The Last 10 Years--- Best Things

Sneaking in a post under the gun to at least tie my 2010 rate of posts, I offer this little number at almost literally the last minute:

Here's to an excellent 2012 for everyone! (I'll be at the Rose Parade on Jan. 2nd!!! Yay!)

Collection of random milestones I appreciate from the last 10 years:

2001: visited China for the first time since leaving; "graduated" junior high and started high school...
2002: Started long string of chess victories; joined tennis
2003: discovered reality TV: Amazing Race, Survivor +....first fantasy football season ever
2004: JSA Summer at Stanford. Best finish in chess ever. SAT. Applied to Colleges
2005: Poker craze; last semester of high school awesome; Prom + WWE
2006: first summer as summer camp counselor; discovered beauty of college + trip to Germany and Poland
2007: First alternative spring break ever; Friday Night Lights + Heroes; wins class stock market game
2008: First fandom-inspired viewing of Spelling Bee; moved permanently to LA for law school
2009: First legal job(s); Laser Eye surgery; first 10K run;
2010: Chinese document review; serious working out; Chinese language intense review
2011: Graduated law school, passed the bar; first legal job; starting my career!!!!
2012: THE BEST IS YET TO COME.....KEEP WATCHING.

*********

You know when you're really dreading doing something and are fearful of it, like going to the dentist? (Yea, those turn out to be as excruciating as I expected).....but here are the biggest surprises in my life that inspire me to keep trying new things in 2012 (and why you should, too)

10.) Keeping in contact with friends.... underrated skill you gotta keep udpdated with.
9.) Living at home even in my early-20's: lots of percs, but can't do it forever.
8.) Investing in the stock market...It developed my financial sense.
7.) (Re-) hitting the books for Mandarin Chinese.......it's a really important skill.
6.) Meyer Law Organization: So far, surprisingly having a great time at my work.
5.) Living in L.A.: this place is really awesome.
4.) Working out/staying fit: haven't been sick in 4 years, probably because of my active lifestyle.
3.) Alternative Spring Break: Thought it was a nice way to spend a week, it's so much more. I wish I would have done two times, three times more of these great trips.
2.) Fantasy sports!!!! Never thought this game/sport/obsession would captivate my life as much as it had when I tried it by suggestion of a distant friend in 2002, about 10 years ago. I LOVE this game!!!!
1.) This blog!!! Never thought in 2007 I'd still be posting, and posting more prolifically, almost 5 years to the day. I think when I get old this will be one of my most prized possession. Thanks, past self, for starting this!!!!

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

How I Know there's a Higher Power

Here were my goals for 2011, the Year of the Rabbit:

1. Maintain a healthy interpersonal relationship with a certain someone;
2. win a fantasy trophy (get some hardware somewhere, almost don't care what type of sport it is)
3. graduate law school
4. pass the bar
5. obtain a full-time job (a job, any job!!!!!) sometime by the end of this calendar year
6. continue in my healthy, disciplined way
7. make some sort of signficiant breakthrough in my life.........something, anything!!

Did I achieve them?
1. Kinda...I didn't do it was that "certain someone" I had in mind, but continued to develop good relationships with other people
2. YES....won my main fantasy football league this year (the one I keep bragging about) and am getting a perpetual engraved trophy. Love the idea.
3. Check.
4. Check.
5. CHECK!!!!! That was big. Got it in September, continuing to work, didn't know how I felt about it at first, but now really relating to everyone and loving it. Can't express how gratefulI I am for having that job.
6. Yes, still healthy, although losing 5 pounds and getting back to 160/165 would be nice.
7. Kinda...made a BIG disciplined move to learn Chinese and converse well....think I've made major strides there.

So all in all, a good year! What's in store for 2012? I'll have a comprehensive 2011 sendoff in my next post as well as a 2012 preview. Call THAT a cliffhanger.


The title of my post: How do I know there's a higher power? There are little clues everywhere I go. Impossible coincidences happen all the time that remind me that there's something going on here; it all fits together too well. Funny thing is, when I encounter these "little coincidences" I always do a double-take and am no-doubt convinced that it's definitely a higher power at work, but I never document it or anything, and the thing is so minor that I forget after a few good nights' sleep (with vivid dreams....o I LOVE vivid dreams). However, for example, today I'm just clicking through facebook and pull up an acquaintance's page (we be-friended each other but to be honest we met once and it was one of those fringe-facebook-befriendings), and all of a sudden I see that THAT friend is friend of someone whom I met at CVS who I'd wanted to know about for the longest time (I know, it's a little creepy, but unbelievably serendipitous at the same time). I know the magic and mystique of Facebook and all that and how they can "connect" you with everyone, but there's NO WAY Facebook knew about this vague connection because it was purely in my head. I wasn't even actively trying to find a person, I was just "Facebook-surfing," if you call it then.

