I did not post a music video last week, so for this week I have two music videos. The first is in honor of Rafael Nadal, and his 5th French Open that he just won on Sunday. The music video is Gypsy featuring Nadal in the music video.
The second music video is the national anthem from Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Chicago Blackawks and Philadelphia Flyers sung by Jim Cornelison. A lot of sports writers, and tv personalities there said it was the best national anthem they ever heard. It's good, but I still think Whitney Houston's version in Super Bowl XXV between the Bills and the Giants is the best version ever.
Kofod
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Lakers v. Celtics Preview
I'm baaack!
After a long absence from the blog I have returned, just in the nick of time to write a trashy NBA Playoff Preview. I know you have all been huddling around your computers in anticipation.
Anyway, this is (hopefully) going to be a great series. Two teams with tons of talent going head-to-head and they happen to be two teams with a great rivalry, sooo much better than Kobe vs. ChokeBron, err I mean LeQuitter.
The series hinges on a few things. I will call them the keys, also known as the x-factors, difference makers or whatever ESPN babble that is out there.
Keys for L.A.
Pau Gasol - The best offensive big man in the game (Name another, seriously just try. Go ahead I'll give you a second....got nothing...exactly) needs to continue his crazy 20, ppg 10 rpg, 3.4 apg average if the Lakers are going to have a shot at all.
Kobe Bryant's hot hand - This is where you say duh, but it needs to be said. He has been killing people during the playoffs and if he averages 30 then L.A. will win.
Bynum's knee - On the offensive end a healthy Bynum forces KG, or one of the Perkins, Wallace, Big Baby trio to not be able to help as much on Pau, who is close to impossible to guard one-on-one (unlike the 2008 version of himself I think he will have a decent series).
Ron Artest's brain - Everyone is waiting for the King of the Malice at the Palace to go insane and do something absolutely indescribable. If he doesn't and can lock down Paul Pierce then the Lakers will win.
Keys for Boston
The old legs stay fresh - Every analyst or person that has watched the playoffs will tell you that the Bean Town boys have been the best defensive team of the playoffs. P Dubbs, Ray Allen and Kevin have been going so hard I'm not sure if they can keep up the tempo on both ends of the floor. If their legs stay relatively fresh they can win.
Rondo's health - The young gunner (pronounced gunna) has been killing, but if he isn't close to 100 percent and we see another sighting of the ugliest tattoo in the game worn by Nate Robinson the Celtics are done. He will not have another performance like he did in Game 6 against Orlando.
The actual big three - They call Pierce, Ray and KG the big three, but the true big three in this series will be Wallace, Perkins and Glen Davis. If one of the three come to play each game L.A. is in trouble. They can throw 18 fouls at Gasol, a beat up Bynum and Odom. And if somehow Rasheed continues to knock down his treys Boston can stretch the floor and force the Lakers length outside.
Predictions
I admit I had trouble deciding this. If the Lakers win game one then it could be L.A. in six. If the Lakers lose game one then it could be the Lakers in seven, but Boston will win in six two of which will be in L.A.
Kofod predicted the same thing. And that is not good. It means that either the Lakers win in four or Lindsay Lohan will actually be hot again and because I can't see either thing happening I guess I will have to stick with it.
BOSTON IN SIX!!
After a long absence from the blog I have returned, just in the nick of time to write a trashy NBA Playoff Preview. I know you have all been huddling around your computers in anticipation.
Anyway, this is (hopefully) going to be a great series. Two teams with tons of talent going head-to-head and they happen to be two teams with a great rivalry, sooo much better than Kobe vs. ChokeBron, err I mean LeQuitter.
The series hinges on a few things. I will call them the keys, also known as the x-factors, difference makers or whatever ESPN babble that is out there.
Keys for L.A.
Pau Gasol - The best offensive big man in the game (Name another, seriously just try. Go ahead I'll give you a second....got nothing...exactly) needs to continue his crazy 20, ppg 10 rpg, 3.4 apg average if the Lakers are going to have a shot at all.
Kobe Bryant's hot hand - This is where you say duh, but it needs to be said. He has been killing people during the playoffs and if he averages 30 then L.A. will win.
Bynum's knee - On the offensive end a healthy Bynum forces KG, or one of the Perkins, Wallace, Big Baby trio to not be able to help as much on Pau, who is close to impossible to guard one-on-one (unlike the 2008 version of himself I think he will have a decent series).
