Age is a funny thing. I've been told before that I am wise beyond my years. Others might observe my willingness to listen and an ability to carry conversation and mistakenly attribute that as actual wisdom. Yet as each year passes and I inch closer to 30 (yikes..), it seems the older I become, the less it is that I actually know. Consider your existence. Our lives can be as simple or as complicated as we set out to make them. For every friend that chooses to stay close to home, there is another friend who is seemingly hopping from one continent to the next every month of the year. The beauty of humanity is that, for the most part, we have the freedom to make with our lives what we please. In my case, living in Chicago affords me with countless opportunities - I reside in a living, breathing, beautiful city full of excitement and year-round activity. On the other hand, part of me longs for a slower existence - one removed from the hustle and bustle of urban life, where I might be able to enjoy the great outdoors and its many splendors. You truly can't have everything, which is why I shift my focus to living one day at a time. Is there really any other way? If you know me well, you know that I attended a Spanish immersion school from grades 1-6. For my many experiences during those years, one memory in particular sticks with me to this day. My music teacher was a stern, stubby lady by the name of Señora Dorado. Most of her classes consisted of playing 'hot cross buns' and other age-old staples on our recorders. Truthfully, her class was never my favorite hour of the day. Adams Spanish Immersion was one of several public schools that had partnered with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra on their music education curriculum. At this time, and from 1994-1999, famed reggae/jazz artist Bobby McFerrin was serving as the creative chair of our local city orchestra. So, naturally, his smash hit 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' found it's way into our classroom. While reggae coursed through the classroom, there seemed to be a noticeable change in Señora Dorado taking place. She had lost a considerable amount of weight and softened her demeanor quite a bit. Some time later, our worst suspicions had been confirmed - Sra. Dorado had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. As a child, you're not supposed to be thinking about mortality. In fact, it's a topic that people of all ages struggle with. But as we filed into class every day, it had become clear that her health was deteriorating. I listened to 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' so often that year, I could have probably recited it backwards and forwards. Not long after, she took a leave of absence. We would never see Señora Dorado again. The significance of this memory dawned on me years later - Bobby McFerrin's song had essentially become my teacher's rallying cry. Señora Dorado spent some of her last months teaching her students a message we should all take to heart - don't sweat the small stuff. As a child, there is no way that song could have meant as much to me as it did to her during that time. Family, friends, and loved ones. They are worth fighting to protect and hold on to. I am as guilty as anyone else for occasionally losing sight of what truly matters. Create lasting memories, build relationships, be thankful, and celebrate when celebrations are called for. Heed this advice and you'll find happiness and fulfillment. Realize that there is only so much that you can control in your life. Appreciate the journey and stop to smell the flowers every once in a while. Lastly, follow the words of Mr. McFerrin: Don't worry, be happy! Until next time, Ted
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We talking 'bout practice?! I'd like to think this blog reflects upon my personality; which is to say, unassuming and fairly laid back by nature. So when my blog comes up in conversation with friends and family, I tend to do a bit of a double take. "Wait, people actually read this stuff?" At the conclusion of each post, I make a point to welcome all feedback, and I really do mean it. After all, this blog exists not for the purpose of self promotion, but rather as a means of practicing my writing. As the years have passed, I have discovered that I particularly enjoy expressing myself through the written word. Truth be told, I sometimes feel as though I lack the obsessive focus and dedication that separates the good from the great. In becoming more self-aware and gaining a better understanding of my strengths and weaknesses, all I can really do is work to improve every single day. How's this for a paradox? In making an effort to write more, I seem to be running into writer's block every step along the way. For all the words posted on this site, very seldom do I take the opportunity to develop my voice as a writer. Sports has always been my safety blanket. If you know me at all, you know that I could talk sports all day if given the opportunity. I am passionate about sports, but it's time to expand my repertoire. No more swimming with floaties - I'm jumping into the deep end. In deviating 'off course' to write about myself and other non-sports related topics, I am effectively leaving my comfort zone. Don't worry, getting 'uncomfortable' doesn't mean I'll be sharing ridiculous and embarrassing stories from my youth (rest assured, there are plenty.) I set out to improve myself in 2016, and with my 26th birthday exactly one week away, I realize there is still plenty of room for me to grow as a person and as a writer. Are we truly ever done growing? I suppose that is a much larger question for another day. All I know is that I'm not yet where I want or need to be. Not even close for that matter. So please, keep the words of encouragement and constructive criticism coming. Despite what NBA legend Allen Iverson might think, practice is actually very important. Practice even supposedly makes perfect. My goal is not to be perfect, it's to be better than I was yesterday. And that, my friends, is what I am using this blog to do. Cheers, Ted Hello again and happy Monday! Today, I'll be recapping an epic seven game series between the Warriors and Cavaliers as well as looking forward to the upcoming NBA Draft. Let's get down to it. 1. History is made Down but not out, few outside the city limits of Cleveland gave the Cavaliers much of a shot to rally for three consecutive victories against the mighty Golden State Warriors. Yet three games and exactly 144 minutes later, championship dreams had become reality for this resilient group of Cavaliers who defied the odds in becoming the first team in NBA history to successfully come back from a 3-1 series deficit. In denying Golden State its shot at back to back rings and a legitimate claim to the 'best team ever' title, LeBron James and the Cavaliers made some history of their own. A year after falling short in his promise to deliver a championship to "The 