Mooksville

Hello, These are my two Fantasy Teams...

2007-08-31T14:49:00.001-04:00

I wanted to introduce you to my two fantasy teams. Please review them carefully. They will both be in the playoffs in 3 months or so and, as always, will be competing for a Championship.

He Hate Me is probably the most consistent performer in my college fraternity league. I was in a fraternity so long ago. I know membership in Phi Delta Theta is not merely a campus interlude, membership is for life, but it's nice that the boys...err...brothers still have this league up and running.

Dante Calabria is my high school team. This team finished dead last in '06, thanks in large part to a internet connection disaster and the auto-pilot function. Drafting LenDale White and Samkon Gado in the 5th and 6th rounds tends to demoralize a team. Regardless, I kept nobody in a 2-player keeper league and it worked out for the best.

You will notice I think very highly of DeAngelo Williams. He could be the breakout star of '07. Please post questions or comments. I do offer draft consulting at a reasonable rate. The addition of my boy Sands into my fantasy realm has caused me to second guess myself several times, but his luck is due to run out this year. My boy Schaff, the leading passer in the greater Cleveland area his senior year, happened to get LDT as a keeper. Anyway, I'm gunning for 2 rings in 2K7.

He Hate Me:

QB: Drew Brees, Chad Pennington

RB: Brian Westbrook, Willis McGahee, DeAngelo Williams, Michael Turner

WR: Javon Walker, Braylon Edwards, Reggie Brown, Anthony Gonzales, Matt Jones

K: Josh Brown

Dante Calabria:

QB: Philip Rivers, JP Losman (I waited a round too long for a backup QB)

RB: Rudi Johnson, Jamal Lewis, DeAngelo Williams, Kenny Watson, Mike Bell

WR: Terrell Owens, Andre Johnson, Isaac Bruce, Chris Chambers

TE: Todd Heap

DST: Chargers

K: Matt Stover

Movie buffs, can you name these actors?

2007-08-09T17:25:00.001-04:00

VIRGIN!!!

2007-08-07T15:56:00.000-04:00

I told people I was turning 30 and going to celebrate by going to the Virgin Festival. Some recoiled in disgust (women), some said, "Awesome!" (men), and some actually knew what I was talking about. Virgin Festival, two days in the Baltimore heat at Pimlico listening to music like The Police, The Beastie Boys, Wu-Tang Clan, Interpol, Matisyahu, among many others. Let me just run through some highlights.

First off, check out the picture of me at the Wu show. Yes, that's me looking like I have a monster lipper of Skoal, standing next to the crazy billionaire Richard Branson, with the RZA in the foreground, my boy Mario to my right. The chick next to Branson was trying very hard with him. I guess being a billionaire is like being a modern day monarch. She was rubbing Branson down like he was Prince Akeem from Coming to American.

So, the Wu was off the chain. They were a little late coming on stage, probably because they were trying to finish off a huge blunt right below me. You know what? Musicians smoking weed is a good thing. Probably not a good thing for Civil Servants, Athletes in season, Politicians, but musicians, it should be encouraged. The funniest moment was right after the show when Raekwon ran off the stage while the rest walked, and he headed right for the van where there was a Styrofoam container of fried wings waiting for him. Yes, Raekwon's fat ass was hungry.

The highlight for me...The Beastie Boys. Seeing them from stage left was unreal. They put on a show. They are so good at both hip-hop and punk and can weave back and forth seamlessly. There was a song when the beat from Unk's Walk It Out came on and it was euphoric. Mixmaster Mike is also such a great DJ. Beasties live is an experience.

The Police, yes, happy to have seen them. The Smashing Pumpkins, great job. Interpol, just buy their albums and skip the show.

Some recommendations: LCD Soundsystem, do some investigative work and listen to some stuff, they are really good live. Explosions in the Sky, I've been a fan for awhile and got to see them up close (see pic above). They are terrific on guitar and really rock. Their guitarist played so hard he fell and hit his head. This is the band that did the music for the movie Friday Night Lights. Matisyahu, great energy (see pic), great to see at a festival, catchy reggae and from what I saw backstage, a gentleman and a family man. I've never been much into electronic, but Danny Tenaglia, as my DJ friend told me, is a DJ's DJ. He's also really freaky looking, but he controls the room. My friend said Tenaglia is big with the guido crowd so see him live at your own risk. Just kidding, I love Italians.

Don't Hassle...

2007-08-01T18:15:00.001-04:00

Gilbert, Oh Gilbert!

2007-08-01T18:01:00.001-04:00

Won't you come to Cleveland for a ring? Yes, Washington can offer you an extra year on the max deal. An extra year of what? Mediocrity! Why not come to Cleveland, a young but experienced team ready to take a leap to the land of rings, champagne and banners.

You can:
1) Play with one of the rare superstars who shares the ball
2) Re-unite with Larry Hughes, the Ying to your Yang
3) Save on cost of living in Cleveland. Cleveland and Washington are both cold so just spend the offseason in Arizona or Cali
4) Go to a contender that is missing exactly what you're bringing; shooting, ball pressure, someone with ice in their veins, someone with the talent to stand side by side with the King. England has a King (or will when the Queen croaks) and a Prime Minister. Hell, that could be your nickname. I like it better than Agent Zero. The King and The Prime Minister.

C'mon Gil...Gil! Ask Ray Allen and Michael Redd how their max deals turned out for them. Come to C-Town.

