The Playoffs are coming/ "Best Friend Anniversary"

With the playoffs around the corner, I can't help but think of last season's playoffs. Last season, although ending in losing the Finals, was still huge for the franchise. I still can't believe last season to be honest...

Last season's playoffs really meant a lot to me. There was one game that really made my life special...

Lakers AT Jazz Game 6

A couple days before the game, I sent out a bulletin on myspace asking if anyone missed me. Although a strange post, I was a pretty strange kid. But I ended up getting a message from someone who I hadn't talked to in close to 2 years, my current best friend Alysa. It was basic "Ya, it's been a long time..." stuff until I asked her if she wanted to go to BJ's(restaurant) to watch the game.

 I didn't expect her to say yes, but she did and we ended up meeting up at the restaurant. 

 We ate and watched the game, I was trying my best to point out the players, saying that Sasha was my favorite player. I remember so clearly trying to talk to her but being glued to the TV.

I remember a little after pointing out who Sasha was, he ended up taking a charge that caused the entire place to go "Ooooh", like an "Ouch, that's gotta hurt" Oooh. I told Alysa "Yep, that's my favorite player." Haha.

 The moment that really was perfect though was the end. We were up by 3, 15 seconds left. I remember so clearly, looking around, Laker jerseys everywhere. One black woman was standing up against a wall, praying. 

So, Derek Fisher has a chance to put the game away with a free throw and misses it. At that point, I start to stand up. Jazz go up the court, Okur shoots a 3, misses it. Im standing up now, I didn't care if anyone was laughing at me then. Jazz get the rebound, Deron Williams has the ball and shoots a 3 and he misses and the game is over. The restaurant explodes with huge "YA!", and I end up high-fiving like 5 random people.

So, while I had a great time, I was unsure if Alysa had a great time. For it to be our first time seeing each other in 2 years and all of that happens, it was pretty crazy. But, like I said, I had no idea if she had a good time or not...

She did. Next day, on myspace, all over it, bulletins like "I love Daniel" or "Go Lakers!" were all over the place. I got a comment like "Sasha Vujacic is hot!" and at that point, we were best friends.

So, as the playoffs come, I can't help but think about a "Best Friend Anniversary". If the Lakers won the Finals last year, it wouldve been perfect. But maybe it was destiny. If it wasn't for losing the Finals, there wouldn't be a "Green ban" or as many "All we want to do is win a championship" interviews with Sasha.

So, we'll see what happens this postseason. Maybe it's crazier, maybe it's not. Maybe I make a new best friend, maybe nothing happens. The Lakers are 3-0 in games when I watch them at BJ's and I have a history there, so you know where I'll be this postseason...

It's All A Tribute. That's All It Is.

 When I got comments like "you'll never be the next 'Machine'" or "you look nothing like Sasha" or (my favorite) "you sorta sound gay", I laughed and thought it was hilarious that people had me all wrong. 

 I don't wanna be the next anything. Sure, it would be great to have everything Sasha has, but then I'd be known as the "Sasha-wannabe" rather than Daniel Hays. 

 I mentioned it on my "Fan Spotlight" that my tribute to him was growing my hair out.(like when Pat Tillman died and Jake Plummer grew a beard and his hair out as a tribute)

 It was all a playful joke, but then people started catching on and telling me I look just like him. I also play a similar style of basketball, so it all makes me look like I want to be just like Sasha.

 And while the good comments of "you look just like Sasha" or "you look cute" or whatever are nice, I wanna make it clear that this is all a way of support. This isn't a child saying "I wanna be just like Sasha when I grow up". Haha, no. This is just a fun way of supporting him.

 It may sound like it, but I'm not angry about this. I love the attention, I gotta be honest. It's all fun, since the Fan Spotlight thing, things have thing amazing. I just wanted to make things clear. 

A Story That Needs That One....."Finishing Touch".

When I think of Sasha, I see an icon in my eyes. Most of his fans are females and most of them only like him for his looks. So it may be rare for some to see a male fan of Sasha's. It may be just me, but he's a hero of mine.

Years ago, Sasha was that unknown guy on the Lakers. The guy who doesn't get much playing time, usually found sitting on the bench. He had his moments but most of the time he was out there making silly mistakes. The guy who some saw as horrible or a bust. That was from 04-07.

Then here comes 2008, Sasha gets the playing time he believes he deserves. And he becomes one of the best players on the Lakers. He becomes "the Machine" and a fan favorite. Ladies start to notice him and they go crazy. Men question the long hair but love the facial hair. Sasha is just out there having the time of his life. But the Finals come and ruin the 'Cinderella' story...

2009 comes, he has ladies following his every move. He has struggled most of the season when it comes to shooting but he has done some things that you would've never thought he'd do before. Whether it's playing the game saving defense against the Pacers or throwing up that sick alley-oop to Powell, you can count on 'the machine' to do whatever it takes to win games. Sometimes it may not be pretty, but a win is a win and a wise man once said "You play to win the game."

Sasha basically has everything he wants. Ladies, respect, money, his own website run by beautiful women, pretty much everything men(and some women, I guess) dream of....

Except for that one 'thing'. That championship that he guaranteed after they lost in the Finals. That championship that he talks about in every interview. That championship that all Laker fans want so badly If Sasha and the Lakers gets that championship, it'll be an amazing story.

