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Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls and a Generation of Fans and Athletes Raised on Perfection.
Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls and a Generation of Fans and Athletes Raised on Perfection
May 24, 2011How Michael Jordan Created the Lebron James vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Showdown
December 3, 2010"Cleveland, its not you, its me."
On the eve of his first showdown with his former team the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lebron James has gotten used to his new villain role with the Heat. Let's not go as far as to say that he's comfortable with it, but just accepting. No more disapproving Twitter updates. He finally knows what we know. Nothing he will ever do will ever make up for his bumbling of this situation. No clever "What should I do" type commercial will ever undo the damage. What could have been a painful divorce became an earth-shattering act of betrayal to all those who cheered him on during his Cavaliers tenure.
You know that moment when someone realizes that the girl they love will never again love them back?
The moment when its obvious that it's over.
Up until that point there remains a faint mechanism in the brain that doesn't allow a person to cross a certain line of incivility. It's the unconscious voice that says " Don't overplay your hand, she might take you back some day."
For Cavaliers fans, that child-safety lock has been gone for quite some time. And thanks to the new frontier of high-speed social networking coupled with the rise of Twitter – where anyone who has poseable thumbs can also have followers – the anti-Lebron crowd and their sentiments have created a good vs. evil scenario on a global scale.
But which side is good, and which side is evil?
By departing from the team and city that adored him, Lebron James did something that is quite common for an athlete in the "Loyalty-free" era. Businessmen do it everyday. Families are very often forced to uproot their entire lives to allow for opportunities offered to their breadwinner. It certainly is not looked down upon by the masses. Rather, its generally perceived as a necessity that will allow for a better future for everyone down the road. We live in a country where ambition is an ideal. And saying goodbye is certainly one cost of doing business.
But they aren't Lebron James. They aren't idolized by millions. They aren't a part of a communities' identity. In the Cleveland area, it must have felt like King James was a family friend. After all, he was raised in the area. He grew up in front of local tv cameras. Eventually it was his time to throw himself into the NBA ring. And when he was selected by the Cavs, it must have seemed like destiny. All that losing had finally paid off.
Those early years were a dream. He became a superstar faster than the likes of Kobe and Kevin Garnett, who had treaded the "straight to the NBA" ground before him. Those were the days when he could do no wrong. The culmination of those times was an unlikely appearance in the 2007 NBA Finals with a team that wasn't exactly a winner on paper. That was before it was expected. Back when flashing a smile was an example of a free-spirited love for the game rather than an overly-analyzed sign that he wasn't serious enough to be a leader.
His local fans were ecstatic. Finally a Cavalier that would end up as the star of a highlight clip rather than the victim. Here was a fanbase that had been put through hell. But that adversity had only served to make them more thankful and appreciative.
Every few nights he would take his act into their living rooms. And it was very rare that he would disappoint. He may not have known all those supportive Cleveland fans, but you can be sure that they felt like they knew him. Remember that this was before he made it abundantly clear that Akron and Cleveland were only close as far as mileage was concerned.
For Northern Ohio sports fans, those were the days. If a visual aid is needed think back to The Herman's Hermits courtship montage scene in Naked Gun.
Yeah. THATS how good.
But isn't that the way it always starts?
While Cavs fans continued to dote on their home-grown hero, the national media began to grow a bit restless. Apparently tired of their redundant comparisons of Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan, and Kobe's unwillingness (in typical Kobe style) to play along.
Sure he had heard the talk before. But this time it was specific. He was quickly reaching the point in his career that Michael Jordan, at the same age, had won his 1st championship. Instead of adulation on Sportscenter, he was finding more and more chatter about his legacy. Furthermore, it became obvious that if he did not win a championship, than he would go down as one of the more colossal failures in the sport, if not just in general. That could certainly lead to a few restless nights. But it wasn't quite an unprecedented situation.
If you have ever seen college photos of a young Michael Jordan, than you will see the face of someone who not only excelled at basketball, but had fun doing it. And not just basketball, but life in general. At some point (even before his Father's death) he was robbed of his rambunctiousness and enthusiasm. As time wore on, the only grins that he offered were spent on taunting opponents or selling Nike shoes.
Ironically, he was enduring the same negative media onslaught that Lebron would later contend with. He may not have had to deal with comparisons to himself, but he did still have to deal with plenty of others. He was accused of not being a team player. Many experts dismissed him as a pretender to the throne. After all, this was the '80's. If a player wasn't wearing Laker purple or Celtic green, then that player was most likely never going to get a ring.
It wore him down. He got serious. Maniacally serious. Gone was joy and exuberance, and in its place was an obsession for winning and a tremendous desire to prove his perceived "enemies" wrong. And with each title he stuck it to them harder and harder. Winning was everything. Unfortunately for his mental well-being, it became clear that he could never win enough to satisfy his own internal demands.
Like it or not, he is the measuring stick for all those who came after his reign. After Mike, stars could no longer just love to compete, they were expected to develop an all-enveloping desire to win. Friends, family, and mental health should just be considered possible collateral damage. It was made pretty clear that if an elite player did not win at least one title, then their Grandkids would someday read about what a failure their beloved Grandfather was. Don't think this is lost on Lebron.
So, for the foreseeable future, every new "Great Hope" is expected to develop an unhealthy addiction to winning that is absolutely detrimental to living a happy life. It's the reason that LBJ had to mention multiple championships as his goal, rather than just one. That statement certainly makes the thrilling idea of winning a title seem like just another ladder rung for someone who is never allowed to enjoy his achievements until he has six rings.
Thanks MJ. Thanks Media.
Flash back to the last two playoff runs of King James. Both ended in defeats to very good (but statistically inferior) teams. This was no longer acceptable. Not to the media, not to his peers, and certainly not to himself. He could put up big numbers and win boatloads of games for the next 20 years, but without a championship, he would go down in infamy. Free agency was on the horizon, and there were some better options.
And we all know what happened next.
I can't imagine the heartbreak of Cleveland fans when they were trotted out and crushed after the decision. He was more than a great player for the local team. He is an international icon. Almost everyone on the entire planet knows of him – Yes, even your Grandmother at the rest home. And because he was from little old Cleveland – not New York, not Los Angeles, not Chicago – there had to be a great sense of pride.
It was not Local boy goes and does good. It was local boy explodes and goes global.
Not only that, but he was a good citizen. Jordan had his affairs and gambling to tarnish his reputation, but not LBJ. For all of the exposure he received, he was never linked to any untoward activities. He had a charming personality. He publicly showed a lot of love for his mother, who attended his games frequently. Even when he had to jump into the stands to quiet her abruptly one evening, it only served to make him seem like a young man who still gets embarrassed by his mom's big mouth just like the rest of us. He certainly was refreshing.
And then he just left. Not only that, he joined up with his VIP buddies to form a superteam. As faulty as the logic sounds now, it seemed like he wanted to find the best team available that also provided a built in support system (Dwyane Wade.)
It also looked as if he didn't care where he played as long as it was overly stocked with talent and provided the littlest competition for a title. Not only did he need Wade, but he wanted some superstar insurance with Chris Bosh.
Nothing else was allowed to matter, only a title. Pay-cut. Fine. Less points per game. Cool. Eternal hatred from those who loved him more than any other fan-base loved their star.
"Whatever. I gotta win."
He folded to the external pressures. He drank the kool-aid. He was a young man who was hearing the tick-tock of the end of a potentially fruitless career. If he is hearing it now, then imagine how terrifying it would become with each passing year. He knew he did not have the mental strength of Jordan, or his insane drive. The only way to ensure a legacy was to load up.
He convinced himself that it was the only way. Suddenly Cleveland was the enemy for holding him back. And he certainly stuck the proverbial knife in.
It wasn't only that he failed to respect the organization and tell them of his decision at least before the whole world knew. It wasn't that his buddies, particularly Bosh, were running their mouths rampantly on Twitter desperately trying to hype up something that should have been handled with more understanding and care (and less gleeful teenage girlishness.) It wasn't because of all the suspiciously biased news stories that accused him of being a bad teammate that were surfacing. It wasn't even really that he had decided to leave. Ultimately most of the palpable anger came from his need to publicly humiliate Cleveland across the globe and his seemingly uncaring disposition for the city who had once embraced him.
I'm not one to beg for tears out of athletes to prove sincerity. But as someone who is not even from Cleveland (Chicago), I was left waiting for the part where he looked at the camera and leveled with everyone. Something to make his former supporters, many whom had followed him since high school, at least say to themselves "This really sucks, but I guess we did have some good times."
Nothing like that. He wasn't addressing an agent at an arbitration meeting, or a Nike executive trying to further intertwine their interests, he was speaking to his fans who always had his back like no others in the NBA.
Do you know how many kids hearts he broke that night?
Something heartfelt was sorely missing. And now its too late.
Lebron had just had enough. I'm sure that the experience wasn't a cakewalk for him either. Weighing loyalty against friendships and legacies and finances was most likely very strenuous.
And this is where Lebron was stripped of most of his remaining pure love for the game. ESPN sources have described a very different LBJ than the one seen in the past. One who's more serious and less freewheeling. Perhaps a little too solemn. Maybe this new mindset will help him in attaining that vaunted NBA championship one year. But even then, its hard not to feel a little sadness at the situation. King James has lost his youthful innocence (which is in short supply in this cynical world), and the embattled citizens of Cleveland have once again been reminded of the fact that they are, indeed, still Cleveland.
(I wish Harvey Pekar were here for the Lebron "American Splendor.")
But now the story has taken an ironic twist. The Heat are an average team at present with injury problems, coaching issues, and just general confusion. They are, however, a team that at some point will go on a roll. On the flip side, Cleveland is playing nearly .500 basketball, which never seemed likely after the "decision." Suddenly this match-up is no longer David vs. Goliath.
When Lebron enters the Quicken Loans Arena later today, the atmosphere will be similar to an ancient Roman gladiator event. The crowd will be looking for blood, and at this point Lebron may want to inflict some more pain on them for all the insults and cheap shots he has been enduring. It will be humanity at its worst and at its most visible. There will be no singing of Kumbayah at the buzzer. This will not be pretty.
And there really isn't a good guy or bad guy (but for the record, I will be rooting for Cleveland .) King James is desperately fighting against being tagged as an eternal failure, while Cleveland fans will be fighting to avenge the sorrow that was inflicted upon them by someone they used to love.
Sounds a bit Shakespearian.
And quite honestly, I can't really blame either side for anything besides public missteps and immature fits of anger. The wheels were in motion for this showdown long before the "decision." And I'll be watching, and praying for humanity.
Update: Humanity remained. Lebron scored 38. Doesn't really change anything written above.
Goodbye NHL: Fallout From ESPN's Love Affair With the NFL
November 1, 2010While the NFL's popularity continues to skyrocket, there is a growing resentment towards the media for its over the top and obsessive coverage of the league. On the surface, it might just seem like petty jealousy from those who are loyal to other sports. Not in this case.
At some point during the last few years, aided mostly by the cable network ESPN, it became necessary to over-analyze every single detail of the NFL. The "Worldwide Leader in Sports" has developed an obsession with the league that has become significantly detrimental to the reporting of other non-gridiron events.
Let's be realistic here. ESPN is a behemoth. It is the driving force of the success (or lack thereof) in every pro sports league on the continent. There really is no other game in town. Certainly there are other sports news outlets, but none with even a tenth of the influence. And this is why I put most of the blame in their lap. By continually overexposing the NFL, It has caused a giant rift in many of its viewers.
Don't get me wrong, ESPN is a top-notch corporation. It's probably the most significant trailblazer in the history of sportscasting. What's most commendable is that even after all these years it still provides cutting-edge and progressive material to its viewers.
I certainly have been impressed to see them take on such squeamish issues as racism and homophobia as it pertains to the athletic world. Most corporations would have laid back and played it safe.
Why deal with controversy if it's not necessary?
That's why I have a lot of respect for their business model. That's why I am troubled by the recent change of priorities and the ultimate downgrade it has caused in the quality of their content.
The NFL is riding a giant tidal wave of popularity due to a few different factors. These factors include mismanagement by the heads of other leagues—like Major League Baseball, the NBA, and the NHL.
This is not to say that the NFL does not have its share of problems, most notably a looming lockout after this year. Its just that the league officials have gained a reputation for dealing with issues quickly and forcefully with minimal inconvenience to their fans.
Another key factor for the league's success is its commitment to parity. The league has been brilliant in keeping the playing field level for every team. Every single fan can wake up on opening day with some sort of hope for success in the current year or at least in the near future.
That certainly is not the case in other leagues, where teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and Kansas City Royals are doomed to repeat losing seasons year after hopeless year.
But those are all just peripheral reasons. Football's real strength is in the game itself. It's a terrific sport. Its exciting, its violent, its complex, its sprinkled with unpredictability. In all honesty, it may even be my favorite sport. But let's remember that its not the NFL that I am taking issue with, but ESPN's overly-exhaustive coverage
Any viewer of "Mike and Mike in the morning" will tell you that this year has seen the duo remove or skim over almost anything that does not deal with the NFL. Even in the aftermath of LeBron James' iconic "decision," NFL training camp news was still leading on many mornings. It's not just Mike and Mike that have excessively embraced the game. It's every show. It's the whole network.
It's a real shame to see, because I'm an admirer of Golic and Greenberg. Their show might just be the most insightful sports-themed program on television or radio. I only wish they didn't have to spend 80 percent of their time on the subject of the NFL now. Even as the World Series is currently underway, it's still dwarfed by discussions of the details of Brett Favre's sexting fetish.
It's an enormous waste of talent. I could go down the list of the network's other shows, and the results would be the same. Too much NFL discussion (even when there's no real news), and a lack of time given to the lead stories in other sports.
Does anyone still care about the NHL?
ESPN certainly doesn't. All the extra pigskin talk these days has virtually eliminated the sport of hockey from any sort of acknowledgement. Their coverage is completely bare-bones and doesn't really go much further than a recap of the game and a box score. (I do realize that there is a late-night NHL show that is hardly ever on).
This is a sore subject to many. Growing up in the '90s and early 2000s, I remember being able to loosely follow the league via Sportscenter and occasional panel discussions. Now it has been virtually shut out from any exposure. Ask any current fan of the NHL for their feelings on the network's hockey coverage. But when you do, be ready for a passionate diatribe on how ESPN has abandoned them.
That sounds a bit childish, but there is actually a lot of validity to it. The era of round the clock football coverage coincided almost exactly with the beginning of reduced hockey coverage. I guess something had to go.
Of all the sports, the NHL has suffered the most as a result of the extended NFL coverage. I still remember watching the morning shows the day after the Chicago Blackhawks had just captured the Stanley Cup in a thrilling OT clincher. It was their first cup in 49 years, and their turnaround made for an inspiring story.
But it was only briefly mentioned a few times in each program. And during those times, it was easy to tell that no one had spent any time doing basic background research.
I realize that after the hockey strike, the sport lost much of its popularity. I also realize that ESPN doesn't have a contract to televise their games either. Of course there would be a marginal drop-off in exposure. But thus far, it has virtually removed any traces of the sport.
It's a shame, too, considering how exciting and evenly matched the NHL has become lately. Couple that with a deep pool of potentially marketable stars (Crosby, Ovechkin, Kane, etc.) and it suddenly looks like the network could be making a mistake. Just a small amount of coverage would go a long way.
But if ESPN feels differently and allows the NFL to take any more exposure from pro hockey, then its a very real possibility that the next time you go out to eat, Barry Melrose may be waiting on your table.
Could I be overstating my point just a little?
After all, it just makes business sense to feature popular sports more prominently. That is correct to a degree. But consider the unique news cycle of the league. Sunday and Monday (and occasional Thursdays) are the only game days. Of course its acceptable to devote an inordinate amount of time discussing previews, giving recaps, and showing highlights before and after game days.
As long as there are football stories that appeal to more than just bookies and fantasy players, they should be reported, no matter what day they break. In general, around Wednesday of each game week, the whole sport devolves into injury updates, quarterback controversies and fluffy feel-good biographical articles. Here's where to trim the fat a bit.
Unfortunately, every single tiny angle of every single questionable NFL story seems to be covered ad nauseum for hours upon hours at a time. Its the slog of an entire week of fantasy sports features, injury reports, gambling lines and updates on Brett Favre's bowel movements that have created this nails-on-the-chalkboard situation.
I know it's only anecdotal, but I have spoken to plenty of other knowledgeable sports fans who also are distressed by this annoying trend. It's really no secret.
In fact, on more than a few occasions I have seen personalities on the network comment derisively on the endless Brett Favre retirement hoopla. This year's retirement version 3.0 coverage was so endless and boring that I'm shocked that no one in Minnesota slipped into a coma. Weren't there more interesting stories to tell.
Can't someone just keep tabs on that in the background while expanded airtime coverage is given to other stories in other sports with actual developments occurring?
Does everyone remember the "Breaking News" report that featured a live video feed of Brett Favre's plane landing at the Minneapolis airport?
Then came the O.J. Simpson treatment. A news helicopter was dispatched to video tape his ride home. Not a proud moment for ESPN in my eyes.
I know many people will simply read this and say to themselves, "It's just ESPN catering to the sport that can make the most money for them." Of course ESPN is not stupid. Far from it, in fact. They have certainly heard the criticism. But there is no official response. Whatever business model they are aspiring to appears to rely heavily on the National Football League. I hope they make room for other topics as well.
One final point. I mentioned earlier that ESPN basically is the only game in town when it comes to national sports reporting. That is a pretty fair statement. Of course there are other outlets. However, they are minuscule in comparison.
In the past, ESPN has wielded its power to actually change the course of the sports world. Many years ago (1995), the network hyped up the X-Games, which had been invented and sponsored internally, and it became a success. Now it's a staple in the sports world. All because ESPN hyped it relentlessly and demanded that we watch it.
So not only can the network report on the news, it has such a massive influence that it can actually play a part in the creation of the news stories. Basically, we will watch whatever ESPN puts on. Time to share the spotlight with those less fortunate sports.
My challenge to ESPN is to include more coverage of the NHL, NBA, MLB, and anything else of moderate interest while reducing the amount of time slated for football. Its getting a little out of control. Im sure there is a happy medium somewhere. Time to find it.
For Chicago and national sports musings, follow me on Twitter: @ChiBdm (http://www.twitter.com/chibdm)
Why Major League Baseball's Playoff System is Flawed, And How to Fix It
October 28, 2010I can't upload this as of now.. here's the full article from a different source..
Check Back Later Today For Uploaded article on this blog.
Beware NHL: The Blackhawks Are About To Unleash Fury
October 26, 2010The Chicago Blackhawks Will Unleash Fury Soon | http://t.co/fnX1zZD
I will post this here, too.
From the Raleigh IceCaps to the Chicago Blackhawks: A Journey Into NHL Fandom
October 16, 2010Just two years ago, I would have thought you were nuts if you suggested that I would be writing a hockey blog. It just wouldn't have made any sense. After all, I was raised from childhood in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. This was before the Carolina Hurricanes were even a sparkle in the NHL's eye. Needless to say, the local populace didn't care much for this winter sport. There was much more focus on college basketball, NASCAR and whatever Michael Jordan did, being as he was a native son.
There was one glimmer of hope for the aspiring fan, though. That hope was the East Coast Hockey League franchise nicknamed the IceCaps. Already it's difficult to find anyone that even remembers the team. But for me, it was the only game in town.
It wasn't the only live sport for everyone. The Durham Bulls were the minor league affiliate for the Atlanta Braves at the time, and they had a great stadium that was featured in the Kevin Costner movie, "Bull Durham." The Carolina Mudcats were another option, playing their games in the country town of Zebulon, NC. It was a nice experience going out to the ballpark. But it never held the same thrill that a live IceCaps game would provide. There was simply no substitute for the excitement it provided. So, at that very young age, I became a hockey fan.
Attending IceCaps games became my favorite activity. And much the same way a six-year-old asks to go to Chuck E. Cheese's to celebrate something special, my answer was always, "Let's go see the IceCaps."
There were some great times. It didn't matter that I was still trying to figure out what the hell "Icing" meant even after a dozen games, and that my wishes for a fight to break out were not always obliged. It didn't really even matter if we won the game. It was all about the experience—that, and getting to stay up past my bedtime.
As time wore on, I became distracted. We received the Carolina Panthers expansion team in the mid-90's. The Charlotte Hornets were becoming a quality team worth watching. And my absolute favorite team at the time, The Baltimore Orioles were on a role with winning seasons. School was also becoming more of a priority. Suddenly I did not have time for hockey anymore. The stakes just weren't as high. We are talking about a very low level team on the NHL minor league scale. It just didn't capture my interest the same way.
I moved to the Chicago area (Naperville specifically) during the summer of 1997. From the second I was able to receive a signal, I was already listening to local sports radio. We had WGN in North Carolina, so the baseball transition wasn't a tough one (Sorry Northsiders, I chose the Sox.) And the Chicago Bulls team might as well have been the "Planet Earth Bulls", as their games were televised across the globe. So once again, not a tough transition to become a fan.
The one team that did not catch my interest was the Blackhawks. I knew of them, being a pretty dedicated Sportscenter fan at the time. There just did not seem to be a decent reason to root them on, especially considering I had no regional allegiance. There was no press coverage and games were scarcely on television. As much as I remembered loving the sport, there just wasn't anything to latch onto. After living here for quite a while, I realized that I only knew one person, out of everyone in my social circle that was a fan.
