Beards Unite

BARON = BEARD, RIP = BEARD (sometimes)

facts:

baron is an explosive, but at times, streaky shooter. he can run and gun w/ the best. his strength is unparalleled and he knows how to use that brut force and penetrate like a beast and kick it out.

eric gordon, although a better shooter, is a duplicate of the above qualities and although he's a STAR and a definite cornerstone to the franchise, i think he would be better suited next year as our J. Terry/Barbosa/Ginobili 6th man spark off the bench.

i propose that we give grab a veteran SG that is has a SOLID shooting percentage...enter Rip Hamilton. the perfect companion to Baron Davis. a guard rotation of BD/Rip/ Gordo. giving Detroit Kaman for Rip would be ideal, but they might go for Randolph too.

tell me that Baron and Rip is not a better starting backcourt than BD and E. Gordon. i love Gordon, but we need depth and lots of it. we have a solid core down low (w/ the assumed addition of Griffin). but the backcourt needs help. this is the answer. do it. now.

plans

being that the Clippers had such an awful season, Darst Vader and I sorta lost interest in writing about other peoples' teams and their successes this year and neglected the Bench Mob altogether. call it selfish, call it lazy. whatevs. however, i will admit there were indeed some bright moments:

1. the magic.
2. the thuggish ruggish nuggets.
2b. houston w/o t-mac & yao = a lil' better.
3. kobe playing like a real life team member finally.
4. lbj's amazing regular season.
5. big baby grows up

and now that things are winding to an end w/ the last remaining teams and others already enjoying an early vacation......for us Clipper fans, Spring and Summer welcomes probably the most excitement all year. everything is hopeful and positive, and although those thoughts and feelings vanish by, oh say, December - right now it's good to be a Clipper faithful. why? BLAKE GRIFFIN. the number one concensus pick in the draft, which by some crazy miracle the Clipps have. so, if all goes according to plan, we'll end up getting the 2005 version of Elton Brand mixed w/ some vintage Chuck Barkley and a dash of Boozer minus the injuries or inflated salary - all in the package of Mr. Oklahoma, Blake Griffin (heretofore referred to as Beast Griffin). now the word is Baron's supposedly hitting the gym 9 times a day (or so he Tweets - sorry i wrote that phrase), the youth movement of Commissioner Gordon, MIkey Taylor, Big Al, and Deandre looks promising, the coming out party of fan favorite Novak, the return of Caveman Kaman, and to top it all off, Dunleavy sounds like a man on a mission. as it is every Clipper offseason, we seem to have wonderful pieces in place for the next year.

but there's little i can do as a lame brain faithful to help make sure IT IS a successful season outside of sitting around all Summer and annoying my lady and friends about my wayward child of a franchise and how, "they deserve a second chance", "i can't throw it in", "they'll be better", etc.

however, tonight i went ballistic and made good on some of my age old comments. i've always said that outside of smart basketball decisions (ie. acquiring and developing the right players at the right time), t's my fervent belief that the CULTURE needs to be changed in Clipperland more than anything if their going to make things happen.

look at teams like Cleveland, Dallas, Atlanta, all teams that had a long history of losing, they didn't just do the basketball manuevers to right the "ship"....they changed the look and spirit of the whole club. and the first step in that is logos and jerseys. sounds simple and somewhat crazy, right? it is. but it works. it just takes a good design team and for some money to be ponied up (hear that Donald Satan?). the fact is, the old Clipper logo carries baggage with it and is a visual reminder of some really sad days. throw it out i say.



so, i went into my laboratory and drew up some designs of what i think the new Clippers design should look like. the first rule is to never have a totally different color scheme, that can alienate fans. just improve what's already there - maybe go back to an older team design. i love the the San Diego Clippers baby blue and orange. so i merged the new w/ the old and went w/ baby blue and cardinal red. i also think that the vintage look the 70s and 80s jerseys w/ stripes and simpler designs - should make a comeback. Baron is a trendsetter himself and i think he could really pull off that look.

look at Dallas' alternate green jerseys - amazing


or the Cavs' throwbacks.

below you'll see i chose lettering and design that has a hint of throwback to it. i also made some merchandise designs for your viewing pleasure.






lastly, when you look at the current same ol' Clippers logo, it's doesn't help you to understand just what a "Clipper" actually is. it's a boring logo, and very basic. doesn't give the team an identity at all. A Clipper, for those of you who are unaware, is an old war ship. now incorporating ship and nautical themes is tough, but i think i stumbled across some nice ideas. using images of steering wheels, anchors and nautical stars / compasses does the trick. no need to show something lame like ships, or sails or waves.



anyway - my insomnia was fed and i hope to hell this work maybe catches the eye of one of the Clipper suits and finds it's way through the proper channels and gives people ideas. i think it would help to usher in what might be a nice turn of events for a Clipper Nation here in the upcoming 2009-2010 season. they deserve a change of events. and with that, WELCOME TO L.A., BEAST!

