Lucas vs Nate

 Nate vs Lucas

Monday, August 24, 2020

11:37 PM

It's strange because while I don't think we are complete opposites, the personalities of myself and Lucas aren't very close. He is a full blown extrovert, an entertainer, who when at his very best, enjoys being around everyone and everything. I, on the other hand, just want to read Game of Thrones books or watch EPL in a room by myself and not have to say a word to anyone at anytime. But when we are together, it's magical. Since he's been 2 years old, he's always held amazing eye contact. And so we have these deep, intellectual conversations and I feel like I learn as much from him as I hope he's learned from me. We talk chess, Marvel, sports tactics, demographics! I remember our first debate when he was probably like 27 months old and I wanted him to experience a shower. He said, "No. Bath." I told him, no we are going to take a shower and I'll hold him when the water runs. Again, "No! Bath!". But Lucas, the shower is great, efficient, and fun. "Not clean. Bath." Oh, I see. We can't clean ourselves in showers, only baths, because there's no bubbles in showers… Or the time when he was 3, and he still had a little anxiety about going to preschool. So in the mornings, I would get him talking, to take his mind off of the things that were bothering him. So we used to talk about the things I would do while they were in school. Then one day he says something along the lines of: "Dad. I go to school. You go to the bank, then Cub, then go to the coffee place, then get $5 pizza, then get me and Logan, then go home." It was literally everything that I would do while I dropped them off at school, and he was able to apply all those other trips and put them into a one day errand extravaganza. Perceptive kid, this Lucas.

Lucas started puzzles when he was about 18 months old, finishing them when he turned 2, completed the entire Preschool Monkey Lunchbox before he was 2 and a half, and was playing chess right when he turned 4. He loves that challenging stuff. And he doesn't even work hard at it, we were playing Chess the other day and he was watching Netflix while he played me. I beat him, but not before we went about 70 moves. I've been obsessed with this game for 5 years, and he casually takes me to the ropes with barely a thought. 

I try to cater to the needs of those around me, and maybe that's why Lucas and I get along so well. Very rarely does Lucas attempt this… lifestyle… as he usually likes to dictate the action. He does it while playing with Logan, with his friends at school, with the neighbor kids in the backyard, he really just enjoys running the show. When we are together, it runs pretty smoothly. We've started the Marvel movie storyline, and I like that he has researched the order of the films in the way we are supposed to watch them, and we analyze the characters together and how we hope the story will end. (I think Thor: Ragnarok is our next film?) When we do drills, I set up the cones to his needs and wants, and then he explains the process on how we are going to train. But what he doesn't realize is, I'm grooming him to become a leader, so I love taking a backseat. Logan needs me to run all training, and Aiden prefers training on his own. I love the uniqueness of their development though.

I never thought my best friend could be a kid. I am the square peg, to his ever evolving round hole. He really dislikes reading, I recharge with it. He wants hundreds of friends, I hold high esteem over the 3-4 closest friends that I've made. He loves cooking, puzzles, board games, and big moments. All I need is a TV and a sports package and furthering my children's development. 

My final Lucas anecdote. Big-Moment Lucas. Boys 2011 top team played Girls 2010 top team. So essentially 2nd and 3rd grade boys vs 3rd and 4th grade girls. And these girls are good. I mean, a really strong team. Physical, pushing the boys around, chasing them relentlessly. They give Aiden's team tons of problems whenever they scrimmaged. We're playing them, and as the game goes on, the boys get more and more confident. Down at times 3-1 and 5-3, the boys have it back to 5-4 in the final minute, when the boys get a throw in (kick-in, thanks COVID) in the girls half. I get close to Lucas, and tell him, "A big moment buddy, let's make this one your own." He runs up and takes the kick-in, receives the ball back from his teammate, and blasts the ball past the girl in goal, who had absolutely no chance. 5-5! 

Shining star, this guy. Whatever he does, he's going to shine bright!

Logan vs Nate

 This kid… if each one of my children had an emoji to describe them, Logan is a 💓 for sure. He is so sweet… so kind… always thinking of others. His empathy and sensitivity is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in any child ever. I’ll share a few stories with you.

First story I’ve shared with a few of you already, but when Logan was either 3 or 4, we were at our old house in Ramsey. That sucker had a jacuzzi tub that I miss every single day of my life, but there was a time that I was relaxing in it, reading a Sports Illustrated article about Jerry Smith. He was a TE on the Washington ______, and didn’t share with anyone that he was gay. Played his entire career without being able to share that part of him. And then died of AIDS before he could tell his story. Damn near broke my heart. So anyway, I’m in the tub spouting tears and Logan comes in and puts his arms around my neck and says, “Dad, it’s going to be okay. The Packers could win again next time.” They had just lost a heartbreaking playoff against the Arizona Cardinals the day before, and he thought that I was in tears because their season was over. That said, he held me until I was finished crying.

