Okamura's Thoughts

Coach John Wooden 1910-2010

2010-06-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

The legendary John Wooden passed away on Friday, June 4, 2010. It is a sad time for not only his friends and family, not only for people he came into contact with, not only for basketball, but for the entire world. John Wooden transcended basketball. His teachings, quotes, lessons, and ideals went beyond the court and truly fit into the real world like no other.

Wooden played point guard at Purdue from 1929-1933, winning the 1932 National Championship and 1932 Player of the Year. He earned All American honors from 1930-1932. He then went on the coach. First at Indiana State from 1946-1948. Then at UCLA from 1948-1975, where he make his legend.

At UCLA, Wooden won 10 National Championships in 12 years, 7 in a row at one point. His 88 game winning streak is unmatched in college basketball and amazing in any sport. He won coach of the year 6 times. His UCLA teams had 4 undefeated season; no coach has more than 1.

Wooden was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame...twice, once as a player and once as a coach. He was the first to do so, and only 2 people since then have received the same honor.

After his coaching career ended UCLA continued to honor Wooden with the title of Head Men's Basketball Coach Emeritus. On November 17, 2006, Wooden was recognized for his impact on college basketball as a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He was one of five, along with Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Dean Smith and Dr. James Naismith, selected to represent the inaugural class. He was inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009 in St. Louis. Coach Wooden was the ninth honoree in the Missouri Valley Conference's LifProxy-Connection: keep-alive Cache-Control: max-age=0 ime Achievement category. Wooden said the honor he was most proud of was "Outstanding Basketball Coach of the U.S." by his denomination, the Christian Church.

Since 1977, the most coveted of four college basketball player of the year awards has been named the John R. Wooden Award. This award has attained the status of being the equivalent of football's Heisman Trophy for college basketball, with the winner announced during a ceremony held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Two annual doubleheader men's basketball events called the "John R. Wooden Classic" and the "John R. Wooden Tradition" are held in Wooden's honor.

He has schools and athletic facilities named after him. The gym at his alma mater Martinsville High School bears his name, and in 2005 a high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District was renamed to John R. Wooden High School. In 2003, UCLA dedicated the basketball court in Pauley Pavilion in honor of John and Nell Wooden. Named the "Nell & John Wooden Court," Wooden asked for the change from the original proposal of the "John & Nell Wooden Court," insisting that his wife's name should come first. In 2008, Indiana State also bestowed this honor on Wooden by naming their home court in the Hulman Center the "Nellie and John Wooden Court." The student recreation center at UCLA is also named in his honor. Also in 2008, Wooden was honored with a commemorative bronze plaque in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Memorial Court of Honor because his UCLA basketball teams played six seasons in the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. On Wooden's 96th birthday in 2006, a post office in Reseda, California, near where Wooden's daughter lives, was renamed the Coach John Wooden Post Office.

On July 23, 2003, John Wooden received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Wooden's view on life was given to him by his father. Wooden's famous Seven Point Creed was told to him by his father when he was in grade school. The creed is as follows:

Be true to yourself.
Make each day your masterpiece.
Help others.
Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
Make friendship a fine art.
Build a shelter against a rainy day.
Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

Coach Wooden's The Pyramid of Success consists of philosophical building blocks for winning at basketball and at life. The Pyramid is a pefect example of Wooden's views and ideals for going through life.

Wooden's quotes have also become famous for being inspiring and comedic at the same time.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.
Ability is a poor man's wealth
Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
Be prepared and be honest.
Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.
Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.
Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.
I'd rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.
If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?
If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.
It isn't what you do, but how you do it.
It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.
It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.
It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.
Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.
Never mistake activity for achievement.
Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.
Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts.
Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.
Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.
The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.
The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.
There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer.
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.
What you are as a person is far more important that what you are as a basketball player.
Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.
You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one.
You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

Coach Wooden will be known forever as the greatest basketball man ever, and one of the most inspiring and amazing people to have ever lived. Good Bye Coach, Thank you for everything. The world will miss you.

NBA Playoff Predictions 2010: Finals

2010-06-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

Ok so its finally here! THE FINALS MATCHUP THAT EVERYONE WANTED!

Lets check out my predictions

NBA Finals 2010

1 Lakers

4 Celtics

Prediction: The Celtics are playing terrific defense. Rondo is hot and the Big 3 are back. The bench is playing well and they look tough. Kobe is being Kobe. Gasol, Bynum, Artest, and Lamar look like they're getting in a groove. The Lakers bench is playing better. Both teams are coming in at the top of their games. This series is going to be amazing and really close. I say the Lakers pull this one out. Lakers in 6.

I LOVE JENNY CHEUNG!

2010-06-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

Today, Im stepping away from the fun and somewhat silly concepts that I usually talk about and move toward something more serious. My girlfriend, Jenny Cheung.

Key Club gave me alot of things. Experiences, growth, friends, but she stands above them all. I originally met her due her becoming a new officer in my Key Club Division.

While we first met in March, we didnt have a first date until May 23. We haven't been apart since. I love her so much. I mean really, shes smart, funny, pretty, fun, cute, so many adjectives and superlatives you really can't say enough, so whats not to love.

With us celebrating out anniversary recently, I wanted to say that I am eagerly looking forward to our future together. Where ever we end up, I know that well be together. I love you Jenny!

Pokemon Black and White: Legendaries Revealed plus new UPDATES!

2010-05-28T10:25:00.001-07:00

As we all know legendaries play a huge role in the Pokemon Universe. They are the cover models, as well as the center piece of the main story line. Today, both the English and Japanese sites of the game revealed, Reshiram and Zekrom. It is not quite sure, which character is for which game.Also a release time was set for September 2010 in Japan, and Spring 2011 for America.

The main city that we have been seeing alot of shots of it called Hiun City.From the screens we've been seeing, the city should be massive and a huge step for the Pokemon series, where cities are usually small and not too complex.

The battle system is a little different. The sprites now move during certain situations and as does the camera. battles also go faster than before. There are changes to the core system, however those have not yet been revealed.

I love the look of the new legendaries, and Im really excited for all the new features. There hasn't been information yet that I haven't liked to a certain extent. Im really excited for this game. Can't wait.

NBA Playoff Predictions 2010: Semi-Finals

2010-05-14T13:40:00.001-07:00

Ok so time for the semi-finals

Lets check out my predictions

Western Conference Semi-Finals

1 Lakers

3 Suns

Prediction: The Suns are hot. They have a tough pick and roll, fast paced offense, with pretty good defense. However that hot steak stops here. The Lakers are too big inside, so Amare is gonna have it tough. Nash is gonna be bothered by Fisher's physical defense, and Jason Richardson is going to cool down once he has Kobe and Artest on him. The Lakers should win this easy. Lakers in 5.

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

2 Magic

4 Celtics

Prediction:This is a close one. The Celtics are playing great defense. The Magic also play great defense, but not as good as the Celtics are playing now. The Celtics should be able to frustrate Dwight Howard and guard the 3. However I dont think that Rondo is going to have it easy with Jameer Nelson on him. Same goes for the rest of the Celtics. I think this is a defensive showdown and a close series. I think the Magic still pull it out. Magic in 7.

Pokemon Black and White: Starters Revealed

2010-05-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

Finally new 5th gen information has been leaked out. A new scan from this month's CoroCoro has filled in the silhouettes that we were given a few days ago. The Buizel looking silhouette with a tail that could have been either a flame or leaf is actually a leaf, making it the grass starter. The bunny with the Spoink tail is the fire starter. The beaver type is the water starter like I predicted.

The new region has also been annnouced as the Isshu Region. The game characters are also older than before, and wearing new gear, which is probably the next successor to the pokegear, pokenav, etc.

The new scan looks so cool and I am now extremely excited. I can't wait to finally get my hands on this game

Pokemon Black and White: Starters Silhouettes Revealed

2010-05-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

Ok so I was hoping to see the new starters today, but it looks like we're gonna have to wait a few more days for more info to leak. However Serebii did post silhouettes for the starters.

So my initial thoughts.

One looks like a Buizel looking design, but the tail looks different. It could possibly be the fire starter, with a flame tail. Or it could be the water starter with a tail fin.

The other one looks like a bunny. Thats pretty simple, but then it could be a Turtwig type, with the "bunny" ears actually being leafs for a grass starter. Also it has a tail like a Spoink.

The last one just looks like a beaver. I am almost sure that its the water starter.

Those are my thought on it. I'll be back on when the actual pics get leaked

Pokemon Black and White UPDATE!

2010-05-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

Ok so today is supposed to be the day that the 5th generation starters are announced. When they are finally revealed, I will be here will my thoughts on them.

NBA Playoff Predictions 2010: Round 2

2010-05-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

Ok so time for round two

My first round didnt go too well. It was ok, but I can do better

Lets check out my Round 2 predictions

Western Conference Round 2

1 Lakers

5 Jazz

Prediction: Not even close. The Jazz always have trouble with the Lakers. Boozer is a great player, but too small to fight and battle with Lamar, Pau, and Andrew. Plus Artest and Kobe can help slow down and stop Deron Williams. Lakers in 4.

3 Suns

7 Spurs

Prediction: The Spurs looked good in the last round, but the Suns looked impressive as well. Nash and Stoudimire are unstoppable with the pick and roll, and Duncan is slowing down and I down think they'll be able to defend it. Suns in 5.

Eastern Conference Round 2

1 Cavaliers

4 Celtics

Prediction:Even with Lebrons elbow injury, supposedly, the cavs shouldnt have any problems. The Celtics are aging and slowing down. Rondo is giving the team a boost and you cant count out the Big 3, but the Cavs are too talented. Cavs in 4.

2 Magic

3 Hawks

Prediction: The Hawks are athletic, and young. Who doesn't love what they have going, but the Magic are tough. Vince Carter is showing why the Magic choose him over Hedo. Dwight didn't perform as well as expected in Round 1, but going against Al Horford should give him a good match up that I feel could push Dwight to a next level. Magic in 4.

NFL Draft 2010: Round 1 Breakdown

2010-04-22T19:59:00.000-07:00

Heres my breakdown of the NFL Draft 2010: Round 1

1) St Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

Rams need help. Marc Bulger is gone, and Steven Jackson is begging for some help. Bradford is gonna be a great NFL QB, and maybe if they get a receiver later in the draft, they'll start looking like an offense. Bradford is a good character guy and proven leader. Good pick.

2) Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

The Lions now have the base for a solid offense with Stafford, Kevin Smith, and Calvin Johnson. They needed help on defense, and Suh is an athletic freak that can help anchor the middle of the defense. It expect him to be a force in the league.

3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

Tampa has been trying to rebuild its dominant defense. Where else to start but with Gerald McCoy, who is drawing comparisons to Warren Sapp. McCoy is a solid tackle, and I think he can be the base of that defense for a long time.

4) Washington Redskins: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

The Redskins need play on the offense line with the loss of Chris Samuels, due to injury. Trent Williams is a good tackle, but I felt that Russell Okung would have been a better pick. Williams hasnt played at a high level throughout his college career, but I think he'll be solid in the NFL.

5) Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

Eric Berry is said to be the most NFL ready player in the draft, and the Chiefs sure do need it. Berry is drawing comparisons to Ed Reed. Hes instinctive, hes a great athletic guy. The Chiefs do need a lot of help protecting Matt Cassel, but this pick is going to impact the defense right away.

6) Seattle Seahawks: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

Pete Carroll got a present here. I thought that Okung was going to be gone 2 picks ago, and I thought that the Chiefs would have taken him if he dropped. Okung is a dominating tackle who is going to be a wall on the end of that offensive line for a long time.

7) Cleveland Browns: Joe Haden, DB, Florida

Joe Haden is a solid pick. A lot of people thought that they needed to go offense here, but their defense was terrible. Joe Haden is very instinctive and has good skills to be a top corner in the league. Haden also has played for a top program in Florida, so I feel he'll bring that winning attitude to the Browns.

8) Oakland Raiders: Rolando McClain, MLB, Alabama

Wow. I didn't see this coming at all. They need a quarterback, they need a wide receiver, they need an offensive lineman. McClain is a great linebacker, but there are so many other needs. McClain is going to be a great linebacker and is just going to add to an already solid defense.

9) Buffalo Bills: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

This is also surprising. They need a quarterback and receivers. Also need some help on defense. They already have Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. C.J. Spiller is a scary good running back. I think hes going to be a star. Good pick, just not what I was expecting.

10) Jacksonville Jaguars: Tyson Aluatu, DT, California

Derrick Morgan and Jason Pierre-Paul still on the board, but they draft Aluatu. Hes a good DT, but they need some pass rushing. Aluatu is a solid stuffer and can get quick penetration, but the top 2 DEs would have been a better pick in my mind.

Trade! 49ers trade a 4th round pick and the #13 pick to the Broncos for the #11 pick.

11.) San Francisco 49ers (From Denver Broncos): Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

The 49ers traded up, gave up a 4th round pick, to get Anthony Davis. Now they have a strong, base blockers opposite Joe Staley. This is a great pick. Anthony Davis really dropped and the 49ers got him at a great value.

Trade! The Chargers trade up to the #12 pick from the Dolphins, details aren't yet known.

12) San Diego Chargers (From Miami Dolphins): Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State

Darren Sproles can only do so much. the Chargers can use Mathews as a power, big back. Mathews also ran a good 4o-time. Hes a solid overall back and can add some balance to a small backfield.

Trade! Eagles trade #24 pick and 2 3rd round picks to the Broncos for the #13 pick.

13.) Philadelphia Eagles (From the Denver Broncos): Brandon Graham, OLB/DE, Michigan

I felt that the Eagles needed a safety to replace Brian Dawkins. The Eagles love to get pressure, and this guy is going to do just that. He is a great pass rusher and he will get the the quarterback....alot. Earl Thomas and Taylor Mays are still on the board, I am very surprised.

14) Seattle Seahawks: Earl Thomas, DB, Texas

I wanted Taylor Mays to go with Peter Carroll lol (USC all the way!), but Earl Thomas is a great safety. I think that hes going to be an instant starter and make an impact right away. He has great instincts, speed, tackling, and plus he has Pete Carroll to coach him up.

15) New York Giants: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida

The Giants were 30th in defense last year. Their scary pass rush wasn't as dominant. Pierre-Paul is a great athlete. Hes quick, fast, strong. Hes just a freak. I love his pass rushing ability, and his back flips lol.

16) Tennessee Titans: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

Derrick Morgan dropped far in this draft. Morgan fits the Titans needs very well. They need to rebuild the d-line and Derrick Morgan is an all-around DE. He can stop the run and rush the passer. Good pick and great value this late in the 1st round.

17) San Francisco 49ers: Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho

Another lineman taken by the 49ers. The 49ers are really having a good draft so far. They greatly improved their offensive line. This is going to help Alex Smith and Frank Gore. This offense is going to be productive with Gord, Crabtree, and Davis. This has been a trend with the 49ers in the past few drafts, with Joe Staley and Chilo Rachal in2008.

18) Pittsburgh Steelers: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida

Good pick. He can start at guard or center. The Steelers needed some help on an aging o-line, and they got it here. Pouncey has a lot of experience from his time at Florida. The Steelers were is question because of the business going on with Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes. They stick with the need here and deal with their problems later.

19) Atlanta Falcons: Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri

This is a great pick by the Falcons. Their offense is set. They have tried to build up the defensive line over the later few drafts, with mild success. Sean Weatherspoon is an impressive OLB. I thought that he might drop to the Saints at #32, but he is a great player and its good to see him go to an up in coming team.

20) Houston Texans: Kareem Jackson, DB, Alabama

I love what the Texans are doing. The offense is explosive and they have a solid base on defense. Jackson is a good bump corner. Hes strong and has good athletic ability to keep up with top receivers. Hes going to help the Texans compete with the Colts in the AFC South.

21) Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

I love this pick. I love Jermaine Gresham. hes huge, hes fast, and hes awesome. The Bengals need a tight end and they got one hell of a tight end. I thought they might go Taylor Mays here (due to their recent trend of picking USC defenders), but I love the pick.

Trade! Patriots trad #22 to the Broncos for #24 pick and a 4th round pick.

22) Denver Broncos: Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech

He is considered to be up with Dez Bryant for the title of top wide receiver in the draft. I still think Bryant is a better receiver, but Thomas doesn't come with baggage. I don't think Denver wants to deal with another Brandon Marshall personality.Thomas is a big receiver, and a match up nightmare. They need a receiver, and good pick.

23) Green Bay Packers: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

Bulaga was at one point thought to possibly go into the top 10. He slips down the #23, but he goes to a good team that really needs him. The Packers couldn't protect Aaron Rodgers at all, and he was scrambling for his life. Maybe now he can catch his breath and welcome his new best friend.

Trade! Patriots trade #24 pick and a 4th round pick to the Cowboys for #27 pick and a 3rd round pick

24) Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

Dez Bryant is a beast. Hes big, fast, strong, jumping ability. Hes a great wide receiver who has the potential to be a huge star. Adding him to an already explosive offense just pushes them over the top. He has some character issues, but I don't see them being a huge problem.

Trade! Ravens trade #25 to the Broncos for a 2nd round pick, a 3rd round pick, and a 4th round pick.

25) Denver Broncos: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

The Broncos just got a brand new fullback! I still have to see how he plays, but I dot think that Tebow's new throwing motion is going to make a difference in his inaccuracy. I think that Brady Quinn will start the season, and Tebow still needs to prove to me that hes accurate.

26) Arizona Cardinals: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

The Cardinals need a DT. They lost alot of defensive players and this is a good spot for him to go. They need an upgrade at this position. I cant really see a better pick for the Cardinals here. Solid pick.

27) New England Patriots: Devin McCourty, DB, Rutgers

The Patriots needed a corner to replace Asante Samuels. They have stuggled in pass coverage without him. McCourty is had good closing speed and is a good athlete. He has shown good coverage skills, and good ball skills.

28) Miami Dolphins: Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State

They needed a young DT. They brought in alot of new guys this year on defense. Odrick is a solid space eating DT, and he should do well in Tony Sparano's system.

29) New York Jets: Kyle Thomas, DB, Boise State

Now the Jets have a nickel corner to go with Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. This gives them 3 guys that can cover the high level of offense in the AFC with the Colts, Patriots, etc. This makes the top defense in the league even scarier.

Trade! the Vikings trade #30 pick to the Lions for #34 pick(2nd pick of 2nd round) and a 4th round pick

30) Detriot Lions: Jahvid Best, RB, California

The Lions got Suh and Best in the 1st round. They are having, in my mind, the best draft as of now. Jahvid Best is a home run threat and can take some of the weight off of Kevin Smith. Best did have the concussion last season, but after the combine and seeing his workouts, I think he'll be fine.

31) Indianapolis Colts: Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, TCU

Freeney was hurt in the Super Bowl last year, which cost them possibly the game. Raheem Brock is no longer with the team and they need depth on the defensive line. Hes quick and has good burst. Having Freeney and Mathis as mentors isn't too bad either.

32) New Orleans Saints: Patrick Robinson, DB, Florida State

I dont understand this pick. Sure they need another corner on the other side of Malcom Jenkins. But they need OLB with Fujita gone. They need another DT next to Sedrick Ellis. There is Sergio Kindle and Brian Price right there, both of which I feel are better players for the Saints in this spot.

Farewell Key Club

2010-04-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

This years District Convention marked the end of my fourth year in Key Club, and my Key Club career. It was a sad, yet fulfilling moment. It started out as something I followed my friends to, and it quickly grew into something more. I decided a lot of time and effort over my high school career to Key Club, and I haven't regretted a second of it. I have met so many amazing people, had so many unforgettable experiences, and learned so much about leadership and myself. I would like to take this time to thank those people who have made this experience such a great one.

To my family

Thank you for everything. You've always supported me in everything I did, or wanted to do. I might not always show it, but I do appreciate everything.

To the District Boards and International Boards from 2006-2010

Although I might not have meet all of you in person, or you may not know who I am, I want to thank all of you for making this organization what it is. It has grown and grown, and all Key Clubbers have worked so hard. The only reason we were able to do so is due to your leadership and passion for service. Key Club is special to me, and I know for a fact it is to you as well. I have often said that its one of the few clubs that could get "selfish" high school students to give up their weekends to clean up a park. haha but you have all taken this to a new level. You all have basically given up your life to making Key Club thrive. Flying all over the country, all over the world, missing dances, hang outs, kick backs, parties, missing class time, missing family time, the list going on and on. I can't even imagine all that you guys had to miss. Thank you for sacrificing so much to make this all possible.

To the Kiwanis

When I first joined Key Club, I never really paid attention to the Kiwanis and what they did. It wasn't until I got more involved in Key Club that I finally realized all that you do for us. I've worked with my sponsoring Kiwanis closely over the past few years, and I have to say that you all are my heroes. We've become a pretty good team, Key Club and Kiwanis. haha I feel that we've formed a tight friendship and bond. I deeply respect for all of you, and I am proud to have worked side by side. I hope that we have made an impression on you because you have definitely made an impact on me. I hope to someday be a Kiwanis, helping and working with my own group of Key Clubbers, helping them grow, as you did for me. Thank you for watching over us and guiding us in the right direction, even when it seemed like we didn't want to listen

To the past LTGs, club officers, and members of Division 25 West

You must be wondering why I am saying all of this now, even though some of you have been gone from Key Club for 4 years already. And most of you won't ever hear this. But I feel that you have a huge hand in getting me so into Key Club. Each and everyone of you has taught my something whether its how to plan out an event, get around Key Club protocol, or just how to draw on my sleeping VP's face with a Sharpie. You have each passed on your knowledge to me, whether it was about Key Club, or just about life. I still talk to alot of you, making jokes, sharing stories, discussing which Pokemon makes the best attacker. But some of you I don't talk to that often, or even at all. You have all inspired me to follow your examples and strive for success, in Key Club and out. Thank you for being a older siblings to me, not mater how annoying I got.

To my friends

Guys, we've had a blast. All of the fundraisers, cleanups, carnivals, fall rallies, etc. There are so many memories, and each one carries a story. We've had our disputes, but we've always pulled through. We've slacked off and almost missed on a few deadlines and event plans, but we've always gotten on track and gotten it done. We do things in our own style and we like it that way. Each one of us has a different personality, style, way of doing things, but despite that we've mixed beautifully. Halo, Super Smash, Left 4 Dead, Mario Kart, and of course Pokemon have been a part of almost every meeting and have probably distracted more than it should have. All of the joke and plans that fail, or when wrong make for a lot of laughs whether they work or not. But all that has done one thing. It brought us together, to the point where I feel I know everyone of your personalities like the back of my hand. We've pushed each other to new heights and brought each other up. We're all family and as we move on to the next stage of our lives, we all know we got back up. Thank you all for being my family and I look forward to our adventures ahead.

To my home club and Division 25 West

We guys are awesome. I hope that I have help all of you in any way I could. I tried to help each of you and answer all of your questions. I hope I was a good officer and made this year fun. I certain had a great time with all of you and this last year was one of the best. You all are full of spirit and you all have bright futures. I am very proud of you all. I hope I have taught you guys something and I am always here if you need any advice, Key Club or life. Thank you for being great Key Clubbers, and all I ask is that you keep the Key Club spirit alive and try to inspire others, as I have tried. I'll be checking in once in a while, so keep up the good work.

Key Club has given me so much, and I did my best to give back by providing service and spreading the Key Club way. I realize now that it is impossible. Key Club changed my view on life and how I want to go about living the rest of it. The only way to fully give back to this unbelievable organization is to keep serving, to keep leading, to keep up the great work that Key Club instilled in me. Thank you everyone, for everything.

MLB 2010: Beginning of Season Impressions

2010-04-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

The MLB season has gotten underway and I am excited to see what this year brings. The story that I am most interested in is the big name rookies and prospects. Stephen Strasburg, Arlodius Chapman, and of course Jason Heyward. Heyward has been playing up to all the hype so far, and is in some ways even exceeding them, while Strasburg and Chapman are dominating in the minors. I think theyll be joining the show very soon. Tim Lincecum is still shuting down everyone he faces, while Zack Grenke isnt showing why he won last year's Cy Young. The Dodgers are tanking to begin the season, which worries me a little bit, but I think theyll bounce back. The Phillies are looking dominante, the Red Sox can't score a run, and there are alot of teams surprising in the early season.

I'm saying it right now! Yankees are going to repeat this year! A-Rod, Jeter, Teixerira, Sabathia, Rivera, and now add Curtis Granderson. This team is the favorite...for good reason.

NCAA March Madness 2010

2010-04-22T10:51:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention my NCAA Men's Basketball Bracket haha. Well I epically FAILED! lol. My Final Four were Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse, and Villanova. I thought that Kansas and Kentucky were a step, if not more, ahead of everyone else. I felt that Syracuse had the players and coaching to get to the final four. I didn't think that Duke was a good team. I didn't even have Duke getting to the Elite Eight. I don't like Duke to begin with (Its like how Notre Dame is for college football lol). So seeing them win is kinda disappointment, and I was rooting for Bulter and I thought that Bulter was the superior team. I still think I was right to a certain degree, but I think that the game could have gone either way. Overall it was a fun think to watch and hopefully it stays like that (with today's announcement of upping the teams to 68).

NFL Draft 2010

2010-04-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

NFL Draft 2010 is almost here. I will be posting an analysis for the 1st round. The 1st round will be posted during day 1. i will not be covering rounds 2-7

NBA Playoff Prediction: Round 1

2010-04-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

Ok so time for the NBA Playoffs 2010!

I will be giving my round by round predictions

Here it my prediction for how things are going to pan out in the first round.

Western Conference Round 1

1 Lakers

8 Thunder

Prediction: I love Durant, Westbrook, and Green, but the Lakers are too tall and have too much talent. The Thunder have a bright future, but its the Kobe and the Lakers' time now. Lakers in 5

2 Mavericks

7 Spurs

Prediction: The Spurs are good, but too old. Caron Butler has brought a new energy and fire to the Mavs and I think theyll make a strong push. Kidd and Dirk look hungry and theyll be tough to beat. Mavericks in 6.

3 Suns

4 Trailblazers

Prediction: I love the Trailblazers. I think even without Oden, Prizbella, and Brandon Roy, they could do alot. I like some of the players on the Suns, like Nash, Stoudimire, and Jason Richardson. Im not a big fan of Barbosa or Robin Lopez. I just think the Suns got hot at the end of the season and theyll go back to normal soon. Unless the Suns stay at Super Sayian, I think the Trailblazers win in 6.

4 Nuggets

5 Jazz

Prediction: Ok I dont like the Nuggets. I think Carmelo and Billups are overrated. The only guy I like is Ty Lawson. I think that the Jazz have alot of firepower and Deron WIlliams runs that team very well, along with the coaching from Jerry Sloan, who has like 100 years of playoff experience. Jazz in 5.

Eastern Conference Round 1

1 Cavaliers

8 Bulls

Prediction:The Cavs are too strong. Lebron is a monster and with Shaq coming back, and Jamison getting comfortable. Mo Williams, Delante West, Big Z, all those guys. I am a huge fan of what the Bulls are doing. I like Derrick Rose, I think hes a star (But John Wall is a better PG), and being a USC guy I like Taj Gibson. I like Noah, Deng, but the Cavs are too much. Cavs in 4.

2 Magic

7 Bobcats

Prediction: The Bobcats have Larry Brown and the power of Michael Jordan, but Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson, and co cant handle the Magic. Dwight Howard is a freak of nature with shoulders to match. Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson, and so many other guys. I think that the Magic are going to the Eastern Conference Finals, so they can't lost here. Good work getting this far Bobcats, but Magic in 4.

3 Hawks

6 Bucks

Prediction: The Hawks are too athletic. Andrew Bogut was big for the Bucks this year, and his injury really hurts the team. Sure Brandon Jennings and John Salmons are there, but with Al Horford down low, and Josh Smith flying around, I dont think the Bucks have a chance. Hawks in 4.

4 Celtics

5 Heat

Prediction: I love the Heat. Dwayne Wade is my favorite player. I liked Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers since they were in college, and I still like what their doing. I think Jermane ONeal still has some stuff in the tank. I really want the Heat to pull this out, but I think the Celtics are gonna take this one. Garnett, Pierce, Allen, and now Rondo. And add Rasheed "Overreact" Wallace. I think the Celtics take it in 6.

Pokemon Black and White Announced

2010-04-20T22:46:00.000-07:00

BLACK & WHITE!!!

Ok so in February it was announced that Game Freak in development of the 5th generation Pokemon game. The statement stated that the game will completely change the mold and will be different from all other games. Pictures of Zorua and Zoroark were then released as the first known 5th gen Pokemon.

I was impatiently waiting for more information. When finally in April, CoroCoro finally had released screen shots of the game, along with the titles. Pokemon Black and White will be released in Japan sometime in 2010 for the DS, not the 3DS as many people assumed it would.

The screens look awesome. They show a huge improvement graphically and it looks as if the camera angle has been moved down; thus taking the game from a top view to a leveled view, so that buildings with actually show height and depth. This game is so far looking alot different then other games, as promised. Even the battle screen is showing a big improvement. From the screens, we can also see that the text box is now a speech balloon, coming out from the mouth of the character, making following dialog a little easier.

These games will be compatible with the current 4th gen games. It was almost confirmed that traded the shiny legendary Pokemon, given any with the release of the 13th movie, will trigger certain events in the game. What is triggers has yet to be seen.

I am extremely excited for the announcement and I will be keeping up on all the latest news and updates. I can't wait to see the new 5th Pokemon as well as any new game mechanics that are put in.

Key Club Cali-Nev-Ha District Convention 2010

2010-04-20T22:43:00.000-07:00

Key Club Cali Nev Ha District Convention is always something that I look forward to every year and this year didn't disappoint. We were back in Sacramento this time around, which meant an 8 hour bus ride. The bus ride wasnt bad. And before you know it we were there.

We stayed at the Residence Inn, which was about 2 blocks away from the convention center. This year our room was a suite. We had 2 bed rooms, 2 bathrooms, connected by a living room area and a kitchen. We had 10 guys in our room. It was crazy at times, but fun overall. Reseda had 22 members total, 13 boys and 9 girls.

The Key Club spirit never fails to amaze me. The energy was flowing throughout the convention halls, and you could hear the cheers and feel the vibrations in the floor. On the way to workshops and getting into general sessions especially, there was alot of pushing and shoving as well as alot of spirit and cheers. Its a strange mix of good and bad, but it makes for a unique high energy environment.

