"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but getting up every time we do." - Confucius
Pretty sure the Dwayne Wade commercial a few years ago took this quote when it did the "fall seven times, get up eight" thing.
The Big Brother 12 application asked what my life's motto was, and this one was definitely at the top of my list. Early in life, I didn't know what failure was: I was good at most things, excelled at academics, didn't worry about sports, was living the good life. Then maturity happened, and I realized I was just a little fish in a big pond, that there were a lot of people smarter, bigger, stronger, more athletic, and better-looking than me, and that's when "failure" happened: Not getting valedictorian, not doing the best on the ACT's, not going to an Ivy League school, not being the best tennis player at our school. But in not being able to do these things, I learned something important: suck it up and get back up swinging. Be like a wolverine, or badger, or hornet, or whatever animal analogy you can think of, you gotta be pugnacious and go after it time and time again, like someone has deprived you of something that's rightfully yours. The current state of affairs, what with the global economy still in shambles and my career prospects not very bright, dictates a get-up-on-the-horse attitude, and I plan on it. O, and plus the fact that 2010 is MY YEAR!
Start of intramural basketball season today where I'll definitely be doing a lot of falling. Very excited about it, as these days I don't do that many competitve things, where there's a clear winner or loser. Falling and getting back up is so key in that game, where you gotta draw falls by running into somebody, fall down to draw a charge, dive after loose balls, and just generally being aggressive. The key is getting back up and repeating the process over and over again. After all, not everyone can be like my friend Anthony and toss up 30-foot prayers that go in off the backboard.
Boston v. LA today? Whoo!
So I was wrong about the result of the final (Serena took it again), but right about Henin having an excellent match, taking it to 3 sets and pretty much being the better player in at least 2 sets. The only strategical thing was, why did she try to charge Serena's 2nd serve all the time? At least half the time she hit out on the endline and took herself out of the point, PLUS Serena got a quick, easy point, which Serena loves because it avoids her weakness of long, drawn-out points that wear her down. Hmmph. Hopefully another situation will arise where Justine can re-think that.
Gran Turino is an interesting, somewhat slow, but definitely moving story. I now see the genius that is Clint Eastwood.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Heart
"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart." - Confucius
This post inspired by 2 interesting stories going on this weekend:
First, to the Jersey Shore cast members: take the deal, guys. Jersey Shore made you guys, gave you your 15 minutes of fame, you did NOT make the show. Even you, Situation. You're not above the show. A basic phrase that I like to say applies here: Sell high. Your fame is at its peak now, cash in. Sign up for that 2nd season of Jersey Shore while your popularity is still valuable.
But that was only the side story. The real story, for me, was Vinny of Jersey Shore talking about his aspirations for going to law school: how he'd taken the LSAT and was considering taking the plunge. Apparently Vinny's not just a guido, he's also an academic stalwart, scoring a 3.9 GPA in undergrad and in Latin Honors. Being in a similar position as he a short while ago, I'd give him this advice:
Law school isn't for everyone. Not to say law school is a bad investment, I actually am not sure about that right now. I'm not sure how law school will turn out for me. I'm not sure what I would have done other than law school and how I'd be enjoying the alternative. But I DO know this: If you go through 3 years of law school, you better have your heart in it. You better be prepared to work, better be ready to live and breathe law school, to be immersed in the culture, to go on a study abroad to another country called the Law. Because if you don't, you won't be able to put your heart into it, you won't enjoy it, you'll be questioning why you ever did it in the first place, why you're foregoing the prime years of your life (twenties in Vinny's case and mine) to invest in it. For me, I'm not saying it was a bad investment, but I do wish I had known what I know law school is like before I took the plunge.
And since Vinny has alternate career paths (like Jersey Shore season 2), definitely put your heart into more fist-pumpin' and GTL before you decide.
The other story about heart invovles one Justin Henin, who takes on Serena Williams tonight at the Aussie Open final in what amounts to the Clash of the Titans in women's tennis, a fitting way to conclude the 2000's Down Under because both have won it down there, as well as numerous other Grand Slams. It's a great showdown, mano a mano, head to head, winner gets bragging rights sort of match, and unlike a lot of matches in women's tennis it doesn't favor anybody: both players really have a realistically good shot to win the match.
As good of a storyline the rivalry of Henin and Williams is, it's Henin's story that personifies the Confucian quote above. Henin's tennis game itself personifies heart: her frame and stance does not suggest overwhelming power or unparalleled athleticism, but her serve clocks in as one of the fastest in the WTA, she moves up and down the court like poetry in motion, and O her backhand. What's more intriguing, though, is her retirement from the sport in 2008 while she was ranked #1, citing that her heart isn't in it anymore. As much as the timing is questioned by many, it seems interesting to me. If you can't put your whole spirit into something, you have to question why you do it. Especially tennis, where you're practicing every day, running around for up to 2 hours in a match, going from city to city, to tournament to tournament. It's a lot like law school: it's every day, in your face, no-escape, except there's no summer vacation or winter break to cushion the blow. You can't go through hell unless you're having a little bit of fun, and she didn't have any fun. Instead, she put her heart into other endeavors, like going on reality TV, spending time with family, other things that are more enjoyable, for 1.5 years.......just enough time for her heart to crave tennis again, and now she comes back at the top of her game, hungrier than ever and able to put her whole spirit and soul into the game. That's why I like her to win tonight against Serena and take back her #1 position in women's tennis.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
This post inspired by 2 interesting stories going on this weekend:
First, to the Jersey Shore cast members: take the deal, guys. Jersey Shore made you guys, gave you your 15 minutes of fame, you did NOT make the show. Even you, Situation. You're not above the show. A basic phrase that I like to say applies here: Sell high. Your fame is at its peak now, cash in. Sign up for that 2nd season of Jersey Shore while your popularity is still valuable.
But that was only the side story. The real story, for me, was Vinny of Jersey Shore talking about his aspirations for going to law school: how he'd taken the LSAT and was considering taking the plunge. Apparently Vinny's not just a guido, he's also an academic stalwart, scoring a 3.9 GPA in undergrad and in Latin Honors. Being in a similar position as he a short while ago, I'd give him this advice:
Law school isn't for everyone. Not to say law school is a bad investment, I actually am not sure about that right now. I'm not sure how law school will turn out for me. I'm not sure what I would have done other than law school and how I'd be enjoying the alternative. But I DO know this: If you go through 3 years of law school, you better have your heart in it. You better be prepared to work, better be ready to live and breathe law school, to be immersed in the culture, to go on a study abroad to another country called the Law. Because if you don't, you won't be able to put your heart into it, you won't enjoy it, you'll be questioning why you ever did it in the first place, why you're foregoing the prime years of your life (twenties in Vinny's case and mine) to invest in it. For me, I'm not saying it was a bad investment, but I do wish I had known what I know law school is like before I took the plunge.
And since Vinny has alternate career paths (like Jersey Shore season 2), definitely put your heart into more fist-pumpin' and GTL before you decide.
The other story about heart invovles one Justin Henin, who takes on Serena Williams tonight at the Aussie Open final in what amounts to the Clash of the Titans in women's tennis, a fitting way to conclude the 2000's Down Under because both have won it down there, as well as numerous other Grand Slams. It's a great showdown, mano a mano, head to head, winner gets bragging rights sort of match, and unlike a lot of matches in women's tennis it doesn't favor anybody: both players really have a realistically good shot to win the match.