Second story I’ve shared a couple times as well. It’s the first day of preschool ever for the twins and I think they are also 3 at the time. Lucas has a bit of social anxiety, and especially at that age, had a really difficult time being away from his parents. Sara and I had spent time with him at the open house prior to preschool beginning, but I had a feeling it was going to be hard for him when we weren’t there. Sure enough, I’m getting ready to say goodbye, and Lucas is crying these huge alligator tears, but not saying anything. He was trying to be strong. I went over to Logan, and whispered to him, “I need you to look after Lucas. Make sure he’s going to be okay.” I turn around to leave, but before I go, I take one more look back, and I see Logan with his arm around Lucas and he’s saying something in his ear. Lucas ended up thriving in the preschool setting. I don’t think he could’ve done it without Logan. 

I think I’m a huge introvert, and then I see Logan. He has no problem being by himself in his bedroom, in fact he asks for it a lot of the time. One thing I struggled with in Junior high, and for a little while Senior high, was wondering if people liked me. But I wouldn’t take the initiative to make friends. A little bit because I was reserved, and a little bit because I didn’t really know how. I see some of that in Logan, but then I see that it doesn’t really bother him the way it bothered me. I thought there was a lot of value in the amount of friendships one made in those days, as opposed to the quality of friendships that were made. Now I know better, but it’s a hard lesson to learn. Logan already seems to have that figured out. 

My favorite version of Logan is the athletic version. His commitment to getting better at sports is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. There is a video of him on Instagram when he was 4, when I looked all over the house for him, but he couldn’t be found. Then I look out the window to the backyard and there he is just taking shots on goal all by himself. Now, he does that all the time, and is always willing to practice or play sports with his parents/brothers/friends. I also love that he can be pushed beyond levels that people believe that kids can go. I’ll ask him at Loons games what he thinks of the decision making of professionals, and he usually makes really good assessments of what they’re trying to do. He also likes to be challenged in sports intellectually. He enjoys playing defense in basketball against the other team’s best player, in soccer he wants to know what to do in each position and why he should do it, and in tennis he tries to do things that he sees professionals doing on the TV. Like, extremely difficult, challenging shots. The other two are so good in their own right, but never take things to this kind of level. The girl/boy, career, best friend, school that he chooses will be lucky to have him. In a total essence of who he is, he is a quiet effort guy.

His teachers love him, his coaches love him, any adult that ever meets him is aware of how beautiful of a soul that he has. I wish it was the same with kids. I know he does struggle a bit finding that close friend. His brothers pick on him a bit, and because they’re so extraverted and dependent on relationships, he tends to take a backseat when it comes to play dates, talent shows and getting invited for birthday parties. My wish in the future is to see him become a little more engaging, and to embrace toys/sports/interests/friends that really bring out the best in him. 

Congratulations Liverpool!!!

I don't know how to put my feelings into words. From day 1, Liverpool has been nothing short of





🤮🤮🤮

Work Rushmore

Hello friends. So after working at Malone's for the past 6 years, and listing off Rushmore after Rushmore, it setems appropriate to have an all-time list. As this is a Nate's 9, we are better served coming up with the top 9 of all-time instead of the top 4. For all you Malone's staff that might find this post someday, thanks for not taking me too seriously, and debating these lists over the years. For all of you that read this, but never worked at the restaurant, you missed out on some pretty wonderful ladies!

#9 Labeaux. Wife material. That's all I got.

#8 Chelsea Mayers. First girl to train me at Malone's. Good conversation, oh so very nice, lovely boyfriend, great family. Quite the package.

#7 Kaylee. Our time together was short, but when someone goes out of there way to bring me Caribou... I will always make room for them on the Rushmore.

#6 Deyo. My sweet Deyo. Or Muff Cabbage according to some. It was those Friday night closes with Taus and Ashley that got me acclimated to the environment around Malone's. We almost had too much fun.

#5 Kimmy Narve. Usually don't fumble my words, but I always struggled around Kimmy Narve. Fun to watch at the Christmas parties, she was usually having the best time.

#4 Felly. My best friend forever. Trust her with all my secrets and the first addition to the cabbage patch club.

#3 Holscher. Man oh man.

#2 Josie. Tom Brady of Malone's for me. Probably should be my number 1 from the very first shift, but it took awhile to click. Probably only setback from finishing top of the charts.

