Later Phil

          This is clearly not the way Phil Jackson wanted his career to end.  It’s actually a little sad and depressing; even Phil-haters will agree with this.  This has to be the most sour moment in Phil’s career as an NBA coach- getting swept in the playoffs by the Mavericks, an inferior team, in his last season.  Who would have predicted this would be the case just a little under a year ago when Phil was celebrating his 11^th NBA championship as a coach?  The answer is: not many.

            Phil Jackson is one of the best coaches in NBA history; there is no question about this.  He won 6 championships with the Bulls and 5 with the Lakers.  He holds the record for the most championships won by a coach in NBA history.

            Yet, some have always criticized Phil.  Phil-haters have continually devalued his achievements by arguing that he only won all those championships because he always had the best players of the era playing for the teams he coached.  Critics say that Jackson only won with the Bulls because he had Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on that team.  Similarly, they say that he only won with the Lakers because he coached Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.  Jackson’s critics like to use the argument that his teams only won because of the players and not because of the coaching to question this great coach’s legacy.

            I personally believe that these critics are wrong.  Phil was a great coach.  How can people disagree with this?  Have Jackson’s critics ever stopped to consider that maybe he had a lot to do with making his superstar players as good as they were under his coaching?  How can all of the credit for the Bulls’ and Lakers’ success be limited to just the players?  Jackson was an integral part of both of these teams.

            Either way, Jackson’s career has now come to a close.  Some will always see him as the best, while others will continue to downplay his success.  It is sad that Jackson’s career ends with an early exit in the playoffs.  Many of his fans will always wish that he had chosen to retire on top after winning one of his many championships.  In the end, however, the fact that he did not win in his last season does not tarnish his image.  After all, very few remember Jordan’s unsuccessful comeback with the Washington Wizards; most choose to remember Jordan’s domination of the league for over a decade while playing for the Bulls.  I hope Phil’s legacy will experience the same treatment.  I hope his fans remember his glory days and not the way his illustrious NBA path came to a close.

Derek Rose= Beast

I'll admit that I am a huge Lakers fan, but the most impressive player in the playoffs right now is Derek Rose.  He is absolutely amazing.  I never thought I could like another Bulls player as much as I used to like the great Michael Jordan.  Rose is the youngest player in the history of the NBA to win the MVP trophy.  He deserved this honor.  He has carried the Bulls this entire season.  I truly hope that the Bulls come out of the east and reach the finals.  Derek Rose is a true boss.

Here is a video of some impressive plays by Rose!

The Worst Movie Ever...Literally

       I have seen some pretty bad movies in my time.  Some have been incredibly awful, while others have simply failed to live up to expectations.  I do not consider myself an expert movie critic, but I love watching films; going to the movies is one of my favorite pastimes.

      Having said that, Battlefield Earth is literally the worst film I have ever seen or will ever see.  Wow!  That movie is bad on levels that I did not believe could possibly be reached.

      I had previously heard rumors about this movie being particularly bad, but I wanted to at least give it a chance.  I rented this movie this last week, against the advise of several of my friends.  After asking several people to sacrifice a night and watch this movie with me, only one other brave soul agreed to go on this adventure with me.  The rumors about this movie were not wrong.  It truly is awful.

      I would discourage any person I actually care about from watching this film.  The story is terrible; it makes no sense.  I cannot believe the head of a major Hollywood studio agreed to make and invest in this film after reading the script.  

      The acting is depressing- especially John Travolta's performance.  Travolta is one of my favorite actors, having starred in films like Grease and Saturday Night Fever.  I think he is very talented and has a very gifted acting range.  His character in Battlefield Earth, however, is clearly his worst acting decision in his career.  It almost hurts to see such an epic actor embarrassing himself on the screen.  I was very disappointed in Travolta for working on this film after reading the script.  No amount of money he may have been paid makes his choice to play this role ok.

      Thus, I would advise anyone even thinking of watching this to think twice.  Listen to your friends who have already gone through the pain of seeing this.  Don't try to be a maverick!  Do yourself a favor- avoid this film!

Here is the trailer for the movie so you can get a better idea of what I am talking about.

Best Workout Class Ever!

I really want to get in good shape this summer before going to graduate school.  I heard that P90X is one of the best workout routines out there to get you into the best shape of your life.  I'm sure P90X is awesome, but this class seems even funner...especially for guys.  The song is pretty awesome too.  Enjoy!

