DBD 5/14/10: Twist and I agree!

I know everyone here is a huge hockey fan and vividly remembers all of those highlights, but I’ll post them all again, for fun. Hey, it’s not politics or Cal sports, so I know it belongs in the DBD!

Shh!

Ovechkin denied

Crosby scores

the Geno

Staal ties it

Tic-tac-toe

The Piece

Fleury saves the day

I’ve just read that “Follow the Red Line—Live at the Village Vanguard” by The Chris Potter Underground is one of the ten best albums of the decade, regardless of genre.

Agree/disagree/tell us more about it.

http://2010.newsweek.com/top-10/best-albums/follow-the-red-line-live-at-the-village-vanguard.html

A number of cringe-worthy lyrics I’d rather forget – but the flow is ridiculous. Don’t know if it’s going to be on the album or whether it’s a mixtape-type track just to whet interest, but Em is spittin’ like he used to.

Obviously, NSFW:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRT-GJorpss

That crab dribble was working pretty well last night.

Mercy’d

The No. 13/12 California softball team was far too much for Oregon State to handle on Thursday afternoon with the Golden Bears (39-17 overall/8-11 in the Pac-10 Conference) claiming the 9-1 mercy win over the Beavers (24-29/4-15 in the Pac-10) in five innings. The Beavers got on the board in the top of the first, but the Bears scored in the bottom end of the inning and then five in the third to build an insurmountable lead.

One run in the fourth gave Cal a 7-1 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, junior first baseman Arioto walked to make the score 8-1 when freshman catcher Lindsey Ziegenhirt singled to left to score the piviital ninth Bear run, giving Cal the 9-1 run-rule victory to open the three-game weekend against OSU.

That would be your 2010 Pac-10 men’s golf champion and Cal’s head golf coach

Cal junior men’s golfer Eric Mina and Golden Bears head coach Steve Desimone will be guests on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s Chronicle Live television show this Friday, May 14 (5-6 p.m. PT). Mina became only the second Cal men’s golfer to ever win the Pac-10 individual title in the 51-year history of the event last month, while Desimone is in his 31st season at Cal and led the Bears to an NCAA championship in 2004.

The show, which is produced in partnership with the San Francisco Chronicle sports department, also replays on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area at 11 p.m. and Comcast SportsNet California at 6 p.m. and midnight. Chronicle Live is also available on Comcast Digital Cable’s ON DEMAND Channel 1. In addition, a live stream of the show can be viewed online from 5-6 p.m. at CSNBayArea.com.

Victor Rudd is transferring. And he’s not the first this offseason.

Rudd, who played at five different high schools, becomes the fourth player (guard Brandon Thompson, guard Demetrius Walker, forward Taylor Rohde) to leave Sendek’s program this offseason.

Three general managers think LeBron James will end up in Chicago according to ESPN’s Chad Ford.

Two said they believe that John Calipari will be the new head coach of the Bulls.

One GM went a bit further in a phone call a few minutes later. “I think the Bulls are really going to go for it. Look for them to offer the Cavs Luol Deng in a sign-and-trade for LeBron. That will allow them to retain most of their cap space. Then they’ll go after Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh as well.”

CBKWit, you say I’m illogical, obnoxious, and vain like it’s a bad thing???

Also, very jealous that you went to see Sonny Rollins. I got a thing for half price tix the other day and was depressed that I couldn’t make it. Thanks for the DBD, I really appreciate it.

Eric Byrnes in softball league:

Eric Byrnes is back in the lineup as an everyday player. Every Wednesday, anyway. Byrnes is the starting left fielder for the Dutch Goose, a slow-pitch softball team sponsored by a Menlo Park burger barn.

Byrnes is probably the best-compensated ballplayer in the league, considering he will be paid $11 million this season – although the Arizona Diamondbacks ($10.6 million) and Seattle Mariners ($400,000) will pay his salary, while the Dutch Goose will simply supply the burgers and beer.

More discussion of the Perfect Game in a historic context:

It is an unwritten rule in baseball that if a pitcher throws a Perfect Game, you are allowed to milk the accomplishment until said pitcher’s next start. And I’ve never been one to mess with baseball etiquette.

