Hoping for sarcasm

Oregon State coach Pat Casey states the following:

To be able to come to this tremendous tournament - the best athletic event on the face of the Earth - and to run through it pretty good, it's pretty special and it's a huge tribute to the guys...

I understand his excitement about winning the fairly unwatched and unnoticed college baseball title.  But seriously, the best athletic event on the face of the earth?  Better than say it's pro version?  Not to mention that baseball is probably the least athletic of the five major U.S. sports (I'm throwing soccer in for the first time). 

This guy is publicly stating that baseball is more athletic than football, hockey, basketball and soccer.  A sport where 90% (not a hard stat, just an out of my ass one...) of the plays involve no more than three of the minimum 10 players (pitcher, catcher, batter) on the field actually moving.  I personally have trouble calling it a sport, much less in athletic event.  Hell, rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, running, skateboarding, boxing, and rollerblading are all probably more athletic than baseball.  Not saying it's not a skill, and hell I'll even give you 'sport' compared to what this guy said.  But athletic event it is not.....

Technorati tags: Pat Casey, Oregon State, College Baseball, Athletic

Entertainment Blasphemy

Sitting here watching the boob tube and an Itunes commercial comes on.  It features what I guess is a new Paul McCartney song called 'Dance Tonite'.  The commercial in itself is annoying.  Then, it happens, epiphany!!!  Epiphany!!!  Paul McCartney can't really sing....or dance.  Uh-oh, logical train of thought leads to (entertainment blasphemy in 5..4..3..2..1) the Beatles suck!!!  Listening to them and I realized that they were more fad than talent.  Yea I said it!   They never brought chills with their singing, their dance moves (loosely using the word dance) did not awe......in fact, the only reason they are considered so great is because they were considered cute by adolescent girls. 

Now ladies (30 plus for this one)....think about the guys you thought were cute when you were between the ages of 12 and 17......I'm willing to guess that you often wonder why you thought those guys were cute....apply this to the Beatles.....

And their drug influenced titles (cuz I know none of their music by heart) make no sense whatsoever.......Strawberry Fields?  Sgt Peppers Lonely Heart's Band?

Technorati tags: Beatles

Xpinionated has moved

As mentioned earlier this week....okay on Monday, since this is just Tuesday, new posts will now appear at http://xavieredavis.com/Xpinionated. I have also combined the newly created Frivolous Lawsuits xpinionated blog into the new Xpinionated blog....please follow me now....;)

And check out xavieredavis.com as time marches on as well.....plans to have it chock full of digital goodness beyond just blogging! That's the plan anyway

Trade demand lingers

According to reports, Kobe is still requesting a trade according to league sources (whatever that means).  In any case, unless Kobe is serious in that nothing could be done to the Lakers that would show a move in the right direction, I say we need to make Andrew Bynum as well as any other player available if it means getting the pieces together to compete. 

I know Baby Boy Bynum has potential out the ass but if we are in championship mode, we can't live on potential.  If we are in rebuilding mode, then Kobe wants out. 

Not my decision to make, but I do want a decision to be made.  For as long as a decision isn't made, there will be no progress towards a championship nor towards a successful rebuilding effort. 

Buss and Kupchak, let not the Lakers go the way of the Celtics franchise.

America's Got Talent

In introducing the judges earlier this week, the following was said:

......shows such as Knight Rider and Baywatch have made David Hasselhoff an American entertainment legend

Also, why is there only one American judge on the America's Got Talent panel?

Pet Peeve 53 - Greeting Card Bullies

As it always does around a greeting card holiday, the card aisle is full of folks looking for the right words from a stranger to tell a loved one.  The pet peeve is those people that stand right up on the cards, as if there are no other people shopping.  If we all stand back, step forward, grab desired card, step back, read desired card, step forward, grab envelope or replace card, the world would be just a bit more considerate.

P.S. And put the damn card back from whence it came...geez...

Technorati tags: Father's Day, Greeting Cards

LPG Results Game 1

The 58-59 Lakers defeated the 05-06 Lakers 2 games to zero in the first game of the LPG tournament.  Elgin Baylor of the 58-59 Lakers received the MVP for both games and has been named the series MVP. 

Match 1: 05/06 Lakers - 112, 58/59 Lakers - 112

Match 2:  05/06 Lakers - 118, 58/59 Lakers - 127

On Hold

All opinions concerning Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are on hold indefinitely.  As you Kobe has backtracked a little on his trade demand.  However, unless something major occurs before the start of preseason, I will not be surprised if grumblings begin again...and justifiably so.

