That Conjuring movie based on the Smurl family took place where I grew up in a town of like 6,000 people in West Pittston, PA. The movie trailer did not make it look like my hometown!
Author of “Ant,” a biography of Anthony Edwards, out NOW via HarperCollins. Currently in season 7 as Timberwolves writer for the Minnesota Star Tribune.
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That Conjuring movie based on the Smurl family took place where I grew up in a town of like 6,000 people in West Pittston, PA. The movie trailer did not make it look like my hometown!
Playboi Carti and Carole King in the same trivia question!
I just signed about 10 copies of “Ant” at the Barnes and Noble in Minnetonka if anyone wants to go picked up a signed copy. That description below the book really sells it! 😂
I spoke to Anthony Edwards' business manager Justin Holland about Edwards' upcoming trip to China and how Edwards has been attacking his offseason workouts. Story here: www.startribune.com/timberwolves...
I spoke to Anthony Edwards' business manager Justin Holland about Edwards' upcoming trip to China and how Edwards has been attacking his offseason workouts. Story here: www.startribune.com/timberwolves...
Interesting! I forgot that tidbit. Thinking about it now I think you could say “Mine Again” and “One and Only” are also sad songs, depending on your definition. Could’ve just been a line to fit the narrative of the story.
Like you said his sound never was defining of him as a producer. He fit well with the artists he worked with as opposed to, as you pointed out, the Neptunes or Kanye. Kinda crazy that the last minute suggestion to go work with JD in Atlanta ended up producing all the singles on Mimi.
That’s fair. JD was at a high point as a point as a producer coming off Confessions, so it seemed like the right timing to be working with him. I do remember watching the video premiere for WBT on VH1(!) and AIM’ing my ex girlfriend (lol, gf?!) that she just put out her best single since ABMB.
My thing is that album was received just OK by critics in the moment. Mixed reviews. Only after it became a huge smash did the critical consensus of it being good happen, which is typical of music criticism. Some reviews at the time said she didn’t have a hit on it, lol. @augetoffmygold.bsky.social
Through the first hour. I love it and have a lot of thoughts! Love your appreciation for the second verse of WBT. For my $, one of my favorite bits of Mariah songwriting is also in that verse, the frenetic pace and melody of the second half of it, and that she rhymes “element” with “hell I went”
Over 2 hours worth of podcasting discussing whether Mariah in 2005 was the greatest comeback of the century? @augetoffmygold.bsky.social just gets me.
The Timberwolves schedule for the upcoming season. Times listed are local for the home team and in Eastern time.
Former* Yankees fan. Kinda lost the fandom somewhere along the way
Thank you!
For those who read the book (or got through Chapter 1), Dana Watkins told me this weekend Anthony Edwards’ grandfather Ben finally got that new coat of paint on the house.
Am I the only one who thinks the melody of the verses in Chappell Roan's (very good) "The Subway," is almost the same as Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know?"
Books spotted out in the wild. One a colleague took at the MSP airport, the other in Atlanta where I’m visiting some friends. Kind of fitting “Ant” is next to Coach Prime, given there’s an anecdote in “Ant” about Prime Academy not wanting to face Ant’s Atlanta Vikings team.
📬 NEW Extra Innings newsletter hit inboxes: ⚾️ Takeaways from the Twins’ fire sale at the trade deadline. ⚾️ Ranking the 11 prospects the Twins received in trades. ⚾️ A cool Royce Lewis and Alex Bregman story. Sign up link: link.email.startribune.com/join/7v1/sig...
It doesn’t mean too much of anything related to who else they may end up signing to the main roster. It’s essentially a camp invite.
I’m told Juzang’s deal is not guaranteed. He’ll come to training camp competing for a roster spot or a two-way deal.
How’d it go? Did you get through all of it? I hear it’s a quick read!
A year ago, I began the drive from Minneapolis to Atlanta to write a lot of “Ant.” Along the way, I stopped in Chicago to talk with Chris and Mya Hinton, who had me over for brunch and way too many mimosas to talk about a young Anthony Edwards. They had me back over today for more mimosas.
A movie that was so, so far ahead of its time. youtu.be/yuBe93FMiJc?...
My favorite part, regarding the Rock Hall snubs of her: "... You would think history’s most successful non-Beatle singles artist would deserve a look. ... Depending on how you look at things, [AIWFCIY] might be the most popular rock ‘n’ roll song of all time." 100% it's the biggest R&R song ever.
They did, but from another perspective they’d play emotionally manipulative games with each other and at times seemed on the border of getting physically violent with each other. I just watched a season 2 episode where they couldn’t stop smacking each other in the face.
