Blog title change!

Changed the title of the blog from This is love, this is life to Jabberjaw in Singers. With due credit to Pat, my long distance best friend. It's all good in the hood with him now. :)

It's been a month...

Writing this from my bed at the Citadines in Bangkok (third time in Bangers this year, 7th overall since 2007), one big fish after another for the Anaheim Angels. Two Rangers signed to multimillion dollar deals in consecutive years (CJ Wilson signed last year) plus Albert Pujols. Arte Moreno sure does have hidden wads of million dollar bills deep inside his pocket. By not resigning the ageing Tori Hunter, and going after a division rival free agent, lets see if this move pays off. Josh Hamilton was signed to a 5 year contract approximately the same amount that Pujols is making per season. Last year the Oakland A's leapfrogged everyone by surprise and made it to the ALDS before losing in five games to Detroit. Would the team that makes the biggest splash in free agency win the World Series next year? We shall see. The Yankees who have the highest payroll have only won it twice in the past decade, at the opening and closing, in 2000 and 2009.  Many questions await, how would Josh Hamilton assimilate into Los Angeles where the drug dealers a'plenty and the girls around? Would he have a relapse? The lineup of Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton, if they were to go anywhere in the 3-4-5 batting order sure does spell NIGHTMARE for every pitcher, especially when they are on a red hot hitting streak.

Josh Hamilton has been an inspiration to me, for years following his trail to stardom in the major leagues. He took the road less traveled going off track with drugs and alcohol abuse but eventually made it to an everyday player and voted to start in the All Star game and winning league MVP which solidified his remarkable achievements. Not many people can overcome these obstacles and become ultimately successful, but Hamilton has beat all the odds, shut the naysayers up. All that is missing from his storied resume is that elusive World Series title to his name, which he came up short, twice. In 2010 losing to the San Francisco Giants in 5 games, and last year in a heartbreaking 7 games to the Cinderella St Louis Cardinals.

In short.

I didn't feel like writing cause the Yankees got swept, after game 1 when they lost in extra innings, they hardly put up a fight vs Detroit. Jeter got injured, everyone was defeated and couldn't wait to go home for the winter. San Francisco played Cinderella and the St Louis Cardinals had a meltdown after going up 3-1 in the series. If Tony La Russa was still managing, this would not have happened. All of America had geared up for Detroit winning the World Series, sportswriters and previews spoke highly of Detroit pitching and Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera. However... in game 1, Justin Verlander was rocked hard and only lasted four innings, thanks to a panda, Pablo Sandoval who socked two homeruns off the reigning AL MVP/Cy Young in his first two at bats. The media was scambling for answers to Verlander's meltdown when he had been flawless this postseason. Game 2 and 3 became a pitching duel, where the Giants prevailed, and game 4 went to extra innings and of course, the Giants prevailed, Jim Leyland and his team were embarrassed on their home turf. 29 other teams will not receive rings. Bring on 2 years ago again!

NBA season is back, college football season is winding down with three games to go. USC has become the choke artist of college football this year. Losing bad, and no BCS for them! 

The Saint Louis Cardinals refuse to go away!

Down to their last strike, with two straight batters on deck, they walked. The bases were loaded, and Daniel Descalso hit a routine groundball (which should have been fielded) up the middle and two runs scored, tying the game. This reminds me of last year in game 6 in the World Series when the Texas Rangers were going to win the title, but those Redbirds never gave up.

As I speak, Cosma (need to edit for his name) hit a line drive and another two runs were packed on. Totally resilient! Then the Washington Nationals went down in order in the bottom of the 9th, sending them home for the winter.

And on the other hand, the Yankees have won!!!!!!!!!!!

CC Sabathia pitched a complete game giving up only four hits and one run! Bring on the rematch of the 2011 ALDS again, starting tomorrow. I am so afraid of Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Doug Fister, Austin Jackson and Prince Fielder.

So they had a bad day...

2 teams had their postseason dreams come to an end today. Goodbye to the Cincinatti Reds and Oakland A's. One Cinderella has ran out of magic. It was certainly a good run for the A's. All hope is not lost in the Bay Area with San Francisco advancing.

Also, there will be a game five for Washington/St Louis and Baltimore/Yankees. I don't quite recall when was the last time that all first round posteason series had came down to the winner take all, loser go home and cry game.

