Laker Game

I was recently lucky enough to see my favorite childhood basketball team play live before my eyes for the first time since I was kid (and since they played in The Great Western Forum). Living several blocks from where an NBA team plays has its perks (Energy Solutions Arena). My brother Bradley was nice enough to treat me to the game. Having grown up in Southern California as big Lakers fans it was good to get out there and support them especially since they were on the road. The Lakers lost but its okay. I like the team the Utah Jazz have put together and for me, just going to the game was fun. I'm not an annoying Laker fan FYI. I'm more of a fan of the game than anything else. All in all it was a good night. PS Its actually pretty weird how many Lakers fans there are in Utah. I was blown away with how many there were at the game. Crazy.

Pistol Pete

Ever since the 6th grade I've been a big fan of Pistol Pete. I had a good friend whose father would teach the basketball skills found in Pistol Pete's Basketball instructional videos religiously to him and I found myself imitating his moves (not even a fraction as good as he could do them) as well. A gal a dated gave me this book quite some time ago and I never cracked it open till just recently. Glad I did. Pete had an interesting life. I took it to work a few times to read during my lunch break and it created a few lively conversations. There are Pistol Pete fans that come out of the woodwork when you least expect it.

The NBA on TNT

So I'm a fan of basketball. Have been since I was a young gun. I got fanatical as a ten year old, played ball in high school and then took a couple years off and didn't follow it at all. After that brief hiatus I slowly got back into it and now I'll admit I'm a serious fan. I don't play as much as I would like (even though I just got back from playing with my cousins and my brother) but I still really enjoy playing a competitive game of hoops when I can. With the NBA just barely getting back into full swing after the lockout I must say I'm quite happy with the return. And I'm quite happy with this little video. It does a real nice job of mixing the old with the new. Almost to the point you really have to pay attention to each screen shot and see what is old footage and what is new. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Blake Griffin


I would be stoked to go camping and see Blake Griffin automatically show up as he feeds a deer. These commercials are too funny. At least he's being constructive while the NBA has decided to take a break. I'm ready for basketball to get going again cuz this guy was incredible to watch.

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.