2014- it was a year.
On a personal level, 2014 will always be the year I lost one of my best friends. Barbara Jo, I still miss you and always will. Life is so much more duller without you around, and I'll see you in the next life.
On every facet of life, there are good points and bad points. 2014 seems like the bad points were brought out in full force.
Politics (federal)- Gridlock reigned supreme, unless they were cutting dealsto help out Wall Street.
Politics (local)- Eric Garner and Michael Brown put a spotlight on a rift between the police and the citizens
Entertainment- One great Comedian (Robin Williams) took his own life, due to depression and health issues. Another great Comedian (Bill Cosby) has been credibly accused of multiple rapes.
And yet- good points can be found. The economy is improving (more slowly than I would like, but it is going int he right direction). Gas prices are falling. Technology continues to improve- from solar panels that achieve 40% efficiency to breakthroughs in graphene. Hell, we even landed a spacecraft on a comet.
But right now, it seems like the low points of 2014 stand out more.
Here's hoping things get better for 2015.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Sunday, November 9, 2014
"Death in Heaven"- Steven Moffat and Doctor Who
Fair Warning: I'm delving deep into two of my fandoms here- Doctor Who and Pro-Wrestling. I'll try to explain to a non-fan as much as I can.
So- The Eight Season of the Revamped Doctor Who ended last night with the second half of a two part episode. This isn't a review of that episode- for reviews of the episodes, I highly recommend "The Reluctant Optimist". Instead, I want to talk about why this season has been so frustrating for me as a fan.
It's got nothing to do with the acting. I think Peter Capaldi has been great as the 12th Doctor. It took me a while to appreciate Jenna Coleman as the Doctor's Companion, Calra Oswald, but she has really done an excellent job acting.
It's just too bad the scripts were so awful.
Steven Moffat is the showrunner- not only the main writer, but the person who drives the direction of the show. He took over from Russell T. Davies just as we went from the 10th Doctor to the 11th.
If you're a pro-wrestling fan, you'll get this analogy:
Steven Moffat is the Vince Russo of Doctor Who.
If you're not a pro-wrestling fan, let me explain.
Vince Russo used to be the head writer for the WWE back in 1998- then in 1999 jumped ship to the competition, WCW. Back in the WWE, he had the owner of the federation, Vince McMahon, act as his editor (much like Davies could be for Moffat). In WCW, he had no editor at all.
Both Russo and Moffat love to write the Markout Moment- the line/scene/moment where the character says or does something that you as a fan will remember and share with your friends. It can be a moment of awesomeness, of heartwarming, of funny, of anger- anything to make you mark out.
That would be fine. The problem is that both Russo and Moffat (a) throw so many markout moments that they lose the impact and (b) forget the consequences of what they wrote five minutes ago.
An example from Russo's reign- he had the biggest face in the fed lose a match by having someone betray him three months in a row. At that point, you stop rooting for the good guy to get revenge and start thinking he's an idiot.
Or, from last's night Doctor Who episode (SPOILERS!)...
...
...
... OK, five minutes are spent with the Doctor and Clara agonizing over a decision-. Her boyfriend, Danny Pink, has been turned into a Cyberman, but still retains his emotions. He's in a ton of pain. In addition, if they inhibit his emotions, he'll hook up more with the hive mind and be able to tell the Doctor the Cyberman's plans. But shutting off his emotions will turn him fully into a Cyberman, losing his independence and he'll be lost to Clara forever.
So it's one of those morality decisions. They spend a lot of time before finally making the call to turn on the inhibitor. Big moment, right?
Pink reveals the Cyberman's plans, they confront the big Bad- and not FIVE MINUTES LATER, Pink is revealed to still have his independence and feelings.
So what the hell was all that buildup for?
This entire season has been like that- big buildups to moments, that are then forgotten about before the next commercial. And so, any markout moment is lost, because it doesn't mean anything.
(In addition, Moffat has decided to spend this year having the Doctor mock and condemn any soldier. It's always great to see a fandom you like being used to insult a group of people you respect. Really.)
So... yeah. My wife has turned me into a Doctor Who fan. But I don't think I'll pay much more attention until they replace Moffat as the showrunner. I'm not interested in what he's selling.
So- The Eight Season of the Revamped Doctor Who ended last night with the second half of a two part episode. This isn't a review of that episode- for reviews of the episodes, I highly recommend "The Reluctant Optimist". Instead, I want to talk about why this season has been so frustrating for me as a fan.
It's got nothing to do with the acting. I think Peter Capaldi has been great as the 12th Doctor. It took me a while to appreciate Jenna Coleman as the Doctor's Companion, Calra Oswald, but she has really done an excellent job acting.
It's just too bad the scripts were so awful.
Steven Moffat is the showrunner- not only the main writer, but the person who drives the direction of the show. He took over from Russell T. Davies just as we went from the 10th Doctor to the 11th.
If you're a pro-wrestling fan, you'll get this analogy:
Steven Moffat is the Vince Russo of Doctor Who.
If you're not a pro-wrestling fan, let me explain.
Vince Russo used to be the head writer for the WWE back in 1998- then in 1999 jumped ship to the competition, WCW. Back in the WWE, he had the owner of the federation, Vince McMahon, act as his editor (much like Davies could be for Moffat). In WCW, he had no editor at all.
Both Russo and Moffat love to write the Markout Moment- the line/scene/moment where the character says or does something that you as a fan will remember and share with your friends. It can be a moment of awesomeness, of heartwarming, of funny, of anger- anything to make you mark out.
That would be fine. The problem is that both Russo and Moffat (a) throw so many markout moments that they lose the impact and (b) forget the consequences of what they wrote five minutes ago.
An example from Russo's reign- he had the biggest face in the fed lose a match by having someone betray him three months in a row. At that point, you stop rooting for the good guy to get revenge and start thinking he's an idiot.
Or, from last's night Doctor Who episode (SPOILERS!)...
...
...
... OK, five minutes are spent with the Doctor and Clara agonizing over a decision-. Her boyfriend, Danny Pink, has been turned into a Cyberman, but still retains his emotions. He's in a ton of pain. In addition, if they inhibit his emotions, he'll hook up more with the hive mind and be able to tell the Doctor the Cyberman's plans. But shutting off his emotions will turn him fully into a Cyberman, losing his independence and he'll be lost to Clara forever.
