Rumors, Reminiscing, Rewatchability, and Ridiculousness

Hello Hello Hello!!!

Wow a week goes by just like that (I'm not sure what "that" is, but the week went by like it)! It's crazy!

It is Wednesday night and I had a three hour nap this evening (from 5-8) so at the moment I am quite awake. So I'll get some thoughts off my chest, let you know how my weekend was (if I can even remember that far back), and also let you in on a few things.

So away we go. . .

First off, it would not be me without some sort of mention of all of the NBA trade rumors surrounding my beloved Phoenix Suns. With one of the deepest drafts in years being tomorrow, many teams are trying to position themselves to pick up a player that can help right away or be a part of a future plan. The other option is to make a blockbuster trade for a crafty veteran that can maybe put a team over the top. Well we have been rumored to do a little bit of both. . .

Apparently, the Suns worked out top-10 prospects Jeff Green, Joakim Noah, and Corey Brewer (the most perfect fit for our system!) even though they only have the 24th and 29th picks in the first round. I'm not a math whiz or anything but that makes no sense. However, the humdrum around the league is that we want to package some sort of collection of veterans (Kurt Thomas, most likely) and our two picks to someone in the top 10 (most likely Charlotte at 8).

However, the much bigger news was that The Big Ticket, Kevin Garnett, has requested to make a move to the warm weather city of Phoenix. As much as I love KG (and I always have!), I do not do not do not (hint: I DO NOT!) want to give up Amare in a potential trade. Why would we give up a 24-year-old future KG for a 31-year-old KG? People are saying that because our MVP is getting up there in age, that our window of opportunity to win is closing. Now, that might be true, but what about the 5-10 years after Nash retires? Amare is our future and he is who we will build our team around in the years A.N. (After Nash). The one trade rumor was us sending Amare to the Hawks who would send their Numbers 3 and 11 draft picks to Minnesota (who already own the number 7) who would send us KG (we would also send Kurt Thomas to Minny). This trade has apparently been thwarted, but not by us. . . Although we have apparently not even spoken to either of these teams, except to say, "Sure, we would like KG."

And that's the problem with all of this hustle and bustle. What is actually going to come to pass, and what is just plain crap that ESPN is feeding us to get us all excited? If I'm recently hired General Manager Steve Kerr, the only trade I make for KG is the one that sends the unhappy Shawn Marion, the old reliable Kurt Thomas, and those draft picks (maybe even our pick we get from Atlanta next year) to Minnesota (or a third team involved in the trade) for Mr. Garnett. If we can roll out a lineup of NASH, BELL, DIAW, GARNETT, and STOUDEMIRE with BARBOSA, JAMES JONES, and maybe COREY BREWER coming off the bench (if we make that Charlotte trade) then I think we are better off than last year. But that's just me. . . What do I know?

On to real life - - -

So my last week has been essentially made up of two things: Basketball and Work. I have begun working out again in the gym (not 24-Hour or anything like that) at my old stomping grounds, Desert Christian. My coach, Mr. Thomas, has graciously allowed me to utitilize the vacant basketball gym as my own personal house of basketball. Romique has been joining me, which is good, because he is better than I am (obviously) and playing against better players will only make me better. I have been spending almost two hours a day in the gym, taking shots, running laps, and working on triple-threat moves. It feels good, to be sure. I missed playing on a consistent basis, and now it is back in my life. I can't tell you how great it feels to actually feel myself improving and growing more confident. Two days ago, I hit 57 out of 100 three-pointers from the top of the key, my sweet spot. Granted, I was unguarded (Rome was not there that day), but that's still a great percentage. My moves are getting faster (I had certainly lost a step) and I'm trying to get back into some sort of shape. It is all in an effort to potentially try to walk on to the team at Cal State Northridge when I head there this Fall.

Here is the kicker: Say I somehow make the team. Even if I'm a bench warmer, how do I pass up the opportunity to play college basketball? Division I! How? I don't see myself saying no. . . So, how do I work? I guess I don't. So what of my promotion (less than two weeks from my interview)? I don't know. What of my living arrangement? There is no way that I drive down to CSUN every day for practice (plus my desired schedule is 4-10 on Monday and 2-10 on Tuesday so what if practice is at 5 pm every day. . .). It just sounds complicated and now I'm getting discouraged and nothing has even happened yet . . . Go figure

But it would be an absolute dream-come-true to play basketball at a higher level. Can you imagine playing in front of a packed house with thousands of cheering fans? I CAN! I have ever since I could throw a mini-basketball into my Phoenix Suns hamper! I'm just gonna take all this in stride. Whatever happens, happens. I'll make it work. Rome is actually more confident in me than I am at this point, but I'm getting there. I keep thinking "Hey, I'm a 5'8'' white guy with no true athletic abilities (it's all learned) and just a desire to be around a little orange ball and a 10-foot tall hoop."

But, again, who knows? . .

