This has to be one of the most competitive first rounds in NBA history, with only one sweep in the whole thing (Celtics over Knicks). But things are winding down and the teams that are supposed to win are eventually making it through. The Lakers closed out Hornets. The Thunder closed out the Nuggets. The Heat, who were expected to sweep, took the 76ers in 5. Like the Bulls vs. Pacers, it was a slight delay.
The only shocker so far was the Hawks closed out the Magic last night. It's a shocker in a sense because everyone expects the team with Dwight Howard to advance. But as I've mentioned in the past, the Hawks just matchup well against the Magic. It was just unfortunate that Orlando and Atlanta drew the 4 & 5 spots. Last Year, Orlando swept the Hawks. The ironic thing is the Magic probably made more changes to the roster and most looked to be improvements on paper, but the 2nd half moves really showed in the win/loss columns.
One series that's still dragging out is the Spurs/Grizzlies. That almost came to an end on Wednesday when the Grizzlies had a 5 point lead with a minute left. The Spurs chess game with 3 pointers against freethrows worked out with the 4th quarter being capped by a Gary Neal 3 pointer with less than 2 seconds left. Spurs won in OT to force a game 6. If that was the wake up call, they could make history by coming back from 3-1.
2011-04-29
2011-04-27
Bulls Basketball
If there's a positive in losing Game 4, it's that the Bulls got to close out at home. Last night, the Bulls played Bulls' basketball... finally. They blew out the Pacers 116-89. The game was characterized by a fast start, a big 3rd quarter, MVP numbers by Rose, defense and great bench production. Rose had 26 pts, 6 asts, 2 steals and 2 blocks. One of those blocks was against the 7 ft Hibbert. Noah had 14 pts, 8 rebs and 4 blocks. Deng nailed 3 whenever they needed one and finished with 24 pts. Bogans had a big game with 5 3's. Korver started out slow, but started nailing his 3's at the end of the game as usual. The Pacers had nothing once the Bulls started playing their game. They had to resort to playing dirty as McRoberts threw an elbow at Noah going for a rebound. He got himself thrown out of the game.
The one bad thing about this game was that Boozer didn't join the stat sheet party. He played 15 minutes, scored 2 pts, grabbed 5 rebs and had 4 personal fouls. Of the 5 games, he only played well once. It looks like they're trying to cover up his bad game play with an injury. If he's truly injured, I really don't think he should start. The team is better when the minutes are shared. Gibson needs to get in there for his double-doubles and the hustle/cleanup points from Asik are just as important. At least the Bulls will get some rest as the Hawks and Magic are still battling it out.
The one bad thing about this game was that Boozer didn't join the stat sheet party. He played 15 minutes, scored 2 pts, grabbed 5 rebs and had 4 personal fouls. Of the 5 games, he only played well once. It looks like they're trying to cover up his bad game play with an injury. If he's truly injured, I really don't think he should start. The team is better when the minutes are shared. Gibson needs to get in there for his double-doubles and the hustle/cleanup points from Asik are just as important. At least the Bulls will get some rest as the Hawks and Magic are still battling it out.
2011-04-26
Yum Yum
Location: 650 9th Ave. (@ 46th St.)Cuisine: Thai
Phone: 212-262-7244
Website: yumyumbangkok.com
Prices: $22 per person
Credit Cards: All major
Food: 8
Service: 7
Value: 7
Environment: 6
Visits: 1
The Midtown West area at 9th Avenue has really gotten packed lately. I remember this area used to be a nice place for native NYers to hang out and enjoy a nice meal at one of the many international restaurants. The tourists would gather on Broadway, with some spreading out to 8th Avenue. Now it seems like word got out and they're now leaking out to 9th. Yum Yum was packed tonight... a week night. My friends and I were lucky and got in at around 6:30. Others either had to wait or go across the street to Yum Yum III.
I ordered the Panang curry beef and a Thai iced tea. The entree came out very quick... like microwave quick. That always makes me suspicious, especially when a restaurant is busy. It either means they microwave the food or they cook it in bulk. But the thing is, they didn't rush us out after we finished. So I'm going to go with "cooked in bulk." The meat tasted fresh as did the brown rice I ordered on the side. The curry sauce was pretty standard... great taste, but toned down spiciness for the American demographic. What I liked most about this dish at Yum Yum was that it was served over a slice of pumpkin. It really went well with the sauce and beef. Many places will serve with broccoli, carrots and other generic vegetables. So it was nice that Yum Yum mixed it up. Portions were OK... just right for a good meal.
The service was OK... no complaints, but nothing outstanding either. The place was kind of small and didn't have a lot of room. The tables are very close to each other, so there's no privacy. You'll be about 1 foot away from the guy next to you. If you're sitting next to a loud talking business guy, you'll have to step it up a little and beat his volume. The decor had a nice Thai feel to it... open air, wood furniture, etc.
