Album Review: The Strokes - Angles

Five years is a long time no matter how you slice it. But in the music industry, it’s an eternity.

An eternity is how long fans have waited for Angles, The Strokes fourth studio album. Much like everything the Strokes do, this album will be put through the hipster/music-critic/fanboy grinder. Statements will be made like, "After five years this is all we get?" "Only 35 minutes of music." "This isn't Is This It." "I wish they sounded the same as they did then." (Example No. 1)

Some people will hate it simply because it’s The Strokes, because they feel the band doesn't take their music and themselves seriously enough. Others will hate it for the exact opposite. And for all the same reasons, people will love them. Fair to say, The Strokes are polarizing no matter what the opinion is. And, oddly enough, through five years of impatience along with their public and private issues, the band seems to be comfortable in the skin of hipster opinion. 

Is This It, this is not. But it’s the closest The Strokes have come since their 2001 opus. Julian Casablancas' voice has taken a backseat to the music as it did back in 2001, which allows it to shine through once again. His speak-sing style once again matches pitch to every note and becomes part of the soundscape instead of drowning it out like it did many times on First Impressions of Earth. Yet, Casablancas still manages to reach new heights with his vocal range.  

'Machu Picchu,' the album's first track, sets things off with a slow reggae beat mixed with '80s synth that builds into a thrashing guitar-riddled chorus. By the end of the song, it has quickly said The Strokes are back and ready for a fight. 

'Under Cover Of Darkness,' the album's lead single, is right out of the 2001 playbook, a bounce-around and dance-carelessly tune, whether at work, in the car or just listening at home. It’s a return to form that adds all the interesting sounds and tricks the band learned over the past decade. 

 Casablancas' voice does a weird drone over a beat that could only be considered the cousin of 'JuiceBox' in the song 'You’re So Right.' But that quickly changes as the chorus approaches and the guitars of Nick Valensi and Albert Hammons Jr., take the listener on a sonic tidal wave that is over just as it gets good and leaves the listener wanting more ... and inevitably hitting repeat on any iPod. 

'Taken for a Fool' is a perfect meld of everything expected of a Strokes song, a great ride without any extra filler while 'Call Me Back' is a slow song. Most people seem to dislike this type of track from The Strokes, but this time it seems to work. Maybe it’s the simplicity of it, the showcasing of Casablancas' voice over simple piano, guitar and synth sounds as well as a great mixture of lyrics nowhere near as repetitive and annoying as 'Ask Me Anything.' 

'Life is Simple In The Moonlight,' another song with a slow tempo that builds ever so slightly to a smooth synth chorus, in and of itself seems almost dream-like, evoking feelings of nostalgia and a simpler time, like prom night 1982. 

'Two Kinds Of Darkness,' 'Games' and 'Gratisfaction' are all worthy songs in their own right and would be highlights on either of the last two albums, but don’t stand apart here. At least not on first listen. 'Metabolism' is a good song but feels almost leftover from First Impressions, perhaps the only misstep for this album. Though as a misstep, it’s a small one, and nothing that will have The Strokes falling from the ledge anytime soon. 

Overall, a great album with complex lyrics that covers most of the bands ideals in politics, love and music. Casablancas is more than willing to use his well-disguised sarcastic wit to let the world know the music industry is willing to pass crap off as music, but if the audience just wants the same album over and over again, well, he will be more than happy to comply ... right after pigs fly. 

Some will dislike this album for the simple fact that, after waiting an eternity to hear The Strokes next attempt, they were handed something different than what they came to except. The ones who are Is This It fans as opposed to Strokes fans may not find this album appealing. But after five years-in-waiting, The Strokes' sound was bound to change.

The Strokes have grown up and found an old/new sound. The question is, after waiting so long to hear their newest release, are we ready for all the Angles from which it will come?

I'm Stuck Working During March Madness, What do I do?

So, you're an idiot.

