Barry Jacobs On Sweet Sixteen Success

ACC eyes are smiling — as opposed to Irish eyes, which were shut emphatically by 10th-seeded Florida State in one of the more surprising results so far in the 2011 NCAA tournament.

FSU became the third ACC team, of four in the field, to reach this year’s Sweet 16. That is the league’s best showing since 2005, a year before it engorged to its current 12-member configuration. Coincidentally, 2005 was the last time an ACC squad seeded 10th reached the NCAA regional semifinals – N.C. State under Herb Sendek.

Those were the days.

Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish, coached by Mike Brey, the former Duke assistant, were throttled by FSU 71-57 in the third round of the Southwest Regional. Notre Dame, one of 11 Big East clubs in the field, was the only No. 2 seed eliminated so far.

The only No. 1 to fall by the wayside, Pittsburgh, also came from the Big East.

Strikingly, the ACC is the only league to send three teams to the ‘11 regional semifinals.

Back in the nineties — a decade when the Atlantic Coast Conference made a big leap by going from eight to nine teams, and coaching situations were fairly stable at most schools — the league averaged 2.9 teams per Sweet 16. That was nearly 50 percent better than any other league.

From 2000 through 2010, the ACC’s average dropped to 1.9 teams in the Sweet 16, a loss of one entrant per season. This year’s showing is back at 1990s levels. No league experienced so sharp a drop in Sweet 16 participation from the 1990s through 2010 as the ACC. No other league even came close.

The Big East, Big 10, and SEC placed two teams each in the 2011 Sweet 16. Overall the six power conferences supplied 11 of the final 16 entrants, the same as last season.

Looked at the other way, this is the second straight year the non-elite have five teams among the Sweet 16 (31 percent). Extended farther, this is the fifth time in the past six seasons at least one quarter of the regional semifinalists came from what amount to the non-BCS ranks.

It may be just a coincidence, but that period neatly matches the ACC’s overall postseason droop.

This is also the first time since 2006 an ACC team other than Duke or North Carolina got to the Sweet 16. Boston College did it in 2006, its first year as a conference member. FSU is back for the first time since 1993, its second year as an ACC member.

Arizona Eliminates Duke: No. 1 Seed Falls In NCAA Tournament

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Derrick Williams carried Arizona in the first half, keeping the Wildcats in the game against Duke. His teammates returned the favor in the final 20 minutes with an offensive barrage that stunned the defending national champions.

Williams scored 25 of his career-high 32 points in the first half of Arizona's 93-77 victory Thursday night, helping the Wildcats reach the final eight for the first time since 2005.

"As a team, we came together and willed ourselves to win," said Lamont Jones, who added 16 points. "Derrick is a great player, but we all contribute."

The top-seeded Blue Devils (32-5) were sent packing from a regional semifinal for the second time in three years. Coach Mike Krzyzewski, with 900 wins, will have to wait until next season to resume his pursuit of Bob Knight's record as the winningest men's coach in Division I history.

"The tournament is cruel," Krzyzewski said. "It's an abrupt end for everybody when you don't win."

Solomon Hill added 13 points for the Wildcats, who shot 54 percent and made 9 of 15 3-pointers, including five by Williams.

Williams had 13 rebounds to help his team dominate the boards, 40-27, while playing 15 minutes from his hometown of La Mirada.

"It makes me feel great," he said. "If we win this game on Saturday, we'll be known as one of the greatest Arizona teams to play."

Fifth-seeded Arizona (30-7) will play Connecticut (29-9) on Saturday in the West Regional final. The third-seeded Huskies defeated No. 2 San Diego State 74-67 in the other semifinal.

Jersey Shore Season 4: Italy Best Jersey Shore Season Yet?

The Jersey Shore Season 3 finale is airing right now on MTV, and fans are waiting in complete anticipation of Jersey Shore Season 4. The cast heads to Italy in Jersey Shore Season 4, and we can’t wait to see what kind of crazy antics go down over there. Fist pump. Do people do the whole GTL thing in Italy?


Despite their previous encounters with the law, Snooki and Ronnie will both be present for Jersey Shore Season 4 in Italy.

Though we aren’t quite sure what exactly will go down in Season 4, it looks as though the romance between Sammi and Ronnie will still be going strong. Those two just can’t seem to get enough of each other, even though they are a total hot mess!

