We finally made it to Aruba (Yeah, yeah… Viva Aruba. I’m still dreaming of ole El San Juan!). The beaches are beautiful and the ocean is a gorgeous bluish green that is completely breath taking. I must say, though, that getting here was an adventure in and of itself. You know, you see so many people in the airport-while you’re waiting-going their own way and every now and then you see a familiar face or two (No, no not of your significant other returning from grabbing coffee for you.). That familiar face is that famous one that you recognize from television…

Have you ever been in an airport and spotted a famous face (Yes, before you ask, sports famous.)? Were you able to say anything to the person or maybe get an autograph?

On our honeymoon to Belize we spotted Bobby Knight (actually on the same flight)… the former Indiana Hosiers men’s basketball coach known for his eccentric antics on the court. I was excited when I saw him and once I found out he was actually going to Belize, too (we waited at the same gate during our lay over), I asked Hubby to go get an autograph… (uh, yeah, after we thought about it, we thought better of it!!). Needless to say, not wanting to bother him on his vacation (Wink! Wink! You’d have to see him on the court! LOL!), we headed to Belize without the autograph.

Who have you spotted while you were waiting?…

A character can be developed and massaged over time… True? True. And it is also safe to say that a character can ever evolve and mature into that ideal state of being. What is truly unbelievable is when that character is pushed into greatness by anything but great circumstances.

Photo by Eric Kilby. (CC)

Leon Powe, the second-year reserve for the NBA’s Boston Celtics, has beat tremendous odds to now be in a place of potential super stardom and notoriety (And yes, I know you’re wondering… off-the-bench players are sometimes called “reserves”. Their job is to come off the bench and give their team a boost). As the oldest child, Powe possessed a superstar character earlier on after his father (his name sake) walked out on the family.

His life’s story consumed my heart as I listened and read about it… A life of homelessness, hunger, and helplessness. After an accidental fire-which destroyed everything-the family was left in dire straits… so much so that Powe’s mother found herself in legal troubles for her actions in trying to care for her family. In an interview, Powe says he saw his mom sacrifice eating so he and the other children could eat. With that same heart, he would give up meals, too. At 40, Powe’s mother died from a heart attack. He believed she worked herself to death for them. Her death forced the children to be placed into foster homes and Powe wasn’t satisfied with the state of things at all.

After much mentoring, Powe’s superstar character stood up in him and he used his basketball talent to finally reach the big times (NBA, of course). He ensured that his first priority was to get his sisters and brothers back together… and that’s what he did. With all that he has endured in his life, he has maintained his hope.

The Celtics and the LA Lakers continue their championship run in the 2008 NBA Finals… I’m sure Powe will be that added effort that the Celtics will need. Be sure to share Powe’s story with your sports enthusiast (During a commercial, please! LOL!)!

For the father who loves all sports, enjoy the line up this weekend.

For the husband who wears his favorite baseball cap, the remote will remain where you can see it.

For the son who schedules life around the finals, happiness is there because (at least) you plan.

For the brother who won’t take that jersey off, the load to go into the wash will wait until Monday.

For the nephew who wants that golf bag, a gift card will reach your mail box just in time.

For the cousin who dreams of being drafted, dreams do come true.

For the neighbor who drops by “for sugar”, but really just loves the big screen, there is a seat waiting.

For the friend who tells the score, you’ll have a listening audience.

Happy Father’s Day… Let the sports-weekend-good-times roll!

What’s your Father’s Day gift to all (or maybe just one!!) the fathers in your life?… Uh, and fathers, what is your hearts’ desire for your special day?

Honey (Baby, Dear, Sweetbuns… you get the picture), the NBA Finals are on and ________________________________________________!

Fill in the blank with your response or what your sports enthusiast’s response would be. Have fun!

The rivalry is palpable and there’s no denying the intense history between the two dynasties. The LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics are in the NBA Playoffs, starting tonight, and the feeling is in the air. Seriously, as you’re watching the game you see history peeping through the crowd. That’s where my words find their meaning-in the history.

The history I speak of is that of the likes of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, and please give an ovation for Bill Russell. The athletes are why Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garrett are able to be who they are today (Okay, let’s not ever be remised to leave Michael Jordan out of the dialogue of greatness.).

These historians of the grace and discipline of basketball are beyond compare. Words just aren’t there to describe the talent and confidence and champion that every one of these guys possess.

Today these historians sit and watch the young ones play and achieve and compete. Today I sit and watch the reasons (Magic, Kareem, Larry, Bill) why they are, indeed, able to play and achieve and compete.

Who do you offer respect and thanks to for paving the way for you?

Can it be that you may not know your significant other’s favorite thing (Hmmm… think hard)? If so, what it is? Is it that cute, pink button up that just makes your mouth water (Pause. Think.)? Or is it that book about how to be a better you (Now, now… I agree that these can be handy items to have around)? I guess what I’m curious about are the small things.

I know sometimes, for me, well, it’s the small things that mean so much. I’m referring to times, for instance, when Hubby (I will give him a name one day.) makes me tea without my having to ask because he knows tea soothes me. Or when he takes the clothes out of the washer and puts them in the dryer because he knows I’m swamped with other stuff.

