Saturday, April 13, 2013

Kobe: Venting and "showing perspective" after 'Torn Achilles' career setback

I've been championing the "Beat it LA" meme for the last few months, I never felt it came from a place of hate. I'm a basketball fan, I have teams that I root for but ultimately what I want is a fair, competitive and interesting NBA. As long as that's delivered I'm happy with any result.

As the NBA regular season wraps up in two games the unheard of possibility that the Purple and Gold won't be represented in the Playoffs is yet to be decided. In a nailbiting game at home to my beloved Warriors there was high drama as Kobe hobbled several times after hyperextending his knee during the game. Shockingly Kobe walked off the floor with the game hanging in the balance after a torn Achilles heel.

There has been a lot of candor from Kobe this year but with this humbling setback Mamba has shown a vulnerable and philosophical side I've never seen before. It's a story befitting Hollywood. All the best for a Champion and all-time great in the twilight of his career.

VIDEO: Kobe interview after game with Warriors

Reacting to the injury setback and preparing a return to the floor
KOBE BRYANT: (2m 07s) I'm not really sure I've never really had to deal with something like this. You know it's a new experience for me. Obviously there have been a bunch of players that have had the same injury so all I can do is look at them and look at what they've done. Who had more success coming back quicker and healthier, see what they did and see if I can improve upon it.
Via Kobe's Facebook 
This is such BS! All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I've done millions of times! The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I'm supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that??
I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me...Then again maybe not! It's 3:30am, my foot feels like dead weight, my head is spinning from the pain meds and I'm wide awake. Forgive my Venting but what's the purpose of social media if I won't bring it to you Real No Image?? Feels good to vent, let it out. To feel as if THIS is the WORST thing EVER! Because After ALL the venting, a real perspective sets in. There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.
One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence.
Today is NOT that day.
"If you see me in a fight with a bear, prey for the bear". Ive always loved that quote. Thats "mamba mentality" we don't quit, we don't cower, we don't run. We endure and conquer. I know it's a long post but I'm Facebook Venting LOL. Maybe now I can actually get some sleep and be excited for surgery tomorrow. First step of a new challenge. Guess I will be Coach Vino the rest of this season. I have faith in my teammates. They will come thru. Thank you for all your prayers and support.
Much Love Always.
Mamba Out

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Easts Basketball League presents 'Basketball Day' @ The Projects

Easts Basketball League will be having its 3rd 'Basketball Day' at The Projects' space at the Vic on the Park courtyard. 30HomeGames participated at the last event and hopes to again this time around. Below are photos taken by my housemate B*. Hope to see you guys there.

Basketball Day @TheProjects, Sunday Mar 24
The 3on3 won't be in conjunction with the 'One Day' HipHop crew like last time. The 'One Day Sundays' are scheduled for the Final Sunday of the month. You can expect the same offering of Ball, Beats and Booze.

VIDEO: 'One Day Sundays' at Vic on the Park, Marrickville

Photos from the 'One Day Sunday' event, February 24th

We got next
Flight school
Nothing beats Courtside
Ramping up

To the rack
Bombs away
- 30HomeGames will be at 'The Projects and Easts Basketball Game 3-on-3 Comp'
- The Projects Enmore
Easts Basketball League

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Miami Heat 'Reheat it' wallpapers

The Miami Heat (44 - 14) extended their win streak to 16 after a gutsy victory over rebuilding Florida rivals, the Orlando Magic (17 - 44). The Heat are in Championship form, looking for a repeat trip to the Finals. I've been making 'Beat it LA' wallpapers featuring the Playoff Contenders in the West, the Los Angeles Lakers (30 - 31) pulled out a gutsy win of their own over the lowly New Orleans Hornets (21 - 40).

#BeatitLA on hold. The Lakers rising in the standings 
The Superteam of the Heat are in a different stratosphere to the Lakers. The conversation has been about their dominance, cohesion and record breaking greatness. I've made my own meme for them 'Reheat it' featuring their Eastern Conference Playoff contenders.

