Monday, June 29, 2009

The world's changing.

Michael Jackson passes away. His charisma and enterntaining music which changed pop music and paved the way for a new generation will never be forgotten. He was a the boss of pop music and dancing.

I can't really say my feeling here now. It's too private for this. I did read Faithful to the End by Gordon Wong. All I can say is that I need to stay faithful and strong to God especially with the stuff at home. Even if life hits me hard, I'll just get up and stay strong and smart. Faith doesn't just encourage us to be strong but encourages us to be wise not reckless but relentless and smart. Learn how life works and how we can manage it. It's not difficult; just hard to finish. The Win is there but we gotta take the long road to get there. I've learned it take preparation to win and it takes planning along the way to be assertive and that nothing is impossible when GOd is there. I learned that from a certain girl who knows really well that with God all things are possible.t Thank you to all my friends who's been asking and helping me out on the way. It's a day by day battle but I guess this is how we need to treat life to focus on the day at hand and not look to forward and get lost in our dreaming of the future. You want your dream to come true? Wake Up! hahaha...
Ok, so my prediction of the first few picks in the NBA Draft 09 probably was extremely inaccurate, but I got excuses. HAhahaha! If you don't do basketball, please move lower to the sentence after 4.

1. I didn't expect Ricky Rubio to fall so far because of his buyout but the T-Wolves are smart. They're not trading him at all. They know they like this guy. I can also say their a little either smarter or dumber by taking Jonny Flynn. Flynn is a really good fit for the team which suffered a lot last season with their second year into the post-Garnett era. AL Jefferson falling to injury. Their coach gone and two of their top scorers traded away for Rubio and unproven center-Forwards. What I think made Flynn look better than Stephen Curry was probably his natural competiveness and speedy play and athletism. He brings energy and a rare mix of abilities that will help the T-Wolves solve their PG problems. Even if Rubio plays this season, he will have help in bringing the ball up. Defense, FLynn doesn't back down easy i believe and Rubio proved his worth in the Olympics. Now they just have to learn how to do it for 82 games.

2. I had no idea Stephen Curry was highly wanted in Oakland. The GS warriors probably had him in the radar incase Jordan Hill was taken but when the Wizards bolted for two new scorers., Hill was available, problem? so was Curry. No doubt, Curry is more ready than Hill to help a backcourt in need of firepower. Hill probably will have a good start in New York and he can do more reckless abandon down at the Garden. The Knicks need it.

3. That Tyreke Evans is a hell of a combo guard. I had thought Kings would go for this but Rubio was thought to be too good to pass up but I was wrong. Evans will give the Kings a good slasher which is not located in their current backcourt of Ben Urdih and Kevin Martin. THey can shoot it, not slash it.

4. Tyler Hansbrough probably is overrated but he's been underrated that a lot of teams expected him to go down. Larry Bird wants this kid. DeJuan Blair. I was looking for him all day. I was stunned when he fell like 30 places off. I would understand but a kid with a liver condition was picked over him.

well, long excuses and probably not understandable to the basketball mind so I'll talk a little of ufc here. People should really read UFC wiki page to see that the rules make it safer and helpful for a good clean fight.

UFC100:
My predictions:

Dan Henderson VS Michael Bisping

I have to say Bisping is the better boxer but Henderson is more well rounded. Bisping will have to look at his loss to Rashad Evans when he was taken down repeatedly. Henderson has been doing this for years. No doubt he'll be willing to stand and take some shots but he'll still be looking to mix his attacks with takedowns and wrestling. If Hendo gets it down, Bisping is in deep trouble. I would give a slight edge to Bisping as his camp has been making some noise with Rampage Jackson and team UK winning the TUF 9. I'll say Hendo split decision.

George St. Pierre Vs Thiago Alves.

