...Finding a New NBA Team to Cheer For...

I love basketball. Anyone who knows me probably knows this well. I would go on endless debates and even gamble money or pride to prove my points. I want to claim that I am a fan of the game, but I also think that I can't be a fan if I didn't have a favorite team. Sure, I had to be objective when I wrote my articles, but I never hid the fact that I rooted for the Miami Heat of the Dwyane Wade era. 

I qualify my fandom in as the "Dwyane Wade Era" because Heat "lifers" could have something to say about it. "Lifers" are the fans most difficult to talk to about the game. They will irrationally claim their team will one day win the championship, and when they do, they feel like everyone else who cheered for their team are "bandwagon" fans. These are people who think that nobody else deserve to be fans. It's nice to learn about a team's history from them, but it's best that you talk to them about other sports or other leagues if you want to enjoy your conversation.

Thank you for the memories, D-Wade.

With news coming out that Dwyane Wade is coming to his hometown of Chicago, I realized that I wasn't that much of a Dwyane Wade lifer to follow him back to Chicago. The NBA fan in me doesn't enjoy Fred Hoiberg leading Chicago. The NBA Fantasy player that I am doesn't think a core of Rajon Rondo, Jimmy Butler, and Dwyane Wade is a good fit. As a gambler, I don't think I could talk trash to people that my team could beat theirs when I can't sell the idea of Wade in Chicago to myself. 

As a free agent fan, I made a shortlist of teams to root for:

The Golden State Warriors

KD Played with an MVP-caliber player in Westbrook, and will now play with a 2-time MVP in Curry

Gambler me is very happy with this choice. Kevin Durant and the Splash Brothers? David West and Zaza Pachulia? Even if they lose Harrison Barnes to make ends meet, this is still a crazy good team. Expectations are already high after their historic 73-9 season, but with KD joining them, they only made their burden that much heavier to carry. 

Verdict:

No. I was a bit scared when LeBron came to Miami, knowing full well that as the villains of the league, it was a championship or nothing. I am not ready to invest my emotions to a team carrying so much pressure to win every single game. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers

A block that defined the Cavs' first championship, and an example of how LeBron is unfair

 They just won a championship, and LeBron James doesn't look like he's going to get slower. Richard Jefferson was instrumental in winning the first ring for "The Land" but has decided to retire. While Wade didn't reunite with LeBron, he did somewhat help James get a teammate to fill in Jefferson's role as the heady veteran in Mike Dunleavy. They had minor losses (Timofey Mozgov to the Lakers, Matthew Dellavedova to the Bucks), but this is pretty much the same core who won that championship. 

Verdict:

No. I think LeBron James is too good, and the basketball fan in me enjoys the game too much to cheer for a team with a distinct advantage. The guy played in the Finals for six straight seasons with the spotlight on him. No matter who was around him, he made things work. He's a living cheat code. 

The San Antonio Spurs

Would Duncan decide to delay retirement to play alongside Pau Gasol?

Even fans of the Spurs were appalled by the KD to GSW decision, but had to stop complaining after Pau Gasol decided to join them. TD may or may not retire, and Tony Parker just torched the Gilas team in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. They are coming off a season when they registered a team-best win total, and are already transitioning to the new era featuring LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard. 

Verdict:

I hate to say no, but no. Who can't love these Spurs? They bored teams and fans to death but won championships anyway. When they lost their step, Pop changed things up and played a more uptempo game to go with the times. They won another championship, and still have arguably the most humble players in the league. However, as an already established team, I feel too bandwagon-y joining them now. 

The Milwaukee Bucks

My Fantasy Basketball MVP, the Greek Freak

The Fantasy Basketball player in me likes this team. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-way player on all five basketball positions and could be the freakiest athlete in the game if LeBron James wasn't a real person. Khris Middleton is one of my under the radar guys in Fantasy. I like how the team is looking like a video game created team, with every position filled by what Jason Kidd would be if he was able to customize himself. 

Verdict: 

Maybe. I've been watching them since the Greek Freak entered the league, and while I like the promise, I can't understand what went wrong last season considering a relatively intact lineup. I'm not sure if I'm ready to wait on their process.

The Memphis Grizzlies

Is Parsons the guy they've been missing all this time?

