Summer's over, the leaves are falling, turkey time is just around the corner which can only bring to mind one thing for me, it must be October. Ah october how I love thee, with your arrival you bring forth my true love of NBA basketball. Having watched my lakers win yet another championship this past june my excitement this coming season couldn't be any higher, and dare I say "three peat!". Fuck yeah I can and it's gonna happen or I'm out $1000 bucks to my buddie gronzi. (gulp!) go boys go!!
Anyway, as I had done previously at the start of last season, here are some of the storylines/predictions and such I see unfolding.
- The knee! The knee! The knee!
It all starts with the champs and my boy Kobe. After winning the title this past june, Kobe undoubtoubly took his bum right knee under the knife for a 3rd time in the past 7 seasons. Nooooo!! And even though his prognosis has been given a full 100% recovery I'm still nervous. Three surgeries in 7 seasons is a lot even for Kobe. He played great last season but at times you could see him struggling to find his explosiveness. Having hopefully cleaned up all the debris will his knee bring him back to his old self or will it cause him to lose another step? This has to be the top story going into this season as with where Kobe goes go the lakers. I'm optimistic he'll be fine and up to his old self in no time but...(crossing fingers now)
There's a new king in town and it isn't LBJ
Durantula! KD! KDThunderup! Whichever name you wanna call him, Kevin Durant is one bad mofo and he's now in my opinion the second best player in the league. He may be young but this kid is the real deal and he's gonna take over the league big time this year. I love his game and his maturity. Unlike that fake King in southbeach, this kid loves ballin' more than anything else, which only reminds me of other such kings like Kobe, Jordan, Bird, Magic and Russell. I'm expecting huge things from him this year and his young Thunderites. Stats like 33ppg, 7boards, 4dimes and 50/90/40 don't seem to unreasonable. The thunder are coming everyone and this kid's there man, jump ship and enjoy the ride.
Okay! Okay! Fine!...ladies and gentlemen I present for you the Miami BITCHES, um I mean Heat
yes, yes they're going to be good, they'll win a tonne of games and it'll be fun to watch them. I know this and so do you. Who'll lead them you ask, LBJ or Wade? It doesn't matter, they'll figure it out just like team USA did in Beijing, when push came to shove Kobe took over. Instincts will prevail and so will the better player. Will they win the title? Possibly. They have talent, a good roster and energy, but to be honest I just don't see it happening, well at least this season that is. I see too many variables and intangibles in their way, too many things have to go right for them to do it this year and in my gut I just don't see it.
A former laker great is now a Celtic! Am I reading this right?
Yeah it happened and Im not liking it one bit. Shaquille O'neal decided to do the biggest f. you to Laker nation by signing with its arch rival the Celtics. Now then, can he help them boys in beantown? Noooooooooooo!!! He's old, out of shape and old. He'll bring comedy, a few plays here and there but all in all his ship has sailed. Savy. This will be the season where Shaq will finally realize that he's no longer a factor in his teams success and that he should have retired with some dignity. Staying on for a chance at one more ring just so you can pass Timmy and stay par with Kobe is no way to cement your legacy. Face it Shaq, you had your chance and you blew it. You were great, you could've been the greatest but you chose to have fun. Grrr...go away!
A lockout is coming and this is why
When you see stupid owners and GM's giving the likes of Darko 20 mil, Joe Johnson 120 mil and Amir Johnson 34 mil all I want to do is SCREAMMMMMMMM!!!! Do these guys not watch any games? Have they not seen what's happened in the past when doling out this kind of money? Omg!! WTF!! What's most sad about all of this is us fans have to bear the brunt of their stupidity. When this season finishes and the collective bargaining agreement between the players union and the owners expires a lockout will commence. On one side the players union will fight for what they feel they deserve and to be honest who can blame them. How can owners complain about losing money when they have no problem throwing out numbers such as these to average players who are clearly undeserving. On the other side the owners will try to point out how revenues have dipped and that the players need to adjust with the times which I agree is true but then so do the owners. In the end what sucks most is as much as the players will fight they can't win. The owners have the money and that is that. And incase you haven't heard already most NBA players live cheque to cheque (I know, I know, WTF!!...AND IT'S TRUE, we found this out back in the lockout of 99') so in the end they'll eventually cave because if they don't they'll go broke. But before any of this can happen a fight must take place with us, the fans stuck in the middle as we see a season lost due primarily to owner stupidity. Not Fair! Fucking James Dolan I hate you, this is all your fault. Grrr!!!
more to come... :)
Monday, October 4, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
i force a smile
I'm driving along looking for your kind
Thinking one day I'll find what it all means
The next move might be to run away
There's no end in sight of what it all means
My energy and plight force me to wonder
Can I run and jump along like others do?
Do I force a smile and sit here waiting
These days life has no circle
This city has calling for me
Sometimes I wonder
Sometimes I dream
Sometimes I cry
All I want is to wave goodbye
I want to run away and I don't know why
Today is my end
Tomorrow I lay away
Can we lay together forever?