'Land", James raised his game to a championship level and made good on his goal of bringing the city of Cleveland it's first professional sports title since 1954. LeBron was named the unanimous Finals MVP following Game 7, and it's not hard to see why - averaging 29.7 PPG / 11.3 APG / 8.9 RPG for the series (while shooting 53.5% from the field) helped cement The King's place amongst basketball's all-time greats. Also worth noting that in winning his third Finals MVP, LeBron joined some elite company (Jordan, Duncan, O'Neal, and Magic Johnson) as one of only five players to win the award three or more times. With timely plays on both side of the ball, James validated his status as the all around best player on the planet. Of course, credit is due to the entire Cavs team. As in Games 1-6, Kyrie Irving was magnificent and his three with less than a minute left in Game 7 proved to be the knockout blow. Tristan Thompson, JR Smith, Kevin Love, and Richard Jefferson all did their part as the supporting cast to James and Irving. Head Coach Tyronn Lue deserves considerable recognition, as he inherited a difficult job and helped his team realize its championship potential. Cleveland will now get to enjoy its seat atop the throne as the Warriors head into the off-season wondering where it all went wrong. Highly entertaining and fiercely competitive throughout, the 2016 NBA Finals will go down in basketball lore as one of the best series in NBA history. 2. The Agony of Defeat Stephen Curry and the rest of the Golden State Warriors likely have some sleepless nights ahead as they think on how they managed to let this series slip away. With a 73-9 regular season record on their résumé, this year's Warriors let it be known that their goal was to win a second consecutive championship. Having come up short of accomplishing that feat, these Warriors cannot objectively be considered as being superior to the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. Draymond Green and Klay Thompson displayed moments of greatness, but it was clear that Curry was off his game when it counted most. The reigning 2x NBA MVP, Curry really took his lumps from Kyrie Irving as he was outplayed and out-shined by the man they call "Uncle Drew." As a whole, the Warriors ball movement and team dynamic went stagnant and allowed the Cavs to slow the game down to a pace of play more in their favor. Losing Andrew Bogut to injury essentially forced the Warriors to play small ball and one could point to his absence as the beginning of the end. Golden State wasn't able to match the energy and intensity brought forth by Cleveland and it was evident heading into Game 7 that not only was momentum going the way of the Cavs, but that the pressure of living up to lofty expectations had shifted squarely onto their shoulders as well. There is no doubt whatsoever that this loss will linger with Golden State for a while. Things aren't too bleak, however. Assuming they retain free agent to be Harrison Barnes, the core of the Warriors roster will return next season with a hunger and championship focus necessary to reclaim the throne. 3. What comes next Here are a few things we should all expect to see in the coming days and weeks. I'll attempt to save you from several hours of ESPN's First Take and other talk shows by offering my take on the hot button topics. - Is LeBron the MVP of this series and the best overall player since MJ? (Yes and yes, in my opinion.) - Is Steph Curry overrated/did he choke? (No and no.) - Will the Cavs trade Kevin Love? (Possible, but unlikely.) - Will the Bulls trade Jimmy Butler? (No, but they will part with D-Rose.) - Will Durant sign with the Warriors/Spurs? (No, I see him re-signing with OKC on a short term deal.) - Who is the favorite to win it all next year? (Golden State ought to be and Vegas agrees..) My 2016 NBA Mock Draft At the risk of looking foolish, here are my predictions for the Top 10 picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. 1. Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons, SF/PF, LSU Analysis: While you could make the case for Ingram as well, LSU's Ben Simmons projects to have the higher upside between the two. For the languishing 76ers, Simmons is a big step towards relevancy. 2. Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke Analysis: Not many expected the Lakers to end up with the 2nd overall pick, and they're hoping that this trip to the lottery is their last for a while. Duke's Brandon Ingram fills an obvious need on the wings and will help address the void left by the legendary Kobe Bryant. 3. Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown, SF, Cal Anaylsis: The 3rd pick is where the draft gets interesting. With three first round picks at their disposal, many expect the Celtics to be heavily engaged in trade talks leading up to their selection. Short of landing an All-Star caliber player such as Jimmy Butler, I don't expect the Celtics to package their picks in a draft night deal. 4. Phoenix Suns: Dragan Bender, PF, Croatia Analysis: The first international player selected, Bender has tons of potential and offers a tantalizing combination of length & athleticism. 5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky Analysis: The Wolves need outside shooting in a bad way. With Jamal Murray, Kris Dunn, and Buddy Hield still on the board, they will have their choice of some quality guards. I predict they select Murray to provide a scoring punch off the bench in the 6th man role. 6. New Orleans Pelicans: Kris Dunn, PG, Providence Analysis: Dunn projects to be the best player available and slots in nicely to the Pelicans backcourt. 7. Denver Nuggets: Henry Ellenson, PF, Marquette Analysis: With Jurkic and Jokic already holding down the frontcourt, the Nuggets will select Ellenson to help space the floor for a Denver team that is not afraid to shoot. 8. Sacramento Kings: Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma Analysis: Buddy Hield's fall only extends to the 8th overall pick. At 22, Hield is the oldest player selected thus far, and he figures to be one of the more polished and NBA ready prospects from the get go. 9. Toronto Raptors: Marquese Chriss, PF, Washington Analysis: A player who has seen his draft stock on the rise, Chriss is an athletic forward who will help bolster a Raptors team looking to take another step in the right direction. 10. Milwaukee Bucks: Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah Analysis: Greg Monroe fits better as a PF, and Poeltl is the top true center available in the draft class. Poeltl helps add size and grit to a promising young Bucks team. Well folks, that's all I have for today. As always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback! Thanks for reading my blog and come back for more content in the near future.
- Ted |
AuthorHey, I'm Ted Sorensen and this is my sports & personal blog. Leave some comments and let me know what you think! Archives
June 2016
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