Dome Pondering

Oh A-Rod, A-Rod, A-Rod.  Just when I think I've written my last post on this guy ( Homeless: A-Rod's Legacy is Defined ), he continues to push the bar to a next level. Quite frankly, I could probably start a new blog JUST on Alex Rodriguez. I always say it: he is the most fascinating athlete in my lifetime. A future DP Page of Famer, for sure.  So here we are again and Alex Rodriguez has not only managed to find himself back on the cover of newspapers, but on the you-know-what list of New York Yankees General Manager, Brian Cashman. The moment I noticed Alex Rodriguez had joined Twitter, I began following him. I just knew - heck, everyone knew - it wouldn't be long before he did something rather, well umm....let's just say headline-grabbing. And to A-Rod's credit, it took him just nine tweets to do it. Take that Amanda Bynes!

I'm not a huge fan or Paula Deen, nor am I one that is considerably into her recipes for "southern" style dishes. In fact, I've never found anything she's done on the Food Network appealing, and the one time I was forced to embrace her (stuck in the waiting room of a doctor's office while she was the guest on some crappy daytime TV show), I found her to be quite annoying. Just my opinion. But then again, that's the purpose of blogging, so I should say...just bloggin'.  I find the recent downfall of her celebrity and brand to be quite fascinating. Not exactly in a "hey, everyone come look at Paula Deen's life crumble" sort-of-way, but more in a way of perplexing thought. Along the lines of, "Hmmm, the reason she is falling is quite interesting".

3 Up 1. LeBron James - Kudos to the best basketball player on the planet on winning his second NBA championship. 2. Trop Fest New York 2013 - I heard of the world-wide festival two years ago and never really thought much of it. This year, the festival made Brooklyn one of it's stops and I attended with the tag team partner. Had a great time with some interesting bands/artists, and the collection of some very good short films. Looking forward to attending again next year. 3. Rum - Weird, right? Just like any culture does, and just like those parents who believe in old home remedies, like mine do from the West Indian part of the world, I was told to drink a mixture of rum, honey, and lemon juice to help aid in my sickness. After giving up and willing to try just about anything, I threw back several two glasses Saturday night, and another one today. Lo and behold, I have been feeling much better. Guess what's on tap for tomorrow night while watching Monday Night Raw ? 3 Do...

Not one, but now two. Championships for the Miami Heat and LeBron James are no longer a blip in history, but is now looking like a severe impression. I'm not one that likes to get into the long-winded debates you often seen on sports TV about foreshadowing and legacies, because quite frankly, that stuff will eventually play out. It always does. And while we are on it, I very much dislike the new trendy bar of valuing an athlete's ability and worth by how many championships they've won. It's stupid. Very stupid. Teams win championships, not individuals.  Nonetheless, while I type these words, I find myself a bit dejected in the idea of watching yet another Miami Heat championship. I don't hate LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, or even Chris Bosh. In fact, Chris Bosh often doesn't get the praise that he should for the sacrifices he makes and other various efforts gone unnoticed. Some will disagree with that, but I digress...

What is it about? A decorated pilot, Whip Whitaker, lands a flight that was doomed by a malfunctioning airliner and is deemed a hero. However, the investigation and facts after the flight creates many conflicts for the pilot.  Who is in it? Denzel Washington - Whip Whitaker John Goodman - Harling Mays Kelly Reilly - Nicole Don Cheadle - Hugh Lang

It seems like the bandwagon bubble has burst on the New York Yankees. That's the only sound reasoning I can give on the sudden decline in interest regarding the evil empire. After all, we knew the Yankees had many fans that were simply casual fans of the product. Over the past few years, Yankees fans were made up of die hards, casual fans, and those who only tune in during the playoffs when it's trendy to like the Yankees. As a Yankee lifer, I've accepted this a long time ago. Quite frankly, in some ways, the recent news of Yankees Stadium attendance being down significantly, as well as the a larming decline in ratings on the YES Network (Down 38%!), has me a bit perplexed. I'm intrigued by the cause, but I will admit a part of me is a bit ridden with guilty pleasure that the frauds are now away from the product.

