Pop Cultured

New Blog Website for Me

2007-06-01T09:59:00.000-04:00

Thank you for reading in the short time this blog has been available...please use this new link for all future blog entries and collaboration...

http://popcultured.wordpress.com/

Technorati Profile

Group Project Deadbeats

2007-05-31T10:40:00.001-04:00

As i was reviewing the class members in my current "higher educational" online forum, i stumbled upon a gimp that completely bailed on last semester's group project...i explained to the other members of that group that i take my education seriously, and that they can rely on me to get the work done...

and that is precisely what this jagoff did...not only did he not show up to the final presentation, but he didnt respond to countless emails sent concerning the project...he actually has a job though, and i can only assume that his company pays for his education based on the quality of his attire in the past...he certainly was not a bright fellow either, as he dropped the other class i had w/ him the same semester, after not uttering a single word for maybe 3 weeks...

now, i do say that he isnt bright, but he did get me to do his work for him...maybe he gambled on my unwillingness to tell the teacher of such group turmoil, or maybe he genuinely didnt care...regardless, i did not rat him out because i didnt see the benefit for myself...so some moron gets my A in the class and goes on to have a degree while i get the A i deserve...not a big deal to me really...

but, doesnt he actually have to sell himself, his services, or his capabilities to someone of higher authority at work or in the future?...i know where he works, and for that reason alone, i would never suggest anyone using that specific financial institution if i were asked...

the facts are that this bozo cant think, cant act, and cant explain himself w/ any value, yet represents this company when he attends these classes...had he never said anything about his job to the class during introductions, then it would have no significance where he works...i hope for my sanity that i dont end up in another group w/ him and my education proceeds as planned...

MLB Thursday, May 31, 2007

2007-05-31T09:25:00.000-04:00

Yesterday: 1-0-0, +1 Unit
YTD: 4-3-1, +0.18 Units

Atlanta rallied in the 8th of the early contest for a nice win and +1 Unit...Phillies lose again but what else is new?...Spurs win handily so my prediction looks accurate, although simple...so, on to today...

i see 2 slugfests on today's slate, but i would say the hot card is Detroit (Verlander) @ Cleveland (Sabathia)...Verlander is 5-1 w/ a paltry 2.71 era, while Sabatha is 7-1 w/ 3.54 era, and favored ML -140...Cleveland is 17-4 at home and 13-4 vs. the Central...Detroit is 15-11 on the road and 12-10 vs. the Central as they rest 2.5 games back of Cleveland in the Central Division...i would expect Sabathia to resume his confidence and luster tonight in an attempt to keep his undefeated home streak alive...the Cleveland bats woke up last night also in an unexpected romp of Boston's Dice K...i look for the confidence at the plate to be bolstered as well...

in other news, i will again be attending the Dodgers game tonight, but don't expect Alyssa to make it, so i will be looking for Penny's current trophy, who may be in town to help learn how to perform in the same manner Alyssa once did...

im not sure this will help the Dodgers tho, and im not sure that we see a sweep tonight...the Nats havent scored yet in the series and their bats should wake up tonight against a struggling Hendrickson...Bowie has pitched relatively well so far, but struggles w/ pitch count...look for the dodgers to be patient at the plate, trying to increase Hendrickson's league low of 3.28 in run support per game...no play though,and rather a nice evening 7 rows back behind the backstop w/ all amenities...

Plays:
1 Unit Cleveland (Sabathia) ML -140 vs. Detroit (Verlander), pitchers must go...

MLB Wednesday, May 30, 2007

2007-05-30T10:35:00.001-04:00

Yesterday: 2-2-0, -0.65 Units
YTD: 3-3-1, -0.82 Units

last night was gorgeous, Penny was flawless, and Luis Gonzalez hit a bomb to right that swiftly ejected us from our seats and toward the parking lot...it was remarkable to see Nat fan get disgusted when they were now down 9-0, as if they didnt realize they had only mustered 3 hits through 6 innings, and Penny had just hit for himself...

it gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling to see such a lashing first hand, but unfortunately my Pistons play was about to lose...thing is, i dislike the Pistons and love LeBron...so a silly play to begin w/ but LeBron showed us all something last night...he is a rock and will see championships in the not so distant future...the Cavs are terrible, but LeBron can carry them...we think that hecant but he always does...w/ tayshaun in his face all night long, LeBron took a step-back, foot-on-the-line, rainbow shot that swished through the net and hurled the fans into a frenzy...it was electric and Nike has something special on their hands...

as for today, we have 3 day games, and the hot card is Seattle (Felix Hernandez) @ LA Angels (Jared Weaver), but both have been riddled w/ injuries this year, so more likely to just tune in...Ichiro will look to extend his hitting streak to 23 games and a career tying best--a nice story for the "LA" locals...

not much to work w/ today, though seeing Randy Johnson as an underdog sparks some interest...otherwise, im looking at this Braves game at 1pm ET where Hudson faces Bush in Milwaukee...Milwaukee is 18-8 at home, but only 3-7 in their last 10...though the Braves are only 4-6 in their last 10, they both were knocked around by the Nats of all unlikely candidates, but Hudson should drop some knowledge today on the struggling bats of the Crew and grab the win...

