.it's been a while.

Wow. My last blog post was ages ago! It's been so long, I highly doubt anyone is even reading this! If you are, then THANK YOU for stopping by! Also, I definitely owe you an explanation regarding my absence from this blog. You see, I've been debating back and forth on if I should start a new blog from scratch. Because of my indecisiveness, I've neglected writing in this blog which is kind of sad. I am sorry. In any case, I've had so many thoughts this past year about the various sports I watch - most especially football and basketball. 

But, first and foremost, the LA Kings just defeated the NJ Devils to win the Stanley Cup. I still can't believe it took them 45 years! What an accomplishment. :) Personally, I very much appreciate hockey because I've been to watch games live and I truly understand how tough those guys have to be, let alone full of stamina, strength, and endurance. They really do make it look easy out there on the ice but, it's not! If you've never watched a hockey game live, do yourself a favor and make it a point to go to a game next season. It doesn't matter who is playing, just go. You'll leave with such an appreciation of the game and respect for the guys that play.

This past weekend, I witnessed a boxing match that really got to me. It got to me because I've always known professional boxing to be prestigious, classy, and most especially - REAL. The Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley bout was disappointing to say the least. By now, you know who won the fight in the ring (Manny) and who won the fight on the judges score cards (Timothy). When the results were announced, I started at the television in awe for a couple of seconds before the voice of others in the room echoed in my ear. "What just happened?" I heard. "What?!" said someone else. I was thinking the exact same thing however, I took to Twitter to unleash my disgust at the unfairness and imbalanced judging that just took place. I found I wasn't alone. Celebs and athletes also took to Twitter to share their thoughts, 99% of had the same thoughts as I did. Even Lady Gaga tweeted about Manny, saying he's still the best fighter in the world. The true colors of Manny Pacquiao came out that evening after the fight and at the press conference afterwards. THIS to me, was the highlight of the event. Manny remained calm and flashed his usual smile. He never once looked angry or upset. He actually made it a point to express that he respected the judges and their decision despite the fact he felt 100% in his heart that he won. He also gave it all up to the Lord. What an amazing  person! Makes me proud to be Filipino. :)

Lastly, I heard today that Chad OchoCinco was signed by the Miami Dolphins after being released by the New England Patriots. I'm happy for the guy. I feel like still had the ability to be a playmaker if given the chance to thrive in the right environment. Good luck Chad!

Love,
Peace,
& Sports,
-C

.blah.

It's 8:30 on a Monday evening. As I sit here in front of my computer with a warm cup of freshly homemade Starbucks (with a splash of my favorite Italian Sweet Cream); I have a confession.

I'm in a sports slump at the moment and I'm not proud of it.

I'm sure you may have wondered where in the world I've been. I don't have an excuse really. I can't use "traveling for work" as a reason because I've been home since my return from the NBA All-Star Weekend in February. And for whatever reason...here we are, surrounded by a ton of sports headlines and I've been M.I.A.

Hmmm, let's see. March Madness is here and I haven't blogged about it once. Manny finally signed with the Dodgers and I'm too burnt out on the subject to give you my insight. LT signing with the Chargers made me feel some enthusiasm but oddly enough it wasn't enough to boil over into my blog. Even today, Lance Armstrong goes for a tumble and breaks his collar bone and I've got nothing to say except, "ouch!"

For this my friends, I do apologize.

With all due respect, I am not saying that I am tired of sports. That's actually NOT the case AT ALL. I think the truth of the matter is, I've had too many non-sports related things going on in my life and it's causing somewhat of an anxiety/stressed/depressed feeling in my mind. No requests for pity here; I'm just trying to get you to see where I'm coming from. Ok, now I'm rambling. I will tell you though that the one semi-sports related topic that has been on my mind for the last several weeks is this. My thoughts and deepest prayers are still with the families of Marquis Cooper, Corey Smith, and William Bleakley who never returned home to their families after a day out to sea. This story was one that broke my heart.