It's funny to think about now, but we actually made fun of him for talking about the likes of Alexi Zhamnov and Toomu Ruutu. Tough to care about a team in a city with such an undetectable level of enthusiasm that it bordered on disdain. Even at the games, the half empty United Center completely took the wind out of the building. So hockey was never really a consideration.
Now let's take a leap to the 2008-2009 Blackhawks season. As I mentioned earlier, I was a pretty committed sports fan. I lived and died with my teams performances. Recently, there had been an undercurrent of excitement about the Hawks' new ownership and their two new stars—Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. My interest was certainly piqued. I wanted to love hockey again, and this looked like a golden opportunity.
After all, I was still in search of a championship from one of my teams. I don't count the UNC Tarheels' titles because college is a notch below the pros. And I was only in town for the tail end of the Bulls dynasty. I actually refused to support them until they finished their second threepeat, because it would not be right to jump on the bandwagon. There are rules, folks. So a new team with a chance to do something special was something I would not turn down. Not only that, it was a chance to watch the compelling sport of hockey again.
It all started with the Calgary Flames series. Playoff wins were hard to come by in this city at the time. That was about to change. Our young guns dispatched the Flames with relative ease. No one was convinced yet. The next series against the Vancouver Canucks was one that would represent the beginning of a changing of the guard in the NHL. It was a six-game blood bath, highlighted by Patrick Kane's hat trick comeback win against Roberto Luongo. These guys meant business. This was a team with serious goals, and the talent to realize them.
Of course we were dispatched by our evil rivals, the Detroit Red Wings in five games that next series. The disappointment did not last long, however. There was a feeling around town that next year was going to be our time to shine. The bitter pill of losing to Detroit was not quite as tough to swallow knowing that our future was very bright. This would not be our last chance at glory.
I believe we all remember what happened last season. The Hawks roared out of the starting gates, and I became a virtual hockey junkie. I spent my days reading blogs and watching replays of the games. Wikipedia was always by my side as I wanted to learn everything I could about the sport. And what an incredible season it turned out to be.
The Olympics were absolutely enthralling and the Stanley Cup playoffs even moreso. And when Patrick Kane finally snuck that last shot behind the net in Philadelphia, it became apparent that what we were all experiencing would never be forgotten. Finally one of my teams was on top. I had waited 20 years.
But my transition into hockey had one more twist remaining.
I attended both the Blackhawks parade and the fan convention at the Hilton during this past summer. And it was at that fan convention that I noticed an engraving error on the Prince of Wales Trophy. What seemed pretty innocuous at the time turned into 15 minutes of fame. I posted photos of the error on Twitter—The Washington Capitals were wrongly inscribed instead of the conference championFlyers.
Someone eventually picked up the story, and it appeared on a Capitals fansite. Shortly thereafter, I happened upon an article about the trophy mistake. The only problem was that the article by CSN Philadelphia accused me of trying to start a hoax. My snapshots were discounted as being "photoshopped." Even more unbelievable was that a spokesman for the NHL Hall of Fame actually came out and said they were fakes.
I will include links for more details, but basically I wrote a blog on the subject trying to convince the doubters, and the story was eventually rectified by Yahoo! Sports NHL blogger Greg Wyshynski. But suddenly, people knew my name. And they knew it in the context of the sport of hockey. I had done nothing really noteworthy. Nonetheless, it became big news (mostly because it was the offseason). I was interviewed by the Toronto Star, NBC Philadelphia and Puck Daddy himself, Greg Wyshynski. What a strange turn of events. But now, in a small way, I feel linked to the sport forever.
Maybe hockey was sending me a signal. After all, I used all my new undeserved Twitter followers as an audience in my current attempt to begin sports writing. And who knows, this could turn into something big. Yes, even bigger than noticing a dumb error on a funny-looking trophy. I can't predict the future.
And here we are now. I'm barely done wiping my eyes from the banner ceremony (Don't tell ANYONE), and the new season is upon us. We look primed and ready for another run at the Cup. If all goes well, we could have ourselves a dynasty. And during this run, I will continue with my blogging. It seems that everything is going swimmingly in the world of the Chicago Blackhawks. Not just for now, but for the foreseeable future as well. I really hope that's the case.
But let's not forget the first time I fell in love with the sport. There was once a team in Raleigh that made up for their lack of talent with sheer youthful tenacity. When they drew penalties, they would go on the "Wendy's Power Play." And during zamboni intermissions, Cappy the Bear would shoot t-shirts out of a cannon.
Who doesn't love all that?
The Raleigh IceCaps packed up and left town as soon as the new Carolina Hurricanes franchise had been announced. I was already gone at the time—on to greener pastures.
Hopefully the Blackhawks are too. I'll definitely be along for the ride.
*Links to the Prince of Wales "Hoax" Story provided below.
CSNPhiladelphia Article (Hoax Accusation): http://www.csnphilly.com/08/09/10/Debunking-the-Prince-of-Wales-Trophy-Hoa/landing_flyerandice.html?blockID=286541&feedID=6572
Puck Daddy Article (Vindication!): http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/No-hoax-Capitals-mistakenly-engraved-on-Prince-?urn=nhl-261871
Kobe Bryant: Is the Los Angeles Lakers Star the NBA's Knight in Shining Armor
October 15, 2010It may have taken his whole career to get to this point. But, the Los Angeles Lakers' superstar Kobe Bryant is now in a position to become the new hero of the NBA. With the formidable three-headed dragon growling in Miami, he could be the only one in the league that can slay the monster. And outside South Beach, that is something that most NBA fans (and league officials) would love to see.
The new "Superfriends" in Miami represent more than a team that is overly stocked with talent. It threatens the whole fabric of the NBA. Competitive balance used to be something that the league could brag about. Take a look at the San Antonio Spurs and their 4 championships. That's right, they played in San Antonio, a small market if there ever was one. That never seemed to be an issue. But in one fell swoop, the tables were turned on the whole sport. Goodbye small market success stories. If all the stars are going to join forces, it definitely won't be in markets that won't maximize their efforts. You will never hear the words uttered "I'm going to take my talents to Bourbon Street."
I believe its safe to say that most league officials would prefer their athletes to allow their fans to buy into the fact that the games are not just highly competitive because of talent on display. But also because the players don't particularly like each other. This has probably never been true, but its been a tradition that was worth keeping. Of course this is not the case anymore in the NBA's new "Bromance" era.
Is it really a good idea for all of the NBA superstars to cheer each other on via Twitter to a point that's bordering on flirting?
How would you feel if you knew that after a future Miami Heat and Orlando Magic playoff game, that Dwight Howard and Lebron James were going out for ice cream?
Its not a good precedent. Its unnatural, and it has set in motion more potential "teamups" that will exclude anyone that doesn't live in the absolute biggest markets in the country. New Orleans should start saying goodbye to Chris Paul now. The Nuggets seem to have already come to terms with life after Carmelo Anthony. Both seem to be steering their ships toward a New York Knicks Superteam with Amare Stoudemire. Despite the team being unsuccessful and embarrassing at times, with suspect management, just by virtue of being in the Big Apple, they are going to win the lottery. That's a hell of a way to reward hard work and competence.
How do you think that feels to a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are building a winner through patience and craftiness?
If you are a Heat fan or a Knicks fan, don't bother answering. So far its been the same response. "Thats tough, sorry." But I believe that there is something more egregious that may happen as a result. The very idea of winning a championship will be downgraded.
After all, if all the superstars are on one team, then is it really much of an achievement if they win it all?
Should teams have to rely on injuries to have a chance to compete?
That makes the other general managers and owners in the league begin to reconsider what success in the NBA means to them. If its impossible to compete in small markets no matter how intelligently you build your team, than suddenly you have a Major League Baseball situation, where many teams just linger on mediocrity to make a little money. Its not a good situation for fans outside of Miami, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
But there is hope. There is someone out there that can turn this experiment into a failure, therefore changing the course of the NBA. His name is Kobe Bryant. It seems that only the Lakers have what it takes to make this whole debacle go away.
Can't you just envision Kobe wearing a chip the size of a microwave on his shoulder saying "Oh… So now you need my help."
Never one to endear himself to the media, the "Black Mamba" has enjoyed nearly unprecedented success in the league. He owns 5 titles, and has played on a total of 7 teams that went to the finals. As of right now, his Lakers are attempting to replicate the Chicago Bulls teams of the '90's and complete 2 three-peats. Many people have just taken their success for granted, just like those Jordan-era teams. This is no longer the case.
To get things straight, Kobe has never really been a "bad boy" of the NBA. He was more of a conflicted personality. He came into the league in his late teens, and spent most of his early days back in the hotel room while his teammates partied. He wasn't like most of the other players, anyway. He had traveled across Europe already as a boy, where he was exposed to much more than the average NBA rookie. He spoke Italian in addition to English from those years overseas. He was a bit inward as well, which was in contrast to most everyone else he played alongside. He was playing with mainly inner city young men who had just escaped poverty, and were enjoying their first opportunity at being rich. The "international" Bryant did not fit that description. He never seemed to be that impressed with his fame or money. He had a quiet focus, and was an absolute perfectionist, leaving little time for distractions.
He began to slowly alienate more and more people as time wore on. First it was his Coach Phil Jackson and teammate Shaquille O'Neal. After going to 4 finals in 5 years (winning 3), he suddenly became the goat when the team split up. He was accused of being selfish by O'Neal, and being too difficult to coach by Phil Jackson. And after all that success, everything was lost when Shaq moved on the Miami Heat. Putting this situation under the microscope, however, reveals layers that the average observer was not exposed to at the time. Shaquille O'Neal constantly came into camp out of shape and would never put in enough work on the free throw line to shore up his biggest weakness. He also had a huge ego. And Phil Jackson obviously was not too exasperated with Bryant, since he has now won two more titles with him since the breakup.
There are two things that we now know about Kobe Bryant. The first being that he doesn't accept anything less than 100 percent from anyone on the court (including Shaq.) And most importantly, he can be counted on to give his all during every game. I can assure you that there was more going on behind the scenes in those days.
His biggest character flaw was brought right into the spotlight, when he was accused of rape while having surgery in Colorado. As time passed, it became evident that he wasn't guilty of rape, but wasn't guilty of being a faithful husband either. So suddenly he was the new poster child for infidelity, which believe it or not, is absolutely widespread in all sports leagues. He apologized publicly and took his penance quietly, and was able to regain more of his reputation than it initially appeared that he would.
Before his last two titles, Kobe had been accused of simply being Shaq's wingman, which bred some resentment. I think that can finally be put to rest. He now has 2 NBA championships with him firmly in the drivers seat as team MVP.
He has also been verbally beaten in the media for his demands to Lakers management to trade him if they weren't going to contend. Looks like someone lit a fire, because from that point on, they began to win titles again. So it looks like in hindsight, these demands may have something to do with his current success. It didn't take a superstar team-up to do it either. His team relied on him, another all-star (Paul Gasol) and some talented role players. Pretty much the same makeup as most other championship teams. He didn't require the whole "Justice League", it was simply a hall of fame player playing on a well managed team. He earned it.
I think most of the hatred directed toward Kobe has to do with the fact that he is a winner. He beat your team. It doesn't matter what team I am referring to, he has beat them convincingly more than once. His teams win, and when they do, your team doesn't. He's the villain by virtue of his skill. I would argue that he is the most fundamentally sound player in the NBA, and that his real talent lies in that fact. If you ever watch a highlight video of Bryant, he will rarely do anything that couldn't be featured in a basketball instructional video. Even his off-balanced shots have a technique to them that is unmatched. He has an intensity akin to Michael Jordan – less talent but the same intensity. His competitiveness is off the charts. And also, you won't find him on Twitter having "pillow talk" with his opponent the next night. He plays the game the right way, on and off the court.
And I thought Villains play dirty?
So this brings us to the current story of the season. Kobe is looking more and more like David to the Goliath that is the Miami Heat. On his shoulders now rest the hope for most of the league, including David Stern. And there really is no other story this year. We will remember this season as either the season that the Heat dominated and won (causing an exodus of superstars to "superteams"), or the season that the Heat failed. Like Jack Bauer in 24, its down to one person. Kobe, you have a chance to go down as a hero, the NBA's new "Knight in Shining Armor." Looks like everyone gets a second act.
Who is the MVP of Chicago: The Bulls Derrick Rose or The Blackhawks Jonathan Toews
October 7, 2010The Chicago Blackhawks season is just beginning, with the Bulls set to start very soon as well. As both of our fall/winter teams begin their quests anew for a championship, two personalities stand out as leaders for their respective teams. For the Blackhawks, that would be their young superstar center, Jonathan Toews. The Bulls counter with their equally youthful and similarly talented point guard Derrick Rose. Both will be the talk of the town for quite a while, so I thought I would compare their qualities side by side, and eventually settle on who to crown the most valuable player in town. This is not an easy task, nor a scientific one. But I promise you that I will have an answer to the question by the end of this article.
I realize that for those glancing at the first paragraph, Toews would be the instinctual choice. After all, that big shiny thing that he has been shown hoisting above his head is not a drinking glass from a local bars' "Mug Club" promotion. That's Lord Stanley's cup. We haven't had possession of it for an unthinkable 49 years before this season, and it would be completely foolish to suggest that he did not have a giant role in bringing it back to the Windy City.
After all, this is the man that at age 22 has already achieved a mythical status in the mind of every Chicago sports fan. Championships in this town are very hard to come by, despite our major market. Not only that, but our "Captain Serious" was also the points leader in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (29), and also the recipient of the legendary trophy of individual achievement, the Conn Smythe. Not too shabby for a player who was in Rockford not too long ago.
But this was not the only cause for celebration for the young captain. Earlier in the year, he was a member of the gold medal winning Canadian National Hockey squad that brought back the gold to the nation that invented the sport. This was a pressure packed series of games due to recent past failures by the Canadians, and the threat of losing on their home turf in Vancouver. But just as he did in the playoffs, he elevated his game to a superstar level, and was a major component in bringing back honor to the hockey motherland. He was even named best forward in the olympics, despite originally being relegated to the fourth line in early team play. So whether it be Chicago or the entire country of Canada, Toews was the player, above all others, to ensure that there would be dancing in the street when all was said and done.
But Derrick Rose is also a proven winner. In just his first year of NCAA Basketball, the young man from the South Side of Chicago took his University of Memphis team all the way to the National Championship game. Not only that, but he was literally a shot away from taking home the crown. The next year, the draft lottery became the real lottery for the incredibly fortunate Chicago Bulls. Owning a miniscule 1.7% chance of recieving the first pick, they were awarded the steal of the decade.
Derrick Rose was almost immediately cast into the leadership position. Kirk Hinrich was an able point guard at the time and a fan favorite. That said, Rose quickly surpassed him with a combination of his raw skill and athleticism. His numbers improved steadily all the way up to the end of the season. For his accomplishments, he was awarded something that Toews can't even lay claim to (though he almost did), the Rookie of the Year.
In the playoffs against the Celtics, Rose elevated his game once more, specifically in game one, where he tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most points (36) in an NBA rookie playoff debut, while also leading his team to victory. The underdog Bulls went on to play one of the most exciting 7 game series in the history of the playoffs, before finally bowing out.
The 2010 offseason was a chance to watch Rose contribute to his biggest achievement to date. He was crucial in helping Team USA to a World Championship to erase the disappointment of their lackluster performance in the previous tournament. He had plenty of competition for the starting spot initially. Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook and bitter playoff rival, Rajan Rondo were both in the mix. But he quickly made short work of any notion that he would be an international bench warmer. He was the starter in every game during the tournament. All in a day's work, apparently. Couple this with his first all-star game berth earlier in the preceding season, and suddenly this becomes a close battle for city MVP.
Lets look into the intangibles of leadership. There is a noticeable difference in style when watching the two on their respective turfs. Toews is the vocal leader on the Blackhawks whether its his shift or not. I think anyone who has seen what the locals call "Toews Face" is instantly convinced of his almost psychotic will to win. On the other hand, Derrick Rose is still learning to become that complete floor general. He was not born to be a leader. Up until now, he had let his skills do the talking. His mother must have taught him to share when he was a kid, because the only thing he isn't shy about is dishing the rock. In general, that is a coveted quality. But when you take into account his dynamic skill set, sharing isn't always suggested. Coaches are trying to instill in him a new level of assertiveness, which he seems to be responding to gradually. Any casual observer of D-Rose will notice a marked increase in confidence since his rookie year. That's a goodpositive sign that he is growing more comfortable in his floor general role. Also worth mentioning on the topic of leadership is the SAT scandal that was linked to Rose. Although it was in the past, and during his teens, it does still reflect poorly on a true leader. Hopefully these youthful indiscretions are just that.
We all know that defense wins championships. That is certainly the case in both the NBA and NHL. And in both leagues it takes patience and effort and practice to become an elite defender. This is a category that is owned by Mr. Toews. His effort may be unmatched by any player in both leagues. His defense is just as solid as his offense. He is a physical player that uses his body like an anvil in speeding around the rink. He will stop at nothing in order to take that puck and send it right back at the opposing team's net. Rose on the other hand is barely above the level of defensive liability. Too many times he has seemed lost on defensive shifts. He is oftentimes prone to taking risks that will leave a man wide open. Learnng defense in the NBA is a complicated process, and he wouldn't be the only young player to need a little more time to comprehend it. The problem is not a lack of effort, it's that he is generally trying to do too much at one time. On the bright side, he is gifted with incredible physical skills, and most experts believe its just a matter of time before he is able to use them effectively on defense as well. But thats in the future. So a clear win for Toews on this count.
Now lets take the overall achievements of the two put together. Obviously, the Stanley Cup is the trump card here. Both Toews and Rose brought home gold for their country in the same year. Both are superstars in their respective leagues. As mentioned above, Rose does own a Rookie of the Year trophy that Toews was not quite able to obtain-though he was close enough to make this a tie in my mind as well. So in this category, Toews comes out the winner by virtue of winning a championship. It looks good for number 19 right now as we are heading into the home stretch.
If this article was a semester of school, than this paragraph would equal the importance of the final exam. Quite simply, who is the most talented of the two in comparison to the rest of their respective leagues. As good as Jonathan Toews is, he may not even be the best player on his team. Marian Hossa, who was injured for more than a third of the season is a similar player to the captain. He sports a similar skill set with the same underrated intangible values. Both had an average of .89 points per game in 2010. During the season, he amassed a relatively low point total (for a star player) with 68 points in 76 games. Some might even argue that team points leader, Patrick Kane might be superior. Kane is a much more one dimensional offensive player at least for now. Of course, anyone who has watched the Blackhawks know that Toews' qualities go well beyond actually putting the puck in the net. He is incredibly multi-faceted, and has superior value in almost every category not accounted for on the stat sheet (defense, faceoffs, penalty kills, power plays, hits, hustle etc.) If this was baseball, we would call him a five-tool player.
Derrick Rose, on the other hand, is indisputably the biggest talent on his team by a large margin. There is no one anywhere on the Bulls bench that can match his game. Joakim Noah is a really good player with a bright future, but not anywhere near the potential that D-Rose possesses. Also in Rose's favor is that the NBA is a game that disproportionately relies on five starting players. Sure the bench in the NBA is important, but there aren't many teams that would want their 9th man on the floor for any significant minutes. And the disparity between the starters crucial minutes and the bench only increases during the playoffs. Hockey on the other hand, depends on the quality of at least 3 lines of 9 forwards total and 2 lines of defensemen equaling 4 total. That is 13 players that need to be in top form. Don't forget that there is still another three players at forward and another 2 at defense that still recieve a minimal amount of playing time each game, too.
This would suggest that basketball superstars are more singularly important to their respective teams than their hockey counterparts. It would also not be a stretch to say that without Rose, the Bulls would be a lot worse off than the Blackhawks without Toews. In fact, during a six-game stint last year, the Hawks went 6-0 while their captain dealt with a concussion. Alternately, its hard to put a number on how many games the Bulls lost last year when Rose wasn't playing, because of multiple injuries. There was one point, however, that the team went a whopping 0-10 without their leader. Once again, many other players were injured as well. But I think this evidence is pretty conclusive, nonetheless. So this appears to be the only category that Rose wins, and by a comfortable margin.
So is this enough to put the Bulls point guard over the top?
This turned out to be quite a difficult decision. I did not come to my decision until just about the point you are reading, while writing this article. Just as any opinion, there will be many disagreement and differing opinions. I'm sure they all hold some shred of validity as well.
But when it comes to the Most Valuable Player in the city of Chicago, I nominate Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks. The leadership he has shown has completely opened my eyes to what that quality can accomplish. Never have I seen someone will his team to victory with such force. Even when the Hawks lost in the 2009 playoffs, they upset a favored Vancouver Canucks team (not to mention an even-odds Calgary Flames squad) before succumbing to the powerful Detroit Red Wings. We all know what happened the year after that. His individual achievements were unmatched as well, winning the Conn Smythe trophy and was named "Best Forward" at the Olympics. Both tournaments were full of the biggest superstars in the game, and both times he was the one who shone brighter than everyone (except Ryan Miller in Vancouver.) Think about this for just a moment. Its historic for more than intangible reasons.
Derrick Rose may very well win an NBA championship in the near future. He is also one of the league's brightest stars. But in this case, he is playing second fiddle to the new MVP of Chicago sports. Hopefully as the years progress, this article will be rewritten annually with new criteria, new trophies, new titles and new memories. Now if Jay Cutler could just find his way into this conversation.


