Bad move by the L.A. Lakers trading Derek Fisher in the mid-season, especially since he helped put them out in the second round of playoffs. But Oklahoma City sure welcomed him in with open arms. Finally a player with serious playoff experience. At the beginning of this basketball season I stated that either L.A. Clippers or Oklahoma City Thunder would be the champions this year. Now the OKC are in the finals; first time appearances for most of the players. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and more – it’s time to learn what a ring feels like on your finger. They gotta win it all. In the Eastern Conference, Boston Celtics are up on Miami Heat 3-2 in the series. I don’t personally favor either of these teams, but I’m really hoping for the Heat to make it in the finals just so I can see Lebron James choke again and OKC strut over “The Big 3” on their way to grab their trophy.
You hear the saying all the time, “It’s a Jungle out there”…
Definitely a true statement. We all walk around the land, especially here in North America, believing that we are better than all other mammals living in the same food chain. But what we have to realize is that we are all trapped in a jungle that doesn’t end. Anyone or anything can take your life at any moment, you never know what’s creeping up on you. We are surrounded by society and its evil ways. Most people worry more about being attacked by the wild animals in the world than the people that live in their own neighbourhood. But reality is, the jungle is all around us.
Nothing is sacred, no one is safe.
I quote Bob Marley from the song Concrete Jungle:
“No Chains around my feet but I’m not free…”
The Black Man overcame 400 years of Slavery, yet society will still not set them free. They are still tied down by the Corporate Government in so many ways. And we are all stuck in this mud too – we are all slaves to the corporate world.
That’s what the jungle is: A bunch of wild animals fighting each other for their own survival and trying to take from one another. No matter how hard you try to rise up, something will try harder to pull you back down. There really is no escape.
But don’t let this drag you down, it’s not the end of the world, It’s just something that all people need to recognize. We are all slaves. We are all tied down. We are all trapped in the same jungle. None of us are completely free in any way. But neither is any other living creature. The birds, the fish, the bees and ants – none of them are completely free. They all have to work for the life or they die. It’s not unfair, it’s just the way of the world.
When life pulls you down, you gotta pick yourself back up and find a way to put a smile on your face. Forget about your troubles and find what you love. Get as close to freedom as you can, but just remember to always watch your back, you never know what’s lurking out there
One of my all time mentors, Tiger Woods has just set another goal for himself. With his 73rd PGA Tour Victory on Sunday at the Memorial Tournament, he is now tied with Jack Nicklaus for 2nd place in most wins. Only 1 man left to defeat and that’s Sam Snead who sits pretty with 82 wins.
This was Tiger’s first victory since 2009 and was well deserved. With all the mental and physical anguish he has been through in the past few years, it’s about time things were looking up for him. Tiger has set a standard in sports by being so untouchable. He shows determination and never gives up – The true mentality of a leader.
Golf is a game that anyone can play, just like anyone can learn to ride a skateboard. But where can the game take you in life? It’s how hard you try and how you express yourself while doing it that makes you a man or a mouse. If you practise a lot, and always show confidence, chances are you will end up being pretty good. These 2 sports are very similar. They’re not Team Sports, they’re Solo Sports. You practise and play in the same locations a lot, you enter tournaments against others who are known as the best in the world, and when it comes down to it – it’s just you and your brain that succeed. Even when the world is against you and keeps pushing you down, the chance to overcome and be amazing again will always be there.
It was about 2004 when I built the 2×4 skateboard.
I built it to prove to the kids I was teaching that you can balance on anything. But I made the mistake of taking it down to Bear Creek Skate Park the evening I put it together and realized that I could actually skate it. I even did a kickflip off the bank launch on it that first day. It was gonna be trouble…
I started skating this thing all the time. I kept it in my trunk and pulled it out whenever I thought of something to try. I let the kids ride it every Friday at the Skateboard Camps I was running and they all thought it was awesome. All it was, was just a straight up 2×4 – 36” long, gripped on top and sitting on original Gullwing Pros and Powell Peralta Mini Rats. It’s in my laundry room right now, just waiting for another ride. I think the last trick I ever did on it was a switch blunt – indy out on my ramp, or maybe it was the jitterbug. Either way it’s been a year or two.
We had some good times, me and that 2×4 – kickflipped a roof gap on some portables, pop-shovits, manuals and boardslides, all kinds of craziness. I still remember early grabbing the 10 stair at Brookswood Skate Park on it and everyone going wild. One time I showed up at Brookswood for a contest in 2005 and I only brought my 2×4. 75% of the people there didn’t even know it existed, but they’ll never forget it after that day:
First run, I threw down a solid line to start, Kickflip on flat, then a big pop shovit, and then boardslide down the 4 stair kink rail; turned around and blunt transferred over the spine in the bowl to a 50-50 and then a rock fakie; jumped out of the bowl, cleared the path and early grabbed the 10 stair… Killed it!
