Diary of a Mad Hoop Fiend
Basketball = My Life …. any questions?
Archive for March, 2009
March 21, 2009 at 12:08 am · Filed under Uncategorized
On the couch I sit and I gawk,
At all the teams playing, who float like hawks.
They dive and reach and dunk with ease,
The screaming fans, they do appease.
They contort their bodies up in mid air,
As they breathe that wonderful air up there.
They play & trade baskets back & forth,
Teams from East, West, South and North
The buzzer goes off, it says it's Half.
I'm giddy with joy. I giggle, I laugh.
I watch the highlights and fidget some more,
I love this game tight, right down to my core.
It starts again! my breath, it leaves!
My heart and soul over runneth with glee.
The game is tight, it see saws again,
I get so nervous I call a friend!
"Did you just see that? Tell me you watched!"
"I can't believe they let that guy walk!"
"I gotta go, I can't miss anymore!"
"Yeah I'll call you later, maybe 'round four!"
Back to the game, the clock's down to ten!
The battle lines drawn, they fight like men.
Trading blows of athletic skills,
With honour, sportsmanship and an orange peel.
The clock reads one! The shot goes up!
It rattles in after hitting the cup!
I jump for joy and scream like a kid,
As I look around at the mess I did.
No question about it, I love basketball!
The phone starts ringing – another call.
"Turn your TV to channel ten!"
"Another game's on! Let's do it again!"
MARCH MADNESS, BABY!
March 17, 2009 at 2:37 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
I had the pleasure to go and watch my Sturgeon Heights Huskies play vs. Kelvin Clippers at the Provincial Finals this year!
Our team, after 6 times bridemaid, is now the bride! Sturgeon Heights won the game 59-45 in front of a pro-Sturgeon Heights audience! Provincial Champs!
It was loud, it was crazy … I saw alumni from the last 10 years there to support the team and our friend and coach, Steve Tackie!
I remember being there 2 or 3 times when I coached with Steve and Sanjeev … those were the beginning days of the current husky Dynasty!
Congrats Coach! Congrats JV Boys!
You made Sturgeon/Silver Heights history as the first team EVER to win a provincial championship! And that is something that no one can take away from you now!
Way to go!
————-
Next up is the Varsity Guys, who play in their own Semi Final game this Thursday!
Go Varsity Boys! You can do it too! Make it a complete run!
March 13, 2009 at 2:54 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
How much of a douche is he?
So far this season, he's made friendly with Kobe. Okay.
But he's dissed Bill Walton (an easy one but still), Kareem, Chris Bosh, Jeff & Stan Van Gundy, Dwight Howard and Patrick Ewing
Stan Van Gundy on Shaq flopping
I was shocked, seriously, shocked. And very disappointed cause he knows what it’s like. Lets stand up and play like men, and I think our guy did that tonight.
Shaquille O’Neal in response
He (Howard) came with the same old, stale Patrick Ewing move so I tried to stand there and take the charge. The new rules say if you come through, you fall. But as I fell, I realized that it was a flop and it reminded me of Coach Van Gundy’s whole coaching career. The one thing I despise is a frontrunner. First of all, none of his players like him. When it gets tough, he will become the master of panic like he did before and he will quit like he did before. The one thing I despise is frontrunners. Yeah, he’s got a young team playing good but don’t be a frontrunner. Him and his brother and even the legend on the bench ain’t done what I’ve done in my whole career. So flopping would be the wrong choice of words.
I just tried to take a charge. The fucking rules say you can’t stand there and get hit. You’ve got to fall. He got the same old stinking move that Patrick Ewing has been doing his whole career. I went down, got up and didn’t complain. I see him and Stan complaining the whole game because they’ve got to. Remember, I’ve done more than him, his brother and Patrick Ewing.
Stan Van Gundy reminds me of a broke navigational system. He knows everything about everything but ain’t never been nowhere. Think about that. If I’m right here and I type in the address of where you’re going, I know where it’s at but I’m not going there.
When a bum says some shit about it and I respond, you can fucking cancel that cuz I know how he is in real life. We’ll see when the playoffs start and he fucking panics and quits like he did when he was here (in Miami). And you fucking print it just like that. Do I look soft to you like you can say something and I’m not going to say something?
Notice they didn’t play me straight up. We’ll see how far they go cuz I know Stan. I said this a long time ago but I was actually talking about him: ‘When the general panics, the troops will panic. Like in business, when the head panics and takes out all his stock, what happens?
All the players hate him. The players don’t even like him. I hate frontrunners. I really do. I don’t like any frontrunners. There’s a pecking order involved. I’ve been there six times.