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When an organization has been around as long as HCPC, the continual process of getting to know the landscape can seem to have a natural, organic flow. This summer HCPC is connecting in a big way to the Mount Emily country; Owsley Roadless Area, Hellhole Roadless Area, Spring Mountain, Green Mountain and more. It started when HCPC's esteemed Board recently visited the Owsley Hogback for a hike. An old, unmaintained trail along Owsley Hogback Ridge accesses Owsley Creek and provides wonderful views overlooking the Owsley Creek and Roadless Area. Following closely on the heels of the Board hike, Restoration Coordinator Brian Kelly co-led a wildflower hike with Botanist Susan Geer along Owsley hogback (see next Blog post). Next, Executive Director Greg Dyson took some visitors up hiking along the Owsley Hogback. I recently had the opportunity to visit the area with HCPC summer intern, Joe, and Wildlife Watcher volunteer, Jesse. We found a beautiful old growth forest stand on the edge of the Owsley Roadless Area (pictured at right).
Spring mountain offers outstanding views of the Owsley Roadless area from the Whitman Overlook (pictured below). From this vantage point one can gaze over the steep slopes and deeply incised canyons that drop into Meacham, Owsley, and East Meacham creeks. The overlook area contains signs describing the historic journey of the Whitman family over this perilous terrain.
I'm looking forward to many more adventures in this incredible area!!
Posted by David Mildrexler, Ecosystem Conservation Coordinator.


