KEVIN GARNETT: THE BEST MAN TO BE WITH KOBE BRYANT IN THE LAKERS

I thought the Lakers can be different this season, and improve their satisfactory performance last year to excellence this year because they were winning in the beginning of this NBA season. I was wrong. They were losing big time a little before the All-Star break, and then the second half of the season. Now, as I write this, there’s even a chance they can be knocked out from the playoffs (with a record of 40-39).

Kobe Bryant, as usual, excels this season. He won the All-Star MVP. And he scored some 50 and 60 point games this season, overtaking Carmelo Anthony for the number one in scoring in the league. He’s a good leader and player. But Kobe Bryant is not enough for the Lakers.

Lamar Odom is a very good player. All-Star material even. He can play some very good all-around basketball. But with him as Kobe’s sidekick is not enough.

Kwame Brown is a disappointment. Smush Parker is no superstar. Andrew Baynum is too slow to grow. Luke Walton is good but lacking. The Lakers need to improve their line-up. And I believe that one man will improve their line-up. There were talks of getting Jason Kidd from the Nets before the trade deadline this season. I have no complains since Kidd can quickly learn the Laker system. And his good, he can make the other Laker players improve in offense (when you’re free Kidd can find you), and also a great help in the frontcourt defense. Plus, though he’s a point guard he can grab those rebounds (like a Laker legend named Magic Johnson). But I was not much dismayed when the trade did not come true. I know they needed someone better than Kidd.

They need a big man who is not slow, can force himself to the basket, and can shoot anywhere. Someone to grab those rebounds – yup, Odom is good at them, but the Lakers need more than that. And, yes, to be a defensive force in the paint. And also to be effective in Coach Johnson’s triangle offense. Yup, a player like that. And I have one guy in mind. His name is Kevin Garnett.  He's the most appropriate big man to be with Kobe (second best would be Pau Gasol).

Yes, Kevin Garnett. He’ll look good in the purple or yellow jersey (just as Iverson looked good in a Denver uniform). He’s gone to several All-Star games, and won one All-Star MVP. He also has a regular-season MVP. He’s the man for the Lakers.

Now, Bryant and Garnett can work effectively.  It would be nice to see them playing together in the NBA. Imagine, Kobe driving though and breaking the oppositions’ defense, and then he founds Garnett and gave him a no look pass, Garnett turns to the basket and SLAM DUNK! That’ll be cool. Like Shaq and Kobe back then.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are holding on to KG too much. I think their waiting for a draft pick for a good guard to complement Garnett. (Sigh) I don’t know how the Lakers can facilitate such deal, but they have to be crafty, like send in some satisfactory players, and sweeten the deal with some draft picks.

Kevin Garnett is the man to be with Kobe Bryant in the Lakers. With the both of them in the Lakers, I’ll bet they’ll win another championship. It’s a fantasy I have to see them play together, and bring back glory to the Lakers. (Another cool fantasy I have for the Lakers is a Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Kidd line-up… dream on, Bernz).

All I can do is pray for divine intervention… and wait and see.

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Guitar Opinion

I love guitars. And I have this fantasy of owning a large guitar collection someday. Complete with different kinds of effects pad and gadgets, guitar straps, picks, and, of course, different kinds of guitars: acoustic, electric, jazz, classical, folk, etc… different kinds, brands and models. And it would be nice to have vintage models, too. Ahhh… if only…

Anyway, in my opinion, the guitar is the best musical instrument there is. And I believe all people can play it, all it takes is perseverance, dedication and love for it. It’s also the best instrument to start with (only in my opinion… some say it’s the keyboard), since if you know how to play the guitar, it would be easy to start studying how to play other instruments, too. After some time of guitar playing, learning the basics of bass playing would be easy. Then, with increased sense of rhythm and timing due to playing the guitar, the playing of basics of the drums would follow. Anyway, it is not always true – it’s still up to you. And besides, no matter what the instrument, it requires constant practice and study to master it; from basics, to variations, and then mastery.

Playing the guitar is both easy and hard (You’ll understand this statement when you start to play). It’s nice of someone can teach you (better still, to have lessons), but you can also study it on your own. Like me. I just self-practiced and self-taught myself. Just have yourself a guitar and a chord chart, and then practice the chords. Sooner or later, you’ll be able to play your first song. As I said, it only takes perseverance, dedication and love for playing the guitar. By and by, the basics of guitar playing – chord shifting, strumming, timing and plucking – will be “programmed” in your mind.

