Punch-Out

I know it's hard to believe, but I never went through a video game phase. I was just never really into Nintendo or, the Capulet to its Montague, Sega Genesis. The way I like to remember it, I went from Little League straight to The Who, without passing Go, although there were probably more than a few wasted hours lost to this and, more embarrassingly, this. I do remember, though, suffering through hours of my friends playing "Mike Tyson's Punch-Out," which apparently still haunts some children of the 1980s. For those of you unfamiliar with the game, the premise was to beat a series of lesser opponents until you earned the right to take on the champ, Mike Tyson. It's still a good idea for a video game, and an even better idea for either a play or as a weird piece of performance art, whichever the case might be. 

Sugar, Sugar

I just stumbled across this trailer for Sugar, a film about a young Dominican pitcher trying to make it the majors. Written and directed by the same team behind the underrated Half Nelson, the film looks pretty damn good. It premieres this weekend in New York and Los Angeles. I now know what I'm doing Sunday afternoon. 

Fisticuffs

This is one of the primary reasons why people still watch hockey. And the only reason people still say things like, "I went to fight last night and a hockey game broke out."



(Via With Leather.)

When Pitt Really Lost

Don't get me wrong: Scottie Reynolds' runner was impressive, and one of the most exciting moments of this year's tournament. Still, you'd have to go back to just about three minutes to see when Pitt really lost the game. Up four, with just under three minutes to play, Pitt's Levance Fields passed the ball to teammate Jermaine Dixon to avoid Villanova's heavy--and, at this late point in the game, desperate--full-court press. Dixon then dribbled across the half-court line, into two 'Nova players, before inexplicably picking up his dribble. With nowhere to go, Dixon, of course, turned it over. As if this weren't bad enough, Dixon then compounded his mistake with a boneheaded foul against Dwayne Anderson, who easily converted the bucket and free throw to pull 'Nova within one point, changing the complexity of the game. Dixon's two poor decision's opened the door for 'Nova's charge and, more damningly, Reynolds' late-game heroics.  

Pre-and-Postseason Prescience

To say the least: 

Like Seth Davis, I'm really high on Michigan State. Under Tom Izzo, the Spartans are always a tough out, and sophomore Kalin Lucas is one of the quickest guards in the country off the dribble. Maybe even faster than Ty Lawson. Maybe. Look for the Spartans to challenge Purdue for the Big Ten Championship and, later, make it to at least the Elite Eight.

All that and more, here and here. 

The Yankees' Sonny Corleone

Because of a late night and a busy morning, I won't be able to write up notes about tonight's four regional semifinals. In their absence, I offer instead Richard Sandomir's profile of Randy Levine, the president of the New York Yankees and Rudy Giulliani's former deputy mayor. It ain't exactly pretty, and just about what you'd expect from a man who secured $1.2 billion in tax-exempt bonds from New York City for the new Yankee Stadium, and whose personal mantra is, "it's business, not personal." Here's taste:

During labor negotiations with correction officers in the mid-’90s, the union’s president, Norman I. Seabrook, said recently, Levine’s closed-door demeanor was close to a blood sport that neither man took too seriously.

“He’ll smile, shake your hand and cut your heart out if you’re not prepared,” Seabrook said. “Don’t mistake that smile for anything but a knife.”

Randi Weingarten recalled labor talks with the United Federation of Teachers in 1995, when Levine demanded a two-year wage freeze while promising that Giuliani administration officials would not get raises. After the deal was completed, the city raises were announced.

I often have to remind myself why I root for the Yankees. Although I love the team and the coaches, the executives in charge of the organization leave a lot to be desired. 

Like Attracts Like

Tonight's game between the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils and the third-seeded Villanova Wildcats should be a good one. Maybe even a classic. The two teams love to run, and aren't afraid to throw up a three when the spirit moves them. Duke and 'Nova are also mirror images of one another defensively, playing a tough brand of man-to-man, allowing only 90.9 and 90.8 points per 100 possessions, respectively. The two teams are so much alike, some people have even gone so far to call Villanova the "Catholic Duke," which is taking things a little too far, and an insult to James II, the real Catholic Duke, maybe the greatest of them all. But I digress. Here are three reasons to like the Blue Devils, followed by two solid reasons to get behind the Cats, Duke's doppelganger of the hardwood. 

1. Gerald Henderson: Is there a more impressive athlete in the tournament? You'd be hard-pressed to find one. In fact, fuck it, I'm going to say it, if you'll pardon the hyperbole: Henderson, who almost went to Villanova, is the best pure talent to play at Duke since Grant Hill. Seriously. The 6-4 guard scored 24 points against the Texas Longhorns in the round of 32, and is a threat to take over a game at any given moment. He's going to make 'Nova's backcourt earn their money tonight. 
2. Elliot Williams: A lot of people are pointing to Kyle Singler as the key to a Duke victory. I, however, think the play of Williams, particularly his perimeter defense, will play a significant part in whether the Blue Devils advance or go home. Since he joined the starting five, Duke is 10-1, their only loss coming at the hands of North Carolina. He might not be the star of the team, but he does make them better when he's on the court. What else can you ask?
3. Coach K:  Love him or hate him, Mike Krzyzewski can coach. Although he's gone a bit sour in recent years, he seems to have been rejuvenated from the experience of coaching Team USA to an Olympic gold medal. Like any good coach, he's getting the most out of his team, which always come to play, and the recent ACC championship has put the swagger back in his and his team's game. 

Meanwhile, 'Nova fans have almost as many reasons to be excited:

1. Jay Wright: The Villanova head coach has a recording of "One Shinning Moment," the NCAA tournament's official theme song, rigged to the door of his office so it plays every time a visitor opens the door, according to Sports Illustrated. The man wants a national championship like Hillary Clinton wanted the White House (h/t N.T.). His defensive schemes, in-game adjustments and unadulterated desire to win rival those of Coach K. 
   
2. Dante Cunningham: Villanova's best chances of winning, I think, rest in the long arms of Cunningham, one of the nation's top interior players. This season, he led the Wildcats with 16 points and 7 rebounds a game. I figure most of tonight's game will take place on the perimeter, but the difference might just come down to Cunningham's ability to score points in the paint and, conversely, stop Kyle Singler from getting his. 

God, this is going to be a good one. I'm pulling for 'Nova, but I have no idea how it's going to turn out.