Quote of the day

Gus McRae: Well, I'm glad I ain't scared to be lazy.

 

 

 

 

@MacEngelProf
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Dallas Mavericks' 1st round opponent could be Metta World Peace-less

The Dallas Mavericks have looked nothing like a defending NBA champion against the Los Angeles Lakers this season going 0-4.

As it stands right now, the Mavs are the 7 seed and would play the 2-seeded OKC Durants in the first round. But there is a decent chance the Mavs could move up to six and face the Lakers in the Western Conference quarterfinals.

If they do, don't be surprised if Lakers forward Metta World Peace isn't playing. Mr. World Peace went Ron Artest on OKC guard James Harden today and you have to be thinking a big-time suspension is coming. The Lakers defeated the Durants in double OT this afternoon.

 

 

BTW - Mr. World Peace averaged 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds against the Mavs this season.

 

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Worth a look: Showtime's "The Franchise" falls into the Miami Marlins & Ozzie Guillen's suspension

This may not have received the type of reality TV buzz normally reserved for HBO's/NFL Films "Hard Knocks" series, or that network's 24/7 series, but Showtime and MLB have jumped into bed to do something similar with "The Franchise".

Click here for the website.

Showtime is following the Miami Marlins, which in the offseason completely transformed its franchise with a new ballpark, a new manager and some big-time free agent additions.

Showtime is airing a special debut episode at 8 p.m. central this evening. 

This show received a serious boost when manager Ozzie Guillen does as Ozzie does and made his now infamous comments about Cuban leader Fidel Castro. The cameras were there to chronicle this whole thing.

Here is a clip of Ozzie being suspended:

 

I love me some Ozzie Guillen primarily because the man will say anything, and hopefully this little screwup does not prevent Ozzie from being Ozzie.

 

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Texas Rangers OF Josh Hamilton's projected numbers are in$ane

Josh Hamilton is doing everything possible to pressure the Texas Rangers into a stupid contract. The numbers he is putting up are, as the kids would say, "stupid".

In Game 1 of the Rangers' double-header in Detroit on Saturday, Hamilton hit another home run. He has six homers this season. Of course, he followed that with an 0-for-5, 4 K stinker in Game 2.

Here are Hamilton's stats so far in 2012:
15 games, 64 at bats, 25 hits, 3 doubles, 6 HR, 15 RBI, .391 BA

Here are Hamilton's projected stats for the season:
162 games, 691 at bats, 270 hits, 32 doubles, 65 HR, 162 RBI, .391 BA

As you can see, Hamilton just needs to keep this up for another five-plus months and he should have the long-term contract both he and the union desires.

@MacEngelProf
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WHAT?! Lamar Odom says "it's too bad it couldn't work out" with the Dallas Mavericks

Former Dallas Mavericks forward Lamar Odom couldn't be bothered with trying for his former employer, so instead he's making the rounds at film festivals.

Lam Lam was recently spotted at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival in his hometown of New York City and he was asked about his time with the Mavericks, and the "sudden" departure.

In typical Lam Lam fashion, he was not bitter but took the Lam Lam Road of Philosophy. He told ESPN's cameras:

“It was short lived, too bad it couldn’t work out but things happen for a reason. My life has been so crazy the last couple years, as far as issues with my family, as far as going through personal tragedy. And I felt like God was saying, ‘You know what Lamar, I’m going to give you a little time. A little time to step back and soak everything in….”

I love the complete lack of self-awareness; this has nothing to do with the player himself.

He added in response to Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban's assertion that the two had a blowup at halftime of a game against Memphis shortly before he was cut, Odom said:

“It’s too bad. It’s one thing I’m not going to do is play that game… if somebody wants to take we’ll shot let them take a shot. Be a professional, be a gentleman about it and I wish them much success.”

Especially after his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks, the first word that comes to my mind when I hear the name "Lamar Odom" is "professional".

A gentleman? Yes.
A professional? No. More like professional thief.

This does not diminish some of the real issues he has faced off the court. That's his deal. But he also had a job to do, just like the rest of us. He chose not to do it.

This is a clear case of the overly-enabled, multi-millionaire, uber talented pro jock who has so much cash he simply does not have to play by the rules the vast majority of us do.  He was recently paid millions just to go away; good work if you can get it.

Some NBA GM will sign Lam Lam in the offseason because this is a very talented man, but by doing so it ensures there is no real penalty to this type of behavior.

@MacEngelProf
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An open plea to Nicholas Sparks: Please stop

Nicholas Sparks, you did good. Speaking on behalf of millions of men, it is time to stop and just count your money. That should keep you occupied for at least another 40 years.

What you are doing to the male species is cruel, and needs to end. No more books, and for the love of God no more movies.

Men across the globe shudder at the idea of being dragged to or guilted into watching one more of these sappy tales that sets the bar high so high that John Cusack's character in "Say Anything" would say, "No way, man".