Then learn some lead. For starters, one should learn how to read lied sheets or tabs, to learn to play the pieces made by others – usually downloaded from the internet – in playing particular lead situations in songs, and to gain some ideas about lead playing. Octaves, chromatics, pentatonic, major and minor scales, slides, bend, pull-off, hammer, triplets, tap, mute, and the other “principles” of lead should be learned. And as one get himself familiarize with the principles, techniques and scales, one can make his own guitar fills and ad libs.
In using a guitar effect, I guess, distortions are the best to start from… not only because it is cool, but, mainly, also to mask your mistakes. Honestly, the hearers may not notice the mistakes when you play with distortion – just be quick to bend, slide, or whatever to make the lead flow right. (Especially in strumming a chord with some heavy distortion, it is rare of the hearers to notice you struck the wrong chord). But try other effects, and clean, too, by and by. Experiment, practice and study the effects. And also try playing lead, acoustic style. Playing lead with the acoustic is not at all inferior compared to playing with an electric, and in some cases better still, especially if one masters the classical or Latin styles.

In playing lead, fast fingers are not necessary – but very convenient. Often, it is not about how fast your fingers but the proper usage and progression of the notes – plus the phrasing and proper use of guitar scale/technique, whether, it is jazz, disco, classical, basic rock-pop, or others. Learning to play “grooves” in the guitar is necessary, too, I guess, though it’s mostly the bass guitar’s job.

Learn also to play or “jam” with others. Learn band principles and techniques, communication, and teamwork. No matter how good you are, if you cannot work with the band, you cannot play effectively.
The guitar is a very fascinating instrument. Playing the basics, and then some, nor even if you “mastered” it, it does no stop there. It is best to continue practicing and learning new things. Playing the guitar is definitely rewarding.

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Fried Chicken

Fried chicken is truly one of the most beloved food on earth. I am very fond of it, though it’s not my favorite food - but it used to be when I was a little boy. Now, my lil’ sis is the one who loves fried chicken like I used to when I was her age – it’s the only thing she orders when we go out.
I don’t know why most children are very fond of fried chicken. It’s a fact. Fried chicken is the most popular food among kids. And when they grow up, they may put other kinds of food above fried chicken but they will never forget fried chicken. It’s still going to be in their list of preferred food.
The best meat for me is beef, followed by pork, and fish and seafood, and lastly, poultry – chicken in particular. But when it comes to being fried to crispy brown perfection… I’ll go with chicken. How would you like chicken be cooked? Grilled? Roasted? “Tinola”? Great ideas, but I’ll go with “fried”… most people will answer the same.
You can eat fried chicken with anything you like. With rice, or pasta, or baked goods. Gravy, ketchup, mayonnaise, sauce, or nothing at all. It is also a great finger food. And it can be eaten anytime - in snacks, meals, luncheons, picnics, etc.
There might be some instances when someone gets tired, or sick of it (probably because of eating too much, or eating one with e coli bacteria, or the chicken was inferiorly fried). But often it is only temporary. Given some time, fried chicken will be back on his diet, simply because he can’t resist.
Fried chicken comes in different tastes, because there is a lot of ways to marinate it… or depending on a restaurant’s trademark recipe. Me, I use flour, salt, egg, some vinegar or “kalamansi” – preferably “kalamansi” than vinegar – on it. If I get lazy, just salt and vinegar. I make good fried chicken – and my number one is my sister.
I think the best fried chicken restaurant in the country is KFC. I can’t wait for it to open a branch here in Legazpi. I love KFC’s chicken strips. KFC is one good thing those Americans brought us.
Come to think of it, fried chicken is an American influence on us. Americans love it. Filipinos love it. And probably everyone.
Ah, fried chicken. If you just think about it, there’s something fascinating in all of this about fried chicken… the smell… the recipes… deep fried… the crispness… the taste in your mouth… it’s appeal… it’s popularity… everything.
Maybe the loneliest people on Earth are those who can’t eat fried chicken because of some reasons (like they are allergic to it). They’re missing out something big. Fried chicken is one of the best things out of life.

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