The 2007 Spurs-Suns Series - The Suns Were Not Robbed

Note: This post was adapted from an older post on the Spurs 2007 Championship run. 

The 2007 Spurs-Suns Western Conference semifinals series is one of the most maligned and controversial playoff series in NBA history. Despite the popular opinion that the Suns were robbed or cheated, when you take a look at the evidence, including the stats and game footage, you see a team that had bad luck but also a team that was routinely outplayed and outcoached in the crunch time. 

Before we can get down to the "dirty" details, it's good to set up just why this series (and the Spurs) became so hated (FYI - the Spurs - Suns rivalry has its own wiki page). 

1. The Suns were loved by the basketball intelligentsia and basketball junkies everywhere. 

Going back to watch some of these series (especially the 1999 season) is indeed, a slog. The pace can drag to mind-numbing depths and three-pointers are not utilized efficiently.  It was a different and flawed game; dominated by defense-first teams like the Spurs and Pistons. The seven-seconds-or-less Suns were a breath of fresh air. The Suns were a compelling team to watch and unlike some other offensive juggernauts, they had dashes of defense from Amare Stoudemire, Raja Bell, and Shawn Marion. 

2. The Spurs were boring and "old".

If the Suns represented a new, fresh approach while the Spurs represented the old, boring approach. By 2007, the Spurs were old news. They had been contending since 1999, won three championships, and were known for their tough defense and Tim Duncan's back-to-the-basket post-up game. "4 Down" (Tim Duncan posting up) was the go-to Spurs call.

Timmy was considered "old" at 31. We had no idea he was only halfway through his 18-year career. 

3. The Spurs usually ended up beating the Suns.

Not only did the old, rusty Spurs beat the Suns in 2005 (oh don't worry, they had another excuse for losing that series too, as Joe Johnson was hurt). The Spurs beat them in 2007 and again in 2008. Sure, the Suns finally beat them in 2010 but by then, the Spurs were at a low point in their dynasty (the Spurs were the 7th seed that had upset the 2nd seeded Mavs, so the loss wasn't all that surprising). The fact that the Spurs kept getting in the way of the Sun's title chances was a double-whammy of frustration for casual NBA fans. It seemed like the Spurs didn't know when their time was up. 

The Games 

Game 1 - Spurs 111 - Suns 106 - (Spurs 1-0)

Game one was a playoff classic. Game one is most memorable because Nash and Parker collided with a little less than 2 minutes left and Nash's nose bled like crazy, costing Nash some critical playing time in the waning minutes of a very close playoff game. Timmy was huge in this game with 33/16/3 blk and Tony had 32/8 assists in an amazing duel with Nash. 

The entire game one used to be online....alas, all that I can find now are some highlights from Nash and Parker from game one: 

It's an understatement to say the Suns seemed to have bad luck against the Spurs.

Game 2 - Suns 101 - Spurs 81 - (Series tied 1-1)

 

This game was a must-win for the Suns as they had already lost home-court in the first game, so in typical "our backs are back against the wall" they blew the Spurs out. Not much to say here as a Spurs fan. 

Game 3 - Spurs 108 - Suns 101 (Spurs 2-1)

(wait a sec....something's missing here) 

ahem...

Interlude on the Officiating in the Spurs-Suns 2007 series or "Why Tim Donaghy is Full of It" 

This series will always be defined by what happened at the end of game four, but another factor seen around the web is the idea that the series was somehow tainted by the officiating. Disturbingly, it is claimed this bad officiating was done on purpose. However, the idea has gained traction in recent years because of the need for Tim Donaghy to sell a book. 

Everyone's favorite ex-ref and ex-felon Tim Donaghy claims that NBA officials disliked the Suns' owner, Robert Sarver and it biased the officials against the Suns. You have to hand it to him; it's a unique argument. You might think conspiracy-minded fans would believe the NBA would favor the fresh, exciting, young Suns. But David Stern be damned, the refs actually favored the small-market, boring Spurs because they didn't like Robert Sarver (which, ya know at this point, is officially confirmed to be an assshole).  

Here's one of Donaghy's more recent claims: 

“Obviously, everybody knows I refereed one of those famous games with the San Antonio Spurs where [the Suns] were definitely the better team in that series and San Antonio went on to win that series,” he said.

“Tommy Nunez, who was the group supervisor at that time for that series, didn’t like Sarver, who was the owner of the Suns at that time, and was always pointing out in the tape sessions of things to call against Phoenix and things not to concentrate on against San Antonio,” Donaghy said. “And I think it put San Antonio at an advantage.” 

You can read a little more here.  

Here is another quote from Donaghy, 

“2007 Suns were the best team in the league. And that whole series was officiated poorly, and one of the reasons is that Tommy Nunez was the supervisor of officials in that series. And he had a dislike for the Suns owner Robert Sarver, and he enjoyed the lifestyle in San Antonio and liked to get back in the next round of the playoffs and continue to go to San Antonio. So it was a situation that he was steering the series to San Antonio in tape sessions.”

To summarize Donaghy's claims (to my knowledge these are his only claims about the series): 

1. The Suns were the best team in the league.

2. The whole series was officiated poorly and one of the reasons was because Tommy Nunez was the supervisor of the officials in that series. 

3. Tommy Nunez did not like the Suns owner, Robert Sarver. 

4. Tommy Nunez liked the "lifestyle in San Antonio" and wanted to return to SA in a later series.

5. Therefore, Nunez  was "always pointing out in the tape sessions of things to call against Phoenix and things not to concentrate on against San Antonio.” 

The first claim is the easiest to dismiss. The Dallas Mavericks were by far the best regular-season team with a franchise-record 67 wins; the largest win total that the league had seen since 2000. They were the clear title favorites. The Mavs finished six games up on the Suns for the first seed while the Spurs were three games back from the Suns. While the Mavs lost in the first round, it's not accurate to state the Suns were the best team in the league that year. This will be covered in depth below....but if they were the best team shouldn't they have sealed the deal down the stretch in game five? Shouldn't they have closed out game one despite missing Nash for a few plays? Why couldn't the MVP carry them in game five at home? If they were clearly the best team, why couldn't the Suns push the series to seven games when they were at full strength? 

The allegations against Nunez are interesting but...not very credible. 

Tommy Nunez, Sr. retired in 2002, after 30 years in the NBA. Tommy Nunez, Jr. was an NBA referee from 2004-2010. So although his correct name is not used in the allegation, I am going to assume he meant Nunez, Jr. 

"Group Supervisor" is not a position or term I have ever heard about nor does the term "group supervisor" for NBA officials turn up anything on Google (I also searched various other terms to no avail). However, it is possible such a role exists and I could see the value in having an off-site official supervise the officiating for a series. It's interesting that a third-year official was a "group supervisor" in a playoff series given the NBA's preference for veteran officials in the playoffs. 

