Cheeky Mark Cuban and Trophy Companion Take in Vancouver Riots

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Separated at Birth: Punked the Hell Out of 'Em

Reveling in the championship glow, Mark Cuban channels his inner handicapped cartoon steroid dealer.

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Mescallade Goes One-on-One with "OG" Larry Johnson

New York Knicks legend Larry Johnson teamed up with Captain Morgan to host a house party this Memorial Day Weekend in New York. LJ is helping to promote the Captain's Long Island Iced Tea pre-made beverage. One man that has created so many memories, and a beverage that erases them...fitting.

We caught up with LJ in advance of the big party to talk NBA Playoffs, the 4pt play, how often he throws up the LJ sign, and any potential changes to the slam dunk contest.

Q: LJ tell me about this party you’re hosting for Captain Morgan

A: Captain Morgan Long Island Iced Tea, doing it here in New York. I got Daryl Dawkins in Philly, we got my little dude Voshon Lenard in Miami. Kicking off the summer right, having some toast, definitely drinking in moderation. We enjoying the summer.

Q. How about the Long Island Ice Tea, is it legit?

A: They legit, the best thing about it, you don’t have to mix up four or five different spirits, you just pour it over ice and you’re good to go.

Q: NBA Playoffs have been great this year, let’s talk first about the Mavericks advancing to the NBA Finals, what do you think about them?

A: You know I’m born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and it’s always been a big football city, and Texas a football state, we got our Cowboys. It’s awesome to see those Mavs. It’s turned into a straight basketball city, it’s not a big football city. Jerry Jones don’t like that. It’s not a big football city no more. Dirk and Mark Cuban are turning it into a basketball city.

Q: How about Dirk getting a chance to get back to the NBA Finals?

A: Let me give you a little game. One of the reasons they doing what they are doing is a coach by the name of Tim Grgurich. He coached me at UNLV. He was the Assistant Coach, but he was really the Head Coach. Coach Gurg - we called him that. We’d be in the gym two hours with Coach Gurg for two hours before Coach Tark come to the gym. Gurg is the assistant over there with the Dallas Mavericks. He is more defensive minded, even Dirk who is a great scorer, he’s really getting after it on the defensive end. He let them know if you want to win, it has to start on the defensive end. Dirk Nowitzki can score the basketball but you gotta get key stops

Q: How about the Heat and the Bulls, the Heat have the advantage do you see them advancing?

A: Heat got home court advantage, I got the Heat beating Chicago and I got the Heat beating Dallas.

Q: Is it weird to pick the Heat considering the great Knicks-Heat rivalry from years back?

A: I remember them days, I used to have some ill feelings, I’m too old now, I just want them young fellas, don’t matter which team, which organization, just to do well. I don’t like when we do bad. I look at myself, they call me OG, I saw Lebron and those guys, they give me a pound what up OG, I’m like ok I like that. I don’t mind the Heat winning.



Q: The Grizzlies were an 8 seed that upset a 1 which reminded me of the Knicks run in 99, did that remind you on the Knicks run?

A: It did. When I was watching that series, they kept saying our name the last 8 seed to beat a 1, it was the Knicks. You know what happened those guys, just like us, they gelled at the right time, the season is so long, 82 games. Look at San Antonio, those guys was old, they just destroyed guys up until the All-Star break. They were looking so good. They got veterans like that, by the time playoffs came nobody had legs on San Antonio.

Q: You started with the Hornets but finished your career with the Knicks, who do you associate yourself with more?

A: It ain’t even a question, definitely a Knick, it’s not a question, it’s definitely the Knicks and I feel bad about it. The Hornets, that North Carolina, that’s basketball heaven, you got Tobacco Road, Duke, UNC, five, ten miles away. They love basketball, they love it in NY, but to be in that small country environment in Charlotte and it’s all about basketball. Them Panthers in town, but they secondary to what we would do.

(It’s the Knicks because) it was the last team I played for. (Also) I do not care for the ex owner of the Charlotte Hornets which was that Shinn guy who lost the team. He would come in the locker room when we won and talk about us and then wouldn’t come in the locker room when we lost. I even said something to him about that. ‘Yo it’s your team, you pay us to play for you, you don’t pay us to listen to you kills us. You don’t know nothing about basketball.’ This is what I told him to his face, ‘you don’t know nothing about basketball you’re a car salesman, you got a GM, a head coach, let them do basketball. He’s like well this is my team and I just walked away from the guy.’