I ain’t going to let no bum like him rip me and not say anything back. You can cancel that shit all the way. Usually, I let shit go. Not that. Not him. Hell no.
The rules say when a guy goes through your chest you’ve got to fall to get the call. It was a flop. You’ve watched me play for 17 years. I don’t play like that.
I’m not going to sit around and let nobodies take a shot at me and he is a nobody to me. And if he thinks he can get in a little press conference and take shots at me like I’m not going to say something back, he’s got another thing coming.
——
“I heard what Chris Bosh said, and that’s strong words coming from the RuPaul of big men,” O’Neal said. “I’m going to do the same thing (in their next meeting) I did before – make him quit. Make ‘em quit and complain. It’s what I do.”
Chris Bosh's answer: “I didn’t laugh or anything, it wasn’t funny,” Bosh said. “I was kind of upset with that.
“He has been around the league for awhile and I expected a lot more professionalism out of him. I thought we were cool. Whatever.”
——
Shaq is a 7 foot douchebag …
March 13, 2009 at 2:46 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
TJ Ford & Jarrett Jack – Worse Backcourt ever?
Haha. Ford was better in TO where he had some people to pass to …
Shaq disses Kareem – Kareem stays true
Shaq is turning into a real asshole.
Eddie House will shoot your face off
Just another interesting example of how even borderline good NBA players practice – he may be average in the L, but he would be awesome everywhere else. Especially in the peg.
Donald Sterling is crazy and Al Thornton is selfish
Granted, Ricky Davis is on the team. But Thornton does suck a massive whale dick this year …
I'd blow the team up & start fresh.
March 13, 2009 at 2:28 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Chris Bosh: Time to Show & Prove
I can understand his frustrations. And I can understand his standpoint. The season being what it is is NOT his fault. The Raps NEED to keep Bosh happy – they need better players around him.
Michael Jordan didn't want Kwame Brown – he wanted Elton Brand
Poor Kwame. We all know he sucks. But his claim to fame was "Michael Jordan drafted me. he wanted me. he thought I could do it"
Well, sorry Kwame. your bubble JUST burst.
Shaq wants out of Phoenix
Wah Wah Wah …. next he'll be saying Stoudemire was a spoiled baby …
Pacers Organization have lost so much money, they may have to leave Indiana
I have no idea how this could get close to happening … The Home of Reggie Miller, Rik Smits and Mark Jackson … GONE!??!?!
To Where!?!?!?!?? Tampa Bay? Wilmington?!?!?
STAY IN INDIANA!
Laker Warts and The Kobe/Artest Beef
I hate Kobe so much. he is such a tool. I swear that if ANY other player was the franchise for LA, I'd probably be cheering for them. Funny how everyone stopped talking about him being a rapist …
LaMarcus Aldridge embarrasses Erick Dampier
Not like it's hard to do, but this is still one SICK, NASTY dunk …
Lil Wayne heckles QRich
Funny that it's Lil Wayne that is doing the heckling … this guys is a joke. About as much as Larry Hughes and QRich combined I suppose.
Wade and Riley made aggressive pitch to Steph – he said no.
I don't know if it was a bright move or a dumb one. He'll be a role player in Boston, where he could have gone and been a starter in Miami … I guess we'll find out which it was once we see where Boston finishes in teh playoffs …
Don Nelson to Jamal Crawford: "We don't want you here. Get Out."
At least the cards are on the table. Sucks for Jamal though … but I guess that's what happens when you're a black hole of basketball.
March 13, 2009 at 1:52 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
YouTube Link
An AWESOME news cast where Chris Bosh guest stars as the weather man. Best Line EVER:
"I don't know how many people live in Peterborough but it'll be -6"
March 12, 2009 at 3:55 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
This is news worthy.
News out of Cut Bank, Montana
5'-11" senior guard broke the rim during a pre-game warm up – nothing special. But the unspectacular dunk shattered the backboard and – according to rules – dunking in pregame and breaking the backboard costs the team the game. No exceptions. If a backboard is broken with a dunk in a game, it is a technical called.
I smell a rule change ….
Now, that's in the States.
Up in Canada, we've always had the no dunk rule in place. It's always been there. So I find it both funny AND unfortunate for the team that was forced to forfeit.
March 5, 2009 at 2:50 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Iverson is out of the Pistons lineup for the next 2 weeks with a sore back
Seems to me like it's a bruised ego and a bad attitude.
