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At the Intersection of Sports and Culture

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Memorial Day Musings

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I left the BBQ behind for a a few moments Sunday night to watch the lead segment on 60 Minutes about the heroic story of Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Sal Giunta. At one point, he calls himself a “mediocre soldier” and Lara Logan reminds him that the Medal of Honor is quite an honor for just a “mediocre soldier”. His response: “think how good the great soldiers are”.

His story, and that of his squadron in Afghanistan, provided an entirely deeper context to the meaning of teamwork, courage, humility, and sacrifice. We use these words everyday to describe the accomplishments of our sports stars but in light of this Memorial Day weekend, it’s important for all of us to recognize and honor our true American heroes.

A Quick Trip Around the Bases

1B – “Finkle is Einhorn. Einhorn is Finkle. Finkle is a man!”

Apparently Jon Heyman has had his fill of Ace Ventura references but come on, sometimes life just tees one up for you. So now the former Miami Dolphins kicker owns a 30% stake in the Mets and immediately skeptics wondered if this was a good investment. My feeling is that you don’t make billions betting against the likes of Wall Street badies Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns without having some sort of financial acumen. Einhorn must be in line for a majority stake, that is unless he too is eventually linked to a Madoff type ponzi scheme. “Laces out!!!”

2B – Time for a little game I like to call “Dead, Alive, or current Diamondback”. First contestant: Luis Gonzalez. Incorrect! Luis Gonzalez is not a current Diamondback. Next: Curt Shilling. No soup for you! Shilling is not dead and is in fact currently working for ESPN. Last one: Melvin Mora. I’m sorry, wrong again!!! Mora is both alive and a member of the 2011 Arizona Diamondbacks.

Maybe it’s time we all started to get to know a few of the folks who currently reside in Phoenix. Heading into Monday night the Diamond Dogs had won 6 in a row, 9 of 10, propelling them to a half game lead in the NL West. Not bad for a bunch of guys not named Shilling, Gonzalez, Johnson, Grace, or Williams.

3B – Yes Mr Francesa I understand one of the the only reasons we care is because Buster Posey is a “bonafide staaa” but even still, why can’t home plate be like every other base? Slide to avoid. It’s how all ballplayers are taught to play nowadays. The NFL has outlawed helmet to helmet collisions why can’t MLB and the players association agree on a rule change to protect catchers? Relax, old school/part of the game people, the sanctity of the game will survive.

HR – The Boston Red Sox keep on winning in part because Carl Crawford finally decided it time to earn some of that money. Too Good to Fail, that’s what I’m going to start calling this 2011 Boston team. Speaking of Wall Street, finally sat down to watch the documentary Inside Job about the financial collapse of 2008. Interesting stuff, assigns blame to every entity imaginable. Bankers? Greedy. Regulators? Stooges. Government? Well since they use to be the bankers and the regulators they’re greedy stooges. Bottom line: filmmaker may have had a small political agenda but there is enough evidence presented to make even the most bipartisan American angry, skeptical of our financial system today.

view from Minute Maid Park courtesy of @mr_randerson

 

The Tree of Life Will Make Your Memorial Day Weekend Much More Complex, Cosmic

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Trick question: there is no correct answer. As Terrence Malick would undoubtedly say, you must be comfortable living with ambiguity.* My dad bought us a beautiful Weber gas grill for our wedding a few years ago and we love the convenience/utility. Gas grills even make BBQing in the middle of a snow squall possible.

As for the flavor, a predictable defense of charcoal lovers, I don’t see anything wrong with a mild propane aftertaste. I usually mask the natural gas flavor with a few generous ounces of Frank’s Red Hot anyway so for a few less carcinogens I’m all on board the propane train.

In regards to the Heat closing out their series with the Bulls last night in Chicago, I’m disappointed but not surprised. My Windy City friends have already started to rationalize last night’s loss. To them, the Bulls were a year away anyway and won’t contend for a championship until they find another consistent perimeter scorer who can also defend. Free agent targets will include Jamal Crawford, JR Smith, or Jason Richardson. That is of course if we even have free agency this summer which. with the looming labor situation, is looking more and more unlikely.

*Here’s what bothers me about Malick’s latest “masterpiece”.  Critics are telling me that the film is supposed to be some sort of cosmic allegory for human existence with a dash of Oedipus on the side. My “artsy” friends are saying I shouldn’t even bother seeing the film because I probably wouldn’t understand the complexity or magnitude Malick’s semi-autobiographical opus anyway. Frankly, I don’t get what all the hoopla is all about. To be honest, I feel that I could have told you everything you needed to know about the movie after watching the preview. Maybe I’ll reserve final judgment until I actually see The Tree of Life but I shall remain skeptical for the time being.

view from the United Center courtesy of @LukeKosk

Wednesday Worries: White Out Edition

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I worry that….

the American Airlines Arena “white out” is leading to partial blindness in my left eye. It borders on seizure inducing. The creepiest part of this concept are the white sheets which they drape over the vacant courtside seats, giving the arena the appearance of being a cheaply designed champagne room in Reno, NV.