Q: You are perhaps most known for the four point play, I watch it now over 10 years later and still get goosebumps, how do you feel when that play comes up?

A: I get goosebumps. I had all my sons there when that happened, that was the highlight of my career, winning the national championship in college and that four point play. I wish we would have won a title but that’s water under the bridge.

Q: What did you think of the moves the Knicks made this year getting Carmelo and Chauncey Billups?

A: I love it, we’d do much better against Boston if Chauncey would have been more healthy, we need more point guards, Chauncey is not getting younger. We need one of those Chris Paul, or that (Deron) Williams dude and we’ll be on our way. I think we’ll be more competitive with Miami and Boston.

Q: You mentioned the ’99 team gelling, how much will gelling be a key for this team in the offseason and next year?

A: It will and then the start of the year, you’ve got to have some camaraderie, Landry Fields took a big hit when Melo came, he has to find his way, he was playing so well before Melo got here. Stoudemire was the man, everybody knew their role, knew what to expect. Once you get another superstar, like we got Melo, roles change. 3-4 guys leave, 3-4 new guys in, I think Landry Fields took the biggest hit, I think it was hard for him to find his role once Melo came. He’s gotta get some veteran experience in him and then he’ll know what he needs to do and that’ll help the whole team.

Q: You were famous for throwing up the LJ sign with your arms, how often do you still break that out?

A: I don’t, I don’t, when I’m in the Garden, they put me up on the tron and everyone want the big L.


Q: You were in the slam dunk contest back early in your career. Looking at it now they have players jumping over cars. Do you like the way it is, do you have any thoughts on improving it or making it better?

A: I think you can make anything better, those guys, jumping over a car, they pulled a car on the court! The dunk contest I was in (with) Cedric Ceballos, Dan Majerle put a blind fold on Cedric Ceballos, which he could see, and he ran from the one end to the other and dunked the basketball. That’s what we were doing putting on blind folks. Then right after us came those Vince Carters, JR Riders, jumping, taking the ball between their legs. When I saw that I went out and was like whoa! I was in my sixth year in the NBA and I was trying that. Let me see can I do that, put the ball between your legs. It’s just evolving, it’s great, Blake Griffin no telling what he’s gonna do.

-Posted by Cadillac Mescallade

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The "Mountie"

Always gets his man.

Ariel Rumbas with the Stars: Week 5

Wow... what a night. It was the night of the Rumba and Samba, and boy were there some sweet moves. I like Marie Osmond's "fainting" move while she awaited comments from the judges. Way to pull the sympathy card! Ha, kidding. It was a bit scary as Ren and I both sort of looked at each other like "What the f just happened???"

Cuban reacts to the Osmond "faint" move

Bergeron greeted us back after the break with news that Marie was just fine. Ren wasn't amused by his weak attempt to break the uncomfortable TV land silence that fell over us all as we watched promos for a week's worth of ABC shows, and said "Oh Bergeron, go hit someone in the nuts and you'll feel right at home." (Ren is a closet America's Funniest Video's fan... don't let his remark fool you...)

Anyways... the performances.

Best of the Best:

Sabrina Bryan, Mel B.

Notable Runners' Up:

Jennie Garth, Jane Seymour, Cameron Mathison (but only because he dances with my girl crush Edyta, and she is smoking hot! I'd kill for that body!!!)

Worst of the Worst:

MARK CUBAN!!! You are NOT a dancer... stick to making money which is what you do best. The only way he is still in it tonight is his fans (and great shameless plug of your blog during your rehearsal package...). I can appreciate your strategic ploy to be entertaining since you know the judges aren't going to give you higher than a 7 or the occasional 8. But your a businessman, you definitely know strategy.

OK, a quick note to the judges. You knitpick the people who are doing really well, but you sort of laugh off the mistakes of the Cuban's and Marie Osmonds, because they are so "likeable." Either its a competition or it isn't. I am getting a little tired of you, Carrie Ann, saying that you appreciate the "fun" factor. They are ALL having fun!! This isn't their DAY job!

Alright... I feel better now.

-posted by Ariel

Dancing Shocker

Ok, I definitely didn't see this coming. But I guess this is what happens when you don't have the name recognition.

Sorry Albert... we'll look for you in the next Abercrombie catalogue.

At least we still have the Disco Dancing Executive sticking around.