Every year we have a motivational speaker, and this year that man was Keith Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins was definitely the most memorable and fun speaker that I've seen at DCON. He made some really funny jokes, played games like Simon says, and rhythm based activities. It was just alot of fun listening to him talk and interact with the crowd. The biggest thing that I took from his workshop and speech was the idea of Go Human. Go Human is like Go Green, but instead of fixing the world, its the idea that we have to fix the human race first. Go Human promotes give what you need, meaning that if you need friendship, give friendship; if you need respect, give respect; it will all come back to you. This will make our world a better place for everyone. I really agreed with and bought into the idea of Go Human.

I put in alot of time and effort into Key Club during my high school career and I think that this was a great way to end it. Key Club has given me so much, everything from experience to friends to helping me grow as a leader and person. I really hope to continue my involvement in the Kiwanis family, as well as promote Key Club to help other people gain what I did, if not more, from Key Club. Thank you Key Club and the Kiwanis Family.

APYLP 2010

2010-04-20T22:40:00.000-07:00

So a few months ago I applied for the APYLP (Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project). APYLP selected 50 seniors and juniors from high schools throughout California selected to participate in a unique leadership conference that will educate and nurture a new generation of aspiring political and community leaders and advocates from our Asian Pacific Islander American communities. Students will hear from dynamic speakers, actively participate in a Mock Legislature at the State Capitol and engage in conference workshops.

I was selected for the conference and I was very excited. Chris Ratana and I were the only 2 people chosen from Reseda High. We left on the plane leaving out of Burbank Airport. When we first arrived in Sacramento, it was awkward at first with everyone, but we quickly became close and comfortable. We had great advisers, they were fun and helpful and made things run very smoothly. The trip would have been great with just the people we met, but all of the workshops, activities, and the capitol building was what made it really special.

We played games that somehow connected to life lessons, and had workshops with leaders in the Asian Pacific Community. We were allowed to have a scavenger hunt in the capitol building, which btw our group won! We were allowed in the Assembly room, and we had discussions and debates in the Committee rooms, as well as on the actual Senate floor.

I met so many amazing people and had a once in a lifetime experience. I am so happy that I was able to participate in the 20th anniversary of this conference and I hope that I will be able to help the program somehow in the future.

WARNING!! Before I tell this story...I am not being racist in anyway, its just the story. lol

Ok so my room was upstairs and the balcony was facing the street. The hotel only had 2 floors. There were 3 APYLP boys' rooms in a row (2 guys per room), my room being one of them. So it was the last night we were there. Its about 1am and I just went to go lay down in bed, then I start hearing these loud sounds coming from outside. My roommate and I looked out the window and a bus had dropped off about 50-60 black people in front of this club across the street. Then more black people came out of the club and the 2 groups started fighting and eventually turned into like a street brawl. So all of us went out on the balcony to watch(6 asian kids lol). 4 police cars came and everyone dispersed in all directions and each car gave chase in each direction of the intersection. Then about 10 minutes later a firetruck and an ambulance came and parked down the street where one of the cop cars was. As we tried to extend and look at what was going on down the street, another bus came and dropped of my black people on the other side of the club. 2 black girls were arguing, coming off of the bus, and proceeded to yell at each other while walking down the street. I went inside to check my netbook to see if there was any news on what was happening, when my roommate ran back into the room and closed the balcony door, and I heard the doors of the other rooms as well. I asked what happened and he didn't know, so we waited a minute and went back outside. The guy in the next room then told me that a guy was out waving around a gun. We continued watching, and the 2 girls were still yelling and screaming. Then they got into a fist fight (punching, kicking, grabbing/ripping clothes and hair, etc). They didnt just fight on the street....they fought in the middle of the 4-way intersection! Other people from the bus were trying to pull them away from each other, but then everyone started fighting again. 2 more police cars came and officers sprayed tear gas on them, and that was the end of it. Everything calmed down at 3am. The weirdest part of the whole thing was that while all this was going on, traffic was still flowing as normal. Like cars just drove around the fighting and cop cars. They didn't even stop for the firetruck or the ambulance.

HOSA SLC 2010

2010-04-20T22:35:00.000-07:00

It came time again for HOSA!! Wed been studying all year and it was time to show what we got. HOSA State Leadership Conference 2010 was in Ontario, CA...not Canada lol. Trust me...alot of people have asked me if it was in Canada.

Anyway, we got there at about 11am on Thursday March 11. The hotel didnt have our rooms ready, so we packed all 22 of us into 1 room. Christy, Josh, and me had the Kaiser Knowledge Exam at 1, so we changed and went, took the exam and everything was good. Then everyone had events so we all left. The rooms were ready when we cam back and it was all good.

Now in our rooms we had FOOD. Not just food....FOOD!!! Sure we had the usually snacks, chips, cup noodle, etc. Josh had his rice cooker, I had the water heater. But this year, Jiwon(1st time HOSA) brought uncooked Korean BBQ. Juile had an electric stove. So we stuck the stove halfway out the window and started cooking the meat. We had foil to catch the grease, and I was fanning the smoke and steam out the window so the room didnt smell and the fire alarm didnt go off. After 2 hours, all the meat was cooked, We ate, the room smelled like Korean BBQ for the rest of the trip.

I also brought my Nerf guns, which was fun. Kyle and I took the guns and kept barging into peoples rooms and attacking everyone and stuff. That was fun.

The biggest thing that we got into...Charades. It started out as something to fill 20 minutes, but it turned into a serious competition. First we started with basic charades. 2 teams, each team gives the other team a clue. Really basic. I left to take an exam and came back and it had transformed into a new type of charades haha. The new game was 3 people line up in a row facing each others back, the last person just looks at a wall or whatever. The clue is shown to the first person, the first person taps the shoulder of the 2nd person and the 2nd person turns around. The 1st person tries to charade the clue to the 2nd person, when the 2nd person gets it, the 2nd person taps the 3rd person then the 2nd person charades the clue to the 3rd person. The first team to get the 3rd person to correctly guess the clue is the winner. That was alot of fun, then we got back into regular charades but then it was really serious. Now you had a 1 minute time limit. If it was under 1 minute then the team gets 1 point, if its under 30 seconds then they get 2 points. If you dont know the clue or feel you cant do it, then you can pass it to a teammate, but the original person cannot help guess. We started getting really hard clues, and planning out certain clues to give to certain people, it just got really competitive.

In the actual HOSA competition, Reseda did very well. We got several medals and top 10 finishes. I got 2 top 10s. The trip was alot of fun. There was alot of drama on the trip that Im not going to get into now haha. But overall it was a great trip.

HOSA NLC 2009

2010-04-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

I cant believe that I completely forgot to post this. I wrote it a long time ago. lol wow

HOSA State Conference was fun, but HOSA Nationals was unbelievable.

HOSA National Competition was in Nashville, Tennessee. We had 7 people on the trip, plus Mr. Urbina and his wife.

We met up at the flyaway and left from LAX. It seemed like the plane took forever to leave. But we finally got on the plane, I took a nap and woke up in Nashville haha.

We got into our hotel late and checked it. Our hotel was amazing. We stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Since its really humid and hot in Nashville, everything we needed was in the hotel. There was a garden, forest type area, lake, waterfall, river, mall, restaurant, etc. There was even a mall under the hotel. The convention center was also in the hotel. And the hotel was domed, so sunlight could get in. The hotel was also, completely climate controlled. There was a gym and 3 pools (2 outdoor, 1 indoor). We kept getting lost at first, however we quickly figured out how to get around quickly.

There was also a deli in the hotel that was open really late, and it had the best cheesecake ever! I bought one every night lol.

We met some cool people while we were there. We traded state pins with other states (I think I have 24 state pins from all over haha). On one of the nights, Kyle, Josh and I went to the gym, across the hotel from our room. Akshay stayed in the room to study. 15minutes later Josh gets a call and tells Kyle and me that we have to hurry up and get back to the room. Apparently Akshay flooded the toilet or something. We get there and Akshay and Mr. Urbina are outside. The hotel staff is stopping the water. The water had flooded through the wall and into the room and hallway. Good thing Akshay moved all of our suits and shoes out of the closet. Apparently Akshay didnt even do anything, the waterjust started flowing out of the toliet. The hotel moved our rooms to another part of the hotel. In the new room, we flipped around the beds, so that they were facing the blank wall, not the tv. And we hooked up the projector, hung a sheet on the wall and ran the Wii, and our laptops through it. It was like having a big tv lol.

We went around Tennessee for a day, it was cool. I found out that Tennessee is really hot lol. We didnt really do too well at competition, although grace won a medal. But it was alot of fun and Nationals was a great experience.

Final Fantasy XIII Review! FINALLY HERE!!

2010-04-20T22:24:00.000-07:00

Final Fantasy XIII. We've been waiting and waiting for 2 years and itll finally here. I got the game on launch and had a decision to make at Gamestop. PS3 or 360? Now PS3 has only 1 Blu-Ray disc, and maybe, improved graphics but reviews said that the graphics are about the same (which they are). 360 has 3 discs and its the console I play more. I choose 360 because of the long load times for Blu-rays, which sparked a big discussion in Gamestop about whether to wait for load screens or having to get up and change the disc. Only in America could we be that lazy lol....well thats not entirely true, you could throw Japan in there too, but only about games and anime for them lol. Anyway back to the topic at hand.

Ok since the story is kinda confusing and hard to explain heres the plot taken from wikipedia:

"Some 1,300 years ago, a group fal'Cie constructed a paradise for humanity: the shell-like city of Cocoon, which floats high above the surface of Pulse under the power of the Cocoon fal'Cie Orphan. Then, the Cocoon fal'Cie created life forms and machines for Cocoon's inhabitants to use, and humanity flourished. A war was fought between the fal'Cie of Pulse and the Cocoon fal'Cie, and Cocoon prevailed in what was eventually known as the War of Transgressions. However, fear lingered in the hearts of the people of Cocoon, for the day another invasion might come from the world beneath again.

Although most Cocoon citizens have never seen Pulse with their own eyes, they have been told that it is a dangerous place that has strange effects on those who venture down to its surface. Consequently, anyone who is discovered to have been in contact with anything from Pulse is immediately subjected to quarantine and exile by the theocratic government of Cocoon, known as the Sanctum. The Sanctum enforces this policy with its strongest military branch, PSICOM.

As Snow leads the resistance group, NORA, in an attempt to stop the purging of civilians, the mysterious Lightning fights her way past PSICOM soldiers with the aid of Sazh to find a Pulse fal'Cie, Anima, who turned her sister, Serah (who is also Snow's fiancée), into a l'Cie. Through a chain of events, these three, along with two exiles, Vanille and Hope, are forced by the fal'Cie of Pulse to become l'Cie, and with that became enemies of humanity with the Focus of bringing about the downfall of the Orphan, who provides the fal'cie Eden with the energy it needs to run Cocoon. Slaying Orphan would supposedly result in Cocoon's demise."

Ok, so if you didnt get that, then yea....just play the game, it makes more sense as you go on...trust me haha.

The battle system is kinda like FFVII: Crisis Core. Its turn based, Active Time Battle. The attacks look cool, and upgrading system is easy to use. The summons are awesome and the battles are fun once you get the hang of it.

The leveling system is like a sphere grid from Final Fantasy X. Its called The Crystarium. Instead of gaining experience points after winning a battle, characters gain Crystogen Points (CP) which can then be spent in order to unlock abilities and increase attributes such as maximum HP. Every character has a Crystarium, and within it, different sections corresponding to each Role the character has available. The Paradigm Shift is another important factor in the game was well. It is like job switching in Final Fantasy X-2. Each paradigm has a certain role for each character. Strategy is a big factor in parts of the game, and Paradigm Shifts are the way to do it.

Graphically, the game is stunning. The cienmatics borderline photo realisim, while the in game models look better than most of the games on the market today. In terms of cienmas and cutscenes, the game rivals Metal Gear Solid 4, however the in game engine doesnt even come close to what MGS4 was able to do.

The game is solid, I've been busy lately so I havent been able to finish it yet. Final Fantasy never disappoints. Its looking like the game was worth the wait and is living up to all the hype.

Pokemon SoulSilver & HeartGold Review

2010-04-20T22:16:00.000-07:00

Ok so as you already know, I LOVE POKEMON! That and gundam are like my drug......(maybe SNSD and Rubiks cubes too). So in September 2009, Pokemon SoulSliver and HeartGold were released in Japan, and I downloaded it and played it right away. My friends on the other hand waited til the American version came out on March 14, which is why I am writing this article now, not earlier.

My Japanese version is patched with English, so everything is English, but the dialog (So items, pokedex, moves, names, etc are in English)

Pokemon Sliver was my favorite version, so this remake really had me excited and it didnt disappoint. The new addition of the Pokethlon and Pokewalker accesory was great, but my favorite improvement, and maybe the stupidest one is the partner pokemon lol. Before you laugh, I liked how in Pokemon Yellow, Pikachu followed you around. When I was like 7, I was so sad when I evolved my Pikachu and it stopped following me. So I really enjoyed this little part of the game.

The same everything applies to this game as every Pokemon game. Gyms, Elite Four, Team Rocket, etc etc. IVs, EVs, items, mostly everything is the same. Still, I enjoy this game alot and I am still playing it now haha.

Mass Effect 2 Review

2010-04-20T22:12:00.002-07:00

Ok So Mass Effect was one of my favorite games and ever since I finished it I was waiting impatiently waiting for the sequel. Mass Effect 2 came out Jan. 26, 2010. I got the game on launch and went home, imported my character from the first game and was off the running.

The game plays alot smoother and faster than the original. The third person shooter elements are greatly improved, however I would have liked to see a better cover system like in Gears of War. The weapons are cool, but I would have liked to see more of them and more customization of them. The various powers and abilities are great and add an element that few other shooters have. The AI is improved as well, although they still dont move where you tell them to go, lol.

The biggest thing in Mass Effect is the story. Once again its a great plot, however some parts are a little unrealistic, even for futuristic space. The world is vast and the missions are unique and interesting. The characters are a little bit of a disappointment. I didn't feel the same bond and comradery that I felt in Mass Effect 1 with my crew. None the less, the story is great and exciting, and the characters aren't bad, just not as good as ME1.

I finished the game in about 18 hours, with all upgrades and side quests. I maxed out all of my characters, etc etc. So the game does provide alot of play time. I enjoyed the game and I am looking forward to the 3rd and last installment of this franchise.

Sorry!

2010-04-20T22:12:00.001-07:00

Ok so I've been writing alot of stuff but just haven't had the time to post it up lol. So its gonna go up in massive updates back to back to back to back....you get the point.

Ipad or Iphone Large Edition?

2010-01-28T20:04:00.000-08:00

So yesterday, everyone was excited for Apple's first big keynote of 2010. Everyone at my school was waiting for the updates on all the new Apple products and the highly anticipated Apple tablet. I had been checking up on the leaked information and speculation for this new product and I was excited.

We went on the internet after the keynote was over and we were all thinking the same thing....is that it? After all the anticipation and hype, the whole keynote was about the Ipad. No updates on the macbook, iphone, ipod, etc. Just the Ipad. And on top of that. The Ipad did not look impressive at all, in fact I think that it looked really bad. Everyone at my school, from the students to the teachers, were saying "Whats the big deal?".

Apple is known for having sleek, elegant looking products that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are technologically sound. the new Ipad looks like a giant Iphone. The screen is 9.7 inches, and is more square than the Iphone, giving the Ipad a boxy look. The home page and full OS of the Ipad is almost identical to the Iphone. The Ipad even runs the same apps and games that the Iphone does. The Ipad also has a book shelve feature which works like the Sony Kindle. It features a multi-touch screen and full wifi. People have to pay for the 3g wifi coverage, much like in an Iphone. Prices for the Ipad range from $499 to $699.

The Ipad is just a bigger, more powerful Iphone that cant make calls. I mean there are tons of better options if you are looking to buy a tablet PC. However this is only based on the keynote and the specs that I have seen. Once I fully use an Ipad, I will come back with my final conclusion.

Top 10 Gundams

2009-12-22T01:33:00.000-08:00

So if you know me well, then you know that I am a huge fan of the Gundam franchise. My fandom borderlines obsession, but its not as bad now that I've gotten older. I have seen all the Gundam series. I have hundreds of models. So yea haha. So now heres my list of the best gundams(in my opinion). This have changed over the years. I am ranking these on look, design, ability, weapons, technology, and my own personal feelings toward them. The overall use in the series and the series itself will play a factor.

#1 Gundam Exia

Exia is also known as the Gundam of Seven Swords, and is a suit in the Anno Domini timeline(Introduced in 00). It is the close quarters combat specialist of Celestial Being. Exia uses the GN Drive as a power source. The GN Drive was introduced in the 00 series. The GN Drive produces particles called GN particles. This drive provides power to the unit, stablizes the unit, is used as a thrusting unit, etc. Exia carries the Seven Sword System, which is a mix of seven different melee weapon systems. Two GN Beam Daggers, 2 GN Beam Sabers, 2 GN Blades, and the GN Sword. Seriously the GN Sword is just huge, its like the coolest thing. Its a hacking, slashing uber sword that flips on the wrists of the gundam so it doesn't get in the way. OMG its like crazy....and its has a rifle!! The GN Sword Rifle's rifle mode provides Exia with a single mid-range, mid-power weapon. It has GN Vulcans on each wrist, which can be used for point defense or to engage soft targets. It also has a shield. The rest of Exia's weapons are pure melee.

Even though all these weapons are cool, the real reason that Exia is so awesome, and so why I think its the best, is because of its speed and mobility. Exia is faster and quicker than most gundams out there, which just adds to its close combat ablity. Its not that stiff robotic movement, like in most mobile suits. Exia's movements are so fluid and it looks so smooth. It also has an optical camouflage system, which allows it the hide. It doesnt make it invisible, it just blends it into the surroundings by reflecting the environment around it. Exia also has the Trans-Am system. This system was introduced in the 00 series. This system accelerates GN particle production, allowing Exia to perform at a much higher level then before. However this can only last for a short period of time, so its only used in times of desperation.

#2 Wing Zero

Wing Zero is a suit from the After Colony timeline(Introducted in Gundam Wing). It is a well balanced suit. It has 2 beam sabers, 2 vulcan cannons, 2 machine guns, and the buster rifle. Anyone who is a fan of the Gundam Wing series, or has seen Endless Waltz, knows the scene where a heavily damaged Wing Zero Custom is flying above the Mariamaia's stronghold aiming that huge buster rifle at the ground below. Every part of that scene, from Heero giving a warning to Mariamaia to when he fires that last shot and Wing Zero Custom explodes from the recoil. That scene made this suit one of my favorites. Wing Zero had the ablity to fire very accurate mid to long range shots, however that wasn't seen to often because of Heero's tendency to like close combat with beam sabers. It also possesses the ZERO system. This system allows the gundama to link the gundam to the mind of the pilot. The system memorizes the movement of the pilot. This allows for movements to become instictive, making the gundam react faster.

Wing Zero is a great looking gundam as well. It also has the ablity to transform to a ship, in Bird-Mode. lol Bird mode....ok seriously now. Although the orginal Wing Zero model is great, the one suit that I love is Wing Zero Custom. Its an extremely elegant looking gundam. I mean its has HUGE WINGS....HUGE......like an angel, who will shoot and slice your head off. lol. It has smooth design and its just a great looking suit.

#3 God Gundam aka Burning Gundam

God Gundam, known as Burning Gundam in English(damn American politically correct), is a suit in the Future Century timeline(Introduced in G Gundam). The G Gundam series was interesting because it changed alot of basic things in the Gundam series. Aside from changing the story format seen in every other Gundam series, this series also changed the way Gundams are piloted. The series used what is known as the Mobile Trace System. This system put the pilot in a "jumpsuit", with mircoscopic nanomachines. in the gundam. This suit completely controlled the gundam, which allowed the pilot to use their own movements to pilot the gundam. It created a virtal cockpit within the gundam, where the pilot stands. Also the "jumpsuit" transfers pain, shock, etc from the gundam to the pilot, which added a whole new dimension.

God Gundam is equipped with a well balanced arsenal. For long distance combat, God Gundam has 4 head mounted vulcans along with two tri-barreled machine cannons in its shoulders. In close range combat, God Gundam can draw its 2 beam sabres or deploy a pair of short range spurs on its forearms called the God Slashers . God Gundam can transform into a "super mode" in which it's chestplate opened to expose an internal power regulator and the wings divided into 6 spines that generated a ring of fire around God Gundam's back while the armor on God Gundam's forearms slid over its hands to utilise the God Slashers. God Gundam also had "special moves", the main technique being Bakunetsu God Finger. God Finger's power was so great; it allowed God Gundam to plunge its hand into an enemy mobile suit and subsequently discharge its power in a secondary technique called "Heat End" that exploded its opponent.

I like this suit because its so different from normal gundams. Its cool looking. And its so powerful. What other suit can literally rip out the chest of a mobile suit. CRAZY!!

#4 RX-78-2 Gundam

RX-78-2 is a suit from the Early Universal Century timeline(Introduced in Moblie Suit Gundam). The suit has become the standard gundam, and sort of the mascot of the Gundam franchise.

The Gundam was incredibly advanced for its time. The RX-78-2 mostly used its Beam Rifle, making it the first Mobile Suit to have firepower equivalent to a battleship beam cannon. It also used 2 beam sabers. Those beam sabers could be extended into a spear-like beam javelin, which could be used to stab into an enemy from a longer distance than the blade of the saber would allow. It also used a unique weapon called the Gundam Hammer. Teh Gundam Hammer was a large weapon similar to a morning star which could be swung at enemies to deal crushing damage. Lastly, it wielded a large shield which would offer it a defense, its was also sometimes used as a decoy.

The classic, iconic look and feel of this gundam makes such a lasting impression on me that it had to go on the list. It set the model that all the gundams follow.

#5 00 Gundam

00 Gundam is a suit from the Anno Domini timeline(introduced in the 00 S2). This suit is so unique, because it took the great ideas and designs from the first season, and just made them cooler. This suit is the next generation model in the same geneology of Exia. 00 is the first and only current model that features the Twin Drive System. The Twin Drive System basically takes the GN Drive, which made the gundams in first season so powerful, fast, and awesome, and puts two GN Drives in the gundam. WHAT!?!? THATS DOUBLE THE AWESOMENESS RIGHT!?!? Well thats some what true.

The Twin Drive System requires both GN Drives to GN Particle output to be equal between the two drives. This causes many problems throughout the series. The only drive that could match up to some degree with the 0 Gundam GN Drive that they were using, was Exia's GN Drive. That drive however only allowed 00 to perform at 80% power, until the 0 Rasier was created to stablize 00's Twin Drive System. The system was unbeleve and just fun to watch.

00 was a suit with minimal weapondary, using its superior speed and movement capablity. It was oringally equiped with an upgraded GN Sword/Rifle and GN Swords. However it as then given a seven swords system, as Exia had. Howver this system was highly improved. The GN Buster Sword II was a massive weapon that was attached to the solar furnace of the left shoulder, and had 2 modes of operation, as a melee weapon and GN Field Generator. Medium sized heat swords mounted on the add-on parts at both knees, called GN Katars. A GN Long Blade II mounted on the right of the waist, it has an enhanced rifle mode. A GN Short Sword, used as a throwing projectile.

00 is the most tehnology advanced suit to date, however to me, it seemed a little too packed and big, which made it seem clunky. I thought that Exia's oringal design was great because it was very sleek and elegant, while this suit was more powerful, but it lost that look that Exia had.

#6 Gundam Deathscythe

Gundam Deathscythe is a suit from After Colony timeline(Introduced in Gundam Wing). Deathscythe isnt on this list because its teachnology, weapons, or importance to the story. Its just on the list causes its freakn badass. The suit is almost all black. It has a huge beam scythe! It has wings like a devil. Could this suit be any cooler?

The suit was designed for stealth and close combat. Its equipped with a active cloaking system, and a radar jammer. Besides the beam scythe, Deathscythe has a buster shield, 2 vulcan cannons, and 2 mounted machine guns.

Deathscythe wasn't important to the storyline of Gundam Wing, nor was it technologically advanced. It was just awesome! Combine the look and design of Deathscythe with the personality of pilot, Duo Maxwell, this suit was entertaining and fun to watch.

#7 Strike Freedom Gundam

Strike Freedom Gundam is a suit from the Cosmic Era timeline(Introduced in Gundam Seed Destiny). Strike Freedom is a suit with very high offensive and defensive abilities. Its just a powerhouse that uses its superior speed to fight. Strike Freedom is most effective in medium range combat, due to its arrangement of weaponry, however in the series it is mainly used in close combat situations, due to the preference of its pilot, Kira.

Its equipped with 2 beam rifles on its hips, 2 beam sabers, 3 rail cannons, and a long range beam cannon. However its most impressive weapon is its DRAGOON System. DRAGOON stands for Disconnected Rapid Armament Group Overlook Operation Network. It allows Strike Freedom to release any of the 8 wing attachments from its back, and send them to attack the enemy. These wings are each equipped with its own beam cannon and it does not need to be guided, or controlled by the pilot. Strike Freedom also has a radar jammer and a multi-lock weapons system.
Strike Freedom Gundam fits the critera for this list perfectly. It is technological advanced, important to the storyline, and cool looking. However even though it was cool looking, I though that it wasnt very sleek, and it looked like it was a little too much. Now people often say that about Wing Zero Custom, however Wing Zero Custom was such an elegant looking suit, so it worked. Strike Freedom, not so much.

#8 Altron Gundam

Altron Gundam is a suit from the After Colony timeline(Introduced in Gundam Wing). Altron was a speed combat unit. It reminded me of alot of martial arts as a watch it in combat. It makes sense as Chang Wufei, pilot of Altron, was a martial aritst.

Altron had 4 flamethrowers, 2 vulcan cannons, a twin beam trident, and 2 dragon fangs. Dragon Fangs were basically claws that would extend out and grab, crush, or do something else to the enemy. The twin bem trident was, as the name says, a beam saber with two tridents at the ends instead of blades. THe suit was extremely agile and fast, making most of its combat scenes fast and exciting to watch. Altron also had a unique system called Fighting Sight. It was installed in the shoulders and chest. During combat, it would instantly calculate the precise position, movement, and weak points of an opponent.

Altron had very unique weapons, which made it a very interesting suit. The fast and aglie combat style of Altron made the suit different from any other in the Gundam Wing series.

#9 Gundam Dynames

Gundam Dynames is a suit from the Anno Domini timeline(Introducted in Gundam 00). Dynames in a long range, sniper unit. It is completely focused on long range weaponry. It works great as a support unit, and is a complete foil for Exia, which is was the two suits make a great team.

It has 2 GN Beam Pistols, 2 Beam Sabers, 24 GN Missiles, a GN Shield System, and a GN Sniper Rifle. The GN Sniper Rifle and its sniper mode are the two more unique things about this suit. The sniper can be fired serveral times in succession, and it can be fired from Earth into space without losing an power or speed.When the suit is put into sniper mode, the forward crown would lower and cover the primary optics and a large mono-ocular sensor exposes the at the forehead for enhanced image targeting. The Full Defense system uses the shields on the sides of the suit to block incoming attacks. The shields can move in all directions and produce a protective GN field. Dynames also has the Trans-Am system.

Dynames is a unique suit, which first drew me to it. Its support capabilities are excellent, and I think that it plays a very important role in the 00 series, even though it is Exia's "sidekick".

#10 Gundam Heavyarms

Gundam Heavyarms is a suit from the After Colony timeline(Introduced in Gundam Wing). Heavyarms is just fun to watch. Heavyarms is a heavily armored suit with extremely high firepower. The design of the suit it just to be able to stand there, take damage, and deal out damage. Its just a big bruiser.

Heavyarms features one of the largest arsenals of any mobile suit in the franchise. It has 2 Machine Cannons, 6 Vulcan Cannons, 6 Homing Missiles, 24 Mirco Missiles, a Gatling Gun, a Beam Gatling Cannon, and a large Army Knife looking thing. All of these firewpower is just blasted at the enemy until it is destroyed, however a running joke throughout the Gundam Wing series was that Heavyarms would run at of ammo at just the worse moments, creating both comical and dramatic incidents.

Heavyarms is one of the many iconic suits from the Gundam Wing series, which is one of the reasons Gundam Wing is so popular. The enormous firepower that Heavyarms displayed just sticks in my mind and makes it just fun to watch.

Top Final Fantasy Games

2009-12-08T18:33:00.001-08:00

Ok now heres my list of the top Final Fantasy games.Now I am only doing the Main Series, meaning that Tactics and Crystal Chronicles will not be on the list. The only spin offs that I will be putting in are the direct sequals and prequals. However I will not include games that stray away from the Final Fantasy Format, like Dirge of Cerberus and Dissisdia. The list will have the 12 games of the main series, Final Fantasy X-2, and Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core. I have played all of the Final Fantasy Games, I am a huge fan. I am waiting impatiently for March 9th when I can finally start Final Fantasy XIII. Here is my list, feel free to comment.

