Monday, June 19, 2006

NBA Finals: Comparisons suck, but I'm still going to make them.
Wade and Iverson.

Dwayne Wade is officially a superstar. Not only is he willing and able to carry a team on during crunch time, but he’s also getting the calls of legends. He, unlike
Lebron, has shown that he deserves the benefit of the doubt most of the time. That’s not a jab at Lebron because he is going to be a great player, but Wade’s fundamentals are unquestionable. Lebron, on the other hand, probably averages two uncalled traveling violations per game. All that respect even though his team hasn’t been nearly as successful as the Heat have been.

Watching Game 5 of the finals showed how great Wade is already. How easy did he make it look to get open shots and to throw soft shots off the backboard at the most intense moments of the whole season – maybe a whole career? At this point, can he get better? Maybe on defense. Maybe he can create better for his teammates. Maybe he can learn how to control a game without the ball. But, realistically, is he not already at the peak of his game?

The thought that was prevailing last night, early during the 4th quarter, was Wade’s game in comparison to Iverson’s. Aside from off court differences, is Wade doing anything necessarily different from AI? At this point in his career, Wade’s outside shot is still inconsistent, primarily from beyond the arc. His field goal percentage is pretty good though, especially considering that he’s a guard. I assume, his better percentage comes from points in the paint like Tony Parker. His efficiency is obviously much better than AI’s infamously bad shooting percentage. AI, though, has never had what Wade has now: Shaq. Looking at Kobe’s statistics during Shaq’s years with the Lakers, his shooting efficiency was at its best. He not only didn’t have to shoulder the load of last second of the shot-clock shots, but he also must have had more open shots because of the double teams the Shaq would have garnered.

Both players, Wade and AI, make up any bad shooting nights with their free throws. Both produce scoring opportunities for their teammates. AI has been doing that more often recently – maybe that’s because he has more scoring help in Webber, Korver, and Igoudala whereas he used to have McKie. Plus, Iverson was playing when perimeter defense was still allowed. AI, though, has been labeled as a ball hog and he still seems to carry that stigma no matter how much his game has matured. Is Wade’s game really that much more focused on the team than AI’s has been?

None of this comparison is at all meant to demean Wade. Instead, it’s asking for an objective look at two players with very similar offensive game. Both Wade and Iverson, when the ball is in their hands, are dynamic and tough. Both create lanes from their quickness and both live off of the free throw line. Iverson’s been doing it with players who may have been good but never even closely comparable to Shaq (even at this later stage in his career).

The fact that AI wasn’t allowed to even try out for the US Basketball Team shows that his game doesn’t speak louder than his stigma. Even though, his mistakes are his to own, his lionhearted play should never be as overlooked as it has continually been throughout the years.

Jordan Blasphemy.

I was watching some of the NBA Finals archives on ESPN Classic last week – specifically the ones with Jordan in his prime. It was great, but it begged the question – how good was Jordan? People say that Kobe, if not already, will be better than Jordan, that, for example, at this point his defense is incomparable to Jordan’s. People also say that Kobe’s 81 earlier this season would’ve meant over a hundred for Jordan since defense back when MJ played was so much rougher. Yet, using the parallel sentiment, wouldn’t that make Kobe’s job as a defender that much more difficult than Jordan’s since he can’t get away with as much ticky-tack stuff? If the questions about Kobe’s legacy will be determined on his all-around game, ie: his defense, isn’t that a fair question to ask?

I am not a big Kobe fan, mind you. But seriously. Let’s let game speak for game.

Jordan definitely played within the system better than it seems Kobe does, but Jordan also always had a reliable cast, at least during his championship years. Jordan had always had sharpshooters in Paxson, Armstrong, Hodges, and Kerr. Jordan always had role playing big men better than what Kwame or Mihm have shown themselves to be. Jordan, though, played with far less athletic counterparts. Whereas the norm today is the game above the rim, during Jordan’s first championship run, he was ahead of the game. The truth of the late 80s and early 90s game though was that their 3-point shots were MAN-shots. The way Paxson and Armstrong hit those deep 3s was amazing. In the same way, seeing how so many players back then could hit open jumpers makes me sad seeing the caste-system of shooters and non-shooters of today’s game. When people say that in the 80s, teams could let opponents score over 100 and still play solid D, they’re not joking. Amazing.

