Hoops and Other Pop Culture

Whose Butt?

2012-02-01T09:01:00.004-07:00

In my opinion, a truly underrated celeb body -- perhaps because her reputation is that she is a complete moron. But she looks awfully good to me and other who grew up on her type of music.

How Good Offensively is Kyrie Irving At Age 19?

2012-01-31T14:49:00.002-07:00

Guys Under Age 24 who have gone 50% from the floor, 40% from 3, and 80% from the line while scoring over 17 points a game:

Kyrie Irving. The end.

You need to get up to age 24, when you finally get http://bkref.com/tiny/0kdGL

3 guys -- Mark Price, Reggie Miller and Wally Szczerbiak.

NBA Playoff Simulation

2012-01-31T12:34:00.002-07:00

http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

A math geek's heaven.

I point out to you something that hits me harder than the thought that the Wolves are likely to make the playoffs.

Note that NO TEAM in the NBA is dumb enough to trade away an unprotected lottery pick........except the Timberwolves. While the Clippers also traded away the Wolves' pick, they did so for a young Chris Paul (a top 5 NBA player). The Wolves gave away the pick for Marko Jaric.

Wolves -- were thrown a lifeline from a passing ship in the middle of the Pacific and said, "No thank you, I will swim for it."

Clippers -- came home to find both Halle Berry and Salma Hayek in their bed and called their friend to come over and hang out.........if the friend paid $10,000,000 first.

Timberwolves Win, Move to 10-11

2012-01-31T09:36:00.003-07:00

While the Wolves seem to find .500 an impossible barrier to breach, it still is so nice to not have to watch a Kurt Rambis coached team.

Adelman is a 15 win improvement over Rambis (Adelman is 5 wins above an average coach, Rambis was 10 wins below an average coach). So you would expect the Wolves, just by switching coaches, to go 32-50 (26-40 over a 66 game schedule).

At the Wolves' current pace they are gonna go 31-35. So the extra 5 wins would seem to come from Rubio and the unbelievable added production of Love.

But certainly Rubio and a better Love are worth more than 5 wins, right? So you gotta figure they are worth 10-12 extra wins.

So.......26-40 + 10extra wins = 36-30 or even possibly 38-28??????????

Could the Minnesota Timberwolves, honest to god, contend for the 8th seed in the West?????

Sorry -- I just have had so little hope for so long, I get carried away. It is like being a guy in college where a good looking girl talks to you and you start envisioning her and you on your honeymoon....

Gingrich -- Getting to the Point on Romney

2012-01-31T09:32:00.002-07:00

Having called Romney "pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-tax increase" on Sunday, Gingrich added the title "pro-gay rights" on Monday, in an acidic interview with Fox News.

He rewound his last few days of attacks, combining all of his insults and all his vitriol into a string of remarkable assaults on Romney. "The conservative movement is not going to sit back and say, 'Oh yes, let's let Wall Street and Mitt Romney buy the election,'"

(Wrong, Newt, they are, they always do what the Rich Wing tells them).

Gingrich said. "So you're going to see a real grassroots fight. It will be people power vs. Goldman Sachs and Mitt Romney."

(and the people will lose, as always)

Gingrich's campaign began the day by sending out a press release noting that Romney has received $367,000 in campaign contributions from Goldman Sachs, the New York investment bank."Goldman Sachs received $10 billion in emergency loans and bailouts from the Federal Reserve during the Wall Street bailout," wrote Gingrich's communications director Joe DeSantis. "This raises the question: Are Mitt Romney's dishonest attack ads against Speaker Gingrich being indirectly funded by the US taxpayer while Governor Romney uses shady accounting gimmicks to avoid paying his fair share of taxes?"

Pro Bowl Ratings -- What the Hell is Wrong with America???

2012-01-30T16:04:00.002-07:00

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/01/30/tv-ratings-sunday-pro-bowl-prelims-down-still-leads-nbc-win-once-upon-a-time-good-wife-rise-as-fox-animated-comedies-miss-tebow/117929/

Pro Bowl --
#1 in 18-49 demographic, #3 overall (60 Minutes and Undercover Boss had more
total viewers).

To make matters WORSE, look at the enormous ratings for the Pro Bowl Pre-Game Show! I don't like watching Super Bowl Pre-Game, yet 12.5 million Americans were glued to Pro Bowl Pre-Game.

Panthers Change Logo

2012-01-30T12:40:00.001-07:00

See if you can identify the old versus the new.

Let's Take That Pesky "Slavery" Period Out of The History Books...

2012-01-30T12:36:00.002-07:00

http://www.wcyb.com/news/30309212/detail.html

It makes the founding fathers look bad.

Barack Obama -- Good Singer

2012-01-27T12:59:00.002-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/president-obama-sings-al-green-lets-stay-together-sales-jump_n_1236428.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk2%26pLid%3D130775

Not to be outdone, Mitt Romney countered with some Pat Boone and Newt Gingrich went with "The South's Gonna Do It Again."

Rick Santorum declared all songs to be "too gay" and Ron Paul was asleep.

Robert Hegyes -- Juan Epstein -- Dead At 60

2012-01-27T10:29:00.002-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/26/robert-hegyes-dead_n_1234978.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D130617

Mr. Kotter, I have a note, "Please excuse Juan from class yesterday as he was home with a heart attack." Signed, Epstein's Mom.

RIP.

Tea Party v. Cocktail Party

2012-01-27T09:14:00.003-07:00

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71987.html

Or, as I have said for years, "Rich Wing v. Poor Wing."

Or, as Wolf Blitzer noted, "Romney's supporters wear a lot more pink and green" and I think he was talking about the Andy-Bernard-styled men.

The support of the Republican Establishment for Romney is, in the end, more of the same. The people who run the GOP (the Rich Cocktail Party Wing in their Izods), let me be as clear as possible:

DO NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE POOR IDIOTS IN THE SOUTH AND RURAL NORTH WHO VOTE REPUBLICAN.

How much clearer does this have to be before these idiots get the point? Has the Rich Wing cracked down on TV indecency? No, in fact, Justice Scalia says show anything you want.

Abortion -- still legal
Birth control -- still legal
Interracial marriage -- still legal
Gays in military -- allowed to pass

At some point do you not get SOME payback for your constant support (other than the assurance that if you eventually make $2MM a year that you will pay less in taxes)????????