Other small signs that I kinda remember: Thinking of an obscure word/town/name while driving in my car and suddenly the word will pop up on a street sign, an object appearing out of nowhere even though it was supposed to be somewhere else. I don't know, it seems like the blubbering ramblings of a mad man, but there it is, it's what I believe. I was born agnostic with my parents not really having any TIME for religion; always working and whatnot. What little religious background I have involves Chinese cultural legends about Buddha and Buddhism, hardly grounds for claiming I am a "believer" in any religion. I am probably the least educated adult out there about religion. I've never realy needed it, experienced it, or gave it a chance, it's always been one of those spheres that have been closed off from me, or I've closed it off myself.

I'm pretty sure the next "big change" in my life is supposed to be some sort of finding of religious experience....I've won my Fantasy football leagues, no need to be at home on Sunday mornings watching football anymore. And Jan. 1, 2012 happens to be a Sunday. I believe I will

(And obviously this is not an endorsement of any religion or a solicitation for readers, I don't even know which religion I'm going to "experiment with," but I do know I'm very curious about what there is to offer, and at this point I get very little value from watching bad movies and reading endless books that I forget about in a few days anyway.) So I'm ready to delve into this facet of my life. 2009: it was delving into my field of law; 2010 it was reconnecting with my family; 2011 it was engaging in a career and reconnecting with my Chinese roots; 2012 might be about religion (and getting on the Amazing Race/Survivor).

Top News Stories of 2012

1.) Child Molestation continues into early 2012 as the furor from the late-2011 sex molestation scandals of Jerry Sandusky and Keith Fine continues. Unfortunately, college football and basketball are not the only arenas as more allegations and accusers come out, instilling such outrage in the general public that it finally is addressed through Child Abuse Report laws, etc.



2.) Champions in the 3 major sports: Green Bay Packers repeat as defending NFL Champions ( I know, the boring but a very easy, safe pick and it’s almost 50-50 them vs. the field at this point)
I’ll say go with the Chicago Bulls as the surprise NBA Champion (over the Thunder), and the Los Angeles Angels as the 2012 World Series Champions (The latter 2: one can dream, I guess)

3.) Barack Obama is re-elected as U.S. President. This’ll probably happen unless the U.S. stock market tanks again, which is not out of the realm of possibility but I’m not betting on it. I’m guessing the market “magically” gains momentum throughout the summer, saving El Presidente’s job.

4.) Natural Disaster hits the West Coast. I really hope not, but if one area of the world is ripe for being ravaged by fires, mudslides, and other natural disasters, it’s California. And I don’t even want to mention that dreaded word, but “Earthquake” is always a possibility.

5.) Another public trial of a big political figure/celebrity puts the Casey Anthony/Lindsay Lohan/Conrad Murray to shame. I’ll take a very wild stab and say…. Tiger Woods. Sorry, bro.

6.) New revolutionary invention changes the way we do…..work. First it was Youtube, then it was Facebook, then it was smartphones….2011 promises to be another innovative year with something that will change the way we WORK forever….just not sure what it is yet. Work is the new frontier for new innovation, I believe.

7.) Something definitive happens in the China-Taiwan relations in reaction to the 2012 Taiwan elections…Either a peaceful deal is hammered out, or the countries explode into irreversible conflict. More likely the first will occur, especially with President Ma likely to be re-elected… let’s hope so.

8.) Stock Market rockets back up above 13,000……Maybe it’s cuz it’s Christmas, maybe cuz my personal life has taken a upwards turn in the last few months, but the economic forecast seems rosier…..job reports are better, people are spending….This may be my desperate “Man I hope we don’t have another recession and can recover by 2018,” but 2012 may finally be “the year” we were waiting for since 2008.

9.) Justin Bieber out, new boy wonder is in……In this new age of one-hit wonders and the “Next Big Thing,” a year is a long time, and we’ll look back on Justin Bieber as his greatest year as he goes the way of Hilary Duff, Miley Cyrus, etc., etc. and a new babyfac e is introduced into our collective conscious.