Mavs, a higher functioning Warrior team?

The Warrior faithful cry all the time about Adonal Foyle’s lack of offensive game. We cry about how the last, essential piece to a playoff run is our competent big man. Yet, when I watch the Mavs in the Finals, I can barely see any substantially significant difference. Yes, they have an MVP-caliber player in Dirk Nowitski, but seriously, what else is different? At his most dedicated and focused, Baron Davis is better than any of the point guards that the Mavs have. JR should be better than Jason Terry despite Terry’s great play during the playoffs. Troy Murphy plays the same game as Nowitski – with a perimeter game and grabbing boards, though no way is Murph close to being the caliber that Nowitski is at. Still, the essential pieces are there. The Mavs are supposed to play a tougher D. Maybe their players are better coached or are more keen to team defensive systems. Maybe they’re veteran bench makes that much more of a difference. Somewhere, though, there’s a disconnect between talent and success. What is it? If the Mavs can make the Finals and at least be seemingly dominant (for about half of the series), shouldn’t a team that is like them that functions at maybe 75% their efficiency seem good enough to at least make the playoffs and have at least a fighting presence?

Ulam cooked @ 2:39 PM

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scrambled eggs and spam
1) Interesting few seconds of conversation the other day with the ex. We were discussing how one of my boy's is dating a cute girl who happens to be a nurse. That led to me saying that my mom suggested to me to find a nurse (some few weeks ago). That led to the ex saying that her best friend has a lot of nurse friends alluding to, but not clearly saying, "hey, she should hook you up." I thought it was weird, but it's cool. I'm going to myspace her friend right now for a list of singles. Hahaha Jk.

2) Last night, I was thinking how having two full days (on the weekend) to do absolutely nothing would have been welcomed despite the fun I had with the barrelfolk on Saturday. That thought, last night, made me feel old. I'm only 20-frickin-7.

3) Maybe it's because we karaoked for hours last week, but the zeal of the karaoke room on Saturday night wasn't as intense as it was before. I think it was the session last week. It's weird getting older. Getting drunk is okay, but tiresome. What's left? Good times with the friends? No doubt, but something's been missing the past few weeks. Maybe it's just me. I mean, last week was a whole mess of fun - so much fun that I was paying back the lack of sleep all week, but still.

4) I asked two couples the other day how, as adults, you know you're in a mutually exclusive relationship. I ask because the last time I really had to ask that question was.. well.. actually.. I was drunk after my 22nd birthday party and babbling stupid stuff that I am glad I don't really recall completely.. BUT, the last time I really decided if I was in an exclusive relationship was in high school. And in high school, you just ask, "do you want to be my girlfriend?" If she says yes - then you are. If she says no, you talk shit about her. Haha jk. I only asked two girls to be my girlfriend ever. Both said yes. The other girls? They just rejected me before I even had the chance to ask. haha. Aww.

Oh, with that, I guess the adult thing is having a real conversation. Maybe it's "doing it" but I'm sure the buddies wouldn't discuss that with me - and I'm thankful for their discretion.

Ulam cooked @ 11:56 AM

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Not surprising but..
You are a

Social Liberal
(80% permissive)

and an...

Economic Liberal
(13% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Socialist



Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online Dating
Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Ulam cooked @ 11:12 AM

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Tuesday, June 13, 2006

NBA Finals Quandary
I wake up from my evening nap midway through the 3rd quarter and Dallas is significantly shoveling more dirt out of the pit they're getting ready for the Heat's chances at winning the championship. Minutes roll by, momentum persists, and Dallas is throughly putting on a whuppin'.

