Professional Lacrosse

Now I first came to love Lacrosse while watching the NCAA championship game while visiting my grandparents. I was excited a year or so ago to find the existence of a professional league, in fact, the San Francisco Dragons play in Keezar stadium, which is a five minute walk from my house. I even saw a game on TV once, and it was much like the large open game of the NCAA championships (which I've caught two or three times now).

Then today, while eating lunch, I flipped on the TV and ESPN2 is broadcasting the National Lacrossse League championships cup final between Buffalo and Portland. Exciting right? Flip that on and get rather confused. A) The jersey's are pretty loose compared to the ones I've seen in the past, B) The Goalies pads and jersey are waaaaaaaaaaaaay bigger than I remember, C) There's less people on the field because there's less of a field to play on. Intriguing eh?

So I hop on my trusty computer and take a look at the National Lacrosse League, and in a separate tab open up a google and search for Major League Lacrosse, which I was growingly sure was the name of the League that San Francisco was a part of. Lo and Behold, there are two separate professional Lacrosse leagues.

Kudos to the Buffalo Bandits who have won the title this year, apparently they've won it a few times.

My mind has been sufficiently blown for now, on to finish a Thesis draft.

Blowin in the Wind

I have stayed rather quiet about recent developments in California. And I think the reality is that I don't know how to handle it. I try to process the fact that I can get married in my own state, and have an emotional safeguard jump into action because I can feel the insane happiness welling up inside. It's just too much for me to handle and I'm not sure when I will be. The bad things: The decision can be overturned by a constitutional amendment which could be on the ballot in November. Good things: The California Supreme Court was not expected to make this decision, they're rather conservative on most matters. This is the most progressive decision of its kind because of the fact that California is granting marriage licenses to any comers, unlike Massachusetts which is only granting licenses to those who have been living in its state. The final good news is that our dear Governator has decided, after vetoing a marriage license twice through the state legislature and sending his minions to support the opposing side in the court, has stated that he will stand by the courts decision and not support the amendment on he November ballot.

I know there's a lot of people who are confused as to why marriage is so important to us gays. After thinking about it for a while, I believe I have a plausible answer. That which makes us different from straight people is who we are capable of being attracted to, not only in a physical and sexual way, but in a romantic and emotional way. In our culture, the way to show that you truly care about someone is through marriage. By not allowing marriage, the message is clearly sent that you are a second class human being. That which makes you different is that which makes you less. You cannot exemplify your difference in an equal way, your love is not equal to our love, you are less than us. This is why marriage means so much to us, when we are given permission to marry, we are finally allowed to be equals. That is where we can argue that the right to marry is a an inalienable right guaranteed by the Constitution, because it guarantees that we are treated as equals.

I tried to process the possibility of being able to marry about a month ago, I didn't get too far because I started crying and my emotional safeguards kicked in so I didn't become overwhelmed by the feelings. I don't think I can actually let myself go there, but I do know that when I do let that realization sink in for just a moment, the burning begins in the corners from my eye. I am truly so honored and so ecstatic to be a Californian.

Though even though this happiness, I still find it tragic that my reaction is simply to be happy that the courts have decided to demand that everyone treated me as an equal...I thought that we solved that problem ages ago. Part of me wants my response to simply be "its about time."

Ah, rest the rant, it is time for happiness. How long will it take for me to be considered an equal country round?

The answer my friends is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind.

P.S. I had a really good date today, how timely :)

Conference Finals And School

Okay, so I've been busy and didn't have time to predict this round of the hockey playoffs before they started.

Quick Recap:

Flyers beat Les Habitants: BOO!!! Not what I predicted or wanted! Maybe next year Montreal, you're a good young team, with a lot of playoff left in ya.

Penguins beat Rangers: Predicted!

Red Wings beat Avalanche: Predicted, sad to see the Avs eliminated in four straight, kudos to Detroit.

Stars beat Sharks: Predicted, not what I wanted. Thank you Sharks for showing up in the last three games of the series, you regained some honor, and should be very proud of game six: epic and legendary.

So that brings my record to: 9-3...not too shabby if I do say so myself. Here's to making it 12-3?

Predictions for round 3, the Conference Finals. (Yes, I konw they're both three games in and kind of decided already, I picked these out a while ago, promise, and if you want to challenge me, I don't care, there's not money on it).

Penguins vs. Flyers: The Flyers have been a gritty hockey lovers team. I mean, I don't love the Flyers but they're playing the kind of hockey that the die hards love. It's not pretty, it's physical, ugly and full of heart. They might not have the smoothest game in the league but they're play until the last buzzer and exhaust themselves doing so. Problem for the Flyers: the Pittsburgh Penguins are playing excellent hockey, and I don't think they're even playing to their potential. The gritty play of the Flyers is insufficient for the Penguins machine. They've coasted through the playoffs and are dominating the Flyers in this series 3 games to none. The Flyers might pull off a win in the next game, but look for the Penguins to wrap this up in the next game or two. The Penguins are too good for Philadelphia. Kudos for your play thus far Flyers, but you'll be enjoying your lazyboys by the beginning of next week.

Red Wings vs. Stars: This series, in many ways, is like the Eastern Conference Finals. Dallas has beaten two teams that, on paper, they had no business beating. However, Detroit, unlike all Presidents Trophy Winners (best regular season record), are continuing their excellent play in the playoffs. They have been dominant all season long. I haven't had a chance to catch a Detroit game yet, but I'm anticipating stellar play from them. Same thing, Dallas might pull out a win tonight, but they'll be done next week.

Which sets us up for the Stanley Cup Finals: Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburg has a better record in the playoffs. Malkin and Crosby are leading the charge, and to back them up, veterans who have been to the playoffs: Sykora, Roberts, Hossa, Gonchar, Sydor. Marc-Andre Fleury is playing extremely well.
However, as an early pic, I'm going to take Detroit. Zetterburg and Datsyuk have lived up to their potential with the addition of a streaking Franzen: Most Playoff Goals. In terms of support, the old Red Wings dynasty is till in Detroit, Maltby, Draper, Holmstrom, McCarty, not to mention Chelios and the best deffensemen in the league Nicklas Lidstrom. They've also nabbed Dallas Drake, Brad Stuart, and Brian Rafalski (who has won a few cups with New Jersey). And then you get to goal, you have old Red Wings star Chris Osgood who is as dominant as ever, and as a back up the have The Dominator, Dominik Hasek. There's experience in Detroit that might prove to be the difference between the Penguins and Red Wings. Between the streaking young guys who have three or four guys who have won the cup with different teams compared to nine or more who have won in Detroit with Detroit, I pick the Red Wings. It has the potential to be a long and drawn out series, but I'm thinking Detroit.

My grandma is doing well, she only has two cancerous lymph nodes. The treatment is rough on her, but we're very hopeful.

School is coming to a close, I've finished off two classes, and I have two tests and my Thesis left. YAY!!!