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Monday, August 25, 2008

The Olympics are over....

And what a great 16 days it was! There really is no other events like the Olympics it really does bring the whole world together for 2 weeks and change and is always special. It makes you care to watch or see new sports that for 4 years you dont give a crap about until you see Bob Costas talking up the big name players in the event and hear that Olympic music blaring in the background (and it truly is some amazing music, one of my favorite sports theme songs. Which would be a good idea for a writing)

So many great moments and I'm positive that I missed some that I'm still learning about, mainly because NBC likes to keep the focus solely on Americans.

But I have realized that after watching the Olympics I like watching the sport of volleyball, but it's not ever covered over here, even though I would say the most entertaining women's sport to watch. But I watched the men's volleyball too, and this was probably the best showing US volleyball has ever had so maybe it will help it get more exposure on TV so I dont forget about it until London in 2012. There are also plenty of good looking women in volleyball of all ethnicities, I enjoyed getting to watch the Venezuelan indoor team vs. the US because they decided to wear bikini bottoms kind of like a beach team, some had some fantastic hineys! But that's not to say the US were without some, like Kim Glass. President Bush seemed to take quite a liking to Misti May



President Bush is one of the goofiest people I've ever seen and I have found the perfect comparison to him...Wade Phillips! These 2 guys are exactly alike, I'll blog on this later but trust me, they are very similar.


But seriously it was fun watching the women and men's beach volleyball tandems, sometimes I enjoy watching domination. About the most dominating performance I saw this past Olympics (save Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps) was watching Phil Dalhausser in the gold medal game vs. Brazil. Him and his partner won the 1st set and blew an early lead in the 2nd set and had seemingly lost momentum going into the 3rd and final game. The 3rd and final set is only played to 15, but no worries to the 6'8 Dalhausser, he killed! He had 9 blocks in the game and 6 of them came in the final set, Brazil was getting them past this monster early in the game hitting finesse shots in the right places, but then started losing composure early in the final set. And that's when Phil wasn't letting anything past him, they got out to a 9-1 lead and by that time Brazil knew what was up and the match was the US and so was the gold.

Big props to the US women's team and I guess the men's team though I paid no attention to them, nor would I have even if the Hamm brothers were healthy, still have to feel sorry for them though for working there ass off for 4 years (especially the body damage you can do being a gymnast) and then injuring yourself a month or 2 prior to the games. And for the 2nd straight Olympics a gymnast from Collin County has won the gold in All Around, 1st was Carly Patterson and now it's Nastia Liukin.


By the way, look here at Shawn Johnson, I simply can't believe that she is 16, she is adorable, I dont like to use the word cute but that's what she is, you just look at her and say to yourself, "AWWWWWWWW" a pedophile's wet dream, not to say all gymnast aren't. Most don't look grown up at all, though Nastia did and so did Alicia Sacramone.


And now onto Michael Phelps, him and his relay team presented 2 of my favorite sports moments of the year, 1st the relay, not only did the US swimmer make a near improbable comeback but he did it against the French, which probably made every American 2 times as happy. And the reaction from Phelps and his teammates were icing on the cake, I love seeing a guy like that win, but then to show that much emotion makes you want to cheer even more, which is 10 times better then a Kobe or Jordan normally being very reserved about everything. And then seeing Phelps barely pull out the 200 Individual Medley was just as cool, just seeing how close it actually was and seeing Phelps never give up, because without that final lunge he finishes 2nd and ties the Olympic record with 7 golds rather then 8 olympic golds that he eventually won. This guy is just a machine though, I just can't imagine how you can eat 10-12000 calories a day, and now that he's been doing it for so long how will he be able to get off those eating habits. I'd like to see him in some eating contests like trying to eat a 72 oz. steak, or I once saw that in Washington state there is this place that serves a 4 pound pancake, but no one could ever finish it.

