Ty Watches "Grand Crew" Season Two Finale and You Should Too

Season two of "Grand Crew" wrapped up last Friday. I watched the last two episodes of the season last night. Let’s discuss.

I really enjoyed how they closed out the second season. All the characters were given good arcs this season, I liked where everyone ended up and I would like to watch more. I really hope this show gets picked up for a third season. I feel like it is finding its stride right now. The show got consistently better from the pilot to now. Each actor is really nailing it, they do a wonderful job giving this ensemble separate storylines and the actors make this show so much fun to watch. I have written about the show before and it truly is a really solid throwback to sitcoms from the 90's. There are a plethora of jokes. The writing is top notch. The camaraderie on set seems genuine. I was overly impressed by what I watched last night, and for this whole second season quite frankly. And if it was still the 90's, there wouldn't be any doubt that it would be coming back for a third season.

"Grand Crew" is so much better than a good amount of shows that had multiple seasons in the 90's. But I fear not enough people are watching this show. I also fear people are catching it too late to matter when it streams on Peacock. I fully understand that that is what these networks want, but "Grand Crew" has the ability to have a long run. It is already a better show, in my opinion, than shows like "Young Sheldon" or pretty much anything on CBS. I truly believe it is NBC's best show right now. It is so much better than any reality show or dating show or gameshow. It is only outdone by shows on FX or premium cable. And those shows have free rein.

What makes "Grand Crew" a cut above is the fact they are pulling off so many jokes on a major network. Sitcoms usually do not get all the stuff off that they want. "Grand Crew" is seemingly doing what they want and that rules. I also love that they are giving more, lesser known, comedy people a shot on the show. Jacquis Neal had a two episode run this season. Colton Dunn was excellent in his run. Ronnie Adrian has been one of the funniest people on the whole show. They are giving funny, younger, unheard actors a real shot, and these actors are proving to be more than up to the task. As for the main characters, each and everyone of them is exceptional. They add so much to each other. They seem to like working with one another. They can play off one another. They can make joke after joke that hits each and every time. This is a stellar ensemble who can do great things with more chances.

"Grand Crew" is an excellent show. It is a throwback yet original show in every sense of the words. I hope it gets another season. The show has shown it deserves it. Go watch this show right now on Peacock. It is awesome and you will love it. I know I sure do. 

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 "Cocaine Bear"

I finally watched "Cocaine Bear" this weekend and it was everything I wanted it to be. The movie was violent, funny, silly, ridiculous and cool to see. I did not expect to see the best movie I have ever watched. I also did not expect to see the worst movie. It is what it is.

I saw what some critics had to say about the movie, but with certain critics you do not tend to take them seriously when they are talking about a movie like "Cocaine Bear". The movie is "based on a true story". Yes, a bear did ingest cocaine in the forest in the 80's, but not much is known about how that certain bear acted after ingesting said cocaine. This movie tries to give us a glimpse into what could happen if a bear were to ingest cocaine and go on a rampage. Elizabeth Banks did an exceptional job directing this odd, B movie. She knew exactly what she wanted and she gave it to us. I could say the same for the writers. I have to imagine, when asked to write a script about a bear ingesting cocaine, you kind of know what you are getting into. This movie didn't do any cliche stuff. Sure, there were good guys and bad guys. There were monologues. There was gore. But it was all done in fun and jest. I do not think anyone involved was taking this movie seriously.

Having said all of that, the actors did a tremendous job with the material they were given. And this cast is stacked with some very, very good actors. Matthew Rhys is in the very first scene and doesn't say a thing. But you see that he is doing something wrong and he is the reason why the cocaine ends up in the forest. Keri Russell is rocking the 80's clothing and doing a very good job of playing a distressed mother worried about her daughter. Her daughter, played by Brooklyn Prince is precocious, but not in a bad way. I enjoyed her journey. Her friend, played by Christian Convery, is goofy and funny and looks to be having a blast. He also has some great line reads. Margo Martindale is crushing it again as she does in every role she takes. She is so good as the park ranger. Jesse Tyler Ferguson is barely noticeable, but he is hilarious and his death scene is gruesome. The three punks who terrorize the ranger and the park are excellently cast and nail the job. And then we have O'Shea Jackson, Alden Ehrenreich and Ray Liotta. They are the drug guys in the movie. I do not know that anyone plays a better gangster than Liotta, may he rest in peace. Jackson has proven time and again how good of an actor he is, and he is excellent here. And Ehrenreich is the funniest part of the whole thing. His backstory and relationship with Liotta, who plays his dad, was hilarious. Isiah Whitlock Jr is great at playing a cop, and when he reads the line, "an apex predator on a whole lot of cocaine", I was in tears laughing. And Ayoola Smart, who was new to me, did a good job of being a good person gone bad. And then we have the bear. I mean, you could tell it was CGI, but it didn't matter. I loved how they made it seem like the bear knew exactly what it was doing. It felt like the bear had a plan. I was in for the fact that the bear wanted to continue to eat as much cocaine as it could get its hands on. The same can be said for the bear's cubs. They found some too and couldn't get enough. And the kills in this movie were gruesome and gross and, at times, hilarious. The music and mood of this movie, it takes place in the 80's, was pretty spot on.

I couldn't be happier with my decision to watch this movie. It was so perfect for what they were trying to do. My hat is off to Elizabeth Banks because she did a hell of a job directing something this wild. I whole heartedly recommend this movie. I may watch it again this week. 

Ty

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

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Jimmy Butler is a Playoff God

As all the NBA fans who read my blog have seen, I picked the Bucks to win the title this season. I thought they were the best team. They have the best player in the league. They had all their guys back pretty much fully healthy. They were the overall number 1 seed. They had home court throughout the playoffs. They were getting a seemingly disinterested Heat team. It all seemed in their favor. They even have the experience.

It didn't work out for Milwaukee. Giannis got hurt in game 1, missed two games and was not the same when he came back. Khris Middleton didn't look like himself. Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez looked tired. The bench didn't help at all. And the Heat saw this and took advantage. They jumped all over the Bucks. They played swarming defense. They made shots. Guy who barely played all year came in and did their job. This "bad news bears" esque squad came out, did what they do best and destroyed the Bucks. It only took them five games. They jumped out and got a stranglehold as soon as they could. It was jarring, but also kind of fun to watch.

Sure, I like the Bucks, Giannis is one of my favorite players, but this Heat team is fun when they are on. Kyle Lowry looked great in this series. He looked like the old Lowry. Kevin Love was tremendous off the bench. He looks like the missing ingredient. Duncan Robinson was one of the guys who barely saw the floor during the regular season, but due to injury, he was thrust in and did his job very well. Gabe Vincent was awesome. Max Struss looked good again. Erik Spoelstra was using every trick he had. And it all worked.

Yet the real killer in this series, the guy who always shows up when the lights are brightest, one of the most underrated players of all time, was Jimmy Butler. His series was amazing. This is some of the best basketball I have ever had the pleasure to watch. Butler was incredible and he did it all for the Heat. In the last two games he had 56 points and 46 points. He had decent assist numbers. He was rebounding the ball at a very high level. He was getting to the free throw line a bunch. He was making threes. He was guarding every star the Bucks have. Hell, he was insisting on it. He was making some of the wildest shots I've ever seen. This was a masterful performance by a guy that never gets mentioned when people talk about the best players in the league at this time. No one ever brings up Jimmy Butler. He is a better player right now than guys like Anthony Davis, Jamal Murray, Ja Morant, Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Jaylen Brown and James Harden. He is also a far, far superior playoff player still playing not named LeBron James. Butler is the heart and soul of this team. And when he is on, they are one of the best teams in the league. To watch what I just watched from him, I'm in awe. He was not going to let this team get beat. As soon as the Heat got a series lead, he smelled blood. And that is when Butler is at his best. I go back to his 56 point game as a point of reference. The Bucks seemed to be in control that whole game. I turned it back on near the end and the Bucks were up 10. They answered every shot. They never let it get too close, until Jimmy Butler decided it was time to take over. He made two big threes. He was getting to his spots. He hit every free throw he shot in the fourth quarter. He made plays in defense. And the Heat kept chipping away until they took the lead and eventually won. That would have been enough to cement him as an all time playoff great. But then he came out in game five, a closeout situation for them, and scored 46, looking every bit as good as he did in the previous game. Again, I was in awe. I couldn't believe my eyes. Jimmy Butler is amazing. He needs more shine.

