Michael Backus
@mjbackus.bsky.social
Writer (a novel, The Vanishing Point; a memoir, The Heart is Meat: An 80s Memoir, coming out in May 2025 on Headpress/Oil on Water press out of England), teacher of writing (Gotham Writer's Workshop), film nut, book lover, NBA fan.
But later, the cornerback understands, he slipped, shit happens, but the kicker? His whole reason to be is to hit shots like that, that one's leaving a bruise. Btw, had he hit it, then you could say the same about the Steelers' kicker, missing that extra point, both kicks weirdly going hard right.
January 5, 2026 at 5:13 AM
But later, the cornerback understands, he slipped, shit happens, but the kicker? His whole reason to be is to hit shots like that, that one's leaving a bruise. Btw, had he hit it, then you could say the same about the Steelers' kicker, missing that extra point, both kicks weirdly going hard right.
I just don't see it. Maybe by the end of the year, he's in the bottom half of the top ten. But Jokic is having a season we've never seen before, Shai is better than last year, and Luka's numbers dwarf Brunson's.
November 29, 2025 at 4:17 AM
I just don't see it. Maybe by the end of the year, he's in the bottom half of the top ten. But Jokic is having a season we've never seen before, Shai is better than last year, and Luka's numbers dwarf Brunson's.
What's really galling is no doubt there are a lot of Trump voters out there who applaud his shaky grasp of the facts; who after all can be expected to remember one of the three or four most important dates in our country's history?
June 27, 2025 at 5:37 PM
What's really galling is no doubt there are a lot of Trump voters out there who applaud his shaky grasp of the facts; who after all can be expected to remember one of the three or four most important dates in our country's history?
I sometimes forget how long guys like Luka and Jokic have been in the league.
April 21, 2025 at 6:45 PM
I sometimes forget how long guys like Luka and Jokic have been in the league.
I can value AD as an all NBA talent and still think the Mavs got totally hosed. AD, 2 unprotected picks and Reaves was the minimum haul and people would still say the Mavs lost that version of the trade.
April 21, 2025 at 6:44 PM
I can value AD as an all NBA talent and still think the Mavs got totally hosed. AD, 2 unprotected picks and Reaves was the minimum haul and people would still say the Mavs lost that version of the trade.
A guy who was first team All NBA his first five seasons, well, maybe that should've been Nico's first clue.
April 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
A guy who was first team All NBA his first five seasons, well, maybe that should've been Nico's first clue.
For years, I've heard people say some version of "No one really knows why the twin towers fell" as a precursor to laying this theory on me. All I know is I watched a two hour Nova special two or three years after 2001 and it explained in great detail why each of the buildings collapsed.
April 21, 2025 at 6:26 PM
For years, I've heard people say some version of "No one really knows why the twin towers fell" as a precursor to laying this theory on me. All I know is I watched a two hour Nova special two or three years after 2001 and it explained in great detail why each of the buildings collapsed.
A lot of Americans forget what a scourge TB was here; my mom grew up in rural Kentucky, she put together a list once of her family and like 13 out of 15 family members died of TB, including her mother who coughed up so much blood one night, she died from it at 36.
March 12, 2025 at 5:53 PM
A lot of Americans forget what a scourge TB was here; my mom grew up in rural Kentucky, she put together a list once of her family and like 13 out of 15 family members died of TB, including her mother who coughed up so much blood one night, she died from it at 36.
That's the sad thing about this craven crew of MAGA creeps; we all know that Hegseth knows the truth but we live in a GOP world where you literally cannot come out and say what is super obvious because the party is run by an ignorant super narcissist whose next coherent thought will be his first.
February 26, 2025 at 8:30 PM
That's the sad thing about this craven crew of MAGA creeps; we all know that Hegseth knows the truth but we live in a GOP world where you literally cannot come out and say what is super obvious because the party is run by an ignorant super narcissist whose next coherent thought will be his first.