Big Ticket

2007-07-31T17:48:00.000-04:00

I almost feel like the NBA is turning into the WWE. First Tim Donaghy and now this. McHale, a really terrible front office guy mind you, trades Kevin Garnett to his old team for less than he was offered roughly a month ago. It reminds me of Danny Davis and some Eric Bischoff/Vince McMahon thing. Anyway, Al Jefferson and the 5 pick (either Jeff Green or Ray Allen pretty much) and now he gets Al Jefferson and about five players from one of the worst NBA teams in recent memory. Gerald Green might end up ok I guess, Gomes is from Providence and I shoudn't hate on him too much since my boy Hogan went there, but c'mon...Sebastian Telfair is a friggin perp, Theo Ratliff's expiring contract and some late 1st rounders.

Jesus, this really messes up my Cavs chances in the next year or two. I don't feel like the Cavs match up that well with the Celts. We're not deep enough to exploit their total lack of depth. Our coach is nearly as incompetent as their coach. Yikes!

Make no mistake about it though (Jesus, I sound like Stephen A.), the Celtics will NOT win a championship. I wouldn't think they'd beat the Pistons in a series. The Pistons have a deeper bench, a better coach (which is pathetic to say) and a more well rounded starting five. I think the Heat match up well against the Celts too. The Heat are definitely old, but Wade is coming back and they are deep, well-coached and if Shaq has anything left in the tank...Hell, Chicago is only going to get better in the years to come. For some reason the Cavs handle the Bulls well, but the Bulls are going to be a great team for the next 5 or 6 years at least. They're the team that the Celts won't be able to handle.

It's weird to say that the Celtics stole Garnett but might have made a mistake in doing so. I trust that Bill Simmons knows his team and having read his take on the Celts over the last two months I'm just confused. When the Celts got Ray Allen Simmons' said he's too old and about to dip, plus he had ankle operations. Now they get Garnett who has already peaked as a player and in doing so they give up Al Jefferson who is, according to Simmons, a potential franchise player. Yes the Celts will make noise next year and for a bit after that. They aren't going to win any championships unless they make more moves (maybe a veteran PG and some guys who can really bang down low because I don't think Rondo and Perkins are there yet). Are we to trust Ainge to complete this team? Simmons has been describing his incompetence in detail for a whole year now. What about Doc Rivers? How's that going to play out? What if one of the big three go down for any extended period of time?

Boston fans have to love it because they have no other choice. Would they rather be mediocre next season and keep Jefferson? They want to win and they want to matter. Accomplished. I have this gut feeling that in three years, with no rings to show for it and and old, expensive team, they're going to wish they had kept Jefferson, perhaps even Green. I really like Garnett as a player and have always rooted for him. That has to stop now that he's in the East.

Top Chef

2007-07-25T13:14:00.000-04:00

Here's a review of Top Chef Season 1 winner Harold Dieterle's restaurant Perilla by famed food critic Frank Bruni. Bruni had a pretty humorous feud with restauranteur Jeffrey Chodorow, who gained notoriety in his epic battles with Rocco DeSpirito on the show The Restaurant. Chodorow's latest venture, Kobe Club, didn't merit a single star from Bruni, much to Chodorow's chagrin. Anyway, for those culinary-inclined readers, check out these recipes from the Times.

F U Too, Ronnie Mexico!

2007-07-21T00:26:00.001-04:00

Kyle Lograsso

2007-07-17T22:51:00.001-04:00

If you can try to check out the most recent Real Sports on HBO. There's a feature on Kyle Lograsso, a 5-year old golf prodigy. I put up a clip of him in the video section. This kid has a best score of 41 for 9 holes. His swing compares quite well to Tiger. What's amazing is that Kyle has never had a lesson. He learned by watching golf on TV. As amazing as all that sounds, what's even more remarkable is that he has done this after losing an eye to a rare form of cancer. He has recovered very well after surgery and radiation. Anyway, check out that piece on HBO.

Damnit Brady!

2007-07-17T21:13:00.001-04:00

Some people apparently hadn't seen the Brady ball grabbing fest picture. Well here it is in all its glory. He needs to look deep within himself and ask whether he has was it takes to be a Cleveland Brown. This is not Cincinnati or Pittsburgh, and ball grabbing is not accepted by Browns quarterbacks. If we wanted this kind of activity, we would've kept Jeff Garcia around, or just signed Kordell Stewart.

Gregg Valentino

2007-07-17T20:48:00.001-04:00

Valentino was featured in "The Man Whose Arms Exploded", a TLC documentary highlighting the use and abuse of steroids. In the documentary he recalls his misuse of steroids, namely not taking precautions necessary to prevent infection. Consequently he eventually came down with a very serious infection of his right biceps. After failed attempts to drain the hematoma himself, using the same needles he used to inject his steroids, and "filling two glasses with blood and puss" he sought emergency medical treatment. -WIKIPEDIA

I need to check that documentary out. It can't be as good as the Fabio E! True Hollywood Story, but I bet it's pretty good.

Deadspin Links

2007-07-17T18:55:00.001-04:00

Deadspin is great. Check out some of their content and links to other good sites. Apparently Tommy Morrison does not like black people. Someone had a very random Jeff George sighting. Derek Jeter is not black enough for Gary Sheffield.

Notsomuch Iron Mike

2007-07-17T18:37:00.000-04:00

Mooksville's Iron Mike is letting himself go. I heard he's on a lot of anti-depressants. I still think he should go into the UFC. How about Mike Tyson vs. Kimbo Slice? Tell me you wouldn't pay to see that!

Happy Belated 30th Birthday

2007-07-16T21:46:00.001-04:00

To my boy, Todd. The Little Red Corvette. You're still as handsome as ever.

Cool Music Shite

2007-07-16T21:40:00.000-04:00

Hey, check out djlobsterdust on the web. He mashes pop/r&b/hip-hop with classic rock/indie, etc. There are free downloads on the website. Some of my favorites are Luniz vs. Bloc Party (I Got 5 Helicopters), Mike Jones, Paul Wall vs. Bloc Party (Texas Tension), Queen, David Bowie vs. Bubba Sparxx, Ying Yang Twins (Booty Pressure), Biggie vs. The The (Skyline Operator). Some of these are good tunes for working out or parties. Enjoy.

