Basketball, basketball, basketball

I have a basketball family. Thanks to my dad. And my grandfather. And my uncles.

So, this time of year is fun. Final Four. NBA playoffs.

Since I'm hanging with the family this weekend, some observations:

• We bought my parents a new, HD, flat panel TV. Don't worry. My dad paid.
• It was neat to see, after we set up the TV, how basketball and the new nephew brought us together.
• The Lakers are only one game behind the Cavs for the best record in the league after last night.
• But, why the heck is Pau Gasol still playing so many minutes this late in the season? He had as much post season activity as Kobe (since they played each other in the gold medal game of the Olympics). Laker Nations needs Pau as much Kobe.
• Andrew Bynumn can have as much fun as he wants. Just stay away from the Playboy Mansion and Playboy bunnies and get your knee better.
• Could it be that we have a Villanova/Michigan State championship game?
• I just watched this Jay Bilas segment on Villanova's offense. I like this stuff, understanding the ins and outs of the game. Bilas should be a coach.

Back to lounging...

March Tension

I will filling out my one and only bracket for the NCAA Men's basketball tourney last night. I'm not a stat geek, so I really make my picks based on, how do you say, intuition (a fancy word for guessing).

But an interesting dilemma came up. The UCLA Bruins are playing the Virginia Commonwealth Rams in the first round of the East Regional. I have been a UCLA fan all of my life. And, of course, the fan in me wants them to win the National Championship (or at least get to the Final Four).

However, they are a young team that has been very inconsistent the entire season.

So, I was dwelling on that place in my bracket: do I go with the fan pick or the realistic pick?

DRUM ROLL PLEASE....

UCLA over VCU in round 1. Villanova over UCLA in round 2.

P.S. In case you're wondering, I have Pitt winning the whole thing.

God does reward faithfulness

Now don't misunderstand the title of this post.  God rewards faithfulness to Him with love and mercy and the goodness that leads us to heaven.  And if wins on a football field serve the purpose of God's will, then how blessed is that team and their fans.  But if losing brings about God's will, then...how blessed is that team and their fans.

It is this thought of faithfulness to God that makes Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh's story so darn cool.

Yay for integrity!

Being a golfer and a fan of the sport, I was really touched by what pro golfer J.P. Hayes did: to choose telling truth over advancing his career.

Loyalty...or business...

The world of sports is entertainment for us who are fans...and big business for those who are in it.

I've expressed in this blog that my love for all of the Los Angeles teams continues, even though I consider myself a San Diegan.  But, it's hard for locals to not be passionate about all the sports here in America's Finest City.

Which is what makes the news that the Padres are about to dump salaries and rebuild so disappointing.  The news that Trevor Hoffman has probably played his last game here is particularly sad.  I understand that roster moves need to be made to improve the team, even if it involves the best players.  And while contract decisions in sports are a two way street, someone like Trevor deserves special considerations and flexibilities.  He should be given the chance to end his career in San Diego.

But I guess that business is a higher priority than loyalty.

Just when I thought I could be Tiger Woods...

I played in a golf tournament on Monday for our parish school.  And it was such good times.  I was in an awesome group.  The weather was great.  The food was abundant.  And the beverages were cold.

But...

I did not play up to what I expected.  And, let me tell you, that sucks.  The thing of it is that I really felt good about my swing and my ball striking and my putting and that I would put together a pretty decent round.  It didn't take very long for that to all come crashing down.

I guess the beautiful thing about humility is that it brings you to the real reality of your life, who you are, and who you aren't.

So, I suppose I shouldn't be too bent out of shape that I won't be quitting my "day job" for the PGA Tour.

It just sure would have been nice to hit a few more fairways and greens...

What a difference a year makes

Basketball season started tonight.  And the Lakers soundly defeated the Portland Trail Blazers.  But what struck me the most as I watched the end of the game was how different last year's season opener was.

Last year, the home fans booed its star player because he wanted to be traded.

This year, they celebrated not only his redemption, but the hope that another championship banner will be hung.

Oh forgiveness is a beautiful thing!

Home is where the heart is

Twenty years ago, I was a sophomore at St. Francis High School in La Canada, California.  While my life is much, much different now in 2008 than it was in 1988, there is at least one thing that is the same: the Los Angeles Dodgers winning a playoff series.

In '88, the Dodgers went on to win the World Series, with the help of the famous Kirk Gibson home run in Game 1.  With last night's victory over the Cubs, Joe Torre's team is one step closer to repeating that success.

Now, even though I've become a Padres fan, I cannot but help and root for the team of my childhood.  And this has made me reflect on something deeper.  Maybe, just maybe, "home" invites us back for a visit every now and then, not just to remind us who we were, but to teach us that who we are is because of who we were.

Yes, they are using their feet...

While I don't play as much as I used to, I still have a passion for volleyball.  So, it is a wonderful blessing that I have so many teens in my youth group who play for their school.  

As I mentioned in previous blogs, this past Olympics also reignited my love for the sport (and, deep down a desire to play again, despite being extremely out of shape).

But, now I have a new appreciation of volleyball, after I discovered a form of the sport I never knew existed (you HAVE to see it to believe it)..

Bring on the Euros

I golf.  I watch golf.  I love Ryder Cup golf.

Match play is much more engaging format to watch than stroke play.  And this competition has so much intensity and passion.  Although, I think the coolest part of the whole thing is to see an individual sport become all about team.

Now, you know that this event is a big deal when the self-proclaimed "greatest" of all time decides to make an appearance at a practice round.

Golf has so much sportsmanship in its culture.  But, for this Team USA fan, it's about winning.  They can shake hands and sip champagne with the Euros on Sunday evening.  Until then, I wanna see a lot of competitive banter...and a bunch of American birdies.

P.S.  Hopefully neither team will be wearing hideous outfits, a la the 1999 USA shirts.

A smattering of schtuff...

• I'm currently listening to two very powerful albums: Revelation by Third Day and Hello Love by Chris Tomlin.  Both albums are not just wonderful musical experiences, but are also powerful expressions of how God works in the tangible to draw us close to Him.
  
• The iPhone is still a pretty amazing machine.  My friend told me today that the word on the street is that it will be available through multiple cellular carriers within a year.
  
• I love to eat.  Picking up breakfast at Pipes Cafe in Cardiff always brings a smile to my face.
  
• Is it just me, but are there ALOT of people (men AND women) who are fanatical about football?
  
• If you haven't done so already, you need to see the video on catholicvote.com.
  

Family Weekend

My Grandmother is visiting from the Philippines for a few weeks.  And this weekend, we had family day.  And Villa family day usually consists of two things: eating, shopping and more eating.  Oh, and picture taking.  It's definitely not a gathering without picture taking.

So, here's a picture of my beloved Grandmother and I (taken, of course, after our family day of shopping and in between eating).

As we were hanging out, it hit me...we (as in you and I) need to take time for family.  Whether it's flying 16 hours or driving for two, the travel is a worthwhile investment in love.

P.S.  Google Earth rocks!

P.S.S.  What a football weekend: St. Augustine High vs. Carlsbad on Friday, SDSU vs. Notre Dame on Saturday and Panthers vs. Chargers today.  Oh yes, ready or not, it's football season again!

The stretch run of the baseball season...

The very long baseball season now enters its final month.  And while our hometown San Diego Padres are in the midst of the end-of-the-year minor league call-ups, I'm still hoping that the team finishes this disappointing season really strong.  And I really hope that Buddy Black continues to have the chance to develop this team into a winner.

But, while watching tonight's game between the Pads and the Dodgers (who I was a fan of when I was younger), it reminded me about the importance in having passion for life and your vocation.  The minor leaguers who are brought up to the major league team have everything to prove and everything to gain.  

So all these "meaningless" games to us fans whose team won't be playing in October, are really a chance to root, root root for young men playing their hearts out because they're fulfilling their dreams even if it's one-two-three strikes you're out at the end of September.

P.S.  If you haven't seen the Champions of Faith films, you should.

Oh happy day

I am a huge fan of the Olympics.  These are some of my highlights so far:

• Gymnastics is ridiculous.  Like X Games ridiculous.  Some of the tricks the dudes do now are unreal.
  
• Michael Phelps is a beast.  Hopefully he'll be as good as a sober driver as he is in the pool.
  
• Team USA Men's Basketball looks good.
  
• Volleyball in all it's forms is my favorite sport.  Maybe because I used to play.  Maybe because all the US teams will contend for medals.
  

Here's a silly video from my mission trip to the DR:

But, this is the best news of the day for me: I now live exactly 8 minutes from an Apple Store!!!!!!

Athlete chooses priesthood over professional soccer career

I'm not really sure that I need to say more than the title says.  You just need to read the article for yourself to know how powerful this is.

But while you're reading it, please think about this:  What are you willing to give up for Christ?

I can tell you that I'm asking myself that very question...

Baseball, dying and nuns

I know what you're thinking: "What in the world do these three different things have in common?" 

Some God-inspired joy, that's what!

Think about these with me for a moment...

There is joy in baseball?  (with all the scandal and lack of virtue)  YES!

There is joy in the dying process?  (with all the sadness and suffering)  YES!

There is joy in being a nun? (living a life that is totally about the other and not you) ABSOLUTELY YES!

If you read the article/watch the video to Making Time Stand Still (a story from ESPN.com), you will see joy lived out in the lives of a group of people in Atlanta, brought together in the pursuit of a happiness that we cannot comprehend or create on our own.

And, you may just discover how God desires you and me to live lives of joyfulness, even in the midst of our own suffering and sorrow.

It's nice to be home

I spend very little time at my house.  Except for today.  

I decided to clean out my office, finally get rid of my old computer and do a little bit of rearranging.  Not gonna lie...pretty proud of myself for doing that.  Definitely a long time coming.  Feels really good to get that out of the way

As a reward, I spent the evening in front of the TV (with a California Burrito from Roberto's).  I started out watching the 2003 version of The Hulk (which was pretty good, in comparison to the version release just this June).  Although, as I was watching it, I was really amazing at how the Hulk bounced around like an oversized, green kangaroo.

After that was over, I tuned into to tonight's Pardes game.  Actually, I really only tuned in because they celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the 1998 NL Championship team.  

It was really quite cool seeing all of the old players that showed up for the celebration.  I really remember that whole playoff run like it was yesterday.  Probably because I got to attend game 5 of the 1998 NLDS against the Astros at the Q.  Honestly, one of the greatest sports moments of my life.  It was SOOOO loud I had to yell at my friends sitting next to me.

On a different note, I'm very excited to follow all the happenings of World Youth Day in Australia.  Certainly a blessed time for all the pilgrims going there.  Certainly a blessed time for our whole world.

P.S.  Just finished reading this amazing book, Sword of the Spirit.  If you want some ideas on how to live true, authentic happiness here on this earth, you should pick this up.