Upon a 1 year anniversary

Almost unknowingly, I let my one year anniversary of blogging pass without so much as a mention. I find myself surprised that I have stuck with this endeavour for as long as I have. I began with baby steps, writing about Red Bull and Team USA's loss to Puerto Rico. Yankee and Knick posts dominated, with occasional personal indulgences when my mind felt a bit full. I saw the Yankees collapse and the Sox break the curse, the Spurs and the Pats win again, and hockey get cancelled. I passed my two year anniversary at my job, survived a car crash, and visited friends in Las Vegas and Washington DC. I moved out of my apartment, back into my parents' house, and bought a brand new car. I saw Bush become President again, the war continue on, and a huge tsunami rock SE Asia. I have reconnected happily with old friends, and I have seen close friends for some reason drift away. I have steadily increased my readership, and frequently failed to post as often as I could/should have. I have gone to the movies more in the past year than in the previous 5 combined. I have seen the months slip past, and I have wondered where they went.

This year has been an interesting one, and I am glad to those of you who are still checking in to see whats going on in the mind of one man.

Stick with me, I plan to make this place even better.

(Moo)

Upon a request

Hey moron! Take off the damn headset! You look like an idiot!

Upon Rap Credibility

I find myself recently wondering about the credibility gap in rap music. Generally, either you get famous by making club bangers, or gully street anthems. If I look back at the biggest rappers of the second wave my generation, you find that Tupac (party rhymes/then gangsta, then conscious, then really gangsta) Biggie ( party and gangster trade back and forth), Jay-Z (flashy gangster), Nas(clever wordsmith gangster) and the rest all make it large with tales of street life, or of extravagance. In the beginning, people will readily accept tales of drug dealing, and an attitude of "test me and get shot up". We don't believe this guy who just got signed is popping bottles and driving Bentlys, because only the top suppliers live hugely large off of dealing, and a street dealer who will bust his gun at a moments notice doesn't make the big money. Yuo can pretend that you have money like scarface, but keep your hood status, largely because you truly cant afford to move out of the hood.
As a rapper grows in fame and wealth, the pendulum swings to the other side. We see how the cars once only rented for the video are now featured on Cribs, and driven in the street. The ice is not just a standard jesus piece, its now personalized. Clothing lines emerge, as do record labels and fledgling acting careers. However, now we are supposed to believe that a millionaire packs an AK, and will still set it on anyone trying to set up shop in his hood. If a hugely successful rapper continues to rhyme street, we dont believe him anymore. However, if he sticks to rhyming about how much he can floss, he stands to alienate the street fanbase who first related to his tales of having nothing, and being so desperate as to kill someone. I loved Nas in the beginning, but he lost me when the money came and he did all the nastradamas nonsense. Pac was truly still thugging, but he got the end that comes with thuggin till you are nearly 30. jay-Z manages to stay hot, but he did the dealing albums, did the flossing albums, did the "look how long i've been ill albums", and he called it a wrap (no pun intended). Its weird that in the minds of many fans, if you blow up, you either sold out or went soft, and if you keep it street you never made it. Other genres face similar fates, but are less about lifestyle glorification. Hair metal died, punk either went pop or ducked back underground, techno stayed in the club or went to KTU.

These are my musings.

Upon Delayed Updates

EDIT 8/4- I SOMEHOW COMPLETELY FORGOT THAT SHAWN MARION IS ON THE SUNS, AND IS AWESOME. IF HE PLAYS THE 3 AND REBOUNDS PHOENIX LOOKS MUCH BETTER THAN I THOUGHT

Sloth has overtaken me, and I have again failed to update as I should.

A multi-team blockbuster has just gone down in the NBA, including 5 teams and 13 players. Hours after essentially signing Shaq for the rest of his career (barring of course a title contender or LA return swan song trade), Miami acquired Antoine Walker from the Celtics, and (white) Jason Williams and James Posey from Memphis. the rest of the teams involved get slim pickings, with Eddie Jones being the biggest name moving out of Miami, to Memphis.

By making this move, The Heat have shown that they are firmly committed to winning an NBA title, at least in terms of breaking the bread. Shaq and Wade carried a team of contributors to the doorstep of the NBA Finals. E Jones had solid numbers, and played good D, but is clearly on the downside in his career. the move is a bit risky in terms of D-Wade's development, as Walker is a bit of a ball black-hole. I can see Shaq getting frustrated with last second 3's going to Toine when burgeoning "Mr. Clutch" Wade looked like Miller and Horry at times last year. I like the addition of Jason Williams, who should benefit from the Shaq-effect as much as Damon Jones and the rest of the Heat did last year. he is a play-maker, and a definite spark-plug. Again, a risky addition to the chemistry that Miami had, but Shaq should handle any issues there.

If you look at the Heat starting 5 as it could shake out, vs other contenders it looks interesting


Center: 1)Shaq 3)Ben Wallace 4)Mohammed 2)Amare
4)Haslem 2)Sheed 1)Duncan 3)Kurt Thomas
1)Walker 3)Prince 2)Bowen 4)Marion
1)Wade 3)Rip 2)Manu 4)Jim Jackson
4)J-Will 2)Billups 3)Parker 1) Nash

I'll entertain arguments for Amare and Manu at 1, and Prince at 2, but as it looks the Heat have the best player at 3 positions when compared to the title hopefuls from last year (though deficiencies at the 4 and the 1 could hurt, especially if Amare and Kurt switch positions).

I seriously can't wait for this season. Nate Robinson better not get traded.