BIKERS HELPING

As a side-note, Robert Lundin, the founder
and operator of the Antelope Valley Motoplex
in Lancaster, CA within the High Desert, meets
others like himself this coming Saturday
at their Fairgrounds. No motocross thrills
this time. Lundin has a higher purpose in
mind. He is putting his complex at the
service of Supercross legend Jeremy McGrath,
whose wife, Kim, needs a bone marrow trans-
plant in her life-or-death battle with
leukemia. Motocross is all about families
said Lundin, a San Fernando valley native
whose memories of walking barely predate
his memories of MX-ing. There is a special
bond, a love really among the people in
this sport. Jeremy McGrath did so much
for Supercross, for free-styling at the X-
games, that he means a lot to millions of
motorcross fans. So this is a chance then
to be able to say thank you-and, just maybe
in the process, to be able to save a life.
From 9 am until 2 pm Saturday, repre-
sentatives of the "BeTheMatch.org" will be
at the A.V. Motoplex to register anyone who
wishes to volunteer as a potential bone-
marrow donor. They will be swabbing the
inside of the cheek of a person with a
Q-tip, then place that sample inside a plastic
bag and receive your contact information,
in case there might be some need
down the road. That is all there is to it.
This could mean the gift of life to some
one someday. Thanks to a surplus of
motorcycles, quads and safety equipment,
Lundin has been able to offer free lessons
to those who are interested but do not
have funds for this kind of activity.
We are all enthused about this registry
of hope for leukemia patients everywhere.
In case you missed the last San Antonio
and OKC game, by the way, our former Lakers,
Derek Fisher, OKC, was out on the floor
for a goodly sum of minutes and it was
really fun seeing him sink a 3 pointer.
Tonight is another game for them and
I, for one, will be sitting there watching.
Care to join me?
Babs Wells

NOT QUITE A RIVER WALK

In San Antonio yesterday,
the Spurs won over OKC
Thunder. In OKC Thunder,
our former Lakers Derek
Fisher, played like in
his youth, though now 37.
He made 13 points. Derek,
a famous game-winner for
the Lakers on this same
court in 2004 playoffs, has
made the "0.4 seconds"
a phrase that needs no
further explanation to
the Spurs. Eight years
later, he now met his
playoff average already
at halftime. In 2001 the
Lakers were the only other
team to carry a winning
streak as long as the Spurs, who
have now done so in the playoffs.
They did that PLUS made their
way to a Championship. So too,
the Spurs have now won their
19th game in a row to tie
the NBA record for longest
winning streak kept alive
in the playoffs with a 101 - 98
win. In order to keep my article
in a Lakers mode, let me inform
you of a side note here today.
Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol (both
Lakers) have partnered in owning
a racehorse which will make its
first start at Betfair, Hollywood
Park. The 4-year old gelding
named Siempre Mo, was entered
in Sundays' sixth race. A $54,000
allowance race. Ridden by Joy
Scott. The Lakers teammates
purchased 25% of the gelding
at a team charity auction in April.
Part of their deal is that neither
Bryant nor Gasol pay any expenses
in the horses care and/or training.
Siempre Mo won a $25,000 claiming
race in his last start.
And so, we continue to watch our
Lakers even now and find the fun
of it with their various exploits!
Babs Wells

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CLOSURE

By now it is very clear, the picture
of Lakers Star, Kobe Bryant, walking
off the basketball court toward the
Locker rooms with that deflated look
upon his face. He scored 42 points
in this last game and yet the younger
and more athletic Thunder team won.
In 2008 they lost to the Boston Celtics
in game 6 by 39 points. In 2007 they
lost to the Phoenix Suns in game 5 by
only 9 points. In 2006 they lost to
the Suns also in game 7 by 31 points.
Anything less than an NBA Championship
means a failed season in Lakerland so
this means some changes will likely
have to be made. Hopefully Pau Gasol
will not be let go like our Derek
Fisher and Lamar Odom were. Pau is
a most genial young man at 7 ft. tall.
He made 23 points this last game
with 17 rebounds and 6 assists.
An immature attitude follows our other
tall player, Drew Bynum. He plays
mighty well when he is so inclined to.
On other days, he is not motivated
evidently to contribute as he should.
Now, our Lakers were bounced in the
semifinals for the second year in a
row therefore eliminated. It is time
with decision making for players next
season. And yes, we would like another
crack at a Championship run. Kobe, a
Laker true to form, is one we hope to keep.
On a fully different note, I back up
just a little, with weaker voice and
redder face. Our offspring can topple
us at times. Such is the case right
now with the gracious and overly
complimentary words my youngest one
gave to you, the readers. No, we do
not endeavor to know their inner
feelings nor try to construct their words
usage, but in this case, it just may
have been a tad bias, you know?
At any rate, thank you my dear one
and thank you too for your great blog!
Much appreciated so mind if I gloat a
little bit as well today? Other peeks
into a variety of sports subjects will
very likely follow this article as we
head into vacation time and practice
some more what we preach June-October.
Hope to see you right here too from
time to time so that we may stay in touch.
Babs Wells

