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I can still hear Marv Albert commentary, "A spectacular move by Michael Jordan!"

With the 2009-2010 National Basketball Association (NBA) Playoffs & Finals right around the corner, I looked back and realized that this is my 20^th year of watching professional basketball.

Has it really been that long?

The Memories

I can still see the Los Angeles Lakers Sam Perkins drilling a three-point shot to stun the Chicago Bulls at the end of Game 1 as well as Michael Jordan’s classic right-to-left under goal lay-up over the same Sam Perkins in Game 2 of the 1990-1991 NBA Finals.

Bulls versus Lakers.

Those were the years.  The veteran laded Los Angeles Lakers versus the hip, up-and-coming Chicago Bulls.

Memories.

The Questions

With that said, I decided to test that memory (use of references are forbidden!) and challenged myself with these questions: Over the last 20 years, which teams have participated in the NBA Finals?  Who were the winners?

Tall order?

At least not initially as the key to these questions would be to determine who were the winners and the bridesmaids would surely follow suit.

Clutch City won it's first NBA title with the five of Hakeen Olajuwon, Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell, Robert Horry, and Otis "OT" Thorpe.

The Answers

Starting with the 1990-1991 season, this was a no-brainer as it signified the first Chicago Bulls dynasty (1991, 1992, and 1993).  This was followed by the Jordan-less years of 1994 and 1995 wherein the Hakeem Olajuwon led Houston Rockets dispatched the New York Knicks in seven games en-route to the first NBA Championship (1994).  The Rockets then repeated in 1995 when they swept the youthful Orlando Magic in four games.  The championship also etched the Houston Rockets in NBA annals as the lowest seeded playoff team (6^th) to capture the title.

From 1996-1998, the Chicago Bulls again regained their dominance over the NBA with their second three-peat.  In the 1998-1999, the league played a 50-game lockout shortened—no All-Star Weekend—season.  The finals featured the overachieving New York Knicks (8^th seed) and the Twin Tower (“The Admiral” David Robinson and “Big Fundamental” Timmy Duncan) led San Antonio Spurs.  If I am not mistaken, it was Spurs in six…or was it in five.  One thing is for sure, the Spurs were simply too much for the Ewing-less Knicks.

The partnership between Tim Duncan (left) and David Robinson has produced two NBA Championships for the city of San Antonio.

The turn of the century brought yet another string of championships for Coach Phil Jackson (2000, 2001, and 2002), but this time with a Los Angeles Lakers team that was bannered by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.  In 2003, the San Antonio Spurs gave their “Admiral” David Robinson a great retirement gift when they captured their second NBA crown.  This also marked the only finals match-up wherein I was unable to recall whom the runner-up was.

Hitting the curb

NBA seasons from 2003-2006 took a little more time to flesh out.  Questions such as the three seasons wherein the San Antonio Spurs captured championships as well as the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat championship years were among the last to be identified.  But once the aforementioned sequencing and cast of teams were identified, everything fell into place.

Back to business

Shaquille O'Neal and a young Kobe Bryant set aside their differences in order to win the coveted Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy in 2000.

The 2003-2004 NBA season featured future hall-of-fame members Karl “The Mailman” Malone and Gary “The Glove” Payton joining the potent Los Angeles Lakers for another run at an NBA Championship.  However, this was not meant to be as they had the rug pulled out from under them by the blue-collar Detroit Pistons led by the likes of Ben Wallace, Richard “Rip” Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, and Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups.

The following season (2004-2005), Detroit again made it back to the NBA Finals but lost out to the San Antonio Spurs in seven games.  This season, in my mind, was best remembered for those Rasheed Wallace WWE inspired NBA Championship belts that he got for the whole Pistons team.

I wonder what ever happened to those belts?

The 2005-2006 NBA season featured two first-timers to the NBA Finals stage: The Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat.  This season was a classic example of momentum gone awry as it really looked like the Dallas Mavericks had this series all but locked up with a 2-0 advantage and a huge lead in Game 3 of that series.

Then Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. happened and the rest is history.

Miami upset the Mavs in Game 3 and proceeded to take the next three contests and captured their first NBA championship.

