5lbs of NBA Playoff Goodness (With a Few Sides)

As was so keenly pointed out by the Des Moines Register’s Sean Keeler, I’m not keeping up. I sound like a broke record. Anyway. Here’s what’s going on:

1.The WebMaster reached number 20. It seems this blog has become more devoted to his gastronomical feats than sports. In fear of running out of adjectives, that’s all I’ll say about that.

2. Former Drake football player Allen Ussin got his name on the board. Days before departing for a new job in Texas, Ussin labored through all five-pounds of meat and gets a well-deserved photo on the blog. Best of luck Al.

3. This weekend is the Principal Charity Classic. Look for myself, Brent Heemskerk, Luke “The Landlord” Frieberg, and the rest of the LDR’s as hosts around the 17^th and 18^th greens. The PCC promises to be a great time.

4. I am not looking forward to the NBA Finals. In fact, I will shun the NBA Playoffs like Dwight Schrute shunned Andy Bernard in The Office. I won’t even write about them. I won’t do it.

Ok, maybe because its necessary.

(Un-shun)

NBA Playoffs, I am disappointed in you. What began with such promise has produced nothing but series after series of disappointment.

In the Eastern Conference’s round 1 we saw two five-game series and a sweep. The only savior was an exciting seven-gamer between the Bucks and Atlanta. More than a good series, it was just a chance to root for an underdog.

Come on. There is no way an undermanned team like Milwaukee, void of its two best players, could defeat a vastly talented Atlanta Hawks squad. Not if both teams played hard anyway.

So why did it go seven games? You tell me, was it

a) Fear the Deer is such an amazing phenomena it could not be denied

b) the Hawks players wanted to remind us that NBA players have way more power than coaches (even sometimes the front office) by the way they continually disrespected Mike Woodson

c) the Hawks roster as a whole just doesn’t care

d) Mike Bibby died, therefore leaving the young and immature Hawk players without a guiding light.

e) All of the above

I vote e). Nothing short of all of those answers could’ve allowed that series to go to seven games.

(Re-shun)

Speaking of series that won’t go to seven-games, I’m not looking forward to the remainder of the quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup either. Don’t get me wrong, I love playoff hockey. I’m basically Canadian. But, I hate that the Chicago Blackhawks are in the NHL Finals.

My reasoning is two-fold. First and foremost because the Detroit Red Wings and only the Red Wings are allowed to represent the Western Conference. Secondly because the WebMaster and new housemate Jeremy Gehl are Blackhawks fans. The obnoxious yelps for joy watching their team score two goals in 30 seconds. I can’t take it. Not when the Red Wings should be in the Finals.

So yes, the Blackhawks will win. Like the Bucks, Philly is just overmatched. Chicago is too big and too skilled. They even have a better net-minder.

I pick the Flyers to win one game. Blackhawks in five. More importantly, in 2011, the Red Wings and Hockeytown will return to their rightful throne atop the NHL.

I digress.

(Un-shun)

Moving out West, the first round was a little better. Despite being the two-seed, Dallas couldn’t get the monkey off their back, falling to seventh-seeded San Antonio in six. That was entertaining.

Interestingly enough, every other first round Western series ended in six games too – Lakers over a tough Thunder squad, Utah over Denver, and Phoenix bettering the Blazers.

Second round action proved more of the same. Losing teams won a whopping 2 games combined. We knew Atlanta would get swept. The Lakers were too big inside for Utah. Sweep. And Phoenix finally got over their San Antonio hump. Sweep.

So the team that won … you guessed it, the Cleveland Delontes. Look, Boston never should’ve defeated the Cavaliers. This was supposed to be Cleveland’s year. The fans need it. The franchise needs it. The city needs it. The team is finally put together. Lebron has the pieces. They finished with the league’s best record. Have the league’s best player. And somehow, they seem to get along.

It was smooth sailing in the first round. Round two seemed more of the same. Until the former champion Celtics fought back. And Lebron seemingly quit. Come to think of it, the entire Cavs roster quit. But how? Why?

Enter Delonte West.

Notorious for his bipolar personality, being a red-headed African-American is just the beginning of the statistical anomaly that is Delonte West. West was once pulled over for speeding on his motorcycle while carrying a guitar case. An honest mistake. Except for the fact that the guitar case came packed with two handguns and a shotgun. Delonte, why a guitar case? Why TWO handguns? And a shotgun? And if you knew you were packing like that, why speed on your motorcycle Delonte?