Are you excited for Jersey Shore Season 4 in Italy?

Lord Of The Flies By William Golding On Jeopardy Question Makes News

On the ‘Thinking person’s game show’ Jeopardy tonight, Lord of the Flies really seemed to get people talking about the novel.
The short novel Lord Of The Flies by William Golding is about a group of school boys, stranded on a deserted island, and what happens to them.
The group becomes lost at first, with no leader, and as young as they were, they were looking for someone to step up and take control.
The problems begin when one boy takes it upon himself to take charge, and sets down rules.
As they came from a rigid school, they soon adopted the same types of conduct, but without an adult to temper their behavior.
It is a study of the human condition, and when left unchecked, how we behave when under stress, and who we become as a result. As young boys, they have no real life experience, and are torn between being noble, or savage.

Lord of The Flies = Every Kid For Himself.

We have crossed a threshold recently, where, when a group of families get together, our kids are old enough to be able to join the fray unattended. This in turn, signifies another new beginning: the dawn of adult conversation. It’s awesome. A huge relief. We sit and talk, drinking wine. The kids race around various apartments and houses and backyards, forming their own governments. But it does come with a teeny bit of anxiety, when I see the parade of maniac children race by, wondering which one’s going to be the first ritual sacrifice.

And of course, praying it’s not mine. Lately, the words Lord Of The Flies seem to come up at almost every party.

Lord of the Flies has become universal language for Chaotic Sadistic Government Run by Children. I can’t remember the original story. I remember there was a bad kid named Piggy and a bunch of fires and murders, and I loved/hated it when I read it as a kid…and have no desire to revisit it as a parent. Because some version of that nightmare flashes through my mind every time my kid comes home from a party or a playdate with a dramatic tale of how he got stepped on or smashed (and/or I find out that he’s done some smashing himself).

It’s a tiny version, but a scary one nonetheless.  Funny how freedom can quickly turn into a parent’s nightmare.

Lord of the Flies: Stephen King And Other Celebrity Connections

As a book lover and lover of words, you can bet that I’ve read William Golding’s Lord of the Flies as both a child and an adult. Lord of the Flies is a novel by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding about a group of British schoolboys stuck on a deserted island who try to govern themselves -with both disastrous and deadly results.

Published in 1954, Lord of the Flies was Golding’s first novel. When it was first released, it wasn’t the literary legend that it is now, and in fact sold only about 3,000 copies. Since then, the novel’s questions about human nature and individual welfare versus the common good have left students and scholars alike discussing topics such as groupthink and individuality, rational and emotional reactions, and morality and immorality.

Througout the world of entertainment, Lord of the Rings has influenced many artists. There has been 2 movie adaptations of the story; one directed by Peter Brook in 1963 and one directed by Harry Hook in 1990.

World reknown author Stephen King has stated that the Castle Rock in Lord of the Flies was the inspiration for the town that has appeared in a number of his novels, including Misery and Cujo. And Rob Reiner’s production company’s name ”Castle Rock Entertainment”, was inspired by Stephen King’s Castle Rock!

Heavy metal band Iron Maiden composed a 1995 song of about the novel. The song has the same name.  The ever popular 1980 debut album of U2 takes its title, “Shadows and Tall Trees”, from Chapter 7 in the book – and the album’s artwork is very similar to the novel’s cover artwork.

TV shows South Park and The Simpsons have episodes based on the book.

Interesting fact: Lord of the Flies is the literal English translation for the Hebrew word ”Beelzebub”, a demonic figure that is often considered synonymous with Satan. Very fitting to the story, don’t you think?