In this case, the group supervisor didn't actually call any of the actual games in the series. Thus, Nunez, Jr. could only encourage the officials to call the games a particular way. I find it hard to believe a referee in his third year could hold much sway over his fellow officials, many of whom had been in the NBA for decades. Would a relative newbie feel comfortable being implicit or explicit in his bias with veteran officials? 

Nunez, Jr. did not officiate any of the Spurs-Suns series, so his impact (if any) would be extremely limited. If his goal was to return as a game official to SA, as Donaghy alleges, the plan failed as he did not officiate any Spurs playoff games in 2007. Would a "group supervisor" even be on-site at all?  

Finally, his claim that Tommy Nunez, Jr. liked the "lifestyle in San Antonio"  just might be a racist statement. What does the "lifestyle" is in SA mean and why Nunez would like SA so much? Would he be willing to risk his professional reputation and career?  Maybe, just maybe, could it be because San Antonio has a large population of Hispanic Americans, and Nunez, Jr. was only the second Hispanic NBA official? Is that why Donaghy believed this? 

To summarize, Nunez, Jr. even if he was the supervisor for the series, would have had a very limited role in how the games would be called given his new status and lack of actually, ya know, officiating the games. A close read of Donaghy's comments shows a bit of a hedge anyway, "I think it put San Antonio at an advantage" is not a strong affirmation of fraud, only his interpretation of alleged events. It could be Donaghy didn't agree with Nunez, Jr.'s analysis of the games and projected fraud and bias in his analysis. This is an unfalsifiable argument and in my opinion, it should be dismissed until more evidence can be provided other than an unreliable huckster. 

As for Tim Donaghy's role, he only officiated one game of the series. So, even if you were buying that Donaghy had complete control over the officiating in that game, it's still only one game (game three). It should be made clear that Donaghy never said he bet on the game. He never stated he did a poor job for game three (his allegations about the series have led people to associate the scandal with this particular game). In the aftermath of game three, Bill Simmons said it was a terribly officiated game. However, if Donaghy had never called the game, I don't think anyone would really remember it as a poorly officiated game (any more than any other average playoff game). It just happened because Donaghy called it, and later that summer he was charged with betting on games. Game three is tainted by its association with Donaghy. 

 

I have seen on a few Phoenix sports articles or blogs claim that the series officiating was obviously in favor of the Spurs. I won't bother to link as they don't back up their claims with data or facts. I dug for data or evidence and the most they provide are a few quotes from Donaghy. Nor do these articles or videos examine game footage or stats in any capacity.  Again, game three is used as "the" example to "prove" the claims.  I don't find that much merit in that claim but it is a claim so, let's investigate it a bit further.

FTA Comparison: Flawed or Insightful?

The easiest and most frequent way of deciphering if the game was fairly called is by looking at the FTA for each team. This method is extremely flawed, to say the least. 

Simply looking at FTA fails to account for the way the teams play. Is a team being more aggressive by driving the ball inside or is another team being tentative? Does the team adhere to a philosophy of handing out hard fouls for layups or do they intentionally play to avoid fouls? 

FTA alone also ignores the circumstances of the fouls. Critically important is understanding when the fouls were called in the game. If the refs really did have it out for a team, they could easily call many fouls early on and slowly balance them out along the way, as needed. A team trailing at the end of the game can intentionally foul another team several times in the waning minutes and this would create the appearance of a FTA disparity. 

My point is, FTA as a measurement tool is extremely flawed. It is only one metric, and that's what I will treat it as. One data point, among many.

FTA in the 2006-2007 Season for the Spurs and the Suns

Both teams were near the bottom of the league in average FTA per game (SA with 24 FTA and the Suns with 22 FTA).  While the Spurs didn't get to the line as much as you might think with players like Duncan, Parker, and Manu, they also didn't foul as much as other teams. A consistent feature during Popovich's reign in SA has been the Spurs' ability to typically be one of the best teams at NOT fouling. 

“It’s really one of their core principles,” said Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer, a Spurs assistant for 20 years before joining the Hawks. “They talk about it regularly. They drill it. They show film on it. Everybody knows how important it is to them being so good defensively that they defend without fouling. It’s been that way from the beginning, really.”

The quote comes from this article that points out how important the concept is to the Spurs. 

In 2007, the Spurs were first in the league with the least amount of  FTA for opponents (21 FTA per game average). Meanwhile, the Suns were also excellent at avoiding fouls, ranking 3rd in the league. My anecdotal experience tells us there are usually more FTA in the playoffs and while I am not going out of my way to prove that, that's what we see in this series. 

Here are the FTA attempts and PF for each team in the series: 

Game	Suns FTA	Spurs FTA	FTA Advantage	PF Advantage	Game Outcome
1	27	33	Spurs +6	Suns -1	Spurs 111-Suns 106
2	19	16	Suns + 3	Suns – 4	Suns 101-Spurs 81
3	27	36	Spurs + 9	Spurs -2	Spurs 108- Suns 101
4	29	14	Suns +15	Suns – 9	Suns 104-Spurs 98
5	17	28	Spurs +11	Tied	Spurs 88- Suns 85
6	24	30	Spurs +6	Spurs - 2	Spurs 114-Suns 106

Devoid of context, just scanning the game FTA, nothing sticks out too much as a huge advantage for the Spurs, although in games three and five they did have a solid advantage. 

Game Three's Officiating 

As seen above the Spurs did have nine more FTA but the Suns had six more turnovers and got outrebounded by eight (Spurs had 11 offensive boards to the Suns' 5 offensive boards). The Spurs had more offensive sets and this translated into extra possessions, which in turn led to more opportunities to get to the line. It's hard to clearly see this game as "rigged". The stats alone do not show evidence of a strong bias in favor of the Spurs.

The video below frames Donaghy's crimes as having an influence on the series, but when this video was made, little was known about the allegations. Donaghy has not been shy about his role in all this and has never insinuated that he bet on this series, only that it was poorly called by other referees.  Ironically, it has been the one game he officiated that is pointed out as an example of terrible officiating. 

Here are the plays from the video with my analysis: 

1 - Manu Shooting Foul (on Bell) - the call is made by Donaghy (I think the only one on the video above) and he was really out of position to make the call, it's a bad call and it's unreasonable. 

2 - Tim blocks Amare (no call) -   At best it's a questionable no-call.  It looked like a clear block to me, it's a typical physical NBA drive/block. These are human beings watching it in real-time and Tim Duncan, being one of the all-time greats, might get the benefit of the doubt but it's reasonable to see how it would not be called.

3. Flop by Oberto on Amare (his fourth foul) - it's a bad call but it is a heck of a flop by Oberto. He really does sell it, he was such a smart player.  In real-time, I could see how it could be called, but I will grade it "bad" out of fairness as it sent Amare to the bench. The call is reasonable in real-time but bad. 

4. Blocking foul on Nash as Duncan shoots - like most blocking calls...it's questionable. You have two MVP's competing in a playoff game.  I wouldn't say it's bad, just questionable but in the realm of debate, reasonable.  It's questionable and reasonable. 

