O' CANADA!!!!

This is my short shout out to the Great Nation of Canada. Who knew it would ever produce such a wealth of basketball talent.

This is my list of number 1 picks (starting with this years draft) for the next two years of the NBA Draft, and yes they are all Canadian.

1. To begin with this years draft.

Meet my dude Anthony Bennett. For many of you who do not know him he went to UNLV and he is an absolute beast. Rebounds the hell out of the ball and can throw down like no other. Yeah he may be a little over weight but nothing an NBA strength and conditioning coach can't chisel away. He'll help this Cavs team right away I say. Oh. And he's from Toronto. O' CANADA!!!!!!

2. Meet the #1 pick of the 2014 NBA Draft.

Andrew Wiggins. A man amongst boys to say the least. Dunks on everybody in the arena when he throws one down and can shut a gym down in an instant. The clear cut one hundred percent going to be the number UNO pick next year in the draft. It's just his destiny. Can't wait to see if he blossoms into a star. I hope he does. Nevertheless, this beast is from, you bet, Canada!!!! Toronto to be exact. O' CANADA!!!!!!!

3. 2015 NBA Draft #1 pick.

Who in the world is this guy?!?!?!

Oh yeah that looks more like him. He was the ACC Rookie Of The Year this year. Meet my good buddy Olivier Hanlan. The reason I even did this post is because I saw for the first time today that I got one single page view from the country of Canada and by God I hope it was Olivier Hanlan. As much as I doubt it was because he could literally give less F's about me then he does about golf. And that is saying something. Nonetheless I love him dearly and consider him a good friend of mine. If all goes well with him he could be in the draft by after Junior year just like late BC point guard Reggie Jackson who is now on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Probably nothing I said here will ever happen. But he is Canada's only shot to go back-to-back-to-back #1 picks in the NBA Draft. DA FREAKIN LEAGUE!!!! Crazy man. 

So I'm basically all in for Canada at this point. Go Canada. O' Canada. What's the difference.

Who even knew living in Canada was such an adjustment that there is a whole website and happy family devoted to making you feel better about it? Hell I'm getting on the first train, flight, boat, hover craft, eagle, caribou, what have you, to get my ass to Canada so my son can be the next #1 pick and smile as wide as this youngster here. Not even thinking twice about it either. 

Living In Seattle And A Building Frustration

I feel like I'm on the set of Grey's Anatomy or living Ichiro Sizuki's life during the prime of his career, or traded places with some random hard working always trying to ball short dude who lives in Seattle Washington. You may ask why? Or atleast you should. Now let's be honest who has ever been to Seattle Washington actually? I sure have not and do not actually think I ever, ever, ever want to go there. Basically the only thing I know about Seattle is it has got that huge building with a large point. They never ever win anything except for that one time the Seahawks had Sean Alexander and were almost good. And that it probably definitely rains there like all the time. I mean who hasn't heard that it rains in that city constantly? I think we all have. Whatever.

So I actually live in Broomall Pennsylvania. It is the best place in the world. Don't let anybody ever tell you any differently. Usually the last week in June always brings that really really hot spell where the humidity is crazy high and you can't go outside without thinking about breathing. But this years crazy hot humid thinking about breathing wave came, and it rained every single afternoon religiously around 4 o'clock. I have never seen this ever before. I hear stories about like oh yeah in Florida that daily afternoon thunderstorm rolls in and everybody knows it's coming and plans their schedule around it. I thought it was a myth. Yah know like the Lochness Monster. Everybody talks about it so much you just believe it. Well that is exactly what happened to us this past week!!! In Pennsylvania for Christ sake!! It was wild the thunderstorms were so violent I could tell my house was afraid of them just as much as I was because the power would go off before the storm even came through. Lightning struck like we were living in some far away land. And honestly it rained like we were under Niagra falls for 30 minutes and that is no joke. I've never seen it before in my life! And it was so annoying. I do not understand how Eddie Odio does it down there in the 305. I texted him today and he says he's all excited to head back to Miami and all but man how can you be happy to return to the nuisance of that constant afternoon thunderstorm. It's just so infuriating when it comes around. Ugh. Whatever.

