As he tearfully spoke to reporters on the podium about how much the silver medal he had won in freestyle skiing aerials meant to him, you could sense that he was hurting. Ever so strongly. Vancouver 2010, this was it. After two unsucessful attempts at medaling in the Winter Olympics amidst controversy and the infamous drunken antics in Torino back in 2006 which resulted in him being sent home, Speedy Peterson finally won a medal. He had overcame obstacles hurled in his way, a real warrior. "I crossed out 'can', and I wrote 'will'..."

I had the sudden urge to write about Speedy. He might not be a household name to many, especially in where I live, not many people follow winter sports. I am one of the few who follows alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboard cross, halfpipe, moguls etc. Sometime on Monday evening, at sunset in the picturesque surroundings in a canyon not far off from Salt Lake City in Utah, Speedy took his own life, with a gunshot inflicted wound to his head. At a young age of 29. I certainly never saw it coming.

Speedy was the daredevil who invented the hurricane. Five twists and three flips-somersaults while being 50 feet up in the air. He performed that trick with finesse and perfection and thrilled the millions of people watching on tv or in the stands in Whistler. Speedy took extreme sports to a new level. His fighting spirit took him to greater heights, turning setbacks into comebacks countless times. He fought demons, battled the mountains of cannot and will not and doubt. Winning the hearts of many, especially children whom he had become a role model to, on the day when he was presented with keys to the city in Boise, after the Winter Olympics.

He's gone through more than I would ever do so in my life, from sexual abuse to seeing his sister get run over by a drunk driver, his room mate commiting suicide right infront of him, and many more other things that the newspapers have wrote about... suicide and alcoholism. He tried to kill himself but chickened out and lived on. I've felt this way many times before, but the fear of having my heart stop pumping scares me real good. For this I can relate to, based on the abuse I've gone through in life, suicidal tendencies too. Speedy had accomplished a lot at the time of his death. However for me, the question is, how much have I achieved? Nothing. I'm still a college student, with 19 credits shy from graduation. He won an olympic medal and won the hearts of many and had hundreds of people come out to welcome him home. What would people remember me for if I died, say today? Nothing either. Speedy had a huge heart and great charisma. I've got a long way to go on that.

So many obstacles he overcame, but that one mountain he could not overcome, as what the mayor of Idaho said....that led him to that fateful drive to the parking lot in the canyon where he shot himself.

Life is precious. When the going is rough and it feels to you that the world has caved in around you, you gotta hold on. I've felt this way too many times. Still hanging in there. There's so much more to live for.

Though I never met you, could have if I took a chance while in Utah last Christmas, your presence on tv and throughout the web will be missed. Speedy Peterson. I hope you're getting big air up in paradise, and tearing it up the ramps, free from suffering and pain. Signed, a fan.

Can you tell me where to go its killing me and no one knows,
Inside with all this mind, you waste the sunlight waiting for the night
They don't wanna break me down; they don't wanna break away from you
Everything's wrong now, everyone's gone now,
I can't keep lying to myself...
...........
Maybe another dream won't die
They can't be the first and be the last to break away

(Cavo-Disappear)

Link to the post-competition interview, Whistler 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvX7OZIm4FU

A few hours after I made the previous post, what I didn't want to hear had came to reality.

The Yankees lost to the Mets in 10 innings, 2-3. 7 game winning streak snapped.

The all star game rosters were unveiled.

Russell Martin had lost his starting spot as catcher to Alex Avila of the Detroit Tigers. After leading in his position for the whole time since balloting started. Seems like the Tigers marketing/publicity team did a fantastic job promoting and reaching out to get the fanbase and ticket holders to vote. It paid off. Anyway, Martin made the squad as a reserve.

Miguel Cabrera got selected over Mark Teixeira as the first baseman backup/reserve? Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?! He's a Detroit Tiger too. That makes two positions that the Yankees have had the Tigers beat them.

I'm pretty mad. Mark Charles Teixeira clearly deserved to be starting as first baseman, but a hated member of the Red Sox, Adrian Gonzalez beat him out in fan voting after the second returns. For every all star game, the Red Sox apparently challenge the Yankees with the number of players they send to the midsummer classic. It could have easily been an all Red Sox-Yankees starting lineup on the field.

This year, the Red Sox have Josh Beckett, Jacoby Ellsbury, David "can't run the bases" Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez representing them. The Yankees have Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, Mariano Rivera and Russell Martin. The first four names mentioned denote starters. We beat them in this category, again.

Last year, the Red Sox had an epic meltdown and missed the playoffs. It will still be a three-team fight for the AL divsion winner and the wildcard. I highly doubt that the AL Central or AL West would have a second team who is good enough to clinch the wildcard, based on the current standings, strengths of the team with their pitching and lineup.

