Pyle of List

And then there were three! Due to some unexpected circumstances, we’ve lost 3 competitors from last week. That means no elimination this week… everyone’s safe.

On to our challenge this week: live-blogging a sporting event.

Frank Nevarez
Oscar DeLaHoya vs. Steve Forbes, HBO Boxing, May 3, 2008

7:00 Coming over from Detroit-Orlando NBA playoff. That was a blow-out. Will this fight be one, too? HBO’s Jim Lampley promo’ed the event and asked if Steve Forbes will be more than just a sacrificial lamb. He’s an 18 to 1 underdog.
7:03 HBO highlights Oscar’s legacy and shows Forbes dissing the “tune-up” tag the fight has taken on
7:04 First look at soccer field made into boxing venue. Let’s hope we have more offense tonight than in a typical soccer match
7:05 HBO’s Larry Merchant speaks French? This hits home with your typical Joe fight fan?
7:06 Oscar’s tune-up fight mistake against Felix Sturm is brought up: is Oscar looking ahead to Mayweather II fight?
7:07 Trainer Emmanuel Steward laughs about the Mayweather brothers as trainers for all connected tonight and for Mayweather-DeLaHoya II.
7:08 Floyd Mayweather Sr. has a great face, but he’s lost his ‘dreads!
7:09 Jeff Mayweather, yet another Mayweather, trains Forbes and calls him a “laid back guy.” I wanted to hear “hungry junkyard dog.” When is Zeppo Mayweather going to be introduced?
7:10 Oscar calls this fight the most important night of his life. What? Until his next tune-up fight?
7:11
7:12 HBO shows Sturm fight clips. Oscar looks bad in them. This may be the best boxing action of the night.
7:13 Merchant calls Forbes quicker than Oscar. We’ll take anything we can get.
7:14 Fifteen minutes in and fighters still not approaching the ring.
7:15 Now an interview with Oscar. The opening question is why are you still successful even though you haven’t won or looked good in most of your last fights. Oscar grins all the way to the bank.
7:16 Oscar had a streak of beating the best as he rose. Gotta give him credit for that.
7:19 He says greed and ambition drive him –he says he’s not a billionaire…yet.
7:20 Oscar says he went into therapy for issues he was dealing with– including his marriage. More details coming in a new book.
7:21 Entourage guy, Spiderman, Rocky Stallone, Bernard Hopkins, Brooke Shields and Sugar Ray Leonard are shown in the crowd. B-level stars? Remember, we’re in Carson, California –not Vegas!
7:22
7:23
7:24 National anthems come on: Mexican anthem first. Personally, I love the mariachis –look at my last name! But it sounds like a recording! Rip-off. The star spangled banner better be Memorex, too!
7:26 Pussycat Doll sings US national anthem; she’s doubling as a ring girl. She’s very serious – and live! The Marines behind her with the flags are surely at attention.
7:31 Steve Forbes comes out of the lockers and makes his way to the ring. Eurhythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” comes over the PA. I hope it doesn’t become sweet dreams if Forbes gets knocked out
7:33 Forbes enters ring, HBO shows his record, no wins or losses against big name fighters. I smell tomato soup…no wait, I spell tomato can.
7:35 Steward says Forbes has never been knocked out.
7:36 Oscar makes his way out of lockers and heads for the ring. He looks focused. He’s wearing orange and black: trick or treat?
7:37 More mariachis music as he enters; it’ll be a nachos run for me after the fight.
7:38 Michael Buffer starts the ring announcements. This guy makes money everytime “Let’s get ready to rumble” is spoken. He may be as rich as Oscar.
7:39 My main man, Raul Caiz Jr,, is the ref. Will he have to count to 10 tonight?
7:40 Oscar’s record in last five fights: 2-3.
7:41 Merchant: Oscar must look impressive for hyping next fight.
7:42 Round One: Forbes is busy, doesn’t faze Oscar. Oscar looks taller. Oscar going to the body. Stiff jab knocks Forbes back. Oscar starts getting through, but Forbes lands a good shot before end of round. Entertaining round. Whew, thank God.
7:46 Round Two: Oscar comes out looking determined and throwing head shots, body shots. Forbes is sticking around, not cowering. More of the same. Nice. Both fighters are surprisingly busy. Oscar gets best shot off before end of round.
7:51 Are you surprised we made it through two rounds?
7:50 Round Three: Oscar winning jab contest. Looks like it’s only a mater of time. Oscar is getting the better shots off. Forbes’ blows don’t seem to hurt Oscar.
