Story-The One Tale From College

Ciao Tutti!

How are you all todaaachoooo!

For those of you who don't know what's going on, that was a combination of "How are you doing today?" and "aaachoooo!"

Yes, folks, as I'm sure you've all been noticing around your social circle, people like me have been dropping like balls on New Years, succumbing to the seasonal viruses, freezing winters, and simple laziness that we all know and dread. And what better thing to do when you spend all day sick in bed then to write weird stories, then edit them the next day and think, "What in the world was I writing?"

After the story, stay tuned for my NBA all-star game rant. Only people who care are admitted.

Where to find the other stories

The other stories are in the archives somewhere along the left-hand side of my blog, intermingled with the pictures I took in Europe and shameless self-promotion.

"A Fascinating Line" is under the post entitled "Story-A Fascinating Line" in January, 2009.

"Cliche Central" is under the post entitled "Art Sharing Day" in October, 2008.

"Sam Fails to Finish a Love Story" is under the post entitled "Sam Fails to Finish a Love Story" (duh) in the month of November, 2008.

"The VideoMag Proposal" is under the post entitled "The Day Before November" in October, 2008. It's a long post and the story is near the bottom.

"Group Therapy" is under the post entitled "Short - Group Therapy" in December, 2008.

My four sudden fiction pieces are under "Winter Victory Dance - Sudden Fiction" in December, 2008.

My brother's sudden fiction, "On The Way To Work," is under the post entitled "On The Way To Work - My Brother, The Storyteller" in November.

The One Tale From College

This story has been removed due to possible publication. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Basketball Rant

Okay, there are some players who made the all-star game who should not have, and there are others who did not make it who simply got shafted. So, for everyone's benefit, I'll try to explain why.

East

1) Jameer Nelson does not deserve the spot more than Mo Williams. Duh. And if you're going to put Rashard Lewis on the team (I'll get to that), then why do the Magic get three players when the Cavs get only one? Lame.

2) Rashard Lewis instead of Antwan Jamison? You've got to be kidding me. Antwan is probably wondering how much better he has to play in order to get the recognition. The only thing Lewis has on him is a better team record. If I were the Magic I'd trade Lewis for Jamison in a heartbeat.

3) Allen Iverson, despite being on my Pistons, does not deserve a spot. Sorry, AI. Your impact on the Pistons has been negative, while Mo William's impact on the Cavs has been to make them an actual finals contender. That said, I still like the trade, but it's not been working out the way I'd hoped.

4) Well, I am here in New York, so I should give a plug for David Lee, another player who deserves the call more than Rashard Lewis. But in this case I think Lewis actually is better than Lee, who's just having a great year. Still, Lee's keeping the Knicks in contention (wow!) this year. No Lee = no Knicks, but no Lewis = a few more losses at most for the Magic.

5) Rodney Stuckey will make it soon, soon. If Rajon Rondo (ew...) doesn't woo all the judges first. Also watch out for Charlie Villanueva. He's tearing it up in Milwaukee.

West

1) Al Jefferson must be crying himself to sleep right now, throwing darts into a poster of Shaquile O'neal. Seriously, you have to play like the best big man ever to have a chance against Shaq's reputation. True, Shaq is having his best year in a long time, but it's not the kind of monster season Jefferson is having. Just because Minnesota's coach and players are young (and improving fast) they're having a difficult year in the competitive Western Conference. Are the 6 points and 2 rebounds Jefferson has on Shaq each game negated by the fact that he can't lead his young team to playoff contention? I'd be furious if I were him. How can a guy averaging 22.5 and 10.5 not make the all-star game? It's a game for STARS, for goodness sake!

Here's how much love Al Jefferson has been getting. He's had two games in a row where he scored 34 points, and in neither of the post-game recaps on sportscenter did he get a single hi-light. Why? He was playing the Lakers and the Celtics.

2) David West is a good player, and he was great last year. His numbers are better than Shaq's, so I'm cool with him being on the team, but here's another person Jefferson could have easily beaten out, if you're considering him a forward and not a center for some reason. The point: Jefferson should have made the team! There's a point for arguing Pau Gasol's inferiority to Jefferson as well, but I won't make it because I don't believe it's true.

3) No Deron Williams? No one from the Jazz at all? They've never had more than two of their four best players playing at the same time, and yet they're just a half game out in the West. The problem for him: You'd have to take out either Brandon Roy or Tony Parker to fill the position. Tony Parker, maybe. Maybe. Brandon Roy deserves to make it this year, even if Baron Davis should have beaten him to it last year. I had to boycott the all-star game last year for that reason. Plus being in Florence made it hard to watch the game.

4) Josh Howard does not deserve to make the team, which he didn't. But they wouldn't take him, even if he did, because of his scandal last summer.

5) In the future Andres Biedrins, Nene Hilario, and Al Jefferon will either be playing on the same all-star team or fighting for the available big man positions.

That's enough ranting. I think the West got it right more than the East, obviously, except for that one stupid oversight. Alright, time to go blow my nose a few hundred times. Cover your mouth when you cough, everyone!

-Sam goldsmith