The Pacers are Bringing Back Team Basketball

I am as surprised as anyone that the Pacers are not only ahead in the Finals, but look like the better team at the moment. I was pretty certain, as were most commentators, that the Thunder would walk to a title. I picked them to win in five games. I figured if it went six games, that would be a triumph for the Pacers. But, as we head into game four tonight, the Pacers are up 2-1 in the series, and they look like they are more than legit.

I love it. But, I have seen some discourse online in regards to the Pacers and how they ended up here. The most common comment or statement is, "I don't understand why this Pacers team is this good". That seems to be the running sentiment, especially when it comes to younger NBA fans. Some of the responses I have seen, from people mostly my age, are easy for me to agree with.

The reason why the Pacers are this good, and why younger kids maybe don't get it, they're a team. The Pacers are not led by a supernova superstar of a player. And I mean no disrespect to any guy on that team. Tyrese Haliburton is a great point guard who barely turns the ball over and he is about as clutch as it gets. Myles Turner is a very good defensive minded big who rebounds well and can stretch the floor. Pascal Siakim is the key to their defense and, when needed, he can fill up the stat sheet. TJ McConnell and Benedict Mathurin are spark plugs off the bench. Andrew Nembhard is a wonderful 3 and d asset that every team wants in their starting five. Aaron Nesmith found himself, and a bunch of playing time, after being acquired by the Pacers. Obi Toppin provides athleticism off the bench. And Rick Carlisle is one of the better coaches the NBA has ever seen. Going up and down this roster, this is about as good a job of team building that you can get.

This Pacers team reminds me of a much more athletic and offensive inclined version of the Pistons teams that won titles with Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace. No one on that team was ever the face of the league or a perennial all star player. They were a well coached team that let their players do what they did best. No one is asked to do too much. Not one single player has to be the star every night. They can get help from all varieties of anyone on the roster. I have even seen Thomas Bryant and Ben Sheppard have big moments during this run. It is great to see. And that is why, at least for me, the Pacers are here. They play the best version of team basketball that we currently have in the NBA. The fact that they don't have to rely on one single guy is a plus for them. The fact that they can expect to get solid contributions from everyone that plays is a plus for them. The fact that they have a genius of a head coach is a plus for them. The fact that they have someone as cold blooded in late game situations as Halliburton is a plus for them. That's why the Pacers are here and the sheer fact that the team is above any one individual makes me even happier that they're here.

I like the Thunder too, and I do think they will still win the title, but they do have that one superstar that they rely on in every big moment. And if Shai Gilgeous Alexander is having an off night on offense, they're toast. The Pacers don't have to worry about that. Back when Miami had the Big 3, they had three guys that could do it for them, but in the end, if LeBron was having a bad night, they had a bad night. The same could be said of the current version of the Nuggets. If Jokic is off the floor, the Nuggets are cooked. I think we will see the Celtics take a step back without Jayson Tatum all of next season. The Pacers don't have to worry about that at all because they're not a star driven team. And that is why they are here and that is why they have a lead in the NBA Finals.

I love team basketball and the Pacers are making me love it even more. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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What Does the Media Think of Shadeur Sanders Today?

Before starting my piece today I need to give credit to my dad. Him and I were chatting via text yesterday about the very idea that will be the point of my blog this afternoon. Thank you for the idea you gave me, and if you end up reading this, I hope you find it well done. The idea is, why did the narrative shift so many times on Shadeur Sanders during his last season at Colorado, during the lead up to the draft and now that teams are in OTA's. With each different scenario, the media changed their tune on the kid as if they had whiplash.

I do want to say, from my own perspective, I think Sanders has the tools to be a solid NFL QB. Would I have taken him first overall? Nope. Cam Ward is a superior prospect. But I fully thought he was going to be the second QB taken in the last draft. I didn't know if he was going to a late first or early second round pick. And for him to fall to the fifth round, and have guys like Tyler Shough, Jaxson Dart and Dillon Gabriel all taken before him, that is crazy. He needs to check his ego a bit, but as far as the intangibles go, Sanders has the tools to make a career for himself in the NFL.

Going into his last season at Colorado, the pundits seemed to agree. He was always talked about as a first round prospect. Before the season started, he and Ward were the two guys. But Ward really separated himself pretty quickly into the year. Sanders kept putting up numbers and Colorado played better than expected. But when the lights were brightest, their bowl game and a few big games against ranked opponents, he struggled. The bowl game was about as bad as I had seen him play. Sure, he had no real help from his o line, but still, that game was tough. His stock took a hit, but not as bad as some thought. After that bowl game, the media kind of placed him as the 3rd or 4th best QB prospect. That isn't bad, but a first round guarantee was almost out the door.

The process leading up to the draft is where the media turned. He was labeled arrogant. According to reports he showed up late or uninterested to team meetings. He had this air about him during interviews. He didn't perform at the combine. All these little things that mean so much to the front office, Sanders seemed to think he was too big for them. The media was out for blood at this point. He disappeared from first round mock drafts. The headlines on him were always negative. People started to buy into the fact that maybe they had to "teach him a lesson" come draft day.

When draft day came, boy oh boy did the powers that be try to send a message. When he fell out of the first round, I was surprised, but not shocked. Everything that led to this day that he needed to show strengths, he had shown weakness. But when he kept tumbling down and down and down, I did become stunned. But, outside of Mel Kiper, the people covering the draft seemed to relish this. They didn't talk about his teammate, Heisman winning corner/receiver Travis Hunter being the number 2 overall pick. They let it slide how much better of a prospect Cam Ward was, unless it meant they could show video of the two of them working out that painted Sanders in a bad light. They let it go that other stud players were going to situations perfect for them. The coverage only seemed to focus on the draft slide of Shadeur Sanders, and what it meant to him and his dad. This kid was unfairly ripped to shreds by the media all because the NFL didn't like the way he handled himself in the pre draft process. And even after he was picked, in the fifth round, it became apparent that he was sent to the NFL equivalent of hell, the Cleveland Browns, because that was what he "deserved".

Now with OTA's going on, the narrative has shifted once again. I see headlines about how he could start. I see videos of him making really good throws in practice. Media people say he is the first to show up and the last to leave. Apparently he stays and signs a ton of autographs for fans. The other QBs on the Browns roster don't get this coverage. Dillon Gabriel is already considered a career backup. Kenny Pickett blew his one shot he had in Pittsburgh. And Joe Flacco is just keeping the seat warm until Sanders is ready. The whole idea that surrounded Sanders before the draft, that came from many of the same people covering him now has completely taken a 180.

I'm not here to say people cannot change. I love it when someone turns it around for the better. But the same media people who viciously attacked him the draft, the same people who relished his poor play in the bowl game, the same people that loved his draft slide, now all they can do is talk about how great a fifth round pick who hasn't taken on NFL snap looks in OTA's. It's baffling to me. Shadeur Sanders is getting the same coverage that superstars get. And while he can be great, he has to prove it first before he is the talk of every website on the planet. And to me, this constant shift in narrative is indicative of the ADHD society we live in now. Everyone wants to drag someone down when they are down, and build them back up when they show their worth. They hang onto that until they get tired of it, and then they drag them down again.

I'm sure the second downfall will come soon for Sanders from the media. He will have a rough showing in the preseason and the same people will be ready to write him off until he shows his skills during a different preseason game. It's tough, and it has to be even tougher for these kids to be constantly picked apart by the media. Unfortunately that is the day and age we live in. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Is Kevin Durant Worth the Headache?

