Between Thought And Expression
Lil' Wayne's "Guess Who's Back" freestyle. Tom Verlaine's solo on Television's "Marquee Moon," Fugazi, live, playing with no setlist. Messi's fucking coconuts Maradona-goal from last week, Michael Vick challenging conventional wisdom regarding whether one man can avoid being tackled by 11 men. Reggie Bush challenging basic laws of physics. The classic moments of the Jasons (Kidd and the highlight or die best of Williams).
Motherfuckers exist in bullet-time. Whether you're writing, running a break, fucking or rapping you might get lucky enough to have a moment where there seems to be no divide between thinking of something and executing the thought; where an idea hits and you articulate it like you've been marinating it in Bitches Brew for most of your adult life even though, really, you just pulled it out of your ass. Art of the improvisers, Hep Cats.
Devin Harris caught one of those last night. It got kinda lost in the extra-curricular activities ; namely, Baron Davis telling reporters that Stephen Jackson "is my shrink," (which is kinda like saying Sean Penn is your Narcotics Anonymous sponsor). And honestly if I didn't TiVo the shit I might've missed it. Third quarter, running 3/4 speed fast break, off the dribble, no dip in momentum, ONE-HANDED, FROM THE WRIST BULLET CROSS-COURT, THREADED PAST/THROUGH/ A COUPLE OF WARRIORS ON SOME MAGIC BULLET SHIT, RIGHT INTO JASON TERRY'S HAPPY ZONE. THREE-POINTER, MIKAEL PIETRUS MAKES THE "NO HE DIDN'T" FACE. DON NELSON'S DOG MAKES THE "YES HE FUCKING DID!" FACE.
No, it wasn't the greatest pass I've ever seen. Probably wasn't the best one this week. Back in my pre-tobacco days I fancied myself a bit of a drive 'n dish cat (minus a left-hand or viable floater or court awareness). I pissed off many a taller dude by firing some Stevie Wonder shit at their foreheads without looking. If you've ever run a break, you know what Devin did IS A REALLY FUCKING HARD THING TO DO.
Right, that's why he's Devin Harris and we're not. But there was something special about the mix of off-handed creativity and J.B.'s-playing-"The Grunt Pt. 2"-precision.
There was this scene on Friday Night Lights (for those who don't know: it's like The Wire with happy endings and indie rock), where golden-boy-turned-murderballer Jason Street tries to tell the new QB how to throw a nearly-impossible 18 yard out without getting it picked. And young dude says, I can't make that throw. Street doesn't trot any there is no CAN'T in AMERICAN bullshit because he can't walk anymore. He just says, if you can make this throw, defenses will fear you. It's not about self-belief; it's about thinking of something and saying, 'Why the fuck not.' Devin got some kids running scared last night.
posted by Billups @ 4/26/2007 02:01:00 PM
57 comments
57 Comments:
Three things that get me about that Messi goal:
1. The acceleration once he beats the first two guys.
2. The way LaPorta grins.
3. The pregnant lady in the gold top.
Good times, Billups, good times.
it's funny cause I told my viewing mate during the game that if Devin Harris isn't going to finish any of his layups he needs to make some bad ass passes and VOILA
steve nash : soccer player :: devin harris : football player.
" . . .the Nuggets are not to be taken lightly, and a full-time all-out effort on both ends of the court is necessary for San Antonio to advance into the next round.
Game 2 was so meaningful that there were lessons to be learned by non-participants as well: On several occasions, Anthony stretched out a hand to help a fallen opponent to his feet. Pat Riley used to (and still might) fine his players $2,000 for providing aid and comfort to the enemy in this fashion.
Also, Duncan provided the same kind of help when referee Danny Crawford was bowled over. How much would Riley demand for thusly aiding one of the devil's minions?
The overriding lesson to be learned from these two seemingly trivial incidents is that, even at the highest level, basketball is much more than five good guys battling against five bad guys. In fact, the truest reality of NBA competition consists of ten men playing one game. And, ultimately, that's much more important than who won and who lost". - Charley Rosen
Is it just me, or did Charley Rosen finally get a soul?
All I want to say is that the more props Messi's goal gets, the better...1. The acceleration once he beats the first two guys.
So true, it was like he was a race car driver drafting, and the second someone tried to foul him, he was gone like Keyser Soze.
Nah, Rosen still doesn't have a soul. He must have stolen that from somebody else.
The best thing about that pass was watching it in slo-mo instant replay. There was a nanosecond where you could almost see the light bulb go on over Harris' head.
I enjoyed the song, the video, and definately the pass. Most interesting.
"Nah, Rosen still doesn't have a soul. He must have stolen that from somebody else."
I don't know . . . Most of the time he comes off as a jackass, but he has his moments.
The only thing more exciting than the goal by Messi, than the obvious resemblance to Maradona, is that we have 10-15 more years of this coming...
Brazil/England is running scared....
Out of curiosity, who is the stereotypical YouTube amateur highlight film creator for soccer?
I've watched a few Cristiano Ronaldo mixtape reels, and the song selection is almost always hip-hop. Usually contemporary. But I somehow found a random video the other day that was a quasi-instrumental version of "Ice Cream" with Ghostface. Can't find it now to link.
Dogma 95 for highlights? Yes, please.
This is random, but: Fuck the Celtics. Fuck Danny Ainge. Fuck Doc Rivers. And most of all, fuck Paul Pierce. Dude thinks he's MJ, when in reality he's not even Alex English.
Billups for NBA Playoff Blogging MVP!
The Harris-Messi connection just completely spoiled Messi for me and now I want him to break his leg.
I know y'all don't like to talk about Darko, but watching the Pistons-Magic game I felt like there was some kind of prison mentor/newbie kinda vibe between Rasheed and Darko. Am I completely alone in this?
Amare says: "Two blocks followed by an oop? Ok Tyrus. And I'll do it with one hand."
Hells yeah.
I'm a decent-to-good rec league center midfielder (idolizing Zidane) and I've had my moments of minor glory, but this was ackniculous. Two things about the Messi goal:
1) The speed he did it at is ludicrous.
2) When he first gets that ball, it's from a bad pass that should by all rights have been stripped and sent the other way. Numbah Six screwed up. However, Messi retains full awareness and body control to tap that ball four times in different directions and beat two defenders within 10 feet.
weird. it's like billups finally took his costume off. what's the occasion?
weird. it's like billups finally took his costume off. what's the occasion?
Did Billups take off his costume, or did you?
Just getting Donnie Darko on you, paper tiger...
T.: Hilarious. Only 4 Rockets scored tonight. 50 for Yao/TMac, a man named Shane scored 11, and Skip to my Lou had 6. That's it.
Of course, if Yao/Mac had made their 60 (as we said they needed), well.. the Rockets only lose by 4. Say, one of those Juwan bricks goes in, and one of those Head bricks goes in.
Again, the Jazz, despite being at home and playing a team of bricklaying masons, only scored 81 themselves. Jeff Van Gun-Deefense!
The Rockets will be fine. Right now the other two Texas teams have more to worry about....
any way of seeing harris' pass for those of us that missed it?
I come here for the truth, and Billups always brings it, but then I get a Dogma95 bonus reference thrown in? Readers just know sometimes.
Peter Crouch is the FreeDarko-iest soccer player. There, I said it.
ricky rubio is the "freedarko-iest" player not in the NBA and not american.
and no, im not chad ford.
Peter Crouch is the FreeDarko-iest soccer player. There, I said it.
I would have said Trezeguet, for his ability to make goals out of nothing.
If we go All Time though, I think Valderrama holds that title.
How is Peter Crouch freedarko? I mean, I'm hardly an authority, but I thought FreeDarko was about playing with style, not dominating through genetic mutation. But if there's a theory here, please explain.
Valderrama -- absolutely. May I add Ruud Gullit to the all-timers list?
Oh and in goal: Jorge Campos, that 90's Mexican goalie who was like 5'2". He could play goalie and striker, and he could jump out of the building.
Some Kinda Powder Blue Love
Between thought and expression
Lies the Nuggets winning two at home
Situations arise
Because of the weather
And no kinds of love
Are better than Bubbachuck
If Marguerita told it to Tom, it's gotta be true.
my soccer knowledge is not fucking with some of you, but valderrama and campos seems pretty FD to me.
until today, i knew nothing of peter crouch, so i asked an expert (whattup shaw!), who, after first suggesting rik smits and austin croshere for crouch's hoops analogues, suggested robert horry.
the jury is still out.
I'm going ahead and comparing Crouch to Ghitza. Genetic freaks ahoy.
FD soccer players of the modern era: De La Pena, Munitis, Robinho, Juninho, Yossi Benayoun, Torsten Frings, Ludovic Magnin, Pinto, Djbril Cisse, Carlos Puyol
My girl just busted out the fact that she took some race relations in America class with Devin Harris. Said that he and one other girl were the only non-whites in the class and that neither of them said anything the whole semester. I'm not sure what any of that means, but its got to mean something right?
It means that he didn't want to enter the headache that a race relations discussion with a majority white group would incur.
See, you'd think Crouch would be un-FD, since he's so freakishly tall and you expect him to be employed as a plodding target man and he gets overlooked because he's so god damn awkward looking, but his best assets are his feet.
He's not just good with his feet for a guy his size. He's good, period. Remember his more-or-less-overhead volley? That's grace that other English strikers don't possess. Imagine Shawn Bradley with Mark Jackson's game.
Eh, sorry about the tangent.
Also, Shunsuke Nakamura.
