I want so much for this post to be a tribute to Lute Olson, to talk about his legacy, his career as head coach of the University of Arizona basketball team, and just what he has meant to the city of Tucson, Arizona for the last 25 years. That, however, would be a fraud and a cheat. I've already talked about all that in a previous post, about how Lute came to town in 1983 to take over the reigns of the Pac 10 basketball cellar dweller, and built a national powerhouse. Lute's legacy will be the national championship of '97, the other three Final Four teams, the eleven Pac 10 conference championships, the Sweet Sixteen teams, the All-Americans who played for him, the future NBA stars, the 24 consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament, the induction into the Hall of Fame. Lute will always be revered for putting Tucson and the U of A on the national map, and giving the locals pride in his team and their school, as well as their city. Lute changed the city of Tucson forever, and nothing he did in the last few years can erase that.
However, what he did in the last few years unfortunately has tarnished what should have been a stellar legacy. The last hurrah for Lute Olson's teams occurred with about four minutes to go in an NCAA regional final a few years ago, when the Wildcats had a fifteen point lead over the heavily favored Illini of Illinois and looked like they were headed to Lute's fifth Final Four appearance with the team. Instead, the Wildcats stumbled and fumbled their way to choking up that lead and lost in a heartbreaker. In retrospect, Lute never got over that devestating loss.
In the next few seasons, he would sack his assistant coaches, including long-time assistant/associate coach Jim Rosborough, a favorite of his players. He would bring in Kevin O'Neill to help with discipline as he was forced to suspend and discipline players like Marcus Williams and Salim Stoudemire. Last year, he abruptly and without warning, took a leave of absence for personal reasons that lasted the entire season. O'Neill was dubbed interim coach, and the team stumbled its way to its first sub-20 win season since the mid-80's and barely made it into the Big Dance, only to exit in the first round to Purdue. Olson was furious, and fired O'Neill, as well as other loyal assistants/former players Josh Pastner and Miles Simon, the hero of the national championship team.
Blue chip recruit Brandon Jennings bailed on the Wildcats, and superstar freshman Jerryd Bayless left early for the NBA draft. But Lute appeared to be back, as he put his arduous and difficult divorce to his second wife behind him, and energetically recruited some top prospects. He convinced Chase Budinger to stay in school, and talked the other Wildcats into not transferring.
Practice started six days ago and Lute seemed energized and fearless once again. And then yesterday, as if coming out of nowhere, it all fell apart, as Lute shocked the college basketball world by announcing his retirement. What in the world? Why, in heaven's name, now? Why not months ago when the school could have done a national search and gotten a top name replacement? No big time coach is going to abandon his current team right now, just days before the start of the season, and come to Tucson. None of the current recruits or their families got a phone call from Lute, one mother of a recruit found out by a text message, and she is understandably furious. One by one the recruits have already "de-committed." The current Wildcats found out by watching Dick Vitale on ESPN. The whole thing has been heartless and shameful.
Don't get me wrong, I lived in Tucson for 25 years, almost the entire time Lute was the UA coach, and I love the guy for what he did for the town and the school. Words can't describe the excitement he brought to that sleepy burgh in the southern Arizona desert. But the way he's treated his players, the recruits, and his coaches the past two years has been reprehensible. And let's not forget the loyal fans, who pay a pretty hefty premium for season tickets. There's a lot of upset people in Tucson right now, and it just didn't have to be this way.
Lute Olson deserves his retirement, he deserves to spend time with his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. He deserves to bask in his achievements, and live out the rest of his life in comfort and happiness. But to leave the program he built, the powerhouse that he created, as the shambles that now exists, is beyond sad. To quote an anonymous child from a long time ago, "say it ain't so."
