April 19, 2024
BYOB
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It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
Seriously, I will care about Inception next week. This week, it’s about something being too fluffy and PREDATORS! WHY WON’T ANYONE DISCUSS THE PREDATORS? SOMEONE, ANYONE, DISCUSS THE PREDATORS!
ohmanthesuspenseiskillingme
— Waiting for Jeff McM to criticize DP for ending a sentence with a three-dot ellipse instead of four and derail the thread.
— What’s going on with Patrick Goldstein? In between cheerleading sessions for the new Rob Reiner kid film (featuring Alan Horn’s daughter in a supporting role), he’s now stooped to recycling old Nikki Finke non-starter “controversy” items about Michael Moore and Brad Grey’s kid. Is he hoping Drudge will link to him instead?
Oh yeah, tonight, it’s THE DECISION! If that dude leaves Cleveland for the Knicks or anyone not referred to as DA BULLS, then he’s as much of a douche as I always believed him to be.
Just got back from the Egyptian and the premiere of the documentary “4192.” (No, it’s not about Columbus being dyslexic; it’s about Pete Rose.) It’s a terrific picture, even if you don’t like baseball, and well worth seeking out should they land a distrib. (Except for Lex, as there’s no squack, hot or otherwise.)
Cadavra:
Is it better than the DEFINITIVE portrayal of Pete Rose on film: Tom Sizemore in a bad fright wig in the ESPN original movie HU$TLE? Which was somehow directed by Peter Bogdanovich, and which I watched three times in its initial run, out of both Sizemore completism and ’70s baseball nostalgia?
IO, I’m not a huge basketball fan, and I’m sure DP doesn’t really need another all-sports BYOB after the soccer one yesterday, but if you could answer this in all seriousness:
Why IS it considered such a DICK MOVE if LeBron wants to leave Cleveland? I ask that as someone who once lived in Ohio/PA, and as far as I’m concerned, you could pay me 500 million, and I’d still be depressed out of my motherfucking mind BECAUSE I’D STILL BE IN FUCKING CLEVELAND.
I generally don’t understand why all athletes don’t wanna play in NYC or Los Angeles.
Seriously, if you’re a Laker you’re fucking LA socialites, and if you’re a Yankee you’re Derek Jeter banging every actress and model in town.
If you’re in Cleveland… well, you’re kinda limited to Hooters waitresses and local bikini girls from the tractor pull.
What good is it BEING RICH if you’re not in Los Angeles or New York?
If I were LeBron, I wouldn’t consider anything but.
Why would you want to be rich in Los Angeles or New York? Seriously? Property cost too much, there are way too many sycophantic dillholes around every corner trying to get a piece and if you are rich in those two places. You can still be a small fish in a big pond. If you are rich in the Akron/Cleveland area, you stand out. Lex, you really have to start thinking outside of money and poon. It will miss your head up man like the internet and the gadgets! Listen to Prince! He knows stuff!
Now why is it a dick move for LeBron to leave Cleveland? If he does leave them, he rips out the heart of an entire city and all of the hearts of everyone who lives there. He completely and utterly destroys people’s psyches in ways that you could never understand unless you are used to life beating the crap out of you on an almost hourly basis.
That there is a possibility that he may do this on live TV, in front of millions to see, would not only be sadistic. It would be the number one all-time professional sports… non-crime… dick move. He would literally destroy whatever good will he had with the people of Cleveland, he would look like a dick to any sports fan with half a brain, and he would be going to a place where people having to cheer him, even though he would have revealed to millions how mercenary he is in his decisions.
Seriously, if he leaves Cleveland tonight. He should go from King James to Dick James and we should dub Kevin Durant KING, because that dude is well on his way to becoming KING.
Cad, how can that documentary be any good if it excludes his gambling? Please go into some details because every sports writer is in a fervor about the thing because it excludes all the dubious parts of Pete’s character. Hopefully his wife is in it somewhere because that’s a decently hot woman right there.
Pretty sure Derek Jeter wasn’t picking up on Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, or Minka Kelly by hanging out in Akron or Cleveland, Ohio.
What good is “big fish in small pond” if models and actresses don’t live there? I am repeating myself now, but I lived in that general area for nearly a DECADE, and I sure as shit wouldn’t want to be the biggest fish there. Cleveland, Akron, Buffalo, Erie, Pittsburgh you name it– nice people, great fans, nice towns… But no models, no actresses, what’s the point of being rich? Why live in a city where FAMOUS PEOPLE don’t live?
My only questions to DP are: how much did you love Inception, and if you didn’t love it, why are you so STUPID?????
Anyway, as IO said it’s Predators weekend and that’s what I’m all about.
Is every single professional athlete who left a town like Cleveland for NY or LA a dick? I just can’t make myself care. The NBA is boring.
I hear Predators is a good time and sort of “back to the basics.” Looking forward to it.
i’ve read about a dozen reviews of Predators, and one common theme seems to be…
SPOILER ALERT
Laurence Fishburne is just awful.
Sounds like Fishburne is bad, but hopefully the awesome Walton Goggins makes up for it.
The biggest Knicks fan in the world — yes, I’m referring to Spike Lee — couldn’t convince LeBron James to come to NYC.
@LexG: Derek Jeter does NOT hit on women. Alex Rodriguez does.
So reviews are all mentioning Fishburne is in it? That’s kinda too bad (although there he is on the imdb page, so I guess it’s defensible). I don’t think he’s terrible in it, but I’m not sure that the rest of the movie allows the space to do the operatic thing he’s going for. (And he looks awfully bulky to be the superior alien-fighting stud he’s supposed to be. There’s a scene where he’s crawling on his belly through this “Alien”-like ship and I kept worrying he was going to get stuck.)