2011-04-25
Sunday 2nd Half
Hawks vs. Magic
This series is really reflecting the regular season. Despite their records, the Hawks have been a bad matchup for the Magic. And the mid-season upgrade to Hinrich has made the Hawks even stronger. This one came down to the final seconds as the Hawks made their shots and the Magic faltered. Orlando came within 1, but lost some seconds off the clock due to poor ball handling and had to rush shots. The Hawks nearly gave the game back with back-to-back airballs. Crawford had the hot hand off the bench with 25. Johnson had 20. Horford and Hinrich had 14 a piece. Dwight Howard had a whopping 29 pts and 17 rebs. Arenas had one of his best games as a Magic, which isn't saying much... 20 pts. So the Hawks have a 3-1 lead. I actually want the Bulls to face the Magic in round 2 as the Hawks have given them more trouble. Hinrich is probably the only guy in the league that can shutdown Rose too.
Lakers vs. Hornets
How about New Orleans? They came up with a 93-88 win to tie the series with the defending champs! Chris Paul led the way with an amazing 27 pt / 13 reb / 15 ast triple-double. Former Knick, Trevor Ariza made his stamp on the game with 19 pts and also held Bryant to 17 with tight defense. Overall, the Hornets really contained the LA stars. Gasol, was just held to 16 as was Artest. In fact, Bryant's 17 was the team high.
This series is really reflecting the regular season. Despite their records, the Hawks have been a bad matchup for the Magic. And the mid-season upgrade to Hinrich has made the Hawks even stronger. This one came down to the final seconds as the Hawks made their shots and the Magic faltered. Orlando came within 1, but lost some seconds off the clock due to poor ball handling and had to rush shots. The Hawks nearly gave the game back with back-to-back airballs. Crawford had the hot hand off the bench with 25. Johnson had 20. Horford and Hinrich had 14 a piece. Dwight Howard had a whopping 29 pts and 17 rebs. Arenas had one of his best games as a Magic, which isn't saying much... 20 pts. So the Hawks have a 3-1 lead. I actually want the Bulls to face the Magic in round 2 as the Hawks have given them more trouble. Hinrich is probably the only guy in the league that can shutdown Rose too.
Lakers vs. Hornets
How about New Orleans? They came up with a 93-88 win to tie the series with the defending champs! Chris Paul led the way with an amazing 27 pt / 13 reb / 15 ast triple-double. Former Knick, Trevor Ariza made his stamp on the game with 19 pts and also held Bryant to 17 with tight defense. Overall, the Hornets really contained the LA stars. Gasol, was just held to 16 as was Artest. In fact, Bryant's 17 was the team high.
2011-04-24
Sunday 1st Half
Heat vs. 76ers
I've been skipping the TV spots for this series because a Miami sweep is totally expected. I ended up watching this one because I didn't have any other plans at the time and was probably as shocked as Miami was at the 76ers. They played a great game with teamwork. Brand and Iguodala put up their usual numbers, but they got great support from the bench from Williams and Turner. They had 17 a piece, including the last 2 clutch shots in the 4th. They closed out the game when Miami could not hit their clutch shots. The Heat got nothing out of their players beyond James and Wade. This game just delays the inevitable though. I wouldn't expect the Heat to play this badly again. The 76ers played the "perfect game" Doug Collins was talking about and they just won by 4.
Knicks vs. Celtics
This one was almost a formality. I was dead wrong in my prediction. I thought the Knicks were going to upset the Celtics, based on the way each team ended the regular season. The Celtics just kicked the Knicks' asses in the last 2 games. They had a comfortable lead throughout most of today's game. The Knicks were fighting back in the 4th and cut it to single digits. But they just couldn't get over the hump. So they got swept and win the race to the fishing docks! I still think the Knicks had a successful season though. Making the playoffs was big and they slipped in as the 6th seed.
I've been skipping the TV spots for this series because a Miami sweep is totally expected. I ended up watching this one because I didn't have any other plans at the time and was probably as shocked as Miami was at the 76ers. They played a great game with teamwork. Brand and Iguodala put up their usual numbers, but they got great support from the bench from Williams and Turner. They had 17 a piece, including the last 2 clutch shots in the 4th. They closed out the game when Miami could not hit their clutch shots. The Heat got nothing out of their players beyond James and Wade. This game just delays the inevitable though. I wouldn't expect the Heat to play this badly again. The 76ers played the "perfect game" Doug Collins was talking about and they just won by 4.
Knicks vs. Celtics
This one was almost a formality. I was dead wrong in my prediction. I thought the Knicks were going to upset the Celtics, based on the way each team ended the regular season. The Celtics just kicked the Knicks' asses in the last 2 games. They had a comfortable lead throughout most of today's game. The Knicks were fighting back in the 4th and cut it to single digits. But they just couldn't get over the hump. So they got swept and win the race to the fishing docks! I still think the Knicks had a successful season though. Making the playoffs was big and they slipped in as the 6th seed.
