September 30, 2009 at 11:29 pm · Filed under Dear Rico, Funny
Dear Rico,
I have been reading your blog for a while and enjoy the honesty with which you post. I have a question to ask that you might be able to answer: Are Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest gay?
I mean, we all know that Artest approached Kobe in the shower after the 2008 Finals and offered to help him.
Kobe said that after the Lakers lost game six of the ’08 NBA Finals in Boston by 39 points, he was alone in the shower, just fuming. He heard somebody walk in and assumed it was one of his teammates, or maybe a staff member. Instead, he looked up, and it was Ron Artest (to this day, Kobe has no idea how Artest got into the locker room).
“I want to come help you,” Artest said. “If I can, I’m going to find a way to come to LA and give you the help you need to win a title.”
I mean …. do you think Artest was checking Kobe out? Was he trying to play a game of I Spy?And did he offer to help with more than a Larry O’Brien?
After the incident in the ’09 playoffs, I have to wonder whether or not Artest enjoys a nice Hershey’s kiss … so to speak. Is he a bat boy? Does he enjoy pitching or catching?
And why was Kobe okay with all of this? Why did he not scream for security?
I’m confused and I need some answers. No one has been able or willing to tackle this question … do you have what it takes?
Sincerely,
Not Batting for the other team
—-
Okay, Batting …
First of all, I find your obsession with an Artest and Kobe man fling to be a bit …. odd. Disturbing is another word that comes to mind. Also, the many ways you use to say “gay” even makes me wonder how old you are.
Here’s what I DO know: Kobe is MARRIED to a woman. And he has kids. Last year in the Playoffs, we were force fed this information after every single Laker home game! I had to sit and watch him kiss his wife Vanessa and hug his little girls after EVERY DAMN GAME! ….. It was nauseating! Plus let’s not forget that he was nearly tried for sexual assault in Eagle Colorado in 2003. I mean, if he hadn’t bought his innocence just before the case went to trial, he’d probably be sitting in jail right now! All over a woman! Now that doesn’t mean that he’s NOT … I’m just saying, we have evidence that that says otherwise. He may play for both teams, but he’s definitely not defected 100% yet. Really, I’ll never know. Nor will I ever want to know. And your obsession and fantasizing about it is just creepy.
You remind me of one of those Star Trek geeks that obsesses over Commander Data. Seriously. You need to stop. Data was cool but drawing him on a unicorn or tatooing him on your leg is just plain disturbing … I mean, mixing sci-fi and fantasy is like wearing stripes and polka dots at the same time! And with the new NBA dress code, that’s a sure fine right there.
Now Ron Artest, that guy could do ANYTHING and it wouldn’t faze me … ANYTHING. Think about it. From punching fans, to making throat slash gestures to putting out terrible Rap albums, walking in on another man in the shower, face cuddling …. the man is capable of anything. And when he advertises himself as “so ghetto, so hood” you can pretty much bet that he would do anything if he rationalized it as making sense. Look at Dennis Rodman …. I mean, the guy married HIMSELF!
Seriously, though …. We know that homosexuality does exist in Pro Sports. Jon Amaechi came out of the closet not too long ago in the NBA and he was criticized and ostracized very harshly for his honesty. And I’m sure he’s not the only pro athlete who is gay. I know lots of people in many professions who are gay. But personally, I don’t really care. It’s not my thing, get it? But I don’t care. I try to blog about games, stats and fantasy sports. All that other stuff … it’s secondary to that. And really why would you WANT to know that? And how does it affect how they play the game of basketball? Does their sexual orientation take away ANY of the accomplishments they have attained?
Now, if an Artest and Kobe romance gets you hot under the collar then that’s your thing and … hey …. more power to ya.
Maybe what you need to do is to stop wondering about flubber in the blubber and just remember that Pro Sports is littered with Gay Innuendo. From football, where they wear tights and quarterbacks take the football from between a 300lb man’s legs, to Hockey, where the rookie hazings always end up having something to do with bread, the lights being off and someone ending up naked (true stories!), to Baseball, where men scratch their crotches and talk to other men about getting to first, second and third base on them and to every single other sport, where the typical way of expressing manly joy on the field of sport is to pat or slap another man’s posterior … it’s all pretty …. metro. Not that there’s anything WRONG with that …
Just know what team you want to play for and enjoy the game, my friend!
Thanks for writing and keep ‘em coming! … I mean the letters …. not … oh, never mind.
I looked back over the posts of the last few weeks and realized tonight that I forgot to add a few juicy details about our Team this year ….
We’ve decided to play in Division 1/2 as opposed to the usual Div. 3 we normally play in. This is a HUGE development for us as it means that we are basically playing against former CIAU players, including a 6′-11″ and 7′-0″ player (both on the same team!). It means that, every single game, we will be outsized at nearly every position, not to mention the possibility that we may be out-skilled as well in certain aspects …
The decision to move up was KIND OF self-initiated, though I COULD say that we were kind of lightly goaded into it. It al started at the general meeting where the Commish insinuated that we would be able to hang with the higher seeded teams based on our performance during the last 8 years or so of playing. So we took a vote and found that a bunch of the guys were curious, hungry and eager to go for it.
A few of our guys brought up very valid reasons for NOT going (mainly the lack of championships and our lack of size) but it was agreed that this was, ultimately a test and if we did not perform to our liking, we would reassess our decision next summer. I think it is a logical approach to the situation, which is why I had no problem agreeing to being moved up to the Elite Division.
What this all means is that, for the first time ever, our team is playing at the highest possible level of competition in our Men’s League!
That’s a good thing. And I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t proud (for myself AND my team!) to put that out there as a matter of fact.
I mean, we’re trying this out for one year to see how we fare. If we do well, we might stay. If we get rocked, well … experiment over and then we get to see if we are who we thought we were.
I know a few of our guys have been talking about staying competitive and POSSIBLY playing at this level to see what it’s like – it’s been an on again / off again conversation over the last few seasons. A couple of years ago, I pondered whether or not that would mean that we would have to split the team into 2 separate entities in order to accommodate this particular scenario. Though I came close a few times, I never actually pulled the trigger on that. And I am glad I waited.
We also have a few (old) guys on our team who are content where we are and have even thrown the idea around of moving down to Div. 4 just because the older you get and the busier your life gets, the harder it is to keep up that conditioning and that drive to be the best always …. I don’t know … it’s a juggling act. I know that PHYSICALLY, I’m not what I used to be and that has me a bit worried / stressed …. I mean, I don’t wanna be embarrassed or made to look foolish (I can do that plenty well on my own, thanks) … but at the same time, I have to at least TRY it, right? And in the end, it is JUST a game ….
