Spmusic Mondays: Time To Break The Curse
(1 Cent): Redemption is Nigh ...
Today, I embark on my 6th trip in 4 years to Salt Lake City and the Energy Solutions Arena (formerly the Delta Center) to watch my banged up Lakers take on the Jazz.
I really hope this is finally it ... that the Lake Show can finally get a win here. It's been too long since LA had won here and so far I am 0-5 in my attendance. It doesn't look like it will be easy when you consider:
-- The Lakers just played yesterday (Sunday) and are not very good in back-to-back games
-- The Jazz had Sunday off to rest and to prepare for LA
-- The Lakers are still playing without starting center Kwame Brown, starting small forward Luke Walton and small forward (6th/7th man) Vladamir Radmanovic
-- It's on the road, duh ... the Lakers haven't proven to be a good road team (gulp)
In the Jazz's defense (kind of), they played their last game without their starting center because of back spasms and their starting small forward because he banged his knee in a previous game. I can see how missing Mehmet Okur will hurt them, because he's basically their 2nd or 3rd best player (along with Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams) but not having Andrei Kirilenko won't hurt that much, considering how much he's fallen off this year.
Out of the 5 games I've seen, there is a pattern: the game is close throughout, going back and forth ... the Lakers make a run and seem like they'll pull away ... and then 1 of 3 things happen, 1) the Lakers get NO calls down the stretch, 2) the Jazz all of a sudden snatch up all the rebounds like Bobby Brown snorting 5 kilos of free coke with two flexi-straws, or 3) the Lakers' role players (i.e., everyone not named Kobe or Odom) get flustered and turn the ball over like it was a game of hot potato. My favorite is when all three of these things happen at once ... I like to call that the trifecta.
So, I'm less than 7 hours away from tip off ... maybe, by some weird twist of fate, the outcome will be different because this is the first time I'm going without my good friend J.D. He's gone to every game with me thus far and each game has resulted in a loss ... plus, it seems like 3 out of every 4 games we watch on TV together ends up in a loss .... I'm taking a female this time, so let's see if she can help break the curse (not that I'm superstitious or pathetic ... well, maybe one of the two -- you choose which one).
(2 Cent): Too Old For Hip Hop?
I was thinking the other day, after hearing that Hip Hop music is just a fad or that one day, when you "mature" and get older, you won't like it anymore or you'll out-grow it. But, is this really the case?
For me, why would I not like it anymore? I've listened to it since I was about 14 years old and kind of grew up listening to certain artists that are still going strong today. Wouldn't this just be like my dad, who's still listening to the couple same people that are still alive (not a shot at his age, heh) or listening to the same shtuff from the 60s and 70s? Why won't I be listening to newer Hip Hop in 10-20 years, or listening to my "oldies?"
Plus, I'd say half of the good Hip Hop artists now are into their late 20s to late 30s (with Dre being a tad older). Using Wikipedia for the ages, here are a couple of my favorite artists' ages:
-- Diddy, 37
-- Eminem, 34
-- Timbaland, 35
-- Snoop Dogg, 35
-- Ludacris, 29
-- Jay-Z, 38
-- Dr. Dre, 42
-- NaS, 33
-- Busta Rhymes, 34
-- 50 Cent, 31
-- Jermaine Dupri, 33
-- Nelly, 33
You get the idea ... lots of the big name artists in that industry aren't kids ... they're grown arse men. So, if guys this age are making the music, why wouldn't people that same age like listening to it? Or still be able to?
The thing that fascinates me is, how much longer are they going to stay in the game? All of them are still good at what they do ... I think they're in uncharted waters, because these artists didn't really have too many pioneers or forefathers for longevity -- they are the trailblazers. Will they go on and on and on like Tom Jones? Who knows?
This also makes me feel better about not feeling "grown-up." They still make dance music, sometimes rap about silly stuff ... I'm down with that. For now, I'm basically enjoying the moment and look forward to whatever happens. Long live the Hip to the Hop!
(1/2 Cent): Can't Nobody Break My Stride ...
If you've been keeping up with sports and my blog, you should know by now that Dwayne Wade is out indefinitely and that's not good for my Busdrivers fantasy team ... but it didn't hurt me last week, because Wade was injured after scoring 46 fantasy points (FP's) ... so, that was his average for the week.
