A Night To Remember

Even though this is mainly a sports blog, I believe I'd be doing myself and my readers a disservice if I didn't share my thoughts on what we witnessed earlier this week (as captured above by Chicago Tribune's Nuccio DiNuzzo). Although, I do find it extremely fitting since I created this blog site and my first entry on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 2008.

I have waited a few days to post this because I wanted the reality of it all to set in, and somehow try to express in words what culminated on November 4th, 2008 means to me.

I definitely became more cynical over the past 8 years - and I largely attribute that to what I saw in the American political process while living there during that time frame. I will openly admit I didn't ever think I would see this day. That alone is a resounding statement.

It's not that I don't believe in hope and promise - but some cycles seem as if they'll never end. I am happy and PROUD to admit I was wrong, although I am most happy that my Mother and others from her generation and earlier generations, who are still alive, were able to see this happen.

I can undoubtedly say that Barack Obama's Presidential election win is one of the most POSITIVE memorable moments I have witnessed thus far in my young lifetime. I remember as a 13 year old watching the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, and then Nelson Mandela's release from a South African prison after 27 years of imprisonment for fighting against apartheid. Both of these events marked monumental first steps that were taken to begin rectifying Titantic-sized social injustices and intolerable ideologies that had existed for generations.

Without question there are still major, necessary steps to be taken in order to eliminate racism and prejudice, but similar to the moments I just exemplified this definitely marks another monumental step in overcoming negative and bigoted mindsets, lowered expectations, and for many - a sense of hopelessness.

While watching CNN this week in the days after the election, someone in a panel discussion stated that "race wasn't an issue in this election". Personally, I completely disagree with that notion. I prefer to agree with Soledad O'Brien's opinion during that same panel discussion, when she commented that (and I'm paraphrasing here) "Barack's race wasn't a roadblock or hindrance in becoming the President."

To me, by saying "race was not an issue" or when someone says "I don't see colour" - I feel it's minimizing in some way the mistreatment of people of colour over the past 200+ years in North America and that it hasn't been a major obstacle to overcome, or that Barack's win is not as significant of an accomplishment as it truly is. There simply would not have been nearly as many African-Americans voters from various generations, many of them FIRST TIME voters, if race wasn't at least part of the issue. I clearly understand what people likely mean when they make those aforementioned statements, but you HAVE to remember the past in order to fully understand the present, and the future.

Certainly, BHO's qualifications, charisma & demeanor, understanding of key issues, platform, and 'stick-to-it-iveness' with regards to his campaign message were ultimately the reasons he won this 2008 Presidential election. And because of this, I am greatly encouraged that we as a society are getting closer to a day when someone isn't "judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character" - but since there is still a need for initiatives such as affirmative action, it's clear that, as a society, we have much more to accomplish.

On January 20, 2009, President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama will become the United States of America's 44th President, and the FIRST African-American to do so. President-Elect Obama represents the dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and ALL of the others who have or who continue to fight for civil rights and, just as importantly, he represents the realization that those dreams are now more than just an ideal, more than just words...

They are becoming a reality.

I love this game...it's FAN-tastic!!

The NBA season has begun and I've watched EVERY one that's been televised here in Canada this week - which means I need some serious ZZZs! Since Tuesday I have been in my total NBA junkie mode, it's like a third Christmas for me (I feel the same way when the NFL season starts too)!

I want to put this on record - I've been extremely excited and impressed with the NBA coverage that the Canadian sports television outlets have been providing for Canadian viewers over the past 2 seasons. During the 7 years I lived south of the border, that was one thing I was fortunate to enjoy, which seriously lacked in Canada - the endless access to NBA and NCAA basketball coverage and games. Now, it may be a while before we get that same level of NCAA coverage here in Canada, but the NBA coverage has been stellar over the past 2 seasons, 1 of which I appreciated from afar (or when I was home on vacation) as I was still living in 'The Land of Opportunity' at that time.

If you want to mark some key match ups on your calander, or in your smartphone - here you go:

--Toronto Raptors television coverage for the 2008-09 regular season (1 link):
http://www.nba.com/raptors/schedule/

--Overall NBA television coverage in Canada for the 2008-09 regular season (2 links):
http://www.nba.com/schedules/national_tv_schedule/index.html
http://www.nba.com/schedules/national_tv_schedule/canada/

In addition to the hilarious Wiser's Whiskey 'Wiserhood' tv spots, I also keep seeing the new Adidas 'Basketball is a Brotherhood' commercials (which started last season as most of my fellow avid basketball fans likely recall). I really like the short clips, they lure you in - hoping they were just a little longer. Well, hope no more - I'm spreading the love! Adidas has put together a cool concept that slickly ties in their marketing campaign which piggybacks off the success and message of the ones from last season.

There are 4 in total that tell the 'Brotherhood' story, which are the source of the 'short clip' TV commercials that we're seeing during the NBA games now, and a bonus video (a pick up game consisting solely of NBA stars!!) that is must watch for any 'NBAddict' like myself.

