This is not the best way to approach the playoffs. Period. The Rockets’ effort against the  Dallas Mavericks tonight was a disappointing one. Depending on the outcome of the Denver-Portland game, the Rockets can be seeded as low as 5th place, which means 2 things: no home court advantage at all AND they will play Portland in the first round. As many have been saying, Portland with their young and sassy team, is very dangerous. If Houston keeps playing collapsing basketball in the fourth quarter, they WILL NOT make it out of the first round…again. Houston needs to step up in the fourth quarter, take control, and put games away. Tonight’s lack of intensity in the waning stretch will not do come playoff time. Shot selection at the end of the game is vital and let’s just say Ron Artest needs to learn how to pass the ball in certain situations. This does not take away from anything that the team has accomplished this season, but they could be sitting in a much prettier position if they can just learn to suck it up in the fourth quarter and put a dagger in it.

Image by ESPN.com

Okay, it has really been a while….

But I cannot let this season pass by without putting my two cents in on it. After another long season and sans T-Mac, the Houston Rockets are gonna be in the playoffs. Not too surprised. I for one have fallen off of the T-Mac bandwagon. I think that many players were able to step up and contribute in ways that were not expected as a result of T-Mac’s absence. And this is why they are going to be participating in post season hoopla.

Now, if the Rockets can avoid playing Utah or San Antonio in the first round, they have a good chance of getting to the second round. I know that means they will almost definitely face the Lakers if they make it past he first round, but this will further solidify T-Mac’s first round curse (thought I would sneak that in). But, just getting past the first round will be good enough for me because this is definitely the Lakers’ or the Cavaliers’ year. Cleveland is playing ridiculously awesome…..against the EAST. They will definitely represent that conference in the final, but I have to give it to the Lakers. Lebron James has been just plain GREATNESS this year, but I like Kobe’s role players better. He has a Derek Fisher. Cleveland is young, and the Lakers are young and experienced all at the same time. Other noted match ups that should make for some entertainingly awesome basketball: all of the Western Conference matchups and the Eastern Conference championship. So, after all has been said and done this is my pick for the finals: Lakers vs. Cavaliers with the Lakers in 7. GO ROCKETS!!!!!!!!!

Image from sportslogo.net

Directed by: Gabriele Muccino
Starring: Will Smith and Rosario Dawson

Proceed with Care: Spoiler Alert!!!!!

Okay, so I’m not really the moview review writer type. But, however, I really liked this movie and it took all of three days for me to go and finally see it after it came out. So here goes:

Seven Pounds stars Will Smith as Tim/Ben Thomas. I say it this way because 95% of the movie we think that he is Ben Thomas and for all of like 15 minutes towards the end of the movie we find out that he is actually Tim Thomas impersonating his younger bro, Ben Thomas, the IRS agent, got that? Okay, good.

It’s actually about redemption or what Tim/Ben thinks will be redemption for something that he so horribly did about a year and a half ago: kill seven people in a car crash, his fault because he took his eyes off of the road to check his crackberry. One of the victims is off course his soon to be wife. Unable to live with the guilt, he starts out on a mission to do seven good deeds for seven good people, by way of donating his organs, except for one whom he gave his beach front house to. The first one was his brother who needed a new lung. Thomas then goes on to find the rest of these good people by using his brother’s credentials as an IRS agent and making illegal inquiries through the IRS database. He finds Ezra, the blind guy, and Emily as his final two donors this way. By this time he has already donated one lung, one kidney, half a liver, some bone marrow (without anesthetics might I add), and off course his house. In between all of these events, Tim/Ben becomes involved romantically with Emily who is in need of a heart donor with a rare blood type. He tells Emily that when he was a little boy his dad took him to go see a bunch of box jelly fish and though he was told that they are the most dangerous creatures in the world, he falls in love with its beauty. This is important for the movie’s climax. But, to make a long story short, Emily’s time is running out and she is in dire need of a heart transplant. So , Tim/Ben goes to his hotel room, fills the tub with ice and water, gets in, and kills himself (after calling in the suicide,) by putting his box jelly fish in the tub with him (loved the irony). Off course, he dies quickly. Emily gets his heart and Ezra, gets his eyes. This makes seven organs that he donates, in addition to his house…..seven people.

I might have been a little sarcastic with the recap but this movie was pretty good. It was touching and was full of emotions from the get go. Granted, the plot was predictable, but that’s just it! I knew exactly what was going happen, but it still made me all teary eyed (and I am not a wuss by any means!). I think that Will Smith was great and Rosario Dawson was good too. Will Smith was convincing as the guilt ridden Tim Thomas. And, Rosario Dawson did a pretty realistic fall in one of the scenes, I mean ouch! I noticed that it did not fare too well in the box office, but who cares? It was something in the neighborhood of Pursuit of Happyness type of Will Smith-movie and if you liked Will Smith in that movie, you will like him in this one too.

Image from AP

Pray for the victims and the families of such a meaningless act of terror.

Pray for the victims and the families of such a meaningless expression of disregard for human life.

….and pray for those who are capable of such meaningless act of terror and expression of disregard for human life….

This should be another example of why everyone everywhere should continue in the fight against terror.

This should be another reason to show that we care and will not tolerate terror.