Grit and Grind City needed a spot up shooter to complement their offense. They got that now with Chandler Parsons filling the 3 spot. While they did spend a whopping 150-mil on Mike Conley, it just goes to show how the organization is loyal to its players and committed to its style of play. 

Verdict:

No. Parsons is a great addition, but unless the Grizz sign the Phoenix Suns training staff, I'm not too sold on this team staying healthy enough to make a strong playoff push.

The New York Knicks

A real point guard to play with Kristaps and Melo is just one of the additions of the Knicks this offseason

Kristaps Porzingis was legit last season. Now, with the starting 5 spot solely his, and with a point guard rotation of Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings, Porzingod will probably get more open looks and maybe feed off some of the swagger from his guards. 

Verdict:

Nope. It'll be interesting to finally see a rivalry between Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James especially with the cast they both have now. However, basketball fan me doesn't see New York as a good fit for my cheering self. 

The Boston Celtics

Celtics could lose Sullinger, but upgrading to Horford isn't bad.

Brad Stevens is making a believer out of me. This college coach pushed his team to the playoffs a little too early than anyone expected, and followed it up with a strong showing last season. With Al Horford in the mix, I think they are literally one player away from being favored over the Cavs in the East. This team needs no superstars, but they do need another solid SF. 

Verdict:

Can't commit 100%. They are so close to being one of the top teams in the East, and while I think not too many people are riding their bandwagon, I also think that the window to ride their bandwagon was last season. If the Celtics go to the Finals this season, fans of the Brad Stevens era will be all high and mighty as if they've been lifers. I'd still cheer for them in the East.

The Minnesota Timberwolves

Offense is there, imagine adding Thibs defense to that?

Karl Anthony-Towns showed everyone last season that he could be a legitimate franchise cornerstone. They have young pieces to build around, and played their hearts out for a coach who never called a single play this season in Flip Saunders. With Tom Thibodeau in charge, Andrew Wiggins could make people forget about Jimmy Butler's rise in the East. 

Verdict:

Yes. With the West only getting stronger, the Wolves are not yet title contenders this season. While they generated buzz with their Dunks After Dark sessions with Wiggins and Zach LaVine, I don't think there are enough fans out there cheering for the Wolves just yet. I am riding this bandwagon now, so that by the time 2020 comes along and they win the championship after signing Klay Thompson in 2019, I could say "I was there since day one bitches!" like any NBA troll would. The gambler in me is fine waiting for this team to blossom. The basketball fan in me is excited for this team, and believes that there isn't a solid fanbase who would disown me for riding their bandwagon. The Fantasy Basketball player in me is all in on either KAT, Ricky Rubio, or Zach LaVine this season. I think this balance wins it for me. Go Wolves!

...LeBron James, Two-Time NBA Champion...

I never thought I'd see the day when I am actually rooting for Kobe to come back, and I'm making a blog dedicated to freakin LeBron James. I have always claimed to be a Wade-era Heat fan. It was a crappy few years after the '06 championship, but I stuck with them, hoped that Micheal Beasley would be a nice second for Wade, and was excited that Chris Bosh signed with the team in that big 2010 free agency.

And then came "The Decision". I hated the fact that LeBron joined the Heat. It meant the LeBron fanboys were going to join the bandwagon. It meant the public was going to be expecting nothing less than a championship, much like people expected nothing less from the '08 Boston Celtics. And that stupid "welcome party" they threw for the ONLY three guys who had active contracts for the Heat did not help endear themselves to the rest of the league.

They lost to Dallas in their first year; they were probably a bit too overconfident. They won against Oklahoma last year, but they never really got tested in the East after Derrick Rose had that freak injury, and Oklahoma was just too young. This year, they were dominant in the season, looked vulnerable against the Bulls, looked beatable against the Pacers, and had just an amazing, amazing series against the Spurs.

For all the criticism I think he deserved quite a bit, I think LeBron desreves a lot of credit for his accolades over the past two seasons. Let this non-LeBron fanboy try to defend our team's MVP by pointing out some criticism hurled against him.

He' a Choker

He probably still is. He had some bad end games in the Spurs series. But he is clearly trying. I'm not a professional athlete. Chances are, you aren't too. However, at one point in our lives, we probably had to take an important shot in a game. We may have missed some. Imagine doing that at the grandest stage of basketball, in front of thousands of people.

