Knicks · Snippet on Towns (page 4)

mreinman wrote:

fishmike wrote:

mreinman wrote:

fishmike wrote:

mreinman wrote:

fishmike wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:Yea Fish glad you can look back on it 20yrs later. Man that's rough but for a 19-20yr old? I'm sure it gave you a much broader perspective on life to benefit from. Was there any correlation to the sudden growth spurt? It wasn't bone related right?

na.. hodgekins. Thats lymphoma, so it hits the lymph nodes. It spreads quickly but also does well with treatment. Chemo is barbaric. You drip poison into your body under the logic and hope that it kills the cancer before it kills you. Im sure the cigs I smoked in my teen angst years didnt help.

Most of my perspective comes from this:
http://www.thevaleriefund.org/
although I was 19 my general practitioner had a relationship with an oncologist that headed one of Valerie fund offices so he got me in but I was the oldest there by far. Hanging with kids dying from cancer and rare blood diseases, and worst watching their parents remains the defining event on how I view the world. If you ever have some cash and want to donate they are an amazing group.

This was the year the Knicks lost to the Rockets and following that team was often the thing that kept me going. The whole office knew I was a huge Knick fan. They made me go to the xmas party that year. I really didnt want to, but they really pushed so I caved. Santa called me up to sit on his lap and said ho-ho-ho we have something here for this big kid... courtside seats. Knicks vs. Nuggs. I was right behind the Knick bench and sat in front of Rodney Hampton.

Life is funny.

wow! I have goose bumps fishmike.

Sports talk seems so silly in the context of real life.

For some reason, everyone who goes through these illnesses seem like pure souls that learn to have such a great perspective one life/

Curious ... was it hodgekins or non hodgekins?

hodgekins... good for me. Generally a better outcome, but there are 1000s of other variables. I was a 2b.. I had tumors in my upper body. Under the arms, chest and neck. Nothing in the stomach, liver, kidneys or other goodies in the middle so that was a plus. 9mos of chemo, a couple surgeries to remove some of the bigger stuff and 3 mos of radiation. Essentially a year. It was not fun but I had excellent support. Good friends, good family, good docs and (remember I was 19) a ton of sympathy sex. If it wasnt for the damn cancer I would have been a great time

You certaintly learn to focus on the moment and live in the now. Im a very emotional guy so takes some practice for sure. Its all about today and for me my kids. Right now Im a nervous wreck. Im cool on the outside but Im out of my mind. I coach my son's hoops team (we are the Jayhawks) and tonight is the league final. We went 8-4, earned a bi, won our first two and can win the title tonight. This is soooo much easier as player!

lucky for you it was the "good" one. I think that Mario Lemieux's had it too. Lot's of success stories ...

Sympathy Sex .... LOL ... classic

Chill out about the game ... its just basketball! Whats the spread?

Mario did have it. His was very local so it was a clip and done. I think he had some local radiation. No chemo. Lucky for him.

I think my guys are .5 favorites so its basically a pickem

You would love my team.. we have 4 good scorers, but EVERY kid plays defense. I got them taking pride in playing team D and its our calling card. Our first playoff game we were winning 12-0 at halftime. Yea... we were pitched a shutout in the first half

I need to get up and pace.

Ok ... I don't do this often and please don't ever tell anybody that I did this.

I bless your team and you will therefore win this game.

I am a rabbi so I know what I am doing ... you are good to go ... thank me later.

If you bet on this game, the blessing is null and void.

gunsnewing wrote:I really want to get into horse racing. Go to Belmont etc. I really like following the triple crown. I'm a crappy gambler though. Finally put some money down on a horse who was dominating Yonkers and then he loses for the first time. I really get a kick out of the atmosphere and excitement leading up to those 2mins or so

And just like that the cancer survivor threads turns into the degenerate gambling thread lol

I bring the wife to Monmouth prob 2-3 times a year. Great time. Thats enough to scratch my itch these days.

