Well, it is over.
I'm home.
I'm unloading the dishwasher again.
I'm watching ESPN again.
I'm taking Copp for walks again.
Etc., etc., etc.
The last three and a half months have been memorable, to say the least. Probably the best three and a half months of my life.
Here are the general highlights of my time spent abroad
Meeting some great people in my Boston University program who I'll definitely see in the future and stay in touch with. We had great times together, no doubt.
Working at Sydney Uni Sport with a bunch of Aussies. It was a great, laid-back environment and everyone was friendly and accommodating to me. We also had a couple of great times out of work.
Working the Sydney Uni Flames games. I love basketball, whether it's in the U.S., Australia, or South Africa. I love covering the game of basketball.
Taking a trip to Melbourne and seeing all the historic sports sights, such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground and The Tan - the city's ancient dirt track, which thousands of runners traverse each day.
Going rainforest biking in the Byron Bay area. Once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Doing the BridgeClimb (thanks, Aunt Sally). Sunset, full moon, great thrills. Yeah, it was that good.
Staying at hostels during spring break and while I was in New Zealand. A similar system needs to be embraced in the U.S. Only having to pay $20 a night for a comfortable bed in a lodge with a kitchen and other amenities is amazing. And you meet a plethora of people with similar interests.
Bar-hopping with the crew. Yes, the bouncers were at times very disdainful of me (for no reason, really), but we had great times nonetheless.
Great ping-pong games in the UniLodge basement with Scubes, Ankur and Pranab. I can't get enough of that game.
Days at the beach. Hitting the waves, playing football, playing the "500-like" game, although we got roughed up and Scubes dominated, and just chilling. I know as the Michigan winter wears on I'll start missing the beach more and more.
Blue Mountains hikes. Three days of hiking in the BM's were phenomenal. They might not have been traditional mountains, since we hiked down into the valley before hiking back up, but who cares? The views were priceless, the waterfalls picturesque, and the experience unforgettable.
Surf camp, all the way back in September. What a weekend! I learned to surf and caught some waves. Need I say more?
Attending a rugby game and Australian rules football game. Although these sports will never be as exciting to me as American football or basketball, they were fun to watch and experience. I must say this: Aussie athletes seem tougher than American athletes. With hardly any pads, they kill each other – and don’t get hurt. And they don’t make as much money either. Props to them.
And now, for the top five memorable experiences - things I won't forget... ever
5 - That afternoon at Bronte. Scubes, Ankur and I hit up Bronte Beach for a late-afternoon swim, and the waves were ferocious. They were killing us as we tried to body-surf them. I almost got carried away to sea, but managed to catch a wave back toward shore. Never been more scared for my life than that afternoon. Crazy.
4 - The night before Ashley's birthday. We went to a Lebanese restaurant - and it was safe to say, many of us had a little too much wine to sip on. Some of us grinded with the belly dancer (not me, thankfully) and just about everyone passed out in Cheryl and Ashley's room. Great night.
3 - The seagulls. Wow, that was scary. On one of our last beach days, Scubes and I were harassed by a herd of seagulls after Scubes threw one of his French fries ("chips" in Australia) at me. First they were one me, but I walked a good 50 meters to the beach, and finally they retreated to harass Scubes. He almost dropped his burger and fries, he was so shaken. But eventually he walked all the way up to the plaza, and they laid off. I will never take seagulls lightly again.
2 - The final Friday night in Sydney. We had a great "Friday on the Roof," throwing the frisbee and Aussie Rules Football around (and off the roof) and playing some quality games of Beirut. This was followed by some great bar-hopping, pancakes in the Rocks (although I had nachos) and a sunrise (well, OK, "cloud rise") by the Opera House. There were also many great side stories from that night, which I will not disclose in this blog.
1 - The whole experience. Not one night or day deserves this spot. I am glad I decided to study abroad. In reality, I didn't even feel like I was at school. It felt more like a vacation. Yes, there were papers to write and tests to take, and, yes, we had our internships four days a week - but it was all fun.
My Australia experience came at the perfect time in my life. With graduation just months away, I needed to see another part of the world and experience another culture. I needed to get a better understanding of what makes me happy (besides sports). What I found is that great friends are very important, but also my independence.
I love the freedom of being on my own in a big country. A couple of the foreigners I met at hostels in Australia and New Zealand were traveling for months, just exploring different regions of the world. I'd love to do that one day. Work can wait. So can other things.
Right now is the best time for me to get out and explore - see what the world has to offer.
These past three and a half months were a start.
Cheers! And thanks to all the mates who made my time abroad so memorable.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
New Zealand, and finally... home
Today I woke up, grabbed some granola and an orange, and watched SportsCenter on television.
I took my dog for a walk, and looked left then right while crossing the street.
Yes, I'm back in Ann Arbor, Mich., in the United States of America. I can watch my favorite sports all the time and take Copper for as many walks as he can handle.
So all is bliss, right?
Well... no. It'll take some time to readjust. I really do miss Australia and all the friends and good times I had there. It was an amazing experience.
New Zealand wasn't bad either. So let me tell you about my Kiwi experience.
I was in New Zealand for four days. The first three days I spent in Taupo, a small town in the middle of the country's north island. It is an adventurer's utopia. There are opportunities to bungy jump, sky dive, mountain bike, hike, white-water raft, you name it. If you want a thrilling adventure in the great outdoors, Taupo's the place to go.
Which is why I went there.
I arrived in the afternoon the first day, preventing me from doing any big things that day, so I took a longer-than-expected walk to Huka Falls - a huge rapids in the local river. While the walk along the river was extremely long and mundane, the rapids were pretty cool. It's safe to say, if anyone fell in, they'd be gone forever. They were that ferocious.
On the way back from the rapids, I stopped at a hot springs connected to the river. It was amazing. I slipped into the water, and immediately I felt as though I was immersed in a hot tub. Then I walked toward the river, and the water temperature gradually decreased until I was in the rather frigid river.
Two new experiences in one afternoon. Not a bad day.
On my first full day I was planning on catching the bus to the Tongariro Crossing, arguably New Zealand's best one-day hike. But due to weather conditions, there was no bus on that day, so I was stuck in Taupo. So I slept in, finally waking at 12 p.m. in the Tiki Lodge when the maids entered the room to prepare the other beds for newly arriving visitors.
I decided to make something of the afternoon and rented a bike. I wanted to bike to the base of the nearest mountain (which looked to be about 3,000 feet) but I was told it would take way too long to reach the base trail, climb the mountain and return the bike in time. So I settled for some mountain biking in the Huka Falls area.
The trail was great. There were several twists and turns on a narrow path and I had to concentrate at all times on the path in front of me. However, the bike kept shifting gears automatically on me - and generally was not a great bike - so I didn't find the riding that pleasant. Let's just say the experience could have been better. After returning the bike and a quick dinner, I prepared for bed. I had a long day ahead of me.
My final day in Auckland was, hands down, the highlight of my New Zealand experience. I did the Tongariro Crossing, easily my biggest hike while I was abroad. The crossing is basically a ridge hike. There are a few steep ascents in the first stages of the hike, and then the final couple hours are descents. In between, you're on top of the world. It's about an eight- or nine-kilometer hike (I think).
I was ill-prepared for the conditions, that's for sure. With my suitcases completely stuffed full of belongings, I couldn't afford to buy any rain gear (or stuff for the cold, for that matter) so I did the hike in shorts, my UNC sweatshirt and a makeshift raincoat that I made out of a trash bag.
Two hours into the hike I was freezing. But that didn't take away from my enjoyment. Although it rained the entire time and the visibility was White Mountains-esque, I met up with a young guy from Denmark, and we traversed the terrain together. Our group wasn't supposed to get picked up from the end of the track until 3:30 p.m., and the weather had us moving fast, so when we arrived at a hut that marked the two-hours-to-go spot at 11:00 a.m., we decided to chill for a couple hours and try to warm up.
Ironically, I read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" while I was shivering in the hut.
Finally, after two-plus hours of descending (the part of a hike that ALWAYS seems to take the longest) we completed the famed Tongariro Crossing. I might have been cold and wet, but the experience was definitely worth it.
I returned to Tiki Lodge to shower and dry all of my soaked cloths. Drying my sneakers was not so easy. I held them under the hand dryer in the bathroom for about 15 minutes. Finally, they were at least bearable to wear.
I spent my last night in Taupo wandering the town, taking pictures, catching the new Bond movie at the local theater, and hitting up a couple bars before my 1:50 a.m. bus to Auckland.
In one of those "this world is small after all" stories, I met a guy at a bar who knew my cousin, Pete Wolf, from their days in Oak Park, Chicago. Absolutely amazing. That had me buzzing (more than the beer) all night.
After a not-so-pleasant bus ride, which seemed to take forever, I arrived in Auckland for my final day abroad. I was tired and, frankly, ready to be home. Or at least in bed. I tried to make Borders my bed, falling asleep at the book store three times, but eventually I was kicked out (they actually escorted me to the door - how crazy is that?).
It's probably safe to say that my days of shopping at Borders are over. If a man needs to sleep, let him sleep.
So without a legitimate place to crash, I conjured up the energy to do things. First I visited the Sky Tower, taking several pictures from its two indoor observation decks. I was disappointed there wasn't an outdoor deck. I guess suicide is just too big of a risk these days (what better way to go out than from the top of a tower?).
Then I was greeted to some great hospitality at the coolest, neatest, sweetest driving range I've ever visited. It had one of those golf simulators where you can play a round without moving more than a couple steps. The guy there allowed me to play a few holes at Pebble Beach for free. I think I was 10 over after four holes. Tough course.
Finally, I walked down to the harbour, got a great ice cream cone (Strawberry Ripple) and headed to catch the bus to the airport. It was only 1:40, and my flight wasn't until 7:30, but I was ready to go. Plus, with all the crap I had to go through for a flight to America, I didn't have all the time in the world at the airport.
After 16 hours of flying and many other hours waiting in lines in airports, I was home. In a genuine act of kindness, all my family members made the cumbersome 40-minute drive to Detroit Metro Airport to greet me (even Copp - who was tired from a long walk earlier in the day). Thanks, guys. And soon I was home at last, watching Stuart Scott on my TV and eating Tostitos.
Oh, how things can change so quickly.
I took my dog for a walk, and looked left then right while crossing the street.
Yes, I'm back in Ann Arbor, Mich., in the United States of America. I can watch my favorite sports all the time and take Copper for as many walks as he can handle.
So all is bliss, right?
Well... no. It'll take some time to readjust. I really do miss Australia and all the friends and good times I had there. It was an amazing experience.
New Zealand wasn't bad either. So let me tell you about my Kiwi experience.
I was in New Zealand for four days. The first three days I spent in Taupo, a small town in the middle of the country's north island. It is an adventurer's utopia. There are opportunities to bungy jump, sky dive, mountain bike, hike, white-water raft, you name it. If you want a thrilling adventure in the great outdoors, Taupo's the place to go.
Which is why I went there.
I arrived in the afternoon the first day, preventing me from doing any big things that day, so I took a longer-than-expected walk to Huka Falls - a huge rapids in the local river. While the walk along the river was extremely long and mundane, the rapids were pretty cool. It's safe to say, if anyone fell in, they'd be gone forever. They were that ferocious.
On the way back from the rapids, I stopped at a hot springs connected to the river. It was amazing. I slipped into the water, and immediately I felt as though I was immersed in a hot tub. Then I walked toward the river, and the water temperature gradually decreased until I was in the rather frigid river.
Two new experiences in one afternoon. Not a bad day.
On my first full day I was planning on catching the bus to the Tongariro Crossing, arguably New Zealand's best one-day hike. But due to weather conditions, there was no bus on that day, so I was stuck in Taupo. So I slept in, finally waking at 12 p.m. in the Tiki Lodge when the maids entered the room to prepare the other beds for newly arriving visitors.
I decided to make something of the afternoon and rented a bike. I wanted to bike to the base of the nearest mountain (which looked to be about 3,000 feet) but I was told it would take way too long to reach the base trail, climb the mountain and return the bike in time. So I settled for some mountain biking in the Huka Falls area.
The trail was great. There were several twists and turns on a narrow path and I had to concentrate at all times on the path in front of me. However, the bike kept shifting gears automatically on me - and generally was not a great bike - so I didn't find the riding that pleasant. Let's just say the experience could have been better. After returning the bike and a quick dinner, I prepared for bed. I had a long day ahead of me.
My final day in Auckland was, hands down, the highlight of my New Zealand experience. I did the Tongariro Crossing, easily my biggest hike while I was abroad. The crossing is basically a ridge hike. There are a few steep ascents in the first stages of the hike, and then the final couple hours are descents. In between, you're on top of the world. It's about an eight- or nine-kilometer hike (I think).
I was ill-prepared for the conditions, that's for sure. With my suitcases completely stuffed full of belongings, I couldn't afford to buy any rain gear (or stuff for the cold, for that matter) so I did the hike in shorts, my UNC sweatshirt and a makeshift raincoat that I made out of a trash bag.
Two hours into the hike I was freezing. But that didn't take away from my enjoyment. Although it rained the entire time and the visibility was White Mountains-esque, I met up with a young guy from Denmark, and we traversed the terrain together. Our group wasn't supposed to get picked up from the end of the track until 3:30 p.m., and the weather had us moving fast, so when we arrived at a hut that marked the two-hours-to-go spot at 11:00 a.m., we decided to chill for a couple hours and try to warm up.
Ironically, I read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" while I was shivering in the hut.
Finally, after two-plus hours of descending (the part of a hike that ALWAYS seems to take the longest) we completed the famed Tongariro Crossing. I might have been cold and wet, but the experience was definitely worth it.
I returned to Tiki Lodge to shower and dry all of my soaked cloths. Drying my sneakers was not so easy. I held them under the hand dryer in the bathroom for about 15 minutes. Finally, they were at least bearable to wear.
I spent my last night in Taupo wandering the town, taking pictures, catching the new Bond movie at the local theater, and hitting up a couple bars before my 1:50 a.m. bus to Auckland.
In one of those "this world is small after all" stories, I met a guy at a bar who knew my cousin, Pete Wolf, from their days in Oak Park, Chicago. Absolutely amazing. That had me buzzing (more than the beer) all night.
After a not-so-pleasant bus ride, which seemed to take forever, I arrived in Auckland for my final day abroad. I was tired and, frankly, ready to be home. Or at least in bed. I tried to make Borders my bed, falling asleep at the book store three times, but eventually I was kicked out (they actually escorted me to the door - how crazy is that?).
It's probably safe to say that my days of shopping at Borders are over. If a man needs to sleep, let him sleep.
So without a legitimate place to crash, I conjured up the energy to do things. First I visited the Sky Tower, taking several pictures from its two indoor observation decks. I was disappointed there wasn't an outdoor deck. I guess suicide is just too big of a risk these days (what better way to go out than from the top of a tower?).
Then I was greeted to some great hospitality at the coolest, neatest, sweetest driving range I've ever visited. It had one of those golf simulators where you can play a round without moving more than a couple steps. The guy there allowed me to play a few holes at Pebble Beach for free. I think I was 10 over after four holes. Tough course.
Finally, I walked down to the harbour, got a great ice cream cone (Strawberry Ripple) and headed to catch the bus to the airport. It was only 1:40, and my flight wasn't until 7:30, but I was ready to go. Plus, with all the crap I had to go through for a flight to America, I didn't have all the time in the world at the airport.
After 16 hours of flying and many other hours waiting in lines in airports, I was home. In a genuine act of kindness, all my family members made the cumbersome 40-minute drive to Detroit Metro Airport to greet me (even Copp - who was tired from a long walk earlier in the day). Thanks, guys. And soon I was home at last, watching Stuart Scott on my TV and eating Tostitos.
Oh, how things can change so quickly.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Stay tuned for final writings
Hey everyone,
I'm sorry for not posting much recently. I have been wrapping up my stay here in Sydney (trying to do everything I didn't get a chance to do earlier in the semester, and saying peace to everyone), and now I am heading to New Zealand for four days and will not have computer access. But I can assure you that once I return to Ann Arbor on Dec. 20, I will write a couple wrap-up columns. Thanks again for reading.
Jake
I'm sorry for not posting much recently. I have been wrapping up my stay here in Sydney (trying to do everything I didn't get a chance to do earlier in the semester, and saying peace to everyone), and now I am heading to New Zealand for four days and will not have computer access. But I can assure you that once I return to Ann Arbor on Dec. 20, I will write a couple wrap-up columns. Thanks again for reading.
Jake
Sunday, December 10, 2006
"Crazy weekend"
Well, I'm down to my final week here in Sydney. While time is certainly flying, that's only because - as the old saying goes - I'm having some fun.
I feel as free as the dogs in Sydney, who are never leashed up. They're allowed to run freely, chasing each other around trees and giving their owners something to laugh about.
Anyway, here's a rundown of what I've been up to.
On Friday night we bar-hopped in the Rocks before getting a very early breakfast (4:00 a.m.) and waiting by the harbour for the sun to rise (I was sleeping on a bench). Unfortunately, it didn't rise, and we took the bus home disappointed (and very tired).
I slept until 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon before working my final basketball game for Sydney Uni Sport. It officially concluded my internship, which I really enjoyed. I got the opportunity to write several feature articles on Australian athletes in addition to a few game stories, which gave me vital experience in writing in a timely matter. On the downside, I don't feel that my writing vastly improved this semester. Many of the stories were similar to things I've written back home. I didn't really acquire any new journalism skills.
Still, overall it was fun being a part of an Australian workplace. Everyone here is so laid back, even at work. We must have had four going-away lunches for people moving on to other jobs, and whenever there was a birthday, it was accompanied by cake. Other employees also often stopped by my desk to chat. I never felt nervous at Sydney Uni Sport.
Sunday was all about the beach. We hit up Bondi Beach around 1 p.m. and didn't return until approximately 7:30 p.m. It was sunny and hot - not exactly my type of weather - but everyone else was happy, so that was good enough for me. I went in the water at least four times (it was pretty warm) and also played football with the boys.
Although a bit of my energy was zapped by the sun, I still had enough to spend the entire night in King's Cross - Sydney's night district - hanging out with the fellas and watching some late-night soccer. I also met a couple of Aussie fellas and talked sports with them. It was a fun night.
This morning I had aspirations of going to the Blue Mountains for a full day of hiking, but it didn't work out. 'Nuff said. Instead, I got a good shootaround in at this old, rickety hoop in an empty parking lot - I love it; reminds me of the park in "Finding Forrester" - and since then I've been blogging and sitting around.
Tomorrow we finish up school - one final exam.
I guess I should do a little studying.
Anyway, keep checking back with the blog throughout the week. I'll be posting several things whenever I get a chance.
peace and love,
jake
I feel as free as the dogs in Sydney, who are never leashed up. They're allowed to run freely, chasing each other around trees and giving their owners something to laugh about.
Anyway, here's a rundown of what I've been up to.
On Friday night we bar-hopped in the Rocks before getting a very early breakfast (4:00 a.m.) and waiting by the harbour for the sun to rise (I was sleeping on a bench). Unfortunately, it didn't rise, and we took the bus home disappointed (and very tired).
