by danrubenstein May 8, 2009

My editor at SI posted this on his Twitter and it’s too good not to post here, since it’s one of my more influential, trendsetting blogs.

I really like good commercials. It’s tough to do anything in 30 seconds (well almost anything), let alone make something awesome that has an impact, but all of the NBA’s “Where Amazing Happens” spots seem to do so.

As a below-average editor, I haven’t the foggiest idea of how something like this would be done, and thus, can’t stop watching. I imagine this is what the Mexican soccer game sort of looked like last week when they wouldn’t let any fans in to watch, only this is way cooler and less filled with the possibility of swine flu.

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by danrubenstein May 7, 2009

Scrubs had its (probable) series finale last night and, not gonna lie, things got a little dusty in my eye region towards the end.

Overall, I’d say the series hovered in the B+ A- range for most of its run, sometimes better, sometimes worse, but it was always pretty consistent, which is pretty hard to say about any TV now.

It looked like Zach Braff was going to be a huge movie star - and he still might - but he clearly gave everything to the show and was pretty flawless as JD.

I started watching the show my sophomore year in college - plowing through seasons with Corn Dog to catch up. You can ask him, it was pretty tough to keep turning down all those ladies to stay in and watch Scrubs together, but we managed.

Anyway, here’s one of my favorite clips from the show, especially since I too briefly had a place in an all-air cover band.

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Thoughts at a Random Point in the Laker Game

by danrubenstein May 6, 2009

• I wish Aaron Brooks were a Laker.

• How is Ron Artest making all of these shots? This is scary.

• I genuinely feel bad every time Yao commits a foul, he’s so damn likable. Then I realize that he actually committed a foul.

• I think PhilJax has zero confidence in Bynum.

• Fisher is coooooold.

• My rec team may have a more sound defensive strategy than the Lakers, and we don’t have one at all.

• New House of Payne!!

• I want a Wendy’s spicy chicken sandwich. Badly.

• Esa shaved his playoff beard and cursed the Lake Show. Take it up with him.

• I miss Doug Collins’s bleached hair.

• I think Luis Scola and Luke Walton have a crush on each other. Cute.

• I don’t know what Lamar Odom always thinks is so funny.

• Nice to know you, Fish. Thanks for 0.4.

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Tuesdayness

by danrubenstein May 5, 2009

Since I’m not doing much right now - I write a column once a week, do a podcast once a week, and am in a holding pattern with video waiting to get going, I should probably write, so here I be. The goal is to try to write every day, but let’s not go crazy. I suppose I’m going to try to keep it to sports with some TV stuff thrown in, but let’s be honest, the masses demand an occasional shot of Sully sitting over a massive burrito that’s just waiting to take him down.

• The Laker game last night was horrid. The outside shooting was non-existent (2/17 beyond the arc), Derek Fisher got embarrassed repeatedly by Aaron Brooks (it hurts my brain), the crowd sucked like usual, and it was another game of Bynum not seeing any action late (15 min total). Even the additional tattoos that Aaron Brooks has added since his days in Eugene has made me fondly remember stories that one of old Sully’s roommates used to listen in on Brooks’ iTunes account on the same network, and it was mostly “scary, prison rap.” Sigh. Lakers in 7.

• Haven’t been to a Dodger game yet this year. Maybe I shouldn’t, things seem to be going swimmingly at Chavez Ravine without me. I’ll wait until Jeff Weaver ends the home streak, and then I’ll make my debut soon enough. It just doesn’t feel like baseball season without having taken down at least one $5.75 hot dog.

• I paid $9.95 to watch the Oregon football spring game. I’m not proud of this, especially since there was almost zero entertainment value involved. I take that back, listening to Joe Giansante become overwhelmed with the idea of a rainstorm in Eugene, OR is always fun. Anyway, the offensive line let everything in, the kickers didn’t really successfully kick anything, and receivers were repeatedly left alarmingly open on the sidelines. Also, back to Giansante, as much as I love Oregon sports, it still doesn’t feel completely right to have an employee of the university calling the football and basketball games. Not sure we’re getting the best in-game analysis there, folks.

• I haven’t watched a complete hockey game since the last one I went to during the mid-90s, unless, of course, you count any time I excitedly come across The Mighty Ducks on TBS.

• I joined a rec basketball league and, despite my performance in the opening game, I’m encouraged. I drew two early fouls but missed the subsequent four free throws, which is inexcusable. We lost by five (so it’s not entirely my fault), I didn’t shoot much, but I’m playing SF, so I cleaned the glass a bit. After the game, I reflected on my performance and felt like giving a variation of the Tebow speech, but quickly realized the theme of his speech was that he was the leader and heart of the team and would rally everyone around him, and it didn’t even come close to applying to my situation. Yet. At the end of the season I’d like a novelty trophy that carries the inscription “Worthwhile Contributor.” That’d be ideal.

• I’m getting close to believing I’m really good at fantasy baseball. Sure, you can attribute to the time I have on my hands to scour waiver wires and ingest everything I can fantasy info-wise, but still, it’s something. I’m slowly become Will Ferrell in Step Brothers. I manage a baseball team.