So it's one of those morality decisions. They spend a lot of time before finally making the call to turn on the inhibitor. Big moment, right?
Pink reveals the Cyberman's plans, they confront the big Bad- and not FIVE MINUTES LATER, Pink is revealed to still have his independence and feelings.
So what the hell was all that buildup for?
This entire season has been like that- big buildups to moments, that are then forgotten about before the next commercial. And so, any markout moment is lost, because it doesn't mean anything.
(In addition, Moffat has decided to spend this year having the Doctor mock and condemn any soldier. It's always great to see a fandom you like being used to insult a group of people you respect. Really.)
So... yeah. My wife has turned me into a Doctor Who fan. But I don't think I'll pay much more attention until they replace Moffat as the showrunner. I'm not interested in what he's selling.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
NBA Predictions 2014-2015
Eastern Conference:
1. Cleveland
2. Toronto
3. Miami
4. Chicago
5. Indiana
6. Charlotte
7. Brooklyn
8. Washington
===========
9. Detroit
10. New York
11. Atlanta
12. Orlando
13. Milwaukee
14. Boston
15. Philadelphia
Western Conference:1. San Antonio
2. LA Clippers
3. Oklahoma City
4. Golden State
5. Dallas
6. Phoenix
7. Portland
8. Minnesota
=============
9. Memphis
10. New Orleans
11. Houston
12. Denver
13. LA Lakers
14. Sacramento
15. Utah
More notes:
• My surprise team of the year- Minnesota. Very young, very athletic- I could see Wiggins as the rookie of the year and Bennett as the most Improved player of the year. In a loaded Western Conference, I think they make the playoffs
• Houston- last year I thought they’d gel and be real contenders. I’m no longer a believer. Harden+Howard+ role players no longer seems like a good combination, especially in this era of three point shooters.
• But damn, the West is Loaded. The #10 team here could contend for a top three spot in the East.
• While the Eastern Conference is better this year than last year, it’s not because the top teams are great- it’s that the mediocre teams are taking a few steps forward
• I’m not a believer in Washington. I think they overplayed their starters, don’t have any bench, and got lucky with health last year.
• I have no idea how Chicago, Miami, or Indiana will do. I could see any of the three challenging for the top spot in the East; I could see any of the three collapsing completely.
• Complete wild guesses on the lottery: 1) Utah 2) Philadelphia 3) Denver. They will vote to ‘flatten’ the lottery, but it won’t begin until 2016
• In the Western Conference, I will keep picking San Antonio until they prove me wrong. And in the Eastern Conference, I think the Cavs are more talented and healthier than any other team in the conference. And in the finals…
• Damn. Last year was the single most frustrating year I have ever experienced as a sports fan. Watching a team you expected to take a step forward just fall apart and become a disaster was painful. I have been a longtime Mike Brown fan, but he was the wrong coach for this team. It was ugly.
• And then, karma payback. The Cavs won the lottery. They went in a completely different direction with the new coach, and picked someone with a worldwide reputation for being an offensive genius. They didn’t panic and drafted the person I thought was the best player. I was thrilled long before LeBron came back. And then he came back- something I never thought would happen.
• I’m a Cleveland sports fan. I’ve come to dread the worst. Right now, I’m terrified how something that seems to be put together so perfectly could fall apart. But everything seems set up so perfectly. On paper, this works… San Antonio is a year older. Cleveland is younger than Miami, deeper, and hungrier. The Cleveland Cavaliers end the Curse and win the NBA Championship in six games.
(Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be hiding under the bed))
1. Cleveland
2. Toronto
3. Miami
4. Chicago
5. Indiana
6. Charlotte
7. Brooklyn
8. Washington
===========
9. Detroit
10. New York
11. Atlanta
12. Orlando
13. Milwaukee
14. Boston
15. Philadelphia
Western Conference:1. San Antonio
2. LA Clippers
3. Oklahoma City
4. Golden State
5. Dallas
6. Phoenix
7. Portland
8. Minnesota
=============
9. Memphis
10. New Orleans
11. Houston
12. Denver
13. LA Lakers
14. Sacramento
15. Utah
More notes:
• My surprise team of the year- Minnesota. Very young, very athletic- I could see Wiggins as the rookie of the year and Bennett as the most Improved player of the year. In a loaded Western Conference, I think they make the playoffs
• Houston- last year I thought they’d gel and be real contenders. I’m no longer a believer. Harden+Howard+ role players no longer seems like a good combination, especially in this era of three point shooters.
• But damn, the West is Loaded. The #10 team here could contend for a top three spot in the East.
• While the Eastern Conference is better this year than last year, it’s not because the top teams are great- it’s that the mediocre teams are taking a few steps forward
• I’m not a believer in Washington. I think they overplayed their starters, don’t have any bench, and got lucky with health last year.
• I have no idea how Chicago, Miami, or Indiana will do. I could see any of the three challenging for the top spot in the East; I could see any of the three collapsing completely.
• Complete wild guesses on the lottery: 1) Utah 2) Philadelphia 3) Denver. They will vote to ‘flatten’ the lottery, but it won’t begin until 2016
• In the Western Conference, I will keep picking San Antonio until they prove me wrong. And in the Eastern Conference, I think the Cavs are more talented and healthier than any other team in the conference. And in the finals…
• Damn. Last year was the single most frustrating year I have ever experienced as a sports fan. Watching a team you expected to take a step forward just fall apart and become a disaster was painful. I have been a longtime Mike Brown fan, but he was the wrong coach for this team. It was ugly.
• And then, karma payback. The Cavs won the lottery. They went in a completely different direction with the new coach, and picked someone with a worldwide reputation for being an offensive genius. They didn’t panic and drafted the person I thought was the best player. I was thrilled long before LeBron came back. And then he came back- something I never thought would happen.
• I’m a Cleveland sports fan. I’ve come to dread the worst. Right now, I’m terrified how something that seems to be put together so perfectly could fall apart. But everything seems set up so perfectly. On paper, this works… San Antonio is a year older. Cleveland is younger than Miami, deeper, and hungrier. The Cleveland Cavaliers end the Curse and win the NBA Championship in six games.
(Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be hiding under the bed))
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Top 10- Epic Rap Battles
Next Month, Epic Rap Battles returns to Youtube. Nice Peter and Epic Lloyd have had three seasons of mixing rap battles with celebrities, and they've been consistently hysterical. I thought I'd put up my ten favorites of the first three seasons:
(Some cursing)
(Some cursing)
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Thoughts on Dungeons and Dragons- 5th edition
Wizards of the Coast is releasing the 5th edition of Dungeons and Dragons. I've played DnD since I was ten, back in first edition. Currently, I'm in a campaign using DnD 3.5 (third edition with some rules modifications). Some initial thoughts looking over the new Player's Handbook:
* Some background- the 1st edition was groundbreaking- but it was also complicated as hell. If you ever read the comic Knights of the Dinner Table , with their ridiculous charts and tables? Yeah- 1st edition was like that. A lot of groundbreaking work- but enough dice rolling to make your eyes bleed.
Second edition started off by simplifying things- but then they brought out splat books. Books with variations of classes and races. And with so many splat books out, it wasn't hard for people to find unbeatable combinations. It was really unbalanced (all of the editions have some class balancing issues- but 2nd edition was extremely bad on this one)
Third edition- my favorite version, easily. Allowing people to constantly switch classes gave them variety without the ridiculous rules from the 1st edition. It was complicated, but nothing like first edition. All in all, the best version of the game.
Fourth edition- it was a MMORPG (computer game) on paper. It felt like less of a role-playing game and more of a combat tactical game. And everything was so damned cookie-cutter; Every 8th level fight was one of two types. I bought the books and tried to play, but lost interest. Now it sits collecting dust on my bookshelf.
With all of that in mind, here's some thoughts on the new version of the game:
* Fifth edition- my first thought is that it's back to being a RPG. Less tactics, more character development, more options. Considering that I wasn't interested in fourth edition at all, this is a plus to me.
* It appears simpler than 3rd edition- the proficiency bonus goes up by overall level, so no more skill points. There are backgrounds instead of feats
* I would really like to have seen some sample characters to see how everything fits together. Just reading the descriptions, all of the powers seem jumbled together. Some examples of each of the character classes might help clean things up.
* Balance issues? I'm sure there are some. Everyone who plays DnD min/maxes (aka, tries to find the best angle to help their characters succeed). The rule in DnD used to be that wizards were really weak at lower levels and really strong at high levels. They've strengthened spellcasters at lower levels (more spells, more HP)- so I'm curious if they've also lowered their potency at the high levels compared to other classes.
* Personally, I'm happy with third edition. But if a player thought 3rd edition was too much paperwork, I could see where 5th edition would appeal to them.
* Some background- the 1st edition was groundbreaking- but it was also complicated as hell. If you ever read the comic Knights of the Dinner Table , with their ridiculous charts and tables? Yeah- 1st edition was like that. A lot of groundbreaking work- but enough dice rolling to make your eyes bleed.
Second edition started off by simplifying things- but then they brought out splat books. Books with variations of classes and races. And with so many splat books out, it wasn't hard for people to find unbeatable combinations. It was really unbalanced (all of the editions have some class balancing issues- but 2nd edition was extremely bad on this one)
Third edition- my favorite version, easily. Allowing people to constantly switch classes gave them variety without the ridiculous rules from the 1st edition. It was complicated, but nothing like first edition. All in all, the best version of the game.
Fourth edition- it was a MMORPG (computer game) on paper. It felt like less of a role-playing game and more of a combat tactical game. And everything was so damned cookie-cutter; Every 8th level fight was one of two types. I bought the books and tried to play, but lost interest. Now it sits collecting dust on my bookshelf.
With all of that in mind, here's some thoughts on the new version of the game:
* Fifth edition- my first thought is that it's back to being a RPG. Less tactics, more character development, more options. Considering that I wasn't interested in fourth edition at all, this is a plus to me.
* It appears simpler than 3rd edition- the proficiency bonus goes up by overall level, so no more skill points. There are backgrounds instead of feats
* I would really like to have seen some sample characters to see how everything fits together. Just reading the descriptions, all of the powers seem jumbled together. Some examples of each of the character classes might help clean things up.
* Balance issues? I'm sure there are some. Everyone who plays DnD min/maxes (aka, tries to find the best angle to help their characters succeed). The rule in DnD used to be that wizards were really weak at lower levels and really strong at high levels. They've strengthened spellcasters at lower levels (more spells, more HP)- so I'm curious if they've also lowered their potency at the high levels compared to other classes.
* Personally, I'm happy with third edition. But if a player thought 3rd edition was too much paperwork, I could see where 5th edition would appeal to them.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
NFL Predictions 2014-2015
AFC
NFC
| New England | 11 | 5 |
| Miami | 9 | 7 |
| NY Jets | 5 | 11 |
| Buffalo | 3 | 13 |
| Cincinnati | 10 | 6 |
| Baltimore | 8 | 8 |
| Pittsburgh | 7 | 9 |
| Cleveland | 6 | 10 |
| Indianapolis | 10 | 6 |
| Tennessee | 7 | 9 |
| Houston | 7 | 9 |
| Jacksonville | 4 | 12 |
| Denver | 11 | 5 |
| San Diego | 9 | 7 |
| Kansas City | 8 | 8 |
| Oakland | 4 | 12 |
NFC
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Pro-Wrestling and appealing to two audiences
(Warning: This post is about a meta-analysis of the WWE. Consider yourself warned)
There’s two audiences the WWE is trying to appeal to:
The young kids and the teenagers. Sure, there’s longtime fans like me-
but we tend to stay with the fed thick and thin. The WWE thrives as a business when they
appeal to one or both of those audiences.
In the Hulkamania years they appealed to the 7 year
olds. And it worked- until the 7 year olds grew into teenagers who
thought that Hogan wasn’t cool, and they weren’t able to recapture his appeal
with anyone else (Luger, Diesel)
In the “Attitude” era, the appealed to the teenagers.
And they were incredibly hot for about five years. But then the teenagers
grew out of wrestling- and since they hadn’t appealed to kids, they was no next
generation of fans ready to watch them.
So since then, they’ve been trying to appeal to both.
