A good omen

T-Mac was right

As my friend Gary put it:

McGrady said something bad would happen if he came to New Orleans.  How about 25 points in the 2nd half?

This team is never out of it.  On a night when we couldn’t hit an outside shot for anything, tenacious defense and some sweet driving plays got the job done.  Can’t wait for Saturday against the Celtics.  Once again, #1 in the West vs. #1 in the East, and I like our chances!

Even though I didn’t take him up on it, Chef-Who-Dat wins the big prize (a drink, probably) for his idea of going as T-Mac’s security detail.  I liked it but didn’t have time to get it together.

But we did sit in front of some young punks who decided they were Rockets fans.  And they were obnoxious as hell about it.  E and I spent the first half leaning forward to distance ourselves as much as possible from within a packed arena.  I don’t mind visiting fans, but mocking the Hornets’ initial ineptitude was a bit much (especially from some pimply prick with a McGrady jersey over his green polo with the collar turned up).  E doesn’t like me to confront punks like that (”They’re just kids”) so my only response was a stage whisper to her:  “When it’s your first time at a big league game, you get a little excited.”  And of course they were gone by the time we took that game over.

Stuff I’ve been meaning to post…

Dilbert & Religion:

Thank you for taking time out from feeding the poor to complain about comic strips. I know Jesus would have played it the same way.

–Scott Adams (Dilbert)

I don’t typically read Scott Adams’s blog, but this post is great.

Obama & McCain: I’m really bummed I didn’t get around to ordering a green O’Bama shirt in time for St. Pat’s (maybe they’ll be cheaper now), but his speech today, I believe, will be remembered long after he’s gone. Folks, this could be a real turning point in the nation’s dealings with race. It may lose him the election by causing subtly racist moderates to finally have their reason to jump ship, but it’ll force a bunch of folks to face some ugly truths.

Incidentally, if you weren’t scared enough of McCain before (I’ve been guilty as considering him a relatively minor threat, but I thought the same about W way back when, so I’m guilty), consider that he actively solicited the support of John Hagee, who said this:

All hurricanes are acts of God because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that.

In that interview, he goes on to say that there was to be a parade with homosexual sex at unprecedented levels. The lack of rationality that goes into these kinds of statements (like, what about Rita? No storm hits a god-fearing region?) just blows me away, so to speak. What a prick.

HomeStretch: Like some respected not-really-lent-type others, I’ve been on the wagon for Lent. E did this a few years ago, but I decided to join her this time. It sucks, but I’ve learned some things. More on that later. Believe me, this level of masochism deserves its own post. If you see someone puking on Chris Owens Sunday, that’ll be me.

T-Mac Watch: Tomorrow E and I are going to watch the Hornets kick the Rockets’ asses and end that streak and take over 1st in the West. Big prize to anyone who helps me incorporate my hatred of McGrady into a concise sign. Remember these words:

If I don’t feel like it’s going to be safe, if I’m on that team, I will think about not going.

That was the first thing I thought about [regarding the game being held in New Orleans next season]. I thought about how much safety and security there’s going to be for the players. I don’t think it’s the right city right now. Safety has to come first.

BTW, I’ve never personally seen a player take over a game the way Chris Paul did last night. G & I thought we were toast, and we were already lamenting how we gave away a game to a mediocre team (even if 2 KU players are on the team), when Paul became superman and decided he WOULD NOT LET US LOSE. So tomorrow we play to end the streak and take over 1st in the West and in the division. I’m drooling.

BTW2, I’ve been elated to see JuJu come alive and get some game, becoming a crowd favorite in the process. I think he’s going to be an impact player, and I hope we can keep him. Also, props to Bonzi, who I’d been critical of before last night. Jeez, I love the Hornets. Keep supporting them folks! I need them here for my fix!

Super-Duper Sunday: Man, was the weather great, and our “dead city” showed its unique spirit and a great time. Too many pix here.

Family: How old do you get before your family starts giving guilt trips about your personal weaknesses? Just wondering.

More later.

Update:  I didn’t realize Houston played Boston tonight.  Not sure if I should root against Houston (I guess I will, for NO’s sake and for KU’s Paul Pierce), or for Houston (have I mentioned I hate Tracy McGrady) so we can end their streak instead of Beantown.

Odd San Dends

My sports teams are in free-fall.  Three straight losses by the Hornets, and two by the Jayhawks.  Come on, fellas, turn it around!  I’ll be there tomorrow to see if NO can right the ship against the Suns, but I’m pessimistic, given how badly Tyson was beat up by Brendan Haywood last night.  Even a washed-up Shaq should be a juggernaut.

And you thought Clinton and Obama were mad at each other!

Maybe it’s because you were being bitches!

This if funniest if you took Intro Psyc.

Adrastos has a nice take on the Oscars, nice because I agree with it.  One thing E and I observed was how many winners were not American.  I’m sure both right-wingers in Hollywood will try to use it to close the borders to Hollywood, but it does make me wonder if we’re seeing the effects of shitty arts funding.

