Tuesday, November 30, 2010

23: DIY

10.31.2010 - Before Nike ID made it possible for consumers to pick colors and materials for their own custom Nikes, sneakerheads had to come up with more innovative ways to create the sneakers they couldn't find in the stores. Leather paint for different colors, soldering guns for cement and other effects, and custom fabrics and sewing are just a few of the popular methods enlisted by sneaker customizers for their 1 of 1 designs. The Corduroys were my first venture, my first start to finish custom sneaker project.

i know i take my shoes off in weird places,
but to get the unique shots i want
it's totally worth it.

It all started with a trip to HUF SF. Back in the day, before HUF was an international streetwear icon and boutique mecca, it was a single, small, humble store in Union Square San Francisco. I remember like it was yesterday, on one trip to said boutique; when my eyes met her eyelets, I knew I had found the ones. I had found my canvas (on sale!) - a simple white Nike Dunk with a navy blue sole and navy inside trim. They were dying to be customized and I was dying to customize them. It was like destiny.

In that moment of inspiration, I knew exactly where I wanted to go with them: to create something I hadn't seen before. A quick stop at Savers then Michael's provided the materials I needed: a pair of used navy corduroy pants, fabric glue and a navy blue permanent marker.

Tracing the patterns was probably the easiest part of the job. A simple piece of notebook paper and a pencil made a fine pattern on which I could mirror the fabric. After cleaning the leather surface and prepping it with alcohol, I glued the corduroy pieces on. Four whole pieces per shoe, nice clean cuts. Then came the tedious part: coloring the stitching. I know that it is hard to tell from afar, but love is in the details. I wanted these to come out right.

After several days of work off and on, I had my first customs. They didn't come out as great as I'd imagined, but it was a great learning experience -as you can tell from the pictures. First, I should have burned the edges of the corduroy or done something else to the fabric to prevent the ends from tattering. Also, I should have probably tried to use a stronger glue. Sewing should always be option number one when it comes to customs, but if you don't want to spend that much, make sure you use a glue that is flexible and sticks. Finally, while I liked the idea of the detailed stitching, the execution with the permanent marker came up short. Not sure if it was due to my unsteady hand or due to the marker itself, but it could have been better.


Nike Dunk Low Pro - White/White -Midnight Navy [Corduroy Custom]
+ Gap Button-up + Levi's 501 Selvedge STF

I know that this was a simple job, but I hope this inspires all you sneakerheads to get out there and try to customize a pair for yourself. It's really a fun experience. Plus, it's also extremely rewarding to know that the pair on your feet isn't just a 1 of 1, but it is your original creation. And to anyone else out there who is looking for a little extra flavor on your sneakers, you have an aspiring customizer here looking for practice -holler at me. =)


{currently in the speakers: Child Rebel Soldier - Don't Stop}


P.S. Click on the pics to see more detail/larger version.

(Photo Assist Credits: Rholinelle Joy Fuentes)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thankful

When I seem to be at my low points, I am often reminded of how much I take for granted and how honestly blessed I actually am.

I am thankful for my family, who is God-fearing, loving and truly extraordinary.
I am thankful for my parents, who are awesome and have never stopped supporting me.
I am thankful for Kara, who balances me and has my back through thin and thick and thin again.
I am thankful for my friends, who are always there, even when I'm not.
I am thankful for air, for food, for a roof over my head, for warm clothes, for reliable transportation, and for all the little things in this world that make me smile on a daily basis.
I am thankful that I have this forum where I can share my creativity, opinions, thoughts, hopes, dreams and ideas.
I am thankful that you are actually taking the time to read this. I do it for you as much as I do it for me.

Today, I ask that you take more than a moment to think about the things you are thankful for. Realize that you are sincerely blessed, then realize it shouldn't be just one day out of the year on which you are thankful. God is truly good.

Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving, everyone. May your ham be delicious and your turkey be juicy.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Early Preview/Review: Kanye West

I said the only way Kanye West would ever be able to win my fan-ship back would have to be through his music. He would have to make something that would truly blow me away; not just impress me, but actually win me back...

