NBA season starting on Christmas Day!

It appears the 2011-2012 NBA season may start on Christmas Day. The lockout has been lifted. Players need to vote on the new agreement this week. But, there are five games slated for Christmas day.

The Lakers will play their first game with new coach, Mike Brown, on Christmas day. Hope the Lakers can go farther than their 2nd round playoff exit of last year. It will be against the Chicago Bulls at the staples center. Last year's NBA MVP, Derrick Rose, will be tough to guard. Hope the lakers have an answer.

Free agents are going to sign with new and old teams in the next two weeks. There may or may not be a preseason in this 66 game nba season. Let's hope the nba season is a good one, even though it will be shortened by 16 games. I am sure Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are ready!

Seeing Harvey Mackay!

Today, I saw Harvey Mackay at a Barnes & Noble in Scottsdale, Az. I read his book, We Got Fired!: . . . And It's the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us.
I read this book in 1999, and it is a great book. Harvey Mackay is a motivational speaker, and his books hit #1 in four categories: Job Hunting, Counseling, Vocational Guidance and Education.

I am a fan of Harvey's, and it is exciting to see someone you admire. Harvey was signing his new book, The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World. He gave many autographs, and he spoke for about 15 minutes. He gave advice to everyone on all sorts of topics.

It was truly eventful, and worth anyone's time. If you get a chance, read one of Harvey's books.

http://www.harveymackay.com/

NBA Lockout blues!

Well, the NBA has been locked out for more than 90 days! It's a bummer, as RSG was hoping to see the NBA season start on time. It appears that the season will not start on time, and it may not happen at all. :(

Some nba players (Tony Parker, Andrei Kirilenko, etc.) have decided to play overseas. Lately, Kobe Bryant seemed to be the next big star to play overseas. But, his deal with Virtus Bologna appears to hit a snag. The players are negotiating with the owners on basketball related income, but negotiations are not going well. If there is no agreement by Monday, October 10, the nba season is in major jeopardy.

Lastly, the 1998-99 season was shortened to 50 games. Let's hope this NBA season is not shortened. With preseason games cancelled, the nba season is on hold. The owners and players need to come to an agreement. Let's hope Derek Fisher and the rest of the players can work out a deal with the NBA owners soon.

Remembering 9-11-2001!

Today is Labor Day (September 5, 2011). In six days, it will be the ten year anniversary of 9/11/01. Ten years ago, RSG lived in Northern Virginia. Living in falls church, the pentagon was only 4 miles away from me. It is a place, which I have not visited, since it was attacked on 9-11-2001. This year, the 9/11 memorial will open on September 12, 2011 in lower Manhattan. This memorial is located at the World Trade Center, the same location as the twin towers were once located.

The next time RSG is in NYC, the 9/11 memorial is a place for me to see. As for the pentagon, there is a memorial here also. It was opened on September 11, 2008. This is another place for RSG to see. 9-11-2001 will always be a day that RSG remembers. Long live the people who lost their lives on this unforgettable day! Finally, the picture above is from the 9/11 memorial in lower Manhattan.

Cool Summer Movies!

Last week, I saw "Crazy Stupid Love" and it was funny. Ryan Gosling and Steve Carrell were a great duo for picking up women in bars. Emma Stone does a great job in the movie also. She is from Scottsdale, AZ and she seems to be a young, budding actress.

Another good movie is "horrible bosses". It was funny, and also kind of disgusting. Charlie Day, Jason Bateman, and Jason Sudekis are three guys with lousy bosses. The movie has Jamie Foxx as the murder consultant. He helps the three guys in devising plans of destroying the bosses.

This summer had other good movies like "Harry Potter and the deathly hallows part 2" and "x-men: first class." I have yet to see the final Harry Potter movie. "Transformers 3" and "Captain America" are two action packed movies, have fared well at the box office as well.

Hope the Fall 2011 has good movies like the ones mentioned above.

New Champions at Wimbledon 2011!

Wimbledon 2011 is over, and there are two new champions. Petra Kvitova won the women's title by defeating Maria Sharapova. Novak Djokovic won the men's title by defeating Rafael Nadal. Both victories were upsets, and both champions are first time winners at Wimbledon. Sharapova was impressive in her six previous matches, but she was not able to prevail in the final. Kvitova won in two sets.