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PS3 / XBOX 360 / WII | Europe |
By Ishaan . June 19, 2012 . 1:31pm
Junction point and Disney have released a new behind-the-scenes clip for Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, where designer, Warren Spector, shares how his team looked to Disney's old Oswald cartoons from the 1920s for inspiration while coming up with his abilities for the co-op game:
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two will be released on the Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this fall.


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Festival of Dead Deer reunite for a night
...a Three One G/Planet B night at Blonde Bar
Chad Deal 6 p.m., March 28
There's some big news for those who work and live in this mysterious beach-adjacent, land-of-traffic roundabouts that is San Diego's Bird Rock micromunity. One of the neighborhood's most popular (and rightfully so) eateries, Beaumont's, just launched weekday lunch service.
The mid-day menu is broken into fun categories such as Hold It (for sandwiches and items like Korean duck tacos with jicama slaw), Wrap It (for tortilla-swathed cylinders filled with shrimp, carnitas, or a chicken/cobb salad blend), Good Greens (salads), and Share It (for gastro-driven lunch-hour gaggles...or folks who just really like big portions).
More of a breakfast person or only partake of lunch on days that start with an "S"? Beaumont's weekend brunch is a great time to make like a bird, nest on the patio, and peck away at offerings such as their chipotle/creme fraiche dolloped Oaxacan queso- and pork-stuffed chile relleno, which is best washed down with a smokey, peppery Bacon Bloody Mary.