Just when October couldn't get even more wild, it just did!

Everybody knows he's got the magic!

Who am I talking about? Raul Ibanez has the magic in him! Two homeruns coming up as a pinch hitter for the slumping Alex Rodriguez who went 0-3 with 2 strikeouts. Joe Giradi decided to bench ARod and sent up the 40 year old veteran who is chasing that elusive World Series title after coming up short with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2009-2011! Forever in the history books.

Down 2-1, in the bottom of the 9th and scoring their only run in the third inning. Raul Ibanez came up to bat for the first time, and at the second pitch he saw, that ball is drilled deep to right field. Going, going, gone! HOMERUN! Game tied! The Yankees certainly wouldn't go away. Time to go into extra innings! Three innings later, first man up to bat in the 12th, Ibanez sent that ball into the upper deck of the seats in right field. Game over, Yankees take a 2-1 series lead and could close it out tomorrow evening!

The Baltimore Orioles resemble an annoying ex partner that refuses to go away and seems to keep up and chase non stop. Seriously, let the 27-time champions show you how its done.
I need another World Series Champions tshirt.

In other playoff news,

The St Louis Cardinals have shown the inexperienced rookie Washington National team which hasn't been to the playoffs way before I was born who is king. Chris Carpenter, slowed by injuries pitched a shutout, at the expense of his former team mate, Edwin Jackson who won a World Series ring with the Cardinals last year. Bryce Harper has hit the rookie wall. Too much arrogance will cause you to crack, at the wrong time when you know you have to help your team drive in runs. Mike Mattheny was totally underrated and has performed above and beyond expectations as a rookie manager taking over the defending World Series Champions who had lost the man who is almost as famous as Budweiser in St Louis to Disneyland.

The Bay Area teams live to see another day of California sunlight, and dream big. Oakland scored 3 runs in the bottom 9th and won the game on a walk off hit by the experienced Coco Crisp, sending the crowd into a frenzy and love spread all around. The Giants won by a comfortable margin.

Yankees= AL East Champions, yet again.

13th division crown in 17 years. Back to the post season, here we go! Clinching on the final night of the regular season, with a sweep of the hapless Red Sox in routing fashion and the Orioles losing sealed the deal. How sweet can this get? The Red Sox had called up most of their minor league prospects in this miserable season and finished in last place.

The last time the Kentucky Wildcats won the NCAA title for men's basketball, the Yankees won the World Series. One can only hope that there will be a repeat of 1996.

Thinking is easy, but the doing is hard.

Been inspired to edit my blog after reading tons of professional blogs over the past week and adding on an "about me" section, and sample "professional work". Having specific tags and themes for each post, rather than clumping everything into one. Hmm.

Still trying to figure how to construct this post, of random thoughts classified into their respective sports. Incoherency enters the bloodstream when on the booze wagon, but not now. It can't rock me like a hurricane. I need to have some form of structure, and practice what I parrot to students when judging debates/giving them constructive feedback.

AL Baseball: Less than two weeks till the season is over. So much for Anaheim overpaying for Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson. They didn't live up to the hype. Third place in the AL West? Who would have thought that Oakland, with a paltry payroll would be playing bridesmaid to Texas in vying for a spot for the wildcard? Not me. Mark Trumbo and Mike Trout are the future of Anaheim. Not a fan of the team, my gut feeling has Trout winning AL Rookie of the year in a landslide. (Sorry, Pat- your Angels will be staying home in October after a good 4, 5 months of trash talking with you about Angels rocking and my Yankees that suck as you said. Still friends, yea?)

Boston could very well lose 90 games for the first time since the 90's when I was still in elementary school. Bobby Valentine was clearly not the right candidate as the skipper for the team. Right from the get-go of the season, the Red Sox played the slow and painful sinking of the Titanic, ironically on the hundredth anniversary. No prizes for guessing this: Who played the Captain? Bobby Valentine, of course! What a way to go down in style. The Red Sox season has been a soap opera and a bad drama series with nothing but arguing and deceit and accusations. No fried chicken, beer guzzling and video gaming sob's like last year. Well, Josh Beckett, one of the main culprits has been shipped off to the Dodgers with the poster bust child, Carl Crawford.

