The Impossible Dream

Not too long ago everybody wrote off the Parramatta Eels for this season. Inconsistent form, frustrating combinations, handling errors and a genuine lack of creativity from key playmakers turned what was supposed to be a promising season into a landslide.

Fast forward a month or two, the eels officially had no mathematical chance of making the finals. Nathan Hindmarsh once said on the footy show “we need to win 9 out of our next 8 to make the top 8”. The next night Parra played Melbourne in Hindy’s 250th career game for the eels, we won.

We also won the next 6 games, finishing off with a great game against the West Tigers. The city of Parramatta was buzzing, the papers couldn’t get enough of Jarryd Hayne, these 7 straight wins were a direct result of his brilliance. All of a sudden people were calling the Eels premiership contenders, they were talking about Hayne the way people talk about Kobe … “we know he’s going to get the ball, we can’t stop him, all we can do is try to limit his chances and make it harder for him”

The following week, Eels played the Dragons, who at the time were in a heated battle for 1st place alongside the Bulldogs. I remember saying “we’re going to beat the dragons, we’ve won 7 straight, they’ve lost 3 straight”. The scoreline … 37 – 0, Dragons win.

1st week of finals football, Parra played the Dragons (yes, again) 1st vs 8th, and after the 37-0 drubbing the previous week there were a lot of doubts over this game. In a remarkable display of hard-nosed defence and a bit of luck, Parra won the match by 15pts at Dragons home ground.

Parramatta fans flooded to Sydney Football Stadium the following friday to play the Gold Coast Titans in the quarter finals. The motto was to take it one game at a time, and the Titans were the 3rd seed with a great halfback-fullback combination in Scott Prince and Preston Campbell. But a spirited performance from the supporting cast such as Todd Lowry, Ben Smith and Jonathan Wright helped bring the Parramatta faithful to their feet.

Notable performances include:

- Nathan Hindmarsh (as always) : 49 tackles, 10 Hitups … and a fair few crucial tackles at that
- Jarryd Hayne (why is nobody surprised?) : 165 Run meters, 357 Kick meters, 17 Break tackles (17!)
- Fuifui Moimoi : Just because he’s FUUUUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"The confidence comes from just playing in tough matches week after week,”

"Realising we are good enough to withstand pressure and counter-punch.

That is what the confidence comes from."

With that being said, I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. But we are all witnesses, friday made the history books, Eels had never beaten Titans before (EVER). Time to make history again, win the premiership from the 8th position and get some redemption from that 2001 season.

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7 years in the making

This post has been 7 years in the making, ever since that 3-peat from 2000-2002, being a Lakers fan has been a roller coaster ride at best.

Dear Kobe,

You're an awesome player, probably the most complete player in the game offensively and defensively. You proved the doubters wrong, those critics, those haters, they just wouldn't drop it. Just like you said, it was like chinese water toture. Going back to 2008, when the green confetti fell from the ceiling at staples centre in game 6, I thought it was the end. Those Celtics were a team to be dealt with for years to come, and although injury to KG hindered the Celtics this year, this is a year for the Laker fans.

Let's go back to 04, the year with GP, Mailman and Shaq. That was supposed to be the year, but then there was the rape case. And let's face it, you effed up, big time. Laker fans stood by you while everyone in opposing stadiums were booing and taunting and calling you a rapist. But that was alright, cos you were Kobe, and you never let it affect your game. Slowly, you regained your fan base outside of Los Angeles.

Fast forward to summer of 07, and you demanded to be traded. That was the breaking point for a lot of your fans, we stuck through your crap, and now you want to leave. Opening night that season, you were booed by your own crowd at Staples Centre ... but we didn't mean it, we just wanted to send you a message.

June 2009, NBA Finals, averages of 32pts, 5rebs, 7 asts per game. Undisputedly, a dominating performance in the finals. Like Lamar Odom said "If Kobe wanted to be the best point guard in the world, he can". The only real blemish on this title was the fact that Dr Jerry Buss sent his son (Joey, I think?) to accept the trophy from commisioner David Stern, and he sounded like an ass (no offense). People have often criticised you for being guarded, tense, and even fake. But in that interview with Stuart Scott, the fans finally got to see the real you, and I'm sure the burden of winning a championship without Shaq has been lifted. And finally, to see the jam packed crowd at the Colisseum (click here for video) for the Laker's victory party was a sight I thought I wouldn't see for a long time.

Thanks for giving an old fan fresh hope.

It's great to hear the Lakers are still hungry for more championships.

p.s. looks like Bill Walton leaked some old family photos. Somewhere in the midst of his partying, Luke Walton is blushing.

Side note to Phil Jackson, you are a God among men, some say you're the reincarnation of Buddha ... I'm starting to believe that's true.

And finally to all those Orlando, Cavaliers, Detroit, Celtics, Nuggets, Rockets, Jazz, Mavericks, Bulls, Hornets fans out there ...

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