Bombed By Bombers

January 11th, 2009, 1:15 PM PST @ Banning HS

Our undefeated season went down the drain Sunday afternoon when we played the worst game of the season (first game of the postseason - 2nd round) and got eliminated by the Bombers (5-6). We finished the season at a 10-1 clip.

I didn't really get to shoot in this game, going 2 for 3 from the field. We took a lot of bad shots, turned the ball over one too many times and missed a ton of free throws. In the end, we didn't really deserved to win the game.

We had a one point lead with 20 seconds left but I fouled this guy driving to the basket and he made both free throws.

Our four-man, James had a crack to win it with a baby 5-foot jumper but he clanked it long after dribbling off the last 13 seconds of the game in an iso-1-on-1.

Goodbye perfect season.

Cold Night

January 6th, 2008, 9:00 PM PST @ Penmar Rec Center

This game was a near disaster in all aspects.

First of all, I finished playing basketball at UCLA around 8:30 and received a phone call from Kendy saying that the park was dead with no lights. That reminded me that the location of our softball had been changed. I was notify but I had forgot to relay the message to our team hah. So Kendy is at the park where we usually play (Pan Pacific) and is telling me that half the team is sitting in the dark and wondering what the hell was going on. Must of been fun.

Anyway, we finally got a hold of the directions to the new park and they all carpooled over there. Luckily, for me, Kev, and Freddy, the three of us had just finished playing basketball and the new park wasn't too far from UCLA. Jackpot for us.

After a few mis-directions and wrong-turns, we finally arrived at the park 10 minutes late and the other team was just waiting there with the umpire. Suckers.

As for the game, we lost by one run. I had a terrible 2009 first game, as I struck out badly (batting right-handed, not left-handed). I just never strike out batting right-handed but it happened. The night was cold. The air was tight and the ball wasn't carrying. We had zero minutes to warm-up but that was our bad for showing up late.

Outside of Kev's four solid at-bats (the one out he did make was the hardest crushed ball I've ever seen him hit - too bad the defense was ridiculously deep), the whole lineups' bat was just as cold as the night.

Regular Season Perfected Once More

January 3rd, 2008, 5:30 PM PST @ Banning HS

We had a makeup game this past week versus the Bombers (4-6) and we beat them. Barely. Everybody on our team just about played as bad as they have played all season. Good thing this was still good enough for a 2-point win at the end, where I intentionally fouled the opposing point guard with 3 seconds left coming out of a timeout with us up by only 2 points. The guy had made 6 straight free throws but we had already pre-determined in the timeout that we were gonna foul whoever gets the inbound pass.

The guy goes to the line and clanks the first free throw. The Bombers are out of timeouts so he has to miss the second. He does and we get the rebound. Gametime.

Click Here for the link to the upcoming playoff bracket:

2008 - The Recap

Let's take a look back at my personal missions and see how i fared:

July 17th, 2008 entry - Click Here

1. Read 5 books.

The Time Traveler's Wife (Never Finished - stopped on page 150 or something, the story is too jumpy)
The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Done)
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (Done)
The Kite Runner (Done)
Death Watch (Done)

Failed.

2. Take a class for Fall Quarter to run the brain blood flow.

I enrolled in a Spanish course at LBCC, attended class for about 2 and a half weeks and then dropped it. Sweet.

Failed.

3. Complete grad-school application for Masters in Math Education

I completed the application for CSULB but I didn't get in. My brother (currently a English teacher at Long Beach Cabrillo HS says I should try to apply to CSU Dominguez cause that's where he got his credentials cause he too didn't get into CSULB - I'm not sure if I wanna teach anymore, I need to figure something out). My little brother and sister both got into CSULB. Congrats to them!

I need to start a business or something because I am sick of working.

Failed.

4. Do push-ups or lift weights 3 times a week.

I have failed miserably in this area as well. Although, I've been lifting weights the last two nights. I need to get some running incorporated into the daily regimen as well.

Failed.

5. Spend the rest of my time with friends and family.

The holidays have been a great source for time-spending and catching up with the homies and the crazy familia.

Passed!

Total Results: 1/5 (20%)
Grade: Failed.

I'm gonna fix this. Hopefully, I'm just not saying it cause it sounds good and go out and make it happen. I just gotta get my mind right and I'm feeling the determination rising. Hear me cause I'm hollering it up right now..I'll be ready in the new year.

