H-O-R-S-E

It’s the type of shot you’d try pulling off during a game of HORSE—from behind the backboard. Usually we try from out of bounds, but on rare occasions, it can happen in-game.

Kobe yesterday:

Jordan:

Bird:

And what the heck, how about some Josh Shipp:

Taiko Copycats

***UPDATE***

The president of Arashi Taiko has since contacted the current Kyodo Taiko members, and offered an apology while formally asking for permission to perform ‘Encore’. The video in question was also taken down from YouTube. I read the forwarded letter and it seemed sincere, and I thought it was a nice gesture (though, unfortunately, a bit after-the-fact). I hope the current members of Kyodo would be gracious enough to work something out with Arashi that leads to a positive relationship—maybe a joint practice or something if they can meet at next year’s Intercollegiate Taiko Conference.

***

…and I’m not talking about Emily’s mother-of-all-slaps to Craig’s face. This is about full-on Taiko Plagiarism.

Got an e-mail link from Yumi from Taikoproject [via Liz] to the following YouTube video of Oklahoma University’s Arashi Taiko performing their brand-new piece:

Problem is, some of us happen to be familiar with the tune… I mean veeeeerrrrrry familiar. As in this is “Encore,” which UCLA’s Kyodo Taiko composed back in 1997. As in my buddies Christine/Craig/Jason re-mixed this particular rendition. As in I was one of the first to perform the piece, back in ‘07:

The similarities are uncanny… er, blatantly obvious.

Part of me is amused/flattered that the OU kids liked it enough to copy it. Taiko’s about community, and I don’t mind sharing. It’s nice to see that taiko is spreading to places like Oklahoma.

Then again, another part of me is upset that they never did seek permission. I can see why my friends who co-wrote the piece are so pissed. To us, Encore isn’t just any song—it’s Kyodo’s signature song that’s been passed down from generation to generation, for over a decade.

Maybe they did give credit to “This group we found on YouTube” before performing at the “University of Oklahoma African Student Association ‘ROOTS’ talent show”… Who knows.

But if you’re gonna copy it, it wouldn’t hurt to try asking the owners of the song for permission first.

flattered

It’s going to be a long season…

…for UCLA Men’s Basketball.

Just watched the Bruins lose to cross-town community college Cal State Fullerton (ok, technically a state college, but not much difference) in 2OT. Two uninspiring overtime periods in which UCLA scored a combined total of 8 points.

Here’s how they scored in the 1st OT, which pretty much sums up the Bruins’ offensive production for the night:

missed 3, missed 3, missed 3, Mike Roll hits a 3, missed 3.

5-minute total: 3 points.

The Bruins shot a whopping 29 attempts from 3-point land, connecting on just FIVE. AGAINST A ZONE. Give me 29 3pt attempts from 30-feet out, and I’ll guarantee more than 5 makes. Good lord.

The fact that CSUF’s scoring was just as anemic doesn’t bode well as to the caliber of the opposition.

Senior forward and lone-returning starter Nikola Dragovic shot so horribly, he couldn’t have thrown a pea in the ocean. Jerime Anderson looked completely lost. Roll—the lone bright spot on offense with 17 points—missed on the front end of a crucial 1 and 1 at the end of regulation, which could have effectively sealed the game before the OTs ever happened.

If last night was a sign of things to come (actually, it already might as well be—they barely escaped their two preseason match ups against Concordia and Humboldt State), UCLA’s going to be in for a loooong season.

I miss Darren Collison & the gang.

UCLA fans are crying, like Ammo. Wish we had Afflalo to pick us back up...

New NBA Adidas Commercials

I’m more of a Nike guy when it comes to basketball shoes, but the latest ad campaign from Adidas is pretty cool. In fact, it was pretty awesome when they featured UCLA’s SAC gym for their 2008 commercials (I blogged about it before).

This first “group” video is pretty sick… the multi-layered player effect is so cool. Derrick Rose’s between-the-legs dunk? Ridiculous.

Nice T-Mac cameo w/ his new jersey #3. Haha.

I also found the Josh Smith vs Dwight Howard manikin to be pretty funny… sort of lame, but pretty funny.

Check out other versions w/ Rose, Chauncey Billups, Tim Duncan, Michael Beasley, etc…

Coach Wooden – 99 Years Young

He has got to be the sharpest 99-year old on earth.

Happy Birthday Coach Wooden!

Some of my favorite famous Coach Wooden quotes:

Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

Learn as if you were to live forever; live as if you were to die tomorrow.