I should check out monmouth for starters

gunsnewing wrote:lol

I should check out monmouth for starters

fishmike wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:lol

I should check out monmouth for starters

its 40 minutes away for me so its great. Its super chill environment and cheap. $2 to park. $2 for admission. You can BYOB and BYOF. I mean you can chill all day and bet a few bucks, drink some beers and have a great time for $50 in the summer. Bet what you want...

You guys are making me go back to my GA meetings, to remove the itch!

blkexec wrote:

fishmike wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:lol

I should check out monmouth for starters

its 40 minutes away for me so its great. Its super chill environment and cheap. $2 to park. $2 for admission. You can BYOB and BYOF. I mean you can chill all day and bet a few bucks, drink some beers and have a great time for $50 in the summer. Bet what you want...

You guys are making me go back to my GA meetings, to remove the itch!

gunsnewing wrote:I really want to get into horse racing. Go to Belmont etc. I really like following the triple crown. I'm a crappy gambler though. Finally put some money down on a horse who was dominating Yonkers and then he loses for the first time. I really get a kick out of the atmosphere and excitement leading up to those 2mins or so

I played many years of poker. Loved it and was really good at it. Studied the odds and read many many poker books.

wife was not happy and I let it all go for her

miss it badly but at least I am not consumed anymore and can concentrate on my other hobbies like this damn board

mreinman wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I really want to get into horse racing. Go to Belmont etc. I really like following the triple crown. I'm a crappy gambler though. Finally put some money down on a horse who was dominating Yonkers and then he loses for the first time. I really get a kick out of the atmosphere and excitement leading up to those 2mins or so

I played many years of poker. Loved it and was really good at it. Studied the odds and read many many poker books.

wife was not happy and I let it all go for her

miss it badly but at least I am not consumed anymore and can concentrate on my other hobbies like this damn board

mreinman wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I really want to get into horse racing. Go to Belmont etc. I really like following the triple crown. I'm a crappy gambler though. Finally put some money down on a horse who was dominating Yonkers and then he loses for the first time. I really get a kick out of the atmosphere and excitement leading up to those 2mins or so

I played many years of poker. Loved it and was really good at it. Studied the odds and read many many poker books.

wife was not happy and I let it all go for her

miss it badly but at least I am not consumed anymore and can concentrate on my other hobbies like this damn board

I'm in the same boat with the wife.

I thought I had it all figured out.....Been playing for years. Then I realized it really kept me away from the family and kids and job. Life was going down hill fast, so I had to stop (slow down...lol) Used to go every other day....now is like every other month.

Yep, been to weekly GA meetings.....Even when I didn't think I had a problem.....But I did it for the wife. I love those meetings because you're around like minded people and you develop a bond. Makes you accountable.

But I turned in my poker cards for bible study....Trying to live a purpose driven life. I can't explain to you in words how different my life feel. How easy it is to deflect negativity, when you see the bigger picture....Even if I go back and play poker now....It's a different feeling. It's not as exciting....I feel out of place. It's crazy.

blkexec wrote:

mreinman wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I really want to get into horse racing. Go to Belmont etc. I really like following the triple crown. I'm a crappy gambler though. Finally put some money down on a horse who was dominating Yonkers and then he loses for the first time. I really get a kick out of the atmosphere and excitement leading up to those 2mins or so

I played many years of poker. Loved it and was really good at it. Studied the odds and read many many poker books.

wife was not happy and I let it all go for her

miss it badly but at least I am not consumed anymore and can concentrate on my other hobbies like this damn board

I'm in the same boat with the wife.

I thought I had it all figured out.....Been playing for years. Then I realized it really kept me away from the family and kids and job. Life was going down hill fast, so I had to stop (slow down...lol) Used to go every other day....now is like every other month.

Yep, been to weekly GA meetings.....Even when I didn't think I had a problem.....But I did it for the wife. I love those meetings because you're around like minded people and you develop a bond. Makes you accountable.

But I turned in my poker cards for bible study....Trying to live a purpose driven life. I can't explain to you in words how different my life feel. How easy it is to deflect negativity, when you see the bigger picture....Even if I go back and play poker now....It's a different feeling. It's not as exciting....I feel out of place. It's crazy.