Kevin Durant is at the front of trade talks yet again. This seems to be the new normal in the latest offseason/NBA Finals NBA news, with the exception being when KD was with the Warriors and they were playing in the Finals. Let’s discuss.

My issue, this is becoming old for me. I love Kevin Durant. KD is one of my all time favorite players. He is one of the most efficient and excellent scorers the game has ever seen. I've been riding with him since he was drafted by the SuperSonics. He is a solid rebounder. He is a good enough defender when willing. He is long and uses that length exceptionally well. He is a surefire first ballot hall of fame player. But, since his second title with the Warriors, he has become this curmudgeon who doesn't seem happy with wherever he is playing basketball. He looked downright miserable when the Warriors won their second title after he signed with them. I have to assume he didn't care for the talk that the Warriors are Steph Curry's team. The bummer for him, that will always be true. Steph is going to go down as the greatest Warrior to play in the NBA when he hangs it up. He more than proved his worth when the Warriors won the title in 2022. Steph is a legend. KD isn't on his level in those regards. When he left Golden State he ended up in Brooklyn, as a perceived packaged deal with Kyrie Irving. Well, we all saw how that unfolded. When they played together they were an offensive juggernaut. And when they added James Harden, man oh man were they fun to watch. But, the pandemic happened and Irving wouldn't get vaccinated, KD was never really healthy and James Harden didn't like carrying the load of the team. Kyrie was traded, then Harden was traded. KD asked out, and when Brooklyn refused at first, KD went scorched Earth. He wanted the head coach and the GM gone. He wanted to make decisions for the team on his own. The Nets eventually relented, firing Steve Nash and then trading KD to Phoenix, his preferred destination. And it has not worked out there at all. The Suns have all but mortgaged their future, owning no real picks or young players for a long time, to build around KD and Devin Booker. They let Mikail Bridges and Cam Johnson go. They traded so many picks to acquire the likes of Bradley Beal. They let a young Deandre Ayton go in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic, who seems washed. The Suns are a mess, and I have to believe a lot of that is due to acquiring KD. But, since the Suns are a bad basketball team at the moment, as is his want and will, KD wants out again.

When looking at potential teams that could get him, I don't think I'd risk my team's future for an oft injured, very often angry 37 year old Kevin Durant. As malleable as he is, he is old, isn't on the court as much as he maybe should be and if he isn't the focal point of a team, I do not think he will be happy. The teams mentioned today that I saw were the Spurs, Rockets, Timberwolves and, apparently now the Pistons are trying to get involved. I would never trade for him if I were the Spurs. They need to build around Wemby and De'Aaron Fox. That is the future of that team, especially Wemby. They don't need touches taken away because KD wants to pour in 30 on any given night. And they'd have to give up too many good young players. No way I team him up with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota. He is firmly the alpha there. That is his team through and through. He is the face of the T'Wolves and there is no reason to rock the boat there at all. They'd also have to give up defense first guys, and that is their identity, with AE being a supernova on offense. The Rockets are building something fun and cool with their young core. Jalen Green, Alpernen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr are the reason to watch that team. And they already have solid vets in Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet. They have no reason to part with the young guys unless they want to shed future money. But why would they do that when they earned the two seed in the West last year? That would be foolish. And the Pistons getting in on this makes the least sense to me. They are young, they play rough, they had their best season in two decades and they seem to be up and coming. There is no reason whatsoever to break up that core and take the ball out of Cade Cunningham's hands. That would be a very bad decision by their front office.

I think, as unfortunate as it may be for KD, he is going to have to stay in Phoenix or take a big, big step back in his usage if they trade. I also do not think Phoenix will get the haul they might expect if they do trade him. KD is 37. He is hurt a lot. He gets angry way too fast and speaks his mind. As much as I like him, and will always love his game, he is on the wrong end of his prime and the time to walk away is going to be here much sooner than any of us think. I'm interested to see how this all plays out though. I'll be watching closely. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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R.I.P. Sly Stone

After what appeared to be a long battle with COPD, Sly Stone passed away yesterday.

This is not a shock, but a bummer to me. I recently wrote about the fantastic documentary "Sly Lives", and it seemed like his music was getting a big bump on streaming after the release. But, I do want to point out that in the coda of that movie, they got some recent interviews with Stone and he looked not so great. But, whenever a legend like this leaves this plane, it bums me out.

Sly Stone's music has been a big part of my life. Ever since I started to kind of form my own musical tastes, Sly and the Family Stone was a big jumping off point for me. I was instantly into the music. It was groovy and funky, then it could switch to dancy and then close out with some very introspective and important lyrical stuff. Sly and the Family Stone never really allowed themselves to ever be put into one genre of music, and this made their reach go to many, many different people. For me, a white kid from the suburbs, I instantly connected with the more funky stuff.

When I first learned of the band I was pretty heavily into Parliament Funkadelic and solo George Clinto stuff. A friend of mine mentioned Sly and the Family Stone, and I remembered my dad used to listen to them. I was familiar with the name, but not the music. Again, from the jump the music was perfect for me. I decided to listen at the perfect time in my life, and they have stuck with me all the way through to now. In fact, when I said something to my wife about Stone's passing, my son, who's 13, said that he knew who he was too. I asked him how, and he said that he has heard me listen to his stuff over and over in my car. I guess I'm doing what my dad did for me without even realizing it. And I'm very much okay with this. I like that my son knows of his music because he is a hip hop fan, and a bunch of hip hop artists either sight Sly Stone or have sampled a bunch of his stuff in their music. It is great for the both of us because we can relate to each other while listening to the music we like.

Outside of his band, and his many issues with drugs and alcohol, Stone was a wonderful radio DJ and producer. He was one of the best songwriters in the world in his heyday. Even after the band broke up, and he struggled with his solo stuff, I still find things I like about that era. Sly Stone could have, and would have made it in any era. With his talent and work ethic, he was destined to do something memorable and boy was his career and music memorable. I also appreciate that he was able to reunite with his family and kids later in his life. I have to imagine that helped him last longer than maybe he would have if he didn't reconcile with everyone.

This one stings. While it isn't on the level with Prince passing and RD's fandom, Sly Stone was my version of Prince. I listened to him before diving into Prince's catalog. Rest in Peace Sly Stone. I hope that wherever you are right now you are laying down some funky riffs and writing some extraterrestrial lyrics. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Olivia Rodrigo and David Byrne Team Up to Bring Some Light Into the World

With all the craziness that is happening in our world, and it seems to get worse every single day, I have been trying to find stuff, when I go online, that makes me smile. Last night, after reading about the terror happening in LA, I found myself watching concert videos on Instagram. Music makes me happy, especially live music. Throughout my thirty or so minutes of viewing, I happened upon the Governors Ball shows going on right now.

This is a big time festival type thing, with all of the most popular artists in music, past to present. I watched a good chunk of Tyler, the Creator's performance and loved it. And then I happened to stumble upon Olivia Rodrigo. I am a fan of hers. It is a joke in our house that I tell my wife I'm on Team Olivia because she enjoys Sabrina Carpenter more. She likes both artists, she just tends to listen to Carpenter more. I do genuinely prefer Rodrigo. I like her writing more and her music is a bit heavier and more guitar driven, which hits my ears best.

While watching her perform, and she was doing a great show it seemed, I happened to notice her band playing a tune very familiar to me. It sounded like "Burning Down the House". A few more seconds in, that was the song she was about to perform for sure. Then this older gentleman walked on stage with red overalls on. I thought that person looked a whole lot like David Bryne. I let my mind wander even more, thinking that it would be rad if she invited him to do this classic song with her and her band.  Sure enough, it was David Bryne and he was about to sing and dance on the same stage as Olivia Rodrigo. And it was awesome.