All-Star invites

very excited to see my boy Jameer prove all the many naysayers wrong about his ability to be a winner.


when are the critics going to realize that regardless of height, weight, strength, years of college, etc......if you have these three qualities...
1. character
2. leadership
3. poise / basketball IQ

....you can succeed as an undersized player?

examples of guys that, along w/ Jameer Nelson, got the "too small" tag when they were drafted:

- Isiah Thomas
- Muggsy Bogues
- Spud Webb
- Allen Iverson
- Ben Gordon
- Earl Boykins
- Chris Paul



one glaring omission from the festivities in Phoenix this year is Wolves rookie, Kevin Love.

critics, you now get it w/ Nelson. you will eventually get it w/ Love.

studs. suck it critics.

to all the haters

here's to all you crazies.

love ya,

> w.
xoxo

(courtesy of WHIT HERTFORD's IMDb page)

Review: The Wrestler

It seems that when the weather gets colder and football games start to matter, the bi-coastal movie-going public is given a veritable holiday feast of meaty, juicy, sweet and savory films. This year, er, last two weeks of the year, is loaded – Doubt, Benjamin Button, The Reader, Che, The Wrestler and so on. Compelling stories, great acting, skillful directing add up to a rewarding viewing experience and Oscar comes knocking – you know the drill. But isn’t Kung Fu Panda also a rewarding viewing experience? Ditto for Ratatouille. Same goes for Knocked Up or Superbad, films teeming with real, genuine performances and real, genuine drama, profanity notwithstanding. What’s missing in Atonement and Michael Clayton? And wasn’t ‘The Dark Knight’ the greatest movie ever made just a few months ago?

Structure. In a time-based medium like cinema, it is perhaps just as important how the tale is told, as the tale itself. Some of the best films from the past year of so have been great fun, serious fare or summer fun included. But when you leave the theater and all those loose ends are tied up for you, something is missing. In fact, when a movie begins, there is essentially an agreement formed between the film and you, the viewer. Either the film will follow the three-act rules or it will not. The three-act story is an amazing thing, allowing for all sorts of themes to be explored without really pushing you outside your comfort zone. Sure, the subject matter may be gravely somber, the plot may have some switchbacks here and there, one of your favorite characters may even die, but in the end, you get that resolution. Even if the resolution is open-ended. The other option? An unpredictable structure. Freedom. A director’s unique, particular, imbalanced vision. And like, that, you’re lost at sea. Oh, wonderful, delirious, captivating sea. Without that familiar structure, the viewer is thrown on the offensive, thinking, interacting through the film. This is engaging cinema.

The Wrestler is indeed a rewarding viewing experience in large part to the performances; Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood truly inhabit their characters. You’ll hear more and more about this film through the prism of the acting, and the acclaim is well-deserved. But The Wrestler also wins as it allows you to slip into The Ram’s world without him knowing you’re there – he doesn’t know he’s in a movie. The docu-style lensing and jump-cutting is apropos for this fly-on-wall perspective on Rourke’s character, but that alone does not create the tone of the film. Elliptical storytelling, Aronofsky selectively framing the emotional beats, offers a fascinating peek into a stretch of days, weeks that will ultimately decide the fate of this battered wrestler’s life. Without a beginning, middle or end, we experience this man entire life, the film stitched together like the scars on his back. And like all great films, the finale comes at you with reckless pace, whether we’re ready or not. At it’s close, The Wrestler leaves you there in your seat, wondering what was and what will be for The Ram. Emptiness. Blackness. Inasmuch, we’re left with wondering if this story could be our own. Maybe it’s an eerie feeling; staring at that vacant screen after nearly two hours of careful, deliberate guidance. Maybe you feel lost. Maybe you even wish you had more closure, as sordid as the details may be. But The Wrestler isn’t that kind of movie. And now you’re on your own. Just like The Ram.

Why, Beno, Why?

Watched last night's mess against the Kings. I know the team is learning on the fly and there were some positives, but would it kill the Clips to pick up a couple of wins in the process? Bad loss cuz it was a loss. Good to see Ricky Buckets contribute. Tim Thomas needs to keep his ass on the bench, though. That guy's plus/minus must be -754,210. Hate his game. Hate. And yes, in case you wondering, Beno Udrih is the next coming of Michael Jordan. Jeeeeeez...

hip

for G.AT. >

you can buy the same shirt Pau is wearing in this picture on a clearance rack at your local mall's Charlotte Russe.

gut instinct: "hold me closer, tiny shooter."

outside of AI and The Big O, small shooters have had a tough time making it in the League...two words:

DAJUAN WAGNER.

however, this year i think we'll see two undersized shooters show the critics that athleticism knows no height, namely NATE ROBINSON aka "The Lil' Apple" & rookie ERIC "Commissioner" Gordon.

retirement plan

dear mr. mcgrady,

you are no good. i mean, bad. real bad. this is a game of intangibles and you've got none.

what you do have is a brittle body and major wonk eyes.

oh, and an uncanny ability to fail to reach expectations.

i mean, at least you've got some money, so there's that.

sincerely,

WHITNESS #51

Practice for Big Shot

on the outset, one would assume that granting a disgruntled star's wish to be traded usually bodes well for the team that is ridding themselves of complacency. but that might not be the case this time around.

