Game doesn’t recognize game
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness….” Romans 1:18.
For those Bible readers that say Revelation is the scariest book in the Bible, check Romans out. It is one of the books I read the most and that verse is the one I try to always remember. If you read on, you would read it goes on to say God’s wonders have been demonstrated in plain view since the beginning of time so men, we, are without excuse. I personally get so tired of that statement, “game recognizes game” because it’s so true and it doesn’t comfort me. That statement offers me no solace for the simple fact that it only serves as a catalyst to perturb me in an area I’d much rather ignore. The truth is “Game” does recognize game and “Game” does all it can to suppress, ignore or utterly decimate it.
Quick…
I love that word. Decimate. You know where it comes from? It’s Latin from “deci” meaning “ten” and “mate” meaning kill. If Caesar’s army, men or what have you would lose a battle, fight or all in all mess up, he would order something passed gangster. He’d order 10 men from his army bound and gagged in public view and, you guessed it, slaughtered. Just to get his point across to the rest that he wasn’t in business for tolerance of failure. All these little Latin barbs I know are thanks to Latin classes I had while growing up in Catholic school. Actually made the English portion of the SAT a turkey shoot.
Back…
It’s very difficult to play overseas and be exposed to so many things that you simply would never hear while confined in your little box at home in the States or anywhere else for that matter. Can you imagine the people and his/her revelation when they notice a world outside of the little box in his/her mind? I’ve gone through it and am going though it still. It wouldn’t be so difficult to play if I weren’t so damn “peculiar” as I’ve been referred to here. But as it is, I notice and analyze way too much.
On the way back from one of our Euroleague games where we smashed Aris in Thessaloniki, Igor Rakocevic handed me a Serbian (I don’t know if it was Serbian or Croatian or Bosnian or which one of the six former Yugoslavian states, so I beg you pardon if I’m wrong) newspaper that offered a very different point of view from a former Yugoslavian leader. His word were not bad mouthing America but rather a hesitant confession of what America forced him to do. What?! I read this and I don’t know what fascinated me more, the fact American powers really might have forced this man to do what he claims, or the fact we in America have never heard these extremely damning accusations! Not really that particular story I want to dwell on but rather one example.
Another is this one… Hillary/Obama. I swear, man. I mean, come on. How hard is it to take important caca seriously? It’s damn near impossible. One day reports are going out all over the newswire. “Obama is killing Hilary”, “He’s looking to sweep Ohio and Texas,” the media even suggesting Hilary might just drop out of the race. So much so Mrs. Clinton had to speak on it and say she wasn’t dropping out. And for my almost 20 years of being interested in elections, every single time the media has talked about someone dropping out of a political race… Stick a fork in him (her). Well, not only did Hilary not drop out, she won Texas and Ohio! WTF?!
Picture my boy calling me and in our casual convo he just mention he was just getting back from voting. As I was congratulating him on doing what he had never done before, he cut me off and said he never got a chance to. Why? (If it weren’t such a shame, I’d be laughing). They announced Hillary won to a multitude waiting in line to vote at Nimitz High School (a mostly Bantu area of Houston) with plenty of time to spare before polls closed. This is comical.
Or how about this? I’ve like found so much similarities between Africa and, well, everywhere it’s crazy. China, I learned, has many different ethnicities and languages just as every country in Africa. But I never expected it in Spain! I thought everyone in Spain was Spanish. I guess my first stint here I was too consumed with a pregnant wife and a wanting bank account to notice.
There are at least four ethnicities/languages/people whatever you want, other than Spanish in Spain. And these people are damn proud of that. There is Catalan (kinda of a Spanish-French melange), Gaello (ummm, Spanish-Portuguese), another I don’t know the name of but it is in Menorca, and the most interesting, the Basque. The city I play in is the capital of Basque country, Vitoria. But in Euskera, Vitoria is Gasteiz. And that is just one example. I take pride in being able to somewhat decipher different languages but I am telling you, I could not explain or decipher the incredible history or language of these people. To even begin would take up this blog and every other one from this point out. Euskera has absolutely no similarities to Spanish. None. No one knows exactly where it came from. Linguists cannot agree from where their language emerges. Some historians have even said they might be the survivors of Ancient Atlantis. Basques have been traced… Ready for this… Back to the days of Cromagnon! That is the days of cavemen, my friends. OK, I can’t be the only one tripping on this. But here’s the point. Nobody really recognizes their game. I read maybe one line about the Basque in History classes in the US growing up. And the French Government apparently doesn’t even recognize them as an ethnic group/people.
