Squeaky Bum Time

The top two teams in their respective conferences: Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls

It’s been little over four months since the NBA lockout ended, and it’s almost that time when we get a rough idea who’s making the playoffs and who isn’t going to. The league has entered into its fourth quarter and it’s time for the final push that could make or break a season.

One team that has already made the playoffs is the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have been on fire this season and have crept up to favourites in my book. The Bulls’ key man and reigning MVP Derrick Rose has missed a few games recently due to injury. Having watched the Bulls play Denver, one couldn’t help but notice that Rose was being missed. It seems strange, but it’s true; the Bulls look like they need Rose back as soon as possible. While the playoff spot is secured, the top seed in the East is still a position up for grabs.

The New York Knicks, on the other hand, are still fighting, and with the rise of their go-to man, Jeremy Lin, all eyes are on the Knicks. Milwaukee looks to have pulled a smart trade: Monta Ellis is ensuring that the Knicks have all the pressure on them as the Bucks are closing in on eighth place in the East. New York will have to go without Amar’e Stoudemire, who suffered a back injury that could keep him out of the playoffs, should New York make it. Carmelo Anthony has been awful this season, to put it nicely. I was surprised when he made the All- Star team. It’s clearly his poorest season as a professional.

In my last article, I mentioned that Derek Fisher was traded to Houston, which was true at the time. Since then, he has moved on to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who claimed him off waivers. This is a move that could help the Thunder, as Fisher has a lot of playoff experience. In my reckoning, Fisher would play as the backup point guard, considering that Russell Westbrook is on the roster for OKC. They currently occupy top spot in the West and should clinch their own playoff berth soon.

Let’s be real here, the Toronto Raptors are going nowhere. Canada’s only team lacked the finesse needed to challenge for a playoff spot, constantly relying on Andrea Bargnani to deliver the goods. The Raptors are currently sitting 12th in the East with just 16 wins. They have, however, ‘stunned’ fans by dishing out the odd victory, most notably their win against New York: a 96-79 win that snapped New York’s fivegame winning streak. They also almost upset the Bulls, only to be undone by a somewhat lucky basket for Luol Deng in the dying seconds of overtime. A couple of good performances could maybe see the Raptors sneak into a playoff spot but I wouldn’t count on that happening. In the Raptors’ 117-101 defeat to the Orlando Magic, a loud cheer erupted when Toronto scored 100, not because they were leading with seconds to play, but because free pizza is offered to fans every time the team scores 100.

On a side note, the game that featured Atlanta and Utah was the first game to go to quadruple overtime since 1997 when Phoenix beat Portland. Atlanta beat Utah 139-133 in this game.

With most teams having fewer than 20 games left in the regular season, it’s crunch time. There are still playoff spots, particularly in the West, which could be claimed by a number of teams. If I were to make a prediction, I’d say that Chicago and Oklahoma will top both their conferences while the much-talked-about New York Knicks will only barely scrape into the playoffs this time around.

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8381&sectionID=4&issueID=202
Image Credit:
Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxHy-tkwVEg

The Godfather of Canadian Music

Legendary Record Producer Jack Richardson

To be really honest with you, I was having trouble deciding what to write about this week. I was working on a story for the entertainment beat in my Broadcast Journalism program, which isn’t my strongest point by any means. Nevertheless, I happened to speak to John Young and Pat Maloney at the Fanshawe Student Union and I chanced upon the Jack Richardson Music Awards. Maloney is the Producer of the show, while Young is the Chair of the awards. I had never heard of Jack Richardson before, until I listened to a personality profile in class: a profile of Richardson.

Richardson shares his birthday with my brother, and that is probably the only connection I have with the man, but I did get a chance to speak to people who worked with him while he taught at Fanshawe. Richardson was an instructor in the Music Industry Arts program and his colleague, Steve Malison, has fond memories of him, “Jack and I were the morning crew, we would talk for an hour before class.” This went on every day, according to Malison. He went on to add that Richardson was not restricted to one genre, though many people thought he was. He had a vast influence on a number of musical acts and genres during his years as a record producer.

When Richardson passed away in 2011, Canada lost a legend. “I will never, ever forget how you changed my life,” were the words of The Guess Who frontman Burton Cummings on his blog. Richardson saw the music business from a variety of perspectives – as a musician, producer, advertising executive, record-company executive and college professor. His whole life was devoted to music, so much so that he took a second mortgage on his house to finance The Guess Who from Winnipeg to go down and showcase for a label in New York City. According to Maloney, who was in the last class that Jack taught at Fanshawe credits, that decision was “the start of the Canadian music industry as we know it today.”

