A writer, graduated film school at Cal State Long Beach, with a minor in comparative literature. Has a passion for music, film, and history. Is a sports fanatic, and true Dodger and Laker fan. A quiet and shy individual who best expresses himself on the page.
It was All-Star Weekend in New Orleans and there were very memorable moments for the NBA. On Saturday was both the 3 point shootout and the slam dunk competition. Sunday was the All-Star game, and the festivities were kicked off with home town heroes Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis. It was a good city for the celebration, it being rich in music and food as part of the culture. Also, it was refreshing to see celebration in a city that has experienced so much devastation.
On Saturday night, UCLA’s own Jason Kapono (featured right) defended his 3 point title against the likes of Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Peja Stojakovic. Kobe’s injured finger kept him out of the competition. Nash choked, Dirk put up a good scored, as did Daniel Gibson, but Kapono was too much. He tied the competition record with 25 and earned his second straight victory. Charles Barkley called him, “the best shooter in the league,” before the shootout began. As he finished his last rack of basketballs Barkley exclaimed, “I told you!”
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Tags: Reviews · Sports
Lakers play tonight in Charlotte. They have won 5 of 6 and continue to prevail on their 9 game road trip. Only two games remain before the All-Star break, then the Lakers can return to the Staples Center after the Grammy’s occupation. What looked like the beginning of a slump has turned into a successful road trip, regardless of how the last two games turn out, which incidentally are against two of the worst teams in the league. But the Lakers had a game yesterday in Miami, and the last back to back games they had on the road resulted in a loss to Atlanta.
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Tags: Sport Report · Sports
Another impressive show can now be seen on HBO every week night. In Treatment is a look at a therapist, his patients, and exactly what that relationship means. Although psychiatric therapy has, and continues to increase in popularity, there are still some misconceptions about what it is and how it can be useful. In Treatment explores several scenarios in one doctor’s life, in which we sit in on a session everyday, each one completely different from each other, and witness how it these sessions effect his life, and consequently the lives of his patients.
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Tags: TV
The Lakers started off Super Bowl Sunday with a game of their own, winning their second straight with no center, and giving us 30 wins before the All-Star break, always a good sign. Pau Gasol was there, but not in uniform, as the team thought it was too early for him to play. They stomped the Washington Wizards 103-91, Kobe Bryant leading all scorers with 30, and taking his team 2-1 on this, their longest road trip since 1960.
Before the trip began, there was worry what such a schedule would do to a handicapped team like the Lakers, especially after losing a heartbreaking first game in Detroit. But since the news of the Spanish acquisition, the team seems even hungrier, every role player chipping in to make the Lakers look like one of the deepest teams in the NBA.
The Laker bench includes Jordan Farmar, Vladamir Radmanovic, and Sasha Vujacic, giving us legitimate three point threats, all of them shooting over 40%. Not to mention Andrew Bynum when he returns in several weeks to back up Gasol. These are all players that can, and have been scoring in double figures regularly.
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Tags: News · Sport Report · Sports
The Lakers began a 15 day road trip last night at the Palace against the Detroit Pistons. In a tough loss, Kobe Bryant played all but 45 seconds of the game scoring 39 points and 10 rebounds. Compton’s own Tayshaun Prince led Detroit scorers with 22, including a three pointer with 4 seconds left, giving his team the 90-89 win. Bryant had little help with the offense, but had 11 of the Lakers 22 turnovers. Vladamir Radmonovic had five.
The Lakers have been having a hard time since the loss of Andrew Bynum. They have lost five of their last seven games, and face eight teams on the road before coming home to face Atlanta February 19th after All-Star weekend. But they have enough to make it through this road trip without dropping too many losses. Only 3 of the 8 teams they are soon to face have winning records. And after barely losing in Detroit, to one of the best teams in the east, with a poor performance, they should be pleased about how they rate in the league. [Read more →]
Tags: Sport Report · Sports
Get your tents, hotel reservations, or rental house agreements, because we’re going to the desert for a weekend this spring. Friday April 25 to Sunday April 27 there are over 100 acts to see at the 2008 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Each year, Goldenvoice pulls the hottest artists to the polo fair grounds in Indio, providing the greatest venue for live music, and this year is no exception.
When the line ups are announced in January, there is usually a load of disappointment when your favorite band doesn’t happen to be playing. But let me assure you, as a Coachella veteran having only missed the first year, there are plenty of bands you do like, and even more you never heard of waiting to make you a fan. The promoters do a good job of assembling a wide variety of acts, covering almost every genre, and attracting an assortment of characters and music lovers.
