Aaaaaand…I’m back. Quite the whirlwind trip (and boy am I tired!) but I had a blast in Mexico and had the chance to escape from American craziness for awhile (trading up for delicious food and Mexican craziness).
Of course, the sports scene in Mexico is pretty much a one-trick pony: soccer (futbol). All day, every day, all channels…well, all the sports channels anyway. At least as far as I could tell.
I talked a bit about soccer with a guy at a pool hall I frequent in Veracruz. Hector was NOT a fan of American Football, and I could understand why after putting myself in his perspective. See, soccer doesn’t have commercial breaks or time outs. Sure there’s a lot of running around without much happening, but a goal COULD happen at any time. For the soccer fan, this is riveting entertainment…you can’t leave your seat for fear of missing a score! Other pro-sports give you too many breaks, leading to boredom or mental distraction…a soccer match never lets up on its pressure on the audience.
(by the way: I am only using the term “soccer” because “futbol” is unrecognized by my spell-checker)
ANYWAY…case in point: I was watching the USA versus Mexico men’s soccer match in the Pan American Games in Rio (for those who don’t know, the Pan American Games are a multi-sport event, like the Olympics, held every four years and attended by all countries of the Americas…it is not a professional venue but I’m only using it for illustrative purpose). At half-time, the score was 0-0 and around the 70th minute I decided to hop in the shower. Five minutes later, I hopped out and found Mexico up 2-0! Luckily I was able to catch the replay of Enrique Esqueda’s absolutely beautiful 2nd goal (the footwork of this 19 year old was amazing), completely making up for his earlier botched penalty kick (Enrique is an Aries…trust the Ram to blow the easy shot and then make up for it with some high energy heroics!).
The point is, I’m not used to sitting still for 90 minutes on the edge of my seat. There are plenty of excuses I could cite for why, but the main reason is it’s not something I’m used to…U.S. television companies get their own time outs in professional sporting events in order to air more commercials…it’s pretty ridiculous, though I guess the players appreciate the extra breathers. But soccer, for all the advertising and sponsors on uniforms and stadiums is decidedly UN-commercial in the American sense of the term. Or perhaps un-American in general (if captive commercial audiences is part of being American these days).
Whatever. It’s not a bad change of pace from the same-old-same-old here in the U.S. And it’s certainly a great pastime when accompanied with excellent food, warm family, and cold cervezas!
Salud!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Vick Going to the Dogs
You know, it’s partly due to living in Seattle and partly due to a red-hot baseball season that I have pretty much failed to follow the antics of Michael Vick and his alleged dog-fighting operation. Of course, dog-fighting (alleged or not) has nothing to do with team sports. But then, neither did Scooter Libby (see my earlier post). As I’ve already said, July is a pretty dry month for blog-worthy astrology-sports posts.
Sorry, Mr. Vick…I’m short on news this week. Plus, I’m heading to Mexico tomorrow, so I want to get something out.
Mr. Vick’s statement regarding the matter (per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution courtesy of wikipedia) was:
"I'm never at the house...I left the house with my family...They just haven't been doing the right thing... It's unfortunate I have to take the heat behind it. If I'm not there, I don't know what's going on.”
In general, the law does not recognize ignorance as a valid defense (in other words, if you didn’t know, you should’ve known). However, astrologically, I see a whole different issue. See, Vick is a CANCER (just had a birthday a couple weeks ago). The idea that a Cancer doesn’t know what’s going on in his own home is pretty darn ridiculous. The idea that a Cancer would be unaware of an operation like this that’s been going on for several years…well, it pretty much boggles the imagination.
As I’ve stated before, for Cancer “it’s all about the money, honey.” But why, why, why? BECAUSE money buys security. Security is used to insulate yourself…and insulation is desperately needed when you are a sensitive, emotional Cancer.
Does this mean the dog-fighting operation was Vick’s brain-child? Not necessarily…although a lucrative, illegal operation might be bring in extra cash, Vick hardly needed more with the juicy contract and endorsements he already receives. Heck, an illegal operation is a threat to his security…putting your career and freedom on the line and all that jazz.
But believing Vick had no knowledge of events on his own property is fairly preposterous. Cancer is the Mother Hen of the zodiac…Cancer knows what his family is doing all the time (if he can) because he worries after their welfare. It’s one of the reasons Cancer is so much about managing the home…you have to keep a well-feathered nest for the family to stay comfortable and cozy.
