Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks for winning their first playoff series since 1996. (Also against Calgary, I think.) Check out Dustin Byfuglien hit Adam Burish for a very pretty goal in this highlight reel (the Hawks' second goal). He gets creamed right after his pass, but I suspect he thinks it was worth it!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Worthy cont'd.: The Real Deal
Thanks to my friend Steve for going into the SI vault and digging this out! Some of my facts were a bit off, but I believe I did an acceptable job of retelling the story after seeing it nearly 3-1/2 years ago.
Cover: 05-19-86; article is 11-21-05
vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1113861/index.htm - 53k - C
It's less than five minutes before airtime, and James Worthy is still in his cubicle at the KCBS and KCAL studios in Los Angeles. He's fixing his tie, dabbing on makeup and teasing the interns for not doing any work. "Watch the game," he tells one, pointing at the TV screen behind him before swiping candy from the kid's desk. "Gotcha," Worthy says, laughing as he walks to the set.
It's been 11 years since he retired from the Los Angeles Lakers, but the 6'9" small forward known as Big Game James is still connected to the team, serving as a studio analyst for its telecasts. "I always wanted to get into broadcasting," says Worthy, who spent his entire 12-year Hall of Fame career with the Lakers. "I've worked with legends like Chick Hearn and Dick Enberg and interviewed guys like Tiger Woods, so I can't complain." He is also the senior vice president of RP & Associates, an integrated marketing-services and product-manufacturing company in Hermosa Beach.
A native of Gastonia, N.C., Worthy helped North Carolina win the 1982 NCAA championship with a Final Four MVP performance as a junior. Then he left for the NBA, becoming the No. 1 pick in the draft. He played behind Jamaal Wilkes for two seasons before his swooping one-handed dunks became as synonymous with the Lakers' Showtime era as Magic Johnson's no-look passes and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's skyhooks.
Worthy is probably best known for his Game 7 triple double--36 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists--against the Detroit Pistons in the 1988 NBA Finals, which ended with L.A. winning its fifth championship in eight years and Worthy being voted Finals MVP. But his fondest memory is of beating the Celtics in Boston Garden for his first NBA title, in '85. "That's the one I cherish because it was my first and we did it in the Garden after losing to them for so many years," says Worthy. "I remember listening to [ Boston coach] K.C. Jones talking about Magic and Kareem after the game, then saying, 'But the guy that really did it for them was James Worthy.' I'll never forget that."
These days Worthy, who is divorced and lives in Bel Air with his daughters Sable, 15, and Sierra, 13, doesn't talk about his career unless someone brings it up. In fact, when he took his daughters to a Britney Spears concert at Staples Center three years ago, Sierra looked up at the rafters and said, "Look, Dad, someone has the same name as ours." Worthy looked to where Sierra was pointing, laughed when he saw his retired number 42 jersey and said, "That's me, Sierra."
Cover: 05-19-86; article is 11-21-05
vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1113861/index.htm - 53k - C
It's less than five minutes before airtime, and James Worthy is still in his cubicle at the KCBS and KCAL studios in Los Angeles. He's fixing his tie, dabbing on makeup and teasing the interns for not doing any work. "Watch the game," he tells one, pointing at the TV screen behind him before swiping candy from the kid's desk. "Gotcha," Worthy says, laughing as he walks to the set.
It's been 11 years since he retired from the Los Angeles Lakers, but the 6'9" small forward known as Big Game James is still connected to the team, serving as a studio analyst for its telecasts. "I always wanted to get into broadcasting," says Worthy, who spent his entire 12-year Hall of Fame career with the Lakers. "I've worked with legends like Chick Hearn and Dick Enberg and interviewed guys like Tiger Woods, so I can't complain." He is also the senior vice president of RP & Associates, an integrated marketing-services and product-manufacturing company in Hermosa Beach.
A native of Gastonia, N.C., Worthy helped North Carolina win the 1982 NCAA championship with a Final Four MVP performance as a junior. Then he left for the NBA, becoming the No. 1 pick in the draft. He played behind Jamaal Wilkes for two seasons before his swooping one-handed dunks became as synonymous with the Lakers' Showtime era as Magic Johnson's no-look passes and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's skyhooks.