5. Foul on Diaw against Duncan in the post - it's a foul. There's nothing questionable about this one to me. Diaw reaches in as Thomas pulls the chair out from Duncan.  Duncan leans into the reach by Diaw, and it's a smart move but even if he didn't move toward Diaw, it would have been a foul. Thomas who moves and it made Duncan's fall made the foul look worse. Good foul call. 

6. Bowen knees Nash in Groin - this was a foul and it was called correctly, I think it was put here to make the viewers hate the Spurs. Did Bruce mean to back Nash off of him? Of course. Did he intentionally knee him in the groin? I honestly don't know. Doesn't matter, it was called in the Suns' favor. Good foul call.

7. Bowen steals on Nash - it's a bad call. Bowen hits him across the arm to get the ball. What makes it worse than just a turnover is that Coach D'Antoni is called for a technical foul, which is really stupid given it's the fourth quarter of a playoff game. You don't see that often in the playoffs. Oh and one of the announcers says, getting a technical is a "good call by the coach". Oh, okay, buddy. Bad call, slightly unreasonable.  

8. Horry steals from Nash - it's a good no-call. The announcers say it's a foul, its not, Horry pokes the ball out. Good call, reasonable no call. 

So, a total of eight plays were picked from the above video, which you could do with a lot of NBA games. By my own biased eyes, I recorded three good calls, two questionable calls, and three bad calls, only one of which was unreasonable. I admit I am biased, but I tried to be objective. Even if I remove my Spurs glasses completely, at worst, there are six bad calls. How many bad calls go against the road team in a given NBA game? If these were the absolute worst calls (and given this video was meant to find bad calls) this is pretty tame stuff. My verdict: The Spurs got some calls, but they were at home in an NBA playoff game. It's not egregious, it's not anywhere near the Lakers-Kings debacle in 2002. On a scale of NBA outrage of 10, it's a 3. 

If you really want to see some BS, check out the Spurs-Portland series from 1990. In game one, Portland shot over 30 more FTA than the Spurs (yes, really) and won FTA six of the seven games of the series including a back-breaking break-away foul in game seven which was worse than anything above. And you really want something to cry about? Do you think any human being can actually catch and shoot a basketball in .04 seconds? 

I am not shedding any tears for a few bad calls for a road team, it sucks, but they are part of the game. 

Anyway, as far as I know, the rest of the series was called fine, there are no controversies. The biggest problem people have come from the suspensions for game five more on that below. 

Wow. I cannot believe how much I just wrote on that. 

So, back to game three: 

Here are some Tim Duncan highlights, who put up a "quiet" Duncan-esque 33/19/3 blocks.

The game went back and forth for most of the game but in the last two minutes of the third quarter, Manu scored 10 points to give the Spurs a 80-72 advantage entering the fourth quarter. In the fourth, the Spurs kept the Suns 9-12 points away and held on to win the game. Without that 2 minute burst from Manu, it could have been a nail-biter. 

But with Manu, you never knew when lightning would strike. Manu finished with 24 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 Steals and 1 block. 

The only videos I could find on game three are the two videos I shared above. Bummed I can't revisit that Manu outburst. 

Game 4 - Suns 104- Spurs 98 (Series tied 2-2)

This is it, the controversial game four. Of course, the game itself wasn't controversial. It was a typical playoff game. I remember watching it at my good buddy's Eric house. The game was similar to game three, with the Spurs controlling the action for most of the second half. With about 9 minutes left in the game, the Spurs had a ten-point lead. They clung to a 6-point edge for a while but the Suns' offense heated up and the Suns put together an impressive win. The Spurs out-shot the Suns from the field and had four more three-pointers but were outrebounded by the Suns and the Suns had a +15 FTA advantage over the Spurs. No conspiracies....yet. 

The Suns were poised to go back to Phoenix with momentum and a 2-2 tied series. And then....

Another Interlude: The Game 4 Robert Horry Hip-Check and Aftermath

With 22 seconds left and the Spurs down by three, the Spurs needed to foul a Suns player to force free throws and get another possession. Playoff legend, Robert Horry once again made an impact but this time with a hip-check to Nash. Here's a nice highlights package that gives context before the hit: 

Here is Horry remembering the play:

Commentary on the "Horry Hip-Check Hit" 

It was a dumb foul. Horry should have just given him a good hack and be done with it. Instead, he was frustrated and hit him harder than he should have. He was rightfully ejected (given the other suspensions, I think it was appropriate to suspend him for game five but he was also suspended for game six as well). I wish he had never done it. It's hard to know what would have happened, but I do admit the Suns would have had momentum. 

The issue often overlooked is that Nash "oversold" the foul. Nash flails his arms out to ensure a flagrant would be called. It's a smart move by a smart player. I wouldn't quite call it a flop, as he was actually fouled, but he did sell it. Teammate, Raja Bell stated that Nash admitted his dramatic flair to him a few years ago. I am not victim-blaming here just giving context to what came next. 

The problem of overselling the foul is that this drew Amar'e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw off the bench. Following the letter of the law, the  NBA suspended Stoudemire and Diaw for one game (and Horry as well as he instigated the whole thing and was ejected). Here is a very even-handed and excellent video and review of the play. Both teams and coaches are fair to each other while maintaining their pride: 

 

Everyone hated the suspensions, even though at the time, I didn't mind being greedy for another championship.  Here is Nash's perspective on the hip-check many years later with Bill Simmons: 

The NBA had done this before in the playoffs (as discussed in the first video above). The actions did fall within the letter of the law, and the rules did not give the league room to "interpret" the intentions of the players. If you're being harsh, that's directly on the coaches to teach the players the rules. This is coming from a head coach who received a costly tech in the fourth quarter of game three and frequently complained about officiating after games. That's an example of a lack of professionalism on the coaching staff. The small stuff always matters and it matters even more in the playoffs. 

Furthermore, the NBA did not have the authority to change the rules in the middle of the playoffs to allow Stoudemire or Diaw to play in game five. The NBA can't change the rules in the middle of the playoffs, even if it seems unfair to a beloved team. I could be biased and just a mean old Spurs fan but if the rule was so unfair, why is it still in place 16 years later? Ultimately, it's good to remember that if the roles were reversed, the Suns wouldn't have protested if Spurs players were suspended for leaving the bench and they definitely wouldn't let it diminish their 2007 title. 

Update (2024) Amare claims he didn't even know this was a rule: even know this was a rule:

"At the time, no one knew about that rule, about not stepping on the court. We had no idea about that rule. In the heat of the moment, when [Steve] Nash got knocked into the scoreboard, we didn't know what to expect. So I'm looking to see what's going on. I'm walking towards Nash. Me and also Boris Diaw, and I didn't think nothing of it. No one did."

So yeah, this strengthens my argument about a lack of coaching and discipline. The little stuff matters. 