I want to keep this team together for as long as possible and if it means moving up or down or staying put, I will do that. I like to think that everyone on our team has a voice and we do nothing unless we can attain a consensus. And even then, we discuss the decision to make sure we are doing it for the right reasons as well as possible outcomes and detours after that.
Now all that aside, this will be the toughest season to date and right off the bat, we will have our team unity, our heart, desire, effort, skill and egos tested. It will be interesting to see whether or not we are able to stay true to who we have been and whether or not this pulls us closer together or breaks us up.
I’ve known the majority of my guys for the better part of a decade and have seen them grow up from gangly teenagers to the fine men they have become. More than anything, they (we) are warriors. I believe that this year will be tough but positive and we will come away from this as a closer knit group that is able to play with any team, any time, anywhere!
So it has finally come true. The dates are set for the FIRST EVER Sturgeon Heights Alumni Tournament!
December 4th and 5th, 2009 – Mark it down on your calendars, fellow Huskies, cuz it’s finally going down!
Members from each graduating class will be banded together as teams and play against alumni from different eras in order to figure out WHICH graduating class had the best players over the last 10 years!
There is a Facebook page that you should all be aware of: Bball Huskyforlife
From there you can keep up with the happenings that lead up to the Sturgeon Heights Alumni Tourney. That will include a history of the various players that have played at Silver/Sturgeon Heights at every position over the last decade. A very informative and educational read. It lets you appreciate the history of the basketball program we have and all the people that have helped to make it what it is along the way.
We can also see how small our basketball community is. Sometimes people don’t even know that the people they are playing with are/were actually Huskies!
So get it straight, write it down and make sure you RSVP at the Facebook Page for the Alumni Tournament. It should be a very fun time!
This is sort of a follow up to “Of Basketball and Bullies …” which I posted a few days ago. Now bear in mind that this is me revealing more of myself than I am actually comfortable in doing … but it’s been something that has been in the works for over 14 years and I think I am finally okay with speaking openly about certain aspects of my youth …
—
I was sitting at home this weekend and mulling many things over, as I am wont to do when I have way too much time on my hands and I wondered … can a bully change his ways?
This question mostly popped up because of another confrontation I had with a high school bully at a social event a few years ago ….. and this is that story …
Bullying is a bahaviour. It is something people learn.
My wife and I were a part of a social gathering for a very good friend of mine and, as we walked into the Wedding Social we found that, among the many people that were there, one of my high school bullies was there!
This guy (the bully) was a hockey jock and hung around a crew of about 9 or 10 douchebags. They did their best to be irritating, rude, mean … everything. Now, this guy in particular wasn’t a bully outright. Rather, this individual enjoyed pointing, laughing and egging the bigger, louder, more obnoxious bullies on, though he would get his hands dirty every now and then if the mood struck him or if he was pressured into being “cool”. Anything to detract attention from himself, I suppose. When I had to interact with him in a one-on-one scenario, he was pretty laid back and cool. But put him together with his friends and watch out.
So when I graduated, I breathed a sigh of relief because I quickly realized that I did not have to interact with that type of people anymore.
But as time unfolded, it turned out that he became buddies with one of my closest friends – he was apparently studying to become a teacher! Aside from the fact that I was mortified at the idea that one of these people would be allowed to TEACH the youth of tomorrow, I was also surprised because my friend … he’s not the type of individual who hangs around jackasses …. and I could never envision those two being friends as they led completely different lives and had completely different demeanors, friends … I would have said that they were exact opposites. It kind of bothered me at first. Still sort of does. Think of it as an “Independent George” type of thing … worlds colliding. But I can’t control who anyone hangs around with, right?
Anyway, the Social wore on and eventually I decided to take the Man’s route and confront the guy on what he had done …. though I suppose the opportunity was sort of thrust upon me as he came over in the middle of the evening for a chat after I had tried to avoid him twice before. Annoyed by his insistence on speaking with me despite my apparently CLEAR body language that I wanted nothing of the sort, I decided to bite the bullet. I’ve never been one to sugarcoat things like this and I had no intention of approaching things with any sort of tact in this particular instance. I sat down at a nearby chair with him and listened for a few minutes as he tried to make idle chit chat.
Eventually, I smiled and said “Why are you even bothering talking to me? Wasn’t I like a leper to you in High School?”
You could sort of tell that he expected that sort of reply and he was quick with a response: “No, why would you say that?”
His insistence on innocence was a grating point and I pressed on: “Dude, you treated me like shit in High School. I consider you a bully. Every interaction I had with you was negative and it always appeared like you were more interested in being cool than being a human being. You and your friends treated a lot of people like garbage. Myself especially, and I really resent you for that. You and your friends made High School a living hell for me and I’ve hated you for that since I graduated. I’m actually fighting the desire to jump over the table this instant to ram my foot down your throat.”
He bowed his head a little and looked back at me and said this: “Yeah, I know I treated you like crap back then. But I am going to school to become a teacher I got to learn a lot about bullying in one of the courses and I thought of you a lot in that class. I understand what I have done to you and I just wanna say that I feel badly about it and I apologize. What I did was wrong. I can’t change what I did but please accept my apology for it now. ”
I was kind of floored by that response.
—
Side Story Time!
A few years after I graduated, I was at our local Blockbuster renting a movie with my wife (girlfriend, at the time) and saw one of my original High School bullies.
This guy was a Tae-Kwon Do student and was famous around school for being big into martial arts, though I never heard of him actually fighting anyone, ever. And he always appeared to be limping and complaining about his knees and feet hurting. But he had a reputation of being a very physically destructive person. I wasn’t scared of him, but his posse of 8 (all hockey jocks) and their attitude was more than a deterrent for me.
He bullied me from Grade 7 all the way til I graduated. I’d say that he was a HUGE reason for why I was never able to escape any of the bullying I got in High School. And his bullying is one of the reasons that led to me taking up Basketball – to get the frustration out, to make friends, to get popular …. but even after making the basketball team and getting a starting spot, things never changed. It was name calling, racial insults and cracks at my accent, mostly. I remember him frequently telling me that music groups made songs about me – ‘F**k Martinez‘ was the one I remember most. He and his friends had even taken the time to make up lyrics and would “sing” them to me as I walked by the hallways in school.
I never believed what he said, but I would be lying if I were to say that I didn’t look up discographies searching to see if any of it was true. I did it just so I could be 100% positive that he was truly human trash. But every discography I went through and found “clean” made me even more upset because it was just another bit of evidence that I was being treated very poorly by someone who I did nothing to.
