NBA Finals Game 5

10. Sasha Vujacic played too much like Sam Cassell, shooting 2-10 and 0-5 from three point land.


9. Q: What was Chris Mihm doing on the court??

A: Not much.

8. Sam Cassell spent way to much time on the floor, playing 18 minutes and taking 8 shots. What else is new?


7. Luke Walton and Vladimir Radmonovich have no business playing key minutes in the Finals. Aside from Radmonovich hitting a key three-pointer, he pretty much did nothing on the court all game, while continually allowing Pierce to blow right by him. Luke Walton somehow managed to collect 5 fouls in his limited (10 minutes) playing time. Unacceptable.

6. Lakers defense continued to struggle defending the pick-n-roll (as if Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, and Mike Breen didn't mention it enough).

5. Pau Gasol finally showed up with a solid performance, shooting 6-10 (and 7-10 from the FT line), scoring 19 pts and picking up 13 rebounds and 6 assists. Additionally, Gasol had several key offensive rebounds in the 4th quarter.


4. Is anyone else sick of Posey fouling everybody, and i mean everybody, after the whistle?

3. Paul Pierce had another stellar performance, leading the Celtics on both offense and defense. 38 points on 10-22 shooting and 16-19 from the line is what you call an MVP performance.


2. Speaking of MVPs, Kobe brought his MVP trophy to the game today, not only scoring when his team needed him most, but finishing off the Celtics with a key steal in the closing minutes for the 4th quarter. However, if the Lakers want to win this series, Kobe will need to improve his shooting (8-21).


1. Kevin Garnett showed us why he still hasn't won a championship, missing a pair of clutch free throws with 2:25 left in the 4th quarter and rebounding about as well as Eddy Curry in the final 2 minutes.

Seeing Sounds by N*E*R*D

Easily the best hiphop album of 2008 thus far, Seeing Sounds is one of the more enjoyable cover-to-cover albums I've listened to in a while. As expected from The Neptunes, the production is simply flawless. Pharrell does an incredible job fusing various elements of hiphop, rock, and pop together in creating 14 fresh tracks.
Production: 9/10

Lyrically, Seeing Sounds is yet again a breath of fresh air, mixing thought-provoking lyrics with Pharrell's smooth flow and some straight nonsense to send the listener on an auditory rollercoaster. My favorite song would have to be "Windows", where Pharrell playfully compares the curiosity of peeking at a girl undressing to looking into her soulful eyes; see lyrics below.

Every single night I'm staring into her window
She's fresh in the towel and the lights are dim low
If you're seeing, what I seen, shes a 10 yo
you would be.. staring into her window
[her eyes are the windows to the soul]
you would be.. staring in her window

Lyrics: 7/10

According to Pharrell, the inspiration behind this album was to create a listening experience that would stimulate other senses, namely sight. Although Seeing Sounds is by no means an artistic breakthrough, it is definitely and enjoyable listen worth your time.

Best tracks: Love Bomb, Windows, Everyone Nose, Sooner or Later

Overall: 8/10

NBA Finals Game 3

Ten things worth noting..

10. Stuart Scott wore a little too much eye-liner. See ESPN.com if you didn't notice.

9. Kobe Bryant is too much of a bitch after fouls.

and...

and...


8. Who was sitting next to Jack Nicholson?


7. Celtics are a much better rebounding team than the Lakers... especially when Odom is either sittin on the bench with 4 fouls or playing like Eddy Curry. Don't let the close rebound totals (45 to 44) fool you, the Lakers allowed way to many second chance shots--this game is a blowout if Pau/Luke/Ronnie rebound.


6. Pau Gasol needs to muscle up. 33% (3/9) shooting is unacceptable from a big man; even more so when he shoots 3/8 from the free throw line. Plus, there is no need to celebrate like this after a lucky tip-in.


5. The Celtics need to keep Sam Cassell off the court. E.T. played 7 minutes taking 4 shots (only making 1) while Posey played 25 full minutes taking only 3 shots. It seems like every time Cassell touches the ball, he is compelled to dribble in circles for 20 seconds then toss up a brick as the shotclock expires.

