I love Lebron James. I think he is the best player thus far in the 21st century.
However, about an hour after the Warriors defeated the Thunder in game 7, I'll predict that the Cavaliers will be shellacked in the Finals. James has "it", but Kevin Love does not. Not sure about Irving--and then who else is there. If James can be kept human--and without a supporting cast, he should be kept relatively quiet--who is going to make a positive difference for the Cavaliers.
Golden State in 5, maybe 4.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller is better as a color man than he was as a three point shooter. And that is saying something.
Miller was great tonight in his analyses of the game. My favorite comment was when he alluded to Westbrook's not so subtle criticism of Curry's defense. After Curry took the ball right to the hoop Miller said something akin to "snicker at my defense, take that."
Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson are the two best color commentators in the booth today.
Miller was great tonight in his analyses of the game. My favorite comment was when he alluded to Westbrook's not so subtle criticism of Curry's defense. After Curry took the ball right to the hoop Miller said something akin to "snicker at my defense, take that."
Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson are the two best color commentators in the booth today.
Stephen A. redux
Just ten minutes into the first quarter. How could Stephen A. even consider saying that Durant and Westbrook are chokers. They are great.
Stephen A. Goof.
As Reggie Miller remarked during the first quarter--very accurately--that had Thompson not gone ballistic and shot out of his or anybody else's mind--Oklahoma City would have won. Golden State won game six, OKC did not lose it.
I like Golden State in this game--currently down by five--but if they win, you could not even consider that Durant and Westbrook were the reasons.
Stephen A. Goof.
As Reggie Miller remarked during the first quarter--very accurately--that had Thompson not gone ballistic and shot out of his or anybody else's mind--Oklahoma City would have won. Golden State won game six, OKC did not lose it.
I like Golden State in this game--currently down by five--but if they win, you could not even consider that Durant and Westbrook were the reasons.
Everybody's Fool
Everybody's Fool by Richard Russo is the sequel to his earlier novel, Nobody's Fool. Both books take place in the fictional town of North Bath. North Bath is a blue collar poor cousin to its neighbor Schuyler Springs. Schuyler Springs sure seems to me to be Saratoga Springs because of various references. I am not sure what town North Bath is in real life, but Russo depicts it clearly as a classic upstate new york burg. I've lived in many places in New York and have three great friends who live in three separate but similar small towns in upstate New York. So, I sort of know North Bath.
But in a million years I could not describe it as well as Russo does. Richard Russo is one of my favorite authors. His most famous book is probably Empire Falls because a made-for-tv movie was made based on it. Nobody's Fool was also made into a film (both movies featured Paul Newman). Empire Falls does not take place in New York, rather in a small town in Maine. I enjoyed reading it, but not as much as The Risk Pool, Nobody's Fool, Bridge of Sighs, and now Everybody's Fool--all of which take place in small towns near Albany.
Russo's ability to write dialogue, and funny dialogue, is just terrific. You laugh out loud when reading how his characters go back and forth. While the books have their serious parts, the books are fun to read if, for no other reason, that you find yourself laughing.
Everybody's Fool specifically? Well, the first two hundred pages are like a "Where are they now" update from Nobody's Fool? What's up with Sully and Ruth? What happened to Sully's landlady, kids, and first wife. And, centrally, what happened with Doug Raymer, who I did not remember from the first book but, I found out, was in it. The book does evolve into more than just an update. The following probably does not give away much, but if you want to read the book, and don't like any information about it--you might want to skip the next paragraph.
Raymer is now the police chief (we learn this in the first few pages). He feels like everybody's fool. His wife was having an affair before she died curiously. His second in command in the police department takes verbal shots at him regularly. Her twin brother also pokes fun. The mayor does not seem to respect him. Raymer loved his wife and cannot purge his feeling of inadequacy because his wife was passionate with someone else. Meanwhile Ruth and Sully are no longer a tandem despite the fact that they are. That is, Ruth and Sully's hearts are tethered as they always have been, but for reasons have decided to interrupt their loving and love making. Enter a real bona fide bastard named Roy Purdy; a snake salesperson; the wife of the mayor who is suffering from dementia; a construction owner who could not build a teepee, and a dog. The plot does thicken and the point is there for the taking.
Are we all everybody's fool if we allow ourselves to think so. That is, could we all conjure up enough negative things about ourselves to think of ourselves as foolish. I know I have felt that way many times. Does everyone? How significant is love as a factor--either not having it or having it--that makes us feel foolish?
I think seeing the movie or reading the book Nobody's Fool before reading Everybody's Fool would be helpful. But if you like to read, and like to laugh, Everybody's Fool is worth the time it will take you to finish the novel. My opinion is that it is not as good as The Risk Pool but still it's an enjoyable ride.
But in a million years I could not describe it as well as Russo does. Richard Russo is one of my favorite authors. His most famous book is probably Empire Falls because a made-for-tv movie was made based on it. Nobody's Fool was also made into a film (both movies featured Paul Newman). Empire Falls does not take place in New York, rather in a small town in Maine. I enjoyed reading it, but not as much as The Risk Pool, Nobody's Fool, Bridge of Sighs, and now Everybody's Fool--all of which take place in small towns near Albany.