College Dropout is one of my favorite albums of all time. Even when I listen to it today, it's a great refreshing change of pace to the humdrum clones radio "hip-pop" puts out. It was the story of someone who always felt he was great, but no one else saw it. I felt I could relate. Once given the opportunity, he showed he could do something truly incredible. It inspired me to persevere until my opportunity came.

When Late Registration was released, I continued to follow the story of Kanye West. At this point, he was well known and established as an artist. It would be difficult to match how groundbreaking College Dropout was, but this new LP was still honest and still great. Kanye began to explore other realms of music while still maintaining an overall true hip-hop feel.

With Graduation, Kanye really began to explore music. While there were a lot more tracks that “missed” than there were in his previous albums, I enjoyed the “hits” so much that the album was still a great success in my eyes. The third in the series of “school themed” albums, Graduation did lose a lot of the “down to earth” feel the first two had. At this point, Kanye had launched and he was well aware of it.

The album 808s and Heartbreaks was announced that it would be all done in auto-tune, I definitely was among the first to stand up and say “wtf mate?” Luckily I received it in a White Elephant Christmas exchange, so I didn’t have to buy it –I wouldn’t have sought it out otherwise. After several listen-throughs, I concluded that the album was a lot better than I initially thought it would be. I liked it because I could relate, but it wasn’t the Kanye I had come to love as an artist. “He was supposed to save hip-hop,” I kept thinking.

Kanye was headed down a path and I didn’t really like it. I will concede it is his artistic right to make whatever type of music he likes and that there is a group of people out there that genuinely likes that direction they see, but it’s honestly just not for me (I’m looking at you right now, Kid Cudi). If you follow from College Dropout to 808s, you can see where he starts to diverge from his base and venture off into more experimental music as art, kind of like the Beatles toward their later years. Kanye going from “All Falls Down” to “Love Lockdown” was like watching the Beatles evolve from “I Want to Hold Your Hand” to “I am the Walrus”. It’s not a bad evolution, per se, but it is definitely a case of different strokes.

That being said, I waited with bated breath for Kanye’s newest album –this would make or break how I perceived him. I didn’t care much to be a fan of an artist whose music I haven’t truly loved for a while. And after all the drama with George Bush, Taylor Swift, etc. et al, ad nauseum, it might serve my character better to not be associating myself with such unsavory figures in the media. I couldn’t tell from the GOOD Friday singles whether Kanye had shaken the experimenting, perfected it, or was diving further into it, but I was more than interested to find out. (side note: the GOOD Friday singles feature a lot of quality, free tracks -definitely worth checking out)

After an almost full week of listening and nearly 700 words of introduction, I present my full review of Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” (or “The Album Formerly Known as: Good Ass Job”) *props to Mr. Shah Jackson for the hookup*

There are lots of different ways people evaluate albums. I think it’s important to assess the quality of the songs you don’t hear on the radio as much as the singles. When you see how much production goes into the songs they’re not marketing as singles, you can truly see how good the album is as a whole, and instead of just focusing on how much you enjoy the few songs you’ve heard 50,000 times on the radio. How many times have you purchased an album solely based on a song you heard on the radio, only to end up liking one or two more songs (if that) and hating the rest? Don't make that mistake.

It’s easier to evaluate these songs since I haven’t heard them on the radio much, if at all yet. You’re welcome to skip my individual song notes if you want to wait to hear the official release for yourself before passing judgment. I will finish up with a summary and my overall evaluation at the end.

1) Intro + Dark Fantasy - The introductory “poem” was interesting until I figured out it was Nicki Minaj. I didn’t hate it because it was Nicki Minaj, I hate it because she ruined it with her classic Nicki Minaj style. The combination of the beat, plus the slowdowns and beautifully sung hook make for a very solid start.

