The Cherry on Top: Cavaliers vs. Wizards Behind the Box Score
April 15, 2015Indians Series Summary No. 3: Hooray, they beat a lefty
April 16, 2015
Thanks for tearing your eyes off those fresh new Browns digs to indulge my ramblings for a few minutes. Several of the WFNY folks have already shared their thoughts on the new Browns look (as I’m sure many of you have), and I’d be remiss not to share mine. Much like Will, I find the new uniforms to be extremely … fine.
In all honesty, I was slightly disappointed that the uniforms aren’t cooler. I really like some looks, and mildly dislike some others. But it’s a strong net like. And as someone who wrote an entire post lampooning the Browns as the biggest punchline in professional sports, and called them “an organization lacking the self-awareness to know they were being laughed at,” that’s a win. Even though having a catered event with a DJ to introduce a new combo of polyester and nylon is a little like hiring Pitbull to perform at your bat mitzvah, my pitchfork remains firmly on its pitchfork rack in my living room (which really, really ties the room together, dude) for now. I’ll save my vitriol for when the Browns inevitably botch the draft. And that’s all for my lukewarm take of the day.
The Cavaliers put a cherry on top of their banana split of a season on Wednesday, beating the Washington Wizards in an excessively bizarre game in which Brendan Haywood did things. It was weird. The win pushed the Cavs to 53 wins, an impressive feat considering they started the season 19-20.
And now the NBA Playoffs start, one of the greatest tournaments in sports. I have goosebumps thinking about it. Though stories will continue to be stretched thin to fill the 24-hour news cycle, we finally have the greatness of playoff basketball to distract from the need of completely fabricated stories. Memories great or devastating will form in the next three months — that much is certain.
In the meantime, here’s FiveThirtyEight’s playoff power rankings, ESPN Stats & Info’s opaque post on whether playoff experience matters from Monday, and my more enlightening post on whether playoff experience matters from Monday, complete with this neat little chart summarizing the NBA playoff picture.
In case you forgot how great the playoffs are in any sport, relive Tom Hamilton’s Jason Giambi homerun call…
And rewatch, remember, or experience for the first time Kyrie Irving’s classic performance against the Spurs in March …
Now I have chills and tingly sensations in all sorts of places. The playoffs start on Sunday for the Cavs. And the first round is against the Celtics no less, one of my favorite teams to hate in all of sports. Let’s DO THIS THING!!!!
BRING IT ON CELTICS OMG SO MUCH HATE I FEEL LIKE LUKE SKYWALKER STARING DOWN THE EMPEROR.
— Kyle (@kcwelch330) April 15, 2015
Speaking of the hated Celtics, Cleveland nemesis Paul Pierce spoke with ESPN.com’s Jackie MacMullan about, well, practically everyone he’s played with since 2007 — taking a reputational dump on half of them. In the interview, the Washington Wizards forward (who didn’t play on Wednesday night against the Cavs) trashed most of his former teammates on the Brooklyn Nets from last season (“They were vets who didn’t want to play and didn’t want to practice.”), and current teammate Otto Porter, who you may last remember taking a nap on defense in one of the best NBA bloopers of the year (“I’m just not sure how badly he wants it every day.”). It’s an entertaining interview and accompanying article, and not just for the comedy of Pierce ripping some of his teammates and declaring with apparent sincerity that he should punch Otto Porter.
But three things stood out beyond the obvious. The first is the fastidiousness that players in the NBA now dedicate (and have to dedicate) to their health. Before his first playoff game in 2002, Pierce talked about visiting a Burger King to order a Whopper and a large Coke. Professional athletes still put plenty of unhealthy food and unwholesome substances into their bodies, but it seems like most abstain from soda altogether these days. “Today’s players will enjoy longer careers, Pierce believes, because teams are so tuned into nutrition, conditioning and body maintenance.”
Generally, today’s best players go great lengths and do insane things to keep their bodies operating like finely tuned machines. There are still plenty of legendary partyers throughout the league, but reading about someone like Pierce (who never had a reputation as a superior athlete) spreading the gospel of sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber was unthinkable in the late 90s. You can already see the effects of health-consciousness with players like Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki competing into their late 30s, but players will probably continue to enjoy longer careers; especially the ones who are especially obsessed with their health.
The next thing that resonated was Paul Pierce’s relationship with former Celtic Ray Allen, the perceived third of the Big Three that helped the Celtics win the NBA Finals in 2008. Pierce and Ray Allen’s off-court relationship was basically non-existent, and there appears to have been quite a distance between Allen and other veterans Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Sam Cassell. But Pierce points out that not all teammates need to have matching friendship rings.
I know Ray probably didn’t like [Celtic teammate Rajon] Rondo that much, but it wasn’t a fact of not liking somebody. You don’t have to like everybody you play with — it’s a matter of showing support.
Cavs fans are no stranger this season to media and fans alike playing amateur psychiatrist to Cavs team members. I won’t pretend to know how Cavalier players feel about one another, but there’s no need for them to have slumber parties with one another — but I do hope they achieve that feeling of mutual respect and support to which Pierce alluded.
