Buddy, I Will Shoot You In The Face!

Waldini:

You know I remember this rivalry very well. I used to crack up at the Rifleman b/c after every shot he would always let Larry Legend know he hit it. I'm still mad his mama named him after Chuck Connors lol.

Chuck Person: “I don’t know if Larry remembers, but my first game in the pros was against him in Terre Haute and he said, ‘Young fella, when you come out to play, play hard every night or you’ll get embarrassed – especially by me.’

On a side note peep the comment - "Bird was a quiet assassin who generally let his actions speak for him – although he could talk trash with the best of them." Um when was Bird ever quiet?

Gangsta D:

You have to love revisionist history. Bird a "Quiet Assassin?" That's hilarious. Ask anyone from the 80's and they'll tell you that he was one of the best trash talkers of all time. You gotta love it.

I wouldn't say this was a great rivalry. But it was definitely entertaining. In basketball, there's nothing better than two guys going mano a mano in a playoff series.

Waldini:

You know last night on NBA TV, they broke out Reggie Miller's first game. That team had Rifleman, Herb Williams, Gritty Gutty Skiles, Wayman Tisdale and Miller. Later they would get Rik Smits and Detlef Schrempf. I bet whomever the GM was at the time was kicking himself for breaking this team up so soon... Read more!

What To Do? What To Do?

Waldini:

I'm in the down time of my sports watching as football and basketball are over. I've stopped actively trying to get home in time to watch Around the Horn, PTI, etc and I have not been frequently checking sports sites. I know Wimbledon has started but I honestly don't start caring about the results until the 4th round and beyond. Tiger is out for the year so my interest in golf is zilch. The Olympics are coming but for some reason, I'm not pumped to watch it (even with the Team USA bball announcements)

What to do, what to do. I remember how I used to get geeked to watch the draft on TNT (NBA TV has been replaying some of those drafts). HowEVAH, listening to Screamin A rant about which GM or team is moronic and Dickie V shout out Diaper Dandy on every player just doesn't do it for me

Sports suggestions? Or should I do the anti-negro thing and pick up a book

Gangsta D:

Books? What are they?

I think Stephen A is only doing interviews this year. He's not on the main panel. But yeah, once you get past the top five picks, there's not much to get excited about. But yeah, there isn't much going on. The Olympics just don't have the cache anymore. Do you know who the top sprinters are? I used to watch gymnastics, but if Dominique Dawes isn't shaking it, why watch? I'm going to officially learn to play the piano. I can play simple chords and melodies, but I need to edumacate myself. So, nope no sports suggestions.

Waldini:

Thank goodness for that. But still I don't think I'm going to watch. Even if LA had a decent pick, I still would do something else.

Between him almost starting to talk, almost running, and soon to be in a swim class, I think Tyler is my summer activity lol

Da Realist:

Learn a new language. :-)

I just won a grant to study in Bordeaux, France for 2 weeks. I don't know when I'll go yet but hopefully sometime this summer. Read more!

I Piss On Your Tradition!

Waldini:

Enjoy ...I don't give a shit what this fool says, I'm singing Rocky Top til I'm 6 feet deep.

3) Florida State's Indian Chief - Maybe the most recognizable of all the traditions in the past quarter century, we have the Seminole throwing the spear into the ground before the kickoff. Impressive and entertaining, it actually inspires the home team along with the fans. Now, if they could just get the players they had in the 1980s and '90s, they'd be all set.

2) Tennessee singing Rocky Top - Oh, it must be heard and experienced to be believed. thousands of people standing and singing an old folk song doesn't sound intimidating, but when you're on the receiving end of it, you know you're in trouble.

Gangsta D:

Hmmm...running through the smoke is not hated but both YOUR traditions are. Maybe because running through the smoke is iconic, while singing a hillbilly song and stabbing the ground isn't:)

Waldini:

If this list had been made in the early 90s, it would have your school on there with Luther Campbell appearing on the sidelines at EVERY game.

Gangsta D:

Yep, and we usually won EVERY game:) I bet you ain't never sung Rocky Top at a family function, have you? Have you? lol

Waldini:

Never, they're singing TSU's fight song "I'm so glad that I went to T-S-U......" :-)

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Laker Fans Reaction To The Finals

That was some ole bullshit.

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A painful trip down memory lane

Waldini:

Remember when you asked what was the most painful moment as a Sports fan? Well tonight was pretty close to my most painful Sports fan moment ('93 Bills-Oilers). I never thought I would see a Phil Jackson coached or Kobe Bryant team choke like that. No team down 20 in a game, had come back to win in a Finals game...until tonight. I'm so angry I don't know what to do to settle down. To see a 33 yr old shooting guard with bad ankles get by a 24 yr old who supposedly plays good defense will be the painful image from this series. Even if they win Game 5, the series is pretty much over. The only thing that would put the icing on the cake is if my longtime nemesis Celtics fan from high school were to run into homeroom with the Sports Front page, chanting "GREATEST COMEBACK EVER" over and over.