Home’s important, family’s important…and even when they’re on the road, Cancer likes to “check in and see what’s going on.” But EVEN MORE than that, Cancer needs a place of retreat where he can re-charge his emotional batteries in security and comfort. Of course, Vick’s place of retreat is probably a different home then the property under investigation (he’s a multi-millionaire after all). But no matter how big the investment portfolio, all of Cancer’s assets fall under the heading of My Property. Keeping his hand in is necessary for his own sense of security.
The whole thing is pretty sad: sad for Mr. Vick and his family, sad for the Falcons and their fans, sad for the taxpayers that need to prosecute criminals, sad for the dogs involved. If Mr. Vick was truly unaware of what was going on, then I feel very sorry for him…I know that he’ll be beating himself up, blaming himself for not managing his own security better. Like their opposite sign Capricorn, Cancer’s are sometimes a little too micro-managing…though this usually shows up as smothering (over-mothering) attention, and they can often stand to "back-off" a bit. But this is one case where he should have been paying closer attention to the nest.
Sorry, Mr. Vick…I’m short on news this week. Plus, I’m heading to Mexico tomorrow, so I want to get something out.
Mr. Vick’s statement regarding the matter (per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution courtesy of wikipedia) was:
"I'm never at the house...I left the house with my family...They just haven't been doing the right thing... It's unfortunate I have to take the heat behind it. If I'm not there, I don't know what's going on.”
In general, the law does not recognize ignorance as a valid defense (in other words, if you didn’t know, you should’ve known). However, astrologically, I see a whole different issue. See, Vick is a CANCER (just had a birthday a couple weeks ago). The idea that a Cancer doesn’t know what’s going on in his own home is pretty darn ridiculous. The idea that a Cancer would be unaware of an operation like this that’s been going on for several years…well, it pretty much boggles the imagination.
As I’ve stated before, for Cancer “it’s all about the money, honey.” But why, why, why? BECAUSE money buys security. Security is used to insulate yourself…and insulation is desperately needed when you are a sensitive, emotional Cancer.
Does this mean the dog-fighting operation was Vick’s brain-child? Not necessarily…although a lucrative, illegal operation might be bring in extra cash, Vick hardly needed more with the juicy contract and endorsements he already receives. Heck, an illegal operation is a threat to his security…putting your career and freedom on the line and all that jazz.
But believing Vick had no knowledge of events on his own property is fairly preposterous. Cancer is the Mother Hen of the zodiac…Cancer knows what his family is doing all the time (if he can) because he worries after their welfare. It’s one of the reasons Cancer is so much about managing the home…you have to keep a well-feathered nest for the family to stay comfortable and cozy.
Home’s important, family’s important…and even when they’re on the road, Cancer likes to “check in and see what’s going on.” But EVEN MORE than that, Cancer needs a place of retreat where he can re-charge his emotional batteries in security and comfort. Of course, Vick’s place of retreat is probably a different home then the property under investigation (he’s a multi-millionaire after all). But no matter how big the investment portfolio, all of Cancer’s assets fall under the heading of My Property. Keeping his hand in is necessary for his own sense of security.
The whole thing is pretty sad: sad for Mr. Vick and his family, sad for the Falcons and their fans, sad for the taxpayers that need to prosecute criminals, sad for the dogs involved. If Mr. Vick was truly unaware of what was going on, then I feel very sorry for him…I know that he’ll be beating himself up, blaming himself for not managing his own security better. Like their opposite sign Capricorn, Cancer’s are sometimes a little too micro-managing…though this usually shows up as smothering (over-mothering) attention, and they can often stand to "back-off" a bit. But this is one case where he should have been paying closer attention to the nest.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Happy Birthday Mom!
Yes, today is the birthday of my dear, sweet mother. A wonderful woman and a Cancerian, she was just about the greatest Mom a kid could ask for…but I’m sure most folks would say the same about their own mothers (a matter of taste, right?).
She shares the same birthday with Nikola Tesla, a fantastic inventor and innovator that suffered from acute over-sensitivity. Also with Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson (they were even born the same year!), who may have some sensitivity issues of his own.
A current American footballer born on July 9th is Trent Green, recently traded to the Miami Dolphins. Mr. Green lost his job to Damon Huard to due to a sever concussion last year, limiting his own ability, and allowing the younger QB to step-in and show his ability to play without missing a beat…well, without missing too many beats anyway. One might think it would have taken a bit longer for Huard to get comfortable in the offense. Fortunately for the Chiefs, Huard is also a Cancer (his birthday is July 9th, too!) and the offense fit him just as well as it fit Green. Net result: fairly interchangeable QBs, but one 3 years younger…Mr. Green, say “hello, Miami!”