The Fish has been in the TV spots too hasn’t he? Or am I imagining that?
Ok, Emmy nods are in – I actually just watch a few shows and usually get more excited about the Oscars.
But the shows I watch I have a FIERCE loyalty to….
Parks & Recreation is the funniest show on television with the funniest cast, hands-down – I like The Office, but it’s time has passed. Parks should be getting more recognition than just Amy Poehler. Party Down has been the second funniest show on television, no one ever watched it and it has been cancelled – still, there were a slew of truly fun guest appearances that could have gotten some love.
Folks are bitching, but Lost deserves every send-off nod it gets – the show ended well and though I have never really dug Matthew Fox, it’s nice to see him get some recognition.
Not going to bother complaining about Glee and True Blood, how overrated and “nichey” they are – so many other folks are already doing that.
But how the hell are Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara really “comedies?” My wife loves those shows so naturally I sometimes watch them – there’s wit for sure, but to have Edie Falco nominated for comedy alongside Amy Poehler is just bizarre.
And my actual favorite show on television, Burn Notice – never going the awards recognition it deserves. (I mean, did A Team? Though this is much more well-written)
DONOVAN POWER – he’s the coolest cat on TV and deserved some recognition, but it was nice to see Sharon Gless get a nomination.
I live in Akron and if he does lead he will be the most hated person to this part of the country. He will basically condemn the city to be title less for my lifetime. It almost like why bother being a sports fan, we have no chance of winning. If a person who was born and raised here leaves we will never be able to attract a big free agent ever again, not that we ever did. I mean the Browns – fucking forget it. Can any of you imagine watching a Super Bowl with the Browns as one of the teams. Will never happen. The Indians have been close but I don’t believe that will ever happen. And now the Cavs will go back to being the team with the best record to the worst team again. Just another day in the life of Cleveland sports fan. I mean I should have expected no different but we all thought LeBron was different.
Oh and he’s basically admitting that he can’t win without another top 5 player and a top 3 power forward. Drop the King title and the Chosen One because all he showed is that he is a scared bitch.
Totally agree with you about Parks & Rec, Geoff. Easily the funniest show on TV and the cast is stellar. I am particularly fond of Nick Offerman’s work as Ron Swanson. He is hysterical.
I enjoy True Blood and Mad Men, but Dexter is my favorite show now so I am happy to see it get some love. Lithgow was fantastic last season.
Wish there was more for Justified as well. Great first season overall.
Monco, if any team from Cleveland could win a championship, it would be the Browns because football is set up to let anyone win unlike every other sport. Seriously, if they can go to Green Bay. They can go to CLEVELAND!
That aside, if LeBron goes to Miami and declares it on national TV. He’s scum. He’s epic level scum and I hope everyone roots against him until he retires. We needed a new Kareem in terms of a swarthy jerk to boo. If he goes to Miami, he is a scared little baby that could not do it alone. Long live the true KING… KEVIN DURANT!
Oh yeah Lex, this is why you come across as a bit of a soft touch. Only a goof wants a model and actress when they could have middle of the country hotness. Again, the middle of the country produces the hottest women in the country.
One last thing; Curb is the best comedy on TV. Nothing touches it. If it does not win Best Comedy and David does not Best Actor, the Emmys are ran by a bunch of idiots. They also better vote HAMM.
Hamm is great but I would love to see Michael C. Hall win. He was so excellent in Six Feet Under and he’s equally good in Dexter.
Agreed about LeBron, IO – I live in Chicago and though I’m not really a Bulls fan, would think he is scum if he came here or anywhere but Cleveland. It’s quite disgusting, actually – there have been lots of OpEd pieces written here about why LeBron should come and even some billboards. I love this city, but when it comes to sports, they can be truly delusional – 18 months of “Chicago – Olympics Candidate City” signs EVERYWHERE to prove that.
And AMEN about the Midwest, IO – HOTTEST chicks, here, no doubt! I lived in New York and DC – sure a good amount of East Coast hotness, but it doesn’t even compare. Out here, they eat meat and are proud of it – not a sexual reference, there.
Everytime I have been to the West Coast, I am amazing just how leathery most people look – chicks in their ’30’s look like they’re in their ’50s, while it’s the exact opposite in the plains. I’ll take Midwest farmers daughters over California Girls any day of the week!
Umm…maybe Cleveland should have done a better job building a TEAM around LeBron instead of putting the weight on his shoulders every year. Kobe had Shaq and now Gasol….Jordan had Pippen and a cast of 3rd players, Spurs had Duncan and Parker. LeBron has LeBron.
While I do hope he stays in Cleveland because I like to imagine him loyal and wanting to be true to his home state, etc., I can’t blame the guy for leaving because the Cavs have done next to nothing to get him a complimentary player.
I do think it’s super cool there’s an entire TV event dedicated to what team he will choose.
The Cavs won 60 games the last two seasons. It’s not like the team sucked or anything. They just did not get over the hump and a lot of it can be put at his feet. This is why a decision by him to go to Miami or anywhere else, represents the height of cowardice on his part. He would not be doing it alone forever, Cleveland would have found a guy, but LeBron wants to be a brand. Too bad his brand is going to be tainted tonight by crapping over an already beguiled American city. If he picks Miami, he turns heel, and everyone should boo him.
That hump being a veteran Celtics team. I don’t care about the politics of it, but a move to Chicago is most terrifying to me as a celtics fan. He fits there and they have a possibly great coach. Miami would be a debacle he would greatly regret. Teams need at least 6 guys to win a championship. Those without depth get exposed against smart veteran teams like the celtics or the lakers. Plus he’d be leaving tens of millions on the table.
