Miami Heat: Will Anyone Challenge Lebron James & Company In 2013 NBA Playoffs?

Unfortunately, the story of the 2013 NBA Playoffs has been injuries.  Even before the postseason began the league was without superstars Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, and Rajon Rondo.  Then, during round one, we lost Russell Westbrook, David Lee, and Antawn Jamison.  Additionally, several other notable players have missed games or have been hampered by injuries: Dwyane Wade, Stephen Curry, Kirk Hinrich, Jeremy Lin, Metta World Peace, and Steve Nash.

Injuries are no fun.  As hoop fans, we have to ask what did we do to deserve this?  Did we anger the Basketball Gods?  We’re sure it was something Bill Simmons did.  Will we see more injuries in the 2013 NBA Playoffs?  Let’s hope not but we all know the answer is yes.  Injuries (maybe not to the extent we’ve been seeing) are part of the game.  Of course, “Will more guys find themselves on the DL” isn’t the only question fans want answered.  Below, are five additional queries concerning the 2013 NBA Playoffs.  We’ll go ahead and provide some analysis but the real answers will come on the court.

1) Will Any Team Challenge The Miami Heat?

If you have Heat playoff tickets you’re seeing the eventual winners of the NBA Finals.  There seems to be little doubt that the Miami Heat will repeat as champions.  The only question is will they be challenged?  Will a team be able to take a game from Lebron James and company?  Going undefeated through the entire playoffs is very difficult.  So, we expect them to drop a game to Knicks and maybe one or two to the Spurs.  Now, the Heat swept the lowly Milwaukee Bucks in round one.  No surprise there but what was impressive was that their narrowest margin of victory was just 11 points.  That came in Game 4, the one without Dwayne Wade.  We expect a similar result in round two when the Heat’s playoff run continues with the Brooklyn Nets or the Chicago Bulls. 

2) How Far Will The New York Knicks Go?

After the New York Knicks dispatch a pesky Boston Celtics team they’ll likely play the Indiana Pacers.  The series should conjure up memories when the two franchises were populated with the likes of Patrick Ewing, Anthony Mason, Reggie Miller, and Mark Jackson.  The Knicks haven’t been past the first round since 2000.  A deep run by the NBA’s marquee franchise would go a long way in making New Yorkers excited about basketball again.  It would also give their many detractors something to whine about.

3) Can Kevin Durant Lead The Oklahoma City Thunder To The NBA Finals?

Conventional wisdom around the NBA believes Kevin Durant CAN lead a Russell Westbrook-less Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA Finals.  However, without Westbrook (torn meniscus) they have no shot at defeating the Heat.  We wouldn’t be shocked if the Thunder repeat as Western Conference Champions but we would be surprised.  We just don’t think they’ll make it past the Los Angeles Clippers.  The Clippers’ weakness is their half-court offense.  Without Westbrook’s defensive prowess, the Clips become a much better half-court team.

4) Will The Spurs Return To The NBA Finals?

The Spurs haven’t been to the NBA Finals since 2007, but they’ll return to the promise land in 2013.  Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili have found the foundation of youth.  And when they play well they take the pressure off of role players like Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and DeJuan Blair.  In the conference quarterfinals, the Spurs looked spry, comfortable, and confident—granted they were playing a beleaguered Lakers team.  If the injury bug continues to avoid them and strike other teams the Spurs will once again claim the West.

5) Just How Much More Enjoyable Basketball Will The Golden State Warriors Give Us?  

We want the Golden State Warriors to eliminate the Denver Nuggets from the playoffs and advance but wouldn’t mind if their opening round series goes a full seven games.  Warriors and Nuggets has been a thoroughly entertaining series.  In their first four games, the Warriors and Nuggets scored 100 or more points six times.  In the other seven series, teams have score 100-plus points just 17 times (out of 26 games) and failed to score 80 points an amazing 8 times.  So how many more playoff games can the Warriors delight basketball fans with their up-tempo style and Stephen Curry’s lights-out shooting?  Sadly, not very many.  While they match up well against the Nuggets they don’t against the Spurs (nor do they play well in San Antonio).  It would be hugely entertaining if the Warriors went deep into the postseason but their style of basketball doesn’t win in the NBA—slow and low does.  The Spurs will oust them in five.