Now that the rest of the world knows as much as we do about the awesomeness that is Dallas Braden (ok maybe not as much, but clearly more than say, a week ago), let’s look at the other eighteen men with whom Braden- who makes his first post-perfecto start tomorrow night in Anaheim- will be forever linked.

Star-divide

The first two men to toss Perfect Games were Lee Richmond and Monte Ward, whose gems came just five days apart in the year 1880. Contrary to popular belief, I did not attend either contest.

Even Joe Posnanski dismisses these long-ago masterpieces:

    For some reason these always include two thrown in 1880 when it took eight balls to walk somebody, the mound was 50 feet from home plate and pitchers were still supposed to throw underhand. Completely different game then …but baseball does cherish its past.

Look, here’s how ridiculous that 1880 season was: only two of the eight teams that made up the National League (and that was the only league, folks) still exist: the Cubs (who were called the White Stockings) and the Braves (known then as the Boston Red Caps).

Richmond’s team, the Worcester Ruby Legs, played 85 games. Richmond pitched in 74 of them, starting 66 and completing 57. Ward appeared in 70 of the Providence Grays’ 87 contests (67 starts, 59 CG’s); in fact he was the starting pitcher for his team’s first twenty-seven games!

Giants fans frustrated with ofense:

In two games against the Padres this year, Jonathan Sanchez has pitched 15 innings, allowing four hits, four walks, and two runs while striking out fifteen. He has lost both games.

In two games against the Padres this year, Jonathan Sanchez has pitched 15 innings, allowing four hits, four walks, and two runs while striking out fifteen. He has lost both games.

In two games against the Padres this year, Jonathan Sanchez has pitched 15 innings, allowing four hits, four walks, and two runs while striking out fifteen. He has lost both games.

I’m starting to think this offense isn’t going to lead the league in batting average this year. Hopefully, this is the most humiliating loss of the year, but I’m not going to put money on that.

Sharks discuss special teams against Blackhawk, which is a term I lack understanding of in a hockey context. Do they have kick offs? Do the Sharks fans go ALLAAAMMMAARRRR!

In a series that is expected to be very tight at even strength, the special teams battle becomes all the more important to achieving success. This element was prevalent in San Jose’s second round victory over the Detroit Red Wings— three out of the Sharks four wins came due to their power play achievements, and San Jose eventually ended up +4 in this category when they were on the winning side of the ledger.

In game one San Jose was outscored by a goal at even strength but managed to put two past Jimmy Howard on the man advantage; games two and five were equal at evens, with a +1 in the special teams department tipping the scales San Jose’s way.

With the even strength play essentially a wash against Detroit, expecting a similar type of series against Chicago is probably not too far out of the question. San Jose and Chicago are extremely talented on both ends of the ice, bring immense skill sets to the table, and can score goals at will. The even strength chances and opportunities don’t stand to be too far apart on most nights, at least not if everything shakes out as it is expected.

In essence, this series could very well be Detroit-San Jose on steroids.

NinersN ation takse a ook back at the 2009 season:

In a way, I can’t believe that I actually made it all the way here. I’ve actually written 55 of these things? And this is the last. Well, at least the last one for a few months. With that in mind, I’d like to point out two things: 1) I made an effort to stay within a certain number of words, but that number was a lot higher than it has been in the past – I see no reason not go out with a bang. 2) If you want to call me out for making some terrible inaccuracy, any unforgivable mistake, this is your last chance. More than any other season, I wrote this one from memory. So, it could be like an Easter Egg hunt. With those things said, I certainly hope you’ve enjoyed this series as much as I have, and I certainly hope that you enjoy this installment as much as I did. This is the 2009 season. You remember it like it was yesterday. Now, you can enjoy it one more time.

CBKWit is correct that Saxophone Colossus Sonny Rollins is a great one. He’s still going strong at his late age is truly amazing. Here is some more biographical information:

Theodore Walter “Sonny” Rollins (born September 7, 1930 in New York City)1 is a Grammy-winning American jazz tenor saxophonist. Widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of the post-bebop era, Rollins’ long, prolific career began at the age of 11, and he was playing with piano legend Thelonious Monk before reaching the age of 20. A number of his compositions, including “St. Thomas”, “Oleo”, “Doxy”, and “Airegin”, have become jazz standards.1

As of 2009, Rollins is still touring and recording, having outlived most of his contemporaries such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Max Roach, and Art Blakey, all performers with whom he recorded. Rollins was elected to the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1973.