7:53 Forbes hasn’t gone down in a fight in his career. Prediction: he’s going down tonight.
7:54 Round Four: HBO resident scorer Harold Lederman has Oscar ahead three rounds to none
7:56 Oscar very active, he knows he can’t be hurt, he’s being aggressive, his combinations are working, but Forbes keeps hanging around, looks fresh.
7:57 After an exchange, Forbes does a goofy strut. Forbes may be able to hang tonight, but he’s not hurting Oscar, at all.
7:58 Round Five: Forbes looks fresh and active, but his punches don’t do anything. Oscar is getting the better of it, but he’s not destroying Forbes, either.
8:01 Merchant says Oscar is at least getting his pre-Mayweather fight work-out; Lampley says he needs knock-out to hype his next fight. Right, if Oscar ‘only” goes the distance and gets a decision, how does that make my mouth water for another DeLaHoya fight?
8:03 Lederman gave Forbes the last round.
8:02 Round Six: left hooks are exchanged. Both fighters still busy, but not hurting each other. There’s a cut outside of right eye of Forbes.
8:06 Forbes corner attends to his cut: a q-tip moment.
8:07 Round Seven: Lederman has Oscar well ahead. Good combination by Oscar, good uppercut. Oscar is dancing and fighting on his toes. He’s the aggressor. Nice barrage by Oscar towards end of round.
8:10 HBO gang question: will Oscar fade as he’s done in recent fights?
8:11 Round Eight: Lampley says Oscar is able to be relaxed and be in control because he’s fighting a light puncher, a non threat – not like Hopkins or Mayweather Jr. or Moseley.
8:14 the inevitable boring part of a fight has arrived. This is when you see
that it’s going the distance – with little chance of knock-out from either boxer.
8:15 Showtime Boxing gives you ring girl peeks; HBO doesn’t. We needed one here.
8:15 Round Nine: this fight is happening right down the freeway from me and all I’m thinking is I’m glad I don’t have to deal with getting out of that parking lot tonight. What does that say about the current action in the ring?
8:17 Merchant calls Forbes boxing a sparring partner’s performance.
8:18 Aerial view of the soccer stadium. I know that area, I think there’s a Del Taco a couple blocks away: I’ll take a Deluxe del Beef burrito, extra sour cream. Oh! Back to the fight!
8:19 Round Ten: I see where Rocky and Sugar Ray are sitting in the crowd. I think an exhibition between those two right about now would be more exciting. What the heck, Brooke Shields and Sugar Ray would be real good right about now!
8:21 Oscar gets something going, Forbes holds on, gets right back to hopping and throwing punches. Forbes looks a little worse for wear, but now there’s no way he’s not finishing this thing.
8:22 It’ll be a moral victory for Forbes and a slightly hollow victory for Oscar.
8:23 Round Eleven: There’s a picture of a great big deer in the middle of the ring, an advertising display. Why am I thinking of the Milwaukee Bucks instead of boxing? Why do I want to sneak a look at the Spurs-Hornets game on TNT?
8:25 Oscar had Forbes against the ropes and did his darndest to take him out. Nope.
8:26 “Ain’t no tomorrow” is said to Forbes before this last round. Ain’t no victory, either.
8:27 Final Round: Busy fighters, no hard shots. One minute to go. At the bell, the fighters embrace. Lederman 118-109 for Oscar. If the official judges give this fight to Forbes someone better check the water in Carson.
8:32 The scorecards: 3 – 0 for DeLaHoya. A big cheer when the winner is announced. DeLaHoya is up on his handler’s shoulders and throws kisses to the crowd. A sweet valentine to his local, LA supporters.
8:34 Merchant interviews Oscar. Oscar: a shout out to East LA. His face looks banged-up.
8:35 Merchant: good work-out for Mayweather? Oscar: yes. Oscar says there will be a Mayweather fight in September, then a December fight – hip hip hooray…not!
8:36 Back to Lampley and Steward. The Mayweather family feud is thrown out as the first highlight for Oscar’s next fight.
8:37 Merchant poses a correct question: are we really interested in a second Mayweather-DeLaHoya fight? I’m not. Oscar hasn’t been dominant for a long time. Then Merchant recants and says if Oscar can make money with more fights he should fight.
8:39 See, I knew it was a bad idea to invite Sly Stallone to the fight. This is the guy who has given us too many Rocky movies. Like Oscar, they just do not pack as much punch anymore.