(**Note 1pm ET start) 1 Unit on Atlanta (Hudson) ML -120 @ Milwaukee (Bush), pitchers must go...

MLB Tuesday, May 29,2007

2007-05-29T10:45:00.000-04:00

Yesterday: 1-1-1, -0.17 Units
YTD: 1-1-1, -0.17 Units

i'll be at the dodger game tonight, w/ a friend and long-time dodger homer, approximately 8 rows back on the visitor side to see Penny pitch...should be fun as he tries to rebound from 2 outings ago...more importantly, i will be looking for a specific italian-american in the stands (or on the field) to get a picture w/ like these doushebags did somehow...

either way, today's hot card is Atlanta (Smoltz) @ Milwaukee (Sheets)...the total is 7.5 -110, so it has the potential to go over, but who knows, so no play...the key to picking out the strange lines is understanding what information the house is presenting to u...

in two situations, we have a star pitcher facing mediocre teams at best, David Wells (SD) @ Pittsburgh (Gorzelanny) and Dontrelle Willis (FLA) @ Chicago Cubs (Marquis)...both lines have the home teams favored though at ML -135, which seems fishy...

it seems very odd to have almost an extra 40% vig for Pittsburgh and the Cubs to win...Wells pitched a gem last time out and San Diego is 8-2 in its last 10...they are 10-4 vs. the Central while Pitt is 4-6 in its last 10 and 2-5 vs. the West, yet Pittsburgh is somehow favored...

the Marlins are searching for their 5th win in a row, w/ their horse on the hill, yet are underdogs??...i pulled these stats from CBS Sportsline about Dontrelle and his excellence in Wrigley..."Willis (6-3, 4.80 ERA) is 4-1 with a 3.34 ERA in five road starts this season, and has been even more impressive in his career at Wrigley Field, going 2-1 with a 1.60 ERA in five starts."

the details go on and on about the Cubs' woes at home and Marquis' recent losing streak...these lines dont make sense and i'm pouncing on them...they make it way too appealing to bet on San Diego and Florida, but i'm not biting...i'm taking the ugly favorites of:

Pittsburgh (Gorzelanny) ML -135 for 1 Unit, pitchers must go,

and Chicago Cubs (Marquis) ML -135 for 1 Unit, pitchers must go...

MLB Monday, May 28, 2007

2007-05-28T10:00:00.000-04:00

for the truest of baseball fans, and all-time hit kings, here are today's odds and trends...the cubs game is waiting for the wind predictions, and the hot ticket is Contreras v. Santana at the Metrodome...

i personally like Pittsburgh (Snell) ML -117 at Cincinnati (Lohse), pitchers must go...and in Boston, the Red Sox (Schilling) ML -160 v. Cleveland (Lee), pitchers must go...otherwise, i would love to see that Contreras v. Santana total at 7 for a play, but its not looking good...

2007 NBA CHAMPION SPURS

2007-05-27T08:18:00.000-04:00

2007 NBA CHAMPION SAN ANTONIO SPURS

There is no doubt as to why the remaining two teams in the West are still competing: coaching and execution...Gregg Popovich and Jerry Sloan are two of the top 5 coaches in the past 10-20 years in the NBA...in an era where kids are multi-millionaires before they can post someone up, it takes something special from a coach to be able to discipline his team...

The spurs are unique in that they have 3 superstars, and above average role players (i.e., Oberto, Barry, Finley, etc.)...additionally, they have championships...Utah will never see a championship this year, nor will the East...Williams had 31 last night and Boozer w/ 27, but it was in the thin air, where the spurs have yet to win a playoff game...w/ the series at 2-1, and another game in Utah, San Antonio will need to get a win on the road if they r to avoid a deciding game 7...

I am a sixer fan and always have been...but we r never going to be in the position of competing for a title, or back-to-back titles, or 3 titles in 5 years kinda shit...it just wont happen w/ coaches like Jackson, Popovich, and Sloan around still...for me to wish for sixer glory is selfish and silly, but i feel for every team that wont ever win too, except the knicks...this league has very few that know what it takes to win, like Duncan and Parker, making these playoff games very uninteresting...

I bring all this up because i caught the celtics-pistons 1987 Eastern Championship Finals last night on Classic, where Bird steals the inbound to win the game in the last 5 seconds...it was as real today as it was 20 years ago...we dont have competition in the league like we used to, even if Utah did win a game last night...but think about it, if Utah loses last night, then the series is 3-0 and virtually over...

is there a way to make this garbage interesting?...and i dont mean this year or next, but w/ maybe a 5-year plan, can the league get to be where it was even before Jordan arrived?...i highly doubt it, and probably will lose even more interest this week...

its such a shame when i can recall sitting on the edge of my bed, wondering if Jordan was gonna hit the shot...and he always did...there was something refreshing in the fact that one guy was guaranteed to bring it that night, and the only new champions would be those that could match his effort and intensity...but that never happened once he was on top...

so here is my nod to wishing u all a happy 2008 NBA season, because the current season is terrible...to the 2007 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs, mazel tov...