I think it's safe to assume, since you are reading this in some last ditch effort to either get out of work or safely watch the NCAA tournament at work for the next two days. But before I help you get away with proverbial murder at the workplace, let's go over the reasons you are here in the first place and allow me to do some virtual hand-slapping.

First, you knew this day was coming all year and you chose not to request off. What kind of nonsense is that? Maybe if you didn't procrastinate, this wouldn't have happened. Next year, do yourself a favor and put in for two days of vacation so you don't have to go through some ridiculous charade.

Second, realizing you failed to request time off, you still decided to wait until today to try and call out of work or watch the game. As Charles Barkley would say "That's just dumb." Every employer on the planet knows this is one of the least productive days of the year, and they know why, even if they don't like sports.

You calling out is going to be frowned upon greatly. If they don't fire you for calling out without a doctor's note, then they are going to make the next few weeks of work a living hell for you. You will pay for your ditch day, there is no doubt about it.

What you should have done was prep the sickness beforehand. A light amount of coughing and sniffling on Monday, followed by increased coughing on Tuesday should have started your plan off correctly. Follow it up with the disheveled, I-look-way-worse-than-normal look along with a small bottle of chloraseptic spray, and come Thursday, the office will be begging you not to come in to work.

It would have been an easy call-out. Even though your boss would still know what you did, they would applaud your performance, give you an A for effort and respect your dedication to your role as the sick person of the office.

Remember, he who starts acting sick first, gets to call out first. There will be more than one of you, so get on the ball next year. Get your sniffle on earlier than Joe from accounting. Once home, refrain from enthusiastic tweets and posts on Facebook until Saturday.

Side note: The athlete of your building has already requested off. Chances are he did years ago. Actually, chances are he put on his application he wouldn't be able to work these two days due to some sort of religious holiday or some other type of responsibility. The office athlete cares more than you, which is probably why he has the higher pay and all the ladies in the office.You have to plan like him if you don't want to sitting at a desk like you are right now.

So Payton, how do I get out of this predicament, you ask? Well there are many solutions, but let's explore some of the more legal and effective ones. Let's start by trying to get you home for the game.



1. The Dr. Pepper-Oatmeal Cookie Method
What you will need: three Soft Batch oatmeal cookies (yes, the fact that they are soft does matter); two 20 oz bottles of Dr. Pepper.

It's not too late to turn back from this option. Things are going to get messy, and you are going to have to be more than willing to humiliate yourself. Basically, once at work, find a good moment where no one is watching you and pile in all three cookies. Take the sodas and chug both as quickly as possible. I mean fast. Don't sip,  don't swig, CHUG! Quickly dispose of your evidence and return to your workspace. It shouldn't take long for your stomach to react to the carbonation. Unless you have a cast iron stomach, you should be ready to puke soon. Whether it's full on puke or a burp puke, don't hold back. Now, what are the cookies for? Consistency silly, you need it to look good, like you ate something bad, and those cookies will be perfect. You get them soft because they have to come back up. Pick a good spot to throw up, in front of people, preferably in front of your boss but not on their desk. Now enjoy your drive home.

2. Watch It In Your Cubicle Method
There are a number of sites that will have the games televised for your enjoyment. The NCAA site itself has vastly improved this year, providing you with the ability to watch on your phone, computer, iPads, etc. The trick here is not to get caught, so let's see what's out there to keep you under the radar.

-- Firefox's panic button extension
Don't want the boss to catch you surfing the Web on company time? Don't want your teacher, classmates, roommate or significant other to see the Web sites you're viewing? With Panic Button, a single click of a toolbar button will quickly hide all Firefox windows. Bring them back by clicking a button on the Restore Session toolbar. The Panic Button action can also be invoked by pressing F9 (Command+F9 on the Mac).

-- Boss Button
This is a button that comes equipped with the NCAA live feature they are providing. The Boss Button silences the sound on the computer, but also brings up a series of spreadsheets and other work-related items to pull the wool over your boss' eyes.