4. Garnett struggled, shooting 6-21.

3. Phil Jackson is probably the best coach of our generation.

2. Sasha Vujacic. 20 points on 7/10 shooting. Leon Powe who?


1. KOBE! Started out hot early and closed out the final 2 minutes of the 4th quarter like no one else can.

Top 10 Hiphop Lyricists

10. 2Pac

First off, fuck your bitch
And the click you claim
West side when we ride
Come equipped with game
You claim to be a player
But I fucked your wife
We bust on Bad Boys
n****s fuck for Life
Plus Puffy tryin' to see me weak
Hearts I rip
Biggie Smalls and Junior Mafia
Some mark ass bitches
We keep on coming
While we running for your jewels
Steady gunning
Keep on busting at them fools
You know the rules
Little Ceasar go ask you homie
How I'll leave you
Cut your young ass up
See you in pieces
Now be deceased
Little Kim,
Don't fuck around with real G's
Quick to snatch your ugly ass, off the streets
So fuck peace
I'll let them n****s know
It's on for Life
Don't let the west side
Ride the night (ha ha)
Bad Boys murdered on Wax and kill
fuck with me
And get your caps peeled
You know, see
--Verse 1 from Hit 'Em Up

9. Jay-Z

I jog in the graveyard
Spar in the same ring
Now it's house by the building
Where Malcolm X was slain
I spring train in the winter
Round early December
Run suicide drills over and over
With the weight of the world on my shoulder
That's why they call me "Hova"
I'm far from being God
But I work goddamn hard
I wake up the birds who in the nerves is sleep
I'm catching my second wind the second the first one end
I am "focused man"
And I'm not afraid of death
And I'm going all out
I circle the vultures in a van and
I run the block (run)
Pull up in a drop (pull up)
Push up on my money (push up)
I'm in great shape dunny
I keep jacks jumping thirty six sets
Like a personal trainer I teach coke to stretch
I pump and rock sweats
All white trainers
The ghettoes, Billy Blanks
I show you n****s what pain is
Maintain your stamina
Hov will damage ya
Spot you two rhymes y'all n****s is amateurs
The fifth
A dead lift if
N****s don't want to get shot then y'all n****s better squat
I drop your set for rep
No need to hit the showers
The spit from the fifth leave you wet
Lyrical exercise
Y'all n****s ain't tired right?
--Verse 1 from Breathe Easy

8. Talib Kweli

What's the meanin of ghettofabulous
Not ridin the back of the bus
I'm a revolutionary antagonist
Some playas is mad at us for just doin our music out of love
Some underground heads is hatin cause we have fun at clubs
I'm probably on some government list for my rhymin
You a fool if you don't think they already tapped your line
Medicine is big business so my remedies is herbal
It's music is for the people so we Reflection Eternal
Listen, you hear the difference between science and science fiction
We blow it out like if you leave on every appliance in the kitchen
at once; still rolling kind bud in Cuban blunts
On the corner watchin how kids comin to Brooklyn for they fronts
N****s run past what they need chasing after what they want
Fuckin chumps, you walk down the street and get jumped
Brooklyn cats like to bubble out of town no lookin back
When you a ghetto chef you mastered the art of cookin crack
Some get caught sleepin on the Mother City so when they go
They come back as tales of n****s we used to know
Never looked up to see the stars in all they heavenly glory
Just straight ahead cause the peripheral is buildings with mad stories
Not floors but dramas is played out, shorties get laid out
like respect and fade out like TV sets
into the banks of our memories (let it be) we'll never forget you
Lyin on your deathbed askin for God to bless you
--Verse 1 from Good Mourning