Cavs PG

2007-07-16T21:03:00.000-04:00

There's been a bunch of speculation regarding the off-season search for a PG. Recently, the Mike Bibby rumors have resurfaced, this deal would be Mike Bibby (possibly another King) to the Cavs for Drew Gooden and Damon Jones. I can't say I'd be crazy about this deal considering Bibby's hefty contract and the fact that he's my age and considering how my body feels when I wake up, I can't imagine Bibby's best years are ahead of him.

Steve Blake has signed with the Blazers, Atkins went to the Nuggets, Mo Williams, probably the best option, resigned with the Bucks (hey, at least he didn't go the the heat).

The Cavs biggest need from the PG position, judging from last year, is a guard who can knock down jumpers, and can keep his body in front of quicker guards on defense. I think Cleveland Central Catholic product Earl Boykins is the best option out there for us. Plus, I think he would have a desire to play in C-Town. Now, Nicky Caserio (fellow US alumnus and current New England Patriots receivers coach, also a Dante Calabria fan) did put up close to 40 against Earl in high school, but I still think he can overcome that mental obstacle. James Posey, another HS foe, who was aces against my buddy Jimmy in our HS matchup, also rumored to be a possible Cav, seems like an odd fit. Basically I just wanted to mention Posey dominated Jimmy in HS. He didn't get into Jimmy's head like Felipe Lopez, or say Gabe Zelwin or Matt Noble did, but dominate he did.

Wouldn't mind Earl for a 2-year contract. Let's get it done. Also, Roger Brown, the Page Six/Perez Hilton of Cleveland sports, is back with the News Herald and, to my astonishment, I actually agreed with his take on the Cleveland PG position.

Stay Away From the Camera!

2007-07-16T20:25:00.000-04:00

Brady, for the love of Christ. Between this and the shots of you grabbin your boys' garbage, I'm not sure I want you winning the starting job. Seems like Derek Anderson might have the inside track for now.

Quotes from my boy Flo

2007-07-03T16:51:00.000-04:00

I was just checking some old emails and came across a list of quotes we had kept during our senior year of college, from our boy, Flo.

*************************************************************************

"I kind of wish I was a whale." -Flo, on not wanting to wait another week to see his girl.

"I can't tell you who won the Superbowl two years ago, but I can tell you who the King of England is."

"That guy with the ruler has a really tough job." -referring to the computer-generated first down line for NFL games.

"The Shawshank Shedemption." -referring to one of his favorite movies

"Whale beef." -Flo talking about a dish that he's never had.

"I wasn't really growing as a person." --referring to his relationship with Molly

"If a girl ever talked to me in that accent, I'd immediately drop 'trow' and..." --referring to Nicole Kidman in 'Days of Thunder'

"Yeah, my dad got it for me for Chrismas. I didn't like it, but I like him, so..." --referring to his cell phone

"It's the moms I care most about." -Flo, not wanting the Elizabeth "X." story to get out.

"Did someone slip a Viagra pill in my drink last night, because I CANNOT get rid of this morning wood." (2:30 PM)

"I'm so glad I'm not addicted to crack." -random

"Open your eyes, you crack whore." --referring to a lady trying to explain the Florida recount

"I think I have a spider in my ass."

"Hey Cronin, I got a third!" --Flo finding a third person to play tennis with

"Crack-a-foo" --trying to impersonate what he thought was Mr. T's famous "pity" line.

"Hey, what happens when you inhale a lot of Raid?"

"You know what's sweet? We can party with whoever girls we want on this campus. Please don't write that." (the "whoever" is no mistake)

"I don't say stupid things."

Quick Plug For My Boy, Bob

2007-07-03T16:38:00.000-04:00

My friend works in advertising and he recently worked on something for Mentos. Check out this website, MentosIntern. If you're having a bad day then log on and make him dance for you. He can also prank people for you, edit a paper, basically whatever you can think of.

I Love You Guys

2007-07-03T16:12:00.001-04:00

GAME 2...I hate you too Bowen, more than Mikki

2007-06-10T18:21:00.000-04:00

I've been derelict writing about the Cavs. What's the point? I'm not impartial. I'm a fan first. I can't look at these games objectively.

For game 2, I would bet heavily on the Cavs. I think the line was 7. I can't see Lebron having two bad games in a row. I'm not saying the Cavs will win, although I like their chances, but I think they'll keep it close and beat the spread.

Yes, they should play Boobie more. They need to go small more, as mentioned by some Cleveland sportswriters. I think they really need to go under every on the ball screen set for Tony Parker. It's pretty obvious. If Parker was a consistent outside shooter, he'd be mentioned in the same breath as Nash or Kidd. He's so fast, penetrates so easily and finishes around the hoop like a big, and the way to guard him is to duck under the screen to be sure you stop his penetration with your guard. Z, Gooden, Varejao will pick up ticky-tack calls bumping him, or let Duncan get good looks close to the hoop when they show to try to stop the ball. Lebron did the best job at this in game 1.

We need to push the ball offensively with a small lineup as much as possible. The Spurs aren't young. Parker Ginobili and Duncan were great in game 1. If they are contained a little more this should be a game.

GO CAVS!

Recommendations

2007-06-10T18:01:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple of recommendations to kill some time.

The movie Knocked Up. It's hilarious. I think it's better than 40-Year Old Virgin and Wedding Crashers. Here is a funny link of a deleted scene. Go see it.

