Kobe

From a young age, I knew I was going to love sports. Anytime my dad took me to the park, all I wanted to do was go to the ball diamond and slug a few. Once I got older, my parents bought a basketball hoop and put it in our yard. We didn't have a paved driveway, so we turned the grass into dirt by the hoop. I spent hours in the summer trying to perfect my shot. You could still hear the thud of my bank shot even after the sun set.

As the 90s gave way to the 2000s, I began to follow sports. And as most young kids who play sports do, they pick an athlete whom they look up to. Since basketball was the sport I loved to play the most, naturally I gravitated that way. Surely I would pick Michael Jordan right? Nope. Jordan was in the NBA six years before I came into existence. Kobe came into the league as I was approaching 6 years old. His face was everywhere. When I went to McDonald's, cardboard cutouts of him holding a big mac could be seen. He appeared in Sprite commercials and Nike ads. Him and Shaq were doing great things in L.A. I watched him play and was enthralled by the magic he could make simply by holding a basketball. I jumped aboard the Lakers bandwagon. I didn't know their storied history. I had not yet learned about the Laker greats Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, and Magic Johnson. All I knew was that I loved watching Kobe play.

My love for sports and the game of basketball grew as Kobe, Shaq, and the Lakers completed a 3-peat championship right into the 2000s. I watched the beginning of most games, but being 8-10 years old, my parents sent me to bed before they ended. But I checked the news the next day to watch the sports report and see the final score. I'll never forget when I saw the replay of Robert Horry hitting the buzzer beater over the kings and seeing an elated Kobe Bryant charging him in celebration. I was in basketball bliss.

When Shaq and Kobe got into a feud and Shaq was traded to Miami, I was not a happy camper. The Lakers didn't do so hot the next handful of years, but Kobe was still Kobe, making basketball magic. Yet critics still came at him. "You can't win a championship without Shaq" they said. That lit a fire in him and come 2009 & 2010, the Lakers won back to back championships led by non other than Kobe Bryant.

Those were the last championships he won. He played in the NBA 6 more years, but in his final game in 2016, Kobe proved he still had the magic. The Lakers were playing the Jazz and at the same time the Warriors were trying to go for the best record in NBA history. But unless you were a Warriors fan, you were watching Kobe's last game. Late in the fourth quarter, the Lakers were down. In respect for Kobe, his teammates fed him the ball all night long. Kobe went full Black Mamba (his nickname) and put up an incredible 60 points, taking the lead and winning the game. It's one I'll tell my kids about one day. It was an incredible ending to a storied career.

Today, the news broke that Kobe Bryant was tragically killed in a helicopter crash. Normally, celebrity deaths don't hit me emotionally as I had no personal connection to them. But this one was different. Kobe was the athlete who made me want to play basketball and at least try to be good at it. When he took the court, you knew you were going to see something special. Kobe was what me and my friends shouted when we were trying to sink a sweet shot. His smile was infectious, his down to earth personality was something to be admired, and his love for the Philadelphia Eagles really hit home with me. He was my childhood hero.

Thank you for inspiring my childhood basketball dreams. Thank you for inspiring many people around the world. Thank you for giving us many great years of basketball memories. And thank you for being you, You will be missed.

A Decade Ends, Another Begins: Hello 2020

Ten years. Let me type that again. TEN YEARS! That's a decade. And that's a gosh darn long time. And with the 2020s now in full swing, it makes me both nostalgic and a tad sad that the 20teens have ended. To try and recap ten years would take the equivalent of writing a novel. And I'm not going to do that. Instead, I am going to list each year and pull out some highlights that had a lot of impact on me one way or another. So pull up your favorite easy chair and come on this journey with me as I recap the 20teens.

2010: Big life change occurred here as the beginning of the decade was part of my first year of college. The Ohio State University was my first choice and I was accepted there. But by God's grace, I ended up at Cleveland State University and dove headfirst into the world of engineering. Little did I know that my five year plan was going to be anything but. But for now, I was a college student.

January of this year I acquired my first cell phone. It was an LG ENV 3 that flipped open to a full keyboard. I had started out with 25MB of data a month that eventually expanded to 300MB (big jump I know). My how things change in 10 years!