Photo: PRPhotos

LATEST NEWS : FILM STAR ROBERT REDFORD SPECKLED IN ENCAMPMENT BEER HALL · HOT TRENDS & NEWS TODAY

17 March 2011 last updated at 11:27 ET
Latest Hot Trends News – FILM STAR ROBERT REDFORD SPECKLED IN ENCAMPMENT BEER HALL · HOT TRENDS & NEWS TODAY                               A organization of funding holders who arrived for a public in a North Yorkshire drink gymnasium found a Hollywood star sitting in a quandary with friends.
Members of the Wheldrake Allotment Society were empty to eventuality conflicting singer Robert Redford in the Ferry Boat Inn at Thorganby, eastward of York.
The landlady, Olive Rogers, arguable Mr Redford had been in the drink gymnasium upon Sunday night.
Society management Chris Thackray conspicuous the singular of his organization got an autograph.
Mr Thackray conspicuous the star of Butch Cassidy as good as the Sundance Kid was with a organization of people who “kept themselves to themselves.”
Mr Redford is in the UK to encourage the four-day Sundance London film authorised legal holiday to be staged in the material successive year.
Mr Thackray conspicuous the star was already at the drink gymnasium when his organization picked up for the meeting.
‘all unequivocally British’
He said: “he was sat in the quandary as good as we spotted him loyal away.
“my only be endangered about whether it was actually him was ‘does he have an American accent?’
“But there was no question about it.
“Nobody disturbed him while he was in the pub, it was all unequivocally British as good as we left him alone.”
Mr Thackray conspicuous a partial of of his organization went to verbalize to Mr Redford as he left the Ferry Boat Inn as good as got an autograph.
“everyone in the drink gymnasium famous him as good as left him alone – if it had been Hollywood he would have been mobbed.”
View full post upon robert redford – Yahoo! News Search Results
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ROBERT REDFORD HAS SUNDANCE LONDON IN THE WORKS

The Guardian reports that Legend Robert Redford is looking to expanding the Sundance Film Festival.
The actor has decided to add a second Sundance Festival in London.
“It is our mutual goal to bring to the UK the very best in current American independent cinema, to introduce the artists responsible for it, and in essence help build a picture of our country that is broadly reflective of the diversity of voices not always seen in our cultural exports,” Redford said.
“Sundance London” will be held on April 26-29 next year at The O2, the huge music venue at the former Millennium Dome, comprising film screenings, live music, discussion panels and other cultural events, it was announced Tuesday........

Robert Redford Crashes Allotment Society Bash!

ROBERT Redford reportedly crashed an allotment society’s village bash.
The actor left villagers stunned when he walked in on an allotment owners’ regular pub meeting last Sunday night.
The shocked gardeners had been at the Ferry Boat Inn in Thorganby, near York, discussing the latest vegetable trends when the Sundance Kid star walked in, according to Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper.
Chris Thackray, from the Wheldrake Allotment Society, was one of the regulars who noticed the film legend.
“He was sat in the corner and I spotted him straight away,” he said.
“My only worry about whether it was actually him was ‘does he have an American accent? ‘but there was no question about it.
“Nobody bothered him while he was in the pub, it was all very British and we left him alone “Everyone in the pub recognized him and left him alone — if it had been Hollywood he would have been mobbed.”
Redford is in the UK launching a four-day festival in London based on the Sundance Film Festival which he runs in the United States.
Robert recently insisted he hasn’t quit Hollywood.
“I say, ‘Hey, I’d like to be in that movie,’ and they say, ‘would you? You’re kidding’,” he said.
“something is happening over the years that makes a lot of people think that I don’t do this anymore, when the truth is, it’s what I enjoy most.”
Tags: robert redford
Robert Redford Crashes Allotment Society Bash!

Preview: Phoenix Suns (35-33) at Los Angeles Lakers (50-20)

