Stay Golden Ponyboy

I think its time for another post (Im new to this so as I get better I hope to post everyday) and Id like to talk about the videos I posted. Those ones that are hanging out over to the right. I posted 4 videos (I think only 3 work) and they are all of Michael Jordan. Some of you may be wondering why MJ? In reality its a very simple answer, Michael reminds me to always be a kid. It all started in second grade. To that point in my life I was well versed in the Lakers (it was Primetime) but wasnt hip to many other NBA teams. Then I discovered MJ. Everyday during the morning, lunch, and afternoon recess time I WAS Michael Jordan. My good friend Mark Macauley was Scottie Pippen ( I got to be MJ because I could jump higher) and we were amazing. We could do it all every move, every play, every wag of the tongue I had it down. When things werent looking good for 2nd grade MJ I knew I could dish the ball to 2nd grade Scottie and he would handle business. Needless to say we were unstoppable. Granted our competition wasnt great, Kristy Umimoto was definitely the best talent for the other team, but in our defense she did play basketball at a Junior College later in life. 2nd grade was amazing but as most things we had to move on. In 3rd grade I finally got to play for the "Junior Falcons" every La Crescenta boy's dream. Being a growing boy I needed new basketball shoes and so one afternoon my life changed forever. I still remember the afternoon I went with my mom to the Sports Chalet on Foothill Blvd and I got new shoes. Not just any shoes either, my mom dished out 45.99 (plus tax) and I laced up my first pair of Nike Air Jordans. Oh man I can still smell those shoes as I pulled them out of the box, all new and full of leaping ability. Im sure more then a few times during that basketball season I paused, mid game, and admired how great those shoes looked on my feet. I might have realized in 3rd grade that I wasnt REALLY MJ but for 32 minuts on saturday we wore the same shoes.

And the list goes on: in 4th grade MJ played for the Dream Team and every shirt in my closet bore his likeness wearing number 9, his Olympic number. I can even remember that the Olympic team wore Reebok gear and Michael being a Nike man (as all good human beings should be) wasnt sure if he could wear the gear. But we all know he wore the gear and the Dream Team won the Gold with ridiculous ease. I remember the first 3 championships I remember coming home from school one day and watching a replay of his press conference announcing his first retirement. I remember 45 I remember the next 3 championships. I remember staring at the picture of Jordan's game winning shot for the 6th championship (studying it if you will) Jordan holding his perfect follow threw high above his head while Russell struggles to get his footing back and, my favorite part of the picture, the entire section behind the basket in perfect focus. I can tell you that there is one Bulls fan ( the game was in Salt Lake) in that picture raising his arms as the shot goes threw, hes about half way up slightly left of center. My favorite fan is a woman about 5 rows up to the left her lips giving away the swear she is about to let out. I remember the joy I felt thinking that MJ was going out on top having made the championship winning shot in such a classic way.

Now how do all these memories remind me to be a kid? Because whenever I think of MJ and conjure up these great memories nothing else matters. I am reminded why I am so enamored with a game. I am reminded where and when basketball started making me feel so complete. As I get older and am reminded constantly that life is serious and I need to take it as such it is great to be able to remember these times when I didnt just admiringly watch Jordan but for a little while everyday I WAS Jordan.

Im not sure if these videos remind you of anything but I hope that they might help you remember something that does hold signifigance. Something that you held dear as a child not because you understood its importance but because you loved it in a way only a child can. So if you read this, take a second, watch a video or two, and see what comes to mind.

Random Thoughts

Its been a great week so far. Ive got a new job and the NBA has started. Halloween was a blast (Ill have more thoughts on that tomorrow. Lifes pretty great right now and things seem to keep getting better. I hope everyone else is enjoying themselves.

I love this time of year!

This is such a great time of year and here's why. This is the ultimate sports season. Major League Baseball is finishing up the World Series (dont get me started on this years debacle), College Football and the NFL are in full swing, the NBA and College basketball are getting started, and for the 11 hockey fans still out there the NHL is getting underway. Monday Night we've got NFL football, Tuesday and Wednesday there are a plethora (insert 3 amigos joke here) of NBA and College Basketball games as well as the NHL on whatever Hunting channel it currently resides, Thursday there's a College Football game, Friday more NBA and College Basketball as well as a College Football game, Saturday its wall to wall College Football and Basketball, and Sunday I lose my mind trying to follow my fantasy players in their various NFL games. The fact that I find time to attend school and even eat is a miracle. The great thing in our day and age is not only can I watch games on TV but I can spend hours online following every rumor, injury, and inside report of all my favorite teams. At any given time of the day I can be found pouring over any number of websites, blogs, and fan forums trying to fill my mind with as much information as possible. Needless to say Im the hit of any social function spouting Quarter Back ratings and Free Throw percentages and any other useless stats Ive accumulated in my brain. Armed with this knowledge I find myself tima and time again battling my friends over who is the best team, Power Forward, Running Back, Coach, or Goalie (that was for the 11 hockey fans.) The debates are always endless and completely subjective so all parties leave feeling like they've proven their point.

I imagine by now it is obvious why this is a great time of year. For those of you who havent yet fully embraced the spirit of the season I say to you "Open your eyes to the greatness that surrounds you. Take five minutes and browse ESPN.com or your favorite teams website. Find a fan forum, create an avatar, and start posting what you love about (insert your favorit team or player here)" I can promise as you open yourself up to the sheer joy of a "Sports November" you will never see Autumn the same way again. So get out there and start enjoying!

Links of the Day!

For all you NBA fans out there: www.myespn.go.com/nba/truehoop

College Basketball Fans: www.collegehoopsnet.com

For all you Cougar fans: www.cougarblue.com

I need to figure out how to make these links clickable but until then check them out.

Oh baby!

So this is it, my first Blog. Ive made a tough but neccesary decision to the leave the sad world of online communities and start laying out coherent, funny, and hopefully intelligent thoughts. So stay tuned because Im about to make magic!