7. Royce Da 5'9"

Listen, yo
Little Royce Nickel Nine, eyes wide with sight
With a future as bright as the light in the eyes of Christ
Ready to take on the world and whatever is in it
Proof read, sign, and seal whatever you finish
I can only lead you while you're on your quest for knowledge
I'ma teach you to have sense and to respect the dollar
Hope for the best, and you'll see, your world will be solid
I'ma teach you the truth, even behind worldly logic
This is life, cut and dry, days is bright, nights is dark
Fights get sparked, it's almost like to get ahead
You got to be twice as smart, the realities of life is harsh
Just know that God's keeping you level
He'll even speak through the ghetto to reach you
Just to teach you that the streets is the devil
Everybody's dishonest, different
Which means that we're dying by livin'
Oblivious to the time that we're given
So you don't prepare for the death, you live for the life
And live right like, do right by your kids and your wife
Have fun as a child, yo them years is precious
The future brings fear and stresses as the year progresses
You're gonna turn a lot of them down, you're gonna feel rejection
You're gonna tell a lot of lies and you're gonna hear confessions
It's a two way street when you deal in his presence
Only your life can show that everything is real in this message
This is life
--Verse 1 from Life

6. Lupe Fiasco

Not at all nervous as he dug to the surface
Tarnished gold chain is what he loosened up the earth with
He used his mouth as a shovel to try and hollow it
and when he couldn't dirt spit... swollowed it
Working like a.. hmm.. reverse archaeologist
Except.. his buried treasure was sunshine
So when some shined through a hole that he had drove
it reflected off the gold and almost made son blind
He grabbed on to some grass, he climbed
Pulled himself up out of his own grave and looked at the time
On the watch that had stopped six months after the shots
That had got him in the box wringing Henny out his socks
Figured it was hours because he wasn't older
Used some flowers to brush the dirt up off his shoulders - so..
With a right hand that was all bones and no reason to stay
Decided to walk home
so he..
--Verse 2 from The Cool

5. Mos Def

Yo, in she came with the same type game
The type of girl givin out the fake cell phone and name
Big fame, she like cats with big thangs
Jewels chip, money clip, phone flip, the six range
I seen her on the ave, spotted her more than once
Ass so fat that you could see it from the front
She spot me like paparazzi; shot me a glance
in that catwoman stance with the fat booty pants, Hot damn!
What's your name love, where you came from?
Neck and wrist blazed up, very little make-up
The swims at the Reebok gym tone your frame up
Is sugar and spice the only thing that you made of?
I tried to play it low key but couldn't keep it down
Asked her to dance she was like "Yo, I'm leavin now"
An hour later, sounds from Jamaica
She sippin Crys straight up, shakin, windin her waist up
Scene two: my fam throwin the jam
Fahreed is on the stand big things is in the plan
The brother Big Mu makes space for me to move in
Hey, this my man Mos, baby let me introduce; I turn around
Say word! You was the same pretty bird who I had priorly observed
tryin to play me for the herb (Yeah, that's her)
Shocked as hell she couldn't get it together
I just played it long and pretended I never met her
"How you feelin?" "Oh I'm fine." "My name is Mos." "I'm Sharice.
I heard so much good about you it's nice to finally meet."
We moved to the booth reserved for crew especially
And honey love ended up sittin directly next to me
I'm type polite but now I'm lookin at her skeptically
Cause baby girl got all the right weaponry
Designer fabric, shoes, and accessories
Chinky eyes, sweet voice is (fucking) with me mentally
We conversated, made a laugh, yeah you know me bro
Even though I know the steelo, she wild sweet yo
I'm bout to merc, I say peace to the family
She hop up like "How you gonna leave before you dance with me?"
--Verse 1 from Ms. Fat Booty