Trent Green may not end up with much play-time on the Dolphins, though, unless some sort of injury takes down Daunte Culpepper. New head coach Cam Cameron is an Aquarius, and may well identify more readily with fellow Aquarian Culpepper’s “detached genius” than Green’s “emotional leadership” (I am using terms that have traditionally described their astrological signs). If Scorpio Nick Saban had remained with the team, it would have been a different story (Aquarius and Scorpio butt heads, while Scorpio and Cancer are VERY harmonious…like my Mom and me!).
Unfortunately, passing QBs (as both Culpepper and Green are) function best when they’ve got good chemistry with their receivers. Both Marty Booker and Chris Chambers are LEOs, the polar opposite of Aquarius. Compare Culpepper’s performance last year with, oh, say his glory days in Minnesota. Not really on the same page with his receivers. Randy Moss, on the other hand, is also an Aquarius. He and Culpepper are from the exact same dimension.
I’m not saying that two people need to have harmonious signs to play well together. But people that get along well, people who like and understand each other, grow closer faster. And knowing another person, having a mutual respect for another (and don’t we respect more those people who have our own values; i.e. our own personality traits?) builds a faster, stronger bond.
A QB wants his WR to anticipate his thought process…and it’s much easier to do this when your thought process is roughly the same. Sure, you can do it through a lot of practice and discipline (Capricorn Bobby Engram is going to convert those 3rd down slants for everyone, because he has made it his personal Saturnine mission to make that play). And you can certainly have genius Quarterbacks, spreading the field with impunity. But building a rapport between players makes the team-building process easier…which is important on the football field where so many pieces have to move in synchronicity for a play to happen.
As a side note: do you think Aquarius Randy Moss is going to have an easy time hooking up with Big Leo Tom Brady? I’m guessing probably not.
Can everyone tell I’m getting excited for the start of the season? It’s like waiting for Christmas!
Better go give my Mom a birthday hug!
She shares the same birthday with Nikola Tesla, a fantastic inventor and innovator that suffered from acute over-sensitivity. Also with Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson (they were even born the same year!), who may have some sensitivity issues of his own.
A current American footballer born on July 9th is Trent Green, recently traded to the Miami Dolphins. Mr. Green lost his job to Damon Huard to due to a sever concussion last year, limiting his own ability, and allowing the younger QB to step-in and show his ability to play without missing a beat…well, without missing too many beats anyway. One might think it would have taken a bit longer for Huard to get comfortable in the offense. Fortunately for the Chiefs, Huard is also a Cancer (his birthday is July 9th, too!) and the offense fit him just as well as it fit Green. Net result: fairly interchangeable QBs, but one 3 years younger…Mr. Green, say “hello, Miami!”
Trent Green may not end up with much play-time on the Dolphins, though, unless some sort of injury takes down Daunte Culpepper. New head coach Cam Cameron is an Aquarius, and may well identify more readily with fellow Aquarian Culpepper’s “detached genius” than Green’s “emotional leadership” (I am using terms that have traditionally described their astrological signs). If Scorpio Nick Saban had remained with the team, it would have been a different story (Aquarius and Scorpio butt heads, while Scorpio and Cancer are VERY harmonious…like my Mom and me!).
Unfortunately, passing QBs (as both Culpepper and Green are) function best when they’ve got good chemistry with their receivers. Both Marty Booker and Chris Chambers are LEOs, the polar opposite of Aquarius. Compare Culpepper’s performance last year with, oh, say his glory days in Minnesota. Not really on the same page with his receivers. Randy Moss, on the other hand, is also an Aquarius. He and Culpepper are from the exact same dimension.
I’m not saying that two people need to have harmonious signs to play well together. But people that get along well, people who like and understand each other, grow closer faster. And knowing another person, having a mutual respect for another (and don’t we respect more those people who have our own values; i.e. our own personality traits?) builds a faster, stronger bond.
A QB wants his WR to anticipate his thought process…and it’s much easier to do this when your thought process is roughly the same. Sure, you can do it through a lot of practice and discipline (Capricorn Bobby Engram is going to convert those 3rd down slants for everyone, because he has made it his personal Saturnine mission to make that play). And you can certainly have genius Quarterbacks, spreading the field with impunity. But building a rapport between players makes the team-building process easier…which is important on the football field where so many pieces have to move in synchronicity for a play to happen.