When I read that, it reminded me of Africa and how different ethnic groups are not only not recognized but simply razed as long as no one talks or knows about it. But as soon as it can no longer be hidden, then everyone acts as if they knew about the wrong doing and cared about the people the whole time. I for that reason I relate to the Basque and at the risk of getting too political, let me stop and say… The similarities between these ethnic groups’ problems in Europe as well as Africa are astounding. The lone thing that separates the two is no one cares about what takes place in Africa until someone puts it in the media or there is some type of resource that sprouts up in the particular area. In Europe, you have no choice. So when it happens, it shows how small yet covert the world really is.
Hoops…
Do I even need to relate how the cliche “game recognizes game” is true and yet complete basura in basketball? There have been so many guys I have seen dominate on the court and be tossed aside as if they were scrubs. I was on the summer league team with the Vancouver Grizzlies when they dismissed Stephen Jackson like he couldn’t play. Was I watching the same guy they were? You see how good he is now? He’s been the exact same player since high school. The same year Vancouver let him ride, he finished second or third in rookie of the year voting starting for New Jersey. Then they let him ride too. This phenomenon continued and climaxed with him winning a championship with San Antonio, killing in ATL and getting that contract he deserved.
OK, so I might be a bit biased because we are from the same area and that might have something to do with me ignoring the off-court antics. However, I’m sure we’d agree on the fact that he can play and if he were one of those highly touted No. 1 picks not only would “Game” ignore those antics of his, “Game” would do everything in its power to protect and emphasize the most minute positive attribute he has. They should change that statement to “Game recognizes game as long as someone else recognizes it.”
And even that wouldn’t be complete. Talking about this reminds me of one of my most hated rappers, let’s just call him “Hey-mon” Tones (he’s Jamaican). Moving on… Anyway, he used to complain all the time about how no one recognized our skills (Oh yeah… You didn’t know I rapped?) He was going to small clubs performing, radio stations, selling underground CDs and everyone in the Houston/PA/Galveston area knew. Shiiii his rap game was nice. We were friends and not only were we both working our tails off to get noticed, but gave honest praise for each other. Lo and behold, he got a small break preforming after small-time rappers. Then bigger… Master P, UGK, then Outakst. Until now…
He’s on stage and on tour with the likes of Jay-Z and Lil’ Wayne consistently. After all he’d been through, I was proud he got to that level. But one time in the summer, Jigga, Weezie, Pimp C and all the big-time rappers were gathered along with some of the other up-and-coming artists along with “Hey-mon” and myself. And after all the ass kissing he’d witnessed and he himself taken part in, after all the struggles we’d both been oppressed with, he – not Jay-Z, not Big Boi, not Weezie, none of the big-timers – felt it just to insult me in front of all the rappers. His exact word directed at me was, “garbage.” This from a guy who beso mi culo the whole time we were both struggling was now searching for belonging among his superiors at my expense. Loud mouth, presumptuous, payaso-acting, flamboyantly brown nosing “Hey-mon”.
I assure you all that loud talking got real quiet after I told him I’d snap his little neck. (Sure, I surrender that I’m not a perfect man but I am a big man and I carry a big stick). Strip everything we have away. A man plus riches, cars, women and power is still a man. In the same way a bitch plus all the same is still a bitch. Like late Pimp C says, “Yeah I said it, and if you got a problem with it you can smell my cologne.”
I honestly believe he is the only person alive I hold animosity toward. For the life of me I can’t think of one other person I simply don’t like. For no other reason besides I witnessed first hand his wickedness turning a blind eye to something he knows to be true. Game recognizes game, right?