*sigh*~ With that said, today I've decided to talk about something other than sports for a slight change. It's something that I happen to love (and I'm sure I can speak for most gals out there).

PURSES!

Yup, that's right PURSES. For you guys that want to stop reading...fine. But you might want to understand a thing or two about why girls have a passion for purses.

So, any fashion-minded girl who looks to enhance her style can always turn to a cute purse. You see, it's a statement. A way to tell someone: look what I've got on my arm and yes, it belongs to me. It's no secret girls carry a number of different things everywhere they go. Some common finds in my own purse would be:

• wallet
• makeup bag
• sunglasses case
• iphone
• keys
• ipod (sometimes)
• a pen
• gum/candy

Right there you can see the need for a purse, right? So, if a girl has to carry her essentials anywhere and everywhere, why not make it as stylish as possible? Now, you may wonder why some girls want to carry more pricey bags than others? It's simple. Look at it like this...it's like a car. Some people drive a Honda and some people drive a BMW, it's a preference just like a purse. The other awesome thing about a cute purse is that you can use it with more than one outfit. It can even make a so-so outfit look like so much more! To prove my point, check out these comparisons:

So guys, the next time you think a purse is a waste of money...think again! It's one of the best accessories a girl can have. And ladies, one sidenote: it's ok to want different wallets to coordinate with different purses. Just don't forget to grab your ID when you are switching them out. :)

Love,
Peace,
& Handbags,
-c

.blue for blue.

It’s a done deal.
This year it will be a Phillies vs. Rays World Series.

Now that it’s official, I’m trying my best to accept the reality of this postseason. As a West Coast gal, I truly feel like the best thing to do is to look forward and be optimistic about next season. As hard as that sounds, it’s the only reasonable solution.

*sigh*

Just so you know; I made it a point not to write about the Dodgers and their quest for the 2008 World Series until after the outcome of their season. I think mostly, I didn’t want to jinx the only West Coast team still alive in the postseason. Team Blue was thrown into the national spotlight when news broke that Manny Ramirez was joining the club. Wow—what a deal for a team that was in need of a serious offensive weapon! I remember seeing Manny in his new squeaky clean blue Dodgers uniform for the first time during his press conference. He came ready with his iridescent sunglasses and a happy smile that really complete his new look. LA was on top of the world that day and so was Manny.

Since his acquisition, the Dodgers seemed to have a new found excitement. Fans were re-energized and game attendance shot up. What Dodgers fan wouldn’t be excited at the prospect of a possible World Series run?? Having Manny was like winning the lottery—although some may beg to differ. The hot issue that the media continued to bring up was Manny’s bad attitude (aka: “Manny being Manny”) and his lack of interest in the game (and at times his own team) when he wasn’t into it. I feel like Manny just needed the right team to gel with so he can continue to impress fans. Most importantly, show the media that the phrase “Manny being Manny” can mean something positive. So, with Manny being a Dodger now—I believe he’s found a good fit but, is this just a quick stint before moving on for more money elsewhere? This may very well be the case... in light of Manny’s comment right after the Phillies series loss. When asked if he’d be in a Dodgers uniform next year, “I don't know,” he said; “I don't have any control over that.”. “I want to see who is the highest bidder,” Ramirez said. “Gas is up and so am I.” he proclaimed! Funny thing is; he has TOTAL control over where he’ll end up since he is the one who ultimately says yes or no.

And so here we are, the World Series is right around the corner and the reality is—the Dodgers won’t be there. Even with Manny carrying them through into the postseason AND having a big name coach like Joe Torre to lead the way, it just wasn’t enough. The team made it so close but couldn’t take hold of the Phillies who ended up winning the Pennant. What a Cinderella story it would have been! While some may continue to ponder “what if”, the only thing I ponder is…“what went wrong?”

Ugh—the batting line up for starters.