As good of a storyline the rivalry of Henin and Williams is, it's Henin's story that personifies the Confucian quote above. Henin's tennis game itself personifies heart: her frame and stance does not suggest overwhelming power or unparalleled athleticism, but her serve clocks in as one of the fastest in the WTA, she moves up and down the court like poetry in motion, and O her backhand. What's more intriguing, though, is her retirement from the sport in 2008 while she was ranked #1, citing that her heart isn't in it anymore. As much as the timing is questioned by many, it seems interesting to me. If you can't put your whole spirit into something, you have to question why you do it. Especially tennis, where you're practicing every day, running around for up to 2 hours in a match, going from city to city, to tournament to tournament. It's a lot like law school: it's every day, in your face, no-escape, except there's no summer vacation or winter break to cushion the blow. You can't go through hell unless you're having a little bit of fun, and she didn't have any fun. Instead, she put her heart into other endeavors, like going on reality TV, spending time with family, other things that are more enjoyable, for 1.5 years.......just enough time for her heart to crave tennis again, and now she comes back at the top of her game, hungrier than ever and able to put her whole spirit and soul into the game. That's why I like her to win tonight against Serena and take back her #1 position in women's tennis.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Joakim Noah post
"Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it." - Confucius.
In a Eureka! moment by yours truly, I have decided that all subsequents will have quotes from one of the wisest men in history, Confucius. This quote actually pertains to the post, so read on to find out.
Sitting in the USC Law Library waiting out L.A. traffic. For those who don't use it, Sigalert gives a nice updated traffic map that highlights which routes are clogged with a color-coded system of red (meaning slow), yellow, and green (meaning go), for those who are common sense-challenged.
I've made it a habit recently of introducing myself in this manner: "Hi, I'm Robert. I'm orginally from suburban Chicago but moved out to L.A. for law school. I'm 22 turning 23 in May. O, and my favorite basketball player is Joakim Noah."
The infatuation for Joakim Noah is relatively new, a trend I developed after his hot start this NBA season and my consistent ability to draft him in my fantasy leagues. Also, the Bulls are one team I haven't given up on w/ my Chicago roots (ahem, Cubs) and at times they're actually bearable to watch, as witnessed by their 7-game marathon last playoff w/ the Celtics. O, and I also shelled out $40 before Christmas to get my first-ever official basketball jersey, a very loose-fitting (unfortunately I totally overestimated my muscle mass/body tone and got an extra large) Joakim Noah jersey. Red.
Ok, so why the Noah love? Well, on first look, he wears #13, which is ballsy. It shows defiance against the traditional norms of bad luck and a "I'm good no matter what" attitude. I like it.
He's ugly. OK, let's get through the cutesy-tootsy fluff that people throw out a lot, Joakim Noah is NOT a good-looking man. With the hair net-looking, spiders-may-come-out-of-there-any-moment ratttail going, along with the split front tooth and awkward looking walk, there is also "the tornado": Noah's version of a basketball shot, a sort of twisting, spine-curdling, how'd-he-even-get-that-in-the-air sort of hurl at the basket, nothing about Noah to the naked eye is graceful, elegant, beautiful. SAT Analogy: Joakim Noah is to beauty as Mike Tyson is to stable.
But wait, here's the Confucius quote kicking into effect: there's beauty there. It's beautiful how scrappy Noah is, how he does all the dirty work for the team, how he hustles back on defense, how he dives for loose balls, how he helps out in the paint, how he battles the opposing team's big night in and night out, how he gives it for teammates. His 11.7 points and 1.7 blks are good-looking, but the 12.3 rebounds per game and FOUR offensive rebounds per game really looking, like watching the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Pageant night in and night out. The beauty is that Noah's beauty comes from being exactly the opposite, being ugly, mixing it up down low, slowing down the game, prying the ball loose, playing ugly... but VERY effective.
So Noah's got some physical gifts: he's 7 feet exactly and clearly has some hops, enough to dunk. But let's face it: he's not the most talented of athletes. Line him up next to the other All-Stars that will be named this year to the All-Star Game, and he'd probably be the last one picked by the casual viewer. In fact, I would say him on the court is like Snookie at Karma (Jersey Shore bar): guys are not gonna try to hook up with her first, but if pressed, they might give her a ring. And yet that's what Snookie and Noah have in common: they give the best with what they have. That, to me, is beautiful. Both know that they don't have the most God-given talent, that they can't rely on their skills along. So they go the extra mile: they do the best that they can with what they got. That's what I root for. Call me crazy, but I'm a big Snookie and Joakim Noah fan.
And here's the segue back to myself: I AM Joakim Noah. Before you dismiss the last statement as dribble, lemme explain: on the basketball court, clearly I am not the best skilled player. One look at me and people usually dub me as the following: 1. Asian, 2. engineer, 3. chess player, 4. not athletic. Actually, 3 out of those 4 are accurate: I was not an engineer. But what I do is, I work my butt off on the court. No matter if the score's 11-1 or 7-7, I'm running up and down the court, chasing after loose balls, going full speed, cuz I know if I don't, I am NOT good. I can't rely on my other skills; I got none. All I got as a competitive advantage is hustle, I lose that I got nothing. That's how I roll; that's my M.O. Seeing Joakim play gives me some justification, some realization that that's a legitimate way to play, and seeing him succeed is like watching me succeed. Thanks, Joakim, for inspiring me and showing beauty for "ugly" players everywhere. Now please, please, lead the Bulls to the playoffs.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
In a Eureka! moment by yours truly, I have decided that all subsequents will have quotes from one of the wisest men in history, Confucius. This quote actually pertains to the post, so read on to find out.
Sitting in the USC Law Library waiting out L.A. traffic. For those who don't use it, Sigalert gives a nice updated traffic map that highlights which routes are clogged with a color-coded system of red (meaning slow), yellow, and green (meaning go), for those who are common sense-challenged.
I've made it a habit recently of introducing myself in this manner: "Hi, I'm Robert. I'm orginally from suburban Chicago but moved out to L.A. for law school. I'm 22 turning 23 in May. O, and my favorite basketball player is Joakim Noah."
The infatuation for Joakim Noah is relatively new, a trend I developed after his hot start this NBA season and my consistent ability to draft him in my fantasy leagues. Also, the Bulls are one team I haven't given up on w/ my Chicago roots (ahem, Cubs) and at times they're actually bearable to watch, as witnessed by their 7-game marathon last playoff w/ the Celtics. O, and I also shelled out $40 before Christmas to get my first-ever official basketball jersey, a very loose-fitting (unfortunately I totally overestimated my muscle mass/body tone and got an extra large) Joakim Noah jersey. Red.
Ok, so why the Noah love? Well, on first look, he wears #13, which is ballsy. It shows defiance against the traditional norms of bad luck and a "I'm good no matter what" attitude. I like it.
He's ugly. OK, let's get through the cutesy-tootsy fluff that people throw out a lot, Joakim Noah is NOT a good-looking man. With the hair net-looking, spiders-may-come-out-of-there-any-moment ratttail going, along with the split front tooth and awkward looking walk, there is also "the tornado": Noah's version of a basketball shot, a sort of twisting, spine-curdling, how'd-he-even-get-that-in-the-air sort of hurl at the basket, nothing about Noah to the naked eye is graceful, elegant, beautiful. SAT Analogy: Joakim Noah is to beauty as Mike Tyson is to stable.
But wait, here's the Confucius quote kicking into effect: there's beauty there. It's beautiful how scrappy Noah is, how he does all the dirty work for the team, how he hustles back on defense, how he dives for loose balls, how he helps out in the paint, how he battles the opposing team's big night in and night out, how he gives it for teammates. His 11.7 points and 1.7 blks are good-looking, but the 12.3 rebounds per game and FOUR offensive rebounds per game really looking, like watching the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Pageant night in and night out. The beauty is that Noah's beauty comes from being exactly the opposite, being ugly, mixing it up down low, slowing down the game, prying the ball loose, playing ugly... but VERY effective.
