LOVE OR HATE ME

Friday is a day I will never forget. My students decided to ask me if they can borrow one of my Lakers jerseys for No Uniform Day. I’ve been doing this for years, letting the kids wear my jerseys, but this time the Lakers were not in the Playoffs. I brought them out anyway. I received the most love despite having been defeated, and these students had the courage to go out and display the team and of course to support me. Sadly, my students received the most hate for wearing them. At the end of the day my students told me every single hate remark that others made. I know exactly who those people are although there were a few surprises. It was bitter day for them and sweet for me. I guess these haters never had anybody who has worn their jersey to represent them especially their own personalized one like mine with #83, so it was obvious envy on their part. The leader of the pack, the one in the middle that wore my jersey defended and represented well. I was very proud of all of them. One of my friends said that I’m special to my students for them to do that. That was a powerful statement. I'm thankful for the love! <3

Not one of those haters ever said a word to me only to the students. My question is why do people have a difficult time supporting what others love and represent, despite their race, social class, upbringing, or even something as small as their favorite team? Everyone has the freedom to express themselves and is entitled to their own opinion. This shouldn’t be taken away from anyone especially a kid. To me, that's another form of bullying, this along with suicides is what we are trying to put a stop to. Hypocrisy? Things like this reveal people’s true colors and those are the individuals, young or old that I do not trust. I don’t trust those people because if I root for L.A. whether I’m from there or not they automatically classify me as the enemy. As if the Lakers did something to their loved ones for them to have so much hate. They win championships, 16 total so far. They are like the New York Yankees you either love them or hate them. The fans of those teams you either love them or hate them as well, just because they are fans. It’s the team that should receive the hate why are the fans getting ugly looks? Why are they being attacked? Wow! Here's why:

They can hate me all they want, half of them are not true fans because they jump on bandwagons and the others can continue to be miserable while the Lakers and Yankees win championships. By the way I’m a Los Angeles Dodgers fan. I have friends that are Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, and Midland Lee High School Rebels fans and I never hold that against them or bash them when those teams don’t succeed if anything out of love and respect for them I’ll jump on their bandwagon when their team has a title shot, but that doesn’t give me the right to bash others because I would only be a bandwagon “fake” fan in support of my friends. To those that don’t hate I’ll see you around, I trust you, we should hang out and Bar-B-Q, travel the world together, and I’ll make room for the Lakers bandwagon because there’s lots of room for next year’s championship run because you matter and you don’t mind. To the rest of you, well, you’re not important to me.

The biggest criticism that has existed for 6 years is: Coach Nunez’s Spanish students don’t learn anything besides Lakers. Really? I think you discredit the entire school system if you say or believe that. I know for a fact that ALL teachers bust their behinds all year-round and work long hours show up early in the morning and/or leave late at night. There’s no doubt, even the ones that don’t like to teach are forced to meet expectations because it’s part of the job assignment, there’s no getting away with not working hard if you’re involved with Education. One teacher doesn’t necessarily work harder than another everyone gives everything they have to submit their paper work and deal with the everyday problems in the classroom. Whenever you point your finger, there are more fingers pointing back at you. Lastly, don’t worry about others, worry about yourself.

The superintendent has been trying figure out how to deal with this suicide issue with our youth in Midland. Here’s my solution. Teachers like myself, should spend more time loving and caring for the kids, and less time sending them to detention or the office. Somewhere on that mission statement should have the word "Love" afterall it's a commandment. Teachers like myself, should focus more about teaching life lessons rather than the curriculum. The curriculum is important, and if our scores are not up to par then yeah change these priorities, but if everything is in place then we need to find a creative way to show students a life lesson in our subject area. I’ve been doing this in my Spanish classes for 6 years that will always go unnoticed. Look at the above example with the girls wearing Lakers jerseys. I taught them to stand up for themselves even if the world was against them. They already had courage by putting on the jersey, but this experience taught them to persevere and not be ashamed about who they are and what they represented. That’s what I taught them and I didn’t even say a word only openned up the door and sent them loose. Yes, my students do learn about basketball in my classroom AND Spanish, History, Math, cultures, traditions, customs, about my experiences…the list goes on. I learn about them as well, their passion, life story, struggles, home life, and their strengths and weaknesses. Teachers find out more than you can imagine about kids and we use that to serve, teach, and inspire them.