This denial of the obvious can be seen in abundance in basketball and even easier in everyday life. I could literally tell amazing first hand stories of completely unnecessary, bold-faced denials of the truth. Guys who told me something I never asked for in my face and proceeded to deny my existence. But I won’t, because I simply don’t care. I just laugh when I see them on TV or on some other stage talking and people actually buying the manure they are selling. I’m over here with guys who have no business outside the NBA, but when you ask most of them why the don’t try to go back, they echo the same thing. Over here they get more money and less poo-poo. Most of them dreamed about being in the NBA and all were disappointed once they got there. Zoran Planinic, Igor Rakocevic, Pete Mickeal and especially James Singleton. Geez! None of them have any business outside the stage of the best basketball players in the world. And everyone on our team could play there at the least. But hiding the hoops obvious in Europe is a bit more difficult. (Don’t get it twisted, it happens and is very possible, just not as easy). So sure I agree with the fact “Game recognizes game” only if it is conceded the fact that “Game” is a vindicative, wicked asshole. Otherwise, I hold that statement to be about as true as me having ever been a rapper.
Shalom.
Paulburns Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 9:18 am
Nice stuff as always Gabe. So who’s the rapper? I don’t want to accidently buy his music…
Dude Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 9:27 am
Hey Gabe,
I love your blogs dude. seriously, you manage to give us your take on Europe and it’s always interesting and entertaining. keep up the good work. just one word about the basques though. I’m french but I’m half basque too. You forgot to tell that euskadi spreads over France and Spain and they are not an ethnie, they refer to themselves as a people, which, regarding international law is very much different. Besides, If you have regionalism in Spain, it doesn’t exist in France, where people are frecnch before being from the south or the north. And I agree with you, basques should be reckoned with, but let’s be careful since the official armed front , the ETA is still considered a major terrorist organization in Europe.
pac8 Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 9:51 am
happy to see that you use your head for something else than basketball, but don´t buy too much into the Basque crap. He who barks the most has less to say, and the Basque mith is a load of crap…
Atlantis!!! for F sake!!!!…
everywhere you go is a geographic thing.. People change with their enviroment and people from boston are bound to be diferent from say Arkansas. We just have been at it longer here in Europe…
and about S Jackson, like so many others there was never a doubt about his skills, but his brain.. I hate this guys who wasted their best years playing me ball, finally maturing and reaching mental age 22 by their 30´s and people saying
“see!!! we were right and you just haters!!”
A Iverson, V Carter, C Webber … So many assholes who could have been the next MJ if they only stoped beliving their own bull and worked hard on improving his game and his attitude…
Enjoy…
Gabe Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 10:18 am
The rap story was completely metaphorical…rap game=basketball, rappers=basketball players.
DC baller Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 11:39 am
Good stuff, Bro……..keep up the good work. The NBA aint for everybody….More to it tha basketball…..I could a lot more guys than you did that should be playing and aren’t for whateva reason. Funny you mention Stephen Jackson…..As a rookie in Jersey, I thought this guy could flat out do the damn thing. As he bounced around the league I wondered why. A couple friends of mine who are in the association kinda told me what was happending. So that was one of the things that stuck to me about the league. Good money overseas…on my way to check out the uleb cup my lil bro is in it.
David Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 11:39 am
I can tell you were educated at UT in Austin lol
anthony Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 11:42 am
hey Gabe,
do you have any good websites about Basque history. my last name is Basque, however, i know nothing about the people.
CHM Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 11:52 am
Hey-mon Tones = Damon Jones, no?
GMon Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
The Rapper=Damon Jones(Hey mon tones) he from Texas, jus like Gabe
superanto Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 12:36 pm
I think so CHM, sounds right …Hey-mon Tones. I get what Gabe means, Damos Jones for example has always been a journeyman in the NBA until maybe 4 or 5 years ago and everytime I watch him I get the impression that he’s very selfish and cocky, he’s a very good shooter but the fact that he’s been sorrounded by so many superstars in the last years (Redd, Wade, Shaq, Lebron…) has made him a bit of a jerk IMO and the wide open looks he gets make him look great out there sometimes so he thinks he’s the best shooter in the world but he’s rich so he doesn’t give a crap what I think about him.
BRockin25 Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 12:51 pm
Damon Jones lol.