2011-04-23
Upsetting Saturday
Bulls vs. Pacers
The Bulls continued to play terribly and this time they couldn't make enough of a 4th quarter push. The Pacers led from the first quarter on. They continued to be hot from the field as the Bulls continued their slump. The Pacers led by as many as 18 points. The Bulls were able to cut into it... single digits at times, but the Pacers would always find a way to extend the lead again. It's hard to remember a time in the game where the Bulls made 2 shots in a row. Rose had 15 pts and 10 asts. Noah had 21 pts 14 rebs. Deng added 16 and Boozer had a double-double as well. But that was it. Besides Korver, the Bulls got nothing from the bench. The Bull scored enough to win, but played bad defense against the Pacers. They were losing by around 10 for the entire 4th, but made a push at the end. This time, they were in too deep a hole to come back completely. They lost 89-84. For the whole series, the Bulls bench has been out of it. And the Pacers have played like the Bulls normally do.
Spurs vs. Grizzlies
In another 1st vs. 8th seed game, the underdog came through as the Grizzlies earned their 2nd playoff win in franchise history. This one is more of a blow than the Bulls/Pacers because San Antonio was not poised to sweep. With this loss, they're actually down 2-1!
The Bulls continued to play terribly and this time they couldn't make enough of a 4th quarter push. The Pacers led from the first quarter on. They continued to be hot from the field as the Bulls continued their slump. The Pacers led by as many as 18 points. The Bulls were able to cut into it... single digits at times, but the Pacers would always find a way to extend the lead again. It's hard to remember a time in the game where the Bulls made 2 shots in a row. Rose had 15 pts and 10 asts. Noah had 21 pts 14 rebs. Deng added 16 and Boozer had a double-double as well. But that was it. Besides Korver, the Bulls got nothing from the bench. The Bull scored enough to win, but played bad defense against the Pacers. They were losing by around 10 for the entire 4th, but made a push at the end. This time, they were in too deep a hole to come back completely. They lost 89-84. For the whole series, the Bulls bench has been out of it. And the Pacers have played like the Bulls normally do.
Spurs vs. Grizzlies
In another 1st vs. 8th seed game, the underdog came through as the Grizzlies earned their 2nd playoff win in franchise history. This one is more of a blow than the Bulls/Pacers because San Antonio was not poised to sweep. With this loss, they're actually down 2-1!
2011-04-22
3rd Nailbiter
The Bulls still haven't shaped up in the playoffs, but somehow, they won their 3rd straight (12... counting the regular season streak). The final score was 88-84. It was close like the first 2, but the win was bigger because it was an away game. As they say, it's not a series until the home team loses a game. The Pacer defended Rose well... or I should say as well as they could. Even though he shot 4 of 18 from the field, he scored 13 from the stripe and had 23 points to lead all scorers. He also had the game winning shot in the final seconds. This reminds of the day the Bulls played the Knicks ages ago. Jordan had a terrible shooting night, but ended up tying Scottie Pippen with 20 points to lead all scorers... true signs of an MVP. No one can be perfect every night, but a player like Jordan or Rose can always find a way to help their team. I don't like comparing players to Jordan because he's the greatest of all time, but I have to say that Rose has potential.
Deng added 21, Noah had a double-double and Korver added fire from the bench. Korver has been very valuable with his 4th quarter 3's. Brewer had some clutch freethrows... another team effort. The Bulls need to close this out strong on Saturday and step it up next round though. If they play like this, they may not make it past the next team.
Deng added 21, Noah had a double-double and Korver added fire from the bench. Korver has been very valuable with his 4th quarter 3's. Brewer had some clutch freethrows... another team effort. The Bulls need to close this out strong on Saturday and step it up next round though. If they play like this, they may not make it past the next team.
Good Friday
As with every Good Friday, I really enjoy the comfortable commute and work day. It's not a regular holiday, but many people, take a personal day or floating vacation day for it. The buses and subways are less packed than a weekend. And the office has a December-like feel to it. It's quiet and I can get a lot of uninterrupted hours in. The emptiness in a vibrant city like NY really displays how many Christians there are.
2011-04-21
Use Your Energy!
This commercial cracks me up because the guy at the end takes a shot of 5 Hour Energy, then he puts his feet on the table and starts reading a newspaper. Lazy bum! Go out for a jog! I don't think the commercial conveys what 5 Hour Energy is supposed to do. Why would you take a shot of that and then sit down to read the newspaper? They should've had the guy go work out or something!
