My oldest daughter turned thirteen years old yesterday and it got me to thinking about all her interests versus my interests at the same age. At thirteen, she is interested in IPODS, her cell phone, MySpace, PETA, boys, make-up, clothes from Abercrombie & Fitch or Hollister, Juicy Couture perfume & lotions. She loves attending High School Football games (not to watch the sport- but to talk to her girlfriends and bat their eyes at cute boys). She likes to dance. She loves acting (although she doesn’t fit the normal thespian/drama kid mold). She is completely engrossed in the social network and gossips sparingly via text messaging. She talks about working out- but seldom does. Lastly, she thinks Tim Tebow is hot.
When I was thirteen, sports ruled the world. Georgetown beat Houston in the NCAA National Championship. The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA Title in seven games. Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Charles Barkely were drafted into the NBA. Larry Bird was the MVP. The Olympic Games were held in Los Angeles and the US Team brought home more medals than any other country (174 total). Carl Lewis and Mary Lou Retton became America's most famous Olympic Champions. The LA Raiders beat the Washington Redskins in the Super Bowl. Wayne Gretzsky dominated the NHL. Doug Flutie won the Heisman Trophy. John McEnroe beat Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon and Martina Navratilova was the first openly #### professional athlete (that I can remember).
Our commonalities and interests are not that far removed. I was interested in sports in large part because pretty girls who wore nice smelling perfume and dressed trendy would come to the sporting events. I was into social networking- although back then it was going to a dance so that I might be able to slow groove with a member of the opposite sex. I liked the competition and the thrill of winning and the tragedy of defeat. Sports were my outlet and metaphorical to just about anything life could throw at me. Lastly, I have a man-crush on Tim Tebow too.
What does all this have to do with a Sports Post- well, it’s my opportunity to make predictions for 2008/09 like I did when I was a kid.
1. NBA: The Los Angeles Lakers will win the NBA Championship but only after being taken to seven games by the up and coming Trail Blazers in the first round of the play-offs. The Eastern Conference opponent (insert favorite team here) is merely a road bump and loses in five games.
2. NBA Rookie of the Year Award: Three Trail Blazers finish in the top 5 voting- splitting votes and allowing Kevin Love to walk away with Rookie of the Year honors by averaging 15/12. OJ Mayo gets busted for something.
3. NBA MVP: Kobe Bryant wins again and never utters a word about Paul Pierce.
4. NFL: The Dallas Cowboys will lose in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Carolina will meet Seattle in the NFC Championship game. Jonathon Stewart will rush for 160 yards but it won’t be enough. Seattle will lose to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl due to poor officiating (again).
5. Adrian Peterson will be the NFL’s MVP and then get injured in the Pro-Bowl.
6. Darren McFadden will prove to be a bust because everyone knows football is played tougher on the west coast than in the SEC.
7. Baseball: the Chicago Cubs finally win the World Series.
8. Oklahoma will win the National Championship- but only because USC simply cannot make it through a tough PAC10 schedule.
9. Tim Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy and immediately declare he is staying for another year.
10. LSU beats Appalachian State during the season by 63 points- only to prove that the SEC is better than the Big 12.
11. Oregon State will make it back to the College World Series and beat the North Carolina Tarheels (again).
12. UCLA will win the NCAA Basketball title (finally- and again). Coach Ben Howland (former Head Coach at Northern Arizona University, my alma mater) wins Coach of the Year.
13. Kasey Keller returns from Europe to play in the MLS for Portland’s new professional team.
Dreams and Predictions, wins and losses- to a thirteen year old, it’s still hoping the hottie will share a slow dance before the end of the night. To a dad of a thirteen year old- it's just hoping it won't happen...
orman.... when i was 13... adam and eve wAS STILL ON EARTH.......the wheel hadnt been invented yet..... Ipod stood for a pea....aka peas in a pod???? HA JUST KIDDIN.... WOW SO U HAVE A 13 YEAR OLD WOW WHEN DID GUYS START HAVING KIDS???? 10??? YOU LOOK TO YOUNG TO HAVE A 13 YR OLD... CONGRATS!!!!! NICE BLOG TONIGHT TO.....
Thanks Nique- I must be doing something right to be surrounded by four beautiful women (wife/3 daughters). Now- what did you think of the 13 predictions?
Very nice read. And welcome to the real world,lol. Teenage girls definately have much different interests for sure. I went through the same thing you are now quite awhile back. I now have 2 Grandaughters and i'm going through it all over again,lol. Cellphones,Ipods and Boys seem to top their list.
I don't feel old. I just can't believe 1984 was 24 years ago- Every member of the NBA draft is retired and Kasey Keller is still ballin' in the English Premier league. That's sic!
LOL I don't know about predictions. Seriously I have no idea about them because I'm always wrong so I'm not raining on your parade by telling you which one's I agree with. LOL
I just want someone to stuff Paul Pierce. That's all I'm saying.
The Cubs? Hahahahahahahahahahaha. (Now maybe they will make it.)
Great read Orman. Even better basketball predictions.
BTW, Ben Howland is also an alumni at my high school where he was a two-time all-league MVP.
Hmmm... when I was 13, in the 8th grade, and played in a summer league game for a, get this, freshman h.s. basketball team (It's nice to relive some glory days), I suffered a partial tear of my meniscus and If I'd have known better I would've acted as if everything was fine and come back 30 seconds later and busted a couple threes. Of course, my injury was real so I immediately went to the hospital and took an MRI.
I have viewed his many hooott photos at ___ #### Loving .C o M____ >>> where many fans are together, also i met kinds of black and white single women who are hunger for true love online :)
Your daughter sounds like a younger, female version of myself (just to be clear, I do not care for boys........ those juicy couture lotions and perfumes, however.......)
Seriously, though, what caught my attention is the involvement with acting/drama. I myself am actively involved in theatre (many people that know me were very surprised to hear about it), and feel like I am a better person as a result. Although I am not a father, I would really encourage continuing your daughter's involvement.
Most of my theatre friends loathe sports, so that's why I like posting here, where I can express my thoughts and opinions and get into great debates about various sporty things....
I like your basketball predictions, and will try to keep any eye on them. Not the biggest fan of football and have a passing interest in baseball...
Good blog and insight. As far as #1, the Blazers take the Lakers to seven games, but in the Conference Finals, and not in the first round. (After the Blazers beat the Hornets in six games)
For #4, the Panthers BEAT Seattle 34-17 in the NFC Championship Game as Jonathan Stewart (NFL Rookie of the Year) rushes for 185 yards and 3 TDs. (After he puts up 220 and 3 TDs against the Cowboys the week before)
When I was 13...
--The Yankees beat the Dodgers to win the World Series in six games. Reggie Jackson hit 3 HRs in Game 6.
--The Blazers beat the Sixers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.
--Marquette was NCAA basketball champions.
--The Oakland Raiders were Super Bowl champions.
Orman - first, thanks for your service to your country. Your and your family's sacrifices are greatly appreciated - I retired in 2004 after 20 years in the Army. As to your post, number 4: New Orleans will be in the NFC Championship Game; number 6: lay off the crack, SEC is toughest conference; number 8: same as number 6, plus there is a tough schedule in the PAC10? You can say I am senile since I am getting elderly (47 in Dec) but I don't see OK or USC in the Championship game and the SEC is the toughest conference to make it through with your team remaining healthy.
I am a graduate of Northern Arizona University and Florida Institute of Technology. I am a veteran (3/3 SFGA). I prayed once to be surrounded by beautiful women and was blessed with a wife and three daughters (13 and 7 year old twins). My wife is a Oregon State Beaver Alum and we are Blazer-Maniac s.
