Back To Football!

Now that we’ve (unwillingly) said good-bye to basketball season and the excitement of the Finals, it’s time to get back to the One True Sport. That’s right, folks! We have officially entered the NFL off-season, and there’s only 71 days left! A quick disclaimer about this football season: yes, I know about Aaron Hernandez. I’m very disappointed and deeply saddened for him and his family. However, I prefer not to comment on his situation. I will, in fact, be sporting his jersey all season long because I believe in forgiveness. One mistake does not erase a man. Now, back to the story. For the third year, NFL Network is counting down a list of the top 100 players in the league, a list they allowed the players to create. Tonight, they will finish off the list by revealing the top 10, but before that happens I’m going to make my own top 10 with the players we know will be on that list. Let’s get started.

10) Von Miller- Some of you might be asking, “Miller at 10?? Are you kidding??” but trust me, there’s no way he goes above the other players on this list. Which isn’t to say he doesn’t belong here. Von Miller is young, talented, and quickly becoming one of the NFL’s biggest names. The 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year refused to experience a sophomore slump and his 18.5 sacks in 2012 were third in the NFL. Miller’s defensive efforts helped the Broncos win the AFC West for a second year in a row, something we should probably get used to. Unfortunately, he couldn’t Rahim Moore play safety and Denver’s playoff hopes were cut short. I expect they’ll be back this season.

9) Peyton Manning- Yes, the 2012 Comeback Player of the Year will follow his young co-star at number nine. Now, before you get all riled up, hear me out. Yes, Peyton came back with a vengeance and had one of his best seasons (his 68.6 completion % was 2^nd best of his career), but it wasn’t always so pretty. Early in the season, against Atlanta for example, Manning would throw himself and the Broncos and then try to mount a late comeback, only to come up short. And it was not an isolated incident. However, some may call this nitpicking seeing as how Denver won every game starting with their Week 6 comeback against the Chargers. Obviously, Peyton is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, nobody is denying that, but he relies on help from his friends like Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. Want proof of Peyton’s mortality? He is 9-11 in the playoffs, going 0-1 in 2012. But don’t worry, with Wes Welker in tow, Manning should have an even better 2013. 

8) Aldon Smith- Surprise, surprise, another young pass-rusher. The first of two 49ers on this list, Smith has had a huge impact since entering the league. Smith has had 33.5 sacks since 2011, with 19.5 of those coming in 2012 (good for 2^nd in the league). Like Miller, he totally destroyed any possibility of a “sophomore slump”. Smith’s defensive prowess has made him a standout despite playing alongside guys like Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Navarro Bowman, and Donte Whitner. Primarily a situational player in his rookie season, Aldon’s 14 sacks helped San Francisco reach the NFC Championship, which they lost on a very unlucky break. In 2012, he was a huge contributor in their Super Bowl run, a game that another unfortunate break (terrible officiating) took from them. Strahan’s sack record is on notice in 2013. 

7) J.J. Watt- This was hard to do. I mean, really, Watt deserves to be high on any list. The problem is, so does everyone else here. And of course, a little bit of bias goes into every list, right? But seriously, Watt’s abilities are borderline terrifying. In 2012 alone, he recorded 20.5 sacks (1^st in the NFL), was named Defensive Player of the Year, made the All-Pro first team, and was selected to the Pro Bowl. J.J. is a big reason that Houston went from never having won a playoff game to a consistent playoff contender. And can we just acknowledge that there are three members of the 2011 draft class on this list? ’89 was a good year. Watt will be moving up this list as his career progresses, you can count on that. 

6) Arian Foster- we’ve got another pair of teammates as Arian Foster comes in at number six. Some would say that Watt is actually better than Foster, but its not like Arian and I graduated from the same high school and I’ve met the guy. Foster is a unique player, and a unique member of this list, being the only undrafted player featured in it. The world first took notice of Foster in 2010, and in 2012 he produced his best numbers since that season. In 2012 Foster led the league in rushing attempts as well as rushing/receiving touchdowns and made it to the Pro Bowl. Foster is also known for being a vegan and voicing his often-controversial opinions on all sorts of topics. If he can keep it up, the Texans will be able to beat the Bengals in the playoffs every year.  

5) Aaron Rodgers- Yes, Rodgers is fifth. Why? Because this is my list, mostly. I respect him as a player, but does Rodgers come off as cocky to anyone else? I’ll put a humble star over a self-proclaimed superstar any day. Now, that isn’t to say Rodgers landed here because I dislike him, I just wanted to make my point. Crap, I forgot what I was going to say about him. There sure do seem to be a lot of Green Bay guys defecting to the Vikings, don’t there? Rodgers did throw 39 touchdowns in 2012, though. 

