.4 yards per carry in his career). In addition to his football talents, Bo also hit 20 home runs in his first four full seasons in the pros - the four years preceding his hip injury (including a career high 32 in the 1989 season). Bo was somehow able to make a comeback to baseball in 1991, signing with the White Sox. After missing the 1992 season, he came back in '93, artificial hip and all, and helped the Sox make their first postseason in 10 years in limited action. The hip injury ultimately derailed any chances Bo had of becoming Hall-of-Fame worthy in either sport. It's a shame too that much of the generation that followed me wouldn't even know who Bo Jackson is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