-- Purchase a high-powered boss button
This is for the pro slacker of the office -- Magic Boss Button -- which means your boss is probably the person who uses this. Good luck.

-- Spreadtweet
A program that allows you to use Twitter at work. Instead of looking like you are on the Twitter home page, your tweets will come through in an excel spreadsheet, allowing you to get updates on the game with coworkers being none the wiser.

-- The Mirror
This one is the cheap and easy method. Simply buy a small mirror you can attach to your computer monitor. Position it in such a way that anyone approaching behind you is caught in your new third eye's field of vision. Hit Boss Button as needed.

-- Virtual desktops
This one will save your ass by creating mini-workspaces, each one running its own suite of apps. Think of them as parallel universes for your PC. Mac OS X (starting with version 10.5), Linux and Unix all provide native support for virtual desktops. Windows users should seek out a third-party utility such as WindowsPager, which integrates nicely with the Windows taskbar. (To jump to a new window, simply click its icon in the taskbar.) Other virtual desktops include Desktops, Dexpot and VirtuaWin.

Then there is this thing below. I don't trust it, but for you cheap people who didn't request off, don't value your job and don't want to feed your kids, it should work just perfect.



That's it. After this, it's too late for me to help you. Hell it's too late as you are reading this, but I figured I would try to help. I've been there, I know how it feels. Actually, no I don't, because I plan ahead. By they way, did you pick a bracket? Who do you have in your Final Four? Arizona? Really? Can I get in on your bracket action. I'm not against taking money from morons. But really, good luck. Hopefully we have helped, and with any luck, you have learned your lesson. Enjoy your wonderful day at work. Make sure you get the TPS reports done, big boy.

Beyond The Hardwood: Troy Polamalu

It's fitting the athlete to be featured first in Beyond the Hardwood would be one of the most unique athletes on the planet. For as quiet and humble as he is in his everyday life, he is equally vicious and aggressive while on the field of play. In a sport filled with talented and outspoken athletes whose livelihood seems to thrive on their bravado, NFL safety Troy Polamalu separates himself, choosing to quietly go about his work.

He seems to shy away from the spotlight, choosing to acknowledge team over self. Yet if you let his teammates tell it, he is their MVP, the heart and soul of their team. Polamalu is a quiet leader, who lets his actions speak for him. You'll never see him running his mouth a mile a minute on Sportscenter about how he is going to punish the other team this week or how he's come to pound them into the ground. Never will you see him exit the team tunnel enveloped in smoke, fireworks crisscrossing above his head in the backdrop as he does some dance that's supposed to symbolize his Samoan warrior spirit. No, he conserves that energy, uses it for when it matters, puts it where it counts.

He places value on his family both on and off the field, investing time in the development of both. He represents his heritage, friends, team and family with a quiet, soft-spoken intensity and integrity that seems to invite you in, portraying love and caring above all else to the point that the public almost sees him as strange, unique, even perplexing. How can one of football's most decorated players -- six Pro Bowls, two-time first team All-Pro selections, second team All-Pro selection, team MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion -- be so humble? How can a guy so aggressive, resilient, intense, relentless and passionate on the field of play just turn it off when he steps off?

The answer to the question is he doesn't. None of those qualities changes off the field. In fact, it could be said those qualities were in place long before football, before USC, before the Steelers. Those were the qualities he had as a young man, and he learned how to focus them on the things he loved: his faith, family, friends, education and, of course, football. The only thing that changes while on or off the field is where he focuses those qualities.

So when a man like this devotes himself to something outside the world of sports, when he dedicates his time and voice to a cause, you take notice. You perk up your ears, focus your eyes on what he is doing and listen. Because when it comes to Troy Polamalu, what you see and hear is what you get. No strings, no bullshit, no self-serving agenda. You know on the occasions that he speaks out, you should listen because it's important because his words have value.