Three books:

The Brotherhoods, about Caracappa and Eppolito, the NYPD mafia cops. The book is astounding. It takes you through the background, crimes, investigation and trial of the two most corrupt cops ever.

The Ville, about Mooksville! The book follows the tumultuous high school years of a talented, charismatic teenage man, trying to make something of himself in one of America's most violent neighborhoods. It also follows tragic events at his school. The book illustrates how bad life was and still is in the projects. You can also witness the events through the eyes of a rookie housing cop.

The Things They Carried, ok, a lot of us have read this book in high school or college. I think this book is more relevant now, with what's happening in Iraq. Whatever side of the table you're sitting on as far as Iraq goes, the book takes you through the hearts and minds of soldiers (this is set in Vietnam). The soldiers are barely adult age, but through their experiences you witness the horrors of war and how they face these challenges. The book is brilliantly written by one of the best American writers in the last 40 years, Tim O'Brien. You can also read In the Lake of the Woods.

Boxing

2007-06-10T17:48:00.000-04:00

First off, last night, just in time for the Puerto Rican Parade in NYC, at Madison Square Garden, Miguel Cotto, one of my favorite young fighters, ko'd Mooksville native, Zab Judah. I didn't catch the fight but will check it out on the HBO replay.

The UFC is great, but everybody is so down on boxing, especially after De La Hoya/Mayweather fight. There's still a lot of great fighters out there. Check out Andre Berto (pictured), he's a future Champ. Dude's got a neck like you wouldn't believe. Check him out.

KING

2007-06-01T13:47:00.000-04:00

Work has me missing a lot of basketball right now, but I was able to make it home at about the 6:00 minute mark in the 4th quarter last night. I had no idea I was in for another 20 or so points from Lebron. The biggest game in Cavaliers history. The best performance of Lebron's career. There's not much you can say or write to relate the will he exerted in that game.

Up until Webber's 3 point play in the 2nd OT, I was thinking to myself, thank God, Lebron does have that killer instinct in him, thank God, he's reached a new level in his game that he will always be able to build on. Perhaps outsiders came to this conclusion earlier in the game, but we're Clevelanders, and we are always optimistic about the future and pessimistic about the present.

After he hit that 3 pointer I realized that the Cavs were going to win game 5 and that Lebron was going to hit the game winner. He just kept answering. In my lifetime, it is, second to Jordan, the most dominating performance I've seen in a playoff game. Tayshaun Prince is a very good player, especially defensively, and Lebron is so thoroughly dominating him that you can see the look of hopelessness on Prince's face every time Lebron drives by him and dunks it.

A lot of people in the media seem to forget that Lebron is in his 4th season and is 22 years old. They can point to Wade and say he won, but Wade had Shaq, along with Toine, Payton, Mourning. How much easier is it for him? C'mon. At this point, Jordan was a rook with the Bulls team that was sub .500 (he was shooting 18% for 3pt). Kobe was a superstar, but like Wade, he had Shaq, among others, and Magic had Kareem. Lebron is doing this much like Jordan had to do it, with little help, so it's easier to compare the two at similar ages. At this point in their lives, Lebron is ahead of Jordan. That's not to say he's going to top out higher than Jordan did, but it's frustrating to see him get hammered by pundits at such a young age.

I'm still absorbing the win and this performance. I can't wait for Saturday's game.

CAVS WIN! Bring on the Pistons

2007-05-19T19:09:00.001-04:00

What a great night for the franchise. I couldn't be happier for Donyell. A friend of mine told me that his son goes to school with Donyell's son and Donyell knows my friend's kid is a huge Steve Nash fan, so at the All-Star game he got the kid an autographed Steve Nash jersey. He just seems like a real nice guy and despite his lack of playing time, he came into a pressure situation and delivered.

Lebron looked so dominant in the first half and that bodes well for him against Detroit. He's too strong for Tayshaun and should be able to score down low. Reaching the Eastern Conference Finals is a huge accomplishment and they have a real solid chance to beat the Pistons. This takes a ton of pressure off Lebron and with each playoff game and series win, he's learning what it takes to become a champion.

Great quote that Windhorst had on his blog from Damon Jones:

Before the game, Damon Jones was being interviewed by two beautiful Italian female journalists. The English was broken and I'm not sure all message was getting through, but Damon was engrossed and trying his best. He must've felt good about his performance, because once they were gone he proclaimed: "I can talk a cat off a fish wagon with my cool lyrics."

We learned some things against the Pistons last year. Rasheed has a hard time scoring on the low post. Also, with Big Ben gone, and Webber and McDyess taking his minutes, their big men are even more susceptible to the high screen and roll and to our big men flashing in the lane. Rip isn't the best defender in the world but I'm curious to see who Brown puts on him. I'm guessing Sasha initially and then perhaps Snow and Hughes, depending on personnel. Gooden has a real chance to use his mobility and youth to score. Z wasn't much of a factor last year but I think he'll produce this series with Wallace bodying him up.

Lastly, I think it's a huge deal that the series starts on Monday. This gives us 2 full days of rest. Last year, if I'm not mistaken, we only had 1 full day to rest/prepare, and the Pistons were rested, prepared and waiting. We got killed. I think we have a chance to be competitive from the get go and we won't spot them 2 games like last year.

I HATE YOU

2007-05-18T11:26:00.001-04:00

Great Quote

2007-05-17T17:42:00.000-04:00

The Tribe did a great job sweeping the rival Twins. Today, Fausto Carmona threw a 4-hit, complete game shutout, improving to 5-1 on the season with a 2.55 ERA. We've been hearing about this kid for years now and it's nice to see him emerge as a starter after last year's debacle at closer. Let's hope he can keep it up. He could be an all-star.

