Patrick

I purchased the Jazz Crusaders box as a gift for a brother. Glad it was back in stock for the holidays. He got #2400. My other brother got the new Kraftwerk box (a nice package) which arrived from CD Universe just in time...

Can't let that Christmas day feature game go without a comment or two. As a Cavs fan fearful of somewhat ruining a family holiday feast (French onion soup, beef tenderloin, twice baked potatoes, apple crisp type dessert...mmm), I opted not to watch the first half. After dinner, we gathered around to watch most of the fourth quarter. Wow. Cavs are on a bit of a roll right now. Coach Brown is doing a better job handling Shaq and Ilgauskas minutes in the middle. Delonte West is a good state right now. Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker are contributing nicely. Mo Williams is playing tremendously. LeBron continues to be LeBron. They've won 9 of their last 10, including at Phoenix (first and last visitor to PHX to do that--Steve Nash seriously outplayed by Mo), at a tough Sacramento team (Tyreke Evans will win ROY, Celtics lost there last night without facing TE), and at the Lakers. Tonight and Thursday will be a good test: ATL away and home. Against the Lakers, it was nice to see the additions peforming well. Shaq contributing to the effort inside on Gasol/Bynum, Moon and Parker chasing Kobe. Cavs got totally abused inside last year. It was only one game, but Gasol/Bynum/Odom combined for 21 pts and 17 rebounds while Shaq/Varejao/Ilgauskas went for 22 and 25. Kobe went for 35, but needed 32 shots to get there. Meanwhile, Ron Artest didn't have much success (as he has had in the past) slowing down LeBron. Would the Lakers be better with Ariza instead of Artest? I don't watch enough Laker games to have much of an informed opinion, but based on a few LAL and HOU games, I'd go with TA. If/when the Lakers win again we'll (understandably) hear more about how great they are. But on one day, perhaps the biggest regular season date of the year, they were not good. While we fully expect the ingame whining about the officating, why does Zenmaster Phil take a delay of game technical for not inserting a sub for the tossed Lamar Odom? Just put a scrub in and move on. Show an ounce of class. DFish and Kobe each cheapshotting Mo Williams, real classy fellas. Laker fans throwing foam hands and water bottles on the court, real classy. Cavs played one of their best games of the year, dominating throughout. Lakers appeared not to be giving much respect from the start (just another inferior outfit from the Eastern Conference playing the defending champs???), and felt they were the victims of lousy officiating. Lakers couldn't/wouldn't/didn't adjust to how the Cavs played or how the refs called it and had a bad game. But then they couldn't stop crying about it--the head coach, their best player on the planet, the big game veteran guard, etc. etc.

Currently marked down at Daedulus Books from $125 to $29.98. Rolling Stone Another magazine collection for same price

Above ground Metro was not available Sunday due to snow/ice on rails, but all stations are open on Monday. Federal employees in the DC area told to stay home on Monday. One reason we purchased a home in NoVA rather than DC was a guy named Marion Barry and fears we had about how winter weather would be handled.

Perhaps outside the parameters, pianist Don Bennett. Maybe something off of Sleepig Giant (Southport) [reissued as Chicago Calling (Candid)] like "Dance of the Night Child"?

only 5.5 hours to move many titles--well done.

Ahh Felix Fermin. Tribe traded Fermin, Reggie Jefferson and cash to the Mariners for this light hitting shortstop named Omar Vizquel. Years later Tribe traded ESPN commentator Eduardo Perez to the Mariners for this light hitting shortstop named Asdrubal Cabrera. And Ben Broussard for Shin-Soo Choo. Jury still out on Franklin Gutierrez for light hitting infielder Luis Valbuena (and reliever Joe Smith).