I know exactly what you mean ... I too study bible and now all I need to do is cut back on the bottle.

Have not had a drink in 2 weeks and it actually feels pretty good.

2 weeks ago, I actually looked up local AA meetings.

Why is it that we always need to be addicted to something? ARGH!

So for now, no alcohol and back to smoking ... great

On 2nd thought forget going to Monmouth lol

gunsnewing wrote:I hear ya

On 2nd thought forget going to Monmouth lol

LMAO....

Hey, we all need to find a Knicks Anonymous class somewhere. Heres a test if you have a knicks problem. After a knicks bad loss (not counting this year), how many people went to work the next day angry? How many people get caught up in a 1 on 1 discussion about the knicks? Eventhough both guys are knick fans....

We all have addictions....You just need to live a balance life. TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING WILL KILL YOU! Thats the model I TRY to live by!

blkexec wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I hear ya

On 2nd thought forget going to Monmouth lol

LMAO....

Hey, we all need to find a Knicks Anonymous class somewhere. Heres a test if you have a knicks problem. After a knicks bad loss (not counting this year), how many people went to work the next day angry? How many people get caught up in a 1 on 1 discussion about the knicks? Eventhough both guys are knick fans....

We all have addictions....You just need to live a balance life. TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING WILL KILL YOU! Thats the model I TRY to live by!

I hear that ... I personally have never let sports get me mad or affect my like. Its too insignificant in the big picture.

mreinman wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I really want to get into horse racing. Go to Belmont etc. I really like following the triple crown. I'm a crappy gambler though. Finally put some money down on a horse who was dominating Yonkers and then he loses for the first time. I really get a kick out of the atmosphere and excitement leading up to those 2mins or so

I played many years of poker. Loved it and was really good at it. Studied the odds and read many many poker books.

wife was not happy and I let it all go for her

miss it badly but at least I am not consumed anymore and can concentrate on my other hobbies like this damn board

So Matt Damon played you in Rounders? Who was your KGB?

Here I am coming back to the computer, looking at how this thread has grown, and I'm thinking that it is almost embarrassing to discuss something as relatively unimportant as a draft pick after talk about cancer, and then I realize the topic has segued into gambling. No way to explain how the human mind works...

mreinman wrote:

blkexec wrote:

mreinman wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I really want to get into horse racing. Go to Belmont etc. I really like following the triple crown. I'm a crappy gambler though. Finally put some money down on a horse who was dominating Yonkers and then he loses for the first time. I really get a kick out of the atmosphere and excitement leading up to those 2mins or so

I played many years of poker. Loved it and was really good at it. Studied the odds and read many many poker books.

wife was not happy and I let it all go for her

miss it badly but at least I am not consumed anymore and can concentrate on my other hobbies like this damn board

I'm in the same boat with the wife.

I thought I had it all figured out.....Been playing for years. Then I realized it really kept me away from the family and kids and job. Life was going down hill fast, so I had to stop (slow down...lol) Used to go every other day....now is like every other month.

Yep, been to weekly GA meetings.....Even when I didn't think I had a problem.....But I did it for the wife. I love those meetings because you're around like minded people and you develop a bond. Makes you accountable.

But I turned in my poker cards for bible study....Trying to live a purpose driven life. I can't explain to you in words how different my life feel. How easy it is to deflect negativity, when you see the bigger picture....Even if I go back and play poker now....It's a different feeling. It's not as exciting....I feel out of place. It's crazy.

I know exactly what you mean ... I too study bible and now all I need to do is cut back on the bottle.

Have not had a drink in 2 weeks and it actually feels pretty good.

2 weeks ago, I actually looked up local AA meetings.

Why is it that we always need to be addicted to something? ARGH!

So for now, no alcohol and back to smoking ... great

Just imagine if every one did things moderately,like once and awhile, life would be so much different, and a lot of people would be out of work. Less cops, less doctors, less judges, less lawyers, less liquor, less crime, less drugs..the list is end less. THIS ENTIRE WORLD IS FCK UP BY ADDICTION,and survives off addiction.