Worthy is probably best known for his Game 7 triple double--36 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists--against the Detroit Pistons in the 1988 NBA Finals, which ended with L.A. winning its fifth championship in eight years and Worthy being voted Finals MVP. But his fondest memory is of beating the Celtics in Boston Garden for his first NBA title, in '85. "That's the one I cherish because it was my first and we did it in the Garden after losing to them for so many years," says Worthy. "I remember listening to [ Boston coach] K.C. Jones talking about Magic and Kareem after the game, then saying, 'But the guy that really did it for them was James Worthy.' I'll never forget that."
These days Worthy, who is divorced and lives in Bel Air with his daughters Sable, 15, and Sierra, 13, doesn't talk about his career unless someone brings it up. In fact, when he took his daughters to a Britney Spears concert at Staples Center three years ago, Sierra looked up at the rafters and said, "Look, Dad, someone has the same name as ours." Worthy looked to where Sierra was pointing, laughed when he saw his retired number 42 jersey and said, "That's me, Sierra."
Leave Lindsay alone!
I've been meaning to write this for weeks. And now it's quite overdue.
Leave Lindsay Lohan alone.
Lindsay's girlfriend, Samantha Ronson, broke up with her. Lindsay may have found out through the media rather than directly from Samantha. Samantha and her mom went so far as to inquire from the Beverly Hills Police Department about acquiring an order of protection. (So much for discretion from BHPD, which released this tidbit of gossip to the press.)
Women have broken up with me. I've broken up with them. Sometimes it's embarrassing, and that's without the breakup being the lead story on Entertainment Tonight and on the cover of Us Weekly. Unfortunately, Lindsay's recent behavior has often been immature, and it's fun to laugh about a 21-year-old party girl. But Lindsay's love life should be her own business. I can't imagine what it would be like to have a situation in which there is a fleet of SUV's with paparazzi inside following me 24/7. That is what Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt put up with. Britney Spears, too. Lindsay? I don't know. But I suspect if she wants a quiet evening out with her friends or family, she must escape the Thirty-Mile Zone of Los Angeles and the surrounding communities. That is just not fair.
Leave Lindsay Lohan alone.
Lindsay's girlfriend, Samantha Ronson, broke up with her. Lindsay may have found out through the media rather than directly from Samantha. Samantha and her mom went so far as to inquire from the Beverly Hills Police Department about acquiring an order of protection. (So much for discretion from BHPD, which released this tidbit of gossip to the press.)
Women have broken up with me. I've broken up with them. Sometimes it's embarrassing, and that's without the breakup being the lead story on Entertainment Tonight and on the cover of Us Weekly. Unfortunately, Lindsay's recent behavior has often been immature, and it's fun to laugh about a 21-year-old party girl. But Lindsay's love life should be her own business. I can't imagine what it would be like to have a situation in which there is a fleet of SUV's with paparazzi inside following me 24/7. That is what Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt put up with. Britney Spears, too. Lindsay? I don't know. But I suspect if she wants a quiet evening out with her friends or family, she must escape the Thirty-Mile Zone of Los Angeles and the surrounding communities. That is just not fair.
Tznius: A lesson in humility from James Worthy
Yesterday I wrote about Ari and J.B., two orthodox Jewish men I know who could use a lesson in humility. Or two. They should pay attention to James Worthy.
I am about to repeat something I read in Sports Illustrated in a "Where are they now?" feature. I tried to find it at si.com so I could simply post it in its original form and give credit where it's due, to the author and publisher. But I couldn't find it. If anyone knows which issue it is, please let me know.
James Worthy played basketball with Michael Jordan at North Carolina and won a national championship there. He went on to light up the Great Western Forum in Englewood, Calif., and win five world championships for the Los Angeles Lakers with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. As one of the Lakers' all-time greats, Worthy's retired jersey hangs from the rafters of Staples Center, the Lakers' new arena in downtown Los Angeles.
Worthy has two pre-teen or teenage daughters. He never told them about his days with the Lakers. It's not important to him; or it's not important in terms of his relationship with his daughters. Does being one of the greatest basketball players have an impact on what kind of father Worthy is? Not to Worthy. I read this article several years ago, and I wish I'd saved it, despite the massive amounts of stuff I've accumulated over the years. I still remember the end of the article. Worthy took his daughters to Staples Center to attend a Britney Spears concert. They were sitting in their seats when one of the girls looked up and noticed a Lakers jersey hanging above them with "WORTHY" silk-screened on the back. "Look, Daddy," she said, "Someone has the same name as us." She honestly didn't make the connection. Worthy corrected her. "No, honey, that was me."