Environmental Law

              Environmental law is inescapable.  It affects all of us in many ways.  The Constitution may not mention the environment, but our laws regulate human behavior to protect it.  Grand part of our citizenry in the United States works very hard to shape our laws and regulations to better the environment.  However, the environment is not in good shape.  What we are currently doing is simply not enough.  More is needed.  Serious environmental issues, like pollution and smog, are very serious problems that seem to worsen as time goes on.  Many politicians choose to protect their government seats by protecting the pockets of their contributors instead of imposing stricter standards that will actually improve environmental conditions.  The system is flawed in many ways.  People in power many times place individual interests before the common good.  Human nature instinctively often makes us choose our own benefit first before thinking of others.  Unfortunately, the environment is likely to continue to suffer as long as this persists.  Yet, we have to hope that maybe future generations will change this.  Maybe they will care more about the common good and about the environment.  If they do, another fundamental year for the environment like 1970 will happen in the future.  The key is just not to give up.

This picture shows that there is still hope!

Thor Movie

I have always been a huge fan of movies about superheroes.  The Dark Knight is by far my favorite superhero film.  The new Thor movie is receiving a lot of media attention because it supposedly takes special effects to a different level.  I'm really excited to see this film.  The trailer looks awesome!  Here it is!

Plus 44

This is one of my favorite songs by Mark Hoppus' other band, Plus 44.  This band is not as good as Blink-182, but they do have some pretty cool songs.  Check this one out!

Are People the Problem?

For ten years, I lived amongst the suburban hilltops of a small city named San Dimas located about thirty miles east of Downtown Los Angeles.  Each morning on the way to school, I’d peer at the distant skyline and gaze at the buildings of Downtown. On most days of the year, especially during times of hot and humid weather, they seemed to be encompassed by a dark cloud of haze that rested atop the city.  I thought, ‘This is the result of condensing too many people and cars into a single area.’

The debate surrounding overpopulation has existed for over two hundred years.  Thomas Malthus was one of the first to propose the dangers of overpopulation in the early 19^th century.  Today, there is still great controversy regarding this topic.  There have been numerous studies that try to pinpoint the carrying capacity of the earth, with estimates ranging from 5.9 billion to 40 billion to 157 billion. 

I recently read an essay entitled “The Unjust War Against Population” by economist Jacqueline Kasun, in which she argues that population growth poses no threat to our society and that the earth has the potential to support population sizes several times larger than its current one.  She backs this claim with the assertion that the general standard of living across the globe has only improved with the continuous growing population and that new technological advancements will lead to greater productivity of both food and resources in the future.

Kasun elaborates how currently, there is enough food produced every year to feed the entire world’s population, and that if all farmers were to use the “best methods,” the earth could sustain 35.1 billion people. In addition, she points out that the entire world’s population covers only about 1% of the earth’s sphere and could fit within the borders of Texas alone.  Based on these statistics, she defies overpopulation as myth.

Another anonymous blogger, in sync with Kasun’s ideas, opposes the idea that a continuously growing population is a problem. He states the following:

“…if 5% of the United States were converted into urban area with a population density of 6,000/km², and 45% were converted into suburban area with a population density of 2,000/km², with the remaining 50% left for rural area, parks, and farms, there would be enough room and food for 3 billion in the urban areas, and 9 billion in the suburban areas, for a total population of 12 billion. This is in the US alone.”

Yet, Kasun and this blogger overlook some of the most essential factors important to the debate on population growth.  The primary fault I see in their argument is that they credit only two elements as responsible for sustaining the human race: food and space.

While these two elements are important, Kasun and other population growth advocates are turning a blind eye to what is really holding back the human race with regards to expansion: resource scarcity and pollution, which are the results of overconsumption and industrial byproducts.

 In the 21^st century and for the past couple of centuries (specifically since the industrial revolution), people have been avid consumers of not only food, but also of resources such as electricity, oil, wood, metals, and fabrics, clearly increasing the amount of capital that must go into supporting each individual.

As environmentalist Bill McKibben states in his essay “A Special Moment in History: The Challenge of Overpopulation and Overconsumption,” the average human being uses approximately 31,000 calories of energy per day, a number exponentially greater than the 2,500 used by hunter gatherers in the past, when people were consumers of only food and water.

In relation to this, Cornell biologist David Pimentel estimates that the earth in its current state can only support “two billion people at a middle class standard living” due to a lack of resources that include but aren’t limited to food.  This estimate may provide an explanation for why a great portion of the world’s population lives in poverty and hunger.