I slept until 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon before working my final basketball game for Sydney Uni Sport. It officially concluded my internship, which I really enjoyed. I got the opportunity to write several feature articles on Australian athletes in addition to a few game stories, which gave me vital experience in writing in a timely matter. On the downside, I don't feel that my writing vastly improved this semester. Many of the stories were similar to things I've written back home. I didn't really acquire any new journalism skills.
Still, overall it was fun being a part of an Australian workplace. Everyone here is so laid back, even at work. We must have had four going-away lunches for people moving on to other jobs, and whenever there was a birthday, it was accompanied by cake. Other employees also often stopped by my desk to chat. I never felt nervous at Sydney Uni Sport.
Sunday was all about the beach. We hit up Bondi Beach around 1 p.m. and didn't return until approximately 7:30 p.m. It was sunny and hot - not exactly my type of weather - but everyone else was happy, so that was good enough for me. I went in the water at least four times (it was pretty warm) and also played football with the boys.
Although a bit of my energy was zapped by the sun, I still had enough to spend the entire night in King's Cross - Sydney's night district - hanging out with the fellas and watching some late-night soccer. I also met a couple of Aussie fellas and talked sports with them. It was a fun night.
This morning I had aspirations of going to the Blue Mountains for a full day of hiking, but it didn't work out. 'Nuff said. Instead, I got a good shootaround in at this old, rickety hoop in an empty parking lot - I love it; reminds me of the park in "Finding Forrester" - and since then I've been blogging and sitting around.
Tomorrow we finish up school - one final exam.
I guess I should do a little studying.
Anyway, keep checking back with the blog throughout the week. I'll be posting several things whenever I get a chance.
peace and love,
jake
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
"Crazy final 10 days in Sydney"
Yesterday began what should be a crazy, sleep-deprived, activity-driven final 10 days in Sydney. Now that my "posse" and I have realized just how close we are to the end, we are ready to get up on our feet and DO SOMETHING.
Yesterday was a pretty good start. I climbed a bridge. A big bridge. In fact, it's the largest suspension bridge in the world. The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Thanks to a gift from Aunt Sallie, I did the BridgeClimb last night, taking three hours to walk all the way to the top of the 150-metre structure before heading back down. It wasn't as nerveracking as I anticipated. I was never really scared - despite the fact that I'm not a big "heights guy." We were connected to a cable by a little gadget the entire climb, assuring our safety. Perhaps the most "scary" part of the climb was when we ascended four ladders on the way up and descended four on the way down. The ladders were each about 25-feet tall and were almost 90 degrees, so you had to make sure your footing was secure.
I didn't check the weather forecast or anything before signing up for the climb, but somewhow I picked the perfect day. The sky was clear, the temperature moderate, and there was a full moon that came up just as we were halfway to the top of the bridge. It was spectacular. In addition, although it was a "night climb," we started early, allowing us to catch about 30 minutes of an exquisite sunset before it disappeared to the west.
Overall the climb was one of the best experiences I've had while in Sydney. Just goes to show that not all "tourist attractions" are overrated.
So, now about those "crazy final 10 days." Here's the loose schedule me n' the folks came up with.
Tonight: Final mass media class, free dinner afterward; chill after that.
Thursday: Second-to-last day of work; dinner on roof; Sydney Observatory at night
Friday: Final day of work; final "Friday on the Roof;" bar-hopping in the Rocks (Sydney's historic district); watch the sun rise by the Opera House (probably not much sleep)
Saturday: Take ferry to Manly Beach (I haven't been there yet - should be splendid); chill there all day; work my final women's basketball game; bar-hop at Bondi Beach; watch the sun rise at Bondi (not much sleep).
Sunday: Take the train to Crunella (sp?) Beach, which is about 45 minutes south of Sydney; supposed to be splendid; spend whole day there; return to the night life of King's Cross.
Monday: Spend the day bushwalking in the Blue Mountains/studying for final exam.
Tuesday: Mass media final exam; Going-away party with fellow students, program directors and people from my internship (should be a hoot!).
Wednesay/Thursday/Friday????... we'll see
Yeah, gotta go. Still haven't planned my New Zealand trip.
peace,
jake
Yesterday was a pretty good start. I climbed a bridge. A big bridge. In fact, it's the largest suspension bridge in the world. The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Thanks to a gift from Aunt Sallie, I did the BridgeClimb last night, taking three hours to walk all the way to the top of the 150-metre structure before heading back down. It wasn't as nerveracking as I anticipated. I was never really scared - despite the fact that I'm not a big "heights guy." We were connected to a cable by a little gadget the entire climb, assuring our safety. Perhaps the most "scary" part of the climb was when we ascended four ladders on the way up and descended four on the way down. The ladders were each about 25-feet tall and were almost 90 degrees, so you had to make sure your footing was secure.
I didn't check the weather forecast or anything before signing up for the climb, but somewhow I picked the perfect day. The sky was clear, the temperature moderate, and there was a full moon that came up just as we were halfway to the top of the bridge. It was spectacular. In addition, although it was a "night climb," we started early, allowing us to catch about 30 minutes of an exquisite sunset before it disappeared to the west.
Overall the climb was one of the best experiences I've had while in Sydney. Just goes to show that not all "tourist attractions" are overrated.
So, now about those "crazy final 10 days." Here's the loose schedule me n' the folks came up with.
Tonight: Final mass media class, free dinner afterward; chill after that.
Thursday: Second-to-last day of work; dinner on roof; Sydney Observatory at night
Friday: Final day of work; final "Friday on the Roof;" bar-hopping in the Rocks (Sydney's historic district); watch the sun rise by the Opera House (probably not much sleep)
Saturday: Take ferry to Manly Beach (I haven't been there yet - should be splendid); chill there all day; work my final women's basketball game; bar-hop at Bondi Beach; watch the sun rise at Bondi (not much sleep).
Sunday: Take the train to Crunella (sp?) Beach, which is about 45 minutes south of Sydney; supposed to be splendid; spend whole day there; return to the night life of King's Cross.
Monday: Spend the day bushwalking in the Blue Mountains/studying for final exam.
Tuesday: Mass media final exam; Going-away party with fellow students, program directors and people from my internship (should be a hoot!).
Wednesay/Thursday/Friday????... we'll see
Yeah, gotta go. Still haven't planned my New Zealand trip.
peace,
jake
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Everything
hey everyone,
I'm sorry I haven't posted here in a while. Obviously this sports blog thing has taken over my life, but that's not to say that I've been sitting at a computer every day punching the keys.
So here's what I've done, what I want to do, my feelings and musing on things... and everything else.
Since I returned from the Blue Mountains more than two weeks ago, I've been yearning to get back there. They are that exquisite. I plan on going back with my good friend, Ashley, this Saturday for a full day of hiking. Should be fun.
Since Aunt Sally has so kindly agreed to pay, I plan on doing the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb in the next couple weeks (maybe this Sunday). Should be a lotta fun as well as riveting. Unfortunatly, we're not allowed to take cameras (or anything else) when we're up there, but I'll be sure to get some photos from the experience. I think I'm gonna do the sunset climb. Standing on the apex of a bridge while the sun sets below me on the harbour doesn't sound like a bad evening.
Speaking of heights, I accompanied Melvin, Cheryl, Toad and his friend, Will, up to (almost) the top of the tower in Sydney - its tallest building. We relaxed in the bar, sipped expensive drinks and looked out at the city. Unfortunately, our view didn't include the sunset - the bar rotates clockwise, but very, very slowly - however the views were nonetheless priceless.
Last Friday I went out for the first time with just Australians as I accompanied a few of my co-workers for a celebration of another one of my coworkers leaving Sydney Uni Sport. Everyone got loose and we had a good time. I ended up crashing at my co-worker's crib, woke up to watch Ice Age then ate sausages for breakfast. It was a fun experience.
Speaking of work, I'm just about ready to be done with it. I only have six work days remaining. While I've enjoyed interviewing some of the Aussie athletes, I don't feel that I've improved at all as a journalist. I guess I'll just use the experience as resume fodder (because how many American sports journalists have done work in Australia?). On a side note, it's been fun to follow the Ashes, Australia and England's Test cricket match that spans almost two months. It's like the NBA playoffs, except just one series between two teams. Cricket is absolutely bizarre, let me tell you.
I haven't heard back from the woman with the Sydney Kings, Sydney's men's professional basketball team. She said a week or so ago that I could work the games on Dec. 3 and Dec. 8, but until I hear from her, nothing's certain. I guess I'm indifferent. If I work the games, great - more resume fodder and you know how much I love basketball. If I don't, I'll get to spend more time with the great people I've met here before we say our farewells.
Speaking of leaving, it's kind of shocking how quickly this experience has gone. I have five more days at the internship, one more paper due (next week), and the final exam for my mass media class. That's it. I'll be leaving Sydney on the night of Dec. 15 (one day later than most) and flying to Auckland, New Zealand for 3-4 days. I haven't done a speck of planning for New Zealand, so if you know of any great things to do (especially outdoors) please throw reccomendations out there.
I'm very ambivalent about leaving. I'll definitely be happy to get home, see the family, and watch American sports whenever I want to. Relaxing at the crib on Spring Street and hopefully getting my sports writing job back in Jackson will also be great. But at the same time I'll really miss a lot of the people from the program. I've forged some tight bonds here in Sydney, and it'll be difficult to say adios. I'll also miss Sydney to a degree. Living in a big city has many benefits. There's always a store open if I need anything and always bars and 24-hour food joints that can cater to me late at night. But, then again, Sydney has coerced me into spending more money than I planned on, so it'll be nice to be back in cities where it's not quite as easy to burn the wallet. I don't plan on doing much spending for the next few months.
With that said, it's time for me to go grab some dinner and relax the night away. With just over two weeks left in Sydney, I've still got plenty to do.
peace and love,
jake
I'm sorry I haven't posted here in a while. Obviously this sports blog thing has taken over my life, but that's not to say that I've been sitting at a computer every day punching the keys.
So here's what I've done, what I want to do, my feelings and musing on things... and everything else.
Since I returned from the Blue Mountains more than two weeks ago, I've been yearning to get back there. They are that exquisite. I plan on going back with my good friend, Ashley, this Saturday for a full day of hiking. Should be fun.
Since Aunt Sally has so kindly agreed to pay, I plan on doing the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb in the next couple weeks (maybe this Sunday). Should be a lotta fun as well as riveting. Unfortunatly, we're not allowed to take cameras (or anything else) when we're up there, but I'll be sure to get some photos from the experience. I think I'm gonna do the sunset climb. Standing on the apex of a bridge while the sun sets below me on the harbour doesn't sound like a bad evening.
Speaking of heights, I accompanied Melvin, Cheryl, Toad and his friend, Will, up to (almost) the top of the tower in Sydney - its tallest building. We relaxed in the bar, sipped expensive drinks and looked out at the city. Unfortunately, our view didn't include the sunset - the bar rotates clockwise, but very, very slowly - however the views were nonetheless priceless.
Last Friday I went out for the first time with just Australians as I accompanied a few of my co-workers for a celebration of another one of my coworkers leaving Sydney Uni Sport. Everyone got loose and we had a good time. I ended up crashing at my co-worker's crib, woke up to watch Ice Age then ate sausages for breakfast. It was a fun experience.
Speaking of work, I'm just about ready to be done with it. I only have six work days remaining. While I've enjoyed interviewing some of the Aussie athletes, I don't feel that I've improved at all as a journalist. I guess I'll just use the experience as resume fodder (because how many American sports journalists have done work in Australia?). On a side note, it's been fun to follow the Ashes, Australia and England's Test cricket match that spans almost two months. It's like the NBA playoffs, except just one series between two teams. Cricket is absolutely bizarre, let me tell you.
I haven't heard back from the woman with the Sydney Kings, Sydney's men's professional basketball team. She said a week or so ago that I could work the games on Dec. 3 and Dec. 8, but until I hear from her, nothing's certain. I guess I'm indifferent. If I work the games, great - more resume fodder and you know how much I love basketball. If I don't, I'll get to spend more time with the great people I've met here before we say our farewells.
Speaking of leaving, it's kind of shocking how quickly this experience has gone. I have five more days at the internship, one more paper due (next week), and the final exam for my mass media class. That's it. I'll be leaving Sydney on the night of Dec. 15 (one day later than most) and flying to Auckland, New Zealand for 3-4 days. I haven't done a speck of planning for New Zealand, so if you know of any great things to do (especially outdoors) please throw reccomendations out there.
I'm very ambivalent about leaving. I'll definitely be happy to get home, see the family, and watch American sports whenever I want to. Relaxing at the crib on Spring Street and hopefully getting my sports writing job back in Jackson will also be great. But at the same time I'll really miss a lot of the people from the program. I've forged some tight bonds here in Sydney, and it'll be difficult to say adios. I'll also miss Sydney to a degree. Living in a big city has many benefits. There's always a store open if I need anything and always bars and 24-hour food joints that can cater to me late at night. But, then again, Sydney has coerced me into spending more money than I planned on, so it'll be nice to be back in cities where it's not quite as easy to burn the wallet. I don't plan on doing much spending for the next few months.
With that said, it's time for me to go grab some dinner and relax the night away. With just over two weeks left in Sydney, I've still got plenty to do.
peace and love,
jake
Monday, November 13, 2006
"My best weekend yet"
This past weekend was easily the most enjoyable I've had here abroad. Eight friends and I took a train to the Blue Mountains, about a 2-hour ride from Sydney. We arrived in Katoomba, a small, peaceful town in the heart of the mountains, around 10:30 on Saturday morning, and I was ready to hit the bush.
The Blue Mountains are nothing like those I hike in every year in New Hampshire. You don't start at the bottom of the mountain and hike up. Instead, the towns are at the peaks of the mountains, so you usually hike down and then make your way back up. That is what we did.
After getting settled in the YHA hostel - easily the nicest hostel I've stayed at here, and still cheap, at $27.50 a night - we trekked through a residential neighbourhood to get to the trail. The first couple hours of the hike we followed a ridge trail, which wove around the top of the valley, offering splendid views of the cliffs opposite us and the trees and waterfalls in the valley. The only negative about this part of the walk was the amount of tourists who clogged the trail. Since it stayed on top of the cliffs, we were fairly close to the road, so people could simply park their cars and walk a hundred yards to one of the several lookouts. It's safe to say we saw hundreds of people with sandals on, mothers with strollers, and men dressed in their workday business suits.
Also, the trail intersected with a huge visitor information centre, replete with a gift shop and food stand. I never really felt, during this part of the journey, like I was in the bush. It felt more like - and I'm only imagining here - visiting the top of the Grand Canyon.
But things got better... much better. As the day grew old, some of the crew decided to head back, but Steve, Andrew, Kristina and I pushed on, determined to reach the Golden Steps - a very steep ascent back up to the road. After surviving Tourist Central, we had descended a great deal, thus putting us down in the valley. With the sun reaching its peak in the sky, we bushwalked over rocks and under trees - which made it very dark - until we reached the base of the stairs. One thing about hiking in the Blue Mountains is that you have to keep an eye on the path ahead - and this is not just because of the possibility of wildlife. Trails often aren't marked that well. There are no cairns like in the White Mountains. There are a few intermittent chalked arrows on rocks, but that is about it. At one point we lost the trail, but after retracing our steps, we easily found it again.
And then we climbed the steps. Steep, steep, steep. That's the best way to describe them. Man-made - some out of rock, and some out of metal - the steps twisted upward, at times affording us brilliant views of the farther and farther away valley, which gave us an excuse to rest.
We were tired, heaving, out of gorp (or at least I though at the time - I ended up having another whole bag), and it was close to dark.
But then, all of a sudden, after just 23 minutes, we reached the top. The sign had said an hour, but we killed those stairs. We ended up having at least a half hour until darkness, so we decided to chill out on a perfect rock facing the fading sun towatch the sun set. Only, it didn't. It got lost among the clouds. That was the only real disappointment of the day.
But it was only half of my Blue Mountains adventure.
Yesterday, not everyone was as energetic as the day before. Four guys went off to play golf. Steve hit up a caves tour. The girls went in search of kangaroos. But I? Well, I was ready for some more bushwalking. So I hopped on a train down to Wentworth Falls, two stops toward Sydney from Katoomba. And in the span of six hours, I had the time of my life.
After about a 25-minute walk to the national park, I hit the trails - all of them. Similar to Saturday, I started on a ridge trail with great views of the valley and waterfalls below. Then I made my way down to the Valley of the Waters, where I hiked right alongside a long chain of waterfalls. At the first waterfall, I watched as three people climbed down the fall by using rope into a small pool that was oh so tempting. I would have jumped in, but the sun wasn't out and it was early in my journey. Oh, and the water was freezing (colder than at the potholes).
After a brief snack (cheese and crackers, baby!) I headed down to the Wentworth Pass, which took me to the other side of the canyon and beautiful Wentworth Falls. We had visited a couple waterfalls on the first day - including one that was directly above a cliff that dropped off several hundred feet - but Wentworth Falls was the paragon of waterfalls. It must have been 300 feet tall, with the water falling in the air for about 200 feet before hitting rock and moving gracefully down the final 100 feet into a pool at the base. Also, there was a sandy beach. A sandy beach in the mountains! I couldn't believe it. The water here was also freezing, but I told myself I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn’t swim in one waterfall, so I waded in and stood around the stream of water for 10 seconds. Refreshing is the best word to describe that.
I also received a visit from a friend while I was at the falls. I was lying on a rock, reading my book, when a rather large lizard slid up ever so slyly behind me. It had no cruel intentions, but it still took me by surprise. I took a couple pictures of it and decided to sit up while I finished the chapter I was reading.
Finally I decided I ought to leave the falls. An interesting fact: I was without a watch on this trip, so I often had to gauge what time it was or ask somebody. On Day 2 I didn't run into many people - definitely a good thing, except that I often had no real idea what time it was. After departing the falls, I travelled up an extremely steep set of stairs to the National Pass. The stairs must have been 80 degrees, no joke. I had to lean forward, with my hands gripping the railings to make it up them. At the top, a sign noted what I had already realized: "Experienced Hikers Only." Good thing I've done some hiking.
The National Pass was an interesting path. Most of the way, it was directly below an overhanging cliff, occasionally making me duck. Also, most of it was transparently man-made. Rocks laid out acted as stepping stones, making for a nice and easy hike. At the end of the National Pass, I reconnected with the Valley of Waters. I then hiked the one trail in the area that was left on my list: the Nature Trail. The NT took me up, way above the valley, eventually to the road, but not before I passed some beautiful rock lookouts (not man-made whatsoever) and a pool where, from behind some rocks, I could tell some skinny-dipping was in full-swing. It was a nice, sometimes arduous end to my climbing adventure.
So there you have it, my hiking experience in the Blue Mountains. Once I return home, I'll be sure to share pictures of it. Again, it is completely different from hiking in New Hampshire - and not as difficult - but it was enjoyable and worthwhile all the same.
And the views... well you'll just have to see for yourself.
