Finally. I wasn't sure if I could make it through or not. For the first time since June, NBA basketball returns to a court near you! We saw one of the most chaotic summers in recent memory with an unequivocal low point in "The Decision" and some patriotic elation when the US "B" team won the World Championships in Turkey behind the jaw-dropping play of Kevin Durant.
So let's take a look at how the West is going to play out. The Lakers putted through the end of the 2010 season to finish with 57 wins, but then kicked it into another gear for the playoffs. They concluded the year with their second straight championship. Gross. Will Kevin Durant shoulder OKC like he did the US team and challenge the Lakers? Can Portland stay healthy enough for 82 games? Are the Spurs on their last legs? A lot of questions and uncertainties out West (except, of course Minnesota, who just sucks).
Without further ado, here is how I expect the West to play out.
1. Los Angeles Lakers
The throne is theirs to lose. Sure, the average age of this team is climbing and their are questions about just how many more miles Kobe's legs can take. But is there a better winner in the league right now that Kobe? The smart addition of Steve Blake will help stop the bleeding of Derek Fisher's dying body. Pau Gasol is arguably the best power forward in the league. The team remains essentially the same from last year. The only question mark is Bynum. Can he ever be healthy enough to help this team? If he can give them 60+ games, there is no reason that the Lakers should not make it to the NBA Finals. And it kills me to say that.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Alright, now here is where things get more difficult. The #2 spot in the West is going to be majorly up for grabs and I think that OKC, Portland, Utah or Dallas could all snag it. But, based on everything up to this point, I believe that OKC is in the best position to secure #2. The level that KD played at in the World Championships was the reason the US won. But Westbrook definitely showed marked improvement from the end of the 2010 season. The Achilles heel for the Thunder will be their big men. Green is undersized and is abused by opposing power forwards. I like the energy and intensity that Ibaka gives them, but he is so raw offensively that he does little on that end. And Aldrich remains a question mark. But as of right now, the elite play of KD and Westbrook give OKC the nod over the rest.
3. Portland Trail Blazers
If OKC's summer was the model of security and smooth operations, then one needs to look at the other side of the spectrum to locate the Blazers. The KP debacle made Portland management look worse than it already did in the eyes of the league. The front-loaded deal to Wesley Matthews, an undrafted rookie, was questionable at that time. The distinct lack of chemistry, still, between Roy and Miller in the preseason. Pryzbilla and Oden, enough said. But the Blazers have the pieces to be successful this year. If, and that's a big if, the Blazers can stay healthy, they have enough talent to finish second in the West. But if another big man goes down, none of that will really matter.
4. Dallas Mavericks
What can I even say? Dallas will get 50+ wins again this year, but it won't matter. Like Utah, they play well during the season, but cannot put it together in the playoffs. It has been the same story every year for Dallas (the exception being 2006). This roster would be incredible if it were 2007, but unfortunately age has caught up with this team. And the addition of Tyson Chandler and a full season for Butler and Haywood won't convince me that the Mavericks will be golfing come June.
5. Utah Jazz
The only reason that I have the Jazz this high is because they are a good regular season team. Jerry Sloan has his team ready to play night in and out. Derron Williams is a top tier point guard and even though they lost Boozer to Chicago, they acquired Al Jefferson who is one of the best low post scorers in the league. Now, the problem is that this roster is just not designed to do damage in the playoffs. Their bench is weak and Jefferson actually plays less defense than Boozer. I see another first round exit in the Jazz's future.
6. San Antonio Spurs
Poor Tim Duncan. It is becoming harder to watch him each year because he just doesn't look the same as he once did. The number of games and minutes caught up with him in a hurry which is bad news for the Spurs. Sure, they still have Ginobli and Parker, plus they finally cashed in on their rights to Tiago Splitter. But this team needs Duncan to operate at a high level on both ends of the floor to be successful. And I'm just not sure he's going to be able to keep doing that.
7. Houston Rockets
Call me crazy, but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Houston finish higher than this. I like their starting five, even if they vowed to only play Yao 24 minutes a game. If he can stay healthy and be effective for all 24 minutes he is on the court, then that will free up space for the shooters in Brooks, Martin, Battier and Budinger. Courtney Lee was a solid pickup for them, a quintessential Daryl Morey move. And now with Yao back, Scola can return to pull up 15 footers and crashing the offensive glass. The Rockets are my sleeper in the West.
8. Denver Nuggets
Alright, this is circumstantial based on how long they hang on to Carmelo. Notice how I didn't say if they trade him? The writing is on the wall in Denver and it says that Anthony's locker will be empty come February. If the Nuggets come out strong at the beginning of the year while he is still around, they may be able to create a cushion to hold off the sharks below them who smell blood. But if Anthony gets traded sooner rather than later, it could be a long year for Denver.
9. Memphis Grizzlies
As I mentioned above, if Anthony gets traded soon, I expect Memphis to take that last playoff spot. This team won 42 games last year and now has Zach Randolph in a contract year (if that doesn't scream inflated stats, I don't know what does). Their starting five is impressive and the addition of Tony Allen boosts their bench play. The problem is the rest of their bench is garbage. If one of the starters is lost to injury then that could derail Memphis's entire season. But if they all can stay healthy then they'll find themselves in unfamiliar territory: the postseason.
10. Phoenix Suns
Losing Contract Year Amar'e hurt. Replacing him with Turkoglu and Hakim Warrick didn't help. Adding Josh Childress created a big log jam at the small forward position. And Channing Frye is still their backup center. So now you can see why the sun is stuck behind some clouds in Phoenix. Their biggest hope remains Steve Nash's level of play. But I suspect this team will just give up too many easy baskets to hope for a playoff spot.
11. New Orleans Hornets
I feel badly for Chris Paul. One has to think that he is not going to spend the rest of his career in the Big Easy, especially if Anthony gets dealt to New York. This team will be able to put up a barrage of points for sure. Paul at the helm makes any players look good (see "All-Star" David West). Thorton and Bayless will benefit from playing with Paul as both players can score in bunches. Their defense is pathetic at best though. Ariza will help patch up this wound a little bit, but the Hornets will not have the talent nor the discipline on defense to keep up with the rest of the West.
