The Snow, The Slush, The Points

Burnin candles, all my other plans got canceled,
Man I smashed it like an Idaho potato...

COLORADO SPORTS:

-How to sum up the Nuggets' loss in Madison Square Garden last night? Maddening? Controversial? How about uninspired? Check the body language. Watch when things are down that you'll have three Nugget players trailing the play and not even enter the TV picture until 15 seconds left on the shot clock. Check a few seconds of solid D followed by some chump getting completely loose for a easy shot. Yes, the charge/blocking foul on David Lee was one of the worst calls of this NBA season (four point swing and takes the Knicks' best player out of the game. And have you seen a player outside of Carmelo who gets away with more forearm pushes while driving other than Lee?) Adrian Dantley's substitutions are head scratching (Melo and Chauncey on the bench while the Knicks open a nine point cushion.) Aron Affalo playing only in the three point corner in 75% of offensive possessions so you are effectively playing four on five. Some of these could be overcome by anyone playing with some fire and determination.

HIP HOP:

-Sadat X of Brand Nubian fame is the latest to release a "followup" to his best 90's solo offering with his release of Wild Cowboys II. The original was vastly underrated in the slew of mid-90s boom bap, but the hard core heads knew it was a quality offering. The newest installment finds a reinvigorated Sadat with a host of hardcore beats concocted from the likes of Pete Rock (the lead banger "Turn It Up" ), 9th Wonder, West Coast impressario Sir Jinx, and Diamond D. The entire album has that 1995 feel without sounding dated. Cameos on damn nearly every track from AG, Vast Aire (the Thanos' produced "Bargain With The Devil"), Rhymefest, and Ill Bill. For all the reunion heads, the Buckwild produced track "Long Years" has both Lord Jamar and Grand Puba reppin.

BEER:

-Ya'll need to check my year end Beer Spot lists because the independent bar is slowly vanishing from the American landscape. How many of the quirky dives or pubs in your neck of the woods have shuttered? Despite the economy, the chain bars seem to move into neighborhoods at a breakneck pace. Word came this week that the Midwest good times/beer/family fun emporium Quaker Steak and Lube is moving into the Colorado market (more specifically their first spot will be in the SG Crew's area- adding to the chorus of "you gotta check out this place" when it opens from the Ed Hardy clad masses, who will move on the next "new" and "hot" spot a few months later. Meanwhile the venerable local hole is relatively d-bag free.)