"That dude is filthy. ... If you've never played the game, listen to me, I'm a hitter. Right-handers have no chance unless they get lucky and get a hit on a broken bat."

''It's not normal,'' Torii Hunter said of Carmona's go-to pitch, the sinker. ''He's not even human. It was so scary, I thought I was hung over.''

-- Torii Hunter on facing Carmona.

I'm Salavating

2007-05-16T15:44:00.000-04:00

Wow! The person who designed this is a genius. This can fit two games, with taps on both sides, and flat-screens on both sides as well. If I had this a lot of people would have to be demolished. Jesus, I'm almost 30 years old. At what point is beer pong unacceptable?

Dwight K. Schrute

2007-05-15T17:11:00.000-04:00

Dwight K. Schrute is now my favorite sit-com character of all-time. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this man, let me show you what he's all about.

First, check out Dwight's blog. Dwight's Schrute-Space's most recent entry is titled When Ninjas Attack.

Second, enjoy these quotes:
1) Michael Scott: Look, Dwight here is a wuss. When we rented "Armageddon", he cried at the end of it!
Dwight Schrute: Michael, I told you! It was because it was New Year's Eve and it started to snow at exactly midnight!

2) Dwight Schrute: I think one of the greatest things about modern America is the computerization of medical records. As a volunteer sheriff I can look up anyone's psychiatric records or surgical histories. Yeast infections...there are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we're downriver from that old bread factory...

3) Dwight Schrute: Jim told me you can buy gaydar online.

4) Dwight Schrute: When my mother was pregnant with me, they did an ultrasound and found she was having twins. When they did another ultrasound a few weeks later, they discovered, that I had resorbed the other fetus. Do I regret this? No, I believe his tissue has made me stronger. I now have the strength of a grown man and a little baby.

5) Dwight Schrute: How would I describe myself? Three words: hard working, alpha male, jackhammer…merciless…insatiable…

6) Dwight Schrute: I am ready to face any challenges that might be foolish enough to face me.

Duke of the NBA

2007-05-15T16:59:00.000-04:00

I can't stand the Spurs. Yes, they're great. Yes, they're champions many times over. They are the Duke of the NBA. They straddle the line between physical and dirty so they're a little of both. What bothers me about this team is that all they do is whine and make faces when a call goes against them. I wish someone would slap the look of disbelief off Duncan's face every time he's whistled.

Go Suns! What a game last night! Steve Nash has tons of heart. He's gotten head-butted by Parker, cup-checked by Bowen, and now shivered by Horry. They still can't shake this man.

Now this Stoudemire/Diaw suspension possibility, it reminds me of the old WWF tag-team matches when the heels would take a cheap shot and the good tag team partner would enter the ring and the referee would grab the good guy while the heels beat the hell out of the good guy's partner. That might have made no sense, but it made sense to me and that's what really counts. Horry and the Spurs laid the ultimate cheap shot foul and Stoudemire takes a few steps from his seat and now he might get a seat for a game. I hope it doesn't happen. This is the best series to watch since the Warriors hit the ropes.

Anyway, Go Phoenix! Beat those hand-checking sons of bitches! Nash is the man. I saw Nash once, during the off-season of course, drinking mojitos with a bunch of friends, all average-type guys, on a summer afternoon at a off-the-beaten path type place. He's a down-to-earth, likable guy.

Keep An Eye On This Kid

2007-05-11T13:16:00.000-04:00

Danny Jacobs continues the legacy of fellow Mooksville fighting legends Mike Tyson and Zab Judah and seems determined to bring home gold in Beijing. Kid has got a crazy left hook and, unlike other Mooksville fighters, he has his head screwed on straight. He's a four-time Golden Gloves winner in NYC. Here's a match from YouTube:
Jacobs vs. Turner

Get To Know Fred Thompson

2007-05-04T19:05:00.000-04:00

After watching part of the Republican debates last night, (The Office was on @ 8:30pm after all), I think we should all get to know Fred Thompson. He is a Republican's wet dream, especially considering his similarities to Ronald Reagan.

More importantly, after watching last night's debate, I'm getting more and more skeptical that John McCain can hold up as a real candidate. It's almost uncomfortable to watch him on stage. There's just something awkward about him. Mitt Romney wasn't that great either.

Much has and will be said about Rudy Guiliani's social politics moving towards the right, but I think we all know, both left and right, where he really stands. He was smooth and natural on stage last night and seems to have a good sense of history and government. He's running neck and neck with Hilary in national polls and I think when it's all said and done the Republicans would rather win with the guy who's not their favorite than risk seeing a Democrat back in the White House. Perhaps Sam Brownback said it best about Rudy, "Somebody who is with you 80 percent of the time is not your enemy," Brownback said, citing Reagan's philosophy.

The quote of the day had to be from Romney:

"Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, a Mormon, spoke forcefully when asked whether Roman Catholic politicians who support abortion rights should be denied communion. 'They can do whatever the heck they want,' Romney said. 'I can't imagine government telling a religion' what to do."

Oh no Mitt? I bet you can imagine a religion telling a government what to do.

Anyway, I'm probably not the guy to judge who wins a Republican debate, so take this for what it's worth. I have a gut feeling Fred Thompson is going to make a lot of noise when it's all said and done. I do kind of like Ron Paul, ironically so does Pat Buchanan, but he's got no chance.

SPEECHLESS

2007-05-02T13:21:00.000-04:00

This guy is good. Kenny the Jet said he told Baron Davis he could be one of the best players in the league based on his talent and skills. He doesn't think he has any weakness physically. He thought he might have lacked a killer instinct. Well, if Baron Davis plays with this intensity every game, look out. The bad news is he just never seems to be able to stay healthy. I doubt he can make it through 82 games playing like he is now, no player could and still have gas left in the tank come May and June. Regardless, Baron is playing out of his mind and this series is unbelievable to watch. Defensively Baron is like a schoolyard bully against the Mavs. Anyway, what a great series.

