Remembering Sean Taylor, Five Years Later

I drew plaque remembering former Washington Redskins S Sean Taylor 1 week after being murdered in 2007.  I can't believe 5 years has passes since his untimely death.

Remembering Sean Taylor, Five Years Later

Update 

Amazing DT turning 30.

I was a young guy at age 17 watching NCAA Women's basketball as a Connecticut Huskies fan.  I watched games to see how Sue Bird, Swin Cash and Asjha Jones held the team together winning second championship in the history of the school.  The story of the championship win wasn't the only news for the Huskies at the time, as the school landed #1 recruit who was originally from Chino, California.   I heard she could be a great player...I refused to believe that prediction of Diana Taurasi from Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, ESPN and every other syndication who knows basketball.  I guess after that I became a tough grader expecting her to be so perfect as super woman...at times she was just like that. Diana Taurasi for how good she played in the Big East Tournament as a freshman, she didn't handle the pressure as well in the Final Four loss to eventual NCAA champions Notre Dame.  The following year Swin and Sue did wonders to teach Diana the ways of how Geno Auriemma coaches as harsh as nails screeching through a blackboard.  Diana's ball handling skills was second to none as she helped the Huskies win 2nd championship in a 3 year span in 2002.  I still wasn't sold on how good Diana was as a player until Swin, Sue and Asjha graduated from school.   Diana went from being a part of an undefeated 39-0 team in 2002 to being the queen of the Huskies as she led the Huskies to win 2 more NCAA titles.  I vividly said to myself, she's no good and if she wasn't playing for my Huskies no one would care about her.  I was at that point in time I disliked almost everything Diana stood for as a Huskies fan to the point I wanted to leave...but winning 3 consecutive title make shut the f up.   TNT analyst and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley thought Diana's career would be so-so compared to Duke Lady Blue Devils star at the time Alana Beard would have a better career...I thought so to.  Charles and I were dead wrong obviously. Diana has had a career in the WNBA I definitely have a hard time describing it winning rookie of the year award as the Phoenix Mercury (who drafted her as #1 pick) just misses postseason play in 2004.  In 2005 Diana won her first scoring title but the Mercury season wasn't all that great in the standings.  The year 2006 was the same result except for the scoring title which she didn't win in that season.  The year 2007 was a make or break year for the Mercury franchise, especially for Diana.

Miracle in L.A.

After years of mediocrity and playoff failures the Los Angeles Kings win the Stanley Cup.

Kings Unlikely Run to Immortality

Los Angeles Kings unlike Cinderella run this 20011-12 season has the team on the verge of winning first Stanley Cup in the long yet mystifying history of the franchise.  Kings had a tug of war in a 4 way battle for the Pacific Division and ended up in the 8^th seed in the Western Conference withstanding the last push by the Colorado Avalanche to end the season.  By falling to the 8^th seed in the final week of the season the Kings yet again were denied the franchise’s first division title.   Franchise was established in 1967 as the oldest hockey franchise west of the Mississippi river.

When the Kings were the upstart franchise in 1993 the Montreal Canadiens were the reviled villain of jealousy because no franchise in North America was as prestigious or successful as they were as the teams played for the Stanley Cup.  Canadiens winning the Stanley Cup in six games was another triumph for the franchise but the story of both franchises changed not long afterward.  The “Great One” Wayne Gretzky lead the Kings to almost immortality with Marty McSorley and Luc Robitaille before going on their own ways after 1995 and weren’t the same again.  Gretzky moved on to play with the St. Louis Blues in 1996 before playing out his final 3 years as a New York Ranger.   McSorley moved on to play with the Boston Bruins among other places.  McSorley’s career was forever stained after high sticking incident which knocked out thug to be on the ice Donald Brasher out cold.  Robitaille enjoyed Stanley Cup success very late in his career with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008.  The former coach of the Kings (which my mother refers to him as a pimp) Barry Melrose made himself cake and ran away with a very successful career as a hockey analyst for ESPN. 

Canadiens on the other hand still year for the 25^th championship in franchise history, especially so after the team traded legend Patrick Roy to the hated Quebec Nordiques in 1995.  Roy would lead the former Nordiques turned Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup Final victory only months after the franchise relocated to Denver, Colorado.  The New York Yankees since then surpassed the Canadiens in most championships in North American sports in almost unprecedented 114 win season in winning the World Series verses the San Diego Padres in 1998.

Kings tried to rebuild (with current NHL analyst) Jeremy Roenick as the star in 2001.  Kings shocked the Detroit Red Wings in the first round winning the series 4-1.  Kings went on to lose second round series to eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.  Kings were beyond over the cap and the Kings had to rebuild yet again as the franchises potential of becoming a power in the west faded like a bus losing its spark after the 2004 season was an utter failure.  The future looks glorious for the Kings remarkably for the very first time. 