My hand lays here in the darkness
Your voice is in my ear
Will you come to me
We will never stop
Thinking one day I'll find what it all means
The next move might be to run away
There's no end in sight of what it all means
My energy and plight force me to wonder
Can I run and jump along like others do?
Do I force a smile and sit here waiting
These days life has no circle
This city has calling for me
Sometimes I wonder
Sometimes I dream
Sometimes I cry
All I want is to wave goodbye
I want to run away and I don't know why
Today is my end
Tomorrow I lay away
Can we lay together forever?
My hand lays here in the darkness
Your voice is in my ear
Will you come to me
We will never stop
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
open road
There you are one night, driving along that vast open road. She's there with you as well. You've been waiting for this moment your whole life. The pace of it all as you two drive this open road of life free and clear. She's asleep now, her face nuzzled gently next to yours. She's peaceful now, her eyes are shut, dreams are being had, dreams of you no less. She's what you tried for this day, you've given her all you have, this road is for her. And as you continue, you begin to see why you love this journey, you couldn't see it before, you thought you'd never care, but you never gave up. It's here with her why you love, why you dream, why you laugh, it's the road. The dream was the road, the journey. You suddenly smile, look forward and relax. You put your hand next to hers, it's warm and soft. Silence. You drive on. Hands held softly forever. You never let go. This is your journey. This is your life
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
old fashioned way for an old fashioned drink
Before I begin, let me describe for you a common dialogue I've encountered quite often recently.
"hello there"
"hey, how's it going"
"what can I get for you"
"well I was thinking of having an old fashioned"
"old fashioned, for sure, that's a great cocktail"
"do you know how to make it?"
Okay so this little event probably occurs a hundred times per day all over the globe. Man or woman enters a bar, they sit, bartender says hello while offering service. Customer then proceeds to order "the" cocktail. Now when I say "the" I mean "the" as in an old fashioned is by far the most respected and talked about cocktail out there. Not to say it's the most commonly known or ordered but it certainly is the most respected. What gets me with this drink of such sublime intrigue is how so many variations have been brought about that generally most customers doubt the abilities of their current bartenders. This I find supremely fascinating in it's scope of public perception. Think about it, when we enter a bar or restaurant naturally we assume our servers, bartenders and kitchen staff have the knowledge and skills to do their respective jobs well. When I order French fries for example I'm assuming that I'll get French fries, I'm not thinking "can they make these"? "Do they know how to make them"? No, it never enters my psyche. Will my french fries differ from establishment to establishment? Sure, but by and large I accept this and know that the basic concept will be the same. Thinly cut potatoes deep fried twice, hot and crispy. Served usually salted and with some sort of side. I know this and so do you.
Now then, here's my question. Why so little trust for the old fashioned? It boggles my mind how much distrust and reluctance is shown towards myriad bartenders everywhere. Are we messing this drink up that much? What this reminds me of is a great Jerry Seinfeld stand up moment where he states that we as a society need to have one stable and constant "Wait! Stop! Do you know what you're doing here" item to question about. During his tirade Mr. Seinfeld goes off on how we generally will disobey every rule possible if allowed, yet stop short when it comes to the phrase "dry clean only" as we'll never take the wrong path here. It's as if we're saying "hey go ahead make that cosmo, I could care less if you use lemon juice or lime juice so long as it looks red I'll drink it. However, don't you dare make my old fashioned with soda".
Seriously are we this neurotic towards a cocktail, let alone one with the word "old" in it's name? Ladies! Gentlemen! I implore you to help me out here for I'm at a loss as to this bizarre calamity. I've tried to rack my head around this one and well here's my best assumption. An old fashioned cocktail for us as consumers and bar patrons represents our last purely strong and original moment where everything at one time made sense. It reminds us of our past, our grandpas, warm summer nights, firelight, men in suits, cigars and a class of superiority. And with that we've deemed an old fashioned our staple of how things were and how they should remain same. We use an old fashioned as our standard, that we can change anything but this one; it's a staple, a classic like Marlon Brando and James Deen. It exists in our consiousness a certain way and it'll never change. And with that I and thousands of other bartenders around the world will continue to feel the pressure to deliver the goods with this classic cocktail.
I for one am prepared, are you?
Later.
Ps. Here's how I make mine.
Begin with a rocks glass
1 sugar cube
1 orange peel
a couple dashes of bitters
mash and muddle until the sugar coats the entire glass
then fill glass with ice
add 2oz bourbon
add splash of water
add another orange peel
stir and garnish with a cherry
yum!!! :)
"hello there"
"hey, how's it going"
"what can I get for you"
"well I was thinking of having an old fashioned"
"old fashioned, for sure, that's a great cocktail"
"do you know how to make it?"
