Randomly checked my gmail spam and noticed the following subject
You've received a greeting card from a Worshipper!
Uh, worshipper huh? What kind of worshipper would that be? A Catholic, or a Satanist? Perhaps it's a gold digger from the Monetary faith. I didn't open the email because . . . well because it was spam! Geez, you didn't think I was scared to open it did you?
Unnecessary punctuation in proper names. 34a Multiple capital letters in a proper name (last name is ok...I guess).
Both of these attempts at differentiation or uniqueness are annoying. There is never a need for a dash or apostrophe in a name. Is your name a contraction? Perhaps a compound word? No....then how about you drop the unnecessaries...plus those names are more difficult to type as they are not intuitive in any way. La'Shawnda? Really? I am a decent typist and despise having to slow down because a name has extras.....ok this post is running out of st'Eam.
I am a surburbanite. I know, I know. This isn't really news. But it all came to me full force yesterday evening.
I was picking my Pops up from the bus station which, as are most bus stations, is not in a revitalized area of downtown. People just kind of milling around my car (and you know how I feel about my car), all of them kind of waiting to make eye contact. It's like once the eye contact is made, that is an opening to start a conversation that will 98% of the time lead to a monetary request.
So I call Pops from inside the car as a couple of dudes wander on either side of Magdeline. Pops is inside the station and is coming out, though we have to wait for his bags which are on a separate bus. Pops is completely comfortable in this environment and for a short time in my early days in Atlanta, so was I. Yeah, notsomuchnow.
I get out of the car so Pops can find me and we decide that I should put some money in the meter. Stupid me drops a dollar that I quickly pick up and put back in my pocket. But now, I'm exposed as having an extra dollar which means I cannot lie to one of the fellows who has noticeably migrated with us from a distance. As soon as we are out of earshot of the ambassadors (Atlanta has city ambassadors waiting to help tourists and discourage panhandlers), one guy comes up and asks for a dollar. I've learned the best way is a quick dismissal; otherwise you're in for a long drawn out story which will make you give up the funds just so you can be left alone. But in my head, I'm thinking I can't say my usual 'I don't have any cash on my' cuz I dropped that dollar 30 seconds ago. I had to use my less reliable 'I can't help ya' which sometimes doesn't discourage enough.
In any case, it worked. But now I'm thinking as we walk to the other side of the station to wait for the other bus, 'Dude's gonna do something to Magdeline...he knows I have a buck, probably figures I can spare the dollar, but that I just don't want to.' Add to that, the very defensive tension that begets large groups of strangers in bad parts of town, and I was internally a bag of nerves. What did I do? I did what I always do when I get nervous....I went quiet.
The 60-61 Lakers have defeated the 54-55 squad 2 games to 1. Elgin Baylor and Rudy Larusso combined for 51 points to help the 60 -61 Lakers steal the third and deciding game 129-126.
Match 1 54/55 Lakers 120, 60/61 Lakers 129
Match 2 54/55 Lakers 106, 60/61 Lakers 100
Match 3 60/61 Lakers 129, 54/55 Lakers 126
The 69-70 Lakers easily defeated the 91-92 Lakers in a sweep, 2-0. Jerry West led the way in an easy 27 point win in game 2.
Match 1 91/92 Lakers 115, 69-70 Lakers 118
Match 2 91/92 Lakers 104, 69-70 Lakers 131
In the first upset of the LPG tournament, the 46th seeded 95-96 Lakers upended the 68-69 Lakers 2 -1. Cedric Ceballos was the story as the 95-96 Lakers built a 22 point lead before holding on in game three 128-119.
Match 1 95/96 Lakers 103, 68/69 Lakers 128
Match 2 95/96 Lakers 110, 68/69 Lakers 109
Match 3 68/69 Lakers 119, 95/96 Lakers 128
Derek Fisher has asked to be released from the Jazz in order to be closer to specialized medical facilities for his daughter. I'm not sure which condition affects his daughter, but I think it's highly likely that such facilities exist in Los Angeles.
Now not to downplay or minimalize Fisher's family situation, but the Lakers need a point guard in the worse way. Fisher has played for Phil, is a pass first player, and a veteran with rings, and gobs of pressure time experience. I don't know the contract that Fish would be looking for but I'm sure the city of Angels would welcome Fish back.
I miss Fish. I think he's a huge improvement over Smush. And I personally wouldn't mind giving him the mid-level exception.
Unfortunately, it's not up to me....it's up to Kupchak and I can't say my faith in him runs long. Hell, it is barely a brisk walk.....
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.....
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?
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.
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?
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...
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
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.
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.
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.
May 30 :: 2007
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
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
| 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) |
| 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 |
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!!!