12. Los Angeles Clippers
13. Golden State Warriors
14. Sacramento Kings
15. Minnesota Timberwolves
Damnit, I don't even feel like talking about these teams. None will make the post-season, let alone sniff at it. Griffin is my pick to win ROY. Steph Curry will always be exciting to watch, but the Warriors need to address the situation of Curry and Ellis' inability to play together. Any wagers on which player Cousins strangles first? My money goes on Evans. And Minnesota. "We won't win a championship this year, but we're going to improve!" That's exactly what your ticket holders want to hear, David Kahn.
So there you have it. That's what I expect to happen in the West. But it could be a chaotic year with the Anthony mess, the number of teams with injury question marks, and plenty of new faces in different cities. What do you think? Let me know in the comment section. Also, if you haven't yet subscribed to my blog, it's really simple that even a...well I'll spare you the pathetic cultural allusion. Just sign up.
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
College Football Thoughts
Alright, so I give up on the BCS. I don't care anymore. As long as Oregon is either #1 or #2, that's all that matters I guess. Although, as much as I hate to say it, I feel badly for Boise State at this point. Fortunately for them, Auburn's remaining schedule is no cakewalk, especially with the SEC Championship game at the end of the season. But damn, the Broncos can't catch a break. I am personally hoping for a Boise State vs. Oregon BCS title game (me and the rest of the population west of the Rockies). There'd be quite a few interesting plot lines behind that one.
Speaking of tough schedules left, Oregon doesn't exactly have a clear shot to the title game either. At USC this week will be a difficult game for sure, given how well SC played Stanford and the thrashing they gave Cal. Plus, they had a bye week this past week to prepare for Oregon. This definitely has the same feel of a trap game that the Stanford game had last year for Duck fans. Arizona proved they can still play without Nick Foles, although his return his expected by their November 26th meeting with Oregon. And of course the Civil War, which is always up in the air. Personally, I think if Oregon gets past USC this weekend, and the computers stay friendly enough to them, they should find themselves in the driver's seat for the title game.
Mike Payne told me that I should talk about how well Cam Newton, Auburn's quarterback, has been playing. Well, sure I could do that, but that'd be like pointing out the Earth revolves around the Sun. Newton single-handedly put Auburn on his back and plowed over LSU's defense to win them that game. Newton carried the ball 28 times for 217 yards and two of Auburn's touchdowns. More importantly though, he didn't turn the ball over once when he threw or ran. Newton has completed 65% of his passes this year, has 13 touchdowns to just five interceptions and leads his team in rushing with over 1,000 yards. Wow. I love Lamichael James, but those are Heisman winning numbers in my mind. If Newton keeps this up, Auburn is one of, if not the most, dangerous team in the country right now. It would be interesting to watch Oregon's high octane offense battle the multidimensional Newton.
My Face-Palm Award goes to the NCAA this weekend. This season they have gone after schools for possible recruiting violations, player-agent contact, and improper benefits with such fervor that you'd think they get a bonus for every school they sanction. In the beginning of the season, AJ Green, wide receiver for Georgia, was suspended for selling his game-worn jersey in the Independence Bowl. Alright, makes sense I guess. He broke the rules and he pays the price. Wait, I think I hear a knock at my door. Oh, hello Hypocrisy, you're looking for the NCAA? Oh they aren't here, but I bet if you smell hard enough for the stench of double standards then you can find them. The University of Nebraska is selling the game-worn jerseys of their players from their October 16th loss to Texas. So the school can make millions off the football program, sell replica jerseys of the players on their team sites, then sell the official game jerseys for profit as well? And AJ Green gets suspended? Hmmm, I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
Fear not Boise fans, here is something that will bring a smile to your face and give you hope for the current BCS debacle in the making:
Fiesta Bowl 2007
Speaking of tough schedules left, Oregon doesn't exactly have a clear shot to the title game either. At USC this week will be a difficult game for sure, given how well SC played Stanford and the thrashing they gave Cal. Plus, they had a bye week this past week to prepare for Oregon. This definitely has the same feel of a trap game that the Stanford game had last year for Duck fans. Arizona proved they can still play without Nick Foles, although his return his expected by their November 26th meeting with Oregon. And of course the Civil War, which is always up in the air. Personally, I think if Oregon gets past USC this weekend, and the computers stay friendly enough to them, they should find themselves in the driver's seat for the title game.
Mike Payne told me that I should talk about how well Cam Newton, Auburn's quarterback, has been playing. Well, sure I could do that, but that'd be like pointing out the Earth revolves around the Sun. Newton single-handedly put Auburn on his back and plowed over LSU's defense to win them that game. Newton carried the ball 28 times for 217 yards and two of Auburn's touchdowns. More importantly though, he didn't turn the ball over once when he threw or ran. Newton has completed 65% of his passes this year, has 13 touchdowns to just five interceptions and leads his team in rushing with over 1,000 yards. Wow. I love Lamichael James, but those are Heisman winning numbers in my mind. If Newton keeps this up, Auburn is one of, if not the most, dangerous team in the country right now. It would be interesting to watch Oregon's high octane offense battle the multidimensional Newton.
My Face-Palm Award goes to the NCAA this weekend. This season they have gone after schools for possible recruiting violations, player-agent contact, and improper benefits with such fervor that you'd think they get a bonus for every school they sanction. In the beginning of the season, AJ Green, wide receiver for Georgia, was suspended for selling his game-worn jersey in the Independence Bowl. Alright, makes sense I guess. He broke the rules and he pays the price. Wait, I think I hear a knock at my door. Oh, hello Hypocrisy, you're looking for the NCAA? Oh they aren't here, but I bet if you smell hard enough for the stench of double standards then you can find them. The University of Nebraska is selling the game-worn jerseys of their players from their October 16th loss to Texas. So the school can make millions off the football program, sell replica jerseys of the players on their team sites, then sell the official game jerseys for profit as well? And AJ Green gets suspended? Hmmm, I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
Fear not Boise fans, here is something that will bring a smile to your face and give you hope for the current BCS debacle in the making:
Fiesta Bowl 2007
Friday, 22 October 2010
Why I Can't Walk on Sidewalks
Okay, the title of this is a little bit of a hyperbole. Realistically, it is more like "why walking on sidewalks is a huge pain in the butt sometimes." Dogs and parked cars have caused all kinds of problems in this department.
