Comments on the Wolfies

Alright, it's the end of January and this is my first Wolves article this season. Shame on me. If you've been reading this blog, then you'll know that I haven't had much free time between work and school and quality time con mi esposa. This semester is different, though, and I am now able to work during the day and catch some Wolfies games in the evening. I reckon it's a good time to vent some frustrations and give my take on the new-look Wolves.
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Comment # 1: McHale is my scapegoat.

Garnett needs help. He is in is prime and 'The Franchise's franchise offers him Marco Jaric to help? That's nice and all, but McHale gave up a 1st round pick for that one. Now, with the Davis trade, McHale throws in ANOTHER! Not to say that McHale has done anything with 1st round picks anyway, but still... the Wolves are old and slow due to the Joe Smith saga (being banned from 1st round picks for a few years) and they need youth injected into the system. McCants is nice and promising; I want more of that potentially-promising youth! McHale has sold the future for the now again and again, but what do we have for it? No future and no playoffs. Joe Smith + Chauncy + T. Brandon + Steph + Ndudi Ebi + Will Avery + T-Hud, etc = a good scapegoat in a GM. Ugh. I don't like where the Wolves stand and I don't see it getting any better. Which leads me to my next comment:

Comment # 2: If the Wolves don't have a future, let KG go... for his own sake.

I will NEVER EVER want KG to go. He's the sole reason that I ever learned the game. I hated basketball until I watched a broadcast back in the day to see who this Garnett guy was. I then fell in love with the enthusiasm of Kevin Harlan, the wisdom of Trent Tucker, and the beauty of KG's game. I then learned the game on the fly and became a NBA fan. Anyway, as I see the Wolfies lying in their own filth and seeing no hope in the future, I want KG to leave FOR HIS OWN SAKE. I don't want my favorite professional player EVER to not get a ring. I don't want him to join Malone, Barkley, and friends. Without a ring, KG will have that asterisk next to his mug in the Hall of Fame and we owe it to him to let him go to a franchise capable of helping achieve that goal. I'd be heartbroken, but I would also root for him wherever he ends up.

Comment #3: Wally had to go!

First of all, I've been screaming, "Get Rid Of Wally!" for yeeeaaarrrrrsss now. I do have to say I thought he was very good this year and I shut my trap after he finally seemed to produce consistently, BUT I love the new trade in terms of replacing Wally with Ricky Davis. Wally is the best shooter in the league, but nothing else. He can't dribble, he refuses to pass, and he is useless when defended as he cannot create a shot. He's a wonderful asset as long as he's the number 3 guy. Now, Davis is not a number 2 guy either, but at least he can attack the basket, create shots, and help out on the boards and assists as well. I love the athleticism that Davis brings to the Wolves, but I must also say that:

Comment #4: The Trade is too little, too late

The Wolfies still need the #2 guy. Who knows, maybe Davis will step up a bit and McCants will grow into a #3 guy. Until then, the New-Look-Wolves are only a little bit better than before. They are still not a contender and they are still wasting KG's precious time.

Comment #5: GOOD RIDDANCE, KANDI!

Go do nothing somewhere else and get paid $6 million--Good Bye and good riddance!

Conclusion: the Wolves got a tiny bit better, I don't like the fact that McHale lost another 1st round pick, and unless McHale has another trick up his sleeve to get KG a number #2 guy to play with, get rid of the guy... or let KG go to a franchise that deserves him.

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Regarding the Hurricanes... Worst of 2005 amended

My wife pointed out to me that my take on the hurricane in the Best Worst of 2005 list was shallow, political, and disappointing. I guess I took for granted that of course I think the two major hurricanes that hit Florida and Louisiana were devastating, horrible, and worth mentioning as "the worst of 2005." You have to realize that I have been sitting in philosophy classes at the U of MN where Bush has been set up as the whipping boy for a natural disaster--as if he was the cause of the catastrophes--so I forgot to mention the disasters qua disasters. I also had to endure the blaming of "progress" as the cause of the hurricanes in my Spanish class. They blamed factories and industrialization as the cause of the hurricanes. I ask those who believe this junk-science to do a bit more research on the cyclical nature of hurricanes before resulting to this knee-jerk reaction to blame man. So now I amend my list with my apologies to those who have lost loved ones or property to mother nature:

WORST OF 2005: Hurricanes! Katrina was a once-in-a-century disaster and the images from New Orleans were... well, I don't know the word as I have nothing to compare them to. I have seen these images from 3rd world countries, but never before from America (not including man-made disasters ala 9-11). It was surreal--but the nightmare was indeed real. Katrina was definitely the worst of 2005.

