Spiked

I recently joined a co-ed volleyball team marking the first time in my athletic life that I am playing a competitive league sport in a mixed gender environment.

Last night was our first game and we got rocked 15-7, 15-6. Oh well. I did learn that the idea of co-ed sports and competition can only be used in the same sentence very loosely. I became aware of this during warm-ups. Our team happened to be one of the first teams to arrive at the Marina Green, a great locale just off the St. Francis Yacht Club overlooking the Palace of Fine Arts, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. I’ll definitely bring a camera next time to capture the insane vista.

As we were warming up, and teams began sauntering onto the fields, I noticed each team was equipped with men, women, and coolers. The coolers caught my eye as I looked around and saw that every team was sipping on beers before the game. I swear one team even had jello shots! Not just some teams…but EVERY TEAM...except one.

Where were our beers you ask? Nowhere to be seen, so not only did we get throttled in our debuts, we also performed poorly while sober. Somebody did bring pretzels (which is better than nothing I suppose), but when I offered to bring a 12-pack next week so we at least look like we’re cool like the other squads, I was greeted with little enthusiasm.

Our attitude towards liquor is going to have to change drastically if we expect to win a single match, and I am taking it upon myself to serve the role as team motivator.

We’ll see what happens.

Warriors-Blazers: 4th Quarter Notes

11:10

Travis Outlaw has 30 points. Blazers only down 12 points now. Yeesh.

8:23

Warriors 98, Blazers 84. Portland had a chance to really trim into the lead but they threw an alle-oop attempt out of bounds, turned the ball over and missed two open threes. I see Joakim Noah in their future.

5:43

Warriors on a 9-0 run. Portland hasn’t scored since the 8:23 mark. Matt Barnes was in the post and made a sweet move that froze the defender and as he turned for a jump hook you can clearly hear Baron Davis shout, “don’t do it, Matthew!” in the please Hammer, Don’t Hurt Em mold. Nice.

Baron has a triple double despite shooting horribly tonight (3-16 I believe). Love it.

4:11

With a 20 point lead, the Warriors are walking the ball upcourt for the first time all game. They also flashed the Lakers victory, which means the Lakes play Phoenix and Warriors will play the Mavericks. Two very fun series to watch.

GAME OVER- GSW 120 Blazer 98

The Warriors have done it! Travis Outlaw did have two sweet dunks in the last two minutes. They just flashed Adonal Foyle on the bench who seems like a good guy so good for him on finally getting to the playoffs. He’ll have the best seats in the house.

Warriors-Blazers:Third Quarter Notes

9:14

They just mentioned that the Warriors are 9-1 in the last 10 games. Getting hot at the right time indeed. The Rose Garden in Portland looks to be full on this final regular season game of the year, but its absolutely silent. Its like the fans are watching a play or something.

Warriors up by 25 points.

Did you know that the Warriors haven’t made the playoffs in 12 years? If not, the announcers are mentioning it every five minutes. They mentioned the starting five of their last playoff team. Avery Johnson, Sprewell, Webber, Mullin, and a fifth that I missed. Pretty sweet.

5:31

The Blazers aren’t even pretending to be interested in playing defense. When Baron is driving and kicking out, not a single Blazer is extending out to challenge the jumpshot, its pretty pathetic.

The highlight thus far has been the music the stadium plays when certain Blazers score. When Travis Outlaw scores, the sound system plays the famous whistle from the Clint Eastwood westerns. I believe its from “The Outlaw Josie Wales” or “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. Even better, when Martell Webster scores, they play a few notes from the “Webster” theme song. Hilarious.

2:34

They just flashed as stat that the Warriors lead the NBA in steals, scoring, 3 pointers made in April. Is it possible they could pull the upset in the first round? (They’re up by 24 so no jinx can ruin this victory.)

End of the Third Quarter

Travis Outlaw is on fire. The Clint Eastwood music is going off every thirty seconds now. Blazers cut it to 17 (94-77). Damn, I hope I didn’t screw them.

The announcer just said, “12 minutes to go to end 12 years of waiting!”

Sweet.

Warriors-Blazers: Halftime

9:06

Both teams have most of their second unit in. Warriors still up 13 but not opening it up any. Also, its tough to blog while eating kung pao beef. FYI.

