it's good to be an angeleno

the lakers and the bruins started their respective games at the same time in different cities. but, there was a point during tonight's game where the bruins and the lakers had scored 57 points and their opponents were at 43 (asu) and 45 (miami) respectively. both bruins and lakers, of course, went on to victory.

to me, that was kind of an eerie moment. so, i was reminded of this column.

Too many Saturdays to count. So many that we sometimes forget that in other cities -- in places such as Chicago and San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia -- college games with this kind of magnitude and talent rarely take place.

And Pauley is just the start. You look at what's happening with the Lakers now -- a team on the rise -- and you think, again?

Yes, again. Of course.

You grow up, as I did, in a city such as Seattle and you've got one NBA title and two heroes: Gus Williams and Downtown Freddie Brown.

You grow up in this sun-kissed place and where do you start? 1972 or 1985? 1987 or 2002? Who hangs in your memories? Kareem or Wilt or Shaq? Jerry West or Worthy? Kareem or Kobe?

The Lakers might on occasion have lean and fallow seasons. But always they return. Same goes for the Bruins.

i know that it is too early in the nba season to see if the lakers will go to the championship game (the nba really needs a catchier title a-la "final four" or "superbowl"). i also know that the big dance is too unpredictable to assume that ucla will get to the final four and beyond. although i can only hope.... yep, it's not just la weather, it's basketball too.

it's all about the benjamins

i do have a lot of opinions on politics... but, i don't share them on the blogosphere.

that being said, it irks me every single time the dollar falls far below the euro as reported here. first, it was the whole canadian dollar getting to be the equivalent of the greenback. now, the euro is at an all time high against the dollar.

yep, there is something wrong with the economy (and it ain't just a slowdown). cutting interest rates won't help increase the value of the dollar either.

bottom line - i can't travel wherever, whenever. and that is the most irksome of all.

it's the arizonas

i am crossing my fingers for tomorrow and saturday.

the first 2 of the last four games before the pac-10 tournament.

both the sun devils and wildcats are currently on the bubble and would want a big win against ucla to ensure entry into the big dance.

ucla better get its defense together -- it has not been as impressive as the past 2 years (i know people are saying that the bruins have been better defensively in terms of points allowed, etc.; i still think tho that they have not been as shut-down as last year)... but then again, bruin defense in the past 2 years has been phenomenal!!!

i know the bruins beat ASU big last time, but ASU should have learned from the last game and may have sharpened its zone. ...and we all know how UCLA plays against the zone.

one thing to look forward to: i don't think we will see a slacker effort from kevin love anytime soon as quoted here:

Without offering an absolute explanation for what he called his "low energy level," UCLA freshman Kevin Love promised he would not have another game in which his enthusiasm and focus seemed away from basketball, alluding to UCLA's victory over Oregon last Saturday. Love said he talked with Bruins Coach Ben Howland and with his family afterward. "It wasn't that I had a bad attitude," Love said. "It was just one of those games where I was out of it and I have to apologize to the team about that because I shouldn't let my actions affect my team. Another game like that is not going to happen. It's not fair to me, not fair to my teammates, not fair to my coaches and not fair to fans."

this kid is just great!

quotable quotes

i have heard plenty of random and/or strange (for a lack of a better word) "quotables" in my lifetime. some i poached from other people's experience -- because they are worth sharing. either way, all these "quotables" amuse me and/or make me go "huh?" they are not really "lines," as you shall see...

so, here are my favorites:

1. "you're ugly and nobody loves you anyway." my personal favorite.

2. "do you know anyone who committed suicide?" i swear to you, someone actually said this at a very lively bar... as recently as last friday night.

3. "vocé está brenquendo con meu coração." portuguese for "you're toying with my heart." a local brasilian boy said in earnest to my friend. wow, someone really says $hit like that in real life.

4. "i hope your attraction brings you joy." a friend to a psycho needy date. i love it!

5. "you remind me of a dolphin." does this ever work? what does it even mean? and i don't care if you work at sea world!

6. "you're old." this requires more explaining, but funny nonetheless.

i'll probably keep on adding/deleting "quotables" as time goes by. it makes me laugh.

i am not even a fan of jimmy kimmel

...and yet, i love these two clips!


WARNING: lots of sexual content and profanity.







nothing really to ramble about. these are just hilarious!

ramblings on a whirlwind trip to ciudad de mexico over the president's day weekend

first, the ruins of teotihuacan. aztec architecture is different from inca architecture. however, both displayed amazing craftsmanship and engineering skills. both also shared a love (or at least a fascination) with steep and narrow stone stairs. ouch!

this was part of the "edificios superpuestos" (superimposed buildings)

view from pyramid of the sun

this guy was one of many vendors selling wares at teotihuacan

second, the one time home of diego rivera and frida kahlo was also pretty interesting. these people were not your typical poor starving artists. they lived well in a lovely home, which by the way, was nice. the courtyard had a nice feel to it with lots of artistic accents. it also had a calming fountain. no wonder they were so inspired...

the courtyard of the one-time home of diego rivera and frida kahlo.

third, i just enjoyed the "walk" sign. the green person is actually runing and not walking. hilarious!

fourth, the cathedral was.... well, a cathedral.

more on coach wooden

there is just something so special about coach. here, he talks about the dunk and how he hates it. i can understand it because it focuses the attention on the individual player as opposed to the team play.

with all due respect, however, i love the dunk. it is spectacular. most recently, was this one courtesy of russell westbrook during the cal game.

that being said, i love coach's philosophy on life and his devotion to his nell.

as much as i enjoyed the video below from espn, i still hated hearing the interviewer's voice. you know, he-who-shall-not-be-named-but-is-the-one-who-destroyed-the-ucla-basketball-program-before-coach-howland-came-in. ugh!

hopefully, bruins take care of business tonight in beating the 'cats. GO BRUINS!