As for the AL Central, the White Sox might very well win the division and could be a cinderella come October. Robin Ventura has done a fantastic job, going above and beyond expectations in his rookie season as manager. Detroit was supposed to have ran away with the division, but no.

Last but not least, the Yankees have attempted to pull a Red Sox of 2011 collapse in the final month. Baltimore is neck-in-neck with them, the leech that refuses to fall off your skin despite multiple burnings. That's how I view the Orioles. It annoys me that I get so stressed and nerve-wrecked because no win is safe, and two straight losses could spell the takeover and lead given to the Orioles.

Come on Yankees!!!

The NL in one blab: The Phillies season has been an ultimate failure. Washington's dominance has signaled a changing of the guard. The Reds are either hot or ice cold. They might flame out in the division series. So much for Ozzie Guillen's first season in Miami. He couldn't walk the talk and could walk the plank this offseason and end up in the unemployment sack. The Giants have done surprisingly well despite Melky Cabrera's suspension. Dodgers are an ultimate flop. Houston won't do any better next season when they move to the AL West.

In other words, I've had a rough past month(s) and am no longer at that job. It's a learning experience for sure. And to a certain someone, I'm glad we're still friends. :)

Oh, and in college football news, what do Matt Barkley and Peyton Manning have in common? Both have failed to beat their biggest rival teams in every collegiate season they've played. Matt Barkley failed to beat Stanford, with last week's loss to the Cardinals, in his senior season.

Someone met Ben Howland and the UCLA team in China. I'm jealous. Would've been a million times even more if it was the UNC team.

A million thoughts running through my head, but nothing concrete and definite coming out. Been stuck in a rut, in the mud, and can't figure a way out. I need to write. Badly. And the thoughts aren't able to flow properly. The cross between a hurricane and the aftermath when everything is gone and damaged.

Dreams come crashing down like a helicopter shot down in a war torn country. Head down, in a funk. Downward spiral, falling faster, deeper into the pits of the unknown. The feeling of being pulled even further by quicksand sucking you in like going down a never ending drain pipe leading into the sewage, full of darkness. No hope, no chance of survival of reaching sturdy ground to stand on, a free disaster, death wish. Maybe death could come faster and spare the pain and agony and terrifying hell?

"I was here"

One of my favorite things I enjoy doing when I'm out of the country:

Writing on the walls/tables when I'm out of town in a bar/establishment/ guestbook! I absolutely love looking at scribbles especially when others scribble where they are from and adding an extra especially across the big pond makes me feel very privileged and lucky that I was able to be so far out there. Plus the added emo bonus when reminiscing. Here are five photos of me making my mark, enjoy!

The bathroom stall door- Cask and Flagons next to Fenway Park, Boston, MA. January 2012.

MBK Stationery Store (on the testing paper). Bangkok, Thailand May 2011. (That was intended for the crush, who knows who he is.)

Feel Good Bar. Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand. June, 2012.

Bathroom stall in St James Gate Irish Pub. Rembrandtplein, Amsterdam, Netherlands. July, 2010.

Written on the table! And the hot LA boy knows who he is! Where the bucket was heavy and the shots were good and the beers were brewing for him (and me). Angkor What? Pub, Siem Reap, Cambodia. July 2012

Now that the Olympics are officially over,
Ten things that I have learned:

1. The Phelps isn't an instant gold medal generator. He failed to secure the coveted gold in three events. One of which, he did not even medal! Did the bong have an effect?
2. Jamaica has the fastest man and woman on earth.
3. There are probably at least 30 people who represented the state of California.
4. China would rather play it safe in diving.
5. Alex Morgan is going to be a huge womens soccer star for the next decade.
6. Did anyone see it coming-- Mexico winning mens soccer?!
7. The Kiwis have made a name for themselves with anything that has to do with a boat on the water.
8. USA Basketball. Both men and womens. Enough said. (And that is probably my last time rooting for Kobe!)
9. Latin America is rising up! And the fall of Southeast Asia... no country in ASEAN managed to win a single gold.)
10. I wish Def Leppard would have performed at the Opening/Closing ceremony. Okay. I didn't watch either cause I was too tired, and I have a 12 (or 16) self imposed time limit on work before I serve the papers and go forth in bringing my aspiration of being a teacher to reality.