The Blue Mountains are nothing like those I hike in every year in New Hampshire. You don't start at the bottom of the mountain and hike up. Instead, the towns are at the peaks of the mountains, so you usually hike down and then make your way back up. That is what we did.
After getting settled in the YHA hostel - easily the nicest hostel I've stayed at here, and still cheap, at $27.50 a night - we trekked through a residential neighbourhood to get to the trail. The first couple hours of the hike we followed a ridge trail, which wove around the top of the valley, offering splendid views of the cliffs opposite us and the trees and waterfalls in the valley. The only negative about this part of the walk was the amount of tourists who clogged the trail. Since it stayed on top of the cliffs, we were fairly close to the road, so people could simply park their cars and walk a hundred yards to one of the several lookouts. It's safe to say we saw hundreds of people with sandals on, mothers with strollers, and men dressed in their workday business suits.
Also, the trail intersected with a huge visitor information centre, replete with a gift shop and food stand. I never really felt, during this part of the journey, like I was in the bush. It felt more like - and I'm only imagining here - visiting the top of the Grand Canyon.
But things got better... much better. As the day grew old, some of the crew decided to head back, but Steve, Andrew, Kristina and I pushed on, determined to reach the Golden Steps - a very steep ascent back up to the road. After surviving Tourist Central, we had descended a great deal, thus putting us down in the valley. With the sun reaching its peak in the sky, we bushwalked over rocks and under trees - which made it very dark - until we reached the base of the stairs. One thing about hiking in the Blue Mountains is that you have to keep an eye on the path ahead - and this is not just because of the possibility of wildlife. Trails often aren't marked that well. There are no cairns like in the White Mountains. There are a few intermittent chalked arrows on rocks, but that is about it. At one point we lost the trail, but after retracing our steps, we easily found it again.
And then we climbed the steps. Steep, steep, steep. That's the best way to describe them. Man-made - some out of rock, and some out of metal - the steps twisted upward, at times affording us brilliant views of the farther and farther away valley, which gave us an excuse to rest.
We were tired, heaving, out of gorp (or at least I though at the time - I ended up having another whole bag), and it was close to dark.
But then, all of a sudden, after just 23 minutes, we reached the top. The sign had said an hour, but we killed those stairs. We ended up having at least a half hour until darkness, so we decided to chill out on a perfect rock facing the fading sun towatch the sun set. Only, it didn't. It got lost among the clouds. That was the only real disappointment of the day.
But it was only half of my Blue Mountains adventure.
Yesterday, not everyone was as energetic as the day before. Four guys went off to play golf. Steve hit up a caves tour. The girls went in search of kangaroos. But I? Well, I was ready for some more bushwalking. So I hopped on a train down to Wentworth Falls, two stops toward Sydney from Katoomba. And in the span of six hours, I had the time of my life.
After about a 25-minute walk to the national park, I hit the trails - all of them. Similar to Saturday, I started on a ridge trail with great views of the valley and waterfalls below. Then I made my way down to the Valley of the Waters, where I hiked right alongside a long chain of waterfalls. At the first waterfall, I watched as three people climbed down the fall by using rope into a small pool that was oh so tempting. I would have jumped in, but the sun wasn't out and it was early in my journey. Oh, and the water was freezing (colder than at the potholes).
After a brief snack (cheese and crackers, baby!) I headed down to the Wentworth Pass, which took me to the other side of the canyon and beautiful Wentworth Falls. We had visited a couple waterfalls on the first day - including one that was directly above a cliff that dropped off several hundred feet - but Wentworth Falls was the paragon of waterfalls. It must have been 300 feet tall, with the water falling in the air for about 200 feet before hitting rock and moving gracefully down the final 100 feet into a pool at the base. Also, there was a sandy beach. A sandy beach in the mountains! I couldn't believe it. The water here was also freezing, but I told myself I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn’t swim in one waterfall, so I waded in and stood around the stream of water for 10 seconds. Refreshing is the best word to describe that.
I also received a visit from a friend while I was at the falls. I was lying on a rock, reading my book, when a rather large lizard slid up ever so slyly behind me. It had no cruel intentions, but it still took me by surprise. I took a couple pictures of it and decided to sit up while I finished the chapter I was reading.
Finally I decided I ought to leave the falls. An interesting fact: I was without a watch on this trip, so I often had to gauge what time it was or ask somebody. On Day 2 I didn't run into many people - definitely a good thing, except that I often had no real idea what time it was. After departing the falls, I travelled up an extremely steep set of stairs to the National Pass. The stairs must have been 80 degrees, no joke. I had to lean forward, with my hands gripping the railings to make it up them. At the top, a sign noted what I had already realized: "Experienced Hikers Only." Good thing I've done some hiking.
The National Pass was an interesting path. Most of the way, it was directly below an overhanging cliff, occasionally making me duck. Also, most of it was transparently man-made. Rocks laid out acted as stepping stones, making for a nice and easy hike. At the end of the National Pass, I reconnected with the Valley of Waters. I then hiked the one trail in the area that was left on my list: the Nature Trail. The NT took me up, way above the valley, eventually to the road, but not before I passed some beautiful rock lookouts (not man-made whatsoever) and a pool where, from behind some rocks, I could tell some skinny-dipping was in full-swing. It was a nice, sometimes arduous end to my climbing adventure.
So there you have it, my hiking experience in the Blue Mountains. Once I return home, I'll be sure to share pictures of it. Again, it is completely different from hiking in New Hampshire - and not as difficult - but it was enjoyable and worthwhile all the same.
And the views... well you'll just have to see for yourself.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Sports blog: check it out
hey everyone,
I believe I e-mailed most of you, but for those I missed, I have set up an exclusive sports blog: www.sportstakewithjake.blogspot.com. Please check it out. It will feature a daily column in addition to a daily wrap-up column about the day's actions, transactions, off-the-field histrionics, you get the idea. Because of this new site, you all not so interested in my sports writing won't have to sift through it on this blog. This is now exclusively my Sydney blog. Expect an entry by the end of this weekend about my trip to the Blue Mountains that I'm embarking on tomorrow morning.
As always, please post comments on either blog about my writing or anything else. I appreciate the feedbck. You can also e-mail me at jbl10@albion.edu.
thanks,
jake
I believe I e-mailed most of you, but for those I missed, I have set up an exclusive sports blog: www.sportstakewithjake.blogspot.com. Please check it out. It will feature a daily column in addition to a daily wrap-up column about the day's actions, transactions, off-the-field histrionics, you get the idea. Because of this new site, you all not so interested in my sports writing won't have to sift through it on this blog. This is now exclusively my Sydney blog. Expect an entry by the end of this weekend about my trip to the Blue Mountains that I'm embarking on tomorrow morning.
As always, please post comments on either blog about my writing or anything else. I appreciate the feedbck. You can also e-mail me at jbl10@albion.edu.
thanks,
jake
Sunday, November 05, 2006
NBA playoffs preview
This is gonna be abridged. Only because it's 4:30 a.m. here and I'm starting to fatigue. But don't worry, my mind is still sharp. At least in terms of basketball knowledge. Here's a round-by-round look at the playoffs.
FIRST ROUND
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit def. (8) Orlando 4-1
Darko can't defeat his old team. Billups posts up Nelson all day long.
(2) Miami def. (7) Indiana 4-2
Jermaine O'Neal has great series, but in the end too much Wade, and Shaq steps up.
(3) New Jersey def. (6) Washington 4-3
Great series showdown between Arenas and Carter. Jason Kidd makes the difference at end.
(4) Cleveland def. (5) Chicago 4-1
Zeke has a huge series against tired Big Ben. LeBron wins a game in the final seconds.
Western Conference
(1) Phoenix def. (8) Denver 4-0
Raja Bell shuts down 'Melo, leaving Nuggets hopeless.
(2) Dallas def. (7) Houston 4-2
Not an easy series, but in end Dallas has too much firepower. Yao worn out by big-bodied Dallas centers.
(6) LA Lakers def. (3) Utah 4-3
Kobe shows up this time in Game 7, lights up the Staples Center.
(4) San Antonio def. (5) LA Clippers 4-3
Manuficent: Ginobli carries Spurs, as Brand and Duncan cancel each other out. Horry hits big Game 7 trey.
SECOND ROUND
Eastern Conference
(4)Cleveland def. (1) Detroit 4-2
Too much LeBron for Pistons to handle. Plus, Marshall, Jones and Hughes hit open shots.
(2) Miami def. (3) New Jersey 4-2
Rematch from last year yields similar result.
Western Conference
(4) San Antonio def. (1) Phoenix 4-3
Can't go against the Spurs after a disappointing season. TD carries them this round.
(2) Dallas def. (6) LA Lakers 4-1
Devin Harris blows by Lakers' point guards, Josh Howards contains Kobe. No one on LA can stop Dirk.
CONFERENCE FINALS
Eastern Conference
(2) Miami def. (4) Cleveland 4-3
What a series! LeBron-Wade is a matchup to remember. In the end, Wade has more support, as role players step up in Game 7. Plus, it's in Miami, where Wade gets more calls.
Western Conference
(4) San Antonio def. (2) Dallas 4-2
Spurs get their revenge from last year. Tony Parker has huge series, Bruce Bowens hounds Jason Terry, and Jackie Butler comes in off bench to do a good job on Dirk. Big D doesn't have an answer for Duncan.
FINALS
San Antonio def. Miami 4-2
Finally, Wade runs out of gas. And the ancient lineup around him doesn't have much left either. Although Shaq has big-scoring series against no-name SA centers, TD and Manu prove to be too much and the Spurs win their fourth title in eight years.
- Finals MVP: Who else? Tim Duncan
FIRST ROUND
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit def. (8) Orlando 4-1
Darko can't defeat his old team. Billups posts up Nelson all day long.
(2) Miami def. (7) Indiana 4-2
Jermaine O'Neal has great series, but in the end too much Wade, and Shaq steps up.
(3) New Jersey def. (6) Washington 4-3
Great series showdown between Arenas and Carter. Jason Kidd makes the difference at end.
(4) Cleveland def. (5) Chicago 4-1
Zeke has a huge series against tired Big Ben. LeBron wins a game in the final seconds.
Western Conference
(1) Phoenix def. (8) Denver 4-0
Raja Bell shuts down 'Melo, leaving Nuggets hopeless.
(2) Dallas def. (7) Houston 4-2
Not an easy series, but in end Dallas has too much firepower. Yao worn out by big-bodied Dallas centers.
(6) LA Lakers def. (3) Utah 4-3
Kobe shows up this time in Game 7, lights up the Staples Center.
(4) San Antonio def. (5) LA Clippers 4-3
Manuficent: Ginobli carries Spurs, as Brand and Duncan cancel each other out. Horry hits big Game 7 trey.
SECOND ROUND
Eastern Conference
(4)Cleveland def. (1) Detroit 4-2
Too much LeBron for Pistons to handle. Plus, Marshall, Jones and Hughes hit open shots.
(2) Miami def. (3) New Jersey 4-2
Rematch from last year yields similar result.
Western Conference
(4) San Antonio def. (1) Phoenix 4-3
Can't go against the Spurs after a disappointing season. TD carries them this round.
(2) Dallas def. (6) LA Lakers 4-1
Devin Harris blows by Lakers' point guards, Josh Howards contains Kobe. No one on LA can stop Dirk.
CONFERENCE FINALS
Eastern Conference
(2) Miami def. (4) Cleveland 4-3
What a series! LeBron-Wade is a matchup to remember. In the end, Wade has more support, as role players step up in Game 7. Plus, it's in Miami, where Wade gets more calls.
Western Conference
(4) San Antonio def. (2) Dallas 4-2
Spurs get their revenge from last year. Tony Parker has huge series, Bruce Bowens hounds Jason Terry, and Jackie Butler comes in off bench to do a good job on Dirk. Big D doesn't have an answer for Duncan.
FINALS
San Antonio def. Miami 4-2
Finally, Wade runs out of gas. And the ancient lineup around him doesn't have much left either. Although Shaq has big-scoring series against no-name SA centers, TD and Manu prove to be too much and the Spurs win their fourth title in eight years.
- Finals MVP: Who else? Tim Duncan
NBA preview part 2 - Western Conference
I couldn't go to sleep. I was too anxious to post this. Enjoy. Playoff preview coming up.
jake
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Northwest Division
No. 1 – Utah Jazz; 47-35 (6th in the West)
Jerry Sloan could be an annual pick for Coach of the Year the way he squeezes the most out of his roster. An average basketball fan would be hard-pressed to name a player on the Jazz’ roster, yet Sloan continues to keep his team respectable. This season the Jazz will return to the playoffs thanks to a roster of unselfish players hungry to find that success. Utah is very strong and deep at point guard, with Deron Williams running the show and veteran Derek Fisher as well as rookie Dee Brown, who alongside Williams nearly led Illinois to a national championship. Versatile big man Andrei Kirilenko will be able to do even more this season, playing small forward, and his backup, Matt Harpring, could win the Sixth Man of the Year award. The wild card is Carlos Boozer. He hasn’t settled in yet in Salt Lake City after leaving Cleveland. With Mehmet Okur playing a strong center and creating all kinds of matchup problems with his deadly three-point trigger, a healthy, stalwart Boozer could make the Jazz a title contender.
No. 2 – Denver Nuggets; 44-38 (8th in the West)
This should be a breakout year for Carmelo Anthony, who has watched his 2004 Draft classmate Wade win a championship and LeBron get all the props. ‘Melo started to show signs of becoming one of the league’s premier players toward the end of last season as the Nuggets made a belated run to the playoffs and he played well in Japan at the World Championships. Unfortunately for ‘Melo, he won’t have enough support to make this team’s fortunes any better than last year’s. With Kenyon Martin and coach George Karl not seeing eye-to-eye and Marcus Camby injury prone, the frontcourt could atrophy at any point during the season. Fundamentally sound point guards Andre Miller and Early Boykins won’t be able to direct this team to more than a brief appearance in the playoffs.
No. 3 – Minnesota Timberwolves; 40-42 (10th in the West)
Poor KG. It looks as if his stay in Minnesota will never lead to more than playoff disappointments. And this year the Timberwolves won’t even make the post-season. Not with Mark Blunt starting at center and little behind him, aside from offensive liability Mark Madsen and unproven rookie Craig Smith. The bright spot for this team could be rookie Randy Foye, who should battle for ROY honors. He’ll get plenty of playing time, playing behind the selfish Ricky Davis. If he and Smith have big rookie seasons, KG might be convinced to return for another Minnesota winter. Otherwise, he’d be smart to get out of town come summertime.
No. 4 – Portland Trailblazers; 26-56 (14th in the West)
I might be the only person not picking the Trailblazers to finish dead last in the West. Something tells me they’ll do just enough to finish ahead of the falling Supersonics. For one, they do have talent, they just need to find a way to harness it. Also, there are distractions in Seattle, with the constant talk of the team moving. As hard as it is to believe, there haven’t been any off-the-court incidents recently. Look for rookie Brandon Roy to content for the award that is his given name and for Zach Randolph to put up double-double numbers. Jamaal Magloire is a very solid big man off the bench. By season’s end, things might be looking up in Portland.
No. 5 – Seattle Supersonics; 25-57 (15th in the West)
By the end of the season, one thing is certain and another not so cemented. The certainty: the Sonics will be packing their bags for the off-season as others begin the playoffs. The uncertainty: they won’t know where they’ll be returning to for the 2007 season. Seattle? Oklahoma? We’ll see. The players can say that’s not a distraction, but it is. Not knowing if you’ll have to uproot your family to another city isn’t something you want to live with for a full season. Seattle, with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, will win some shootouts, but with an absolutely awful defense, they won’t be able to stop anyone. Unless Chris Wilcox clones himself four times, the Sonics will give up over 100 points in 70 games this season. That’s a recipe for implosion.
Southeast Division
No. 1 - Dallas Mavericks; 57-25 (2nd in the West)
As with Miami in the East, the Mavericks return all their key players – except for swingman Marquis Daniels, who is basically a mini Josh Howard. So as long as Howard stays healthy, they shouldn’t miss Daniels too much. In exchange for him, they got Anthony Johnson, a veteran point guard, from the Pacers. Unlike Miami, this team is hungrier than last year to get that title. And they realize this might be their last chance. Jerry Stackhouse, a key bench player, is on his last legs. We’ll see early on if the Mavs have been able to put that Finals’ collapse behind them. Even if they did, however, it won’t be easy to get back to the Finals. Phoenix with Amare Stoudemire will present an admirable challenge, and there’s another team in Texas – with a man named Duncan – that seems to win championships every other year.
No. 2 – San Antonio Spurs; 55-27 (3rd in the West)
This team was within a bad foul by Manu Ginobli of making the Finals. And Tim Duncan didn’t even have his usual consistently great season. Everybody returns this season except for big man Nazr Mohammed, who’s trying to fill Big Ben’s shoes in Big D. But let’s be honest, has it really mattered – since the Admiral’s departure - who plays alongside TD upfront? Not really. When he’s at his best, he’ll get the job done with a Bill Weddington at center. There has to be a sense of urgency within this team to send out its veterans victorious. Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen, Brent Barry and Michael Finley are all in the twilight of their careers and might just call it quits if they can win another title (or Barry’s and Finley’s first championship). Another key will be the stamina of Ginobli. Last season he seemed worn down by playoff time, undoubtedly exhausted by his year-round schedule. If Gregg Popovich is smart, he’ll make sure to limit Ginobli’s minutes a bit during the regular season so he can get a fresh Manu come April, May and June.
No. 3 – Houston Rockets; 47-35 (7th in the West)
This team is loaded with talented, proven players. So why am I not picking the Rockets higher in the West? One word: injuries. Tracey McGrady and Yao Ming only played together for 30-something games last season. That can’t happen again. Yes, Bonzi Wells was a huge off-season acquisition. But how happy is he going to be coming off the bench? And he has also dealt with injury issues in the past. If the Rockets stay healthy the entire season, they could win the division. If they suffer a repeat of last year, they could miss the playoffs. That’s the long and the short of the matter. You also have to worry about the center position, where behind Yao, veteran Dikembe Mutumbo is Houston’s only other center. Mutumbo is on his last legs and is half the player he was five years ago. Houston might regret not finding a young, athletic center to back up the big man.
No. 4 – New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets; 42-40 (9th in the West)
A plethora of expert are high on this team, and they have some good reasons. Reigning ROY Chris Paul will only be better. Power forward David West is becoming the next Robert Horry. They signed deadly outside shooter Peja Stojakovich, who will likely give Paul dozens of assists. But in the powerful Western Conference, I still don’t see this team in the playoffs. Not yet. They’re one piece away. They traded away veteran team leader P.J. Brown to the Bulls for Tyson Chandler, who will be the key to their success or failure. Chandler has yet to prove himself as a consistent offensive force in the league. If he becomes one, this team will make the playoffs. I don’t see it happens. Not yet.
No. 5 – Memphis Grizzlies; 31-51 (13th in the West)
No Pau, no punch for the Grizz. That’s the basic parable here. With big man Pau Gasol out for probably the first two months of the season, recovering from foot surgery, this team will struggle mightily. There will then be a period of Gasol trying to regain form and mold again with his teammates. And finally, by the middle of February, this will be a .500 team. Maybe. By then, any hopes of a successful season will be in flames. But it will be interesting to see rookie Rudy Gay. It’s obvious the versatile small forward has a wealth of potential, but he was criticized in college for at times appearing non-responsive on the court. This will be his proving season. Of all the rookies, I think he might have the most potential.
