Free For All

Looks like the best they can do now is a bronze after losing to Argentina 89-81. We may have to stop calling the NBA finals the "world championship". Updated: 04:41 PM EDT No Gold for Dream Team as Argentina Wins in Semis Bronze Medal Becomes the Goal After America's Third Loss in Athens By CHUCK SCHOFFNER, AP SPORTS ATHENS, Greece (Aug. 27) -- Bronze is the best the American men's basketball team can do, and the reason is simple: They were beaten by a better team, Argentina. Manu Ginobili scored 29 points to lead his nation to another victory over the country that used to dominate the sport, an 89-81 win in the Olympic semifinals Friday night. For the first time since 1988, the gold medal will not go to the Americans. And for the first time since pro players were added for the original Dream Team in 1992, the United States will not be the Olympic champion. Argentina, with almost the same roster that made history in 2002 by becoming the first team to defeat a U.S. squad of NBA players, will compete for the gold medal against the winner of Friday's late game between Lithuania and Italy. The Argentines were the better passers, shooters and defenders. They confronted the Americans with a mixture of man-to-man and zone defenses, and confounded them with an assortment of back picks that turned the start of the second half into a layup drill. Argentina's players celebrated wildly when the game ended, and the crowd yelled ''Ole!'' U.S. coach Larry Brown walked over and gave a handshake and hug to his Argentine counterpart, Ruben Magnano, who played for Argentina against the first Dream Team in Barcelona. A dozen years later, Magnano's team became the first to knock America out of gold medal contention since the Soviet Union did it in Seoul in 1988. NBA commissioner David Stern attended the third loss of the Athens Games for the Americans, who entered the tournament with a 109-2 record in prior Olympics. Their first loss to Puerto Rico was shocking for its decisiveness, and their second to Lithuania finally got the message across to the players on the young U.S. roster that the level of the competition was a whole lot better than they had imagined. The U.S. team had been playing better since, and its best effort came Thursday in a victory over previously undefeated Spain. But just a day later, they went back to missing 3-point shots, didn't get a breakout performance from any of their NBA stars and couldn't make a sustained comeback after they fell behind by a double-digit margin. The first half ended with Argentina ahead 43-38 after its big men outplayed the Americans and showed themselves capable of playing with as much flair as anyone. The half's prettiest play came on the 3-on-1 break when Hugo Sconochini, one of the team's elder statesmen, tossed a nifty behind-the-back pass to Alejandro Montecchia for a high-arching layup over Richard Jefferson that gave Argentina a 42-33 lead. The Americans shot just 36 percent in the first half and didn't hit their first 3-pointer - missing their first five - until LeBron James made one 30 seconds before halftime. Argentina shot 54 percent overall and 11-for-22 from 3-point range, while the Americans finished just 32-for-77 (42 percent) and 3-for-11 on 3s. Stephon Marbury led the U.S. team with 18 points, and Tim Duncan had just 10 while being limited to 19 1/2 minutes because of foul trouble. The third quarter began with Ginobili hitting a wide-open 3-pointer, Duncan picking up his third foul, Luis Scola, Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto getting inside for layups, and Marbury clanging a driving shot off the side of the backboard. Suddenly, the Americans were down 53-40 and on the verge of having the game get away from them. It soon did. Duncan was whistled for his fourth foul with 7:41 left in the third quarter, causing Brown to jump out of his chair and scream ''NO!'' Next came a wide-open 3 from the right corner by Ginobili, and the lead was up to 16 - 56-40. The Americans quickly got their deficit down to six, but Montecchia and Ruben Wolkowyski knocked down 3s, and Ginobili added a rare four-point play - just like the one from Lithuania's Sarunas Jasikevicius that doomed the Americans in their opening-round loss - to make it 70-57 entering the fourth quarter. The Americans trailed 76-65 when Duncan fouled out with five minutes left for hitting Ginobili with a hip check. The U.S. team eventually went to a trap and a full-court press in an effort to climb back, but Argentina handled it with aplomb and didn't let the Americans get closer than eight. 08-27-04 15:33EDT

Next thing you know he'll be Leapin' and Lopin'.

Happy birthday to my favorite jazz composer! Plus, what bertrand said.

I was told there would be pie.

Sounds like it was a good hang! Sean Jones is the real deal. I think we'll be hearing a lot from him in the near future. Just a guess, but the 'bone player might have been Vincent Gardner.

Does this tie it all together? It's a Good Book.

Nice link. Thanks, Jim. I might need to order some of his materials. Of course I shouldn't have said "accurate". I think I meant the FFA changes just "feel" right to me, and I've never questioned their accuracy, assuming they were "authentic". Apparently the tune was "arranged"- BTW, who did that arrangement for FFA? I'm thinking it was Freddie. I think I need to do a little homework!