I wanna thank God for not taking anybody from my life this past year. Considering what happened in 2007, that's definitely a win. If you're out partying tonight, have fun and be safe. Of course, never forget to laugh and love. Live it up!

Happy New Year 2009!

League Updates - December 2008

LegalZoom Softball (Los Angeles - The Grove)
Season #1: 4-8-0, no playoffs
Season #2: 4-8-0, no playoffs
Season #3: 8-4-0, no playoffs
Season #4: currently in season, 8-1-0.
Next Game: Tuesday, 1/6, 9:00pm

LegalZoom Basketball (Hollywood - LA Fitness)
Season #1: 7-0 season [finished 1st], 2-0 playoffs [won championship]
Season #2: 5-3 season [finished 5th], 3-0 playoffs [won championship]
Season #3: 7-1 season [finished 1st], 2-0 playoffs [won championship]
Season #4: 5-2 season [finished 1st], 2-0 playoffs [won championship]
Season #5: 5-4 season [finished 2nd], 2-0 playoffs [won championship]
Next Game: New Season starts in January.

Hitmen Softball (Long Beach - Joe Rodgers Field)
Season #1: 7-3-0 season [finished 2nd], 0-1 playoffs [eliminated in semi's]
Season #2: 8-2-0 season [finished 2nd], 0-1 playoffs [eliminated in semi's]
Season #3: 0-10-0 season [finished last], missed playoffs.
Season #4: 2-7-1 season [finished last], missed playoffs.
Season #5: Unregistered.
Next Game: I'm gonna try to start this team back up some time after winter cause David Peng ain't making it happen.

LBC Basketball (Wilmington - Banning HS)
Season #1: 5-5 season [finished 5th], 3-2 playoffs [reached semi's]
Season #2: 7-3 season [finished 2nd], 1-1 playoffs [reached quarterfinals]
Season #3: 6-4, season [finished 4th], 0-1 playoffs [eliminated in semi's]
Season #4: currently in season, 9-0.
Next Game: Playoffs start on weekend of January 10th-11th.

CrookedStraight.com Basketball (San Marino - San Marino HS)
Season #1: 5-5 season [finished 3rd], 0-1 playoffs [eliminated in 1st round].
Unregistered.

NotGuiltyBrand.com Basketball (Pasadena - Eagle Rock HS)
Season #1: 3-7 season [finished 5th], 2-1 playoffs [lost in finals]
Season #2: 2-8 season [finished 5th], missed playoffs.
Season #3: 6-4 season, [finished 1st], 1-1 playoffs [lost in quarterfinals]
Season #4: currently in season, 8-0.
Next Game: I am no longer on this team. I'll be back next season. I didn't want to pay $75 to play 4 games.

Rockets Softball (Woodland Hills - Northrup Grunman)
Season #1: 7-4-0 season, [finished 5th], no playoffs
Next Game: I'm not sure when the new season is starting. Hopefully not soon cause it's cold as hell.

Regular Season Perfected

December 21st, 2008, 2:20 PM PST @ Banning HS

Our LBC division-title game versus the previous 7-1 Hitmen (now 7-2) was a no contest. We jumped on them early and held on for a 71-62 victory. Those fools were huge as hell and talking hella trash to me cause I was the smallest one. Too bad I ended up blocking 2 shots and giving them a lil bit of KG verbage right back at 'em. This game had the playoff feel to it and was pretty exciting.

I really didn't completely trust my healing ankle during pre-game but I think it's safe to say that it's good enough to play again. I love basketball!

I had at least 5 steals. But I really made my mark in the 4th quarter where I hit a 3-ball, blocked 2 shots on help-D, and made my free throws late in the game. The perfect season is completed at 9-0. This is pretty impressive, considering we ran 5-deep to start the season and 6-deep for the entire season. Time for the playoffs.

Thank You Mother Nature

December 16th, 2008, 9:00 PM PST @ Pan Pacific Park

The weather is hella cold and my ankle isn't feeling so great.

Here is the email from the League Office.

All games are canceled for this evening.
December 16, 2008 2:15 P.M.
Viet Nguyen 12/16/2008 10:14 AM
LEGALZOOM.COM, INC.
7083 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 210
Los Angeles, CA 90028