It has been a good 2.5 weeks since the last time I posted here on my penultimate day of vacation.

To keep it short (for now), I had a blast with Pat. It was the hardest goodbye when we met up at the airport again for twenty minutes that very Friday for a short, but emotional farewell. (Romantic, maybe?) Most. Amazing. Person. Ever.

Since I've never actually met a friend  inside the airport, past customs to say those words. Well, I've had booze at 7:30am with Joseph, an attorneywhen I was headed to Korea and he was  headed back home to  LA for Christmas in 2009, but that doesn't count since he lives here.

Ventured into the great unknown, transcending cultural boundaries, stepping foot on new territory, walking on historic ground. I guess that sums up the trip.

Many firsts for me.
1. Meeting a friend on my own in a different country.
2. Spending 6 nights straight with a friend on vacation. (Pat, were you tired of me being in the same room? ;)) This was the longest time I've spent with anyone, just the two of us outta town.
3. Landing at dusk in Thailand. I've been there 6 times and land in broad day light! The lights coloring the city made me feel that this trip was going to be a blast-- it sure was.
4. Not staying in the Chidlom/Siam/National Stadium area for once. We stayed at where the cool pubs were!
5. 9 hours of traveling time by land to Siem Reap. And I thought the 4.5 hour bus ride from Boston to NYC was long... or the 4 hour bus ride from Val D'Isere to Lyon airport...or going back from Brussels to Utrecht (5 hours thanks to traffic!) Longest ever road trip.
6. Going to a new country.
7. Staying in a guest house. Okay, I've never done it before but it was awesome. Um, folks.
8. Watching a movie in a foreign country.
9. Not buying an item of clothing. Uh, every trip I go on I get at least a shirt, or even a pair of socks RE: Korea. The purchases I made were: Deodorant, lip gloss, acne wash, tea tree oil and a knock off iphone cable (thanks to the lovely Pat who gave me his old iphone as my graduation present-- awww!

I'll do a photo blog of things like "My 5 favorite things in a certain city." or 5 photos that sums up (insert city name) that I have been.

Can you spell college graduate?

And so, a week and a day ago, a goal that I had set out to accomplish had the closure and taken its course. I took the road less traveled, dropping out once, then enroling in a different school and had countless bumps and flips and spins like a trapeze artist/ball rolling around. So much had happened in the past five years, sounding like an over dramatic actress on stage. However, my time in college had to end. And it did with a degree to my name.

Walking up that stage, hearing my name called out loud (and mispronunced), I felt that sheer sense of relief and exhuberation clothing me. So much emotions running through my head. As I was told by the organizers during the briefing: Do not do anything funny. Go up there and shake the dignitaries hands and walk across and back to your seats. As much as I had been flashingly annoying in classes and made a name for myself by speaking up too much, I didn't want to mess this up. Just. Be. Normal. That's what I did. Like how everyone else went across the stage with no attention.

The rest of the ceremony was spent meddling around with my phone and I couldn't wait for it to end, knowing that I had a super long day ahead the next morning-- like a responsible adult, judging yet another debate tournament and making a couple bucks, and a super cool 6 days to look forward to-- time to get out of town to meet a special someone. Something I have been eagerly waiting for to happen for a good 2.5 months, and here I am now, coming towards the end of this 6 days sadly.

Olympic Trials fever!

I'm probably the only local, half a world away who has been watching the US Olympic swimming trials religiously online. After 2008 when the team had training camp here before Beijing, an online friend and I decided to wait around to try and meet the team on two evenings. I did so, four times in total since the team hotel was downtown. Those were the days of being a crazy fan. For example, heading downtown early Saturday afternoon before going for a music festival (thanks to having a free ticket from Joe) with bands I sort-of listened to during my teenage days (New Found Glory and Lost Prophets) and Travis that were playing. Boy, did I get lucky. And I must say, August 2, 2008 was one of the coolest days of my life meeting a ton of Olympians who had won medals/would be crowned.

The races were spectacular I must admit. My condolences to those who came so close but didn't make the team. Ie: Garret Weber Gale, who was part of the historic 4 by 100 free relay in Beijing, the senior statespeople like Ed Moses, Megan Quann-Jendrick, the mid-distance fly Kim Vandenberg, teenage sensation Amanda Beard and the list goes on on who I was rooting for.