Maybe a little unusual. But he’s a professional athlete. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. The Cavaliers gave him a second chance.

And how does Delonte repay the city of Cleveland? By becoming the reason for one of the least inspired playoff losses for a superstar of all time. Delonte (you have to read this link)– you may have single-handedly swayed the course of basketball history. Based solely on your actions, Lebron James may defect from his hometown to a new franchise. The city of Cleveland hates you. What did they do to deserve this?

(Re-shun)

Quick side note – did everyone see the the Kendry Morales freak accident (fast-forward to about a minute in)? What a sad way to go. Early reports suggest he may be done for the year. He’s enjoyed a great two-year stretch and I wish him a healthy recovery. Moments like these make it easy to second-guess traditional celebrations.

(Un-shun)

Ok, we’re going to skip the conference Finals. After the first two games, there was little question we would see a Boston-LA rematch from 2008.

I liked seeing the Suns with Steve Nash and fellow Saginaw native Jason Richardson get to the Western Conference Finals. They were exciting and fun to watch. But Kobe has been unbelievable. Scoring. Sharing. Playing a great floor game (as much as it pains me to say it). The Suns didn’t have an answer for the game’s best closer.

Unfortunately, I’m not much of a Kobe fan. He’s selfish. Overconfident. Even phony at times. But I can’t deny his worth as a basketball player. Him taking over at the end of Game 6 vs the Suns is one of the best offensive displays I’ve witnessed. Fadeaways over two-three defenders. Over and Over. Like stabbing a knife right through my heart.

Even worse, I don’t see the trend changing. The mediocrity of the playoffs so far suggests a mediocre Finals. Even the historic LA-Boston rivalry can’t save the NBA this time.

Like the Atlanta Hawks, the Lakers have looked disinterested at times. Its just Kobe won’t let them lose. Maybe a game, but not a series.

Earlier in the Eastern Conference Finals, I thought the Celtics would be able to match the Lakers. They have size. They have experience. The Celtics roster is solid.

I am even encouraged by the progress of Rondo. I mean, how can I not appreciate a pass-first point guard, on a team with great scorers, who will do anything he can to get the job done? He’s played great. Even legendary. But, with his running mates showing their age late in the series against the Magic, I can’t see the Celts defeating LA in a best of seven.

My prediction – LA in six.  Maybe the Celts can string a few together. Maybe Kevin Garnett’s legs will be rejuvenated. Maybe the Big Three can go for one more ring. I’m hopeful. But not optimistic.

(Shunning resumed)

Not another pig suey

Recent news:

• The Detroit Lions drafted Ndamukong Suh and appear to be on the right track for the first time in years. Yes, I am a Lions fan despite their perennial losing. And yes, I know people in Iowa don’t care about the Lions. But until you get a team of your own, I’m going to act like you do.

• The Detroit Red Wings are approaching a game-seven battle with the Phoenix Coyotes (again, the lack of team for Iowa). The Wings haven’t had their greatest season, limping through countless injuries to barely sneak into the playoffs. Fortunately, I have confidence in this star-studded roster. Lets get to round-two Wingers.

• Oklahoma City won their second-consecutive home game to even the Lakers series at 2-2. I’ve liked this team from the beginning, but really Kobe? Twelve points in a 20-point game 4 loss. Thats very un-Kobe-like.

• The short-handed Utah Jazz have looked far superior to a talented Denver Nuggets team. Even with Kyrylo Fesenko (from Dnipropetrovsk, and no I didn’t spell that wrong) as their starting center. (More on him coming soon)

However, the big news comes straight from Omaha, Nebraska. Longtime coach and MVC godfather Dana Altman is headed to Oregon to become the Ducks’ head basketball coach. This time, it’s for real.

In 2007 we heard a similar story. The classic Pig Suey incident, when Dana left to become Arkansas’s head coach, only to return to Creighton within a day after seeing the state of SEC basketball. Altman sprinted back to Creighton with his tail in between his legs. He vowed to remain at the University for the rest of his career. Fortunately for him, Creighton opened him back with open arms.