 Also, studies estimating the carrying capacity of the earth vary significantly. Yet, as McKibben points out, none of the studies could ever examine every variable. He notes, however, that the median low value for these studies was 7.7 billion people, and that the median high value was 12 billion. The fact that the average range for these estimates gives a number very close to our current population size is unsettling and enforces the idea that perhaps we are not too far from reaching the earth’s limits of sustainability.

Even if we are not running out of space to fit people, we are certainly running out of space to dump “the by-products of our large appetites” (McKibben).  Population growth advocates such as Kasun fail to address the issue of pollution and merely state that technology will be able to “offset the bad effects of industrial pollution”. 

In contrast, it is technology that has actually caused a steady increase in pollution.  The magnitude of coal smoke emitted into the air combined with other forms of pollution from industrial processes has changed the composition of the earth’s atmosphere.  Nitrous oxide is an industrial byproduct that upon entering the atmosphere traps solar heat, and carbon dioxide emissions from cars and fossil fuel combustion worsen this effect.

As McKibben states, before humans started burning fossil fuels, carbon made up 280 parts per million in the atmosphere. That number has increased to 360 up to date, and various effects include not only global warming but also increased incidences of asthma and other lung-related problems.  So contrary to a blogger opinion that, “A future of overpopulation is one of a number of hoary old objections to progress and longer, healthier lives,” the consequences of overpopulation may actually begin to lead to shorter and unhealthier lives.

Additionally, one of the biggest threats we face as a result of overpopulation and overconsumption is climate change.  Since 1900, total winter precipitation in the US has increased by 10 percent and ‘extreme precipitation events’ have increased by 20 percent.  Increased amounts of carbon in the atmosphere trap greater amounts of heat, and warmer air holds more water vapor. As a result, more water evaporates and higher amounts of precipitation fall.  In addition, hurricane speeds have increased by 50% over the past 50 years, and the combination of stormier weather and increased temperature has lead to drier landscapes (McKibben).

            McKibben elaborates on how the freezing level has been gaining altitude at fifteen feet per year since 1970 while the steady melting of tropical glaciers has caused ocean levels to rise. He provides evidence that average summer temperatures in the poles have risen by seven degrees in the past two decades and that temperature in the Greenland Icesheet rose eighteen degrees “in one three-year stretch.” The Artic tundra is in such a warm state that now “it gives off more carbon dioxide than it absorbs, making warming ever worse.”  McKibben proves that the evidence for global warming and climate change is there; something just needs to be done about it.

It isn’t entirely fair to say that Jacqueline Kasun is ‘wrong’ in her assertion that “People Aren’t the Problem”.  While the number of people inhabiting the earth may not pose a problem, it is the way in which people live their lives that puts pressure on the earth.  Yes, the earth may have the capacity to support 7 times its current population if “all the best farming methods are used”, if people do not over-consume, and if “technology is able to offset the bad effects of industrial pollution.” But the reality is that even if we have all the resources necessary to sustain a larger population, we do not posses the societal or economic infrastructure to distribute those resources efficiently without destroying the earth.

Will Playing Video Games Make You Depressed?

‘Will playing games make you depressed?’ is a question of irony, seeing as how the point of playing games in the first place is for relaxation and enjoyment.  A recent article in The New York Times titled “Video Games and the Depressed Teenager” suggests that there is a link between video game use and depression, decreased academic performance, and increased aggression among youth.

            This is a common argument that has been frequently heard throughout the years of the recent digital generation in response to young people’s rapid immersion in new technologies such as video games.  Yet, concrete evidence has never surfaced in support of the argument that video games are actually harmful, primarily because it is difficult to attribute one’s behavior or actions to video games to a greater degree than any other social or environmental factors. 

Personally, among my friends, several of the most successful ones are avid video games players, including a college athlete on scholarship and a student recently accepted into medical school. Neither is depressed nor shows any signs of academic struggle. In addition, I have never known anyone whose life has been drastically altered as a result of playing video games. 

But, The New York Times cites a recent psychological publication entitled “Pathological Video Game Use: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study”, stating that its findings “are discouraging”, and that “heavy gamers…were more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and social phobias.”  The study followed 3,000 students in Singapore over a two-year period to see if excessive game play negatively impacted these youths’ lives.  Out of the 3,000 students tested, 9% were classified as ‘pathological gamers’, exhibiting symptoms of depression, anxiety, social phobia, or lower school performance believed to be a result of excessive video game play.

 However, this study has provoked a conversation about the influence of video games; it has garnered many critics who have raised important concerns about it.  Blogger Anne states that the study “mistakes correlation with causation.”  Similarly, another critic comments, “but this strikes me as a premium example of misreading the direction of a significant correlation and not considering potential third variables.” 

