"He's got major flaws in his game. He's six years into the NBA. How can a man six years into the NBA with his talent have a major flaw in his shot? How can he not use screens effectively? ... I watch the game very carefully, he doesn't use screens effectively and this is not LeBron's fault. It's the fault of the people who are teaching him ... There is no doubt in my mind that LeBron, if shown these things, would do them, because he wants to be a great player, he wants to win a championship. As great as he is, he should be better."
Here are LeBron's career stats. You might notice that they are awesome. You also might notice that the Cavaliers are 34-8 and have the best record in the league. Then you might notice that the Cavs have already been to an NBA championship with LeBron. And then you might notice that LeBron is only 25 years old. He came into the league with ridiculously high expectations and, somehow, has managed to surpass them.
Lord make me as flawed as LeBron.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
My Bike
I took the saddle bags off cause they looked pretty dumb. I know it's trite, but it really is a feeling of freedom when you're riding.
Lobbyists
Dumb.
I've never understood the obsession people have with banning lobbyists from transition teams, appointments, staff positions, etc. Granted, I'm probably biased, but it really is dumb. No person exists who doesn't have personal relationships and so the idea that somehow a lobbyist is too corrupted to serve in these positions ignores the fact that all people bring baggage to the table. There are a few kind of lobbyists. One type is the former legislator/bigwig that trades on their relationships and insight into the process. Another type of lobbyist is the subject matter expert. Those folks know more about the issues then other people. And they should, it is their job to know more than other people. That also makes them uniquely qualified to serve.
Obama seems to have taken the worst approach of all. Pretend like it is a huge problem to have former lobbyists in certain positions while recognizing that they are uniquely qualified and then finding a way around it. Like I said, it's dumb.
I've never understood the obsession people have with banning lobbyists from transition teams, appointments, staff positions, etc. Granted, I'm probably biased, but it really is dumb. No person exists who doesn't have personal relationships and so the idea that somehow a lobbyist is too corrupted to serve in these positions ignores the fact that all people bring baggage to the table. There are a few kind of lobbyists. One type is the former legislator/bigwig that trades on their relationships and insight into the process. Another type of lobbyist is the subject matter expert. Those folks know more about the issues then other people. And they should, it is their job to know more than other people. That also makes them uniquely qualified to serve.
Obama seems to have taken the worst approach of all. Pretend like it is a huge problem to have former lobbyists in certain positions while recognizing that they are uniquely qualified and then finding a way around it. Like I said, it's dumb.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
I Are Pissed
So during the last month my car has been hit, while stationary, three times. In each of these instances the transgressor has failed to leave a note or accept responsibility. Yesterday, I went into the liquor store for 5 minutes and came out to find the front passenger side dented. Very annoying.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Molly Wolfe RIP
Our dog died today. We had to put her to sleep. She had a number of ailments and it was clearly the right thing for her. But I'm crushed all the same. She was a smart, beautiful, loving dog and she and my wife were connected in a special way. I will really miss her. I already do.
Friday, January 2, 2009
BMW K1200s
In these uncertain financial times, there are few better investments than vehicles (right honey?). Please enjoy the BMW K1200s motorcycle. This beauty will take you from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds. Yes, 2.8 seconds. Please count to three in your head. You are now going 60mph.
O8 hand
I like to think I'm a pretty good Omaha Hi-Lo (aka O8) player. Omaha is a variation of Texas Hold Em, but you get 4 cards instead of two. However, unlike Hold Em you have to use two cards in your hand. In Hi-Lo, as the name implies, the high hand and the low hand split the pot. You can use all 4 cards in your hand (two to make a high hand and a different two to make a low hand) and the goal is really to scoop pots by winning both the high and the low. So here is an awesome hand from a tournament I was playing in yesterday. When I say "awesome" I mean it in the literal sense. I am still in awe of how unbelievably badly my opponent, who had made it down to the final 100 out of 600 people, played this hand. So, here we go.
