Things On My Mind, Part 4
• I’ve been mulling over my Winter Sporting Event Entertainment Options. Since I’m spending many of my days uptown, a mere two blocks from the arena, I can–if I so choose–attend minor league hockey and major league basketball games without having to pay for parking. Football tickets are not in the picture. How anybody can afford to attend NFL games is beyond me. Hockey tickets are easy to come by and no real drain on the wallet, and I can easily get seats at the glass on the Blue Line for most games, but good basketball seats are another animal entirely. Time Warner Cable Arena is not like the old LA Sports Arena, where one could pay $10 for corner nosebleed seats, but move down several sections when the crowd realized they were watching the Clippers. And though these Bobcats have been Clipper-like in the win column during their brief history, the NBA has changed. Now $10 will get you in the door, but when you do get your corner nosebleed seat, heavily armed security makes sure you stay in your assigned section. Unless you go to the loo, or the concession area. And there’s the answer: Restrooms and concessions are located several times closer to the action than the cheap seats. If one doesn’t mind standing around the nacho stand, one can generally have a good view of the action from the eateries. I don’t know that I’d want to make a habit of it, but security isn’t going to hassle you if you’re spending money on over-priced hot dogs or chowing on same while standing at the rail.
• We seem to have acquired another cat, though not officially. Another male tabby, but larger than any of ours, has been visiting regularly, acting as if he owns the joint. He and Binx got into it last week, and Binx was limping around for a few days, but now seems resigned to being Alpha Cat Emeritus. The new male, whom I’ve dubbed Wannabe, bears a striking resemblance to our Sophie, so much so that each of the girls at least once have let him in the house, mistakenly believing him at first glance to be Sophie. This confuses the other cats, but both Twidge and Cisco appear fascinated by him and follow him at a safe distance to see what he’s getting up to. And when I pulled in the driveway tonight, there was Wannabe trotting up behind the car to greet me. My hope is that he’ll be enough of a presence to ward off the other random one that comes around, the mysterious round-headed black cat. With whom Binx, of course, had a major tussle this morning.
• Bob, I agree that Gladiator vs the Mannings is a million dollar idea. Unfortunately, the medical expenses would exceed a million easily. Puppets, man...think of something with puppets. People fuckin LOVE puppets.
Things On My Mind, Part 3
• The new design that the boys in R & D slaved
over, this very one you’re looking at right now, is
massively broken in Firefox, and Camino browsers, and
behaves a bit strangely in Internet Explorer. FAIL,
as the kids say. I’m told a fix is in the works. (Of
course, I was also told the designed played perfectly
with all browsers...)
• The third and final installment of
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along
Blog
debuted today.
Joss Whedon,
creator of
Buffy The Vampire Slayer,
Firefly,
and the upcoming
Dollhouse,
has unleashed a demented, sentimental, outrageous,
and tender musical exploration of a would-be
supervillian, a moronically macho super hero, and the
girl in the middle. The supremely talented
Neil Patrick Harris
(the former kid doctor) is Dr. Horrible, and
Firefly’s
Nathan Fillion
is his nemesis, Captain Hammer, and
Felicia Day
is Penny, the girl they both love. All three do
outstanding work, and it’s hard to imagine a better
ending than the one Whedon serves up. Watch, and be
rewarded with great songs, a touching love story,
subtle and not-so-subtle humor, and a glimpse of the
inner circle of the Evil League of Evil, including
the nefarious leader, Bad Horse.
•
The Clippers
pick up
Marcus Camby
from the
Nuggets
in exchange for the option to switch second round
picks in 2010.
Whaa? This is
Marcus Camby
we’re talking about. I don’t know what Denver was
thinking, but the addition of another big man helps
the Clips ease the sting of losing Elton Brand. It’s
not a long term fix, but it won’t hurt in the short
run.
• I don’t remember any details of the dream I had
last night, but I do know it involved me playing for
the
San Diego
Chargers.
Which is absurd, of course: The Chargers already
have a perfectly useful
Outside
Linebacker.
• This is me now:
Most days, I can be seen
as the gladiator Lucullus at the “A Day In Pompeii”
exhibit at Discovery Place
in Charlotte. For the
record, and my participation not withstanding, its
an extraordinary exhibit and well worth the
trip.