After some anonymous commenter seemingly questioned the validity of my fantasy scores (or at least someone he knew ... because after all, he said he believed my scores but used the adjective "ridiculous"), I then score the highest I ever have this season. Go figure. If I could copy and paste the link to my league's site without running the risk of it being tampered with (i.e., if the links work to change stuff, no bueno for me) then I would. Again, why would I make this stuff up? Am I that much in need for positive affirmation? This blog was foremost for my friends to keep them updated with me, to let them know what I'm doing and to let them know what's on my mind ... I wouldn't lie to them in person, on the phone or in writing.
So, I apologize that I am so awesome that people don't believe the extent of the awesomeness ... but, concerning my scores, in the words of Jackie Childs, "They're real ... and they're spectacular!"
----------------
Continuing with my line-up changes, I've decided to insert Smush Parker (G, LAL) for Wade and see what happens. As I said, Wade had 46 FP's last week ... Smush had 23 ... which turns out to be exactly half. Not good for me. Hopefully this will only be for 1 or 2 weeks, as Richard Jefferson (F, NJ) is supposed to be back in "early March." Without further ado, my ridiculous stats:
Week 17: W - 373.58 to 288.25 ... W-L Record: 15-2 (First in division; first in league; 12 game winning streak)
Week 17 Fantasy Stud: Kobe Bryant (G, LAL) - 50 FP's ... shoot, who needs D-Wade when you gots Kobe? (Oh, yeah, I do).
Week 17 Fantasy Dud: Chris Wilcox (F, SEA) - 19.67 FP's ... at least C-Wizzle is consistent.
--------------
I just realized I didn't post Week 16's numbers (that's the day where I said "I got nothin'" and was probably too lazy to write anything and/or I was getting healthy again from being sick). Oh, well. Also, big ups to my boy Jason Kidd (G, NJ) for playing with a cracked rib and still getting double-doubles and helping my fantasy team ... you're A-OK in my book, son!
Have a good week. You're welcome to comment or ask questions by clicking on the Comments link below or writing to HCP2007@gmail.com.
HCP
Today, I embark on my 6th trip in 4 years to Salt Lake City and the Energy Solutions Arena (formerly the Delta Center) to watch my banged up Lakers take on the Jazz.
I really hope this is finally it ... that the Lake Show can finally get a win here. It's been too long since LA had won here and so far I am 0-5 in my attendance. It doesn't look like it will be easy when you consider:
-- The Lakers just played yesterday (Sunday) and are not very good in back-to-back games
-- The Jazz had Sunday off to rest and to prepare for LA
-- The Lakers are still playing without starting center Kwame Brown, starting small forward Luke Walton and small forward (6th/7th man) Vladamir Radmanovic
-- It's on the road, duh ... the Lakers haven't proven to be a good road team (gulp)
In the Jazz's defense (kind of), they played their last game without their starting center because of back spasms and their starting small forward because he banged his knee in a previous game. I can see how missing Mehmet Okur will hurt them, because he's basically their 2nd or 3rd best player (along with Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams) but not having Andrei Kirilenko won't hurt that much, considering how much he's fallen off this year.
Out of the 5 games I've seen, there is a pattern: the game is close throughout, going back and forth ... the Lakers make a run and seem like they'll pull away ... and then 1 of 3 things happen, 1) the Lakers get NO calls down the stretch, 2) the Jazz all of a sudden snatch up all the rebounds like Bobby Brown snorting 5 kilos of free coke with two flexi-straws, or 3) the Lakers' role players (i.e., everyone not named Kobe or Odom) get flustered and turn the ball over like it was a game of hot potato. My favorite is when all three of these things happen at once ... I like to call that the trifecta.
So, I'm less than 7 hours away from tip off ... maybe, by some weird twist of fate, the outcome will be different because this is the first time I'm going without my good friend J.D. He's gone to every game with me thus far and each game has resulted in a loss ... plus, it seems like 3 out of every 4 games we watch on TV together ends up in a loss .... I'm taking a female this time, so let's see if she can help break the curse (not that I'm superstitious or pathetic ... well, maybe one of the two -- you choose which one).
