The Life of Amy

The court of starvation

In my best armchair quarterback mode, I can tell you that the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks weren’t hungry enough in their respective Games 5.
And, while both teams rallied late in the fourth quarter, resulting in a vanilla cream wafer frenzy for me, best pals Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, didn’t work up a big enough appetite to save their respective teams from extinction in the 2008 NBA finals.
I really expected a better showing from the Suns against the San Antonio Spurs. I didn’t see the Suns winning the series, but it would have been nice to get a few more exciting games from these two teams.
And, as I’ve said before, probably too many times, the Mavs had their meltdown early this year, finishing as the seventh seed rather than in the top three as in the past few years.
The New Orleans Hornets seemed to just come out of nowhere this year. I thought the Mavs could have stretched the series at least one more game.
NBA playoff time is bittersweet to me. It means that I get to see some of my favorite players and teams a few times a week. But it also means the season has ended.
Before you start shedding any tears for me, the playoffs don’t usually end until mid-June and by the end of October the new season is under way on TV.
Sure I could fill my time with professional baseball and football. I usually catch a few games of the World Series. Football, let’s just say it’s not my forte.
Basketball holds my interest. Or in some cases, it’s basketbrawl.
Let’s just say my home is briefly filled with the smell of defeat.
Go Spurs!!!!

Cut out the cliches, speak your mind

All these little courtside chats during the NBA playoffs got me thinking, “What if the person being interviewed and the interviewee really spoke what they were thinking?”
Nowadays, it’s one cliché after another as a sports reporter throws out the same basic questions.
Reporter:: “What did coach say in the locker room at half time that made you come out here and turn the game around?”
Translated: “Why were you getting your booty beat in the second quarter but you are now up by 20 in the third quarter?”
Player’s typical response: “He told us the game was still within our reach and that if we pulled more defensive stops and drove to the basket more, the game was ours.”
What player really wants to say: “Coach basically told us that if we didn’t win this game we were just a bunch of sissies and would probably be traded.”
Question: “What are you doing differently this game?” (Only asked when the team who lost last time is now winning.)
Translated: “You guys lost last time out. Have you put a curse on your opponents this game?”
Player’s typical response: “We are running down the court more, playing better defense and building momentum.”
What player really wants to say: “If (insert name of a player you don’t really like) could hit the broad side of a barn, we would have won. I don’t know why coach didn’t play (insert name of a favorite player here). At least he can make baskets.
Question: “(Insert name of team’s best player here) has three fouls and we are still in the first quarter. Are you going to change your game?”
Translated: “Such stupid mistakes on the part of (insert same name here) are costing you big time.
Player’s typical response: “We’ve got a lot of depth on our bench. (Insert name of non-starter here) can come into the game and take over, score some points and grab some rebounds.
What player really wants to say: “The refs don’t know their heads from their (expletive.) There is no way that last call was anywhere near a foul.”
Question: “You have the home court advantage in this series, what does that mean to you?”
Translated: “Every other reporter asks this question, so I have to”
Player’s typical response: “The hometown crowds are always great. We feel the energy from them. We want to win for them.
What player really wants to say: First, it means I get to sleep in my own bed. Second, we aren’t usually booed by the hometown audience, unless we do something really stupid. And, I hate away games and those people who shake those sticks when I try to make free throws.
Really listen to the next courtside interview between a reporter and player. Keep a running tab on the number of clichés. When the game is over, add the score for both teams.
Were there more clichés than points scored? Probably.

What's that in your ears?

Now that I’ve joined the ranks of people who have ear buds that stay in their ears, I am noticing there are many people out pounding the pavement in our fair city with “things” in their ears. In other words, they are just like me or I am just like them, depending on your point of view.
It’s obvious we have become a culture dependent on devices. And I have joined the ranks of iPod addicts.
I love the fact I can listen to my favorite tunes, an audio book or even podcast of VH-1’s “Best Week Ever” when I want to.
When I take a stroll, there are just certain tunes that get my feet moving faster.
When I went to San Francisco’s Union Square for some Christmas shopping, my pal Linda was joking about all the people on the streets talking to themselves.
Those with “things” hanging on top of their ears — a Bluetooth.
I should mention Linda has started using a Bluetooth device and loves it.
For those of with “things” in our ears, we will need to have more “things” on top of or in our ears as of July 1 when state law requires a hands-free device for talking on a cell phone while driving.
And to think it was 45 years ago when one of the top tunes had the lyrics “my mommy told me not to put beans in my ears.”

