Down With Duke

Ecstatic. Duke gets beat by Clemson. Although Duke will still make it to the tourney, they still got beat by CLEMSON. 78-74 was the final score. And I can't say how excited I am that the always-overrated Duke (and there crappy, overrated players who generally suck in the NBA) got whomped on.

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7916374/Clemson-reaches-first-ACC-final-since-'62

In celebration of the win:




just to remind everyone why Duke sucks.

Blogging From My Basement

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/455928.html
http://deadspin.com/367883/bob-costas-thinks-youre-a-loser

Bob Costas just called me a loser. Yet, strangely, my pride isn't stinging. While this is not such an outrage as Geraldine Ferraro's comments earlier in the week [the bigot (for lack of a more vulgar word) stepped down from the Clinton campaign thankfully], it still does not sit well with me. First off, I've never really liked Bob Costas that much. He covers a variety of sports, which includes figure skating (I know this because my mom loves figure skating and has watched made serious efforts to watch it since I was a kid). Now, there's nothing wrong with figure skating. If you've ever ice skated (and don't figure skate or play hockey), it's hard. It takes a lot of balance, and I could never imagine jumping and spinning in the air or riding one skate with my leg propped up in air (not to mention wearing tights and all the frilly other stuff they have on). I also can't imagine having a choreographer, or having my leg beat in so I can't go compete for a gold medal (see Tanya Harding / Nancy Kerrigan). But I digress. Bob Costas has covered figure skating. I know because I've seen it with my own eyes.

And yet, Costas somehow maintains his integrity in covering the wide-world of sports. If I was another sports journalist or broadcaster, I'd heckle Costas at every juncture that I could. But Costas is just another guy to join the bandwagon of blog-bashers (also see Stephen A. Smith). The following is an excerpt of what Costas said:

it's one thing if somebody just sets up a blog from their mother's basement in Albuquerque and they are who they are, and they're a pathetic get-a-life loser, but now that pathetic get-a-life loser can piggyback onto someone who actually has some level of professional accountability and they can be comment No. 17 on Dan Le Batard's column or Bernie Miklasz' column in St. Louis. That, in most cases, grants a forum to somebody who has no particular insight or responsibility. Most of it is a combination of ignorance or invective.''

"It's just a high-tech place for idiots to do what they used to do on bar stools or in school yards, if they were school yard bullies, or on men's room walls in gas stations. That doesn't mean that anyone with half a brain should respect it.

Well, this blog has only been running for a few weeks now, but I've been blogging elsewhere for a while now. I've never felt that what I do creates a responsibility to a community. I guess the only thing I try and not do is lie, but that goes along more with living-as-a-human-being as opposed to blogging. I also don't try and pass off what I do as journalism or anything of that nature. I also don't try and pretend to be an expert on anything I write about. I'm just interested (albeit mildly sometimes) at whatever it is I'm writing about. It's also just a chance for me to write about things that interest me and let other people read it if they so chose to. I don't make any money off of it, I just do it to vent about my life or the things I come across.

I've always considered that Costas was probably a pretentiously, smug bastard, and well...this confirms it to say the least. I'm not sure what makes this any different than an editorial section of a newspaper. Editorial columns lack everything but subjectivity. But I suppose that being hired on by a newspaper somehow makes you qualified to write about whatever subject it is that you have chosen. And what's worse is that those people write editorial for-profit. But that's the beauty of America. We can all have our opinion. I've read plenty of articles from these people with supposed responsibilities. And I've watched plenty of newscasts and sportscasts with people who lack integrity because of their objectivity towards whatever it is they are covering. Capitalism and freedom allow us to write about, and do, whatever we please. And if Bob Costas, or any other journalist feels threatened (and they should) it's because the public has clearly chosen to support an alternative forum where people who aren't pretentious jackasses have decided to voice their opinion.

