USWNT star Alex Morgan meets New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski
NBA Playoffs Diary: Coach Parker
The video above is awesome because Tony Parker had just hit a miraculous shot with the shot clock running down to give the Spurs a two-possession lead in Game 1 of the NBA Finals with five seconds left.
He then proceeds to the huddle, and after consulting with coach Popovich, he becomes Coach Parker and tells the teams all the things they should and shouldn’t do when you’re up four points with five seconds left.
But this moment is so special because of where the Popovich-Parker relationship started over a decade ago.
You see, when Popovich attended pre-draft camp in 2001, and laid his eyes on Parker as a potential draft pick, he concluded that Parker was too soft. Pop told general manager R.C. Buford that he never wanted to see Parker again.
After a subsequent workout convinced the Spurs otherwise, they drafted the 19-year old point guard, but even so, there was still a learning curve. During one of the games early in his career, Parker shook off a play call from coach Popovich, who was so irate that he told his point guard: “Do that again, and I’ll play Steve Kerr 95 minutes a night if I have to!”
When the Spurs won their second of four championships in 2003 with Parker as their point guard, it was against the backdrop of whether the team would go after Jason Kidd — the point guard that Parker had just defeated in the Finals — in the off-season.
After Kidd re-signed with the Nets, Parker told his coach: “I want to be the point guard. I want to do it and I’m going to work hard to become a great player.”
He’s lived up to those words, winning three championships, the Finals MVP in 2007, and in Game 1 of the 2013 NBA Finals, in this one beautiful moment between a wonderful coach and his brilliant point guard, the growth of their relationship and the trust between them was on full display for all of us to see.
Oui oui.
Mulberry Soda
If mulberries aren’t available where you live, I’m sure any other berry would be just fine in it’s place.
Makes approx 3 cups syrup
6 cups mulberries
2 cups (500ml) filtered water
The peeled zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup (125ml) honey (or 2/3 cup raw sugar), or to taste
The juice of 1 lemon
Soda or sparkling mineral water, to serve
Ice and fresh mint leaves, to serve, optional
Place berries, water and zest into a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Turn down to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, discard lemon peel, then using a stick blender or food processor blend until smooth. Pass mixture through a fine sieve set over a clean saucepan and discard solids. Add honey and return to heat, simmer 5 minutes, remove from heat and add lemon juice. Cool and store in the fridge until needed.
To serve pour a little syrup into each glass, add ice and mint leaves and top up with soda or sparkling mineral water.
WOMEN IN GAMES
As we discussed in our podcast a few weeks ago, women’s depictions in games are gradually changing for the better.
While it’s still far from perfect, games like Tomb Raider, Metroid, Borderlands 2, and the upcoming Transistor and Remember Me are slowly changing the view of women in games—no longer are they shifted to a support role, now they are the badass mofo giving the baddies the business.
And speaking of badass, deviantARTIST muju’s depiction of women from games perfectly encapsulate the idea that women can lead and kick ass as well as (or better than) any man.
Nutella Mug Cake
Ingredients
4 tablespoons self rising flour
4 tablespoons white granulated sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons Nutella
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oilMethod
1. Combine all ingredients in a large coffee mug. Whisk well with a fork until smooth. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 – 3 minutes. (Time depends on microwave wattage. Mine took 1 /2 minutes.) Top with whipped cream and a little chocolate sauce if desired.
2. Top with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Enjoy!
Note: Depending on the wattage of your microwave, you may have to increase cooking time.
Makes 1 very large serving.
Cheesy Pasta Recipe
1 pound good-quality fusilli
2 tablespoons grape seed oil
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
Two 28-ounce cans peeled whole San Marzano tomatoes
15 large fresh basil leaves, julienned
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound whole milk mozzarella di bufala, cut into ¼-inch pieces
Grated Parmesan cheese, optional garnish1. Bring a large pot of salted water (see page 29) to a boil. Add the fusilli to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions.
2. Add the grape seed oil and garlic to a 10-inch skillet. Turn on the heat to high. When the edges of the garlic have turned golden, about 1 minute, use your hands to break up and squeeze the tomatoes directly into the skillet. Immediately add the basil, salt, and pepper. Bring the sauce to a boil, then lower the heat to medium.
3. When the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat under the sauce. Evenly distribute the mozzarella into the sauce. Use a wire-mesh skimmer to remove the pasta from the pot and place it directly into the skillet. Fold the fusilli into the sauce. Continue to fold until the mozzarella has melted and attached itself to the fusilli.
4. Serve immediately with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Will definitely make this!
Grilled Potatoes
Ingredients:
- 2 (13 oz total) medium russet potatoes, washed
- 2 tsp olive oil
- sea salt and fresh cracked pepper
Directions:
Preheat grill to medium-high heat (an indoor grill would work too).Cut potatoes into 1/4-inch thick slices. I used a fancy crinkle knife with ridges but straight cuts are fine. Toss the potatoes with olive oil. Add salt, and pepper to your taste.Reduce heat on the grill to medium and lay the potatoes slices straight onto the grill; close the lid. Cook until the potatoes are golden on one side, about 6 to 10 minutes, making sure they don’t burn and adjusting flame accordingly. Turn and cook until tender inside when pierced with a fork, but slightly crisp and golden brown on the outside.
Remove from grill, and serve immediately.
