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No Strings Attached
Remember when anybody who was anybody had a fast-talking, lookalike puppet?
The ’90s was an insanely awesome decade for many reasons, least of which was because the NBA was actually fun to watch. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Steve Kerr, Dennis Rodman, Toni Kukoč and the Chicago Bulls were led by “The Zen Master” Phil Jackson. The Seattle Supersonics was a real team with Gary “The Glove” Payton, Shawn Kemp and one of the greatest sports names ever: Detlef Schrempf. And let’s not forget about Hakeem Olajuwon firing up the Houston Rockets.
Even so, the real magic of the NBA in the ’90s went down in Orlando. Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway is one of the league’s all-time greats, including his nickname. Along with his immense talent was his prowess for marketing and nobody talked a big game like Penny’s small friend who sounded precisely like comedian Chris Rock:
“Lil’ Penny.”
This blissful commercial is why “Throwback Thursday” is such a fantastic phenomenon.
It’s just a nice coincidence that Penny happened to throw the ball through the back of the hoop.
RIP Arnold Palmer
Yesterday, golfing legend Arnold Palmer died.
At the towering age of 87, Arnold Palmer inspired countless people on the green as much as he did children in hospitals. To put it simply, Arnold Palmer was old school. He was old school in his modesty, his graciousness and his talent. This is a trying blog post to write because while yesterday’s news sparks sadness, it’s equally impossible not to crack the gentlest of grins in honor of a man who changed people’s lives far beyond the drama of the 18th hole.
Arnold Palmer not only conquered his sport, but he understood the true meaning and responsibility of doing so.
“The Arnold Palmer” is 2/3 iced tea and 1/3 lemonade, yet his legacy as a golfing icon and a quintessential gentleman, on-and-off the course, is absolute.
RIP Arnold Palmer.
The Sooners Will Feel a “Boom”
Ironically, it’s The Ohio State Buckeyes defense/”The Silver Bullets” that believe Saturday’s football game can’t come soon enough.
For some context, #14 Oklahoma Sooners backup quarterback Austin Kendall recently said a few words about the Buckeyes.
“I think they really have a very basic defense,” Kendall told Sooner Sports TV. “I think we can go out there…I mean [starting quarterback] Baker [Mayfield], he’ll light them up. I’m really looking forward to it. If my number is called, I think I can do the same. I’m really looking forward to the game. It’s going to be really exciting.”
A few players on Ohio State, specifically the defense, had a few words in response via Twitter.
“Say less”
-Sam Hubbard
“Say less”
-Jalyn Holmes
A particularly reserved ESPN College Gameday analyst (and former Ohio State QB) even tweeted a response.
“Not a smart decision during a hyped game week by a BACK UP QB!!!”
-Kirk Herbstreit
The #3 Ohio State Buckeyes visit Norman, Oklahoma for a night game against the Oklahoma Sooners this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.on FOX. The Buckeyes are 2-0. With a surprising opening week loss to the Houston Cougars (Tom Herman, remember that name), the Sooners bounced back with a 59-17 home win versus Louisiana-Monroe last week for a 1-1 record. There is tremendous pressure on both teams to perform in the bright spotlight. However, if the Sooners lose for the second time during their first three games, at home, against a potential playoff contender on national TV, Oklahoma football fans will likely foresee a lost season.
If the Buckeyes defeat the Sooners, Ohio State will solidify their spot among the best in college football just three weeks into the 2016 season. Keeping this in mind, games are played for a reason and not on paper. Ohio State vs. Oklahoma should be an exciting game with all the bells and whistles and horses named Boomer and Sooner that are tasked with pulling the Sooner Schooner onto the field. Plus, you can’t miss the Oklahoma crowd chanting, “Boomer Sooner!”
On the flip side, courtesy of Austin Kendall, Ohio State will make sure to bring their silver bullets (sans blanks) tomorrow night.
Go Buckeyes!
Bringing “Boomshakalaka” Back…akalaka
Kids today really need to get outside more…
so they find an arcade to play NBA Jam.
As vintage arcades continue to pop-up around the country (at least 2 in Columbus, Ohio) with NBA Jam being one of the prized centerpieces along with Mortal Kombat and Asteroids, my dad introduced me to the greatest basketball video game ever made in the form of a compact disc for the PC. Burning the nets and climbing two stories for a monster dunk was a thrill-a-minute. Playing this video game with friends was (and is) always a blast.
For this Throwback Thursday, I present to you the fascinating backstory of the popular video game NBA Jam.
Going head-to-head with friends in NBA Jam makes for an awesome time, especially when rediscovering your youth at an arcade. And the games are also intensely competitive. But when I was younger and my dad took a break from his work to challenge me or vice versa, those days were fun curve balls (wrong sport, but you get the point). It was as if I had discovered this secret portal in the universe because I had a dad who liked to play (and was pretty good at) video games.
Boomshakalaka!
Jimmy's Daily Planet 