2011: The previous year brought me my first phone, April of 2011 brought me my driver's license. No longer would I need my parents or other people to drive me around. It took me two attempts to get it (stupid parallel parking test), but yeah buddy, I was licensed to drive.

Mid-summer I made another big life decision. I decided to take a one year hiatus off school to study the bible with 30 other people in a year long Christian training. Halfway through my engineering degree and I decided to put it on hold. Who does that? This guy apparently. It was one of the best life decisions I've ever made. One of the highlights of the first half was a gospel trip to West Virginia. We went down to a small town in the mountains, preached the gospel, and really saw Christ move there. Oh and a hike through the West Virginia mountains in the fall was a real treat too.

In November I upgraded to my first smart phone. The Droid Incredible 2. Never had to buy a case for it. That thing took a beating and never cracked the screen once. If you told me something like this would exist while I was a kid in the 90s, I wouldn't have believed you.

2012: According to doomsayers misreading the Mayan calendar, the world was supposed to end this year. Spoiler alert! It didn't. Another quick punch. I got summoned for grand jury duty. There's never a good time for jury duty, but this was a really bad time as I was halfway through my Christian training. By the Lord's mercy, I was excused and it didn't interrupt the year.

During a short break, I took my first trip to North Carolina (see the blog post in I wrote in 2012) to the welcoming home of the Hayslettes. A group of us experienced southern hospitality, amazing people, and the sights and sounds of Raleigh.

My training ended, and I returned to my third year of college. Little did I know that I was not even halfway done. The Ancient Mysteries class was one of my favorite college classes of all time. I had a professor who specialized in Mayan archaeology and armed us with enough knowledge to combat 2012 doomsayers.

My newbie driver status did me in as I got into my first (and hopefully only) accident. I made a lane shift from a dead stop on a two lane road (illegal in Ohio) in the rain and put a nice big dent into a brand new 2012 ford focus. I was driving an early 90s Chevy Suburban that took only a slight paint chip. And now I know why lane shifting from a dead stop is illegal.

Four pairs of dear friends got married this year: Ben & Natalie, Ben and Halli, Nathanael & Elisabeth, and James & Allison.

2013: We were all still alive and the world didn't end.

My love for baseball and the Cleveland Indians began here (although I became a fan in 2007). Terry Francona took over the team and led a rag tag bunch of young bloods into the first every two team wild card format of the playoffs. The Tribe didn't make it past the wild card game, but they gave me hope for years to come.

My first real job (a three month paid internship) took place during the fall school semester. I worked in an R&D lab as an engineer in training for an industrial oven company known then as Manitowoc. I had the privilege of testing industrial ovens, assembling a five second bagel toaster, used welding equipment and plasma torches, and got my first taste of what my desired profession was going to be like.

My newest toy was a Droid Razr M. Sleek and thin, still didn't buy a case, still took a beating, and still no cracked screen.

I debated on including this particular entry and another one for 2014 because I didn't want to fill the recap with sadness. But the two events in back to back years impacted my life and the decade in big ways. So I am including them. This summer I lost a dear friend to an accident at the age of 23. David Kim was truly something special. Until we meet again.

2014: This was the year I was initially supposed to graduate college, but having taken the 2011-2012 year off, I delayed that another year.

This was the first summer I'd ever worked a real job (another paid internship). I had barely ever worked in the summer because I loved my freedom too much. I worked 9 weeks, but not the full summer (haha). I worked a lot with AutoCAD drawings and got to visit and oil depot.

Yet the summer wasn't all sunshine and roses. One of my first childhood friends who meant more to me than she probably ever knew, also tragically passed at the age of 23. Her name was Elise Rainville. You are deeply missed friend. Even though I really didn't show it, losing one friend the year before and then another too soon this year really took it's toll.

Another first was in October, I bought my first car. A 2004 Dodge Intrepid. She was silver, had a moon roof, amazing sounding speakers, and she was all mine. Paid for her in cash. And then 2 months later...

...I drove her 600 miles on my first solo trip which took me to Boston, MA. I went to visit an old friend I hadn't seen in 11 years. The car was a trooper and the driving (10 hours one way) wasn't so much fun, but Boston was a real treat. The trip was much needed medicine to aid my sufferings of two losses in two years.

