Greatest Comedic Shows of This Decade

The 2000's have seen a resurgence in relevant, quality television. From The Sopranos to Mad Men, we've been treated to a new era of television entertainment.


5. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (2005, FX)
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia started with an absolute bang. The first season reads like a community standards hit list: Racism, Abortion, Underage Drinking, pretending you have Cancer, Nazism, Sex Abuse. The crew of Dennis, Dee, Charlie, and Mac are so callous, selfish, and ignorant, that their handling of these themes becomes indulgently offensive and utterly hilarious. The show has slowed down since it's inception, but the first season alone is enough to earn it a spot on this list.



4. Arrested Development (2003, FOX)
Arrested Development expertly uses it's all-star cast to deliver hours and hours of pure comic enjoyment. It's eccentric characters are beyond any of Wes Anderson's creations and simply much more fun. From Gob's "illusions," to Buster's fear of sea lions, Arrested Development's relatively short run was just the right amount of time to tell the story of the Bluth family. Leave 'em wanting more, right?


3. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000, HBO)
Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm was THE smashing success of bare bones production, cult televison. Since it's first season, it has garnered a large, loyal following, but the aesthetic remains the same. David's masterful comedic storytelling and sixth sense for humor makes each episode pure cringe-inducing joy.



2. The Office (2001, BBC)
Forget NBC's The Office, the revolutionary BBC original, courtesy of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, infused the out and out awkwardness of Curb with deeply human undercurrents and bubbling melancholy. From Tim and Dawn to Gareth, The Office turns a mundane office in bleak Slough into a series of moments that are both side splitting and touching. The Office's humanity truly sets it apart from run of the mill comedies and it's more slapstick American counterpart.



1. South Park (1997, COM)

Sure, South Park wasn't created in the 2000's, but it has remained popular and bitingly relevant for the entirety of this decade. Their unique ability to tackle today's touchy subjects through the lens of our favorite four fourth graders. South Park's fresh, satirical approach is still THE television comedy staple.

Blazers Trade Rumors Keep My Head Spinning

A fun time of the year for any basketball fan, followers of the Blazers have had a real treat as we roll towards the trade deadline.

The economy is motivating a lot of the trade talk and Portland has the "Golden Ticket:" Raef Lafrentz' 80% insured expiring contract. The Golden Ticket amounts to $12.7 million in cap relief at the cost of about $1 million. Many franchises are looking for ways to cut salary to avoid paying the luxury tax or simply to save a few mil. Paul Allen is the most deep pocketed owner in professional sports and the Blazers happen to have the most desired expiring contract in professional sports.

Here are a few of the names that are being thrown around:

1. Amar'e Stoudemire

The Rumor: The trade with Lamarcus Aldridge and Amar'e Stoudemire as centerpieces was quickly shot down and now it's being reported that both Stoudemire and Bayless are off the table.

My Take: Amar'e provides a second legitimate superstar to pair with Roy and would be a huge boon if Oden is out for more than a week or two. He immediately becomes our option 1A, taking pressure off of everyone else and finally thriving in his rightful role as a first option. Roy is the perfect all-everything supporting superstar on an championship squad while Stoudemire is a tornado of an offensive player with an excellent mid-range jumper to compliment his ferocious power, speed, and moves around the basket. Adding a player of Stoudemire's caliber would vault Portland from home court advantage contender to conference finals contender and beyond.


2. Richard Jefferson

The Rumor: Little more than RLEC (Raef Lafrentz Expiring Contract) for Jefferson. The Bucks are going nowhere this season and would like to retain the services or Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva next season. Jefferson was supposed to put them back into the playoffs, but injuries have made them a lottery team once again. A twist on that rumor has Jefferson and Ridnour coming to Portland for a package built around RLEC and Travis Outlaw.