Paul McCartney vs. The Rolling Stones vs. The Field: Who Should You See?

In 2013, the two biggest names in rock and roll are hitting the road. Paul McCartney’s “Out There” tour begins in Orlando on May 18. Sir Paul’s fellow 1960s icons are launching their “50 & Counting… The Rolling Stones Live” outing in Los Angeles, at Staples Center, on May 2.

Now, let’s assume for one moment that you have the necessary funds to see just one of those legendary acts in concert. For some reason, you can get Paul McCartney tickets or Rolling Stones tickets but you can’t get both. Let’s also assume that geography isn’t a problem. For example, Paul McCartney visits Austin on May 22 and Paul McCartney travels to Seattle on July 19. But The Rolling Stones haven’t routed any stops in Texas or Washington. For the sake of argument, regardless of where you live you can attend either a Paul McCartney concert or a Rolling Stones show.

Below, I’ll breakdown the question “If you can see only one concert in 2013 should it be Paul McCartney or The Rolling Stones.” I’ll also look at a third option, the field. Again, we are using our imagination and money and geography are no concerns.

Paul McCartney
Even at 70 years of age Paul McCartney is still getting it done in concert. Whether you have Paul McCartney tickets for his show in Boston or Paul McCartney tickets for his concert in Memphis, you’re going to be in for a great night of music. Seeing McCartney in concert means you’re seeing the most successful composer and musician in the history of humanity. Even if you exclude McCartney’s Beatle career, he’s still one of the all-time greats—although, why you would exclude his days with The Beatles is beyond me. Seeing Paul McCartney live allows you to tell your friends that you’ve seen a Beatle.

The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are the quintessential rock band. They not only defined what a rock band should sound like, they defined how a rock band should act (for better or worse). Like a Paul McCartney concert, a Rolling Stone concert is a master’s class in pop culture and popular music. The Stones can play all day and not exhaust their litany of hits.

The one thing The Rolling Stones have over McCartney is they are three-fifths of the band that originated in the 1960s while McCartney is only a former member of The Beatles. When the Stones perform “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” you’re hearing the song performed by its original vocalist, guitarist, and drummer. If you’re at a Paul McCartney concert in Tulsa or a Paul McCartney gig in Washington D.C., and you hear “Get Back” or “Hey Jude” or “Eight Days A Week,” you’re only hearing the original lead singer along with a bunch of session musicians (granted, they’re the best session musicians in the world). When you’re at a Rolling Stone concert you’re seeing the actual band (what’s left of it) and this band has a direct line to Tattoo You, Some Girls, Exile on Main St. and the rest of the 1960s.

The Field
Of course, Macca and The Stones aren’t the only concerts tours of 2013. If you like classic rock, you can always check out Eagles, Steely Dan, and Fleetwood Mac. For newer music, there’s the Justin Timberlake- Jay-Z tour, Beyoncé, and One Direction. If you like country music, you can always attend shows by Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, and Miranda Lambert. And although we said at the outset money is no issue, Kid Rock is selling tickets for just $20. Additionally, there are tours by Phish, Dave Matthews Band, fun., The Lumineers, and Depeche Mode. Several icons and a few legends were mentioned in this entry but none come close to the rarefied air of Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones.

The Answer
So who should you see in concert if you can attend just one concert in 2013, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, or the field? I must say I’m biased. I’ve seen both acts and I’m a huge McCartney fan to begin with. So, I’ll answer the question by saying I’d attend the Paul McCartney concert in Verona, Italy on June 25.