Friday, October 24, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
My Ten Favorite Scary Movies
Well, Halloween is just a few weeks away, and I thought it an appropriate time to talk about my ten favorite scary movies. First, a couple of things that this list is not: it's not about monster movies, classic or not. "Frankenstein" and "The Bride of Frankenstein" may be great, old, classic movies, but they are not scary, certainly not in the creepy, goose-bumpy way. I also haven't included the gory, splatter movies. You know, the ones that think scary is all about blood and grossness, movies like "Saw" or "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre." What you'll find here are scary, suspenseful, creepy movies. Things may jump out at you, there can be blood and guts, but there has to be more to them than that. So, without further ado, here are my top ten in reverse order:
10. "Cloverfield"
I don't know what I was expecting when I sat down to watch the DVD of this movie, but I certainly wasn't expecting anything so good that I would add to a top ten list. But from beginning to end, this movie grabbed me, kept me on the edge of my seat, and never let up the tension or suspense. The premise is similar to "Blair Witch Project" in that it happens in real time, with the entire movie seen through the lens of a videotape camera. Very nifty, and very effective.
9. "Blair Witch Project"
Once again, a very clever premise, and very suspenseful and scary. The fact that you never see the witch, or whatever it is that is stalking the main characters only adds to the effectiveness of the scares. Excellent performances by the three principal actors are crucial to the wonderful atmosphere and moodiness of this film. You'll never find me walking in the woods again.
8. "Nightmare on Elm Street"
Yes, the sequels were horrible and nothing more than gore-fests, but the original was terrifying. The introduction of Freddie Krueger was creepy and scary as all get out, with a fine performance by Robert Englund in the title role.
7. "It"
Yes, I know, it's a TV movie, and not a theatrical release, and yes, the best parts of the book were left out, and the ending sucked. Never mind, the first half of this film is mesmerizing and terrifying. Tim Curry gives the performance of his career as Pennywise, the scariest, creepiest, most horrifying clown you will ever come up against. A better second half, and this would have been much higher up the list.
6. "28 Days"
Probably the most intelligent zombie film ever made, this is part end of the world apocalypse, part zombie thriller. Atmospheric, moody, and terrifying, all done with the sardonic wit that only the British seem to possess. The opening sequence, where the main character wanders through an eerily silent, abandoned London is simply brilliant.
5. "Night of the Living Dead"
The grandaddy of all zombie films, filled with blood and gore, not to mention horrible acting by its grade Z cast. Nevertheless, it is creepy and terrifying. The grainy, black and white cinematography only add to the realism. George Romero's first major hit, and still his best film. The sequels had their moments, but none could match the original classic.
4. "The Ring"
A solid story, fine acting (especially Naomi Watts), and the most terrifyingly creepy dead child ever put to celluloid all added up to the best scary film in many years. The climactic moment when the child actually came up out of the well, and.....Never mind, you didn't really think I was going to give it away, did you.
3. "The Shining"
As one of Stephen King's "constant readers", I'm supposed to not like this version of King's scariest book. Sorry to disappoint you, Stephen, but this is one of the moodiest, most ominous films ever made, with classic Kubrick touches like the steadicam dolly shots behind Danny's tricycle, and the hedgemaze. Sure, they left a lot of great stuff out of the book, but Jack Nicholson's performance as crazy Jack Torrance is towering, and the movie is genuinely scary. It helps to have read the book beforehand, but this is still a major achievement. This is one film that has gotten better as the years have gone by.
2. "Halloween"
I'm talking about the original, and only the original, you can forget all the lame sequels. From the incredible theme music, written by director John Carpenter himself, to the amazing beginning set-piece that starts the film, this movie is terrifying and suspenseful from beginning to end. The blood and gore is minimal, while the terror is unrelenting. An absolute masterpiece, and if it is to be blamed for the entire slasher genre it spawned, so be it, this movie is worth it. An homage to "Psycho", the Donald Pleasance character is actually named Sam Loomis. Jamie Leigh Curtis was never better.