2011-04-18
Upsets and Thrillers
Day 2 of the NBA playoffs was just as exciting as the first day. The 8th seeded Grizzlies came out like the Pacers against the Bulls the day before. The only difference was they succeeded. They actually took Game 1 from the best team in the West, winning the first playoff game in franchise history. The Spurs have to be careful because they ended the season on a losing note. Were they resting their players or did the 82-game season take the gas out of their old players? The outcome of this 1st round will answer that question.
Chris Paul had a big game as he lead his Hornets over the defending champion Lakers. Bryant had his points, but Gasol was pretty much shutdown. As I've always said, the success of the Lakers depends more on Gasol than it does on Kobe. Remember, the the Lakers with just Kobe were not a playoff team. They first 3-peat required not only Shaq, but Phil Jackson as the coach. The last 2 championships needed Gasol. So if the Hornets want to continue their success, they have to keep shutting down Gasol and play man-to-man on Bryant.
That was 2 upsets in a row already. Could the Knicks make it 3 as they faced the Celtics? They lead for most of the game and were looking good against the defending Eastern Conference champs. They had a solid 12 point lead into halftime. Celtics won though! The Knicks blundered down the stretch. Melo committed an obvious offensive foul. Ray Allen then hit the game winning 3. Melo missed a potential game winning 3 as he Celtics took their 4th straight win against the Knicks this year. The Thunder also won their game... a thriller against the Nuggets that came down to the wire.
Chris Paul had a big game as he lead his Hornets over the defending champion Lakers. Bryant had his points, but Gasol was pretty much shutdown. As I've always said, the success of the Lakers depends more on Gasol than it does on Kobe. Remember, the the Lakers with just Kobe were not a playoff team. They first 3-peat required not only Shaq, but Phil Jackson as the coach. The last 2 championships needed Gasol. So if the Hornets want to continue their success, they have to keep shutting down Gasol and play man-to-man on Bryant.
That was 2 upsets in a row already. Could the Knicks make it 3 as they faced the Celtics? They lead for most of the game and were looking good against the defending Eastern Conference champs. They had a solid 12 point lead into halftime. Celtics won though! The Knicks blundered down the stretch. Melo committed an obvious offensive foul. Ray Allen then hit the game winning 3. Melo missed a potential game winning 3 as he Celtics took their 4th straight win against the Knicks this year. The Thunder also won their game... a thriller against the Nuggets that came down to the wire.
2011-04-17
iPad - 2nd Wave
There haven't been any noteworthy sales lately, but it's worth nothing that the iPad will be available outside of the Apple store starting today. I went through the circulars for the week and it is being advertised in Radio Shack, Best Buy, Target and even Toys R Us. Some of my friends who ordered theirs from Apple are starting to get them in... a few weeks ahead of schedule too. So it look like production had a second wind. The best place to pick one up is one of the Apple Stores still. They hold the most stock. You should be OK if you arrive early and are looking for the 32 GB or 64 GB. The 16 GB in either color is the one that keeps getting sold out.
Exciting Start
It was an exciting first day of the NBA playoffs yesterday. For the Bulls, it was probably more exciting that the fans wanted it to be. The Pacers, as the 8th seed came in like the Bulls did in their previous few seasons, just working and playing hard. They were scrappy and on fire with their jumpers. They player well enough to take game and home court advantage as they had the lead for 47 out of 48 minutes. They lead by as many as 12 and didn't let the Bulls catch up. Every time the Bulls seemed to make a run, the Pacers fought back with more. Tyler Hansborough was on fire and Danny Granger caught fire at the end... even in the 4th. I don't think the Bulls ever scored 2 possessions in a row for the first 47 minutes. So what happened in the final minute? Bulls came back and won by 5! Really! Rose tied the game with one of his driving layups. Then he kicked out to Korver for 3, which gave the Bulls the lead for good as they made the last 3 defensive stops. That pass to Korver was very reminiscent of Grant to Paxson and Jordan to Kerr. Rose had a career high 39 points... 3 block also. Deng hit big shots whenever the Bulls needed it. Boozer had an off day and Rose missed all of his 3's, yet the Bulls still won.
The 76ers had a strong start against the Heat, but then the Heat fought back to get a large lead. Philly fought back in the 4th to make it a close one. Kirk Hinrich's Hawks did a great job against the Magic to take Game 1. Even though the Magic are the higher seed, this one is expected to be an upset because the Hawks swept the season series and then upgraded to Hinrich for the end of the season. In the final game of the night, Dallas beat Portland 89-81.
The 76ers had a strong start against the Heat, but then the Heat fought back to get a large lead. Philly fought back in the 4th to make it a close one. Kirk Hinrich's Hawks did a great job against the Magic to take Game 1. Even though the Magic are the higher seed, this one is expected to be an upset because the Hawks swept the season series and then upgraded to Hinrich for the end of the season. In the final game of the night, Dallas beat Portland 89-81.