Butler may rub some people the wrong way, but that dude shows up best when it matters most. Look at all the teams that let him go because they didn't like his "attitude". They are not as good as they were with him. Even the 76ers. Butler needs his shine and I will gladly drive this bandwagon. I may not be a fan of the Heat, but I am a superfan of Jimmy Butler. What a performance. 

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's 2023 NFL Draft Not Mock Draft

The first round of the NFL draft is tonight. This afternoon I'm going to do my version of a draft preview. I'm going to give you five prospects I really like, five I'm not so high on, and like a fanboy, I'm going to give you my favorite Michigan player and the one I think will have the best NFL career. This is not a mock draft or anything like that. This is my preview, what I see and where I would pick these players, or not pick. I'll get to the Miami Heat tomorrow, I promise.

This class is stacked with QB prospects. They are up and down the board. I have seen so many QB's being mocked in round 1, especially in the top 10. I like most of them, except who I will name in my second half today, but CJ Stroud is the best. I think he has all the intangibles that one could want. He is big, has a great arm, can run and looks the part. I don't buy into any of these "questions" surrounding him right now. All the Wonderlic stuff, and the test taking stuff doesn't matter to me. I watched him play a lot of football the past two years, and as much as it hurts the Michigan fan in, this dude is legit. He is the QB I would want most of all.

On the defensive side of the ball I am enamored with Will Anderson Jr from Alabama. He is this year's Aidan Hutchinson. He is an instant wrecker in the backfield. He is the most pro ready prospect. He is so big and so fast and so dominant. He may, and should, be the front runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year before even stepping on the field.

Devon Witherspoon is as legit a corner prospect as I have seen in awhile. I didn't know much about him until Illinois played Michigan this year, but I came away impressed with what I saw. He was shut down. Michigan stopped throwing his way. He was on an island because of the blitzing nature of their defense, but he more than lived up to the task. If the Lions somehow get him, their defense is going to be elite. This kid is awesome and any team inside the top 10 would be lucky to have him on their team.

I fully believe that Jordan Addison is the best wideout in this draft. He put up numbers at Pitt and USC. He won the Biletnikoff two seasons ago. He was the number one option for Caleb Williams last season. He is fast and sure handed. He reminds me of Devonta Smith. This kid can ball.

Finally, Jalen Carter is going to wreck stuff in the NFL. He is humongous. It will take two dudes to block him in his rookie year. He was massive for Georgia last season. He kept that defense dominant. He dominated the SEC for two straight years. This kid can really play and he is the second best d lineman behind only Anderson Jr in this draft.

Now for the guys I'm not so high on.

I mentioned all the QB's, Will Levis is not that dude. He is wildly overrated. I remember reading about another Kentucky QB who was going to save the NFL. That QB was Tim Couch. I get those vibes from Levis big time. He also puts mayo in his coffee. Gross.

I am not sold on Jaxson Smith Njigba. He was awesome in college, but he missed a ton of time last year and it didn't look like he was missed all that much. He is also very undersized. He also didn't really show out in prime time games. I don't know what it is with him, but I get a feeling he will not be much of an NFL player.

Zay Flowers is too little and played in a crap conference. I know smaller guys are getting more of a shot at wideout, especially in the slot, but Flowers is so, so small. He is only six inches taller than my 11 year old son. He is fast, and has good hands, but how will he react when he is exploded on by a defensive back with a head of steam? I hope he learns how to catch and fall, but 5'9 is 5'9. I'd love to be proven wrong, like how Barry Sanders proved everyone wrong, but the NFL is different now. That is so small.

Michael Mayer is too slow. I would see him run routes and blow up college defenses. But that was college, against ACC teams. He will be getting covered by the best linebackers and safeties in the world. And they will cut him down at the knees the moment he catches the ball. He won't be able to stay on the field in the NFL.

And then we have Lukas Van Ness. I mean, how many other Iowa defensive ends are we going to trust? They have one decent college season, get overdrafted and then are out of the league. How is Van Ness any different? He is not Micah Parsons, he is not Aidan Hutchinson or Travon Walker. He doesn't have that motor. I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole.

Back to good talk. As for my Michigan guy I like, it is Ronnie Bell. Bell was a guy who recovered from a very public drop to win a game four years ago to have his best season. He came back from a torn ACL and was the most productive receiver on the team last season. He was the veteran voice they needed in that locker room. He was an excellent and reliable punt returner. He was also the consummate team player. He did what was asked when it was asked and never complained. He is a Michigan legend in my eyes and I think he is going to have a long and fruitful NFL career. Wherever he gets drafted, that team is going to love him. He will probably start on special teams and continually work his way up to be his team's best slot receiver. I fully believe that.

Enjoy the draft and good luck to all the kids that will be picked over these next four days.

Ty

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

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The Austin Powers Movies are Comedy Classics

I was listening to some people discuss "Austin Powers" earlier today and it got me thinking. I loved those movies. I even kind of liked the third movie a little bit. I was instantly in on the movies, the characters and goofiness of the whole thing. I was also a big time "SNL" fan back in the day, so to see Mike Myers doing a skit based movie was all I needed. I get that Austin Powers was never on "SNL" also, but it would have worked had it been done on the show.

Hearing the people discuss it on the podcast really got me thinking. They asked each other if they had shown the movies to their kids yet. They hadn't and that got me thinking if I would show it to my kids. I think I would. The jokes would fly over their heads, and they may not be as into it as I would hope, but I think they might have fun with it. My son would probably be a bit more on board with it. He likes goofier stuff, just like me.

But that is not the point of my blog today. I think, since it has been nearly 30 years since the first movie was released, that the "Austin Powers" trilogy might be a tad underrated. This was the first time I heard other people around my age talking about the movie in probably a decade. I snuck into the first movie because I was so hyped to see it. I went to the second one on opening day and took my dad and brother to see the third when it came out. I was fully in on this franchise. I loved everything they did and were doing at the time. I thought that those movies were going to stand the test of time. And they have for me. But I don't think that is the case for everyone else. I also do not think this movie gets the recognition it rightfully deserves. There have always been parody movies. "Airplane", "Kentucky Fried Movie" and "Spaceballs" were out before "Austin Powers" came out. And I adore those movies. I am a fan. But "Austin Powers" really hammered home my love for these parody movies. It was joke after joke after joke and they were all hitting. I still refer to "Austin Powers" when I have to back out of a tight space in my car. People are still saying his lines to this day. I think these movies are just as memorable as "Borat" as far as quoting lines. I can turn on a random podcast and hear people say one of Austin's lines and it will make me laugh. But no one ever seems to mention the movie, or the fact that a bunch of parody movies came after people saw the success of "Austin Powers". "Austin Powers" also introduced me to a bunch of stars. I never knew who Elizabeth Hurley was before the first one. Heather Graham was in my consciousness, but this is far and away my favorite performance from here in the second movie. Beyonce was big, but not as big as she is now when she starred in the third movie. And then we have the guest stars. People like Rob Lowe, Mimi Rogers, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Will Ferrell, Seth Green, Vern Troyer, Mindy Sterling, Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Caine and Scott Aukermann just to name a few. That is quite the list if you ask me.

These movies work on every level. They are so good, so fun, so funny and perfect parody movies. They really opened my eyes to how good a true parody movie could be. I wish more people would recognize that these are some of the best comedies to ever be released. Go rewatch the movies and see for yourself. They are more than worth your time. 

