Anatomy of a Mix: Hate That I Love You

I'm back with another installment of Anatomy of Mix, a journey inside the mind of tuttafucco...

For those not so familiar with this series of my blog, it's where I provide insight into the subliminal elements underneath some of my mixes. Often at times, I simply put together two songs because I think they sound good together. Other times though, I combine two songs because of their meaning in relation to each other. For a refresher on this concept, please check: Anatomy of a Mix: Billie Jean (Moonwalkin).

Today's mix started with the instrumental to a RZA song, Domestic Violence (Click Here for YouTube Video or view the embedded video below if you're able to see it.)




I'm going to skip over the part where I add a disclaimer about how I don't condone domestic violence because I'm not a fan of preaching to the choir. As the song is essentially about a dysfunctional relationship, I tried to think of think of songs that would be conceptually interesting to mix with the instrumental. Given the RZA track, the two obvious ideas would be songs about an immensely intense love or an equally strong disdain. As luck would have it, I found a song that hits both ends of the spectrum (sort of).

If you want to watch the video or hear the original version of Hate That I Love You Click Here.

Click Here to listen to Hate That I Love You mixed by tuttafucco

I hope you enjoy it.

Holla if ya Hear me!!

Mr. Cell Phone Man by the Pride Piper

The Pride Piper's coming at you with another touched-up classic...He's been spending a lot of time in the studio as of late, feverishly banging out remixes like Kandi on the Real Housewives of ATL. So don't sleep or you'll likely to be Tardy for the Party!!

Mr. Cell Phone Man by the Pride Piper

Mr. Cell Phone Man,
There's something wrong with her cell,
When I dial my baby's number
I get a click...what the hell?
Mr. Cell Phone Man,
There's something wrong with her cell
When I dial my baby's number
I get a click...what the hell?

When I dialed 611 Customer Service,
He said, "Hello may I help you please?"
I told him something must be wrong with my phone
Cause my baby wouldn't hang up on me.

Mr. Cell Phone Man,
There something wrong with her cell
When I dial my baby's number
I get a click...what the hell?
Mr. Cell Phone Man,
There something wrong with her cell
When I dial my baby's number
I get a click...what the hell?

She let the phone ring 20 times before she answered
Let me tell you what happened then (ahhhh)
A minute later, I got the operator
Saying please hang up and place your call again.

Mr. Cell Phone Man,
There's something wrong with her cell
When I dial my baby's number
I get a click...what the hell?
Mr. Cell Phone Man,
Something's wrong with her cell
I try to dial her number
I get a click...what the hell?

Some strange man is on the telephone (the telephone)
He keeps telling me my baby ain't home (that she's not home)
She ain't got no party line (Oooh!)
This situation's blowing my mind (Oooh!)
Oh, I just can't take it anymore.

Please operator. See what you can do. I dialed the right number but I still couldn't get through. Could you just check the line just one more time if you can. I'm pretty sure her phone wouldn't be answered by no man.

Mr. Cell Phone Man,
There's something wrong with her cell
When I dial my baby's number
I get a click...what the hell?
Mr. Cell Phone Man,
Something's wrong with her cell
I try to dial her number
I get a click...what the hell?

Must be a bad connection. I give her my love and affection.
I just can't take this no more.
This situation's blowing my mind...
blowing my mind...
Can't get my baby on the line.

I tried dialing information (Mr. Cell Phone Man)
I can't get no cooperation (Mr. Cell Phone Man)
Cause he's still on the phone
Telling me my baby ain't at home
Come on baby, I just can't take it any more

Help me out...
please Mr. Cell Phone Man
Help me out...
please Mr. Cell Phone Man

Mr. Telephone Man YouTube Video

Anatomy of a Mix: Billie Jean (Moonwalkin)

The latest series in my blog is entitled "Anatomy of a Mix". As most of you know, my brother and I have been into making Blends for the better part of the last 14 years. For those not specifically familiar with the term Blends, it is what others may commonly refer to as a Mashup or a Mix. For a more-detailed explanation of mashups/blends, feel free to peruse this wikipedia link. Essentially, all you need to know is that a Blend is generally defined by combining the vocal portion of one song with the musical portion of another song, making a remix of sorts. Growing up in Providence, where the local music scene for Blends was blossoming in the early 90's, we were fortunate enough to hear some of the best in the business - Curty Cut (R.I.P.), DJ Lefty, Mike Nice (a.k.a. Big Lig), DJ Buck, and DJ Rukiz - hone their craft.