2) Gorgeous - This song combines Cudi's experimental rock influence with Kanye's classic style, like OG Kanye production. Overall Cudi's hook is solid, as is the song. Raekwon's verse actually adds value as a "feature", unlike many (and I mean many) in hip-hop today that are just there for the sake of being there.

3) Power - This was the first officially released single from the album, and I must say it was a strong single (pun intended?). The song shows us Kanye's evolution both as a producer and as a rapper as he is both creative and artistic, yet still manages to keep this song hip-hop. The video preview is extremely intriguing, especially when you know the entire story behind it (hint: did you know it is depicting an execution?)

4) All of the Lights (Interlude) - It's extremely difficult to say an interlude can add too much value to an album overall. However, this combined with the song that follows is literally a must-hear musical experience. The interlude highlights all of the elements from "All of the Lights" that you may not notice. Without all the beats and singing, All of the Lights truly is a powerful song with a beautiful melody.

5) All of the Lights - This is the best song that I have heard in a very long time. I didn't like the radio much before, but after hearing this, I almost despise it. "All of the Lights" is one of the rare songs you hear and it makes you feel something and everytime you listen to it, it just makes you say, "Wow." Please don't confuse this track with the garbage version featuring Drake, please. There are lots of artists featured on the official track and they fit in exactly where they need to be, especially the bridge at 4:06 and Alicia Keys' signature "woah-woah" that follows it. This is the first Rihanna song that I've liked and she fits in and sings the hook beautifully. The song is perfect. Might be my favorite song of all time...

6) Monster - Monster shows that Kanye hasn't lost his bounce. Plain and simple. The beat is great and I enjoy that there is cohesion and actual theme between the different artists verses. Though I think Rick Ross was underutilized (his verse is like ten seconds long? ...not kidding. it's literally ten seconds.), Jay-Z adds a classic Jay-Z verse and fits in very well. Nicki Minaj doesn't ruin the song, in fact I respect her flows a little more after hearing this, but her portion is still definitely skippable -she is given way too much time.

7) So Appalled - I really don't favor the slow and dark beats. Just because it's a Kanye West song doesn't make that an exception. I skipped this song everytime until I actually forced myself to listen to it. When I did, truthfully, I almost fell asleep. After hearing Swizz Beats, you kind of expect the beat to pick up at some point; it doesn't. There are some good lines in there, but the song overall is dreary and tiring -that is until the RZA wakes you up in the end.

8) Devil in a New Dress - Another slower song, but at least the beat isn't as depressing. Kanye's voice and flow helps keep the tempo up a little bit, but it really seems like Rick Ross verse was just tacked on as an afterthought to make the song longer. I wish everything was a little more integrated.

9) Runaway - This song is too damn long. Really. I understand not caring to abide by common radio song lengths, but when you produce a song in such a way that actually allows you to cut unnecessary fat from it and still get all the meat, it probably should have been trimmed from the beginning. On a similar note, why the hell would any station try to edit this song for the radio? 1) I already said it's too long and 2) if you don't want to allow Kanye to say "douchebag" and "jerkoff", the song really loses a lot. You do the song a huge injustice, seemingly to try to please a mainstream fanbase for which the song obviously isn't intended. That being said, I actually like the significant portion of this track (the first six minutes or so). The song is slower also, but its classy and a refreshing breath from the dark and dragging beats of the previous two tracks. Plus, it's just clever and ironic. Pusha's verse could have been better, but it fits and it is definitely necessary.

10) Hell of a Life - I think this song is good, but I just don't like it much personally. The beat, tempo and overall production are all great and the hook is interesting, but some of the lyrics are just too vulgar for my taste. I guess that might be the point, since I'm assuming "Hell of a Life" is a double entendre here.

11) Blame Game - A truly beautifully composed song. John Legend's unique voice gives the song a genuine, emotional feel that only he could add. Kanye's verses fit the tone and theme of the composition well. My only complaint is the end of the second verse portion when all the voices come in from different speakers -I don't understand it. Chris Rock's skit at the end, while funny, seems to take away more from the "Blame Game" than it adds, considering the lyrics. In previous Kanye albums, it would likely be a separate skit on a separate track.