-posted by Ariel

Dancing With the Biggest Loser

My thumb hurts, but I masterfully flipped between Biggest Loser (week 3) and Dancing with the Stars (the men) last night. Ren was proud. (Not that he noticed, he was busy giving himself a heart attack during the Phillies game).

Here is the breakdown:

Dancing With the Stars

Best performance of the night: Helio Castroneves danced an elegant fox trot and looks the part of a ballroom dancer. If he continues in the same manner, he should do well. I am interested to see how he'll be able to shake that thing in faster dances like the cha cha cha or mambo.

Worst performance of the night: Wayne Newton looked a bit awkward, like your dad trying to dance to rap music after a few cocktails and cousin Tony's wedding. He is a goofy looking man to begin with, and just sort of looked uncomfortable. He didn't do horribly, just out of sorts.

While Ariel didn't appreciate Mr. Las Vegas' performance, it looks like he has a fan in fellow competitor.

Notable Mentions: Albert Reed (Abercrombie model) did alright. He moved well and had a fun personality, but his lack of celebrity status makes him less likely to hang around very long.

Mark Cuban - I just cannot stand this man... he danced so-so, but he is just goofy and likes to be over the top. I do give him props though because he did well give the fact that he is very removed from being an entertainer, though some find his court-side antics amusing. I have to dock points for schilling for votes on his blog prior to the show even starting. Poor form.

Cameron Mathison did very well. He was equivalent to Jennie Garth's performance the night before... they came out strong, did well, and have the potential to be really good dancers.

Floyd Mayweather was kind of funny. He is so small looking for a boxer, and just had a lot of fun with it. It was fun to see him to the cha cha cha, but I am not sure how he'll translate his rhythm to a more elegant dance like the waltz or fox trot.

Tonight they are giving Kenny Mayne a chance to redeem himself though watching him try to dance a few seasons ago was probably one of the funniest, most awkward things I've ever witnessed. But that is besides the point - tonight we'll find out who will be the first celebrity voted off!

Biggest Loser

Week three, and the competition is fierce. While the Blue and Black teams still have all their players, the Red team has faced two eliminations and now is down to just 4 competitors. Everyone faced a temptation.... all contestants were given the option to eat as much bad food in 4:00 minutes as they could. IF they decided to eat something and IF they ate the most calories, they were awarded 3 extra pounds to add to their total weight loss for the week. As the team debated, the Blue team decided that if anyone could afford the pounds those calories would add it'd be Neil. When Neil came out there was confusion about whether or not he ate anything, and Patty decided she needed to eat something for the sake of the team. In the end she ate the most and was awarded the 3 pounds. Long story short, Neil was pissed cause if he knew she was going to eat that crap, he wouldn't have.

The challenge this week was basically that a member of each team had to race against a kid. There were three races. The team who had the most winners would all get to call home. In the first race, the 4th grader kicked some ass. She beat all the contestants easily. The second race was won by the red team, third race was won by a 5 year old. Being as the red team had the ONLY winner, they won the entire challenge. It's interesting because to date, the red team has won each challenge but lost the first two weigh-ins.

The weigh in is crucial for the red team. If they face elimination again, they'll be down to just 3 players, with each of the other teams at 6. The first two weeks saw very large numbers as far as weight loss which can be contributed mostly to the fact that they are burning off water weight which goes first. As they get into weeks 3, 4, 5, there is usually a plateau in weight loss and the numbers become smaller. They bodies are adusting to the change in diet and level of energy, as well as the fact that they are starting to build muscle.

Anyways.... the blue team loses the weigh in, even though Patty (the one who ate all the bad food to win the extra pounds) lost the most weight on the team, 5 lbs, and was able to add the bonus 3 for a total weight loss of 8 pounds. Previous week big losers Neil and Jerry (old guy) only dropped a few pounds.

Now this is a competition, and for now they are still in teams, so when you vote someone off, you should pick off the lightest people because they have the least amount of weight to lose. In this instance, the team voted off Jerry, who they all said was capable of leaving the ranch and losing the weight on his own. To throw another wrench in the whole thing, in three weeks Jerry lost like 40-something pounds, and was the team captain.

Apparently next week they close down the Biggest Loser campus (until now, they've been on what seems like a college campus instead of the ranch) though I am not quite sure what that means. And honestly, it doesn't matter cause I'll keep watching anyway. And Fat Willard will keep watching because he likes Allison Sweeney much better than Caroline Rhea.

-posted by Ariel