Leap Day '04

It's 60 degrees outside, the 7 inches of snow we got late last week has almost melted, I just washed my car and have plans to play some tennis later today. So why the hell am I sitting inside updating my blog? Well, since you asked, it's because I feel bad for neglecting you all for the last week or so. The job hunt down here, while equally unfulfilling, seems to take me away from my computer more than I would like and trying to keep the site running on a dial up connection is really just adding insult to injury. However, I should have a shiny, new cable modem here on Wednesday so it won't actually take me four and a half minutes to log on to the interweb, load my page and check out how may hits I've had for theday(which are also decreasing, but I'll get over it).

Last night was my first real night on the town here in Charlotte (some of the residents, not my friends it should be noted, have started a movement to call the city Crunkville. I think that tells you all you need to know about how far behind the times they are down here) and while unspectacular, it was entertaining nonetheless. I started out the night by meeting my friend Ben, the motherfucking ruthless villain, for a drink downtown before we headed to Tremont Music Hall to catch the heavily hyped Von Bondies. After a few beers at a nondescript sports bar, we headed to the venue right as the band went on. I didn't exactly hype up the band to Ben but told him there was a good amount of buzz behind them and after the show we were both wondering what the band had done do deserve it (I'm talking musically here, not extracurricular activities). Musically, I felt they weren't anything special. Just what the world needs, another garage rock band. woo...hoo. They sounded like a grunged up version of the Old 97's to me, and that is a bad thing. Let's just say I am more of a Sea Ray guy than I am a Von Dursties guy.

After the gig, we headed out to a hoppin' restaurant and met up with some of Ben's friends. As we were walking in, we ran into an old friend of ours, Tommy "Poop Shoe" Sheridan, whom I hadn't seen in at least 8 years. Talk about old times. We chatted for a bit before he left, and it was great to see him again. I imagine there will be quite a bit more of that in the coming weeks down here. Most of the people I knew at school ended up in Charlotte, so I am bound to see them out on the town sooner or later. The night felt like it was starting to pick up but I had a splitting headache so I left around midnight and drove home. Like I said, unspectacular but somewhat promising.

Friday night I stayed in and enjoyed watching the Celtics beat up on the Toronto Raptors on ESPN. Rookie Brandon Hunter had 11 points and 16 rebounds. Watching games on my dad's 52 inch TV is amazing. The players are like 7 inches tall on the screen. Unfortunately the HD offerings around here are less than ideal so we are stuck on the digital cable for now.
grumblegrumblegrumble.
The two teams played again today and believe it or not the Celtics are now riding a modest two game winning streak. It looks like our new starting lineup will see Hunter at PF and Jiri Welsh replacing Ricky Davis at SF. Rookie PG Marcus Banks has lost alot of playing time to new aquisition Chucky Atkins but to the kid's credit, he is saying all the right things about the situation for the time being.

Peter May of the Boston Globe takes into account that as many as three teams with records under .500 will make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.

This is not what the Lakers want to hear from Gary Payton as the playoffs approach.

How desperate is Isiah Thomas? Apparantly he feels that his team's current five game losing streak means that the team absolutely must get Vin Baker because he needs a low post presence to balance out his roster. At least Mitch Lawrence of the NY Daily News goes on record saying that Baker won't be able to handle the pressure in NYC. The media seems split over whether Vin signing with another team will help or hurt the Celtics case to have his contract terminated. If Vin signs with another team, that must mean he's fit to play, right? Not so fast I say, look at Eddie Griffin's time with the Nets. He obviously wasn't ready to play basketball but that didn't stop the team from making a six figure investment in this crackhead.

You read it here first...IF Vin Baker signs with another team this year and he signs a new long term deal, that team is confident that he can stay sober and produce for them. If he signs for the rest of this year for the pro-rated veteran's minimum, then the team thinks he has one foot in the bar and isn't taking any chances. That'll be all the proof the league should need.

I'd also like to go on record saying how this whole ordeal really makes me sick. Vin has intimated to some of his fellow colleagues that he would accept a modest buyout of his contract (which would also benefit the Celtics) because he doesn't want his dirty laundry aired in public, however, the union and his new agent, Aaron Goodwin, are determined to take this matter to trial. The effects on Vin could be irreparable. Both his agent and his union don't care one bit about Vin Baker the person, they only care about Vin Baker's remaining contract that will pay him $35 million. The agent will get his cut if the contract isn't terminated and the union doesn't want the dangerous (for them) precedent set where a team can terminate a contract due to the players substance abuse.

But let's be honest here, if I had a job for $13 million a year and kept coming to work drunk, would the keep me around and still pay me?
I think not.

In our "News That Actually Makes Sense" spot today... Is the NBA preparing to make the NBDL their new minor league for all the high school players that need a little seasoning before making the jump to the big time?
God, let's hope so.

Is Morrissey planning a US Tour for later in the year? Will the news be announced next week?
God, let's hope so.

Update your grey matter
Because one day it may matter