If anyone needs more reasons why Kobe Bryant will never be MJ, just replay this game.

Gangsta:

I really have no words for the debacle last night. I'm embarrassed to be a Laker fan. That was horrible. Letting an offensively challenged team score 21 points in the last 5 mins of the 3rd? Letting Eddie House and James Posey destroy you? I just have no words. This is up there with the '03 Rose Bowl for worst lost. Can't blame the refs on this one. We just suck.

Waldini:

I was so angry I couldn't even go to sleep for 2 hrs after the game. I woke up angry and had to put on the fake smile for my family. Not even free Krispy Kreme donuts at my son's school could change my attitude.

Obviously I've sworn off watching any sports highlights, shows, etc for the next few days.

Gangsta D:

Total abomination. I had to put on Goodfellas. I needed to see SOMEBODY at the top of their game performing at the highest level last night

Realist:

that was so bad i'm not even going to say anything about it.

Gangsta D:

You know it's bad when even Realist can't say anything about it:) Read more!

Greatest TV Theme Songs

A good friend of ours, the Reverend Doctor, asked many moons ago "What is the greatest TV Theme song of all time?" He narrowed it down to Good Times versus Amen, which Good Times won in the popular vote. Why do I bring this up? Because the only reason I thought of this was because I caught an old show this evening and that show had one of my favorite TV theme songs. So I thought I go where no one on Sports blog has gone before and post these joints. Enjoy the trip down memory Lane

Good Times

I'm going to start with the greatest opening and closing TV theme song. HMMMMM, Just looking out da window, watching the asphalt groooooow...Takes me back to eating biscuits and syrup, yellow grits, and bacon at my Grandma's house. Indeed GOOD TIMES!



Amen

You know I think the only reason I watched this show is because of it's theme song :-). Watching George Jefferson do the double dutch is almost as great as infamous Jefferson strut.



Diff'rent Strokes

When I was young, this show was great. I still remember the episodes where Dudley got molested and Willis got his a$$ kicked for defending Arnold. When I grew up and watched it for the first time, I was like, this show is terrrrriibbble. But still I can front on that theme song. Big ups to Dave Chappelle for remaking this



Roc

Don't front, you know you wuz trying to do your best Take 6 imitation when you heard this for the first time. I feel like I need to get out, do some good, and preach to the masses when I hear this. Then when the song ends and I see Roc picking up garbage, that feeling passes



Now I'm gonna flip it up on ya and let the Carlton Banks out in me. I don't care what you say, if you call me wannabe or whateva, these joints were (and still) are hot

Welcome Back Kotter



WKRP in Cincinnati



Greatest American Hero

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F--- Wit Europeans Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')

Da Realist:

sorry federer....i feel the same way. you quit.

When you show up on Centre Court wearing a monogrammed blazer, 6-0 is
inexcusable. That wasn't about domination. That was about heart. Or a lack
thereof.

Gangsta D:

That's wild. I didn't see the match, but that's crazy that Fed would just lay down. What's been up with him the last six months?

Da Realist:

well, he quit last year at roland garros too, just not as blatantly as he did this year.

supremely talented player but he doesn't seem to have any FIGHT in him.

Gangsta D:

That's pretty disappointing. This has to kill his legacy doesn't it? He'll still be considered one of the greatest, but not the greatest. Or, if he wins the French next year will all be forgotten?

Da Realist:

there's still time to decide whether he's the greatest. he's almost certainly the most skilled.

they're marks against him. if he wins the french, an argument can be made that he was the best combination of skill, heart determination and focus (even if his skill level greatly out-distanced his heart). of course, someone could also make a counter-argument that heart can trump skill and someone like sampras would find a way to beat federer in a win-at-all-costs match.

Waldini:

maybe it's a European thing since I saw it in Dirk in the '06 Finals, TMF last wknd, and Gasol last night (well the whole Finals so far)

Da Realist:

even at his worst, most vulnerable moment...don't put roger federer and pau gasol in the same sentence. good God that guy is soft.

Waldini:

Marshmallow soft! Did you see the game last night? It's KG for chrissake not Shaq

Gangsta D:

Don't you ever go against the family in the midst of the "enemy" again! lol

Waldini:

I'm sorry Don Dialleone. Gasol is giving maximum effort on both ends of the court, lol

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Old School Spotlight - Soundtrack Spectacular

What's up folks? Head on over to Urban Thought Collective to check out my latest post of of old school hip hop videos. Read more!

Willis Reed, Clay, A Fox, A Hound, A Panda

Waldini:

I could sense Realist rolling his eyes along with me as I heard Mark Jackson, Stuart Scott, and others refer to Pierce's return to the court as shades of Willis Reed :-(

Da Realist:

DAMN you were dead on!!!

Waldini:

Sometimes you just know these things....I have to swear off watching ESPN for awhile because of that. It wasn't even Birdish (circa '91)

Gangsta D:

You're assuming that the 30 secs of the game he watched, coincided with that moment:)

Da Realist:

Sign of the apocolypse...

