Conan Takes Over "Tonight Show"

I'm feeling rough,
I'm feeling raw,
I'm in the prime of my life.
Let's make some music,
Make some money,
Find some models for wives

CONAN'S DEBUT ON "THE TONIGHT SHOW"

I will be the first to admit that I sometimes exert a tendency to be overcritical of meaningless things; but on the flip side, when I love something, I love it blindly and wildly.

And I LOVE Conan O'Brien hosting "The Tonight Show".

Typically, even when I love something, I read all the reviews and blogs just to get a general sense of the mainstream opinion, but I'm not even doing that today. I don't care if the critics didn't like it, I don't care if old people didn't like it, and I don't care if you didn't like, I LOVED IT.

I really liked the opening with Conan running across America (and of course forgetting his keys back in New York) and I REALLY LIKED the classic, Golden-Age-Of-Hollywood opening theme. It set a very grand and spectacular tone for the show and it felt more legit than just retro.

Ferrell was the perfect first guest and Pearl Jam not only rocked but also reminded me why I hate the rest of modern music.

I think Denver Post television columnist Joanne Ostrow nailed it when she wrote that since Conan is so goofy and so NOT Los Angeles, he is going to provide a good outsiders perspective to the inside world of entertainment. I can't see Conan ever becoming too "Hollywood" and I think he'll be able to keep everyone a little more honest and self aware.

Can't wait for more. It's nice to be excited about late night TV again (especially at a decent hour - Conan airs at 10:30PM in Denver) and I now know what I will be falling asleep to for hopefully the next decade.

It's always good to have those things settled.

This is our decision,
To live fast and die young.
We've got the vision,
Now let's have some fun.
Yeah, it's overwhelming,
But what else can we do.
Get jobs in offices,
And wake up for the morning commute.
Forget about our mothers and our friends
We're fated to pretend

NEW DVD RELEASES THIS WEEK

"He's Just Not That Into You" and "Revolutionary Road" are the big headliners this week as far as movies go.

"Not That Into You" was actually pretty decent as an ensemble romantic comedy and if nothing else, it's worth it for Scarlett Johansson's... um... acting (haha sorry babe, you know I couldn't let that one pass!).

TV shows available on DVD this week include: "Army Wives: The Complete Second Season", "The Jetsons: Season Two, Volume One", "Prison Break 4: The Final Season", "Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season" and "Weeds: Season Four".

For a complete list of new DVD releases this week, click here.

I'll miss the playgrounds and the animals
And digging up worms
I'll miss the comfort of my mother
And the weight of the world
I'll miss my sister, miss my father,
Miss my dog and my home
Yeah, I'll miss the boredom and the freedom
And the time spent alone.
We're fated to pretend

Stumbling Out of the Gate

Well, Day 2 of posting on the blog is off to a rousing start.

I made notes last night of what I wanted to write about, set my alarm, and even woke up early to work on it.

But of course - since I am too cheap to pay for my own Internet service - I couldn't get online this morning. So after 20 minutes of hoping, and praying, and then cursing and ranting, I decided to quickly get ready and come to work early and get it done there.

Despite leaving a full half hour earlier than I normal do, I just now walked into work at my normal time. The reason: it's barely raining outside today so traffic was at a standstill. I don't even know if you can call it rain. It's more of a heavy mist.

It is the one great Denver mystery that I just can't figure out.

Seriously there can eight feet of snow on the ground and people will blow by you doing 70 mph while you hang on for dear life, swerving across the street; but if it rains even just a little, you might as well put it in park.

So needless to say, my glorious Day 2 post will have to wait a while (and it wasn't even that great to begin with and now it's going to be over-hyped and now I'm stressed).

I definitely have to figure out a better writing schedule - that's for sure. I probably will start writing at night and then posting in the morning because this has been a disaster and I'm already exhausted and I haven't even clocked in yet.

At least Conan is back (more on that later today) and all is once again right with the world.