I believe these critics of the study make valid points.  Pathological game playing may not be as significant of an epidemic as many people think.

Certainly, 9% of a given population is a significant amount, but the statistical information from the Singapore study is somewhat skewed because the sampled group of students was not random, did not consist of an equal gender ratio, and was drawn from only a single location. 

Participating in the study were 2179 boys and 819 girls, which inevitably would drive up the percentage of students found to be pathological gamers due to the fact that boys typically play a lot more video games than girls.

In addition, the average amount of time played per week in this specific group of students was 20.5 hours.  Naturally, the researchers may have sought out students that played excessive amounts of video games in order to produce better results.  Yet, the average teen does not spend 20+ hours playing video games every week.  And although the average time of weekly game play was 20.5 hours, the students who were actually found to exhibit depression or other negative factors typically played more than 31 hours per week.

Lastly, out of the 9% of students classified as pathological gamers, 16% dropped their bad habits and symptoms by the end of the two-year test period.  If one were to recalculate the numbers, survey a population of equal gender ratio, and select teens at random, the 9% statistic would more than likely fall below 3%.  Moreover, it is not fair to say that teens who display signs of depression, lowered academic performance, or social inaptitude do so as a result of excessive video game play. Instead, excessive game play may just be one of the results of these pre-existing conditions.

            While this may be difficult to discern, I am not refuting the argument that spending excessive hours playing video games (i.e. 30+ hrs/week) can be harmful. Obviously, there are things more beneficial to one’s wellbeing such as playing a sport, practicing an instrument, or reading. Yet, I believe anything done to excess can be psychologically harmful- video games are not unique in that way.

When played in moderation, video games can have a beneficial impact on players through fostering creativity and increasing the capacity for problem solving skills. 

Some, however, such as this anonymous blogger, refute the usefulness of games altogether:

“They take away valuable young living time and they bring your mind to levels of stimulation that you can’t come back from. Try to have fun reading a book now… They also destroy creativity. Your brain just all around learns to shut down because it’s not working; it’s having the work done for it.  If you value these things in life, don’t play them that often.”

           

Personally, I know I have never played a video game that causes my brain to “shut down” or “have the work done for it”, as every game requires intellectual interaction in one way or another.  Games have lessons to teach, and they develop intuitive skills such as critical thinking, reaction time, and hand-eye coordination.  As MIT professor Henry Jenkins states:

“Games allow players to navigate an expansive and open-ended world, make their own choices and witness their consequences.”

This perspective is more informed. Our knowledge is a result of everything we see and experience through our external environment, and video games help constitute this environment.  So it is unfair to say that video games result in no brain processing or creative inspiration. The key is to avoid excessive addiction, and one will almost certainly suffer no consequences if he or she plays video games in moderation.

Blink-182 Cover

This is a cover of one of my favorite Blink-182 songs by my two best friends.  The singing isn't great, but their guitars are pretty sick!  Check it out!

Some Things Never Change

          Alright, I know I am a senior in college, but going to Disneyland is still really fun.  I went there last weekend with my friends and had an absolute blast!  I grew up in Southern California so I have been going to Disneyland for many years.  The place doesn’t get old at all…at least not to me.

            I can safely say that some of my most prized memories growing up occurred at Disneyland.  I have gone there every year on Christmas Day with my family since I can remember.  I went there during my Grad Night when I graduated from high school a few years ago.  I could go on about my Disneyland memories for days.

            The fact that I still love going to Disneyland with my family and friends has made me realize that certain things don’t seem to change as people get older.  Some things manage to stay the same even through the course of the years.

            Playing video games is another example of this.  Most of my friends still love playing video games long after childhood.  Video games are still fun and entertaining to me even though I have many more things going on in my life as an adult than I did as a child.

            What other things do people enjoy no matter what stage they are in their lives?

Will the Grizzlies Pull an Upset?

             I do not think anyone expected the San Antonio Spurs to be down 2 games to 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies in their first round series.  The Spurs are the number one seed in the West.  Pretty much everyone expected the Spurs to sweep this series pretty easily.  The Grizzlies have struggled for many years.  They have never won an NBA championship, and their success in the playoffs has always been nonexistent.

            The Spurs were clearly the favorites when the series started.  The Spurs are led by superstars like Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, and 2-time MVP Tim Duncan.  They played great basketball throughout the season.  Most experts predicted that the Spurs or the Lakers would win the Western Conference.

            The Grizzlies faced very different odds when the playoffs started.  They came in as the 8^th seed.  Nobody really gave them the slightest chance to win.

