The Jordan Rules

It would appear that David Stern is giving one of the NBA's favorite sons a big advantage on draft day. When Stern set up the guidelines prior to the 2006 draft about age limits, a player must be 19 or one year away from High School graduation before he can be drafted into the NBA, he also set some rules about underclassmen scouting. According to the guidelines no NBA scout or team representative is allowed to speak to or watch a game involving any player not eligible for the NBA draft. "This keeps our scouts out of high school gyms," Stern said when enacting the rule.

Micheal Jordan has been running his Jordan Brand All-American high school game for a number of years now. He takes some of the best high school kids from around the country and has a sort of East v. West game. There is also many days of practice and meal time and the families of these kids get to come along as well. Well now that MJ has become the owner of the Charollete Bobcats he is continuing to conduct these games. So not only does he get to see these kids play he gets to see them practice. All the other owners and scouts are only allowed to come see the game. Jordan also gets to interact with these kids and see if they have the level of maturity needed to make it as an NBA player, and observe their social skills. Exclusive knowledge of this type gives him a huge advantage on draft day when it comes down to 2 or 3 different picks of nearly equal playing skill.

The league thus far has looked the other way in regards to Jordan's high school game, and related festivities. But, in other cases of violations of these new prospect guidelines the league has been rather harsh. Danny Ainge was recently fined $30,000 for talking to top prospect and future lottery pick Kevin Durant. Jordan also runs Flight Schools on the east and west coast which offer basketball training to pretty much anyone that wants to learn to play better. Jordan hires top prospects from high school and college to work as counselors at these schools giving him even further access to them. All this interaction can only help when it comes to free agency as well, when the only difference between 2 teams isn't money but instead is a comfortable relationship with the ownership. Jordan has gone as far as playing one on one games with these prospects.

This is all giving the Bobcats a very big advantage not only in the immediate draft but also a longer term advantage in future free agency. And, thus far the league has done nothing about it. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

RS Iggy SXSW interview

Rolling Stone sat down with head Stooge Iggy Pop at the South By Southwest music conference and the cameras were rolling. Some pretty good stuff.

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/03/20/exclusive-video-interview-see-iggy-pop-as-youve-neer-seen-him-before/

Wilburys Reissues

It looks like the 2 studio albums that The Traveling Wilburys made will finally be getting the reissue treatment thanks to Rhino. The 2 albums will be released together along with bonus tracks and a DVD in a linen bound boxed set. There will also be a vinyl set. I can't wait to get that vinyl set.

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003560481

The Dark Side of OZ

For those of you that have never done it. Here is a link that shows some of the more creepy sync ups when watching The Wizard of Oz, while listening to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. I have done this many many times, and I think this link misses some of the more eerie sync ups, but it's nice to look at anyway. My personal favorite one is when the cash registers that open Money kick in right when Dorothy opens the door to reveal the technicolor wonderment of Oz. The one that I like very much that was missed is when we first see the Scarecrow is when the song Brain Damage starts, and that's on the second time through the disc. I don't subscribe to the belief that the members of Pink Floyd made their album to go along with this movie, but I do think that the stuff that does sync up is pretty cool. Anyway here is the link.

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/03/20/video-mashup-dark-side-of-oz/

I never really cared for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, but now I'm pissed.

I stumbled across an ad today for the rock and roll hall of fame's Definitive 200 collection. So I figured I'd give it a click and see what they felt the "200 albums every music lover should own" are, and in what order these albums were in. I must say I was a little more than shocked when I starting reading this list, I could hardly contain my rage. I cannot find any information on the website to let me know by whom these albums were picked, or why they were put in the order they were put in. By the time I got into the 30's I was ready to drive to Cleveland and piss on the entry door to the hall. I've never had much respect for the hall in general, I feel they inducted derivative acts and seem to forget the pioneers, and they also seem to have a very strong Elvis bias. Not that I hate Elvis, I mean on an entertainment level he was fairly talented, but "godfather" of rock 'n' roll he isn't. One other thing I should point out before I rip this list to shreds is that it seems to be mostly a marketing ploy to sell more albums, there is even a participating retailers link on the website.

So let me give you a run down of just how crappy this list is, starting at the top. The album that they put in the top spot is Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, now let me explain something. I love The Beatles, a lot, I would say they are the most important band of all time. I do not however subscribe to the belief that this album is their masterwork. I happen to prefer the more subtly amazing, and sonically more pleasing Revovler. So they started off on the wrong foot with me to begin with. It just gets worse from there.