2011-04-15
Pie in NY
2010 wasn't quite like the 2009 season, the Year of the Pie for the Yankees. They had their first taste last night as Nick Swisher got the game winning RBI in the 10th inning with a sacfly. It was setup with a Teixiera base hit and A-Rod double. On a shallow popup to right field, the Yankees sent Teixiera for the win. The throw was fast, but offline. There were any heroes in this game, not just the last play. The Orioles had a no-hitter into the 5th before A-Rod's double. That started the Yankees attack as they nearly batted around in the 6th. Even though Hughes bombed out for the 3rd start in a row, the bullpen was solid. Colon came in for long relief when Hughes was taken out in the 5th. Chamberlain was lights out and pitched out of trouble with a runner on 3rd. On a wild pitch, the Orioles tried to take home, but Martin got a nice bounce back from the wall, flipped it to Joba for the block and tag. That was the play of the game for me because it really set the tone. At the end of that inning, the Yankees were down 5-3, but I felt they would win. Posada tied the game in the 9th with a homer. Rivera pitched the bottom of the 9th, which ended Baltimore's chance.
2011-04-14
Out With a Bang
The NBA season really ended with a bang last night. First of all, the Bulls did their part and finished off the Nets. In a time where most teams are taking the day off, the Bulls are preparing for war by taking it out against all of the teams they face towards the end. It was their 9th straight win and gave them 62 for the year. They completed the season with only 5 home losses, never lost more than 2 in a row and the best record in the NBA. The Spurs had a chance to tie the Bulls, but they were taken out by the Suns.
In a 1st round preview, a fully loaded Knicks team lost to the Celtics. The Pacers went out on a losing note as well. The Lakers beat the lowly Kings, but that's not what the buzz was about. The night before, on a nationally televised TNT game, Kobe Bryant was heard calling one of the refs a "faggot." Everyone was on him the day after and he got a $100,000 fine slapped on him. The worst part about using a homophobic slur was his target wasn't even gay. Bryant's true colors show again.
In a 1st round preview, a fully loaded Knicks team lost to the Celtics. The Pacers went out on a losing note as well. The Lakers beat the lowly Kings, but that's not what the buzz was about. The night before, on a nationally televised TNT game, Kobe Bryant was heard calling one of the refs a "faggot." Everyone was on him the day after and he got a $100,000 fine slapped on him. The worst part about using a homophobic slur was his target wasn't even gay. Bryant's true colors show again.
2011-04-13
End of Streaks
In their 60+ win season, the first since the Jordan Era, the Bulls have beaten every team in the league except the Knicks. It used to be just the opposite. In fact, I think this is the first time they lost the season series to the Knicks since 2002. As much as I want them to beat the Knicks all the time, I'd trade that any day for the type of season they're having this year. They did beat the Knicks last night as Rose put together a game for the Mecca of Basketball to remember. He finished with 26 points. Deng had 23. Boozer had a double-double with a whopping 22 rebs. As clumsy as he looked on the offensive end, Boozer had great hands on the rebounds.
The victory put the Bulls at 61 wins. The Spurs lost last night to the Lakers, putting them and the Bulls in a tie for the best record in the NBA. The Knicks winning streak came to an end. The Lakers losing streak ended with their win. The Bulls continue their strong finish. Tonight is the last game of the season and it's special because it'll be the first time all year that ALL NBA teams will be playing. That's going out with a bang!
Playoffs begin Saturday for the Bulls. SEE RED!!!
The victory put the Bulls at 61 wins. The Spurs lost last night to the Lakers, putting them and the Bulls in a tie for the best record in the NBA. The Knicks winning streak came to an end. The Lakers losing streak ended with their win. The Bulls continue their strong finish. Tonight is the last game of the season and it's special because it'll be the first time all year that ALL NBA teams will be playing. That's going out with a bang!
Playoffs begin Saturday for the Bulls. SEE RED!!!
2011-04-11
Weekend Sports Wrapup
NBA
As the NBA season starts wind down, some teams are all set in their spots while others are still battling it out. The Bulls already clinched the conference at #1, but continue to battle for the best record in the NBA. They played a tough game in Orlando that came down to a final shot... a 3 by Jameer Nelson that would've forced OT, but the shot came after time expired. The Bulls hope still stays alive... but San Antonio still has to lose. The Heat beat the Celtics for a 1 game lead in the 2nd seed. It's not official yet because the Heat can still lose a game and the Celtics win, but I think it's locked. I don't picture either team losing the remainder of their games. The 4 spot was locked a while ago by Orlando as with 5 and Atlanta. The Pacers made it into 8. 6 and 7 have yet to be inked by the Knicks and the 76ers.
