Now go out and get her - random thoughts

Only a scant two weeks until my under graduate studies are finally over (and it only took five years!). I had a feeling this month of May will just fly by, and indeed even though it has only been the fifth day, it feels like things are quickly coming to an end. But no time to reflect on anything because I still have at least three major projects that I still need to get started (?) on! Haha it is so hard not to let apathy set in and just be like fuck it, I am graduating for sure now anyways, so why bother. But of course I am not that kind of person, and to be honest if you are that kind of person, you don't deserve your degree.

Anyways, at least I got my fun out of the way this past weekend (funny right, fun before work - the American mentality?) when I went down to LA for the Korean Music Festival. Now that I think about it, it is a shame how there is no Chinese equivalent of it. Nonetheless, I had a great time enjoying the weather (though absolutely dry) and some good music (and a chance to fanboy out loud for a bit haha). Speaking of fans, do people not have manners? I understand that may be your favorite singer singing the Korean national anthem, but have some respect and not SCREAM and YELL the whole time. 

I don't think I can live in Southern California in any permanent fashion at all (and not only because of my undying love for San Francisco). The air is just too damn dry, and it wrecks havoc with my skin. I have grew up amongst humidity all by live - South East Asia, and San Francisco (three sides water). Hence I guess I have evolutionarily adapted to having water in the air? You know you've got a problem when you have used twice as much lotion as normal and your skin is still not hydrated. I mean sure it may be nice to not be freezing all the time, but not at the expense of dehydrating your skin (and body too, drink water by the megatons). Anyways, the first breath of air I took back in the Bay Area was refreshing to say the least. 

And of course I can't live in LA because I would get beat up by a Dodger fan.

I came back to San Francisco on Sunday evening to the great news of the death of Osama Bin Laden. Personally I don't get why is his death worth so much celebration. Sure the families of the victims of 9/11 gets a measure of closure, but heck his death will not bring your love ones back, so anybody that actually derives satisfaction over Bin Laden's death is just being selfish. Trotting over the ground zero and raising a ruckus and being all patriotic is kind of excessive - it is not like we WON the war. This is not World War II, and Bin Laden is not Hitler (symbolically speaking, not in terms of being a douche). Hitler's death meant the end of the war in Europe (too bad he shot himself, no glory kill for US). Bin Laden's death as of right now means NOTHING. America is still in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Al Queda still exist (do you feel anymore reassured about our national security?)

I cannot possibly be the only person seeing the death of Bin Laden as the start of the domino falling instead of closure. I am glad that the implications of Pakistan is not escaping the mainstream media. It is more clear than ever that Pakistan did hide Bin Laden within their country, and certainly they cannot be happy about the US coming in unannounced and having a fire fight in on their soil (next Call of Duty game?). Think about this, if another country have helicoptered in a squad of elite soldiers into one of our cities (without telling us) and open fire on a suspect on their most wanted list, I don't think we would be all too happy either (Roman Polanski should be shaking in his mansion in France). How convenient the mainstream press ignored that the US basically disregarded the national sovereignty of Pakistan and just went in there (like a boss!).

It is definitely not the end of it. US - Pakistan relations, and the entire Middle East region will come to a head really soon, especially the role the West is playing (revolution!).

I have to say, having a smartphone with a data plan really boost my productivity. Not to say that I do anything important with my phone (maybe...). It just that having the phone allows me to do all the frivolous social networking and texting during times that I would otherwise have not the ability to. So instead of wasting time, I get to do my Facebook, twitter, and mail checking done and over with, giving me more productivity for when I do get situated at a place of work. Imagine all the time wasted while walking from the car - now I can check all my stuff during the walk so that once I reach home I can start doing productive stuff. So basically it is spreading the non-productivity to other times where before it would not have been possible. They say time is money, and smart phone data plan have allowed me to use it more wisely (because really, who is going to stop social networking and checking news online?)

Oh yeah, loving the weather this week. It really feels like summer is here (even though I no longer have a summer break of any kind). And of course it is the San Francisco kind of hot so it is just perfect. And of course when the girls dress in their summer clothing, it is just the best. Hot weather also makes people go out and exercise. You know what makes a hot girl even hotter? Regular exercise. It just adds mega points to the attractiveness factor. 

Mineral excavators - the 2010 San Francisco 49ers

As I have mentioned in my previous piece, the San Francisco 49ers have once again finish the football season with a sub par record, this time amidst high expectations. Pretty much they have been stinking up the joint for the pass half decade. It went all downhill ever since the Niners did not resign Jeff Garcia and roll out Tim Rattay as the starting quarterback (good times, good times).