His bum ass. Hell get 0 minutes with Gibson and West around
True Dat Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
Damon Jones is a nobody in the NBA.
Always wearing crazy suits to try and get attention during all-star weekends. Pathetic.
I always get the impression he tries to get some of Lebron’s reflective glory, same with Wade in Miami, like he’s their best friend.
He wants out from the Cavs? Please, he should sit on the bench, take his money and shut up.
I’ve never met the guy and I really don’t like him……
Briggs Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 2:49 pm
Anthony,
Not a website, but pick up ‘The Basque History of the World’ by Mark Kurlansky at your library or bookstore. Great abreviated history of the basques and their people. They’ve protected those highlands in Northern Spain and Southern France through a lot of regimes. Moors, Romans, Carthiginians, and Franco to name a few.
Great Blog Gabe, just stumbled across it. I’ll keep up with you from here out. Good luck with Tau Ceramica.
Ghost Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
“And the French Government apparently doesn’t even recognize them as an ethnic group/people.”
Ethnic groups are not recognized because there is no official distinction between the people. We are all French. The state is more centralized and there is less regionalism. Even if the French is the lone official language, other languages such as Bretton, Basque, Corse… are taught in some special schools so if Basques people want to learn Basques they can.
It’s great to see that you are really interested in the culture of your new living place. You have the chance to play overseas (even if you would prefer the NBA lol) and you don’t stay in your “little box” like so many American players in France who can’t even have a talk in French while it has been three years that there are in France. Such a shame !!!
Keep your open-minded attitude it’s great and it will make you a better man. Hope you’ll have a lot of success in your career.
PS: Rock is definitively better than Rap !!!
Chris R. Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 6:27 pm
Gabe, you’re the first person I’m hiring when I run the Timberwolves. Then we can celebrate the numerous championships won by just using common sense.
Tower of Babel my man, how else? No one just gets up and moves away, then decides they should start their own language. Do they?
Good to see you havn’t ran away from us readers yet, but if you DO leave, it would be just rude to not leave the address of your new place to read your new blog. Wouldn’t it? Yes it would.
-Chris Riesgraf
P.S. You don’t know anyone who works in the Timberwolves Organization do you? No? Thought I’d try, guess I’ll just keep trying.
Paulburns Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 6:40 pm
Ha, that clown Damon Jones! Makes perfect sense. Just kick his ass when you see him, I guess pretty much everyone would find that very entertaining.
Lupe Said,
March 6, 2008 @ 8:10 pm
Great blog once again! You should seriously consider looking into journalism once your basketball playing career is done. In regards to Damon Jones, I feel he has become a little too egotistical on how he carries himself on and off the court. He should give half his check to Shaq for helping him have the career year that allowed him to cash in big in Cleveland. Glad to see your learning about Spain while you stay there, and keep up the good stuff.
jose freitas Said,
March 7, 2008 @ 6:07 am
cool blog.
I am a portuguese, and yes the Gallegos language is quite familiar to us.
Don’t forget andorra which is a separate country, but who play in the Spanish championships.
And also Ceuta and Mellila which are in inside Morocco territory.
The basques and catalunians extend all the way to France (Perpigna and Bayonne), for instance and cannot be considered independent.
In Valencia, a sort of catalunian is spoken, “valenciano”.
Antonio Said,
March 7, 2008 @ 7:10 am
Menorca???
Gabe, it´s great you want to know about culture but try to have a full picture of the situation. Your statement could be traslated in this
There are at least four ethnicities/languages/people whatever you want, other than Americans in US. Californians, texans, newyorkers and some others from Detroit
Gerard Said,
March 7, 2008 @ 7:42 am
Hi Gabe,
Good stuff! I was expecting a post like that. The language specked in Menorca is the same as the one speak in Catalonia, Catalan. Depending of the place or the region, this language receives other name. In Catalonia is called Catalan, in Valencia, Valencian. In Majorca Mallorqui; Mencorca, Menorquin and Ibiza, Eivissenc. And about the “Spanish-French mélange” I have to say that I feel a little bit insulted because this language have his own peculiarities and between Portuguese, Gallego, Spanish, Catalan, French, Italian, Occitan and Rumanian (I think all the Latin languages in use) you (in general) can’t says that are made by the sum of others. They come from the same family.