Whatever happened to WWE inspired Championship Belt named "Roscoe"? Only Rasheed knows the answer to that one...

The NBA Finals in 2006-2007 was forgettable to say the least.  I remember that the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers finals match-up to be one of—if not the lowest—rated finals in history.  I didn’t even bother to try and watch any of the games that year.  Spurs swept the Cavs in four.

On the other hand, the 2007-2008 season was more promising with Boston Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge engineering several trades that brought Kevin “KG” Garnett and Walter Ray Allen, Jr. to the Celtics for practically everyone on their team with the exception of Paul “The Truth” Pierce, Rajon Rondo, and Kendrick Perkins.  This development, coupled with the Los Angeles Lakers acquiring Pau Gasol the year before, set the stage for a Lakers verses Celtics finals match-up.  One that fans haven’t seen since 1986-1987.

It was a great match-up with the Celtics capturing their league-leading 17^th NBA banner in six games.  For more information on this season, I’ve written an extensive post on the Celtics championship season here.

Lastly, the 2008-2009 finals match-up featured the Los Angeles Lakers returning to the big dance along with the young Orlando Magic team lead by the dominating Dwight Howard.  In this particular series, there was a lot of heartbreak for the Orlando Magic as they squandered numerous opportunities to truly establish themselves in the finals.  However, this does not take anything away from the Los Angeles Lakers who truly deserved the The Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy.

After Game 2, everything that Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. threw up against the hapless Dallas Mavericks just seemed to go into the bucket.

This championship also broke a tie between legendary icon Arnold Jacob “Red” Auerbach of the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers Phil Jackson for most NBA championships by a head coach.  Jackson now takes the top spot with 10 championships.

In summary

Well, that was 19-years of NBA Finals basketball and I look forward to the end of the 2009-2010 NBA regular season, an interesting NBA play-offs, and hopefully, an epic finals match-up.

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Now playing: Incognito – Don’t Turn My Love Away
via FoxyTunes

Certificate of Appreciation from the Symposium on Catholic Care for the Mentally Ill (3-6-10)

Last week I was invited by the Catholic Handicapped Development–headed by Fr. Luke R. Moortgat, CICM of De La Salle University–to be a guest speaker for their March 6, 2010 symposium which focused on the mentally ill.

As the first speaker, my talk–entitled “A Brief Look into Mental Illness”–briefly touched on several mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, addiction disorders, and poor impulse control.

There was also an emphasis placed on educating patients, parents, counselors, teachers, and mental health professionals on the possible benefits of psychotherapy/counseling, medication, etc.

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Now playing: The Brand New Heavies – Midnight At the Oasis (Ian Green Remix)
via FoxyTunes

In Earth-Prime, there is always downtime for Superboy-Prime

Shamelessly tore this off my brother’s Tumblr.com site. Come to think about it, our rooms aren’t that far removed from that of Superboy-Prime.

Except my room has more variation.

And it’s cool!

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Now playing: Babyface – For The Cool In You

via FoxyTunes

Peter Francis Newell (August 3, 1915 – November 17, 2008)

Peter Francis Newell (August 3, 1915 – November 17, 2008)

The game of basketball lost a good man with the passing of Peter Francis “Pete” Newell one year ago.

Much has been said with Coach Newell’s advance age and failing health until his death on November 17, 2008. But sometimes—though not always—there are a few people that you wish could live forever because the world is a better place with them in it.

Coach Newell is one of them.

Big Man’s Camp

Since 1976 until the time of his death, Pete Newell has had a hand in developing the fundamental footwork and shooting of collegiate and professional forwards and centers without receiving any compensation in return. Newell shared, “I owe it to the game. I can never repay what the game has given me.”

Newell’s Big Man Camp started with one player—Kermit Washington of the Los Angeles Lakers. In the book “The Punch: one night, two lives, and the fight that changed basketball forever,” author John Feinstein recounts that Newell’s work with Washington was so effective that his quickness, ball-handling, and jump shot improved to the point where his inside game became more efficient. Since then, annual Big Man’s Camps (since renamed to Pete Newell’s Big Man’s Camp) have been conducted in Honolulu, Hawaii and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Coach Newell had a positive impact on Kermit Washington of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Newell changed the way the game is played

Though I have not had the privilege of meeting Coach Pete, I have been fortunate enough to attend his son, Coach Tom’s camp here in Manila, Philippines during the summer of 2000.

