Weekly Random Thoughts: 6/11/10

1. How many times does something truly live up to the hype? Think about all those sporting events, movies, vacations, birthdays, dates, sexual experiences…anything that you were looking forward to. Nine times out of ten, you end up disappointed or at least dissatisfied. Which is why Stephen Strasburg is such an incredible story. The man had ridiculous amounts of hype and expectation going into his first major league start. And I joked beforehand, that the only way he could meet they hype and those expectations was if he threw a no-hitter or perfect game. Well seven innings later, two earned runs on four hits (including one home run), and fourteen strikeouts later…dare I say…he surpassed what anyone could have imagined. WOW!!!

I mean how many things actually lived up to the hype?

Off the top of my head…Avatar? The Iphone? LeBron James? Seriously…it’s not a long list.

What happens now will only add to the legend of Stephen Strasburg. All I know is he’s arguably the #1 fantasy player in a keeper league.

2. Is this the weekend that finally excites movie audiences? You have to go back to the first weekend of May, to Iron Man 2, to find a movie that excited audiences and had people lining up outside movie theaters. And to be honest, even that movie wasn’t loved and definitely fell short of expectations. Over a month later and the audiences are sitting around waiting for a movie to spend their money on. They want a crowd pleaser (see ‘Up’, ‘The Hangover’, and ‘Star Trek’ from last year). Could it be ‘The Karate Kid’ or “The A-Team’? I think it might. Both have a chance to do well and make up for a weak May/June slate so far. Early reviews are good (not great). If not this weekend, then soon…there will be one movie that blows past every conceivable expectation. And the movies that are expected to do well - might do even better…because people want to see movies this summer. Just not crap like ‘Robin Hood’, “Prince of Persia’, and ‘Killers’.

Again…off the top of the head. Movies that fall under this category: Toy Story 3, Inception, Twilight: Eclipse, The Last Airbender, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Salt.

3. Right now is a bad time to travel. Flights and hotels are all marked up higher than last year’s prices. Where are the recession specials?

I think it’s just a dirty trick played by the airlines (also not being helped out by the upcoming merger of Delta and Northwest Airlines); because people are flying more…yet, the airlines have not increased seat capacity. Thus allowing them to charge more for airfare. Chalk it up to just another case of supply doesn’t meet demand, so you have to pay more for it.

4. The NBA finals have a chance to be an all time classic. If you were like me, then you just finished watching a thrilling game four. The series is all tied up at two a piece. Home court is thrown out the window…tensions and emotions are at an all time high (I predict a fight happening soon – or at least an ejection)…and each game features a surprise hero (Game two it was Ray Allen, game three it was Derek Fisher, game four it was ‘Big Baby’ David). I honestly have no idea what to expect for game five. But I do believe this series will be going seven and be a fixture on NBA classics for years to come.

5. Who’s excited for World Cup? I know I am. For the first time ever, I’ve read up on the teams. I know the players by name (and more importantly…the WAG’s). And I’m genuinely interested in the games. Seeing the passion that people feel for the game makes me wish people in this country appreciated soccer more. It is the global game. Of course it would help if the US team were better.

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to catch the US vs. England match on Saturday. I have plans…

6. Bathroom story of the week:

In this week’s ‘Tales for the Stall #2’.

You know how you go to sporting events or family friendly restaurants and you see children using the urinals, except they haven’t quite mastered the unzip and pee routine, so they drop trou (lower one’s pants to one’s ankles) and go pee. Well the other day, I saw someone at work do this. And there was just something wrong about seeing a middle aged man with his pants down to his ankles, in tighty whities, standing there with his dress shirt hanging out…and taking a piss. I mean I’m all for not wrinkling your shirt, but you don’t place wrinkle free over pissing so people can’t see you ass.

7. In sad economic news, the ESPN Zone in Times Square will be closing down on Tuesday. This was a frequent meeting spot for me and my college buddies and I’m sad to see it go. I might have to make one more visit before they shut the doors and close the lights.

That’s all for this week folks. Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend!!!

Signs you care too much about your blog.

According to ‘How I Met Your Mother’, blogs hit their peak about eight years ago. And according to my doctor (who recently wrote a diet book), there is no money in blogs. But that doesn’t stop me from spending half my day thinking about my blog.

You know you care too much when you start obsessing over it and doing the following:

1. Every time you meet someone new you always say, “Hey, read my blog.”

2. Every time you see an old friend you don’t say goodbye…you say, “Read my blog and sign up as a follower.”

3. You force your girlfriend and best friend to click on the Google advertisements on your webpage in order to make a whopping $2.07 in advertising revenue. (C'mon...who doesn't need Mechanical Bull Insurance?)

4. You check your blog page hourly to see if someone has written a comment.

5. You get overly-excited when you see a comment posted or a new follower.

6. Your facebook status and twitter feed is a continuous stream of daily links to your blog.

7. When people talk about something you have written about on your blog, you automatically scream out, “I wrote that in my blog.” And then get mad and ask, “Why aren’t you reading my blog?”

8. Anything you do in life automatically becomes a possible blog entry topic.

9. You spend your days thinking of catchy blog titles like “blogbrother” or “You don’t know Jack”.

10. You feel a bond with other people that write a blog. Like you’ve been to war together or something. And you're always down to guest-blog...

So my blog brothers...how many of these do you do every day?