The Phoenix Suns have gotten back to playing quality basketball with the returns of Steve Nash and Channing Frye, but we will find out tonight whether that return to form has stemmed largely from just playing the Clippers and Warriors after losing four in a row to winning teams.
That test will come in the form of a piping hot Lakers squad that has steamrolled the league to the tune of 12 wins in 13 games since their embarrassing loss in Cleveland. In that time the Lakers have lost just to a Miami team on the road that I hear has a star or two.
The Suns’ schedule the rest of the way will feature more teams like the Lakers than the Clippers, and they’re going to have to steal a couple of them to have a shot at the postseason.
One factor working in their favor is the suspension of Andrew Bynum, who has anchored the Lakers’ defense during their run by exploding for 12.3 points and 14.5 rebounds per game on 62.3 percent shooting in March.
I doubt Alvin Genty will be doing backflips over Bynum’s absence because it will just mean a heavier dose of Suns-killer Lamar Odom. Odom is averaging a 17.3-12.7-4.0 after killing them in the playoffs last year, and to Amare Stoudemire’s surprise there isn’t anything lucky about it.
The Suns’ best shot at pulling off an upset may just be to do what they did last time they faced the Lakers in Staples Center and that is to try to bludgeon them behind the arc. The Suns fell one shy of the NBA record for three-pointers in a game by drilling 22 of them in their 121-116 victory on Nov. 14 to win a game in which they got crushed on the boards 49-32 and allowed 68 points in the paint.
Aaron Brooks could play a factor in the outcome as he’s traditionally been a thorn in the Lakers’ side. This year he averaged 20.0 points and 8.5 dimes over two games while with the Rockets, and he went for 18.0 per game (including performances of 34 and 26 in Houston wins) during the teams’ 2008-09 playoff series.
Brooks is the kind of waterbug point guard who is a real tough matchup for the Lakers’ veteran point guards, so perhaps tonight could be the night for a breakout performance from him.
For more on the matchup, I exchanged e-mails with ESPNLA.com’s Andrew Kamenetzky. My responses can be found on Land O’ Lakers and Kamenetzky shares some knowledge on the Lakers below:
Schwartz: The Lakers suffered so many head-scratching losses earlier in the season that they seemed to be on cruise control until April. What changed for them since the loss in Cleveland that’s led to their run of 12 wins in 13 games?
Kamenetzky: It’s a combination of Andrew Bynum and renewed team-wide dedication. The impact of Bynum since the All-Star break, and especially throughout March, can’t be overstated. In eight games this month, he’s averaging 12.3 points on 62 percent shooting, 14.5 rebounds (5.3 on the offensive glass), and nearly three blocks. Plus, Bynum’s defensive presence is felt beyond the gaudy numbers. He’s altering shots left and right (even well outside the paint) and making the lane considerably less appealing to visit. Mistakes along the perimeter often get erased by virtue of him being on the court.
Sunday’s win over Portland was an excellent reminder of the kid’s value. The Lakers won the game, but were he not suspended (as he will be against Phoenix), victory would have come much easier.
Still, credit doesn’t belong solely to Drew. Ever since that wretched display in Cleveland, the Lakers as a unit have been considerably more focused and purposeful. The All-Star break provided necessary time away from the game, and everyone is hyper-aware of the playoffs approaching. Getting up for the regular season on a consistent basis hasn’t been easy, between the relative boredom of December/January ball compared to postseason action and the physical/mental toll of three straight trips to the Finals. But with the finish line in plain sight, they’re energized and attentive to the details. In particular, they’ve been outstanding defensively, allowing just one opponent 100 points since the break.
Schwartz: Ron Artest seems to have taken a real step backward this season. Is that just a function of the offense or do you seem him starting to decline? How has he handled this diminished role?
Kamenetzky: It’s hard to pin Ron’s struggles on one factor. At times, he’s seemed frustrated by his role on offense. Earlier in the season, he was often planted in a corner to spot up. While this assignment inspired the funniest flow chart in recent memory, it hasn’t necessarily inspired comfort or solid production. Beyond the low percentages, Artest was perpetually indecisive upon migrating from that space. Other times, Artest has been openly unsure of his role on either side of the ball. His early slump coincided with Matt Barnes’ surprisingly strong start, which meant the sub playing fourth quarter minutes typically reserved for Ron as the designated “stopper.” Artest was a good sport and supportive of Barnes, but this development only enhanced his uneasiness.
Plus, I think he perceived (accurately, I might add) fans were making him the chief whipping boy for the lackluster periods, which never feels great. I imagine this played a role in getting upset with Phil Jackson’s proclivity for tweaking him via the media. In Ron’s head, this probably felt like the coach piling on, even if that wasn’t PJ’s intention.
Others (in the media, if nothing else) have wondered if his mental health advocacy, while certainly noble, was causing a distraction. Or if not this endeavor, perhaps another. For example, tweeting about a mixtape dropping immediately following the disaster in Cleveland? Not the best way to come across as a competent multi-tasker.
In any event, the good news is that since the All-Star break, Ron’s been playing very well. His defense has been effective and, at times, downright suffocating. Offensively, he’s still not shooting at a high percentage, but his shot selection has been (generally speaking) better, along with his overall decisiveness. He’s doing more as a playmaker, which is reflected in his 2.6 assists per game in March, the best of his monthly splits. His spirits are visibly higher, which has resulted in some WWE-style antics such as flexing/kissing his biceps after good plays and trash talking Michael Beasley. (He literally chanted “airball” along with the Staples crowd after a whiff from Beas.) PJ wasn’t thrilled about the latter activity, but it’s certainly indicative of a guy having more fun.
Schwartz: With Lamar Odom starting in place of Andrew Bynum in this one, which Lakers reserve most needs to step up?
Kamenetzky: Steve Blake. His inaugural season has been largely anti-climactic, but he’s played better over the last few games. Blake’s always done a nice job keeping the second unit organized, but there’s been a frustrating reluctance to shoot and make himself generally more accountable as an offensive source. However, he’s scored nine points twice in the last four games (which, scarily, is on the decidedly high side), so perhaps the shell is cracking. Given that Aaron Brooks is a defensive liability, I’d love to see Blake attack the newest Sun.
At the very least, he needs to prevent Brooks, who’s hurt the Lakers in the past, from going nuts. Blake did a very nice job recently pestering Jason Terry, and has cranked up his activity on that side of the ball.

