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Basketball Blues

Okay I'll admit it, I'm a bit of an elitist. But it makes me angry when I go to open gym, which is usually the highlight of my week, and there are 25+ guys trying to play on one court. It is very frustrating when I have to sit out three games because there are old foggies, bad players, slow pokes, bank-shot three point shooters, and a tiny girl who thinks she can guard full sized men, all playing instead of me. Open gym really needs to have a league for people who are actually good at basketball (not saying I'm amazing, but I'm pretty sure I could make the cut) and another time for people who think they are good but are really just getting in my way. Haha.

I guess it's just a disappointment; I might have to find a new open gym. But this one in the past has been so good, usually good to really good players, not too ball-hoggy, fast paced, and so on. I guess it was too good because now everyone and their ex-roommate comes.

Sorry for ranting. I guess the worst part is when these people that should be in the B league keep winning while I go all night without a single win! There is no justice!

my heart still hurts

In Oklahoma City, Bennett announced the settlement to applause: "We made it. Congratulations.... The NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season, playing their games."

...

In a statement, Stern said he was "pleased" with the settlement and said the NBA still regards "Seattle as a first-class NBA city that is capable of serving as home for another NBA team."

Not cool.

big and smooth

Like any basketball fan, I am sitting here watching the Celtics take on the Cavs in game 6 of the NBA semi-finals. One of the big guys on the Celtics is Kendrick Perkins who is fairly young, so I got to wondering if he was somehow related to NBA great Sam Perkins. Maybe a son I never heard about? After exploring Kendrick's profile for a while (he was drafted 27th overall in 2003, went straight from H.S. to the Boston Celtics) I moved on to Sam Perkin's profile. To me, Sam Perkins has always been a staple of the Sonics and their glory days in the 90s. I thought he was kind of a Sonics for life kind of guy. So you can imagine how upsetting it was for me to discover that of his 17 years in the NBA, he only played in Seattle for five of them. He played six years for the Mavericks, three for the Lakers, and three for the Pacers. And he played all the way until 2001? He always seemed so old as a sonic in the mid 90s. Turns out the Big Smooth wasn't at all the man I remembered him to be, and not quite the tried and true, bleeds green and yellow, Sasquatch-loving Sonic that I had somehow made him out to be in my mind. Even still, it's hard for me to believe that Sam was drafted in-between Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley and only a few after Hakeem Olajuwon. It would suck to be the team that was so close to drafting one of those Hall Of Famers and yet you got Sam Perkins. But at least they cant feel as bad as the team that drafted Sam Bowie over MJ... aka the Trailblazers. (They have been cursed ever since)

Oh, and as far as I can tell there is no relation between Kendrick and Sam, except they are both big and ugly.

It's like the luck of the irish... only I'm not Irish so you figure it out

I'm tired and I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. On Tuesday I think I'm playing basketball so I have that to look forward to. I love basketball, it makes me happy. My top five favorite basketball movies are as follows:

5. 3 Ninjas
This isn't really a basketball movie, it makes the list for the scene in which Rocky and Colt play basketball against the bullies in order to win Emily's bike back. Not only do they spot them 9 points, it features some unbelievable shots, blocks, and Rocky's game winning dunk is in itself a masterpiece.

4. Pistol: Birth of a Legend
How can you go wrong with a movie about Pistol Pete, my hero and possibly namesake. It's about him getting through high school and proving the critics wrong and becoming a star. No amount of corniness or bad acting could ruin such an inspiring story.

3. Hoosiers
I don't know how many times I had to watch this growing up, but it has paid off. I would never get caught watching the paint dry. It's the most classic basketball movie, Gene Hackman is a miracle man, and no list would be complete without it.

2. White Men Can't Jump
We goin' to Sizzla, we goin' to Sizzla. This movie is hilarious and chalked full of one-liners. The basketball gear they wore was gorgeous and I'm glad that this movie is around to forever document the style. Can white men jump? Just ask Duck Johnson.

1. Hoop Dreams
This movie is considered one of the best documentaries of all time. It follows Arthur Agee and William Gates, two basketball stars, through middle school, high school, and college documenting their quest to get to the NBA. Very interesting, moving, and something that will stick with you for a long time.