As a side note: do you think Aquarius Randy Moss is going to have an easy time hooking up with Big Leo Tom Brady? I’m guessing probably not.
Can everyone tell I’m getting excited for the start of the season? It’s like waiting for Christmas!
Better go give my Mom a birthday hug!
Friday, July 6, 2007
Long Dry Summer...Comin' At Ya'!
And now we’ve come to one of the slowest times of the year, pro-sports wise. Well, at least in Seattle. The Seahawks are training and not much to talk about (thank goodness…hate that off-season flak!). The Sonics are done…in more ways than one! And the Mariners are hitting that looong dry stretch where there ain’t much to talk about…teams trading wins and losses back and forth and waiting to see who comes out on top at the end of August.
It’s a looooong way till then! Expect my posts to slow down (though I’m happy to field questions from interested readers!).
It’s a looooong way till then! Expect my posts to slow down (though I’m happy to field questions from interested readers!).
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Coach Carlesimo
So, yes…I realize that while I am not a huge Sonics fan (actually, that’s a huge understatement) or a fan of the NBA in particular, there are quite a few of both residing in my hometown of Seattle. And I’ve had some folks ask for an astrological update of our current Sonics roster.
I’m not doing that today.
Really, it’s just too chaotic. However, I CAN discuss our new head coach, Peter “P.J.” Carlesimo. Mr. Carlesimo is not particularly well known for his head coaching ability…in fact, he’s never made it past the first round of the play-offs in any series as head coach (and he only went to the play-offs as a head coach with Portland…at Golden State, he was more famous for being literally throttled by his own players). Whether or not his reputation for “negative rapport” with his players is deserved, I’m not inclined to comment. Astrologers tend to look at the chemistry between folks (have I said that before?)…perhaps Mr. Sprewell and Mr. Carlesimo had some astrological challenges to their compatibility.
But, hey, no one’s strangled P.J. while he’s been assisting for the Spurs. In fact, the Spurs have done pretty well of late (um…didn’t they just win the NBA Championship? Again?). But being an assistant coach on a Championship team does not indicate potential greatness as a head coach (call Exhibit 1 Buddy Ryan, and Exhibit 2 Norv Turner). It’s not just brains and experience. Heck, it may not even be “only” charisma and leadership…but I’m guessing those are more likely ingredients for success as a head coach (um…in any sport).
There are LOTS of “intangibles” necessary to lead a team to the next level, and I would assert that for different teams, these intangibles change. First there’s the relationship of the coach to his (or her) players, second the relationship of the coach to management, third the relationship of the coach to the city/fans (I would lump media in this latter group…they’re not important enough to merit their own category). These three things – players, organization, city – are not listed in order of impact; they are ALL necessary for success.
And so I think it’s valuable to ask: from an astrology perspective, what has been successful in the past for the Seattle SuperSonics. What kind of coaching style has been appreciated in Seattle? What has worked for the players? What has earned the love/respect of the fans?
(admittedly, it’s difficult to talk about the relationship of coach and ownership in this day and age when teams are so readily swapped between investor coalitions)
Okay, so nothing says success to me like play-off wins. Unlike most sports, where only the top teams go to post-season play, in the NBA more than half of the teams get into the play-offs. As such, just making the post-season isn’t a spectacular accomplishment (even a mediocre team can make it as a #8 candidate). For real success, I look at passing through to the next round of the play-offs. Here’s how that breaks down for the Supes:
1974-75 Coach Bill Russell (first season Sonics in the play-offs)
1975-76 Coach Bill Russell
1977-78 Coach Lenny Wilkins (Lost NBA Finals)
1978-79 Coach Lenny Wilkins (Won NBA Finals)
1979-1980 Coach Lenny Wilkins (Lost Conference Finals)
1981-1982 Coach Lenny Wilkins
1986-1987 Coach Bernie Bickerstaff (Lost Conference Finals)
1988-1989 Coach Bernie Bickerstaff
1991-1992 Coach George Karl
1992-1993 Coach George Karl (Lost Conference Finals)
1995-1996 Coach George Karl (Lost NBA Finals)
1996-1997 Coach George Karl
1997-1998 Coach George Karl
2004-2005 Coach Nate McMillan
Interestingly, if one looks at ALL the years the Sonics made the play-offs (not just the seasons they passed through to the second round), you only add 6 more years, and only two more coaches (K.C. Jones in 1991 and Paul Westphal in 2000). The Sonics’ other eight head coaches never even made the play-offs.