Members from the 2008 team that will be competing in London that I have met:

Matt Grevers, Elizabeth Beisel, Rebecca Soni (the double breaststroke queen) and her boyfriend, Ricky Berens, Chloe Sutton, Kathleen Hersey, Kara Lyn Joyce (not too pleasant I must admit.) Ryan Lochte (*gasp, ladies you can start throwing rocks me*), Cullen Jones, Brendan Hansen and Eric Shanteau aka the guys I've camwhored with when I met them. I've met Eric twice and he was really humble and friendly. Brendan was laid back as chill.

Yankees have been goofing as of late, 2 straight losses to the White Sox who have suddenly established themselves as the AL Central team to beat. And the Red Sox are streaking and finally above .500 which worries me. Anaheim is getting better too, and no division lead is safe in the AL East till the regular season is over.

Now on to NBA musings... Who would've ever predicted that the first two top draft picks would come from the same school? Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd Gilchrist did it for the National Champion Wildcats... but sadly Thomas Robinson, the power forward from Kansas who received nationwide support and made headline news when he lost his grandparents and mother in the span of 3 weeks and had an elementary school-age sister to raise slid to the fifth pick. I admire his strength and how he became a dominant player after the Morris twins left for the NBA. (Marcus and Markeiff Morris, re: 2011). He deserves utmost respect and I certainly wish him well and hope he succeeds in the NBA.

Jared Sullinger slid all the way to the 21st pick and got drafted by Boston due to his injury report. He might have been the steal of the draft with an ageing Celtics team needing some temporary saving grace, perhaps.

The Tar Heels almost had four players go in the lottery. First was Harrison Barnes at number 7 to Golden State, followed by Kendall Marshall at pick 13 to Phoenix, then John Henson rounded out the lottery by going one pick later to Milwaukee. Tyler Zeller went at 17 to Dallas but was traded to Cleveland. Should be fun to see Kyrie Irving have his former college rival as his running mate on the fastbreak. If Steve Nash were to bolt during free agency, Kendall Marshall might be forced to grow up, real fast. Harrison Barnes, hopefully he doesn't turn out to be Brandan Wright #2 aka a former Tar Heel, also drafted by Golden State who was a bust/ did not fit well in the system.

Madagascar 3: The Review

A child-friendly summer movie not to be missed, the third chapter of this 90 minute animal themed movie teaches values and morals such as teamwork, friendship, determination, the truth will always come out and helping others. This movie carries on from where the previous chapter ended-- in Africa. Alex the lion has nightmares of ageing in Africa and unable to return home.

Alex and his friends have a strong desire to return back to where they originally came from, the Zoo in New York's Central Park. With that, Alex, Gloria the Hippo, Melman the giraffe and Marty the Zebra set off to Monaco by scuba diving (as shown from their head gear when they pop out from underneath the sea) in search of the penguins and King Julien. They reach the casino and trouble ensues when teamwork does not go as planned-- introduce the villian, Captain Dubois, for the first time ever in the movie.

 The casino is wrecked apart and a high speed chase through the streets with the penguins piloting the van, which is later taken over by Marty who is unable to drive on the right side. Their plane is damaged as they attempt to escape back to New York and they encounter a traveling circus train and claim that they are circus animals in order to fulfill their dream of reaching back, as Vitaly the tiger was very stern and did not allow stowaways on board. Gia the snow leopard and Stefano the sea lion are the main characters on board the trains carriage.

At the circus in Rome, the show goes bust and finally on board the train to London, Alex decides to help Vitaly, Gia and Stefano rediscover and remodel what a circus is all about. Vitaly is a defeated tiger whose days of being the star have faded due to a freak accident while performing. King Julien meets Sonya the brown bear and falls in love with her, through the streets of Italy, she acquires a new motorbike going into a shop and scaring the customers and owner. On the way to London, Alex has convinced Vitaly to give it another shot and the troupe begin rehearsing in the mountains, fleeing when the cops strike. Meanwhile, Captain Du Bois is still hot on her heels to chasing down Alex in order to have his head mounted on the wall of prized catches. She makes her moves in calculated fashion. In London, Alex's relentless effort pays off with the boss awarding the traveling party a contract to perform in New York after a slam-dunk performance with dazzling lights and lots of intriguing stunts.