And in this John Cena was a boon. He was the uberface the kids could get
behind- so the WWE could always rely on him, and concentrate on appealing to
the teenagers with other cool faces (HHH, Orton. Punk). They had other faces
that appealed to the kids- Undertaker, Rey Mysterio- but Cena was the absolute
cornerstone.
((As an added bonus, Cena was so fun to hate for the
teenagers that whoever Cena was facing would usually get face heat from the
teenage crowd))
But now Cena’s nearing the end of his run. He’s been
the face for a decade- twice as long as Hogan, Rock, or Austin. That’s
incredible. But it’s ending- and while the WWE has people to fill the
‘cool face’ role to appeal to the teenagers, who is going to fill the role for
the 7 year old fan?
They’ve tested out other guys to be that uberface- remember
smiling Shaemus? But it hasn’t taken.
I’m suspecting that the reason Brock Lesnar is getting such
a megapush is that they want to build the next kids uberface- and what better
way to launch him than to beat the guy who broke the Undertaker’s Streak and
damned near squashed John Cena?
Right now, they are looking at Roman Reigns for that
role. And honestly? He’s probably their best bet. I don’t
know if he can appeal to kids the way Hogan or Cena did- but I KNOW guys like
Shaemus can’t fill that role. Reigns might be able to (notice the
emphasis on the ‘Superman punch’? Tell me that’s not appealing to kids)
In retrospect, losing Daniel Bryan really hurts- because
Bryan was the only guy who appealed to both sets of audiences equally.
The kids loved him because of the “YES” chant, the beard, and that he was so
small that he was the underdog. But he pulled off fantastic matches and
had enough snark (“Mr. Small Package”) to appeal to teens.
But they have guys who can appeal to teens- Ambrose leads
the pack right now. Ziggler might be able to do that. Hell- I still
have hope for Cody Rhodes.
But they need that uberface for the kids- and I think the
whole purpose of building up Lesnar is to sacrifice him for that next uberface
to the kids.
And if I’m wrong and he loses the belt back to Cena- or to a
part-timer like the Rock? Then it tells me the WWE doesn’t think they
don’t have another uberface close to being ready.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Crowning Moment of Awesome- 07/19/2014
Weird Al Yankovich has a new album and is revealing 8 videos over 8 days on his website.
My own opinion is that the first three videos ("Tacky","Word Crimes", "Foil") are especially incredible- funny and brilliant music parodies. Weird Al has been putting on fantastic work for over 30 years. Watch and enjoy.
My own opinion is that the first three videos ("Tacky","Word Crimes", "Foil") are especially incredible- funny and brilliant music parodies. Weird Al has been putting on fantastic work for over 30 years. Watch and enjoy.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
So- back on the diet
Weight's been creeping up. Which annoys me, because I do work out on a regular basis. I know the reasons- I eat too much, I eat too fast, and I eat the wrong kind of foods.
So- back on a diet. A friend of mine lost 50 pounds on the Paleo Diet, so I'm giving that a try. Or at least partly- I'm willing to give up grains and dairy, and even eggs and beans for a few weeks (during the initial purge). But they can take my caffeine when they pry it from my cold, dead, still-shaking fingers.
On a semi-related note... There's a stand at the West Side market that sells dehydrated fruits and vegetables, and they are fantastic. I love strawberries, but two days after buying them they start to go bad. But dehydrated, they still taste great and can last for over a month. I'm getting so hooked I'm contemplating buying a dehydrating machine myself...
(And hey- fruits and vegetables are on the Paleo plan.)
So- back on a diet. A friend of mine lost 50 pounds on the Paleo Diet, so I'm giving that a try. Or at least partly- I'm willing to give up grains and dairy, and even eggs and beans for a few weeks (during the initial purge). But they can take my caffeine when they pry it from my cold, dead, still-shaking fingers.
On a semi-related note... There's a stand at the West Side market that sells dehydrated fruits and vegetables, and they are fantastic. I love strawberries, but two days after buying them they start to go bad. But dehydrated, they still taste great and can last for over a month. I'm getting so hooked I'm contemplating buying a dehydrating machine myself...
(And hey- fruits and vegetables are on the Paleo plan.)
Sunday, June 29, 2014
NBA Post-Draft thoughts
Thoughts on the NBA, just after the draft:
1) I have loved the moves Cleveland has made recently. Everything I've read about David Blatt makes me think he'll be an outstanding coach. The Spurs have shown that playing Euro-style pass works, and Blatt has been coaching for 30 years. And it doesn't hurt that people rave about him being an offensive genius.
2) Drafting Andrew Wiggins was the right move with the #1 pick. With Embiid injured, it came down to Wiggins and Jabari Parker. And quite frankly, the Cavs already have a player like Jabari Parker in Anthony Bennett. We need a small forward, and Blatt's system works with uberathletic wings. Wiggins was the right choice.
3) I don't blame the 76ers for drafting Embiid- he has the highest ceiling. But drafting both of their first round picks on guys who won't play this year? Man, I feel for the 76ers fans. I get the concept on paper, but this next year is going to be ugly. And, having just seen a long rebuild, I can tell you it's harder to turn the switch to 'on' after a few years of a culture of losing.
4) LeBron's not leaving Miami. Wade and Bosh wouldn't have opted out if they didn't have a plan in mind to keep all three and restructure their contracts to reload.
I'll give the Heatles credit- they have played their cards brilliantly. They joined the weaker conference at the right time, and have walked all over the Eat into four straight Finals. If they were doing so for my franchise, I'd love it. Am I pissed that LeBron is showing dedication and loyalty to Miami that he never did with Cleveland? Yes- but I'm over it. LeBron will retire a member of the Miami Heat as one of the best players of all time.
5) Jason Kidd is either a maniac or a genius- he just pulled a power play that will get him removed as Brooklyn's coach and into a sweeter deal with Milwaukee. Given Brooklyn's aged lineup and lack of future draft picks... this may be a ruthless way to get out of Brooklyn before the bill comes due.
6) Five Predictions for the upcoming season:
1) I have loved the moves Cleveland has made recently. Everything I've read about David Blatt makes me think he'll be an outstanding coach. The Spurs have shown that playing Euro-style pass works, and Blatt has been coaching for 30 years. And it doesn't hurt that people rave about him being an offensive genius.