Picture Perfect

Comedian Ray Romano wrote the following in the first chapter of his book, "Everything and a Kite":

“Immediately after I signed the contract to write this book, I got a bad feeling… I mean, I love the idea of writing a book, but as insecure and obsessive as I am, it seemed to be asking for trouble… And the typeface, the font. Good God Almighty, what about the font? I panicked. I called the printer. ‘Look, get me the funniest font you can find! I want a font where the letter ‘H’ looks like a clown with no pants! Get me that font!’ I was getting desperate. I just wanted a font that felt comfortable. Like my clothes. Nothing fancy, nothing pretentious, no button fly.”

And after the past few weeks, I have to say that I know how he feels.

I'm sure that the picture of me that is directly to the right of this column looks pretty simple. Granted, it's nothing fancy. Just me at the bottom of Castlewood Canyon State Park with a river and some rocks behind me. It's a decent picture, but definitely nothing fancy.

But please believe, it came with a price.

For those of you that have been coming to this site for the past few years, you'll recognize this picture:

This one was brutally simple and was taken in my parents' bathroom back in Virginia.

Seriously.

It served its purposed and I really didn't have too much of a problem with it until I got out West and saw all of this unbelievable scenery. I knew I could do better.

The profile picture suddenly became a big deal to me because it really is the welcoming committee of this site. I realized that I wanted it to represent me as warm and engaging but also fun and adventurous - like I think this site can be.

It had to be me just being me but more importantly, it had to be comfortable, just like Ray wrote.

So I started driving all over creation taking pictures of myself (someday when the site's big and I'm big, I will hire a professional photographer and this will all be a moot point). I finally drove to my favorite spot on the planet - the Georgetown Lake up in the Rocky Mountains where this picture was taken last year when my Fiancé (then Girlfriend) were out here visiting:

I knew I could get something good there but there 700 people fishing in that direction. I turned the other way and this was my first effort:












I really, really liked this one but since I am not a professional photographer, I did not take the sun (or more importantly, shadows) into account and I came out looking like Two Face from the Batman cartoons. Even still, I had it posted for a while and a lot of people commented that it was nice to get some Colorado scenery in the background, so I knew I was on the right track.

The only negative feedback I received (other than the shadowing) was that I didn't look happy enough to be there.

Sorry, I didn't know I was suppose to be the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals (ouch, sorry Nugs. You know I still love you. Still don't know how you let yourself get blown out in Game 6 AT HOME, but I still love you).

It was right around this point that my search became a little more stressful on my sanity. Now, I not only had to find the right location, but I had to find it with the right weather conditions as well. Basically this set off my descent into madness.

I kept my camera close by at all times and began taking pictures of myself everywhere I went. My mental anguish even started to annoy others as I spent the better part of my Fiancé's recent visit repeatedly asking her to take pictures of me everywhere we went.

I had more pictures to go through than most magazine staffs.

This past Thursday, I knew I had to try the Georgetown Lake again so I drove the hour up there after work. Needless to say, the conditions were perfect and out of the 80 kagillion pictures I took, I settled on this one:

I look decent, the mountains and the lake looked amazing and I was so happy with it until I got home and posted it up on the page.

Something was off.

I still can't put my finger on it but it's just not me. I know that it's a picture of me, but it just doesn't look like me for some reason.

And of course, this caused a full-scale neurotic meltdown to blow through my brain.

I had this page pulled up at my computer at work on Friday and would click over to it every couple of minutes just hoping that I would eventually feel better about it. It got so bad, I started texting all of my family and friends about it; and of course, they all loved the picture and said how great it looked.

Unfortunately my buddy Paul and I have this bad habit of actually telling each other the truth, no matter how much the other person doesn't want to hear it.

Here is what Paul texted me:

"Now that I look some more, I don't like it. That is not a Mahler emotion. Ur either miserable, neurotic, or too happy. Smug is not u. Certainly not content."

He nailed it.

While I am more content these days, I don't wear it well and I CERTAINLY don't want it to be my first emotion that greets people as they stop by.

There is no mystery to content. No intrigue. Nothing that keeps you interested or coming back for more.

Content is content.

That sealed it. I had to keep trying.

While the rest of you could care less, I now felt like I was on a time crunch because I have kinda been aiming for today, June 1st, to serve as sort of a relaunch of the site.

I'm making a commitment to myself - not even necessarily to you the reader, but to myself - to post at least SOMETHING every day throughout the week AND to have a new full length column posted every Monday morning so you have something (hopefully) entertaining to start your week with.

