For those who don’t know, we are in the Playoff Semi-Finals for the NBA 2009-2010 season… and, I must say, the thrill of it all has been a bit lessened by the “King“’s hype being silenced, with all of the prophesied whispers of the season coming down to Kobe and LeBron. Okay, so we are over that, right? The season has left us with the L.A. Lakers matched up with the Phoenix Suns and the crazy series between the Boston Celtics paired against the Orlando Magic… Every one’s on the same page now, right? Okay…

If I focus on the latter pairing, for me, the game is less of a competition because there is a resounding sound that Dwight Howard and his Magic  team have given off since Game 1 of the series (…best of 7 I might add). The play is quite reactive on the court and the demeanor is lethargic to say the least. Now, the series is 3-0 Celtics, but I truly believe it had more to do with the blood the Celtics smelled in the water than because they were/are the all around better team. And guess what, Howard’s tone–with even another game he could possibly help win–is already of defeat.

You know, we see this match up on the Discovery channel (Do you know how many “croc guys, who live in the wild,” shows have popped up of recent?)… And I’m back… We see the phenomenon in corporate America, on the play grounds and in Pre-K, and even in the grocery stores. It is the natural process of things, where by only the strongest will survive. So, what is your sound? Seriously?… What do you have floating in the waters beside you (stay focused!)? Are you allowing your “competitors” of sorts command your day and ultimately beat you out of the prize you know you’re more than well deserving of? My mom used to tell me before I left the house that I was a reflection of her… the family. At the time, I was like… Really, Ma! Give it up! But, even then, it gave me something to strive for. I knew I just couldn’t be an average Joe because it reflected poorly on the family. That “sound” my mother placed within me then stays with me up ’til this day. I give it all my best… or, I decline in associating my name to it. You probably won’t win them all (that’s life!), but your sound will remain when the battle is long done.

Who sets these rules? I mean, you can go into the military when you’re 18, but can’t drink (legally) until you’re 21. You don’t have to go to school any more after 16, but you’re still considered a minor in terms of statutory situations… And let’s not even talk about 30 and over clubs (LOL!).

So, why are there age rules for the NBA (There are for other sports, too, but my story is about basketball so go along with me…)? For obvious reasons (or maybe not that obvious), the NBA made a change some time back determining 19 as the entry age before declaring for the draft. Before that time, high schoolers could completely forgo college and head straight into the League (Sports Interruption: Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James became stars straight out of high school.). And we’re back… The thing is, some felt like the transition (mentally and physically) was too abrupt for young people to adjust to and remedied that at least 1 year of college would help ease the huge transition.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a 6-time MVP, 19-time All-Star selection, and in the ’80s helped Magic Johnson lead the L.A. Lakers to 5 NBA titles, says the NBA should raise its minimum age for entry into the League to 21. So uh… I’m thinking with those types of numbers somebody might want to take a listen to the living legend, huh? He feels like there’s a disturbing sense of entitlement among many of today’s young pros and all they’re concerned with is “where’s my money”, but have no regard for the game or the fundamentals. He continues with the substantial argument that they’re depriving themselves of the emotional and physical maturity necessary to meet on- and off-the-court challenges. Check out this quote from Abdul-Jabbar talking about his UCLA coach:

“He said if I let my intellectual life suffer because I was so into being an athlete that I would be less than I could be. I would tell all students to pursue your dreams but don’t let your education suffer.”

Wasn’t that deep (Crack up!)… Naw, it was really was (Don’t you feel all inspired?). You know, I’m just glad someone cares. I’m talking about someone who really knows what its all about and isn’t just talking from a turned-up-nose point of view. When I started this post, I didn’t know I would take this position on the subject, but I like the fact that there’s a reason behind his stance… that it’s not just some rhetoric for a political position or something. He wants to see the game back to how it used to be… fundamentals and gratitude for the opportunity. I can dig that… I still have issues with the 30 and over clubs (I don’t want to see a 65-year-old dancing to Prince. Eek.)!

…You know how I know? Because, depending on the age, you’ll know how much more time you could potentially spend in jail.

Dear Mr. LT (not really, but just for effect),

Please tell me why you, Lawrence Taylor (Yes, the old-school LT), are even uttering the words, I thought she was 19? Why, LT, why are you even interested in a female with “teen” after her age (Okay, wait, besides the perkiness, tightness, and “naiveness”)? You are “LT”, still one of the greatest ever to step foot on the football field and play at the top of the game as a professional player in the NFL for the New York Giants. You struck fear in your opponents and talked “ginormous” trash with the best of ‘em (Ali included… in my opinion), yet here we are…Were you confused and thought her pimp said her name was Jus-tine, or Les-teen, or maybe even Augus-tine versus him saying she’s 16?