Summer is indeed an awkward time for Walk On Nation. First of all we have to work actual jobs. While those scholarship athletes "are not allowed to work a summer job" because their job is to be up at school practicing and lifting and getting stipends from the NCAA/ school (who even knows where that money comes from anyway) to pay for their hard work. I don't know man last time I checked it was always good for a young kid to get a low paying job bussing tables or mopping floors etc. I don't know why the NCAA doesn't allow that. But that is neither here nor there. What's awkward is that I have to somehow keep all of you readers interested when nothing I have to say actually deals with the walk on life style or my life with fellow walk ons around campus. That'll come soon enough. But for now, hang with me, and I will open the gates to Walk On Nation with a swift, powerful stroke that none of you have ever experienced. Whatever.

Quick note. If your ever bored. Just take a listen to Jason Aldean's "My Kind of Party" album. It is magical in so many indescribable ways.

-SteveO

The NBA Finals

I had a Padre's Day dinner at my Aunts house Sunday night and left unsettled. Not because the ribs were bad (they were delicious) or the corn was over cooked, but because I realized my sports crazed family had no love once so ever for NBA basketball. All afternoon I had about eight cousins surrounding the TV with me to watch the U.S. Open being played at Merion Country Club in Ardmore PA, which was pretty freaking baller because I live a grenade's throw away from the course and drive by it on a weekly to monthly basis. Either way, once the Open ended I'm all excited because it was like exactly game time! The Open ended at 7:40ish and the Finals game started at 8, perfect! Get to watch and talk basketball with my family, nothing better.

Until next thing I knew I found myself alone. My Uncle sat down near me and played on his laptop, paying no attention to the action on screen. Everyone had opted to sit in a circle and talk instead of watching one of the best NBA Final's Series ever (to bold?). It baffles me. I do not understand what people do not like about the NBA??? I asked my uncle. He claims college basketball is his favorite think to watch on TV over anything. He says he hates the NBA because it's too boring, to much one on one and not enough excitement and movement.

.............. (Long Pause to over emphasize the point).......

IS HE SERIOUS????? TOO BORING TO MUCH ONE ON ONE AND NOT ENOUGH BALL MOVEMENT???? I was in shock. SHOCK. This is the same argument every non-NBA fan makes! "Oh it's too much one on one it's too flashy not enough team basketball blah blah blah" BULLSHIT! If you like basketball and understand the game, you have to understand that the NBA is on a different level than college basketball. The rules are different for entertainment purposes and the crowds cannot be matched. But NBA basketball is better basketball. It's smarter basketball, more intelligent basketball. This has been exemplified by this Final's series. The Spurs and The Heat, full of future Hall of Fame players, have put on a team basketball clinic both offensively and defensively. These two teams are on another freakin level and it is so much fun to watch. Almost too much to watch. There is so much movement on both sides of the ball on every play that when I watch on my big screen TV I honestly don't know what to look at and look for anymore. Danny Green is running circles around the three point line. Tony Parker is dribbling half way to China at peddle to the metal speed. LeBron and Wade have found this incredible knack to drive, kick, and cut at all times of the possession. It's riveting! Awe inspiring if you will. All those people who have some sort of love for College Basketball because of the excitement and all the fans and buzzer beaters, I understand what your saying. But for the basketball junkie, guru, genie, pervert, mad scientists, craftsmen, whatever the hell you want to call us. This stuff that's going on in The Finals right now is absolutely incredible. Whoever's not watching is missing out.

Now just to blurb a little about some Final's things:

1. LeBron almost effed up. Almost effed up REAL BAD. Two possessions with under two minutes left went absolutely wrong. Two turnovers. That can't happen. But it did. And what's crazy? He got away with it. Rats.