Ty

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

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Aaron Rodgers is Finally Out of Green Bay

The Packers finally, mercifully, traded Aaron Rodgers. This was going to happen. We all knew it. Let’s discuss.

I wrote a few weeks back that the Packers should hold out for the best possible offer. But no matter what this was going down. I thought it may stretch into draft night, but that didn't happen. The Packers got a ton of picks, the Jets got the QB they wanted and kept a first round pick this year and everyone can wash their hands of this now. It happened, it is over, Jets fans are excited and Packers fans can move on.

As for the Jets, I think they may be a bit ahead of themselves right now. Rodgers is better than what they have, that is for sure. But he is 40. He is weird. He is a headcase. He thinks he runs the franchise he plays for. He complains about everything and everyone. It is never his fault, it is always on someone else. But he is still a solid QB, the Jets have a decent run game and their defense is elite. But they also play in the same division as the Dolphins and Bills. They are also in the same conference with the Chiefs, Bengals, Ravens and the aforementioned Bills. It is going to be tough. I am not even sure they are a playoff team. They will be better, but the fans may also get sick of Rodgers and his nonsense very, very fast. Also, I cannot wait for his dumbass to say something wild and watch the media in New York roast him. His response will be hilarious and interesting.

The Packers can finally go with Jordan Love. I have been saying they should do that for the past couple of years. I have been ready to move on for a while. I have been saying that I was ready for this team to see what they have with Love and figure out if they need to do something else or move on.

I am also happy to say to people that I am a Packers fan again. It felt dirty the past couple of years. When Rodgers showed his true colors I was turned off. He was being lionized by some in the media and that bummed me out too. I cannot stand Pat McAfee, and everytime Rodgers was on his show he would say something wild. And because I follow the Packers I would see headlines about it. I don't have to deal with that anymore. The Jets fans can have that. Look, it got bad enough with Rodgers the past couple of years that I contemplated rooting for a new team. I was thinking of going inter divisional and rooting for the Lions. I was also thinking about skipping out on the NFL all together until playoff time and just being even more focused on college football. I don't have to worry about that stuff anymore. I am oddly excited to see how they look with Jordan Love. I want to see if AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones become a more dynamic backfield. That rookie wideout they had last season who played really well, I like that he is still there. I could see them going with a wideout in the first round this year and building with youth. I'd love that. I also think they could get a QB in the later rounds this year to stash and learn. I also think that Green Bay is a desirable spot because of its history in the league.

This is the first time in a long time that I am pumped to watch the NFL and the Packers. I know, deep down, that they are going to be truly bad, but who cares. Every team goes through a phase like this. The Lions were very moribound. They look very good now. The Vikings won the division last year, but I could see a dip from them. And the Bears have been very bad, but they were a perennial playoff team just a few years ago, and I think they may be on the come up. It is now the Packers turn to have a down year. And who knows, maybe Love is legit and they stay relevant. That would be icing on the cake.

Anyway I'm glad it is over and we can all move on. Rodgers is a dummy and he is now the Jets problem. And Green Bay can really see what they have with Jordan Love. All the teams and fans win. Hooray. 

Ty

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

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Ty Plays "MLB The Show"

You all know I'm not the biggest video game player in the world. I like some of them, but I usually grow tired of them quickly and find myself goofing off on the game, or out and out not playing it at all. The only two video games that I currently play with any regularity are NBA 2k and Mario Kart. I will always love NCAA Football. That is the greatest video game ever in my opinion. And games like NBA Jam, NBA Street, early editions of Madden and Crash Bandicoot will always hold a place in my heart.

My son has gotten back into baseball as of late. His little league started, he has been not so afraid of the ball and he seems to be having fun. The other day he wanted to buy a baseball game but he didn't have enough money. Like any 11 year old, he got one of his grandparents to buy him the game as an "early 5th grade graduation" gift. That game is MLB The Show for the Nintendo Switch.

He instantly loved the game. He kept telling me to play the game. He had a friend over the other day, and that friend has no interest in sports, so he didn't want to play the game. My wife has zero interest and I can say the same for my daughter. But I finally relented. I decided I was ready to give it a try yesterday. I had some free time in the afternoon and loaded up the game.

I was shocked at how much I found myself enjoying the game. I do play it on the easiest level right now, so I can learn how to play. But what struck me was the smoothness of the gameplay. It is a little easier to hit and pitch. I can locate the ball where I want when I'm pitching. While hitting it is all about timing. The ball is going to be most likely over the plate, but you still have to time it properly and watch the ball. But having the sense that the pitch is going to be most likely over the plate, I am ready to swing. I love that.

During the pandemic I tried playing other baseball games. I got the new edition of RBI Baseball. That was next to impossible for me to hit. The pitches were fast and wild and just crazy. I tried older versions of games I used to like and they weren't the same. They were too easy or too tough. There was no in between. Then I just forgot about any baseball game really. I played one of my phone for a few months, but then I let that go because I was bored with it. But two games into MLB The Show I am in. I like this game. I like hitting and pitching equally. I am having fun figuring out who some of these new players are that my son is into. I barely know anything about the MLB anymore, and that is a bummer. I used to love baseball. It was the sport I played and followed the most. Then it got boring after I stopped playing. That meant the video games held no weight for me. But MLB The Show is different. It is cool. It is more fun. There is cooler stuff to do in the game. The whole creating a player feature is dope. I haven't gotten into that part yet, but my son has and he has shown me his player's progress. That is cool. Then I got to watch him play as his created player and the story surrounding the game was cool too.

I am in on this video game. It is changing my perception on baseball video games. I think, if they stay like this, they may make it in my limited video game rotation. MLB The Show is a very good, very fun sports video game. 

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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The League was Wrong to Suspend Draymond Green

The Warriors had a must win game last night and they did just that. They won the game. They won by a lot. And they made this series with the Kings look a whole lot different.

Things could've been much worse for the kings. Draymond Green was suspended for this game. I'm sure you all have seen or heard why he was suspended. He "stomped" on Domantas Sabonis, the league decided they needed to set an example and Green was the perfect person to do this with. He has a past. He has been suspended for big playoff games before. He is a noted agitator. Go ask Steven Adams or LeBron James. They will tell you exactly what you want to know about him. Green is a dirty player who makes no excuses for his dirty play. I am not a fan of his at all. One, he is a Michigan State grad. Two, he is a dickhead. Three, he has been uplifted by the perfect situation for his style of play and been surrounded by great players. But he has earned the right to be talked about as a hall of fame player. I think he belongs. I think he is a very important part of this Warriors dynasty. He is the modern unicorn and one of the best defensive players to ever play the game. He is also one of the smartest players to play the game. So the Warriors got lucky, they got the win with him out and they kept this series interesting. But I don't think he should have been suspended.

I think this was the wrong move by the NBA. I think they reacted too swiftly and didn't really think about all that went into the suspension. I think they saw the "stomp", they saw it was Draymond and they went from there. Hell, they said as much in their press release. But go back and watch the play. At first glance I thought Draymond was in the wrong and I believed he should have been ejected from that game. That would have been the best punishment the league could have given him and we all could have moved on from there. But when you go back and watch the play, Sabonis is clearly grabbing his leg. Draymond is trying to get back on defense, the Kings have been running the whole time so far, but his forward momentum was being impeded upon. Sabonis grabbed him and wouldn't let go. The "stomp" was a bit much, but put yourself in that situation. Sit back and think back to a rec game that you may have played in your lifetime. What would you do if someone was grabbing you? You'd find a way to get out of that hold I assume. I know I would wiggle my leg until I got free, and if that didn't work, I might resort to a "stomp". Again, what Draymond did to get free was dirty, and he was ejected, but how can you see this and not think that Sabonis had something to do with it? Sabonis is a dirty player himself. He throws elbows all the time. He whips the ball in people's faces and, as the Warriors stated, uses it as a weapon. He is always grabbing a kicking and trying to bait other guys into technical fouls. And it worked with Draymond the other night, but the suspension was uncalled for. Sabonis wasn't hurt. I know the team said he had "sternum contusions", but I don't buy that for a second. Draymond didn't "stomp" him that hard. And if they suspended Draymond why didn't they do anything to Sabonis? Why wasn't he suspended? Where is his fine? He didn't get a flagrant called on him. It is unfair.