4) Patrick Willis- Patrick, Patrick, Patrick. I would have loved to place him number one, but I do still want to be realistic. Willis is a great player, he took Ray Lewis’ mantle before Lewis even gave it up, and undoubtedly the league’s best linebacker. Alongside Navarro Bowman, he wreaks havoc week in and week out. Willis has been to the Pro Bowl in all of his six NFL seasons and been named All-Pro first team in five of those seasons. Also, when he tackles people nearby mountains explode. Needless to say, his power level is over 9,000. 

3) Calvin Johnson- Megatron can barely be defined by human words. Every letter I type is failing to do him justice. Watch his ridiculous feats instead.

2) Adrian Peterson- Now, I know you think I’m crazy and that there’s no possible way I can justify AP not topping this list. But I can! And my justification is…that’s my perspective. See, completely rational and well thought-out. One thing I will say about Peterson: his comeback last season was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen in sports. When a super-saiyan gets hurt, he gets stronger during the healing process. Is Adrian Peterson an alien warrior? I don’t know, I’m just making observations. 

1) Tom Brady- Lucky for you, you’re reading the blog of a Patriots fan. Why does that make you lucky? Because you get to enjoy completely factual, un-biased information on a regular basis. And the fact is, Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback to ever live. He is the best player of every NFL season, and will be even when he is no longer playing. He will earn MVP awards while taking his kids to play at the park (the park within his gigantic property, of course). But, hey, don’t take my word for it. Just watch him work.

I can’t imagine that any of you don’t agree with my take on this, but if so the comment section is always open to you. I welcome the discussion. Til’ next time!

I Told You So pt.II: The Victory Lap

First of all, let me apologize for being a day late with this. When you get to watch your favorite team repeat as champions, something inside of you detonates and turns you into a giddy, obnoxiously-positive individual with only moderate control of their physical expressions. Not to mention that this time last summer I was volunteering at a summer camp with no television, no phone, and no internet, meaning the only Finals experience I got was the Heat losing Game 1. So, as I watched the clock run down to 0.0 on Thursday night, I felt like this: 

And besides just feeling great on the inside, I wanted to give everyone the opportunity to share in my triumph, so I sprinted out of my friend’s house (where I was watching the game) and did two laps around his block, yelling “WE DID IT!” Nobody followed me, but that’s alright. I was flying too high to care (there’s a video of that too, on Vine. You can follow me at GRedd). And so, without further ado, welcome to “I Told You So” pt.II: The Victory Lap.

As you will recall if you read part one of “I Told You So” (and if you haven’t, why not??), I didn’t want to anger the karma council by gloating too early after Game 6. But now, the trophy is in hand, our rings are on the way, and I’m throwing caution to the wind! My first order of business? To address of all the haters who so happily lent their opinions over the course of the last season. And to you I say HAHAHAHAHAHAHA WE WIN AGAIN. When will you get over your increasingly-unwarranted hate for LeBron James and the Heat? When will you accept your own team’s failures and deal with them rationally? If you answered never to one or both of those questions, just know that you’re in a long cycle of disappointment. It’s extremely unwise to oppose LeBron. Why? Because, if I may quote my all-time favorite movie, Hercules, “you can’t beat him, he has no weaknesses!” (except maybe Boris Diaw for some reason). Deal with that.

Now that I’ve got that out of the way, I want to speak to my fellow Heat fans. Rejoice! It was all worth it! I don’t know about you, but my biggest fear when LeBron made his Decision was that it wouldn’t be worth it. That this superstar would come in, bringing massive amounts of hate to our team and our beloved hero, D-Wade, and in the end it wouldn’t be worth it. We’d be left standing there with no trophies to show for it and the entire basketball world laughing at us. We may or may not three-peat next year, but I’m declaring this all worth it right now. To see Wade’s jersey number match his ring collection, for Haslem to be taken to the pinnacle three times over, even to watch Chalmers continue to shock us all and step up on the NBA’s biggest stage, it was worth it. And we’ll never forget these moments. So take it in, bask in it, and know that you are invincible until next October.