In total, Richardson produced 14 albums for The Guess Who, five of which were certified platinum in Canada, with three of them reaching that mark in the U.S. He has received 38 gold and platinum awards for his production work. He also won the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award at the Juno Awards in 1986. Such was his impact on Canadian music production that in 2002, the Juno Awards category for Producer of the Year was renamed the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year award. Richardson is also a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. And that’s not all; he was also made a member of the Order of Canada in 2003.

Though Richardson has passed, his memory lives on among us. The Jack Richardson Music Awards are held annually in the Forest City. It carries on the legacy that created by the ‘Godfather of Canadian Music.’ Jack chose to live in London for a while, and every year at the Jack Richardson Music awards, local talent is given a platform to shine and stand out. This year will be the first time that the show goes on without the watchful and supportive eyes of Richardson. It should definitely be an emotional night and it all happens April 15 at the London Music Hall (185 Queens Ave). For more information, check out jrma.ca.

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8374&sectionID=2&issueID=202
Image Credit:http://cashboxcanada.ca/sites/default/files/images/Jack%20Richardson%20at%20'the%20board'.jpg
VIdeo Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIUj8rVStIg

Movers and Shakers

The LA Lakers traded long time guard Derek Fisher to the Houston Rockets

The 2012 NBA trade deadline came and went and it left some basketball fans like me wondering things like would Dwight Howard be traded? Would Pau Gasol be traded? Which team would strengthen their squad up in the hope of lifting the trophy at the end of the playoffs? It’s questions like this that are asked around every trade deadline, whether it’s the NHL, MLB or the NBA. There were some moves that came as a surprise, and some that didn’t cause such a big uproar.

Derek Fisher to Houston: This was the biggest move that took place on deadline day. The longtime L.A. Lakers point guard was dealt to the Houston Rockets for a first-round pick in 2012 and reserve centre Jordan Hill. Fisher was a virtuoso at leading former Head Coach Phil Jackson’s triangle offense before the Hall of Fame coach retired. Fisher struggled to adjust to new coach Mike Brown’s system, as he lacked the explosion and quickness to effectively run Brown’s traditional offense. Interestingly, Fisher was subsequently bought out by Houston and is free to sign with any team.

Ramon Sessions to the L.A. Lakers: This was the other deal that the Lakers were involved with on deadline day. Point guard Sessions and small forward Christian Eyenga moved to California for two-time NBA champion Luke Walton, former three-point contest winner Jason Kapono and a first-round pick in 2012. Sessions should fit nicely into Brown’s plan. It should be noted that Kapono was put on waivers by Cleveland.

Monta Ellis to Milwaukee: This wasn’t a deadline day move, but it was one of the most talkedabout trades. The Golden State Warriors gambled by trading Ellis, their leading scorer, for injured Milwaukee Bucks centre Andrew Bogut. The Warriors have made the playoffs once since 1994 and haven’t had a true centre in years. The Warriors will be fearful of the fact that Ellis could become an all-star in Milwaukee. But it’s a gamble they took and if Bogut can stay healthy, it could be one that pays off. As part of this trade, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown also went to Milwaukee while Stephen Jackson joined Bogut in Golden State (only to be traded to San Antonio on deadline day).

Leandro Barbosa to Indiana: You know that things are not going your way when you trade two players for a second-round draft pick. Such was the case for the Toronto Raptors. Barbosa and Anthony Carter join the high-flying Pacers who are looking to secure the playoff spot they currently sit in. To be honest, I’m surprised that one of the big teams did not swoop in for Andrea Bargnani, who has clearly been Toronto’s go-to man in an otherwise lacklustre season. The Raptors will have Indiana’s second- round pick in 2012.

Nenê to Washington: Brazilian centre Nenê was dealt by Denver to Washington, leaving many to question his contribution to the Denver franchise. This trade might haunt Denver in the short run, for Nenê is a playoff veteran but with JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf moving to Denver from Washington, it could ultimately pay off for the Nuggets.

