Got a chance to check out quite a bit of sports yesterday during my time around the house.
After watching the Brewers shag out a couple of hits late in the game to take 3 out of 4 from the Pirates in their series, I turned to the Suns-Spurs game. Now I'll admit that so far I haven't watched any NBA playoff basketball, especially since my pick to go all the way, Dallas, couldn't hack it in the first round against the rejuvenated Golden State. But Round 2, well, that's something I can start to get into. Luckily, I was treated to a great matchup between two evenly matched teams, and a little bit of blood to boot. Kelly Dwyer of SI.com has more on last night's second round matchup:
Let's start with how the game finished. The Phoenix Suns didn't lose Game 1 of its conference semifinal series with the Spurs because Steve Nash wasn't allowed to return with 54.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Suns were down two at that point, they had possession, and there's no guarantee that Nash (even the Nash who was white-hot from the field, and had just nailed a three-pointer the possession before) would have made a difference against a stout San Antonio defense.
This was a close game between two evenly matched teams (despite their disparate strengths)that would have gone either way even if Nash's split nose would have magically healed on the sideline. There's no point in playing the blame game when things are this close.
Of course, this is me being incredibly naïve. No person of sound mind could watch a series opener that thrilling and that well-played and not be emotional enough (regardless of your rooting interest) to have an opinion about what led to the San Antonio win. If you do want to spread the blame around, blame coach Mike D'Antoni for not calling a timeout after a Suns offensive rebound with 41 seconds left (in the team's first possession sans Nash, a Leandro Barbosa three-point miss). Blame his team's inability to stay in front of Tony Parker. And blame Amare Stoudemire (6-of-19 from the floor) for not being able to finish in the lane against a withering San Antonio defense.
There. Does that make you feel any better? It shouldn't, because the Suns played a hell of a game that just happened to finish with them a couple of baskets behind...[READ MORE]
Last but not least, I caught a few innings of the Giants-Phillies game last night just in time to see Ryan Howard light up my newly acquired fantasy pitcher Tim Lincecum for a two-run homer. Good to see Howard, also on my fantasy squad, finally starting to come alive. Unfortunately it was against my new pitcher, who showed that he's got some good stuff (great mid 90's fastball), but needs quite a bit of work before he's ready to compete in the big leagues.
Featured Artist: The Clutters
[Press Release] The Clutters grew organically out of a garage in Nashville, TN. Their sound is vintage, hooky, and more than anything, fun. On their second long-player, The Clutters sound like a polished 70's rock 'n' roll act-- poised to rock your face off or destroy a hotel room. Like Tennessee colleagues Kings of Leon, The Clutters produce raucous and catchy tunes appropriate for running from the cops, bar fighting, breaking out of jail, or similar illicit activity. Thunderous guitar and drums are bolstered by controlled-angst vocals. Antique keyboard sounds outline hooky melodies. The raw, country-tinged tracks on Don't Believe A Word will undoubtedly be the most fun listening experience you've had in ages. Any critic who has recently etched the words "rock 'n' roll is dead" has yet to hear the classic sound of The Clutters.
Some good move-your-feet rock to kick start your Monday morning.
The Clutters - "9999 Ways to Hate Us"
The Clutters - "Temperature"
The Clutters website
Featured Artist: James Apollo
From his Myspace site: You sit on an uncomfortable wooden chair, your beer is warm, your glass was dirty when the last guy had it, and more than one tough hombre has his eyes fixed on the back of your neck. If there wasn’t a band taking the stage you would probably run out of here and not look over your shoulder again ‘til the sun comes back up. The underbelly is alright.
The time-honored art of nomadic wandering is one not celebrated too heavily in recent time and memory. Luckily, this is more virtue than shortcoming; for once you look deep into the eyes of a true drifter those old hobo feelings rush right back. Run around the country and get on by any means necessary, surely this is a place where true music comes from. “I lied, I cheated, I stole, and then I wrote about it. It’s a bit more glamorous now. Just ask my band.” James Apollo, a hardened character who has seemingly been on the road since the age of sixteen, speaks with a voice universal to all ideals of searching, adventuring, and conformity dodging. “Wherever I am in life, the core values of being a cheap, lowdown tumbleweed are probably going to prevail.” - excerpt from an interview by Joel Armato, One Times One
The album conjures up a set of haunted, western-rich folk with hints of Latin rhythms and Tom Waits-style cabaret - The Onion
gritty, rootsy, adventurous - Star Tribune
a chilled-out collection of rustic semi-pop...[those] with a penchant for channeling gothic Americana in song will feel right at home - Pulse
Stream James Apollo at Myspace