(2 Cent): Too Old For Hip Hop?
I was thinking the other day, after hearing that Hip Hop music is just a fad or that one day, when you "mature" and get older, you won't like it anymore or you'll out-grow it. But, is this really the case?
For me, why would I not like it anymore? I've listened to it since I was about 14 years old and kind of grew up listening to certain artists that are still going strong today. Wouldn't this just be like my dad, who's still listening to the couple same people that are still alive (not a shot at his age, heh) or listening to the same shtuff from the 60s and 70s? Why won't I be listening to newer Hip Hop in 10-20 years, or listening to my "oldies?"
Plus, I'd say half of the good Hip Hop artists now are into their late 20s to late 30s (with Dre being a tad older). Using Wikipedia for the ages, here are a couple of my favorite artists' ages:
-- Diddy, 37
-- Eminem, 34
-- Timbaland, 35
-- Snoop Dogg, 35
-- Ludacris, 29
-- Jay-Z, 38
-- Dr. Dre, 42
-- NaS, 33
-- Busta Rhymes, 34
-- 50 Cent, 31
-- Jermaine Dupri, 33
-- Nelly, 33
You get the idea ... lots of the big name artists in that industry aren't kids ... they're grown arse men. So, if guys this age are making the music, why wouldn't people that same age like listening to it? Or still be able to?
The thing that fascinates me is, how much longer are they going to stay in the game? All of them are still good at what they do ... I think they're in uncharted waters, because these artists didn't really have too many pioneers or forefathers for longevity -- they are the trailblazers. Will they go on and on and on like Tom Jones? Who knows?
This also makes me feel better about not feeling "grown-up." They still make dance music, sometimes rap about silly stuff ... I'm down with that. For now, I'm basically enjoying the moment and look forward to whatever happens. Long live the Hip to the Hop!
(1/2 Cent): Can't Nobody Break My Stride ...
If you've been keeping up with sports and my blog, you should know by now that Dwayne Wade is out indefinitely and that's not good for my Busdrivers fantasy team ... but it didn't hurt me last week, because Wade was injured after scoring 46 fantasy points (FP's) ... so, that was his average for the week.
After some anonymous commenter seemingly questioned the validity of my fantasy scores (or at least someone he knew ... because after all, he said he believed my scores but used the adjective "ridiculous"), I then score the highest I ever have this season. Go figure. If I could copy and paste the link to my league's site without running the risk of it being tampered with (i.e., if the links work to change stuff, no bueno for me) then I would. Again, why would I make this stuff up? Am I that much in need for positive affirmation? This blog was foremost for my friends to keep them updated with me, to let them know what I'm doing and to let them know what's on my mind ... I wouldn't lie to them in person, on the phone or in writing.
So, I apologize that I am so awesome that people don't believe the extent of the awesomeness ... but, concerning my scores, in the words of Jackie Childs, "They're real ... and they're spectacular!"
----------------
Continuing with my line-up changes, I've decided to insert Smush Parker (G, LAL) for Wade and see what happens. As I said, Wade had 46 FP's last week ... Smush had 23 ... which turns out to be exactly half. Not good for me. Hopefully this will only be for 1 or 2 weeks, as Richard Jefferson (F, NJ) is supposed to be back in "early March." Without further ado, my ridiculous stats:
Week 17: W - 373.58 to 288.25 ... W-L Record: 15-2 (First in division; first in league; 12 game winning streak)
Week 17 Fantasy Stud: Kobe Bryant (G, LAL) - 50 FP's ... shoot, who needs D-Wade when you gots Kobe? (Oh, yeah, I do).
Week 17 Fantasy Dud: Chris Wilcox (F, SEA) - 19.67 FP's ... at least C-Wizzle is consistent.
--------------
I just realized I didn't post Week 16's numbers (that's the day where I said "I got nothin'" and was probably too lazy to write anything and/or I was getting healthy again from being sick). Oh, well. Also, big ups to my boy Jason Kidd (G, NJ) for playing with a cracked rib and still getting double-doubles and helping my fantasy team ... you're A-OK in my book, son!
Have a good week. You're welcome to comment or ask questions by clicking on the Comments link below or writing to HCP2007@gmail.com.
HCP
posted by HCP @ 11:37 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home