#1 Kierra Lind. When I think of elite... I think everyone I worked with was/is pretty great, but Kierra took it to a whole new level. Same page from day 1.

Nate vs Aiden

Nate vs Aiden

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

10:52 PM

This kid is awesome, but he is definitely the most challenging of the three. One of the things that bothers me the most is how he always compares his relationships with his parents to the relationships that his brothers have with Sara and me. For example, "You cuddle with Lucas for 10 minutes, but you only cuddled with me for 3 minutes." And what he doesn't realize is I just kicked the ball with him outside for an hour, while Lucas played with his friends. And he doesn't even like cuddling!!! It baffles me. Well, actually it doesn’t. He wants to be first at everything. He loves competition, it's what drives him. So I know damn well when I am putting Lucas to bed at night, and Logan for that matter, Aiden is counting the seconds that I am in there.

I love his drive though. My first real memory of it was when he was about 5 years old, and not even in kindergarten yet. He was playing on his 2nd soccer team (the first season wasn't great, there was a time when he wasn't really that good!) and he was really starting to enjoy it. But not the way a normal 5 year old would enjoy sports at that age. He wanted to know who played the best, then 2nd, then 3rd, etc. He wanted me to rate each kid on his team. Dad knew what his motivation was, so I always ranked him 4th (he was 3rd). My other favorite thing about his determination is going on amusement rides. He treats them as a source of accomplishment instead of enjoying them for what they are. He told me that the Power Tower should go higher. He thinks that the Wild Thing should go faster. He says that the Steel Venom isn't long enough. Everything can and should be better, but honestly I wouldn't have it any other way.

I wish he could have a best friend. He so badly wants to have a ride or die, but going to 3 different elementary schools in 4 years, and then losing his final 3 months this year to distance learning has been really hard on him. It breaks my heart. Logan doesn't really need a best friend right now, or maybe ever, because he gets along so well with everyone. Lucas has a best friend (he's probably had 3-4), but Lucas falls hard for his friends, and gives them everything. Aiden is a lot more standoff-ish, but rightfully so. I would love to see him find someone that he can confidently confide in, and really develop his friendship traits.

Aiden's greatest asset is his independence. There are times when I feel like he is an adult already. I think he prefers the company of grownups; he likes playing board games with us and he really wishes he could watch PG-13 films. (Outside of Marvel, we really don't let them). He already talks about going to Europe to further his sporting education. He is dead serious about it too. No sad feelings about being separated from his parents. I feel like this could go one or two ways for him and I. Sometimes I think that he thinks that his dad isn't relatable to him, and that's why he tries to tear down other relationships that I have within the family. I really relate to him, but he also has a drive that I never had when I was a kid. I always felt like when I was a kid that I was scared to be the best kid on the team for fear of letting down my friends and teammates. Aiden always wants to be the best kid on the team because if he isn't, then he feels like he is letting down his friends and teammates. It's quite a cool mindset, and I can't wait to see how he continues to develop in the future.

Sports are Back!

Nate's Nine

Thursday, April 30, 2020

1:44 PM

Well the NBA decided their season today (Hopefully). It's going to be interesting; 22 teams are invited to play in an 8 game regular season and then the seeding will be determined after the results of those match-ups. I believe that we will have to put an asterisk next to this season's 'champion' but I am excited to watch some meaningful sports these next few weeks. Discussions need to be had, and we as a nation need some time for healing and JUSTICE, but just a deflection of our thoughts and passions is something I think we can all get behind. 

Let's have a little fun. Top 9 teams with a chance to win these… 'NBA Finals'?

Honorable Mention: New York Knicks. If the Knicks can go 8-0, then beat either the Nets or Magic twice, they can make the playoffs! Then all they have to do is beat the Bucks in the best of something series, and then quite possibly the Raptors or Celtics. Easy, peasy.

Honorable Mention: Dallas Mavericks. If Luka Doncic is raring up to go, and physically ready for it, he could carry them far in this super short, playoff based season. It's a big ask, but a hot month can change a player's life. I wouldn't put it past Luka.

#9 - Boston Celtics. This sets up perfectly for a team like this. Tons of talent, weren't quite meshing on the level of the Toronto Raptors or the Milwaukee Bucks. I had forgotten that they were almost playing .700 level basketball, so they know how to win games. If conferences are kept the same, they should be able to win any first round matchup easily. It's when they meet the Raptors or the Bucks that things might get tricky.

