Nay, we are but men. Rock!

For the most part I am a pretty simple man.  I don’t like to buy a lot of stuff not because I am cheap but because I don’t like to put the energy into looking for things like clothes or TVs or household items.  I do like to hobby-shop.  This means I like to buys things that relate to my hobbies.  For example, I will never have too many fly rods, books, or guitars.  I will also never have too much backpacking gear. Recently I took a trip to the east coast to visit family.  When I got home and walked into my house I found a package containing my new tarp shelter and minimalist camp stove.  Now I already have a three season tent so why, would you ask, do I need a tarp shelter?  The reason is simple, weight.  My tent weighs roughly 7lbs with poles and stakes.  My new tarp shelter weighs 1.5.   This is amazing on so many different levels.  The first level is that it allows me to save space in my pack, the tarp shelter packs much smaller than my tent and because it is a tarp shelter it doesn’t have poles, as well as saving my back a little bit.  The second level is that it gives me versatility in the back-country.  More equipment equals more options to meet more needs on more trips.  The third level and the last I will go into is that it is cool and my wife said I could buy it.  Yes I love my ever-growing supply of gear.  If anyone needs me I will be in my back yard until morning.

I’ve decided to start a segment here known as “Athletes I Don’t Like.”  It basically what it says, athletes that I struggle to like.  On with the show.

I’ve been watching some of the NBA Finals over the last few days, and I’ve been reminded about an athlete that I just can’t find any reason to like:  Pau Gasol.  There’s just something about him that makes me wish the worst for him.

I think he’s a bit of Bill Laimbeer with a side of Vlade Divac.  He flops all over the court.  He has never committed a foul, the refs get it wrong.  Just that stupid look of, “What? You’re calling a foul on me?!  Are you kidding?!?  What did I do?!”  Any call that goes against him is like someone abducted his firstborn.  He’s actually a good player, I just can’t get past his pathetic whining.  Play the game and stop acting like an infant.

Congratulations, Pau!  You’re number 1!