Bullies are unable to understand and appreciate the feelings of others.
I wasn’t his only victim, either. In Junior High, he bullied 3 other kids so badly that they had to switch schools. One kid switched schools for physical reasons; he had a short fuse and one morning he went at the bully and was beat up by this guy and his friends just before the morning bell. I remember that because the kid was punched in a stairwell and he fell halfway down the flight of stairs on his back – the kid refused to come back after putting up with it for 2 straight years. The other two kids switched schools for psychological reasons – one in Grade 7 and one in Grade 8; they had names that were easily mocked and they were both very timid, mild mannered kids … they were both teased til they cried and refused to come back.
Another guy that was bullied by this goon was a kid who had come over from Whistler. He and I took to becoming friends and that was not to this bully’s liking. He teased and tormented this kid til he made him turn on me and he tried to fight me during a recess. I didn’t back down. We fought hard and then became enemies after that. Within a month or two after that, the bully was still going after him and he eventually switched schools for the year and then moved back to BC.
He was that type of human being.
Anyway, I saw this guy at Blockbuster and when he saw me, he raised his hand to his brow, dropped his head below his shoulders and pretended he didn’t see me.
He went to a corner and stayed there til I stopped staring at him and then he left before I could say anything to him. This guy was friends with the guy at the Social that I am writing about now.
I was surprised by his reaction because of the COWARDICE involved in it. The thing that got me was that his reaction indicated that he knew who I was, what he had done to me and realized that he was wrong for that. And yet after ALL that, he didn’t even have the courage, the balls or the strength of character to come over and apologize. To think that after speaking to me with such indignation and treating me like a slug in school, he would go to cowering away in a corner like a dog til he could leave, unseen ….
People who bully feel little or no responsibility for their actions.
His name is Tyler Curry.
I name him specifically because I believe his cowardice deserves any attention it would garner from this website. If nothing else, so that those who live with him and are his friends are aware of the type of person he is.
—
Back to the story …. What floored me about his response was that there appeared to be genuine thought behind it. His reply didn’t feel fake.
I turned my back to him and sat there stunned for a few minutes. Or was he hiding behind the apology because his friends weren’t there to back him up? Was it all an act of cowardice as well? What was I to do? Could I accept the man’s apology and let bygones be bygones? Or should I just say screw it, tell him off some more and then maybe fight him? Could the guy ACTUALLY understand the breadth of what he had done? Could he see the turmoil he had caused in my life? Already the fact that he’d apologized and not put his hand to his temple to hide meant that he had, at least, the courage to admit his mistakes …. shouldn’t that be rewarded? Could this apology mean that he had changed his ways and that he was a different person (or one in transition to a better state of being)?
After mulling things over for what felt like an eternity, I turned to him and said “I accept your apology.”
He smiled for a moment and I quickly added to my statement “But it will take me a long time to forget what you did. And your apology doesn’t mean that we are friends. After what you put me through, I don’t think I can ever be your friend.”
He answered: “I completely understand that and I won’t ask you to do what you are not comfortable doing. But maybe we can have a drink and celebrate a mutual acquaintance’s special occasion?”
I obliged and, at the end of the night, I was glad that I had the courage to speak to him and get another boulder off my chest.
I suppose the experiences I had in High School DID sort of come in handy, though. When I became a coach, one of the things I preached was kindness to teammates whose skills were lacking. Any time I saw someone making fun of a teammate, I came down on that about as hard as I could. From verbally berating them to making them run man makers and wind sprints, I made sure I got my point across. I may have been powerless to stop it from happening to me, but by golly if there was ANY chance that I could make a difference in someone else’s life, I would. It was a state of being that I would carry for a long time and eventually found to be no better than being a bully as well – let me tell ya, that was a disappointing moment. Even now, I find myself JUMPING at opportunities where I feel someone is being treated wrongly. When it happens to me, I jump twice as high and go through periods where I am shackled by the memories I experienced and then break free and act as a strong, mature adult. It’s just such an emotional and psychological scar. It’s affected everything from the way I play the game, to the way I raise my kids.
—
So where does this all lead?
THIS article discusses, among other things, the likelihood for bullies to change …
“If you mean a slight to moderate improvement, so that the bully appears to have some awareness of others and is willing to make some compromises, then confrontation may be effective. On the other hand, if you are suggesting that confrontation will make a bully [always] show consideration for others and be respectful of their needs, I don’t think this is a realistic expectation.” She states. In other words, behavioral change is not a one-shot deal.
“What’s assumed here is that aggressive tendencies can be nipped in the bud. What might be more helpful is to remember that personality traits do not change significantly, even over the course of a lifetime. People change only when they want to change.”
So can a tiger really change its stripes?
Most indications point to NO because the bullying behaviour is something that has attained results for the person and has, as a result, become part of the fiber of the individual’s personality. The big, recurring theme that I keep seeing is that people change only when they WANT to change. So in some cases (as is the case with this particular story), the bully chooses to change after seeing the error of their ways (being educated) and in other cases (as in the Side Story of this post) the bully never seems to (want) change.
I think this is a sad state to be in. It translates not only into hurt feelings for the people who are bullied, but also in reinforced negative behaviour and a perception that it is okay to abuse people in that fashion. What ends up happening is that the schoolyard (or sports team) bullies turn into adults and they take their behaviour into the workplace and abuse people there too. And, from my own limited experience thus far, the bullies usually end up in positions of power thereby reinforcing the negative cycle and perpetuating the learned behaviour …..
The flip side is that the people who are bullied turn into bullies themselves at the first taste of power (doctors, engineers, lawyers, architects) ….. but that is a story for another day …
The thing that REALLY worries me is that the people who are fine with being bullies are allowed to procreate and they indoctrinate a new generation in a very toxic way of being.
So does the dude from a few weeks ago ever stand a chance at seeing that he was TRULY a mean individual? Does he ever stand a chance at waking up and realizing that bullying is not funny?
The story from this post indicates that it’s POSSIBLE. But the dude from the Side Story indicates that it may well be a lost cause … especially if he still hangs out with the same group of people from his High School days.
I’m not holding my breath either way …. all I can do is try to positively affect my own little world, limit the interactions I have with bullies and just try to grow more patience and understanding.It’s not the easiest thing to do, especially at the start, but I take it one day at a time and try my hardest to be a better person at the end of the day. Sometimes I win and sometimes I don’t, but at least I’m trying, right?