2. What an overall performance by James. Incredible numbers. Fourth quarter brilliance. Willing his team to have a chance. And that's really all they needed.

3. Ray Allen. Ray Ray. Raaaaayyyyy Alllleeeennnn. Ugh he pisses me off. Like it's kind of funny because after watching him shoot for so long you can tell right off the release if his shot is going to go in or not. I was crying before the ball even hit the net. You just knew it was going in.

4. To clarify my tears above, I really really realllllly want Tim Duncan, Pop, Manu, and Tony to get one more. The love story between those three is something that you do not see ever in the NBA. Phil Jackson, Kobe and Shaq are a great example of people who could not stay civil while yearning the spot light. Somehow these four kept their heads on straight for 16 years. 16!!! And still today, have not even let Tim Duncan's recent divorce stand in their way of a championship. Incredible.

5. If the Spurs to get one more, Timmmmaaay, Pop, Manu and Parker, should all hang it up. It's only right. I do not want to see Tony playing with other guys. I do not want to see Pop coaching other players. I just don't. It's only right for these four to leave on top and most importantly, together.

6. If the Heat win, LeBron is staying in Miami forever. Especially if the win three in a row. No way he's leaving after a three peat.

7. If the Heat win, the NBA Final's MVP should go to LeBron. Obviously. If the Spurs win, give it to the whole freakin team. None of them care who gets it. Just give it to everyone. They all deserve it. And I'm not even kidding.

I CANNOT wait for Game 7 tomorrow. Going to be a doozy. Go Spurs!

The Greatest Show On Earth

Last night I popped my Kenny Chesney concert cherry. I'm not gonna lie, I walked out of the Lincoln Financial Field speechless, and I still have not gotten over how amazing the entire day was. So here are the 11, yup 11, things I want to tell you about the Kenny Chesney Concert last night within two different categories.

The Tailgate

1. To begin, I've never woken up earlier in my life for a concert than I did for yesterdays Kenny Chesney extravaganza. The concert began at 5 o'clock and we did not expect to get to our seats till 7. So, naturally my alarm went off at 8:15 am and my three buddies and I, who all slept at the same house so we could get going, all had no trouble getting up. As Matthew described it "I've had this date saved in my phone calendar as 'THE BEST DAY EVER.' That's why this morning was so easy to get up, it's like Christmas morning." We packed our coolers full of fruit punch and headed for the train.

2. Before I dive into the Kenny tailgate, I first have to tell you of the travesty that was the Luke Bryan tailgate a week ago. Parking lots for said tailgate in Camden hadn't opened till 4 o'clock for a 7 o'clock concert. I got down there at 1 o'clock and spent an hour driving around with a good thousand other people who did not know where to go because the parking lots were not open. Luckily we found a secret spot to tailgate until the real lots open. You'd think that Camden would understand that the summer concerts are the only thing they got going for them so they should want to make the people happy? So now that we got that settled, by the time we were walking down Broad Street and towards The Linc parking lot, it was 10:15 in the morning. The lot was PACKED. Already!!!! I couldn't believe it but there were people everywhere and cops all over just patrolling the entire situation. We headed to a friend of ours' tailgate who's dad rents an RV every year for one day and uses it to tailgate the concert. They already had their beach chairs set up around their tailgate along with a flat screen TV that was playing Kenny Chesney's Philadelphia concert of last year. So legit.

3. As soon as we got into the parking lot, the first thing we all realized was all the different music we were hearing. As you walked through the parking lot you'd here one tailgate playing Kenny, the next playing Eric Church, maybe a little Luke Bryan. Once we even heard the same song being played by two different cars at the same damn time! By the time we had walked through two lots I had seen 45 different tailgate spots playing 45 different songs out of speakers or out of their respective cars. Pretty cool.