Alves is a beast and big. St.Pierre is the one of the most unique and efficient fighters ever. They way he trains in his camp and how he challenges himself. I have no doubt he'll take Alves down a few times here. Alves will be on his back so he needs to stand up and defend it right to get himself together. St. Pierre will have to eat Alves punches because he will get rocked since the fight starts standing and will have to try to avoid those leg kicks which punished former victims. St. Pierre will take Alves down. GSP via submission or decision.

Frank Mir VS Brock Lesnar.

Mir has reinvented his game very well and he probably needs to upgrade it too against Lesnar. Lesnar is a pure beast at 265 outweighing Mir by over 30 pounds. Mir will have to work from his back to find submissions but will need to anticipate Lesnar's ever evolving game on the ground. His fight with Couture shows that a round with him is probably hard. He has heavy hands and will be difficult to take down. Mir is a BJJ ace before and is still. He's also an improved striker and could wear Lesnar down standing. Taking Lesnar out is possible because he still has holes. I'll go out and say. Lesnar via TKO or decision.

Sunday, June 21, 2009


I'm just trying to become more of a gym rat nowadays. It hasn't been easy you know, finding the time to go after work especially when i was taking some meds 2 weeks ago. I learned a few things along the way like you need to push your body a bit to get stronger and you need not be ashamed if your not exactly dragon boat guy material or beach body material. Although it's always cool to look ripped and good, it's a matter of how you feel when you do your thing on the basketball court or the mat.


I played basketball a few nights ago and my shot was really off. I hit just one 3-pointer and was missing all my mid jumpers and i had a feeling i should have tried more three's. Too bad, I was having a good night cutting into the basket against guys that were a bit taller than me. God bless me, if I was a foot taller then , I would be playing for the Singapore Slingers. I knew my way around and split defenders to get to the basket but I didn't finish as well as I hoped. I missed a few shots I used to normally make and I ran out of speed early; plus, I got hit in the throat with the ball. It was pretty good considering that our opponents were taller and that I got a good breath of fresh air out of it.


Believe it or not, that small time on the court is heaven for me. No matter how bad I play or how bad i beaten up, I'll always have a good time. Basketball reminds me so much of home and family and how it deepens my relationship with my dad. It's almost a better taste than going to the mall or just out. When I'm on the court, it's just the shot and the game that matters. They say it's just a game and that's all that's in my head, just my game. I don't have to think about how to this or that or why i'm not getting to the goal and stuff; I just feel the game so well; I can just run on instict the whole time. If I play and my opponents better, I make sure he's not gonna get an easy win; if I play and i'm better; I still make it hard to win and just start playing with him a bit, like hesistating, fakes and stuff. I don't do it out of mind it just comes to me; as soon as some one tries to block my path or get close to me I body him up and start backing him down, if he's too far, I'll shoot a long jumper or drive close enough to catch him at the post with a jump hook or lay-up. It's too routine sometimes that I naturally do different things over and over again.


Happy dad's day to my dad. I'm proud of him in every sense of way. I look up to him and I love this guy. I neve had a brother but I have a dad I can follow in terms of principles and just plain work. thanks dad.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

An unusual fight


I didn't get to follow the fight between Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva. I was stomped but I expected such. A decision for Rich Franklin. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a TKO but I was like if it goes the way I imagined it probably will go to a decision. Too good of a fight to end by knock out.


Silva seemed to be looking more to slow his pace down and explode down the stretch. I like the was Silva seems to be changing his game, utilizing his ground game a little more to conserve that knock out power in his hands. His agression has always worked one way or the other. He either knocked someone out or got knocked the wind of him. If I had any advice for the next guy he's fighting, it would be don't throw leg kicks unless you can move your damn head fast. That's how he gets them, throw a shot and he will respond with a furry that few ever survive on their feet. I'd say let him fight the top middleweights like Patrick Cote or Thales Leites. It would be interesting to see how guys like Alan Blecher or Nate Marquart respond to another Silva monster among their division.