Check 'em out: The full length versions here on Adidas.TV.

I've also posted some commentary and cool links on two new 'group blogs' that I've been invited to contribute to - be sure to check 'em out:

--HoopHeadsNorth (Basketball talk with a Canadian flavour!)--

--Halifax Sports Portal (Discussion and promotion of the Amateur and Professional sports scene in Halifax, Nova Scotia)--

Until next time my friends...

P.S. - For my American readers: 2 more days...YES YOU CAN! :)

"Don't call it a comeback..."

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It's been much too long since my last update - but since bills need to be paid, daily life & family responsibilities, vacation (and watching the Summer Olympics - haha), things can get hectic as you all know - I'm sure you'll forgive me. It's now October, which means the Baseball Postseason is in full swing. No disrespect to any of my readers who are baseball fans, but you won't find much MLB love in my posts...click here for the reason why in case you forgot, or need to know.

NFL: Is in full swing!

Boy oh boy, the Tennessee Titans are 5-0 and the San Diego Chargers are 2-3 to start the year...if anyone predicted that, I sure hope you had some quality chips laid down in Vegas or with your local bookie. I gotta point out that the New York Football Giants haven't missed a beat since earning their Super Bowl XLII rings - no 'Super Bowl hangover' so far! Depsite Michael Strahan retiring, losing Osi Umenyiora for the season to injury, and Plaxico Burress getting suspended for this past week - they have just kept on rolling and, like the Titans, are undefeated sitting with a 4-0 record.

The league is WIDE open this year, leaving no shortage of excitement each week. The parity in the league is incredible - enjoy it my friends...enjoy it! We'll talk a lot more about the 'No Fun League' in my entries through the rest of the season.

NHL: 2008-2009 Season has begun!

My beloved New York Rangers are 2-0 to start the regular season thanks to two back-to-back wins over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Prague, Czech Republic last weekend. I'm quite happy with the Rangers' ability to put the puck on the net, now they need to get the power play clicking! They lost former captain Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka, and Brendan Shanahan - but added Markus Naslund, Nikolai Zherdev, and Wade Redden - in addition to having Chris Drury (the newly named team captain) & Scott Gomez in their 2nd season with the Blueshirts. If they can build on the chemistry they've started through training camp, pre-season, and these first two regular season games Rangers fans like myself have a lot to look forward to!

Now, I would be remiss to leave the rest of the league out - especially with SOOO many moves this off season (welcome to the age of the Salary Cap!) both on the ice and behind the bench. Yahoo! Hockey blogger extrodinaire, Puck Daddy (aka Greg Wyshynski), brought my attention to an NHL cyber analyst, who goes by the name SteveDangle.

He has a YouTube channel set up were you can watch and listen to his unique delivery method of breaking down each team for the upcoming season. He also has his own site, HockeyTube.com, that will launch on October 9th.

Talk about a refreshing take on the upcoming season, team by team analysis, delivered in a comedic yet clearly knowledgeable manner. I look forward to the video updates SteveDangle will provide throughout the season. Check him out, I think you'll appreciate it.

Vancouver 2010 - 15 months away:

My girlfriend and I have been seriously thinking about going to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics for quite some time, and earlier last week (Oct. 3rd, 2008) the Ticket Request process for Canadian residents was announced by VANOC (Vancouver Organizing Committee):

VANCOUVER 2010 TICKETING INFORMATION

The great thing is that during this 'Phase I' timeframe all ticket requests are all considered with the same priority so that prospective spectators have time to co-ordinate with friends and family without worrying about scalpers. If the demand exceeds the availability of any of the single sessions or ticket packages VANOC will put all of the requests into a lottery. Ticket Request submitters will be notified in early 2009 if they were successful in attaining tickets. If not, there will be additional opportunities to try and get tickets after 'Phase I' is complete.

If you're interested, be sure to submit your Ticket Request by the 'Phase I' deadline of November 7th, 2008 for your best chance to get tickets.

NBA: I love this game!

The Boston Celtics are the new defenders of the Larry O'Brien Championship trophy, and the 'Redeem Team' came back from Beijing sporting new bling - in the right variety of precious metal this time, not to mention all of the Player and Coach movement throughout the Association. The past six months have certainly been an exciting time in the world of basketball, and I don't expect that to change over the next nine!!

I've teammed up with my boys Romes & U-E this year to contribute to another blog called 'Hoop Heads North' - a blog especially for you NBA addicts and basketball enthusiasts. Romes kicked off the blog nicely this past summer with some fun stories and tidbits from the offseason. I plan to drop a couple jewels in there this week - so be on the look out for that, and as always feel free to subscribe to that blog as well.

Of course, I'll drop my usual NBA musings here at 'Off The Dome' as well - but two heads...I mean, THREE heads are better than one right?!

Until next time my fellow pro sports fanatics (I promise it'll be MUCH sooner!)

- San Fran