Hey everyone, sorry it's been a while since I've posted anything, but to be honest I haven't had that much to write about these days. There's just so much that one could complain about, and I didn't want to be one of those people that only write to complain about something they have zero chance in changing. This one's about good times, about good people, and great memories for me.
As has been stated numerous times, I love basketball. It's my favorite sport, it's what I ended up coaching, and it's what I watch, when I can.
These days, the idea that professional basketball could happen for the following season is looking less likely by the day. With the pros signing deals to play in Europe, it's looking like owners and players aren't seeing eye to eye and the fans are going to be the ones that suffer because of the nonsense. Does anyone remember when the NBA was fun, and there were teams that were good because they had the best players, and the idea of money wasn't what made them good, but it was the way the played on the court? I do, it's called the nineties.
This is when the greatest dynasty (my opinion) in professional basketball was dominating the game. Of course I am referring to the Chicago Bulls. It's been a long time since the Bulls were dominant, and for those of us who were privileged to see them, we saw greatness. We saw hope. We saw, Michael Jordan.
For years, the comparisons have been made between Jordan and Kobe, Jordan and Lebron, Lebron and Kobe. I'm sorry, but Michael is a class that stands alone. The man went to the NBA Finals six times, won the title six times, and won MVP of the Finals six times. There is no comparison. From the position of leader, Michael Jordan is far and away better than both of those two men combined. Talent alone, dictates that, but character too. I'm not referring to Michael nowadays where he has let his life spin out of control, but when he was a players, and when he was the standard for excellence.
As good as he was, he was one man, and didn't win the title by himself. He was surrounded by a group of players that no one else wanted, and when they beat the Lakers (YAY!) in 1991, for their first title, little did they know that this was the beginning of what I feel was the greatest dynasty of the modern era. From 1991-1993, the Bulls were hands down, the best team in Basketball. They beat the Lakers, Blazers, and Suns for their first 3-peat and did it with style, class, and more highlights than any of todays teams. The Bulls were a team. Yes they had the greatest player on the planet, but they weren't Michael Jordan and the four guys who pass to him, they were the World Champion Chicago Bulls.
Michael retired in 1993 to play baseball. (Very bad move) but he returned in 1995 the next 3-peat that came for the Bulls was more impressive than the first one. In the 95-96 season they went 72-10, a record for wins that still stands to this day. They lost three games in the post season and won by twenty points in the championship game against the Seattle Sonics. (Or what you might know today as the Oklahoma Thunder) Then, the following year they went 69-13 and beat a very good Utah Jazz team in six games to win the title. Michael even scored 38 points in game five with food poisoning. Are you kidding me? In the clincher, he didn't even score the winning basket. It was a little guy named Steve Kerr, (great name) who hit the shot with four seconds remaining to lift the Bulls over the Jazz. The next season, they went 62-20, and beat the Jazz again in six games to win their third title in a row and sixth overall for the decade. In game 3 they set the record for the biggest margin of victory, beating the Jazz 96-54.
I mean, they are the greatest dynasty the sporting world has ever seen since the Celtics of the 1960s when they won nine in a row. The Bulls passed the ball, played defense, believed in one another, and Phil Jackson, took five men, and seven that no other team wanted and turned them into the greatest show on earth. For three years no matter where they played, it was a sell out crowd. They were cheered wherever they went, and when they won, they won with class. When they lost, they lost with class too.
Was Michael Jordan hard to play with? Probably. The man set impossible standards to measure up to. Was it rewarding to play with Michael Jordan? Do I really need to answer that? If you played with him in that decade, you won a title. It doesn't get any better than that.
Who knows what might have happened to that team had the owners decided not to resign Jordan, Jackson, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman? The Bulls could have become the first time since the Celtics to win four or maybe even five in a row. They were that good and had that much potential.
They reminded me why I loved the game, why I had passion for it, and inspired me to be the best coach I could. I miss those days. I like the game, but I can't say that the league today is better than it was back then. The Players are not the same caliber, at least not all of them, and the style of play isn't the same. I am grateful I grew up in the era of Michael Jordan and the Bulls, and wish so badly that people who are seeing what's going on today could see the game back then for what it was, pure, great, and fun to watch.