We are in the business of loving kids, if we can’t love them even the naughty ones, then we can’t teach them or in some cases SAVE their lives. Nevertheless we need people that criticize. I love that kind of attention. I want my kids to have that attention as well because it will fuel them and they will fight to survive. It will cause them to break through walls, prove any doubters wrong, push to accomplish their goals, and do the impossible. Kids are lights and have bright futures. We should embrace that, not hate that. I know because I was once a kid, oh and the kid in me still lives. Can’t wait what’s in store for the next 6 years. More rings? Maybe, but one thing that’s for sure haters will still be criticizing about kids learning about Lakers in my classroom. I use what I'm passionate about as a tool. Some people just don’t get it. Here, this may sum it up:

Don't worry about what’s being taught, it's important but they are not going to remember it anyway. We should stress on what’s more important, LIFE. In the words of today's youth, "You only live once (YOLO)." Loosen up, quit hating, love your job, and love and enjoy your life. People do have a decision to make because everyone is entitled to their own opinion. This blog is not intended to persuade anybody to love me because even after reading this blog people are going to continue to love me, or hate me. I know I mentioned that I was not going to talk much about the Lakers, but some things just never change, so in the words of Kobe Bryant:

Love me or hate me, it’s one or the other, always has been. Hate my game, my hunger, hate my fade-a-way, my swagger (2012 best swagger award), hate that I’m a veteran (6 years), a champion (football, basketball, and track), hate that, hate it with all your heart, and hate that I’m loved for the exact same reasons.

It's okay kids, don't worry, the cream always rises to the top, Coach Núñez knows what he's doing, I think...haha! One of my beloved students wrote on my board earlier this year, and yes I took a picture of it because these young individuals inspire me, and teach me just as much, they are the true fighters in my book:

To my future students (2012-2013) at San Jacinto Junior High and Midland College this goes to you:

My basketball player told me at the beginning of my career in 2007, who is graduating this Saturday from MHS and will go on to play college ball, "Don't give up on us." I will never forget those words :'( The song of the month is by Jason Mraz - I Won't Give Up On Us.

God, Love & Basketball

No Lakers games until November. It was quite interesting this year from the Chris Paul trade being vetoed, the other trades, and the suspensions that happened just made a championship run difficult. As always, it was a fun experience in this year’s Playoffs: the crazy Lakers haircut design, Round 1 Game 7, the celebration during Round 2 Game 3, but this is where another season comes to an end.

Most people don’t understand what it’s like to be a fan. You’re not a fan until you endure and take defeats like a “champ” then you have the right to talk trash and can celebrate the victories or should I say championships, five and counting to be exact just to let you know. I’ve grown with the Los Angeles Lakers because they represent my city where I grew up. They represent my family because they ALL eventually have become Lakers fans. I won’t be talking about the Lakers much during my blogs for a while, since there won’t be any news only trade rumors, until after the Olympics. Like the Lakers it is time for me to go fishing and blog about other stuff but not before I take you deep into my world where my heart is, where I call my sanctuary.

In order to understand what the Lakers or the city of Los Angeles mean to me you have to understand what basketball means to me. Basketball is life! Basketball is not a joke, and I take it very serious, sometimes too serious, but it is what defines me. Honestly, although I’m listed as 5’7” I came to the understanding that I was born to play basketball. A midget stuck in a world of giants. You see, something happened when I picked up the ball for the first time in 3rd grade that sparked my destiny. I was selected to be the “ball monitor” by my teacher and I had to issue out all the sports equipment during recess: the football, soccer ball, hand ball, etc. Being the ball monitor had its privileges and that was that I had first dibs on what I wanted to check out, and so my friends told me to get the basketball. At that time, I never had played basketball in my life, but I began to learn quickly and I fell in love (coincidence #1). Yes, for you girls, I believe in love at first sight ;) You might be surprised, but I never really had a girlfriend, and I believe it is because I am too fixated on the game. Call it an obsession, call it weird, or call it whatever you want because everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Someday a girl will understand or maybe not, but I’m happy man, and you will always find me anywhere with a grin from ear to ear feeling like a million bucks, unless it’s after a loss. I’m going off topic. “Relationships” is for a different blog. Read on…

Playing the sport led to watching the professionals on television. I grew up in the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls era during the 80’s and 90’s. Everyone loved Magic and everyone wanted to be like Mike. The Lakers were not producing in L.A. after Magic Johnson’s shocking retirement due to the HIV virus that he contracted so it was the “Air Jordan” show for a while. In 1996 I moved to the Permian Basin and that meant I had to show my L.A. pride. I loved Jordan, but Los Angeles is what I stand for. That same year, Shaq was signed by the Lakers and Kobe Bryant was drafted from high school to the NBA. There was something about this Kobe kid that had greatness written all over him and drew early comparisons to Michael Jordan. Before I moved to Midland, Texas in 8th grade, my father bought me my first pair of Kobe Bryant shoes. Maybe it was coincidence, but I believe that it was part of the plan that I was going to take my talents to West Texas and begin a new life in Midland while Kobe began his career taking his talents to the NBA (coincidence #2).