The Warriors had every right to be upset. Draymond, again, a guy I personally do not enjoy, did not deserve this. Why make an example of him now? What good does that do? This was a bogus suspension and the NBA should be grateful it didn't mess up this fun series so far. Had the Warriors gone down 3-0 this would have a different tone today.

All in all the league needs to chill on this. The fact that Draymond got suspended for his "stomp", but neither Embiid nor Harden got suspended for what they did last night is a joke. This league, while great in most aspects, and is the best professional sports league by a wide margin, messed up here. They need to own up to this mistake and be better the next time. This was an unwarranted and unfair decision they ended up with. Luckily for them the Warriors won last night. 

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 Grizzlies Have a Dillon Brooks Problem

I am a Grizzlies fan. I adore that team. They have had their issues this year, and I have touched on them as have many other reputable websites and publications. They still fought their way to the 2 seed and beat the Lakers last night to even their round one series. They looked good without Ja, but make no mistake, they need need need Ja to win this series. But, Dillon Brooks needs to knock it the hell off. Let’s discuss.

If Brooks were on any other team I would loathe him. He talks nonstop. He is a good defender, but the way he talks you'd think he was the perennial DPOY. He is not. His teammate is the DPOY in fact. And the talking, outside of his defense, is not warranted. He is not a good offensive player. He cannot shoot the three with any consistency. He is a subpar passer. He takes worse half court shots than Russell Westbrook. When he rises up to shoot a three I find myself saying "bad shot" more often than not. I get why he starts, it makes sense within the construct of this roster. But the shit talking has got to slow down a bit.

I fully understand basketball is a game of talking. I have played it my whole life and I have shit talked a ton. That is part of the game. But this stuff with Brooks is becoming too much. He thinks he is Draymond Green, more on him tomorrow. But he is not. Draymond is a former DPOY. He is considered one of the greatest defensive players of all time. He has been an extremely integral part of a dynasty in Golden State. Draymond has earned the right to talk. Dillon Brooks has not. And watching him talk to LeBron during the game last night, and the interview afterward, it made me frustrated. LeBron doesn't need motivation. The dude has lived his whole career off of negative talk and motivation. LeBron has earned all he has gotten in the league. Say what you will about him joining a "super team", LeBron is the second greatest player of all time. So for Brooks to stare him down after a jump shot in the third quarter, stop. To clap in his face after LeBron called him a bum, that needs to stop. To constantly chirp at him during the game, that needs to stop. For him to say he likes "poking bears", and to say "he hasn't dropped 40 on me", just stop.

This is the stuff that drives me nuts. I like confidence, but this is cockiness from a guy that is not even close to deserving it at all. Brooks has not earned this place. He is trying to be villainous. My 11 year old son called him a "try hard" last night. I guess that means he is a poser. And I agree with him one hundred percent. LeBron is about to drop 40 on his ass. I wouldn't be shocked if he did it in game 3. LeBron is going to come into that game possesed. And the whole "poking bears" thing, that worries me the most. LeBron will use it. Anthony Davis will use it. D'Angelo Russell will use it. Austin Reaves will use it. Dennis Schroeder will use it. The whole team will use that quote as bulletin board material. And Brooks just won't shut the hell up. Desmond Bane talked some about Rui Hachumura after game one. Hachumura came out and did it again and Bane was quiet. Ja and JJJ and Steven Adams and the rest of the Grizzlies are being quiet, but Brooks is still running his trap.

I have no problem with him being on the team the rest of this year, but it is time to move on. I didn't want the team to trade him at the start of this season, but I'm all for it now. He is the type of trash talker that needs others to back him up. I don't want that type of player on my favorite team. Hopefully he proves me wrong and his talking works in this series. But I do not see that happening. He has poked the wrong bear. LeBron thrives in moments like this. I just hope Brooks trash talking doesn't ruin the Grizzlies postseason. My fingers are crossed. 

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.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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"Love is Blind" Is No Longer Worth Your Time

My wife is very much into the show "Love is Blind". I used to be into it as well, but the last season was boring, dull and filled with all the cliche things that dating shows now have. I barely watched any of this new season. My wife would put it on and I'd sink into my phone or the Switch or would just read. I would pop in and out to give a rude remark, but I stopped doing that after a while because it was no good for anyone.

This newest season came and went without much of any impact on, or even my wife honestly. She seemed into the season, but not like she was before. But she was ready for the reunion. A lot of people were. She set up her whole night so we could watch this live event at 7pm our time. We ate dinner early. She got cleaned up early. I got the kids cleaned up and sent them downstairs to watch tv together so they wouldn't bother my wife. She sat down, started to do her nails and went to turn on the livestream a little before 7pm.

There was a problem. I'm sure most of you know about the problem that occured. Netflix's live stream crashed. People couldn't get on the stream. Twitter was ablaze, so was Facebook. People were angry. For real angry. My wife was annoyed, but not so angry. But it kept stopping right at 25 percent. We saw the number on the screen and the spinning red circle and it never got past 25 percent. After a while my wife gave up. She waited about an hour and called it. I respect that about her. She wasn't going nuts, yelling about it, going online to complain. She waited as long as she deemed necessary and then watched other shows. She was content to wait until Monday. I didn't care either way. I got to watch the NBA playoffs, so I was pumped about that. But I did promise I'd watch the reunion with her on Monday.

And we did.

We watched for about an hour. The reunion special, this supposed massive live event that was riddled with problems, was 90 minutes long. That is far, far too long for any reality dating show reunion. None of these people are that important and the advice that they give out is god awful. I mean, why would any reasonable person take advice from these numbskulls is beyond me. But the people on the internet promised this reunion was "the most explosive one yet" and "incredibly revealing" and "endlessly watchable". It was none of that. And this is not just cynical old me talking. My wife kept stating how bored she felt. She kept asking for more. She wanted the tea to be spilled. She likes that stuff when it comes to reality shows. None of that happened. There was nothing shocking or explosive or revealing. It was dummies talking to other dummies about nonsense. I also find it disgusting that the people who go on these shows always complain about being filmed constantly and that things are taken out of proportion. They agreed to be on this show. Hell, they auditioned for it. They wanted the screen time, the supposed fame that comes with reality tv. They did not have to do this at all. Millions of people a day do not go on reality dating shows. So I have zero sympathy when they complain about how they look on tv. I have zero time for that.

I think what was most annoying about this whole "reunion event" was how boring and simple it was. There was no levity to it. There was nothing shocking or explosive. I cannot believe this is what crashed Netflix. Reality dating shows are a waste of time. I am getting to a point where most reality shows are of no consequence at all. They don't hold the weight they once did. I guess all of us are a bit more cynical now. But this "live" reunion was an absolute waste of time.

I want that 90 minutes back. It is my fault for watching I suppose. But, if you haven't watched, don't waste your time. It is nothing. Nothing but a bore.  

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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Ty Watches "Air"

Yesterday I went to see the movie "Air". This movie is very new to me. I didn't even know that this was being made. I had zero idea that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were together again, I definitely didn't know they were making a movie about Nike and I sure as hell had no idea it was about Nike signing Michael Jordan. This is all in my wheelhouse. I love movies like this. I read "Shoe Dog". I like when Affleck and Damon work together. And I am a Nike guy, even though I cannot wear their shoes anymore. So when I found a time that worked for me, I went to the theater to watch.

I loved this movie. Again, it is right in my zone. This is what I am into. I liked "Moneyball", and this movie reminds me so much of how that one was made. There is hardly any basketball in this movie. My son wants to see it. I had to explain to him that Michael Jordan is barely in this movie and you only ever hear him say "hello". This movie is all about the pursuit and eventual signing og Jordan. This movie is about the making of the first Air Jordan's. This movie is about the people behind the scenes and all the hard work and loops they had to go through to sign Jordan.

Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro. Say what you will about Vaccaro, but he was a revolutionary in the shoe game and he is a person I respect. Damon nailed it. From the opening scene to him gambling all the way through his endless pursuit to sign Jordan was pitch perfect. I bought him. I was in. I want to see more of this character, although Vaccaro is a real person. Affleck plays Phil Knight. Say what you will about Knight, and he has done a lot of wild stuff, the dude built an empire. Affleck played the newly minted millionaire version of Knight. He answered to the board. He was hesitant to take chances. He did a wonderful job playing this role in that time of Knight's life. I also bought into him giving in to Vaccaro's obsession near the end. Jason Bateman was incredible in this movie. He played Phil Strasser, who was one of the first bigwig basketball guys at Nike. Bateman played Strasser as a little more stated and quiet than he actually was, but it was needed to play off of Vaccaro. Bateman had his moments. He had some nice speeches. He has a great head of hair. All in all though, he was very good in his very understated role. He was the comic relief in this movie and he nailed it. Matthew Maher played Peter Moore. He is the creator of the first Air Jordan's. He also created the symbol that we now always see when you buy Jordan Brand products. He was a genius and he was portrayed as such here. Chris Tucker played Howard White, one of Jordan's best friends and close confidants. Tucker was so good. He embodied the person he was playing. I watched some videos of the guy he was and he nailed it. Marlon Wayans was only in one scene, as George Raveling, and the story about the "I Have a Dream" speech he gave was moving. Chris Messina was tremendous as Jordan's agent, David Falk. The back and forth between him and Vaccaro was spectacular. And then we have Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. She was the absolute star in this movie. She and Damon were amazing, but Davis' portrayal of Jordan's smart, savvy and brilliant mom was exquisite. I can see why Jordan said he wanted only her to play his mom. This cast is the only cast I feel could pull off a movie like this. They were all tremendous.

"Air" was great. I can watch movies like this all the time and never get bored of them. I like to see how the sausage is made if you will. I also like to see where everyone in the movie ended up. I know of Vaccaro, Jordan, his mom and Knight. But to read about Strasser, Falk, White and Moore, that is what I am here for. I am a sucker for biopics featuring a topic I love. I love basketball. MJ is the GOAT. Air Jordan's are the coolest basketball shoes ever. I am a Sonny Vaccaro fan. This movie had more than enough to keep my full attention.

Go check this movie out. It is more than worth your time. 

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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Ty Predicts the 2023 NBA Playoffs

I fully understand the NBA playoffs started this past weekend, but today I have my preview and predictions. The first game of the series does play the ground work, but these series are all just getting started. Seven games is a lot, and a ton can still happen. Some things went as expected and others did not. But the first round of the playoffs is always fun and I enjoyed watching games all weekend. With all that, let's get to the predictions.

I will start with the East.

The 1-8 has Milwaukee facing Miami. This series will be tougher than it looks on paper, especially now with Giannis having a bruise. His x rays were clear, but a bone bruise is still very painful. And Khris Middleton is still recovering from injury. But Tyler Herro got hurt yesterday. He is out for the full first round. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are more than capable of making this a tough series. But in the end I see the Bucks winning in six games. Giannis will play and he will dominate. The Bucks are too good.

The 2-7 matchup features Boston and Atlanta. I was kind of stunned when the Hawks beat the Heat in the play-in, but their reward is the Celtics. If game 1 is any indication, the Hawks will be on vacation pretty soon. Boston is too good, too long, too athletic and can shoot the rock. The Hawks have Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, but they haven't clicked all season. The Celtics are going to walk. I'll give the Hawks one game, at home. Celtics will win in five.

The 3-6 matchup is Philly and Brooklyn. Brooklyn made it by having a big cushion before they traded everyone. Mikail Bridges has been great. Cam Johnson is solid. But the Nets do not have a single person that can guard Joel Embiid. The 76ers have him, James Harden and Tobias Harris. They are also playing with a chip on their shoulders. They have a ton to prove. The 76ers need to show that they are for real. I think they will win the series in a sweep.

The 4-5 matchup pits the Knicks and Cavs. This is the best first round series. These two teams are a perfect match. Game 1 was awesome. I have a feeling the full series will be this way. I love that these 2 teams are relevant with their current rosters. This series is going the full seven games and I'm going with the Cavs. I cannot wait to watch more of this series.

This means I have the Bucks facing the Cavs and the Celtics facing the 76ers in the semis. The Bucks should be full by this time. They should have everyone they need. The Cavs will too, but they will most likely be worn down. I think they can get a game, hell, probably two. But the Bucks are too good and have been all year long. I got the Bucks in six.

The 76ers-Celtics series is going to be masterful. I cannot wait to watch. This is going to be epic. Both teams have a ton to prove. As much as I'd like to pick the 76ers, and I will be rooting for them, the Celtics are too damn good. And deep. And they are hitting shots. I have the Celtics in seven games.

That leaves me with the Celtics and Bucks in the East Finals. The 1 and 2 seeds. The two best teams in the NBA all season long. I like that they will match up to go to the Finals. I have the Bucks winning in seven. They have beaten the Celtics most when it mattered this season, and they have a ton to prove from last season. The Bucks will represent the East in the NBA Finals.

Now to the West.

The 1-8 features Denver and Minnesota. Denver kind of slumped to the end the year. Jokic is not the MVP. Jamal Murray is still kind of hurt and has never looked like himself all year. Michael Porter Jr is not the super duper star they thought. But the Wolves are even worse off. They have never gotten it together. They are hurt. They are missing Jaden McDaniels. Rudy Gobert is punching teammates. They are a total mess. The Nuggets are going to cruise. They will sweep the Wolves.

The 2-7 has my Memphis Grizz facing the Lakers. This is going to be a tough, fun series. Both teams match up pretty well. They each do things that will frustrate each other. This will be fun. Game 1 was good, until the very end, and I think that will be the case throughout. Although the Lakers are playing really well right now, I have the Grizzlies winning in seven. Sure, Ja may be hurt right now, but the Grizz have won a lot without him. The Lakers need LeBron James and AD fully healthy to make a real run. I wouldn't bet on that.

The 3-6 has Sacramento facing Golden State. The Warriors have been weird all year. They can't win on the road and can't be beat at home. There has been infighting and injuries. They have a full team. The Kings have been very good and solid all year. They may be the most solid team in the West. But they haven't been here in forever and the Warriors are the defending champs. This is going to be a fun series, but the Warriors will find a way to win one road game and win the series in seven.

The 4-5 is the best in the West. The Suns and Clippers are, on paper, the best teams in the conference. Game 1 was awesome too. It felt like a battle of the best. Kawhi and KD were trading buckets. Devin Booker and Russell Westbrook were going at one another. It was great. I think this will go seven games as well, and even though I picked the Clippers at the start of the season, I'm going with the Suns here. KD is whole and he is too damn good to not get his team out of round one.

That means the West Semis will feature Denver playing Phoenix and Memphis facing Golden State. These are great matchups. Much like the East, the four best teams in the West will be here. The Nuggets will not be able to guard the Suns. The Suns destroyed them last season with a myriad of mid range jumpers and Deander Ayton is more than capable of guarding Jokic. I have the Suns in five.

Memphis is going to finally beat the Warriors. They will finally do it. This series is going to feature a ton of trash talk and a ton of scoring. In the end, the Grizz have home court advantage and they will use that to win game seven in Memphis.

This leaves me with Memphis and Phoenix in the West Finals. The Grizz luck will run out here. As thrilling as it would be to see them get to the Finals, the Suns are too good and the Grizz will not be able to guard everyone. The Suns pulled the trigger on that KD trade at the deadline and that will propel them to the Finals.