Changes

Lil man, you don't even look like the same chewed purple skittle the doctor raised into the air nearly six months ago.  You've filled out with your chubby cheeks, head full of hair, chunky legs, and even your belly button has gotten normal.  And your personality is developing as well as your motor skills.

You definitely have Mrs. Xpinionated's mouth.  Mrs. Xpinionated thinks you have my nose.  Initially, most folks thought you favored me but I think that was because you didn't have any meat on your bones.  Now, it seems people think you are looking like your sexy momma....oh sorry, you probably don't want to hear that kind of thing. 

We took you to the swimming pool this past weekend.  You didn't cry, not once.....and you didn't smile, not once.  Then you promptly fell asleep in my arms at the pool.  I'm sure your momma will have you down there again and I got it on tape so we'll have to give it a gander when you're old enough.

Oh well, Daddy Xpinionated has to get back to work...you need to hurry up and get a job...love you Devin.

Forza Motorsport 2

I am engulfed.  I have long waited for this racing simulation to hit the shelves (though I may not have mentioned it here) and yesterday the game made it to my xbox360. 

My only wish is that I had a day dedicated to playing it.  No interruptions.  Just me and my little electronic friend. 

I've actually considered passing on my weekly bar trip Friday night so I could play the game......but I'm sure by the time 9pm rolls around on Friday night....I'll be singing a different tune.

Kobe's Statement on KB24.com

Technorati tags: Kb24.com, Kobe Bryant

May 30 :: 2007

The Truth: A new road ahead

Wassup y'all ...

Man, today is one of those surreal days for me and my family. When you love something as much as I love the Lakers its hard to even imagine thinking about being elsewhere. But, the ONE THING I will never sacrifice when it comes to basketball is WINNING. That is plain and simply what it's all about. It's in my DNA. It's what pushes me to work as hard as I do. It's my daily passion and pursuit.

The more I thought about the future, the more I became convinced that the Lakers and me just have two different visions for the future. The Lakers are pursuing a longer-term plan that is different from what Dr. Buss shared with me at the time I re-signed as a free agent. I have seen that plan unfold for the last three years and watched great trade opportunities come and go, and have seen free agents passed on. That has led to the Lakers not winning a playoff series. All of that was frustrating in itself, but then, this week to have someone "inside" the Laker organization try to blame me in the media for us not being a contender right now -- that is what brought me to my current position today.

I want it to be clear that I still love, with all my heart, the Laker Legacy. From Mikan to West to Goodrich to Wilt to Kareem to Magic. That will never change. And the support my family and I have gotten from Lakers fans is undeniably the best. I will also always believe that.

But, now there is a new road ahead. I am gonna keep grindin and keep workin to get back to competing for Championships. Sometimes the trek up the mountain is tough. But, I know we'll get there.

Strength and Honor,
Kobe

Kobe demands trade

First and foremost, I will remain a Lakers fan until the day that I die. 

With that said, I honestly don't have enough facts in this issue to determine if this is sour grapes or mismanagement.

All I know is that if Kobe truly wishes to leave the Lakers

after stating yesterday that he wants to retire a Laker, I have to imagine that there have been more incidents than just the LA TImes story in the past few days. 

You would think the one paper in the country that would do it's best to show the Lakers in a positive light, to squash bad vibes would be the L.A. Times....but I guess all journalist are fame seeking whores with allegiance to now one but themselves. 

If Kobe is serious, Kupchack, you better not settle for anything like the Shaquille deal.  I will never be a fan of another team...but I'll stop watching if you singlehandedly destroy this team.

"I would like to be traded, yeah. Tough as it is to come to that conclusion there's no other alternative, you know?" -- Kobe Bryant

Technorati tags: Kobe Bryant, trade, LA Lakers

LPG Tournament First Round Matchups

The Logo Division		The Magic Conference
71-72(1)		00-01(2)
Bye(64)		Bye(63)
58-59(32)		60-61(31)
05-06(36)		54-55(35)
69-70(20)		95-96(46)
91-92(47)		68-69(19)
83-84(16)		90-91(15)
66-67(51)		06-07(50)
64-65(24)		61-62(23)
80-81(43)		75-76(42)
59-60(28)		65-66(27)
56-57(39)		92-93(39)
87-88(12)		99-00(11)
57-58(56)		74-75(55)
Bye(57)		Bye(58)
79-80(8)		51-52(7)
86-87(4)		81-82(3)
Bye(61)		Bye(62)
97-98(29)		96-97(34)
89-90(33)		02-03(30)
94-95(17)		82-83(18)
77-78(44)		55-56(45)
88-89(13)		67-68(14)
73-74(48)		76-77(49)
72-73(21)		03-04(22)
98-99(40)		78-79(41)
85-86(25)		62-63(26)
70-71(37)		63-64(38)
04-05(53)		52-53(10)
01-02(9)		93-94(54)
Bye(60)		Bye(59)
84-85(5)		53-54(6)