PM sent on 7 Enrico Rava The Words and the Days (ECM) 5 Ben Riley Memories of T (Concord - hole in UPC)

Thanks for bumping this thread up. I haven't yet placed my Nessa Records order, and would appreciate any further descriptions/insights about the June 1975 recordings (Serenade & Blues, Have No Fear). Currently, I own copies of three Von titles: Doin' It Right Now, Von & Ed, and You Talkin' to Me?! Have only recently opened the first two, and enjoy them. Am interested in any reactions beyond what I can read by Scott Yanow. Thanks

Sure it was against the Magic without Rashard Lewis on the end of a back-to-back, but Shaq plays 20 minutes, 4/8 from the field, 10 points, 4 rebounds. Perhaps not that impressive, but Shaq got all the Orlando bigs into early foul trouble. Dwight Howard plays 32 minutes, scores only 11, and grabs only 7 rebounds. Floor opened up for Mo Williams who hit his first 9 shots and finished with 28. LeBron scores 36 in (just) 39 minutes. Lousy officiating at both ends. Hopefully Cavs good play will continue Thursday in Miami. Delonte West did not dress because (in part) he failed to make the flight down to Florida. It's sad but it looks like Delonte's issues may play a large role with the Cavs all season long (not just a re-equilibration at the beginning of the season like last year). Team trying to stay positive and firm. DWest may play against Heat. Go Kareem. When I first tried to pronounce his name (as a 7 yr old), I said "Karom" (rhymes with harem) "Abdle" "Jabber" (rhymes with stabber). Went 0 for 3 on that one.

Chuck, does it look like Amazon actually shipped as advertised? I still have a few more days to Nov 14.

...Happiness!!!

I thought it was Brian Bannister. Pretty good starter, might actually do well on a talented team.

Good. Already have it in mind as a holiday gift (for someone else).

Likewise. Congrats to the Yankees, and the Phillies. Glad to see great post-season performance by Sabathia and Lee.

Sure it was against the Wiz, but Shaq plays 29 minutes, 7/9 from the field, 7/10 from the line for 21 pts, 8 rebounds, 3 assists including a beauty to Anderson Varajao. Got all the Washington bigs into early foul trouble. Commanded a double team. Opened up the floor for Cavs outside shooters, mainly Gibson and Mo Williams. Cavs recover from 18 pt deficit early in second period. And LeBron played only 36 minutes. Obviously, every night won't be like this for Shaq, but every night does not need to be like this for Shaq.

Hell, Shaq was fat and slow when he was a Laker. I disagree, Agg. Shaq was young and fast when he was a Laker. He could elevate, move his feet on defense, block shots, run the floor on a fast break, beat his man to a spot on the block consistently...and can't consistently do any of those things anymore. The Shaq experiment in Cleveland has a long way to go. I think he actually reported in pretty good shape (all that swimming against Michael Phelps I guess), given his age and size. I don't see how Shaq can be a bust in Cleveland. Perhaps a dud that doesn't quite live up to hyped expectations. Recall what they gave up for him? Anybody? An ancient Ben Wallace and a serial underachiever named Sasha Pavlovic. What other big man could they have gotten for those two stiffs, Chris Bosh?? Cavs have started out slowly. 4 games in 5 nights to start the season. Flu bug taking out a lot of players (incl LeBron) for a few preseason games. It's also true that Coach Brown hasn't figured stuff out yet. Will he be able to figure out an offense without Koester around? We shall see. He has already played Shaq and Ilgauskas at the same time for lots of minutes, despite not doing it at all during the preseason. Forget about Shaq. The real key will be whether Delonte West can stabilize and play well like he did last year. Sure it was the Bobcats, but Cavs were much better, especially on perimeter defense with Delonte in the rotation. Anthony Parker has also played well. Still waiting for the arrival of Jamario Moon. I think Shaq's performance will have little effect on LeBron's next contract. It's LeBron's team, and if Shaq doesn't fit in as well as hoped, Z will get more of the minutes as center.