10.) The World Does NOT End in 2012 at the end of the Mayan Calendar. Way too many people concerned about that. If the world’s gonna end, enjoy it while you can. If the world’s not gonna end, enjoy it while you can. Do what you normally do. DO NOT stress about it. The more you worry about it, the more you’re letting it affect you.
11.) Something silly (like Angry Birds in 2011 and Silly Bandz in 2010) becomes really big inexplicably. My guess is....fantasy baseball. Call me crazy. Maybe I hav something to do with it? Let's do it!!!!
12.) We find out something we've been doing for a long time is bad for you and causes cancer.......like brushing your teeth or something.
13.) The South becomes the new "place to live" in America.
14.) USC vaults over UCLA in all undergraduate and graduate school rankings. AND becomes the
15.) A law student wins a successful lawsuit against a law school. Not an indictment of law school, just the nature of the economic climate we're in: law students graduating law school with tens of thousands in debt, in need of someone to blame. It's a sad state of affairs for unemployed lawyers everywhere.

Rivalries

Like to take this time to address the importance of rivals.

We all hav erivals: rival co-workers going for that promotion, rival sports teams playing each other all the time, rival neighbors battling for the best Christmas light decorations, rival students going for the best grade in the class..etc., etc. Usually rivalries have a negative connotion, met with a little bit of negativity or uneasiness. "O man, he's your rival, huh? Well.....good luck."

I disagree. Rivals tend to instill fierce competition and with that, motivation to push yourself. Rivals not only make themselves better to battle you, they make YOU better. And it doesn't really matter if it's a healthy rivalry or a "Man, I hate that guy's guts" rivalry: the result is beneficial for both parties involved; a mutually symbiotic relationship at its best. (Granted, of course, that no one kills themselves working too hard or makes it a personal feud about other things). I maintain that a hard-fought dogfight to see who offers the most solely based on the merits is great for you and your rival.

What brings this on? This week I am in my fantasy football championship game facing my own rival ( who happens to read this blog and who used his knowledge that I loved Tony Romo before the season against me). I have known this particular manager for 3 years, since law school started. I will never forget knocking on his door 1L year of law school to invite him to join the USC Law Fantasy Football league, not knowing that this guy probably loved fantasy football more than me and was just as gun-ho and cutthroat as I was about fantasy sports. Every season since, we have played in every fantasy football and fantasy baseball season without fail; any memorable matchups have resulted. I ended his football season our first year; he beat me in a tight fantasy baseball playoff matchup en route to his one and only title. The times we match up do not go silently; we talk a lot of smack before, during, and after matchups. It is relentless. Losing is unacceptable; winning feels like winning 2 games. Because I can't stand losing to my rival, I'm constantly willing myself to get better, to put in the research, to get that extra edge on him. And I'm sure my rival does the same. Outside of fantasy football, we are on great terms; colleagues, fellow law students, watch football together on the weekends, talk freely about life. The epitome of a healthy rivalry; I'm hoping it'll continue for a long, long, time. (and that I can carve another "W" into my column this week).

Healthy rivalries in sports:
Ravens- Steelers in the AFC North. These 2 perennial powerhouses battle it out every year, and both usually make the playoffs, sometimes even meeting in the playoffs.
Kobe-Lebron in the NBA. These 2 openly do not like each other. It's the young Anointed One with the Superstar that's running out of time.
Yankees- Red Sox: These 2 probably don't have a healthy rivalry and are bitter enemies, but their records and championship counts are better for it.
Federer/Nadal/Njokovic: All 3 have pushed each other way past the rest of men's tennis.
NFL/NBA/MLB: challenging each other as to which leagues can get calls through instant replay. So far, as usual, NFL winning.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

A Night to Remember.....or Forget? What are we talking about again?

Makes you wonder: Are "memorable" nights advertised by beer companies/ vodka distributers/nightclub owners really worth it? Here's one "memorable" night that I just endured:


Yesterday was a big orchestra day: 3 concerts in one day, including 2 at the California African American Museum near USC for the kids, and then the annual holiday concert for the LA Lawyers Philharmonic. Joining the LA Lawyers Philharmonic is quickly becoming one of the best decisions of my life; it, along with some other events, made 2011 quite memorable and not totally tarnished by unemployment/ taking the bar exam, etc. It justifies all those years I spent practicing violin and going to violin lessons, etc. because that's all been translated into being able to play freely and enjoy myself in an orchestra that I fit in with and like playing in : lots of different pieces, cool pieces, not too challenging that I have to practice a ton for....

Anyway, had a great concert, then afterwards hit up some law friends in Santa Monica.....now, these friends have a solid reputation for "going out" and "getting around town," so I knew what I was getting into. Start out with some Beirut drinking games, then go to a club in West L.A. 'Twas probably a bad sign that one the way to the club, I was already so inebriated that I had no idea where we were: what the name of the club was, what street we were on, I just got out of the cab and went in. Probably not a good idea. ALSO probably not a good idea to carry around a phone that you know doesn't have power and really has no usefulness. Yea.

