NOTE: My apologies. Fatima had this ready to go last week, but I was traveling, and my laptop busted, which created a whole ‘nother mess I don’t want to get into right now. Anyway, here’s the latest from Ms. Smith. Warning – it’s long…
Hey, everybody, sorry it’s taken so long to respond. I am really excited about this opportunity to communicate with every one again. I am actually working on an interactive website that should be launching soon – I hope. I hope to be updating and answering questions (non-invasive) weekly or so and I will consider using pictures when appropiate. So let’s have fun with this and see where it goes…
FROM: lifelongcat02
January 14, 2009 at 4:46 p.m.
lifelongcat02,
Unfortunately, no. I don’t get the opportunity to travel to the away games as much as I would like because my other children are actually in school… Imagine that! But thanks to FSN, I watch every game and the announcers that travel with the team makes me feel as though I was right there with them.
FROM: bigcat
January 14, 2009 at 6:14 p.m.
bigcat,
First, the best chance of getting decent tickets to the game is online. Then you could have them held at will call and not have to wait in long lines outside to purchase tickets on the day of the game like so many I see as I’m driving to the arena. The tickets are very reasonably priced and to tell you the truth, every seat in the American Airlines Arena (Triple A for the locals) is a great view. Burnie the Mascot, Lisa Lee (HEAT TV Host), DJ Irie, the HEAT dancers and the rest of the entertainment staff are very interactive throughout the stands to make everyone feel like family, too!
Next… As for Michael and D-Wade, I assume they get along as well as any other teammates because I have not seen anything to make me believe otherwise. I still treat home like home and when Mike comes home, it’s family time, so we leave basketball on the other side of the door except for when he’s playing his little brother Malik in a game of one-on-one outside in the driveway… Malik still has not beaten him but anything is possible!
FROM: Beaniegirl1
January 14, 2009 at 11:20 p.m.
Beaniegirl1,
With those looks…What do you think? LOL! Seriously, that’s his personal business and I don’t get involved with that…
FROM: C_Hill
January 15, 2009 at 9:20 a.m.
C_Hill,
I know, right? I mean, last year I loved the rivalry with the Jayhawks but as I’ve come into this new found world of the NBA, things change… Mario is such a great kid and he has such an electric and infectious smile! I think they can relate to each other because they are the two rookies on the team. It’s funny to see the two of them team up against (Darrell) Arthur and (Darnell) Jackson! I sometimes wonder what goes through their minds when they play against their former teammates…
What’s even more interesting to me is that I have found a new friend in his mom, Almarie. We hang out together as much as our schedules allow and we have even gone to the Celine Dion concert at the AAA together… Who’d have thought!
FROM: RocLo
January 15, 2009 at 3:37 p.m.
How many tats does Mike have now and what do they mean?
RocLo,
I’ll have to get to you on that one… I’ve lost count but I can tell you that ALL of his tattoos mean something to him in one way or the other. In other words, he didn’t just look at a picture and think it was cool… He actually gave each one some thought.
FROM: ksu4ever
January 16, 2009 at 8:35 a.m.
ksu4ever,
It’s good to know that I was missed and know that I think about K-Staters more often than not. We actually by chance have found a KSU alum, Dr. Bill Winchester, who takes care of all of our dogs… As for the weather, I can’t believe it… I mean, it’s early January and the kids are still enjoying the pool in the backyard! Road trips are a part of the job and outside of the fact that he was on the west coast for his birthday and away from his family and dogs, it wasn’t so bad.
FROM: beasley1fan
January 16, 2009 at 9:02 a.m.
beasley1fan,
Well, first, I must say the same thing about KSU basketball… I don’t have any inside information on the amount of playing time that Michael has or not have. The only thing that I can encourage him to continue doing is to be as productive with any amount of minutes that he is given, and for the record I think he’s been doing a fantastic job!
Because we don’t talk “basketball” when he come to my house I can only give my perception as to how he feels. Whenever I started a new job, I welcomed the idea of having someone around to “show me the ropes.” Especially when I was expected to perform at a high level. So when Mike is able to take lessons on “the game” from the great role players on his team, I can only assume that he welcomes the ideas with open arms.