Hopefully it can get there again someday, and that we can be treated to a man with the passion and talent of Michael Jordan. Maybe someday.
Until next time
P
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Coward
So, I have to write about this and laugh. I received an email a few moments ago; someone read one of my blogs, and criticized me for having an OPINION, and writing out said opinion. This person left no name, just cried, and told me that have no right to complain about things I don't know anything about.
Maybe... and that's why I stick to the things I do know about, and can give an opinion on. Look at the title of my blog, it's my thoughts and OPINIONS. I have no problem with people disagreeing with me, that's fine, you're entitled to do that, but what gets me is that they left their name off it.
If you got a problem, tell me who you are, don't write an anonymous response to me and tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about. That makes you a coward. You obviously disagreed with me, and I could care less that you disagreed with me, but I don't need this anonymous B.S.
I spoke my mind, about something I have passion for, and yes, I stand by every word I said, and regardless of whether you agree, I wrote based on what I saw, and what I thought. Allow me to do that, and I will allow you to argue with me. Healthy debate is fun, and good.
Cowardly attacks on my thoughts and views on things? That's not acceptable. Put your name on it, or Don't talk to me. Now, you've wasted enough of my time.
Until Next time
Preston
Maybe... and that's why I stick to the things I do know about, and can give an opinion on. Look at the title of my blog, it's my thoughts and OPINIONS. I have no problem with people disagreeing with me, that's fine, you're entitled to do that, but what gets me is that they left their name off it.
If you got a problem, tell me who you are, don't write an anonymous response to me and tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about. That makes you a coward. You obviously disagreed with me, and I could care less that you disagreed with me, but I don't need this anonymous B.S.
I spoke my mind, about something I have passion for, and yes, I stand by every word I said, and regardless of whether you agree, I wrote based on what I saw, and what I thought. Allow me to do that, and I will allow you to argue with me. Healthy debate is fun, and good.
Cowardly attacks on my thoughts and views on things? That's not acceptable. Put your name on it, or Don't talk to me. Now, you've wasted enough of my time.
Until Next time
Preston
Move on
I am not going to jump on the Lebron James hate wagon. I don't think adding another critic to his life is necessary. Here we are, not even 12 hours removed from the closure of the 2011 NBA Finals and I've seen critic after critic come on TV and offer their two cents and opinions about how he played, what this loss means, and the effort he put forth in this series.
Yes, some of it is required when you talk about the biggest stage of professional basketball, I get that, but going on and on about how this is yet another let down of his career, is taking it a little too far. People keep making comparisons between him and Michael Jordan. OK, well, Jordan didn't win titles either until the Bulls put the right people around him. He came into the league in 1984, and didn't win until 1991. Lebron will get his time, it's a mathematical certainty. But, what gets me is how people jump all over him because he hasn't done it yet. Newsflash, he's 25, not 40. He's not over the hill, he's in his prime.
He's getting better, improving his game. Let his personal life be his personal life. Why do we need to comment on things that have nothing to do with us? What makes people think that we are entitled to way in on other peoples decisions with their own lives? Especially when we don't even know them! The man wanted to leave, and take his talents elsewhere as he put it last summer. He had every right to do that. He honored his committments to Cleveland, and he decided it was time to move on. I think we need to do the same. I don't live in Ohio so I don't care, but it amazes me how much people do.
People need to move on to the issues of their own lives and stop trying to recapture what is lost and never going to happen again. The man lost, he's beating himself up enough, there's no need to add to it. Talk about his game, talk about his shot selection, his passing, defense, rebounding, and other things related to the GAME, but leave the personal stuff alone. It's not our business. Also, if you're not a basketball player, coach, trainer, or other related job in the field of basketball, stop trying to make yourself sound like you know what's going on. That is why I am entitled to talk about this, I'm a coach, i've got credentials. (Which by the way, is a joke. Don't read anything more into that.) Some of the people I've heard, are ridiculous, and don't know what they're talking about. But it's entertaining and all part of the circus.