At the beginning of the game, before my nap, I was ambivalent in a sense about who I wanted to win. Neither is the team I wanted from each of the conferences. Those two, Phoenix and Detroit, were ousted by our Finals combatants. No bitterness though - this, unlike the NCAA Tourney, has no underdogs, no upsets, no brackets to care about. The NBA Finals, like the NBA itself, is a player's competition. Although the Spurs, the Pistons, the Suns, and the Mavericks are all good TEAMS, in the end its about the superstars who you root for.

I couldn't really say that I was completely ambivalent. I was definitely leaning towards one team: the Mavs. No, not from the start of the series, but starting tonight with their 2-0 lead. Although some of this had to do with Avery Johnson and his work in developing a great team in the Mavs, it also had to do with my DVR schedule and hoping for a 4-game sweep since the Heat haven't seemed all that ready to play. My gut, though, throughout knew something was weird. Cue nap.

After a while, I stopped paying attention to the 4th quarter because I was focused more on a far less meaningful June baseball game only to come back to the basketball game with about two minutes left and the Mavs withering away to the Heat onslaught. Still, I was pulling for the Mavs, but I started to really question what the hell I was doing. First instinct said, "Miami? Fuck Miami and fuck Jeb-Bush-Land." But then, Texas is not only the stomping grounds of the worse Bush brother, but it was Dallas - home of the Cowboys! Then, I had to start tallying the assets and the pieces of discontentment.

For the Mavs:

Mark Cuban - This guy sure is annoying, but I love his NBA business sense. He's taken care of his players. He's made shrewd moves in his management, his coaching staff, and his draft picks. Plus, all of his poking at the NBA, the refs, and David Stern make the potential awards ceremony a bastion of pure entertainment. Cheer points: + 1

Avery Johnson - As aforementioned, this guy has lead this group of players into become a team. They always had a great offensive game, but with the change of their personel, the scheme changed also - for the better. They still play great offense with a much better approach to defense. Plus, how can you really root against Avery and his Souther Drawl? Cheer points: + 1

Dirk Nowitski - There was one time in my life that I was truly on fire in a basketball game. I mean, I've had a handful of good games, but ONLY ONE game of dominance. It was a half court game and I think I scored 7 or 8 of the 11 points, most from the elbow. My friend subsequently called me "Dirk Nowitski" because I was the tallest dude on the court shooting from the outside. Since then, I've been down with Dirk. This guy's a freak. His post up starts at the top of the key and a quick turnaround there is as good as a short hook by Shaq. Cheer points: + 1

Role Players - Josh Howard and Devon Harris are good young players in great situations. If they were on bad teams, they'd be asked to do more than they're ready for. I like how both of them play. I give them + 3. (An extra 1/2 point each for being young players in a new situation - that's often fun to see how they'll do.) Jason Terry, for whatever reason, bugs the shit out of me. The only Arizona guard I have any real interest in is Gilbert Arenas. Terry had a great game 1. I'm not sure what he did in Game 2. He looked bad in Quarter 1 and Quarter 4 in Game 3. He's a -2 for the irritation factor. Total for the role players: +1

Ex-Warrior factor: Avery Johnson is disqualified since he's no longer playing. I would often go into unprovoked rants on the best-dressed-while-on-the-Inactive-List player in the NBA. Part of me still holds a grudge for his lack of dedication except during contract years. And lo and behold, he's performing great now that he's sniffing a championship. Just for the sake of his impuslive dedication he gets a -5. But, because this dude who has the ability to be a very impactful role player is doing well on a big stage I'll cut down his negative attributes to -3.