In the men's final, Novak won in four sets. He has only lost 1 match (to Roger Federer) in 2011. He is the new No. 1 player on the men's tour. Nadal is a three time finalist and a 2 time champion at wimbledon.

All in all, the championships were another great tournament. RSG wishes sharapova won, but she had an impressive tournament. She will be back for another run next year. It was her first grand slam final, since her 2008 win at the Australian Open.

As for Novak, he showed the world that he is the man to beat. If he wins the US Open, then he will have won three grand slam titles this year. On to NY, Novak!

Mavericks win NBA Title over Heat!

The Dallas Mavericks won game 6 of the nba finals tonight. The team is the new nba champion for the 2010-11 nba season. They beat the Heat in the series 4 to 2. Miami was up 2 to 1 in the series, but lost the last three games of the series. LeBron James and his teammates faded in the 4th quarter of the final three games. Personally, I think Lebron James was tired from playing so many minutes in the first three playoffs series. It is a great moment though for Dirk, Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, and Mark Cuban. Jason Terry had the larry o'brien nba championship trophy tattoed in his arm last year. Eight months later, he is part of an nba championship team. Jet played great in the final game with 27 points. The MVP of the Finals was Dirk Nowitzki.

Now, the nba season is over. Let's hope there is a 2011-12 season which starts on time. Many players, coaches, and other nba personnel fear a lockout will happen. I hope it's not like the current NFL lockout. Let's hope the players and the league come to an agreement to start the season on time.

Finals Rematch! Heat vs. Mavericks in NBA Finals

Back in 2006, the Miami Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks 4-2. Now, can the Mavs get their revenge? The Miami Heat have LeBron, Chris B., and Dwyane Wade. The Mavs have Dirk, Jason K., Shawn Marion, and Jason Terry. RSG wants to see a good series out of these 2 teams. The Finals will start in Miami, as the Heat had the better home season record. Both teams have the same record in the playoffs at 12 wins, 3 losses. The Heat beat the bulls, 4 to 1. The Mavs beat the Thunder, 4 to 1.

In closing, which team is better? It is pretty hard to say. As for a prediction, RSG does not make them. Hope the Mavs and Heat is a great Finals like 2010's Celts vs. Lakers. :)

End of Lakers season! Dallas Mavs sweep Lakers in 2nd round :(

The Dallas Mavericks have swept the LA Lakers in the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs. It is a sad ending to the Lakers 2010-2011 season. This was Phil Jackson's final nba game as a coach. The Lakers had a tumultuous year, as they lost 11 of their final 17 games (including the end of regular season, and the nba playoffs).

Many NBA basketball analysts are wondering "what happened to the Lakers in the playoffs?"
In RSG's mind, the Lakers did not play like a team in their final 17 games. Now, it looks like Dallas is the final top seed in the West. The grizzlies are up 2 to 1 in their series against OKC.

On the eastside, miami is up 2 to 1 in their series with boston. We'll see if "RUN MIA (Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade)" can go the NBA finals. The best team in the NBA, the chicago bulls, are up 2 to 1 in their series. Hope the Bulls can go to the NBA finals, instead of the Heat of Boston. That's all for this mid-nba playoffs report. Let's hope the nba playoffs continue to be exciting. :)

In Five Years, China can stake claim to the "#1 World Economy."

In 2016, China could very well be the #1 World Economy eclipsing the U.S. According to a new report from the IMF (International Monetary Fund), China will be the #1 economy in the world in five years. The IMF has released their official forecasts which show China as #1, and the US as #2 in 2016. But, one cannot be 100% sure when they are the prognosticator. Predictions often do not become true, and people tend to stick to the results when they happen. In a recent CBS Marketwatch internet article , the Chinese could also lose their control of the top ranking if their economy slows down.

In contrast, is America worried about this statistic? Most U.S. economists will remember that the U.S. overtook Great Britain in the 1890s to become the world's largest economy. Just last year, China was crowned as the world's 2nd largest company, ahead of Japan. Economists are worried, but the domestic population of America probably doesn't care two cents about it. This is RSG's true opinion. Most Americans are cosmopolitan, but the country needs to be financially cautious of their domestic problems (current budget crisis, housing recession, high unemployment, etc.) too.