Lunchbox: Meh…I guess I’ll go with the good news first. Choosing a boxing match was pretty original. I walk away after reading this feeling like I know what happened with the fight. Now the bad news: the jokes were stale and forced. I think that this would have been good as just a liveblog with analysis of the fight, sans the jokes.

JP: A very entertaining liveblog to be sure. You picked a good sport (boxing) and often times boring matches bring better analysis since you’re not actually busy watching the fight. Your jokes were timely and even managed to work in some boxing analysis. Nice work.

DLamp: I dug it! I thought you brought your voice to it, and chose a sport that most people wouldn’t have, because let’s face it, not many people care about boxing anymore (at least compared to NBA, MLB, NFL). Favorite line: “When is Zeppo Mayweather going to be introduced?”

Mako McCain
May 5, 2008
8:47PM (CT) It’s Cinco de Mayo…but the game’s in New Orleans. I’m in Austin. We should all be in San Antonio.
Marv Albert and Reggie Miller…good ol’ Marv…maybe I’ll make it through a Spurs game afterall.
8:48PM Here’s the tip…Finley (ex-Maverick, of course) hits a jumper…we let all the good ones go. Avery’s probably at this game…Rest in Peace…
Can’t believe I’m actually watching a Spurs game…Parker just got swatted. Maybe it’ll be worth it?
Paul gets going early – No one to guard him on San An. He’s gonna make this look like a McDonald’s All American…
8:52PM Spurs 7 NO 10
Bruce Bowen looks like Cleveland on Family Guy.
There’s nothing more miserable than watching the Spurs…as a Maverick’s fan…after we got annihilated.
Peja’s unmerciful…bet he’s happy to be outta Sacramento right about now…what happened to Sacramento? Is Bibby still a King?
8:55PM Duncan on the line.
Spurs 11 NO 13…(that’d be Spurs 12)
Chris Paul shoulda got the MVP…I don’t know ANY of these Hornets players and here they are rolling all over the reigning NBA champs…he doesn’t have Kobe’s PR team…
Kurt Thomas went to Texas Tech right?
What a joke…
8:57PM Spurs 14 NO 13
Changed the channel to Family Guy…
Love Family Guy…this is the one where Cleveland’s, I mean, Bruce Bowen’s wife is cheating on him with Quagmire.
Back to the game…I have “work” to do…but I’m more interested to see what Bruce Bowen does about Quagmire…
9:00PM “…worst playoff game in his career…” they say (about Duncan in game 1), but they could be very well talking about Dirk…at any given playoff game…
Get off, Craig…I’d prefer Pam Oliver.
Remember Willow Bay? Whatever happened to Willow Bay? I loved Willow Bay! HUGE preadolescent crush on Willow Bay…I watched NBA Inside Stuff every Saturday for my entire childhood and into my teens just to watch and hear Willow Bay talk basketball…
9:02PM There are very few things on this planet that are more irritating than Tim Duncan flops…but he seems to put the ball in everytime…he’s just too good, too consistent…to predictable…like math class
Watching a Spurs game is like sitting through high school math all over again…this is miserable.
I think I’m gonna bet on New Orleans for the Championship.
9:05PM San An 17 NO 18
Bonzi…what kind of a name IS that?…Bonzi?
Stout lil’ fella…and scrappy…made us (the Mavs) look stupid…like Stephen Jackson last year. No…scratch that…David West is more like Stephen Jackson…AND what he did to us.
As you can see, I’m still bitter. Shouldn’t be…I should be used to losing, should expect it…but I’m still bitter.
Microwavable TGIFriday’s…delicious (that dude with the dye job gets paid to eat…how do you get PAID to EAT?)
9:09 Someone else notice that Popovich’s face looks like the surface of another planet?
…looks like Robert the Bruce Sr. from Braveheart…
Ginobli passes on the 3? Peja wouldn’t a done that…
He WOULD miss two easy shots (but gets himself a rebound to put on the stat sheet…)
Who’s this Oberto kid? Where’d he come from? (I need a wireless connection…google would come in handy for this…)
9:12PM SA 12 NO 20
Ginobli out of bounds…nice one…complain about that foul.
Did Chris Paul come out of one of Kobe’s worst nightmares? Maybe we’ll get to find out…