Alas, Lakers .. you did good!

This was a tough game to watch. Wanting and pleading to the TV screen for our LA Lakers to take the lead and bring it home..it just wasn't meant to be this year. 

With a game ending score of Thunder 106, Lakers 90, we still stand proud as we reflect on the reality that our LA Lakers did good and made it the play offs and gave it their all.

Kobe Bryant sure tried for his team! Bryant scoring 42 points for the Lakers and taking brief periods of rests -- less than two minutes -- in the second half. Kobe couldn't take the entire game on his own even though he gave it his best attempt!

This was a tough break for the Lakers, to say the least, but we congratulate the Thunder on their hard work and wish them all the best as they move forward up against opposition that for sure wants to take and make the winning title as their own.


Moving forward, It looks like the Lakers future might need to make some changes, possibly not ones that are popular, but again there needs to be some changes to work toward creating a roster that might be more challenging for these younger teams that they are up against. We will see as the time moves forward what will be done, what decisions will be made and whats ahead in the off season.

Now, I know this blog was short, and not as upbeat as Babs does, but this blog is written by Babs' daughter WenDee and I guess I didn't take notes very well! However, I'd like to take a few minutes to write about someone who I happen to admire highly, and through her writings I know you have grown to appreciate and love as well.

My mother - Babs - is truly a giving and amazing woman. She stands tall in her short stature and greets everyone with her smile and her warm embrace. Through the years she has had to endure some tough breaks, but she has overcome and has been the inspiration to me and my 2 sisters our entire lives. We've been able to follow in her footsteps with her strength and her perseverance! Her love of God and Family has always been a present, and of course, you see her love of basketball :)
I remember when my sons were young and they had a hoop outside our front yard. Here would come Grandma ready to take the ball and play a little one on one! I've learned that no matter what I face, Mom has also faced similar trials and through her journey, I will continue to travel as well.

I love you momma and thank you for allowing me this space where I get to show my appreciation of you publicly to the readers. No matter if its a neighbor, the grocery worker, the bus driver, the taco bell worker, a friend of over 30 years, or the passerby on the sidewalk as you take your morning walk....you extend your hand and your heart and leave a lasting footprint to all.

A WIN AND A NEAR WIN

We did it! And it sure felt good!
As my newspaper states, "They are nothing
if not resilient, these Lakers!"
Yes, a younger and much more athletic
team found in OKC Thunder, but on Friday
our team showed up with so much power
and determination, that we beat them
99-96. In fact, we made 41 of 42 from
the line! Kobe made a team-leading
36 points. A ball scuffle ended with the
referee's giving both Metta World Peace
and OKC Russell Westbrook technical fouls.
Ramon Sessions stepped up to the plate
with making 10 points on 4-for-07
shooting. The Thunder had not played a
road game since quarterfinal series
May 5th. and seemed lost defensively.
Game four was not to be nearly as kind
to us though. Playing so well in the
first three quarters, our opponents, 
took control finally and propelled the
ball with a 3-pointer to give us the
sad score with a loss of 103-100.
So now the Thunder has the lead in
the finals of the best of 7 series
with 3-1 and can eliminate us with
a victory in game 5 on Monday night
in Oklahoma. The winner of the series
then plays the winner of the Clippers/
San Antonio Spurs series. Strength vs.
speed always makes for an intriguing
battle and so it was once again in game
four in L.A. Even in flexing our muscles,
we dropped the lead and lost the game.
My writing skills have been honed and
my enthusiasm has rallied for "my boys".
(The Lakers) and I have enjoyed every
single minute of reporting to you with
their antics and their prowess in tow.
Now, I am going on a three day holiday
so will not be able to continue in
this vein for the ending of the series.
My youngest daughter, my cohort in
helping me post all of these articles,
lives in Oregon and will be posting
the writings for what so ever is up-
coming to end this particular season.
Welcome her please and give her your
attention for her own words. I introduce
to you, my Yahoo.com daughter,
Wendace Lynn. My babe. Hugs, honey.
Babs Wells

OOOH AND WE WERE SOOO CLOSE TOO!!!

