Wednesday, May 26, 2004
First day on the job and I was near bored out of my mind. The Cyclones only have one computer for Media Relations at the moment, so after a quickie tour of the stadium and warnings about long hours and tarp rolling, I was unceremoniously dumped on the ticket staff. I spent this amazingly dreary day selling tickets and answering phone calls. I think we had 12 customers in about 5 hours. Gotta pay dues, I guess.
In other news, this year's NBA draft (the Lottery is tonight) is shaping up to be "horrible, just horrible," as Bill Walton would say. This is going to rival the 2000 draft for absolutely worst of all time, which Frank Hughes claims on ESPN.com. If you don't believe me (or Mr. Hughes), see for yourself. After Kenyon Martin there's no other impact players until Desmond Mason, Q-Rich and Jamaal Magloire at 16,17 and 18. Of the first ten picks, seven are generously described as busts. Yes, Rookie-of-the-Year-by-default Mike Miller and Jamal Crawford went 5 and 8, but have you even noticed Miller since? And Crawford is the "I've put up great numbers on bad teams" posterboy - those Bulls sure are something. Something being the right word for it, because I bet even they don't know what they're trying to do.
On the hip-hop tip, check out an interview with RJD2 from hiphopsite.com. RJ's new album, Since We Last Spoke, just dropped. If it weren't for a rather precarious monetary situation resulting in a declined order, I would have it and be able to tell you exactly how dope it is. However, you'll just have to trust me. If it sucks, flame on. But on the real, check out Hiphopsite. They update big once a week (usually Wednesdays) and they often break news that's later picked up by the rest of the hip hop community. BC Seal of Approval given.
In other news, this year's NBA draft (the Lottery is tonight) is shaping up to be "horrible, just horrible," as Bill Walton would say. This is going to rival the 2000 draft for absolutely worst of all time, which Frank Hughes claims on ESPN.com. If you don't believe me (or Mr. Hughes), see for yourself. After Kenyon Martin there's no other impact players until Desmond Mason, Q-Rich and Jamaal Magloire at 16,17 and 18. Of the first ten picks, seven are generously described as busts. Yes, Rookie-of-the-Year-by-default Mike Miller and Jamal Crawford went 5 and 8, but have you even noticed Miller since? And Crawford is the "I've put up great numbers on bad teams" posterboy - those Bulls sure are something. Something being the right word for it, because I bet even they don't know what they're trying to do.
On the hip-hop tip, check out an interview with RJD2 from hiphopsite.com. RJ's new album, Since We Last Spoke, just dropped. If it weren't for a rather precarious monetary situation resulting in a declined order, I would have it and be able to tell you exactly how dope it is. However, you'll just have to trust me. If it sucks, flame on. But on the real, check out Hiphopsite. They update big once a week (usually Wednesdays) and they often break news that's later picked up by the rest of the hip hop community. BC Seal of Approval given.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Oh yeah, forgot to mention this - I finally saw Avril live last night. I randomly found out about this concert when I was reading Rollingstone's News and Notes column. And I told Sean and in our normal randomness we decided to go. Except then we actually got tickets and went instead of sitting around and kvetching like good slacker Jews.
So I did this thinking it would cure, or at least alleviate, this semi-obsession with Avril that I have. You know, like, "Okay, I saw her. Cool. Next!" And survey says... It's worse. She's absolutely gorgeous in person, she's started to develop stage presence, she was playing guitar for most of the time, and - this is likely most important - the new stuff is showing artistic growth.
Her new music sounds distinctly Avril-ish, in a good way. I'm not gonna say you're all going to like it, but I will say you should listen to it, and I don't mean "Don't Tell Me." Go to Avril Lavigne.com's Music Section and check out "Take Me Away" or "My Happy Ending" for two. If you have an opinion, let me know. I want to hear. It's a challenge.
As for the reason why I like her so much in the first place, it's because, like Banky Edwards, I've got a thing for girls that say aboot. But aside from facetiousness, it's because the music from her first album, Let Go, struck a chord with me. "Losing Grip" in particular - in the broader world sense, not the specific relationship sense - felt representative of everything that was going on in my life spring semester of last year.
It was a time - and some people know this, but most probably don't - when I felt like the wheels were coming off. I found comfort in that song. Between that, the fact that she writes, and that she's within a year of my age, I felt like she was a bit of a kindred spirit. If you know me, you know I'm a passionate kid. This is something that struck a chord with me, hence the commitment to the cause.
I'm following her career, for better or for worse. It's a risk, and something people will question, especially when you consider that she's such a polarizing figure. But I'm never one to worry about decisions I've made (outside of girl-related issues, which is a whole other story), so bring it.
