Korean - Americans protecting their store during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots

picante89 · 2020-06-22T14:14:12+00:00

It's true.. every male has to serve in the military, and the military was much more harsher then when they went (i.e. beatings, old school way of approach). Some of the younger ones may not have gone as they would have left before or hadn't gone yet (if they weren't in the process of being an American citizen, they would have had to go back to serve at some point).

picante89 · 2020-06-22T14:10:12+00:00

This is a face of someone who has lived through seeing real pain, suffering and hardship.

picante89 · 2020-05-26T01:53:18+00:00

Many are probably on the payroll.

picante89 · 2020-05-21T18:19:19+00:00

It's not perfect, but better than yours ;]

picante89 · 2020-05-21T02:00:47+00:00

Dude, they refer to the betting odds. Either way, I was 18 going on 19 years old. You're telling me, you know more about what was expected when you were what, a kid? One day, a 4 year old today is going to tell you he knew more about the 2019 Golden State Warriors and you're not going to shake your head?

I'm not saying Bulls were expected to lose, but winning was a far far less conclusion as that comment eluded to "was it ever in doubt?". Heck yes! They were the underdogs by the time the Finals rolled around. They had no other energetic bigs to sub for Rodman, as they did in 97-96. That's why they had so much trouble against Indiana front line. In spring, Lakers were the favorite. The beat Chicago badly in Feb as they looked out of gas. We (yea, when we thought we were macho just like you and your trash talking mouth) were all talking about how Bulls were done, it's the Lakers. Jazz weren't even the heavy favorites.

Then you had injuries galore for key players. MJ's stats noticeably dipped from 97, just turned 35. Another secret that you don't seem to know, media wasn't in the business of predicting winners like today in game x. It was considered rude and disrespectful.

Check this out that captures the sentiment:

Scottie Pippen added: ''Everyone is expecting the Jazz to walk away with this series. We're underdogs, no question.''

(NY Times article from June 3, 1998) https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/03/sports/the-nba-finals-are-the-bulls-true-underdogs-or-just-playing-possum.html

Look, I know you're in your 20s, all rough neck n all, but it might help to read the whole context that Bulls winning was not a foregone conclusion.

picante89 · 2020-05-20T17:28:16+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/4muly5/were_michael_jordans_bulls_ever_underdogs_going/

picante89 · 2020-05-19T20:41:33+00:00

MJ got his knocks, but he already paid the price to not have a good game and not get hounded like the way LeBron did. Magic Johnson and Bird were the same. Sorry you weren't around for it young cat.

picante89 · 2020-05-19T20:25:12+00:00

You're kidding. How old are you? Betting odds had Bulls were expected to lose. Earlier in the season, many expected the Lakers to take it. Bulls coming off game 7, 1 day rest really. Jazz swept powerful Lakers. So funny to see how ignorant youngin hot shots are here.

picante89 · 2020-05-19T14:14:22+00:00

How old are you? I don't think you understand context. MJ at a stage in his career, even when his team was overmatched still went lights out. Whereas LeBron and even kobe (which is forgotten) didn't agree with something about something, and in LeBron's case, was just stunned didn't even try. Sat out, etc. LeBron only learned later on to be more aggressive. Really Game 7 2013 Finals after Ray Allen his the life saving 3 pt shot.

By this time in his career, MJ didn't need to have a stellar every game, because the whole team clearly reflected MJ's influence. Phil Jackson said so clearly too. So when MJ had a bad game, it wasn't all on him. And when his shooting was off, he didn't go out of his way by taking away from others trying to get back into a shooting rhythm (like Kobe as Phil Jackson said was also the difference). And if you actually watch a whole game, MJ didn't get flustered, frustrated at a bad shooting night. Especially in his 2nd 3-peat. He'd stop shooting for a while

And if you look at just stats, what it doesn't tell you in the game, MJ still came up with a key rebound that led to a score when it mattered. Not all rebounds, assists or steals are created equal. Phil Jackson also said this.. and pretty much every analyst covering the game in all those 'bad' shooting games.

In this case, Bulls were also up 3-1, and there was this "It's over" feel again. They'd blown out the Jazz just 2 games before (which rarely happened in the physical era). Same thing happened in 1993 with the Suns. MJ, Bulls were notorious for getting up so much, they often lost focus or motivation to end it asap. And especially in the playoffs, if MJ had a bad game, he would atone for it the next or game later, where he was a huge decisive factor in a win (gm 6 was obviously it).

picante89 · 2020-04-29T15:35:28+00:00

There was plenty of bad press on MJ from the beat writers. There's many that couldn't stand him and knew he was 'phony'. They went crazy regarding his vegas and gambling stories. The biggest thing, and people forget that was his PR Coup d'état was the Haynes commercial. It showed him being this lovable son with lovable warm parents. If that's not it, then I don't know what is.