Second run, started off with the same line, then went back and forth in the flat banks with a kickflip fakie, a fakie kickflip and then pop-shovit body varial; and of course, one more early grab off the 10 stair.
The crowd loved it, and somehow I got 4th place. Nice! I didn’t do it to win, I just did it for the fun, and I was stoked that I had 2 flawless runs.
I was filming way out in Aldergrove Skate Park about a month ago for my “Show UP Mike” contest and this kid showed up and the first thing he said to me was, “Hey, did you used to ride a 2×4? I remember you from a contest at Brookswood.” I just laughed. Good times.
Another great one was this Volcom – Wild in the Parks thing at Tsawwassen Skate Park in 2006. I had ridden my 2×4 at Tsawwassen so many times it was basic. I kickflipped up the step up no problem, early grabbed both sets with different grabs, and some other stuff, but this was a day for historic moments so I decided I was going to boardslide the Blue Rail down the 6 stair. Anyone that knows me knows that I don’t ride rails any more, but here I was hopping on to this handrail on my 2×4 and making it. So I stuck it down, Blam!! I had never even attempted to boardslide this rail on my normal board, so I have to admit I was pretty stoked that I just did it on a 2×4, maybe a little toooooo stoked. I stuck it down again for my video camera so I could watch it myself, and then I talked shit: “Joyce Rail, tomorrow. It’s goin’ down.” Any locals to the Lower Mainland should know the Joyce Rail – long green 6 stair rails, fairly high, out of a tennis court and you need plywood to land on. About 12 of us went out the next day for me to do this boardslide.
First try, got on it and jumped off;
Second try, slid the whole rail and jumped off;
Third try, came up strong, full commitment, knowing I was going to land it…
Nope.
I clipped my front wheels on the bottom of the rail, leaped over the rail trying to clear it and caught my inner thigh on the end. Smash! Faceplant.
It took me 3-4 weeks to massage out this blood clot trying to form in my leg, but it was worth it. I was getting way to cocky with that 2×4 board and needed a good dose of reality as to why I should not be riding it.
The 2×4 skateboard was built to prove a point to kids, but instead it ended up proving a lot about skateboarding to myself. I learned that I can ride anything and still rip it. It helped me express my inner self and I realized that this board would push my limits to another level, and I thank every day I got on it, and every trick I did. I’m sure someday it will rise again, but can’t say when.
Until then, enjoy what might just be the strangest skateboard video part you ever see:
I was on an airplane the other night coming home from Ontario and I caught this amazing documentary on TV. The story of Reece “Goose” Tatum, the one time leader of the Harlem Globetrotters, and definitely someone who broke many boundaries in the world of racism. The documentary includes commentary from other historic father figures of the black community such as Oscar Robertson, Ernie Banks, and even Bill Cosby. These guys were all around during the times of struggle where the white man thought they were the superiors to all other races and made sure everyone knew it. A disgusting period of time which I am glad I wasn’t born to see.
The story starts out displaying some awesome, and almost unbelievable baseball tricks with the Goose just messing around with the baseball. His skills of deceptive magic were amazing. You just have to see it to understand it. I thought it was astonishing to learn that he was a baseball player by heart, not a basketball player, and it made me think of Michael Jordan and how he was totally the same. It made me very glad that both of them ended up on the NBA floors because they were both the leaders of change in how the game of basketball is played today. The Goose was credited with introducing the no-look pass and the no-look hook shot, while Michael Jordan taught us how to fly through the air for hours at a time. And they could both juggle a basketball like nobody’s business.
Reece Tatum was a baseball player in the Negro League on a team called The Indianapolis Clowns, and his magical talents were discovered by marketing genius, Abe Saperstein, who brought him into the basketball spotlight as the new leader of the Harlem Globetrotters (who weren’t actually even from Harlem) and the times began to change. Tatum would actually play Center even though he only stood approximately 6’ 3”, but due to his creative means, along with an 84” arm span, nobody could stop him from finding the basket. With the mixture of comedic genius and athletic skills, the Goose would help to attract major audiences, and it was planned for the Harlem Globetrotters to play against their first NBA Team – the “all white” Minnesota Lakers, the best team in the NBA. This was a major historic event as the Globetrotters took the win, and were immediately challenged to a rematch. They won again.
This was in an era, where African-Americans were not respected by all parts of the United States and sadly, no matter how big of a superstar you were, you were still black. You had to drink out of specified water fountains, and stay in certain hotels only. Unbelievable… But Reece Tatum was one of those men who opened the doors for the African Community to be respected as human beings across North America.
The story goes on and gets better. The Goose left the Harlem Globetrotters due to disagreements with Saperstein and began a new team called The Harlem Magicians. He had kids and took them with him on tour wherever he went. The Goose was a hero. He was respected by so many well known individuals, like Ray Charles and Sonny Liston, and of course anyone in the history of basketball or baseball. He was there to help change the world.