#ReHeatIt Miami Heat looking to be repeat NBA Champions

Saturday, February 23, 2013

30HomeGames will be at 'The Projects & Easts Basketball Game 3-on-3 Comp'

One Day Sundays: A monthly Hip Hop social in the Inner West
30 Home Games will be participating at the 'The Projects and Easts Basketball Game 3-on-3 Comp'. It starts in the afternoon 2 Addison Rd, Enmore. The music and entertainment program is promising featuring some of OzHipHop's finest DJs Joyride/Adit (Horrowshow) + Raph (Jackie Onassis) and Spit Syndicate's release party
The Projects and Easts Basketball Game 3-on-3 Comp
3-on-3 Comp Men's Draw
Go to the respective Facebook pages:
- The Projects Enmore
- Easts Basketball League
- One Day crew
- Spit Syndicate

Update: A fun day out. Below is Video of the day's festivities from Damon Cameron and EBL's Marcos Meza
VIDEO: EBL and The Projects 3-on-3 Hoops 

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Jordan turning 50: 'Michael Jordan has not left the building' by Wright Thompson

Illustration by Mark Smith
On the eve of Michael Jordan's 50th birthday, Wright Thompson writes a fascinating piece on how a living legend handles the legacy of being the greatest Sportsman of all time. The articles touches on mortality, growing old and Jordan's unquenchable drive to be the best.
Michael Jordan has not left the building by Wright Thompson
[On mortality]
Smoke curls off the cigar. He wears slacks and a plain white dress shirt, monogrammed on the sleeve in white, understated. An ID badge hangs from one of those zip line cords on his belt, with his name on the bottom: Michael Jordan, just in case anyone didn't recognize the owner of a struggling franchise who in another life was the touchstone for a generation. There's a shudder in every child of the '80s and '90s who does the math and realizes that Michael Jordan is turning 50. Where did the years go? Jordan has trouble believing it, difficulty admitting it to himself. But he's in the mood for admissions today, and there's a look on his face, a half-smile, as he considers how far to go.
"I … I always thought I would die young," he says, leaning up to rap his knuckles on the rich, dark wood of his desk.

[On getting older]
The astonishing thing to him was how much he enjoyed this. "At 30 I was moving so fast," he says. "I never had time to think about all the things I was encountering, all the things I was touching. Now when I go back and find these things, it triggers so many different thoughts: God, I forgot about that. That's how fast we were moving. Now I can slow it down and hopefully remember what that meant. That's when I know I'm getting old."
He laughs, knowing how this sounds, like a man in a midlife crisis, looking fondly at something that's never coming back.
"I value that," he says. "I like reminiscing. I do it more now watching basketball than anything. Man, I wish I was playing right now. I would give up everything now to go back and play the game of basketball."
"How do you replace it?" he's asked.
"You don't. You learn to live with it."
"How?"
"It's a process," he says.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Wallpapers: "Beat It LA" Wallpapers for Portland, Houston, Dallas, Utah and Minnesota

#BeatitLA - Western Conference standings heading into All-Star Game
10th place - LA Lakers: 25 Wins | 29 Losses | .463%
A take-off of the iconic "Beat LA" slogan. In the past its been the warcry for underdog teams hoping to knock off the powerhouse Purple & Gold. With the Lakers' dismal season its a chance for these underdogs to deny the storied franchise an invitation to the playoffs.

30HomeGames presents "Beat it LA" Wallpapers for the teams competing with the star-studded Lakers for a playoff spot.

 Portland Trailblazers - "Beat It LA"
Dallas Mavericks - "Beat It LA"
Minnesota Timberwolves - "Beat It LA"
Houston Rockets - "Beat It LA"
Utah Jazz - "Beat It LA"
Bonus: Los Angeles has a new powerhouse in town - The LA Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers - "Beat It LAL"
Western Conference - "Beat It LAL"
Update: It pains me to add this but my Warriors have been getting some noise for being a team likely to be bumped by the surging Lakers. The fact I didn't even consider making a wallpaper for them originally shows you how precarious their playoff spot has become. Dub Nation - We believe.
Golden State Warriors - "Beat it LA"
- Find my original "Beat the Heat" + "Beat LA" wallpapers

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Wallpapers: 30HomeGames' favourite NBA tandems from the '90s

I made wallpapers of all my favourite NBA tandems of the '90s. These were the players and teams I remember fondly from my days as a young NBA fan. Giving props to duos of recent history that are often overlooked or might have been missed by newer fans

Houston Rockets 1993-96
Sam Cassell #10
Robert Horry #25
Los Angeles Lakers 1994-96
Nick Van Exel #9
Cedric Ceballos #23
Washington Bullets 1995-97
Chris Webber #4
Juwan Howard #5
Portland Trailblazers 1997-2005
Damon Stoudamire #3
Arvydas Sabonis #11