The Most Random, Bizarre, Somewhat Scary Experience on Super Bowl Sunday

Occasionally, my dad leaves to the Philippines to handle family affairs. During the time, I stay at my parent’s house with my mom so she isn't alone.

The street where my parents live on people don't normally have their neighbors over for dinner for example, if anything, they might just know the people that lives next to them.

Here I was on Super Bowl Sunday, alone at the house, with nothing much to do other than do homework and watch the Super Bowl. I woke up and decided to go to the historic, Randy's Donuts close by in Inglewood, Calif. to grab a chocolate and glaze donut. Come on, I haven't had a donut in ages...few months.

I left the little corner shop, drove home, and decided to water the grass. The lawn looked a tad bit neglected.

I finished in less than five minutes and was walking towards my front door when a middle-aged woman with a middle-Eastern accent, not too sure from where, walked up to me asking for help. She said she needed help lifting her grandfather.

I reluctantly said, "Alright." I followed her for a house or two and began wondering, "Where the hell am I going? I don't know anyone on this street even though I have lived here for eighteen years."

We ended up going five houses down, across the street, to a small home with an elderly couple, maybe from an eastern-European country based on the wife's accent. I should stop judging people on their accent.

But in this tiny bedroom I found a single bed with an old man on the floor and his wife calmly sitting on the bed. Judging on the way they looked, they were not related to the woman I followed but you never know, she probably was their caretaker.

The first thing the caretaker asked me to do was move his portable toilet. That was interesting. I was hoping I wouldn't knock it over or tilt it somehow and have his waste, for lack of a proper word, pour all over me. I then grabbed his left shoulder while his caretaker took the right and slowly lifted him onto a chair.

The man could clearly not walk on his own as his legs were shaking uncontrollably as he was trying to help us get him up off the floor. He couldn't speak well either, barely responding to questions from his wife and caretaker.

By this time I was terrified because I try to avoid handling people most of the time. I'm scared of children and rarely handle an elderly person like this. The only people being my dad's mom and her mom years ago. It wasn't comfortable both because I didn’t know this person and here he was with some kind of underwear or diaper that was barely holding on and had nothing but a cotton pad between his legs.

But really I just wanted to help this guy because he had fallen and couldn't get up.

Now he's sitting in his chair but now we have to move him to his wheel chair. The caretaker didn't realize she was moving the chair with the brakes on so it was difficult at first. This upcoming part was a bit nerve wrecking for me.

We kind of got him in the chair but his pillow was out of place. The caretaker then wanted me to lift him while she moved the cushion. She showed me how to do it by facing him and placing my legs in between his and lifting him. I tried lifting from the side the first time but she told me I had to position my legs in front of his so I don’t drop him.

So I got in front of him, put his shoulders over mine and lifted. It was creepy because his legs were shaking, he was mumbling something I couldn’t understand, and I thought I felt the cotton pad.

Weird. Odd. Kind of scary.

Hopefully I didn't hurt him at all.

By this time and based on the look on his wife's face it looked like were done. I was relieved. We said our quick good-byes and I left.

All I could think after was how random and after twenty-three years I finally met the people who lived five houses down and across the street and the way we were introduced.

Defense Keys Matadors to 69-63 Win Over San Jose State

Senior Ashley Blake Has Clutch Performance From 3-Point Arc

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - The Cal State Northridge women's basketball team (1-7) defeated San Jose State, 69-63, Sunday afternoon, at the Matadome. Senior Ashley Blake led the Matadors in scoring with 15 points and dished out five assists for CSUN in their first victory of the season.

Blake was part of a second half run that put the Matadors up by nine, shooting 4-of-7 from the field, with three of her made baskets from behind the 3-point line. SJSU battled back and cut the deficit to four, but it was not enough as the Matadors made 10 of 13 attempts towards the end of the game to seal the victory.

Blake set a season high with five assists and tied her career-high with six rebounds and three steals. She is now averaging 6.6 points, 3.1 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game this season.

Forward Analee Viena-Lota had a solid game, scoring 11 points and led her team in rebounds with seven. Senior Tonicia Tademy also scored in double digits, finishing with 10, going 5-of-6 from the charity stripe late in the game to keep the Matadors ahead. Tademy's five free throws set a new career high.

Freshman Jasmine Erving made her presence known, scoring four field goals inside the paint and pulling down six rebounds. The center is coming off her first double-double of the season where she had 21 points and 13 rebounds in a loss to UCLA.