Well, now is one of those times to perk up and listen. Take an interest in more than what so-and-so is wearing or tweeting about their personal life. Actually, check that, that's exactly what you should do. You should check out what Troy is tweeting about. If you visit his Twitter profile @tpolamalu you'll find hundreds of tweets referencing TwitChange.

What is TwitChange? And why is a guy who begrudgingly got a Twitter account tweeting so much about it? Well, TwitChange is a global celebrity auction where Twitter users can bid to get two things: be followed by their favorite celebrity on Twitter or mentioned by them in a special tweet, plus retweeted by them.

 

                        

 

The real fun of the program is left up to you, the fan, the non-celebrity tweeter. First, make sure you are following @tpolamalu and @TwitChange on Twitter. Then, go to www.TwitChange.com. From there, you will be able to tweet to your favorite celebrities and ask them to get involved (over and over if you must) with the auction. It's very simple, something you can do while listening to music and working on you computer. It really only take minutes to send out invites to your favorite celebs. What if your favorite celebrity isn't on the TwitChange list? Feel free to cut and paste their Twitter handle into the TwitChange invitation and send away. Once you've done that, just take the time to pay attention to the timelines of Troy or TwitChange to see if your celebrity signed up. It's that easy, and you, the user, has all the power to make the difference.

Now for the best part. Your work, and anything you bid in the auction, will go toward OOIAL -- Operation Once In A Lifetime. Started by a soldier, OOIAL is a non-profit organization who has made it their mission "to make the dreams of U.S. soldiers and their families come true by providing free financial and moral support to U.S. service members, their families and veterans regardless of rank, deployment, physical condition or branch or service," according to their Web site.

It's a wonderful chance for you to make a difference by doing something you more than likely do everyday, tweet. It's for an amazing cause and you couldn't have a more impressive, humble and trustworthy person leading the charge in Troy Polamalu. It's a cause that goes beyond favorite teams and players on the field, and to our favorite human beings and heroes, our U.S. servicemen. I implore you to take those few minutes in a day, get involved, send some invitations, spread the word and do something that extends beyond the field of play. Take this wonderful opportunity to go Beyond the Hardwood.

Beyond The Hardwood

For most of us reading or writing this, sports is life. It means more to us than just throwing a ball down a field, shooting a ball into a basket, or juggling a ball with our feet. 

For us, sports is integral to everything we do. We schedule our lives around our teams, take every opportunity we have to talk about it and we will play them until our body won't allow us to go anymore. We give ourselves to the sport unconditionally for what it will give us in return. 

It taught us how to win humbly, but even more importantly, lose graciously. It taught us strength, heart, conviction, will power, values, work ethic and purpose, all qualities we get from sports to carry into our everyday lives. Qualities we share with others who may not have had our opportunities and experiences, as well as those who have. We get to use those qualities to make a difference with our friends and communities, and help them grow and advance in positive ways. 

A select few get the opportunity to showcase these qualities on a bigger stage, passing on lessons learned from a lifetime of sports to not only their neighborhood or community, but to a nation, and in some cases, the world. They have the unique ability to use their talents for good, and when they do, it's a beautiful thing. 

It's easy for us to lose sight of the good these few athletes do. We get caught up in the money they make, cars and clothes they buy, women they marry, and even how a select few disrespect the gifts they have been given. We have a tendency to get caught up in our own fandom, so much so that we can be blinded to the positives that come from so many players. 

We always find a way to scold the spoiled and egocentric athlete, but we forget to honor, cherish and, most importantly, support the humble athletes who dedicate themselves to philanthropy on behalf of sports. Not because their agent told them to or because they are in trouble and want to clean up their image. They do it simply because it's what they believe in, what's close to their heart, what their parents and role models have taught and inspired them to do over the years. They do it because sports has taught them if they give themselves and devote themselves to a goal, they will be rewarded.

