EL BLOG ILUSORIO DE RUDY: July 2010

29.7.10

Passing the Trade Winds

Marc Gasol: Oyes, Rudy, I have a question.

Myself: Why have I made request for a trade to New York, Boston, or Chicago?

Marc: What? No! I was going to tell a joke about why the beard of a Spaniard can only grow to the length of a centimeter. Is this trade you speak of truth?

Myself: Sí.

Marc: So while you relocate to a world-class city with excellent air travel to España, I will continue to labor in the perdition known as—

Myself: Memphis. But what of your joke, mi amigo?

Marc: There is no joke.

Foto from aquí.

7.7.10

¡España Está en el Campeonato de la Copa del Mundo!

¡Pum! Just this season, I formulated a prediction to my Blazer mates that Spain's fútball team would make a fine performance at the World Cup. And nobody was believing myself at that time!

But for the usual American basketball player, soccer occupies the same level of interest as Estonian literature. Ah well... even so, the Dutch soccer squad had best bring its unique courage to the championship match. ¡Enhorabuena a España!

"El Blog Ilusorio": In the Orbs of Others!

Rudy's Hypothetical Rules of Basketball

1. In ten years, nobody will remember the details of score, assists, or rebounds. They will only remember who won them a chalupa.

2. Any shot worth shooting is worth shooting twice.

3. When not shooting on offense, you should be communicating, passing, and running. Also, yell “Foul!” repeatedly. Why? How can officials summon help if you yell “Good D!” or “Our opponents are superior!”?

4. If legitimately called for a foul, say, “A good call!” (Do this no more than once a game.)

5. When in possession of the ball, have a plan. Further, have a back-up plan, because the first plan won't work (unless you are Brandon Roy).

6. Use cover or concealment as much as possible. (Both Oden and Pryzbilla provide these in abundance.)

7. On defense, ignore words and direct your eyesight to the ball. (Opposing Cleveland, LeBron James told me he would pull up for a jumper. I advanced upon him. Then James drove baseline with great speed. Both of my ankles gave way!)

8. The faster you begin an opponent’s blow-out, the more shots everyone will get.

9. Be polite and professional to everyone you play against. Then destroy them, for they wish to defeat you.

10. Practice shooting in a dimly-lit practice area with someone shouting unflattering threats at you. (I found this useful in Europe, where partial power outages were not uncommon.)

11. You may feel sad about snapping another team’s back with a clinch alley-oop or a clutching 3-pointer. But sadness is preferred to losing. And the winning will then bring happiness. (In the case of defeating the Lakers, the happiness will be most pronounced.)

12. Purple is not my color. (It may not be anyone’s color.)

EL BLOG ILUSORIO DE RUDY

29.7.10

Passing the Trade Winds

12.7.10

Are You Ready for This?

7.7.10

¡España Está en el Campeonato de la Copa del Mundo!