When Wes and I got our first sets of turntables, it was officially on and our lives would never be the same. We stumbled thru our first few tapes but kept at it. Over time, we graduated from cassettes to CDs to MP3s. With each piece of technology we acquired, the possibilities of what we were able to do creatively expanded. As we collaborated on projects and exchanged mixes, we'd teach each other tricks and techniques that we had figured out. Admittedly, I was true benefactor in this process, as Wes was constantly taking the game to the next level and bringing me up to speed.

One day, I remember him playing a mix for me that he recently assembled. He had mixed TLC's "Unpretty" over Bubba Sparxxx's "Ugly". So in addition to creating something that sounded good, the mix had deeper connotations when you stopped to think about the lyrics and titles of the two songs. To my knowledge, this genre of Blends does not have an official name and perhaps I'll discover it or even create one someday. But in the meantime, I plan to devote some of my blogspace to breaking down some of the subtly-hidden meanings beaneath the surface of some of our Blends.

With the recent passing of the King of Pop, I thought about pulling an all-nighter in the studio making some new Michael Jackson Blends as a tribute to one of the greatest entertainers of all time. However, suffering from the exhaustion of an already too hectic schedule, my only option was to listen to some of the previous MJ Blends I'd done and go to bed early. Clearly though, Wes and I were on the same wavelength, as he sent me some new MJ Blends this morning. This first was a blend of MJ's "Billie Jean" with Kanye West & The Dream's "Walking on the Moon". (I'm guessing I don't need to point out the subtle connection between the two songs.)

Click Here to listen to Billie Jean (Moonwalkin) mixed by WES

And in case you're not familiar with the Walking on the Moon song, here's a link to the video on YouTube: Walking on the Moon

And as I alluded to previously, this will be the first in a series of blog entries entitled "Anatomy of a Mix". Stay Tuned...we'll see if we can't put together a Tribute to MJ collaboration in the near future. We'll always love you Mike!!!



Holla if ya Hear me. Shamon!!

Under Construction

It's been about a year now since my blog was re-launched on Blogger so I thought it was high time for a makeover. Ty Pennington's agent wouldn't return my calls, so I was essentially on my own with this one. I found a ton of new widgets and features and over time, will experiment with a few.

So Far:

• I've added "What I've Been up to Recently..." to post my most-recent Facebook status updates (for those who are not inundated enough with this information already).
• I've changed the format and layout of the blog. I will indubitably (indubitably?? indubitably!!) need to play around with the color schema...
• I've sold some of the real estate on the page to some Ad Agencies.
• I've figured out how to use my IMEEM account to embed selected songs (which mostly comes in handy when I can't find a decent copy of something on youtube).
  

There will be more changes in the future as Toujours Tuttafucco continues to evolve.

Thank you for your patronage.



Holla if ya Hear Me!!

For me Formidable by Charles Aznavour

You are the one for me, for me, for me, formidable
You are my love very, very, very, véritable
Et je voudrais pouvoir un jour enfin te le dire
Te l' écrire
Dans la langue de Shakespeare
My daisy, daisy, daisy, désirable
Je suis malheureux d' avoir si peu de mots
À t'offrir en cadeaux
Darling I love you, love you, darling I want you
Et puis c' est à peu près tout
You are the one for me, for me, for me, formidable

You are the one for me, for me, for me, formidable
But how can you
See me, see me, see me, si minable
Je ferais mieux d'aller choisir mon vocabulaire
Pour te plaire
Dans la langue de Molière
Toi, tes eyes, ton nose, tes lips adorables
Tu n'as pas compris tant pis
Ne t'en fais pas et viens-t-en dans mes bras
Darling I love you, love you,
Darling, I want you
Et puis le reste on s'en fout
You are the one for me, for me, for me, formidable
Je me demande même
Pourquoi je t'aime
Toi qui te moques de moi et de tout
Avec ton air canaille, canaille, canaille
How can I love you



Click Here to hear the song on YouTube.
Click Here if you're too lazy to Google the translation but are curious.