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Radio audiences have increased dramatically because people are using the internet and listening to the wireless at the same time.
Figures released yesterday by the Rajar audience research group show Britons listen to an average of 24 hours' radio a week, up from 22.4 a year ago. A BBC executive, Vanessa Phillips, said evening and night listening had increased most. Preliminary indications are that radio is benefiting because it can be enjoyed while on the internet, whereas watching television at the same time is more challenging.
While radio overall is booming, Kelvin MacKenzie's TalkSport radio station announced its worst audience figures in five years. He had hoped for an improvement before the 25 May flotation of 25 per cent of his Wireless Group company.
TalkSport's share fell to 1.4 per cent from 1.8 per cent a year ago, continuing the decline that has dogged Mr MacKenzie since he implemented his policy of turning the station from a chat network to sports. The total of TalkSport listeners increased in the first quarter of this year by 140,000 to 2.38 million but the combination of better figures for total radio listening and a fall in the amount of hours each listener tuned in to TalkSport led to the overall share decline.
A competitors said: "TalkSport will suffer in the coming months because of the end of the football season and the fact that Radio 5 Live has exclusive rights to Euro 2000 and the Olympics."
The Rajar quarterly figures also show the continued success of Radio 2, which raised its audience share from 12.8 per cent to 13.3 per cent, making it Britain's most listened to radio station. Classic FM also did well, achieving a record 4.4 per cent share.