12) Lost in the World - This is a strong finale, for a strong album. The tone starts out quiet and relaxing then picks up in tempo and gets more uplifting, all welcome feelings given the emotional journey the album has taken us through. Ironic that I feel uplifted and inspired considering the title, verses and hook all emphasize the theme "Lost in the World."

13) Who Will Survive in America - Interesting, but not necessary, especially in the words that the poet chooses. I would have preferred a shorter or different poem to end after Lost in the World, or even just end it there.

There are some interesting themes in this album. First of all you may notice that though there are only thirteen tracks, including one interlude and one outtro, the album is over a solid hour. That's because the songs are long. No joke. Unfortunately, some of the songs are unnecessarily long. Whether it's forced, or it's just Kanye utilizing his artistic license to get every bit into every song is truly anyone's guess.

I enjoyed that Kanye explored his artistic side in this album, but didn't go overboard with it. After listening to the album through as a whole, you realize that you've just experienced and felt something -always a good sign when listening to music. There are lots of features and cameo appearances in this album, and while some of them may seem out of place, they're not abused or arbitrary like they are in many mainstream songs today (*ahem* Lil Wayne *ahem*).

Lastly, if you haven't taken the time to see the short film "Runaway" yet, I would highly suggest you do so AFTER listening to the album. Having the context of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy behind me the whole time helped me get through some of the slower parts, but regardless I think that it was definitely worth watching.

Overall Grade: 98/100 - A. The album is a classic. It's not The Cool or College Dropout, but it's a must-listen for music fans of all genres and it's a must-own for hip-hop fans everywhere. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy isn't the traditional Kanye West, but what really is? It may not be hip-hop as you might commonly expect it, however, there is no denying that it really is GOOD Music.

Top Three, Favorite Tracks:
1) All of the Lights
2) Blame Game
3) Monster

Bottom Three, Least Favorite Tracks:
1) So Appalled
2) Devil in a New Dress
3) Hell of a Life

Number of Music Tracks I Would Skip Nine Times out of Ten: 2 (out of 12 total)


Tuesday, November 16, 2010

22: Take Me Back

10.29.2010

Take me back to a time when things were simple...

The furthest my concerns reached,
was to the hour just ahead of me.

The highest my hopes peaked,
was beyond the clouds I could see.

Take me back.

The eyes were wide, the chin was high and the future was bright.

The beginning was here and the end was nowhere in sight.

Take me back.

The moments we thought
The lights wouldn't fade away
Please take me back please.

Take me back.

This isn't the way everyone
said it was supposed to go.

By now I should be someone
who everyone's supposed to know.

I want to go back.

When did it all get so complicated?

Why is being old so overrated?

Can I go back?

No need to go back
Your future is here and now
Yours for the making.



Nike Dunk Low Pro - Light Stone/ White -Faded Olive


{currently in the speakers: Kanye West - All of the Lights}

Monday, November 15, 2010

21: Black is the new...

10.24.2010 - It's not a coincidence that I put the black themed article exactly after the white one. As much as I used to wear white shoes with everything, that's how little I wore black shoes. My mom always used to tell me that black shoes matched everything. I thought it was a cop out. They didn't really match everything. If it came between white shoes and black shoes for choosing a neutral sneaker, I always felt that white shoes were a better choice because a sneakerhead could show how clean his shoes were.

But as I matured in my taste and dress, my thoughts regarding black shoes began to change as well. Where white is high maintenance and tries to attract attention, black is classy and understated. They are low maintenance and clean. Always. It may seem like I am looking way too deeply into this, but that doesn't mean it's not true. The funny thing is, it has probably always been true and I just didn't realize it until recently. Not until I bought these...


black is back

I had already been looking for the right black shoes for a while when I finally picked these up. The quick strike tier zero release couldn't have come at a better time.


