Flash is Back!

Back in the gym and back in shape.

Dwyane Wade is the Miami Heat's franchise player.....after almost single-handedly dismantling the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals....Wade's fledgling career hit the skids after a series of injuries kept his explosive game on the back-burner.....now he's back.

Secluded in a tough Chicago neighbourhood not far from where he grew up, he, along with NYK Quentin Richardson are putting themsleves through a gruelling pre Olympic training schedule but for Wade it's much more.

After being deliberately sidelined ( to allow his beaten up body to recover )for the Heat's final 21 games of a dismal season he is picking up the pieces and determined to be ready for 2008/09.

Now all that needs to happen is for the NBA draft lottery to afford Miami point guard Derrick Rose...he's going to be big, very big and will take the pressure off D-Wade as a ball handler.

Next season may be worth watching after all.

Here Comes the Cavalry

So after Maureen Watt's inept performance on Scotland at Ten the other night the SNP sent the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop, in to speak on GMS this morning. She was, admittedly, much more assured in her delivery but in the end said NOTHING.
The responsibility for this is now being left on the doorstep of Local Authorities, Mrs. Hyslop clearly stating that the Scottish Government cannot be expected to "micro-manage" every single authority. I don't imagine anyone expects to be micro managed but they will expect some clear guidelines as to what is the correct way forward....Oh, and whether there will be funds available to make these manifesto pledges actually work.
As far as I can see, if you look at the LTS website, many local authorities, including my own, have been trying to work on models of practice which work but require funding. This will be the stumbling block until the blinkers come off and the value of PE, within the curriculum, finally understood.

http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/physicaleducation/sharingpractice/laprojects/Highland/introduction.asp

Health and Well Being...guidelines?

Okay here it is

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/05/09135831

now, what does it mean?

Answers on a postcard.

Worth Keeping An Open Mind

Captain...a band that I once saw live when they supported Keane at the AECC.

I didn't take to them that much on the night because I felt that the guitarist was hogging the limelight a bit....strident, I think, was how we described it....nevertheless there was something about them and so with an open mind I bought the album "This is Hazelville" - it was and is brilliant and I have awaited the new offering "Distraction" with much anticipation...early signs are good. Here's a video for the single entitled, funnily enough, "Keep An Open Mind".

Hope you like it.

So...Do You Feel Lucky?

I suppose a raft of arguments and counter arguments will evolve on this one...the question of whether "gun-play" should be outlawed or allowed in Nursery Schools.
Elizabeth Buie puts forward a very good case in
last week's TES.
See what you think below.

I love this photo....found it on Flickr...username - afewscoops.

http://www.tes.co.uk/2602771

Got to hit them

Well, unfortunately for Del and Linz the Magic couldn't make it last night, Detroit's Tayshaun Prince rising to cool-ly drain a hook shot with 8 ticks left on the clock. On the subsequent possession the Magic couldn't get it to fall and so the Pistons take a 3-1 in the best of seven series. Got a text from Derek this morning and he was saying that Orlando threw it away....he's right if you look at the free throw stats Orlando hit 64% - Pistons 93%....there's your game right there....Pistons win by a point 90-89, on the road, without their chief playmaker Chauncey Billups who was in street clothes due to a sore hamstring. They just seem to know how to win, year in year out, during the post season.

Looks like it was a night filled with typical American razzamatazz though, judging by the photo, hope they enjoyed it....Oh and Tiger Woods was in the house too!

Everything you need to know about the series here....

http://www.nba.com/games/20080510/DETORL/gameinfo.html?nav=scoreboardhome

You Could Do Magic....

My pal Derek is in Orlando, with his partner Lindsey. What better way to celebrate your 30th birthday, soaking up some Florida sunshine. I say this mainly because they had the fore-sight to go there at Play -Off time in the NBA....and have only gone and landed tickets for Game 4 of the Orlando Magic v Detroit Pistons Eastern Conference Semi Final....which will involve Dwight Howard (right)
This has been a wee dream of mine for a while, maybe one day....I'm sure Del will fill me in on all the details and have some good photos to show me.

This is Derek and Lindsey's eye-view.
http://www.seats3d.com/nba/orlando_magic/