Lebron, I thought you gave it your best, you just came up short. Now, I was rooting against you, but not because I wanted to see you lose, but I just wanted to see Dallas win. No hatred involved, just wanted to see Dallas win. I've told my friends, you can win it next year, this year is Dirks.
I just find it hillarious how much involvement regular people have in the lives of professional athletes. Like we have a say in how they live, or where they work. It's not our lives people, move on, and live your own life.
It's time to get off the "I HATE LEBRON JAMES" train, just because he plays for another team. If you're going to hate him because you're loyal to the team that he's playing against, nothing else. It makes you petty otherwise.
Congratulations to the Mavericks. They deserved it. Lebron, Wade, Bosh, your time will come. And I look forward to seeing it happen.
Until next time
P
Yes, some of it is required when you talk about the biggest stage of professional basketball, I get that, but going on and on about how this is yet another let down of his career, is taking it a little too far. People keep making comparisons between him and Michael Jordan. OK, well, Jordan didn't win titles either until the Bulls put the right people around him. He came into the league in 1984, and didn't win until 1991. Lebron will get his time, it's a mathematical certainty. But, what gets me is how people jump all over him because he hasn't done it yet. Newsflash, he's 25, not 40. He's not over the hill, he's in his prime.
He's getting better, improving his game. Let his personal life be his personal life. Why do we need to comment on things that have nothing to do with us? What makes people think that we are entitled to way in on other peoples decisions with their own lives? Especially when we don't even know them! The man wanted to leave, and take his talents elsewhere as he put it last summer. He had every right to do that. He honored his committments to Cleveland, and he decided it was time to move on. I think we need to do the same. I don't live in Ohio so I don't care, but it amazes me how much people do.
People need to move on to the issues of their own lives and stop trying to recapture what is lost and never going to happen again. The man lost, he's beating himself up enough, there's no need to add to it. Talk about his game, talk about his shot selection, his passing, defense, rebounding, and other things related to the GAME, but leave the personal stuff alone. It's not our business. Also, if you're not a basketball player, coach, trainer, or other related job in the field of basketball, stop trying to make yourself sound like you know what's going on. That is why I am entitled to talk about this, I'm a coach, i've got credentials. (Which by the way, is a joke. Don't read anything more into that.) Some of the people I've heard, are ridiculous, and don't know what they're talking about. But it's entertaining and all part of the circus.
Lebron, I thought you gave it your best, you just came up short. Now, I was rooting against you, but not because I wanted to see you lose, but I just wanted to see Dallas win. No hatred involved, just wanted to see Dallas win. I've told my friends, you can win it next year, this year is Dirks.
I just find it hillarious how much involvement regular people have in the lives of professional athletes. Like we have a say in how they live, or where they work. It's not our lives people, move on, and live your own life.
It's time to get off the "I HATE LEBRON JAMES" train, just because he plays for another team. If you're going to hate him because you're loyal to the team that he's playing against, nothing else. It makes you petty otherwise.
Congratulations to the Mavericks. They deserved it. Lebron, Wade, Bosh, your time will come. And I look forward to seeing it happen.
Until next time
P
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Fatherhood
So, I’m going to be a father. Yeah, I know, it’s a huge deal. It’s something that I’ve thought of, dreamed about, and wanted for a very long time. When my own father passed away in 1992, I was left wondering what my life would be like concluding my teenage years without a father around. I did all right, made the right choices, and am a good man. Or so I would like to think. I do often wonder what kind of man I would be right now if my father was still around.
I have also wondered the type of father I will be when my time finally came. I don’t have to wait much longer. My son or daughter is due in December and Karen and I are scared, excited, relieved, petrified, and everything else in between. I know I’ve prayed and wondered about this, but the time is rapidly arriving and the joy and panic are becoming one emotion and I don’t know which one is winning. If I had to guess I would say that the panic is the weaker of the two, but it’s there.
So here is my message to my unborn child. It is universal and can be applied whether boy or girl….