            The series is still far from over.  However, the Grizzlies are putting up an incredible fight, and they are currently in the driver’s seat of the series.  The Spurs will have to prove that they still have the heart of a champion.  They will have to prove that they are not “washed up” or “too old” to win another title.

            Although the Grizzlies have still not won the series, the fact that they are currently winning has made me think of how incredible upsets in sports really are.  I honestly love the underdogs; I think most of America does as well.  Why is this?  Why do we cheer for those who appear to have no chance?  Is it because we can all relate to being in a similar position?  Whatever it is, America loves an upset.  It sounds like a cliché, but I think it really is true.

The Bulls May Win Again

           The Chicago Bulls are the top seed in the East during these playoffs.  Sounds strange, doesn’t it?  It kind of is.  The Bulls have not been in this position since 1998 when Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson were still leading the franchise.  But, the Bulls are back on top- at least for now.  Led by superstar Derek Rose, the Bulls have once again managed to have the best record in the Eastern Conference.

            The interesting part of this story is that this used to be a customary position for the Bulls just a few years ago.  Jordan’s Bulls were by far the best NBA team of the 1990s.  I do not really think any basketball fan can dispute this statement.  The Bulls won six championships during this decade.  They were the top seed in the East for almost every single one of those years.  In the 1995-1996 season, the Bulls achieved a 72-10 record (the best of any other NBA team in history).

            However, the franchise struggled greatly after Jordan, Pippen, and Jackson left in 1998.  Until this year, the Bulls almost never made the playoffs.  When they did, they lost in the early rounds.

            Nevertheless, there is something different about this team this season.  It seems like its players have magically remembered how to win; it seems like the Bulls want to re live their glory years.  Derek Rose seems like a man possessed by the ghost of Michael Jordan.  He appears determined to bring a title back to the windy city.

            This feat, however, will not come easy by any means.  The East is packed with very good teams like the Celtics, the Heat, and the Magic.  Rose and his teammates have a long and difficult road ahead of them.   Still, it would be pretty epic if Chicago could once again be atop the NBA.

                                                                 The PAST

THE PRESENT

Prom Movie

         Ok, this movie looks absolutely awful.  I'll admit that I am not exactly the biggest fan of teenage movies.  However, this particular movie seems like it is going to be especially bad.  I have not seen or heard much about it, but the trailer itself makes me think that this is not a movie I would like to go see.  I'm sure there are many teenage girls out there who will think that this movie will be a great romantic comedy for young people.  They may be right, but the creators of this movie are not helping themselves by putting together such a cheesy trailer; it has all the cliches in the book; it seems like pretty much every other high school movie.  Check it out for yourselves!

A Young Star's Curse

           Blake Griffin is one of the most impressive young players in the NBA today.  Nobody can question that.  He averaged 22.5 points a game in his second year in the league, after missing his entire rookie season due to injury.  Griffin may also be one of the most athletically-gifted players ever.  His talent is incredible.  He seems to jump higher than anyone else on the court.  He gets to the rim like we’ve rarely seen.  He dunks like the best of them.

            However, there is one problem with Griffin- he plays for the Los Angeles Clippers.  Most basketball fans will agree that the Clippers are one of the worst franchises in sports.  There seems to be a consensus about this fact around the sports world.  The Clippers have never won an NBA Championship; they have never even come close.  Most Clippers seasons end up with a losing record and almost never in the playoffs.  Clippers owner, Donald Sterling, is constantly considered the worst owner in sports.  He places financial gains over on-the-court success.

            Due to this, Griffin deserves to play for a better team.  I personally cheer for the Clippers because I have grown up on Los Angeles all my life.  But, even I will admit that they are a pretty miserable franchise.  I honestly feel bad for Griffin.  He is simply to good to have to play with such a sorry team. 

Lakers General Manager, please trade for this guy!

Check out this video of Griffin!

What if a pill could make you better?

          The new film Limitless starring Bradley Cooper presents this possibility which could be intriguing to many people, especially college students.  In this film, Cooper’s character, Eddie, stumbles into a dealer who gives him an unknown substance in pill form called NZ-48.  As a struggling writer whose life is in shambles, Eddie, is looking for something- anything- that will help him get his career and life in order.  NZ-48 suddenly presents itself as his salvation.  The dealer tells him that this pill will make his brain utilize 100% of its capacity, as opposed to the 20% that humans normally use.  Eddie is skeptic for a bit, yet his temptation takes over him.  Eddie takes the pill and quickly realizes that the dealer’s assertion is true; he is smarter; he has more energy; he can solve problems that nobody else can; in short, he is better in every way while on NZ-48.