NBA history is full of unfair moments and the Spurs have more than their share of them. The playoffs are ultimately about being healthy, match-ups, role players, and luck. 

Game 5 - Spurs 88 - Suns 85 (Spurs led 3-2)

Game five is usually the most pivotal game of a playoff series. In my unprofessional opinion, that's why teams should work hard for homecourt advantage because the most critical games are at home (1,5 and 7). The Suns were mad and their fans were frothing at the mouth.  It was quite an atmosphere. The Suns were a wounded animal and they came out aggressive while the Spurs spent much of the first half playing tentative (and maybe perhaps guilty). The Suns led by 9 after the first quarter and 11 points at the half. It was the classic "Ewing Theory",  the Suns were motivated and at home. I remember watching the game and feeling a deep sense of dread. 

The Suns were without their second and probably fourth-best player but they still had their MVP. This could have been Nash's career-defining moment or game....but it wasn't to be.  

The Spurs made their inevitable second-half run but the game was tight down the stretch. The Spurs played well defensively and gutted out the win. Timmy had 22/11/5 blocks while Manu had 26/10/3 along with 2 steals and one block. The critical play came down to the hated Bruce Bowen making his patented corner threes to ice the game:  

Here are the full-game highlights:

Game 6: Spurs 114 - Suns 106 (Spurs win series 4-2)

If the final game of the series had been the game when the Suns were forced to sit Diaw and Amare, I think it would have tainted the series just a bit. However, the Suns were at full strength. If it was true the Suns were actually the better team, they should have (at minimum) forced a game seven.

I don't want to make too much out of this but the Spurs were missing Horry in this game as well (who in this series averaged 4.8/4.4/.8 steals/1.5 blocks with an average of 20 minutes). We all know how capable Horry was of having incredible playoff performances.  

Game six was another close game.  You can watch the full game on YT but it's in Chinese and it's in two parts. If you watch part one below, part two should pop up for you next or just click on the dude's channel and find it. Strangely, after about 10 minutes of listening to the game in Chinese, you get used to it. 

The game was eerily similar to games three and four, with the Spurs gaining separation from the Suns in the 3rd quarter. They closed out the 3rd with a 23-8 run to took a 14-point lead into the fourth. The Spurs lead peaked at 18 points with about 9 minutes left.  Once again, the Suns made a furious comeback cutting the lead to six at one point but the Spurs made just enough clutch plays and hit their free throws down the stretch to fend off the Suns' surge.  

Concluding Thoughts on the Spurs-Suns Series

If you can catch a game of this series, you should. With the exception of game two, the rest of the games are competitive and entertaining games to watch. The games have a modern pace and are filled with some outstanding performances on both sides. I forgot how good Steve Nash was; weaving in and out of traffic and keeping the Suns' offense chugging along. I don't think he was a deserving MVP  (given his defensive liabilities and the competition for MVP) but he was one of this generation's greatest point guards. As a person, he seems like a great guy. Amare might have been at his peak in 2007. Sure, his game didn't age well, but for a few years in the mid-2000s, he was one of the best power forwards. Some of his highlights from this series will make your jaw drop. 

That said, the Spurs were the better team. The Spurs were the more consistent team and they had a strategic plan on offense and defense that was tightly executed. The Spurs were physically and mentally tougher than the Suns. More importantly, they had a third star in Manu that really helped separate them from the Suns. Duncan/Parker/Manu were all pretty amazing in this series (although Manu got off to a cold start in games 1-2).  It seemed the Suns were always struggling to find that consistent third player in the series.  The Suns had bad luck with the suspensions and definitely missed Nash in some key plays in game one. Finally, I think Pop outcoached D'Antoni in the series. 

I do not think there was a bias for the Spurs in the officiating.  People can make excuses for the 2007 Suns all they want, but the Spurs won without help from the officials, without bending the rules, and without any evidence of cheating going on. The NBA is a lot like life. It's unfair and seems cruel when you lose and it seems just and right when you win. 

Wizard of Oz Fragments

I was in a local production of "The Wizard of Oz" this summer....here are the fragments.

My youngest daughter was in a production of "Annie" this past winter and she loved it. When she heard the same church theater group would be doing "The Wizard of Oz", she was determined to audition for a part again.  In fact, my other two kids got excited by the whole idea as well and decided to audition for "munchkins". 

I think I was sitting at the table goofing around with them, giving my "wizard" voice when they told me they wanted me to audition...in fact, they told me they wouldn't audition without me. I feigned a little that I wasn't interested, but it was mainly for self-protection.  I figured the director had someone else in mind, or there were politics involved.  That said, the kids were persistent in their begging, Besides, I figured it would be fun just to try out and make some memories with the kids.

At the audition they called up everyone, no matter the part and asked for us to the sing a little of the "Jolly Old Land of Oz" as a big a group. No problem. So far, I am acing this thing as I can read a little bit of music and can sing okay. Then, to my the horror, they asked for us to dance. I told them I was only trying out for  the role of Oz, but they insisted that they wanted to see what everyone could do.

There I was, the only grown man on stage, surrounded largely by girls under the age of 14, a couple of boys and a few older ladies. The director wanted to see if we could learn a quick dance routine on the spot and to put it into practice. To put it mildly,  I was terrible. So terrible that I just had to laugh while I was up there. They asked us to improvise our ending move and I ended up falling over, which got a few laughs. At least they could see I had a good attitude about the whole thing.

In the weeks prior to the audition, I had practiced a few lines at home given the availability of scripts online.  I focused my attention on the "award scene" in the aftermath of when Oz has been discovered and delivers awards and mini-monologues to Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion awards.




Frank Morgan's performance is inspired and just about, well, perfect. He is playful, wise and has a twinkle in his eye.  To step into such a beloved role and performance was intimidating.

It was obvious this was a perfect audition scene and when I practiced at home I used my  "Map Maker voice"....which requires a little explanation. As I have covered here, I am a storyteller for the kids and one my main characters for my stories is the Map Maker. Coincidentally he is also an old wizard and he has a strange accent that I created from somewhere in my strange head.  It's a almost English/North Eastern American thing and I am not quite sure where I picked it up from, but it's definitely fits the character. It's given with an older affect and honestly, people like the voice. In fact, I would guess most of the specific compliments given to me were about my voice for the character. 

While other actors auditioned for various parts, the director told me the "medals scene" would be the scene I would audition with, so I got a bit of practice in as well.  Finally, it was my turn and frankly,  I nailed it. I could tell I was doing well....but it just felt good and the director looked happy. I tried it with my regular voice a second time but that didn't work out too well. It seemed like the Map Maker and Oz were meant to be. As I stepped off the stage the director told me I would be one of the Oz's for sure....the productions are so popular, they double-cast all the lead roles.

So, that was that and I had been cast as a "lead" of a real stage production.