It is these athletes I want to recognize here in a new section called Beyond The Hardwood. I want to draw attention to their cause, help them fight their fight by informing you, the people who embrace sports and it's athletes so vigorously, of what these athletes in various sports are trying to do. 

Let's begin this journey off the hardwood floors and grassy fields, and into the arena of everyday life. Let's do our best to help our teammates in this arena. Give them support, pick them up when they fall, congratulate them when they win, console them when they lose. Let's take advantage of the media tools at our disposal to stand beside our favorite athletes and assist them in helping not only our planet, nations and cities, but also our communities, friends and families. So without further ado, let's step Beyond The Hardwood....

Ray Allen: Pure As It Gets

"Jesus," I exclaim. The name itself carries double meaning here, but we'll get to that later.

"Will someone guard him already?" My frustration is building.

"You can't leave that guy open. Anyone but him!"

Not that it would matter if the defender actually closed out on him. It wouldn't be enough to phase him anyhow. A few more minutes pass by, another blown defensive assignment, an expletive from my mouth. But that doesn't change the outcome. The net makes a sound. If its your guy, it's one as smooth as Sinatra. If it's not, well, it's nauseating.

It's June 7, 2010 and Ray Allen's evisceration of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Two of the 2010 playoffs isn't nearly finished. Allen is composing a masterpiece, like he has so many times before. This one will start out to the key of seven straight 3-pointers. It will end in a striking crescendo, 11-of-20 shooting, including 8-of-11 from beyond the three-point arc to set the all-time playoff finals record for most 3-pointers in a game. A total of 32 points on the way to a Celtics' 103-94 Game 2 victory, in a word, is perfect.

Jesus, there is that name again. A name whose story and symbolism are well known throughout the world. A perfect man dying for the sins of the imperfect men that surround him, a savior for the masses. It's fair to say it's a name that carries some weight and culpability. So on the eve of a game where the opportunity to break one of the NBA's most prestigious and oft-thought unattainable records -- most 3-pointers made all-time -- it's only fitting the man poised to break it carry the nickname of Jesus. The burden that comes with the name might not be the same, but one of its qualities -- perfection -- is.

Ray Allen's game is just that, perfect, or at least the closest thing to it on a basketball court. To watch it is to watch pure grace. The way he comes of a screen, planting his feet, catching the ball, and releasing it all in one motion, it's majestic, the product of countless hours of tedious work, repetition and correction. His form has long been considered by coaches, peers and admirers to be the gold standard, a gleaming example of excellence. Even the man poised to become his predecessor has gawked at Allen's game. But there is more to Ray Allen's game than his jumper.

Over a 15-year NBA career, Allen posted an impressive basketball resume. He was the fifth pick overall in the 1996 NBA draft, an All-Rookie second team selection, an Olympic gold medalist (2000), All-NBA third team selection and NBA 3-point shootout champion (2001), NBA Sportsmanship Award winner (2003), All-NBA second team selection (2005), 10-time NBA All-Star and NBA champion (2008).

Allen has made a career out of taking the correct shot, not pushing or forcing it, making sure to try and shoot his team into games, not out of them. He has made a career of rubbing off screens or coming off the dribble for a three. It's this style of play that garnered Allen numerous NBA shooting records, some of which won't be touched for years, if ever.


Regular Season
- Seasons leading the league in three-point field goals made: 3 (2001-'02, '02-'03, '05-'06)
- Consecutive seasons leading the league in three-point field goals made: 2 ('01-'02, '02-'03)
- Three-point field goals made in a season: 269 ('05-'06)
The previous record was held by Dennis Scott at 267. 
- Three-point field goals made in a half: 8 (second half when with the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Charlotte Hornets, April 14, 2002)

Playoffs
- Three-point field goals made in a seven-game series: 28 (for Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 2001 Conference Finals)
- Three-point field goals made in a game: 9 (for Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers,  June 1, 2001; tied when with Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls, April 30, 2009 (3 OT))
- Three-point field goal attempts in a game: 18 (for Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls, April 30, 2009 (3 OT))

