The Weekly Short Hops and Air Balls

Short Hops: My random observations both good and bad in the week of sports and pop culture

• Fennville High School in Michigan winning two basketball games this week was incredible. For those who aren't aware, Wes Leonard was a great athlete at Fennville high school, and after scoring the winning basket in last week's game, he collapsed and died. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to continue to try and help your team complete a perfect season, while dealing with the loss of a friend. Good luck to them the rest of the way. Sports is only a very small portion of this story, the human element and bonding is much more important and inspirational.
• The  Jennifer Aniston viral video is really good. I'm not a huge Aniston fan, because I don't think her talent is anywhere near equal to the amount of hype and publicity she receives, but she's very good in this video.
• Sunday night on ESPN there is going to be a documentary on the legendary Fab 5 basketball team from Michigan. The Fab 5 had an incredible influence on me as a teenager growing up, and I can't wait to check out this documentary. Jalen Rose actually produced it. The only downfall, for some inexplicable reason, Chris Webber decided not to participate.
• An update to my music post from earlier this week. With the help of several of you, it's been correctly pointed out that I'm old, and out of touch with today's music. I cannot do anything about the former, but I've decided to do something about the latter. This week I've been listening to several different alternative radio stations on the internet. So far, reviews are very mixed. I certainly haven't changed my opinion, but I have found a couple of gems. I really like the Black Keys, and look forward to checking more out from them. I can tell you in a relatively small sample size (about 5 songs) I still think Arcade Fire is awful. I don't get it at all. Someone, please tell me what I'm missing.  I will continue my new music experiment for the next several days, maybe forever if I find the fountain of youth.

Air Balls: Those people, events or happenings that completely missed the mark this week.

•  Tiki Barber. In the interest of full disclosure, I can't stand Tiki Barber. He's a scumbag. This clownpuncher decided this week that's hes' coming back to the NFL after being out of the league for four years. Good luck with that. Immediately after retiring he decides to rip his Giants teammates, being especially tough on Eli Manning. The Giants turn around and win the Super Bowl the very next year without him. Karma, baby. Then this wonderful human being leaves his wife, who is eight months pregnant with twins, for a NBC intern. NBC fires him. Karma, baby. I hope the Minnesota Vikings sign him, and he gets knocked ass over teakettle and can't play again. 
• Erik Spolestra. Look, there is no way this guy can succeed as coach of the Miami Heat, the expectations are way too high, and they just aren't good enough. Having said that, you don't come out and announce that after a game your players were crying in the locker room, AND THEN the very next day rip the press for taking your comments out of context, and blowing things out of proportion. Ummm....what? You've got a target on your back because you already aren't performing, please don't make it worse by being an idiot.
• The NFL. If there is a single regular season game missed because billionaires can't agree on a labor deal, that's just pathetic. This lockout has been talked about for almost 18 months now, and the deadline has been extended twice in the last 7 days. How is that not enough time? If there is a work stoppage, it will hurt the image of the league. People will always watch football no matter what, but the popularity will take a hit. I just hope it's a huge hit to deliver the right message to these greedy bastards.