And now onto the US men's basketball team, I'm not going to lie I kinda wanted to see them fail, why you ask? Sometimes I like seeing expectations not met. And to take a quote from Wilt Chamberlain, "Nobody roots for Goliath" Now you may be wondering why I would root for the top dogs like Michael Phelps or Misti May/Kerri Walsh but not the "Redeem Team" and the answer is, I'm not as invested in those sports nor do I follow them like I follow basketball so obviously I'm not familiar enough with the competition, plus there wasn't a real legitimate threat who would dethrone them anyways. There are just players on the US team that I don't like for various reasons and think it would be too funny to see them fail to meet expectations for the 2nd straight Olympics. My first choice would have been to see Dirk and ze Germans win gold but I knew that was farfetched, about the best they could have done is make it to the medal round, but they couldn't even beat China to do that. But the Gold Medal Game of the US vs. Spain was an amazing game and had it not been for Dwyane Wade in the 1st half and Kobe Bryant in the 4th quarter, they would have lost to this up and coming Spain team.


I think this could be the start of a nice rivalry of international play between these 2 teams. The Spaniards have the Gasol brothers, I still think Pau Gasol is a wuss and though he scored 21 points in the gold medal game, he missed a couple of bunny's, but his brother Marc, that is a specimen. He is so much bigger then his brother it's almost hard to believe they're related, I was skeptical on his ability in the pro's but I think he can come in next year for the Grizzlies and be a Luis Scola type player easily. And then Juan Carlos Navarro was breaking down the defense at will and penetrating into the lane, I still don't understand why he is heading back to Europe after having a good rookie season, especially since fellow Spaniard Marc will be joining him. And the 2 main reasons I think the Spanish will have a shot at beating the US maybe some day is Ricky Rubio and Rudy Fernandez, Rubio is only 17 and will be a top 10 and potentially top 3 pick next year. He's already great defensively and is improving offensively, he didn't shoot as much as I would have liked but did a nice job creating opportunities for his teammates. And he's a top player already in one of the best leagues in Europe.


And Rudy Fernandez was without a doubt the star of the game for Spain, and what's even scarier is he's going to be a Portland Trailblazer, if Greg Oden stays healthy and they can get a half decent PG this team could be looking at a dominant run, the possibilities are endless. They have a top 5 SG, a potential top C in the league defensively and we don't even know how good his offense is because he played his freshman year with his off hand. Then Lamarcus Aldridge is a top 10 PF and become an All Star once the likes of Dirk and Tim Duncan get older. And they have 3 quality small forwards also, with Fernandez, Martell Webster and Travis Outlaw, all excel in different facets of the game. And then they added freshman sensation from U. of Arizona Jerryd Bayless, he seems like a combo guard based on his college #'s but sometimes that is what a team like this needs. The only thing they really lack is a veteran presence but some may find that overrated. But back to Rudy, he's very versatile, he has the handles to play and/or guard the 1-3 positions, and he has a sweet shot w/some great hops. The dunk he had on Dwight Howard was sick.


I'd say the weakness to the US team this year was the inside game, Howard was limited and not that dominant and Chris Bosh isn't a C. I thought there lack of size would be there weakness, and if China had more talent around Yao they could give the US a run for there money, but they don't. But in 2012 I predict Greg Oden will provide a large interior presence to the US so there problems might be solved.

I also like the FIBA rules, it's a very entertaining game, not to mention quick, I'm curious if the NBA would become more popular if the NBA cut TV timeouts in half and reduced team called timeouts. It will never happen because ad revenue is part of what keeps the league going but if you watch a nationally televised game on TNT, it's going to last at minimum 2 hours and 45 minutes. The title game couldn't have lasted longer then 2 hours and change. You get in, you get out, you have a great time. But I think if the NBA adopted some of the International rules it could be better for the league. One thing I like is the physicality, though the refs were inconsistent, at times they'd be calling touch fouls then the next time down a player would get mauled and it'd be a no call. The things I hate though is the trapezoid lane, the 5 fouls (though if it's 10 minute quarters it makes sense) and the ball, that ball just seemed different, which is why the NBA scrapped plans when they switched to the international ball.