I thought in a lot of ways, it was a fuck you to the MAGA world. For one, Canada's team was a focus and Kerr (a noted Trump critic) got as much screen time as anyone, plus the guiding mantra of the doc was Kerr's "living abroad for years teaches empathy" which is a direct counter to the MAGA world
February 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I thought in a lot of ways, it was a fuck you to the MAGA world. For one, Canada's team was a focus and Kerr (a noted Trump critic) got as much screen time as anyone, plus the guiding mantra of the doc was Kerr's "living abroad for years teaches empathy" which is a direct counter to the MAGA world
Australia? That's a real place? I thought it was made up to scare people with snake and spider phobias. Really, though, yes, Australia is left out; they are shown briefly getting beat, but part of the strength of the doc is the narrow focus of its interests. Doesn't try to be comprehensive.
February 24, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Australia? That's a real place? I thought it was made up to scare people with snake and spider phobias. Really, though, yes, Australia is left out; they are shown briefly getting beat, but part of the strength of the doc is the narrow focus of its interests. Doesn't try to be comprehensive.
Honestly, I don't think he should even say it. It's clearly such an absurd idea, put forth by a guy who is so dumb and out to lunch, he doesn't realize how outlandish this idea is. He thinks because he had the idea (or more likely, some lackey suggested it), it's a good idea. Appalling bullshit.
February 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Honestly, I don't think he should even say it. It's clearly such an absurd idea, put forth by a guy who is so dumb and out to lunch, he doesn't realize how outlandish this idea is. He thinks because he had the idea (or more likely, some lackey suggested it), it's a good idea. Appalling bullshit.
Dude's knee callouses must be truly impressive.
February 10, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Dude's knee callouses must be truly impressive.
Get used to it, we're going to hear a lot of these regrets over the next four years.
February 2, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Get used to it, we're going to hear a lot of these regrets over the next four years.
Luka has hit the 65 game mark five out of seven seasons; hard to label him as someone who can't stay on the court. If you're only looking at this season, well...good luck with that.
February 2, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Luka has hit the 65 game mark five out of seven seasons; hard to label him as someone who can't stay on the court. If you're only looking at this season, well...good luck with that.
Is LeBron a loser in this? Hard to see the 2 of them fitting comfortably on the court; this feels like a move for the future, post-LeBron. Does this make it more likely LeBron plays somewhere else his last season? Certainly the Lakers defense, which is getting better, takes a hit.
February 2, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Is LeBron a loser in this? Hard to see the 2 of them fitting comfortably on the court; this feels like a move for the future, post-LeBron. Does this make it more likely LeBron plays somewhere else his last season? Certainly the Lakers defense, which is getting better, takes a hit.
It's part of why I rarely listen to former players on NBA podcasts; no matter how articulate and basketball smart they are, it always feels like they're protecting friends and fellow players on the one hand and pushing some sort of agenda on the other.
February 2, 2025 at 5:55 PM
It's part of why I rarely listen to former players on NBA podcasts; no matter how articulate and basketball smart they are, it always feels like they're protecting friends and fellow players on the one hand and pushing some sort of agenda on the other.
This is what I was sort of trying to say, but said it poorly. Thanks.
January 31, 2025 at 8:11 PM
This is what I was sort of trying to say, but said it poorly. Thanks.
When will people stop going to player polls for anything relevant. Time and time again, players have shown they either don't have a clue or are just voting on rep, without thinking in any depth about what they're being asked. Obviously there ARE thoughtful players but as a group...?
January 31, 2025 at 7:17 PM
When will people stop going to player polls for anything relevant. Time and time again, players have shown they either don't have a clue or are just voting on rep, without thinking in any depth about what they're being asked. Obviously there ARE thoughtful players but as a group...?
Honestly, I still think Covid was the key factor in two elections. It was central to Biden winning and then Biden had to deal with a dead on arrival economy because of Covid and Trump won because the perception that the economy was in the dumps. Covid giveth and taketh away.
January 25, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Honestly, I still think Covid was the key factor in two elections. It was central to Biden winning and then Biden had to deal with a dead on arrival economy because of Covid and Trump won because the perception that the economy was in the dumps. Covid giveth and taketh away.