IOv2,
The problem is Cleveland hasn’t found the second option for LeBron the last four seasons. And considering how much they don’t have to offer teams right now, plus it’s Cleveland, I don’t see LeBron getting help anytime soon.
With the Heat, Atlanta, Boston, Orlando, Bulls, and possibly the Knicks getting better for the next two to three seasons if Bron stays in Cleveland, he’ll never get past those teams. LeBron needs a legit number two…and I just don’t see where you find that in the next few years. This is it for him.
Going to Miami hurts the LeBron brand. That’s Wade’s city and no matter how many they win, Wade will have one more than him.
How LeBron doesn’t go to Chicago is a mystery to me. That team is tailor made for everything he wants. He’d be the man there. He’d have a legit number two and number three guy(s). Noah is basically the new Rodman. Deng can score 20 and 10 in the flow of the offense if he wants too. He’s not inconsistent like Mo Williams. It’s Chicago. And that nucleus is young. Boozer would be the oldest and I think he’s 30.
The only, only problem with Chicago is the statue out front. If he’s afraid to follow that, then so be it. But, if he goes to Chicago, the brand will get bigger there. He’d have a chance to catch the Bulls up to the Celtics and Lakers in terms of rings. He’d get at least four in Chicago with that team that’s there now.
If he stays in Cleveland, he’ll be 31 at best before he sniffs the Finals.
Haters gonna hate. He hasn’t even made The Decision yet, and fuckers ’round here are already calling him scum?
Go big, Lebron. Get the Championship elsewhere and make them cry their little titty eyes out.
Tofu, it’s an epic level of scumbagginess to have an hour long special, where you essentially knife your home town. Seriously, LeBron will never be over to get over that with a lot of people he wants to sell shows too. Seriously.
Cory, if he picks Miami, it’s a total coward move. That’s Wade’s team and anyone who wants to be someone in that sport, has to go somewhere to be THE MAN. If he goes to Chicago, he’s the man, and that’s what he needs to do. If he goes to the Knicks, that’s also another few years of waiting to get that team to the top. The Bulls are where it’s at and hopefully he knows this. If not, if he’s scared of that statue, then he needs to realize that Steve Young got into the Hall of Fame.[
IOv2,
I 100% agree. The only reason this situation is hard for LeBron is because he didn’t win it this year.
I’m willing to bet anything that the plan was to win it all this season and bolt for whomever this off season. When that got shattered, he was in a bad situation.
The situation gets worse because apparently those rumors about his mother and at least two teammates on the Cavs is 100% true.
I just don’t see how he stays in Cleveland. I just don’t. If he does, he’ll be the new Kevin Garnett.
Since I can’t care about a sports guy actually making money, let me ask is Fishburne supposed to be some big secret in Predators, because I’ve seen him on tv and the trailers. I wasn’t getting why people are always talking like it’s a spoiler that he’s in it.
The movie treats it like a big reveal. The marketing gives it up left and right.
IOv2 – I’m in total agreement about James. It’s interesting to hear how many people are warning him about the blowback if he jumps to the Heat tonight. If he thinks an hour plea on ESPN can save his “brand”, he’s more of a man-child than I always thought he was.
As to why it’s a dick move – he’s going to crater the city businesses to the tune of about 50mil. That’s not including all the peripheral camps, Cavs stuff, city taxes and whatnot that’s come about because of him. You’re looking at a drop near 75Mil in one of the hardest hit regions of the country.
Why does that matter? Because the NBA is a reflection of the country. While a handful of teams generate a return, the rest are on the verge of bankruptcy. So the teams that do make money have to float the rest. The Cavs were one of those profitable teams, now they’re going to lose an estimated 150Mil in value. Lebron will literally be transferring about 200Mil in total wealth from his hometown to Miami, which is doing quite fine without him.
And anyone who blames the Cavs organization doesn’t know jack shit about his involvement. LeBron doesn’t stand by and say “whatever”, he’s been intrinsically involved with every roster change from the day Paul Silas was fired. Shaq? Lebron. Atawn? Lebron. Hughes, Gibson, Mo, the non-trade of Varejo two years ago…it’s all him. The last move Ferry did on his own was get Wallace and Wally because LeBron’s crew weren’t going to cut it. It’s the same shit Jordan tried with the Bulls until Jackson came along. Gilbert, the owner, ate the luxury tax last year just to satisfy this guy, something very rare of any owner especially in a recession.
The enjoyable thing now is reading about LeBron’s camp already trying to stack the rest of the team. They know those three will not get past Chicago and every other team in the East is going to an “Enemy of my Enemy” approach for trades.
Re: Chicago. Rose and Noah don’t like him. Rose didn’t want him, openly said so months ago, and LeBron wanted Noah traded.
Just want to join the chorus on midwestern women. This is truly the land of milf and honeys.
Head over to Iowa Lex, there is a Kristen Stewart clone working at every Dairy Queen in the state.
Fuck ALL that… They have models in Miami.
Also, sorry, I think it’s BULLSHIT to pin all the hopes, dreams and pride of an entire CITY on ONE GUY.
Christ, he grew up there. Who wants to live in their hometown their whole life? Especially if they’ve got money to burn. He’s a zillionaire… why would anyone, rich or not, want to live as an adult in the same area they grew up, went to high school, where all their family is, etc? Doesn’t that kind of put a crimp in your style? Like you wanna have six-ways with supermodels and coke whores, but the baker who knew you when you were six years old, or your Uncle Phil, keeps popping up everywhere you go?
Christ, let the guy LIVE A LITTLE, let him go to a REAL CITY where they have REAL HOT CHICKS instead of bad regional accented SPORTS FAN CHICKS.