Twas once again a big wedding year as these couple tied the knot. Peter & Yitao, Mark & Esther, Dan & Ana, and Paul & Sarah.

2015: For those that know me really well, you know I have a hobby called geocaching. This was the first year I tried it out. I found my first cache on March 21st and I was hooked. Now here I am 3000+ finds later and still going strong.

May saw a bucket list item completed as me and my buddy Ryan went to the Indianapolis 500. It was the 99th running and boy was it a blast. We toured the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, saw Florida Georgia Line in concert on the infield, and witnessed Juan Pablo Montoya win it all in stellar fashion.

And yes, thanks to numerous circumstances, I still found myself in college.

My favorite artist of all time is Kenny Chesney. This was the first year I attended one of his concerts. Worth every penny I spent on it. True entertainer, true legend, His music relates to me on so many levels.

The communications device was upgraded to a Droid Razr Maxx. My luck ran out as I finally cracked my first screen by dropping it face-down on tiny gravel...sigh.

Only one wedding this year, but one's better than none right?! Outdoors in the summer, it was Josh and Audra who said "I do".


2016: Hands down one of my favorite years of the decade. So many things happened here that were momentous too me. Let's do this.

In May, I finally took the walk of my life and graduated college with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. I also was ever grateful I was able to pay off all my college loans the day after graduation. Two of the most liberating feelings in the world.

In June, two exciting events occurred when I visited NYC for the first time and the Cleveland Cavaliers did something no Cleveland professional sports team had done since 1964; they won a championship. With NYC, it was my dream US destination. Thanks to a wedding here, I had an excuse to go and made a week long adventure out of it. One of the best trips of my life for sure. I watched for years as a fresh-out-of-high school Lebron James was revolutionizing the NBA. Living in Cleveland during this time was incredibly surreal as the city was hyped. Lebron and the Cavs did the impossible and came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the best record team ever in the Golden State Warriors. 1.3 million people flooded the streets of downtown Cleveland for the victory parade. It was incredible.

A record five attended weddings and at least four more couples tying the knot led for a very eventful summer. Here's the skinny. The first weekend in April, I found myself in a hotel in Chicago to celebrate Timothy & Sarah's big day. By the end of the month (a week before finals) I took my first airplane ride since the age of two, ending up in Austin, TX where we celebrated Sam soon saying I do. By memorial day, I returned to Raleigh, NC to witness Cody and Angie getting hitched. Then the big escapade in NYC where Sam and Mindy tied the knot. And in a back-to-back, full weekend double shot, I had the honor of being the best man for Jeremiah & Michaele, and then suiting up again the next day to celebrate with Ian & Shulamite.

I'm a diehard Indians baseball fan. And 2016 was nearly magical. I went to a record 8 baseball games this year including a game in Yankee Stadium and one in PNC Park. I loved watching Mike Napoli crush homers and even bought a shirt that says "Party at Napoli's". I was there in the packed Jacob's Field (Progressive Field) in game one of the ALDS where the Indians had a three home run (nearly four) inning and it felt like an earthquake hit the 216. I stood outside the Jake in the midst of the crowd hoping to be there when the Indians won the World Series. But it went to 7 games and on my 26th birthday, I lost my mind when Rajai Davis hit the game tying homer of Chapman to send the game into extras. Then sat their in stunned silence as the Cubs broke their 108 year old curse. Any other year I would've been happy for the Cubs, but not this year. Even though the Tribe couldn't pull it off, that season was still magical.

2017: After a year of searching, I got my first big boy job as a Lighting Designer for General Electric (which I still have to this day) and it couldn't have come at a better time.

My travels took another huge swing as I left North America for the first time in my life and ended up in Sydney, Australia for two weeks. And what an amazing two weeks it was! New friends, new sites, people heard the gospel, a view from the Opera House and Harbor Bridge, an amazing race style scavenger hunt, bbqs and frisbee on the beach, and so much more. Yet another trip of a lifetime.

Needing a new device, I jumped off the motorola ship and landed aboard the Samsung cruiser. Armed and dangerous, the Galaxy J7 V proved to be the right choice and it's still my current device.