Finals
- Three-point field goals made in a six-game series: 22 (for Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 2008 NBA Finals)
- Three-point field goals made in a game: 8 (for Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers, June 6, 2010)
- Three-point field goals made in a half: 7 (first half for Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers, June 6, 2010)
- Three-point field goals made in a quarter: 5 (second quarter for Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers, June 6, 2010)
- Three-point field goal attempts in a six-game series: 42 (for Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 2008 NBA Finals)

His career stats are a testimate to his consistency through training and practice. Practice which got him to fourth in the league all-time in free throw percentage; 11th all-time in 3-point shooting percentage at 39.8 percent, a number that could increase this year with Allen on a terror from beyond the arc, currently shooting 46 percent through Feb. 10. But most importantly, it has him poised to enter the record books by attaining the all-time 3-pointers made record tonight. It's a record hallowed by many, a record that represents the hard work, dedication and attention to detail that can't be attained through simple pure athletic talent.

When Allen enters the Garden tonight, he will enter it two 3-pointers away from passing Reggie Miller, whose current mark of 2,560 was long considered unattainable. To make the achievement more unique, Allen will be facing the Celtics longtime rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, a fitting opponent for such a momentous occasion. There is no doubt his teammates, fans, friends and family would love to see him break this record while in the midst of such a storied rivalry. Even if you're a Laker fan, you have to tip your hat to the man who would be king.

So tune in. Witness. There is history to be made tonight. Watch as The Garden applauds him, his effort, his tenacity in a standing ovation to one of its icons, its legends. Enjoy this perfect moment because chances are we may never see this record broken again. Once Allen breaks it, he will own it like no other has. He will have the opportunity to increase it. He will set the standard for all that come after him in this league, a standard of perfection. A standard that could only be attained by one man.

I'll watch tonight, just like the rest of the league, like the man who is about to watch his record be surpassed. I'll hold my breath just like everyone in attendance every time a 3-pointer is launched. And when the net finally makes that smooth sound for the second time tonight, there will only one word that leaves my lips, "Jesus."

I'll say it with a smile, happy I had a chance to witness.

Absorbing a Nation: The Story of the Terrible Towel

In American sports, particularly pro football, there are symbols that represent us. They represent our teams, our cities and the people that live there, were raised there, will die there. These symbols inspire us for years, a single game or sometimes just for a frozen moment. In some cases, they transcend time. Sometimes, the symbol that comes along is embraced to such an extent, it becomes a fabric of everyday life, so recognizable it supersedes its initial purpose, evolves into something more, something that can't be quantified. Sometimes these symbols develop organically, growing within the culture of the fans and eventually breaking into the periphery of the entire sports landscape, to be witnessed and even embraced by all.

Of course, it always starts with an idea, a simple thought that grows into action and substance. Sometimes it's complex, but often enough it's simple. That's where this story begins, on a simple day in 1975.

It's two weeks before the start of the 1975 playoffs. The Pittsburgh Steelers just put the finishing touches on a 10-3-1 regular season and were preparing for a first-round playoff match-up with the 10-4 Baltimore Colts. The management team of WTAE, the Steelers flagship radio station, decided they need a "gimmick" to promote their station, but also help inspire the Pittsburgh fan base in the upcoming playoffs. Initially perplexed to find an idea, vice president and general manager Ted J. Atkins and president of sales Larry Garrett approached radio personality Myron Cope with the the conundrum.

Cope, who had joined the broadcast team five years earlier, had quickly become the voice of the Steelers. Beloved by fans for his distinctive nasally twang, heavy Pittsburgh accent and capricious catch phrases, most notably "Yoi," "Double Yoi" and "Okle Dokle," his radio commentary embodied the spirit of Pittsburgh. Cope had the attention of the Steelers fans and a good indication of what they appreciated. To Atkins and Garrett, it only made sense to ask for his assistance.