And help me help you.

What are you looking for in a site? I know there are so many sites out there in cyberspace but everything feels so spread out. I want to try and condense some of the good stuff a bit for you.

I've been told that people tend to like the entertainment coverage I can provide. So I will post interesting entertainment stories or news articles that I see and offer a few of my own thoughts. I feel like we get a good sports conversation going on here from time to time, so let's keep doing that.

I will post the new DVDs, movie, and CD releases of the week as well and even review some if you want me to.

The Mahler Must List (right under my profile pic to the right) will be updated as often as new things become a Mahler Must and I will guide you to the some of the best sites that I frequent (Other Recommended Sites are right under my Twitter Updates).

What else can I do? I want this to be a fun, interactive, one-stop-shopping site for you. Let me know and I'll make it happen.

I don't want to bother you with emails every time I post something, I want to create something that invites you to come back on your own. Oh, and if you have any friends or family - or enemies - that you think might enjoy my skewed perspectives, shoot them a quick text or email with the site address and check them off on your Christmas shopping list.

It's going to be me being me, but I also want it to be us just being us.

And if nothing else, you can always comment on any thing that's posted (just click the COMMENTS link at the bottom right of every post and leave your thoughts - just remember to leave your name because if you don't, it will just list you as "anonymous").

Back to the picture.

I went a new direction yesterday. I headed south towards Colorado Springs. A guy from church told me about the Castlewood Canyon State Park and how it had some great hiking trails so I thought I would check it out. If I got a good picture, that would just be an added bonus.

As most of you know, I've never really they outdoorsy type but since I'm now living in the center of the Great Outdoors, I'm really gonna try this summer (more on that later). I thought a hike would be a good, small way to start.

The sun was brutally bright for most of the day so I didn't think there was going to be much of a opportunity to get anything usable. I was standing on some rocks in the middle of the river when all of a sudden one big cloud blocked the sun and provided the perfect lighting for just a few precious moments.

I started snapping as fast as I could and ultimately walked away with this:

I didn't even bother taking another one after this one because I knew this was the one. The Georgetown Lake pictures were too grand and colorful. This was just has a steady river rolling through some solid rocks with big, beautiful trees in the background. It's kinda grayish and raw.

And I like the way I look happy but not obnoxious or even worse, content. I look like I've put a little life behind me but still have a couple tricks up my sleeve.

Me just being me, baby.

Here's the thing about my obsessive, neurotic searches and system shut-downs: while something may be good, I always know that there's something out there that could be great. I know nothing is ever going to be perfect but I know there is something that will be perfectly suitable and that's all I'm trying to find.

And now I can relax.

So that's the picture that will greet you every time you come to this page in the near future. Hopefully it will be more often than not. Either way, I will be here.

See you tomorrow.

The Look of a Champion

I hate to break it to you, but the Denver Nuggets will not win the NBA championship this year.

Believe me, there is no one more excited about their chances in the NBA playoffs than I am right now, but it’s just not going to happen.

I know I’m new to the area, but part of the reason I moved to Denver was to have the chance to experience professional sports at its highest level and the Nuggets have been right there for most of this season.

Chauncey Billups has brought some much needed leadership, Carmelo Anthony has developed a deadly outside shot, J.R. Smith has been on fire as of late, Chris Andersen has been a pleasant surprise off of the bench, and the entire team has been playing solid, fundamental basketball on both ends of the court all year.

And while this has been one of the Nuggets’ best seasons in recent memory, I unfortunately have to be the bearer of bad news.

They’re not going to win the championship this year for one basic reason.

It’s the same reason why Cleveland lost to San Antonio in the 2007 finals. It’s the same reason why Utah lost back to back titles to Chicago in the late 1990’s (and not because of Michael Jordan). And it’s the same reason why Houston won two titles in the mid 90’s (again, not because of Michael Jordan’s absence) and haven’t sniffed the NBA finals since.

It even goes beyond basketball.

It’s the same reason why the New York Yankees have won 26 World Series championships and it’s the same reason why the Montreal Canadiens have sipped from Lord Stanley’s Cup 24 times.