Of course, I've had a little experience on the stage from time to time, but nothing too fancy.  The last significant stage production I had been in was a mini-Christmas production for Christmas Eve service at church a few years ago. However, almost all my lines were pre-recorded, as the audience was supposed to hear my thoughts. There was practically no pressure, except to not trip on my own two feet.

My previous other roles included some church stuff in high school and my roles in "The Music Man" my senior year. I was one of the traveling salesmen (actually had the first line of the whole play), a towns-person and sang the town songs and was a dancer to the "Shipoopi" with my future wife! I can't believe I had to Google "Shipoopi" to figure out how to spell it. I will eventually blog about this experience but suffice to say I was very nervous for the first scene and after that I could just have fun and blend in with the rest of the cast. 

The kiddo's were also cast, E & H were munchkins and C was a Poppy flower and a Oz-ian citizen. It was a family affair!

While it was "only a church production" this church really offers some impressive stuff. The directors have worked in NYC and have actually done professional work.

I mean, check out my crazy head that was projected when I was Oz. Technology never fails to amaze me. This looked surprisingly professional. 

They had a total of eight shows, which meant all the leads would have four shows each.

So while I was a "lead" by strict definition, I had strange role. Two of my six scenes were pre-recorded and five of the six scenes are in the second act of the play. So while I was required to be at many Act I rehearsals, I had little to do but sit around and fret about my scene in Act I. Even when I got around to it, we would do it "one and done" style, as the director seemed to have supreme confidence in me. Besides, they had all sorts of stuff to get to for Dorthy and the others like singing and dancing, etc.

I didn't mind it all the downtime though, it was interesting to watch the show come together. Still, I was bit of an outsider. Almost all of our leads were in their 20's and in college, while I am an old man. Two exceptions were the other Oz (in his 50's) and one of the witches (in her mid- 40's). Mirroring my participation with the stage, I barely got to know them until we started rehearsing, while most of them had worked together at least a few times.

After the first few weeks of rehearsals on Act I, we finally dived into Act II. This was a welcome change but also, things started to move pretty fast. I was given one full day of  warning to record my big Oz head scenes. I didn't think it was a big deal as I knew my lines "OK" and I figured I was have multiple takes. No problem.

The next evening came and I went down early to have my face painted and record my scenes. If I am being honest, (and hey no one reads this blog anyway, so why not?)....it was pretty cool. On a technical side, I hated it. I don't like anything near my eyes but on practical side, it felt like I was in show business.

The best selfies are with make-up on.

The problem with only having a day's notice is that my memorization of the script was not that good. Especially when everyone is just staring at you and especially when you have a huge light directed into your face and you're not supposed to look anywhere but straight ahead. It was weird and I am obviously making excuses here....but I felt like I was choking. It was the first time I really started to doubt myself in the production.  If I was grading myself, I would give my performance a B but this is because the "producer" of the digital effect could combine my takes. I felt pretty bad about the whole thing but the director was fine and everyone was supportive and kind-hearted about the whole thing.

 After weeks of rehearsals, we were finally ready to open the show.  I was nervous, more nervous than I had originally expected. I was on the side-stage listening to Dorthy sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and realizing...this was it and there was no turning back. My first performance was so-so, but as someone later said, I got better each performance and it really felt that way. I mean, I could get technical - my first scene the third night was the best while my last scenes on the fourth night was the best ya know, no one but me could even sense a difference.

A few photos from my scene as Professor Marvel in Act I. Act I was in gray or "black and white" to mirror the film. It was a cool idea.

My favorite part of the whole endeavor was adding something different each night. One night, it was a mistake, but both "Dorthy" and I found our way back as we both knew the script. Dorthy was great -  talented, professional in demeanor and had a great attitude.  She also seemed like a great person off stage too. Being that the majority of my lines come with Dorthy, it was fortunate that we had a little chemistry.

In my first scene, Dorthy has run away from home when she meets Professor Marvel. Once Marvel figures out what's going on, he tries to "con" her back home. This is such fun character type to play - the con man with a heart of gold. Anyway, one night I decided to add a bit to the performance and asked Dorthy as she's attempting to get in "tune with infinity" if she's ever done this before, because she's a "natural". My fellow actor didn't bat an eye...and I was pleased when we got a few laughs.

After Act I, I would get to hang out "back stage" - an adjacent fellowship hall next door. It was fun to hang out with my kids and check on them as needed. The kids did so well, the little one's aced the dance moves and the older one sang great. the show was a great for their confidence. I could see growth in all their performances. In particular, given the research that shows adolescent girls lose confidence from 10-13, it was nice to be a part of something that can help build confidence and character.

Act II is where the Wizard's role is actually meaty, although, again, two of my scenes were pre-recorded. I would still waltz in the back of the room, just in case there were technical problems and I would then voice the Wizard from the back. Nothing happened, but it was still fun to walk in wearing a cape.  It's a little known fact that if you're walking wearing a cape it increases your confidence by 90%. My costume was a little silly but it did get me into character.

I loved the "awards" scene out of all my scenes.  I would practice my monologues driving to work, in the shower or really during any part of my day I was alone. I rarely slipped up, as I knew it so well. Right before I would go out on this scene I wasn't nervous but actually excited.  It felt like the character and I would zen into one being at this point during the show.

Immediately after the awards scene is the farewell in the hot air balloon. Look, it is local theater. We had it set up on wheels and I would "float" away back stage. It wasn't all that bad. After I flew away, I had to rush backstage to a different area, get back into my Professor Marvel costume quickly to be ready to be back in Kansas. That was by far, the most nerve wracking part of the role. Also, changing in front of people isn't a big deal when you are properly motivated to do it quickly and get your mic back on.

During my speech in the balloon, I would look at the cast, specifically looking for my three kids.  Usually, I could find one or two and this would make me happy. 

After my fourth performance, it was all over. All the hours to learn a very specific skill - the lines, the motions, etc. were now essentially - useless. All these specific people in specific roles, whom accomplished a goal as a team would never be brought back together again.  It already feels poignant and this was only six months ago!

Another thing I loved from this experience was the challenge of it all. I haven't really had a "real" role ever, not like this....and here I am, 41, and trying something new. It felt like I was stretching a muscle that hadn't been used in a long, long time and it felt good. I am grateful for the experience. After all, isn't that what life's about - trying something new and having fun with those you love the most?

1980's Spurs Memories: The Fragments

I've been a Spurs fan most of my life. Here are the fragments of my earliest Spurs memories.

If you're a fan, suffer through the self-indulgence, it will be worth it when you find out about my  personal experience with Coach Pop.

My fandom probably started when I was 9 years old. In December of 1986, my Dad brought home front-row tickets because a co-worker couldn't attend. Up until this point in my life, I have memories of my father and I watching some of those classic Lakers-Celtics battles (my dad rooting for the Celtics, and I was rooting for the Lakers) at one point in life I remember being completely surprised San Antonio even had a team as the Spurs were never on TV and no one I knew talked about them at all. 




