I'm rooting for him...

I heard this guy interviewed on NPR the day after he was exonerated. Incredibly, he did not seem bitter about the whole affair. Instead, he sounded like a soft-spoken, measured man who just wants to get on with his life. I am happy to see that several NFL teams will give him a shot (no matter how long it is) including my team, the Miami Dolphins.

Heat wins in OT!

The Miami Heat outlasted the Boston Celtics and won in overtime 115-111 to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Rajon Rondo was a maniac, playing the entire game as well as the overtime and finishing with a stat line of 44 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds, but it was not enough. After the game there was a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth by the Celtics Danny Ainge about the officiating. It was lopsided, no doubt about it, but that is the game of basketball. The series now shifts to Boston for the next two games and the Heat had better be ready for some ostensibly objective officiating which I am sure will favor the Celtics to tip the scales back, at least initially. It would be nice to sweep, but we at least need to win one up there. The Celtics, no matter how old and how tired, will not go without a fight.

The Mental aspect of the game

Here are some words of wisdom for disc golfers on the mental aspects of the sport.

Go Heat!

The Miami Heat are up 1-0 over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals and the Wade/James duo are playing like men possessed. They are starting to smell the ultimate prize. Next they get to do it all over again tomorrow night, same time same place. Let's hope for the same result.

It's Monday

And we all know what that means. Time for another MOTW, Manager of the Week. This next manager wishes half his/her fantasies came true, but alas, they almost never do.

MOTW: Myth Propogator Manager

Myth Propagator Manager’s motivational techniques rely on describing scenarios for his/her staff which depict much better working conditions in the very near future. Such speeches are usually filled with phrases like, “transitory phase, temporary rough patch, better times ahead, turning the corner soon, etc.” Unfortunately, while this approach may have been effective in the past today’s corporate drones are much more jaded, impatient and far less loyal, especially when the company is doing extremely well and the staff does not see these results translated into any benefit for them. Suffice it to say that either Myth Propagator Manager’s techniques or days are numbered, whichever you prefer.

Weekend Haiku

The crane's legs
have gotten shorter
in the spring rain.

Basho (1644 - 1694)

Firestarter

The video of Firestarter from The Prodigy. Enjoy and happy Friday.

Uncle Drew

Boy, for an old geezer he can really ball, can't he?

Happy Birthday

To one of my favorite actors, John C. Reilly, who turns 47 today. You walk hard, Dewey Cox.

It's Monday

And we all know what that means. Time for another MOTW, Manager of the Week. Everyone likes a good mystery every once in a while. This next manager provides that service for the staff with his/her very existence in the firm.

MOTW: Mysterious Manager

A shadowy figure, Mysterious Manager comes in at odd hours and leaves at even odder ones. He/she sits in the corner office and spends a lot of time speaking on the phone in hushed tones. Is never observed going to lunch and when seen in the hall is jocular, but never really connects with anyone.

Weekend Haiku

The flies in the temple
imitate the hands
of the people with prayer beads.

Issa (1763 - 1827)

Enjoy the Silence

Last Friday's video was Lacuna Coil performing an original song. Here the Italian band covers Depeche Mode's Enjoy the Silence and they are in fine form. I love Cristina Scabbia. Enjoy and happy Friday.

The Floppies

Jason Gay from the WSJ has a humorous solution to the flopping epidemic in the NBA. He should see if Jeff Van Gundy would be willing to emcee the ceremony. Go Heat!

It's Monday

And we all know what that means. Time for another MOTW, Manager of the Week. You know that saying, a great strength when overused becomes a weakness. That is this next manager in a nutshell.

MOTW: Over-Praising Manager

Heaps praise on everyone ALL the time regardless of results, rendering said praise meaningless. Is big on handing out trinkets and cards with cloying messages. Begins most conversations with phrases like:

“Great Job D. You’re the best. Keep it up!”

“Excellent work X. You’re an asset to this company! We’re lucky to have you.”

Happy Mother's Day

To all the mothers out there, including the one of my two children, enjoy your special day.

Weekend Haiku

Autumn moonlight-
a worm digs silently
into the chestnut.

Basho (1644 - 1694)

Spellbound

The Italian band Lacuna Coil performs Spellbound. Enjoy and happy Friday.

Driving Backhand

Pro disc golfer Avery Jenkins gives you tips on how to maximize your backhand drive.

Maurice Sendak dead

The author of the signal children's book Where The Wild Things Are is dead at 83. The book has received much critical acclaim and its author was indeed prolific (writing and illustrating more than 50 children's books throughout his career), but the book itself never moved me as much as it seemed to do for so many others, neither in the past as a child or now as a parent. I somewhat enjoyed it as a child, but I liked many other books much more and to this day I just don't see what all the hype was about as it won the Caldecott Medal, the equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize for children's books. In an interview once he said that the monsters he drew resembled his extended family. Rest in peace Maurice Sendak.

It's Monday

And we all know what that means. Time for another MOTW, Manager of the Week. As old as time itself is the struggle between good and evil. Here is the dark side of management presented for your enjoyment with this next manager profile.

MOTW: Evil Manager

Sporting a lot of dark clothing, Evil Manager makes Darth Vader seem like one of Jim Henson’s innocuous Muppets by comparison. This manager is in place to do as much damage as humanly possible to as many people as possible.

Weekend Haiku

First day of spring-
I keep thinking about
the end of autumn.

Basho (1644 - 1694)

Nemo

The video of Nemo by Nightwish when Tarja Turunen was still with the band. Boy do I love this band. Enjoy and happy Friday.

The NFL is reeling...

And the sports world at that, from Junior Seau's suicide. He played for the Dolphins at the tail end of his career and was respected on that team for his play and leadership in the locker room. What I did not know was the surprisingly high number of Chargers from the 1994 Super Bowl team that have passed away.

I can't believe that...

Miami international airport is not on this list. I have flown through most of the airports described in this article (in fact on Monday I connected through DFW) and they are all better than MIA. I fly into and out of MIA on a regular basis and it is one of the worst I have ever encountered.