So Noah's got some physical gifts: he's 7 feet exactly and clearly has some hops, enough to dunk. But let's face it: he's not the most talented of athletes. Line him up next to the other All-Stars that will be named this year to the All-Star Game, and he'd probably be the last one picked by the casual viewer. In fact, I would say him on the court is like Snookie at Karma (Jersey Shore bar): guys are not gonna try to hook up with her first, but if pressed, they might give her a ring. And yet that's what Snookie and Noah have in common: they give the best with what they have. That, to me, is beautiful. Both know that they don't have the most God-given talent, that they can't rely on their skills along. So they go the extra mile: they do the best that they can with what they got. That's what I root for. Call me crazy, but I'm a big Snookie and Joakim Noah fan.
And here's the segue back to myself: I AM Joakim Noah. Before you dismiss the last statement as dribble, lemme explain: on the basketball court, clearly I am not the best skilled player. One look at me and people usually dub me as the following: 1. Asian, 2. engineer, 3. chess player, 4. not athletic. Actually, 3 out of those 4 are accurate: I was not an engineer. But what I do is, I work my butt off on the court. No matter if the score's 11-1 or 7-7, I'm running up and down the court, chasing after loose balls, going full speed, cuz I know if I don't, I am NOT good. I can't rely on my other skills; I got none. All I got as a competitive advantage is hustle, I lose that I got nothing. That's how I roll; that's my M.O. Seeing Joakim play gives me some justification, some realization that that's a legitimate way to play, and seeing him succeed is like watching me succeed. Thanks, Joakim, for inspiring me and showing beauty for "ugly" players everywhere. Now please, please, lead the Bulls to the playoffs.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunday Night Wrap-Up
A recap of the events that occured this week:
1. Big stock market hiccup towards the end of the week, fueled by President Obama's speech about regulating banks more tightly. Jim Cramer criticizes move as "possible catalyst to the repeat of the 2008 financial crisis." Not so fast.
2. Colts, Saints move on to Super Bowl 44: one pretty good game, one game for the ages. The Vikes-Saints game was a heavyweight bout from start to finish, featuring big hits, key turnovers, multiple tied scores, 12 men in the huddle, favre's last pass this season being an interception, mutliple 4th-and-inches reviews, Overtime, and walk-off, heartbreak, we're-going-to-the-Super-Bowl-for-the-first-time-ever FG. Instant ESPN Classic material.
O, yea, btw, I was the 12th man in the Vikings' huddle.
3. The return of 24 with 4 episodes in 24 hours: so far, so good, we're following the movements of 2 different presidents, Jack's decision to stick around and the return of.......Renee Walker, baby. O yea.
4. Gambling.......is bad for you. Went to Vegas for the weekend despite New Year's Resolutions, and it was an expensive trip. Let's just say this: I had a number set as my limit, and I reached that number. 'Nuff said.
5. Anyone living in Hollywood ever hit up the Griddle? Really cool place, excellent food, heavenly pancakes/waffles. O boy.
6. Lebron blocks Durant's last-second shot in close Cleveland win over the Thunder. Oklahoma City's an up-and-coming team reminiscent of the New Orleans Hornets' arrival a few years ago, but still not ready to beat a premier Beast of the East.
7. Avatar still running strong- have I said this before? It's more pervasive than Titanic, more innovative than Crash, and gonna make Fox (my former employer) a LOT of cash.
8. Getting into the Aussie Open. Predictions: Nadal, Henin take it, one really classic match in store for one of them.
9. John McCain says, "Campaign Finance Reform is Dead." after recent Supreme Court decision allowing corporations to give as much as they want to political candidates. Say it ain't so, John!
10. Jersey Shore wraps up with its season finale and reunion show. Biggest shocking moment: the 2 stars of the show come full circle when Snookie and the Situation make out in the hot tub. A very Titanic-like, serendipitous-in-that-they-both-became-instant-household-names kind of thing. One last note about Snookie: A part of me (not the wow-look-at-her-poof-hair-part) admires Snookie for being able to endure getting laughed at, not getting dates, and rejection by males but still putting herself out there, still going after it, still partying and acting like herself. Being able to laugh at yourself/letting loose and being yourself is a very valuable quality to have. Cheers, Snicks.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
1. Big stock market hiccup towards the end of the week, fueled by President Obama's speech about regulating banks more tightly. Jim Cramer criticizes move as "possible catalyst to the repeat of the 2008 financial crisis." Not so fast.
2. Colts, Saints move on to Super Bowl 44: one pretty good game, one game for the ages. The Vikes-Saints game was a heavyweight bout from start to finish, featuring big hits, key turnovers, multiple tied scores, 12 men in the huddle, favre's last pass this season being an interception, mutliple 4th-and-inches reviews, Overtime, and walk-off, heartbreak, we're-going-to-the-Super-Bowl-for-the-first-time-ever FG. Instant ESPN Classic material.
O, yea, btw, I was the 12th man in the Vikings' huddle.
3. The return of 24 with 4 episodes in 24 hours: so far, so good, we're following the movements of 2 different presidents, Jack's decision to stick around and the return of.......Renee Walker, baby. O yea.
4. Gambling.......is bad for you. Went to Vegas for the weekend despite New Year's Resolutions, and it was an expensive trip. Let's just say this: I had a number set as my limit, and I reached that number. 'Nuff said.
5. Anyone living in Hollywood ever hit up the Griddle? Really cool place, excellent food, heavenly pancakes/waffles. O boy.
6. Lebron blocks Durant's last-second shot in close Cleveland win over the Thunder. Oklahoma City's an up-and-coming team reminiscent of the New Orleans Hornets' arrival a few years ago, but still not ready to beat a premier Beast of the East.
7. Avatar still running strong- have I said this before? It's more pervasive than Titanic, more innovative than Crash, and gonna make Fox (my former employer) a LOT of cash.
8. Getting into the Aussie Open. Predictions: Nadal, Henin take it, one really classic match in store for one of them.
9. John McCain says, "Campaign Finance Reform is Dead." after recent Supreme Court decision allowing corporations to give as much as they want to political candidates. Say it ain't so, John!
10. Jersey Shore wraps up with its season finale and reunion show. Biggest shocking moment: the 2 stars of the show come full circle when Snookie and the Situation make out in the hot tub. A very Titanic-like, serendipitous-in-that-they-both-became-instant-household-names kind of thing. One last note about Snookie: A part of me (not the wow-look-at-her-poof-hair-part) admires Snookie for being able to endure getting laughed at, not getting dates, and rejection by males but still putting herself out there, still going after it, still partying and acting like herself. Being able to laugh at yourself/letting loose and being yourself is a very valuable quality to have. Cheers, Snicks.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Friday Night fantasy- come early
Ok, so it's Thursday, but about halfway through the NBA season, wanna let you know which guys are hot, which guys are not, and which guys are gonna be like me, the Sauce, and make 2010 THEIR year.
Btw, stock market lost a whopping 213 points today.....it seems scary, but it's ok if you got stocks like Coca-cola, Proctor and Gamble. If you've got banks/ financials, watch out. I got burned with JP Morgan Chase today, and icing it doesn't help. Ouch, President Obama, you're hurting me!
1. Chris Kaman. Here's how I feel about the Caveman.......Get out of the cave before the Boogiemen come to get you. Do not pass go, Do not collect $2oo. The Caveman has missed as many games as he's played the last 2 seasons, and you really shouldn't like his numbers that much anyway. 20.4 points? Unsustainable based on career avg. 1.4 blks? Not that many for a 7-footer. 3.0 TO's? I thought only PG's did that. 1.9 Assists? Paltry.
Guys I'd rather have: Al Horford, Al Jefferson.
2. Add Lamar Odom to guys I'd rather have. Like in real life, the Candyman dishes out some sweet stuff for fantasy owners, contributing in all cats with the added bonus of historically prolific second halves. Also, the combo of Bynum and Gasol is like Murphy's law: something's bound to go wrong.
OK, so I was wrong on Brook Lopez. My bad.
My Dwayne Wade-for-Kevin Durant trade didn't work so well.