Hello:
I wanted to let you know how great a blessing you have been to my life. From the time your mom told me that she was pregnant with you, to the time you entered the world, you were always at the front of my mind. You were loved before you ever existed and your future was always discussed by your mother and I. I may not have always done the right thing, said the right thing, or behaved in the most appropriate of ways, but just know that with you, I did the best job I could. I wanted you to have the best in life, to know right from wrong, and to reach for the stars as best you could. There’s a cliché in our society that the only thing a child had to do to make their parents happy was to come home at the end of the day. A touching sentiment, and very true, but I want to expand upon it. It matters not to me how successful you are, what type of job you obtain, what friends you have, so long as the life you lead is a good one. I want you to achieve goals, I want you to want amazing things for yourself, and I want you to believe that there is nothing in life that you cannot have. If you do these things, in addition to coming home at the end of the day, then, you will have made me happy. At the time of my writing this, your mother was my greatest love on this earth. She is passionate and brave, strong and loving, and perhaps the most organized cleaner the world has ever seen. Of course you know this, you’ve met her. As time went on, and we met the struggles of raising you and showing you the beauty of this world, my love for her grew even more. She put up with a lot from me, and I did my best to show her every day of our lives together that she was my treasure. This is what I hope for you when it comes time, many many many many many many years from now, like when you can rent a car, which in this country is 25, and you find yourself in love. One of the things your mom loved about me was that I was cheesy. I loved being romantic on dates, at home, and everywhere else. I need you to do the same. Don’t be afraid to show love, don’t be afraid to receive love, and never run away from the opportunities that love presents to you. To my son, if she is a good woman, with strong values as you do, and she makes your heart skip a beat every time she walks into a room, tell her. Show her that she matters a great deal to you. To my daughter, if a young man enters your life that treats you like the queen you are, never takes advantage of your goodness, and doesn’t mind having your mother along on your dates, then you have my blessing, and you can see this man. Know this though, as your father, no one is good enough for you. I apologize now if I embarrassed you in front of a boy you liked, but it’s my job to protect you and try to shield you from as much pain as possible. I can’t protect you forever, so I had to do the best with the time that was given to me. I love you, always have, and always will. You will forever be known as the best Christmas present, I ever received. Thank you for having the heart of a servant, for being selfless in selfish times, for being the type of child that a parent can’t stop bragging about, and for making my life even better than it was before you arrived. Make your life extraordinary and never let a moment to be great pass you by.
So that’s what I want to say to my child, and how much I desired to have them in my life. Will I be a good dad, well time will tell on that one, but I believe that if I care enough, if I understand that I will make mistakes but never repeat them, if I love them unconditionally all the days of their lives, then I believe I will make a great father.
Yes, I’m scared and I’m elated at the opportunities that fatherhood will bring to my life, but I think, no, I know I’m ready for this. I want this, and by the grace of God, and love of the woman who helps me get through the days, I say bring it on. Nothing could be as scary or bad as not going through it at all.
Until next time
P
a.k.a.- Dad
I have also wondered the type of father I will be when my time finally came. I don’t have to wait much longer. My son or daughter is due in December and Karen and I are scared, excited, relieved, petrified, and everything else in between. I know I’ve prayed and wondered about this, but the time is rapidly arriving and the joy and panic are becoming one emotion and I don’t know which one is winning. If I had to guess I would say that the panic is the weaker of the two, but it’s there.
So here is my message to my unborn child. It is universal and can be applied whether boy or girl….
