Au Revoir 2007, Bonjour 2008!

How do I even begin to describe the year 2007?

If you had told me one year ago today that I'd accomplish this much in the next 365 days, I woulda called you a dreamer. But as I learned through the course of this tumultuous and eventful 2007, expect the least expected in life.

Change invaded my life like a cold front from the Arctic. Perspectives changed. People around me changed, or perhaps more likely, my vision for the past/present/future all altered in some way. Standing at the top of the hill of 2007, I can tell you the view is breathtaking. In every sense, 2007 was a major life-changing year.

I avidly pursued my goals during this year and I had fun while I was at it. I met countless captivating and intriguing people and on the China trip especially, I saw things that really makes me more appreciative of the world I live in.

The best part about 2007? I've gained a lot and lost little. (Weight-wise too!) That's what makes me so satisfied. I feel the motivation to power through the incoming 2008. I expect a lot, and there's nothing holding me back. 2007 will forever remain as the year when maturity and realization of life hit me like a roaring train.

The list of people I want to thank is too long. That's a good thing. For today, I will only give a general shout out to everyone who deserves it, and you know who you are! In 2008, I promise to spend valuable moments with friends and family even more meaningfully. I will try to be happy and grateful because believe me, time flies! There is no way to forecast how by next year, on December 31st, 2008, what my reflection article will be like, hopefully better written than this one.

For me, 2007 has, without any hint of a doubt, been the best year of my life...yet. ...and that "yet" is the good news. I know there will be better years to come. For now, I'll just sit back, relax and hit the play button on the film of memories.

Oh, I almost forgot my New Year's Resolution: 1. Make Harry and I's Internet Radio Show a popular crowd-pleaser. 2. Beat the Danny of 2007 in terms of kindness, creativity, vocabulary, school/community involvement, intelligence and willpower. Hey, maybe I won't forget my resolution this year now that it's recorded on this blog.

So with 2 and a half hours to go in 2007, we hail good-bye to the year that was but not to the pleasant memories that tags along with it. ...and say bonjour to an embracing 2008!

-D

Some Random Thoughts

You know how boredom can invade your life during the holidays, right? When that happens, I survive by just thinking about stuff, anything that comes to mind and here are some of the collected ideas I had in the past few days:

1. The Cleveland Cavaliers played their Christmas matchup much better than their record indicates. Perhaps it's just the fact that their opponents were the free falling, 8-19 Miami Heats.
2. Harry and I's show is going smoothly, but I know we can improve. Our next air time is 6:30 PM on January 2nd, 2007. Give it a listen and please call in to talk with us about 2007 in Sports.
3. Mark Prior will never live up to his pre-draft hype, not even in his new home of San Diego.
4. The Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot is dull this year. Maybe that's good news for some of the long time awaiters like Bert Blyleven, Rich Gossage, Jim Rice etc. It'd be interesting to see in what fashion will the Mitchell Report impact candidates like Mark McGwire, David Justice and Chuck Knoblauch.
5. The bigoted North American media should promote more of the less popular, but very cool sports like ping pong, badminton, skiing, kayaking and to a certain extent, athletics. But please, no more "poker" during primetime broadcasts.

There's just 4 days left in this brilliant year of 2007. I'll enjoy the rest of it while I can. It's been one heck of a year! In 2008, let's hope the world of sports will be less clouded over by controversies and please tune in to Harry and I's internet radio show!

-D

Thoughts on the Mitchell Report

What's the result of a former US Senator's 409 page “REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF BASEBALL OF AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE ILLEGAL USE OF STEROIDS AND OTHER PERFORMANCE ENHANCING SUBSTANCES BY PLAYERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL”?

Eighty-nine names...

Tainted.

...and this is only the beginning of what is likely to be a massive probe into the steroid-baseball relationship, which is nothing new by now.

There in lies the problem...this is nothing new. Yet only on the home stretch of this 2007 calendar year was this report released, at least a decade if not more after the issue of steroid use and performance-enhancing drugs became known. Uhh…where were you during those 10+ years, Mr. Selig?

Too little too late, Mr. Commissioner. To me, this is a lame attempt to "catch up" after a mishap, or more fittingly, a nonchalant oblivion at the starting gate. It was the exact same Commissioner who let the steroid issue become rampant and now tells someone else to point the finger on others. Was he doing this just because Congress was on his tail and that his legacy would take a dramatic turn for the worst if he sat around any longer?

After briefly scrolling through the internet copy of this hyped report, I concluded that it was dumping sand onto the beach and spilling water into the ocean. That's to say much of the information in the anecdotes are already facts we know. For example, there is extensive coverage about past drug policies which are clearly ineffective and considerable information on the career history of those named. I'll admit this, I was surprised to see so many names appear in the report, but again, the main credits should go to former Mets clubhouse employee Kirk Radomski as he was the primary witness/facts provider, not Senator Mitchell.

