Following the Big Aristotle
November 25, 2008 by Ryan
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
The Diesel…
The Big Aristotle…
The Big Daddy…
The Big Shaqtus…
The Big Baryshnikov…
Shaquille O’Neal!
I remember when he first came into the league he made a huge impact, most memorably because he would always break the back boards. I remember even more fondly when he came to the Lakers and we went on a tear and won three straight championships! Of course there was the Kobe feuds, which I think the media way over-hyped and unfortunately led to the breakup of one of the best dynasties in recent memory. He went to Miami and delivered on his promise to bring a championship. Then he came to Phoenix, stepping into a system that many doubted he could fit in, but got slim and fit and sure enough ran right along Steve Nash. This year he is one of Hollingers top surprises of the season.
He impacted the league in a big way and he’s just stepped into a new league where he could have a huge impact…Twitter. Twitter? I would imagine many of you have never heard of it. Maybe you’ve heard me go off about it but didn’t really get it. My quick explanation is it’s somewhere in between instant messaging, texting & blogging. I could/should/will write a whole post about Twitter and how cool it is, but this post is about @the_real_shaq! Unlike some of the accounts on Twitter (Britney Spears aka @therealbritney & Barack Obama aka @barackobama) who have staffs doing posts, @the_real_shaq IS the real Shaq! Here’s some fun things I’ve seen since I’ve been following his updates:
- Shaq called one of his early followers who doubted it was really him and then invited him to a game! Here’s a story Mashable did about it.
- Shaq asking where he should go to Subway or Schlotsskys. He chose Subway, so I went too! Could be a huge marketing campaign to have what Shaq orders up at Subway. I guess he’d have to eat there everyday which I don’t know if I could do.
- Shaq and @PhoenixSunsGirl took pics at their “Twitter Tutorial”. She introduced him to Twitter. Still trying to get them to get Steve Nash on.
- Watching my friend Nate (@mollermarketing) campaigning to get Shaq to follow him…only to have him do it! He even gave him a few shout outs which will be huge for Nate!
I think Shaq coming to Twitter could have huge implications in bringing it into the mainstream. Check it out!
Don’t forget to follow me! @ryansmiller
Let’s Do This Again Next Year
June 18, 2008 by Ryan
Congrats to Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett & Danny Ainge. I am glad to see them win. At least it’s not the Spurs or the Pistons.
There’s a good chance we can be doing this again next year. I don’t see the Celtics going anywhere. The Lakers will get Andrew Bynum back and probably pick up a few more defensive pieces. So, I hope this really is the start to another Lakers-Celtics Rivalry.
But the basketball season is over! I don’t want to hear anymore about it till next year. Go Angels!
The Best Thing About Kobe
May 24, 2008 by Ryan
He’s the best player in the world. He is the current MVP. He can “manage the game [and] can get off at any time…” Doesn’t matter who guards him (even the defensive specialist dirtiest player in the league, Bruce Bowen). Doesn’t matter how many people guard him. In my opinion, he’s just as good as Jordan and maybe even better! (Debate for another post)
But that’s not the best thing about Kobe.
To explain, let me refer to a baseball movie, Fever Pitch. In the movie, the Sox just lost the game that put them down 0-3 in the playoffs and Jimmy Fallon and his buddies are at a bar. They are mourning their teams situation, thoroughly depressed. They look over and see several of the Sox players “eating”. How can they be eating like it’s just another game?! Jimmy Fallon has a revelation that these players have “perspective”. It’s just a game…blah blah blah.
My point. As a fan, I don’t want perspective! I want my teams to win! Every game! Every championship! Every year! Which brings me to the best thing about Kobe. He wants to win as much as I do! He wants to win every game. And no other player can also deliver like he does! But when he loses, you know he’s just as disappointed as you are as a fan with “no perspective”. And that’s just it. You can put your loyalty, love, fanaticism on Kobe and never be let down. You may lose every now and then, but you know that Kobe gave everything and is just as pissed as you are.
On the court he’s the real life superhero you fantasize being. I wish I could fly. He can. I wish I could hit every impossible shot with a sick move and a hand right in my face. He does every game! You want to vicariously be the best in the world? Become a fan of Kobe Bryant!
What a Time to be from Boston!?
October 31, 2007 by Ryan
I was rooting for the Rocks, but that was just silly. So much for another 80+ year drought. The worst part of the Red Sox winning is all the new Red Sox fans! Don’t think that buying a worn-in hat is gonna fool anyone! Here’s an example of why I don’t want more of them:
At an Angels game. Playing the Red Sox. Somewhere in the 6th inning all the Red Sox fans start chanting, “Yankees Suck! Yankees Suck!”
WHAT?! What does this game having anything to do with the Yankees!? Get the freakin’ chip off your shoulder!
Maybe that will be one positive about the Sox winning again…the Sox can get over their inferiority complex to the Yanks.
But man! What a time to be a Bostonian!? The Sox are champs. The Pats are being talked about being the “best offensive team ever,” not to mention that defense! (Looking forward the Super Bowl XLI and 1/2 this Sunday) And then the Celts get Ray Allen AND Kevin Garnett! Too bad the Bruins aren’t going to do anything.
It takes me back to when the Lakers were in the middle of their three-peat, the Angels had just won the World Series, and the Ducks were streaking all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. Ahhh, good times!