HM

Ricky Rubio -- Very Similar to Jason Kidd and Mark Jackson as rookies

2012-01-26T10:01:00.000-07:00

http://bkref.com/tiny/esKPw

Gwen Stefani -- Soon Available?

2012-01-26T08:59:00.001-07:00

Uh Oh -- Looks Like Romney Surging in Florida

2012-01-26T08:07:00.003-07:00

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/fl/florida_republican_presidential_primary-1597.html

Too many rich and old transplants from colder climates.

Newt will have to go much, much harder to lock up and expand his lead in the hard-core racist vote. I suggest at tonight's debate:

1) Newt mentions that Florida and his home state of Georgia were part of the Confederacy while Massachusetts was an extremely solid abolitionist state. Newt, "Do you folks in Florida really want to go back to 1866 when you had to give black people rights??"

2) Newt mentions how Romney used illegal immigrants to do his lawn work while there were perfectly good American black children whom Mitt should have tricked into doing the job for free (ala Tom Sawyer).

Newt, "Does Romney hate children, slavery AND great literature written by a guy who used the N word a lot in Huckleberry Finn?"

3) Newt tears open his shirt to reveal a giant tattoo of the Stars and Bars. While this will no doubt gross out a lot of people, Newt can spin their disgust as hatred for the Confederacy, thus challenging voters to either, "love my flabby southern tattoo or vote for that abolitionist."

4) Newt should identify 5 federal laws that tomorrow he would allow Florida to nullify by a decree by the Governor OR a 45% secret ballot vote of the members of the Florida legislature. While I am sure there are 100 great candidates for nullification, I think you need to include:

a) The Civil Rights Act
b) The Voting Rights Act
c) The Clean Air Act
d) The Clean Water Act
e) Something else dealing specifically with rights of blacks and Hispanics.

While the health care law would be a candidate, that doesn't really stir up the base like these others will.

Newt should carry a picture (or portrait) of John C. Calhoun on stage to demonstrate his true love for states rights and nullification. If Romney cannot immediately identify the man in the picture and his approximate age when the portrait/picture was taken, Newt should shake his head in disgust and start screaming, "Carpetbagger!" either until he is dragged off stage or until the audience joins in the chant.

5) Newt needs to "quote" Tim Tebow as saying that Mormons hate Jesus and that is why Denver lost to New England. Tebow probably did think it at some point in time deep in the back of his mind, plus, is Tebow going to deny it when asked?

Newt, "I mean, Mormons baptize Jews post-death and they believe that The Lord traipsed around Palmyra, NY teaching Christianity to the Indians (Newt should say, "Redskins") and not very well apparently, since it didn't appear to stick for a couple thousand years." Will Tebow really defend this religion by saying he DOESN'T blame them? I doubt it.

HM

Terrell Owens -- Broke

2012-01-25T16:16:00.001-07:00

T.O. -- broke and unemployed: http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/201202/terrell-owens-nfl-football-wide-receiver?currentPage=1

I refuse to believe Drew Rosenhaus would ever give anyone shoddy advice or abandon them once they were of no further use to him.

Come on, T.O.! This is like speaking badly about Mother Teresa!

Mavs Championship Rings

2012-01-25T15:00:00.001-07:00

Florida Chamber of Commerce Poll -- Race Dead Even

2012-01-25T08:03:00.003-07:00

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/fl/florida_republican_presidential_primary-1597.html

Florida, in a way, is a perfect state to determine who will win the GOP race. There are far more Rich Wing folk than in SC. The racism is slightly dialed down in certain locales, but dialed way up in others. It is a state where the Poor Wing is heavily represented (drive 45 miles outside of Orlando and try to find a decent home anywhere). You have the wealthy folk going to South Beach and the dirt poor folk going to the rodeo.

If Romney is so hated that he cannot win a fairly moderate southern state like Florida, then he is left with trying to pick off big Democrat states to win the nomination (WA, OR, CA, NY, PA, MI, MD, MA). Sadly, that sort of leaves the GOP where they were in 2008 -- their base resides in the rural states, but their nominee appeals to the GOP in the urban states where they will NEVER win the general election.

Apple Holding $100BILLION in cash

2012-01-24T17:24:00.002-07:00

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/01/24/theres-rich-theres-stupid-rich-and-then-theres-app/?source=TheMotleyFool

OK, so it isn't quite $100B, but at this point it is almost a rounding error or an interest error.
(Or when you are selling 4.4 iPhones a second, it may already be $100B).

$100 billion. My old high school has 100 kids in a class. If I want to, ala Michael Scott, send them all to the college of their choice, they will all choose a $70,000 a year school X 100 kids = $7,000,000 X 4 years = $28MM. K-12, everyone goes, $364MM.

To get up to $1B, I would need to agree to send every class to college for four years for the next 36 graduating classes.

And that is $1B. The ridiculous thing about it is this -- at the rate that Apple is earning cash, it couldn't spend the $1B without making way more than that much back. Even if Apple went to 36 schools my old school's size and sent 3,600 kids to college for 4 years, by the end of year 1, Apple has put WAY more cash into the pile than it has paid out.

Bill Gates is worth $50-80B. Try as he may, he has trouble giving away his money, and he isn't earning what Apple is earning. He does stuff like "give medicine to all of Africa" -- stuff like that. Cannot give away his fortune. A $5,000,000 annual revenue business is a good sized business that can employ a lot of folks. Apple could simply set up 200 such businesses and hope they made money. If not, it would never impact Apple's bottom line. Ever.

Wow.

Why Minnesota Politicians are Pussies

2012-01-24T15:51:00.002-07:00

Dayton: We abandoned Linden Ave #Vikings site in part cuz Bascilica threatened lawsuit.

(Pat Kessler tweet).

For those of you who do not know, the Basilica is a huge Catholic church on that end of town. What, exactly, was its lawsuit going to say? "Hey, no building a big stadium near me. It hurts Catholics...."

Come on, grow a pair. Now we are left with a "site" that is really no site. It will require the Vikes to play 3-4 years at the Gophers stadium and lose a shitload of money, and then the stadium goes right back into the ghost town end of town where nothing seems to grow.