Ginobli’s falling apart. This is entertaining. I’m starting to enjoy this game.
West. Travels.
Let’s see how many turnovers we can cram into the first quarter…
That was almost three consecutive to’s for Ginobli…unbelievable.
9:14PM 4.2 seconds left….Manu on the line
Where is Manu from? Looks like a snakey Russian…probably from somewhere in South America.
9:15PM End of 1st.
SA 23 NO 22
I’m gonna grab a Dos Equis (with lime)
9:19PM Greg…get a makeup artist.
Ginobli starts out the 2nd a little better than he ended the first.
NOW they’re gonna start calling fouls.
Ginobli looks a bit like Tucan Sam…follow your nose.
9:21PM SA 27 NO 22
Bonzi can’t finish.
Spurs are in stride and NO can’t get nothing…probably time to stop passing to Bonzi?
Family Guy? No…My Name is Earl…
I’ll never understand the logic of the Miller Lite Chill…people are too lazy to cut up a lime and put it in their beer?
People who drink Miller Lite are.
9:25PM SA 29 NO 22
2nd Quarter
Bonzi gets a lift off the steal…
How do figure this is a “must win” for the Hornets?
I think they can handle the Spurs in San An…I know they can.
9:27PM Its not an easy thing to liveblog I’m learning – it’s right up there with stand-up comedy in difficulty and possible embarrassment. Humiliating…you still reading this?
You know, it doesn’t help either that I picked a Spurs game to do this…
Could be worse…
I could be blogging a regular season MLB game.
Or the WNBA….(they don’t even allow that in Guantanamo.)
9:29PM Chris Paul, looks like he’s 16…comes off the bench…
A nice break from LeBron, this Chris Paul kid…for one, LeBron looks like he’s 40 years old…he looked like he was 40 when he was 18!
9:30PM SA 31 NO 28
Wright gets a 3 and this game is taking a turn…
As long as the Spurs never play offense, they’re ok to watch.
Meatloaf in a commercial?! Alright, whatever negative comments I made about this assignment…I apologize…Meatloaf’s on a commercial…shoulda been for testicular cancer…(Fight Club…”Bob had bitch tits”)
Happy Cinco de Mayo…
Ashton Kutcher has nothing left…
9:34PM Tied up at 31
Kurt Thomas on the line.
Reggie Miller, less of a man than his sister (or brother?) Cheryl…and Marv.
Spurs are working on a new franchise turnover record in the first half.
The rims should ALWAYS be miked…bricks sound ridiculous…hike up the volume on the rim mic…
I want to hear the dishes rattle when Dwight Howard dunks…
9:37PM NO 34 SA 31
Peja gets himself a 3…
Kurt Thomas turns it over…
Lots of foul calling here ref…
David West is gonna singlehandedly foul out the entire Spurs frontcourt…amazing.
9:39PM SA 31 NO 35 -36 (excuse me)
Duncan, no Thomas…foul
Peja rips off Parker…foul
I’m dozing…fading fast…the NBA has lost its luster…why do I still watch these games?
9:45PM I think I was asleep for about 5 minutes…just now…SA 36 NO 37
Brent Barry, he was in the Slam Dunk Contest a while back, right?, hits a 3
Byron Scott…coach of the year…its because he has a mustache.
SA 38 NO 40
Ernie…how are ya?
Marv Albert still gets excited when people dribble behind their back…
9:48PM Cleveland’s in…more corner 3’s
Byron Scott…you’re only as good as your mustache, my friend, never forget that…
Nice prayer Parker…that’ll be a Top 10.
Why are we calling all these fouls? Its still the 2nd, isn’t it?
Parker nails a 3 to close the half.
9:51PM SA 43 NO 42
(note to self: buy a headband to wear to work tomorrow…)
It’s ironic that, for all the hype that the Western Conference got leading up to this year’s playoffs, the East has been a lot more exciting…
This Cleveland/Boston matchup looks like one of the better series of the last five years (at least). I don’t know what to make of Boston after that Atlanta series…kind of like Obama after Ohio and PA…you know they’re still the better team…but you’re afraid they could lose the whole thing just as easily…
I’m gonna bet on Cleveland…but only because I want to see Lebron and Dwight Howard square off in the Eastern Conference Championship.
Those 2, plus Paul…are the only future the NBA has left…if it has a future at all.
Juliana Wright? Nice, Charles. Charles needs subtitles…like Boomhower from King of the Hill…
