Matthew

Friends: Season 2. "You partied with Hootie and the Blowfish?!?!?!?!?" Has there ever been a more white, middle-class show than Friends?

Yeah, I'm thinking Gilbert didn't do crap for LBJ when he had him, team stunk to high heaven, now he lucks in the first draft pick a couple of times, gets LBJ, stock value soar, season tickets out the wazoo. Speaking on the basketball side, the big question mark will be how David Blatt turns out, he must feel like the luckiest man on earth! Still, the pressure will be on him to put the pieces together.

Maybe not a corporate script, but certainly corporate input. We're talking about hundreds of millions of dollars, with endorsements, stock value, etc. I think that Nike, at the very least, showed LBJ studies on how the public was likely to respond to the decision to go to the Cavs. With the whole "Cramps Game" and the reaction to that, staying in Miami must have seemed like a losing game, that there was no way for LBJ's image to take an upswing, but to go to Cleveland. Now, the narrative for LBJ has been completely changed -- he's "mature" now, and he'll do his darnedest to get plucky Cleveland its championship. The corporate interests behind LeBron have a heavy investment in him, and probably did have a bigger say in the matter than we realize. Hey, I don't begrudge LaBron going back to his home, but I also realize a lot of other interests were involved, and this move does not hurt the "brand" in anyway, not the NBA or LBJ "brand."

I get the feeling LBJ's whole life is being scripted by the various corporate interests backing him -- no proof, just a feeling.

Like everyone else, I'm deeply saddened by the passing of Haden's passing. There's still the music, but it seems with each passing of a musician that I've followed over the years, it gets tougher to take and not easier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVhjBmcOP30&feature=share https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0VOiNxC2Ao

It's unbelievable to me that now all the original Ramones are gone. Thanks for all the great music guys, you gave me great joy through the years with those first three albums.

Very groovy-issimo!

Weird Scenes Inside the Canyon: Laurel Canyon, Covert Ops & The Dark Heart of the Hippie Dream by David McGowan. Very definitely a What The Heck??? book, but interesting none-the-less. Trying to make the case that whole Laurel Canyon/Los Angeles/Hippie thing was a CIA diversion to take away any real power from the anti-war movement, among other things.

Friends: Season 1. ... and yes, I love this show

Morte D'Urban by J. F. Powers. A great, comic novel about a hustler of a priest, a retreat house, a golf course, every now and then God, and coming to terms with your life. This book is also, without a doubt, the most realistic novel about the Catholic priesthood that I've read. Powers' short stories are very interesting also.

This what I just bought a couple of weeks ago, and it's wonderful, love it! Smooth to operate, and it syncs great with my iPhone, which is a big plus for me. PS: Plus it's perfect for editing and graphics for a on-line magazine, which is what I'll be spending a lot of time on in the coming months.

The unwritten rule also says don't make the first or last out at third, which I see more often now then ever before. Want to see a manager completely freak-out, get caught trying to steal third for the third out!

You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time -- Jim Bouton

I hope you found it of interest. At least is indicates what was in Marion's mind at time of recording. I did indeed. The Brown connection made perfect sense. It was a stimulating and in parts somewhat challenging read but time well spent. I can imagine I'll revisit it Wasn't Andrew Hill's "Dusk" based on "Cane" also?

Matthew, if you like that one, you will probably like another of Otto Penzler's books, The Black Lizard Big Book of Black Mask Stories. I recommend it! Thanks for the tip, I oredered it yesterday.

The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps: The Best Crime Stories From The Pulps During Their Golden Age -- The 20s, The 30s,& 40s. Slowly making my way through this very enjoyable collection. I've become addicted to pulp fictions lately.

King Author And His Knights Of The Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green. I have to admit, most of my knowledge of King Arthor come from "The Sword In The Stone," which is not the most reliable source out there. Interesting book, and I can see why so many people remember reading it in childhood, and have continued throughout their life.

The Cornish Coast Murder (British Crime Library) by John Bude. Nice murder mystery from the "Golden Age" of British mystery, it was published in 1935. The whole series is worth checking out.

I would have thought the Cardinals cutting a wider swath of fanship, as they were the southern team for so many years. Plus, I've always found the Braves one of the dullest teams to watch.

Sad news, I just watched a reply of the Jets vs. Colts Super Bowl this weekend

Trailor Park Boys: This is some hilarious stuff.

So, for the second time in his career, Josh Hamilton injurers himself sliding headfirst. Doesn't this guy ever learn?

Tim Hudson wasn't too shabby the other day either. That's right, I completely forgot about his great game.

Giants took two of three from the Dodgers this weekend. Their pitching still looks weak, Madison Bumgarner's game Saturday has been their only good start of the year, and this for a team that relies on pitching. I have to admit that I wasn't that impressed with the Dogers, and this Puig situation is pretty crazy as he's curreently playing some very stupid baseball.