3 Up  1. Health - Sometimes we take it for granted. For someone who lost it for the last three weeks, getting better and appreciating it tops the list this week.  2. Danny Green - My goodness. It's pretty hard not to be a fan of the play of Danny Green in the NBA Finals. Especially, of his storied career path to this point.   3. Jay-Z - Well, he's done it again. Just when you thought Jay-Z couldn't bring something new, he drums up attention, hype, and excitement about his new album set to release in two weeks. I can honestly say, now that he's separated himself from Kanye, I'm excited about this album.   3 Down 1. Lil Wayne - Walking all over Stars and Stripes is disrespectful. Especially, to a nation that has given him everything he currently has. I don't care if it was "just a video." Sometimes, I worry about the next generation and their ideals.  2. Kanye West - The comments about being the "Michael Jordan of music...

201. If you could completely remove someone's vocal cords for a year, whose would they be? Kathy Griffin was the first person that came to mind after reading the question. Not sure why it was her, but either way, I find her to be very obnoxious.  202. If you were given academic tenure to teach any course you wished at any university in the world, where would you want it to be, and in what subject? I would teach a course on professional wrestling and how it applies to society, social norms, and life overall. Sounds weird, but I definitely have a vision, and can surely pull an entire semester out of it. Maybe even having to break it up into sections. I swear, I'm not crazy. I'd teach it somewhere here in the city. Maybe even at my current employer of NYU. 

What is it about?  A quiet freshman is taken under the wings of several seniors who not only introduce him to the real world, but also help to make sense of his own.  Who is in it?  Logan Lerman - Charlie Ezra Miller - Patrick Emma Watson - Sam

3 Up 1. College Baseball Super Regionals - For the second week in a row, this makes the top 3. And of course, it has a great deal to do with the fact that I am sick and pretty much relegated to mass amounts of television watching. Either way, thank you college baseball. 2. Tony Parker - That chaotic play of him driving, losing the ball, down to a knee, getting control of himself, peeking at the shot clock, pump faking LeBron James, then just releasing the game-clinching shot was riveting. Just riveting. 3. Yasiel Puig - His hot start has been awesome to watch. Still amazing how the Dodgers just can't win baseball games. 3 Down 1. Being Sick - Not just being sick, but being severely sick. There is nothing like being bed-ridden, fatigued, malnourished, in pain, and being taken away from your day-to-day activities. 2. The Jackson Family - Paris, what are you doing? And to the rest of the Jackson's fighting over Michael's money and tearing this child's life apar...

For the past few days, yours truly has been very ill dealing with what I learned today was a form of illness in which my allergies decided to go the route of a horror flick and mutate inside me into a virus. Yeah, seriously. It's been a while since I've been this sick as I've managed to lose ten pounds in four days. Not good at all. Especially with two 5K's on the horizon.  Nonetheless, after a recent visit to the doctor, not only did I ironically learn that I was very healthy (other than this illness of course), but about this weird transformation illness from allergies to virus that has bed-ridden me for the past few days.

3 Up 1. Yanira Maldonada - Good to see that clear heads and logic prevailed two countries who figured out that this poor woman was framed for drug smuggling. 2. College Baseball Regionals - I was sick this weekend, so I spend a lot of time on my couch watching these games. About eight actually. Can't get enough of it. Best postseason in college sports. 3. Gail Kim and Taryn Terrell - TNA Wrestling's second biggest show of the night, Slammiversary was tonight, and both tore the house down with an epic match. Kudos to both. 3 Down 1. More Tornadoes - The People of Oklahoma just can't catch a break right now. 2. Yankees Offense - If being swept by the Mets wasn't bad enough, the anemic offense is a cause for major concern. Bronx Bombers? Not even close right now. 3. Being sick on a weekend where it is super nice all weekend. Thank goodness for College Baseball.

Who is Carmelo Anthony? Seriously speaking, who is he? Depending on who you ask, you may get a different answer to that very question. Folks in Denver will act like he doesn't exist, those in Syracuse believe he invented sliced bread, and those here in New York City have been torn on him since he landed at JFK airport. Everyone has an opinion on the forgotten superstar from the 2003 NBA Draft, and it conflicts so much that Carmelo has really become an anomaly. Personally, I've been on record as stating that I am not in love with Melo's game. He is a superior talent, but there are times where his lack of getting others in the flow of the game hurts his team. We've heard the argument that he doesn't have anyone to play with, but that in itself lends into the constant identity of Carmelo Anthony the basketball player.