2) Drafting Andrew Wiggins was the right move with the #1 pick. With Embiid injured, it came down to Wiggins and Jabari Parker. And quite frankly, the Cavs already have a player like Jabari Parker in Anthony Bennett. We need a small forward, and Blatt's system works with uberathletic wings. Wiggins was the right choice.
3) I don't blame the 76ers for drafting Embiid- he has the highest ceiling. But drafting both of their first round picks on guys who won't play this year? Man, I feel for the 76ers fans. I get the concept on paper, but this next year is going to be ugly. And, having just seen a long rebuild, I can tell you it's harder to turn the switch to 'on' after a few years of a culture of losing.
4) LeBron's not leaving Miami. Wade and Bosh wouldn't have opted out if they didn't have a plan in mind to keep all three and restructure their contracts to reload.
I'll give the Heatles credit- they have played their cards brilliantly. They joined the weaker conference at the right time, and have walked all over the Eat into four straight Finals. If they were doing so for my franchise, I'd love it. Am I pissed that LeBron is showing dedication and loyalty to Miami that he never did with Cleveland? Yes- but I'm over it. LeBron will retire a member of the Miami Heat as one of the best players of all time.
5) Jason Kidd is either a maniac or a genius- he just pulled a power play that will get him removed as Brooklyn's coach and into a sweeter deal with Milwaukee. Given Brooklyn's aged lineup and lack of future draft picks... this may be a ruthless way to get out of Brooklyn before the bill comes due.
6) Five Predictions for the upcoming season:
- If Noel doesn't come back 100%, the 76ers might lose 70 games.
- Rajon Rondo gets traded from Boston to Sacramento
- The Miami Heat resign James, Wade, and Bosh, and have enough- not for Carmelo Anthony, but for 2 free agents (say, Luol Deng and Shaun Livingston)
- Anthony Bennett will emerge as one of the five best players from the rookie class of 2013
- Jabari Parker will win the Rookie of the Year (Milwaukee needs scoring, and he fills an obvious hole for them; I still prefer Wiggins long-term)
Monday, June 16, 2014
Business Concept: The Game's The Thing
Spent the past week at Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio. Had a fantastic time- played in two LARPs, one game of NSDM (National Strategic Decision Making), several 7th Sea games- really enjoyable.
In the dealer room, they were giving a demonstration of the game Mage Wars. The game looks fantastic and fun- but it's also $60, and I'm not sure when I would play the game. So that got me thinking...
Here's my idea: A coffeehouse or bar (the bar would make more money, but also has a much higher overhead) that also doubles as a gaming room. The place would have several tables and chairs, and a stocked bookshelf of every board and card game that would be interesting to players.
Anyone can come in and buy a drink or sit down. If they want to borrow a game, they have to pay a fee. I'm thinking $10 allows anyone to borrow any game for the day- but you can buy a subscription- say, $100 for a full year. During that year, you can come down to the bar, borrow a game, play it with friends while drinking, and return the game afterwards.
The bar owner makes his money, not just from the drinks, but from the subscription fees. And people would pay a once a year fee to stop by and use any game in the system. So a group of four could stop by once a week and play Mage Wars one week, Cards Against Humanity the next week, 7 Wonders the third...
I've seen businesses like this for computer games. But computers require a much higher level of expenses, compared to board games.
It gives people (a) a place to play and (b) a library of games. It gives a bar a good theme that isn't being used, and I don't think the upkeep would be that much.
This might be a workable business concept.
In the dealer room, they were giving a demonstration of the game Mage Wars. The game looks fantastic and fun- but it's also $60, and I'm not sure when I would play the game. So that got me thinking...
Here's my idea: A coffeehouse or bar (the bar would make more money, but also has a much higher overhead) that also doubles as a gaming room. The place would have several tables and chairs, and a stocked bookshelf of every board and card game that would be interesting to players.
Anyone can come in and buy a drink or sit down. If they want to borrow a game, they have to pay a fee. I'm thinking $10 allows anyone to borrow any game for the day- but you can buy a subscription- say, $100 for a full year. During that year, you can come down to the bar, borrow a game, play it with friends while drinking, and return the game afterwards.
The bar owner makes his money, not just from the drinks, but from the subscription fees. And people would pay a once a year fee to stop by and use any game in the system. So a group of four could stop by once a week and play Mage Wars one week, Cards Against Humanity the next week, 7 Wonders the third...
I've seen businesses like this for computer games. But computers require a much higher level of expenses, compared to board games.
It gives people (a) a place to play and (b) a library of games. It gives a bar a good theme that isn't being used, and I don't think the upkeep would be that much.
This might be a workable business concept.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Path forward for the Cavaliers
Holy hell... the Cavs got the #1 pick!
For anyone complaining about this... the Cavs didn't tank, they tried to win, but a combination of factors, they failed. The had a 1.7% chance of winning, and luck favored them. Considering the amount of bad luck Cleveland has had sports wise, it seems really whiny for any fan who has had their team win a championship in my lifetime to complain about this.
So- now that the Cavs have the #1 pick, what do they do? I have a few recommendations, as a lifelong fan.
Rule #1: LeBron James is not coming back to Cleveland.
Rule #2: LeBron James is not coming back to Cleveland.
Rule #3: LeBron James is not coming back to Cleveland. Whatever decision you make, please do let any dreams of James rejoining this team be a factor. James has chosen his path, and I wish him well. But he is not coming back to Northeast Ohio. THe goal is to win, not to get King James back to Cleveland.
Rule #4: Do not attempt to trade for Kevin Love unless he agrees to sign an extension. I like Kevin Love, and think he is a top 10 player in the NBA. But he has one year left on his contract, and all statements indicate he is going to free agency. More power to him- but if the Cavs are thinking about trading for him, he's a one year rental unless he agrees otherwise. A one year rental is not worth the #1 pick in this draft.
Rule #5: Kyrie Irving (and Tristan Thompson) can sign an extension in July. He should be offered a max extension. Nate Silver argues that Kyrie is not worth a max contract, and I can see his reasoning. However, he is forgetting two important factors:
* The NBA is making money, and the trend indicates the salary cap is rising- meaning a max contract today may not be worth a max contract three years from now.
* There is an opportunity cost- if the Cavs lose Kyrie Irving by not signing him to a max contract, where are they going to get a player of his caliber?