4. Trucks. Trucks everywhere. Big trucks small trucks red trucks big wheeled trucks. Trucks.

5. The girls. THE GIRLS!!!! Absolutely gorgeous women everywhere you went. It's the new style to rock the high waisted jorts at the country concert for women these days and I definitely don't not like it (you see that double negative usage there). Along with the cowgirls boots and belly revealing top, the girls at concerts are extremely drool-able.

6. I've never seen so many people in one place having such a good time without police interference or a fight breaking out. It really, really, really was just a free time with a no harm no foul sort of relationship between the authority and the general public. Something someone under 21 just absolutely adores. Lastly, I've never seen this anywhere else but supposedly at Kenny Chesney tailgates it is a common thing for people to bring pounds and pounds of sand to spread around their tailgate so they can pretend their on a beach? That's pretty freakin awesome.

The Concert

7. I noticed this at the tailgate as well, but in the concert it really stood out. The age range of people within the Kenny Chesney concert was, no lie, 2 years old to 90 years old. I literally saw an elderly couple walking to their seats holding hands trying to avoid the crowd, and I saw a little baby being held by his mother in the seats surrounding me. It's amazing how music can bring so many different people together.

8. Going into the concert I knew that I was in for something special. Two of the biggest names in country music these days were headlining the concert, Kenny Chesney, and Eric Church. Eric's big hits include Springsteen, Hell on The Heart, Like Jesus Does, Drink In My Hand, and others. He is new and hip and totally awesome. Kenny Chesney continues to poor out new hits to go along with his old hits. I knew it was going to be awesome and it was. It was so freaking awesome. Eric killed it. Rocked his guitar until I found myself playing air guitar in the crowd. When he sang Springsteen I've never had so many chills in my body before. It was music beauty. Kenny rocked the house so hard. I've never heard so many people singing the right, yes right, words at a concert before. Everyone knew every word to almost every song. When he played You and Tequila, the crowd took over for the final chorus and allowed Kenny to soak in the atmosphere. It was awesome. It was so freakin awesome. Woaah Woah Woaaah Wooooah

9. I understand why Kenny Chesney's tour is only playing in football stadiums around the country this year. This was my first concert in a football stadium and it really just doesn't compare to the concert venues else where. The stage was so big and the video board was big enough to see up close shots of the performers. The ability of the lights was phenomenal and perfectly timed. Also, I've never been able to hear the artists so clearly than I could last night and I attribute that to the football stadium. Truly a well done performance by the behind the scenes special features people.

10. When Kenny Chesney came out I really did not know what to expect. A lot of the previous country concerts I've been to have not met my expectations. I couldn't hear anything and plus the performer would sing covers of pop songs. I don't know why. I think that's really stupid for a country performer because the people at the concert want to hear your songs not you singing someone else's songs. Anyway. Kenny Chesney blew me out of the water. He sang, very very roughly, 20 songs back to back to back to back with NO break! He went for a solid 2 hours and sang every one of his famous songs. First off it's a testament to him that he has 20 famous songs that everyone loves. But also, I give him props for trusting in his music in concert. He started off with Whatever Makes You Feel Like A Rock Star and ended with She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy. A true class act of a performance. As I mentioned earlier, the performance left me speechless and I still can't rap words around what he did during concert.

11. My favorite song. I Go Back. It almost makes me cry every time I hear it. Kenny killed it on stage.

If you have not gone to one of Kenny's concerts. Do it. Make it a tradition with your friends. I promise you, Kenny will not disappoint.

Good News Bad News

Someone please tell me why it is a thing to ask "hey man I got some good news and bad news which one do you want to hear first?" I really don't get it because usually in each case the good ends up out weighing the bad and the person who is being told both the good and the bad news is content. Either way I just want to hear the good news. The bad news is never bad enough to literally make me cry or something ridiculous like so save the suspense and just drop it on me. Don't ask questions before the answer cause that just pisses everyone off just tell us the answer straight up put a but at the end of it and watch as nobody cares which one you dropped first.