• Jim Parsons may now be the funniest actor on TV. That is, at least until Curb comes back in the fall. Apologies for the Larry King syntax.

See you tomorrow.

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by danrubenstein April 9, 2009

Shot March 25 with Dave. Really proud of how it came out.

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My Day One

by danrubenstein March 19, 2009

Today is the first day of the 2009 NCAA Basketball Tournament. This, in a particular order is what I did today:

• Woke up early to drive to Dave’s. Showered, packed up the computer, left with a fig bar in hand.

• Sat in morning traffic, ate the fig bar, couldn’t find a spot in a non-street cleaning zone, and then I finally did.

• Got to Dave’s, admired his three (sometimes four) screen setup for a day of college basketball games.

• Ate a bagel. Onion.

• Got excited for the Matadors of CS Northridge as they kept taking the lead against Memphis. I’m not convinced Memphis knew where they were until there was about eight minutes left in the game. Good thing I have them in the championship game.

• BYU lost me points in my bracket. I got cocky after that whole Utah Sugar Bowl thing. Note to self - BYU will always screw you.

• Dave and I agree that Maryland coach Gary Williams looks a lot like MTV News’s John Norris. Did you know John Norris is 50? I know, right.

• I become happy that Purdue and Washington both win, setting up a meeting Saturday afternoon that can best be described as “A Game Between the Colleges That My Little Brothers Went To.” I will be rocking my Purdon’t sweatshirt.

• Dave, a guy named David, and I rewatch that Wyoming guy’s dunk and freak out a little bit.

• North Carolina leaves Tyler Hansbrough in as they climb to an almost 40 point lead. I begin to wish injury upon both him and Roy Williams.

• We watch Clemson’s near-albino point guard elbow somebody. I figure that this is the only way I’d ever be able to compete if I played Division I basketball. Nothing but elbows and passive aggressive threes. Boo-ya.

• Clemson decides that they’re not very good at calling a last play and cost me $2 in impromptu prop bets. The Tigers decided they wanted no part of my Elite 8. I blame Tajh Boyd.

• I realize that there’s no way that Oregon can lose today. Suck it, NCAA.

• I lose another dollar on Minnesota not covering. Luckily, Esa’s coming over tomorrow and I’ll be able to make all my money back. Loser.

• After demolishing recently-delivered Thai food, I fall asleep on Dave’s couch during the downtime while listening to Adam Carolla talk to Tom Arnold about working for Hormel. Dave insists I didn’t snore, but I remain skeptical.

• This year’s Final Four sleeper, Gonzaga, comes back and crushes Akron, or as Yackie calls them, “A-Kron,” as if the name of the Ohio city rhymes with your favorite Senegalese hip-hopper. Word.

• We get El Pollo Loco. I’m almost given a Bean, Rice, and Cheese burrito instead of Bean, Rice, and Chicken. Don’t worry, everything turned out alright.

• Yackie picks Big Daddy Eisner’s Illini to go to the Final Four. They then lose, despite an admirable comeback attempt. I’m 91% sure he’ll blame Yackie.

• The day of basketball concludes.

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by danrubenstein March 4, 2009

Wow. Just wow.

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by danrubenstein March 2, 2009
Oregon 79 OSU 69 DYNASTY!! Two in a row means something, although I’m still not sure what. There’s no question this team is good enough to win at least a game in the Pac-10 tourney, maybe more if they’re hitting and not turning the ball over. I’m not ready to go crazy after two home wins over a team that hasn’t won on the road all year (Stanford) and a team that went 0-18 last year. That said, I’ve seen nearly every game this season, and finally seeing a team play with intensity and making correct decisions is refreshing. At least everyone important comes back and the depth potentially could mean that this team (with more experience) could be one that just comes at you in waves. This could also mean I pay to see the Ducks a second time this Thursday, which could produce the first photoblog since the site moved. Word.

Oregon 79 OSU 69

DYNASTY!! Two in a row means something, although I’m still not sure what. There’s no question this team is good enough to win at least a game in the Pac-10 tourney, maybe more if they’re hitting and not turning the ball over.

I’m not ready to go crazy after two home wins over a team that hasn’t won on the road all year (Stanford) and a team that went 0-18 last year. That said, I’ve seen nearly every game this season, and finally seeing a team play with intensity and making correct decisions is refreshing. At least everyone important comes back and the depth potentially could mean that this team (with more experience) could be one that just comes at you in waves.

This could also mean I pay to see the Ducks a second time this Thursday, which could produce the first photoblog since the site moved. Word.

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by danrubenstein February 21, 2009

Via Hot Clicks, this is ridiculous. I can’t tell you how excited I am to coach youth basketball in 20 years or so. And in case your wondering, my teams will subscribe to the Nolan Richardson “40 Minutes of Hell” school. Nothing but pressing, trapping, and running the entire game. In fact, I may name a son “Corliss” just to clinch it. 

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by danrubenstein February 16, 2009
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

The Lonely Island (feat. Jack Black) - Sax Man

Yep, this is now on a Corndog-esque loop. Sorry. 

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