September 26, 2009 at 12:09 am · Filed under fantasy
One of the things we enjoy doing on our team is playing Fantasy Basketball. We’ve done this for well over 7 years and we’re back for another go around! The League we’ve set up is on Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Basketball and it basically picks up where we left off last year.
I am the returning League Champion and am looking to defend my crown! (Thanks, Nate and Jimmy)
If you think you can hack it and are interested in participating with us, do let me know. Send me an e-mail and I’ll forward the League info to you so you can join up.
It’s quick, easy and most important of all … FUN!
I believe the set up is …. 2 divisions, live draft (on a weekend), Head to Head, week-long matchups, rosters locked on Sundays for remainder of week. All other details being sorted out as we speak.
I am hoping to have up to 20 teams participating in the division this year (if possible) which would be the most ever and completely awesome!
Many thanks to Nathan for putting on the Commissioner hat once again! This being his fourth or fifth season as Commish, it should be as easy as shooting monkeys from a baby.
Told to find a trade and that he is not welcome in training camp, this has to be a serious blow to Blount’s career. More because of what he is currently earning (some $7 Million this year) and what he will make upon his next contract. This is assuming, of course, that another team needs an old power forward with limited capabilities.
I feel for the guy. New manager comes in, starts firing people … on the one hand I understand. On the other hand it’s just so sleazy. And guys like Blount get lodged under the tires.
I have been following this story from when it first hit as a rumour a few months ago and it look slike it is now becoming a reality ….
A Russian BILLIONAIRE, whose net worth is estimated to be $9.1 Billion wants to build a new Arena for the Nets in exchange for 80% equity in the New Jersey Nets franchise, 45% of the arena project and the right to buy up to 20% of the Atlantic Yards Development Co., which will develop the non-arena real estate. … this is just nuts. The man is going to become even richer! And all this for what? … a $200 Million dollar investment into the arena project.
First of all, I don’t even know how much $9.1 Billion is … that’s just a ridiculous amount of money.
Second of all, this would make for the first ever NON American owner. Next we’d see … what? The Owners of Olympiakos buying an NBA team and using it to farm out talent to their Euro team? Not that it is even a remote possibility YET but I’m just saying the potential doors opening up if this goes down is dizzying … it certainly goes a long way towards globalizing the NBA and basketball in general …
He owns a share of the Russian team CSKA Moscow, and he said on his blog he wants to buy the Nets partly to get access to NBA training methods and help Russian coaches get internships in the league. Imagine that … how long before the Russians rule the NBA World and how will that affect the pandering of the Olympics to the World? Will we see more “us vs. them” style advertising? The idea just sickens me a bit.
Lastly, he long term benefits so mightily outweigh any drawbacks that the man must be laughing about it RIGHT NOW!
Think about it.
He HAS $9 Billion.
He is going to GIVE $200 Million in exchange for majority ownership of a sports franchise in one of the most densely populated areas in North America with a loyal, rabid fan base.
He will also receive 1/5 of the money that is made developing real estate in the New York / New Jersey area – a 22-acre residential and commercial real estate development which would contain more than a dozen residential and office towers with more than 6,400 apartments built over property that includes a rail yard, warehouses and several blocks of homes and businesses … imagine the rent that they will be charging! At $1,000 MINIMUM, we’re looking at $6.4 Million a month in revenue alone for the apartments! Not to mention the 15 – 20 thousand dollars a month they can charge for a lease on a business property. These are all Winnipeg numbers mind you. Inflate them probably x10 due to location and we get an idea as to the amount of money floating about there.
AND then on top of all that, he gets 45% ownership of the arena itself!
All of this is, of course, assuming that the man is legal and does not have ANY fingers in any criminal activity, insider trading or other gang related activity.
This thing has been overhyped since Jordan’s HoF speech. Now, an owner of a D-League team (Utah Flash) is offering up $100,000 to the winner’s charity of choice if they play a game of 21 during a Utah Flash home game.
No doubt it would draw ALL kinds of air time for his team. And it would give Utah fans a chance to both cheer and jeer Jordan for his push during the ’98 playoffs. And don’t try to argue otherwise, the hand is CLEARLY shown pushing off in the slo-mo instant replay.
I don’t think Jordan should do this …
First of all, Russell is almost 10 years younger. Which isn’t a big deal when Jordan was 30. But at 50, it makes a HUGE difference.
Second of all, Jordan’s reputation and image are the ONLY things that are at stake. Think about it. Jordan is the G.O.A.T. hands down! NO ONE touches him right now. He’s on a whole other level. Russell? We expect him to lose – and if he does it’ll be “Well, Jordan’s still got it”. So what happens if Jordan loses? Russell’s “defensive” capabilities become overstated and Jordan now scores that last bucket ONLY because he pushed off. Bryon Russell has nothing to lose by playing. But the mystique of Jordan definitely tarnishes a bit with a loss to a lesser opponent.
Thirdly, location matters. If Jordan wins AGAIN vs. Russell, it’ll just mean that Utah fans can boo him some more. It’s a hostile environment, Utah is. So if this thing WERE to happen, it should be under Jordan’s own terms – location included. It simply makes sense … King’s Court .. that’s how it ALWAYS is.
Lastly, the risk of injury in a post retirement era makes things too risky. Imagine if, because of his lack of conditioning (have you seen how fat he’s gotten?), he breaks an ankle or does something else that causes him long term problems … what is the ONLY thing that suffers there?
It would be great for a chuckle …. a chance for us to go “man did he ever get fat/crappy/old …” – think Charles Barkley vs. Dick Bevetta
But what would really be the point of this one-on-one game NOW? And WHY a game of 21?
BASICALLY, this story pokes fun at Artest for all the stupid things he says ……
Let’s start by analyzing his ignorance of general sports knowledge and his insistence on kissing ass while in Los Angeles Gold and Purple …
“And I’m also here to say that next year I’ll be trying out for the San Diego Chargers, so I look forward to that. Hopefully I can play some baseball. Is there a baseball team here?”
You’re wearing the (San Diego Padres) hat, he was told.
“I know I’m wearing the hat. I just love the SD. The logo looks great. I didn’t realize there was a baseball team in San Diego.”
For reals? Cuz I don’t even live in the same countryor follow baseball (at all!) and I KNEW that there was an MLB team in SD and that they are called the Padres! Does he even look at what he puts on? Or does he ever wonder what the letters on his shirts and hats mean?
Okay, let’s move on to his relationship with Kobe, in particular, relating to this year’s playoffs where he got in Kobe’s face ….
