Lewis Hamilton Worst Enemy

Apparently, Lewis Hamilton has everything on his own to win the World Championship on the second of October at the Interlagos circuit (Brasil). Neither Felipe Massa, nor Kimi Raikonnen, nor the F2008 look to be enough to stop the Brit. Seven points are too may points with just one race remaining, specially if you drive the MP4-23 which "should" guarantee a place among the top 4 in every race, that means a minimum of 5 points, which added to the seven they would be 12, 2 more than FM can get at Interlagos.

However... LH, quick and aggressive driver, has more enemies than the Ferrari duo. The more dangerous, without any doubt, is Lewis himself. His excessive aggressivity and his habitual tendency to lose his temper in some situations, can take its toll to this bighead and frequently overrated racer.

Clicks and Clacks

Almost everybody knows that Playmobil figures were licensed in Spain by Famosa from 1976 to 1982/83 and were marketed as "los clicks de Famobil". However, I didn't know that clicks refers only to male dolls whereas clacks refers to females, mini-clicks to boys and mini-clacks to girls.

It Seems Grabiel Visited My Home

Undoubtedly, Grabiel Gray (aka Sylar) visited my home today. Or perhaps my daughter was playing with her Playmobil figures again.

The Last Five Races

Fernando Alonso has scored 25 points in the last five races. One point less than Lewis Hamilton (26) and two more than Felipe Massa and Heikki Kovalainen (23). Kimi Raikkonen ONLY scored 6 points in five races (0 points in the last four races). TOO POOR for the defending World Champion.

The thing is that FA drives a poor R28, whereas the other four guys drive a brilliant MP4-23 or a splendid F2008. And I ask you dear friends:

1. How many points would FA have if he drove one of these cars?
   
2. What must Luca Cordero di Montezemolo be thinking about having FA instead of KR or FM?
   
3. Where are BMW's duo now?
   
4. How can anyone think that FA could sign with Honda?
   
5. Why BMW announced today that it'll keep Heifeld in 2009?
   

And my answers are:

1. Enough points to lead the championship.
2. 2010, 2010, 2010, 2010, ...
   
3. Missing?
   
4. Silly boooys
   
5. Because FA will switch to Ferrari in 2010.
   
   

The Importance of Having Teammates

Lewis Hamilton is currently the bookies' favorite to win the 2008 F1 World Championship. According to the UK principal bookmakers, LH has the probability of about 62% to win, while Felipe Massa has about 41% and Kimi Raikkonen about 6% (Wow!!!). Twenty-one percentage points difference between LH and FM, and fifty-six between LH and KR. hmmm... I think that's too many points.

First of all, Hamilton has only two-point championship lead over Massa with five races to go. Second of all, Felipe has something that Lewis doesn't have. He has a teammate, Kimi Raikkonen (the current world champion), who can help Felipe to win the championship. I'm sorry, but I don't think Heikki can do the same for LH. I don't see Heikki (26-year-old sophomore) stopping Felipe, or making him nervous. To be honest, I don't see Heikki finishing among first four places in remaining races. Finally, the five remaining races: Monza, Singapore, Fuji, Shangai and Brasil. Brasil is ten points for Massa, and probably eigth for Kimi. Massa has shown that at his favorite tracks (such as Bahrain, Turkey, ... Brasil) he never fails. Shanghai could pretty be a Ferrari 1-2 (FM-KR). Singapore and Fuji are a mystery (we don't have stats from previous seasons). And Monza... who knows?

Gentlemen, I bet on Ferrari's duo. Last year, they showed how to win a World Championship in today's F1.

PS: Don't blame Lewis, blame Ron Denis, who again made the mistake of hiring the wrong teammate.

Maybe the Worst President Ever

I think you know that I'm from Barcelona. And it couldn't be any other way, I am FC Barcelona supporter. Well, surely you don't know Joan Gaspart (former FCB's president between July 2000 and February 2003, maybe the worst president in FCB's history). He is one of my preferred FCB characters, a mad FCB supporter with a really unique personality.

I was reading El Mundo Deportivo online yesterday and found the comic strip above, a caricature of JG wearing a straitjacket. I think that KAP (pseudonim of Jaume Capdevila), the author of the caricature, is who has the better grasp of the JG's personality.

Translation of the text:

"A clinical case: Gaspart, the only FCB supporter happy with the defeat against Sant Andreu, and the only Sant Andreu's president that would prefer a FCB win..."

"¡Sometimes even I think FCB is ok!"

"Crazy he is..."

What Would Have Happened If...

Did you watch Beijing 2008 Men's Basketball final? I hope you did, because it was one of the best games ever seen. Believe me!! If you didn't watch it and "You Love This Game", then hurry up and do it!!