3. Zach Randolph: No go on Z-Bo. Too wide of a load, not enough production for the dough.
4. Channing Frye: Like stating the obvious, easily pull the trigger on this guy. But it's an important lesson: guys who look real good now can become schmucks REAL fast (like not-playing-with-steve-nash-anymore-so-don't-get-wide-open-looks-at-three-all-day FAST).
Channing Frye rule applies to:
Danilo Gallinari, Corey Maggette (with the added ingredient of Don Nelson Sauce), Stephen Curry (with some rookie-wall-itis setting in), and O.J. Mayo....see my constant rants against owning O.J.
5. Deron Williams: Illinois homer endorsement right here. But I mean, legit skills, legit team, no injury, legit value.....It's like deciding to live in LA rather than Cleveland, Ohio (no reference to you, Lebron).
6. Antawn Jamison: In the o-so-articulate words of Angelina from Jersey Shore: "Um, HELLO!"
7. Chauncey Billups: Probably my man-crush talking, but he's the Triple-H of the NBA: Cerebral Assassin, most intellectual player in the NBA. Also like Triple-H, seemingly getting better with age, and reuniting with old friends to make one last championship run.
8. Josh Smith: One guy that you should own just so you can enjoy games: this guy keeps you at the edge of your seat, with beer in hand. Like watching Animal Planet when the lion leaps out at the does, that's watching Josh Smith lingering in the paint and then pinning someone's shot to the backboard. It's orgasmic, is what it is, everytime he does it. Ahem. Anyway...
9. LaMarcus Aldridge: The PB&J of Fantasy Basketball: You know what you're gonna get, but it's still pretty good. No surprises. (Unlike this show on Lifetime, The Pregnancy Pact about teenage girls vowing to get pregnant together......SHOCKING).
10. Guy outside Top 80 who could make a solid run rest of season: Andrew Bogut. Going out on a limb, but this guy's Big Man numbers are sick, and the Aussie's only 25 years old.
If I get 6 out of 10 calls right, that's good. We'll review this at end of season.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Btw, stock market lost a whopping 213 points today.....it seems scary, but it's ok if you got stocks like Coca-cola, Proctor and Gamble. If you've got banks/ financials, watch out. I got burned with JP Morgan Chase today, and icing it doesn't help. Ouch, President Obama, you're hurting me!
1. Chris Kaman. Here's how I feel about the Caveman.......Get out of the cave before the Boogiemen come to get you. Do not pass go, Do not collect $2oo. The Caveman has missed as many games as he's played the last 2 seasons, and you really shouldn't like his numbers that much anyway. 20.4 points? Unsustainable based on career avg. 1.4 blks? Not that many for a 7-footer. 3.0 TO's? I thought only PG's did that. 1.9 Assists? Paltry.
Guys I'd rather have: Al Horford, Al Jefferson.
2. Add Lamar Odom to guys I'd rather have. Like in real life, the Candyman dishes out some sweet stuff for fantasy owners, contributing in all cats with the added bonus of historically prolific second halves. Also, the combo of Bynum and Gasol is like Murphy's law: something's bound to go wrong.
OK, so I was wrong on Brook Lopez. My bad.
My Dwayne Wade-for-Kevin Durant trade didn't work so well.
3. Zach Randolph: No go on Z-Bo. Too wide of a load, not enough production for the dough.
4. Channing Frye: Like stating the obvious, easily pull the trigger on this guy. But it's an important lesson: guys who look real good now can become schmucks REAL fast (like not-playing-with-steve-nash-anymore-so-don't-get-wide-open-looks-at-three-all-day FAST).
Channing Frye rule applies to:
Danilo Gallinari, Corey Maggette (with the added ingredient of Don Nelson Sauce), Stephen Curry (with some rookie-wall-itis setting in), and O.J. Mayo....see my constant rants against owning O.J.
5. Deron Williams: Illinois homer endorsement right here. But I mean, legit skills, legit team, no injury, legit value.....It's like deciding to live in LA rather than Cleveland, Ohio (no reference to you, Lebron).
6. Antawn Jamison: In the o-so-articulate words of Angelina from Jersey Shore: "Um, HELLO!"
7. Chauncey Billups: Probably my man-crush talking, but he's the Triple-H of the NBA: Cerebral Assassin, most intellectual player in the NBA. Also like Triple-H, seemingly getting better with age, and reuniting with old friends to make one last championship run.
8. Josh Smith: One guy that you should own just so you can enjoy games: this guy keeps you at the edge of your seat, with beer in hand. Like watching Animal Planet when the lion leaps out at the does, that's watching Josh Smith lingering in the paint and then pinning someone's shot to the backboard. It's orgasmic, is what it is, everytime he does it. Ahem. Anyway...
9. LaMarcus Aldridge: The PB&J of Fantasy Basketball: You know what you're gonna get, but it's still pretty good. No surprises. (Unlike this show on Lifetime, The Pregnancy Pact about teenage girls vowing to get pregnant together......SHOCKING).
10. Guy outside Top 80 who could make a solid run rest of season: Andrew Bogut. Going out on a limb, but this guy's Big Man numbers are sick, and the Aussie's only 25 years old.
If I get 6 out of 10 calls right, that's good. We'll review this at end of season.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Monday, January 18, 2010
Flash Flood in LA
Title of the post has a double meaning representing the status of the weather conditions in LA as I write this, but also things that don't happen very often.....and it's the theme of this post.
1. Ridiculously flukey interception by Darrell Revis in the Jets-Chargers game yesterday that bounced in and out of VJax's hands, onto his backside, deflected off his leg, landed on someone's body, and finally into Revis's hands. Basically, everywhere but the ground. Turning point in a close game leading to my new favorite team's demise.
2. Global economic financial meltdown: Wasn't w/in the realm of possibilities before 2008. Why, o why did it have to happen right before recruiting season for my first professional job?
3. Me getting high grades in law school: I am what you call exactly the average law student. No matter how hard I study, no matter what new and innovative method I employ, I always get grades that are right around the median of my class, hence resulting in my fairly median GPA which in normal years would be sufficent to obtain a 2L summer associateship but in this legal economy, nada so far. I believe the phenomenon has to do with inherent legal abilities: It's like an academic ceiling that I can't just break through, I just don't have a superior legal mind like some of my classmates do. On the plus side, I work hard enough to avoid the lowest grades in the class, hence my position as it is now.
4. Nate Robinson having a sick game. This season Nasty Nate has been in the doghouse after shooting at the wrong basket and demanding a trade from the Knicks and ultimately landing on the bench, but in honor of MLK Day Nate getting fired up v. Pistons, with 27 points and 5 trey's so far. Niiiiice.
5. Weird line by Mike Miller today: 4-4 in FG, 4-4 in FT, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 turnovers. Translated by Chinese, that's death, death, death, death, death, death........
6. Snow, if you live in Southern California: Which explains why a lot of natives (from LA and SD) head over to Mammoth or Big Bear this time of year. My friends and I went to the former for some skiing this weekend and I was able to get some insight as to why my awkward skiing technique usually results in my face landing in a pile of snow.
7. four-hour season premiere over the course of 2 days: That's what 24 is doing, living up to its reputation of starting seasons off with a BANG!
8. All the stocks in your portfolio taking a dive: Well, actually, you probably saw a lot of that in the aforementioned 2008 financial crisis, but recently it hadn't happened until Friday, when I checked the tickers and there was not a green arrow to be found.....Not only was the DOW down, but EVERY security out there took some cuts. Look for a big rebound on Tuesday when investors look for discounts and put some more money back into a surging bull market.
9. A consumer products company admitting that their stuff was bad but that "Now it's really, really improved!" IMO this is a very risky move by Domino's, because as the common consumer I'm thinking, OK so they screwed up before, why should I try the new version just because they say it's good? Lemme wait until my friend tries it and tells me it's good instead of just goin' in there blind. It could be a big payoff if it works, but there's a reason you don't see those kind of ads that often: Too much risk for the return.