Nike Dunk Hi AC Tier Zero - Black/ White
+ H&M Coat + Levi's 501 Selvedge STF

As you can probably tell, these shoes didn't get much rest over the summer. These black sneakers matched a lot more than I thought. They matched... everything. I guess my mom was right all along. Funny how things come around full circle. Black isn't really the new anything; it is and will always be black.


{currently in the speakers: Jay-Z - Public Service Announcement}


(Photo Assist Credit: Jesimiel Fuentes)

Sunday, November 14, 2010

20: All White Everything

10.23.2010 - One of the things I really like about my friends is that they try really hard to plan fun parties. I'm not talking about slumber parties or Wonderpark or anything like that. But for Ed's birthday several years ago, he wanted to throw a decently big party -he decided to make it a black light themed party. We dressed Nick's house MTV Crib up in black lights and I swear it looked like a club -DJ booth overlooking a dance floor and everything.

Another year, Ed proposed a "crew" theme, and different groups were encouraged to come dressed as a crew. To one-up everyone, since we were in fact the original "Crew", everyone in our crew had black helmets and LED wire designs (like a poor man's Daft Punk). To say that our idea was the best would be an understatement.


This year, James wanted to throw a "White Party" for his birthday. Obviously not the most original idea in the world, but still fun. The thing was, I really didn't want to buy white pants. First, I don't nor do I ever plan on working at the Cheesecake Factory and second, I'm not that Asian. Really, what am I ever going to do with white pants after that party?

But Ed wouldn't let me try to sneak by with light grey corduroys. "Dude, trust me. You'll look tight going to a White Party dressed in all white," he said. That's one of the things I love about Ed; he tries to get everyone involved and everyone into it, no matter how lame I think the idea may be.

Second, oddly, I didn't know what shoes to wear. In the past, I always had white shoes waiting in the wings. "White shoes went with everything" was my thought. As I matured in my taste and dress, my thoughts regarding white shoes began to change as well. All white shoes were nice at times, but there is almost always a better shoe suited for the outfit. I started using white shoes as daily wearers and only purchased new ones when my old ones weren't white anymore.

Ed couldn't believe that I didn't have a pair of white shoes that I could wear for the party. I couldn't either. A deep scan of the stacks proved me wrong when I encountered these...



I always forgot about these not because I didn't want to wear them. It's just that I really wanted to preserve them. Of course I wanted to keep them clean, and this gets more difficult the more white the shoe. More so however, this particular pair is not only rare, but also pretty expensive (and yes, that's coming from me). Luckily I had a plan to not dance and protect myself near the DJ booth for most of the night so my precious kicks would remain unharmed. =)




Nike Blazer SB Supreme - Sail/Brown
+ Marc Ecko Cut & Sew Cardigan + Levi's 501

Patrick said I looked like Kanye West -*Like*. Thi turned around and said that I really looked like Carlton - *Boo*. I wasn't able to assist Patrick tonight with the turntable activities due to my lack of training with Serato, but he did an amazing job as usual. (see below)

I don't know when these guys will stop coming up with all these fun ideas, but I'm riding with this crew until the end regardless. The theme parties are really just a bonus.


{currently in the speakers: Jay-Z - Roc Boys}



*Bonus Section*







(Photo Assist Credit: Danny Park)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

19: Safari

10.22.2010 - Mel had a fun activity planned for Friday night Upstream.
The setting would be Santana Row, so I knew I wanted to be dressed somewhat stylishly.
The activity would be a scavenger hunt, so I knew I had to be comfortable.

Comfort + Style + Scavenger Hunt?

Safari!!

Santana Heights x Safari

The Nike Air Safari originally debuted in 1987 and none other than Nike legend Tinker Hatfield is responsible for the iconic shoe. The Safari incorporates innovative materials and classic form to make a truly groundbreaking design. To say this sneaker is "inspired" would be a disservicing understatement.