The batting order had been an issue, mostly during the end of the regular season. Joe Torre tried so hard to arrange all of the pieces of his puzzle to fit just right. Players were re-shuffled almost weekly prior to the playoffs. At the time it felt like the team was moving forward in the right direction. Once they made the playoffs, it seemed all of the work and planning had really paid off. Adding Manny to the mix gave the Dodgers some added fire. They scored consistently and even managed to sweep the Cubs! For a team that wasn’t supposed to have made it very far, they sure were doing exceptionally well. With the success against the Cubs, going into the series against the Phillies was a challenge I’m sure the team was pumped for. Only 1 team stood in their way to the World Series and now was the time to make it happen. With the players batting well and the pitchers focused—it seemed like Manny was the icing on the cake.

Not so much~

Whether it was nerves, undisclosed injuries, or a team that just couldn’t pull it together—the Dodgers lost against the Phillies and performed in a way that shocked most LA fans. What happened to the oh-so-familiar Grand Slamming Loney, Comeback Kid Furcal, or Fan Favorite & Base Stealing Martin? Let’s not forget—Kemp, Ethier, and Garciaparra; where were their much needed clutch moments? In the end, it came down to one person—Manny Ramirez. But, a single player can only carry a team so far (even with batting .410 with 21 home runs and 63 runs batted in over the last two and a half months). A combination of unproductive offensive plays by the Dodgers and errors made during crucial games cost them big time like, Rafael Furcal’s three errors in a 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Another challenge for Torre was he was unable to solidify the clean up slot. Hitters batting behind Manny in the Dodgers' lineup were 3 for 27 with one run batted in during the playoffs. It’s just frustrating to watch a team that was able to win against all odds to make the postseason, end up unraveling under the immense pressure.

Some final thoughts.

I am wondering how many people (who aren’t from Tampa and Philly) will actually be interested in watching the World Series this year. I know that if the Dodgers had made it through, the ratings and number of viewers would have been through the roof. One reason would be that most of the West Coast would be interested in watching (regardless if they root for LA). Another reason would be celebrities. I’m sure US Weekly could dedicate an entire magazine spread on who showed up to cheer the Dodgers on. One prime example is Ms. Alyssa Milano for instance. She is a huge Dodger fan and has an entire blog dedicated to her love for the team. A photo of Alyssa Milano wearing her Manny dreadlock hat swinging a towel over her head at the World Series would be cool! Lastly, most people have some interest and/or curiosity in cheering for an underdog.

So...now the question is; where do the Dodgers go from here? And most importantly, will Manny be a part of the future of LA? You live and learn in life so only time will tell when the Dodgers will get this far again. From my west coast perspective—hopefully another post season run will happen before the team has to start again from scratch. For all you Dodger fans out there, remember this: “It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get back up.” - Vince Lombardi

Batter up!
-C

.finally! some sports talk!.

As most of you may already know (from my first blog posting); I'm a sports fan! I'm sure you've been wondering when I'd bring up a sports related topic to discuss. Since I had you wait 5 long blogs for this, I have not 1 topic but 3! So, here we go:

Topic #1: Merriman to forgo surgery and will play with knee injury.

At first glance, the headline makes you wonder how long into the season before his knee gives and he’s “Lights Out” for good. After all, 4 different doctors have told Merriman that he needs surgery. More than likely all 4 doctors told him that having the surgery sooner rather than later was the wise option. What could Shawne Merriman be thinking…? I believe that he visited multiple doctors because one by one, they did not tell him what he wanted to hear. Could doctor #4 have given him some kind of hope that surgery wasn’t absolutely necessary RIGHT NOW? Of course! Why else would he play despite the possibility of jeopardizing his future? I understand that he is passionate about his career, football, and the Chargers. But, is it worth endangering your entire career in the sport that you love so you can play for 1 season? Honestly, it really doesn’t matter what I think. The fact of the matter is—he’s playing and that’s that. Most people think he’s crazy but some of his teammates are ecstatic! My thinking is that the Chargers feel that they currently have the best team they’ve had since Rivers turned QB1. Maybe Merriman knows something that we don’t. Maybe he knows this year could be THE year. If Merriman wants to be the NFL’s equivalent to Tiger Woods playing injured, so be it. My only hope is, he and the Chargers DO have their best year EVER and the Chargers win the Super Bowl. And if by chance, the Chargers do make it all the way to the big dance; I pray that Merriman’s knee holds up long enough for him to participate in what could be the most important game of his career and finish as Tiger did at the Masters. After all, Tiger won the biggest game of his life and then had surgery—let’s hope Shawne can do the same.