I must have rewatched that performance three or four times last night. It was so good. I loved hearing these two sing, with wildly different voices, singing one of the better songs that have ever been released. And, to give Bryne credit, he kind of held his own dancing alongside Rodrigo. It made my heart sing watching these two titans of their industry having a good time sharing the stage and giving one hell of a live performance.

After I watched it for the last time last night, I went to bed. Then I found myself thinking about it this morning, finally deciding that I wanted to write about it. I've already told you all why I liked the performance, but there is another thing I want to point out. I absolutely adore it when young pop/rock stars pay homage to the greats that came before them. What Rodrigo did last night, or whenever this show was, introduced a whole new generation to Talking Heads. There had to be young kids who had zero idea who David Bryne is, and now they have searched his music and are probably listening to his stuff right now. I love it that Talking Heads and Bryne's solo stuff is going to see a big, big bump in streaming and record sales simply because Rodrigo is a, most likely, big fan and had an opportunity to perform with Bryne. I think it is so cool that there are some younger kids who are professional musicians that understand the importance of a person like David Bryne. She is given him another moment to shine and show younger generations that their folks listen to some cool music. My kids are not the biggest fans of Talking Heads, but I bet if an artist they like used one of their songs or performed live with them they'd be more willing to take a second look.

I didn't really need a reason to like Olivia Rodrigo any more than I currently do, and then she invited a living legend to perform live on stage with her. This is so cool and I wish more and more current music stars would do more of the same. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The Steelers Signed the Wrong Quarterback

The Pittsburgh Steelers must have a death wish or something. I figured they would have kept one of Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, I would have kept Fields, but they let them both walk. And then they didn't draft a QB until the later rounds, and I would have been stunned if that dude started anyway. But now they have the unfortunate addition of Aaron Rodgers.

I don't get why teams keep giving this weirdo a chance. He is 40 now. He is coming off an achilles injury two years ago. He wasn't that good last season. He couldn't even make it work with Davante Adams. Yet the Steelers let the whole offseason drag on and on, with no real choice as the next starting QB, and let Aaron Rodgers dictate when he was going to sign with them.

Mike Tomlin is smarter than this. The front office should be smarter than this. The fans cannot be happy with this choice. I don't understand what people need to see from Rodgers, on and off to the field, to realize this dude is totally washed. He was washed in 2021 if you want my opinion. But nope, the Steelers seem to think he has one more run in him. I even saw a Bleacher Report article that had Rodgers and DK Metcalf next to one another and it said something to the tune of "how explosive will this offense be in 2025"? I couldn't help but laugh when I saw it. And, even though I don't usually read comments, the comment section did not disappoint. There were some solid ones on there, but the best was the most used, which read, "they will definitely have a top 32 offense". For those that don't know, there are 32 teams in the NFL. I love the simplicity of those comments.

Taking an even longer look at this signing, and how I think it plays out for Pittsburgh, Rodgers is going to get murdered behind their mediocre line in their division. The Bengals, while not the best defense, have guys that can rush the passer. The Ravens will not only be able to easily rush the passer, but the secondary will also be picking off passes left and right. And the Browns, while having a horrendous offense, do have a semi competent defense, and Myles Garrett should feast on the d line. Rodgers is going to be running for his life. Oh, that's right, he cannot run anymore. He is about as immobile as they come at the QB position. He can't really move too much behind the line anymore. That was a decent part of his game until 2020.

All the football stuff aside, Rodgers is going to be playing for another blue blood franchise with a heralded head coach. His diva stuff isn't going to fly in Pittsburgh. Russell Wilson had that image, yet we heard nothing about it last season, and Wilson kind of revamped himself a bit. Fields never really figured it out at his first stop, but he did a solid job of filling in for Wilson and turned it into a good deal with the Jets this offseason. The problem with Rodgers, he is so narcissistic and so egomaniacal. He only cares about himself. Everyone who does him wrong he considers an "enemy". He is a liar, a drug addict and has no one around him that isn't a yes man. Mike Tomlin is not going to have a good time dealing with Rodgers nonsense. Tomlin is not a yes man. He shouldn't have to deal with Aaron Rodgers bs. Tomlin is bigger and better than that. If I were him, I'd leave right now. He has done everything he can for Pittsburgh and he has earned the right to leave when he wants. And with this front office giving in to Rodgers and his cronies should be more than enough for Tomlin to hang it up.

I don't like this for Pittsburgh and I wish Aaron Rodgers would hang his cleats up. He is a diva and a nuisance now. He offers nothing in the way of making his team a true competitor. His career is as washed as his conspiracy theories. This is a bad, bad look for a defining NFL franchise. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Shredder Orpheus"

Last night my buddy Kirk and I went to the Arkadin for Strange Brew night. Strange Brew night is a theme night where some weird, bottom of the bin type cult movies are shown. And when I saw "bottom of the bin", I mean hidden gems. These movies are delightfully weird and low budget and perfect for a spot like the Arkadin. Last night's selection was a skateboarding movie from 1990 called "Shredder Orpheus".

The host opened by telling us a few things about the movie, and then we were on our way. "Shredder Orpheus" was low budget, featured no big time stars, was clearly made amongst friends and it was gloriously ridiculous. I was pretty much all in from the jump. "Shredder Orpheus" takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where television runs society. We have the EBN, Euthanasia Broadcasting Network, who kind of runs the world now. They try to control all the viewers and they want everyone to become zombies basically. We also have the people who live in the Gray Zone. These are the gutter punks and people who tend to do their own thing. They don't conform to modern society and they're happy about it. This is where we meet Scratch, a young kid and a former soldier, the narrator of the movie. We see the movie through their eyes at the start. The world is bad. It is gross. There's nothing to really do besides skate and play music. Scratch and the young kid are pretty good on their boards. And Scratch is one hell of a percussion player. Scratch does play the "drums" on old oil drums, but it still sounds pretty solid.

After a little backstory, we finally get introduced to Orpheus. He is the frontman of his band, The Shredders. I do want to say, I really dug the music in this movie. The music was described online as punk, but I got much more of a prog/alternative rock vibe. The guitar was rad. The drums too. I wasn't too keen on the singing, but I couldn't really hear any lyrics anyway. But the music is besides the point. Orpheus is in love with a dancer named Eurydice, and they do eventually get married. At the party after the ceremony, Eurydice is killed by some bad dudes in all white makeup. Now, some of you may be thinking that this story sounds familiar, and you're right. This is the filmmakers take on the Greek Tragedy about Orpheus. I did not know this was the case until Kirk told me before the movie. I think they did an okay enough job telling this story too. Anyway, after Eurydice dies, the movie follows the Greek Tragedy pretty well, with its own twists. The skateboarding was pretty cool in the movie when they did show it. That was my biggest critique of the movie, I wanted more skateboarding. But, when skateboarding was onscreen, it was cool. I also thought the portrayals of the Greek figures were solid. Hades and Persphonne were so odd and so wild and I really enjoyed their crazy execution onscreen. The females who couldn't believe Orpheus didn't love them were terrifying and nuts. Cerberus was horrifying and I liked that he was an elevator attendant. Orpheus' parents were solid comic relief. The people who worked for the EBN really gave it their all. But, for me, Orpheus' manager was far and away the best. He was odd, funny, loud, boisterous and made the most sense of anyone speaking in the movie. It wasn't a total surprise to me when I looked him up and saw that he has been steadily working ever since this movie, appearing in a single episode of many procedurals.