Oh, and didn't Devin Harris room with two white girls (platonic, at least for the benefit of SI readers) at Wisconsin?
sd- Yeah he did. They were all 3 best friends. My girl says they were real weird, but that he was pretty strange himself so it worked out alright. She's got all kinds of bizarre Wisconsin basketball stories.
Definitely Nakamura.
And Crouch does have skills, far more than you would expect with his frame. He's still really slow and has difficulties against accomplished defenders.
wv: peeqng - Queequeg's younger brother, plays more as a hybrid 1/2.
so, is devin harris gay?
"Is it just me, or did Charley Rosen finally get a soul?"
I actually thought that 95% of Rosen's column was spot-on perfect.
But I thought the last 5%, of which you quote, was Broder-ian mush.
"I actually thought that 95% of Rosen's column was spot-on perfect.
But I thought the last 5%, of which you quote, was Broder-ian mush."
I was just suprised that Rosen showed some actual human emotion. Most of the time it seems like he hates everyone currently playing in the NBA.
Hate is THE actual human emotion
Hate is THE actual human emotion...for those who quantify their identity through differences rather than similarities. Hate is THE easiest human emotion
i submit denilson of the '98 brazil world cup team (and pretty much never again after that) as most FD futbolista.
crouch = horrible call
Yeah Rosen is annoying because after you read his stuff you wonder why any of the guys he's talking about are in the NBA.
Holy crap!
The Warriors are up by nineteen.
1994 U.S. World Cup Team was sort of Free Darko. Uniforms made to look like denim!?! Alexi Lalas was droppin' mixtapes like he was a True Warrier record exec. Paul Caliguri was doin Head n' Shoulders commercials while John Harkes was possibly doin' Wynalda's wife. But liberated fandom is complicated by national borders and the urge to idolize home team sport.
This shit is maddness. This is the bes postseason in nba history. or, it will be... soon.
the 2004 ass humping of the Lakers by the Pistons was the absolute foreshadowing of what is happening right now. That made people believe that anything could happen. And by people I mean NBA players... and NbA teams.
Granted, I beat Baron Davis in Mercy. Granted, he was not very good at probabilities and statistics... but he is very strong, and he is very smart.
and...
jesus, this is a really amazing fucking thing that is happening everywhere, all at once.
Jesus Christ.
And, please let it all happen.
Dirk is 18-47 in the first three games of a series against a team that gave up more than 106 a game in the regular season (and 105 a game in their last 10, lest anyone think they started winning late by tightening up).
If he wins the MVP and Dallas goes down in flames, it's going to be a little embarrassing.
"If he wins the MVP and Dallas goes down in flames, it's going to be a little embarrassing."
What I'm wondering now:
If GS wins Game 4, does that mean the league will have to give the MVP to Dirk before Game 5 to be assured of being able to give it out during a game?
------
And Henry Abbot totally called that Jason Kidd was going to have a big game after the health rumors.
16-16-19? Jesus.
Anybody know off the top of their head if anyone's ever had 20-20-20 in a playoff game?
The NYTimes story says he's the third person to have a 15-15-15 playoff game, but it doesn't give any more details.
Dirk for MVP has been a joke. You can't watch the mavs play and consider Dirk MVP.
re. Davis, I saw the stat: no 20 x 3....however: Wilt back in 67 matched Baron's points and assists totals exactly--& hauled in 30 rebounds....
It's ridiculous how ESPN in general and Sportscenter in particular are covering the playoffs. Apparently irrelevant, early-season baseball games are more newsworthy than an eight-seed leading in a series over a one-seed.
The entire television contract with ABC and ESPN has been an abject failure for the NBA. I mean, the effin' Pussycat Dolls?
"The entire television contract with ABC and ESPN has been an abject failure for the NBA. I mean, the effin' Pussycat Dolls?"
Exactly. 'Cause when I think of basketball, I think of shitty pop music.
I can't believe ESPN didn't run a post-game last night. "Well that was a mighty entertaining game! Here, look at these hockey goals!!!!!!!!!!"
If I was paranoid, I would say they're trying to bury the Warriors so nobody notices when they get jobbed out of an upset.
Anyone see that Stern interview: "By tomorrow, they'll be withdrawing that." Splendid display of the comissoner's million pound hammer coming down on the Sonics ownership.
David Stern is scary.
I think ABC just has no clue who it is that's watching these playoff games. Men (especially those older than 24) in general aren't going to be fans of the Pussycat Dolls unless they've got the sound off. And that camera angle they use is absolutely atrocious. Does anyone from ABC actually watch the games? You can't hardly tell which player is which if they're on the far side of the court when they go to that stupid camera angle. That flying camera may work great in football, but it's got no place in the NBA.
When was the last time that both teams from the previous year's NBA Finals weren't in the 2nd round of the playoffs? Despite the refs best attempts last night, they couldn't serve up a win for the Heat, thanks to Wade's ineptitude from the line.
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