 NBA Finals - Orlando vs. LA Lakers --- Well, we've seen Game 1 already (LA in a blowout) so we know that the Magic have a lot of work to do. The best solution to their problems is on the defensive end. Right now they are letting the Lakers start up their Triangle offense 'too deep' in the half-court. The higher, or further away from the basket, you make the Lakers initiate their offense, the tougher it's going to be to score. This may seem like common sense but for some reason this tactic is extremely effective against the Triangle, moreso than against other offensive sets. The Magic need to have their guards pressure the weak point guards for LA which will force the entire offense to move out on the perimeter and render it useless.
On top of that, the perimeter players for the Magic have to step up and hit some big shots so that the Lakers can't just drop down on Dwight Howard. The Lakers had some interesting defensive movement last night but I'm going to watch at least another game to analyze it before making any bold statements.
The Cubs - Good Lord, where do we go from here? Geovony Soto has been benched and the Boardgame (Milton Bradley) is out, too. Can we just trade Rich Harden now and start preparing for next season?
Gordon Beckham - I'm going to wait a few weeks before picking him up for my fantasy team. The dude is an athlete, I'll give him that. I don't see why the Sox don't move Alexie Ramirez to center field and let Beckham play short but I really don't follow the team that much. My initial reaction is that he's going to be susceptible to the inside heat and breaking balls away but most rookies are the same way.
NBA Draft - The draft is coming up and Arin It Out is putting together a pretty good rundown of the needs for the teams in the lottery. I've been contributing over there in the comments section so I encourage you to do the same.
Pitchmen - I hate informercials and I'm extremely tired of hearing Billy Mays scream on tv but The Discovery Channel has put together a rather interesting series involving Mays and his business partner, Andrew Sullivan. You still get to hear Mays scream at the tv but you also get to meet the inventors behind the products you see on tv, some of which have amazing stories. This show is on Wednesday nights at 10/9 CST so with LOST done for the year good TV is hard to find.
Man vs Food - I generally catch the re-runs of this on the Travel Channel during the weekend but it's basically a show about a chunky guy who goes to restaurants all over the US and tries to break eating records. I've seen him attempt to eat hamburgers the size of Jupiter, curry hotter than the Sun and burritos bigger than Andre the Giant's head. I just looked it up and this show is on at the same time as 'Pitchmen' (10/9CST) so that's why I normally miss it.
Neighborhood Children - I swear to God that if I ever catch the kid(s) who is taking the rocks from around my trees and throwing them into the street......I'm guessing it's the same kid(s) who is throwing Capri Sun wrappers in my backyard. Fucking ragamuffins. I understand your parents are getting divorced but that doesn't mean you need to make my life more difficult.
Ok, get out there and enjoy your weekend. Feel free to throw your recommendations in the comments. | 
2008 Cubs Preview
(I don't know, still working on the title. I'm willing to take advice.)
BILLY MAYS HERE WITH A FEW THINGS ON THIS POST:
1) How much did Jameer Nelson hurt the Magic's flow and chemistry in game one? I think he destroyed it myself.
2) Fucking ragamuffins...I don't think I can say it without laughing.
Billy Mays here....you want to know how squirrelly I find these kids in my neighborhood? Two weeks ago I was cutting the backyard and I knew I left my garage door open even though I was the only one home, thus leaving free entry to the house. I saw one of these ragamuffins sneak a peek around the corner to see what I was doing and the rest of the time I was cutting the grass I was thinking two things: 1)That they were robbing me (easy thought) and 2)That the small blonde girl snuck inside my house and hid in one of our spare rooms so that her family would think she was kidnapped only to show up three days later saying she was in my house which would make me the prime suspect in the case. Neither of these assumptions is a reach.
I live in a good neighborhood but the kids are....horrible. Not in a bully way but more in a creepy way.
I think the Magic knew they were going to have a tough time winning Game 1 so putting in Nelson was going to be a long term plan deal. He killed the Lakers during the season and I wouldn't put anything past SVG.
Not to be a jackass, but look at the density in your neighborhood. Things like that are going to happen. Kids are curious and meddlesome AT BEST. They are junkyard dogs normally. Shoot one or two of them in the face with bear spray and they will get the message. If you catch one in the house, put her to work on dinner and give the Big D a night off.
I make dinner for this household!!
Well, at least now we have found the Real problem! You are going to have to make that dentist behave. Tell her to get her booty in the kitchen and make you a sandwich or you are going to go upside her head. When she starts to respect you more the neighborhood children will do the same.