STARTING FIVE
Gaol should’ve entered The Biggest Loser, Pro Athletes Edition. The seven-footer has lost at least 50 pounds and –shocker!–is playing the best ball of his career.
1. Memphis Bellwether
The two teams with the NBA’s best records met last night as Golden State (21-2) visited Memphis (19-4). Not sure the last time two teams with a combined 40 wins and only six losses played. Anyone? Oh, thanks, Elias. They say that it was the fifth time two teams with a combined .870 win percentage had met this late in the season.
The Grizz won, 105-98, thanks in part to Stephen Curry shooting 1 for 10 from beyond the arc. Also, the Grizz went on a 20-0 run to begin the second quarter, all while Steph was seated on the bench.
Skinny Marc Gasol scored a game-high 24 points, but Zach Randolph remains a freak of nature. Thus endeth GSW’s win streak at 16 games.
Oh, and yes, this is a walk year for Gasol. That’s one way to be motivated to stop snarfing pretzel burgers.
2. Orange County Prodigy
Among Orange County teens, Landon is without peer
Your humble scribe got dragged to a sushi happy hour joint on a Monday night in Orange County. Did not expect much from the raw fish, much less the live entertainment. And then this 18 year-old takes the stage with his guitar and blows us away. He’s got the looks, he’s got a powerful voice, and he wields the axe like John Mayer. His name is Landon Longard and he’s one of six kids (three boys, three girls, perhaps a maid named Alice).
Remember his name.
3. “The Interview/This Is The End”Double Feature
Wait until we learn that Jonah Hill 1) was behind the entire prank and/or 2) is Marc Gasol’s weight-loss coach.
It’s getting more interesting as America braces itself for the premiere of The Interview on Friday. Guardians of Peace, the group that has claimed responsibility for the hacking (two thoughts: 1) Same initials as GOP and 2) Isn’t it refreshing to hear of a terrorist organization hacking without lopping off heads?) has pledged a “9/11-style attack” at theaters that air the Seth Rogen-James Franco vehicle.
It’s so bizarre. Usually the movie bombs. Not vice versa.
4. Havana Good Time
Happy New Year!
So apparently the USA only holds a grudge for 55 years, as President Obama is considering lifting our embargo on Cuba, which is only the largest and nearest to the U.S. Caribbean island. Like…duh!
This should happen just in time for New Year’s Eve, so we may all celebrate Michael Corleone-style: “I know it was you, Fredo! You broke my heart. You broke my heart.”
Related: Hollywood has yet to lift its embargo of Cuba Gooding, Jr.
5. Assuming We Finished 21st Last Year
So, the Washington Post published a list of the 20 Most Popular Web Sites each year since 1996. Fascinating. Penthouse, kudos, you were once in the Top 20. And I cannot believe AOL remains in the Top 25 –AOL users, you DO realize you do not need to pay for email, etc., don’t you?
*********
Of course, if you have a surfboard, you can do this…
Rule No. 2: “Diving into a wave is safer than running away from it. Dive into waves.” *
That may or may not be metaphorical.
Remote Patrol
White Christmas
AMC 8 p.m.
Seriously, everyone here is straight
Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye save an inn in New England by singing and dancing with George Clooney’s aunt. Seriously. Also, this is the last known inn in New England not owned by either a gay couple or Bob Newhart.
I have seen ‘White Christmas’ more than any other movie, somewhere between 75-100 times. All but a handful were from TV broadcasts & not the video/DVD. Some might call this an obsession or even a ‘sickness’ (or that I just have too much damn time on my hands during the holidays), while I call this annual viewing part of my personal ‘Christmas tradition’. Most years I end up watching it not just once but at least 2-3 times. (Ok, ok, maybe it is just a tad obsessive!) Over the years, I’ve even had the “White Christmas” dream several times where I am IN a seemingly real version – as a patron at the Florida nightclub, riding on the train to Vermont, &/or in the audience for the big Xmas show. And I’m always pretty damn peeved when I wake up & realize it was just a dream.
The only thing I’ve seen more of on TV is all the variations of ‘A Christmas Carol’ (lost count but I watch at least 4-6 every year since I was 4 & yes, this probably qualifies as an obsession but I prefer to call it a “love story” as I LOVE that story!).
Do you have a Christmas show/movie that has become a tradition if not obsession? I imagine your faves include Charlie Brown/Cindy Lou Who/Grinch as you were channeling all three a few weeks ago. 🙂
‘Guardians of PEACE’ pledging attacks? Membership limited to those who incessantly tweet/comment – “YOUR a moron”.
You didn’t mention this but I’m assuming you read/heard about the NYC area high school kid/genius ‘stock trader’ who made millions “trading stocks on his school breaks”? I 1st heard about it on GMA the other morning… Tell me – do you not WEEP EVERY DAY knowing you a part of a DEAD PROFESSION?! What is almost funny is that New York Magazine was quite critical of Rolling Stone’s recent ‘journalism is dead’ debacle. Apparently, FACT CHECKING of any kind is no longer considered a must, just record/write it down & spew it out to the gullible masses FIRST. The ABSENCE OF TRUTH is just collateral damage.