So, am I to believe that you didn’t have sex with her and only, I repeat, only performed a “masturbatory act”? What? Okay (Sigh!). You know, for me, “convenient” comes to mind when I think of this “act”, especially when I think of New York’s law that pretty much says it will put someone under the jail for having sex (the regular kind) with a minor of  age 17 and under. Now, you know what? I’m actually believing you. This wasn’t even hard for me… I mean, after saying she was abused and raped, the young lady then said she was apparently over joyed in feeling like she didn’t have to do anything and still got $300, so I’m okay with that (And wait, the whole $300 is another matter… You are a legend. Can a sista’ get more than $300?). Okay I’m back…

All joking aside, Mr. LT… I would think at this time in your life you’d like to have the negative life issues to a minimum. I mean, you kicked the famed drug habit years ago and we haven’t heard about any run ins with the law for some time. You even got your dance on during your stint on Dancing with the Stars… So, why now? Why this? Why you? I’m sure this won’t keep you down, but maybe in the future you’ll contact Patti from Millionaire Matchmaker. I’m sure she’ll be able to find you a more suitable match… Someone still much younger (Let’s say 35ish), but someone who, I’m sure, will only require a recent photo and not a mug shot or pimp referral.

Fondly,

A fan of legal age

In order to be up on this post, you have to read the previous one… It is important to note that there are real feelings in play here and so that’s my #1 consideration in my response.

You know, with originally hearing this guy’s tremendous story and then all the sound (and funny) commentary there after, all that stuck with me was balance. He is yearning for balance… His significant other needs to establish balance. Love and sports is a delicate thing, but when you add balance to that equation, it can be an outstanding thing. My advice, above anything else in this post, is to take on balance and don’t look back.

My life insight to you, my friend, is that the agitating factor in most cases is not the real elephant in the room. Often times, there is that onion effect where layers of stuff just build up and aren’t addressed. If you love this person… And I believe you do because you wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of reaching out to me, then take time to break down the layers and notice how the excuses and the lack of time will lessen and then fall off. Now, you never expressed if you were married, but the bottom line is you guys will either be together or you won’t. But, if you take the initiative to revive your relationship, it can never be said that you didn’t give your all.

Thanks for feeling like I could maybe help you out… Life isn’t always easy, but we definitely make it more complex than it was intended to be. Live free!

Someone contacted me (Yes, I got permission to spill the beans.) and asked for practical advice on how to cope in a situation that had them frustrated and, seemingly, beyond the point of mending. Surprisingly enough, this happens to all the time, but it’s the subject matter that varies. So, for this one, I’m calling on you guys for help…

What if your home was literally filled with sports and you couldn’t get away from it? That, in a tight nutshell is what I’m bringing to you. This guy (yes, guy) is in a relationship where there is now no more room for him in it because sports has literally spilled out into every part of his household. When his love interest comes through the door, there is no more “What are we going to do today?” or “I thought this would be nice to do together.”… Nope. It’s television, ESPN, chat rooms, telephone conversations, ordering paraphernalia, blogging, you name it… and then sleep. He says he doesn’t know what happened and honestly, he’s at the point of not caring any more. I sat there listening to the unfortunate details of the state of which this guy is finding himself, while also feeling honored (and burdened) that he thought to contact me as a last-ditch effort in getting his home and love of his life back… He actually said, “I wish it were another person rather than this… At least I could understand it.”

I told him I’d bring this situation to you guys to see what you all had to say and that it would also give me time to digest what he’d entrusted me with. You know, as I’ve said in several earlier posts, Wait Tila Commercial is about bridging that gap and making sports something that makes for a relationship stronger and I’m up for the challenge with this guy because everyone deserves to be happy. Life is too short for anything else… More details to come.

Pain is a funny thing, isn’t it? No matter the form, it hurts, right? Think about it…

So, Tiger [Woods] is experiencing a new pain. He actually didn’t finish an 18-hole qualifying game because of this nagging neck pain. Apparently, this is a freak injury that occurs in the game of golf and is one that can be both career- and life-ending. Still composed, as always, Tiger explained his need to compete and not only that, but to do well in general. He also refuted the notion that this injury had anything to do with the head and neck injury he suffered during his November 2009 accident/incident in his car and with his wife.

Hmmmm… Pain is a funny thing, isn’t it? And it, indeed, comes in many forms. But, no matter the form, it still hurts (I promise you…). As I watched the interview with Tiger, I wondered what he was really thinking. Especially when the press asked him if the two were related. I wondered about the pain he has suffered over these past months… the mental anguish, the public embarrassment, and the private turmoil. The same is true for his wife, I’m sure. I don’t know… although he was discussing his physical pain, I couldn’t help but see and wonder about the other pain that is plaguing him.