Upon first request for help with the "gimmick," Cope refused. He recounts in his book, Double Yoi, he said, "I am not a gimmick guy, never have been a gimmick guy." Cope also thought the Steelers fans -- a group of hard-nosed, no-nonsense, blue-collar workers, much like the team they supported -- would be a bit put-off by a gimmick. But, upon further prodding and debate, including the explanation that this "gimmick" would be a good advantage in his upcoming contract renewal, Cope changed his answer. "I'm a gimmick guy."

Is Trading Dwyane Wade only a matter of time?

With the previously-perceived trouble in South Beach, is trading Dwyane Wade only a matter of time?

Until last week, things were not working in Miami. The team wasn't getting along, people were not settling into their roles and the wins weren't coming as easy as people predicted. Though the team has improved to 15-8 with a six-game win streak and are sitting at third in the Eastern Conference, it is still a far cry from the record-shattering 73-plus win season people predicted.

Many things have contributed to the unexpected sub-par season. Injuries, unestablished identity and, according to the "King," too many minutes and lack of a fun atmosphere. A week ago, it was being reported there was frustration from the players with coach Erik Spoelstra.

It was becoming obvious something had to happen. Things were not right and the blame had to fall somewhere. Heads needed to roll, so to speak. The media seems to think Pat Riley will step in and take over as coach like he did in '05-06. The conspiracy theory was this was the plan from the beginning when he lured Chris Bosh and Lebron James to South Beach. But I have to question that move. I honestly wonder what kind of difference Riley would make coaching this team because the problem isn’t the coach.

Lebron is a PR nightmare, making things worse for him and his team every time he opens his mouth (somewhere out there Mel Gibson and Pat O'Brien are giggling wildly together saying. 'Look at that idiot'). Bosh seems to be going through the motions and has been putting up decent numbers, but he looks like a deer in headlights, genuinely surprised (and scared) at the negative firestorm the Heat have to endure on a nightly basis.

Dwyane Wade has been oft-injured and put up some of the worst shooting percentages of his pro career. But the most alarming part? Wade really doesn't look like he wants any part of this union. Even when he claims he does.

Does anyone think Riley wants to take this team over? Riley is not a stupid man, and he knows simply changing coaches is not enough. Riley knows what it takes to win (note to King James: If you think Spoelstra is hard on you as a coach, you might want to ask around about Riley's practice sessions), and he knows the Heat are missing massive pieces like a point guard and a center. Why would Riley tarnish his image coaching this team?

Miami needs a floor general, a leader on and off the court who knows how to get the most out of the talent. Wade would be that leader in a normal setting. But after reports surfaced of player's being frustrated with Spoelstra, along with Wade's comments that the coach is “his guy,” it quickly became apparent teammates gravitate to Lebron as their leader. An odd occurrence considering he has made it clear through actions and words he isn’t the guy. Mentally, he isn’t capable of leading this team, though throughout their recent win streak he has led in most categories over Wade. Lebron is a spoiled child with a ton of talent -- Bobby Fischer, if you will. He just wants to have fun and joke around, practice his celebrations with teammates and enjoy South Beach.

So now that things are all better in South Beach, and Miami and the Heat have finally beat a winning team (the Utah Jazz Dec. 8), we don't need to worry about trades, right? But what if the current win streak is just a flash in the pan, a mirage? What if when they start playing some of the league's elite again the losing starts along with it.

The one thing championship coaches know is you can win all you want in the regular season, but if you can't beat the elite teams, you won't win a championship. Miami has been looking so good against sub-par teams lately, we are already starting to forget about their glaring holes at point guard and their attrition in the post. Riley, on the other hand, is still well aware of those holes. He knows as the team is built now, they cannot win it all. So if and when Miami starts losing against winning teams, what should Riley do? Well, the correct and unpopular decision is trade Dwyane Wade.