To try an answer the question objectively, I’d still go with Paul. Here’s why: while both acts are practically corporations, McCartney does a better job of hiding it. The upcoming Rolling Stones tour feels a lot like a money grab, even more so than their previous tours. Again, I said money is no object, but when you’re touring for a paycheck—and The Stones stand to make a large fortune during their upcoming trek—you have to wonder that maybe their hearts won’t be in it as much as their wallets. Besides, and this may sound counter-intuitive, I think McCartney’s music sounds better in larger venues. The Rolling Stones are really meant to be heard in theaters and music halls.

Pink: Why Canadians Should See Her In Concert

Congratulations Canada!  You’ve earned yourself some Pink.  Not the color or the naughty euphuism but the singer.  Thanks to your immense support of Alecia Moore, better known as Pink or P!NK, you’re getting six more of her concerts.  The extra Pink concerts have been added to existing shows in Toronto and Montreal with four completely new ones in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Vancouver, and Winnipeg.  The Pink concerts are set to go down in October, November, and December.

The “Great White North” is turning into the “Great Pink North.”  The Pink shows are part of the singer’s hugely successful and critically acclaimed “The Truth About Love Tour.” Obviously, Canadians love them some Pink.  For those hosers that haven’t been swayed by the sultry songstress I’ve come up with five reasons why they should get Pink tickets when she comes to their province.

Pink Can’t Sing
Pink may not be a doll like Christina, a diva like Beyoncé, or a belter like Adele, but Pink can flat out sing.  No Auto-Tune for this gal.  Pink has one of those voices that sounds better live than it does via a recording.  I’ll admit that she’s not the voice of her generation, but if you have Pink tickets you’ll be hearing one of the greatest singers of the 21st century.

Pink Can Perform
I’ve established that Pink can sing live but can she perform?  Is she exciting and dynamic to watch in concert?  Of course she is!  Pink puts on one heck of a great show.  Better yet, she can knock your socks off with the traditional accoutrements of a pop concert or she can dazzle you with just a back-up guitarist and a microphone.  However, the show that Pink brings to Vancouver, B.C. on Oct. 21 and Pink brings it to Edmonton on Oct. 23 combines her magnificent talents with the production values we’ve come to expect from a top-tier pop singer. 

Pink Can Defy Gravity
On Dec. 3, Pink will perform in Montreal at the Bell Centre.  It’s fitting Montreal is on her schedule since her live show incorporates Cirque Du Soleil-like acrobatics.  As we all know, Montreal is home to the headquarters of Cirque du Soleil.  And as we also all know, Pink trained as a gymnast when she was young.  Her fast-paced live show, replete with pyrotechnics, is directed by Baz Halpin. 

Pink Has A Great Catalog of Hits
Pink is touring to support her seventh studio album, The Truth About Love.  The opus, which went all the way to number one on the Billboard 200, only added to her impressive collection of hits.  At a Pink concert expect to hear such great songs as “Most Girls,” “Get the Party Started,” “Stupid Girls,” “Don’t Let Me Get Me,” “God Is a DeeJay,” “So What,” “Raise Your Glass,” “F**kin’ Perfect,” and “Try.”  Pink’s setlist contains ditties that will get you on your feet, inspire you, and/or make you think.  Regardless of their emotional impact, all of Pink’s songs are great when performed live.

Pink May Not Be Performing Much Longer
Pink is only 33 but after her tour is finished I don’t think she’ll be hitting the road for a long time.  She seems to be the type of artist with more interests than just music.  She’s also a wife and mother.  I don’t know Pink.  I have no inside information.  This is just my gut feeling.  But if I had the chance to get Pink tickets for Saskatoon on Oct. 24 or Pink tickets for Winnipeg on Oct. 26 I’d take it.  This is far from Pink’s farewell tour but I wouldn’t count on her touring Canada, or even North America, much in the future.

Most Anticipated Country Music Tours of 2013

One of the biggest concert tours of 2012 was “The Brothers of the Sun.” That was the team up of Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw. The two superstars, who are also old friends, each played a set on their own and then played together. It was a spectacular night of music.

