Anger

So I'm angry. But not in the most conventional way of being angry. In a retrospective, internal type of anger. Looking back on something I could have said or done in the past. Realizing that if I would have said or done more in the past maybe this would not have happened. Maybe I could have saved him from his fate, the fate of losing that which many wish they had. Of losing the opportunity to be greater than he might be otherwise. The chance literally to do what a few thousand can do, compared to the billions of people in the world. To be able to take advantage of something and use it to one's own benefit. I feel bad. I feel like I could have done or said something that could have flipped a switch in his head. Maybe if I would have been more serious, or more stern, or demanded better from a person that looks up to me he wouldn't be having this problem. Maybe if I wouldn't have joked about it so much he would have made the change. Maybe if I was there more, even though it is not my responsibility; if I was there more maybe then I could have helped make a change.

What sucks is that I know that this is not my problem. He's not my family and not my responsibility. Not my brother. But I can say that I love him just the same: as a younger brother. As a brother the same way I love the brothers I spent four years growing up with. And because I feel this way, I can't help but feel terrible. And I guess this is just me, my personality. I guess this is another sign towards what I will do with my life. Help people, through my own experiences and my knowledge. To continue to learn. I don't want to hear bad news like this again and know that I could have done something to stop it. It hurts me worse than it hurts that person sometimes and I hate that feeling. I want to feel good for that person, to know that maybe something I did or said helped them along the way to success. And that's what it boils down to: success. Maybe I know things that others don't, that I have to tell them. Overall I think I want him and anyone else to be successful. And because I know I could have done something, I feel like I failed. So I'm angry. Angry at myself, at the situation. What more could I have done to make a change? Anything? Since I didn't I can't help but wonder what if. Lesson of today: do what you can when you know it's right. There will be no regrets in the end.

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Top 10 Teams across all sports

1. Barcelona
I feel like Barcelone, the soccer team is the most perfect team around at this point. Last season, they proved how good they really were, trouncing teams with minimal effort. Every player on the roster, including backups occupy a place on the squad. They play the ultimate team game which can be appreciated by any sports fan. It is truly a lovely site to watch them play their game on the field.
2. Dallas Mavericks
This team has to be high up on the list. A group of veteran players who seemed like they couldn't keep up with the young guns of the NBA. But this team also was willing to play a team game. They stuck together on the court and all played their part to come out on top of the up and coming heat. An excellent team to watch playing.
3. Green Bay Packers
I think I have to go with championship teams first. It's only fair. This team proved last year that they were the best. They beat teams with such high expectations such as the Eagles, the Falcons, and the Bears in consecutive weeks, and came against the Steelers in the Super Bowl and topped them too. An excellent team who came together even when some of the best players were unable to play late into the season. The team was the big story.
4. Philadelphia Phillies
Earlier in the season this title for baseball's best team would have gone to the Giants. But a team which is all bullpen and no bat and is struggling out west, the best team in baseball gets the nod. With plenty of bat power coupled with an all star bullpen, this team appears to be one that is going to the World Series this year.
5. Los Angeles Lakers
I had to do it. I feel like this Laker team has all the talent, they just got tired. They were dethroned by the eventual champs. They felt like they could take it easy until the finals, but other teams were coming after them. But with the best player in the game in Kobe and three other potential all stars, this team has all the talent to win another championship.
6. Miami Heat
I hate to say this but yes the Heat are damn good. It sucks but they came together and with a little more effort from a certain player with all the talent anyone could ask for, this Heat team would have won the NBA championship. Even if they did cheat their way to it, there is no doubting the talent on the roster.
7. Real Madrid
Same as the Heat, I hate to say this. I mean they buy all of their players. They have this galacticos image that they have to keep up and it is important for this club to get all the best players that money can buy. They can have all the talent but teamwork is what trumps everything, as Barcelona displayed.
8. Boston Red Sox
Boston is playing well. Not quite on the level of the Yankees as far as payroll but yes they do have a large payroll. And they are rolling right now. On pace for near or over 100 wins I believe. This may be the team to beat in the American League. A solid bullpen and good bats. If they can continue this play into the postseason good things can happen.
9. Philadelphia Eagles
Philly is doing well on this list. But honestly if all their players can stay healthy that team should be damn near unstoppable. I mean its ridiculous. A lock down corner and two other really good ones. A good d-line. An unbelievable quarterback. A cunning coach. This team better not underachieve this season. Or many people will be disappointed.
10. Manchester United
Rounding out the top 10 is the legendery club, Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm. This team is crazy good. Similar to Barcelona, this team doesn't go out and buy all the best players in the world. They focus on homegrown talent and add pieces where needed. They have plenty of help at all positions. And as long as that new goalkeeper plays well, we may be looking at the Premier League Champ again this year.

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Just an Idea

I think NBA players should really band together and form their own league. Something like the Drew League but with all NBA players and actually serious. I mean think of it: NBA players putting up the cash up front, getting endorsements to wear on their shirts, and a product for fans to see. Fans would gladly go to watch players play in parks or high school gyms. Games would stir up a lot of interest. And players would stay in shape playing against top competition. I think that creating their own league and proving they can play without the owners and possibly make money would be hugely important. I dislike how dumb the owners have been in paying players that don't deserve the money which is making things worse for every player in the NBA. As Bill Simmons notes it's simple. Pay players based on past accomplishments and not on what they can maybe do. If a player is an all star then they get paid like one. If they are an MVP then they get paid even more. This creates an incentive in the league. Potential isn't rewarded; rather it is performance. The NBA product would be much better. But this is off topic. Kinda. Couldn't u imagine NBA players actually playing for something. Playing for pride or fun and not just that paycheck. This is my problem with players going overseas. They will make a ton of money for other billionaires. Why not keep it home. Organize and play. Stick it to the fucking owners. Because if they really want to play then they'd all be for it. And what fans really want to see is basketball. We all miss it and it would be an opportunity for us to see players ball once again. 

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The Kings

The Kings may have just become the new version of the Warriors. As much as I just don't like Jimmer, especially for what he did to my Zags during March Madness, I just feel like he's kind of that missing piece. I mean what was the Kings' real problem during the season? They weren't exactly the most consistent scorers. And honestly it is very hard to improve defense with a squad like that. Plenty of offensive talent, but not enough defensive dedication. So why not add a player like Jimmer. He can shoot the shit out of the ball. I feel like the offense is going to go like this: Jimmer is going to try to bring the ball up, Tyreke is gonna say fuck you Jimmer give me the ball. He's just gonna drive to the hole and get his buckets. DeMarcus is gonna get pissed at some point and begin demanding the ball. And Marcus Thornton and Jimmer will be waiting patiently on the three point line to convert those opportunities. And that they will. Oh and J.J. Hickson. He's gonna be the glue for the team. I can feel it. He was a perfect pickup. Salmons was the opposite of the perfect pickup. He could be another black hole when it comes to ball movement. But the way I figure the Kings need to worry about scoring. I'm saying all their starters should average like 15 points a game. They should capitalize on their offensive firepower and just try to outscore everyone. Jimmer can shoot from like 35 feet so if all else fails just pass him the ball. But if they all don't score or can't figure out how to pick their spots then we are looking at another terrible season from the Kings.