Best/Worst of 2005

Hey all. Here's my random thoughts on 2005... a year I am glad to have finished as it pretty much was a struggle. But, hey, things are already looking good for 2006--I am working days again, my school load is cut in half, and I have a graduation to look forward to! Anyway, have a safe and merry new year and enjoy the list:
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BEST ALBUM: 12 Songs, Neil Diamond.
Seriously, Rick Rubin is a genius. From Slayer to Johnny Cash, to Run DMC and the Beastie Boys, Rick Rubin has started and resurrected sooo many musical careers with his mastery behind the boards. Forcing Neil to lay off of his glitter and cheese, Diamond offers 12 raw recordings of brilliant songwriting. The stripped-down production--usually only Neil's voice backed by a couple acoustic guitars--confirms that behind the larger-than-life persona of Neil Diamond lives the soul of a SONGWRITER. All 12 songs are wonderful, but "Hell Yeah" is the best single of 2005. Get it now and enjoy.


Worth buying? Hell Yeah it is!

WORST THING ABOUT THE BEST ALBUM OF 2005: Thanks for the spyware, Sony! Look, I bought the CD and I want to put it on my WinAmp "jukebox" on my computer. After I finally installed the spyware-inducing software, the damn thing still wouldn't work without another program to transfer the WMA files to MPEG. I gave up and deleted everything... plus I had to download another program to remove the harmful spyware.

BEST MOVIE: REVENGE OF THE SITH

To be honest, this was the only movie I had the chance to see in the theatres in 2005. But it was definitely awesome.

BEST MOVIE MOMENT: The opening 20 minutes of Revenge of the Sith. WOW. Starfighters screaming by, rapid-fire editing, ultra excitement!! BAM!

WORST MOVIE MOMENT: REVENGE OF THE SITH: Darth Vader's "Nooooooo!" C'mon!

BIGGEST SPORTS DISAPPOINTMENT: Letsee... the Twins, the Wolves, and the Vikes were all picked by various national media outlets to make it to their respective championships. And Minnesota went 0-3. Grrrrr!

MOST DESPICABLE THING ABOUT NATURAL DISASTERS: I am not a big G.W. supporter, but the way the administration was crucified for not being omniscient enough to predict the weather was sad. The fact that Bush was blamed for not bailing out New Orleans in a timely manner (despite claims by Marine and Coast Guard members that it was the swiftest evacuation they've seen) while ample warning was given to the citizens is worse. To turn the hurricanes into a anti-Bush agenda was sad, sad, sad.

BEST DVD PURCHASE: LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE (Seasons 1-5... so far) My wife and I have been enjoying reliving memories of Ma, Pa, Laura, and Mary with these packaged seasons on DVD. Little House ROCKS! Michael Landon turned Charles Ingalls into a super-hero, able to punch, swim, and work his way out of any family crisis. Awesome... A bit preachy sometimes, but awesome.

BEST FOOD SWITCH: A bit sick of the fajita burrito, I switched to the hard tacos at Chipotle. Mmmmmmm... better, and not so sickenly stuffing.

BEST CELEBRITY SIGHTING: I sat next to Flip Saunders and his son at the U of MN Chipotle. I was wearing my Timberwolves winter cap, but this was only a week or so after he got the axe... I nodded and smiled to 'em, but I figured I'd let him eat without autograph seeking and such.

WORST THING ABOUT THE U OF MN: The anti-war protests were so embarrassing (see my articles below)

BEST THING ABOUT THE U OF MN: I finally took the time to figure out "The Gopher Way," a maze of tunnels that allows me to travel across the mega-campus without going outside. SOOOOO helpful during this frigid winter!

WORST LOCAL NEWS CHANNEL: They all suck, but FOX 9's new muckraking approach to "journalism" is sick! "We'll track down politicians... and tell you when they SCREW UP!" Seriously.

WORST LOCAL NEWS: It's not the fact that the Vikings had their sex cruise on Lake Minnetonka, it's the fact that it was inescapable for months. Yeah, it's illegal and newsworthy, but is it worth the local media's dumpster diving for evidence?

BEST BRIDGE CLOSING: For a few months, Stillwater closed its historic lift bridge for repairs--meaning I was able to drive Highway 36 without the usual flurry of Wisconsinites. Ahhhh... it was nice while it lasted.

WORST RADIO AD: I love her soooo. And she must Kno-oooow. The way that I show her... has got to go straight to the heart. STRAIIIIGHT to the Hear--rt! (Goodman Jewelers) WOOOOAAAHOAOAOAOAOHHh! I know it's an oldie, but it was back in 2005... During the Xmas season this ad played every 20 minutes. I timed it.