So I've been driving around a lot lately because I just have so much crap going on in my life. This means I listen to like A LOT of radio. Can you believe how compelled these radio people feel to play "mirrors" by Justin Timberlake (JT for short) every other song?? It's like these stations are competing against one another and the competition title is who can play mirrors the most in one day... GO! It's a good song I actually like it but they have to take it easy on how many times they play it before I punch my radio in the face. It's crazy. 

Lastly. Having so much to do in one day makes me wanna do more things with my day, not less. Isn't that weird? I thought doing more in a day would make you wanna just lay around when it's all done with. But I am experiencing the exact opposite! When my schedule is over for the day I just feel like I've missed out on life for the day and need to do something to fulfill the stuff that I missed. It makes no sense I know. 

-- Steve-O

Life of a Walk On: Summer, Part 1

As you all know, us walk on's do not have scholarships; therefore, we have to pay for our own living expenses all summer long. This means that we have to go out and find a summer job that pays not so well. Personally, I co-own a neighborhood lawn cutting business with my younger brother, and we make absolute GUAP. This job that I created for myself as an eighth grader has payed for half of my car (since my parents are the best and split the cost with me), all my gas money throughout high school, concerts, dates with the lady friend, Christmas gifts, and drinks for when I get dehydrated on the weekends. I have had this job for five years now and still going strong. It's awesome.

This summer, however, I decided it was time to step my game up and get another job on top of the lawns in order to accumulate the most money possible so I can just be a straight baller during the school year. I got hooked up down at a local company which manufactures plane and helicopter parts. I basically do all the bitch work. This past week our job was to clean up the section behind the factory that was full of weeds and other such crap (we found a swivel chair in the middle of all of it, a real live swivel chair). I've done some weeding before in my life and I do indeed know that I get poison ivy kind of easily compared to others. I swore that this time was going to be different and ferociously attacked the weeds with these sweet pair of gloves I bought at Home Depot. That reminds me about the dude who walked into a home depot and saw'd both of his arms of, which then leads me to think if one of his arms was saw'd off already how did he possibly saw off the other one? Or did he saw both of them off at the same time? What?  

Oh yeah, so I'm just absolutely clearing the F out of this area in the back of the factory filled with weeds and other such crap and when the week is over, the area is basically all cleared. I wish I had pictures but I just don't. So anyway, everything is chill until sometime Friday night. I suddenly realize that my right forearm is violently itchy and so I itch it a little. Saturday morning I wake up and my right forearm is as red as a baby's spanked bottom. My sweet Granny gives me some of her lotion she has in the house and I put it on twice before leaving for the day. My day continues and I forget about my arm. Saturday night, I wake up and my forearm, lower thighs, and calfs, are just on fire and itching SO BAD. I'm writing this blog tonight, Monday night, with an oozing right forearm. I am poison ivy. It SUCKS!!!! I can't even get my workouts in because sweat is not good for it said my mommy (don't tell my trainer).

So to all other walk on's out there getting buckets, or just doing odd jobs like me to make ends meet, when in doubt, Helicopter. Or just wear long sleeves and pants so your not hating your life and rubbing ointment up and down your body seven times a day like me. Poison ivy will always be greater than you. Always.

For some reason this is the first picture that pops up when you type in poison ivy on google images. Idk man.

-Steve-O

Twitter and Basketball Mix Like Fire and Gasoline

I am an extremely opinionated person when it comes to basketball. Just ask any of my teammates. I build opinions on players based on their individual game and dig deeply into the negatives of said game while stating obvious positives and not diving into detail about them. It's probably because I'm like 5 foot 8 inches tall and think that the bigger dudes out on the court don't work nearly as hard as me but are labeled as better than me because their genes are favorable to the sport. Yeah that's definitely it. Nate Robinson embodied the true colors of the under 5 foot 8 inches club this post season. His heart, determination, and f everyone who doubted me mentality was evident. When it comes to the men with the talent, I am always skeptical.

