March 28, 2008 at 1:49 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
So a guy like Shaquille O’Neal has been famous for his entire career of having a big mouth and saying just stupid things.
In the previous post I added a link to an Orlando Sentinel article that dissects the ways in which Shaq has left his teams and the things he has said to them on the way out. And quite frankly, he has said some really rude and mean spirited things to some people that did not deserve it, Miami Heat situation included. I don’t understand how he could go off on a guy like Chris Quinn who has JUST entered the league in 06-07. The kid is still getting used to the NBA lifestyle and now he has to worry because a big name superstar decided to pick on him for no reason. Seems like he’s finding reasons to hate people who don’t necessarily deserve to be hated.
I have to admit – when these stories first popped up, I was amused. Shaq has always been good for entertainment, if nothing else. But the more I thought about it and the more I compared it to the things that are happening in my own life, I have started to get upset about it.
The basic point I come to is …. At what point does it become okay to eschew class and maturity and exchange it for personal insults and ill will?
I mean, I am a very competitive person. Okay. And I may say things from time to time that can be interpreted as rude. I hate to admit it, but hell, I have to be honest to myself as well. So okay, I say something that is misunderstood. Or I make a mistake – I flat out screw up about something. Is my mistake a green light for someone else to disrespect me? What ever happened to talking things out and coming to an understanding? What ever happened to maturity? Is any error in judgement so big that it can’t be resolved with patience and discussion?
We were playing a game last night. And we were playing very well. We won by 23 points. Whatever.
You could SEE the frustration in the faces of the opposing players as the game got further and further out of reach for them. At one point, one of my guys, Thunder, went up and set a screen (a good solid, CLEAN screen) on a player and the guy bowled over Thunder like a rag doll to “show Thunder whatnot”. Obviously, the ref called a foul on the guy.
So the guy gets up and FLIPS out. “What the hell are you talking about” “Are you blind?” “How can you call that garbage” … just flat out disrespecting the game officials.
Now, I’ve never been a fan of refs. I find them to sometimes take on a superstar mentality with a desire to control the game to their liking with the whistle. Or they are too inconsistent. Still, they are a necessary evil, I suppose. And I used to disrespect refs a lot when I was younger. Until one day I was like “What if I was the ref?”
Since then (a good 8 years now) I try to be as respectful as possible. Not always an easy task.
Anyway, back to the game. The guy who screamed at the ref (who ironically is also a ref) was hit with a technical foul. Their bench began to talk to the refs and the bench was then hit with 2 technical fouls. So now the entire TEAM is disrespecting these people (the refs) and all i could think of was ….
Wow. Did they flip their collective top. It’s obvious that they were frustrated about something. And instead of releasing their frustration in a constructive, respectful manner they go and personally slander human beings who have NOTHING to do with the game we’re playing. It was kind of funny and kind of sad at the same time.
I know WAY too many people who react like animals when things don’t go their way. They scream and they insult and they get physically aggressive about things. They accuse everyone else about their situation but refuse to acknowledge the role that they play in a particular scenario.
Like, I’ll LISTEN to you tell me about how you’re a poor victim of whatever and how the world is out to get you. I’ll do that. Just don’t expect me to BELIEVE that you haven’t made the choices that have led you to this point. And don’t expect me to BELIEVE that you have no choices NOW.
It’s NOT MY fault you and your guys aren’t calling screens or playing hard. It’s not MY fault that life is treating you like crap. And it’s not MY fault that you choose to take an apocalypse mentality to every word and sentence a person utters. C’mon, man. Accept the role YOU play in the conflict and try to handle it without blowing everyone up.
I think the point that I came to is that it is not funny when dude does it to me, and because of that, it is not funny when Shaq does it to Chris Quinn.
I was rooting for Shaq before all of this came to light … now …. I still love the Suns … I just don’t love them AS MUCH ….
“I love playing for this coach and I love playing with these guys,” O’Neal told the Globe. “We have professionals who know what to do. No one is asking me to play with Chris Quinn or Ricky Davis. I’m actually on a team again.”
“Grant will be the team president — he’s a bright guy — and I’ll be the general manager,” O’Neal said. “I’m serious. They need me down there with the new arena coming. Grant and I are coming to do the job.”
