Monthly Archives: June 2017
KD with the KO?
118-113.
“I gave it everything I had both mentally and physically, so obviously I’m drained right now, I’m ready to get home.”
–Lebron James, after Game 3 of the NBA Finals
It’s not surprising that Lebron James, the favorite son of Akron, OH/the Cleveland area, is exhausting all that he has for his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. What is surprising is that his Energizer bunny-like effort has not translated to any wins in the championship series versus the stacked (under statement) Golden State Warriors.
And, for Cavs fans, the possibility of a 4-game sweep increased greatly last night. Not simply because the Warriors have a 3-0 series advantage, but because of one person:
Kevin Durant/KD.
The Golden State Warriors are playing great basketball. However, the Cleveland Cavaliers (truthfully) have a squad equipped to handle and defeat the Warriors. True story. But that’s regarding last year’s Warriors team that the Cavs defeated 4-3 for the NBA title.
If the first three games in the 2017 NBA Finals has revealed anything, it’s that Kevin Durant is the prized x-factor and the one player the Cavs have no answer for. Not only does Mr. Durant score a lot of points, block a lot of shots and generally influence Cleveland’s play in myriad ways, but he simultaneously takes pressure off of his teammates (who may be struggling) and stretches the Cavs defense far too thin for 4 quarters.
Odds are very, very high that the Golden State Warriors will win this year’s NBA championship. And Cleveland’s personnel deficit against Kevin Durant is proving to be too costly thus far in this series. Still, the Cleveland Cavaliers came back from being down 3-1 to win the series 4-3 in last year’s NBA Finals. The question is whether the Cavs can strategically figure out how to minimize Kevin Durant’s impact on the court.
Stopping Kevin Durant seems unlikely, but anything is possible. And yes, that sentiment that “anything is possible” does include a chapter in which a professional sports team in Cleveland won a league championship in the 21st century with a surreal, magic run. If a 3-1 series comeback was magical, how would a 3-0 series comeback be described?
Thanks to the 2016 NBA Finals, people in Cleveland, OH have a legitimate reason to dream such wild things. And that’s part of the underlying magic of sports:
Why not?
The Impossible Will Become Possible in the Next Mission: Impossible
Until Mission Impossible 6 (title TBD) premieres in theaters, every fan of the action-packed franchise will be cruising around Tom for any exciting details concerning those always exhilerating, death-defying stunts.
Exhibit A: TV host Graham Norton during his recent interview with the aforementioned actor.
Credit Graham Norton for his effort to try to pry any type of detail about Mr. Cruise’s forthcoming stunt guaranteed to shock us all in the best ways imaginable. We all want to know. Well, we don’t want to know, but instead we want to see something incredibly risky. That’s the business us fans are in.
Remember when he scaled the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol?
How does Tom Cruise top that?
As the Mission Impossible 6 producer disclosed in the first video above, it seems like Mr. Cruise is literally preparing to accomplish such a (mysterious) mind-blowing feat. Attempting to wrap my head around it still seems impossible.
I suppose that’s part of the mission of these action movies.
Bachman’s Exit is…Insanity?
Jian-Yang! T.J. Miller!
For any fan of the pitch-perfect comedy on HBO about Silicon Valley, which is aptly titled Silicon Valley, the adapted shout above is pitch-perfect.
What’s not perfect for any fan of Silicon Valley was the shocking news that one of its endlessly hilarious ensemble stars, T.J. Miller (Erlich Bachman, founder of Aviato), announced with HBO that he would not be returning for the forthcoming fifth season next year. The aforementioned hit show features brilliant writing, deft insight into the happenings and quirky (to put it lightly) characteristics of northern California’s tech culture and a cast of actors and actresses that make up one of the best casts on television.
So, that begs THE question: Why leave now?
For an actor who thrives on a life as an off-the-wall entertainer, the following excerpt from a recent interview was a sobering applause break for a rare glimpse into the man T.J. Miller.
Erlich Bachman T.J. Miller will be missed.
Not as much as the spoons designed perfectly for enjoying yogurt at snack time, but close.
Erlich Bachman knows what I’m talking about. Jian-Yang also knows, but he doesn’t care…plus, he’s is busy setting the garbage on fire.
Jian-Yang!
Happy Monday
The first silver screen movie starring Wonder Woman is, yes, doing wonderfully with audiences and critics alike.
Actually, to be blunt, Wonder Woman is kicking some serious ass in movie theaters across the country world!
“With $100.5 million in North America and an additional $122.5 million internationally, Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman can boast the biggest-ever opening weekend for a film directed by a woman, Variety reports.”
–Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Verge, June 5, 2017
Gal Gadot (Diana Prince/Wonder Woman) was the scene stealer in 2016s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Ms. Gadot proved she could hang alongside Batman and Superman. Now, she is proving she can handle the big screen all by herself.
A super statement in more ways than one.
In Wonder Woman, Ms. Gadot shows off her skills and natural characteristics of a superhero capable of shining in the brightest cinematic spotlight and, more importantly, in the cultural spotlight for women and young girls. And to celebrate the historic opening weekend, let’s listen to the epic theme song for Wonder Woman written and produced by the brilliant musicial composer Hans Zimmer from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
The specific title of the Wonder Woman theme above is, “Is She with You?”
No, she’s with all of us.
Have a Better Week Than Last Week.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 