Happy Trails Manny
Manny Ramirez got busted for a 3rd time related to performance enhancing drugs. Instead of facing a long suspension, he announced his retirement. I don't think anyone will be sad to see him go. He was never a well-liked figure and burned every team he left, even Boston... a city that loved him. The Rays were building up their offense over the Winter and were counting on him to backup Longoria. So it was a bad gamble. Ramirez has Hall of Fame numbers, but like Clemens blew it with drugs... career down the toilet!
Yankees
The Yankees made up for their loss to the Sox on Friday by returning the favor with their own offensive barrage on Saturday. They won 9-4 with solid pitching an hitting. Then on Sunday, it was supposed to be a pitcher's duel between Beckett and CC. Beckett did his part, only giving up 2 hits. CC gave up way too many hits, but somehow only allowed 1 run. He labored through 6 innings before Joba bailed him out with the bases loaded. Then he gave up 2 of his own runs in the 7th. The Yankees loss gave the Sox their 1st series win of the season.
As the NBA season starts wind down, some teams are all set in their spots while others are still battling it out. The Bulls already clinched the conference at #1, but continue to battle for the best record in the NBA. They played a tough game in Orlando that came down to a final shot... a 3 by Jameer Nelson that would've forced OT, but the shot came after time expired. The Bulls hope still stays alive... but San Antonio still has to lose. The Heat beat the Celtics for a 1 game lead in the 2nd seed. It's not official yet because the Heat can still lose a game and the Celtics win, but I think it's locked. I don't picture either team losing the remainder of their games. The 4 spot was locked a while ago by Orlando as with 5 and Atlanta. The Pacers made it into 8. 6 and 7 have yet to be inked by the Knicks and the 76ers.
Happy Trails Manny
Manny Ramirez got busted for a 3rd time related to performance enhancing drugs. Instead of facing a long suspension, he announced his retirement. I don't think anyone will be sad to see him go. He was never a well-liked figure and burned every team he left, even Boston... a city that loved him. The Rays were building up their offense over the Winter and were counting on him to backup Longoria. So it was a bad gamble. Ramirez has Hall of Fame numbers, but like Clemens blew it with drugs... career down the toilet!
Yankees
The Yankees made up for their loss to the Sox on Friday by returning the favor with their own offensive barrage on Saturday. They won 9-4 with solid pitching an hitting. Then on Sunday, it was supposed to be a pitcher's duel between Beckett and CC. Beckett did his part, only giving up 2 hits. CC gave up way too many hits, but somehow only allowed 1 run. He labored through 6 innings before Joba bailed him out with the bases loaded. Then he gave up 2 of his own runs in the 7th. The Yankees loss gave the Sox their 1st series win of the season.
2011-04-09
Bulls Rules... Yanks Bomb
Bulls
In a game that went back and forth a little more than it should have, the Bulls did take care of business in the end with a Cavs team trying to play spoiler. With the win, the Bulls have clinched the #1 seed in the East for the first time since Jordan. The team is confident and I think they can beat any team in the league in a 7-game series. The Eastern Conference is loaded though, so it will still make some good matchups. The Bulls, Heat, Celtics and Orlando have great lineups. 5-8 also play hard. And you have to count the Knicks as a top team as well. They're sort of the dark horse in the final 8 because they didn't have Carmelo at the beginning of the season. They've got a shot at knocking off the Heat or Celtics. The Bulls should be able to take the Pacers in the first round unless they get too relaxed. The Pacers are a fast team, so whichever team capitalizes on fast breaks more will win.
Yankees
The Yankees started the weekend on a bad note as they dropped an exciting offensive battle against the rival Red Sox. The loss embarrassingly gave the Sox their first victory of the season. Phil Hughes got pounded in his second game in a row. He was taken out in the 2nd inning. The Yankees lost 9-6. It was a repeat of that game against the Tigers where the offense battled back and pitching gave it all back. Hopefully Hughes can recover from this. It's quite common for a pitcher to come off a great year (18 wins in Hughes case) and then lose his edge.
In a game that went back and forth a little more than it should have, the Bulls did take care of business in the end with a Cavs team trying to play spoiler. With the win, the Bulls have clinched the #1 seed in the East for the first time since Jordan. The team is confident and I think they can beat any team in the league in a 7-game series. The Eastern Conference is loaded though, so it will still make some good matchups. The Bulls, Heat, Celtics and Orlando have great lineups. 5-8 also play hard. And you have to count the Knicks as a top team as well. They're sort of the dark horse in the final 8 because they didn't have Carmelo at the beginning of the season. They've got a shot at knocking off the Heat or Celtics. The Bulls should be able to take the Pacers in the first round unless they get too relaxed. The Pacers are a fast team, so whichever team capitalizes on fast breaks more will win.
