I can't believe I didn't think of this before

I've been using "google adsense" on the side of this blog since sometime late last summer.  Basically google just puts ads there that it thinks are appropriate, then pays me based on how much traffic the page gets, and how many people click on the ads.  For a long time I thought it was completely useless.  Then I did a little research, moved some things around, and started to have a very small amount of success with it.  As of two days ago I had made a grand total of $14.54.  And then I had the idea to ask people to click on the ads.

I'm not sure I really believe what google is telling me, or if the current numbers would actually translate to the same degree if there was more traffic.  But according to my stats, 2 days ago 10 people clicked on ads, and I made $9.13.  Yesterday and so far today I've had 12 clicks, and made $10.46.  I can't imagine it's really that easy, but according to google I am making almost $1 every time someone views one of the ads.

In the past 24 hours, 141 people have viewed this page.  According to my current numbers, if every one of them clicked on an ad, that would be enough for me to actually do this for a living.  So please please keep doing it.  And if you haven't yet, do it now.  It's SO easy and takes no time at all.  Just close the window or hit the back button as soon as it comes up, you don't even have to look at it.  Thanks for your support.

2/1 UPDATE:  I'm hearing rumors that google catches on when the same people click too frequently.  So if you really really love this blog and have been clicking on every ad several times, A: thanks for that, and B: one per day is good enough.  My friend today told me that she had a site shut down because the same people clicked on ads too often.

2/2 UPDATE:  Nevermind.  I guess I'm not allowed to ask people to click on the ads.

I'm not reading anything into that Celtics loss to Cleveland

With three and a half minutes left in the Celtics-Cavs game the other night the score was 87-80 Boston.  I turned to my friend in the seat next to me and said "The Celtics only need to score 6 more points to win this game."  As it turned out they didn't make another basket, and Cleveland came back to win 88-87.  Losing by one point when the other team closes the game on a 12-0 run (it was 87-76 with 4:24 to go) is a pretty tough pill to swallow; but as I left the Garden I was surprised how unconcerned I was by it.  After an improbable 4 game winning streak, I had a feeling Boston might be due for a let down.  And if they'd made another shot or two down the stretch and won this particular game, does that really have any impact on whether or not they can beat good teams come playoff time?  I'm just going to give the Celtics a mulligan on this one and choose not to dwell on it.

As soon as a I saw Kyrie Irving start to dribble out the clock with 22 seconds left I had a sinking feeling in my stomach.  Normally teams go for the last shot when the game is tied, not when they're down a point.  Traditional hoops wisdom tells you to take the best shot you can with some time left on the clock, that way you still have a chance if it doesn't go in.  It was a ballsy call by Cavs coach Byron Scott.

For my regular readers who are not big Celtics/NBA fans, I apologize.  Tomorrow's blog will not be about sports, I promise!  But I have been getting a lot of traffic and support lately from other Celtics related media, so that may be the general direction in which this site is heading.

So what do you think about the Superbowl?

I am of the rare opinion that the Patriots should be heavily favored.  Everybody seems to be forgetting that the Giants went 9-7.  That they barely made the playoffs (by winning a bad division that Dallas choked away losing 4 of 5 down the stretch).  That they lost to Seattle, Philadelphia, and Washington (twice).  The general media consensus appears to be that A: in the NFL lately it doesn't really matter what you did all season in, just they way you are playing at the moment; and B: that the Giants are so hot right now (like Hansel hot?).

Ok, well if that's the case, what does it mean that the Patriots have won 10 games in a row?  In fact, their last loss was to the Giants twelve weeks ago.  I think that's a good thing for New England.  Not only does it increase the revenge factor from Superbowl XLII (and seriously can they stop with the stupid Roman numerals already?  Honestly how many people actually know what they are?), I also feel like beating the same good team twice in a row is just a very difficult thing to do.

However, if I was going to bet money, I would definitely take the Giants.  Not because of the 2.5 or 3 point spread, and not because I think they will win, but because this game PERFECTLY fits the profile for my guaranteed way to win at sports gambling.

So anyway, vote in the poll on the right and let me know what you think.  Also, underneath that I have recently added a "pageviews" counter.  And it's intentionally placed directly above the "advertise with LucidSportsFan here" sign, so you think to yourself "hmm, 544 people have been here this week, what if they all saw my webpage/restaurant/candy store/dog grooming business/fill in the blank______?"