Here's my ticket stub. $30.00 bucks for a front row seat!
That's still only a little over $64 in 2014!


 

I remember a few distinct things about the game, one was a souvenir basketball rolled down from the somewhere above us right to my seat. I looked up but have no idea where it came from. I was able to keep it and take it home. The other was Tom Chambers came barreling towards us chasing after a loose ball. He landed right below my legs and the ball popped up right into my hands. I looked down at Chambers, looked up and saw the ref looking at me. I threw the ball at the ref and I felt pretty cool. Back in those days, few Spurs games were on TV - no highlights exist but I found a full game on youtube from a few months later in the season.

From then on, I remember checking the newspaper and checking out the sports section for information on the Spurs. It was hit or miss as I had other important things in my life like candy, baseball cards and comic books. Plus, the Spurs stunk at the time (a 2 year anomaly for the most successful small market pro sports team ever). 

Other early memories included me staying home sick when the local news broke in to announce David Robinson had signed with the Spurs. I wasn't aware at the time how important this was (see the details in the video below about his options) but it was the turning point in Spurs history. It is very likely, the franchise would have stunk for another 3-5 years and been moved. Here's a TBS report about that day.




With the start of adolescence, my interest in sports grew. In the summer before 6th grade (1988)  I got this t-shirt to show my friends what a big Spurs fan I was - even though David wasn't going to play until the following year.

 

 

 

One of my most treasured childhood memories also happened in the summer of 1988. It's strange to think about but the NBA and especially the Spurs were small potatoes compared to 2014. The organization really had to  sell the idea of going to the games of a crappy team - so this meant getting the players and coaches out into the local community.

There were several H-E-B promotional events planned around the city and one of our local H-E-B's was chosen as a location. Johnny Dawkins, the Coyote and a then, brand new, little-known assistance coach named Gregg Popovich would be there. They would have autographs, ticket giveaways and have some games for the kiddo's.

My dad took me down to the H-E-B and we first got in line for an autograph from Dawkins (that is now lost in the mists of time). I hung out shooting hoops with a bunch of kids for awhile and then, the contest began. I am not sure if I knew what the prize would be, but it was a 12 game pack (for two) that as on the line. The whole package was only $176.00!!

The contest was a version of "Knockout" - where the kids were lined up and shot free-throws. If you made your free-throw, you were "safe" and continued on,  if you missed and the kid behind you made their attempt, you were "out" of the game. The game started with a bunch of kids, my memory is a bit hazy but at least 15-20, possibly more. I can't say for sure but I believe Coach Pop was hosting the game, grabbing rebounds and passing the balls back to the kids to shoot. Although I don't have a memory of him doing so, I have a very good reason to think this, as you will see below.

What was strange about this game of "Knock Out" was that the Spurs Coyote was playing with the kids.  Even more strange, he  was actually knocking kids out of the contest (maybe he was ready to go home??).  I was shooting well and was knocking kids out left and right. Slowly but surely the contest dwindled down to three of us - me, a girl about my age and the Coyote.  I think the girl knocked out the Coyote and we traded buckets a few times. Then, I missed.  I was sure that I was going to suffer the indignity of losing to a girl but then, she missed and I made my next attempt, winning the game!

Which brings me back to Coach Pop.

I had no memory about Popvich being there. After all, he was part of the newly hired staff of Larry Brown (himself, new to SA) and practically an unknown. Even by basketball standards, he was a no-body.

My memories about this great victory of mine centered on winning the contest and meeting Johnny Dawkins. Then, I was digging through some of my dad's old documents when I came across a copy of an old letter that my dad had written back to the Spurs:

 

 

 

For those that didn't bother (or who can't read my dad's handwriting) it complements Coach Popovich for the way he treated all the kids, stating he was "considerate" about the kids feelings during the contest and how, "The Spurs have a quality individual in Coach Popovich".

I was shocked. It turns out I  had most likely taken shots passed from one of the NBA's all-time best head coaches! Popovich is known for his gruff demeanor and it's true he will not suffer a fool, but if you dig long enough, you find out he has a heart of gold. The guy's the real deal- smart, no-nonsense, tough and caring head coach. Also, he's a liberal so that makes me like him even more.





Our tickets were center-court, on the lowest level of the upper deck. Actually pretty good seats for as high as they were, plus, there were free! Here's my Spurs ID card from the 1988-1989 season. I have no idea what this card was for, but I am sure I had in my wallet to show my friends. Typically, they spelled my name wrong.

  

Our package included the opening night against the defending champs, the LA Lakers. I chose this 12 game pack because it had the Lakers and Celtics, and other option only had the Bulls.  The Spurs actually  won that game on opening night in a major upset. The crowd at the old Hemisphere Arena was rocking and rolling with excitement and it was a ton of fun.

As it turned out, that game was the zenith of the experience.  The Spurs lost the next 11 games we went to. Even when the Celtics came to town, Larry Bird was out with health issues and we still lost.  As an 11-year-old fan, it was frustrating but I always got stay up late and I learned a lot about basketball that year.

The following year was the most anticipated season in Spurs history (before or since) with David Robinson finally arriving after that 2 year delay. Although we didn't get a season ticket package, my dad did manage to score opening night tickets against, once again, the LA Lakers. It was David Robinson's first regular season NBA game and he did not disappoint. He had 23 points and 17 rebounds in a victory. Again, it was an amazing game to be at, and it felt like we finally had one of the "greats" playing for "our" Spurs!

A minor miracle I still had this ticket, I think I found it in one of my old baseball/basketball card boxes in college. Also, note it was $11.00 bucks to watch NBA history (even if it was "upper balcony").

 

So, the 80's ended quite well for the Spurs, they were on the up-swing and I was a very happy 12-year-old. Eventually, I will write a part II but until then, Happy New Year, to no one in particular!

Burning the Midnight Oil Fragments

Golly Gee Whiz I'm coming up to my 200th post and my 4th anniversary of blogging.

Cue your favorite music, grab a beer from the fridge and toast with me later this month.  With that 200th post, we'll celebrate the past and look forward to the future. Together.

Or don't - you douche bags - I know there's only about 2 of you out there anyway.

Ran into a wall with my "Star Trek Voyager" binge in the first part of season 6. Just got burnt out and busy with life....I expected it to happen sooner. I'll get back to eventually. Now, I got hooked on "The Angry Video Game Nerd" (search "AVGN") on YouTube. So foul but so funny. It's a Gen X thing, so if you are male, born after 1975, owned an NES and are a dork, then you should give it a chance.  Start with a AVGN Top 10 Worst NES games (or some other top ten list) before starting the actual episodes to see if you'll like the show. Also, start with a later episode (90+) as those are better in terms of quality and they are less crass.  Also, under NO circumstances should you watch these when your kids are awake - the language is pretty terrible. Here you lazy person, I'll embed it FOR YOU.  



Also, the second season of "Adventure Time" finally got loaded onto Netflix so I am sure that will distract me away from "Star Trek" also.