However, once they arrive in New York outside the gates of their old home, Captain Du Bois manages to capture Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria. They are locked up in prison style cages and Captain Du Bois is given a reward for finding the Alex. However, she rejects it and reveals her evil intention. Her plans are foiled by Vitaly, Stefano and Gia, (whose feelings were hurt and when the truth was revealed to them that Alex and his friends were masquerading as circus animals) who rescue them as their circus act was revived. Another round of antics sets of the fireworks and inflated balls given to the children, ending the movie off with a bang.

The penguins were not featured as much as I would have loved them to be shown in the movie, but all in all, every leading character was given an equal amount of face time which enabled the audience to decipher their character and personality. The catchy tunes such as Everybody Dance Now by CC Music Factory, Hot In Here by Nelly, I Like to Move It and Firework by Katy Perry will certainly get you grooving in your seat! And as for "We Speak No Americano", if you've watched Alvin and the Chipmunks, you might recall hearing it, in the chipmunk version. The adults could relate to it with this song originally released in the 1950's.  I'd gladly watch this movie again, wholesome educational fun for the family!

(Side note: I would recommend watching this movie in 3D, the effects are way more stunning),  credits to Pat who advised me to.

Down went the Spurs to OKC. They are the first team in NBA history to win 20 straight games then lose 4 straight and get bounced from the postseason. This one sure did hurt. It might have been Tim Duncan's last chance at winning another title, slipped away thanks to the hungrier, younger and fresher OKC team.

Miami beating Boston, I was very surprised that the ageing Celtics managed to push the series to the brink but LeBron and Wade were too much to overcome, and Shane Battier, the unsung hero who is quietly filling up the stat sheet.

As of now, the NBA finals is tied at one apiece. It's anybodys game but I've got a feeling that this is the year that LeBron will win his first title.

The LA Kings won their first Stanley Cup. New Jersey won two straight games but couldn't hang on to force a game 7, since game 6 was played in LA. Jonathan Quick outplayed Martin Brodeur who is in his twilight years and at the tail end of his career.

I might have spoke too soon.

The Spurs were up 2-0 but had their winning streak snapped and went down without a fight in game 3 at OKC. Then they lost game 4 today, so yes, series tied and they do need help with defending the paint. In the first two games, they destroyed OKC and shut them down, forcing the team to take jumpshots.

The Yankees lost to Detroit today. Previously they dropped 2 out of 3 to Anaheim, then won the first game at Detroit thanks to a Curtis Granderson grand slam! Consistency doesn't exist.

Both games in the Stanley Cup finals went to overtime and the Kings are now up 2-0. The road warriors of this year's playoffs (or basically any of the major professional sporting leagues.) Never have I seen an eight seed win that many road games in one postseason! Now they head back to Los Angeles and get to close it out at home to win their first cup in franchise history.

I'm rather tempted to start writing about other things on this blog, perhaps on daily life such as food blogging or travel or product reviews.

I've abandoned this blog for almost 2 months! So what's happened with me? Finally got done with all my coursework for school, am hanging by a moment for work (nothing is confirmed yet)

The Yankees have been playing terrible as of late, this weekend they're in Oakland and have won four straight, after dropping the first game to Kansas City at home.

Two rounds of the NBA playoffs have gone by in a flash. Lakers certainly need to address the need for a solid point guard, which was their downfall, and a bench that was nonexistent in point production. The defending champions, Dallas were swept by the youthful Thunder, Chicago couldn't advance without Derrick Rose who tore his ACL in game 1 vs Philly and would also be out for the Olympics. Spurs swept both rounds... Miami is hurting with Bosh out, and Wade is injured... OKC looks like the team to beat, and the ageing Spurs are a rejuvenated team!

I'm going with the Spurs to win it all since they're my favorite... and yes, go hard or go home!

The Stanley Cup playoffs is way wilder... Both top seeds have been knocked out. The LA Kings are the cinderellas of the NHL. And the teams representing both conferences to play for the big prize are lower seeded teams. 6th for the Devils and 8th for the Kings. This could be Martin Brodeur's last chance to win another title before he hangs his skates up for good.

Rangers were sent home for the summer thanks to their crosstown rivals. Ouch.

