Steph Curry Takes It Easy

Stephen Curry is the nation's top scorer in NCAA Divison I basketball. Last year, as you may recall, he led his Davidson College team to an Elite 8 appearence where they just missed a game-winning three pointer as time expired to lose to the eventual champion Kansas Jayhawks.

This season, Curry's junior season, has proven to be much of the same. The young man went into yesterday's game against Loyola (MD) averaging over 35 points per game. He scored an astonishing 44 points on national televison against a very impressive Oklahoma squad last week.

In Tuesday night's game, the one aganist Loyola, he decided his services weren't needed.

By that, I don't mean he didn't bother playing. He did - 32 minutes worth. He just didn't bother scoring. I'm not kidding. He did not score.

Credit Loyola's defense? Well, no. They gave up 78 points and lost by 30, so I'm not sure, but I don't think their defense can be credited.

I give all the credit to their stupidity. Loyola ran a defense seldem seen in the NCAA ranks, it is more a defense reserved for the dusty, dim courts of grade-school basketball. They ran a triangle-and-two defense all game long. Those unfamilar with the defense should know that this defense is designed to defend against a team with two superstars and three lesser players. It frees up two of your better defenders to guard the superstars man-on-man, and the 3 other defenders stay in a triangle zone around the key. The triangle zone protects the lane against the superstars that may get by the first defender and also keeps tabs on the three lesser players.

So you see, Loyola ran this defense, but instead of the two free defenders (ones not in the triangle zone) on two separate players, they both double-teamed Steph Curry on ever possesion.
What did Curry do? The answer is simple: Nothing. He literally ran into the corner and stood there. The scary part was that the two Loyola defenders stood there too making sure he didn't score. See the problem with that then becomes the rest of your defense. Davidson essentially played 4-3 on every offensive possesion because Curry and the two defenders were busy doing absolutely nothing in the corner.

Good plan, Loyola. Curry only ended up taking 3 shots, missing all three. His team didn't need him to score - a fact that will prove beneficial as the season progresses. Davidson now knows they can win, and win big, without their best player which makes them even stronger as a unit. It says a lot about the role players for Davidson who beat down Loyola by 30, albeit with a man advantage on offense.

But I think it says more about Steph Curry. He saw the defense they were running. Recognized it. And exploited it. Ya, he scores points like I eat fruit snacks, but on this day, he didn't need to - nor did he want to. He wanted to win, and he knew his best chance at winning was to stand around and take it easy on offense and allow his teammates to take it to Loyola. He didn't care about his individual statistics. He just wanted the win, and he got it.

Sometimes you have to know when doing nothing at all is actually doing more good than bad. I know it. Steph knows it. Take it easy sometimes. Good things happen.

The Day Backyard Football Died

With Thanksgiving fast-approaching, plans are frantically getting put together. Who's house are we going to? What do I have to bring?

The better question to ask, and the one that dominates the minds of most males (particularly young males) is, Who's team am I on?

For some reason unbeknownst to me, and presumably the rest of the sporting public, Backyard Football played by those over the age of 14 only occurs on Thanksgiving Day. The lingering question, and one I'd bet you just introspectively asked, is why? I know, I know, it doesn't make sense to me either. In fact, it actually makes me mad.

I want to play Backyard Football. Why doesn't it happen? We use to have so much fun. We all did. We've all played. How can 10 random 13 year-olds gather in a field, organize a game and play football for hours, but anyone older than 17 can't?

My best guess: General apathy.

We get older, we get lazy. It suddenly becomes very uncool to run around playing football on a random Wednesday. There are better things to do. When you get to be older some things are more important. Girls, cars and responsibilities always get in the way. As you get older some things get to be more fun than playing football in your neighbors yard. You can go to bars, drive around all night and even go bowling. But, if you ask me, I would prefer a day of Backyard Football to any of the previous three - even in combination.

Turkey Bowl's are a great time. Why not recreate it throughout the year? Abiding by our current social views of pleasure, if something is good mass produce it, distribute it and make a profit off of it. And while that analogy might have fallen short, you get my drift. Backyard Football is fun. Even if you're older. If some is great, more is greater.

Play Backyard Football. Play on Thanksgiving. Play on any day. Get out the old pigskin and kick it old school. No offensive lines. No coaches. No play clocks. No holding penalties. No referees and most importantly, no adults, even if you're legally old enough to be one.

An Economically Sensible Night on the Town

Long gone are the mythical 5 and Dime stores where everything cost either a nickel or a dime. I only know what those are because Kennywood has/had a fake 5 and Dime store that, if I remember correctly, sold everything for 5 or 10 dollars. Ya, nice try Kennywood.

