Author: whodeanny

Congrats Lakers


LA just completed an impressive Finals run, putting Orlando into a class of teams (at least temporarily) they don't want to be in: overmatched Finals losers. (New Jersey, Portland, Cleveland and Philly are some recent joiners) 

There will be some intriguing questions as LA looks forward: Will they allow DFish to continue as their primary point guard? Will they choose to sign Ariza or Odom? Will Phil Jackson ride off into the sunset Auerbach style?


Orlando has to wonder if this was their only good chance at a title. Next year's Eastern Conference promises to be much stronger and the Magic may not be. They have a roster and a style that work well together but finding a replacement for Turkoglu may prove very difficult and the pressure on Dwight Howard to develop a competent offensive post game will be intense. Stan Van Gundy will also have lots of folks taking shots at him over the summer. There will not be much joy in having reached the Finals although that should be the dominant story for the Magic this year.


Hopefully the Lakers will celebrate (and since LA is so cash strapped, I think the team and Kobe should each pony up $1 mil for the parade; imagine the cascade of goodwill that will generate? That may be the final touch on Kobe's personality rehab of the last two years. Actually that rehab started with the Gasol trade; it's amazing how much NBA history has changed with that one trade, maybe I'll write about that soon.)  After the parade, we'll have wrapped a bow around this season then soon, the draft and the march to a 2010 champ begins anew. I love this game.



TP


We got our election right; especially me!

My dad's birthday is coming up soon so I've been reflecting on the differences between this year and last and one of the big ones I've thought about is President Obama. I looked to see when I made my election prediction of an Obama rout and it was July 30. I feel great to have been so right. (I predicted 363 electoral votes and he won 365.) Maybe it's just that Iran's election has saddened me so much but I'm feeling particularly happy with our national political trajectory. 

TP

Resurrection Day

Today is Easter
The Sunday of the Resurrection
And I’ve been told all day
In large ways and small
That I need to believe
 
I need to believe for myself
And I need to believe for her
For my mother who is now dead
In my eyes at least
If not in God’s
 
For me it’s still too hard
Since I’ve never been a joiner
And faith is a virtue
That eludes me
 
Sometimes I wish
I could share her spirit
The optimism, joy and laughter
(Oh, so much laughter)
 
I still can’t embrace it
Not yet at least
Because I just don’t know
Whether to laugh myself
Or to cry
 
Somewhere between her abiding faith
And my utter lack of it
May lie the truth
But I don’t think so
I can only believe
That one of us is totally right
 
I hope it’s her

 

© Gayle Force Press 2006

Oldest Sibling

My sisters don’t look like me

They are sharper

With brighter, yellowed skin

Both look strong and solidly

Inside their bodies

With large brown eyes

Serving to illuminate their clear

Beautiful faces

 

I run together

Dark skin

Nothing hidden

With densely thick hair

Nearly black eyes bridging

The narrow gap in it

And my face scarcely shines

As my brooding manifests itself

In the weary sag of eyes,

Face, back, hips and knees

Atlas’ burden pressing upon me

 

My sisters love joy

They relish and seek it out

Once sought, it loves to be found

For me it’s too much to ask

Which is fine

Because joy doesn’t fit on my face

 

© Gayle Force Press 2003

 

Anticipation

I love the sense of expectation

That happens in numerous ways, large and small,

throughout our everyday lives

 

I love looking at the clock

On frustrating weekday afternoons,

knowing my wife will be home in just a few minutes

I love standing out of a stretch

then stepping onto the court to shoot hoops

the same way I did as a kid

 

I love the space between the first and second

puff on an Onyx almost as much as the half second before

my students understand my jokes

 

I love the instant before Grandma recognizes my voice

And the time it takes my son to decide

if he'll squeeze me or mommy more tightly

 

I love sitting with a crowd,

celebrating today’s e pluribus unum

waiting for the last out of the game

 

I love all the moments that make me smile

even when I don't expect them. 

   

© Gayle Force Press 2007