Selfish post (happy birthday to me)

22 years ago today, the Yankees took a day off, so that I could be born without any distractions. 22 years later I finally watched my first full game in Yankee Stadium. The stars aligned in all the right ways. My mom was able to get tickets. My brother was able to come with me.  It is Old timers day. They were playing against the Colorado Rockies aka my future hometown team.

So I met up with my brother and we watched the Old timers day game play out. Tino Martinez hit a beautiful homer to right field. Nothing else important other than seeing Wells, Cone and my other Yankee heroes.

The game was rocky (excuse the pun). Colorado got ahead early. Nunez, Jeters replacement was having all types of issues at the plate and in the field. Luckily Nova held his ground, the bullpen kept the lead from growin and 3 home runs by Swisher and Posada which my brother called and one by the Texecutioner in the 8th that he hit right after I said " well I'm not that worried, he does lead the league in home runs right".

Best parts of the game. Huge helping of Chicken Tenders and fries. Clutch. And of course, the moment I waited forever for. Metallica's "Enter Sandman" blaring over the loudspeaker. Mariano Rivera comes out like the 30th guy in the Royal Rumble. The stadium is electric. 3 quick outs. Game over.

And of course people wishing me happy birthday at all times of the day.  Gotta love it.   

Against being anti-lebron, supports jokes about Lebron

"But it seems a rather odd paradigm. I mean, when guys like James or Wade, or a sizeable portion of the NBA for that matter, were adolescents leaping over tall buildings in the blighted streets of despair, we didn't really care, did we? We were too busy with our own lives. But once they make out of the 'hood, it's like they owe us something. Neither Akron nor Cleveland gave LeBron James his talent. God provided that. Akron and Cleveland just got a front row seat." - Alan smith (The post game)

http://www.thepostgame.com/commentary/201106/hypocrisy-lebron-hatred

I'm not pro-Lebron by any means, I'm indifferent to him as a player. He doesn't play center, and he isn't a Ron Artest/ Shane Battier/ Bruce Bowen level defender. Regular readers and followers know that I'm highly annoyed by the level of hate that Lebron recieved for leaving Cleveland and going to Miami in the way he did. I've always been pro-decision for the following reasons.

1) He clearly wanted to win. Not get the most money possible and scrape team owners for everything they had, he wanted to win. Sure having Dwayne Wade is an easier route, but how else do you beat teams like the Celtics big 3, by waiting for them to get too old.
2) He gave Cleveland a great amount of effort for the entirety of his tenure there and unlike the Eddy Curry types in the world, he played continuoutsly even when the chips were down.
3) He didn't force his way out like Melo. He played out his contract, did his best to succceed and made the decision that was best for him.
4) Who cares if he left Cleveland high and dry. He clearly didn't like management there, why should he be loyal to them. Sure they were the team that drafted him, but in 2003 every team would have drafted him in a heart beat. He's not even from Cleveland. Proximity doesn't breed loyalty. If I went to Brooklyn Law School and transferred to Stanford people wouldn't expect me to be loyal because I'm from Queens.
5) It's your fault for comparing him to Jordan. He doesn't have any Jordan in his DNA. He, like Dirk, and Nate Robinson to an extent is his own prototype, there hasn't been a player like him before. This was known coming into the league he's a 6'8, hyperathletic, drive to the basket player, built like a Mack truck. Yes he wore the number 23, but so did Ron Artest, Marcus Camby. Shelden Williams and Byron Mullens still wear it.

Now everything he did wasn't exactly gold to say the least. While I believe that Lebron had a right to make "The Decision" during primetime and during the awful period for non-baseball sports fans like myself, I found it to pretty much be a waste of time. During the summer law program, many people were in the lobby of the dorm transfixed in front of the television waiting for him to say what team he was going to. He could have made it a 30 minute production though. Lebron could have told Cleveland: hey, it was a tough decision and you guys are great fans, but I've got to do what's best for me, and Dan Gilbert sucks as a boss and as a human being. I've got friends in Miami and I'm taking my talents there.