Congratulations to the Kentucky Wildcats. And half the team will be declaring for the draft, I am almost certain of this. John Calipari, you've done a great job with the team, and I'm sure you're still savoring the title.

Now, on to NBA basketball. Spurs could easily seal the top seed in the West, if they continue to ball like the way they have won close games, and blown out teams. Who says that an aging Tim Duncan can't contribute anymore? The Lakers have been losing games they should have won, clearly, they should have never traded Derek Fisher away (I'm loving how Kobe will soon explode at the team, perhaps?) I presume another worldwide newsflash when he starts going on a rant. I do not like the Lakers and its always cool to see them lose.  Lets hope that the Spurs don't get bounced in the first round like last year! Utterly dreadful. Houston/Denver could play shocker. The postseason is approaching, and oh damnit! Final exams in less than 3 weeks and all I really am bothered about is...... sporting action. NHL playoffs too! The New York Rangers have the top seed in the East!

And guess what the Red Sox and Yankees have in common? Winless after 2 games in the regular season. Signing Hiroki Kuroda (or however you spell his name) was a mistake. What a bust. We choked, Mariano Rivera is getting old. David Robertson should be the closer for good... well, I assume he will take over Mo when he retires. Too soon to press the panic button?

Raul Ibanez as the DH? He's 40 but can still hit the longball. I'm looking forward to a long season of  hits, homeruns, strikes thrown by CC Sabathia and of course, seeing Andy Pettitte back in action.

Oh, and the job hunt starts right after my last paper. I've yet to do anything with my resume or write up cv's. Sports conquers my life, sadly.

Kansas pulled this one off, despite being down for the whole game. Well, the last 3 minutes or so they finally fought for the lead and never gave Ohio State a chance to overtake them. In the second half, they forced the Buckeyes to take jumpshots and denied them from slashing and cutting and driving into the paint, scoring at will, like how they did earlier on.

Kentucky beat Louisville, I didn't manage to wake up and watch it. Monday's title game will surely be a hum-dinger. John Calipari vs Bill Self and a talented load of players gunning for the crown.

Who will be climbing up the ladder in the Superdome and cutting down the net for the final time this season and be crying tears of joy when One Shining Moment is being played in the arena with a video shown on the jumbotron and on millions of tv screens across America? That song makes me teary eyed... annual affair!

One word to describe my March Madness bracket: Busted.

For the second year running, every pick was shot down by the elite 8. Who is left standing? Kentucky, Louisville, Kansas and Ohio State. And I don't like any team playing in the big dance. Okay. If I had to pick who I'd like to see win it all, I'd say Louisville. Rick Pittino does have my respect.

Baseball season is starting real soon. Which means staying up all night when there is an afternoon game for the Yankees. The NBA playoff race is heating up too. Lakers lost a big game to Oklahoma City at home, and it could have very well cost them a chance in catching the Spurs for the second seed in the West. But I'll take it anyday when LA loses cause I'm a Spurs fan. Spurs need to have a solid backup point guard besides Gary Neal. TJ Ford has retired. Distractions galore, 3 weeks till the last day of class for me as an undergraduate and a week of finals follow. And with so much sporting action going on, how am I supposed to focus like I need this bad, like its do or have your life savings or life end? In trying to express the need and urgency to study by "drive it like you stole it!"

3 Tar Heels declare for the NBA draft. This certainly came as no surprise when I saw the news flash. Harrison Barnes, John Henson and the injured Kendall Marshall. Those guys will definitely have an impact in the nba and its time they left. Tyler Zeller will also be drafted, as a graduating senior. Roy Williams is left with only one returning starter on his team (Dexter Strickland) My obsession/love for Tar Heel players don't last long, when they leave school for the draft, its a bittersweet feeling. And then I somehow find myself not being much of a fan of them.

Ohio and North Carolina State are this years cinderellas of March Madness. Thats the way it is so far. Purdue almost pulled a huge upset over Kansas but the Jayhawks chipped away down the stretch and won it after not having led for the whole game sans the last minute.

Florida State is out. There goes another final four pick. North Carolina is the only one left standing, but I fear it won't be for long as Kendall Marshall broke his right wrist in the game vs Creighton. Ouch. The Tar Heels will have to win the rest of the tournament without him playing.

