Bleacher Report - Articles by Riken

Lakers-Celtics: What I Learned From the NBA Finals

Riken — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 06:31:19 -0400

I have to admit. I didn't see the game last night. "What? Did I read this right?" Yes, you did! You see, I went to my nephew’s high school graduation instead.

Not because my wife said so; or God forbid my mother-in-law made me do it. No, because it was my way to honor him and his accomplishments. The kid did well (graduated No. 16 in his class)

Anyhow, I still managed to keep taps on the game. I don't own a cell phone with sports breaking news or anything but, a funny thing happened: There was a basketball fan on the stands by us keeping the crowd informed with updates.

Not just any updates. The guy actually had a 'scoring board' that he continually erased the scores, updated the time left on the clock and held the sign up in the air for everyone to see (meanwhile, the speeches on how this graduating class was the high school's 'best ever' rang on in the distance.)

That guy was a riot! Thinking back, there wasn't a shortage of info pouring in from my family either. They had their cell phones on even as my family was evenly divided with Celtic and Lakers’ fans.

Somehow, we all get along, really. Some kids enjoy LeBron and Garnett while others go for Kobe and Gasol. That's the beauty of sports I suppose. You can be as hardcore as you want to be and people will still like you. That’s alright by me too.

Coming back home: When I got back home at around 11:00 p.m., my first thing intent was to see the highlights. I saw them, and I couldn't believe them. There it was. Gasol dunkin' and Bryant scoring at will.

The Celtics defense nowhere to be found. A couple of minutes later, they found a way to score and win this game. Good for them! They deserved the win.

Let me tell you, I learned lots of things from yesterday's graduation and the game I’ve missed but one thing stood out: PERSEVERANCE.

If you have that and keep your eye on the prize, YOU CAN DO IT! My nephew did, so did the Celtics last night.

Celtics Giving Up?

Riken — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:33:33 -0400

We all saw the score. We all saw how much time was left on the clock. Question: Why did the Celtics gave up and not try to foul someone? Were they tired? Was this a coaching decision? Was it a marketing ploy to extend the series and keep everyone "happy" and content with their own team? To earn advertising dollars?

Personally, I hate to think that way, but I HATE to win that way more! Yes, I'm rooting for the Lakers but, before you strangle me please, help me make some sense of last night's game.

When you have rumors circulating about fixed games, allegations for this and that, one of the last things I want in my life is the notion of feeling 'cheated.' In my eyes the Lakers deserved to lose. They started the game well (maybe Boston's Big Three helped the matter instead), Kobe was on fire, just like everyone expected and the game seemed close enough to end well. Anyone could have won.

All I know is if I was a hardcore Celtics fan, I would have been disappointed by the lack of effort. These are professional players. This is their job. To go hard after balls. To go all out for your team and organization. Kinda like the way Laker fans felt after watching them play the first two games. Lackluster and sloppy.

In the side of business, it's obvious that in professional sports only a handful of organizations end the regular season with a single game. The Super Bowl is a major one. Ad revenues are staggering and TV commercial time gets ridiculous every year. The National Hockey league, MLB, WNBA and NBA all have a series of championship games to determine who's the next champion. Is that really necessary?

Going back to the question on top of the heading then. Why did the Celtics give up towards the end? Were they tired? A mental mistake? Business to extend the series to "Baushton"? Or is it normal not to foul the opposing team when there are no more fouls to give? A penny for your thoughts.

Michael Strahan's Retirement: the Warning Signs

Riken — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:35:10 -0400

Now that I have read from multiple sources that Strahan is retiring, I can't help but wonder about last Saturday morning when he and LaDainian Tomlinson were playing golf at a local charity tournament.

I was waiting for the foursome to tee off at the 18th green last Saturday, June 7, and I felt star struck. I was talking to one of the event's volunteers about how big and strong some of these athletes were, when out of nowhere I turned to my left and there he was: Getting out of his golf cart with the caddie on one side and L.T. in front of him. Mr. G-men himself, Michael Strahan!

He was polite and said hi to the rest of the crowd (maybe 19 of them wearing Charger attire) on the side of the tee box. L.T. was calm and collected, not saying much more than making the occasional wave towards the crowd.

