I am way behind.  I blame Ahmaad.  Actually he has nothing to do with it, but he he seems blameable (or is it blame-worthy?).  Sorry Ahmaad....not all of this can be my fault.  Can it?

Anywho.

Last Tuesday (June 9th) I paid a visit to the Iowa Maple Elementary to help honor the great students there.  Some had perfect attendance for the quarter (some for the whole year!), some one the Principal's Award, other received art awards, physical fitness awards, and others had to swallow the sadness of coming up short. 

I was given an Honorary Doctorate for agreeing to visit.  Needless to say I will demand everyone address me as "Doctor" from here forth.  Or at least the less formal "Dogtor".

Thanks to National City for arranging the visit.  They do a great job sponsoring activities and some tudoring at Iowa Maple and it's a privledge to be invited to see the fruits of their labors.

Click here to see all the photos from Iowa Maple

--Dogtor (Moondog MD)

There are rules.  I do understand that.

Like posting photos from an appearance in less than 24 hours.  Like not eating peas with a fork.  Or taking more than 2 steps after you stop dribbling (unless you know how to do the crab step).

Okay, we all get it. 

Some might stop and think this is some lame way for me to craftily create another award-winning blog by making light of the fact it's taken me well over 24 hours to post photos.  Sometimes it's not how you skin a cat (any method is okay with me)...it's that you took the time and care to skin the cat in the first place.

Cat skinning aside, we need to talk about rules.

Sometimes rules are made to be broken.  Here are two examples:

1.  When rules about posting photos within 24 hours are really more self-imposed guidelines.  Those rules are really only there so you can blog later about breaking them.

2.  When the rules openly discriminate against beloved award-winning writers or beloved dogs, or any combination of those two.  Rules like "No Dogs Allowed" in the Stafford Pool in Maple Heights.  Those rules are just made to be broken, and usually it is best to break those rules at the Grand Re-Opening....just to set the proper tone.

Enter this award-winning blogger and dog combo.

Last weekend I was invited to help open up the new pool, slides and assorted play-things that get you wet in Maple Heights.  It's a place the locals call the Stafford Pool. 

After an hour of shaking babies and kissing hands, I had enough. 

It was hot. 

I had a sexy new swimsuit.

There is the whole "rules are made to be broken" part of this exciting story that had yet to be accomplished.

And, really, I was there for an hour to help open the pool.  At the end of that time, I was really off the clock and free to take part in the freedoms that make this free country such a free place to freely do as I please.

So I did.

Yes, posted signs clearly stated dogs were not allowed.  But the Stafford Pool is irresistible....rules are made to be broken....and cats have it coming.

....for the record, the water is cool and refreshing.

Thanks to the Mayor and all the great people of Maple Heights who came to the grand opening. A wet time was had by all.

Now that you are done reading this award-winning blog, you are free to out and figure out what rules you need to break today.

See all 65 photos of my visit to the Stafford Pool Opening in Maple Heights.

--Dog

I will leave the hoops talk to others tonight. 

Obviously it's heart-breaking.  It sucks.  It hurts.

But on the way out it was great to spend an evening with our great fans at the Q.  I'd rather watch a win, but if I have to see a loss....I want to split the grief with 15,000 of the greatest fans in the NBA.

The watch parties are aptly named.  We watch.  We party.  And as the clock ticked down it was easy to be bummed....but instead I tried to focus on all the highlights and on the ride we took this year.

The tip off to the season.  The win streaks.  The MVP.  Coach of the Year....and losing just twice while winning 39 (think about that).  Rolling the Pistons was so rewarding and shooting the Hawks out of the sky put us on cusp.

The end sum of the Magic series...well it sucks.  But you'll never take the magic of the Game 2 1.0 second shot away.  The Q may have never rocked like that.  The passion of our fans and the greatness of the shooter was never framed better.

The story book had all the trappings of a Pulitizer Prize winner, but the ending sucks.