Hello:
I wanted to let you know how great a blessing you have been to my life. From the time your mom told me that she was pregnant with you, to the time you entered the world, you were always at the front of my mind. You were loved before you ever existed and your future was always discussed by your mother and I. I may not have always done the right thing, said the right thing, or behaved in the most appropriate of ways, but just know that with you, I did the best job I could. I wanted you to have the best in life, to know right from wrong, and to reach for the stars as best you could. There’s a cliché in our society that the only thing a child had to do to make their parents happy was to come home at the end of the day. A touching sentiment, and very true, but I want to expand upon it. It matters not to me how successful you are, what type of job you obtain, what friends you have, so long as the life you lead is a good one. I want you to achieve goals, I want you to want amazing things for yourself, and I want you to believe that there is nothing in life that you cannot have. If you do these things, in addition to coming home at the end of the day, then, you will have made me happy. At the time of my writing this, your mother was my greatest love on this earth. She is passionate and brave, strong and loving, and perhaps the most organized cleaner the world has ever seen. Of course you know this, you’ve met her. As time went on, and we met the struggles of raising you and showing you the beauty of this world, my love for her grew even more. She put up with a lot from me, and I did my best to show her every day of our lives together that she was my treasure. This is what I hope for you when it comes time, many many many many many many years from now, like when you can rent a car, which in this country is 25, and you find yourself in love. One of the things your mom loved about me was that I was cheesy. I loved being romantic on dates, at home, and everywhere else. I need you to do the same. Don’t be afraid to show love, don’t be afraid to receive love, and never run away from the opportunities that love presents to you. To my son, if she is a good woman, with strong values as you do, and she makes your heart skip a beat every time she walks into a room, tell her. Show her that she matters a great deal to you. To my daughter, if a young man enters your life that treats you like the queen you are, never takes advantage of your goodness, and doesn’t mind having your mother along on your dates, then you have my blessing, and you can see this man. Know this though, as your father, no one is good enough for you. I apologize now if I embarrassed you in front of a boy you liked, but it’s my job to protect you and try to shield you from as much pain as possible. I can’t protect you forever, so I had to do the best with the time that was given to me. I love you, always have, and always will. You will forever be known as the best Christmas present, I ever received. Thank you for having the heart of a servant, for being selfless in selfish times, for being the type of child that a parent can’t stop bragging about, and for making my life even better than it was before you arrived. Make your life extraordinary and never let a moment to be great pass you by.
So that’s what I want to say to my child, and how much I desired to have them in my life. Will I be a good dad, well time will tell on that one, but I believe that if I care enough, if I understand that I will make mistakes but never repeat them, if I love them unconditionally all the days of their lives, then I believe I will make a great father.
Yes, I’m scared and I’m elated at the opportunities that fatherhood will bring to my life, but I think, no, I know I’m ready for this. I want this, and by the grace of God, and love of the woman who helps me get through the days, I say bring it on. Nothing could be as scary or bad as not going through it at all.
Until next time
P
a.k.a.- Dad
Friday, May 13, 2011
The End of the Beginning
It has come down to one night, one final episode, one last look at his beginnings. Tonight marks the end of Smallville. Thank you, for making my loyalty mean something. That is what I want to say after seeing tonight's finale. So far, things have been great in this last season. The enemy of the season, Darkseid, hasn't really been the enemy Clark's used to seeing. He hasn't really made much of an appearance. No the real enemy of this season has been man himself. Men who have made made the mistake of thinking that people, like Clark, doing things for the good of humanity are nothing more than curse to society and must be dealt with.
I think what this shows us is that really, there is no greater enemy to the Man of Steel than man himself. We are selfish, arrogant, corrupted, and want more for our own well being than we do for the well being of others. This is not what the future Superman has been about. He's actually been the one who selflessly gives of himself and his abilities to protect the world and protect the innocent from evil.
What tonight symbolizes is the end of the beginning. The last nine years have been a great prequel to the Superman movies showing us what Clark Kent was like growing up in Smallville and trying to learn who he was and what his destiny would become. It's been nice knowing all along where he would end up, but it was great watching the journey, and that's what this was all about, a journey.
Knowing the destination is one thing, but knowing how to get there is a completely different thing. Clark Kent's journey was one we all knew where he would end up, but seeing how got there was fun. Sometimes, yes, it was annoying and hard to sit through, but tonight, we get the payoff, we are rewarded for going along with him on this journey.
it has been fun, hard at times, and frustrating, but the creators, actors, and writers have made this a fun show to watch, and a great show to lose yourself in. End of the beginning is just a few hours away. The one great lesson we can learn from this show, is that we all must write our own destiny.