I'm very suspicious of urban legend-type stories that fly across the internet. This sounds like one of them. But I suspect it's true, and if it is, James Worthy just taught a lesson from which all of us could learn and be inspired.
I am about to repeat something I read in Sports Illustrated in a "Where are they now?" feature. I tried to find it at si.com so I could simply post it in its original form and give credit where it's due, to the author and publisher. But I couldn't find it. If anyone knows which issue it is, please let me know.
James Worthy played basketball with Michael Jordan at North Carolina and won a national championship there. He went on to light up the Great Western Forum in Englewood, Calif., and win five world championships for the Los Angeles Lakers with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. As one of the Lakers' all-time greats, Worthy's retired jersey hangs from the rafters of Staples Center, the Lakers' new arena in downtown Los Angeles.
Worthy has two pre-teen or teenage daughters. He never told them about his days with the Lakers. It's not important to him; or it's not important in terms of his relationship with his daughters. Does being one of the greatest basketball players have an impact on what kind of father Worthy is? Not to Worthy. I read this article several years ago, and I wish I'd saved it, despite the massive amounts of stuff I've accumulated over the years. I still remember the end of the article. Worthy took his daughters to Staples Center to attend a Britney Spears concert. They were sitting in their seats when one of the girls looked up and noticed a Lakers jersey hanging above them with "WORTHY" silk-screened on the back. "Look, Daddy," she said, "Someone has the same name as us." She honestly didn't make the connection. Worthy corrected her. "No, honey, that was me."
I'm very suspicious of urban legend-type stories that fly across the internet. This sounds like one of them. But I suspect it's true, and if it is, James Worthy just taught a lesson from which all of us could learn and be inspired.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tznius: It's not just for ladies
The term tznius is typically used to describe modesty in dress code: long skirts and long sleeves for ladies, and covered hair for married women. But the concept of modesty can be applied elsewhere as well. It can be used to describe an unassuming, low-key person compared to a smug, arrogant one.
I previously wrote about someone I'll call Ari. This guy has a strain of what is often known as B.T. (ba'al teshuva) Disease; he can't stop reminding people how frum (orthodox/observant) he is. B.T. Disease strikes men who finish a year of yeshiva, going from being very secular to very shtarck (observant and religious) in a short period of time. Suddenly, these men believe everyone should be as shtarck as they are. Sometimes they need to be reminded: it's okay not to be shtarck; everyone has a different level of observance; one's own friends and family members may not yet be at the level of one's own observance. Ari is not only very observant, he is also quite brilliant, and he never misses an opportunity to remind people of same. It's like the old joke of the Harvard graduate who reminds people he is a Harvard graduate in the first two minutes of every conversation. I try not to let it bother me, but I feel like saying, "Ari, would you please shut up?" This can't bode well for his friendship and dating opportunities if he's going to be that annoying.
Referring to the B.T. movement, a friend once commented that men often become observant without becoming religious. Brilliant. He meant that some men go through the motions of halacha (Jewish law) without fully understanding the underlying concept. One of those concepts is humility. For those who are newly observant, that's often a difficult concept to grasp. I tried to help Ari in hopes of preventing him from sounding like an ass. True to his character, he refused to listen.
I've had lunch a few times with someone we'll call J.B. at the homes of a couple of very gracious and patient hosts. J.B. marches into the home, late, removes his black hat, sits down, and starts quizzing the assembled--hosts and guests--on arcane halacha. J.B., would you please shut up? He does this all through the meal. I sat next to him while he pulled this stunt on some yeshiva bochurim (students) a couple of weeks ago--sons of our hosts--and I was embarrassed for him. These young men could run halachic circles around J.B., and they sat politely while he quizzed them on halacha. "Who does this guy think he is?", I imagined them asking each other. They only need to hear that from three men: their father, their rebbe (religious teacher/mentor), and their father-in-law. They don't need to hear it from a ba'al teshuva meal guest. Furthermore, in doing his shtick, J.B. dominates conversation and completely sidelines some of us (ahem) at the table, which is inconsiderate. Finally I asked him to stop, and I managed to change the subject. Like Ari, J.B. is doing himself no favors. I want to ask him: instead of quizzing the table and acting the Grand Poobah of Halacha, try saying, "Here's something interesting I learned from my chavrusa (teacher) this week." And make one point. And then keep quiet. That's the way to express a thought, in a friendly, unassuming way, without coming off like a pompous ass.