Marcus Camby to Houston: The Portland Trailblazers, who are already without centre Greg Oden, traded their other centre Camby to the Rockets. Camby has expressed desires to end his NBA career in Houston. In return, Portland received point guard Jonny Flynn, centre Hasheem Thabeet and a future second-round draft pick. The Rockets are in a playoff position and are hoping to make a playoff run. For Portland, it looks to be a season of rebuilding after the team parted ways with head coach Nate McMillan as well.

Gerald Wallace to New Jersey: When I said rebuild mode for Portland, I meant it. The Blazers sent Wallace to New Jersey in exchange for former Utah centre Mehmet Okur, forward Shawne Williams and a first-round pick in 2012. Okur is a centre who loves to shoot, so that could help Portland on offence, but for a team in a mini state of crisis, 2012 doesn’t look to be all that good a season for fans in Rip City.

There were three other trades in the NBA that I didn’t talk much about: Stephen Jackson to San Antonio, two days after the Golden State Warriors acquired him; Nick Young left Washington and will line up for the L.A. Clippers; and the Memphis Grizzlies sent Sam Young to Philadelphia and acquired Ricky Sanchez in return. The stage has now been set for the 2011/12 NBA season to burst into life, and the season should live up to all the hype it has been promising.

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8330&sectionID=4&issueID=201
Image Credit:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyXPOUwRkn7y_wThRsweX_QbQx37g-jtDoH-GAYxE9fBmcZl47T6GLnLZ_Nj4SeN4CoHmlVp0mlbrIOTxiZ-OLgmgOVacQjexZ-0ZG5M7804jLPp77W15tsAQ5Z_BGtI6-I-wmGqoLro/s1600/derek.jpg
Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TdZHffwOF8

An open letter to the St. Patrick's Day 2012 rioters on Fleming Drive

A CTV News vehicle being damaged by angry rioters, Fleming Drive, London. March 17, 2012

There was probably a time when St. Patrick's Day was a joyous occasion. There were also times when people learnt to respect someone else's privacy. It pains me to think whether I made the right decision to come all the way from India, just to go to Fanshawe and witness such a debacle on St. Patrick's Day! Where has civilization gone?

It's strange, I never hear stuff like this coming out of Platt’s Lane or other 'Western' neighbourhoods here in London but Fleming Drive never seems to disappoint me. And yes, I'm being sarcastic here. Riots, burning couches, overturned news vans? Come on people, there has got to be a limit. I hope the people responsible realize that innocent Londoners will be paying for all the damage they caused on their idea of a joyous occasion. 

I'm not going to be a hypocrite here, I love my beer. Then again, I believe in moderation. You know your limit; you know how much you can handle before you go overboard. It is 1:15 am now as I write this and I can still here sirens blaring, and I live five minutes from Fleming Drive and Fanshawe College. Students have got to remember that for most of them, it's not their town; they are merely living here for a couple of years. There are people who will live their entire life in London, and negative press coverage isn't something that anyone would want their hometown to be associated with. I know I wouldn’t want my hometown to ever face negative press.

Remember when Mayor Fontana released 'London is a city of Opportunity'? You do? But is this the ‘opportunity’ you want? To bring disregard to the Forest City? To show people how many cars you can destroy? How many kegs of beer you can chug? I hardly think so. If I was Irish or had Irish roots, I would probably be so mad right now! How dare you ruin a day that brings about the Irishman inside everyone? Sure everyone has the right to gather freely and say whatever they want, whenever they want. That is basic freedom. But freedom to wantonly destroy property? Blasphemy I tell you, blasphemy.

Being a student of journalism, a part of me wanted to step out with my equipment and cover the event, nay cover the debacle I should say. The other part of me feared for my own safety. I know this is nothing compared to being a journalist in the middle east where your life can be in danger every minute of  every day, but to risk my life at the hands of thousands of rioting teenagers and young adults? That would be something quite pointless, in my opinion.

So now when people ask what Fanshawe is famous for what do we tell them? Riots? Parties? Angry Teenagers? Or do we tell them that Fanshawe is a haven if learning? A place of wit and wisdom? A place of dignity and consideration? I always knew that I would face a culture shock when I moved across the world. India and Canada is completely different when it comes to customs and behaviours, but not once have I heard of a drunken college riot during eighteen years in India. I've already heard about two in London itself, and you got to remember that London is nothing compared to a vast majority of Indian cities when it comes to student populations.

