Battle of Los Angeles - The Lakers Vs. The Clippers

Lakers 113  -  Clippers  108

Hey there.  Last night, there was a dog fight in Los Angeles.  The Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers, in the confines of The Staples Center, went all out to prove which team is the better team of Los Angeles.  There is definitely bad blood between them.  The Clippers, tired of being regarded as the little brother of the Lakers, went out and improved their team by acquiring star guard Chris Paul.  The same Chris Paul that the Lakers tried to acquire before the deal was struck down by the commissioner, David Stern.  The Clippers believing that they now have the superior team to take over Los Angeles, forgot that the Lakers have always been a formidable team.  Especially when the Kobe "The Black Mamba" Bryant refuses to lose.

Level Up Your Marathon Levels with Spartan Race

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Spartan Race for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there.  One thing that I told myself that I must do this year is run a marathon.  Whether it be a short 5K or a 20+ mile run, I'm going to do it!  I've been telling myself year after year that I'm going to do it.  Now, I'll be entering my 30th year on this Earth and I haven't been in one yet!  I'm not going to fool myself... it's the preparation that's holding me back.  Long run times on the treadmill, building up my cardio, and making sure that I have the legs under me to make it to the finish line.  It's the main reason why running is not for everybody. But I'm determined, I'm ready, and I discovered the Spartan Race!

Motivational Monday - Super Bowl 46 Glory

Congrats to Eli and the Giants on last night's big win!

Motivational Monday - Giants vs. Patriots Superbowl

Is Eli the Manning that Brady just can't beat?

Colts Peyton Manning Calling It Quits?!

Hey there.  The NFL has been good to me.  It has brought me many great times with my brother and I'm happy to see that those great times are now including my son.  His love for the game is increasing with each year and I'm thankful that we all got to experience our first NFL game together.  Throughout the years, I have seen great players come and go.  Barry Sanders, Joe Montana, John Elway.  At the same time, I've seen perennial busts.  Ryan Leaf, JaMarcus Russell, Akili Smith.  But you know what?  That's why I love the game.  You just never know who will emerge a star and which ones will fall like no other.  So when word gets out that one of the greats is thinking retirement, the sports world listens.  Peyton Manning has been plagued by neck injuries.  He's had like 3 or so neck surgeries in a little over a year.  It doesn't take a doctor to say that playing in the NFL after so many surgeries on the neck may not be the best of ideas.  Recently, the Indianapolis Colts have cleaned house.  They have fired couches and executives and there is speculation that Manning might be next to go.  With the Colts holding that #1 pick, Andrew Luck could very well be on his way to Indy.  And if that's the case, what's to happen to Manning?  If we are to believe Rob Lowe, yes... that Rob Lowe, Peyton is planning on retiring.

Does Tebowing Work?

I used this one because it has the Raider logo in the back

Hey there. We've all heard it.  We've all seen it.  If you have a pulse and know anything about sports, then you're now familiar with who Tim Tebow is and the craze that he has started.  Yup.  I am talking about Tebowing.  It's a very simple gesture.  You get down on one knee, bow your head, and place your forearm across your forehead as if you are in player.  Of course, Tebow actually is in prayer when he does it since he's made it clear to everyone what a devout Christian he is, but every one has been Tebowing in the same fashion as planking.

The 2012 NFL Wildcard Playoffs

Hey there.  Wow.  Did you see that?!  If you don't know what I am talking about, you must not have caught the NFL Playoffs this weekend.  We had some miraculous throws, hard hitting tackles, blow out wins, and some close games.  The game of the weekend was definitely the Denver Broncos vs the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The heavily favored Steelers were looking to roll past Tim Tebow and the Broncos.  Other games included the Lions were looking to stop the NFL record setter, Drew Brees and the Saints, there was a battle of rookie quarter backs going on between the Bengals and Texans, and the Giants were looking to show they belong in the playoffs in their game against the Falcons.  Let's get to the action!

Thoughts on... The Los Angeles Lakers Starting the 2011-2012 Season 0-2

Lakers star Kobe Bryant

Hey there.  The NBA is back!  After much anticipation, the season finally took off on Christmas Day.  Many of the top teams of the NBA were showcased to a national audience and while much rust was expected due to the lack of a preseason workout, there were still quite a few surprises during the first few games for many teams.  Even though I love to watch the NBA, I'm more concerned about the Lakers more than any other team.  Christmas Day saw the Lakers lose a close game to the Chicago Bulls and last night, they couldn't stop the Sacramento Kings from shooting 3 pointers.  Here are my thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers starting the season 0-2.

The State of the NBA

Chris Paul to the Lakers?!  I need to consult with my
Magic 8 ball first!

The NBA is back and it’s in full EFFECT!! Hours after the lockout was lifted, we had our first big move, New Orleans point guard to the Los Angeles Lakers in a 3 team trade, which included the Houston Rockets. Right off the bat, the NBA was top news because something major was about to happen merely an hour after the lockout was lifted. No more than 24 hours later??? A bigger bombshell struck! The trade was vetoed. Wait! WHAT!? VETOED!! What do you mean vetoed? What does that mean?

Qualcomm Stadium to be Temporarily Renamed to Snapdragon Stadium

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Snapdragon by Qualcomm. All opinions are 100% mine.
Hey there.  If you are a football fan, then you are familiar with the names of some of the stadiums across the United States.  There's Lucas Oil Stadium, The Meadowlands, Arrowhead Stadium and for you San Diego natives, there's Qualcomm Stadium.  The naming rights for a stadium usually lies with the highest bidder and in this case, the local San Diego based company, Qualcomm, has been awarded that right.  But what do you do after the novelty wears off?   Qualcomm is already on the map but you need to bring more exposure to the products that you produce.  Qualcomm is taking the naming rights a step further and are proud to announce that as of last Sunday, Dec. 18th, they will temporarily change the name of the stadium from Qualcomm to Snapdragon Stadium!

The 2011 NBA Lockout is Over

Hey there.  I love basketball and the fact that there's no NBA on my TV in November just seems wrong.  The 2011 NBA lockout just seemed to be a ridiculous at times.  The NBA was coming off one of the most exciting Finals in recent memory and the NBA seemed poised to build on that momentum.  Instead, the NBA allowed to league to lose steam, allowed the players to seek employment elsewhere, and allowed the fans to be irritated beyond belief that a collective bargaining agreement could not be made.  However, today, the NBA and it's players have tentatively agreed on a new deal to get basketball back on TV starting on Christmas Day!

Thoughts On... The Carson Palmer Trade to the Oakland Raiders

Carson Palmer signs with the Raiders
Picture courtesy of The Oakland Raiders Facebook Page

Hey there.  You know... I wonder if God owns a phone.  How else can you explain the Carson Palmer trade from Cincy Bengals to the Oakland Raiders?  This deal has the late great Al Davis written all over it.  Davis was notorious for trading picks for player he believed would better the Raiders.  And now, we have learned that the Raiders have traded away the 2012 first round pick and the 2013 second round pick, which could be a  first round pick depending on Palmer's performance, for the former Heisman winner, Carson Palmer.

Are You Ready for Some Football?! NFL PreSeason Starts Tonight

Hey there.  Finally, after almost 6 grueling months since the last meaningful football game took place, the NFL is back and the players are eager to get on the gridiron.  The spring brought about the NFL lockout when the owners and the NFLPA could not agree on a collective bargaining agreement and the summer brought about some nervous jitters.  But after all is said and done, we are ready to play some games and the fan could not be happier!

Softball Game 1: Son of Pitches Vs DTK

Hey there.  So my very first softball game took place Wednesday night and I must say that it was an exciting experience.  It's a coed softball team and it mainly consists of my brother's friends (which are now becoming my friends) so with the exception of myself and a few others, the team chemistry is great.  We've lost our 2 scrimmage games but we showed awesome cohesion and when we heard that our fist game would be against the team that was beating 18-0 at one point, we were ready for some revenge.

Breaking In a Baseball Glove Before the DTK Season Starts

Hey there.  I took baseball/softball a few months ago and I'm still learning the ins and outs of being on a team.  Small, quirky things still slip out like calling innings quarters and getting confused with other baseball lingo.  Most of the guys and gals on the team are seasoned players.  They've played on a team at some point in their lives so they have the mechanics down.  I've never played on a baseball team, I don't watch baseball at home, so I just don't have the knowledge and know how just yet.  And yesterday, during practice, I learned that I need to get my baseball glove game ready.  I need to break it in.

David Levi - From Soccer Player to Poker Star

Hey there.  You know, poker has grown into a serious sport these last couple of years.  Is it fair it call it a sport?  I guess, right?  Anyways, I've been watching my fair share of poker on TV, especially the World Poker Tour Championship. It churns out some real intense moments at times and even though you'll find the poker greats all over the tables, you'll spot a celebrity or sports figure as well.  One that has started to make a move is David Levi.

The Local Baseball Team DTK (Down to Strikeout)

Hey there.  So it's happening...  I'm on a local baseball team.  I'm still not 100% how it happened but I'm glad it did.  I've been feeling a little slow lately since I really haven't been exercising much, but since I've committed to the team, I've picked it up a bit.  I've been hitting the batting cages with my son and bro, working on that eye hand coordination, and even tossed a ball a bit to work on glove mechanics (or whatever the baseball lingo is).

The Rise of American Soccer in the United States

Hey there. I love sports. I'm also Mexican American. So when both countries end up going against each other, who should I root for? It's a common dilemma for many Mexican Americans out there. My parents were born in Mexico and I in the US.  I'm a first gen American in our family.  You want to root for both countries. You want to go show pride and acknowledge your roots but you also want to show pride for the country of opportunity. Why the question? Soccer. Yup. Soccer. lol

Great Father's Day Gift Ideas at Walmart

Hey there.  Father's Day is near!  What have you picked up for your pops?  Nothing?  Oh man... No worries, I'm about to show you some pretty awesome stuff that you can pick up at your local Walmart for your dad!  But before getting into that, let me tell you of a time before iPad 2's and Blackberry tablets.  I'm talking about the 80's where a VCR was the main tech attraction.  You see, I was born in 1982 and I only had my dad for 9 short years before it was time for him to move on from this life.  I didn't get the chance to shower him with some of the awesome technology we have today.  Most of my gifts for dad included hand drawn cards and pasta encrusted creations.  Sincere, loving, and always from the heart.  It would have been cool to grab my dad a GPS navigator (we got lost a few times... I know that for a fact) or an awesome big screen TV for the big fight or game.  Even though he's no longer here, this Father's Day, I will be getting my pops a gift, it just won't be of the tech variety.  And kids... I know you're reading this.  Use this post as the "Unofficial Daddy's Wishlist".  lol

Motivational Monday - LeBron James