Target Field in 3 years -- has spun off 30 bars or restaurants nearby. Metrodome -- 1 in 30 years.

Jorge Posada -- Quitter

2012-01-24T15:41:00.002-07:00

http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2012-01-24/after-17-seasons-and-5-titles-posada-retires

If Carlton Fisk is in (which he is), I don't see how you keep Posada out of the Hall of Fame.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/posadjo01.shtml

Is Flip Saunders a Good Coach?

2012-01-24T12:00:00.002-07:00

If you look at the Timberwolves stretch, Flip had Kevin Garnett in his prime. As we see from his results after he was dealt to Boston, a Kevin Garnett in his prime should have been able to lead a team to the conference finals on a regular basis (and maybe even the title). Flip reached the second round of the playoffs....once.

Flip then went to Detroit where he took over a team one year removed from an NBA title and he.....never reached the NBA finals. Included in this stretch was a game where Flip allowed LeBron James to score something like 25 consecutive points in a playoff game. That cannot happen, ever. If you have to put 3 guys on LeBron and let 2 Cavs float wide open, you just cannot as a coach allow that level of dominance by one guy to continue.

Flip then went to the Wiz and........he has sucked.

So, based upon that record, what do we know about Flip? Has he ever led a team to a record or playoff performance that was unexpectedly good? No. Has he won without a start player? No. Has he developed young talent? I guess maybe Garnett, but after that, nope.

You wonder if this was just a case of Kevin Garnett being such a dominant player that his coach's general averageness/mediocrity was never exposed. And when he starts a year 2-15 and gets replaced by Randy Wittman, you wonder even more.

Flip Saunders -- Fired

2012-01-24T11:57:00.001-07:00

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/01/flip-saunders-fired-as-washington-wizards-head-coach-71784.html

If you didn't think that a 2-15 team could get worse, Flip has been replaced by.........Randy Wittman.

When Wittman gets fired, look for the Wiz to hire Kurt Rambis.

$150 million films of 2011, with ratings

2012-01-24T09:51:00.003-07:00

1Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 WB$381,011,2194,375 -- very good, 8 out of 10

2Transformers: Dark of the Moon P/DW$352,390,5434,088 -- too long, not awful, 5

3The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 Sum.$280,262,4574,066 -- did not see

4The Hangover Part II WB$254,464,305 == predictable but funny, 8

5Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides BV$241,071,802 -- did not see

6Fast Five Uni.$209,837,675 == outstanding, 10

7Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Par.$197,363,441 -- did not see

8Cars 2 BV $191,452,396 -- did not see

9) Thor Par.$181,030,624 -- mediocre -- 5

10) Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows WB$178,321,726 -- excellent, 9

11Rise of the Planet of the Apes Fox$176,760,185 -- very good, 8

12Captain America: The First Avenger Par.$176,654,505 -- lord, kill me, will it ever end or go anywhere? 3

13The Help BV$169,598,523 -- didn't want to see it, but it was excellent, 10

14Bridesmaids Uni.$169,106,725 -- good not great -- 7

15Kung Fu Panda 2 P/DW$165,249,063 -- 3, and that is being generous

Cynthia Nixon == NOT "Born This Way"

2012-01-24T09:24:00.002-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/23/cynthia-nixon-wit-being-gay_n_1223889.html

This is an awfully damaging comment. Think of it this way -- what if someone could actually change their skin color and said, "I can be black or white, but today I choose to be black because I like it better." Does that put them into a suspect classification where they should get legal protections? If I am about to be fired, can I become gay or become black or become some protected class so that it is harder to fire me?

Really opens a whole new can of worms from a legal analysis standpoint.

And the Oscar Goes to........Jonah Hill!?!? Melissa McCarthy!?!?

2012-01-24T08:14:00.002-07:00

http://news.moviefone.com/2012/01/23/oscar-nominations-2012_n_1224812.html?1327412698&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D129746

Wow. What a weak year. Jonah Hill's EXTREMELY reserved performance as a computer nerd gets a best supporting nod, as does Melissa McCarthy pooping in a sink in Bridesmaids. Wow. Woody Harrelson's nomination now doesn't seem so unusual.

Best original song -- 2 songs.

best animated feature -- Kung Fu Panda 2?????? Really????? Wow. Neither my 12 year old (at the time now 13) nor I enjoyed that film.

By the way, since it is mentioned here -- I am not sure that I have ever seen a movie more overrated than "Moneyball." Was it an interesting sports-related film with some not-so-subtle life messages? Sure. Was Pitt particularly good in it? No. Was Jonah Hill? No. Did we really need the 133 minute run time? No.

So, a movie that was a 7 out of 10 for me (only getting 7.8 out of 10 on imdb) is Oscar-nominated and has actors in the major categories??? Wow. Again, evidence of how bad the movies have been this year.

Supreme Court -- Placing Tracker on car is "Trespassing", Requires Warrant

2012-01-24T08:06:00.003-07:00

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/23/us-usa-police-gps-idUSTRE80M1E120120123

5 said it is trespassing and 4 said it is an invasion of privacy. No one thought it was acceptable.

Actually 5 said it is an invasion of privacy also. Sotomayor said that she probably agreed that it was an invasion of privacy, but she didn't need to reach that issue because it is a trespass.

Alito(!?!?!?!) actually has a fairly reasoned and rational concurrence where he explains the law, criticizes the majority's analysis, and raises issues for future discussion. Wow. What next? Mitt Romney appearing human and less entitled?

Romney -- Doesn't Pay Much In Taxes, Hides Money in Switzerland and the Caymans

2012-01-24T07:19:00.002-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/24/mitt-romney-tax-returns-released_n_1225247.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D129706

If you could ever find all of his money, you would probably learn that he is a billionaire. My effective tax rate in 2011 -- around 20-21%.

HM

??

2012-01-23T12:07:00.001-07:00

http://www.aol.com/video/bethenny-sex-life-confession/517251437/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D129522

Gingrich Up 9 in Florida Poll

2012-01-23T08:56:00.002-07:00

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/florida/2012_florida_republican_primary

It is really, really amazing that the GOP seems intent on nominating a serial adulterer who was thrown out of his speaker's office by his Republican peers and who divorced his first wife when she had cancer.

