Enjoy the Enjoyment had a post regarding the great play of Kevin Durant this month. Here is my comment:
My initial response to this is, who cares? I'm more interested in how the Blazers are doing and their future. Or New Orleans. Or Memphis. Because any future professional basketball in Seattle will concern one of those teams, either in a move or just proximity. Never in my life did I think I could follow the Trailblazers. It helps that they have Roy, a fellow UW alum and Oden, from my wife's school. But still, if I watch the NBA (which is actually a big IF seeing how David Stern is a douche bag), that’s the future. I'm almost to the point where I hope Durant fails because I don't want to see the Oklahoma City Team Formerly Known as the SuperSonics succeed.
Our hopes of keeping the Sonics in Seattle hinge upon a court case that, if ruled in the city's favor, means we have to hope that Bennett gets tired, someone offers him an amount he cannot refuse, and he sells. Or, the league works out some sort of deal regarding Seattle, Oklahoma City, and another franchise. But why would these happen. First, Stern is desperate for Bennett to get a team in Oklahoma.
Second, why would Bennett sell? All he has to do is sit back for two years, alienate the City of Seattle even more, play in lame duck team in an empty area, and still receive support from Stern. But, he has Durant, scoring 25 a game on 45% shooting with increasingly impressive defensive skills. There's Green, doing everything right: solid defense, no turnovers, scoring 13-16 a game, 8 rebounds. Then there are the two picks this year (how about this, take Brook Lopez early and then Robin with the Phoenix pick; or Love and Collison; or Rose and Hibbert, if he falls that far; the possibilities are making me cry), a future with good salary cap space, multiple second rounder’s this year plus three more picks coming soon, thus, plenty of room for additions via the draft, free agency, or trades. After two more years in Seattle, this is a Championship caliber team, just in time to move to Oklahoma City.
Good teams can do quite well in small markets, it is when they stink that they struggle. That's why Stern rigged the lottery last year and doesn't care about the media market comparisons. It is not like a crappy Grizzly team leaving Vancouver to be a crappy Memphis team where the novelty of an NBA franchise wears off.
So, I really cannot imagine a scenario where the Sonics realistically stay in Seattle. Another team may come, take on the Sonics name and records (like the Browns). But they are still not the Sonics. The Sonics are in Oklahoma City, winning. Seattle gets the renamed Grizzlies or Hornets or whoever else. I’m sure the sting wouldn’t be so bad if Durant and Green fail or leave as soon as they become free agents and Seattle’s “new” franchise is a team like the Hornets with a point guard and center in their prime. I guess another way to take the sting away is to accept that had Stern not rigged the draft, the Sonics would be playing Yi. So really, that Oklahoma team would not be the real Sonics. The one that went from Western Conference Power to Wally Walker doormats and is now only succeeding because the league cheated.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Movie Reviews
I can’t imagine the last three movies I’ve watched being in any way memorable. Sometimes I wonder why I torture myself picking movies that I know are going to stink. Although, maybe I’m not being fair, one was entertaining, one was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, and the third was better than its prequel.
The first movie was Doomsday. I went to see this movie for three reasons. One, I had absolutely nothing else to do. Two, I’ve always liked the word “doomsday.” And three, it is a British film. The film started out ripping off (or, as I’m sure the director would say, paying tribute to) 28 Weeks Later, where virus breaks out in Glasgow causing Scotland (and portions of Northern England) to be physically quarantined by a massive wall and the seas mined and patrolled. 20 years or so later and the movie shifts to taking liberty with Escape From New York and Aliens. It then manages to go with the trifecta: Mad Max, the Road Warrior, and Beyond Thunderdome. This formula is thus ripe for the making of a crappy movie. But, in the end, I was entertained. The film did what it was meant to do, be an over the top action flick taking points from some classics. Bob Hoskins was good, as usual. Rhona Mitra was in tight pants and tank-top throughout. And Malcolm McDowell’s nose was scary large. Movie purists and snobby reviewers will not like it. I, on the other hand, was amuzed.
Find me a movie based on a video game and I’ll show you a terrible film. Although Hitman was not terrible, it didn’t do anything to challenge my theory. Going in, my expectation was zero but I was sold on the previews (I like Timothy Olyphant and the previews showed what appeared to be a highly stylized film) so I watched anyway. But the movie was violent (a lot of blood splatters and such when people were shot) and the action sequences, the ones that go beyond reality, were not choreographed very well. Some plot holes and the “wait a minute, that doesn’t make sense” scenes. By the time the movie ended my thought was that it could have been better but for the video game genre, it was passable. Having no expectation of a good movie, it was a pleasant surprise, but that doesn’t mean I would recommend it.