The club went well; I remember most things that happened (I don't "black out," as they say) including a pretty intense fight that happened right in front of me...girl threw drink at guy, guy got upset, girl's boyfriend jumped in, things get heated fists were punching, except my reaction, which normally would be to try to separate the combatants or try to inhibit the fight from worsening, was due to my inebriated state, to ENCOURAGE the fight to continue by screaming "yea!" and waving my hands in the air as well as doing some shadow-boxing on the side to non-verbally voice my approval. That's the bar/nightclub process in a nutshell: everything about it encourages you to want some violence, some sort of release, something different from the norm; inhibitions are totally set aside, you act without any regard for consequences and let the brutal inner nature of human beings come out. That's one part of a "memorable" night I certainly don't approve of: physical violence with other human beings and the risk of lawsuit/imprisonment/physical dehabilitation is much too steep a price to pay for a "memorable" night...there are other ways for memories, especially good ones, to be created.

Right after the fight broke out, I went to get some air and suddenly felt VERY VERY dizzy and disoriented... sat down to rest and next thing you know I was passed out outside the bar, without my friends' knowledge and without their ability to contact me via cell phone. The next few hours consisted of me trying to get comfortable on a concrete step by the bar while trying not to puke, getting heckled by fellow clubgoers coming out of the club looking for a cab, shivering in the cold 3AM West Los Angeles weather, falling asleep for brief stretches, and then finally, after sufficiently recovering from the drunken dizziness, wandering about the area mindlessly looking for a cab, finally hitting a McDonald's that was open at 5AM in the morning, buying a Sausage McMuffin and a Powerade, then finding a cab to get home. Very derelict use of the evening and pretty dangerous if I had been in other parts of LA (I'm probably really fortunate I did not have my wallet stolen/robbed at knifepoint or gunpoint, but a memory I will have for the rest of my life, how I spent the night of Dec. 17/morning of Dec. 18th. Was it worth it? Certainly I didn't cause violence or do damage to anybody, other than myself whose side is a little bruised from sleeping on the concrete for awhile, and my friends might have been a little worried about me going off on my own. The main tradeoff is the dizziness/drunkenness that occurred. During that time, it's a very helpless feeling; you can't help but become inebriated, you want to do things but you can't, you are at the mercy of the alcohol coursing through your body and when it wants to stop the relentless attack it afflicts on your body/head. It was a VERY tough 3 hours, those 3 hours I spent on that sidewalk not being able to move for fear of dizziness/throwing up, as well as being insanely cold to the point of wondering if I would get hypothermia or not. Not a life-and-death situation, but one where I put myself in harm's way. But certainly it was different, and that's what beer companies/vodka distributors want you to do: something risky, something way out of the ordinary scope of your life (like try to punch someone and inflict damage or let loose of your inhibitions without fear of consequnces). Given what I had to deal with, though, I'll pass. My greatest memories are when I'm sober, like orchestra concerts or chess/fantasy football victories. I'm just a nerd, I s'ppose. (Avon Barksdale converted quote).

Fantasize on,

Signs It's Your Fantasy Football playoff week

1.) In the course of normal conversation with co-workers, you make bad puns about marginal fantasy players. “I think I heard that Lance had dropped the Ball….get it, get it?”

2.) You call your second cousins, who live in Philadelphia, how the weather MIGHT be on Sunday in order to get a feel of whether you should bench your starting kicker.

3.) Instead of weighing the merits of bringing a motion in a pending case, you instead weigh the merits of starting Damian Williams over Nate Washington.

4.) You listen to Colin Cowherd in order to see if he has one of your fantasy players on his show to make sure your player is not “distracted” going into the weekend.

5.) You ponder the merits of your team name and whether it sounds “strong” and “forceful” enough.

6.) You ponder the merits of posting smack talk to your opponent and weighing the “morale impact” it will have on your team and the “bulletin board” impact it will have on the other team.

7.) You pay $39.50 for NFL Rewind in order to check out the “crispness” of your backup QB’s throws from the last few games.

8.) You find yourself rooting against your favorite childhood team “just for the next couple weeks” in favor of your own fantasy football team.

9.) You cry yourself to sleep wondering “what could have been” if you would just have just spent the $2 on draft night to draft Rob Gronkowski.

10.) You consistently hit “Refresh” on your smartphone on rotoworld.com to see if there are any updates on one of your injured players (also a sure sign of an internet addiction)

11.) You strongly consider calling up your playoff opponent the night before GameDay at 3AM in order to propel him into making “bad last-second lineup decisions” on Sunday morning.