“but…bedee-a-do-bi-oh-do-bee-bo- a Bowen get a dem dere shot- off-a-der-in den-it wat-ader-dee-doo-Duncan-go Bing!- a ha- and-den-ders – a foul on- and dee do-I just gambled away my Mercedes…bee-a- bo –doo…”
Orlando’s gotta beat Detroit. The Spurs and Detroit got no business still being in the playoffs…
If Charles had his way…there’d be no fouls called EVER.
- and honestly…I wouldn’t argue against that…think of the possibilities? Arch Rivals
…Family Guy on Adult Swim…(plan B if this game gets boring…too late.)
10:09PM SA 43 NO 42
Not a huge Reggie Miller fan…but remember that 8 points in 16 seconds he pulled off to beat the Knicks?
Chris Paul needs to get more shots…Peja will do though…for 3
Duncan with another hideous hook
There you go CP
10:12PM SA 43 NO 47
It was 8 points in 16 seconds right? I remember watching that game. Hated Reggie. Hated the Knicks more though. Couldn’t believe my eyes…didn’t have time to.
I need to drive down to New Orleans.
Chandler makes Parker look like a grade schooler…
Do the Spurs have the stamina to stop a team like NO ? If they pull this game back into a half court …and put me to sleep…they have a chance…but they can’t run with ANYBODY…they’re done for…
And they keep turning the ball over…
10:17PM NO 50 SA 43 9:20 in the 3rd
Stojacovic…Stoyakcovick…Stojacovich…Peja with a bankshot.
West gets frustrated if his team is leading by more than 10…
10:19PM NO 54 SA 49
Duncan dunks.
Peterson hits a prayer…the momentum is all NO.
Stojacovic…Stojakovich (there it is) on the line.
10:22PM Peja airs a 3
I don’t even know who this Peterson fella is, but he’s putting up some solid numbers tonight.
Give it to Peterson…Paul gets a 3…Hornets by 10, 5 minutes left in the 3rd.
10:24PM NO 63 SA 53
Ginobli gets his 4th foul…Duncan is whining…the routine…
Paul’s crossover is straight off an AND 1 Mixtape…Hot Sauce…Skip-to-my Lu
He’ll be fun to watch for a few years.
Give the ball to that long-haired dude…he needs a mustache.
10:28PM NO 65 SA 54
Cleveland (Bowen’s) shoving Paul around
(I’m fading…need coffee…if I bow out…I apologize)
Stojakovic with a trey!! That crowd LOVES Yugoslavia…don’t know if it still exists…but they love it…
Chris Paul is making Parker look like Oliver Miller out there…
10:34PM NO 72 SA 56 2:10 left in 3rd.
Reggie has no idea what he’s talking about…nice filler…like ESPN during baseball season.
NO is pulling away now…we’ll see if the Spurs just roll over (finally)
Chris Paul is making this ridiculous…how old is he? Might as well be a playground out there…
10:39PM
…
7:19AM What just happened? What the…?
I fell asleep? I fell asleep.
Ahhhhhhhh…the couch…computer…empty Dos Equis…
Of course, this is the typical scenario if I attempt to actually endure a Spurs game…but I have an obligation to fulfill here…an assignment to complete for Pyle of List…and I was really starting to like New Orleans.
7:21AM Sportscenter…always there for me.
I’ll have to catch the score, at least…maybe a few highlights…
Does anyone watch horseracing anymore? The Kentucky Derby…what a fiasco! God bless you, Hunter S. Thompson.
I’m gonna get some coffee.
7:30AM One of the worst feelings a man can experience in this life is to fall asleep during a game and wake up not knowing the final score.
And, although I have little to no concern for the Spurs, I’m thinking I’m gonna back New Orleans now that my beloved Mavs are toast.
Why? I don’t know. With a Hornets victory and eventual defeat of the Spurs, perhaps we’re looking at a new era in the NBA (I’m feeling optimistic)…Spurs gone. Mavs gone. Suns gone.
Could we be moving back to an NBA dominated by the Lakers and the Celtics?
7:49AM Tony made it into the Top 10…reference to a stomping.
Celtics and the Cavaliers could be the best playoff series of this decade…I’m gonna take Cleveland in 6…(Did I already mention all this last night?)
Get to the score Van Pelt…I gotta go to work!
Steve!!! C’mon…get me the score!!!
8:01AM here we go…
10 for 17 from the 3 – oh man! What’d I miss? West gets into it again…
Looks like the Hornets rolled all over them…
NO 102 SA 84
It’s a new day…in the NBA
I’m off.