Then at #2 they have Dark Side of the Moon, again let me explain myself here. I like Pink Floyd, quite a bit really. I just happen to prefer them when Syd Barret was in the band. I think the sound that can be found on Dark Side, is a bit too "arena" for my taste. I'm sure there are people that are just soooooo happy that Dark Side is #2, I just happen to think they have better albums, and maybe those should have been chosen over this.

This is where the list to me goes completely off the rails into pure commercial, we must sell more albums territory. At #3 they have Thriller, by Micheal Jackson. I have to say that Thriller is a really great pop/dance/light R&B album, god I hate the fact that R&B is a term that is used for any album by a black artist that isn't hip-hop or rap. R&B means rhythm and blues, and Thriller is not rhythm and blues, it is pop/dance music. So whether or not you think it is R&B or pop or both, I know one thing it is most assuredly not and that is rock 'n' roll. GRRRRR.

Then at #4 we get Led Zeppelin IV, I think that Led Zeppelin are rock and roll gods, almost like they were sent down from some sort of rock Valhalla. This album, or any other Led Zeppelin album is not, I repeat not top 10 album of all time material, not by a long shot. OMG this selection really curdles my butter. I think even more so than the Thriller pick, at least I can see from a marketing stand point why you would put Thriller up this high, but Led Zepp IV, come on.

At #5 we have U2 Joshua Tree, are you fucking kidding me!?!?!?!?!?!? This band is terrible, so disgusting, and so void of any real passion, art, or anything real at all. I just don't get it, maybe I need to listen to this album again, maybe there is something so great and wonderful. You can tell me till you're blue in the face about the amazing musicianship of The Edge, or the brilliant songwriting, the razor sharp production. But, when I listen to their work I feel nothing, not a damn thing, I'm not moved in any way. I guess I just don't get this band.

#6 brings us The Rolling Stones Exile on Mainstreet, I like the Stones, they make good music. Very blues based, they let you know where they are coming from, a little racist now and then with Mick Jagger not being able to stop talking about what black girls should do. I just don't think they should rate this high. I just don't.

#7 Carole King Tapestry, I know nothing of this album, maybe I'm outing myself as some sort of ignorant loser by saying that, but I know nothing of this work. I can however think of about 10 albums that could go in this spot. in fact there are many in the top 10 of this list that should be ahead of this I'm quite sure.

#8 Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisted, finally they got something right, I would probably put this in the top 5, maybe even top 3, but at least it's here. I do agree that this is his best work, and it should be the highest rated Dylan album. It is great, great stuff. If you don't like it go and listen to it about 10 times, then come tell you don't like it. But believe me after a few listens you won't be back to tell me you don't like it, you'll thank me.

#9 The Beach Boys Pet Sounds, again, at least they got this one right, although it could be rated higher. This is such a good album, you should own this one for sure.

#10 Nirvana Nevermind, I agree with this album in this spot 100%. No beef from me here.

So there is the top 10, after this it starts to fall apart quickly. I won't bore you with the whole list, you could just go look at it for yourself. What I will say is that Pearl Jam's 10 is not the #11 album of all time. It shouldn't even be on this list. There are so many albums in the top 20 that shouldn't be on the list at all. Metallica's self titled album from 1991, no way should that be on the list. They have Shania Twain at #21, I threw up in my mouth a little bit when I read that one.

What made me the angriest though are the artists that were left off the list completely, no Stooges, no Buddy Holly, no Chuck Berry, no Eddie Cochrane, The Sonics aren't on the list! I do know one thing for sure, I won't need to go to Cleveland anytime soon. I had little desire to see the hall of fame before, but this list of rubbish killed what little desire there is.

My picks for the 2007 NCAA tournament

So I'm still a little pissed about Akron not getting in to the big dance, and to make matters worse they didn't even get into the NIT. Akron lost in the finals of the MAC tournament to Miami of Ohio on a buzzer beating 3 pointer, giving Miami (OH) the auto seed in the NCAA tourney. But I felt that based on the 26-7 overall record and going 13-3 in conference games they deserved to be there. I mean if Arkansas gets to go with the numbers they put up, why can't Akron. Anyway, I'm not gonna get all worked up about, I mean it's not like I've seen a game this season. So anyway, here are my picks with a little bit of analysis thrown in for good measure.