So let’s just look at the “good ones:”
Bill Russell – Aquarius
Lenny Wilkins – Scorpio
Bernie Bickerstaff – Scorpio
George Karl – Taurus
Nate McMillan – Leo
Anyone see a pattern here? All the astrologers in the room are raising their hands. All of these men are FIXED signs. Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius are the four, Fixed signs of the zodiac. Fixed signs are the ORGANIZERS, they are the one’s most prone to inertia (good and bad). They don’t put new things in place, and they aren’t adaptors. They take what’s already there and mold it into something cohesive. They provide DISCIPLINE. In Seattle, our basketball team seems to thrive when it has discipline and organization.
This is not the case with every basketball team. Phil Jackson, for example, is a Virgo (a Mutable, adaptable sign). Chuck Daly is a Cancer (a Cardinal, leadership sign). Pat Riley is a Pisces (another Mutable sign). These folks all won multiple championships for the Bulls, Pistons, and Lakers respectively.
Different teams thrive on different styles of leadership. Coach Popovich of the Spurs is a Fixed sign himself (Aquarius), but he didn’t arrive on the scene in San Antonio till 1996. Prior to his arrival, the Spurs failed to win a single championship, despite the presence of Big Leo David Robinson (1989-1997). During Mr. Robinson’s eight-year stint, the Spurs had five different coaches, none of whom stuck despite the team’s perennial play-off contention: Bob Hill (Sagittarius), John Lucas (Scorpio), Jerry Tarkanian (Leo), Bob Bass, and Larry Brown (Virgo). Popovich has been with the organization more than a decade, and has since given the Spurs consistent leadership.
The Boston Celtics won championships under five separate head coaches:
Red Auerbach (Virgo – 4 titles)
Bill Russell (Aquarius – 2 titles)
Tom Heinsohn (Virgo – 2 titles)
K.C. Jones (Gemini – 2 titles)
Bill Fitch (Taurus – 1 title)
Seven of eleven titles were won by Earth signs (64%), eight of eleven titles were won by Mutable signs (73%). No Boston Celtic team has won a title with a Fire or Water sign head coach; no Boston Celtic team ever won a championship with a Cardinal sign head coach.
Of all the head coaches that have won NBA Championships (27 different coaches), every sign is represented except for Libra and Capricorn (one would suspect that these signs can still coach NBA basketball but multiple-championship teams like the Celtics, the Bulls, and the Lakers have skewed results one way or another). The point is that as most every sign is represented, most every sign can be a championship head coach…if they have the right chemistry for the team they’re on. For the Celtics, I’d put money down on any Virgo (Mutable Earth) taking the reins. Unfortunately, current Celtics’ coach “Doc” Rivers is a Libra.
So anyway…by now Sonics fans are probably slavering for me to get to the point and talk about P.J. Carelsimo (“The Peej,” we can call him). Unfortunately for the Sonics, Mr. Carlesimo is a Sun Sign Gemini, meaning The Peej may not be the best fit for the Sonics. Let’s see…the last Gemini head coach the Sonics had was K.C. Jones. (1990-1992). Mr. Jones has the distinction of being the last African-American head coach to lead an NBA team to a Championship (1986). At the time, he was with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics do all right with Gemini head coaches (Mutable, Air). The Sonics don’t, and K.C. was replaced by George Karl shortly.
We’ll have to see how Carlesimo shapes up. While Gemini may not be the best fit for a team in Seattle, it may be an excellent fit for a team duplicitously moved to Oklahoma (Gemini being the two-faced ruler of bi-polar disorder and willful deception).
Oh...and about Carlesimo and Sprewell: Mr. Sprewell is a Virgo. Virgo is square to Gemini (it shows up at a 90 degree angle), which in astrology terms means there are some "challenges" there. They do not harmonize well, there is no easy understanding between them. This is a combative aspect.
So who on the Sonics current team has a similar aspect to The Peej? Well, new recruit Jeff Green (Virgo) for one. Walter Szczerbiak (Pisces) for another.
Kevin Durant is a Libra and so should get along fine with the new coach.
I’m not doing that today.