In all of sports – and especially in the NBA – championship success comes down to the uniforms.

Think about it. The teams that traditionally win the NBA title year after year usually sport a classic looking uniform and the squads that have trendy or gaudy threads spend the summer trying to reload or rebuild in vain.

In pro basketball history, you can only find maybe two champions from the modern era that have won a title with non-classic unis: the 1978 Washington Bullets and the 1979 Seattle Supersonics (and neither team currently exists as it did back then).

Ever since, we’ve had a steady diet of Lakers-Bulls-Celtics-Spurs-Rockets-Pistons championship parades at the end of every of NBA season and the one common denominator between those franchises is that they all have a very classic uniform.

So what makes a uniform classic? In my mind, there are four simple characteristics:

(1.) How long has the team had the uni? Teams like the Celtics, Lakers, Spurs, and Blazers more than qualify for this category.

(2.) The uniform can only have two or three basic colors. When you think of the Bulls, you think of red and white. When you think of the Knicks, you think of blue and orange. When you think of the Sixers, you think of black, silver, gold, red, white, and blue.

The defense rests.

(3.) The lettering on the jersey has to be simple, yet iconic – so basically the complete opposite of the Wizards, Warriors, and T’Wolves.

(4.) And finally, will the team still have the same uniform that they have now in five to 10 years? You have to believe that a lot of teams that have a trendy look now (i.e. Hawks, Mavs, and Jazz to name a few) will be updating again in a couple of years. Conversely, even though franchises like the Magic, Raptors, and Pacers have just recently gone to new uniforms, they would all be crazy to switch again any time soon because they finally have what’s shaping up to be the required classic look.

To further prove my point, look what happened to the Pistons when they went away from their traditional unis in the mid 90’s and experimented with that awful teal and burgundy travesty. They finally realized their mistake and where ultimately rewarded with another title trophy in 2004 after returning to their original look. On the flip side, the Sixers won it all with a classic uniform in 1983 as did the Rockets when they went back to back in ’94 and ’95. Both traded in the secret to their success and both have toiled aimlessly ever since.

Scientifically, I know there is nothing strong enough to back all of this up, but you have to admit that while once might be a fluke and twice might constitute a trend, 29 times in a row starts cementing a hypothesis as fact.

Back to the Nuggets. Their current uniforms are definitely more traditional looking than they have been in the past and I’ve been on the fence about them for a while now. I was beginning to lean towards anointing them as “classic” until my Fiancé recently delivered the death nail on the argument.

“They’re so cute!” she exclaimed.

I will support the Nuggets for as long as they last in this year’s postseason, but I can promise you that no NBA franchise will ever cut down the nets in “cute” uniforms.

All signs are pointing towards a potentially epic series between Los Angeles and Cleveland and even though it would be sweet to see King James get his first ring, the smart money would be on Kobe and the Lakers – if only because of the uniforms alone.

What Is a Man?

*I recently saw the following in the newest issue of Esquire magazine and decided to post some of it (it was really long). And not that you would ever live your life by what a magazine says, but I liked some of the basic concepts. Check it out for yourself - JM

A man carries cash.

A man looks out for those around him — woman, friend, stranger.

A man can cook eggs.

A man can always find something good to watch on television.

A man makes things — a rock wall, a table, the tuition money. Or he rebuilds — engines, watches, fortunes.

He passes along expertise, one man to the next. Know-how survives him. This is immortality.

A man can speak to dogs.

A man fantasizes that kung fu lives deep inside him somewhere.

A man is good at his job. Not his work, not his avocation, not his hobby. Not his career. His job. It doesn't matter what his job is, because if a man doesn't like his job, he gets a new one.

A man can look you up and down and figure some things out. Before you say a word, he makes you. From your suitcase, from your watch, from your posture. A man infers.

A man owns up. That's why Mark McGwire is not a man. A man grasps his mistakes. He lays claim to who he is, and what he was, whether he likes them or not.

Some mistakes, though, he lets pass if no one notices. Like dropping the steak in the dirt.

A man doesn't point out that he did the dishes.

A man looks out for children. Makes them stand behind him.