Sadly, Chesney and McGraw are not joining forces in 2013 but each is launching his own solo tour. There are markets that will have the opportunity to see both Chesney and McGraw live this year just not together nor on the same night. Below, we look at both of their treks as well as four more highly anticipated country music tours of 2013.

Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton’s 2013 trek of the United States begins July 19 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It ends Oct. 5 in Wichita, Kansas. Fans should look for Blake Shelton in Atlanta, Nashville, and Tulsa. Unfortunately for cowboys on the left coast, Wichita is the furthest west Shelton plans on venturing. His upcoming odyssey, a rarity since he has joined The Voice, has been dubbed the “Ten Times Crazier Tour.” It also stars Easton Corbin and Jana Kramer.

Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean is the American Country Awards 2012 Touring Artist of the Year. He’s going to try and defend his trophy with his upcoming “Night Train Tour”—his tenth (either opening or headlining) since 2006. Aldean’s outing kicks off Feb. 21 in Bossier City, Louisiana and ends Oct. 26 in Dallas, Texas. Additionally, Jason Aldean is set to perform in Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and New York City. Depending on the date, Jason Aldean tickets will also get you a set from Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Jake Owen, Kelly Clarkson, and/or Thomas Rhett.

Kenny Chesney
This should be a big year for Kenny Chesney. He’s scheduled to perform at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 12. Four days later he’ll kick off his “No Shoes Nation Tour” in Tampa, Florida at Raymond James Stadium. Then on April 30, he’ll release his 14th studio album—Life on a Rock. Tapped to warm up audiences will be a combination of the following: Zac Brown Band, Eli Young Band, Eric Church, and Kacey Musgraves. As always, Kenny Chesney is your ticket to a great evening of music. By the way, Toronto welcomes Kenny Chesney, Eli Young Band, and Kacey Musgraves to the Molson Amphitheatre on Aug. 15.

Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts, normally a fixture in the summer and fall, took off on a headlining tour of the United States Jan. 10. They’ll be on the road through March 2 where they play a concert in Tupelo, Mississippi. Rascal Flatts is out supporting their latest release, Changed. Their trip is 20 dates long and that includes Rascal Flatts concerts in Virginia Beach, Terre Haute, Columbus, and Charlottesville. The Band Perry will serve as opening act during the tour's entire run.

Tim McGraw
Some fans were disappointed to hear that Tim McGraw is embarking on a solo headlining tour of America—it begins May 2 in Birmingham, Alabama. It’s not that his fans aren’t exciting about his “Two Lanes of Freedom Tour” it’s just that they’re disappointed he won’t be teaming up with wife Faith Hill for another “Soul2Soul” trek. Fans can still catch the couple at their residency show in Las Vegas in February, early March, and most of April.

Toby Keith
If I said what country music singer’s tour is named “Live In Overdrive” you’d immediately answer Toby Keith. You know you would because “Live In Overdrive” is the perfect title for a Toby Keith tour. Keith has seventeen dates planned for June, July, August, and September. There are lots of gaps in his schedule so more concerts could be coming. Fans can also catch Keith at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Feb. 9 and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Feb. 25. Toby Keith, along with Kip Moore, are set to rock Hartford, Connecticut on Aug. 25.

Carrie Underwood Sells Her “America Idol” Home

What’s more stressful recording a hit country music album and then launching a concert tour to support it or selling a home? Those that have done neither might pick the album and tour. Those that have done both will definitely tell you it’s selling a home.

Country music star Carrie Underwood has recorded several hit records and has sold thousands of concert tickets during her career and just recently she sold her Franklin, Tennessee abode.

Carrie Underwood bought the home in 2005 after winning American Idol. The 2,956-square-foot domicile has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, hardwood floors, fireplace, garage, and a spacious kitchen.

She bought the house for $384,000. It was listed at $395,000. It sold for $372,000. Yeah, she lost some money but she’ll be okay. After all, she has sold more than 15 million albums, thousands of Carrie Underwood tickets, and she’s married to a NHL player.