We'll start with the midwest

#1Florida v. #16Jackson St. - Florida,this is a no brainer. Florida is the reigning champ and they have all 5 starters back this year.

#8Arizona v. #9Purdue- Purdue, not based on anything other than I looked at the free throw percentage for both teams and Purdue seems to make theirs more often, plus they're in the Big 10.

#5 Butler v. #12 Old Dominion- Butler, Old Dominion is a good team, but no upset here, Butler is rock solid in this match up.

#6 Notre Dame v. #11 Winthrop- Notre Dame

#3 Oregon v. #14 Miami (OH)- Oregon, the good Oregon team will show up for this first round game, this will probably be the only time you'll see that good Oregon team though.

#7 UNLV v. #10 Georgia Tech- UNLV, the funk that they have been in since Coach Tarkanian left will finally end.

#2 Wisconsin v. #15 Texas A&M C.C.- Wisconsin

So there is the first round of the Midwest, which will create these match ups in the second round.

#1 Florida v. #8 Purdue- Florida

#5 Butler v. #4 Maryland- Butler

#6 Notre Dame v. #3 Oregon- Notre Dame

#7 UNLV v. #2 Wisconsin- Wisconsin

Then we start the 3rd round in the midwest,

#1 Florida v. #5 Butler- Florida

#6 Notre Dame v. #2 Wisconsin- Notre Dame

Then the Midwest final

#1 Florida v. #6 Notre Dame- Florida

So there are my picks for the Midwest bracket. Like I said earlier, I have little to no knowledge of the teams, other than what I have read over the past few days. I looked at stats and schedule, but other than that I have to rely on the history of the schools program in a lot of places.

Now the West,

#1 Kansas v. #16 Niagara- Kansas, again no upset for the #1 seed here. Kansas is rock solid.

#8 Kentucky v. #9 Villanova- Kentucky, these are the hardest games to pick, both of these teams are good, they are evenly matched. I just kinda have a feeling that Kentucky can do it.

#5 Viginia Tech. v. #12 Illinois- Virginia Tech.

#4 Southern Illinois v. Holy Cross- S. Illinois

#6 Duke v. #11 VCU- VCU, this will be a big upset, but this is not the Duke team you may have come to know over the past few years. They took an early exit for their Division Tourney, and the same will happen here.

#3 Pittsburgh v. #14 Wright St.- Pittsburgh

#7 Indiana v. #10 Gonzaga- Gonzaga, another upset, Gonzaga seems to always be rated too low and this is the case again, Indiana is not good enough to beat them.

#2 UCLA v. #15 Weber State- UCLA

And the second round match ups

#1 Kansas v. #8 Kentucky- Kentucky

#5 Virginia Tech v. #4 Southern Illinois- S. Illinois

#11 VCU v. #3 Pittsburgh- Pittsburgh

#10 Gonzaga v. #2 UCLA- UCLA

Third round

#1 Kansas v. #4 S. Illinois- Kansas

#3 Pittsburgh v. #2 UCLA- UCLA

West Final

#1 Kansas v. #2 UCLA- UCLA

Then we move to the East bracket

#1 North Carolina v. #16 Eastern Kentucky- N.C.