Holla if ya Hear Me.

A La Primera Persona by Alejandro Sanz

To The First Person (translated)

To the first person that helps me to understand
I plan to surrender to her my time, I plan to surrender to her my faith
I don't ask that things always turn out well for me
But it's that I'm fed up of losing you without meaning to (meaning to)

To the first person that helps me to get out
Of this hell that I myself decided to live in
I give to her whichever afternoon for the two of us
What I'm saying is that right now I don't even have a place to be

The gold for who wants it but if we speak of yesterday
It's so much that I've drank and I'm still thirsty
At least you knew it, at least I didn't tell you
That things weren't as they seemed

But it's that to the first person that helps me to feel again
I plan to surrender to her my life, I plan to surrender to her my faith
Although if you're not the person that I dreamed for, what
What am I going to do with the dreams?
What am I going to do with those kisses?
What am I going to do with all that we dreamed?
Tell me, where do we put it?

Where do I keep the look that you gave me some time?
Where do I keep the promises, where do I keep the yesterday?
Where do I keep, girl, your way of touching me?
Where do I keep my faith?

Although people may say it I don't want to listen to it
There isn't any more fear to feel when you don't feel anything anymore
Girl, you see it so easy, oh my love!
But it's that the more simple you see it, the more difficult it becomes for me

To the first person that helps me find my way
I plan to give up to her my time, I plan to give up to her even the sea
I don't say that it's easy, but, girl,
Right now I don't have even a place to be

To the first person that won't want to judge me
I plan to surrender to her caresses that I had kept
I don't ask that things always turn out well for me
But it's that I'm fed up of losing you

To the first person that takes me to the truth
I plan to surrender to her my time, I don't want to wait anymore
I don't understand you when you speak to me, what bad luck!
You say that life has things outside of our control

I can tell you what a flame inside is like
I can tell you how much it's fire weighs
It's that love in solitude is like a bottomless pit

Where God doesn't exist, nor truths

It's all so relative, like we are here
We don't know, but, love, give me blood to live
At least you knew it, at least I didn't tell you

That things weren't as they seemed

To the first person that won't want to judge me
I plan to surrender to her caresses that I had kept
Girl, you see it so easy, oh my love!
But it's that the more simple you see it, the more difficult it becomes for me

To the first person that won't want to judge me
I plan to surrender to her caresses that I had kept
I don't say that it's easy, but, girl,
Right now I don't even have a place to be
Not even a place to be

-Released September 25, 2006. From the album El tren de los momentos.



YouTube Video

Heartless by Kanye West

This one goes out to the cats (both male and female) that caught the short end of the stick in 2008...Next year will be different...I promise...

HEARTLESS

In the night I hear 'em talk,
The coldest story ever told,
Somewhere far along this road
He lost his soul
To a woman so heartless...
How could you be so heartless... oh
How could you be so heartless?

How could you be so,
Cold as the winter wind when it breeze yo
Just remember that you talking to me though
You need to watch the way you talking to me yo
I mean after all the things that we been through
I mean after all the things we got into
And yo I know of some things that you ain't told me
And yo I did some things but that's the old me
And now you wanna get me back
And you gon' show me
So you walk around like you don't know me
You got a new friend
Well I got homies
But in the end it's still so lonely

In the night I hear 'em talk,
The coldest story ever told,
Somewhere far along this road
He lost his soul
To a woman so heartless...
How could you be so heartless... oh
How could you be so heartless?