I would imagine that Iverson is legitimately hurt, but seeing all the things he's played through before makes me wonder if he's just sitting because he sees that Detroit is not a good fit for him or something like that.
March 5, 2009 at 2:40 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
ESPN Article
I think Van Gundy was trying to be funny and play a little fun back and forth with O'Neal, but O'Neal took it to a personal level by saying ….
"I know for a fact that he's a master of panic, and when it gets time for his team to go in the postseason and do certain things, he will let them down because of his panic. I've been there before, I've played for him. Now I see why everybody who plays for him doesn't like him."
I cannot believe that Shaq would be so rude to the guy who helped resuscitate his career after the falling out in LA.
Way to show some class and a sense of humour, Shaq.
He can sure dish it out, but he can't take it.
March 4, 2009 at 2:23 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Owner blasts Mavericks in media
"It's only one game, which I keep reminding myself of, But let's just say I wasn't happy with our preparation, execution or effort. Not only did it look like we had no idea what we were doing, but we did it without effort. The effort and energy, on both sides of the ball, by each player will decide their future with the Mavericks."
"If each player can't take the personal initiative to make every game important and play like it, I don't see them being here next season. The ball won't always bounce the way we want it to, but every player can control their level of effort. I don't care what their contract is. I would rather turn over the roster 100 percent than subject fans to another game like last night."
"This team has the talent to win in the playoffs, But that's only going to happen if all 15 guys know and execute their assignments and play every possession like it's important."
I'd hate to be in the D right now ….
March 4, 2009 at 1:34 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Suspended for ignoring coach
So the fact get out. He was suspended because he refused to leave the game after the coach, George Karl, asked him to sit.
Deserved suspension, I think.
And then people wonder why he is inconsistent and perpetually the poster boy for everything the NBA should NOT be …
*** UPDATE Feb 4, 2009 ***
Melo, Karl say they've moved past the suspension
Really?
I don't think Melo agrees …
"Anthony agreed, but he said he didn't feel he deserved to be suspended in the first place. He said it was just a matter of wanting to stay in the game because he had a hot shooting hand."
HOT SHOOTING HAND???? REALLY???
The Box Score shows that Melo went 8-24 from the field, 1-3 from 3 point range and 3-4 from the FT line for 20 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast ….
EIGHT shots made out of TWENTY FOUR total shots taken …. THAT qualifies as "a hot shooting hand"?!?!?!?!?
If that's the case then get me on the phone with San Antonio cuz I'm shooting like Fucking Steve Kerr!
*** UPDATE Feb 5 2009 ***
Melo still a dick about disobeying coach.
That's right Melo, you were justified in doing what you did and it was the COACH who was wrong. Way to reason like a responsible adult!
March 4, 2009 at 12:40 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Stromile Swift bought out by New Jersey Nets – now joining the Suns
This is an irrelevant move by a team headed in the wrong direction. Stromile Swift brings NOTHING to the table that the Suns don't already have in droves. I don't see him lasting there for more than a year.
Drew Gooden bought out by Sacramento Kings – will most likely join the Spurs
This COULD be a good move if Gooden is able to stay healthy, motivated and focused on the things he will be taught by Popp and Timmy. Gooden is a good enough low block defender and is quick enough on the wing, he can drill the short jumper, rebounds well enough and is a big body for the Spurs. The problem is Drew's motivation and willingness to buy into the system. He definitely won't be getting 14 shots a night with Popp at the helm. Will he be okay with that? Only time will tell.
Joe Smith bought out by Oklahoma City Thunder – now joining the Cavs
This is a good move by the Cavs. Smith is a savvy vet who can nail a jumper, rebound and guard the block serviceably well enough for him to get and steal minutes away from the other bigs in crunch scenarios …. solid move by the Cavs.
March 4, 2009 at 12:32 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Apparently so!
After being bought out by Sacramento he had teams like Dallas and New Orleans lined up to get him on the roster for the playoffs.
Apparently, Gooden – being of sound mind – chose the San Antonio Spurs.
He will be paid approximately $1 Million for the signing (!!!) and will have a shot at seeing what a well oiled machine looks like.
Hopefully he won't fall out of favour with Popp ….
March 3, 2009 at 12:47 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Nike Dr funk – Click here for another funny movie.
Back in the day when I was young I’m not a kid anymore but somedays I sit and wish I was a a kid again ….
March 1, 2009 at 4:18 am · Filed under Uncategorized
What happens when an individual you THOUGHT you knew (teammate, friend, lover, etc), turns out to be someone completely different than who you thought they were? What happens when that individual betrays your trust in such an enormous way that it rocks the very foundation of your friendship?