And now, an open letter to Mario Chalmers. Dear Mario, I’m sorry you have come under such constant criticism from everything to your style of play to your dance moves in the Miami Heat Harlem Shake video. It’s not fair. Heck, I even thought you had lost us the game at a few points on Thursday night (again, GRedd on Vine, @GSRudy on Twitter). But let’s face the facts, you had 20 points in that heart attack-waiting-to-happen Game 6, and last night you did this in Game 7 to remind us why you deserve what you’ve earned: 

So I just want to say thank you, Chalmers. Other fans may never appreciate you, but I see all of your hard work.

LeBron, I’m not going to include any of your highlights because at this point it’d really just be more of an indulgence, but you’ve brought your game to ridiculous new levels since joining the Heat. In that first year, I would always distinguish myself as a Heat fan, not a LeBron fan, adamantly denying that I was a part of your following. But now, I defend every slander of you I hear, and I openly support you at every opportunity. Why? Because this IS your team now. Dwyane will always be my favorite player and role model, but stewardship of this franchise has officially been passed to you. I’m sure you’ll be able to handle it just fine.

And finally, Mr. Dwyane Wade. Or, I’m sorry, Three. Many people believe that you are a self-centered, whiny, cheap-shot-taking jerk. You know what I say to those people? He can’t hear you in the V.I.P. booth. You are the reason I ever sat down to watch a basketball game nine years ago, and you’re still the reason I always come back. Thanks for giving my dad a hometown team to be proud of. And thanks for still doing things like this: 

Enjoy it, Three. You’ve earned it. WE DID IT. 

The Headband Heard 'Round The World

During the 4^th quarter of Game 6 on Tuesday night, twitter was all abuzz as we watched LeBron James lead the Heat to a comeback against the Spurs. Yes, LeBron was attacking the way we’d been asking him to for weeks, something that seemed to come arbitrarily. Yes, Tony Parker countered every score a feat of his own, refusing to submit to Miami’s will. And, yes, Ray Allen would eventually hit a game-tying three pointer to send the game into overtime. Despite all of this, the true focus of our captivation was LeBron’s headband, and the lack thereof.

In an unthinkable move, LeBron shed his headband in the final quarter of that now legendary game. A spot of context here, James had 14 points going into the fourth quarter. In anticipation of this matchup, with Miami’s elimination on the line, the world was expecting an all-out, fire-breathing, LeBron James Destroyer of Worlds performance from the man known as the King. I think we can all agree that 14 points in three quarters isn’t exactly what we had in mind. The usual narrative resumed, “is LeBron over-rated?” “Is He afraid of big moments?” it was 2011 all over again.

Enter: LeBron’s headband. Or rather, exit. It seemed as though some sleeper cell, placed in James’ blood stream long ago by some ancient power, activated itself once the final 12-minute period began. All his power, his athletic ability, his sheer force of will showed itself. But something else came too: LeBron’s self-confidence. Think with me here. In his first Finals appearance with Miami, LeBron all but disappeared. He turned in a nine-point performance, and the Heat fell in six. The millions of LeBron haters (and that’s just in Cleveland) rejoiced, questioning his clutchness (clutchnosity?) and declaring him a fraud who would never win a ring. And it appeared as though LeBron believed them.

 The next year, when the Thunder rose up to oppose them, it was almost too easy. LeBron, after a 45-point decimation of the Celtics to turn the tide of that series, led Miami to a five-game victory and their second (his first) Larry O’ Brien trophy. It was clear that LeBron knew exactly how good he was. The jokes about him being afraid to take big shots? Irrelevant. The comments about his ring-less existence? Non-existent. But his headband? Still there. As their material disappeared, those who sought to put down LeBron all focused on one target, his receding hairline. Now, it’s not as if headbands are uncommon in the NBA, but with James one can’t help but wonder if his represents something more.

So now, in 2013, we were blessed with a season of LeBron James doing what he does best, destroying worlds. And we loved it. And we loved him. Then in the playoffs, we got scared. Was the Death Star about to explode? Was this Wizard of Oz just smoke and mirrors? Will I ever stop using horrible movie analogies? By the time Game 7 of the Pacers series rolled around, we were all convinced that LeBron had gone back to his timid ways. Suddenly, the Heat went from an unstoppable force to something that could be easily broken down and dissected. The LeBron criticism resumed. The headband was still there. The hairline jokes came stronger than ever.

