Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Friday, February 8, 2019
Celtics and The Lakers and Rondo's Redemption
I AIN'T A RAGIN' ANYMORE
Did we see a Basketball miracle last night? When Rajon Rondo managed to make a basket that won the game for his Lakers against his old home team the CELTICS?
After the game, COACH Brad amazed me by saying that the Basketball Gods rewarded the right team, when they gave the game to RONDO AND LEBRON,
Yes, and that pair might just be an unbeatable duo if they can stay tight and forget the regrettable spitting tantrum of Rondo against Chris Paul--James' good friend.
This morning on GET UP I hear an account that Rondo initiated two leadership activities recently. He showed the Lakers again the tape of their Christmas Day meeting with the Warriors. He pointed out what they did right and what they did wrong. The day before the Celtics game Rondo took over a gym at Emerson College and held an unplanned game with all of his team. They played many different lineups like a pick up game and they became cheerful and competitive.
Here's how WIKIPEDIA describes Rondo since Xmas:
On December 25 against the Golden State Warriors, after just three games back from his hand injury, Rondo suffered a sprain to his right ring finger.[174] He underwent surgery three days later and was subsequently ruled out for an estimated four to five weeks.[174] He returned to action on January 24, 2019, after missing 14 games, recording 15 points, 13 assists and six rebounds in a 120–105 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.[175] On January 31, he had 14 points and 13 rebounds in a 123–120 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers.[176] On February 7, he hit a 20-foot jumper as time expired in Boston to lift the Lakers to a 129–128 win over the Celtics, as he finished with 17 points and 10 assists. It was his first career go-ahead field goal in the final 10 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime.[177]
I want to emphasize that last sentence: It was his first career go-ahead field goal in the final 10 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime.
After the game Rondo said that he had a
dream that he ended a game with such a field goal.
Well last night the dream came true. AND watching
that dream unfold were spectators like Bill Bellichek,
Sony Michel and other Patriot players in the stands.
You know Rondo even looked different last night--
younger, lighter on his feet and even more handsome
without the usual scowl.
Maybe the bright Lakers uniform is his
color--he looked good in it last night.
Monday, May 28, 2018
TWO BEST WORDS IN SPORTS
GAME SEVEN
That is what LeBron called them--the two best words in sports. I try to tell myself that he is right and that he wants to honor all the effort that it takes to force a seventh game.
He is certainly in the thick of it--he is the driving engine for the Cleveland team. But I am a little afraid of the finality of game seven and the desperation that the teams show.
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END AND ALL BAD THINGS TOO.
So something will end tonight.
I GOT MY CAVS CAP ON
I must admit that when the score is too lopsided against the CAVS, I change the channel. But right now it is just a 5 point difference.
I would like to see them battle on.
Yes,The Ghosts of the Garden were there, but the Basketball Gods, who like to play with us, had other ideas.
Well LeBron just charged up the court with the ball,
pass it to Kyle I yelled and then when he ran by him I said Ok maybe Green, he kept going,
OK OK do it yourself and he did even though SMART had posted himself into an illegal position in front of him and took the charge and fell.
So now we are going to the half with a small 4 point lead.
I WILL TAKE IT!
Of course, we all take away what we can from that great display of athleticism and high Basketball IQ that LeBron displayed last night.
Also his patience with his teammates and his refusal to give up on them. In some magical world of generosity and support LeBron kept passing the ball back to his teammates and several of them seized the opportunity to advance to the FINALS OF THE NBA.
I was so glad to see Hill and Green gain energy and momentum. AND when the game was over, I laughed when JR grabbed the trophy and took it out of TD GARDEN--with his team --as if he were afraid that they might leave it behind.
After all Paul Pierce was perched on the sidelines poised to hand the trophy to his beloved CELTICS.
LeBRON teaches the same gospel-- play the hand that you are dealt. He does this not by saying it, but by doing it.
In this way he made the best of the resources of the Cleveland team and he roused them to greatness again
.ON TO THE FINALS!!
That is what LeBron called them--the two best words in sports. I try to tell myself that he is right and that he wants to honor all the effort that it takes to force a seventh game.
He is certainly in the thick of it--he is the driving engine for the Cleveland team. But I am a little afraid of the finality of game seven and the desperation that the teams show.
