Tuesday, June 23, 2009

devotion [di-voh-shuhn]
profound dedication; consecration; earnest attachment to a cause, person, etc; an assignment or appropriation
Synonyms include: commitment, loyalty, affectation

To a coliseum filled with over 90,000 fans who had been waiting (let's face it, 7 years) for a celebration of this magnitude, Coach Phil Jackson said, "We are humbled by your devotion." As a man of his caliber, having won an historic 10th NBA title in 18 years of coaching in the league, you wouldn't expect the word, "humbled" to come out of his mouth. Yet given the road traveled behind him and his team - one that was often paved with sports analysts, writers and fans who revered you one day then burned you at the stake the next - it was obvious in their faces that this public display of praise was hoped for, but certainly not expected.


It was the perfect Hollywood ending to a perfect Hollywood script (copyrighted 2008-2009), complete with every stage necessary to tell the story:


1) Exposition: the beginning of the story where the author "sets the stage"

The beginning of the 2008-2009 NBA Season. Operation: REDEMPTION

2) Rising Action: the series of action, or complications, that sets up the conflict for the main character of the story. In this part of the story tension builds.

The regular season where our heroes fought against 29 antagonists of all shapes, sizes and cap spaces; experiencing victory and defeat, injury and recovery, trades, blowouts and inconsistency play.

3) Climax: the high point in the story - the turning point where the conflict comes to a head and is decided for one side or the other- usually the most exciting point in the story

The playoffs! Our heroes continued on their quest for the coveted golden trophy by outwitting, outhustling and outplaying the likes of Utah, Houston and Denver -  adversaries who all proved their worth, but exposed their weaknesses at their most inopportune times.

4) Falling Action: events that happen after the climax - usually wrap up the story and lead to the conclusion

Orlando series - After being battle tested in the Western Conference, the Lakers were ready to take what was theirs...and they did.

5) Resolution: the point of closure - also called the conclusion or denoument when the conflict is worked out

Their once-questioned ability and focused proven; redemption achieved; celebration awaited.

* * * 

This is how the past 12 months have been for us fans who followed the Purple & Gold from that depressing day after the Boston Massacre, to a long summer anticipating another chance to make it right, through the anxious preseason, the long regular season, the heart-pumping playoffs and now this - a world championship. It wasn't always easy to face the doubters, especially when momentary lapses turned some of us into one. We hated all the bandwagoners who ebbed and flowed out of our favor, but we detested the haters even more. 12 months of ESPN, ESPN on ABC, TNT, FSNWest, KCAL, 710espn, 570klac - our hunger to remain informed was insatiable.

The 4 am wake-up call last Wednesday morning left nothing for me to challenge. Standing in line for 3 hours, pressing through a throng of fellow fans to get inside the coliseum, waiting in the hot sun for 2 hours before a mere hour of short speeches and MVP chants - it really was no matter. For fans who had waited for this day to finally come, the obstacles were but trivial inconveniences. After all, when it comes to dedication, the guys wearing the jerseys weren't the only ones who won that trophy. 

Monday, June 22, 2009

I feel like I can conquer the world today!
What the hell is THAT about?!
hahahaha!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Yet ANOTHER Sign of Why This Championship Is So Special...

FOR ONCE, our Laker-hating, Steve-Nash-loving, Kobe's-so-cocky-he-doesn't-deserve-that-MVP-award  buddy, James, didn't have any snide remarks about the Lakers! 

LAKERHATER1:  hi!
ME:  hi james!  
LAKERHATER1:  congrats to your lakers
ME:  thanks! 
LAKERHATER1:  i'll be a gracious loser
ME:  hahahaha 
ME:  wow! 
LAKERHATER1:  they held it together. the magic blew up
ME:  i think i'm gonna blog this conversation 
LAKERHATER1:  lol
 
This is one conversation I will remember and cherish FOREVER. Thanks, James! =)

See ya'll at the parade!!!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

YOU GUYS DID IT!!!!
WORLD CHAMPIONS BABY!!!
Photos courtesy of NBA.com

Thursday, June 11, 2009

D-FISH!
ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?!!!!
It's so close right now...I COULD LITERALLY CRY!

