Christmas Edition:Music and NBA Basketball

The music almost didn't get here tonight.There were more technical problems,but,with persistence,I was finally able to bring it to you.It was challenging,believe me.It's a marginal situation.The slightest defect somewhere along the line can wreck the posting.So you got an old classic,"Chestnut Mare,"and one a little less old,"Holiday."I think it's a good gift for everyone.It's great to hear the Byrds' narrative song,a song that really tells a story.It's a blast to see Madonna dance as well.*
The Golden State Warriors did not get a gift.They got a lump of coal in their Christmas stocking,losing to the San Antonio Spurs 104-102 Thursday night in Oakland.This dropped the Warriors to 14-13,and lifted the Spurs to 21-5.
Stephen Curry and David Lee were outstanding for the Warriors.It was Lee's tenth consecutive double-double game,and Curry made several remarkable shots,both close-in and outside of the paint;but they were hindered by repeated turnovers to the Spurs.You cannot win NBA games that way.*
We never give up,said the Spurs' Marco Belinelli.Everyone was good on defensive and offensive rebounds.It was really tough.This is the NBA,it's nothing easy.We just try to come from the bench and be very aggressive.*
Season's Greetings to all.Happy and Merry Christmas,dear readers.

Houston Dims Golden State;Snowy Jerusalem

The Houston Rockets overpowered the Golden State Warriors 116-112 Friday night at Oracle Arena in Oakland.The fourth period was a closely fought battle after the Wariors had trailed by about 10 points most of the game.In the end,however,the Rockets' powerful combination of James Harden,Chandler Parsons and Dwight Howard was just a bit stronger than the Warriors' top performers David Lee,Harrison Barnes and Stephen Curry.
Dwight Howard said he had been working a lot with the NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwan and Rockets coach Kevin McHale.He contributed 18 points,11 rebounds and 3 assists to the winning effort.James Harden led the Rockets in scoring with his 26 points,2 rebounds and 9 assists.Chandler Parsons added 23 points,1 rebound and 3 assists.
For the Warriors,David Lee topped with 23 points,10 rebounds and 2 blocks.Big man Andrew Bogut impressed with two one-hand jams as the Warriors narrowed the gap and even led briefly late in the game.Warriors star Stephen Curry had an off night with 20 points,2 rebounds and 9 assists.He is 6th in the league in points and assists.*
A vast snowstorm is moving eastward across the United States,buttressed by a stubborn dome of cold air from Canada.It is spanning more than 1,000 miles/1609.3 km.Plowable snow will extend from Missouri east to New Jersey,North to Maine and South to Virginia.
The extent of the snowpack in the US is extraordinary for this date.Last year it covered 30.8% as of 12 December;this year it covers 58.6%.It also goes farther south than normal,reaching all the way to North Texas.This is attributable to the persistent arctic air that has spread so widely.*
Overseas,there has been a rare snowstorm in the Middle East.Jerusalem was in chaos as it faced the worst snow in 50 years,receiving up to 4 inches/10.16 cm.Airports,roads and schools were closed,and the snow even spread into the Egyptian desert just outside Cairo.

Lakers Halt Warriors;Navy Stops San Jose State

The Los Angeles Lakers(6-7) halted the Golden State Warriors 102-95 Friday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.Both teams are hobbled by injuries,with the Lakers missing Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant,while the Warriors lack Stefan Curry.The Lakers handled it better as Pau Gasol stepped us with 24 points,10 rebounds,3 assists and a block.Jordan Farmar and Steve Blake helped with 14 points each.
For the Warriors(8-5),David Lee led with 21 points,13 rebounds,4 assists and a steal.Hamilton Barnes contributed 20 points.
You look at our team,Nash said,there are not a lot of NBA starters.It takes a lot of discipline.Sacrificing yourself for your teammates is paramount.I've had a lot of teammates and coaches who allowed me to be successful.
I like Golden State.That's a championship starting lineup.If they can find a bench,they've got to be in the conversation.
The truth is,a lot of guys have been discarded by their teams.They have a lot of talent.In this system,it does take effort.I think Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league.I love Stef Curry.
The came continues to evolve,the Canadian star observed.He attended Santa Clara University before playing for the Phoenix Suns,Dallas Mavericks,and now the Lakers.He is currently sidelined with a back injury,but says he 18 more months of basketball in him,and he intends to make the most of them.
I got good rhythm going on,Pau Gasol said at halftime,and it was good enough to bring the Lakers within one game of .500.*
In a big college football struggle,the US Naval Academy Midshipmen edged the San Jose State Spartans 58-52 in three overtimes.Navy sophomore quarterback Keenan Reynolds ran for an impressive seven touchdowns,and passed for one more.That brings Navy to a 7-4 record and improves their chances of getting a better bowl invitation.
The Army-Navy game is December 18.*
In European Tour golf,the 2014 season got underway at the South African Open Championship hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni at Glendower Golf Club.After two rounds,Marco Crespi(ITA) topped the leaderboard along with native son Charl Schwartzel(RSA) at -12.Morten Madsen(DEN) held third place at -11.

Accenture Match Play Championship Underway at Dove Mountain,Arizona

Australian Jason Day and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell are among the leaders after two rounds at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana,Arizona.It is being played on the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course of The Golf Club at Dove Mountain.
Dove Mountain is a master planned resort community with a hotel,spa and golf club.It is located in the Tortolita Mountains just south of Tucson in the high Sonoran Desert.With more than 3,000 homes in distinctive neighbourhoods,the community was dusted with snow on Wednesday.Temperatures are running from the thirties to the fifties Fahrenheit at this time.The Golf Club is a Ritz-Carlton property.Saguaro cactus and other native vegetation surrounds the greens in the foothill which range in elevation from 2300-3000 feet.
Besides Day and McDowell,other winners of the second round included Bubba Watson(USA),Nicolas Colsaerts(Belgium),Fredrik Jacobson(Sweden),Martin Kaymer(Germany) and Ian Poulter(England).The match play one-on-one scoring is being used,not the customary system.Few Americans are familiar with this aspect of professional golf.It's the scoring system which is used at the Ryder Cup and a handful of other tournaments.
In NBA basketball,the Golden State Warriors defeated the San Antonio Spurs 107-101 in overtime Friday night at Oracle Arena in Oakland,California.
Accenture(ACN)