	#1 Final Fantasy VII Final Fantasy VII is credited as "the game that sold the PlayStation", as well as allowing console role-playing games to find a place in markets outside Japan, and (as measured in copies sold) remains the most popular title in the series. Final Fantasy VII was both a critical and commercial success, and set several sales records. Within three days of its release in Japan, the game had sold 2.3 million copies. This popularity inspired thousands of retailers in North America to break street dates in September to meet public demand for the title. In the game's debut weekend in North America, it sold 330,000 copies, and had reached sales of 500,000 units in less than three weeks. The momentum built in the game's opening weeks continued for several months; Sony announced the game had sold one million copies on the continent by early December, prompting business analyst Edward Williams from Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co. to comment, RPG category and expanded the conventional audience with the launch of Final Fantasy VII". Final Fantasy VII has sold over 9.8 million copies worldwide as of December 2005, making it the highest-selling Final Fantasy title. The battle screen is a 3D representation of an area, such as a building's interior or an open grassland, in which the player commands the characters in battles against CPU-controlled enemies. While characters are super deformed on maps, the character models are more realistic and normal-scaled in combat. Final Fantasy VII is the first game in the series to have character models with fully-rendered polygons, rather than 2D sprites. The game uses the same Active Time Battle (ATB) system used in FFIV. The skill system is built around the use of materia; magical orbs that are placed in special slots on weapons and armor, allowing players to customize their characters' access to magic spells, summons, and special abilities. A modified form of Final Fantasy VI's "Desperation Attacks" appears in Final Fantasy VII as the "Limit Break". Unlike materia, each character has their own unique set of Limit Breaks, which are divided into four levels of strength. Final Fantasy VII is definately considered to be the best Final Fantasy game. A must play for any RPG fan.
	#2 Final Fantasy X Final Fantasy X was well-received by the media, and enjoyed high sales figures. Within four days of its release in Japan, the game had sold over 1.4 million copies in pre-orders. These figures exceeded the performances of Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy IX in a comparable period, and Final Fantasy X became the first PlayStation 2 game to reach two million and four million sold copies. In October 2007, the game was listed as the eighth best-selling game for the PlayStation 2. The game has sold 6.6 million copies as of January 2004.Final Fantasy X received the Best Game Award from the CESA GAME AWARDS for 2001-2002. Final Fantasy X came in third on IGN's "Top 25 PS2 Games of All Time" list in 2007. At the sixth annual Interactive Achievement Awards in 2003, it was nominated for "Outstanding Achievement in Animation" and "Console Role-Playing Game of the Year". The advancements in portraying realistic emotions achieved with Final Fantasy X through voice-overs and detailed facial expressions have since become a staple of the series. Traversing real-time 3D environments instead of an overworld map has also become a standard of the series. Final Fantasy X introduces the Conditional Turn-Based Battle (CTB) system in place of the series' traditional Active Time Battle (ATB) system. Limit Breaks, highly damaging special attacks, reappear in Final Fantasy X under the name "Overdrives". In this new incarnation of the feature, most of the techniques are interactive, requiring button inputs to increase their effectiveness. Final Fantasy X introduces an overhaul of the summoning system employed in previous games of the series. Whereas in previous titles a summoned creature would arrive, perform a single action, and then depart, the "aeons" of Final Fantasy X arrive and entirely replace the battle party, fighting in their place until either the enemy has been slain, the aeon itself has been defeated, or the aeon is dismissed by the player. As with previous titles in the series, you can develop and improve their characters by defeating enemies and acquiring items, though the traditional experience point system is replaced by a new system called the "Sphere Grid". Instead of characters gaining pre-determined statistic bonuses for their attributes after leveling up, each character gains a "sphere level" after collecting enough ability points (AP). Sphere levels allow players to move around the Sphere Grid, a predetermined grid of interconnected nodes consisting of various statistic and ability bonuses. Items called "spheres" are applied to these nodes, unlocking its function for the selected character. The Sphere Grid system also allows players to fully customize characters in contrast to their intended battle roles. The new system and improved graphics make this game a must play, and an important game in the series.
	#3 Final Fantasy VIII Final Fantasy VIII received positive reviews from critics and was commercially successful. Within two days of its North American release on September 9, 1999, Final Fantasy VIII became the top-selling video game in the United States, a position it held for more than three weeks. It grossed a total of more than $50 million in the thirteen weeks to follow, making it the fastest-selling Final Fantasy title. In Japan, it sold roughly 2.5 million units within the first four days of release. More than six million units were sold in total by the end of 1999. As of March 31, 2003, the game had shipped 8.15 million copies worldwide, with 3.7 million of those copies being shipped in Japan and 4.45 million abroad. The opening cut scene in Final Fantasy VIII was ranked second on Game Informer's list of "Top 10 Video Game Openings", and first by IGN. IGN additional named the game's ending the third best of any game for the PlayStation, while UGO.com named it one of the series' best and most memorable moments. Final Fantasy VIII was voted by readers of Japanese magazine Famitsu as the 22nd best game of all time in 2006, and named one of the twenty essential Japanese role-playing games by Gamasutra, stating "[t]here's a lot that Final Fantasy VIII does wrong, but there's even more that it does right". For Final Fantasy VIII, Hiroyuki Ito designed a battle system based on summon-able monsters, called "Guardian Forces", abbreviated in-game as "GF". Assigning ("junctioning") a GF onto a character allows the player to use battle commands beyond Attack with the main weapon, such as Magic, GF (to summon the junctioned GF and have it perform an action), and Item. While previous Final Fantasy titles provided each character with a limited pool of magic points that were consumed by each spell, in Final Fantasy VIII, spells are acquired ("drawn") either from enemies in battle, Draw Points distributed throughout the game's environments, or by refining items and cards. Spells are then stocked on characters as quantified inventory (up to 100 per spell and limited to 32 distinct spells per character) and are consumed one by one when used. Characters can also junction these spells onto their statistics—such as Strength, Vitality, and Luck—for various bonuses, provided the character has junctioned a Guardian Force. The junction system's flexibility affords the player a wide range of customization options.Characters in Final Fantasy VIII have unique special attacks called "Limit Breaks", as in Final Fantasy VII. While the Limit Breaks in Final Fantasy VII are triggered after sufficient damage has been received, in Final Fantasy VIII, the availability of Limit Breaks depends on a character's current health—a Limit Break is more likely to be available to a character with low health. Final Fantasy VIII used an Experience point and level system quite different from previous games in the series. While EXP is awarded after battling and defeating enemies, who are predominantly encountered randomly, and contribute to the continued strengthening and level-gaining of the characters, here the similarity ends. While previous levels required ever-increasing amounts of EXP to surmount, FF8 characters gain a level after accumulating 1000 points. Enemies around the world, furthermore, remain on equal level with the characters, as opposed to most RPGs where enemies from previously-visited locations in the game/plot are weak and easily defeated. The field map consists of controllable 3D characters overlaid on one or more 2D pre-renderedCPU-controlled enemies take place. The interface is menu-driven, as in previous titles, but with the typical weapon and armor systems removed and new features present, such as the Junction system. Also featured is a collectible card-based minigame called "Triple Triad". backgrounds, which represent environmental locations such as towns or forests. The battle screen is a 3D model of a location such as a street or room, where turn-based fights between playable characters and
	#4 Final Fantasy III Final Fantasy III was thought to be typical of RPGs of its day, with a high degree of difficulty requiring a significant amount of grinding. It was influential in the development of the magic system and job systems of Final Fantasy XI. In 2006, readers of the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu voted the original Final Fantasy III the eighth-best video game of all-time. As of March 31, 2003, the game had shipped 1.4 million copies in Japan, and is regarded as one of the top-selling games of 1994. The reception for the remake on the Nintendo DS has been mostly positive with high sales and fair reviews from video game critics. IGN notes that "interest in FFIII should come as no surprise given...the popularity of the DS". The game sold 500,000 units within the first week in Japan, beating Square Enix's original prediction that they would only sell 350,000. As of August 6, 2007, the game has sold 990,000 units in Japan and 460,000 units in North America. As of August 8, 2008, it has sold 480,000 units in Europe. Figurines of the characters from the game have been created. Final Fantasy III combines elements of the first two Final Fantasy games with new features. The turn-based combat system remains in place from the first two games, but hit points are now shown above the target following attacks or healing actions, rather than captioned as in the previous two games. Auto-targeting for physical attacks after a friendly or enemy unit is killed is also featured for the first time. Unlike subsequent games in the series, however, magical attacks are not auto-targeted in the same fashion. The experience point system featured in Final Fantasy makes a return following its absence from Final Fantasy II. The character class system featured in the first game in the franchise also reappears, with some modifications. Whereas in the original game the player chooses each character's class alignment at the start of the game, Final Fantasy III introduces the "job system" for which the series would later become famous. Final Fantasy III is the first game in the series to feature special battle commands such as "Steal" or "Jump", each of which is associated with a particular job ("Steal" is the Thief's specialty, while "Jump" is the Dragoon's forte). Certain jobs also feature innate, non-battle abilities, such as the Thief's ability to open passages that would otherwise require a special key item. It is also the first game in the series to feature summoned creatures which are called with the "Summon" skill. Final Fantasy III for the Nintendo DS features overhauls to the job system, including the rebalancing of the classes, the addition of new abilities, new events, a new crystal and dungeon, and the removal of capacity points. Unlike the original Famicom version, most of the jobs remain useful for the entire game. Also new are special job-specific items available only if a character has fully mastered a certain job. In place of capacity points, each character incurs a small temporary penalty for switching jobs. This penalty decreases the character's statistics for the next 0 to 10 battles. This period is called a "Job Transition Phase" and its length is based on how similar the new job is to the old job, and how proficient the character already is at the new job.
	#5 Final Fantasy IX Final Fantasy IX did not sell as well as Final Fantasy VII or Final Fantasy VIII in either Japan or the United States. As of March 31, 2003, the game had sold 5.30 million copies worldwide. The game was voted the 24th-best game of all time by readers of the Japanese magazine Famitsu and 42nd by the users of the website GameFAQs. Final Fantasy IX offers a new approach to town exploration with Active Time Events (ATE), which provide character development, special items, and prompts for key story-altering decisions. At specific points, the player may view events that are occurring simultaneously. ATE is occasionally used to simultaneously control two teams when the party is divided to solve puzzles and navigate mazes. Final Fantasy IX deviates from the style of customizable characters featured in the last two titles by reviving the character class concept, which designates a character to a certain role in battle. Reviews for the game were generally positive, with praise to the graphics and nostalgic elements. Critics pointed out that the strength of the game lies on the gameplay, character development, and visual representation. The characters and graphics received positive reviews. Although IGN feels the in-depth character traits in Final Fantasy IX could be generally found in other Final Fantasy games, they are nevertheless engaging and sympathetic.
	#6 Final Fantasy: X-2 Final Fantasy X-2 set several precedents in the Final Fantasy series aside from being the first direct sequel in video game form and the second sequel in the franchise. It was the first game in the series to feature only three playable characters, an all-female main cast, and early access to most of the game's locations. Additionally, it featured a variation of the character classes system—one of the series' classic gameplay concepts—and is one of the few games in the series to feature multiple endings. Though a direct sequel to Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2 does not duplicate its predecessor's gameplay; instead, it innovates on traditional elements. Like pre-Final Fantasy X installments, characters "level up" after a certain number of battles, by gaining pre-determined statConditional Turn-Based Battle system in bonuses. The Final Fantasy X has been replaced by a faster-paced variation of the Final Fantasy series' traditional Active Time Battle (ATB) system. Whenever a random enemy is encountered, the ATB system is used. Under this enhanced version of the ATB, playable characters may interrupt an enemy while they are preparing to take action, in lieu of waiting for an enemy's turn to finish before attacking. Furthermore, it is possible for both characters and enemies to chain attacks together for greater damage. Another departure from the gameplay of Final Fantasy X is in its world navigation system: players can visit almost every location in Spira from early in the game, transported via the airship Celsius. This is a deviation from the overall Final Fantasy series, where the most efficient means of transportation is typically not obtained until late in the game. Final Fantasy X-2 reintroduces the series' classic character class system through the inclusion of dresspheres. Because the party never grows beyond three characters, switching characters during battle is unnecessary. Instead, the player can switch character classes, providing access to different abilities. The playable characters are allowed to equip one dressphere at a time, each providing different battle functions and abilities. Characters can learn new skills for each dressphere with the use of Ability Points (AP). AP is obtained by defeating enemies and by the use of items and abilities for that sphere. Abilities to be learned are chosen in the main menu. During battle, AP is given to that ability until it is learned. Each character can access as many as six dresspheres at a time, depending on the specific properties of the Garment Grid they are wearing. The Garment Grid is a placard featuring a geometric shape connected by nodes. These nodes are slots that can be filled with dresspheres, allowing characters to change character classes during their turn in battle. Most Garment Grids possess Gates that when passed through grant the user a complimentary buff. As with equipped items, Garment Grids often provide characters with a variety of enhancements and extra abilities. The game features diverse Garment Grids and dresspheres which can be discovered as the game progresses. While normal dresspheres can be used by all three playable characters, each character can acquire a dressphere that only they can use. These dresspheres can only be activated after a character has changed into all of the classes designated to her Garment Grid in a single battle. When a character activates one of these dresspheres, the other characters are replaced by two controllable support units. Within nine months of its Japanese release, Final Fantasy X-2 sold a million copies in North America, and nearly four million copies worldwide. It was voted as the 32nd best game of all time by readers of the Japanese video game magazine Famitsu, which also gave it a 34 out of 40. The English release of Final Fantasy X-2 won the Seventh Annual Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences award in 2004 for "Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance" in recognition of the character Rikku.
	#7 Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core Crisis Core is a game the PlayStation Portable. The game is a prequel to Final Fantasy VII and is also the sixth installment in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. the player controls the main character Zack through the game's storyline. During the main story of the game, the player moves Zack through and between open areas, allowing him to talk with non-playable characters, interact with the environment, or encounter monsters in battle. At any save point in these areas, the player may opt to take one of many side missions that are available; if selected, Zack is moved to a special area to complete the mission, usually to defeat one or more monsters. If the mission is successfully completed, the player is rewarded with one or more items, and often one or more new missions become available. Whether the mission is completed successfully or if Zack falls in battle, Zack is returned to the save point at the end. If Zack should fall in battle during the main story combat, the player will be forced to restart from their last saved game.Crisis Core uses a real-time combat system in which the player can move Zack around, initiate attacks, special abilities, spells, or item use, and have Zack block or dodge an attack. Zack's abilities in battle are set by what materia that he is equipped with. Up to six materia can be equipped, and can impart special attacks, magic spells, or passive bonuses. Materia can be fused together to make more powerful versions with improved bonuse. Crisis Core uses a slot machine-like mechanic to affect the combat system. The "Digital Mind Wave" (DMW) features two sets of three spinning wheels; one set with numbers one through seven, and another with pictures of characters that Zack befriends during the game. The DMW automatically spins as long as Zack has at least 10 Soldier Points; Soldier Points are awarded to the player by defeating foes. If the DMW stops with the same three pictures lined up, Zack will then perform an appropriate Limit Break attack or ability that can greatly harm an enemy or significantly heal Zack. Additionally, in this case, if the number slots give two or more of the same number, the materia in that slot will power up. Should the numbers line up as "777", Zack will gain an experience level, increasing his health, soldier points, and ability points in combat. Crisis Core sold 350,000 copies in Japan on its release date, including the 77,777 Limited Edition PSP/Crisis Core bundles. Square Enix recently announced that Crisis Core was its best-selling game across all regions from April through September with 710,000 copies sold in Japan. In March 2008, Crisis Core sold 301,600 copies upon its first month of release in the United States, making Crisis Core the second best-selling game for the PSP during the month of March and the sixth best-selling game overall. As of March 31, 2009, Square Enix announced that Crisis Core had sold 2,100,000 units worldwide, with 830,000 of those sales coming from Japan. About 840,000 units of the game, including 550,000 in Europe, were sold during Square Enix's 2009 fiscal year. Crisis Core has received generally positive reviews. With individual scores of 9/9/8/9, the game received an overall rating of 35/40 points from Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu. GameSpot gave the game a score of 9/10, praising its plot, as well as its overall presentation. Because of this, the game was credited as an "Editor's Choice". IGN gave it 8.5/10, citing its great overall presentation and story. It also received a place amongst the "Editor's Choice" gallery of recommended games for the PSP platform. On Metacritic, it has an average score of 83/100. It was rated 9.0/10 by GameSpot saying it's one of the best games for the PSP. It was also nominated by GameSpot for the "Best of 2008" awards, in "Best Story", "Best RPG Game" and "Best PSP Game" categories; it won "Best PSP Game of 2008".
	#8 Final Fantasy XII Final Fantasy XII sold more than 1,764,000 copies in its first week in Japan. The total number of copies sold stood over 2,150,000 after five weeks of release. A Square Enix conference report stated that Final Fantasy XII sold more than 2.38 million copies in Japan in the two weeks since its March 16, 2006 release, In North America, Final Fantasy XII shipped approximately 1.5 million copies in its first week. As of March 2007, the game has shipped over 5.2 million copies worldwide. It is the fourth best-selling PlayStation 2 game of 2006 worldwide. the player directly controls the on screen character from a third-person perspective to interact with people, objects, and enemies. Unlike previous games in the series, the player can also control the camera with the right analog stick, allowing for a 360° view of the surroundings. While in towns and cities, the player may only see from the perspective of Vaan, although any character may be controlled in battle. The world of Final Fantasy XII is rendered to scale relative to the characters in it; instead of a caricature of the character roaming around miniature terrain, as found in the earlier Final Fantasy games, every area is represented proportionally. The player navigates the world by foot, by Chocobo, or by airship. Players may save their game to a memory card using save crystals or gate crystals, and may use the latter to teleport to other gate crystals. An in-game bestiary provides incidental information about the world of Final Fantasy XII. Final Fantasy XII restructures the system of earning gil, the currency of the Final Fantasy games. Instead of gil, most enemies drop "loot" which can be sold at shops. This ties into a new battle mechanic which rewards the player with improved loot for slaying a particular type of monster multiple times in a row. Selling different types of loot also unlocks a bazaar option in shops, which provides items at a lower cost, or items exclusive to the Bazaar. Battles in Final Fantasy XII occur in the open field; however, menus are still used to issue commands to the characters. Combat unfolds in real time, using a new system called "Active Dimension Battle" (ADB), which allows the player to battle in the overworld instead of in a separate battle screen. The player may issue commands to any of the three characters in the battle party at will; however, certain "guest" characters are controlled by the game's AI. Battle commands include Attack, Magicks & Technicks, Mist, Gambits, and Items. Using these abilities, the player must destroy enemies before being defeated. "Random encounters" have been eliminated in Final Fantasy XII; the transition to a separate battle screen like in other Final Fantasy titles is absent. Instead, enemies are visible in the overworld before an engagement and the player may choose to fight or avoid them in open combat. nother new feature in Final Fantasy XII is the "gambit" system, which allows the player to program each character to perform certain commands in battle in response to specified conditions. Final Fantasy XII introduces "Quickenings", a new Limit Break system unique compared to those in previous games in the series. Characters learn Quickenings by progressing to specific panels on the License Board. The License Board is an array of panels that contain "licenses"—permits which allow a character to perform certain actions. The board is split into two parts; the upper part contains Magick, Technick, Accessory, and Augment (stat increases and other permanent buffs) licenses, and the bottom part is filled mostly with Weapon and Armor licenses. As in many role-playing games, characters level up each time they earn a set number of experience points from defeating enemies; each "level" gained increases the character's statistics, thus improving their performance in battle. The game was critically acclaimed by many reviewers outside of Japan even before its release in those territories. It was praised for its seamless transitions between full motion video segments and the in-game engine, and was voted number one for Best Art Style on IGN's weekly Top Ten. Newtype USA named Final Fantasy XII its "Game of the Month" for November 2006, praised the gameplay, graphics, and story, and called it "the best RPG to have been released for any Sony platform".
	#9 Final Fantasy IV In Japan, nearly 1.5 million copies of Final Fantasy IV's Super Famicom version were sold. As of 2006, nearly 3 million copies of the game (including original and PlayStation re-releases) have been sold around the world. Final Fantasy IV, the player controls a large cast of characters and completes quests to advance the story. Characters move and interact with people and enemies on a field map, which may represent a variety of settings, such as towers, caves, and forests. Travel between areas occurs on a world map. The player can use towns to replenish strength, buy equipment, and discover clues about their next destination. Conversely, the player fights monsters at random intervals on the world map and in dungeons. In battle, the player has the option to fight, use magic or an item, retreat, change character positions, parry, or pause. Certain characters have special options. The game was the first in the series to allow the player to control up to five characters in your party; previous games had limited the party to four. Player characters and monsters have hit points (HP), with the characters' HP captioned below the main battle screen. He game's story is linear—the player can usually advance the game through only one path, although limited side quests are available. Final Fantasy IV introduced Square's Active Time Battle (ATB) system, which differed from the turn-based designs of previous RPGs. The ATB system centers on the player inputting orders for the characters in real time during battles. An important precedent, ATB was used in many subsequent Square games. Each character always is balanced through certain strengths and weaknesses; for instance, a strong magic user may have low defense, while a physical fighter may have low agility. Like other Final Fantasy games, characters gain new, more powerful abilities with battle experience. Major reviewers have called Final Fantasy IV one of the greatest video games of all time, noting that it pioneered many now common console role-playing game features, including "the whole concept of dramatic storytelling in an RPG." Reviewers have praised the game for its graphics, gameplay and score. Reviewers have noted that Final Fantasy IV was one of the first role-playing games to feature a complex, involving plot. Nintendo Power proclaimed it set a "new standard of excellence" for role-playing games. It would later place ninth and twenty-eighth in the "100 Greatest Nintendo Games" lists of issues 100 and 200, respectively. In addition, the magazine GamePro rated it a perfect 5 out of 5 score in its March 1992 issue. In 2005 IGN ranked it as twenty-sixth on its list of greatest games of all time; it is the highest rated Final Fantasy title on the list, but in 2007, the game was ranked #55, behind Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy Tactics. Famitsu released a reader poll in 2006 ranking it as the sixth best game ever made.
	#10 Final Fantasy VI Final Fantasy VI received positive reviews from critics and was commercially successful. As of March 31, 2003, the game had shipped 3.48 million copies worldwide, with 2.62 million of those copies being shipped in Japan and 860,000 abroad. Like previous Final Fantasy installments, Final Fantasy VI consists of four basic modes of gameplay: an overworld map, town and dungeon field maps, a battle screen, and a menu screen. The overworld map is a scaled-down version of the game's fictional world, which the player uses to direct characters to various locations. As with most games in the series, the three primary means of travel across the overworld are by foot, chocobo, and airship. With a few plot-driven exceptions, enemies are randomly encountered on field maps and on the overworld when traveling by foot. The menu screen is where the player makes such decisions as which characters will be in the traveling party, which equipment they wield, the magic they learn, and the configuration of the gameplay. It is also used to track experience points and levels. The game's plot develops as the player progresses through towns and dungeons. Town citizens will offer helpful information and some residents own item or equipment shops. Later in the game, visiting certain towns will activate side-quests. Dungeons appear as a variety of areas, including caves, sewers, forests, and buildings. These dungeons often have treasure chests containing rare items that are not available in most stores. Some dungeons feature puzzles and mazes, which require the player to divide the characters into multiple parties. Combat in Final Fantasy VI is menu-based, in which the player selects an action from a list of such options as Fight, Magic, and Item. A maximum of four characters may be used in battles, which uses the series' traditional Active Time Battle system, or ATB. Under this system, each character has an action bar that replenishes itself at a rate dependent on their speed statistic. When a character's action bar is filled, the player may assign an action. Characters in Final Fantasy VI can be equipped with a wide variety of weapons, armor and accessories (known as "Relics") to increase their statistics and obtain special abilities. Most of this equipment can be used by several different characters, and each character may equip up to two Relics. Relics have a variety of uses and effects, some of which alter basic battle commands, allow characters to use multiple weapons, provide permanent status changes during battle or use protective magical spells in response to being near death. The game garnered rave reviews upon it's original release. GamePro rated it as 5 out of 5, stating that "Characters, plotlines, and multiple-choice scenarios all combine to form one fantastic game!" Electronic Gaming Monthly granted a 9 out of 10 and named it game of the month, commenting that "RPGs with this much depth and realism come once in a blue moon". It won several awards from Electronic Gaming Monthly in their 1994 video game awards, including Best Music for a Cartridge-Based Game, Best Role-Playing Game, and Best Japanese Role-Playing Game. Additionally, they later ranked the game ninth in their 1997 list of the 100 greatest console games of all timeNintendo Power declared the game "the RPG hit of the decade", noting its improved sound and graphics over its predecessors, and the game's broadened thematic scope. Final Fantasy VI was ported to the Sony PlayStation by TOSE and re-released by Square in Japan and North America during 1999. Final Fantasy VI was ported a second time by TOSE and re-released as Final Fantasy VI Advance by Square Enix in Japan on November 30, 2006, by Nintendo in North America on February 5, 2007 and in Europe on June 29, 2007.
	#11 Final Fantasy I Final Fantasy has been well-received by critics and commercially successful; the original release sold 400,000 copies. As of March 31, 2003, the game, including all re-releases at the time, had shipped 1.99 million copies worldwide, with 1.21 million of those copies being shipped in Japan and 780,000 abroad. As of November 19, 2007, the PlayStation Portable version has shipped 140,000 copies. Final Fantasy has four basic modes of gameplay: an overworld map, town and dungeon maps, a battle screen, and a menu screen. The overworld map is a scaled-down version of the game's fictional world, which the player uses to direct characters to various locations. The primary means of travel across the overworld is by foot, but a canoe, a ship, and an airship become available as the player progresses. With the exception of some battles in preset locations or with bosses, enemies are randomly encountered on field maps and on the overworld map when traveling by foot, canoe, or ship, and must either be fought or fled from. The player begins the game by choosing four characters to form a party, which lasts for the duration of the game.The game's plot develops as the player progresses through towns and dungeons. ombat in Final Fantasy is menu-based: the player selects an action from a list of options such as Fight, Magic, and Item. Battles are turn-based and continue until either side flees or is defeated. If the player's party wins, each character gains experience and gold; if it flees, it is returned to the map screen; and if each character in the party dies, the game is over. Each character has an "occupation", or character class, with different attributes and abilities that are either innate or can be acquired. Final Fantasy was one of the most influential early console role-playing games, and played a major role in legitimizing and popularizing the genre. According to IGN's Matt Casamassina, Final Fantasy's storyline had a deeper and more engaging story than the original Dragon Quest (known as Dragon Warrior in North America). Many modern critics have pointed out that the game is poorly paced by contemporary standards, and involves much more time wandering in search of random battle encounters to raise their experience levels and money than it does exploring and solving puzzles. Other reviewers find the level-building and exploration portions of the game as the most amusing ones.Final Fantasy appeared in the Japanese magazine Famitsu's Top 100 games list, where readers voted it the 63rd best game of all time. GameFAQs users made a similar list in 2005, which ranked Final Fantasy at 76th. It was rated the 49th best game made on a Nintendo system in Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games list.
	#12 Final Fantasy V Statistics include hit points, the amount of damage a character can receive; strength, the power of the character's physical attacks; and magic, the potency of the character's magical spells. Final Fantasy XII became the sixth game to receive a perfect score from the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, making it the first Final Fantasy game and the first PlayStation 2 title to do so. It is also the second Yasumi Matsuno title to garner a perfect score, the first being Vagrant Story. The game was praised for its graphics, scenarios, game system, and the freshness it brought to the Final Fantasy series. For their part, The game is also considered by many as the weakest and most difficult installment of the series. In March 2006, Final Fantasy V has sold 2.45 million units on the Super Famicom, while the Japanese Game Boy Advance version has sold nearly 260,000 copies as of December 2007. Final Fantasy V includes many standard role-playing elements as well as renovated features introduced in earlier Final Fantasy games. Characters grow in strength by gaining experience points from random encounters with monsters on the overworld or in a dungeon. Experience culminates in a "level up" in which party members' attributes, such as hit points or magic power, increase. A menu-based management system allows the player to equip, heal, and change each character's selected job outside of battle as well as to save the game's progress. The player can traverse the overworld by foot, Chocobo, hydra-guided ship, wind drake, or airship depending on the situation. Most towns scattered across the world contain inns for resting, shops for purchasing equipment, and people from whom the player can gain information. The player may also embark on several side quests that become available as the story progresses. Final Fantasy V is the second Final Fantasy game to use the Active Time Battle (ATB) system, in which time flows continuously for both the player and enemies during combat. The main feature of the gameplay of Final Fantasy V is the Job System. Players can choose jobs for their character to learn. This system allows each character to gain special abilities and potentially master up to 22 unique jobs (26 in the Game Boy Advance version). Each character begins with a default "Freelancer" class, and as the player acquires crystal shards, new jobs become available. A separate form of experience—Ability Points (ABP)—is used to improve characters' job levels, while they continue to earn regular experience points. As job levels increase, new skills become available for that character to use in a new form of customization: characters learn job-specific abilities that may be carried over to a new job. In March 2006, Final Fantasy V was ranked as number 15 on Japanese magazine Famitsu's reader list of top 100 video games of all time. While not initially released in North America, the game received mixed reception from import reviews. 1UP.com's staff stated that while the game's story was very weak, the gameplay was "another story", heavily praising the job system and the feature to combine abilities from different job classes, and gave it a score of B-. Allgame's review shared similar sentiments regarding the storyline and job system, adding praise for the addition of hidden events and items for players to search for, giving the game a score of 3.5 out of 5. RPGamer found that the game improved on the visual presentation, menu system, and overall field navigation of Final Fantasy IV, but the "maddeningly high encounter rate", "average sound selection", and "washed out" color palette hurt the game's presentation, giving it a score of 5/10. Final Fantasy V was ported by TOSE to the Sony PlayStation and re-released in Japan on March 19, 1998. Final Fantasy V was ported a second time by TOSE to the Nintendo Game Boy Advance as Final Fantasy V Advance, which was released on October 12, 2006 in Japan, November 6, 2006 in North America, and April 20, 2007 in Europe.
	#13 Final Fantasy II As of March 31, 2003, Final Fantasy II, including all re-releases at the time, had shipped 1.28 million copies worldwide, with 1.08 million of those copies being shipped in Japan and 200,000 abroad. As of November 19, 2007, the PlayStation Portable version had shipped 90,000 copies in Japan and 70,000 in North America. Despite these high sales, the initial release version of the game has sold the least copies of any out of the the first ten main Final Fantasy series. inal Fantasy II features gameplay similar to that of its predecessor, Final Fantasy. The player can freely roam an overworld containing several towns and dungeons. A menu-based system allows the player to outfit each character with equipment and up to two—often disposable—items for battle. Magic spells are assigned to the character from the item menu, and certain spells, such as "Cure", can be used outside of battle. The player can also save their progress on the overworld. Weapons, armor, items, and magic spells can be purchased at shops, and townspeople provide useful information for the player's progression through the game. One new feature is the "Word Memory" system: when in conversation with NPCs, the player can "ask" about and "memorize" special keywords or phrases, which can later be repeated to other NPCs to gain more information or unlock new actions. Similarly, there exist a handful of special items that can be shown to NPCs during conversation or used on certain objects, which have the same effect. Characters and monsters are no longer separated into separate windows in the battle screen as they were in Final Fantasy I, and players can see their current and total hit points below the battle. Players can also fight with less than four characters in their party, which was not possible in the first game. Final Fantasy II introduced the chocobo, the signature Final Fantasy mascot, which lets characters ride to a location at great speed without being attacked by enemies. Unlike the original Final Fantasy, players could not upgrade their characters' classes. The game is also one of the few games in the series to not use experience-based levels. Instead, each character participating in battle develops depending on what actions they take. inal Fantasy II uses the same turn-based battle system seen in the original Final Fantasy, with battle parties consisting of up to four characters at a time. The game introduces a "back row" in battle, within which characters or enemies are immune to most physical attacks, but can be harmed with bows and magical attacks.The original release of the game was reviewed in 1993 in Dragon #199 by Sandy Petersen in the "Eye of the Monitor" column. Petersen gave the game 4 out of 5 stars, praising the difficulty and length of the game. He also applauded the story, which he compared favorably to those of novels and movies rather than the simplistic plots found in many contemporary video games; this led him to become "more attached to my party in Final Fantasy II than in any other computer game I’ve played" The PSP version met average reviews. GameSpot called the level up system "chaotic" and noted that unlike previous versions, this was shipped without a version of Final Fantasy I. IGN also complained about the gameplay, saying, "If you're the type of player who puts a higher emphasis on more satisfying gameplay experiences, however, then FF2 definitely isn't the upgrade it appears to be." Both sources praised the graphics, however. GameSpy, however, while echoing similar complaints about the "quirky and sometimes confusing" leveling system and praises for the graphics, also applauded the supposed decrease in difficulty of the game, which in the reviewers opinion eliminated the necessity to abuse the leveling system in order to progress in the game as the player did in the original game. Final Fantasy II was again released in a new format in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance as part of Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls. To celebrate the Final Fantasy series' 20th anniversary, the game was released in Japan for the PlayStation Portable in 2007. The remake features improved graphics, the cutscenes and soundtrack from Final Fantasy Origins, and the bonus quest and dungeons from Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls. It additionally includes two new dungeons in which more character-specific equipment can be found, alongside powerful enemies and a new boss.The release for the Japanese Wii Virtual Console on June 16, 2009 is the most recent release; this version is identical to the original NES release, incorporating none of the updates of the later versions.
	#14 Final Fantasy XI Final Fantasy XI Online, is a MMORPG. It was released in Japan on Sony's PlayStation 2 on May 16, 2002, and was released for PC in November 2002. The PC version was released in North America on October 28, 2003, and the PlayStation 2 version on March 23, 2004. An Xbox 360 version was released worldwide in April 2006 for all regions, as the system's first MMORPG and the first cross-platform MMORPG. Final Fantasy XI, in addition to being an MMORPG, differs from previous titles in the series in several ways. Unlike the predefined main characters of previous Final Fantasy titles, players are able to customize their characters in limited ways, including race, gender, face, hair color, body size, job, and allegiance. Also diverging from previous games in the series, all battles are real time, and enemies are no longer randomly encountered, a trend continued in FFXII.There are 32 public game worlds, a cluster of servers, available for play with approximately 15,000 to 20,000 players in each. The servers are named after summoned monsters from previous Final Fantasy titles, such as Ifrit and Diabolos. Players have the ability to move between servers, though Square-Enix charges a "world transfer" fee to do so. There are no region-specific or system-specific servers, and unlike most online games, players of different languages play in the same world and can interact through automatic language translation from a library of translated phrases. The game servers are run by Square-Enix as part of their PlayOnline network. Players have the option of using any combination of a keyboard, mouse, and controller to play Final Fantasy XI. The heads-up display in Final Fantasy XI consists of a log window, menus, and several game information elements. The log window at the bottom of the screen displays system messages, battle messages, and text input by other players. Players may choose to filter what appears in the log window. "Menus" allow the player to access different commands, status windows, and configuration options. The "action command menu" appears just above the log window and gives the player several options to interact with the game world. Several menu options are available through the use of keyboard shortcuts, as well. Square Enix also allows players to communicate by text messaging with people playing the game online. Gameplay in Final Fantasy XI consists of two major components: missions, through which the main storyline of the game is told, and quests, which do not advance the main storyline, but fill out the game's fantasy world. Battles in Final Fantasy XI take place in the same world in which players move around, unlike previous Final Fantasy games in which a battle would take place in a new screen. Unlike many MMORPGs, there is no way to attack other players. Final Fantasy XI's job system is largely adapted from Final Fantasy III. Each job has unique abilities, which must be activated by the player in order to come into effect, last a limited time, and have a "cooldown" period before they can be used again; traits, which are passive abilities that are always in effect; and a special "2-hour" ability that performs some extraordinary function and has an extraordinary 2-hour-long cooldown period to go with it. In addition to completing quests and missions, players can participate in several side-minigames and other activities. The user base for the PlayStation 2 version was truncated initially because of limited sales of the PlayStation 2's hard drive and network adapters that were needed for the game. The Japanese release of Rise of the Zilart was the number one selling game when it debuted with 90,000 copies sold in the first week. The Final Fantasy XI All-in-One Pack was number 36 and Wings of the Goddess was number 40 on the top 50 best-selling Xbox 360 games in Japan as of December 2007. For the April–September 2004 financial period, Square Enix saw online gaming, particularly Final Fantasy XI, sales increase by 101 percent and operating profit increase by 230.9 percent. Revenues held steady from subscription services in the summer of 2006; in the fall, however, Square acknowledged that online subscription revenues were "unsatisfactory", despite the steady performance of Final Fantasy XI. In December 2002, Square Enix president Yoichi Wada announced that there were over 200,000 subscribers to Final Fantasy XI, allowing the company to break even and start making a profit. There were between 200,000 and 300,000 active players daily in 2006. As of August 14, 2006 the Xbox 360 version was the sixth most played game on Xbox Live. Famitsu rated Final Fantasy XI 38 out of 40. Computer and Video Games Magazine noted that it was one of the most welcoming MMORPG's despite the cumbersome initial registration and setup. Final Fantasy XI was awarded the grand prize from the Japan's Consumer Entertainment Software Association (CESA) for 2002–2003 along with Taiko no Tatsujin. It has also received GameSpy's 2003 PC MMORPG Game of the Year Award and IGN's Game of the Month for March 2004, citing the game's huge customization and its successful cross-platform and cross-language game world.