Perhaps he is still going, because he would take breaks from time to time:

By 1959, Rollins was frustrated with what he perceived as his own musical limitations and took the first – and most famous – of his musical sabbaticals. To spare a neighboring expectant mother the sound of his practice routine, Rollins ventured to the Williamsburg Bridge to practice. Upon his return to the jazz scene in 1962 he named his “comeback” album The Bridge at the start of a contract with RCA Records, recorded with a quartet featuring guitarist Jim Hall and still no piano. The rhythm section was Ben Riley on drums and bassist Bob Cranshaw. This became one of Rollins’ best-selling records.

The version of Tenor Madness that CBKWit has above is only 2m inutes long. Here is a 10 minute long version that is fuller.

And here is another good version of that song. Even though they are the same frigging song they sound toads diff like fuck, bc there is just a short head and then its pretty open. When I auditioned to join Cal Band Jazz lo those many years ago, this was the song I auditioned on. So, I always have a good memory of it.

Waiting for my flaky friend to go fishing. Sunrise was two hours ago. He just stumbled out of bed. Sigh. By the time we get on the water, it’s gonna be time for lunch.

Sacramento Bee sports columnist Ailene Voisin thinks so.

Randle’s most immediate concern is making sure workouts don’t conflict with graduation at Cal. Then, he plans to find a job in the NBA, with the Kings near the top of his wish list.

Randle studied the roster and swears he sees a vacancy. He envisions coming off the bench and harassing opposing ballhandlers, converting threes in transition, changing the tempo and exploiting the athleticism of Donté Greene, Omri Casspi and Jason Thompson.

The Kings? He’s getting a look, perhaps even a second look.

“He’s a very good shooter already, with great range,” Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie said after watching Randle and other mostly second-round prospects Thursday. "He can make plays, and he’s got speed, quicks. He’s definitely one of those ‘catch-me-if-you-can’ type of players.’

"

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/14/2749945/ailene-voisin-cals-randle-hopes.html#ixzz0nuswNWdD

I just got done seeing Herbie Hancock and Dee Dee Bridgewater at the Shanghai World Expo.

It was epic.

Photos and ish coming later. I’m playing golf in 6 hours, so I should get some sleep.

SBNation has their Team USA World Cup Preview!

The United States was going to beat Spain, end the European champions’ record 35-match unbeaten streak, and finally raise the curtain on an era where the U.S. would be a legitimate soccer power. If the close call in the final four days later (a 3-2 loss to Brazil) affirmed that status, the year that’s followed as seen less conclusive results. The United States lost a much-anticipated qualifier in Mexico and has subsequently lost friendlies to Slovakia, Denmark and the Netherlands – matches where the States juggled injuries to Dempsey, Oguchi Onyewu, and Charlie Davies. While results have not met the expectations set by the Spain win, the inability to get a healthy squad in place has given fans reason to hope last June’s results can be replicated, should the United States return to health.

Staal’s shorthander was awesome. And I pretty much hate the Pens. That damned Jaromir Jagr think’s he’s so hot.

Okay, he is kind of dreamy

A friend sent me this link, showing an interesting choice of words in a headline.

Should be SFW, unless you’re in a hypersensitive work environment.

I was excited by the prospects of hilarity that this DBD title offered, but was disappointed to see that it was instead about jazz and hockey.

Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl is seeing his health improving.

Asked if there’s any chance he won’t return as coach, Karl said, “I don’t see that happening, but I am going to put my health first, and come next fall, if the doctors don’t feel it’s a wise thing and I don’t think it’s a wise thing, (then we’ll re-evaluate). But my feeling is the exact opposite. We’re in a good place, the steps have been good, the tests have been good and I’ve just got to keep plugging away every day.”

Can Portsmouth possibly compete with Chelsea in tomorrow’s FA Cup?