Even with a nine point advantage, we
did lose in OKC last evening. Drat!
Well, upcoming are two games at home
to play them. Friday and Saturday.
What to try? How to rebound? Being
it is the best of 7 games and losing
two already, it would seem pointless,
mere formalities. The winner of this
series plays the winner of the Clippers-
San Antonio Spurs series. Steve Blake,
a backup point guard, missed what could
have been a go-ahead 3-pointer from the
corner after Kevin Durant gave the
Thunder the lead with a decisive move
along the baseline and a basket to
cap their comeback. Metta World Peace
tried to get the ball to Kobe Bryant
but Kobe was far too well covered
and so sent the ball to Blake, who
was open. Yes, that ball did look
like it would plop into the net,
but instead it simply glanced off
the rim. Kobe and Drew each scored
20 points. With only a day to travel,
recover and prepare for Game one after
defeating the Denver Nuggets in game
7 at Staples Center in the conference
quarterfinals, the Lakers were a step
behind the Thunder all Monday night.
Then another day to look at the game
played over and over and note their
own defense, the Lakers had to march
in to play game 2. It really did look
pretty good for us but the end result
showed it was not so, OKC won at 77
and our Lakers had 75. We can only hope
weariness will not be a factor for the
two back to back games coming up.
Babs Wells

HEAR THAT THUNDER????

Heard it very well. The OKC Thunder
had several days rest, our Lakers had
none at all and their fella's ran to extend
themselves like a youth program was in progress.
We labored and did not do too badly right
at first but doubt Kobe or Bynum even
got out on the floor during the last
quarter of the game Monday evening.
Pau, Ramon and Metta W.P. played only
a few minutes time themselves.
The Thunder had not played since May
5th. with the fourth game against
Dallas Mavericks. In fact, at one point
they led by as many as 35 points last night.
Bynum and Kobe, each scored 20 points
and Pau scored 10. Bynum also grabbed
14 rebounds but our Lakers just simply
could not keep up the pace of the game.
The crowd of 18,203 at Chesapeake Energy
Arena boo'ed Metta World Peace from former
game when he was caught elbowing Harding in the
face/head area causing a slight concussion.
MWP was suspended for 7 games for doing it.
Thunders' quickness and spring of their legs
and simply brute strength, showed that we have
plenty of work to do before next game play.
OKC won with 119 and Lakers lost with 90.
Yes, it is seeming that our compressed
schedule is taking its' toll, alright.
It is no secret, that with the lockout-
compressed schedule, and such a shortened
66-game regular season, all of the players
have had to work harder on their plays and
on their individual strengths. Facing the
Thunder last night less than 48 hours
after eliminating the Denver Nuggets in
a tense game #7 at Staples Center, left
our players almost no time to travel,
recover and prepare for that next round
with OKC This whole past season has
seemed too rushed, but play we must.
Our next game is again in OKC before
heading back home for back to back
games in LA on Friday and Saturday.
Now to the locker rooms and then play
on Wednesday evening. Hope no repeat.
Babs Wells

WE WON THE GAME !!!