But, as one commenter noted, Newt in the South knows that he can win so ling as he is "not outn*****ed" by anyone. In other words, white pride, my friends, white pride.

Remarkable. GOP Rich Wing folk are having repeated mini-strokes while counting their money.

Chris Christie -- "Newt Gingrich is an Embarrassment....and He is Fat"

2012-01-23T08:38:00.001-07:00

Ok, I added that last part.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/22/chris-christie-gingrich-embarrassment_n_1222009.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D129431

Joe Paterno -- Dead.... Sports Media Rejoices?

2012-01-22T12:08:00.002-07:00

http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2012-01-22/joe-paterno-dies-dead-penn-state-coach?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D129366

I think that it is great that all of the sport media who so badly needed this old guy forced out before his final few games can now go literally spit or piss on his grave. Have at it folks -- you sped up his death and now you can rejoice.

Oh Mitt Romney........

2012-01-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

Wolves "Houston Rockets Stretch" of Their Schedule

2012-01-20T11:55:00.002-07:00

They will play Houston 4 times in the next 17 games.

The “Houston Rockets” stretch of our
schedule.

Rockets are 8-7. We will play them
4 times in a month:

@
LA Clippers
9:30pm
Sat
21
@
Utah
8:00pm

Mon
23
vs
Houston
7:00pm

Wed
25
@
Dallas
7:30pm

Fri
27
vs
San Antonio
7:00pm

Sun
29
vs
LA Lakers
6:00pm

Mon
30
@
Houston
7:00pm

Feb
01
vs
Indiana
7:00pm

Fri
03
@
New
Jersey
6:30pm

Sat
04
vs
Houston
7:00pm

Tue
07
vs
Sacramento
7:00pm

08
@
Memphis
7:00pm

Fri
10
vs
Dallas
7:00pm

Sat
11
vs
New York
7:00pm

Mon
13
@
Orlando
6:00pm

Wed
15
vs
Charlotte
7:00pm

Fri
17
@
Houston

If I were a gambler and had to bet on each game today, I would go
Loss
Loss
Win
Loss
Win
Loss
Loss
Win
Win
Win
Win
Loss
Win
Win
Loss
Win
Loss

9-8 over the next 17, placing the Timberwolves at 15-16 around the halfway mark.

David Whitley -- LeBron Not Better Without Wade

2012-01-20T08:31:00.003-07:00

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-01-20/pay-no-mind-to-the-record-heat-lebron-need-wade

Sorry, David, but you miss the point completely. If I built a $30 million mansion, then added a $30 million second house, and my total property value increased to $40 million, a reasonable person would say I didn't do the right thing. Is my property "better" with the second house on it? Sure. Should I burn down the original house or the second house and receive nothing in return? No. But the fact is, the two things together are not as good as the two things apart.

Wade should be carrying a 50-30 club, LeBron should be carrying a 60-20 club. Instead, they are carrying a 62-20 club. That is NOT getting good value.

Watched last night's game. My conclusion -- Mike Brown is not doing a good job with the Lakers, LeBron is about twice the player Kobe is, and the Lakers will implode by March.

Newt 3 for 3 today

2012-01-19T14:57:00.001-07:00

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/sc/south_carolina_republican_presidential_primary-1590.html

We Spent 3 Years Impeaching Bill Clinton Because......

2012-01-19T14:52:00.002-07:00

he didn't ASK his wife if he could bang other chicks......

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/19/1056368/-Rush-Limbaugh-says-Newt-Gingrichs-adultery-is-a-mark-of-character

Sigh............

Newtmentum!

2012-01-19T12:22:00.002-07:00

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/01/gingrich-leads-romney-on-1st-night-of-tracking.html

Come on you South Carolina fans of multi-millionaires with good hair who hide their money in the Cayman Islands! Wherefor art thou?

Perry endorses Gingrich. Palin endorses Gingrich. Chris Christie tells Mitt to release his tax returns now!
Romney has to schlog his way through both SC and FL before he can head back to kinder areas (i.e., very rich areas).

Sounds like a very bad stretch for the Oven Mitt.

The Nate McMillan and Ricky Rubio Similarity Continues

2012-01-19T09:46:00.003-07:00

Rubio last night -- 9-8-7-6(steals)

Player with the second most similar game -- Nate McMillan December 29, 1988 -- 10-8-8-7.

1st place -- John Bagley had a 10-9-7-6 on December 2, 1986.

3rd place -- Scottie Pippen 10-10-8-6

We won't win many games where Rubio and Love go 8 for 28, so the Pistons win was making the best of a bad situation.

Newt Leads

2012-01-19T09:32:00.003-07:00

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/government/elections/2012-01-18/poll-gingrich-takes-lead-south-carolina?v=1326937376

Remarkable. And the word is that Rick Perry is dropping out and telling his handful of voters to vote for Gingrich.

Tonight -- 1) a debate; and 2) Newt's second wife appears on ABC to tell what an asshole he is.

Now we just need Santorum to drop out and endorse Newt, and we will have a true horse race.

Oh -- and Romney lost to Santorum in Iowa.

MLK "I Have a Strip Club Dream"

2012-01-18T10:40:00.001-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/17/outrage-over-mlk-strip-cl_n_1210751.html?ref=black-voices

Newt Gingrich -- Hard to Kill

2012-01-18T09:57:00.002-07:00

Latest Rasmussen SC Poll:

Romney 30
Gingrich 27
Santorum 15
Paul 13
Perry 4

Obviously all of the race baiting plays very well in South Carolina. Had Newt also recommended a repeal of the 13th Amendment, he would be up 50-30 already.

Kevin Love -- Averaging Over 5 Three Pointers Attempted Per Game

2012-01-17T12:31:00.002-07:00

No player has ever averaged over five 3PA/G and also averaged 9+ rebounds per game. The closest anyone has ever come is Troy Murphy who averaged 4.9 3PA/G and over 11 rebounds a game a few years back for Indiana.

Kevin Love's 4th Year Versus the Greatest Power Forwards

2012-01-17T09:18:00.002-07:00

There is a limit on the number of folks you can compare on basketball-reference.com, but here are Love's stats as compared to Duncan, Barkley, Petit, Dirk and Karl Malone:

http://bkref.com/tiny/6CtWx

This demonstrates to me that Love is having a historically great season, and that Charles Barkley was one hell of a player.

