Random crap all falling at once

So it appears that higher powers have seen fit to rain down upon me with quite a few little annoyances today. While it's not official until tomorrow, it appears as though CBS has gone ahead and given the axe to Jericho despite rumors of a second season for weeks now. One of the top new shows to come along in a while is sabotaged by the network thanks to a 3 month hiatus in the middle of the season, and yet absolute crap like Rules Of Engagement are allowed to live on. I can only hope that the talented cast from Jericho manage to find work on other shows I like, because that was one talented bunch of people (Jack Bauer versus Robert Hawkins, now THAT'S a season 7 for 24.)

In general, I'm used to shows that I like being cancelled after a season or less. I've had a lot of practice over the years, and this season is no different. I fought the urge to get wrapped up in DRIVE until the series premiere, and two weeks later the inevitable announcement came. People have talked smack about Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip all season, but I held out hope as long as I could and just recently made peace with it's cancellation (which became official yesterday). But this one really stings. Early in the season, Jericho was mentioned in the same breath as Heroes as the top new shows of the season, and for once the ratings backed me up on it. But in its infinite wisdom, CBS decided to take the show OFF THE AIR for three months. OFF THE AIR. In it's first season. What did they think was going to happen after three months? And added to that, Jericho was left to die up against American friggin' Idol of all things! And then there's the manner in which it screwed with "How I Met Your Mother" and BARELY renewed it at the last second... once again, CBS ignores an actually funny sitcom (Yes, Dear... King of Queens... Still Standing...) and hypes the mediocre shows surrounding it on the schedule. Yes, I'm talking to YOU, Charlie Sheen.

Oh...

And how on earth could I forget the forearm shiver heard 'round the world? Robert Horry, all-round nice guy and San Antonio's "Big Shot Rob", delivers a hard foul on Steve Nash in the closing moments of game 4 between the Spurs and Suns, and the sports community is ready to tar and feather the silver and black. Granted, it was harder than necessary and a stupid move in the heat of the moment, one that deserved a game suspension. But at the same time, this entire series certain members of the Suns have bitched and whined and moaned that the Spurs are a dirty team. Well, congratulations, you got what you wanted. A dirty play, one that could change the balance of the series once and for all because now TWO Phoenix starters are also suspended for game 5, putting them at a severe disadvantage. Taking this at face value, yeah, the Spurs are probably going to be crucified by the average fan for this. But I watched the end of game 4, and what preceded the elbow was an absolute travesty by the referees to tip the scales to Phoenix's favor. Non-call after non-call, an 11 point lead erased and turned into a deficit, all of which boiled over and caused Robert Horry to put a little extra mustard on the foul.

Overall, I'm irritated that the series I was heavily looking forward to between two teams I have (well, had) great respect for has degenerated into the type of chaotic series I was expecting to have with Dallas in the WCF (thank god they choked at least, because after this series they probably would've picked the winner's carcass clean and fluked their way into a title). I'm irritated that the Spurs' character was called into question from almost the start of this series by a whiny, immature jackass who jumped directly from high school to the NBA and thinks he's the uncrowned king of kings or something. I'm irritated that the referees imposed their will YET AGAIN into a potentially make-or-break game the Spurs were involved in. I'm irritated that a Spurs player who's far too good to resort to these type of tactics went as far as he did, potentially tainting this series and playoff run as a whole. And I'm irritated that while the Spurs sure look like the favorites heading into game 5 thanks to the suspensions (2 PHX starters out, 1 SAS reserve out), I can't enjoy these NBA playoffs until this seedy series is over one way or another.

Sorry, just needed somewhere to vent after a really crappy day.