So I get out of class and I am walking back to the apartment. It is a beautiful day, about 70 with a slight breeze. The middle of October. I've got a big smile on my face, bobbing my head to the music from my iPod and life is just great. Of course, because I'm feeling so good, I'm looking around and taking in my surroundings. Great. Wonderful. Then, disaster. My sandal sticks to something. I look down, see nothing in front of me. Turn around and there it is, basically laughing at me: a gigantic pile of dog poop that was just sitting RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK. Because stray dogs are everywhere here, logically there is lots of dog poop. And sure enough, there is! It's great! All the dog feces you could ever want! But seriously, this wouldn't really be that big of a deal if I hadn't stepped in it. I'd avoided all the piles so many times, and the one time that I finally take my eyes of the sidewalk...squish.
Now the other problem with walking on sidewalks is randomly finding cars parked right in the middle of them. The thing about Greece is, if you can find space somewhere, it should be a parking place. Doesn't matter if it is going down the wrong way on a one-way street or if you leave absolutely zero room for pedestrians to get by. Yesterday I was forced to walk halfway into the street because a van "parked" (and I use the term loosely) in a spot...that stretched across the entire sidewalk and into the road. Silly Peter, and here you thought sidewalks were for people not in cars!
When we asked our adviser what the rules to parking and stopping your cars are in the road, he replied: "There are none."
Yep, talk about a little bit different.
So I get out of class and I am walking back to the apartment. It is a beautiful day, about 70 with a slight breeze. The middle of October. I've got a big smile on my face, bobbing my head to the music from my iPod and life is just great. Of course, because I'm feeling so good, I'm looking around and taking in my surroundings. Great. Wonderful. Then, disaster. My sandal sticks to something. I look down, see nothing in front of me. Turn around and there it is, basically laughing at me: a gigantic pile of dog poop that was just sitting RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK. Because stray dogs are everywhere here, logically there is lots of dog poop. And sure enough, there is! It's great! All the dog feces you could ever want! But seriously, this wouldn't really be that big of a deal if I hadn't stepped in it. I'd avoided all the piles so many times, and the one time that I finally take my eyes of the sidewalk...squish.
Now the other problem with walking on sidewalks is randomly finding cars parked right in the middle of them. The thing about Greece is, if you can find space somewhere, it should be a parking place. Doesn't matter if it is going down the wrong way on a one-way street or if you leave absolutely zero room for pedestrians to get by. Yesterday I was forced to walk halfway into the street because a van "parked" (and I use the term loosely) in a spot...that stretched across the entire sidewalk and into the road. Silly Peter, and here you thought sidewalks were for people not in cars!
When we asked our adviser what the rules to parking and stopping your cars are in the road, he replied: "There are none."
Yep, talk about a little bit different.
Thursday, 21 October 2010
I. Hate. ESPN.
Dear ESPN,
The 24 hour coverage of "news" on where Lebron would sign.
The Decision.
The defending of The Decision.
The reporting on the Heat's championship-like presentation of the "Big 3."
The extremely excessive number of articles during the preseason.
The Heat Index.
And finally, your most recent article, "King of Pain."
Spare us, please.
Sincerely,
America
The 24 hour coverage of "news" on where Lebron would sign.
The Decision.
The defending of The Decision.
The reporting on the Heat's championship-like presentation of the "Big 3."
The extremely excessive number of articles during the preseason.
The Heat Index.
And finally, your most recent article, "King of Pain."
Spare us, please.
Sincerely,
America
Merritt's Honesty Could Cost Him London
LaShawn Merritt, gold medal winner in the 400 meters and 4x400 relay, received a twenty-one month ban from an arbitration panel after he tested positive for a banned substance found in an over-the-counter drug he purchased.
The drug? Extenze.
Save your jokes and laughter because this raises a bigger issue than jokes about Merritt's endowment in places other than on the track. Yes, Merritt was found with a banned substance in his body, but evidently the aribitration panel did not think that the amount resulted in an unfair advantage on the track.
The original ban was to last two full years, but the panel reduced the total to twenty-one months because Merritt "demonstrated tremendous character in making what had to be a painful and humiliating confession." The language they chose appears to send the message that the significance of him taking Extenze was not for athletic enhancement. Clearly his level of rebuke does not fall on the same as the cheating-likes of Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery, Justin Gatlin, Maurice Green, etc.
But because of the International Olympic Committee's rule that if an athlete receives a ban of longer than six months, they will not be eligible for the next Olympic games, even if they fall outside of the length of the ban, Merritt could lose his opportunity to defend his gold. All for what? Taking a male-enhancement drug whose purpose is to enhance performance in the bedroom, not the track?
I understand that rules are rules and that Merritt's positive test violates these, but to rob him of a chance to defend his gold which he won fairly seems preposterous. Doping has become rampant in track and field and athletes are to blame for this cheating. However, the IOC holds responsibility as well for not taking the appropriate steps to snuff it out. Now, as they attempt to restore control over the situation, they want to prevent a clean athlete from competing. The IOC clearly has its priorities mixed up.
If Merritt remains banned from the 2012 games, it will only give credence to the argument that the IOC is as ineffective of a governing body as they come. If these tests punish clean athletes then clearly a change must occur. For gold medal winners like Merritt, let's hope it happens soon.
The drug? Extenze.
Save your jokes and laughter because this raises a bigger issue than jokes about Merritt's endowment in places other than on the track. Yes, Merritt was found with a banned substance in his body, but evidently the aribitration panel did not think that the amount resulted in an unfair advantage on the track.
The original ban was to last two full years, but the panel reduced the total to twenty-one months because Merritt "demonstrated tremendous character in making what had to be a painful and humiliating confession." The language they chose appears to send the message that the significance of him taking Extenze was not for athletic enhancement. Clearly his level of rebuke does not fall on the same as the cheating-likes of Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery, Justin Gatlin, Maurice Green, etc.
But because of the International Olympic Committee's rule that if an athlete receives a ban of longer than six months, they will not be eligible for the next Olympic games, even if they fall outside of the length of the ban, Merritt could lose his opportunity to defend his gold. All for what? Taking a male-enhancement drug whose purpose is to enhance performance in the bedroom, not the track?
I understand that rules are rules and that Merritt's positive test violates these, but to rob him of a chance to defend his gold which he won fairly seems preposterous. Doping has become rampant in track and field and athletes are to blame for this cheating. However, the IOC holds responsibility as well for not taking the appropriate steps to snuff it out. Now, as they attempt to restore control over the situation, they want to prevent a clean athlete from competing. The IOC clearly has its priorities mixed up.
If Merritt remains banned from the 2012 games, it will only give credence to the argument that the IOC is as ineffective of a governing body as they come. If these tests punish clean athletes then clearly a change must occur. For gold medal winners like Merritt, let's hope it happens soon.