Lunchbox: This was a bit rambling and long winded, but that is bound to happen when you drink and liveblog. In spite of all that, I still had a good laugh at the analogy equating a Spurs game to high school math class. You can endear yourself to me endlessly with Spurs bashing. That or a nice medium rare steak. The fact that you fell asleep but stuck with it through the AM SportsCenter was funny too.

JP: I think you went for the quantity approach and you managed to find some jokes that stuck (and some that didn’t). Willow Bay, Celts as Obama and Bruce Bowen as Cleveland really stood out for me. In fact, I won’t be able to look at Bruce without hearing Cleveland’s voice from here on out. I’m definitely playing Paula this week, but I couldn’t find much criticism here.

DLamp: I won’t lie, I just stopped reading. You lost me about a quarter of the way through it. Was it kind of fun to read? Sure, but not fun enough to make me read the rest. I don’t know what to tell you, I just think you chose the wrong game to do, or did too many updates. I mean,  you could only blog three times a quarter or when something very important happens and cut the reading time down significantly.
Philguard
9.35p – Game 2 Utah at LA…they’re awarding the MVP to Kobe right now. In case you didn’t know he was good here’s a montage. Even video guys need something to do in the playoffs I guess.
9.37p – Stern looks like an elf of some sort. Not breaking any new ground there but, it has to be said occasionally.
9.38p – Not a Kobe fan…just not but it is good to see him finally get the award…I think Paul was more deserving but my ballot never came this year so…
9.40p – These 5 Dollar footlong commercials for Subway are rife for jokes…all obvious so I will leave them alone. For you the reader, Philguard is looking out for you.
9.42p – Gotta say…I hate Barkley but I hope he gives me some fodder tonight. Come on Big Buda.
9.43p – Is MVP a team award? I’ve heard that all day. I understand that it’s the “right thing for any MVP to say but it rubs me wrong.
9.45p – Hey there’s a basketball game on tonight.
9.49p – Lakers have taken the Jazz all the way down in the shot clock twice down the floor but Utah still has 4 points. Good D but gotta close out.
9.52 – Now the Jazz have had 2 straight basically uncontested shots by rotating the ball around the perimeter. Lakers need some D. This game should not be tied at 13 right now.
9.55 – Did you know that the Gasol trade was better for the Lakers than the Kidd or Shaq trades for their teams? Thanks TNT graphics.
10.01 – I realize how dangerous it is to blog the Lakers when I don’t like them and the Judges here might be Lakers fans. Take no offense. Whatever I say about the Lakers, I’m a Mavs fan so I’d trade teams in less time than it takes Lindsey Lohan to find her keys after she’s had a couple.
10.03 – Lakers up by 9.
10.04 – The NBA, big huge athletic guys that all throw their hands up and back away when the whistle blows. This is why I hold out hope that the NHL can rebound.
10.06 – By the way, Lakers in 5 here. Just because sweeps are difficult.
10.07 – Lakers up by 10, 25-15.
10.08 – Can any commercial give you the phoned in feeling like the Geico Caveman dancing ads. Just sad.
10.13 – 31-18 Lakers and Utah now looks like they don’t belong on the court with LA.