Perhaps what I'm doing right now lacks focus, is a bit convoluted, and, to say the least, is a not my best work. But it's a blog. It's my product, and I don't pass it as anything but that. So in summation, go pound sand Costas. I'm enjoying my life and apparently you're an elitist who feels some sort of glorified right to consolidate power in mainstream media. But at the end of the day a blog is an opinion. And my opinion thinks your opinion sucks.

Oh and Bob Costas, I don't even have a basement, so the jokes on you. Douche.

Stockton, We Win Again

Stockton (or better yet, San Joaquin County) rules again. My hometown is amazing for making lists of things that it does best in the nation. This time? Pollution! Yeah! We're not meeting the EPA standards. Previous lists we've made? Most illiterate, 2005 & 2006 (no three-peat unfortunately), I think we've also had most dangerous, and most depressing (we at least made the top 20 for both lists). Also, number 1 in foreclosures in the U.S.

you can see the latest achievement here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080313/ap_on_go_ot/dirty_air_counties
and the full story here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080312/ap_on_go_ot/dirty_air

Also on the list? The place I currently live (Harris County, Texas) and the place I previously lived (Hampshire County, Massachusetts).

Arnie, the Rap Song

Hilarious rap song narrating the Predator. Well worth the watch.




Also, the Governator has a last name that is very hard to spell. Yeah, I grew up watching his movies and stuff, and I'm sort of (not really) educated, but I never tried to blog his last name before. I almost gave up and shut this thing down.

The Yankees Maybe Aren't The Evil Empire?

No, they still are. But Darth Vader didn't kill everyone he encountered did he?



Way to go Billy Crystal. He actually made contact on a pitch which, in and of itself, should be applauded (albeit a fouled off hit).

Destined For Failure

This one is an interesting post. Newly resigned ex-governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer may have been destined for failure.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20080313/us_time/wasspitzerdestinedtofall

Part of it was being not just the brilliant son of a multimillionaire - someone who surely sensed entitlement from an early age - but the son of a particular multimillionaire, Bernard Spitzer. Bernard (who is in his 80s and suffering from Parkinson's) was a fierce, demanding parent. He once reduced Eliot to tears during a game of Monopoly. Bernard, a real estate developer, had ordered his son - at the time a boy of 7 or 8 - to sell him a piece of property; Eliot then couldn't afford the rent when a roll of the dice landed him on that property. "He didn't realize his own rights," Bernard told Masters years later, adding that he had taught his son a lesson: "Never defer to authority.

First of all, I'm pretty sure Spitzer had a deep seeded resentment towards his father. Actually, I kind of have a deep seeded resentment towards his father. Aside from the whole hooker-fiasco (Hookergate maybe? I love adding the words 'gate' to the end of things to make them into a controversy! Schoolgate, apartmentgate, cargate! try it out with your friends) Spitzer did kind of do a good job as attorney general. He was just kind of, you know, a hypocrite.

But look, his dad made him cry after a game of Monopoly. I've always had a problem with Monopoly. Mainly because it makes you want to conquest to make everyone else bankrupt. If anything, Monopoly can probably be attributed to every rich, jackass who lords his (or her) money over you. I would blame Monopoly for many of the social ills that exist today (poverty, hunger, homelessness, KFC, AIDS, SARS, the Ebola virus, bird flu, Cuba; the list could go on).

In short, Monopoly made Spitzer cry, made him governor, made him have a strong love of hookers, and eventually led to his demise. I think Monopoly should be banned in this country like a Cuban Cigar. And someone should beat up that Monopoly, cartoon guy too.

This One Is a Little Bit Late

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080308/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_s_experience

The story popped up a few days ago examining Clinton's political record amidst her numerous claims on what she did as a first lady. I guess embellishing things is part of not only politics, but good story telling as well. Some of her claims are mildly legitimate. I should emphasize "mildly."

