Damn It, Missed March LOL

Damn it. Looks like my streak has ended yet again. Gonna try harder to stick to it

So what’s happened? Major events include going on a 2 week trip to Melbourne with Jenny in February (fantastic city. Seriously considering moving there!) and celebrating my quarter century birthday with Mum, Dad, Dill, Steph and Jenny at an Italian restaurant in the City called Da Vinci (very nice food and atmosphere, if I may add!).

Work-wise, just been working at Newmarket a few nights a week (including the odd extra shift when Pete needed cover), and pretty regular locum shifts at St Lukes, Avondale and Epsom. Quite steady.

In the MLB and NBA sports world (I don’t care much for cricket )…
- The Phillies just routed the Mets 11-0 behind Doc’s stellar 7-inning shutout;
- The Yankees edged the Twins with smart hitting;
- Mo picked up his 4th save of the season, quietly marching towards the record books. I believe he needed 42 to tie The Hoff’s 601 save record, so 42 – 2 = 38… 38 saves to go;
- Cole Hamels was raped a few days ago in the third inning. Hope he regains his 2008 playoffs MVP form soon!! The Phils need him;
- The Lakers have been slumping (2 game losing streak) since going 19-1 after the All-Star break. Not too worried about them. They’ve already clinched a playoff berth I think

Predictions

Turns out my MLB postseason predictions were way off. The Yankees were kicked out in six games, followed by the Phillies (in six as well) a day later. Texas Rangers vs. San Francisco Giants in the World Series. Didn’t think I’d ever say that out loud. Nevertheless, this should be a good Series to watch indeed. Two Aces going head-to-head; Texas’ Cliff Lee vs. San Fran’s Tim Lincecum.

Prediction: Lee’s stuff when he’s firing on all cylinders is, in my opinion, more consistent and solid than Timmy’s. I’m not knocking on Timmy’s game, but if I were to choose one over the other, I’d give Lee the slight edge. Texas in 6 games.

The 2010-11 NBA season just started today. The Miami Heat lost their first game, while the Los Angeles Lakers won theirs. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol combining for 56 points. Good start to the season, boys!! Three-peat!!

Olajuwon

Sunday, 3rd October, 2010… After a thoroughly enjoyable late brunch at The Coffee Club in Sylvia Park, this (below) happens LOL

@Sylvia Park Footlocker store:

Me: “Hey they’ve got Olajuwon’s!!” (referring to an NBA Swingman jersey)

Bobo: “Do you need a large one?”

LOL.

The Yankees and Phillies are both in the post-season (which starts tomorrow). Re-match of 2009′s World Series in the works, anyone? Although I have a feeling the Phils will get their revenge this time around.

Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt are a more solid trio than, say, Sabathia, Pettitte, Burnett (that’s if he even gets a nod…) Provided Hamels doesn’t have another meltdown and pitch like he has been pitching of late

Busy May

Damn it, I snapped my own streak of blogging at least once a month lol. Oh well, let’s try start a new streak lol.

I’ve had a pretty busy May. Work, work, work, then a huge trip to the US with Jenny We spent time in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. Faaantastic trip. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Made new friends, and got re-acquainted with a fellow “not-living-in-Taiwan-and-speaks-fluent-English” cousin Desiree (there’s only 4 of us in total, so a rarity, including me, Dill, and Desiree’s sister; Bonnie), which is always a plus. Got to meet her fiance Matt too; what an awesome guy. Managed to fit in quite a busy schedule too. Went to Universal Studios, Disneyland, Sea World in San Diego, catch a Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium, visit Staples Center, do a lot of sightseeing, attend Jenny’s friend’s wedding (Jen was the maid of honour), do HEAPS OF SHOPPING, visit the New Yankee Stadium, among other things

Now it’s the 21st June, and I’m trying to restart my blogging habit (what habit?). What’s happened? Oh, the biggie assignment, Assignment 3 (patient-centred care) was due, which I handed in with a day to spare, the Yankees and Dodgers are both doing very well (can’t say much about the Phillies though…), and the Lakers are back-to-back champions!!

Can’t forget that can we? I remember back on the 15th June 2009 (I checked lol), I posted about the Lakers finally returning to the top spot with championship #15. Well, just a year and two days later, they win #16. With Kobe the Finals MVP for a second year in a row. Congrats to the Lakers!! Let’s make it a three-peat next season!!

Oh well, time to go to bed. Blogging at 12am isn’t really a healthy thing lol. Hopefully will hear more from me from now on (I keep saying that don’t I?)

Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers; Champions Once Again

In my eyes, Kobe Bryant has always been a champion; a truly remarkable basketball player. But now he has the 2009 NBA championship to prove it. His fourth championship already, but his first since the departure of Shaquille O’Neal. He finally has one to call his own.

Many critics (aka Kobe Haters) say Shaq was the reason they won three championships. “Shaq was the center (no pun intended) of the Lakers’ three-peat, Shaq was the dominant superstar, Shaq was this, Shaq was that, Kobe is a ball hog, Kobe is selfish”. I think otherwise. Shaq could not have done it without Kobe, and vice versa.

No doubt Shaq was a huge part of the three consecutive championships the Lakers won from 2000 to 2003, but he would’ve been nothing with Kobe. Yes, Kobe may have been quite the ball hog in his younger days, but he has always been, without a doubt, the best player in the game right now. He’s a changed man. Older, wiser. More experienced, but still as lethal as ever with the basketball. A true team leader, the King of the Fourth Quarter. Black Mamba.