Don’t give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you.

And also a pair of my favorite not-quite-as-famous quotes from coach:

Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.

You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

DOYERSSSSS

NLDS Game 2, Dodgers vs Cardinals @ Chavez Ravine:

Pretty much sums up how I felt watching yesterday’s game. GO DODGERS!!

Gratitude

Nothing in this world should be a source of our complaint or blame. Quite the opposite, everything should be a source of our gratitude and joy. Imagine awaking each morning with gratitude for the warmth that permeates throughout your body, for the food you had yesterday and which is now nurturing you today, and for the air that the lungs take in, contributing to the energy that sustains life. Gratitude should overwhelm you.

Jiro Morishita, (2/16/1961 – 8/30/2009)

Back In Business

WTF?/Awesome

Media Day! Training Camp! At last, the NBA is back in action this week! Hurrah!

SO MANY interesting story lines for the 2009-2010 season… My random thoughts, in no particular order:

1. #1 pick Blake Griffin and the finally (and hopefully stays) healthy Clippers – how much will they improve?
2. Shaquille O’neal in Cleveland with LeBron James – most anticipated pre-game antics ever
3. Can Vince Carter replace Hedo Turkoglu effectively in Orlando?
4. Suns back to their running game with Steve Nash
5. NY building their running game with Mike D’Antoni
6. Can the Spurs & their aging stars (Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili) stay healthy? Is the addition of Richard Jefferson enough to win the West? (Probably not.)
7. Can the Celtics & their aging stars (all of them) stay healthy? Is Rasheed Wallace past his prime? (Definitely yes.)
8. Will Delonte West shoot somebody?
9. Is the weed out of Michael Beasley’s system yet? Will he ever Tweet again?
10. Will the insanely loyal Warriors fans finally turn against their dysfunctional team? (Probably not.) Will their star players betray the fans? (Already have.)
11. Is Greg Oden a bust?
12. Will Kevin Durant rise above “All-Star” caliber to reach “Superstar” status in 2010?
13. Speaking of All-Stars, LeBron in the Slam Dunk Contest!! Will he be any good? Who joins him in the contest? Aren’t you tired of seeing Nate Robinson?
14. Who gets in trouble first in Memphis: Zach Randolph or Allen Iverson? Who takes the shots between those two, Rudy Gay, and OJ Mayo?
15. Where in the world is Carlos Boozer?
16. What kind of shoe will Nike make for Dwyane Wade? UPDATE: “Bred” AJ XI on Wade’s feet @ media day
17. Are Joe Smith and Josh Smith the most generic names ever to play on the same team? How will ESPN gametrack differentiate between the two? (Won’t work: Smith, J. Smith, Jo. Smith.)
18. Will the Maloof brothers sell the Kings? Or move them to Las Vegas??
19. Gilbert Arenas, Tracy McGrady, Elton Brand, Kevin Garnett… how well have they recovered?
20. Is DeShawn Stevenson even more ridiculous than I thought? (Yes).
21. Rip Hamilton and Ben Gordon in Detroit—who shoots?
22. Did Dwight Howard’s shoulders grow even more during the off season? Is that even possible?
23. When will the referee lockout end? Will the replacement refs be any good? Will any of them resemble Dick Bavetta or Joey Crawford?
24. Will Arron Afflalo start in Denver? Will Darren Collison blossom practicing against Chris Paul every day in New Orleans? (Personal UCLA bias.)

And of course, the Laker story lines:

1. How well will Ron Artest fit in with the triangle offense?
2. Does Kobe Bryant’s aging process begin this year? How much mileage does he have left?
3. Will Pau Gasol dominate like he did in Eurobasket this summer?
4. Will Jordan Farmar return with a vengeance? Can he prove himself to be the long term replacement for Derek Fisher?
5. Will Andrew Bynum play a full season? If he does, can he return to least year’s mid-season monster form?
6. Does Phil Jackson really experiment with the ultra-big lineup of Kobe, Lamar, Artest, Pau, and Bynum?
7. How much will we miss Trevor Ariza? (By the way, who’s his supposedly Japanese baby mama?)
8. How long will Lamar’s Odom’s marriage with Khloe Kardashian last? Who cares?
9. Did Sasha Vujacic REALLY cut his hair???
10. is 11/22 really Chick Hearn night at Staples? Are they really giving away Chick’s microphone jersey replicas? If so, can you get me tickets?

Hoping the season caps off with the Back 2 Back, Championship #16 in June 2010!