8 posts tagged “basketball”
Head on over to ESPN's Sports Guy (www.sportsguy.net) and read all about Bill Simmons' take on my favorite team's journey to greatness. While you're at it, go through as much of Bill Simmons' stuff as you can. Best damn sports writer right now.
This season is really something else, as the Sports Guy has pointed out...
In a related story, the Suns are 26-2 in their last 28 games. Here were their two losses:
Dec. 22: They lose to the Wizards in OT (144-139) in a game that Arenas tied with a 3-point play in regulation, then Nash missed a wide-open 3 that could have ended it.
Dec. 28: They lose in Dallas by two (101-99) when Nowitzki made a jumper with 0.1 seconds left.
With two reasonable breaks (Nash making the 3-pointer, Nowitzki missing the jumper), the Suns could be working on a 28-game winning streak right now.
I've mentioned that to three people over the last 48 hours and all of them said the same thing: "Wait a second ... whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat??????"
Can't wait for the inevitable Suns-Mavs Western Conference Final in May. Go Phoenix.
It was a Power Books Saturday night for the wifey and me, and I must say we had a pretty good loot from this trip, with a little something for everyone...
1) Everyday Italian, by Giada De Laurentiis. Yes, Nigella Lawson is a bigger (figuratively and literally) domestic goddess, but I actually like Giada a lot more. She's got that Natalie Portman-esque beauty that leaves me breathless and her cooking I think is much simpler and a lot more fun. What the wifey likes about Giada is that she leaves you with a feeling that "Hey, I can do that too." And whatever she cooks is much more practical and interesting than anything Rachel Ray cooks up in 30 very rushed minutes. Definitely cook-able recipes, with lots of beautiful pictures of both the food and the chef. Can't wait to try out the Italian Egg Sandwich.
2) The Little Gulay Book, by Gene Gonzales. Because I always insist on having gulay, and it's time we expand our repertoire of vegetable dishes. This also gives me further ideas on Making Nutrition Joyful.
3) Dora and Barney books from the bargain bin. Each for less than 100 pesos ($2.00). To add to SamSara's expanding library. I love how Sam's face lit up when she saw these in the morning.
4) SLAM Magazine. I actually should just save the 450 bucks ($ 9.00 !!!) I spend on this magazine every month, but I could never resist buying it whenever I see the latest issue. This magazine's still got the best "Basketball is Life, Life is Basketball" feel that I'm always a sucker for. And behind those hip-hop, trash talking columns are some of the best sports writing I've ever encounterd. Ironic that this month's cover story is about Melo finally getting his props. But at press time, he's currently serving a 15-game suspension and when he comes back, he may not even be The Man anymore at Denver. Worse than the 15-game suspension is his image, which took awhile to finally elevate, getting tarnished by the vision of him sneaking in a stupid sucker punch, and backpedalling to safety like a coward... Big crying shame.
A lot of people won't give a hoot about this blog entry. But I'd like to be able to remember who I voted into the NBA All-Star Game for 07.
West
- Nash - Duh. Especially after seeing the 2OT Nets-Suns instant classic where he quietly exploded for 42. The man's aging gracefully, and we can only hope we get to be the same.
- Kobe - It's quite apt he changed his number to 24. Like Jack Bauer, he always seems to be able to save his team in crunch time.
- Dirk - Diggler deserves this spot. Dominant. And in a really good team.
- Shawn Marion - He's been too underrated for too long. Matrix deserves to start and be recognized.
- Yao - Sorry Amare. No matter how huge a Suns fan I am, Yao has found his inner badass and is learning dominate. It's just a shame bad back TMac can't stay healthy.
East
- DWade - How could I not?
- Vince Carter - This is the vote I'm half regretting. I think I should've just voted for Gil Zero.
- LeBron - He's Not the Next. He's the First.
- Paul Pierce - Still toiling away for the Celtics. Couldn't think of any other deserving forwards so...
- Dwight Howard - Saw him play on some games this year. This man-child's a beast and will only get better.
(So my team is having a sluggish start this season. But they also had one last year, and they eventually figured it all out. Still too early to worry. Go Suns.)
Never was a big fan of Dwyane Wade the player. I'm now a huge fan of Dwyane Wade the person. This is a nice story I picked up from a Yahoo Sports columnist. Especially touching for someone who has 'basketball coach' as one of his 'top 5 jobs if money were no object'. And a good reminder to always bring real appreciation.
MIAMI – Finally, Dwyane Wade had disappeared off his college coach's television set on the night the basketball world would belong to the Miami Heat's
star. Marquette's Tom Crean watched his former player take the NBA
championship and the Finals MVP award and watched him take it all with
a grace and genius the sport hadn't witnessed since No. 23 flashed
across the sky.
Maybe Crean should've stayed up past 12:30 a.m. that late June
night, trusted his instincts that Wade wouldn't let such a monumental
moment pass without a gesture of gratitude. Nevertheless, Crean turned
off his cell phone and went to sleep.
Somewhere between the arena in Dallas and the Heat's hotel, with a world coming faster, coming furiously, with the whole sport suddenly spinning on his finger, Wade called his coach at 1:30 a.m. and left a voicemail – the kind every teacher dreams of getting from a student.
| |
And as Crean listened to the message on his drive across
Highway 43 into Milwaukee that next morning, it was hard for
Marquette's gifted young coach to feel too tough with the way he had
cried and cried and cried.
This is Wade's way of touching people, his way of making them
feel like they're way up there with him, arm and arm, dancing on stars.
I will put variety in this blog and not talk about basketball all the time, but indulge me on this bit (I'm really just glad the season has started). On my desk at work is an action figure (ok, a toy -- but still in its box, to maintain its value. hehe.) of Steve Nash, two-time NBA MVP and point guard of the Phoenix Suns. It's just a reminder for myself to help make others better and help bring out their potential in however way I can. And it's a reminder that when I could have all the glory to myself -- I'll pass.
Also check out this link. Steve Nash as one of the TIME 100: The People Who Shape Our World.
The new NBA season begins today (much to the chagrin of the wifey). Let the good times roll. I'm rooting for my Phoenix Suns to win it all. Chances look good, with Nash in peak condition, Matrix still contributing his all-around brilliance, 3D redefining the point-forward/point-center role, Ra-Ra and KT relishing being the enforcers, The Brazilian Blur building on a breakout season. Big question is STAT but I'm sure D'Antoni will find a way to bring him in smoothly. I hope to see a Bulls-Suns Finals, just like in 1993 -- which was a heartbreaker. Hope that Nash, Matrix, STAT and co. will fare much better than Sir Charles, KJ, Thunder Dan and co.
I just love this team. The unselfishness, the passing, the running, the gunning. They play a beautiful game.
Go Suns. Redefine what it takes to be a champion.