Images by Reuters

An interesting discussion came up the other day: Will Sarah Palin attract women voters who would have voted for Hilary Clinton? So, this question posed an interesting scheme of things. What if Palin and Clinton were running against each other for the vice presidency? I’m sure I’m not the first person to pose this, but, I would love to see the outcome of this “fantasy” election AFTER Sarah Palin’s introduction to the nation. I’m sure many of you are saying that Hilary would win by a land slide because just a couple of weeks ago we had no idea who the heck Palin was. But, judging from the vast amount of popularity that she won over after her acceptance speech, it could be an interesting race. Interstingly enough, the Republican Palin seems to appeal to the “everyday, regular” and “hockey mom” women, while Democratic Clinton seems to be the high class, “Washington elite” that not too many “regular” women voters can appeal too. Granted, one’s voting decision should not be based on the candidate’s gender, but on the individual’s ability to run a nation. But, whether we like it or not the fact that we have women running for president or vice president will have an imapct on how we vote. And if Palin and Clinton were facing each other in November, I for one would definitely be waiting to see who comes out on top. So, to answer the initial discussion question, like it or not, there will be some Clinton women voters filling out the ballot for Palin, just because she is a woman.

Image by AP

I am not Republican. But, Gov. Sarah Palin’s speech was great. Amidst all the controversy surrounding her up to this point, she was confident, graceful, and delivered a vibrant speech that erased all doubts of her ability to address on a national level. Now, she didn’t address many of her views of several subjects, but given the situation that she gave this speech (i.e. pregnant daughter, Gustav, and the media), I thought that she got her point across. She emphasized the small community/family and John Mccain’s military accomplishments pretty well. She also stressed the party’s stand regarding the Iraq war, and maintains that she is proud to deploy a son and a nephew to fight in the war. She received applauses after almost every sentence that came out of her mouth. She also garnered a lot pf points by stating that she and her family represents everyone’s “ups and downs”, and that many wrote her off as a nominee because she is not part of the Washington elite.

Another impressive aspect of her speech was her subtle, yet fierce attack on Barack Obama. She was not dirty about it at all, but like I said before she got her point across. I thought it was great when her family came on stage and her (pregnant)daughter’s boyfriend was part of it. Strong move. I think that she gave and will continue to give the Republicans a much needed spark. Finally, I am going to squeeze in a fave quote from her speech, “The difference between hockey moms and a pit bull is lipstick”. Good one!

Image by AP

When it was announced that Joe Biden was chosen to be Barack Obama’s running mate, my reaction was, “Who?”. So, naturally, I researched the man. Here are 10 facts that I found out about Joe:

1. Joe is a Delaware senator, since 1972.

2. Joe was born and raised in Delaware. Joe graduated from University of Delaware (1965) and Syracuse University College of Law (1968).

3. Joe is married to Dr. Jill Biden with 3 children (2 lawyers and a social worker) and five grandchildren.

4. Joe wrote and passed the Violence Against Women’s Act and Adam Walsh Act.

5. Joe is recognized for his voice on foreign policy, crime, terrorism, and drug policy.

6. Joe is committed to preserving Delaware’s farming tradition.

7. Joe’s top foreign policy priority is bringing the troops home from Iraq.

8. Joe is active in the effort to end genocide in the Darfur region.

9. Joe’s Biden Crime Bill has placed more than 100,000 cops on America’s streets.

10. Joe recently introduced the College Affordability and Creating Chances for Educational Success for Students, which would increase tax incentives, expand Pell grants, and begin college planning as early as the eight grade.

Hope this helps you get to know Joe Biden a little better!

Image by AP

So, Barack Obama officially accepted the ticket to represent the Democrats in the upcoming presidential election. Historic! Personally, I am ecstatic at the thought of him running for president. I hate to have to label my political views and stuff (i.e. Democrat), but I have to say, I am full of anticipation as to what he can bring to the table. There has been much talk about his lack of experience in the higher sector of office, but maybe that is what we need to spurn us towards a new tomorrow. Maybe we need a fresh mind, a fresh face, and fresh ideas to propel us to the next phase of this country’s political future. I know that sounds little crazy in more ways that one, but we have been stagnant if not regressing in many aspects as a nation. Politically and economically, we have definitely seen many struggles just this past year. Many are shaking in their boots for fear that they have yet to see worst of our economic troubles. Political inclinations concerning the war in Iraq has marred us internationally. All this considered, maybe what we need is a new age leader that can redirect and unify us under a new cause.We need someone who is willing to end the war that has claimed so many of our sons, fathers, daughter, brother, and mothers. I know that our soldiers will not come home the moment a new president takes office, but we need someone to fight for the soldiers to come home. We need a leader that will focus on the problems that are here, INSIDE our borders. I believe that Obama can offer this nation, at the least new ideas to the many problems that we as a country face today. Barack Obama’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination is the historic first step towards the long march to change.

Image by AP

Here is a run down of Michelle Obama’s DNC speech. The article pretty much sums it up: the speech was pretty good. She touched on an important aspect of the candidate/husband–he is human–just like the rest of us. A family man who feels that he make this country that much better for everyone else’s family. A farfetched, yet simple goal that offers hope to many American families who have waited a long time for this kind of change.

Image by AP

As the 2008 Olympics come to an end, I leave you the inspirational stories of Samia Yusuf Omar and Abdi Said Ibrahim. The only athletes sent by Somalia to the Beijing games came dead last in their events, but the fact that they were there to run speak volumes about their strength and determination. It also exhibits the unifying power of these games and what it means to the world. Enjoy the story and be inspired!

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news?slug=cr-somalirunners082408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Image by AP