Really, it’s just too chaotic. However, I CAN discuss our new head coach, Peter “P.J.” Carlesimo. Mr. Carlesimo is not particularly well known for his head coaching ability…in fact, he’s never made it past the first round of the play-offs in any series as head coach (and he only went to the play-offs as a head coach with Portland…at Golden State, he was more famous for being literally throttled by his own players). Whether or not his reputation for “negative rapport” with his players is deserved, I’m not inclined to comment. Astrologers tend to look at the chemistry between folks (have I said that before?)…perhaps Mr. Sprewell and Mr. Carlesimo had some astrological challenges to their compatibility.
But, hey, no one’s strangled P.J. while he’s been assisting for the Spurs. In fact, the Spurs have done pretty well of late (um…didn’t they just win the NBA Championship? Again?). But being an assistant coach on a Championship team does not indicate potential greatness as a head coach (call Exhibit 1 Buddy Ryan, and Exhibit 2 Norv Turner). It’s not just brains and experience. Heck, it may not even be “only” charisma and leadership…but I’m guessing those are more likely ingredients for success as a head coach (um…in any sport).
There are LOTS of “intangibles” necessary to lead a team to the next level, and I would assert that for different teams, these intangibles change. First there’s the relationship of the coach to his (or her) players, second the relationship of the coach to management, third the relationship of the coach to the city/fans (I would lump media in this latter group…they’re not important enough to merit their own category). These three things – players, organization, city – are not listed in order of impact; they are ALL necessary for success.
And so I think it’s valuable to ask: from an astrology perspective, what has been successful in the past for the Seattle SuperSonics. What kind of coaching style has been appreciated in Seattle? What has worked for the players? What has earned the love/respect of the fans?
(admittedly, it’s difficult to talk about the relationship of coach and ownership in this day and age when teams are so readily swapped between investor coalitions)
Okay, so nothing says success to me like play-off wins. Unlike most sports, where only the top teams go to post-season play, in the NBA more than half of the teams get into the play-offs. As such, just making the post-season isn’t a spectacular accomplishment (even a mediocre team can make it as a #8 candidate). For real success, I look at passing through to the next round of the play-offs. Here’s how that breaks down for the Supes:
1974-75 Coach Bill Russell (first season Sonics in the play-offs)
1975-76 Coach Bill Russell
1977-78 Coach Lenny Wilkins (Lost NBA Finals)
1978-79 Coach Lenny Wilkins (Won NBA Finals)
1979-1980 Coach Lenny Wilkins (Lost Conference Finals)
1981-1982 Coach Lenny Wilkins
1986-1987 Coach Bernie Bickerstaff (Lost Conference Finals)
1988-1989 Coach Bernie Bickerstaff
1991-1992 Coach George Karl
1992-1993 Coach George Karl (Lost Conference Finals)
1995-1996 Coach George Karl (Lost NBA Finals)
1996-1997 Coach George Karl
1997-1998 Coach George Karl
2004-2005 Coach Nate McMillan
Interestingly, if one looks at ALL the years the Sonics made the play-offs (not just the seasons they passed through to the second round), you only add 6 more years, and only two more coaches (K.C. Jones in 1991 and Paul Westphal in 2000). The Sonics’ other eight head coaches never even made the play-offs.
So let’s just look at the “good ones:”
Bill Russell – Aquarius
Lenny Wilkins – Scorpio
Bernie Bickerstaff – Scorpio
George Karl – Taurus
Nate McMillan – Leo
Anyone see a pattern here? All the astrologers in the room are raising their hands. All of these men are FIXED signs. Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius are the four, Fixed signs of the zodiac. Fixed signs are the ORGANIZERS, they are the one’s most prone to inertia (good and bad). They don’t put new things in place, and they aren’t adaptors. They take what’s already there and mold it into something cohesive. They provide DISCIPLINE. In Seattle, our basketball team seems to thrive when it has discipline and organization.
This is not the case with every basketball team. Phil Jackson, for example, is a Virgo (a Mutable, adaptable sign). Chuck Daly is a Cancer (a Cardinal, leadership sign). Pat Riley is a Pisces (another Mutable sign). These folks all won multiple championships for the Bulls, Pistons, and Lakers respectively.
Different teams thrive on different styles of leadership. Coach Popovich of the Spurs is a Fixed sign himself (Aquarius), but he didn’t arrive on the scene in San Antonio till 1996. Prior to his arrival, the Spurs failed to win a single championship, despite the presence of Big Leo David Robinson (1989-1997). During Mr. Robinson’s eight-year stint, the Spurs had five different coaches, none of whom stuck despite the team’s perennial play-off contention: Bob Hill (Sagittarius), John Lucas (Scorpio), Jerry Tarkanian (Leo), Bob Bass, and Larry Brown (Virgo). Popovich has been with the organization more than a decade, and has since given the Spurs consistent leadership.