12.) You check your fantasy football team at work. (Not that I do).

13.) You walk around muttering "BEAST MODE" (for Marshawn Lynch) or "Megatron!" (Calvin Johnson) under your breath.

14.) You intentionally walk towards garbage cans and then "shimmy" past them at the last second in your best "(Insert-your-fantasy-RB)" impression.

15.) Reality is lost; the only thing you live, see, and breathe is fantasy football.

OK, it's not that bad.......but it IS Fantasy Football playoff week, and I'm feeling the fever. Get it started off right tonight, MJD!!!!

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

Tim Tebow

For those who don't follow sports and don't know who Tim Tebow is, you better pay attention. This is a man (Is he really a man or some sort of Messiah?) who has the chance to transcend sports, to inspire the world, to change the way everyone believes.

I'd consider myself a skeptic on most things. I have philosophies like "Don't believe everything you hear" and "Sell high, buy low," "get out while you're ahead," "I'm not inspired by 3 circles drawn on a piece of paper that someone else calls art." In fantasy sports, especially, I'm the guy who goes by value, isn't loyal to any one player, thinks that you should trade guys while their "stock" is high, etc. I'm that way because usually I'm right: a lot of times things get hyped and people think they're bigger than they are; players like Chris Shelton, Colby Rasmus, Paul Konerko, etc., etc., etc. get hot at the beginning of the season and don't sustain their success through the season.

But even me, the skeptic that I am, believe in Tim Tebow. It's not just the way he plays football, although his single-handed turnaround of the Broncos' season from 1-4 to 8-5 is amazing (with a 6-game winning streak), he has awesome speed for a QB, and has brushed aside questions of his arm accuracy by winning, winning and more winning.

It's not the way he leads his teammates, although it's pretty impressive: everything from winning a Heisman trophy, from his "We will win all our games the rest of this season" after a loss at Florida, the way his teammates rally around him now in Denver, the way he applauds everyone else's effort and credits his teammates for "keep fighting, keep going and never surrendering."

It's not necessarily the religious icon he is: a devout Christian, he points to the sky after every score/accomplishment in the season,


Tim Tebow is the epitome of a great human being. From all accounts, he takes time out ot meet everyone, is nice to everyone, says how honored HE is to meet people who ask for his autograph. Lot of talk about how there's "not a fake bone in his body." That's vastly different from what we usually get from celebrities. We always hear about drug addictions, ugly divorces, luxurious houses, and all matter of ugliness from celebrities away from the camera/field/stage, and we're often disappointed: these are not heroes, not people we should look up to when we live our lives. I think, as a nation and a human society, we need people like Tim Tebow, someone who is in the limelight but doesn't let it change him, who has been humble throughout his life and continues to be despite his celebrity, someone we can tell our kids/family members/people we love, "I want to have the same attitude as Tim Tebow," not necessarily "I want to be a great football player like Tim Tebow," or "I want to be a great leader like Tim Tebow," or "I want to be as religious as Tim Tebow." Instead, I want to be "as good of a human being as Tim Tebow, and that's why I root for him on Sundays: for him to succeed and gain more attention to the world, to deliver "his message" to be good and humble and ethical in how you treat others. And that's why, when Tim Tebow beat my hometown Bears this afternoon in miraculous fashion (again, again in OT), I was okay with it, because I know it's just adding onto the legacy of Tim Tebow, and that legacy is very healthy for our world.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

Red Zone Channel

Introducing the greatest invention known to Fantasy Footballers....the Red Zone channel. Making this one of the better days I've had all year.

1. Wake up, don't have to go to work.
2. Great breakfast
3. Check rotoworld.com ( another great invention for fantasy footballers)
4. Drive through Malibu Canyon (one of the greatest drives in the world, IMO.....you got the Pacific Ocean, PCH Highway, million-dollar homes along the PCH, the breeze, Christmas lights, etc., etc.... really starting to like L.A.)
5. Watch the Red Zone channel, which boots up at 10:00AM in the morning on the West Coast. Great stuff.
6. And they don't always have to be in the red zone!!!!! amazing!!!!
7. Great noon matchups this week team with some great teams (usually you get mostly below-.500 teams, rebuilding teams, teams out of wild-card conetention, etc.) but with Seattle v. St. Louis being the Monday night matchup, we have the Division-leading Texans, the Division-leading Patroits, the Division-leading Saints, the up-and-coming Bengals....
8. Constant updates as to what other games are doing........don't miss a big play, ever.