Folded around to me on the button. I have QQ35 (double suited in hearts and clubs). I generally think bad players tend to overplay big pairs in O8, but on the button without anyone else in the pot this is a raising hand. I raise. Small blind flats, big blind folds.
Flop: 9hTh5d
So let's review. In order to make a low hand in O8 you have to have five unpaired cards all under 8. The best low hand is the wheel, A2345, the worst low hand is 87654. So given the board, a player playing a low draw is going to need the last two cards to be under an 8 in order to make a low hand and they can figure that even then they will be drawing to only half the pot. Can you see where this is headed?
I bet the pot (about $8K) which represents about 90% of my opponent's remaining chips. He calls.
Turn: 6d
I bet enough to put my opponent in, because I have to but I'm a little concerned now that I'm beat, but it doesn't matter because there is way too much money in the pot and my opponent has almost no chips left. So the cards are flipped over and my opponent shows me....drumroll.....Ac2d3d4h.
River: 8d
I lose a massive pot to a 8 high flush and he has the best possible low.
So my opponent was absolutely correct to call preflop, he has a premium starting hand and could have even raised me and I would have folded immediately. Post flop looks good for me as I have an overpair and a flush draw, though not a very good one, and any low drawing hand is clearly folding since they completely missed the flop. At least, that is what a normal, rationale human being would think. My opponent, however, decided it ould be a good deal to call off all his chips with no pair, no draw, and needing the board to come consecutive diamonds to make the worst flush possible or to have two low cards come consecutively to win only half the pot. Fortunately for him he was playing against me and while the math on this hand suggests that I'm in a dominating position (I'll scoop it over 60% of the time and win the high 80% of the time) that is exactly what occurred. Well played sir.
I used to get mad about these types of beats, but now I just wonder why someone would play for 5 hours and then decide that they want to bet all their money when they have almost no chance of winning. Very odd. Also, I'm a huge liar as I am still furious and I would gladly murder this person and his entire family given the opportunity.
Folded around to me on the button. I have QQ35 (double suited in hearts and clubs). I generally think bad players tend to overplay big pairs in O8, but on the button without anyone else in the pot this is a raising hand. I raise. Small blind flats, big blind folds.
Flop: 9hTh5d
So let's review. In order to make a low hand in O8 you have to have five unpaired cards all under 8. The best low hand is the wheel, A2345, the worst low hand is 87654. So given the board, a player playing a low draw is going to need the last two cards to be under an 8 in order to make a low hand and they can figure that even then they will be drawing to only half the pot. Can you see where this is headed?
I bet the pot (about $8K) which represents about 90% of my opponent's remaining chips. He calls.
Turn: 6d
I bet enough to put my opponent in, because I have to but I'm a little concerned now that I'm beat, but it doesn't matter because there is way too much money in the pot and my opponent has almost no chips left. So the cards are flipped over and my opponent shows me....drumroll.....Ac2d3d4h.
River: 8d
I lose a massive pot to a 8 high flush and he has the best possible low.
So my opponent was absolutely correct to call preflop, he has a premium starting hand and could have even raised me and I would have folded immediately. Post flop looks good for me as I have an overpair and a flush draw, though not a very good one, and any low drawing hand is clearly folding since they completely missed the flop. At least, that is what a normal, rationale human being would think. My opponent, however, decided it ould be a good deal to call off all his chips with no pair, no draw, and needing the board to come consecutive diamonds to make the worst flush possible or to have two low cards come consecutively to win only half the pot. Fortunately for him he was playing against me and while the math on this hand suggests that I'm in a dominating position (I'll scoop it over 60% of the time and win the high 80% of the time) that is exactly what occurred. Well played sir.
I used to get mad about these types of beats, but now I just wonder why someone would play for 5 hours and then decide that they want to bet all their money when they have almost no chance of winning. Very odd. Also, I'm a huge liar as I am still furious and I would gladly murder this person and his entire family given the opportunity.
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