Until next time
P
I think what this shows us is that really, there is no greater enemy to the Man of Steel than man himself. We are selfish, arrogant, corrupted, and want more for our own well being than we do for the well being of others. This is not what the future Superman has been about. He's actually been the one who selflessly gives of himself and his abilities to protect the world and protect the innocent from evil.
What tonight symbolizes is the end of the beginning. The last nine years have been a great prequel to the Superman movies showing us what Clark Kent was like growing up in Smallville and trying to learn who he was and what his destiny would become. It's been nice knowing all along where he would end up, but it was great watching the journey, and that's what this was all about, a journey.
Knowing the destination is one thing, but knowing how to get there is a completely different thing. Clark Kent's journey was one we all knew where he would end up, but seeing how got there was fun. Sometimes, yes, it was annoying and hard to sit through, but tonight, we get the payoff, we are rewarded for going along with him on this journey.
it has been fun, hard at times, and frustrating, but the creators, actors, and writers have made this a fun show to watch, and a great show to lose yourself in. End of the beginning is just a few hours away. The one great lesson we can learn from this show, is that we all must write our own destiny.
Until next time
P
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Classy
Now was that any way to end a marvelous career? Was that any way for a Champion to behave? You know you're going to lose, is there any reason to take away from your legacy as well? I am of course speaking about the horrendous yet wonderful game between the Dallas Mavericks and the L.A. Lakers this past Sunday.
Now, before we go on, I have to confess something, I don't like, nay, I hate the Lakers. I loathe them and just about everyone on that team, with the exception of Pau Gasol. I was happy to see them lose, happy that it happened on the road so that everyone could rightfully boo them. There was nothing good about the game if you were an L.A. fan, and everything right if you were hoping to see them get swept.
However, what you didn't want to see was the reigning champions behaving like little kids on the playground who were mad that their team lost the kickball game at lunch. You expect professionals to be classy in both winning and losing. That was not the case on Sunday. First, cheap shot by Odom on Dirk, nothing major here, just a cheap shot that didn't need to happen. Then came the jerk of the year moment when Andrew Bynum elbowed J.J. Barea in the ribs while Barea was attempting a layup. The two actions happened in about 45 seconds from each other, and both resulted in ejections for the two Laker stars.
Odom went quietly and without incident, but Bynum felt it necessary to remove his jersey and leave the court half naked. Why? Why was that necessary? No one wanted to see that, and all it did was make you look like a little child upset that he was going home a loser.
In Game 2 of the series, Ron Artest took a similar cheap shot to Barea which resulted in his ejection and suspension from Game 3. Now for those of you who don't know who J.J. Barea is let me tell you. He is a backup point guard for the Dallas team and hails from Puerto Rico. He stands about 5 foot 6 and weighs about 160 pounds when fully dressed in a suit of armor.
He's good, but he's not the kind of player that should have caused this much frustration to the Lakers. Their actions towards him weren't because of anything dirty or cheap Barea was doing but rather because they were mad they couldn't stop him. So that's how you deal with a situation that becomes difficult for you to handle like a man, you behave like a child? Wow, that's class, real class.
I am so glad this happened. Happy that Barea is all right and is able to continue the post season, but also happy that this happened to the team I despised. I mean you Magic Johnson, Mr. Los Angeles Laker himself, talking bad about the Lakers at half time. He was disgusted by their lack of heart and their inability to play to their potential in a must win game. I have been telling people that the Lakers are a joke for years, and this Sunday they validated my point.
All they do is whine and complain and show what little class they truly have. Good riddance to them and to their attempt at another championship this post-season. I m happy, more than you can know, that this is over and I don't have to watch them make a mockery of the game I love anymore.
I feel bad for Phil Jackson, who ended a stellar career as player and coach. His legacy will not be tarnished because of this one game, but will be remembered for the championships, the winning seasons, and the class that he had in the league. This game was bad, and it wasn't his fault, he didn't go out there and not play well, his team did. He called timeouts, he got in faces, he did what you're supposed to do, his players didn't.