I forgot that Nate McMillan coaches the Blazers. It reminds me that his name was used as a colloquialism (“McChillin”) by my college roommate Chris and I.

Chris: What are you up to tonight?

Me: Nothing. I’m Nate McChillin. I got a midterm tomorrow.

Chris: Word.

6:18

Blazers are a joke. Warriors forward Mikael Pietrus makes a steal leading to a Matt Barnes (another UCLA fellow. He actually graduated I believe) dunk. Warriors lead by 18. Pietrus’ nickname is “Air France” as he’s originally from France. Lame nickname. I also believe Tim Hardaway hates this nickname as well.

4:23

First potential jinx moment of the game: Warrior commentator, Jim Barnett, just said, “Nice jumper from Monta Ellis. Nice to see him getting hot for the playoffs.” Blazers immediately get a dunk and the Warriors miss their next three shots. Uh, you can’t talk about the playoff until you make it, Barnett. Warriors still up 17 though so I think I’m just making mountains out of molehills here.

Halftime: Warriors 64
Blazers 44

Warriors absolutely gelling (or is it jelling?). Everybody contributing and playing well for the W’s. Nobody for the Blazers. Admittedly, I will now switch to American Idol. I don’t watch the show, but I absolutely love that Howard Stern and others are promoting Sanjaya to win the whole thing. He’s horrible. Wait, I guess its not on til 9pm. Whatever.

Warriors-Blazers: First Quarter Notes

Tipoff

They just showed Baron Davis giving a hug to Blazer center Jamaal Magloire around the center circle before tip-off. A few years back when they both played for the Charlotte Hornets, I saw them outside of a club in LA. They got in, we didn’t. Go figure.

8:08

Warriors are blazing hot. Two dunks and a three give them an early 15-4 lead. Blazers are playing without their two best players, Zach Randolph and Brandon Roy. Hopefully Warriors can get to a big lead early.

6:01

Fred Jones of Portland may wind up with 25 points tonight. He’s the only guy shooting and driving at all. He’s got 6 already and cut the Warrior lead to 4, 19-15.

4:09

Warriors are shooting 71% right and opened up to a 12 point lead. Most of their buckets are coming on easy layups as they are running as much as possible. Their only misses are bad 3’s, which I think is separating the Warriors from a very good team to a great team. Too many poorly timed 3’s. Its great when they’re hot, but brutal when they’re off.

Baron Davis is looking fantastic right now. Must be the UCLA genes coursing through his veins. 5 pts, 6 asts already.

2:03

Warriors are tooling Portland right now. Its controlled chaos right now, which is exactly how Don Nelson draws it up. They are pushing the ball on misses (Portland is laying bricks) and are getting layups or open 3’s (they are starting to fall now).

End o First Quarter

Baron Davis is sporting a pretty burly looking beard. I can’t think of another dude that rocks this look. 41-26 Warriors.

Magic Number 1

Tonight the Golden State Warriors find themsleves with a chance to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1995. I remember watching the last playoff series v. Phoenix when I was in college. Its hard to believe its been that long since Oakland has hosted an NBA playoff game. Tonight this could all change.

To commemorate this exciting occasion, I will be live-blogging during the game to record the details of tonight's game in Portland. Since I've never done this, I think I will make my comments and post them at the end of each quarter. Should you feel so compelled, please chime in with comments as the game goes on. Since predictions are not my forte, I will refrain from hexing the team I want to win.

Shock

The tail-end of the trip to Mexico City was spent watching CNN and hearing about the Virginia Tech tragedy. Like viewers all of over the world, we knew very little about the details and we were unfortunately left with media commentary spin to provide reasons that would warrant such abhorrent behavior. The first article we read was quick to mention that local officials did not think this was terrorist-related. My initial thought was, “why would anybody think this is terrorist-related?” but Natalia accurately pointed out that this reveals the times in which we are currently living.

With only my mind’s eye to paint the picture of how the scene went down, the two images my mind created was that of the assailant as a white guy, probably with longish hair and an Adam Morrison straggly moustache. Past tragedies including Columbine, the Oklahoma City bombing and numerous fictional movies and television shows have created this depiction over and over again and must have steeped into my subconscious. (Note: As I type this, I realize that I am guilty of profiling in this regard as any other irrational American. For some reason, profiling a Caucasian person is seen as less reprehensible within the mainstream or at least in my circles.)

