Just Some Cool Bottle Openers

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More info on these..

Uncrate dot com has got some really great stuff - Go check it out!!

U.S. Navy Map of Future America

with new coastlines..


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Pantera - Drag the Waters

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My Sentiments Exactly, Pop

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It's not one of Coach Nick's BBallBreakdowns, but here's a quick look back at just how much little of the end of game-6 was really under our control:

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Here's a little of my own play-by-play analysis (using ESPN's game play-by-play):


Yeah - these are mine.                                                               Click each to enlarge!

Things to note: We held them to TWO FGs for 9:04, while OKC went 10 of 14 from the charity stripe. During this same 9:04 stretch, we alos had 14, but only 6 of 8 at the line. Realize just how the 5-6 terrible calls affected game situations. Manu had to leave the game because of fouls. Westbrook would have left the game if not for bad calls. Many OKC points would've been negated - Many runs by San Antonio would have wouldn't have been unnecessarily halted.

Every Time Something Important is Happening Early

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56 Years of Tornado Tracks

CTE!                                                                                   Via / Source: John Nelson

Please do go visit Mr. Nelson's site - there's a lot of good stuff there!

Welcome Home!

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Spurs Update - Western Conference Finals And More

I have a lot of stuff to post, but right now my heart is broken. And for the second time in three nights. I'll try my best to keep this one short, but it will probably be straight to the point.

I've been a Spurs fan since as long as I can remember. I loved watching George Gervin as a child, and was even blessed enough to attend one of the highest scoring games of all-time at Hemisfair arena. Spurs 172 Milwaukee Bucks 163 I think it was, and 3 OTs, even. It was February, 1982. George Gervin had 50, and Mike Mitchell had 40.. I got a bunch of autographs, and at the age of 10 I was suddenly a fan for life.

I watched the sad years.. the rely on Alvin Robertson years, and the Artis Gilmore years, the Terry Cummings years.. The years Rod Strickland was half-committed. Then we somehow won the lottery with the 3rd worst record in the league at 28-54, and were able to snag David Robinson with the 1st overall pick in 1987. He had to serve two years yet in the Navy, and then after a terrible season in '88-'89 in which David was hurt most of the season, we were lucky enough to draft Sean Elliott 3rd overall..

I watched all of these next few years as Robinson blossomed into the league's best Center, and we would go through other personnel like they were socks. Then the 1993-1994 season was the breakthrough season that everyone forgets, because we pooped out in the playoffs. But we'd be back strong in '94-'95 with a 62-20 record, and we advanced all the way to the Western Conference Finals against Houston. Jordan's Bulls had just won three straight, and the Rockets won it all in '94. But everything pointed to this being our year. Jordan had been retired for a year, David got the MVP, and we were up 2-0 in the WCF against Houston. Then Hakeem Olajuwon schooled Robinson for 4 straight games, and they went on to win their 2nd straight title.

Ewww.. wow.. Yikes!!

1996 playoffs, after an incredible 59-23 regular season, Utah's Stockton & Malone manhandled us, only to lose to Seattle in the WCF, who would then go on to lose to the Bulls in the finals because his majesty Michael Jordan was back.

1996-1997 was terrible for Spurs fans because David suffered a back injury while playing for the Olympic team in the Summer of '96, and after FINALLY returning, he broke his foot in his 6th game back. We couldn't win without him, and our record was 2nd worst in the league that season.

My father and I were on the golf course when we heard that the Spurs had won the lottery again - giving us the rights to probable pick Tim Duncan from Wake Forest. That day was a big day for both of us! We knew the ramifications of this guy joining our team, who's been dominant when David & Sean were both healthy.

Right off the bat we would go 56-26 in Duncan's 1st season, but it was only good enough for the West's 5th-seed in the playoffs. We took care of Phoenix, but Malone-Stockton & company would take care of us yet again in the 2nd round. This dominant Utah team would again sweep the Lakers but lose in the Finals to the Bulls.