Get 'er Done. The Phoenix Suns Charge Through the Los Angeles Clippers, 108-99

Taking care of business.  The Phoenix Suns (35-33) did what they were supposed to do this afternoon in L.A., they beat the Clippers (27-44) and now look forward to a showdown with L.A. Lakers on Tuesday.  We are now 2 games behind Memphis for the final 8th seed in the West.

This season the Suns hadn't fared particularly well in their mid-day games going only 2-2 in those situations before today.  But today the Suns played hard physical basketball for a full 48 minutes and coupled the effort with smart defense and efficient offense.

Steve Nash finished with 23 points, 13 assists and 7 rebounds (3 shy of his 4th career triple-double) while the combination of Channing Frye and Hakim Warrick defensively held Rookie of the Year shoe-in Blake Griffin to 17 points on 6-18 shooting and only 2 rebounds and 3 assists.  That's no feat to roll your eyes at - just yesterday Griffin posted 30 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists whereas today he was constantly frustrated and ultimately fouled out halfway through the 4th quarter on a controversial charge call as he viciously dunked over Marcin Gortat.

Preview and Chat: The Phoenix Suns

Records: Lakers 50-20 (2nd in West), Suns 35-33 (10th in West)
Offensive ratings: Lakers 111.5 (2nd in NBA), Suns 109.5 (9th in NBA)
Defensive ratings: Lakers 104.4 (7th in NBA), Suns 109.8 (22nd in NBA)
Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol
Suns: Steve Nash, Vince Carter, Grant Hill, Channing Frye, Robin Lopez
Injuries: Lakers: Devin Ebanks & Theo Ratliff (out); Suns: Gani Lawal (out)
The Lakers Coming in: The Lakers are coming off of a tough win that they had to gut out late in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trailblazers, one of their most impressive wins since the All-Star Break. It’s been widely reported that one of the Lakers biggest reasons for their post-break improvement was their new found commitment to defense — a commitment that began with Andrew Bynum. With ‘Drew out of the Portland game, many wondered if the Lakers ability to funnel opposing offenses to the middle of the court, forcing mid-range jumpers and contested looks around the rim would be as affective with out Bynum’s big body in the middle. Even without ‘Drew, the Lakers were able to hold the Blazers to 80 points, the ninth time since the break that they’ve been able to hold their opponent under 90 points.
Tonight, the Lakers will go into the game winners of four straight and 12 of their last 13 games. More importantly, they come into tonight’s game one game ahead of Dallas for the #2 seed out West and only a half game behind both Chicago and Boston for the #2 overall record in the NBA. While their recent success indicates that they’re playing the best, or at least close to it, basketball in the league right now, things aren’t exactly perfect. Kobe is still a bit hampered by his ankle, and if this Dave McMenamin report is accurate, we still may not know to what extent his ankle is bothering him. In the story, a team source told McMenamin that not only was Kobe’s knee drained that during the Oklahoma City first round playoff series, “but twice more — between the second round against Utah and the conference finals against Phoenix and again between Games 4 and 5 of the Finals.” This is just another thing we might want to keep an eye on as the end of the regular season rapidly approaches.
The Suns Coming in: The Suns haven’t been bad recently, but they definitely haven’t been good either, going .500 in their last 12 games. They’ve had some guys miss a couple games due to injury (notably Steve Nash and Channing Frye) and had Aaron Brooks sit out their game against the Clippers because of a suspension. Things have been rocky, to say the least, in Phoenix, a team fighting desperately for that eighth spot in the Western Conference. They come into tonight’s game, winners to two straight, but lost four straight before the two wins, a definite hit to their shot at the playoffs. Currently, the Suns are sitting in the 10th seed, just two and a half games behind Memphis, but have a tough five-game road stretch toward the end of the season, so every game for this team matters from here on out.