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NFL Lockout Over?

On a day when the NFL lockout is presumed to be ending, forgive me for not jumping for joy. First of all, let me just point out that this deal should have been done months ago. And secondly, I am not happy for two sides whose leaders make a ton of money to have decided how to split extra revenue but still not give anything to the fans.

Honestly what bugs me the most is that the NBA lockout is serious. The NBA is LOSING MONEY. The NFL is not. The NFL is hugely profitable, making somewhere around 8-9 billion dollars per season. That's a lot of money. And the two sides are arguing over the excess. Unlike the NBA, every NFL team is profitable because everyone likes the NFL. Everyone likes football. They should have been able to get this done months ago, but the owners were being selfish, mostly because that's who they are. How else do you become a billionaire if you're not selfish. And because the owners are so selfish, the players are going to get more of what they want. Go figure.

Secondly, everything that the fans have to pay for is staying the same. The owners are getting more money and the players are getting more money. But the fans are getting nothing. The same fans who support the teams. The same fans that could very well stop buying in to the NFL product and the players and owners would have negative revenue. Tickets are still going to be the same, concessions will be the same, and gear will be the same. The fans are the ones who support these people's livelihoods but the fans get screwed in the end. That just seems unfair to me personally. And it seems unfair to every fan of the NFL. So please do forgive me for not being excited over the inevitable.

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Motivation

I'm sitting here trying to figure out what really motivates me. What means so much to me that it will make me do whatever I need to do. It was always soccer for me. I can't play right now, so what is my motivation? I've always felt like a self made man, like I made my fortune as well as my bad luck. I sort of brought everything that happens to me against myself, both good and bad. So I can make up something that will move me to do something. But really what is my motivation? Shit, what is your motivation? What is the motivation of a player like Kobe Bryant? He has all the money he could ever want, money that he couldn't spend in three lifetimes. He's been the best player in the league. So what makes the man keep going? It's honestly a hard question to answer. It's hard for anyone to say what it is that keep them going. I think that for a lot of people, the answer to what is their motivation is success. However that person may measure success, that is the motivation. For me, it has become getting back to being fully healthy. For Kobe it may be to be considered in the class with Jordan. And for you it may be to have enough money to support yourself and your family, to live a comfortable life. I'm not really sure about anything as far as all this is concerned. I just wanna live and live well.

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NBA Overseas

I want to talk for a bit about NBA players deciding to make the jump to go play overseas. The reason I want to talk about it is because I hate. it. Let me clarify. In no way am I mad at the players for giving the finger to the owners and deciding to move halfway across the world to continue playing basketball and make money for some other billionaire. In addition, the players that do make the decision to go will grow their own brand and will more than likely draw in more endorsements, which means more money (like they need it). Of course I don't expect many players to leave and even fewer truly star players. Quite honestly, Deron Williams made a bold choice and he is a leader in this effort to go against the owners. I think it is risky though. Not necessarily a huge risk but it is a pretty big risk. I wouldn't be afraid of the players getting hurt while playing, unless is Amare who gets hurt every season. I think the more violent environment would be the thing to be afraid of. But then again, other countries love our players. They adore the NBA for the most part. So I don't think the players would be in too much danger.

The thing I hate the most is that the players that I love to watch play will be playing somewhere else where I will not be able to see them. The lockout is terrible and it makes me mad to just think about it. But when I think about how some of the players will be playing and I can't watch them, it makes it a lot worse. See here's my thing. I'm all for the players deciding to play basketball because that's what they love to do. They want to stay in shape and play the game they love. I just hate how it is going down. Them being forced out of the league because the owners can't figure out how to spend money. It is quite infuriating. So I'm definitely of two minds about this. I love that the players are going to give a collective fuck you to the owners. I just hate that I won't be able to see them play.

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Video Game

Sometimes I wish life was just like a video game. You turn it on whenever you're ready to play. You pick the game based on what you feel like doing. And you can jump into a world where shit is real but it's not. You can have all the guns you want if you're into that kind of thing and shoot people with no ramifications. And if you die then its okay cause you can come back to life. Me personally, I'd jump into all the sport games, especially NBA 2K11 and FIFA. I could ball alongside Kobe, see if I could take Lebron. And if the game starts to go bad then I can just restart it and try again. Imagine playing Tiger Woods PGA Tour and being able to play against Tiger. Being able to ask him if it was worth it to fuck all those women. That would be awesome. You could raise your stats until you're just as good as him and try to win all the majors. You could win the NBA Championship. You could even win the Champions League. You could choose your destiny and just have fun with it. You could be who you want to be and if it doesn't go right, you can choose something else.

The only problem is, life isn't a video game. Shit is real. There's no reset button. You have to stand up and deal with shit. But see this is why I love life. Cause it sucks and its fucking hard. But whats the point if it's not hard? Everyone gets tired of playing video games that are too easy right? So why not think of life as that long ass video game that's hard to beat but its fun at the same time. And just keep trying to beat the game. As long as you keep pushing through and believing that you can succeed, well, you can.

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A look back at Tony Kornheiser's 1980 profile of Nolan Ryan for Inside Sports magazine - Grantland

A look back at Tony Kornheiser's 1980 profile of Nolan Ryan for Inside Sports magazine - Grantland

The Art of Resilience

Who else is quickly falling in love with the US women's soccer team, metaphorically of course. Isn't this team exactly what u look for in your very own favorite sports team? They're proud, they're resilient, and they're a team. And they don't give a fuck. How often do u see a far less skilled team that is kicked into the dirt dig deep and win? This is why they are the best team. Not for skill but for will. They will themselves to victory like a Kobe or a Michael Jordan. They fight every damn minute that they are out there, fighting for the win. They come through in the clutch and follow through later by proving they are that good, unlike the men's team. And they play as a team. They have their star power, of course, every team does. But their stars lead the team. They push the team. They bring the team up, bring out the best at all times. And this team is damn proud. They know who they are and where they are from and they know what they can do. They play within themselves and that makes them better. They win. And don't u get this vibe that they don't give a fuck? They're just gonna play their game with their own SWAG. And that's dope. See this is what we want in our teams. To see a few better players lead and pick up their teammates. A team that plays like a team. A team that is confident in who they are. And a team that holds their head up and says yes we are here. U gotta go through us. I love that. 

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Who has the influence?