1998-1999 was little different. A lockout had screwed a quarter of the season, but once action began, the twin-towers were in full force. With a 37-13 regular season record, and the #1 seed we lost the first playoff game to Minnesota, and then swept our way through the next two rounds. Through Lakers and then the Memorial Day miracle - Sean Elliott's three late in game 2 of the Portland series, after having trailed by as much as 18 that game. We go on to beat the Knicks 4-1 in the Finals, and the Dynasty has officially begun - if not before. That night I went to downtown San Antonio to celebrate. It was incredible as people were celebrating on every downtown street.

So now we were champions, and the Lakers were making moves like crazy. Phil Jackson has the nerve to call it an asterisk championship just because there was a damn lockout.

The next three seasons would be a trial of whether or not we could "get through the Lakers".

2000 playoffs sucked because Tim Duncan messed up his foot in one of the last games of the regular season. So then Phoenix beat us 3-1 in the 1st-round as a 4-seed.

Then two straight seasons (2000-2001 -- 2001-2002) My Spurs had incredible regular seasons, but simply could not get past an extremely dominant Lakers team of Shaq & Kobe. They won three straight, 2000-2002.

The 2002-2003 season we went 60-22, and finally were able to defeat the Shaq/Kobe Lakers in round-2 after a successful early series vs. Phoenix. We would take down a hot Dallas Mavericks team 4-2 in the WCF and then beat the New Jersey Nets in the finals for our 2nd Championship.

The next season was another beautiful 57-25 regular season, in which as a #3 seed we would sweep Memphis, and then face the Lakers again in round-2. With the series tied 2-2 at home, Duncan hit one of the most incredible shots in team history to put us up with .04 left, and then we all now what happened next. Lakers would then beat Minnesota 4-2 before getting beaten badly in the finals by the Detroit Pistons. If Derek Fisher doesn't make that shot, I truly believe we win the title that year.

2005, we have again won our division 59-23, and beat Denver 4-1 and Seattle 4-2, before a match-up with #1 seed Phoenix. Up 3-0, Phoenix won game-4, and then Spurs won game-5 to advance to the Finals yet again. This time against Detroit. And it was an epic finals in which the home teams would win the first 4 games, but the Spurs would win game-5 in Detroit on a Manu three. The Pistons came back to our arena and kicked our butts to tie it up. But game-7 in Detroit featured one of Tim Duncan's best games of all-time. Championship #3, and this was SWEET!

In defense of our Championship the next season (2006) we would do very little wrong compiling a Spurs' record 63-19 regular season, and the highest my hopes had been since two season ago - when the 0.04 shot happened. We had a deep team, and were destined, I felt. We beat an overachieving Sacramento team 4-2, and then had to host a Dallas Mavericks team who had won just 1 fewer game than we had for the regular season, in the second round.

This was one of the best series in recent basketball.

Screenshot Source

Up by 3, Manu fouled Dirk on his drive to the basket (:25 left) the last play of game-7 in San Antonio. The ball fell in, and Dirk hit the FT. The game went to OT, and somehow the Mavs won the game. They then went on to beat Phoenix, but get their asses handed to them by Shaq, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat in the finals. Once again if Manu doesn't foul Dirk on that play, I honestly believe we win the title that year as well.

2007 Yeah Spurs went 58-24 again. We rolled Denver (4-1), Phoenix (4-2), and then Utah (4-1) in their last appearance for a while... We would meet LeBron's Cleveland Cavs, and well... He was good, but we swept them for title #4.

The 2008 regular season was 56-26.. a stupid non-called foul against Brent Barry cost us game-2. Lakers go on to lose to Celtics in the finals.

2009 playoffs we get solidly beaten in round-1 by a great Mavs team. We never came to play, and it ruined another division title.

2010 playoffs - our worst seed (#7) in a long time due to tons of injuries, we got revenge on the Mavs, but then got swept by Phoenix who simply wanted it more. This was the Suns' last triumph for a team who was likely to be broken up later. They would then (of course) lose to the newly reconstructed Lakers. In Phil Jackson's final season, the Lakers would then beat the Celtics in their return to the finals.

