To write an open letter to Lakers fans.

Currently Listening to: Tanya Morgan – So Damn Down

Tanya Morgan’s “Brooklynati” is my album of the year so far; it’s reached “Below the Heavens” status for me.  Just putting it out there.

I’m going to address the Cavs Magic series first.  Cleveland isn’t the better team, talent wise I would rather have Magic 9 out of 10 times because there’s more balance and Dwight can do enough to draw the D.  I think he has to stop relying on that jump hook so much and do what Shaq did and just post up and back down on all C’s out there because no one in the league can guard him, but that’s just me and I’m not the one on the court.  I think he can do it, but I don’t think he does.  That being said, I think their coach sucks. Hard.  I watch him in those little huddles and it makes me sad how no one seems to listen to him. I also think Lebron will never, and I mean NEVER let this team lose until the finals.  He’ll average 45/12/12 if he has to, and he can do it. I have no doubt that he can.

Now, to the issue at hand.

Click Here. Press Ctrl+ F and then search for “5 minutes”, read the question and answer, and then search for “Los Angeles” and do the same.

Dear Lakers Fans,

Stop whining when you think you don’t get the calls, because you always do.  The Lakers are a combination of both the Yankees and the Red Sox for the NBA.  They have a huge fanbase – which seems to include about 90% of Hollywood  stars (even if they’re from say New Orleans), they’re successful, they’re hated by about every non-laker fan in the league, and they have the commish’s silent blessing a la Boston Red Sox.  I’m sick of your complaints about refs, and I’m even more disgusted on how you jump on “bad calls” when the game/series is no longer in contention.

Ex 1.1 Lakers vs. Houston, when Ronny Artest got that technical in game 3 and every Lakers fans updated their status with the likes of “what a shit call NBA”.  Please, that team had 1/3 the payroll you have, no guy over 6′9 when you have two seven footers, and was a good 7, 8 men deep (albeit they took you to seven games.) Every rational mind would know that the Rockets  had no chance.  I digress; that series should’ve been over about five days before game seven but it wasn’t; and you all know it.  The only reason why you didn’t get upset at that one call; and that’s probably the only call you haven’t been upset at in the last 10 years, is because you all knew that.  Everyone knew that.

Granted, that game 1 was lost by the Nugs because the Nuggest have one George Karl as their coach, who – seeing as how I’m watching Game 2 right now, is as red as Violet Beauregarde was blue and is as incompetent in the clutch as SVG.  Those last three minutes were horribly coached and the Ariza steal should not have happened.

Granted, the refs like to play mind games.  I’m pretty sure commsih Stern has them making calls for the other teams for the first three quarters and then for the Lakers in the fourth.  You can say, oh okay that means they get 3 times the many calls we do, but no, the fourth quarter is by far more important than the first three combined.  If you get calls despite being down by say… 15, you can easily come back. Easily.  It means you can play more aggressively without getting calls, and you can miss shots with a greater chance to redeem yourself at the foul line.  In the fourth quarter, the Lakers committed six fouls, while the Nuggets committed ten.

In the last five minutes, the Nuggets committed five whereas the Lakers committed one (when the game was over; the one by Derek Fisher so that JR couldn’t let a three go.)  This includes the offensive foul on Melo drawn by Pau (weaksauce) and the one on Kobe when the game was tied at 99 (from what I remember, it was a drive and justified).  Really?  Really?

This, mind you, comes in a quarter when the Lakers took shots in the key only three times, and the Nuggets took six.

Let’s be honest.  Your team is mentally weak down low, your team plays with no passion, and save Kobe Bryant and maybe Ariza, no one seems to care about winning the Finals.  Pau doesn’t show up until he has to, Fish has secretly become more dirty than Bowen (um.. Scola anyone?; if Chauncey did that to Pau, you would be all over his ass), Bynum lost his confidence when he went down, both (or maybe all three if you include Brown) of your point guards are mostly confused on the court, no one, and I mean no one, outside of LA likes Vujacic, and your bench secretly sucks.  Hard.