The Boston Celtics won championships under five separate head coaches:
Red Auerbach (Virgo – 4 titles)
Bill Russell (Aquarius – 2 titles)
Tom Heinsohn (Virgo – 2 titles)
K.C. Jones (Gemini – 2 titles)
Bill Fitch (Taurus – 1 title)
Seven of eleven titles were won by Earth signs (64%), eight of eleven titles were won by Mutable signs (73%). No Boston Celtic team has won a title with a Fire or Water sign head coach; no Boston Celtic team ever won a championship with a Cardinal sign head coach.
Of all the head coaches that have won NBA Championships (27 different coaches), every sign is represented except for Libra and Capricorn (one would suspect that these signs can still coach NBA basketball but multiple-championship teams like the Celtics, the Bulls, and the Lakers have skewed results one way or another). The point is that as most every sign is represented, most every sign can be a championship head coach…if they have the right chemistry for the team they’re on. For the Celtics, I’d put money down on any Virgo (Mutable Earth) taking the reins. Unfortunately, current Celtics’ coach “Doc” Rivers is a Libra.
So anyway…by now Sonics fans are probably slavering for me to get to the point and talk about P.J. Carelsimo (“The Peej,” we can call him). Unfortunately for the Sonics, Mr. Carlesimo is a Sun Sign Gemini, meaning The Peej may not be the best fit for the Sonics. Let’s see…the last Gemini head coach the Sonics had was K.C. Jones. (1990-1992). Mr. Jones has the distinction of being the last African-American head coach to lead an NBA team to a Championship (1986). At the time, he was with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics do all right with Gemini head coaches (Mutable, Air). The Sonics don’t, and K.C. was replaced by George Karl shortly.
We’ll have to see how Carlesimo shapes up. While Gemini may not be the best fit for a team in Seattle, it may be an excellent fit for a team duplicitously moved to Oklahoma (Gemini being the two-faced ruler of bi-polar disorder and willful deception).
Oh...and about Carlesimo and Sprewell: Mr. Sprewell is a Virgo. Virgo is square to Gemini (it shows up at a 90 degree angle), which in astrology terms means there are some "challenges" there. They do not harmonize well, there is no easy understanding between them. This is a combative aspect.
So who on the Sonics current team has a similar aspect to The Peej? Well, new recruit Jeff Green (Virgo) for one. Walter Szczerbiak (Pisces) for another.
Kevin Durant is a Libra and so should get along fine with the new coach.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Bullshit Talks, Libby Walks
George Bush has commuted Scooter Libby’s prison sentence. The man will serve not a single day of his 30 month prison term for commission of a felony. According to my law classes, a felony always carries with it a minimum 1 year of jail time. And this was a sentence based on a verdict set down by a jury of his peers. Does anyone else have a problem with this bullshit?
I’m not even sure how a Republican can justify the circumventing of the rule of law in this country; aren’t Republicans supposed to be the “Law & Order” party? I guess only when the laws are being applied to “undesirable” types.
Yes, yes…this has nothing to do with sports or astrology. It’s my blog and I can rant if I want to!
I’ve never actually met a Republican astrologer (not that we don’t do readings for Republicans…it’s the slower student that often need more help), though there are certainly conservative and liberal ones. The conservative astrologers are a bit more like Constitutional Supreme Court Justices. Mind you, I’m not talking about our current SCJ’s (they appear to have a different agenda entirely). But Astrology has a loooong (several thousand year) history, and there’s lots of text that’s been written over the centuries on the interpretations of different planets and signs and houses. We have writings in Greek and Arabic and probably Egyptian, too…though perhaps the latter in terms of allegorical story rather than the “cookbook” astrology of other ancient societies.
And of course, that’s just Western traditional astrology. There’s also writing on the Chinese and the Vedic and the Mesoamerican traditions as well (though most of the latter was torched by the Spanish during the conquest of the Americas).
A conservative astrologer researches and memorizes these ancient writings and applies them in their astrological practice; still applying their art within an ancient scientific paradigm. More liberal astrologers (like myself) spend more time in the Art aspect, working with the archetypal meanings, and trying to fit them into our 21st century context. Both conservative and liberal astrologers can provide meaningful information to their clients. Clients then have the option to integrate the information into their daily lives for their growth and benefit…or not.