Ron Artest's brain - Everyone is waiting for the King of the Malice at the Palace to go insane and do something absolutely indescribable. If he doesn't and can lock down Paul Pierce then the Lakers will win.
Keys for Boston
The old legs stay fresh - Every analyst or person that has watched the playoffs will tell you that the Bean Town boys have been the best defensive team of the playoffs. P Dubbs, Ray Allen and Kevin have been going so hard I'm not sure if they can keep up the tempo on both ends of the floor. If their legs stay relatively fresh they can win.
Rondo's health - The young gunner (pronounced gunna) has been killing, but if he isn't close to 100 percent and we see another sighting of the ugliest tattoo in the game worn by Nate Robinson the Celtics are done. He will not have another performance like he did in Game 6 against Orlando.
The actual big three - They call Pierce, Ray and KG the big three, but the true big three in this series will be Wallace, Perkins and Glen Davis. If one of the three come to play each game L.A. is in trouble. They can throw 18 fouls at Gasol, a beat up Bynum and Odom. And if somehow Rasheed continues to knock down his treys Boston can stretch the floor and force the Lakers length outside.
Predictions
I admit I had trouble deciding this. If the Lakers win game one then it could be L.A. in six. If the Lakers lose game one then it could be the Lakers in seven, but Boston will win in six two of which will be in L.A.
Kofod predicted the same thing. And that is not good. It means that either the Lakers win in four or Lindsay Lohan will actually be hot again and because I can't see either thing happening I guess I will have to stick with it.
BOSTON IN SIX!!
The Perfect Game That Wasn't
I'm pretty sure everyone has seen it by now. I was able to see it last night live on MLB Network. The "Perfect Game That Wasn't." Detroit Tigers P Armando Galarraga was one out away from a perfect game against the Cleveland Indians. Then this happened...
It's a sports moment that will live on for years. Obviously for the wrong reasons in that Galarraga was robbed of a perfect game he clearly should have had. The runner was out, I thought it the moment it happened, and it wasn't even close. Yet MLB and Bud Selig will not reverse the call. I think they should, but oh well. Of all these bad things I do think a couple of great things came out of it. One is the sportsmanship Galarraga showed. He didn't yell. He did not go insane. He just let it go and continued his job. He got the next and final out. In the postgame he could have blasted umpire Jim Joyce left and right. He didn't. In his words "no one is perfect." How ironic. He showed class and great sportsmanship. To me it's a no brainer now that Sports Illustrated name Armando Galarraga Sportsman of the Year for 2010.
The second great thing out of this. The way Jim Joyce handled himself. As soon as he made the call he stood his ground and allowed magager Jim Leyland and all the Tigers players to yell at him blue in the face. He let the players and coaches give it to him without saying a word. Then when the game ended he went into the clubhouse, saw the video, and knew the mistake he made. He apologized to Leyland, Galarraga, and all the fans until he was in tears. He knows this will follow him for the rest of his life. People are saying he should be fired, or suspended, or even worse. NO! I don't agree witht that. I think he has punishment enough in knowing he cost Galarraga a perfect game.
Hopefully, the third great thing that can come out of this is more replay in baseball. From the 7th inning on there should be a system that allows eithers umps on the field, or officials in a booth to look at close calls on bases, on home plate, fair or foul hits to add to looking at homerun calls. If Bud Selig has any gull this will happen by the time the playoffs start.
Finally, last night showed me how great sports is. Last night was a random June 2nd night on a Wednesday. In big moments, Super Bowls, championships, etc. we expect to see a sports moment to remember. Last night was a great Stanley Cup Finals Game 3. I loved every minute of it. It had drama, suspense, and even two replays (hello baseball). But it wasn't necessarily unexpected. It's the Stanley Cup Finals you would expect to see high drama hockey at that point. But last night was all about baseball. It started with the retirement of Ken Griffey Jr. It ended with one of the most controversal calls in the history of sports. All on a random Wednesday night. That's why I love sports. It's unscripted and you never know what could happen next.
Kofod
It's a sports moment that will live on for years. Obviously for the wrong reasons in that Galarraga was robbed of a perfect game he clearly should have had. The runner was out, I thought it the moment it happened, and it wasn't even close. Yet MLB and Bud Selig will not reverse the call. I think they should, but oh well. Of all these bad things I do think a couple of great things came out of it. One is the sportsmanship Galarraga showed. He didn't yell. He did not go insane. He just let it go and continued his job. He got the next and final out. In the postgame he could have blasted umpire Jim Joyce left and right. He didn't. In his words "no one is perfect." How ironic. He showed class and great sportsmanship. To me it's a no brainer now that Sports Illustrated name Armando Galarraga Sportsman of the Year for 2010.