So in conclusion, if you're one of the rioters who thought it was 'cool' and 'trendy' to fill yourself up with alcohol and then go berserk, you should probably look at yourself and feel sorry. Step forward and admit your wrongdoing, if you didn’t face the consequences for what you did that night. Do not let innocent people who had no part to play face trouble for what you did. Do your bit, to make this city a better place to live in. Do your bit for the community. Do your bit for the college; but more importantly, do your bit for yourself. 

Image Credit: https://yfrog.com/a/img644/193/43eofz.jpg (via twitter)

Video Credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vh7AwyfcHA 

Watch the London Free Press' Video here: http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2012/03/18/19517661.html

The Ricky Rubio Effect

Ricky Rubio: Spain's next big thing

Every great person, in any field of life, almost always had someone who assisted him, without receiving much fanfare or recognition. The case of the Minnesota Timberwolves is something similar. Remember, this was a team that lost their franchise player Kevin Garnett in 2007, and have been struggling ever since. For those of you who don’t recall this trade, on July 31, 2007, the Timberwolves traded all-star Garnett to the Boston Celtics for Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes, two first-round draft picks and cash considerations, the largest combination of players and picks ever traded for a single player in NBA history. Such was the situation of the team that they had to trade Garnett and hope to rebuild from there on.

Ricky Rubio is not an ordinary kid. He was highly rated ever since he made himself known to the basketball world. Rubio has been rated by basketball scouts as possibly the best-ever European prospect. At the age of 14, Rubio played in Spain’s ACB, one of Europe’s top pro leagues, for DKV Joventut Badalona near his Catalan hometown of El Masnou. A year later, he led Spain to FIBA’s Under 16 European title, picking up a quadruple-double on the way. A stat that is even more impressive from that tournament came in the final where Spain beat Russia in double-overtime. Rubio picked up 51 points, 24 rebounds, 12 assists, seven steals and one half-court buzzer-beater to force the first OT. At the age of 16, he led the Euroleague in steals.

So what made Rubio such a coveted prospect in the basketball world? Well, for starters, the accolades that he received before he was NBA draft eligible. This brings me to the 2009 NBA draft: Minnesota had four first-round draft picks and picked Rubio fifth overall in the hopes of pairing him with Kevin Love. It wasn’t smooth sailing as the T-Wolves had to negotiate a buyout with his parent team, DKV Joventut Badalona. In an ESPN article dated September 1, 2009, Rubio, despite stating his desire to play in the NBA, was not ready to move at the age of 18. Timberwolves President David Kahn was both disappointed and optimistic. “Of course there’s disappointment, but I don’t think that disappointment should overshadow the big picture, which is, he’s still so young. It appears now we will have a two-year wait. But if you frame it as he’ll be 20 years old and he’ll have two more years to develop, I can think of a lot worse things to happen to us as a franchise,” said Kahn. And so it was. Rubio signed a deal with FC Barcelona Bàsquet and was to remain in Spain for at least two years before a potential move to Minnesota to line up alongside Love, who in the meantime set the record for the longest double-double streak since the ABA/NBA merger in 1976. Love’s streak ended at 53 and for a team struggling throughout the season, it was a streak well received by coaches, fans and players around the league.

The year 2011 saw Rubio finally don an NBA jersey as he began his career in the U.S. He made his debut on December 26, 2011 in front of a sell-out crowd, which coincidentally was Minnesota’s first sell out crowd since the 2007/08 season. One could already see the fans’ belief in their team go up. It’s interesting to note how a 21-year-old Spaniard can do so much to lift the morale of an ailing franchise. Rubio was selected to participate in the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge as a member of Team Shaq and contributed 10 points and seven assists (most of them outrageous plays, adding to his already growing repertoire). The T-Wolves, meanwhile, are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

It is always sad when players get injured, and Rubio was unfortunate to suffer a torn ACL in his left knee as he collided with Kobe Bryant. The injury has robbed the T-Wolves of their rookie point guard, who has helped turn the franchise into one of the most exciting in the NBA this year and has left Spain with a big hole in their backcourt as they look ahead to the London Games. Rubio will miss the rest of the NBA season, and it is an injury that stings both the team and the fans. The rookie, who’s become the symbol of his team’s resurgence falling helplessly on the court and waving for help, is not something anyone wanted to see right now, but as Love put it, “We cannot feel sorry for ourselves. We have to accept and move on.” The T-Wolves must put Rubio’s injury behind them as soon as possible if they are to focus on securing a playoff spot for themselves.