Ghost, I'm appreciating your doses of unease/pessimism while rooting for the Yankees. A refreshing change from the Yankee fan stereotype that is out there (especially in the AL ballparks that I visit). Makes me almost sympathize with some fans of the pinstripes. Perhaps it's a bit of that Indiana sensibility shining through. But this comment about not buying the Series is a bit ridiculous. Yes, ultimately it's more than just dollars. Every team needs a fair amount of luck (not too many injuries, not catching too many rival teams when they are especially hot, etc). But please. Dollars matter a whole lot. The Yankees, Red Sox, and a few others can afford to contend every single year. Yes, there are Cinderellas (and more often than not, I find myself rooting for them), but where are the Rays this year? Are they going to contend next year? Exactly. Have there been any recent Yankee players who were good and who left via free agency because George didn't want to pay big $$$? I don't remember any examples. Wanna hear about the reality in second and third tier markets? I didn't think so. The fact that Jeter, Rivera, Pettite, and Posada came up through the organization is a credit to the farm operation of that time. But how long ago was that? Could any/all of those guys walk now? Yes. So the fact that they are still Yankees is much more a testament to George's willingness/ability to pay big bucks. Little or no "home town discount" for those guys I suspect. $13.1MM for a good but not great Posada? The more telling info would be whether the NYY rely on young (pre-free agency eligible) guys at key positions. Who would that be, Melky, Cano, maybe some parts of the bullpen? Some nice players, but not really that key. If your team is not in a big market, you have to go for it with mostly young guys and only a few big $$ guys. Thus, the Cinderellas, if their organization is expertly managed and they time everything perfectly, get super lucky, etc. can have some taste of success (however small) every decade or so. That is not the Yankee situation. They just get the checkbook out. End of rant. Glad CC is making big bucks and performing well. Cliff Lee appears to have settled down nicely.

Apologies for the expletives in advance. Tim McCarver is a fucking moron. [...I hope you're not a fan TimMc.] The diarrhea that just came out of his mouth included a statement along the lines of AL hitters are not used to Cliff Lee. Then after realizing that Cliff Lee has pitched in the AL for a very long time, including half of th e current season, he says that Cliff Lee is a different pitcher in Philly. How? Recall that he won the Cy Young in the AL last year. Remember that Tim? It's flyover country, but come on! What an idiot. Joe Buck, to his credit, moved right along to some other topic.

Thanks GA. Some Indian food and a Momix performance awaits.

I used to be disgusted. Now I try to be amused. Cliff Lee!!!! Phillie fans everywhere better have Indians GM Mark Shapiro on their holiday card mailing list this year. And no complaining if your minor league pitching prospects aren't filled to the gills.

Cliff Lee has already beaten Sabathia in the new NYY park. Sabathia did not take the loss because he was pulled in the 6th after throwing 122 pitches (!). Marte was responsible for 6 of the 9 runs that the Tribe scored in the 7th. An omen or just a rare highlight for the Tribe? ESPN recap

Manny Acta is your next Indians manager, beating out Bobby Valentine, Torey Lovullo (AAA mgr for Indians), and Don Mattingly. Washington Nationals is just about the only place more pathetic than the Indians dugout these days, so hopefully Manny will have a good attitude...and lots of patience. McCarver is the worst--much worse than Buck or anyone on ESPN (including Joe Morgan). Earlier in tonight's game he said, paraphrasing, that the Yankees would know that they had won game 6 if they make it to the Series and Sabathia is pitching in Game 1. Really? ...What shrewd analysis. Despite the hellish circumstances in Cleveland, I have been enjoying this thread as the post-season has worn on. Fans sharing their passion and knowledge, without venomous hatred, f-bombing, or sophomoric baiting. Hopefully Sabathia and Lee will continue to pitch extremely well. Carry on.

So the thousands of $0.00 items are discontinued titles. And I had dreams of scoring some Dexter Steeplechase titles darn cheap. And the Bill Evans box from Amazon. Oh well.

Potential cover art material for a Gitanes-produced "Jazz in America" series?