Rumors of the Celtics demise are greatly exaggerated

I know this blog has been overly Celtics heavy of late; but they just keep doing such surprising things, so I don't really have a choice.  The two spectacular victories over Orlando, combined with Friday night's win against Indiana, puts Boston in the midst of one of their most unexpected winning streaks in a long time.  There were two things that were supposed to be major issues for the aging Celtics this season: back to back games, and young athletic teams.  On Friday against the Pacers, they handled both admirably.

The other knock on Boston so far this year was that Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were starting to look a bit over the hill.  But in the absence of their All-Star back court this past week, these two have been reinvigorated.  KG frustrated Dwight Howard to no end in consecutive games, and Pierce's numbers of late have been remarkable.  During the four game win streak Paul is averaging (I can't believe I'm about to say this because I think this guy's a jerk and totally overrated) a Lebron-esque 26.25 pts, 7.25 reb, 8.75 ast, 1.5 stl, and .75 blk.  Those stats are virtually identical to James' season averages.

Having said all that, Boston will probably lose at home to Cleveland on Sunday; I think that's the way this season is going to go.  But man, it was a fun week.

Celtics suffocate Magic on Monday, then rip their hearts out on Thursday

I thought the first Celtics-Magic game this week was about as crazy as it gets; and then last night happened.  Pure insanity.  Boston went into Orlando still missing Ray and Rondo, and without starting center Jermaime O'Neal as well.  The Magic clearly had revenge on their minds while building an early 52-25 lead.  But then it turned into Monday night all over again, as Boston outscored them 66-31 the rest of the way to win 91-83.  The Celtics finished the game on a 44-15 run.  Boston's 27 point comeback was their biggest in any game over the past 16 years.

Orlando added to the list of dubious team records set in the previous game by blowing a 21 point halftime lead, the largest they've let slip away in franchise history.  On Monday the Magic had just 3 field goals in the 4th quarter; amazingly last night they had only 2.  I don't know how to research that, but it's got to be some sort of record.  However, I do know that the 45 combined second half points allowed by the Celtics (20 Monday, 25 Thursday) in back to back games is an NBA record for the shot clock era.

I'd also like to thank Dwight Howard for personally bringing Kevin Garnett back from the dead this week.  For the second straight game KG made "Superman" look soft.

And finally, if you'd already followed me on twitter you could have known about all of these great stats last night; and also seen this tweet from Doc Rivers' son Austin, who is a freshman and Duke and one of the best pro prospects out there:

Austin Rivers @AustinRivers25

C'mon celtics!...dad come put me in the game!! Lol Jk

Retweeted by LucidSportsFan

Awesome Old Song of the Week: "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" by Billy Ocean

This song was a #1 hit in 1988.  As an 11 year old listening to it on the radio I could have sworn he was singing "get out of my dreams, get into my heart."  It just seemed to make way more sense that way; until I saw Licence to Drive.  That movie ruled.  In addition to the two Coreys, it starred a teenage Heather Graham almost a decade before she really became famous.  It's in the rotation on HBO right now, and I watched it the other night till about 5 am.  I didn't even turn off the TV until the theme song from the final credits was over.























And how about Billy Ocean then and now?  Wow.

I've discovered that something in "Shawshank" really irks me

I don't think it's much of a debate that The Shawshank Redemption is generally considered an all-time great movie by just about everyone.  But it has recently come to my attention that one little detail of it is TOTALLY wrong.  On the night that Andy escapes, he shines the warden's shoes, then wears them back to his cell in order to have a nice pair for his trip to the bank the next day.  Here's the quote from Red as he narrates:

"Andy did like he was told, buffed those shoes to a high mirror shine. The guards simply didn't notice. Neither did I... I mean, seriously, how often do you really look at a mans shoes?"

Now I've got a story for you: In the bar I work at the uniform is a black shirt, jeans, and grey Converse All-Stars.  The other day it was snowing and the streets were a mess, and since I walk to work, I wore a pair of black boots instead of my grey sneakers.  And let me tell you, EVERYBODY noticed.  The second I stepped in the door each coworker I passed by made a comment.  So you're telling me that every single day, for 19 years, Andy Dufresne wore that same light blue shirt, jeans, and dirty brown boots; then all of a sudden one night he's got on shiny black shoes, and nobody notices?  No way.  Sorry Red, I'm not buying it.