But overall I thouroughly enjoyed these games and can't wait 4 years when the Summer games in London.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Discipline

So in about 6 hours I'm heading off to Stillwater where I will be an Oklahoma St. Cowboy. I'm excited yet a little nervous. This will be my 3rd college in the 3 years and like the other 2 I'm pissed off because I won't be able to for at least the 1st semester get to participate in my major of choice because of GPA requirements. For those that don't know I want my major to be radio/broadcast journalism. It's that last word 'Journalism' that pretty much makes it have a GPA requirement. And though it's not an out of this world requirement for a slacker like me it kind of is. I have a 2.32 and need a 2.5, it will go up slightly after my summer school classes.

And it was today when I went to turn in my final to my English teacher Mr. Yarbrough. Fantastic teacher, I only had him for 5 weeks but he's one of the 4 best teachers I've had in college. I think that partly speaks on his teaching abilities, but also on other teachers, part of the problem with college is the teachers don't do much teaching, just lecture after lecture and note taking. It's supposed to be an enhanced learning experience and thought provoking where the majority of the classes you take are the exact opposite.

But thats beside the point as I'm rambling again, I get back my 1st paper I wrote and see I made a 60 on it, that's the bad part, the good part is he says I have the potential to be a great writer and have a sort of poetic style in writing. The problem was it's sloppy and undisciplined, in other words it looks like something you started working on 2 hours before class, which I did. And that pretty much sums up my whole life, especially academically since around 5th grade. I have no disciplined, no real drive, especially when it comes to things I'm not interested. It's almost amazing that I have a GPA above 2 with the lack of work I do. Normally when a paper is due, I "start" on it 3 hours before, horse around the computer for about an hour to hour an d a half then whip something together in 20 minutes to an hour then turn it in. Sometimes it works, other times teachers can see through the bullshit.

Part of the problem is this stupid shit known as MLA format, why is it that every paper must be the same structure P.O.S? He says he used to be the same way but you have to figure out how to fix your mistakes and write like everyone else, no matter how annoying it is. So obviously not being very informed about the rules and writing a paper seemingly on the fly as I scramble for sources it will obviously look sloppy.

I just wonder what is wrong with me and why am I so unmotivated to try new things or to work my ass off? Obviously long term it will lead to good things but short term I'm just getting a grade and on the whole uninterested. I wonder if I need to try and get some adderall, some of my friends take it, it almost sounds like steroids for school, but it works for them. It'd probably just make me focus more intently on an article I'm reading or movie I'm watching.

What makes a person lazy and what makes him not want to try and go out and fix there laziness? Why do I lack discipline when it comes to school? And why am I so afraid to go out and try and meet new people? Why am I so damn scared?

How is it that a person can point out practically every flaw about himself and then not try and change them? Does my laziness help shape my personality? Does it make me funny or give me some sort of comedic timing when making a joke a witty comment?

I've hardly cracked a book since 10th grade, my grades haven't been stellar since about 7th grade, as my dad's told me a hundred times I just do the bare minimum, and I don't exactly understand why I'm perfectly content with it. Part of the reason is people are afraid to stand out or even ask a question in class, I'm part of that crowd mostly but I don't like being associated with that crowd for the most part. I don't want to stand out because I don't want people to have a real opportunity to judge me and be thought of as a douchebag, I'm so self-conscious about everything, almost always afraid of looking like a moron. Just last week I was going to a party and without even thinking I get in a car with a pair of stained jeans and a raggedy Dallas Mavericks t-shirt. This was mainly with a bunch of people I'd never met and even before I had opened the door I already felt like a moron. Why can't I let things go, I always re-think conversations thinking of how much of an idiot I must have sounded like just because of one dumb thing I said or did and making myself feel like a complete tool.

Even this thing I'm writing right now is undisciplined, when I go and re-read it it'll just be sloppy and take on all sorts of directions. I just hope something in me changes when I get to Stillwater, there's a 99% chance it won't happen, even if I have the opportunity to change it, I'm just not that type of guy, for christ sake I've had the same comforter since I was in kindergarten, I hate changing things, I hate trying new things and meeting new people. But look where that's got me, I'm unhappy and for the most part a loser, despite being a complete badass. As cocky as it sounds if you got to know me I'm sure you'd feel that way.

But it's time to get disciplined, wake up on time the first time my alarm goes off and not the 5th, finally open a damn book instead of paying 80 bucks a book to see them collect dust. It's a new year in Stillwater, GO COWBOYS!