Finally, when I really thought about it, when Kirk and I talked about it afterward, this was the exact type of movie I want to see when going to the Arkadin on Strange Brew night. The host was awesome. The crowd was perfect. The setting was ideal. And now I'm going to search out more and more movies of this ilk. I really enjoy these oddities and I'm stoked to have a friend and a place to go watch this stuff. And of course I recommend seeing "Shredder Orpheus" if you can get your hands on it, or if a cool indie theater near you shows it. It has to be seen to be believed. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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What the Hell are the Knicks Doing?

Why, when the Knicks finally become a relevant team again, do they continue to do the same old nonsense. When I read that they had relieved Tom Thibodeau of his head coaching duties, I thought it was a misprint. It had to be a typo was the thought running through my brain.

Why would the Knicks let the head coach go that has given them the most success in 25 years? Without Thibs, they don't hire Rick Brunson and they don't acquire Jalen Brunson. Without Thibs, Mikail Bridges is still on the Nets, begging to be with the Knicks. Without Thibs, they don't pull the trigger and make the trade for Karl Anthony Towns last offseason. Without Thibs, the Knicks are not a perennial playoff contender. Without Thibs, the Knicks don't come close to sniffing the East Finals. I understand that a lot of other stuff led them to where they got this season, but the head coach was at the front of it all.

I cannot believe there were some legitimate sports writers applauding this move and saying it is a good thing for the sport. That is utterly absurd to me. I have had my issues with Tom Thibodeau in the past. I thought the Timberwolves were foolish to give him the role as GM as well as head coach when they hired him. I believe he plays his starters way too many minutes. I do think he takes every single regular season game too seriously. And I will go to my grave believing he was playing Derrick Rose way too much, and he sped up Rose's first bad knee injury. All of that is true, but so is the stuff I mentioned prior to that. And Thibs was the perfect fit in New York, especially with this roster and this coaching staff.

As for where they go from here, who knows. When I saw some early names being floated I laughed at some of them. Tom Izzo and John Calipari are college guys, and Calipari is only truly good at recruiting high school kids. His X's and O's coaching leaves a ton to be desired. Jay Wright seems way too comfortable on tv, and why would he want the headache of being the head man for the Knicks at this point in his life? Michael Malone, who I like, is pretty much a clone of Thibodeau, except he lets a few more of his bench players play. He is just as gruff and will fight even more with the front office. So who does this leave the Knicks left to search for? No one in a comfortable situation would leave to coach in New York. JB Bickerstaff has a good thing going in Detroit. Kenny Atkinson needs to prove he can win more than one playoff series with the Cavs. Steve Kerr may well retire whenever Steph leaves Golden State. Taylor Jenkins needs to take a less prestigious head job to get back on his feet. I just don't see already established head coaches jumping at this job.

I also have to mention the front office, most notably team owner James Dolan. Shouts out to RD for mentioning this to me earlier today. Who in the hell in their right mind would want to coach the Knicks while he still owns the team. He had to be the driving force in letting Tom Thibodeau go. I'm sure he made a bunch of excuses related to thinking Thibs didn't do a good job. Thibs did a great job. Like I said at the top, he made the Knicks relevant again for the first time since Carmelo Anthony was playing there.

I hate this new era with how cutthroat it is for coaches in the NBA. Guys, good guys who understand the game come and go so quickly now, and it is frustrating as hell. Unless the Knicks can get a younger version of Greg Popovich or Phil Jackson, they're going to take a major, major step back next year, and I bet they will miss Thibs so much more than they realize right now. This is crummy news and it is, dare I say, unfair to Tom Thibodeau. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty Listens to Ben Kweller's "Cover the Mirrors"

Ben Kweller released his latest album last Friday. I have been a fan of his since back when RD and I lived in a townhouse together. This was the early 2000's. He showed up on MTV2 one day, when they showed videos, and it blew me away. He played this power pop mixed with rock and even some folk that sang to me from the first moment I heard his voice. His band is great too, but there's something about Kweller's music that I really, really enjoy.

I have been listening and following his music ever since, even getting to see him live a few times, and he puts on a great live show. But, during the pandemic, he stopped making music for a bit. I had no idea what was going on. He went totally silent on social media and, in around 2023, the music just stopped. When I went and researched it a little more, I read some tragic news about him and his family. Their child was killed in an automobile accident. I cannot even fathom how upsetting and brutal that is for the surviving parents. It all made sense why he had stopped doing pretty much anything. I wouldn't have been shocked if he stopped right then and there. But he didn't. His new record, "Cover the Mirrors" is as tragic as it is awesome.

The record, from my three full listens to this point, is about dealing with the grief and anxiety and depression and everything that comes with losing a very close loved one. The record is heartbreaking. With each song it just seems to get sadder and sadder. But, in only a way that Ben Kweller can do, he finds ways to make some of the songs sound chipper and poppy. For example, "Optymistic" has a hard rocking vibe to the music. It's only when you listen to the lyrics you realize how sad the song truly is. "Oh Dorian" is about as heartbreaking as it gets, that was his kids' name, but it has this old school country/bluegrass vibe. It sounds like something he could have recorded on his wildly underrated "Changing Horses" album. But damn if that song doesn't choke me up every single time I hear it. Even a song like "Depression", which should tell you what exactly the song is about, has this groovy vibe throughout the whole song. And then we have the songs that are straight up sad through and through. "Going Insane" is a piano ballad that lets you know the vibe right off the bat, as it leads off the record. "Dollar Store" is tragic when you find out what he is saying in the song.

Look, this record is good because Ben Kweller is one of the best songwriters in the game right now. He knows how to write, how to put it to music and how to make it all sound so good in the final cut. He has always been one of the best writers out there. He also has a voice that works so well with how he writes and plays. But this record is truly, truly tragic. It is rough when you really break it down and read what each song is about. But I don't know what else you'd expect when you know how horrific his family's situation is at the moment. To Kweller's credit, he has gone on tour and been very open about everything. If anything, this record just solidifies how great of a musician Kweller is through and through. Yes, the record is sad, but I highly recommend it to everyone. Ben Kweller is one of the best. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Predicts the NBA Finals

The NBA Finals start on Thursday, and this is the most excited I've been to watch in a while. In fact, the only thing that would make this any better for me is if the Grizzlies were playing, but we all know that isn't going to happen until they shore some stuff up in the front office and with that team. Let’s discuss.

I think what is so intriguing for me now is that we have two new teams. The Thunder have been building for this, and this seemed like the most likely outcome for their immediate future. But the Pacers have come from nowhere, and that rules. I knew they were doing little things here and there to make their team better, but I never imagined they would be playing for a title in 2025. I love that, and that is why I'll be rooting for them to win the series. With that, and showing you all my hand, I will be doing a preview and prediction today.

This Finals is going to be fun for the basketball nerd in me. I love all the intricacies and how these teams play the game. I like how both teams are willing and able to make adjustments on the fly. Both teams have had their opponents throw everything at them during each team's run and that means we will get unfiltered, beautiful basketball. Or at least I hope that is what will happen.

When I look at the Thunder, they don't seem to have a weakness. People could say the offense can be boring and get bogged down by SGA, but he is the MVP, and he has done nothing but get better and better every year he has been in the NBA. It seems like he knows all the tricks, has all the tools and is beloved by his teammates. Lu Dort is a fire hydrant of a person, an okay enough three point shooter, and maybe the best perimeter defender in the league. J-Dub has been up and down offensively, but he is rock solid on the defensive end. Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein have been two of the best moves this front offense has ever made. They fit like gloves. Cason Wallace may not play much, but when he does, he makes it count. Chet Holmgren has been a fierce rim protector, and it looks like his shot is coming back. And this team goes 8 or 9, hell, maybe even 10 deep. That is so rare this deep into the playoffs, and it has shown that it helps. These dudes are always fresh.

