Tonight's Agenda

We get to attempt normalcy in a holiday season of hecticness and chaos at the best of times, made more insane this year with a family medical complication, by being fans at the Cavs game tonight.

It might be nice to have something to force us to be in one place instead of tearing around at break-neck speed.

Then again, it might just as easily be completely maddening to just sit there, unproductively.

Sigh.

Go Cavs.

Re*Deem*Re*Dream

Re*Deem*Re*Dream
Originally uploaded by sunspotting.

Good thing for Coach K's unflappable leadership. It's a breathless kind of game in today's semifinal v Argentina.

First quarter was breathless, because of the overwhelming and unquestionable dominance by Team USA. Second quarter, because sleeping giant Argentina woke up despite the loss of star player Manu Ginobili, rallying to come within 8 points of the Redeem Team at more than one point. SIX points, even! Breathless, AND nailbiting!

Folks, we got ourselves a basketball game!

 

Cavs Playoffs Season Begins!

9:39 left in the game. Cavs lead v the Wizards, 73 to 70. We all got gold "RISE UP" t shirts as we entered the arena. The atmosphere is nothing shy of amazing.

Full House at Quicken Loans Arena

25 seconds left and the Q is still packed. For what? For SCRUBS, that's what! That's how much this town loves our basketball. Or at least, is willing to give the revamped team a chance. For all that the revamped team hasn't even made it onto the court yet!

Help! I Need Someone. Help!

And we're off. Eric Snow is the new Larry Hughes.

Chalk Talk

Danny Ferry, General Manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, addressess season ticket holders. Great timing! Yesterday, he orchestrated a 3-team trade that radically changed the identity of the team. Insightful. Interesting. Except the annoying man next to me keeps whistling for the microphone and making (NOT VERY) smart remarks.

The Funny in this event? The first season ticket holder to stand up and ask a question didn't ask about basketball or the players or the recent huge, block-busting 3-team trade that changed the face of the Cavaliers. No, she asked why, when there are inconveniently enormous lines for all of the other elevators, must there be a reserved therefore and almost never used elevator for the media? The crowd went silent, Danny Ferry's jaw dropped, and as he tried to answer something that was arena operations (and therefore WELL out of his area) Rick asked me if it was his imagination, or was it really possible if that crazy woman was his ex-wife? Given the mumblings and rumblings of the rest of the season ticket holders, I imagine that was a lot of what they were wondering too. Nutjob.

Everyone else asked questions about basketball.

 

NBA=Nice Big Attitudes

I'm embroidering in front of the TV. Happens to be a whole string of pro basketball games, the last of which (such a treat!!) is a Cavs game. I'm a big fan.

It's nice, somewhat neutral background noise, and I know what's going on without having to constantly keep my eyes on the tube. And that's critical, if I want to keep from poking myself with the embroidery needle. Play-by-play guys help me out loads here.

So when the commentators began warming us up for the switch to another game upon the conclusion of the Heat-Lakers game, I almost jabbed myself.

"Stay tuned after this game for the afternoon's big show, when we take you to the Carmello-LeBron game..."

Since when do we refer to the teams as not their names but the names -- the FIRST names -- of their marquee players?

Permit me to be a bit more than bleaaahhhhh... I don't know what... about that.

Yeah, actually, I do have a problem with that. I couldn't put my finger on it at first but I think I've identified my issue.

LeBron is frequently compared to Michael Jordan. But my criticism of MJ for the greatest part of his great career was that he was not a team player. For his team to win, the best bet was simply "get the ball to MJ, and let him do his thang".

James, on the other hand, is just as likely to pass the ball as he is to shoot it. He IS a team player, and emphasises his teammembers when he talks about wins in postgame interviews. I admire that. He pumps them up in practice and on the floor and from the bench. I adore that. Better yet? He does this, frequently anonymously, for the communities of Cleveland and Akron as well. He is, justifiably, a hero of sorts to many. But he would not see himself that way. All the more admirable!!

I think he would have a problem with the sportscasters refering to his team as his name alone. He knows it's not him alone on the boards that makes the "W" appear in the column.

So, phooey on the ego-obsessed sportsdudes on ABC. I hope they settle down and return to using team names, and keep the teams in the forefront. It is a team sport, after all.

Witness This

The caption above Giant LeBron says, 'WE ARE ALL WITNESSES'. I would add, we are witnessing that the Cavs are useless without LeBron. So much for teamwork! And the world bears witness to the rise of what I dreaded most: the rise of another Michael Jordan.