Thinking about it more on the flight back to SFO, I was sure of two things about the VA Tech killer. A) the killer was NOT a woman and b) the killer was NOT Asian. I was shocked to later learn that the prime suspect was indeed an Asian man of South Korean descent thus turning all of my aforementioned preconceptions on its head.

I wonder how much attention will be made to this fact over the next days or weeks. The myth or opinions generated about Asians as the “model minority” would seemingly be under some scrutiny based on yesterday's events. This morning, a radio jock (Adam Carolla) mentioned that all of the Anna-Nicole news and the Don Imus controversy recently were indicators that the recent months have lacked any “real” news, as these two subjects took over all of the headlines. While this is perhaps debatable, I do agree with his point that the events of yesterday mark far more significant news and I find it interesting to see how the events of this story will play out, particularly the racial element if at all. Stay tuned.

The World Tour Continues

On a last minute whim, I am heading to Mexico City for the weekend. Natalia has business down there (all legal I presume) and I will join her on the trek. I have never been to Mexico City and its definitely been on the top tier of places I wanted to check out next.

Of course I will be providing updates and pictures and that jazz, but they will likely come next week upon my return as my computadora will be staying home.


I don't really have any expectations, but I do know that I am going to eat a ton and perhaps sample the local spirits.

Viva Mexico!

Frozen Apple

I just got back from a weekend in New York. Spring definitely has not sprung on the east coast as it has here in sunny California. (It was friggin snowing at some points!) What I did notice was that a majority of New York women look like they are equestrian specialists. I feel like 80% of the women cruising around Manhattan were sporting the skinny jeans tucked into knee-high boots look. Why did I even notice you ask? Because they were everywhere. It was unavoidable. Also we went to MOMA, where the fashionista quotient was through the roof.

It has been a couple of months since my last visit and another keen observation I made was that about half of the people in Greenwich Village speak English. The other half of the population speaks either French, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese. When Natalia and I went to brunch in the Meatpacking District last Saturday, I had to hit the ATM and made it a point listen to what language that passing pedestrians were speaking. Of the six or seven couples I passed, only one of them spoke English. I don't really have any thoughts about what this means, in fact I think its pretty cool, but I have to think that this neighborhood must have the most diverse set of hipsters on the planet.

Feeling the Force

Last night, I attended a Members preview for the upcoming San Francisco International Film Festival. Based on the presentation, there are many films worth seeing. If you are in the Bay Area at the end of April into early May, I recommend taking a look at the film listing and getting out and checking out a film or two.

Perhaps, the most memorable aspect of this event was that it took place in the Screening Room at the new LucasFilms/Industrial Light and Magic studio in the Presidio here in SF. For those non-SF natives, the Presidio is the former military base that sits on perhaps the most prime real estate in the City. It is located on the coast directly across from Alcatraz and just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. A few years back, the base at the Presidio shut down and opened up its doors to private industry. Currently, a number of non-profits are housed on the beautiful grounds and George Lucas purchased an enormous parcel of land near the Lombard Gate to set up his new studio space.

Entering the main building that contains the screening room, you are forced to walk past a sweet Yoda fountain sculpture just outside the main entrance. Once inside, the lobby has a life-size three dimensional representation of Boba Fett and Darth Vader and a number of other Star Wars memorabilia along the east wall. Unfortunately, I did not bring my camera, but now that I know where it is, I hope to take some pics someday soon. The hosts of the event ushered us into the screening room, which was a fully modern theater that sits about 100 people. In the entry hallway there, a number of classic movie posters lined the pathway further enhancing the sense that I was in some movie lovers mecca.

After the presentation, all of the attendees were again ushered out, but I was able to see what looked to be a preschool or daycare facility set up in an inner courtyard. (I wonder if they conduct Jedi training there.) This center suggests that Lucas has a place for parents to drop off their kids while they are creating the latest and greatest in CGI technology down a corridor. Impressive.

I was downright giddy as I walked through the grounds and reminisced about how much of an impact the first three Star Wars flicks had on my life. I am glad I got to see this new LucasFilms campus which re-affirmed how epic George Luca could be. Especially since the most recent three Star Wars flicks were so lame.