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.
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 »
The regular season is long gone, and so are the dubs. Now all we have left is this Warriors propaganda. Frankly, they’re going need lots of this in the off season.
How many of these plays do you remember? I, for one can tell you that #6 is etched in my mind. Particularly memorable since “Chocolate Rain” (as MM dubbed A-Mo) did it on Baron Davis and the Clippers crew.
Hey, if season’s got you feeling a bit apathetic, I can totally empathize. I want to throw the towel. But then there are those damn rays of hope. Pulling me back in. Like Marrow’s 37 in his first start! Maybe a visits to GSW’s YouTube page for a tour of the top 10 dunks, assists and blocks will get me back on the bandwagon.
As I go about my day sometimes I stumble upon images that, at the time, I think could lead to an FTB post. It doesn’t always work out. Given that I have a lot of this randomness in reserve, I thought it might be nice to share a few of my favorites. Oh, if you have any thoughts about something interesting or cleaver to write for these, please be my guest. The comment box is yours.
In no particularly order.
Enjoy, Gd.
Number 1: Barak Obama RUN DC t-shirt. Straight pimpin’.
Okay, I know Mr. West’s entourage (fig 1) were going big for Paris Fashion week, but dang. When was that last time tight-ass leopard leggings with cowboy boots was a righteous look in the world of Hip Hop fashion?
I’m not exactly sure, but I have a feeling Grand Master Flash (fig 2) and his extra Furious Five would know. Seriously, a gold lamé tasseled coat-cape thingy, bright yellow Speedos (sans pants), white and gold cowboy boots, topped off with a pith helmet? WTF?!
Actually, Kanye’s gear is alright, and same with his pea-coated homie rocking the orange fedora. Regardless, I’m sure those LV cases are filled with whatever they’ve been smoking. Welcome to the good life.
Gd.
Read Kayne’s blog to keep yourself fashion forward or you can make the jump and lament the lamé.
This is the article I never wanted read. How it all went to hell in LA for Baron and everybody lost. And a day after Baron is one rebound shy of an impressive triple double against the more then disappointing Warriors.
I tell Baron he needs to regain his mojo. Warren nods. We both decide that Baron needs to approach the next two months as if he were an actor. He needs to play the role of Boom Dizzle. That’s what they called him during his happier stint with the Warriors. “You’re one of those guys who play with their hearts on their sleeves,” I explain. “When you’re not happy, we can see it.”
Hey Boom, we want you to regain your Dizzle too. And your smile… Peppered, of course, with that game winning fearsome scowl. Wherever you may be.
I’m thankful for your short stint in the Bay – because da’ town regained our mojo and I found my love of basketball again. Unfortunately, now, the economy is in the pisser, the Bay Area’s mojo is fading and blogging is considerably less fun.
Frankly, it’s a bit sad that the Clippers are still stinking it up with the Crypt Keeper while the once overachieving Warriors are simply hapless again. I don’t know who’s worse off. Hey, Ric Bucher, Chris Broussard, what do you think?
Bay Area college hoops represent! With the New Jersey Nets drafting both Ryan Anderson of Cal and Brook Lopez of Stanford last year, they seem to have gotten a draft day two-fer of bigs that have exceeded all expectations. Both are logging long, productive minutes for the team, particularly Lopez, who is a dark horse candidate for rookie of the year. Hell, he pretty much went toe to toe with Yao Ming statistically the other night and he has started at center for the Nets since snatching the job from an injured Josh Boone.
Now, the video.
Don’t hate! Why? Ask yourself. Why are these guys at Comic-Con having so much fun? Because they know that they are outplaying their teammates later that day. Why? Because they got up early and dressed up as Wookies to go to Comic-Con instead of sleeping off the hangover they procured in the VIP room at Scores. Call them nerds. They don’t care. Because their frat is already looking like they might make some noise against those mean jock frats down the road in the intrafraternity challenge. Maybe not this year, but hell they’re only two games out. And frankly I could see Lopez’ voice disorienting the trash-talk focused Kevin Garnett into a lackluster series. Actually, it disoriented me right now just watching the video.
Turman
PS. As so often is the case, props to the almighty Ball Don’t Lie for beating me to the punch.
Harrington’s blunder, Davis’ three help Clippers top Knicks in OT
Baron Davis hit a crucial three-pointer in the closing seconds of overtime and the Los Angeles Clippers took advantage of a costly technical foul call on Al Harrington near the end of regulation to beat New York, 128-124, securing their 10th straight home win over the Knicks
…
Randolph’s tough shot in the lane brought LA within 108-107 with 47.1 seconds left, and Harrington got an offensive rebound at the other end and jammed with two hands with 25 seconds remaining. But after dunking, Harrington pulled himself up on the rim and then used both his hands to slap the backboard.
D’Antoni was clearly upset at Harrington after a technical foul was called, and Novak sank the ensuing free throw.
Randolph then tied the game with a left-handed shot in the lane with 11.2 seconds left, and the game went into overtime after Robinson’s runner caromed off the rim.
The Clippers scored the first five points of overtime, but the Knicks came within 123-121 when Robinson made a layup with 29.5 seconds left.
Davis then stepped back and drilled a three-pointer over Jeffries with 7.5 seconds left, but Robinson’s three-pointer with five seconds later tightened the game again. Fred Jones sealed LA’s win by sinking two free throws with 3.9 seconds left.
Just go ahead and skip ahead to the 2:05 minute mark in the video. That’s where you’ll find the Warriors own Jamal Crawford matched up with the AAU phenom, Jashaun Agosto. Like Jamal, Jashaun is a from the Seattle area. Only he’s just 4’9” and just 11-years old. But, apparently that not too young for the recruiters.
Before his 11th birthday, Jashaun received a letter from U.C.L.A., and although the Bruins said they could not formally recruit him until he reached 10th grade, the program can declare its interest.
Also, according to the details on YouTube, he practices 4+ hours a day, 7 days a week. NOT including his AAU practices 3 days a week. Makes my head hurt just thinking about it. Is this all going a little too far?
Make the jump to see him working on this practice drills. Read More »
You know, 43 years of hot dogs, potato chips and bad domestic beer can really super-size your logo. And, the latest installment is really no exception. Personally, I think it looks a little like the Bank of America or Obama logo with it’s protruding stripes of field. I wonder, are those meant to represent the fruited plains or just ten yard increments at Raymond James Stadium?
Honestly, the logos that really caught my eye were these alternatives I found in the NY Times. Much more creative. I say.
Above are a few of my favorites, and the corresponding quotes are here:
Fig A:
“Hush little Cardinals, don’t say a thing, Ben’s gonna score Steelers’ sixth Bowl ring.” — Felix Sockwell, Felix Sockwell Inc., Maplewood, N.J.
Fig B:
“The Super Bowl always wants to be bigger, glitzier and more spectacular than every Super Bowl preceding. But with the United States in its current recession, major advertising sponsors pulling out and Tampa having very little hosting money, this Super Bowl will need a government stimulus package to be all it wants to be.” — Michael Strassburger, Modern Dog Design Co., Seattle
Fig C:
“Combine my complete lack of knowledge regarding contemporary pro football and the fact that my dad’s perpetual underdog Detroit Lions went 0-16 this year and, well, this is what you get: Back to the basics — team colors, green grass and a football. Just like when I was 11, playing until sunset with my neighborhood buddies in Central Lake, Mich.” — Aaron Draplin, Draplin Design Co., Portland, Ore.
Read more about the “official” XLIII logo in this New York Times article. There is even a link to a printable of all 43 logos in chronological order. Special mention to the “Evel Knievel-esque” Super Bowl III and the swanky, sexy, and somewhat psychedelic Super Bowl IX logo. Sweet.