Okay, that’s a taste of astrology for you. Now sports:
- The Mariners lost to KC in 11 innings last night, I watched the game to the end. It was a tough one, but they played pretty hard.
- Rashard Lewis has now vacated the Sonics along with Ray Allen. Not that I care very much (I haven’t really been a fan since they fired Nate McMillan), but if this massive re-structuring doesn’t symbolize an anticipated move and “new beginnings” for the team, then I don’t know what will! Still no coach.
In NFL news, Travis Henry looks like he may be an good fit in Denver. Henry is a Scorpio (like departed MVP running back Terrell Davis). There’s something about Water signs and Denver that seem to work well (John Elway is a Cancer, as is Floyd Little; Steve Atwater is a Scorpio, Brian Griese is a Pisces), This could certainly be something in need of a little more research. Certainly Jake “the Snake” is NOT a Water sign (he’s a Sagittarius, Fire sign), and wasn’t quite what Shanahan was looking for. Mike Shanahan is a Virgo (critical, analyzing, attention to detail)…which means he gets on very well with both Scorpios and Cancers (Pisces is his opposite sign) and relates very harmoniously with Taurus and Capricorn. Sag and Virgo are square to each other and so have a tendency to rub each other the wrong way.
As a side note, new QB Jay Cutler is a Taurus…he and Shanahan should work just fine together.
To really get a sense of Henry's place on the Broncos, I'll have to take a look at the guys who'll be blocking for him...but that'll have to be later.
I’m not even sure how a Republican can justify the circumventing of the rule of law in this country; aren’t Republicans supposed to be the “Law & Order” party? I guess only when the laws are being applied to “undesirable” types.
Yes, yes…this has nothing to do with sports or astrology. It’s my blog and I can rant if I want to!
I’ve never actually met a Republican astrologer (not that we don’t do readings for Republicans…it’s the slower student that often need more help), though there are certainly conservative and liberal ones. The conservative astrologers are a bit more like Constitutional Supreme Court Justices. Mind you, I’m not talking about our current SCJ’s (they appear to have a different agenda entirely). But Astrology has a loooong (several thousand year) history, and there’s lots of text that’s been written over the centuries on the interpretations of different planets and signs and houses. We have writings in Greek and Arabic and probably Egyptian, too…though perhaps the latter in terms of allegorical story rather than the “cookbook” astrology of other ancient societies.
And of course, that’s just Western traditional astrology. There’s also writing on the Chinese and the Vedic and the Mesoamerican traditions as well (though most of the latter was torched by the Spanish during the conquest of the Americas).
A conservative astrologer researches and memorizes these ancient writings and applies them in their astrological practice; still applying their art within an ancient scientific paradigm. More liberal astrologers (like myself) spend more time in the Art aspect, working with the archetypal meanings, and trying to fit them into our 21st century context. Both conservative and liberal astrologers can provide meaningful information to their clients. Clients then have the option to integrate the information into their daily lives for their growth and benefit…or not.
Okay, that’s a taste of astrology for you. Now sports:
- The Mariners lost to KC in 11 innings last night, I watched the game to the end. It was a tough one, but they played pretty hard.
- Rashard Lewis has now vacated the Sonics along with Ray Allen. Not that I care very much (I haven’t really been a fan since they fired Nate McMillan), but if this massive re-structuring doesn’t symbolize an anticipated move and “new beginnings” for the team, then I don’t know what will! Still no coach.
In NFL news, Travis Henry looks like he may be an good fit in Denver. Henry is a Scorpio (like departed MVP running back Terrell Davis). There’s something about Water signs and Denver that seem to work well (John Elway is a Cancer, as is Floyd Little; Steve Atwater is a Scorpio, Brian Griese is a Pisces), This could certainly be something in need of a little more research. Certainly Jake “the Snake” is NOT a Water sign (he’s a Sagittarius, Fire sign), and wasn’t quite what Shanahan was looking for. Mike Shanahan is a Virgo (critical, analyzing, attention to detail)…which means he gets on very well with both Scorpios and Cancers (Pisces is his opposite sign) and relates very harmoniously with Taurus and Capricorn. Sag and Virgo are square to each other and so have a tendency to rub each other the wrong way.
As a side note, new QB Jay Cutler is a Taurus…he and Shanahan should work just fine together.
To really get a sense of Henry's place on the Broncos, I'll have to take a look at the guys who'll be blocking for him...but that'll have to be later.
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