So offer him a max. He either signs it (yay), or refuses, in which case he needs to be put on the trading block, and the team needs to accept not having him. I hope he stays, but I'm not rooting for a player who doesn't want to be here.
Rule #6: Pick a direction and determine your coach, free agents, and draft picks around that. Assuming Kyrie stays (and for a max contract, he should), there are two directions that clearly work.
* Full run & gun. In that case, hire a coach who fits the run & gun style (George Karl, Mike D'Antoni, Alvin Gentry, or a college or assistant coach with this mindset). That's my top choice. Then draft Wiggins, re-sign Spencer Hawes, and go with a lineup of:
- PG: Kyrie Irving
- SG: Dion Waiters
- C: Spencer Hawes
- PF: Tristan Thompson
- SF: Andrew Wiggins
- Bench: Anderson Varejao, Anthony Bennett, CJ Miles, Jarrett Jack, Matthew Dellanova
Constant running, stagger everybody's minutes so no one goes about 30 minutes, and try to win 140-130
* More standard lineup. Hire a coach the team will listen to (Lionel Hollins comes to mind), draft Joel Embiid with the #1 pick, lose Hawes, find the best SF you can in the free agent market.
I think this one is harder to pull off given the Cav's current lineup. It has two advantages over the run and gun style, though:
- If Healthy, Joel Embiid has a higher ceiling than Andrew Wiggins. But with his back, that 'if' will always be a question
- No run and gun team has ever won a NBA title; Phoenix came close but never made the finals even.
* To be honest, I'm torn here. I think the second path requires more rework of the team, but might have a higher chance of success. But the run & gun team would be fun to watch. And because I'm worried about Embiid's back, that's the direction I'm leaning towards.
* Also, if Kyrie indicates he's not signing even a max contract? Draft Embiid and go the standard path. I'm a Dion Waiters fan, but we need two great guards to pull this off, and I don't know where we get that second guard.
For anyone complaining about this... the Cavs didn't tank, they tried to win, but a combination of factors, they failed. The had a 1.7% chance of winning, and luck favored them. Considering the amount of bad luck Cleveland has had sports wise, it seems really whiny for any fan who has had their team win a championship in my lifetime to complain about this.
So- now that the Cavs have the #1 pick, what do they do? I have a few recommendations, as a lifelong fan.
Rule #1: LeBron James is not coming back to Cleveland.
Rule #2: LeBron James is not coming back to Cleveland.
Rule #3: LeBron James is not coming back to Cleveland. Whatever decision you make, please do let any dreams of James rejoining this team be a factor. James has chosen his path, and I wish him well. But he is not coming back to Northeast Ohio. THe goal is to win, not to get King James back to Cleveland.
Rule #4: Do not attempt to trade for Kevin Love unless he agrees to sign an extension. I like Kevin Love, and think he is a top 10 player in the NBA. But he has one year left on his contract, and all statements indicate he is going to free agency. More power to him- but if the Cavs are thinking about trading for him, he's a one year rental unless he agrees otherwise. A one year rental is not worth the #1 pick in this draft.
Rule #5: Kyrie Irving (and Tristan Thompson) can sign an extension in July. He should be offered a max extension. Nate Silver argues that Kyrie is not worth a max contract, and I can see his reasoning. However, he is forgetting two important factors:
* The NBA is making money, and the trend indicates the salary cap is rising- meaning a max contract today may not be worth a max contract three years from now.
* There is an opportunity cost- if the Cavs lose Kyrie Irving by not signing him to a max contract, where are they going to get a player of his caliber?
So offer him a max. He either signs it (yay), or refuses, in which case he needs to be put on the trading block, and the team needs to accept not having him. I hope he stays, but I'm not rooting for a player who doesn't want to be here.
Rule #6: Pick a direction and determine your coach, free agents, and draft picks around that. Assuming Kyrie stays (and for a max contract, he should), there are two directions that clearly work.
* Full run & gun. In that case, hire a coach who fits the run & gun style (George Karl, Mike D'Antoni, Alvin Gentry, or a college or assistant coach with this mindset). That's my top choice. Then draft Wiggins, re-sign Spencer Hawes, and go with a lineup of:
- PG: Kyrie Irving
- SG: Dion Waiters
- C: Spencer Hawes
- PF: Tristan Thompson
- SF: Andrew Wiggins
- Bench: Anderson Varejao, Anthony Bennett, CJ Miles, Jarrett Jack, Matthew Dellanova
Constant running, stagger everybody's minutes so no one goes about 30 minutes, and try to win 140-130
* More standard lineup. Hire a coach the team will listen to (Lionel Hollins comes to mind), draft Joel Embiid with the #1 pick, lose Hawes, find the best SF you can in the free agent market.
I think this one is harder to pull off given the Cav's current lineup. It has two advantages over the run and gun style, though:
- If Healthy, Joel Embiid has a higher ceiling than Andrew Wiggins. But with his back, that 'if' will always be a question
- No run and gun team has ever won a NBA title; Phoenix came close but never made the finals even.
* To be honest, I'm torn here. I think the second path requires more rework of the team, but might have a higher chance of success. But the run & gun team would be fun to watch. And because I'm worried about Embiid's back, that's the direction I'm leaning towards.
* Also, if Kyrie indicates he's not signing even a max contract? Draft Embiid and go the standard path. I'm a Dion Waiters fan, but we need two great guards to pull this off, and I don't know where we get that second guard.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Seriously???
According to ESPN and Grantland writer Bill Simmons, "God Hates Cleveland". It's a popular meme because SO MANY awful things happen to sports teams. The last time any of their three major professional sports team any title was in 1964, and most NFL fans don't count championships before the Super Bowl (which started five years later).
Just some of our "highlights":
* An NBA owner who was so incompetent that the NBA gave the team draft picks when he sold the team, and established a rule named after him to prevent an owner from making trades as badly as he did
* "Red Right 88"
* "The Drive"
* "The Fumble"
* We just need better players? We had LeBron James. James quit on the team during the 2010 playoffs, then took less money because he wanted to party on South Beach instead of playing for his hometown fans.