If I were LeBron stuck in some overcast, run-down, rusty burg like Cleveland and I saw my peers in LA and NYC pulling socialites, models and actresses, it would drive me out of my fucking mind.
And NO, IO, “real women” aren’t as exciting as ACTRESSES. Because ACTRESSES are in MOVIES. Because actresses are on MAGAZINE COVERS, There isn’t a man on this planet who wouldn’t rather bang Scarlett Johansson than his NON-famous regular girlfriend or wife and live the high life with cameras on them. Because BEING FAMOUS and BANGING FAMOUS WOMEN are the two most important achievements any man can ever do, and if it eats me alive every second of every day that I’m doing neither, at least I don’t have a fighting chance.
LeBron has millions and he’s stuck in FUCKING CLEVELAND where no actresses live.
Vag barely even counts if the woman isn’t famous.
FACT.
Is it really fair to bash James for how his move could impact an entire city’s or state’s economy? Are we going to hold all sports superstars to that standard? If anything be angry about free agency and the structure of modern professional sports. Plus, how many people who bitch & moan about James and his TV special will still watch it tonight after reading about it all day? I’m no Lebron or NBA fan and clearly the dude has an out-of-control ego, but that’s hardly unusual for a professional athlete.
Martin,
Then, based on your post, LeBron’s fucked. Plain and simple. There’s no options for him if what you say about Rose and Noah is true.
LeBron’s done.
“stuck in Cleveland”?!
Do you know where Garnett lives? Malibu. Where does he play? Boston.
Pure projection, Lex, You hate the idea that someone could be successful and not worship fame.
Hcat, I am not inclined to believe that, but I will admit something. For guys WITH NO MONEY– ie, myself– L.A. really isn’t the town to score, especially if your preference is (sorry, just stating my personal preference):
Willowy, demure, thin, 17-24-year-old Caucasian girls of the K-Stew, Dakota, Taylor Swift, Seyfried, Emily Blunt type look. I mean, yes, those ACTUAL WOMEN might live here, but that’s why they’re famous. Because they’re the only white women in Los Angeles.
White people in LA apparently stopped fucking around 1977, so even in a mecca of sun-ravaged middle-aged tweakers and horse-riding old fucks like the Valley, all the young people are some mix of Filipina, Armenian, Korean and Mexican, and usually the chicks already have 17 kids by age 25 and a vato boyfriend who macks on them in public even though he probably cheats on her day and night.
The very SIGHT of an actual young white female in the general East Valley/SGV area is on par with catching a glimpse of the fucking Yeti. Maybe I need to move out to Sherman Oaks or something, because I haven’t SEEN a white chick since ’99, save for the occasional one here and there when I go into Hollywood or Los Feliz.
So, with that in mind, I’m almost inclined to believe there are more K-Stew types in Iowa, if only because they simply don’t have white people in Los Angeles.
I like the insight and passion, Martin…but Cory’s right. What’s the guy supposed to do? Be a martyr for the state of Ohio? That state is screwed whether LeBron comes back or not…why should he stay?
don lewis,
I just don’t see a path to multiple championships if LeBron stays in Cleveland. Just based on this summer, the balance of power has shifted to the East. Kobe’s got a easy path to the finals next year, even with an up and coming Oklahoma City team.
LeBron’s Cavs have won 60 plus games the last two seasons but they’re not playoff built. They’re regular season built.
The real and only question for Cavs fans are how does Cleveland get that “Pippen” for LeBron in the coming seasons. Because, even the G.O.A.T. needed help in Chicago. And LeBron ain’t the G.O.A.T.
The Celtics just got J. O’Neal at mid-level. Yeah, LeBron’s really fucked.
I don’t care about the situation between him, Rose, and Noah. The Bulls are his best option to even compete.
Lex: 4192 is a documentary, so it’s not really a fair comparison with the Sizemore pic.
IO: The picture concentrates exclusively on his career, and in fact ends when he gets hit #4192. So no–no gambling, no personal life (except for his father’s influence on his playing), no anything else. All that stuff is totally valid and deserves a movie of its own, but this is not a biopic–rather a timeline of a specific and remarkable athletic feat.
Thanks for the insight Martin. If Rose and Noah hate him, that’s fine and good, but this is winning. Rodman played with Pippen and Jordan. Those three guys should be able to get over it, act like professionals, and win a lot of rings. If Lebron is not going to be loyal to his people then he may as well be loyal to the game, and go to the place where he can as soon as this season.
Lex, you want a famous woman like a hole in your head. Seriously, move back home, and come back to the flavour country.
Not sold on J. O’Neal but probably better than Shaq. If Lebron goes to Miami the celts can still win the east. The bulls will be strong but I think they’re still a year or two away. Orlando got exposed last year and lack a consistent outside threat. Reddick developing into a starter could make them very dangerous though. Miami with Wade/Lebron has many potential chemistry/roster/coaching issues.
bunny,
Me neither but again, it’s another talented, if injury prone body that LeBron has to go through in the East.
Don’t forget Atlanta. Young? Sure, but very, very talented. I think Boozer makes Chicago legit. And remember, if they don’t get LeBron, they can get a max guy next year…or more pieces this year. Either way, they’ve got money to burn to help that team. It’ll be more of a team than having LeBron down in Miami with Wade and Bosh.
And again, for a guy so concerned about “THE BRAND”, this going to Miami situation is flat stupid. It hurts his legacy from here on out.
“LeBron won on Wade’s team.” That’s his legacy if he goes to Miami.
Whatever man Bucks are going all the way. John Salmons, Drew Gooden, and Corey Maggette = NBA title next season.