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Tags: Music
We’ll start with basketball. The Lakers have their toughest road trip ahead of them, nine in a row, just after losing an improving Andrew Bynum. The “fans” at Staples Center were heard on Thursday night, booing Kwame Brown after a horrible performance, contributing seven turnovers, missing a couple lay-ups, and wide open dunks.
Now, I hate Kwame too; he sucks, a project that never panned out, and almost worthless if not for his size, but it’s my position never to boo my own team. I doubt Kwame would have had seven turnovers if the crowd was behind him. Kwame actually apologized to the team after the loss to Phoenix. The Lakers are now 26-12 facing Denver tonight here in L.A. Let’s try and be supportive of a guy who will be getting the bulk of the minutes while Bynum is out.
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Tags: Sport Report
Contrary to Jon’s review earlier in the week of Cloverfield, I did not enjoy this film.
I had to go. I was not interested in the movie. Not the previews I’ve seen, nothing I’ve heard, and certainly not the name J.J Abrams. But I knew it would be a big hit, and would do so with the least amount of effort. I had to see it in order to talk shit. They already cheated you into the theatre with a trailer that leaves you asking questions. Sound familiar? From the creators of Lost comes Cloverfield.
I went to the midnight showing, thinking, I hope it’s not crowded. Could there be that many suckers going to a movie they know nothing about. Not one theatre, but 3 sold out theatres at midnight, filled with idiots eager to see this grainy, hand held, camcorder hunk of shit. It was the damn Blair Witch Project with special effects. It was just under 90 minutes and way too long. These two bit television people have created a truly pointless movie, unless you love popcorn.
***Spoilers***
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Tags: Film · Reviews
Alright kids. There is good news for Los Angeles. Sander Kleinenberg is launching his residency at the Avalon in Hollywood beginning this Saturday. For those who don’t know, this internationally renown Dutch DJ and producer has been at the fore front of dance music for the past decade and continues to progress the scene with the times. He has challenged himself by integrating and producing video content exclusively for his sets, pioneering the use of DVD technology in a DJ set. “With only music, it is more and more difficult to stand out. Adding video allows me to really enhance the experience.”
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Tags: Music · Reviews
The whole league wants to know if these guys are for real? The Lakers have become one of the elite teams in the NBA. They are now 25-11 and have won 16 of their last 19 games. Last night they won a squeaker at home against the last placed Memphis Grizzlies. Andrew Bynum left the game with an injury, but they managed to pull it out 100-99, giving them their sixth win in a row, and the crowd some tacos.
Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 37, turning in up in the fourth after Bynum had went down with a knee sprain. X-rays came back negative and there will be an MRI today to find out the extent of the damage. He was 5 for 7 when he went down, with 9 rebounds. The crowd was in silence when Bynum did not immediately rise after a collision just after halftime. It seems they realize how important Bynum has become to the team, and much he has contributed to their improvement.
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Tags: Sport Report · Sports
It is 2008, and while we are all making our Coachella wish lists, there are plenty of good shows to see in the mean time. There are many shows in the next three months already on sale, and several going on sale this weekend. All shows are available through Ticketmaster.com or through the venue itself. So here it is!
The Wiltern is just about the hottest spot in February, with four sales going on this Saturday at 10am. Scott Wylan and Velvet Revolver will play on the 6th. You can buy pre- sale tickets today at 10am. Also, Rufus Wainwright will play on the 12th and the Hives on the 19th. And with two dates at the end of the month, it’s Marilyn Manson (featured) on 22nd and 23rd, in such a small venue, it is sure to be a spectacle and should not be missed. [Read more →]
Tags: Music · Upcoming events
Cityzine sports report starts with my squad, the Lakers. After a big loss last Sunday to the Celtics, they take a rest, then come back with two blow outs. The first came on Friday when the Lakers destroyed the 76ers, 124-93. All but three Lakers scored in double figures, with Jarvis Crittenton leading all scorers with 19 off the bench. Then yesterday they killed Indiana 112-96, with Kobe Bryant scoring 26, and Andrew Bynum dropping 23, with 13 rebounds. Lamar Odom also had 13 boards and 13 points.
Though the Lakers have won 8 out of their last 10, with a 21-11 record, they have yet to get over the hump of being one of the elite teams in the league. They are in second place, and would be in almost any division, but still manage to lose crucial games in the face of superior teams. In the next five games, they will play four teams with losing records, giving them a chance to improve their record before the next big team. They go on the road to Memphis tomorrow, and then play in New Orleans Wednesday. The Hornets are 23-11, and are the best team they will play until they play Phoenix on the 17th.
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Tags: Sport Report · Sports