At the half its 54-55, if the Nuggets take this game, the Nugs are going to the finals in six.  If not, the Lakers take it to 7 and win because Pau will finally care.  It’s really kind of sad.  The PTI guys made a good point, you cheer for this team because you think they’re good, but you hate to because they play with no passion.  The other three teams, they care.  Dwight cares.  Melo cares a lot.  Lebron cares like the Championship trophy is his only way to go to heaven, or New York, without any consequences.

So Lakers fans.  Please, stop whining.  Stop crying.  Stop yelling.  Stop bitching. You have a one in the win column.

- Kevin

That it’s just the nature of the Fan.

Currently Listening to: Lupe Fiasco – Put You on Game

I hate Lakers and Boston fans.  They lose with no shame and they celebrate with no honor.  But I think I hate those fans because I’ve lived in those cities, and know so many of those really shitty fans.  Obviously this is a huge generalization, but when I listen to some more… rational people… who learn to accept defeat and win knowing that someone else lost. Well.  I guess I just like maturity.

Which is what Mark Cuban is.  Mature.  Apparently he and Mother K-Mart got into an argument in game 3, and he had pretty mean things to say.  Obviously things are unclear but Kenyon called Cuban out for it and sort of demanded a face to face without the eye of the public and the media.  I think Cuban did the right thing here. But I realized that Cuban’s on to something; it isn’t Boston or LA fans that are shitty, being an asshole is the nature of being a fan.  I just don’t know if I would go and threaten or personally attack a Lion’s, Bear’s, or Viking’s fan.

BTW As a man without an NBA team, if Bill Simmons becomes the Minnesota GM, I would be a pseudo-Twolves fan.  Just putting it out there.

Also, the newest episode of How I Met Your Mother, and there are spoilers ahead, has Ted meeting Stella again and helping her get back with Tony.  I was talking to some people about it, and apparently no one would’ve done what Ted did.  When I was watching the episode, I was thinking that I would’ve done what Ted did, but now that people point it out, maybe I won’t.  I don’t really know actually.  I’ve never been left at the alter, or been to the alter (yeah no.)  but I would definitely help out an ex get back with someone; but probably not if that was the guy my ex cheated on me with or something.  That’s never happened to me before, but eh.

Tomas Unger, if you’re reading this.  I’m writing poetry again.  When I’m done, we can swap.  But this isn’t about nature or politics, but just some girl I’m kind of going crazy for and some social justice stuff.  Maybe I’ll post one up here soon too.  I feel like I’m in highschool all over again, it kind of sucks.

To talk about the NFL Draft

Currently Listening to: New Boyz – Your a Jerk

Guilty Pleasure song of the month.  Plus they actually do mispell/confuse Your/You’re, which I think is hilarious.

I miss writing for writing’s sake. So here goes some incoherent mumbo jumbo.

So this weekend was the NFL Draft, and I actually watched about 28 picks worth of coverage on ESPN, which.. save I think for Matt Mosley… I mean Todd McShay, was a complete utter disaster in live coverage.

But really quickly (and this is more just so I can look back and be like. YAY! I was wrong/right).

Love Raji, Matthews, and Meredith.  I think this is the first time in a LONNGG time (maybe the Hawk pick) that I was like. OH YEAHHH GO PACKERS!  that being said, I’m actually a TT supporter and he has drafted pretty well (save that Harrell disaster).

btw.  manu vs spurs was just fun to watch.  Kind of the same with arsenal v. manu, but not as much.

I WANT ENTOURAGE TO COME BACK NOW. and Life and Kings to come back next season. East of the Eden = great anime. go watch it.  reminder to go catch up on bleach and naruto manga. YAY NERD KEVIN!

OFF TO SOME PLACE I GO! GO PACK GO!

To idolize Tiger Woods.