1. "Psycho"
What can I possibly say about this movie that hasn't already been said? The shower sequence is probably the most famous sequence in American cinema and never loses its power to shock. This is probably the only movie that kills off its main character 45 minutes into the film, and it's a tribute to master director Alfred Hitchcock that he gets away with it. Anthony Perkins was perfectly cast as Norman Bates, and he is terrifying and pitiful at the same time. Janet Leigh is breathtakingly beautiful, and a perfect combination of naive waif and shady sex object. I believe this is Hitchcock's best film, and one of the top ten movies of all time. Still holds up after all these years.
And there you have it, my top ten scary films of all time. If you think I've left anything worthwhile out, let me know. And if you haven't seen one or more of these movies, check them out this Halloween, you won't regret it.
10. "Cloverfield"
I don't know what I was expecting when I sat down to watch the DVD of this movie, but I certainly wasn't expecting anything so good that I would add to a top ten list. But from beginning to end, this movie grabbed me, kept me on the edge of my seat, and never let up the tension or suspense. The premise is similar to "Blair Witch Project" in that it happens in real time, with the entire movie seen through the lens of a videotape camera. Very nifty, and very effective.
9. "Blair Witch Project"
Once again, a very clever premise, and very suspenseful and scary. The fact that you never see the witch, or whatever it is that is stalking the main characters only adds to the effectiveness of the scares. Excellent performances by the three principal actors are crucial to the wonderful atmosphere and moodiness of this film. You'll never find me walking in the woods again.
8. "Nightmare on Elm Street"
Yes, the sequels were horrible and nothing more than gore-fests, but the original was terrifying. The introduction of Freddie Krueger was creepy and scary as all get out, with a fine performance by Robert Englund in the title role.
7. "It"
Yes, I know, it's a TV movie, and not a theatrical release, and yes, the best parts of the book were left out, and the ending sucked. Never mind, the first half of this film is mesmerizing and terrifying. Tim Curry gives the performance of his career as Pennywise, the scariest, creepiest, most horrifying clown you will ever come up against. A better second half, and this would have been much higher up the list.
6. "28 Days"
Probably the most intelligent zombie film ever made, this is part end of the world apocalypse, part zombie thriller. Atmospheric, moody, and terrifying, all done with the sardonic wit that only the British seem to possess. The opening sequence, where the main character wanders through an eerily silent, abandoned London is simply brilliant.
5. "Night of the Living Dead"
The grandaddy of all zombie films, filled with blood and gore, not to mention horrible acting by its grade Z cast. Nevertheless, it is creepy and terrifying. The grainy, black and white cinematography only add to the realism. George Romero's first major hit, and still his best film. The sequels had their moments, but none could match the original classic.
4. "The Ring"
A solid story, fine acting (especially Naomi Watts), and the most terrifyingly creepy dead child ever put to celluloid all added up to the best scary film in many years. The climactic moment when the child actually came up out of the well, and.....Never mind, you didn't really think I was going to give it away, did you.
3. "The Shining"
As one of Stephen King's "constant readers", I'm supposed to not like this version of King's scariest book. Sorry to disappoint you, Stephen, but this is one of the moodiest, most ominous films ever made, with classic Kubrick touches like the steadicam dolly shots behind Danny's tricycle, and the hedgemaze. Sure, they left a lot of great stuff out of the book, but Jack Nicholson's performance as crazy Jack Torrance is towering, and the movie is genuinely scary. It helps to have read the book beforehand, but this is still a major achievement. This is one film that has gotten better as the years have gone by.
2. "Halloween"
I'm talking about the original, and only the original, you can forget all the lame sequels. From the incredible theme music, written by director John Carpenter himself, to the amazing beginning set-piece that starts the film, this movie is terrifying and suspenseful from beginning to end. The blood and gore is minimal, while the terror is unrelenting. An absolute masterpiece, and if it is to be blamed for the entire slasher genre it spawned, so be it, this movie is worth it. An homage to "Psycho", the Donald Pleasance character is actually named Sam Loomis. Jamie Leigh Curtis was never better.