Immediately after the game ends, I asked myself some "What if...?" type questions:

• What would have happened if Jose Calderon would have played?
• What would have happened if Kobe Bryant wouldn't have played?
• What would have happened if all traveling violations would have been penalized?
• What would have happened if every three-second violation would have been penalized?
• What would have happened if Rudy Fernandez would have played the last three minutes?
  
• What would have happened if Jorge Garbajosa wouldn't have played below his level?
  

In any case, it was a spectacular game with two great teams. The Spaniards played without any inferiority complex against the Americans who played at an amazing high level in turn, showing that they are unbeatable... or maybe... almost unbeatable.

Two Different Pictures

Have you seen any difference between the two pictures of JCN in my last post on this blog (Not Pleasantly Surprised)? I didn't notice before, but re-reading the post, I couldn't believe it. The picture located at the right side of the photo-composition looks really bad in comparison with the one located at the other side. But, why?

I obtained the picture from the FC Barcelona official website. Could not FCB hire a good photographer? I wanna remind you that FCB is the club with the budget of 380M € for the 2008-09 season. And this picture looks as if it would have been shooting by an amateur. Maybe, the one located at the left side is too good. However, there is no excuse for that.

By the way, a silly question. Where did JCN play for, according to the picture located at the right side? Answer. He played for FC Barcelona. You can see a VERY LITTLE crest of FCB on the left upper corner of the picture. Of course.

Not Pleasantly Surprised

Recipe for a dissapointing surprise:

1. Take a look at Juan Carlos Navarro ACB Career Season averages
   (see last row in table, "Promedios")
2. Take a look at Juan Carlos Navarro 2007-08 NBA Season average
   (see SEASON AVERAGES table)
   
3. Compare both

Yes, they are SOOO SIMILAR. Even if we only consider the last 8 ACB Seasons (the two first ones are not significant), they are still so similar. Well, not really. Certainly ACB stats are better than NBA ones (specially in points per game, 25 vs. 20 points per 48 minutes, and field-goal percentage, 45% vs 40%). However, the other stats (rebounds, assists, steals, fouls, turnovers, etc.) look practically identical. What I mean is that I thought that JCN had space to grow in the League. But, 5 points in 48 minutes and a 5% is a very little space, and it's really hard to believe that JCN will be able to improve his ACB stats playing in the NBA at age 28. Drazen Petrovic is the perfect example to illustrate what I mean. You can compare his ACB stats with his NBA stats, and see how he grew in 5 seasons in the League (Amazing!!) without reaching his ACB numbers.

I don't want to demerit JCN. Honestly, I think what he did in the League is very difficult and commendable. However, it's not worthwhile to spend time and loose money to be there.

What a Race

Jorge Lorenzo took his second pole position in his second MotoGP race at Jerez, smashing the lap record with an impressive time of 1'38.189 (the previous record was 1'39.064 in 2006 by Loris Capirossi with the 990cc bike)

Then, amazing start for this arrogant guy in his first season in MotoGP. I don't want to demerit him. Of course, JL is a double World Champion 250cc, and he won convincingly the two championships. Honestly, I think he is a big racer. However, there are other reasons, in my opinion, which explain this start.

First of all, his unquestionable talent to drive a bike. Of course.

Second of all, the 2008 YZR-M1. Yamaha has four riders in MotoGP, three of them are in the Jerez Qualifying Practice Top 5. They might have been four, but Toseland was suffering the flu for days. In the last grand prix, three of them were in the QP Top 3, and all were in the Race Top 7. Apparently, the electronic in the current YZR-M1 has improved a lot during the winter.

Finally, his teammate is "Il Dottore", the seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi. I know... you could say that the doctor is finished (I don't think so, maybe choosing Bridgestone was a mistake). But, be in the same team as VR gives you great benefits, for instance, you can take a deep look at Rossi telemetry data. JL did it to fix some problems (i.e. he braked ten meters late).

Anyway, what I want to say is that tomorrow we are going to have a big race. I totally sure about. A big fight against two irreconcilable enemies: Jorge Lorenzo vs Dani Pedrosa.

A Monty Python's Funeral

Graham Chapman, one of the members of the Monty Python, died on October 4th, 1989, aged forty-eight. He wasn't one of my favorite Monty Pythons, however, in my opinion, Graham, together with Cleese, was the most Monty Pythonist of this comedy troupe. He always tried to find for something completely different.

Yesterday, I found the video below (the Graham Chapman's funeral), where you can see Cleese delivering Chapman's eulogy, and it couldn't have been any other way, Cleese took this opportunity to scandalize the audience, in a great example of consistence.

British Classic Comedy

Everyone who really knows me knows that I love British Comedy, in particular British Classic Comedy.