Location: It's in Texas. That's a -10. Hot girls in the stands? +2. (-8 total)

The fact that they're up a game and the finals can end earlier if they close out the next two games: + 4

The total score for the Mavs: -3

For the Heat:

Shaq - I said it often during the Lakers divorce proceedings that something happened like a simultaneous heel/face turn by two opposing wrestlers - where each wrestler switched sides at the same tim - that is always tricky to pull off, but it happened with Shaq and Kobe. I've been a Shaq hater for most of his career. Although I respected his ability, his antics, his attitude, his general character was completely unappealing. In fact, I still don't know what is appealing about him. He had the most unguardable body in the NBA with the skills to use it properly, he was a media darling, he was the face of the league for a while which meant he got ALL the calls - AND STILL always had the time to bitch about something. BUT, when Kobe started acting like the bigger bitch and tore apart the Lakers dynasty, I started to pull for Shaq. Now, though, I don't have as much disdain for him as I did before, but I really don't care to cheer for him. This is a minor negative versus a major negative in the past the size of a Texas score. But for now, he's a -2.

Antoine Walker - I really don't care about him either way, but the way he used to play no matter the skills he had was irritating. Do I want to see him rewarded with a championship? I really don't think I do. -1.

Alonzo Mourning - Toronto bitchslap not withstanding, seeing this guy go from the second most dominating center in the league to the guy who almost had to retire to the guy who flourished in a supportive role once Shaq got (lazy, I mean) hurt in the year, he's easily someone who you want to root for to finally win a championship. If he didn't have the toronto situation looming he'd easily be a +3, but there's only so much bitching by superstars you can take so he's a +1.

Gary Payton - The formerly known as The Glove is still a hometown favorite - and watching the final game when the Bulls dominated the Sonics in their Finals series makes him an easy target to root for. Maybe if he didn't play in Seattle, people would know how good this guy was - and to see him get this close is nice. That part gives him a +3. But, I was thinking about it - this is the second team he's been on that he basically jumped the bandwagon to kind of backdoor his way into getting a ring. And, although pro sports is about 1) making money and 2) winning championships, I don't get why we celebrate past-their-prime superstars who take salary cuts to "play for a winner" when 1) they don't need that extra cash that they're "sacrficing for the team" and 2) don't we all hate that guy at the courts who tries to weasel his way onto the winning teams? Given that, I still love the FKA The Glove and he gets a +1.

Dwayne Wade - flat out, if I had a favorite player, he'd be a top 3 candidate. I just love how he plays. Ever since he dropped a triple double in the NCAA tournament, I've been a true fan of this guy. Without trying, there's a lot of Kobe in his game - in a good way. But he's his own man, not like Kobe stealing his favorite MJ moves and adopting them as his own. There really is no reason to cheer against him except for his being so young and having a long career ahead to win multiple championships. His age gets him an ambivalent 0. That means nothing. Everything else? He's a +5. I love Wade's game.

Pat Riley - I dunno. I really don't care about him. I loved Showtime in the 80s and I was a fan of the Knicks when he was around, but really - he, with Van Gundy and Mike Fratello really marketed that slower game and almost completely ruined the NBA. On a side note, I was watching the final game of the Suns/Bulls finals and damn could people shoot in the past. Those 3s, were MAN 3s, not this moved in bullshit. Oh, so Pat Riley is sort of a 0 on the plus.negative scale, but seeing what he did to Stan Van Pornstouche and the mid 90s NBA, he gets a -2.

J-Will - the former White Chocolate was a fun novelty in the past but his novelty was the off-the-wall game, not this role player shit. But, with him winning a ring and not with Sacramento, that almost tempts me to give him a +1, but in the end it's a 0. I just wanted to bring him up to spite the Kings.

Location - Being in Florida, the land of hanging chads, stolen elections, non-trackable electronic voting machines, and the ridiculous Schiavo media fiasco (there was a life at stake - many lives actually - both sides to the protests are complete bitches) - it gets a -7. The hot girls in the stands though, get +4, but I'd rather see them in CSI: Miami because there's a plot, they're wearing less, they're focused on more, and David Caruso makes me laugh. With that, they lose 2 points with a total of -5 for locale.

Total for the Heat: -3

With that, it's a frickin TIE, but obviously it shows that I don't care who really wins. OR DO I?