Rich Franklin? What more can I say? He's in a packed heavyweight divison but a win over Silva should push him somewhere near a title shot. He should fight another contender, like maybe Forrest Griffin after he takes on Anderson Silva(no relation), winner of Matt Hamill vs Brandon Vera , Keith Jardine vs Thiago Silva(too many Silvas). He should get a rematch with Lyoto Machida I feel as the theri last fight was like two or three years ago. He has too much respect and should be one or two fights away from reaching that level and he can definitely show up to the other lightheavies. Silva was probably his toughest test in the division to date and will probably have more problems against more mixed fighters like Griffin or Jardine. heck he might face the fighter he coached in TUF in Rashad Evans.




I got a good week out of this. Honestly, the only thing that keeps me going at times is knowing that when I make it to the weekend I got people at home and in church. I been fired up a few times this week just because I knew I had good people around. Any time I get something little or big, it just gets me fired up. Tells me to buck down and get back to work and just crack my head a little harder. I get the boredom part but I guess when you find something to think about, it just disappears. My brain's been working harder lately just so I can do something to keep it occupied, sky's the limit right now and I;m thankful to God for all he has done and worked for.


I feel maybe I'm letting my problems get the better of me and I'm letting stuff get the better of me even though I know I can do well. I know I can fight harder and hit harder and I'm gonna. I can't assure victory just that I'm going to bring a world of hurt on myself to win and work hard and buck down. Not gonna let anything easy pass me by and quote Dwight Howard "We're not handing over the championship yet." I'm not ready to hand it over yet and call it quits. I'm not going away. I got a lot of good people around me and I love them to death. We all have unusual fights and it's not easy.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

It's been war at work, peace at home, and even more peace at church. The weekend was pretty cool you know. It started a little sour.

Friday- I'd miss the Finals between the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers. I'm routing for the Lakers and Kobe Bryant as always and just saw the thrid quarter replays. It was awesome. He just did a bunch of things. With 8 seconds left, he took the ball at least 25 feet away from the basket, crossed, drove into the goal where he met three defenders at the rim and hung in there and switched the ball right to left to lay it in before the shot clock expired. Next he took his defender one on one and spun back and forth before jumping forward, hangs and double pumps and banks in while getting fouled. It was amazing 40 points. My jaw dropped when I saw the score 100-75. I didn't at all expect it to be that close. At the free throw , everyone in the centre was just going "M-V-P, M-V-P", the loudest I've heard in a long time. This was a different team from the one at Denver and Houston.

ANyway back to Sg, I took a walk, I don't know if it was the cold or the heat or my lunch, I just wanted to get out of the computer table. I just took a little lesson from my teacher/boss whom I say is really good at what he teaches and afterwards I just wanted out. I wanted to walk to the Crusade office first to say hi to my friends there but it was closed and i found Jun Ming, a part time leader at Crusade and we talked about what was happening then about the events they were having and freshmen they had and how senior year has it's x's and o's. On the way back, i headed for the library and found another friend, Melodie. i seriously, had not seen her and I thought she grew shorter or it was the shoes i was wearing that day. Anyway, she was going on a long walk up the hill so I walked her up and kept her company till we reached makan place. It was pretty cool to talk to her, she told me to not goof when i was during our ct's. she was doing all projects and she always left herself online so I'd chat with her for a minute or two and was being scolded to get back to work. I could use that again. hahaha.... anyway, great to talk to her she gives me a lot to think about more that she knows it.

After work, took time to hit the gym and put some iron on. I've been cleared to work out this week and it felt good. I did some skipping the night before and been doing light stuff the past few days. I lifted a few weights and stayed there around an hour and helped a guy with some weight lifting. My only regret is not having done running or swimming or endurance tests aside from shadow boxing and skipping a minute or so.