Here are my recent photos 

Sorta coach 2130 in customized Miranda Cosgrove wrap.  I did this in February 19, 2012.

Rose near the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover on May 10, 2012.

Sorta coach 4017 at the Marburg Avenue cut-off on May 15, 2012.

New Sorta coach 1202 at the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover on May 16, 2012.

White Amaryllis I found near the Oakley railroad on May 17, 2012. 

Big mushroom I found in Oakley on May 17, 2012.

Sorta coach 4021 I've dreamed of getting a photo for 2 months.  Yes I had sexual thoughts about former Playmate of Playboy Chelsea Fujisawa while seeking out this coach.  Coach was at the Marburg Avenue cut-off on May 18, 2012.

Sorta coach 940 on June 21, 2011 before being wrapped.

Sorta coach 940 in blue Cricket wireless wrap on September 9, 2011 near the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover.

Sorta coach 940 in green Cricket advertising wrap on May 18, 2012.  Coach was at the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover.

Fountain at Madeira, Ohio on May 20, 2012

Sorta coach 2132 in the haze of May 21, 2012.  Coach was sitting at the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover.

Sorta coach 2109 on May 22 at the Marburg Avenue layover.

Sorta coach 1107 at the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover on May 23, 2012.

Sorta coach 4010 on May 23, 2012 at the Marburg Avenue cut-off layover.

Sorta coach 2130 lost in the clouds at the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover.  Photo was taken on May 23, 2012.

Sorta coach 942 on July 18, 2011 near the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover.

Sorta coach 942 today.  Photo was taken on May 24 2012,  Coach was wrapped in Metro's new look in December 2011.

Flower near Cinco Bank.  Photo was taken later on my walk home on May 24, 2012

Sorta coach 1208 is another baby bus ordered.  Photo was taken at the Fairview Loop which is only a minute walk from my house on May 25, 2012.

Flower I found after leaving Cincinnati Friends meeting (Quaker church) on May 27, 2012.

Sorta coach 1101 breaks down near Good Samaritan Hospital on May 29, 2012.

Sorta coach 1205 relaxing at the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover on May 31, 2012

Sorta coach 952 at the Marburg Avenue cut-off on June 1, 2012.  Coach was wrapped in Metro's new look in February 2010.

New Sorta coach 1212 at the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover as the sun sets on June 1, 2012.

1994 and MTC's birthday

1994 Sadness

Sad time for me last week for remembering childhood memories remembering athletes and musicians I grew up listening to.  12 time Pro Bowl football player formerly of the San Diego Chargers Junior Seau committed suicide last Wednesday by single gunshot wound.  He was just a year younger than my oldest brother, dead at age 43.   MCA, one of the main pieces of the Beastie Boys died after a 3 year battle with cancer.  The year 1994 was the first year I watched the Super Bowl as the Chargers were destroyed by the San Francisco 49ers.  It seemed a long time ago that Seau and the Chargers suffered broken hearts of losing the Super Bowl now Seau died of a broken man.  MCA and the Beastie Boys earlier in the year released “Ill Communication” album.  Root town, Sabotage, Heart Attack Man, Ricky’s Theme and Bodhisattva Vow are my favorite songs from the album.  Definitely sad to hear both of my guys died the way they did.

19

I saw the funniest and the newest iCarly episode over the weekend.  Spencer who is Carly’s older brother burned his snow-woman in the apartment which burned the fire fighters mad as this was the 19th time the fire fighters were called to knockout all of his fiery mishaps.  Trying to make up for his failures Spencer made nasty brownies that burned up in the oven to give to the firefighters...Spencer ended up burning the fire station down while trying to cool White Chili.

Freddie showed his computer skills noted on the show which earned him a job at the Pear Store (rip off of the Apple Store).  He had a back sass argument with iCarly web show crewmate and ex girlfriend Sam regarding having a beverage in the store and other baggage.  Sam’s wit earned her the job at the Pear Store too.  Not long after Sam was hired to work as an associate she was then became a supervisor.  Customer service skills Sam had relating to computers and style were surprisingly better than Freddie.  Freddie has the skills and the intellect but not the tact of communications kills which led him to be fired.  Sam who kind of help the manager to force her hand to fire Freddie was a bit upset about how he was fired so she ended up

Carly on the other hand was smitten with a nerd who was working at the Pear Store was like a puppy begging for a date.  She did get that date...but the nerd was a horny “fake nerd” disco ball of fire stud in disguise.   Carly was running like a cornered rat lost in the pocket in football game running down the stairs as Spencer intervened the chase (after being charred from burning the fire station down mind you).  Spencer grabbed him by the arm and threw the “fake nerd" out...Fake nerd asked for his phone back but Spencer smashed it with his big foot.  The rest of his clothes were left in the apartment...I have no idea what Carly and Spencer will do with his clothes.  I died laughing the entire time.

