I was a bad kid growing up. I was sneaky and greedy. I stole for candy. I first started to steal from my dad's wallet. I would wake up early in the morning and my dad's wallet would be lying on the floor. I would only take a dollar out so he wouldn't notice. After school, I would treat myself to a Cactus Cooler or some sour candy apple thing a mabob.
Soon after, I decided to step up my game. Since our daycare was on school grounds, I could sneak up to my classroom to search for change in the teacher's desk.
One day during class, a girl was playing with her dollar. The teacher saw this and forced her to give it up till class was over. Unfortunately for her, the teacher forgot to give the money back. I knew that was my next score. So once again, I snuck up the stairs, made sure I wasn't followed and crept into my dark classroom. Three seconds later, the janitor comes in and flips on the light! I barely ducked for cover under a desk. Lucky for me, he was only picking up the trash. The door closes and I rushed to the desk, grab the girl's money and booked it downstairs to safety. My heart was beating, my adrenaline pumping, I felt the rush of mischief.
The last time I stole was the funniest and the saddest. We were in the 2nd grade and it was movie day. The day where teachers decide they are not going to stand in front of the kids and just "grade homework". Sitting by me was a young boy named William. He had a big head and little body. William had brought with him a crisp $5 bill. He had it on his desk in all it's glory. I possessed in my pocket a $1 bill that I acquired from my father's wallet earlier that morning. William decided to go to the bathroom, leaving his $5 bill behind. The temptation was too great. As he exited the room, I pulled my dollar quickly out of my pocket and make a quick Switch-a-Roo.
I was $4 richer in a few mere seconds.
William arrives back at his desk, feeling more refreshed than ever, only to find his treasure missing- No, Replaced! He calls out to the Teacher, crying " MY $5! It's gone!" She sees the dollar sitting on the desk and says, "Oh Will, it's right here. And it's not $5, it's just a dollar. You probably only thought you had a $5 bill...it's okay sweetie." William tried with his whole heart to petition his sound belief that it was really a $5 he had, but was silenced by the teacher's motion; her finger to the lips. He knew it all too well. He had lost the battle and lost the treasure.
The moment of sadness I had felt was muffled by the knowledge that if I were to return the money, I would suffer MAJOR consequences.
I decided not to keep the money for myself but to share the wealth with my poor friends. We bought all the candy and soda our hearts ever desired. Remorse was overshadowed by my spoils.
Looking back, I don't know how this rampage of thievery ever started. My parents had taught me how to be a good and honest child. I had swept their teachings and my integrity to the wind, all for a tasty Cactus Cooler and maybe a Sour Candy.
Today, I still am challenged with the temptation to be deceitful. As I look back at my youth, I see there is a better way. I also see that there will be real repercussions for being dishonest.
All in all, I guess I'm glad I got that evil doing out of my system early enough to resist the temptation to knock off a 7-11.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Growing Up with Basketball.
Growing up in East LA, I had a basketball court in my backyard. My dad poured the concrete and set up the hoop with the aid of our Mexican friend Fernando. Fernando would help with work around the house in exchange for a place to put his trailor..which was in our backyard.
It was probably the best gift I ever received as a kid. I used to play against my dad all the time. The only rule was that he couldn't post up. We stopped playing after I beat him consecutive times, or maybe because he got busy with his "career in medicine"...whatever helped him sleep at night.
Needless to say, I was an O.G. Street Baller. Some of the kids who lived in the apartments next door would hop the tall fence to play in my backyard. At the time, I didn't think anything of it. It was harmless. In this day and age, that would probably never fly. We are not trusting enough as a culture. But I was welcoming and always loved the new challengers.
My parents sent me to a private school near Glendale,CA. It was called Ribet Academy. The school was great but I have a feeling now that the kids there would have been the same if I had gone to public school. Since my parents worked till 6 everyday, I was enrolled in DayCare which was right on school grounds. Instead of doing homework, which my parents most definitely would have made me do if I were home, I played basketball. All day everyday for 3-4 hours. It seemed like everyone played the game. My two El Salvadorian twin friends were some of the best. Dusty and Jason.
I think the game gave me a competitive itch that had to be scratched every time I played a sport. It also taught me about honesty. If you've ever played a pick up game, there are no refs, no one to tell you who touched the ball last as it flew out of bounds. But you knew if it was you. And if you were honest about it, kids respected you. We could use this type of accountability and honesty.