A tragic accident where he lost one of his sons drove Tatum into a bad state and he ended up passing away at a young age. The days of The Goose were over, but the impact he had made on society was there to stay, and the memories of The Goose would live forever.
Reece Tatum was eventually welcomed into the Basketball Hall of Fame recently, and his son, Reece Tatum III, was there to accept the honors. He had been there with his Dad through the good times and the bad, and no one respected him more. He quoted his Dad on stage with a statement that almost made me cry:
“Things change very slowly so pay attention, because if you don’t pay attention we will repeat where we’ve been before, and we don’t want to go back ever.”
What a statement. It explains a lot in my own life. And now I have another person to relate my being to. I break this statement down to what it means to me:
Believe in yourself and others will believe in you;
Trust people fully, only when you’re looking at them;
Change the world to make it better for everyone, and make sure that the changes have been accepted;
And never give up on your dreams.
He brought joy and laughter to everyone around him. Check out some of the links below and enjoy.
Life’s so easy when you’re a kid, even if you have it rough. You wake up in the morning and get ready for the day. Hopefully you get lots of time to play, and do the things you enjoy. You don’t really have to worry about money or the painful battle for survival. You don’t have to pay bills or worry about losing your job. Your biggest concern is usually trying to have fun without getting in trouble. The beautiful life.
As you get a little older, it changes a bit. You start being more concerned about your appearance, and what other people think of you. You want to fit in with the cool crowd and sometimes might do things you normally wouldn’t in order to do so. You start to get more responsibilities put on your plate, and less food. Your main concern becomes a little more complicated with some obstacles in the way, but it’s still all about having fun without getting in too much trouble. It’s a great life.
As you age some more and go out on your own into the cruel world, your life will change. You are now strapped down, and live for survival. Work to get paid, to pay for the things you need – shelter, food, clothing. Times get more serious and you might not enjoy life as much. You will start to refer to childhood as “The Good Old Days” and your body will begin to hurt. But through it all, it’s very important to always try to have fun and keep a smile on your face. Getting into trouble seems to cost a lot more now, so it’s smart to avoid it the best you can.
You never know what life is going to throw your way, or how fast it will throw it at you. Sometimes it may feel like the entire world is completely against you, like you are the sole person at the bottom of the pile and everyone dumps their garbage on top. Maybe you even want to give up, like you just can’t take any more of the abuse, of the pain, of the hurt…
I quote Bob Marley form the song Rainbow Country:
“Though the Road is Rocky – sure Feels Good to me.”
Bob is so amazing with his thoughts, and so strong. No matter what the situation, no matter what the cause of pain, you must step back and look at the rest of your life. Even if it’s been tough for a long time, remember the good old days. Think of the things that made you smile in your life and go do them. Bring back the past and put the present aside for a while, it may bring you a better future. We all have rocky roads we walk, and the paths are all a mystery, but you gotta put your head up and stand tall, walk with strength and confidence, and believe in yourself.
“To be loved is to live forever in someone’s heart…”
This quote is written on a frame at the top of our stairs. I don’t know who wrote it, and can’t remember where I bought it, but it is one of the most true statements there is, and I always stop and think about other people whenever my eye catches it.
We are all loved by someone. But none of us were meant to live forever. But those who love us will cherish our time together in their memories. Those who were loved will always be remembered.
My Dad was definitely loved by so many people. He was so caring and protective of any of his family and friends, never wanting to see anyone get hurt in any way. I quote my Mom with this statement –
“I can’t think of one person who did not like him…”
It’s amazing because it’s true. How many people in today’s world could you say that statement about?
He was a kind and gentle man, who would always try his best to be happy, and hardly ever complain, even though he probably had more stuff to complain about in one day than most people would be able to deal with in a month.
My Dad was a survivor. He was a warrior. He was a soldier.
There were many battles in his life that never ended, but he would never give up. I learned about life from my Dad, and how it’s not usually fair. I learned not to expect everything to go my way, but also not to ever just take what I was given. I learned how to go out and get what I wanted, and not to take no for an answer. And I learned how to treat people with respect when they deserve it, and how to share my love with all of those who surround me in my life, and to accept their love in return.
To be loved is to live forever in someone’s heart,
If there is one thing that all people in the world have in common it is that we were all born innocent. Never has there ever been a baby that the justice system was awaiting to put on trial or send directly to jail the second they are born. Unfortunately, there are babies born into slavery and other torturous means but that is not the topic today.
We all come from an egg and live in our mother’s womb before we are born. That’s what makes us mammals.
And when we are born, we all take that first breath of air and begin our lives. We are all at the same stage of life at that point.
So when does it change?
Why do we all end up so different from one another?
And where do we learn these differences from?
