National Basketball Association

At the after party for Beastie Boy Adam Yauch’s documentary, Gunnin’ for that #1 Spot, it was pretty easy to recognize who was in the movie … just look for the giants! The film documents a 2006 game between 24 of the best high school basketball players in the country at Rucker Park in Harlem (referred to many manytimes by players as a “Mecca”). A few of the players—including Michael Beasley, whose name is constantly followed by the extended sobriquet "expected to be the No. 1 draft pick this year"—were in attendance, and the almost-seven-footers looked shy and big-footed among an adoring, rain-frizzled crowd. (During the Q and A after the film, many in the crowd kept asking Mr. Beasley if he’d come to New York. Wishful thinking).  read more »

I went to a friend's son's bar mitzvah on Saturday and in some part because of my blog, and its discussion of Jewish politics, felt a little alienated. I forgot to get a yarmulke, then I ran to get one. I wondered who if anyone there had seen my ideas. Later, at the reception, I got into a discussion about these issues with an old friend, who was joined by a friend of his.

My friend said he was a secular Jew and asked me how I define myself. An assimilating Jew, I said. Shortly after that, his friend said, I don't know what an assimilating Jew is, and walked away.  read more »

When Steve Nash said yesterday, "I'm not going to give it back," he was talking to all the people like me who didn't want him to win MVP twice in a row. If you believe in democracy—O.K., elitist democracy— you have to see some justice in the award. 125 sporstwriters and broadcasters gave him half again as many points as LeBron James, the runnerup, and first-place voting wasn't close; he nearly trebled Kobe Bryant. What these guys were saying is that Nash transforms a team. Just now on ESPN they said that Nash's teams have led the NBA in scoring the last five seasons. Hard to argue with that...

While the playoffs dribble on (sans the New York Knicks), the National Basketball Association is lo  read more »

American Fan: Sports Mania and the Culture That Feeds It , by Dennis Perrin.  read more »

For a few blessed days during the Winter Olympics in Nagano, hockey was what it should be: a cult ga  read more »