KIPP: LA Prep wins at Staples Center!

My 7th and 8th grade boys basketball team played another game at Staples Center this past Friday, winning 30-25 against a fierce KIPP: KAO team.

I was most proud of how my team played with composure and class, coming together as a team to beat a very imposing opponent. After the shaking hands with the other team we walked off the court and up the aisle where we were greeted with hugs and high fives by our adoring Middle School fans. I admit getting a little caught up in the moment and feeling like the coach in the movie who took a bunch of no-nothings and made them into champions. The movie ends with a freeze frame of me surrounded by my players, fist in the air. Credits roll, Dad tears up.

In other news, my rugby team won again this week-end in the pouring rain. We're 2-2 and looking really good. Already we have more wins then all of last year.

For more photos check out my flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/famousscientist/

Let's take a breather.

It's come to my attention that maybe we have been a little stressed and it is carrying over in our blogs and comments toward each others posts lately. So I offer just a flawless picture that makes us remember that we all our searching for things to fullfill our deepest needs and even though A.C. had the master combination to open Screeches locker with his elbow, maybe we honestly don't know who will win MSU or IU. Either way, I do know one thing CMU will not be going to the big dance this year..... nor next year either.... and most likely the year after that (rebuilding). Enjoy the pic. Jeff and Wes, just focus on the smile and let it go, it's not your fault (Good Will Hunting).

Steve

Basketball

As I type IU and Purdue are battling it out on the court. Indiana is home to the fiercest basketball fans and this rivalry is especially big this year as the two Indiana Big Ten teams are battling for first in the conference (sorry Sparties, we'll be up Mar 2). Indiana has four teams in the top 25! I'm feeling the March Madness baby!

check this out ja ja

Hey y'all

Came across this video of Will Farrell (Ron Burgundy) interviewing coach Izzo up here in EL...it's hilarious. I guess we're hurting for a laugh or a smile, we Sparties, after a few road disappointments via Purdue and IU. But knowing Izzo, we'll have at least one more thing this season to look forward too..... check the video clip out (one minor inappropriate comment out of Farrell)


http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c722e0c687

Paz,

Jeff

History Buffs?

Alright history buffs(Norm), this is a newly discovered photograph of what event???

(answer)

Just puttin' it out there...

Hey my culturally-empowered GL familia,

So like, with the primaries rollin' and the election blogs and convos flowin', I thought I might dare to stir the Gaines-Lampi think tank and get some polysci lit and dialogue goin'

To Wes the admin: Is it ok to walk this political platform since we are in the midst of a race (not much of a race anymore at least with the one party with Senor Obama cleaning up on Sen. Clinton to the tune of 20out of 28 primaries...ay caramba!)

So like here's a link from one of the New York Times journalists and author of "Losing Moses on the Freeway," Chris Hedges :

www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080211_the_war_against_tolerance

Just thought it was an interesting article

Woops..sorry Jake

I realized I posted something today and it USURPED Gracie's video only after a day. She's way too cute for that. Sorry, I'll repost later. I deleted it.

Winter Fun @ the Park

Today, we enjoyed the warm Sunday sunshine with a little walk to Finkbiner Park. I know many of you haven't seen Gracie in awhile, so take a look at what she's been up to lately. You'll get to hear some of her Spanish/English language skills as well. Check this out...

Maybe This Will Warm you MidWesterners Up!

Brighton...9 degrees/-11 below windchill
Murrieta...86 degrees/Warm and Sunny

A typical training day at the Lampi Home.

If you've ever wondered what a training moment looks like at the Lampi house, here you go. Still working on the basics.

Rebellion Victory!

My rugby team rarely wins games. In fact, throughout our 6 year history I think the LA Rebellion have only won a hand full of regular season games. So, last Saturday's 7-0 victory over the San Pedro Rhinos was a remarkable achievement that placed the team record at 1-1. Not to mention that I scored the 7 points that drove our team to victory. It's hard to explain the camaraderie that good vibes that this team exudes. You have to 'come out' sometime and see a Rebellion match.

please pray

Family and Friends,
I request your prayers as one of my dearest friends, Andrea, was in a tragic car accident with her husband, Scott, and son, Isaac, yesterday. We were very saddened when her father called us this morning to tell us that they lost Isaac. He was the same age as Grace. Scott is in stable condition, but Andrea is in critical condition. She has broken her arms, legs, ankles, jaw, clavicle, and many other bones in her body. Her lungs collapsed this morning, but they were able to reinflate them. She should be going in for surgery on her neck tomorrow. There was also another couple in the car who was killed.
My friends were temporarily in Denver, Colorado, where they were training to be missionaries to Cambodia. They just left so. cal. last month. They have no home to go home to since they literally left everything behind for the mission field. Just a few weeks ago Grace and I played with Isaac amidst the many boxes of stuff that would be eventually shipped to Cambodia.
I will be trying to fly out to Denver tomorrow morning to be with Andrea and her family (her parents mentored Jacob and I for the first few years of our marriage). My heart is filled with a very deep sadness and sorrow.

a cool conference i can't go too

I stumbled across a conference after reading up on a blog somewhere that is in Seattle WA. Just go to the site and enjoy; then get depressed like me that it's not like in Grand Rapids or Chicago. Cool though

www.thenewconspirators.wordpress.com

On a side note,

Word is that Sarah has a secret blog; and she won't give the address. That's mean. What did I ever do to you? What did Santa ever do to you, Tom?

On another side note: Are we headed for a recession? Way to go Feds.