So I did this thinking it would cure, or at least alleviate, this semi-obsession with Avril that I have. You know, like, "Okay, I saw her. Cool. Next!" And survey says... It's worse. She's absolutely gorgeous in person, she's started to develop stage presence, she was playing guitar for most of the time, and - this is likely most important - the new stuff is showing artistic growth.
Her new music sounds distinctly Avril-ish, in a good way. I'm not gonna say you're all going to like it, but I will say you should listen to it, and I don't mean "Don't Tell Me." Go to Avril Lavigne.com's Music Section and check out "Take Me Away" or "My Happy Ending" for two. If you have an opinion, let me know. I want to hear. It's a challenge.
As for the reason why I like her so much in the first place, it's because, like Banky Edwards, I've got a thing for girls that say aboot. But aside from facetiousness, it's because the music from her first album, Let Go, struck a chord with me. "Losing Grip" in particular - in the broader world sense, not the specific relationship sense - felt representative of everything that was going on in my life spring semester of last year.
It was a time - and some people know this, but most probably don't - when I felt like the wheels were coming off. I found comfort in that song. Between that, the fact that she writes, and that she's within a year of my age, I felt like she was a bit of a kindred spirit. If you know me, you know I'm a passionate kid. This is something that struck a chord with me, hence the commitment to the cause.
I'm following her career, for better or for worse. It's a risk, and something people will question, especially when you consider that she's such a polarizing figure. But I'm never one to worry about decisions I've made (outside of girl-related issues, which is a whole other story), so bring it.
Whutup kids? I'm back in Brooklyn for the summer. I just got done with a conference for Jewish journalists sponsered by New Voices, a magazine for Jewish college students (which may be featuring some of my writing in the future). It was pretty interesting all told. I'm a lot more aware of issues and voices in the Jewish community that I didn't know existed before.
Some places anyone (and this goes beyond the M.O.T.s - Members of the Tribe, that is) should check out are: Jewschool, a blog for Jews in the college to 30s range; Heeb Magazine, an alternative, indy magazine aimed at the Jewish fringe; and Mimaamakim, a journal for Jewish creative expression. All get the BC seal of approval, and I've met a few of the people behind them and can vouch for those behind the products.
On the journalism tip, work's starting tomorrow. I'm going to be the media relations intern for the Brooklyn Cyclones, a minor league baseball team based out of Coney Island. So basically, I'm doing journalism. Within the Mets' organization. At the beach. 20 minutes from my house. Does anyone know how to say sweet deal in German? (You'd think I would have learned...)
As for the current sports scene, Steph's on the Knicks, and even though they lost, that still gets me hype when I think about it. They're underrated for next year already. Two all star, 20-point scorers in the backcourt, Tim Thomas working as the third option, two bangers up front in Kurt Thomas and Nazr Mohammed, a deep bench - Penny, Frank Williams, Michael Sweetney and even -ack- Shandon Anderson. They stay healthy, and that's a bunch of ballers in the East. And if that's just the diehard Knicks fan in me talking, you've gotta admit it's one hell of a video game squad to have at your fingertips. My ESPN 2k4 Marbury's gonna put up 25 and 10. Just watch.
Some places anyone (and this goes beyond the M.O.T.s - Members of the Tribe, that is) should check out are: Jewschool, a blog for Jews in the college to 30s range; Heeb Magazine, an alternative, indy magazine aimed at the Jewish fringe; and Mimaamakim, a journal for Jewish creative expression. All get the BC seal of approval, and I've met a few of the people behind them and can vouch for those behind the products.
On the journalism tip, work's starting tomorrow. I'm going to be the media relations intern for the Brooklyn Cyclones, a minor league baseball team based out of Coney Island. So basically, I'm doing journalism. Within the Mets' organization. At the beach. 20 minutes from my house. Does anyone know how to say sweet deal in German? (You'd think I would have learned...)
As for the current sports scene, Steph's on the Knicks, and even though they lost, that still gets me hype when I think about it. They're underrated for next year already. Two all star, 20-point scorers in the backcourt, Tim Thomas working as the third option, two bangers up front in Kurt Thomas and Nazr Mohammed, a deep bench - Penny, Frank Williams, Michael Sweetney and even -ack- Shandon Anderson. They stay healthy, and that's a bunch of ballers in the East. And if that's just the diehard Knicks fan in me talking, you've gotta admit it's one hell of a video game squad to have at your fingertips. My ESPN 2k4 Marbury's gonna put up 25 and 10. Just watch.