We make some, and we miss some. That's just how the ball rolls. He probably is making up for his "choking" by putting his team in a position where they could win it. He made plays to bring the team back when they were down in Game 5, but just couldn't do much in the 4th. He got lucky in Game 6 because they had the offensive rebound for that three pointer to bring them within two, but he had some pretty awful misses late in that game. 

If you're not a shooter, you improve your slashing ability. If you suck in the paint, you practice your shooting from the perimeter. For LeBron, if he is indeed a choker, he's doing his best to put his team in the position to have a chance to win, even if he's ultimately not going to be the guy to hit the winning shot.

He Took a Shortcut to Success

By joining Wade and Bosh in Miami, LeBron took the fast route and somewhat "cheated" success because the three of them in one team immediately made them contenders.

On the flipside, did you ever think that he would win titles in Cleveland where the second best player in the team is either an aging Zydrunas Ilgauskas, an ACL injury-recovering Mo Williams, a washed-up Shaquille O'Neal or Antawn Jamison?  It's not like he didn't give Cleveland a chance. He was drafted in 2003, and through those 7 years, Cleveland built around him. The pieces just wouldn't fit together well enough. In that 2007 Finals run, it was more about LeBron than anyone else. Who was the next threat? Old Z? No-offense Varejao? Donyell Freakin Marshall? Not-all-there Larry Hughes? Heck, John Snow would've helped them more that Eric Snow. 

If LeBron stayed in Cleveland, they'd have to pay him 100-mil or more. They will lack financial flexibility, and Cleveland just isn't too attractive of a place to go to, unlike Chicago, or Boston, or Los Angeles. Bosh and Wade already signed with Miami by then, and most of the big names already signed with teams. He'll probably get lesser stars to play with him again, at the level of Larry Hughes (good, not great) and he'll have to stay in a team that'll be good enough to win games in the regular season, but not good enough to win it all.

Would the Cavs be an attractive team with Kyrie Irving there? I think not as much as when LeBron was there. But the Cavs have Kyrie precisely because they sucked bad enough when LeBron left that they got a gem in Kyrie. If LeBron does come back to Cleveland to try and fulfill his promise of a title, he'll be with Kyrie at the point, and not some unknown ball player. 

Everyone needs a good second at least. He wasn't getting that in Cleveland during his stay.

He will NEVER be as Great as the Other Legends

Why didn't Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen have this much hate for this long when they bolted out of their teams to "win titles" in Boston? I read somewhere that KG actually said that if given another chance, he would love to have moved to a contender earlier in his career. Would Garnett NOT be considered one of the all-time greats because he moved to Boston?

LeBron is doing what Garnett wish he could've done earlier in his career. When KG and Allen joined the Celtics, they knew their window wasn't too big. LeBron's window is as wide as a door when he joined the Heat. 

Now, talking about other greats; Bill Russell had Bob Cousy in his team, and I won't even pretend I know the other guys in his team or how good they were because I don't. I just know the name Bob Cousy well enough to know that he was one of the all-time greats.

Magic Johnson had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Kurt Rambis, and MIcheal Cooper. They weren't called "Showtime" for nothing.

Larry Bird had Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson. 

Micheal Jordan had Scottie Pippen (who I think was LeBron before LeBron, big, athletic, can carry a team on his back) in his first championship, after years of working with the guy to become the player that he was by 1991. Who would that have been to LeBron?

Tim Duncan had Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. 

Kobe Bryant had Shaquille O'Neal, and wouldn't win another title until Pau Gasol came along.

Looking at the Cavs roster through 2010, did you even tremble at any of the remaining players on the Cavs roster if LeBron stayed? Anthony Parker? Jamario Moon? Sebastian Telfair?Daniel Gibson? Leon Powe? Old Z?

Every great player played with another great player to win their championships. It didn't seem that LeBron was going to get it in Cleveland with the way things were going for them at the time, and I couldn't blame LeBron for not wanting to waste his youth and energy in mediocrity in Cleveland.

How will he not end up as one of the greats? He has a freakish body with basketball skills to match, he is an unstoppable force on a fastbreak (apparently, unless your name is not Danny Green), and he can fill the box scores with his all-around game. How many have come before him who had all these? Are you not impressed watching him play like he was straight out of a video game? 

Conclusion

Should he have not left Cleveland? I think like every one of us who want growth professionally, he needed to move on from Cleveland as well. Like in our own professional careers, we can choose not to move out of the company that honed us to be who we are, and still achieve sufficient financial gains for "utang na loob" or loyalty.