Pacific Division
No. 1 – Phoenix Suns; 60-22 (1st in the West)
Every NBA expert is talking about the return of Amare Stoudemire and how he’ll rebound from last season’s knee surgery. I’ll do the same, but first let me address the exit of a player that I think will hurt the Suns. Although he could be mercurial at times, Tim Thomas was a very solid player for the Suns in the playoffs last season. If not for his clutch 3-pointer at the end of regulation in Game 6 of the first round against the Lakers, the Suns would have been done right there. Thomas left for the Clippers, and the Suns didn’t find anyone to replace him. Instead, they signed Marcus Banks, an unproven point guard. And they didn’t even need a backup PG. Leandro Barbosa was also very impressive in last year’s postseason. Now to Amare. If he regains his form of two seasons ago, this team will be very difficult to beat – regardless of its defensive ineptitude. I don’t think he will. He’ll be a solid 20-and-10 player, but he won’t be indomitable. And neither will the Suns come playoff time.
No. 2 – Los Angeles Clippers; 52-30 (4th in the West)
It was difficult to pick between the Lakers and Clippers for the fourth spot. The main reason the Clippers will edge the Lakers is they have better supporting players around their star. And, yes, Elton Brand is a star. He just doesn’t get the pub Kobe does. He’s consistent, he never misses games, and he brings a positive attitude to the locker room. He along with the interminable Sam Cassell would be enough to get a team to the playoffs. But this squad is loaded with talent. Almost too much talent. Everyone except Vladimir Radmonovich returns from last season, and he’s replaced by Tim Thomas, who I think is better. With a year under his belt, Shaun Livingston will feel more comfortable running the offense when he spells Cassell, and Quinton Ross could be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. This team is dangerous. Mark my words.
No. 3 – Los Angeles Lakers; 50-32 (5th in the West)
No Kobe, no problems. That’s what the Lakers said the first two games, as they won sans Kobe Bryant. Now he’s back, his boys are more confident, and they’re all hungry to erase from Jack Nicholson’s mind the memory of their collapse during last year’s playoffs. Lamar Odom showed signs last year that he’s ready to step up and be a leader alongside Kobe. Luke Walton might be the best Lakers’ passer since Magic. And Smush Parker will be pushed by rookie Jordan Farmar, making the both of them better. I still don’t see this team as a title contender, however (although Kobe could easily will them victories in games they should lose). Their centers – Andrew Bynum, Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown – are mediocre, and Kobe’s lone backup, Aaron McKie, is slowing down (I didn’t even know he was still in the league). So Kobe will have to play big minutes. This team could win one or two playoff series, but I don’t see them going farther than that.
No. 4 – Sacramento Kings; 38-44 (11th in the West)
They might not admit it, but this team is smarting after losing Bonzi Wells to free agency. He played amazing against the Spurs in the playoffs, giving the defending champs a huge scare. And Ron Artest loved him and vouched inexorably for him to return. You don’t want Mr. Artest to get upset. Bad things can happen. Mike Bibby seemed a little worn down toward the end of last season. But without a strong backup, the Kings’ point guard will likely play big minutes once again. How long will he be able to hold up? A key player for the Kings is Kevin Martin, who made a name for himself in the playoffs with his buzzer-beating layup over Tim Duncan in Game 3 of their first-round series. He has shown flashes of brilliance at times, but I’m still circumspect. He’s undersized, allowing bigger shooting guards to post him up and wear him down. Hopefully for the Kings, Martin will have a big season, allowing fans in Sactown to slowly forget about the man named Bonzi.
No. 5 – Golden State Warriors; 35-47 (12th in the West)
This team is so soft, I could lay my head down on them and fall asleep. With Mike Dunleavy, more of a SF, at power forward, and Troy Murphy at center, no one – and I mean no one – will be afraid to attack the basket. The Warriors are a bad version of the Suns. They don’t play much defense – and that shouldn’t change with the hiring of Don Nelson as coach – and their offense is the amateur version of the Suns.’ Sure, Baron Davis and Jason Richardson will hook up on some alley oops that make SportsCenter, but they won’t do much else. This team will be fun to watch, but not fun to bet on.
jake
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Northwest Division
No. 1 – Utah Jazz; 47-35 (6th in the West)
Jerry Sloan could be an annual pick for Coach of the Year the way he squeezes the most out of his roster. An average basketball fan would be hard-pressed to name a player on the Jazz’ roster, yet Sloan continues to keep his team respectable. This season the Jazz will return to the playoffs thanks to a roster of unselfish players hungry to find that success. Utah is very strong and deep at point guard, with Deron Williams running the show and veteran Derek Fisher as well as rookie Dee Brown, who alongside Williams nearly led Illinois to a national championship. Versatile big man Andrei Kirilenko will be able to do even more this season, playing small forward, and his backup, Matt Harpring, could win the Sixth Man of the Year award. The wild card is Carlos Boozer. He hasn’t settled in yet in Salt Lake City after leaving Cleveland. With Mehmet Okur playing a strong center and creating all kinds of matchup problems with his deadly three-point trigger, a healthy, stalwart Boozer could make the Jazz a title contender.
No. 2 – Denver Nuggets; 44-38 (8th in the West)
This should be a breakout year for Carmelo Anthony, who has watched his 2004 Draft classmate Wade win a championship and LeBron get all the props. ‘Melo started to show signs of becoming one of the league’s premier players toward the end of last season as the Nuggets made a belated run to the playoffs and he played well in Japan at the World Championships. Unfortunately for ‘Melo, he won’t have enough support to make this team’s fortunes any better than last year’s. With Kenyon Martin and coach George Karl not seeing eye-to-eye and Marcus Camby injury prone, the frontcourt could atrophy at any point during the season. Fundamentally sound point guards Andre Miller and Early Boykins won’t be able to direct this team to more than a brief appearance in the playoffs.
No. 3 – Minnesota Timberwolves; 40-42 (10th in the West)
Poor KG. It looks as if his stay in Minnesota will never lead to more than playoff disappointments. And this year the Timberwolves won’t even make the post-season. Not with Mark Blunt starting at center and little behind him, aside from offensive liability Mark Madsen and unproven rookie Craig Smith. The bright spot for this team could be rookie Randy Foye, who should battle for ROY honors. He’ll get plenty of playing time, playing behind the selfish Ricky Davis. If he and Smith have big rookie seasons, KG might be convinced to return for another Minnesota winter. Otherwise, he’d be smart to get out of town come summertime.
No. 4 – Portland Trailblazers; 26-56 (14th in the West)
I might be the only person not picking the Trailblazers to finish dead last in the West. Something tells me they’ll do just enough to finish ahead of the falling Supersonics. For one, they do have talent, they just need to find a way to harness it. Also, there are distractions in Seattle, with the constant talk of the team moving. As hard as it is to believe, there haven’t been any off-the-court incidents recently. Look for rookie Brandon Roy to content for the award that is his given name and for Zach Randolph to put up double-double numbers. Jamaal Magloire is a very solid big man off the bench. By season’s end, things might be looking up in Portland.
No. 5 – Seattle Supersonics; 25-57 (15th in the West)
By the end of the season, one thing is certain and another not so cemented. The certainty: the Sonics will be packing their bags for the off-season as others begin the playoffs. The uncertainty: they won’t know where they’ll be returning to for the 2007 season. Seattle? Oklahoma? We’ll see. The players can say that’s not a distraction, but it is. Not knowing if you’ll have to uproot your family to another city isn’t something you want to live with for a full season. Seattle, with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, will win some shootouts, but with an absolutely awful defense, they won’t be able to stop anyone. Unless Chris Wilcox clones himself four times, the Sonics will give up over 100 points in 70 games this season. That’s a recipe for implosion.
Southeast Division
No. 1 - Dallas Mavericks; 57-25 (2nd in the West)
As with Miami in the East, the Mavericks return all their key players – except for swingman Marquis Daniels, who is basically a mini Josh Howard. So as long as Howard stays healthy, they shouldn’t miss Daniels too much. In exchange for him, they got Anthony Johnson, a veteran point guard, from the Pacers. Unlike Miami, this team is hungrier than last year to get that title. And they realize this might be their last chance. Jerry Stackhouse, a key bench player, is on his last legs. We’ll see early on if the Mavs have been able to put that Finals’ collapse behind them. Even if they did, however, it won’t be easy to get back to the Finals. Phoenix with Amare Stoudemire will present an admirable challenge, and there’s another team in Texas – with a man named Duncan – that seems to win championships every other year.
No. 2 – San Antonio Spurs; 55-27 (3rd in the West)
This team was within a bad foul by Manu Ginobli of making the Finals. And Tim Duncan didn’t even have his usual consistently great season. Everybody returns this season except for big man Nazr Mohammed, who’s trying to fill Big Ben’s shoes in Big D. But let’s be honest, has it really mattered – since the Admiral’s departure - who plays alongside TD upfront? Not really. When he’s at his best, he’ll get the job done with a Bill Weddington at center. There has to be a sense of urgency within this team to send out its veterans victorious. Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen, Brent Barry and Michael Finley are all in the twilight of their careers and might just call it quits if they can win another title (or Barry’s and Finley’s first championship). Another key will be the stamina of Ginobli. Last season he seemed worn down by playoff time, undoubtedly exhausted by his year-round schedule. If Gregg Popovich is smart, he’ll make sure to limit Ginobli’s minutes a bit during the regular season so he can get a fresh Manu come April, May and June.
No. 3 – Houston Rockets; 47-35 (7th in the West)
This team is loaded with talented, proven players. So why am I not picking the Rockets higher in the West? One word: injuries. Tracey McGrady and Yao Ming only played together for 30-something games last season. That can’t happen again. Yes, Bonzi Wells was a huge off-season acquisition. But how happy is he going to be coming off the bench? And he has also dealt with injury issues in the past. If the Rockets stay healthy the entire season, they could win the division. If they suffer a repeat of last year, they could miss the playoffs. That’s the long and the short of the matter. You also have to worry about the center position, where behind Yao, veteran Dikembe Mutumbo is Houston’s only other center. Mutumbo is on his last legs and is half the player he was five years ago. Houston might regret not finding a young, athletic center to back up the big man.
No. 4 – New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets; 42-40 (9th in the West)
A plethora of expert are high on this team, and they have some good reasons. Reigning ROY Chris Paul will only be better. Power forward David West is becoming the next Robert Horry. They signed deadly outside shooter Peja Stojakovich, who will likely give Paul dozens of assists. But in the powerful Western Conference, I still don’t see this team in the playoffs. Not yet. They’re one piece away. They traded away veteran team leader P.J. Brown to the Bulls for Tyson Chandler, who will be the key to their success or failure. Chandler has yet to prove himself as a consistent offensive force in the league. If he becomes one, this team will make the playoffs. I don’t see it happens. Not yet.
No. 5 – Memphis Grizzlies; 31-51 (13th in the West)
No Pau, no punch for the Grizz. That’s the basic parable here. With big man Pau Gasol out for probably the first two months of the season, recovering from foot surgery, this team will struggle mightily. There will then be a period of Gasol trying to regain form and mold again with his teammates. And finally, by the middle of February, this will be a .500 team. Maybe. By then, any hopes of a successful season will be in flames. But it will be interesting to see rookie Rudy Gay. It’s obvious the versatile small forward has a wealth of potential, but he was criticized in college for at times appearing non-responsive on the court. This will be his proving season. Of all the rookies, I think he might have the most potential.
Pacific Division
No. 1 – Phoenix Suns; 60-22 (1st in the West)
Every NBA expert is talking about the return of Amare Stoudemire and how he’ll rebound from last season’s knee surgery. I’ll do the same, but first let me address the exit of a player that I think will hurt the Suns. Although he could be mercurial at times, Tim Thomas was a very solid player for the Suns in the playoffs last season. If not for his clutch 3-pointer at the end of regulation in Game 6 of the first round against the Lakers, the Suns would have been done right there. Thomas left for the Clippers, and the Suns didn’t find anyone to replace him. Instead, they signed Marcus Banks, an unproven point guard. And they didn’t even need a backup PG. Leandro Barbosa was also very impressive in last year’s postseason. Now to Amare. If he regains his form of two seasons ago, this team will be very difficult to beat – regardless of its defensive ineptitude. I don’t think he will. He’ll be a solid 20-and-10 player, but he won’t be indomitable. And neither will the Suns come playoff time.
No. 2 – Los Angeles Clippers; 52-30 (4th in the West)
It was difficult to pick between the Lakers and Clippers for the fourth spot. The main reason the Clippers will edge the Lakers is they have better supporting players around their star. And, yes, Elton Brand is a star. He just doesn’t get the pub Kobe does. He’s consistent, he never misses games, and he brings a positive attitude to the locker room. He along with the interminable Sam Cassell would be enough to get a team to the playoffs. But this squad is loaded with talent. Almost too much talent. Everyone except Vladimir Radmonovich returns from last season, and he’s replaced by Tim Thomas, who I think is better. With a year under his belt, Shaun Livingston will feel more comfortable running the offense when he spells Cassell, and Quinton Ross could be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. This team is dangerous. Mark my words.
No. 3 – Los Angeles Lakers; 50-32 (5th in the West)
No Kobe, no problems. That’s what the Lakers said the first two games, as they won sans Kobe Bryant. Now he’s back, his boys are more confident, and they’re all hungry to erase from Jack Nicholson’s mind the memory of their collapse during last year’s playoffs. Lamar Odom showed signs last year that he’s ready to step up and be a leader alongside Kobe. Luke Walton might be the best Lakers’ passer since Magic. And Smush Parker will be pushed by rookie Jordan Farmar, making the both of them better. I still don’t see this team as a title contender, however (although Kobe could easily will them victories in games they should lose). Their centers – Andrew Bynum, Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown – are mediocre, and Kobe’s lone backup, Aaron McKie, is slowing down (I didn’t even know he was still in the league). So Kobe will have to play big minutes. This team could win one or two playoff series, but I don’t see them going farther than that.
No. 4 – Sacramento Kings; 38-44 (11th in the West)
They might not admit it, but this team is smarting after losing Bonzi Wells to free agency. He played amazing against the Spurs in the playoffs, giving the defending champs a huge scare. And Ron Artest loved him and vouched inexorably for him to return. You don’t want Mr. Artest to get upset. Bad things can happen. Mike Bibby seemed a little worn down toward the end of last season. But without a strong backup, the Kings’ point guard will likely play big minutes once again. How long will he be able to hold up? A key player for the Kings is Kevin Martin, who made a name for himself in the playoffs with his buzzer-beating layup over Tim Duncan in Game 3 of their first-round series. He has shown flashes of brilliance at times, but I’m still circumspect. He’s undersized, allowing bigger shooting guards to post him up and wear him down. Hopefully for the Kings, Martin will have a big season, allowing fans in Sactown to slowly forget about the man named Bonzi.
No. 5 – Golden State Warriors; 35-47 (12th in the West)
This team is so soft, I could lay my head down on them and fall asleep. With Mike Dunleavy, more of a SF, at power forward, and Troy Murphy at center, no one – and I mean no one – will be afraid to attack the basket. The Warriors are a bad version of the Suns. They don’t play much defense – and that shouldn’t change with the hiring of Don Nelson as coach – and their offense is the amateur version of the Suns.’ Sure, Baron Davis and Jason Richardson will hook up on some alley oops that make SportsCenter, but they won’t do much else. This team will be fun to watch, but not fun to bet on.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
The Prince Alfred Park experience
Yesterday, my friends Steve and Andrew (we call him Spiderman)and I hooped at Rucker Park. Sorry, just kidding. It only seemed like Rucker. Well, kind of.
Prince Alfred Park, located near Red Fern in Sydney, is very reminiscent of New York's famous streetball bastion. Directly behind the two full courts are the subway tracks. Every 30 seconds or so, a train whistles by. There is a large deposit of trash on the train side of the rusty fence between the courts and train tracks, but some trash has managed to intrude the court. Yesterday, with the wind blowing and the sky overcast, blowing plastic bags were an extra defender.
And while the court was empty yesterday (there were a mere four other guys, who we played some 3s with), it is a pretty popular place on sunnier days. When Steve and I first found it last weekend, there must have been 50 cats with their trunks and sneaks on, either ballin’ or waiting their turn. It was the place to be.
Even an apparent homeless man camps out on the outskirts of the court. His tent was there both times we stopped by. Sometimes, you just can’t afford to miss a single game.
Which brings me to the non-Rucker thing about Prince Alfred Park. The ballers. There’s no Goat, no playground legend. At least from what I’ve seen so far. On the backboard, there is a warning that dunking could cause death. How can you create streetball legends without reverse slams and alley oops? You can’t, you just can’t.
So obviously, in order to go down in Prince Alfred Park lore, you got to die. Plain and simple. Now that’s hardcore, Rucker.
To be quite honest, I felt some Rucker in me yesterday. Although I couldn’t hit an outside jumper for my life, when I went up for what is usually a faint-hearted attempt at a block, I felt lifted, soaring two feet in the air to smack this dude’s layup attempt.
“Get that %^$# outta here!” I thought to myself. “Don’t come to Prince Alfred with that weak $%$#”
And that one instance, on the windswept courts of Prince Alfred, will be my PAP moment to remember. I’ll never forget it.
I know that not even a 10-inch growth spurt would ever get me on Rucker. But PAP is playground enough for me. A place where I can establish myself as a streetballin’ legend.
At least in my mind.
Prince Alfred Park, located near Red Fern in Sydney, is very reminiscent of New York's famous streetball bastion. Directly behind the two full courts are the subway tracks. Every 30 seconds or so, a train whistles by. There is a large deposit of trash on the train side of the rusty fence between the courts and train tracks, but some trash has managed to intrude the court. Yesterday, with the wind blowing and the sky overcast, blowing plastic bags were an extra defender.
And while the court was empty yesterday (there were a mere four other guys, who we played some 3s with), it is a pretty popular place on sunnier days. When Steve and I first found it last weekend, there must have been 50 cats with their trunks and sneaks on, either ballin’ or waiting their turn. It was the place to be.
Even an apparent homeless man camps out on the outskirts of the court. His tent was there both times we stopped by. Sometimes, you just can’t afford to miss a single game.
Which brings me to the non-Rucker thing about Prince Alfred Park. The ballers. There’s no Goat, no playground legend. At least from what I’ve seen so far. On the backboard, there is a warning that dunking could cause death. How can you create streetball legends without reverse slams and alley oops? You can’t, you just can’t.
So obviously, in order to go down in Prince Alfred Park lore, you got to die. Plain and simple. Now that’s hardcore, Rucker.
To be quite honest, I felt some Rucker in me yesterday. Although I couldn’t hit an outside jumper for my life, when I went up for what is usually a faint-hearted attempt at a block, I felt lifted, soaring two feet in the air to smack this dude’s layup attempt.