All this is to say it got me into NES roms again. Just discovered the original Japanese Super Mario Brothers 2 (released as "Lost Levels" on SNES a few years later). It's like discovering another Beatles album. Except the album would make you frustrated and occasionally makes you curse. The thing is not easy. I haven't been spending too much time on it but last night I was forced into a  warp zone on the 3rd world and it sends you back to World 1. Poo Poo Heads (I will hand it too them, they were devious, clever Poo Poo Heads).  Also, I got a NES USB controller on Amazon for 8 bucks with shipping. It's awesome.


In other lazy news the love of my life and I recently rented "About Time". Wow. Best movie I have seen in awhile. I was expecting typically rom com and ended the movie in tears, not because of the characters but because of my own life. Definitely one of those that you'll think about the next day.

I've been in the local paper (and our college paper) a couple of times the last few weeks due to work stuff. I think if I would have somehow known this as a child, I would have thought that was AWESOME. Now, I will admit, it's kinda cool, but it only serves as a means to an end. We want change, so someone has to say something. And on that front, it looks like we won a battle in the war. We found out good news today and it was joyous.

It's been interesting and rewarding experience. First, it was a detective story. I gathered information and collected evidence. Then it was using people skills, calling people on campus, getting different takes on the same event, calling state agencies for more information. Then we garnered support, sure it was easy enough getting faculty members to sign on but I put in hours walking up and down our campus in two days as time was of essence.  We even ended up getting some of our administrators to sign on. After that, it felt like we were onto something. Then it was working with the media. It involved meeting with media folks off the record, being interviewed and basically helping shape the story. Keep in mind I am not taking credit for all of this, only a helpful cog in a machine.

Also, spring time is awesome. Flowers, nice weather, ya know, spring time.

Spurs. Damn those Spurs - hope never dies (at least until Timmy retires).

That's it. I stayed up too late. AGAIN. Future self will be confused by the past self. Current self just couldn't stop after a long and successful day, so whatever.

Stay safe, buy local and don't forget to stop and smell the flowers this spring.

How I Met Your Mother VI: The Leap (2001-2002)

Some people think their lives are governed by fate, God or (the most silly of them all), "the universe".  I expect most of us have found ourselves in a circumstance that seems almost magical.  We might imagine ourselves experiencing events that seem quite impossible to happen in a purely material universe. It's an appealing idea and it makes us feel like that there really is a master plan after all.

Note: If there is a master plan, I am assuming it can't be stolen by Time Bandits. But then again, the universe may turn out to be far more absurd than we realize. Seriously, go watch this film if you haven't already.

I believe in God but this doesn't mean that I think everything in life is predestined or ordained to happen.  No big surprises here but I don't have the answers to these timeless questions about destiny, fate or "God's plan". This much I can tell you: for most of my life my mother prayed for me to meet a woman like your mother. In 1994 that prayer came true. However, I hope that after reading this story it's clear that in life we always have choices. Everyday, we wake up and make choices on who we are going to be and how we are going to act. So it's true that I think God brought us together but we still had to take a leap of faith. Together.

By the fall of 2001, Kathryn had gone back to LSU and I was entering my second year of graduate school in San Antonio. We didn't have as much contact as you would think (you have to understand that neither of us owned our own cell phone and long-distance calls were still expensive). I do remember a few email and phone calls being exchanged between us.  In September, JJ and I were on our way to visit Eric in Abilene and I managed to almost kill us in a car accident when several deer ran in front of my pickup truck. I flipped the truck about six times but you already knew where my scar came from and that's a different story.

All my other friends had significant others so JJ and I were the only single guys left. We ended up hanging out at least once every two weeks. We would complain about Rick and Clinton and about how our two love interests couldn't see the truth (the truth: that obviously, we were infinitely more desirable then our counterparts, of course). I even shared a "concept album" mix CD I had made about the Marie Saga that I thought he might relate to.

Meanwhile in Baton Rouge, things went from bad to worse in Kathryn and Rick's relationship. Your mother had been plagued by doubt about the relationship while Rick was ready for a possible engagement. Sometime in October, after weeks of soul searching, Kathryn ended the relationship. There were other factors in their break up but the truth was Kathryn was ready to get back with JJ. When she called me with the news, I was giddy. Two of my best friends were going to be  together.

When Kathryn had told JJ that she was ready to get back together and renew their relationship - JJ said he was unsure about how he felt. The next day JJ and I met for lunch to talk about the big news. When he told me he was unsure about what do next, I was flabbergasted.

This was the guy who for months had said he would do anything to get Kathryn back and now....now he was telling me he had doubts?  I was downright angry once I got over my shock at what was happening. I had prayed to God for another chance with Marie  and he might be throwing his own chance away? This was the first time I doubted that JJ was the right man for your mother.

In the coming weeks, I was hearing from both Kathryn and JJ. For the first time I felt like my loyalties were being tested. Who exactly should I be loyal to? What did "loyal" even mean in this situation? I felt like the middle man and I didn't feel comfortable with this arrangement. I wanted them to work it out on their own. Once Kathryn got back in town, I planned on laying low and hopefully letting them spend a lot of time together to figure it all out.

The winter break arrived and JJ and Kathryn were "dating" but not seeing very much of each other. JJ even mentioned to me his interest in another woman, as if he was completely single.  I didn't even know how to respond to him. They were definitely not back together, only taking things slow by "dating". On the flip side, Kathryn and I were talking everyday, not only about JJ but just having a good time. One afternoon, I went over to her house and we watched a movie and I had a paraffin wax treatment on my fingernails. We had a blast hanging out. After a week of seemingly constant contact, we were becoming best friends. I remember my feelings bubbling up, but I did my darnest to suppress them.

At some point, plans were drawn up to go to Midnight Rodeo - Danny, Jenny, JJ, Kathryn and myself all rode together in the same car. Kathryn and I had been "dance partners" for the last two summers but this night I was going to have to defer to JJ (even if he wasn't much of a dancer). JJ and Kathryn didn't dance to the first few songs so the three of us just hung out as Danny and Jenny danced. I don't remember how it all went down, but eventually Kathryn and I danced. I know JJ and Kathryn danced that night but it wasn't as much as we had. On the long drive home, Kathryn and I were in the backseat with Jenny and JJ was up front with Danny. I remember laughing a lot about something silly. JJ was oddly quiet. The next day Kathryn told me JJ had been jealous that we had been getting along so well that night.

A few days later, I was driving to pick up a quick bite to eat and I saw Marie jogging in the neighborhood. An hour later we were still talking in my pickup truck. We hadn't had much contact since the spring but after this conversation I felt like we hadn't missed a beat. The Christmas party was in a few days and I found myself asking myself (almost unbelievably) were we really doing this again? Was I going to risk heartbreak by letting hope into my heart?