“That was friendship, what you saw out there with me and Kobe,” Artest said. “That’s like hard-core friendship man, you know, like back in the days — fight against your best friend when you were younger and go out and get some ice cream later? That’s what that was. It was just so competitive.”
Riiiiight …… Cuz I TOTALLY wanna kill ALL my adult friends when we play pick up games. Then afterwards, I apologize for the elbows, ear bites and groin kicks and invite them out to Ice Cream at the Local Ice Cream Parlour … cuz that’s HARDCORE friendship! Then afterwards I usually offer up foosball at the local arcade and maybe suggest giving wedgies to all the local Engineering Nerds coming out of work at 5pm ….
THAT is the behaviour of a 100% mature and normal human being, right there …. riiiiight …
And then, to add to all of that, he’s geographically retarded! I mean, the man is IN Southern California and he adds this ….
“I’m learning a lot of different ways of California. Is this Southern California?” he said, apparently not realizing San Diego is as southern as it gets. “It never rains in Southern California, huh? I’m turning into a Southern California guy. I’m happy to be a Southern Californian, or whatever you want to call it.“
This is so ignorant that it reminds me of that Miss Teen South Carolina Brain Fart a few years ago ….
Does Ron Artest know where the United States is on a map? And would he be willing to go to “South Africa and The Iraq and The Asian Countries” to help the kids who have no maps? I mean REALLY?!??!??! Cuz I have an extra map, if he wants to come get it ….. Does he even know what planet he inhabits? Sheesh ….
But wait ….. here’s the kicker. He says that if the Lakers don’t repeat ….
“they should point the finger right at me, throwing tomatoes and everything.“
This man is straight nuts.
Does he even remember what happened when a fan threw a drink at Ron Artest during a game at the Palace of Auburn Hills?!?!?!
And now he’s saying it’ll be okay to wing tomatoes at him!?!??!?
Are you kidding me?!?!?
You can wash drinks out, but dammit man, tomatoes leave nasty stains!
Why, gomestic.com lists TOMATO stains as one of the top 8 most difficult stains to remove! TOP EIGHT!
He should have said something like … cotton balls or …. I don’t know …. rainbows and butterfly farts!
I don’t think those leave any stains … and if they do, I’m sure they smell alright …
Man, I betcha if something stains Ron Artest’s clothing, he’ll go all RON SMASH again!
Look, the only thing I know for sure is that this year will be plenty interesting in LA. And I am sure that those fair weather, bandwagon riding Laker fans will turn on him in a heartbeat, if the Lakers begin to dismantle … and if they do … then by golly, they better have Geico!
September 21, 2009 at 10:36 pm · Filed under NBA News
Okay, so I was lukewarm on the referee lockout. I’ll admit it. Didn’t really care.
For the most part, I find refs to be monkeys with a God-complex.
Harsh. Yes. Very harsh. I know.
But THIS article puts a VERY different spin on the referee lockout … individuals who have families and bills to pay NOT getting paid because of a labour dispute. And now others are crossing lines to take those jobs.
The counterpoint here is that those temporary refs have families and bills too and this may be the break some of them need to make their own dreams come true ….
But WHAT is the deal that a referee has to make when he works for the L?
The letter of the wife of an NBA referee explains it best …. (obtained from FanHouse)
“These past few weeks have been a very trying time for our family, as I am sure they have been for the families for all of the 57 NBA referees. The stress of worrying about a lockout has been, at times, overwhelming. We have three small children to feed, clothe, and educate. Like most American families, we have a mortgage and bills to pay. These bills do not know what the word “lockout” means.
“What has been most disheartening, however, is accepting the fact that the sacrifices that all of our families make year in and year out appear to be meaningless to the NBA and David Stern. The ‘offers’ made by the NBA are insulting to our families.
“The NBA has repeatedly stated that their goal this year is to bring the referees compensation and benefits more in line with the rest of the NBA office employees and its administrative staff. But referees are not office and administrative staff. They do not wake up at home each morning and see their kids off to school before heading to a job from which they get to return home each night, if not for dinner, then to tuck their kids in and kiss them good night. They do not get to sleep in their own beds with their spouses by their sides.
“While I don’t know for certain, I would guess that most of the NBA office employees do not miss their kid’s school plays, parent-teacher conferences, sports practices and games, graduations, Christmas mornings, and other holidays. Their husbands and wives do not have to explain to their children each morning and night for 10 months of the year that daddy or mommy will not be coming home again today and won’t be home again for the next ten days either. I can tell you from first-hand experience that three, four and five year olds do not get that concept very well. All of this is not to diminish the value of the NBA office and administrative staff. They obviously play a crucial role in the day-to-day workings of the League. But in reality the jobs of an office worker and an NBA referee are not the same. Comparing the two is not comparing apples to apples, but instead it is trying to make an apple an orange.
“By even making the comparison in the first place, David Stern runs the risk of changing a ‘craft’ into a job. Though the NBA office staff is some of the best in the world, you can find anyone to do a job, not everyone is a true craftsman. The men and women who work this job are true craftsmen. Though frequently criticized by fans and the media, they are the best in the world at what they do and I am proud to be the wife of one. They cannot be replaced by placing an ad in the classifieds and picking out a new hire from the folks who line up at the door. If they could, then perhaps the deal the NBA is offering makes sense.
“It does not, however, make sense given the sacrifices our families make every day. I would even go so far as to say that the sacrifice we make is larger than that that made of anyone in the NBA, including the players. Whatever the public perception may be, the referees do not have huge contracts, fly on private planes, or get to work half of their games at home. They are regular people, who trek around from city to city, airport to airport, arena to arena, and practice their craft to provide for their families.
“In any given season, we are lucky if my husband works three home games in a 75-game schedule. We are lucky if he is home more than five 24-hour periods a month. Who else on the NBA staff can say they do the same? Players can’t. David Stern can’t. Office staff can’t, nor can anyone else who works for the NBA. Referees are unique in what they give to and what they give up for the game.
“And so what are all of these sacrifices for? Why are we missing holidays together and games and school events? So that the NBA can tell all of us that our sacrifice is meaningless and that it is worth no more to them than what the office worker, who jumps on and off the train, each day does? That seems ludicrous by any rational measure.
“It was not my dream to be an NBA referee. It was not our kid’s dream to have a father who is one either. But it is a dream we are fully committed to supporting because it is my husband’s dream. I take on single parenthood and being a ‘referee widow’ because I love my husband and believe in him and his dream. All that has happened with this contract just has me questioning whether the NBA realizes the sacrifices 57 families of their employees make to continue to put out the ‘best product in the world.’”