Interestingly, limiting the inquiry to seasons since 1976, the player who best matches up with Love's points and rebounds barrage is -- Moses Malone: http://bkref.com/tiny/mWcZY

While Moses was certainly not hovering out by the 3 point line jacking a ton of shots, when you talk about getting 25 & 14 in the modern era, it is really only Moses (3 times) and one year from 28 year old Kareem. Moses had 9 seasons where he averaged above 13 boards a game.

The greatest rebounder since 1976 is probably either Dennis Rodman (7 seasons over 13 a game) or Moses, followed by Kevin Garnett (three seasons of greater than 13 and 2 greater than 12.5). Ben Wallace had 3 years of over 13 a game. Shaq, despite his mammoth frame, only had one season above 13.

Love is on his way to being on the list, but he really needs 4 years of over 12.5 to be considered.

Maria Menounos Tebows

2012-01-16T09:10:00.002-07:00

What Do You Stand to Get By Signing Rasheed Wallace In His Comeback?

2012-01-13T15:46:00.002-07:00

http://bkref.com/tiny/6mDmP

Not much. An older version of Chris Gatling or Elden Campbell when they were past their prime....

Or maybe Kevin Willis, P.J. Brown, Cliff Robinson during their twilight years? http://bkref.com/tiny/1MTSO

I guess these seasons aren't horrendous, but is this something you really want to go out of your way to acquire?

Rick Perry -- I Would Cut the Department of the Interior"

2012-01-13T14:39:00.003-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_the_Interior.

So.....no national park service, no department in charge of Native American relations, no one regulating the hundreds of millions of acres of federal lands.....

I guess in his defense this is a better decision than eliminating the Commerce Department, since the Constitution seems to specifically require the feds to regulate commerce. But cutting a department that has existed since Zachary Taylor was elected President? I mean, talk about your aggressive cutting. Next up? Maybe the State Department?

Chris Christie Quote -- Who Is He Talking About?

2012-01-13T14:24:00.001-07:00

"He is as good a politician as I've ever seen. ... He's really good at it. And I think he's very charismatic. And I think he's genuine. I think what he says he believes he believes. That's a very dangerous politician."

An Outstanding Analysis of Why Rick Adelman is a Good Coach and Kurt Rambis Is Not

2012-01-13T12:24:00.003-07:00

http://www.canishoopus.com/2012/1/11/2700213/what-a-difference-a-coach-makes#storyjump

While the Wolves are 3-7 like last year, Adleman has made the very basic basketball analysis that if you force guys off the three point line and away from the rim and force them into mid-range shots, you are going to allow fewer points.

I especially like the description of Rambis's decision to give wide open threes as "unique."

Wilt -- Went 45 Points and 23 Rebounds in the 1961-62 Season 41 Times.

2012-01-12T23:35:00.002-07:00

http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.sports.basketball.nba.la-lakers/2008-05/msg02598.html

Dwight Howard, Shaq and Chris Webber -- the only 3 guys to go 45 points and 23 rebounds since 1985

2012-01-12T23:29:00.004-07:00

http://bkref.com/tiny/r2WvN

Shaq 61 and 23
Webber 51 and 26 (amazingly, in a loss)
Howard -- 45 and 23.

Howard also shot 39 free throws, an NBA record (Wilt in 1962 shot 34).

King of Bain Video

2012-01-12T22:32:00.001-07:00

http://www.webcasts.com/kingofbain/

The lesson -- if you are a broke-ass fat southerner, you should be VERY afraid of Mitt Romney.

This is the sort of truth telling that the Rich Wing of the GOP really, really does not want the poor wing to see.

Tim Tebow's Fire!!

2012-01-12T14:48:00.001-07:00

Winner of Sexiest Woman of All-Time Poll = Halle Berry

2012-01-12T13:57:00.004-07:00

#35 on the Men's Health list, but #1 in the heart of my readers.

Raquel Welch second, and the lovely Jennifer Aniston 3rd.

Ace Young and Diana Degarmo???

2012-01-12T13:54:00.003-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/12/american-idol-diana-degarmo-ace-young-dating_n_1202560.html

I hope she makes money, because I saw Ace performing at a child's birthday party on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, appearing to be really drunk. (Ace's performance was provided to the party as a birthday gift by another mom -- hey, congrats 4 year old! It is the guy who butchered "Drops of Jupiter" and "We Will Rock You" years before you were born!"). I was waiting for the kid's dad to say, "Get back in your mouse, and get the hell out of here."

I don't think Ace is rolling in cash.

HM

Portland Travel Log

2012-01-09T08:24:00.002-07:00

On my way to Portland for three days. Follow my travel log on Twitter at @HoopsMavenHM.

First comment - saw an overweight Asian woman wearing sunglasses - thought "am I at a woman's golf tournament"? Then I saw a gay black man - I guess not.

Kevin Love's Current Season Pace == Historically Great

2012-01-08T23:46:00.000-07:00

http://bkref.com/tiny/NcWu4

Similar Players to Ricky Rubio Thus Far

2012-01-08T23:24:00.002-07:00

If you plug in guards getting under 30 minutes a game and averaging about 9/7/3, you get an old Mark Jackson, a young Nate McMillan http://bkref.com/tiny/Xp6sL and a 21 year old Ramon Sessions.

I definitely see Rubio as a step up from these player, but still, you would like to think you would see flashier names jump out at you.....I guess maybe my excitement over his play is a little excessive.

Now, if you look at Rubio's 13 point and 14 assist effort in 30 minutes of play, you start seeing names like Magic Johnson (who did it 12 times), Steve Nash (6) and John Stockton. http://bkref.com/tiny/1OLif Those are the names you like to see.

Jon Huntsman -- Really Chinese???

2012-01-06T12:50:00.001-07:00

Wow. Ron Paul ads really scraping the bottom of the barrel here.

Wesley Johnson and Matt Bonner -- Almost the Same Player

2012-01-06T12:31:00.002-07:00

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=&year_max=&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&is_active=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=0&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=mp&c1comp=gt&c1val=130&c2stat=fta&c2comp=lt&c2val=0&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws

Of course the Spurs did not spend the #4 overall pick in the draft on Bonner....and Johnson turns it over 10 times more than Bonner.

