There Is Something About Dawn Staley

When I was 14 or 15, I became infatuated with Virginia Cavaliers' Women Basketball team. Holt, Hawkins, Carter and Anderson were in their last year at UVa and they lost to Tennessee in Elite Eight. I was worried about the next year's edition.

Darrell Avery barged in my dormitory bedroom so violently that the thick door banged on the wall and back to the other wall. He then saw the metal trash can and kicked it -- it flew across the room -- when it crashed on the wall, it created a loud vibration that I cannot ignore ... I stared at Darrell. He said, "Good news! Dawn Staley signed with Virginia!"

Who is Dawn Staley? I asked him, he stared at me and his voice boomed as he signed rapidly: She is the best player ever to come to Virginia!! Watch out!! Funny zero!!

Fast forward to a year later, Dawn Staley made an impact as a freshman at Virginia. But I hadn't gotten a chance to watch her play. Then an opportunity comes up as Virginia was playing 4th-ranked team, Maryland Terrapins. As I was sitting to watch the first few minutes of the game, I was impressed with Dawn Staley in the first 20 seconds of the game as she swiped a ball for a basket right after the tip-off of the game. As Maryland attempted to inbound the ball to another player, Dawn then stole the ball again and banked in another basket.

Wow. I became a fan of Dawn Staley ever since. There are times that she made me mad. Staley loves to pass more than score a basket. In one game, it was inevitable that she has to score in order to beat one team, who else? Maryland. Coach Ryan jokingly made a threat that if she does not score enough, she'll walk back home tonight. Sure enough, Staley got the message and scored 24 points in an upset of No. 1 Maryland. I was at the game in front of 14,500 plus crowd, it was awesome to see thousands of fans being devastated with their home team as Virginia pulled the carpet to win the game.

Today, Dawn Staley indicated that she is done with the Olympics. She gathered 3 gold medals and unbeatable in international competitions since '94. In 1992, the USOC decided not to pick Dawn Staley for Barcelona '92 Olympics. The local papers in Virginia and DC ridiculed the USOC decision. The USA team then lost to the Russians. Then in '94, they decided to bring her on. Ever since, they never lost in a span of 205 games.


Staley Celebrating For The Last Time as Olympian
Staley came from Philadelphia's poor neighborhood and she had nothing but her dignity. She just conquered the world for 10 years. As of now, she is playing for WNBA's Charlotte Stings. And she also is the Head Coach of Temple Owls.

It is my hope that someday, she will return to Charlottesville as the Head Coach of Virginia Cavaliers.

R-

Plenty of Protests

I was supposed to meet a certain person at Sheridan Square to join the march to protest Bush and his cronies' invasion of the island today. I overslept by an hour. I strolled westward (only one and half block away) to Union Square. It was pretty packed. So many posters, so many people to check out.

I was not impressed with NYPD or the "security guys". They had the helicopters swarming along with a blimp hovering above the marchers.

Last Friday, I was on 14 Street when I saw a large group of cyclists known as "Critical Mass" passing by, they do this once a month on the last Friday of the month to swarm the city on their bicycles to promote the awareness of cycling needs in this town. Suddenly, the NYPD cops were all over them and started to arrest them for reasons unknown to me at the time. Later, NYPD claimed that they were interferring with the traffic. That is *bullshit*.

Yes, some cyclists chanted against Bush, but they were not interferring the traffic, they were going along with the traffic. I saw it with my eyes. Mayor Bloomberg is a Republican whom the residents regret voted for in the first place. Mayor Bloomberg wanted to look good right before the start of Republican National Convention.

Today at the March, I observed the numbers -- one reported 250K which I agreed because it is so dense. One said 10K, that is rubbish. If it is 10K, there would be plenty of empty spaces there and over there. But it was not. It was packed. I even cannot find any friends or any one I knew.

The truth is that the Republicans lacked the guts. They sent the poor guys to wars to do the deed for their needs. The Republicans needed the massive security to protect themselves from the angry mass of American people who are fed up with their antics.

Why do you think VP Dick Cheney chose Ellis Island as a place to arrive and talk to the press? It is because he knew that we cannot reach him at Ellis Island. He is avoiding us.

President Bush will come on Thursday for few hours then flee the city. See? He is afraid of us. He knew that he did a lot of despicable things to Americans and the world and yet, he surrounded himself with his friends to act like he is doing the "good thing".

He is not.

He is a coward cocksucker.

R-

Doping

The Olympics in Athens has concluded today. So many good stuff happened, so many bad stuff happened.

Honestly, it was disheartening to read the doping reports coming out of Athens which stripped some athletes of their medals almost on a daily basis. Why can't they prepare these BEFORE arriving in Athens? These athletes has no dignity, only greed.

Today, I just read the papers that a runner in the Marathon was tackled by a defrocked-Irish priest. I wonder how Ireland reacted to this? I'm sure they are embarassed that one of their hotheads just did it.

Paul Hamm is still hot. Phelps is OK if you cover his teeth. Hermann of Argentina is hot, too. Plus, all guys who played in Water Polo are extremely hot. Thanks for the show, Athens.