Three seasons later, Altman’s streak of 11 straight 20-win seasons was snapped. His BlueJay team looked over-matched, maybe even outcoached for the first time in years. Long gone are the days of Rodney Buford, Ryan Sears, Kyle Korver, and Anthony Tolliver. Instead, players like P’Allen Stinnett dominate the headlines with off-the-court issues. Dana Altman looked at the future of the Creighton program and decided it was time for a change (again).

Ultimately, the Valley has changed. Power has shifted. For almost an entire decade, Creighton and Southern Illinois were top-dogs. Often ranked in the top-25, both teams were perennial post-season contenders. Now, UNI dominates headlines. Illinois State moved from bottom-feeder to contended. And even Drake had one good year (come on, you knew I was throwing that in somewhere).

I can’t blame Altman for leaving. He’s done everything he could for Creighton. Sixteen seasons after arriving in a place without basketball heritage, Altman turned them into a team no one in Division-1 wanted to play. One season under 20-wins and the fans are grumbling. How is that fair?

Look at it this way – as a college coach, you are the focal point of the team. True. Accepted. So you are going to receive a disproportionate amount of credit either way. Ditto. But, fans expect loyalty to the school. They also expect perfection.

When Keno Davis left Drake a few years ago, some fans were upset. How? Would you really turn down someone quadrupling your salary? I wouldn’t say no. Especially if, like Dana’s case, people are always expecting more. He raised the fans level of expectations. One season with less than 20-wins and Creighton fans are grumbling about his ability to coach.

Believe me, I am not blaming the fans. Its just the nature of the business. Fans want their school to win. Coaches need to do whats best for themselves and their families. As much as we like to think college basketball is wholesome, it really is a cut-throat business.

Basically, I’m just trying to say congrats Dana. I wish you the best.

Looking to the future, it will be interesting to see how the BlueJays proceed. Greg McDermott looks to be a perfect fit. After planting the seeds to get UNI to their current level, McDermott’s struggles at Iowa State have been well documented. The Valley and the Big 12 represent different beasts. At Iowa State McDermott has to recruit a different type of player. And these players haven’t exactly fit to his system. Moving from the hot-seat at Iowa State to a storied Valley program in a conference he’s very familiar with seems like a good move. (Oh, and it helps that Creighton can offer more money than Iowa State. Remember, its a business.)

Succeeding in the Valley requires hard-work, tireless recruiting, and having an eye for the diamond in the rough. Coaches have to know how to recruit to this level. MVC teams are too good for average players. But outside of the power-six conference teams, it is extremely difficult to get top-100 caliber athletes. Finding the best of the rest is imperative for Valley success.

To win against the big boys, Valley teams have to play together. And coaches have to find the right mix of players. Kansas is going to be more athletic. But what does UNI do? They stick to their strengths: play great team defense, get Kansas out of their rhythm, and make timing baskets. What they lacked in athleticism, they made up for with size and hustle in the frontcourt, strength and shooting ability in the backcourt. Of course, an Ali Farokhmanesh doesn’t hurt.

It also helps to have mature teams. The last three MVC champs have been junior/senior laden groups. The 2007-2008 Drake Bulldogs had a fifth-year senior, two four-year seniors, and two four-year juniors in their rotation. UNI from 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 boasted a similar mix.

As more prime-time players become one-and-dones, the advantage often resides in experience. Valley coaches don’t recruit these players. They can’t. But they have a knack for picking the next best thing. No way Ali Farokhmanesh goes to Kansas or Kentucky. But with the right teammates, in the right system, the kid can shine.

This is what Greg McDermott struggled with at ISU. And this is why Greg McDermott is a great fit for Creighton. The Valley is a special place. But each school needs to have the right kind of coach.

Ultimately Altman leaving will be good for everyone. He needed a change. Creighton needs a change. And McDermott and Iowa State could definitely use a positive way to get out of that situation. This could be a win-win-win for all three programs. Stay posted.

A New Challenger

Seconds before dawning his crown in the Drake Relays Parade, Klayton Korver stopped by to offer his NBA playoff expertise. His picks go something like this…

I haven’t read Adam’s yet, but I am sure we disagree on some of his picks. Let’s start out West, where it may be the best playoff series we have seen in a while.