My gripe with Lebron, he needs a post game and/or a consistent midrange jumpshot. You're built like a tight end. Just try it. Players who don't get one or the other become forgotten after they turn 30.

Smack!

I care tonight. Tonight is the NBA draft and I'm all in on these players.

1. Jan vesely

Why do I care about a player no one has heard of. One he dunks like crazy. Two, he's czech. I'm always susceptible to following dunkers and seeing how they do. Joe alexander: not a great player. Blake Griffin: a monster. Vesely: somewhere in the middle. Likely closer to Alexander though.

2. Chris singleton (florida state)

Another description that always will get me interested is defensive sf. If you get comparisons to ron artest, I'm interested. The best case scenario: he goes to a defensive team like the spurs or bucks where his 3 point liability is better hidden. Worse case: the golden state warriors or the phoenix suns where he'll be firing off 3 pointers like a madman.

3. The God

Bismack Biyombo has me the most excited. When the scouting report for a player is "blocks and dunks" as my friend kyle put it, that's all I need. In a flawed draft this sounds like a great player to have. He comes off the bench, puts in work, gets the crowd into a frenzy. The comparison that comes to mind is Birdman in Denver. I reccomend that everyone in the arena should just yell "Smack" everytime he gets a block. I'm so excited about seeing this guy in a uniform.   

The perils of drinking and driving

"I was drinking earlier, now I'm driving" - Kanye West (Power)

"Friends don't let jackasses drink and drive. - @ebertchicago

This week Ryan Dunn died. Apparently he, like so many people, was drinking and drove afterward. He was had a BAC of .196 which, to compare, is double the legal limit in New York where I'm from. People are quick to blame Roger Ebert for tweeting that he was a jackass. Ebert was quick to call him one. I'm somewhere in the middle. Ebert was right in what he said, but "too soon" doesn't begin to describe that statement. Ryan Dunn shouldn't have done it, but he's dead and so is the passenger in the car with him, so running it to the ground has no purpose.
On one hand, DUIs are treated so liberally by society anyway. Football players get them seemingly every week. One of my favorite podcastsm ESPN: Football Today, has a sound drop that says "Attention NFL players : Don't drink and drive" with a police siren in the background. In Florida, Donte Stallworth killed a man while drinking and driving. People are always in court for DUIs in Queens Criminal Court, because as many forget, it is a serios offense that carries a fine and or jailtime depending on the seriousness of it.
Now certainly some of these incidents are more serious than others. Some drive after a beer, some drive completely hammered, and clearly a distinction should be drawn. But why do it at all. Why put yourself in a risky situation especially when its not difficult to get out of it.

Wanna drink? Don't drive. Wanna drive? Don't drink.

By the way, I might put that on a t-shirt. I don't blame Dunn as much. Clearly it was a bad idea with fatal consequences but more importantly where were his friends. Did no one tell him that this was a bad idea? No one called a cab for this guy? Offered a ride? No sober designated drivers? I'm often too quick to blame society for stuff that happens but there are many ryan dunns who will die and have died because people just don't take drinking and driving seriously.

My blogpost about... my blogposts.

For the people who are new here, also known as pretty much everybody. I've been writing this blog for about 2 years now. Pretty much the title is about my life as it is and as its going to be. My 5 year plan as of 2 years ago was to become a lawyer. I've been trying to write about the stuff that got me there, and the stuff that makes me who I am without being too personal about it.

Here's what you'll find here.

1) Lots of sports predictions, many which won't come true. I picked against Dallas in every series except the OKC series, for example. I pick the cowboys to do well, often.
2) Video game stuff. If you're here at all, you probably care a little bit.
3) Big moves I make on the way to graduating law school. The trip to Colorado which caused me to decide to move there is mentioned. The minor tests that I've taken, not so much.
4) My thoughts on big topics, usually revolving around law or sports.
5) Stuff that people ask me to write about as long as it doesn't violate the rules below

What you won't find here

1) Pictures of me in my boxers. I am not a congressman.
2) Gripes about people in my life, including my girlfriend. I figure the best way to keep them as part of my next 3 years is not to blast them online. I've already been down that road. Thanks, Xanga. But I do occasionally make subtle not-so subtle references to things that my friends do and say, because they are often my inspiration.
3) Unbased negative commentary about the Dallas Cowboys. They are God's team after all.

/meta

Cheevo update

1. So after months of waiting how long did it take me to surpass all of my friends in Gamerscore for Marvel Vs. Capcom 3? Here's the short answer. 9 PM tonight.

So pretty much less than a week to surpass my friends who have had the game for about 2-3 months. sounds about right.

To be fair, it wouldn't be the first time I've done this. Hot pursuit, Mortal Kombat, Soul Calibur IV, Hexic. I seek, I conquer.



2. The music games were much harder than i thought they would be. I've made some progress in Band Hero towards the 555 stars and 50 diamond or platinum challenges achievements, but that's pretty much it there, no gamerscore to show for it. In Beatles Rock Band I beat the chapter challenges and got the note streak.

350 note streak in Hey Bulldog
Completing the chapter challenges+ 5 star the challenges + all photos

Total GamerScore: 70G

3. Madden

No achivement news but played two great games. Gotta start using teams with better O-lines if I'm going to play against blitzers. The Cowboys O-line isn't gonna do it.

4. NBA 2k11

I'm labbing again. Working on a post game for my center, trying to time my jumpshot better. Trying to max out my centers. 200 wins certainly won't happen though.

5. Reach?

I'm not sure what my summer goal is in this game. I need to buy the hard drive if I'm going to improve in this game though.

6. Soul calibur IV

Got my transcend history and the world achievement. Not even trying for the level 20 ranked achievement, dont have the energy.

Reasons why the Mavs win is bad for the NBA

1. Big markets who are one or two superstars away from a big 3.

Yep, you're going to have to work hard now. The Knicks fans died a little when the heat lost. Not because of any love for the heat, but because now they know that getting Chris Paul or Dwight Howard won't translate into championship rings.

2. No ring for Bibby

After the Sacremento Screwjob, Bibby deserved a chance to be relevant during another title run. And as a side point, Dampier was dangled around for a long time as an expiring contract, it would have been sweet for him to get a ring at Dallas's expense.

3. All of the people who complain about stars who value money over winning

Wade, James, Bosh, Bibby, and Haslem, the best 5 players on the Heat all took less money for the chance to win. For years ppeople complained that all basketball players want to do is make money. Now there is essentially a team of players who left money on the table to win championship rings and build a Goliath of a team. Sure the big 3 made 110 million over 5 years as opposed to 120, but 10 million dollars is a lot of money to leave on the table. Haslem pretty much left a large percentage of his check on the table to stay with the team. Chalmers didn't, but he's on his rookie contract anyway.

4. If you thought you hated Mark Cuban before...

Mark Cuban haters should just know that now that his plan has worked, he will be insufferable for as long as he owns the Mavs.

5. People like me who are sick of Cleveland complaining.

I don't want to hear Dan Gilbert talking about Lebron like a psycho ex-boyfriend. It's getting really annoying. You're an owner of an NBA team. If Lebron's production had tailed off or he got hurt, Gilbert would have traded him for draft picks and an aging veteran in a second. Don't act like you were the loyal one and Lebron James was Arnold Schwarzeneggar. Lebron had the right to go and no loyalty neccessary. I don't want to hear about how bad Lebron was to you because his presence on the Cavaliers helped make Mr. Gilbert a richer man. I'm not impressed with letters written in Comic Sans and not-so subtweets.

6. The rise of the "working class"

No millionaires are part of Marx's proletariat by any means. That being said, I like the idea of the players controlling their destiny as far as who they play with and who they play against. Kobe and Shaq have problems, let them solve it or leave to play against each other. Dwight and CP3 were great teammates on some AAU team, let them join up again. Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook were a great one two punch in college, allow them to play with each other. As long as they dont violate their contracts, like what Melo essentially did, I have no problem with it.