* LeBron didn't have any good teammates, you say? Meet Carlos Boozer. The Cavs drafted him in the second round, and he was turning into a potential all star power forward. He was under conctract for one more year, so the Cavs and him had a handshake deal to release him from that contract in excahnge for signing a long term deal. The Cavs released him, and Boozer stabbed the Cavs in the back by signing with the Utah Jazz instead.
* We just need better coaches? We had Bill Belichick. He made all of his mistakes with the Browns, then decided to turn into a coaching genius on his NEXT NFL job
* Losing the 1995 World Series. Atlanta, during their run in the 90s, only won one world series, despite winning the pennant five times. Ah well- at least Atlanta is a real club...
* ... unlike the Florida Marlins, who bought a bunch of free agents and somehow won the 1997 World Series. I would have MUCH rather lost to the Yankees or Red Sox, and I don't like either team.
* And then there's Art Modell. Despite one of the most loyal fan bases in the country and a bill to improve Municipal Stadium, Modell stabbed the city in the back, stole the team, and moved it to Baltimore. You'd think fans of the former Colts would have not wanted to steal another team, but there it is. Cleveland had no football for four years, then was rewarded with an expansion team run by morons.
And to top it all off, the Modell's Browns never made it to the Super Bowl- but Modell's Ravens have won it twice now.
* To show you how bad the new expansion, I give you this: It's a list of all of the Cleveland Brown Quarterbacks since 1999. Not a pretty list.
So, with all of that background- the Browns had a good day on Thursday. They started out with the #4 pick and #26 pick, traded down, got an extra #1 for next year, picked up the best Cornerback in the draft and their newest Quarterback, Johnny Manziel. People are all over the map on how good Manziel will be in the NFL.
Now, at #4, people wanted to take Sammy Watkins. That was my choice. He is supposedly the best WR in the draft. Now, the Browns have one good WR- Josh Gordon- but they have been weak there otherwise.
But I liked the trade, and we have now have a better defense and a new QB. And we still have Gordon, right? Second best WR after Calvin Johnson? We should be good, right?
"God Hates Cleveland"
Josh Gordon is facing a year long suspension for multiple drug violations- this time for pot.
So now we have a new QB and no good wide receivers to throw too (I would love for Greg Little to prove me wrong here.)
Sigh.
Welcome to Cleveland.
Just some of our "highlights":
* An NBA owner who was so incompetent that the NBA gave the team draft picks when he sold the team, and established a rule named after him to prevent an owner from making trades as badly as he did
* "Red Right 88"
* "The Drive"
* "The Fumble"
* We just need better players? We had LeBron James. James quit on the team during the 2010 playoffs, then took less money because he wanted to party on South Beach instead of playing for his hometown fans.
* LeBron didn't have any good teammates, you say? Meet Carlos Boozer. The Cavs drafted him in the second round, and he was turning into a potential all star power forward. He was under conctract for one more year, so the Cavs and him had a handshake deal to release him from that contract in excahnge for signing a long term deal. The Cavs released him, and Boozer stabbed the Cavs in the back by signing with the Utah Jazz instead.
* We just need better coaches? We had Bill Belichick. He made all of his mistakes with the Browns, then decided to turn into a coaching genius on his NEXT NFL job
* Losing the 1995 World Series. Atlanta, during their run in the 90s, only won one world series, despite winning the pennant five times. Ah well- at least Atlanta is a real club...
* ... unlike the Florida Marlins, who bought a bunch of free agents and somehow won the 1997 World Series. I would have MUCH rather lost to the Yankees or Red Sox, and I don't like either team.
* And then there's Art Modell. Despite one of the most loyal fan bases in the country and a bill to improve Municipal Stadium, Modell stabbed the city in the back, stole the team, and moved it to Baltimore. You'd think fans of the former Colts would have not wanted to steal another team, but there it is. Cleveland had no football for four years, then was rewarded with an expansion team run by morons.
And to top it all off, the Modell's Browns never made it to the Super Bowl- but Modell's Ravens have won it twice now.
* To show you how bad the new expansion, I give you this: It's a list of all of the Cleveland Brown Quarterbacks since 1999. Not a pretty list.
So, with all of that background- the Browns had a good day on Thursday. They started out with the #4 pick and #26 pick, traded down, got an extra #1 for next year, picked up the best Cornerback in the draft and their newest Quarterback, Johnny Manziel. People are all over the map on how good Manziel will be in the NFL.
Now, at #4, people wanted to take Sammy Watkins. That was my choice. He is supposedly the best WR in the draft. Now, the Browns have one good WR- Josh Gordon- but they have been weak there otherwise.
But I liked the trade, and we have now have a better defense and a new QB. And we still have Gordon, right? Second best WR after Calvin Johnson? We should be good, right?
"God Hates Cleveland"
Josh Gordon is facing a year long suspension for multiple drug violations- this time for pot.
So now we have a new QB and no good wide receivers to throw too (I would love for Greg Little to prove me wrong here.)
Sigh.
Welcome to Cleveland.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Requiem for a lost NBA Season
The NBA Regular Season is over, and I'll post my playoff predictions later. For now, I want to reflect on my Cleveland Cavaliers.
This was not the worst season I have experienced as a fan. It may have been the most disappointing. On paper, the Cavs improved by nine wins. But there were too many games that the team didn't appear to try, that they threw in the towel. Rumors of locker room fights. A #1 draft pick that is screaming a 'bust'. Andrew Bynum.
The GM was fired. I thought Chris Grant did a great job on paper. Kyrie was the best pick possible. Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters were considered reaches, but when you look at who the alternatives were, I thought they were reasonable choices. Anthony Bennett- I'll get to him in a little bit.
But Grant's fatal flaw was that he drafted for talent, and not for chemistry. Basketball, much more than baseball, relies on the team working together and creating something bigger than the parts. So far, the individual players haven't shown they can work as a team on a consistent basis. They have shown flashes- and when they do, the team looks amazing- but it only lasts for a quarter or a half, and by the next game it doesn't appear again.
Should the blame be put on Mike Brown for not making them work together better? Sure, some. But it's also his first year with any of these players- and Brown's teams have always started slow and done better as the year goes on. With a young team like the Cavs, they should get better in years 2 and 3.
