A co-worker of mine directed me to this site, Flip Flop Fly Ball. Created by Craig Robinson, the site his a happy merger two of his personal interests – baseball and data visualization. While most all of the infographics are baseball focused, there was at least one dedicated to basketball. Along with a clear illustration the game’s evolution, I think he really captured essence of Bird and Anthony here.
Besides the infographics, there is also a collection of pixel portraits depicting some of his favorite players. He calls them “minipops.”
I’m partial to the A’s era Barry Zito (second row, five from the right).
The uncomfortable puns. The awkward embrace of opera and basketball. The just looking at Pau Gasol of it all. This was a pretty strange moment in the history of human-interest halftime segments. It was partially redeemed by a splendid editing job at the end, where Pau’s caveman yell was overdubbed with Placido Domingo’s soaring tenor.
Now, on another note, after all of the Kobe-ness of the last few weeks, take a moment to remember the man we drafted ahead of him. The draft is coming up, you see. And while I don’t expect the Dubs to screw up the draft this famously, take a moment out of your busy day to remember the name: Todd Fuller.
Nonetheless, kudos to the Lakers for getting it done. Game recognize game and all. And I think I’m starting to find something to like about them even. Trevor Ariza is a baller.
Turman
PS. Why did Magic Johnson get himself a supersized Goldmember suit? Dang.
Here’s “Kobe Doing Work”. The full video. Perhaps you saw it air on ESPN. It’s a pretty eye-opening doc from our man Spike Lee. Personally I found it totally riveting. It was like watching a basketball-chess match with full annotation. And the sound track was oh so Spike.
Love him or hate him, Kobe’s basketball skills and IQ are simply unquestionable. A couple of the best lines from Kobe… On stealing Tim Duncan’s patented bank shot, “I swagger-jacked him”. Then, during some free throws he inquires of Kurt Thomas, “You gonna’ play ‘til you’re fifty”?
My notion of the man may have shifted. Just a little.
This shopkeeper is apparently not acting alone in his promotional zeal regarding today’s visit by U.S. President Barack Obama. As Obama is scheduled to deliver one of the most important speeches to the Islamic world ever given by a U.S. leader, having vendors like this guy around can’t hurt.
Depending on how this speech is regarded, it could prove to be one of the most significant milestones in international diplomatic history. Or not. But either way, it will prove to be an interesting moment to observe and discuss. Let’s rap about it in the comments after the speech drops.
Turman
PS. The original King Tut arrives at San Francisco’s DeYoung Museum on the 27th of the June for those who like their Tutankhamun old-school style. And no, I don’t know if they spell it differently in Cairo or if dude just got his engraving a little twisted.
PPS. Game one tonight! Woot!
PPPS. Make the jump for an excerpt from the speech and a link to the full text. Read More »
Okay, I know The Warriors desperately need a point guard - Brandon Jennings, Darren Collison, Patty Mills even. But I want to give you four good reasons why The Dubs should pick T-Will aka Terrence Williams:
1. Check out his dance moves (above). We get a twofer - mascot and player. After losing Thunder, we need someone who can hype the crowd at halftime. Biedrins sure ain’t gonna Two Step at mid court.
2. He will use all 140 characters when he Twitters (see the article in today’s SF Chronicle). Let’s just say that most athletes’ tweets don’t really maximize all the platform has to offer. Sometimes on Twitter less is more (like with Shaq), but for most of these dudes, less is just less.
3. According to the same article in The Chron, T-Will makes the case that he “can play point forward, center, Gatorade protector, anything.” Now, I think this can be huge for The Warriors. It’s been a while since they had a true Gatorade protector. With all of the injuries The Warriors had last year, I kept asking myself “who’s protecting the damn Gatorade?”
4. He will revive the art of the “Rock The Baby” Dunk. I’m not sure if I’ve seen that dunk used in a game in the last 20 years, so it’s time it makes a resurgence. If Brandon Jennings was still rockin’ the Hi-Top Fade, then I’d have to give him the nod for kicking it Old School, but since he got rid of it, it’s all about T-Will’s dunks.
As I scanned the New York Times Magazine last night I noticed this piece about the bearded comedian Zach Galifianakis sandwiched in between the Bill Clinton Article and the design review. Galifianakis’ eccentric, absurdest comedic style has made him somewhat of a YouTube celeb – which he’s now taking it to big screen, co-staring in the movie ”The Hangover.”
So what is this clip above? Galifianakis along with collaborators Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim were commissioned by Absolut Vodka to make some web shorts. From the looks of it, the team had some serious creative freedom.
Of all the Galifianakis clips, gags and sketches currently in Internet orbit, none have done more to cement his reputation as a leader of the comic avant-garde, curiously enough, than a series of three ads in 2008 for Absolut vodka. “This advertising firm from Sweden called me out of the blue and asked me to do an ad,” Galifianakis said. “The one request they had was to not make it look too ’80s, since Absolut is perceived as kind of an ’80s brand.” He paused there for a moment, clearly savoring the memory. “That’s what gave us the idea to make the skits a kind of homage to ‘The Golden Girls.’ ”
Gd.
Make the jump for installment two and three. Read More »