            The pill, however, is not exactly a miracle.  It eventually brings him more problems than benefits.  Eddie’s health eventually deteriorates.  He even finds out that most people who have taken NZ-48 died soon afterward.  The pill also leads him to trouble: a potential murder, physical fights, and even encounters with criminals who want to kill him.  The pill ends up being more of a course than anything else.  Eddie eventually gets his life together in the movie.

            However, this film intrigued me.  I started wondering if people would be willing to take a substance like NZ-48 in real life if this meant they would have a competitive advantage over the rest.  The answer was clear.  Many already do this.  A perfect example is athletes who use steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs to be better.

            Still, I guess we all have to hope that most people choose to not cheat and do things the right way.  Some may cheat and do anything to outperform others, but this should ideally serve as exceptions, not the rules.

Here is the trailer for Limitless, which by the way is a really good film.

Another Jackson Classic

     Thriller is by far the most famous music video by Michael Jackson.  This is another masterpiece from the same album.  The name of the song is Beat It.  I'm sure most people have seen this at some point in their lives (even if they are not Michael Jackson fans), but here it is anyways.  Please check it out if you haven't seen it!  You won't regret it!

This is a live performance of the same song.  It's pretty epic as well!

Great Song- Mr. Saxobeat

       I'm not going to lie- I do not really like techno music.  I like rap and pop way more; the whole raving scene is just not me. Yet, one of my friends showed me this song the other day, and it has been stuck there since.  The singer is very beautiful and charismatic.  She is also a great singer and dancer.  The beat is pretty amazing as well.  Check it out!  Just try to not become addicted to it!

Finally Another Title for Real Madrid

Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey Final against rival Barcelona today in Spain.  This is very important and encouraging news for fans of the Madrid team who have suffered greatly over the recent years due to a lack of titles.  The fact that the Copa came by defeating Barcelona makes the victory even sweeter.

This was a great game.   As ESPN blogger James Martin notes, “this game truly lived up to the Clasico name.”  The two sides played fantastic soccer.  The players exhibited heart, emotion, and an unquenchable thirst to win; they knew what this game meant to them, their fans, and the future of their clubs.  The final truly seemed like a heavyweight matchup between two giants who did all they could to win.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the star for one of these two heavyweights, Real Madrid.  Despite criticism about him not playing up to his potential in the most important games, like those against Barcelona, Ronaldo exhibited his undeniable talent.  In fact, he overshadowed Lionel Messi- who many believe is the best player in the world and, maybe, of all time.  Ronaldo scored the game-wining goal in overtime when it seemed like the slugfest would surely end up in penalty kicks.  With only a few minutes left, Ronaldo nailed a cross by his teammate Di Maria into the back of the net; Barcelona goalkeeper Pinto had no chance.  That ball was destined to go in and bring some glory back to the city of Madrid.

The question now is: Will Madrid’s glory be short lived?  The answer is still unknown.  Currently, Barcelona leads Madrid in the race for the Spanish title.  In addition, many favor Barcelona to win the Champions League as well.  Will Madrid be able to come back and win either or both of these titles and leave Barcelona title-less?  Or, was Madrid’s win in the Copa del Rey a one-time thing that will once again allow Barcelona to brag about being the best Spanish team in the world?  The answers to these questions will present themselves in the coming weeks.  All Madrid fans can do for now is enjoy this victory, be thankful for the great game of soccer they witnessed, and hope that Ronaldo will truly live up to his nickname as the “Angel of Madrid”.

Martin's Blog on ESPN.com

The Prize of Law School

           Tuition at most law schools in the nation is absolutely ridiculous.  Most students currently in law school or in the midst of applying will agree with this statement. 

Trust me; I know what I’m talking about.  I have to decide what law school I will be attending this fall within the next two weeks.  The decision of which law school is best is hard enough; however, I also have to deal with the issue of actually paying for this education.  This is difficult.  I find myself having to choose between the schools that are considered better against those that seem more affordable.  There is something wrong with this, isn’t there?

Tuition rates contradict the American Dream ideal.  The American Dream promises vast success to people who work hard.  Well, I have worked very hard.  Yet, I will be forced to incur a great amount of debt to pay for the law school which has admitted me thanks to my “academic excellence”.

The only consolation I have is the promise by these law schools that my degree will automatically pay for the insane prizes of tuition one day.  Well, I really hope this is true.