New Two Writers Slinging Yang podcast stars the excellent @christopherhine.bsky.social —Wolves beat writer and author of a fantastic new Ant Edwards biography. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Thanks to the great Jeff Pearlman for having me on his podcast to talk about writing “Ant,” and just how hard and rewarding the process could be at times. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Which is kinda crazy because they have recent precedent for this. "Orange is the New Black," went from competing in the comedy categories in its first year to the drama categories the rest of its run.
It's usually the Grammys. The Emmys sometimes surprise you with voters actually paying attention and rewarding the best series and performers. The Grammys rubber stamp certain artists for nominations and wins.
They didn't, since "The Bear" is getting nominations still in the comedy categories today as everything is announced.
They do but the Emmys can step in too and say, "Nah, actually you're going over here."
Emmy nomations are coming in and how have they not fixed the fact that The Bear is NOT a comedy. Last year with Hacks winning Best Comedy Series was a pretty clear sign voters thought so too.
Growing up is realizing that when you watch Cheers, Sam and Diane had a pretty toxic relationship and instead of rooting for them to stay together you hope they could somehow break up and move on peacefully.
It could've been! I don't really remember solidly. I just vaguely remember like he would say it when a contestant had the first three numbers right and then picked something like 14 as the last two numbers, for a car price of like 17814.
Did it also have to do with it being a bit of a reverse psychology play? I feel like he used the term typically when a contestant would pick a low number when a high number (like 95) is usually assumed to fill the last two numbers of the car price.
Send me some questions! I’ll be getting the newsletter going tomorrow with some thoughts on the Wolves and where they stand, as we head into the rest of the summer.
Thank you for this! I’m glad you enjoyed it so much.
Someone else is in attendance
A few folks in attendance
Quick chant of "five more years" from a small group of fans for Naz Reid here in the arena.
Terrence Shannon Jr. felt he didn't score so well on Thursday. Seems to have rectified that so far today. 17 points in the first half and counting.
Jaylen Clark with some prayer hands after he gets a corner three to drop.
We’re in the much more crammed in Cox Pavilion for this game, which means fans and team personnel in attendance get to mingle. As such, the Chris Finch selfie request count is up to three so far.
Joan Beringer video on his big day.
Rob Dillingham got called for three seconds fighting for the possession in the lane. Summer league!
Shannon and Fears exchanging pleasantries as the teams head off the floor for halftime. Fears gave Beringer the business a bit after the buzzer, Shannon answered back.
That's exactly what popped in my mind.
Who's going to clip all the Joan Beringer blocks and what song should be used as the music to accompany it? (He's up to 5 now.)
One thing about the Timberwolves in summer league, they're gonna use their allotted extra fouls.
Joan Beringer averaging about a block per minute so far.
On my flight to Las Vegas and you better believe I’ve queued up the movie about the guy who figured out the “Press Your Luck” board back in the 80s
Others that could take a slot depending on my mood J. Monae, Archandroid Beyoncé, Lemonade L. Bridges, Good Thing L. Gaga, Fame/Fame Monster T. Swift, Fearless (Taylor’s Version) T. Swift, Red M. Cyrus, Plastic Hearts OutKast, Speakerbox/Love Below F & the Tantrums, Picking up the Pieces
M. Carey, Emancipation of Mimi B. Carlile, By the Way I Forgive You K. Musgraves, Golden Hour M. Kiwanuka, Love & Hate A. Winehouse, Back to Black F. Ocean, Channel Orange Gaga-Cooper, Star is Born M. Morris, Hero B. Eilish, Hit Me Hard & Soft F + Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
I’ll be honest if you’re looking for that kind of stuff then this book isn’t for you. Things that I’ve reported on before are in there but I don’t dwell on them. As those reviews will tell you there’s a lot to his life story.
Feel free to read yourself or check out reviews of the book to see what it’s about
Thank you so much @mirinfader.bsky.social, this is awesome to see you with a copy of my book.
Wow. This is exactly the kind of reaction I was hoping for in parts. Thank you so much.
Love this review so far! Thanks so much for checking it out! You heard it here, “perfect beach read.”
Thank you so much Howard! It was nice seeing you the other day and you’re really missed around the office!
Also, not gonna lie, it was a cool moment to hand him a copy of MY book in the postseason during the Western Conference finals after practice one day.
The book story: www.startribune.com/timberwolves...
Here's that story! www.startribune.com/timberwolves...
I also opined about what's lost in sports reporting, both for reporters and players, when travel budgets are slashed and the kind of content that wins out is clickbaity in nature. Everyone loses.