So last night/today I realized how many people we're watching that Heat vs. Pacers game last night. What a thriller!! Great basketball game for sure and set the tone for the Eastern Conference Finals Series to come. When I checked twitter after 6 hours of dormancy, I was shocked to find the reloading of tweets to only be from 39 minutes ago. Basically that meant that there have been A LOT of tweets since 39 minutes ago. As I read through them and realized they were alllllll about the game! And a majority we're about Paul George. I saw people going ballistic over the shot he made. I'm sorry but I can provide no examples because my twitter will not go back that far right now. Either way, it really got me going. I tweeted twice about it. Everyone really needed to chill, like literally sit in a fridge. His shot was not that good, and his overall performance was not as good as LeBrons. Paul George, meet my opinionated side...

You say Paul George is a star?

1. Paul George had 6 turnovers.

2. I respect the fact that Paul George's "stardom" status may have been acclaimed last night by everyone else in the basketball world, but not by me. The game tying shot was a heave that really couldn't have any thoughts or decisions attached to it. He grabbed the ball and shot it because he had to. It wasn't like he cleared everyone out, went one on one with LeBron, turned away from the double team, and hit a fadeaway three to tie it.

Tell me I'm wrong. Great shot but not much thought in that one down by three with 2 seconds left I'm heaving it up to coming off that dribble hand-off.

3. Before we get to the nightmare that was the OT for Paul George, let's remember he missed a two pointer with 27 seconds left to tie the game and then got a second chance at it... and threw it to his bench players drenched in yellow swag-iforms on the sideline. DUMB.

4. Paul George made the 2nd Team All Defensive Team today. The Pacers are supposed to be known for their gritty defense. Paul George is the leader of that team...? And their defense down the stretch in OT was HORRIFIC. Paul George's and-1 foul on Chris Bosh was really stupid. He jumped carelessly into a rebound that was not his to get an committed an extremely obvious foul. Mis-communication at the top by David West and Paul George caused Shane Battier to be wide open for the three that he luckily missed. Can't have those blemishes in the playoffs.

5. With 16 seconds left, I think it was Norris Cole, doesn't really set a screen, he just kinda shuffles through slash exchanges with LeBron at the top of the key. Miami throws this in their offense thinking hey maybe we can get the opposition to screw up the communication on the simple exchange and force the smaller guard defending Cole to slip into a switch and have to defend LeBron one on one. Clear advantage to The King. And the freaking Pacers fell for it. They freaking fell for it!!!! They fell for that dumbie little exchange that basically is a decoy. Paul George switches with George Hill and LeBron takes Hill to the rack on a straight blow by. When does a second team all-defensive dude who matches up best with LeBron (and knows it) pass up the opportunity to defend The King on the last play of OT with the game tied? NEVER EVER! EVER!!!! No "star" does that, not even Kobe and there is definitely no D in "Kobe Bryant." You get my point.

6. The last play of the game. The last play of the game! THE LAST PLAY OF THE GAME!!!!!!

If Paul George became a star during that game last night, they might as well give me a scholarship because I've definitely done all that wrong shit during one single practice once. Ask the team, I have made a shot like Paul George's three, it's not that hard when the shot clock or game clock is going off it's basically second nature. The King would blow by me too. And I could easily tape my mouth shut and not communicate an exchange at the top of the key. Simple as that, I could have done what Paul George did last night on defense and IF I was 6 foot 8 with the wingspan of a dinosaur I could have made that three too.

Paul George, I love you man, you played great and I'm with everyone that you are separating yourself as a promising young star. But my twitter feed really needed to chill because there was way to much love for a dude who basically lost his team the game and not enough love when LeBron shut all those George lovers up with two straight buckets, and one of them at the buzzer to win it. I hate that Twitter fired me up like that I just had to take it out on y'all. I will not apologize for it. Next time everyone do not tweet praising one player until the game is over!!! Or at least apologize in your next tweet for praising the man who lost his team the game because that just pisses me off.

P.S. my friend today said: "Never trust a man with two first names." lol. Paul George.