I sadly had to say goodbye to my first car. The transmission went on the Intrepid at 214,000 miles and with a slew of other problems, it was time for her to go. She served me well. I welcomed a 2008 blue Chevy Malibu into my life. We've had some rough spots, but she still gets the job done.

I said goodbye to my grandmother on my mom's side as it was her time to go. I'll never forget those times we visited and she laughed with delight as we discovered the shelves and pantry loaded with goodies all for us. Miss you Grandma.

With love still in the air, I had the pleasure of three more joyous occasions. Philip & Phoebe (Michigan), Aaron & Marley (Wisconsin), and Scott & Nina (Cleveland).

2018: 2018 was the year of travel, but before all that could happen, Nick Foles had to pull off the Philly Special and the Eagles had to top the dastardly Patriots to win their first ever super bowl title. To say I was overjoyed would be an understatement.

Blogging wasn't enough and in April of this year, I started a vlog. Nearly two years later, it's 83 episodes strong.

My travels took me to many places. In May I visited Cincinnati and attended the largest gathering of geocachers ever in the US known as Geowoodstock. I also used this trip to dip down into Newport, KY for my first ever visit to that state. In August, I found myself back in Wisconsin for a week of family fun. Then shortly after I wound up in Chicago to hang with Jesse and see a Cubs game at the legendary Wrigley Field. By September, I began what has become an annual West Coast adventure as I took Seattle by storm. I hung out with Nick, Lau, Adam, and Lisa, went atop the Space Needle, and checked SafeCo Field off the baseball bucket list.

But the ultimate trip of the year was when 12 of us bros spent 4 days down in New Orleans right before Christmas. It was Bourbon Street, the French Quarter, Beignets, the aquarium, food, the market, Adolpho's, food, swamp tour, haunted tour, fantasy football championship, Clesi's, and did I mention food? Trip of the year for sure. Oh and I won our fantasy football league championship with all the bros in one place. It was awesome.

Sure enough, the wedding streak continued with a cousin getting hitched. It was in Wisconsin where Travis & Darian said I do.

2019: And now we come to the year that just closed. More trips, big changes, baseball stadiums, and much more. Let's take a look.

I made the return to NYC for the first time since 2016. Ryan and I took a weekend trip for a wedding of folks he knew. This one included going to the top of the new world trade center, walking the Brooklyn Bridge at 11:30pm in full wedding attire, meeting new people, and of course a wedding!

I couldn't stay away long as myself and about 16 others went basically on a day trip to NYC to celebrate fellow geocacher George hit his 20,000 find. The cache took you to all the bridges and arches of central park where you had to get info to get the final coords. My what a doozy of a trip that was.

The MLB All-Star game came to Cleveland and I sure as heck wasn't passing it up. I bought the full weekend package and witnessed one of the greatest home run derbies of all time as well as an incredible all star game where Indians pitcher Shane Bieber won the MVP.

The MLB park tour continued with stops in Detroit at Comerica Park (Indians OF Jake Bauers hit for the cycle here!), Baltimore at Camden Yards, and San Francisco at Oracle Park.

Which brings me to my West coast trip of visiting Josh in San Francisco. The weather was amazing, the golden gate bridge was stellar, the food was delicious, and Alcatraz was a 100% must see that turned out an amazing sunset over the Pacific.

Again it was time to say goodbye to another loved one as my grandfather of 91 years of age breathed his last. To the man who could carve anything out of wood, would hand you $5 for no apparent reason, and just being a grandpa was one of his greatest joys, I was proud to have known him for 28 years. See you in the funny papers.

And as for the biggest change? I moved into my first home away from home with Seth in a 3-bedroom house. Long time coming, but indeed it happened. Home sweet home.

But wait, there was a buzzer beater wedding that snuck in before 2020 stole the show. Congrats again Frank and Caitlin!

And on that note, I'll conclude the recap here. Sure there's many other moments I could've included (a decade is a long time after all) but these were the ones I felt that best told my last 10 years. If you made it this far I applaud you. But hey, this only happens once every decade. Now it's your turn. Take a moment and reflect on your past 10 years.

Happy New Year y'all.