Animal Control took 150 photos with fans all over the Q.  So the story book can have a rather meaty glossy center section of photos.  And in case our story book editor decides to fill that important section of photos with more photos of LeBron, The Optimist and Ahmaad.....I have posted all the photos here for your personal enjoyment.

Thank you Cleveland for the amazing ride.  Get some sleep and sharpen the dream....we will be here again and when we are the story book ending will be even sweeter.

--dog

So one way to shake the memory of a late night loss is a early morning parade, and I gracefully used that club from my metaphorical bag today.

Ahmaad and I hopped the Moondog Mobile this morning and found our place in the South Euclid Memorial Day Parade.  This is a great event that I have had the pleasure to be a part of for the last 5 years or so.

Today's skate (I rollerblade in parades) had near perfect conditions:  sunny, bright, 65 degrees and slightly downhill on Green Road.  Ahmaad took the easy way out and drove while I was a real man of the people skating on both sides soaking in high fives.  Despite the early hour I had to be on my toes (literrally) dodging tossed candy.  Thankfully there were no horses in the parade in front of me.

Here are the limited photos from the Parade.

At the end I was refreshed and rejuvenated.... ready for Game 4.  On the drive home Ahmaad reminded me that it's still a day away.  Sometimes when you fall you can't wait to get back up on the horse, and today was one of those mornings.

If you are ready to get back on the horse you can join me on the (metaphorical) sadddle at the Q for the Game 4 Watch Parrty.  Here are the details.

See you there, cowboy.

--dog

P.S. I promise not to write my award-winning blog again while watching a western.

Friday Night was among the most amazing games ever, more accurately the last 1.0 seconds of Friday Night. 

You can have the highest highs, but without the low-points there is no rollercoaster ride. It's the rollercoaster ride that makes the emotion so sweet.  Or as I often say, Snow White isn't a very interesting story if you start when she wakes up.  You have to feel the sadness of her sleeping, feel the helplessness of the dwarfs for the joy of her awakening to mean anything.

So first of all, thanks to Hedo for providing the set-up for LeBron.  Without his floater to put the Magic ahead 95-93, the moment would never have been so sweet. After his shot the Q fell silent.  It felt sick.  People were stunned.  Faces hung low, cradled in their hands.  Rally Towels stopped waving. Then the thought of being down 0-2 sunk in for the next 60 seconds as the teams collected themselves in a time out.

60 seconds separated the Hedo shot and the improbable inbounds play.

During any game, I make a lot of little decisions:  What jersey to wear, what flavor Gatorade to drink, which girl to flirt with, which Magic Fan to taunt, and how far to proke and prod any fan.

I was sitting in the corner of the court when Hedo's shot fell.  As the 60 second clock started, I remember vividly watching a disgusted fan jump out of their courtside seat and head for the exit. 

As he walked by me, I had that little decision to make.  Should I stop him?  Do I clown around and make a big show of making him sit for the last second?  Do I chase him off? 

I made the decision to let him go without any furry fanfare.  As I watched him walk off, I thought about what separated him from the other 20,561 people (assuming no one else was leaving).  Faith. 

It did seem hopeless, but what made this moment so special is that we collectively held on to that thread of hope.   However faint, we held on to our faith.

If I had more, I might have stopped him and demanded he see this.  But I had some.  Enought to stay.  Enough to stand.  Enought to believe. Enough to be a witness to history.  Enough to to risk being wrong to feel the moment of being right.

And it was amazing. 

I am making the decision this morning in my award-winning blog not to call out that fan any more.  I feel bad that he didn't share the faith.  Not only did his miss a rather magical moment...but after that one second ticked off 20,561 fans would forever have a story about seeing that amazing turn of events. 

And that fan will have a story about how he got out of the parking ramp and onto the freeway in record time. 

I hope to see him next game and confirm his faith has grown.  Keep the faith...all the way.

--dog