Lee Ann Rimes

2012-01-06T12:13:00.002-07:00

I really don't care for her, but her constant flaunting of an awesomely hot body is just something I cannot ignore.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/05/leann-rimes-wardrobe-malfunction_n_1187503.html?ref=style

The 5 Worst NBA Players Since 1985 -- Minimum 7,500 minutes played

2012-01-06T09:49:00.004-07:00

While, as always, you are splitting hairs when you get right down to evaluating the absolute suckiest (or greatest) if you sort by PER under 9 and offensive rating less than 97 and defensive rating greater than 106, you only get 5 guys.

Marc Iavaroni
Sasha Pavlovic
Greg Foster
Greg Kite and
Joe Wolf.

It seems pretty clear that the battle for last comes down to Wolf v. Kite. They are both remarkably terrible. Then Foster and Pavlovic have very similar careers, and Iavaroni probably is only 5th worst.

Your 2006-07 Eastern Conference Champions

2012-01-06T09:28:00.002-07:00

Ok, this was only 5 years ago.... For those who say LeBron James is not a great player and not a great playoff performer -- he took this team to the NBA Finals. No other player who ever lived could have taken this team to the NBA Finals.

1 LeBron
James -- Where is he today? Coming off another 1st team all-NBA, was rated #1 player in the NBA by ESPN's panel of 100 NBA experts.

2
Larry
Hughes
Out of basketball

3
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Out of basketball

4
Drew
Gooden
Actually still an NBA starter. The great success story of this team other than LBJ.

5. Sasha
Pavlovic
Just absolutely dreadful with every team he has ever toiled for

6
Donyell Marshall
Out of basketball

7
Anderson Varejao
Pseudo-starter for a bad Cleveland team

8
Damon
Jones
Out of basketball

9
Eric
Snow
Out of basketball

10
Daniel
Gibson
Bench player for Cleveland

11
David
Wesley
Out of basketball

12
Shannon
Brown
Actually has become a good NBA player, not a true starter, but good

13
Ira
Newble
Out of basketball

14
Scot
Pollard
Out of basketball

15
Dwayne
Jones
Might be kicking around as 10th to 12th man somewhere

Some Wheelchair Sex for Russell Brand

2012-01-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Blog, Mr. Brand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWbLk7BVsDg

Zooey Deschanel -- Underpaid, Frugal

2012-01-05T15:56:00.002-07:00

http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/04/zooey-deschanel-financial-net-worth-divorce/#.TwT9o_mwVLc

She makes $95K/month? A little over $1MM a year? She has her own TV show which is a hit and has been renewed for another year. So.....24 episodes for $1MM? About $45,000 an episode?

I guess having your own Fox TV show isn't exactly a gold mine.

She has done a great job of becoming a real millionaire -- $3,000,000 liquid. I guess all of those "Elf" reruns must really help out?

My Anaconda Don't Want None Unless You Got Buns, Hon'

2012-01-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

DeMarcus Cousins -- Coach Killer

2012-01-05T14:22:00.001-07:00

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-01-05/paul-westphal-fired-as-coach-of-sacramento-kings-keith-smart-interim

Westphal is the first, but he will not be the last.

Why Katy Perry Is Being Divorced

2012-01-05T11:58:00.001-07:00

http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/40277/the-brandperry-sexual-pyrotechnics-and-other-horror-stories-from-this-weeks-tabloids

Zooey

2012-01-05T09:58:00.002-07:00

Who's that (divorced) girl? Who's that (divorced) girl? It's Jess!http://www.spinner.com/2012/01/04/zooey-deschanel-divorces-ben-gibbard/

Astros New Director of Amateur Scouting - Stephanie Wilka pic

2012-01-04T14:51:00.003-07:00

Rick Perry -- Non-Quitter!?!?

2012-01-04T12:46:00.003-07:00

http://www.indecisionforever.com/2012/01/04/rick-perry-quits-quitting-heads-to-south-carolina/

I guess that "reassessment" of his campaign, like all other Rick Perry efforts at thinking, didn't last long.

Wow.

Bad announcement for Santorum, awesome announcement for Mitt Romney.

Badgers -- Losers

2012-01-04T10:20:00.002-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/04/michigan-state-wisconsin-ot-ryan-evans-buzzer-beater_n_1182642.html

The hoops team has lost twice in a row at home, a place where they get called for 1 foul out of every 6 they commit. The football team also lost. Man, if I were a Packers fan I would be getting very nervous.

JSH

Michele Bachmann -- Quitter

2012-01-04T09:15:00.001-07:00

I have to assume that this means that God really hates her and doesn't want her to be President.

Or, as one person noted on twitter:

pandagonJesse Taylor

Michele Bachmann: Out. Marcus Bachmann: Not So Much.

Wait, Johnny Weir is Gay!?!?

2012-01-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/03/johnny-weir-married-victor-voronov-figure-skater_n_1180266.html

Sad, sad Wolves Chart

2012-01-03T14:09:00.002-07:00

Rick Santorum -- There Is No Constitutional Right to a Blow Job

2012-01-03T12:24:00.004-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/03/rick-santorum-birth-control-sodomy_n_1181291.html?1325615268

Please lord, do not allow your mighty servant Rick Santorum to take this right away from young unmarried men. We married men surrendered it long ago, but speaking as a guy who can remember years gone by, why punish the youngsters?

And Santorum wants the states to be able to make birth control illegal!?!? So......no sodomy AND if you have regular sex then you basically HAVE to try to have kids? I have always heard Rick Santorum referred to as a "jerk off" but now it appears that "jerk off" is the name of his sex platform for all of America. Lotion and towel sales should at least go up, er, explode, um, rise, uh, increase.

The Real Article

2012-01-03T12:02:00.003-07:00

A Comment on Basketball Stats

2012-01-02T00:55:00.002-07:00

There is always a danger in the overuse of stats, or any other measurement tool used only on its own.

The best way to evaluate a basketball player, pro or college, is to watch him play every game, in person.

The second best way to watch a guy is to watch him play every game on TV.

Then comes reading his statistics, then comes watching game film, then comes working him out in practices/tryouts.