However, sometimes we want more. We need to grow more because we feel unfulfilled where we are. LeBron was the hometown kid and the city built their team around him, kind of like a company providing you with all the training you need and promoting you when you deserved to be promoted. He had stability and a huge influence in the franchise. He was going to be what Karl Malone and John Stockton were for Utah or Patrick Ewing for New York or Reggie Miller for Indiana; beloved by the city, they defined their franchises. 

LeBron James didn't want to end up like them, or Alonzo Mourning or Gary Payton or Jason Kidd or this generation's Mitch Ritchmond who had to ride a powerhouse team late in their careers just to win a ring. It was the one thing he couldn't achieve in Cleveland. He wanted multiple championships while he can still play for it, and by staying another three to five years in Cleveland, he's wasting precious time making rivalries against Gilbert Arenas or Deshawn Stevenson rather than competing for the big prize in the Finals. 

I hated him while he was in Cleveland because of the hype he generated and just the thought that he seemed like a video game character brought to life. I still don't like him now, but "hate" is too strong of a word to describe my feeling for him now. I respect his game, but I still hate his shenanigans leading up to "The Decision" and the stuff they did after. If he never left, people would probably still hate on him. Because he left, people hate him immensely.

Either way, though, I think leaving turned out better for him. At least he has a couple of rings now, unlike being proclaimed "The King Without a Crown" in Cleveland. For all the shit thrown at him, he couldn't throw anything back when he was in Cleveland because apparently, winning the MVP trophy wasn't enough for people to consider him one of the best. Now, he can let his critics throw all the shit they want, while he fortifies his house with his two MVP trophies and two championships. 

While we see them as sports icons, remember that to them, basketball is their job. Given that fact, consider that they need to make the same decisions that you are going to make in your own professional career. No growth? File a resignation, and apply for another job. Would you not take a faster route to the top of the corporate ladder if the opportunity was given to you early in your career? Would you speak perfectly in front of an audience at all times while presenting a concept or report? Do you need to live up to those who preceded you, or do you have to be your own man or woman?

As douche-y as LeBron did what he did, it was a professional decision that he had to make, moving out of Cleveland. He chose not to be a hero of the masses because he wanted more for himself. At the end of the day, we make decisions that we think are best for ourselves, and not what other people might think. 

...Just A Fan: How I Became a Passionate Sports Guy...

Sports are a big part of my life. I enjoy watching it, I get excited rooting for teams, and I usually have a coarse voice a day after a good game because I've been shouting my lungs out. But unlike those "die hard" Ginebra Fans, "purple-blooded" Laker Fans or "true green" Celtics fans, I don't root for a particular team. I have favorites from time to time, and I switch allegiances whenever I feel like it. Let me explain why:

Learning the Game of Basketball

I started watching the PBA when I was a kid, because our house help had a huge crush on Alvin Patrimonio and Ronnie Magsanoc. Chot Reyes' Coney Island team won a championship against a team I forget now, but I was introduced to the great Alvin Patrimonio, his "Minister of Defense" Jerry Codinera, "The Bullet" Dindo Pumaren, and I think there was an Olsen Racela somewhere there. They later became the Purefoods team that I'd root for when I watched, but it was the 90's. You were either a Ginebra fan, or an Alaska fan. With my limited knowledge of the game, I enjoyed watching how systematic Alaska played as opposed to what looked like "tsamba" basketball by Ginebra/Gordon's, most exemplified by that Bal David game-winner from halfcourt, with the frenzied crowd cheering like they actually expected it would go in as a three point shot would. I'd trash talk in favor of Alaska, but I cheered for Purefoods. 

During these years, I was beginning to enjoy the game of basketball. In the NBA, there was that one team everyone was talking about; the Chicago Bulls. I saw how they won that third championship before Jordan retired to play baseball, and watched the second of their two three-peats. It was easy to ride on the Bulls bandwagon then because of Micheal Jordan. And hey, I watched Space Jam like it actually happened in real life. 

The Dark Ages, Fil-Shams and Retirements

Then the PBA had Fil-Shams. It was a time I stopped watching the PBA. Purefoods had Noy Castillo and some fat point guard named Rob Johnson leading the team. Rey Evangelista remained a workhorse, but he was close to retiring as well. In the NBA, Jordan has already decided to walk away from the game of basketball. It was a time (at least for me) where there wasn't much basketball to be watched.