I am a fan who appreciates class in the players and the organization. Sunday, The Lakers proved they have none. They are not who said they were, and the world now sees that.
Go away, and never come back, you all have no class.
Until next time
P
Now, before we go on, I have to confess something, I don't like, nay, I hate the Lakers. I loathe them and just about everyone on that team, with the exception of Pau Gasol. I was happy to see them lose, happy that it happened on the road so that everyone could rightfully boo them. There was nothing good about the game if you were an L.A. fan, and everything right if you were hoping to see them get swept.
However, what you didn't want to see was the reigning champions behaving like little kids on the playground who were mad that their team lost the kickball game at lunch. You expect professionals to be classy in both winning and losing. That was not the case on Sunday. First, cheap shot by Odom on Dirk, nothing major here, just a cheap shot that didn't need to happen. Then came the jerk of the year moment when Andrew Bynum elbowed J.J. Barea in the ribs while Barea was attempting a layup. The two actions happened in about 45 seconds from each other, and both resulted in ejections for the two Laker stars.
Odom went quietly and without incident, but Bynum felt it necessary to remove his jersey and leave the court half naked. Why? Why was that necessary? No one wanted to see that, and all it did was make you look like a little child upset that he was going home a loser.
In Game 2 of the series, Ron Artest took a similar cheap shot to Barea which resulted in his ejection and suspension from Game 3. Now for those of you who don't know who J.J. Barea is let me tell you. He is a backup point guard for the Dallas team and hails from Puerto Rico. He stands about 5 foot 6 and weighs about 160 pounds when fully dressed in a suit of armor.
He's good, but he's not the kind of player that should have caused this much frustration to the Lakers. Their actions towards him weren't because of anything dirty or cheap Barea was doing but rather because they were mad they couldn't stop him. So that's how you deal with a situation that becomes difficult for you to handle like a man, you behave like a child? Wow, that's class, real class.
I am so glad this happened. Happy that Barea is all right and is able to continue the post season, but also happy that this happened to the team I despised. I mean you Magic Johnson, Mr. Los Angeles Laker himself, talking bad about the Lakers at half time. He was disgusted by their lack of heart and their inability to play to their potential in a must win game. I have been telling people that the Lakers are a joke for years, and this Sunday they validated my point.
All they do is whine and complain and show what little class they truly have. Good riddance to them and to their attempt at another championship this post-season. I m happy, more than you can know, that this is over and I don't have to watch them make a mockery of the game I love anymore.
I feel bad for Phil Jackson, who ended a stellar career as player and coach. His legacy will not be tarnished because of this one game, but will be remembered for the championships, the winning seasons, and the class that he had in the league. This game was bad, and it wasn't his fault, he didn't go out there and not play well, his team did. He called timeouts, he got in faces, he did what you're supposed to do, his players didn't.
I am a fan who appreciates class in the players and the organization. Sunday, The Lakers proved they have none. They are not who said they were, and the world now sees that.
Go away, and never come back, you all have no class.
Until next time
P
Friday, April 8, 2011
Safe
It's baseball season, and I am excited. The boys of summer are starting up and I already have my tickets to see the Braves vs the Angels in May. The Braves hardly ever play at Anaheim, and this year I'm going, and I'm going twice. But, before I go, I have to take into consideration a few things. Can I wear my Braves gear without the fear of being attacked for expressing my like for the visiting team? If the events of this past week have any bearing on that decision, I don't know.
If you've been watching the news this week, you've probably heard about the vicious attack at Dodgers stadium. A fan was beaten and put in a coma by two drunkards who have yet to be arrested. The organization has agreed to let LAPD have a known presence at their games next week, and my thought is, DUH!
It took your security, ten minutes to respond to the attack, and the attackers got away! I'm not a fan of going to Dodger stadium in the first place and this is one of the reasons why. There is some feeling of entitlement that people who live in L.A. have when it comes to their sports teams. If you wear a team supporting someone other than that team, you are met with hostility and sometimes violence. Even if you are from that city where that team is from, there is some code that prohibits you from wearing a jersey that is not blue and has the name Dodgers written on it. Be proud of your team and their history, but for crying out loud, you're not on the team, what gives you the right to determine what people can or cannot wear? I am all for being proud of your team, being a fan, but when that feeling expresses itself in a negative way, things have got to change.