I don’t know any interesting book to tell you to read but I energetically suggest that a good look at the Wikipedia will answer lot of questions (or create more) because Spain is one (the most) strange country of the occidental world.
Keep posting, you’re great.
And sorry but Força Barça!!
scout14u Said,
March 7, 2008 @ 11:50 am
Gabe,
Entertaining blog!!!!
I’m from your home town and have actually met you several times and been at many of your workouts or games around houston (fonde, lucas’s w/o) etc.
Never new you were so deep. Glad to have seen this side of you. Best of luck the rest of this season and I’ll introduce myself to you this summer.
tjhook Said,
March 7, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
Gabe, a soldier in Iraq here. I just read your blog and I am thoroughly impressed and look forward to your musing on life, your’s and the rest of ours. I met you down on Sixth Street a couple of times and also had a guy from my hometown of Augusta, Georgia play for Texas (Fredie Williams). I am shocked at how well you express your thoughts on paper (jealous, actually) but I want to see more. I’ll be in country until November so keep the good writing up. I’ll be looking for it.
Matt Said,
March 7, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
I lived in San Sebastian for 6 months in college and met some really good Basque people. The seperatist movement there is strong, people in that region (southern France and Northern Spain) want their own autonomous country. The ETA is the group that has assasinated politcal figures in Madrid and had done some bombing in the city as well.
I got caught in between the ETA, kids all with long dark hair and the police, who looked like Power Rangers literally. Full on masks. The kids were throwing rocks over my head from behind and the police shooting rubber bullets from in front of us.
There was a garbage can out in front of my flat that would constatly blow up and be on fire, at one point I thought they hated me because I was an American, but I later I found out that they only have beef with the Spanish government. I used to go to known ETA bars in parte vieja and the people I talked to were nothing but nice to me.
One question people kept asking me was why there was an American military base 10 miles down the road from here? I said I didn’t know, but really we have miltary bases spread all over the world for safety. It’s easy to be out of place there because coming we dress differently. At a club one night a group of guys started a “Go home Yankee’s” chant, that was the only time I got really scared like someone was gonna hurt me.
As far as the US policy towards other counrties, we as citizens will never really know everything. The US installs democractically sympathetic figures in countries we “liberate”.
Gabe- A good book to read is “Confessions of an Economic Hitman”, by John Perkins. It’s a good book about how our government “spreads democracy.” I highly recommend it. Good luck out there, I miss Spain a lot.
sierra Said,
March 7, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
Matt,
They were not so nice with Isaias Carrasco, killed today in front of his wife and daughter when he was leaving his house. He was shot five times in the head. Used to be a member of the Socialist Party (moderate left) in his village. Now he was just working your typical 9 to 5 job.
Mikel Said,
March 7, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
Hello, I from Vitoria-Gasteiz, and I only want to explain a litle bit the situation in Spain, in the north exactly. There is a region called Basque Country, with strongs traditiones, a co-offical language so diferent to the spanish, and more.
The problem is, more or less, some people in Basque Country, about 50 per cent, wants to be a nation, separete from Spain, like USA-Canada, Usa-Mexico, for examples, but the other 50 per cent, don´t like this, and want to be Spanish, like a new yorker is a new yorker, but is american too.
The problem?
A big problem. There is a terrorist organization called ETA, which wants separete Basque Countr from Spain, using violence, and murdering. And this, in a democratic country, is not tolerable. This organization, kill politicians, inocents saying that the Basque people wants to be a nation, but the reality is that only a 40, 50 per cent have these ideas, the only 50 per cent no.
Thats the problem, in few words. We need a lot of days and paper to discuss this in good terms.
Bye.
P.S. Sorry for my english.
Matt Said,
March 7, 2008 @ 7:52 pm
Sierra-
I’m sorry to hear that. It seems like it has been a long time since they had committed a terrorist act. I was not aware of that.
Paul Said,
March 7, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
You’re real, man.
Real and intelligent and outspoken. A rare combo.