Can there EVER be a reconciliation and forward progress from where it once used to be?
I had a person whom I used to consider a close friend (some would say family) say and do some things that really hurt me a long time ago – roughly 2 years. Our friendship eroded based on this individual’s point of view and I have not talked to him since. I had NO say in the matter and all my attempts to fix things went ignored. Recently, this individual has approached me and is trying to fix the friendship.
I have REALLY been struggling, trying to figure out what to do … trying to figure out what the right choice is. I have long since forgiven this person. Truly. I bear no ill feelings towards them. But just because I have forgiven someone does not mean that I put myself in a position to be abused or hurt again by the same individual …. call it a defense mechanism. Call it a persaonality defect, if you want.
On the one hand, I wouldn’t mind being friends with this person (we had a long history and a lot of good times), but I don’t know that I could ever trust them, or even taken them seriously again after what happened. On the other hand, I’ve forgiven (but not forgotten) and moved on with my life. I’ve filled the hole left behind by this person’s leaving and have made do, so it’s not like I …. NEED them back in my life because I’m missing something … I’m just “meh” on the whole thing. The person wants to restart the friendship ….. so? so what?
Quite frankly, the decision to restart the friendship doesn’t matter at ALL to me.
It’s the CHOICE and the REASON behind the choice that really has me all knotted up inside.
My Significant other tells me that I am still holding a grudge and that I have not yet forgiven. I tell her that “Forgiving” can be many things INCLUDING the option to give the person another chance or not, despite the fact that you may have let go of the anger and frustration you may have felt. But “Forgiveness” does not mean ignoring past history and indiscretions for the sake of bringing back a friendship that can not and will not ever be the same again. Things are different, there’s no way around it. Why pretend like everything is okay when it isn’t?
The story of “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein is one of my ALL TIME favourite children’s books. Since having kids of my own who now like to be read off to sleep, I find myself browsing this book’s pages again, finding meaning and empathy for the characters in that story. In the book, the relationship between the boy and the tree has been likened to that of a mother and child, but really it is a universal story that can be likened to ANY relationship where one gives and the other takes coldly and without reciprocity. Friends, Lovers, Teammates, Co-Workers, Uncles …. ALL relationships are reflected in the book, as far as I am concerned.
My situation is not terribly unlike the tree right now, I suppose. I have given to the best of my abilities to this individual and have been simply cast out of their lives in a bout of selfishness and immaturity. After a long time, this individual comes back and is asking for more of me.
The tree in the book gladly gives more SIMPLY to have the boy BE with her.
I am not a tree. And this life, MY life, is not a fairytale penned by an author.
On a daily basis, I am faced with so much …. hate and distrust ….. it sometimes makes me wonder how ANY of us make it through a day without going utterly insane at the way we treat each other. We get used to it, we become jaded and eventually we EXPECT that from the people we do not trust – the people outside our homes.
But to receive that fashion of treatment from someone who you consider CLOSE … man, that’s … inconceivable. And to be hurt ONCE by someone is one thing. But to allow that person back in and RISK the opportunity to be hurt by them again ….. that’s … NOT something that I am used to doing … especially when you have the sneaking suspicion that it is highly likely tohappen again …
People say to me “But Rico, just look at the fact that the person is AT LEAST making the effort to make amends. Doesn’t that count for SOMETHING?”
Yeah, it says something that the individual is trying to fix what is now broken, for sure. But what he did and said before ALSO says something, and I can’t ignore that either. There’s a saying – Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it or something like that …
The sticking point for me is that I don’t know if I should be a GOOD person, or a NORMAL one …..
I had an even OLDER friendship that was broken for about 8 years. It was rekindled this summer. But there, the person made a GENUINE effort to apologize (repeatedly) and accepted the fact that I would need time to trust them again. And, quite frankly, I did not try to fix that friendship. Instead of helping, I offered an ultimatum. So I know that I had something to do with that friendship crumbling. So I appreciated the effort put forth by this individual.
But I don’t feel like this scenario is unfolding like that one. First of all, I do not feel like I ever did anything that was out of line – in actuality it was quite the opposite! I feel like I bent over backwards for this person. Nor do I feel like the small apology I got was at all genuine. And unlike the other friend, I don’t feel like this type of thing won’t happen again if I let this person back in …
~shaking head~
It’s such a complex thing …..
You trust someone but then find out they are keeping secrets from you, or they cast aside your friendship like an old, used cloth … how does one proceed? How can one fix a friendship AND protect themselves from being hurt again?