As I was at the park last week (Marie Kerr, to be exact) I sat and watched a young boy playing basketball with his dad. The kid was probably 8ish and they appeared to be playing 21, the ultimate 1-on-1 game. Essentially, it is just like playing 1-on-1 but after you make a basket you get up to 3 free throws. You make them all, you get the ball back. You miss one, the ball is live. First to 21 points wins. Simple, right? Well, my dad and I played hours and hours of this game back when I was that age and we still talk about some of the great clashes that we had back in the day (including my comeback to win after being down 19-2 :D ). I miss those games greatly actually. After I got to high school, we kinda stopped playing (both because my dad's knees often threatened to completely give out and both of our schedules were ridiculous). At this point, I don't know if we could still play against one another, if he even wanted. I am not cocky by any stretch, but I'm curious as to how that game would play out. . . I also wonder if Caleb will be able to enjoy similar memories. I think so. He will actually probably have double the memories because he will have the games against me as well - - -

Moving onto a couple things that I found interesting, ridiculous, or both - - -

- On tonight's episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, they ran a piece about two relatively new websites. One is called Conservapedia, an informational website exactly like the famous Wikipedia, except with a Conservative slant ("the conservative encyclopedia you can trust" - - is this anything like FoxNews? Fair AND Balanced, right?). Apparently they think that the world of average Joe is biased in ways that they don't like (I mean, really, why else would the site be created?). Consider the page for homosexuality - - - On Wikipedia, it is described as referring to "both sexual behavior and sexual attraction between people of the same gener or to a sexual orientation." True. Now on Conservapedia (besides the insanity of its existence, why that as a title!?!?) it is described as "an immoral sexual lifestyle between members of the same sex. It is more than simply a sexual act, it is going beyond the boundaries that God has setup for marriage; one man and one woman." Also true (mostly). Now whether or not you agree with homosexuality (I have delved into this issue before when Brokeback Mountain was released - PART ONE and PART TWO - but here I go again) will cause you to read this differently. My family will read this and nod in agreement. I know many of my friends will join in that response. I, on the other hand, have to shake my head. What is coming of things nowadays? Someone disagrees with a website's attempt at giving freedom of expression on all topics (literally - try to find something not covered by those Wiki Guys and Gals) and has to throw in religion. There is a religion section in the Wikipedia page on homosexuality where it discusses the viewpoints of several religions. That's not enough? These Republicans (of which I am not, but my entire family is - I'm a registered Independent) had to go 700 CLUB (ummm. . . .yeah. . .) on us all and throw out their two cents. . .

However. . .

I don't necessarily mind that site when compared to QUBETV, a “conservative version of YouTube." This website takes videos from YOUTUBE (a lot of the videos are actually links to the same video on YT) and also posts videos that are either direct slams of the Democratic party or praises of the Republican party and its hosts (such as the always cordial Ann Coulter. . .). This baffles me. Why on earth is this necessary? And more importantly (to use an old adage) why the hell cant we all just get along?!?! The 2008 Presidential Election (As well as the primaries leading up to the election) is just going to be one giant shit-flinging fest. Whoever can have the most shit flung on them without keeling over is the victor. That's it. (And a quick note on The Daily Show: I always hear conservative pundits claiming its bias towards the liberal Left. However, they mock the Demorcrats just as much when ridiculous things are said - which is often - or when incompetency rampages on - more often than not). And yes, most of the national media seems to lean towards a liberal bias - which apparently justifies FoxNews' ridculously far Right bias - but could that possibly be because the United States is leaning a little left after so many feel that this administration has failed them? I seriously cannot understand how divided this country is. . . Well I do, but I just don't know why it got that way.

The interesting thing is this: I believe that the only people who read this are members of my family and friends who are strong Republicans and will disagree mightily with my above dissertation. . . O how I yearn for a large audience. . .

On a lighter note (well, less political at least), I rewatched the first LORD OF THE RINGS movies with Aimee this week. She has never seen them and recently read The Hobbit, the prequel to the trilogy, and became more interested. So we watched the first film and she really seemed to enjoy it. . . And I think I enjoyed it more this time too. We watched it in two parts, stopping it at the halfway mark the first night. It works as two 90 minute films and the rewatchability rate on this film is quite high. The RINGS films are still not THE trilogy (to steal a line from Randal from CLERKS 2 "There is only one RETURN, and that is of the JEDI!") but they are certainly interesting films. True, they are just nine hours about walking (Randal again: "Even the trees in those movies walked!") but they work on that level.

I would continue on about some recent customer troubles I've had at the FL (funny stories!), some thoughts on the soon-to-be-released IPHONE (no, I'm not getting out a loan for it), and also some Entertainment recommendations, but I've rambled enough for the night.

I have off tomorrow as well (my days off are usually back-to-back) so I'll try to post those odds and ends then. . .

Until then, sleep well and please please please please please please COMMENT! I'm talking more to friends than family (cuz family is all that comments - - ). . .

I would appreciate it :)

Thanks - - - And good night.