“A thousand days, and I’m coming home,” he said. “I’m going to use what I call my bridge general manager skills. A lot of general managers try to do it themselves. I build bridges. I’ll have teammates. All this is in a perfect world. That’s my dream, anyway.”
“A decade ago, you left the Magic for Hollywood and called Orlando “a dried-up little pond” on your way out the door. Speaking on behalf of the rest of the muck-dwellers at the bottom of the basin, I have a message for you, Shaq Daddy:
I can’t believe this BS is actually proceeding! The NBA is moving a large market, largely supported NBA team to a smaller market with a “supposed” installed fan base?
David Stern is an idiot.
And Clay Bennet is a criminal for taking this sort of action of repeated attempts by Seattle and it’s leaders and community to KEEP the team there.
March 25, 2008 at 11:37 am · Filed under Uncategorized
So I was playing Ness ball last night, right? Typical Monday night fare.
Except that there were an extra 13 people there. Invited because there has been a SEVERE lack of runs at practices recently. I didn’t invite them.
Anyway, there was this one joker there. Big cheeseball. Played with a big gold chain around his neck. Maybe he thought it was cool to look like Tupac when he played. Whatever.
The guy had okay game. But he also had a big mouth. Loved to rub even the smallest accomplishment in your face. So one of my guys, Kenny, was guarding him. We’d spanked this team before like 5-1 and we were riding a 4 game win streak. So when this joker came around, we were a bit winded and didn’t start off particularly well. We went down 1-3. And this joker came down the court. He got the ball, chucked up a fadeaway J from beyond the arc and he got it in; 1-4.Then he started jawing. “My guy can’t guard me. This game is ours. We can beat these guys. They can’t keep up with us. I have a mismatch.” I was irate.
How can you come into my house and shit talk my guys? So rude. So, game point, right? He wanted to post up. He got the ball in the block and tried to make his move. A came help side and swatted him out of bounds. And then, in the heat of the moment, the words just came out from my mouth:
“Get that weak ass shit out of here!”
And it wasn’t even whispered … it was almost yelled.
Now, I RARELY talk like that anymore. I’d say it was more common when I was 20 than in my current 30′s. I just don’t feel the need to verbally berate someone over a single play that won’t even be the deciding factor in a game.
But this guy got under my skin. So then everyone makes a big deal out of it. “Oh Rico’s talking shit!” and “oh snap it’s getting intense”
Well, next play down me and Kenny run a backdoor play. 4-2. We create a turnover in the fullcourt. Then we post up Kenny. 4-3. Guy decides to complain cuz he fouled Kenny and he just played through it and got the bucket – continuation. He said SOMETHING to Kenny and he replies:
“Whatever buddy. This is my house. You don’t like it then you can get the hell out. Just leave.”
Now Kenny’s talking and then we turned it on.
I get a Shaq-style post up. 4-4. And Jimmy ices it with a jumpshot from the nosebleeds.
Game. It felt good to win that one. Especially because of the guy running his mouth.
Afterwards I felt kinda bad. I don’t normally talk like that. Especially to someone who is younger and dumber than I am. But it just irritated me that this joker would actually have the gall to come into our gym as a visitor and disrespect one of my guys.
So okay, you got a little game. And your little jumper goes in every now and then. Good for you. But why the ego over something so trivially simple? Why choose to disrespect people?
The thing is I didn’t even have a chance to think about what I was saying. It literally popped out of my mouth before I could stop the words. I felt kinda bad – like I let myself down. I always talk about setting an example and then I go and drop the ball like this.
I am proud that i stood up for my guy. But i wish I hadn’t lowered myself to a lame ass streetballer status.
March 22, 2008 at 11:57 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
This week I’d like to offer up not one but a whole HOST of quotes for QOTW this week …
I’ve been watching the NCAA tourney this weekend (duh) and I finally got a chance to see Beasley play. When you live in The Great White North, you don’t get that much NCAA exposure save for the few games that are featured in NBA TV’s “Big Monday” matchups.
Anyway, this guy Beasley, he’s hit the big time. Over the course of two weeks I’ve seen his mug on the cover of SLAM magazine, featured in an NCAA pregame show and in talks about the NBA draft.
All the talk HAS to get inside the heads of these guys, right?
Sure it does. I think every NBA prospect has a huge ego, but most of them do a good enough job of hiding it. Not so for Beasley who obviously is “so good” that he doesn’t even feel the need to hide his monstrous ego.