And in the end, the Lakers will win the title. As usual.
The Lakers have to deal with King Kevin and he remained, outside of the Celtics, the hard competition they had to face in the entire playoffs last season. Also never forget that the refs just gave that series to the Lakers in the 4th quarter of game seven. Seriously, it’s disgusting but it’s always nice to see Kobe lose and this year, the East is determined to make him lose and lose and lose.
Spare me the Jordan/Pippen bullshit. Name me one other guy on that team that is any good. Luc Longley? Steve fucking Kerr. You have got to be fucking kidding me. Pippen is one of the most overrated players in the history of the NBA. We were up 2-1 against the Celtics and beat the Lakers twice in the regular season. We showed we could beat the Celtics in the regular season. Hell, we took them to seven games two years before with a much worse team. We had home court. We had the deepest team in the NBA. LeBron had two horrible games and that’s why we lost. And now he wants to run away. Scared bitch, pure and simple.
I’m with Monco. LeBron made the mess and now he’s bailing. Cavs are leveraged because of him not in spite of him.
In a nutshell, Wade was going to Chicago if they could fit Bosh, but they really couldn’t. Lebron was pushing Bosh to Cavs, but he thinks he’s destined for a bigger market. Boozer backdoored into Chicago which sent Wade back to MIA with Bosh. James freaked and will apparently capitulate to Wade.
A few things that have gone under the radar is Chris Paul was at James’ camp in Akron this week while the Cavs were trying to trade for him, but New Orleans wouldn’t do it. Paul wanted to play for Scott with James, but Paul just jumped to James self-created agency LRMR. So there’s something all of these cats have figured out about next year when the lockout occurs, because they’re acting like this is the last hurrah.
Toni Kukoc on the second three-peat. Horace Grant in the first three peat. All better players than what LeBron’s playing with now.
Plus, and this is might be opinion, the competition in the League is no where near what it was during Larry, Magic, and Michael’s era. They at least played defense 70% of the time in the regular season, compared to now.
And Pippen overrated? Laughable. All you have to do is look at the ’94 season after Jordan left for baseball. By himself, he took that Bulls team to the 7th game of the East Finals and damn near won. He should’ve won MVP that year. That team almost four-peated had they beat the Knicks in the 7th game. One of the greats…period.
Monco, how dare you insult Pippen. Seriously, the six rings do not happen without him being there. Seriously… again!
I do agree that LeBron going to Miami makes him look like a coward and a punk. Unfortunately, he has nothing but YES FRIENDS around him and no one will speak up to tell him that he’s looking foolish and making a stupid move.
Martin,
I had heard a little bit about the Paul situation. Now, if Cleveland could get that guy, then, James could do some damage…
Apparently there’s going to be a new big screen version of South Pacific. Who should play Nellie, Emile, Cable, etc?
SOUTH PACIFIC? SOUTH PACIFIC? IT’S DecisioN DAY! WASH THAT RIGHT OUT OF YOUR HAIR!
if lebron would rather give up the extra 30 million he’d get to stay in Cleveland, its hard for me to criticize. No player leaves that much on the table unless he REALLY doesn’t want to be there. Maybe mom re-living her “groupie” days with
a few of the “bench-warmers” has something to do with it.
The only viable options I see are stay in Cleveland or go to NY. No matter how many he wins in Chicago, it will still be “Jordan’s city.”
With Wade starting his career in Miami, already having a ring, plus convincing Bosh to come, no way he’s not the most loved in South Beach, with or without Lebron.
Lebron wants to be “the king”, its stay in Cleveland or go to NY…maybe Jersey.
I think he’s out of Cleveland for sure. I can’t see him having a one hour special to announce he’s staying. Kind of anti-climatic.
Pretty shitty to burn your home town on national TV though.
The Bulls were good but it’s not like Kobe is in the shadows of Magic. If you are good, if you are great on a team and bring it to championships, you become elevated to the point where, like Kobe now, you stand next to the greats that won before you. Lebron could stand next to Jordan for history. People would go, “Jordan and then LeBron”. If your ego cannot handle being in the same company as Jordan forever. You really should go be Wade’s Robin.
IOv2,
Absolutely right. I may always be Michael’s town but that was twelve years ago. Chicago’s hungry for the dynasty again. LeBron, with the team as is, gives him that…and he gets to build the “Brand” bigger there than Miami.
Yeah, let’s us not forget that no one in Miami cares about sports. They make the fans in Atlanta seem loyal. Why any athlete (Oh the booty? The booty? THERE IS BOOTY EVERYWHERE WHEN YOU ARE AN NBA PLAYER!) would want to play in that beautiful but horrible sports town is beyond me. If you need to live by a beach. You should just go to Cali.
There’s no income tax in Florida, so LeBron would make up some of the shortfall right there. Chris Bosh is really going to make a killing, going from Ontario to Florida.
Reba McEntire as Nellie. Seriously.
LeBRON in one of the weirdest popcult moments of recent years.
Anyone who enjoys the absurdity of Peter Coyote as Voice of the Oscars (with headset, IO!!!!) might enjoy this surreal, motley selection:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P15d42FeVpY&feature=related
Lex, the weirdest part of that video is the fact that Idol hyped those stars BEING ON THE SHOW. They literally misled everyone by putting all of those folks in a video but insinuating they would in attendance for that first wacky Idol CARES show.
Also, MC KEYS rocked that HEADSET! HE ROCKED IT LIKE SALT N PEPA DID BACK IN 1993! BRING BACK… MC KEYS!