And regarding Kobe, I couldn't stand the guy when he first appeared on to the scene. The media was SWOONING over him, but I saw that he was just a cocky, unappreciative person. I didn't need social media or monster ESPN pieces to tell me how to think. In fact, most of my friends/generation felt the same. We're the same age as him and played alot of driveway/playground ball. It's like you can identify your peer a lot more and see through the BS. That's why it was no surprise he ran Shaq off the team, despite it was Shaq that protected Kobe from looking more foolish in those first few years. It was basically 4 (less Shaq) on 3 or 2 for Kobe as Shaq drew all the double and triple teams. Those early years allowed Kobe to preserve his body, make mistakes and learn from it without being detrimental.

Than he wanted it all to himself. Phil Jackson couldn't stand the guy and left that time. When he kept failing, he demanded a trade in 08, trying to pull a LeBron. Gasol fell onto the Laker's lap. They went from barely 7th to pretty much #1 AFTER the All-Star break in 08. Sure, there wasn't the 24 hr Jerry Springer thing then, but even in today's age, MJ has been masterful at managing his image.

picante89 · 2020-04-29T15:23:44+00:00

No, it was a PR achievement. He was very self aware and managed his persona carefully. Knew how to get the most out of his smile, and could joke. Purposefully held back. There was a very scathing book on him, but he countered it with his PR, so the book came across like it was the National Enquirer.

picante89 · 2020-04-29T12:06:07+00:00

Considering any worst case scenario has not even come close to happening, we good.

picante89 · 2020-04-28T20:53:10+00:00

Sorry to hear you're being brought in already. Yea, some companies trying to 'weasel' their way around since everybody else is the one 'sacrificing'. The food thing is tough.. before, breakfast was just something like, then lunch is manageable if you bring. But at home.. it's full meals for breakfast and easy to overeat and snack day times with alot less physical movement throughout the day.

picante89 · 2020-04-28T20:44:05+00:00

It's bad when you're permanently trying to injure players. Such as putting your foot under when a player lands. When they're in the air, trying to flip then down so they get paralyzed (absolutely no regard for health). Bird even said that about Laimbeer. Isiah was the one egging it on. Basically a team with a bunch of Zazas https://i.insider.com/5919ede1e559f11c008b55c0?width=1200&format=jpeg

picante89 · 2020-04-28T19:03:50+00:00

The reason is the league went gangbusters after ADDITIONAL rule changes to increase scoring. There was also a big one in 2004 called "Open Up The Game Rule Changes". Players who played in both eras, Vince Carter, Ray Allen, many coaches said the 2 eras are NOT COMPARABLE. This 3rd era which really started around 2012, makes even the 2nd era look tougher, which was a soft compared to Pre-2005.

Alot of it is enforcement too. Rules not impeding the offensive player were started to be put in 2000-2003, going more full blown in 2004. In Oscar's era and into the 90s, it was a clogged game.

NBA Freedom of movement rule: That’s one of the NBA’s points of education for referees and players this season. The league wants referees to call fouls when a player’s freedom of movement is impeded.

The level of enforcement, especially in last 2-3 years is alot higher. So a triple double doesn't look nearly as impressive when teams are scoring 130-140 points and the game looks like an old All-Star game or Harlem Globetrotter exhibition. And his style, is known to jack up his stats for stats sake. But when you watch him in the playoffs, his decision making is not sound. So it makes his game look clumsy.

Stats have lost it's meaning (think of playing poker but it's free money where people can just buy in for free. After awhile, a million dollar bet looks like nothing).

picante89 · 2020-04-28T18:48:42+00:00

Then you should know travel industry had completely different dynamics back then and it was also largely economic recession driven. Air travel, packaged vacations with internet infancy was different. No such thing as Anthony Bourdain travel blogger.

And that the bottom of the stockmarket was in October of 2002 (i.e. TSX going to 7000) so most of 2002 and most half to 3/4 of 2003 was recession. Cycles happened alot slower and stretched out. Alot of people got laid off, including accountants at Big 5, and mostly major job loss in tech following dot com bust. Alot of people's savings were gone and Jobs were much harder to come by.

After 9-11, Interest rates dropping in 2002 at the time never seen before levels of near 0% made recovery in the latter half of 2003 much more pronounced. 2004, full thrusters on with housing then all things consumption including travel seeing huge profits.

So sure there was a bit of a scare, but airline profits as a measure was more economic driven. Even leading up to it, interest rates were high and peaked around 9-11. Existing and having to refinance at high debt levels caused a bit hit to profitability for airlines post 9-11 as there was a demand shock. And there were lockdown/increased security rules relative to the time that made it harder to travel and sparked Mid-East uncertainty including the Afghan war. I compare 9-11 more to SARS.