Keep doing what you do.
I recognize and respect it.
Paul
Melo Said,
March 8, 2008 @ 4:05 am
Dont believe what gerard is saying. Mallorquin and Valenciano are different languages from Catalan. And man, if you are telling Valenciano Catalan and Mallorquin are the same language why do u get so embarrased with the idea that Catalan is a Spanish-French melange? You dont even know the (great) differences between languages!! You all have to know that the official language in all Spain (included Cataluna, Valencia, Pais Vasco etc) is Spanish, and all that languages are co-official. Yesterday an innocent man was killed by a terrorist organisation who wants Basque Country being independent from Spain at all cost, and that makes lots of Spaniards hate to talk about all you wrote
jose freitas Said,
March 8, 2008 @ 6:59 am
There are more languages, if Occitan is considered.
Mirandês in Portugal, Napolitano in Italy.
ETA subject is quite complex. Some traces can de done to the dictator Franco.
Even if no latin, there is the Breton on NWestern France.
Gerard Said,
March 8, 2008 @ 10:03 am
Hi,
I don’t start answering posts done here that alluded to mine. It is recognized by the European Community that Catala/Valencian/Mallorquin/Menorquin/Eivissenc are the same languages, the thing is that in every region there are some peculiarities, the same between the Spanish in Spain and the Spanish in Central and South America. It is true that the official language in Spain is Spanish and at the regions mentioned before in my post, they share the officially of the language with another one.
About the percentage of people that wants to be independent in the Basque country the unofficial surveys says that the 30 percent of the habitants of the Basque country (including the south of France and Navarra) wants to be independent of Spain and France and from this 30 percent just the 7 supports the actions that ETA is performing. In my case, I’m Catalan and I support the Basque cause and also I want Catalonia to be independent from Spain but, and this is the main point, no violence have to be used in the process because the violence just produce hate and range and this is not the world I want to live. All the ETA acts are despicable and are unacceptable by any point of view. They got lost in some point of the way (ETA started to end with Franco’s dictatorship) and they must know that the people don’t allow this in times of democracy.
I have to say, Jorge (Sierra), that your post can be interpreted as an offence to all the Basque people since as I explained before not all the people in there support ETA’s actions. I know that you said that because Matt said that he was in ETA bars in he’s stay in San Sebastian but this don’t allow you to say that everybody that was nice with him was actually supporting ETA. In my life I’ve met a lot of Basque people and most of they have a strong rejection to all kind of violence.
In Catalonia we had a similar organization called “Terra Lliure” (Free Land) and it ended because the great pressure and opposition from all of the Catalan citizens.
As some of you might know we have national wide elections in Spain this weekend. Four years ago the Thursday before the elections Al-Qaeda killed 192 people in Madrid and changed the result of the elections from the right party (favorite in the surveys) to the left one, because the first supported the Iraq war that most of the Spanish people was against. Now ETA wanted to condition once again the elections in Spain and what all the people in Spain must say is: We are free, we are not afraid, we are the people that have to decide!
I decided that I don’t to see anymore a drop of blood spilled on the road; I decided that I will put all my efforts to end with this curse that stains the Spanish society. Also I decided that I will fight for the independence of Catalonia but if there’s no peaceful way to reach this proposition, which means that this path doesn’t exist.
Thanks for read it all. I hope you understood my point of view.
PS: Thanks to Jose Freitas for you note. I didn’t do any research when I said the languages when I made the last post.
