2012-2013 NBA season

We are about one week from the end of the NBA season.

Even though I am a huge NBA fan, I am glad that the season is almost over.  Being an NBA fan is time-consuming.  I read about the NBA (Zach Lowe has the best stuff these days), listen to podcasts (the best NBA podcast is the Basketball Jones), and of course watch games (which I typically watch recordings of). 

Given the time commitment, I have been toying around with the idea of giving up my fandom.  

While I may never totally give up the NBA, this may be the last season that I follow the game very closely.  Here are some things I will remember from this season.

1. Teamwork (chemistry) seems important.

When the Knicks were playing great, assists were high, scoring was easy, and the game was beautiful.  The Lakers looked lost all season, and it did not seem as if they liked each other.

2. Shaquille O'Neal has no business being on the TNT broadcast team.
His comments are never insightful.  His interactions with Ernie, Kenny and Charles are awkward.  He mumbles.  He replaced the great Chris Webber, whose analysis was incredible.  Please fire Shaq.  At least make him a sideline reporter.

3. The NBA serves many masters.  In game 6 of the Heat-Pacers Eastern Conference finals, Chris "Birdman" Andersen was suspended for shoving Tyler Hansbrough.  In the pre-game highlights for game 7, the shove was shown as one of the highlights of the series.  Why is a punishable offense part of the highlights?

4. Everyone in the NBA is a remarkable athlete.  I tend to find the ones with the greatest physical advantage to be boring.  This year, my favorite players to watch were Stephen Curry, Jason Kidd, and Manu Ginobli.  

The Office Ends

For as far back as I can remember, there has always been a television show that has been targeted to my age group.

Over the years, I remember watching Full House, Saved by the Bell, Beverly Hills 90210, and Friends.  Each of these shows seemed to be made for me.  Most recently, The Office coincided with me getting my first real office job.  A few weeks ago, the series finale aired, which I watched today.

Here are some notes on how I felt watching the show

• I felt a strong sense of sad nostalgia.  Unlike school, where there is a new beginning after graduation, the end of office life seems depressing.  Most of my youth was spent studying for a career, and when that career is over, I don't know what I will do or how I will feel.  
• I wonder what show will capture the mood of my next stages in life.  Maybe (if I have kids) it will be Modern Family.  I wonder if shows will continue to target my age group anymore.  For example, MTV seems to target the teen audience.  
• I always thought Michael was the star of the show, and then maybe Jim or Dwight.  But now I think it was Pam.  She had the most to learn, the most to overcome and the greatest lessons to impart.