Down by four at the half, 33-29, the Spartans fought back and cut CSUN's lead to one with less than six minutes left in the game, but the Matadors held on to seal the victory.

Shaunna Ridge led SJSU in points with 16.

The Matadors hit the road for their next game to face Fresno State on Tuesday, Dec. 9at 7 p.m. Fans can listen and follow play by play action of the game by visiting GoMatadors.com

Original article at...
http://gomatadors.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/120708aae.html

Let's Go Pacman

It is the calm before the storm.

Months of countless hours of training, blood, sweat, and dedication, all come down to a showdown between two boxing icons fighting in a boxing dream match.

Only days away from what some consider the fight of the year, fans are excited between a much anticipated match between Filipino ring king, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, and “The Golden Boy,” Mexican Oscar De La Hoya.

The two will enter Saturday night's fight at MGM Grand during significant times in their boxing journeys. De La Hoya is heading into the later years of his boxing career at age of 35 while Pacquiao is said to be entering his prime at the age of 29.

Both fighters took a different approach in preparing for the match. De La Hoya decided to retreat to Big Bear, Calif. and train in a house complete with a gym and ring while Pacquiao spent his days in Hollywood, living in a condo with nearly a dozen of his entourage, a few miles away from trainer Freddie Roach’s gym, Wild Card Boxing Club.

But as De La Hoya chose the seclusion and Rocky Balboa-like training and Pacquiao decided to stay in the Hollywood limelight and train alongside amateurs and champions, many wonder how will the fight pan out?

For the first time since his Las Vegas debut, Pacquiao will be fighting as an underdog with Las Vegas odds makers favoring the bigger and taller De La Hoya.

Pacquiao, the current World Boxing Council lightweight champion, is ready to fight De La Hoya, who once trained with Roach, and defend, not only the Filipino people, but also his other nickname, the “Mexecutioner.”

Pacquiao has defeated some of Mexico’s finest boxers such as Erik Morales, Marco Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, and David Diaz. The speed and combination of punches were no match for the former champions.

Jonathan Lim, a Filipino and boxing trainer at California State University at Northridge, said Pacquiao will come out the victor.

“Manny is going to be way too fast for De La Hoya, he’s too old,” Lim said. “He’s going to attack and attack and his punches are real powerful too, but at the end he’s going to be faster and quicker.”

Pacquiao’s energy and tenacity has made him successful throughout his career ever since he won his first title as a late replacement in a super flyweight fight against then title holder, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. Pacquiao has moved up in the ranks since then, winning titles in four other weight classes. Only Roy Jones Junior dominated the ranks like that.

Some Mexicans are supporting Pacquiao though because of the first fight that put De La Hoya on the map. De La Hoya defeated legend Julio Caesar Chavez for his WBC light welter weight belt as an underdog, by technical knockout in the third round.

“It’s hard to support Pacquiao but I’m going to because I hate De La Hoya,” Max Parra said, a personal trainer in boxing and mixed martial arts. “Chavez is a legend, and I’m never going to get over that. I’m all for, Manny.”

Pacquiao has seven wins in eight matches in Las Vegas. He has showed progress as a boxer, changing from a brawler to a technical and sound fighter, but also as a person, donating money and food, by hand, in the Philippines, and building schools, clinics, and churches.

“The People’s Champ” is adored by millions of Filipinos and boxing fans have grown to love his lively and aggressive style. De La Hoya should be no match for Ring Magazine’s top rated pound for pound boxer.

“Pacman” will come out the winner, beating another Mexican champion, and should be in shape to face, European slugger, Ricky Hatton.



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Healthcare Preview

Election '08: CSUN students look to President-Elect Obama

First African-American President! Check out this blog to see what Cal State Northridge students said about President Obama!

http://m00m0000.blogspot.com/

Be cool and leave a comment.
Nice story! I liked the quotes and all the different opinions! There were so many factors to consider in this year's election. Good stuff.

Apple or Vista Guide

Hey doing some Holiday shopping for a new computer, check out the article on this blog.

http://pacificislanderguide.blogspot.com/

Post a comment, I did!
Nice article Patrick! I know its hard to choose because I like the two click or right click option on PCs but Apples never get viruses! Good work. Thanks.

Soccer Fantasy Sports

Check out this article on how to start up a fantasy league for soccer.

http://travisopinions.blogspot.com/

I left a comment...
Great story! I love fantasy sports. I liked it how you did a story on soccer/football fantasy sports and not basketball or american footbal. Maybe I'll try it next year. Well written and informative. Thanks.