#8 Marquette v. #9 Michigan State- Michigan State

#5 USC v. #12 Arkansas- USC

#4 Texas v. #13 New Mexico State- Texas

#6 Vanderbilt v. George Washington- Vanderbilt

#3 Washington State v. # 14 Oral Roberts- Oral Roberts

#7 Boston College v. #10 Texas Tech- Texas Tech

#2 Georgetown v. #15 Belmont- Georgetown

2nd round East

#1 N.C. v. #9 Michigan State- Michigan State

#5 USC v. #4 Texas- Texas

#6 Vanderbilt v. #14 Oral Roberts- Vanderbilt

#10 Texas Tech v. #2 Georgetown- Georgetown

3rd round East

#9 Michigan State v. #4 Texas- Texas

#6 Vanderbilt v. #2 Georgetown- Georgetown

East Final

#4 Texas v. #2 Georgetown- Texas

Then the South bracket

#1 Ohio State v. #16 Central Conn. State- Ohio State

#8 BYU v. #9 Xavier- Xavier

#5 Tennessee v. #12 Long beach State- Tennessee

#4 Virginia v. #13 Albany- Virginia

#6 Louisville v. #11 Stanford- Louisville

#3 Texas A&M v. #14 Pennsylvania- Texas A&M

#7 Nevada v. #10 Creighton- Nevada

#2 Memphis v. #15 North Texas- Memphis

2nd round South bracket

#1 Ohio State v. #9 Xavier- Ohio State

#5 Tennessee v. #4 Virginia- Tennessee

#6 Louisville v. #3 Texas A&M- Texas A&M

#7 Nevada v. #2 Memphis- Memphis

3rd round South

#1 Ohio State v. #5 Tennessee- Ohio State

#3 Texas A&M v. #2 Memphis- Texas A&M

South Final

#1 Ohio State v. #3 Texas A&M- Texas A&M- Texas A&M

Then we get to the national semis

#1 Florida v. #2 UCLA- UCLA

#4 Texas v. #3 Texas A&M- Texas A&M

Then the championship game

#2 UCLA v. #3 Texas A&M- UCLA

So there you have it, OK by the end I was sick of typing and also realized that I may not get this post done before the tourney starts. So I stopped with the analysis.

March Madness, and my lack of knowledge on the top NCAA teams

There was a point in my life where I could have told you the names of the starting 5 players for all the schools in the NCAA tournament each year. Now that I am the father of 4 children, it seems there is less time to watch and study college basketball. I do wish I followed more closely though. I often think about setting my Tivo to record basketball games instead of Survivor, or Heroes, or endless repeats of Good Eats and South Park. The drama of the college basketball season far outweighs the drama of anything that the major networks puts on prime time TV.

What I love so much about March Madness is that unlike the major pro sports when the brackets are set they are set in stone. In the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA the best team in the playoffs record wise will always play the worst team in the playoffs record wise. But, in the NCAA tournament if you are lucky enough to have a crappy team beat a really good team that seemed to be headed your way, good on ya. It's just drama on the highest level, a single game can make or break a team, even a little team. And that's what's great about the tourney, little schools get lucky, or get the right match up and just crush a team that should have walked all over them.

The brackets are going to be announced this Sunday, so I felt I owed it to myself to learn a little bit about who looks good and who looks bad. So here is my half-hearted, last minute, and more than likely shameful analysis of the NCAA tournament this year.

First, the bubble teams, these are the teams that my or my not get in. The bubble teams with the best chance it seems are, Michigan State University, Southern California, Syracuse, Texas Tech, and Xavier. MSU has no "bad" losses, meaning no home losses against teams rated lower than 50, or road losses to teams rated outside the top 100. They also have 5 "quality" wins, meaning wins at home against teams rated 50 or higher, or road wins against teams rated 100 or higher. They beat Wisconsin at a time when they were rated #1 in the nation. All the other teams on the good side of the bubble have at least one bad loss. Syracuse will probably be the lowest rated of these teams to make it, they are sitting at 50 right now, but a big win in the first round of their division tournament, despite losing in the quarterfinals to Norte Dame. They have also won 6 of their last 8 games, a surge that should help them make the cut.

This next group of teams are little less likely to make it, but they do have a chance. They would be, Air Force, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Stanford, and West Virginia. I think the team in this group with the best chance would be Florida State, they have a few big "quality" wins namely Duke, Clemson, and Providence. But they must beat North Carolina to make it, the only other time they played them this season NC beat up on them pretty badly, 84-58. Well looking at scores while writing this I see that NC did it to the Seminoles again beating them 73-58 today, so it looks like FSU's bubble just burst.

Then we have the teams that don't have much hope left. Arkansas, Drexel, Georgia, Kansas State, and Michigan. There is no way that Michigan is getting in, no way. They had a great chance to make it in the Big 10 tourney, but fell apart down the stretch against #1 Ohio State, I think a win in that game and they may have made it in. But, 21-11 overall record and only going 8-8 in the Big 10 will not get you in unless you get a really big quality win, and they let it slip out of their hands. A team that does look good here though is Arkansas, they beat Vanderbilt in their regular season final, and have them all tied up in the second half in today's SEC tournament match up.

That will have to do for my bubble coverage, as soon as the brackets get announced I'll sit down, do my research and let you all know who to pick your office pool. Just make sure I get some props when I help you make everyone in your bracket pool look foolish. K.