1. "Psycho"
What can I possibly say about this movie that hasn't already been said? The shower sequence is probably the most famous sequence in American cinema and never loses its power to shock. This is probably the only movie that kills off its main character 45 minutes into the film, and it's a tribute to master director Alfred Hitchcock that he gets away with it. Anthony Perkins was perfectly cast as Norman Bates, and he is terrifying and pitiful at the same time. Janet Leigh is breathtakingly beautiful, and a perfect combination of naive waif and shady sex object. I believe this is Hitchcock's best film, and one of the top ten movies of all time. Still holds up after all these years.
And there you have it, my top ten scary films of all time. If you think I've left anything worthwhile out, let me know. And if you haven't seen one or more of these movies, check them out this Halloween, you won't regret it.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Justice in Las Vegas?
O.J. Simpson was convicted yesterday in a Las Vegas federal courtroom of armed robbery, kidnapping, and several other charges. He will be sentenced on December 5th. and is facing a minimum of fifteen years in prison, and could get life. He was taken into custody after the verdicts were read.
You can imagine the nation-wide reaction. "Good, he got away with murder, and now the scales have been balanced," "What comes around goes around," or "Karma." I would bet that if a poll was taken, more than 90% of those polled would say that they were pleased with the verdict, and that justice was done.
But, was it? Was O.J. Simpson convicted for the events that took place in a Las Vegas hotel room a year ago, or was he convicted for the events that took place in a tony Los Angeles suburb fourteen years ago. Yesterday's conviction was thirteen years to the day after he was acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.
If you're under twenty years of age, you probably don't really remember the cause celebre that was the O.J. double murder trial. The rest of us will never forget it. It was the most sensational and notorious murder trial of my lifetime. It made household names of Simpson's lead defense attorney, Johnny Cochrane, the judge, Lance Ito, and the prosecutors, Marcia Clark and Chris Darden. It was televised from start to finish, and Americans were riveted to their tv sets.
I've been a criminal defense attorney for over twenty years, and if there's one thing I fear in a criminal case, it's physical evidence. Physical evidence (fingerprints, blood, etc.) acts like a spotlight pointing at the defendant, it becomes virtually impossible to successfully defend a case when there is physical evidence. As it should be, for after all, if someone leaves fingerprints, blood samples and what not at the scene of the crime, it's pretty much a certainty that they are guilty of the crime.
In the O.J. murder case, the police found his blood, his fingerprints, bloody shoeprints, and O.J.'s hat and a pair of gloves at the crime scene. The physical evidence was overwhelming. The State was able to prove motive, as O.J. was still obsessed with his ex-wife and had been stalking her and was violently jealous of any man she was with. And they could show a pattern of domestic abuse, with prior incidents and police contact. Sounded pretty open and shut to me.
What happened next depended on your opinion of the legal system. Many Americans felt it was an absolute travesty. Others, like me, seasoned criminal attorneys, watched a slam dunk case for the State become destroyed by prosecutor arrogance and incompetence. Cochran and his team put the L.A. police on trial, and were simply brilliant. The prosecutors allowed O.J. to try on the gloves during the trial, and O.J. gave a performance better than he ever gave in a movie, he tried to squeeze his hands into the gloves, and when he couldn't get his fingers in there, he smirked and said "they don't fit." It was the turning point of the trial. The jury came back with acquittals in less than an hour.
The nation was outraged. O.J. became a pariah and a symbol of everything that was wrong with American jurisprudence. The victims' families sued Simpson in civil court for wrongful death and received a large money judgment. Apparently, the sports collectibles that were at the center of the Las Vegas incident were items that Simpson had given to the occupants of the hotel room to avoid their being sold off with the proceeds going to the murder victims' families. Despite the verdict of the civil trial, the general consensus the last thirteen years was that Simpson got away with murder.
So, did O.J. get a fair trial last week in Las Vegas? Who can know? Could any of those jurors not have been tainted in some way by their feelings about Simpson? They were given a 16 page questionaire to fill out to prove to the attorneys and judge that they could be fair and impartial. Despite that, there are doubts, and Simpson's attorney clearly believes that O.J. was convicted not so much for what happened in Vegas, but what happened in Los Angeles. Maybe he was.