Reba’s great but way too old for the part (Nellie’s supposed to be mid-20s, tops). They should give it to Kelli O’Hara, who played it on B’way two years ago, or if they must have a “name,” I think Taylor Swift might be able to handle it.
LeBron really just turned heel and decided to be second fiddle to Dwayne Wade. Wow. He really just tainted his whole career, ruined a city, and his mom just gives him horrible advice. “DO IT FOR YOU, LEBRON!” Wow.
LeBron’s not the King any longer. He’s done. He has no legit legacy that’s strictly his.
AWESOME DECISION.
WHOO HOOO!
FUCK HOMETOWN PRIDE. NO ONE should live in their hometown. What’s a HOME TOWN anyway? I lived in 13 cities by the time I was 13.
Get the fuck out of Ohio and get some real vag.
Lex, go look at the other pic I posted for you in the previous BYOB, and if you have no home town. You have no base and that may be why you are the way that you are. LeBron also will not be able to stay in Akron. The people there will let him know he’s not welcome and he will have to move. You do not cross Cleveland and get away with it.
Dude, as someone who GREW UP MERE MILES FROM AKRON, trust me, it’s no cosmic punishment to not be able to visit there. Why would he ever want to go back? Part of BECOMING AN ADULT is moving 1,000-5,000 miles from your “hometown” and only visiting every three or four years.
How the fuck does anyone have sex or even go out to a bar knowing they’re in THE SAME CITY AS THEIR MOM?
Out of the sticks, LeBron. No adult should live within a thousand miles of anyone he knew as a kid.
Lex, he will move his mom to Miami. He has one of those relationships with his mom where she placates all of his stupid decisions, because it’s all about HIM. Seriously that dude just killed his fan base. He just turned himself into Kobe 2004/05 and it’s not like that went away. People still hate Kobe, I hate Kobe, and now I hate LeBron. That’s what you get for making stupid decisions and forgetting to realize there’s more important stuff in the world than YOU.
If someone despises a movie that has pretty wide following, why the fuck would MCN let him review a sequel/reboot/whatever-the-fuck-it-is latest installment of the franchise????
I’m talking, of course, of Michael Wilmington’s review of PREDATORS which is pretty much useless to EVERYONE. There are 2 groups of folks when it comes to this flick: those who think the ’87 original was a great, brainless summer popcorn film and those who NEVER enjoy these types of movies.
As someone who likes to crack up his wife by suddenly yelling out “Get to the choppa, GET TO THE CHOPPA!” I’m very interested in whether this works in relation to original. By starting off his diatribe against the latest with a diatribe against the first, Wilmington is pretty much telling us all that he has nothing to offer about it.
“That’s what you get for making stupid decisions and forgetting to realize there’s more important stuff in the world than YOU.”
I have never disagreed with ANYTHING less.
Sorry, all you have in life is YOU. No one else, NOTHING ELSE. Be a man. Be a GOD. Be Plainview. He doesn’t owe a “city” anything, and the “city” needs to get a fucking life if a BASKETBALL PLAYER gives them ANY sense of identity or pride.
INDIVIDUAL OVER COLLECTIVE.
Every individual on earth is their own GOD, there IS no God, and there shouldn’t be ONE THOUGHT given to the collective or, really, ANYONE ELSE but ONESELF.
And who the fuck would MOVE THEIR MOM INTO THEIR HOUSE if they have money and can get pussy?
Talk about a cockblocker.
Brainless? WHOD TURNED OFF YOUR BRAIN? WHO DID IT? DUTCH ROOLED IN DAT MUVIE! HE ROOLED! HOW DARE YU REFER TO IT AS “BRAINLEES”?
Silliness aside, anyone who hates either of those Predators movies gets a cross look. Both of those movies are wonderful and I hope those two films finally have a good sequel.
Lex, if you have the choice to continue to economically sustain a city with your presence. You have the obligation to put your own crap aside and save the city. If you want to be a selfish jerk then good for you, but there’s nothing more disgusting than people who think they are the centre of the universe. LeBron made a me choice and he will pay for it in popularity and eventually sponsorships.
That’s the city’s problem, NOT HIS.
It is absurd to ask ONE MAN to “economically sustain” an entire American city with his presence. Nuts. That’s putting entirely too much on one dude.
I can’t believe how frothing-at-the-mouth worked up some of you are about an NBA player deciding to move from Cleveland to Miami, as if a free agent in professional sports has never done such a thing before. Since when does a pro athlete stop and think about “economically sustaining a city”? The dude wants to play with Wade and Bosh. Big deal. The world will keep turning.
This is why you are just silly. If every man is GOD then what’s more GOD LIKE than sustaining an ENTIRE CITY? Seriously dude, you make it so easy sometimes. You also have to realize that these three dudes are not guaranteed a damn thing. The Bulls are going to dominate in a year or two, the Celts refuse to die, and Dwight Howard may get a jump shot. He’s sacrificing GOD LIKE STATUS to kneel to a good player like Wade. He’s second banana now.
“If every man is GOD then what’s more GOD LIKE than sustaining an ENTIRE CITY?”
Nothing about Cleveland is GOD-LIKE. Get the fuck OUT of there, move to a real city with real weather and actual hot chicks. Trust me, IO, that whole part of the country is ENTIRELY DEVOID of attractive women who could compete with NY, LA and Miami vag.
Ain’t a lot of fucking supermodels walking around Akron.
Stella, you really are so detached from this situation that you making a comment about, only reveals how truly ignorant you are about it. He’s LeBron James. He’s the one whose supposed to be the next greatest player of all time. He’s the one who was supposed to be like Jordan and bring a championship to a place that never won one. He’s the guy that grew up in Northern Ohio and he’s the one who knew about the history because HE GREW UP THERE.