So we have a rematch of the 2021 Finals, with the Bucks facing the Suns. And I see it playing out the same way. Giannis is going to eat. He will dominate this series. Jrue Holiday will not have to guard Chris Paul, so he will be able to focus on Devin Booker. The Bucks will throw a ton of dudes at KD. The Bucks are a better team than Phoenix and they will win the title in six games.

As for the MVP, who else would it be besides Giannis. He is the best player in the world and he will prove that tenfold.

There it is my 2023 NBA playoffs preview and prediction. Now enjoy the rest of the playoffs. 

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.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Go Get Yourself a Cast Iron Griddle

Recently my mother in law gave us a cast iron stove top griddle. I didn't think much of it at first. It was heavy and looked useful, but I did not know how much I'd use it. Well, I have been using that thing a ton. As has my wife.

This kitchen tool has become a big part of our cooking and I could not be any happier. This cast iron griddle is pretty awesome. My wife used it the other night to make pancakes. We had breakfast for dinner and pancakes are a big part of that meal. She decided to use the griddle and it was great. The pancakes had a nice crispy edge and there was extra flavor from previous meals. I clean the griddle, but some stuff stays no matter how hard you scrub. My wife made both plain and chocolate chip pancakes. Again, they were excellent. I have used the griddle to make fried eggs. They are dynamite. They have that same crispy edge the pancakes do. The yellow part of the egg tastes better. The color changes a bit, and that must be the added flavor from previous meals. It is a mess to clean up, but it is no worse than a waffle maker and it tastes just as good. My wife has done bacon on it before. My favorite thing to make on the griddle is smashburger. I love it. They are easy and delicious. Smashing the ground beef down and letting it griddle is the only way to cook a burger for me now. I have had them other ways, pan fried and barbecued, but the griddle is second to none. It gives it a better cook, a better flavor and melting cheese on the griddle is far easier than doing it any other way. My son has been digging them as much as I have lately.

I plan on trying many other foods on the griddle. I want to make sausage patties, like for breakfast. Bacon is already delicious on there, so who is to say that breakfast sausage patties won't be as well. I want to do veggies, fajita style on the griddle. I'd like to slice up a white onion, a bunch of peppers and some tomatoes and let them cook up on the griddle. I bet, with the right seasonings, it would be dynamite. I would also like to do carne asada and chicken breast strips on the same griddle. Again, I'm a big fajita fan, so cooking all the fajita stuff on a griddle would be ideal, and tasty. I'd like to take Pilsbury cinnamon rolls and try them on a griddle. I don't know if it would work, but if it did I bet it would be very satisfying. I've seen those pizzas you can do on a grill, so why not do that on the cast iron griddle? I'm sure it would work and I'm sure it would be dope. I'm even curious about doing white on a cast iron. I would have to assume it would cook like carne asada or chicken, you would just have to pay more attention so it doesn't stick.

Anyway, cast iron griddle cooking is the way to go in my home as of late. It is quick, easy and a simple enough clean up. The cast iron also doesn't go in the dishwasher, so you get extra flavors. For me that is enticing. If you don't have a cast iron griddle go out and buy one. They are definitely worth it. 

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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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "Dave": Season Three Premier

Season three of "Dave" premiered last week. I have not watched the newest episode yet, but I am here to say that this show is still at the top of its game. I was trying to figure out what FX was going to do with "Atlanta" going off the air. That was their hit show that was weird but still wonderful. It was able to toe the line. "Legion" took it too far. "DEVS" didn't get more than one season. "Boy Meets Girl" was canceled too soon. I watched parts of all of these shows, but "Atlanta" was the only one that really nailed it. They crushed it from start to finish. But after watching the season 3 premiere of "Dave", I am confident that FX has found their next show to really give their all too.

They are letting Dave Burd and all of his creative people around him do what they want how they want and it is really working out in their favor. The first season was surprisingly good and, at times, dramatic. I didn't see that coming, but it hooked me right away. I was here for it, and then some. The second season was filmed at the height of COVID, and it showed, but they pulled it off. The second season was odd. They had wild storylines. They had crazy and cool guest stars. And in the end, it all worked out really well. I still think about the Benny Blanco episode. I go back and rewatch the Rick Rubin episode, it wasn't really Rick Rubin, a bunch. And the episode with Dave's manager where he argues about trash can placement in the street, that was golden. But I was curious about this new season. I really wanted to know which direction they were going to go in.

When the premiere showed them on tour, I was stoked. The second season ended with Dave and GaTa going on tour together. The third season picks up on that tour, with Lil Dicky being the headliner. The first episode of season three was great. It was all about Dave trying to find real, true love. He is with a fan at the start and it goes well until it doesn't. GaTa tries to tell him to enjoy it. His manager is focused on the tour. His friend is filming a documentary about the tour. Dave explains to all of them that he wants true love, and we are off. They go to a party in small town Texas where Dave meets fans and, eventually, a possible partner. He likes this girl. She claims to not know who he is, that she just went to the show with a friend. Dave is interested and spends the rest of the night with her and her friends. It all turns out very weird and ends up with Dave telling all of the people about life on tour. He gets real with them. He tells him about it all, mainly all the warts. They don't care. They want to party. He eventually bounces when he realizes the girl is a true fan and that her friends are taking advantage of him. The ending of the premiere is great because of how odd it is. I loved it.

There was a second episode. This one was even better. Dave is filming a music video, and as always, he is wound extra tight. The whole episode is kind of chaotic and nuts. There is constant movement and tons of stuff happening. It is anxiety ridden in the best possible way. The episode unfolds and we find out that Dave is making a video about his first true love, who shows up and plays herself in the video. But it gets much deeper than that. Dave and the crush get into it. We find out things about each of their pasts. And the way they figure out the video, and how it all comes together is what I love about this show. Like I said, the whole episode is fast paced and moving, but it ends with grace. It is fitting. I was moved by what I saw.

"Dave" is a very good, very well made show. I love that FX has, seemingly, given the creators full reign to do what they want how they want. I highly recommend watching. They are doing something special here. Now I'm going to watch the third episode because I am so stoked to see where it goes from here. 

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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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

It's Time for Minnesota to Say Goodbye to the Rudy Gobert Experiment

I feel like I have to address the whole Rudy Gobert situation in Minnesota right now. I will do a full NBA playoff preview when the play in is done, but for now I want to talk about what happened the other night.

Rudy Gobert punched, well attempted to punch, Kyle Anderson on the bench during the final game of the regular season. This resulted in a suspension for last night's play in game against the Lakers. The Lakers won by the way. Gobert has come out and apologized, apparently he and Kyle Anderson have made up and they want to move forward. They do have another chance to make the playoffs if they beat the winner of the Pelicans-Thunder game tonight. But this whole season, and trade, has been a complete disaster for the Timberwolves.

I thought the trade was going to work. I figured they'd be a shoo in for the playoffs. I did not think they'd have to fight through the play in. I did not expect them to be 42-40 at season's end. I did not expect them to go scoreless in the last three minutes of the fourth quarter last night. I thought KAT and Gobert would work well together. Gobert is a great defensive player and KAT is a great scorer. It made sense to me. It never worked. They barely played together due to KAT's long term injury this season. But Gobert also took a major step back. He was not the all world defender he has been before. His pick and roll game has fallen off. He is a step slower. Anthony Edwards was asked to do far too much for this team. He is not ready to shoulder a load like that just yet. I am as big an Edwards fan as there is, but he needs more time to be the face of this team. He also had a great season by the way.

The signing of Kyle Anderson seemed fitting this offseason for the T'Wolves. I was bummed the Grizzlies didn't keep him. He is a good vet player who knows his role and speaks his mind. That seems to be the issue that caused the problem the other night. Anderson told Gobert to get some blocks. Gobert chastised him back and told Anderson to get more rebounds. Anderson started to yell back and Gobert decided he had enough. Apparently Gobert was playing through back spasms and he felt like his toughness was being called out. But to try to throw hands, come on dude.

