Busy Weekend of Hoops...

May 12, 9:53 a.m. Never underestimate the heart of a champion...the Spurs are sending a loud message to the Hornets and the rest of the NBA. "We're not dead!" The series tied at 2. Kobe wasn't 100% and it showed but what happened to his teammates. Can you say MIA? Smart decision by Flip Saunders NOT to call timeout and allow Tayshaun Prince to go for the game winner in Orlando. Don't over coach! Mike D'Antoni is a very rich man courtesy of the NY Knicks but I just don't get it. Bad fit if you ask me. I've enjoyed writing CCI and I also appreciate thousnads-yes thousands of emails I have received since I announced my resignation last week from the Raps to join the Bulls. I'd like to share this story with you. I remain available to communicate with you at swirsk054@aol.com Always a pleasure. Chuck: A couple of years ago, I sent the above to you in a note when something was going on in Raptor world. I have been a small time Raptor fan since the start, but a big time Swirsk fan for a number of years, and mainly because of your attitude, and I hope and pray for you and your family for all the best in the coming days, and years. 4 1/2 years ago at 53 years of age, I had an auto accident, resulting in a brain injury that caused mental and physical fatigue, lingering headaches, serious emotional challenges, and the inability to work at my middle management job at IBM, and even figure out how to do simple things like clean my basement. A couple of months ago, I went, with my wife to a brain clinic in CA, and finally got a clear diagnosis of my problems, got some proper medication, and started getting proper psychotherapy for the losses that I had incurred. Along the way I found the strangest thing called a Bed Pad, which has given me back some mental and physical energy. All along my journey, there has been one earthly constant, the CCI blog, and I have checked in with it all the time, just to see what you were saying. When you announced your departure the other day, I felt sad that you were leaving something that I know you had a passion for. I also felt a twinge that one last thing I could count on was gone. But the thought came to me, that All was Well, and that this too was a sign. As you are moving on with your life, so too, I am moving on with mine. This past week, I figured out after living in our home for 3 years, how to make a new set of shelves, hang some flourescent lights, and get rid of the garbage in the basement, and make the work and storage area seeable, workable and neat. It is not a big deal, but I did it. I could not have done it a year ago, but I can today. And now I can do something new. My world looks brighter, and CCI was a part of keeping me sane, while I figured out that there was a life for me after a brain injury. I do not know what tomorrow brings, but for the first time in a number of years, I am looking forward to it. Thanks for being a part of my life, and my healing. God Bless you and Your Family Michael Michael - Thank you for the wonderful e-mail and your appreciation for our blog extends back to you and others who read CCI on a daily basis. In some small way I'm thankful we had an impact on your world and we pray for a healthy recovery. Chuck