When I sat down the first day in Professor Wood’s 100W class and heard that we had to do a blog, portfolio on a political topic that involved an interview, and what seemed to be an endless amount of writing I wasn’t sure if I was going to get through it. Contrary to my belief, not only have I done every blog, I also completed the entire portfolio along with the oral presentation. However, my oral presentation did not go too well because a huge force of stage fright came over me. It’s very exciting that this will be my very last blog. Although I mentioned earlier that social networking and blogging was not my thing, I will admit that when I finally started to write about sports in some ways I started to enjoy writing some of my blogs.

My topic for my portfolio was originally chosen because two of my good friends have wanted to get married for years but have not been able to. The original thought was to interview them because they are directly involved with the issue, however professor Woods said that the interview was suppose to be with someone of real relevance to the topic. At that point, I knew was in trouble and I definitely felt as though as I was not going to finish this class. On top of the interview, the oral presentation was going to be another obstacle that I knew I was going to struggle with. However, the presentation was deep into the semester. Furthermore, I finished the entire portfolio so there was no turning back. Although I struggled with the presentation, I learned so much about my topic. If I were to be in this situation again knowing exactly how this class was going to be, I would definitely do it again.

This semester has been so rigorous and tough that I still can’t believe I finished it. I am grateful for everything I learned this semester and as I mentioned earlier in a previous blog, I wish everyone the best of luck with finals and what is left of this semester. And for the last time, GO LAKERS!

With the 49ers win last night over the Cardinals, they kept their playoff hopes alive because they are now one game behind first place in a weak NFC west division. As much as I love the 49ers and the fact that they still have a chance to reach the playoffs it is unfair and ridiculous that a team with such a horrible record can make the playoffs. Right now as it stands the best the 49ers can end the season is 9-7 but realistically if they manage to pull it off they will end in 8-8 or 7-9. As a matter of fact any team who wins that division will have that record. Last week all four teams in the division lost their game marking the only time in NFL history since the NFL has had 8 divisions that all four teams lost all their games twice in one season. This division is so bad and weak that whichever team wins it is going to leave out a team that is deserving and good enough to have a playoff spot.

            The Packers right now stand right outside the playoff bubble at 7-4 because they are second in their division behind the Chicago bears at 8-3. There are only six playoff spots and four of them are reserved for the division winners. As of right now if the playoffs were to start today the NFC playoff picture would look like this: 1. Atlanta Falcons 2. Chicago Bears 3. Philadelphia Eagles 4. The 5-6 Rams? 5. New York Giants and 6. New Orleans Saints. The Rams have a losing record and will not only have a playoff spot but will have a higher seed than the 7-4 Giants and Saints. This means that if the Rams win they will face the number 2 seed instead of the better number 1 seed. This is extremely unfair for the team that has a better record but is not a division winner. Moreover the 7-4 Packers and 7-3 Buccaneers will be shunned out of the playoffs because they are not division winners and the Rams with a losing record are.

            Don’t worry I have a solution, the NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell needs to step in this year and make an exception not allowing a team with a losing record to have a playoff spot regardless of being a division winner. The Packers are considered to be one of the best teams in the NFL, their only problem has been injuries in the beginning of the season and that might be their only reason for not making the playoffs. GO LAKERS!

lilliputian: adjective: extremely small; tiny; diminutive

               adjective: trivial

Almost a quarter of the NBA season done and everything is starting to fall into place. Aside from a couple of early hiccups, the Lakers are as strong as ever, the Spurs appear to be a championship contender, Boston is an even stronger team than last year, New Orleans is turning out to be a strong surprise in the west, and the most over hyped team in NBA history is a mere 8-7. The NBA season is 82 games long and the most games any team has played thus far is 15. But the way a team starts the season is a strong indicator of how they will be the rest of the season. The Miami Heat was predicted to win 70 games this season and it was going to be smooth sailing right into the playoffs, however, it seems that they have run into a hurricane right off the bat.

The team that was said to go 82-0 started out losing their first game and the team that did win 70 games only lost one game at this point. To top it off last week when the Heat were 6-4 and lost consecutive games, Lebron James and Chris Bosh publicly criticized their coach. They both said that their coach over worked them in practice and played them too many minutes during the game. Let’s get this straight, two perennial All-Stars, possible future hall of famers that are only 25 and 26 years old, and in the prime of their career, are complaining about practice and playing too many minutes only ten games into an 82 game season. Okay Lebron, the same excuse you used in Cleveland is the same one you’re using in Miami? No wait a minute, it isn’t because this time he has two All-Stars in Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, a championship parade with fireworks without the championship, and a television event announcing that he was going to take his “talents” to South Beach. Spare me Lebron, there is no excuse this time, he brought this upon himself and it is exploding right in his face.

Those of us, who know basketball, know that it takes chemistry, a good system, players to fit the system, and coaching that fits the players. The Heat spent over 300 million dollars to buy three big names and a championship. They didn’t take into account that it takes more than three players to make a team and win. Lebron James and Dwayne Wade are the exact same players with little to no differences in their game. Chris bosh is a big-man that needs the offense and the ball to flow through him. So essentially, you have three players that have no chemistry and don’t compliment each other what so ever. All three need the ball in their hands in order to be effective and neither can play without the ball. Since these players can’t compliment each other there is really no coach or system that can be applied to this so-called “super-team”. Let this be a lesson to all of us, there IS a reason as to why the teams play the game. A team may be good on paper but you never know until you step on the field, court, or ring. Lastly, excuses are for immature losers, especially when they have a party before the season even started. Just take a look at the Dallas Cowboys. GO LAKERS!

Consanguineous: adjective; of the same blood, related by birth, descended from the same parent or ancestor

Penumbra: noun; the partial shadow outside the complete shadow of a celestial body in eclipse