Weekly Random Thoughts: 6/4/10

1. With the NBA playoffs tipping off as I am typing this, please check out another podcast featuring yours truly. My buddy Brock and I breakdown the Lakers - Celtics series like only two experts can.
http://brockangeles.tumblr.com/

2. So my girlfriend is going to watch 'Sex and the City 2: Attack of the Louboutins' this weekend with five female friends. I am debating on whether or not I should go with them. Why? Two reasons.

• I love movies and wouldn't mind seeing the movie (feel free to call me names if you like). After all, I did see the first movie and I thought the first couple of seasons of the TV show were extremely well written and entertaining.
• It would be quite an experience and something I could write about in my lblog. That's prime material right there.

So I don't know readers...what do you think? Should I go?

3. The great Ken Griffey Jr. retired this week. I feel the same way many baseball fans do right now: Sad to see a once great star get old and fade into the background. Glad that I got to see one of the greatest and most exciting players ever in my lifetime. Reminiscing about the time I once had the cherished Upper Deck rookie card in my collection. And wondering what could have been if he had stayed healthy and never left Seattle.

And since I'm reading Bill Simmons 'The Book of Basketball', I feel it appropriate to say that if anybody ever wrote 'The Book of Baseball' and tried to rank the players using a pyramid...Griffey Jr. would be one heck of an argument. He's considered one of the greatest, yet never played in a World Series. Griffey had amazing stats, memorable plays, and the hardware and records. So does that make him the equivalent of Karl Malone or Elgin Baylor? I don't know...baseball is more difficult to compare than basketball. I think football would be more appropriate. Many great NFL players never won the Super Bowl. So after some consideration, I'm going to say that Griffey Jr. is more like Barry Sanders. Both could have owned a presitgious record (most home runs for Griffey, most rushing yards for Sanders), but never quite got there for varying reasons (Griffey due to injuries, Sanders due to early retirement). Yet, both meant so much to their franchises and the cities they played in. Both were also known for their breath-taking abilities...even having that one identifiably picturesque skill (Griffey's sweet swing...Sanders cut back ability). In addition, both never won the big one, but made it to the playoffs a few times. And both are regarded highly by their peers, fans, and media. Lastly, both are players people in my generation will always say, "I was lucky to see him play during my lifetime."

We'll miss you Griffey Jr., but we'll always remember that sweet swing.

4. Caught an early screening of 'Get Him to the Greek', which arrives in a theater near you on Friday, June 4th. I had really high hopes for this movie, but thought it was only OK. It's definitely raunchy and has a few funny moments. But it's a bit long and probably something you'll quickly forget as soon as you leave the theater.

My only question is, "Where does Russell Brand go from here?". I mean, he is Aldous Snow. Can he only play that type of character? I guess I just don't see him playing a straight laced guy, so I'm curious to see what his next movie role will be.

5. A buddy of mine, Doug, made the argument that Lebron has to go to New York because the NBA needs New York and Los Angeles to be good. It's in the best interest of the league. Obviously, the Lakers are fine with Kobe and Gasol (both of whom have a few years left in the tank). But the Knicks haven't recovered from the Scott Layden and Isiah Thomas era's.

While I agree with this argument, I think the answer is not Lebron in NY. But rather Dwayne Wade needs to go to New York. He'll bring a similar level of excitement and competiveness. That'll allow LeBron to stay in Cleveland. Then just give Wade some help (Knicks have the money)...and now you're talking. New York will be good again. Cleveland will be a contender every year. So will Orlando as long as Howard is there. Boston has it's next star in Rajon Rondo. That just leaves Chicago...and Rose and Noah gives them a good foundation. Problem solved. You're welcome, David Stern.

6. My current favorite term to use is 'Gum Dick'. You know what a gum dick is. Just think of that nice person who goes to Costco and buys a bulk sized package of Trident. That person then carries around at least one pack of Trident everywhere he/she goes. And everytime he/she takes out a piece, he/she always is nice and offers a piece to every one standing or sitting in the vicinity. Because that's the nice thing to do. Unfortunately, you always have that one person who just has to say no. Becaus that person is...a 'Gum Dick'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GITSZUEqaL8

7. Did anyone check out my guest blog last week? That was some of my finest work in the blogosphere world. Guess my readership will never grow...

8. I've noticed that I spend a lot of time at work in the bathroom. And there's always a story or a funny/weird thing that happens in there. Whether it was the previously mentioned (see April's weekly random thoughts post) question of whether you say 'bless you' when in the stall...to the guy who doesn't wash his hands...to the guy who has to answer his phone while on the toilet or even at the urinal...to the strange conversations you walk into between your boss and manager while you are awkwardly sitting in the stall taking a #2. I think this would make for a great blog idea..."Shit that happens when I go to the bathroom at work." Heck, I might even make something I write about each week.

Anyway, this weeks story:

There are two urinals at work. One is higher up than the other. I guess this is for people of varying heights. One day I walk in and the higher urinal is occupied. I'm not one to wait, so I walk up to lower urinal and start to do my business. The guy next to me gets done and is quickly replaced by another guy who walks in with perfect timing. The new guy standing next to me unzips and their is a brief moment of silence...you know, except for the sound of us peeing. Then the guy looks over at me and says, "You know that urinal is for little boys. This one is for men." Another pause. I smile and give a fake laugh. Then I turned and pissed on his shoe. I zipped up...and said sarcastically, "Good one". What a 'Gum Dick'.

(PS - I made up the last three sentences.)

That's all I got for this week. Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend every one.