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END AND ALL BAD THINGS TOO.
So something will end tonight.
I GOT MY CAVS CAP ON
I must admit that when the score is too lopsided against the CAVS, I change the channel. But right now it is just a 5 point difference.
I would like to see them battle on.
Yes,The Ghosts of the Garden were there, but the Basketball Gods, who like to play with us, had other ideas.
Well LeBron just charged up the court with the ball,
pass it to Kyle I yelled and then when he ran by him I said Ok maybe Green, he kept going,
OK OK do it yourself and he did even though SMART had posted himself into an illegal position in front of him and took the charge and fell.
So now we are going to the half with a small 4 point lead.
I WILL TAKE IT!
Of course, we all take away what we can from that great display of athleticism and high Basketball IQ that LeBron displayed last night.
Also his patience with his teammates and his refusal to give up on them. In some magical world of generosity and support LeBron kept passing the ball back to his teammates and several of them seized the opportunity to advance to the FINALS OF THE NBA.
I was so glad to see Hill and Green gain energy and momentum. AND when the game was over, I laughed when JR grabbed the trophy and took it out of TD GARDEN--with his team --as if he were afraid that they might leave it behind.
After all Paul Pierce was perched on the sidelines poised to hand the trophy to his beloved CELTICS.
LeBRON teaches the same gospel-- play the hand that you are dealt. He does this not by saying it, but by doing it.
In this way he made the best of the resources of the Cleveland team and he roused them to greatness again
.ON TO THE FINALS!!
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
HE KEEPS DISHING-----
AND THE GUYS KEEP SWISHING!!!
By now if you are reading any of this blog you know that I am a poet. Well, I just heard a great line of verse on GET UP and GO on ESPN that sort of sums up the impossible made possible victory in OVERTIME of the Cavs over the Raptors. And yes, there were other players from Cleveland there --not just LEBRON. No, He cannot do that three more times and live, but they can keep helping and
dunkin' those 3s and they will win three more and go on to take the EAST.
After the game I was so exhausted--I felt like I was there and clutching that ball like Kevin Love, hugging the ball and whirling and hitting any one who came near me with my elbows. It was like looking at myself in a playground. WHAT PLAYGROUND?? NOVELTY PARK.
YES, NOVELTY PARK--__Does anyone remember that place that is at the point where Brewster Street t's into Division Street and is now the site of some poorly kept apartments????The same corner where on the right there is still a bar that was once the notorious FORD's??
Novelty Park had a summer program. I know because that is where some nice summer counselor taught me to make my first gimp bracelet --and WAIT FOR IT --- NOVELTY PARK had a swimming pool. I am not dreaming it. There is nothing there. YOU must drive completely around the block now to find the pathetic remnant of something like a little play area on what was once the backside of Novelty Park.
What else did Novelty Park HAVE?
I may not be recalling everything and I do beg that if anyone who is reading this can recall more or less, please do tell me.
I recall a building It was a Vets Post of some kind. When It rained we could rush into the building and take in the craft supplies so they did not all get wet.
There was a swing set and we could go very high and jump off. There was a slide
It had a metal circular ride we called a roundabout that you stood or sat on or and ran along side and then jumped on to get a ride. Big boys tormented --or thrilled-- little girls by running beside the ride and pushing so hard that it went at unimaginable speed. AND that is my testimony. WE SCREAMED A LOT !!!
Then going back to the road that runs Parallel to Division there was a softball playing area. AND since I seldom walked that way there must have been a gate. That is where the crummy playground remnants are now. I have driven by and have never seen anyone there.
Next to the Park on the right on Division Street there was a large and to my tenement -bred eyes a quite impressive white house. Best of all there were a few Pear trees in the yard and they produced really juicy and sweet pears. The large yard had an imposing fence--but when I was eight years old high fences weer no barrier. I would climb over and get pears and bring them back for all my friends.
Sometimes the woman who lived there would come out and shout at me. But she never did anything more and often in my rush I had just taken fallen pears. NO TREE DAMAGE.
When I read Saint Augustine's Confessions in college, I laughed and marveled at how he reported that he had stolen pears as a child.
My goodness if I confessed sins like stealing pears, I would have never left the confessional.