Now That's Comedy!
Baron Davis opts out
of his Golden State Warriors
contract to join
Chris Kaman, Corey Magette, and Elton Brand in Los
Angeles, setting the stage for a new era in
Clipper land. Magette
then takes a huge offer from the Warriors, leaving
LA behind. Brand, one of the league’s most sought
after free agents, assures Los Angeles fans that
he wants to “end my career as a Clipper.” Turns
out, he meant just that: Brand will sign with
the Philadelphia 76ers
for
82 million. Kaman and Davis must be reeling right
now.
I'm Happy To Be Wrong
Yes, I expected the Lakers to take this series in
five games. I didn’t give enough credit to the
amazing transforming men in green and their
astounding bench.
When I lived in Los Angeles, I accepted the Lakers as
the hometown team, but I was always uneasy with the
fanatic and frenetic support they received from the
citizenry. I detested Riley’s Gordon Gekko hair and
demeanor, I admired Magic Johnson, but found his
persona cloying, and the air of entitlement that the
team exhibited was off-putting. And I could never get
tickets. The Forum was routinely sold out, even the
nosebleed seats.
When the Clippers hit town in ’84, I became a fan of
the Worst Franchise In Professional Sports. They put
some truly awful teams on the floor in those days
(and in the years since) but they played in the
decrepit Sports Arena. And they were fun to watch, in
a train wreck sort of way. Because the Sports Arena
never sold out, you could buy cheap tickets and move
down to watch great basketball played by their
opponents. True, you had to put up with Billy
Crystal, but you could get in. Now of course, both LA
teams share the Staples Center (though the Lakers, as
the ‘senior tennant’, have much better locker room
facilities than the Clips.)
The Lakers will be back to the finals soon, I’m sure.
Despite the horrendous series that Bryant had, and
the complete lack of bench support, they will return.
I will hate them still.
I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Boston over the
past few years, and I’d notice that while you could
buy Patriots gear in any store, and Red Sox gear on
any corner, Celtic hats , sweats, tees, and jerseys
were rare to the point of extinction. Some places did
carry the stuff, but it wasn’t on display. You had to
ask for it, as if you were buying pornography or fire
arms. I’m certain that’s changed this year. Good on
ya, Celtics.
Now, these photos, eerily similar:
My Prediction
... of a Lakers win in 5 games, in retrospect, was
hasty and ill-considered. Mr. Leon Powe has shown me
the error of my ways.
That said, the C’s still need to take at least one
game at Staples Center, and that’s a tough room.
When the Lakers play, I mean. Not so much when the
Clippers are in residence.
Things On My Mind, Part 2
Just how much was Pierce taking advantage of an opportunity? I mean, he and Kendrick Perkins couldn’t have plotted out the whole thing. (“Hey, man...in the third quarter, try to ‘accidentally’ land on me at some point. I got a way to fire up this crowd.”)
• I’m giving The Sunlight Dialogues another try. Last time was a long time ago in an alcoholic fog. I may have actually read the entire book, but of course, I can’t tremember. Why now? Last night, we watched Beowulf, the amazingly horrid Zemekis zombie animation version. And of course, there was Grendel. Not John Gardner’s Grendel (how I wished it were so!). Naturally, that got me thinking about Gardner and THAT led me to recall Sunlight Dialogues.
• Speaking of booze, I’m approaching my the anniversary of my sobriety. 17 years on June 21.
• I’ve been in touch, briefly, with old friends recently, and I’m looking forward to catching up with all of them.
• I have a new gig. The paperwork’s not fully processed yet, so I won’t divulge, but if all goes through, I won’t have to travel for a while.
Because I Don't Know Nuthin'
The Spurs are done.
Even though I really enjoy
watching McDyess...
The Celtics will take the East in
7.
The Lakers, it truly pains me to
say, will win the finals in 5.
Droughts
The Bobcats needed this win, bringing them to 7-11 on the season, and heading to a likely defeat in Detroit on Sunday. Cleveland is in the midst of their own rough patch, now losers of 6 in a row. Something is up with LeBron James, though. A sprained finger keeps you out for six games?
