The NBA Lockout & Mediation

I am a basketball fan. I have been since the early 90's. I grew up going to The Great Western Forum to watch the Lakers play back in the rebuilding era of Nick Van Excel, Eddie Jones, Vlade Divac, Elden Campbell, George Lynch, Anthony Peeler, and many others. It was just after "Showtime" but for me it was the world (as a kid it was quite important to me). I ended up playing on the traveling team in 8th grade and then onto High School ball. I was never any good but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I still follow college and professional basketball and really enjoy keeping up on things. One of my professors while studying at BYU-Hawaii happens to be a contributor at ESPN who specifically covers the NBA. Not only is Chad Ford responsible for helping to shape my educational path while at school, but for inspiring me to take a certificate program in conflict resolution. He is a professional mediator who knows his stuff and has a dynamic background that involves working with non-profit organizations throughout the world. He is quite qualified when it comes to conflict resolution and mediation. He wrote an article that can be found on ESPN's website that explains the current NBA lockout situation and the roll a mediator can play in it. It's an interesting read.

CLICK HERE to check it out.

Hopefully things will be resolved before too long. It's not like I even watch a whole lot of games while the season is on but its still fun to read up on and see what's happening. Hopefully mediation comes to the rescue.

What I've Been Up To



So I graduated from college this past December... So now what? Well, I have been busy these past few months with a few things. I have been doing an internship with one of my professor Chad Ford. He taught my Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding classes and I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to help out with The David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding. He has been running it for several years now and I have been doing various things for that growing organization since September. It has been fun and educational and I'm going to miss it.

I've also had the opportunity to work with another professor: Dr. Blimes, as a research assistant as well. I leave tomorrow to go to Chicago where I will be presenting our research at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference along with a few other student researchers. Both of these opportunities are what kept me in Hawaii a little bit longer, as well as me finishing up my last 4 credits. As time ticks away these next couple weeks and as the semester comes to an end so does my excuse for being in Hawaii. Crap. I have a few things lined up if I wanted to stay but my gut says I should move on. Double crap.

I'll keep you posted on what happens. In the mean time, I'm enjoying my time here. I have a little bucket list of things I want to do before I leave. I've pretty much done everything I have wanted (I've been here quite awhile) but there are still a few more adventures to be had. Here are a few pictures of the momentous and eventful day of my graduation. It was a long time coming so it was sort of a big deal. Seriously though. It has been quite the journey as I have changed majors a couple times, taken time off to work and travel, gone on a study abroad, and picked up a minor.