So that’s why, when LeBron decided to bare his receding hairline during Game 6, we were all so shocked. How could this be?? The headband was the one constant, one thing that was consistent about James even as he refined and perfected his game. Did we all see LeBron shed his final insecurity? Was the headband holding back some celestial power that he was afraid to unleash, like Cyclopes’ visor? Can we expect to see him controlling the elements during Game 7? Even if the headband-less display of might was just a coincidence, you have to wonder if LeBron is finally believing what we already know: that he is, undisputedly, the best basketball player on God’s green earth, and I’m assuming the rest of the universe. So now the big question, will the headband return in Game 7? And if it does, will it limit what LeBron can accomplish? I can’t wait to find out!

I Told You So: Game 6 Edition

I tried to warn you. I told you what was coming. I tried my best. And now, all I can say is…I TOLD YOU SO. That’s right folks, welcome to the first of a two-part series called “I Told You So”. For the sake of karma, this first installment will be more analysis than celebration because really anyone who celebrates prematurely is setting themselves up for humiliation. So, with as much humility as possible, I will analyze the keys to Miami’s Game 6 win (you know, the one I said was coming) and how they can ensure that Larry O’ Brien’s namesake leaves with them tonight.

Danny Green. This is probably the hardest prediction to gloat about it. I mean, I love the success of young players almost as much as I enjoy being right. However, here we are. In Game 5, Danny Green was a demigod on the court, seemingly unable to miss as he broke Ray Allen’s Finals record and shot a celestial 6 of 10 from behind the arc. Along with the refs, he stifled Miami’s comeback attempts time and again. The Spurs were living by the three, and they had no problem with it. Like the jerk brother at a wedding, I told everyone it wouldn’t last. And what happened? In Game 6, Green went 1 of 5 from three-point range, with his last chance for redemption being blocked by Chris Bosh. Tragic.

Speaking of people who didn’t show up the way San Antonio needed them to, the referees were nowhere near as much of a swing vote, even though they didn’t necessarily fade into the background. The Heat actually attempted more free throws in Game 5 (26 to the Spur’s 23), but it was all about timing. San Antonio attempted more free throws in Game 6 (28 to Miami’s 21), but the foul calls weren’t conveniently coming at times when Miami was on a scoring run. I’m not saying I knew the refs wouldn’t be carrying San Antonio as much in Game 6, I’m just saying I said so.

More important than the shortcomings of San Antonio were Miami’s miraculous efforts. I told you that the Heat had learned how to scrap and struggle to pull out a win, and they demonstrated so in the most stress-inducing way possible. Still, when the odds were against them, Miami fought until the very last second and came up big because of it. First, let’s look at Lebron (headbanded and sans-headband). Going into the fourth quarter, LeBron had 14 points and a world of basketball fans wondering if he had shrunk away from another big moment. By the time Miami was celebrating their win, he had scored 32 points, notching yet another Finals triple double.

Along the same thread of Heat players fighting for their season, we have to acknowledge Ray Allen and Mike Miller. Because, seriously, OHMYGAWDMIKEMILLERTHREEWITHONESHOEOHMYGAWDRAYALLENGAMETYINGTHREEOHMYGAWDISTHISWHATAHEARTATTACKFEELSLIKEIFSOPLEASECALLAPARAMEDIC. Miller has provided a spark for the team throughout the series, but recently Allen has had his legacy called into question. He redeemed some of that in Game 5, becoming the first player to convert a four-point play twice in the same Finals match. There were no questions, however, when the two showed up in Game 6. First was Miller, whose shoeless three pointer ignited the social media world. But that soon paled in comparison to the heroic effort of Ray Allen when he hit a game-tying three pointer on a broken play with only a few seconds left to tie the game at 95 and force overtime. Neither will be forgotten for a long while.

Even more deserving of recognition than that duo are Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers. For the past two years, criticism after criticism has been heaped on Chris Bosh, questioning everything from his physical ability to his sexual orientation. Likewise, fans around the league, even some in Miami, have put down Mario Chalmers. They wonder why he has the ball in certain situations; they demand explanation for his every turnover. However, they seem to be absent when he stepped up in the Finals last year, even turning in a 25-point performance to propel the Heat past the Thunder. Last night was more of the same. Chalmers had a few bad turnovers, but ultimately he came up with 20 points in an elimination game where the team’s other superstar, Dwyane Wade, struggled to score. When will we respect this man?? And with Bosh, he’s been drug through the mud more than anyone. Yet, on Tuesday night, when the chips were down, he had the confidence to charge at Danny Green and block his three-point superhero attempt. AND WHAT A BLOCK. I want to frame a picture of that block and then have it grafted to my heart.