#8 - Miami Heat. I wavered on this one. I really like a Nets team that has Kyrie and KD on the floor. I mean, I really like that team. But since we don't know, here's the Heat. They're 27-5 at home this season, although their away record is trash. But if they can win the home court games, it will get interesting. This is a really underrated, deep roster. And at its forefront, Jimmy Butler. You all know how I feel about him, but he is an all-star. If playoffs are best of 3 or 5 instead of 7, give the Heat a chance.

#7 - Houston Rockets. I don't know why they were struggling so much during the regular season. They should be able to take over games. For as good as Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are, James Harden and Russell Westbrook should be right behind. Yet, this team was 40-24 at the time of Pandemic. Something wasn't right. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt, and saying that they're closer to winning this 'title', than some more socially infused teams.

#6 - Oklahoma City. Speaking of socially infused. Chris Paul did not want to go here. And now here they are with the same record as the Rockets. It's actually a really talented roster. More importanly, they won some really tough games. This team is battle tested and with Steven Adams and Dennis Schroder offering some strong minutes, they could upset the status quo and go on a nice run.

#5 - Denver Nuggets. At one point in the season, they were really flying. This might be my favorite roster in the NBA. Nothing to speak of when it comes to egos. Energetic, committed bench. Nice blend of leadership and youth. My only concern is whether my favorite non-Timberwolf Jamal Murray can take that next step at the point guard position and get past those great defending PG's from those Los Angeles squads. Can't forget that Nikola Jokic is super nice.

#4 - Toronto Raptors. Repeat champions? Probably not, but this team is firing on all cylinders and I think they're the best coached team in the league. Everyone executes everything that's asked of them, as a fan of just good, smart basketball, they show you how far that style can take you. They can run with the Bucks. They can grind with the Sixers. They can push against the Lakers, and if I'm not mistaken, gave LA an ugly loss this year. Reason they're 4th? The top 3 have some serious firepower.

#3 - Milwaukee Bucks. Best record in the league. Almost unguardable at times. So why 3 you ask? That collapse against the Raptors really bugged me last year. Up 2-0 and then to drop the series is a sign that a team isn't ready. They remind me of the early 1990's Utah Jazz. Talented roster, can win a lot of regular season games, but when it's time to get dirty, they keep washing their hands. #COVID Hand washing won't win you titles though. Huge fan of Giannis, but I can't quite keep the faith with this squad yet.

#2 - Los Angeles Lakers. I feel like its their tournament to lose. LeBron is healthy. Brow is healthy. Their supporting class is clicking and this squad just has great chemistry. KCP, Rajon Rondo, Markieff Morris, Kyle Kuzma, this reminds me of the championship teams of the last decade. It's got star power, plus the guys willing to do the hard things. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they ended up champions. I just think there is a nemesis in their way.

#1 - Los Angeles Clippers. This crappy franchise. I can't remember any time in my life that I thought the Clippers would be NBA champions. For years, they were one of the worst franchises in sports. Even when it seemed like it was going to get better, something would set this franchise back. The Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin group should've done better. And now we're here. There's no denying they don't have the depth of the Raptors or Lakers. They don't have the Freak. Their record hasn't been very good up until this point. I'm making my basis on 3 things. 1. Doc Rivers. One off the all-time best. 2. Paul George. Is there a hungrier player in the league? 3. Kawhi. Why would you bet against him? He laughed at all of us last year.

Kobe

Kobe

Sunday, January 26, 2020

4:57 PM

Every story needs a villain.

Kobe was mine. This is our story.

Kevin Garnett was starting to become a huge star with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Which I thought was great for 2 reasons. 1. I was a Wolves fan. 2. He went straight to the NBA from high school, during a time when such a thing was criticized. He had a couple of quiet seasons when he first started, but now he was starting to come into his own. So I thought I would get on the hype train of the next big high school star. That player was going to be the shooting guard from Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania, Kobe Bryant. So I started looking for Kobe Bryant highlights on Sports Center and mentions of him in the newspaper (imagine this time before YouTube and other such social media options). He was a great little player, and was being compared to the greatest of all-time, Michael Jordan. Big plans for a big ego…

Then I got upset. He was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, but with his agent, was able to angle a trade from the Hornets and end up as a Los Angeles Laker. High school players aren't supposed to do this! Show me your humble beginnings, and then if things don't work out, maybe request a deal away or leave when the contract is over. That's what Shaq did, and while he got a lot of flack for leaving Orlando, I thought it was the right way to do it. I decided then and there that I was going to hate Kobe after all. Or so I thought.

Airball. Airball. Airball. I thought it was ridiculous that a teenager kept taking shots, even after sending up a bunch of air balls. Even more so, in a playoff game. Against the Utah Jazz in the western conference semi-finals. With teammates like Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, and Jerome Kersey on the floor as well. My first thought was why is this kid killing his team's season? Then I saw him come back for more. I had a sympathetic moment for him then, I really wanted to see him hit a shot. He didn't and they crashed out of the playoffs.