The fact that you are so detached from this and have no idea how messed up it is to kill your hometown team on TV in order to go play in another city with crap fans that will hardly ever care about you, shows you would not fit in on a sports board. Seriously, how you do not get that this is an epic level douche move must be nice in your detached from the sports world modus operandi.
Lex, I hate to break it to you, but you are never going to have any elite vag. Sorry. I know that it hurts but you just have to settle down with a Cleveland skank because that may be the best you can do. It sucks but they will love you, blow you, and screw you as well as Scarlett Johansson ever would.
IO, you keep going back to this “allegiance to one’s hometown” concept. And I keep asking, why would anyone want to live in the town they grew up in? Part of growing up is going out into the world, experiencing new places and people. Not moving three doors down from your old junior high and your parents. Who would WANT to be around places they lived when they were kids? Get out into the world and travel and break the ties… especially if you’re a fucking MILLIONAIRE, I could not even IMAGINE wanting to live in one’s “hometown.”
Or having pride in “hometown.” Or even ROOTING for one’s home team.
How does a SPORTS TEAM define your being? How does a CITY have a sense of pride? Everyone’s an individual, and it’s just a place where you happen to live. Who has pride in a city?
I am not ignorant IO. I just have perspective and a grip on reality. I love the Eagles and McNabb, and I really wanted him to remain an Eagle, but it didn’t happen. That’s the way it is in professional sports. People get traded or cut or leave via free agency. Life goes on. You constantly tell people they don’t get it, only proving how clueless you actually are. I am a huge sports fan (primarily MLB and NFL). I get it just fine. I would rather get worked up about more important things. Is it a dick move? Maybe, maybe not. Does he have a huge ego? Surely. Is that really surprising?
Lex, again, do you ever check anything out besides the Dakota Fanning countdown clock? http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/11/americas-most-miserable-cities-business-beltway-miserable-cities.html?boxes=Homepagetopspecialreports That will explain to you how sports teams doing poorly effects a city. Seriously dude, are you dead inside? Is all that’s left of you a chubby five incher and a pair of batwings? Come on man, have some heart.
The fact that you have no idea how to have pride in your city or what it means to root for something as a common united force, really says a lot about you. The whole point of sport is to unite people. Why do you think almost every body in Spain and the Netherlands will be watching the Cup Sunday? Pride. Pride in one’s nation that goes all the way down to a local level. If you have no idea how to have pride in a city because your individualist tendencies then you better just accept that woman from Cleveland and never ever ever let her go. Your whole breaking of ties thing is also stupid because some people just love their families and hate to be apart from them.
Stella, sorry you are ignorant and do not get it. Donovan did not want to go anywhere. He wanted to be an Eagle but Andy and Co. wanted to try Kolb. That’s what happen and it should bother you some what because they traded him in the division. Easily one of the stupidest trades in the history of the NFL for that alone.
Wow. I am glad you can only focus on like two sports while some of us focus on like ten. Pat yourself on the back and try to keep yourself together but I am not frothing at the moment. I am once again expressing ANGER at someone doing something STUPID. It’s called being a human which seems to be against the law to people like you.
Hey, why don’t you unclench your butt for a minute and realize that everything counts and you have a right to be pissed off about it. If you choose. The fact that you think that makes me an idiot because I refuse to repress things like you do, demonstrates why this blog is just plain weird. You really find yourself superiour and that’s just plain funny.
You are so damn touchy IO. I don’t think you’re an idiot and I don’t think I’m better than you. You seem to have trouble with this concept, but try and let it sink in: having a different opinion than yours does not make a person ignorant.
I agree that what the Eagles did was stupid, but it’s the nature of the business. Do you really think a 25 year-old millionaire professional athlete is going to ponder things like how their free agency decision could impact a city’s economy? That seems naive.
Oh, and I said those sports are my favorites, not the only ones I focus on. I’m sure that somehow makes me a lesser sports fan than you. And ignorant as well.
IO’s right. There’s really no point in arguing. Yeah, LeBron showed it’s all about winning by giving up money (even though he’ll make that back this summer in endorsements) but at the end of the day, these guys DO care about legacy as well. LeBron’s legacy is that he went to D-Wade’s town to win.
If he went to Chicago, it would’ve been okay because it’s been twelve years since the Bulls. Kobe is a prime example. He didn’t shy away from the aura of Magic in LA. He challenged himself to live up that legacy and surpass it. LeBron had that opportunity in Chicago. It may still be Michael’s town but you can follow a great. It’s okay to follow a legend. Carve out your own legend. LeBron could’ve done that in NY, Cleveland, and Chicago. Instead, this will be too easy for him. This will not be all his.
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan would have never gone this route…period.
And, don’t think for a second this doesn’t motivate Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant to no end. This is the last ride of Phil. I know Kobe sees this as the ultimate challenge. He’s been slightly disrespected the last two years by the media even though he has the last two rings.
Don’t be shocked if LA still wins this thing by the sheer will of Kobe alone. Kobe, like Michael, would see this as the ultimate of the ultimate(s) of challenges. You think Kobe pushed hard these last two seasons? Wait until next season.
These three superstars will meet in the Finals. LA will have home court because the West is basically gutted now. LA will still win this thing next year.
Stella, if I am a bit touchy it’s because I may assume the worse of some people here and I apologize for being a bit snippy in that post. Again though, it’s not about a difference of opinion. It’s more about folks like you stating that my anger or excitement for something is wrong and getting offended when I go; “No it’s not.”
Again we do things differently but apparently to you and some others all everything I do is wrong, and that would make you decidedly touchy. Sorry again and no you are not a lesser sports fan, I just took a shot. It happens.