Suns Blogs: Valley of the Suns is a site worth your time if you want excellent thoughts on this team. Also check out Bright Side of the Sun.
Keys to game: I recently went back and watched Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals, a game that featured Allen Iverson leading the 76ers to a win over the Lakers, scoring 48 points in the Lakers only loss of the post season. The Lakers didn’t lose that game because the 76ers were a better team, we know this because the Lakers went on to win the next four games. We know this because they faced a team that already knew that they were on their backs before the series even started. The amount of fight in the 76ers, for one game, was enough to put the Lakers on their heels and steal away the Lakers perfect post season. The Lakers were up big early in the first quarter, but didn’t deliver the seemingly imminent knockout punch. Instead, they allowed a team with more fight to stick around and ended up losing the game.
Tonight, the Lakers will be going up against a team in a much tougher fight than the Lakers are. The Lakers, with the Pacific Division already wrapped up, already know that they’ve made it to the postseason, they’re just playing for seeding. The Suns know, if that with every loss, the reality of them not even making the playoffs is a little bit closer to being realized. No, this isn’t exactly the same situation as that Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals, if not only because the stakes aren’t even as close to being as high. But you do get the sense that, if the Lakers let this team hang around, they could lose this game, and more importantly, lose some ground on the Mavericks, Celtics and Bulls. With that being said, if the Lakers get the opportunity to put this Suns team out of its misery early, they absolutely need to. And of course, it all boils down to how they play on the defensive end.
The Lakers got a recent taste of a little of what the Suns may be doing tonight when they played the Orlando Magic. In that game, Stan Van Gundy opted to start Ryan Anderson to move Pau out of the paint. When Pau didn’t come out far enough, Anderson knocked down threes, when Pau did close out, the ball went in to Dwight Howard for an ISO on the block against Bynum. The Suns won’t have the same kind of post presence with Robin Lopez on the low blocks, but Channing Frye is the kind of forward that can extend the defense and make teams pay if left open. One of the positives of not having Bynum for tonight’s match up is that the versatile Lamar Odom will likely be assigned the role of covering Frye out on the wing, leaving Pau comfortably on the defensive block.
Other than Frye, the Suns have four more guys shooting at least 37 percent from behind the arch, and one more (Vince Carter) shooting 34 percent. Running guys off of the three point line will be key, as it always is, against the Suns. In their last meeting, a 99-95 Lakers win, they didn’t do a great job of running guys off of the three-point line as six different Suns hit at least one three, and three of them hit multiple threes. The Suns shot 47 percent from behind the arch while shooting only 42 percent from all two-point shots from three feet and beyond. Simple math suggests that the Lakers need to force the Suns to take more shots from two point range, not only because the Suns shot better from three, but in the occasion that they did score from inside the arch, they received one fewer point. Funneling the likes of Steve Nash and Aaron Brooks toward the middle is never easy, as they frequently tend to get where they want when they want, but the defense cannot get sucked into watching these guys put on a show and get caught sleeping while guarding shooters. If the Lakers bear down defensively, the offense will come naturally. This is a team that tends to make shots when they’re in a good defensive flow.
Where you can watch: 7:30pm start time on Fox Sports West. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710am. Update: You can also view this game nationally on TNT.