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Breaking news for the full foodservice equipment and supplies distribution channel. Includes information on dealers, distributors, design consultants and multi-unit operators spanning leadership changes, mergers and acquisitions, trends, data and much more.
Combining their passion and creativity with a small but effective equipment package, independent operators continue to make significant inroads in the coffee business.
Foodservice ventilation company now operates in 30 countries.
Cleveland-based distributor joins DFI's portfolio of companies that includes All Points, FMP and Tundra.
Former Starbucks executive joins the coffee chain as a vice president.
American Restaurant Concepts buys a 50 percent stake in Wing Nutz.
Schaibly joins the multi-unit operator as director of culinary.
Foodservice industry veteran assumes business development role.
This week we take a look at December retail sales and how restaurants fared last month and for all of 2013. We will also look at the affect improved service has on fast food sales, and much more.
The independent manufacturers' rep firm will go to market as Mirkovich-Casper
NRA predicts 2014 will be the fifth consecutive year of growth for the restaurant industry.


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Even LG's flagship TVs tend to be cheap as the proverbial chips these days. So it's no surprise to find a set that sits relatively low down the current LG range, the 42in 42LH4000, currently selling for a measly £618.
What does come as a bit of a surprise, though, is how appealing the TV is. For while it's no jaw-dropping classic in any particular way, as an all-round package for the money it has a lot going for it.
Take its design. The glass-like transparent top sheet that sits over the black bezel and protrudes slightly beyond it immediately makes it look more expensive than it is, while an extra touch of class comes from the way the left and right edges taper back into narrow slivers, creating the illusion that the TV is extremely slim. There's even a dash of boldness, too, in the form of a hint of blue running along the TV's bottom edge.
It's fairly well connected for its money, too, with highlights of three HDMIs, a dedicated D-Sub PC port, an RS-232 control jack, and a USB 2.0 jack able to play MP3 music and JPEG photo files.
The 42LH4000's feature count, meanwhile, looks even less like something that belongs on a truly affordable 42in TV. Particularly pleasing is its carriage of LG's TruMotion 100Hz processing system, for reducing blur and judder when showing motion. But also potentially useful contributors to the TV's performance are LG's XD Engine video processing system, a wide colour gamut system, and LG's 24p Real Cinema processing for handling 1080p/24 Blu-ray feeds.
Then there's the unexpected volume of image adjustments made available through the 42LH4000's delightful onscreen menus. Tinkerers can get their hands, for instance, on a multi-level gamma adjustment, an edge enhancement system, a multi-level noise reduction system, separate and multi-level dynamic contrast and colour options, and even an eye-care mode that reduces the image's intensity if you find the TV's natural brightness levels at all straining. You can even adjust the strength of the 100Hz engine - a very welcome bit of flexibility indeed, for reasons we'll cover a bit later on.
So extensive are the picture adjustments, in fact, that tucked at the bottom of the 42LH4000's impressive list of picture presets are two ISF Expert options, indicating that the TV's images can be professionally calibrated to suit your living conditions by an expert from the Imaging Science Foundation. Provided you're willing to pay for their services, obviously. This sort of feature really isn't something I'd expect to find on a sub-£700 42in TV. But obviously I'm not complaining!
Does it have internet/DLNA connectivity?
I bought this TV 4 years ago on the strength of this review (and my own research). It's still going strong and is a fantastic TV. Highly configurable with plenty of inputs for its price. Very happy with this. Thanks TR!
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When Cercis canadensis reveals its showy blossoms, spring has truly sprung, as it did this past weekend. The eastern redbud's subtle splash of purplish-pink blossoms brings a smile to our lives.
Though I grew up traipsing the woods of the Piedmont, April must not have been a month that attracted me on those hikes, because it was not until I was in my 20s that I noticed the purplish hue that nature paints this time of year.
When Cercis canadensis reveals its showy blossoms, spring has truly sprung, as it did this past weekend.
The eastern redbud is native to eastern North America, from the Great Lakes to the Florida Panhandle and from North Carolina to the middle of Oklahoma.
Redbud flowers are edible and have a slightly nutty flavor. Jim Mason of the Great Plains Nature Center enthusiastically writes, "They can be added to pancakes or fritters or used as an attractive garnish on salads. Or you can use them to make a unique pickle relish!"
When green, the seedpods are also edible. Native Americans boiled them and ate them like snap peas.
But it is the first subtle flash of color that draws the eye and inspires us with the hint of renewal we know is coming.
When she moved to Oklahoma City from New Orleans, the redbud enraptured Maimee Lee Robinson Browne. It inspired her poetry, which she used to promote her quest to make it Oklahoma's state tree.
Beauty in Our Forests
Deep in the forests in spring
When the redbird makes her first call
She sees only the green of the cedar
and the Redbud through brown leaves of fall.
Brilliant buds tempt travelers to gather
Small sprays to take on their way,
Denuding the forests of slender
and wasting God's glory each day.
To protect this miracle of springtime
When drab colors become radiant hue,
Help God keep beauty in our forests
For birds and mankind to view.
— Maimee Lee Browne
Browne led planting efforts in Oklahoma and fought off opponents who were concerned the eastern redbud was blasphemous because it was too close to the European redbud, or Judas Tree, as it came to be called when Judas Iscariot hung himself from one, and thus a blasphemy as a state-recognized symbol. In March 1937, the Oklahoma Legislature made the redbud a state emblem, and in 1971, it was officially designated the state tree. (Tennessee's state tree is Liriodendron tulipifera, or tulip poplar.)
Reach Frank Daniels III at 615-881-7039 and on Twitter @fdanielsiii.


text:
Vodafone and Nokia open the door to new services
Vodafone and Nokia have agreed to launch a new range of integrated Vodafone services on Nokia handsets to improve connectivity and communications for Vodafone customers.
Vodafone and Nokia have agreed to launch a new range of integrated Vodafone services on Nokia handsets to improve connectivity and communications for Vodafone customers.
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The integrated suite of Vodafone services will be combined with the Nokia Ovi Services range on a variety of Nokia handsets.
These services will offer customers a greater choice of communications, internet services, content and browsing through a range of premium handsets on high speed 3G and 3G broadband networks.
Vodafone and Nokia have also agreed that a number of these handsets will be exclusive to Vodafone. Ovi, meaning "door" in Finnish, enables people to easily access their existing social networks, communities and content from a single place, as well as acting as a gateway to Nokia services.
Customers will get faster and easier access to all of Vodafone's internet and entertainment services as a result of the deal.
Frank Rovekamp, global chief marketing officer for the Vodafone Group, said, "This is a logical step for Vodafone to make, further improving our customer experience with many of the services already launched with leading internet partners."
Enjoy the benefits of CW+ membership, learn more and join.