LPG Tournament Seedings

Seed	Year	Title Perc	Playoff Perc	Reg Percentage
1	71-72	0.8	0.8	0.84
2	00-01	0.8	1	0.68
3	81-82	0.67	1	0.7
4	86-87	0.67	0.92	0.79
5	84-85	0.67	0.85	0.76
6	53-54	0.57	0.83	0.64
7	51-52	0.57	0.83	0.61
8	79-80	0.67	0.8	0.73
9	01-02	1	0.73	0.71
10	52-53	0.8	0.71	0.69
11	99-00	0.67	0.65	0.82
12	87-88	0.57	0.65	0.76
13	88-89	0	1	0.7
14	67-68	0.33	0.89	0.63
15	90-91	0.2	0.79	0.71
16	83-84	0.43	0.79	0.66
17	94-95	0.33	0.75	0.59
18	82-83	0	0.73	0.71
19	68-69	0.43	0.73	0.67
20	69-70	0.43	0.73	0.56
21	72-73	0.2	0.67	0.73
22	03-04	0.2	0.67	0.68
23	61-62	0.43	0.67	0.68
24	64-65	0.2	0.67	0.61
25	85-86	0	0.57	0.76
26	62-63	0.33	0.57	0.66
27	65-66	0.43	0.57	0.56
28	59-60	0	0.56	0.33
29	97-98	0	0.54	0.74
30	02-03	0	0.5	0.61
31	60-61	0	0.5	0.46
32	58-59	0	0.46	0.46
33	89-90	0	0.44	0.77
34	96-97	0	0.44	0.68
35	54-55	0	0.43	0.56
36	05-06	0	0.43	0.55
37	70-71	0	0.42	0.59
38	63-64	0	0.4	0.53
39	92-93	0	0.4	0.48
40	56-57	0	0.4	0.47
41	98-99	0	0.38	0.62
42	78-79	0	0.38	0.57
43	75-76	0	0	0.49
44	80-81	0	0.33	0.66
45	77-78	0	0.33	0.55
46	55-56	0	0.33	0.46
47	95-96	0	0.25	0.65
48	91-92	0	0.25	0.52
49	73-74	0	0.2	0.57
50	76-77	0	0.36	0.65
51	06-07	0	0.2	0.51
52	66-67	0	0	0.44
53	04-05	0	0	0.42
54	93-94	0	0	0.4
55	74-75	0	0	0.37
56	57-58	0	0	0.26

The End All Tournament!

A proud franchise the Lakers are.  Why?  Because they have produced some of the best teams the NBA, no, some of the best teams the sports world has ever seen.  But, you ask, which Lakers team is the best ever?   Is it the 71-72 Lakers with their unprecedented 33 game win streak?  Maybe one of the great 80's Showtime squads?  Or is it the 2000-2001 Lakers with their 15 - 1 playoff run to the championship?

Well, this summer we will find out.  Thanks to whatifsports.com, Lakers Bleeding Purple and Gold will be running the Lakers End All tournament.  Every Lakers team beginning with the 1951 season to this year's disappointing 06-07 squad will be battling it out for the title of 'LPG Best Lakers Team of All-Time'!

Tournament Setup

The earliest team in the tournament was determined based on the availability of teams in the whatifsports.com database.  Seeding was based on titles won, playoff percentage, season percentage.

Championship teams were automatically seeded in the top 12.  Based on the 69 -13 record and the 33 game winning streak, the 71-72 Lakers were given the #1 seed.  The rest of the championship teams were seeded based on playoff percentage

The non-championship teams were seeded based on playoff percentage, you know getting it done when it matters with ties broken by regular season win percentage.

The tournament bracket is based on the NCAA National Championship tournament.  With only 56 Lakers teams for this tournament, the top 8 seeds received a bye. 