Most Americans probably don't care in the slightest whether Simpson got a fair trial in Vegas. He got away with murder once, and now what comes around goes around, or something like that. And that's wrong, very wrong. I have no great love for O.J. Simpson, but the criminal justice system must work, for O.J. and all of us. If the government proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt last week, then justice was done. If the verdict was payback for Nicole and Ron, then it was a travesty of justice.
You can imagine the nation-wide reaction. "Good, he got away with murder, and now the scales have been balanced," "What comes around goes around," or "Karma." I would bet that if a poll was taken, more than 90% of those polled would say that they were pleased with the verdict, and that justice was done.
But, was it? Was O.J. Simpson convicted for the events that took place in a Las Vegas hotel room a year ago, or was he convicted for the events that took place in a tony Los Angeles suburb fourteen years ago. Yesterday's conviction was thirteen years to the day after he was acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.
If you're under twenty years of age, you probably don't really remember the cause celebre that was the O.J. double murder trial. The rest of us will never forget it. It was the most sensational and notorious murder trial of my lifetime. It made household names of Simpson's lead defense attorney, Johnny Cochrane, the judge, Lance Ito, and the prosecutors, Marcia Clark and Chris Darden. It was televised from start to finish, and Americans were riveted to their tv sets.
I've been a criminal defense attorney for over twenty years, and if there's one thing I fear in a criminal case, it's physical evidence. Physical evidence (fingerprints, blood, etc.) acts like a spotlight pointing at the defendant, it becomes virtually impossible to successfully defend a case when there is physical evidence. As it should be, for after all, if someone leaves fingerprints, blood samples and what not at the scene of the crime, it's pretty much a certainty that they are guilty of the crime.
In the O.J. murder case, the police found his blood, his fingerprints, bloody shoeprints, and O.J.'s hat and a pair of gloves at the crime scene. The physical evidence was overwhelming. The State was able to prove motive, as O.J. was still obsessed with his ex-wife and had been stalking her and was violently jealous of any man she was with. And they could show a pattern of domestic abuse, with prior incidents and police contact. Sounded pretty open and shut to me.
What happened next depended on your opinion of the legal system. Many Americans felt it was an absolute travesty. Others, like me, seasoned criminal attorneys, watched a slam dunk case for the State become destroyed by prosecutor arrogance and incompetence. Cochran and his team put the L.A. police on trial, and were simply brilliant. The prosecutors allowed O.J. to try on the gloves during the trial, and O.J. gave a performance better than he ever gave in a movie, he tried to squeeze his hands into the gloves, and when he couldn't get his fingers in there, he smirked and said "they don't fit." It was the turning point of the trial. The jury came back with acquittals in less than an hour.
The nation was outraged. O.J. became a pariah and a symbol of everything that was wrong with American jurisprudence. The victims' families sued Simpson in civil court for wrongful death and received a large money judgment. Apparently, the sports collectibles that were at the center of the Las Vegas incident were items that Simpson had given to the occupants of the hotel room to avoid their being sold off with the proceeds going to the murder victims' families. Despite the verdict of the civil trial, the general consensus the last thirteen years was that Simpson got away with murder.
So, did O.J. get a fair trial last week in Las Vegas? Who can know? Could any of those jurors not have been tainted in some way by their feelings about Simpson? They were given a 16 page questionaire to fill out to prove to the attorneys and judge that they could be fair and impartial. Despite that, there are doubts, and Simpson's attorney clearly believes that O.J. was convicted not so much for what happened in Vegas, but what happened in Los Angeles. Maybe he was.
Most Americans probably don't care in the slightest whether Simpson got a fair trial in Vegas. He got away with murder once, and now what comes around goes around, or something like that. And that's wrong, very wrong. I have no great love for O.J. Simpson, but the criminal justice system must work, for O.J. and all of us. If the government proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt last week, then justice was done. If the verdict was payback for Nicole and Ron, then it was a travesty of justice.
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