Some highlights of "Watching the game" with fantasy football freinds:

Red Zone channel, otherwise known as, "Just get to the good stuff."

Andrew Siciliano, VERRY underrated talent in the sports broadcasting industry.

I'm sitting on the bye, watching other guys in my league sweating it out..one Jets fan doing a nice "Hulk Hogan" imitation every time one of his players scores points. And they've scored A LOT of points.......Mark Sanchez with 3 TD's, Percy Harvin, Ray Rice, etc., etc....one of the few joys in life

Guy in my league proclaims, "It is over." at 12:48PM Sunday afternoon in a key playoff matchup.


Guy in the league who has Gronkowski, other guy sitting across from him who has Welker, simultaneously begging Tom to throw it to one of their guys....both guys have been satisfied as on this day, Tom routinely dissects the Redskins D. When Tom throws over the middle to Welker, the Welker owner leaps up, starts doing "holster the gun" motions in between shouts of "yea!!!" It's great. Gotta learn some awesome Fantasy football-TD celebrations.

Dan Orlovsky is really bad.

The best thing about Rex Grossman, you know what to expect: he does well against the bad defenses (New England today) and HORRIBLE against the good defenses.

The "Watch who you're with" warning: I mutter under my breath, "wonder who picked up Keiland Williams" and go to my computer. Guy in my league who's watching football with me picks up Williams that very second as I log on. Well played, sir. Well played. Note to self: Never do that again.

Burgers on the grill, the epitome of watching football on Sundays.


Lot of great games and great finishes today, Andrew Siciliano DOING WORK flipping through the channels. Very distinct voice.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

Fantasy Basketball Headhunter Letter, Year 3

Dear Fantasy Basketball Manager,

After a prolonged hiatus in the fantasy basketball season, we are pleased to welcome in the new fantasy basketball season as well as provide you the third annual Fantasy SportsGuru Headhunter Letter. Our first year, we did you wrong, but last year our results were much improved as we brought you the great wisdom to draft Kevin Love, who is now a top-5 fantasy player, predicted the quick adjustment of Mr. John Wall to the NBA, and steered you away from the declining Tim Duncan and the difficult progress of Danny Granger.



Once again in 2011, We here at FantasySportGuru Headhunter, Inc. have thoroughly researched the diverse applicant pool that was made avilable to us and and come to conclusions on several remarkable candidates. Russell Westbrook is young and enterprising candidate now in his 4th year with the same organization; in each year of his career he has improved his performance and added to his totals, and this year should be no exception, especially with his new acquired skill set of the 3-point shot. Somewhat displeased with his placement in his current position and geographical location in the Bible Belt, Mr. Westbrook can be bought on to your team and become a highly motivated and durable leader (he's not missed a single day fo work in his career).

Another strong but less-regarded candidate is one Jrue Holiday, an even younger performer than Russell Westbrook but also with a UCLA pedigree, Mr. Holiday is entering the prime of his work life (thrid year player) who is well-liked by his coaches, former players, and has earned the trust of his organization. Don't miss out on this opportunity t capture Mr. Holiday's services before he spreads his wings and becomes an unattainably valuable resource.

Call it our new organizational philosophy, but we truly like young, up-and-coming talent here at FantasySportGuru Headhunter, so we would be remiss not to mention another great candidate for success, Mr. Wesley Mathews. Mr. Wesley Mathews has thrived despite intense comeptition in his current field, but with his colleagues Brandon Roy going into early retirement, we believe Mr. Mathews will grab the reins of opportunity and carry your team to the Promised Land.


As always, we must caution you against some fraudulent candidates that carry multiple red flags. Deron Williams is believed by many to be a great asset, but his outer appearance belies unfortunate numbers that will detract from your organization. Take more than a casual look at his statistics and you will find that you can do better for less than what Mr. Williams's services are going him; let another organization deal with his less-than-stellar production.

Although Mr. Kobe Bryant's name rings out throughout the world of true basketball, in Fantasy Basketball Land he is an aging superstar wth a new coach, nagging injuries, and most likely a diminished offensive role now that Howard or Paul are coming to help him out. With the abundance of young, fresh talent on the market, it would be risky, even foolish to retain the name-brand but low-quality Mr. Bryant. Similar to Mr. Tim Duncan last year, we feel that unfortunately Mr. Bryant's best years, especially in Fantasy Land, are behind him.