BEST WEBSITE: www.aequalsa.blogspot.com duh.

WORST THING ABOUT NEW YEARS BESIDES DRUNK DRIVING: People think they are sooo clever by saying, "See You Next Year!" during the final days of December. Hello, people! Cliches are not clever!

Alright, that's enough. See you next year!

12-18

Today marks the 4th year since my dad lost his battle with cancer. Each "anniversary" of his death (can we come up with a different word for this? "Anniversary" sounds so happy...), I like to reflect on the life I had with him and the life I've been leading without him. Taking this sort of personal inventory has helped me keep my focus through tougher times while making me think he'd be proud of me through the better ones.

When my dad was slipping away from us, I had a chance to talk to him alone--knowing it was probably the last time I'd be able to say something that he'd have the possibility to understand. Beyond telling him that I loved him, that I'd help look after Mom and the family, etc., I also told him that I would do two things: I'd go back to school someday to finish my degree, and I'd marry my long-time girlfriend. To be honest, I really doubted the school thing. How could I go back with my full-time job and my other financial responsibilities? I think that I was just telling him something that I wished would be true instead of something that I planned to make happen.

My dad made an audible grunt/sigh after I was done talking, so I think he heard me... I don't really know if he understood.

A couple years ago, I did half of what I said I'd do--I married my wonderful wife, Karla. Little did I know, though, that life with her would put me in such a better place that I gained the support and stability needed to pursue returning to the U of MN after dropping out 6 years prior. It hasn't been easy. I had to take a midnight shift to juggle my class and work schedules. I HARDLY see my wife anymore during the week and I am often too tired to do much with her on the weekends. It's definitely been a trial for both of us and I wouldn't have even attempted this without Karla's unflinching support. Barring any surprises, I will graduate this spring and I'll be able to tell my paw on Father's Day that I completed both of my goals.

Losing your dad at any time of your life is tough--but losing him during your late 20's adds some more stress. I am old enough to have new challenges and real-life responsibilities (like home ownership, being a husband, etc.) but young enough to still need his advice. Luckily, I have plenty of friends and family around me to help out... but sometimes you just need your dad. To be able to say on our yearly sum-up that things are relatively well and I am finally on my way to finishing off what I promised to him before he passed makes the struggle worth it.

Lastly, I am posting this not to toot my own horn, but to serve as a sort of memorial for my paw. I sometimes like to use this site as a means to sort out my feelings in journal form, and to use the publicly-accessible space to advertise how cool my dad was; plus I hope that some person could be helped out by this somehow. I read a book a few years back by drummer, Neil Peart, titled Ghost Rider which tells his story of coping with the loss of his daughter and his wife. Peart mentioned how he would write to his daughter in journal-form as if he were sending her letters updating her on what was going on. I bought a journal on my dad's birthday 2 years ago and tried the same thing. Although my entries have slipped off from time to time, I found it to be the one of best means of dealing with the loss--AND with remembering the life I had with him. It's a coping device that I recommend to anyone in a similar situation.

...On becoming a better movie critic...

My pal from the Proex days is the creator/head-writer of an up-and-coming movie website at: http://www.moviepatron.com .

As his readership has been increasing, he has asked me to contribute whatever I can, so I threw him a little treatise on how to get more outta moviegoing by becoming a better critic. Please check it out if you're interested by clicking on the link above and going to the "what's new" section. You'll find it there. He's working out a way to have my stuff linked, but that will work for now! Be sure to check out his site as he gives good, honest reviews from a movie fan's perspective, rather than the snooty perspective that I am often guilty of maintaining! I will have some reviews coming up in the near future, so check back often!

Thanks!
--Tones

...Lemmings. (Rant pt. II)

Sigh...

So, on my way to the bursur's office to pay my $1007.61 balance for my tuition (it's an installment), I had to walk past the demonstration described in my ...idiots post below. On the way there, a ROTC guy in full cammo walked past two grungy guys with guitars and "Fight for Peace, Not Oil" signs. Being an adept people-watcher, I focused in on these guys to see how they would react to the army guy walking past them. One of the protesters-to-be used his sign as a mock-axe and pretended to whap the ROTC guy (of course--to his back) and giggling ensued. Nice. Go! Party for peace!

Walking past Coffman Union, I had to wonder if it was a protest or a block-party. Man, it looked like fun. Music was blasting, people were dancing, a splendid time was guaranteed for all. Choppers from Channel Five news and KARE hovered around campus to get their footage and I couldn't help wanting to look for a place to hide.

