Trying New Things

by Ryan

I don't watch basketball as much as I should. Unlike Chris, who seems to dislike it with a passion you rarely see, I just never really got into it. However, with this whole blogging thing I've grown to appreciate sports in an entirely new way, which makes me want to watch more of them.

Still, I didn't grow up with basketball in my family, and so everything about the sport has had to be an acquired taste. Rich is a huge fan and has led me along the path, and I think he finally got me somewhere I can really start to "get it."

Free Darko.

If there was ever a site that could help me understand basketball on a level far past causal enjoyment, this is it. Of course, my desire to take it to the next level has resulted in a purchase, as all good desires do.



The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac

The book just arrived today and while I won't have time to read it just yet, (Anne has nothing on my bookshelf this fall...) but I'm really excited about it. Even if I end up hating it somehow it is going to be the coolest book on the shelf for a long time. The pictures and charts are amazing, and FreeDarko has some of the best writing on the web which will most certainly will translate to print very well.

It seems like everyone has a book coming out suddenly, but it really is nice to see. I bought Men With Balls a few weeks ago, and will have a review up sometime soon. In fact, look for a brand new Roost Recommends with a few books to pick from; it's been a long couple of months. If things go well, Rich and I will have a review of the Free Darko book up by Christmas. Because you are just dying to know what we think, I'm sure.

Also, This

Marvin Gaye > Whitney Houston.

Go Carts and Free Throws

by Ryan

Yesterday I was at the NASCAR Speedpark in Myrtle Beach and I saw something interesting. But first, a word on the NASCAR Speedpark. There are some people that like go carts. If you are among this group of people, you need to visit one of these places. If you don't think racing around an oval is interesting to watch, put yourself inside the car and it becomes incredibly fun on even the most remedial of levels.

ANYWAY, I was walking around and saw a kid in a Patrick Kane shirsey (a shirt-jersey). What was interesting about this particular shirsey was that it didn't have a Blackhawks logo on the front, just "KANE 88" on the back of a red shirt. So, in theory you had to know at least a little about hockey to understand it, otherwise you probably thought someone spelled "Kanye" wrong on a promotional freebee.

So that wasn't the point of the story, but I found that interesting enough. What was across from Kane was one of those basketball free throw games. You know the one, with the overinflated balls, small rims, and backboard with the crazy bounce. You just know the game makes more money than the gross domestic product of Kenya, but you're pretty sure that giant giraffe is the best thing ever, so you are going to give it a try.

The thing about this one was that the big prize was sports jerseys. A Matt Ryan Falcons jersey, Gretzky Rangers, and Reggie White Pro Bowl jersey were all hanging together. Heck, they even had an LT next to an Eagles Randall Cunningham. There were at least a few dozen up there, and quite a few people were giving it a try.

Amazingly, I stood there for only a few minutes and saw two people sink the shot. The first guy got an Emmitt Smith Cowboys jersey, and the second picked a Yankees Jeter. Now, my jump shot is seriously lacking, so I wasn't going to give it a shot. However, seeing people actually win made me think about which jersey I would pick. I think I would have gone with the Gretzky just for the sake of framing. I wouldn't wear it, so why not have something I can display.

So I've been thinking, let's put this on a larger scale. If you could have any jersey in the world, what would you pick? Keep in mind that it would have to be a team you don't root for, and you would have to win this in public. Also, you can pick a specific jersey from a certain period, but you have to justify your desires. I'll give you points for creativity if you have it, but you need to give a good reason for the pick.

My selection would be one I can still get today: a Durant Sonics jersey. I think it would be a cool timepiece to have, and it would serve as a reminder that no matter what you have on the field, there is so much more to sports. A Durant jersey is the ultimate reminder that owners control the game, and that sports is a business.

Your picks in the comments, if you will.

Jacob Riis Agrees

by Ryan

So I'm not the biggest basketball fan, but unlike Jon and Chris, I'm trying to get better. Rich is a big basketball fan, and I'm slowly trying to follow the NBA close enough to actually post about it.

The guys over at USRT seem to be one of the few local blogs that post about the NBA, and I'd love to get a better feel for the league and maybe start, you know... talking about it come next fall.

The concussion is preventing me from creating a proper segue, so let's just say that USRT came through with an interesting article from the Buffalo News.

First off, let's all agree this is a brilliant idea if you live around here. No matter what Jon may say, there is interest in the NBA in the area. People here watch the games, people here hate the Spurs, and people would come to see a game in person. I would certainly pay the price to see the Raptors in Buffalo, and I hope it works itself out.

But that's not what we're here to do. Let's take a look at what the good people at TSN.ca have to say about the idea.

Wait, not the article, that's just a summary of TBN's work. Instead, check out the "comments" at the bottom. Here, let's just sample a few:

can see pre-season games...but why regular season games??...do owners anymore care about the fans at all...liie how greedy can they get...if they start playing regualr season games in Buffalo then I am cancelling my season tickets...

No, no, no........

This is embarrassing. Playing in Buffalo makes NO sense from a business perspective. Americans aren't that eager to accept an unproven CANADIAN basketball team. They have 29 other teams. The Raps were division champs but aren't consistently competitive.

Wow, that sounds so familiar. You would think their entire franchise is at risk or something. I mean hey, it's not like the games would be a last ditch effort to make money in the region, right? This is just... preseason games, and maybe a regular season game or two. Hell, we can call it the "Raptors in Buffalo" series, with a shiny new logo for the event and everything!

I've decided that when they play here, I will write a book entitled "How the Other Half Lives", complete with flash photography!

Sunday Morning Math

+

?

=

(5 points)

Show your work.

Coaches vs. Cancer vs. UB Basketball

By Chris

Tonight, the Buffalo Bulls basketball team will take on UConn for the chance to play at Madison Square Garden. The game is the final game in the Storrs, CT regional bracket of the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament.

It'll be a tough feat for the Bulls, who barely got past Division-II opponent Ohio Valley last night.


A win would be the biggest in program history and put them in the national spotlight in NYC. So we in the Roost are pulling for the Bulls tonight.

With a few local faces on the Bulls roster including Niagara Falls native Greg Gamble and Byron Mulkey of Wheatfield, the team is very easy to get behind.

Tip off tonight is 9 p.m. on ESPNU.