Anything I'm Not
By: Lenka

I will never be, I will never be tall, no
And I will never be, never ever be sure of it all
Oh, why is the world so cruel to me
When all, all I ever want to be is anything I'm not

Gimme a break, a little escape
I am so tired of being me
I wanna be free, I wanna be new and different
Anything I'm not
I'm not

I will never be, I will never be you, no
I will always be, I will always be me, that I know
But oh, even though I'm happy being me
I want to get away from all this harsh reality, oh

Gimme a break, a little escape
I am so tired of being me
I wanna be free, I wanna be new and different
Anything I'm not

Yeah, gimme a break, a little escape
I am so tired of being me
I wanna be free, I wanna be new and different
Anything I'm not
Anything I'm not
Oh, anything I'm not

Gimme a break, a little escape
I am so tired of being me
I wanna be free, I wanna be new and different
Anything I'm not

Yeah, gimme a break, a little escape
I am so tired of being me
I wanna be free, I wanna be new and different
Anything I'm not
Anything I'm not
Anything I'm not
Anything I'm not
Anything I'm not

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

I've been singing this to myself all day...

Consumer observation:

Iced coffee at Burger King and Jack-in-the-Box tastes like iced condensed milk. I love condensed milk and all, but I wouldn't pour it in a cup of ice and chug it. =/

McDonald's still has the best (cheap) coffee around if there isn't a Coffee Bean nearby.

The end. =)

*Tough loss last night. We'll get 'em on Thursday...and Sunday too hopefully =)

Sunday, June 07, 2009

quote [kwoht]
to repeat (a passage, phrase, etc.) from a book, speech, or the like, as by way of authority, illustration, etc.; to cite, offer, or bring forward as evidence or support.
Synonyms include: cite, copy echo

Putting my two cents worth of commentary on Laker/sports-related blog entries and articles has finally paid off. Jeff Miller from the OC Register, wrote an article about Kobe Bryant that really ticked me off. I get it - the man has haters and I know quite a few. But based on what he's done in the past year, and what he's done to help the Lakers get to this point in the postseason for a second year in a row, I just thought the article was written at the least relevant moment. So what's the only thing I, as a Kobe supporter can do? Comment, of course.

I guess Jeff Miller got more than his share of comments because he wrote a follow-up article with this to say AND he included the quick email I sent him (below in bold):

Bryant is so mentally steeled, so tough of mind and spirit his fans evidently feel the need to be sensitive to criticism for him.

That's one of the main reasons the subject of Bryant is so intriguing. His worshipers care more about how he is perceived than he does.

As a topic, this makes him a stick of dynamite. Instead of a match, all that's required for detonation is a discouraging word.

"Wow, Jeff Miller," one of you wrote last week, "for you to write an article like this about such an important part of the team, at a time like this ... Just can't believe you."

Yeah, and look how much my words affected Bryant in Game 1. You guys should just be thankful I'm not ripping Dwight Howard today.


HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! What a crack-up! I hope Kobe and the Lakers keep kickin' some ass because I'd love to see what he'll write about then.  Would be cool, though, to maybe get quoted again =)

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

fanatic [fuh-nat-ik]
a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal
Synonyms include: addict, enthusiast, devotee, extremist

A basketball fan's main event.

A Laker fan's hopes renewed.

The NBA finals are here at last.

It has been a long season, and I feel like it began much earlier than the first tip-off of the first game of 2008-2009. For the loyal supporter of the purple and gold, the new season began right after the green and silver streamers fell from the ceiling of TD Banknorth Gardens in Boston. Our mighty team had lost there. The Larry O'Brien trophy was practically beaten out of our grasp with one swift 39-point pounding that was and never will be forgotten. The weeks that followed were spent brooding over the probability of getting another chance, the possibility of an improved roster, the desire for strength and physicality. The long off-season was occupied shortly by a rewarding Olympic games. The preseason came with a wave of anticipation and great sense of entitlement. This is OUR season.

On the eve of the Lakers’ 30th chance to be the NBA World Champions, I, as a fan, sit in angst. I’ve read every blog entry and article available. I’ve listened to every interview of coach and player. I’ve watched the endless string of game highlights and rewatched games saved in my DVR so much that I can probably do a blind play-by-play if you give me the time on the clock of a certain quarter of the game. I’ve talked to (via email, phone and text) my fellow fans, dissecting the opposing team’s offensive plays and defensive advantages.

We are all right here just waiting, hoping…and excited because, to put it simply – THIS IS IT.

Get your game on, Lakeshow!

WE BELIEVE!