“Get that %^$# outta here!” I thought to myself. “Don’t come to Prince Alfred with that weak $%$#”
And that one instance, on the windswept courts of Prince Alfred, will be my PAP moment to remember. I’ll never forget it.
I know that not even a 10-inch growth spurt would ever get me on Rucker. But PAP is playground enough for me. A place where I can establish myself as a streetballin’ legend.
At least in my mind.
NBA preview - Eastern Conference
OK, no joking around. It's time to get down to business. Before I give you the abridged version of my NBA preview, let me just make myself clear that I claim no responsibility for dollars or horses lost over bets made because of my picks. With that said, here's a team-by-team outlook of the Eastern Conference. Western Conference and playoff preview will come your way tomorrow.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
No. 1 - Detroit Pistons; 56-26 (1st in the East)
Despite a no-longer-scary defense and an offense that can become very stagnant, as witnessed during the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Pistons still have the best starting lineup in basketball and an improved bench. Flip Saunders won't play his starters as much during the regular season this time around - a lesson learned, unfortunately, during the playoffs. That will result in a few less wins, but still the top seed in the East. Just barely.
No. 2 - Cleveland Cavaliers; 54-28 (2nd in the East)
This team, as young and talented as it is, is only going to improve, which has to be a frightening thought for the rest of the league. And, yes, LeBron will be even better as well. The key is how well LeBron and Larry Hughes - who was injured for a good chunk of last season and missed most of the Cavs' playoff action - will be able to work together. If Hughes regains the offensive repertoire he branded in Washington, watch out, this could be a dynamic duo. Also, of course, LeBron has to stay health. A LeBronless Cleveland team is just another Atlanta Hawks, except without a single player who can jump through the roof.
No. 3 - Chicago Bulls; 49-33 (5th in the East)
Great defensive team, but do they have enough firepower to become contenders? I'm not so sure. This is a perimeter-oriented team on offensive, which means they are going to be streaky, as witness by their first two games (a blowout win over the defending champion Heat and an ugly loss to the Magic). Their defense will keep them in most games, but they won’t go far in the playoffs without that low-post threat.
No. 4 – Indiana Pacers; 43-39 (7th in East)
How great a job has Rick Carlisle done just to keep this team afloat and respectable the past few years with all the off-the-court distractions? And now, Stephen Jackson almost gets shot? How much more can this team take? Well, somehow they’re still a playoff team. As long as Jermaine O’Neal stays healthy, which is a big IF. Youngsters Danny Granger and newly acquired Marquis Daniels should bring some aggressiveness to the court that has been lacking since Mr. Artest’s departure.
No. 5 – Milwaukee Bucks; 37-45 (9th in the East)
Not a bad team, but not a playoff team. Getting Charlie Villanueva from Toronto was a plus. He and Andrew Bogut will complement each other in the post, just like Villanueva and Josh Boone did at UConn. Michael Redd might be the most underrated player in the league. Never gets much attention, playing in media-lacking Milwaukee, but always puts up big numbers, often carrying the Bucks on his shoulders. If they want to become playoff worthy, the players around him will need to lighten that load.
Atlantic Division
No. 1 – New Jersey Nets; 50-32 (4th in the East)
Lucky Nets. A handful of college teams could finish in the top half of this division. Yeah, it’s that bad. Thankfully for Atlantic Division fans (if there are any) the Nets have managed to remain a solid team under coach Lawrence Frank. The good news this year is that it’s a contract season for Vince Carter. He’s gonna play hard all the time. At least I think. Marcus Williams was a steal in the draft. If he can spell Jason Kidd enough to allow the aging star some rest, this team could be dangerous come playoff time.
No. 2 – Philadelphia 76rs; 35-47 (10th in the East)
The only reason they will finish this high in the division because of how utterly awful the division is (did I mention that?). And because of AI. Despite all the trade talk, he’s still one of the league’s best players and he hates to lose. He’s a lock to win a few games by himself each year. Besides aging Chris Weber, this team has a group of athletic young guns to support AI. Kyle Korver, Andre Iguodala, and Samuel Dalembert all have upside. But not enough to let this team even smell the playoffs.
No. 3 – New York Knicks; 34-48 (11th in the East)
I don’t know why, but something in my head keeps telling me the Knicks will somehow make the playoffs. I’m not listening to that voice. Yes, they have talent. Yes, they have a HUGE payroll. But it doesn’t matter. You need to have chemistry to win in this league. The Knicks don’t have that. They’re the Mavericks before they got good. A bunch of players who want to shoot. The biggest story will be seeing how long it takes for Isiah to get pushed out the door.
No. 4 – Toronto Raptors; 32-50 (12th in the East)
I like three players on this team: Chris Bosh, T.J. Ford (acquired during the off-season), and Morris Peterson. Unfortunately, those three aren’t good enough to breed optimism in Canada. I didn’t like the drafting of Andrea Bargnani, and Rasho Nesterovic should not be a starting center in the NBA. With Bosh, Ford and Peterson, this franchise has a foundation for success. Now it needs to build on it.
No. 5 – Boston Celtics; 28-54 (13th in the East)
Red won’t be missing much this season. The Celtics have hit rock-bottom. Their starting center, Theo Ratliff, is old and can’t score (somehow, he can still block shots though). Their starting point guard, Sebastien Telfair, can’t escape his off-court issues. And while Paul Pierce can still shoot the lights out on a given night, you have to wonder how much motivation he still has with all the young players who have come to the organization with promise and ended up pancakes. Rajon Rondo could be next.
Southeast Division
No. 1 – Miami Heat; 52-30
Logically, this team should simply go out and win the whole thing again. After all, every single ingredient returns from last year. However, many of those ingredients have sitting in the fridge for too long. GP, ‘Zo, Shaq and ‘Toine are all on their last legs. And you can’t help but wonder how motivated these guys are now that they got their championship. Still, the Heat have one of the best three players in the league in Dwyane Wade, and he will carry them all season long. The dilemma for Pat Riley: how much should he play Wade in an effort to A) win the division and get a good playoff seed; B) keep him rested for another playoff run. Should be interesting to see how things unfold.
No. 2 – Washington Wizards; 46-36 (6th in the East)
No one’s talking about the Wizards, but you can’t ignore their Big Three of Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. Together, they can keep the Wizards in any game. I’m very skeptical of starting DeShawn Stevenson, an unproven player, and starting center Brandon Haywood is still nothing more than mediocre. But if the Big Three stay healthy, this team will finish right around where they did last year. And I wouldn’t want to play them in a first-round playoff series.
No. 3 – Orlando Magic; 41-41 (8th in the East)
There are a lot of questions with this team, such as: Will Grant Hill stay healthy? And will Darko Milicic back up what everybody is saying and be a serviceable and maybe even potent backup center to Dwight Howard? To start off, if the answers to those two questions are resounding “Yeses” this team is better than 41-41. Dwight Howard, as he showed at the World Championships in Japan, is developing into one of the conference’s best centers right behind Shaq. And Jameer Nelson is silencing all his doubters, becoming a consistent point guard in the league despite his lack of height. There are lots of questions, but also lots of optimism, surround this squad.
No. 4 – Charlotte Bobcats; 26-56 (14th in the East)
I know people want to say this team is on the rise, but I don’t see any rising happening this year. Their backcourt is extremely thin, and with Raymond Felton starting at shooting guard (definitely not his position), point guard Brevin Knight, almost 31, has no backup. Not good news for the ‘Cats. The only sanguinity surrounding this team involves the arrival of two highly-talked-about individuals: No. 3 draft pick Adam Morrison, and new GM Michael Jordan. Morrison should get plenty of court time, and if he and fellow youngster Felton and Sean May evolve their games, there could be reason for optimism come next fall.
No. 5 – Atlanta Hawks; 25-57 (15th in the East)
Well, at least they made one good off-season move (the first in a decade) when they picked up underrated point guard Speedy Claxton. Yep, that’s about the only good thing I can say about a team that is establishing a new mantra for bad NBA teams: lose with exciting players. Josh Smith can flat-out jump; Josh Childress’ ‘fro is tight; and their starting center’s name is Zaza. But unless the Hawks somehow steal AI from Philly or KG from Minnesota in a mid-season deal, they’ll be staying consistent. Consistently bad.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
No. 1 - Detroit Pistons; 56-26 (1st in the East)
Despite a no-longer-scary defense and an offense that can become very stagnant, as witnessed during the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Pistons still have the best starting lineup in basketball and an improved bench. Flip Saunders won't play his starters as much during the regular season this time around - a lesson learned, unfortunately, during the playoffs. That will result in a few less wins, but still the top seed in the East. Just barely.
No. 2 - Cleveland Cavaliers; 54-28 (2nd in the East)
This team, as young and talented as it is, is only going to improve, which has to be a frightening thought for the rest of the league. And, yes, LeBron will be even better as well. The key is how well LeBron and Larry Hughes - who was injured for a good chunk of last season and missed most of the Cavs' playoff action - will be able to work together. If Hughes regains the offensive repertoire he branded in Washington, watch out, this could be a dynamic duo. Also, of course, LeBron has to stay health. A LeBronless Cleveland team is just another Atlanta Hawks, except without a single player who can jump through the roof.
No. 3 - Chicago Bulls; 49-33 (5th in the East)
Great defensive team, but do they have enough firepower to become contenders? I'm not so sure. This is a perimeter-oriented team on offensive, which means they are going to be streaky, as witness by their first two games (a blowout win over the defending champion Heat and an ugly loss to the Magic). Their defense will keep them in most games, but they won’t go far in the playoffs without that low-post threat.
No. 4 – Indiana Pacers; 43-39 (7th in East)
How great a job has Rick Carlisle done just to keep this team afloat and respectable the past few years with all the off-the-court distractions? And now, Stephen Jackson almost gets shot? How much more can this team take? Well, somehow they’re still a playoff team. As long as Jermaine O’Neal stays healthy, which is a big IF. Youngsters Danny Granger and newly acquired Marquis Daniels should bring some aggressiveness to the court that has been lacking since Mr. Artest’s departure.
No. 5 – Milwaukee Bucks; 37-45 (9th in the East)
Not a bad team, but not a playoff team. Getting Charlie Villanueva from Toronto was a plus. He and Andrew Bogut will complement each other in the post, just like Villanueva and Josh Boone did at UConn. Michael Redd might be the most underrated player in the league. Never gets much attention, playing in media-lacking Milwaukee, but always puts up big numbers, often carrying the Bucks on his shoulders. If they want to become playoff worthy, the players around him will need to lighten that load.
Atlantic Division
No. 1 – New Jersey Nets; 50-32 (4th in the East)
Lucky Nets. A handful of college teams could finish in the top half of this division. Yeah, it’s that bad. Thankfully for Atlantic Division fans (if there are any) the Nets have managed to remain a solid team under coach Lawrence Frank. The good news this year is that it’s a contract season for Vince Carter. He’s gonna play hard all the time. At least I think. Marcus Williams was a steal in the draft. If he can spell Jason Kidd enough to allow the aging star some rest, this team could be dangerous come playoff time.
No. 2 – Philadelphia 76rs; 35-47 (10th in the East)
The only reason they will finish this high in the division because of how utterly awful the division is (did I mention that?). And because of AI. Despite all the trade talk, he’s still one of the league’s best players and he hates to lose. He’s a lock to win a few games by himself each year. Besides aging Chris Weber, this team has a group of athletic young guns to support AI. Kyle Korver, Andre Iguodala, and Samuel Dalembert all have upside. But not enough to let this team even smell the playoffs.
No. 3 – New York Knicks; 34-48 (11th in the East)
I don’t know why, but something in my head keeps telling me the Knicks will somehow make the playoffs. I’m not listening to that voice. Yes, they have talent. Yes, they have a HUGE payroll. But it doesn’t matter. You need to have chemistry to win in this league. The Knicks don’t have that. They’re the Mavericks before they got good. A bunch of players who want to shoot. The biggest story will be seeing how long it takes for Isiah to get pushed out the door.
No. 4 – Toronto Raptors; 32-50 (12th in the East)
I like three players on this team: Chris Bosh, T.J. Ford (acquired during the off-season), and Morris Peterson. Unfortunately, those three aren’t good enough to breed optimism in Canada. I didn’t like the drafting of Andrea Bargnani, and Rasho Nesterovic should not be a starting center in the NBA. With Bosh, Ford and Peterson, this franchise has a foundation for success. Now it needs to build on it.
No. 5 – Boston Celtics; 28-54 (13th in the East)
Red won’t be missing much this season. The Celtics have hit rock-bottom. Their starting center, Theo Ratliff, is old and can’t score (somehow, he can still block shots though). Their starting point guard, Sebastien Telfair, can’t escape his off-court issues. And while Paul Pierce can still shoot the lights out on a given night, you have to wonder how much motivation he still has with all the young players who have come to the organization with promise and ended up pancakes. Rajon Rondo could be next.
Southeast Division
No. 1 – Miami Heat; 52-30
Logically, this team should simply go out and win the whole thing again. After all, every single ingredient returns from last year. However, many of those ingredients have sitting in the fridge for too long. GP, ‘Zo, Shaq and ‘Toine are all on their last legs. And you can’t help but wonder how motivated these guys are now that they got their championship. Still, the Heat have one of the best three players in the league in Dwyane Wade, and he will carry them all season long. The dilemma for Pat Riley: how much should he play Wade in an effort to A) win the division and get a good playoff seed; B) keep him rested for another playoff run. Should be interesting to see how things unfold.
No. 2 – Washington Wizards; 46-36 (6th in the East)
No one’s talking about the Wizards, but you can’t ignore their Big Three of Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. Together, they can keep the Wizards in any game. I’m very skeptical of starting DeShawn Stevenson, an unproven player, and starting center Brandon Haywood is still nothing more than mediocre. But if the Big Three stay healthy, this team will finish right around where they did last year. And I wouldn’t want to play them in a first-round playoff series.
No. 3 – Orlando Magic; 41-41 (8th in the East)
There are a lot of questions with this team, such as: Will Grant Hill stay healthy? And will Darko Milicic back up what everybody is saying and be a serviceable and maybe even potent backup center to Dwight Howard? To start off, if the answers to those two questions are resounding “Yeses” this team is better than 41-41. Dwight Howard, as he showed at the World Championships in Japan, is developing into one of the conference’s best centers right behind Shaq. And Jameer Nelson is silencing all his doubters, becoming a consistent point guard in the league despite his lack of height. There are lots of questions, but also lots of optimism, surround this squad.
No. 4 – Charlotte Bobcats; 26-56 (14th in the East)
I know people want to say this team is on the rise, but I don’t see any rising happening this year. Their backcourt is extremely thin, and with Raymond Felton starting at shooting guard (definitely not his position), point guard Brevin Knight, almost 31, has no backup. Not good news for the ‘Cats. The only sanguinity surrounding this team involves the arrival of two highly-talked-about individuals: No. 3 draft pick Adam Morrison, and new GM Michael Jordan. Morrison should get plenty of court time, and if he and fellow youngster Felton and Sean May evolve their games, there could be reason for optimism come next fall.
No. 5 – Atlanta Hawks; 25-57 (15th in the East)
Well, at least they made one good off-season move (the first in a decade) when they picked up underrated point guard Speedy Claxton. Yep, that’s about the only good thing I can say about a team that is establishing a new mantra for bad NBA teams: lose with exciting players. Josh Smith can flat-out jump; Josh Childress’ ‘fro is tight; and their starting center’s name is Zaza. But unless the Hawks somehow steal AI from Philly or KG from Minnesota in a mid-season deal, they’ll be staying consistent. Consistently bad.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Brief Pistons preview
I know. I know I'm cheating by doing this after the Pistons' first game - a surprising loss at home to those scary Bucks - but I had a Coach K clinic to catch. Maybe Flip should have attended.
I know. I'm being hard on the Pistons, especially on head coach Flip Saunders. After all, he did lead 'em to the best record in the league last year and the conference finals.
But Detroit's rather sad loss to eventual champion Miami in the Eastern Finals exposed problems with Flip's offense-first system that simply did not exist during Larry Brown's up-and-down (and short) tenure with the team.
To put it concretely, if you have an offense-first system and only a decent defense, if your offense goes in the tank - as the Pistons' did the final two rounds of the playoffs - you're screwed.
Unless your playing the Hawks, Bobcats or Trailblazers. Even the Knicks will beat you.
If you have a great defense, however, you're never out of a game. Your D keeps you in the game until your shooters start hitting.
i hate to carp after one game, but the fact that the Pistons gave up 105 games to the Bucks, a team with virtually one offensive weapon (quick-release gunner Michael Redd), doesn't send out the best signals.
Remember a couple years back when the Pistons went a rediculous number of games without giving up 80 points? That was fun to watch.
Now, with Ben Wallace sporting his 'fro and 'rows in Chicago, the Pistons, all of a sudden, aren't so intimidating. Sure, Chauncy Billiups and Rip Hamilton can shoot the lights out and 'Sheed might hit some big shots too.
But the game is played on both ends of the floor. And opponents are no longer scared of attacking the basket.
Nazr Mohammed? Please. He was more intimidating as a Wildcat.
To get to the prediction, the Pistons are still going to be one of the East's best, maybe even THE BEST... during the regular season. They still have the best starting lineup in the league - as long as 'Sheed doesn't get kicked out of too many games, which definitely could happen with the new no-bickering-to-the-refs rule.
Their bench is improved from last year as long as Lindsey Hunter and Antonio McDyess stay healthy. Flip Murray and Carlos Delfino are capable of putting points on the board.
As for a defensive presence, however (besides Hunter, of course), 6-5 newby Jason Maxiell is about the best the Pistons got. He blocked three shots in 12 minutes against Milwaukee, but, I'm sorry, if the Pistons have to rely on Jason Maxiell in the playoffs... well, pencil in another loss in the conference finals (or sooner).
As for my team outlook, with young teams in Cleveland and Chicago quickly closing the gap between themselves and the Pistons/Heat, a loss in the second round wouldn't be surprising. I'll give the Pistons a slight edge on those teams, however, at least for one more year.
The Pistons will win the division, and finish first in the East, but lose to the Heat again in six games in the Eastern Finals.
And they'll realize how much they miss Ben and the defense-first approach.
I know. I'm being hard on the Pistons, especially on head coach Flip Saunders. After all, he did lead 'em to the best record in the league last year and the conference finals.
But Detroit's rather sad loss to eventual champion Miami in the Eastern Finals exposed problems with Flip's offense-first system that simply did not exist during Larry Brown's up-and-down (and short) tenure with the team.
To put it concretely, if you have an offense-first system and only a decent defense, if your offense goes in the tank - as the Pistons' did the final two rounds of the playoffs - you're screwed.
Unless your playing the Hawks, Bobcats or Trailblazers. Even the Knicks will beat you.
If you have a great defense, however, you're never out of a game. Your D keeps you in the game until your shooters start hitting.
i hate to carp after one game, but the fact that the Pistons gave up 105 games to the Bucks, a team with virtually one offensive weapon (quick-release gunner Michael Redd), doesn't send out the best signals.
Remember a couple years back when the Pistons went a rediculous number of games without giving up 80 points? That was fun to watch.