Draft Recap

2007-05-02T12:44:00.000-04:00

Wow. They pulled out all the stops. Finally. I couldn't have been happier with the draft. With Russell and Johnson off the board, I sat in front of the television yelling at the Browns to draft Joe Thomas. My friend Matt called to tell me that a family friend, and 1st Round pick in this year's draft, said, "Joe Thomas, done deal." I still couldn't believe the Browns would make the pick that seemed so obvious to the common fan. 'They' say drafting tackles so high can be risky and Tony Mandarich and Robert Gallery are often cited as examples. Joe Thomas seems to be cut from a different mold. He was an excellent basketball player in high school and, not surprisingly, his footwork as a lineman reflects that. He's humble, see Peter King's piece. He just doesn't seem like some steroid-induced combine freak (Mandarich), or a possible head-case who seems like he could ride with the Hell's Angels and probably carries a blade (Gallery). Anyway, the Browns now have Thomas and Steinbach on the left side of the line to protect the blindside and open some holes. Can you imagine if LeChuck Bentley hadn't been injured? I'm a little disappointed Kevin Schaeffer doesn't seem interested in trying to fit in somewhere. He doesn't want to play on the right side apparently. I would think that if he could win the starting job at right guard, just being on the field and his fat, bloated contract from last summer might be reason enough to shut his mouth. For the first time in a long time, the OL could be a strength for this team and could have some depth.

Trading up for Brady Quinn was a great move for the Browns. I might be alone here, but I never thought Tim Couch was a bad quarterback. I think that he wasn't the type of QB who could, with his arm or athleticism, single-handedly carry an offense. I'm not sure there are many of those out there. Maybe Vince Young, Tom Brady in certain ways. Had they put real weapons around Couch, ie an OL that didn't nearly cause his death, a real RB, not Terry Kirby, Jamel White, William Green and Ben Gay, a real WR, nothing against Kevin Johnson, but the others, Quincy Morgan, Dennis Northcutt, Andre Davis, I mean come on. Anyway, Brady Quinn has what appears to be a solid OL, a WR in Braylon Edwards who has shown some signs that he is ready to be a 1st option wide-out, a great pass catching TE in Kellen Winslow, a back with a real track record of success in the NFL, Pablo Escobar, I mean Jamal Lewis. Also, don't discount the fact that the Browns might not have to start Brady from day 1, which could alleviate some pressure. Charlie Frye is not an all-pro, but don't forget the optimism that surrounded him two years ago. Didn't Jim Brown say after the Cincy loss his rookie year, that Charlie Frye was good enough to be the starting QB on a contender or champion?

Eric Wright was supposed to be a 1st round talent, going somewhere between 15-20 if he hadn't had enough ecstasy in his dorm at USC to keep Ibiza running for a weekend. The kids got NFL genes from his dad, good speed, and a knack for big plays. He was USC's most talented DB his redshirt freshman year. We paid a price for this kid, but let's hope having Leigh Bodden opposite him can really help him blossom. Imagine if Gary Baxter could stay healthy. Baxter, Bodden, Sean Jones and Brodney Pool, with Eric Wright as a nickel back.

We needed DB's, OL, QB, DL desperately. For added depth the Browns added Memphis DB Brandon McDonald, DL Chase Pittman (LSU) and Melila Purcell (Hawaii) and return specialist with a great name Syndric Steptoe from Arizona. Hopefully a couple of these guys can develop into contributors. Savage hasn't really hit any HR's in the later rounds as of yet.

Alright, I think we can all be excited again about the Browns, dare I say optimistic about their future.

Cleveland Browns Draft Guide

2007-04-27T11:09:00.000-04:00

Check out this great 2007 NFL Draft Guide with a Cleveland slant...courtesy of friends Top Dawg and Mighty Minnifield.

Belated Disgust

2007-04-27T11:01:00.000-04:00

I guess this isn't a little late because they're doing this story on MSNBC right now, but it's simply disturbing that a celebrity leaving a terrible voicemail is so dominant in the news. I guess Iraq, Global Warming, Gun Control, etc. aren't salacious enough. This isn't any kind of new phenomenon, but it's troubling nevertheless.

Great Week For Cleveland

2007-04-26T18:32:00.000-04:00

What a great week for Cleveland fans!

CAVS - They are holding court right now. Up 2-0 on the depleted Wizards, I'm really hoping for a sweep. The Raptors and Nets are tied 1-1 and I have a feeling that the Nets will win in 6. The longer that series goes, the better it is for Cleveland. The Nets have tons of playoff experience, but Kidd's wheels, Jefferson's everything, will have a little more wear and tear on them. If the Cavs sweep, they will be facing a tired Nets team we will have fresh legs and a raucous Q.

Larry Hughes had some very nice passes last night and played pretty well. I think that Larry, especially, but all the Cavs are getting more confident with each playoff game under their belt. Z also was effective last night and Gooden was lights out. Let's hope they keep feeding the post.

INDIANS - Five in a row after today, even having to absorb Sosa's two bombs. Nice win for Byrd. They're 1 up on the Tigers and it's a good thing, albeit early on. The Indians have had to try to overcome deficits from slow starts in years past. Borowski, despite the huge meltdown vs. the Yankees, has 8 saves. He's still a question mark in my mind. Marte to the DL disappoints me, and I'm waiting for Barfield to start hitting. Peralta's bat is waking up, and look out for Shin, two days, four hits.