I watched the 2nd half of last night's game, but...

I requested the day off to watch Nadal vs Djokovic in today's semifinal at Roland Garros!

Gangsta D:

Nadal can't lose, so why bother?

Da Realist:

I'm still holding out hope...

If Djokovic can somehow extend him to 5 grueling sets...Federer may just have a chance

By the way...before i get back to the match...

If the trailers are any indication, Kung Fu Panda is going to be HILARIOUS.

Gangsta D:

You think Kung Fu Panda is gonna be hilarious?!? Can it match the adventure of "The Fox & The Hound?" This newfangled 3-D animation is bogus. It's all pixel-y, artificial, and corporate. It can't match the animation of the 80's. Those movies had heart, warmth, and passion. These new cartoons make me wanna vomit in a bucket, burn the bucket, and piss on the ashes.

Waldini:

You didn't like "The Incredibles"? That was a good movie. Not all of them are half bad. But if it makes you feel better "I'm a Fox, I'm a hoooouunnnnd dog"

Gangsta D:

You must not have got much sleep last night. You usually pick up on my sarcasm:)

Da Realist:

Thanks for jinxing the match...

Gangsta D:

Yep, totally my fault. Has nothing to do with the fact that Nadal is unbeatable on clay:) Read more!

Favorite Playoff Moments - 2005 T-Mac's dunk over Bradley

Remember when Tracy McGrady was dubbed the Kobe Bryant of the East? Remember when these two were constantly compared to one another? This was just 6 years ago :-). To understand how far T-Mac has fallen in the pecking order, consider this, he didn't even get an invite to the Team USA Basketball. That's bananas!

But I will always have memories like these when I want to remember the positives about McGrady. The Rockets should have won this series but ultimately ended up blowing a 2-0 lead and got blown out in Game 7 :-(

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Playground Legends?

Waldini:

It took almost 15 years but I finally developed a go to move. From the top of the 3 pt line, I dribble, pull up at the FT Line, and it's $$$ most of the time. I'm better going to the right but working on the left. EUREEKA!

I wasn't sure how it would play out in an actual game but I tried it out yesterday and this morning, it's pretty consistent. By no means I am a legend, but I like to think I can quietly give you 2-4 baskets in a game. At least to the point when someone says yo can someone pick up lil man.

Gangsta D:

I feel you. My patented move is the jab step, jab step, quick pull and fire. Cats always give me plenty of space, and all I need is six inches. The funniest thing is when someone new is on me, and one of his teammates yells "Yo he can shoot." By then, they're usually taking the ball out of the net:)

The one part of my game that's deteriorated with time, is my handles. They are horrrrrrrible. I used to have decent handles, but now they are straight garbage.

Waldini:

My handles started deteriorating 4 years ago when I played in the rec league. I was pretty embarrassed especially considering the level of competition. Now my speed is starting to go which is why I had to develop that move. I can't just blow by people anymore, lol

Gangsta D:

I can still get to the basket, but it takes so much out of me that I don't do it much anymore. I'm very much Jordan circa '96-'98...without the talent of course:) The one thing that has really picked up is my passing. My interior passing skills are nasty. I'm trying to develop my post game now. I got a nice fadeaway, but I'm trying to get a baby hook. That ish is HARD to master:) Read more!

Not Really That Surprising

Gangsta D:

Flip out as Pistons coach.

Is Avery polishing up his resume? Or is some hotshot assistant waiting in the wings? Will this roster even look remotely similar? Can we go ahead and call the '04 title a fluke now?

Waldini:

Lots of questions gets lots of answers :-)

Avery? Naw, I don't see it. He works better coaching young players based on his style

HotShot assistant? I've heard Michael Curry's name mentioned as well as Tom Thibodeau for assistants that are ready to coach

Current roster? I heard they were thinking of making Rip and 'Sheed available. No sense in letting Rip go but Rasheed's act (as always) has worn thin. Regardless, they need to make changes. Prince is the only starter under 30 on that squad

Fluke? Let's just call it what it was. Billups got hot in the Finals coupled with the Lakers playing lazy and overconfident. I'm still wondering how this team lost to a very pitiful Cavs team with homecourt last year. It's making their '04 title look more and more as one of the greatest NBA upsets ever.

And as your subject title said, no one is really surprised by this. Flip is like that chick you dated for a longtime but realized she wasn't wife (championship) material. Flip's got plenty of teams that want him to be their girlfriend but they won't marry him

Gangsta D:

Where does Flip go now? Suns? NBDL? Broadcast booth? Can't see any of them. He might as well wait for Seattle/OKC/Long Beach to fire PJ, and take the Sonics job.

Waldini:

The Suns and Flip would be the perfect marriage. Neither has yet to shed the label of bridesmaids and if they did hook up, that label prbly wouldn't change Read more!

Old School Spotlight - Summertime

Check out my latest column at Urban Thought Collective. Read more!