Whatever the outcome of this season for the Timberwolves, it will always go down as one where the team believed. Love and Rubio especially helped transform this struggling franchise’s fortunes into potential playoff contenders. I can’t wait for the next season already, for if this season is anything to go by, then the next one could only get better. And for Rubio, there’s a long road ahead, but one which should bring him numerous accolades. 

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8302&sectionID=4&issueID=200
Image Credit: http://www.kare11.com/images/640/360/2/assetpool/images/111217103730_ricky_rubio_640.jpg
Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM3ruckll_U

RRRoll up the rim to lose

Win? I don't think so Tims

If you recall, I wrote an article about Tim Hortons in the January 23 issue of the Interrobang. I thought I’d take it one step further this week by writing about Tim Hortons’ annual Roll Up The Rim contest.

This year the contest began on February 20, so we’re a month into long lines of people buying coffee, drinking it down and then frantically rolling up the rim of the cup in the hopes of winning something.

I’ve tried my luck at this marketing campaign, and I haven’t been successful. One donut in five attempts is hardly a lucky streak. But what is it with this promotion that draws people towards it like magnets? I should add that I too joined this bandwagon, for I wouldn’t drink much coffee over the fall and winter because I just didn’t see myself queuing up for 20 minutes to buy coffee. I still don’t – the only time I really get coffee is when there is no line in front of the any of the Fanshawe outlets of Tim Hortons, which, as most of you know, is rare.

Nevertheless, I’ve seen people queue for what seems to be ages in front of the campus outlets in the hopes of buying a coffee and a donut to munch in class or while on break. This year, Tim Hortons offers prizes such as 40 Toyota Camry hybrid vehicles, 100 Panasonic 3D TV sets, 1,000 Coleman camping packages, 500 Panasonic digital cameras, 25,000 Tim Cards and 47 million food prizes. The prizes look good, and personally I’d love to win the car, but that’s where I realize there are several thousands more who want to do exactly the same.

While doing my research on this contest (since it’s all new to me,) I came across YouTube videos with people providing tutorials on how to roll up the rim. I thought, “Surely rolling up the rim of a coffee cup isn’t as hard as people make it out to be.” When I tried my hand at it myself, I failed miserably. Perhaps knowing how to roll up a rim is a big thing after all. In fact, there was an article in the Winnipeg Free Press dated March 11, 2007, about a man named Paul Kind. This then-62 year old did something that will leave Tim Hortons fans forever indebted: he invented the Rim Roller. For many people, the Rim Roller is a device that stands right up there with the greatest Canadian inventions of all time: insulin, the telephone, the lightbulb, the Canadarm, basketball, the dental mirror and more. For others, like Bonnie Mayer, who was featured in the Winnipeg Free Press article, the invention wasn’t required. “It’s amazing to me that someone would invent this ... someone has w-a-a-a-a-y too much time on their hands,” she said. I guess it was kind of expected that this idea, like many other ideas, would face its own criticism, but there’s no taking away anything from the potential such an invention has in today’s world.

Whatever the result of this contest, this marketing campaign that Tim Hortons puts out each spring is always going to be an exciting time for coffee drinkers. It’s quite a strange addiction (if that’s the right way to put it), but from what I understand, during this month of RRRoll Up The Rim, it’s always going to be a craze and it’s always going to be Canadian. 

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8276&sectionID=2&issueID=200
Image Credit: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/419710136_93800e28bb.jpg
Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56wWFUyL-IA

NBA Watch: NBA All-Star weekend a mixed bag for fans

A NBA Fantasy Draft could see LeBron James and Kobe Bryant on the same team

The NBA All-Star game took place in Orlando on February 26, and for some basketball fans, like myself, it was a weekend of fun and excitement, though for some other people I know, it was a rather drab event. For starters, if you look at the difference between the NBA and the NHL All-Star games, there are some experts who are calling for an "NHL-style All-Star game for the NBA." ESPN's Sarah Spain, for instance wondered how many people remember whether the East or the West have more wins? I know I don't. (She cited it at 36 wins to the East and 24 to the West, but really, how many of us care?)