I knew what it was like when Kobe and the Lakers were swept from the Playoffs three years in a row. Kobe was a rookie, and I was a rookie or newbie to the state of Texas trying to fit in and find an identity as an adolescent. As a student of the game I was playing for the Midland Bulldogs, whose colors by the way are purple and gold (coincidence #3). I believed in the Lakers, in the summer of 2000 before my senior year in high school the Lake Show finally became world champions, let just say it was the best summer of my life. You never forget your first. I started driving around Midland with my Lakers flag for the first time as the Lakers cruised through the NBA Playoffs again to repeat as champions in 2001. My mother and I shared a lot of time together especially during the Playoffs and the Lakers ended up winning their third championship in a row my freshman year in college in 2002. The next year just as I was going to graduate with my associate’s degree at Midland College, my mother became very ill. I did walk the stage that summer without my mother being present and sadly, the worst thing that could ever happened to a human being occurred when my mother passed away after battling cancer for almost 12 years in June 2, 2003.

I’d like to call the next couple of years of my life the “dark days” because without my mother it was difficult. After all, I was only 19 and I had to work 2-3 part-time jobs just to get by to pay my bills, my tuition and books, and attend college full-time so that I can finish my degree and be a certified teacher. To top it all off, I was having difficulty with a few people who were trying their best to make my life a living hell, but I knew that pain was only temporary and that I had a bright future ahead of me. Kobe had “dark days” of his own, when his life was forever changed because of accusation due to an incident in Colorado. No wonder the Denver Nuggets fans despise him, I guess many viewers were given more reasons to hate the player and might as well the game because they were quick to throw the stones. We weren’t going through the exact same thing, but I felt his pain, he was alone and the world wanted the best player in the game crucified (coincidence #4). I will never forget his words after showing up late to the game in Denver due to a court hearing just before the tip off only to hit the game winning shot as the final buzzard sounded. The interviewer asked him, “Kobe, how do you do it? Despite everything you’re going through, you managed to perform and pull these miracles.” Kobe responded, “I JUST THANK GOD EVERYDAY...I JUST TRUST IN GOD.” (coincidence #5)

My mother was and is my biggest inspiration in my life. She was the strongest women I know, raising 7 children, as a single parent and overcoming every obstacle that came her way, and I knew it was because of her strong faith. I used to go to church with her every Sunday and still do even if it’s alone thanks to her. I thank God every day as well for giving me so many gifts. The biggest gift of all was my angel in heaven who continues to look out for me and my brothers and sisters.

Lakers returned to the finals in 2004 and fell short to the Detroit Pistons. Their dynasty was broken up, trading Shaq, their head coach retired, and all the blame was on Kobe Bryant. The Lakers failed to make it to the playoffs in 2005 for the first time in decades. They returned to the Playoffs in 2006 and 2007 and were beaten in the first round both times by the Phoenix Suns. I graduated from UTPB in 2006 and I started a new career teaching at the school where it all began for me, San Jacinto Junior High. I chose SJ because of my history there and because they offered me to coach my favorite sport basketball (coincidence #6). Being a teacher is tough especially in middle school, and let’s put it this way that in 2006 and 2007, just like the Lakers were going through developmental years and rebuilding, I was also developing as a professional and it was challenging (coincidence #7). In 2008 I suffered the same injury as Kobe Bryant during a pickup game when I dislocated my finger and tore a few ligaments (coincidence #8). Unlike Kobe, I underwent surgery to repair the damages. Furthermore, for the first time I had an undefeated season as a basketball coach to win my 1st of 3 championships and the Lakers returned to the finals in 2008 (coincidence #9) only they fell short from the crown in an embarrassing loss to their all-time rival. They eventually won back to back titles in 2009 and 2010 avenging their 2008 loss to those green guys. I witnessed those finals live and attended both parades on Figueroa St. In 2011 and this year 2012 they were eliminated from the Playoffs in Round 2. Kobe Bryant said, 5/21/2012, after being eliminated by the Oklahoma Thunder: "Come hell or high water we're gonna be there again. It's just something about the Lakers' organization.” (coincidence #10?????) Migth be a future prediction, don't judge me, shhh!