With Dodd and Emmitt, Barack can’t lose!

Although I don’t always find them funny, I enjoyed this back-&-forth between Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel.

Hornets in Slate

Whether we make it or not, we’re not done shouting.

David Ramsey, we’re glad you’re here.  Keep doing good work, and I hope we can keep this great team here (and great).  You’re fairly new to New Orleans, but you seem to get it, so thanks.

On a personal note:  I know a bunch of other folks are talking about the Hornets, and if anyone there is still resisting going because the NBA is boring, give them a few tries.  Frankly, I’m addicted now, and even E has gotten into the mood, for which she resents me.  This team is great, they play with real energy, they’re good guys who are easy to support, and it’s just plain fun basketball.  In past years, I went out of civic obligation and because, well, it’s the NBA.  Now I’m going to as many games as I can and enjoying every minute of it.  Last night we got crappy seats but I was riveted watching Chris Paul school Jason Kidd over and over.  We’re an elite team, so give it a try, and maybe enough people will become junkies like me and we can actually keep this team here.

Must read from Bill Simmons

With the sun shining, with people happily strolling around, with the faint sounds of trumpets in the background … I mean, wasn’t this New Orleans? Wasn’t I looking at New Orleans?

…

So, imagine my surprise as I’m standing there in front of the Du Monde, plowing my way through the best bargain in the United States — three beignets for $2 — with powdered sugar spraying my clothes just like old times. Imagine me looking around and thinking about how egregiously I underestimated the city’s rebuilding effort, and thinking to myself that New Orleans might make it after all. Imagine those dormant memories from Super Bowl XXXVI flooding through my brain, one of the single greatest weeks of my life. There’s no question. I’m having a moment. I’m having one those I’m-in-a-movie, larger-than-life moments that can happen only in New Orleans.

You gotta read the whole thing. Send him a thank you note while you’re at it.

UPDATE:  More nice props from JA Adande:

One of the benefits of having the festivities in New Orleans, besides the great food (”That gumbo — man,” Allen Iverson said), was the option of walking everywhere you needed to go. That’s what I did Saturday, footing it to the arena, the parties, wherever, despite a right leg that was severely damaged after Charles Barkley’s inexplicable decision to sit on my lap Thursday night.

New Orleans has always been the best host for the big sports weekends, and even in its weakened state it still came through.

Gosh, where was T-Mac?

Oh, that’s right, he didn’t make the team. Or, he was “injured” and wanted to avoid our scary city. Well, Tracy, that’s your karma for dissing our great city. Anybody know whether he made the scene or wussed out? Ass.

On the other hand, it brought a tear to my eye to watch the New Orleans mojo in such fine display. I’m sure this was the first All Star game I’ve watched in 15 years, and the game sucked, but NOLA rocked. Nice job getting real local musicians to play live and show everyone how much this city rocks.

Stephanie Jordan nailed the anthem (with a great assist by Branford Marsalis and Jonathan Dubose). I mean great. Then the dueling pianos with Connick, Jr., Ellis, Dr. John, Davell, Toussaint, and a bunch of others was brilliant. And I’m sure that Rebirth won some converts, with Kermit and Trombone Shorty guesting. Still, I can’t help but think that the rest of the country thinks brass bands, Indians, and second lines are simply novelties that we break out for tourists instead of the integral parts of life here that they are.

One more thing: “Reggae Music Man Dr. John???”

UPDATE: from Ian Thomson

For so many years the NBA’s All-Star Weekend has been growing like a tumor upon the soul of the game, a vehicle of greed, selfishness and other vices in blight of the larger team values. But that trend was arrested by coming this weekend to New Orleans, where the NBA’s biggest stars spent Friday working on community projects that emphasized giving instead of taking.

For this weekend, at least, the league rediscovered its soul.

…

The music of New Orleans is a unifying force of joy, and I have a feeling that no one who watched the pregame or halftime performances of jazz was turned off or threatened or in any way bemused by it.

My night with the cool kids

Last night was Valentine’s, and I really screwed it up. I put off making reservations until there was nothing available, so we ended up eating at Hipstix. Not terrible, but I don’t know why I’d ever go back.

Anyway, I wanted something in the Warehouse district because we had tickets (thanks, Stephanie) for Zo & Magic’s 8-Ball Challenge. Not exactly E’s idea of a romantic evening out to try to see celebrities play in a pool tournament. I persisted because I’m sometimes a sucker for celebs and I like pool, and because I felt like we should at least make an appearance since Stephanie gifted them to us. So we went.

After looking at the website, I figured that we lowlifes would be relegated to some 3rd tier balcony with the other schlubs while the pretty people mingled out of our reach. That’s not what happened. We entered through security to brass bands and immediately saw Chris Tucker coming in. I didn’t think we’d have access to him, but we did. Then came Dr. J and his beautiful wife. Then an almost-unrecognizable Carmelo Anthony, clearly fond of himself. They were all very close by, immediately making me regret not having my camera, but I got a few bad shots with the iPhone (needs lots of light).

