I was able to capture just about every scoring play of our 2012 Upward Hoops season. Here are all the videos which encompass all seven games, including nearly the full last game against the Clippers.

Games 1 & 2

Games 3 & 4

Games 5 & 6

Game 7 against the Clippers

We recently finished our latest basketball season and thus, the year end video.

Brian shot and directed his first YouTube video in which JJ and their friend Brandon had a “Dougie” contest.

This used to be my playground.

But it’s not so much anymore. And I’m not exactly sure why. I still write a ton and probably write twice as much as I used to when I was updating this blog every few days. But now, instead of writing about whatever it is I used to write about, I’m writing about sports or music or fighting and just not that much about myself. I still talk about my kids all the time, but it’s now on Facebook or Twitter, or I tell their stories in video form.

Why write?

I think the reason I used to share so much in this place was two fold.

1. I liked showing off my family.
2. I liked being in control of my own narrative.

I still like showing off my family. But I think I’ve shied away from communicating about my inner thoughts because life changes so quickly and what you’re happy about at one moment can change so quickly. Things aren’t always how you want them to be. And you don’t want to look like a hypocrite.
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Check out the year-end video for the Upward 49ers. JJ and Bri were able to play with their cousin Ryland.

If you want to watch it in 720p, click the actual video and watch it on YouTube. It looks pretty sweet in full screen too.

JJ had to do a commercial based on a book he read for a book report. In the commercial, he had to showcase a cereal based on the events in the book. He chose “Roberto And Me” which is a fantasy style book about a kid who can time travel to meet baseball players through their baseball cards.

Brian plays the great Roberto Clemente though we didn’t have any Pittsburgh Pirates gear. And we had to use the famous line, “Beisbol has been berry, berry good to me,” which I know wasn’t associated with Clemente. I always thought it was associated with Orlando Cepeda, but Garrett Morris popularized it on Saturday Night Live.

I shot some video (well, some means nearly every play) of our flag football game last weekend.

Ryland is the running back, JJ the wide receiver, and Brian is the QB.

I’m coaching flag football again this year and of course, Brian and JJ are on my team again. But this year, what makes it even more special is that Ryland is on the team as well.

They just had their first game and it was a blast.

Ryland scored the first touchdown of the game on a swing pass from Brian. We converted the two-point conversion by going right back to the same play. JJ then scored our second touchdown on a reverse.

This is Brian’s last year, but I’ll have JJ and Ryland (if he decides that he wants to continue playing) for two more seasons. We may be creating a dynasty.

Brian told me this year that he wanted to be like a third coach on the field. So, as our main QB, I’m giving him the freedom to run the team as much as he can. He had a chance to call some of his own plays, and even called the plays when JJ was quarterback. My goal by the end of the season is to have him call every play without me having to be in the huddle even once.

They play on Saturdays in Gilroy either at 9 or 10AM. After most games, we head over to get frozen yogurt. We call it “Winner’s fro-yo”.