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Health Supplement Maker Gains 25 Percent Faster Service, Reduces Development Costs
Customer |
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Food and Beverage Industry |
Products & Technologies: |
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BSN, a leading manufacturer of health and fitness supplements, needed a way to merge sales order and customer contact information from Microsoft Dynamics CRM with order and invoice data in Microsoft Dynamics GP. For several years, the company used a proprietary integration tool to move data between the two systems. However, this tool did not always enable the efficient integration of various fields between the two databases, requiring BSN staff to rely on manual data entry. After learning about the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Adapter for Microsoft Dynamics GP, BSN opted to install the integration tool, completing the process in a matter of hours. Now, the company has accelerated customer service delivery by 25 percent, reduced development costs, and gained greater IT self-sufficiency while maximizing the return on its technology investment. |
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text:
Friday, October 26, 2012
3 comments:
- Hat10:17 AM
I'm in awe of your marbles! The way you cope with modern technology is very inspiring and your enthusiasms in so many areas of life would put many a younger person to shame. You've had a lot of setbacks this year (the ceiling etc.) and this is bound to have taken its toll.
I'm not looking forward to the shorter daylight hours either. Thank you for the link, Jean. I wonder why this book isn't in Ravelry's database. It looks (and sounds from your description) like a treasure.
Along with Hat I am very impressed with your and your husband's marbles. And I hope I will be as lucid and engaging as I make my way through the world.
I'm pretty sure Meg Swansen has talked about the 90-degree thing with certain types of Fair Isle patterns. I do have Starmore, Feitelson, and MacGregor, with Mary Jane's book on my wish list for when I dive into Fair Isle designs. Right now my focus is more on cables and lace.


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text:
Colin Montgomerie has admitted Sandy Lyle's derogatory comments about him this week have affected his game at the Open in Turnberry.
The eight-time European number one's name has been in the headlines all week but for the wrong reasons after his fellow Scot called him a cheat and "a drama queen".
Lyle, 51, said that when Montgomerie incorrectly replaced his ball after a weather delay in Jakarta four years ago it was "a form of what you would call cheating".
The 1985 Open champion subsequently made a statement in which he did not apologise for what he had said and then yesterday he called Montgomerie "a drama queen".
Montgomerie shot rounds of 71 and 74 to stand at five over for the tournament and in danger of missing the cut.
When asked if he had been distracted by Lyle's comments the 46-year-old replied: "Very much so, yes."
The row blew up when Lyle was asked if his decision to walk out of last year's Open at Royal Birkdale mid-round in atrocious weather complaining about problems with his hands had jeopardised his chances of becoming Ryder Cup captain.
That job was given to Montgomerie earlier this year but Lyle said he still held out hope of being involved behind the scenes.
Those chances are now non-existent, however, after the man leading Europe at Celtic Manor in 2010 had his say.
"I thought it was amusing this morning - and this is the last thing I want to say on the matter - that he hopes it (the row over his comments) doesn't jeopardise his vice-captaincy position," said Montgomerie.
"I thought that was very funny."
The Scot was disappointed with his golf this week, adding: "The last six birdies I've had I've followed them with six bogeys.
"You can't do that. You feel you are making one step forward only to go two steps back unfortunately."
Lyle, who is eight over and will not be returning for the weekend said after his round today he wanted to end the simmering row.
"I feel sorry for Colin in some ways. I don't want to keep stirring the pot but I keep opening my mouth and making back pages," said the 1988 Masters winner.
"I think we have to call an end and it will all be dealt with behind the scenes.
"Through managers we will make some contact but [Montgomerie's] mobile number might be hard to get right now and even if I ring I'm not sure he will answer it.
"I have to know what he is feeling like. I would think he will be well and truly fuelled after the headlines this morning.
"But I think we've seen enough and we need to get on and play golf.
"A lot of us know he is an emotional person and gets a bit hot under the collar and little comments like this in the papers don't help.
"But he'll get over it, he is a big enough boy. I think he has been in the game long enough."
Lyle denied this was the worst week he had had at an Open - that came a year ago in Southport.
That, in part, sparked this week's row as he was asked whether he felt it had cost him the Ryder Cup captaincy.
"I was asked about jeopardising the captaincy of the Ryder Cup by walking of the course and I said Monty was not exactly squeaky clean and he has had his troubles as well," he added.
"I don't really regret saying it. It was light-hearted, it was not a full-out blast at Colin. We are actually quite good buddies, we are not enemies.
"I've always liked to say what I feel but I won't stir it any more. It has been done now and we have to face the music.
"I'll get on with my game, he'll get on with his and it will all be forgotten in a couple of months' time."
- More about:
- Colin Montgomerie
- Golf
- Ryder Cup
- US Open- Golf


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We have been working on getting some nice Zircon in Champaine, Golden Brown and Brown. They have good color and are of good quality. More on this as we progress.
Matt has cut two Brazilian Beauties this spring. These are a 9.8ct Aquamarine cut in a Rectangular Checker Board Top and a 9ct Aquamarine cut in a Rectangular Checker Board Top with a small diamond shaped table. The color of the Aquamarine is a more "Sea Green-Blue" color. We feel the color leans more toward the very light Emerald color. These are both up for sale. Ck the Showroom. http://customgemcutter.com/
We have also been working with an African company on their Aquamarines. The Aquamarine that is now coming from Nigeria is clean and a deeper "Sea Blue-Green" color. This is a great color coming out of Nigeria. New shipment coming soon!!


text:
Routes : North America : United States : Texas : Panhandle (N Tx) : Palo Duro Canyon : Two Pin : Bad Grammer
Bad Grammer - V5
Average Rating : 4.00 out of 5Route sequence (left to right): 1
Route Summary | Ascent Notes (1)
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Pads and spotter
This climb is located on the vertical face to the left of Heros. It starts sitting down low on some very tiny crimps than moves to a cool nob, make a couple desperately thin moves to hit a good rail high on the face than climb up to the very highest point on top of the boulder.Descent Options:
Walk off around back
Submitted by: Cheales on 2011-03-23
Views: 483
Route ID: 108177
1 Ascent Recorded
Ratings | |
Difficulty | V5 |
Safety Rating | G |
Exposure | |
Rock Quality | |
Scenery | |
Fun Factor |
Red Point ascent by: Cheales on 2011-03-23
(View Climbing Log)
Finally goes
I have played around with the nob many times but never actually committed to climbing the face. To my surprise the climb has a great sit start and great movement. I know it will grow to become a classic climb.
Added: 2011-03-23


text:
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishCanuteCa‧nute /kəˈnjuːt $ -ˈnuːt/ (?995–1035) the King of England from 1016 to 1035, who also became King of Denmark and Norway. According to an old story, King Canute once ordered the sea to stop coming in towards the land in order to show his servants that he was not as powerful as they said he was. People sometimes mention this story when they are talking about something that is so powerful that it is useless to try to stop it.
Pictures of the day


text: Ambulance - Stock Photo Car with ambulance word to read in a mirror Ajotte Business, medicine and isolations on white. Nature, including stereoscopic 3D... [more] info Author Page Portfolio: 2821 images. Gallery Page Contact Updates / RSS Network Image updated—April 12, 2013 Keywords ambulance, car, emergency, first aid, health, help, medical, rescue, service, transportation, white Image Categories Health | Transport Image #248 Size Type File Info Price ( US Dollars $ ) Blog Sizejpg6.94" × 4.61" @ 72 dpi500 × 332px2.50 Smalljpg13.89" × 9.22" @ 72 dpi1000 × 664px5.00 Mediumjpg8.33" × 5.53" @ 300 dpi2500 × 1660px10.00 Largejpg14.29" × 9.49" @ 300 dpi4288 × 2848px15.00 End User License Agreement DOWNLOAD (0.00) Symbiostock Community Symbiostock CommunityNetwork with illustrators, photographers, and designers. Symbiostock on TwitterSymbiostock news. Symbiostock on FacebookCommunity maintained Facebook hub. Symbiostock.infoSearch images on the Symbiostock network. Symbiostock SearchSearch Symbiostock images and network. Symbioguides.comSymbiostock knowledge base. Symbiostock.comSell your images and network with fellow microstock professionals. ClipArtof.comHigh Resolution Stock Illustrations & Clip Art ClipArtIllustration.comFirst Symbiostock Site, and home of the Orange Man Microstockgroup.comA meeting place for microstock professionals.