Lastly, let's conclude with the Chinese currency. The Chinese Yuan will not be the #1 currency in five years, even though the economy may be the strongest. At this time, the US dollar & other currencies (British Pound, The Euro, etc.) are stronger. 1 U.S. dollar = 6.53 Chinese yuan, 1 dollar = .69 euros, and 1 dollar = .61 British pounds. In closing, the U.S. is a stronger currency than the Yuan. The British pound & the Euro are stronger currencies than the U.S. dollar. For more information on currencies, go to currency exchange's website . In closing, the currency is important but not to the Chinese population.

Current Thoughts of NBA Playoffs 2011

The 2011 NBA Playoffs (Season 2 for the Association) started with only one upset, Atlanta beating Orlando, yesterday. On the other hand, the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs (the best team record wise in the west) lost today. Both losses were upsets, and hopefully both teams can recover in their respective games 2s'. The Lakers lost by nine to the New Orleans Hornets in a game, in which, they trailed throughout. Chris Paul almost had a triple double with 33 points, 14 assists, and 7 rebounds to lead the Hornets to their first win over the Lakeshow this year. The Lakers lost their sixth out of last eight games. Lakerland needs to rally in game 2, or it could be "the beginning of the end of their tumultuous season."

As for San Antonio, Memphis beat them convincingly. San Antonio did not have Manu Ginobli for game 1, as he was injured. As for my pick to come out of the west, RSG is thinking that San Antonio could represent the Western Conference. Out East, The Bulls look like the team to beat thanks to MVP favorite, Derrick Rose. We'll see if RSG
is right with his predictions. It would be a first for me.

Nadal, Djokovic, Federer (Seeing the top 3 men's tennis players at BNP Paribas Open)

Nine days ago, RSG saw Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer in Indian Wells, California. It was spectacular to see these three players in the men's semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open. The semifinal matches were Rafael Nadal vs. Juan Martin Del Potro, and Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer. The first match between Del Potro and Nadal was a good match, as Nadal won in two sets convincingly. The second match was a thrilling three setter, with Novak winning the final four games to win the match. Novak won 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 over Federer, and it was the third win in a row for the Serbian over Federer. For the year, Novak is undefeated. In the men's final on the following day, Novak beat Rafa in three sets to win the tournament.

Also, there were two other matches on March 19. The women's doubles final and the men's doubles final followed the men's semifinal matches. In the women's doubles final, Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina won their match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Meghan Shaunessy. In the men's doubles final, it was Dolgopolov and Malisse stunning Roger Federer and Stanislaw Wawrinka. All in all, it was not a good day for the "Federer Express." Federer lost his singles and doubles matches, but it was great to see him play. It was good to see Del Potro and Sania Mirza play as well.

In the end, it was fun to see the top three men's players in this tournament in the California desert. It is a tournament worth seeing, if you have not been there before. As usual, the panoramic picture above is from the Djokovic-Federer match.

Living the NY and CT life!

RSG is back from his five day getaway. It was a fun time in NYC and Connecticut. Visiting Columbia University on Thursday, seeing beautiful art in the Guggenheim Museum, checking out Yale University, and attending a friend's wedding were the highlights of an exciting trip. Connecticut is nicknamed "the Constitution State," and it was my first time in this pretty state. The New England architecture in the state is majestic, and Rahulio Ganpuleone saw snow on the ground there also. Taking the subway through Brooklyn and Manhattan was a part of my travels during the 4 days in the different boroughs of NYC. Finally, Rahul had the privilege of attending an ostentatious wedding at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Battery Park in Manhattan. The food was exquisite, and the alcoholic drinks were flowing. From the fourteenth floor of this luxurious hotel, one could see the Statue of Liberty & other landmarks (The Hudson River, and the Brooklyn Bridge).

In closing, this trip was memorable and it was great to see old friends. In my next trip to the Big Apple, it would be cool to see the United Nations building and the Museum of Modern Art. Maybe, checking out a Broadway show could be in the cards instead. Nonetheless, NYC is a great place to visit as there are so many sites to see.

83rd Academy Awards Recap - from RSG!