The goal is to do everything moderately and live a peaceful life, but that's a pipe dream. PHIL jackson looks like he's addicted to making head scratching moves,that he doesn't even know why he does it.

But to add to the original topic, Between OK4 and Town, one of these guys will not pan out in the NBA, I cant say for sure but i have never seen 2 franchise players get drafted 1 and 2 in the same draft

mreinman wrote:

blkexec wrote:

mreinman wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I really want to get into horse racing. Go to Belmont etc. I really like following the triple crown. I'm a crappy gambler though. Finally put some money down on a horse who was dominating Yonkers and then he loses for the first time. I really get a kick out of the atmosphere and excitement leading up to those 2mins or so

I played many years of poker. Loved it and was really good at it. Studied the odds and read many many poker books.

wife was not happy and I let it all go for her

miss it badly but at least I am not consumed anymore and can concentrate on my other hobbies like this damn board

I'm in the same boat with the wife.

I thought I had it all figured out.....Been playing for years. Then I realized it really kept me away from the family and kids and job. Life was going down hill fast, so I had to stop (slow down...lol) Used to go every other day....now is like every other month.

Yep, been to weekly GA meetings.....Even when I didn't think I had a problem.....But I did it for the wife. I love those meetings because you're around like minded people and you develop a bond. Makes you accountable.

But I turned in my poker cards for bible study....Trying to live a purpose driven life. I can't explain to you in words how different my life feel. How easy it is to deflect negativity, when you see the bigger picture....Even if I go back and play poker now....It's a different feeling. It's not as exciting....I feel out of place. It's crazy.

I know exactly what you mean ... I too study bible and now all I need to do is cut back on the bottle.

Have not had a drink in 2 weeks and it actually feels pretty good.

2 weeks ago, I actually looked up local AA meetings.

Why is it that we always need to be addicted to something? ARGH!

So for now, no alcohol and back to smoking ... great

The guy who ran my first baseball team was in AA and sober for many years. Ironically I knew him as a drunk in the resturant I used to work in. Bumped into him sober, started chatting baseball and ended up playing together for 10+ years. When I was going through my divorce I started drinking at a pace that only leads to one place, so I went to meetings with him for about a year. I stayed sober through that whole process.

I will simply say this: Mental health is not an accident. You need to work at it. 12 step programs... not always a hotbed of mental health, but the principles are excellent. Help your fellow. Be honest. Be accountable. Take an honest inventory of yourself. Do so daily. Get a relationship with what works for you and what works against you. Those fundamentals will put you on a good path in life.

On a happy note, my little Jayhawks won the title. Most on this board would appreciate our style of play... team defense. We easily had the best defense in the league and it was the only aspect of the game I really coached. With such limited practice time I just figured teaching them an offense was a waste of time, its all broken plays anyway, so our focus was always D, D and more D and taking care of the ball.

We werent a very big team, but we had speed, and defense is the way to get all 10 kids involved and the only thing Ill take credit for is getting them to take pride in it. Well, I scouted out our competition and the team we played had the best scorer in the league. He could hit 3s and was a beast in the paint. So my message was simple.. make him beat you with jumpers, nothing in the paint, pack the middle, control the boards and sure enough.. he got frustrated when the paint wasnt open and he settled for long jumpers and you guys know the rest. Im more relieved than anything! My kids were all good kids and played their asses off so I was just so happy for them all. This is the stuff life is about

hey fish, kudos to you man, i know you didn't intend for this thread to be all about your story and everything, but i do want to pass along that im very happy you were able to fight the way you did and come out the other side and have 2 kids (if i remember correctly.) you are a true hero, so that's awesome man. one of my best friends wasn't as lucky as you and died a few months ago from lymphoma, he was only 30. sucks. all the best care in the world, couldn't help, but i'm so glad it was able to help you, it's a disgusting disease. on the bright side, this whole thing made you and guns play nice lol.

side note though - one of my best friends dad worked at overlook for years, he was a pediatric nurse, his name is Robert Berner. you remember him by chance?