SPORTS
Kobe vs. Michael: The Debate Continues
An article or two back, Steve Kerr, former teammate of Jordan when they were both with the Bulls, said Kobe "might be the most complete offensive player ever." With Kobe's recent rash of 50+ points in back to back games and his success having played under the same coach, it does raise an interesting debate, one that I've always been very one sided about.
As Kerr mentions,"...when I wrote that Kobe may be the most complete offensive player of all time, I was referring to his overall skill set. His dribbling and long-range shooting are better than M.J.'s were, and his creativity and athleticism are practically on par. But [...] Michael figured out how to lift up the level of his teammates' play, and his defense and overall game management were better than Kobe's. And M.J. won six titles, none with a dominant big man to play next to. That's why ultimately there's no argument that Jordan was the better player."
Skip Bayless agrees about Kobe's athleticism:
"Kobe Bryant is a little more gifted athletically than Michael Jordan was.
Kobe is a much better pure shooter. Kobe has risen into Michael's rare air when it comes to making great late shots. Kobe is a little taller, and just as quick and strong. Kobe plays with as much nightly energy and passion as Michael did, even on defense.
You can argue that Kobe is a little better looking. Kobe definitely is a more polished speaker. Kobe can be almost as charming as Michael, when he feels like it."
However, Bayless recognizes the difference between Kobe and Michael, the one that will always separate the two when this debate comes up time and time again:
"Kobe doesn't get it. Michael always did.
When I was writing columns for the Chicago Tribune, I studied Michael, and got to know him a little. Michael arrogantly strode through many of the same mines that are exploding around Kobe. Michael wasn't the best husband after hours. Michael punched out two nice-guy teammates during practice -- Steve Kerr and Will Perdue. Michael ran off a coach, Doug Collins, in part because of their soap-opera feud. Michael was often at war with an opposing player or the Chicago media.
Kobe can't keep his mouth shut -- and he's getting killed as a result.
Yet many of these potential bombs went unreported because Michael never lit the fuse by answering questions about them.
Amazingly, Michael did not step on one mine, while Kobe all but plays hop-scotch on them. No matter how many risks Jordan took, he maintained a superstar-next-door image that hypnotized male and female consumers of all ages. It's as if Kobe, who so desperately wants to be loved, is hell-bent on committing image suicide..." [READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE]
Final Four Preview
Tonight kicks off this years Final Four, with four very talented teams looking for their opportunity to square off Monday night in Atlanta for the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Unfortunately, I will be at a barbecue for Felicia's work, but hopefully they have men there with televisions.
Who will it be - Florida, UCLA, Georgetown, or Ohio State? We make our picks, and breakdown the games a bit in our Final Four Preview.
Ohio State vs. Georgetown
In a proverbial battle of the big men, Ohio State's freshman phenom center Greg Oden will square off against the Hoyas' 7-2 center Roy Hibbert, but the real battle may be won by the guards.
As Jay Bilas mentions in an article for ESPN,
"At the guard spots, Georgetown is strong. Jonathan Wallace is one of the most efficient point guards in the country, although he is not the Hoyas' primary handler. Wallace is a great shooter who takes only good shots, and he is unflappable. Wallace competes hard and never changes expression, yet he consistently comes up big in key situations.
Jessie Sapp is a strong guard who is the Hoyas' best cutter, and he also is Georgetown's best passer on the move. Sapp can get the ball upcourt quickly, and he has the ability to drive hard and finish."
And don't forget that Georgetown has Patrick Ewing Jr. coming off the bench.
Unfortunately for the Hoyas, they are paired up against a couple of equally, if not more, talented guards from Ohio State. Another freshman phenom that has flown under the Oden spotlight has been Buckeye guard Mike Conley Jr. As Bilas mentions,
"While Oden is the difference, Conley is the engine that runs this team. He has smarts, savvy and a steely calm about him, and he is a unique talent who can play with great pace. Conley manages a game like a veteran, understanding when to pitch it and when to pull the trigger. On the short list of best point guards in the nation, Conley is right near the top of the list."
The Buckeyes shooting guard, Jamar Butler, is their best threat from behind the arc, and their outside shooting game will be vital to give Oden breathing room inside against Hibbert and Green. Ron Lewis is a dangerous player and will also give the Hoyas' defense fits.
Complete position-by-position breakdown at Sports Illustrated.
Our Pick: Georgetown 76 - Ohio State 72
Florida vs. UCLA
Another great matchup puts last year's National Championship game in the Championship play-in. The guard dominated Bruins will looks to dethrone the experienced and all-around complete Gators. Most people are pointing to the matchup between UCLA's Aaron Afflalo and Florida's Corey Brewer as being critical to the game, and I couldn't agree more. However, I think the pure athleticism of Florida will be a deciding factor for a team that has had nothing other than another National Championship in its sights this whole season.
Our pick: Florida 80, UCLA 78
Position-by-position breakdown at Sports Illustrated.