The last fascinating thing was how Paul Pierce viewed the Cavs and LeBron James in relation to himself. The Wizards — who have basically been in a tailspin since January 15— will play the four-seed Toronto Raptors in the first round. But Pierce, though conceding that the Wizards “definitely have to worry about Cleveland,” says he isn’t intimidated by any teams in the Eastern Conference. Reminder: the last time the Wizards played the Cavaliers at full strength before Wednesday night, they lost by 38 points. Finally, Pierce had a parting shot for James.
“I always say I wish I was in my prime matching up against LeBron,” said Pierce, grinning. “Let’s see how many championships he would have won then.”
Which was kind of a bizarre thing to say, because Pierce’s only championship came at at time when Pierce was in his prime and LeBron was still a year or two away from his. No Cavs fan will ever forget the duel between James and Pierce in game seven of the second round of the 2008 playoffs, one that James and the Cavs didn’t win (because “Cleveland”). But for Pierce not to acknowledge that he benefited from the timing of James’ apex is interesting.1
The Pierce interview was probably the most worthwhile interview with an NBA player this season other than Chuck Klosterman’s GQ interview with Kobe Bryant. As a matter of fact, Kobe has been taking to Twitter as a media vigilante to defend Russell Westbrook and even LeBron James from what he views as unjustified criticism.
Media critique- Mj was a gunner Magic was a coach killer Shaq wasn't serious Lbj couldn't handle pressure Spurs r too old #BeforeRings
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 14, 2015
But things like Pierce’s interview and Kobe’s Twitter rants serve as a reminder that it’s a treat when smart players like them open up and speak candidly on teammates and the league and, well, virtually anything. Sometimes Pierce came off like a delusional geezer who was speaking freely because he was unafraid of any consequences due to the fact he is going to die (slash retire) soon, like your racist grandfather. But what a great job by Jackie MacMullan (as usual) for getting a player like Pierce to open up. I found it amusing that Pierce obsessively thinks of LeBron like he does, and nothing would satisfy me more than for the Cavs to have an opportunity to eliminate the Wizards (again) and Pierce in the Eastern Conference Finals, but I feel that the Cavs won’t have that opportunity.
Random 90s Song of the Day. It’s finally spring time, isn’t it? This is one of my favorite summery tunes. Find a porch and some friends with some stars and enjoy this old Third Eye Blind jam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yroFsBCuMxw
- Maybe 2012 unfolds differently if Pierce in his prime, but that seems doubtful unless 2003 or 2007 Garnett is also transported to 2012. [↩]
46 Comments
I was really hoping Atlanta would get stuck slugging with Indiana.
I feel like Third Eye Blind was (is?) a band that always sort of got a bad rap. I mean, sure, Semi-Charmed Life is a super cheesy song and you only get one chance to make a first impression, but there were some really strong deep cuts on that first Third Eye Blind album. And yes, Narcolepsy is a really great song.
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I don’t even own A pitchfork, let alone many pitchforks, that would necessitate a pitchfork rack.
http://starsmedia.ign.com/stars/image/article/837/837858/stacy_gunrack_002_1196140713.jpg
I liked that entire album very much, think it might still be on my iPod. Motorcycle Drive By is another solid song. Going to see them and Dashboard Confessional at Nautica next month (the wife LOVES DC, I personally didn’t know either band was still around).
first, you can have a stand-alone pitchfork rack. they look really cool above the mantle.
also, we are opening this store about a block away from the Berea headquarters. have had my eye on this prime piece of real estate on Engle near the Bagley intersection. anyways, we’re still selling them on the street corners, but we’ll have the brick & mortar at sometime, hopefully before training camp. all the latest model pitchforks, torches, and fuel will be available (but not lighting mechanisms – state law and all).
I was really hoping Toronto would take the 3-seed, but the mailed it in Tuesday night, possibly on purpose so they could see Atl in round 2 instead of us.
Can I use your store as a hub for my shuttle to the 480 bridge? We only sell one-way tickets.
Not sure that reducing demand is in the best interest of my store.
Oh man on the WEST side? I guess Ill have to open one on the nicer side of town
If you squint, that playoff chart looks a little bit like a rhino sneezing.
If they buy them before taking my shuttle, you don’t have to worry about returns when the team gets goo…ok I couldn’t finish that with a straight face.
Are the Spurs a booger, of that little bird that always sits on rhinos?
Snot cloud.
That is possibly the greatest observation ever made on the internet.
That’s an album that you can listen all the way through and enjoy every song. I actually felt that way about the first three albums from Third Eye Blind. There just aren’t many like that anymore as artists spend a massive amount of effort trying to get one radio/iTunes hit, and then they fill up the rest of the album with a bunch of steaming hot crap because nobody buys a whole album anymore.