2011 was a year in which San Antonio would once again create a new standard with a 61-21 regular-season record. The "old team" beat everyone until it came time to face the Memphis Grizzlies, who had won a ton of their late regular season games to snag the 8th playoff spot. They were peaking at the right time, and took us out in six games, before taking OKC to 7 games. OKC would then go on to the WCF and be defeated by the Mavericks in 5 games. Dallas would then win their first-ever title against Miami in six games.



The 2011-2012 season for my Spurs was the best season in a long-long time. If you've followed this so far, you know that we finished-off the regular season with a 10-game win streak. This is after already posting two separate 11-game win streaks. Both of those were nullified by Pop sitting starters.

So we sweep Utah.. Then we sweep the Los Angeles Clippers. At home against an OKC Thunder team that we beat 2-1 this season, we kick their butts for two games. We've won 20-straight now, and are up 2-0 in the WCF.

Thunder then win both games on their homecourt, and I'm not really surprised, but upset. Being certain we'd win game-5, this young-talented team finds a way to get it done, even after we had a substantial lead.

So I drink beers.. and am pretty distraught that our best team in years is facing elimination.

Game-6.. Here we are. Spurs come out and prove who is the better team. 34-20 after 1Q. Tony Parker, Timmy, and Stephen Jackson were on fire.. Spurs were up 15 at halftime, and Tony Parker was having another one of his incredible games with 21 points and 10 assists at halftime.

Our guys remained active on offense, but our defense broke down.. Stephen Jackson would go 6 for 6 from three, but Kevin Durant showed why he is the best player on the planet. Despite all the offense we could offer, the Thunder scrambled it to within 1 after three. We had this game.. We totally had it, and it was evident it was coming back to San Antonio for game-7. Then as Durant, Harden, & Westbrook hit just about everything they put up, my Spurs have gone completely cold.

Up 1 going into the 4thQ, Pop's confidence was as high as ever. But he apparently had a little too much faith in Gary Neal who went 2 for 7, and missed crucial FTs down the stretch. In the mean time we went scoreless for almost 4 minutes. The Tony & Timmy pick-n-roll worked almost every time, but defense lacked when so many of their threes went down. Down by 4 Fisher found a spot to hit a three to put them up by 7.

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Tons of calls down the stretch of this game has made me realize that Joey Crawford just had to get his revenge on Tim Duncan. I have already gone through the sadness. I knew it would take an enormous effort to win game-6 @ OKC.

Our season is done - just like many others. The .04.. The '06 Manu foul on Dirk in game-7.. The refs in the second half of this game totally screwed us over.

Game-6 @OKC - the Thunder and the refs closed us out.

Here is ESPN's boxscore...

Spurs Update: Western Conference Finals

Game-5 Thunder @ Spurs is probably the most hyped game of the last several years. It's 2-2, and the Thunder have all the momentum. But these Spurs have been here before.

And the organization has passed out white T-shirts - finally! Straight off the tip, the crowd was with us, and OKC only saw two possessions before it was 5-0 Spurs. Manu started the game, and both he & Tony got to the line before OKC knew what had hit them. Continuing drives, both Manu & Tony drew two fouls on Ibaka, and he had to sit down before 2 minutes were gone. 15-10 Spurs, both Timmy & Diaw would draw two fouls. SO Pop sent in a crazy-small lineup. It was just what the Thunder needed with Ibaka sitting. Blair & Manu kept us in it, but after 1Q Thunder led 26-21.

Splitter and Jack entered, but Ibaka and Fisher both hit incredible shots. Manu would then single-handedly keep us in the game. Enter DaeQuan Cook. He would hit 8 in 2 minutes, and a Manu three made it 40-36 OKC. As is consistent with the rest of the series, the Spurs would go cold for a lot of the 2nd, as a 10-0 run gave the Thunder the 50-36 lead. Jack, Tony, & Tim would then respond with an 8-2 run of our own to close the half down by only 8: 52-44.