Monday, 18 October 2010
A Couple of Articles to Start Your Week
Hey folks, you check the college football rankings? Wait, what's that? Oregon? #1? First time in history? I think so! And to make things even better, they rank in at #2 in the first edition of the BCS standings. Now I know that all that matters is who is ranked there at the end of the season, BUT for now it is still exciting. Here's hoping that they ride the wave of momentum they have through the rest of the season for their first appearance in a title game. Also, further proof that the BCS is all kinds of screwed up, how does #6 Oklahoma rank #1 in the BCS, a full .03 ahead of Oregon and .04 of Boise State? Clearly my pea brain just doesn't understand. The computers always get it "right."
Alright, so I'll get to a real article later on today or tomorrow, so make sure you check back at some point. But in the meantime, in case you want to read what real sports writing looks like when it is done well, here are a few of my favorite articles.
Ray of Hope
When Your Dream Dies (before Rick Reilly turned into a shmuck)
The Road Back
The White Coon
And for those of you with brothers out there:
Soul Survivor
Those are just a couple of my favorites. Read'em and appreciate sports writing that isn't mine. Feel free to drop a link in the comments section of one of your favorites.
Alright, so I'll get to a real article later on today or tomorrow, so make sure you check back at some point. But in the meantime, in case you want to read what real sports writing looks like when it is done well, here are a few of my favorite articles.
Ray of Hope
When Your Dream Dies (before Rick Reilly turned into a shmuck)
The Road Back
The White Coon
And for those of you with brothers out there:
Soul Survivor
Those are just a couple of my favorites. Read'em and appreciate sports writing that isn't mine. Feel free to drop a link in the comments section of one of your favorites.
Friday, 15 October 2010
A Trip to the Trenches
Alright, so last week I had an interesting experience. First, a little background. In Greece they have universal health care. Hooray for the practice of enlightened ideals! Obviously this means that there are public and private hospitals and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out which is nicer of the two. Since Obama leads a health care reform in the US and the public cry for universal healthcare has grown louder in the past few years, this experience gave me a small taste of what to expect.
*Disclaimer* I understand that a trip to a Greek public hospital and American public hospital (in the event of universal health care) are significantly different due to technological differences with the equipment, but the jist of the situations would be similar enough to warrant a comparison.
Upon arriving at the hospital, our study abroad advisor asked us for 10 Euros each so he could go pay at the front desk. He waited in line for 45 minutes simply to pay basically a cover charge so that we could enter in the hospital. As he led us to the room to get tested for TB, the scene there could be described as hectic. Significantly more people wandering around the hallways and seemingly fewer doctors present than my experience in the US. We waited another half an hour and then we were shown to our room. Three minutes for the three of us to get a TB shot and then we were led to get an X-ray of our chests. The hallway outside the X-ray rooms were PACKED. Many people were wearing makeshift casts and there were a few pretty gruesome looking breaks. Did I enter a time machine and land back in a WWI hospital? Every time a door opened and a doctor emerged, he was swarmed by a group of people trying to get in next, despite the fact that the doctors had a list of names for the order. Another half an hour passed by and we get our thirty second X-ray. We exited the hospital a different way than we entered and still more and more people walked around the hallways. The doctor to patient ratio must have been exponentially higher than it should've been. Roughly two hours or so later, and we were on our way out.
This was not exactly a bastion of efficiency. And it made me wonder: if we had universal health care in the US, would we expect a similar result? How much of it is the country, the technology, the day we went, the setup of health care? One must incorporate an endless number of variables into the argument for or against universal health care. Just a little food for thought considering how relevant this actually is to Americans.
And hey, if you enjoy reading my thoughts even a little bit, subscribe to my blog! Show your friends, your family, your pets! The more the merrier!
*Disclaimer* I understand that a trip to a Greek public hospital and American public hospital (in the event of universal health care) are significantly different due to technological differences with the equipment, but the jist of the situations would be similar enough to warrant a comparison.
Upon arriving at the hospital, our study abroad advisor asked us for 10 Euros each so he could go pay at the front desk. He waited in line for 45 minutes simply to pay basically a cover charge so that we could enter in the hospital. As he led us to the room to get tested for TB, the scene there could be described as hectic. Significantly more people wandering around the hallways and seemingly fewer doctors present than my experience in the US. We waited another half an hour and then we were shown to our room. Three minutes for the three of us to get a TB shot and then we were led to get an X-ray of our chests. The hallway outside the X-ray rooms were PACKED. Many people were wearing makeshift casts and there were a few pretty gruesome looking breaks. Did I enter a time machine and land back in a WWI hospital? Every time a door opened and a doctor emerged, he was swarmed by a group of people trying to get in next, despite the fact that the doctors had a list of names for the order. Another half an hour passed by and we get our thirty second X-ray. We exited the hospital a different way than we entered and still more and more people walked around the hallways. The doctor to patient ratio must have been exponentially higher than it should've been. Roughly two hours or so later, and we were on our way out.
This was not exactly a bastion of efficiency. And it made me wonder: if we had universal health care in the US, would we expect a similar result? How much of it is the country, the technology, the day we went, the setup of health care? One must incorporate an endless number of variables into the argument for or against universal health care. Just a little food for thought considering how relevant this actually is to Americans.
And hey, if you enjoy reading my thoughts even a little bit, subscribe to my blog! Show your friends, your family, your pets! The more the merrier!
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Gilbert Arenas Growing Up?
Gilbert Arenas told Flip Saunders that his surgically repaired (multiple times) right knee felt stiff. Saunders decided to sit Arenas for the game, rather than push his starting shooting guard through a meaningless preseason game.
But with Arenas, the situation is never what it appears on the surface. And true to form, there was more than met the eye with this "injury." Arenas secretly concocted a plan to fake an injury for teammate Nick Young so that Young could start in Arenas' place and get more playing time. Young was frustrated with his lack of time on the court, and with a new subdued and more mature Arenas around, the two figured this plan would work best for Young to shine.
When Arenas announced after the game that he faked the soreness so that his teammate could get more run, the media backlash was predictable. But I will distance myself from that group of journalists who want to write off Arenas' action as another example of his inability to grow up. I see Arenas' gesture as another piece of example of his growth since the league suspended him for the remainder of the 2009-10 season for the gun incident.