Game seven, crucial game and we won it!
Although the Denver Nuggets pushed the
Lakers to the limit, coach George Karl,
even on his 61st. Birthday, could not
seem to get his team over the hump.
Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 23 points
and Andrew Bynum added another 18 rebounds
as L.A. toppled Denver 96-87 in game 7.
This was the Western Conference quarter-
final series game. The Lakers advanced
to the second round then where they
face O.K.C. tonight in Oklahoma.
Since 1987, Karl has been battling
the Lakers and for awhile, it was
looking pretty good to him.
Steve Blake had a career-high in
playoff scoring with 19 points,
including a 5-for-6 performance
from the 3-point arc. Metta World
Peace, back in the lineup for the
first time since his 7 game suspen-
sion April 22, scored 9 points
in the third quarter. It triggered
a run-out by the Lakers to a 16-point
lead with 7:22 left to play in the
third quarter. Pau made 6-of-10
shots, scored 13 points, 7 rebounds
and had 5 assists even before half-
time. Some comments had earlier been
made from "Magic" Johnson regarding
coach Mike Brown (which was his personal
opinion) as a TV analyst and did not
reflect the opinions of our Laker players
themselves. Their statement conflicted
with Magic's, stating "We are fully
committed to and supportive of Mike
Brown as head coach of the Lakers."
For 22 years, by the way, PRIME TIME
has carried L.A. games and this past
game was the final broadcast of a
Lakers home playoff game with this
cable system. The Lakers remaining
games this spring will be carried on
ESPN/ABC and TNT. The club will move
to a new channel next season.
And so, tonight in OKC, we will be
watching our Lakers play and hope
of course, for the best for them!
Babs Wells

SEEN ANY GOOD MOVIES LATELY???

First of all, our Kobe was ill.
Second, Pau and Drew were not
completely into playing the game
of Basketball as they ought to
be playing, especially without
"Metta World Peace" out there
on the court to aid their plays.
We lost last Friday's game,
last Tuesday's game and now
last night's game as well.
Coach Karl had his Nuggets
coached so well that their
energies and vision to win
shone through while Lakers
were seemingly in a daze.
Too bad with all of this, but
we do have game number 7
here in L.A. to play on
our own court at the Staples
Center Saturday night.
Let's hope we can compete
far better and have all
of the players on our team
be on the same page to play
and to win. C'mon, Playoff's guys!
On a different note, did
you happen to ever see
"Hoosiers"? That movie
took place in Indiana
and is a piece of history.
The court used for the film,
was restored in 1993 and now
serves as a venue for basketball
leagues, parties and concerts.
Built in 1920, the Hossier Gym
in Knightstown, Indiana, sat
vacant for 2 decades until a
Hollywood Film crew began to call.
Gene Hackman played the coach
in the film and it is claimed
to be one of the best sports films
ever made. The time frame used in
the movie was 1951-1952 school year.
The story is based loosely on a
Cinderella team from tiny Milan
(Ind.) High School that toppled
big-city powerhouse teams to win
the 1954 State Championship.
A good lesson to be learned from
gleaning this movie and its' intent.
Lets' go with a winning spirit into
Saturday's game and lets' give those
Denver Nuggets something to worry over.
Championship or no, let's give it our all.
Babs Wells

LAKERS VS. NUGGETS

Well, anybody that saw Friday's game knows
our team was anything but the best. Guess
Drew told the media that "he just plain was
not ready" NOT READY? For a game during the
PLAYOFF'S? What form of thinking and adjustment
is that? Un-real. At age 24, even he ought to
be chastised for that sort of reasoning. At any
rate, yes we lost big time and yes, it was an
embarrassment to players and spectators as well.
"it is just a game"..true, but to not be able
to fend off the really bad decisions made, is
something we never thought possible during a
playoff game. We lost with a score of:
Denver winning with 99 & L.A. losing with 84.
We knew that we would be in that mile high
city for another game on Sunday so at least
could redeem ourselves then, which we were
able to do, gratefully. By Sunday, higher altitude
was a tad easier to handle. Coach Mike Brown
remained affected by it, apparently, but the
players seemed to handle it far better and
in the first quarter, made the very first
2 points for our team. It was a fun game
and a nice way to top off a week-end for all.
Our winning score ended at 92-88. Steve Blake
scored 10 points, including a key 3-pointer
in the final minute as the Lakers overcame a
6-point halftime hole and a 71-70 deficit
heading into the fourth quarter. "This was
fun" Blake stated, "It doesn't get any better
than this. Playoff basketball, this is what
it's all about!" Ramon Sessions scored 12 points
and also had a  big 3 in the final minutes for
L.A. With the game tied at 86, Bryant was being
covered closely when a hard screen from Pau
Gasol sent his opponent to the floor. Kobe worked
the ball to Sessions, whose 3-pointer from just
in front of the Nuggets bench put the Lakers
ahead 89-86 with 48 seconds remaining to play.
All in all, Kobe scored 22 points, Andrew
Bynum added 19 and at 92-88, we have a 3-1 lead
in first-round playoff series. Hoping to wrap
it up on Tuesday night when the series shifts
back again to L.A. Staples Center for game 5.
Keep the faith.
Babs Wells

PLAYOFF GAMES!!