Now, with Ben Wallace sporting his 'fro and 'rows in Chicago, the Pistons, all of a sudden, aren't so intimidating. Sure, Chauncy Billiups and Rip Hamilton can shoot the lights out and 'Sheed might hit some big shots too.
But the game is played on both ends of the floor. And opponents are no longer scared of attacking the basket.
Nazr Mohammed? Please. He was more intimidating as a Wildcat.
To get to the prediction, the Pistons are still going to be one of the East's best, maybe even THE BEST... during the regular season. They still have the best starting lineup in the league - as long as 'Sheed doesn't get kicked out of too many games, which definitely could happen with the new no-bickering-to-the-refs rule.
Their bench is improved from last year as long as Lindsey Hunter and Antonio McDyess stay healthy. Flip Murray and Carlos Delfino are capable of putting points on the board.
As for a defensive presence, however (besides Hunter, of course), 6-5 newby Jason Maxiell is about the best the Pistons got. He blocked three shots in 12 minutes against Milwaukee, but, I'm sorry, if the Pistons have to rely on Jason Maxiell in the playoffs... well, pencil in another loss in the conference finals (or sooner).
As for my team outlook, with young teams in Cleveland and Chicago quickly closing the gap between themselves and the Pistons/Heat, a loss in the second round wouldn't be surprising. I'll give the Pistons a slight edge on those teams, however, at least for one more year.
The Pistons will win the division, and finish first in the East, but lose to the Heat again in six games in the Eastern Finals.
And they'll realize how much they miss Ben and the defense-first approach.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
"Never give up... don't ever give up"
There will be no mention of poisonous creatures wreaking havoc on airplanes in this post. No Samuel L. Jackson quotes. Not even a mention of them damn Tigers.
No, this will be a serious post about the state of my career.
For a few months now I've known that what Uncle Chuck suggested to me in that phone call four years ago was right. Chuck, a highly successful lawyer in Chicago, told me that it'd be easier for me to move up the ladder in just about any vocation if I attended the big, renowned college as opposed to a small, not-so-well-known school.
I listened to what Chuck had to say, and I strongly considered the University of Michigan - located in my wonderful hometown of Ann Arbor - up until the end. But instead of staying attached to my beloved Wolverines, I decided on Albion College, a small liberal arts college about an hour west of Ann Arbor.
In terms of my career, it was the wrong choice. No beef.
This is not to say Albion is a bad school. It is far from that, nationally renowned for its ability to place its graduates at admirable jobs. Rick Smith, the editor of Newsweek magazine, is an Albion alumn. It ain't a bad school academically.
But it wasn't the right fit for me, the aspiring sports journalist, the sports junky, the I-could-watch-and-read-about-sports-24-hours-a-day kid from Ann Arbor.
I picked Albion because I felt most comfortable there. I liked the campus, I liked the feel it gave off. I liked the meal plan, which was unlimited food between 7 and 7 every day (I was, am, and will always be a big eater).
But, unfortunately, my decision was not based upon where I saw four years at Albion getting me in terms of sports journalism. I did not consider enough the ramifications of there not being a journalism major at the school and the school paper being nothing but an itty, bitty weekly.
Let me tell you, what others and myself were able to do with the publication, The Pleiad, over just two and a half years was nothing short of amazing. The publication was in shambles when I joined its staff for good the second semester of my freshman year as the sports editor. The layout was odious, the articles contained several grammatical and factual errors. I was told later that one of the paper's writers the semester before I joined fabricated several of his articles.
The paper could have passed for "The National Enquirer."
But slowly and surely a dedicated group of us brought it to respectability. I was editor-in-chief for two semesters, managing editor for one semester, and sports editor every semester. With each semester, I noticed things that could make the layout more visually appealing. It improved dramatically. Ditto with the writing. And everything else. We switched from fake broadsheets to actual newsprint. We began printing color photos.
And, finally, last spring - after thousands of hours spent in the spacious Pleiad office - we put out the grandest of issues, a 12-pager with color on four pages that I might get framed one day.
So why, you ask, did I just say I made the wrong decision for my career? Why, considering all the success I brought to The Pleiad, should I have spent the past three and a half years somewhere else?
Because I never experienced a real newspaper feel in Albion. Because, writing about Division III sports, I never found anything controversial to write about - never anything tough to write about. Because, as a weekly publication, I never felt the pressure of deadlines. Because, I had exclusive rights to the coaches and athletes I interviewed. I could invite athletes up to the office. I didn't have to stand among a horde of reporters and shout out a question during the tiny laguna of silence after the interviewee finished their last answer.
It boils down to this: I didn't learn much about the actual business I so desire to enter, the daily newspaper service.
All that would have been different had I chose UM or MSU, both of which have daily student publications. True, if I had gone to UM, I wouldn't be in Australia now, but I'd likely be interviewing Lloyd Carr and Mike Hart, asking them about staying focused for Ball State on Saturday. I'd be writing columns about Lloyd turning the ship around and about Tommy Amaker needing to get the Wolverines to the Big Dance this March.
I'd be living the sports reporter's dream - covering big-time sports on a daily basis.
But I'm not, and I will move on.
The past two Decembers I applied for a very enticing sports journalism summer internship at the Detroit Free Press. I was rejected both times. I looked on the paper's website to see the breakdown of past interns, only to learn that every one of them has come from a Division I school. I'm not saying I would have gotten the internship if I'd been at UM or MSU, but my chances certainly would have been better.
Anyway, more to come on this later. All I can say for now is that I will get a good job in sports journalism. I will not be denied what I want to do the rest of my life. It'll happen, regardless of the obstacles stacked against me.
In the words of the late Jim Valvano, who led NC State to its improbable 1983 national championship, I'll "never give up."
It just won't be as easy as my decision four years ago should have been.
No, this will be a serious post about the state of my career.
For a few months now I've known that what Uncle Chuck suggested to me in that phone call four years ago was right. Chuck, a highly successful lawyer in Chicago, told me that it'd be easier for me to move up the ladder in just about any vocation if I attended the big, renowned college as opposed to a small, not-so-well-known school.
I listened to what Chuck had to say, and I strongly considered the University of Michigan - located in my wonderful hometown of Ann Arbor - up until the end. But instead of staying attached to my beloved Wolverines, I decided on Albion College, a small liberal arts college about an hour west of Ann Arbor.
In terms of my career, it was the wrong choice. No beef.
This is not to say Albion is a bad school. It is far from that, nationally renowned for its ability to place its graduates at admirable jobs. Rick Smith, the editor of Newsweek magazine, is an Albion alumn. It ain't a bad school academically.
But it wasn't the right fit for me, the aspiring sports journalist, the sports junky, the I-could-watch-and-read-about-sports-24-hours-a-day kid from Ann Arbor.
I picked Albion because I felt most comfortable there. I liked the campus, I liked the feel it gave off. I liked the meal plan, which was unlimited food between 7 and 7 every day (I was, am, and will always be a big eater).
But, unfortunately, my decision was not based upon where I saw four years at Albion getting me in terms of sports journalism. I did not consider enough the ramifications of there not being a journalism major at the school and the school paper being nothing but an itty, bitty weekly.
Let me tell you, what others and myself were able to do with the publication, The Pleiad, over just two and a half years was nothing short of amazing. The publication was in shambles when I joined its staff for good the second semester of my freshman year as the sports editor. The layout was odious, the articles contained several grammatical and factual errors. I was told later that one of the paper's writers the semester before I joined fabricated several of his articles.
The paper could have passed for "The National Enquirer."
But slowly and surely a dedicated group of us brought it to respectability. I was editor-in-chief for two semesters, managing editor for one semester, and sports editor every semester. With each semester, I noticed things that could make the layout more visually appealing. It improved dramatically. Ditto with the writing. And everything else. We switched from fake broadsheets to actual newsprint. We began printing color photos.
And, finally, last spring - after thousands of hours spent in the spacious Pleiad office - we put out the grandest of issues, a 12-pager with color on four pages that I might get framed one day.
So why, you ask, did I just say I made the wrong decision for my career? Why, considering all the success I brought to The Pleiad, should I have spent the past three and a half years somewhere else?
Because I never experienced a real newspaper feel in Albion. Because, writing about Division III sports, I never found anything controversial to write about - never anything tough to write about. Because, as a weekly publication, I never felt the pressure of deadlines. Because, I had exclusive rights to the coaches and athletes I interviewed. I could invite athletes up to the office. I didn't have to stand among a horde of reporters and shout out a question during the tiny laguna of silence after the interviewee finished their last answer.
It boils down to this: I didn't learn much about the actual business I so desire to enter, the daily newspaper service.
All that would have been different had I chose UM or MSU, both of which have daily student publications. True, if I had gone to UM, I wouldn't be in Australia now, but I'd likely be interviewing Lloyd Carr and Mike Hart, asking them about staying focused for Ball State on Saturday. I'd be writing columns about Lloyd turning the ship around and about Tommy Amaker needing to get the Wolverines to the Big Dance this March.
I'd be living the sports reporter's dream - covering big-time sports on a daily basis.
But I'm not, and I will move on.
The past two Decembers I applied for a very enticing sports journalism summer internship at the Detroit Free Press. I was rejected both times. I looked on the paper's website to see the breakdown of past interns, only to learn that every one of them has come from a Division I school. I'm not saying I would have gotten the internship if I'd been at UM or MSU, but my chances certainly would have been better.
Anyway, more to come on this later. All I can say for now is that I will get a good job in sports journalism. I will not be denied what I want to do the rest of my life. It'll happen, regardless of the obstacles stacked against me.
In the words of the late Jim Valvano, who led NC State to its improbable 1983 national championship, I'll "never give up."
It just won't be as easy as my decision four years ago should have been.
Monday, October 30, 2006
"Snakes on a Plane" with intermission
Imagine lying down, your head nestled on a soft pillow, staring forward at images of snakes devouring people. Pretty picture, right?
Well, I got to experience it.
Last night several other cats and I rolled out to the Govinda Theatre (sp?), a speciality cinema complex in which magenta couches allow you to lay back, relax and take in the film before your eyes.
Best of all, we got to see possibly the year's best action film, "Snakes on a Plane." There is nothing quite like lying back and mouthing the words as Samuel L. Jackson shouts 'em: "Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking plane!!"
Other positives to take from the experience:
- there were no filthy previews
- no promotions for the theater ("Come visit our concession stand!!!")
- and there was a 2-minute intermission (after the little snakes had assailed, but before the cobra swallowed the pompous British man's head - he deserved it, after throwing the blond woman's dog to the snake).
The brief reprieve allowed for a quick analysis among the group of the film's first half (only Toad, Uncle Mel and I had seen it before) during which questions could be asked about the movie's plot if anyone was confused (fortunately not too many questions were posed, as the plot is pretty simple: snakes kill people; Samuel L. kills snakes).
But unlike my SOAP experience back in the States, when I felt squeamish in my normal seat everytime a snake impaled, at Govinda I just hugged my pillow tighter. And sometimes I just laughed (especially at the horny couple who were the first to suffer snakebite, in the bathroom).
For a $10.90 ticket (compared to $9.00 for the regular theatre - and that's just on Tuesdays) the Govinda experience was well worth it. Of course the movie we viewed had something to do with the pleasurable evening, but I have a feeling that Govinda could even make watching "Bambi" entertaining.
jake
Well, I got to experience it.
Last night several other cats and I rolled out to the Govinda Theatre (sp?), a speciality cinema complex in which magenta couches allow you to lay back, relax and take in the film before your eyes.
Best of all, we got to see possibly the year's best action film, "Snakes on a Plane." There is nothing quite like lying back and mouthing the words as Samuel L. Jackson shouts 'em: "Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking plane!!"
Other positives to take from the experience:
- there were no filthy previews
- no promotions for the theater ("Come visit our concession stand!!!")
- and there was a 2-minute intermission (after the little snakes had assailed, but before the cobra swallowed the pompous British man's head - he deserved it, after throwing the blond woman's dog to the snake).
The brief reprieve allowed for a quick analysis among the group of the film's first half (only Toad, Uncle Mel and I had seen it before) during which questions could be asked about the movie's plot if anyone was confused (fortunately not too many questions were posed, as the plot is pretty simple: snakes kill people; Samuel L. kills snakes).
But unlike my SOAP experience back in the States, when I felt squeamish in my normal seat everytime a snake impaled, at Govinda I just hugged my pillow tighter. And sometimes I just laughed (especially at the horny couple who were the first to suffer snakebite, in the bathroom).
For a $10.90 ticket (compared to $9.00 for the regular theatre - and that's just on Tuesdays) the Govinda experience was well worth it. Of course the movie we viewed had something to do with the pleasurable evening, but I have a feeling that Govinda could even make watching "Bambi" entertaining.
jake
Sunday, October 29, 2006
November 18, 2006 - mark down the date
Before then I will buy $200 worth of groceries; I will go hiking in the blue Mountains; I will see "Snakes on a Plane"; I will watch cricket on TV; I will go bar-hopping on the weekend; I will do lots of things.
But nothing will have a chance to live up to what will transpire on November 18, 2006 at 7:30 a.m. here in Sydney. I will find a bar. And within its friendly confines, I will watch one of the most anticipated college football games in decades.
And possibly the most hyped-up Michigan-Ohio State game EVER.
No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Michigan. I know they each have two games to play before tha fateful afternoon, but there's no way they'll lose. They wouldn't ruin what everyone from Mackinac Island to Columbus is looking forward to.
No way, no how.
Now that the Tigers' amazing championship run has fallen short - never to be forgotten, but to be placed in the past, the entire state of Michigan can focus on November 18.
Cuz face it, there's no need to pay attention to basketball or hockey until Thanksgiving.
I can only imagine what Ann Arbor will be like in the days leading up to November 18. Here's an imagined conversation between an auto shop worker and a customer.
"The car all right?"
"Yeah, brakes were a little worn, nothing big."
"Nothin compared to that game on Saturday, huh?"
"Oh, yeah, you got that right. Hopefully they can put the brakes on Smith, huh??"
"Got that right. Little worried about that guy, but hopefully we can get our offensive engine humming."
"Yes, sir, uh-hum."
There will be a pandimonium in town. How could there not be? If I was mayor, no one would have to work between 3:30 and 7 p.m. on November 18.
That's how big this game will be. Bigger than the state of Pennsylvania.
So, yes, life will go on here in Sydney. I'll talk to people about things as if they are important. I'll go food-shopping, as if I'm hungry.
But I'll be honest: the only thing I'm hungry for is the arrival of November 18.
But nothing will have a chance to live up to what will transpire on November 18, 2006 at 7:30 a.m. here in Sydney. I will find a bar. And within its friendly confines, I will watch one of the most anticipated college football games in decades.
And possibly the most hyped-up Michigan-Ohio State game EVER.
No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Michigan. I know they each have two games to play before tha fateful afternoon, but there's no way they'll lose. They wouldn't ruin what everyone from Mackinac Island to Columbus is looking forward to.
No way, no how.
Now that the Tigers' amazing championship run has fallen short - never to be forgotten, but to be placed in the past, the entire state of Michigan can focus on November 18.
Cuz face it, there's no need to pay attention to basketball or hockey until Thanksgiving.
I can only imagine what Ann Arbor will be like in the days leading up to November 18. Here's an imagined conversation between an auto shop worker and a customer.
"The car all right?"
"Yeah, brakes were a little worn, nothing big."
"Nothin compared to that game on Saturday, huh?"
"Oh, yeah, you got that right. Hopefully they can put the brakes on Smith, huh??"
"Got that right. Little worried about that guy, but hopefully we can get our offensive engine humming."
"Yes, sir, uh-hum."
There will be a pandimonium in town. How could there not be? If I was mayor, no one would have to work between 3:30 and 7 p.m. on November 18.
That's how big this game will be. Bigger than the state of Pennsylvania.
So, yes, life will go on here in Sydney. I'll talk to people about things as if they are important. I'll go food-shopping, as if I'm hungry.
But I'll be honest: the only thing I'm hungry for is the arrival of November 18.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Paying homage to Red
A sports legend passed away last night.
When I saw the news, I made a decision. I wouldn't weep, I wouldn't sit staring blankly outside. I would go out the front door of my residence, into the sunny, 63-degree Sunday afternoon. I would pass by Victoria Park, filled on this day with dogs running loose and sunbathers basking. I would cross Cleveland Street, cut through a few buildings, and make my way to the Sydney University Aquatic Center.
There, on the wooden basketball courts, I would pay homage to possibly the greatest NBA coach of all time, Red Auerbach.
I decided to shoot 100 free throws for Red, aiming to make 89 - his age at death. It was a lofty goal, but on this day my shooting hand felt blessed. It was as if each flick of the wrist was empowered by a divine force.
I was on fire.
I dedicated each set of 10 free throws to a championship won by Red as the Celtics coach. 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966. The final 10 I dedicated to Red's decision, upon his retirement from coaching in 1967 before he was 50 years old. He turned the team over to his star center, Bill Russell, who became the NBA’s first black coach.
Of course Red never said so, but I think he had some more coaching in him. He didn’t step down because his tank was empty. He did it to give Russell the opportunity. His star didn’t let him down, winning titles in ’68 and ’69 – paving the way for more black men to become head coaches.
Midway through, I was 43-for-50 – almost on pace to hit 89. I was in a zone. I didn’t feel like someone who hadn’t touched a basketball in three months. I felt like Bob Cousy, or Bill Sharman, or KC Jones – a few of the great guards Red was able to lure to Boston during his coaching days.
Who will ever forget how Red said he’d never draft Cousy, but ended up with him anyway? After the point guard began to direct the Celtics franchise in the right direction, Red warmed up to him and they’ll live together forever in Celtics lore.
Unfortunately, I hit a rough streak in the 60s, and ended up seven free throws short of my goal – 82 for 100. But it didn’t matter.
I felt that I had done my part to honor a legend, to honor a man who took pride in being a players’ coach, a man who as GM of the Celtics after his playing days gave the coaching job to five former players. A man who didn’t forget who helped him be so successful.
Even as the Celtics struggled the last two decades, Red never turned his back on the franchise. Even when narcissistic Rick Pitino demanded Red's GM title when he became coach in the late ‘90s.
Red was always there, giving advice to anyone who asked, acting a father figure to many.
The Celtics are dedicating the upcoming season to Red. There are not high hopes in Boston, as has been the case for most of the past decade. But maybe, just maybe, the players will feel the same way I did this afternoon.
Maybe when Paul Pierce flicks his beautifully arching shot, it’ll go in 55 percent of the time instead of 45 percent. Maybe Boston’s talented but immature youngsters – Kendrick Perkins and Sebastian Telfair, to name a pair – will grow into their shoes, realizing who’s looking down on them.
It’s amazing how you can be touched by history. A lot of my life I’ve been stuck in the present. I’ve watched in awe as Tiger Woods dominates the PGA Tour without knowing the names of the black men who made it possible for him to play on tour. I’ve enjoyed the great tradition of Michigan football without knowing the men who made the program one of the nation’s best.