NEWS
Parents Protest High School Sex Newspaper
HAMPTON, N.H. — Some parents are protesting the "sex" edition of the student newspaper at Winnacunnet High School. Several said they were especially offended by a photograph of two women kissing under the headline, "Why men love women who love women," a quiz question about anal sex, and an interview with an unnamed custodian who said he had found a vibrator in the girls' shower.
"Those articles offended me personally as a parent," said Venus Merrill, a school board member. "It's not something you want to read with your 10-year-old and it's not something that should be going home."
Principal Randy Zito said the Winnachronicle had crossed the line of responsible reporting and that he had dealt with the problem privately. He also said he had pulled copies of the paper that normally would have been sent to middle schools in the cooperative school district.
The newspaper's faculty adviser defended the editors' decisions and said the February edition of the paper was intended to inform students, not shock people _ although they knew it would stir controversy.
"The kids wrote the articles and came up with the topic," said adviser Carol Downer. "They didn't go out to cause controversy, but the Winnachronicle is also not a P.R. piece for the high school. This is a place for students to express their view and talk about issues that are troubling the student body."
The newspaper is not reviewed in advance of publication by administrators. The school board has not discussed the controversy in a public meeting, but parent Paula Wood, of Seabrook, said she wants it on the agenda for the next one...[READ MORE]
MUSIC
The Lisps Tour Dates
National Tour Dates:
Friday 4/6/07 @ Galapagos Artspace - Brooklyn, NY
Thursday 4/12/07 @ Six Points Music Festival (Red & Black Bar) - Washington DC*
Friday 4/13/07 @ The Werehouse - Winston-Salem, NC*
Saturday 4/14/07 @ The Space - Greensboro, NC*
Tuesday 4/17/07 @ The Spazzatorium Galleria - Greenville, NC*
Wednesday 4/18/07 @ Joli Rouge - Asheville, NC*
Thursday 4/19/07 @ Electric Ballroom - Knoxville, TN*
Friday 4/20/07 @ Club Detour - Athens, GA*
Saturday 4/21/07 @ Nophest at 11:11 Tea House - Atlanta, GA*
Sunday 4/22/07 @ Cafe Brasil - New Orleans, LA
Monday 4/23/07 @ Neutral Ground - New Orleans, LA
Tuesday 4/24/07 @ Emo's - Austin, TX
Tuesday 5/1/07 @ The Make Out Room - San Francisco, CA
Thursday 5/3/07 @ Silverlake Lounge - Los Angeles, CA
Saturday 5/5/07 @ Scene Bar , Los Angeles, CA
Wednesday 5/9/07 @ The Way Out Club - St. Louis, MO
Thursday 5/10/07 @ The Darkroom - Chicago, IL
Friday 5/11/07 @ The Dreamland Theatre - Ypsilanti, MI#
Saturday 5/12/07 @ TBA - Cleveland, Ohio#
Monday 5/14/07 @ Luna Lounge - Brooklyn, NY#
* - w/ Senryu
# - w/ Double Dutch Will Take You Higher
The Lisps at Myspace
Featured MP3: Mute Math, "Reset"
Mute Math - "Reset (Acoustic)"
Featured Artist: The Thrushes
Guitarist Casey Harvey had been pestering Rachel Tracy about forming a band for years. She finally relented in the summer of 2005, agreeing to play bass, and they recruited vocalist/guitarist Anna Conner during a pickup baseball game and drummer Matt Davis shortly thereafter. Having cut their teeth in the formative Baltimore all-ages indie scene of the mid-nineties, they were itching to make meaningful music again. Several practice sessions in, they realized there was real chemistry and Thrushes was born.
Venerating Phil Spector as the patron saint of sonic emotion, the premise is strikingly simple. Rock music should be beautiful. Casey’s guitar work elevates grand canyon reverb to high art. More canvas than skeletal structure, its wall of sound is huge and enveloping. Giving form to these dreamscapes are Anna’s simple, pretty vocal lines, which she colors with clean, clear guitar picking. Out of the sonic swirl, Rachel manages to distill a bass line somewhere between rock-steady groove and the root melody of a lullaby. Her parts construct a visible road map for Matt to effortlessly meander through. With bells and shakers sitting on a table beside the hihat, his drumming is more orchestral than rock’n’roll and is peppered with beautiful triangle and xylophone melodies.
On "Sun Come Undone", their debut full length, Thrushes craft gorgeous noise pop and swirling dream rock. Opening with the cavernous drumming of “Aidan Quinn” into the revved-up, fuzzed out Jesus And Mary Chain-esque “Heartbeats,” and carried through the nods to Deadcan Dance in “Loyalty” and haunted claps of guitar thunder on “Ghost Train,” to the final feedback soaked fallout of “The Hardest Part,” this is the sound of blood on blood.
* Anna Conner - vox, fender guitars
* Casey Harvey - rickenbacker guitars, fx, noise, vox
* Matt Davis - drums, chimes, bells, percussion
* Rachel Tracy - bass guitar
Thrushes - "Heartbeats"
Thrushes - "Aidan Quinn"
Thrushes at Myspace