Got 1-N-Done on my Mind.

The thought of the Mavericks not in the playoffs this year didn't weigh on me too long before my colleague discovered 1-N-Done Playoffs, another fantasy game ESPN has blessed sports lovers with. Excited to have something to do during the playoffs, I figured it wouldn't be too challenging - pick one player each day to play? Hell, I managed 3 fantasy football teams at one time this past year. I got this - it was going to be over before it even started. I mispoke and caught myself drinking from the same overconfidence cup as Brandon Jennings.

This game makes you scrutinize each individual player. Play their strengths, and let their team worry about their weaknesses. Only positive points are recognized - points scored, assists, and rebounds. Point values also multiply in each round of the playoffs. While this fantasy game focuses on individual players and stats, the players cannot be played if their team does not advance. Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard were obvious choices for the first week of play, as they both average a decent number of points and boards, and Gasol will even throw in a handful of assists. But which of the 4 (most assumed they would be swept) games did you play them? Game 1 would have been your best bet...the line...

Gasol 16 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists
Howard 20 points, 15 rebounds, 1 assist

If you waited, Game 4 looked like this...

Gasol 16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists
Howard 7 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist (can't do much if you foul out of the game...)

The two are obsolete, as far as 1-N-Done goes, now that they are out of the playoffs.

A sweep in a series one can predict. An injury to a critical player, you never want to forsee. It changes the dynamics of the team and series. I was saving Westbrook for the Western Conference Finals - guess that won't be happening. How does this affect Durant and his play? Reggie Jackson, you now have big diva shoes to fill. Good luck. And then there's Golden State's David Lee. The Warriors went into the series as the underdog. After Game 1, they became the underdog without their starting power forward. Mark Jackson went with something he is familiar with - he went small. Game 2 he started Jarrett Jack, a name not many gave much attention to prior to this series. And just like that, the Warriors are up 3-1 going into tonight's game. I start to think, Did I use Curry too soon? Will he hurt me in the next round with double points if they advance? Is his left ankle really sprained?!

Memphis and LA Clippers are tied at 2 games a piece. How long before I play Chris Paul? Will he be available after this series? Does Conley have it in him to have another big game? How much impact will the Griffin-ZBo battle under the basketball affect the next couple of games? Will this series go to 7?

This game has consumed me. It's even got me drawing players on my fridge...

And for once, I am invested in every game of the playoffs, even the Hawks-Pacers series. Which, with the exception of Paul George's triple-double recorded in Game 1, has been anything but exciting. Win or go home.


-bObD.

"It's Yours Forever"

On the plane ride back from Coachella I was reading a book of poetry from Nikki Giovanni. She has been one of my favorite poets since I began reading poetry. I would say that one of the main reasons that I admire her so much is her courage. With the courage comes a sense of adventure....some I read from her stuck with me...."If you buy something and you go broke they can take it from. Buy yourself a trip or a hundred dollar meal and it's yours forever". After I read that quote I realized that I enjoyed reading Nikki more for our kinship. In other words, we think the same way.

My coachella trip was just as much about the journey itself, as much as it was about the music and other stuff (you can fill in the blanks here). It was about not knowing what to expect; not planning too much, being free; chillin out. You know....the hippy way. If the hippy way means chillin in a very nice house with a golf course view in a gated community. The spot was dope....or to quote Rueben, the very talkative, very friendly local who we found to taxi us around all weekend, "the spot was bomb"....I love learning new ebonics! Anyway, The homie Jig and I went to 3 days of Coachella and I wanted to recap the music and the fun of the days on this blog. So today's post is going to be about what transpired on day 1. To begin with the homie jig and I decided to go to Coachella after our friend (whom we met on Blip) Lordy told us that her and her friends were renting a house. They were gracious enough to allow two dudes they didn't know get in on the action. We arrived in Palm Desert on Thursday night and met the whole crew. Scott, Jen, Alisha, Alex and of course Lordy. Everyone was cool as fuck. Jen and Alisha had me cracking up as the had their talking Tom app saying shit like "What up bitch!!". So later on that night we were all discussing what acts we wanted to check out. I found out that Alex was a big Wu-Tang clan head, as I am too. They didn't play until Saturday tho. The homie Jig and I had a pretty specific plan with a lot of hip-hop on the schedule for day 1.