I would love to see the NBA adopt an NHL-style All-Star game where two captains are chosen and they draft a roster full of players. Imagine a game seeing Dwyane Wade take on LeBron James, or Kevin Durant face off against teammate Russell Westbrook. Something like that would only be possible if the NBA does away with their current East vs. West format. The NHL All-Star Draft has been around for two years now, and I'm sure it's nerve-racking for seasoned professionals to sit and wait to hear their name being called out, something basketball players should go through as well.

I've got no problems with the All-Star weekend, although I will tell you that I miss the slam dunk contest. Remember Vince Carter in 2000? Remember "Superman" Dwight Howard in 2008? Those are two classic contests that come to my mind instantly. Even Blake Griffin last year wasn't bad. This year, however, I did not enjoy the show. Not to take anything away from Jeremy Evans – he tried to put on a show, dunking two balls over teammate Gordon Hayward as well as the dunk over comedian Kevin Hart, which he completed in a Karl Malone jersey – but you have to remember that JaVale McGee dunked three balls simultaneously while Blake Griffin jumped over a car last year. There were significant changes to the rules this year: no judges, 100 per cent fan voting and only one round with three dunks per contestant as opposed to the traditional tworound contest. All of this promised something new but sadly it all fell flat as we saw a lot of attempts we've seen before but with diminishing returns. The biggest problem, in my opinion, was the absence of judges. To base the competition entirely on fan voting was not the best move.

The three-point contest is the other prolific event of the All-Star weekend, and it was Minnesota all the way. Kevin Love gave the struggling franchise something to cheer about as he took home the honours. The franchise has had little to cheer about ever since Kevin Garnett left in 2007. What makes Love's victory even sweeter is the fact that he rotates playing as a centre or as power forward – positions that do not demand a great shooting percentage. The fact that Love won this contest also shows that he not only has range, but shows that teams need to respect him on the line, a move that draws big defenders away from the paint, which could open up possibilities under the basket.

The All-Star game itself promised much with the classic East vs. West matchup (or as some columnists put it, Durant and Bryant vs. James and the East). As an exhibition game, it promised a lot of fun and it did deliver, with the East having to cut a 21-point deficit to just one point, but failing to convert that into the win. James finished the night with 36 points while his teammate Wade finished with a triple-double. The real winners of the night were Durant and Bryant. Durant took home the MVP title, another feather in his cap, while Bryant took home a scoring record, breaking Michael Jordan's record of 262 points.

I guess that even though the All- Star weekend is a lot of fun for athletes and fans alike, it's about time the league brings about some sort of change. A fantasy draft is a great way to show off player personalities, make way for never-beforeseen matchups (remember the Sedin twins playing against each other in last year's NHL All-Star game?) and add another level of behind-the-scenes access to the game's superstars. It's time for the NBA to follow the NHL's lead and step into the future. After 61 years, it's time a change was made. Are you listening, David Stern?

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8253&sectionID=4&issueID=199
Image Credit: http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/11/57/16/2552744/3/628x471.jpg
Video Credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aNj8KYn3-U

10 Things I Know About You... Kaisar gets his kicks

Halloween 2011: Don Mario

Victor Mario Kaisar is in his first year of the Broadcast Journalism program. Kaisar said of himself: "I used to be shy, I'm glad that's over. My brother calls me freakishly tall and at times I understand what he means. I love sports, I was a school captain, played on the soccer team and made a lot of people laugh."

1. Why are you here?
I left home, in far-off India, to do the program I'm in and it's been an amazing experience so far.

2. What was your life-changing moment?
I'd say leaving home and living in London all by myself. I do miss home, but living alone, I've learned to be more responsible.

3. What music are you currently listening to?
Coldplay and Green Day are my favourites. I'd listen to classic rock all day with Eminem and some more rap thrown in there as well. And yes, I can't stand Justin Bieber.

4. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
From my dad: Do whatever you set your heart out to, don't worry about the cost, but do everything with 100 per cent commitment.

5. Who is your role model?
It's hard to say, actually. I played soccer while growing up and used to look up to Oliver Kahn and Edwin van der Sar.

6. Where in the world have you travelled?
Canada, Italy, Austria, England, Singapore and Thailand (lost count of the number of times), Indonesia, Malaysia and tons of places within India.

7. What was your first job?
Would you be shocked if I said I haven't worked once in my life? It isn't part of culture in India to work while in high school and I'd change that if I could.

