Wednesday, March 5, 2008

On and On

The life have have lead in the last 2 years has truly been exceptional. Looking back I graduated from the University of San Diego with excellent degrees, my mom has brought cancer to its knees, I moved to Belgium and lived there for 6 months, moved back to LA to finish out a month and a little in the dleague, bought a house in San Diego, resigned in the dleague, moved to Iowa, lived there for 3 months, and have now moved to Bakersfield and have been living here for a month. That may be more moving in 2 years them some people may do during their entire life. I have made 2 great friends who still live and play in Belgium and made goods friends while in Iowa. I reunited with a teammate from my short stint in LA and roomed with him in Iowa. He and I had a blast telling stories and sharing experiences from our basketball careers. He won a NCAA national championship at North Carolina and has since been drifting around playing ball for many teams trying to figure his path out. He got married 2 years ago and he and his wife are expecting their first child. A totally random reunion of he and I that has truly turned into a friendship that I cherish.
My basketball has taken me on a journey through good and bad and shit and shine. I have reunited with family that I haven't seen in a long time if at all. The extended part of the Burke clan have been come very close to me. I have extended my Toulouse family ties and have spent great time with the "mooreheadions" (may need help with the name they call themselves) All on the dime of either the University of San Diego or the NBA. So free family reunions have been a great part of this adventure. I have since become aware of a certain family member who until last year had been a ghost only mentioned in fairy tales and scary graveyard weddings. He has now latched on to my blog and I think has taken all the wind from my sails and writing ability. He does have great advice and I think he should try a career as a motivational speaker like Mic Foley. But I love the guy and cant wait to see them in LA very soon.
Finally on basketball, the ship has yet to turn for sure but we are making progress. I have played 12 games (or so i think) and we have started to really gel as a team. I have continued to play well and learn from true professionals. Our coach has proven to be a true coach who knows what he is doing. Unlike some of these clowns I have dealt with in the past. I am finally learning basketball skills and not honing my skills of shit digger. What is the quote "Through adversity, true character is built" well if this is true then I have built more characters then the sesame street gang. But all of life is a lesson learned. I hope all is well for those who read this and feel free to drop a comment.

1 comment:

Dustin Lane said...

So yeah...I (we) were there...@ Staples Center...digging Nick on the Lakers floor.
They won.
Nick did good.
The team is slow...not moving.
So everybody becomes slow when that happens...
(Coach, Tell your team..."Move Without The Ball").

Move Without The Ball...thats the theme for today. Everybody, say it with me "MOVE WITHOUT THE BALL!!!

OK

So, found out the D-League is not to keen on team play. Nick is a team man. So we need some words of wisdom that will turn Nick into a selfish ballhog for the next few games (gotta get him noticed, right?). My first idea was go with a 2 man game (just Nick and a running mate). It could work. But maybe not. Who is this mystery running mate and is he team enough to play the 2 man game? That stuff may take too long for said running mate to get hip to, so lets key into the 1 man game.

1. Watch "White Men Cant Jump". Lots of 1 man game in that bad boy. And you get pointers on trash talking as well (which helps if you want to piss off the fella you are guarding...and you do).

2. Watch "One On One". Well, umm...because Robby Benson is in it...and he is cool. And at the end he takes over the game all by his tiny self (he's like 4"11" or something).

3. Watch TEEN WOLF. This one is important. Its all TEEN WOLF all the time. 1 on 5 when that furry bastard is on the court. And he fucking rules!!! And he gets the chicks too.

4. DON'T watch...Hoosiers or Glory Road. Team movies. And you may end up crying at the end...which is kinda candy ass.

OK...here is your line for the next few games...

20 shot attempts minimum per game.
25 if your feeling nasty (Its Janet, Mrs Jackson if your Nasty)...

Hit the glass.
Hard.
Especially the 1st couple of trips down the court. Let them know that you are the man. Foul someone if you have to (over the back?)...just make them see that you are aggressive. Early.

When you get a big rebound, make a killer shot, block some poor bitchboy, whatever...VOCALIZE IT...let them know you are on the court...make the people in the stands scared of you (no one will challenge you for a rebound if they think you are insane).

Get a MEAN-ON.

EYE OF THE TIGER.

---I know your are a nice fella...we all know that...but its wartime. Now. We need you in the NBA. you need you in the NBA. Time to get evil with this shit. No more fucking around and being the nice team player in the PG-13 movie. Be the tough ALL-Star guy who carries the team, kills the players on the other team and takes home the trophy. R-Rated, baby. Its all the rage.

Trust me.

You have the skills. Now turn it up.

OK

And MOVE WITHOUT THE BALL!!!

out.

D