On Sunday night, game 4 of the Celtics/Magic series had an intense finish (ignoring the preceding 7 and a half minutes of offensive mediocrity and whistles) featuring a somewhat busted play (unless you really believe Doc Rivers saying Big Baby was the third option) and a buzzer beater by Glen "Big Baby" Davis to win the game 95-94 for the Boston Celtics. It was a great finish, and one that was both intense and amusing for the celebration by Big Baby, who first ran along the sidelines (shoving a kid out of his way in the process - see the 1:21 mark of the video) and then running off looking like a monster out at the Orlando Magic fans, who were stunned but transitioning into terrified.
As I watched Big Baby running the sideline, wiping out the kid in the process, I knew immediately that was not going to be all we hear about the kid getting shoved. It never is.
The kids dad was demanding an apology, and sadly enough Big Baby gave it to him.
That is ridiculous.
If you are sitting courtside, there are a few things you have to do. You should accept that you may draw some contact as the sport is an unpredictable one, and if you are sitting courtside don't start wandering towards the court just because your team lost. Otherwise you're going to get shoved out of the way by the celebrating road team. The guy should have been apologizing to the teams for not watching his kid closer, and the fact that he was doing the exact opposite of that sets a bad example for his kid.
Just because you have enough money to randomly sit courtside at a playoff game, does not mean you can do whatever you want and demand retribution for something spilling from on court to slightly off court. That just makes you an overly self important ass, which you probably are anyways.
Sit down and shut up
The Forgotten Parcel
A year and a half ago, I wrote a letter to Pia Guerra. Pia was the artist for one of my all time favorite comics, Y the Last Man. This comic was important for another reason besides just being one of my favorites - it was arguably the comic that got me back into comics. No less, the letter I wrote was two and a half pages telling her my story about getting out of comics and getting back into them after someone at Bosco's suggested Y. I also happened to send a comic backboard and asked for a drawing of Yorick and Ampersand, the main character and his pet monkey.
A year and a half later, I still thought about it time to time, but I never really expected to get any response. Predictably, just when I stopped thinking so often about it, it came in the mail and my parents surprised me with it this morning. Contained in it were a handwritten response from Pia, letting me know my letter was well received and why it took so long. Also enclosed was a wonderful drawing of Yorick and Ampersand, which to me (I of the rather untrained eye) looks like it took a good amount of work. It's really hard to tell what I loved more - the letter or the piece of art. Either way, I'm taking them both in to get framed together so I can treasure them forever.
Thank you so much Pia for the truly special gift.
Closer look on drawing
Movie Reviews: One surprising, one not at all
Predictably recommended: Star Trek
Over couple years, many people questioned JJ Abrams and his pending restart of the long stagnant Star Trek franchise. Some people questioned the casting, some questioned restarting such a treasured franchise, and some just questioned whether or not Abrams was the right architect.
Well it turns out the answers to their questions are as follows: the casting was great, restarting was a great idea, and Abrams was the right architect. Star Trek was wildly entertaining, at times touching, hilarious, and nearly always action packed. Restarting the franchise in a new world that is seemingly full of limitless possibilites (genius idea of Abrams to essentially establish this world as an alternate reality) was a wonderful idea, and everyone involved was game, from the ace leads of Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto as Kirk and Spock respectively, all the way through the superb support of John Cho, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, Karl Urbanm and the ridiculously attractive Zoe Saldana. Plus, using Leonard Nimoy as a transitional character was a brilliant move.
The last thing I want to say about this movie is Abrams blows me away as a director. His movies have such a unique look to them, seemingly inventing a new style entirely his own over his short career. Star Trek took that style to a new level, and this movie is a visual masterpiece. I really cannot wait to see further adventures of the crew, led by their Captain JJ Abrams.
Not so predictably recommended: 17 Again
Having seen previews for this movie, I have to admit: it looked pretty cute. With that said, it still was a romantic comedy aimed towards the teen set, and it still starred Zac Efron, he of the High School Musical movies. Not exactly an auspicious start, but as it was Mother's Day and as a family we were going to see it, I figured I'd give it a fair shake.