10.16 – End of the first 33-18 Lakers.
10.18 – If Dewayne Wade can’t get well again I think he has a future as a good comic foil for Barkley. These commercials with the 2 of them are great.
10.20 – Sloan’s complaining about the officiating during the break between the quarters. Even if you’re getting screwed it comes off as petty.
10.23 – Is the Jazz ever going to be a true contender? As long as I can remember they’ve been good but not scary.
10.24 – There’s Phil Jackson…why do all coaches with facial hair( Phil, Stan Van Gundy, D’Antoni, Andy Reid, Mike Holmgren) come off as shifty. Even Dungy is a little shady looking to me.
10.30 – Lakers have had 11 free throws, the Jazz 2. I hate this kind of disparity because it can lend credence to bad officiating claims
10.32 – 43-32 Lakers. 6.37 left in the half.
10.34 – How about the Magic? Not that Detroit needs to be worried but they might want to look at the Celtic/Hawk series as a cautionary tale of not taking a team for granted.
10.37 – Stern getting interviewed and was very put out by the clock malfunction question. Hey, it’s a screw up, you have to address it. And he says they will look at instant replay on clock issues. Because the last 5 minutes of games aren’t currently long enough.
10.41 – Jazz shooting 38% from the field. Can’t win like that.
10.43 – Vitamin Water’s new LeBron commercial is very worthy of mentioning. Anything that makes me chuckle is worth it. Doesn’t need to be a big laugh…I’ve only invested 30 seconds after all.
10.45 – Boozer and Williams combined for 3 points thus far. And Boozer has only played 7 minutes due to foul trouble. Utah needs to adjust big time at the half.
10.47 – If Utah can get to the locker room down by 10 or less they should count themselves lucky. Right now its 59-49 Lakers.
10.50 – Half-time. 63-49 Lakers.
10.56 – Barkley just realized the Jazz look like they can’t play with the Lakers. Seems like it would be more of a surprise if they could.
11.01 – Kara Sedgwick introducing the studio crew. TNT has no shame. I guess that’s not a surprise they’re television people. It reminds me of the Hulk ads that ran a few years ago during the playoffs. I need a shower after that kind of failed cross promotion.
11.07 – Failed bit about the stage hand girl putting a bug in Barkley’s drink. Need the game to come back.
11.16 – 71-58 Lakers.
11.18 – Not much happening here worth mentioning. Utah needs to make a run here to make this a game. 76-64 Lakers with 6:51 left in the 3rd.
11.22 – Even Laker fan seems lethargic. This is when Utah needs to push and get into the game.
11.25 – “What Happens in Vegas” cross promo…I’m not usually a fan of these kinds of movies but this might warrant a theatre ticket.
11.29 – Lakers are matching the Jazz point for point. Must be maddening for Jazz fans.
11.30 – Williams has a great dunk here…at least someone is trying to get some momentum back.
11.31 – I’m fighting a fever here. Muscle ache too. I know you don’t care but there you go…
11.34 – 88-80 after a Jazz steal and fast break. They have to keep pushing into the 4th.
11.36 – Back to a 10 point lead and a Jazz turnover. Just not making the best of the opportunities.
11.37 – Fisher hits a 3 to give the Lakers a 13 point lead.
11.38 – Williams answers with a 3. I was just about to call it. 93-83 Lakers at the end of the third.
