My friend Paul M. Banks joins me to talk about his new book, “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: : Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry” while he gets harassed by his cat, Otis.

Go ahead and listen.

What have I been doing? Well…

1. Helping plan a wedding. Yes, only helping. I’m typically asked of my opinion, then three weeks later, it happens.
2. Getting new glasses for the first time in seven years. (No glaucoma!)
3. Going to the dentist for the first time in I don’t know when. (Wisdom teeth have to come out, but somehow no cavities!)
4. Trying to figure out which doctor to go to for my first check-up in eons. (Not looking forward to the laundry list of things wrong with me on this one, kids.)
5. Working on a long-form piece about Mr. Show. My original idea is not coming to fruition like I thought it would. It’s probably why I don’t freelance too much.
6. Hanging out with Paul M. Banks in South Bend on a Tuesday night. Paul was in town for Notre Dame’s Pro Day and decided to kill time listening to me monopolize a conversation over pizza and beer. (I know how to wine and dine people!) Paul was able to get a picture of First Down Moses while he was in town thanks to my directions. See, everybody knows about Touchdown Jesus. Nobody knows about First Down Moses and THERE’S THE REAL SHAME. Paul will be on the podcast soon. You know, once I decide to start doing it again.
7. Getting a second job, and not just any job. I got a broadcasting job. I’m officially an employee of Mid-West Family Broadcasting‘s stations in South Bend. I’m so far down the totem pole that I think I’ve already been forgotten (I’m teasing here!), which will make my conquering of those stations that much sweeter (kind of not teasing here, I’m hungry!). If I wind up doing anything of note, I’ll let you know. (In case you were wondering, the last place had their chance and blew it. Or, they just didn’t want a third go-around. Either way, their loss. I’m good and they know it.)
8. Coming to grips with turning 40. It’s like turning 30, only I find myself looking back and realizing what a total waste my 30’s were. My 30’s, with some obvious exceptions (like finding the love of my life and actually finishing college), sucked. Too much loss, both professionally and personally. I know that loss is part of the game of life and that it’s inevitable, but I’d rather lose some weight (30 pounds, so far!) than lose another good friend or relative.

Everybody caught up now? Good. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Over the last couple of months, I’ve been dieting. I’m pretty pleased with the results so far. I’m down 35 pounds from my heaviest of 272.

Yes, I want to look good in my wedding pictures. I also would like to, you know, live longer and when I’m living the high life in my doomsday bunker, you’ll all be jealous. Or long since vaporized. Whichever.

There is one thing that could derail everything and it’s this:

YOU’RE THE DEVIL, CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZELS!

Yup. It’s these little bastards. Dr. Fiance came home with a bag of these from a farmer’s market today (A FARMER’S MARKET.) and I’m pretty sure I’ve eaten half the bag. I’m certain that if you put a 35-pound pile of chocolate covered pretzels in front of me, I’m making it my life’s goal to eat that pile in under an hour or die trying.

Damn you, chocolate covered pretzels, being all delicious and wonderful.

The fact that the NBA refers to the part of their regular season after their all-star break as “the second half” is absurd.

This season, teams had already played 58 or 59 games of their 82-game season. That is at least 70 percent of their schedule. They just need to call it what it is: “the last 20 games of the season.”

Oh wait, they want you to forget about the almost 35 games they play before Christmas. That’s if you’re even paying attention. Who would be? The NFL’s in full swing. Baseball is playing the World Series during this time. And, of course, how can I forget about the juggernaut that is Major League Soccer? People only start watching the NBA on Christmas Day, when The Association takes over ABC and ESPN with five games. By the time tip-off happens, you’re so sick of A Christmas Story and White Christmas, you need something to break up the monotony of curdling egg nog, Mr. Cookie, and the dog choking on glittery ribbons. You’re also too drunk on ham and deviled eggs to realize that they’ve played 35 games by the time they get to Christmas.

No, I’m absolutely not describing my own Christmas. Why do you ask?

Anyway, here to discuss the second half of the NBA season is Cal “GameFace” Lee. Cal co-hosts The Baseline NBA Podcast with Warren Shaw and is one of my favorites from the Maximus & The Bartender days.