Today's release of the new Zac Efron movie should do it. Apparently "The Lucky One" is a miss (If US Weekly doesn't like it, you know it sucks). When it comes to Nicholas Sparks' "movies", the male viewer typical is the unlucky one.

This is not condemnation of the romance genre. Even the most bitter and annoyed male viewer can find some value and entertainment in any number of romantic themed films. 

Por ejemplo ...

"When Harry Met Sally" is a movie we can all enjoy.
"Titantic", not because of Kate and Leo but primarily because a giant, man-made boat made of "metal and brawn" sinks in a very painful way.
"Pretty Woman" was a charming movie for both boy and girl alike.
And perhaps the greatest romantic tale ever told, "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

With the release of "The Lucky One", seven Sparks' books have been made into films:

"Message in a Bottle" in 1999 starring Kevin Costner and Robin Wright. Why?  If Costner isn't playing baseball or golf, it can't be any good.

"A Walk to Remember" in 2002 starring Mandy Moore (score) and Shane West. If Mandy Moore isn't singing, I'm not buyin'.

"The Notebook" in 2004 starring Rachel McAdams (score), Ryan Gosling and James Garner. This movie is like "Rocky" in that it's on cable TV at all hours.

"Nights in Rodanthe" in 2008 starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane. Once again Diane Lane is unable to maintain love.

"Dear John" in 2010 starring Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum. Painful. 

"The Last Song" in 2010 starring Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth. Sadly, this has not been Hannah Montana's last song.

"The Lucky One" in 2012 starring Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling.

Hell hath no fury like a Sparks-ian novel/movie where cute actresses fall for impossibly hair-less men only to have their love crushed by life, a mud slide, a storm at sea, a disease or something else. Fortunately, however, the young people always have an aging veteran thespian, who was once hot, to provide sage advice.

Mr. Sparks has done exceedingly well writing the exact same thing, and he has much to be proud of. I wish I had thought of it.

Considering I did not, however, I have but one request: Please, stop.

 

 

 

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A case of a need for all soccer moms: the Lamborghini SUV

Add this to the bucket list: The Lamborghini SUV. That's right, one of the world's super-duperist auto makers, Lamborghini, is producing the ultimate Soccer Mom Mobile.

It was supposed to be unveiled at an auto show in Beijing this weekend. Some pictures of this sure-to-be-affordable economy vehicle have been leaked to the Internet machine. The car will be called the "Urus". 

According to various reports, this SUV will be available around 2015. Expect it to come armed with an engine ranging anywhere from a V-8 to a V-12.

Not only is it expected to be highly affordable, but good on gas and eco-friendly.

 

@MacEngelProf
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Worst of the week

Fort Worth's annual Main Street Arts Festival is currently ongoing, and if you haven't done this you should do it.

But the good folks who set up the kid's section, "Main St. Creates", at this event have to know better.

As you immediately enter the area designated for children there is a large statue of a cartoonish-looking orange duck. Kids are drawn to this thing like chocolate ice cream.

But on it there is a sign that reads: "Please do not climb on or touch the sculptures"

What the $%&^!? Put a giant toy in a section designated for kids and then say, "Hey, just look at it. Don't touch it".

 

 

 

@MacEngelProf
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Quote of the day

Jack Donaghy: You know how the media are. They wait for a mistake and that's all you are. It happened to Hitler. No one ever talks about his paintings.

 

 

 

 

 

@MacEngelProf
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Former Dallas Stars goalie has Phoenix Coyotes on brink of second round

Funny how a franchise that has remained in ownership hell for multiple seasons manages to make the playoffs repeatedly, and now is on the brink of winning a series for the first time since relocating to Phoenix more than a decade ago.

The Phoenix Coyotes are up 3-1 on the Chicago Blackhawks in their first round Western Conference series thanks to former Dallas Stars coach Dave Tippett, and a former goalie of the same organization.

Considering how things played out, it's not as if the Dallas Stars were fleeced when they sent goalie Mike Smith and forwards Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern in February of 2008 to Tampa Bay to acquire center Brad Richards. At the time, Smith was backing up Marty Turco in Dallas but the thought was he could be a legit No. 1 goalie.

None of the players involved did very much to help their new team do much of anything beyond that 2008 spring when Richards was part of a Stars team that reached the West Finals.

It wasn't until this past offseason when the Coyotes signed Smith as a free agent did he begin to win the way the Stars, and Lightning, projected.

Playing behind a set of defensemen and forwards that will grind, chip, bang and bore you to death this season, Smith has become arguably the finest goalie in these playoffs. This season, he went 38-18 with a .930 save percentage and a 2.21 goals against average. 

Because of the style of play favored by Tippett - close to the vest, very conservative, needing a lead - goalies that play for him tend to have favorable numbers. But Smith is clearly in the head of the Blackhawks. Every game in this series has ended in OT. He has repeatedly made big saves, and now has the "cash strapped" Coyotes on the brink of the Western Conference semi-finals.

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