How could you be so Dr. Evil
You're bringing out a side of me that I don't know
I decided we weren't gonna speak so
why we up 3 a.m. on the phone
Why does she be so mad at me for,
homey I don't know she's hot and cold
I won't stop, won't mess my groove up
cause I already know how this thing goes,
You run and tell your friends that you're leaving me
They say that they don't see what you see in me
You wait a couple months then you gon' see,
You'll never find nobody better than me

In the night I hear 'em talk,
The coldest story ever told,
Somewhere far along this road
He lost his soul
To a woman so heartless...
How could you be so heartless... oh
How could you be so heartless?


Talkin', talkin', talkin', talk,
Baby lets just knock it off
They don't know what we been through
They don't know 'bout me and you
So I got something new to see
And you just gon' keep hating me
And we just gon' be enemies
I know you can't believe
I could just leave it wrong
and you can't make it right
I'm gon' take off tonight
Into the night...

In the night I hear 'em talk,
The coldest story ever told,
Somewhere far along this road
He lost his soul
To a woman so heartless...
How could you be so heartless... oh
How could you be so heartless?
How could you be so heartless... oh
How could you be so heartless?

-written by K. West, E. Wilson, S. Mescudi & M. Jones

I found the video on youtube but the embedding code was disabled so you will have to settle for the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYpiQTOaw1U

Your Body's Texting by the Pride Piper

Many songs are measured by how they withstand the test of time. However, when your lyrics are focused on the latest technology, your track is bound to become outdated later, if not sooner than yesterday.

An example would be the ppa - ppp (Post-Public-Announcement - Pre-Pied-Piper) sensation, Your Body’s Calling (Nov. 1993: 12-Play). Though the phone (call) is far from obsolete, made up statistics can show that texting has become a much more frequent method of communicado (especially amongst the group that Kells would publicly characterize as “illegal” or “underage”)

Many thanks to the wonders of the internet, which allow us to use our 20/20 hindsight to imagine a glimpse of what those lyrics would resemble, if the song was originally written in 2008 (On the almost 15-year old i.e. “illegal” or “underage” anniversary of the original release)

Your Body’s Texting
-by the Pride Piper

I hear you calling, here I come baby to save you
Baby no more stalling, these hands have been longing to text you, baby

And now that you’ve come around to seeing it my way
you won't regret it baby and you surely won't forget it baby
it's unbelievable how your body's texting me...(shhhh)
I can just hear it texting, texting, texting me

My body's… texting… you (I can hear it texting babe)…
My body's… texting… you (Your body’s texting me)…




The real question is if anything is lost in the contemporary rendering...I'll let you decide for yourself - Your Body's Calling (93 version).

Editor's Note: If the song dropped 4-5 years earlier, it perhaps would've been called Your Body's IM'ing...

Friend of Mine by Lily Allen

I'm going to take my first stab at embedding a video so if it doesn't appear you may have to view this blog via the actual site (http://tuttafucco.blogspot.com/). Soon enough, I shall be able to add commentary to these lyrical postings but currently, my legal team is advising me against it.

Here goes -



And in case you're simply interested in the lyrics:

I don't want us to have a fight
But in the background I can hear you chatting shite
I hear it every night

And you think you're being really cool
And you've been doing it since we were both at school
Now who looks like a fool?

You're no friend of mine, girl
And I've known it for a while, girl
You're just a waste of time, girl
Why don't you have another line, girl?

Tell me what did you expect
Have you got no self respect
Reputation to protect
Soon you'll be a nervous wreck

Tell me what did you expect
Have you got no self respect
Reputation to protect
Soon you'll be a nervous wreck

What happen to the good old days?
I was kinda hoping this was all a stupid phase
Who are you anyway?

I know you've heard this all before
I know some people who've been calling you a whore
Don't know you anymore

You're no friend of mine, girl
And I've known it for a while, girl
You're just a waste of time, girl
Why don't you have another line, girl?

Tell me what did you expect
Have you got no self respect
Reputation to protect
Soon you'll be a nervous wreck

Tell me what did you expect
Have you got no self respect
Reputation to protect
Soon you'll be a nervous wreck

Tell me what did you expect
Have you got no self respect
Reputation to protect
Soon you'll be a nervous wreck

Tell me what did you expect
Have you got no self respect
Reputation to protect
Soon you'll be a nervous wreck

And here's the link to the youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOY2sL4QFaM

Holla if ya Hear Me!!

