Peace with Martian Hands

Everyone go read Jason's thoroughly FD post about FD over at Ballhype. Quantitative analysis of post distribution, video of our finest photo moments. . . feeling outfoxed by appreciation is something else indeed. And to Kelly Dwyer, for helping us join in the birthday we didn't know we had.

Vaguely topical flashback: Here's the post we did in honor of our first anniversary on this planet.

Some business: It hasn't even been a week on this pledge drive thing, and already we're up to $500. That's pretty fantastic no matter what knife you use. Thanks to everyone who has given, especially those who have well exceeded the call of generosity. Remember, pay one dollar a month for FreeDarko and the site expand like nobody's business. And by the time the season starts, there will be a alternate dimension for those who have already handed over $12 or more.

I also wanted to take one more swing through the destructive valley of yesterday's anti-small market post. I think at least four people asked me how Las Vegas fits into my outrage; well, it would be a lot easier if ASG 2007 hadn't happened like it did. While it's been geometrically proven that medium-sized cities are deadlier for athletes than the giant ones, they also aren't always in the throes of All-Star Weekend. Remember, it happens once a year, is covered with parties and other special events, and bring in out-of-towners as a matter of course. Sorry dudes, but I just don't believe that a Vegas team would bring on a non-stop repeat of last spring's horrors.



If you're willing or able to suspend disbelief (or, in my opinion, enforce common sense), you've then got to look simply at what Las Vegas stands for. The exported NBA plays on all sorts of familiar themes of race and style, but it's also about a certain version of America Today. It doesn't take much brainwork to see how Vegas fits into the pantheon of U.S. cities, despite the multiple strikes against it. Maybe Las Vegas, or maybe just its image, is disgusting and weird. But its been thoroughly revived as an American pop culture icon, which makes it no less deserving of a team than, say, Seattle.