But for some reason, I felt compelled to say something to Mr. Strahan instead. You see; I'm a Chargers fan. Not much of a Giant fan, I have to admit. I wasn't wearing any Giants stuff or had any Giants memorabilia inside my backpack. I was there to watch L.T. and Drew Brees play golf, but for some reason, Brees got paired with some guy named John Elway and another dude named Mario Leimieux. I stood out from the crowd since I wore my Charger Throwback jersey No. 9 (Brees) and not a No. 21 (Tomlinson) like everyone else.

That is why things got started. I'll explain it here:

So I was standing behind the tee box when L.T. hit his drive. It was an ugly drive that started left and hooked right at the final moment, making the golf ball travel some 200+ yards before landing in the middle of the fairway. Everyone started clapping loudly for L.T., when Michael said, "Man, you got nothing but support down here. This Charger can do no wrong?!"

That was funny and got a chuckle out of me. Strahan was next. He wore a dark navy blue golf shirt with grey pants. Anyway, he ripped his ball straight and hard down the middle. Everyone clapped again. He smiled and headed toward his cart.

At this moment, there was a pause after the hits since the caddies were cleaning the clubs and managing the scorecards from the previous hole. I don't know what got into me since I wanted to say something to L.T., but somehow that just didn't seem right. L.T. didn't wanna hear it from the fans. Autograph seekers or whatever. So, inclined to chat with a celebrity I took my chance with Strahan; seating there a mere two feet from where I was standing.

"Congratulations on your Super Bowl win Mr. Strahan!" I raised my voice towards him. "Thank you!!!!" he said, "It was a win for the ages!"

Well that's pretty cool, I thought to myself. 'I can do this' I can actually say something to celebrity athletes without sounding stupid! Meanwhile, he just sat there and no one tried to bother him at all. So, I was about to ask him something else when he turned towards me and with a commanding voice and a puzzled look on his face he asked, "Hey, No. 9? What? Why are you wearing number No. 9?"

I was caught off-guard for a moment. But managed to answer back. "It's for Drew Brees," I replied while turning my back towards Strahan. "I know he's no longer with the Chargers but I appreciate him. Personally, I think the Chargers did him wrong!" L.T. heard that, but he didn't say a thing. I'm telling you, L.T. was acting strange all day. I was expecting him to be joking, maybe happy? I dunno.

In any case, after hearing my response Strahan told me that Drew might appreciate that. In fact, he said Drew was playing behind them and will show up to the 18th pretty soon. After he was done telling me about Brees, Strahan turned towards the front of the golf cart. While glancing towards the mountains in the horizon he uttered, "yeah...this business is not at all what's cracked up to be. There's many problems and you get tired of this s##t."

His own caddy motion something with his fingers (like the money sign) and I thought "Mo' money—Mo' problems."

Yes. Thinking back that sounded quite prophetic. This was Saturday, mind you. Two whole days before the official announcement was made. On an isolated golf course near the I-10 Freeway in the sleepy town of Indio, CA. But there it was. The first seed of the retirement tree.

Strahan and Tomlinson headed towards their balls, and I waived goodbye. The next thing that happened was funny. Strahan was waiting for L.T. to hit his second shot when L.T. hit straight into the pond! Strahan started busting out in laughter, and I couldn't help myself either. L.T. just shook his head and sat in his cart.

I left the place at around 10:30 AM when I ran into Drew Brees and John Elway. Elway sat in his cart; NOT signing autographs after the round was over. In sharp contrast, Brees signed multiple items for the people in attendance and he signed my jersey!

I politely asked him for it, and told him even though it wasn't a Saints jersey, I appreciated his time spent in San Diego. The guy replied "no problem, I'll sign it." and he did. Class act that Brees guy. He told his caddy to move along; he wanted to walk with the fans. At this point, Strahan and L.T. were back at hole No. 9 to begin their second round.

If Strahan retires now, so be it. He got his Super Bowl win and he finished his career in style. Good for him! Maybe he will enjoy a second career as a TV analyst. Either way, Strahan should get nothing but support; this "G-Man" can do no wrong.