Pregame Report: Lakers vs. Suns

The (50-20) Los Angeles Lakers are back to work at Staples Center to face their Pacific Division rival  the (35-33) Phoenix Suns and while celebrating Noche Latina. A good analogy for tonight’s match up would be to say that this evening’s opponents are like two ships passing at sea heading in two different directions.
The Lakers, winners of the Pacific Division for the fourth straight time are in playoff mode. The Suns appear to be in a futile attempt at inclusion into the post season. The Lakers leads the season series winning two of three.
There are 12 games remaining in the regular season and the Purple and Gold are fine-tuning their game for the postseason and not looking past anyone. They improved to 12-1 after the All-Star break in the process of the come from behind win over the Blazers. In the first of two games without Andrew Bynum, the lack of a dominant inside presence was felt by them being outrebounded (45-35) by the Blazers.
Despite the described deficiency and lack of calls from the officials. They used their experience and execution down the stretch to grind out a win. Kobe Bryant is nowhere near 100 percent, but as always, leading by example playing through the pain. Lamar Odom continues to make an impact wherever needed and continuously contributing to winning basketball.
The Suns possess a lot of talent. The Lakers have to stop the dribble penetration of Steve Nash. Nash is one of those players that force you to pick your poison; it would be wise to turn him into a scorer to limit his impact as a facilitator. They have to communicate on defense and do a good job defending the screen and roll plays.
The Suns are a good three-point shooting team. It’s imperative that the Lakers quickly rotate out to open shooters and extend their defense behind the arc. They have to control the tempo of the game and play at their pace.  They have to dominate the glass and the painted area rebound and limit them to one shot per possession.
The Lakers need to continue to play with defensive focus and offensive discipline. They have to come out aggressive on both ends of the court and put doubt in the minds of the Suns.
They needs to rely on excellent ball movement and excellent man movement to find high percentage shots close to the basket. They need to establish Pau Gasol in the post early and run their offense through him. Gasol has to be aggressive, attack the basket and take shots going to the basket.
This is the attack the rim time of the year. The bench is making an impact and that trend needs to continue.                                                                      Starters
Lakers: D. Fisher, K. Bryant, R. Artest, L. Odom, P. Gasol
Suns: S. Nash, V.Carter, G. Hill, C. Frye, R. Lopez
Tip-off: 7:30 PM PST
Television -
Los Angeles: FS West, TNT (Joel Myers & Stu Lantz)
Phoenix: FS AZ, TNT (Gary Bender & Eddie Johnson)
Radio
Los Angeles: 710 & 1330 ESPN (Spero Dedes & Mychal Thompson)
Phoenix: KTAR 620 AM (Al McCoy & Tim Kempton)
Injuries
Lakers:Kobe Bryant (Sprained Left Ankle) Questionable
Devin Ebanks (Stress Fracture, Left Tibia) Out
Andrew Bynum (League Suspension) Out
Theo Ratliff (Sore Left Knee) Out
SunsGani Lawal (Torn ACL, partially torn MCL, Right Knee) Out

Netflix shares Climb Up

Shares of Netflix Inc. received a improve Tuesday after a Credit Suisse analyst upgraded the online film rental business following a latest drop, and said any perceived chance around mounting competitors inside the movie streaming space is now “more fully reflected” inside the shares.
Determined by a Credit Suisse survey, the analyst also said that Amazon’s new streaming service is not likely to have Netflix consumers to cancel their subscriptions. Blackledge raised his target price tag to $280 from $180 and said Netflix is most likely planning to broaden further into global markets within the second half of this yr and past.Stocks that moved considerably or traded heavily Tuesday on the New york Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market. Netflix Inc, Up $9.04, or 4.2 %, to $221.88 in late trading. The company’s shares hit an all-time large of $247.55 previous month ahead of providing up some ground.

Net flix Gems For Instant Kid Gratification

We are heavy Netflix users at our place, almost exclusively the instant downloads. We’ve barely watched a movie on DVD in months.

Through Netflix, My kids have become fans of some classic shows they probably never would have had the chance to see anywhere else. And they’ve also discovered some real gems that neither of us had ever heard of.

On our current Netflix hit parade….

1. Flipper.  This super sixties series about a couple of (apparently motherless) boys and their beloved pet dolphin is everybody’s current favorite. My kids found their way to this one on their own. I guess it didn’t hurt that we just went swimming with dolphins on our vacation.


2. The Littles. This 80's cartoon about a miniature family has a fairly groovy theme song and occasionally heavy themes (Mom’s a drug addict, anyone?). There’s a lot of psychology talk and Important Lesson Learning.