All MLB Team

2009-11-19T12:10:00.001-08:00

Ok so I've been very busy lately. Its taken a while but finally finished it. Heres the All MLB Team, with current players. Like the All Time MLB Team, steroids will not play a factor on my decisions and choices. Same thing as the All Time MLB Team, I am selecting 8 position players, 1 DH, 5 starting pitchers, and 1 closing pitcher. Once again feel free to comment

	C Joe Patrick Mauer 6'4" 215lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Left Joe Mauer plays for the Minnesota Twins. Mauer is considered by many to be the best catcher in the sport and has been said by some, including Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., to have the best swing in baseball. In his breakout 2006 season, Mauer became the first catcher in major league history to lead both leagues in batting average and the first American League catcher to win the batting title, finishing with an average of .347. In 2008, he became the first American League catcher to win the batting title twice when he led the AL with an average of .328, and in 2009, he became the first catcher to lead in average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage in a single year. He also won his third batting title in 2009, leading all of Major League Baseball with a .365 average, which is the highest among catchers in MLB history.
	1B Albert Jose Pujols 6'3" 230lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Albert Pujols plays for the St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in modern Major League Baseball; this is due in part to his impressive accrual of statistics and records before the age of 30. Nearing the end of the 2009 season, Pujols currently ranks within the top 15 players in major league history in four statistical categories: on-base percentage (twelfth), slugging percentage (fourth), on-base plus slugging (OPS; fourth), and adjusted OPS (tied for sixth). He also ranks in the top 500 players in major league history in a variety of statistical categories, and is a two-time MVP. From 2001 to 2005, Pujols hit 201 home runs, second all-time for the most hit in a player's first five seasons. By 2009, he had reached the 350-homer plateau at the age of 29—the third-youngest to do so—and surpassed Ralph Kiner's record for most home runs in his first nine seasons. In so doing, Pujols became the first player to hit 30 or more home runs in the first nine seasons of his career, as well the second player to have 100 or more RBIs in the same timespan. Pujols holds the Cardinals' franchise record for most career grand slams; he broke the record of nine previously held by Stan Musial.Musial and Pujols are also two of only four players in history to have a career batting average above .330 and less than 500 strikeouts at the time of their 300th home runs. In his first 5,000 career at bats, Pujols had amassed 372 doubles, 358 home runs, and 14 triples for a total of 744 extra-base hits, the most in NL history,and is the second player in Major League Baseball to post nine consecutive seasons with 30 doubles, a .300 batting average, 30 home runs, and 100 runs batted in or better. He has scored 100 or more runs in eight of his nine seasons. He currently has eight career walk-off home runs. With his 129th RBI in 2009, he passed "Sunny Jim" Bottomley for third place in Cardinals' history in a career with 1,106. In the field, Pujols has set the Cardinals' franchise for the most assists by a first baseman in a single game (seven). He also set the all-time Cardinals' and National League record for assists by a first baseman in a season (182) in 2009, then in the last game of the 2009 season, broke Bill Buckner's 1985 major league mark of 184 with his 185th. Keith Hernandez held the previous Cardinals' record with 146 assists in 1979, and Mark Grace in 1990 held the old NL record with 181.
	2B Chase Cameron Utley 6'1" 185lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Left Chase Utley plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. Utley has demonstrated versatility as a player and as an athlete, spending some time at first base as well. As his fielding has improved over his career, Utley is seen in combination with Jimmy Rollins as one of the best middle-infield combinations in the NL. Utley is considered by fans to be a team leader, alongside Rollins and Ryan Howard. He received the Silver Slugger Award in 2006 for being the best hitting second baseman in the National League. He also batted .309 in 2006.Utley finished the 2007 season with a .332 batting average, 22 home runs, 103 RBIs and 48 doubles (second in the National League). He helped propel the Phillies to their first playoff appearance in fourteen seasons as the team capped a dramatic comeback by clinching the National League East division title on the final day of the regular season. Utley's offensive performance also earned him a Silver Slugger Award for the second consecutive season. At the end of the 2008 regular season, with 33 home runs, 104 RBI, and a team high 177 hits, Utley helped the Phillies get into the 2008 playoffs, and win their first National League pennant since 1993 and first World Series title since 1980 (the second ever World Series title for the team). Utley batted 3 for 18 (.167) in the World Series, but hit two home runs and walked five times as well. Overall, he batted .220 in the postseason (11 for 50). In 2009 he was named # 6 on the Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball. A panel of 100 baseball people, many of them members of the Baseball Hall of Fame and winners of major baseball awards, was polled to arrive at the list.
	3B Alex Emmanuel Rodriguez 6'3" 225lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right A-Rod currently plays third base for the New York Yankees. He previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez is considered one of the best all–around baseball players of all time. He is the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs, breaking the record Jimmie Foxx set in 1939. He is a 12-time AL All-Star, and a 3-time AL MVP (2003, 2005, 2007). He won 10 AL Silver Slugger Awards, 4 AL Hank Aaron Awards (2001–03, 2007), 2 AL Gold Gloves, and Award (SS) (2002, 2003). He is a 5-time AL Runs Leader (1996, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007), a 4-time AL Total Bases Leader (1996, 2001, 2002, 2007), a 5-time AL Home Run Title winner (2001-2003, 2005, 2007), a 2-time AL RBI Title winner (2002, 2007), a 2-time AL OPS Leader (2005, 2007), and a 4-time AL Slugging Percentage Leader (2003, 2005, 2007, 2008). He was linked to steroids in 2009.
	SS Derek Sanderson Jeter 6'3" 195lbs. Throw: Right Bats: Right Derek Jetter plays for and has played his entire career for the New York Yankees. He has served as the Yankees' team captain since 2003. Jeter's presence in the Yankees' lineup, highlighted by his hitting prowess, played an instrumental role in the team's late 1990s dynasty. Jeter debuted in the Major Leagues in 1995, and the following year, he won the Rookie of the Year Award and helped the Yankees win the 1996 World Series. Jeter was also a member of championship-winning teams in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009. In 2000, Jeter became the only player to win both the All-Star Game MVP Award and the World Series MVP Award in the same year. He has been selected as an All-Star ten times, and he has won the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards on three occasions. He is regarded as a consummate professional, by teammates and opponents alike, and has a reputation as a reliable contributor in the postseason. Jeter is considered to be one of the best players of his generation. He is the all-time hits leader among shortstops and his .317 career batting average through the 2009 season ranks as the fifth-highest among active players. He has been among the American League (AL) leaders in hits and runs scored for the past ten years. He is the all-time Yankees hit leader, passing Hall of Fame member Lou Gehrig in 2009. Jeter has been noted as an exceptional postseason performer. He has a career .309 postseason batting average with 18 home runs and 50 RBIs. Except for 2008, the Yankees have been to the playoffs every year since Jeter joined the team. He has a Major League Baseball record 153 career postseason hits, and also holds records for most postseason singles (111), at-bats (495), runs scored (85) and strikeouts (96).
	OF Ryan Joseph Braun 6'1" 200lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Ryan Braun plays for the Milwaukee Brewers. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2007, and led the NL in slugging percentage. He also won the Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year, the Baseball America Rookie of the Year, the Baseball Prospectus Internet Baseball NL Rookie of the Year, and the Players Choice NL Most Outstanding Rookie Awards. Over the previous decade, the only other NL hitter to win all five awards was Albert Pujols, in 2001. Braun won the 2008 NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award, was the starting left fielder for the US team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and was a starting NL All Star outfielder in both 2008 and 2009. In 2009 he was named to the Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball, ranking No. 32 on the list, and led the NL in hits for the season. Braun has the ability to hit for average and significant power. His swing is compact, with tremendous bat speed and a protracted follow-through. Braun waits well on offspeed pitches and uses the entire field.He drives the ball no matter where it is in the strike zone. In addition, his speed garnered him comparisons to New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Braun has been timed at 4.2 seconds to first base from the right side of the plate. During Scout Day at the University of Miami in 2004, Braun ran the 60-yard dash in 6.2 seconds. In spring training in 2007, he was second only to Corey Hart in the Brewers' 60-yard dash.
	OF Ichiro Suzuki 5'11" 172lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Left Ichiro plays for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including the sport's single-season record for base hits with 262. He has had nine consecutive 200-hit seasons, the longest streak by any player, surpassing Wee Willie Keeler. Pete Rose, who had ten non-consecutive 200-hit seasons, is the only player with more in his career than Ichiro. Ichiro moved to the United States in 2001 after playing nine years for the Orix Blue Wave in Japan's Pacific League. Posted by Orix after the 2000 season, Ichiro became Seattle's right fielder. The second Japanese-born everyday position player in the major leagues, Ichiro led the AL in batting average and stolen bases en route to being named Rookie of the Year and MVP. Ichiro is the first MLB player to enter the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame (The Golden Players Club). He has been voted onto nine All-Star teams by the fans, winning the 2007 All-Star MVP Award for a three-hit performance that included the event's first-ever inside-the-park home run. Ichiro has won a Gold Glove award in each of his first eight years in the major leagues, and has had six hitting streaks of 20 or more games, with a high of 27. He exists strictly within his own world, playing a game 100 percent unfamiliar to everyone else. The game has known plenty of 'slap' hitters, but none who sacrifice so much natural ability for the sake of the art... Ichiro, a man of wondrous strength, puts on impressive power-hitting displays almost nightly in batting practice. And he'll go deep occasionally in games, looking very much like someone who could do it again, often but the man lives for hits, little tiny ones, and the glory of standing atop the world in that category. Every spring, scouts or media types write him off, swearing that opposing pitchers have found the key, and they are embarrassingly wrong.
	OF Vladimir Alvino Guerrero 6'3" 235lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Vladimir Guerrero plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2004, he was voted the American League MVP. He helped lead the Angels to five American League West championships (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009), and was voted as one of the most feared hitters in baseball in a 2008 poll of all 30 major league managers. An eight-time All Star, he is widely recognized as one of the best all-around players in the game because of his impressive offensive production (regularly hitting for power and average), and stellar defense (which is highlighted by one of the strongest throwing arms in baseball). He is also regarded as the game's premier "bad ball hitter," for his ability to consistently hit balls thrown well outside of the strike zone, a skill made evident in a game a number of years ago when Guerrero hit a pitch which bounced in front of home plate. Guerrero bats without wearing batting gloves, a custom rarely seen in modern baseball. To improve his grip on the bat, he coats his helmet with pine tar and simply rubs his helmet before going into the on-deck circle. As the season progresses, his batting helmet becomes covered in the substance. This is particularly noticeable with the bright red helmet of the Angels. Guerrero batted over .300 from 1997-2008. He has driven in over 100 runs in every season but 2003 and 2008. Along with his 2004 MVP season, he has finished 6th (2000), 4th (2002), 3rd (2005), 9th (2006), and 3rd (2007) in MVP voting. In 2008, Guerrero tied Lou Gehrig's mark for most consecutive seasons with at least 25 home runs and a batting average of .300 or better with 11. He also swung at a higher percentage of pitches outside the strike zone, 45.5%, than any other hitter in major league baseball. He had a 44-game hitting streak exclusively against the Texas Rangers from 2004-06, the longest such player-vs.-team streak in MLB history since 1969. The streak occurred over his first 44 appearances against the Rangers. Guerrero has decimated Ranger pitching over his career, putting up a career batting line of .395/.466/.681 with 22 HR, 29 Doubles and 63 RBI in 87 games.
	DH Ryan James Howard 6'4" 255lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Left Ryan Howard plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. Howard was the 2006 National League MVP. Howard is the fastest player to reach both the 100 and 200 home run milestones in Major League Baseball history, passing the marks in 2007 and 2009, respectively. Due to Howard's reputation as an extreme pull hitter, opposing managers often utilize an unusual infield shift with him at the plate, with the third baseman playing shortstop, the shortstop playing second base, and the second baseman playing in shallow right field. Howard is known for his power, however he stikes out extremely often. He also is just a decent defensive 1st baseman, and has very low speed. His totals in the 2007 season totals were a .268 average, with 47 home runs and 136 RBIs, helping the Phillies win the National League East title on the final day of the season to earn their first postseason berth since the 1993 World Series. He finished the season 2008 with 146 RBI and a .251 batting average. Historically speaking, this was a statistical aberration, and is by far the lowest batting average ever for any season in major league history in which a player topped 130 runs batted in. His contributions again helped lead the Phillies to the division title and the post-season. The Phillies eventually won the series in 5 games to bring the Phillies their first World Series championship since 1980, and Philadelphia their first major sports championship since 1983; Howard finished second in the voting for the 2008 NL MVP award, behind Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals.
	P Tim Leroy Lincecum 5'11" 172lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Left Tim Lincecum plays for the San Francisco Giants. Lincecum is known for his long stride, unorthodox mechanics, and ability to generate high velocity despite his slight build of 5'11", 172 lbs. Lincecum won the 2008 NL Cy Young Award, becoming the first second-year player to win the Cy Young since Dwight Gooden and Bret Saberhagen both won in 1985. His repertoire includes a two-seam fastball that reaches well into the mid-nineties, a changeup he grips like a splitter, a curveball notable for its sharp breaking action, and a slider. He also has a four-seam fastball, but rarely uses it. Lincecum throws a fastball in the mid-90s that can sometimes reach 98-99 MPH. This pitch has little lateral movement, due to his overhand delivery and the speed at which the pitch is thrown. He also has a big breaking curveball that is thrown at about 80 MPH. Lincecum uses a changeup that he grips similar to a splitter to offset his top two pitches and keep batters off-balance. His changeup appears similar to his fastball for the first 30 feet, but then breaks down and in toward a right-handed batter as it approaches the plate, with a good 10+ MPH velocity difference from his fastball. He has recently added a cut fastball which breaks down and in against left-handers. With his power fastball and plus secondary pitches, he has quickly established himself as one of the top pitchers in the game.
	P C.C. Sabathia 6'7" 290lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Left CC Sabathia plays for the New York Yankees. His contract with the Yankees is the richest contract for a pitcher in the history of baseball. Sabathia played the first seven plus seasons of his career with the Cleveland Indians where he won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award, and played the second half of the 2008 MLB season with the Milwaukee Brewers, leading them to the NL Wild Card. Sabathia has four plus pitches: fastball, slider, cutter, and changeup. He also exhibits good command of his pitches, posting a 5.65 K/BB ratio in 2007. Sabathia holds a lifetime postseason record of 5 wins and 4 losses in 10 games. He has pitched a total of 61.1 postseason innings, giving up 61 hits, 25 walks and 30 earned runs resulting in a 4.40 ERA. He also struck out 56 batters. In the 2007 ALCS he beaned 3 batters. In interleague play as a player in the American League, Sabathia had a career batting average of .300 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 40 ABs, including a 440-foot home run on June 21, 2008. On July 13, 2008, in his second game with the Brewers, Sabathia hit his second home run of the season off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey, becoming the third pitcher in history to homer in both leagues in the same season and the first since Earl Wilson did it in 1970 with Detroit and San Diego.
	P Roy Harry Halladay 6'6" 225lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Roy Halladay plays for the Toronto Blue Jays. Halladay is a 6 time All-Star selection (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009), the 2003 AL Cy Young Award, and the 2003 AL TSN Pitcher of the Year. He led AL in WHIP (1.05), Complete Games (9), and Innings Pitched (246.0) in 2008. He led MLB in complete games (9), shut outs (4), and finished 2nd in Innings Pitched (239.0)in 2009. In 2009 he was named #7 on the Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball. A panel of 100 baseball people, many of them members of the Baseball Hall of Fame and winners of major baseball awards, was polled to arrive at the list.
	P Johan Alexander Santana 6'0" 208lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Left Johan Santana plays for the New York Mets. He is a two-time Cy Young award winner. His repertoire includes a 91-94 mph fastball, along with a circle changeup, and slider, considered by many to be one of the best pitch combinations in baseball. He played for the Minnesota Twins from 2000-2007. He was traded to the Mets in 2008. He is a 4 time All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009), a 2 time Cy Young Award winner (2004, 2006), a 2 time TSN Pitcher of the Year (2004, 2006), a 2 time Player's Choice Outstanding Pitcher (2004, 2006), a 2 time Warren Spahn Award winner (2004, 2006), a Gold Glove Award winner (2007),a Pitching Triple Crown winner(2006). He has led AL in wins (2006), in strikeouts (2004, 2005, 2006), in ERA (2004, 2006), and led NL in ERA (2008)
	P Zack Donald Greinke 6'2" 200lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Zack Greinke plays for the Kansas City Royals. Greinke made his major-league debut on May 22, 2004 against the Oakland Athletics, starting the game in which Reggie Jackson's number was retired by the A's. He ended the 2004 season with a record of 8 wins and 11 losses (second most wins on the team, after Jimmy Gobble) and a 3.97 ERA. Greinke's 2005 season, however, was not as successful, as he went 5–17 with a 5.80 ERA. He messed the entire 2006 season. In 2007, he returned to the Royals rotation at the start of the season, but was sent to the bullpen in early May after alternating good starts with bad ones and compiling a 1–4 record with a 5.71 ERA. As a reliever, he was very effective, going 4–1 with a 3.54 ERA. Greinke's 2008 saw him return to the rotation and put up a good year, starting in 32 games with a record of 13 wins and 10. His 3.47 ERA was the best by a full-time Royals starter in 11 years. His record for the 2009 season was 16-8, and he posted an ERA of 2.16, the lowest in MLB. On October 21st, 2009 Greinke was named American League Pitcher of the Year from The Sporting News, his first award for overall regular season performance. On October 28, 2009 Zack was awarded the MLBPA Players Choice AL Pitcher of the Year winner which was announced during Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio. This award was based on vote by major league baseball players.
	CP Mariano Rivera 6'2" 190lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Mariano Rivera plays for and has spent his entire career with the New York Yankees. His presence in the late innings of games to record the final outs has played an instrumental role in the Yankees' success, particularly the team's late 1990s dynasty. He has won five World Series championships as a Yankee. Rivera was signed by the Yankees organization in 1990 and debuted in the Major Leagues in 1995 as a starting pitcher. He found success after being converted to a relief pitcher in the bullpen. After a breakthrough year in 1996 as a setup man, he became the Yankees' closer in 1997 and has maintained that role for the team ever since. Rivera has become one of the best closers in baseball history, and he has done so by primarily throwing one pitch, a sharp-breaking, mid-90s mile per hour cut fastball that has been called an all-time great pitch. Rivera is a ten-time All-Star, a five-time American League (AL) Rolaids Relief Man Award winner, and a three-time saves leader. He has recorded the second-most saves in Major League history, and in 2009, he surpassed 500 career saves. Recognized as an exceptional postseason performer, he holds Major League postseason records for saves and earned run average (ERA), among other records. Baseball writers expect Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame upon retirement. Rivera's signature pitch is his cut fastball or "cutter". The pitch breaks sharply towards left-handed hitters, exhibiting late movement similar to a slider, but with the velocity of a fastball. He mixes the cutter with both a four-seam and two-seam fastball. He throws all three fastballs in the low-to-mid 90s MPH, usually at 92–95 MPH. Rivera varies the movement on his cutter by adjusting the pressure he puts on the ball with his middle finger. Rivera is considered by many baseball experts to be the greatest closer in baseball history, despite many of them unfavorably comparing modern closers to those who pitched between the 1960s and 1980s. The role of the modern closer has received criticism for becoming too specialized and easy; closers in past decades often entered games in the middle of innings with runners on base and had to pitch multiple innings, while modern closers are usually called upon to only pitch the ninth inning from the start. Despite being utilized much like a modern closer, Rivera has achieved a reputation as an all-time great reliever. Rivera is well-known for his composure and calm, placid demeanor, which contrasts with the rough-edged, emotional, and demonstrative nature of many other closers. Derek Jeter called Rivera the "most mentally tough teammate [he's] ever played with". In a 2009 ESPN.com poll, Rivera was voted as one of the top five postseason players in MLB history.

All Time MLB Team

2009-11-04T11:24:00.000-08:00

Finally done. It took a while because of the UC Personal Statement. Now its time for the All Time MLB Team. I saved this one for last because it is the most difficult. I am including the steroid era! I repeat, I am including the steroid era! The subject of steroids is not going to play a factor in my selections for this team. All that matters is what the player did on the field, whether or not perfomance enhancing drugs were used. I am selecting 9 position players, 5 starting pitchers, 1 closing pitcher, and 1 DH. Feel free to comment.

	C Johnny Lee Bench 6'1" 208lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Johnny Bench played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Bench, a 14-time All-Star selection and the National League's Most Valuable Player in the 1970 and 1972 seasons, was a key member of the "The Big Red Machine", the Reds teams of the 1970s which won six division titles and World Series championships in 1975 and 1976. Although baseball history is filled with many outstanding catchers, such as Yogi Berra, Bill Dickey, Gabby Hartnett and Mickey Cochrane, arguably, no player revolutionized the position like Johnny Bench. The catcher's equipment was traditionally called "the tools of ignorance" as many catchers lacked the fielding skills or quickness to play elsewhere. But Bench, who was big (6'1" and 210 pounds) and athletic, inspired many young ballplayers to become catchers and teams began seeking and developing more athletic ballplayers for the position. Although not the first to use it, Bench popularized the hinged catcher's mitt. Randy Hundley of the San Francisco Giants is credited as actually being the first player to use it in a game, but the success Bench had in his career after adopting it in after a stint on the disabled list in 1966 for a thumb injury on his throwing hand allowed Bench to tuck his throwing arm safely to the side when receiving the pitch. By the turn of the decade, the hinged mitt became standard catchers' equipment.Having huge hands, Bench also tended to block breaking balls in the dirt by scooping them with one hand instead of the more common and fundamentally proper way: dropping to both knees and blocking the ball using the chest protector to keep the ball in front. Bench was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 1989 alongside Carl Yastrzemski. He was elected in his first year eligible and appeared on 96% of the ballots, the third-highest percentage to that time. Three years earlier, Bench had been inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1986 and his uniform #5 was retired by the team. In 1999, Bench ranked Number 16 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Player. He was the highest-ranking catcher. Bench was also elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team as the top vote-receiving catcher. Bench was a 14-time All Star. He won 10 Gold Gloves , 2 NL MVPs, and 2 Word Series Championships.
	1B Henry "Lou" Gehrig 6'0" 200lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Left Lou Gehrig played in the 1920s and 1930s, chiefly remembered for his prowess as a hitter, his consecutive games-played record and its subsequent longevity, and the pathos of his farewell from baseball at age 36, when he was stricken with a fatal disease. Popularly called "The Iron Horse" for his durability, Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams (23). Gehrig accumulated 1,995 RBI in seventeen seasons, with a career batting average of .340, on-base percentage of .447, and slugging percentage of .632. Three of the top six RBI seasons in baseball history belong to Gehrig. He was selected to each of the first seven All-Star games (though he did not play in the 1939 game, as he retired one week before it was held) and he won the American League's Most Valuable Player award in 1927 and 1936. He was also a Triple Crown winner in 1934, leading the American League in batting average, home runs, and RBIs. Gehrig was a 7-time All Star. He won 6 World Series Championships, and 2 AL MVPs.
	2B Jackie Roosevelt Robinson 5'11" 204lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Jackie Robinson had an exceptional baseball career. Over ten seasons, he played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 World Championship. He was selected for six consecutive All-Star Games from 1949 to 1954, was the recipient of the inaugural MLB Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949 – the first black player so honored. Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1997, Major League Baseball retired his uniform number, 42, across all major league teams. He is most famous for being the first African American MLB player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. As the first black man to openly play in the major leagues since the 1880s, he was instrumental in bringing an end to racial segregation in professional baseball, which had relegated African-Americans to the Negro leagues for six decades. The example of his character and unquestionable talent challenged the traditional basis of segregation, which then marked many other aspects of American life, and contributed significantly to the Civil Rights Movement. Robinson won one World Series Championship. He was a 6-time All Star, and a one time NL MVP.
	3B Mike Jake Schmidt 6'2" 203lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Mike Schmidt played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies(1972-1989). Schmidt is considered among the greatest third basemen in the history of major league baseball. Schmidt was voted National League MVP three times, an All-Star 12 times, and received more votes than any other third baseman in 1999's Major League Baseball All-Century Team. In 1995, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Over his career Schmidt set a vast array of hitting and fielding records. In addition to his MVP Awards, Schmidt won ten Gold Gloves, led the league in home runs eight times, in RBI four times, OPS five times, and walks four times. He was named to twelve All-Star teams. Schmidt finished his career with 548 home runs and 1,595 RBI, two of the many Phillies career records he holds. Over his career Schmidt set a vast array of hitting and fielding records. In addition to his MVP Awards, Schmidt won ten Gold Gloves, led the league in home runs eight times, in RBI four times, OPS five times, and walks four times. He was named to twelve All-Star teams. Schmidt finished his career with 548 home runs and 1,595 RBI, two of the many Phillies career records he holds.
	Cal Edwin Ripken Jr. 6'4" 225lbs. Throw: Right Bats: Right Cal Ripken Jr. played his entire career (1981-2001) for the Baltimore Orioles. During his baseball career, he earned the nickname The Iron Man for doggedly remaining in the lineup despite numerous minor injuries and for his reliability to "show up" to work everyday. He is perhaps best known for breaking New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played, a record many deemed unbreakable. Ripken played in an additional 502 straight games over the next three years, and his streak ended at 2,632 games when he voluntarily removed his name from the lineup for the final Orioles home game of the 1998 season. His record 2,632 straight games spanned over seventeen seasons, from May 30, 1982 to September 20, 1998.A 19-time All-Star and member of the 3000 hit club, Ripken is considered one of the best shortstops and third basemen to ever play the game. At 6' 4" (1.93 m), 225 lbs. (102.27 kg), he pioneered the way for taller, larger shortstops to be successful in that position. When inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, he was a first ballot inductee with the third highest voting percentage (98.53%) in Hall of Fame history. Ripken demonstrated the ability to play excellent defense at shortstop, and as a result remained a fixture there for well over a decade, leading the league in assists several times, winning the Gold Glove twice, and, in 1990, setting the MLB record for best fielding percentage in a season at his position. Though not a flashy fielder, Ripken displayed excellent fundamentals, and studied batters and even his own pitching staff so he could position himself to compensate for his lack of physical speed, even calling pitches at times. Ripken's legacy as a fielder is reflected by his place near the top of almost every defensive statistical category—he holds at least one all-time record (for either season, career, or most seasons leading the league) in assists, putouts, fielding percentage, double plays, and fewest errors. Ripken's career range factor was 4.73 (and as high as 5.50 for a single season), a mark few shortstops have reached. Ripken's power, which led to records like the most home runs by shortstop and 13th for career doubles, had consequences. His propensity to drive the ball often led to his grounders getting to fielders quickly for tailor-made double-play balls. In 1999, Ripken passed Hank Aaron as the player who had grounded into the most double plays in his career. Ripken is second on the fielding side for double plays by a shortstop. Ripken was a 19-time All Star. He won 2 AL MVPs, 2 Gold Gloves, and one World Series.
	OF Barry Lamar Bonds 6'2" 236lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Left Barry Bonds debuted in the Major Leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986 and joined the San Francisco Giants in 1993, where he stayed through 2007. Bonds' accomplishments during his baseball career place him among the greatest baseball players of all-time. He has a record-setting seven Most Valuable Player awards, including a record-setting four consecutive MVPs. He is a fourteen-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove-winner. He holds numerous Major League Baseball records, including the all-time Major League Baseball home run record with 762 and the single-season Major League record for home runs with 73 (set in 2001), and is also the all-time career leader in both walks (2,558) and intentional walks (688). Bonds is linked to steriods, and most of his records are considered to be false. However even before the steroid allgations, he was still racking up the awards and accolades.
	OF Willie Howard Mays 5'11" 180lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Willie Mays played the majority of his career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility. Many consider him to be the greatest all-around player of all time. Mays won two MVP awards and tied a record with twenty-four appearances in the All-Star Game. He ended his career with 660 career home runs, third at the time of his retirement, and currently fourth all-time. In 1999, Mays placed second on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, making him the highest-ranking living player. Later that year, he was also elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Mays is the only Major League player to have hit a home run in every inning from the 1st through the 16th. He finished his career with a record 22 extra-inning home runs. Mays is one of four NL players to have eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons, along with Mel Ott, Sammy Sosa and Albert Pujols. Mays hit 50 or more home runs in both 1955 and 1965. This time span represents the longest stretch between 50 plus home run seasons for any player in Major League Baseball history.
	OF Hank Louis Aaron 6'0" 180lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Hank Aaron's career spanned the years 1954 through 1976. Aaron is widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Hank Aaron fifth on their list of "Greatest Baseball Players." After playing with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League and in the minor leagues, Aaron started his major league career in 1954. He played 21 seasons with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves in the National League, and his last two years (1975–76) with the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League. His most notable achievement was setting the MLB record for most career home runs with 755, which he held for 33 years until being surpassed by Barry Bonds on August 7, 2007. During his professional career, Aaron performed at a consistently high level for an extended period of time. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973, and is the only player to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times. He is one of only four players to have at least seventeen seasons with 150 or more hits. Aaron made the All-Star team every year from 1955 until 1975 and won three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. In 1957, he won the National League Most Valuable Player Award, while that same year, the Braves won the World Series, his one World Series victory during his career. Aaron's consistency helped him to establish a number of important hitting records during his 23-year career. Aaron holds the MLB records for the most career runs batted in (2,297), the most career extra base hits (1,477), and the most career total bases (6,856); he is also in the top five for career hits with 3,771 (third) and runs with 2,174, which is tied for fourth with Babe Ruth). He also is in second place in at-bats (12,364), and in third place in games played (3,298). Aaron's nicknames include "Hammer," "Hammerin' Hank,” and "Bad Henry”.
	DH George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. 6'2" 215lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Left Popularly known as " Babe" Ruth, "The Bambino", and "The Sultan of Swat", Ruth played from 1914–1935. Ruth originally broke into the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox as a starting pitcher, but after he was sold to the New York Yankees in 1919 (Curse of the Bambino), he converted to a full-time right fielder and subsequently became one of the league's most prolific hitters. Ruth was a mainstay in the Yankees' lineup that won seven pennants and four World Series titles during his tenure with the team. After a short stint with the Boston Braves in 1935, Ruth retired. In 1936, Ruth became one of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ruth has since become regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture. He has been named the greatest baseball player in history in various surveys and rankings, and his home run hitting prowess and charismatic personality made him a larger than life figure in the "Roaring Twenties". Off the field he was famous for his charity, but also was noted for his often reckless lifestyle. Ruth is credited with changing baseball itself. The popularity of the game exploded in the 1920s, largely due to his influence. Ruth ushered in the "live-ball era," as his big swing led to escalating home run totals that not only excited fans, but helped baseball evolve from a low-scoring, speed-dominated game to a high-scoring power game. In 1998, The Sporting News ranked Ruth number one on the list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players." In 1999, baseball fans named Ruth to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. In 1969, he was named baseball's Greatest Player Ever in a ballot commemorating the 100th anniversary of professional baseball. In 1993, the Associated Press reported that Ruth was tied with Muhammad Ali as the most recognized athletes, out of 1000, in America. According to ESPN, he was the first true American sports celebrity superstar whose fame transcended baseball. In a 1999 ESPN poll, he was ranked as the third-greatest US athlete of the century, behind Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali. Ruth was the first player to hit 60 home runs in one season (1927), setting the season record which stood until broken by Roger Maris in 1961. Ruth's lifetime total of 714 home runs at his retirement in 1935 was a record, until first surpassed by Hank Aaron in 1974. Unlike many power hitters, Ruth also hit for average: his .342 lifetime batting is tenth highest in baseball history, and in one season (1923) he hit .393, a Yankee record. His .690 career slugging percentage and 1.164 career on-base plus slugging (OPS) remain the major league records. Ruth dominated in the era in which he played. He led the league in home runs during a season twelve times, slugging percentage and OPS thirteen times each, runs scored eight times, and RBIs six times. Each of those totals represents a modern record (as well as the all-time record, except for RBIs).
	P Nolan Lynn Ryan Jr. 6'2" 195lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Nolan Ryan played in a major league record 27 seasons for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers, from 1966 to 1993. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. Ryan, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher, threw pitches that were regularly recorded above 100 mph (160 km/h), even past the age of 40. The media tagged him, or more specifically his pitching, as "The Ryan Express". Ryan ranks first all-time in strikeouts (5,714), fewest hits allowed per nine innings (6.56), and no-hitters (7). He is also fifth in innings pitched (5,386), second in games started (773), seventh in shutouts (61) and is tied for 14th in wins (324). Opposing hitters hit only .204 against Ryan during his career, though they had a .309 on base percentage against him. He also limited hitters to a .298 slugging percentage. Ryan had 15 or more strikeouts in a game 27 times, second only to Randy Johnson, who has 29. His lengthy career spanned generations, as he struck out seven pairs of fathers and sons during his career. Ryan also ranks high on the list for four "negative" records; he ranks first all-time in walks allowed (2,795), first in wild pitches (277), third in losses (292—most in the post-1920 live-ball era), and ninth in hit batters (158). Ryan is also one of two pitchers in MLB history to give up ten grand slam home runs, including one to Dann Howitt, the next-to-last batter Ryan faced in his career. Ryan is the all-time leader in no-hitters with seven, three more than any other pitcher. He is tied with Bob Feller for most one-hitters, with 12. Ryan also pitched 18 two-hitters. Perhaps interesting to note, despite the seven no-hitters he has not thrown any of baseball's perfect games.
	P Sandy Koufax 6'2" 210lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Right Sandy Koufax played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, from 1955 to 1966. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Koufax's career peaked with a run of six outstanding seasons from 1961 to 1966, before arthritis ended his career at age 30. He was named the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1963. He also won the 1963, 1965, and 1966 Cy Young Awards by unanimous votes, all during the period when only one pitcher was chosen per season, making him the first 3-time Cy Young winner in baseball history. In each of his Cy Young seasons, Koufax won the pitcher's triple crown by leading the NL in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average. Koufax's totals would also have led the American League in those seasons. Koufax was the first major leaguer to pitch four no-hitters (including a perfect game). Despite his comparatively short career, Koufax's 2,396 career strikeouts ranked 7th in history as of his retirement, trailing only Warren Spahn (2,583) among left-handers. Retiring at the peak of his career, he became, at age 36 and 20 days, the youngest player ever elected to the Hall of Fame. In his 12-season career, Koufax had a 165–87 record with a 2.76 ERA, 2,396 strikeouts, 137 complete games, and 40 shutouts. He was the first pitcher to average fewer than seven hits allowed per nine innings pitched in his career (6.79) and to strike out more than nine batters (9.28) per nine innings pitched in his career.He also became the 2nd pitcher in baseball history to have two games with 18 or more strikeouts, and the first to have eight games with 15 or more strikeouts. In his last ten seasons, from 1957 to 1966, batters hit .203 against Koufax, with a .271 on base percentage and a .315 slugging average. Koufax's postseason record is impressive: a 4-3 won-lost record with a 0.95 earned run average, in four World Series. He is on the very short list of pitchers who retired with more career strikeouts than innings pitched. Koufax was selected for seven consecutive All-Star games (twice in 1961 (the last season with two All-Star Games), then 1962 to 1966). Koufax was the first pitcher to win multiple Cy Young Awards, as well as the first pitcher to win a Cy Young Award by a unanimous vote. Each of Koufax's three Cy Young Awards were by unanimous vote. Koufax and Juan Marichal are the only two pitchers in the post-war era (1946-date) to have more than one 25-win season, with each pitcher recording three. Among NL pitchers with at least 2,000 innings pitched who have debuted since 1913, he has the highest career winning percentage (.655) and had the lowest career ERA (2.76) until surpassed by Tom Seaver, whose NL career mark is 2.73. Whereas many left-handed pitchers throw with a three-quarter or sidearm motion, Koufax threw with a pronounced over-the-top arm action. This may have increased his velocity, but reduced the lateral movement on his pitches, especially movement away from left-handed hitters. Most of his velocity came from his strong legs and back, combined with a high kicking wind-up and long forward stretch toward the plate. Throughout his career, Koufax relied mostly on two pitches: his four-seam fastball had a "rising" motion due to underspin, and not only appeared to move very late but also might move two or three distinct times; his overhand curveball, spun with the middle finger, dropped vertically 12 to 24 inches due to his arm action. He also occasionally threw a changeup and a forkball. At the beginning of his career, Koufax worked with coaches to eliminate his tendency to "tip" pitches (i.e. reveal which pitch was coming due to variations in his wind-up). Late in his career, and especially as his arm problems continued, this variation—usually in the position he held his hands at the top of the wind-up—became even more pronounced. Good hitters could often predict what pitch was coming, but were still unable to hit it.
	Roger William Clemens 6'4" 238lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Roger Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, two more than any other pitcher. He played for 13 consecutive seasons in Boston, more than half of his career. In 1997, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. In each of his two seasons with the Blue Jays Clemens won the pitching triple crown (leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts) and a Cy Young Award. Clemens was traded to the New York Yankees for the 1999 season, where he had his first World Series success. In 2003, he reached his 300th win and 4,000th strikeout in the same game. Clemens is one of only four pitchers to have more than 4,000 strikeouts in their career (the others are pitchers Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and Steve Carlton). Clemens played three seasons with the Houston Astros, where he won his seventh Cy Young Award. He rejoined the New York Yankees during the 2007 season. While he has two championship rings with the 1999–2000 Yankees, Clemens has also been on the losing end of four World Series (1986 Red Sox, 2001 and 2003 Yankees, and 2005 Astros), which is tied with Tom Glavine and John Smoltz (who were both on the Braves when they lost the '91, '92, '96 and '99 World Series) for the most among active players. In 1999, while many of his performances and milestones were yet to come, he ranked number 53 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was elected by the fans to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. In 2005, the updated Sporting News list moved Clemens up to #15. By the end of the 2005 season, Clemens had won seven Cy Young Awards (he won the AL award in 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, and 2001, and the NL award in 2004), an MVP and two pitching triple crowns. With his 2004 win, he joined Gaylord Perry, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martínez as the only pitchers to win it in both leagues and became the oldest pitcher to ever win the Cy Young. He has also won The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award five times, was named an All-Star 11 times, and won the All-Star MVP in 1986. In October 2006, Clemens was named to Sports Illustrated's "all-time" team. He is only the ninth player in major league history to record 1,000 or more strikeouts with two different teams. Clemens has recorded a total of 2,590 strikeouts as a member of the Red Sox and 1,014 strikeouts as a Yankee. Of his nearly quarter century in the Major Leagues, 13 years have been spent with the Red Sox and 6 with the New York Yankees. Clemens has been the focal point of several controversies. His reputation has always been that of a pitcher unafraid to throw close to batters. He has also been linked to steroids.
	Cy Deton Young 6'2" 190lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Cy Young pitched for five different major league teams from 1890 to 1911. Young was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937, and in honor of his many contributions to Major League Baseball, the Cy Young Award, given each year to the pitcher voted the most effective in each of the two leagues, was created in 1956. During his 22-year career, Young established numerous professional pitching records in the majors, some of which have stood for a century. Young retired with a record 511 career wins, 94 wins ahead of Walter Johnson. In addition to wins, Young currently holds the Major League records for most career innings pitched (7,355), most career games started (815), and most complete games (749). He also retired with 316 losses, the most in MLB history. Young had 76 career shutouts, the fourth most in history. He also won at least 30 games in a season five times, with ten other seasons of 20 or more wins. In addition, Young pitched three no-hitters, including the first perfect game of baseball's "modern era". In 1999, 88 years after his final Major League appearance and 44 years after his death, editors at The Sporting News ranked Cy Young 14th on their list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players". That same year, baseball fans named him to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Young led his league in wins five times (1892, 1895, and 1901–1903), finishing second twice. His career high was 36 in 1892. He had fifteen seasons with twenty or more wins, two more than the runners-up, Christy Mathewson and Warren Spahn. Young won two ERA titles during his career, in 1892 (1.93) and in 1901 (1.62), and was three times the runner-up. Young's earned run average was below 2.00 six times, but this was not uncommon during the dead-ball era. Although Young threw over 400 innings in each of his first four full seasons, he did not lead his league until 1902. He had 40 or more complete games nine times. Young also led his league in strikeouts twice (with 140 in 1896, and 158 in 1901), and in shutouts seven times. Young led his league in fewest walks per nine innings thirteen times and finished second one season. Only twice in his 22-year career did Young finish lower than 5th in the category. Although the WHIP ratio was not calculated until well after Young's death, Young was the retroactive league leader in this category seven times and was second or third another seven times.
	P Randy David Johnson 6'10" 225lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Right Over a 21-year career, Randy Johnson has played for 6 different teams, and currently pitches for the San Francisco Giants. The 6-foot-10 Johnson has been celebrated for having one of the most dominant fastballs in the game. He regularly approached, and occasionally exceeded, 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) during his prime. However, his signature pitch is a hard, biting slider. Johnson has won the Cy Young Award five times, second only to Roger Clemens' seven. For all active pitchers through the 2008 season, Johnson is first in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (10.67 – which is also first for all starting pitchers in history) and hit batsmen (188 – third all-time), first in strikeouts (4,875 – second all-time), fourth in hits allowed per nine innings pitched (7.24 – 10th all-time), first in shutouts (37 – 57th all-time), third in wins (303 – 22nd all-time), eighth in ERA (3.27), third in wild pitches(104), and seventh in won-lost percentage (.648). His 4,875 strikeouts are also first all-time among left-handed pitchers. In addition, he pitched one of the 18 perfect games. Johnson was once the tallest player in MLB history, hence the nickname "The Big Unit". He is currently the second-tallest along with Chris Young and Andrew Sisco. The tallest is 6'11" pitcher, and Johnson's former Diamondback teammate, Jon Rauch. In the prime of his career, Johnson's fastball had been consistently clocked over 100 mph (160 km/h), even as high as 102 mph (164 km/h). His signature pitch is a slider that breaks down and away from left-handed hitters and down and in to right-handed hitters. The effectiveness of the pitch is marked by its velocity being in the low 90s along with tight late break; hitters often believe they were thrown a fastball until the ball breaks just before it crosses home plate. Right-handed hitters have swung through and missed sliders that nearly hit their back feet. Johnson dubbed his slider "Mr. Snappy". In later years, his fastball declined to the 96 mph (154 km/h) range. Johnson also throws a split-finger fastball that behaves like a change-up, as well as sinker to induce ground-ball outs. His slider clocks at around 87 mph (140 km/h). Due to his height, long arms, and side-arm pitching, Johnson's pitches appear as if they are coming from the first base side of the mound, easily deceiving left-handed hitters. This deceives the hitter into thinking that Johnson is pitching from closer than he actually is. However, with the decline in his fast ball's velocity, right-handed batters have had greater success in noticing his release point and hitting his pitches.
	CP Dennis Lee Eckersley 6'2" 190lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Dennis Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004, his first year of eligibility. He is also noted as the pitcher who gave up a dramatic, walk-off home run to the injured Kirk Gibson in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. In 1999, he ranked Number 98 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball "All-Century Team." The role of the closer had been around since the late 1950s and early 1960s, and there had always been feared relievers and closers with Hall of Fame-caliber careers, such as Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, and Rich "Goose" Gossage. However, even in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a closer was considered a weaker and less valuable pitcher than a top starter. Pitchers started games and if they were real men, they finished them. Relievers were either "firemen" (pitchers who only came into pressure-packed situations, with runners on and few out late in a game, and thus "put out the fire"), or pitchers not good enough to start; the vast majority of relievers were considered to be the latter. The A's used Eckersley almost exclusively for the ninth inning and inserted him regardless of the pressure or game situation. Instead of being a fireman or a mop-up man, Eckersley became a one-inning pitcher. Starters were no longer expected to finish games; there was another pitcher who was coming into the game in the ninth inning, no matter what. Eckersley's incredible short-term dominance of the position was perhaps the most influential aspect of this popularization. He was seen to shut down a game after the eighth inning; he was fresh, cocky, and usually hit his spots. He pointed his finger at an opposing batter after a whiff or a ground out (something Eck was known for because of his great sinker, a pitch he primarily developed after becoming a closer) or at the opposing dugout, and his glare became well-known after he and Boston's Dwight Evans famously battled during the 1988 and 1990 playoffs. After Eckersley, every team wanted a pitcher who would end a game after eight innings, save their starters from overextending themselves, and give their fans something exciting to look forward to late in the game. Although the value of a closer is still debatable, Eckersley's influence is indisputable; by 2006, the notion of a team without a dedicated closer seemed as ridiculous as a pre-Eckersley team with one. In fact, a complete game by a starter is now rarer than a save by a relief pitcher was 40 or 50 years ago. Eckersley's 390 career saves ranks fifth on the all-time list.

UC Personal Statement Version 3.0 (4th draft)

2009-11-03T14:17:00.000-08:00

After some advice from family and friends, and after round 2 with my English teacher, Mr. Scull, I think I edited it pretty well. Hopefully it can stand its own and make a comeback in Round 3. (lol sorry for the stupid boxing metaphor). HERE'S UC PERSONAL STATEMENT VERSION 3.0!

Version Updates

2.0- Improved wording and grammar mistakes. Took out parts about grandma, added more about me.
2.5- Same as Version 2.0, but shortened
3.0- Reworked Prompt #1, added more about Key Club in my life. Changed intro to Prompt #2. More spelling and grammar mistakes fixed. Also reworkings made it shorter.

Prompt #1

I always felt like I had a fine grasp on who I am. My family constantly attempted to treat me like an adult. My dad brought me to along when he would go with his friends, who are all college graduates. Just listening to the discussions really helped me build the manner in which I carry myself today. My mom was still a typical mom; spoiling me, hugging me, kissing me, but she at all times made sure I knew the rules and most of the time I followed them. My entire family tried to treat me like an adult, within reason of course. Despite growing up with all this wisdom and maturity around me, I still had a lot of difficulty deciding what career I wanted to pursue. And sure everyone says that, but I don’t mean you wanted to be a firefighter when you were 5 and now you want to be a lawyer. I mean that I honestly had on clue until my sophomore year of high school.

I enjoy meeting and working with people. I also love to help people and the community; that’s what made me join and become an officer for Key Club once I got to high school. Key Club provided me with a way to make a difference. I’ve gained so much leadership experience, made so many friends. I’ve done everything from attempting to help a child play a game to putting on a huge benefit event. Key Club made me realize that I needed a job where I could interact with and, most of all, help people. That’s how I eventually got to the idea of the medical field.

Prompt #2

Over the past few years, I’ve been around a lot of medical facilities. I’ve seen a lot of death, and learned to come to terms with the idea. But that wasn’t always the case. Needless to say, going into the medical field was not my first intention.

Early in 2006, my grandfather was in the hospital, and eventually moved to a rehabilitation center. Due to this, I had to take care of my grandmother. Although it was difficult at times, it felt rewarding being able to help her, after she helped me become the person I am today. It never felt like a chore or tedious task, but more of an enjoyable responsibility. My grandmother was then admitted into the hospital, and eventually moved into the same rehabilitation center as my grandfather. I saw as the center was understaffed and overworked. I spent a lot of time at the center and I often talked to the various doctors and nurses; I saw the difficultly in their job and watched as they took all the punches and went on with their work. I finally started to ask why they were in the medical field, and they all responded the same way. The ideal of changing lives came up time and time again. The more I thought of this principle, the more I realized how well it fit with who I am and what I want to accomplish in life. Within weeks, my grandmother went back into the hospital in severe condition. When I went to see her in the ICU at the hospital, she couldn’t talk or move; she wasn’t alert. Our family decided to just make her comfortable and let her pass away. When I went to say good-bye, I couldn’t handle it. I broke down and cried. She didn’t pass away for about a week after we took all the machines off. My relatives that went to see her said that she wanted to see me, but I never went back to the hospital; I couldn’t handle it.

Once she was gone, and the funeral was done, I had a lot of guilt in not going to see her. That summer, a friend and I decided to volunteer at a hospital. We ended up at the same hospital where my grandmother passed away. For a while, I never wanted to go up to the ICU; it brought back the guilt that I felt. Then I realized this was a great opportunity to face my regret. I asked to be stationed in the ICU. It was hard at first; a lot of memories came up every time I was there. Eventually, I started to enjoy thinking about my grandmother, and I felt that I could make up for not being strong enough for my grandmother, by giving strength to these people who need it the most. I enjoyed giving my all to help save lives, and it made me realize that I had a passion for the medical field. It’s a passion that has pushed me to keep volunteering in various hospitals, to do an internship and work at Kaiser Permanente, and to compete and excel at both State and National Conferences for H.O.S.A. (Health Occupations Students of America). The internship and the trips of H.O.S.A gave me so many great memories that I’m never going to forget and gave me so much experience, not for medicine but anything in my life. It’s a cliché statement I know, but true.

It’s funny how something so negative and devastating can help focus things. The medical field was an option, but it was always towards the back of my mind, never something I considered. I feel that the medical field provides me with the most direct way to help people and the community. Sure I could plant a tree or clean a park, that would help people, but if I can save lives, then those people can go plant a tree or clean a park. After being around so many medical facilities; meeting doctors, nurses, patients, families, etc.; and after seeing so much pain and suffering, it makes me want to learn as much as I can and work to the best of my ability to go into the medical field as prepared as possible, so I can make a difference and help better lives.

UC Personal Statement Version 2.5 (3rd Draft)

2009-11-02T19:00:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know I just posted the 2nd Draft, but it was way too long(1,150 words). The more I thought about it, 150 words over the limit was way too much. I shortened it up. This new version is about 1,050 words. Still over, but it should be fine, and its definitely better than 1,150. Also more grammar and spelling mistakes fixed. HERE WE GO!!! UC PERSONAL STATEMENT....2.5? haha Once again feel free to comment.

Version Updates

2.0- Improved wording and grammar mistakes. Took out parts about grandma, added more about me.
2.5- Same as Version 2.0, but shortened

Prompt #1

I always felt like I had a fine grasp on who I am. My family constantly attempted to treat me like an adult. My dad brought me to along when he would go with his friends, who are all college graduates. Just listening to the discussions really helped me build the manner in which I carry myself today. My mom was still a typical mom; spoiling me, hugging me, kissing me, but she at all times made sure I knew the rules and most of the time I followed them. My grandparents lived right down the street so I saw them everyday, and they were the same way. My entire family tried to treat me like an adult, within reason of course. Despite growing up with all this around me, I still had a lot of difficulty deciding what career I wanted to pursue. And sure everyone says that, but I don’t mean you wanted to be a firefighter when you were 5 and now you want to be a lawyer. I mean that I honestly had on clue until my sophomore year of high school.

One of my huge interests was, and to an extend still is, technology, so for a while I was considering a career in computers. Although, I enjoy meeting and working with people, which I felt a job in computers wouldn’t permit me to do. I also love to help people and the community; that’s what made me join and become an officer for Key Club once I got to high school. I needed a job where I could interact and talk to people. That’s how I eventually got to the idea of the medical field.

Prompt #2

Going into the medical profession was not my first intention. Up until I was about 12, there were few deaths in my family, but everyone was getting older, and they started to pass away. Over the past 3-4 years, I’ve attended about 8 funerals for my family. It was a shock to me; it helped me accept death. It made me realize how life can suddenly end and how much of an impact one person’s life can have.

The biggest loss for me was the death of my grandmother. Earlier that year, my grandfather was in the hospital, and eventually moved to a rehabilitation center. Due to this, I had to take care of my grandmother. Although it was difficult at times, it felt rewarding being able to help her, after she helped me become the person I am today. It never felt like a chore or tedious task, but more of an enjoyable responsibility. My grandmother was then admitted into the hospital, and eventually moved into the same rehabilitation center as my grandfather. I saw as the center was understaffed and overworked. I spent a lot of time at the center and I often talked to the various doctors and nurses; I saw the difficultly in their job and watched as they took all the punches and went on with their work. I finally started to ask why they wanted to be in the medical field, and they all responded the same way. The ideal of changing lives came up time and time again. The more I thought of this principle, the more I realized how well it fits with who I am and what I want to accomplish in life. Within weeks, my grandmother went back into the hospital in severe condition. When I went to see her in the ICU at the hospital, she couldn’t talk or move; she wasn’t alert. Our family decided to just make her comfortable and let her pass away. When I went to say good-bye, I couldn’t handle it. I broke down and cried. She didn’t pass away for about a week after we took all the machines off. My relatives that went to see her said that she wanted to see me, but I never went back to the hospital; I couldn’t handle it.

Once she was gone, and the funeral was done, I had a lot of guilt in not going to see her. That summer, a friend and I decided to volunteer at a hospital. We ended up at the same hospital where my grandmother passed away. For a while, I never wanted to go up to the ICU; it brought back the guilt that I felt. Then I realized this is a great opportunity to face my regret. I asked to be stationed in the ICU. It was hard at first; a lot of memories came up every time I was in there. Eventually, I started to enjoy thinking about my grandmother, and I felt that I could make up for not being strong enough for my grandmother, by giving strength to these people who need it the most. I enjoyed giving my all to help save lives, and it made me realize that I had a passion for the medical field. It’s a passion that has pushed me to keep volunteering in various hospitals, to do an internship and work at Kaiser Permanente, and to compete and excel at both State and National Conferences for H.O.S.A. (Health Occupations Students of America). The internship and the trips of H.O.S.A gave me so many great memories that I’m never going to forget and gave me so much experience, not for medicine but anything in my life. It’s a cliché statement I know, but true.

It’s funny how something so negative and devastating can help focus things. The medical field was an option, but it was always towards the back of my mind, never something I considered. I feel that the medical field provides me with the most direct way to help people and the community. Sure I could plant a tree or clean a park, that would help people, but if I can save lives, then those people can go plant a tree or clean a park. After being around so many medical facilities; meeting doctors, nurses, patients, families, etc.; and after seeing so much pain and suffering, it makes me want to learn as much as I can and work to the best of my ability to go into the medical field as prepared as possible, so I can make a difference and help better lives.

UC Personal Statement Version 2.0 (2nd draft)

2009-11-02T18:28:00.001-08:00

Heres the new one. My English Teacher, Mr.Scull, said that I talk about my grandmother too much, and not enough about me. I agree so here's a new and improved version. There were also alot of mistakes on the 1st one. The changes were made to Prompt #2 TIME FOR....USC PERSONAL STATEMENT VERSION 2.0!!! Same Prompts, still 1,000 words(Although this is slightly longer). Feel free to comment.

Version Updates

2.0- Improved wording and grammar mistakes. Took out parts about grandma, added more about me.

Prompt #1

I always felt like I had a fine grasp on who I am. My family constantly attempted to treat me like an adult. My dad would bring me to along when he would hang out with his friends, who are all college graduates. Just listening to those conversations and ideas really helped me build the manner in which I carry myself today. My mom was still a typical mom; spoiling me, hugging me, kissing me, etc, but she at all times made sure I knew the rules and most of the time I followed them. My grandparents lived right down the street so they would baby-sit me a lot, and they were the same way. Basically my entire family tried to treat me like an adult, within reason of course. Despite growing up with all this around me, I still had a lot of difficulty on deciding what career I wanted to pursue. And sure everyone says that, but I don’t mean you wanted to be a firefighter when you were 5 and now you want to be a lawyer. I mean that I honestly had on clue until my sophomore year of high school.

One of my huge interests was, and to an extend still is, technology, so for a while I was considering a career in computers. Although, I enjoy meeting new people and working with people, which I felt a job in computers wouldn’t permit me to do. I also love to help people and the community; that’s what made me join and become an officer for Key Club once I got to high school. I needed a job where I could interact and talk to people. That’s how I eventually got to the idea of the medical field.

Prompt #2

Going into the medical profession was not my first intention. Up until I was about 12, there were basically no deaths in my family, but everyone was getting older, and they eventually started to pass away one by one. Over the past 3-4 years, I’ve attended about 8 funerals, all of which were for my family, whether it be my aunts, uncles, etc. It was a huge shock to me. It helped me accept death and made me realize how life can suddenly end, and how much of an impact one person’s life can have.

The biggest loss for me was the death of my grandmother. Earlier that year, my grandfather was in the hospital, and eventually moved to a rehabilitation center. For a while it looked like he didn’t have much time left. Due to this, I had to take care of my grandmother. It was fine at first, but over time she became more dependent and difficult to deal with. Although it was difficult at times, it felt rewarding being able to help her, after she helped me become the person I am today. It never felt like a chore or tedious task, but more of an enjoyable responsibility. My grandmother was then admitted into the hospital, and eventually moved into the same rehabilitation center as my grandfather. I saw as the center was understaffed and overworked. I spent a lot of time at the center and I often talked to the various doctors and nurses; I saw the difficultly in their job and watched as they took all the punches and went on with their work. I finally started to ask why they wanted to be in the medical field, and they all responded the same way. The ideal of changing lives came up time and time again. The more I thought of this principle, the more I realized how well it fits with who I am and what I want to accomplish in life. Within weeks, my grandmother went back into the hospital in severe condition. When I went to see her in the ICU at the hospital, she couldn’t talk or move; she wasn’t alert. Our family decided to just make her comfortable and let her pass away. When I went to say good-bye, I couldn’t handle it. I broke down and cried. She didn’t pass away for a week or so after we took all the machines off, and my relatives that went to see her said that she wanted to see me, but I need went back to the hospital; I couldn’t handle it.

Once she was gone, and the funeral was done, I had a lot of guilt in not going to see her. That summer, a friend and I decided to volunteer at a hospital for community service. We ended up at the same hospital where my grandmother passed away. For a while, I never wanted to go up to the ICU; it brought back the guilt that I felt. Then I realized that I needed to face it sometime, and this is a great opportunity. I asked to be stationed in the ICU. It was hard at first; a lot of memories came up every time I was in there. Eventually, I started to enjoy thinking about my grandmother, and I felt that by helping these patients, I could help make up for not being strong enough for my grandmother by giving strength to these people who need it the most. I enjoyed giving my all to help save lives, and it made me realize that I had a passion for the medical field. It’s a passion that has pushed me to keep volunteering in various hospitals, to do a paid internship at Kaiser Permanente, and to compete and excel at both State and Nation Conferences for the high school organization H.O.S.A. (Health Occupations Students of America). The internship and the trips of H.O.S.A gave me so many great memories that I know I’m never going to forget and gave me so much experience, not only for going into medicine but anything in my life. It’s a cliché statement I know, but true.

Its funny how something so negative and devastating can help focus and clear things up. The medical field was always an option, but it was always toward the back of my mind, never something I really considered. In my mind, I feel that the medical field provides me with the most direct way to help people and the community. Sure I could plant a tree or clean a park, that would help people, but if I can save lives, then those people can go plant a tree or clean a park. After being around so many medical facilities; meeting doctors, nurses, patients, families, etc.; and after seeing so much pain and suffering, it makes me want to learn as much as I can and work to the best of my ability to go into the medical field as prepared as possible, so I can make a difference and help better lives.

UC Personal Statement Version 1.0 (1st Draft)

2009-10-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

Ok so for those of you who dont know, the University of California system requires a personal statement from all incoming students, as a part of its application process. It must be within 1,000 words and the prompts for incoming freshman are as follows.

Prompt #1

"Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations."(University of California)

Prompt #2

"Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?"(University of California)

So here is the first draft of my personal statement. Feel free to comment.

Prompt #1

I always felt like I had a fine grasp on who I am. My family constantly attempted to treat me like an adult. My dad would bring me to along when he would hang out with his friends, who are all college graduates. Just listening to those conversations and ideas really helped me build the manner in which I carry myself today. My mom was still a typical mom; spoiling me, hugging me, kissing me, etc, but she at all times made sure I knew the rules and most of the time I followed them. My grandparents lived right down the street so they would baby-sit me a lot, and they were the same way. Basically my entire family tried to treat me like an adult, within reason of course. Despite growing up with all this around me, I still had a lot of difficulty on deciding what career I wanted to pursue. And sure everyone says that, but I don’t mean you wanted to be a firefighter when you were 5 and now you want to be a lawyer. I mean that I honestly had on clue until my sophomore year of high school.

One of my huge interests was, and to an extend still is, technology, so for a while I was considering a career in computers. Although, I enjoy meeting new people and working with people, which I felt a job in computers wouldn’t permit me to do. I also love to help people and the community; that’s what made me join and become an officer for Key Club once I got to high school. I needed a job where I could interact and talk to people. That’s how I eventually got to the idea of the medical field.

Prompt #2

Going into the medical profession was not my first intention. Up until I was about 12, there were basically no deaths in my family, but everyone was getting older, and they eventually started to pass away one by one. Over the past 3-4 years, I’ve attended about 8 funerals, all of which were for my family, whether it be my aunts, uncles, etc. It was a huge shock to me, and made me realize how life can suddenly end, and how much of an impact one person’s life can have.

The biggest loss for me was the death of my grandmother. Earlier that year, my grandfather was in the hospital, and eventually moved to a rehabilitation center. For a while it looked like he didn’t have much time left. Due to this, I had to take care of my grandmother. It was fine at first, but over time she became more dependent and difficult to deal with. My grandmother was then admitted into the hospital, one she could no longer function at home. She was then moved into the same rehabilitation center as my grandfather. Then were there together for about 3 months, but then my grandfather’s condition improved and he came back home. With him gone, my grandmother started to deteriorate. Within weeks, she went back into the hospital in severe condition. When I went to see her in the ICU at the hospital, she couldn’t talk or move; she wasn’t alert. Out family decided to just make her comfortable and let her pass away. When I went to say good-bye, I couldn’t handle it. I broke down and cried. She didn’t pass away for a week or so after we took all the machines off, and my relatives that went to see her said that she wanted to see me, but I need went back to the hospital; I couldn’t handle it.

Once she was gone, and the funeral was done, I had a lot of guilt in not going to see her. That summer, a friend and I decided to volunteer at a hospital for community service. We ended up at the same hospital where my grandmother passed away. For a while, I never wanted to go up to the ICU; it brought back the guilt that I felt. Then I realized that I needed to face it sometime, and this is a great opportunity. I asked to be stationed in the ICU. It was hard at first; a lot of memories came up every time I was in there. Eventually, I started to enjoy thinking about my grandmother, and I felt that by helping these patients, I could help make up for not being strong enough for my grandmother by giving strength to these people who need it the most. I enjoyed giving my all to help save lives, and it made me realize that I had a passion for the medical field. It’s a passion that has pushed me to keep volunteering in various hospitals, to do a paid internship at Kaiser Permanente, and to compete and excel at both State and Nation Conferences for the high school organization H.O.S.A. (Health Occupations Students of America). The internship and the trips of H.O.S.A gave me so many great memories that I know I’m never going to forget and gave me so much experience, not only for going into medicine but for life in general. It’s a cliché statement I know, but true.

Its funny how something so negative and devastating can help focus and clear things up. The medical field was always an option, but it was always toward the bad of my mind, never something I really considered. In my mind, I feel that the medical field provides me with the most direct way to help the maximum amount of people as I can. Sure I could plant a tree or clean a park, that would help people, but if I can save lives, then those people can go plant a tree or clean a park. After being around so many medical facilities; meeting doctors, nurses, patients, families, etc.; and after seeing so much pain and suffering, it makes me want to learn as much as I can and work to the best of my ability to go into the medical field as prepared as possible, so I can make a difference and help better lives.

All NFL Team

2009-10-27T19:31:00.000-07:00

Ok so heres the All NFL Team. This team has only current players. This team is going to run a 4-3 defense(4 defensive lineman, and 3 linebackers. The base formation of this offense will be a singleback, with 2 wide receivers, 2 tight ends, and 1 running back. Players that are on my All Time NFL team (Tony Gonzalez and Ray Lewis) will not be put on this team. Once again feel free to comment

	QB Peyton Williams Manning 6'5" 230lbs. Peyton Manning is one of only two three-time NFL MVPs, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the Tennessee Volunteers. He is the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and the older brother of current New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. Manning holds NFL records for consecutive seasons with over 4,000 yards passing and the most total seasons with 4,000 or more yards passing in a career. Manning holds the highest career passer rating among active quarterbacks and his 95.4 rating puts him second all-time behind only Steve Young. He is the all-time leader in career wins, career passing yards and passing touchdowns for the Colts franchise. In 2009, he was listed by The Sporting News as the No. 1 player in the NFL today.
	RB Adrian Lewis Peterson 6'1" 217lbs. Adrian Peterson is nicknamed "A.D."(for "All Day") or "Purple Jesus".Peterson was selected by the Vikings with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, after his outstanding, but injury plagued college career at Oklahoma. Peterson was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Peterson is only the fifth player in NFL history to have more than 3,000 plus yards through their first two seasons. He has the vision of a Marshall Faulk, the power of an Earl Campbell, and the speed of an Eric Dickerson. He has also been compared to Walter Payton and Tony Dorsett. Prior to the start of 2009 season, analysts of both NFL Network and ESPN unanimously named Peterson the best running back in the NFL today.
	WR Randy Gene Moss 6'4" 210lbs. Randy Moss has cemented himself as one of the most dominant receivers in the league and maybe in NFL History. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings 21st overall in the 1998 NFL Draft, from Marshall University. Moss played the first seven years of his career in Minnesota before a trade in 2005 brought him to the Oakland Raiders. On April 29, 2007, Moss was traded to the New England Patriots for a fourth-round draft pick. At the end of his rookie season, Moss was named a Pro Bowl starter and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for his rookie-record 17 touchdown receptions and the third highest receiving yardage (1,313) total. In 2009, Moss caught two touchdown passes for a total of 23, breaking the single season record of 22. Randy Moss uses his rare combination of speed and size to both outrun and outjump defenders. He possess amazing body control and consistantly shows it off, making diving and one handed catching.
	WR Calvin Johnson Jr. 6'5" 239lbs. Calvin Johnson was drafted by the Lions second overall in the 2007 NFL Draft, out of Georgia Tech. He was regarded as the best athlete to come out of the draft and was the #1 player on most draft boards. Johnson was said by ESPN to be able to be productive as a rookie, much like receiver Randy Moss was as a rookie. In a mid-February workout with speed and conditioning coach Tom Shaw, Johnson clocked a remarkable 4.33 second 40-yard dash, 10.23 second 100-meter sprint, recorded an 11-foot standing broad jump, and had a vertical leap of 43 inches. Due to injuries, Johnson finished the 2007 season with 756 yards and 5 total touchdowns. In 2008, despite the Lions' failures, Johnson finished as one of the strongest wide receivers, statistically, for the season, finishing 5th in receiving yards (1,331), 7th in receiving yards per game (83.2), and leading the league in receiving touchdowns (12). However, Johnson missed the Pro Bowl with most experts attributing the "snub" to the Lions dismal winless season. Johnson has a rare combination of size (6 ft. 5 in., 239 lb/ 196 cm, 108 kg), speed (4.35 sec 40-yard dash), strength, leaping ability (more than 45" (114 cm) vertical jump), body control and hand-eye coordination. It is often mentioned that he is also very humble and well-mannered, and did well academically at Georgia Tech.
	TE Jason Christopher Witten 6'5" 262lbs. Jason Witten is a Pro Bowl tight end from the Dallas Cowboys. He has a great feel for coverages, where the soft spots are in the secondary, how to get some separation for himself. He is dependable and solid. Witten has deceptively good speed to beat the safety or strong-side linebacker up the seam. And he is capable of controlling the area between the hashes
	TE Antonio D. Gates 6'4" 263lbs. Since 2004, only Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens have caught more touchdowns than Antonio Gates.After being told by scouts that he was too much of a “tweener” (6′4″) to make the NBA, Gates arranged a workout in front of NFL scouts. As many as 19 teams were believed to have contacted Gates about a try out. Gates chose to work out first for the San Diego Chargers. Recognizing his enormous potential, the Chargers immediately signed him to a contract as an undrafted free agent. Gates uses his size to perfection, boxing out for jump balls, like he would for a rebound in basketball. He has great hands, good speed. His above average vision makes him a big threat for yards after the catch. He is one of the best red zone weapons in the NFL.
	OT Joe Thomas 6'6" 312lbs. Joe Thomas was drafting 3rd overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Thomas quickly became one of the top-performing members of the '07 draft class and was named the NFL's Rookie of the Month for November. He was selected to the 2008 Pro Bowl and 2009 Pro Bowl, and became the first Browns left tackle selected to the Pro Bowl since Doug Dieken in 1980. He has started in every regular season game in his career.
	OG Alan Joseph Faneca Jr. 6'5" 307 He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers 26th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft, Louisiana State. A five-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Faneca won a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers in Super Bowl XL. he was named a starter in the 2002 Pro Bowl his first selection to the squad, and also was named All-Pro by the Associated Press and also earned several other postseason honors, including All-Pro by The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and Football Digest, and was named to Pro Football Weekly's-All-NFL team. He had an offseason surgery on his right wrist and missed some playing time during the teams preseason. In 2002 season was named to Pro Football Weekly's All-NFL and All-AFC team...also selected to the USA Today Sports Weekly's All-Pro team was voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl In 2003, he switched positions from left guard to left tackle due to injuries, but helping Running back Amos Zereoue to get three 100-yard performances in the season. He has helped running backs Jerome Bettis, Duce Staley, and Willie Parker set individual and team rushing records. He helped the Steelers reach Super Bowl XL in Detroit, in which Pittsburgh defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-10. He helped spring Parker to a 75-yard touchdown run that is currently the longest run in Super Bowl history. In 2007 Season he helped QB Ben Roethlisberger to perfect passer rating of 158.3 and Najeh Davenport to 123 rushing yards in Week 16 at St Louis Rams. He led way for Willie Parker 105-yard rushing performance in Week 10 against the Browns was the key to Steelers ground attack rolling for 205 yards in Week 3 vs. San Francisco 49ers and helped 206-yard rushing effort in season opener at Cleveland. In 2007, Alan Faneca was voted to the Steelers 75th Anniversary All Time Team by Steeler fans.
	C Jeff Bryant Saturday 6'3" 310lbs. Jeff Saturday was undrafted in the 1998 NFL Draft and signed by the Colts. After only two regular season starts in 1999, Saturday started all 16 regular season games of the 2000 season at center for the Colts. Over the following seasons, Saturday remained the team's starting center, appearing in 85 consecutive games before sitting out two games with an injury in December 2004. He remains a fixture on the Colts' offensive line, which has given up the fewest quarterback sacks among all NFL teams in the 2004, 2005, and 2006 seasons. He was selected to his second NFL Pro Bowl in 2006, and started for the AFC squad. In his first eight NFL seasons with the Colts, Saturday appeared in 121 regular season games, starting 112 of them. He also appeared in 13 playoff games, starting 12 of them. He passed the ball once during a game in 2004, but his attempt fell incomplete. His career passer rating stands at 39.6. Saturday was voted onto three Pro Bowl teams in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and for the 2005 and 2007 seasons he was named to the Associated Press NFL All-Pro First Team.
	OG Steve J. Hutchinson 6'5" 313lbs. Steve Hutchinson was drafted in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, Hutchinson spent his first five seasons with that team. Hutchinson then went to the Minnesota Vikings after a controversial contract negotiation with Seattle. Hutchinson has 6 Pro Bowl selections and 5 First Team All-Pro selections.
	OT Marcus McNeill 6'7" 336lbs. Marcus McNeilll was drafted in the 2nd round (50th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Chargers, out of Auburn. Despite a stellar college career at Auburn, many teams were worried about McNeill's injury history; namely having spinal stenosis or a narrowing of the spine and the fact that he did not do much weight training at Auburn. McNeill was unable to lift during pre-draft workouts due to a fractured right hand. Despite these obstacles, McNeill still impressed with his physically imposing size and 35 3/8" arms. McNeill was voted a first alternate to the 2007 Pro Bowl and made the team after an injury to starter Willie Anderson. Commentator Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com referred to him late in the 2006 season as "one of the elite left tackles" in the NFL. A rookie starter at left tackle for the entire season, McNeill was a crucial component of the offensive line that blocked for running back LaDainian Tomlinson as he established a number of single season offensive records. The majority of Tomlinson's long gains came from running behind the left side of the offensive line, behind McNeill and guard Kris Dielman. McNeill was not called for a holding penalty in the 2006 season. McNeill finished 4th in voting for the 2007 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, a remarkable finish for an offensive lineman. He was named the Offensive Rookie of the Month for September. McNeill was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl after Jonathan Ogden pulled out.
	DE Justin Lee Tuck 6'5" 274lbs. Justin Tuck was drafted by the New York Giants in the 3rd round 74th pick overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, out of Notre Dame. His rookie season in the NFL found him behind Pro Bowl defensive ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora on the New York Giants depth chart, reducing his role to special teams and the first backup at each defensive end position. Tuck started his 2008 campaign in Michael Strahan-like fashion by sacking Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell in the first play of the season opener. The Giants went on to defeat their division rivals the Washington Redskins 16-7. Tuck followed his exceptional performance in week one with an outstanding performance against the St. Louis Rams. Tuck finished the game with 2.0 sacks and an interception return for a touchdown in a Giants victory in week two.The interception and touchdown down marked the first of Tuck's professional career. The touchdown was his first since his junior season at Notre Dame. Tuck's stellar play in 2008 earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl as one of the NFC's starting defensive ends. Recently he's been named a 2008 First-Team All-Pro by The Associated Press. Tuck uses his power and athleticism to bum rush through offensive lineman. He has great vision, as he plays many playing in run defense.
	DT Albert Haynesworth III 6'6" 350lbs. Considered "potentially a brutal run-stopper" by The New York Times, Albert Haynesworth went 15th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft, picked by the Tennessee Titans. He was the fourth defensive tackle selected from a draft class considered to be loaded with talented defensive linemen. Haynesworth has been selected to two Pro Bowls in his career and is currently considered "the most dominant defensive tackle in the league." Haynesworth was elected to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2008, and All Pro selections in those same seasons. Haynesworth is a huge space eater, making in clogged up at the line of scrimmage. Hiss disruptive abilities make a huge factor in the running game and the passing game.
	DT Haloti Ngata 6'4" 345lbs. Ngata was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round (12th overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft, becoming only the second player to be drafted by the team out of Oregon. In his rookie season, he started in all 16 games and finished the campaign with 31 tackles, one sack and an interception. The following season, he made 63 tackles and three sacks. He is considered to be one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL after his dominant 2007 and 2008 performances. He uses his size and strength to take up space and push back offensive lineman. He is athletic for a big defensive tackle and he uses that to his advantage to rush the quarterback and put on pressure.
	DE Jared Scott Allen 6'6" 270lbs. Jared Allen was originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, out of Idaho State. Allen is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and All-Pro with the Chiefs in 2007 and the Vikings in 2008. Allen is known for having an unstoppable motor. Hes energy level at the beginning of the game, seems to be the same as the end of the game. He uses a combination of speed and power to finesse and bum rush offensive lineman. He is great at getting at the quarterback, having 65 career sacks in 5 years.
	OLB DeMarcus Ware 6'4" 262lbs. DeMarcus Ware was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Troy University. Ware is considered the best 3-4 outside linebacker by Sporting News and has been described as "the most dynamic defender in the league right now" by ESPN. So far in Ware's young career he has recorded 299 tackles, 53.5 sacks, 61.0 tackles for a loss, 18 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries (one of which he returned 69 yards for a touchdown), 13 passes defended and one interception which he returned 41 yards for a touchdown in 64 NFL games. Ware has 3 Pro Bowl selections, and 2 All Pro selections. He plays great pass defense and rush defense, but his real talent comes from rushing the quarterback. He is seen as the most dangerous pass rushers in the NFL today.
	MLB Patrick Willis 6'1" 240lbs. Partick Willis was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers 11th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft,out of Mississippi. At the 2007 NFL Combine, Willis further impressed scouts with his performance; his 4.49 40-yard dash there was one of the fastest among linebackers, a time done on a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament. He also posted a 39-inch vertical jump and recorded 22 repetitions of the 225-lb. bench press. Willis clocked 4.38 seconds for 40 yards during his University of Mississippi pro-day workout.Analysts of The Sporting News compared him to Jeremiah Trotter. Willis led the NFL in tackles, earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors and was named the 2007 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, in 2007. During another dominating season with the 49ers in 2008, Patrick Willis was named the starting inside linebacker for the NFC Pro Bowl team. In just two seasons, he has established himself as one of the top linebackers in the NFL. At the end of the year, Patrick Willis was voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl, this time as a starter. He was also voted to the All-Pro Second Team.
	OLB James Harrsion Jr. 6'0" 242lbs. James Harrison was signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2002. After barely playing and considering retirement, Harrison finally got a chance in 2007. He piled up 8.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 3 recovered fumbles, and 98 tackles on the year. He was voted team MVP for the 2007 season, as well as making the Pro Bowl and All Pro Teams. In 2008, Harrison amassed 16 sacks, breaking the team record set by Mike Merriweather in 1987. Harrison was named the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the 2008 season, beating out Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware for the award. Harrison became the first undrafted player to win the award.
	CB Nnamdi Asomugha 6'2" 210lbs. Nnamdi Asomugha was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft, 31st overall, by the Raiders, out of Cal. Asomugha's 2006 campaign, he finished the season with 50 tackles, eight interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble and one touchdown. His interception total tied him for second highest total in the National Football League along with four other players. He also received the Oakland Raiders "Commitment to Excellence" Award and was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 2006. Asomugha was selected onto Dr. Z's Sports Illustrated 2006 All-Pro team as well as The Associated Press 2006 All-Pro Team. Asomugha was invited to the 2007 Pro Bowl as an alternate in Honolulu, Hawaii but because of late notice he was not able to attend the annual all-star game.The 2007 season was a lonely existence for Asomugha, who paid for his eight-interception breakout season of 2006. Not even established star quarterbacks such as Brett Favre and Peyton Manning, neither short on confidence or receivers, would challenge him. Opposing quarterbacks tested him only 31 times with a mere 10 completions the entire season. One NFL scout told Pro Football Weekly that Asomugha was thrown at "less than any defender in the last ten years" in 2007 He finished the 2007 season with 34 tackles, 1 interception and 7 breakups and was named a 2008 Pro Bowl alternate. Asomugha was selected as the Raiders Team Captain for the 2008 season. Opposing quarterbacks tested Asomugha only 27 times with 8 completions allowed the entire season. Only perennial all-pros Randy Moss (3 receptions, 40 yards) and Tony Gonzalez (2 receptions, 34 yards) would catch more than one ball on him during the year. He finished the 2008 season with 40 tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 9 pass deflections. He received the Oakland Raiders "Commitment to Excellence" Award for the second time and was named the team's 2008 Co-Most Valuable Player along with running back Justin Fargas. Asomugha was selected as a starter for the 2009 Pro Bowl. Asomugha was selected onto The Sporting News 2008 All-Pro Team as well as the Pro Football Writers Association All-NFL Team for 2008. Asomugha was also selected onto Peter King's Sports Illustrated 2008 All-Pro team as well as The Associated Press 2008 All-Pro Team.
	FS Ed Earl Reed Jr. 5'11" 200lbs. Ed Reed was drafted by the Ravens 24th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft, out of University of Miami. In his career, Reed has been selected to five Pro Bowls (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008) and was the 2004 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and holds the NFL record for longest interception return (108 yards in 2008). He is considered one of the most dominant safeties currently playing in the NFL and is often referred to as a "ball hawk." Since entering the league, Reed has been known to study film to memorize opposing teams's tendencies. Reed's habit of baiting quarterbacks into throwing interceptions has also earned him recognition throughout the league. Ed was selected to the Sporting News' Magazines Team of the Decade (2000's). Ed Reed is also a huge threat as a returner as he has scored a total of 13 touchdowns in his career—3 blocked punts, 1 punt return, 2 fumble returns and 7 interception returns.
	SS Troy Polamalu 5'10" 207lbs. Troy Polamalu was drafted in the 1st round, 16th overall of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Steelers, out of USC. Polamalu is known for his hard hitting, tenacious playing style and his distinct long curly hair. Polamalu's blend of speed, anticipation, and instinct makes him a standout player who seems to be involved in almost every defensive play. The Steelers often use Polamalu in different packages. He may blitz the quarterback, come on a delayed blitz, or pretend to blitz and drop back into coverage, confusing the quarterback. Polamalu often adds to the quarterback's confusion by turning around and walking away from the line of scrimmage before the snap. He has made 5 straight Pro Bowls from 2004-2008 and has made the NFL All Pro Team 2 times.
	CB Darrelle Revis 5'11" 204lbs. Darrelle Revis was drafted in the first round, 14th overall by the Jets in the 2007 NFL Draft, out of University of Pittsburgh. Revis was listed at the starting cornerback for the Jets at the beginning of the 2007 NFL season. Starting at 16 games, Revis ended his rookie season with 87 total tackles. one sack, one forced fumble and 3 interceptions. As the starting cornerback for the Jets in his second season, Revis established himself as an All-Pro cornerback after being tied for second among interception leaders through week 15 of the 2008 NFL season with five picks.NFL Total Access ranked him as the No. 3 cornerback in the NFL during one of their Best In The Biz lists, in 2009.
	K Adam Matthew Vinateri 6'0" 202lbs. Adam Vinateri was undrafted in the 1996 NFL draft out of South Dakota State. He was then signed by the Patriots that same year. He has played in five Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and one with the Colts, winning all but one. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2007 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2002, 2004, & 2005 with the Patriots. Vinatieri is the first kicker ever to play in five Super Bowls and win four Super Bowl rings.Vinatieri is generally considered to be the best clutch kicker in the history of the National Football League. Nicknamed "Automatic Adam" for his accuracy, and "Iceman" for his incredible poise under pressure, Vinatieri has converted several of the most crucial field goals in NFL history, including game-winning kicks in the final seconds of two Super Bowls.
	P Shane Edward Lechler 6'2" 225lbs. Shane Lechler was drafted in the 5th round 142th pick overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2000 NFL Draft, out of Texas A&M. Arguably the best punter in the NFL since entering the league in 2000, Lechler has set various NFL and Raiders records. He was a Pro Bowler in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2008 and was named to the All-Pro team in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008. Lechler has the NFL record for best average per punt in a career (46.8), the only player with a higher average than the legendary Sammy Baugh. He has the five best single-season punting averages in Raiders history, including a career-best 49.1 in 2007, the second highest single season average in league history (Baugh averaged 51.4 in 1940). Lechler also set a Raider record for most punting yards in a season with 4,503 in 2003. He had at least one punt of 50 yards or more in 33 consecutive games from Week 13 of 2003 through Week 14 of 2005, the longest streak by any player since the AFL/NFL merger in 1970.

All Time NFL Team

2009-10-25T10:34:00.000-07:00

Ok so I decided to made an All Time NFL Team. Same thing as the All Time NBA Team, and you can expect me to made an All NFL Team with current players. This All Time NFL Team is going to run a 3-4 defense(meaning 3 defensive lineman and 4 linebackers), and the I-Form(meaning 2 wide receivers, 1 running back, 1 fullback, and 1 tight end). Once again, if you agree/disagree, feel free to comment.