When I met Nickeil Alexander-Walker, he was reading a book at his locker in Memphis. That started one of my favorite player-reporter relationships I've had in 15 years as a sportswriter. Always appreciated his honesty and how generous he was w/ his time. I wrote this recently:
Joe Ingles back with the Timberwolves on one-year deal: www.startribune.com/joe-ingles-t...
It’d likely be for a minimum contract. It’s all about short term flexibility
As @mikeascotto.bsky.social reported, the Timberwolves declined team options on Josh Minott and Luka Garza, but Garza could still return, I’m hearing, as free agency gets ready to open. Declining team option now gives Wolves a little flexibility in the short term
Thank you so much!
Been great having folks come by to chat for a while. Still here for a bit if you wanted to come through!
I haven’t scheduled any but maybe we can in coming weeks. Any recs on where I should?
This sign is 🔥🔥🔥come on by the B&N in Uptown
Reminder I’ll be at the Barnes and Noble in Uptown today starting at 1! Come on through!
Truly stellar opening
Here's our intial story on Naz Reid's new deal, how it was possible and a bit about what it means for the rest of free agency for the Timberwolves. www.startribune.com/naz-reid-tim...
Note that Tim Connelly said this last night: "We have some limitations financially. We want to make sure that we avoid that second apron. But we're really excited about the direction of our team. We're excited that the guys who are free all want to come back."
The 4 years on Reid's deal before the player option in year 5 means he, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels are all locked in over that same time period. They all basically came in together, grew up together in the NBA and they'll be playing some of the prime years together.
Wow! What a nice message! Thank you for being one of the day ones, as the internet says. That means so much.
For those that have asked about more book events/signings for "Ant," I will be at the Barnes and Noble in Uptown tomorrow at 1 p.m. for a few hours if you're free and want to stop by! Hope to see you there.
Tim Connelly on trading pick 31: “It was really curious how agent driven the 2nd round became. We called players left & right, and there was 20 deals done before the draft started. It was interesting. No. 31 is fun, but it’s probably not as fun as we thought was gonna be.”
Little late, but I got the book! Can’t wait to read it @christopherhine.bsky.social
That was moments after I handed him a copy!
Twins should get Joan Beringer to throw out first pitch & have Juan Berenguer catch it.
Joan Beringer on a conference call: "I will give everything for you. I will give my energy, my defense and I want to improve to be the best ... I’m very happy to have the chance to play for Minnesota.”
On Daily Delivery today, @christopherhine.bsky.social said that if you study Tim Connelly's track record, two things are true: 1) it feels like another big Wolves move is coming 2) We have no idea when or what it will be. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Good questions so far. Come join!
I'm doing a live Q&A starting shortly on our Strib wesbite. Come by and drop a question on anything Timberwolves related! www.startribune.com/submit-your-...
bsky.app/profile/chri...
Hey! The NBA draft is tonight! I wrote a little thing (link to follow) on 6 players who could slot in with the Wolves. In the case of Bryant, Fleming and Queen, that was slightly informed speculation through the draft grapevine. The others were me conjecturing. www.startribune.com/nba-draft-pr...
I’ll be answering questions (likely this afternoon) about the Wolves/Lynx sale, the draft, free agency, the “Ant” book. You can submit them here now: www.startribune.com/submit-your-...
Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez vow not to move Timberwolves, but say they’ll push for a new arena. Story from @christopherhine.bsky.social: www.startribune.com/timberwolves...
I spoke to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore about a wide range of topics now that they are in charge of the Timberwolves and Lynx. Among them: their vision for an arena, Tim Connelly’s future, potentially paying the luxury tax over multiple seasons. www.startribune.com/timberwolves...
Fantastic episode and performance. “I see you’re a film buff, Dr. Crane.” Also “… the traditional spelling.”
Some updates: www.startribune.com/minnesota-ti...
They haven’t announced any kind of extension
www.startribune.com/kevin-durant...
This was so cool tonight. Thanks to Nate and everyone who came out
Finished the book this past weekend, really enjoyed learning about Young Ant. I told my kids about Ant’s burger trick and they thought that was awesome.
"Ant" has a few discounts right now if you still haven't picked up a copy. We've got a 5-star rating on Amazon, 4.3-stars at Goodreads. I'll also be at Magers and Quinn talking about the book tonight! You can order through various places by clicking here: www.harpercollins.com/products/ant...
Wrote about the three biggest questions facing the Timberwolves and hashed that out and more with @christopherhine.bsky.social on today's podcast. Links! www.startribune.com/timberwolves... podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
Gonna be at Magers and Quinn tomorrow night. Sign up at their website and come on by!