Postgame celebration:

Mavs:
Dirk singing a Hasselhoff gem, +3
Hasselhoff singing a Hasselhoff gem, -5
Cuban centering the celebration on him, -8
Cuban letting Avery talk more, +4
TOTAL: -6

Heat:
Shaq's "Can you dig it" routine, -8 (that btw is stolen from Booker T in his WCW fame)
Shaq rubbing it in Kobe's face, +10
J-Will rapping, -12
J-Will rapping a Hasselhoff gem, +2
TOTAL: -8

FINALLY, after all that, I guess I'm cheering on the Mavs.

Ulam cooked @ 11:16 PM

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Sunday, June 11, 2006

Poll: Porn name.
Vote on it:

Lone Wolf or Super Lung

Ulam cooked @ 11:13 PM

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i should be asleep
Just like the defunct bleazey-lj's favorite opening line: I should be asleep but..

at the moment, I am watching South Park Season 1, Episode 2, Volcano.

I am ridiculously tired for no good reasons.

I partied with the BFolks for hours last night and barely drank, limited what I ate, and still felt like I gained 200 lbs.

I went to the Giants game today, got my Moises Alou "GANTS" bobblehead. What's up with the 20,000 ct typo?

Last night, I talked to Chel about thoughts of "designs" on a friend. Same old story: talking about a girl really does jumpstart real feelings. Not that there are feelings on the friend - but talking about it makes it easier to foster those feelings. Roundabout talk. Blah Blah. My eyes are closing.

So, one of my good buddies has traded in his player card for the boyfriend card and he informed me of this life change by telling me that I am now the "LONE Wolf". Hahah. Shiet.

Ulam cooked @ 11:01 PM

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Friday, June 09, 2006

working the brain
1) Driving home from work, I had the chance to listen to the Lupe Fiasco "Push Kick" and basing my listening on his cadence, word choice, word play - WHAT'S THE BIG FUCKIN' DEAL?

2) Thanks to hanging out with Ms. Mac and Miss Diaz, I took a Genetics quiz and got a D (21/30), I got B- on an Algebra quiz based on Radical equations (16/20) that I should've done better on had I simplified and actually did the work, and I transcibed a DNA code with Messenger RNA, got its amino acids - then experimented with a point mutation and a frameshift mutation. Ahh, high school.

3) and i just wasted 2 1/2 hours of potential sleep time on this: The Crimson Room. Be sure to move on to the Viridan Room and then the White Chamber. AARGH. And I totally cheated on the last two. The first I took a short cut, but I was on my way.

Bleh

Ulam cooked @ 1:21 AM

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Thursday, June 08, 2006

I'm on SFGATE.com
So, after making it big with getting two emails read by the great Gary Radnich on KNBR (first regarding irritating media personalities and the second regarding irritating media personalities) - then making a dubious appearance on the infamous Sports Guy on Page 2 of ESPN.com (by mistakingly referring to the NBA Comish as Daniel Stern instead of David Stern) - I've made it onto the Betting Fool's blog on SFGATE.com:

Last week's Question o' the Week:
Who will the Warriors Draft this year?

My response:
* 1) Leon Powe: He's not a high draft choice, but he's from the bay so he has homegrown fans, he's got inside game, and he's shorter than Ike Diogu. (Side note: I like Leon Powe and I hope he does well, but the humor here is more about the W's love of undersized players: Diogu being the recent one, Byron Houston being an older one)

2) Paul Davis: Again not a high draft choice, the fact that his upside gets him to Chris Mihm territory should keep the management confident that he won't fester in the Mark Madsen or Todd Fuller category. I know, that's just so wrong to compare Mark Madsen to Todd Fuller, but I'm going for the "slow-a-foot" image here.

3) Josh Boone: I think the Dampier hangover, or lack of Dampier hangover, may force the W's hand on this one. Blocked shots? Check. Inside presence? Check. No offensive game at all? Check.