The other drought in Charlotte continues, as it does throughout the South East. We've lost a few plants to the lack of rain (and the resulting water restrictions), and this past week had to have a crew in to take down a large diseased pine tree from the front yard, two small trees and several bushes in the back. They also topped the huge Oak next door, which means we won't have a bajillion acorns beating down on the roof for a few seasons. The crew didn't stack the remains to the correct city guidelines, leaving me with a five by fifteen foot high pile of branches to separate for pick up, and a few massive logs that I hope will be scooped up by neighborhood marauders. There is also the matter of a thick carpet of brown pine needles that covers most of the front yard...
Tony, Tony, Tony
Tony Soprano may or may not have survived. The ending was ambiguous, the screen fading to black just as the mobster looks up to see his daughter coming through the front door with...We don't know. At least we didn't have to see another scene with the grating shrink, Dr. Melfi.
Tony Parker, the little Frenchman that could, hurt the Cavs to the tune of 30 points, and it almost wasn't enough, as Cleveland erased a huge half-time deficit, pulled close, then lost by nine.
One Series Down, One to Go
The President must be very proud.
The Ducks did it with the support of these folks, The Power Play.
It turns out that the Ottawa Senators, recently returned to the NHL, forgot to hire a similar group.
So, the fans had to watch hockey instead.
Now it's on to the NBA Finals. As luck would have it, both teams have seen the error of the Senators' ways and have employed their own secret weapons for this contest. First, Western Conference Champs, the San Antonio Spurs:
The Silver Dancers, in this photo anyway, look like refugees from the IceCapades.
Eastern Conference Champs, the Cleveland Cavaliers, have to work harder because...well, because they're in Cleveland.
The dance team doesn't appear to have a clever moniker of their own, going by the collective name of 'Cavalier Girls".
They also don't appear to have access to much clothing.
My prediction: Spurs in 6.
But the Silver Dancers will be knocked out in 3.
Christmas Present, Christmas Coal
Today Miami, Tomorrow The World
Stan Van Gundy and Pat Riley at the press conference announcing Stan's resignation and Riley's return to the coaching spot he once forsook in favor of Stan.
Lemme ask you this, reader:
Does Stan look like he wants to do this? Is that the face of a man who wants to spend time with his family, just when Shaq will return from IR, and Ron Artest is being shopped by the Pacers?
And check out Riley's expression; the stiff necked downward glance, checking to see that the good soldier is still in lockstep, still muttering "Ja, Mein Fürher."
Stat Of The Night
Vince, Jason, and The Veal...Live!
Trust me... the seats were really, really good.
I'd never seen Vince Carter live. When he's cooking,
you can't stop him. He made Brian Scalabrine look
like Scottie Pippen a couple of times. And Jason Kidd
was on the verge of a triple-double when he sat down,
Actually, both he and Carter rode the bench for the
last quarter, leaving clean up to the likes of Zoran
Planinic, who had a nice game, and Cliff Robinson,
who seemed lost.
Thanks Mark!
Kurt Thomas Is Still Standing In Blue & Orange
Looking forward to having Malik on the squad, and Mo Taylor, too. And unloading Vin Baker was the right thing to do....but a true center is still needed, there are one too many forwards, and I'm having a hard time getting past Steph's middling production.
George Shinn is a class act: He trades Rodney Rogers to the Sixers this afternoon, then flies Rodney to NY on the private jet so Rogers can play against the Knicks tonight. (Well, either classy or really in a hurry to get rid of the guy.)
Catching Up
Tonight starts the NBA finals and as much as it pains me, I think the Lakers will take the series. I do think Detroit will grab a game, maybe two, but L.A. has so many weapons that the Pistons don't have an answer for, I don't see the series going the full seven games. I fervently hope I'm wrong. Of course, I thought the finals would be Minnesota-Indiana, with the Pacers edging the Wolves in seven, so maybe I'm not such a reliable source.