I know a few men who are phenomenally intelligent: they excel in their fields of engineering, computer science and law. They are successful in their careers, have large families, and are well schooled in halacha. Guess what? They don't flaunt it. That would not be tznius. That would not be appropriate. That would be arrogant. And they know better.
I previously wrote about someone I'll call Ari. This guy has a strain of what is often known as B.T. (ba'al teshuva) Disease; he can't stop reminding people how frum (orthodox/observant) he is. B.T. Disease strikes men who finish a year of yeshiva, going from being very secular to very shtarck (observant and religious) in a short period of time. Suddenly, these men believe everyone should be as shtarck as they are. Sometimes they need to be reminded: it's okay not to be shtarck; everyone has a different level of observance; one's own friends and family members may not yet be at the level of one's own observance. Ari is not only very observant, he is also quite brilliant, and he never misses an opportunity to remind people of same. It's like the old joke of the Harvard graduate who reminds people he is a Harvard graduate in the first two minutes of every conversation. I try not to let it bother me, but I feel like saying, "Ari, would you please shut up?" This can't bode well for his friendship and dating opportunities if he's going to be that annoying.
Referring to the B.T. movement, a friend once commented that men often become observant without becoming religious. Brilliant. He meant that some men go through the motions of halacha (Jewish law) without fully understanding the underlying concept. One of those concepts is humility. For those who are newly observant, that's often a difficult concept to grasp. I tried to help Ari in hopes of preventing him from sounding like an ass. True to his character, he refused to listen.
I've had lunch a few times with someone we'll call J.B. at the homes of a couple of very gracious and patient hosts. J.B. marches into the home, late, removes his black hat, sits down, and starts quizzing the assembled--hosts and guests--on arcane halacha. J.B., would you please shut up? He does this all through the meal. I sat next to him while he pulled this stunt on some yeshiva bochurim (students) a couple of weeks ago--sons of our hosts--and I was embarrassed for him. These young men could run halachic circles around J.B., and they sat politely while he quizzed them on halacha. "Who does this guy think he is?", I imagined them asking each other. They only need to hear that from three men: their father, their rebbe (religious teacher/mentor), and their father-in-law. They don't need to hear it from a ba'al teshuva meal guest. Furthermore, in doing his shtick, J.B. dominates conversation and completely sidelines some of us (ahem) at the table, which is inconsiderate. Finally I asked him to stop, and I managed to change the subject. Like Ari, J.B. is doing himself no favors. I want to ask him: instead of quizzing the table and acting the Grand Poobah of Halacha, try saying, "Here's something interesting I learned from my chavrusa (teacher) this week." And make one point. And then keep quiet. That's the way to express a thought, in a friendly, unassuming way, without coming off like a pompous ass.
I know a few men who are phenomenally intelligent: they excel in their fields of engineering, computer science and law. They are successful in their careers, have large families, and are well schooled in halacha. Guess what? They don't flaunt it. That would not be tznius. That would not be appropriate. That would be arrogant. And they know better.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Calgary 1, Blackhawks 5; Hawks lead series 3-2
I can't imagine the Blackhawks winning Game 6 in Calgary tomorrow night (04-27-09) among the Flames' fans C of Red, but there's hope.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
24 2am-3am
That Jack Bauer. Always trying to do it himself. He could have asked for backup. But no.
The Starkwood operative who impersonated Hodges' lawyer: why go to the trouble of murdering Hodges' attorney and impersonating her? She couldn't simply go and say she's representing Jonas Hodges? I didn't understand the subterfuge.
Five hours left.
The Starkwood operative who impersonated Hodges' lawyer: why go to the trouble of murdering Hodges' attorney and impersonating her? She couldn't simply go and say she's representing Jonas Hodges? I didn't understand the subterfuge.
Five hours left.
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