3. Feast at Midnight. This movie is completely adorable. It’s the story of  a boy who goes to boarding school, gets picked on, and emancipates himself by cooking his grandfather’s Escoffier recipes in the kitchen at night.

4. Shelly Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theater. This series is shockingly star studded,  and pretty enjoyable for adults as well as kids. If you don’t watch it for the story lines, watch it for the costumes. Where else are you going to see Mick Jagger in a Fu Manchu mustache?

Who else is enjoying the download lifestyle? What are you watching?

O'REILLY FACTOR: Katie Couric Is "Gone" At CBS

Ever since Katie Couric left her longtime gig at The Today Show to replace Dan Rather as the anchor of the CBS Evening News in 2006, she has been a lightening rod of controversy, from her interview with then Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, to her ratings, to her salary.
And now that her contract up in June, there has been a very healthy amount of speculation about whether or not CBS would keep Couric on or whether she would wind up somewhere else, like ABC.
Bernie Goldberg appeared on The O'Reilly Factor last night to discuss how he thought the media would cover the Obama administration's attack on Libya. At the end of the interview, O'Reilly asked Goldberg, who used to work for CBS News, to give his prediction about what would happen to Couric.
His prediction: "She's gone."
“When they hired her, five years ago, and paid her fifteen million a year, they did it for only one reason, only one reason: to get the ratings up. She lost three million viewers in those five years."
"As the anchorwoman of the CBS News, when her contract is up, she is out.”
Of course, Goldberg is not speaking with any inside information, not that that ever stops anyone from weighing in.

O’Reilly Factor: Katie Couric Is “Gone” At CBS

Ever since Katie Couric left her longtime gig at The Today Show to replace Dan Rather as the anchor of the CBS Evening News in 2006, she has been a lightening rod of controversy, from her interview with then Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, to her ratings, to her salary.
And now that her contract up in June, there has been a very healthy amount of speculation about whether or not CBS would keep Couric on or whether she would wind up somewhere else, like ABC.
Bernie Goldberg appeared on The O’Reilly Factor last night to discuss how he thought the media would cover the Obama administration’s attack on Libya. At the end of the interview, O’Reilly asked Goldberg, who used to work for CBS News, to give his prediction about what would happen to Couric.
His prediction: “She’s gone.”
“When they hired her, five years ago, and paid her fifteen million a year, they did it for only one reason, only one reason: to get the ratings up. She lost three million viewers in those five years.”
“As the anchorwoman of the CBS News, when her contract is up, she is out.”
Of course, Goldberg is not speaking with any inside information, not that that ever stops anyone from weighing in.

Mega-small odds of winning Mega Millions 3-22-11

With the jackpot at $244 million, folks lined up to buy their Mega Millions tickets, but the odds of winning is just 1 in 175,000,000

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Feelin' Lucky?: Mega Millions jackpot jumps to $244M

WOIO - How would you like to add a couple million to your bank account??

It could happen, you if try your luck at winning tonight's mind-blowing Mega Millions jackpot worth $244M dollars.

No one matched all six numbers in Friday night's drawing, so the purse was pushed up to over $240M. Not bad!

Don't forget to tune into to 19 Action News tonight at 11PM for the highly-anticipated winning numbers.

Keira Knightley's Coco Mademoiselle Ad

Mini movies are the new in-thing in the fashion industry. Making a commercial just isn't good enough anymore. Keira Knightley's much talked about commercial for Coco Mademoiselle has just been released in its entirety and it clocks in at a whopping three minutes and 20 seconds. Considering most ads run for 30 seconds or less, this one practically needs an intermission.

But that isn't to say it isn't beautifully shot. It is and it utilizes the talents of Pride & Prejudice director Joe Wright for a real movie-like quality. The story is that Keira is famous and the face of Chanel. She wakes up—elegantly and sans bedhead, of course—dabs a little perfume on, then dons a tan vintage jumpsuit for a dramatic motorcycle drive across Paris. Upon Keira's arrival at the grand fashion house and studio, she flirts seductively with the photographer during the shoot until they start getting cozy. Keira instructs him to lock the door and while he does, she magically jumps out of a two-story window and leaves on her motorcycle. But not before slyly tucking a bottle of Coco Mademoiselle away.