May The Fourth Be With You

The Last Shredi

Navajo 1909

The all-native basketball team in the photo below was balling back in 1909, which explains the swastika unis. Scholars agree that the symbol comes from India, but it is also a part of American Indian culture. For the Navajo Nation, the swastika represents the legend of the Whirling Logs. The story is about a journey down a river in a hollowed out tree. It involves multiple Gods, and a pet turkey with a lot of personality.

The important thing is that the Whirling Logs legend is a part of the Night Chant, a nine day long ceremonial performance considered the most sacred of all Navajo ceremonies. It is a healing ritual that is performed to both cure the sick, and to restore order and balance to the universe.

Sans swastikas, basketball is still fanatically popular amongst American Indians, but the group has long been severely underrepresented in college ball. Why?

Because Division I and II scouts are only allowed to attend high school tournaments that are NCAA certified. Until recently, NCAA certification rules stated that all teams must reside in the same state as a given tournament. This made it impossible for American Indian high schools to participate in any certified tournament, because tribal citizens are technically not state residents.

The NCAA made an exception to this rule in 2007... [ + ]

NZ Breakers finally claim it!!

Incase you haven't heard since the end of April, the NZ Breakers have claimed their first NBL title. [+]

Manyoo take 19

A penalty from Wayne Rooney allowed Manchester United to clinch a record 19th league title following a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. [+]

Manchester City's spending spree finally delivered some silverware as they won the FA Cup - courtesy of a 1-0 win over Stoke - to end their 35-year wait for a major trophy. [+]

David Tua ... TUA GOOD!!

Yesiree, once again another excellent battle for David Tua, beating Friday somebody or rather. Just kidding, I mean Friday Ahunanya. Well, a unanimous decision is still good. A win is a win and another step to the top for David. Definitely not what many people expected in NZ, predicting Tua to take out Friday in the early rounds. Good on Friday for lasting so long with David. All credit to Friday for not going down and going the distance. Broadcast here in NZ live and across Samoa and Australia, and the world, we all witnessed another awesome Tua boxing match.

The first undercard battles were Robert Berridge easily TKO'ing Areta Gilbert. The second battle was heavyweight Clarence Tillman, winning by split decision against Wellington boy Leamy Tato. The third undercard battle pitted Bronwyn Wylie against Christina Tai, with Wylie defeating Tai by split decision. Interesting to note that Bronwyn Wylie only had a 24 hour notice to her fight. The fourth undercard fight was between Brett Smith and Israel Garcia. The fight went the way of Garcia, with Smith being blatantly disqualified. If you saw the fight, what was Smith thinking? In the fifth and final undercard battle, Oscar Siale takes on Jameson Bostic. A nice cruiserweight battle with the win going to someone, I think it was Siale, wasn't paying attention in the end, too bored waiting for Tua to come on. Oh well, who cares, David Tua...TUA GOOD!!

The fight was hosted by Maori Television, with David fulfilling his promise to them, and he did not disappoint the fans, giving us all a great fight. I wish him all the best on his way to the top, and look forward to seeing him making his fans even more happy and proud in the future.

Just for this day...

Just for this morning, I am going to smile whenever I see your face. and laugh when I feel like crying. Just for this morning, I will let you wake up softly, all rumpled in your flannel and I will hold you until you are ready.
Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say you're beautiful. Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I am going to eat a huge breakfast , with bacon eggs, toast and waffles, and you don't have to eat any. Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that 100 piece puzzle together.
Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the garden blowing bubbles. Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up or who you might have been before your diagnosis. Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to 'fix' things.
Just for this afternoon, I will let you put all kinds of barettes in my hair, and put lipstick on my face, and I will tell you how pretty you have made me look. Just for this afternoon I will take you to McDonalds and buy us both a Happy meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born, and how much we love you. Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the bathtub and not get angry when you throw water over your sister's head.
Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch swing and count all the stars. Just for this evening, I will bring you glasses of water, and snuggle beside you for three hours and miss my favorite show on t.v.