Okay so this little event probably occurs a hundred times per day all over the globe. Man or woman enters a bar, they sit, bartender says hello while offering service. Customer then proceeds to order "the" cocktail. Now when I say "the" I mean "the" as in an old fashioned is by far the most respected and talked about cocktail out there. Not to say it's the most commonly known or ordered but it certainly is the most respected. What gets me with this drink of such sublime intrigue is how so many variations have been brought about that generally most customers doubt the abilities of their current bartenders. This I find supremely fascinating in it's scope of public perception. Think about it, when we enter a bar or restaurant naturally we assume our servers, bartenders and kitchen staff have the knowledge and skills to do their respective jobs well. When I order French fries for example I'm assuming that I'll get French fries, I'm not thinking "can they make these"? "Do they know how to make them"? No, it never enters my psyche. Will my french fries differ from establishment to establishment? Sure, but by and large I accept this and know that the basic concept will be the same. Thinly cut potatoes deep fried twice, hot and crispy. Served usually salted and with some sort of side. I know this and so do you.
Now then, here's my question. Why so little trust for the old fashioned? It boggles my mind how much distrust and reluctance is shown towards myriad bartenders everywhere. Are we messing this drink up that much? What this reminds me of is a great Jerry Seinfeld stand up moment where he states that we as a society need to have one stable and constant "Wait! Stop! Do you know what you're doing here" item to question about. During his tirade Mr. Seinfeld goes off on how we generally will disobey every rule possible if allowed, yet stop short when it comes to the phrase "dry clean only" as we'll never take the wrong path here. It's as if we're saying "hey go ahead make that cosmo, I could care less if you use lemon juice or lime juice so long as it looks red I'll drink it. However, don't you dare make my old fashioned with soda".
Seriously are we this neurotic towards a cocktail, let alone one with the word "old" in it's name? Ladies! Gentlemen! I implore you to help me out here for I'm at a loss as to this bizarre calamity. I've tried to rack my head around this one and well here's my best assumption. An old fashioned cocktail for us as consumers and bar patrons represents our last purely strong and original moment where everything at one time made sense. It reminds us of our past, our grandpas, warm summer nights, firelight, men in suits, cigars and a class of superiority. And with that we've deemed an old fashioned our staple of how things were and how they should remain same. We use an old fashioned as our standard, that we can change anything but this one; it's a staple, a classic like Marlon Brando and James Deen. It exists in our consiousness a certain way and it'll never change. And with that I and thousands of other bartenders around the world will continue to feel the pressure to deliver the goods with this classic cocktail.
I for one am prepared, are you?
Later.
Ps. Here's how I make mine.
Begin with a rocks glass
1 sugar cube
1 orange peel
a couple dashes of bitters
mash and muddle until the sugar coats the entire glass
then fill glass with ice
add 2oz bourbon
add splash of water
add another orange peel
stir and garnish with a cherry
yum!!! :)
Friday, June 11, 2010
Time won't save our souls
I'll be standing with your sorrow
I may never be here again
don't you feel alone
you'll never be close again
will you lay me down
will you jump with me
I want to run
I won't walk
let's dance alone
and never let them pass
I cast away this night
I return the evening to you
but I can't run
I won't walk
and I'll never let my heart stop
stay, stay, stay
am I not enough?
You try so hard to not hurt
I'll give you all that I have
i said I won't let go
I will run
I won't walk
I'm saying goodbye
as we'll never talk
nothing feels the same
who knows if I'll see you again
who knows if I'll see you again
I may never be here again
don't you feel alone
you'll never be close again
will you lay me down
will you jump with me
I want to run
I won't walk
let's dance alone
and never let them pass
I cast away this night
I return the evening to you
but I can't run
I won't walk
and I'll never let my heart stop
stay, stay, stay
am I not enough?
You try so hard to not hurt
I'll give you all that I have
i said I won't let go
I will run
I won't walk
I'm saying goodbye
as we'll never talk
nothing feels the same
who knows if I'll see you again
who knows if I'll see you again
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Nightmare
You're standing there,
all alone
wondering where it will come from
that sense of an illussion
you can't escape it
it seems so cruel
but then you appear
put a hand to mine
pull me close
and whisper
"come with me"
I am now awake...
all alone
wondering where it will come from
that sense of an illussion
you can't escape it
it seems so cruel
but then you appear
put a hand to mine
pull me close
and whisper
"come with me"
I am now awake...
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Love won't shower on anything at all
So many pieces fall away as I try for you
I can see it in your eyes
you beset your soul from mine
now I'm not sane and safe
I reach and hope you'll one day be there
bad blood feelings dwell within
don't say you're sorry
don't say anything
just be
but I know that you're confused and afraid
I don't want to be tough
I want you to not fear
come close here
I don't wanna give up tomorrow
I just can't understand why I go on
I wanna be saved
I wanna be saved
I can see it in your eyes
you beset your soul from mine
now I'm not sane and safe
I reach and hope you'll one day be there
bad blood feelings dwell within
don't say you're sorry
don't say anything
just be
but I know that you're confused and afraid
I don't want to be tough
I want you to not fear
come close here
I don't wanna give up tomorrow
I just can't understand why I go on
I wanna be saved
I wanna be saved
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