Brit Sitcoms like Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, or Yes Minister, and the sketch comedy Monty Python's Flying Circus are among my favorite television series.

Today, I have found the Beekeeping sketch with John Cleese as a beekeeping expert and Rowan Atkinson as a terrible television show host. This is a post-version of the original sketch, that was aired for the first time in 1967 as part of At Last the 1948 Show. It has been a surprise for me to find JC and RA working together. Enjoy it.

Rudy Gay's Slam Dunk Promotion

Rudy Gay is waiting for new ideas. He counts on people to think of new ways, different ways, different DUNKS. On February 16th, he will be competing in the 2008 Slam Dunk contest in the All-Star Weekend, and in a creative and ingenious promotion he has asked for your best dunk. If you want to help him, just upload a video response on the promotion page.

Ok, Rudy. This is my proposal. I don't have any doubts about this dunk. If you can do that, you WIN. Now, say hello to Mr.720.

By the way, Navarro recorded his first career block against Dallas Mavericks.

Navarro in the NBA Daily Top 10

A wonderful lay-up shot and a three-pointer with 10 seconds left from JCN, were included in the NBA Daily Top 10 plays of January 15th, 2008. In fact, they were included in the top five (positions 5th and 3rd, respectively).

The game against Cleveland (January 15th) was the first of three straight games scoring 20 or more points for Navarro.

Dani Pedrosa Injured

Very bad luck for Dani, he broke the second metacarpal bone of his right hand after crashing his Honda RC212V in pre-season testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia on Tuesday, 22 of January. This finger is crucial to ride the MotoGP bikes, it's the one that does the throttle and the majority of the braking.

Usually, Dani would need a minimum of six weeks before he could return to action. But, apparently, the docs think that Dani could do it in three weeks. That means, he would return for the MotoGP Official Test in Jerez on February 17th. I HOPE SO.

Good luck Dani. The Force will be with you. Always.

In the Middle of... the Regular Season

Juan Carlos Navarro has played 41 of the 82 NBA regular-season games (by the way, only JCN and Kyle Lowry have played all 41 games!!, eleven of them as starter!!). Maybe, it's a good time to summarize JCN's first NBA half-season.

Right now, he leads the League in Three-Point Field Goals Per 48 Minutes (4.12) , ranks 11th in Three-Point Field Goals Made (85.0) and 16th in Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage (0.419). He averaged 10,9 PPG, 2,2 APG and 2,2 RPG in 24,1 MPG with an efficiency of +9. It sounds good, doesn't it?

Additionally, Navarro ranks 5th in the NBA Rookie Ranking - Week 12, and 8th in the NBA Rookie Class: Top 50 at ESPN. Of course, he will play in the 2008 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge (I guess :-P), an event that pits nine rookies against nine sophomores in the All-Star Weekend.

Finally, what we see below, in the extract, is an interesting example of what Navarro is capable of doing:

" Navarro had four 20-plus point scoring games in a recent eight-day stretch. He made 23-of-38 3s in that span and shot over 50 percent from the field."

(January 23th, 2008 - David Thorpe's Analysis, NBA Rookie Top 50)

Venit, vidit, vicit

Venit, vidit, vicit...That's it. He came, he saw and he conquered. Fernando Alonso made an impressive perfect start to his return to Renault with the fastest time (1:19.503) at the second day of testing in Jerez. Pedro de la Rosa was second on the time sheets (1:19.650) and Kimi Raikkonen was third (1:19.708), both with the 2008 car.

“The result of my first day in the car is encouraging,” said Alonso.

I totally agree with him. The result is really encouraging. I hope, we can see another competitive season with Alonso on top.

Va de Secuelas

Koalillo me propone un segundo enfrentamiento. Me pide, que escoja, que me moje, con las cinco mejores secuelas cinematográficas. No hay problema. Aquí las teneis.

1. The Empire Strikes Back. Sin lugar a dudas, el mejor episodio de Star Wars. La extraordinaria Batalla de Hoth justificaría por si sola su aparición en esta lista. Pero la película contiene más momentos memorables como: el primer encuentro de Luke con Yoda, y su posterior instrucción, o la pelea entre Luke y Darth Vader finalizada con la famosa frase "Yo soy tu padre".
2. Terminator 2. Dejando a un lado a los más que impresionantes efectos especiales, la evolución de los personajes, respecto de la primera parte, es fantástica (incluida la del Terminator).
   
3. The Godfather: Part II. Aunque en mi opinión resulta excesivamente larga, hay que reconocer que se trata de una obra maestra, y que no incluirla en esta lista debe ser pecado. Digo yo.
   
4. Aliens. Representó la consolidación de la teniente Ellen Ripley, elemento INDISPENSABLE (casi más que el bicho) en esta serie.
   