Of the recent readings: I had an absolute blast with 'Pool Party', Rich Orloff's sextet of plays set in and around a pool. I was particularly fond of "The Total Spiritual", where I played Heaven's gatekeeper...not St. Peter...opposite the delightful Linda Nelson, who played just the right fever-pitch desperation as the applicant who may need certain adjustments before entering Paradise. And in "Hey, Good Lookin'", I played Narcissus, who was caught in the act of gazing by his equally vapid wife (Missus Narcissus, of course). The Missus was played by tiny, wonderful Mary Cross. I wish Mary was in every play; not just just those I'm in, mind you, but EVERY play. Oh, 'Pool Party' also has "The Pond Not Taken", which called for the entire cast to be frogs. I'm happy to report that we were all, indeed, frog-like (and in fine musical form.)
The previous week, I was in the ensemble of "Endurance" by Jennifer Fell Hayes, which juxtaposed the story of Shackleton's 1914 Antarctic adventure with that of 2 brothers in 1970's Chicago. Sounds strange, doesn't it? But it works. The audience -a packed house- went crazy for it. I got to play three members of the expedition, each from a different part of the British Empire (England, Scotland, and Ireland).
And prior to that was "The Bones Of Giants" by Cheryl Davis at Ensemble Studio Theatre. This reading was, um,lightly attended. It's a large cast play, and it was the third time we've read it for an audience. Each time, Cheryl rewritten bits and pieces, and I think the piece is moving in the right direction. I'd love to be a part of this when it goes to production ( C'mon, what actor wouldn't want to play Buffalo Bill?), but there are no guarantees that I will.
And the quandry of the day: The Tony Awards are tonight. I'm not nominated for anything again, but I have worked with one of the producers of Frozen (up for the Best Play award), so I feel I have a vested interest. And the NBA Finals. Plus, the season finale of The Sopranos on HBO. Now, I guess I can tape the game, watch the Awards, and catch the mob later this week using on-demand...but I'm going to be in the city tomorrow, and there's no way The Post isn't going to put the gory details of The Sopranos on the front page. So I'll walk to my appointments and avoid looking at every news stand along the way. But my hair will be cut. And I'll look good doing it.
The Knicks Get Deeper
Basketball is a punishing sport. Six weeks is just too soon to return, particularly when one is changing surroundings as well as altering basic behavior. I hope that he can keep it together, but I have doubts that he's really serious about his recovery.
Milwaukee Dreams
Given my history, you'd think I would've been conflicted about this game. And you'd be right. I mean, the Clips have seemed on the edge of emergence for a few years, always winning just enough tough games to generate "what if" scenarios from their fan. Fans. But they swoon, mostly sooner than later. Swoon isn't the right word, either. They crash, usually in a tangle of limbs and flames and twisted metal that you can't help but watch and think that the league really ought to stop this madness. Even with Elton Brand locked into a long-term contract, they're going to be the Western Conference Washington Generals for the foreseeable future.
The Knicks, on the other hand, are a proud, storied franchise that lost it's way in the last few seasons. Bad management, sub-par bench, questionable coaching all added up to a so-so team that didn't seem to have the inclination to be spectacular, or really even competitive. But Isiah was getting them on the right track. Was. The trade of Keith Van Horn to The Milwaukee Bucks for under-achiever Tim Thomas may have been one trade too many. Tim has shown flashes of what he can be, but he's had only one outstanding game. Van Horn got over the early season Garden jitters quickly and was becoming the kind of player every team needs: a solid, intelligent, generous team player who was good for 20+ most games. The Knicks will regret the trade in the long run.
So, yes. I was conflicted. Who disgusts me more: The Clippers or The Knicks? Right now, it's a tie.
This Is The New Look Knicks?
Okay, I understand that Steph just got here and doesn't know the offense. But, man: He clocked the most court time of anybody in the game, and comes up with 6 points. SIX! That's 1 bucket every 13.6 minutes. By contrast, Francis had 27 in 40 minutes.
Marbury also had 10 assists, so he was doling it out anyway. Van Horn gets 17 points, 11 boards, and 1 assist. Moochie and Shandon Anderson had 17 and 11, but the Rockets had six players in double digits.
Stephon Marbury is - eventually - going to be great for New York, but it's gonna be bumpy for a while.