The second great thing out of this. The way Jim Joyce handled himself. As soon as he made the call he stood his ground and allowed magager Jim Leyland and all the Tigers players to yell at him blue in the face. He let the players and coaches give it to him without saying a word. Then when the game ended he went into the clubhouse, saw the video, and knew the mistake he made. He apologized to Leyland, Galarraga, and all the fans until he was in tears. He knows this will follow him for the rest of his life. People are saying he should be fired, or suspended, or even worse. NO! I don't agree witht that. I think he has punishment enough in knowing he cost Galarraga a perfect game.
Hopefully, the third great thing that can come out of this is more replay in baseball. From the 7th inning on there should be a system that allows eithers umps on the field, or officials in a booth to look at close calls on bases, on home plate, fair or foul hits to add to looking at homerun calls. If Bud Selig has any gull this will happen by the time the playoffs start.
Finally, last night showed me how great sports is. Last night was a random June 2nd night on a Wednesday. In big moments, Super Bowls, championships, etc. we expect to see a sports moment to remember. Last night was a great Stanley Cup Finals Game 3. I loved every minute of it. It had drama, suspense, and even two replays (hello baseball). But it wasn't necessarily unexpected. It's the Stanley Cup Finals you would expect to see high drama hockey at that point. But last night was all about baseball. It started with the retirement of Ken Griffey Jr. It ended with one of the most controversal calls in the history of sports. All on a random Wednesday night. That's why I love sports. It's unscripted and you never know what could happen next.
Kofod
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Lakers vs Celtics Greatest NBA Finals Moments
The Celtics and Lakers have had a long history of great moments in the NBA Finals. Here is a look at some of those great moments.
The Celtics beat the Lakers in overtime 110-107 to win Game 7 of the 1962 NBA Finals. While this video doesn't have the finish of the game there are two things I love about it. One is that some of the Lakers had names on the back of their jerseys and some did not. The second is I love the underhand free throw at the 2:40 mark.
In Bob Cousy's last game the Celtics beat the Lakers in Game 6 of the 1963 NBA Finals. The postgame celebration that followed.
The 1969 Boston Celtics were huge underdogs in the NBA playoffs. But they came all the way through to beat the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Balloons in the rafters in the L.A. Forum for a Lakers celebration brought the motivation the Celtics needed to pull off the upset.
The end of Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals. As player/coach this would be Celtics' Bill Russell's final game. He capped it off with an 11th championship. You could see Russell's emotion come out as the Celtics celebrated another title over the Lakers.
In Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals Celtics F Kevin McHale clotheslined Lakers F Kurt Rambis starting a fight.
The finish of Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals that the Celtics won over the Lakers. The crowd at the end of the game is hillarious!
This celebration followed after the Celtics won. The Celtics players could have cared less that Brent Musberger and the CBS cameras were there. They said and did what they wanted. This how team celebrations should be!
Game 1 of the 1985 NBA Finals is known as the "Memorial Day Massacre" with the Celtics putting a 148-114 beatdown on the Lakers that began with a 79-49 halftime lead.
The finish of Game 6 of the 1985 NBA Finals that the Lakers won over the Celtics in Boston.
The end of Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals was one of the best finishes in NBA history. Larry Bird hit a three pointer with 12 seconds left to give the Celtics the lead. But then Magic Johnson came back with his famous "baby sky hook" to win the game for the Lakers, and give them a 3-1 lead in the series.
The Lakers ended up winning the 1987 NBA Finals in 6 games and then the party began.
In Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals the Celtics came back from down 24 points to beat the Lakers 97-91 in one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history.
After Kevin Garnett finally won his NBA Championship in 2008 over the Lakers in Game 6 he famously said "Anything is Possible!!!" then went nuts.
Of course there are a few commercials over the years about the Lakers vs Celtics rivalry.
The famous Converse commercial between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
And this 2008 NBA Playoffs commercial.
As for this 2010 series? I say Celtics win in 6.
Kofod
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Music Video of the Week May 29th
I am not a Mary J. Blige fan at all. So why did I pick this week's song as We Got Hood featuring her and Trey Songz? Because Blige's love interest in the music video is George Wilson. Yes this George Wilson of the Buffalo Bills. So I thought that was pretty cool, and deserved a spot on music video of the week.
Kofod
Kofod
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