Looking at it from this particular perspective, it becomes easy to see the value and sacrifice these people make every year … even guys like Joey Crack.
Looking at it from this particular perspective, it becomes EASY to sympathize and side with the refs on their deal. They should be getting the BEST deal of all NBA employees based on the difficulty of their positions … taking into account the scheduling, public criticism and travel arrangements as well as the complications their families have to endure …
I keep saying it, and I’ll repeat it again … he may have done some great things for the NBA over his career, but recently, David Stern has turned to the dark side ….
Not that it is of any surprise, but they won 85-63 on the shoulders of Rudy Fernandez and Pau Gasol. ALL tournament, these two guys were nigh unstoppable and, really, no one ever really posed a threat to them. I should feel happy for them, but having an LA Laker win another chip in ANYTHING right now feels kind of like me poking myself in the eyeball with a Lemon dipped needle. Not pleasant.
This is a guy who was suspended in 2004 for a wrongful call that led to a game changing play between the Nuggets and Lakers. He was fired almost instantly. I wonder if it had anything to do with point shaving and gambling (like another ex-NBA ref) … the difference is that Henderson, the man in question, never did any time and is back for another stint in the NBA.
I wrote about this here a while ago and he was honored at Wake Forest this weekend.
I am so sad for him. Whether it’s simply an image of what he looks like now or reading the interviews he does about the accident, you can’t help but feel a little heartbroken for him. Especially after remembering what he used to be like ….
So we go from “heartbreakingly sad” to “heartbreakingly stupid” …. when are young athletes going to start learning to stop doing stupid things that an end your career prematurely and hurt your reputation?!?!?
It’s not the BOOK … it’s the fact that people were camped out for it.
This book is either the greatest literary work ever put out or the fans are just brain dead sheeple that will lap up anything their idol puts out … I’m opting for sheeple.
Look, I’m not saying the book is BAD … I’m just wondering about ANYONE who camps out overnight for ANYTHING ….
Okay, I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say this out loud …. when it’s over a year since you injured your knee, and over 4 months since your surgery … when you have a crack team of staff waiting on you hand and foot with rehab and the best treatment and facilities money can buy … when you have ALL OF THAT … and the best anyone can say is that “he’s making steady progress” …. man, I’d be worried …
September 19, 2009 at 7:48 pm · Filed under Funny, SOTW, bizarre
Once a year we get a chance to let our “inner scurvy dog” out to simply walk the planks, metaphorically speaking.
Yes, today was International Talk Like a Pirate Day all over the world and I just wanted to come online and give everyone out there a big, happy YARRRRR!!!
I had all my neighbour’s kids talking like a pirate today and with me and both my kids and my parents all talking about booty, gallows and treasure I GUARANTEE you that the old retirees that live next to us were hating me today.
lol.
Oh well, time to put away my Eye Patch until next year!
But as a special treat, I’m making The Arrogant Worms’ “The Last Saskatchewan Pirate” this week’s Sidebar Song —>
September 19, 2009 at 7:35 pm · Filed under Men's League
League fees were paid on Friday and we are now awaiting word on when our first game will be!
Thanks to all the guys for paying on time and not making me run around like a chicken this year! You guys are like my own personal skin care army! And I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
I feel like Winnie the Pooh sometimes. I think we ALL do, to some extent. We all struggle with issues of insecurity and self esteem at some point. I think it’s only natural. Winnie the Pooh represents a lot of that soft side of myself that I try to hide, desperately sometimes.
But when we get down on ourselves, let’s remember that we all have the capacity to change and improve who and what we are.
Not only that, lying inside us is a strength and courage and intelligence that we have not tapped yet which can carry us through our toughest battles.
Believe and Be strong, everyone. We are not as bad as we are made out to be!
We’ve all heard the stories of jocks and their propensity to be either …
a) meatheads, dumbasses
b) bullies
c) both A & B
My own experience with one such player was that he was a bully. One year older than I was, he was naturally gifted and blessed with tremendous athletic ability that came naturally. He excelled at basketball and was our team’s leading scorer during my Grade 11 year. But the skill didn’t come without a cost – he was a big time jerk.
He would scream, swear and put down his teammates for everything including not getting him the ball enough during games. This attitude translated off the court as well as he would consistently ridicule anyone that caught his “attention”. Myself, I was tortured repeatedly by him and his meathead friends throughout the 2 years he went to school with me.
When he left, I was glad that he and his group of idiot friends were gone. It made my life a bit easier, but the experience left me with memories that I still remember to this day.
Since then, I have never met or even seen one of those guys in passing, except for this main cat. He got a scholarship to play University but squandered it for petty and selfish reasons – I would have killed for one of those scholarships and done everything to keep playing – and has since resorted to playing Div 1 and 2 in our own Men’s League. Still a jerk, he was an individual who I wanted to punch so badly that I would have paid for the opportunity.
It’s funny. I never wanted to even hear of him or his name, but word would run deep and I would hear the most recent happenings of his life through casual conversations. Last I had heard, he had moved out to the West Coast and had become a police officer. I thought that profession and individual were a match made in hell.
Behold my surprise when I saw him at the local Home Renovation Store while I was shopping with my dad and son!
At first, I had hoped he didn’t see me, and I was prepared to turn down a different aisle to get away. But he saw me, smiled and came my way. No doubt to insult me, I was sure. But my jaw dropped to the floor when he spoke to me like a normal human being! No smirks, backhanded comments or mean insults … just normal words. Among the many things I found out is that he had kids, still hung out with his idiot high school buddies, played indoor sports and wanted to play “just to have fun” – this was the most shocking moment as he had never done something “just for fun”.
—-
Side Story Time!
A few years ago, I met another individual who had bullied me in High School at a local supermarket. I stomped on over to him and proceeded to rip into him forover 2 minutes about what a horrible human being he was for doing what he had done.
In retrospect, I feel kinda bad about that NOT because of the fact that I DID it but because it is not who I am. I feel like I kinda lowered myself and let myself and my ideals down a bit. I mean, it felt GOOD to let that out – therapeutic, even – but that situation stayed with me for a long time afterward, too.
—-
This time, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I thought about it as I stood there chatting with him. But I simply couldn’t …… WHY couldn’t I do it?
WHY?
I don’t know … maybe it’s the fact that I am older and have gotten a teeny bit more mellow with age. Maybe it’s the kids I have and the way they have tempered my tongue. Maybe it’s the understanding that, just like I have changed, he has probably changed too – we ALL change over time. Maybe it was because I did not want my son to see me speaking to him the way he had spoken to me all those years ago … maybe it was the public setting … whatever reason it was, I walked away feeling good about myself.