Gobert seems to have a pattern. We all remember how he dealt with COVID. I mean, he is the match that lit the shut down of the NBA in 2020. He felt sick, swore up and down it wasn't COVID, touched a ton of mics, hugged teammates and laughed it off. Guess what? He had COVID. The season shut down. Donovan Mitchell tested positive shortly after all of this nonsense. His teammates came out and complained about his behavior. You could already see the cracks. I wrote back then that the Jazz were going to have to trade one or both of them. They eventually traded both and are doing a full rebuild. But then we have the on court issues with Gobert that I already mentioned. He also came out earlier this year and called out officials for being biased. I agree that refs are biased, but the T'Wolves have stars. They have players that fans want to watch. I could watch Anthony Edwards play all day long. And it is not like the teams he mentioned are world beaters. The Suns are the 4 seed. The Lakers are the 7 seed. They both can go all the way, but I assumed the T'Wolves could too. And now this punching incident. I do not know how the Wolves don't trade him at this point. They have to try and recoup something, anything from the trade this past offseason. The T'Wolves gave up so much. So many players and so many picks. The T'Wolves should try to get picks back. They have two stars, Edwards and KAT. They have a veteran point guard in Mike Conley. Naz Reid may be the best backup big in the league and he should be fully recovered from his injury in time for next season. Kyle Anderson is a more liked player, and that is now very clear. Gobert is not the answer. He may be toast in the league. His best days are clearly behind him, and he has some issues he needs to deal with.

I think it would be best for the T'Wolves to move on no matter what happens during the remainder of the play in. This trade has already run its course and it was not good. The Timberwolves must keep KAT and Edwards and build from there. That would be the best for this franchise's future. 

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.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

The Paintball Episode of "Community" is Still Classic Comedy

I've been rewatching "Community" in my down time lately. The show holds up. It is just as funny as the first time I saw it. The writing is top notch. The acting is great. The people this show introduced me to are pretty wonderful. I knew of, barely, Donald Glover. He is now one of my favorite pop culture icons. I also knew of Joel McHale. He really shines in this show. This was the perfect way to use his talents. Chevy Chase is Chevy Chase, but he too has his moments here. The show gave me my intro to Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown and Danny Pudi. They are all excellent in their own way, and they have all gone on to do some pretty great things. Oh, and please don't let me forget Ken Jeong. He is a revelation here.

Anyway, the other day while watching the initial paintball episode came on. I remembered this episode fondly. But I thought maybe it was just a different time in the world and maybe the more cynical side of me was going to rear its ugly head. I am here to say, this episode absolutely, 100 percent holds up. I found myself just as engrossed as I was the first time. Certain things would happen and it would flood back as a great memory. The episode works so well and it comes on so sudden.

The ep starts out like most "Community" episodes, but it delves into something so much different and amazing. When Jeff, McHale, goes to his car to nap, and then it says "1 hour later", it becomes something completely different. The show has the feel of a post-apocalyptic half hour. The camera changes. It looks dimmer and darker. When Jeff is walking around campus we all see people splattered with paint. He speaks to a student and the student fills him in on what has happened in the past hour. It is an amazing monologue from a bit actor on the show. From here on out it follows post-apocalyptic cliches, but does it so much better than most shows that are actually in that genre. Troy and Abed find him and take him in. They have a great talk off about what they should do. They also act like they are going to turn on one another, but never do. It is classic, but it is also hilarious. Troy and Abed are an excellent duo and they riff off one another so well. This episode is one of the best examples of their chemistry. When they meet up with the ladies in the bathroom it just gets better from there. From Troy trying to team up with Shirley, to Abed living his life through TV, to them using Pierce to get away from some intruders, to Britta and Jeff vying to help Shirley and then hooking up. It is all there and it all works to perfection. Even in the end, when everyone is out of the game except for Jeff, he doesn't have some epic speech about winning, he goes to the dean's office and demands to know why he did what he did and kind of goes nuts. It is too perfect. I also enjoyed the hell out of the way he got the dean with a paintball to the head and the dean didn't even flinch. When they see everyone cleaning up the day after the paintball game the camera goes back to normal and everything seems all normal again, except for the tension between Britta and Jeff.

This episode is so wonderful and so perfect and hits all the right notes. I actually feel like it is kind of underrated now. When it first came out it was this instant internet classic. People kept it in the consciousness for a bit, but I haven't heard much about it anymore. I'm here to try and change that the best way I can. Go watch this episode. In fact, go watch the entire series, well maybe up until Donald Glover leaves, and remind yourself how dope this show was. "Community" is a classic and it should be revered as such. And this paintball episode is perfect.

Ty

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

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My Adventures in Pickling

At the start of quarantine I got into pickling veggies. I needed something new to do, something different and something to occupy my time. I also got into cooking, what else could we do, and I found I really liked it.

Pickling became a big deal to me. I don't know why, but I get joy out of doing it. It comforts me and I have liked finding new things to pickle. One time my daughter and I even pickled a pickle. It was terrible, but we gave it a try. Whenever we do our veggie garden I like to try and pickle some of the veggies. I have done it with jalapenos and carrots most notably. I have also been into mini cucumbers lately, and I had to pickle some of those the other day. So I guess I am making my own pickles now.

The thing I like to pickle the most is red onions. I have tried yellow, white and now red onions. I have even contemplated doing those small onions they use on cooking shows, but I have not jumped into that quite yet. But the red onions are the absolute best. I think it is the sweetness that makes them taste the best. The white onions do get the pickle flavor, but they are kind of bland, as far as that taste goes. I could say the same thing about yellow onions. While they taste a little better, they still do not hold the same weight that red onions do. Pickled red onions make for the best accompaniment to some dinner dishes. I have found myself adding them to smash burgers I make at home. I used to do just pickles and sliced, fresh red onion, but pickled red onions have overtaken them all. I do not even need pickles on the burgers anymore. I love adding them to veggies. Whenever we roast veggies at home, and I have pickled onions on hand, I am almost certain to add them. It adds a little oomph. When I make steak I like to use compound butter and blue cheese. If I am feeling really risky, I'll add both of those and some pickled red onions. I love them in salad. The first time I had them was at a restaurant in Evanston with beets and goat cheese. We have done that multiple times at home now and it is amazing. I am a big fan, especially with the goat cheese. It is a great compliment to the heat from the roasted beets.

I have also tried many different pickling liquid recipes. I've done the classic vinegar, water and sugar. That is a classic for a reason. I've used rice vinegar and that adds nice acid. I sometimes use Splenda instead of real sugar and it tastes almost identical.

Today I tried something different though, and I cannot wait to taste them tomorrow. I simply googled "best pickling liquid recipe", and a ton of stuff came up. There were some recipes that were wildly complicated, others that were almost too simple. I decided to do one where I heated up the liquid and then let it cool completely. I have never done this before. I used red wine vinegar, water, smoked salt, real sugar, fennel seeds, ground mustard and ginger and whole black peppercorn. I heated it up over high heat until all the sugar and salt dissolved. I would stir periodically and then I let it fully cool down. I have since added it to the onions and now we wait. I am really amped about this new recipe I found online and I cannot wait to try them. My house does smell like pickling liquid, but that will go away soon, I hope. But that is not a bad price if these pickled red onions taste as excellent as they look in my fridge right now. Time will tell.

I want to close by saying, go pickle some veggies. It is fun, rewarding and they are tasty as hell when you find a recipe you like. I'm a fan and I think you could be as well. Pickling veggies is dope. 

Ty

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

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Losing Hunter Dickinson will Make Michigan Basketball Better

Michigan struggled on the basketball floor this season. Their women's team was good, but the men's team was wildly inconsistent. They never closed teams out. They had plenty of opportunities to get signature wins and they found ways to blow it. They never had a complete lineup. They lost games they never should have, let teams like Eastern Michigan stay in games way too long that they eventually won and they couldn't beat the good teams.