It changed my life. My entire perspective of the game of basketball.

Coach Tom said that after our camp experience, we (the camp participants) would never see a basketball game for what it is—just a game.

And we never did.

Our eyes were opened, as there was a lot more analysis involved now. Putting the ball through the hoop was no longer as important as being fundamentally sound. Basic moves were scrutinized. Countermoves were put into practice. Reverse pivots became secondary. And so on…

All thanks to the teachings of Coach Tom Newell and in turn to his father Pete whose legacy was very much felt in that coaching program.

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Now playing: The Peter Malick Group – Strange Transmissions (DJ Strobe “Sand Under My Havianas” Bossanova Remix) (Featuring Norah Jones)
via FoxyTunes

Jung’s Theory of Psychological Types

Berens (1999) describes Jung’s theory of Psychological Types as a departure from the works of Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler as Freud’s focus on his patients “seemed to be on the external world of adjustment to the outside world,” while Adler’s practice “seemed to be more focused on the primacy of the patients’ inner world in determining their behaviors.” Jung then conceptualized two fundamental concepts known as extraverted and introverted attitudes. He believed that orientation of individuals could either gravitate towards “the world outside your world (extroversion) or the world inside your world (introversion)” (Gerke, 2006).

Mental or Cognitive Processes (Functions)

After a period of study, Jung came to the conclusion that the differences in people weren’t limited to “just the inner world or outer world” but also took into consideration the content of the “mental activities which they were engaged in when they were in these worlds” (Berens, 1999). Gerke (2006) adds that Jung referred to these mental activities or cognitive/mental processes, as functions, which is derived from the performed function. Berens and Nardi (2004) described the two cognitive processes of Jung as perception and judgment wherein each cognitive process is divided into two categories with Sensation and Intuition falling under perception while Thinking and Feeling highlight judgment. The authors add that Jung’s theory focused on the idea that “every mental act consists of using at least one of these four cognitive processes in either an extraverted or introverted way,” thereby producing eight processes.

Perception and Judgment

Berens (1999) defined Jung’s perception, as a stimulus wherein an individual “becomes aware of something” and in the process is able to “gather or access information.” Jung considered this to be an “irrational process” as the recognition of the stimulus was brought about by external factors. Briggs-Myers et al., (2003) define Jung’s two kinds of perception as Sensation and Intuition. Sensing is defined as information which is assimilated through the senses (tangible information) while Intuiting focuses on a person’s ability in using “possibilities, meanings and relationships in gaining insight” (conceptual information) (Briggs-Myers et al., 2003).

The other core psychological process is Judgment or the ability “organize information and drawing conclusions from it.” Briggs-Myers et al., (2003) define Jung’s two kinds of judgment as Thinking and Feeling with Thinking defined as the “function that comes to a decision by linking ideas together through logical connections” whereas Feeling is the function wherein decisions are reached “by weighing relative values and merits of the issues.” Lastly, Berens (1999) adds these four functions: Sensation, Intuition, Thinking, and Feeling can be function on either the “extraverted world or introverted world.”

Dichotomous Opposites

Carl Jung considers functions to be dichotomous opposites in nature. Dichotomous opposites are similar to water and fire wherein the utilization of one is in direct opposite to the other but does not depreciate their value and importance. Berens (1999) considers Sensing and iNtuiting to also be opposite in nature but despite this an individual has the ability to “shift their attention from one kind of information to another” on a number of occasions. A good example would be assimilating sensory information such as a beautiful painting of the ocean and then visualize its representation in the form of intuitive information like the season of summer, clarity, and peace of mind. Similarly, Thinking and Feeling judgments are polar opposites as well. Berens (1999) believes that to be both “value-based and criterion-based” simultaneously is unattainable. But in certain circumstances, both may be used to some extent. One example would be a traveler determining what he or she may need for a particular trip. Through a predetermined criterion, the traveler would be able to assess what is essential for the impending trip.

Briggs-Myers et al., (2003) add that the creation of the Judging-Perceiving dichotomy by Isabel Briggs Myers and Katharine Cook Briggs was brought about “to identify the dominant and auxiliary functions for each type” in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Jung believed that it was important to have one function above all others that are “dominant or trusted and developed” in order to facilitate the “characterization of one’s personality” (Berens, 1999).

Berens (1999) found the following:

Jung also indicated that there was more to a personality type than the dominant function. The dominant process gives a person only one mental process to rely on, and if the dominant process is a perceptive process (Sensing or iNtuting), there would be no way to evaluate information, so there must be a preference also for a judging process (Thinking or Feeling), there would be no way to access information. So the personality is also characterized by having another process play an “auxiliary” role that provides support to the dominant. The idea of a dominant and auxiliary is often referred to as the hierarchy of functions.

The auxiliary process provides balance to the dominant process in two ways.

1) The kind of process, perception, or judgment, is different. If the dominant process is a perceiving process, then the auxiliary process is a judging process or vice versa.

2) The attitudes or orientations of the processes are different. If the dominant process is focused on the outer world (extraverted), then the auxiliary process is focused on the inner world (introverted) or vice versa.

Aspects of Personality

Berens, Ernst, & Smith (2004) share that since we are “complex, adaptable beings,” an MBTI personality type is only capable of “predicting way we might prefer to behave in a given situation and not determine them.” Gerke (2006) adds that when viewing personality types, three interrelated areas much be taken into consideration: the contextual self; the developed self; and the core self. The author defines contextual self as a person’s behavior in relation to the given situation; the developed self then occurs once the individual is able to “adapt and grow based on the choices and decisions we have made as well as by interactions and roles;” while the core self is described as an individuals innate tendency to “to behave in certain ways which influences how one adapts, grows, and develops.”

Distinctions between types

Dissemination of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) can be broken down into three types: reported type, the best-fit type, and true type (Briggs-Myers et al., 2003). The reported type refers to the initial personality type extracted from the answers provided in the indicator. This is followed by the best-fit type which is the type pattern selected by those tested from the “themes and preferred processes” of their reported type that suits them best (Berens et al., 2004). Lastly, Berens (1999) describes true type as “the pattern of tendencies inherent in the individual.” The author believes that since “patterns cannot be measured and can only be mapped or described,” true discovery can only come from the individuals personal cognitive resources. Briggs-Myers et al., (2003) add that although an individual’s type “does not change over time,” they may express their preferences “in somewhat different ways at different times and at different ages, and stages of life.”

References:
Berens, L.V., Ernst, L.K., & Smith, M.A. (2004). Quick guide to the 16 personality types and teams: applying team essentials to create effective teams. Canada: Telos Publications.

Berens, L.V., & Nardi, D. (2004). Understanding yourself and others: an introduction to the personality type code. USA: Telos Publications.

Gerke, S.K. (Speaker). (2006). Jung’s theory of extroversion and introversion (Cassette Recording No, 1). Huntington Beach, California: Ramon Eduardo Gustilo Villasor.

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Now playing: Michael Jackson – Remember The Time
via FoxyTunes

Before the pain

2nd of November 2009.

Subungual Hematoma is present underneath the nail of the left big toe

Down 16-8 in our three-on-three match up yesterday afternoon, I drove to the basket, pivoted, and made a fall away jumper off the glass to bring our deficit down to six.

However, when I planted my off (left) leg, I suddenly felt a pop. A pop that I didn’t really feel until I hosted my jumper.

I immediately dragged my leg, hobbling to the other end of the court, before coming to a complete stop and clutching my shoe and injured left big toe.

It’s been like this for the last six years.

On three different occasions.

Welcome to my basketball life.

“Injury…an athlete’s worse nightmare…” (Michael Jordan’s Playground)

Visions of Michael Jordan on the ground clutching his broken left foot come to mind when I think of this quote taken from this old Jordan video. It is a passage that speaks a volume of truth as when it comes to the topic of injury, no one is immune. It can hit anyone at any time, and yes, even to the great ones.

A couple of weeks ago, newly acquired New Orleans forward-center Emeka Okafor sat out all of his team’s Pre-Season games because of a “strained toe on his right foot.” It was an injury that was misunderstood by many as something minor. But in an interview with Yahoo! Sports’ Marc J. Spears, Okafor defended his cautious nature.

Spears shared:

“You can ask anyone that’s had a toe injury, it sounds super weak and it sounds like an insignificant thing,” Okafor said. “But that’s your foundation. You can have a nice house, and a foundation has a crack in it and then it’s all for naught. The whole thing comes crumbling down.

“People don’t realize how much your toe has to do with your movements. That’s carrying your whole weight. If something is off that carries your whole weight and you’re not careful, it’s something that can trickle and cause other things to mess up. The season is a marathon, not a sprint. You want to give your body a chance to not only heal short-term, but long-term.”

Now that WAS solid advice.

One that I didn’t take after initially injuring the same toe the day before yesterday.

Defining and treating an injured toenail

In a basketball setting, subungual hematoma (Sub pertaining to under and ungual for nail. While hematoma is the term used for a localized collection of blood.) usually occurs when a sudden change of movement forces the toenail(s) to jam into the shoe. The sudden impact then causes several small vessels to break, which then flood the nutrient bed with blood underneath the nail. A gradual shade (e.g., blue, black) then develops as the supply of nutrients needed to sustain the toenail are cut off—effectively killing a portion or the whole toenail.

In cases like mine, this sudden feeling can be likened to a “pop” or “feeling like the whole nail came off,” before the initial pain subsides. About an hour or two later, it may also be difficult to place pressure on the whole injured foot as doing so would cause pain to the toe–brought about by the trapped blood underneath the toenail. Numbness on the toe is also to be expected as well as pain to the injured toe if pressure is applied. This would pretty much rule out shoes for a while.

Possible remedies (depending on the extent of the damage) would include visiting a physician as soon as possible, “evacuating” the dead blood in the toenail via an incision or drilling a hole into the toenail, and in more extreme cases, the extraction of the toenail itself.

In the event of an extraction, prescribed antibiotics as well as regular application of topical medication is advised.

Remember, “fungus never takes a vacation and you shouldn’t either” when it comes to applying the topical cream.

Wish me luck at the doctor’s today…

Update:

3rd of November 2009.

After drilling two holes (or was it more?) into the toenail in order to evacuate the blood, the doctor seemed hopeful that the toenail could be saved.  I on the other hand, being a veteran of this injuries on two other occasions, am not that optimistic.

We will know in a week’s time.

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Now playing: Jars Of Clay – Love Came Down At Christmas
via FoxyTunes

“Madness is like gravity. All you need is a little push.” – The Joker (Heath Ledger)

Who is Harvey Dent?

District Attorney Harvey Dent is famously known as Gotham City's White Knight

A newly appointed public servant. Gotham City’s new District Attorney. And who can forget, the scourge of the underworld (with a good right cross)—Gotham City’s “White Knight.”

But there is more.

After watching Christopher Nolan’s second take on the Batman film franchise, the Dent topic made its rounds at the dinner table.

Who is Harvey Dent?

“Easy enough.” I said to myself, before addressing everyone at our current square-table discussion.

“Dent’s (Aaron Eckhart) love for the law is unparalleled in a world (Gotham) that reeks of corruption from every level. He is Gotham City’s “White Knight”—a public symbol of hope to the oppressed. But all that changed with the loss of his significant other (Rachel Dawes portrayed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal) as well as his facial disfigurement.”

I then added, “From that point on, Dent’s sense of justice was skewed. He was also unable to reach even the most basic of decisions without consulting his father’s lucky coin as Dent believed, “chance is the only true justice, because it is fair.””

I believe in Harvey Dent! Bah! Politics!

Then my aunt offered another perspective.

“Hubris” she said.

Hubris is the ancient Greek term used “to indicate overweening pride, self-confidence, superciliousness, or arrogance, often resulting in fatal retribution.”

My aunt then continued, “The downfall of Harvey Dent was because he believed too much in his own press release. Much like the fallen angel, Lucifer, in Judaism and Christian belief—Dent felt that he could do it all by himself. That he didn’t need anyone’s help.”

My aunt was right; Dent was solely responsible in persecuting Salvatore Vincent “Sal” Maroni (Eric Roberts) and his mid-to-low level cohorts. He was also repeatedly warned by Gotham City Mayor Anthony Garcia (Nestor Carbonell) that because of his recent exploits, those on the wrong side of the law would stop at nothing to smear his good name. In response, Dent seemingly brushed the Mayor’s warnings aside and said that he was up to the task.

This was one movie that certainly didn't need a viral marketing campaign

We all know how that turned out.

In the end, the portraits of Dent overlooking Commissioner James “Jim” Gordon (Gary Oldman) give viewers and idea as to his fate.

Harvey Dent’s reputation remains intact and in his death, he serves as Gotham’s enduring symbol against tyranny.

Thanks to the sacrifices of his friends.

My aunt was right.

No man can be an island…even if they really wanted to.

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Now playing: Prince – Electric Chair
via FoxyTunes

March 14, 2008.

Manila, Philippines.

Incognito performed for one night only at the third annual Philippine International Jazz And Arts Festival.

The third annual Philippine International Jazz And Arts Festival highlighted by the British jazz/funk/soul band known as Incognito.

Read more about my Incognito Acid Jazz Experience here.

A pause in the action

Midway through the show, Bluey took time out to share with the audience a personal story that really moved me.

Here now are his words–put together with the best of my ability.

The Morning Sun

There are some things in this life that we can all share. ‘Coz we have all felt it.

Remember that morning when you woke up and said, “Mom I don’t want to go to school today.” You know there is no problem really. Maybe you had a little falling out with a friend and you don’t want to face them. Or maybe you just don’t feel like doing that particular class you know your doing that day. Or you just don’t feel like going to school. Maybe you want to stay at home and be in that environment.

So, I mean it, happened to me a few times. Mom was always working two…three jobs. Dad was never around. So Granddad was around.

Now I was fortunate. As long as you have somebody who can give you that love, you know. I had my Granddad. It was a very positive force in my life, and I would wake up in the morning and give him the same message.

Bluey: “Granddad, I think I’m very sick today. Very sick today. Can’t go to school.”

Granddad: “Ah, your problems again?”

Bluey: “Yes granddad, my problems again.” (5 year old’s got a lot of problems, you know.)

Big, big problems. Big time. Makes adult problems seem like pale in comparison.

End of the world. can’t go to school.

And Granddad, he had a way about him, he said. “Ah come outside.”

Granddad: “You know, you live in a nice warm country like Philippines, Mauritius, where we come from.”

We would go outside and of course, the warm sun would be against my face.

He said, “how does that feel?”

Bluey: “It feels good granddad”

Granddad: “Face the sun, face the sun”

Granddad: “Close your eyes.”

Bluey: “Ah, that feels good!”

Granddad: “Were are your troubles?” “Where are your troubles?”

And my troubles being my shadows—of course if I am facing the sun—they are behind me.

Bluey: “Granddad behind me.”

And I loved that little play with my granddad each time. Sometimes I would pretend to be sick, just so that he could take me outside and tell me about the morning sun

For the morning sun, we are very fortunate to see—for many do not see the morning sun.

For the morning sun brings with it the hope of a new day—a chance to start anew—no matter what problems we’ve had yesterday, that morning sun means that we’ve got a new beginning.

Embrace it. Rejoice in it. It’s a celebration of life.

My thoughts

The morning sun is truly an inspiring story.

It makes one realize…or at the very least makes them consider that whatever concerns they may be facing at this very moment may not be as devastating as they think.

However, looking past one’s personal problems is never easy. At times, it seems even simpler to wallow in self-pity.

It is a feeling that I strongly, strongly, urge you to fight.

Fight it. Fight because you can always make a difference, not only for yourself, but also in the lives of others.

Everyday there is a new morning sun.

Everyday there is a new chance.

An opportunity to make a new and better you.

So make the most of it.

—————-
Now playing: Jars Of Clay – Tonight
via FoxyTunes

March 14, 2008.

Manila, Philippines.

The Sofitel Philippine Plaza

The third annual Philippine International Jazz And Arts Festival.

And their guests for this evening: Manila Paris Confidential, Charito, Tots Tolentino, and Incognito.

I was probably one of the first to arrive at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza venue with hopes of procuring good seats.

I get in while Manila Paris Confidential is completing their sound checks and it also gives me a good idea where to sit. Definitely not in the very front as the acoustics would most likely be horrible. Somewhere in the middle seems just about right.

It’s 8:00 pm and the Brazilian and Afro-Cuban influenced, Manila Paris Confidential starts the show on time with four good songs on their set.

Tots Tolentino and Charito were up next and came through with about the same number of songs for their own set. But sometime during their second song, I had to step out to go to the washroom before Incognito’s set.

Tickets to the Big Dance...

Now guess who I bumped into in the garden path leading to Sofitel’s main annex— Jean Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick—the heart, soul, and face of Incognito.

After finishing up, I headed back to my seat at the tent and got my tickets hoping that Bluey was still there. I was really in luck as he took time out to meet and greet with his fans. When my turn came, Bluey immediately put me at ease when he accommodated my requests for an autograph and a photo. He even shared with me that the one reason why he had ventured off to the garden was to “get the vibe of the crowd.”

And with the response the got from the fans that flocked to greet him, I am pretty sure he found that vibe that he was looking for. I then bid him a good evening and wished him well on the show.

And it was an awesome one at that. With 20 songs (three of which with audience participation). This was certainly one night to remember.

From R to L: Composer, record producer, guitarist and singer, Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick and me.

Incognito got the party started with Who Needs Love, (Tony Monroe on vocals) followed immediately by Pieces of a Dream after Joy Rose and Imaani were introduced to the audience. Joy Rose then sang one of many Incognito staples, Deep Waters. The band then ended the first part of their program with yet another hit, entitled Without You (Tony Monroe on lead vocals) that lasted almost seven minutes.

For their second set, Incognito mixed it up with the Manila crowd by getting them involved in their N.O.T. single from their upcoming album due out in April 2008 entitled, Tales From The Beach. Bluey steps forward and demonstrates to the audience several hand gestures and spells out N-O-T. Imaani then leads the way for the group.

Everyone in the house was up for the next one as Incognito sang Still A Friend of Mine (Tony Monroe and Joy Rose on lead vocals). It didn’t stop there though as Bluey played around with the crowd as we all sang and clapped to a rhythmic version of Still A Friend of Mine.

Moving on, Bluey and Tony divided the crowd into two sections and showed all of us the importance of a world without a dividing line.

Enjoying the festivities...

Up next was Sri Lanka’s Imaani with arguably the best song of the evening as she sang an acoustic solo of Always There.

Tony then brought the crowd back up to its feet with a song from their 2001 Life Stranger than Fiction album entitled Reach Out. (Special thanks to YouTube.com user Gugufizz for the assist on this one.)

Joy Rose up next with Nights over Egypt before the crowd started jumping to Don’t You Worry ‘bout a Thing followed immediately by Everyday (Imanni on lead vocals on these two cuts).

As the group took a short break, Bluey stepped into the spotlight and talked about the humble beginnings of Incognito.

Bluey shared that the idea that was to become Incognito started out in the London scene—when he was still a part of his former band—Light of the World. It was here where he met a 14-year-old protégé, bass player, and composer Paul “Tubbs” Williams.

Bluey and Tubbs became fast friends and the idea of Incognito was born. It would be “a band that would embrace a journey with musicians, and writing songs, and making music without the limitations that are often put on us by commercial success.”

PIJF - The Philippine International Jazz & Arts Festival Concert Series...*whew*

Bluey added that Incognito would be “a music that embraces music for all its worth—horns; strings; song; the spirit of it.” He then proceeded to dedicate the next song entitled “Summer’s Ended” in memory of his old friend who died in 2007, at the age of 44. (Thanks again to another YouTube.com user Xxkornixx for the name of that song.)

Bluey then enlisted the help of a younger Paul for this one–Paul Greenwood (on flute)–and they did such a good job. Bluey’s message was clear, the legacy of Paul “Tubbs” Williams would live on through music.

Imaani and the rest of Incognito then sang, Talkin’ Loud followed by another sample from their Tales From The Beach album Happy People with Tony Monroe is on lead vocals.

I Can See The Future with Imaani on lead vocals was the band’s next number. After which, Blue took time out to share another story with the Manila audience—one that was full of wisdom as he reflected on a story about his Granddad and sunny mornings of his youth on the small island of Mauritius.

Not long after, everybody was again up for Incognito’s Morning Sun (Joy Rose on lead vocals for this one). This was followed by a more upbeat version of Always There that featured all the members of Incognito.

From L to R: Joy Rose, Me, and Imaani.

All ten members of Incognito then gather at the center of the small stage and proceed to take a bow. Bluey then takes time out to introduce each and every member of the group and gives them their own time to shine. But it doesn’t end there as Bluey says, “we don’t do the going off the stage and coming back thing.”

It’s time to grove!!!

Unfortunately, the sponsors and Sofitel Management had different ideas as they opened all of the lights and the doors—probably their way of signaling to the band to end the show already as the “noise” may be disturbing their guests.

But that didn’t stop Bluey and the rest of Incognito as moved straight into their encore—The band heated up with three more songs starting with Imaani on vocals for Colibr, the trios take on I’ll Hear Your Name, and their finale, a sing-a-long to a Bob Marley song.

It ended at 12:15 am.

Incognito was the highlight of the six-day festival concert series featuring a number of local and top foreign guest artists.

The band—despite just having performed in Jakarta the day before and not to mention their trip to Manila hours earlier—gave their all and didn’t hold anything back. They were the stars but they never made it appear that they were that far from us. Truly selfless, Bluey didn’t leave a single fan disappointed as he signed everything that they had given him.

A special shout out to Imaani and Joy Rose for the picture and signing my poster as well as to the other band members that stuck around after the show. Thanks Guys!!!

No security. No red tape. Incognito was truly all about the music.

And the whole performance touched me. Arguably the best concert I have ever witnessed.

In this day and age, when everything seems to be all about the money.

These thirteen (three of them were part of their crew) men and women gave so much more.

All I can say is….Thank you!!!

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Now playing: Jack Johnson – Monsoon (Money Mark Remix)
via FoxyTunes

Hey...It's Skita!

Gone are the days where National Basketball Association (NBA) players were able to sign outlandish contracts such as that of the Los Angeles Lakers star Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s nonsensical 1984 deal that proposed to pay him “a million dollars a year for next 25 years” to a pair of astronomical 1993 rookie deals that gave then Golden State Warriors’ forward/center Chris Webber a 15-year $74.4 million dollar contract and then Orlando Magic guard Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway a “100% guaranteed” 13-year $68 million dollar contract.

These days, the most “stars” can get is a 5 to 6 year deal depending on several factors. But not everyone can get a great deal (or a guaranteed deal for that matter…) and that’s where this story begins.

Mercury News sports writer and blogger Tim Kawakami has been watching the NBA Golden State Warriors for quite some time. In this particular entry, Kawakami described a really funny story involving several of the Warriors’ international players, forward/center Andris Biedrins (GSW’s starting center) and forward Nikoloz Tskitishvili (out of the NBA).

Andris Biedriņš scores on the flush against the Mavericks' Keith Van Horn

Best story with Andris is when I asked him a couple years ago if the Warriors should pay Tskitishvili to stick around. “Yes!” Biedrins said immediately. Why? “Because he’s COOL!” Biedrins said. That’s worth what? I said. “Millions,” Biedrins said. “Come on, being cool is worth a couple million.” And damn, he almost convinced me. Didn’t convince the Warriors, though.

Hehehe…now if only life were THAT easy we would all be cool and millionaires to boot

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Now playing: Prince – Vicki Waiting
via FoxyTunes