The Pacers are not slouches though. Tyrese Haliburton has more than answered the bell. He has been magnetic to watch this whole run and he is fast becoming one of my favorite players. My son adores him as well. I love that he barely ever turns the ball over too. Myles Turner has been awesome. He deserves this more than anyone on this Pacers team. He has stuck with them through all the trade rumors and everything, and he has repaid them with a great playoff run. Pascal Siakim's defense is so important to this team, and his offense has been excellent. He is continuing to show how much of a star he is in this league. TJ McConnell is long in the tooth, but he is still a pest. Ben Mathurin has been kind of off during this run, but he is liable to go off at any time. Andrew Nembhard has been guarding the best guard on the other team pretty well, and he is making shots. The Pacers may not be as deep as the Thunder, but the guys that play run the offense to a hectic pace that is oddly beautiful, and the defense has done enough.

When I look at the teams side by side, it is tough for me not to pick the Thunder in every category. Their defense is loads better. Their offense, while not as frenetic and fun to watch, still puts up a ton of points. The coaching staff for the Thunder is overall better, even if Rick Carlisle is a better head coach than Mark Dagnault. As I mentioned at the top, I will be rooting for the Pacers. But, when I look at it with my basketball mind, it is hard for me not to pick the Thunder in a relative rout. This series reminds me a ton of the Pacers-Celtics East Finals from last season. The Pacers will make it look close, but in the end, the Thunder will win the Finals, and I see them doing it in five games. They have the better overall team. And SGA is going to add a Finals MVP to his regular season MVP too. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty Watches "The Rehearsal" Season 2 Finale

I finished the second season of "The Rehearsal" on Wednesday. When I tell you that I had no idea where this season was going to go, or if it was going to even work, my head was spinning that Nathan Fielder and crew were able to pull it off, and pull it off so damn well.

For those that might not know, "The Rehearsal" is Fielder's show on HBO where he lets people rehearse real life situations. For example, in season 1 there was a guy that told his trivia team that he had a master's degree. The twist, he didn't. So, he got involved with Fielder and Fielder set up an entire bar, hired actors, had the trivia night all played out and let the guy "rehearse" how he would tell his friends and teammates. And it was glorious to watch. Season 1 then veered off into a whole other direction, which they pulled off as well, and I was instantly in love with this show.

This season Fielder's mission was to find out why so many pilots and co-pilots don't talk before or after, or sometimes even during flights. He also wanted to find a way to stop plane crashes, and his crux was that the pilot and co-pilot need to be more willing to talk about everything while flying. But, as with pretty much everything Fielder does, he took it as far as he could and rehearsed the hell out of it all. He created a fake singing show to see how co-pilots gave feedback. He spent the season premiere having a co-pilot and his girlfriend work things out that dealt with their long distance relationship. He spent an entire episode becoming Sully Sullenberger. And when I say becoming him, he started out as a child in one of the wildest things I've ever watched on tv. He was even able to set up a co-pilot with an actor who was genuinely interested in him. He even got them to try and act out a kiss. And Fielder even found out what a big deal this show is to the autistic community, in an episode that showed how giving and helpful Fielder can be. But it all came to a glorious head with the season finale.

Spoiler alert, although I know many people already know what he has done by now, Fielder flew an actual Boeing 737 with actors on board. And we, the viewers, got to watch it in real time. The season finale started with a black screen that read, "2 years earlier". This is where we see Fielder go through a bunch of training on his way to becoming a licensed 737 airplane pilot. He did all the work. He studied. He learned everything there was to learn about flying a big plane, just so he could have a co-pilot up in the air with him and they could talk about whatever was on their minds. To see all this work, to see Fielder go through this training, to watch him mess up but keep at it, it was amazing. I couldn't believe what I was watching. When he went to land that 737, and I knew deep down that they wouldn't have shown it if it went bad, I was nervous watching him do all of it. And he did it so well. He did all of that so well that he got another job. Along with being a comedian/tv guy, Fielder now flies around with other people in abandoned 737's and brings them to many different countries. He is so trusted now that he can fly on these big planes with only one other pilot and return or bring jumbo jets to many far off places. I find myself being so utterly impressed with what he was able to accomplish with this show.

No one out there right now is doing what Fielder does. There are plenty of talented people who put in work, but they don't go to the degree that Fielder does. He is legitimately putting his money where his mouth is, and that is truly awesome.

I don't know if they'll do another season of "The Rehearsal". I don't know if they could top what they just accomplished. But if they do, I will be right there to watch it bated breath. I really, really do love this show and the work that Nathan Fielder does. He is one of a kind and he is putting out some of the best possible tv we have at the time. "The Rehearsal" is a true masterpiece in my opinion, and Nathan Fielder is one of the best doing tv right now. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Listens to Lola Young

Since my kids are on summer break now it is a little harder for me to listen to podcasts. I like to have the podcasts I listen to for myself. I usually listen while I am road running or driving in my car. But, with my kids in the car with me now, I just don't play them. They're exclusively being listened to on my runs now, and that's fine with me.

With the kids in the car, we are back to music, and that has its very own very special place in my heart. I love music. I always have and always will. Lately, Spotify is our streaming music platform of choice, I have been using the DJ function. I like this on Spotify because it takes me back to the days of listening to radio on a long car drive. The DJ also plays good stuff and gives me facts about my listening habits, which I find very interesting. Another feature on the DJ function that I enjoy, they will play stuff that it thinks I might like based on what I usually listen to. I'm sure other streaming platforms do the same, but I only know of Spotify because that's what I listen to. The hit rate with the DJ, for me, is probably about 70 percent. I usually like the stuff they recommend, but I also have kids who tend to skew some of my normal music. That's all well and good, but I'm not going to pick much John Williams music, he's a wonderful composer, when I'm driving around the neighborhood. Instrumental string music can get long and tired, for me, pretty quickly. But, one artist has been popping up on my DJ so much lately that I just decided I was going to check out their page.

The artist is Lola Young, and I'm kind of obsessed with what I have heard to this point. Young's voice is powerful. She can sing a bunch of different music it seems too. I have heard, to this point, a pop song, her voice in a rap song, some punk riffs and some straight forward rock. Her voice works with every single genre that I just listed. She gets in whatever the groove of the song is and totally nails the vocals. I like when she goes a little gruffer and raspy with her voice. That is when her music moves me the most when I listen. I also really enjoy the music in the background as she sings. There was one song earlier today that I heard that had a very cool piano riff that played throughout and it perfectly blended hip hop and rock, in a good way. This song was in no way akin to Limp Bizkit or Korn, any of that crummy 90's rap/rock. This was an actual good song that was rad to listen to as I was driving in my car. I also heard the punk stuff during what appeared to be a pop song, and then it took this turn that was unexpected, but pretty damn good. I looked her up just a bit and read that she does have some mental health stuff that has forced her to cancel shows. That bums me out, and I hope she is getting the help she needs because I want to hear more and more from her. I have been totally blown away by what I have heard to this point.

I am usually pretty tough on artists that I don't know anything about, but Lola Young has caught my attention and I will be listening to her a lot more in the near future. She rules, I love her voice and I cannot wait to dig deeper and deeper into her catalog. This was a great recommendation and you should check her out too. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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I Watched "The Apple"

Over the weekend I was finally able to watch "The Apple".