Pain hurts, huh?

Yep! I literally have one question… Do you think LeBron James deserved to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the 2009-2010 season?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sixersphotos/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

You know, I totally understand bringing the best out of your team concept and just being an all-around dominant player, but what about Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder (Exactly! They have a team… I could stop right here with making my point.)? He has been beyond outstanding and, uh, the team (Yes, the Thunder) made it to the Playoffs. I think the hype around LeBron is tremendously overrated… Now, now, before you go there, I do agree with the fact that he’s a beast on the court and subject to embarrassing an opponent at any given time. I just don’t think I’ve seen so much hype around a player who hasn’t won a ring, period. I think it sends the wrong message.

For me, the message conveys that, in the case of Durant, no matter how good I am I have to wait to shine ’cause this guy is the one in the commercials. It’s not about making your bones, because Durant has done that already. It’s a popularity contest, which I believe waters down the integrity of the game. All I want him (LeBron) to do is win a ring…

What would be your reaction if I asked you if your mother was a prostitute (Yeah, scratching eyes out would be my first response, too…)?

A first-round NFL Draft pick, Dez Bryant, was asked back in March by a potential team’s general manager, Miami Dolphins’ Jeff Ireland, just that. I know… Yes, I’m serious. Now, the thing is, teams usually asks several questions to see if the perspective candidate would be a good fit for the team. And this Ireland guy originally (and probably truly still does inside, but we’ll give him the benefit [some of us!]) stuck by his question saying that he asks necessary questions, but later apologized to Bryant, saying his question was inappropriate.

Uh, where do I begin? I usually try to stay a bit neutral on topics or if I do take a position on a subject I try very hard not to potentially offend a reader who may drop by. I’m struggling with how to do that in this instance. Mother, turn your head (WTFreak!… [And uh, if you don't know the call out for this acronym let's just leave it that way.])… How in the world do you have that question on the list of questions you have for this young man? How do you think its a fair conversation and how do you think you’ll come out looking except like a beep-da-beep-beep (Just a tune in my head, Mother!)?

Well, I’m glad Bryant decided against flipping the table over, which is what many of the prominent analysts are saying would have been totally justifiable. He, instead, simply answered, “No, my mom is not a prostitute.” OMG! What restraint and poise. He confessed he was mad, but didn’t show it. Needless to say, he didn’t go to Miami (The Dallas Cowboys picked him up.). I’m aware of the news of his past and the fact that his mom had him at 15 and she served time in jail for selling crack cocaine, but does anyone get a second chance? The boy (no offense) made it… He was drafted in the first round. That’s big time. Give him his props! You all can research to get all the other details… I’m going to stop writing now…

The NFL Draft is underway…

It’s always nice to be chosen (LeBron isn’t the only one! Heehee…) and in the position to be credited for all your hard work.

You can’t peel me (and Hubby) away ’cause its just great to see who the newbies are. And, it offers a great sneak peak into the next football season. Relax, get your selected beverage, and hang out with your significant other watching the Draft.

It’s Play-off time for the NBA and the best of the best are shining! Teams are donning their fresh jerseys and they’re all out for blood, uh, or at least a chance to hoist the championship trophy over their heads (The blood thing was a bit too dramatic for me…).

One thing that’s both obvious and unusual is that a few of the superstar players for these teams aren’t playing, for one reason or another, or they’re on the floor, but just not showing up. The rest of these guys’ teammates are still playing and trying to take their team to the next level.

I wonder how the superstars, who are in these situations, feel. I mean, seriously. You know these guys have passion and heart for the game and the ego side of them must be saying, “this is my team”. Whatever the case, I’m sure there are an array of feelings going on. These scenarios got me to thinking of ‘real-life’ stuff…

Not real-life stuff like if I take a 2-week vacation from work the company won’t survive, because almost always a company will find a way to easily go on without you. No, I’m referring to real-life stuff like how a friend tells you he just doesn’t see himself in his marriage for too much longer or how your girlfriend is thinking of terminating her pregnancy. I think of the other side… You know, the grass-is-greener side and I imagine how that side will go on and if it can go on. Of course, there are real-life matters that aren’t earth shattering, but I know you can feel me on this. Just like the superstar feels like he is bigger than the team or is hurt by their success without him, surely real-life stuff forces you to look at your own reality to see how much you’re making an impact, if any. I hope for the sake of the championship, and the real-life stuff, that folks can get their heads back in the game and realize what’s at stake.