Nike Air Safari - Tan/ Charcoal- Black
+ 10 Deep "Maritime" Shawlneck Sweater + Levi's 501 Selvedge STF


I caught up with the group late, since I came straight from work, but I still wanted to participate in the festivities. It was not until I cracked the first few stops on the hunt that I realized something. The goal was "take a picture at the top of the slide." I was standing at the top and I looked down and saw... my shoes! In one of those "duh" moments and realized I had been missing out on a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. If I had to take pictures of my shoes for this blog and I had to take pictures of each stop on the scavenger hunt, why not make it fun and just combine the two?

Luckily, I only missed a few of the stops taking pictures without the Safaris in them -I got them on the double back. In case you are wondering what a photo scavenger hunt in Santana Row would look like...

Objective #1: find the "light tree"...

outside El Jardin

Objective #2: find the man riding a pig...

sign at Left Bank restaurant

Objective #3: take a picture at the top of the slide...

as i was walking out, i heard a kid exclaim to his parent,
"see! it's NOT closed! can we go in please???"
...i felt bad

Objective #4: find six water fountains...





yes, i took my shoe off inside that store...
i ran out before the employee coming up to me could say anything.


Objective #5: find six palm trees in a row...

three part picture

Objective #7: find the "Santana Row Code of Conduct"...

i didn't even know they had one!

Objective #8: try on an outfit at Urban Outfitters and take a picture...

i kinda wanted to go back and buy this outfit!
BDG Toggle Fleece Hoodie (navy) + Levi's 511 Corduroys (olive)

Objective #9: take a picture of an empty store...

another one bites the dust

Objective #10: find the Winchester Garage current capacity...


Objective #11: take a picture of the Villa Cornet wall...


Objective #12: find the chess board...

obviously he meant the big one,
but this picture was so much better

Objective #13: find the Santana Row pillars


Objective #14: find the "moon paintings"...
Objective #15: find fourteen arrows in a row...

The double back to take the missing Safari pictures didn't cost me much time in the end because I ended up catching up to the only group still playing. In Mel finished with two of the more difficult things to find -the first to find one won it all. I had already walked ran up and down Santana Row more times than I could count. Tired, hungry and mentally exhausted, the team of Eugene, Aaron, Rhea and Hannah bested me that night when they found the moon paintings on a ceiling in the front of the Row.

Even though I was rolling solo the whole night, the activity was still incredibly fun. Props to Mel for taking the time to put it all together and props to Eugene and his team for finishing out the race. Slops to the team that quit (you know who you are) and to the concierge who didn't seem to know where anything was... awkward, right? Hope you enjoyed this post as it took me forever to edit everything. More fun stuff coming in the next few days! Thanks for reading!

{currently in the speakers: Christian Dior Denim Flow - Kanye West}


(Photo Assist Credits: Jesimiel Fuentes)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Mainstream Shine

A little late and nothing compared to the Wall Street Journal feature on Eric Eways and Sneakerpimp.com, but hey, we take what we can get...

Saturday, November 6, 2010

18: Running in the Rain

10.17.2010 - The thing I love about running shoes is that they combine form and function. They come in a variety of styles and colors, suitable for a sneakerhead of any flavor. Whether you're into retro/ old school styles or new/ futuristic looks, bright/ contrasting colors or subtle/ natural tones, you can find a running shoe that will fit your fit. In addition to the variety of looks, you can always count on a running shoe being comfortable. They always have a great amount of cushion and always have a nice snug fit.

I love running shoes. Even on a rainy day, a clean pair of full length Air Maxes can still put some bounce in your step. Lucky for me...


bubbles help for walking on water

I didn't pick up the Air Max 03's when they first released. I would have liked to, but being a poor college student, I couldn't justify the $150+ retail price. When they retroed a few years later, I didn't let the opportunity pass me by a second time. (Thank the shoe gods for Friends and Family coupons!)