Yankees
The Yankees started the weekend on a bad note as they dropped an exciting offensive battle against the rival Red Sox. The loss embarrassingly gave the Sox their first victory of the season. Phil Hughes got pounded in his second game in a row. He was taken out in the 2nd inning. The Yankees lost 9-6. It was a repeat of that game against the Tigers where the offense battled back and pitching gave it all back. Hopefully Hughes can recover from this. It's quite common for a pitcher to come off a great year (18 wins in Hughes case) and then lose his edge.
2011-04-08
Magic Number
The Bulls cut their magic number (for the top seed) to 1 last night with a solid win over the defending Eastern Conference Champion Celtics. And they did it on the same night that Scottie Pippen was honored with his sculpture. Rose had another highlight reel night, blowing past the entire Celtic team several times. On plays like that, the rest of the Bulls didn't have to really bother going on offense! I mentioned before that the team to win this game would be the #1 seed. With the win, the Bulls stretched to a 4 game lead and can clinch with a win against the Cavs tonight. If they had lost the game, they'd had a 2 game lead that can easily evaporate with 2 losses (you can't count on the Celtics or Heat to lose).
Tonight's game isn't one to write off either because the lowly Cavs have been playing the role of spoiler with recent wins against the Bobcats and Heat (I was surprised when I read this one too). Then on Sunday, the Bulls have an afternoon game against the Magic. Orlando will be without Dwight Howard as he serves suspension for his 18th technical foul... not a good move by him at the end of the season. In these 2 games, the Bulls have to make sure they play at their best and not bring themselves down to the level of their competition. They've done a good job of this throughout the season, but occasionally, they do get relaxed. I still feel more confident about them against 2-4 than 5-8.
Tonight's game isn't one to write off either because the lowly Cavs have been playing the role of spoiler with recent wins against the Bobcats and Heat (I was surprised when I read this one too). Then on Sunday, the Bulls have an afternoon game against the Magic. Orlando will be without Dwight Howard as he serves suspension for his 18th technical foul... not a good move by him at the end of the season. In these 2 games, the Bulls have to make sure they play at their best and not bring themselves down to the level of their competition. They've done a good job of this throughout the season, but occasionally, they do get relaxed. I still feel more confident about them against 2-4 than 5-8.
2011-04-07
Which Apple?
Most companies have a single computer vendor... usually one of the big ones like IBM/Lenovo, Dell or HP. Ours is Lenovo, thankfully. But when it comes to laptops, we're pretty open and can shop around depending on the user's needs. The problem comes when it's a Mac user though because there isn't a system in their lineup that does everything. Here's an outline of the 3 laptop models.
Macbook
This is the most basic model. Most employees would be OK with this as long as they don't need the power. Since the Macbook Pro was just released, the regular Macbook is now behind in CPU, with only a Core 2 Duo. But at 13", it does still have the discreet NVidia card.
Macbook Pro
This is supposed to be the professional model that has everything a graphics person needs. It has the Core i5 at 13" and Core i7 for the 2 larger ones. But with the latest update, the smallest, most portable one lost it's discreet card and went back to an integrated Intel component. Also, the screen resolution is a step down from the Macbook air. At 13", the Pro is 1280x800. The Air at the same size is 1440x900. The 11" Air is 1360x768. I don't understand this one. They could've easily put the 1440x900 into the Pro.
Macbook air
The Air is by far the most portable, but it lacks power... Core 2 Duo with no potential for a Core i5 if Apple is intent on keeping the weight down. Though the graphics card is the weakest of the models, it for some reason has the best screen.
Macbook
This is the most basic model. Most employees would be OK with this as long as they don't need the power. Since the Macbook Pro was just released, the regular Macbook is now behind in CPU, with only a Core 2 Duo. But at 13", it does still have the discreet NVidia card.
Macbook Pro
This is supposed to be the professional model that has everything a graphics person needs. It has the Core i5 at 13" and Core i7 for the 2 larger ones. But with the latest update, the smallest, most portable one lost it's discreet card and went back to an integrated Intel component. Also, the screen resolution is a step down from the Macbook air. At 13", the Pro is 1280x800. The Air at the same size is 1440x900. The 11" Air is 1360x768. I don't understand this one. They could've easily put the 1440x900 into the Pro.
Macbook air
The Air is by far the most portable, but it lacks power... Core 2 Duo with no potential for a Core i5 if Apple is intent on keeping the weight down. Though the graphics card is the weakest of the models, it for some reason has the best screen.
2011-04-06
Subway Tales: Hammer
The woman who sat next to me this morning was dead tired. She pretty much fell asleep the moment she sat down. And it was a deep sleep too. Usually, when people fall asleep on the train, they do it steadily. First, they close their eyes, thinking to themselves, "I'll just close my eyes for a while." Then they're half asleep, opening their eyes for a few seconds once in a while. When they start tipping over, they wake themselves just long enough to straighten up again. Well, the woman today was fast asleep and she actually tipped over into my shoulder several times with her head. There was no where for me to move either as it was crowded. One thing's for sure... she's going to wake up with a bad headache!