It started with Arenas changing his number from 0 to number 9. A small act that showed he did not need demand so much attention. Then he appeared on media day the antithesis of his former self. Gone was the swagger, the arrogance and the spotlight. In it's place was a humbled man who knew that if he wanted to salvage his career, he needed to grow up. He correctly recognized and informed the media that the Wizards are now John Wall's team. He knows he is now second-fiddle and accepts that role.
Then the fake injury incident arises. Most will point a finger at Arenas and say he returned to his true form. To me, though, his choice further indicates his desire for reform. Arenas, routinely described as selfish and a bad teammate, sacrificed his playing time to help a teammate out. Spare me the argument about it being a game. It was a preseason game. And no, Arenas skipping one preseason does not affect team chemistry. The team working and playing together happens on a daily basis, so for Arenas to miss one game is not catastrophic.
Was it stupid of Arenas to announce to the media the success of his plan? Absolutely. And if this had been a regular season game, I too would have criticized Arenas. But the intention behind the act holds more significance than the act itself. Arenas seems to have grown up in his time away.
But with Arenas, the situation is never what it appears on the surface. And true to form, there was more than met the eye with this "injury." Arenas secretly concocted a plan to fake an injury for teammate Nick Young so that Young could start in Arenas' place and get more playing time. Young was frustrated with his lack of time on the court, and with a new subdued and more mature Arenas around, the two figured this plan would work best for Young to shine.
When Arenas announced after the game that he faked the soreness so that his teammate could get more run, the media backlash was predictable. But I will distance myself from that group of journalists who want to write off Arenas' action as another example of his inability to grow up. I see Arenas' gesture as another piece of example of his growth since the league suspended him for the remainder of the 2009-10 season for the gun incident.
It started with Arenas changing his number from 0 to number 9. A small act that showed he did not need demand so much attention. Then he appeared on media day the antithesis of his former self. Gone was the swagger, the arrogance and the spotlight. In it's place was a humbled man who knew that if he wanted to salvage his career, he needed to grow up. He correctly recognized and informed the media that the Wizards are now John Wall's team. He knows he is now second-fiddle and accepts that role.
Then the fake injury incident arises. Most will point a finger at Arenas and say he returned to his true form. To me, though, his choice further indicates his desire for reform. Arenas, routinely described as selfish and a bad teammate, sacrificed his playing time to help a teammate out. Spare me the argument about it being a game. It was a preseason game. And no, Arenas skipping one preseason does not affect team chemistry. The team working and playing together happens on a daily basis, so for Arenas to miss one game is not catastrophic.
Was it stupid of Arenas to announce to the media the success of his plan? Absolutely. And if this had been a regular season game, I too would have criticized Arenas. But the intention behind the act holds more significance than the act itself. Arenas seems to have grown up in his time away.
Friday, 8 October 2010
Could Barcelona Make It In The NBA?
Phil Jackson clearly holds the NBA in high esteem. After his Lakers lost 92-88 to reigning Spanish League champs FC Barcelona, a reporter asked him if he thought FCB could withstand the competition in the NBA night in and night out.
"No."
Well, that makes it fairly clear, I think. And frankly, I am inclined to agree with him. Xavier Pasqual, Barcelona's head coach does not agree. And he does not think that this victory is an isolated incident, as he noted that Barcelona almost beat the Lakers in the Staples Center back in 2008.
"If we played [in the NBA] and we changed our way of doing things, I think we would be able to compete differently," Pasqual said.
Mr. Pasqual, with all due respect, NBA preseason games mean little. Maybe I should point out to you that the Lakers also lost to Minnesota by 19 in their first preseason game. Minnesota. The same team that won fifteen games last year and just traded away their best player, Al Jefferson.
Or maybe you need to see that Kobe, the best basketball player in the world right now, played only 25 minutes because of recent knee surgery.
Or how about that the Lakers arrived in Spain only two days prior to the game and were likely still adjusting their body clocks.
Small sample size, Mr. Pasqual. Yes, your team played well and their performance should encourage La Liga that they continue to improve. But the NBA remains the greatest league in the world, a place where these players dream of playing ever since they were young. The best of the best make it to the NBA, and if your team really has the talent to compete with the best, then they would already be over there.
For a couple of games, I think FCB would surprise a few teams. But the wear and tear of traveling, the physical style of play, and the 82 game season would derail their season quickly.
Congratulations on the victory Barcelona, but the rest of the world remains miles behind the NBA.
"No."
Well, that makes it fairly clear, I think. And frankly, I am inclined to agree with him. Xavier Pasqual, Barcelona's head coach does not agree. And he does not think that this victory is an isolated incident, as he noted that Barcelona almost beat the Lakers in the Staples Center back in 2008.
"If we played [in the NBA] and we changed our way of doing things, I think we would be able to compete differently," Pasqual said.
Mr. Pasqual, with all due respect, NBA preseason games mean little. Maybe I should point out to you that the Lakers also lost to Minnesota by 19 in their first preseason game. Minnesota. The same team that won fifteen games last year and just traded away their best player, Al Jefferson.
Or maybe you need to see that Kobe, the best basketball player in the world right now, played only 25 minutes because of recent knee surgery.
Or how about that the Lakers arrived in Spain only two days prior to the game and were likely still adjusting their body clocks.
Small sample size, Mr. Pasqual. Yes, your team played well and their performance should encourage La Liga that they continue to improve. But the NBA remains the greatest league in the world, a place where these players dream of playing ever since they were young. The best of the best make it to the NBA, and if your team really has the talent to compete with the best, then they would already be over there.
For a couple of games, I think FCB would surprise a few teams. But the wear and tear of traveling, the physical style of play, and the 82 game season would derail their season quickly.
Congratulations on the victory Barcelona, but the rest of the world remains miles behind the NBA.
Showin' the Greeks How To Play For 22 Minutes
So I am just hanging out in the gym shooting around with a couple of the girls in my group, when two of the guys on the team come up to me and tell me they need me to play in their intramural game this afternoon. Cool, sounds like fun to me. They were excited because I have made a name for myself on the team by just busting my ass and giving 100% the whole time. I figured I would just mark up on whoever the opposing team's best player was and just play hard defense and let them do the scoring. Then they told me we were playing the other group of guys from the team, including the starting point guard and shooting guard (the starters on the team are actually pretty good, much much much better than the average Greek). Shoot. Alright well it'll still be fun.