Paul Said,
March 8, 2008 @ 11:03 am
Dude the book of Revelations isn’t scary at all…I used to think that but if you actually read it you’ll realize that it’s a book of prophecy for the future of mankind.Yeah it mentions a lot of death & destruction but it’s only for people who are NOT doing God’s will.If anything it’s a hopefull book because it promises that God will end, all “hateration”,sickness,death,etc & that his newly established Kingdom will turn the earth back into the paradise it was suppose to be back when Adam & eve 1st disobeyed him.(Note: Matthew 6:9 when Jesus asks for God’s Kingdom to come & for his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven,or Revelation 21,4 or the scripture talkin’ about that the meek shall inherit the earth..) But as far as your basketball analysis goes game does recognize game,but it’s more to it than that when it comes to making it AND staying in the league.You know for some ppl it’s politics , for others it’s about not being in the right situation at the right time( Sarunas Jask,Zoran,James Singleton,& Stephen Jackson til he made the Spurs),& for ppl others it’s about earning your dues (Jamario Moon,Stephen Jackson,Anthony Johnson,Roger Mason Jr, Anthony Carter & a host of others that had to fight to get in/stay in the league)My brother was fortunate enough to get drafted into the NBA this yr so he had it easier than most but my father tried to make the league his entire life & never even sniffed a roster invite after playing semi-pro for yrs in Cali (we’re from Chicago) so there are literally thousands of ppl that never make it to the league but it’s not just based on one sports cliche.There are many logical reasons why too,not just a particular guy is hated on.For example the NBA has to be extra picky because it’s like what, 400+ jobs for the millions of people that play the sport recreationaly or the few hundred thousand that have professional aspirations around the world?…ps. I for one TOTALLY agree with you about Zoran! If he was on the Bulls,Golden State,Phoenix,The Raptors, or even the Spurs,instead of Jersey a couple yrs back he’d be killin’.I hope dude wants to come back & gets a real chance…Well anyway…Holler at me man if you further discuss anything about the Bible or basketball because I get much more deeper into it than I have in this post…I’m not even gonna proof read this cuz I gotta bounce…Peace & stay up…
sierra Said,
March 8, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
Gerard,
I’m Basque myself. I tend to think that the people that go to these “ETA bars” are supportive of ETA. I was just talking about them.
Ryan Said,
March 8, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
It seems unfair to be sarcastic to gabe about his comment concrning the french spanish melange.
dont be insulted they are both romance latin-based languages that happen to be sharing borders, OF COURSE there is a melange.
gabe you inspire every person who had amazing fundamentals, work ethic in high school ball but werent tall enough to get minutes to continue being interested in the game.
Gerard Said,
March 8, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
Sorry, I didn’t meant insulted when I talked about Catalan. Maybe the right word was uncomfortable and I have to say that I never wanted to sound sarcastic.
Sorry Gabe, I didn’t wanted to concentrate the post around this topic.
Danko Said,
March 8, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
what exactly did Igor say, I’m curious??
matt Said,
March 8, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
These people that go to these ETA bars were completely unaware of the situation because these people are from the other side of the world.
James Said,
March 10, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
Nice piece, but some of your history is wrong.
Decimate means to reduce by one tenth. After a failed battle the Roman army was divided into groups of ten. Each member of the group drew a lot. Whoever got the bad lot was killed by the other 9. So, one out of every ten soldiers was killed by those closest to him as punishment.
Many history and language teachers F that one up, so no need to worry about the error. You still got the point. You just didn’t know how truly cold-blooded that sh!t was.
Gabe Said,
March 11, 2008 @ 4:51 am
I don’t know the exact story…but i know “deci” comes from the latin derivative of “decem” meaning 10. and “mate” comes from the latin word “matare” meaning to kill. either way the story goes…it’s gangster. Thanks.
Caesar Said,
March 11, 2008 @ 10:23 am
James is right. “decem” is indeed ten as in “decemvirate”, but “decimus” is tenth, and is the source of “decimal” and “decimate”.
Ed Said,
March 13, 2008 @ 4:44 am
Hi, I’m from Catalonia (not Spain) and I really appreciate your last post. At least some americans notice that no everything in Spain is “toros” and “sevillanas”… But just one thing: There are so many languages in Spain beside spanish (castilian), but in Menorca they also speak Catalan (a different type, but catalan)… like in Valencia and southern France…
besides that, congratulations for your post!
Visca Catalunya!
Augustus Said,
March 13, 2008 @ 6:46 am
On the other hand, there is a Spanish word for kill, “matar”, from which comes “matador”.
anthony Said,
March 14, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
Thanks for the info Briggs.
simas Said,
March 16, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
nice stuff, since i am from europe, this isn’t news to me, about racial and ethnic tensions. jose manuel calderon is my favorite player to come from spain, from vitoria tau ceramica. have you played with him? catalan does look like a mix of french and spanish, due to their history and location. personally, i think euroleague has better basketball, and people are actually fans there, unlike in nba, where only the rich can afford to go to games in good seats.