Currently Listening to: Living Legends – Creative Differences

Yesterday was Paid Dues. I am not as in tune with independent Hip Hop as I thought I was. I apologize to Chase and Caroline for forgetting and being so late, especially missing Blu and Exile, which is why both Chase and I probably wanted to go to Paid Dues anyway. It was really really great to see Atmosphere, he’s freaking AMAZING live. If you get the chance to see him, you truly are blessed. Equally amazing are Grouch and Eligh from Living Legends (they got Paul Dateh on on one of their tracks), Living Legends as a collective group, Brother Ali, and Tech N9ne (if you’re into Tech N9ne). Not that impressive? Slaughterhouse. Crooked I visited CMC for a Hip Hop conference earlier this year and was well spoken and eloquent, he was decent on stage and had a quick freestyle that was pretty freaking good. HOWEVER. Slaughterhouse is a collective group of 4 rappers, and Joe Budden was messed up out of his mind. They wouldn’t stop talking. They almost got booed/kind of did get booed. Anyway

I was watching the Arnold Palmer Invitational final round today and just watching Tiger play at the level he played today makes me happy.  I couldn’t breathe for two straight hours.  It’s been 8 long months and he couldn’t have come back at a better time.   I know many people will say that it was Sean O’Hair choking, but here’s how I see it.  Sean O’Hair can’t help but choke because Tiger’s right there lurking in the same group as him.  If Tiger wasn’t there, I think O’Hair would have hit 70 and putt a par to win while Tiger was sitting in the clubhouse. Also, it wasn’t like Tiger didn’t sink two amazing putts on the 15 and the 18 to put him there.  You can’t make this stuff up.

Just Tiger being Tiger.

To praise Tim Lincecum.

Currently Listening to: Lil’ Wayne – Receipt

I was watching Japan play Korea yesterday, and it was great.  The entire APA community got into it, trying to connect with its roots.  Not only did America not make it through, but no American country got through, and while one was the defending champ, I don’t think anyone expected both Korea and Japan to make it past the superpowers of USA, Puerto Rico, D.R… etc. etc.  The reliever for Japan (that blew a save but got a win in the 10th) was Yu Darvish, who has long been heralded as the next Daisuke.   You have to admit he has a sick breaking ball.

It got me thinking about my favorite pitchers and stuff.  You have K-Rod and Papelbon with thier violent deliveries, and then guys like Maddux or Wang who deliver with wit and finesse.  And then you have guys like Tim Lincecum

When I was in Taiwan this last summer, I brought a couple magazines with me… EGM, Economists, the good same ol’ same ol’.  The one I read the most, was that issue of SI with Tim Lincecum on the cover, where we learn about the NL Cy Young’s winner path to glory.  As a Dodgers fan, I do despise the Giants, but you can’t help but love Tim Lincecum, this kid who’s probably smaller and skinnier than every player in the Major Leagues down to single A.  I must’ve read that article by Tom Verducci three four times, it was great.  The science behind his mechanics, and just how someone his size can throw 95+ mph is ridiculous.

I just wanted to share, so here is the article.

- Kevin

To update about Spring Break.

Currently Listening to: Jonathan Larson/RENT/Rosario Dawson + Adam Pascal – Another Day

So, a lot has gone on.  I picked up the golf sticks for the first time in like 9 months and went to the range and did pretty well.  I got to meet some people, which was fun.  Still, I’m always going to be an outsider here at SM cause I left after my freshman year, and sometime I just miss hanging out with some Milton people, they all seem to be on the east coast, it’s kind of sad.

I also started reading Asian American X and it’s really motivating.  I’m applying for APAM Head Mentor (I haven’t made my final decision yet, but I have the application done) and I found some good stories for group discussions.  The more I think about Asian American issues at CMC, the less competent APAM looks because it isn’t an adequate venue for such discussions.  I really want to see if I can jumpstart a new movement towards developing an Asian American social program at CMC.  I think the problem is that a) it failed like 3 years ago, but also b) there isn’t enough interest because people care too much about other things, which is fair.  I’ll see how things go, perhaps next year.