Here's something I do not get. What is the point of having every major league team send at least one player to the All Star game, when clearly, some teams do not deserve to send a single member of their squad? Take for example, the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Oakland A's, Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates. Players from other teams who are deserving of a spot on the all star team end up not getting selected, and deprived of a chance to play. It may have something to do with equality, balance, maybe diversity. Oh no. I just took a class in diversity and gender studies and have forgotten the terms and theories I learned over the past six weeks.


Since its already the Fourth of July here, I'd like to wish every American a Happy Independence Day! And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air... Drink up, watch baseball at the stadium or on tv with steak and hamburgers on grill and enjoy!
I'm outta here, like a groundball hit into the dirt, in between second and third base, thrown to the first baseman and.............out!

Baseball blabberings again.

I don't care if its a popularity contest or not, but Mark Charles Teixeira should be the starting first baseman at the all star game. Not Adrian Gonzalez from the Red Sox. The man is on fire, he just hit his 300th career homerun and has contributed to the Yankees success. Come on, voters what on earth were you thinking?!

Anyway there would be at least 5 Yankees starting in the All Star game in Phoenix come 2 weeks time. Robinson Cano at second base, Derek Jeter for shortstop, Alex Rodriguez on third base, Curtis Granderson in the outfield and Russell Martin catching behind home plate. Hopefully CC Sabathia and Mariano Rivera make it too, for pitchers and of course, Jorge Posada as a backup DH, Nick Swisher, and Brett Gardner. Wishful thinking I have to say, but it could happen.

Yankees are on a season high 7 game winning streak. Whoohoooooo. I would love to see them sweep the Mets in a few hours time, to make it 8.

As of July 2, 2011, the Oakland A's have hit 43 longballs as a team combined, followed by the San Diego Padres have hit a total of 45 homeruns since the season started. Houston has hit only 47. These 3 teams are the lowest in the Majors for homeruns blasted.

When you combine Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson's homeruns, they have sent 47 into the stands. That equals the Houston Astros and is more than what Oakland and San Diego have hit. Holy smokes! Granderson was on fire and has cooled down, Teixeira has matched his career high before the all star break, and could go for 50 if he keeps his mean streak on throughout the season.

They ain't called the Bronx Bombers for nothing!

When the final buzzer of the 2010/11 nba season sounded, the Dallas Mavericks were crowned champions. Oh, how sweet it is. A perfect storybook ending, giving closure to what transpired that fateful day, five years ago in the American Airlines Center after six games of duking it out with the Miami Heat. The Heat won their first nba title. They were joyous. After being down 2-0 in the series and winning four straight, to put off a parade route that Dallas city officials had splashed the web and media with. Overconfidence got the best of the Dallas Mavericks then.

Now, the tables have turned. In perfect fashion, scripted out like the best Oscar winning movies the Mavs beat Miami in the exact same number of games, on the Heat's homecourt. Who would have ever thought it would happen? Revenge is served. The Mavs played with grit, hustled and fought for every possession with sheer might and strength. Blood and guts, diving into the stands for looseballs and taking that extra vertical leap to snare an offensive rebound. Making that extra pass, slashing to the hoop.

Who says that three all stars playing on the same team can win championships? It didn't happen. It's not the Olympics when team USA won it all back in 2008 with Lebron, Chris Bosh and Wade playing on the same team. The 2003/04 Lakers team which had Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone and Gary Payton made it to the finals but got beaten up by the Detroit Pistons in five games.

In most recent years, the team which dethrones the Lakers in the Western Conference (oddly enough, semifinals) ends up going to win the title. Re: 2002/03 the Spurs dethroned the Lakers who won three straight titles in a row, and right now, Dallas dethroned the Lakers. Coincidence, ain't it?

Dirk finally has accomplished another mission. Winning the most coveted prize in the NBA. Jason Kidd deserves it too, after two previous trips to the Finals and coming up short, in 2002 and 2003 with the Nets. Surely a first-ballot hall of fame candidate, he will not be another "great player who never won a title." The taste of victory certainly feels even sweeter after all these years. 17 years of hard work and being the captain and general of the floor.

To everyone in the Mavs organization and fans, you guys deserve to celebrate and go wild. May the celebrations last for months, till the first tipoff of the start of the 2011/12 season, provided there is no lockout. The first title is always the most memorable.

This coming from a Spurs fan and hated division rival makes it even better, aye?