We come out and are immediately down 7-1 with the 1 being a free throw I hit after going to the basket and drawing the foul. Then something weird happened. For the first time in my life, I let loose on offense. Anyone who has played 5v5 with me knows that I really do not shoot the ball much, instead electing for the extra pass or establishing good rebounding position. I rattled off our next 13 points and we took the lead. With three minutes to go, it is 25-23, our lead and I have 18 or 20 of our team's points. Then, of course, I start to really screw up. First, I get my pocket picked BADLY from the front and the guy scores a one on none fast break. Then two plays later, I lose my handle, get my pocket picked again, leading to another one on none. Oh boy. Next play, our point guard gets trapped right after crossing half court, throws a bounce pass to me that I don't move to and the same guy swoops in, and another one on none. Next thing we know, we're down 34-25. My three clangs out and that settles it.
So what did we learn today Peter? Step to your passes, protect your dribble, and remember all the small things that Pops taught you when you were younger. I single handedly KILLED our team's momentum. Really frustrating.
On the plus side, if I get a physical from a Greek doctor, sign some papers and provide them with a copy of my passport, I can play with the team in league games. Their league, however, is a "company league" as the coach phrased it. That means we are playing some guys our age, but then we'll face some teams that are 35 year old guys. That's going to be weird. I never play against older guys and don't like to because they usually play dirty because of their waning athleticism. So I think I am going to go ahead and play and that will give me some more stuff to blog about.
Coming up tomorrow, a review of the soccer game we are going to tonight. Greece's national team is playing Latvia in a Euro 2012 qualifying match. I am bubbling with excitement to see what a national team game is like in Europe. Sure it is only Greece and Latvia, but come on, I think we all know it will still be intense. Make sure you check back to the blog often, tell your friends about it and if you really want to make me happy, become a follower of it so I have some idea of who actually reads my posts.
Missing the USA, but definitely loving life here.
We come out and are immediately down 7-1 with the 1 being a free throw I hit after going to the basket and drawing the foul. Then something weird happened. For the first time in my life, I let loose on offense. Anyone who has played 5v5 with me knows that I really do not shoot the ball much, instead electing for the extra pass or establishing good rebounding position. I rattled off our next 13 points and we took the lead. With three minutes to go, it is 25-23, our lead and I have 18 or 20 of our team's points. Then, of course, I start to really screw up. First, I get my pocket picked BADLY from the front and the guy scores a one on none fast break. Then two plays later, I lose my handle, get my pocket picked again, leading to another one on none. Oh boy. Next play, our point guard gets trapped right after crossing half court, throws a bounce pass to me that I don't move to and the same guy swoops in, and another one on none. Next thing we know, we're down 34-25. My three clangs out and that settles it.
So what did we learn today Peter? Step to your passes, protect your dribble, and remember all the small things that Pops taught you when you were younger. I single handedly KILLED our team's momentum. Really frustrating.
On the plus side, if I get a physical from a Greek doctor, sign some papers and provide them with a copy of my passport, I can play with the team in league games. Their league, however, is a "company league" as the coach phrased it. That means we are playing some guys our age, but then we'll face some teams that are 35 year old guys. That's going to be weird. I never play against older guys and don't like to because they usually play dirty because of their waning athleticism. So I think I am going to go ahead and play and that will give me some more stuff to blog about.
Coming up tomorrow, a review of the soccer game we are going to tonight. Greece's national team is playing Latvia in a Euro 2012 qualifying match. I am bubbling with excitement to see what a national team game is like in Europe. Sure it is only Greece and Latvia, but come on, I think we all know it will still be intense. Make sure you check back to the blog often, tell your friends about it and if you really want to make me happy, become a follower of it so I have some idea of who actually reads my posts.
Missing the USA, but definitely loving life here.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Ball Outrageous in Greece? Not Quite...
So one of the areas that I was really interested in when I came to Greece was what playing pick-up sports would be like. Obviously, when I am at home, the games are usually 2v2 or 3v3 and pretty competitive. Things get a little chippy sometimes and people don't shy away from contact. Lots of pick and rolls, cuts to the baskets and for the most part defense is pretty solid. At BC, it is basically the same. It is always 5v5 there, so you are bound to get a few more lemons once in a while on the courts, but the average BC student is a pretty good athlete with a firm concept of the game. Same basic ideas apply: play tough defense, generally physical, hustle and just play smart basketball.
Greece? Man, we're looking at a black and white difference here.
American basketball fans' perceptions of European players is that they are generally soft and complain excessively about fouls. Let me tell you that that is the case all the way down to the worst kids here in 2v2. Playing 2v2, my man's teammate sets a screen on me. I wrestle my way over the top of the pick but am still a step behind him. Fortunately, due to a basic lack of basketball skills that most people possess here, I blocked him off the bleachers. One of the biggest blocks I have had in my life. He calls a foul and my jaw drops faster than the ball sailing out of bounds on said block. And yeah, I realized that I am a biased party in this description but I would bet my life that I did not foul him. Not to mention, I have about a dozen of these stories as well. To sum up: Europeans play softer than the Pillsbury Doughboy.
Now, nobody plays 5v5 here. It all goes back to what I have talked about earlier in which I said that this culture is just generally not very motivated and driven. After a game of 3v3 in which there was actually some good competition, I made a remark to my teammate about how I was tired because I had been playing for 2 1/2 hours. He goes "well you shouldn't try so hard man, you were playing way harder than us. This is just for fun."
...
GOOD COMPETITION IS FUN. Sure, I enjoy screwing around with my friends as much as the next guy, but playing intense basketball is significantly more fun than just dicking around. There is no two ways about it. And this is not an exception to the rule -- basically everyone plays at 50% and not a lick of defense. To sum up: Greeks just don't seem as interested in competition as Americans.
A few small nuances. You don't check the ball. Ever. If you score a basket, you grab the ball, take it to the three point line and just go. Nobody takes time to let play restore some structure. It's just grab and go. If a shot is missed and you grab the rebound, you can take it back, but you have to immediately pass it after that. You are not allowed to score. Huh? Really? Really. And of course, the one rule I have never liked, even when it is attempted to be played in the US: you don't have to take out an airball, you can just lay it right in for your team's points. Silly. That's all that is.
Now, to wrap this all up, here's a little fun fact for you today: I made the college team. Yep, that's right. Cut freshman year, CYO since 4th grade Pete made the team. Unfortunately, since I am only here for a semester, I can't play in the games, although the coach told me that it's too bad I was only here a semester because I would have seen the floor during games. So instead I will practice with the team, but be an unofficial member. Peter, we're not in America anymore. The team here is roughly the equivalent to a good intramural team at BC playing NCAA or a mediocre NBA team. So yeah, that's how I made the team. Not quite as impressive anymore, right? As you nod your head yes, I agree.
