So I'm new to the whole blogging thing, but am very excited to be here and excited that it's SUMMER! It's already going by so fast as I am desperately soaking up every moment of the sunshine and long summer nights. My family and I took a trip to Disneyland after school got out, which was a blast. It was so nice to get out of Rocklin and only have to worry about what time our Space Mountain fastpasses expired :). Other than that, I've been doing some community service and hanging out.
Most recently, I've been doing some major cleaning in which I have been going through and getting rid of some sentimental things that I've had for years on end. They were good reminders while they lasted and now that it's summer I think it's the perfect time to begin working on giving myself a fresh start. The cleaning process has been extremely reminiscent and has brought back many good memories which I know I will have forever. I just finished painting my room for the first time in over seven years, and have decided that it's time to move on. It hit me the other day that I only have two more years of high school, and since it is all going by so fast I want to focus more on the present and future. But for now I'm taking my time to work on cleansing myself of unnecessary junk and making sure to enjoy every summer moment (next on my to-do list: start tackling the impending pile of summer homework!)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Fab Five
No, not The Fab Five of the University of Michigan's opulent years of college basketball dominance.
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The Fab Five, as in the five greatest NBA players of all time. This subject is always brought up, and it has received an even greater resurgence due to Kobe and the Lakers winning their 16th title. So who do I think the five greatest players in basketball's history are? Well, here is my list:
5.) Oscar Robertson- Ok, he averaged a triple-double his second year in the league with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists. Enough said. He's also a one time NBA champ (1971), a one time NBA MVP (1964), a 12x All Star, and a one time All Star MVP.
4.) Wilt Chamberlain- A 4x league MVP, a 2x NBA champ, a one time finals MVP, not to mention his ridiculous career stat line of 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. He also scored 100..nothing to crazy.
3.) Kobe Bryant- He scored 81. That should almost be enough but he is also a 5x NBA champ, 2x Finals MVP, one time league MVP, a 2x scoring champ, a 12x all star, a 3x all star MVP, and he is still going!
2.) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- Jaw-dropping career highlights: NBA all time leading scorer, 6x NBA champ, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 6x NBA MVP, and an unheard of 19x NBA All Star.
1.) Michael Jordan- Well, this isn't a shocker, but the greatest basketball of all time, though his throne is being challenged by Kobe, is none other than Air Jordan. He's a brand that has amassed an astounding career. A 6x time NBA champ, a 6x NBA Finals MVP, a 5x NBA MVP, a 14x NBA All Star, and a one time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
That's my take on the latest and greatest. You can agree or disagree, but that's what makes this fun.
.jpg)
The Fab Five, as in the five greatest NBA players of all time. This subject is always brought up, and it has received an even greater resurgence due to Kobe and the Lakers winning their 16th title. So who do I think the five greatest players in basketball's history are? Well, here is my list:
5.) Oscar Robertson- Ok, he averaged a triple-double his second year in the league with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists. Enough said. He's also a one time NBA champ (1971), a one time NBA MVP (1964), a 12x All Star, and a one time All Star MVP.
4.) Wilt Chamberlain- A 4x league MVP, a 2x NBA champ, a one time finals MVP, not to mention his ridiculous career stat line of 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. He also scored 100..nothing to crazy.
3.) Kobe Bryant- He scored 81. That should almost be enough but he is also a 5x NBA champ, 2x Finals MVP, one time league MVP, a 2x scoring champ, a 12x all star, a 3x all star MVP, and he is still going!
2.) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- Jaw-dropping career highlights: NBA all time leading scorer, 6x NBA champ, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 6x NBA MVP, and an unheard of 19x NBA All Star.
