El Gaffney

Foreshadowing Fun

Who would have thought that the event Eddie Murphy described just about 20 years ago in one of my favorite movies would take place in real life? Somebody call up David Sheffield and Barry Blaustein (the screenplay writers) for a statement or check their other movies for some more character soothsaying? (I’ve been a fan of the soothsayer since reading Julius Caesar in high school and have been trying to work it—and “aluminum siding”—into a post for a quite a while. Leap of Faith, anyone?) By the way, what team did St. John’s play in that sport where you can use your hands?

Tags: comedy, movies

I’m Buying Nike +

Read two blog posts the other day that made me tip. The first at Influx Insights pointed me to the a page on the website with resolutions. Since one of my resolutions is to run more—I think I’m going to train for the NYC marathon this year, and if not that one, a different 26.2 mile event—and I haven’t laced up the sneaks yet, I figured this was a relevant message and buying the gear would be an appropriate place to start. However, it wasn’t until a couple of RSS feeds later that I hit Brand Flakes for Breakfast, which pointed me to this Nike Plus spot, that I realized there was no turning back.

I have a Nano already; a little (RED) one came with my black MacBook purchase back in May 2007. I had given it to my dad since I was rocking the U2 Limited Edition (bought for the color, not the love of the band – yes, that’s how I roll and I can’t be the only one). But since I saw it still sitting atop the microwave in the kitchen unopened when I returned home for the beginning of the holiday, I’m taking it back. I will pass big old original on to my pops so he can add his Rolling Stones and Dr. Wayne Dyer to my Girl Talk and Dj. Khaled.

So, I went to the Apple store and picked up the Nike + package with the sensor and receiver as well as a nano-holding arm-band.

Now all I’m lacking (to my knowledge) is a pair of Nike + shoes. Any suggestions? As much as I’d rather use my Mizunos and respect the efforts of non-Nike wearing predecessors, I don’t see myself hacking this product.

Tags: ipod, marathon, mizunos, nike, running

Badass By Association

I like to say I’m a combination of Seth Godin and Jabar Gaffney. Well, actually I’ve never said that before, but after last night I’m definitely trying to link myself with the latter. You see, I get pretty excited when people with (at least part of) my name perform. Call it “X” by association. In this case, I’m now one step closer to getting the nickname “Crazy Hands” Gaffney on the flag football field.

So when Seth Godin comes through with a hot book or post, I can’t say I’ve ever felt closer to it than others but it does kind of make me want to step up my game as a Seth (a Seth G. at that). Or when Seth Green comes through with a hot video clip (like Chris Cocker) or Robot Chicken episode or character (Kenny, anyone?), I try to up the funny…after being like, “yeah SETH! that’s what’s up!”

And don’t think this is limited to “real people.” In fact, when characters in movies, TV shows, or books are named Seth or Gaffney (yet to see a Seth Gaffney), I reap the benefits. You don’t think girls at bars ever said, “Oh, like Seth Cohen???” That’s right. Jokes and jokes and jokes and spaghetti, spaghetti. How about Seth from Boiler Room? A bit of a whiner, but ran that casino from his house and could make a sell like no other newbie. Not last and certainly not least my sister, Julie “The Cat” Gaffney saving the last shot glove side in the Mighty Ducks 2 shootout with Russia. What? Yes, that’s right. Team USA. Give me a high five for homegirl!

That’s all. If you see my in the hall, throw me something. A pen, stapler, whatever. I’ll catch it…and then I’ll tell you about a Purple Calf…because I’m badass by association.

Tags: celebrities, seth

Tennis Anyone?

In the midst of college football’s most important pre-bowl games, college basketball starting to heat up, weekly NFL excitement, post-Euro 2008 qualifiers, and even some solid NBA action, not much attention has, or will I imagine, be given to tennis. I wish that was not the case, especially with this awesome news…
The United States has won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1995 (12 years is the longest span without a title) at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, OR (which is the first time the U.S. has hosted since 1992). Yes, that was a run-on sentence, but I figured if I didn’t know the historical stats before reading the article, odds are you won’t either. And for anyone who wants to learn more—like that the Davis Cup was conceived by 4 Harvard students in 1899 and was first played in 1900 against Great Britain—check out the Wikipedia entry. One last sentence of info: It is a 16-team/country tournament put on by the ITF (International Tennis Federation), and the U.S. beat the Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden, and then Russia (in that order) to take the title.

So congratulations to Patrick McEnroe (captain), Roddick, Blake, the Bryan Brothers, whom (as a doubles player myself) I believe are the most fun players to watch in the world. Watching Bob Bryan, a lefty, serve 4 straight aces in a game at the Open this year was one of the most ridiculous sports feats I’ve witnessed in person. (There should be a name for that, but I don’t think there is. Anyone? What’s the opposite of the golden sombrero.) He was also the model for American Express’ serve analysis that they offered for free in Bryant Park.

I’ve always been a fan of doubles. I’ve enjoyed playing it mostly for the strategic aspect (as well as the fact that it allowed me to more easily hide my appalling backhand). And I’ve enjoyed watching the strategy that great teams employ (as well as the speed of net play and the energy that comes from having a partner with whom to celebrate – just look at the Bryans’ patented chest bump). I’ve also always been a fan of team sports, so making this individualistic sport a team one for this tournament has always been appealing…even if I can never find it on T.V. And finally, I like an international competition…even it’s no World Cup. Even as an accomplished singles player, Andy Roddick has talked about how this tournament holds the most importance to him for this reason. And that’s the main reason I’ve always supported him. He cares as much about growing the sport of tennis in the U.S. as anyone in the USTA., and he acknowledges he can’t do it alone.

Anyway, I’m pumped so I posted. As Mike Bryan put it, “No words can explain how we feel right now, except Woooooooo!” The energy around this event is really good for the sport, and if I ran the USTA, I’d work more closely with the ITF, invest more in getting it on air and making people aware of it, and link it closer to their youth tennis initiatives. Yes, I know there is a significant challenge in that it takes almost a full year to complete (first round in Feb and just finished now). However, as a planner this is a challenge I’d love to take on…with a team!

Tags: america, daviscup, tennis

Inbox of Immaturity

I’ve been too busy watching A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila to post my immaturity. You can have too much of a good thing apparently. Good luck to Dani. Sorry Amanda and Bobby, but T-squared deserves the best of both worlds. That didn’t come out right. You know what I mean though. Actually, you probably don’t…and you’re definitely better off for it. She’s just cool. Anyway, another excuse I have for letting the IOI slip is: I’ve been studying. Nope, not for the GMAT’s or LSAT’s or Jeopardy (What is quiche…anyone?); rather, I’ve been studying my maths…the math of rap, that is!

This is almost as good as The Village Voice’s breakdown of This is Why I’m Hot: Rap Charts. A sneak peak of what you’ll find (a couple of the more tame lyrics):


Wow. I really can enjoy that all day. But anyway, a few more links for the rock or folk music fans…
-This is not for trendy mustache wearers: Beards Rule
-This new sport may not catch on: Binocular Soccer
-This customer complaint is classic: Jimmy Dean Call
-This is a coldblooded prank: Cardinals Game
-This is for the margarita-loving and advertising-recalling New Yorkers: Dell Dude’s New Gig

Those should hold you over for a while. Peace.

Tags: ioi, realitytv