As many readers of the site already know, RD is a fan of this movie. Well, maybe not a fan so much as just interested in this weird and wild idea of this movie. I had never watched it before, but believe me, RD has let me know more than my fair share of what this movie is all about, on and off the screen. He has let others know about it as well I have to assume. But, he rented out a theater for a party and the invited guests, yours truly included on that list, got to watch it on the big screen, and I have some takes to get out in the ether. RD started off by giving us all a little presentation prior to the start of the movie about the plot and its personal meeting to him. Then we were off.

First and foremost, "The Apple" is a bad movie. I think that is the agreed upon review by the masses. The movie is nonsense. The musical numbers are long and can get boring quickly. The acting is subpar at best. The writing, and even more so, the direction is truly, truly awful. For a movie who's runtime is less than 90 minutes, it felt like it was dragging for a good portion during the middle. It is kind of a slog. I just needed to get that out there. This is unequivocally a bad movie. But, I learned a few things during our screening. I think I get what RD sees in this movie that he was trying to show us.

RD went to school for theater. He has a background in stage work. He knows that world better than I ever could imagine knowing it. I now see why he has a certain affinity for this movie. The sheer audacity of the filmmakers is right up there on the screen. The dancing numbers, while long, are not too bad. Some of the songs in the movie are rad. But, in RD's eyes, it makes sense why he watches it for the direction and the set up and how they tell their story. I could hear him on Sunday talking to his buddy about the stuff on screen, and their conversation flew over my head.

I also get why this movie has achieved its cult status. I'm a humongous fan of the Tommy Wiseau movie "The Room". That has a fanbase that is so unique and rabid towards the terribleness of that movie. I can see the same thing with "The Apple". I have to imagine that musical theater kids have a weird love for this movie. I can see people recreating it or acting it out amongst friends. The vibrant colors and big set pieces are more than enough to gain a fanbase from theater kids in my opinion. So, when my kid asked me the other night "how was the movie?". That was difficult to answer at first. But then I thought about the stuff I'm writing today and I told him that I was glad to see it, but it was a bad movie. I told him I was happy to see this movie that his uncle had been telling me about for years. I finally understood, at least a little bit, why he views this movie the way he does.

So, while "The Apple" is bad through and through, I get why Rd likes it and I understand the cult status this movie has built up over the years. Watch it if you'd like. It sure is a spectacle to see. 

Want to hear more about “The Apple”. Listen to this podcast

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Can The Thunder Be Beat?

After watching the Thunder-Timberwolves game last night, I don't think there is a team left that can compete with the Thunder. Let’s discuss.

The Thunder look like they might have a cakewalk through the finals no matter who the opponent ends up being. This is no disrespect to the Pacers, Knicks or Timberwolves. The Thunder look damn near unbeatable at the moment. They may have already had their toughest series, last round against the Nuggets. It took them seven games to dispose of Denver, but game seven of that series showed me pretty much all I needed to see. They had a rough first quarter in that game, and then they totally ran away with it. I believe they won that game by 30 plus points. And they have easily disposed of the Timberwolves in the first two games of the West Finals. I have been rooting for the Timberwolves ever since the Thunder cruised against my team in round one, the Grizzlies. I'm a big Anthony Edwards fan, Julius Randle has always had a fan in me and I like their head coach. But, there is little the T'Wolves can do because this Thunder team is deep, their defense is elite, they can score in a ton of ways and everything has led them to this moment.

The Thunder are relentless on both ends of the floor. I know people complain about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the fact that he may or may not "foul bait", but that is part of the modern game. If SGA can get to the line 10-12 times a game that is an extra 10-12 points per game for the team. That is smart basketball and every big time player does it in the league now. Until the refs decide to stop buying in, it is going to become more and more of an issue and every player will do it anyway. That is the current nature of the game.

SGA also happens to be awesome at basketball. He is the MVP after all. But it isn't just him. Lu Dort is a solid three point shooter, and one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. He is like a tank trying to move, and he is constantly going for the steal. Alex Caruso is much of the same, and he can guard anyone, be they a point guard or a center. He guarded Nikola Jokic in game seven of the last round. Chet Holmgren is still skin and bones, but the dude can block shots and make threes when given the chance. Aaron Wiggins is replicating what his brother did for the Warriors during their Finals run in 2022. Cason Wallace is earning big time minutes on the best team in the league as a rookie. He is a hound on defense and he is making great decisions on offense. Isaiah Joe is liable to hit three or four threes a night on very limited minutes. Isaiah Hartenstein was a massive addition last offseason, and that move is paying dividends at the best possible time. Jalen Williams has been kind of up and down during this run offensively, but he has brought it every night on defense, and when he is on offensively, you may as well call it a night if you are their opponent. Teams usually trim their roster down during the playoffs to six or maybe seven guys. The Thunder are still playing damn near ten dudes every night, thus keeping the integral players healthy, rested and ready when they need them most.

I'm in awe of the way they're playing right now, and it is primarily their defense. The offense has done enough, but the defense is literally winning them games. They're constantly in passing lanes, they go for steals all the time, they get blocks at a consistent rate, they hamper what the other team wants to do and they frustrate them to no end. They are showing everyone that defense truly wins titles.

The series, and playoffs for that matter, are far from over. But, it damn near looks inevitable that the Thunder will win the first title in their short run as a franchise. This team has made all the right moves, drafted good fits and hired the right coaches. All of that should end up with them winning the chip in a few short weeks. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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The Pacers are Crazy Good

I think the Pacers might be having a blessed season. I'm not all into that type of stuff, but after seeing what I saw last night, this team is having what one may refer to as a "miracle" run. Let’s discuss.

The Pacers have built a solid team over the years. They acquired Tyrese Haliburton in a trade. They drafted Myles Turner and Andrew Nembhard. They got Obi Toppin as a throw-in in a trade. They saw something in Aaron Nesmith that the Celtics didn't see. They hired Rick Carlisle after Dallas let him go. They have made the right move in pretty much every single area. But, it really boils down to the sheer fact that they got a guy like Haliburton. He is such a good point guard and leader of this team. He rarely turns the ball over. He always has high assist numbers. When he is not scoring, he is still a threat due to his excellent vision. And when he is making shots, he is as lethal as anyone in the league. But, after what I saw, after that shot last night, after how they erupted in the fourth quarter, this team is different.

For people that may not know, or have seen, go look at the shot Haliburton hit to send the game to overtime. If someone had hit a shot like that in rec or pickup basketball, I would just have chuckled in disbelief. Hell, if that goes in in a high school game, the crowd would be astonished. Haliburton did this in a playoff game. Even more, he did it in the East Finals. But it wasn't just that shot that makes me believe in this team. They can shoot the three with the best of them. Nesmith really got the ball rolling last night, and when his teammates saw him hitting shots, they followed in suit. This is a team that is never, ever out of a game. They are so good at shooting the three. They take them open or covered. They have no conscience. And it's everyone on that team. From Haliburton to Turner, who is their center, can shoot the rock. And they seem to all like playing basketball together. They genuinely seem to like one another, and it shows on the floor. They have a calmness to them as well. They don't get scared. They don't ever feel out of the game. Their defense has even gotten a little better throughout the season. And watching what they have done this playoff run, and last year for that matter, has made me a believer.

