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“Endings are never easy. I always build them up so much in my head they can’t possibly live up to my expectations –- I just always end up disappointed. I’m not even sure why it matters to me so much how things end here. I guess it’s because we all want to believe that what we do is very important. That people hang onto our every word -- that they care what we think. The truth is, you should consider yourself lucky if you even occasionally get to make someone – anyone – feel a little better. After that, it’s all about the people you let into your life.” - Dr. John Dorian
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"As I looked at all the relationships around me -- some that had gone forever, some that were reigniting, and some that had just begun -- I realized something.
It should have been me."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpS70HSd9LE
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| This year was the first time I actually followed college basketball almost religiously. It's been a crazy year, no doubt. Upsets have been plaguing the NCAA like an uncontrollable, infectious disease, and I think a finger or two could definitely be pointed towards East Lansing, Michigan where the Spartans have been concocting a nasty plan for college basketball dominance since day one. Go State. I'm rooting for the underdog tonight (as always), but inevitably I have to predict a triumphant Tar Heel victory of a margin of maybe, say, fifteen? We will see tonight.
I would definitely say my loyalties have been remiss this 2008-2009 season. Admittedly, I am not proud to "wear gray and bleed blue" like the vast majority of my classmates. I've witnessed too many losses and defeats in overtime after getting my hopes way up. The sound of the buzzer sounds like funeral church bells with each passing game. Truth be told, we suck. It's is as simple as that. I would rather don the Blue and White colors and keep up with some far more interesting and successful basketball programs. After a disappointing latter half to the Hoya basketball season, I virtually became Georgetown's Benedict Arnold by throwing my full-fledged support for the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels (ironically, these two teams are arguably the most reputed and intense rivals in college basketball if not college sports in general). In all honesty, Duke and UNC really know how to put on a show and pile on the wins, and we know how to do the exact opposite with lackluster performances despite the number of superstars and offensive weapons on our starting roster.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has been enjoyable to follow, but the Big East has definitely proven its superiority in the college circuit with Louisville, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, and Villanova making their presences widely known during March Madness. Their games were incredibly fun to watch, although I don't know how exactly Villanova did so amazingly well this year (Mr. Fisher, perhaps). Once again, lots of upsets to point out. Louisville's loss against Michigan State was unexpected. Not surprisingly, my bracket was effectively destroyed by the Sweet Sixteen and completely annihiliated by the Elite Eight. I had Memphis and Clemson advancing pretty far up, but we all know what happened there. I do have UNC winning the whole bid, so if that actually happens tonight, then at least I won't close out empty handed. Only the Hoyas have been left truly empty-handed with their first-round elimination in the National Invitational Tournament. I guess there's no fun in having all first seeds reaching the Final Four and fighting it out to the death, figuratiely. The element of surprise and utter shock as the mighty fall and the underdogs rise makes college basketball so, well, exciting and unmistakably addicting.
"Tenting" in Krzyewski-Ville and watching Duke pummel Georgetown to a bloody pulp in the second half of the January 21 game at Cameron Indoor Stadium was probably the moment when I gave up on the Hoyas because they, not surprisingly, lost almost every game onwards. Duke, on the other hand, has played fantastically (albeit not one of its better seasons) and has one of the most successful programs in college basketball. Fourteen appearances in the Final Four, I believe? UNC tops that with eighteen.
In retrospect, I don't understand how we (Georgetown) defeated the University of Connecticut Huskies earlier in the season, and even after our string of losses, we managed to scrape by against the Villanova Wildcats. Clearly, there is potential in the Georgetown basketball team but efforts on the court are not translating into green "W"s on the NCAA scoreboards. With Da Juan Summers saying his goodbyes in May, I highly doubt that Georgetown can put up even a half-decent effort in the Big East in 2010, especially since it's completely dominated by rock-solid, in-your face, kick-your-ass teams that are on the rise (e.g. Louisville, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova, Connecticut, etc.). I think it's more than likely that Greg Monroe will be leaving in pursuit of a professional career that is sure to be infinitely more rewarding than his current college opportunities. Hoya basketball is currently facing a downward trajectory. Jack the Bulldog has an ominous fate on the court.