That aside, yes Lebron is only 25 and only thought about himself but he lives in Northern Ohio, SB. He lives there. He knows what that place has been through and he still knifed them in the gut anyway. Seriously that’s just wrong SB. It’s just plain wrong.
Cory, while I do not think Kobe is like Mike in a lot of aspect, he sure as heck is like him in terms of crazy competitive drive. He really would never in a million years go and give up his game for someone else. There will be very little of TAKING OVER A GAME LeBron from here on out. He has decided to be second banana to someone and that’s just not good for the league. Seriously, LeBron is giving up his game for the chance at championships and that’s just sad.
Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;
As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.
This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his “decision” unlike anything ever “witnessed” in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.
Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.
The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.
There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.
You simply don’t deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.
You have given so much and deserve so much more.
In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:
“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER
LOL, IO. I thought that was a joke, until I saw it on Yahoo!Sports.
Is there anything more delusional than Cleveland sports fans? I guess maybe Cleveland sports owners.
Hey, where is the Inception review?
David’s just trying to figure out the best way to expand “Oy. It didn’t live up to the advance review blather, but it was still good, I guess” into 10 paragraphs.
😉
Man, that letter was written in a Lex_G-iandrunken stupor following LeBron crapping all over that dudes franchise. Refreshing to see some guts and heart put out in pro sports but yipes, talk about reading someones diary entry.
I’d also like to add that I now feel LeBron’s move was highly dickish and not just because I read that letter. Earlier today it hit me that only a megalomanic would have a TV special for the explicit purpose of ripping the heart out of a city.
“…only a megalomanic would have a TV special for the explicit purpose of ripping the heart out of a city.”
No, that’s why he’s AWESOME. Massive displays of ego = FUCK YES. The fact that the special was called “THE DECISION” = bonus points.
He should’ve interrupted prime-time programming on all the networks like Obama.
Lex, your ego on here is fake because in real life you are a better looking Jonah Hill. Seriously, you should put that on a card. Nevertheless, that does not make him awesome, it makes him an epic level douchebag.
Tele definitely has it right. Outside of David having other stuff to do tonight. I am going with the whole trying to state he likes the movie while slamming those who got overhyped for the movie. Seriously though, PREDATORS REVIEW! COME ON!
IO, we can go back and forth on this forever, but how about looking at it this way: Where would Cleveland have been had he jumped ship right from the start to Miami or LA or NY? They never would’ve had the boost to begin with. And now they’ll still get a windfall of hype, press and national attention well into the season. And that letter is on to something– now it would be a REAL rootable underdog story if Cleveland kicked ass without LeBron. That would be an amazing story.
By leaving, he hasn’t left the team as a bankrupt bench of sadsacks. No, they’re now NATIONAL HEROES everyone’s pulling for.
I totally agree that the special was a massive display of ego, but how many players in any of the major professional sports spend their entire career with one team? How often do they make selfless decisions? Look at how big a deal it was that Kevin Durant quietly signed an extension with Oklahoma City. When the season ended, or even before that, did people really believe that James would stay with Cleveland?
Anyway, more importantly, Predators is getting some pretty good reviews and seems like it may actually be a fun summer flick. Can’t wait to check it out.
Here comes the thread killer…
I have enough politics in my life without caring about Lebron but, come on, ESPN was on 24/7 Lebron alert for the last two months. No one remotely associated with that organization, or really any sportswriter at all, has a toe to stand on in criticizing Lebron’s special. Yes it was self-aggrandizing to do a “special” called “The Decision,” and yes I do think Lebron is a little too in love with himself, but if he had just done a press conference with a brief statement and answered a few questions, it would have been fine.
Gilbert’s “letter” was childish if forgivable. However, please, I have no interest in billionaires talking about “betrayal”. Players get cut or traded all the time and it’s “just business,” not to mention all the employees that get fired all the time. And calling Lebron a quitter is juvenile. Lebron has a right to sign wherever he pleases and Gilbert should man up and learn some dignity.
I also am intrigued by predators. Since I suck and don’t have time for violent sci-fi in the theater, I’ll have to catch it in 6-9 months further down the pipeline. And even if the critics are right and Fishburne is terrible, we’ll always have Morpheus so he gets a pass.
I guess what made the whole thing massively dickish was the fact LeBron did it from the Boys & Girls Club in Akron. It’s like “Hey kids, it’s me, your hero LeBron! Come down to the Club for the conference. I’m going to shit all over your hero worship and dreams and show you how loyalty works in modern times! Screw you kids!!”
Didn’t he do it from Connecticut?
Whoop…you’re right! I still thought it was a dick move 😉
“If ever there was a time for LeBron James to leave home, this was it.
The outpouring of venom from the Cavaliers
Back to the real world: LiLo’s movie career has been sliced with a “Machete.” If she’s fortunate she’ll be out of jail in time to see why.
I’m confused – Ari Emanuel said Mel Gibson should be ‘shunned’ back in 2006, but they’re only dropping him as a client now?
Gilbert will have his revenge next year when he and his fellow owners lock out the players and impose a new CBA that will make Wade’s, LeBron’s, and Bosh’s contracts look so outmoded they might as well have been written on parchment.
jeffmcm– Apparently you missed how Limato figured into that equation?
We just did a little teaser trailer thing for our documentary…check it out….but not while eating.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLPxhg11ZMs
Back to the real world: LiLo’s movie career has been sliced with a “Machete.”
thanks Mr. Shalit
PANIC ROOM on Cinemax.
Look at the CUUUUUUTE Little K-Stew!!!
LexG: I have to say that is, hand’s down, the creepiest freakin’ post you’v ever made here.