Do people give up their seats these days? I hope so. That and holding doors open, which I try to do for ANYONE, male or female. I always feel better when someone does a little courteous act for me (and knowing that I try to do it for others)- it gives me a little hope for our society. Yes, it's fairly insignificant, but for some reason it helps a bit.

Regarding trains, My dad was big into model railroading and loved to take road trips to see the real thing. I remember many times driving for hours to a remote location with a kick-ass view of the passing trains. You'd hear the whistle from far off as the train approached- it was like that feeling of anticipation when climbing the big hill on a roller coaster. Sometimes we'd get really close, too; that low-end thunder of a passing train is a real rush, as well as the rhythmic sound of the wheels going over the tracks. What was that Weather Report tune, Cannonball? Off Black Market, I believe. On our family vacations we would always make little side trips to see train action. One particularly fun trip was when we stopped at Horseshoe Curve near Scranton, PA. That was an amazing view. We also took trips on the trains. One of the coolest things ever was eating breakfast in the dining car. The food always tasted better, just like a dog at the ballpark. Somehow the waiters were always able to pour coffee, etc. without spilling a drop. Chops! I also like how some of the train whistles spell out some very hip harmonies...I once heard a Maj. 7 chord w/a flat 5th, another time a minor triad w/a Maj 7th. Makes you want to write a tune! Thinking about trains really brings back some memories...........

Looking forward to my wife returning next Monday from Santa Fe where she's been since the middle of June, doing her Opera gig. She has the dog with her, so it's pretty damn quiet around here, which was fun for about a day or two. Then it officially became a drag. Plus my schedule prevented me from going out to visit her this summer, so I was deprived of both companionship (and all its perks ) as well as my Santa Fe culinary tour. Yesterday was her birthday and today is our anniversary, so you can bet I'd better not f*ck up and forget THOSE two days! Being with my wife and dog is about my best ahhhhhhhhhhhh......

Clare Fischer I see on his website he has some books of his tunes as well as some other interesting things. Anyone out there have any of this stuff? I'm most interested in his book of compositions. I've always thought of the FFA changes as accurate, but I guess I should check out the composer's version before I make up my mind. Still like the FFA version, though.

Jim, do you have the Sher Music fakebook with Pensativa in it? It's the first one of that series they put out, I think. I've always felt those changes were the most accurate, epsecially on the bridge, which I've learned different than the one you posted. Plus a couple spots on the A section. Not to say your Shank version is wrong or anything, just that you might be interested in checking some alternates out. I think these are the changes used on Free For All.

Danka shein!

Normal Mosaic black and silver spine.

BTW, how do you pronounce his name? "Munch" or "Monk" or what?

Night of the Cookers

Martin Banks Here's some info on him. I did play with him many times in the 80s. A good solid trumpet player with a soulful vibe, and he played the role of mentor to many of the local musicians. A really nice guy. I expect the Austin board members can discuss him with better depth than I can. Soul Stream mentioned several relevant recordings to check out. How was he sounding as of late, SS? RIP

Don't forget Grape Nehi!

I celebrated the Count's b-day tonight by participating in a Tribute to Basie here in KC. There was a big band led by Bobby Watson and featured artists were Jay McShann, Clark Terry and James Carter. Played many Basie charts- big jam, big fun! It was good to see Clark- he's movin' a little slow but he is still playing very well and still doing his "schtick"- trading w/himself on two instruments, playing upside-down trumpet, a little mumbles, etc. Yeah, I've seen the routines before but it does my heart good to see Clark continue to get after it. His latest line is when he comes out to the stage (assisted) in elderly slow-motion and sits down on his chair (assisted) he says "You know, the Golden Years SUCK!!" Got to love Clark. He's one of my favorites.

The word "transition" is NOT a verb! Hello! I hear this on the TV news constantly.

I was initially lukewarm about this one. I already owned it and was determined NOT to buy the RVG. After reading comments here, though, I decided to pick up a copy and must say I was not disappointed. I like this session much more than the first time around. If you're a Freddie freak at all, you should get it! You guys are killin' me, by the way. B-) Edited for spelling..........

I refuse to get my blood pressure up by being in a hurry in the car. That's the worst kind of stress, you're late and you hit EVERY red light and EVERY idiot is in front of you. You're just begging to get in an accident. I just leave a little earlier and make up my mind that I'm NOT going to let the idiots get to me. I also let people "in" when I can and try to be courteous. I do allow a few seconds of waiting behind someone who's unaware the light has changed before I give 'em a honk. In the big picture, becoming a maniac behind the wheel is not something I'm going to allow myself to do. It's just not worth it.