Highlights:

• "She takes credit for helping bring peace to Northern Ireland, negotiating open borders for refugees fleeing Kosovo, standing up to the Chinese government over women's rights, and flying into Bosnia when it was too dangerous to send the president."
• "A contrary view comes from Susan Rice, a former assistant secretary of state from the Clinton years and an Obama campaign adviser. She said Clinton's involvement with foreign policy as first lady was "laudable and important, but it is hardly the same thing as the kind of crisis management" that is required of a president. "There is no crisis to be dealt with or managed when you are first lady," Rice said."

I won't ruin the rest for you. Well that, and I'm too lazy to cut and paste what else was being said. But basically, her claims of what she accomplished were a pretty big stretch. However, to counter that notion, this also makes her experienced; experienced at manipulation.

In other news:

Bill Clinton backs Obama and shuns Hillary:



AND

Samuel L. Jackson picks his candidate:

Creep Keeps Creepland

Michael Jackson is a strange, strange fellow. But I guess he's keeping his multi-million dollar, 2,500 acre amusement land of doom.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080313/ap_en_ce/people_michael_jackson

Neverland Ranch was set to go up for public auction later this month. But apparently he struck a confidential agreement with some company to retain ownership in the Neverland Ranch. The article also says he owes more than $23 million on the property. Oh, and let's not forget that he hasn't lived there since 2005. This whole thing upsets me for a few reasons:

1) I had my checkbook ready to go, but I guess I'll have to wait for a different crazy pop star's paradise to go up for public auction (Britney Spears, I'm looking in your direction). Disappointment has overwhelmed me.

2) Why the hell do you owe that much money on a place that you don't even live in anymore, and then strike up a deal to retain ownership? Clearly, there's a reason you don't live there (ahem, child molestation....), so why keep the place? But then again, all of the Jackson family is kind of odd, to say the least.

I don't think we'll ever figure out the answer to number 2. But then again, why does Jack-O molest children.

In conclusion, Michael Jackson is still a weirdo.

Comments

Something was wrong with the comment section (hey I'm new at this). But now commenting is much more liberal. Sorry if I've scolded you for commenting elsewhere.

AWESOME (Updated Video Link)

I was sitting alone in a conference room at the library when I watched this. And it made me actually laugh. Aloud. And loudly




Thanks to withleather

update: had to find a new link to the video, sorry for the temporary inconvenience.

Two Unrelated News Stories

A Rwandan Catholic Priest was sentenced to life in prison by a U.N. Tribunal for his role in the 1994 genocide. I'm a little confused as to how killing 1,500 people inside of a church is doing the work of God. But then again, I'm not Catholic, nor was I in Rwanda. In all seriousness, this guy is totally getting what he deserved.

The best part about it? He originally only had a 15-year sentence, but decided to appeal it and BOOM: extended his sentence to life in prison. Too bad the U.N. doesn't liberally throw firing squads into sentencing. This guy would be a well deserved recipient of that.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080313/ap_on_re_af/rwanda_genocide

In other news, America is moving one step closer to a police state. Bush has said he will veto the House bill that requires telecommunications companies to defend themselves to judges behind closed doors for illegal wire tapping as part of Bush's unofficial Save America By Violating the Constitution and the Rest of America's Civil Liberties, campaign (I call it SABVCRACL for short). These telecom companies have been working with the federal government to undermine our rights by listening into phone calls illegally. Instead, Bush would rather back the Senate bill which, surprise, gives immunity to the companies.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1354941020080313

I really enjoy how, in order to feel more safe, we have to remove more and more of our rights. I hope when Bush leaves office, he gets the actual Constitution and takes a big ol' crap on it. Cause, metaphorically speaking, that's what he's been doing while he's been in office. Might as well make it official right? I love tyranny. I also really like quasi-dictators under the guise of democracy. And rainbows and flowers.