4. Notorious B.I.G.

I kick flows for ya, kick down doors for ya
Even left all my motherfuckin hoes for ya
N****s think Frankie pussy whipped, n**** picture that
With a Kodak, Insta-ma-tak
We don't get down like that, lay my game down quite flat
Sweetness, where you parked at?
Petiteness but that ass fat
She got a body make a n**** wanna eat that, I'm fuck witchu
The bitch official doe, dick harder than a missile yo
Try to hit if she trippin dissapearin like Arsenio
Yo, the bitch push a double-oh
with the five in front, probably a connivin stunt
Y'all drive in front, I'm a peel with her
Find a deal with her, she fuck around and steal, huh?
Then we all get laced
Television's, Versacci heaven, when I'm up in em
The shit she kicked, all the shit's legit
She get dick from a player off the New York Knicks
N**** tricked ridiculous, the shit was plush
She's stressin me to fuck, like she was in a rush
We fucked in his bed, quite dangerous
I'm in his ass while he playin gainst the Utah Jazz
My 112, CD blast, I was past
She came twice I came last, roll the grass
She giggle, say I don't smoke it on homegrown
Then I heard her moan, honey I'm home
Yep, tote chrome for situations like this
I'm up in his broad I know he won't like this
Now I'm like bitch you better talk to him
Before this fist put a spark to him
Fuck around shit get dark to him, put a part through him
Lose a major part to him, arm, leg
She beggin me to stop but this cat gettin closer
Gettin hot like a toaster, I cocks the toast, uhh
Before my eyes could blink
She screams out, "Honey bring me up somethin to drink!"
He go back downstairs more time to think
Her brain racin, she's tellin me to stay patient
She don't know I'm, cool as a fan
Gat in hand, I don't wanna blast her man
But I can and I will doe, I probably chill doe
Even though situation lookin kinda ill yo
It came to me like a song I wrote
Told the bitch gimme your scarf, pillowcase and rope
Got dressed quick, tied the scarf around my face
Roped the bitch up, gagged her mouth with the pillowcase
Play the cut, n**** comin off some love potion shit
Flash the heat on em, he stood emotionless
Dropped the glass screamin, "Don't blast here's the stash,
a hundred cash just don't shoot my ass, please!"
N**** pullin mad G's out the floor
Put stacks in a Prater knapsack, hit the door
Grab the keys to the five, call my n****s on the cell
Bring some weed I got a story to tell, uhh...
--Verse 1 from I Got a Story to Tell

3. Eminem

Ayo my pen and paper cause a chain reaction
To get your brain relaxin cause they be actin maniac in action
A brainiac in fact son you mainly lack attraction
You looking zany whack with just a fraction of my tracks spun
My rhyming skills got you climbing hills
I travel through your mind until you spine like siren drills
I'm sliming grills of roaches, with sprayed on disinfectants
With some ex rappers till their spinal column disconnects
We disinfect then check the monologue, turn your system up
Twist them up, and indulge in the marijuana smoke
This is the season for noise pollution contamination
Examination of more cartoons than animation
My lamination of narration
Hit's a snare and bass of track fucked up rapper interrogation
When I declare invasion, there ain't no time to be stare and gazing
I turn the stage into a barren wasteland...
I'm Infinite
--Verse 1 from Infinite

2. Andre 3000

So i'm watchin her fine ass walk to my bedroom
And thought to myself thats the shape of things to come
She said why in the club you dont make it precepitate
You know, make it rain when you can make it thunderstorm
I'm like why, the world needs sun, the hood needs fun
So theres a war goin on and half the battle is guns
How dare i throw it on the floor when people are poor
So i write like edgar allan to restore
Got a chord, umbilical attached to a place that cant afford
No landscapin or window drapin
This old lady told me if ain't got nothin good, say nay then
Thats why i dont talk much
I swear it don't cost much to pay attention to me
I tell it like it is, then i tell it how it could be, the hood be
Requestin my services, oh don't get nervous
Its step your game up time these ain't the same old rhymes
Designed to have you dancin in some club
N****** rock to me, women be off in their tubs
Exfoliatingwith their pom poms yellin, go 3000!
I'm in my whatever bumpin what a hunderd miles in
Runnin runnin runnin summin woman comin
Sit down heard you need some plumbin done in
I'm in a swell mood a rather swoll mood
Until she told me that she told dude
That she'll be back, shes going to the store
I didn't kno she had a boyfriend so the door
I pointed her to, i said call me when ya'll break up
I don't fuck nobody's bitch and never on the jacob
Know what time it is, n**** just tryin to live
like a n**** supposed to live if i still drank that malt liquor
I throw the beer on the ground for n***** not around
I started out starvin, now they got me out here brett favre-in
Tryin to see if i still got it, got it, i guess it's like a right thing about it
--Verse 1 of Da Art of Storytellin (Pt. 4)