Listed at 6′-10″, 235 lbs, the 19 year old kid has an NBA ready body with game to match. Witness his 26.3PPG and 12.3RPG averages in his rookie campaign at Kansas State.
So how big is his ego? Big enough to need FOUR PHONES for no other reason than to HAVE four phones.
Says Beasley: “I’m not a cocky person at all, but I think I’m the number one player in the country.”
Seems like something a relatively grounded person would say, right?
When asked about Kevin Love, OJ Mayo (a kid with a huge ego in his own right) and Eric Gordon, Beasley says: “Those players are great players, but my attitude is, I’m the best player in the galaxy, that’s how I’m gonna carry it every time I come on the floor.”
But it doesn’t stop there. His mouth is SO big that he said before a game against rival Kansas U:
“We’re going to beat Kansas at home. We’re going to beat them in their house. We’re going to beat them in Africa. Wherever we play, we’re going to beat them.”
But that’s not really the point. The point of all this is:
When did 19 year old kids see fit to speak in such disrespectful terms about opponents & peers?
When did it become okay for a kid who isn’t legally allowed to buy alcohol in the US to flaunt his fleeting fame in such a shameful manner?
When did it become acceptable for an AMATEUR athlete to be SO self confident that he is allowed to disrespect entire organizations that have been around longer than he has been alive?
When did it become the norm for a “star player” to personally own the success that is attributed and rightfully belongs to an entire team?
It’s not like it really matters, I suppose. Nowadays it’s expected of professional (and soon-to-be professional) athletes to flaunt their wealth and to be as greedy and money hungry as they can.
But does that make it right?
I don’t think so.
Anyway, Beasley and his “galaxy best” skills lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Wisonsin 72-55 today. I just thought it was funny that a kid with such an overinflated sense of self would be humbled by a supposedly inferior team in his quest for personal glory.
I suppose a fist is stronger than a finger after all …
March 22, 2008 at 6:33 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
There have been notable upsets this weekend in the NCAA tourney (Siena over Vandy, Nova over Clemson, San Diego over UConn) but none, in my opinion top (7) West Virginia over (2) Duke. Though SD over UConn is an uber-close second.
Watching the game I came upon 3 points of note for this game:
1. Poor defensive rotation / recognition – some plays I was just angry by the way they played D. 2. Lackluster effort – they were continually outplayed by WV in the 2nd half 3. Ice Cold Shooting – They went Shaka Dula cold from beyond the arc. Hahahaha.
Can’t honestly say that i care too much ….. other than the fact that this guy is a perfect example of people who are playing professional ball who SHOULDN’T be. At least Tyson Chandler worked out okay.
Good gracious does this guy make a difference for his team. They go 2-8 over the 2 week period he missed and his first game back he goes off for a modest 8 & 8 but win the game by 42 points!
Good times are ahead for the T-Dot … and just in time. The playoff race in the East is heating up …
March 19, 2008 at 3:33 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
I’m not a Stromile Swift fan by any stretch of the imagination. This guy is the perfect example of unlimited potential stunted by an overinflated ego and the feeling of entitlement that sports stars suffer from nowadays.
But I had to show this clip to everyone who will listen.
This is THE NASTIEST dunk I have EVER seen in my ENTIRE LIFE!
This was the song that we used in labour and it was one of the songs that helped bring Kai into this world.
As an extremely positive and upbeat song, it was special to me before the birth. But now it holds a special place in my heart. And so it is this week’s SOTW.
So many times it’s just better to keep on fighting and trudging forward. Even when the odds seem stacked against you and it doesn’t seem as if you have a friend in the world, keep going.
Sometimes it has less to do with winning a game or a confrontation and more with your own will power and your ability to triumph despite obstacles.
March 14, 2008 at 12:40 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Though i like to wax poetic about basketball a lot, I’d like to take a few moments to talk about my own life for a moment.
This week (Tuesday) my wife and I were overjoyed as we were blessed with the birth of our new little boy.
His name is Kai Emmanuel James Martinez and he was 20.5″ long and weighed 7lbs, 13oz. Beautiful young man.
His name means “Rejoice” (Kai), “God is with us” (Emmanuel) . I felt like this name was fitting given the way we feel we have been provided for, protected and shepherded throughout the last number of years. Spiritually, this name holds deep meaning for me and somehow connects me with my soul a bit better.