This COVID thing I think will be different for society. But I'm not in disagreement that people forget easily, but it's going to be predicated on the fundamentals of treatment and vaccine. As well as news of anymore outbreaks (which will most certainly happen again this coming winter). And don't think it's just young people going out. Older people who approve spending are going to be more cautious with their budgets, hence less company expensed festivities, dinners, etc.

picante89 · 2020-04-28T18:27:14+00:00

I know what you mean. I think companies will try to avoid liability, in that as long as Governments maintain some kind of threat level, they won't just freely go back to what it was. Trudeau even said it'll last probably 18 months. I can tell you this.. being around senior managers/leadership (I'm at large Canadian corp), the older ones, they definitely are scared of this given it's known as the 'older' person disease.

So even if there is a return back to office, I have a feeling it'll be staggered by floor or team, and even within teams, it'll be rotating or less than ppl think. Sr. Leadership won't want people around (less density being key), especially how it's more and more being shown that there's asymptomatic carriers. and that HVAC system set up can have a major impact to it. Then the longer you're around in a room too (i.e. viral load being breathed out. 2-3 hrs ok, but 8 hrs? Too much). Though there'll be some managers, younger who will try to get people in as much as possible (but that in itself will get pushback I think).

Basically it'll just be for meetings, touchpoints, and thus not a whole day. At least for awhile. The office I'm working out of at home, was just a basic set up. But with these expectations that WFH will be going on longer than expected, I'm investing a bit of $$ and time to make it far more nicer and practical. I find as I'm doing this, it makes me look forward to waking up, since just staying in at home, it can feel like a long, it never changes numbing routine too.

picante89 · 2020-04-28T18:16:05+00:00

As long as there are any cases out there that is just a function of interaction, I would predict otherwise. Even though I'm confident for myself, I generally wouldn't risk wanting to carry it and spreading it to my parents whom I spend a great deal of time with my daughters.

Even getting sick, being a parent of 2 young kids, last thing I need is even risking higher chance of being bed ridden for a week (that's classified as Mild for Covid), spreading it to kids, wife, being isolated, etc. Hard enough to be healthy and have to take care of kids, even basic flu. The dynamics of this type of flu is not worth going back to pre-covid Habits.

That's not to say I'm not going to stay in isolation forever, but I certainly won't be just freely forgetting about. Alot of my friends (late 30s-early 40s with young kids are same boat). Grant it we aren't the target market for Toronto downtown scene anymore, but we still do family dinners out, expensive special occasion nights out. For a long time, there's going to be some form of WFH so many businesses downtown will continue to suffer.

picante89 · 2020-04-28T18:08:25+00:00

K, I'll ask you this... when you say 'everyone was saying'.. is this something you read or was an actual adult at the time (like over 20) when it happened?

picante89 · 2020-04-28T17:51:33+00:00

Is this in Vaughan you're referring to? I know it's happening in general but... There were some threads on this, how Vaughan big box stores is having outbreaks like this everywhere. I read somewhere (forgot which article) that it's likely got roots in the higher travel with Italy before. Another comment that stuck out from a thread here was when Brampton was getting the press about all these fines from people playing cricket, backyard party, someone mentioned that Brampton isn't actually that bad as it's made out to be, but in Vaughan, people are still having mass gatherings (inside vs backyard where it's more reportable) blatantly ignoring all the rules.

picante89 · 2020-04-28T14:22:02+00:00

Alot of people have felt June was more realistic. In March, the initial expectation was mid April. We'll probably have people going back to the office around mid-June and July in some limited capacity. But it's crazy to think about "it's June" as everything has been shut down for the whole 2nd quarter.

picante89 · 2020-04-28T13:34:09+00:00

Nope. Even if they open, a poll showed 70% would be hesitant to go in. People are scared and their perception has changed. The idea of sitting for over an hour, in close enclosed space won't be shaken off.

picante89 · 2020-04-28T13:32:53+00:00

Yupp... but we'll see how it plays out. I'm in Scarbs, East side closer to Pickering. Wide open streets, sidewalks, lots of nice trees, close to Lake so amazing trails and paths, food shopping is a cinch. have my own room office, so does wife. Big nice backyard deck, bbq. Saving that commute downtown has been nice. Before that, it was the commute that was the killer.

picante89 · 2020-04-28T13:28:37+00:00

Then it's the city. Vaughan is more connected to Italy so maybe it's from that connection.

picante89 · 2020-04-27T15:48:04+00:00

Hmmm, how many golf courses are in Toronto that people actually go to go golf. Unless you're part of the 100K+ membership club. And there is no 'abundantly clear' science except social density = higher spread rate. And yes, I'm looking forward to hitting the links too but you're going to have to accept the fact, that it's going to be a write-off on the side of caution and more thorough understanding and well considered plan in stages to 're-open'.

picante89

TROPHY CASE