Russo's ability to write dialogue, and funny dialogue, is just terrific. You laugh out loud when reading how his characters go back and forth. While the books have their serious parts, the books are fun to read if, for no other reason, that you find yourself laughing.
Everybody's Fool specifically? Well, the first two hundred pages are like a "Where are they now" update from Nobody's Fool? What's up with Sully and Ruth? What happened to Sully's landlady, kids, and first wife. And, centrally, what happened with Doug Raymer, who I did not remember from the first book but, I found out, was in it. The book does evolve into more than just an update. The following probably does not give away much, but if you want to read the book, and don't like any information about it--you might want to skip the next paragraph.
Raymer is now the police chief (we learn this in the first few pages). He feels like everybody's fool. His wife was having an affair before she died curiously. His second in command in the police department takes verbal shots at him regularly. Her twin brother also pokes fun. The mayor does not seem to respect him. Raymer loved his wife and cannot purge his feeling of inadequacy because his wife was passionate with someone else. Meanwhile Ruth and Sully are no longer a tandem despite the fact that they are. That is, Ruth and Sully's hearts are tethered as they always have been, but for reasons have decided to interrupt their loving and love making. Enter a real bona fide bastard named Roy Purdy; a snake salesperson; the wife of the mayor who is suffering from dementia; a construction owner who could not build a teepee, and a dog. The plot does thicken and the point is there for the taking.
Are we all everybody's fool if we allow ourselves to think so. That is, could we all conjure up enough negative things about ourselves to think of ourselves as foolish. I know I have felt that way many times. Does everyone? How significant is love as a factor--either not having it or having it--that makes us feel foolish?
I think seeing the movie or reading the book Nobody's Fool before reading Everybody's Fool would be helpful. But if you like to read, and like to laugh, Everybody's Fool is worth the time it will take you to finish the novel. My opinion is that it is not as good as The Risk Pool but still it's an enjoyable ride.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Stephen A.
Stephen A. Smith is not one of my favorite sportscasters. Actually, I think he is weak. He speaks pompously and often says things that are not profound as if they are so. Also, his opinions often clash with mine.
Yesterday Stephen A. opined that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook "flat out choked" in game 6 of the NBA playoffs.
Nonsense. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are outstanding players. Each one made plays last night that were incredible while playing forty plus minutes. The reason the Golden State Warriors prevailed was not because OKC choked, but because Klay Thompson made outrageous shots and, at the end of the game, so did Steph Curry.
Stephen A. could not carry Russell Westbrook's jockstrap. I am pulling for Golden State in this series but I recognize greatness when I see it. Take away Westbrook and Durant and Oklahoma City would be nowhere. Durant and Westbrook are great players who together essentially beat the San Antonio Spurs and have taken the best NBA team in history (73-9 during the regular season) to a 7th game. Let's put it another way. In six games, Oklahoma City won 1/3 as many games as all 82 opponents did during the regular season. And OKC has been competitive because nobody can guard Westbrook and Durant is a 7 foot wonder who can shoot from anywhere, defend anyone, and drive to the hoop.
Stephen A. is way off target with his criticism here. He has company as others have been similarly critical. I do not know what games they are watching. You go ask the Golden State Warriors if Durant and Westbrook are chokers.
Yesterday Stephen A. opined that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook "flat out choked" in game 6 of the NBA playoffs.
Nonsense. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are outstanding players. Each one made plays last night that were incredible while playing forty plus minutes. The reason the Golden State Warriors prevailed was not because OKC choked, but because Klay Thompson made outrageous shots and, at the end of the game, so did Steph Curry.
Stephen A. could not carry Russell Westbrook's jockstrap. I am pulling for Golden State in this series but I recognize greatness when I see it. Take away Westbrook and Durant and Oklahoma City would be nowhere. Durant and Westbrook are great players who together essentially beat the San Antonio Spurs and have taken the best NBA team in history (73-9 during the regular season) to a 7th game. Let's put it another way. In six games, Oklahoma City won 1/3 as many games as all 82 opponents did during the regular season. And OKC has been competitive because nobody can guard Westbrook and Durant is a 7 foot wonder who can shoot from anywhere, defend anyone, and drive to the hoop.
Stephen A. is way off target with his criticism here. He has company as others have been similarly critical. I do not know what games they are watching. You go ask the Golden State Warriors if Durant and Westbrook are chokers.
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Does it Get Better than This
Golden State's come back in Oklahoma City tonight is one of the guttiest victories I have ever seen.
I listen to the pundits talk about how Durant and Westbrook played poorly, but I do not agree. Westbrook and Durant were terrific; the Warriors' Thompson and Curry just made shots that are difficult to believe.
This is why sports is lucrative and why advertisers spend a fortune to peddle their products during contests. This game will keep fans up in Oklahoma City and the Bay area until the early hours.
I listen to the pundits talk about how Durant and Westbrook played poorly, but I do not agree. Westbrook and Durant were terrific; the Warriors' Thompson and Curry just made shots that are difficult to believe.