Who's Gonna Save My Soul by Gnarls Barkley

I got some bad news this morning
which in turn made my day.
When this someone spoke I listened,
all of a sudden has less and less to say.
Oh how could this be?
All this time I've lived vicariously.

Who's gonna save my soul now?
Who's gonna save my soul now?
How will my story ever be told now?
How will my story be told now?

Made me feel like somebody.
Like somebody else.
Although he was imitated often
felt like I was being myself.
Is it a shame that someone else's song
was totally and completely depended on?

Who's gonna save my soul now?
Who's gonna save my soul now?
I wonder if I'll live to grow old now.
Getting high 'cause I feel so alone now.

And maybe it's a little selfish,
All I have is the memory.
Did I never stop to wonder,
was it possible you were hurting worse than me?
Still my hunger turns to greed,
'cause what about what i need?

And Oh
Who's gonna save my soul now?
Who's gonna save my soul now?
Oh I know I'm out of control now.
Tired enough to lay my own soul down.

youtubevideo: Who's Gonna Save My Soul (acoustic rendition)

Another Gas Face Victim

Some weeks ago, I posted a blog (Apparently, Fear is a Factor...) where among other occurrences, I noted that my favorite local gas station recently began charging a higher price for credit card purchases of petrol. If I were working PR for the gas station, I'd make the claim: "We Offer Discounts on Cash Purchases!!" But since I don't, I can't help but feel like I'm getting the short-end of the pump.

Recently, I've increasingly found gas stations whacking their credit card customers but not yet often enough to consider it quite commonplace. Because it hasn't been consistent among local gas stations, the obvious reasons for the bump in price didn't jump right out at me. However, when I recently read an article about gas stations that are beginning to accept cash-only, I became curious enough to do a little online research. Clarity ensued...

Most credit card companies apparently charge about 2% as transaction fees to the gas station. Since I was paying about 8 - 10 cents extra to use my credit card, the gas station had basically made the decision to pass the transaction fees onto me (though I believe they are still making a profit on the fee as well as the gas...).

While this explains the difference in price between cash and credit, it does not explain why this gas station, even with the inflated credit card price, still offers a lower price than basically every other gas station I could find anywhere near my house. But since this works out in my favor, I won't be losing any sleep trying to figure it out.

Today, I will appropriately leave you this classic video from 3rd Bass - The Gas Face.

"Perkin his brim to the rim of my cup
Don't tempt me, you're empty, so fill'er up!
Is I'm talkin coffee or cocoa, is you loco?
Cash or credit for unleaded at Sunoco..."

Better in Time Video - Leona Lewis

Better in Time Video on youtube

It's been the longest winter without you
I didn't know where to turn to
See somehow I can't forget you
After all that we've been through

Going, coming, thought I heard a knock
Who's there? No one. Thinking that I deserve it
Now I realize that I really didn't know
You didn't notice, you mean everything
Quickly I'm learning… to love again
All I know, I'ma be okay

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too, oh yeah
(It'll all get better in time)
Even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
(It'll all get better in time)

How could I turn on the TV
Without something there to remind me?
Was it all that easy
To just put aside your feelings?

If I'm dreaming (don't wanna let) hurt my feelings
but that's the path, I believe in
And I know that, time will heal it
You didn't notice, boy you mean everything
Quickly I'm learning… to love again
All I know is, I'ma be okay

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too, oh yeah
(It'll all get better in time)
And even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
(It'll all get better in time)

Since there's no more you and me
It's time I let you go so I can be free
And live my life how it should be
No matter how hard it is, I'll be fine without you
Yes, I will

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too, oh
(It'll all get better in time)
And even though I really loved you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to, yes i do
(It'll all get better in time)

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too
(It'll all get better in time)
And even though I really loved you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
(It'll all get better in time)


I will never ceased to be amazed at how often I can find a song to perfectly capture an emotion that I'm feeling at a particular moment in time...
stay tuned...there's more where this came from