Finally, I decided to torture myself with Resident Evil: Extinction. Why? Because I love zombie movies. Even though there’s a 95% chance it will be bad, I’m still drawn to them. This movie had nothing going for it: a movie based on a video game, the sequel to a horrendous movie, zombie movie percentages, and a lead who cannot act (but looks good not doing it). Although better than part 2, this was one was bad. For zombie movie fans only. Well, also for gamers. And those with prurient thoughts about Milla Jovovich. So, a lot of us.
The first movie was Doomsday. I went to see this movie for three reasons. One, I had absolutely nothing else to do. Two, I’ve always liked the word “doomsday.” And three, it is a British film. The film started out ripping off (or, as I’m sure the director would say, paying tribute to) 28 Weeks Later, where virus breaks out in Glasgow causing Scotland (and portions of Northern England) to be physically quarantined by a massive wall and the seas mined and patrolled. 20 years or so later and the movie shifts to taking liberty with Escape From New York and Aliens. It then manages to go with the trifecta: Mad Max, the Road Warrior, and Beyond Thunderdome. This formula is thus ripe for the making of a crappy movie. But, in the end, I was entertained. The film did what it was meant to do, be an over the top action flick taking points from some classics. Bob Hoskins was good, as usual. Rhona Mitra was in tight pants and tank-top throughout. And Malcolm McDowell’s nose was scary large. Movie purists and snobby reviewers will not like it. I, on the other hand, was amuzed.
Find me a movie based on a video game and I’ll show you a terrible film. Although Hitman was not terrible, it didn’t do anything to challenge my theory. Going in, my expectation was zero but I was sold on the previews (I like Timothy Olyphant and the previews showed what appeared to be a highly stylized film) so I watched anyway. But the movie was violent (a lot of blood splatters and such when people were shot) and the action sequences, the ones that go beyond reality, were not choreographed very well. Some plot holes and the “wait a minute, that doesn’t make sense” scenes. By the time the movie ended my thought was that it could have been better but for the video game genre, it was passable. Having no expectation of a good movie, it was a pleasant surprise, but that doesn’t mean I would recommend it.
Finally, I decided to torture myself with Resident Evil: Extinction. Why? Because I love zombie movies. Even though there’s a 95% chance it will be bad, I’m still drawn to them. This movie had nothing going for it: a movie based on a video game, the sequel to a horrendous movie, zombie movie percentages, and a lead who cannot act (but looks good not doing it). Although better than part 2, this was one was bad. For zombie movie fans only. Well, also for gamers. And those with prurient thoughts about Milla Jovovich. So, a lot of us.
Monday, March 17, 2008
First Post has to be about Husky Basketball
The good news is that the Husky basketball season is not over. The team will get some extra practices and at least one more game. I’m not sure I buy into it, but, supposedly, that can only help with next season. One great thing about this team is the positive attitude, there doesn’t appear to be any egos or personality clashes. Perhaps that ‘s what came out of the Greece trip.
Needless to say, this season was a disappointment. However, considering the History of Husky Basketball, we really shouldn’t look at a 16-16 record as a bad season. But, we all have short memories. I actually thought they would do better. I figured with Hawes gone they would run more, i.e., play that recent successful style. Then there was the NIT snub/chip on shoulder and the extra practices, games, bonding of the Greece trip.
So what went wrong? I have no doubt, especially with the Pac-10’s overall coaching emphasis on a more deliberate style, Hawes would have lead the team to the NCAA Tournament, the top of the Pac-10, and Player of the Year. Losing Hawes hurt a lot more than I expected. The next negative possibly came from the improper chip on the shoulder; the “we deserved to go and got snubbed” chip. This chip comes from blaming someone else, the “we were wronged” chip that’s good for a short period of revenge motivation, but in the end, taking it up an extra notch just isn’t there. If it was someone else’s fault, then the previous effort was fine. The proper chip comes from realizing it is your fault, the “I let myself, teammates, coaches, school down” chip that motivates a sustained effort of improvement. I’m not saying this team didn’t put forth a tremendous effort in the off-season, during practices, or games but this is the prefect time to use the proper, rather than improper, chip and take it up a notch, rededicate your effort. This is all the more possible with that good attitude of the team. Unlike last season, nobody can blame the NIT, and, more importantly, nobody (presumably) is blaming their teammates.
