31 October 2009

Bricks, Boethius and the Consolations of Violence


It's always interesting when the Warriors and Sharks are on at the same time, because the remote's previous button illustrates that only one Bay Area professional team is on television. The Warriors went into Phoenix and Nellie was hyping the game with Tom and Ralph as a chance for his young'uns to establish themselves. Glaring tell- Steve Nash had 20 assists, and the W's had 16. After the sixth turnover in what seemed like the first minute, I switched over to deep into Comcast cable land to catch the Sharks hosting the NHL's hottest team, the Colorado Avalanche. Tape to tape is what they call it, or for the haters, boom boom boom went the passes from stick to stick, like Disney had choregraphed the damn thing. Swirling movement with method to the madness and people showing up where they're supposed to and pucks arriving in the right place and damn if it didn't look like good old fashioned German efficiency. Flip back and Ass Jack is launching a three after receiving the first delivery of the possession. Clank. And so it goes. W's lose by 22. Sharks stop the Avalanche, 3-1.

So the Comcast pre-game pundits were talking about the Warriors starting at least 7-2 with their "easy" schedule. They are now winless in two games. Time to put the hope back in the chest, put down the bottle and pick up the Boethius- only this ain't Dame Fortuna's damn fault. Sometimes the only real consolation is to point the finger.

Does anybody know where Cohan lives? I got me some leftover bricks from the kiln incident last week.

29 October 2009

Hope for Future, or Same Old Thang?


What I Learned From Opening Night-

Warrior fans are not, apparently and contrary to all prior evidence, all Earth Day celebrators and Brothers and Sisters devotees. They booed Stephen Jackson relentlessly, giving him the Chris Pronger treatment every time he touched the ball- at least early. Note to We Believers- increase the heat until he's gone, and watch the young guys relax.

Stephen Curry has skills, baby. Several passes illustrated a full understanding of geometry and his quickness on defense created a number of turnovers. He looks slight out there, but at least for one game against perhaps the only team smaller than the Warriors, he did not get pushed around. Absurd prognosis after a single game- if he stays healthy, he'll be fixture at point and a Bay Area favorite by Christmas.

Yes, they can play together. The best moment of the first half came after Curry stripped the ball from his man, brought it up the right side, whipped a pass crosscourt to Monte at the left corner three-line who deked his man and then elevated for the baseline one-handed slam. And that's your Warriors' future moment choreographed to erase the memory of Media Day.

Remember two years ago when Monte's 18-foot jumper was automatic? Last night, it wasn't, and any chance at respectability for this team demands it return to its machine-like state.

Corey Maggette stunk up the joint and cost the team the game by continuing to fling outside set shots that threatened to explode the backboard. They originally signed the guy to go to the rim (well, they got him because Baron left and like all Bay Area owners, they panicked in fear of the violent rush of pitchfork-carrying season-ticket holders and signed a player who has east coast slow-down offense written all over him), get fouled and put double-digit free throw numbers, but last night they got a drunk Bob Cousy.

Maggette is not a 4, and his spot in the 3 rotation should be Kelenna Azubuike's, who regularly puts up positive plus/minus numbers, hits a high percentage of threes, pounds the glass, rebounds and defends tenaciously, and does it all with a brahmin's stoicism. He would be in the running for 6th Man of the Year award if Nellie ever developed a consistent substitution pattern.


The Biedrins/Turiaf starting combo should be over. Against a tiny team they managed a collective 12 points and 11 rebounds, underwhelming by even Biedrins' regular numbers. Get Randolph in there, as anybody knows who saw the second best moment of the first half, Tony's , lofting a majestic 25-foot three at the buzzer. There's your second image in the hope-for-the-future sweepstakes, diehards.

But in the end, of course, the Warriors found a way to lose. A bad turnover here, a missed defensive assignment there, an obvious choice to take the last shot, and there's your Warrior replay. Contrast that with the Sharks, our teel friends from the south, who always find a way to win in the regular season (shut up playoff breath). They get outplayed at home by the resurgent Kings (I know, I had trouble typing it), hang around on one Patty Marleau goal, and then squeeze it out in the shootout with the goalless Ryan Clowe playing the hero in round six.

The Warriors will be exciting this year, but they need to move Jackson, find the right substitution mix and then play Maggette some of his Clipper tapes.

By hey, I'll be watching Friday night in Phoenix. Nash/Curry, baby. Nash/Curry.

26 October 2009

Good Times!


14 October 2009

Anvil


No review, just a weepy recommendation for the documentary on Anvil. The boys (uh, 50+ geezers) in the band are endearing and the story is not pure Spinal Tap (although they do have big ST moments) but a reason to keep on pushing when the peanut gallery keeps laughing at your middle-age. I'm going for a tissue, for the right reason for a change. Rent the damn movie, and wipe that smirk off your face.

12 October 2009

09 October 2009

Send the Kids to Bed with Their Candy

HALLOWEEN!
Saturday October 31st 2009
NOBUNNY(Cramps Tribute)
SHANNON & THE CLAMS
BLACK TIME
EAST BAY GREASE
TEUTONICS
+1 tba
Cover Sets!
Costume Contest!
Laced Candy!
DJs!
Stork Club
Oakland, California USA

06 October 2009

Get Your Shit Together

BUDGET ROCK PARTY
in The East Bay Thanks to The East Bay Express and The Missouri Lounge (from Sr. Mitch)

Budget Rock 8 has a giant, super-ridiculous party to stoke out the East Bay!!!

10/15...9pm - 2am...

Missouri Lounge in Berkeley!!!

DJs Tina Boom-Boom and Mitch C. will be playing Budget classics all night long!

Tina says "GET YOUR 90'S ON!!!"DRUNK MEN AND WOMEN!!!BUDGET ROCK TRIVIA CONTEST!!!PRIZES!!!T-SHIRTS!!!POSTERS!!!TICKET GIVEAWAYS!!!FREE RECORDS!!!ENOUGH BOOZE TO MAKE A WHALE BARF!!!EAT BBQ SAUSAGES ON THE SMOKING PATIO!!!WAIT IN LINE TO PEE!!!DANCE!!!Don't miss this!!!

GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER!!!