In all seriousness, my hope would be Brandon Roy. He probably won't drop. But Roy's a leader already and he's crafty with fundamentals. Watching him in the tournament reminded me of how I felt about Dwayne Wade during his tourney run. -- John

***

It'll say "John R." but I assure you it's me.
The Betting Fool on SFGATE.com

Ulam cooked @ 10:07 AM

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Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Mullet or Bowl Cut
It's a Poll. Check in.

Ulam cooked @ 11:51 PM

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fuckin' empty keystyles
1) i've had the scrubs season 3 dvds for a while now, from netflix. And, i'm fully intending to buy it. Scrubs makes me laugh out loud.. you know L.O.L. so much, how can I not get it. Season 3 also seems more patterned like the season 5 style. Season 1 wasn't as outwardly goofy and I like the goofy.

2) who reads this? I guess that's my fault for being so inconsistent.

3) I'm not so eloquent with anything today.

4) There's this beautiful girl who I only "know" through myspace. I don't even "know" her because I don't talk to her. I check her bulletins sometimes to check what she posting because she's an interesting character. Anyway, physically, this woman is ridiculously beautiful and I don't throw that term around often except when describing really stupid ironic things a la Tony Bruno. But in this case, I usually reserve BEAUTIFUL for ultra pretty/attractive girls with the greatest soul and spirit. The last two I couldn't say anything about since, again, i don't know her.

I admit that I'm unabashedly dehumanizing of people like her - and not in the sense you may think. You see a dude call a girl ridiculously beautiful and dehumanizing in the same sentence, you think I'm starting a petition online to get her signed up to Vivid or something. No, that's not it. But I was reading a little message she wrote about feeling butterflies about some guy she just met, and that still blows me away. Being a dude who has never been a #1 draft choice of the ladies, I'm used to yearning for the slightly known stranger or temporary object of affection. Because I spend most of my time wondering, pondering, and yearning (at least I did when I was younger) about a certain person - and really only having the "butterflies" to hold onto when I was too shy, scared, not confident to say anything to the girl - it blows me away that a person who could be as beautiful as her and as engaging with her interests and energy be caught up with (good) anxiety. I guess, and this is the bad sense, that it's harder to empathize someone's hopes for something they don't have when it seems like they can get it at anytime.

I shouldn't put ladies on pedastals like that - hold them with utmost regard, yes - but pedastals? No.

5) Recently, I realized that creative quirkiness can only go so far with me if the basic social needs aren't there: for me those basic social needs include sarcasm, the desire to dance, and.. I think that may be it.

6) What the hell were the things I wanted to post earlier this week? Shoot.

7) Oh, it's weird hearing stories about former playboys who no longer have the confidence to even say hi to girls. Being a non-playboy type (not because I didn't want to - i didn't really, but still - but because I couldn't), it's amazing to hear that I am on the same plane as the once mighty.

8) I'm planning on writing Fan Fiction based on a supporting character on Alias. After I'm done, you can OFFICIALLY print up my GEEK CARD. I'll put it on my pocket protector.

Ulam cooked @ 11:21 PM

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Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Mr. D-League Softball Heckler
Can we request or suggest one of those Real Men of Genius Bud Light commercials - you know the ones about the scrubtastic guys like Mr Mullet Wearer or whatever?

There's a new one: Mr. D-League Rec Softball Heckler.

Prosemonkey presents:

Real Men of (Small) Penis: [sorry, had to change it or else the copywright folks might get me]

(real men of small penis)

Today we salute you, Mr. D League Rec Softball Heckler
(Mr. D League Rec Softball Heckler)

You come to your buddy's game as spectator because they didn't want you on the team
(Not good enough for D-League)

You yell out insults about laziness when you have no job
(borrow money, yeah!)

Your friends are ashamed of you so they don't give you a ride home
(oh, you're walking)

you are in a midlife crisis and trying to compensate for a life unfulfilled and still bleaching your hair
(he looks like Billy Idol!)

So crack open an ice-cold Lud-Bight, you brideless groom of the White Wedding and keep reminding us how young we are and how young you're not.
(So washed up!)

[end scene]
=)

Ulam cooked @ 12:31 PM

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