ME by Erykah Badu

Everything around you see
The Ankhs, the wraps, the plus degrees
And yes even the mysteries
It's all me
Sometimes it hard to move you see
When you growing publicly
But if I have to chose between
I chose me

Had 2 babies different dudes
And for them both my love was true
This is my last interview (ooh)
Hey there's me (ooh)
This year I turned 36
Damn it seems it came so quick
My ass and legs have gotten thick yeah
It's all me

I use to pray to God above
But now I'm filled with so much love
But even if the world can't see
It's still me
Will I escape this vanity?
Or will I keep on smoking trees?
But I'll just let it go
and be, be, be Me

Ah, leave it alone babe
Well well well
Ah oh, leave it alone babe
Just being me
Ah, leave it alone babe
Well well well
Ah oh, leave it alone babe
Just being me

Sometimes I don't know what to say
So many leaders to obey
But I was born on savior's day, yes
So I chose me
And in this world of greed and hate
They may try to erase my face
But millions spring up in my place (ooh)
Believe in me

As sure is all and all is one
We all should grow before it's done
So I salute you Farrakhan, yes
Cuz you are me
Before I end this crazy dream
Before I take one for the team
Yo ass done matched the gasoline, yes
That's Collene

Youtube clip

This track is off of Erykah's most recent endeavor, New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War) (released Feb. 26, 2008). Though I haven't given this album as much play as I'd liked to, I can definitely vouch for it. Recently, this track in particular spoke to me. It's honesty and vulnerability is a destination I've sought out on many occasion is 2008. The part of the song between 4:24 and 5:37 is a little baffling but sounds like a shout out laced with family history to me (apologies to the youtube clip viewers because the clip I selected has the best accompanying visuals but cuts off a solid ten seconds of the song... Sometimes you have to pick your poison). Subsequent listens generate a greater sense of clarity and understanding but isn't that a sign of great art?!?

If you haven't heard the album and would like to take a gander, you can find it here on my site: tuttafucco's mP3 melange. Just holla if you have ?'s.

Thank You Erykah!! I hope to see you there one day.

Sincerely,

Willie Tuttafucco,
aspiring transparent being
growing one blog and one day at a time

A Sunday, May 25th in the Life...

Destination #1 for the day

I haven't seen this many people in one place since the last time I went to see a president-elect "pinch-hit" as a commencement speaker.
Interesting fact of the day: Obama and I are in the same fraternity...
the brotherhood of Alpha Beta Slacka - I'm impressed to learn that he didn't consistently hit the books as hard as he's hit the campaign trail. This gives me hope that there's still time for me to do great things with my life.

Sage advice for a vast array of scenarios...
Not knowing when such advice will next come in handy, I snap a photo
to serve as a visual reminder when that voice whispering in my head
just isn't enough of a deterrent.

Life gets no realer than it does when you feel like an extra in the
type of movie you don't enjoy watching... There's just something about being within 100 yards of top-notch sharp-shooters that makes me a little uneasy.
You know what makes me even more uneasy?
Trying to get a close-up shot (pun intended) of the sharpshooters above me
without giving them cause to snipe me from one of the other rooftops.

This photo is pleading with me to hold a caption contest
but after much deliberation, I refuse...

Nothing But Love for the student protest.
The fine print advises you they not only have the right
but special permission as well...
and suggests if you got beef, you need to familiarize yourself
with the Symbolic Structures Section of the student handbook!!

WOW!! SUSHI PICKED BEST
My only question is...best what???
Best on this side of this street?
Best in Middletown?
Best in Connecticut?
I'm left to wonder if our friends at TCM are telling us these are
the six best dishes at this fine sushi establishment.
Having had it, I can honestly say the sushi was good, but since this was
the first sushi joint I hit in CT, I'm not sure how good it is...
If this banner had an additional descriptive noun,
or perhaps a referential prepositional phrase,
I'd have a little more to go on, enabling me to properly
and accurately promote this eatery.
Lastly, I think it should be standard in ads like this to mention the year.
When it's left out, it's easy to assume 2007,
but makes me equally curious if it could be an award from 2003...