The first two rounds will be a three game series with the higher seed having home court.  The sweet 16 and elite 8 will each be a five game series with the higher seed having home cart.  The final four and the championship rounds will each be a seven game series. 

Game results will be posted here including box score and selected play by plays.

 

 

Let the games begin!!!

Blameophobia

FOX Sports on MSN - MLB - Hancock's father sues over pitcher's death

So the father of the drunk driver wants to sue the bar because his son decided to drive drunk.  Oh, and there was also weed in the car that I'm sure the bar planted. 
Seriously, any death is a tragedy.  However, if a person drives drunk, with a blood alcohol level twice that of the legal limit, and ends up killing themselves, there should be a law forbidding any family, friend or other person from trying to sue the establishment that the deceased chose to drink in. 

I agree bartenders should reserve the right to stop a person from drinking when they think he's had enough.  But at the same time, are we completely relieving the drunkard of any responsibility. 

What makes this even worse is the final statement:

Dean Hancock said he has an obligation to represent the family on all issues, "including any legal actions necessary against those who contributed to the untimely and unnecessary death."

The death was untimely.  The death was unnecessary.  But the death wasn't forced upon his son.  The death was a direct result of his son's behaviour.  It's as if the father wants to completely remove any blame on his son's name.  Sir, your son drove drunk.  Very drunk.  With plans to get high later.  Despite whatever you may think, the ultimate wrong was done by your son...not the tow truck driver helping out another sober driver on the roadway, not the restaurant that your son frequented enough to become a regular, only your son is to blame.  If you think a drunk driving incident is enough to tarnish his image, your legal shenanigans only add to the blemish at the end of a young life.  Rest in peace Josh Hancock.

Day Time Commercial

Working from home today.  Got the TV on as background noise and I suddenly here a familiar voice.  Damn if it ain't Gary Coleman doing a commercial for cashcall.com.  Ever heard of cashcall.com?  Exactly.  Gary Coleman talking about 'When I needed cash right away, cashcall.com was there!'  He may still be looking for the bottom but at this point, it can't be that far away.

Technorati tags: Gary Coleman

Nude car Wash

Working at the nude carwash... | The News is NowPublic.com

Nude Car Washing

Due to drought, the residents of Brisbane were prohibited from
washing their cars. And since dirty cars can't be driven to strip
clubs, there was a dilemma. Enter the Nude Car wash, topless window
cleaning, no longer a mere daydream but a $50 service. Need full nudity
and a lap dance to settle your nerves...drop a c-note!

Which gets me to thinking...Atlanta is in a drought.....hmmm

West Semi-finals Suspensions

Let's take a different look at this situation...my 'off-the-wall-I'm-just-being-a-hater-cuz-I-hate-the-Suns' theory is as follows:  Let's not blame Amare or Boris for coming off the bench.  Let's not blame Stern for being to harsh or enforcing the rule too rigidly.  Hell, let's not even blame Horry for the hip check.  Instead,  let's blame Steve Nash.  That's right, I said it.  Blame Nash.  See, Nash in the offseason plays soccer.  If there is a sport that does more acting when trying to draw a call from an official more than basketball, it's soccer.   Perhaps if Nash would not have flopped, his sidekicks wouldn't have left the bench and we would be talking about Game 5 purely based on the expectations instead of talking about the fallout of Game 4.  Though, many are calling it a wrap for the Spurs now, remember the Suns were shorthanded in Game 6 last year and down 3-2 to the Lakers and came out with a victory....granted it was Bitchilistic Bell which isn't nearly a big a loss as Diaw is much less Amare.   But still....

BLAME IT ON FLOPPING....THE LEAGUE HAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL ONCE FLOPPING CAN BE CONTROLLED.

Technorati tags: Steve Nash, Robert Horry, Amare Stoudemire, Boris Diaw, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, NBA, Playoffs, David Stern

Proof

What a lot of folks don't realize about arguing with me is that 8 times out of 10, when I say something I can provide the proof within 10 minutes(provided I have network connection handy). 

I remember when a sports argument, or any argument for that matter, relied on at the very least equal parts opinion and fact.  Nowadays, opinion is fact.  In bars across the country, people are considered guilty based simply on accusation.  People base entire arguments on 'I heard...' without doing a lick of research on their own despite the unprecedented availability of information today. 

Just keep in mind though, if you're going to argue something with me...come very correct, thorough, and prepared....for if you don't, I'll eat you and your lazy ass opinion alive.....I'm not out to convince you that I'm right...I'm out to convince you that you're wrong!