But now I do pay attention to history. When a team wins a championship, I think about how they made it to the top. And, of course, when a man like Red Auerbach dies, I don’t shake my head nonchalantly and move on.
I dedicate a beautiful afternoon to his life. Because I know who he was.
When I saw the news, I made a decision. I wouldn't weep, I wouldn't sit staring blankly outside. I would go out the front door of my residence, into the sunny, 63-degree Sunday afternoon. I would pass by Victoria Park, filled on this day with dogs running loose and sunbathers basking. I would cross Cleveland Street, cut through a few buildings, and make my way to the Sydney University Aquatic Center.
There, on the wooden basketball courts, I would pay homage to possibly the greatest NBA coach of all time, Red Auerbach.
I decided to shoot 100 free throws for Red, aiming to make 89 - his age at death. It was a lofty goal, but on this day my shooting hand felt blessed. It was as if each flick of the wrist was empowered by a divine force.
I was on fire.
I dedicated each set of 10 free throws to a championship won by Red as the Celtics coach. 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966. The final 10 I dedicated to Red's decision, upon his retirement from coaching in 1967 before he was 50 years old. He turned the team over to his star center, Bill Russell, who became the NBA’s first black coach.
Of course Red never said so, but I think he had some more coaching in him. He didn’t step down because his tank was empty. He did it to give Russell the opportunity. His star didn’t let him down, winning titles in ’68 and ’69 – paving the way for more black men to become head coaches.
Midway through, I was 43-for-50 – almost on pace to hit 89. I was in a zone. I didn’t feel like someone who hadn’t touched a basketball in three months. I felt like Bob Cousy, or Bill Sharman, or KC Jones – a few of the great guards Red was able to lure to Boston during his coaching days.
Who will ever forget how Red said he’d never draft Cousy, but ended up with him anyway? After the point guard began to direct the Celtics franchise in the right direction, Red warmed up to him and they’ll live together forever in Celtics lore.
Unfortunately, I hit a rough streak in the 60s, and ended up seven free throws short of my goal – 82 for 100. But it didn’t matter.
I felt that I had done my part to honor a legend, to honor a man who took pride in being a players’ coach, a man who as GM of the Celtics after his playing days gave the coaching job to five former players. A man who didn’t forget who helped him be so successful.
Even as the Celtics struggled the last two decades, Red never turned his back on the franchise. Even when narcissistic Rick Pitino demanded Red's GM title when he became coach in the late ‘90s.
Red was always there, giving advice to anyone who asked, acting a father figure to many.
The Celtics are dedicating the upcoming season to Red. There are not high hopes in Boston, as has been the case for most of the past decade. But maybe, just maybe, the players will feel the same way I did this afternoon.
Maybe when Paul Pierce flicks his beautifully arching shot, it’ll go in 55 percent of the time instead of 45 percent. Maybe Boston’s talented but immature youngsters – Kendrick Perkins and Sebastian Telfair, to name a pair – will grow into their shoes, realizing who’s looking down on them.
It’s amazing how you can be touched by history. A lot of my life I’ve been stuck in the present. I’ve watched in awe as Tiger Woods dominates the PGA Tour without knowing the names of the black men who made it possible for him to play on tour. I’ve enjoyed the great tradition of Michigan football without knowing the men who made the program one of the nation’s best.
But now I do pay attention to history. When a team wins a championship, I think about how they made it to the top. And, of course, when a man like Red Auerbach dies, I don’t shake my head nonchalantly and move on.
I dedicate a beautiful afternoon to his life. Because I know who he was.
Opera House lesson
I'm not gonna beat around the bush: Last night I saw a play performed in a foreign language (I think it was German) at the Opera House. Yeah, knew I shoulda stuck with german in high school. It might have taken the sting away from last night's experience. I'm not gonna say I enjoyed the night, because I didn't. Definitely not. I spent the second half of the play - it took me most of the first half to realize I wasn't gonna hear much English - going over the sport statistics I've memorized in my head. I got through all 102 Major League Baseball champions - including the worst WS champion in history, the '06 Cardinals (sorry, just had to throw that in there) - and about two thirds of the 122 college football champions (hopefully No. 123 will be the Maize and Blue - sorry, I know I'm straying.
So that was my night at the OH. Probably won't be back, although I have plenty more statistics to sift through during droll times. A brief synopsis of the play: It was about three army nurses. can't tell you much more except that there was some violence and partial nudity. They don't screen their plays at the OH for children.
And, of course, they don't tell you what language they're in!
jakers
So that was my night at the OH. Probably won't be back, although I have plenty more statistics to sift through during droll times. A brief synopsis of the play: It was about three army nurses. can't tell you much more except that there was some violence and partial nudity. They don't screen their plays at the OH for children.
And, of course, they don't tell you what language they're in!
jakers
Friday, October 27, 2006
The Tigers go down
I know I should put it in perspective. I do. I really, really do. After all, I was one of the thousands who picked them to finish fourth in the division, just a dozen victories above the abysmal Royals.
So, as a journalist, I know my job: put it in perspective. But not now. Not yet. Maybe by the end of this column. We'll see.
I can't do it because of the way the Tigers lost in this World Series to the Cardinals. The Cardinals did not win this series. Mark it down. The Tigers lost the series. The Tigers beat themselves. Plain and simple.
You want numbers? You want evidence? I got it. How about five errors by the Tigers' pitching staff - all of them leading to unearned runs for the Cardinals. Even before rook Justin Verlander threw away an easy toss to third last night - costing the Tigers two runs (yes, equaling the final margin of the Cards' victory) - the Tigs had set a record for errors made in a World Series with four.
Ouch. Here, Fernando Rodney can pinpoint a nasty slider on the outside corner, but he can't put the ball near Placido Polanco's glove from 20 feet away in Game 4, costing the Tigers - who actually hit that game - a golden chance to even the series.
Here, Tigers wouldn't have won Game 3 anyway, but Joel Zumaya could have made it interesting for all of us watching at work by throwing to Brandon Inge at third and not five feet out of his reach.
Oh, well, it allowed me to get more work done.
Are you kidding me? The Tigers made Paris Hilton look flawless. I know the cliche's getting old, but it still holds.
Everyone was favoring the Tigers entering the Series; had a feeling that might be a poor harbinger. A team that had been under the microscope all year, doubted by the experts until the eve of the Series, suddenly waighed down by the pressure of people actually pickin you?
It's like your boys expecting you to get the georgous girl's number? If it don't happen you're in the dogouse and your confidence is shot. That's what happened to the Tigers.
They lost this series; Cards didn't win. Yes, the record books will show the Cards winnning their 10th World Series, second all time to those Yanks. But those who actually watched the five games will know that the Cards were dealth a great dose of serendipiy.
From their friends, the Tigers.
So, as a journalist, I know my job: put it in perspective. But not now. Not yet. Maybe by the end of this column. We'll see.
I can't do it because of the way the Tigers lost in this World Series to the Cardinals. The Cardinals did not win this series. Mark it down. The Tigers lost the series. The Tigers beat themselves. Plain and simple.
You want numbers? You want evidence? I got it. How about five errors by the Tigers' pitching staff - all of them leading to unearned runs for the Cardinals. Even before rook Justin Verlander threw away an easy toss to third last night - costing the Tigers two runs (yes, equaling the final margin of the Cards' victory) - the Tigs had set a record for errors made in a World Series with four.
Ouch. Here, Fernando Rodney can pinpoint a nasty slider on the outside corner, but he can't put the ball near Placido Polanco's glove from 20 feet away in Game 4, costing the Tigers - who actually hit that game - a golden chance to even the series.
Here, Tigers wouldn't have won Game 3 anyway, but Joel Zumaya could have made it interesting for all of us watching at work by throwing to Brandon Inge at third and not five feet out of his reach.
Oh, well, it allowed me to get more work done.
Are you kidding me? The Tigers made Paris Hilton look flawless. I know the cliche's getting old, but it still holds.
Everyone was favoring the Tigers entering the Series; had a feeling that might be a poor harbinger. A team that had been under the microscope all year, doubted by the experts until the eve of the Series, suddenly waighed down by the pressure of people actually pickin you?
It's like your boys expecting you to get the georgous girl's number? If it don't happen you're in the dogouse and your confidence is shot. That's what happened to the Tigers.
They lost this series; Cards didn't win. Yes, the record books will show the Cards winnning their 10th World Series, second all time to those Yanks. But those who actually watched the five games will know that the Cards were dealth a great dose of serendipiy.
From their friends, the Tigers.
Freakin' Tigers
OK,
Before you all jump over me, let me explain myself. I know this blog is supposed to be solely about things I'm doing in Australia; places I'm visiting in Australia; people I'm meeting in Australia; animals I'm petting in Australia. I know, I know - and I think I've done a pretty good job of abiding by this (if you disagree, you can e-mail me at jbl10@albion.edu - I check it every day).
But there comes a time in one's life when the most important thing happening is 5,000 miles away. That time is now. And it is not easy. I've watched every Tigers' playoff game except two. I've scouted out bars in which to watch the Tigs, I've woken up at 6 in the morning to watch 'em. I scheduled my work week perfectly so I could be off this morning to watch Game 4 of the WS.
And what do they give me? Another throwin' error by a pitcher? More missed opportunities with runners in scoring position? Man, I am dying now. But I'm not giving up on the Tigs. Mark my words: if Verlander finds a way to get the Tigers through Game 5, they WILL WIN THE WORLD SERIES. And I'll watch every remaining game in its entirety. 'Cuz, frankly, watching my team in the WS is far more important than touring some obscure Sydney suburb right now. And what would I usually be doing between 10:30 and 2 anyway? Probably just reading a basketball book (fun fact of my time here: I've already read 4 books for fun and just bought 3 more the other day - Moms would be proud).
Anyway, when you're watching Game 5 tomorrow, don't think you're all alone. I'll be watching, too, rooting on those mercurial Tigs, not giving up hope. After all, it makes me proud to say that two years ago I predicted a Red Sox comeback after that disasterous Game 3 loss. This situation for the Tigers is easier. Three wins in Three nights.
So while I'm attending my first Opera House concert tomorrow and tasting some fine Aussy cuisine, the only indicator of whether it'll be a good weekend is this: will the Tigers win 3 or lose 1?
jake
Before you all jump over me, let me explain myself. I know this blog is supposed to be solely about things I'm doing in Australia; places I'm visiting in Australia; people I'm meeting in Australia; animals I'm petting in Australia. I know, I know - and I think I've done a pretty good job of abiding by this (if you disagree, you can e-mail me at jbl10@albion.edu - I check it every day).
But there comes a time in one's life when the most important thing happening is 5,000 miles away. That time is now. And it is not easy. I've watched every Tigers' playoff game except two. I've scouted out bars in which to watch the Tigs, I've woken up at 6 in the morning to watch 'em. I scheduled my work week perfectly so I could be off this morning to watch Game 4 of the WS.
And what do they give me? Another throwin' error by a pitcher? More missed opportunities with runners in scoring position? Man, I am dying now. But I'm not giving up on the Tigs. Mark my words: if Verlander finds a way to get the Tigers through Game 5, they WILL WIN THE WORLD SERIES. And I'll watch every remaining game in its entirety. 'Cuz, frankly, watching my team in the WS is far more important than touring some obscure Sydney suburb right now. And what would I usually be doing between 10:30 and 2 anyway? Probably just reading a basketball book (fun fact of my time here: I've already read 4 books for fun and just bought 3 more the other day - Moms would be proud).
Anyway, when you're watching Game 5 tomorrow, don't think you're all alone. I'll be watching, too, rooting on those mercurial Tigs, not giving up hope. After all, it makes me proud to say that two years ago I predicted a Red Sox comeback after that disasterous Game 3 loss. This situation for the Tigers is easier. Three wins in Three nights.
So while I'm attending my first Opera House concert tomorrow and tasting some fine Aussy cuisine, the only indicator of whether it'll be a good weekend is this: will the Tigers win 3 or lose 1?
jake
Monday, October 23, 2006
Sports!
You know you love sports when you can enjoy a 142-98 basketball game that completely lacked defense. And I mean completly. This was the case Saturday night at the Sydney Kings-West Sydney Razorbacks NBL (National Basketball League) contest at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in downtown Sydney. It was my first taste of international basketball. Despite the lack of D, I must admit that guys over here can flat-out shoot. At one point in the first half I think the Kings made about eight shots in a row - many of them 3-pointers. It was fun to watch the offensive explosion occurring.
With tickets only $15 a pop, and basketball my favorite sport to watch in person, I'm sure I'll be back to the SEC later this season. I'll try to find a more competitive game, with maybe some defense. But even if I don't, I'll still enjoy the experience.
A game is a game, and a game I love!
peace,
jake
With tickets only $15 a pop, and basketball my favorite sport to watch in person, I'm sure I'll be back to the SEC later this season. I'll try to find a more competitive game, with maybe some defense. But even if I don't, I'll still enjoy the experience.
A game is a game, and a game I love!
peace,
jake
Work
I knew I was working 9-5 days on my second day at the job. I entered the Sydney University Aquatic Center around 9, with sun rays splattering down upon me. When I exited the office nearly eight hours later, the sky was overcast, rain threatening the heart of Sydney. It was not an experience I'm familiar with. I've always worked at odd times or outside. Night jobs, mornign gigs, you name it. But never 9-5. Well, I'll have to survive the grind for at least eight weeks of my life.
I am interning with Sydney University Sports, writing articles for the website that will hopefully also get passed on to other publications. There is a lot of freedom at the job. On the second day my supervisor provided me with a list of athletes to write features on, and, without actually saying it, implied that I should "do my thing." This is not to say that I'm on an island. There are knowledgeable people around me who I can ask for questions or advice (for instance, if I'm completely baffled by the sport of cricket - a common occurence). But I am on my own. I sit at a desk, calling athletes for interviews, surfing the web for information on sports, and writing. It's not a bad gig.
The 1-hour lunch break ain't bad either. This week, when those Tigs are playing Games 3, 4 and 5 in St. Louis, I will use that break to watch the final few innngs. Without that break, I don't know what I'd be doing this week. Can't miss the Series!
So that's about the wrap on work. To view my articles, visit susport.com. Click on the links for the articles on the homepage. Some may be by me, and others won't be. You'll just have to sift through them.
enjoy the Tigers,
jake
I am interning with Sydney University Sports, writing articles for the website that will hopefully also get passed on to other publications. There is a lot of freedom at the job. On the second day my supervisor provided me with a list of athletes to write features on, and, without actually saying it, implied that I should "do my thing." This is not to say that I'm on an island. There are knowledgeable people around me who I can ask for questions or advice (for instance, if I'm completely baffled by the sport of cricket - a common occurence). But I am on my own. I sit at a desk, calling athletes for interviews, surfing the web for information on sports, and writing. It's not a bad gig.
The 1-hour lunch break ain't bad either. This week, when those Tigs are playing Games 3, 4 and 5 in St. Louis, I will use that break to watch the final few innngs. Without that break, I don't know what I'd be doing this week. Can't miss the Series!
So that's about the wrap on work. To view my articles, visit susport.com. Click on the links for the articles on the homepage. Some may be by me, and others won't be. You'll just have to sift through them.
enjoy the Tigers,
jake
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Night 6, Days 7,8 - Byron Bay
At least the trip ended on a good note. Byron Bay was easily the highlight of our spring break on the road. A little town nestled along the coast, featuring Australia's most easterly point, Byron Bay was my kind of place. There were plenty of things to do outdoors away from all the people in addition to a vibrant night life.
On the first day there I embarked on my first real "adventure" of the trip. I went rainforest biking with four other outdoor enthusiasts. Yes, it was pricey, but it was well worth it. We drove over an hour out of town into complete seclusion. Hardly any people. No sounds except for the colorful chirping of birds. We biked over 40 kilometers (approximately 27 miles), starting out on a small dirt road, but also turning off onto some paths into the forest. These paths were not easy biking. Covered by sticks and roots and with plants jutting out from either side, you simply could not take your eyes off the terrain in front of you. Several times we had to stop to lift our bikes over logs, but not enough times to ruin the experience. It was a completely new adventure to me, and I loved it. It was also physically taxing - just my kind of day! The first half hour and the last half hour were almost strictly uphill. By the end of the journey I was spent, which made the stop on the way back at a nearby creek for a dip all the more ravishing. Even the downhill portions of the ride was far from relaxing. With several potholes and rocks on the road, I had to keep my eyes peeled and my hands on the brakes. Going full speed could have spelled suicide. But I didn't fall once, and I feel a better biker now than I did before the ride. Now I just need to bike down a mountain. I actually think I might be able to do it. I'm teeming with confidence.
Although I knew just about anything after the rainforest bike ride would be a letdown, I enjoyed the remainder of my stay in Byron. That night the hostel hosted a barbecue and I made some cool cats. We sat around a picnic table and played cards well into the night. Maybe I stayed up too late, because in the morning I slept through my alarm which was set to wake me at 4:20 a.m. for a sunrise tour of the bay. It would have been absolutely indelible, but Mike and I made up for it in the afternoon. But before we could do that, it was time to watch the Tigers close the deal. After missing Game 3 because of the bike trip, I wasn't going to miss the end of the possible clinch-a-spot-in-the-World-Series game. I finally found the hostel's TV in the top of the eighth inning and then watched as Magglio Ordonez's three-run shot sent the crowd back home into a frenzy. I stared in awe at the screen, wishing, at least for that moment, that I was back home.
I needed to do something to make me feel good about where I was, so Melvin and I embarked on a beach walk to Byron's lighthouse, the purported viewing area of the sunrise (of course, now, I'll never know). It was an amazing walk. About halfway there, we stopped at a lookout hill, jutted out over the ocean. As we were taking the customary pictures of the ocean below and in front of us, another person on the deck spotted a large group of dolphins frolicking in the surf. Soon enough I spotted them, too, and took some spotty pictures of them. It was nice to see something other than a washed-up jellyfish at the beach. We continued our walk, cutting through some rainforest and finally ascended hundreds of stairs to the lighthouse. It definitely was the sunrise-viewing hangout. It offered panoramic views in every direction. What more can I say? I felt as if I was on top of a mountain, albeit a Rattlesnake. Nothing more than that.
On the way back from the lighthouse, I stopped at a city festival for lunch. There were a plethora of food booths offering fresh cuisine. I didn't know what to choose, it all looked so good. I finally settled on some delicious, spicy curry. Then I "washed it down" with some gelato, a semi-healthy kind of ice cream. I have to reiterate: delicious. I was considering a swim before our bus ride home, but on the walk from the festival to the hostel, I saw several jellyfish on the shore. I thought better of it.
A 13-hour bus ride and a jelly fish bite don't go together too well. At least I think that's the case.