Found this quaint little spot to have dessert en route back to Boston.
Each Patron is allowed to pick 3 books for FREE. What a bargain!?!

Simply Made for Each Other - two Old Speckled Hens

I regret being unable to capture a picture of one of the day's true highlights: the"Middletown Swagger", which was on display throughout the day. I realized that only video could've truly done it justice, as a picture would only serve as a representation of a single frame the swagger. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to play with the recently-downloaded-video-capturing capabilities of my iPhone. (Once I do though, rest assured you'll be able to find my clips on YouTube!!)

This day proved that the recipe for a great time need not include the mass consumption of alcohol. As amazing weather, good company, inspiring speakers, tasty vittles, and a few laughs strewn throughout also get the job done as well.

Thanks for reading. Much obliged!!

To: Doc@BostonCeltics.com

Dear Doc,

Let me start by congratulating you on winning your first playoff series ever as a coach. Getting that first one out of the way is such pressure. I remember when I popped my cherry (referring to my premier blog of course)... I believe my performance suffered because I was primarily concerned with getting it over with. I didn't care about the strategerie of the X's and O's, or the possibility of getting injured or worse... I rushed my way through it. I needed the proverbial monkey off my back. I knew with enough time, practice and repetition, my confidence would grow and my audience would be increasingly pleased as I chased after the coveted ring. My resume's currently looking pretty solid: some kudos, a few pats on the back, a 'thank you' note with a hint of eau de toilette, a little constructive feedback, some comments, but no complaints (at least not to my face).

Anyways, my point is, this was your first time. And being compassionate about what that felt like for me, I'm willing to cut you some slack and give you a pass. However, I'm still going to take a moment to advise you how I'd prefer to see things go down in the future. My development would have been exponentially faster if I had received some feedback after my first venture. Rather than rattle off 10 things I think you should've done differently, I'm going to focus on the easiest and possibly the most egregious.

Should you once again find yourself coaching a do-or-die Game 7, whereby you're up by more than 30 points in the middle of the 3rd quarter and the opposing team has not even scored 30 points yet - I urge you to more quickly get your franchise players (as well as your starters) out of the game. Forget that Game 1 of the next series would begin in approximately 48 hours and your team should have been already resting at home for a couple days, praying for an upset. Instead, I request you pay closer attention to how increasingly physical the series had become, and how a guy, who has no legitimate business being on the court, can end up in the middle of something random with a 1- or 2-game suspension (or worse)...Now I'm not saying some fan was gonna toss a beer and Scalabrine was gonna run up in the stands...I just think there are times in life where you should err on the side of caution.

If you don't have the confidence that your second team is able to hold a 32-point lead for a quarter-and-a-half against the 16th seed in the playoffs, then I'm unsure how you would expect them to be able to play in a close game because one of your All-Stars was in foul trouble. And don't get me wrong Doc, I completely agree with your decision to bring the starters out for the second half to make sure the game has been put away and out of reach. But when you see Rondo get slammed to the ground on an unfortunate play, that was probably the first sign to get them out. This isn't baseball where you exact your revenge in the next half-inning. The next clue may have been when both Garnett and Ray Ray successively dove for a loose ball with about 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Mind you, your team was up by 34 at the time!! But I don't blame them, they're not supposed to turn it off because they've doubled up the opponent's score (plus 2) with a little more than 1 frame left. Players wanna play... Coaches wanna coach!! It's your responsibility to know when to pull them.

Lastly, I've seen some absolutely miraculous comebacks but I must admit that when they happen, you at least have a little feeling inside that makes you think it's possible. And honestly, that feeling was nowhere to be found yesterday.

In closing Doc, I suggest you YouTube some footage of Red Auerbach, and get a feel for when he knew when it was safe to light up his cigar. Because although you can no longer smoke in "The Garden", KG and Pierce should have long hit the showers to replicate what I was doing...enjoying a lit one as I watched the 4th quarter.


Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need any additional information.

Sincerely,

A. Concerned Fan