Lack of consistency doomed the team. In a league where it is what have you done for me lately, it is clear that having something consistent year after year to grow is paramount to winning (especially the offense). There are many examples out there, but the two glaring ones are obviously the case of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, who respectively have been in the same system for close to a decade. That consistency, or the lack there of, doomed our former number one pick Alex Smith. Niners fans might get incense every time they see Aaron Rodgers doing well, but Rodgers had the benefit of consistency: head coach, and Niners’ former OFFENSIVE coordinator Mike McCarthy.

Alex Smith is a good quarterback. There are flashes that fans can see his good abilities. I believe that if he was afforded the chance to be in the same system for at least three years, he would be at least an above average quarterback. I remember that one good season where he showed signs of improvement under offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Unfortunately as fans know Turner was plucked next season by San Diego to be their head coach.

The part of the team that remained consistent through the last couple of years and was above average league wise was the Niners’ defense. Clearly, consistency with a system is paramount for success. But on this day when Baseball Hall Of Fame announced its Class of 2011 inductees, I channel my inner Mark McGuire to say that the Niners should not dwell on that past, and instead look ahead to the future.

So they obviously need a head coach, and while Jim Harbaugh from Stanford might be the best thing since sliced bread, ultimately he is unproven in the big leagues. Sure he comes from a family of NFL minds, and he even played in the league himself. However when it comes down to it he has ZERO coaching experience (not just head coaching, coaching of any kind) in the NFL. I believe that is not what the Niners need. They need a proven head coach, with championship winning experience. The likes of Bill Cowher, John Gruden, etc. The current team is VERY talented (well, maybe not the QB position), and a guy coming in with experience will be able to take them to the next level. Harbough coming in will not only have to try to do that but have to also learn on the spot! He will find that dealing with paid players is suddently different than college kids who’s only compensation is the glory of victory and a full scholarship.

it goes without saying, the team will need to draft a quarterback come April. My hunch is Alex Smith will not return. If I were him I would be fed up with all the instability and leave town for a fresh start. 

There is also this issue with a new stadium. Having finally experienced a football game at Candlestick this season, I was like hell yeah the team needs a new stadium. Candlestick is a state of the art facility…when it was built. It just cannot handle the people load and revenue generation requirement (needs WAY more seats). I can see why the Niners brass wants a new stadium, and plans are ongoing for one right next to Great America in Santa Clara.

Now there are San Francisco purist that say the team should play right here in San Francisco, otherwise it will not be the same. I would have to disagree on that one. Building a new stadium at candlestick is just not a viable option. Not to say it will not fit a stadium, but the logistics of traffic handling the way I see it is just much better down there in Santa Clara. The commute down south cannot be too bad with two major freeways and Caltrain. Not to mention, there is a ginormous parking lot. It is just less crowded in Santa Clara. Look at it this way, the two New York teams play in NEW JERSEY, so it is not too far fetched to have to travel to Santa Clara for Niner games.

My hope for the team going forward is have a modicum for stability in terms of the staff and personnel, and get a capable quarterback to lead the team. The NFC West is a week division thus improvements can be immediate.

Magic inside - the 2010 San Francisco Giants

It would be wrong to look back at 2010 and not reflect upon the San Francisco Giants winning the World Series by beating the Texas Rangers. It was the first time witnessing my hometown team winning a championship (I was not on this continent when the Niners had their run). And let me tell you, I may root for teams from other parts of America that have won championships, but nothing beats watching your beloved hometown team win it all.

Bay Area sports franchises have been down during the past decade. The Raiders and Niners have stunk after the first couple of years at the beginning of the decade. The only glorious moments in Bay Area football the past decade was the OAK vs. TAMPA super bowl, and the improbable win over the New York Giants by the Niners at the wild card round with a pass interference non call to end the game. In terms of basketball the Warriors had that wonderful run in 2007, beating the number one seed Dallas as an eighth seed. Other than that, basketball has been down in the region for DECADES. And in the hockey the Sharks are perennial playoff teams but can never win it all.

As for my favorite sport of baseball, the A’s had consistent playoff runs early in the decades (and then subsequently runs into teams from the AL East) but then fell off the latter half. The Giants also saw much success earlier in the decade, culminating in the all too painful game 6 World Series lost in 2002 (a memory I can now finally let fade). Then, ever since the Jose Cruz error against the Marlins in the NLDS in 2003, the Giants have not been relevant. The Barry Bonds home run chase charade took its toll on the Franchise, and after he was gone the Giants was left with a bunch of old guys and young, unproven talent. How many of you know the pains of 2007? Are all you can remember is that we hosted the fucking All Star game? So to say I have waited a long time (relatively speaking) for my hometown teams to win a championship is valid.