Air Max 2003 Classic - White/ Midnight Navy -Dark Zen Grey
+ Gap Zip Cardigan + Levi's 501 STF

Just to clarify, I didn't actually run in the rain today. Not much to say beyond that. These shoes kind of just speak for themselves. I really think Nike hit it on the button when they retroed the set of Air Maxes as "Classics" though.

{currently in the speakers: Mobb Deep f. Lil Kim - Quiet Storm (remix)}

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Champions

"Pass this story on. Keep the love alive. And when you tell the story, simply say,
we're the Giants, we're San Francisco and we are world champions."
–Mike Krukow at the Giants championship parade


I've been rooting for the Giants longer than I can remember. This year, the term was coined, "Giants Baseball: Torture." Only real fans know that it's been like that since the team moved to San Francisco. Every person who was born a Giants fan has been experiencing this torture their whole lives.

I was rooting for them in 1989 when the earthquake shook and we lost the series to the Oakland A's. I was rooting for them in 2002, from Riverside, witnessing their meltdown against the Anaheim Angels. I rooted for them last year during their close-but-not playoff run last year. It was heartbreaking. It was torturous. But we’ve been battle hardened. We were used to it.

Last season ended and the fans said what we say every time, "We'll do better next year." Real fans always have hope, regardless of how bad we look on paper. Real fans never stop believing, as long as our team is still taking the field. Real fans never stop cheering, especially during the losing seasons when the team needs us the most.

Coming off our first winning season since 2004, there was something different about this team. They weren’t a group of superstars or divas forced to play together, they were a real team. We were hopeful for the upcoming 2010 season.

April 2010 seemed like it was ages ago. We started out the year strong, taking an early lead in the division. Between us and the Dodgers, it was going to be a fight to the finish. But as it turned out, another fresh young team stepped up to battle us for the lead. We lost our position to the San Diego Padres not long after we'd taken it, and into the summer it seemed as if it would be impossible to win it back.

But destiny has a funny way of acting out its play. The wild card race was extremely tight, so it would take a miraculous flop by the Padres for us to take back the division lead and guarantee a spot in the playoffs. In August, during a time when we felt there was no team that could be playing worse, there was a team that did –the Padres. With the playoffs knocking at our door, our team took on a new life in September. We cheered loud in the beginning of the season. We
cheered hard through the tough dog days. We were cheering louder now.

Of course, it came down to the last day. It had to. I said destiny was funny, right? But it was meant to be. We knew it. We believed it. Getting to the playoffs was awesome. But getting through the playoffs, well, that was something we only dreamed of.

No one else knew who we were, but it was ok. No one else believed in us, but it was ok. The “experts” all picked against us, but we didn’t care. We knew who we were and we believed in us and that was all we needed.

A Braves series that they thought would go the full five games only took us four to finish. A Phillies series no one thought we would win, we handled in six. Finally, in the championship against a Rangers team that only one "expert" thought we could come away with, we took in five games. A mish-mash lineup of old veterans and young talent got us through aces like Lowe, Hudson, Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels, Lee and Wilson. A starting staff and closer with exactly zero innings of playoff baseball experience made fools of former champions and the highest powered offenses in the league.

We became champions; the best team in the world. That was it. There was nothing anyone could say after that. Through all the doubts, the close losses, through the ups and downs and torture, we never stopped believing. They never stopped believing.

Everything that happened this year happened the exact way it needed to happen in order for us to get to this point. This team bled, sweat out and fought because each one wanted to win for the man beside him more than he wanted it for himself.

I’d like to believe that this team of selfless misfits and outcasts not only did it for each other, but they did it for us. They did it for Marichal, Mays and McCovey. They did it for Clark, Williams and Jose Uribe. They did it for Bonds, Snow and Aurilia. They did it for Seal Stadium, for Candlestick, for 1989 and for 2002.

From Timmy’s opening day pitch to Brian Wilson’s final strikeout, as much as they did it for each other, they did it for us. They did it for you. They did it for me.

And for that, there is only one thing I can say. To the 2010 San Francisco Giants:

Thank you.