Well, that's my spring break story. We made it back to Sydney at 6 a.m. on Monday morning and prepared for class that day and the start of our internship the next day. It was back to the busy life. Ain't that sad?
pictures to come.....
jake
On the first day there I embarked on my first real "adventure" of the trip. I went rainforest biking with four other outdoor enthusiasts. Yes, it was pricey, but it was well worth it. We drove over an hour out of town into complete seclusion. Hardly any people. No sounds except for the colorful chirping of birds. We biked over 40 kilometers (approximately 27 miles), starting out on a small dirt road, but also turning off onto some paths into the forest. These paths were not easy biking. Covered by sticks and roots and with plants jutting out from either side, you simply could not take your eyes off the terrain in front of you. Several times we had to stop to lift our bikes over logs, but not enough times to ruin the experience. It was a completely new adventure to me, and I loved it. It was also physically taxing - just my kind of day! The first half hour and the last half hour were almost strictly uphill. By the end of the journey I was spent, which made the stop on the way back at a nearby creek for a dip all the more ravishing. Even the downhill portions of the ride was far from relaxing. With several potholes and rocks on the road, I had to keep my eyes peeled and my hands on the brakes. Going full speed could have spelled suicide. But I didn't fall once, and I feel a better biker now than I did before the ride. Now I just need to bike down a mountain. I actually think I might be able to do it. I'm teeming with confidence.
Although I knew just about anything after the rainforest bike ride would be a letdown, I enjoyed the remainder of my stay in Byron. That night the hostel hosted a barbecue and I made some cool cats. We sat around a picnic table and played cards well into the night. Maybe I stayed up too late, because in the morning I slept through my alarm which was set to wake me at 4:20 a.m. for a sunrise tour of the bay. It would have been absolutely indelible, but Mike and I made up for it in the afternoon. But before we could do that, it was time to watch the Tigers close the deal. After missing Game 3 because of the bike trip, I wasn't going to miss the end of the possible clinch-a-spot-in-the-World-Series game. I finally found the hostel's TV in the top of the eighth inning and then watched as Magglio Ordonez's three-run shot sent the crowd back home into a frenzy. I stared in awe at the screen, wishing, at least for that moment, that I was back home.
I needed to do something to make me feel good about where I was, so Melvin and I embarked on a beach walk to Byron's lighthouse, the purported viewing area of the sunrise (of course, now, I'll never know). It was an amazing walk. About halfway there, we stopped at a lookout hill, jutted out over the ocean. As we were taking the customary pictures of the ocean below and in front of us, another person on the deck spotted a large group of dolphins frolicking in the surf. Soon enough I spotted them, too, and took some spotty pictures of them. It was nice to see something other than a washed-up jellyfish at the beach. We continued our walk, cutting through some rainforest and finally ascended hundreds of stairs to the lighthouse. It definitely was the sunrise-viewing hangout. It offered panoramic views in every direction. What more can I say? I felt as if I was on top of a mountain, albeit a Rattlesnake. Nothing more than that.
On the way back from the lighthouse, I stopped at a city festival for lunch. There were a plethora of food booths offering fresh cuisine. I didn't know what to choose, it all looked so good. I finally settled on some delicious, spicy curry. Then I "washed it down" with some gelato, a semi-healthy kind of ice cream. I have to reiterate: delicious. I was considering a swim before our bus ride home, but on the walk from the festival to the hostel, I saw several jellyfish on the shore. I thought better of it.
A 13-hour bus ride and a jelly fish bite don't go together too well. At least I think that's the case.
Well, that's my spring break story. We made it back to Sydney at 6 a.m. on Monday morning and prepared for class that day and the start of our internship the next day. It was back to the busy life. Ain't that sad?
pictures to come.....
jake
Day 5 - toursity Surfer's Paradise
The place reeked of Americans. I'm telling you that right now. Tourists. They were everywhere. With their straw hats and khaki short, man, it was odious. Yeah, I guess I was a tourist, too, but not like them. Anyway, we spent most of our time at Surfers, appropriately, on the beach. I really don't think we could have done much more with the place.
It was just afflicted with tourists.
We could have done the theme park tour, but that just ain't me. I'm done with that stuff. So Melvin and I hit the beach. Man, let me tell you, the second day was frustrating. We rented surfboards, because, c'mon, how can you not go to Surfers' Paradise and not surf? And the surfing was just awful. The waves were tricky, coming from different directions and in bunches, and my board was as slippery as our front steps in Ann Arbor after an ice storm. I might have gotten up on the board once. Once! I felt all the progress I had made at surf camp dissipate. Just like that. It was frustrating, no doubt about it. I washed away my tribulations with some pizza and a milk shake and looked forward to the bus ride to Byron Bay.
It was just afflicted with tourists.
We could have done the theme park tour, but that just ain't me. I'm done with that stuff. So Melvin and I hit the beach. Man, let me tell you, the second day was frustrating. We rented surfboards, because, c'mon, how can you not go to Surfers' Paradise and not surf? And the surfing was just awful. The waves were tricky, coming from different directions and in bunches, and my board was as slippery as our front steps in Ann Arbor after an ice storm. I might have gotten up on the board once. Once! I felt all the progress I had made at surf camp dissipate. Just like that. It was frustrating, no doubt about it. I washed away my tribulations with some pizza and a milk shake and looked forward to the bus ride to Byron Bay.
Day 4 - Brisbane
Before I expound on our brief Brisbane experience, let me just clarify that I did a poor job planning this trip. First of all, Mike and I our probably not the best travel partners - at least in terms of finding things to do together. I'm more of an outdoors, adventurous kind of guy. Mike enjoys walking around different towns, checking out the storefronts and buildings. Secondly, on the type of trip we embarked on, where we didn't spend more than two days in a location, it is important to plan activities in advance, because if you don't, you might not be able to put together an agenda at the last minute. Another mistake of mine. So in many of the places we traveled to we simply ended up walking around, partaking in quaint activities.
Brisbane could have been better. Could have been worse. Upon arriving, we quickly found a bar in which to watch the end of the Tigers' Game 1 win over the A's. I was convinced the series would still be going when I returned to Sydney, but I still wanted to catch as much action as possible. After taking a good half hour to find our hostel, Melvin and I walked down to the Botanical Gardens, hopin' to rent bikes and take them around the city. It was the best we could do with the little time we had. We found a place and enjoyed a scenic, two-hour ride up and down the Yarra River. It was nice. When I'm on a bike, I have fun. Period.
But that was about it for Brisbane. For some reason, I was tired that night. After a nice dinner in a restaurant that was showing SportsCenter - big thumbs up - and a waffle cone sundae,I returned to the hostel and crashed.
There was nothing to the next day. I woke up, ate a continental breakfast, found the same bar across from the bus station, watched sever innings of baseball... and then had to hurry to the bus. On the way to Surfer's Paradie, Bust gave me play-by-play of a nerve-racking bottom-of-the-9th-inning. Bases loaded. Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas at the plate. A's down by 3. Two out. And he popped out. Yes! Tigers up 2-0.
Brisbane could have been better. Could have been worse. Upon arriving, we quickly found a bar in which to watch the end of the Tigers' Game 1 win over the A's. I was convinced the series would still be going when I returned to Sydney, but I still wanted to catch as much action as possible. After taking a good half hour to find our hostel, Melvin and I walked down to the Botanical Gardens, hopin' to rent bikes and take them around the city. It was the best we could do with the little time we had. We found a place and enjoyed a scenic, two-hour ride up and down the Yarra River. It was nice. When I'm on a bike, I have fun. Period.
But that was about it for Brisbane. For some reason, I was tired that night. After a nice dinner in a restaurant that was showing SportsCenter - big thumbs up - and a waffle cone sundae,I returned to the hostel and crashed.
There was nothing to the next day. I woke up, ate a continental breakfast, found the same bar across from the bus station, watched sever innings of baseball... and then had to hurry to the bus. On the way to Surfer's Paradie, Bust gave me play-by-play of a nerve-racking bottom-of-the-9th-inning. Bases loaded. Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas at the plate. A's down by 3. Two out. And he popped out. Yes! Tigers up 2-0.
Days 2,3 - Fraser, Fraser, Fraser
We spent all of Monday and much of Tuesday on Australia's most famous island, Fraser Island. Apparently the sharks surrounding the island don't scare people away, because there were a lot of people on that island. Not as many people as sharks in the water, but still a lot of people. That was the island's biggest vice: it was too populated and, I hate to say this, too commercialized. I realize that it's a huge island and you problem couldn't explore much of it without vehicles, but, alas, I've been spoiled by the Appalachians.
We took the guided tour, which was probably the right choice. Some people choose the self-guided tour, where they are rented out 4 x 4's and drive them throughout the island on the sandy, narrow, dangerous roads. Upon returning from Sydney, I learned that a group of friends had managed to flip their vehicle and had to pay $200 each for repairs. So choosing the guided tour was smart. Plus, my callow ass can't drive stick anyway (and I wouldn't trust Melvin to either).
Our guide, Patty, took us in a huge bus to as many of the island's "attractions" as he could. We took a walk through a rainforest, which was pretty cool (pictures to come). Patty had a great wealth of knowledge, pointing out interesting facts about the plants, trees, water in the creek, you name it. My "Patty Fact of the Day" was that it was perfectly healthy to drink the water in the creek. Patty even pointed out that the creek's water was likely better to drink than some bottled water (and better for the environment). I'm with you on that, Patty. We also visited two pristine lakes on the first day - Basin Lake and Lake McKenzie. Basin Lake was smaller, but absolutely picturesque. Both lakes get all the water from rainfall, and there are no living creatures in them either. Without fear of encountering a cantankerous creature, I swam all the way across Basin Lake! I felt like Aunt Vic. I'll never swim across a lake again. When we arrived at Lake McKenzie, it started pouring. You know how much I adore rain, but it was also cold out and the water wasn't that soothing (my skinny frame probably didn't help me either). Anyway, we swam for a while before hopping back on the bus, our teeth chattering like kids on a school bus. We returned to the central resort and immediately looked for the hot tub. Upon locating it, and soaking in it for a good hour, we rued about our shivering bodies of the past.
On the second day, Patty had to improvise his schedule. Because of extremely high tides in the morning, he couldn't take us out on the beach - yes, vehicles drive on Fraser's beach sand - so instead we went bus bushwacking, driving on roads too insular for the large vehicle. The bus rocked back and forth as we collided with unlucky tree branches. I wasn't sure we were going to make it out alive of that jungle.
We did.
In the afternoon we found the beach, which was beutiful except for all the vehicles polluting it. Although Patty said the waves wash away the vehicles tracks each day, I still couldn't paint myself a pristine picture of the place. Anyway, back to the "highlights." We visited a cute little freshwater stream for lunch. I would have swam down the current, but the water was only maybe two feet deep. Not deep enough for me. So I just ate. Then we headed to an ancient shipwreck washed up on the shore (sorry, again, don't remember the name). It was nice to look at for about a minute and a half. Don't worry, I've got pictures. The highlight of the afternoon was our stop at Indian Head, the highest point on the island. It was a cliff, maybe a couple hundred feet high, overlooking the ocean. After about a 7-minute hike from the beach, we reached the top. I could stayed up there all day. It was windy and the temperature was perfect. Flies? There were none. Cars? Not if I looked straight ahead. The cliff was so close to the ocean, that vehicles had to take a road behind it to continue on the beach. I sat near the edge of the cliff for as long as I could, soaking in the ocean breeze. It was the highlight of Fraser.
After a long, bumpy ride back to our cabins in da bus, we ate dinner and then waited for the ferry to return us to mundane Harvey Bay. Finally, after two hours and some technical difficulties, the ferry was ready for us. We took the hour boat ride back to Harvey and didn't have to worry about finding nightlife in Harvey. It was already past 10 p.m. and we had a 5:55 a.m.bus to catch the following morning. We hit the sack.
We took the guided tour, which was probably the right choice. Some people choose the self-guided tour, where they are rented out 4 x 4's and drive them throughout the island on the sandy, narrow, dangerous roads. Upon returning from Sydney, I learned that a group of friends had managed to flip their vehicle and had to pay $200 each for repairs. So choosing the guided tour was smart. Plus, my callow ass can't drive stick anyway (and I wouldn't trust Melvin to either).
Our guide, Patty, took us in a huge bus to as many of the island's "attractions" as he could. We took a walk through a rainforest, which was pretty cool (pictures to come). Patty had a great wealth of knowledge, pointing out interesting facts about the plants, trees, water in the creek, you name it. My "Patty Fact of the Day" was that it was perfectly healthy to drink the water in the creek. Patty even pointed out that the creek's water was likely better to drink than some bottled water (and better for the environment). I'm with you on that, Patty. We also visited two pristine lakes on the first day - Basin Lake and Lake McKenzie. Basin Lake was smaller, but absolutely picturesque. Both lakes get all the water from rainfall, and there are no living creatures in them either. Without fear of encountering a cantankerous creature, I swam all the way across Basin Lake! I felt like Aunt Vic. I'll never swim across a lake again. When we arrived at Lake McKenzie, it started pouring. You know how much I adore rain, but it was also cold out and the water wasn't that soothing (my skinny frame probably didn't help me either). Anyway, we swam for a while before hopping back on the bus, our teeth chattering like kids on a school bus. We returned to the central resort and immediately looked for the hot tub. Upon locating it, and soaking in it for a good hour, we rued about our shivering bodies of the past.
On the second day, Patty had to improvise his schedule. Because of extremely high tides in the morning, he couldn't take us out on the beach - yes, vehicles drive on Fraser's beach sand - so instead we went bus bushwacking, driving on roads too insular for the large vehicle. The bus rocked back and forth as we collided with unlucky tree branches. I wasn't sure we were going to make it out alive of that jungle.
We did.
In the afternoon we found the beach, which was beutiful except for all the vehicles polluting it. Although Patty said the waves wash away the vehicles tracks each day, I still couldn't paint myself a pristine picture of the place. Anyway, back to the "highlights." We visited a cute little freshwater stream for lunch. I would have swam down the current, but the water was only maybe two feet deep. Not deep enough for me. So I just ate. Then we headed to an ancient shipwreck washed up on the shore (sorry, again, don't remember the name). It was nice to look at for about a minute and a half. Don't worry, I've got pictures. The highlight of the afternoon was our stop at Indian Head, the highest point on the island. It was a cliff, maybe a couple hundred feet high, overlooking the ocean. After about a 7-minute hike from the beach, we reached the top. I could stayed up there all day. It was windy and the temperature was perfect. Flies? There were none. Cars? Not if I looked straight ahead. The cliff was so close to the ocean, that vehicles had to take a road behind it to continue on the beach. I sat near the edge of the cliff for as long as I could, soaking in the ocean breeze. It was the highlight of Fraser.
After a long, bumpy ride back to our cabins in da bus, we ate dinner and then waited for the ferry to return us to mundane Harvey Bay. Finally, after two hours and some technical difficulties, the ferry was ready for us. We took the hour boat ride back to Harvey and didn't have to worry about finding nightlife in Harvey. It was already past 10 p.m. and we had a 5:55 a.m.bus to catch the following morning. We hit the sack.
Day 1 - Harvey Bay
On Sunday, 15 October, Mike and I caught a Virgin Blue flight to Harvey Bay, a small, retirement town north of Brisbane on Australia's east coast and adjacent to tourist-friendly Fraser Island.
Harvey Bay was, in a word, bland. We arrived at our hostel, Palace Backpackers, around 12:30 and spent most of the day's remainder walking. We cruised untasteful beaches - I didn't even bother putting my swim trunks on - for several hours, eventually coming to the highlight of the place: an extremely long pier out into the bay. It must have taken Melvin and I a good 20 minutes to walk out to the end of it. That's how long it was. It actually was pretty neat, because there was a sandbar that extended parallel of the pier, making it seem as if we were on a miny island, with the bay behind us toward shore. But that was about it in Harvey Bay. We ate at a Chinese buffet for dinner and then walked the dark, empty streets back to our hostel.
I fell asleep around 8:30 p.m.
Harvey Bay was, in a word, bland. We arrived at our hostel, Palace Backpackers, around 12:30 and spent most of the day's remainder walking. We cruised untasteful beaches - I didn't even bother putting my swim trunks on - for several hours, eventually coming to the highlight of the place: an extremely long pier out into the bay. It must have taken Melvin and I a good 20 minutes to walk out to the end of it. That's how long it was. It actually was pretty neat, because there was a sandbar that extended parallel of the pier, making it seem as if we were on a miny island, with the bay behind us toward shore. But that was about it in Harvey Bay. We ate at a Chinese buffet for dinner and then walked the dark, empty streets back to our hostel.
I fell asleep around 8:30 p.m.
Spring break... finally
sorry, sorry, sorry. I know all you cats have been checking my blog every few minutes, waiting for my spring break post... sorry. I have no excuses (No, I'm not gonna throw the "I was busy" shat at you). I haven't been that busy. I'm just lazy. And I've spent way too much time online trying to get Bust a ticket for the Series.
Back to the topic at hand. I'm gonna type for the next hour and a half. Hopefully I'll be able to get most of the spring break blogging done. I'll do separate entries for each place Mike and I visited. Some will be longer than others, some will be more interested than others.
Pictures to come later.
Jake
Back to the topic at hand. I'm gonna type for the next hour and a half. Hopefully I'll be able to get most of the spring break blogging done. I'll do separate entries for each place Mike and I visited. Some will be longer than others, some will be more interested than others.
Pictures to come later.
Jake
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Heading off to spring break
hey guys,
sorry I haven't posted in a while, but life has been pretty uneventful around here. This week was all about finishing up school work. On Tuesday I helped give a group presentation on the Sydney Swans, the local Australian Rules Football team here. On Wednesday I turned in my final paper and helped to wrap up my group's film about the "Kangaroo Kid." On Friday a large portion of the Boston Univerpsity group showed up to watch the five films our class made. Our film received several laughs. It was nice to see that all of our hard work - especially Mike's - paid off. Today I finished up the 5-week class portion of my time here with final exams for my film class and introduction class. They went decently. At least I know I won't be failing out of the program.
And now, tomorrow morning, Mike and I are heading off for our spring break trip up the east coast and back down. I won't be carrying my laptop, but I'll be sure to post when I return in a week. At that time I'll be starting my internship at Sydney University Sports, where I'll write stories for the web site and other publications. Again, more to come on that later. Well, I gotta head to bed now. I'm waking up at 5:30 in the morning to watch the Tigers try to eliminate the Yanks before heading to the airport.
Go Tigers and go UM! I'll be watching...
jake
sorry I haven't posted in a while, but life has been pretty uneventful around here. This week was all about finishing up school work. On Tuesday I helped give a group presentation on the Sydney Swans, the local Australian Rules Football team here. On Wednesday I turned in my final paper and helped to wrap up my group's film about the "Kangaroo Kid." On Friday a large portion of the Boston Univerpsity group showed up to watch the five films our class made. Our film received several laughs. It was nice to see that all of our hard work - especially Mike's - paid off. Today I finished up the 5-week class portion of my time here with final exams for my film class and introduction class. They went decently. At least I know I won't be failing out of the program.
And now, tomorrow morning, Mike and I are heading off for our spring break trip up the east coast and back down. I won't be carrying my laptop, but I'll be sure to post when I return in a week. At that time I'll be starting my internship at Sydney University Sports, where I'll write stories for the web site and other publications. Again, more to come on that later. Well, I gotta head to bed now. I'm waking up at 5:30 in the morning to watch the Tigers try to eliminate the Yanks before heading to the airport.
Go Tigers and go UM! I'll be watching...
jake
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