A man has had liquor enough in his life that he can order a drink without sounding breathless, clueless, or obtuse. When he doesn't want to think, he orders bourbon or something on tap.

Never the sauvignon blanc.

A man welcomes the coming of age. It frees him. It allows him to assume the upper hand and teaches him when to step aside.

Maybe he never has, and maybe he never will, but a man figures he can knock someone, somewhere, on his ass.

A man gets the door. Without thinking.

He stops traffic when he must.

A man resists formulations, questions belief, embraces ambiguity without making a fetish out of it.

A man revisits his beliefs. Continually.

A man knows his tools and how to use them — just the ones he needs. Knows which saw is for what, how to find the stud, when to use galvanized nails. A miter saw, incidentally, is the kind that sits on a table, has a circular blade, and is used for cutting at precise angles. Very satisfying saw.

A man knows how to lose an afternoon. Drinking, playing Grand Theft Auto, driving aimlessly, shooting pool.

He knows how to lose a month, also.

A man listens, and that's how he argues. He crafts opinions. He can pound the table, take the floor. It's not that he must. It's that he can.

A man is comfortable being alone. Loves being alone, actually. He sleeps.

Or he stands watch. He interrupts trouble. This is the state policeman. This is the poet. Men, both of them.

A man loves driving alone most of all.

Style — a man has that. No matter how eccentric that style is, it is uncontrived. It's a set of rules.

He understands the basic mechanics of the planet. Or he can close one eye, look up at the sun, and tell you what time of day it is. Or where north is.

He can tell you where you might find something to eat or where the fish run.

He understands electricity or the internal-combustion engine, the mechanics of flight or how to figure a pitcher's ERA.

A man does not know everything. He doesn't try. He likes what other men know.

A man can tell you he was wrong. That he did wrong. That he planned to. He can tell you when he is lost. He can apologize, even if sometimes it's just to put an end to the bickering.

A man does not wither at the thought of dancing. But it is generally to be avoided.

A man watches. Sometimes he goes and sits at an auction knowing he won't spend a dime, witnessing the temptation and the maneuvering of others. Sometimes he stands on the street corner watching stuff. This is not about quietude so much as collection. It is not about meditation so much as considering. A man refracts his vision and gains acuity. This serves him in every way. No one taught him this — to be quiet, to cipher, to watch.

In this way, in these moments, the man is like a zoo animal: both captive and free. You cannot take your eyes off a man when he is like that. You shouldn't.

The hell if you know what he is thinking, who he is, or what he will do next.

NBA Playoff Picks

I realize that I am one of the 18 people left on the planet that still cares about professional basketball. And I get it that for most of the season, a lot of the players kinda coast until the playoffs and I will admit that from 1999 until about 2005 or so, the NBA was pretty weak.

But now I would argue that it was one of the best sports going and we have an excellent generation of superstars emerging right before us.

I will take pro playoff basketball over the NCAA tourney any day because (A) when the pro players actually care it is the most exciting brand of basketball around and (B) really, how great was the NCAA tourney this year? Thought so.

Give the best being the best any day of the week.

I'm loving being in a pro basketball town for the playoffs this year (bought my Nuggets-Hornets Game 1 tickets today!) and I think we could be headed towards one of the greatest Finals in recent memory.

Here are my humble picks:

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND

#1 Cleveland over #8 Detroit in FIVE games - I will give the Pistons one home win in the series)

#2 Boston over #7 Chicago in FOUR games - I believe Boston will want to make a point that they can win without KG

#3 Orlando over #6 Philly in FIVE games - Just don't like my Sixers in this one. Hope I'm wrong.

#5 Miami over #4 Atlanta in SIX games - When in doubt, go with the best player on the court.



WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND

#1 Lakers over #8 Utah in FOUR games - This one could get ugly quick.

#2 Denver over #7 New Orleans in FIVE games - I know Denver has struggled getting out of the first round lately, but neither team is the same squad they were a year ago. Advantage: Nuggets.

#6 Dallas over #3 San Antonio in SEVEN games - This is my one big upset in the first round. I like the way the Mavs are playing right now and the Spurs are prone to struggle without Manu.