And the two teams who beat up the no. 2 seeds, Lehigh and Norfolk State are out. Both games vs their respective opponents, Florida and Xavier aren't even close.

This year might be the Buckeye State's chance to shine. Four teams from the state of Ohio are going to the big dance, the sweet 16: Xavier, Cincinatti, Ohio State and Ohio.
The big east is well represented yet again. Syracuse, Louisville and Marquette.

March Madness ramblings

My bracket has fallen. Half of my final four teams are still left standing, after day 1 of the second round, before the sweet 16. VCU, my cinderella of 2012 has collapsed today in a really close match vs Indiana. Did anyone see Missouri lose in the first round? No. And who is Norfolk State? They certainly pulled a shocking upset and busted everyone's brackets, just like how Lehigh beat Duke. There goes another pick. At least I only picked Duke to make it to the sweet 16 and lose to Baylor. Ohio beating Michigan, another surprise, but not that a big one to me. The only person that I know who said Duke would get beaten by Lehigh would be a friend who works at my school for the director. He's a Lehigh alumni anyway...

As I never change my picks once I've done my bracket, my final four had VCU, Missouri, Florida State and UNC. Tar Heels to win it all. Now, I've got to pray to the basketball gods that Florida State beats Texas, then Ohio State in the sweet 16 and upsets Syracuse (which shouldn't be a problem since Fab Melo has been suspended for the tournament due to academic problems.) As much as I hate FSU, they beat UNC twice this season and clearly deserve to make the final four. But UNC will trump them.

John Henson's wrist has been bothering him. Creighton can be a pesky team. I originally had Alabama beat them in the opening round, but I was wrong. There goes another pick. Lots of cinderellas that I picked to upset didn't happen this year.

Today's second round matchups were all won by the higher seed. What a big yawn.

Woah. It certainly has been a long time since I updated this.

The New York Giants won the Superbowl earlier this month. Drinking screwdrivers at 7am was a hit. Ahmad Bradshaw rocked it hard. Victor Cruz was terrific. Mission accomplished. Tom Brady cries in his beer. His wife blames the defense.

March Madness is coming. The Tar Heels need to go on a winning streak, and beat Duke to win the ACC title and take top seed in one of the divisions.

Spring training has begun for all major league baseball teams. No more Jorge Posada in Florida cause he's retired. The Yankees signed ex Phillie Raul Ibanez, who is probably on his last legs. Got rid of the unproductive and erratic AJ Burnett, but signed Hiroki Kudora?! And overpaid. What were they thinking? Traded Jesus Montero and his red hot electric bat to Seattle for Michael Pineda.

3/4 of the batting lineup remains the same. Go for title 28. I can't wait for the season to start!

NBA all star weekend, uh, Jeremy Evans who was a late addition to the dunk contest won it. I was rooting for Derrick Williams of Minnesota. He was good, till he goofed on his final dunk. Ex UCLA kid Kevin Love rocked the 3 point shootout. Who says big men can't hit 3's? Proven.

Superbowl 2012: New England Patriots vs New York Giants.

Tom Brady is looking to avenge a loss at the last seconds of the game four years ago to Eli Manning's team, the last year the Patriots won the Superbowl, and a failed bid to have an undefeated season in 2007/08.

Remember Plaxico Burress scoring that touchdown? That image still lingers on in my head.

As a Yankees fan, I will be rooting for the Giants, despite supporting the Jets nowadays (and they didn't make the postseason anyway.)

Ahmad Bradshaw played the game of his life rushing for 74 yards. Lawrence Tynes did a great job scoring field goals. The game was full of tension, like a viking, rocking back and forth till the very end when the Giants took advantage of the 49'ers miscules and won the game with a field goal. 20-17.

After the Giants rocky season, I wasn't really banging on them to make it that far in the postseason, ie losing to the Falcons as I was arriving home from a 21 hour flight from none other than NYC itself. Was tempted to get a Jets tshirt as I walked by the team store but decided against it, and grrrrrrr I really should have bought something at Modell's on the second day. Had I known better! As for the Patriots, I was in Boston during the New Years but, really I'm not a fan so well. (more on my whirlwind trip to the East Coast, ie the final hurrah before graduation and a rude awakening to the real world awaits in May in another post coming soon)

Lets go Giants! Beat Belichick and his troop!