1. NaS

I'ma prison cell six by nine
Livin hell stone wall metal bars for the gods in jail
My nickname the can, the slammer, the big house
I'm the place many fear cause there's no way out
I take the sun away put misery instead
When you wit me most folks consider you dead
I saw too many inmates fallin apart
Call for the gods and let them out at night when it's dark
Convicts think they alone but if they listen close
They can hear me groan touch the wall feel my pulse
All the pictures you put up is stuck to my skin
I hear ya prayers (even when ya whisperin)
I make it hotter in the summer colder in the winter
If the court paroal ya then another con enters
No remorse for your tears I seen em too often
When you cry I make you feel alive inside a coffin
Watch you when you eat play with you mind when you sleep
Make you dream that you free then make you wake up to me
Face to face with a cage no matter your age
I can shatter you turn you into a savage in rage
Change ya life that's if you get a chance to get out
Cause only you and I know what sufferings about
Yo it's stunning when bed sheets become your woman
And I'm the one that gotcha weapons when the beef is comming
Maybe one day I'll open up my arms to release you
You'll always be my property n**** stay legal
--Verse 3 from Last Words

10. adidas UEFA Euro 2008 Campaign

Larger than life huddle of 11 international soccer stars greeting visitors at the Zurich train station.

9. New 3G iPhone

Faster pageloads, GPS system, improved battery life, and only $199 (8 GB model). In stores July 11th.

8. Fooled by Randomness (Nassim Nicholas Taleb)

Here

7. Scott Kazmir
Since coming off the DL on May 4th, nobody has been more dominant than Scott Kazmir. Over his last 7 starts, Kazmir is 6-1 allowing only 28 hits in 45 innings while striking out 44, good for an eye popping WHIP (walks + hits per inning) of 0.91.

6. Dippin' by King Tee

Classic.

5. Josh Hamilton

Former #1 draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays in the 1999 draft recently became the first player in either league to win Player of the Month for both April and May of the same year, hitting .315/17/69 for the Texas Rangers.

4. For all the Wu-Tang fans...


3. FLUD watches

Here

2. REN Building, Shanghai


Proposed hotel/conference center to be built in Shanghai by 2010. The building take the shape of the chinese character "ren" (which means person) and represents the symbolic meeting of mind and body.

1. NaS - Hero ft. Keri Hilson

Top 10 Players in 2008 MLB Amateur Draft

10. 2B Jemile Weeks, U of Miami
Drafted #12 overall to the Oakland Athletics

Weeks is arguably the most athletic college hitter in this year's draft, showing a great mix of power (11 HRs) and speed (22 SB). At 5'9", 180 lbs Ricky Weeks' younger brother may be a little undersized but his ability to hit for average (.366 BA) and get on base projects well as a table setter.

9. 1B Eric Hosmer, American Heritage HS, FL
Drafted #3 overall to the Kansas City Royals

Hands down the best high school bat in this year's draft, Hosmer also touches 98 mph on the mound. Hosmer has tremendous power to all fields, but will need to refine his approach at the plate as he progresses through pro ball. Defensively, Hosmer is just about average but has the potential to be an above average defender. Although Hosmer is a Scott Boras client, the Royals have not shied away, drafting him 3rd overall.

8. SS Gordan Beckham, Georgia
Drafted #8 overall to the Chicago White Sox

The unanimous SEC Player of the Year this year and finalist for the 2008 Golden Spikes Award given to the top amateur baseball player, Beckham is one of the most well rounded players in this year's draft. He has shown good power in college (24 HRs this spring), but most scouts agree that he probably won't hit more than 20 at the major league level. Defensively, he is an average to above average SS, making all of the routine plays and occasionally flashing some leather.


7. 1B Justin Smoak, South Carolina
Drafted #11 overall to the Texas Rangers

A switch hitting first-baseman with great power to all fields, Smoak has been on most teams' radars since early high school. He had another great year at South Carolina hitting .386. Following his freshman year, Smoak had a great summer in the Cape Cod league hitting 11 HRs in only 39 games, proving his power with wood. Although he struggled a little last summer with Team USA, Smoak has shown a great approach from both sides at the plate and Gold-Glove caliber defensive skills. He is a steal for the Rangers at #11.