My Take: Richard Jefferson would be a nice way to upgrade the SF spot, but he's not the best option out there. By almost all accounts, Jefferson is a quality character as well as a quality player. He's also added a consistent three point shot to his arsenal and continues to get to the line at an excellent clip. He's not the defender or rebounder that he was in his youth, but he's better at just about everything than any of Portland's current crop of SF's. Forget about the Ridnour trade; Blake is a better fit. This is a last minute type deal that would amount to a salary dump for the Bucks. Getting Jefferson for cheap would be a quality move.


3. John Salmons

The Rumor: The latest one has Salmons coming to us for little more than Channing Frye's expiring contract. The Kings are motivated to dump salary now that they're cemented as one of the worst teams in the league. Brad Miller could also be dealt.

My Take: On the surface, Salmons seems like everything the Blazers need in a SF. He's a nice shooter who has shown consistent growth since coming into the league. He's also a nice defender and can create offensive opportunities for himself. On the other hand, Salmons tends to want to take over games and monopolize the ball. He's a talented late-bloomer, but I question how well he would accept being a 3rd or 4th option on offense if he's having problems accepting being a 2nd option on a terrible team. Aquiring Salmons is a risk, but it's a good move if the cost is Channing Frye. Salmons' contract is a bargain and the Blazers could keep more valuable trade chips to shop for an upgrade elsewhere.


Other names that pop up from time to time are:

Caron Butler - Butler is Washington's most valuable asset. They've committed big money to Jamison and Arenas and have to give their "big three" at least one *fingers crossed* healthy year together. They've made too much of an investment in winning now to let a guy like Butler go.

Tayshaun Prince - The IDEAL SF for the Blazers and just about any other team in the league. Prince won't be going anywhere.

Andre Miller - The Sixers have been a collossal disappointment this year, but they're still on pace to make the playoffs. Moving Miller makes them worse, but it makes sense if they want to hand the reigns to Lou Williams and fully commit to a youth movement. They'll likely wait until next year if only because they signed Brand to a gigantic contract to play with this core.

Mike Bibby/Josh Smith - The Hawks are enjoying their best season in recent history. Even though they're hurting financially, why move two of the keys to their success and alienate fans?

Hedo Turkoglu - Another impossibility. The Magic are playing their best basketball since Shaq/Penny and Turkoglu is a big reason why. They'll try to lock him up this summer.

Soledad Miranda - My Favorite Vampire

Just in case it's not apparent, I'll make the picture extra big. Soledad Miranda is by far my favorite vampire.

She's the sexploitation goddess of my dreams, Jess Franco's muse in Vampyros Lesbos and Count Dracula.

Miranda's life was cut short when she died in an auto accident, shortly before she was to turn 27.

Pour one out for Soledad, the one and only Blood Queen.

Greg's Belated Propers.

I've got to finally give Greg some public thanks for seemingly believing in himself enough to completely destroy the Bucks on both sides of the floor. Do it with regularity big man! .... and against teams that aren't missing their starting C ....

I'm psyched about the Cavs game tonight. Here's to hoping for Greg and Jerryd to blow up.

Salmons for SF?

On this bright sunny Wednesday of out with the new MF, in with the new MF (until he proves otherwise), I'm wondering if John Salmons and his agreeable contract could be a long term solution to our questionable SF position. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Batum fan and I've got quite a sentimental attachemnt to Martell, but Salmons would be a huge short term addition... if he can keep his ego in check.

I love Salmons' ability to get to the rack, shoot it, and most importantly, play defense. A committed, complimentary Salmons in between Roy and Aldridge and next to Oden would be a hell of a foursome to start with. Batum's ideally a 15mpg guy off the bench at this point, but maybe he's the long term solution when Salmons' bargain of a contract expires. Could he be had for Outlaw and Frye? He's 29 and might not fit into Sacramento's future next to Martin. Outlaw and Frye (immensely disappointing this year) give them two buy low assets that may figure into their future plans more than Salmons, who hasn't exactly coexisted peacefully with Martin.

Eddie... Seriously, Eddie? Wow.

The New York Post Reports:

Knicks Sex Scandal Shock

Get this:

Curry hurled slurs at him including "f---ing Jew," "cracker," "white slave," "white devil" and "grandmaster of the KKK."

And the best part...

Look at me Dave, look.
Come and touch it.

Things I Need To Try List: Balut

Balut, the "street food of the Philippines," is usually a fertile duck egg, boiled until cooked. I've heard it's predictably like combining poultry meat and egg yolk, with a delicious broth.

You crack the top of the egg open and take a bit of the shell off. Sometimes, people will sprinkle a bit of salt in and drink the broth. Next, you peel away most of the rest of the shell, maybe add another sprinkle of salt, and eat up.

Fertile duck eggs can be found at many Asian grocery stores. Lao Vieng, a small Vietnamese run shot down the street, has them. I bought some last time I was there, but never ate them and they probably went bad. Next time, I've got to take them right home, boil them up, and finally do it. I'll let you know how it was.

Thanks, Bargs

Is it just me, or does Andrea Bargnani have lead feet? Watching this guy plod up and down the floor wonders why anyone every compared him to Dirk. DE still has Andrea's best case as Dirk. Seriously?

...and how can a seven-footer be such a pitiful rebounder? I saw him in Portland not too long ago and he looked to have a decent NBA body for a big man, but he simply doesn't move well or elevate. He didn't move well as a rook, did they expect him to move like a guard in his 20's?

I honestly think Bargs will find his niche and be a good NBA player, lets put the idea that he'll become a star to bed. He was a bad #1 pick in a pretty bad draft (unless you're a Blazers fan).

Thank God for BC's obsession with Euros becuase Toronto would be freaky for a long time if he had the balls to take Roy first overall.

Stuart Smiley Wins It!

What a whirlwind for the Dems! Franken's lead has grown to a *cough* staggering 225 votes over rival Norm Coleman to win by a marmot-hair-thin margin. Big win, folks! Now the folks on the left side of the aisle have a 59-41 majority in the senate and it shouldn't be too difficult to find enough common ground to swing one vote for 60 and an impenetrable block.

Obama's got his work cut out for him, but a friendly legislative branch will make his life easier.

Another important note: The oldest justices on the Supreme Court swing towards the left side of the courtroom. This will give them a chance to retire without fearing that a Roberts, Alito, or Thomas will take their place. The majority in the senate should make confirmation a breeze.

Will Aldridge Become the Player We Need?

I should preface this by saying that I am very glad Lamarcus Aldridge is on our team and I hope he continues to grow into an all-star and excellent two-way player on the Blazers. That said, I think it's good to stay open minded about the players on my favorite pro sports team (by about 1000x), including Aldridge.

Lamarcus Aldridge currently has the highest +/- on our team by far at +193. Blake is next at 125 and Roy is third at 116. As we all know, +/- numbers can be misleading, but his team leading rating is very nice.

OTOH, Aldridge's production for his role and shots is pretty low. A lot of this is because he's in love with his jumper. His free throws per game have actually gone down since last year, and his already low FT rate has gone down as well - not a good sign.

Also, 2/3rds of his shot attempts are jump shots. His eFG% for those shots is .425, compared with his predictably higher .504 on his close attempts and .580 on the 1/3rd of his shots (including dunks and tips) that could be considered inside.

There would be no problem with Aldridge taking so many jumpers if he were converting them like Sheed or Garnett, but he isn't. We can't expect him to play inside like Amare, but his reluctance to go inside is not only hurting him, but his team.

The time or two per game that Aldridge works his way inside, the RG goes crazy. I'm not talking about his 5-footers in the lane, but when he actually gets to the rim.

David West absolutely had his way with Aldridge last night. West was getting open looks all night. His rebound rate of 12% isn't too hot either, but he is doing a very good job of taking care of the ball.

He's certainly got years to improve - he's only 23 1/2 - but do you see him becoming a consistently more aggressive player on both sides of the ball?

Anyways, just some thoughts on Aldridge.