I got the Lakers in 7. Got the chance to watch Kevin Durant in person a few times this year, and that guy can score, doesn’t matter who is guarding him. I am not sure there really is someone who can guard him well, he’s tall, long arms, and has got a quick release. Going to be a great series, but the Lakers are the Lakers, so they win.

In the 4-5 matchup, I am taking Utah. I may be a little biased in this one. Both teams have been banged up, and praying Coach Karl has a speedy recovery. But the Jazz are 15-9 on the road after this second half of the season. And I want them to win, haha. Jazz in 6

In the 2-7, Spurs-Mavericks, this could be a pretty good series, the Spurs are getting healthy, and those guys have won a lot of games. So I am going with San Antonio, lots of people are on the Mavericks bandwagon, so I am switching it up. Spurs in 7.

And then in the 3-6 I have the Suns in 4. Blazers have been amazing this year, playing through all the injuries, but the Suns are really really good right now.

In the East, start with Cleveland. I think the Bulls may make it an exciting series, and steal a couple. They are playing well right now, and the Cavs have to get Shaq back in the flow, Lebron has sat out a couple, so I think the Cavs win it in 6.

Miami and Boston could be a lot of fun to watch, and I am taking Boston. Even though they are struggling late this year, these are champions, and I think they get to a second round matchup with Cleveland. Boston in 7. Miami could win this thing if Dwayne Wade is amazing, and if he plays like he did in the Finals a few years ago, could spring the upset.

In the 3-6 we have Atlanta and Milwaukee. Wish Andrew Bogut had not gotten hurt, because the Bucks were really good down the stretch. But even with him out they have continued to win. But I think they miss him too much, and the Hawks win this in 6.

And then Orlando and the Bobcats in the 2-7. Two tough teams, but Dwight is great and how much fun would it be to be on his team, spotting up and getting open threes all game. I got Orlando in 5.

I feel like sports in general as of late have been on a roll, with a great NCAA Tournament, great Masters, and I think this will be a great NBA playoffs.

A Look to the West

Western Conference

(1) LA Lakers vs (8) Oklahoma City

Dangit I really like Oklahoma City. The Thunder have a good roster. Their young players play well together and Kevin Durant is awesome. I like what Russell Westbrook brings to the game. Jeff Green, James Harden, and Thabo Sefolosha have proven to be valuable role players capable of stepping up and having big games. This is a good team. It really is.

Too bad they finish fourth in their division. Wait, is it possible to win 50-games and still be fourth in your division. In the West, more specifically the Northwest apparently yes.

The Thunder have a great season and how do they get rewarded? A trip to LA against the city’s good team in the first round. Poor Thunder.

With the third best record in the league, the defending champs enter the playoffs with more question marks than last season. Showing inconsistency at times this year, the Lakers seemed almost indifferent at times. But their roster is too good to be ignored. And despite some struggles, they still are the number one seed in the brutal Western conference.

Did you know Kobe has FOUR championship rings? Kobe Bryant is a masterful playoff artist. And this year, he probably has the best overall team on either side of the bracket. The Lakers are going to be tough to beat in a seven-game series.

Because I like the Thunder so much I’ll give them two games, but LA is too good.

Lakers in 6

(4) Denver vs (5) Utah

What makes the Western conference so difficult is the miniscule separation between playoff teams. The top-seeded Lakers only won seven more games than the eight-seeded Thunder. Denver and Utah? Same record. So your saying advantage Denver because of homecourt advantage? Considering the Nuggets finished tied for the second-best home record in the NBA, I could agree. The Nuggets are just so blasted inconsistent.

Carmelo Anthony is a top-flight NBA player. Though he’s gotten better with his attitude, he still doesn’t bring it every night. JR Smith is an explosive scorer who, when hot can put up 40. Or when not, shoot Denver right out of games. I really like Chauncey Billups, Chris Anderson, and Nene Hilario (I thought he didn’t have a last name, when did that change?). But those three are complementary guys. Maybe they can change the pace of a game, but with the exception of Chaunce, it’s unlikely they’ll alter a series.

Utah, on the other hand, is a great team. Typical of Jerry Sloan coached teams, the Jazz play well together and are getting hot (and healthy) at the right time. Deron Williams is one of the most impressive players in the league. And a revitalized Carlos Boozer has been carrying the scoring and rebounding duties for the club. I love this team’s tenacity and killer instinct, led by Williams. They have role players. They have scorers. They play hard. But will it be enough?