Alexander Razinkov Said,
March 24, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
Hello! Thanks for blogging, Gabe! I wish your team win in quarterfinals of Euroleague. And in FinalFour you will compete against CSKA (probably). Cuz i’m from Russia, i want you to make every thing you can and fight with this unbelievable (for Europe) team. But if you will play in FinalFour against Olympiakos, can you do me a favor..? Please say to Arvydas Macijauskas that he is my favourite player. Thank you Gabe and good luck in Euroleague and ACB!
aupa Said,
March 25, 2008 @ 4:52 pm
BILBAO BASKET
the spaniard Said,
March 26, 2008 @ 4:05 am
Keep on with this blog Gabe, Your posts aren’t too regular but they’re so deep. Very good blog.
J Said,
March 27, 2008 @ 2:17 pm
Gabe, first time reader but this is a great blog, keep it up.
So obviously I’m late to the party, but do you think you could post (or email) your Raw Organic Diet? I have a lot of interest in it, but am not sure how to begin transitioning to one, especially as a single dude who lives on his own and doesn’t really know how to cook. Lately, my diet has mainly been low-fat Subway sandwiches, protein shakes and oatmeal!
I’m going to try to research on the internet, but any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Regardless, consider me your latest regular reader/fan.
-J
Mrs. Jones-Lee Said,
March 28, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
Gabe,
I read your entry and was truly heartbroken and disturbed by the behaviour of the Heymon Tones character. Was that person
Damon Jones? Please don’t waste any time or energy holding
animosity it delays every good thing that God has for you. You
are and have always been a very talented and intelligent young
man. Keep your eyes on the prize…….May God continue to bless
you and your family.
DJ’s MOM
baskonistas.com Said,
March 28, 2008 @ 5:08 pm
Gabe Thanks for your professionalism, your hard work and effort in the months that you have played in the Baskonia.
It is a pity that you could not continue in the team, but all fans of Vitoria you remember.
Ojala can continue in the ACB and see you soon in the Buesa Arena albeit with another team jeje.
If you want despedirte of the fans can use the Web http://www.baskonistas.com for what you want you can contact me at baskonistas@gmail.com
Do you all go well in athletics and in your personal life in the future, and count them all as was your stay in Vitoria and the memories that guards the team, the city and the fans.
Thanks.
Medley Said,
March 29, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
Gabe, My son Nik Caner-Medley plays for Gran Canaria. I was looking forward to your competition (He played TAU today). His older (step) brother, Conor, speaks Euskadi (and Irish gaelic, and Penobscot and several other endangered/isolate languages). One common aspect the three of you share, and it’s a sign of hope for the US (and for the rest of the world, if as a consequence, the US backs off some steps) is belief in the political promise of Obama (who, with the results of the caucuses, won Texas). Best wishes where you are headed.
baskonia always with you Said,
March 29, 2008 @ 5:10 pm
Hola Gabe!
(se que aquí la gente te escribe en inglés, pero como ves, mi inglés no es muy bueno… lo siento.)
Yo soy de Vitoria-Gasteiz,y por supuesto seguidora del baskonia
Bueno, hoy me he enterado de que te vas del equipo. ya te lo ha dicho el club (segun la web) pero queria darte las gracias. Porque en mi opinión has sido uno de los mejores suplentes de este equipo.
No se muy bien los motivos de tu ida la verdad…
Te deseo la mayor suerte del mundo en el futuro, te la mereces.
Baskonia always with you, ok?
un beso!
BETI BASKONIA.
[siempre baskonia]
larry micheaux Said,
April 17, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
gabe we miss you in vitoria. come back! the basque people respect you. you´re one of us!
Pipin Said,
September 12, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
SASKIKOYOTE!!!!
Fatima Said,
February 6, 2009 @ 2:49 pm
Hey Gabe,
Nice blog. How are you doing and the family?
Just thought I’d drop you a line.
Take Care
Fatima