I felt good that I hadn’t lowered myself to that level and that I had been able to be a better man. I invited him out to play ball with us last night and he showed up about 30 minutes into the evening.
At one point, he made a comment to me that kind of took me back to what he was like before. But instead of dwelling on it and giving him power over me, I chose to dismiss the comment and just play. After all, he was on my court with my friends. There was no way he could do anything disrespectful and hope to get away with it. And if he tried … well, I am not the same intimidated child that I used to be. I have the ability to defend myself and communicate effectively and let him know, respectfully, when he crosses the line.
At the end of the night I made a comment to him that he had changed. I immediately regretted the uncontrolled outburst as it meant having to deal with both the past and the present at once. He asked how he had changed. I evaded the question for a bit and eventually told him that he was “nicer” now. His reply was:
“Nicer? What do you mean by that? How did I used to be?”
I told him “You were mean man. You were fucking mean.”
He replied “No I wasn’t! I wasn’t mean! I was funny!”
He was immediately shocked and proceeded to ask various people who were there whether or not that was true. No one gave an answer outright.
Could it be that he had NO clue how mean or rude or disrespectful he had been with so many people? Was he blind to the realization that there were a bunch of people that hated him for the way he was? I have a hard time beleiveing that anyone could be so clueless ….. but then again, we are pretty narrow minded and obtuse as teenagers …
After a few more minutes of chit chat, he left. I was left with a close friend and confidant and he debriefed with me about the incident. He knows what I feel about this man and he knows the feelings that bubble inside me. We discussed many things over the next little bit before finally heading home for the night.
I don’t intend on becoming friends with this guy. We lead two very different lives and, honestly, I don’t wanna give anyone that hurts me the opportunity to do it again.
But I am glad that, at least for one night, I could shed the skin of insecurity and lay some old skeletons to rest.
—-
This article, published in October 2007 says that dealing with bullies is a “part of growing up” and is normal and should be allowed.
Part of me wonders what would have happened if my teachers had paid more attention to the way that some people were treated. Maybe this guy would have learned how to interact differently with his peers … maybe he would have been nicer. Maybe people like myself would have been spared the agony of near daily teasing and name calling. Maybe I wouldn’t have dreaded coming to school.
I’m not sure that anyone should have to deal with that or that it SHOULD be seen as normal.
Maybe I just didn’t have the necessary coping or people skills to deal with it effectively … Whatever the truth is, all I know is that I am glad that I am different. And I am glad that I am a stronger individual and that I have the ability in me now to work beyond my past experiences and grow as a human being.
I’m not perfect. But I try to improve on something different every day. Last night was a success.
So what does the man do when he is attacked by MJ at the HoF induction speech?
He challenges the GOAT to a one-on-one game, of course!
Listening to the interview is funny as hell, man. Russell tries to come off cool and funny, but he is obviously sore about the 1998 Finals shot, STILL!
“There was no foul there, man. That was a WNBA call …. a WNBA Call.”
~Big Nate~
On a seemingly “gimme” play, one of our guards (he knows who he is) was blocked from the side by Nate. A nice defensive play. Upset that he was blocked and nudged EVER so slightly from the side, he called foul much to the amazement of everyone, including members of his own team.
September 11, 2009 at 11:21 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
A star studded class was enshrined tonight and this clip shows just some of the highlights.
I was very surprised by Jordan’s speech. In particular, how he gave credit to Scottie Pippen and numerous other members of the Bulls organization. I was also surprised at how emotional he was. His was gratitude, more than anything. And it conveyed the love of the game for which I never faulted the man. Only that he never let my guys win.
I thought it was especially interesting that he took a jab at Jerry Krause in his speech talking about the players going out and playing and that the organization comes second to the players because the organization may put together the team but the players still have to go out there and do it. Very interesting.
David Robinson’s speech was pretty good too. The bit where he says that Tim was his answer to prayers was funny as hell.
I am glad that these folks got in. Hopefully, the HoF can keep the riff raff out ….
So let me get this straight …. the REAL reason that Jerry Krause is not going is because Tex Winter wasn’t duly honored?
So he’s saying it is NOT because HE wasn’t duly honored for building a 6 championship juggernaut spearheaded by MJ (whom he didn’t draft, BTW) ….he’s saying it’s because he’s standing up for Tex?
Interesting.
Cuz Phil Jax is going … and PJ and Tex are even CLOSER than Krause and Tex … I mean, Winter served as an assistant to PJ for HOW MANY years in both Chicago and LA?
Jerry Krause smells like sour grapes.
—
On a side note, my Photoshop skills really ARE improving! lol.
And the inscription on the soother says “Papa is the best” …. Papa = Michael Jordan.
I definitely believe that Iverson is taking this season with a much more emotional approach and that he is going out with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. At least, I can understand how he may think that …. but REALLY … let’s analyze this. He’s 34 years old and has played in the NBA for 13 years. He has made hundreds of millions of dollars, been on highlight reels, scored scads of points, caused and quelled controversies, brought people in and forced people out of his franchises … he’s had a FULL career. Really, he has nothing to prove individually. Guys like Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway, Grant Hill, Patrick Ewing, John Stockton, Karl Malone … those guys have led great careers without winning a chip and yet their accomplishments are not diminished!
I think that he needs to realize this and understand that every player has a window of opportunity to make things happen. After that window closes or diminishes in size, it does NOT take away from your legacy or make you a chump. Everyone gets old. Bottom line. And we all need to be okay with that.
“I don’t think like everybody thinks. You know, maybe I’m just different. I look at the roster we have and I think we can win. I feel confident in myself and the roster that we can make things happen”
And this is where SO many people have issues with AI. My friend Allan said it best …
“I wouldn’t mind his mentality as much if he AT LEAST changed his playing style to benefit the team, now that he’s older …like passing once in a while. Not just passing while in the air and having nowhere to go, like, passing in the flow of the game or making the extra pass to an open teammate. I like that type of basketball.”
I hear ya, man. His time has come and gone and he needs to (for his own legacy) be able to bow out with grace and give way to the crop of new players coming in.
“It’s basically going to be my rookie season again. It hurts, but I turn the TV on, I read the paper, I listen to some of the things people say about me having the season that I had last year and me losing a step, things like that. They’re trying to put me in a rocking chair already.”