Carrie and her ice skating husband, Mike Fisher, spent $3.2 million on 400 acres outside of Nashville where they’re building their dream home. They also own a sizeable residence in Brentwood, Tennessee.

I really don’t care about celebrity “cribs”—most of them of gauche anyway—however I find this story interesting for two reasons.

One, you can get a lot of home for a relatively small amount of money in Tennessee. There are many housing markets in the United States, California in particular, where you could barely get a 1,000 square-foot home for $372,000.

The other interesting aspect of the story is “Carrie Underwood Slept Here” is worthless. Yes, a Carrie Underwood owned-home is not, nor should it be, a national landmark, but it’s at least a conservation starter.

“What a nice home you have.”

“Thanks. It used to belong to Carrie Underwood.”

“Really? The country music singer?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting. We should have a lengthy conversation about it.”

I didn’t think an Underwood-owned home would jack up the price but I did think it would have allowed her to break even. Then again, who wants a wealthy celebrity to get a good price on a home they’re selling?

Carrie Underwood kicks off the 2013 leg of her Blown Away Tour on Feb. 13 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her tour wraps May 21 in Abbotsford, California.

Highlights of her upcoming outing include Carrie Underwood performing in Las Vegas on March 2; Carrie Underwood visiting Houston, Texas and the Toyota Center on April 23; and Carrie Underwood singing in Kansas City, Missouri on May 1.

The songstress is touring to support her fourth studio album, Blown Away. The opus dropped on May 1, 2012. The album has sold more than 1.1 million copies and its title track has been nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Rolling Stones, Madonna, London Olympics Lead ‘Top Music Stories’ Of 2012

From CNN to Rolling Stone magazine, everyone does an end-of-the-year list. Some lists chronicle the year’s best albums while some look at the year’s biggest concert tours. We’re no different. For our end of the year list we chose the top ten music stories of 2012. These are the music world’s biggest events, album releases, and concerts from the past year.

The Summer Olympics
If the 2012 London Summer Olympics proved anything it’s that jolly old England has produced a bunch of great music (minus Take That). From Paul McCartney to The Who to The Artic Monkeys to Annie Lennox, Team GB showed the world that their country’s greatest export is rock and roll.

Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston died Feb. 11, 2012. She was the preeminent voice of her generation and the most celebrated female singer of all-time. Drug use marred her legendary career but she still managed to sell more than 170 million records. Imagine what she could have done sober?

Rolling Stones Turn 50
The Rolling Stones celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2012. Their fans were expecting a full-fledge tour. Instead they got a couple of shows in London and a couple in New Jersey. The Stones did release a “best of” compilation (Grrr!) and a new documentary, Crossfire Hurricane.

Madonna’s Makes Headline
Madonna first made headlines in 2012 thanks to her Super Bowl halftime show. Then, we read that she couldn’t give her latest album, MDNA, away—even though she did to anyone who bought her concert tickets. Her MDNA World Tour made news thanks to a Swastika superimposed over a French politician’s forehead, violent imagery, and flashing some 54-year-old skin. Ah, you got to love Madge.

Psy’s “Gangnam Style”
Psy’s “Gangnam Style” is the most watched video in YouTube history. It also inspired countless parodies most of which make you want to strangle the veteran South Korean rapper for recording the damn song in the first place. The ultra-catchy ditty peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. What made this simple and derivative song/video such a global phenomenon? Are South Korean girls that hot?

Pu**Y Riot
In a turn of events that attracted the ire of bleeding hearts all over the free world, three members of the art collective “Pu**y Riot” were arrested and charged with hooliganism and religious hatred in their native land of Russia. Later, one of the three women had their prison sentence commuted. The West was outraged but the Russians not so much.

Television Musicals
While Glee is tanking worse than the New York Jets, two other musicals have stepped up to show the world that singing one’s emotions does work on the boob tube. Those TV musicals are NBC’s Smash and ABC’s Nashville. Katharine McPhee shines in former although Megan Hilty sings her you-know-what under the table every episode. And you have to love any show with Connie Britton. She’s fabulous.