FROM: SuperG
January 16, 2009 at 11:49 a.m.
It’s great to hear from you again. You’ve watched a lot of basketball on various levels in your day. How would you compare the NBA games to the college atmosphere? Are the games in the League as boring as they look on TV? Has Mike talked much about practices and preparation since he’s joined the Heat? How do they compare with Frank Martin’s practices?
SuperG
You’re right, I have watched basketball from our church league at Dupont Park SDA in southeast D.C. to the NBA. Going through the different stages of basketball with my boys has been both fulfilling and challenging. In my opinion, I believe high school and college games are more energized. The NBA games are exciting in their own way. For one, you can get star-struck when you realize that your child is playing against great players like Shaq, Duncan, LeBron and even Kobe. But when the game gets started, it’s all about who can get the “W” and all of that fame goes out the window! I’m not sure of the details of the practices, but I know he goes early and leaves late and most of the time you can find him asleep on his sofa exhausted from the workouts sessions.
FROM: crusaderlover
January 16, 2009 at 12:07 p.m.
crusaderlover,
Wow, did you leave any rocks unturned? LOL! I think Mike’s biggest adjustment to the league has been to come to the realization that it’s no longer a game but a JOB! While I don’t miss the single digit temps there in Manhattan, I do miss the hospitality and warmness of the town I’ve grown so fond of. As for business opportunities, we have not decided on what we would like to do but I’m sure Mike would like to keep his ties to his college town. I wanted to come back for the KSU vs KU game at Bramlage, but it’s during the NBA All-Star weekend. So I’ll have to look at the schedule again… Quick too, the season is flying by…
FROM: Pete
January 16, 2009 at 12:37 p.m.
Ask Mama if she has talked with Bill Walker’s mom recently. I’d like to know if she is enjoying watching her son in the D league. She could have been cozy and safe like she was tucked in a warm comfy bed in Manhattan, and spending her son’s millions at four local malls NEXT YEAR like Mama… But, mistakes were made.
Pete,
Uh, never mind…
FROM: chuck
January 17, 2009 at 12:07 p.m.
chuck,
Whenever I get the chance to talk about Manhattan, I go on and on and on… When we found our vet, it was like heaven. I was able to tell him about all of the changes that have taken place and he was able to tell me how it was when he was there. I love it when I see people wearing KSU gear because I can just go up to them and talk about how we’re connected as if I actually attended KSU myself… I love it! And yes, I’ll come back to KSU for all of Michael’s memorial moments.
FROM: kansasheat
January 19, 2009 at 5:49 p.m.
We estimated there was roughly around 200 in purple or #30 Beasley heat jerseys. Mike did not have his best game as he was in foul trouble early. It seemed like the officials were kinda of laying for him. It’s really hard to tell how they call fouls in the NBA, Mike’s fouls were so ticky-tacky.
1. If Mike makes a mistake they pull him alot quicker than Chalmers.
2. Wade is a great shooter, but he is such a ball hog.
3. There is no reason why Mike should not be starting.
Be sure to pass on to Mike the number of KSU fans in attendance.
kansasheat,
I’m glad you were able to make it to the game. I saw the game on TV and I was excited to see all of the KSU support and to hear the commentators talk about it as well. Yes, he had an idea that the support would be there but had know idea that it would be so many and neither did I until my former co-worker, Lucy, called me to tell me that the son of another co-worker, Sandy, was headed down with some friends. That’s when I texted him and told him he and Mario both should expect a big turn out… The only thing that could have topped it off was for the crowd to start doing the “Wabash”! Man, I would have been rewinding and watching that over and over again with Tiffany…
While, he may not have had his best game against the OKC Thunder, he had an amazing performance throughout the LONG road trip. Your other observations have been noted as well and “that’s all I have to say about that”…LOL! Forrest Gump, get it? Never mind…
I am finishing this up on Sunday, Jan. 25, so let’s see if J-Mart can put it up… Especially since he’s headed to town as I type! TTYL!