Although we couldn't have known it, in reality the Christmas party really was Marie and JJ's last chance with either one of us.  For most of the night, your mother and I stayed apart and floated around our respective love interests. I even remember leaving the party and seeing Kathryn and JJ together. I remember thinking they didn't seem to be having a good time together - they seemed so serious. This was only an impression I had, I have no idea what was going on in their heads. I had a great time with Marie that night and after the party we even grabbed some late night tacos together. This time I was at peace with the situation; I still liked Marie but I was determined to not make the same mistake twice. At least for one more night, your mother and I were still blinded by our past and unable to see the opportunity right in front of us.

A few days later I was invited to Philip's family's annual Christmas Eve party. Philip always wanted me to ask Kathryn out - even when I wasn't on board. He would tell me that Rick and JJ were no good for her and that we should just "get it over with" and date. It all seemed so simple to him and I usually just dismissed him. I have to admit that his encouragement helped keep the idea alive. Philip knew I was having mixed feelings about Kathryn and he was eager just to push me even further in that direction. He told me to tell Kathryn that he had personally invited her to come and that he would even call her if I wanted him to. He told me it would feel casual as we all lived just a few streets from each other.

We did have a lot fun at the Christmas Eve party. Afterwards, I drove Kathryn home and we talked in the car for well over an hour about life, love, everything. As I drove home well after 2:00 AM, I thought how we were doing everything together like we were a couple. We continued seeing each other every other day and talking every single day. There are too many small stories to tell. For New Year's Eve JJ had asked Kathryn to go on a date so I was left to make plans on my own. It felt weird to be apart on a holiday.

At this point I had feelings for Kathryn but I felt guilty for doing so. I was trapped and I knew the only honorable thing to do was to remain her friend. It seemed it just wasn't meant to be, our timeing was off. Kathryn had just broken up with Rick, tried to get back to JJ, I needed to just be her friend.  . On January 2nd, Kathryn and I tried to organize a night out at Midnight Rodeo. It seemed like everyone was out of town or couldn't go - even JJ couldn't make it. So, it was just your mother and I, dancing again. We just seemed to fit together well. This was the night I officially and undeniably fell for your mother. I wrote in my journal the following day,

"...she's my best friend and she's beautiful, what more can you need? But it's not the right time….I feel that this needs to work it self out, somehow. And I don’t want to play that part, that way..."

A few nights later, Philip's girlfriend Doris was having a birthday party at a club called Banana Joe's. Of course, Philip told me to invite Kathryn. This time Philip's positive vibes were paying off - I was ready to make a move. As we drove downtown to the club, it definitely felt different. If Midnight Rodeo was "safe dancing" between friends; Banana Joe's was more of the "club dancing" type of place. After a few minutes of hanging out and having a drink or two, we all went out on the dance floor. This time things the dancing was a littler more closer, a little more personal. Tonight was different.

At Banana Joe's the night everything changed.

We went for tacos after the club and I was ready to tell her I loved her right there at Chacho's but I hadn't mustered up the courage yet. It seemed like events were out of control and were moving at light speed. Something that had seemed unimaginable, radical, crazy just a few days ago now seemed natural, almost logical.

I went home on cloud nine but I was soon floating back to earth, surrounded by questions. Was I really going to risk losing two great friendships?

Timeout: I want to make this next part crystal clear. 

Yes,  I was feeling guilty about the whole thing. JJ and I were  friends after all.  However, Kathryn and JJ were not exclusively dating. I would not even consider acting this way had they been a "couple" even if they were an unhappy couple at that.  In my opinion at the time, he wasn't all that interested in dating her.  It's true because I had spent more time with her that winter break than he did. For whatever reason, he did not feel comfortable spending much time with Kathryn.  Furthermore, he had expressed doubts about their future to me personally sometime in November or December.  This was after weeks of me personally telling him to "not blow it" back in October and November--even before I had an inkling that this would happen.  

That next evening we made plans to hang out at Jim's together. I had decided that I was going to tell her about my feelings at Jim's. With just a few minutes before I left my house I started to get very nervous. The stakes were high. What if she wasn't ready to date anyone? What if Banana Joe's was just a mistake? Was I ready to leave Marie behind for good? If we dated and our experiment failed, my friendship with Kathryn and JJ would likely be over. I would lose two of my best friends.

I felt like I needed God to guide me. I got down on my knees and prayed. I prayed that if this wasn't to be, for God to stop it somehow. I prayed that I would have the right words to say. I think I even prayed that your mother felt the same way too. On the way to Jim's we cobbled together some small-talk -- we both knew we had to discuss something much more important that night. Over a vanilla milkshake and a hot chocolate, I confessed my feelings to your mother. It was in this moment where our lives changed forever.

I told your mother that even though I had tried not to, I had feelings for her and I thought we should try to date. I told her I wouldn't risk these relationships for just anyone, only for the chance of an extraordinary relationship. I told her I thought we could be something special. Before she said a word I was already comforted because she was smiling.

We talked for hours that night. About what Marie and JJ would think and about how crazy fast this was going but how organic it felt. We ended up watching a movie at my house mainly because we didn't know what else to do and because I think we didn't want our night to end so early. After the movie, your mother was walking out of my parent's kitchen. I met her as she was walking back towards the living room in front of the bookshelf that now resides in our living room.

I can't remember what we talked about but we were soon hugging. I looked into your mother's eyes and I knew it was time. Almost seven years after our first date, I finally kissed your mother for the first time. It was worth the wait. Through all the parties, funerals, long conversations, tears, laughs and the hours of dancing, we found ourselves together, at last, as best friends.

It was, of course, only the beginning.

Those first few days I was terrified JJ would want her back and she would go back with him. I was half-right. When Kathryn told JJ that we would start dating, his doubts about their relationship suddenly disappeared. He was ready to commit. When Kathryn told Marie, she was also upset (yes, she had a boyfriend, but she was definitely confused with her feelings at the time). We took a big leap that night at Jim's. We trusted God and trusted in ourselves that we felt this was the right. It paid off in full. We were in love; a scary, life-affirming love. The kind of love that makes you doubt it's even real, but it was and it still is real today. It is my most sincere hope that you will find this type of love in your life. There's no promise that you will but if you do find it and you're sure (and you are over the age of 21) then never let it go.

Life is short but "love is as strong as death". You see I can rest a little more easy tonight because I know this story can live a little longer after I am dead and gone. The future is uncertain but I hope whenever and where-ever you are reading this you have found something in this story to take with you. At the worst maybe you'll appreciate the very fragility of your existence. I love all of you so dearly and I will always be there for you if I am able. If I'm around right now, please give me a hug. Go ahead, I'll wait as you track me down in the other room. So it's time to close this long tale - for now you know the full story of how I met your mother.

Postscript (2018):  Well, you know how the story ended up but for those strangers out in internet-land I want to note that Marie was a bridesmaid at our wedding and after a few awkward years, we both rekindled our friendship with JJ.  Oh, and we're still having those annual Christmas parties, except this time there's a lot less drama and more kids running around.