EDM
Electronic dance music had its best year in 2012 (which isn’t saying much). Deadmau5 “performed” at the Grammy Awards while Shrillex and David Guetta were seemingly everywhere. The year that was showed the world that there IS an audience for a brand of music that is basically nothing more than a guy pushing the play button on a computer. A thumping bass drum has never been more popular.

Justin Bieber & Taylor Swift
Combined they’re about two-thirds the age of any member of the Rolling Stones, but in 2012 the 18-year-old Justin Bieber and the 23-year-old Taylor Swift dominated popular music (and popular culture for that matter). Bieber released his third studio album, Believe, in June and then launched a tour in support. Swift released her fourth studio album, Red, in October; she’ll tour in 2013. Currently, Bieber and Swift are the only two artists that can actually sell records.

12-12-12 Concert For Hurricane Sandy Victims
The 12-12-12 Concert For Hurricane Sandy Victims was seen by about 2 billion people and it raised around $30 million. The all-star concert featured New Jersey icons Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi as well as Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Eric Clapton, and Roger Waters—Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey not London right?

How ‘Elf: The Musical’ Differs From ‘Elf The Movie’

Musicals are expensive to produce. Actors, dancers, writers, composers, sets, and costumes don’t come cheap. To ensure that a Broadway musical meets its fiduciary responsibilities producers frequently turn to popular source material.

At least that’s the logic behind Elf: The Musical.

In 2010, producers took the movie Elf (directed by Jon Favreau) and turned it into a musical. The creative team behind the production includes a lot of big names: Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone) and Thomas Meehan (The Producers) wrote the book; Matthew Sklar (The Wedding Singer) and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer) wrote the score; and Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon) served as choreographer and director.

The show debuted on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on Nov. 14, 2010. Its limited engagement run ended Jan. 2, 2011.

The critics panned the musical but fans loved it. In fact, it broke Hirschfeld box office records three times and grossed a million dollars in a week (a feat usually reserved for Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and The Lion King).

In 2012, Elf: The Musical returns with a vengeance!

The Hirschfeld Theatre welcomes “Buddy the Elf” and his friends back for another holiday run. Elf tickets will be collected from Nov. 9, 2012 through Jan. 6, 2013. In addition, there will be a North American Tour, a production running in Seattle (5th Avenue Theatre), and a production running in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Neptune Theatre).

The 2012 version of Elf: The Musical has been tweaked. Not only have alterations been made to the book but the show contains a new opening number, “Happy All the Time” (it replaces “Christmastown”).

Elf is a light-hearted, holiday romp that’s fun for the whole family. However, children under four are not permitted inside The Hirschfeld Theatre. Check with other theatres for their age requirements.

There are a few noticeable differences between Elf: The Musical and Elf the movie. The most notable variance is that the musical is narrated by Santa Claus instead of Papa Elf (played by Bob Newhart in the movie).

The musical also added a subplot involving Michael’s skepticism over Santa Claus’ existence. Michael is Buddy’s younger brother and was played by Daniel Tay.

The other differences are rather minor. The musical begins three years in the past while the movie begins three decades in the past. This isn’t an editorial decision but a trick that allows producers to cast an actor of any age to play “Buddy.”

Finally, the revelation that “Buddy’s” real name is “William” happens later in the musical than it does in the movie.

The Broadway production stars Jordan Gelber as “Buddy the Elf” (Will Ferrell in the movie) Leslie Kritzer as “Jovie” (Zooey Deschanel in the movie) and Marc Jacoby as “Walter Hobbs” (James Caan in the movie).

Playing the part of Santa Claus is actor Wayne Knight. You may remember him from Seinfeld. He played Jerry’s neighbor, “Newman.”

Elf the movie is already traditional holiday viewing for the family. Elf: The Musical is well on its way to such a distinction.