On that note…Miranda Cosgrove who plays Carly turned 19 years old today.

Here are my latest photos. 

Crushed flower I found near my house on April 30.  I had a friend named Heather Grief who has the birthday on this date moved away 19 years ago in 1993.

Sorta coach 2115 on April 30, 2012 at Marburg Avenue cut-off.

Sorta coach 2101.  Coach was numbered 2001 when coach was ordered 10 years ago.  Photo was taken on May 2, 2012.

Sorta coach hybrid 1106 at the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover on May 2, 2012

Sorta coach 4012 at Marburg Avenue cut-off.  Photo was taken on May 3, 2012.

Adapt graffiti art I found at the Marburg Avenue cut-off railing on May 3, 2012.

Peach Iris flower growing outside my neighbors yard on May 6, 2012.

Nasty mushrooms I found at Stock Yards bank location at Hyde Park Plaza on May 7, 2012.

New Sorta coach 1203 near the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover on May 8, 2012.

New Sorta coach 1206 at the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover on May 9, 2012.

Photo of Anderson Town Center (formerly Beechmont Mall) later on May 9, 2012.

Sorta coach 4006 as Route 24 Anderson-University of Cincinnati at Anderson Town Station hub layover not very far from Anderson Town Center on May 9, 2012.

New Sorta coach 1204 near the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover on May 10, 2012.

Return of Crazy Metro Man

I feel like a sandman trying to put people to sleep...why?  I haven’t posted her in a long while.  Since I’ve been gone mounds of events happened in the sports world, especially winding and turning watching the frantic finish the NBA had to end the lock out shortened season.  The Houston Rockets which were a playoff team lost out on the playoffs by losing 7 of last 8 games to end the season.  Rockets had a disastrous end as the Charlotte Bobcats had a horrible season to say the least.  Bobcats ended the season by losing 23 consecutive games and now own the worst winning percentage for a season in NBA history.  Oklahoma City Thunder which owned the #1 seed in the western conference lost the top seed to the San Antonio Spurs in the final 3 weeks to end the season.   Utah Jazz in spite youth and ugly road record the team nabbed the final playoff spot in the Western Conference vs the Phoenix Suns in second to final night to end the season.  The Eastern Conference didn’t change hand at all in spite the Orlando Magic losing center Dwight Howard due to surgery or herniated disk in lower back which sunk the team to #6 and sunk his hopes to play in upcoming Olympics in London. Also in the conference point guard Derrick Rose missed numerous games for the Chicago Bulls but still ended up with the best record in the NBA.  

Nets woeful history in New Jersey (except for 2 consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2001-02 to 2002-03) came to an end on Monday night.  Nets lost to playoff bound Philadelphia 76ers in final game in New Jersey after 35 years in the state.  Nets are moving to Brooklyn next season, I wish them luck since most of the luck since moving from New York and selling Julius Erving to the 76ers in 1976 during ABA/NBA merger has been remarkably bad. 

Los Angeles Lakers small forward Metta World Peace went bonkers in last Sunday’s game vs. the Thunder by slamming the ball for a dunk but then gave a violet swinging punch to the head of James Harden having no idea he was going to get hit behind his head.  Peace was suspended 7 games and looking ahead he’ll be back in the second round as the Thunder are likely in waiting for the Lakers.

The hockey world was plagued by violence as well  from Raffi Torres laying out Marain Hossa being suspended for laying out Chicago Blackhawks Marian Hossa to the fight filled series (but expected) hostilities between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins.  No violence in Vancouver for the Canucks after losing the Stanley Cup Final like last season when I was still a fan….this season the team was humiliated.  Los Angeles Kings played like an 8 seed who knew how to make their line changes and the perimeter was too hard for the Canucks to handle in a series that ended in 5 games that the fans who took part in the riots screaming foul.  Major setback for the Canucks as the future of the Sedin twins and Roberto Luongo looks cloudy at best. 

Stanley Cup champions the Boston Bruins lost in 7 game classic to a Washington Capitals team that was struggling to find themselves all season long and missed winning the Southeast Division by 2 points.   Speaking of the Southeast division the Florida Panthers remarkable run to first playoff appearance in 12 years came to an end in 7 game series to the experienced New Jersey Devils with the almost unstoppable Martin Brodeur guarding the goal.