I wish athletes had more of a voice. There used to be days when athletes would always have something to say. They weren't just athletes but they took on the charge of being a role model as well. They decided that they could use their own influence and ideas to affect change in large groups of people. Nowadays, though, athletes stay out of the political arena. While this is probably the most savvy business decision, I feel like I would have a ton more respect for them if they decided to actually stand up and say something. Take Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant for instance. The best players of their generations but they don't say anything. Imagine how many people would listen to them. Imagine how much influence they could have off the court if they would stand up and take a stand. If I had that much clout with people, I damn sure would use it.

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The Beauty of the Game

Today the topic is soccer. The beautiful game. And anyone that can sit and watch it will agree when I say that the game is absolutely beautiful. It is so fluid, yet hard around the edges. So gentlemanly, yet so feisty. If one were to say that soccer can explain the world and different interactions and attitudes with people, I have to say that I agree.

Let's take Barcelona for instance. They are a wonderful squad to watch. Every position is better than their oppositions. Even some of their backups are better. But this is not because they go out and buy the best players. Their players are home grown, straight from their own system. They are coached to play their position and play it well. They are like a well oiled machine when they play. They have no care for what the other team is doing, they just play their game. They possess the ball like no other team I have seen and they connect with one another. Everyone gets a touch on the ball and everyone gets involved. There are so many threats but they all defer to one another. There is no overpowering star personality that brings the team down. They know who is good at what and they trust each other. It is so beautiful to watch them because they don't batter opponents. They don't shove it in their face that they are better. They simply play the game and they get in positions to put the ball in the net. There is so much effort involved but it seems so easy to them. It's the beauty of the game. To put the work in and go out and perform.

Watching the US Women yesterday hit me with a different kind of beauty. The Brazilian squad was obviously the better team. Those women, just like their male counterparts, are the ball. The ball is connected to their feet. But the US Women had something else. A certain spirit, that never say die type of thing. It was wonderful to see them never give up and go out winners. This was no final but it was like a huge hump. They triumphed when they should have failed. That says something about the Americans. How we keep going and never give up. How we think everything is possible. It is a beautiful thing.

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I'm so damn different...and on the NBA

The beauty of life is uniqueness. We are so damn unique that there is often someone who is similar to us in some way. A person or event, either current or in history that has gone through the same unique situation that we are going through at that very moment. So to hold it in and act as if no one can understand what you're going through is ridiculous. There is someone that can help, or at least sympathize. It's important for your sanity to make sure to get shit off your chest. Or else you might go crazy.

Just like I'm going crazy. But not quite because of things I need to get off my chest. I'm going crazy because I'm scared that there won't be an NBA season. I won't get to see Kobe defy his age and the miles on his body and lead his team to a championship, even though we know it's not exactly his team anymore because, well, he's got too many damn miles on his body. I won't get to vote against the Heat for the simple fact that I really don't like the Heat and not that I necessarily don't like Lebron, although I really don't like the egomaniac. As a side note, I just wish Lebron would work his ass off. He has the most talent of anyone I've ever seen play a sport. I mean he was gifted with the perfect body to play whatever position he wanted and he could play practically any sport. He is fast, agile, and coordinated. That's mostly why I don't like him. I feel like he doesn't give his all enough. Only when people piss him off enough or when he has his own agenda. Otherwise I see him disengaged a little bit. Anyways I hope the NBA doesn't lose any time and the players are still paid fairly. Without the NBA there is college basketball and everything but I'm excited for this season. There is so much more parity in the league. I think I really am obsessed with this issue. Whatever, Bill Simmons for commissioner.

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The Struggle

Oftentimes I see people that succeed in life. People that went from nothing to something, but more often people that went from something to something more. My question is, what the hell does that have to do with me? I mean besides having some type of inspiration to reach that status, it is almost a bit demoralizing isn't it? I'm interested more in the struggle to get there more than hearing about people that are super successful. I'm more interested in people that keep on struggling to get better, rather than people that sit on their success. Because someone else's success doesn't teach me anything. But seeing someone who struggles but keeps moving on in life is much more interesting.

Because realistically, all of us in these normal acts of life have to struggle. Aspiring rappers don't look to the mega stars for their inspiration. They look to those up and comings who are just slightly ahead because those guys are going through the same thing and those guys have the passion to look up to. I think this is why people love Michael Jordan and don't love Lebron so much. MJ was the man. He was the best and he knew he was the best. But he never settled on that. He continued to struggle to get better in every aspect of his game. He never sat and relaxed and expected to continue to improve. He put in the time to make sure that he was getting better, to make sure that he could be dependable for his team. Lebron, with all his talent, is never really seen as the guy who works his ass off and struggles. We often see the playful side of him. As fans, we want to see a player that can work his ass off and related to us in that way. Because we all have to struggle through something in our lives. Some things are harder than others. But when we look for role models, we don't want to see someone who takes their success for granted. We want to see the people that see success as temporary and the goal continues to rise. That is the inspiration. The struggle is the inspiration.

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Restless

I figured out what it is with me. I think it's the problem that everyone has. We're all just too damn restless. We have to have something to do, or feel like we have to do something at least. We have to feel like we're preparing for something and feel like we have some sort of purpose. Or else we feel like nothing. We feel restless. We feel like there is energy bottled up on the inside that needs to be released. For me, that energy becomes anger. Terrible anger. Since I've come to the realization that I probably won't be playing soccer again, I've been filled with a certain rage that before soccer could cure. I could go kick a fucking ball, kick it as hard as I could and the anger would subside. My energy would all be spent. But I feel like I'm holding too much of it in.

Everyone goes through a change in their life. Maybe it's for better or maybe its for worse. But whatever it is, it's for a reason. I been trying to figure this out for the longest time and I thought I had it figured out. I mean I knew that I would need to do something else with my life but I didn't know what yet. Well I need to put my energy into something else. There's too much energy that is just waiting to be used. Too much energy turning into anger for me. So I gotta put my heart into something. I think everyone does. Or we become restless. We wanna find an outlet for this excess energy, in whatever form it may take. I just gotta figure out what it is I really want. What is it that means so much to me?

What is it that means so much to you?

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Obsessed

Let's admit it. We are all obsessed with something. Me personally, it has become an obsession with sports and becoming healthy, just a physical specimen. For other people it has become electronics. There's social media and all kinds of other crazy stuff. But we are all obsessed.

Is an obsession healthy at all? I mean all I do all day is read articles about basketball and football and baseball and soccer and the list goes on and on. I read about how culture relates to sports. I read about how athletes do stupid shit. I read about how athletes make tons of money. I read commentary articles about which athlete is going to have a good season and who will have a bad season. I watch the talking heads on ESPN every chance I get, even though I basically hate the Disney Corporation (thanks Mr. Trafton). I like sports a lot. That's all I can say.