For the first time in the Zen Master's storied coaching career, he went out on a limb. On the wrong end of the broom. I'm not a Lakers fan, but Phil Jackson is one of the most respected coaches in the NBA. 11 titles in 20 or so seasons- correct me on this if I'm wrong. Having the best players in their prime and grooming them for success. Falling short of a fourth go-around for a three-peat. The Lakers were out rebounded, out run, and bullied and hammered at the three point line. In game 2, they couldn't hit a three pointer till the 4th quarter. The first and third games of the series were winnable but they collapsed in the fourth quarter, or rather, let the Mavs come from behind with momentum to hold on to the end.

And as for the final game, they came out looking defeated, frustrated that nothing could go right for them. It was clearly shown when Odom and Bynum had unnecessary elbows to Dirk/Barera's face/body when the game was out of reach in the fourth quarter. Both of them will most likely be suspended for the season opener come late October/early November. Poor sportsmanship. They were supposed to be playing like the defending champions, yes, they did but they were out of gas and tired and looked discontent and disenchanted. Matt Barnes and Steve Blake who were signed in the offseason to strengthen the bench were basically a non factor in the series. No production. And Kobe was shut down in the fourth quarter for all games. As what he said after game one, somewhere along the lines of  "They (Dallas) could be the team that beats us," The Mavs did beat them. They tormented and exposed their defense and shut down the offense. And why did Kobe not take over the game and like he has in the past, scoring twenty points in the fourth quarter, driving to the basket, slashing, cutting through in the paint when the team needed a spark to get them going? That is probably something he should be thinking about.

The Mavs did not have their two-time all star, Caron Butler play a single minute since January when he got injured but they won. Jason Kidd, who will be in the hall of fame once he hangs up his shoes probably realized that this is last chance at winning a title before he retires, with Dirk still in his prime, and aging in the next few years...

Atlanta might have a legitimate chance of forcing a game 7 in Chicago and pushing the Bulls to the limit.

More later.

The NBA playoffs so far.

I've been telling myself to write more often but thanks to school and being a bum mostly, I have failed to deliver.

I don't intend to write formally all the time, just sharing my thoughts and whatever that comes out of my mind.

It's been a good 5 days since the Spurs have gone fishing at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies. As a fan of the Duncan/Manu/Tony trio, this has been a tough pill to swallow. This was supposed to be the year. Tim Duncan is in the twilight of his career, those balky knees aren't going to hold up any much longer for good. Manu turns 34 in the summer. Antonio McDyess is 37. The whole team is aging. Matt Bonner, the clutch red rocket who was clutch in nailing 3 pointers is 31. Similar to Richard Jefferson. Most of the teams stars are growing older and their peak has already passed.

On paper, the names would sound like a championship caliber team, however against Memphis, they crumbled and had youth win them over, running and gunning, led by Shane Battier's veteran leadership.

Memphis was not supposed to beat the Spurs and move on to the next round, but they did. It's starting to feel like Virginia Commonwealth all over again in March Madness which just happened 6 weeks ago. If Memphis beats Oklahoma City in this series and advances, they could well give the winner of the Lakers/Dallas series some serious fits and a huge scare. Memphis has a couple of no named players- Hamed Haddadi, Grevis Vasquez, and mostly blue collared guys who weren't much of an impact on previous teams they were on, but here they've survived. Oh, and Rudy Gay is not even playing cause he's injured. How did they get there? Youth and determination.

Atlanta advanced, clearly being motivated after Jameer Nelson telling Derrick Rose the infamous statement "Catch you in the second round" on live tv. The Magic played like they were looking ahead and did not take the Hawks seriously, with a grain of salt. And when they started to care, it was too late. Not a big fan of Atlanta but they're a bump-and-grind it out team. They finally avenged their disastrous conference semifinals sweep in which they lost by about 25 points per game to the Magic. Now they face Chicago. I hope they beat up the Bulls and send them home... I mean, how awesome would it be to have the 5th seed make it to the Conference Finals? I'm just dreaming but it could happen, they beat the Bulls in game 1 so anything is possible!

Lakers/Dallas, this should be a good series. Might have the potential to make it to 7 games. Both teams are strong, not a fan but the matchups are formidable. Dirk vs Kobe and their star studded supporting cast.

Boston/Miami, the aging Celtics could be sent fishing fast if they don't wake up and hit their shots fast enough. Miami's 3 headed monster of Wade/LeBron and Chris Bosh is alive and busting out their stuff.

March Madness ramblings...

My thoughts on March Madness, in no order according to region or round.

