So, what do you think of the latest Olympics Spanish Basketball Ad? In it the Spain Olympic Team are posing with "slanted eyes" in reference to the Olympics being held in Beijing. I think this is an interesting example of cultural perspective. Spanish culture embraces and pokes fun of racial caricature and stereotype. US American culture has become increasingly "politically correct"... admonishing anything that would be considered ignorant and rascist.

Me? Well, I think the US has become a little too P.C. Sometimes a little humor can help encourage a bit of productive dialogue. Rascism and prejudice are integrated into our culture. Pretending they do not exist can be as destructive as encouraging rascist bigotry. But, at the same time, I feel that Olympians represent their countries. As a representative, I would be very conscious of making decisions that would best represent my country. Slanted eyed publicity photos never look good. If my mothers are against it at the toddler age of 4... it's probably wise to avoid them as an adult. :-)

Despite a shaky offset in the Postseason, Celtics have rightfully become 2008 NBA Champions. So why is it that we've been hearing more about Kobe and the Lakers since the Season's end?

The Inglewood-native Paul Pierce will forever be known as a traitor who went out like a 3 year old baby who acts all tough after a fall and then starts crying hysterically when he sees a little drop of blood come out a scabbed knee (no man would be carried out of a gymnasium like THIS).  Yeah, he came back and knocked a couple of 3's on the Lakes to set the tone of the series... but I'll always remember Pauly as that chump who cried like a baby over a non-injury. Kudos do go to Paul for being such a good sport about the debacle (as can be seen on his hilarious appearance on the Kimmel Show)... but, damn it, if the Celtics are partying for 7 days straight and STILL plan on going to Vegas, it suggests that deep down inside the Celtics know this will be their ONE AND ONLY CHAMPIONSHIP.

If that embarrassing Laker NBA Finals implosion and utter annihilation by the Celtics in Game 6 wasn't enough to teach Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol to grow some bigger huevos... I'm sure Shaq's freestyle rap in which he's got a NY crowd chanting "Kobe couldn't do it without me" and "Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes" (see below) will get Kobe and the rest of the Lakers focused for the next NBA season and the many more to come. If anything, all of this just brings more drama to Los Angeles. We thrive on drama, so keep on bringing it. It'll all help bring the focus necessary to win many Championships in the years to come!

Oh yeah, and Shaq, damn you for bringing that vile image into my head!

Spurs are going to be tough, but I think the Lakers can handle them.

Lamar needs to be huge in this series. He's been the X-factor in every series thus far.

Call me crazy, but I think this'll be the breakout series for Vlad. Laker fans have been way too hard on the guy. The last two games of the Utah series suggest he's finally finding a nice role on the team...

It's about due time for another Championship. :-)

Below's the video of Kobe jumping over a speeding Aston Martin to promote his new Nike Hyperdunk shoe. It's been an effective guerilla marketing tool that's built hype strictly via it's presence on the internet. People still question it's validity (even though Kobe's acknowledged "it's Hollywood").

What's made this decent bit into "Classic" material is the amazing spoof Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson of TNT's "NBA Inside Stuff" did as homage. It's worth watching all the way through for the replays. It gets better with each rewatch!

The first video is the Kobe Original. The second video is Kenny Smith's spoof as it was first shown to Kobe after their Game 2 victory against Denver: