I'm Sorry...really?

It's Friday and I woke up feeling good today. Honestly, I had a rough night. My twin girls went to sleep too early so they decided that 3am was playtime. For some reason I woke up with a lot of energy, and decide to think about setting a new goal in my life. I might tell you all about it soon. I might... Last night I remembered a little story of something that happened to me when I was a kid. I learned a lesson the hard way and began to think about consequences.

Through my best friend Aaron I met this kid called Vinny. The craziest guy I had ever met at that point in my life (now I think he's nothing compared to some of the characters I have met lately) But we were in the seventh grade and in Junior High and Vinny was THE MAN. He was a short but tough Italian kid that was willing to do anything to satisfy his need to feel like a rebel. There was a movie that was popular at that time called Cry Baby where Johnny Depp played a rebel. Not a very good movie although a lot of making out, but every time I come across it on cable I remember Vinny. I wanna tell you two stories about Vinny.
I once punched him for...nothing. Vinny was loud and although I kinda feared him, I knew I could take him!!. One day he and I were just talking, about...whatever...I looked at him for about two seconds and thought about how neat it would be to just be brave enough to punch him under his left eye. SO PAU!!! Vinny almost fell to the floor and was noticeably rattled. When he realized what I had done he said . "Are you fkn crazy???" "I'm gonna kill you dude". I walked away and went to class. Either I hit him so hard he forgot or he felt sorry for me and didn't wanna "kill me", but we were still friends the next day...

Second Story about Vinny:
It was a Thursday and Health class was about to end when Vinny dared me to ask the health teacher, a weird looking man late into his forties, about homosexual sex. I raised my hand and when the teacher cared to notice me I asked "how do gay people have sex?". "Do you really care to know?" he said "well you said we could ask you about anything" I said with my adorable smile.. "Well through the buttocks Mr. Borrás" said the teacher, he was turning red. "Does it hurt?" I continued, while Vinny and my other classmates started laughing... Vinny and I were sent to the principals office. We loved going there. Sometimes Aaron, Vinny and I all got sent together, those were some of the best days of my school life.
On our way to the principals office I decided to pull a harmless prank. Vinny and I went into the cafeteria and hid a lot of their utensils. Vinny and I stole the knives and forks, just for fun...yeah I was that stupid. Our backpacks were full. It was funny at lunch time to see everyone going crazy looking for the stuff we hid away.
Next morning I was in geography class when over the intercom I heard Mr. McDonald say "RAFAEL BORRAS, PLEASE REPORT TO THE PRINCIPALS OFFICE, RAFAEL BORRAS" Yesssss" , I said...I didn't want to take geography. I thought I was getting called for not reporting to the office when the health teacher kicked me out the day before.
When I got to the office the secretary (U.S. marshall like..) escorted me to Mr. McDonald's office. As soon as I walked in I saw Vinny with his eyes red, probably from crying...yeah, the tough guy. The principal said..."Mr. Borras who were you planning on hurting? Who were you gonna stab?"..."What are you talking about...Sir?" I honestly didn't have a clue..."Well, you stole a bunch of knives yesterday... tell me, (he yelled)...I'm so getting sick of you". I was so confused, I didn't know what Vinny had told him. There was also a cop sitting next to Vinny.
Vinny is in a lot of trouble said the principal (he got into a fight the day before and apparently used one of the knives) and so are you. I began to sweat and almost cry. "Anything you wanna say , asked the cop" Ahhh, ehhhh, nnnnnooooo, not really...." Say something, said the principal..... "uhhh, I'm sorry?" "REALLY?", said the principal. I'm sorry won't get you out of this one Rafael....
I only got 10 days of detention, ten afternoons writing on legal size papers I WILL NOT STEAL CAFETERIA UTENSILS.

I was kind of a prankster but I remember thinking alot that day about my behavior, It was the first time in my life that saying I'm Sorry didn't fix my problems....I also can't believe Vinny told the principal it was mi idea. I decided to do the rest of my pranks with Aaron, he knew how to keep his mouth shut...

This weekend if anyone asks you..Have you read any good books lately? Let me help you out with answering...
Option # 1 No, but there's a very neat blog from a guy in Puerto Rico who thinks he can write.
Option #2 Yes, but there's a very neat blog from a guy in Puerto Rico who thinks he can write.
Option #3 I don't read much, but there's a very neat blog from a guy in Puerto Rico who thinks he can write..

Invite some friends over.....

MY WAY

Believe it or not this is not the first time I create a blog. I've had a few, some were horrible and others were ok. I love writing but I have a huge problem when doing so. Don't know if I should write my posts in English or Spanish. Two major reasons: first, sometimes I feel like writing in Spanish while other times the ideas or stories I want to share are better explained in English. The second reason is that I want all my readers to be able to enjoy (how's that for self confidence) my posts. I don't have hundreds of readers but the fortunate few are split into Spanish or English speakers. Anyways, while I deal with this life threatening situation this one goes in English.

Songs (a first of many on songs)

My Way... Frank Sinatra

First the Lyrics
And now, the end is near,
And so I face the final curtain.
My friends, I'll say it clear;
I'll state my case of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full -
I've travelled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets? I've had a few,
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course -
Each careful step along the byway,
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew,
When I bit off more than I could chew,
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried,
I've had my fill - my share of losing.
But now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that,
And may I say, not in a shy way -
Oh no. Oh no, not me.
I did it my way.

For what is a man? What has he got?
If not himself - Then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way.

Yes, it was my way.

It's a great song. The Ideal Macho, tough guy anthem. But as i get older I don't know if its my favorite anymore. It would be great to do everything My Way. But, if I did that I would probably hurt, disrespect and offend other people. I love singing it at the karaokes but honestly, who does anything their way? We go through life trying to say the right things, obeying laws, religion, codes of ethics and society's unwritten rules. The song is utopic, but if we want to keep friends, family and clients around its kind of tough to do everything OUR WAY. Just think of all the things you have done or changed to please or to avoid hurting someone.
By no means do I want to say the song is totally wrong. I just think it's hard to live a long life with this attitude.
Also, this is one of a very few group of songs that its translation to Spanish is Awesome. To be honest the Spanish version is deeper in meaning and many artists such as Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz have made amazing arrangements to it.

I read that Sinatra hated performing the song but it was such a huge hit that he couldn't avoid singing it night in and night out.

In case you haven't read it

Enjoy my friends


INVICTUS

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

By William Ernest Henley

El mejor de todos los tiempos...jamas se sabrá...

En la NBA hay que ganar campeonatos o tus logros individuales no significan nada. La grandeza de los jugadores se mide por campeonatos y no por su ejecutoria diaria, lo que simbolizan para su franquicia o fanaticada o por los momentos de alegría que nos brindan en cada partido de la temporada.

Hay varias razones para esto, sin embargo, y a base de lo analizado durante mi vida como fanático, un factor determinante es el factor tiempo. Las carreras de la mayoría de los jugadores en la NBA son carreras cortas, en comparación con atletas profesionales que se destacan en otros deportes. En la NBA ya eres un viejo a los 32 años mientras que en Baseball, Soccer y en el Football americano todavía puedes ser considerado como un jugador que está llegando a o que está en su "PRIME".

En los últimos años hemos presenciado como muchos jugadores de la NBA han optado por ganar menos dinero, por tener menos reconocimiento y por tener un rol menos significativo en sus equipos, buscando ganar un campeonato. Si nos detenemos a pensar esta situación tenemos que comenzar siendo realistas en cuando a que hay 30 equipos y sólo uno puede ganar. Si escuchas a cada jugador considerado estrella o superestrella, no te sorprendas si casa uno de ellos te dice que quiere estar en un equipo capaz de ganar un campeonato.

LeBron James no es mi jugador favorito pero siempre he reconocido su grandeza como atleta. Soy de los que piensa que tiene las herramientas físicas e intelectuales para llegar a ser el mejor de todos los tiempos. Mejor que Jordan, Mejor que Shaq, mejor que Kobe...el mejor jugador en pasar por la NBA. Lamentablemente para mi y otros fanáticos de la liga, nunca lo sabremos. LeBron acaba de firmar un contrato de seis años con los Heat de Miami. Sin embargo lo hace luego de que Wade y Bosh decidieran formar un super equipo para intentar ganar campeonatos.

Recientemente Jordan manifestó que jamas haría algo así. Nunca llamaría a Larry Bird o a Magic Johnson para que se unieran a El. Jordan quería competir con los mejores y ganarle a los mejores. Aunque los jugadores que menciono jugaban con equipos buenos, eran Jordan, Bird y Magic quienes tenían la responsabilidad de cargar el equipo, de tomar los tiros difíciles y de motivar a los demás.

Charles Barkley dijo algo muy correcto. "LeBron podrá ganar todos los campeonatos que quiera, pero jamás sera mejor que Jordan" dijo ademas que al firmar con Miami, LeBron automáticamente queda fuera de la discusión. Parece injusto pero será imposible saber ya que LeBron nunca tendrá la responsabilidad que tuvo Michael Jordan.

En resumen pienso que tampoco esta super union en Miami les garantiza un campeonato. Creo que pueden ganar el éste, pero si Boston se mantiene saludable (y eso es mucho decir porque estan viejitos) Boston les puede dar muchos problemas. Tienen un cuadro regurlar acoplado y se fortalecieron con la firma de Jermaine O'Neal.
Sin embargo aún ganando el éste no le ganan a los Lakers.

Que opinan??