Since very few teams have the money to send a scout to watch every single live game, players are generally not evaluated very well. If you sat and physically watched a guy play 30 games in a year, you would know exactly what he could and could not do, what kind of players he played well against and what kind of players he struggled with. You would know how he reacts to pressure and to road crowds and to tough games and to easy games and to referees and to coaches.

Watching a guy play on TV gives you a good general feel of how a guy plays and what he likes to do, but you don't see him move and you don't see how physical he is or whether he has great or simply average athletic ability. You don't see what he can or will do away from the ball.

The only thing that watching a guy play in person won't do for you is evaluate how well a college kid plays against NBA superstars.

So why do we use stats? Someone watching Mike Miller might think he is a great shooter -- well, look at his attempts per game: he won't shoot the ball. Someone might think that a player like Kevin Garnett should be a great shot blocker ala Hakeem and David -- he isn't. He never has been. His game is steals and position and defensive rebounding. His defensive rebound rate in his prime was sick. Darryl Dawkins was a huge monster physically, not much of a rebounder.

Kevin Durant is a great scorer, but he really struggles trying to pass -- he has never averaged 3 assist a game before this year, and his 4.2 assists a game so far this year come with 3.8 turnovers a game.

What stat can we find to show that Kevin McHale was such an awesome low post scorer? (He was only in the top 10 in league scoring once and he only once made any all-NBA team).

He is #11 all-time in offensive rating.

If you cannot watch a guy a lot, you need to look at stats. Derrick Williams played 69 games at Arizona and blocked a total of 46 shots. So you know he is explosive........on one end of the court.....in his first 4 gqames with Minnesota he has.....0 blocks. I saw him play maybe 3 times in college, but I can tell you that a guy who is an undersized 4 who never blocked many shots in college is not going to become a big shot blocker in the NBA. Tim Duncan blocked 4 shots a game in college. Hakeem blocked 5. Theo Ratliff blocked 4 or 5.

I can tell you from watching JJ Barea in person that he is a shoot first guard who shoots a low percentage but who is very very active and rolls up big stats for a midget. Look at his college stats -- shot it 17-18 times a game in college and got 4 rebounds a game.

Anyway -- just an observation late at night.

Kobe Bryant -- 6 for 28 With 6 Turnovers -- No One Has Sucked So Bad in a Game in 25 Years

2012-01-01T23:19:00.002-07:00

Here is the Kobe effort in a 9 point loss to Denver:

http://www.nba.com/games/20120101/LALDEN/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021100063#nbaGIboxscore

6 for 28, 6 turnovers. 2 rebounds, 4 assists.

1) No one since October 1985 (the date from which basketball-reference.com has game records in its database) has ever had a game where they went 6 for 28 or worse and had 6 turnovers.
Never. It has never occurred.

2) Over the same period of time, there have only been 5 players who have ever gone 6 of 28 or worse; Allen Iverson did it twice.

http://bkref.com/tiny/OXHyP

Two of those efforts (Darrell Griffith and Allen Iverson on March 27, 2005) were in wins, so that puts their games ahead of Kobe's.
Ewing, Duncan and Antoine Walker all had at least 10 rebounds, so their production was good in some category.

The only other player whose awful game comes close to Kobe's is Allen Iverson's December 21, 2002 game in which he was 6 for 28 and had only 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

Kobe did outscore AI 16 to 13, but Iverson had only 4 turnovers to Kobe's 6. Iverson's 4 turnovers were matched by Walker, by Iverson himself, and almost matched (3) by Duncan. 4 turnovers in a 6 for 28 effort is not unheard of. 6 is.

So, I will call it -- Kobe just had the worst game of any player in the past 25+ years.

Jennifer Aniston Lives Up to #1 Seed -- Advances to Sexiest Woman Final

2011-12-30T15:11:00.005-07:00

Katy Perry -- Back On The Market

2011-12-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

http://blog.music.aol.com/2011/12/30/katy-perry-russell-brand-divorce/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D123936

Wait, this means she will have a reason to get even HOTTER looking!?!??!

Iowa -- Ouch.

2011-12-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/12/observations-from-20-years-of-iowa-life/249401/

Top 20 Players -- Most Win Shares Since October 2001

2011-12-30T10:29:00.002-07:00

All played October 2001-December2011 unless otherwise noted.

Dirk
Nowitzki
138.2

Kevin
Garnett
124.6

Tim
Duncan
122.2

Kobe
Bryant
121.8

LeBron
James
October 2003-2011
119.9

Chauncey Billups
109.1

Steve
Nash
101.4

Paul
Pierce
100.7

Pau
Gasol
98.8

10
Shawn
Marion
94.0

Ray
Allen
90.5

Jason
Kidd
83.7

Dwyane
Wade
Oct. 2003-2011
82.9

Elton
Brand
82.1

15
Dwight
Howard
Oct. 2004-2011
80.2

Manu
Ginobili
Oct.2002-2011
80.0

Jason
Terry
77.8

Chris
Paul
Oct. 2005-2011
76.7

Rashard
Lewis
76.1

Amare
Stoudemire
Oct. 2002-2011
75.9

Voters Prove They Are Not Racist -- Halle Berry Voted as One of Three Sexiest

2011-12-30T08:27:00.005-07:00

Men's Health's decision to rank her 35th is a real head scratcher. She makes her way through the play-ins (64 through 33 had to play into the final 40), down to the final 10, and now down to the top 3.

Outstanding work, especially since she will likely face the ##1 and 2 overall seeds in the finals!

A Proud Day For My Readers -- Raquel Welch Voted One of Three Sexiest of All-Time

2011-12-30T08:25:00.005-07:00

Great job, voters!

Suckiest NBA Early Season Performers

2011-12-29T14:07:00.002-07:00

http://bkref.com/tiny/IK79j

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=2012&year_max=2012&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&is_active=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=0&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=per&c1comp=lt&c1val=8&c2stat=mp&c2comp=gt&c2val=40&c3stat=off_rtg&c3comp=lt&c3val=90&c4stat=def_rtg&c4comp=gt&c4val=110&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=wsNote -- 3 Celtics.