	QB Johnny Constantine Unitas 6'1" 194 lbs. The Golden Arm and often called Johnny U, played in the 1950s through the 1970s, spending the majority of his career with the Baltimore Colts. He was a record-setting quarterback and the NFL most valuable player in 1959, 1964 and 1967. His record of throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games (between 1956-1960) remains unsurpassed as of 2009. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time. He was part of "the greatest game in NFL History", the 1958 NFL championship game vesus the New York Giants. The game was the first overtime championship game in history, and Unitas and the Colts came out on top with a 23-17 victory. Unitas was a 10 time pro bowler, and 6 time pro bowler. He was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979
	RB Barry David Sanders 5'9" 201lbs. Sanders was far too quick for defenders to hit solidly on a consistent basis, and too strong to bring down with arm tackles. Though short at 5'8", his playing weight was 203 lb (91 kg) and Sanders had a large portion this weight in his exceptionally large and muscular legs, which provided him with a very low center of gravity; His weight was also the same as Walter Payton and only slightly under the NFL average for a back. His agility and quick acceleration combined with his low center of mass made him very difficult to bring down. Sanders was a 10 time pro bowler, and a 6 time all pro. Many people believe that if he had not retired so early in his career, Sanders would have broken the all time rushing record. He was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004
	FB Larry Richard Csonka 6'3" 237lbs. Larry Csonka was one of the biggest running backs of his day and pounded through the middle of the field with relative ease, often dragging tacklers 5–10 yards. He was described as a bulldozer or battering ram. His running style reminded people of a legendary power runner from the 1930s, Bronko Nagurski. He rarely fumbled the ball or dropped a pass. He was also an excellent blocker. He lead the Miami Dolphins in rushing for five straight years. He was a 5 time pro bowler, and a two time super bowl winner.He was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987
	WR Jerry Lee Rice 6'2" 200lbs. Jerry Rice is widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver ever and one of the greatest players in NFL history. The all-time leader in every major statistical category for wide receivers and the all-time NFL leader in touchdowns scored with 208, Rice was selected to the Pro Bowl 13 times (1986–1996, 1998, 2002) and named All-Pro 10 times in his 20 NFL seasons. He won three Super Bowl rings playing for the San Francisco 49ers and an AFC Championship with the Oakland Raiders. Rice was know a particularity fast player, however he used quickness and a variety of moves to confuse defenders. Rice is remembered for his work ethic and dedication to the game. In his 20 NFL seasons, Rice missed only 10 regular season games, 7 of them in the 1997 season, and the other 3 in the strike-shortened season of 1987. His 303 games are by far the most ever played by an NFL wide receiver, and are only 72 games behind the NFL record for games played by any player. In addition to staying on the field, his work ethic showed in his dedication to conditioning and running precise routes. Also known as one of the best blockers at his position, there was no aspect of playing wide receiver at which Rice did not excel.
	WR Lynn Curtis Swann 5'11" 180lbs. Lynn Swann only played 8 seasons in the NFL but he made a huge impact on the league. Swann retired after the 1982 season with four Super Bowl rings. He amassed 336 career receptions for 5,462 yards and 51 touchdowns, along with 72 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and 739 punt return yards and a touchdown. Swann was a pro bowl selection three times (1975, 1977, 1978) and was selected on the 1970s all-decade team. Swann was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Though his professional career didn't yield large statistics, Swann was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001, a year before his teammate John Stallworth. Swann was know for hiss acrobatic catches, and easy flowing playing style.
	TE Tony David Gonzalez 6'5" 251lbs. Tony Gonzalez was rated as one of the top tight ends in the 1997 NFL Draft, and was considered a top 15 selection. The Chiefs had decided to draft Gonzalez, but were unlikely to be able to draft him with their 18th overall pick. The Chiefs thus traded up with the Houston Oilers to get the number 13 selection and draft Gonzalez.Gonzalez became NFL all time leader in reception yards for a tight end with 10,064, surpassing Shannon Sharpe. He recorded 96 receptions for 1,058 yards and was also elected to his 10 career Pro Bowl despite Kansas City starting 3 different quarterbacks. He is the greatest receiving tight end of all time. He is a first ballot hall of famer.
	OT Anthony Michael Munoz 6'7" 280lbs. Anthony Muñoz was the third overall pick in the 1980 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. His selection was viewed as a major risk by many pundits since knee problems limited the 6'-6", 280-pound Muñoz to just a combined eight games in his junior and senior seasons at USC. He became a starter in his rookie season and remained a fixture at left tackle for the Bengals for 13 seasons and is considered one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history. Despite his history of injuries, Muñoz missed just three games during his first 12 seasons. His rigorous workout routine included working out in the weight room he had installed in his home and running three to four miles every day. In addition to his talents as a blocker, Anthony Muñoz was also a capable receiver, notching 7 receptions for 18 yards and scoring 4 touchdowns on tackle-eligible plays. Muñoz was an 11-time (all consecutive) Pro Bowl selection, a 9 time All Pro, the Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1981, 1987, and 1988 was awarded the NFL Players Association Lineman of the Year honors in 1981, 1985, 1988, and 1989. The NFL Alumni Association voted Munoz the Offensive Lineman of the Year four times (1987, 1989-1991). At the time of his retirement, his Pro Bowl selections were the most ever by an offensive lineman in league history. In 1994, Muñoz was named to the National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. In 1999, he was ranked #17 on Sporting News' list of the 100 greatest football players and was the highest-ranked offensive lineman. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
	OG John Allen Hannah 6'2" 265lbs. John Hannah played his entire professional career with the New England Patriots. Hannah was named All-Pro 10 times (1976-1985) and was also selected to play in 9 Pro Bowls. He is also one of the few players to have been named to the NFL All-Decade Team twice, as Hannah was selected to both the 1970s and 1980s All-Decade Teams. Hannah was also selected to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, being the #1 guard in the team.In 1991 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was ranked number 20 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, the highest-ranking Patriot, the highest-ranking guard, and the second-ranked offensive lineman behind Anthony Muñoz.
	C Jim John Langer 6'2" 250lbs. Jim Langer is considered one of the greatest NFL centers of all time and a hard working and quick blocker. Langer was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. Langer became the starter at center in the 1972 season and played in 141 consecutive games over 8 seasons until a knee injury ended his playing days with Miami nine games into the 1979 season. Langer was traded to the Minnesota Vikings prior to the 1980 season, playing 2 seasons with the Vikings before retiring after the 1981 campaign. During a phenomenal 6-year stretch Langer was named All-Pro 4 times 1974-1977, and 2nd Team All-Pro twice, in 1973 and 1978. He also appeared in the Pro Bowl each of those seasons. Langer played in three Super Bowls with the Dolphins.
	OG Larry Chatmon Little 6'1" 265lbs. Undrafted out of college, Larry Little began his professional career as a free agent with the AFL's San Diego Chargers in 1967 and 1968, and was traded to the AFL's Miami Dolphins for the 1969 season, when he was named an AFL All-Star. He then played with the NFL Dolphins from 1970 through 1980. Little was a key contributor to the success of the Dolphins' punishing running attack of the early and mid 1970's, which featured Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris, and Jim Kiick. In 1999, he was ranked number 79 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
	OT Arthur "Art" Shell 6'5" 265lbs. Shell was drafted by the AFL's Oakland Raiders from Maryland State College. Playing offensive tackle, Shell participated in 24 playoff contests, including Super Bowls XI and XV, and was named to eight Pro Bowls. Shell was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1999, he was ranked number 55 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. He was a 3 time First Team All Pro. He was elected to the 1970s All Decade Team.
	DE Reggie Howard White 6'5" 300lbs. Reggie White played defensive end for 17 seasons in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history. The 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 13-time Pro Bowl and 12-time All-Pro selection holds 2nd place all-time amongst career sack leaders with 198.5 (behind Bruce Smith's 200 career sacks) and was selected to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team and the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. During his professional career, he became famous not only for his outstanding play, but also for his Christian ministry as an ordained Evangelical minister. This led to his nickname, "the Minister of Defense." White was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
	DT Joe Edward Greene 6'4" 275lbs. Known as “Mean Joe” Greene, this man played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. Throughout the early 1970s he developed into arguably the most dominant defensive lineman in the NFL. He is considered by many to be one of the best defensive linemen to ever play the game and was the cornerstone of the famous “Steel Curtain” defense. He is also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a four-time Super Bowl champion. He was strong, quick and intense. He was the NFL's rookie of the year in 1969, even though he played on a poor Steelers team that went 1-13 and had a long standing reputation of being a doormat for other NFL teams. In his early years with the Steelers, Greene was at times uncontrollable and often let his temper get the best of him. He was twice recognized as the NFL defensive player of the year in 1972 and 1974. He was a 10 time pro bowler and was a 5 Time First Team All Pro
	DE Bruce Bernard Smith 6'4" 265lbs. In his 19 NFL seasons, Bruce Smith played in 279 games, amassing 200 sacks, two interceptions, 46 forced fumbles, and 15 fumble recoveries, which he returned for 33 yards and a touchdown. Of his 19 seasons in the NFL, 14 of them were seasons where he had at least ten sacks, a testament to his consistency year in and year out. He was also named All-Pro nine times. At the height of his career, Smith was known as one of the NFL's most fearsome defensive players. His sack record attests to this, though his public demeanor suggested he was quite mild-mannered off the field. In 1999, Smith was ranked number 58 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. In 2005, he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. In 2006, Smith was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
	OLB Lawrence Julius Taylor 6'3" 241lbs. Lawrence Taylor is considered to be one of the greatest defensive players in the history of football, and has been called the greatest defensive player of all time by members of the media, former players, and coaches. Taylor won several defensive awards after his rookie season. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Taylor was a disruptive force at outside linebacker, and is widely considered to have changed the pass rushing schemes, offensive line play, and offensive formations used in the NFL. Taylor produced double-digit sacks each season from 1984 through 1990, including a career high of 20.5 in 1986. He also won a record three Defensive Player of the Year awards and was named the league's MVP for his performance during the 1986 season. He was named first-team All-Pro in each of his first nine seasons and was a key member of the Giants' defense, nicknamed "The Big Blue Wrecking Crew". Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs developed the two tight end offense and the position of h-back to prevent Taylor from blitzing into the backfield unhindered. His skills at outside linebacker forced other coaches to retool their offensive schemes to manage his impact. In the late '70s and early '80s, a blitzing linebacker was almost always picked up by a running back. However, these players were usually no match for Taylor. The tactic employed by Bill Walsh in the 1982 playoffs, namely of employing an offensive guard to block Taylor, began to be copied around the league. This move, however, left a hole in the offensive protection that a middle linebacker could exploit. Later, Walsh and other coaches began using offensive left tackles to block Taylor. Although Taylor made adjustments to his game to remain dominant, it soon became common in the NFL for offensive linemen to pick up blitzing linebackers, such as Taylor. In addition to the changes in offensive schemes Taylor influenced, he also introduced new defensive techniques to the game such as chopping the ball out of the quarterback's hands rather than tackling him.
	MLB Jack Harold Lambert 6'4" 220lbs. Jack Lambert won four Super Bowls in his 11 year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is recognized as one of the best middle linebackers in the history of the NFL. Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft, many pro football coaches and scouts thought Lambert was too small to play linebacker in the NFL. While most of his pro career he was reported to be 6'4" and 220 pounds, he measured 6'4½" and 204 pounds as a rookie. However, he displayed strength at warding off blockers, quick feet, and extreme tenacity. These traits, coupled with intellect and ability to read offenses led to his quick ascension with the Steelers.Lambert went on to earn the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award as a central figure on a great Steeler defense. Lambert was known for the intensity with which he played. Lambert prided himself on his ability to hit hard and intimidate the opposition. By the time of his retirement, he was widely recognized as one of the great middle-linebackers in the history of the game. He was the Steelers starting middle linebacker, for eleven seasons; and according to Steelers media guides averaged 146 tackles per season through his 10th year. He recorded only 19 in his 11th and final season because of the injury suffered to his toe.
	MLB Ray Anthony Lewis 6'1" 250lbs. He has played for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL since 1996. Lewis has been selected to ten Pro Bowls and been named an Associated Press All-Pro eight times. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 and 2003; he was the sixth player to win the award multiple times. He was also the second linebacker to win the Super Bowl MVP Award and the first linebacker to win the award on the winning Super Bowl team. Throughout his career Lewis has built a reputation as a leader and intimidating force at middle linebacker. He has led his team in tackles in nine of his eleven seasons. His defenses are consistently ranked among the best during his stint. Today he is considered one of the most dominant linebackers in the history of the NFL. He is considered a first ballot hall of famer
	OLB Jack Raphael Ham Jr. 6'1" 225lbs. He is considered one of the greatest outside linebackers in the history of the NFL. He won the starting left linebacker job as a rookie. He was First-team All-Pro six years and was named to eight straight Pro Bowls. He was named the greatest outside linebacker of all time by a consortium of professional sports writers, beating Lawrence Taylor for this honor. Rick Korch again raised this question in his book "The Truly Great, The 200 Best Football Players Of All Time", published in 1993. Korch gave the nod to Lawrence Taylor but by the narrowest of margins. Jack Ham was blessed with tremendous quickness, according to Steeler's coach Chuck Noll and teammate Andy Russell he was the "fastest Steeler for the first ten yards, including wide receivers and running backs", this was on a team which included John Stallworth, Lynn Swann and Frank Lewis. He was one of the few outside linebackers who could play pass defense as well as the NFL's top safeties. Although he was a ferocious hitter, he was known as a player who couldn't be fooled and was seldom out of position. Maxie Baughan, the great former NFL linebacker said of Ham, "He was one of the more intelligent players to ever play that position. He was able to diagnose plays. You couldn't ever fool him."
	CB Rod Kevin Woodson 6'0" 205lbs. As one of the best defensive backs in NFL history, Rod Woodson holds the records for career interception return yardage (1,483), interception returns for touchdowns (12) and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993. His 71 career interceptions is the 3rd-most in NFL history. He was an inductee of the Class of 2009 of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Woodson was named to the Pro Bowl eleven times, a record for a defensive back. He was also the first player to earn trips to the Pro Bowl at cornerback, safety and kick returner. He was named 1993's NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. He was also a 7 time All-Pro selection. Woodson finished second to Darrell Green in the 1988 NFL Fastest Man Contest. He was named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team. What made it notable was that Woodson was one of only five active players to be named to the team. In 1999, he was ranked number 87 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. The College Football News has also honored him as one of the 100 greatest players of the 20th century. In 2007, he was ranked number 22 on USA Today list of the 25 best NFL players of the past 25 years.
	SS Ronnie Mandel Lott 6'0" 203 Ronnie Lott starred as a cornerback, free safety and strong safety in college football and the NFL. He is most well known for his hard hits on opposing players. A Pro Bowler at both cornerback and safety, Lott is widely considered one of the best defensive backs in NFL history. In his 14 seasons, Lott recorded 8.5 sacks and 63 interceptions, which he returned for 730 yards and five touchdowns. He recovered 17 fumbles, returned them for 43 yards, and gained 113 yards on kickoff returns. Lott also played in 20 postseason games, recording nine interceptions, 89 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two touchdowns. He was also named All-Pro eight times, All-NFC six times, and All-AFC once. Beyond statistics, Lott had an uncanny awareness of how a play was developing, which allowed him to break up passes and earn a reputation as one of the hardest and most efficient open-field tacklers.
	FS Mel Lacy Renfro 6'0" 190lbs. Mel Renfro was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 1964 NFL Draft. The speedy Renfro (4.65 40-yd dash) became an exceptional threat to wide receivers. Mel led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 1969. Renfro was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first ten seasons in the League, including five All-Pro selections in 1964, 1965, 1969, 1971, and 1973. Mel also was a significant threat on special teams, performing punt and kickoff return duties in addition to playing on defense, leading the league in punt and kickoff return yardage in 1964.Renfro was added to the Texas Stadium Ring of Honor in 1981, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
	CB Deion Luwynn Sanders 6'1" 198 This man carries the nicknames "Prime Time" and "Neon Deion". Sanders is considered one of the most versatile athletes in history because he played multiple sports at multiple positions. In the NFL he played mainly cornerback but also some wide receiver and special teams for the Atlanta Falcons, the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Ravens, winning the Super Bowl with the 49ers and Cowboys. In Major League Baseball, he played for the New York Yankees, the Atlanta Braves, the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants. Sanders was a perennial All-Pro and one of the most feared pass defenders to ever play the game. While critics argued that his tackling was poor and he was not much of a factor in run support, they could not deny his closing speed. Deion was know for his speed. He was known for high steeping on his way to the endzone, while tacklers still had an angle on him. His 40-yard dash time was unoffically recorded at 4.20. During his career, Sanders intercepted 52 passes for 1,331 yards (a 25.1 yards per return average), recovered four fumbles for 15 yards, returned 155 kickoffs for 3,523 yards, gained 2,199 yards on 212 punt returns, and caught 60 passes for 784 yards. Sanders amassed 7,838 all-purpose yards and scored 22 touchdowns: nine interception returns, six punt returns, three kickoff returns, three receiving, and one fumble recovery. His 19 defensive and return touchdowns are an NFL record. He was selected to eight Pro Bowls in 1991-1994, 1996–1999. He was also awarded the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1994.
	K Morten Anderson 6'2" 225lbs. Morten Anderson holds the distinction of being the all-time leading scorer in NFL history and the all-time leading scorer for two different teams; the New Orleans Saints, with whom he spent 13 seasons, and the Atlanta Falcons, with whom he spent a combined 8 seasons.
	P Ray William Guy 6'3" 200lbs. Ray Guy was the first pure punter ever to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft when the Oakland Raiders selected him in 1973. Ray Guy was known for punts with a high hang time; he once punted the ball with so much hangtime that the opponents pulled the ball and had it tested for helium. The hangtime statistic was also instituted in the NFL during his time, probably because of him. Ray Guy played in 207 consecutive games, punted 1,049 times for 44,493 yards, averaging 42.4 yards per punt, with a 33.8 net yards average, had 210 punts inside the 20 yard line (not counting his first 3 seasons, when the NFL did not keep track of this stat), with just 128 touchbacks, led the NFL in punting three times, had a streak of 619 consecutive punts before having one blocked, has a record of 111 career punts in post season games, had five punts of over 60 yards during the 1981 season, and never had a punt returned for a touchdown. Ray Guy was selected to seven AFC Pro Bowl teams, and in 1994, he was named the punter on the National Football League's 75th Anniversary Team.

All Time NBA Team vs All NBA Team

2009-10-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the last few weeks I've posted up my idea of an All Time NBA Team with legendary NBA players, and a All NBA Team with current players. Now what if these two teams played a game? Lets break it down position by position.

First, Point Guard. Magic Johnson would be too big for Chris Paul too handle. Chris Paul might be able to use some quickness, but I think Magic's size is too much for Paul to handle. Advantage: Magic Johnson.

Next, Shooting Guard. This is by far the closest match-up. Even though Kobe doesn't like to be compared to Michael Jordan, the fact is that they are very similar. Both are unbelievable offensive players, and both play great defense. They are complete players, and I think that this match-up is too close to call. Advantage: Even

Lets look at small forward. This is also a close match-up, but Larry Birds shooting is the deciding factor. LeBron's shooting problems have been well documented. Bird's defense can stop, or at least slow down Lebron's inside game, and I don't think Lebron can stop Bird. Advantage: Larry Bird

Next match-up, power forward. This is a very interesting match-up. Kareem is definitely a better offensive player than Dwight Howard, but Kareem uses athleticism and quickness. Howard is athletic and strong, he can power home a dunk, and drive to the basket. I think that although Howard is a great defensive player, Kareem can still score. And even though Howard might be stronger than Kareem, his offensive game isn't good enough to score consistently on Kareem. Advantage: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Time for the centers. This is the only match-up that has actually taken place. Shaq and Duncan have played against each other 52 times, 27 regular season games and 25 playoff games. Now in those match-ups, Shaq has the advantage offensively, averaging more points per game, and rebounds per games. Defensively, Duncan has a huge advantage. Shaq has made the All Defensive Team 3 times, while Duncan has done it 11 times. Shaq has won more regular season match-ups. Duncan however has an advantage in the playoffs. Winning more match-ups and having better performances. However Shaq is far more physically gifted than Duncan, and there are more factors to this match-ups besides just these two players. With the statistics so close, and Shaq's superior athletic ability, I think Shaqq slightly wins this match-up. Advantage: Shaquille O’Neal

Finally the sixth man. Julius Erving was a great player, but I feel that Dwayne Wade has an advantage here. Wade is definatly a superior shooter and defender. He should have no problem shutting down Erving, and he would be able to do a decent job on the other players on th All Time NBA Team. I doubt Erving can match-up with Kobe, Lebron, or maybe not even Paul. Advantage: Dwayne Wade

So the conclusion...the All NBA Team is just too much for the All NBA Team. I think the All Time NBA Team would win this game easily. If you disagree feel free to comment.

All NBA Team

2009-10-19T11:56:00.000-07:00

Ok so I've been in a basketball mood lately, with the new season coming up. So after the All Time NBA Team I made, I decided to made an All NBA Team with the current players in the NBA. Feel free to comment.

	PG Christopher Emmanuel Paul 6'0" 175lbs. Chris Paul has become the best PG in the NBA today. He is an exciting playmaker who is among the league leaders in steals and assists, he was a member of the gold medal-winning team in the Beijing Olympics. His vision and passing is a show to watch in every game. While defenders are concerned about his passing, Paul is driving to the basket with his quickness and handling. Paul is a 2-time All Star, and has been elected to the First team All NBA 2 times. He also won rookie of the year in 2006.
	SG Kobe Bean Bryant 6'6" 205lbs. Bryant is a shooting guard who is capable of playing the small forward position. He is considered one of the most complete players in NBA history,has been elected to every All-NBA Team since 1999, and has been featured in the last eleven NBA All-Star games.Sports writers and sports casters have frequently compared Bryant to Michael Jordan, a comparison he does not like being made.He is a prolific scorer, averaging 25.1 points per game for his career, along with 4.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. He is known for his ability to create shots for himself, and is an adept outside shooter, sharing the single-game NBA record for three pointers made with twelve. Early in his career this abilities resulted in Bryant forcing a lot of shots. This earned him a reputation of being a "ball hog" despite leading his team in assists for 4 straight seasons. Bryant is often cited as one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, though his 45.5% career field goal average is considered moderate. He has exceptional ball handling skills, utilizes his speed and athletic ability to elude defenders to finish at the basket. Aside from this, he is also a standout defender, having made the All-Defensive first and second team nine of the last ten seasons.
	SF LeBron Raymone James 6'8" 250lbs James has established himself as a legitimate triple-double threat and has averaged 27.5 points, 6.7 assists and 7.0 rebounds per game for his career.As of the 2008–09 season, he has recorded 28 triple-doubles in his career,with 24 in the regular season and four in the postseason. On offense, James is known for using his size, strength and quickness to get past defenders, and for absorbing contact while finishing at the basket. In the 2005–06 season, he led the league in completed traditional three point plays. He is a solid rebounder who regularly ranks among the league leaders in rebounds for the small forward position. His skills have led to many comparisons to NBA legends Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan.
	PF Dwight David Howard 6'11" 265lbs. Howard is considered the "franchise player" of the Magic.He is one of the NBA's best rebounders (his 14.2 rebounds per game in 2007–08 meant he became the NBA's youngest rebound champion);in a game against the Golden State Warriors on 10 January 2007, his 25 rebounds for the Magic outnumbered the total number of boards grabbed by the starting five of the Warriors. Howard's rebounding is in part facilitated by his extraordinary athleticism; his vertical leap is estimated at almost 40 inches, rare for a player of his size (6'11", 265 pounds). The center has also remained largely injury-free in his NBA career; he played in 351 consecutive games before missing his first game. Howard's abilities and powerful physique have drawn attention from fellow NBA All-Stars. While many sports pundits have been rating Howard as one of the top young prospects in the NBA since 2006,Howard has some weaknesses in his game. Offensively, his shooting range remains limited; he is also mistake-prone, having led the NBA in total number of turnovers in the 2006–07 season. Like many centers, he has a low free throw conversion percentage. As a result, he is a target of the so-called Hack-a-Shaq defense. During the 2007–08 regular season, Howard led the NBA with 897 free throw attempts while shooting only 59% from the free throw line. Also in that season, outside of layups and dunks, his shooting percentage was only 31.6%.
	C Timothy "Tim" Theodore Duncan 6'11" 260lbs. With a double-double career average in points and rebounds, Duncan is considered one of the most consistent players in the NBA. He has earned All-NBA and All-Defensive honors every season since his rookie year in 1998 while being a perennial candidate for the Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Regarded as one of the league's best interior defenders, Duncan also ranks consistently as one of the top scorers, rebounders and shot-blockers in the league. As of the 2008–09 season, he is ranked fifth in regular season point-rebound double-doubles. His main weakness remains his free throw shooting, with a career average of less than 70%. Apart from his impressive statistics, Duncan has gained a reputation as a good clutch player, as evidenced by his three NBA Finals MVP awards and his playoff career averages being higher than his regular-season statistics. Because of his versatility and success, basketball experts have spoken of Duncan as one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history. Duncan's detractors, however, label him as "boring" because of his simple but effective style of play (thus earning him the nickname "The Big Fundamental").
	Sixth Man SG Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. 6'4" 220lbs. Wade plays the shooting guard position, but is also capable of playing point guard. On offense, he has established himself as one of the quickest and most difficult players to guard in the NBA. Wade's signature one-two step allows him to dash past bigger defenders and occasionally get the extra foul shot. Wade is able to get to the free throw line consistently. He has proven himself an unselfish player. Wade developed a reputation as one of the premier clutch players in the NBA.Wade's best moves from the post are his turnaround jump shot, double pivot, and what Thorpe terms as a "freeze fake", a pump fake Wade uses to get his opponent to jump, so that he can then drive around him to the basket. The main weakness cited in Wade's ability is his lack of three-point range. He is best known for his ability to convert difficult lay-ups, even after hard mid-air collisions with larger defenders. As crowd pleasing as his high-flying style of basketball may be, some have expressed concerns over the dangers of playing in this manner, as Wade has already hurt his knees and wrists after mid-air collisions with larger players. Wade is also known for his defensive prowess, particularly his ability to block shots.

Mircosoft Redemption

2009-10-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Back in Computer Programming.....

Ok so I while ago I was talking about the Red Rings of Death on the Xbox 360. Well, Microsoft made up for it....at least with me. I got my 360 back on Wednesday. I was surprised that it came so quickly. I opened the package and there was a letter. It basically said that my Xbox was so old (it was one of the lunch consoles) that it would have kept having problems, so they sent me a new console!! They also gave me a free Xbox Live subscription, and transferred all my account statuses to the new console's serial number, so I don't have to do it later. So I'm happy with Microsoft, and hopefully Ill continue to be. Unless something else goes terribly wrong.

All Time NBA Team

2009-10-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

I decided to make my All Time NBA Team. The team is a starting five, with one bench player. Feel free to comment on my selections, or even create your own All time NBA Team.

	PG Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. 6'9" 255lbs. Magic won 5 NBA Championships, 3 NBA MVP Awards, 12 All Star selections, 3 Finals MVP Awards, and 9 All NBA First Teams. Hes the size of a forward, but one of the greatest passers of all time. His rookie season, he played all 5 positions in one NBA Finals Game, and won the Finals MVP Award. He lead the legendary Showtime Lakers. There are so many great moments, the battles with Larry Bird, the baby sky hook, the list goes on and on. He was such a unique player, such a great leader, and he always had a smile. Of course Magic Johnson is the starting point guard on this team. His passing, attitude, and versatility will contribute most to this team.
	SG Michael Jeffrey Jordan 6'6" 215lbs. Is this even necessary? Do I even have to write anything? 6 NBA Championships, 5 NBA MVP Awards, 14 All Star selections, 6 Finals MVP Awards, and 10 All NBA First Teams. Hes name has become one of the most marketable brands on Earth. Every Jordan shoe, shorts, shirt, accessory, etc is a testament to his legacy. His name has become a synonymous of greatness. His clutch moments in the Finals are legendary and will continue to fuel the dreams of players for the rest of time. He truly is the greatest player of all time. His leadership, drive, defense, scoring, and clutch will contribute most to this team. He will be the team captain.
	SF Larry Joe Bird 6'9" 200lbs Bird wasn't as athletic as the other guys on this team. He wasn't going to make a spectacular dunk; he wasn't a versicle freak of nature; he wasn't an intimidating dominator. He was solid and smart. Bird was known for being able to anticapate the opposing team's movements, and counter it with his own strategy. Bird won 3 NBA Championships, 3 NBA MVP Awards, 12 All Star selections, 2 Finals MVP Awards, and 9 All NBA First Teams. You can't watch a Pistons-Celtics game or think about the greatest NBA playoff moments without either hearing or think of the famous sound clip. "And......Now there's a steal by Bird! Underneath to DJ who lays it in!!...Right at one second left!! What a play by Bird!" I can't tel you how many times I've heard that clip. Bird was a great rebounder. He averaged 10 rebounds per game for his career. He has 59 career triple-doubles. He also had great shooting ability. Bird won the 3-point contest 3 straight years from 1986-1988. Birds basketball IQ, defense, rebounding, and shooting will contribute most to this team.
	PF Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 7'2" 225lbs. I had to put the NBA's all time leading scorer on this team. Kareem won 6 NBA Championships, 6 NBA MVP Awards, 19 All Star selections, 2 Finals MVP Awards, and 10 All NBA First Teams. His iconic sky hook made defenders wonder why they couldn't stop it. Kareem was not a thick player despite his height, so he used his amazing finesse. Kareem's athletic ability was unmatched. He was a dominate threat in the paint, on both offense and defense. He was athletic enough to run the fast break style of the Showtime Lakers and averaged 38.6 minutes a game for his career. Kareem's inside presence and athletic ability contribute most to this team.
	C Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal 7'1" 325lbs. Shaq, The Diesel, Shaq Fu, The Big Aristotle, The Big Daddy, Superman, The Big Agave, The Big Cactus, The Big Shaqtus, The Big Galactus, Wilt Chamberneezy, The Big Baryshnikov, The Real Deal, Dr. Shaq, Shaqovic. So many nicknames for one of the most dominant player of all time. Shaq won 4 NBA Championships, 1 NBA MVP Award, 15 All Star selections, 3 Finals MVP Awards, and 14 All NBA First Teams and he is still playing. Many people would choose Wilt Chamberlian, and of course. Wilt averaged a triple-double in his career, and had the most mind-blowing statistics in all of basketball, including his record 100 points in one game. I didn't choose Wilt for many reasons. One, hardly anyone has seen Wilt play. We don't really have any footage on him, and I can't say that he is the greatest, until I see something. Second, Wilt didn't play against other 7 footers. At the time, Wilt was the only 7 foot player in the league, so he had a huge advantage. Shaq has to play with so many 7 footers its amazing that there are so many. His physical frame gives him a power advantage over most opponents, and for a man of that size, he is quick and explosive. Shaq's offensive dominance is unmatched. His combination of strength and quickness has stunned defenders for the past two decades. His intimidation also carries over to the defensive side of the floor where he consistently scares players from driving the line. He also brings a fun attitude toward the game, and his pregame jokes and antics make him loved by his teammates, fans, and the media. Shq's powerful inside dominance and fun attitude with contribute most to this team.
	Sixth Man SF Julius Winfield Erving II 6'7" 210lbs. Dr. J is coming off the bench on this team. He won 1 NBA Championship, 1 NBA MVP Award, 11 All Star selections, and 5 All NBA First Teams. He is considered one of the best dunkers of all time. His signature dunk was the "slam" dunk, since incorporated into the vernacular and basic skill set of the game, in the same manner as the "cross-over" dribble and the "no look" pass. Dr. J's energy and spectacular offensive play will help this team coming off the bench.

Red Rings of Death

2009-10-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

Computer Programming has come again..........

Ok now lets talk about the Xbox 360 Red Rings of Death......

First thing is for people who don't know what is is.

"Three flashing red lights around the Xbox 360 power button (nicknamed the "Red Ring of Death"), in lieu of the one to four green lights indicating normal operation, represent an internal problem that requires service. Warning signs may include freeze-ups, graphical problems in the middle of gameplay, such as checkerboard or pinstripe patterns on the screen, and sound errors, and the console only responds to pressing the power button to turn it off.[citation needed] These events may happen once or several times until the hardware failure occurs, or not at all. If the console freezes occasionally, the error will not necessarily follow. When the error does occur, on the user's attempt to turn the console on the three red lights are seen and the console does not function. This error code is usually caused by failure of one or more hardware components, although it can indicate that the console is not receiving enough power from the power supply, which can either be due to a faulty power supply or if the power supply cable is not fully inserted into the console."(Wikipedia)

I just send my 360 in for repairs for the second time yesterday. It was free, because Microsoft extended the warranty after the first time it happened. Its free, so cost isn't the main problem. The process takes 2-6 weeks to complete!!! WHY?!?! Honestly Xbox 360 RROD(Red Rings of Death)cause the most hardware failures in gaming. Nintendo, Sony, etc, no one else has this big of a problem with their consoles. Microsoft even opened up a separate repair center in Texas to deal with all the repairs and complaints. AND IT STILL TAKES 2-6 WEEKS!! And that's 2-6 weeks after they receive the console, meaning that it takes 2-6 weeks not including shipping time. WTF!? You would think Microsoft would put more effort into solving this problem. I called my friend to see if I could use his Xbox 360 while mine was being repaired. He turned it on to check.....and he got Red Rings! WTF!?! Honestly if this happens again I'm going to argue for a new console because this is seriously kinda ridiculous. The person a talked to at the repair center told me that after this second time, all other RROD problems will be free, regardless of warranty. But really if its gonna to this every other month or something, then I really want to complain for a new 360.