Denver is a tough matchup for any team. Carmelo can hurt you from in or outside. But, defensive stopper Wesley Matthews, CJ Miles, and Andrei Kirilenko theoretically have the size and speed to bother the superstar (especially in combination). Billups often uses his size to overpower opposing pg’s. He can’t do that to Williams. Tough matchup, but the Jazz have the pieces in place.

Tough call, but because of the Kyle Korver alliance (I may or may not be friends with his brother) we’ll go Jazz stealing one in Denver.

Jazz in 7

(3) Phoenix vs (6) Portland

For the first time in years, we’re finally seeing a different Phoenix team. Yes, they still lead the NBA in scoring with 110.2 PPG. Yes Steve Nash is still running the show. But, somehow watching them play is different. They run-and-gun, but are better in the half-court. They even play better defense (yes Amare Stoudemire and Nash and still liabilities, but defense is a team thing).

For the first time in the Nash-era, The Suns’ bench has an identity. Newbie Goran Dragic’s presence allowed Nash to limit his minutes to his lowest as a Sun this season. Three-point specialists Jared Dudley and Channing Frye are among the league-leaders in three-point shooting and give a big spark off the bench. The loss of Robin Lopez hurts interior defense and makes the Suns thin on the inside, but it allows more minutes for Frye. They’ll need big minutes from him against Portland.

The Trail Blazers have completed their transition from the Jail Blazer past. Resident good-guy Brandon Roy is a fan favorite. The face of the franchise is a fantastic player to boot. Too bad a partially-torn miniscus will keep him away from the Suns.

While Marcus Camby has been a big addition, I just don’t see enough on the Blazers’ roster without a healthy Roy. Andre Miller and LaMarcus Aldridge can have big games, but are not marquee players.

Suns in 5

(2) Dallas vs (7) San Antonio

I hate the Western conference. How is a team like San Antonio, a team with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli, a seven-seed? Oh yeah, didn’t they add Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess this offseason too? How is this a seventh-place team?

I forgot. They’re not. Its just the West.

The Mavs exploded after trading for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. Finally having a center other than Erick Dampier (second best center in the West – self-described years ago despite Shaq’s insistence he was really Erica Dampier in the WNBA – see trivia), maybe its the Mavs time. Jason Kidd is approaching the end, but is still effective. Butler fits well as a third scoring option, while Shawn Marion provides hustle-plays. This is a balanced team, and if Dirk Nowitzki can stave off the playoff demons they have a shot.

I just can’t ignore the Spurs. They’re top-five are too good. They’ve been good for a decade (This hurts a little. It doesn’t seem like five years ago that the Pistons and Spurs fought for supremacy with physical defensive styles. Now the Pistons have Ben Gordon. Times have changed).

Honestly, I like Dallas’s roster better (other than Dampier). But, Gregg Popovich, Duncan, and the Spurs are playoff masters. This is my big (kinda) upset pick.

Spurs in 6

Klayton Korver And I Interrupt Our Busy Lives For A Little Chatterbanter

New exciting news! I have a new undertaking and a new partner. Joining the WebMaster and I in this blog, we’re planning on incorporating one Mr. Klayton Everett Korver. Hopefully the excessive banter Klayton and I exchange in real life will translate well into the written format. For a little opening and background on Mr. Korver, we exchanged the following emails.

Ok Klayton, to start, what are you doing now?

Newbie Klayton Korver:

Well Adam, I am planning to pick up Kyle’s car from the dealership after some minor problems. Then, hopefully I will get to catch a few minutes of Bill Raftery doing Big East games today. Which brings me to something I have been thinking about for some time now. We discussed this for a minute the other day, the NBA is so much better to watch than College Basketball. Now I feel like I am a decent judge here, as I played five years at Drake and saw plenty of college games. Now that I live with Kyle, see him everyday, and watch nearly 100 games, I can’t help but notice the skill level of NBA players. Their skills are so much better it makes it difficult to watch the college game.