Before entering college, I was conditioning myself to be a "Tiger". However, I was watching how well the team of James Yap and Paul Artadi was playing, and I was rooting for them to break the DLSU 4-peat (as I learned that only UST is the only other team to have achieved such honor in the Final Four era) after finishing second in the eliminations for a twice to beat advantage against what looked like a fiesty Ateneo team. Ateneo would later overcome the twice to beat, and later beat DLSU in the Finals, for their first championship in over a decade. 

Rekindling Interests

I was already hooked on James Yap. And as fate would have it, Purefoods were able to draft BOTH James Yap and Paul Artadi! They would later trade for, or pick players I enjoyed watching in other leagues, like Marc Pingris, Peter June Simon, and Chico Lanete. I had my team back.

In the NBA, while browsing through channels, I came across a Japanese channel showing a game of the Sacramento Kings. I couldn't understand the Japanese commentators, but I was mesmerized by the passing ability of all five guys on the team. Thanks to dial-up networking, I was able to read up on the Kings, and learned more about the team. I liked them so much that I patterned my playing style to Doug Christie, and wished to have the passing ability of Jason Williams. 

Switching Allegiances

As years went by though, Purefoods dispatched of the players I liked one by one, except for James. I hated Coach Ryan Gregorio for his rotation, and I eventually felt that James was over hyped. He'd have a good game shooting lights out, and then have three "off nights" after that. I still cheered for that team, but I wanted a fresh start. The Welcoat Dragons then entered the PBA. I liked to watch a team build their name from the ground up, and led by Jojo Tangkay, Junjun Cabatu, and Jay-R Reyes, you can't go any lower in the PBA. They struggled and evolved, and they drafted nicely. As the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, I loved that they drafted Jervy Cruz and TY Tang, but hated the fact that Sol Mercado is shooting like he's Reggie Miller. I finally found myself cheering for Rain or Shine after they hired Coach Yeng Guiao (who I credit for making the rest of the league look at Cyrus Baguio, Wesley Gonzales, Larry Fonacier and Gabby Espinas, among others) and dispatched Sol Mercado. I have been cheering for them ever since.

In the NBA, after years of not getting over the hump, and having our hearts broken by Robert fuckin' Horry, the Sacramento Kings slowly disbanded their team. During these times, Caron Butler made me notice a Miami Heat team struggling for recognition. The next season, I stopped watching the Kings after they traded Doug Christie to the Dallas Mavericks, of all teams, and I watched a young Miami Heat team eke out a 14-game win streak to end their regular season to enter the playoffs. Then some kid named Dwayne Wade dunked over Baron Davis and later Jermaine O'Neal in two rounds of the playoffs. I was sold on the Heat.

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To this day, I claim to be a passionate fan of the game. "True" fans who cheer for their one team could label me as a bandwagon fan or a casual fan. As in food, I eat a lot, but I have favorites. But not being able to eat my favorite food does not stop me to enjoy other food immensely. 

I enjoy sports passionately. In the eyes of a mere spectator, ten men playing with one basketball looks stupid, grown men banging bodies with each other for an irregularly-shaped football is absurd, and twenty men kicking a single football in the grass looks boring. In my eyes, I see competitors trying to win a game. I shout when I cheer; alone or in a crowd, I will curse and shout when there's a bad play and clap rabidly at every great play. I don't care who's playing, I just enjoy the competition. 

Some of my friends don't understand why I defend a team they're dissing or why I diss a team they're cheering for. As a passionate fan, I watch games, I read stories, and I check out stats. I have favorites, but I check out as many teams I can fit into my head to be confident enough to know that I am knowledgeable in what I'm about to say or write. I don't hate on teams, I just want to bring "super" fans' heads back down to earth. I don't blindly say my favorite teams are invincible, but I will back up my words if someone challenges my claims. As someone who enjoys competition, this is where I get my fix; lengthy, (and hopefully logical) back and forth discussions with fellow fans. I have learned to recognize and channel out absurd and idiotic comments that attempt to be taken seriously, and engage instead in more intelligent discussions with fans who actually understand the game. 