I believe I may cry. It'll be a crazy story. I'm cheering for the Lakers every day, game days, off days, all of that. I wanna do whatever I can to help the Lakers win the championship. There isn't much fans can do but whatever it takes, I'm always ready. Just like Sasha....

I Never Thought That The "Fan Spotlight" Would Shine On Me....

When I saw that it was posted, I was more nervous than ever before. I was nervous all weekend. As soon as I got that message from Emily, I got all excited but I almost wanted to decline the offer because I thought "This is too good to be true."

But I sucked it up and accepted, answered the questions and learned something about myself: I am a very impatient person. I was on my computer all weekend. I kept a page open just for Sasha's website, and refreshed every 5 seconds. And even though nothing changed, I could sense that it would be posted any second.

Answering those questions, the only thing I really worried about was the picture I had to send in. Being known as a "Sasha Vujacic look-alike", I wanted to send in a picture that "lived up to the expectations". I had a few pics of myself from the webcam on my laptop that were more up close but I also wanted to show my Sasha jersey. The pic that's up on the site, it was basically a quick, "we'll just send this one in and see what happens" kind of thing.

When it was posted, I had to tell my mom about it and even though she was "excited and happy for me", she didn't like the picture. She said that it didn't even look like me and that it was just a bad picture. I laughed and said "It all starts now."

By saying that, I believed that, while being a huge Sasha fan, being young, and being featured on my hero's website, I have a lot in store for the future.

My thoughts on the Vlad/'Stache+Shannon Brown Trade

As all Laker fans know by now, the Lakers traded Forward Vladimir Radmanovic to the Charlotte Bobcats for Forward Adam Morrison and Guard Shannon Brown.

Laker fans are already optimistic about the trade, saying it was a "low risk, high reward" kind of trade. I personally am happy, although I will miss Vlad. He was my 1st favorite Laker, got his autograph and everything.

But we got Adam Morrison. As a Jake Plummer fan, I grew to love facial hair. Adam Morrison's arrival doubles that.

Known for his mustache, his long crazy hair, and his Gonzaga years, he's a rare kind of player. Someone who looks like he wouldnt be a basketball player and he is good. Great shooter, his numbers in Gonzaga were ridiculous. I'm happy he's here.

Shannon Brown...I dont know much about him. All I know is the last time the Lakers played Charlotte, he was key in that game.

But I'm excited for these new guys, especially Morrison. It's amazing that he's playing in Los Angeles.....

My Pick For Super Bowl 43....

It should be no surprise who I pick in the Super Bowl. The team where Jake Plummer started. That's right, the Arizona Cardinals.

If you know me well enough, you know that I haven't liked the Pittsburgh Steelers since January of 2006, the 2005 AFC Championship game. Jake Plummer's Denver Broncos vs. Big Ben's Pittsburgh Steelers. Still the worst and best game I ever watched.

But we're not talking about Jake Plummer(sadly). We're talking about Kurt Warner vs. Ben Roethlisberger.

Many saw Kurt Warner's career as dead. He led the St. Louis Rams to 2 straight Super Bowls, winning one. But after that, he was never quite good enough to push his team to that level. When he was on the Giants and was replaced by Eli Manning, you almost couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy.(Obviously back then we didn't know how well Eli would turn out)

Then he went to Cardinals where he sat behind Mr. Matt Leinart. Matt was injured last year so Kurt Warner played most of the season and had the advantage in the pre-season between the 2 quarterbacks because of Leinart's questionable shoulder.

Little did we know that Mr. Kurt Warner would lead the Cardinals to 9-7, win the NFC West, and earn a playoff berth.

To be honest, I chose against the Cardinals every week of the playoffs(Falcons, Panthers, Eagles) and they won every game. Also, since I got my Arizona Cardinals Jake Plummer jerseys on Christmas(Thanks Desiree), the Cardinals have won every game.

So this Sunday, I will be wearing my Jake Plummer Arizona Cardinals Home jersey, beer in hand(just kidding), and have my eyes glued to that T.V.

I want the Cardinals to win, not only because I hate the Steelers, not only because it's Jake Plummer's old team, and not only because Jake wants them to win. I want them to win because I would love for Arizona to finally have the respect they deserve, and they need it, especially after that embarassing blowout win by Obama in November.

Final Score- Cardinals 23 Pittsburgh 16

It's Official: Sasha Vujacic's Official Myspace!!!

I, like many people, couldn't believe the game against Charlotte. A double-overtime loss in a game Sasha couldve won at the end of the 1st OT if Luke wasn't so blind on the inbound pass. I was very sad and distraught, mainly at the fact that most Laker fans were angry at Sasha for this game. I was just very sad. But then I got some really great news.....Sasha has his own myspace!!! http://www.myspace.com/sasha_vujacic

When I heard, I knew it was real. Many doubted, I believed it as soon as I checked it out. So I went to go add him but as I went to go check it, I noticed I had a friend request but ignored it cause I wanted to see his profile so bad. So I went to go add him and he accepted but when I went back to my home page and checked the friend request, it was him. So he tried to add me before I added him. That's a little weird, it's kind of like destiny.

Of course I added a cheesy comment on his profile:

"Sasha, thank you so much for the add. Youa are my favorite player of all time
and it means so much to me to actually talk to one of my heroes. Thank you once
again."

Notice how I added the a to "you", I was nervous. I was shaking and everything. If I get a comment back, I'm gonna go crazy. There was also a lot of hating on him on the site, something I hope Sasha erases as the season goes on.