Game two, and during the entire game, Lakers
were ahead but the Denver Nuggets began
to speed up in the fourth quarter so it was
ever so great for us when the clock was
showing us the score, and we won: 104-100.
Kobe Bryant played 40 of the 48 minutes
in this game and had made 38 points by
himself at games' end. Pau Gasol had 13
points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists and
Andrew Bynum followed up his play-off
opening triple-double with 27 points,
and 9 rebounds. Lakers had a 19 point
lead in the third quarter and Ramon
Sessions scored 4 key points in the
final 1:14 before Kobe's icing free
throws with 9.4 seconds left. Now game
three will be played in High altitude
Denver on Friday night. A most interesting
phone call came in for this reporter
this morning from the very place I had
mentioned in my previous article about
the camp provided for children with
difficult medical problems in Lake
Hughes on Lake Elizabeth Road. And,
yes, our Lakers had a big hand in
this facility allowing them a fully equipped
gym. Lakers were the investors there
to have the entire flooring laid.
Former Paul Newman was the instigator
and founder for this camp. Although
now departed, his legacy lives on.
Local Attorney, Rex Parris,
has recently donated $10,000 for the
camp. The family's 19 yr. old daughter,
Amanda, in 2006, at age 13, was diag-
nosed with Ulcerative colitis. Hundreds
of youngsters have attended week-long
sessions at this campground which is
the only multidisease camp and family
center on the West coast that provides
camping experiences for children with
life-threatening illnesses & disabilities.
For more info concerning this great even, 

you can call Paula Jones at #661-724-1550
ext. 205. On July 28 there will be a BBQ
for a fund raiser, their 8th. annual gala
which is called "Turtle Greek Island BBQ".

Web site information:

http://www.thepaintedturtle.org/

Perhaps in reading this article, we may see you
there as well! Until then, keep close
watch on our Lakers vs. the Denver Nuggets!
Babs Wells

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SIZE MATTERS

Time for reflection upon our regular season
past games and a whole new view into the

present and future with Playoffs here.
Andrew Bynum has become at the age of 24, 

quite a talented lad to admire and he made some
very great rebounds and plays that have
become historical in going beyond the
boundaries with our Kobe Bryant cheering
him on. To become a unified playing team,
it takes leadership, true, but it also
takes the co-operation and determination
of every single player to use their expertise
in unison for winning games. Kobe wants so
to win a 6th. NBA Championship and to be
able to hang the banner of his 16 seasons
in Los Angeles when all the dust settles
in June. Metta World Peace  is serving his second
game of his seven-game suspension for elbowing
James Harden of OKC Thunder (in the head), has
coach Mike Brown using Devin Ebanks more and
also Matt Barnes. Barnes had earlier suffered
with a mild ankle sprain which again became
aggravated but he has been cleared now to play.
The L.A. Lakers center, Drew, blocked a shot
by Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson during
the first half of our NBA first round basketball
game on Sunday at Staples Center and we won
the game 103-88. We play again tonight also
in L.A. against Denver to hopefully win too.
Our former Lakers, Derek Fisher, now with OKC,
won the hearts of fans and teammates last eve.
He made his famous "3's" and wowed them all.
The Painted Turtle on Lake Elizabeth Road,
Lake Hughes, has campers with life threatening
medical problems and is fortified financially
by our NBA Lakers. It is a really great place
and offers programs to fit youngsters needs.
Their phone number for more information is:
#661-724-1550. With more summer temps. now,
their outdoor activities have increased.
For even more decisive information though,
concerning our Drew Bynum, he blocked 11% of
the Nuggets 90 shots, and with 15 total
blocks, Lakers swatted one of every 6 Denver
shots, separating the Nuggets from any hope
of a late rally. Bynum posted the Lakers
first playoff triple-double in 21 years.
It was the first play-off triple double since
Magic Johnson in the 1991 NBA Finals. He
blocked 8 shots in the first three quarters
before surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's
franchise-record nine blocks in the fourth.
He eventually equaled the NBA record set
by Utah's Mark Eaton on April 26, 1985, &
matched by Hall of Fame Hakeem Olajuwon on
April 29, 1980. And so, having stated all
of these facts, let's see how we fare tonight!
Babs Wells                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

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