So I liked him again. He wasn't Jordan, but he had a different competitive fire. A lot of players could have ended up broken after a sequence like that. Not Kobe. It changed his life.

Since the Minnesota Timberwolves were always struggling to get out of the gates during this time (something like 5 consecutive seasons of first round playoff exits), I adopted the Portland Trailblazers as my 2nd favorite team. It was a group full of assholes. JR Rider. Brian Grant. Jimmy Jackson. Damon Stoudamire. Rasheed Wallace. Bonzi Wells. But man were they fun to watch. The year prior to their meeting in the western conference finals, the Blazers were probably the best team in the league. But they ran into a wall when they played the Spurs and David Robinson, Tim Duncan and friends, and got swept off the court. The next year, my adopted Blazers were to meet up with the powerful Lakers, who added AC Green, Brian Shaw and Ron Harper. Unfair, and I started to hate this guys again. Especially in the WCF, when the Lakers were down by 15 points in the 4th quarter, and the referees literally blew their whistles enough times to get the Lakers back in the game again, which they won, and proceeded to go on and win the Finals against the Indiana Pacers. My hatred was back in full force. How unfair! How Unjust! And I found a new team to hate!

They won in 2001. They won in 2002. But I held firm. Shaq and Kobe were 2 of my least favorite athletes around. When I first started writing more creativity outside of school, I remember I did a piece on things that I hate/love. One of the statements was: Things that I hate - Kobe Bryant. Things that I love - Kobe Bryant shooting 5 for 27 from the field.

In 2004, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally became something. They had traded for Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell and it really felt like they were going to take that next step and finally take the Wolves to the finals. We met up with the Lakers again but this time with some nicer weapons: Karl Malone and Gary Payton also chasing that elusive ring. I really hated this group of players because I thought Payton was dirty, I thought Karl Malone was a cheap shot artist (still do), Rick Fox flopped, and Derek Fisher was a snake. We suffered a couple of injuries and had no one to shut down the almighty Kobe. The greatest team the Timberwolves ever created, and all for naught. Another layer to my Kobe hatred.

Colorado. And enough about that.

Then it got quiet. Kobe was missing the playoffs, since the Lakers weren't big enough for 2 egos (which is crazy considering who've they had in their history). And if I had to pick a side, I was always going to be a Shaq supporter. So when Shaq got booted, cheering against Kobe and the Lakers became easy.

And then they got Pau Gasol. And that pissed me the hell off even more. I think the trade was for Kwame Brown and some other random. Are you kidding me?! For an all-star and nothing in return!? If this was any other team, the NBA would step in and say how unethical this trade was. (Haha, Chris Paul). And of course Pau and Kobe would end up winning 2 championships, which left Kobe at 5, and Shaq 4.

81. Who else could it be, but Kobe? I remember thinking, why couldn't it be any other player? Allen Iverson. LeBron James. Dwayne Wade. But it had to be Kobe. This became the guy who I would celebrate when his team got knocked out of the playoffs; or didn't make it altogether. This was the turning point though. I took a moment during this time to wonder why Kobe always seemed to be so successful, even when things around him weren't going so well.

The results surprised me. His work ethic was second to none. His passion was unmatched on the court. He had a bulldog mentality. He lived in a different country as a child. I learned a lot from these findings and they told me a lot about myself. I never had this type of passion for anything in my life. I never worked my ass off to the point where I knew I was going to be successful at something whether it be bowling, or writing, or anything else. I remember thinking around the time of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United, and I thought when and how is United going to find another player that works as hard and shows the same commitment to greatness that Cristiano did on a daily basis. And not long after that Kobe compared Ronaldo to himself. Kobe, who went from 4 airballs as an 18 year old, to a 5 time NBA Champion and an all-time great. I lowered my guard a bit.

During the final years, I found a new appreciation for my greatest sports villain. I never watched more NBA than when I did cheering against the Lakers. I began to realize, that maybe I didn't hate Kobe, but that I respected him so much I just needed some justification for when he actually did fail. But it was the after retirement Kobe that I related to the most. A doting father. Appreciation of the languages and the arts. He is - was (fuck, it's still so unreal) so in tune as to who he was as a person and I thought it was cool that he was able to share the entire depth of himself, whether it be in Sports Illustrated, interviews on Motiversity, Dear Basketball… all of it. Every story needs a villain, but my story somehow found me a hero. He will certainly be missed.

Peace Mamba. 8/24