11.39 – Kobe will most likely sit through the first 4 minutes or so. That might be the last chance for the Jazz. Before he comes back they need to pull within 1 or 2 possessions.
11.42 – Phil’s interview between the quarters. Feels like Utah took it to them. Really??
11.48 – 7.49 left in the half and Utah is still looking at a 9 point deficit. Let’s see if Kobe comes back.
11.50 – Kobe is back. I think Utah has had all the chances they’re going to get.
11.51 – Very pedestrian blog here. I wish I had someone else to kind of play off of.
11.53 – Two more missed shots by Utah and Kobe forces the foul at the other end. They are getting chances and just not converting.
11.54 – I think Jerry Sloan bothers me because he doesn’t look like he cares about the missed opportunities.
11.56 – This Bacon Club Chalupa commercial kills me. Do hot chicks really need to carry fast food in their handbags to attract guys at a bar?
11.59 – Boozer makes 2 free throws to bring it within 5. Maybe a chance for a good finish.
12.01 – Fisher hits yet another 3 pointer. Laker steal, Utah foul. It’s back to 10 now before the foul shots.
12.06 – LA is just too strong. They have an answer for every Utah score. 109-99.
12.10 – The Jordan comparisons are getting tired and old to me. Kobe is the best in the game right now, isn’t that enough.
12.13 – Keys to the game bits are old and tired, too. If Doug Collins was that good at identifying this kind of stuff wouldn’t he still be coaching. That goes for all sports broadcasters who do keys to the game. Give it up, find something else to fill time.
12.16 – 18.8 seconds left. Lakers up by 9.
12.21 – Kirilenko fouls with 6.4 left down by 8…what’s the point of that?
12.22 – Ball game. 120-110 Lakers. Utah had chances and just couldn’t make it happen. They’re going to kick themselves when they watch the film.

Lunchbox: I agree with JP here. The “What Happens in Vegas” thing threw me off a bit. Was it because they showed Cameron Diaz parading around in her underwear? Also, you don’t need to worry about offending any Lakers fans at this blog. We have no love for those guys. You did pretty well overall. This entry had the best flow this round. For whatever reason, I thought the best parts were your digs on the commercials. There’s not enough good commercials out there though. For every Walk of No Shame commercial there’s a dozen Five Dollar Foot Long commercials. Back to the sports angle, I think you provided a good synopsis of the action too. I don’t really have much to complain about. That’s a good thing.

JP: I thought it was good… then I got the part where you considered buying a ticket to “What Happens in Vegas”. You lost me there. We’ll just credit that to the TNT cross-promotion brainwashing that took advantage of you because you were live-blogging. You aren’t too fond of it, but its working! Solid effort, and we’ve even come to the conclusion that basketball live-blogging is among the most difficult among sports.

DLamp: Yeah, you did a good job of keeping this flowing and kept it short. Was it the funniest? No. In fact, I don’t remember chuckling even once. But it was well written and short/sweet. So I guess you get some credit for that.

Next week: “Fill Your Passion Bucket”. Contestants (all 3 will be back) will write about a team, player or issue they’re passionate about.