Oh yeah, and even on the team, nobody plays defense and the big men are softer than a kleenex.
I guess some things just don't change, regardless of skill level.
Greece? Man, we're looking at a black and white difference here.
American basketball fans' perceptions of European players is that they are generally soft and complain excessively about fouls. Let me tell you that that is the case all the way down to the worst kids here in 2v2. Playing 2v2, my man's teammate sets a screen on me. I wrestle my way over the top of the pick but am still a step behind him. Fortunately, due to a basic lack of basketball skills that most people possess here, I blocked him off the bleachers. One of the biggest blocks I have had in my life. He calls a foul and my jaw drops faster than the ball sailing out of bounds on said block. And yeah, I realized that I am a biased party in this description but I would bet my life that I did not foul him. Not to mention, I have about a dozen of these stories as well. To sum up: Europeans play softer than the Pillsbury Doughboy.
Now, nobody plays 5v5 here. It all goes back to what I have talked about earlier in which I said that this culture is just generally not very motivated and driven. After a game of 3v3 in which there was actually some good competition, I made a remark to my teammate about how I was tired because I had been playing for 2 1/2 hours. He goes "well you shouldn't try so hard man, you were playing way harder than us. This is just for fun."
...
GOOD COMPETITION IS FUN. Sure, I enjoy screwing around with my friends as much as the next guy, but playing intense basketball is significantly more fun than just dicking around. There is no two ways about it. And this is not an exception to the rule -- basically everyone plays at 50% and not a lick of defense. To sum up: Greeks just don't seem as interested in competition as Americans.
A few small nuances. You don't check the ball. Ever. If you score a basket, you grab the ball, take it to the three point line and just go. Nobody takes time to let play restore some structure. It's just grab and go. If a shot is missed and you grab the rebound, you can take it back, but you have to immediately pass it after that. You are not allowed to score. Huh? Really? Really. And of course, the one rule I have never liked, even when it is attempted to be played in the US: you don't have to take out an airball, you can just lay it right in for your team's points. Silly. That's all that is.
Now, to wrap this all up, here's a little fun fact for you today: I made the college team. Yep, that's right. Cut freshman year, CYO since 4th grade Pete made the team. Unfortunately, since I am only here for a semester, I can't play in the games, although the coach told me that it's too bad I was only here a semester because I would have seen the floor during games. So instead I will practice with the team, but be an unofficial member. Peter, we're not in America anymore. The team here is roughly the equivalent to a good intramural team at BC playing NCAA or a mediocre NBA team. So yeah, that's how I made the team. Not quite as impressive anymore, right? As you nod your head yes, I agree.
Oh yeah, and even on the team, nobody plays defense and the big men are softer than a kleenex.
I guess some things just don't change, regardless of skill level.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Bronco Fans Cry Foul
No respect. Unfair. We need a playoff system. Save your breath, Bronco fans.
The newest AP polls were released on Sunday and Boise State, who previously found themselves safely tucked behind Ohio State and Alabama, was migrated over by the Oregon Ducks. "How can this happen" Bronco fans ask themselves. "We haven't lost a game. We knocked off our two tough early tests in Virginia Tech and Oregon State. We just offered up New Mexico State as a sacrificial offering on Saturday night. Nothing unimpressive so far and we actually drop a spot?"
That's the nature of the beast when you play in an inferior conference. WAC vs. Pac10? That's the equivalent of putting a featherweight and a heavyweight in the same ring. Let's take a quick look at the two teams' respective opponents, Stanford and New Mexico St and a few of their statistical ranks:
Passing yards: 29th, 101st
Rushing yards: 23rd, 96th
Points per game: 4th, 118th
Points allowed per game: 45th, 119th
All of these rankings come after Saturday's games, which means Stanfords numbers took a huge hit after the Ducks romped them. Even a look at this should make it evident why Oregon jumped Boise State. The voters will reward teams with tougher games, which will doom Boise State once again.
Boise State will need serious help if it wants to even sniff the idea of a national championship appearance. After Albama thrashed Florida, the SEC appears theirs to hold. In a watered down Big 10, Ohio State will go as far as Terelle Pryor's arms and legs carry them. Oregon faces a few major tests left, but they appear to possess the tools to capture the Pac 10 crown. And of course, Boise State must look over its shoulder too. TCU remains undefeated, plays in a stronger conference, and their non-conference victory over Baylor looks stronger than Boise's win over Virginia Tech (each team played, and beat, Oregon State which cancels out). Don't overlook Nebraska either, who could find themselves in the Big 12 Championship, which may carry enough weight to pass over Boise as well.
Don't protest too hard, Boise. No amount of whining and complaining will change the fact that you play in an inferior conference and suffer as a result. Pray that Virginia Tech wins the ACC and that one of the teams in front of you slips up, otherwise you will find yourself, once again, on the outside looking in at the National Championship.
The newest AP polls were released on Sunday and Boise State, who previously found themselves safely tucked behind Ohio State and Alabama, was migrated over by the Oregon Ducks. "How can this happen" Bronco fans ask themselves. "We haven't lost a game. We knocked off our two tough early tests in Virginia Tech and Oregon State. We just offered up New Mexico State as a sacrificial offering on Saturday night. Nothing unimpressive so far and we actually drop a spot?"
That's the nature of the beast when you play in an inferior conference. WAC vs. Pac10? That's the equivalent of putting a featherweight and a heavyweight in the same ring. Let's take a quick look at the two teams' respective opponents, Stanford and New Mexico St and a few of their statistical ranks:
Passing yards: 29th, 101st
Rushing yards: 23rd, 96th
Points per game: 4th, 118th
Points allowed per game: 45th, 119th
All of these rankings come after Saturday's games, which means Stanfords numbers took a huge hit after the Ducks romped them. Even a look at this should make it evident why Oregon jumped Boise State. The voters will reward teams with tougher games, which will doom Boise State once again.
Boise State will need serious help if it wants to even sniff the idea of a national championship appearance. After Albama thrashed Florida, the SEC appears theirs to hold. In a watered down Big 10, Ohio State will go as far as Terelle Pryor's arms and legs carry them. Oregon faces a few major tests left, but they appear to possess the tools to capture the Pac 10 crown. And of course, Boise State must look over its shoulder too. TCU remains undefeated, plays in a stronger conference, and their non-conference victory over Baylor looks stronger than Boise's win over Virginia Tech (each team played, and beat, Oregon State which cancels out). Don't overlook Nebraska either, who could find themselves in the Big 12 Championship, which may carry enough weight to pass over Boise as well.