But hey, I’m not one to get ahead of myself. The Spurs have had plenty of great moments in this series themselves, and if fate swings their way tonight, it’ll be those that history remembers. So, knowing that Game 7 could go either way, I’ll try to calm down until 6:00 tonight. But hear this: Miami will win. I’ll see you in part two of I Told You So! Now excuse me while I go sacrifice Kobe’s other ankle to the basketball gods. 

Why The Miami Heat Will Win in 7

In Game 5 of the 2013 NBA Finals, players on both sides had much to prove. And they did. Danny Green proved that he belonged in finals lore, next to such great names as Ray Allen. Ray Allen proved that he still held such distinction, converting two four-point plays in one game. Manu GINOOOOOOBLI!! Proved that he (and his bald spot) can still redefine his game and elevate to new levels, and Miami’s Big Three proved that they can tussle and battle despite huge deficits and seemingly insurmountable disadvantages. But the most crucial fact that was uncovered Sunday night? The Miami Heat will be champions again. Don’t believe me? Watch.

San Antonio came into Game 5 having just suffered a 16-point loss on their home court a few nights before. They had to play inspired. A 3-2 deficit heading back to Miami was looking less and less attractive by the second, that was obvious. With the resurgence of Dwyane Wade, it was now Manu Ginobli who the microscope was over. Is he injured? Is he too old? Could his bald spot possibly get any bigger without forcing him to just shave his head? Basketball fans were demanding answers to these and many more questions. And then it happened. Game 5 happened.

However, before any of you Spurs fans get excited, here are some things to notice about Game 5. First of all, Danny Green went on a ridiculous shooting binge, passing Ray Allen’s 22 for most three’s made in a Finals series. But did you see something different? Did you see the total airball that was his first shot? Did you notice when, during yet another Heat run late in the game, his shots stopped falling and led to transition points for Miami? Everyone who’s seen even one basketball game knows rule number one: He who lives by the three, shall die by the three. And in Game 5, the Spurs almost died by the three. And they still might have, had Ray Allen’s shot late in the fourth quarter not been nullified by yet another terrible call. Which brings me to my next point…

The refs. ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME?! I don’t think I’ve ever cussed out so many people I don’t know in my head in such a short amount of time. When Battier almost pushed Manu and Manu folded like a lawn chair, still getting the call (of course), I was already at my wit’s end. And it only got worse from there. The refs continued to give the Spurs every call they could ever hope to have swing their way, throwing in a few travels against Tony Parker to keep the fans unawares. Without fail, the refs were there to slash the tires off of every run Miami made, conveniently robbing them of any and all momentum time and time again. Look at that! This is a perfect Segway into…

Runs! Runs! Runs! No, not The Runs. Runs, as in, Miami going on long stretches of time without having any of their points contested. This is how LeBron & Co. were able to return from deficits of over 20 points to being within one shot of taking the lead. Miami was able to stay in the game no matter what the Spurs did, thanks in most part to transition attacking by D-Wade and great shooting by Ray Allen. Not to mention that they were doing all of this on the road, which brings up…

The Heat no longer whither in big moments. Some will say that Miami failed on Sunday night, and maybe they did, but one thing they did not do is give up. The Big Three has learned to recognize turning points in the game, in the series, in their career, and buckle down. After winning only one of the first two games on their home court, Miami traveled to San Antonio only to suffer a 36-point loss. However, they came out in Game 3, where many expected them to fade away, and executed a sound victory on the road. Even in Game 5, the Heat played very well when the chips were down. It just so happened that the Spurs were playing PERFECTLY and this brings me to my final point…

Do you see now? Do you realize what is only inevitable? In Games 6 and 7, both which will be played on Miami’s floor, the Spurs can not play as well as they did on Sunday night. Even if Danny Green’s shots keep falling, they will not get as many favorable calls from the refs. Even if Manu Ginobli maintains his otherworldly success, the Heat will still go on uncontested runs. You see, Miami played great basketball in both games 4 and 5, but the Spurs made a concerted effort in Game 5 because returning to Miami with a 3-2 deficit would essentially seal their fate. However, the Heat have found their groove and are now being afforded the luxury of two games at home. It took a perfect game from the Spurs to hold off the Heat on Sunday. Don’t expect them to be able to do it again.

Tebow Time in New England!

HE’S BAAAAAACK! That’s right, ladies and gentlemen; Mr. Tim Tebow will not be leaving the NFL for at least a couple of seasons because he has been signed by none other than the New England Patriots. This is a great move for both sides. Tim Tebow gets to learn from the league’s greatest quarterback and the Patriots get to have an American hero on their roster. But the win-win goes far beyond these aspects, here’s my list of what Tebow will bring to the Patriots.