I have chest hair like Carlos Boozer. And here I was thinking that it was just a coincidence that I was always picked to be on the “shirts” team.

I run like Joey Crawford. Referee looks like a bald baby Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Derrick Rose is going to end up in a full body cast. He goes HARD to the basket every time he has the basketball – well if you don’t count the final two possessions of regulation last night. I’m just waiting for an inadvertent Joel Anthony elbow to end DRose’s series prematurely.

there is no correct way to pronounce the name “Joakim” and that I have never pronounced his name the same way twice.

Lebron James and Dwyane Wade are clearly the two best all around basketball players in this series. If this is the case, tough for the Bulls to come back from a 3-1 deficit which leads me to my next worry…

the Heat will go on to win 3 of the next 4 NBA Championships and James and Wade will go down as one of the most successful duos in basketball history right alongside…Kareem/Magic, Jordan/Pippen, and Sidney Deane/Billy Hoyle.

view from American Airlines Arena courtesy of @carmendefalco

 

Boogie Nights and the Return of the Elbow Jumper

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I hope all you young basketball players out there are taking a good long look at Dirk Nowitzki’s performance in the Western Conference Finals. Do you see where he is taking and making the majority of his shots? Right from the free throw line. He essentially has one move that cannot be stopped regardless of who is guarding him. I’m pretty sure OKC has tried to stop Dirk with a combination of Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, and T. Boone Pickens. Back to the basket, turn and face w/defender giving no space, and drain a 15ft jump shot off of one foot. Cannot be stopped.

Hopefully Dirk’s performance is providing incentive for all young hoopsters out there who bypass the elbow jumpshot for the much sexier “triple” that it pays to work on your mid range game. Most young, and old, players gravitate towards the 3pt line where the the hand gestures are much cooler but the FG% is much, much lower.

Nowitzki is bringing the elbow jumper back in style and riding it all the way to the NBA Finals where a potential rematch w/ Dwyane Wade and Miami Heat is looming. Can we also agree that Kevin Durant and the OKC Thunder, much like D Rose and the Chicago Bulls, may be one year away from winning a championship. Durant and Russell Westbrook need to spend a good, long summer together at sleepaway camp where they can reconnect and reestablish the friendship that has made the Thunder roll in the past.

view from OKC courtesy of @photocorry

Monday Morning Musings

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So much for the Rapture. 6pm Saturday night came and went without the Devil and Jesus shaking hands.  I guess it’s time to start paying my bills again.

In all sincerity, I was truly amazed by how many people were discussing the End of Days. I mean, wasn’t it just one guy spreading his message across the billboards of America? If it was truly the creation of a single man or small “flock” then I have to contact this group to do some advertising for VMS because they sure know how to create a buzz.

When 6pm passed without major incident, people in the bar where I was watching the Preakness began hugging and toasting one another as if Dick Clark just ushered in a New Year. Did they really think the world was going to end Saturday night or were they just looking for any excuse whatsoever to drink champagne?

For me, when I think “The Rapture” I don’t think End of Days but rather A) the latest summer blockbuster starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman as a married couple awaiting the return of their son who is on leave from the war in Afghanistan or B) the name of a professional wrestler or C) Mozart’s long lost final concerto. Also, any single one of these scenarios seemed like a much more likely outcome Saturday night.

A Quick Trip Around the Bases

1B – When I think interleague play I think Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros. But seriously, the only commonality between these two is that both teams come from oil rich lands. (Fun fact: Canada provides 20% of all US oil imports. Just a matter of time before President Obama declares war on our friends to the North.) Matchups like the Jays/Stros are bound to happen in the 14th year of interleague play. So for all the Red Sox/Cubs and Rangers/Phillies you have Twins/Dbacks and Mariners/Padres.

2B – It’s possible, I repeat possible, that if Erik Bedard continues to pitch well the Seattle Mariners will contend for the AL West crown. Any team that sports a rotation of Felix Hernandez, rookie phenom Michael Pineda, and a rejuvenated Bedard has a chance to make it to the postseason, even with its putrid offense. As an Oriole fan, my feelings on the former Baltimore pitcher Bedard are quite mixed. He had some great seasons for a few very bad Oriole teams but the fans were still never able to totally embrace him, probably because he was perceived as distant, detached, and moody. Well that and he’s Canadian.)

3B – Don’t look now St. Louis Cardinals fans, but here come the 2011 Milwaukee Brewers, winners of 8 of their last 10 games. I had a good feeling about the Brew Crew heading into the season, which is why I selected Prince Fielder in the first round of my fantasy baseball draft. Add pitchers Shaun Marcum and Zach Greinke added to the mix and Brewers fans should expect their team to contend for the NL Central.

HR – News out of LA Sunday morning was that the police there were able to arrest at least on of the perpetrators involved in the beating of the SF Giants fan on opening day at Dodger Stadium. Here’s hoping for some swift justice and a full recovery for Bryan Stow.

view from the Rogers Centre courtesy of @ClaireGeorgia