I love the passion you see in college. But, even those guys can’t sustain it night in and night out. The major complaint about NBA players, “They don’t care til the 4th quarter”… may be valid, but there is a reason. Many times they played the night before, then flew for a few hours, arrived home around early in the AM, and have practice in morning before heading back to the gym for game time. I don’t know about you Adam, but when I fly it can take a lot out of me. My joints get swollen and sore worse than they normally would. It just takes a little bit more to feel healthy and energized again. These guys do it everyday. And they do it against the best athletes in the world. They don’t miss open jump shots. They are all physical freaks. When you sit close, you see just how fast the game is. So… that’s my start, what do you have to say, you with me or against me old friend?

Blogger:

Well here’s the thing Klayton, I wasn’t asking what you were doing at this moment. To be honest, I really don’t care. I was more looking for an update of what you were doing in Mormon country out in Salt Lake City Utah. I mean, if you’re going to be mentioned, I think people will at least want to know why they don’t see your pretty face on the streets of Des Moines. So please, inform our audience (or just humor me because we don’t exactly have an audience) what you’ve been up to since college. You know, a little background. You do that and maybe, just maybe, I will tell you my thoughts. Your move.

KEK:

Well Adam.. I first went overseas to Treviso, Italy, to tryout for some teams in Europe. I had a few offers, the best being in Serbia, but decided that my knees would not be able to handle the daily grind. As you know we didn’t practice a ton our senior year because of injuries (Adam’s note – For those unfamiliar with Klayton’s injury history, the kid’s had more knee surgeries than most people have doctor’s appointments. He spent his entire career, well last three years anyway, dealing with swelling and chicken legs. In his defense he couldn’t really lift, but still.)

So I decided to hang up the sneakers and join the rec- ball leagues. Kyle asked me to move out to Utah and help him with his foundation work, and also a clothing line he was starting up. About halfway through last year, we started Seer Group, a non-profit construction group providing labor and materials to families in desperate need of home repairs. We have done roofs, kitchens, bathrooms, doorways, window wells, pretty much anything necessary. Now, we are finding our passion is in handicap ramps and making homes handicap friendly.

All while we were going through the paperwork on that, we also threw a Dodge Barrage with Deron Williams and his foundation, Point of Hope. We had 40 teams join in, one with Kyle, Deron, and Ronnie Price, and raised over $20,000 for the Christmas Box House, a group assisting in housing children who have been taken from their homes because of dangerous situations with their parents.

In December of this year, we started up Seer Clothing, a for profit clothing line. Even though the clothing line is for profit, we donate all the proceeds to the Kyle Korver Foundation. We have 8 guys shirts and 8 girls shirts, all with different meanings. My personal favorite is Strength, not being the bully on the block, but its being confident in who you are, and being able to stand for what you believe when times are tough. Inspiration for many of the T-shirts comes from Kyle’s experience with the ministries in Philly. Located on the North side with a lot of under-privelaged inner-city kids, Kyle had themes he wanted to get across to them. I’m really excited about what we are doing and the direction of Seer Clothing. Check it out.

So that’s about what I have been up to, catching a lot of NBA games too, and enjoying the mountains, which is a little change from the hills of Iowa, aka “God’s Country”.

Blogger:

Klayton, thanks for finally answering my question. From what I hear you are quite a roofer. But believe me, after talking to you the other day as you were staring at a leak I’m not so sure. Anyway, onto your first message…

I agree in a way with your opinion of the NBA, but college basketball is still more exciting. Playing professionally opened my eyes to the difficulties associated with playing so many games. Mentally and physically it is without question much more difficult than high school or college. That being said, the college game represents a dynamic all its own. Players play hard every game (good ones do anyway). They play hard because they want to be there. They play hard because of the love of it sport. Even during my professional endeavors my love for the game suffered.

Now it is true, watching the NBA is amazing. No one misses. Even the people that can’t shoot don’t miss open looks (unless your name is Bruce Bowen or you are a member of the Detroit Pistons this year. Oh wait, they don’t get open looks). Athletically, its unbelievable watching such large, physical specimens devour the open floor. I get that. And my background now allows me to understand just how great it is. However, there is nothing better than college basketball. If nothing else, the fans make it a better game. The NCAA tournament is the best sports action on television. Period.

Next up for Korv and I will be our attempts to podcast. We’re both working on it, but found out through the WebMaster that posting on wordpress is not the way to go. Hopefully we can figure this out (Three Drake degrees later its still a struggle. Maybe after the tournament is over we’ll get this moving.)