Indianapolis Colts drafting Andrew Luck as the #1 pick and the Washington Redskins drafting Robert Griffin III as the #2 pick, ut the surprise came after the draft.  In the first 3 rounds there were 15 trades and a questionable pick by the Redskins.  Redskins drafted Kirk Cousins in 4 round in the NFL draft to compete with Griffin for the starting job.  Redskins haven’t won the Super Bowl since winning Super Bowl 26 and have been a pit stop for losers in the fans conscience in the NFL for a fan stand point since then too. 

From signing old Hall of Fame players Deion Sanders and Bruce Smith didn’t work out very well for Redskins.  The late Sean Taylor was the best pick the Redskins made in the draft in years in spite his off the field problems up to sadly being murdered during the 2007 NFL season.  Team has had a horrible time to replace Taylor is a given, but the Redskins forgot how Joe Thiesmann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien became Super Bowl winning champions…by drafting well and building the franchise on the offensive line and running the football.  Fred Davis will be a valuable player on the outside for Griffin to pass to with Chris Cooley and Santana Moss as well if coach Mike Shanahan refines his mechanics and anticipation when pocket will eat him up without changing how dynamic Griffin can be in due time as a quarterback.   

One of my favorite NFL players’ of all-time and long time Philadelphia Eagles’ I grew up watching safety Brian Dawkins retired after a 16 year career.   Another sign of me getting old with the 9 time Pro Bowl player selection and selected to the All Decade team Dawkins retiring…yes.  The Eagles I grew up watching Dawkins and Ray Rhodes when each were in the together in 1996.  I have been an Eagles fan since 1995 I know is long gone, but I hope draft picks like Fletcher Cox and trading for DeMeco Ryans a month ago from the Houston Texans can bring back dominance in battle of the trenches defensively to become Super Bowl champions for the first time and winning first league championship since 1960…hope so.  Regardless of winning a Super Bowl soon, I'll miss watching the leadership Dawkins had in his time as an Eagle and the last 3 seasons playing for the Denver Broncos respectively.

iCarly has a new special tonight iHalf-o-Ween.  is it me or is this to early to run into a black cat.  I saw one walking trough 3 days after Friday the 13th earlier this month.  Since NBA playoff basketball is on the brain so I set up the DVR to see what Miranda Cosgrove and the iCarly cast craziness later probably tomorrow after being exhausted by watching my Dallas Mavericks play vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder.   Sandman...please help me try to sleep...I've been for the last 2 weeks. 

Here are the photos I've taken since I've been gone. 

Me walking near the Crossroads Community church stalking geese in love on March 27, 2012

Sorta coach 954 not long after I stalked mating geese in love at Marburg Avenue cut-off layover on March 27, 2012

Sorta coach 6034 at Marburg Avenue cut-off layover on March 29, 2012.

Sorta coach 2123 in sunset of April 4, 2012

Sorta coach 9025 on April 5, 2012 at Marburg Avenue cut-off layover.

Sorta coach 971 later on April 5, 2012 at Marburg Avenue cut-off layover,

Sorta coach 9009 on April 5, 2012 at the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover.

Sunrise at Fairview Loop near my house on April 6, 2012.

Sorta coach 956 at Marburg Avenue layover on April 5, 2012.

Sorta coach 928 as Gold Star Chili advertising wrap in October 2011 at Fairview Loop layover.

Sorta coach 928 near Center of Cincinnati mall returning back to normal on April 9, 2012

Sorta coach 8013 at Weat Towne Centre layover on April 12, 2012

Sorta coach 6035 as Route 21 Harrison Avenue at the West Towne Centre laover on April 12, 2012

On Friday the 13th Sorta coach 1201 sits at the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover.

Beautiful flower in the rain at the Center of Cincinnati Mall PetSmart location on April 16, 2012

Sorta coach 908 wet at the Marburg Avenue layover in the rain on April 16, 2012.

Sorta coach 2117 later on April 16, 2012 as rain clears up at Marburg Avenue layover.

Sorta coach 950 shut off at Marburg Avenue layover on April 17, 2012.

Sorta coach 6036 in the early morning at Marburg Avenue cut-off on April 20, 2012

Sorta coach 6001 at the Center of Cincinnati Mall layover as sun sets on April 20, 2012.

Enoch T. Carson Lodge F and AM on April 21, 2012.

New Clifton branch location of Hamilton County library will be moving here in May 2012.  Photo was taken on April 21, 2012.

Sorta coach 8015 on April 23, 2012 at Marburg Avenue cut-off layover.

Sorta coach 880 at Marburg Avenue cut-off on April 25, 2012.

Beautiful violet sunflowers in Oakley on April 26, 2012.

Sorta coach 2122 at Marburg Avenue layover later on April 26, 2012.

Sorta coach 2122 Ohio State Highway Patrol ad.

Sorta coach 966 relaxing in cold sun at Marburg Avenue cut-off layover yesterday on April 27, 2012.