10. a 26-point, 26-rebound effort by Al Jefferson last Wednesday: Despite the blowup, he only had 1 block and didn't shoot that well, so it's still a mirage. We're just not seeing big stat lines from the big man that much this season, and my guess is there's an injury reason involved. Whatever it is, it's too late in the season to think it'll turn around, so trade him and massively sell his 26-rebound mirage.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
1. Ridiculously flukey interception by Darrell Revis in the Jets-Chargers game yesterday that bounced in and out of VJax's hands, onto his backside, deflected off his leg, landed on someone's body, and finally into Revis's hands. Basically, everywhere but the ground. Turning point in a close game leading to my new favorite team's demise.
2. Global economic financial meltdown: Wasn't w/in the realm of possibilities before 2008. Why, o why did it have to happen right before recruiting season for my first professional job?
3. Me getting high grades in law school: I am what you call exactly the average law student. No matter how hard I study, no matter what new and innovative method I employ, I always get grades that are right around the median of my class, hence resulting in my fairly median GPA which in normal years would be sufficent to obtain a 2L summer associateship but in this legal economy, nada so far. I believe the phenomenon has to do with inherent legal abilities: It's like an academic ceiling that I can't just break through, I just don't have a superior legal mind like some of my classmates do. On the plus side, I work hard enough to avoid the lowest grades in the class, hence my position as it is now.
4. Nate Robinson having a sick game. This season Nasty Nate has been in the doghouse after shooting at the wrong basket and demanding a trade from the Knicks and ultimately landing on the bench, but in honor of MLK Day Nate getting fired up v. Pistons, with 27 points and 5 trey's so far. Niiiiice.
5. Weird line by Mike Miller today: 4-4 in FG, 4-4 in FT, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 turnovers. Translated by Chinese, that's death, death, death, death, death, death........
6. Snow, if you live in Southern California: Which explains why a lot of natives (from LA and SD) head over to Mammoth or Big Bear this time of year. My friends and I went to the former for some skiing this weekend and I was able to get some insight as to why my awkward skiing technique usually results in my face landing in a pile of snow.
7. four-hour season premiere over the course of 2 days: That's what 24 is doing, living up to its reputation of starting seasons off with a BANG!
8. All the stocks in your portfolio taking a dive: Well, actually, you probably saw a lot of that in the aforementioned 2008 financial crisis, but recently it hadn't happened until Friday, when I checked the tickers and there was not a green arrow to be found.....Not only was the DOW down, but EVERY security out there took some cuts. Look for a big rebound on Tuesday when investors look for discounts and put some more money back into a surging bull market.
9. A consumer products company admitting that their stuff was bad but that "Now it's really, really improved!" IMO this is a very risky move by Domino's, because as the common consumer I'm thinking, OK so they screwed up before, why should I try the new version just because they say it's good? Lemme wait until my friend tries it and tells me it's good instead of just goin' in there blind. It could be a big payoff if it works, but there's a reason you don't see those kind of ads that often: Too much risk for the return.
10. a 26-point, 26-rebound effort by Al Jefferson last Wednesday: Despite the blowup, he only had 1 block and didn't shoot that well, so it's still a mirage. We're just not seeing big stat lines from the big man that much this season, and my guess is there's an injury reason involved. Whatever it is, it's too late in the season to think it'll turn around, so trade him and massively sell his 26-rebound mirage.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Random Thoughts 2010
Time for another random thought, stream-of-consciousness blog that gives you everything that's on the fantasy guru's mind.
1. I'm bringing back the nickname "Sauce." Everyone back in Champaign used to call me that, I kinda liked it. Plus, "The Situation" has inspired me.
2. I have a certain Latino friend who challenged me that I don't update this blog very often. I'm taking it personally and writing a lot just to spite him. The beneficiaries? You guys who are reading more and better content.
3. You ever play w/ a guy in a pickup basketball game who just hogs the basketball like it's his last meal? How would you handle that situation?
a. lay back, don't say anything
b. call for the ball too
c. talk to the guy, communicate your needs
d. come out swinging, making an example of the guy and give him a bruise for every bad shot he's taken.
Sometimes I wish I could d.) with no consequences.
4. My picks for this weekend's football games? Ravens, Chargers, Vikings, Saints. But again, I am HORRIBLE at picking against the spread and at most sports games, so if you really wanna bet you should go the opposite of what I say.
5. "Sundial" Gaines or whatever his name is just ripped through the Cleveland 2nd unit and turned a 2-point Cavs lead into a 20-point Utah blowout. Insane. Sign him to another 10-day contract; better make it 20 days this time.
6. Here's to those who lost loved ones in Haiti. I try to imagine how I'd feel if an earthquake hit the LA area and knocked out my family and am overwhelmed by what others must be feeling.
7. If you're reading this blog right now and haven't checked out this video, you really should:
http://www.sportspickle.com/article:559/packers-defense-shockingly-asleep-at-the-wheel.
Explains a lot.
8. Here's some stuff that is a "you" problem (you have to blame yourself):
a. If you try to go on the 10 East from 7:30AM to 9:00AM and curse because there's traffic, that's a "you" problem.
b. If you leave a gun at home with an unsupervised kid under age 10, that's a "you" problem.
c. If you drafted Gilbert Arenas this year thinking he was gonna be back to the old Gilbert, that's a "you problem."
d. If you always cancel on lunch plans with your friends and get stiffed by your friends when you plan for lunch, that's a "you" problem.
e. If you go to the casino expecting to win every time and get upset cuz you lose, that's a "you problem."
f. If you invest in 5 stocks and expect all the stocks to go up, that's a "you" problem.
g. If you go around public areas trying to skateboard w/o knowing how to skateboard, that's a "you" problem.
h. If you have a hissy fit about waiting in line for buying something but then when you get up there you don't have your wallet out or take your sweet time, that's a "you" problem.
i. If you take life too seriously, that's a "you" problem.
j. If you start lifting weights after years of inactivity and select something too heavy and get sore, that's a "you" problem.
9. Cooking is so time-consuming. I think my personality just doesn't agree with it. I'm all about taking 3-minute showers, 10-minute power naps, and 20-minute lunches, tops. I think given that we eat 3 meals a day, taking more than an hour for the total 3 meals cuts too much into your day.
10. Randy Foye could really be the pickup of the year w/ Gilbert out for the season. Time for the Flower Foye to blossom, albeit a little late in the season.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
1. I'm bringing back the nickname "Sauce." Everyone back in Champaign used to call me that, I kinda liked it. Plus, "The Situation" has inspired me.
2. I have a certain Latino friend who challenged me that I don't update this blog very often. I'm taking it personally and writing a lot just to spite him. The beneficiaries? You guys who are reading more and better content.
3. You ever play w/ a guy in a pickup basketball game who just hogs the basketball like it's his last meal? How would you handle that situation?
a. lay back, don't say anything
b. call for the ball too
c. talk to the guy, communicate your needs
d. come out swinging, making an example of the guy and give him a bruise for every bad shot he's taken.
Sometimes I wish I could d.) with no consequences.
4. My picks for this weekend's football games? Ravens, Chargers, Vikings, Saints. But again, I am HORRIBLE at picking against the spread and at most sports games, so if you really wanna bet you should go the opposite of what I say.
5. "Sundial" Gaines or whatever his name is just ripped through the Cleveland 2nd unit and turned a 2-point Cavs lead into a 20-point Utah blowout. Insane. Sign him to another 10-day contract; better make it 20 days this time.
6. Here's to those who lost loved ones in Haiti. I try to imagine how I'd feel if an earthquake hit the LA area and knocked out my family and am overwhelmed by what others must be feeling.
7. If you're reading this blog right now and haven't checked out this video, you really should:
http://www.sportspickle.com/article:559/packers-defense-shockingly-asleep-at-the-wheel.
Explains a lot.
