I just wanted to take a few minutes away from my summer fun to say hello to all of you.

By summer fun, I mean a string of long naps that added up to a miniature hibernation for me. I'll bet you didn't know that about me. Most bears hibernate in the winter, but I hibernate during the summer or to be more accurate, the basketball offseason. However, I do set my alarm to wake up and see all the NBA playoff games.

Even though my favorite team is not in the playoffs anymore, I still tune in to see all the exciting action and to root against the Lakers. I'm pulling for Detroit in the finals. For those of you who don't know, (i.e. the ones who have had their heads buried in the sand like ostriches) the NBA Finals begin this coming Sunday, June 6 on ABC with the Los Angles Lakers pitted against the Detroit Pistons. I can't wait for the fun to start.

The NBA has issued a challenge centered around a contest between all the mascots in the league. They want to see which mascot can create the most attention and buzz about the Finals starting this Sunday by performing a media stunt. The winner gets some pretty awesome prizes. There is no honey involved as incentive, but there are some other cool things like a pizza party for our whole front office staff.

I really don't know what they do, but free pizza is free pizza. I think they sell the tickets for people to come and see me perform and raise the money, I mean honey, to pay me. Anyway, I 'd really like to win. So this is what I devised.

I am giving away a brand new 27- inch TV/VCR/DVD combo to one lucky fan in order to celebrate the commencement of the NBA Finals. You like that big word, commencement, don't you? You didn't think a nine-year-old bear knew what that meant, did you?

Well I've been doing my vocabulary homework just like all you kids should do too. By the way, did I mention that the NBA Finals start this Sunday, June 6 on ABC? Oh yea, I did mention that the NBA Finals start this Sunday, June 6 on ABC in the first paragraph and again in the beginning of this one. I'm just making sure.

If you would like to win that TV I will be giving it away at Ruthie's on Richmond sports bar located at 1829 Richmond this Saturday, June 5 between 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. You must be present to win. I wish all you NBA and specifically speaking Rockets fans luck. One of you is going to be watching the Finals on a brand new tube. Got to go back to sleep for now, but I hope to see you all Saturday.

Until next time,

P.S. Be Big!