My life has revolved somewhat around basketball, not necessarily the Lakers or Kobe Bryant, but I do keep the focus around God and what He wants for me because I’ve given my life to Him and at the end of the day, may His will be done. It is interesting that I have endured and grown with basketball and the Lakers comparing victories, defeats and injuries. I’ve gotten in fights, mostly verbal altercations all on the court, because let me tell you it’s an emotional and physical game. Anybody who plays or has played will tell you the same thing. All of that has allowed me to transition that competiveness and fight in me into my life. Basketball is a lot like life, you win some you lose some, ups and downs, good times and bad, you defend and score points, you turn it over and you assist someone, face opponents and built teammates or allies who assist you and help you get closer to the ultimate goal…I don’t know if I’ll ever play some type of pro basketball even if it’s in a minor league, I don’t know if I’ll be coaching for my entire life, but you can bet that basketball will always be in my life even if I’m a 50 year old man live at a game sitting next to Goldstein or Jack Nicholson courtside or if I’m the 50 year old man shooting baskets at a local gym or in my drive way. As long as God gives me the health and the energy, as long as it’s in His will, I will literally be facing giants on the court until the day I die. I’m always going to be the underdog that’s why people had attacked, are attacking, and will continue to attack me where my heart <3 is. It’s like attacking my Christian faith, my race, a family member, a love one, etc. and I may take it personal or I may brush it off, but just to let you know I’ll always have my guard up. I defend what I represent with my life. To me: “This is more than a game this is a passion.” Thank you for taking the time for reading. For that I love you too, almost as much as basketball.

Not Afraid

Yeah, It's been a ride...

I guess I had to go to that place to get to this one

Now some of you might still be in that place

If you're trying to get out, just follow me

I'll get you there...

And I just can't keep living this way

So starting today, I'm breaking out of this cage

I'm standing up, Imma face my demons

I'm manning up, Imma hold my ground

I've had enough, now I'm so fed up

Time to put my life back together right now

It was my decision to get clean, I did it for me

Admittedly I probably did it subliminally for you<3

So I could come back a brand new me, you helped see me through

And don't even realize what you did, believe me you

I been through the ringer, but they could do little to the middle finger

I think I got a tear in my eye, I feel like the king of

My world, haters can make like bees with no stingers

And drop dead, no more beef flingers no more drama from now on

I promise to focus solely on handling my responsibilities as a father

So I solemnly swear to always treat this roof, like my daughters

And raise it, you couldn't lift a single shingle on it!

Cause the way I feel, I'm strong enough to go to the club

Or the corner pub, and lift the whole liquor counter up

Cause I'm raising the bar, I'd shoot for the moon

But I'm too busy gazing at stars I feel amazing and I'm

Not afraid to take a stand

Everybody come take my hand

We'll walk this road together, through the storm

Whatever weather, cold or warm

Just lettin' you know that, you're not alone

Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road

"Not Afraid" by Eminem. Although I cut some of the lyrics off, the artist captures a strong feeling from his personal experience to make this a great song. This is an intense song that pumps me up, but I prefer the clean version. Everyone can relate to it. It is not Lakers related, but I randomly had to throw in some pics to describe their current situation in Round 2.

On a side note: Game 5 tomorrow...I still have hope for a Game 7;) just like I did during last year's elimination game when I went to Dallas to watch the Lakers live in Game 4. Never lose hope.

Hispanic Causing Panic

And the craziest and most exciting week award goes to __________.

Yes, this past week. Actually these past few weeks have been critical, and I’m not sure how I made it through. I wanted to do something crazy, as always, something that was going to get the youth’s attention, but at the same time not degrade what I represented. Also, I wanted to promote an exciting time of year for me, the 2012 NBA Playoffs. So I decided to contact the best in the local business that can do a design similar to what Metta World Peace had two years ago.

I knew I was going to hear a lot of criticism towards it, but I was willing to take the hits because I knew what that meant. It was worth the sacrifice and adds excitement because it’s fun to live on the edge. I wanted to be the first teacher/coach that can reach out to these kids in style. That’s what I’m about, I love fashion, I love what is new, and I love to be up to date in order to keep up with the kids that I deal with day in and day out. I’m like a cell phone constantly updating to the latest and greatest. My intentions always point back to the reason I got into teaching to inspire and influence kids in a positive way by the way I live. That’s my way of evangelizing. I’ve been doing this long before I became a teacher, but recently I’ve gone more public than ever before. Kids are easily influenced by negative lifestyles because that is all that gets promoted, so why not turn it around and show them an alternative. I do things like this to win them over. Once I have their attention then they really listen. Yes, teenagers do listen. It’s like magic.