I’ve never heard a reasoning for it, but I’d be interested to know why Stephan Jenkins chose such an upbeat melody for the lyrics in Semi-Charmed Life. The lyrics are actually kinda gritty and sad, so it’s a weird pairing.
http://mrwgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Zach-Galifianakis-Thank-You-Gif-To-An-Insult-In-The-Hangover.gif
To each their own; we are open on the side actually utilizing the North Coast and doesn’t treat it like an industrial yard, is just outside the snow belt, and doesn’t have the ghettos or snobs 🙂
https://media1.giphy.com/media/wp1PwJJVoRrO/200_s.gif
Psycho Hose Beast!
Semi-Charmed Life may be cheesy from the hook aspect, but lyrically it’s about as down and dirty as it gets.
It always blew me away that somehow Q104 missed the whole crystal meth addicted sex maniac aspect to the song.
….and then i read your comment, sorry for the double up. great minds and all i guess.
That first album (Third Eye Blind) is legitimately great. They only have 20 or so songs that I really like, but I REALLY like those 20 songs.
I love Third Eye Blind. I still have the (presumably illegal) CDs someone copied for me when I was like 13 years old in my car that I listen to.
Motorcycle Drive By is phenomenal. They’re a pretty average live band imo, but they will have some highlights, and Motorcycle Drive by is one of them if they play it.
I don’t think that was intended to be a compliment but I’ll construe it as such, anyway.
It was just an observation; no mental state to be interpreted. That said, I love art, both intentional and unintentional, so definitely take it as a compliment (or even as a complement, which also works).
I’ll take it as a compartment, and I’ll store my pitchforks in there.
mobile compartments available for sale in the shape of guitar cases for those that like nighttime motorcycle rides, but cannot be w/o their pitchfork.
Sounds perfect for a midnight ride on my three-wheeled motorcycle around D.C.!!
I’ll take that as appropriate comportment.
I’m in. Let’s roll
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SeMtdvGs9ZA/TGtNX_dghxI/AAAAAAAABHU/6s6JXAjk-Cg/s400/mariachis.jpg
I wanted to put it in Hunting Valley, just to upset the locals
God I cant believe TEB is going to be 20 when the new CBA takes effect (hows that for tying sports and popculture together?). As a 21/22 year old at the time this album crushed every sentiment I was feeling about life at the time. Drinking, drugs girl problems, not being able to get ahead in life because of the afformentioned, its easy to take shots at Semi Charmed and Hows it going to be but I still defend that album to death. That is one of those albums I call a Manifesto album. It has such a specific distinct sound and the songs spell out such a clear point of view that the album traps the artist. Candlebox and Cypress Hill had the same problem, and I think Mumford and Sons are sort of a modern parallel.
Burning Man will ALWAYS have a place on any playlist I put together. God of Wine is maudlin as hell but 21 year old me breaking up with a girl who somehow had more of a drinking problem than myself wore that track out.
What did kids do in their teens/early 20s before and after the 90’s? Just sit around being happy? Kids you missed out on a lot of angst, misdirected anger, and enough wallowing self loathing to fill a Lutheran church bingo night.
Those albums are out there but they do not get radio play, you gotta dig for them. I have actually only bought one “single” in my life and that was a download of Holliday Road because it doesn’t exist on an album, and all my family vacations have to start with it. They never get enough credit so I’ll just take a moment to point out that The Walkmen spent the past 15 years turning out 5 albums of really good to outright great music and almost consciously avoided writing “singles”, The Rat got some airplay but that’s the only song I can think of that got out. Easily one of my 2/3 favorite band from the past 15 years, but I acknowledge that you can listen to any one song and determine whether Hamilton Leithauser’s voice is going to drive you to kick puppies.
One could argue that the Talking Heads rode that formula all the way to R&R hall of fame.
please be sure to sign the waiver about crossing state lines.
Found it. It’s a baby rhino.
http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/07/13/1226678/755577-83de69be-eaa1-11e2-a253-c34780a9e95d.jpg
They did, but their “pop” music was still kind of delightfully strange. It didn’t have the bubble gum pop sound that Semi-Charmed Life had, so maybe that is why I think of it differently.
porckchop are you on Twitter? I wish to subscribe to your ramblings. (not a joke)
Sorry I couldn’t hear you, the wind was whipping through my luxurious red (facial) hair.
I was being a bit melodramatic. I love Foster the People albums and can listen to those all the way through. Ditto Vampire Weekend. I like what I have heard of The Walkmen, but I haven’t listened to their albums… time to cruise Spotify.
Drinking, drugs, girl problems… I couldn’t relate to any of these at 16 years old, but I was a moody teenager with a CD player in my car and a job delivering pizzas, and I must have listened to this album front to back 200 times in the summer of ’97. I remember feeling a strong attachment to “Losing a Whole Year”. Not because I had missed an entire year lying on a couch in a drug-addled state, but because I had recently moved from Hudson, OH to Harrisonburg, VA. I had just spent a year with no real friends and hadn’t really made any memories worth keeping… it was like losing a year of my life (or so my teenage brain reasoned). Oh yeah, and as an extremely shy kid, I really related to “The Background”.
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