I never really cared much for the Tar Heels until this year mainly because Tyler Hansborough is just absolutely brilliant at the free throw line and in the paint. His statistics are beautiful. His game is beautiful. His shot is beautiful. Also, I watch that Youtube video of him dunking on Kenny George (7'8") on a regular basis. This is not to say that Wellington, Green, Thompson, Lawson, and the rest of the Tar Heels aren't amazing; they're incredible but I think Psycho T takes the gold home. The North Carolina team is impressive and extremely well-rounded. President Barack Obama has them winning the NCAA title, and as much as I want Michigan State to win tonight, it is far more than likely that his predictions will come to fruition in twelve hours time.
Let's see how everything pans out. Game face on. | | |
| In a foreign place
The saving grace was the feeling
That it was her heart that he was stealing
He was ready to impress
And the fierce excitement
The eyes are bright
He couldn't wait to get away
And I bet that Juliet was just the icing on the cake
Make no mistake, no
And even if somehow he could have shown you
The place you wanted
Well I'm sure you could have made it that bit better on your own
And I bet she told a million people that she'd stay in touch
But all the little promises that don't mean much
When there's memories to be made
And I hope you're holding hands by New Year's Eve
They made it far too easy to believe
That true romance can't be achieved these days
And even if somehow they could have shown you the place you wanted
Well I'm sure you could have made it that bit better on your own
You are the only ones who know | | |
| Today is my little brother's tenth birthday. I find that just a little hard to believe. Where did the time go? I'm not up for a coherent, logical entry that conveys a lot of though. So I will ramble as I type and talk about the dude.
He looks his age but is still a four year old at heart. He can't do anything by himself. He still plays "pretend" with the same old broken toys that I even had when I was less than three feet tall. He's a really happy kid. He watches a lot of television, draws, sings when he thinks no one is listening (I'm secretly there, though), reads Harry Potter, and eats too much junk food. I feel bad that he doesn't have many friends.
He still sleeps with my mom. In fact, I don't think he ever slept in a crib as a baby. To this day, he falls asleep after watching television with my parents. He does homework at the kitchen table every day from five to seven in the evening. He is a Nickelodeon fiend. He picked up the violin in third grade after being inspired by his friend/neighbor. He now plays the Bb Clarinet. I hope he gets more involved in music and plays at the high school level. He attends Vietnamese school on Sundays and occasionally plays soccer. He has to do all these activities because there's nothing better to do at home, and there's no one around to spend time with him. Most of my friends either love him or think he's annoying. I remember when Yang picked him up and dropped him. That was funny yet painful to watch.
He wears my old clothes. He steals the blankets whenever I end up sleeping next to him. I remember the first time he laughed when he was maybe seven months old. He plays a lot of video games. Not that I didn't when I was little, but that's beside the point. He loves chicken wings with rice and broccoli. He is currently wearing braces. His hair smells good in the morning. I don't call him by his first name ever. I make up ridiculous names for him. He gets annoyed.
He goes to bed at around 11:00 P.M. each night. I sleep around 3:00 A.M each night. I remember I was the first person to witness him walk on his own two feet. He used to run around in his little roller thing with a tray on top as a little tyke. Stupid kid. He fell down half a staircase once. He also walked into a wall and almost got trapped in an elevator at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He loves the dog at my relatives' place in New York. He likes animals. He is currently taking swimming lessons at the JCC, too. He has improved a lot, apparently.
I remember going to Vietnam for the second time (his first time) in the summer of 2002. It was great; I think he loved it. He goes on Youtube sometimes and listens to songs from Z100 or tunes that he merely finds catchy. He listens to a lot of hip-hop. I don't know why. I didn't start using the computer till I was in eighth grade. The kid started when he was seven. He tells me that kids in his class have cell phones. I got mine when I was seventeen and entering senior year of high school. Technology age in full force. He plays the Nintendo Wii religiously.
He is not very good at basketball, but my dad still goes to watches all of his games. I remember he had a seizure in February of 2002. That might have been the scariest moment of my life. He's a little chubby, but I think that's all right. I wouldn't have him any other way. I chase him around the house sometimes. He is left-handed. He loves Wendy's and McDonald's more than he loves his parents, I think. He eats anything. I remember when he was born. I was in the third grade back then. Now he's in the fourth grade. I am in college. I hope that he is doing well in school.
I think that's enough reminiscing and aimless ranting for now. He and a few of his classmates are at Funtime America to celebrate. I know you will never read this, but happy tenth birthday, Dennis. You're the best. | | |
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