Frustrations With Disscussion

2009-10-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

Back in Computer Programming! Hooray......not really.

This is something that really bothers me. First of all let me say that I love debate. People really need to stop getting mad when discussing opinions. Honestly your opinion is your opinion, and my opinion is my opinion. If you question what my opinion is and I tell you, don't get mad and tell me I'm wrong. I might be wrong sure, so then tell me your opinion and explain it to me. If I accept it great, if not then lets discuss it. I am so tired of people getting so defensive about their own opinions that they get so mad and heated about the issue. Honestly if you don't want to have your ideas discussed then don't bring it up. When you bring up your ideas or opinions on a certain topic then you are basically asking for it to be discussed, questioned and dissected. If you don't want that, then don't say anything. People don't want to hear your opinion if your gonna be an ass when people question it. The saying goes "If you're stupid surround yourself with smart people, but if you're smart surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you". Discussion and debate make you smarter. The more you know about the different sides/aspects of a topic, the more educated your opinion of it is going to be. So instead of getting mad, just accept the breakdown of your opinion and learn from the people around you. And don't force your opinion on someone else. Not everyone has to think like you, just state what you think and that's it. If someone asks questions and likes your ideas then great, but don't force the issue. basically it gets down to the fact that, you should think that you're better than someone else, because you're most likely not. If you do think you are better than someone else, then you're probably just a huge douche that should just go screw him/her self.

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.....The True Story

2009-09-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

Ok so I am once again in Computer Programming and we had to write a story using vocabulary words about technology. Its really stupid, but funny and hilarious at the same time. The vocabulary is in bold

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were instant messaging on Facebook. Bill Gates was filming a Youtube video with his webcam and he was deciding whether to make the video in avi or mp4 format. Steve Jobs was writing a new blog entry about blu-ray players. Bill Gates then asked if Steve Jobs had gotten his text message. When he said no, then Bill Gates sent Steve Jobs an email. Steve Jobs opened the link and was then Rick Roll'd. Steve Jobs got mad and send Bill Gates an email. It was a virus. The virus went into the hard drive and messed with the binary codes and his wireless network. However Bill Gates's super uber mega mircosoft antivirus stopped the virus, and he used command prompt to destroy the virus. Steve Jobs got so mad that he unpluged the scanner, the router and the ethernet cable from his computer and through it out the window. Bill Gates was so happy that he started torrenting megabytes and gigabtyes of mp3s.

Video Games vs Books

2009-09-24T12:13:00.001-07:00

Finally the last computer programming class of the week.....gotta love block scheduling.

Video Games vs Books. Many people play video games more than they read books. People have said that video games have turned minds into mush, and that books build the mind and the imagination. I completely disagree with that statement. Books do tell a story and they do create images that fuel imagination, but video games do not just do that. Video games tell a story, create images, and lets you go deeper inside those thoughts. It builds an interactive experience with the imagination of the story. I mean sure there are games like Halo and Grand Theft Auto that have a story, but no one really cares about it and just wants to kill things.

I think that most shooters are all about running and gunning your way through enemies, without caring why they're doing it, or what the story is. They are exceptions like Gears of War for example. Gears of War builds a great background and story that makes the characters seem so realistic that the player finds it easy to build a connection that makes the player care about what happens to these characters, so that players care about whether they live or die and want to know why they are fighting. Shooters like this make it so that the player is emotionally attached to the story and makes it so that the player wants to finish the game so they know what happens, much like why a reader finishes a book.

Now what other game genres like Action, Adventure, Action/Adventure, Strategy, etc. Action/Adventure games are all problem solving. Games aren't mindless like some people think they are. Strategy games take strategy and patience. Games can take more thinking than books can.

While these games prove that games can be just as mentally simulating as books, I think RPGs show that video games are becoming more and more like books. Games like Fable, Mass Effect, Star Wars KotOR(Knights of the Old Republic) tell an interesting story that is almost like a novel. The games have such a deep, rich world that just grabs the player into just wanting keep playing the game. RPGs have even incorperated other parts of other genres such as shooters, action adventure, etc. Bioware is a game developer that specializes in RPGs. These have brought us Mass Effect, Jade Empire, and KotOR. The thing special about Bioware RPGs is its complex dialogue system. In each of these games, the player must choose what he/she wants to say to the other character. Depending on how the player answers certain questions, reacts to situations, etc, the game changes, your characters personality is based on your dialogue choices. The world reacts to the personality the player creates, that just adds to the realism of the game, further connecting the player to it. The Fable series also has the concept of choices in its games. Japanese RPGs(JRPGs) are heavily based on story. American RPGs tend to be loosely constructed, allowing the gamer to choose the path they want to take toward completing the game, like in Fable, Fallout 3, The Elder Scrolls Series, etc. However JRPGs are linear, story driven games. The player must talk to people, and complete certain tasks to move the game forward. JRPGs include Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Pokemon(yes it is an RPG), Blue Dragon, Last Remnant, Star Ocean, etc.) Personally JPRPs are my favorite genre of game. JRPGs have a story to tell and has the player progress through the tale that it has, while an American RPG usually has gives the player a basic outline of the story and lets the player shape it. The JRPG is the perfect example of how video games can be like books. Both have a story to tell and bring the reader into the world and walk them through it.

Boredom of the Human Body

2009-09-23T13:45:00.000-07:00

I am suppose to be playing a game about the human body....but physiology class is boring too haha....oh well back to work

Busy Work

2009-09-22T11:37:00.001-07:00

So bored.......time for TWO BLOGS in ONE PERIOD OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMING!

I really don't understand what is the point of teachers that give their students tons and tons of buys work. Honestly busy work just frustrates student more than it helps. Whats the point of doing a crossword puzzle, taking notes, copying words out of a book, etc. I don't get it. Is it because the teachers just don't want to teach....or do they have a hangover from the night before.....do they just want to take a nap. Alot of people just hatebusy work and I think most people think that they would learn more from the teacher actally teaching, rather than assigning and grading. It seems like so much of a waste of time. Whats the point of taking notes from the book and turning them in.....you dont even get to study from the notes.....WTF! I mean whats the point of notes then? Honestly I learn faster listening, than writing. Maybe its just me....idk. All i know is that I find busy work pointless, mindless, and annoying.

Gotta Catch Em' All!!!

2009-09-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

Back in Computer Programming Class! Oh boy, another day of "fun".......

Ok so I am Asian and I am geeky so of course I am obsessed with Pokemon. It is a phenomenon that has influenced almost every part of popular culture around the world. If you dont know what Pokemon is then let me just say that you really need to get out and see things, or even talk to people, honestly at this point just about everyone should know what Pokemon is. I mean my 80 year old grandfather knows what Pokemon is.

"Pokémon (ポケモン) is a media franchise published by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video game-based media franchise in the world, behind only Nintendo's own Mario series.Pokémon properties have since been merchandised into anime, manga, trading cards, toys, books, and other media. The concept of the Pokémon universe, in both the video games and the general fictional world of Pokémon, stems from the hobby of insect collecting, a popular pastime which Pokémon executive director Satoshi Tajiri-Oniwa enjoyed as a child. Players of the games are designated as Pokémon Trainers, and the two general goals (in most Pokémon games) for such Trainers are: to complete the Pokédex by collecting all of the available Pokémon species found in the fictional region where that game takes place; and to train a team of powerful Pokémon from those they have caught to compete against teams owned by other Trainers, and eventually become the strongest Trainer, the Pokémon Master. These themes of collecting, training, and battling are present in almost every version of the Pokémon franchise, including the video games, the anime and manga series, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game.In most incarnations of the fictional Pokémon universe, a Trainer that encounters a wild Pokémon is able to capture that Pokémon by throwing a specially designed, mass-producible spherical tool called a Poké Ball at it. If the Pokémon is unable to escape the confines of the Poké Ball, it is officially considered to be under the ownership of that Trainer. Afterwards, it will obey whatever its new master commands , unless the Trainer demonstrates such a lack of experience that the Pokémon would rather act on its own accord. Trainers can send out any of their Pokémon to wage non-lethal battles against other Pokémon; if the opposing Pokémon is wild, the Trainer can capture that Pokémon with a Poké Ball, increasing his or her collection of creatures. Pokémon already owned by other Trainers cannot be captured, except under special circumstances in certain games. If a Pokémon fully defeats an opponent in battle so that the opponent is knocked out (i.e., "faints"), the winning Pokémon gains experience and may level up. When leveling up, the Pokémon's statistics ("stats") of battling aptitude increase, such as Attack and Speed. From time to time the Pokémon may also learn new moves, which are techniques used in battle. In addition, many species of Pokémon possess the ability to undergo a form of metamorphosis and transform into a similar but stronger species of Pokémon, a process called evolution.In the main series, each game's single-player mode requires the Trainer to raise a team of Pokémon to defeat many non-player character (NPC) Trainers and their Pokémon. Each game lays out a somewhat linear path through a specific region of the Pokémon world for the Trainer to journey through, completing events and battling opponents along the way. Each game features eight especially powerful Trainers, referred to as Gym Leaders, that the Trainer must defeat in order to progress. As a reward, the Trainer receives a Gym Badge, and once all eight badges are collected, that Trainer is eligible to challenge the region's Pokémon League, where four immensely talented trainers (referred to collectively as the "Elite Four") challenge the Trainer to four Pokémon battles in succession. If the trainer can overcome this gauntlet, he or she must then challenge the Regional Champion, the master Trainer who had previously defeated the Elite Four. Any Trainer who wins this last battle becomes the new champion and gains the title of Pokémon Master. Pokémon, being a popular franchise, has undoubtedly left its mark on pop culture. The Pokémon characters themselves have become pop culture icons; examples include two different Pikachu balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a Pokémon-styled Boeing 747-400, thousands of merchandise items, and a theme park in Nagoya, Japan in 2005 and Taipei in 2006. Pokémon also appeared on the cover of the U.S. magazine Time in 1999. The Comedy Central show Drawn Together has a character named Ling-Ling, which is a direct parody of Pikachu. Several other shows such as ReBoot, The Simpsons, South Park, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Robot Chicken,All Grown Up! and Johnny Test have made references and spoofs of Pokémon, among other series. Pokémon was also featured on VH1's I Love the '90s: Part Deux. A live action show called Pokémon Live! toured the United States in late 2000. It was based on the popular Pokémon anime, but had some continuity errors relating to it.Joseph Jay Tobin theorizes that the success of the franchise was mainly due to the long list of names that could be learned by children and repeated in their peer groups. The rich fictional universe provided a lot of opportunities for discussion and demonstration of knowledge in front of their peers. In the French version Nintendo took care to translate the name of the creatures so that they reflected the French culture and language. In all cases the names of the creatures were linked to its characteristics, which converged with the children's belief that names have symbolic power. Children could pick their favorite Pokémon and affirm their individuality while at the same time affirming their conformance to the values of the group, and they could distinguish themselves from other kids by asserting what they liked and what they didn't like from every chapter. Pokémon gained popularity because it provided a sense of identity to a wide variety of children, and lost it quickly when many of those children found that the identity groups were too big and searched for identities that would distinguish them into smaller groups." (Wikipedia)

Now the reason for this long drawn out and copied explanation of Pokemon is that people seem to think that the game is for children. Honestly the game is for all ages and the franchise, while directed at kids, can be enjoyed by all ages. The Pokemon games are actually extremely deep. The design may seem simple but to master the game and to train the strong, powerful Pokemon, it takes alot of time, effort, math, and strategy. I am seriously tired of people saying that Pokemon is a children's game, or people saying that people are too old to be playing Pokemon. Most of the people competing in the Pokemon World Championship are in their 20s. The same goes for the Pokemon card games. Now as for the anime and the manga, sure those are childish, but for me, and maybe for alot of other people, I like the world of Pokemon and I think that watching the show or reading the manga is adding an extra depth to the seires that helps me enjoy the games even more. The fact is that Pokemon , while made for children, is unique because it can transcend generations and bridge age gaps. Each person can have a coonection with each indiviual Pokemon and even while playing the game, you'll start to favor one more than the others and not be able to explain why you like taht particualr Pokemon. Each Pokemon brings different traits, personality, abilities, strengths, weaknesses, etc and each game, manga, anime episode, card, etc help expand your understanding of each Pokemon, giving you so many ways to bond and form connections with certain ones. All the different media that the franchise brings adds a new dimension to the world. Pokemon is definatly not a game that you can be too old for, and no one should be told that their too old to like it.

College Football

2009-09-18T11:58:00.001-07:00

Once again I am bored in computer programming class....only 38 weeks left

Football is the most popular sport in America. It is at the forefront of American sports and it slowly but surely starting to make its way to the rest of the world. People just cant seem to get enough football. We have middle school, high school, college, and professional leagues, not to mention Pop Warner leagues for little kids. The one that I find really special level of football is college football. Division 1-A college football is just so passionate and electrifying. The atmosphere around a game or in the stadium is something that cannot be explained and must be experienced. High school football is great to watch but sometimes there are players that just dominate a game and the difference between the levels of skill between players and teams can be so that the games aren't as fun or exciting to watch. And yes of course the most talented players and the best football is played in the NFL, but most fans aren't as passionate about the games. College football brings a great mixture of talent and passion that just makes for an amazing all around experience. The sounds of the band, roaring of the crowd, getting louder and louder as the spirit leaders try to pump people up. The athletes are young and naive, but talented and passionate. The fans have a connection to the teams, more so than to their favorite pro team, whether its because they went to the school, their child goes to the school, etc. College football is truly something that everyone should experience at least once and hopefully it will continue to inspire the next generation of football.

Hey Mr.West...Mr.West...Mr.West

2009-09-16T12:17:00.001-07:00

Ok here comes the next chapter in the saga of.....Period 4 Computer Programing Class Boredom

Ok so those i you who watched the MTV Music Video Awards last Sunday probably know what this blog is going to be about.I should start by saying that I really do not like Taylor Swift's music, and I do agree with Kanye that Beyonce should have won that award, but that doesnt mean that I do think Kanye was a gigantically, massive douche. For those for you who don't know what happened, first let me just say that you live under a rock, second let me fill you in and set the scene for you. Kanye West, award-winning rapper, producer, writer, has lately been doing crazy things, like cussing out people at the 2008 MTV VMAs for not letting him perform, and many other incidents like this. Taylor Swift, the 19-year old country music sensation that has seemed to somehow bridge the gap between country music and people who normally cant stand it, meaning most of the known world, including most species of primates and some known birds. Ok now before I continue....I do not like country music, I really can't stand it, but Taylor Swift's music, in my opinion, sounds more like pop than it does country, but i does not mean that I like her music in anyway shape or form. Back to the story. So the 2009 MTV VMAs are going smoothly; Russell Brand is making offensive jokes, Lady Gaga is being a freak.....everything is going how it should and how everyone expected it to go. Then comes the award for Best Female Video. The nominees are Beyoncé — "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), Kelly Clarkson — "My Life Would Suck Without You, Lady Gaga — "Poker Face, Katy Perry — "Hot N Cold, Pink — "So What", and finally Taylor Swift—"You Belong with Me". I think alot of people thought that Beyonce was gonna win the award easily. Taylor Swift was announced the winner and whole audience looked shocked, as well as happy for Taylor. The applause and cheers were loud, as Taylor Swift got up, hugged her family, and ran to the stage. She began to give her speech and then......Kayne West appeared out of no where and stole the microphone from Taylor Swift's hands. Kayne then said, on live TV, "Taylor, Imma let you have your moment, but I just want to say that....BEYONCE HAD ONE THE GREATEST VIDEOS OF ALL TIME!". He then handed the mic back to Taylor and began to walk off stage. The crowd booed Kanye, as he flipped them off and walked off. Taylor was speechless and just stood in the middle of the stage, completely still, not saying a word. The show then cut to commerical, and the rest of the night was filled with presenters, award winners, performers congraulating Taylor Swift in some way or form. Kanye West was cut from the show, and is now banned from the MTV VMAs. The last award of the night was Video of the Year. Beyonce won the award, and when she got up for her speech, she told the story of how happy and excited she was when she was 19 and she won a VMA as a memeber of Destiny's Child. She then called up Taylor Swift and said that taylor Swift deserved her moment. Taylor Swift came on stage and ended the night by finishing her speech. Kanye released several public statements afterword aplogizing, and saying that he was wrong and he did it because he has "been touring some much, and making so much music" that he is "tired, overworked, and stressed". I am a big fan of Kanye's music, but he is an ass. Taylor Swift didnt deserve that. Its like if Robin finally did something without Batman, and Superman told him that he just got lucky. I mean really Taylor Swift is only a couple years older than me, shes barely considered an adult. Kanye is a talented artist, and he is highly sucessful; why does he need to pick on a teenager. Kanye should just stick to making music, there is no need for him to police the music industry, with his own ideas or concepts of what he thinks music should be. If he really wants to make a huge impact on the music industry, just keeping making the great music he has been.

Bored in Compter Programming

2009-09-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

Ok so right now i am sitting in computer programming class in 3rd period. This class could not be more useless. All we do is write, but not on a computer...no....but on paper....WTF! How does that make sense!? Why do we even need this class...most of the students have proven that we know more than the teacher....we have corrected him several times....and thats just today. What is a computer programming class if you dont use the computer....this is just a prime example of why LAUSD is wasting money and wasting the time of both its students and teachers. There are about 28, $3,000 apple computers....beautiful computers, but no we dont use them, we just turn them off, and turn them on....WTF!!! THATS LIKE $100,000 WASTED AND A WASTE OF PERFECTLY GREAT AND AWESOME MACS!!!! WOW LAUSD!!! ALL THIS AND YOU GUYS ARE STILL FIRING GOOD TEACHERS!! Really does this generation really need to learn how to use an email account or learn how to search the internet. Honestly this class is obviously obsolete and needs o either be changed or gotten rid of. I took this class because I thought Intro to Computers would be too easy for me, but now that I know how mindless and easy computer programming is...I wonder what Intro to Comp is like....hmmmmmmm

Key Club Cali-Nev-Ha District Convention 2009

2009-05-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

Ok so DCON was actually April 2-April 4 but I was writing my monthly article on it so I decided to wait and just post my article up instead of just writing about it.

What makes Key Club different from other service clubs? What makes it possible for hundreds of thousands of high school kids to help as much as they do? The answer is passion. Passion is what makes Key Clubbers give up their weekends to plant trees or clean up a beach. It is not only a passion for helping people but it is a passion for the organization itself. Key Club is special in the fact that this passion, this spirit lies within every Key Clubber from generation to generation. And the way that spirit is passed on to the next line of Key Clubbers is though an event like DCON.

As much as a freshman hears statements like “250,000 members” and “worldwide club”, they can never realize how huge Key Club is until they see the amount of people and the amount of spirit at District Convention. DCON helped my members realize that this is not just some club that sits around and talks about random topics, but it is instead a club that is affecting people all over the world and making a difference, no matter how small.

DCON shows the organization at its best. For members new to Key Club or members who haven’t quite gotten their spirit, DCON shows that this club is organized, influential, and in many ways “magical”. The faces on my members when they first saw general session, with everyone showing their spirit and trying as hard as they could to win that spirit stick, can only be described as amazing. At DCON, you can literally see pride of Key Club. Whether it be new members staring their incredible journey through this remarkable organization, or seniors preparing to say the final goodbyes to the club that gave them so much, DCON is an emotional experience that must be seen and felt to be truly understood.

After building the passion, DCON also gives its attendees the tools to transform that passion into service and work. Each and every one of the workshops and speeches given at DCON adds to the knowledge of each attendee and helps this organization learn and grow. At DCON I have met many people and received masses of information and advice from the older members. I will never forget those people, and this experience we shared together. I will put the information that I have received to good use throughout this year, and when my time in Key Club is done, I will pass on my knowledge and continue the cycle of learning and growth. My members and I learned how Key Club can do anything and how they can help in making the impossible possible. It’s a clique I know, but that’s what Key Club is all about, making memories and making a difference.

Chris Okamura Key Club Division 25 West Reseda High School Vice-President

Advice

2009-03-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

Advice. How can you tell what advice is good or bad? How can you tell whether or not to follow someone’s advice or when to just completely ignore it? Is there such a thing as good and bad advice? So many questions, so little answers. This clique is fitting for the topic of advice. Advice is completely subjective. Whether advice is good or bad, it all depends on the perspective of the person receiving the advice. The viewpoints of two people will at most times be very different, making the interpretations of certain situations and events very diverse. So when someone says something to the effect of “I give bad advice”, it is an untrue statement, because no advice is good or bad…it all depends on how people understand and interpret the information. Now as the receiver of advice, what advice do you follow? Should you follow any advice at all? Should you trust your own opinion and ideas? Yes your own ideas and opinions are always the way to go; however someone else’s advice and thoughts should always be taken into account. I am not saying that you have to listen to what everyone has to say about you. All I am saying is that sometimes people understand the situation better than you do, or have more life experience than you do, so that their wisdom and knowledge of life would be a good thing to think about when sorting out the problem in your head. The person giving the advice also makes a huge difference. I always trust the advice of a person that I know I can trust and who I know cares about me. Family will always care about what you are going through and will always try to understand the situation and help you in anyway they can. Finding which friends to listen to is where it becomes more difficult. In order to know which friends are going to care about you and give you their honest and true opinion, you have to know your friends. Think about all the things you have been through with that person and pick out certain qualities or moments where that friend has show that he/she deeply cares and would be willing to help you understand and work out a dilemma/situation. But once again, your opinion comes first. Do what you think is best, not what someone else thinks. Your opinion is the only one that matters. But that does not mean that you shouldn’t listen to the opinions of others. People all have a different way of thinking and interpretation, which can help you find the best solution. The trick is to find the right combination of both.

Cal HOSA SLC 2009

2009-03-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I went to Sacramento for California HOSA State Leadership Conference 2009! It was a blast and I have a lot of great memories that I know will stay with me for the rest of my life.

There were 21 of us on the trip (19 students, 2 advisors). We took the Gray Hound bus to and from Sacramento. We left from the San Fernando station at about 11pm. We made several stops on the way there. Kyle and I took every opportunity to play Street Fighter or House of the Dead at every single station arcade (Yes we are really geeky and asian…so what). I discovered that I can fall asleep and still chew gum at the same time! I have no idea how, maybe its just a reflex or something. It took us about 7-8 hours till we got to Sacramento. Once we got to the Grey Hound station in Sacramento, we had to walk 5 blocks to the Hilton hotel with all of our luggage. Now realize that we were there for 4 days! We packed textbooks, video games, food, rice cookers, water boilers, etc. SO needless to say that walking that distance was a pain in the ass.

We final get to the hotel. We are the only school there so far. Some of us go the pool, some of us go the fitness center, and some of us just go into the room and just go and play Super Smash Bros. (Once again, WE ARE REALLY GEEKY WE KNOW!) So then we ordered some pizza. In my room it’s Kyle, Joshua, and myself. Joshua is on his computer, Kyle in doing pushups or something, whatever. And I am sitting on the bed talking, eating some pizza. Then Mr. Urbina (our advisor) walks in our room to check for curfew. He takes a bite of out last slice of pizza and throws it back in the box. We were like WTF!! So we waited for him to leave, then we took the pizza and balanced the slice on the handle of his door. We took pictures and everything; it was pretty funny (at that late at night in a hotel room with nothing to do, everything is funny). SO the three of us are talking and I turned to ask Kyle a question. He answers back and I say something else and there is no response…I look over at him…he fell asleep…in the span of less than 3 seconds. So Josh and I start talking. After about 20 minutes I hear Kyle say something. I yell his name, and he yells “Grapefruit”. Josh and I start laughing and we look at each other and say “Grapefruit?”. Kyle responses “Go get me some grapefruit!”…then he stops moving and is now deeply sleeping. Then there is a knock on the door. I answer it. Mr. Urbina throws the pizza back in our room and runs back into his. SO we put the empty boxes in front of his door…its all good.

The first day of the SLC starts. Its really good. Most of our school picked the Creative Problem Solving event so we all had the first test for that in the morning. Its was all common sense problems so it was relatively simple. We went to grab some food, and we went back to the hotel, which was right across the street from the convention center so it was really convenient. Once we got back to the hotel, we all basically split off into out our groups. There were 3 rooms that had a Wii in them, my room, Mr.Urbina’s room (across the hall), and Neil’s room (at the end of the hall). All of us were running between each room to either talk to someone, or play a different game. We also had opening ceremonies that night so it was a pretty good day.

The next day, I didn’t have any events so I spend the day hanging out with people, and meeting some new people from different schools. I even saw some of my friends that I haven’t seen for a long time that I just happened to run into at this convention. We also saw the scores for Creative Problem Solving posted up. Three of my schools teams made it through to the second round, one didn’t. So we spend that night studying and planning for Creative Problem Solving, as well as our other events.

So this was probably my busiest day of the trip. I had my Sports Medicine exam in the morning, and the second round of Creative Problem Solving was in the afternoon. The sports medicine exam was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. There were about 25 people taking the exam and I was nervous going into the test. Once I started taking it, I realized that I knew a lot of the answers. There were a total of 50 questions and only 13 people were moving on to the second round. Now the night before, Kyle, Josh and I were discussing our plan for Creative Problem Solving. We decided to just make up a fake prompt just to see if our plans and strategies would work. So my team is Josh, Kyle, Emily and myself. We get into the room and the prompt is almost exactly what the fake one was that we worked on the night before. So we had all of our preparations made and we thought we had it pretty much down. We gave our presentation and we felt good about our performance. We all went back to the hotel and once again started playing Super Smash Bros. And Trauma Center (We were at conference for medical students, what game do you think we’d be playing.) Later I went for a walk and decided to check if the scores were posted for Sports Medicine. I didn’t make the cut for the second round. I went into the headquarters and begged to know what my score was. They told me that I only missed 7 questions out of the 50, and that I tied someone but I missed the tiebreaker question so I didn’t make the cut

The last “real night” we had closing ceremonies and the dance. Some of us had knowledge tests and some second round competitions. The closing ceremonies were good, but extremely long because of all the events and all of the finalists and placements, and awarding. Reseda did very well, almost everyone placed at least 5th place in at least one thing. My group placed 5th in Creative Problem Solving, out of about 20 teams. The dance was really bad. The music was a little too loud and it really wasn’t that fun.

We left the next day. We once again walked to the Grey Hound station. Made the same stops on the way back. It was pretty standard bus ride, nothing really exciting. The trip overall was a great experience. Sure there was some drama and some relationships that changed, but it didn’t ruin the trip. Those changes have yet to be seen as good or bad, however I have a good feeling that those relationships and friendships have grown and changed for the better thanks to this amazing trip.

Trouble in Sports

2009-03-17T21:21:00.000-07:00

Why is there so much trouble in sports? Why is it that whenever I turn on the TV to watch sportscenter, some athlete has been doing something illegal? When is it going to stop?

The mind of an athlete is a curious one indeed. They are gifted with some of the greatest talent in the world, they do things that some can’t even imagine doing, and yet they do stupid things. I turn on the TV to check the scores of some basketball games. I watch for literally 3 minutes, I learn 3 things. One, Alex Rodriguez did steroids. Two, Terrell Owens is causeing trouble for the Cowboys. Three, Manny Ramirez wants more money from Dodgers before he signs a new contract. Three of the biggest stars in sports, three people that I greatly respected, being stupid and making bad decisions. Its seems like everyday someone wants a bigger contract, or is getting shot, or shooting someone. It’s getting to the point where the storylines just don’t end. I do not understand why these people do not see what they have and realize that they cant be stupid.

A few weeks ago, I was watching Sportscenter. All the talk was about Terrell Owens, Alex Rodriguez, and Manny Ramirez. So much of the show was on those three, that stories were somewhat ignored. The same week, Marvin Harrison asked for his release from the Colts. I did not understand why this was not getting coverage. Sure he is on the downside of his career, and he is coming off one of the worst seasons he has ever had, but still he is one of the greatest wide receivers of all time. He has been one of the most unspoken players in the league. He is a big star, an all pro, a first ballot hall of famer, and yet he doesn’t do interviews, press conferences. He doesn’t trash talk or cause trouble; he just goes along being great. And now he is asking for his release, from the only team he has ever been on, and it’s not a big story. That’s what I mean. Sure Terrell Owens, Alex Rodriguez, and Manny Ramirez are most interesting, but hasn’t Marvin Harrison done enough to be a top story?

Baseball and steroids. The two words are now forever connected. Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clements, and many more have been exposed and/or alleged steroid users. Whose fault is this? The players? The coaches? The owners? The Commissioner? Is it even possible to put the blame on one group? I think that it is a combination of all of them. The players are always going to look for a competitive edge. The players want to be the best of the best, and if certain steroids or types of HGH aren’t “banned” then I don’t blame them for taking them, I would do the same. If the coaches knew that this was going on then they should have confronted the players about it, and not pretend it didn’t happen. The coaches should have spoken up then, not years later when information starts to surface.

That is another issue. I wish that athletes would step up and admit that they did something wrong. Not admitting you mistake, but instead denying it, makes it a million times worse when you are caught. The only person, whom I can think of, that went above and beyond to prove they were innocent was Bo Jackson. Bo Jackson was a great NFL running back, as well as a great MLB outfielder. When people questioned whether Bo Jackson did steroids, Jackson sued the man and took him to court. The man then retracted his comments, and the charges were dropped. Actions like that show that this is something that athletes find offensive, and if someone really is innocent, then they should stand up and take some action to stop the rumors. And if actions like that are not taken then I would say that it would be safe to assume that the person is guilty.

The media also must stop provoke the athletes. The media always takes statements, twists them around and makes a story out of it. I know that it is their job to find stories, but they do not need to make stories. Terrell Owens is very emotional; he speaks his mind and lets people know what he thinks. The media does not need to make Owens look like the bad guy. There is no reason why the media needs to provoke teams and athletes into doing something.

What’s going to happen in 10 years? Are all sports athletes going to join Michael Vick and Adam “Pacman” Jones in jail? Are children not going to have heroes and idols to look up to? Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, Shaq, aren’t going to be around forever. The young athletes must change the landscape, and set a good example for the children that will model themselves after the sports heroes of tomorrow. And hopefully they will grow up to make this world a better place all together.