Long live the Beez

The Birdman did not look like this during his time in Fargo.

The Fargo-Moorhead Beez live on in the NBA Playoffs. Don’t pretend like you didn’t know that.

I mean, it’s common knowledge that the franchise jumpstarted the pro careers of current Miami Heat forward Chris Andersen and San Antonio Spurs assistant Ime Udoka. In fact, they played for the Beez in the same season: 2000-01.

The team was in the International Basketball Association at the time, a league below the Continental Basketball Association. Yes, there was such a thing. Among the better IBA stories that I can remember: A player running off the court and out of the gym in an attempt to avoid arrest and a franchise relocation from America to Canada while the team was on a road trip.

Extra, extra

So I made my music video acting debut over the weekend. But don’t worry – I didn’t gyrate atop a yacht or anything. Kept it classy. I’m not trying to be just another Joe, all up in the videos.

All joking aside, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the video-extra experience. A friend asked on short notice if I could fill a spot. I didn’t have anything else planned and got the OK to include my 9-year-old daughter – it would be good blog fodder and some temporary hero status at home, if nothing else.

It wound up being more than that – not the part, but the idea. 

Podcast: NBA Playoffs – Round 2

Another week, another podcast. This time, TV and Fury discussed the early goings of the NBA’s conference semifinals.

But don’t worry, NBA haters, it’s not all pro basketball. No, the guys also break down the thrilling Season 1 finale of Splash on ABC. … You know, Splash. The celebrity diving show. Yes, that’s a real thing. And, yes, we watched parts of it.

Just listen to the podcast. Here’s the link.

Serenity now

Bill Walton must be spinning in his grave at the level of earnest overreaction that seems to be sweeping the nation. And by the nation I mean the people who yammer about sports in the media, social or otherwise.

Injuries. Boo!

Free time is scarcer than ever right now. My wife has returned to work meaning I’m running a daddy daycare – starring three kids under the age of 3 – for a month, while keeping up with my jobby job at night. Needless to say, I’m back off the wagon when it comes to energy drinks.

To the point, I made sure to be able to catch a chunk of the Oklahoma City-Houston game in the NBA playoffs the other night – sleep be damned. But, here’s the thing: I didn’t watch for the sake of watching; I watched to see what the Thunder would look like without one of their stars – newly injured point guard (and askew fashion plate) Russell Westbrook.

Podcast: A Winter Downpour

How could TV not look into this band?

No, this week’s podcast isn’t about the crap spring weather – it’s about music.

A Winter Downpour is a band from Duluth, Minn., that describes its sound as Indie Rock/Post Post/Sad Bastard. Guitar player Paul Connolly explains what that means and why the band called its last album: Vandrovec, I need help.

Here’s the link to the podcast. And here’s a link to the band’s site, where you can check out their music.

They have upcoming shows in Duluth (May 3) and St. Paul (May 5).

This weather is garbage

The fine people at Weather.com tell me (and anyone else with a computer) that there’s a 50-percent chance of rain and/or snow today in Sioux Falls.

It’s April 23. Oy.

I don’t know the exact numbers, but we’ve gotten a bunch of snow this month – too much. Yet on Saturday it’s going to be 73 degrees. What the what?

There’s an old saying in the Dakotas: If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute; it’ll change. But this is ridiculous.

The day Twitter took over

I almost went to bed on time Thursday. Almost. But then I checked my Twitter timeline, a move that’s become as much a part of the nighttime routine as brushing teeth.

Podcast: NBA Playoffs preview

The NBA Playoffs start Saturday. You didn’t think Fury (or TV) would forget, did you?

They discuss the most interesting opening-round pairings and pick a couple of teams that might be capable of more than one upset.

Plus, they riff on the handling and mishandling of Boston Marathon bombing coverage. Here’s the link.

 

Boston

I had planned to write about the weather today. The stupid weather.

Oh, the Boston Marathon was on my mind from the start – one of my best and oldest friends participated, and I followed his path and times online. Had been planning that out for a couple days. He’d won North Dakota state championships in high school, qualified for NAIA nationals in college and earning a spot in this event – and performing well – seemed on par with that, one of the highlights of his running career. And, let’s be honest, running at that level for that long is a lifestyle as much as a sport. Couldn’t be happier for him.

To think that a few hours later I’d be sending him a poorly written text message to ask if he was safe? That was never part of the plan.