Look, it's great that we have the freedom to disagree with our government and to show our disagreement in public displays. I love that about this country. This wasn't a public demonstration of disagreement. This was a festival. For those people who were there to sincerely show their disgust for G.W.'s foreign policy--you should be just as frustrated as I am. Your peers were not issue-savvy students ready to form an argument--they were merely Lemmings drawn in by the Public Enemy blasting from the speakers.

Yes, you showed your numbers--there certainly are a lot of people who can stand and chant nifty slogans. You can make pretty signs with the peace sign on 'em. You can clap and scream after each shouted statement over the bullhorn. What does this accomplish, though? Why are you at the University and not the Capitol? Why not stage this on the weekend where it doesn't interfere with class schedules or learning?

<-- Forget the Gophers, here's our new mascot!


My main point through this tired, groggy-minded rant is that I saw a lot of follow-the-leader today--and seeing that at a university upsets me. Couple that with the fact that the protest's organizers called for its supporters to leave class--to stop learning--in order to play Simon-Says and behave like lemmings and I get fairly angry (and scared). It may seem like I am pulling out too much symbolism here (shut off your brain and protest!) but I can't shake it.

Oh well... nuff said, I guess. It will be forgotten by most people after the news tonight. I'll pry forget about it after the Wolfies game tonight when I most likely will have something else to rant about. Hopefully not.

...Idiots.

The University of Minnesota's protester organization has spent the last few weeks advertising a mid-class walk out today, Nov. 2nd (the anniversary of Bush's reelection), to protest our involvement in Iraq.

Come the @$#$ ON!

Regardless of being for or against the war, can't you think of better ways to get your point across than walking out of your college class!? Didn't your ex-hippie parents tell you how much they are shelling out for your tuition? Take it from the 30-year-old-dropped-out-and-now-back-to-finish-his-degree-even-though-it's-super-hard-to-balance-time-between-school-homework-fulltimejob-and-wife guy: EVERY CLASS IS TOO VALUABLE TO SKIP... especially for a pointless demonstration like this.

Besides advertising the U of MN's loose admissions standards, what the #$#%! is walking out of your class going to prove? Really, do you think G.W. is going to say, "Waaaaiiit a minute here. These college kids want us to pull out of Iraq. Their argument is so sound and clearly stated, that I can't see any way around it! The United States will no longer be involved in Iraq! Kudos, kiddies!"

Go ahead and follow the herd, I'll be in class... speaking of which... GOTTAGO!

Random thought for the day...

What's a seven letter word for "random blog before I crash on the couch since I haven't written anything in months?"

Ah... I love the crossword. I love to commit a good morning's half-hour with my coffee and my puzzle to get my mind started for the day. If you don't do the crossword, shame on you! I suggest you ape this behavior so your brain can become as sharp as an epee.

So I do the crossword in the Minnesota Daily daily. It's the only thing worth looking at in that stupid rag, but boy--it's a great crossword. Anyway, I gets to thinking that since 4 out of 5 crossword puzzles that I have ever done includes the clue:

45 d: LENNON'S LOVE
or
45d: YOKO ____
or
45d: WOMAN WHO LIVES OFF OF DEAD BEATLES,

does poor Cynthia Lennon get to do the crossword--or is it too painful for her? She has to be reminded at least once a week (according to my 4-outta-5 statistics) via crossword puzzle that her hubby ditched her for some crazy artist with a great crossword name.





<---I know C-Y-N fits, but the answer is O-N-O... sorry!



I suggest that you crossword creators out there STOP IT! Is it really necessary to use O-N-O? It's getting O-L-D now... a cliche... a cop out. Why not add a "B" and use "Singer for U2" or Cher's Ex? Really, now--let's try to be a bit more sensitive to poor Cyn as we try to fill in that last space in 43 down. One more minute dedicated to thinking up a fresh clue equals one more day that Miss Lennon can wake up, have her tea and crumpets, enjoy a crossword (or "box-puzzler"--as they call it over in Liverpool) and not have to be reminded of that screeching crack-pot homewrecker (or "flat-shambler" as they say across the pond).

OR, how's about we hook Cyn up with a guy with an equally cliched crossword name? Alec Guinness is dead, sadly, but there's always Mr. Baldwin... or I've been seeing EWAN being used a lot recently... he's been pretty hot lately... or, hey! RINGO!

The Wisdom of Henry

I sat my cute nephew down at my computer and asked him to write an essay on cool uncles. Here's what he wrote:
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Genius.... PURE Genius in this family.