Saturday- Was supposed to go cycling with Taby whom I went to east coast with but she had a briefing in the morning and I had plans at noon. I took the time instead to stay home in the morning and headed for the Bradell to check out a sale of Christian books. btw, it's at yellow pages building and inside on your right at the guard post is the small door, last two days are on monday and tuesday till 9pm.
I had a quick meeting at church after the sale and pretty much finished the day watching The Ultimate Fighter 9 and The Seige. Slept early before talking to a friend online.

Sunday- I lost count of how many kids I was watching. 6-9 maybe? I'm just glad it wasn't 15. Got lost in the story line and pretty much got a little confused and here i am now watching re-runs of game 1 NBA finals. Before, we took some umbrellas from my place which is next to church to bail friends out of the rain. I actually just wanted to walk in my rain jacket but Leah just told me to share with her. They're a really cool bunch who I wouldn't mind helping out anyday. They've encouraged me a lot in many ways to stay in my ministires. They're involved in one thing or the other every now and then and thanks to them so have I. just really thankful for the people in church , home and school. Love ya all, take care fellas.

PS. not posting videos or pics of lakers. I don't wanna jinx them. hahaha....

Thursday, June 4, 2009

The world is different is every way imaginable. It can be cruel, it can be nice, it can be beautiful, it can be terrible; but most of all, it can change you or break you. It's not a good world. You can believe all you want that it is but it's not.

If you owned a country, people can either love you or hate you.

If you knew people, their either your friends or enemies.

If you had family, their either the closest thing or the farthest thing.

Truth is, I'm sad. I'd cry for those who have no friends or family. I cry for those who are pushed by many just because of greed. I'd cry not for the world but for the people. I'd weep as I see the disasters, killings, break ins, and mistakes. I'd cry for the friend who's getting pushed around. I'd cry for the bad stuff i see.

After all that, I'd still be smiling to first guy I know on the way to work.

I'd smile that I get to catch up on a friends life. I'd smile because even though their having problems they're not letting it get to them. I'd smile for the fella who gets support from friends and family. I'd smile at the bird on the tree. I'd smile for the beauty of the sun. I'd smile when i see one smile from my friend or even just on it.

Beautiful, Sweet, Cruel, Disastrous, and most of all, life's just plain Unpredictable. Can't say what'll happen, or when I'll cry or smile or laugh next.

I can say this, I'll cry when I see it happens and I'll smile when I see it happens. Life is IT.

HARD AS HELL? BRING IT.

oh yeah, so can you.

Monday, June 1, 2009

I really am starting to get the Christian life thing that God has been putting me through.

Having my daily challenges at school and work which is the same place;

keeping an eye as my younger sisters grow and making sure they have their freedom;

making friends outside of school and becoming closer to friends in Church and knowing them more personally;

finding ways to solve life's daily problems; learning that life can never go too fast even when your left behind;

knowing that even if I can't get back on track, I still can look forward to another day when I wake up to my radio cd player.

knowing that I have the choice being a friend to people;

knowing that I got an idea of how things change and that it happens all the time;



Sometimes, I don't know if I had made the right choices in life; I'm having problems and doubts with my future because i really wanna further my studies; I disappointed my parents a few times; I ran myself into a wall a few times, I lost my trail and my drive a few times; but, I'll know that I'll value these moments of love and caring that my parents had for me; I'll value the mistakes i've made and I'll value the people that care for me and pray for me and sits in the same row of seats I sit in during service. I value this times and say a little prayer for them.


Like my time last Saturday at Sentosa with my cell group FOOTPRINTS, I never threw a frisbee before and it felt weird when the thing just runs out of air or something; I haven't played a volleyball game in 6 years, but i haven't had such a fun time with friends in 10 weeks. that day will probably be one of those days I'm gonna remember in a long while till we have another one.

i'm having the time of my life and i know i can make it last. keep my head up high ,pray for the people around me, and just keep fighting no matter how hard it gets. i keep my eyes on the ultimate proze of life which is finishing 'The Race" which God started for me and end it His way not mine but His.