This is why sports is lucrative and why advertisers spend a fortune to peddle their products during contests. This game will keep fans up in Oklahoma City and the Bay area until the early hours.
So, I bought a basketball
Yesterday on an impulse I walked over to the basketball court in the park and fed a shooter who was practicing. It felt great. So, today encouraged by the activity yesterday and Sports Authority going out of business and selling the store for what they claim to be peanuts, I bought a ball. I still have the ball I played with in 2006, but it is deflated and, besides, I probably would puncture the thing and my hand if I tried to stick a needle into it. So, I bought a ball.
This evening instead of speed walking around the park I grabbed the ball on this very hot muggy night and slow dribbled to the courts. My intention was to shoot for a spell, see if I could jump to make some shots, and try to run dribbling the ball.
I did all that and while I was not shooting that well--coming up short on most of my shots, an indication of not really being able to jump as well as mighty thick rust on my skill sets--I felt pretty good. Especially for a guy who could collect social security, has a pipe instead of a bone in his hip, and hasn't done a whole lot of anything since new year 2014 arrived.
I was about to quit my "workout" when three teenagers came onto the court shooting at the other basket. One looked about 16, the others about 14. They were dribbling through their legs and jawing with each other. They started playing a game I recalled playing when I was playing. It's essentially two against one, where the one and the two keep alternating. It's not necessary to explain it here, but it is a decent game if you have only three players.
The ball was under my armpit and I was walking towards the house when I said to myself, "you aren't serious about asking these kids to play 2 on 2." Then I said aloud, "Do you want to play 2 on 2?" And we did.
Now, in my prime and not bragging, I could have beaten each of these kids 15-5 in a game of one on one. But I am not in my prime and haven't run a lick in a long time. They decided on the sides figuring the old guy was not any good and they put me with the best player of the three of them. Again, not bragging, but that really meant that the two better players were playing against the weaker ones. We shellacked them 15-1.
One problem with this foolish participation was that my instincts took over and occasionally I tried to box out the opponent and jump for rebounds. Most of the time I just let my teammate shoot and score, but I held my own and hit three decent shots.
A second problem was that my body is not in shape to take a hit. At one point I got a rebound and an opponent tried to swat it away and in so doing hit my forearm. It was not a ferocious hit or a dirty hit, at all. It was just a basketball play. His arm came across my forearm as arms have come across forearms of basketball players forever. Except when his arm hit mine I thought I would see stars. My forearms are just not strong and my bones must be more fragile. If that kid had hit me harder I would be in a sling. As it is, it is not easy for me to type now and tomorrow my arm will be very sore. In sum, my body is not ready for competition.
Moral of the story is that you can't take the boy out of the senior citizen. Wisdom should accrue to those who have been around the track several times. Playing two on two with teenagers who could be my grandchildren was not wise, but it was fun.
This evening instead of speed walking around the park I grabbed the ball on this very hot muggy night and slow dribbled to the courts. My intention was to shoot for a spell, see if I could jump to make some shots, and try to run dribbling the ball.
I did all that and while I was not shooting that well--coming up short on most of my shots, an indication of not really being able to jump as well as mighty thick rust on my skill sets--I felt pretty good. Especially for a guy who could collect social security, has a pipe instead of a bone in his hip, and hasn't done a whole lot of anything since new year 2014 arrived.
I was about to quit my "workout" when three teenagers came onto the court shooting at the other basket. One looked about 16, the others about 14. They were dribbling through their legs and jawing with each other. They started playing a game I recalled playing when I was playing. It's essentially two against one, where the one and the two keep alternating. It's not necessary to explain it here, but it is a decent game if you have only three players.
The ball was under my armpit and I was walking towards the house when I said to myself, "you aren't serious about asking these kids to play 2 on 2." Then I said aloud, "Do you want to play 2 on 2?" And we did.
Now, in my prime and not bragging, I could have beaten each of these kids 15-5 in a game of one on one. But I am not in my prime and haven't run a lick in a long time. They decided on the sides figuring the old guy was not any good and they put me with the best player of the three of them. Again, not bragging, but that really meant that the two better players were playing against the weaker ones. We shellacked them 15-1.
One problem with this foolish participation was that my instincts took over and occasionally I tried to box out the opponent and jump for rebounds. Most of the time I just let my teammate shoot and score, but I held my own and hit three decent shots.
A second problem was that my body is not in shape to take a hit. At one point I got a rebound and an opponent tried to swat it away and in so doing hit my forearm. It was not a ferocious hit or a dirty hit, at all. It was just a basketball play. His arm came across my forearm as arms have come across forearms of basketball players forever. Except when his arm hit mine I thought I would see stars. My forearms are just not strong and my bones must be more fragile. If that kid had hit me harder I would be in a sling. As it is, it is not easy for me to type now and tomorrow my arm will be very sore. In sum, my body is not ready for competition.
Moral of the story is that you can't take the boy out of the senior citizen. Wisdom should accrue to those who have been around the track several times. Playing two on two with teenagers who could be my grandchildren was not wise, but it was fun.
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