I feel like I have an innocent obsession. It's kinda ridiculous I guess but it interests me. At least I'm not locked into a Facebook news feed as if that's the real news. But then again I'm locked into finding out about guys who make a ton more than I could dream of at this point in my life. But hey, at least I have some type of dream. I have a dream to try to achieve something great like that. So maybe an obsession is really okay. If it actually gets you somewhere.

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Apologies

My apologies. In my post on the 4th I forgot to mention Marcus Thornton. He would be great if the Kings were to keep him. I would absolutely love to see that 3-guard rotation tearing teams to pieces with the shooting and slashing. He did play very well at the end of the season and hopefully he can keep his form. Thanks to Joe Shea for pointing this out.

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Do You Belong

Anyone ever get that strange feeling that you don't belong quite right. Not that you're not cool enough or anything. Or that you're too weird or shy. Just that the fit isn't quite right. I'll illustrate this with a basketball example, may the NBA rest in peace for now. Richard Jefferson, a very good veteran player from New Jersey decides to sign with the San Antonio Spurs. This seems like a fantastic fit on paper. Tony Parker who dishes the ball extremely well and can hit shots in the pinch. Tim Duncan, still the leader on the team, can always get those key points. Manu is the star, even though I don't like him. And they can plug anyone in at center who can rebound and defend. That's a great core of guys. And it seems like Richard Jefferson would fit right in. It wasn't a lack of skill. His game should have fit. He can slash but he can also shoot. So why didn't he work out? I don't think anyone really ever figured it out. Maybe he wasn't getting to his spots. Maybe he needs a bigger part on the team. Or maybe for some reason he just doesn't fit in quite right. It looks great on paper. But it never panned out for him. I hope he finishes his career in a better way. 

So does anyone ever actually feel like this? Like you don't belong. But not in a bad way. Just that things are sort of awkward. Like you know the people, have similar interests and are always friendly. But there's just something strange about the whole thing. I hate watching it on the basketball court, or any field for that matter. And in friendly relationships it can be weird. I'm sure everyone can relate to this. You hear about a person and you want to meet them. They seem like a person you would be friends with. On paper it seems like the friendship could be great. But for some reason there's something missing. It's just kinda one of those things where you need to move on. So I hope Richard Jefferson can move on. 

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The 4th and on the Kings

Happy 4th to everyone who actually wastes a part of their day to read my posts. And live the 4th to anyone who actually knows what I'm referring to. Just so you know I love all of you and I hope you love me back. Have a fun and safe holiday.

I just wanna talk about the Sacramento Kings for a minute. Now, I've mentioned before that I am a Lakers fan. But in no way do I hate the Kings or believe in the rivalry that fans dream up. I mean these games are heated but I don't think of it so much as a rivalry. Back in the early parts of the century sure. But no. Not now. I like my hometown team. I just been a Lakers fan. That's all.

Back to the topic, actually forgot it, hoes, money, I'm the shit, oh yeah I'm reminded. That Friday Night Lights mixtape is the shit. Anyways, I hope the Kings pick their shit up this year. Tyreke should be having a good season as long as his foot is good. He needs to lead that team. DeMarcus has problems and he needs to get his head straight. Sometimes he's alright and they come down too tough on him. But he's a good player and he needs to just be a good player. He needs to be a good presence down low like he can be. He and Tyreke are a good core. Jimmer needs to come in and shoot well. He can handle the ball some but he needs to shoot well. That's all. And J.J. Hickson, welcome to Sacramento. It is a much better place than shitty Cleveland. He's gotta be a presence and come up big for the Kings. They have a young team but I think if they all do their part then they'll have a good season.

Have a good 4th
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Childhood

Man I just finished watching that 30 for 30 on The U. That was a dope ass school back in the 80's. Them dudes didn't care about nothing. Which reminds me of childhood. How you just don't give a fuck cause you don't know enough to care about shit yet. I mean think about it. When we were kids, we never got tired. We ran around, forcing our older sibling to play with us when they didn't want to and to make sure they actually played with us, we'd tell mom. Now when I see little kids, I can see how annoying that could've been. I mean kids have no concept of endurance. They just run and run until someone tells them to stop. Which is weird now cause you gotta be in shape in order to play a simple game of tag.

I remember those TV shows too. Man those were the best back in the day. Rugrats, Hey Arnold, Doug. The list goes on and on. But what inspired kids more than the Fresh Prince. Man he had the dope shoes, the fly ass hats, the clothes that hardly matched but that's all that we wanted to wear. That was our generation and who we are now. If you're having a bad day, find some Rugrats on Netflix and I guarantee you will feel a ton better. Cause like I said, as a child, you just don't give a fuck.

I remember being a kid and not having commitments. That's probably one of the best things. All you gotta do is be at home and keep your parents company. Now we got all these responsibilities. We can't just go outside to play anymore cause we have homework or we realize that it's too damn hot. I remember being able to play 3 or 4 different little league sports cause they only lasted a few months. Now we're locked into a sport year-round. Or a job. Or something.

Man today is one of those days when I just wanna be a kid again. I want it to be one of those summer days when I'm not bored and I can find something to do. Some video game, some book to read, just anything. That's why I can't wait to see my own children. I want to see them have fun outside. I can't wait to see them enjoy all their little league sports. I can't wait to watch them find their favorite shows that they can always go back to. Man, I miss childhood.

"Back in the days when I was young I'm not a kid anymore, but some days I sit and wish I was a kid again."
-Ahmad

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The Rookies

If there is anyone or any group of people to feel bad for in all of this mess, it's the rookies. In both the NFL and the NBA, the rookies are the ones that are hung out to dry. The veterans have their spots on the squad for sure. But the first years still have to try out for the teams. They still have to earn their contracts. Besides those players drafted in the first round, no one has a guaranteed career. They don't have the contracts in order and they have yet to really try out for the team.

The NFL is scarier to me than the NBA for a couple reasons. First of all, there are far more players that are waiting to try out for the teams. This draft goes seven rounds and then later there is a supplemental draft for players that didn't get drafted or guys like Terrelle Pryor who just fucked up. Of course there are a lot of players on NFL rosters and a lot more spots to fill. The problem is, if there is no training camp, then how will the rookies get picked up? Will the teams just decide to take more proven vets to fill those spots? Players that go undrafted will have no chance to get picked up at all. This puts a lot more hopefuls out of work than it needs to. And this is all because the owners and players can't figure out how to split a billion dollars. Some of these rookies just need money to live on and they can't get picked up because of the problems that privileged men are having.

The NBA isn't as scary, but it is a bit more of a problem. Same as the NFL, the NBA rookies need to try out for their teams in order to get picked up. There are the players that will get a contract no matter what, but as of right now, just like the NFL, they aren't getting paid. The bigger problem for me is that, more than likely, the teams will have a lot less money to spend on players. The cap will be lower, thus making it harder for teams to sign players. This is terrible for those fringe players who probably would make it in the league, but have little chance to because of the lockout.

