Life In The Weeds

Mamadou Ndiaye

You may not know this name, but maybe someday you will.

Certainly, you would notice Mamadou Ndiaye as he enters the gymnasium.  

At 7'5", you can't not notice him!

The 17 years old stars for the Huntington Beach Brethren Christian School basketball team and is taller than any player on a current NBA team roster.  As you watch him play against his opponents, it's quite laughable.  It's as if I "subbed-in" on my daughters 9 year old YMCA league...on 8' foot rims!  

 

Ndiaye's trek to the U.S. from Senegal is a feel good story. The first school he attended, Simi Valley Stonridge Prep, helped him get a student visa … and a physical examination, where they discovered he had a large tumor on his pituitary gland which was likely contributing to his rampant growth and also impinging on his sense of sight. Through charitable donations and one very generous couple, Ndiaye was able to get the tumor removed and appears to be quite healthy.

Remaining healthy (and injury free) will be the key for this young man...if he does, he'll become a very rich Senegalese NBA player.

mj

Shaun White = Perfection

At the Winter X Games, Shaun White is Micheal Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant all rolled up into one, premier athlete.  Not only has he dominated the Superpipe, but he pushes the limitations of the sport with each "run".  Even when he has the Gold Medal wrapped up, White never just takes a casual last run. Last night was no different, as he turned in a "perfect" performance, never seen before at the Winter X Games.

I did not get to see his performance live last night, but here is a description of what he accomplished...an 18-foot backside air, a 17-foot frontside double cork 1080, an 11-foot switch frontside double cork 1080, a 14-foot frontside cork 540, a 13-foot backside double cork 1260 and a 12-foot frontside double cork 1260 — the first back-to-back double cork in Winter X history.

If you are like me, maybe the video will help...because I don't understand any of the description above!

  

mj

Mizuki Asian Bistro

Third time a charm!  

After my 3rd visit, I have decided a review is in order...a GREAT review, for a new restaurant in town, Mizuki Asian Bistro

My first visit was with my wife...sitting at the Sushi Bar...then with a large group of 12...then, last week, six of us sat in one of their great over-sized booths.

The food is very good...we have dined on a variety of their special sushi rolls, along with many of their entrees...all of which have a uniqueness about them.  The presentation of their dishes is also worth mentioning.

We enjoyed the service...very friendly staff who were super patient with our many bottles of wine and beer (BYOB)...I think their prices are reasonable, in fact, it's a bargain for such a great meal.

We have been chatting up Mizuki around town and will definitely be back.

mj

Please Silence Your Cellphones

You never want to be "that" guy!  You know, the one who forgets to silence his cell phone at your kids recital, at the movies or, worse yet, at a concert.

Just last month, a conductor completely stopped a New York Philharmonic performance when an obnoxious audience member let his iPhone "Marimba" ring-tone continue to ring and ring and ring, out of utter embarrassment. 

Well, check out this Slovakian musician, Lukáš Kmit.  He is performing a beautiful piece on his viola when a cell phone goes off. Instead of reacting negatively, Lukáš picks up on the ring-tone noise and begins playing it beautifully.

A true musician.

 

mj

Moneyball - the movie

Good, solid movie.  I thought it moved a little slow, but even my wife enjoyed it.

The book was better (which is usually the case), as it went into lots more detail about Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and how he and Paul DePodesta (Jonah Hill) orchestrated a myriad of player moves to position the Oakland A's for success.

The Oscar nimoinations just were announced...and, while Moneyball was not up for Best Picture, both Pitt and Hill were nominated for an Oscar, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

Did Pitt and Hill turn in Oscar nominated performances?  No way!

I mean maybe Brad Pitt...MAYBE?  But, Jonah Hill?  I do not think he spoke enough words to qualify!  Isn't there a minimum?  Don't get me wrong, I like Jonah Hill (though, I like fat Jonah Hill better than skinny Jonah Hill)...but this is the first movie he has played where he did not crap hi pants or throw up on himself.

I'll bet the house that neither of these guys take home the hardware on Oscar night.

mj

Heroes and Goats

Last Sunday was a great day for NFL football.

Both the NFC (NY Giants and SF 49ers) and the AFC (Baltimore Ravens and NE Patriots) Championship games came down to the final moments before a winner was finally crowned.

Each game had their own heroes and goats - they were clear, even the most novice of football fans.  The Ravens kicker missed a "chip-shot" field goal to send the game into overtime, while the 49ers kick returner bumbled two key plays - one late in the 4th quarter and one in overtime - to allow the Giants to advance to the Super Bowl.  In each instance, those players will forever be linked to "causing" the demise of their respective teams.  I would be surprised if either player continues to play for their current team.

Fair - not so much...but that is the beauty of sport.  The agony of defeat cuts deep, reel deep.

We all have our favorite Heroes and Goats - I would say the barometer to achieve Hero or Goat status is whether or not the "moment" is identifiable just with ther name.  The ones listed below qualify, but I have provided a bit of clarity (just in case).

Hero:

• Michael Jordan - try to pick one moment
• Brandy Chastain - PK winner in the Woman's World Cup
• Christian Laetner - Game winner over Kentucky
• Kirk Gibson - Walk off home-run in the World Series
• Willis Reed - Hobling to the court at Madison Square Garden

Goat:

• Scott Norwood - Bills Kicker, wide left
• Bill Buckner - World Series gaff
• Leon Luft - Dallas Cowboy lineman who "tried" to recover the football v. Dolphins
• Patrick Ewing - missed layup in Game seven of his only NBA final
• Chris Weber - Timeout in Championship game (with no TO's remaining)

What are some of your favorites?

mj

 

 

It's gotta be the Racquet

Marcos Baghdatis was ousted from the Australian Open yesterday...he lost to Stanislas Wawrinka. Wawrinka is ranked 22 in the world, while Baghdatis has slipped to 45th in the world... so this was not an upset.

Baghdatis was clearly pissed with his loss and, as such, decided that his racquet's must pay the price for his performance.

Is it really the raquet?  I guess baseball players will blame their bat every once in a while, but this particular behavior - equipment violence - does not really apply to many other sports.  Or does it? 

 

mj

Shaq the Mathematician

Shaq is one of the best centers to play in the NBA.

Shaq is an entertainer.

Shaq is not a mathematician.

Check out the video below as Shaq talks about his free throw percentage on a particular night in his career.

 

mj

1 Million Shares

Last week, Apple disclosed just how much their new CEO, Tim Cook, earned in 2011.

Cook's compensation included $900,000 in salary [rather average or even low compared to other CEO salaries], $900,000 in incentive pay [again, not to crazy, seeing he leads Apple!] and 1 million shares of Apple valued at $376.2 million at the time they were issued.  Yep, that's the kicker. ONE MILLION shares.

Apple's directors characterized Cook's stock grant as a "promotion and retention" award. Half of the shares will vest in 2016, the rest in 2021 if Cook remains with the tech giant.

Cook had previously filled in for Steve Jobs when the Apple co-founder had cancer in 2004 and in 2008, when Jobs underwent a liver transplant and went on extended leave. Apple directors rewarded Cook with a $5 million bonus and stock valued at $53 million in 2010.

Sure, Cook has big shoes to fill and a fair amount of stress to go along with leading Apple...but, clearly, money will never be an issue.

mj