It's time to get the kids on track

I invested in my children’s future.
After much prodding, I gave in and purchased a book on discipline. Of course, after I paid for it, I realized it’s for children ages 2-12, which means I have a lot of catching up to do.
For too long I’ve been their friend and not their mother. Now, I’m paying the price.
It’s a challenge to get them to do basic chores like getting their clothes in the hamper, picking up after themselves, etc.
It used to be there was no TV until these tasks were done. That stopped working a year ago.
Then, when we finally got on the information superhighway at home, there was no computer time until their jobs were done.
That no longer seems to be the carrot to dangle.
I can send them to their room, tell them to pick up only to discover it was a bigger mess than when they started. And, two hours have passed.
The only thing they really don’t want to give up is episodes of “Naruto” Saturday nights on Cartoon Network.
I worry, that, too, shall pass.
There’s a new mom in town!

Is there a Church of Tim Duncan?

What a weekend!
The NBA playoffs have begun and now I have an excuse for sitting in front of the telly for hours on end.
The first game, Cleveland and Washington, featured a brief skirmish between LeBron James and Brendan Haywood.
But even that couldn’t break the spell the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns game had on me. Hey, if there was the Church of Tim Duncan, you would find me there.
The game went into double overtime and I found it hard to sit after regulation ended because buckets were being traded like no-so-favorite lunch snacks at an elementary school cafeteria.
I caught enough of the Mavericks and New Orleans to find out that the Maverick meltdown continues. I remember a few short years ago when the Dallas basketballers were ready to sweep the Miami Heat in the finals. The last game was the same night as the Keane concert I wasn’t going to miss.
So, there I was on the cell phone, during “Somewhere Only We Know,” only to find out that the Mavs had blown it.
I missed the Utah and Houston game on Saturday.
I only caught a brief glimpse of the last two games on Sunday, Detroit vs, Philadelphia and Boston vs. Atlanta. The former was a close game; the latter what can only be termed a blow-out.
I missed the Lakers and Nuggets and Orlando and Toronto games.
I’ve always boasted the Western conference had the teams to beat. But the East, particularly the Celtics, are looking pretty darn good this year, too.

I'm not swayed by celebrity endorsements

So, “The Boss,” a.k.a. Bruce Springsteen, has thrown his support behind Barack Obama for president.
So has Michael Stipe of R.E.M.
Madonna and Elton John have put themselves in the Hillary Clinton camp.
As for John McCain, the only celebrity endorsement I’ve heard so far is from “The Hills” Heidi Montag. Then, I understand, she admitted she’s not registered to vote.
Why do I tell you all this?
Because I don’t care.
Are there really people in not-so-Hollywood who would cast their vote based on what some actor or musician said?
All the names above, and their silver screen counterparts, don’t live in the same world I do. We really have little in common except that I may like their movies or music.
One of my fave Web sites, http://www.spinner.com, posts almost daily updates on who’s backing the candidates.
A recent post garnered more than 180 comments, with about 20 percent of them reflecting my sentiment.
Here’s a small sample of what was written:
1. Who gives a crap who any of these people support. It doesn't make them any smarter or any more informed. They have no more access to information than any one with the slightest motivation to use the Intenet has.
2. NONE of these people strike me as particularly politically astute! In fact THEIR endorsement would be an especially good indication of who NOT to vote for!
3. Thanks for posting this. Now I know who NOT to support in buying records, attending concerts, etc.
4. These entertainers should just shut up and SING! They have no business trying to influence our vote.
5. I agree that we should look at what’s at stake here. I happen to like a couple of the bands mentioned here but like to be entertained by them and it stops there.
There were plenty of comments debating the qualifications of McCain, Clinton and Obama. And, there was even one person encouraging a write-in campaign for Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys.
There’s no doubt celebrity endorsements make for fun reading and even a little brisk debate.
However, Bruce, Michael, Madonna, Heidi and Elton, I can make up my own mind.