Now let's be honest. People love to hate the Lakers. Why?
If there was the same honesty in those early year pick up games as there are in the hearts of Laker haters, then we'd know the real reason. The real reason is because they win. And the win consistently. Aside from the reigning years of MJ, the Lakers have been a dominating force in NBA History.
Kobe Bryant is not an outstanding individual. He's probably got a lot more skeletons in the closet than we have seen. But does this separate him from the rest of the NBA players? I think not. Every NBA player is faced with the same temptations of sex, drugs, and unlimited fame. Who, if any, have resisted them all. I believe we'll never know.
Now as for the game if basketball, Kobe Bryant is one of the best players to walk on the floor. He's won 4 Championships and has one of the best records in the history of the game. I am not a die hard Kobe fan, but I respect his ability to score and to win.
Should you hate the Lakers? Yeah, if they are beating your team. Of Course.
But don't make up artificial reasons.
All you playa haters: Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game.
It was probably the best gift I ever received as a kid. I used to play against my dad all the time. The only rule was that he couldn't post up. We stopped playing after I beat him consecutive times, or maybe because he got busy with his "career in medicine"...whatever helped him sleep at night.
Needless to say, I was an O.G. Street Baller. Some of the kids who lived in the apartments next door would hop the tall fence to play in my backyard. At the time, I didn't think anything of it. It was harmless. In this day and age, that would probably never fly. We are not trusting enough as a culture. But I was welcoming and always loved the new challengers.
My parents sent me to a private school near Glendale,CA. It was called Ribet Academy. The school was great but I have a feeling now that the kids there would have been the same if I had gone to public school. Since my parents worked till 6 everyday, I was enrolled in DayCare which was right on school grounds. Instead of doing homework, which my parents most definitely would have made me do if I were home, I played basketball. All day everyday for 3-4 hours. It seemed like everyone played the game. My two El Salvadorian twin friends were some of the best. Dusty and Jason.
I think the game gave me a competitive itch that had to be scratched every time I played a sport. It also taught me about honesty. If you've ever played a pick up game, there are no refs, no one to tell you who touched the ball last as it flew out of bounds. But you knew if it was you. And if you were honest about it, kids respected you. We could use this type of accountability and honesty.
Now let's be honest. People love to hate the Lakers. Why?
If there was the same honesty in those early year pick up games as there are in the hearts of Laker haters, then we'd know the real reason. The real reason is because they win. And the win consistently. Aside from the reigning years of MJ, the Lakers have been a dominating force in NBA History.
Kobe Bryant is not an outstanding individual. He's probably got a lot more skeletons in the closet than we have seen. But does this separate him from the rest of the NBA players? I think not. Every NBA player is faced with the same temptations of sex, drugs, and unlimited fame. Who, if any, have resisted them all. I believe we'll never know.
Now as for the game if basketball, Kobe Bryant is one of the best players to walk on the floor. He's won 4 Championships and has one of the best records in the history of the game. I am not a die hard Kobe fan, but I respect his ability to score and to win.
Should you hate the Lakers? Yeah, if they are beating your team. Of Course.
But don't make up artificial reasons.
All you playa haters: Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The Back Up Plan
The Back Up Plan stars Jennifer Lopez and some no name dude. Now I was dragged to this movie by my lovely wife. Like all good husbands, I tried not to complain too much.
Why I liked it: I didn't expect to like it at all, so when I got a few laughs, I was surprised. A lot of the humor related to me because, being married you learn a lot more about the female than you'd ever imagined. The movie exposed that disconnect between men and women, and I found it comical. Anthony Anderson was hilarious as the Playground Dad. So while, there were many shortcomings (the plot, the main dude), there were some great laughs in there that to me made it all worthwhile. It's not gonna win an Academy Award, but it should get you to slap your knees a few times.
Why some might not: If you are single, you might not connect with some of the humor. Also the birthing scene is really disgusting, a little funny, but way gross. So if you are the queasy type, then you should probably make it a bathroom break. If the story line is everything to you, then this is not for you.
Why John hates it: One: It had J Lo in it. He's not much of a butt guy. haha jk. Second, it wasn't abstract enough. Also, he is the queasy type, so....enough said.
ALL IN ALL: I don't expect anyone to really love the movie, but don't be such a movie critic that you can't let yourself laugh at some awkward moments.
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