How about JRich's NEGATIVE 50 spread between offense and defense!?!? Steve Nash -- not playing well, to say the least. And I am sure the Pistons are ecstatic that they paid Tayshaun Prince all that guaranteed money.

Why Are the Celtics Losing?

2011-12-29T13:48:00.002-07:00

Paul Pierce is hurt-- similar players to Paul Pierce: Rick Barry
Adrian Dantley
Dominique Wilkins
Bailey Howell
Chet Walker
John Havlicek
Scottie Pippen
Larry Nance
Kevin McHale
Elvin Hayes

The Celts are playing Sasha Pavlovic in his place. Similar players to Sasha Pavlovic:
Bucky Bockhorn
Quinton Ross
Ronald Murray
Jeff Judkins
Mike Evans
Shammond Williams
Jon Sundvold
Marcus Banks
Mike Barr
Greg Minor

Nuf said.

Two Best NBA Players So Far........LeBron James and......

2011-12-29T09:07:00.003-07:00

Manu Ginobili. In under 30 minutes a game, Manu is getting 29/5/5 with 2.5 steals plus blocks. He leads the league in Win Shares per 48 minutes. His assist to turnover ratio is 10 to 1.

His PER is 40.5 and James' is 40.8. James is shooting almost 60%.

Note to Eric Spoelstra -- you cannot play LeBron James 39 minutes to get a one point win over Charlotte in December. You eventually are gonna kill the guy. He is 6'8" and weighs 255 lbs. He should not be playing 39 minutes in a road game with Charlotte. Now is the time to find and build a bench.

HM

2011-12-28T14:31:00.001-07:00

Timberwolves Dancers

2011-12-28T14:24:00.002-07:00

I would say that this is the best squad in many years, at least since Natalie Kane left several years back.

Newest Iowa Poll a Mixed Bag For Romney

2011-12-28T09:43:00.002-07:00

Mitt has to like the fact that he is running a strong second to a guy who is 76 years old and who is a complete crackpot on certain issues (he is also completely at odds with GOP leadership on military issues).

What he cannot enjoy is 1) the fact that he just cannot clear 20% support; and 2) the idea that some actual possible white male candidates (Perry, Santorum)might be able to vault up to, say, 3rd place and actually present a viable option for GOP southern voters.

RIP Disco Fink

2011-12-28T08:21:00.002-07:00

My high school buddy the Disco Fink died this week. When you look at the summer sky this year, you may see it as a far brighter shade of polyester blue, as the Disco Fink is reunited with his 1980 blue disco pants in heaven (the pants having been burned in his back yard after one ill-fated wearing).

RIP Big Fella.

Jonny Flynn Log

2011-12-27T15:57:00.001-07:00

J. FlynnDNP - Coach's Decision

Why Katy Perry Is Ridiculously Hot

2011-12-27T14:33:00.001-07:00

http://www.aol.com/video/katy-perrys-sexy-bikini-christmas-without-russell-or-ring/517236986/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdaily-buzz1%7Csec2_lnk2%7C123321

LeBron's Season Opener Stats -- Historically Great

2011-12-27T12:25:00.004-07:00

37points/10rebounds/6assists/2steals/2blocks.

It has been done only 45 times since 1987
http://bkref.com/tiny/cqccg

If you sort by active players, these stats have been reached in a game only 18 times:

Dirk - 1
Amare - 1
Kobe, Vince and Wade - 2 each
TMac - 4
LeBron - 6

LeBron put up his 37/10/6/2/2 in 36 minutes, which was done before....one time, by Hakeem Olajuwon on April 6, 1993.

LeBron's current PER -- 46.2

LeBron led the league last year in PER at 27.3, and the highest full-season PER I can find is Wilt at 31.8, followed by Jordan and LeBron at 31.7. So yeah, pretty awesome game.

HM

League Record for Consecutive Double-Doubles? Wilt, Wilt and then Wilt.

2011-12-27T12:17:00.001-07:00

The NBA record for consecutive double-doubles is held by Wilt at 227. He also holds the second and third longest streaks at 220 and 133.

http://www.nba.com/2011/history/features/12/26/giants-wilt/index.html

Newt Gingrich 2006 -- "I Love Romney-Care"!!!

2011-12-27T09:51:00.002-07:00

http://web.archive.org/web/20060822061158/http:/www.healthtransformation.net/News/E_newsletters/index.cfm?newsletterid=20

This Romney achievement, as we all know, is the basis for the individual mandate under ObamaCare (which Gingrich supported in 1993, in 2006, and which -- though no one seems to notice -- he included as a requirement in his plan for Church-going illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. (that they needed to purchase health insurance)).

Hard to understand why the handsome and arrogant Romney is unpalatable while the fat, arrogant Gingrich is the flavor of the month.

Sinead O'Connor -- Nothing Compares to Divorce

2011-12-27T09:34:00.003-07:00

http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/sinead-oconnor-and-husband-split-after-18-days-marriage-12-27-2011

It's been 7 hours and 18 days.......now I'll throw your ring away....

Mars Needs Moms -- Worst Money Loser of all-time?

2011-12-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

From the Wall Street Journal

7. Mars Needs Moms
> Company: Disney

Following the release of Avatar in 2009, Hollywood had a new cash cow in the form of 3-D films. This all changed with the release of director Simon Wells’s Mars Needs Moms — a flop of epic proportions. Disney (NYSE: DIS), of course, was expecting another hit. The film cost $175 million to make. In its opening weekend it brought in just $6.9 million. According to movie data website The Numbers, Mars Needs Moms lost an estimated $130 million in worldwide gross sales, the biggest money loser of all time. Journalist Brooks Barnes wrote in the New York Times, “In the movie business, sometimes a flop is just a flop. Then there are misses so disastrous that they send signals to broad swaths of Hollywood.” Mars Needs Moms signaled that the market has become saturated and that digitally animated family films are not the sure thing they once were.

Oh, Truman the Tiger...

2011-12-27T08:50:00.000-07:00

http://eye-on-collegefootball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/24156338/34049097

Vanessa Bryant Claims Kobe Cheated On Her With 105 Women

2011-12-26T09:24:00.001-07:00

Jason Whitlock on Twitter suggests 600 might be a more accurate number. 105? 600? Further proof that Wilt (10000) was the greatest player ever!!!