Kobe Should Know Better

           The NBA fined Kobe Bryant $100,000 for his remarks to the referees during a game against the Spurs.  Bryant’s comments were apparently derogatory towards homosexuals.  The League and many gay rights groups reacted immediately when Bryant lost his composure and made these out-of-character comments.  Bryant has now apologized twice before the media.  Still, there is great controversy over Bryant’s actions and over the way the NBA reacted.  Many people, especially Lakers fans, believe that the fine is ridiculous and unfair.  I personally don’t really care about the fine itself.  I am more surprised by the fact that such a high profile player and celebrity, like Bryant, would be foolish and careless enough to make this mistake.  Really, Kobe?  You have spent over a decade dealing with the media and limelight.  How can you still make blunders like this one?  You should know that the media finds out about everything you do.   Unbelievable!

Good Article About This

Here We Go Again?

Well… Andrew Bynum is hurt again.  These are exactly the words that Lakers fans everywhere have been dreading all season.  The timing is also terrible- the playoffs start later this week.  Bynum hyperextended his injured knee in one of the final games of the season against the San Antonio Spurs.

The good news is that the Lakers have announced that the injury is not “too serious”.  The press release stated that Bynum suffered a bone bruise, and that he should be “fine” to play in the playoffs.

Yet, one cannot help but be skeptical.  This is the exact same knee that has plagued Bynum and the Lakers throughout his career.  In previous seasons when Bynum has been out for the playoffs, experts have said that the Lakers would be fine.  This year is different, though.  The Lakers have struggled all season.  Kobe isn’t the same.  Off- season acquisitions like Steve Blake have not proven fruitful.  Team chemistry is almost non-existent.  The Lakers need Bynum this year.  They need his size and rebounding talents.  Pau Gasol cannot be the only big man for the Lakers if they actually expect to make a serious run in the playoffs.  The situation, as of today, is not looking good.

Yet, all Lakers fans can do for now is hope that Bynum gets better, and that the team gets it together.  Yikes!

                                                                      

           

ESPN Video about Bynum's injury 

Avatar v. Titanic

           Let’s get something straight- both of these are really good movies.  There is absolutely no question about this.  However, which one of these masterpieces by James Cameron takes the prize for being his best film ever?  This is a tough question to answer for sure.  Yet, let’s compare some of their aspects so that people can make their own decisions about which is actually better.

            Avatar and Titanic were both groundbreaking films that changed the way movies are made.  Titanic became the highest grossing film of all time up to that point in 1998.  It earned over $600 million domestically and more than twice that amount worldwide.  It essentially conquered all box office records of its time.  Avatar, however, broke many of these records when it came out in 2009, 12 years after Titanic.  Avatar is currently the highest grossing film in the United States and in the world.  Yet, this does not necessarily mean that Avatar was more popular because of inflation and rising movie ticket prices over the years.  So, box office lets us know that both movies are extremely popular, but it doesn’t necessarily allow one to differentiate between the two films.

            In terms of script, I would say that Titanic’s was better. Titanic told a better story.  It allowed the audience to identify better with the main characters, Jack and Rose.  The love story between these two characters really captivated audiences.  The suspense they created gave the movie a dramatic flavor that went along amazingly with the special effects.

            Yet, Avatar definitely had better special effects.  The advantages of IMAX theatres and 3-D really allowed audiences to see things they had not before in a movie theatre.  Again, however, special effects is not necessarily the best aspect to compare the two films.  True, Avatar was better in this category, but it came 12 years after Titanic.  James Cameron probably would have created magical special effects in Titanic as well if he had had the technology available in 2009 when he made this film.

            So, the jury is out on which film is better.  I personally like both of them a lot.  I can’t just choose one.  At the end, though, we don’t really have to choose.  We, as movie watchers, can enjoy both masterpieces and wait anxiously for Cameron’s next major hit.

            

Where did LeBron go Wrong?

LeBron James is most likely the best player in the NBA today.  However, he is also one of the most hated sports figures outside of the city he plays in, Miami.  The interesting thing is that this was not always the case.  James used to be one of the most loved and respected players in the league.  Without question, the way he dealt with his free agency this last summer tarnished his image in the eyes of basketball fans everywhere.

LeBron was one of the most coveted free agents of all time in the summer of 2010.  The entire sports world anxiously awaited his decision of whether he would stay to play in Cleveland or go to another team.  Predictions about LeBron’s future inundated ESPN and pretty much every other major sports and news outlet.  LeBron’s decision was without doubt one of the major sports stories of the year.  Eventually the day arrived when LeBron announced that he would make his decision public.