8. What would your last meal be?
Hey, if it's my last meal, it'd have to be everything. It sounds cliché, I know but, I love eating just about anything. If I can't decide what to order, I usually end up closing my eyes and picking something randomly.

9. What makes you uneasy?
Exams, naturally. It's a good thing my program doesn't have many of them.

10. What is your passion?
In my short time as part of XFM News, I've covered a breaking fire story and spoken to Austin Watson. It was enthralling. I also have a collection of paper towels from various restaurants all across the world. But my biggest passion will always be sports.


Originally Published in the Interrobang: http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8224&sectionID=6&issueID=199

PS: I never thought that I'd actually be featured. It feels awesome to see yourself in the paper.

An Oscar at last for Plummer

"Oh Darling! Where have you been?" Iconic lines indeed...

"The hills are alive with the sound of music..." are iconic lines that will forever remain synonymous with the movie industry. But what connects The Sound of Music with Canada, you ask? Well, Christopher Plummer, who played the role of Captain Georg Ludwig von Trapp in the film, is Canadian. He was born eight decades ago in Toronto and is a well-respected person in Hollywood and the world.

Plummer made his movie debut way back in 1958, playing Joe Sheridan, a young writer, in Sidney Lumet's movie Stage Struck. From then on, it wasn't completly smooth sailing, if a number of biographies are to be believed. However, that all changed with The Sound of Music, a movie that I have watched a number of times. After being cast in The Sound of Music, Plummer began appearing in a number of notable films including Battle of Britain (1970), The Man Who Would Be King (1975), The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) and A Beautiful Mind (2001). I've watched all these movies and even though some of them went on to win multiple awards at the Oscars; Christopher Plummer never bagged himself a nomination.

This past month, during the 84th Academy Awards, Plummer finally got his hands on an Oscar for playing Hal, an old man who comes out as gay after the death of his wife in the movie Beginners (2010), in only his second-ever nomination. Both of Plummer's nominations came in the Best Actor in a Supporting Role category, the other one was for playing Leo Tolstoy in The Last Station (2009). This win in 2012 makes Plummer the oldest recipient of an Academy Award at 82, a feat that is marvellous in its own way. "You're only two years older than me, darling. Where have you been all my life?" were the words with which Plummer received his award. It's been baffling as to why a renowned actor has had limited success at the Oscars; perhaps this is just one of the weird mysteries of life as we know it.

Plummer has been regarded by his peers as one of the best actors of his generation and he was trained classically as a stage actor. I happened to chance across a number of articles that also surprised me as I was doing my research before writing this piece. Plummer's most famous role, as Captain von Trapp, was a role he reportedly disliked. In fact, according to the Internet Movie Database, The Sound of Music was a film Plummer publicly despised until he softened his stance in his 2008 autobiography In Spite of Me. I've had this feeling for a while now, that if Plummer were British, he'd have been knighted by now, but that isn't the case just yet. I'm not one to predict whether such an honour is in store for Plummer in the future. Even though Plummer spends most of his time with his third wife, Elaine Taylor (whom he married in 1970), on their 30-acre estate in Weston, Connecticut, he remains Canadian to this day.

Originally Written for the Interrobang: http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8231&sectionID=2&issueID=199
Image Credit: http://static.moviefanatic.com/images/gallery/christopher-plummer-wins-oscar_500x405.jpg
Video Credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqfcViBhzaQ&context=C474731dADvjVQa1PpcFNE-n2ZUTRAMdlwXIUlOWTDtMQbQKGZdUw=

So what's the deal with Jeremy Lin?

Linsanity is sweeping the nation.

'Linsanity' is sweeping the nation. New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin is something of a surprise package in the NBA so far. He's the first Harvard product to join the NBA since 1953/54 and was signed by the Knicks as an emergency backup at guard after he was cut from the rosters of both the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets.

"He (Jeremy Lin) has been an unheralded prospect, a hometown sensation, a scrutinized ethnic symbol and a basketball curiosity, at once intriguing and underestimated and ultimately discarded," wrote Howard Beck in The New York Times. But what is it that makes Lin the phenomenon that he is turning out to be? His story is a remarkable one, owing to the fact that he is the first American player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Lin is a Harvard alumnus, but unlike most superstars who end up in the NBA, he went to university without any athletic scholarship.