First and foremost, he’ll give the kids someone to look up to. Tim Tebow, one of my personal role models, will be a blessing to the community of Boston. I mean, sure, everyone loves Gronk, but I don’t exactly aspire to be a constantly-drunk party animal and I hope my kids don’t either. On the other hand, Tebow is a man of faith and integrity whose morals transcend religion. Timmy’s presence will provide inspiration to the young and old of Boston.

Bonus, Tebow is now playing for one the greatest coaches in the NFL. We all saw what John Fox was able to accomplish with him, and the failures that the comparably incompetent Rex had, so Belicheck’s knowledge and coaching skills should be a great upgrade for Tebow. Another benefit in this relationship is that Belicheck was not left bewildered by Tebow like so many others were in 2011. His Patriots beat Tim’s Broncos soundly, twice, so he’s fully aware of his strengths and weaknesses. No secret personal vendettas and plots to destroy Tim’s career here, or anywhere, right Rex?

Another important factor in play here is Tebow’s reunion with his college teammates Jermaine Cunningham, Aaron Hernandez, and Brandon Spikes. And even though their former coach Urban Meyer has since retired and then decided to (betray the school) un-retire to coach at Ohio State, being around his former teammates again may re-ignite something in Tim. While playing quarterback at the University of Florida, Tebow broke record after record, leading the Gators to two National Championships, winning the Heisman, and receiving several other honors. Being able to throw to Hernandez, his favorite target at Florida, again may even improve his passing skills.

So, in conclusion, OHMYGAWDOHMYGAWDOHMYGAWDTIMTEBOWISGONNABEAPATRIOTCANIPLEASEJUSTBUYHISJERSEYRIGHTNOWWITHOUTANUMBERANDBUYITAGAINLATERWHENHEGETSANUMBEROHMYGAWDWHEREDOIGETSEASONTICKETS!!???!!! But seriously, let’s not get carried away. Tebow won’t be taking over the quarterback position any time soon. He will, however, have an immediate positive impact on the Patriots, if only in the locker room. As a football fan and a Tebow supporter, I’m excited to see what Belicheck’s magic can do for the young QB. Buckle up, it’s going to be a crazy ride!

A Heat Fan's Birthday Wish

Dear Miami Heat,

Since my birth in 1994, I have been a fan of your franchise. As a kid, Dwayne Wade was my hero, and that was before I even cared about basketball. When we won the title in 2006, I celebrated with my Miami-native dad for weeks. But here’s the thing: my mom is a Spurs fan. And as much I love the Heat, I also grew up watching Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli dominate the league. But they were always just a side fling, entertainment when my Heat weren’t playing. Two years ago, when LeBron shook the NBA multi-verse and chose to join our squad, I saw the hate coming. Everyone without a Florida driver’s license was accused of having jumped on the bandwagon and I, being born and raised in San Diego, was no exception. I endured the questions, the accusations, when all the while I barely knew who LeBron was. But I stuck it out. And when we lost, while fake fans jumped ship, I cursed the entire city of Dallas and every person in it.

Meanwhile, San Antonio was a dynasty of years past, regular season champions who could no longer find their way to the promised land. And while we all fixed our eyes on Miami, they quietly adjusted to the new game, drafting guys like Kawhi Leonard (SDSU STAND UP!) and Gary Neal. Armed with these young playmakers, the Spurs began to regain the ground they had seemed to lose. A year later, Lebron and Wade, and of course Mike Miller, brought the Heat a second title. We rejoiced. It was all worth it! There was no stopping us now! And for awhile we floated on euphoria and LeBron highlights.

Now we find ourselves at the gate once more, and who should stand between another title but those same Spurs. So here’s the thing: I need to know that I made the right choice. No matter what, D-Wade will always be my favorite player and Ginobli will stay at #2. But should I have up with the Spurs back when I had the chance as a kid? I don’t think so, yet every sports pundit in the milky way would tell me so right now. They say LeBron is tired. They say Wade is checked out. They say Bosh is just taking up cap space.  But I still see that team that dominated the upstart Thunder last summer, so what’s it gonna be? Have the Spurs really figured it out again? Or do we just need to get it together?

So here’s all I want for my birthday, Heat. I want a win. A win that pacifies every concern that I might have about this squad. Because I know you’re capable of it, and I know we won’t win this series without it. This is a gift I’m confident you can afford.

Your Fan Now and Forever,

Gyasi Redding