Killzone 2 is great, but to save some money, I returned it with no dent to my wallet.  Great great used game program Gamespot/EB games has.  I’ll probably get it again over the summer, the online compenent is RIDICULOUSLY FUN!

Also, I’ve only watched like two or three musicals in my life, the Lion King (professionally done), A Chorus Line (Milton), Wiz (SM) but I don’t remember any of them, even though the last two I watched like 3/4 years ago.  I really wanted to watch Rent, which closed last September, and I didn’t want to watch the movie because it apparently didn’t do the musical justice.   The DVD for the last Rent Broadway show  is out, kind of, and so I watched it and I’m obsessed/sad I didn’t get to see it live.  I’m even more sad that I didn’t get to see it with the original cast.  Even more so, I dled the Rent Movie Soundtrack and am obsessed with Rosario Dawson’s voice.   Oh. And I’m obsessed I didn’t get to see NPH as Mark.  Even though he parodied it in SNL.  NPH rules.

My bracket is doomed, don’t even talk to me about NCAA BBall anymore.

To maim Michael Dunleavy.

Currently Listening to: Consequence ft. Kanye West – Don’t Forget ‘Em

Da dumm. da dumm dumm.. ooohh oohhh… Don’t forget em.. don’t don’t forget em.  This song is so catchy.  I forgot all about it.

Manu won today. Yeah.  The two headers were BEAUUUTIFULLL.  Hopefully another double.. or dare I say it? no I won’t say it.  I don’t want to jinx it… persuades Ronny to stay.

Two nights ago, the Clippers blew a double digit lead to Lebron.  Here’s the DL by the Sports Guy Bill Simmons, a writer I admire but believe is sometimes overzealous.  Still, after reading that you have to come to one conclusion. SHANK. DUNLEAVY.  Cheers to me completely losing faith in the Clippers and throwing away my fandom because I honestly will suffocate if I have to put on this brown paper bag for another year.  That Lakers gold is so pretty… oooohhhh.

I love his response at the end of that air ball.

So here’s what I see for the Clippers.  You get the number 2 or 3 pick in the draft (because lets be honest, the worst team never gets the number 1 pick… Here’s hoping the Raptors get it.)

There are two players you have to trade. 1) Baron Davis 2) Marcus Camby because you can’t resign the latter and the first one blows in your system. And some team probably LOVES that contract because it expires right before 2010.   Right?  So you draft Ricky Rubio.  You have your top three consolidated, with a line up of Eric Gordan (who everyone loves), the new Pistol Pete, and Al Thorton.  Zach Randolph and Chris Kaman downlow are okay, but ehh.. I don’t know who you would get back though.  I think Jermaine/Toronto might be down for moving if you give them Camby.  Davis for Maggette sounds good (lol. I’m pulling shit out of my ass)

Here’s what will probably happen.  You keep everyone, you draft Ricky only for him to laugh and be like. “dood I’m not touching your team with at ten foot pole, COMO ESTA ESPANA, MI AMOR!!!.”  Without Rubio, you resign Shaun Livingston “the next Magic Johnson”, who breaks his leg three weeks into the season. Camby leaves, you sit around in 2010 when everyone else is signing Chris Bosh or Dwayne Wade.  Attendance drops to an all time low, and Donald Sterling’s not willing to spend money to better it.  Baron Davis becomes Starbury 2.0, no one touches him because he’s not getting any younger.  Eric Gordan cries himself to sleep, gains 20 pounds and fades when he could be the next Mo Williams in any other team in the league (yeah, even the Grizz), and the only highlight in your system is Al Thorton, who by himself still only get 17 8 a game because he needs a good pg to excel.   Zach Randolph gives you 21 and 10, but who cares, its not flashy and he has a 3 pt % floating at 15, throwing airballs at the end of every other game.   Oh yeah, Chris Kaman, who you’re paying 11 mil by this point, is giving you 8 and 8 a night for 40 games a year.  Clippers become the first team that goes 10-72 in history.

Yup, I still have a chinese midterm tomorrow that I have hardly studied for.

- Kevin