text:
Monday, July 29, 2013
Birchbox July 2013
12 comments:
I want to sign up for a beauty box, but most of them are based in the States so shipping $$ (I live in Canada)
I hope the shade 'Ivory' works for you! I tried the same foundation in shade #2 and I looked like an oompa loompa :(
Vanessa | Citron and Guavaberry | Makeup & Silly thingsRepliesOh yikes...I hope it doesn't give me the color of an oompa loompa (I'm already short enough to be mistaken for one)! I'll definitely do a review on it :D
I LOVE Canada!! Well, what I've seen of it at least (which isn't much). I occasionally make trips to Vancouver and seriously, if I weren't completely spoiled by the awesome weather in California, I would move to British Columbia in a heartbeat! xo KellyI don't know--I applied it on my face and the shade I got was really orange/yellow on me, so I panicked and immediately put my usual foundation over it. I should try again to see if it actually adjusts to my skin tone!
I've never been to Vancouver, but I'd also love to move to BC! Mountains and rainy weather? Sign me up!Oh, what's your usual foundation? I'm still on the hunt for the perfect one! xo Kelly
Wow, you received some really nice things. I am trying to look into subscriptions for us International girls :). I hope to find one that is reasonable!
ReplyDeleteI've never tried Birchbox, but your box looks awesome. I'd love to hear your thoughts on Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation.


text:
Monday, August 31, 2009
I Need Your Input
31 comments:
I'll be the first, even if I haven't exactly been one of the silent majority. I would love to see this (or an equivalent) of a Pogo blog continue. It's not just the beautiful panels, many of which I had not seen before, even in all the books I had growing up, but your comments give the blog an nice extra touch to give additional context. So, as long as it continues to be a happy activity for you, my vote is for keepin' on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing this! I'd say, continue on a new blog, linked prominently from here. I like that this is Pandemonium-centered, with all the extra goodies. It might get hard to find that story in a general-purpose blog...so unless you're up for putting together your own site so you can organize things to your liking, a new blog would make the most sense. Just my two cents.
ReplyDelete- Jim EngelAugust 31, 2009 at 10:05 PM
I'm for posting as many Sunday tabs as possible, and you can call it whatever you want to. I'm not saying I don't love the dailies, but they've been reprinted time & again, in the books, and in the FORT MUDGE MOST.
What nobody's done, 'til YOU started to on your original blog & now here, is showcase the Sundays IN COLOR. I dunno what/where/when Fantagraphics will get to, and (VERY importantly to ME) whether they'll shoot & reprint printed strips or (I HOPE NOT) do some stupid bleach & recolor thing like Marvel & DC do.
SOOOOOO----I say focus on color Sundays, and YES--"special material". THAT would be of most interest to me, and would be a great niche for you. The "official" Pogo site offers nothing, and the Fan Club site not much either. You HAVE. Proceed any way you wish, I'll come no matter what--but there's my two cents.
(And any way you go, you can have access to my stack of tearsheets...) I think the color Sunday pages are great, rare and the most fun to see. Unless you have supplemental material/dailies for the other books, folks should just pick those up on eBay for $8 (most are much more readily available than Pandemonia). But, really, whatever you feel motivated to do, I'll be happy to read!
ReplyDeleteLet me correct that...I like seeing all the newspaper stuff and very happy that you included the Pandemonia book. I mean that for future stuff, I'm more into seeing newspaper stuff than further books unless you also have the accompanying newspaper runs - I found that very interesting, to see what was cut, etc.
ReplyDeleteHey Thomas,
Yes, more color Sunday strips from the next two years along with any special material you have would be great! Also, if at some point you would like to share with us how Kelly worked and what role his assistants played, that would be fascinating as well. Thanks so much again for this wonderful blog.- glendaletedSeptember 1, 2009 at 11:03 AM
This has been (and is) a great blog. The people behind the "official" Pogo blog should be hanging their collective heads in shame. You have showcased this strip in a manner that they have not.
Personally I like option four, but I know that this has been a very time and labor intensive project for you. I'll leave it up to you as to what direction you choose for this. Again, thank you. I love the Sunday scans, and am anxious to see more of them. I like the idea of keeping Pandemonia here and starting a new Kelly blog with an emphasis on Pogo. Also love the scans you've been getting of the originals. Not sure how to get more of those but if you can that'd be a huge plus.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousSeptember 1, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Sunday color here and at the pictorial arts are 2 of my favorite visits. more color Sundays--YES more dailies when you can also charlie
ReplyDelete Thomas,
I think continuing the continuity, both Sundays and whatever dailies you have available would be wonderful. If you chose to also include other Kelly material, that would be icing on an already delicious cake!
This blog has become an essential destination that I always anticipate, and that I'm never disappointed by. Well... just a little, when you haven't made a comment... so, do keep that feature, too!
I don't have strong feelings one way or the other as far as starting a new Kelly blog, or continuing here.. I do strongly want to see you continue, though! Pogo is such a high point in American popular culture, Kelly was such a brilliant artist, and the original Sundays in high quality scans are such an unexpected treasure to see after all of these years... A tip of that to you, sir, I am deeply indebted!
GlenGlen, thank you, very nice to hear such stuff.
Y'know, it's kind of amazing that my Sundays have survived all these years (for the most part). I've had a fairly active life and moved around a lot, and lost a number of other things.
A tip of the hat to you and the others that appreciate Kelly.porc-épic, you've hit on something relevant to my perspective, "what you do here really matters". That's very important for me to justify what I do at this time of my life. As well, you made a direct hit on a major philosophy of my life, "fresh wonder/sharp intelligence". Thank you.
Wonkey the Monkey--the time capsule concept is very important to me as well. Thank you.
Greg, I don't know about Fantagraphics. The copies I have may not be good enough for their needs. They would need a lot of touch-up.Well, I think the call for originals is as much for the dailies as the Sundays... I suspect that, based on that call, they'll print the Sundays in black and white line art like the Peanuts books. I could be wrong - they might do color, like the Popeye books. It would be nice to see the color, but high-quality line art is good too. I wonder if the thinking is that with earlier strips like Thimble Theatre, more care was taken with coloring, whereas with later strips, it's a bit more careless. We'll see what they come up with.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousSeptember 2, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Please keep going. I'm one of the silent ones till now. I have always loved Kelly's art. Some of the weirdness is a bit too weird, some of the allusions to your obscure politicians don't help but the art always holds my attention.
Keep going with any Kelly art - leave the title - iut helps those who are not too savvy to find a different titled blogs!
Best wishes


text:
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text:
Thursday, July 28
Hot or Not? Ombre Manicures
18 comments:
- Tanvi said...
Kinda Hot!
♡ from © tanvii.com - July 28, 2011 at 6:33 PM
- Josie said...
I kind of love this. Scratch that. I ADORE this! Especially in the blue.
xo Josie
www.winksmilestyle.com - July 28, 2011 at 7:31 PM
- Kavery said...
Looks like a nice trend but I'll give it a miss.
- July 28, 2011 at 7:59 PM
- Vasu said...
totally HOT, Looks great, would love to try it. Will do it with pink, peach. I think will look cute
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Rosabellebyvasu - July 29, 2011 at 2:37 AM
- www.timetochange.over-blog.com said...
Ouiiiiiiiii! It's fun! Perfect for summer! Can't wait to try this!
- July 29, 2011 at 3:24 AM
- The Blonde Duck said...
I wouldn't do it, but it's cute!
- July 29, 2011 at 4:42 AM
- Couture Carrie said...
Hmmmm.... not a fan....
But LC's hair looks amazing!
CC - July 29, 2011 at 5:17 AM
- Kelly said...
Love, although I do not have the patience to do this myself!
- July 29, 2011 at 6:14 AM
- THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...
I like it but it's something I've been doing for years now for work. I'm a beauty product developer and often have different colors on my nails and I love the ombre look :)
- July 29, 2011 at 7:09 AM
- Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} said...
Oh completely hot...I haven't been able to make it look quite as awesome as LC's yet, but I'm working on it (c: Have a great weekend!
- July 29, 2011 at 9:45 AM
- Baby Shopaholic said...
HOT!!! I am so into fun nails. I am loving everything! I love LC
- July 29, 2011 at 10:10 AM
- Natalie's Life said...
hot! though i wouldn't want to buy 5bottles of similar colors just to achieve the look. i don't do my own nails often enough ... maybe if done at a salon.
nataliemack.blogspot.com - July 29, 2011 at 10:49 AM
- Punctuation Mark said...
it's a clever idea but not really for me!
- July 29, 2011 at 3:30 PM
- *Glam Chameleon* said...
I like it, refreshing, great for the summer!;)
http://glamfabchameleon.blogspot.com/ - July 29, 2011 at 10:46 PM
- ANDWHATELSEISTHERE said...
hmmm not quite a fan though.
and i never ever though of lauren conrad as an icon anyway.
SHOP - July 30, 2011 at 6:57 AM
- Claire said...
i think they're a lot of fun though a little more work than the normal one.
spinning-threads.blogspot.com - July 31, 2011 at 4:28 PM
- I'm Just Me said...
love her nails, i gotta try this!!
thnx 4 the comment :)))
http://imjustmefashionblog.blogspot.com - July 31, 2011 at 10:05 PM
- Anna said...
I'm in two minds about this trend. I do like it but I used to do this when I was younger so it reminds me of childish ways! I think if it made an outfit I was wearing pop more then I would rock it though.
Anna xo
http://lifesshinyprettythings.blogspot.com/ - August 21, 2011 at 9:48 PM


text:
A church building once touted as Harriman's oldest has fallen into a sad state of disrepair.
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