Villanova is cannon fodder. I've yet to see many teams ranked in the top 8 according to seeding come into the tournament on a huge losing skid. Jay Wright needs to do something. Dial 911. The Wildcats have lost five straight, to close out the regular season! As much as Corey Fisher and the other Corey dude, Corey Stokes are an explosive combo on the 1 and 2 spot, the Cinderella team of 2006 could pull it out.

Watch out for George Mason. Flying under the radar and always underrated, like how they made the final four as a no. 11 seed...... they might beat Ohio State in the round of 32, which means half of the nation's bracket will be gone up in flames.

Now that the Tar Heels have lost the ACC title game to Duke on Sunday, they've put themselves in a position that is considerably harder than what Duke has, the road to the final four. Being the second seed in the east regional, and a very likely elite eight with Ohio State. UNC can light up the scoreboard, averaging slightly less than 80 points a game, playing the run and gun game. However, they are turnover prone. 13 per game as I read the previews. Kendall Marshall who runs the point needs to control the number of miscues. Harrison Barnes is explosive, good god he's amazing, a better version of Marvin Williams (2005), Tyler Zeller is consistent. They are terrible from behind the arc unfortunately. John Henson needs to score in double figures in order for a win in every round. Realistically, they do stand a chance of winning it all and on their way to doing so, they will send Thad Matta and his Buckeyes home crying in their beers.....However, after seeing the Tar Heels in Sunday's game, Duke is simply too strong and again, coming up short. I hope not. UNC could pull a San Antonio Spurs winning season, that is, winning in odd years. Come on Harrison Barnes. Do a repeat of that 40 point game in the ACC tournament.

First round shocker- Belmont over Wisconsin- Southeast regional. Despite the Badgers measly number of turnovers committed and the power of Jordan Taylor who runs the point and forward Jon Leuer... it won't be enough to contain a sleeper team. Had they not been blown out in Columbus on the last day of the regular season to the number one seed, Ohio State and bombed in the big ten tournament to Penn State they would have been seeded third instead. Well, too late to say. Belmont is the team that nobody wants to face in the first round. Ask the Duke blue devils who almost got beaten by them, their defense exposed. Belmont will make the sweet 16, based on their consistency in shooting from the arc and forcing turnovers.


Pittsburgh, although in the easiest regional and having the top seed would not make the final four. When was the last time they made the final four? 1941! World War 2. The wait will go on.



BYU has a scoring machine in the form of Jimmer Fredette, a senior guard, who can't miss from the free throw line. The team will be playing inspired after Brandon Davies suspension. The shocker team of January that rose to the rankings. Depending on how Fredette plays, his stock will improve drastically and I'm sensing he could be a top three pick in the NBA draft. My take, final four.

Notre Dame will be the underdog that comes up. Ben Hansbrough, the younger brother of Tyler Hansbrough- one of my favorite players from the Tar Heels 2009 championship team is another star to watch out for. They'll make the title game.

San Diego State will win their first ever NCAA tournament game in school history. But with too much hype and the bridesmaid syndrome, RE: New Jersey Nets- NBA Finals 2002, they will bow out fast. In the round of 32, they will most likely beat Penn State in a nail biter, then falter in the sweet 16 to Jim Calhoun's UConn Huskies who will come up short in the elite eight against Duke.

Kansas will make an exit in the sweet 16, and suffer another year of misery after last year's shocking loss to to Northern Iowa. Bill Self needs divine intervention.

UCLA vs Michigan State... Seeing Ben Howland and Tom Izzo face off can't get any better than this. The coaching match up is intriguing.

Ohio State has the hardest route to the final four, if they make it. The east region is filled with two other teams that could possibly make it to the title game- UNC and Syracuse. Jared Sullinger and William Buford cannot afford to have an off night. Sullinger is all but assured a top five spot in the NBA draft for the next few years if he keeps up with his productivity output on court based on the regular season. Sadly I see them being overconfident and losing to UNC. Well, no surprise. The first round will be easy, but George Mason's pesky defense certainly will give them fits. Tyshawn Taylor who runs the point needs to limit his turnovers.

Now, to cut everything short...... Final four picks: North Carolina, Duke, Notre Dame, BYU.

Title game- Duke over Notre Dame. Forward Kyle Singler and guard Nolan Smith did not declare for the nba draft and elected to stay in school for another year to play for a second title. Dividends will pay off. I dislike the team a lot, but they have the star power to win it all despite Kyle Irving's injury-- it remains to be seen whether he comes back during the tournament or not. Leaving thousands of Carolina fans like me miserable for another year when they cut down the nets... yet again. Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins have to light it up from downtown on a consistent basis. When it's all said and done, One Shining Moment will be played and the last confetti shower of the season falling on the Blue Devils who are almost certain to have at least 3 members from this years team nba bound.