Even if it's broke it doesn't ALWAYS need fixing

You never find a foam 2-finger hand emblazoned with "We're #2". Nobody wears those silly hats and t-shirts that they give out for conference championships. My 5 year old doesn't even like his participation trophies. I don't expect pro franchises to be any happier. There just isn't any celebrating when you don't win it all.

This kind of dissatisfaction is why you can't blame the Magic. They didn't win the Championship; that joy went to the Lakers. So the knee jerk reaction, which they went with, was change. So they trade away Courtney Lee and they aren't really making offers towards Hedo Turkoglu that he is willing to play for. So what is their new solution: Vince Carter. I know it feels right to go with a big name wing-man to help overcome Kobe. But just because they lost didn't mean they we're broken; it doesn't mean they needed fixing. In fact by trying to improve they likely took a step backward.



A big part of their success, in fact the key to it, was the fact you MUST prepare for Dwight Howard in the middle. His size and athleticism make him a force. The second and more important prong of the Magic's attack is that all that time you spent preparing for superman took away the time you could have spent planning for their perimeter shooting. Because Dwight isn't yet developed enough to be a sole force, or even a primary one.

Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu have acknowledged that they tend to shoot in spurts. One of them will be hitting while the other can't seem to find his touch. While they both make a lot of money to combine for a consistent outside shooting threat, the fact is any single shooter goes through streaks. Without one to fill in for the other the Magic wont have the consistent scoring threat they need to support Howard.

Vince Carter is a scorer, and he will get his. He has gotten his everywhere he has played. But he has also never won it all anywhere he has played. He has also shown that when he is unhappy he will NOT play hard. Vince Carter's surly demeanor aside, he just doesn't fit with the Magic's style of play. As he drives and slashes he will find himself with only half a court to play with. He wont be able to drive on the side that Howard is posted and even if he drives on the off side he will still face Howard's man coming with help.

It's not mine but I have learned to like Colin Cowherd's "don't try to get happier than happy". The Magic should be Happy but they are trying to get happier. They have sacrificed a team with no ME players that got to the mountain top as a cohesive unit. In my first prediction for the 2009-2010 NBA season: The Magic wont make it out of the first round of the playoffs.

It comes in 3's

It's a silly little phrase. Most reasonable people know that it is just a saying and not a fact. But like all the adages we surround ourselves with, they seem to come from some where. Early this morning I found myself mocking the numerous people on Twitter who we're noting the passing of Farrah Fawcett by asking "who's next?". Her passing along with that of Ed Mcmahon earlier this week gave us two of the three we have come to expect in a group.

As 1 o'clock rolled around Twitter started to buzz with the news of Michael Jackson's hospitalization; quickly followed by news of his passing. As realization set in that I had been a little hasty mocking the "comes in three's" adage I decided I'd call around and let a few people know about his passing.

I am not an ardent supporter of Jacksons music. I liked Thriller and Beat It. If you grew up in the '80's there is no way you didn't like those two. I felt something with his passing, but it was no more powerful than it would be had I found out anyone that I know of had passed. What little his music did for me had been negated long ago by his actions and choices in his personal life. I mean let's face it, dude was WEIRD.

I called my sister more to see if she knew than out of any need to wax longingly about Michael. Once I told her what had happened she immediately called bull. After a little back and forth and few different swears she made me go through she finally bought it. Her next question though was nice for this avid twitterer. "how do you know already when it's not even on my news page?" I answered her with smug satisfaction "I'm on Twitter" WIN

Why are you asking ME what's cool

A freind of mine, Bud, was recently visiting from Chicago. In order to really grasp this story you have to understand that he is one of those people that is constantly on the move; both mentally and phyically. There is always somthing to be gleaned from every person, environment, and situation.
Just before we left for the airport Bud up and decides he's getting on Twitter. I'd basically given up on talking him into it a while ago. Our discussions basically centered around the fact that I thought Twitter was AWESOME, and might even be more useful than it is a time-vacuum. He couldn't see any productive use for it. (This from a guy who plays scrabble on facebook through his iphone).
With only a standard image up on Twitter, I started pimping @budwierenga5 with a tweet before we headed off to LAX. On our way Bud says half-jokingly "well I guess now that everyone is on Twitter I will get on too" without much thought the words "At this point, I wouldn't have bothered, it'll be something besides Twitter in 6 months"
This banter suddenly became a legitmate discussion of Twitter's groundswell into mainstream. I have been on Twitter since January 2007. Not nearly early enough to count as in from the begining but certainy early enough to count as ahead of the curve. That being said I couldn't answer his simple question as to how Twitter suddenly became this moment's hammer-pants.

I have no idea why so many people use it, I have a hard time quantifying why I use it. But one thing I know for sure I am way to G33K to be deciding what's cool and what isn't.

So; Why do you use Twitter? How did you find it? If you have been on it for a while are you enjoying the influx of new blood or do you find it cumbersome?

I love the Vikings. I was born in Minnesota and my earliest memories are of me and my father watching games together. I will never root for another team or waiver in my love for the purple. But that doesnt exclude me from frustrations. And by frustration I mean "don't talk to me on days we lose" type frustration.

As a reasonable fan I don't need to win a Superbowl every year. But in my life time we (yes WE. I get to say We because I have more time invested in this team than any player.) have never won and we have had one top 5 pick.

It's the mediocrity that kills me. By week 6 of this year there was not a Lion fan that was still holding on to hope. I can't say the same. We all started out the year listening to the talking heads predictions of our superbowl chances. Then we experienced the ups and downs and squeeked into the pllayoffs.

The difference between us and the Lions now. 21, there are 21 spots between there draft selection and ours. So now who's happier; Lions fan or Vikings fan. Ok we're still happier I mean seriously they're the Lions. But did you really savor that first round playoff game, will you be wearing your 2008 NFC North Championship shirt with pride. Not I.

So Vikings I have a simple request. Progress. I want a draft pick that is top 5 or a Superbowl. NOTICE: I did not say TRIP to the Superbowl. I do not want to be a fan of the team that went 0-5.

Way to Start Out Sadness

I have been thinking of re-starting my new blog for a little while now. I no longer write for work so I have found my skills dulling. I do take some pride in writing so I have been waiting for a topic that I really felt would be an entertaining post. Unfortuantely instead I ran into a topic that I couldn't let go by with out sharing a little on. The sad passing of NC State womens basketball coach Kay Yow.



I am not a big fan of womens basketball. For the 12 of you that are, that is an argument for another time. Yow was an incredible woman. Not only did she stay at the same school since 1975, a run that is second only to Pat Summit's at Tennessee, she did it while fighting through multiple battles with breast cancer.



In 1987 she was first diagnosed with cancer. She had already accomplished great things, leading the US to a victory over Russia. It isn't really what she did to that point though. It was jsut a year after her battle with cancer began that she again led the US team to a gold in the 88 Olympics.



Her on the court success continued, resulting in 657 wins at NC State. She did her best work off the court. Promoting awareness and lending her name and time to the V-foundation. The foundation is the legacy of fellow NC state head coach Jim Valvano who fell to cancer several years ago.