There is a problem I have with the players who decided to enter the draft. Everyone and their mom knew that lockouts were coming and both sports. And everyone knew that it would be a lot tougher to get a good contract than it was before. So why did so many hopefuls decide to enter the draft. Oh sure, the NBA and NFL are the land of milk and honey. They can get rich fast and ball. But really, especially for the NBA, so many players came out that could have used another year in college. And why leave college anyways? Those guys are superstars on campus. Why leave something so good for a career that is not a guarantee, at least not yet? So while the owners of both leagues are pretty dumb, and the players in the NBA at least should take some paycut, the rookies who were definitely not ready or who were not seniors took a large risk in entering the leagues at a time like this. Even with that said, it is hard to not feel bad for the rookies. They were making what seemed to be the best career choice.

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Lockout World

With the NBA lockout now in effect, I am saddened by the fact that basketball could possibly not be around this season at all. Because of this, it is time to prepare myself for a lockout world. First and foremost on my list to fill the void: football. Everyone with a brain knows there will be a football season. The owners are jackasses and are interested in screwing the players out of millions of dollars. I mean seriously those teams make billions of dollars a year. Those owners are multibillionaires. I think they need to stop fighting over how to split up the money. The players actually play the game and risk their bodies. They deserve the money. And so since this is going to happen, football will have to become a major part of my sport watching.

Of course soccer. But since I pay attention to soccer anyways, I'm not exactly filling a void. I suppose I could pay attention to it more. But all that would do is make me realize how much I miss the NBA. So instead of more soccer, maybe some tennis. I like tennis. It's an interesting sport and I respect how hard the guys work. Takes so damn long though. And the screaming, while it can be tuned out, does go a little over the top. Since I'm looking for a quite game, maybe I can turn to golf. But the only way I can do this is if Tiger Woods is back. Otherwise golf is out of the picture.

Baseball. I knew there was a major sport that I was forgetting. I can watch sometimes if the stakes are high enough and good pitchers are pitching. But I hate when ball clubs throw out guys that are like 1-7 on the season with a 5.43 ERA (these are made up I hope). Playoff baseball is something I can get into. Or when the season gets down to the wire. Baseball plays so many games though and sometimes I feel like I'm watching the same play over and over. And the game is really a chess match, because it's all about the pitchers. Fielders have to back up their pitcher but lets be honest, the pitcher does everything. Another thing that sucks about baseball: it rules the Sportscenter Top 10. It is literally the same thing over and over, a diving catch. The catches are sick but come on. All in all though, I think that as the season wears on, baseball can take my interest.

Hockey can also...nah. I'll watch the highlights, maybe catch a few third periods and pretend like I really care about whether the Sharks won or lost. Overall, I don't think hockey is going to be any larger than it ever was. So let's recap. Football will occupy more space. But the games are played on Sundays. And I can't even watch those stupid NFL network Thursday games anyways. So that's not enough. Golf and Tennis have potential. Tennis is a hard sport and I appreciate it. But only if really good players play. You know, like Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. Oh and the Williams sisters too. And baseball will pick up as well. As the season wears on at least. And hockey...just no.

All in all it is quite possible that I can survive the NBA lockout. Possible. Not likely. Because as I sit here and try to fool myself into thinking that these sports can take over the void that the NBA is leaving, I know it will not happen. It is just not possible. So basically all I'm saying is that the NBA needs to resolve all its problems and be ready by the time the season is supposed to start.

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Now Playing

Man I miss high school. I mean I'm only a year gone but I already feel like life is moving on. I already feel the pressure to find a way to make some money. That pressure builds up on the inside and makes me feel like I gotta make some moves. But that pressure also makes me angry just a little bit. A little more angry at times than I wanna be. I feel like I'm growing up too fast and I'm just not sure that I'm ready to start my life. I'm sure I'm not the only person that feels like this.

I also miss being at college. I love home. Home is definitely where the heart is and where the heart belongs. But I miss school. I kinda miss the work. I feel like the work makes me take my mind off of the life that I'm trying to build. I hate that all that comes to mind now is I'm gonna need a job. I'm gonna need to pay for things like a car. But then I'm gonna need gas money. And how can I rent an apartment? How can I go out to eat? How can I be social on the weekend and have a couple beers? All this shit is just piling up on me. I know it's way down the road but damn.

This NBA lockout has got me thinking. Nothing seems to be permanent. I mean this was just one of the best seasons of basketball I have ever seen but yet next season is not going to happen for now. My Lakers didn't even make the conference finals, getting swept by the Mavericks. But they were so good last year. What happened? I guess the only way to explain it is that times changed. Omri Casspi just got traded from the Kings. Dude was a beloved part of the Kings organization, always getting cheers when he stepped onto the court. He could ball too. But he's gone now. It's so weird because this shit is just moving on and I'm standing here trying to figure out where the hell it went. It seems like not too long ago I was standing in front of my new dorm wondering what the year had in store. Now I'm a vet at this college shit, figuring out how to make my dollars stretch a little bit further and living on cheap and slightly gross food. I can't seem to keep still now. Sometimes I wanna get up and just go do something. I don't wanna be trapped anymore. I hate the impending feeling of life to come. I'd rather it just come now so I can face it head on. I want to be ready but I know I'm not. But before I know it I will have to be.

I think I just miss the feeling of having very little responsibility. Now I know that my parents are gonna be there but I have to take care of myself. It's a hard thing to grasp because one day you're just a baby and the next day you're being thrust out into the world. It's definitely on the job training, learning how to live. I don't know how my parents did it. I hope I'll be ready for that.

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Stupid Lockout

Soon, the NBA players will be locked out. This pisses me off. I don't care what anyone says those players and owners are fucking rich. They have more money than I could ever dream of having. Owners that buy teams for upwards of 300 million dollars and own fortune 500 companies do not need to be quibbling about millions. They do not need to be so bitchy about paying players and making it possible for fans to see the teams play with such high ticket and concession prices. It's bullshit. I love watching basketball but these rich men are ruining it. And I don't just mean the owners. The players too, who act like brats and don't appreciate how lucky they are. It's simple. Take a little bit less money. I'm not referring to all of them. But the ones that earn upwards of 20 million a season need to take a pay cut. That's way to much damn money that they will never spend in their lifetime. Hell, their kids and grandkids couldn't even spend all of it. The owners are losing money because of stupid contracts that some players have. The players want more. I hate when people say that the Heatles all took pay cuts to play together. Over 6 years they are still all making over 100 million. Not even counting endorsements. I haven't even started on that. Some players make over 30 or 40 million with their contracts and endorsements. This is not the majority, but if they are making that much, they sure could take a pay cut. I'm simply speaking as a fan of the game. I love watching the game of basketball. It's such a good game. But this lockout will ruin it. Both sides are selfishly fighting over millions of dollars rather than finding a medium. Players with ridiculous salaries need to take a pay cut. Less than a million isn't fair for players either. Make a harder cap and make the players earn their money instead of all of it being guaranteed. With the extra money earner lower ticket prices and fan gear. The league will gain more popularity. I hate how selfish all these rich people are becoming. Their job is to entertain us and showcase their talent. Not argue over money. They're lucky to be able to play for a living. And they take it for granted. I'm no expert on any of this, but I just wanna see some basketball. 