The Pacers have crushed the Bucks two years in a row. They have, for all intents and purposes, ended the Bucks run with Giannis. Last year, in the East Finals, while they got swept, the people involved with the Celtics said they were the toughest team they played. This season, after disposing of the Bucks in five, they obliterated the number 1 seeded Cavs. Sure, some of the Cavs main guys were hurt, but I don't think it would have mattered in the long run. The Pacers came out and stomped on the Cavs' throat. They would not let them up for air. And that is my main reason why I think they have a true shot at the title. When the Pacers get up, they don't let up. They don't just want to beat their opponent, they want to crush them. Anytime a team starts to make a push, it seems like the Pacers will hit three or four big time shots in a row and stop any momentum their opponent has. This is what title contending teams need nowadays, a killer instinct. The Pacers have that in waves.

I don't know if any team left can beat the Thunder, but I think the Pacers have the most legit, and best shot. However it ends, this Pacers team is fun and I want to see more of them. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty Watches "Love Death + Robots" Volume 4

I finished the fourth installment of "Love Death and Robots" yesterday. I was a little tepid going into the newest season due to some poor online reviews. But, I'm here to say, I really enjoyed this season. I felt like this season just continued what has made this show so cool and unique and unlike anything else on tv. I am a little surprised at the hate on the internet, but maybe I shouldn't be. People always want something to gripe about, and they use the internet as their soapbox to put their opinions that they should keep to themselves. That is unfortunately the world we live in today.

Anyway, I really liked this season. I finished it in two days because the episodes are so short and to the point. I found myself engaged in each episode. I really liked the whole marionette Red Hot Chili Peppers premiere. It was pretty cool to see a one song performance put into the world of "Love Death and Robots". I like that they went back to the miniature well with the second episode. I also liked the whole story of the alien invasion and how prone to guns and violence humans can be. "Spider Rose" was brutal and sweet. It made me want to get another pet too. I really appreciated how "400 Boys" was kind of a callback to "Attack the Block". They got some of the same people to do voices for the episode and the story was similar, except the aliens here were much different. And this episode was pretty damn violent. "The Other Large Thing" was funny and also showed how reliant we are on technology and robots. I also like that they got a few big names to do voices, and that the humans in this episode speak gibberish. It was a good look at how life could be if we get to this place. "Golgotha" was maybe the weakest episode for me, but I still found things I liked about it. I like that they did the animation and mixed it with real life people. They treaded water in both areas and they did a solid job in the end. I'm also a Rhys Darby fan, so anytime I get to see him onscreen is a good deal for me. "The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur" was rad. It was dark and bleak. It was bloody and gory. It had the best story for me all season. This might have been my favorite. "How Zeke Found Religion" was equally violent and dour as hell. It showed the true brutality of war, even if it was a hyperized version of the war. And while bleak, I found this one to be the best of the whole season. It wasn't my favorite, but it was the best. "Smart Appliances Stupid People" told us how some of the machines in our homes feel. This one had the most famous people doing voice work. It was my favorite animation. And it was funny as hell. I like when "Love Death and Robots" does a funny episode. While it is still dark, it is nice for them to take a break from all the bleakness. And "For He Can Creep" was so cool and so unlike other stuff on tv right now. I thought it was a fascinating look at how we rely on animals in our lives to take care of us. I also really enjoyed the animation here. It was old timey with some newer updated things.

All in all I thought they did a good job continuing how great of a show it is. I disagree with the online hate. I highly recommend this season and this show. It is good through and through. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Better Late than Never on "Run Lola Run"

I recently joined Letterboxd. I like the app. It is good because I can search a bunch of different posts and find movies I want to see but haven't yet. My watchlist is full of movies that I have wanted to watch and other movies that haven't come out yet. The majority of the movies I want to watch are older ones that have passed me by. There are a ton of older movies that, now that I'm older, I want to see. I have never seen a Kirosawa movie. There are a ton of Scorcese movies I've never watched due to my dislike of the movies of his I have seen. There are movies my brothers have talked about for years that I have never gotten around to. I decided to rectify that last weekend. One movie that kept popping up was "Run Lola Run".

I have heard about this movie for years. I believe RD used to talk about it a lot back in the day. I have seen "The Simpsons" episode that is a full parody of the movie. I have seen other people parody it as well. I always knew that it was about a woman running and trying to beat some kind of clock. But I have never watched it from start to finish. That all changed last Friday.

From the first shot, I was all in. This movie is totally awesome. It is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long, long time. For those that may not know, "Run Lola Run" is told in three different parts. The first is through Lola's eyes, the second is through her boyfriend's eyes, Manni, and the third is, spoiler alert, if they both made the right decision in this messed up situation. I liked every single part of this movie. The actor who played Lola was magnificent. She is so good, she owns every single moment she is on screen and, from what I read, the amount of running she was doing and how fast she was going, was a herculean task. I read that she insisted on wearing the Doc Martens her character wore. I also read that she smoked two packs a day. It doesn't show. It was rad to see. I also liked Manni. He did great work with just his face. He acted the hell out of this role, and he didn't have to say too much. What I liked most about this movie was the fate of the "common people" that Lola and Manni would run into. Another thing I liked how the movie would do almost a Polaroid picture break, and then give us some more Polaroids of what happened to these people in each scenario. It was very interesting, and had to be a new technique at the time. I also liked how the movie would switch from animation to real life. It was cool to see, and again, it had to be one of the first movies to do this. I also thought that the throughline story was pretty great. We get to see three different outcomes, and each has their own way to show what could happen. The first two are tragic, and the third is oddly comforting.

If you have never seen "Run Lola Run" I cannot recommend it enough. I'm so happy that I finally saw it myself. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The Latest Episode of "Ear Hustle" is Must Listen

I am a fan of the podcast "Ear Hustle". For those that don't know, "Ear Hustle" is about prison life. The hosts talk to people in and out of the system. One of the hosts, Earlonne Woods, was formerly incarcerated, but is now out. There are a few other contributing members who have been released as well. The other host, Nigel Poor, spends her free time volunteering at San Quentin Prison and has done a ton of work with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. They like to tell stories about prison life from all different angles. The one thing they don't really do, and I fully understand why, is talk about the crimes that the subjects have committed. They don't like to talk about that stuff, they'd rather focus on how they live day to day in the prison system. But, what they did last week was a change of format, and the episode they did was pretty heartbreaking and I will remember it for a very, very long time.

The most recent episode focused on women who have been incarcerated because they killed people while driving drunk. The subjects in this episode all drove drunk and took the lives of people and are now spending time in the prison system. This was a tough listen, but it was also fascinating to listen to. I like listening because this show brings me inside a world I hope to never be in ever. But, in the case of this episode, these people also didn't plan on spending any time in jail. They went out to let off steam one night, they drove drunk, which a ton of people do everyday, but they made the ultimate mistake and ended up having the worst night of their life.

The first guest talked about not even knowing where they were when they woke up. Earlonne Woods told the listeners that when people are in jail, but have to go to a hospital, they have a different set of rules. People in jail that are in the hospital cannot get up and move as they please. Visitors need to be allowed in by the people guarding the door. They can't know what is happening right away if they weren't coherent about what happened that led them to this place. It sounds like a nightmare. So, to hear people talk about this experience, and how scary it sounds, it was eye opening. They also talked to people who called themselves "murderers", and that was tough to hear. Ultimately though, they did murder these people. They took their lives away by driving drunk. They also had these people talk about how they are perceived in prison by other hardened criminals. That was shocking too. The other criminals would tell them that they were in there because of a mistake. That is wild to me.