What a night in Hollywood, as the Academy Awards ended a few hours ago. "Inception" and "The King's Speech" both took home four awards each. These two movies were the big winners of the night. "The Social Network" took home three awards, including a special award for Aaron Sorkin & another one for Trent Reznor. Melissa Leo and Christian Bale won the best supporting actress/actor awards. Both awards were the only ones which "The Fighter" won. Anne Hathaway and James Franco did a great job as the hosts of the awards show. They were funny, and their opening parody of the top ten best picture movies was hilarious. It included Morgan Freeman, and Alec Baldwin as well. Kirk Douglas presented the award for The Best Supporting Actress. His time on the stage was interesting. He was funny, and it was a struggle for him (considering his old age of 94). Nonetheless, Douglas was good in presenting the award to Melissa Leo.

Lastly, Natalie Portman and Colin Firth took home the Best Actress/Actor awards tonight. Natalie gave a great speech, and Colin showed off his good speaking skills also. All in all, it was another fun night in Hollywood. RSG wishes he was at the Hollywood After parties (like Vanity Fair's party, and other star studded events). Someday, it may happen. :)

Four countries in the midst of revolution

Since the middle of January, there are four countries in the midst of protests, violence, and other problems that have led to new regimes of power. The four countries in this case are Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and Algeria. Tunisia is dealing with the Jasmine revolution (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/tunisia/index.html) as their authoritarian president, Mr. Ben Ali, was ousted. Hosni Mubarak resigned in Egypt after more than three decades in power, after the public protested vehemently for a change in the country. Young protesters have been protesting in Sana, the capital of Yemen. Finally, the US has called for Algerian security to curb the protests in this country.

Furthermore, these revolutions may be the right answer for these countries. But, what does it mean to the USA and the rest of the world? For starters, Africa and the Middle East are gaining more recognition and people are watching the news constantly. Some of these countries have a major resource, oil, which is quite valuable to the rest of the world. Lastly, there could be a new country in this world on July 9, 2011. South Sudan applied for an independence referendum, and it could separate from Sudan, to be its own nation. If this country does become independent, it could further change the geography of Africa and enhance its vast resources.

Anyone Hosting Parties?

Last weekend, there was a fun housewarming party at the residence of Hollywood G. It was a byob (bring your own beverage)& byof (bring your own food) party. About four or five handfuls of people made their cameo appearance! These people added a good level of excitement, and it was good to see people having a ball. RSG showed people his photo albums, so they could gain a new perspective on him. It was part of his game, "turn back the clock" (also known as down memory lane). People were surprised to see pictures from the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and this decade. It was a pleasant surprise. R. enjoyed playing host, and this could be the beginning of more parties which I host. Wait, hold up (hold the phone) RSG is hosting parties? Normally, I go to parties or try to be "the life of the party."

Back in 1999, RSG found a business card with the name of "Legend Givens" and the job title was partyman. I kept the card for a year, then it became discarded at a nightclub. It was a hilarious business card. It was one that will stick in my mind forever. From time to time, I think it's good to be invited to parties and to be the host of the party. Let your friends and family be the life of the party. All RSG can do is observe the people, and have an exciting time. From observation, it is the way how RSG can choose to live "the good life."

Reading Michael Lewis books

Over the past twelve years, RSG has read books by Michael Lewis. Michael Lewis is a nonfiction writer, who is known for the following books: Moneyball, The Blind Side, Liar's Poker, The Money Culture, Next, The New New Thing, etc. I have read most of the books listed above, and some of his other books also. Michael Lewis is one of the renowned authors of our time, according to Malcolm Gladwell (author of Blink and other riveting stories). Two days ago, I finished reading "The Big Short." The Big Short is another classic page turner, which describes the following terms: CDO (collateralized debt obligation), CDS (credit default swaps), mortgage backed securities, subprime mortgage securities, etc. If you ever read a Michael Lewis book, one realizes that it is hard to stop reading. Lewis has a way of keeping the reader engrossed through each chapter.

In addition to his books, Hollywood has created movies out of his stories. In 2009, The Blind Side was released as a motion picture starring Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw. Bullock won the academy award for best actress in a major motion picture in March 2010 for her great performance. In 2011, MoneyBall will be a major motion picture starring Brad Pitt and Philip Seymour Hoffman. In my mind, Michael Lewis writes to inform the reader about finance, mathematics, sports, the world economy, and other interesting topics. His books are a good read. Lastly, I encourage you to read one of his books, as it will broaden your horizon.