Dikembe Mutombo

thanks to True Hoop

Watch as Dikembe does a bunch of funny stuff.
And yes, I'm still a die hard Kings fan. But this is hilarious

Shocked and Appalled

I made a nice dinner tonight. Salmon, rice, and green beans. Washed down with a Rockstar. As the Mississippi polls close, I decided it would be nice to watch CNN's coverage of the primary. Earlier, while at the gym, I watched CNN and MSNB while on the elliptical and who did I see? This sad excuse for a human being:Ladies and gentlemen, may I present: Geraldine Ferraro. I only caught on a bit of the story when I was at the gym, primarily because they only have subtitles because the sound was off, and also because said subtitled happened to go out (perhaps the transcriber was equally appalled at what was going on). I was mildly intrigued, but didn't get the full story. But then I got home and had more than enough audio, as well as the internet to help me out. So number one, I made a mistake by turning on CNN while trying to enjoy my dinner. Here's a link to the story for the background: They're Attacking Me Because I'm White

The long and short of it is, she states that Obama is only where he's at because he's a black male. He would not be here if he was white; he would not be here if he was a black woman. But thank the heavens above because he was born black. Insert a slew of four and five letter words for this woman. Oh, and then scratch out the word woman, and insert the word 'bigot.' Plain and simple, that's what she is.

So then the bigot goes on to claim that the media is attacking her because SHE'S A WOMAN. She also claims that Hillary has been the victim of the sexist media. Wait....what?! Okay step one lady, go throw yourself off a bridge. Step two, media, go an apologize for chastising Michelle Obama for saying she's proud for the first time as an American.

When anyone says, "I hate affirmative action," please refer to this statement. I joke about being Asian, as I joke about other racial stereotypes. But the fact remains, skin color means something in this country. And if you refuse to believe that, please note that this woman was a former vice-presidential nominee in 1984. Also note that she is a very prominent Democrat (the supposed liberal party). This whole debacle is indicative of a few things.
1) Hillary's campaign will stop at nothing to win this nomination (even though her camp has said they disagree with Ferraro, who is also in the camp). She has done nothing but play dirty. When the election started out, I wasn't completely opposed to her. A few years ago, I thought that her becoming a Senator made it pretty clear she was going to make a run, but I didn't think she was a completely horrible person. But the moment she started shedding tears on national TV after the media noted how robotic she was, I could not longer taker her falseness; her pandering for votes. And having such a strong, racist supporter in your camp? Please...you have not dismissed Ferraro from her position, but merely slapped her on the hand stating that you did not agree with what she said. In this day and age, what's becoming acceptable is simply disgusting and this is extremely demonstrative of that.

2) Racism is still alive in our world. An analyst stated it best on CNN. This is exactly what black doctors, black lawyers, and black business men go through all the time. The notion that you're not here because of your skill or your talent, but simply because of affirmative action. CAN WE NOT REMEMBER THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WAS BARELY A HALF CENTURY AGO?! And here we are, trying to pat ourselves on the back, thinking we've come so far. And then when Michelle Obama says she's proud because we've progressed enough to see a black man going for the highest, most powerful, and prominent position in the world as a viable candidate, and everyone gets all upset and chastises her. Well the proof is in the pudding kids. Insert kick to seat of pants to every bigot, every pundit, and every person who got on her for what she says.

Obama is lucky to be black? Do we still not realize that the KKK is still alive and well? Do we not realize that a little over half a century ago we had segregation? Not de facto segregation, but blatant, legislated segregation?!

This is America people. A great country? Yes. Still ingrained with racist jackasses in prominent places? You bet your lunch money.

Oh and this just in: Obama wins Mississippi. THANK GOD HE'S BLACK. I pray every night and ask why I wasn't born black with the hope I'll one day wake up black. I would be so fortunate then. But, alas, I'm Chinese, so I guess I don't have much of a future unless it's in electronics or computers or something of that nature. But I'm so happy Obama is black. Lord knows it's his skin color that made me vote for him.

Torture, Prostitution? Sure, why not...

Prosecutor + prostitution = Governor of NY
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/11/spitzer/index.html


Also, torture in America is okay.