6. SS Tim Beckham, Griffin HS, GA
Drafted #1 overall to the Tampa Bay Rays

Beckham is the definition of a high risk/high reward talent and I'm surprised that the Rays chose to draft him #1 overall. There is no doubt that Beckham has all the tools to play SS at the major league level. He has shown the ability to both hit for average and power with one of the smoothest swings in this year's draft. Beckham has also been timed at 6.33 in the 60 and has shown great quickness and hands on defense. Simply put, Beckham is a legitimate 5-tool player and offers the best combination of skills in this years draft. The question is, however, whether he'll be the next Matt Bush or BJ Upton.

5. RHP Aaron Crow, Missouri
Drafted #9 overall to the Washington Nationals

Crow has come a long way in his three years at Missouri, rising to the top of this year's draft class after going undrafted as a senior in high school. Most of his success can be attributed to great command of a fastball that touches 98 mph and a hard slider. Crow went 13-0 this year, pitching 107 1/3 innings, racking up 127 K's and 38 BB while posting a 2.35 ERA.


4. 1B Yonder Alonso, U of Miami
Drafted #6 overall to the Cincinnati Reds

A native of Cuba, Alonso is the most polished hitter in this year's draft. Entering this weekend's Super Regional vs. Arizona, Alonso is hitting .370 with 21 HR's and 69 RBI's. As if those stats aren't impressive enough, Alonso has walked 69 times this year while striking out only 30 times. His combination of power and discipline have Billy Beane's Moneyball-ers drooling for a chance to draft him.

3. LHP Brian Matusz, San Diego
Drafted #4 overall to the Baltimore Orioles

The best pitcher in this year's draft, Matusz posted a 1.71 era and a 12-2 record this spring. In 105 1/3 innings. Matusz struck out 141 batters while only walking 22 (approximately a 7/1 K/BB ratio) and held batters to a miniscule .211 batting average against. At 6'4" 200 lbs, Matusz has an ideal lanky lefty frame which allows him to work in the low 90's with his fastball. Most impressive about Matusz is his terrific command and great stuff; he has shown a plus curve and his change up is among the best in college baseball.

2. 3B Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt
Drafted #2 overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates

Coming into this year, Alvarez was hands down the number one prospect in this year's draft. As a freshman, Alvarez took home National Freshman of the Year Honors while setting a Vanderbilt school record for home runs (22). Alvarez followed up a sensational freshman campaign with an even better sophomore year, hitting .386 and slugging 18 home runs. As a junior year spring, Alvarez suffered a wrist injury that severely limited his playing time, but he still managed to hit .317 while hitting 9 home runs. He is all-around a tremendous baseball player and his athleticism and defensive skills should allow him to play 3b for a long time.

1. C Buster Posey, Florida State
Drafted #5 overall to the San Fransisco Giants

This spring, Posey led NCAA Division I hitters in batting average (.468), on base percentage (.572), slugging percentage (.879), hits (109), runs (85), runs batted in (86) and total bases (209). He also slugged 24 HRs, good for 4th in Division I baseball. A former shortstop, Posey has both the offensive skills and the athleticism to be an elite catcher at the major league level.

Other notable first round picks worthing watching:
1B/3B Brett Wallace (Arizona State)
Two time Pac-10 triple crown winner is arguably the most major league ready hitter in this year's draft. While playing for the Russian National Baseball team I witnessed him hitting the furthest hit ball I've every seen, with wood nonetheless.
OF/P Aaron Hicks (Wilson HS, CA)
The complete package, Hicks has been timed at 6.6 in the 60 and touches 97 on the mound.
RHP Gerrit Cole (Orange Lutheran HS, CA)
Features the most electric fastball in this year's draft, occasionally touching triple digits.
LHP Dan Schlereth (Arizona)
Son of ESPN broadcaster Mark Schlereth.