The person responsible for the design above is a true artist. He is a Hispanic that is well known in town, my own students referred him to me, so I decided to contact him. It wasn’t easy, and when I got to his shop which was his garage at his own “pad” it was like I was in Los Angeles, my home. In L.A., it is easy to smell the smoke in the air, even more so since the legalization of marijuana, while viewing the graffiti on the walls and feeding off of the energy of the Hispanic culture that is very alive. These lively people literally put everything on the line for a better tomorrow. That’s what I admire most about being Chicano. I don’t want to send any wrong messages here because I’m 100% against smoking, alcohol, and drugs as I mentioned before in a previous blog. Personally, I don’t want any tattoos because 1. It marks God’s temple. 2. It’s permanent. 3. My body is already beautiful and if I want to make it better I can do it by adding muscle not ink. Tattoos look cool, but not for me. My older brother, Desert Storm veteran, received the following tattoo in 1992 that will forever change the way I feel about segregation:

I’m not a gangster, but the color of my skin and being American stereotypes me. When I was in 8th grade, at San Jacinto Junior High, where I currently teach, I was either a gangster or a kicker. Since I was American and spoke English, I was gangster, but because I spoke Spanish well, I was a kicker or “wet back”. I didn’t understand those stereotypes then like I do now. Everything is much clearer now. I see the world with different set of eyes then the youth because of my education and upbringing. I can relate to every single one of them. After all, not only was I once sitting in their seats, but I am one of the closest adult to their age. It’s all about youth. We must be like children and their innocence to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Even though every year I’m one year older, I feel one year younger. I’m never going to “grow up”. I understand! I understand all ethnicities. Without labeling by race, I understand all kids. The bad boys who think they are too cool for school, the ones that don’t speak English, the straight A students, the goodie-goods, the economically disadvantage, the wealthy, the preps, the jocks, the nerds. I understand because I represent every one of those groups. I like to call myself a new breed or shoud I say the last of a dying breed, who had to privilege to live all these lifestyles. I chose education as a career for a reason. I felt the call to serve the next generation or should I say my generation, not because I’m young also, but because it’s about having ownership. We are in this together if the kids fail, then we fail, that means I failed and I’m not talking about a state mandated standardized test. I'm not talking about TAKS, STAAR, THEA, SAT, CRE, etc. I’m talking about life.

As the week went by I had to remind myself, based on the movie Zombieland, rule #32 to survive in a zombie infested world: Enjoy the little things. Semester finals were hectic. Everything was due at the last minute. Plays, presentations, research paper, comprensivo, presentation, take home final, presentation, research paper, and research paper. It was worth it, and I should finish with straight A’s in the toughest semester, first time full time student as a graduate student. 2 more classes left for my Masters of Arts in Spanish. One class in Summer I Session and the last and final one in the Fall with the comprensivo attached to it. Life goes by so fast. We often forget the little things in life that make everything worthwhile. Live a little, dance like no one is watching and live like it’s heaven on earth. May 10th was Mother’s Day in Mexico, so I wanted to say happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers before this Sunday on Mother’s Day. May 10th was my father’s 75th birthday. He has walked this earth for three fourths of a century. I love my father the only father I have on this earth. I started teaching at Midland College again part-time in the evenings. I’m about to rock my student’s world. They are going to get a full dose of my enthusiasm and passion. My goal in the next few weeks is to blow them away while I’m teaching them remedial algebra. It’s going to be wild and crazy.

I’ve been under attack. It’s like I’m at war right now and I love it. Nothing new, I’ve been in this situation before. I’ve been tested numerous times since my childhood days in the West Coast, and I love it because it what makes me this strong. I love the 12th round, I love the 4th quarter, I love the 9th inning, and I love Game 7. I love “haters”. Haters = parasites who panic.

With that being said, we are living it up. These are the days that we will remember forever. We need to cheer up. Wake up and smell the coffee or the whey protein shakes. It’s not thugs and violence that people fear it’s something far greater. I’m starting a revolution, with the Martin Luther King and Cesar Chávez approach of non-violent acts to greatness. When will they stop hating? When will they start appreciating?