How will all this abbreviated information affect HOF voting, many ask. I reply to them, most of these people aren't worthy of Hall of Fame inductions anyway. For the odd few like Roger Clemens and reluctantly...Barry Bonds, the impact will be determined by each voting writer. If they choose to maintain Hall integrity, then so be it. The wisest decision is to wait. Wait for more thorough information to surface. Wait for the players' side of the story, for their teammates' accounts...wait for a more informed opinion to be formed.

The Mitchell Report or not, this political controversy is totally ruining the sport. It's suppose to be the national pastime! But how many players nowadays can honestly say they play baseball for passion? It's all because of money which has led to an ensuing downfall of baseball. Players crave for the greenback, so they do whatever they can to earn it. It's idiotic, moronic and has gotten utterly preposterous.

Yes, perhaps they were trying their legal best and I don't think they should be punished for that. However, that doesn’t make it exemplary in any way. They did a stupid thing and they are horrible role models. Children and teenagers look up to these men and the best they could do is to commit "long-term suicide" by ejecting stuff or popping pills?

Major League Baseball severely lacked strictness and is now putting on a production of political theatre to desperately try to tackle the issue. However, attempting to scare the bejesus out of the accused players without absolutely credible proof is not going to cut it. Sure there are dozens of cheques and other exhibits attached to the double-spaced report but at the end of the day, the report still lacks hard evidence to convict anybody. It does nothing to change my stance on Bud Selig's failure to control the rampant drug use in the early stages.

Senator Mitchell gets a "D-".

Major League Baseball gets a "D-"

The biggest losers are still those dumb, buck-hungry steroid users. They get an "F".

-D

Adjournment!

School's Out!

For the next couple weeks at least.

I've been looking forward to this break and I'm glad it's here! With that said, I still have tons of stuff to accomplish over the break. Right now, I have a list of a dozen things I have to do before school recommences again on the 7th.

Since I'm in IB, I'm not surprised there's quite a bit of work over the holiday break, especially IT course which frustrates me alot. But anyway, I've worked hard and I rightfully deserve a couple weeks of semi-relaxation.

During this 2007 school year, grades 8 and 9 combined, I've had a fabulous time and it's hard to believe that what has been the best time of my life began 1 year ago. A year ago, the Christmas sing-a-long at Donview really was a benchmark. From there on, I've done so many cool things, have so much fun, met so many friendly people, learned alot about myself, became mroe mature, and I couldn't have asked for a better package of memories. I guess I shouldn't step too much on the shoes of my end of year reflection..

That's it for now!

-D

Snow Report and Change in Show Time

I woke up on Sunday, took a walk in the heavy snow, came back home, had my brunch, did some homework, then ventured back out again. Yeah, I have an obsession with snow and you can imagine how ecstatic I was to witness the gazillions of flakes than dawned on our city on Saturday and Sunday. Nearly a foot was dropped and the snowbanks right now are frighteningly tall and massive to say the least. Stretches of sidewalks are covered by embankments of 3 feet high which I must climb over to get to school and the windrows left by snowplows reach up to one's waste. So that's the snow report for now. Hopefully, the white stuff will stick around for a decked up Christmas.

Now, onto our radio show. Harry and I have decided to postpone the first "real" show to Saturday at 6:30 PM, still the same topic (Mitchell Report and NBA). On Wednesday, we'll be hosting a test show just to clear all glitches and smoothen the path. If you want to tune into that, go ahead...it's just two of us making sure things work.

One final thought: we're onto the home stretch of 2007 now and I can certainly say my year has been an absolute brilliant production. So...what's your favourite memories of 2007?

-D

Let It Snow!

Hey Everyone!

As you've probably heard by now, a crippling snowstorm is on its way to Southern Ontario. The inch or two of lake enhanced snow we saw today is only a warm up to what will be one of the worst storms in Toronto in a long time. Currently, the system is stationed over northern Louisiana and will track its way just south of the Great Lakes blanketing us with heavy white stuff.

Beginning later this evening through Sunday evening, at least 30 cm of snow is expected, if not more. We are in jeopardy of receving accumulations of up to 40, even in excess of 45 toward the Hamilton region. Whatever the case will be, it's gonna be one heck of storm. It's gonna bring out the meteorologist/storm chaser in me.

Snowfall rates of 2-5 cm/hour are imminent and travel will become next to impossible on unplowed roads. Get ready folks! This is December at its best in Canada!

-D

P.S. Thundersnow is likely!!!

I'm Back

Hello All!

I am officially back. It's been a 5 months break and I finally decided to restart the blog. Partly because I am now the host of a new BlogTalkRadio internet sports show. This time, I'm co-hosting the show with my good friend/sports enthusiast, Harry Dai. The website is www.blogtalkradio.com/hdsports. Y'all, our first show will be on the air on Wednesday, December 19th at 6:30 PM. Hope you can tune in and of course, we'd love some callers. We'll be discussing the recent Mitchell Report and some NBA action too. From now on, I'll be posting regularly...alright, over and out for now!

-D