I guess I am finally coming clean here,
I could do a whole blog post complete with map of the best Pear trees to rob in my neighborhood.
Well, I will save that until after the CAVS or the CELTICS take the EAST.
By now if you are reading any of this blog you know that I am a poet. Well, I just heard a great line of verse on GET UP and GO on ESPN that sort of sums up the impossible made possible victory in OVERTIME of the Cavs over the Raptors. And yes, there were other players from Cleveland there --not just LEBRON. No, He cannot do that three more times and live, but they can keep helping and
dunkin' those 3s and they will win three more and go on to take the EAST.
After the game I was so exhausted--I felt like I was there and clutching that ball like Kevin Love, hugging the ball and whirling and hitting any one who came near me with my elbows. It was like looking at myself in a playground. WHAT PLAYGROUND?? NOVELTY PARK.
YES, NOVELTY PARK--__Does anyone remember that place that is at the point where Brewster Street t's into Division Street and is now the site of some poorly kept apartments????The same corner where on the right there is still a bar that was once the notorious FORD's??
Novelty Park had a summer program. I know because that is where some nice summer counselor taught me to make my first gimp bracelet --and WAIT FOR IT --- NOVELTY PARK had a swimming pool. I am not dreaming it. There is nothing there. YOU must drive completely around the block now to find the pathetic remnant of something like a little play area on what was once the backside of Novelty Park.
What else did Novelty Park HAVE?
I may not be recalling everything and I do beg that if anyone who is reading this can recall more or less, please do tell me.
I recall a building It was a Vets Post of some kind. When It rained we could rush into the building and take in the craft supplies so they did not all get wet.
There was a swing set and we could go very high and jump off. There was a slide
It had a metal circular ride we called a roundabout that you stood or sat on or and ran along side and then jumped on to get a ride. Big boys tormented --or thrilled-- little girls by running beside the ride and pushing so hard that it went at unimaginable speed. AND that is my testimony. WE SCREAMED A LOT !!!
Then going back to the road that runs Parallel to Division there was a softball playing area. AND since I seldom walked that way there must have been a gate. That is where the crummy playground remnants are now. I have driven by and have never seen anyone there.
Next to the Park on the right on Division Street there was a large and to my tenement -bred eyes a quite impressive white house. Best of all there were a few Pear trees in the yard and they produced really juicy and sweet pears. The large yard had an imposing fence--but when I was eight years old high fences weer no barrier. I would climb over and get pears and bring them back for all my friends.
Sometimes the woman who lived there would come out and shout at me. But she never did anything more and often in my rush I had just taken fallen pears. NO TREE DAMAGE.
When I read Saint Augustine's Confessions in college, I laughed and marveled at how he reported that he had stolen pears as a child.
My goodness if I confessed sins like stealing pears, I would have never left the confessional.
I guess I am finally coming clean here,
I could do a whole blog post complete with map of the best Pear trees to rob in my neighborhood.
Well, I will save that until after the CAVS or the CELTICS take the EAST.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Thinking of LeBron
HOW HAS LEBRON HELPED ME?
I watched replays of the scene of LeBron James expressing his confidence in the eventual victory of his team the Cleveland Cavaliers after they lost game 5 and needed to win games 6 and 7 to clinch a national championship, their first since 1964. Hailed as the greatest player on the planet, he repeated that phrase of self-empowerment and proclaimed his confidence in the outcome of the next game. He threw that confidence in the teeth of defeat and that refusal of the label "underdog" that the media and the Vegas odds makers gave him.
I must admit that I was moved and I immediately felt a quickening of my own confidence. If you are confident, LeBron, then I too will keep confident as I approach surgery in the next weeks. Now the dream of a national championship in his first year back in Cleveland with a team missing two All Star players is over.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CONFIDENCE--MY OWN ESPECIALLY. LeBron's confidence had given me confidence and calm as I went to meet my surgeon. An athlete whom I had never met had so impressed me that I followed his example in my own little way. His dedication to his sport, his devotion to his community and his determination to win as a team not as an MVP--all are rare wonderful traits.
I noticed a certain regal demeanor about the man they call KING JAMES most evident in the courtly form of respect he paid to James Brown who was watching the game. How often have we seen a player in his prime pay such homage to an older retired star of another sport.
That was a moment of GRACE.
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