So here’s to you, Kobe Bryant! This one’s for yourself, your teammates (you couldn’t have done it without Pau, Derek, Lamar, Trevor, etc.), your family, and definitely the one to shut the critics up once and for all! In my books, undoubtedly the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.

CONGRATULATIONS, KOBE BRYANT!! 2008-09 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player!!
CONGRATULATIONS, LA LAKERS!! 2008-09 NBA Champions!!
CONGRATULATIONS, PHIL JACKSON!! 10 NBA Championship rings = The Best Coach of All-Time!!

Finals-Bound Again!

35 points (on 12-for-20 shooting), 10 assists, 6 rebounds. That’s all the Lakers needed from Kobe Bryant to punch their ticket to their second NBA Finals in as many years. I watched the game on Sky/ESPN earlier this afternoon with Dill, and boy was I ecstatic. After Game 5, I knew it was time to strike. With Game 6 at Denver, I had a strong feeling Kobe would sense the urgency to close the series off, and he did it spectacularly. After the game, George Karl called what Kobe did divine intervention. I call it Black Mamba going to work as usual, working his magic.

Of course, Mamba didn’t do it by himself. Who did all those assists go to, you ask? Well, I’m happy to announce that many of the other Lakers also stepped up. Pau Gasol had a double-double as well (20 points, 12 rebounds; along with 6 assists); Lamar Odom picked up exactly where he left off from Game 5 with 20 points, 8 rebounds; Trevor Ariza and Luke Walton both had marvelous games too, especially Ariza, setting the tone early in the first two quarters.

Congratulations, LA!! Whoever your opponent may be, I’m behind you guys all the way!!

And a quick MLB update for today; both the Yankees and Phillies won today woohoo! The Bombers have also taken first place in the AL East yay!!

Early Update: Holidays

Been on holiday for just over a week. Pretty good so far. Sleeping in, catching up on Prison Break, Smallville and Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, and playing some NBA 2K9 on the PS2 with Dill.

I set a goal to get some decent exercise done these holidays, and so far I’ve played some basketball, and gone swimming with Jenny. I also got some time to wash my car as well this afternoon.

Dill sprained his left ankle pretty badly on Monday (17th Nov) while at basketball training. Nothing major, just twisted it as he landed on someone else’s foot while corralling for a rebound. Has to be on crutches for about a month or so.

That’s it from me for the time being. Going to Jenny’s Superclinic Christmas dinner at the VBG (Veranda Bar & Grill) in Parnell soon. Why they’re having a Christmas function so early before Christmas is beyond me lol…

Exams Over! Lakers 5-0!

What a day. Finished off my final exam for the year this afternoon, and it feels GREAT to finally finish!!

Additionally, the Lakers beat the Rockets at Staples Center today too. What’s amazing is they’re 5-0 AND Kobe doesn’t even have to go all out either! (the only team without a loss in the big, bad Western Conference, and one of only two teams to have a lossless season so far!)

Let the relaxation BEGIN!!

1st Week of November 2008 Update

I’m in the middle of my bloody university end of semester/year exams. 1 down, 2 more to go. Nearly there!

On other news, Obama is officially the next US President. What’s more, he’ll be the first African-American President as well. Congrats, Obama! I knew you could do it!

In the world of sports, a surprising trade between the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets has been confirmed; Denver’s Allen Iverson is shipped off to Detroit in exchange for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess, and Cheikh Samb (who the hell is he lol).

Now I’m not sure which team benefits from this random deal, but I guess Denver slightly has the upperhand, as they get a veteran point guard (who’s pretty unselfish when it comes to playing ball) in Billups, a backup center in Samb to complement Nene, and a decent power forward in Mcdyess (however Mcdyess refuses to be traded and is threatening to retire lol… What a big baby). AI on the other hand, has been pretty quiet so far since the season started. Maybe his age is finally getting to him…

Manny Ramirez is reportedly asking for the same length of contract and the same amount of pay as A-Rod. I wonder who’ll sign him. I hope the Dodgers sign him on. He seems to be doing great there.

And finally, I end with Guitar Hero’s latest advert. Featuring four of the best ever athletes in their respective sports! Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers, NBA), Alex Rodriguez (NY Yankees, MLB), Tony Hawk (pro-skateboarder), and Michael Phelps (Olympic gold-medallist swimmer and multi-record holder). This advert is gold. Pure awesomeness!

Phillies Win World Series! Oden Injured. Again.

YES! THE PHILLIES HAVE DONE IT! They’ve won it, 4 games to 1! The 2008 WORLD SERIES! MLB Champions for just the second time in team history! Cole Hamels picks up MVP honours!

From ’80 (1980, their most recent championship, AND their only other championship) to ’08. Quite fitting, don’t you agree? Maybe next time, Tampa Bay!

And now moving on to the NBA. The 2008-09 season officially started yesterday, with the Lakers playing at home against a young Trailblazers team. All eyes are on Greg Oden’s long-overdue NBA debut. The #1 draft pick of the 2007-08 NBA draft, who missed the entire 07-08 season due to microfracture knee surgery, who’s HIGHLY ANTICIPATED big league debut was cut short yet again due to an injury.

Oden sprained his ankle 3 minutes into the game, hobbled around until halftime, and is expected to miss 2-4 weeks… It’s been more than 1 year after being drafted, and he’s yet to score his first basket (Oden was 0 for 4 in scoring)…