Luck would have it the Giants organization saw fit to develop pitching from within the farm system. For a good amount of years all they drafted with their top picks were highly touted arms. They believe that with excellent pitching, they have a chance to win every time out (other team cannot win if they cannot score, right?). The likes of Lowry, Cain, Lincecum, Sanchez, Wilson, Bumgardner were all grown out of the farm system. Who would thought at the time when Zito was signed (I can still remember how excited I was then) that he would be relegated to the 5th starter role!

So then the Giants have had good pitching for a couple of years now (Two Cy Youngs for Timmy), but then the problem with the teams lie in the hitting. Sure the other team cannot win if they do not score, but the same goes for the Giants. Unlike the pitching, for a long time no big time hitting star came out of the Giant’s farm system. I mean there were great hopes like Niekro, Ortmeier, etc., but it just never panned out. For sure not drafting position players high up in the draft had a lot to do with it. I was of course pleasantly surprised when Pablo Sandoval came on the scene and hit like he did. I could not believe that such a hitter could have come out of our farm system. But I knew then that the Giants finally realize that they are going to develop some bats too, because face it no big name free agent slugger will want to come to AT&T because their numbers will go down tremendously (just ask Aaron Rowand). Its not a coincidence that there are no 30+ HR hitting Giants position player since Bonds retired. 

And then some guy name Buster was expected to do great things the minute he was drafted back in 2008. The rest is history.

To be honest back in April of 2010 when the baseball season started, there was no way I thought the Giants would win the World Series. No intelligent baseball man can give that assessment. The team was loaded with pitching sure, but the hitting was still suspect, with piece together free agents and overpaid “washed out” old guys. Guy name Buster was still in the minors, and the Panda was most likely going to go through a slump after the league has a seasons worth of tape on him (and he could not stop eating). Realistically I thought the Giants could win the albeit weak division with their superior pitching. But that was as far as I see them going.

In my opinion two moves made the Giants’ regular season: signing Pat Burrell rejuvenated not only him but it made Huff even better now that he is playing with his best friend. The second is of course the trade of Molina and calling up Buster. Die-hard Giants fan will never forget the contribution of Molina in the “dog” years. He was a big part of the Giants offense and Timmy’s two Cy Youngs.

And the Giants won the division by two games, on the final 162nd game. At that juncture I was just happy that we got into the playoffs. Everybody knows to win the World Series, even if you are the best team in the league a step above everyone else, EVERYTHING must click at the same time, and add in a little bit of luck (that 3 error ATL game). Then for the entire month of October all I have witness from the Giants was everything clicking together (accept for game 2 of the ATL series where it seems the team forgot spring training 101). I mean CODY ROSS? He was a nobody getting tossed around the league (I remember Giants playing against him when he was with the Dodgers), but he came through big. Renteria was a bum the entire season but even he found his usual playoff magic. Calls (other than the strike zone) and plays were all going the Giants way. Not to discredit the team’s effort, but man magic was definitely inside.

That entire playoff stretch, the game 5 (thank you internet for my digital copy), and the parade after is something I will never forget.

Special shout out to my lovely friend Amber Leong for watching all the magic along side with me. A special non-shout out to my best friend Chris Chu for being MIA (I kid I kid). 

There comes a sore subject with long time die hard Giants fans who have stuck with the team through it all with regards to what is dubbed “the fair weather fans”. They are fans would have only started to root for the team once it was known they made the playoffs and are making a run at the championship. I have absolutely no problem with the disdained that is thrown at the band wagoners. Die-hard fans deserve that much to voice their opinions (you know, where the fuck were you guys back in 2007?).

Speaking of 2007, what happened to the Giants in 2010 with regards to fans was exactly what happened to the Warriors when they made their playoff run! To be honest back then I was also saying where the fuck were you guys the past 7 years when the team absolutely sucked?

My personal opinion on that subject is that, it is all good. I have no hate for the fair weather fans. Because at the end of the day, it is all LOVE and SUPPORT for the team. The teams sees all the support from the entire region behind them and they played that much harder. And hopefully free agents will see the atmosphere here in San Francisco and would want to come to play here (being World Series champs does not hurt. Thank you Miguel Tejada for seeing the light).

I will say this though, the satisfaction the fair weather fans have from the Giants’ triumph will never match up to the same feeling die hard fans have. Those that have stuck with the team through the bad times, hung on to every bit of news during the off season, cannot wait for every new spring training, etc., will have the greatest joy from seeing the Giants finally bringing it home. That, the die hard fans can keep for themselves, and something band wagoners cannot touch.

To conclude, 2010 was definitely special seeing the Giants become World Series champions. There times when I still cannot believe it actually happened. February is only next month, and the journey to defend the title begins.