To get my fix, I study the games that I don't understand, so that I may be able to keep up a conversation with just about any sports nut. To date, I can claim to have above average knowledge of the NBA from about 2002, PBA from probably the start of the James Yap era, and the UAAP from Mike Cortez's missed dunk in the Finals. I also have a basic understanding of football to be able to enjoy Steven Gerrard and Lionel Messi's games and thus casually follow Liverpool and Barcelona, respectively. I enjoyed and learned a lot of American Football from movies, but I understood the game by playing Madden and watching the games with my Uncle Owe. I tried to have a basic understanding of baseball to at least have a topic of conversation with my boss during our free time. For individual games, I enjoy watching tennis, MMA, F1 Racing, and boxing. I actually am trying to understand cockfighting to have something to talk about with my dad. Yes, it is somewhat of a sport. 

I don't get to watch a lot of games. Math proficiency is not my best asset to be some "Moneyball"-type of analyst. I don't get to talk to players. To compensate, I check out analysts' opinions, I try to analyze as best I can from the box scores and play-by-plays, and develop my own analysis and opinions. Eventually, I come up with stuff to say based on what I think, and what my gut feeling tells me. I'm not always right, but I enjoy the times that I am. 

I am not a "true" fan of a particular team where I'll go through its ups and downs. I don't wear jerseys of players or collect their shoes. I want to claim, though, that I am a fan of sports. I have my favorites, but I will cheer for any team at any time because I like how they play, and I do understand the rivalries and why I can't cheer for some teams. 

I will not "die" for a team, but I will cheer wildly when I watch games. I am, after all, just a fan. 

...A Not So Expensive Wishlist...

I'm easy. I get wowed by the simplest things, and I get speechless over really expensive or really thought out gifts. And just like everyone else, I do have a list of stuff I'd really want for Christmas. I'd tick them off myself, but I do want to share it so that those who'd be thoughtful enough to buy me a gift wouldn't think so hard =)

1. An Audio CD/Mixtape

I have a CD player on my car. I can't use it as much because I don't have CD's. While I do have a bunch of MP3 players, I haven't really updated my playlist in a long while. I don't like to consider myself as liking a particular genre, as I enjoy music as long as it sounds pleasing. Right now, I got this mix on my mind, and am hoping Che would make it for me:

Overjoyed - Matchbox 20
Angels - The XX
Here I Am - Yellowcard
Turn It Well - Up Dharma Down
Skeletons - This Century
Between the Raindrops- Lifehouse feat. Natasha Bedingfield
The Runaways - The Killers
Let Me Love You - Ne-Yo
Hurts Like Heaven - Coldplay

It's pretty much a collection of songs that are in no way associated with the other. I just like hearing them. And singing to them at the top of my lungs like an idiot when I'm driving around. If someone else could give me a CD of songs they enjoy, I'd gladly listen to them, just for variety :)

2. An Aux Slot for Bruno

 This one I'm probably getting myself. When traffic is really bad, I play some of my series on my tab. I am getting sick of buying FM Transmitters from CD-R King again and again. I need to stop. And the best way to do that is to find a place where I can install an Aux slot so that I can use that "AUX" button on Bruno's in-dash radio. If someone can just help me find a place where I can get this installed, that'd be really great. 

3. A Drinking Session with Kuya Ags



Yep. That is a particular one. Dad's been busy since the influx of government work came. No longer just the poster boy for smoke-free offices, he's been all around but no longer around me =P We've been to a couple of events, but weren't really able to talk much. Hopefully, that changes soon.

4. Witty Books of No Particular Topics

I've been hearing about these, but never really picked up any of them. I really want one. Or all.

5. More Hungry People...

...that we can feed on the Hungry Rover! The first week was pretty awesome, meeting new people, talking to friends, and seeing all of them genuinely enjoy the whole bus and food experience. I'm wishing for more friends and strangers to drop by our truck, and hopefully, we can really get the truck going places by next year to do what it's supposed to do; feed the people by roving around the metro :)

6. A Basketball Game. Or Two.

It has been a while since I last played. I need to enjoy an actual game, and not just enjoy watching or playing it via PS3. I want to play. I am almost willing to play pick up basketball with strangers, as long as I know one person there. But basketball will be a lot more fun with friends. I just can't reserve a place, and I can't get 9 other people on board.

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I think I had more in mind, but I'm sticking to this list. I'll probably update it later if I suddenly remember stuff.