I can remember my parents paying less than two dollars for a gallon of gas. I remember when the stock market crisis was history, not news. I remember getting paid $20 to cut my neighbors grass and being financially stable for the next week.

Those days are long gone. It might be that the economic situation of our country is crumpling on top of poor loan policies and predator lending. Or it might be that I'm growing up and getting old and $20 doesn't get you as far when you're 22 as opposed to 12. It is most likely a combination of both, but whatever the reason, I don't like it.

I like earning money, and I hate spending it. I've been walking around in sandals with small holes in the souls for a little over two months now with no end in sight. Why? I don't want to buy new ones. The current pair fit so well and are extremely comfortable (unless the business end of a sharp object finds it way through the holes) that I don't want to get rid of them. And the fact that I don't want to spend money might have something to do with it.

If my parents see that, they'll get mad, maybe even embarrassed. They love watching me spend money. Last summer when I had to replace my ipod, my entire family came with me to laugh as I handed over my bank card to the cashier. They literally enjoy watching me spend money. My dad constantly reminds me that spending my money will help the economy and my mom has repeatedly asked me if I eat enough, because, as she says, "You're too cheap to buy food."

Bottom line: I'm cheap.

Which brings me to my next point, kids: Don't do drugs.

But seriously, not everything worth doing these days cost a lot of money. Even in this time of economic crisis anyone can put a little effort forth to have a cheap and entertaining night.

As far as I'm concerned there are not nearly enough Dollar Movie Theaters in this world. I have only ever been to one. It's in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is literally a dollar to view a movie (no tax). I watched two films, and ate at Subway in between and still spent less on the whole night than I would have on one normal movie theater. 2 movies + $5 footlong = $7. 1 movie at a normal theater = $10.

Don't get hung up on the math (I didn't). What matters here is that Dollar Movie Theaters are God's gift to man. I saw Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express and had a fantastically priced ham sub for dinner for 7 dollars. You simply cannot beat that.

With a little effort any night can be a great night, even a cheap one.

You can't be afraid to spend your money in our current economy, but you can be afraid to spend too much of it.

Great Scott

Recently, I was fortunate enough to sit down with Michael Scott, Regional Manager of Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company, at his offices in the Scranton Business Park to talk about running a business, working around a camera crew and balancing life outside of work.

[Point of Clarification: Michael Scott is a fictional character. Therefore, by definition, it is impossible to actually sit down and talk with him. But you could imagine what it would be like if I could...]

The interview starts off with my security escort, Hank, walking me up to the Dunder-Mifflin offices per Michael's request. Apparently he caught Almost Famous on Showtime last night as well and considers me the "enemy."

After the forth time Michael calls me the "enemy" I get introduced to everyone in the office all at once. I receive the obligitory half-wave/mumble from everyone and half a song from Mr. Andrew Bernard to the tune of what I'm pretty sure was Sister Sledge's "We are Family." In an odd but predictable moment, Dwight Schrute asks to see my credentials and asks for references. Good thing I've seen the documentary before and came prepared.

I get into Michael's office and he immediately draws the blinds so we can't see out and no one can see in.

Easy Street: Is that so we don't distract your employees?

Michael Scott: Them? No. It's so they don't distract me. We got a real fun office out there. I've tried to create a fun culture. Employees only have fun if their boss has fun, and my fun-ness just seems to be contagious around here. We have fun.

This is just a precaution. If they break out into some sort of game or sing along I wouldn't be able to sit in here and talk to you. I'd have to be in on it. Trust me. It's better this way.

ES: Ok, let's start out with something simple so you can get an idea of where this is headed.

MS: That's what she said.

ES: Wow. You don't waste any time. I guess I walked right into that. Anyway, what is the hardest part of managing a regional branch of a modest paper company?

MS: Hardest part? Hmm. It's not that hard [inexplicably long pause]. Ah, forget it. You're hopeless. Anyway, the hardest part might be getting my employees laughing. I mean I'll say something to Phyllis when she's complaining about something like..."You shut your mouth when you're talking to me." Wedding Crashers. And no one laughs. Can you believe that?

ES: Was it a hard decision to let the camera crews into your office to show the world what it's like to run a business on a day-to-day basis?

MS: No, I don't think so. I think if anyone was meant to run an office with all the world watching it was me. I just feel bad for all the other bosses in America that have to live up to my example. I mean look at my desk. You see that mug? They won't just give that to anyone. A show on TV has to have the three E's. It has to be entertaining, engaging and...um...e...eh...en...interesting. I think our office, and me in particular, are all three of those things.