2011-04-05
Dusting Off the Cobwebs
After 4 games, the Yankees haven't looked particularly sharp, but they still have 3 wins out of it. The ironic thing is the game they lost was the one that they displayed their best offense, but Hughes gave everything back after the Yankees cut the lead to 1. The important thing is they're finding ways to win and they have a solid bullpen after the 6th inning. In the season opener, CC Sabathia wasn't that dominant. It wasn't a shutout or pitcher's duel that everyone always expects, but he grinded it out and made it to the 7th. Yesterday's game was the same story. Nova battled out in a close 4-3 game and lasted through 6. With Joba handling 7th, Soriano 8th and Rivera 9th, that's all the starter has to do... last 6 with a lead.
One shining star is that Teixiera is off to his first fast start. He typically hits .200 and then catches up later. But he's already got 3 homers. Posada also has 3. I think he'll have a big year since he gets to concentrate 100% on batting.
One shining star is that Teixiera is off to his first fast start. He typically hits .200 and then catches up later. But he's already got 3 homers. Posada also has 3. I think he'll have a big year since he gets to concentrate 100% on batting.
2011-04-03
Closing in on the Spurs!
This was another great weekend for the Bulls. While they took care of business on Friday with a 101-96 victory over the Pistons, the Celtics lost their game. This was a typical Bulls win where Rose, Deng and Boozer provided the bulk of the scoring and all 10 players who saw minutes had at least 2 points. At halftime, the Pistons honored Dennis Rodman in a ceremony to retire his number. It was a well-timed event as he played and won championships for both franchises. Dennis Rodman was one of the greatest defenders and the #1 rebounder in NBA history. There's yet to be a successor and no one in the game today comes close. The event lasted over 40 minutes. The break seemed to affect the Bulls in the 3rd quarter as they let Detroit back into the game. But the poised Bulls were great in the 4th quarter as usual. With the Pistons misusing Ben Gordon, the Bulls easily had the win despite the close score.
Last night's game took care of business against the Raptors in a 113-106 victory that featured yet another offensive outburst by Derrick Rose, who is now a lock for MVP. He even has LeBron James' vote at this point! Rose scored a game high 36. 9 of 10 players scored, 5 with double figures. Rose's stat sheet for the night was insane...
- 36 points (game high)
- 3 rebounds
- 10 assists (game high)
- 1 steal
- 3 blocks (game high)
The Bulls are now 3 games ahead of Miami, 3.5 ahead of Boston and just 1 game back from the Spurs for the bet record in the NBA!
Last night's game took care of business against the Raptors in a 113-106 victory that featured yet another offensive outburst by Derrick Rose, who is now a lock for MVP. He even has LeBron James' vote at this point! Rose scored a game high 36. 9 of 10 players scored, 5 with double figures. Rose's stat sheet for the night was insane...
- 36 points (game high)
- 3 rebounds
- 10 assists (game high)
- 1 steal
- 3 blocks (game high)
The Bulls are now 3 games ahead of Miami, 3.5 ahead of Boston and just 1 game back from the Spurs for the bet record in the NBA!
2011-04-02
Sword of Azrael
Slave Pit
Lock away Joshua Jones to the slave pit as he attacked an 11 year old boy on a school bus. Supposedly, the kid was bullying Jones' kid in school. Jones got on the buss and punched the kid several times in the face. While it was wrong for one kid to bully another, the father should not have attacked. Instead, he could've taught his son how to take care of the bully. I don't think that kid will be bullying anyone else if something good came out of this crime.
Excommunication
This one goes out to Sabrina Milo, teacher at Fort Hamilton for threatening to machine gun the school in a Columbine-like fashion. This one seems like an empty threat and probably got more press than it deserved, but I think Milo should be excommunicated and do something else in a different part of the world. A teacher in the NYC school system has to deal with a lot of crap, so it's easy to get frustrated and say things. So I'm leaving this at excommunication unless they find firearms in her possession.
Lock away Joshua Jones to the slave pit as he attacked an 11 year old boy on a school bus. Supposedly, the kid was bullying Jones' kid in school. Jones got on the buss and punched the kid several times in the face. While it was wrong for one kid to bully another, the father should not have attacked. Instead, he could've taught his son how to take care of the bully. I don't think that kid will be bullying anyone else if something good came out of this crime.
Excommunication
This one goes out to Sabrina Milo, teacher at Fort Hamilton for threatening to machine gun the school in a Columbine-like fashion. This one seems like an empty threat and probably got more press than it deserved, but I think Milo should be excommunicated and do something else in a different part of the world. A teacher in the NYC school system has to deal with a lot of crap, so it's easy to get frustrated and say things. So I'm leaving this at excommunication unless they find firearms in her possession.
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