8. Here's some stuff that is a "you" problem (you have to blame yourself):
a. If you try to go on the 10 East from 7:30AM to 9:00AM and curse because there's traffic, that's a "you" problem.
b. If you leave a gun at home with an unsupervised kid under age 10, that's a "you" problem.
c. If you drafted Gilbert Arenas this year thinking he was gonna be back to the old Gilbert, that's a "you problem."
d. If you always cancel on lunch plans with your friends and get stiffed by your friends when you plan for lunch, that's a "you" problem.
e. If you go to the casino expecting to win every time and get upset cuz you lose, that's a "you problem."
f. If you invest in 5 stocks and expect all the stocks to go up, that's a "you" problem.
g. If you go around public areas trying to skateboard w/o knowing how to skateboard, that's a "you" problem.
h. If you have a hissy fit about waiting in line for buying something but then when you get up there you don't have your wallet out or take your sweet time, that's a "you" problem.
i. If you take life too seriously, that's a "you" problem.
j. If you start lifting weights after years of inactivity and select something too heavy and get sore, that's a "you" problem.
9. Cooking is so time-consuming. I think my personality just doesn't agree with it. I'm all about taking 3-minute showers, 10-minute power naps, and 20-minute lunches, tops. I think given that we eat 3 meals a day, taking more than an hour for the total 3 meals cuts too much into your day.
10. Randy Foye could really be the pickup of the year w/ Gilbert out for the season. Time for the Flower Foye to blossom, albeit a little late in the season.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Why we love Jersey Shore
Part of a phenomenon that's rapidly spreading across the United States, folks at USC Law have contracted Jersey Shore fever: Everywhere I go, people are fist-pumpin', rockin' the GTL, and exalting the merits of the TV show that's personified the phrase "so good it's bad." It seems like a paradox: MTV reality TV show that's set in a place commonly known as "the armpit of America." Shouldn't be good at all, actually should bomb. But here's why we love it:
1. Living vicariously: Deep down, I believe there's a Guido/Guidette inside all of us. At some level, like living one day in the life of a Guido, or taking part in "Guido" activities, we want to escape the lives that we have now and go through the whole routine: work out in the morning, do laundry, go to the tanning salon and chill out, get a haircut, put on a fresh shirt right before going out, and then partying the night away with "la familia." Doesn't sound too bad of a lifestyle.
2. Appeals to the young crowd: This show HAS to be absolutely killin the 18-24 viewing market and probably the 24-30 too. Put a group of twenty-somethings together for the summer, allow them to have alcohol, and all bets are off. The energy and vivaciousness of the characters on the show carry it despite what the content.
3. The situation: MTV's situation is so vastly enhanced by the presence of the situation. I'm talking about Mike Sorrentino, or more precisely, Mike Sorrentino's abs, who have gained cult-like popularity and made appearances on all the daily talk shows like Jay Leno, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, and even ESPN's SportsNation. We all get attracted by catchy stuff, and "The Situation" is one of the catchiest characters in all of television. He's like a WWE Wrestler crossed with Tony Soprano. Great television.
4. Snookie: It seems like a tough argument to make that a TV show is carried predominantly by just 2 characters, but it's amazing the amount of influence both Snookie and the Situation have had on the show. Snookie's constantly amazing quotes, antics, backflips, and perky attitude are all balanced out by her loyalty to her family (the fellow houseguests in the house) and we are absolutely drawn to that devotion. The episode where she got punched was the direct cause of me tuning into the show; it was a turning point of the summer for the Jersey Shore housemates and was the turning point of the whole series: from low roar in the TV ratings game to a rippling tsunanmi. With one punch to the face, Snookie got in return the label of nationwide celebrity and more than just 15 seconds of fame. (More like 15 minutes or 15 hours).
5. The lifestyle: Kinda alluded to before, but the attitudes and lifestyles of the Jersey Shore housemates are SO divergent to ours that we can't bear not to watch, we want to know how these other creatures of the world are living their lives and what divergent opinions they have, everything from "He knows not to mess with my sister or else he'd end up in my trunk" to "I will bite a guy's head off like a praying mantis" to Gym, Tan Laundry is so perverse to us, so different. We don't take it seriously, but it's very serious that this is the life the Jersey Shorers are leading, and it's awesome.
Can't wait to catch the next episode of Jersey Shore tonight. If you haven't checked it out, that's not a situation you want to be in that you're missing out on the Situation.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
1. Living vicariously: Deep down, I believe there's a Guido/Guidette inside all of us. At some level, like living one day in the life of a Guido, or taking part in "Guido" activities, we want to escape the lives that we have now and go through the whole routine: work out in the morning, do laundry, go to the tanning salon and chill out, get a haircut, put on a fresh shirt right before going out, and then partying the night away with "la familia." Doesn't sound too bad of a lifestyle.
2. Appeals to the young crowd: This show HAS to be absolutely killin the 18-24 viewing market and probably the 24-30 too. Put a group of twenty-somethings together for the summer, allow them to have alcohol, and all bets are off. The energy and vivaciousness of the characters on the show carry it despite what the content.
3. The situation: MTV's situation is so vastly enhanced by the presence of the situation. I'm talking about Mike Sorrentino, or more precisely, Mike Sorrentino's abs, who have gained cult-like popularity and made appearances on all the daily talk shows like Jay Leno, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, and even ESPN's SportsNation. We all get attracted by catchy stuff, and "The Situation" is one of the catchiest characters in all of television. He's like a WWE Wrestler crossed with Tony Soprano. Great television.
4. Snookie: It seems like a tough argument to make that a TV show is carried predominantly by just 2 characters, but it's amazing the amount of influence both Snookie and the Situation have had on the show. Snookie's constantly amazing quotes, antics, backflips, and perky attitude are all balanced out by her loyalty to her family (the fellow houseguests in the house) and we are absolutely drawn to that devotion. The episode where she got punched was the direct cause of me tuning into the show; it was a turning point of the summer for the Jersey Shore housemates and was the turning point of the whole series: from low roar in the TV ratings game to a rippling tsunanmi. With one punch to the face, Snookie got in return the label of nationwide celebrity and more than just 15 seconds of fame. (More like 15 minutes or 15 hours).
5. The lifestyle: Kinda alluded to before, but the attitudes and lifestyles of the Jersey Shore housemates are SO divergent to ours that we can't bear not to watch, we want to know how these other creatures of the world are living their lives and what divergent opinions they have, everything from "He knows not to mess with my sister or else he'd end up in my trunk" to "I will bite a guy's head off like a praying mantis" to Gym, Tan Laundry is so perverse to us, so different. We don't take it seriously, but it's very serious that this is the life the Jersey Shorers are leading, and it's awesome.
Can't wait to catch the next episode of Jersey Shore tonight. If you haven't checked it out, that's not a situation you want to be in that you're missing out on the Situation.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Dealbreaker!
Taking a page from Liz Lemon on 30 Rock, sometimes there's things that Reality TV contestants do that sabotage their chances of winning the show... a.k.a a "dealbreaker." Here's looking at some of the biggest moves in reality TV history (and maybe some other ones thrown in there as well).
1. Marcellus played a good game on Big Brother 3 and formed some good alliances w/ Danielle, Jason, and Amy, but he inexplicably decided NOT to use the power of veto on himself and was promptly voted out of the game.....that's a dealbreaker, folks.
2. Ozzie was rolling on Survivor: Fans v. Favorites and had a dominant majority alliance after the merge with lots of individual immunity rolling his way ADDING to the hidden individual immunity idol he already had, but his lack of strategic gameplay (and at that point, a bit of cockiness) again bit him in the butt as he failed to anticipate eventual winner and onetime ally Parvati's blindside to get him out.......DEALBREAKER.
3. There were questions about John McCain's age, John McCain's ability to lead, John McCain's policies, but when he selected Alaskan governor Sarah Palin as his VP candidate, his judgment came into question and that was a.... DEALBREAKER.