Also, do not draft the annual comeback-player-of-the-year tease, Mr. Elton Brand. The next time he actually meets expectatios will be his first since 2000; he has been a very mediocre fantasy player for a decade, and now over the age of 30, Mr. Brand will not be learning new skills and the decline will come. Despite his professional attitude, strong educational pedigree (Duke), and survivable numbers, Mr. Brand is prone to injury and will drag down your organization. Please do not invest in the services of this man.

We know that you will have many questions and doubts throughout the season about your employees, invovling many trials and tribulations, and you will develop personal relationships with the employees that you do eventually hire. We recommend that you hire mostly with cold hard facts and our numbers, (partly because if you don't in real life there's bound to be employment litigation in your future), but also so that you can have fun with your employees; you will enjoy yourself if you do not enjoy the people around you. And that's really what it's all about.

Fantasize on,

Fantasysportguru Headhunter, Inc.,
Chairman, President, and Omincient Ruler,

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

1.) I gotta tell you, few things excite me more than fantasy football or Halloween, but putting up the Christmas decorations today was one of them. Not just the outdoor lights, those are cool, but setting up the Christmas tree; that's awesome. We're one of those cheap families that has one fake Christmas tree in a box that recycles it every year; been using the same one for like 14 years, but it never fails (sorry live Christmas tree business). But putting up Christmas lights, that's a symbol of prosperity, that everything's okay, everything's happy, that for one more year we get to celebrate Christmas in our awesome house with our family. And that's one of the things everyone wishes for, not everybody gets. Gotta cherish it.

2.) First weekend of December might as well be called "Christmas Lights Set-up Weekend." Literally EVERY time I went outside this weekend, someone was putting up Christmas lights. That's a beautiful feeling, being in a neighborhood that celebrates Christmas and gets out. I've really been blessed to live in great neighborhoods ever since I moved out of the inner city of Chicago when I was 7; ever since then I've always lived in good communities; this last one pretty much takes the cake: every year, a block down there's a Haunted House that attracts legitimately like a thousand people on Halloween night. Crazy. And like 75% of houses in our neighborhood have some sort of holiday lights up. It's beginning to look a lot....like Christmas.


3.) For Christmas this year, I want one thing: to be called by Amazing Race. (Just sent in an audition tape, hope you liked it, casting team). If you don't want me on Amazing Race, put me on Amazing Race: China Rush. That's actually a cool show by the same producers, except in China, with mostly Chinese cast members, and a (much) lower grand prize of $400,000 RMB. Still, it's the Amazing Race.

4.) Christmas day will also be the day my fantasy league championship will be decided. Thanks to the early-season heroics of Calvin Johnson and the recent heroics of Victor Cruz, I've clinched the regular season title in my league and a first round bye. Scratch that, All I want for Christmas is to be called by Amazing Race AND a fantasy championship.

5.) Having guests over for Christmas this year; that's always welcome because you feel like you're reconnecting with someone, and it's really a Christmas tradition to invite guests, be merry.

6.) The NBA season starts on Christmas this year: Great timing wth the fantasy playoffs ending that day as well. Very thankful they ended the lockout, but mostly thankful for Fantasy Football: The most sophisticated fantasy game. Seriously. It's a tough game with a lot of risk/reward and statistical balances. It gets very mathematical.

7.) Christmas will also be around the time I make a momentous decision about my career and where it's going. Scratch that, I wish for Christmas that I choose the correct path for my career.

8.) I LOOOOOOOOOVVVVE Christmas carols. Guy at work also loves them; plays them so that the whole office can hear. I do not mind.

9.) See some snow for Christmas, maybe? Skiing? Something? Big Bear/Mammoth = great places in California. O, and the Grand Canyon gets snow too, so if you wanna see somethign cool....

10.) Wow I thought 12 things for Christmas would be easy. Preliminary gift ideas for my immediate family: 1.) Grandpa = mahjong set. 2.) sister = pitch in with my parents for an Ipad/Kindle Fire/something gadgety. 3.) Mom = Chinese DVD's, she loves that stuff. 4.) Dad = new tennis racket.

11.) I am not Catholic or Christian. I have gone to church before but do not profess faith in any established religion. I have my own religious beliefs. Privately, I've seen enough in my life, enough signs and little coincidences that indicate to me there's a higher power, or an order to this world that I cannot identify yet; so I definitely do not reject religion; I just don't necessarily believe that one religion is correct, although during the last few weeks have been really considering learning more about these religions, etc (and I'm not just saying that because of Tim Tebow). Anyway, I think Christmas is a holiday almost anybody can celebrate and get into the mood for; you don't have to be strictly about that religion; it's more of a cheerful/fun holiday than a religious holiday, in my opinion.

