Starting the New Year Off With A Bang

Literally.

I'm already over '08. Behold my once beautiful Mac. I wish I could say something cool like this happened in the heat of battle during the Jags-Steelers game or the Spurs-Warriors game, where I got so excited that the remote flew out of my hand. But no. The Spurs-Warriors game was on in the background, but this travesty happened because I was playing with my new dog and forgot that I left my tank of a camera on the bed, so when I pulled the blanket over my head (you know, to play peek-a-boo), the camera went flying and hit my laptop dead-on. The $300 camera, fine. The nearly $3000 laptop that I carted all over Europe without even a scratch, well, you can see for yourself. I can't even bring myself to call Mac to see how much it's gonna cost to fix because I know it's going to be something insane. I didn't even like dogs before this one. And technically, I'm not even the owner of the dog...yet. Had this happened a month ago to anybody else, I would have said, "This is what happens when you play freakin' peek-a-boo with an animal and treat it like it's a person!" But now, broken laptop and all, I love my dog and am willing to go to Iggy-like lengths to keep her. (More on that later.)

So yeah, an ignominious start to the new year. At least the Spurs and the Warriors provided a little distraction after THE HIT occurred, although after OT, I went right back to being catatonic. But if anybody's interested in an indestructible camera, get the Canon PowerShot SD450 (Digital Elph series). Hell, I'll give you mine. I can't even look at it right now. Anyway, hope you had a Happy New Year!

Jerry Sloan Mad at Gordan Giricek; Kyle Korver Punished

In the buildup to Pats-Giants, I completely missed the news that Kyle Korver was traded to the Utah Jazz for Gordan Giricek, Jerry Sloan's latest whipping boy. Giricek was the one that acted up yet Kyle is the one being banished to Utah. I guess the strategy of trading away the team's most popular players didn't end with Billy King. Poor Philly. Poor Kyle.

Roger Goodell: Not Such a Grinch After All

The NFL called a brief moratorium on their war with the cable networks and are allowing us mere mortals to watch the Pats go for 16-0. Normally, I'm against congressional oversight of sports, but this time, I'm glad someone stepped in. Seriously, two multi-billion dollar entities squabbling over dollars. Jesus.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I want to see the "Denver Patriots" go 16-0. More specifically, I want Brady to demolish Peyton's TD record. Screw Peyton and his insufferable commercials! I can't think of a more annoying athlete, except Vince Carter and Derek Fisher.

Anyway, enjoy the game.

Wishing You a G.O. Christmas

This is the Christmas card I would have sent had any of my friends actually known who Greg Oden was. My best friend is trying to learn, though, and even watched a "Texas Spurs" game. Even more shocking, she's agreed to watch the "Denver Patriots" play the Giants this Saturday. One of my cousins, who just moved to Pennsylvania, is a bit better, though, and said she'd try to go to "a Pittsburgh 76ers game." Sigh. And therein lies the reason I started this blog, which I realize I haven't written in forever, but I will be better in the new year.

Anyway, Merry Christmas!! Eat, drink...I would say don't drink and drive, but if you do, you'll only go to jail for 82 minutes anyway, so whatever. JUST KIDDING!!! Calm down. Seriously though, have a wonderful holiday. Stay warm. Special shout-out to the Heat, who have to endure the indignity of spending the day in Cleveland instead of Miami. I guess it really is Lebron's world.

Happy Holidays!

Vegas, Baby

In Vegas for my brother's birthday weekend. Apparently, not even cracking his head at 1am last night and having to get it stapled shut is going to stop him from going. Will explain upon my return. Have a nice weekend.

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Now playing: Yannick Noah - Dans Et Sur Mes Bras
via FoxyTunes

Yao-Nash Charity Game

We get another treat today. NBA TV is going to air the Yao Ming-Steve Nash charity game that took place in Beijing on September 14th. It will be on at 8pm EST/5pm PST. NBA players who participated in the game include Carmelo Anthony, Baron Davis, Leandro Barbosa, and Yi Jianlian.






Photo Source: NBAE

Charles Barkley on MNF

Did anyone else notice the Chuckster in the booth with Mike Tirico, Jaws, and Tony Kornheiser during the Redskins-Eagles game Monday night? I turned on the game to check the score during the second half, but switched to Prison Break before Charles said anything. He better not be abandoning TNT for MNF!

V-NYT Day

So for the past 2 years, I've waged a silent war against The New York Times online because they started charging for access to articles. I've read Maureen Dowd's columns since high school and the prospect of suddenly paying $2 per column was, to me, absolutely ridiculous. It's bad enough they charge $5 for the Sunday Times, there was no way in hell I was going to pay some ridiculous TimesSelect fee. However, I still needed my Maureen Dowd-Paul Krugman fix so I basically bribed people for their Lexis-Nexis passwords and then emailed myself the articles I wanted.

Well, today the New York Times has officially ended TimesSelect. Op-Ed, News, and all the other columns are now available as they should be - free of charge. This is also good for sports fans because Harvey Araton's columns are now available as well. We can finally read the columns Henry links to in full. Incidentally, today's Harvey Araton column is about the role Bill Russell plays as mentor to incoming rookies. Joakim Noah gets the conversation rolling by asking straight up if "[Russell] felt underappreciated while accomplishing all that he did in racially polarized Boston — 11 N.B.A. championships in 13 remarkable years — at the dawn of and during the civil rights era." An interesting read, as most everything involving Bill Russell is.

So yay! Release your inner nerd and enjoy V-NYT Day.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

So what have I been doing since I last posted (rather, what has been totally distracting me from posting)? Watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the funniest show since Arrested Development. My brother told me I absolutely had to watch this show, but considering his last recommendation was Ninja Warrior, I was a bit leery. But after he reminded me (less bitterly this time) that he knows all the lyrics to Rent and Ragtime - the result of being at the mercy of an older sister with a car - I gave it a try and now I'm totally addicted in a crackhead kind of way. The season premiere is tonight at 10, but you can also watch an exclusive pre-season episode on their MySpace.

This clip is from "The Gang Gives Back" (Season 2, Episode 6).

PS. I've noticed I tend to get along best with people who have similar taste in shows as me. I don't know whether that's due to vanity or bitchiness, but either way, here's a list of current shows I like. In no particular order:

• Prison Break!
• I was at a party in France and this guy, who was trying to act all cool, announced that Wentworth Miller was gay. My response was, "Speak for yourself and your little scarf, Frenchie!" Trying to ruin my Wentworth Miller crush is not a way to get on my good side. Nor is wearing a scarf indoors.
  
• Heroes
• I love Nathan, but this stupid Heroes character test told me I was Sylar. Whatever! Just because I would key some douchebag's car who deserved it....I'm really not Sylar.
• 24, minus seasons 2 and 3
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• It's back! Yay! With Vivica Fox. Nay.
• Real Time with Bill Maher
• If you ever go to a taping, sit on the benches along the wall. They get to go in first.
• The Office
• The Wire
• Scrubs
• Family Guy
• The Daily Show and Colbert Report
• Ugly Betty
• Lost

Photo Source: FX