We figured the red-carpet action would be the end of it, but then we went inside and nearly bumped into Reggie Bush lining up a shot. Yeah, his girlfriend’s butt really does defy gravity. E was thrilled to see ex-KU star (now Celtics star) Paul Pierce, who is singlehandedly responsible for fostering her love of college hoops.

So we spent an hour or so mingling and wandering and gawking. Other folks we saw (and recognized): Ludacris (the host), Lisa Leslie & Chris Paul, Gabrielle Union & Vivica A. Fox, Magic Johnson, Kevin Durant, David West, Alonzo Mourning, Al Horford, and probably a few others I’m forgetting. But the highlight was watching Chris Paul play with Michael Jordan. It’s really weird to turn a corner and be standing right by the best basketball player of all time (especially when you’ve been around Magic and Dr. J, two of the other top 10).

What a weird experience. I’m not sure why it was so much fun, but it really was. Wish I could do it again with a decent camera.

Neurosis

I’m a psychologist, but not a clinical one, much to the chagrin of every person who’s ever sat next to me on a plane, found out I’m a psychologist, and tries to get me to diagnose friends.  As I tell my students, they’re as qualified to diagnose or treat people as I am.

There used to be a convenient distinction between neurosis and psychosis, but it’s considered outdated.  I still like it though.  The idea is that psychoses (which is still a commonly used term for disorders) are severe and keep one from living a fruitful, productive life without medication or other heavy treatments.  Things like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder fall here.   Neuroses, as they used to be called, would be general anxiety, phobias, lower level depression (dysthymia) and so on.  Many of us have some of those.

I have plenty.  I’ve just noticed one of them resurfacing.  I’m one of those people who often has trouble enjoying the present.  When a nice summer break is going on or I’m on vacation, I thoroughly enjoy and relish the first half, but I spend the second half counting down the days til it’s over, failing to enjoy said fun as I should be.  Well, I’m seeing it now with basketball season in full swing.

In case you hadn’t noticed, KU is playing lights-out this year.  This is the best team I’ve seen since the 97-98 year when we were everyone’s pick to win it all til we began our notorious run of tanking early in the tournament.  At least that team (which had NBA-ers Paul Pierce, Raef Lafrentz, Scot Pollard, and Jacque Vaughn, among others–yeah they’re not all all-stars like Pierce, but still…) lost to eventual-champion Arizona, leading to a lifelong resentment of Lute Olson’s smug smirk.  Since then, except for a couple runs to the final four, it’s been disappointing failures after highly successful seasons.

Well, we’re damn solid this year.  I’m not predicting we’ll get beyond the first round of the tourney or anything–once bitten twice shy–but I’m really enjoying watching a balanced, experienced attack.  So where’s the anxiety?

Well, watching last night’s dismantling of OU, I realized that we’ll likely only have one returning starter next year.  So instead of relishing a great team who hasn’t even gotten 3 games into conference play, I’m sweating next year.  That’s no way to live, people.

A consolation team for you to pin your hopes & dreams on

A few of my colleagues who know that my heart aches for the Saints have consoled me with “Thank God for Kansas, huh?”

And they’re right.  And if you’d like a distraction from the sad demise of the Black & Gold, I invite you to adopt the Kansas Jayhawks as your team to root for.  It’s college, so they’re a lot slower, but they have something for everyone.  They’re high-scoring, and they’re overachievers who were unranked until after their 5th win of the season.  And, historically, they’ve almost always sucked.  Still, there’s a nice bit of legacy there, with Gale Sayers and John Riggins coming from their ranks.  Plenty of room on the bandwagon.  And if they beat Missouri this Saturday (no easy feat) and win the Big XII championship against Oklahoma or Texas (not easy either), they’ll play (probably against LSU) for the national title right here in New Orleans!

To orient you, here’s the football website for you to peruse.  Get acquainted with the lineup, which includes an undersized but electric QB in Todd Reesing, a nice big runner in Brandon McAnderson, an outstanding LB in Joe Mortensen, and a CB who will make Saints fans drool in Aqib Talib.

Our coach is the great Mark Mangino.  I do mean great.  But he’s personable and smart and principled, and I hope he can take a joke.

KU football started in 1890, when Baker and the Kansas City YMCA were the only opponents on the slate (ended the season 1-2).  Started playing other midwestern schools after that, and I was wondering how the hell they made those trips.  Must have been by train, but getting them all to the field without cars must have been a challenge.  I encourage you to go here and browse, and check out the picture links toward the bottom of the page.

We appreciate your support, but if you’re all SEC all the time, you’ll enjoy this tidbit about ‘Bama’s loss this past weekend.

Rock Chalk!