Don't protest too hard, Boise. No amount of whining and complaining will change the fact that you play in an inferior conference and suffer as a result. Pray that Virginia Tech wins the ACC and that one of the teams in front of you slips up, otherwise you will find yourself, once again, on the outside looking in at the National Championship.
Motivation, or a Lack Thereof
Alrighty, so I am going to take this time to elaborate a little what the school system is like here. This conversation took place in the gym in between basketball games and gives a small idea of how school is viewed here:
Greek kid: So how do you think classes are so far here?
Peter: (in an attempt to not sound like a know-it-all snob) Oh you know, it's not too bad. It's just really different from back home.
GK: Really? That's funny. How many classes are you taking here?
Peter: I'm required to take five while I'm abroad and I take five when I am in the U.S. too.
GK: (in an astonished voice) You take...five...clasess? Wow, that is alot. I am taking three and I feel like I have so much to do. I only took two last semester.
Peter: THAT'S BECAUSE NOBODY WORKS HARD HERE ON SCHOOL AND NONE OF YOU SEEM TO CARE AT ALL.
Okay, so that last line never actually happened, but it was what I was thinking in my head. School is simply not a priority to most here. Paying attention in class is overrated and taking notes is going far beyond what should be required for a student. Granted, there are exceptions to the rule, but seriously, people here just don't seem to care much. And I understand that English is their second language so of course I have a leg up on the competition, so spare me the "you're being too hard on them Peter" argument.
Here's just another little example of how classes and work are generally treated. In my Media Ethics class, there are about 15-20 kids. She assigned us a paper on an article we read and said "It can be as long as you need to get your thoughts out on paper. It is due a week from today." Okay, simple enough, right? I cranked out 2 1/2 pages of fairly decent work figuring that should be adequate for the teacher's expectations. On the day it was due, six kids showed up. Barely 1/3 of the class, on the day a paper is due? Would not happen in the U.S. Nobody wrote more than a page...with the heading double spaced. Oh boy. I hate to say it, but these kids would get chewed up and spit out the back end of a U.S. college faster than they could ever imagine.
Now don't accuse me of being culturally insensitive. I understand that to them and their entire culture, competiton and school is just not the same as it is back home. And that's cool, because it means that I am getting plenty of relaxation time. But I will admit that it is a tad bit frustrating when you have been at school for over a month and you've put in approximately five hours of work outside of class...and you're still two weeks ahead.
However, as I said, it has given me plenty of time to explore other facets of their society and culture since I am not bogged down in mounds of work. For instance, the thing to do here is to just go and sit in a coffee shop for a few hours and just chill with friends: play cards, backgammon, chain smoke endlessly (you ever seen that many cigarettes consumed at one time? Eh, not for me), etc. So I guess you just have to take the good with the bad. That's just the way it goes.
Expect another cultural difference post this week and on Saturday I will recap going to a Greek national team game on Friday night. That's right. Greece vs. Latvia in a qualification match for Euro 2012. Should be intense. And going with the sports theme, a truly wonderful person indirectly challenged me to continue with my sports writing and thanks to her, you can check back here every so often for my thoughts on the sporting world.
And once again, I write too much. Anyway, I hope that people found this somewhat informative of my time here and drop me a Facebook message or email or something because I would love to hear from some of you that I have yet to hear from. Αντίος.
Greek kid: So how do you think classes are so far here?
Peter: (in an attempt to not sound like a know-it-all snob) Oh you know, it's not too bad. It's just really different from back home.
GK: Really? That's funny. How many classes are you taking here?
Peter: I'm required to take five while I'm abroad and I take five when I am in the U.S. too.
GK: (in an astonished voice) You take...five...clasess? Wow, that is alot. I am taking three and I feel like I have so much to do. I only took two last semester.
Peter: THAT'S BECAUSE NOBODY WORKS HARD HERE ON SCHOOL AND NONE OF YOU SEEM TO CARE AT ALL.
Okay, so that last line never actually happened, but it was what I was thinking in my head. School is simply not a priority to most here. Paying attention in class is overrated and taking notes is going far beyond what should be required for a student. Granted, there are exceptions to the rule, but seriously, people here just don't seem to care much. And I understand that English is their second language so of course I have a leg up on the competition, so spare me the "you're being too hard on them Peter" argument.
Here's just another little example of how classes and work are generally treated. In my Media Ethics class, there are about 15-20 kids. She assigned us a paper on an article we read and said "It can be as long as you need to get your thoughts out on paper. It is due a week from today." Okay, simple enough, right? I cranked out 2 1/2 pages of fairly decent work figuring that should be adequate for the teacher's expectations. On the day it was due, six kids showed up. Barely 1/3 of the class, on the day a paper is due? Would not happen in the U.S. Nobody wrote more than a page...with the heading double spaced. Oh boy. I hate to say it, but these kids would get chewed up and spit out the back end of a U.S. college faster than they could ever imagine.
Now don't accuse me of being culturally insensitive. I understand that to them and their entire culture, competiton and school is just not the same as it is back home. And that's cool, because it means that I am getting plenty of relaxation time. But I will admit that it is a tad bit frustrating when you have been at school for over a month and you've put in approximately five hours of work outside of class...and you're still two weeks ahead.
However, as I said, it has given me plenty of time to explore other facets of their society and culture since I am not bogged down in mounds of work. For instance, the thing to do here is to just go and sit in a coffee shop for a few hours and just chill with friends: play cards, backgammon, chain smoke endlessly (you ever seen that many cigarettes consumed at one time? Eh, not for me), etc. So I guess you just have to take the good with the bad. That's just the way it goes.
Expect another cultural difference post this week and on Saturday I will recap going to a Greek national team game on Friday night. That's right. Greece vs. Latvia in a qualification match for Euro 2012. Should be intense. And going with the sports theme, a truly wonderful person indirectly challenged me to continue with my sports writing and thanks to her, you can check back here every so often for my thoughts on the sporting world.
And once again, I write too much. Anyway, I hope that people found this somewhat informative of my time here and drop me a Facebook message or email or something because I would love to hear from some of you that I have yet to hear from. Αντίος.
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