I’m looking forward to next season, as cliché as that is to say after a let down year from the fan’s perspective. But, there is no Spencer Hawes to label as the one and done distraction or to accommodate with a change in the style of play and no outside force to blame. Obviously, this season was full of what-ifs, making free throws being at the top of the list, but that’s fixable and I still believe Coach Romar is doing the right thing. He is moving this team out of the constant losing seasons. Sustained winning, even if it means the team goes .500, is an improvement from every Husky era since Detlef, Welp, and Coach Harshman. Sure there were ups, but they were always followed by downs. This is the fifth year in a row the team was .500 or above (of course, that could change with a loss to Valparaiso).
The Pac-10 is going to be completely different next year: WSU and UO lose a group of seniors (and possibly their coaches), UA, ASU, UCLA, USC, Cal and Stanford could lose their top one or two players. UW loses two guys that, frankly, are replaceable; maybe not an exact skill, leadership replacement, but what they bring to the table overall can be replaced. Jon Brockman is All Pac-10, Pondexter can score, he just needs to realize that’s what has to be done (Brockman should not be their first option on the offensive end), Venoy Overton showed promise at the point, which means Dentmon can move to the two guard where he also showed promise, and Matthew Bryan-Amaning showed a high ceiling. Factoring in year to year improvements, that’s a nice starting five; definitely better than this season. Throw in Artem Wallace being a capable bruising back-up for Brockman and Bryan-Amaning, Justin Holiday playing hustle ball and defense, some contribution from the freshman and the rest of the bench, this team will have another winning season. How far they get, will depend on having the right chip and using it appropriately.
Needless to say, this season was a disappointment. However, considering the History of Husky Basketball, we really shouldn’t look at a 16-16 record as a bad season. But, we all have short memories. I actually thought they would do better. I figured with Hawes gone they would run more, i.e., play that recent successful style. Then there was the NIT snub/chip on shoulder and the extra practices, games, bonding of the Greece trip.
So what went wrong? I have no doubt, especially with the Pac-10’s overall coaching emphasis on a more deliberate style, Hawes would have lead the team to the NCAA Tournament, the top of the Pac-10, and Player of the Year. Losing Hawes hurt a lot more than I expected. The next negative possibly came from the improper chip on the shoulder; the “we deserved to go and got snubbed” chip. This chip comes from blaming someone else, the “we were wronged” chip that’s good for a short period of revenge motivation, but in the end, taking it up an extra notch just isn’t there. If it was someone else’s fault, then the previous effort was fine. The proper chip comes from realizing it is your fault, the “I let myself, teammates, coaches, school down” chip that motivates a sustained effort of improvement. I’m not saying this team didn’t put forth a tremendous effort in the off-season, during practices, or games but this is the prefect time to use the proper, rather than improper, chip and take it up a notch, rededicate your effort. This is all the more possible with that good attitude of the team. Unlike last season, nobody can blame the NIT, and, more importantly, nobody (presumably) is blaming their teammates.
I’m looking forward to next season, as cliché as that is to say after a let down year from the fan’s perspective. But, there is no Spencer Hawes to label as the one and done distraction or to accommodate with a change in the style of play and no outside force to blame. Obviously, this season was full of what-ifs, making free throws being at the top of the list, but that’s fixable and I still believe Coach Romar is doing the right thing. He is moving this team out of the constant losing seasons. Sustained winning, even if it means the team goes .500, is an improvement from every Husky era since Detlef, Welp, and Coach Harshman. Sure there were ups, but they were always followed by downs. This is the fifth year in a row the team was .500 or above (of course, that could change with a loss to Valparaiso).
The Pac-10 is going to be completely different next year: WSU and UO lose a group of seniors (and possibly their coaches), UA, ASU, UCLA, USC, Cal and Stanford could lose their top one or two players. UW loses two guys that, frankly, are replaceable; maybe not an exact skill, leadership replacement, but what they bring to the table overall can be replaced. Jon Brockman is All Pac-10, Pondexter can score, he just needs to realize that’s what has to be done (Brockman should not be their first option on the offensive end), Venoy Overton showed promise at the point, which means Dentmon can move to the two guard where he also showed promise, and Matthew Bryan-Amaning showed a high ceiling. Factoring in year to year improvements, that’s a nice starting five; definitely better than this season. Throw in Artem Wallace being a capable bruising back-up for Brockman and Bryan-Amaning, Justin Holiday playing hustle ball and defense, some contribution from the freshman and the rest of the bench, this team will have another winning season. How far they get, will depend on having the right chip and using it appropriately.
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