5. Toy Story 2. La mejor película de Pixar (con el permiso de The Incredibles) es una secuela. A la saca.
   

Il Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, dado que es consecuencia de otras anteriores, podria ser considerada una secuela, pero ante la duda, he decidido no ponerla. También se me escapa, si Kill Bill 2 puede ser considerada una secuela. Por si a caso, tampoco la pongo.

Cinco Películas de Tom Cruise

El pasado viernes, decidimos (Alex y yo) jugar a hacer listas de 5 mejores, como en la película Alta Fidelidad. El juego consiste en plantear el motivo de la lista (por ejemplo, las 5 mejores canciones de todos los tiempos) y hacerla. Así de fácil. En nuestro caso, el motivo son las 5 mejores películas en las que aparece Tom Cruise :-p. Pues bien, aquí está la mía.

1. Magnolia. Sin lugar a dudas su mejor película. Tom no tiene problema en ridiculizar lo que él representa (o representaba en aquel momento, un "guaperas" con éxito, ahora está más cerca de la Cienciología).
   
2. Mission: Impossible. Increíble BSO, solo éso ya justifica este segundo puesto.
   
3. Jerry Maguire. Show me the moneeeeeyy. Inmenso Cuba Gooding Jr.
   
4. Interview with the Vampire. Hasta Antonio Banderas me gusta en está película.
   
5. Cocktail. Digo Cocktail, y podría decir Top Gun, Days of Thunder, o similares. Dejarse una de estas mierdas (lease con cariño), sería como no poner una "peli" de James Bond en una lista de Sean Connery.

Rain Man (compartiendo cartel con el siempre-inmenso Dustin Hoffman), The Color of Money (Fast Paul Newman!!!), Eyes wide shut (clink, clink, clink, ... que ambiente!!), The Firm (Gene Hackman... no hace falta decir más) o Minority Report ("thriller" espectacular, original, con acción, con ritmo), son algunas de las que me gustan, de las que podrían estar en la lista, pero no me parece que sean "tan" Tom Cruise como las que he listado arriba.

Alea iacta est (la suerte esta hechada).

The Importance of Being Fernando Alonso

If you ask me for the F1 World Champion 2008, I will answer: I don't know. However, I think that it's very, very possible that will be one of the Scuderia Ferrari or McLaren-Mercedes drivers, specially Kimi Raikkonen or Lewis Hamilton. Call me silly :-p.

I'm not sure about Felipe Massa and Heikki Kovalainen. Massa is a good driver but he is also too weak, and Heikki... well he is a 26-year-old sophomore, and driving the 4th-best car in the field he only had 4 top 6's in 18 races (Fisico, his teammate, had 5 top 6's with the same car).

In my opinion, Kimi was in the appropriate place at the appropriate moment, driving a Ferrari, of course, and Lewis... Lewis showed that he knows how to lose a F1 World Championship that he had it in his pocket.

And what about Fernando Alonso... well, well, well. We know he is going to drive the 4th-2007-best car, theoretically, a seventh place finish at the 2008 F1 World Championship should be logical. However, I think, Fernando can fight for the fifth place against the BMW Sauber drivers. Fight for the championship is very complicated, he would need more than 120 points, and Heikki last year got only 30 points!! 90 extra-points is too much to recover in only one season.

And the people who know about this, what do they say? I mean... What do the bookmakers say? Well, the bookmakers made Alonso FOURTH favorite to win the drivers championship, just ahead of Kovalainen, and just behind of Massa. The favorite to win the championship is Kimi followed by Lewis, of course.

The average relative probabilities, according to the UK principal bookmakers, are:

• 40% - Kimi Raikonnen
• 35% - Lewis Hamilton
• 17% - Felippe Massa
• 13% - Fernando Alonso
• 11% - Heikki Kovalainen

Terrific 4th Quarter for Navarro

The Memphis Grizzlies (9-23) lost to the 2008 NBA Champions Boston Celtics (28-3), 96 to 100. Navarro scored 20 points (7-9 from the floor, 3-3 from 3-pt range and 3-4 from the free throw line), grabbed two rebounds and dished-out two assists in JUST 17 minutes. The final quarter was terrific for "La Bomba", he scored 13 of 26 Grizzlies fourth-quarter points, and made two assists.

In my opinion, Navarro only needs more minutes and a little bit more confidence to show what he can do, and believe me, it's more than 10 points-per-game and two assists.

By the way, Mike Conley made his first NBA starts in the last two games, replacing Damon Stoudamire (a 13-year veteran who is seeking a trade or contract buy out). Conley's stats look very good, he leads all rookies in assists (4.1 per game in 20 minutes per game) but he hasn't played in enough contests to qualify. His maturity and poise are already impressive attributes to go along with his speed and court vision. We will see.