Weekend!!!

I've said for a long time that Friday afternoon is the best time of the week;
You still havesome time to do good things at work, and then you have a long weekend ahead. Today it has been BBQ, good workout, little home stuff, family time and now I'm enjoying outside terrace with a beer as it is most likely the last summerish evening for the year. Soon I have again access to the family so I will leavy you by yourselves.

Have a fabulastic w-end!

PS Thanks to Seb, I'll share these vibes with you 

PPS Go Blues - kick some SaiPa bum a.k.a. ass!

Winter is coming!

Why else at 8 pm there would be +7C outside...? Earlier I said that at night time it has been already below zero C in mid Finland, but not even down here at south - Helsinki area - it is getting colder.

We went for a lunch by the seaside, same place from where I've posted pictures many times earlier, and I can tell you it wasn't a beach weather. Windy like heck - like you can see from the flag in the pic below.

The pics do not tell otherwise that much of the weather.

I had to do some painting job at home today. Before moving to our current place, we had an outside pro helper with the painting and I gotta say I missed him today. Of course few cans of Orginal Long Drink makes the paining job a bit smoother...

But not smooth enough as would be needed to do the job up at the top of the water tower as the guys in the pic below. This image doesn't show how high up it is, but if you imagine there is a big restaurant up there - then you should get the picture.

To finish off for tonight, here is a tip for the singles for next weekend - if you are in the southern part of Finland. This one is at Järvenpää, Cantina Zapata. Go out and have fun, I won't be there! Too bad you missed the Idols winner Martti yesterday...

PS HJK won the Finnish Cup in football launched by a great goal by the 40+ years old king of Finnish football, Jari Litmanen. Congratulations! Also hats off for the Blues - you got 3 points today!

Jere Karalahti - Vuoden Urheilija / Sportsman of the Year?

Former pro ice hockey player and current coach Raimo Summanen said in today's Iltalehti - Finnish tabloid paper - that instead of finger pointing, blaiming and deserting an athlete who has had downhill with for example drugs or alcohol, should be supported. And particularly now that for example Jere Karalahti has made a comeback to the world's top ice hockey players, he should instead be selected as the Sportsman of the Year!

I support it!!!

Well, of course part of my support comes from Jere helping out my home team Blues from Espoo to make it from pre-play off games a long way to the finals last season. Too bad Jere's former team HIFK was too strong to go all the way to the end...

We have sooo many examples of sportsmen who have faced downhill after their sports career is over. Or what would you say about such names as Matti Nykänen, Mika Myllylä, Juha Kankkunen and so on. These are just the names that we all can see in media, and for each of them there are dozens of others we never hear about.

Lyhyesti;
Sen sijaan että syyllistämme, tuomitsemme ja hylkäämme urheilijat jotka joutuvat alamäkeen esimerkiksi päihteiden kanssa, meidän tulisi tukea heitä. Ja Jere Karalahden tapauksessa - mieshän on ryhdistäytynyt ja palannut maailman huipulle jääkiekkoilijana - hänet pitäisi valita Vuoden Urheilijaksi!

PS Congrats to team España for the basketball success!!!

BIG NO for zone defense!

I was today watching a basketball game that was one of the top boring ones I've been in. Unfortunately big part of the reason is due to the coaches of another team: they had the team play zone defense the whole game.

Yep, all 40 minutes, even after the game was clear win for them. Actually, the only thing they made as a defensive change was a full court defense that they played after scoring. As we are talking about teenagers who are not playing at competitive level, but the 4th highest level in Finland, in my opinion they should have more fun and learn to play the game well  and zone defense is not helping that target. Also the skills level of the individual players was such that I would definitely recommend to focus on man-to-man defense.

Zone can be a good, tactical move now and then but not something one should build team strategy on. So coaches, please focus on good, entertaining basketball - not only on boring zone defense even if it would bring some additional wins...!

Tonight Spain and France will meet at the European Championship final, viva España - this is what they want to repeat!

PS Winter is coming: In mid and northern parts of Finland at night time the temperature already goes below zero Celcius...

No major sports surprises after all

Actually, we can say that it was a positive surprise that Finland made it to the best 12 in the European basketball championships - well done guys!!! The final BIG BANG was close today but Slovenia was stronger. Good game in many ways for team Finland, but there was still some things to improve. And that's a good sign in a way.

Another not that surprising result was that Finland beat Belgium 3-0 in the volleyball European championships and made it to the second round. At least the team was expecting more from the first games but the result was a bit on the weak side. Let's hope they can pick it up in the next games!

Also my basketball season is getting started bit by bit and I can tell you the few runs, shooting hoops, gym, swimming etc does not help that much when you start running up & down the court. You need to play the game to get back in shape!

Yeah, surely jogging also helps but that's not for me any more. I used to run a lot but the laws of physics in my body are not supporting that - and I can tell you it is veeeery much more fun to play ball!!!

Go Finland - Go my girl!!!

Apologies my friends, as I have been sooooo silent for sooooo long time! I thought I'd have time during the summer break but no way, I was enjoying the time doing nothing, exercising at the gym, watching my kids play sports and so on. And yes, I was expecing to take the time to talk to you but no - sorry!

Go Finland!!!

In EU basketball championships Finland has taken the team further than expected - and today they are waiting for the game on Monday where they have a chance to kick Slovenian ( I think so ) ass and make the biggest ballgame surprise of the decade and make it into the final 8.

C'mon, let's be realistic: if Finland wins the game tomorrow, it is a BIG win!!!

By the way, there is also the EU games in beach volley - sorry, the volley ball, and team FI lost their first game but I'll keep my eye on the b-ball!!!

GO FINLAND!!!

And particularly...

GO MY GIRL!!!
My litlle young lady had her confirmation - and I can tell you she is a magic wonder as in my books my tiny tiny baby is not even close to be at her age. As most of us think of our little girls go through the confirmation camp just to get it done, it is great to see she also had fun over there...

What ever is the situation, stink (!) positive!!!

Sorateiden Sankarit - I hope you can check it out from here.