12.) I've always wanted to be a shopping mall Santa Clause. Maybe just for a day. You're basically a rock star for the kids and get to dress up in a funny costume and have a story for the rest of your life. Gotta be pretty cool.


Merry Christmas (in 3 weeks),

Robert Yan

Reliving Seinfeld

Watching the Season 3 DVD of Seinfeld, with such timeless classic episodes as "the Parking Garage," "The Pen," "The Boyfriend" (aka the Keith Hernandez episode), "the Parking Spot," etc., etc., and I wonder.....are the lives of Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer ideal? Would I want to be a successful single comedian living in the Lower East End of New York and living life with some of my best friends, and with hilarious stories, thrilling adventures, and various companions/dates/relationships?

I think not. I love Seinfeld, George, Kramer, and their interactions with each other: they kid around, have inside jokes, go everywhere together, and step up for each other if someone's in trouble; it's exactly the kind of interaction I try to have with my friends, and aspire to......NOW. But I DON'T necessarily want to be like that when I'm 35, or 40, or whatever age the characters in Seinfeld are. Seinfeld is awesome but it purposely doesn't include an element of living: kids + family. They don't have wives, they don't have kids, they don't do "family things." In contrast to the family-based comedy of "Everybody Loves Raymond," "The Cosby Show," or "Home Improvement," Seinfeld + friends don't have families. Dare I say it, I feel a little sorry for them that they have to rely on their friends to combat loneliness and act as surrogates for their lack of real families. I'm fine with it for a year, a few years, maybe until I'm 30, but I'm a guy who eventually wants a family, eventually a big family, eventually kids to play with, raise, and share my life with. It's not an Asian thing, a Midwest thing, it's a me thing and what I value the most.


Let's analyze also, if I may, the "it's a show about nothing" aspect of Seinfeld. Is life, like the show, pretty much about nothing? Do we just live our lives for the stories, for the awkward events, for the series of accumulated moments that happen while we're doing other things? Is it, as said so eloquently by the irreverent Lester Freamon on "The Wire," "the sh*t that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come?" It might be. What's our purpose for going to our jobs, earning money, traveling, going to school, and every other aspirational activity that we undergo? It's all to achieve some abstract "perfect-world" where we're at our dream jobs, living beautifully with nothing to worry about? That almost never happens!! Even people who we think have that "perfect-world" continue to strive for more; very few people are satisfied. So that's why I say we gotta enjoy our lives sometimes, celebrate the occasions......because once life gets going, it's hard to stop it. Go out and run in a new place, go look at Christmas lights, watch old Seinfeld re-runs, play some fantasy football ( I got some GREAT advice). Whatever it is, try to enjoy it, because the moment that you're looking for might actually never come.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan

Enjoying Milestones

Oftentimes we accomplish a lot of things without even stopping to acknowledge it. Yesterday I was sworn into the California Bar; I am officially an attorney. I am now commemorating this momentous event in my blog. Congratulations, Robert. You made it. ( Actually this particular event I celebrated pretty well; USC Law did us right by hosting a Bar Admissions Ceremony in the Town & Gown with drinks and appetizers, I took full advantage. That, coupled with an epic Vegas trip 2 weeks ago after finding out I had passed, and I think I sufficiently celebrated this bar admissions phase.)

All tooting my own horn aside, I think it is really important to remember these events. Looking back on big positive things in my life, I didn't celebrate enough; I didn't let myself enjoy it. We work extremely diligently to meet our goals and achieve milestones; we gotta stop to savor it a little bit before we move on to the next big goal. Life moves so fast; if you didn't stop to take a mental/spiritual snapshot of something happen, you won't be able to go back and retrieve those moments later.

Suggestions on how to "take a mental snapshot of momentous occasions:"

1.) Buy a cake. Everyone always remembers cake; especially if you write "Happy Graduation!" or something on it.
2.) Go somewhere new to celebrate. Chances our you'll remember the place you went to, and then why you went there, in that order.
3.) Actual "snapshots" - obviously pictures are the best ways. Duh. But that's the simple route to go.
4.) Post it in your blog so you can go back later and see how you felt at the time.
5.) Splurge on things you want; spend lots of money. On second thought, you probably don't want to do this.



Example of how NOT to celebrate a momentous occasion:

On the night of our law school graduation, my family and I went out for dinner to celebrate, etc., and I was so worried about the pending bar exam preparation and the unexciting job prospects I would have after the bar that I was absolutely miserable. Complained about how law school was a waste of time and actually set me back to my whole family and kind of ruined the whole dinner. O and did I mention this was like 3 days after my 24th birthday? Yea not a way to commemorate either occasion. Those were the dark days.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan