The Nissan GT-R.
Any car inspired by a video game (Gran Turismo) has GOT to be worth the price of admission- in this case about $72k.
What you get: 480HP to go 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 193MPH. Yeah, she's fast.
6.04.2008
Ka-CHOW!
I am not so much a car aficionado as much as I am a car enthusiast. Translation? I can't afford to buy 'em, so I just gawk and stare at cars I'd love to own, but haven't the cash flow. The latest example batting around my wish list is this...
The Nissan GT-R.
Any car inspired by a video game (Gran Turismo) has GOT to be worth the price of admission- in this case about $72k.
What you get: 480HP to go 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 193MPH. Yeah, she's fast.
The Nissan GT-R.
Any car inspired by a video game (Gran Turismo) has GOT to be worth the price of admission- in this case about $72k.
What you get: 480HP to go 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 193MPH. Yeah, she's fast.
6.02.2008
A True Championship
Despite all the story lines, bylines, highlights, re-runs, re-treads, and arguments pro and con about a Celtics/Lakers 2008 NBA Final, let's call it what it really is... Justified.
The Eastern Conference's #1 seed versus the Western Conference's #1 seed. Enough said.
Throughout these playoffs there have been moments of angst for both squads (maybe more anxious minutes for the Celtics, but at this point no one should be counting). But to say it is only good for the over-30 crowd who remembers this great rivalry in its prime is a bit short-sighted.
Here's the thing about the Celts/Lakers match-up that I think gets missed. It's not reliant on nostalgia alone. The NBA loves this Finals because YES, it does rope in the over 30 crowd.
But it ALSO ropes in the current generation of fans (and passive observers alike) because it features the NBA's reigning MVP (Bryant), the sports' biggest off-season storyline (the Celts Big 3), the biggest trade deadline deal that put the Lakers here (Gasol), and 2 of the longest tenured players on the teams that drafted them (Bryant/Pierce).
It is the absolute culmination of the NBA's hoped-for pedigree- history, franchise players, smart trades, and top seeds.
Really, stop angling just for the old school match-up and appreciate this a a true championship final. The NBA... where justified happens.
UPDATE: I have an on-going discussion on another website regarding the nostalgia factor versus the NBA's true ROI having a Lakers/Celtics finale. The latest argument was that today's "casual" NBA-watcher does not care about the current state of the NBA and the story's involved (that I outlined above). Thus the NBA gurus hope nostalgia drives ratings of this Finals. Here's my latest (and greatest I think) point to date... NO WAY!
Here's the thing... a casual fan today is not just some schmo that was old enough to remember 1987 (the last time these 2 teams met in the Finals).
In marketing terms, the Holy Grail is turning casual fans into avid fans (i.e., the fans that will pay for any and all things related to the sport and their team).
The NBA needs to convert this (the younger) generation's casual fan because they get a longer "shelf-life" out of that new/younger convert's discretionary dollar than they do the guy that already made up his mind in 1987.
So it definitely is about more than nostalgia. Just ask the front office brain trust of the NBA who balance the books.
The Eastern Conference's #1 seed versus the Western Conference's #1 seed. Enough said.
Throughout these playoffs there have been moments of angst for both squads (maybe more anxious minutes for the Celtics, but at this point no one should be counting). But to say it is only good for the over-30 crowd who remembers this great rivalry in its prime is a bit short-sighted.
Here's the thing about the Celts/Lakers match-up that I think gets missed. It's not reliant on nostalgia alone. The NBA loves this Finals because YES, it does rope in the over 30 crowd.
But it ALSO ropes in the current generation of fans (and passive observers alike) because it features the NBA's reigning MVP (Bryant), the sports' biggest off-season storyline (the Celts Big 3), the biggest trade deadline deal that put the Lakers here (Gasol), and 2 of the longest tenured players on the teams that drafted them (Bryant/Pierce).
It is the absolute culmination of the NBA's hoped-for pedigree- history, franchise players, smart trades, and top seeds.
Really, stop angling just for the old school match-up and appreciate this a a true championship final. The NBA... where justified happens.
UPDATE: I have an on-going discussion on another website regarding the nostalgia factor versus the NBA's true ROI having a Lakers/Celtics finale. The latest argument was that today's "casual" NBA-watcher does not care about the current state of the NBA and the story's involved (that I outlined above). Thus the NBA gurus hope nostalgia drives ratings of this Finals. Here's my latest (and greatest I think) point to date... NO WAY!
Here's the thing... a casual fan today is not just some schmo that was old enough to remember 1987 (the last time these 2 teams met in the Finals).
In marketing terms, the Holy Grail is turning casual fans into avid fans (i.e., the fans that will pay for any and all things related to the sport and their team).
The NBA needs to convert this (the younger) generation's casual fan because they get a longer "shelf-life" out of that new/younger convert's discretionary dollar than they do the guy that already made up his mind in 1987.
So it definitely is about more than nostalgia. Just ask the front office brain trust of the NBA who balance the books.
5.31.2008
...But First, the News
I have opinions, emotions, retrospectives, and even prognostications regarding the Celtics Game 6 victory in Detroit to close the deal on their much-expected trip to the 2008 NBA Finals, but before we get there, I just witnessed one of the greatest goals I have seen in ice hockey in a long while.
Mark it down: Game 4 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. Marin Hossa scores the 1st goal of the game at 17:00 of the first period by stuffing a short-side rebound by Chris Osgood's left pad. Just 3 minutes in, Hossa displays some of the sickest hands and fastest wrists I have ever seen on the ice. I've played hockey for 30 years, and I have not seen a guy stuff a puck in such a tight space in such a lightning fast moment more than twice before (vaguely recalling here Jagr in his prime and the other I cannot picture- Forsberg maybe?).
Anyway, it needs to be an ESPN Top 10 play ASAP tonight/tomorrow and preserved as a Youtube moment forever.
Seriously... check it out.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled program (Celtics post forthcoming).
Mark it down: Game 4 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. Marin Hossa scores the 1st goal of the game at 17:00 of the first period by stuffing a short-side rebound by Chris Osgood's left pad. Just 3 minutes in, Hossa displays some of the sickest hands and fastest wrists I have ever seen on the ice. I've played hockey for 30 years, and I have not seen a guy stuff a puck in such a tight space in such a lightning fast moment more than twice before (vaguely recalling here Jagr in his prime and the other I cannot picture- Forsberg maybe?).
Anyway, it needs to be an ESPN Top 10 play ASAP tonight/tomorrow and preserved as a Youtube moment forever.
Seriously... check it out.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled program (Celtics post forthcoming).
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