ES: No argument here. Who would you say is your best employee?

MS: Well, Eric it's important to note when answering questions like this a boss can never play favorites. Deciding who is the best employee here at Dunder-Mifflin cannot be reduced to a popularity contest. With that said, it seems to me that everyone likes Jim, so I'm going to have to say that Jim is our best employee.

ES: But Dwight does have a better sales record.

MS: Ya, but nobody likes him. How can you be the best if no one likes you?

ES: A fair point. With all that you give your employees and this company on a daily basis do you find it hard to maintain balance in your personal life?

MS: This is what I don't get. People are always talking about how there needs to be balance between your work life and your personal life. This is what I think: Your work life is personal. There doesn't need to be balance. They need to be interconnected. It's your personal work life. If you take the person and life out of that you're left with "al work" and no one wants all work all the time. All work and no play makes Mikey a very dull boy.

I take my work personally. I have friends in this office. We can be serious when it comes to work and not so serious when it comes to having fun. I-E the sing alongs and games I mentioned earlier. My work life is my personal life, and vice versa.

ES: If you don't mind, I'd like to play a little word association to conclude. I'll say a word or phrase and you say the one word that immediately comes to mind.

We'll start with an easy one: Frosted Flakes.

MS: They'rrrre Grrrrreaaaaattt!

ES: That's two words. Let's try to keep it at one.

MS: Oh ok, I didn't know it was going to be so strict. Um, Tony the Tiger.

ES: Really?

MS: Just move on. That's stupid anyway.

ES: Fine. Fill in the blank. The world needs _______ to survive.

MS: Paper. Oh and friends. And maybe love.

ES: That's three things, but I can at least tell you're trying. Last one. The Office.

MS: Funny.

The truth is an appropriate place conclude.

I insisted that I had everything I needed, but Michael refused. He was certain that I needed more and even offered to show me his old home movies and an office slide show of digital pictures. I told him the visuals were not necessary and after heavy persuasion he finally agreed.

He called Hank and between his hysterical laughter he somehow managed to mutter, more than once, that the "enemy" was ready to be released. I waited for Hank and said my goodbyes and thanked everyone for welcoming into their little world.

As a final note, in case you were curious, all my references checked out, and Pam is even cuter in person.

A Time for Change

It's been entirely too long, and I know you've been waiting anxiously for over six months, but rest assured, dear readers, I am back. In a big way.

It seems that this space is going to go through a transition. Not like a black-to-white Michael Jackson transition, but more like a small-to-large Jan Levinson transition. That's good, not bad, for our slower friends. At least those are my thoughts about it. You may feel differently after visiting the change.

This space will be less devoted to sports than it has been in the past and more devoted to whatever I feel like writing about. Sports will obviously still be at the top of the list, but other things will also get some space.

The old name is gone. The old format too. I've added some new sections. The Words To Live By (top right) and The Bottom Line (uh, bottom) will hopefully be updated at least every month with the new posts. Allowing for a wider variety of subject matter should also allow me to write more frequently and less myopically. Some posts might be shorter, some longer, but all will be better.

***

For now, some summer-time thoughts (even though summer only started today)...

- First, I would like to take a moment to congratulate a personal friend, and frequent reader, Tiger Woods for winning his third United States Open Championship. Even though it did take him 91 holes to beat a grown man named Rocco, it was impressive nonetheless. Especially considering that he had not one, but TWO stress fractures in his left leg, and a bum knee. Remind me again, why couldn't Phil play in last year's Open?

- How much fun is it to cut the grass? I couldn't have more fun doing a necessary chore. It's gotten to the point when I get mad that my brother cuts it. It might be because his cut lines are as straight as Clay Aiken, or it might be that I just like doing it that much. All I need is a nice sunny day and my ipod because cutting the grass, like life, is better with a soundtrack.

- I don't listen to the radio much when I'm at school because I don't have a car. But it never ceases to amaze me. It's literally the same 15 songs on repeat. Do people really enjoy this? I have resorted to listening to the always static and often problematic AM airwaves. Because of the morons they sit next to microphones and the repeated music, I have forever given up on FM radio. Don't get me wrong, I like music. It's on right now. Donavon Frankenreiter to be exact. You don't hear him on the radio. Instead we're stuck listening to Chris and Jordan actually question how they would breathe with no air. Really?

Come back and visit the new format. New format, same clown behind it all. I don't juggle, but hopefully you're entertained enough to come back. Until then...