What’s better than a regular flash mob? That’s right – a Hammer dance flash mob. This group of people strapped on gold Hammer pants and infiltrated a trendy Los Angeles clothing store to the great surprise of many a skinny-jeaned hipster. I guess this is the kind of awesome stuff that happens when everybody’s unemployed…

It’s not a Kobe/Lebron matchup as many fans (and NBA commissioner David Stern) may have pined for, but tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic square off in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. While the Lakers may be the favorite to win the series, they did come up short against the Magic during the regular season–dropping both meetings. So who will get their first NBA title…Adam Morrison or J.J. Redick? Let’s find out as we preview the 2009 NBA Finals. (more…)

The Arizona Diamondbacks have just officially signed free agent pitcher Jon Garland.  Garland will now step into his comfortable number-three hole to balance a top-heavy staring rotation featuring Brandon Webb and Dan Haren.  Given his previous postseason success with the 2005 champion Chicago White Sox, he adds another dimension to this team aching to get back to the World Series for the first time since 2001.

But is the Garland signing enough?  Sure, Garland is solid.  In the hitter-friendly American League, Garland has posted a career mark of 106-89 with a 4.47 ERA.  Most notable about Garland is his consistency and unflappable calm on the hill during pressure situations, as he has made at least 32 starts and pitched 191 innings in each of his last seven seasons. (more…)

Following a disappointing season that saw the Yankees fail to reach the postseason for the first time since 1993, amidst the festivities of the final season in beloved Yankee Stadium, they realize that they must make a strong statement this off-season.  There is one main objective for revamping this underachieving roster: Add young superior talent.

They have colossal holes in four main areas: the starting rotation, no true first baseman, ancient options in left field and absolutely nothing in center field.  With roughly $90M coming off the payroll, now is the time to act.

The first priority was the shortcomings of the pitching staff.  The Yanks managed to win 89 games last season despite heavy workloads from Darrell Rasner, Sidney Ponson, Dan Giese, and other hilarious options.  This is unacceptable.  Brian Cashman and his cronies ponied up to pay a combined $43.5M per year on the young power arms of C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.  Once Andy Pettitte decides to return as an anchor at the fifth starter slot at a discounted price, the rotation will be set.

However, Cashman has been susceptible in the past with his questionable decision making regarding position players.  Think of the off-season after the 2004 season – Yanks were coming off the collapse to the Red Sox and instead of upgrading their center field position with Carlos Beltran, they decided to blow their wad on Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano.  I think we all know how those two moves worked out and now they are twiddling their thumbs with Brett Gardner in center field.

The Yanks upgraded by sending little used utility man Wilson Betemit to the White Sox for Nick Swisher to play first base and outfield, and have entertained the notion of trading Melky Cabrera to the Brewers for center fielder Mike Cameron.

But why bring in another 36 year-old washed-up outfielder at $10M per year when you already have two others, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui (each make roughly $13M), fighting for playing time?  Wouldn’t they be better off shelling out the $22M to Mark Teixeira and moving Nick Swisher into center field?

Teixeira is a 28 year-old gold glove first baseman.  Have the Yanks had a real first basemen who can play solid defense and hit for power and average since Tino Martinez in 2001?  No.

Cashman needs to realize that now is the time to strike, and strike effectively and intelligently.  Grab Teixeira, who will provide stability at the first base position for the first decade of the new Stadium.  He will crush the ball to the new short porch in right and is a solid player with a bull work ethic in the weight room.  Let Manny Ramirez go play in LA.  Then, save the $26M that will be shed off the payroll next summer (from Damon and Matsui’s corpse) and invest it in another young stud in the outfield, namely Matt Holliday.

The solution is simple – sign the high quality players while they are entering their prime, not after they just completed it.  Cashman took the first step by upgrading the pitching staff while lowering the average age.  Now its time to do the same for the position players.

(Image: Gothamist)

If you needed any more proof that Barack Obama is cooler than you, the evidence has just arrived. From 1979 – 1981 President elect Barack Obama was a student at Occidental College, a small liberal arts school in Los Angeles.

While not very much is know about the two years he spend at Occidental, a series of photos shot in 1980 by an aspiring photographer named Lisa Jack have been released on Time.com in honor of Obama being named Time’s “Person of the Year.”

The series of 12 black-and-white photos (below) show the 19 year-old freshman posing in various positions, being “charismatic” as Jack describes. And no matter your political affiliation, you have to admit that Obama looks cooler than anyone you know.

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina is calling it quits after a brilliant 18-year career.  Sure, the Moose very well might take his 270 career victories, 17 consecutive seasons with 11 or more wins, and 2,813 strikeouts to the Hall of Fame one day; but for Yankee fans, it is a time to consider that this could be the end of a relatively dark era in recent memory because of one pivotal decision gone wrong.

The Yanks were winners of three-straight titles, four of the past five, and entered the winter after the 2000 season with intent to go for the jugular.  With two prized free agents available, the Yanks knew they had to make the right choice to stay on top.

They then signed the number-one pitcher available over the number-one hitter available – Moose over Manny. (more…)

Twelve Years ago, Joe Torre became the manager of the New York Yankees and guided them to the pinnacle of the baseball world in only his first season at the helm.  When Charlie Hayes made the final out in Game 6 of the 1996 World Series, the Yankees won the world championship for the first time in 18 years. (more…)

THE BAND: The Strokes

HOMETOWN: New York City

THEIR DEAL: This indie rock band has been gaining attention for almost a decade now. From having songs on the radio to a drummer with a famous ex-girlfriend (Drew Barrymore), they’re a spotlight favorite.

THE DIRT: That said drummer, Fabrizio Moretti, can’t quite just get his fill with The Strokes. Word on the street is that he has started a new band with his Los Angeles roommates and his girlfriend called “Little Joy”. The band’s first release should happen by 2009.

In light of the news that New York Mets closer Billy Wagner will undergo surgery that will cost him at least one full year, the Mets find themselves without a closer at the back end of one of the most vulnerable bullpens in the league.  Surely, they must shore up this position in the off-season if they wish to improve upon their recent success and enhance their future odds of winning a championship.

Francisco Rodriguez has become one of the most dominant closers in today’s MLB.  He is one save shy of Bobby Thigpen’s all time single season saves record of 57 and still has three weeks to play.  The Angels know how valuable he is, the fans know, and more importantly, Rodriguez himself knows it.  This has often been a topic of debate, as the 27-year old K-Rod has made it known that he will be seeking a salary of roughly $15M per season, probably for 5 seasons, following this year.  And with the barren market for a top flight closer, he will surely get it. (more…)

If you haven’t already heard, a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit just outside Los Angeles yesterday, not causing much damage other than shaking people up a bit. But it did interrupt the filming of Judge Judy. Luckily for you the camera men were wise enough to not get the f**k out of the building like the rest of the audience, capturing the whole thing on tape. Don’t worry, television justice is still in order.

[Props to Bitten and Bound for this clip]