Although we had been through this once before, I was surprised at how incredibly DIFFERENT this birth was. I won’t go into details. Suffice it to say that I was once again humbled by the process of birth, the inner strength that all women possess (should they choose to exercise it), and the wonder and beauty and frailty of the human origins. My wife continues to be my hero.
I was once again blessed to catch my son as he entered the world and I was also allowed to cut the cord.
I never thought that my heart could love another being as intensely as I love my wife and 3 year old son, RJ. But from the moment this little human being came into consciousness, my heart has overflowed with love and I have been given the opportunity to examine the breadth, width, depth and length that my heart can love.
~SIGH~
Plus he has HUGE feet. He’s the future of basketball. In 20 years or so, I’m gonna make me a 3 on 3 team with my two boys and I’m gonna play some summer ball with them.
March 8, 2008 at 12:42 am · Filed under Uncategorized
I’ve seen some SU-WEEET t-shirts in recent days online. And I have these ideas for some awesome t-shirts … but due to price, shipping or whatever else (like, if they’re even made yet), I’ve decided to hold back on actually getting them.
So I decided, after much bellyaching, to make my own shirts. My bro (Jimmy) has been making his own for a while. And it’s pretty easy – and cool. All you need is …
1. A Photo editing program – like Photoshop, or even MS Paint 2. Some plain white T-Shirts (or whatever colour you like) 3. A package of T-Shirt transfer paper (from your local Staples, for example)
And then you go to town using your own imagination. So far I’ve created designs for 2 shirts. The pic above is a small example of what I hope to have on one of my own tees.
A couple quarters or some loose change is “chipping in” … a “few” million dollars is a full-scale buy out of the team.
I don’t care either way. I just want the Sonics to stay in Seattle. And really, Microsoft can buy damn near anything it wants to anyway … so what’s the big deal if they choose to lose money on a basketball team?
The ONLY bad side to this is that we’ll have annual “updates” to the roster that cause the shutdown of the entire arena … and instead of buying JUST tickets to the game, you’ll have to buy an upgrade to Windows Vista BEFOREhand …. hehehehe.
March 7, 2008 at 1:33 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
So the Rockets beat the Mavericks earlier this week and their win streak extends to 17 games as they now sit in 5th place in the Western Conference.
I have to say that i AM surprised that them Rockets haven’t simply crumbled under the pressure of not having Yao right now. Then again, T-Mac is a great player … he just has to WANT to be one.
I’ll ride with this team as long as it lasts … but rest 100% assured … I’m a Spurs fan 1st and foremost. And then after that it’s Toronto (Canadian Team) and Orlando (Lil Penny, anyone?)
March 5, 2008 at 11:53 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
I came across this old picture of me and some friends from a long time ago – circa 2002? This was the annual 3 on 3 tournament in June and we had just finished winning the divisional championship – we were celebrating and doing our victory poses for this picture. Guess which one I am? …. hint …. I’m the tall one. I have a much nicer pic of me and my guys, but I don’t think that picture conveys the fun we had playing together and winning it that year.
Back then I was able to play on 2 or 3 teams (did that for a few years) for HOURS at a high level – my back was always wrecked afterwards but it sure was fun. I remember winning that tournament, too. For the final game we had the court lined with people on all 4 sides – players from our division, as well as family and friends who all came to watch, cheer or jeer our squad. Good times. Good times.
The years have robbed me of my ability to play like that. And I found myself reminiscing of the “good old days” and longing for those times again. It seemed like life was much simpler then.
As I’ve said before, I’ve played in every 3 on3 tournament since its inception in Winnipeg (1995 or something, I can’t remember the exact year) and every year was a great deal of fun.
Nowadays I have my Lost Ones Crew. And I love my guys to death … but I always find myself yearning for the days of “Flips, Hicks & Spics” (incredibly racist team name that was unanimously agreed to by all members involved).
Looking at that picture reminds me of 3 things …..
1. The current basketball season is winding down 2. March Madness is upon us 3. The 3 on 3 is just a few short months away
“It’s nerve-racking because I don’t want to get hurt again,” Arenas said. “Two injuries back-to-back kind of messes with a guy’s mental state. I am going to take it slow, work out tomorrow before practice, practice with the team — and every day I am just going to try to build up the confidence mentally.”