Two years ago, Portsmouth won the FA Cup to set in motion what David James has described as a “crippling” of the club’s finances. Now, with a squad ravaged by the worst excesses of the darkest period in Pompey’s history, the club face a formidable challenge on the pitch: tackling a rampant Chelsea side that greedily accumulated in excess of 100 goals when winning the Premier League title.

MLB teams are complaining about the Toronto Blue Jays and their free agent signings.

A couple of online reports this week suggested the Blue Jays have already signed 16-year-old Venezuelan right-hander Adonis Cardona to a contract. But baseball’s rules forbid teams from negotiating with international free agents before July 2.

According to one club’s director of international scouting, several clubs are upset enough that they have taken their complaints to the commissioner’s office.

Breaking news: Cleveland Cavaliers will fire head coach Mike Brown today.

Press conferences are set for later in the day when it will likely become official. Brown will join Mike Woodson in a job search, but neither is assured of getting another head coaching job for next season.

I can’t say he doesn’t deserve it.

Howard Megdal looks at possible destinations for Chicago White Sox outfielder Andruw Jones.

He leads all AL outfielders with a .427 wOBA, and has already produced over 1 WAR. If, as Megdal suggests, the White Sox will seek to cash in their Jones pick for some prospects, they might want to act quickly. We’ve seen this type of production from Andruw before, only to see it decline later in the season.

Could the San Francisco Giants be interested?

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop prospect Adeiny Hechavarria is scheduled to make his professional debut for High-A Dunedin tonight.

The 21-year-old Cuban shortstop has been playing in extended spring training since signing a four-year, $10 million contract with the club last month. Look for him to stick with Dunedin for a brief while before earning a promotion to Double-A New Hampshire. Many believe he could find his way to the majors within the next two years.

Check out Mankind and the Undertaker take on Shawn Michaels and Hunter Hearst Helmsley right now!

WTF is this DBD? Jazz, hockey and baseball? The only interesting thing here is laughing at LeBron or as some folks call him, LeBitch

Dallas Mavericks guard Rodrigue Beaubois will play for France this summer.

Beaubois got the call after Tony Parker pulled out, and will play in the FIBA World Championship in Turkey starting on August 28.

Houston Rockets assistant head coach Elston Turner will interview for the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers head coaching jobs.

He’s about as low profile as they come, so it would be a little surprising to see him land a head coaching job this year.

Alabama and Nike have extended an agreement through 2018 that the university said would be worth nearly $30 million over seven years.

The deal announced Friday amends a contract originally signed in 2002. Nike will remain the exclusive supplier of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories to Crimson Tide sports teams through June 30, 2018. The new deal takes effect on July 1.

Nike will provide funds for two paid internships for Alabama students each summer at the company’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. The company also will pay Alabama a royalty of at least 12 percent on the sale of merchandise with the university logo.

Has this already been posted? In what looks like a pretty good match-up, Boise State is playing at Mississippi to open up the 2011 season.

The Broncos will play at Ole Miss from the Southeastern Conference in the Sept. 3 season opener, the first meeting between the two teams.

The Broncos have also scheduled four other nonconference games for 2011, including three home games against Wyoming, Tulsa and Utah. The other nonconference game is at Toledo.

At this point, the Mississippi game is the jewel of the schedule. The Rebels, coached by Houston Nutt, finished 9-4 last season and beat Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl. Nutt was on the Boise State coaching staff in 1997.

I’m pretty sure Kodiak has taken off by now, but here’s last night’s workout:

Hammer Curls+Shoulder Press supersets
Tricep Extension
Lat Pulldown
One Arm Dumbbell Row
Incline Press
Leg Raises
Cable Woodchop

I’m just gonna go for a run in the hills tonight and then do more lifting tomorrow. Flab is visibly reduced from before; I’m even starting to see some definition at the top of my abs, though I still have plenty of work to do the rest of the way down my midsection. My arms and shoulders are a lot bigger, too. Fitness-wise, I’m probably at about 85-90% of where I was a year ago when I was getting ready for Bay to Breakers, and that’s only after about a month and a half. I’m feeling pretty good about September right now.