1.) Michael Jordan- Well, this isn't a shocker, but the greatest basketball of all time, though his throne is being challenged by Kobe, is none other than Air Jordan. He's a brand that has amassed an astounding career. A 6x time NBA champ, a 6x NBA Finals MVP, a 5x NBA MVP, a 14x NBA All Star, and a one time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
That's my take on the latest and greatest. You can agree or disagree, but that's what makes this fun.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Yosemite
Last weekend I went to Yosemite for the first time, and it was really fun. I went with family friends which made it even more fun. We didn't sleep in a tent, more like a cabin tent with beds in it because my family aren't really outdoorsy people. One of the main things we did was go on The Mist Trail which leads up to a waterfall, it took us about 4 or 5 hours to get there and back. It was pretty tiring but the views were really great. Also while at Yosemite I saw the following animals: squirrels (lots of them wanted our food), a deer (which many unsmart people decided to touch it), a bear (which my friend and I saw when we were on the shuttle), and lots of bugs. I think one of my favorite parts of going to Yosemite was when we decided to go to a meadow at 10 o'clock at night to look at the stars and it was really pretty, and I saw a shooting star! Lights from cars and flashlights made it so much harder to see the stars, which is why we can't see them very well in Rocklin. Here are some of the many pictures we took in Yosemite:
Thursday, June 17, 2010
England vs. USA
The first time team USA ever beat England in the World Cup was back in 1950. The US team made one of the biggest upsets in history. USA came in the game as the clear underdogs against the mighty English players. England was known as the "Kings of Futbol" back then. USA...well let's just say that they were quite amazed to have put together enough players to make a full roster for the World Cup that year. All odds were stacked against them and England was sure to win.
But somehow, luck was on USA's side and Joe Gaetjens, a forward on the USA team, put one in the back of England's net. It came to be known as "the goal that shook the world". The crowd were more suprised then happy when US scored that goal but somehow, USA came up on top. Even though England was the only team they beat in the World Cup that year, USA came home feeling accomplished having played "the game of their lives". England returned to their tea drinking, crumpet eating country with their heads hung low. I cannot imagine the shame they felt losing to USA. They surely must have locked themselves in their homes for a few days and beat their heads against the wall. And no, not just simple pounding on a nearby living room wall but head smashing, like you see in UFC fights. They definitely had their big fat ego put back in place and ever since, there has always been this quite nasty rival between the two countries.
England has been waiting for the chance to get back at team US and now they have been given that chance. Now, 60 years later, team USA faced England in their opening match for the 2010 World Cup.
Right when the whistle blew England was on it. They moved their fancy little feet around the US players and soon, they scored an early goal in the first 4 mintues of the game. Right then and there, everybody believed England had the game in the bag. I was flipping out on the couch when watching this game. I mean seriously!! 4 minutes and they already have a goal?!?! In that moment, I had the right to have no faith in the USA team. I believed that US was going to lose. They had no chance.
But, I guess luck was on USA's side again. Just like 60 years ago. Few minutes before halftime, Dempsey, a midfield for USA, struck the ball right towards the English goalie, Robert Green. I looked away thinking to myself what a terrible shot. Suddenly I hear the commentators going CRAZY, vuvuzelas going CRAZY, and my brother going CRAZY! I watched the replay and then I went CRAZY!
It seems that the goalie lost control of the ball and let it roll right into the goal. I play soccer and my teammates make fun of me when I play in goal but seriously, I could have made that save easy!
It was probably one of the darkest moments in that goalie's career. At first I laughed at his mistake. So did my brothers. But after pondering the thought, I felt a little bad for them. I know, I know. I shouldn't feel bad for those tea drinking, crumpet eating people but a little part inside of me said it must really suck to be you right now.
So, at the end of the match, Dempsey was seen as a hero who made one of the luckiest---no, scratch that. Dempsey made THE luckiest goals in the World Cup so far and has the heavens to thank.
I don't know what it is, but USA has gotten lucky in their appearances at the World Cup. This match only reminds of the "miracle match" in 1950. This was a definite miracle for USA. But, hey, US doesn't need fancy moves or great footwork to win. All they really need is a little bit of luck. And whether people call it a fluke goal or a lucky goal, a goal's a goal, and nothing can change that.
But somehow, luck was on USA's side and Joe Gaetjens, a forward on the USA team, put one in the back of England's net. It came to be known as "the goal that shook the world". The crowd were more suprised then happy when US scored that goal but somehow, USA came up on top. Even though England was the only team they beat in the World Cup that year, USA came home feeling accomplished having played "the game of their lives". England returned to their tea drinking, crumpet eating country with their heads hung low. I cannot imagine the shame they felt losing to USA. They surely must have locked themselves in their homes for a few days and beat their heads against the wall. And no, not just simple pounding on a nearby living room wall but head smashing, like you see in UFC fights. They definitely had their big fat ego put back in place and ever since, there has always been this quite nasty rival between the two countries.