What's that? It's not okay? Ohhhh only torturing non-Americans is okay? Guess I'll put my waterboard back in the closet.....Maybe next year. Thanks for keeping America safe by allowing us to torture people GW. I'm sure in 20 years I'll look back and think about what a great president you were.....Cause hindsight is 20/20 right? Right?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/08/bush.torture.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

Democratic Primary Watch: Mississippi

Going to try and keep up with this throughout the day (we'll see how that goes). Early projections show Obama with the lead, but I will jinx nothing.

Coming off the Wyoming win, let's hope that this continues.

And screw Hillary for offering Obama, the leader of the race, the VP spot on her ticket. Her campaign is just killing me right now.

Also, a girl at school posted this online: The Superdelegates
Check it out if you're interested in who the super delegates are, and where they've pledged so far.

And by the way, for everyone who thinks that Hillary's win in Texas was huge, she won only four more delegates by the vote, and currently, Obama is leading the caucuses (where 1/3 of the delegates of Texas come from) 56% - 44% (CNN.com).

Big day today, get em OBAMA!

19 Wins....and Counting

It's strange that the first time I really step out to write about basketball it's not about the Kings, but rather about the Rockets. But 19 wins is nothing to sneeze at. Only two teams in NBA history have won 20 games in a row, and Houston aims to do that Wednesday at Atlanta. Seems like it could be a win, but then again you never know.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm a die-hard Kings fan. Hey, I even copped tickets to the game when Sactown came to H-Town. At the time I didn't know we were going to be just another name in the victims that the Rockets have taken out, but it ended up being a great game. Guess everything is bigger down here (winning column is a lot bigger than Sacto's).

It's hard to love the Rockets, but not hard to like the Rockets.

It's hard to love the Rockets because:
- Yao is sooooooooooo buttery, soft. And that's not a good thing. He plays like a 7'6" Chinese guy, meaning he's Charmin soft. If he only knew how to bang down in the post....But now he's wrapped it up for the season and the Rockets are scorching hot.

-McGrady. I used to defend him to my friend Mani. I mean come on, it was what, 3 years ago he went off for like 13 points in less than a minute to upset the Spurs. And let's not forget how purely talented he is. But I hate seeing the Rockets do the iso thing, and let McGrady stagnate the offense. Thankfully, he's been a full on team player.

- Luther Head. His name is Luther Head. It just sucks as a name (not his fault, I know). Call me prejudicial, but I've watched his game....and it's decent I guess. But his name is, and always will be, Luther Head. And he ain't no Deron Williams


But there are reasons for me to like the Rockets:

- Rick Adelman - come on, the dude gave Sacto some really great seasons, the brink of a few championships, and he got the short-end of the stick when they canned him for Eric Musselman. (Excuse me while I go vomit in the corner.....)

- Bobby Jackson - B JAX!! another left over from the golden era of the Kings. Bobby was all heart, copped 6th man award, and despite perpetual injuries (friggin abdomen!), was, as Shaikh would say, "Sooooo sick wit it."

- Justin Williams - Kings never knew how to use this guy. He had monster games (rebounding and defensively) and then would find himself back on the bench. And we're talking about a team without good rebounding or good defense. Guy gets waived in Sac, and he signs with the Rockets. I can dig it.

- Rafer Alston - Skip to My Lou?! One of the few (actually the only, I think) And-1 guys to make it legitimately in the NBA. and He's actually become a top-tier (or 2nd tier at the least) point guard. Skips been on FIRE.

- Carl Landry, Luis Scola, and Chuck Hayes - underrated bangers! scrappy guys getting it done, banging in the blocks.


So there you have it. Rockets go for 20 on Wednesday. Get em.
And since not much is going on with the Kings (although that win in LA WAS OFF THE CHAIN MANG), so for now, I'll watch the Rockets. Well that and every game is televised locally, so that makes it easier for a basketball fan to catch a basketball game.


GET EM'