BROWNS - Big, big day Saturday. My fingers are crossed that Brady Quinn's name is not read for the 3rd pick. I stated earlier Calvin Johnson should be the pick, but I'd be very happy with Joe Thomas, and happy with Adrian Peterson. Maybe a trade with the Falcons for the 8th pick and their two 2nd rounders could work if they don't work something out with Detroit. With the 8th pick, we might get Peterson, a DB, DL, Quinn, etc. I hope Savage and Co. don't disappoint. Here's a sleeper for you, Matt Trannon, WR, Michigan State. Late round guy who could be a real playmaker available in the later rounds.

BUCKEYES - Their 2008 class is looking like a potential top 3 class. "Block O", JB Shugarts, Mike Brewster and Mike Adams have been called the best offensive linemen haul in 30 years. They've signed a few weapons at the skill positions with Posey and Stoneburner (great name). Keep an eye on this class. They may get another top-flight OL prospect in Josh Jenkins.

Huge Night for the Cavaliers

2007-04-19T15:08:00.000-04:00

Wow! Wednesday, April 18th, 2007 was a huge night for the Cavs franchise. Everything we could've hoped for came true. We could have had the Heat, Pistons and Bulls with only the first round home court, or we could have what we got, the depleted Wizards, the winner of the Nets/Raptors, and then either the Bulls/Heat/Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.

One series at a time, but great teams take advantage of the opportunities presented to them. A great team would sweep the Wizards who are sputtering right now. A great team would want to be rested for a potential 2nd round matchup with a savvy Nets team. Yes, I think the Nets will beat the Raptors. The Cavs should advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and should have fresh legs against whoever they face.

What a big win by the Wizards against Indiana. Playing the Arenas/Butler-less Wizards is much better than playing the Magic in the 1st round. Thanks Washington!

Also, thank you Chicago! You played uninspired ball in the biggest game of your season. Skiles is a great coach, but he needs to have Nocioni on the court more. Ben Gordon is a terrific player, but he's streaky. He can be an asset one quarter and a liability the next. Deng is also a terrific player, but I'm not convinced that he's going to be a superstar, like Walton and Barry said last night. Hinrich is a very, very good point guard. I really like watching him play. If I were Skiles I would consider starting Hinrich, Deng, Nocioni and bring Gordon off the bench again. Noci is a really, really tough player. He needs more minutes. More than the 28 he had last night. Ben Gordon played 44 minutes! If I'm Chicago, I plan my future with Hinrich and Deng. See what you can get for Ben Gordon and the Knicks 1st rounder. You have some depth at guard with Duhon and you really need a low-post threat. Maybe not trading for Gasol was a mistake. I'm curious to see how this plays out this summer.

FYI - Richard Jefferson is a totally different player since his stint on Team USA. Banged up? Yes. But also less confident.

The Ohio State University

2007-04-17T15:26:00.000-04:00

I feel a little guilty that the 2006 season left me disappointed. Any year in which you beat Michigan, the defending national champs (Texas), go undefeated in the regular season and play for a national championship should be satisfying. Yet the drubbing by Florida has me on the defensive again with SEC fans and people disparaging Midwest, slob-knocker football. The U found out that Ohio produces players in 2002. The 2006 Buckeyes were a terrific team, built a little differently than a traditional OSU team. Our offense was built more on speed (Ginn, Troy, Gonzo, Pittman) and little less on power football. The defense simply did not show up to play against Florida.

With that said, I'm excited for 2007 and optimistic we can reach the BCS again. Here's what I'm thinking about for this season:

QB: OSU needs consistent, solid QB-play in 2007 to have success. Boeckman has the job for now, but it seems that Antonio Henton (6'2, 210) may make some noise before it's said and done. Boeckman has been at OSU forever, but Henton apparently has big-play potential that has people making Troy comparisons. I think Boeckman will win the job this year and Henton will take over next year. I'm hoping Boeckman's time under Troy has prepared him for his chance as a starter.

RB: Beanie Wells is a load and Mo Wells is the change of pace back that can compliment him. These are two Army All-Americans who should really help an offense with so many new starters. Dionte Johnson, Pepper's son, is a big guy who can open some holes.

WR: Losing Ginn, Gonzo and Hall will put some pressure on Robiskie and Hartline to step up. Players like Ray Small and Albert Dukes need to play big as well. Robiskie and Hartline showed last year that they are very good players, but they are both young, and we're going to have to wait and see if one of those guys is truly capable of being a 1st option wide-out, or if they're both great as 2nd options. Robiskie has some speed and has the benefit of having Terry Robiskie as his dad. Hartline is going to become a real crowd favorite.

TE: Rory Nicol is entering his junior season and is primed for a good year. He's got good hands and should be a nice option for whoever is throwing the ball.

OL: Alex Boone didn't look great against Florida, but I think that him and Kirk Barton should be solid and help keep the QB off the ground. Steve Rehring has some experience as well. The pressure is on Jim Cordle to replace Doug Datish and on Ben Person to step in as a starter. There are a few question marks on the line, but given the schedule, I'm hopeful the line play will be well.

LB: Look out! Laurinaitis is a stud. The Florida game was a hiccup. He's going to be a 1st rounder. Remember the Texas game last year. Marcus Freeman has a another year under his belt, and Larry Grant has adjusted to the big-time, let's hope. Add Curtis Terry, Ross Homan and Austin Spitler, and this is probably the biggest position of strength on this team.

DL: Vernon Gholston, another stud. He's a 1st rounder as well. Opposite him is Lawrence Wilson, a very talented player who has shown he is capable of putting pressure on the QB. Look for Glenville's Robert Rose to really shine. Todd Denlinger and Doug Worthington will both be good in the middle. Worthington is 6'7" and should swat down some passes. Dexter Larimore, (PICTURED ABOVE) remember the name. Great wrestler in high school and I think he will be playing on Sundays in a few years.

