Britt Robson Note: I know I said I’d have a Wolves recap for you Monday, but with all the playoff ball consuming my time (not to mention other writing projects–my editors know what they are) I now realize I’m never going to get this done unless I break it into parts. So, here’s Part 1, which deals … Read more
AP Photo/The Plain Dealer, Joshua Gunter The obvious pundit’s take on yesterday’s playoff games was that the big guys stepped up, especially LeBron, Duncan, and CP3. Here are some of the dominant impressions I came away with after plastering myself to the rocking chair and catching all of two games and the majority of two … Read more
Okay, we’ve waited until the last minute and now it’s time to roll. I still reserve the right to change my mind about Coach of the Year and MVP. Defensive Player of the Year Winner: Kevin Garnett Runner-Up: Rasheed Wallace Honorable Mention: Tyson Chandler, Kobe Bryant, Raja Bell Comment: The Celts phenomenal improvement with untested and … Read more
Be it his folk-blues amiability or his pervasive wide-brimmed hats, Eric Bibb favors Taj Mahal. His voice is less basso and gravelly (more reminiscent of Spearhead’s Michael Franti), and his musical palette less diverse and worldly than Mahal’s ’round the globe hybrids, but Bibb is the superior songwriter. The latest evidence of this can be … Read more
First of all, I apologize for the inactivity vis a vis On The Ball, and once again offer my kudos to my dedicated commenters who are proving perfectly capable of continuing intelligent discussion without me. That said, I owe readers a little heads up about how I’ll be handling postseason posts. I went to the … Read more
Having already tackled the legacies of Duke Ellington and Count Basie at medium-sized band concerts at Orchestra Hall last June and August, trombonist/curator Delfeayo Marsalis returns tonight with a tribute to Louis Armstrong, and wisely decides to deploy two musicians—Nicholas Payton and Kermit Ruffins—as stand-ins for Satchmo. As with his paeans to Ellington and Basie, … Read more
The singer Somi, who will be performing at the Dakota tonight and Thursday, is like a cool glass of pink lemonade, a titch more sweet than citrus, yet still refreshingly tart on the tastebuds. Born in Illinois to parents of Rwandan and Ugandan heritage, Somi (actual name L. Kabasomi Kakoma) is a smooth cultural-musical polyglot, … Read more
AP Photo by Carlos Osorio Game #81, Road Game #41: Minnesota 103, Detroit 115 Season Record: 21-60 1. One More Smallball Razzing Since this will probably be my last Wolves three-pointer of the year (I’ll either do a season evaluation and/or cover the team’s press conference later this week after tomorrow’s Milwaukee tilt), it’s appropriate … Read more
AP Photo by Nikki Boertman Game #79, Road Game #39: Minnesota 102, Orlando 101 Game #80, Road Game #40, Minnesota 114, Memphis 105 Season Record: 21-59 1. Wanting It More It does not significantly diminish the two wins posted this weekend by the Timberwolves by pointing out that neither Orlando nor Memphis bothered to be … Read more
Game #78, Home Game #40: New Orleans 122, Minnesota 90 Season Record: 19-59 1. Trying to Trade Baskets The Minnesota Timberwolves shot 73.3% in the third quarter last night, 11-15 FG, including 3-4 from beyond the 3pt arc. The worst shooting performances were Ryan Gomes and Chris Smith at 1-2 FG; Al Jeffeson was 2-3 … Read more