I woke up about 7am the next morning because I couldn't adjust to the Cali time....everyone else in the house was asleep as they were all used  to it.....I was also so stoked that I couldn't sleep. I woke up and started drinking beer (that's what I do when I'm excited). Soon enough the house was up. The rest of the crew had been to Coachella before so they weren't in a hurry to get there. We ended up getting cabs to the venue at around 3:00pm. That kinda sucked because I missed Dam-Funk....but he played extra early. The Coachella grounds are just beautiful....palm trees everywhere, the iconic Ferris wheel, all the weirdo westcoastys....it was all love yo. The walk from the entrance to the grounds was brutal tho.....I'd say about a mile and a halfer....When we finally made it inside the fest, we immediately went to the beer garden; more on that later; 18 dollars and 2 beers later we arrived at the Alt J show. I had honestly never heard of them, but the rest of the group was stoked to see them. They were pretty good....like their name would suggest they were a little alt rock. It had me moving but I can't remember anything really specific. They did have a decent crowd and the crowd was feeling them. After that show Jen, Alisha, Scott and Lordy ventured out to a tent where some electro Djs were playing....I saw the line to get in there and I shot them the deuce. Jig, Alex and I went to see TNGHT. I have to admit that I'm not really into Dj sets, but these guys were bumping. The bass that they added into their set was deep and heavy....also, bye this time I was getting pretty full....Next, Alex wanted to see another DJ set. Their name was Modestep. I apologize for these very nondescript reviews but alot of this time is blurred in my mind because bye time we saw Modestep I was like a walking zombie, the heat, the boos....the whatever else, I had overindulged. The excitement of the event had gotten the best of me. This wasn't good because the people that I really wanted to see weren't until later on that night....so what did I do. Of course we went back to the beer garden for two more expensive ass brews!!! I downed them hoes and I was feeling good, so I thought. The next show on the list was one that the homie Jig was very excited to see; Modest Mouse. Right when that set started is when it happened.....I woke up sitting in gate with a cup of water in hand. the only thing going through my mind was "What the fuck did I do?" Apparently, I passed out and almost got kicked out for the weekend, cuz if they have to call the paramedics you can't come back son. Luckily Jig and Alex convinced them that i would be cool and I basically recovered...kinda. I was hazy and all I can remember from the rest of that set is that lead singer talked a hella lot....hella lot. I was walking slow and everything but I was starting to regain all my senses and shit. Good thing because up next was I group that i was waiting to see, Jurassic 5! Let me just start this off by saying the show was too dope. They played all their standards Concrete streets, quality control....when they dropped what's golden the crowd went bananas...it took me back to the times I saw them in the early 2000's in Dallas at Gypsy Tea Room. All the vocals were on point and the rhymes were tight. As usual Charlie Tuna rocked the mike to 10th degree. All three of us were into it. I remember thinking that this is what it is all about....crazy shit, good times, good friends and tunes, and that no one could ever take that memory from me, it was mine "forever".


-tshurn

Das Beard.

No playoffs for the Dallas Mavericks since 2000. A season plagued with what looked like an identity crisis, at times. 9 new players on the roster, Dirk recovering from injury...it has been a rough season for the team and its fans. But a reason to celebrate...the Mavericks hit the 0.500 mark with a win over the Hornets Sunday! Thanks to Mayo and Carter, there was a hairy distraction to the disappointing season. Dirk's beard was getting way out of control, and I think everyone is celebrating the shave. While the Mavericks will be ending their season tomorrow, at least it was a memorable one...

The next 'Dirk is My Homeboy' t-shirt?

-bObD.

Winter is Here! (sort of)

The best show on television has come back and if the 1st episode of the third season is any indication, then this might be the best season yet. "Game of Thrones" premiered Sunday night. It picked up right where it left last season, north of the wall where the ice zombies rule. I love this show because they really do stay true to the fantastic book series written by George R.R. Martin, sometimes down to the dialogue. He wrote such a lush, and sprawling landscape that the directors have so much material to work with. Maybe too much...that's why the success that the series has had is such a triumph....Anyway, I don't want to go out the line by praising the series too much...we are here to talk about the season 3 premiere! There is so much going on that it always leaves the viewer wanting more of a specific character or situation...an hour isn't enough time for this epic. The highlight to me was seeing the growth of Dany's dragons; the training that they are undergoing, readying themselves for future battles in Westeros. The kalesse herself is still on the hunt for an army that can help lead her to what she truly believes is hers for the taking....the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, Jon Snow finally meets the "King beyond the wall". It's hard to figure out if Snow genuinely wants to join this gang of "wildlings" or if he is still loyal to the black cloak and will be a double agent. Lord Tyrian had perhaps the most memorable exchange of the episode when he confronted his father about his limited role. First of all, I'm surprised that he had the balls to even question Sir Tywin Lannister. Dude might be the scariest, most evil character on board. He delivered the most cold blooded line of the night to his own blood...."You are an ill made, spiteful little creature full of envy, lust and low cunning". Of course, the reality of situation is that Tyrian is none of those things, except maybe lustful, but who cares about that?! The bottom line is that this episode sets up season 3 to the best yet in a wonderful world full violence, betrayal, sex, lies....anything that makes for great drama. Stay tuned, we will be recapping most of the episodes this season!



-tshurn