So it’s Friday and the first time this year at my regular posting. In my last post I talked about the improvement of Brook Lopez and that the rumors of a Dwight Howard trade to the Nets might be on the cards again. Well the rumors appear to of died down again, as they did last year. Twice. It’s interesting to see just how much buzz is created from a comment or a by a certain reporters take on said comment.
No sooner had I posted about the article on NYDailyNews.com did I see alternative reports from news sites based on the West Coast of the USA. Obviously these articles were of a completely different nature, stating that infact the relationship between Kobe and Dwight couldn’t be stronger – but then of course they would be LA is on the West Coast, and the Lakers are a West Coast team, why would anyone on that side want to believe that perhaps the most dominant center in the league at the moment could up and leave for the coldness that is East Coast New York.
On the East Coast of things, Brooklyn are now 6 and 1 since P.J Carlesimo took over as interim head coach and appear to be on the cusp of continuning this streak, tonight they take on the Phoenix Suns at home, this is the Sun’s first time at the Barclays Centre and to say the home crowd wont be an advantage for the Nets is probably to underestimate just what Jay Z and Mikhail Prokohov have done in the re brand and relocation. They have given Brooklyn a team to root for, move over support; bringing back professional sports to the borough that’s last local team was the Brooklyn Dodgers. And with the Nets on this win streak and the supposed burden of Avery Johnson released and P.J finding his groove things are looking good.
The local Basketball team I play for; The Cranwell Hawks saw the return of their season earlier this week in a cross conference game against the Grantham Honda Outlaws – when we last played them we lost by 17. This game started completely differently than last time, we were focused, and were driven by the 2 for 2 win streak we had begun towards the end of 2012, which included a win against possibly the best team in our league. Needless to say we won, and won hard. The final score was 48-70 (to us), next stop in our road games is an away game at the Grimsby Mayhem next Tuesday. A win against them will mean 2 for 2 in meeting them this season.
I’ve been trying my hand a new fitness regime/program. You may of heard of it…Insanity. Let me tell you it is just that. Insane. I considered my fitness etc to be pretty good, granted I smoke(d) but I was still playing a good 35 mins per game and lead a fairly active and full life. How wrong was I? I completed the Fit Test with relatively no problems, and so thought I would be okay to continue on with the program. First day was Plyometric and Cardio. I was using muscles I didn’t know I had in my legs, they felt like they were gonna fall off, and my flexibility was (is) shocking. I’ve carried on with it though, and am definitely going to finish the 60 days, I just completed day 10 today, and can’t say I’ve noticed a significant difference or improvement however as the days go on I can complete the warm up for each day with ease now and don’t seem to be needing to strain my legs or body as much but I still have a long way to go!
On Sunday I travel to Birmingham to watch the BBL (British Basketball League) Final and Slamdunk contest which should be good fun, apparently there is a game between the England and Ireland selects, but I think the main highlight will be the actual final and of course the Slamdunk contest. Which brings me to this…
The Government announced on December 18th that after a poor show at London 2012 they are cutting all funding for Basketball in England – despite it being the worlds second most popular sport (behind Football (Soccer) and despite the English team doing the equivalent of going from League 2 to the Premier League in Football, and playing some of the best teams around the globe. It strikes me as odd and completely unfair and unreasonable. There are dozens of sports that still aren’t performing even after 3 or 4 rounds of funding. There are players representing over the Atlantic Pond showing that England isn’t just about boozed up yobs and skin headed tossers – look at Luol Deng, Joel Freeland, Ben Gordon and Byron Mullens and their the ones presently playing in the NBA, the list goes on if you look at past players dating as far back at the 1950’s; how does anyone expect to get any further if there is no support?
Find out a little more here and please show your support by signing this petition. Save British Basketball.
Holla
Ell Himself
The Thoughts and Ideals of Ell Himself 