AND THE ROCKETS RED GLARE
Houston-LA Game 4 notes

MAN, THAT FELT GOOD: I've never been so proud to be a Rockets fan as I was Sunday afternoon. I told Jelly on Saturday night that I thought they might win Game 4 on emotion, then get blown out in the next two. I hope I'm wrong about the second part of that.

BROOKS VS. KOBE: The other day, I listed five differences between Game 1 (Rockets win) and the next two (both Laker wins). Well, two had to do with Yao, so throw those out. Two of the other barometers are still in play: Aaron Brooks (34 points Sunday) and Kobe Bryant (he played?). Nailed 'em.

DOWN AND DIRTY: After the game, Lisa Salters is interviewing Shane Battier, my favorite Dukie of all-time. After two questions, Salters says: "Shane, you sweat on me more than any other NBA player." Wow. Just, wow.

THE TINA CURSING CORNER

My mom and I had a quiet Mother's Day. Steak. Good steak. Before the steak was ready, however, I tried to talk to her about Benjamin Button.

Me: It's kind of like the Titanic so far. Old woman remembering the love of her life. Flashing back to the early 1900s. They stand at the front of a boat together. ...
Mom: I got meat on the grill. I don't have time to bullshit with you.

Mom thinks she got a splinter yesterday but still couldn't locate it Sunday. "There's something in my finger, but I can't fucking find it."

TV WEEK IN REVIEW

The Office. Michael (upset at his workers): "You all took a life here today. ... The life of the party."

Parks and Recreations. I'm officially a fan.
Tom: Marlene Griggs-Knope (Leslie's mom) has said the "N" word only four times in her entire life.
Leslie: No. .. No.
Tom: She's said it more than that?

Next season. I'm already excited about two shows next season on NBC.
1) Day One. From an executive producer of Lost and Heroes, it follows yet another large group of characters after they are the lone survivors of a mass destruction.
2) 100 Questions. From an executive producer/writer of Psych, a sitcom about a hot chick searching for Mr. Right. Saw the preview yesterday, pretty darn funny.

24. Monday's episode was the first not good episode of the season. We'll forgive 'em. As long as the final three hours kick some ass.

SNL. If you haven't seen Andy and Justin's new digital short, please do so now. I'll wait.

PARTING SHOTS
JRap sees that we have a story on LSU guard Marcus Thornton.

JRap: This says he's streaking up the draft boards. You know, teams are usually reluctant to draft a guy willing to play naked.
Me: Well, that might help him. Shows that he's ballsy.

Bake tells me that his wife got an electric can opener for Mother's Day.

Me: Is that a gift from all three kids?
Bake: Yeah. And the dog.
Me: I doubt the dog gave a fuck.
Bake: Sometimes I wonder if the kids give a fuck.

THE DAILY TOP LIST
My top five favorite quotes from a movie I saw in my younger days. None of these movies made my top 140 list. I quote these often.

5) Wanna go to California. The Wizard. 1989.
Jimmy Woods sure played a mean Super Mario Brothers.

4) Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there. Small Soldiers. 1998.
Paul said this line to me last week.

3) Who is your daddy, and what does he do? Kindergarten Cop. 1990.
I'm detective John Kimble. ... You lack discipline.

2) Which one's the ugly one? TMNT II: The Secret of the Ooze. 1991.
Also featured a performance by Vanilla Ice.

1) I'm right on top of that, Rose. Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. 1991.
OK. I'm not going to lie. This almost made the top movie list.