Lin has already been given his own nickname: "Linsanity." Coincidentally or not, that word has a lot of similarity with "Vinsanity," the nickname given to Vince Carter. Looking at Lin's stats for the month of February, he's scored more than 20 points on nine occasions, his best being 38 points against the L.A. Lakers on February 10. Lin's sudden outburst of form in the month of February was reason enough to earn him a call up to the 2012 NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge held in Orlando. The Knicks are 8-3 since Lin became their starting point guard, a run that includes wins over the Lakers and Dallas. Lin was also the reason why the Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors as he scored a last-second threepointer. He's already appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated for two consecutive weeks and even made the cover of Time. "He's legit," Chicago Bulls Assistant Coach Rick Brunson told the N.Y. Daily News. "That kid can play." Lin, however, had a quiet game during the All-Star Weekend, scoring only two points, but that won't in any way subdue his already growing fame.

"I am definitely surprised that people are still talking about Linsanity or whatever," said Lin during a news conference. "I think, hopefully, as the season progresses it will go from that to New York Knicks. And hopefully the Knicks can win basketball games and we can make a good push after the All-Star break and people will start talking about the Knicks and not necessarily me." Lin is trying his best to avoid the media's attention from distracting him when it comes to playing the game. The New York Knicks are, in my books, still a work in progress, despite featuring the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, but with the potential that's on the roster, the team could be major contenders in future seasons.

I came across a hilarious article the other day. Lin is now an ice cream flavour. Don't you find that strange? The ingredients include vanilla frozen yogurt and lychee honey swirls, though the sports blog Deadspin claims that the flavour previously included bits of fortune cookie. It's been confirmed that the fortune cookie bits will be replaced by bits of waffle cones after allegations of racial insensitivity spread amongst critics. What annoys me is the fact that the flavour is reportedly only on sale in Boston because I would love to sample this new 'Linsane' flavour.

Whatever the future of this massive bandwagon, Lin's rapid rise to success will go down as one of sports' 'fairy tale' success stories. It will be interesting to see whether all the media attention he's receiving will affect his game, but one thing is certain (and I know it's clichéd): it's been a "Linsane" season so far.

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8219&sectionID=4&issueID=198

Image Credit:http://www.thesportsbank.net/core/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Jeremy-Lin-knicks.jpg

Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAFLP9ejvDE

It's a Simple Plan...

Spmple Plan: Live at the John Labatt Centre, London, Ontario

In the last issue, if you recall, I wrote about Canadian music. At the end of February, I was lucky enough to reward myself with a concert, my second ever: Simple Plan at the John Labatt Centre. It was money well spent. Let me be honest with you here, I hadn't listened to much of Simple Plan prior to the show, except for the song "Perfect." The day after the show, my iPod is full of Simple Plan songs. And then it struck me: they're Canadian.

Pierre Bouvier, Jeff Stinco, Sébastien Lefebvre, David Desrosiers and Chuck Comeau make up this French-Canadian band that came out of Montreal. Bouvier and Comeau were part of a band Reset, as was David Desrosiers.

I had the time of my life at the show, listening to four bands, one after the other: These Kids Wear Crowns, Marianas Trench, All Time Low and of course Simple Plan. I don't have much concert experience, but these guys from Montreal really did know how to put on a show, complete with anecdotes, beach balls and glow sticks, leaving close to 3,000 fans mesmerised.

I won't take anything away from the other three bands that performed on that night – they were good, too – but everyone knows who the highlight of the show was. To be frank with you, I regret not learning to play the guitar earlier – who knows, maybe I would have had a band that went on tours, but that is beside the point here.

I love the initiative that Simple Plan takes through the Simple Plan Foundation, "... helping young people in need, by easing their often difficult passage to adulthood and by supporting the victims of life-threatening illnesses." That is reason enough for me, someone who isn't from Canada, to improve the outlook I have about Canadians (and no, I'm not implying that I had a poor outlook before). The band was also recently awarded the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award for their work through the Simple Plan Foundation.

I end with fond memories of the show from the John Labatt Centre, and now hold Simple Plan in ever higher regard. I know there are many people out there who aren't really fond of Simple Plan, but that is their loss if you ask me. In fact, I will end by quoting one of their song's titles that aptly sums up my feelings about the band: "Perfect."

Originally Written for the Interrobang:  http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8191&sectionID=2&issueID=198 
Image Credit: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424899_10150629149228540_629013539_9073029_536931905_n.jpg
Video Credit:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGLgAZaYmWY