win or lose

Being a Golden State Warriors fan, I've had it up to here with character-building. As in losing. Yet, there are fans of the team that seem to be rooting for them to lose so as to keep a high lottery pick for the next NBA draft. 

It's rather complicated and I don't understand it all that well, but roughly speaking, if the Warriors qualify for a top 7 pick in the 2012 draft, meaning one of the 7 worst win-loss records for the season, then they get to keep that pick; and if they qualify for the 8th pick in the lottery or worse, then they lose that pick due to a trade made previously... something like that. Then again, it can all depend on how the lottery balls fall come that time too.

It's one thing for the Warriors to miss the playoffs, but if they miss the playoffs but not badly enough, then they'll lose their 1st round pick. So they ostensibly need to either make the playoffs (the stated goal by the new ownership) or suck really, really bad. The worst case scenario is to fall somewhere in between. And there are people actually saying, on the radio no less, that the Warriors should therefore 'tank' the season and go for the really, really suck option. 

I can't imagine a professional athlete intentionally tanking the season. If anyone is capable of doing that, I really wouldn't want them on any team I root for. Can you picture a professional submitting to getting posterized (the poor sap in a poster that is getting dunked on?). Wouldn't tanking be on par with wagering on outcomes? Isn't it reminiscent of baseball's Black Sox scandal from a century ago? Losing... on purpose? My gosh, I can't fathom wanting my team to do something like that. Any athlete with pride and ethics can't do something like that.

I joked in a previous post about how wearing a Warriors tee shirt is almost like wearing a Washington Generals (the team that plays the foil of the Harlem Globetrotters) tee shirt, especially when I thought about the Warriors playing the Lakers - but I was just kidding. I want the Warriors to strive for victory each and every game and let the draft order fall as it may. 

in the armor

Some thoughts about the brouhaha surrounding the most unfortunate choice of headline accompanying a story about Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks' recent loss to the New Orleans Hornets: 

Many things come to mind from this; I recall some years ago a man whom I respect and admire, retired General Colin Powell, once referred to Chinese people as "Chinamen" in a comment about the global economy and home shopping. And one of my favorite sitcoms ('Everybody Loves Raymond') used the word "Chinamen" and no one corrected the character Frank Barrone for saying it. In the former case, if Gen. Colin Powell says he didn't know it was an offensive word, then that's good enough for me since I believe he was genuine in his explanation. As for Frank Barrone, well, that certainly sounded enough like his character to say it, but I would have liked another member of the family to correct him with "Chinese soldiers" or something like that. I found it kind of offensive, but I don't think it was an intentional slight on the show's part. 

Now I don't know much about the ESPN editor who came up with the "Chink in the Armor" headline, but apparently he insists he wasn't aware of the racist implications of the word "Chink" and that word has been used freely in that particular phrase many times before as being synonymous with "Achilles heel" (which would have been a much better choice of words in this instance!). It is unfortunate that this editor lost his job if he was truly completely unaware of the gaffe; is he of a younger generation that has never seen the word used derogatorily before?

I've read some comments to this news story and I'm sure many people feel it's such a common phrase ("chink in the armor") that any racist connotations are completely imagined. However, even when it's been simply used to refer to a point of weakness, I've cringed a little. I hate to see or hear the word, no matter how it's used. 

As an example, which also is more than a little uncomfortable, here's another word that makes me bristle... in fact, I'll begin with its definition from a dictionary first: "grudgingly mean about spending or granting; BEGRUDGING" - the word is niggardly. I once saw it used on TV by a sports commentator and then later heard him having to explain and defend his use of the word. Used in context, sure, it may take several other words to say the same thing, but still, it sounds enough like a truly despicable word that it's perhaps best not used at all. Now imagine the word 'niggardly' used in a large headline right next to a picture of an African-American athlete. Maybe the word is being used correctly, but it would still be a slap in the face to see something as abhorrent as that.

From my own experience, I look back to my 21st birthday. Luckily my birthday fell either on a Friday or a Saturday that year and I had family come down to San Luis Obispo to help me celebrate. We were walking downtown as we went looking for places for me to try a few new drinks when we found ourselves walking towards a small group of other students, none of them 'racial minorities.' And one said so we could all hear him, "Looks like it's getting a little nippy out here." At the moment he said it, I didn't take offense because it was my birthday, but my brother-in-law at the time knew it was a pointed comment at our ethnicity. Looking back, yes, it was. I can even picture the guy, wearing his tractor hat. This all happened over 25 years ago, on my 21st birthday and I still remember it. 