4. Dick and Danielle were the final 2 of Big Brother 8, but not only was Dick saved by America in Week 2 and Week 5, the duo ALSO avoided eviction because the producers told Eric he couldn't use the Power of Veto in Week 7 to take Amber or Zach off the block and backdoor one of the Donatos.....DEALBREAKER on the legitimacy of Dick's win.
5. Flight Time and Big Easy were fun, energetic, entertaining, and easy to root for on their way to the Final Four of Amazing Race 15 even as they botched some easy challenges and avoided Philimination because someone was too scared to go down a water slide, but the real kicker was when Big Easy couldn't spell F-R-A-N-Z after getting spotted the F, instead opting to take a 4-hour penalty that effictively ended their race...that's a Dealbreaker.
6. Jersey Shore: Ronnie seems like a cool dude, gets along with people in the house, and genuinely means well despite calling his in-house girlfriend a "big-toed Flinstone" and dunking Snookie into the lake aganst her will, but some real damage occured when he confronted a guy on the Jersey Shore and punched him into the next county...that's a Dealbreaker.
7. Paula Abdul brought life to American Idol every season as she gave the contestants hope right before Simon ripped them to shreds, although she was criticized for cliche comments like "America Loves You!" or "it wasn't your best performance," and also cited for some legal trouble, she literally said "No deal" to FOX and what was a money-driven decision to leave the show......Literally a Dealbreaker.
8. Rimm having problems with their service, Apple coming out with new and better products, and its stock price hovering around $65 w/o an uptick from the post-March 2009 rallies.....Now saying Verizon, RIMM's biggest customer, doing business w/ AAPL.....That's a dealbreaker, folks, cut ties w/ the stock if you can.
9. So many other Big Brother follies, but Jessie epitomizes them on both BB10 and 11 back-to-back: Alienating other houseguests early in 10, sleeping way too much and not getting a good gauge of the house, being way too blunt in a game where people target you for comments made, winning HoH too early and not leveraging deals afterwards, but the biggest mistake (after having a whole year to learn after BB10) in BB11 was not throwing the Week 3 HoH competition to Jeff when Jeff couldn't put him up.....THAT was a dealbreaker.
10. Chuck Season 1 suprisingly good and winning "the couple you were most rooting for" with Chuck and Sarah, Chuck Season 2 seeing the return of Chuck's father as well as some good plot twists, now Chuck Season 3 back w/ some name stars (like Stone Cold Steve Austin) and Chuck w/ super-spy skills.....THAT's a dealbreaker, folks. Watch the 2-hour season premiere tonight.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
1. Marcellus played a good game on Big Brother 3 and formed some good alliances w/ Danielle, Jason, and Amy, but he inexplicably decided NOT to use the power of veto on himself and was promptly voted out of the game.....that's a dealbreaker, folks.
2. Ozzie was rolling on Survivor: Fans v. Favorites and had a dominant majority alliance after the merge with lots of individual immunity rolling his way ADDING to the hidden individual immunity idol he already had, but his lack of strategic gameplay (and at that point, a bit of cockiness) again bit him in the butt as he failed to anticipate eventual winner and onetime ally Parvati's blindside to get him out.......DEALBREAKER.
3. There were questions about John McCain's age, John McCain's ability to lead, John McCain's policies, but when he selected Alaskan governor Sarah Palin as his VP candidate, his judgment came into question and that was a.... DEALBREAKER.
4. Dick and Danielle were the final 2 of Big Brother 8, but not only was Dick saved by America in Week 2 and Week 5, the duo ALSO avoided eviction because the producers told Eric he couldn't use the Power of Veto in Week 7 to take Amber or Zach off the block and backdoor one of the Donatos.....DEALBREAKER on the legitimacy of Dick's win.
5. Flight Time and Big Easy were fun, energetic, entertaining, and easy to root for on their way to the Final Four of Amazing Race 15 even as they botched some easy challenges and avoided Philimination because someone was too scared to go down a water slide, but the real kicker was when Big Easy couldn't spell F-R-A-N-Z after getting spotted the F, instead opting to take a 4-hour penalty that effictively ended their race...that's a Dealbreaker.
6. Jersey Shore: Ronnie seems like a cool dude, gets along with people in the house, and genuinely means well despite calling his in-house girlfriend a "big-toed Flinstone" and dunking Snookie into the lake aganst her will, but some real damage occured when he confronted a guy on the Jersey Shore and punched him into the next county...that's a Dealbreaker.
7. Paula Abdul brought life to American Idol every season as she gave the contestants hope right before Simon ripped them to shreds, although she was criticized for cliche comments like "America Loves You!" or "it wasn't your best performance," and also cited for some legal trouble, she literally said "No deal" to FOX and what was a money-driven decision to leave the show......Literally a Dealbreaker.
8. Rimm having problems with their service, Apple coming out with new and better products, and its stock price hovering around $65 w/o an uptick from the post-March 2009 rallies.....Now saying Verizon, RIMM's biggest customer, doing business w/ AAPL.....That's a dealbreaker, folks, cut ties w/ the stock if you can.
9. So many other Big Brother follies, but Jessie epitomizes them on both BB10 and 11 back-to-back: Alienating other houseguests early in 10, sleeping way too much and not getting a good gauge of the house, being way too blunt in a game where people target you for comments made, winning HoH too early and not leveraging deals afterwards, but the biggest mistake (after having a whole year to learn after BB10) in BB11 was not throwing the Week 3 HoH competition to Jeff when Jeff couldn't put him up.....THAT was a dealbreaker.
10. Chuck Season 1 suprisingly good and winning "the couple you were most rooting for" with Chuck and Sarah, Chuck Season 2 seeing the return of Chuck's father as well as some good plot twists, now Chuck Season 3 back w/ some name stars (like Stone Cold Steve Austin) and Chuck w/ super-spy skills.....THAT's a dealbreaker, folks. Watch the 2-hour season premiere tonight.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Diversification
Diverse, Diversity, Diversification: Nowadays, you hear these terms being bandied about in the media, by your neighbor, by hiring committees, by your parents. And these terms are important. Diversification is crucial in picking stocks to protect your initial investment and avoid gigantic losses, diversity is important in college and in an organization to provide a broad range of perspectives, and a diverse diet helps you get all the nutrients to live healthily. (Btw, speaking of stocks, today was A VERY GOOD day for the Yan portfolio, we're talking like 5% gains today.
However, how to make your EVERYDAY lifestyle diverse? Well, you gotta do a lot of different activities and plan it out well. It's like my friend Michael Notton (brilliant guy at Illinois) once told me, you gotta freshen things up to keep from feeling like a rat running in a maze.
So let's play a different version of (Jim Cramer does this on Mad Money) ARE YOU DIVERSIFIED?
1. If your day consists of going to work, eating a healthy breakfast, and watching TV, you're NOT diversified. Where's the exercise?
2. If your day consists of going to school, working out, catching up on news, AND doing all your homework, you're NOT diversified. Where's the social element of talking to people?
Things you should consider doing to diversify your days:
1. Volunteer: don't mean to be one to preach philanthropy cuz I don't do it that often, but it definitely is a huge mix-up to stop doing stuff for yourself once in a while.
2. Listen to the radio: yea, you know that dial for AM radio? Turn it a few times and see what's on. There can be more than just Rihanna and Kanye blasting in your car.
3. Go OUTSIDE... a lot of people have office jobs and it's understandable, but going to the park and just seeing a dog run after a squirrel can be refreshing. Seriously, it's called new stimuli.
4. Read a new magazine... just checked out IN FOCUS...not bad.
However, how to make your EVERYDAY lifestyle diverse? Well, you gotta do a lot of different activities and plan it out well. It's like my friend Michael Notton (brilliant guy at Illinois) once told me, you gotta freshen things up to keep from feeling like a rat running in a maze.
So let's play a different version of (Jim Cramer does this on Mad Money) ARE YOU DIVERSIFIED?