#4 Portland over #5 Houston in SIX games - Portland is too tough at home and I think they will steal one on the road



EASTERN CONFERENCE 2ND ROUND

#1 Cleveland over #5 Miami in SEVEN games - This could be a 2nd round classic that could really take the Cavs to the limit but I think Wade's lack of support will catch up to him in the end.

#2 Boston over #3 Orlando in SIX games - Even without Garnett, Boston still feels better than the Magic to me.



WESTERN CONFERENCE 2ND ROUND

#1 Lakers over #4 Portland in FIVE games - This is a young and talented Blazer team that will learn a lot from this playoff experience and will be that much more dangerous in the years to come.

#2 Denver over #6 Dallas in SIX games - The Nuggets swept the season series with the Mavs and just matchup well with them. Making it to the conference finals would be a huge success for a Denver team that has struggled in the postseason as of late.



EASTERN CONFERNCE FINALS

#1 Cleveland over #2 Boston in SIX games - I don't think that the Cavs recent whooping of the Celtics was any fluke. Cleveland is the Beast of the East this year.



WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

#1 Lakers over #2 Denver in SIX games - I saw this matchup at the Pepsi Center last month and the ONLY thing the Nuggets will have going for them is that they are more physical than Los Angeles but I just can't see Kobe letting the Lakers lose



NBA FINALS

#1 Lakers over #1 Cleveland in SEVEN games - It would be weird to see LeBron sitting at 0-2 in the Finals, but after last season I just can't see Kobe letting another one slip through his grasp - especially if LeBron is named league MVP. I will be rooting for the Cavs with my heart, but can't go against my head in this one.

What an epic matchup this could be.

You can have UNC and UConn and Michigan State and whatever college team you want. I will take the big boys, please.

The Best From the Booth

The news of Hall of Fame broadcaster John Madden's sudden retirement from NBC's Sunday Night Football put a cap on what has been a sad and somewhat reflective week in the world of sports broadcasting.

First Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas passes away on Monday and now this.

And now we are left to speculate with some necessary caution and skepticism as to what voices we will be left with.

As I stated in my post the other day about Kalas, I always get nervous when a great broadcaster passes away or retires because they usually get replaced with a crappy one. I have a very bad suspicion that Chris Collingsworth with get the nod at the Peacock to replace Madden and I can't imagine a worse fate for Sunday Night football.

To me, broadcasting is a lot like officiating. When it's bad you really notice it, when it's good you shouldn't notice it, and when it's great, it actually adds a depth and richness to the game that you're watching.

For me personally, I will actually turn down the volume during a Joe Buck-Troy Aikman game (and that only get's more difficult during the NFL playoffs when the big games - including the Super Bowl - are on FOX because those two are somehow the network's "A" team") but conversely, I will watch any random AFC game on CBS when Dick Enberg is behind the mic.

I used to love a Jim Nantz college basketball broadcast but he has slipped a little for me in the past few years as he tries too hard now to find a creative play on words at every turn (it all started in 2005 when a Sean May-led UNC team won the title and Nantz poetically quipped, "The Tarheels win a tournament that started in March, concluded in April, and ended in May". Ugh. I have yet to forgive him for that one).

And I can't figure out why CBS still holds Gus Johnson back in their college basketball coverage (and NFL coverage for that matter) because he makes EVERYTHING exponentially more exciting than it actually is but still gets regularly relegated to a Univ of Washington-Gonzaga game or a Texans-Chiefs contest (and I STILL want to watch because of him).

I sent out a mass text today just wondering who are some of our favorite current broadcasters and I pretty much got the responses I expected.

A lot of people mentioned Bob Costas (even though he only does the Olympics anymore - I would give anything for him to call just one more World Series or just one more NBA Finals game). There were a few mentions of Nantz (and I do love his work for The Masters), Al Michaels, Jon Miller, Brent Musberger, and Marv Albert.

But most of those guys are broadcasting vets.

I feel like we are entering the end of one era and I'm getting a little concerned about the beginning of the next.

Who are the next great sports broadcasters and does that concept even exist? It is an interesting topic only because - like I said - when we are left to the Bucks, and Aikmans, and Collingsworths of the world, the entertainment value of the games we love does suffer for the worst.

And that only makes you miss the best from the booth that much more.