See ya in Beijing, guys. I won't be there, nor wanted to. But after seeing Atlanta, Sydney and Athens on the tube, I want New York to win the 2012 bid so I can check out these "athletes" at bars/clubs/restaurants -- eye candy can be so great. By 2012, there is no telling that I might be hottie or a troll.

Ahh.

R-

EMERGENCY!!

After talking with my older, hearing brother, Billy Jr online for an hour -- he shocked me something else. That I actually thought I just saw Beth's Pride and Joy flashing at me.

I had to talk to someone. I had to tell someone. I need to see a counselor. Except that I do not have my counselor. So I decided to blog.

You know, Billy Jr is a die-hard Republican which I find it to be abhorrent.

But he said, "I am Republican, but I support abortion and gay marriage. Do you understand me?"

What? Did I hear this correctly? My fuckin' redneck brother supports abortion and gay marriage??? I told him, "But that is not the platform Republicans wanted, anyway." He said it all comes down to limited government, that he is concerned the most. Whatever he says. But I'm still nursing my head wound when he mentioned that he supports abortion and gay marriage.

Then he said he had to sign off to eat the dinner that my sister-in-law cooked before hitting the road for a vacation to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I typed, LOL. He said, "Why LOL?"

I shot back and I think I caused him to have a head wound as I said, "Oh, I'm just reminiscing old times' sake. Was in Myrtle Beach two years ago with Mark and I fucked a married man. Mark nearly caught us with our pants down."

His response: "Gross, me out."

R-

350th Entry: Paul Hamm Is In Town

This is my 350th entry. If I reach 365 entries before September 14, that would mark 1 entry per day, because that date is the day I started blogging.

International Gymnastics Federation has to back off from hounding Paul Hamm. Paul does not have to surrender his gold medal. It is all that idiotic Celizic's fault for writing up an article, urging Hamm to surrender his gold medal out of a goodwill gesture. BACK OFF! LEAVE HAMM ALONE!

The comments, "Back Off" reminded me of a cheapskate drama that occured when I worked as Summer Resident Advisor at Peet Hall. This happened when a friend got an IM from Mark to "back off". My friend did not understand nor know why Mark said so. Then I asked Mark what's going on. He shot back, "Back off! Stay out of this!" I told him that I will not get involved, but honestly, no one understands this. No one. Mark said, "Back off! Don't you understand me? Back off!"

I shrugged off on this, but Dorian, who was in the office, persisted to find out why -- one thing led to the other, it escalated the whole thing into a huge fight as nobody knew why Mark said "back off" but it nearly costs the friendship between me and Mark ... all over two words: Back off.

Today, I still do not know the reasons why Mark said "back off" to Bray. So guys, back off!

Oh, yeah, it was reported that Paul Hamm was in town. And guess where he was "seen"?

At the Chelsea Piers. Go figure. It'd be nice that we play together. *sigh*

R-

Good Riddance, Dream Team

It is done. You are finished, Dream Team. Coach Brown, good riddance to thee and thy team.

Go and play for Bronze. You guys are pitiful. But again, so does the NBA.

As for USA Women's Basketball, there is a poll on msnbc.com which appalled me the most -- 11,515 polled that 95% voted for USA to beat Australia.

My bet is on Lauren Jackson and Australia winning the gold.

R-

The Drama at Union Square

Last night, the local news mentioned that lots of protests will crisscross, organize and end at Union Square. My eyes widened. I live 1 and half block from the prestigious Union Square. This is going to be climatic weekend for me to sit back and observe the batons being so useful.

My greatest fear is that NYPD cops might overdo their antics (they always do!) and harm innocent people who tried to get their message across to the idiots.

I wonder if GW Bush realized that he is not appreciated nor welcomed in this town? I wonder if he realized that there are many people who wanted to kick his butt? To crush his blinding ego and to challenge him without him using the legal or financial avenues?

These stuff made me want to puke at GW Bush.

Last night, 11 members of ACT UP decided to bare the truth to the world by stripping themselves naked on 8th Avenue by Madison Square Garden -- they had the words on their chest and back that reads: ERASE THE DEBT! STOP AIDS! They were subsequently arrested for blocking the traffic.

I saw the TV report that a massive poster was tied up in the air at the luxury hotel right next to Central Park that reads "<==== BUSH, TRUTH ====>" -- indicating that Bush told lies, Truth still stands outside of the fray. How true. The reports indicated that people cheered when the rappellers pulled the stunt.

More to come -- some people said that they will cause some drama at Brooklyn Bridge to divert the attention of NYPD in order to wreck the RNC.

Drama, drama, drama!

For it has began last night.

R-

P.S. To amuse yourself, check this out -- www.harmlessdevon.com -- there is something wrong with this guy, he crashed (probably due to drugs, but he did not mention) -- he went homeless, was forcibly committed to the state hospital, was jailed, was carjacked and all that shit in few days -- or weeks) and he still blogged. Wow.