Now I know my Spurs. We are going to launch this into a great game. So Tony & Timmy get the pick n roll right and Westbrook does what he does best - miss shots and turn it over. Manu hits a three, and then another, and then another... A Duncan jumper and 2 Kawhi FTs, and we're up 6: 62-56. No one can guard Kevin Durant, though, as he & Westbrook would nail everything they shot. After we had launched a nice lead late into the 3rd-Q (67-61), Perkins, Westbrook, Harden, and especially Durant burned us. After 3Qs OKC's 81 to SA's 72 was surprising - They ran off a bunch in a row.

Down by as much as 12, Tony & Manu brought us back. Jackson & Timmy too. But Durant & Harden were still making everything they put up. The Spurs then held them scoreless for almost 4 minutes.. 5:16 to 1:36. Meanwhile, Jack hit another three, Timmy scored 6, and Manu hit two FTs.

But it was a James Harden three at the :28 mark that was effectively the game-winner.

OKC 108 SA 103.

Here is ESPN's game-5 boxscore..

Oklahoma City Wednesday. My Spurs will come through. I guarantee we will win game-6!!!

Prescription Booze

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Dream Theater - In the Presence of Enemies (LIVE)

with John Petrucci interview

Track 1 from Systematic Chaos

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Misdirection?

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Spurs Update: Western Conference Finals

Yeah I know I'm way behind. But I'll post two games right here right now. The way my Spurs are playing it's not gonna make me lose any sleep for doing so.

Game-4 in OKC was totally different than game-3 as I'm sure my Spurs welcomed the challenge of finally losing a game. Game-4 began with a lot of great interior play from the OKC big-men. But we would take the early lead 13-5 after some key jumpers by Tony, Kawhi, and Danny Green. We would then go up 19-12, and then the Thunder would hold us scoreless for almost 3 minutes. With 2 minutes to go in the 1st-Q, the Thunder led 22-19. Captain Jack and Manu had something to say, though, as the 1stQ would up tied 26-26.

Serge Ibaka opened up with a couple jumpers, as our offense took a dump. After another Ibaka dunk, and a Westbrook three, it was 43-33 with 4:43 left in the 2ndQ. Timmy, Jack, and Diaw kept us in it while Ibaka and Durant netted 4 more each. Once again our 2nd quarter performance lacked .. well, everything. At the half, we were down 12... 55-43. Jeeeez! As Pop always does at halftime, the guys get in gear, and Leonard, Diaw, and Duncan combined for 10 right quick. But Ibaka would hit two FTs, followed by another surge from both Ibaka and Durant.

Again down by 12, Duncan, Jack, and Manu would pull us back to within two! It was a massive, and necessary 10-0 run and it certainly quieted the OKC crowd. Manu has been Manu and he not to be denied. After 3-Qs OKC led 75-71.

Ibaka continued his perfection, and Harden would net 5 straight. The Spurs resolve appeared.. we would do everything we could possession to possession to stay in the game. Duncan. Leonard. Jackson.

But then Kevin Durant did this:


Enlarge!                                                                                                     Source

16 straight for OKC, and what a beast! James Harden then hit a critical three, and just like that we were down 9. Timmy, Neal, and Green would hit key shots in the last minute, but OKC hit enough FTs down the stretch to take it. Ibaka had a perfect game: 26 pts. 11 of 11 shooting 5 rebs. 3 blks. Perkins had 15-9. We did well on Durant, except for the dominating 4th-Q, and additionally on Westbrook & Harden. They were a combined 6 of 23.
Ibaka went 11 for 11 - Image Source (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Kawhi was our player of the game, but Timmy had 21-8. Thunder D seriously did a number on our offense. Here's ESPN's boxscore..

No doubt game-5 is gonna be one of the best games in recent memory!

Driving Fast with Donkeys

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Old Campaign Buttons

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This is a CT Scanner without its Cover

Click to enlarge!!                                                                                         Source