There is an obsession that must be dealt with. It's no longer safe to express opinion. I feel that even I, will get some form of backlash from readers who think I'm simply attacking the Dodgers with this post when I'm attacking extremism. They are simply the example I'm using. Bryan Stow was simply a fan of the game, came to cheer on his favorite team, and he was greeted with hostility and his assailants got away.
Going to a sporting event should be a family friendly environment, and you should be able to stand up and cheer whomever you want, regardless if it's the home team or not. Home town pride is one thing, but when that pride is taken to the extreme and it is not longer safe to express an opinion, you have to look at priorities in this country. Be proud of your city, be proud of your teams, but stop thinking that it gives you the right to act out against someone who is not there cheering on your team.
The good news, Bryan Stow is stable and his vitals are looking good. The bad, unless measures are taken to enhance safety at these games, things like this will happen again.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called this incident a cut on the face of L.A. and I have to agree. This act doesn't give the city a good name, and it hurts ticket sales for the team. Who wants to go to a place where you can't feel safe? Who wants to go and cheer on a team that you don't like? You have to hide your feelings because you don't want to be killed.
Another issue that might need to be resolved is the removal of alcohol from the stadiums as the men who attacked Bryan Stow were drunk. If alcohol is going to be served and there's no accountability, problems will continue.
I am disgusted at this act, disgusted at the fans, the organization, the city, the security at the stadium, society. This isn't what America's about. At least not my America.
Until next time
P
If you've been watching the news this week, you've probably heard about the vicious attack at Dodgers stadium. A fan was beaten and put in a coma by two drunkards who have yet to be arrested. The organization has agreed to let LAPD have a known presence at their games next week, and my thought is, DUH!
It took your security, ten minutes to respond to the attack, and the attackers got away! I'm not a fan of going to Dodger stadium in the first place and this is one of the reasons why. There is some feeling of entitlement that people who live in L.A. have when it comes to their sports teams. If you wear a team supporting someone other than that team, you are met with hostility and sometimes violence. Even if you are from that city where that team is from, there is some code that prohibits you from wearing a jersey that is not blue and has the name Dodgers written on it. Be proud of your team and their history, but for crying out loud, you're not on the team, what gives you the right to determine what people can or cannot wear? I am all for being proud of your team, being a fan, but when that feeling expresses itself in a negative way, things have got to change.
There is an obsession that must be dealt with. It's no longer safe to express opinion. I feel that even I, will get some form of backlash from readers who think I'm simply attacking the Dodgers with this post when I'm attacking extremism. They are simply the example I'm using. Bryan Stow was simply a fan of the game, came to cheer on his favorite team, and he was greeted with hostility and his assailants got away.
Going to a sporting event should be a family friendly environment, and you should be able to stand up and cheer whomever you want, regardless if it's the home team or not. Home town pride is one thing, but when that pride is taken to the extreme and it is not longer safe to express an opinion, you have to look at priorities in this country. Be proud of your city, be proud of your teams, but stop thinking that it gives you the right to act out against someone who is not there cheering on your team.
The good news, Bryan Stow is stable and his vitals are looking good. The bad, unless measures are taken to enhance safety at these games, things like this will happen again.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called this incident a cut on the face of L.A. and I have to agree. This act doesn't give the city a good name, and it hurts ticket sales for the team. Who wants to go to a place where you can't feel safe? Who wants to go and cheer on a team that you don't like? You have to hide your feelings because you don't want to be killed.
Another issue that might need to be resolved is the removal of alcohol from the stadiums as the men who attacked Bryan Stow were drunk. If alcohol is going to be served and there's no accountability, problems will continue.
I am disgusted at this act, disgusted at the fans, the organization, the city, the security at the stadium, society. This isn't what America's about. At least not my America.
Until next time
P
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