1. If your day consists of going to work, eating a healthy breakfast, and watching TV, you're NOT diversified. Where's the exercise?
2. If your day consists of going to school, working out, catching up on news, AND doing all your homework, you're NOT diversified. Where's the social element of talking to people?
Things you should consider doing to diversify your days:
1. Volunteer: don't mean to be one to preach philanthropy cuz I don't do it that often, but it definitely is a huge mix-up to stop doing stuff for yourself once in a while.
2. Listen to the radio: yea, you know that dial for AM radio? Turn it a few times and see what's on. There can be more than just Rihanna and Kanye blasting in your car.
3. Go OUTSIDE... a lot of people have office jobs and it's understandable, but going to the park and just seeing a dog run after a squirrel can be refreshing. Seriously, it's called new stimuli.
4. Read a new magazine... just checked out IN FOCUS...not bad.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
2009 Midseason Hoops Awards (a.k.a. the Hoopies)
So the NBA regular season almost halfway done, and some Hoopie awards need to be handed out for some worthy performances, with the award names ripped straight out of the 2009 news headlines:
1. Tiger Woods Award (for biggest fall from grace):
Caron Bulter. There have been some other disappointments in the first 20 draft picks, but Butler's been the only one who's been healthy. Coming in, it looked like he could build on a solid resume of good STL's, pts, rebounds, and assists with great FT%, but the numbers are down across the board with the parasitic Gilbert Arenas hogging the ball all the time.
2. Balloon Boy Award (for being full of hot air):
Gilbert Arenas. Speak of the devil, Gilbert was all about talkin' big comin' into the season, about how the Wiz would make a playoff run and GA would lead his team back to the glory days, but what little I've seen of Gilbert has seen a 12 TO game, him missing crucial FT's down the stretch, and getting stripped by rookie Tyreke Evans in the final seconds in a loss to the Kings. Fitting that his 3rd-round draft status has only lived up to 8th-round value.
3. Ben Bernanke Award (Time's Fantasy Basketball Man of the Year): Still Gotta be LBJ. Like Bernanke's ability to save the economy with a single interest rate cut, the King can save your fantasy team from getting demolished with one single game of dominance, something to the tune of 48 pts, 9 rebs, 10 asts, 3 stl's, 2 3's, 1 blk. Man can do everything, and this season he's done it while shooting 50%. Wow.
4. The Joe Biden Award (for having the best position in the world): Many say the vice president is the best job because he gets none of the pressures of being president while still having "president" in his name. That distincition in fantasy belongs to Channing Frye, who averages 12.6 pts a game and 2.1 treys a game because he receives passes from no other than Steve Nash. 'Nuff said.
5. The Healthcare Bill Award (for the most hated AND most loved player): Like the healthcare bill stirring up raw emotion in different ways depending on which side of the aisle in which you sit, I have never seen such controversy about a fantasy player than what Dwight Howard does: You can LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his 2.5 Blks, 13.3 Rebs, and 60%+ FG, but he poisons you just as much with the 60% FT% and 3.3 TO's. What to do? Unlike the healthcare bill, though, most of us can afford to ignore Dwight altogether and "go a different direction."
6. The Sarah Palin Award (for Big Time News in 2008, still relevant in 2009): The meteoric rise of Kevin "Tarantula" Durant was well documented in fantasy circles as well as here, but Kevin's still putting up huge numbers this year, just much more expectedly so, and the next 10 years really bodes well for him, and really, for the Alaskan Sensation as well.
7. The Twilight/ New Moon Award (for catering to a younger audience): Barely out of his teens (turned 20 in September), Tyreke Evans has caught fire in the NBA in his first season. Like a blood-sucking vampire with superpowers, he's behaving like a cold-blooded beast who doesn't sleep and roams free during the night in Sacramento.
8. The Sonia Sotomayor Award (for the wisest Latino): Brook Lopez, whose father was from Cuba, has been one of the few bright spots on the Nets and defied the Guru's expectations of him (thought he would do bad). Especially like the Yao-like 83% FT percentage from a big man.
9. The Kanye West Award (for "Imma let you finish") I'm not sure where Z-Bo Zach Randolph's gonna end up, but he sure has been intriguing. Ranked #18 in Y!, his numbers don't seem all that impressive (probably why Kanye interrupted Taylor to draw attention to the more impressive Beyonce), but Memphis is doing wonders for Randolph as his FG% is at an all-time high. Will this continue? I say no, Z-Bo's got a lot of brick-laying left in him, but that's why Imma let him finish.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
1. Tiger Woods Award (for biggest fall from grace):
Caron Bulter. There have been some other disappointments in the first 20 draft picks, but Butler's been the only one who's been healthy. Coming in, it looked like he could build on a solid resume of good STL's, pts, rebounds, and assists with great FT%, but the numbers are down across the board with the parasitic Gilbert Arenas hogging the ball all the time.
2. Balloon Boy Award (for being full of hot air):
Gilbert Arenas. Speak of the devil, Gilbert was all about talkin' big comin' into the season, about how the Wiz would make a playoff run and GA would lead his team back to the glory days, but what little I've seen of Gilbert has seen a 12 TO game, him missing crucial FT's down the stretch, and getting stripped by rookie Tyreke Evans in the final seconds in a loss to the Kings. Fitting that his 3rd-round draft status has only lived up to 8th-round value.
3. Ben Bernanke Award (Time's Fantasy Basketball Man of the Year): Still Gotta be LBJ. Like Bernanke's ability to save the economy with a single interest rate cut, the King can save your fantasy team from getting demolished with one single game of dominance, something to the tune of 48 pts, 9 rebs, 10 asts, 3 stl's, 2 3's, 1 blk. Man can do everything, and this season he's done it while shooting 50%. Wow.
4. The Joe Biden Award (for having the best position in the world): Many say the vice president is the best job because he gets none of the pressures of being president while still having "president" in his name. That distincition in fantasy belongs to Channing Frye, who averages 12.6 pts a game and 2.1 treys a game because he receives passes from no other than Steve Nash. 'Nuff said.
5. The Healthcare Bill Award (for the most hated AND most loved player): Like the healthcare bill stirring up raw emotion in different ways depending on which side of the aisle in which you sit, I have never seen such controversy about a fantasy player than what Dwight Howard does: You can LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his 2.5 Blks, 13.3 Rebs, and 60%+ FG, but he poisons you just as much with the 60% FT% and 3.3 TO's. What to do? Unlike the healthcare bill, though, most of us can afford to ignore Dwight altogether and "go a different direction."
6. The Sarah Palin Award (for Big Time News in 2008, still relevant in 2009): The meteoric rise of Kevin "Tarantula" Durant was well documented in fantasy circles as well as here, but Kevin's still putting up huge numbers this year, just much more expectedly so, and the next 10 years really bodes well for him, and really, for the Alaskan Sensation as well.
7. The Twilight/ New Moon Award (for catering to a younger audience): Barely out of his teens (turned 20 in September), Tyreke Evans has caught fire in the NBA in his first season. Like a blood-sucking vampire with superpowers, he's behaving like a cold-blooded beast who doesn't sleep and roams free during the night in Sacramento.
8. The Sonia Sotomayor Award (for the wisest Latino): Brook Lopez, whose father was from Cuba, has been one of the few bright spots on the Nets and defied the Guru's expectations of him (thought he would do bad). Especially like the Yao-like 83% FT percentage from a big man.
9. The Kanye West Award (for "Imma let you finish") I'm not sure where Z-Bo Zach Randolph's gonna end up, but he sure has been intriguing. Ranked #18 in Y!, his numbers don't seem all that impressive (probably why Kanye interrupted Taylor to draw attention to the more impressive Beyonce), but Memphis is doing wonders for Randolph as his FG% is at an all-time high. Will this continue? I say no, Z-Bo's got a lot of brick-laying left in him, but that's why Imma let him finish.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
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