Just for this evening, When I kneel down to pray, I will simply be grateful for all that I have and not ask for anything, except...
Just one more day.

~ Sally Meyer c.1999

My name is...

My name is Kendall,
I am three,
My eyes are swollen..
I cannot see.

I must be stupid,
I must be bad,
What else could have made,
My mommy so mad?

I wish I were better,
I wish I weren´t ugly,
Then maybe my mommy,
Would still want to hug me.

I can't do a wrong,
I can't speak at all,
Or else I'm locked up,
All day long.

When I'm awake,
I'm all alone,
The house is dark,
And nobody is home.

When my mommy does come home,
I'll try and be nice,
So maybe I'll just get,
One whipping tonight.

I just heard a car,
My mommy is back,
From some bar

I hear her curse,
My name is called,
I press myself,
Against the wall.

I try to hide,
From her evil eyes,
I'm so afraid now,
I'm starting to cry.

She finds me weeping,
Calls me ugly words,
She says its my fault,
She suffers at work.

She slaps and hits me,
And yells at me more,
I finally get free,
And run to the door.

She's already locked it,
And I start to bawl,
She takes me and throws me,
Against the hard wall.

I fall to the floor,
With my bones nearly broken,
And my mommy continues,
With more bad words spoken.

"I'm sorry!", I scream,
But it´s now much to late,
Her face has been twisted,
Into an unimaginable shape.

The hurt and the pain,
Again and again,
O please God, have mercy!
O please let it end!

And she finally stops,
And heads for the door,
While I lay there motionless,
Sprawled on the floor.

My name is Kendall,
I am three,
Tonight my mommy,
Murdered me.

The NYY grab it!!

Finally! The New York Yankees have taken out the 27th World Series title clinching it in Game 6 with Hideki Matsui taking out the series MVP. Andy Pettitte started it off with my favourite closing pitcher Mariano Rivera....er, closing. I've been waiting since 2000 to see them get another title, and now, that wait is over. [+]

Now all those people around the world that wear stuff, you know, with those two letters on them, NY, can be proud and claim... stuff, rather than just wearing it because it's cool, or trendy, or someone famous dons the attire. [+]

By the way, Hideki became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series MVP. Great job there Mr Matsui ! [+]

Goes Across the Sky Woman

Hanging Cloud (Ojibwa name Ah-shah-way-gee-she-go-qua (Aazhawigiizhigokwe in the contemporary spelling), meaning "Goes Across the Sky Woman") was an Ojibwa woman who was a full warrior (ogichidaakwe in Ojibwe) among her people, and claimed by the Wisconsin Historical Society as the only woman to ever become one. She was the daughter of Chief Nenaa'angebi (Beautifying Bird) and his wife Niigi'o. Aazhawigiizhigokwe was of the Niibinaabe-doodem (Merman Clan), of the Prairie Rice Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Her Band became part of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians after the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe.

According to Morse, Aazhawigiizhigokwe wore war paint, carried full weapons, and took part in battles, raids and hunting parties. She was a full member of the war council, performed war dances, and participated in all warrior ceremonies. Shortly after father's death in 1855, her village was ambushed by her Mdewakanton uncle, Chief Shák'pí. In this ambush, she defended her village and killed a son of Chief Shák'pí, her cousin. Armstrong recorded how she was very proud of that period of her life.

Aazhawigiizhigokwe lived near Rice Lake, Wisconsin. She became the wife of Edward Dingley in 1857, and had a son. Her husband served in the Union Army during the American Civil War but when assumed dead, she remarried. After the War, when her first husband returned to Wisconsin and heard of his wife's remarriage, they made arrangements to meet with each other and agreed to let her maintain her second marriage. She worked for many years as a housekeeper for a local lumber baron. She died in 1919. [+]

Warriors unknown..