Champs, Choking, and How DVR has Changed My Life

By Reece

The Champs

Firstly, I must again publicly share my complete and utter joy with the Boston Celtics' 17th NBA Championship! I'm glad they lost Game 5, just so they could win... ahem... DOMINATE at home in the Garden. Usually, blowouts are no fun to watch (unless they're this guy), but I couldn't help losing my mind every time Ray Allen drained a 3, and Rajon Rondo stole the ball (a million times and counting), and James Posey played D well after the whistle, and Kevin Garnett came back to life and Eddie House came off the bench, and Paul Pierce took one of his stumbling drives saying "I'm going to crash into the photographers, but first let me make this lay-up using only my Jedi mind. Oh, and I'll take a foul call, too. Thanks."

Enough about the Celtics. They're great, and it was awesome to see three NBA All-Stars finally get a ring (and it was almost as satisfying to see a certain NBA player lose, especially with his daughters there to see it. I guess that's what happens when you use your kids as part of your PR campaign to prove your innocence).

The Choke Artists

Three out of four of the quarterfinal games in 2008 EUROCUP Soccer ended in defeat for the top seed. I guess soccer is like that though, when just a chance at a shot is considered good offense. It all started horribly for me - my beloved, and immensely talented Portugal losing to, ze Germans. Then Turkey blows everyone's mind, by tying Croatia in the final minute of the game, sending it to penalty kicks and winning. Croatia - the better team, particularly with Turkey lagging with suspensions and injuries - totally choked, missing, yes, MISSING two penalty kicks. (Props to the Turk keeper - their 35 year old BACK-UP keeper - Rustu, for playing out of his mind). And finally, the early favorites the Netherlands blew it against Russia to really screw up my brackets. Only Spain was able to defeat Italy to keep some semblance of balance in the rankings. Regardless, I went from 1st to 4th in my pool, and now I have no faith in my instincts for the semi-finals.

And How DVR has Changed My Life...

I didn't watch any of these games live. I know... who does that? But I didn't have a choice. My schedule just doesn't always permit me to see live sports on TV. In the past, and in general, it's no big deal - I'll read a game report, watch some highlights - but I couldn't live with myself as a Boston fan if I didn't watch every second of every Celtics Playoffs game (after all, they neeeeed me). I could probably live without watching entire soccer matches - but the drama is just too great, and really, a singular futbol goal is immensely more intense when you've been waiting 90 minutes.

THE POINT

I now have the ability to watch sports at my convenience. I choose the time, but not the place... yet. Face it, sports highlights on my iPhone still aren't good enough - but what if I could set my TV to record the game at my house, and that syncs with my phone, so when I get off of work, I could go to my buddy's place and broadcast the game from my phone to his bigger, better, TV?

The bigger picture (not talking about the TV anymore) is that I will consume the media I choose, when I want to. Like I said, in the past I'd let a game go by once in a while, now I make sure I record every important match I can. If only there was a way to block spoiler phone calls from friends...