The problem, however, began with the way he announced his decision of which team he wanted to play for.  Instead of just informing the major sports outlets (like most other sports stars do), LeBron decided it would be a good idea to have a one hour ESPN special which would end with an interview where he would tell the world what he wanted to do.  The special glorified LeBron as a deity of basketball who was above all other players in the game.  The interview proved even worse.  LeBron seemed dishonest and selfish.  He did not just say, “I have decided to leave Cleveland and play for Miami,” as most people would have expected.  Instead he said, “I will be taking my talents to South Beach.”

Most people in the sports world, including fans, reporters, and analysts, saw the special and the interview as a selfish attempt by an overly-cocky superstar who had lost touch with the people and with reality.  Nobody could believe his ego or bravado.   Fans wondered who this guy thought he was.  From that point forward, LeBron’s image with the public has not been the same.  Fans boo him in almost every arena that the Miami Heat visits.

The only thing that can redeem LeBron and his “talents” will be finally winning an NBA championship.  Until then, the real king in the NBA will continue to be Kobe Bryant.

            

The Best Album Ever

           Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the best album of all time.  The numbers speak for themselves.  It is the second best-selling album ever in the United States and the best-selling album ever worldwide.  Estimates show that the album has sold over 100 million copies.   However, these figures do not fully represent the magic of Thriller.

            Thriller turned Michael Jackson into the most famous solo artist of his time and, maybe, of all time.  Jackson had obtained great fame as the lead singer of the Jackson Five and as a solo artist before Thriller was released.  However, this album tuned him into the greatest superstar of the 1980s.  No other single artist has come close to exerting the impact Michael Jackson had on the global community.   Jackson owes this to Thriller.  His subsequent albums did not match Thriller’s success.  Later controversies slowly began to tarnish his pop star image.  Nevertheless, Thriller still makes Jackson the most famous artist in places like China and Japan, even after his death.
            Aside from this, Thriller’s impact on popular culture goes beyond the fame it brought to Michael Jackson.  Thriller was the first major album by a black artist to gain overwhelming success with mainstream America.  This eventually allowed black artists in later years to come to the forefront of the music world.  Jackson’s success and influence over some of today’s most important black artists, such as Kanye West and Chris Brown, cannot be overestimated.  Jackson’s exploits thanks to Thriller opened the way for black artists.

            Thriller also revolutionized the art of the music video.  Jackson’s music videos for the songs “Beat It”, “Billie Jean”, and “Thriller” essentially made music videos one of the most important outlets for artists to reach their fans.  Thriller made artists treat music videos as important events that could push a career toward superstardom.

            Thriller changed music.  It’s that simple.  If you haven’t experienced it’s magic, you’re truly missing out on some of the most creative and wonderful art that has ever been created by an American musician.

Sequels in Hollywood

           The makers of The Hangover, one of my favorite movies, are about to release a sequel later this year.  In light of this, I want to talk a little about sequels to successful films.

            One of the most important laws in Hollywood is that sequels are never as good as the original films.  This belief is widely established.  I have to admit that it is for the most part true.  Sequels rarely live up to the public’s expectations after seeing the first film.  Franchises have been severely damaged by poorly made sequels.  Rocky, Home Alone, Meet the Parents are just a few examples of this phenomenon.

            Despite this, there are some exceptions to the rule.  Some sequels do live up to match and even surpass the originals.

            The Godfather Part II is an example of this.  I really enjoy the first film, especially Marlon Brando’s portrayal of Vito Corleone.  However, the second part of the franchise is even better.  The sequel was the first film where two of today’s most important actors worked together, Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro.  Part II is actually the first film that made these two actors very famous, and also initiated them among the Hollywood elite.  Part II’s script is also better than that of the original film.  It allows the audience to better get to know the Corleone family and all the other characters.  Therefore, the sequel in this particular case actually ended up being better than the original movie.

            The Terminator 2: Judgment Day does the exact same thing.  The seven years that separate the original and the sequel were crucial because of the technological advancements that were made in terms of special effects.  The difference in the special effects is dramatic.  The second film was revolutionary and is still considered one of the landmark films that initiated the move toward CGI in Hollywood.  Even Arnold’s acting is better in the second film; the original was his first major film, and his English was even worse than it is now.  Judgment Day really turned out to be a much more entertaining movie than the first Terminator. 

As such, it is clear that not all sequels are necessarily worse than the originals.  The Hollywood law about sequels is not 100% accurate.

            Anyway, I sincerely hope that The Hangover 2 isn’t a disappointment.   I love the first film way too much to withstand a second one coming in and ruining the franchise.  I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.