This stuff hurts, folks. 

orchids

There was an article in today's newspaper about orchids. Yes, they are uniquely beautiful - it's easy to see why they have captivated humankind for thousands of years. Even now, orchid enthusiasts collect them, some even creating hybrids and letting them take over their homes! 

Still, I wonder if instead of focusing on aesthetics, what if people were to put their attention on other attributes? Oh, say... nectar production? If I had an environment that was conducive to growing orchids, I could see myself becoming obsessed with creating a tropical paradise with the intent of attracting as many hummingbirds as possible. And I imagine that would mean lots of the color red in the plants and flowers, and more importantly, copious amounts of nectar. 

Nectar from flower blossoms is a much more satisfying way to feed hummingbirds, considering how it just looks more natural, wouldn't you say? And I believe the opinion that flower-produced nectar contains enough trace amounts of minerals, or whatever, that makes it more nutritious than the sugar water that fills the typical hummingbird feeder.

So, my ideal garden would contain the plants that are most suitable to both my climate and attracting hummingbirds (food, shelter, perching and preening, etc.), and then perhaps a bonus of an orchid garden with a mix of the most simply beautiful varieties, plus the ones that produce the most nectar. Aside of course with me working to produce a native plant garden that best serves a thriving ecosystem with little demand for 'intensive care.'

the willows

Yesterday I had lunch with a couple of my siblings. We went to a local shopping center for some delicious Indian-Pakistani food. What caught my attention outside were the landscaping choices: plants that are suitable for the Mediterranean climate, many of which are California natives and several that I have in my garden too: Chaparral currant (flowering currant), Ceanothus 'Concha' (California lilac), Salvia spathacea (hummingbird sage), and perhaps some I have forgotten. There were also various other natives such as a Manzanita, which I hope flowers since mine haven't yet.

What was also impressive were the signs that were posted in each planting area that described the different plants, all of which were designated as UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars. I've been up to Davis, about an hour away, and visited their splendid arboretum, which was a peaceful and yet vibrant space to walk through. I'd heard of their list of All-Stars before, so I was pleasantly surprised to see them featured in one of the spaces of Concord's Willows Shopping Center. 

I don't know how long ago this space was planted, but the plants looked young so I will be curious as to how well they do as the seasons go by. Their demands will be much lower and I hope that they don't get overwatered or overfertilized. Too much of either would actually be detrimental to their health. They should also attract lots of insect and bird life, which will further enliven them. In my experience, the bees, birds, etc. keep to themselves and have never bothered me, so they shouldn't bother the shoppers. 

One note though to whomever it may concern: I noticed also the hummingbird feeder near one of the plantings. The nectar was dyed red... food coloring is not necessary and there may even be a slight chance of harming the little birds' systems. The red coloring on the feeder itself is enough to attract our little friends! 

I am so excited to see a shopping center go in the direction I have been a proponent of... or to use a popular catch phrase: "That's what I'm talking about!"

the mask

As far as I'm concerned, football season ended after the NFC Championship game. So now, on to baseball! Well, okay, I follow the Warriors too, but today's blog is about baseball.

I recently signed up to follow San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey's Twitter feed and also 'liked' him on Facebook. Naturally, people want to know how he is doing and if he will be in top shape after last year's season ending injury to his ankle. We all wish him the best, hope that he remains healthy, and that the offense scores LOTS of runs when he's in the lineup again. 

Aside from the horrific injury he suffered due to the collision at home plate, I recall that there was a lot of concern about his health even before then. You see, when Buster fields his position as catcher, he wears the more modern style mask that looks like a hockey goalie's mask. And last year he was taking multiple hits from foul tips and what-not that looked quite worrisome. There was talk of him taking games off from catching to minimize the possibility of him getting concussions as it was.

The Giants' broadcast last year showed how the old-fashioned masks absorb shock and thereby energy better by coming off the head of the catcher entirely after getting struck by hard foul tips. So even though the hockey style masks test that they absorb shock just as well, I personally think it's better to have it flying off rather than staying put. I'm curious to see what style mask Buster wears this coming season. I may have to ask Amy G. about it...