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Words

Hearing racial epithets and gay slurs kinda annoys me. Except I don't like the word slur. Makes it as if the person saying it is directing it towards someone in a mean way with the purpose of offending a person. But then again that is what those words do. So maybe slur is the right word. Regardless, I dislike it all. And I feel like sport culture in the United States has made the use of these words more prevalent. 

Of course I could blame all those rappers and let that be the end of it. But I choose not to. I think that kids look up to athletes more than musicians. They see men and women who take care of their bodies and enjoy a profession where their job is to play a game. A few times this year, the word faggot was seen uttered by famous players. While the analysis was way overblown I bet this word is thrown around in the locker rooms all the time. I don't necessarily dislike the word because of what it means to gay people. That is part of it. But I figure it's a mean word same as any racial epithet. So it falls into the same classification. 

The confusing part to me is that I don't like the word nigga or any other form of it. But my favorite rappers use the word regularly in their rhymes. And if I stop listening to my favorite rappers, I might end up with very little music listen to. So I keep on with it. I have a choice but I choose to listen still. So that's pretty contradictory. 

Maybe what I'm trying to say is to not direct any of these offensive words to anyone. And although sports stars are not meant to be role models, they are. They should be careful. And we should be careful to follow the good and not the bad. And to not overanalyze when Kobe or Joakim  let's a word slip. They messed up. Shit happens. Just learn from their mistake. 

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Musings

Since this should be a blog about sports and current events, I'll actually talk about that today. There are some things that piss me off or are just interesting. In no particular order they are Metta World Peace, the NBA lockout, the NFL lockout, giants-a's weird mess, summers without basketball or football, and tiger woods. 

Metta, meaning friendliness or goodwill or something like that, combined with World Peace sounds good. I mean the Artest formerly known as Ron (I like that) has his heart in the right place no doubt. I'm not going to knock the guy for ever doing anything with the purpose of making more peace in the world. And with all his therapy stuff, he is really doing something. But at the same time...really Ron? I mean there's two that come to mind. World B. Free and God Shammgod. The first guy just changed his name from Lloyd. And it sounds kinda sick to be honest. And Shammgod was the dopest, most effective move that slightly crossed over into illegal but not really. Dude wasn't that great but the move lives on. Metta's legacy will continue to live on as that guy who started that huge brawl. Sadly, this causes a major contradiction. 

Now I sometimes love the NBA. I think that it's extremely entertaining and the game is awesome. A lot like soccer so it makes me like it even more. But I would hate if the league became locked out. Honestly, some players make too much damn money and others don't really make enough. No player needs to make 25 million this year, and over 30 million in the last year of his contract. It makes no sense. So yes if an owner is in debt because he gave a bad, guaranteed contract to let's just say Gilbert Arenas, then yes there needs to be some changes so a player that took such a huge fall will not be such a waste of money. But let's face it. The NBA is one of the top leagues in the world right now. With a lockout, more than likely coming today, we can only hope to have a season when it's supposed to start. 

The NFL lockout is stupid. NFL players risk themselves everyday to make those owners billions of dollars. And the owners want more money. The owners want to take more money from the players. Unlike the NBA, the NFL is making money. And the players get hurt a ton more. It's a good thing the owners, ahem Roger Goodell, let go of that stupid 18 game season cause all we would get are more collisions, more fines, and more injuries. As a side note I'm all for safety in football. But a lot of those hits seem unavoidable. I mean really they do. Guys flying at each other both trying to get the ball or keep someone from getting the ball. One ducks at the last minute surprisingly and boom. Half of those hits, both players ended up hurt. Does a player honestly want to hurt himself? Stop with the fines and realize that there are a lot of mere accidents in the game. It's a violent game anyways. So grow a pair if u wanna play or watch. 

Since we're talking about basketball and football I might as well go here. The two biggest leagues in the nation do not play during the summer. Most people have the most time to watch and enjoy the sports but there is none to watch. The super bowl is kinda bad for me, but it's ok cause basketball is still going. But when basketball ends I wanna cry. It's like I'm being locked out from my favorite sports. 

The Oakland Athletics would like to move to San Jose, which is apparently one of the biggest cities in the nation. The Giants are blocking it along with Bud Selig, citing that San Jose is in their territory. I'd like to point out that Oakland is still very close to SF. Very close. San Jose isn't closer. So this is just stupid. And Bud Selig is an asshole. I would also like to point out that while Oakland hasn't been a great team of late, they have won more championships than the Giants while in the bay area 4-1. Oh and people that live in California that are all of a sudden Giants fans piss me off. 

Finally Tiger Woods. I feel so bad for this guy. He's so good. But he had his downfall in a major way. I think he will still win a few majors, get some good tournament victories. But it's painful watching him struggle. He was the best for so long. Probably still is. And screw those Rory Mcilroy comparisons. Tiger is Tiger. There is no one like him. Rory can make his own path. But he won't be Tiger. He didn't ambush the PGA tour like Tiger. So lay off. Anyways I think Tiger will make it back. He needs time and to not bulk up so much. The slim Tiger from the start of the century was much better. Oh and golf needs Tiger Woods back. 

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Appreciation

Here’s what I think. We need sports in our lives. A part of us feels like we need a distraction from real life, so we look to sports to take us away to something more fun to get angry about. But also maybe sports have become a metaphor for life and certain situations that occur in the middle of a game can help us get through those rough times in life. Or maybe sports are an avenue to see actually talented people succeed where we have failed and when they do not live up to the hype we cannot wait to tear them apart.  We become proud of these people and because they make so much damn money they should do their best at all times. And if not, then why should we waste our time and money on them? And this is the reason sports are so amazing: they are so polarizing but at the same time draw people in to the drama and excitement contained. Let us use basketball as our main example.

In this time, when the United States is in such a dire economic situation, even the President feels the need to take a break from the shit job he stepped into in order to pay attention to basketball. Never before have I heard the Commander-in-Chief make predictions about every game of March Madness as if he knows what is going on, as well as who is going to win the NBA championship. Interestingly enough, this is what all of us do. At least those of us that give a shit about athletic black men putting a ball through a hoop. We want to forget about that paper that we have to write for school, that problem that we are having with that significant other, or the fact that college is fucking expensive. We want to see men who actually have fun with their career, who get paid obscene amounts of money to do exactly what we would like to do. We attempt to live vicariously through them, commonly referring to our favorite teams as “we” as if we are the 12^th man on the roster who just isn’t traveling with the team. The reason for this is simply that if they were not there to entertain us with their talent, we would stress more about those everyday things in life. Arguments about more serious topics such as economic policy would be more common, rather than the everyday argument about whether Mike Brown is a good fit for the Lakers or if Kobe is still better than Lebron. Funny thing is who honestly gives a fuck about any of that. Those people live in the top .1% of the people in our nation. Their lives have nothing to do with ours. But they help keep our minds off of real life, if only for a few hours.