Topic #2 – MLB to use instant replay on a limited basis—strictly on home run calls.

Bud Selig loves it and now we will find out if the rest of the Baseball world agrees. Instant reply in Baseball isn’t my idea of fun but I knew it was bound to happen. Technology is on the rise faster than ever these days. Businesses and schools have taken advantage of modern computers and programs to better their efficiency and accuracy. Sports are not an exception to this by any means. A perfect example is the touch pad timing technology used in the Olympic Games which calculated Michael Phelps had won the 100m butterfly thriller by one one-hundredth of a second. Or how about the photo finishes we see at Horse Racing events and the replays we see at NFL games to confirm if a player's knee touched the ground before the ball fumbled? Currently instant replay is limited to home run calls in Baseball and that I can handle. Besides the worry that it will lengthen games, I really don’t think it will be a bad thing. I’m sure it won’t take more than 5-7 minutes which could be shorter than waiting on a coach to finish yelling and spiting at an umpire because they disagreed with a call. On the other hand, if instant replay is extended to base calls, then I’d be an unhappy camper. You see, my feeling is that you get so much excitement from watching a play unfold (especially those that are close calls). Isn’t it great to see an awesome play and then seconds after, the umpire waves his hand to confirm safe or out? Most times after the signal, you are either jumping for joy or upset the call wasn’t in your teams favor. Now that edge of your seat excitement is what Baseball is all about. I would hate for instant reply to ruin those moments, especially since the sport has been successful and entertaining without instant reply for so many years.

Topic #3 - Source: De La Hoya, Pacquiao agree to Dec. 6th in Vegas

Pay-per-view must be excited about this one! Obviously, people are going to want to see this fight. I can imagine Vegas being packed! If it's true...as T.O. would say, "Get your popcorn ready"!

*first blog ever* - im excited! :)

Dear Bloggers,

I love to write which is why I have no idea why this is the first time I've decided to start a general blog. I'm kind of excited! Let me start off with an important factoid. For those of you who don't know me, I L-O-V-E sports. Mostly I enjoy Football, Baseball, and Basketball. On any given morning, you can bet that SportsCenter could be heard in the background as I get ready for work. I am opening up to other sports such as MMA (mainly because of my good friend DG). Show your support peeps by checking out his site: http://www.knoxxgear.com/.

Back to my blog.

Although this is the first time I'm blogging about anything I want, I did at one point have a sports blog on ESPN. Because I'm a native San Diego girl, I felt empowered to write about my feelings towards the Drew Brees trade from the Chargers to the Saints. Yes, I know it's been a long while but at the time I remember feeling pretty strongly about it. Happy for San Diego, no. Happy for Drew, yes.

Hang on, now that I think about it... I wonder if it's still floating around in the ESPN blog world. Let me check, brb.

... Ok, I'm back.

You're never going to believe this! It wasn't on the ESPN blog site; my trusty memory realized the home page didn't look familiar at all. Then it hit me! It was actually Fox Sports Blog, how could I forget? I tried logging into my account but I couldn't remember what email addy I used so it rejected my attempts. Good news is... I searched the "Drew Brees" blogs... low and behold, I found it! I had to LOL because it was dated Sept. 21, 2006. I told you it's been awhile!! Anyway, I HAD to paste the link here. For good 'ol times sake.

Drew, this is for you! http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/brown_eyed_girl/2006/09/21/Miami_may_be_wishing_for_a_Brees_in_place_of_their_lingering_storm
And yes in case you're wondering, I do have brown eyes!

-c