I'm glad I did, as it was a very entertaining movie with a great message, albeit delivered in a pretty formulaic fashion. Efron provided effortless charm as guy having a second lease on life, trying to reconnect with his family while surviving high school a second time, and I have to admit, I was fairly impressed by the guy. As I told my nephew before the movie (he was far more skeptical of the movie than I was, as I have the secret love for movies aimed at families), Leonardo DiCaprio started his career as a heart throb type - maybe Efron is starting his career in a similar fashion. While I definitely do not think Efron will end up moving in that direction (Leo is a truly elite talent), I do think he has a future as more than just vacuous shell of charm and cool hair.
This movie is more of a recommended rental for those who have a spot spot for movies with messages and incredibly awkward (and strangely hilarious!) humor. At the very least, see it for hysterical Thomas Lennon as Efron's best friend/fake Dad and the top notch soundtrack. He is pretty much the dorkiest person on the planet, and every time he is on the screen he generates laughs and was everyone's favorite after the movie. The soundtrack was filled with tracks by Spoon, Santigold, Cat Power, and the Kooks (amongst others), and it perfectly fit the feel of the movie.
Now I am going to go shower because I feel dirty for writing that.
The Weekend Edition
So this was my first weekend since coming back to Europe, and it was one that was extremely necessary, as I really needed to get my mind back in an Alaskan way of thinking. It took me 4 or 5 days to do it, but I am finally getting there. The weekend was a very good one, but the details will be in follow up posts to better segment my ideas. Yay segmentation! Also, look for write ups on my trip over the next couple days, sociability permitting.
- Frisbee golfing like a mofo
- Getting ridiculous downtown
- Sleeping insanely late on Saturday
- Star Trek being massively entertaining
- Hannah's going away BBQ at Jason's place
- Making breakfast at parents for Mother's Day
- Going to see the surprisingly entertaining 17 Again with family
- First softball practice - awesomeness!
- Best. Present. Ever.
Manny gets busted for steroids, claims was used for hair
"I didn't know I couldn't do that"
Manny Ramirez was busted for performance enhancing drugs today, which is resulting in a 50 game suspension from the MLB. It's uncertain right now who is more upset, the Los Angeles Dodgers or Bill Simmons, who someone should likely check on as he may be walking his dog to San Diego right now.
In reality, it should not be surprising at this point. Everyone probably has done it (I am definitely looking at you Brady "the 'burns" Anderson), but still, there was something pure and charming about Manny. To see that he's just another one of the steroids guys is very disappointing. At this point, they need to either throw out everyone's results from this era or keep everyone - you can't pick and choose any more.
That is all.
Back in Action
Well, I'm back from my prolonged vacation to wondrous continent of Europe. I come back enriched, refreshed, and with a bit of clarity and insight into who I am as a person. So yes, this was my stereotypical young American's quest to Europe, in which I find myself and have a lot of fun in the process. Hooray for stereotypes!
Over the next little while, I will be sharing pictures and experiences from Europe, probably going through each country in specific, with a couple posts for the more lenghty excursions (meaning Austria gets one post, and everything else gets multiple).
Before then, I think I will give a quick opinion on a bunch of things I missed. I can't miss that kind of opportunity, can I?
- H1N1 = Over-Rated (clap, clap, clap clap clap), Over-Rated!
- Niners stealing Michael Crabtree in the NFL Draft = NFC West Championship
- New England Patriots = Haters of first round picks, lovers of winning Super Bowls
- Wolverine = massively entertaining, really stupid at times, terrible at following comics
- Chuck season finale = awesome, Chuck getting renewed = more awesome
- NBA Playoffs = Best in quite some time (can't believe I missed Celtics/Bulls!)
- Derek Fisher shoulder checking Luis Scola = insanely dirty and should result in suspension, plus I lost all respect for him
- Over/Under on deaths in Lakers/Rockets series = 3 (at least they will be eternally remembered in a mural made in Ron Artest's hair)
- My fantasy baseball team = spectacular
- My knowledge of current music = non-existent
- My excitement about Star Trek = through the roof
- Seattle Mariners = AL West Champs? (I love defense!)
- Months worth of missed comics and television = no social life
- Three weeks of vacation + jet lag = extreme incompetence upon return at work
That is all for now. Look for Europe write ups this weekend, with many, many pictures.