For Hubby’s birthday I tried to get floor tickets to a Lakers’ game. Well, that plan was meeting a dead end, so I decided to plan for a nice dinner with friends (He loves our friends.). At the last minute tickets came through and I presented him with his choices… dinner at a very nice restaurant with close friends or tickets to a game where we wouldn’t have the possibility of a GI-normous athlete falling on us. Well, after the game (LOL!) we decided what we wanted to do for the rest of his birthday weekend.

Point is we often times give based on our likes and wants (Don’t get me wrong. I’d be the first at a Lakers’ game… with pom poms!). But, I thought since we couldn’t get the floor seating that the night wouldn’t be eventful enough—and guess what?—it was an outstanding evening.

Hmmm, could you think of that favorite thing that your sports’ fan would be ecstatic over?… or at least thankful that it’s not having to wear that pink button up again (Hilarious!).

Do tell…

K, so from these entries on remotes I’ve learned some interesting things that I hope will be beneficial to you all as well. I’ve found that a lot of this has to do with perspective. Often times the remote may be viewed as just a simple electronic that turns the television on and off while it’s seen by others as much, much more.

For the sports lover, there is an experience that happens with each start of each game. The important thing here is that we share in that experience, too.

One earlier comment on my blog was from a guy who said he was excited about this site because through it he’ll be able to talk to his wife about more than just bills. Trust me when I tell you that your special person really does want to share with you about that ridiculous (ridiculous is very good here) play that happened in the Playoffs this weekend or the soccer move that was the best ever. That person just needs to feel that those plays are just as important as the person who jumped in front of you at the grocery store… perspective, right?

The multi-faceted remote was a jump start to get us into the mindset that sports is more than a past time for our significant other… there’s a love there, a passion, past dreams, hopes deferred, aspirations to come, seasons to remember. And what a friendship that can develop in just seeing someone else’s perspective.

Derek Fisher is some guy, huh? And his role on the court, which requires commitment, continues to be a testament to him as a complete man.

A very hearty phrase if you think about it. A person coming up the court with the ball eventually meeting up with a potentially equal opponent that shares the same position… In this case, guard. Now, while this guard is ‘pushing’ the ball so eloquently up the court there is a decision that has to be made. Shoot or pass? Each decision carries game-winning (or -losing) consequences. As the opponent is ‘posting’ (it means seriously in my personal space) up in an attempt to get the ball or at least make the handler miss, the handler has to think quickly and soundly.

The ‘You Can’t Guard Me’ phrase is a basketball staple! It basically gives the strong message that you won’t win in this one-on-one situation. Beyond that, it says that if you try to guard me, you will get your feelings hurt (I am laughing hysterically at this explanation). This is the mental conversation that happens all throughout the game. It’s actually quite entertaining if you ask me. Note to self: Be sure to watch Fisher on the court… He says like three words the whole game, which doesn’t totally support the whole trash-talking part of the story, but he’s a guard none the less.

Take this with you… a guard is like the coach on the court and with that; a ballooned ego is an ill-advised ego. This advanced thinker of the game has to be all of these things, too:

So now you can confront your various situations with the unmitigated proclamation, You Can’t Guard Me!

How is a father’s love measured? Some say by what he established with his children earlier on. Others believe it is the relationship that can be identified as an adult. What is universal is that a father’s actions speak volumes about his level of sacrifice. This story demonstrates the wonderful capacity of a father.

In a powerful and geniune move, Derek Fisher, guard for the L.A. Lakers, took only moments to decide between basketball and money versus the value of his daughter’s life.

Photo by Stephanie Young Merzel

I just thought this was the most interesting story of love and priorities in that 2007 Fisher asked to be released from a $21-million contract ($21 million y’all) with the Utah Jazz to be closer to a facility that would benefit his daughter, Tatum. Now, could you imagine the pens and needles that the Fishers were on? But the difficult news came… they were told that their then 10-month-old was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer [Retinoblastoma] in her left eye.

In order to get better, Tatum had to endure an operation at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. Thankfully, she came through like a champ! It appears that Tatum is doing better after undergoing chemotherapy, even with the limited vision in her left eye. Just to be sure though, she is monitored by doctors in case the cancer returns.

We have to give Mrs. Fisher extreme props because amazingly enough, Tatum’s mom, Candace first noticed that something was wrong after Tatum had an odd reflection of light coming from her eye.

As it would happen, Fisher’s belief that everything would happen as it should occurred when the Lakers picked him up and paid him $14 million for his on-the-court prowess (Pay day! Pay day! He did the pay day dance.). With his priorities intact and his sustained drive for the game, the 3-time NBA champion returned to the Lakers after his one-year stint with the Jazz.

Fisher says his decision was easy because it was about his daughter-and his family.

Okay, now you know I can’t leave you without an assignment (in a manner of speaking). It’s the playoffs and the Lakers are playing the Jazz (go figure) at home this afternoon. We’ll start off slow. Join your sports fan for this game, look for Fisher in action, and just see where the night takes you… Just see. Remember that instant replay is your friend… and, well, if you miss the game, ESPN is your friend!