Mike O'Connell

I don’t go to the movies often (actually never), but I’ve had Entourage circled on my calendar since literally years before anyone admitted such a thing would exist. I knew one day they’d make the hit TV series into a movie, and I’d be there the first day. Well, it wasn’t the first day and wasn’t the second, but they got my 13 bucks and it was worth every penny.

I’m not going to divulge any plot lines or outcomes here—really, what’s there to divulge? It’s just people being awesome—just to say got see it if you haven’t. And if you have, see it again. This is one of those movies that I leave in my Netflix queue even after I see it, because I figure by the time it makes its way to the top of said queue I’ll want to see it again. Same reason I own most seasons of Entourage on DVD and why I used to go out of my way to see it every Sunday, even when I didn’t have HBO. (Good to have friends.) For those of you who’ve never seen an episode of the show (first off, shame on you), you’ll still enjoy the movie. But the more familiar you are with the series and the brand the more you’ll be rewarded. (I knew all that extra studying I did would come in handy.)

Usually I say about a movie like this that no one tries too hard and I appreciate that. Well, 95 percent of the actors in this movie don’t try too hard, actors and non-actors who are just making cameos and being awesome on screen. But the main cast is trying, and those actors really are acting and doing it well. Yeah, the whole thing’s a bit contrived and maybe predictable… who cares. This is all about being awesome. It’s hip-hop for white people (I wish I came up with that one), and I approve. To borrow from a review from another of my favorite (but very different) films… it’s got a good beat and the kids can dance to it.

I’m still a kid at heart. Aren’t we all? My entourage is now my wife and son (actually I’m in their entourage), but I still like things that are awesome.

The I-think-Golden-State-will-sweep-this-series just gets more and more laughable with each NBA Finals game played. Can we now say that Cleveland has a chance to win this series? Remember, they’re a Game One centimeter or two away from being able to close it out with a sweep of their own Thursday. Still the same, I see no reason why the Cavs can’t continue their winning ways and roll to an unlikely (to most) series victory.

Next up… pigs fly, Redskins win the NFC East, and Rand Paul announces he will run as a Democrat as Hillary’s vice president.

Don’t let the final score fool you… last night’s Game One of the NBA Finals was high drama and most certainly worth staying up until midnight to see to the end. Auspicious omens for a great series. The team I think is going to win the series won, and the guys I want to win the series showed that not only can they hang around, but damn they could win.

All this excitement has nearly made me forget that one of us has a birthday coming up this weekend.

Yup. Sunday is going to be my best 24th birthday ever.

Every Sunday I read the Washington Post with trepidation. I usually have only one eye open and make sure to keep at least one nostril closed. Yesterday there were not one, not two, but three features which made me open both eyes, both nostrils, and, well, just one mouth, but it no doubt formed a smile.

First, in the Post‘s Arts & Style section, a front-page article about Frank Sinatra whose premise was, in a sense, Who needs an excuse to write a big celebratory article about Frank Sinatra?

I like your style, Arts & Style.

Second, and you know I love this one: wildly differing opinions of how the date went from the participants in the “Date Lab.” I don’t know why, I just love it when the dates don’t work out. Proves they’re not rigged.

And speaking of things being not rigged and not going well. Oh, that I loved reading P.J. O’Rourke’s scathing review of Kevin Schultz’s new book, Buckley and Mailer: The Difficult Friendship That Shaped the Sixties. Whereas most book “reviews” are mere commercials for the book they hawk, this one is anything but. Strictly from the title and premise this is one I probably would have read, though clearly not now. (Funny how one instantly believes a bad review but might question a good one.) O’Rourke’s review is just beautiful prose and makes you love to read a bad review. His piece is the one worth reading, and I may spend my time this summer just sipping a sweet beverage and rereading it again and again.

But remind me never to have that guy review my book!

With last night’s emphatic win over the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers are on their way to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2007. Their likely opponent is the team with the best record in the NBA this year, who very well could wrap up the Western Conference championship this evening. Oh, the sexy matchup of Warriors vs. Cavs… I can taste it already. So can those who produce the games and sell TV advertisements.

Much as I’d like to see the upstart Warriors (or Rockets, for that matter), win one for the West, I’ve got to go with the Cavs in this series. Yup. I’ve jumped on the LeBron bandwagon. Again. Though this time it’s to root for the guy, not hate him for going to Miami.

How the hell did I find myself rooting for Alex Rodriguez and LeBron James in the same season? Somehow they’re both so maligned I end up liking them in the process. And a Cavs-Yankees double would be sweet.