Listening to this episode was fascinating for me. I don't drink, but I do know people who do, people very close to me. They have me to drive, which bails them out. But, it sounds like these people they talked to didn't have that option, or they chose to take the risks and paid the ultimate price. I cannot recommend this episode enough. "Ear Hustle" is a great podcast on its own, but this episode has stood out, especially for me. Give it a listen if you have the time. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Thoughts on Where Giannis Should Play Next

The Bucks have had two straight seasons full of injuries and unmet preseason expectations. Let’s discuss.

I thought, wrongly it now appears, that Dame and Giannis would make for a damn formidable duo. They have done that at times, but more often than not, they have been misused, poorly coached and, most often, injured. It hasn't worked out at all in Milwaukee. Jrue Holiday was a much more important piece, Khris Middleton never returned to form and the rest of the cast is old or a bad fit. Trading for Kyle Kuzma was also a very poor decision by this front office. This has not worked out. I was wrong.

So, for the first time in his career, it looks like Giannis may want out of Milwaukee. And I cannot blame him. A while back I wrote about how I'd love it if he stayed in Milwaukee for his whole career. I thought it would be cool for him to do it all in a small market. He has an MVP. He has a title. I'd pick him over any current player if I were starting a team today. I personally think he is the best current player in the NBA. He averages over 30 points per game. He gets 10 rebounds every game. And he is a wonderful defender. Giannis does it all, stays relatively quiet, he's confident, not cocky, his teammates seem to like him and he is a great, great basketball player. So, how everything has gone down since the Dame trade, maybe it is time for Giannis to be looking elsewhere to finish out his career. And I think there's one team where he could be a seamless and perfect fit.

I don't think that it's the Rockets. The Rockets can put together a nice package, but the fit in Houston with Giannis makes very little sense to me. The Rockets, for the most part, are young. Amen Thompson, Alpernen Sengun and Jalen Green are babies in NBA terms. So is Jabari Smith Jr. These are, and should be the core of this team going forward. They'd have to trade one, maybe two of those guys to get Giannis. That is a ton to part with from a team who was the two seed in the West this season. And, while they have picks to trade, with this team being good now, they're going to late first round picks. When/if the Bucks trade Giannis, they are going to have to try and recoup picks. They don't have many, and if they are going to do a rebuild, they need picks and they need those picks to be early/lottery picks. The Rockets are good now. Those picks won't be what the Bucks need/want.

I've heard both LA teams are in contention if Giannis asks out, but what do they have to truly offer the Bucks? The Clippers don't really have the young dudes the Bucks would want in a potential deal, and they don't have many picks either. The Lakers would have to part with their coveted 2027 and 2028 picks. They would also have to give up on Austin Reaves, who they love for some reason, and Dalton Knecht. No shade to Bronny James, but he doesn't command the trade market like Knecht. Outside those two guys, who are the Lakers willing/able to give up in a potential Giannis trade? Gabe Vincent is not the same player he was in the bubble. Rui Hachimura is wildly inconsistent. I don't think Reaves will do anything of note not playing with LeBron. It doesn't make sense for the Bucks to do a deal with the Lakers unless Luka or LeBron are in the trade.

The Knicks don't really need Giannis. This is no disrespect to Giannis. He will make any team he may go to instantly better. In the Knicks current case, they have a good team that makes sense. Everyone plays their role on this team and they play it really well. It all meshes and they don't need to rock the boat right now.

The team that makes the most sense, and if Giannis were to leave Milwaukee, I'd like to see him go to San Antonio. The Spurs could add Giannis to a lineup with DeAron Fox and Victor Webanyama. They wouldn't have to trade either of them. Giannis would speed up the Spurs timeline in an instant. He would give the new coach a much needed bump. Sure, the Spurs would have to give up the number 2 pick in the upcoming draft, maybe even the number 9 pick, and a player like Keldon Johnson or Devin Vassell. They may even have to throw in Jeremy Sochan. But, to get a guy like Giannis, and add him to a starting five that includes Wemby and Fox, holy hell does that make a formidable team. Wemby is already a top notch defender and his offense was beginning to blossom before he got hurt. Fox is fast and smart and a willing passer. Out of the three guys they may have to trade, let's say they get to keep Sochan. He adds a big ball handler and a ferocious rebounder. Or if they get to keep Vassell, they have a ready-made guard alongside Fox. They also may even get to keep Stephon Castle, who is coming off a Rookie of the Year win.

This makes too much sense if Giannis wants out of Milwaukee. The Spurs would shoot up the power rankings in an instant. And it keeps Giannis in a smallish market. If Giannis does eventually ask out, I hope he finds his way to San Antonio. That would be an ideal spot for him to finish out his NBA career, playing next to Wemby. That is a basketball match made in heaven. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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A Remembrance of Things Ed Hardy, Frosted Tips, and the Height of Reality Dating Shows

My wife and I have gone back and watched some of the older dating shows we devoured when we were first dating. Let’s discuss.

We started off with "Daisy of Love". That show was horrible, but endlessly watchable for the two of us. I found myself transporting back in time on this rewatch. We have also gone back and watched "Rock of Love" and "Flavor of Love". Those shows are a little better than "Daisy of Love", but they are still pretty awful. Bret Michaels had a moment in rock music. He was part of the whole hair band that played their version of metal music. Flavor Flav is the hype man for one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time, Public Enemy. Flav was part of something important. Public Enemy is a major group. They're all timers. And while Chuck D has continued his fight against injustice, Flav decided he needed to go on a VH1 dating show, and eventually do some programs with Brigette Nielsen. Oh well. We have just started to watch "I Love Money", which features contestants from the majority of the dating shows that appeared in VH1. "I Love Money" is just as bad as "Daisy of Love". The contestants on the show are dumb and make horrendous decisions over and over again. I also think it's hilarious that they seem to think they invented alliances on game shows. The show is a total mess, but I cannot stop watching.

That's what leads me to my topic of the day. I don't necessarily miss these shows, and I'm stoked they have never tried to revamp any of them, but these shows captured a certain moment in time. These shows were on in the early-ish 2010's, and even though it doesn't seem that long ago, rewatching these shows have brought back so many memories. The amount of Ed Hardy on these shows is wild. I forgot how ugly and ridiculous those clothes were/are, but the people on these shows were wearing it in droves. You can't look at the screen for more than a second before you see a big tiger and that diamond encrusted Ed Hardy logo. It is hideous. There's frosted tips as far as the eye can see. Every single dude seemed to have frosted tips back then. They would put way too much gel in their hair, spike their hair and then you'd see the off color top of their head. It was a look. I never had it, but I know plenty of people who did. I do not think it looks good, but damned if a bunch of people on VH1 dating shows weren't rocking that look. The amount of muscle dudes was wild too. I get it that sometimes muscles can look nice, but when you overdo it, it looks very, very bad. It is clear a ton of these dudes were on steroids, and it is so easy to pick them out of the lineup. We also had far too many dudes with cauliflower ears. I know that MMA and other kinds of fighting were popular at the time, but damn, clean yourself up better after each fight. The ears looked so horrific and filled with bacteria.

The thing I have noticed the most is all the contestants just angling for their own show. This was before being on the internet was all you needed to be famous, so these people were pulling out all the stops. These shows are supposed to be "reality" shows, but everyone plays a part and has a character. There's always the mean one, the nerdy one, the athlete and so on and so forth. There's not one single person that is genuinely being themself. This is the height of really bad, really scripted reality tv. And yet I cannot pull myself away.

I will continue to watch and I will continue to judge. I'm just happy that the streaming devices of today give me the option to watch again. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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