DB: Malcolm Jenkins, stud and 1st rounder to boot. He's got size, speed and tons of experience. Anderson Russell should be healthy for the start of the season and Donald Washington has impressed coaches this spring with his speed. The corners will be covered well. The safeties have something to prove. Jamario O'Neal came in as a highly-touted recruit and has not, as of yet, lived up to those expectations. Nick Patterson and Aaron Gant will have a chance to prove themselves as well. Kurt Coleman could emerge as a big asset in the defensive backfield.

Special Teams: Aaron Pettrey and Ryan Pretorious should continue the legacy of great kickers in Columbus.

The defense will be very good in 2007 and I see Beanie Wells and Brian Robiskie emerging as stars on offense. I see Ohio State going 11-1 (best case)or 9-3 (worst case). My prediction is in the middle, 10-2. I think Michigan will be a little too much this season with Manningham, Henne and Hart, and there could be one surprise loss because of the Buckeyes youth and inexperience at QB.

Duke Scandal

2007-04-11T18:56:00.000-04:00

I'm just curious to see whether the people who villainized these young men after this story broke will help to rebuild these young men's reputations by publicly apologizing. I hope the people who protested against the lacrosse players and appeared in the media trying to use race as a way to help get them convicted begin to proclaim their innocence as loudly as they proclaimed their guilt in the beginning.

For some reason I doubt that's going to happen.

Bill O'Reilly, Huge Douche

2007-04-11T17:52:00.000-04:00

I can't stand Bill O'Reilly. There's not really any reason for me to explain to you in words because I can show you with YouTube. After watching Outfoxed, the documentary about the Fox Network, I really couldn't stand this jackass. The scene with Jeremy Glick, who lost his father on 9/11, was disgusting. This is a good anti-Reilly site:

www.sweetjesusihatebilloreilly.com/

Anyway, for any of you O'Reilly haters, enjoy these clips:

Keith Olbermann's piece on O'Reilly:
www.youtube.com/watchMT5V8SI?v=nM_y

Phil Donahue does pretty well too:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctlmholr45c

Geraldo Rivera, this segment is just priceless:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLPuGuaZTx8

Letterman can't stand this guy:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtica4Q401w
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWOGMKQ1aHo

Snoop Dogg seems like a big O'Reilly fan:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWDVpSUXHeM

Obama

2007-04-10T12:28:00.000-04:00

I was really impressed with Barak Obama on Letterman last night. He just seems really coherent and unfiltered for someone running for President. It seems a lot of candidates try to do the regular, funny guy (and girl, Hilary), routine to garner appeal. Obama just seemed to me to be very sincere during his appearance...which was a homerun. A lot of people have a strong distate for smokers and Obama even turned his battle with smoking into an endearing vulnerability.

He's going to be the next president.

I'm fascinated with John Kennedy and how he, despite scandalous personal elements to his life, was able to capture a nation's imagination. Obama has those qualities. He's inspiring. I think people will, in the end, be excited to vote for him instead of choosing the least best option.

BELUSHI

2007-04-10T12:09:00.000-04:00

Just read Wired, The Fast Times and Short Life of John Belushi.

Wow. I finished the last two thirds of the book in one Monday afternoon, 5-hour marathon session which left me close to an anxiety attack. I actually think a cover-cover read is the way to go for this book. At one point Belushi has been up for something like 12 days working with a punk band, blowing through obscene amounts of blow. You almost want to put the book down and go exercise and eat a healthy meal to cleanse yourself of Belushi's life.

The depth of Belushi's drug consumption was disturbing. He was a coke-monster. Anyway, it was, at the time, a real departure for author Bob Woodward, who had decided to tackle Belushi as a topic for several newspaper pieces.

I also read the voluminous Live From New York which chronicles the history of SNL. In that, many Belushi friends, family expressed anger and disappointment in Woodward's Wired. Live From New York is also an interesting read, with some funny Bill Murray anecdotes.

Belushi did a great mimic of Joe Cocker, check below:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7bFtvsYcnQ

With the 3rd Pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select...

2007-04-04T14:46:00.000-04:00

Calvin Johnson, WR Georgia Tech

This is what should happen Browns fans. 6'5, legit 4.4 speed, runs great routes, unbelievable hands. Anyone questioning if he's the best player in this draft should check out his game versus the Canes his sophomore season. I would be happy with Joe Thomas, and could understand that pick. I would be happy with Jamarcus Russell and could understand that pick. Brady Quinn might be end up as a good NFL QB, but this isn't the right situation for him with the question marks on the line and the must-win-now atmosphere. Adrian Peterson, with his durability issues, I'm not sure this is the right situation for him either.

- Johnson creates single coverage for Braylon and Kellen at times and is a Pro-Bowler.
The Browns have struck out too many times in the draft to pass on a homerun like Johnson.
- Thomas helps solidify the left side of the line with Steinbach and if Bentley ever comes back healthy, wow.
- Russell's arm strength is something that can't be ignored.

Also, check out this link for Calvin Johnson highlights set to some Eminem:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvBUKqhT0FE

Albums I listen to from start to finish

2007-04-04T14:24:00.000-04:00

The American Analog Set - Know By Heart
The Arcade Fire - Funeral
Badly Drawn Boy - The Hour of the Bewildered Beast
The Black Keys - thickfreakness
Built to Spill - Keep It Like A Secret
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
Interpol - Antics
Jay-Z - The Black Album
Kings of Convenience - Riot On An Empty Street
My Morning Jacket - Z
Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
Outkast - Aquemini
Pearl Jam - Live On Two Legs
Pinback - Summer In Abaddon
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)