I mean, remember back when Iverson started his career? He crossed over Jordan and everyone flipped! It was on YouTube and got national headlines and weeks and weeks of ESPN replays. Jordan, refusing to give way and admit that he had lost a step against a younger (but not necessarily better) player called Iverson a punk and started a HUGE public discussion about basketball and the influence that hip hop had on the coming generation. Dress Codes were implemented and AI was tagged before he even had a chance to prove himself!
Now Iverson is in Jordan’s shoes and he needs to see how CLOSE he is to repeating the cycle he went through for someone else. It’s not about rocking chairs or egos, it’s about the SPEED of the sport and the fact that you can’t play like that forever! Eventually you lose a step. It’s life! You start by losing a quarter step. Then a half step and then before you know it, you’ve lost a full step and you’re retiring from the game!
People aren’t saying that he sucks.
People are saying that he’s an older player now and that to get to the next level he has to change the way he plays the game now. He’s not the 21 year old Georgetown Draft Pick anymore.
“This guy has many years of basketball left in him … and he is eager. He expressed it to us to get going with the task of helping our team reach a whole other level of success,”
So says a deluded Chris Wallace, GM of Memphis Operations.
In the Western Conference we have (among others) the LA Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trailblazers and Utah Jazz.
This isn’t even mentioning the members of the Division they reside in – the SouthWest Division! San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Hornets ….
Is Chris Wallace saying that by signing Allen Iverson, he’s gonna be able to take his 24 win team and win an EXTRA 30 games and get into the playoffs and compete with perennial powerhouses like the Spurs and Lakers for an NBA Finals berth?!?!?
Chris Wallace! Put Down The HASH Pipe!
AT BEST, you may be an 11th or 12th seed, ahead of Minnesota, Sacramento and the Clippers …. MAYBE! And in the end, you STILL miss the playoffs!
“I’m excited. It’s a guy I always watched growing up, and having him as a teammate is going to be a great opportunity for me.”
So says Mike Conley. And I believe that too. But box office ticket sales and team excitement will BARELY hide the fact that Allen Iverson went to the Grizzlies ONLY because they were the only team in the NBA that were willing to offer him more than the veteran’s minimum. At $3.5Million dollars, that’s pricey for one season. And I wonder what he will expect NEXT year during the free-agent bonanza of 2010! He can’t seriously expect to command the type of money that LeBr0n, Bosh or Wade are gonna be getting … can he?
EVEN if he has a glimmering, shimmering All-Star season, he’ll be 35 years old which is OLD for a professional point guard.
Bottom line, I am happy for AI, but I really wonder what is going on in his head and why it’s always about the money and never about practice!
—–
Here’s how I think his season will go:
His first game – against the Pistons – he’ll score about 25-30. He’ll average this and more over the first few weeks and then teams will clamp down on him. He’ll finish the year averaging 17 points on 23 shots a night with barely 5 assists and barely 4 rebounds a night. He’ll miss the playoffs and he will NOT be an all-star.
September 10, 2009 at 12:42 pm · Filed under Personal
It's coming ...
It appears that my service provider (ISP) is changing the physical location of my server, therefore my site will experience a short period of down time in the next day or two.
This down time will last anywhere between 24-48 hours.
So it’s not that we’ve gone dark, it’s that our ISP is upgrading things on their end.
I went with my son, RJ, tonight and registered him for the Steve NashYouth Basketball Program that is being run out of Basketball Manitoba this season.
It is, essentially, a Community Club League that caters to 5-7 year olds and emphasizes the fun and fundamentals of basketball.
My kid has been badgering me all summer about playing basketball and I decided that he was finally ready to try the sport out for himself. I am gonna do my best to keep him focused on it and to not let anyone (including myself) ruin the sport for him. I want him to LOVE the game the way that I do.
So this league plays and practices once a week each. Which means that I my transformation into the Dark Side is now complete as I am essentially a Hockey / Soccer / Basketball Parent.
The only thing left is a “My son is an honour roll student” bumper sticker!
To be fair, I am excited about watching him bumble about on the court and I am eager to take video of his very first foray into organized basketball.
And who knows, in 10 or 15 years (when I am 50 ….. wtf?) we may get to play in the 3 on 3 on the same team! lol. That would be fun.
Cuz I am still gonna be ballin at 50. For sure. And if not, I’ll come out of retirement for one or two off-seasons!
This is a video I found on YouTube (where else?) that shows you one of the cooler features that comes with Wii Sports: Basketball!
You can play a Pick Up Game or get into a 3 point shootout with your closest friends without the sweat, elbows or nasty ankle sprains or bruises!
I’ll tell you what I know: The 3 Point Shootout is WAAAAY more fun than the pickup game, in my humble opinion.
The Pickup game (a simplified 3 on 3 game) requires a fairly obscure control scheme for the players and it is difficult getting the timing right and figuring out which buttons to press for cuts, drives or jab steps and you only control one of the 3 players at a time. Plus the D is acorn dumb. Your defenders – who resemble Men’s League players more than I’d like to admit – fall at the first cross over or missed steal attempt! So if you are both n00bs, then you might have fun laughing at the players falling and trying to get the timing down right. But if you are playing with an owner of the game, or someone who plays it often, then prepare to be blanked! scores of 11-0 or 16-0 are not far fetched! Overall it is fun, but by the end of the second game, I was upset cuz my guys were nothing more than glorified pylons and the game came with a complete lack of a “goon” button. So play at your own risk!
The 3 point shootout mini game, however, is a BLAST to play! It’s like the NBA 3 point shootouts at All Star Weekend. I don’t think I have ever had so much fun shooting virtual threes …. ever! And I’ve played every NBA Live since ’95 and most of the NBA 2K series! For starters, the shooting mechanics require a grab and let go mechanic which is not hard to figure out. But because of the motion controller, you actually have to shoot with proper form in order to get your shot to go in! Shoot to the left and your shot will clang, shoot to the right and your shot will clang. Let go too early and it’s a brick. Let it go too late and it’s an airball. It was a very slick interface which took a tiny bit of time to understand. By the end of the minigame, I had the technique down and I was drilling 3s with reckless abandon. The best part is that ANYONE can play. So if your spouse or girlfriend throws down, she actually has a very good chance to beat you and get a much better score – Not to mention the bragging and humiliation you would have to suffer, which is a must for a party game!
GREAT for a party or friendly get together, Wii Sports Resort Basketball is a good time for all! I highly recommend it if you are a hoop head.
Oh yeah, with other sports such as table tennis, bowling, golf , archery, frisbee and a mini game that can only be described as a Wii Lightsaber fight (perfect for the Star Wars dork in all of us), among others, this game packs a lot of fun in a short amount of time.
