Beneath (or somewhere hovering around) The Underdog

NBA Finals, Game 4, Miami Heat v. Dallas Mavericks

My lord, I truly am an underdog fan. I will root for the lovable losers any chance I get. As much as Dwayne Wade is the most competitive closer in basketball, and as much as he has proven that he will always be the best player on the court in the NBA Finals, I still want Dirk and the Mavs to take this series. I feel for Dirk - he is the homely, lanky, awkward superstar - always pushing beyond his natural desire to fade into the background in big moments. He seems to have solved his problem in that respect. But basketball is a team game (wow, cliche!), and I think that the Mavs have the better overall "Team". The Heat have the best players, but they have proven to fold during the ultimate test of team play - the final minutes of a close game when you are down by a small margin. Nothing can go wrong in those situations, and the Heat have again and again tried to rely on individual superstars rather than an overall clear game plan. The fact that Lebron is now hiding in the corner in these situations and putting all of the pressure on Wade makes me respect them even less. Sports create a framework in which our humanity is on display in raw fashion. You can't fake it or hide behind lights and makeup. We know what we are getting, and the thrill of seeing someone rise above their weaknesses and reach the pinnacle of their sport, as Dirk and Wade are trying to do, is inspiring. However, I can't help but notice that as soon as that person becomes champion, it is now time for someone else to try and unseat them. And I, inevitably, will be rooting for the underdog.

Oh, Dallas won, last 4th quarter comeback, late drive by Dirk, and then sloppy play by Wade to keep the Heat from getting a good last second shot off. And Dirk had a temperature of 102º the entire game. Gotta love it!

Below is a link to the pianist Jeremy Denk performing the Goldberg Variations at the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum in Boston. I have heard this piece/pieces played hundreds of times, but I was blown away by his interpretation. If listening to Gould play Bach is like listening to an architectural masterpiece being constructed by one man, then listening to Denk's interpretation is like listening to an Amish house building project. With Denk, each line is not only weaving in and out of each other, but seem to be cooperating for some greater good, always waiting their turn, supporting each other, and trusting the last to grow upon. Brilliant.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE CONCERT

And here is some other info about Jeremy: