I'm Devastated

 I was very frustrated with the Phoenix Suns Game 4 loss last night over the Bucks'.  It has came to a best of 3 now and the longer this goes now the higher chances that it will come down to the little things which Milwaukee has been doing well. 

I still like Phoenix in the series but only if they win Game 5. That would guarantee them at least going to seven. A lower scoring game I still think favors the Suns but on the other hand having it go to a game where the margins are slim isn't fun. 

Hearing Bucks in six makes me sick. As if they have something against us. They need thicker skin. Suns in 4 really only applies to the Denver series. The last two series its been used just because.  

Game 5 is bigger than 7 right now because of the fear of losing four straight. If we get to Game 7 and we lose well it will sting but at least we can say we gave it our all. I'm not ready to go there yet. We showed enough last night to keep me confident for Saturday but Middleton scares me more than Giannis at this point. 

I am having a hard time writing anymore at this point. I want to remind fans however enjoy this next week. Your lucky as a sports fan if you get a ride like this every decade. The ride is what fans get jealous of when their team is losing. I got jealous of Golden State and Oklahoma City when they marched their way to the Finals in this last decade. For Golden State, winning the Title was just a formality. Especially the second and third time. 

But I understand the pain and suffering. The dark moments will make the great ones special.  

The Big Event in Sports on Tuesday

 Well, I'm on summer vacation and don't have any work for over seven weeks. I have always wanted to be off work and the chance to reflect on where I am, where I was and where I want to be. 

I want to help people but I struggle to know where to start. This world amazes me how so many people can be so dialed in on so many levels and some people can be so lost. 

Sports are a great equalizer for me. I think its great how so many inspirational stories can come from sport. When I'm watching sports or looking up sports facts I don't notice my disability. This is important because I need to do anything in my power to have my disability be non existent. 

People that say that is impossible don't really have a understanding of how flexible life can be. The goal of life should be to have as much fun as possible and being the least stressed as possible. As long as you can be happy, the amount of money someone has is meaningless. 

Chase your dreams and be happy. All it takes is one good break in your life to set your whole life up for success. The key is to flush out all the negative people that think your going to fail. I have been there and its one of the worst spots to be in. 

Something that takes my mind off those struggles in soccer and in particular the UEFA Champions League. With over 1000 soccer teams in Europe, being part of the Champions League should be special. The Group Stage isn't what it used to be but the way that its set up now should create more potential with the Europa Conference League will be fun. 

Team 1	Agg.	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Fola Esch	1	Lincoln Red Imps	2–2	13 Jul
Slovan Bratislava	2[A]	Shamrock Rovers	2–0	13 Jul
Malmö FF	3	Riga	1–0	13 Jul
Bodø/Glimt	4	Legia Warsaw	2–3	14 Jul
Connah's Quay Nomads	5	Alashkert	2–2	14 Jul
HJK	6	Budućnost Podgorica	3–1	13 Jul
CFR Cluj	7	Borac Banja Luka	3–1	13 Jul
Shkëndija	8	Mura	0–1	13 Jul
Teuta	9	Sheriff Tiraspol	0–4	13 Jul
Dinamo Tbilisi	10	Neftçi Baku	1–2	14 Jul
Maccabi Haifa	11	Kairat	1–1	14 Jul
Ludogorets Razgrad	12	Shakhtyor Soligorsk	1–0	13 Jul
Ferencváros	13	Prishtina	3–0	13 Jul
Žalgiris	14	Linfield	3–1	13 Jul
Flora	15	Hibernians	2–0	13 Jul
Dinamo Zagreb	16	Valur	3–2	13 Jul

  Second legs of the first round of four rounds to get to the Group Stage. Most of these teams wouldn't have a chance in the group stage but the attempt is fun to see how it unfolds. 

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What will Determine the NBA Finals?

 The NBA Finals are set to begin in Phoenix on Tuesday night. I have been a Suns fan since 2014 and was frustrated when they started to tank in 2015-2016. Getting to the Finals seems like something from a video game system. 

If the Suns win this year, we could see a change in the way that GM's go about their business. In my 22 years of watching the NBA its been a trend where if you don't have one of the three best players, your chances of winning are almost nothing. 

The Bucks will pose the greatest threat for the Suns so far this season. As long as we can steal one in Milwaukee than we should be in business. 

I think the series will come down to health of Gannis Antententkompo. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middletown are playing too well right now for them to lose if Antententkompo is healthy. The last three years the Bucks have been a very dangerous team and this might be there year. Their three point shooters scare me which may cancel out one of the Suns best strengths. 

I would almost be more comfortable if the Bucks had home advantage. Holding serve at home might be tough. Here are a few things to keep in mind. If it goes seven, Game 7 will be a really low scoring game. This is what gave Cleveland a big advantage in 2016. This should favor the Suns. 

The fact that both games were decided by one point makes me feel like all games will be close. The Suns have won a lot of games close this year but I'm wondering if that trend can continue for one more series. 

Lastly, if we can exploit the Bucks defensively than we have a shot. Game 1 is a must win as not winning Game 1 will put a lot of pressure on the Suns. Experience is with the Bucks but the margin is small. The thing of hope that I'm clinging on too is that if the Bucks were so unstoppable they would have won the last two years. This means that we aren't dealing with a juggernaut and we do have a shot at this.  

Canada Basketball Needs More Culture and Less Talent

 Another heartbreaking loss for the Canadian Men's basketball team has put fresh salt in a old wound that just won't close. 

Not even eight NBA players playing in their own country could get it done. To say that I'm surprised wouldn't be accurate as this is more of a rules thing than anything else. If we played the NBA rules I think we are the much superior team and Canada goes on to win by 30. The FIBA rules closes the talent gap between teams and creates for a much more competitive game. 

To add insult to injury, there is just not the opportunity for our players to get the FIBA experience they need. This likely won't change either. The NBA owners won't let their players go on international breaks like FIFA and this new format only works if its best on best. 

Canada was ranked 21st coming into the tournament and I would be shocked if that number goes higher. I for one haven't figured out how the rankings work. People shrug this off but this is how we ended up with a Group of Death in China and this weekend. Our group would have been harder if it wasn't for hosting this tournament but easier if we weren't ranked so low.. 

 By 2023 there could be 25 NBA players from Canada. Again, that doesn't mean anything if you don't have the right players. I'm not sure there was anything Nick Nurse could have done better. Canada just wasn't able to drive inside as much as they wanted to because of the Czech Republic size. 

The format was also altered which I believe put Canada at a huge disadvantage. Most likely, the old format which would have been the 2019 FIBA Americans in where Canada would have probably battled Argentina for the last Olympic berth. Not sure if Canada is better than Argentina but it would have been nice to find out.    

The pain is real but there is two things that are holding the Canadian Men's team back. One is experience and the other is the depth around the globe. Lithuania, Serbia and Croatia all were bronze medal contenders all also failed to make the Olympics. 

We are too guard orientated to win short tournaments like this. I wish I had the answers as well. I would be all for having every Province go to FIBA rules but I don't know much of a difference that would make. Canada produces talent but it isn't producing enough B-talent. The problem with this is if the A talent aren't committed to playing for the National team than there is a big drop off. 

To add to this, Canada hasn't developed the culture that some European countries have. This will be hard for Canada to develop. 

Look at USA, they win because they almost make it so relentless that it leaves who there playing with no margin for error. If Canada can't get to that relentless level than we need FIBA Experience. 

I hated the new format six years ago and I still hate it. Qualifying for the Olympics through how well a team does at the World Cup is not how things should be done.     

Has Canada Finally Turned the Corner for Good?

 This week we the make or break 10 days for the Canadian Men's National team. Four games that will decide if Canada will be in the eight team group for CONCACAF WCQ. The competition isn't the final four games in last years qualifying leading up to the Hex but I'm just as nervous. 

In the early 2000's. Canada's lack of scoring at home was the downfall to their World Cup changes. That was fixed in 2012 in thanks to a quickly taken free kick in a home qualifier against Panama that gave us a sprinkle of hope that we have turned the corner. At the time it was special but it turned out to be a false sense of hope. 

Canada turned the corner when they got Junior Hoillett. Ever since, the eligible Canadians have for the most part chose to play for Canada. Davies, David are others that could be playing elsewhere. The optimism just feels real this time around. 

The negative feel that the media and talk shows leading up to past international windows isn't around. It might still come if they clash with Haiti next week. 

The Suriname game would be the greatest heartbreak in Canadian Sport history. We have had hard losses before in other sports but expectations are never really too high. 

There was the early exit in 1990 WCQ to Guatemala. However this years roster has so much talent and the extra games leading up to 2026 are crucial. 

The next 10 days will tell us if we are on the right track or was this all hype. I really hope we are on the right track because opportunities like this don't come around very often. I have given up hope in CONCACAF doing us any favors. 

Next Year Will Determine if 2020 was a Fluke or Not

 I've given it some time. Almost a week in fact, I had meant to get this out sonner but had a sore arm since Thursday because of my vaccine shot. In the last few days since it was determined that General Manager Jim Benning will be back next season, the outpouring of disbelief from Canucks fans on Twitter is alarming. 

If you are a Canucks fan that believes that Jim Benning has not done a good job the last few years, I really want you to look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself what's wrong with yourself. For starters, this team was nine wins a way from winning the Stanley Cup last year. If that's not a signal of the end of the rebuild I don't Know what is. The Canucks have transitioned from rebuild to a emerging playoff contender and for me that is progress. 

This doesn't mean that there won't be easy but to group 2021's struggles with 2018's struggles is completely off course. Jim Benning could have not predicted Covid 19 and in the old divisions Vancouver would have only missed the playoffs by three points. 

The other part to remember is that Vancouver went 4-10 against Canadian teams last year and we saw more of the same this year as we finished 23-29-4 and we missed Pettersson for a good portion of the season. I have no hard feelings with Benning letting Tanev, Markstrom and Levio go, they all went to Calgary and they didn't finish much better than Vancouver. Possibly, Tyler Toffoli would have made this team better but I was ok that he left because of the amount of cap space we had or lack of it. Not to mention the conditional pick we would have lost as well. 

The bottom line is, these circumstances bought us a year to try to experiment with things we might have not been able to otherwise and again I see that as progress. Most teams have a brumby start after their rebuild. Colorado didn't get things right four years ago and had to change paths and now are even better, Calgary missed the playoffs in 2016 after looking like the 2009 Blackhawks in 2015. Edmonton missed the playoffs as well after having a good run in 2017. They are still looking for answers four years later. 

We need to trust the process and enjoy the fact that we have stability in management. Making the playoffs isn't guaranteed next year but that will make it all the more special next year if we do. This year was a very hard year to judge so I'm willing to give Benning and Green the benefit of the doubt. However, missing the playoffs next year will make 2020 feel like it was an anomaly.  

This last week has proven how unpredictable the NHL playoffs can be and because of that, there is not much point in worrying about if ands and buts. I believe we will get there by 2023 at the latest and I'm trying to do my best to enjoy how things come together. 

By no means is this a 2016 rebuild. Linden and ownership delayed the first rebuild as well and that can't be on Benning. 

My key goal if I was GM would be to keep surrounding our young stars with talent. I often compare our core with the 2002 core. I like this core better and it's younger and more diversified. As long as this time around we don't let our assets depreciate too much before they move on or retire, we should be looking at playoffs the next 8 out of 13 years. I would sign up for that right now but it's all about getting appropriate return on our superstars when the time comes. That's what the early 2000's foundation was built on and why we had a great run from 2001-2013. 

In contrast, we let our superstar players depreciate and walk for not much return in the last seven years that we have had a turbulent rebuild along with some bad drafting before Jim Benning. 

I'm not saying it is that easy but I love how our core is built and we just have to move around few pieces here and there. 

I'm just not willing to blame anyone yet. I cling to hope that this is just a market correction with a team that is headed in the right direction.  

Society Gives Backwards Advice Which Holds People Back

 My goals are simple, find a platform to be recognized and form some publicity. I will have something licensed soon and I pledge to work harder than anyone else to achieve my goals. 

The things that get people into debt is when they think something is a need and really a want. 

Challenge: Make more money than you lose. I headed penny stocks with sports betting and it was a huge success. It's not easy but at the same time have money that is being invested in stocks and Crypto will make up for any sports betting losses and vice versa. Also, create a small business that can make you look forward to Monday morning.

People say if "I would have only known about Netflix or Amazon stock before it was big". Then why don't you start following stocks now. Don't live in the past. Fix your mistakes to live in the future. 

The other step to this is to have a job that you can rely on so that you enjoy. 

It's not a get rich quick scheme but over time things can payoff because chances are one of these four things will be successful. 

Make sure there is is at least 3k that always sits in your savings that you don't touch. The object is to always be two mortgage/rent payments ahead of the game. Therefore, there is no emotion in any loses or stock market decline. 

Limit your day job to 20 hours a week. You just need something to bring in about $900-1,800. Enough to cover rent for that month. Find a hobby that makes you want to stay inside. This is crucial. Note, having kids changes the game plan quite a bit. 

Set goals that still fit if your money goes down. Something that goes along with this is you have to be flexible of where your going to live. People can afford a down-payment in states like Nebraska or Iowa but instead choose to go broke in San Fransico or Seattle. 

No point complaining about your lack of money when your living in a expensive city. Very contradicting if you ask me. 

Peoples goals often don't fit reality which get them farther behind. I really believe that financial advice is not given accurately because the advisor doesn't know the full story because the client isn't comfortable giving the full story. 

Fortunately, I am single which believe me keeps the costs down. I get PWD which gives me a the opportunity to be strategic in my investments and goals. Most people don't understand that. All you need is one 3x return on a stock to get ahead. People also think having a car is need. That's fine but understand getting financial freedom will take longer.   

1st step is to figure what it costs to live per month. 

2. Ask yourself, how much you want to save per month. If the answer is only 100. That's fine, put half in a secret account that takes risks. The other half goes into a savings and not touched until you need it. 

3. Vacations money should only be spent if you have extra. I mean, if you really want to go there make steps to live in said place or tie it in with something that can make you money in the future. Vacations are easier when your with other people as the price of a hotel is not worth it if your single. 

I see so many people struggle because their goals contradict their situation. There is nothing wrong with renting if your still increasing your net worth every year. 

Be honest with yourself though. If you want good advice you have to paint a good picture of your situation to an advisor.