Anthony Bennett- here's my 'foot in mouth' statement that can be thrown back at me. I think, in ten years, Bennett will be one of the three best players in the draft class of 2013. He's young, he has talent. Yes, he was a complete bust. But he's 20, and his flaw (conditioning) can be overcome. A player like Victor Oladipo won't ever learn to be a consistent 20ppg player. If Bennett stays in shape- and I think he will- and he stays healthy- he will improve tremendously next year.
So- where do we go from here? There are a lot of open questions, and I'll go down the list:
1) Will Kyrie sign? This one is actually very simple. In July, Kyrie can be offered a five year extension. He can either accept, or refuse, take a one year contract, and then work towards becoming an unrestricted free agent.
I will be shocked if Kyrie doesn't sign. Partly because- who leaves $80 million on the table? And also- if Kyrie refuses, the fans will turn on him viciously. LeBron James left without notice- Kyrie could, in theory, have to play a full year as a pariah.
If he doesn't sign, the Cavs will look for a trade offer- but they'd have to be blown away. Otherwise, the next year will be ugly for everyone around. But I don't think that will happen.
2) Who is the GM? After Grant was fired,David Griffin became the interim GM. He made one trade (Spencer Hawes) that looks good for the Cavs. More importantly, the team improved (the team was 17-16 after Griffin took over). I think he deserves the chance to run the team.
3) Who is the Coach? Remember- despite everything that has happened, the Cavs improved by nine games. I would keep Mike Brown, unless Kyrie insisted on a different coach before an extension. And if Kyrie insisted on that, he'd better deliver.
4) Free Agents. The Cavs have two free agents. Luol Deng and Spencer Hawes. I like both players, but Deng will demand $12 million a year for 4 years. He's had injury problems, and while he is a good player, the team didn't turn around with him.
Hawes is younger, plays Center, works well with Kyrie, and will cost about $8 million a year. I think he can be resigned, and hope the Cavs pursue this.
5) The Draft. The draft takes play in June, and Kyrie's status won't be resolved until July. Damn. OK, the Cavs have enough project players. They really need a few things:
* Small Forward
* Three point shooter
* Shot blocking Center
Before the lottery, the Cavs are projected to pick ninth. Someone like Doug McDermott fits the bill.
If, on the other hand, the Cavs think they will need to trade Kyrie, they will need a point guard- an Tyler Ennis should still be on the board.
Overall- a disappointing season, and one I will be glad to move on from. But hope springs eternal...
PS- you'll notice I haven't mentioned that LeBron can opt out and become a free agent. He can- but he won't come to Cleveland. LeBron has his priorities, but the fans of Northeast Ohio are not one of them.
This was not the worst season I have experienced as a fan. It may have been the most disappointing. On paper, the Cavs improved by nine wins. But there were too many games that the team didn't appear to try, that they threw in the towel. Rumors of locker room fights. A #1 draft pick that is screaming a 'bust'. Andrew Bynum.
The GM was fired. I thought Chris Grant did a great job on paper. Kyrie was the best pick possible. Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters were considered reaches, but when you look at who the alternatives were, I thought they were reasonable choices. Anthony Bennett- I'll get to him in a little bit.
But Grant's fatal flaw was that he drafted for talent, and not for chemistry. Basketball, much more than baseball, relies on the team working together and creating something bigger than the parts. So far, the individual players haven't shown they can work as a team on a consistent basis. They have shown flashes- and when they do, the team looks amazing- but it only lasts for a quarter or a half, and by the next game it doesn't appear again.
Should the blame be put on Mike Brown for not making them work together better? Sure, some. But it's also his first year with any of these players- and Brown's teams have always started slow and done better as the year goes on. With a young team like the Cavs, they should get better in years 2 and 3.
Anthony Bennett- here's my 'foot in mouth' statement that can be thrown back at me. I think, in ten years, Bennett will be one of the three best players in the draft class of 2013. He's young, he has talent. Yes, he was a complete bust. But he's 20, and his flaw (conditioning) can be overcome. A player like Victor Oladipo won't ever learn to be a consistent 20ppg player. If Bennett stays in shape- and I think he will- and he stays healthy- he will improve tremendously next year.
So- where do we go from here? There are a lot of open questions, and I'll go down the list:
1) Will Kyrie sign? This one is actually very simple. In July, Kyrie can be offered a five year extension. He can either accept, or refuse, take a one year contract, and then work towards becoming an unrestricted free agent.
I will be shocked if Kyrie doesn't sign. Partly because- who leaves $80 million on the table? And also- if Kyrie refuses, the fans will turn on him viciously. LeBron James left without notice- Kyrie could, in theory, have to play a full year as a pariah.
If he doesn't sign, the Cavs will look for a trade offer- but they'd have to be blown away. Otherwise, the next year will be ugly for everyone around. But I don't think that will happen.
2) Who is the GM? After Grant was fired,David Griffin became the interim GM. He made one trade (Spencer Hawes) that looks good for the Cavs. More importantly, the team improved (the team was 17-16 after Griffin took over). I think he deserves the chance to run the team.
3) Who is the Coach? Remember- despite everything that has happened, the Cavs improved by nine games. I would keep Mike Brown, unless Kyrie insisted on a different coach before an extension. And if Kyrie insisted on that, he'd better deliver.
4) Free Agents. The Cavs have two free agents. Luol Deng and Spencer Hawes. I like both players, but Deng will demand $12 million a year for 4 years. He's had injury problems, and while he is a good player, the team didn't turn around with him.
Hawes is younger, plays Center, works well with Kyrie, and will cost about $8 million a year. I think he can be resigned, and hope the Cavs pursue this.
5) The Draft. The draft takes play in June, and Kyrie's status won't be resolved until July. Damn. OK, the Cavs have enough project players. They really need a few things:
* Small Forward
* Three point shooter
* Shot blocking Center
Before the lottery, the Cavs are projected to pick ninth. Someone like Doug McDermott fits the bill.
If, on the other hand, the Cavs think they will need to trade Kyrie, they will need a point guard- an Tyler Ennis should still be on the board.
Overall- a disappointing season, and one I will be glad to move on from. But hope springs eternal...
PS- you'll notice I haven't mentioned that LeBron can opt out and become a free agent. He can- but he won't come to Cleveland. LeBron has his priorities, but the fans of Northeast Ohio are not one of them.
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