Now, how can things that happen in a basketball game possibly relate to real life? Let us attempt to figure this one out. First off, a jump ball. Like in life, the beginning of the game is a toss up. There’s really a fifty/fifty chance for each team to get the ball. And in life sometimes a person gets lucky and other times they do not. It’s really just a jump ball. Timeouts are like when a child goes and sits in a corner to think about what he’s done wrong. But more practically it’s when a man goes and sleeps on the couch because his woman is mad. He just needs a timeout in order to let the woman cool down, like when a team tries to cool down Dirk when he’s on fire. Fouls are like when a person does something wrong and gives the other person the right to take free shots. These fouls add up and can get you out of the game. Whoever has the most fouls has to be careful or they will be gone. A fast break is like having an orgasm. You reach the climax and then, well, it’s kind of just over. But you want to replay that moment over and over again. And finally, the buzzer beater. When everything seems to be a lost cause, someone pulls something out of their ass and saves the day. Doesn’t always happen, but when it does, it’s the best.

Finally, let us attempt to decipher the strange phenomenon of why we, meaning some of us, like sports so much. Part of me feels that our shortcomings are fulfilled through stars in the game. Our favorite players tend to relate to us in some way or another. Or at least we think they do. We think that if we were a little bit taller, more athletic, and lucky, we could take that guys spot. We enjoy watching what we think that we could be in another life. The problem with this is that we also tear them apart when they do not live up to the expectation, as if we could do any better. These guys are professional athletes for a reason. They are the best at what they do, most of the time. I mean sure people can make plenty of money overanalyzing everything. Which is cool, by the way. But at the same time, even as we point out where they failed, we could never do better than them. But in our imaginations, we know how to fix their problem.

All I am trying to say is that we need to spend more time enjoying players and their talents. Sure, sometimes they do not play as hard as they should. That is a problem, and I have no problem ripping a player to pieces for it. But let sports be a distraction. Let basketball stand for something slightly more than just putting a ball into a hoop. And let’s not overanalyze every player. I say we appreciate that year-round, there are people who have major talent and enjoy doing what we never could. And we should enjoy it with them.

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Dedication

Today I was out for my morning ride after working out. By ride I mean I was riding my bike, which is great exercise if you don't remember your childhood. It's kinda funny though, because most college soccer athletes won't go for bike rides in the morning. They'll go for a morning run, take out a ball and go for a kick-about in the park. Of course I am not a normal college soccer athlete. My soccer career was turned upside down when I destroyed my knee playing. This is the second round of recovery for me, and hopefully the last. So instead of being able to go for a run or do normal lower body workouts that everyone else can do, I ride my bike. I ride so that I can get healthy and strong again. I ride for my rehab, both mental and physical. I ride so I can have my hour to listen to music and see the streets of Sacramento and Elk Grove.

Oftentimes on my rides I am overcome by some form of grief. Because of my inability to do what I actually want to do, I am stuck riding a bike for hours at a time to try to get the strength back that I originally built up two years ago. Following grief comes determination. I am determined to get stronger again and get back to what I really want to do. I am determined to prove everyone, including myself, wrong, that I really can be healthy again, the same person that I was before anything ever happened. I'm determined to get back to being the same person athletically that I was before, with all the skill and talent that is still somewhere in this body. But then after determination comes an almost defeated feeling. The feeling that even when I get back to being healthy, maybe I'll never play again. The feeling that my knee will never be the same again and that I can just hope that it will hold up for the rest of my life and I won't have anymore major problems with it. And the feeling that maybe it just wasn't meant to be.

The point of this is simply dedication. There are thousands of people that are really good at sports but never get over the edge. Injury, lack of motivation, or just not having the right opportunities can stop a person from reaching their full potential in whatever their craft may be. When I watch professional sports on television, I sometimes notice players who just don't seem interested. I notice players who aren't giving it their all at all times. And I can't help but think of other people who have the talent but just never had the chance and would do anything to be in that spot. This is why sometimes I hate sports. Because sometimes the people that play don't seem to deserve it. But I love sports at the same time. I see players that dedicate themselves to the game. They give it their all at all times to be the best that they can be, for themselves and for everybody that is watching them. I love to see a person that dedicates himself to become better every single day. I love to see a person with a chance to make it and takes it. And I love to see a person who was beat down to get back up and make it. It all takes dedication.

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The Crying Baby Theory

This one is interesting actually. Everyone has that one baby in their family that cries like crazy right? The one that demands all the attention and sorta pisses everyone off but everyone pretends like it doesn't. Yeah the crying baby. Pretty damn annoying I know.

I feel like every team in sports has a crying baby. That one player that thinks he's the superstar but he's really not. He's kind of a brat, demands a fat contract, and never lives up to his contract. Also that player that tends to get injured rather often. Or the player that was a superstar before but once he got all the attention and figured out that people cared about him (or her) turned into a drama queen. Like a baby who tends to cry more when he figures out that he gets everything he wants when he cries. I dislike this. I dislike the player more because he is grown and should know better. But every team has a crying baby. And it can ruin teams.

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Basketball Players to...Rappers?

The strange topic of interest I am attacking today? I want to compare rappers to basketball players. Everyone knows that, as Drake says, "We wanna be them, and they wanna be us." I mean honestly how many basketball players have tried their hand at rapping. There's Shaq, among his other career attempts, with his rendition of, "Kobe, tell me how my ass taste." There's Kobe, who should have never let these thoughts creep into his mind. There's Ron Artest...I mean Metta World Peace...who purposely started the largest brawl in NBA history so he could stop playing basketball in order to start a rap career that never actually jumped off. Well except when he won his first championship and he recorded a song but no one actually took that seriously. I mean, you saw how he was dressed when he went on Letterman or whatever show it was.

Enough of my rambling, let's just start. One of my favorite ballers and one of the most polarizing figures in the rap industry. Kobe Bryant and Kanye West. Kobe is a good player. Great player actually, one of the top 10 of all time. Has all the skills and the drive to win. To push to be as good as he can. And he's cocky. But he backs it up no matter what. When he gets on that court he's Kobe. Except for those rare times that he's not Kobe but everyone has those days right? On to Kanye. Anyone else get this feeling that he just thinks he's the best? Same vibe that we get from Kobe it seems. Just like Kobe, Kanye is really good, and will be one of the best rappers to ever lay down a verse. From Through the Wire to Roses and Addiction, from that Graduation album, skipping over that 808's aberration, and straight on to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Dude has major talent, there's no denying it. He works his ass off to be the best that he can be. But this weird feeling just comes. It's like, he just doesn't quite have it. Just like Kobe he's probably the guy that everyone is trying to shoot down right now. But he's just not the best.

