IKEA Teacher Appreciation Contest

I'm helping a friend by mentioning this contest:

IKEA Houston is supporting the local school community by having local students nominate their favorite teacher to win a $1500 IKEA classroom makeover and a $250 IKEA gift card

Let IKEA Houston know why your teacher is the very best and should win an IKEA classroom makeover. Students, ages 4 to 11 years old in Kindergarten through fifth grade, can submit a one-page letter telling why their teacher deserves this special recognition. Nominations can be submitted online at http://www.ikeahouston.com/ or at the entry box at the IKEA Houston store, 7810 Katy Freeway at Antoine. The winning teacher will get a $1500 IKEA classroom makeover and a $250 IKEA gift certificate.

Letters must be submitted by March 31, 2008 at the IKEA Houston website or at the store. The letter must include the children’s (entrant) name, teacher's name, school name, school address, phone number, email address, child’s age, and explain why his/her teacher deserves to win a classroom makeover. One entry per person. For additional information and complete contest rules, please visit the IKEA web site at www.IKEAHouston.com.

The Xrossover

I've seen the DVD and I've seen it in action; and, I must admit, I'm impressed with The Xrossover.

In case you haven't heard of The Xrossover, here's some info from their press release:

DKEdgar, Inc., a producer of next level sports equipment, opens the door to the future of basketball skills training with the introduction of the Xrossover TM. This revolutionary training vest teaches ambidexterity with an arm sleeve and strength training with the use of resistance bands.

“The Xrossover basketball training vest is just what coaches and athletes need”, said Danario Edgar, CEO for DKEdgar, Inc. The product will allow coaches to utilize their time spent on training players more efficiently while simultaneously allowing players to have a more productive workout when that coach is not present. As an innovator in athletic equipment, DKEdgar, Inc. aims to produce products that are going to get the most out of our young athletes as well as create an enthusiasm for physical activities.”

The Xrossover will launch on March 29, 2008 at the Stafford Youth Basketball Association’s end of season ceremony, just in time for summer camps.

About DKEdgar, Inc.:

DKEdgar, Inc. is a family owned and operated business that designs, markets, and distributes next level sporting equipment under its organizational umbrella. The company’s first product, The Xrossover, is a patented multi-faceted basketball-training vest. The arm sleeve functions as a sling that restricts the athletes’ stronger arm while forcing the use of the weaker one. The two resistance bands are attached to position the players’ arms in the proper place for distributing and receiving the basketball while creating muscle memory and strength training. The Xrossover provides the wearer with style as well as proper training and is unlike any other conventional workout equipment in the market today.

Check out the website: www.Xrossover.net.

Black Magic

While Houston Rockets everywhere are euphoric over the Rockets' historic winning streak (21 and counting) and the NCAA Men's and Women's Championships are almost here, I urge basketball fans to watch "Black Magic" on ESPN Sunday, March 16 (8pm CDT), and Monday, March 17 (8pm CDT).

"Black Magic" is a documentary by Mr. Dan Klores which is "about basketball at all-black colleges in the days before major universities began their recruiting frenzy over the talent that would come to dominate the game".

Here are two articles with more info:

"Black Magic Scores as a Hoop Dream"

"There was 'Black Magic' before Kobe"

Consequently, get your popcorn ready and watch 'Black Magic' while you prepare your tournament brackets.

You're never too old to learn.

This year "We Got Nothing"

Last year the Comets were "same ole, same ole"...not this year. We Got Nothing!

Yesterday we lost a corner stone of the Comets. It has happened before, Cynthia Cooper retired and Kim Perrot tragically died from cancer. But this time it was different. We lost Sheryl Swoopes because she was no longer wanted by the coaching staff and new owner. Instead of trying to live the glory days of the Comets, the current ownership and coaching want to go in a different direction….the glory days of the Sparks. So Sheryl Swoopes was shown the exit door and Mabika was welcomed. We Got Nothing!

I’m not saying that Swoopes still has it, but I do know that at age 35 or 36, Swoopes still has more than Mabika. Swoopes was more productive sitting on the bench last year than Mabika was on the floor playing basketball for the Sparks. I remember watching the only game LA played in Houston last year and Mabika played like Snow…disinterested. She loped around, she made lazy passes, and she threw shots at the basket without caring if they went in or not. It was her second year of non-productivity. So, Karleen grabbed Mabika up, gave her a substantial salary, and let Swoopes go. I guess that makes sense to Karleen, but to me, We Got Nothing!

So currently we have Snow and Tina Thompson making the max in salary. We have former Spark players Byears, Dixon, and Mabika, plus Maiga-Ba, making near to the max. So that leaves very little money left for any other free agents. This is the core of our team…cast offs from the Sparks of ole, a disinterested center, and two good starters. We Got Nothing to really compete!

And let’s discuss Karleen’s great draft pick last year. Shields shows moments of talent, but really, how many times does it take to learn that in the WNBA you can’t drive into the paint and not expect to be hammered or blocked. In Junior College, they may let you through, but in the WNBA they won’t. And looking to Karleen after every play for validation is not WNBA worthy. In last year’s draft, We Got Nothing!

Now the 2008 WNBA season is approaching fast…it is only two months away. It will start early this year because the Olympics are in August. There have been big trades, 4th pick to Seattle for Castro Marques, 4th pick to Detroit for Cash, Suns trade Katie Douglas to Fever for Whitmore. Free agents have been moving elsewhere, like Marie Ferdinand, Mabika, and Sheryl Swoopes. And for the Comets, we let go of something (Swoopes) and We Got Nothing! (Mabika)

So why have We Got Nothing? Because we have Karleen Thompson who thinks she knows basketball better than any other coach or GM out there…and she is wrong. She does not have an eye for talent. She can’t put a team together; we saw that last year when she had the revolving door of guards till Dixon rejoined the team. Even Swoopes mentioned it last year in an interview. And then there is her coaching…or lack of coaching as I call it. Karleen is the least paid coach in the WNBA; and guess what? We are getting what we paid for, a lousy coach. And when you throw in Hilton “I haven’t a clue” Koch as owner, well, We Got Nothing!

So my question is, where’s Donna Orrender and the WNBA? Why don’t they jump in and try to correct this sinking ship. The WNBA must have heard the rumors of people not being paid; they had to hear the rumors that players have told their agents not to entertain any offers from the Comets, and all the other rumors that are swirling out there. And yet they do nothing. So once again for the Comets’ fans, We Got Nothing!

We received the fifth pick in the lottery for this years’ draft…a draft that has 3 or 4 impact players. The Eastern Conference Champions Detroit Shock traded up to the 4th pick in the draft…and we still have the fifth. Detroit has a good GM and coach. We may not like Bill Lambeer; he can be obnoxious, arrogant, and a pain in the butt, however he gets things done. We have Karleen who faces west and picks up LA’s castoffs…We Got Nothing!

It is going to be a long arduous season this year because We….you know the rest. And 2009, We Will Have Nothing! The Houston Comets will be gone. Thank you, Les Alexander, Andrea Young, Hilton Koch, Karleen Thompson and the WNBA for Nothing!!!!