With a bad season there was a lot of blame to go around. Most people turned to Juwan Howard, but I do not put much of the blame on him or his staff. I do think the time is ticking, I'd give him two more seasons to turn it around. I turn to some of the players on this team. I think some of the guys that were counted on to be leaders got too big in their britches and thought they were better than they actually are. This team had no urgency. They had no killer instinct. They never showed the will to stomp an opponent out. That falls on players to me, especially now that I am a basketball coach. As much as I would love to go play, I can't. I'm too old and too out of shape. But the players play. The players are supposed to be the ones to take the coach's vision and show it on the floor. Michigan didn't do that. They took too many threes, couldn't rebound or get stops and they played too much individual basketball. Jett Howard wanted to average 20 a game. Kobe Bufkin was asked to do too much, mainly coming from teammates. And Hunter Dickinson only cared about double doubles.

Look, I get the hate surrounding Hunter Dickinson. He is an asshole. He is a jerk. He pops off at the mouth too much. He is soft. But he was Michigan's offense, and he was a Wolverine, so I rooted for him. But he endlessly frustrated me as a fan. He would do these amazing things in the post on offense. His jump hook was unguardable. He was a very good passer out of the post. He could, sometimes, fire himself up and he would throw down on dudes. But he was not a solid defensive rebounder. He was a below average post defender. Opponents would take their big man, who usually outweighed Dickinson, and that guy would cook against him in the post. It felt like all it took was one bump to the chest and Dickinson was done. He was also a very poor help defender. For a 7 footer, he gave up far too many uncontested layups and didn't block a ton of shots. So when he announced he was going into the transfer portal about a week ago I was stunned for a second, but I moved on pretty quick. I mean, the entire offense was built around his style of play. He was the driver of the car. He was the focal point for opposing defenses. So for him to transfer, it felt odd.

After my intial shock I then I thought about the other stuff. The defense. The lack of rebounding. The lack of intensity when he wasn't getting touches. The dumbass things he would say in pre and post game interviews. And I kind of moved on. I figured, oh well, let's get ready for the Tarris Reed era of Michigan big men.

I really like Reed's game by the way, and he is a bruiser in every sense of the word. There is still a possibility of him coming back to Michigan, and if he does I will root for him. But if he does leave, I will not be too disappointed. He was a Michigan great. He will go down in the pantheon of Michigan basketball players. But I miss guys like Jordan Morgan, Mo Wagner and Robert Traylor. Those big men did the dirty work and did it with pride. I see that potential in a guy like Tarris Reed. Michigan also got a 6'10 kid from Seton Hall in the portal. And they were able to snag Caleb Love from UNC. That kid has loads of potential. Add on Nimari Burnett and the two recruits they have coming in, I'm a little more excited by what the Michigan men's basketball team has for next season.

In the end I look at Dickinson's posible transfer as addition by subtraction. The basketball team may not be handcuffed in trying to get Dickinson more involved. Maybe they can run some more. Maybe they will play a little faster. All of that sounds way better than what I watched last season. 

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 Codefendants

I mentioned that I was going to write about two new musical artists I have been listening to recently. The second one I will talk about is happening today.

My buddy Kirk, sometimes a contributor to the site and podcast, go running together pretty much every weekend. I look forward to these runs for a myriad of reasons. It is one of the best times of the week for me when we meet up and go outside. We talk about a bunch of stuff when we are out there. It is a great space to vent, catch up and talk about new stuff, or even old stuff, that we are into at the time. One subject that comes up a ton is music. Kirk and I are both music lovers, and the genres we listen to, we are very passionate about. We have some similar interests, but he is more of a punk rock fan and I am more of a hip hop fan. Last weekend when we were out he told me about a new group that he was listening to who he thought I might dig. When I asked him why he thought I'd enjoy it he told me that it was hip hop adjacent. I was intrigued.

Kirk is a NOFX fan. We have talked about the band a good amount. I knew of them when I was younger, but I've grown to know more due to these conversations we have had. He mentioned to me that Fat Mike, a NOFX member, had started a new genre of music called "crime wave". The genre name is rad, and after some research I found out that Fat Mike came up with the term. Kirk also let me know that there was a hip hop artist involved with the new band, and that the other members were pretty good instrumentalists. My family went downtown to watch my son sing the anthem with his school choir and on the way I decided I was going to listen to the band Codefendants.

I was instantly struck by the music. The first song I listened to is called "Fast Ones". It does not start as a punk or hip hop song. Someone is reading poetry over a drum beat. Then it gets more hip hop. A bass comes in and the drum beat gets more rap like. Then the whole group comes in and the song sounds full. It worked. I was hooked. I found myself nodding along like I had heard the song a million times. I was ready for whatever Codefendants had for me.

What I have found that I like most about this band is how different each song sounds. "Fast Ones" is pretty much straight forward hip hop, with a few distinct changes. But the other songs I have heard fluctuate. They have strings in their music. They have a song that has an orchestra playing behind them. They play acoustic music. There is punk. There is rock. They expand genres and that makes them great. The mere fact that they are not handcuffing themselves to one genre is what makes them so intriguing to me. Most artists I listen to stick to their genre. The Black Keys are rock. Kendrick Lamar is hip hop. Gary Clark Jr is blues/rock. But Codefendants can do all of that, and more. This is a talented group of vocalists and musicians. I have been endlessly fascinated by how different each song sounds with each listen. It almost feels like I am hearing new music each time. It amazes me how I can find something new and different I like each time.

These new artists I have been introduced to have been great for me personally. It is getting me out of this music rut I am in. I am forever grateful for advice on new artists to listen to. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go listen to Tobe Nwigwe and The Codefendants for a while longer. You should do 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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Ty Listens to Tobe Nwigwe

At the start of the year I made it a point to find new music to listen to. I have been stuck in a rut and I want to get out of it. So far it has been kind of at an impasse, but the past week there has been a change. Thanks to a friend of mine and watching Instagram reels, I have been listening to two new artists that I am really into and I will be spending the next two days talking about each of them. The first one is Tobe Nwigwe.

I was watching Instagram reels the other night, my wife is on a work trip and I have trouble sleeping and watching videos helps me doze off, and I stumbled upon Tobe Nwigwe. The song I heard was called "BRAVO" and it struck me immediately. The video was a tight closeup of his face and he was rapping. I was struck by his voice and the way he flowed. It hit me right off the bat. I dug it right away. I followed him right away and started listening to his catalog on Spotify the very next day. I have been primarily listening to his music, and the artist I will talk about tomorrow, exclusively.

I am really into Nwigwe. He is a Houston born rapper and he has that Houston style, but sped up. You can tell he has the drawl, but the way he raps is really good. His lyrics are packed with words and the words mean something. He isn't rapping about money and chains and cars. Nwigwe is really talking about something. He is putting himself out there and he is nailing it. I took to doing some internet research on him and was very pleased to find out he seems like a very good dude. He was a former football player who had to stop playing after college due to an injury. Instead of letting this sidetrack him he started a non-profit. He worked at that for a long while and then met and started dating his now wife. They decided to do music and they kind of blew up during the height of the pandemic. Now that I know who he is I can remember people sharing a video of him early on in the pandemic that struck me but I never followed up on it. I regret that now. I have since listened to almost his entire catalog and I cannot get enough of it. I mentioned his rap style and that is what makes it so easy to listen to. He is a master at what he does. The beats are an added bonus. The beats are awesome. They are easy to vibe to. They make you want to nod along. I have found myself exclaiming how dope the beats are when I am listening alone in my car. And that is a big deal to me. When I can talk to no one about how great the music I am listening to, that is the best compliment I can give an artist I have just discovered. I find myself, when listening to Nwigwe, having the same feelings as I did when I first heard Run the Jewels. I find myself craving it. I find myself humming the music during the day. My son and I were driving home from his baseball game last night and he was vibing along with me. I love that. I want him to listen to better hip hop and him vibing to Tobe Nwigwe is a good sign. I also read that Michelle Obama is a big fan, which is a humongous feather in his hat.

Go check out Tobe Nwigwe. He is doing something really cool that is also pretty important. I am going to go listen to some more of his music now. I suggest you do the same. 

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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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.