The quote this month is from the song Comin’ In From The Cold from the album Uprising, and it reads this:
“The biggest man you ever did see was at once just a baby in his life”.
That is one powerful message. Bob Marley is a hero just for thinking of this sentence, let alone writing it into a song. No matter who you become in life, whether you’re the most amazing sports figure in the world – Mohammed Ali, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods; or maybe the legendary ruler of a country – George Bush, John A. MacDonald, Mikhail Gorbachev, Sadam Hussein; or you were an amazing movie star – Brad Pitt, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Nicholson; even a pop star extravaganza – Madonna, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton…
The lists of people who are bigger than the rest of us go on and on forever. These are the people that we are trained to worship, brainwashed to love, and taught to fear. But why?
What makes them different?
We were all born equal – helpless babies.
No matter if you’re 80 pounds or 750, at one time you were carried around in someone’s arms everywhere you went. You couldn’t talk, you couldn’t eat by yourself, and you needed someone to change your diaper and wipe your bum.
We were all the same.
I was at an event today called “Challenge Day” and it’s an event mainly for high school students to share their true inner feelings and step out of their comfort zone to find out more about themselves and the people around them. It was an amazing experience for everyone in the room. Lots of smiles, plenty of tears, and tons of hugs. The emotions in this room were unstoppable, and the whole time I was there I kept thinking about that line, The biggest man you ever did see was at once just a baby in his life. It kept ringing in my ear. I would see people who were super upset and it would remind me of childhood. Every kid depends on someone for survival when they are a baby, but then we all grow up and try to out-do each other, and be better than the next guy. People bully each other, and put others down for no reason. They follow the trends in the media and do things to make themselves appear like they are more special than everyone around them. But in our hearts and souls, we’re all the same – helpless, innocent babies.
Bob Marley was all about Unity.
He wanted everyone to be treated equally, and I think that’s where this sentence originated from in his mind.
Because the only time that we are all considered equal, is right when we are born.
Growing up, I went through some strange phases, as most kids do. I stopped combing my hair at a young age, and started to wash it with just the bar of soap instead of shampoo. I decided to walk and hitch-hike everywhere I went instead of using transit, and I just plain stopped caring about what anyone thought of me – period. I decided to just be myself at all times.
But one of the most interesting phases was when I was about 18 years old:
I decided that I was going to listen to nothing but Bob Marley. That was it. If I was in someone else’s car or house or a place of business, I had no choice, but when the choice was mine it was “All Bob, all the time”. I had over 30 different Bob Marley albums so it wasn’t hard to do, I would listen to it while I drive, while I skate, and every night while I fell asleep, and this lasted for about 1 year.
You see, one day my whole life just straight up changed. I had an awakening. This was when I decided to never cut my hair again, and to let Freedom take its toll. Most people bow down to society’s ways and fall into the traps of the brainwashing that is all over the media. They tell you how to dress, how to look, how to smell, how to walk, where to work, who to vote for, what to eat and drink, and even how to act in our own homes. You see, the government wants us all to be the same in as many ways as possible so it’s easier for them to control society.
But Bob Marley was always about Freedom – Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religious Beliefs, Freedom to Be Yourself, no matter who you are. And he preached his beliefs in song. And he taught so many people how to listen, how to hear, and how to be Free.
Most people relate Bob Marley to pot. They love him for his belief in legalizing marijuana, but those people have never heard what Robert Nesta Marley was really preaching about.
Bob was a lover,
Bob was a Freedom Fighter,
And Bob was a Black Man in a White Man’s World.
His main purpose in life was to teach people that we are all Human Beings, no matter what color, no matter what race, no matter what size.
No matter where we live now, we all came from the same Africa Land,
And all Bob wanted was for Man to Unite.
I love Bob Marley,
He is my hero, my mentor, my idol.
I believe that if Bob Marley was still alive today, the world we live in would be different in many ways.
His lyrics and beliefs helped me through the toughest stage of my life, when I felt lost in the world and needed advice and had no one to turn to. It was his lyrics that brought me to British Columbia where I am a mentor to so many others, and I will always praise him for that.
In the song Soul Rebel, Bob Marley sings:
“If you’re not living good, travel wide”
And no sentence can ring more true.
If what you have is not satisfying your soul, then leave it behind you and start over somewhere new. Your calling is out there, but it’s up to you to go find it. Don’t stay stuck in a place where you’re sad, find yourself, find your true meaning of existence, and you will know what Freedom is…
Every month I will write down my favourite quotes from Bob Marley songs and express what they mean to me and why.
In this section, you will dive directly into the soul of Hippie Mike and feel his raw emotions transformed into writing. The things you read could be happy, could be sad, or could be somewhere stuck in the middle. It could be about anything. You won’t know what you’re about to experience until you’re too deep to turn around. One thing is for certain, every word written will be straight from his heart…