Which is where we move on to our next comparison. Kanye's big brother in this industry and the greatest Laker besides Kobe: Magic Johnson and Jay-z. It's like Magic just had it all. He could pass, he could run the floor, he had the body to bang inside a little bit, his game changed through the years to adapt to his teammates, and everyone just seemed to love him. He was the ultimate teammate. He led his team all those years to become the greatest Laker of all time. He used what he had and never more. He knew his talent and his skills and he made sure to always play to his strengths. This is what Jay-z does, but also what we do not get from Kobe and Kanye. Kobe and Kanye always strive for a bit too much and forget to stay within themselves sometimes. These lead to bad performances. But Jay-z is always on point. Always. He had some fantastic cuts in this amazing career of his. That Blueprint 2 album was off the chain. He adapted to the times. When the 90's had some harder tracks, he did it and he was near the top. When the decade brought around some new sounds, he was ahead of the time, still bringing top shelf music. He changed with the game, kept the Roc Nation on top, always knowing what to do with his new up and comings. Just like Magic, he made everyone who ever rapped with him better.

And guess what? I cheated. These are not all rappers. The greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.) is Michael Jackson. It's too hard to think of a rapper that is just perfect. That has influenced everyone who even attempted music. Who has so many artists sample and try to remake his music. There was and there never will be anyone better. Just like Michael Jordan. To be the greatest player ever, you have to go through Michael Jordan. Jordan didn't have it all. He was never the most talented or the tallest or even the most athletic person on the court. But he always seemed like he was. He always seemed larger than life. While he played everyone wanted to take him down but each and every time they failed. He was the ultimate competitor, the ultimate winner, the ultimate leader. He set the stage for basketball as it is today. Nobody grows up saying I want to be like Dr. J or Magic or Kareem so much anymore, no offense to those guys. It's just that Jordan had what everyone was missing. He had the it. He always won. He made people say I want to grow up to be like Mike. He had the shorts, the swagger before it was even called that. He called people out and embarrassed them on the court. Nobody ever second guesses Jordan because he's Jordan. The most successful athletic shoe line to date. The man is what everyone wishes they can be. Even if Kobe got seven rings he could never be Jordan. Jordan is Jordan. He's just the best ever. The top dog. And Michael Jackson was the same. He was the trend setter. He did things with music that no one would have ever thought of doing. He wore the clothes, sold the albums, and sold out stadiums. Not arenas but stadiums. Places that hold over 100,000 people. He was loved worldwide. When he was at the top everyone wanted to be better than Michael. But they couldn't. And they can't. Just like Jordan, Michael is Michael. Michael is perfect. He has his flaws but he is as perfect as a musician can be. He understands the music, he feels it. Jordan felt the game. The game came to him and he owned it. Music called Michael and he owned it. No other player or musician had that. Those two men were called to exhibit their craft. They were called to share their art with the world. And they did. And they were loved for it. There are no two people in the history of music or sports that are as beloved and revered as those two men.

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Lebron James

This is a name of interest. Personally I have not liked the guy for about four years. Or whenever he first went to the finals. I still respect the shit out of his game, though. And for this reason, I feel like people need to lay off of this guy. Let us start with the most ridiculous knock against him of them all.

Lebron James is not Michael Jordan. No one is, and no one will be. I mean look at the guy. First off, he copped out and went to Miami, which I hate. A lot. Secondly, the guy is an absolute monster. Jordan was not. But Jordan did everything he could to be the best. Lebron plays pretty. Or tries to at least. He wants to be friends with everyone and have fun. Which is cool and everything, but when he's expected to be the alpha dog and own the court, he should. But then again, he's not an alpha dog. Yet. He's a fucking good player who should be able to do everything on the court. And this is what we want from him.

Lebron is not even Kobe to be honest. Two different games. Kobe has become finesse. A killer from the mid-range. Lebron can be a brute when it comes to attacking the rim and has a sporadic shooting game, which completely disappeared in the Finals. To be the best player in the game, at his position, his shooting game has to become a ton more consistent. And this is why I will always say that Kobe is better. Because he reconfigured his game in order to not take so much abuse and still be efficient. Lebron has not seemed to figure it out yet. All the talent in the world, but hasn't filled his potential.

Lebron has time though. As a fan of sport, I can never root against a person to achieve all they can. I want people to succeed and become as good as they can at whatever they do. Like I said, I respect Lebron's game and the talent that allows him to be the player he is. But I just don't like him. He's cocky in a bad way to me. Like he's just better than everyone. If he fixes this part of his mentality, he could be absolutely amazing. He will never be a killer like Jordan. He won't be a Kobe either. But he can be a Lebron, which we have not seen before. He doesn't need to be compared to anyone. Lebron is Lebron and there has never been another like him. He will have his own legacy. And as much as I wanted him to taste losing once again this year, I hope his career is fulfilled.

First Thoughts

1. This is a blog for the purpose of sharing my ideas on happenings in the world. But not really in the world because the world that really matters is the sports and pop culture world. Basketball and soccer with some football and maybe a splish-splash of some other sports if they are deemed important enough for me to talk about. And by pop culture I mean musical artists with talent and people that do not act like fools in public.

2. Soccer is my favorite sport. I love to play the game. And I would play if my knee wasn't wrecked. But more of that on a later date. Basketball is my second favorite sport, and would be my favorite if I was taller. I love watching both at all times of the year, unlike most people who only pay attention to playoffs and major tournaments. Barcelona is the best, possibly the best team ever this past season and that is not debatable. I am a huge Lakers fan and while many people hate that guess what? I don't care. Kobe is awesome, but not Jordan. But he is better than Lebron. That tangent is for another time.

3. I love music. I hate pop music. Let me clarify. How many Wale songs are actually on the radio? Have you ever actually heard of Black Cobain? Do you really listen to J. Cole? Adele's album is actually perfection. And fuck what you think, but Childish Gambino, better known as Donald Glover has flow for days. Clever and his presentation is excellent.
One more, a personal friend of mine. H-Rud, my Jewish brother from another, Harris Rudman. Dope as fuck, and needs to be put on. Real talk.

4. I am a college student. Gonzaga University. I'm kind of on the soccer team there, but kind of not. This knee..for another day. Basketball is big up there. But we can't get over that edge. I have some ideas of how, but doesn't everyone. Psychology major, and I want to do something else with my schooling. We'll see where that takes me.

That is all

H-Rud-Little Giant
http://www.datpiff.com/H-Rud-Little-Giant-mixtape.226736.html