Bucket List:

A Bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket (die). I watched the Rob Reiner film and found it interesting. So, as a subject for writing, I will start my Bucket List. And yes, I am dying....just like everyone else. It’s just that I’m currently doing it comfortably. Here’s the ten I can currently think of:
1. I’d like to sail along the Fjords of Norway at the height of summer sunlight.
2. I will marry the girl of my dreams.
3. I want to ski black diamonds well into my 70s.
4. I want to take my dad to New England, where he can give me a tour of his mission.
5. I’d like to walk along the Great Wall of China
6. I will hold my own child, and have a little talk together
7. I want to shoot even par on a regulation golf course.
8. I will be debt free by age 40.
9. I’d like to revisit Denmark, the land of my mission, and talk with people I knew when I was a missionary.
10. I would like take an extensive tour of the Israel.


The Celtics, The Lakers, and the Kobe Dilemma:

My goal is to compare and contrast the Celtics and Lakers, and why the Lakers can’t win with Kobe Bryant. I realize that the NBA finals are just finished, but I cannot help but compare the Celtics and the Lakers, as has been done so many times before. This scenario will demonstrate why Kobe Bryant really isn’t the MVP; rather he may be in fact be the reason why the Lakers currently cannot win it all.

In 2003-2004, the Lakers had 4 All-Stars signed: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton.
In 2006-2007, the Celtics had 3 All-Stars signed: Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett.

In 2003-2004, Karl Malone and Gary Payton humbly took a back seat to Kobe and Shaq; Kobe and Shaq both argued throughout a moderately successful season, and then made the NBA Finals a spectacle for their argument, and lost to the Detroit Pistons in 5 games.
In 2006-2007, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett spoke to the media about how each player was for the team, and then went out and played that way. Each stepped up when it was their strengths could lift the team to victory; in addition, they graciously stepped aside when a teammates strengths were critical to win. In other words, they didn’t allow their ego to deter the others from displaying their strengths. This team play resulted in a successful season and a NBA Finals victory.

In the summer of 2004, the Lakers were forced to lose 3 All-Stars because of Kobe’s ego. The Lakers were unable to replace the talent.
In the summer of 2008, I predict the Celtics’ players will acknowledge their teammates and continue to have All-Stars for next season.


Kobe is very talented, but team-player is not one of his strong areas. We continue to hear Kobe cry for help (which he got in Pau Gasol in 2007), but continues to fail in team play. I understand the NBA has invested in Kobe, but I cannot understand how he can be named MVP when he struggles to play well with the other players. Laker fans should only hope he again begs for a trade, and the management obliges. I, being a Jazz fan, only hope that the Jazz stay Kobe-less.




Facebook:

Recently, I decided to join the network of Facebook. I knew there were pictures of me on it, and I decided that I better sign up and determine what pictures were on the open web. My friends have given me a warm welcome, and I guess I’ll have to stay up to date with this new-fangled networking tool. And no, I haven’t seen any questionable pictures of me...(I mean there aren’t any)....,so I guess I’ll have to keep it that way.




Mets Update:

I was saddened to find out that the NY Mets fired Willie Randolph. He has been a manager after my own heart. Can I say I disagreed with a few of his decisions? Yes, I think even he regrets a few of his decisions, but at the time, they seemed good. But I wish him well in the future, and I hope the NY Mets management will reconsider their error, apologize publicly to Willie, and plead for him to lead the team again. Okay, back to reality, I hope the NY Mets organization will hire somebody who can lead like Willie......because we know we need to win.



New Interns:

Life is a challenge in late June and early July. It’s the time of new interns. For my residency

program, we had the new interns start yesterday. I congratulate them, welcome them, and finally challenge them to excel. It is difficult, but thousands before them have succeeded and so will they. And now only time, patience, and work separate them from their goal. May God grant me that patience.


Mountain Biking:

So I recently had a fever to go Mountain Biking. My friend Luke and I had a good time up along a trail off the Angeles Crest Highway. There were a few technical turns, a punishing uphill climb, and single track fun. Plus, the stream at the bottom was a nice addition.