A good reason to celebrate Tax Day

I’ve found a reason to celebrate Tax Day.
One of the first supergroups, Asia, has reunited and will release their first album in 25 years today, with all original members. It’s appropriately titled “Phoenix.”
For those of you who need some education, members of Asia were in some of the biggest bands of the 1970s.
Both guitarist Steve Howe and keyboardist Geoff Downes played in Yes. Drummer Carl Palmer was in Emerson, Lake and Palmer and singer/guitarist John Wetton was in King Crimson and Roxy Music.
Asia is also a trivia gold mine. Downes was one-half of the Buggles, along with Trevor Horn. Their tune, and video “Video Killed the Radio Star” was the first song/video played when MTV debuted in 1980.
Palmer was the drummer on Arthur Brown’s “Fire” tour in the late 1960s, while the Who’s Pete Townshend was the associate producer of the album that “Fire” was on.
Asia has sold more than 15 million records.
They are one of my all-time favorite groups. I’ve never seen then live but will have the chance as they are performing May 5 in San Francisco.
Of all the big-name band reunions recently, this one tops my list.

Bring on the basketball games

Can someone tell me where the 2007-08 NBA season went? It seems like it was just tip-off time on Halloween. Now, the season is coming to a close.
It’s all down to the wire. As of this writing, there are still two playoff spots open.
Which brings me to the question of “What the heck happened to the Dallas Mavericks this year?” Usually they melt down during the playoffs, not during the regular season.
The Celtics are blowing everyone away with their 62-16 record. Such a record you usually find with the likes of the West’s power teams, San Antonio Spurs, Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.
Not this season.
San Antoinio, Phoenix and the Lakers, as of this writing, have each won 53 games. Dallas, hanging on for life, has a 49-29 record at this point.
Then there were the blockbuster trades. O’Neal going to Phoenix. Kidd going to New Jersey. Gasol to the Lakers. Ben Wallace to the Cavaliers. Bibby to the Hawks.
I’m not ready to make any predictions quite yet. But I’m most definitely ready for the opening round of playoffs.
Bring ‘em on.

Another victory for technology

The party that seems to have just begun has hit a snag.
I finally figured out how to get songs and videos into my iPod.
Actually, I didn’t really figure it out. I think my friend Linda was tired of hearing my complaints about not being able to tackle something as small as an iPod nano.
So, on the phone about a week ago, while I was trying to get my gadget and computer to talk to each other, she gave me the brilliant idea of just hitting the “enter” button and seeing what would happen.
Miracles of miracles. Songs and videos moved from my PC to my iPod.
A new world was opening its doors. I was grabbing every CD in sight and putting each in my iTunes library, then the nano.
But just as things were hitting a fever pitch, I discovered that it’s almost impossible to keep the darn iPod earbuds in my ears. And, without them, at least at this point in time, I have no way of hearing my efforts.
I would love to tell you they fall out because I’m wearing them while training for Bay to Breakers. In reality, I’m sitting at my desk, about as steady as a Buckingham Palace guard and the darn things are tumbling down my shirt as I write.
Once again, technology has triumphed.

Our brush with a blast of winter weather

We survived our trip to Washington state quite nicely.
In fact, it was a milestone for my daughters as it was the first time Bethany and Gabrielle saw it snowing. We’ve been to the snow, just not when flakes were falling.
We got our first taste of winter weather in the Siskiyous. The flakes were falling fast, but not sticking. Nonetheless, it delighted my children.
Then, in Gig Harbor, Wash. we got an even bigger dusting of snow. Again, it did not stick.
The first morning we woke up in my sister’s abode, giant flakes were tumbling from the sky, but not sticking.
Later that afternoon, a few managed to adhere themselves to our winter coats for a few brief moments.
When I told people we left spring temperatures behind they were almost apologetic for the late winter weather. But it was definitely a highlight of the trip.
I also learned some things traveling the long stretch of Interstate 5.
Among them:
Drivers of Chevrolet and GMC autos were more likely to tailgate. Don’t know why just know that when I looked in my rear view mirror those were the most common types of vehicles that were getting a little too friendly with my rear bumper.
I managed to avoid arrest in Medford, Ore. despite trying to pump my own gas. Hey, I forgot you can’t pump your own fuel in Oregon.
On the way up, when I stopped for gas in Ashland, Ore. they actually cleaned my windshield at the gas station.
I-5 is one long and boring stretch of road and finding Q. X, Y and Z for the alphabet game is tough.
Just because you can get off an exit in Oregon and Washington does not mean you can travel back over the freeway and find an onramp to take you back on the same freeway in the opposite direction.
I’m glad to be back home, in California.