for the record, i am a giant fan of Mr. Chauncey, but i've never been a George Karl fan and i certainly don't think Carmelo will ever contribute to leading his team to a championship. everyone thought this summer when Joe Dumars said he was looking to trade one of the pieces of his team's foundation, "What are you doing? you can't really break up the most underrated backcourt of Billups/Hamilton can you?". and so when Dumars brought in a notoriously undersized shooting guard to his blue collar Pistons, it seemed like a desperate attempt for a fading team that was trying to take a final gasp of air before their time was up. lots of teams do it - trade for a superstar or a big name - to ressurect the franchise. Lakers did it with Malone and Payton, the Blazers did it with Pippen, and my Clips tried it with Dominique - and none of those worked out too well.

so, on second glance, i think Detroit comes out on top and we might see the last hurrah (and it might be a BIG HURRAH ) out of AI. now it might be a one year rental to free room next year for the Pistons, but it might also work real well. As for Billups, the West is tough and i think that he certainly fits Karl's style more than AI did, but it won't result in playoff wins.

excited to see the Allen to Rasheed lobs and especially Hamilton and AI giving defenses fits. plus, AI always looked weird in yellow and baby blue and playing in a city like Denver - AI is an East Coast dude, and i think it's a better match.

Boom Dizzle

Tonight is the beginning of something special. Click here for a preview of tonight's big game.

Fearless Skinless Boneless Forecast

The Halfcourt Set

The MOB, among many other things, is a ruthless, unbiased evaluator of truth.  No doubt your local newspaper and 2nd-favorite blog have indicated that this fall is a watershed moment in American politics, and while that is undeniable, very few are talking about the shift of power about to take place in the NBA.  And I'm not talking about the cockamamy notion that the Leastern Conference will rival the Western for supremacy, I'm talking about the the Battle for Los Angeles.  You heard it hear first - the Clippers will beat the Lakers in the playoffs and shock the city, state, country, world, galaxy, universe, etc.  

Baron Davis just makes plays.  He's never had a big man like he has now - and he has two of 'em.  The team has the right mix of young legs and experienced leadership.  Al Thornton is the right player at the right time, who will absolutely dominate while defenders are double-teaming Boom and the bigs.  Ricky Davis has been a victim of lousy circumstances ever since he entered the Association, and is a changed man, a changed 6th Man (of the Year).  Shoot - he cut off his 'rows - if that doesn't mean he's ready to get serious I don't know what is.   Eric Gordon is like the Microwave on steroids.  Not somebody you want handling your food, but somebody you want handling the scoring when you need double digits in a hurry.  This team is deep and talented, unlike any Clippers squad ever assembled.  There is no precedent.  Stay tuned... Staples Center has a new owner.

Putbacks

• The Jazz are in trouble.  Looming contract issues are not good for a team, even if Jerry Sloan is coach.
  
• Shaquille O'Neal has one more season in him.  Just when everyone is writing off the Suns, they will finally live up to past year's expectations.
  
• The Spurs are done.  For all of Duncan's accolades, it's Manu who made this team great.
  
• Look for LeBron to win the MVP.  Mo Williams helps them run a bit more, and that will get them the #1 overall seed in the East.
  
• The Raptors stun LBJ and the Cavs in the first round.
• LeBron sets his sights on NJ.  Governor of Ohio asks for help from FEMA. 
• The Mavs are done.  Not the right personnel.  They missed their window.
  
• Detroit will realize they missed their window, too.  Mavs-Pistons trade coming?
  
• The Hornets had their healthiest season in franchise history last year.  If that happens twice ia row, they'll be back in the mix.  But Peja is no iron man and Posey is not the reason the Heat and Celtics won NBA titles.  Hornets slide back to the pack.
  
• Elton Brand turns out to be washed-up and overpaid.  The Sixers are a colossal disappointment.  Nobody in Philly cares, still soaked in World Series' champagne.
  
• The Blazers will be good, but not great.  No experience on that team.
• Dwayne Wade and Dwight Howard, Flash and Superman, star in an amazing all-Florida EC final.  
• Not only does T-Mac get out of the first round, but the Rockets go all the way.  How do you not like a team won 22 in a row last season who now adds Artest to the mix?  Incredible season in store for them.

MISSING
Have you seen me? Call 1 800-MUSTACHED-JACKER

In the beginning

Ladies and gentlemen, congrats. Congrats on reaching the MOB. Your life will now forever be changed.

We, Darst Vader and I (The Big Hert), vow to bring you no-holds barred, unadulterated, honesty pot pies regarding all things hoopage.

Now, because we both are extremely cultured fellows, we are not limiting the MOB domain to topics of only hardcourt activities, but we can guarantee you will be educated in the ways of the world every single stop you make to the Blog-a-tron.

We also will unabashedly share our biases and over zealous opinions, including all loyalties, without any shame or regret. You want to challenge us? Leave a comment or make a voodoo doll, whatever freaky crap you want to do. We encourage your rants, raves and the freedom of speech. Because this is America, dammit.

So, in the words of the great Flavor Flav,

"Bring the noise and bring the funk. Yeaaa boyyeee"