England has been waiting for the chance to get back at team US and now they have been given that chance. Now, 60 years later, team USA faced England in their opening match for the 2010 World Cup.
Right when the whistle blew England was on it. They moved their fancy little feet around the US players and soon, they scored an early goal in the first 4 mintues of the game. Right then and there, everybody believed England had the game in the bag. I was flipping out on the couch when watching this game. I mean seriously!! 4 minutes and they already have a goal?!?! In that moment, I had the right to have no faith in the USA team. I believed that US was going to lose. They had no chance.
But, I guess luck was on USA's side again. Just like 60 years ago. Few minutes before halftime, Dempsey, a midfield for USA, struck the ball right towards the English goalie, Robert Green. I looked away thinking to myself what a terrible shot. Suddenly I hear the commentators going CRAZY, vuvuzelas going CRAZY, and my brother going CRAZY! I watched the replay and then I went CRAZY!
It seems that the goalie lost control of the ball and let it roll right into the goal. I play soccer and my teammates make fun of me when I play in goal but seriously, I could have made that save easy!
It was probably one of the darkest moments in that goalie's career. At first I laughed at his mistake. So did my brothers. But after pondering the thought, I felt a little bad for them. I know, I know. I shouldn't feel bad for those tea drinking, crumpet eating people but a little part inside of me said it must really suck to be you right now.
So, at the end of the match, Dempsey was seen as a hero who made one of the luckiest---no, scratch that. Dempsey made THE luckiest goals in the World Cup so far and has the heavens to thank.
I don't know what it is, but USA has gotten lucky in their appearances at the World Cup. This match only reminds of the "miracle match" in 1950. This was a definite miracle for USA. But, hey, US doesn't need fancy moves or great footwork to win. All they really need is a little bit of luck. And whether people call it a fluke goal or a lucky goal, a goal's a goal, and nothing can change that.
summer surprises
I've already had two summer surprises...both of which happened in forty-eight hours, beginning Sunday night.
I was running Sunday night when I fell over an awkward piece of cement that didn't quite fit in the cement's configuration completely and it hurt. I didn't realize then that I had not only broken pinky, but also chipped it :( Thankfully, tho, I didn't fracture my leg. I just lost several layers of skin and I'm on crutches now. Until then, I had never broken a bone or been on crutches. I rarely get sick or injured. The mental pain is really killing me more than the physical-I can't swim, run, or lifeguard now for two weeks. At least I have time to do all that summer homework now.
On a happier note, my family is going to host a foreign-exchange student this summer! I am soo excited! He/she is coming from France in less than a month and it's perfect because I'm taking French 3 over the summer so I can speak francais with him/her a little bit. There a many trips the students go on with their host families, too (i.e. San Francisco). This is the program our school/foreign language classes participate in, so if anyone is interested in hosting someone this summer, let me know and I'll give you the connections.
I was running Sunday night when I fell over an awkward piece of cement that didn't quite fit in the cement's configuration completely and it hurt. I didn't realize then that I had not only broken pinky, but also chipped it :( Thankfully, tho, I didn't fracture my leg. I just lost several layers of skin and I'm on crutches now. Until then, I had never broken a bone or been on crutches. I rarely get sick or injured. The mental pain is really killing me more than the physical-I can't swim, run, or lifeguard now for two weeks. At least I have time to do all that summer homework now.
On a happier note, my family is going to host a foreign-exchange student this summer! I am soo excited! He/she is coming from France in less than a month and it's perfect because I'm taking French 3 over the summer so I can speak francais with him/her a little bit. There a many trips the students go on with their host families, too (i.e. San Francisco). This is the program our school/foreign language classes participate in, so if anyone is interested in hosting someone this summer, let me know and I'll give you the connections.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
School's Out!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Yeah!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Yeah!
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