lorenzo romar...

I was surprised, but not shocked that Romar was fired as head basketball coach at the University of Washington.

He had a good 15-year run(298-196), but this past season was just terrible and disappointing.   UDub had arguably the best player in the nation in Markelle Fultz and all they could muster is a 9-22 record with an extremely horrible 2-16 record in the Pac12.   Yes, Fultz missed six games in his one and done season, but there isn't any indication that Fultz would have helped the Huskies secure a better record, even if he played in those games.   Still Markelle Fultz could be the top pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

I was looking forward to seeing the nations #1 recruit out of Seattle's Nathan Hale High School Michael Porter Jr. play for the Dawgs next season- now it's most likely not going to happen, unless UW's rookie AD Jen Cohen pulls a rabbit out of her hat and hires former Husky Brandon Roy as the next head coach.   Roy was a first year coach at Nathan Hale and won the Washington State 3A Championship with a 29-0 record led by Michael Porter Jr. and his younger brother Jontay(another UW recruit).  Plus the #1 ranking in the country as I write this post.   Nathan Hale opted out of Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals Tournament later this month- which is like the mythical National High School Championship.

Let's backtrack regarding the Romar connection to the Porter Brothers.   Lorenzo Romar is the godfather to Michael Porter Jr..   Romar hired Michael Porter Sr. as an assistant coach this past season at $300K.   Porter Sr. was an assistant coach at Missouri in the Women's Basketball program.  That's not a move that is usually done.  Also, it relegated Brad Jackson an assistant with the Huskies since 2012 to a newly created special assistant position.  The NCAA has an archaic rule that a basketball program can have only three full-time assistant coaches.  The Porter Brothers led Columbia's Tolton Catholic High School to a Missouri State 3A Championship in 2016.

Now since Cuonzo Martin left CAL to become head coach at Missouri it's rumored that Porter Sr. may be hired as an assistant coach and Michael Jr and Jontay will follow.  Jontay a junior may reclassify and play with his older brother next season in college- where ever that may be?   Another interesting tidbit- the Porter sisters Ciera and Bri play for the Missouri women's basketball team.   Wow!

Cuonzo Martin is a younger version of Lorenzo Romar- great recruiter, yet an average coach in my view.   And strangely, I could foresee Romar getting hired at CAL.  That would make things interesting...

I've followed Lorenzo Romar's career from his playing days at UDub and Athletes in Action where he met Michael Porter Sr..  To UCLA where he was an assistant under Jim Harrick.  Romar helped the Bruins win the NCAA Championship in 1995.  Romar's first head coaching job was at Pepperdine, as was Harrick's.   Harrick resigned from UCLA under fire in 1996.   The timing was off because Romar was already head coach at Pepperdine and UCLA hired coaching neophyte Steve Lavin.  Then on to Saint Louis University and ultimately to Washington.  I was a fan.

My perception of Lorenzo Romar changed about ten years ago.   I saw him in person before a UDub- Boise State football game.   Jake Locker was the QB for the Huskies back then.  He just didn't pass the eye test to me.   I'm not going to elaborate any further.

I wish Lorenzo well.

mr. bings...

Business is business and I understand why Mr. Bings was sold and remodeled.  Unfortunately, the place has lost its soul.  It's sad, but that's just part of life in the Big City.

To be honest, I quit frequenting the joint several years before the new ownership. 

One reason, my friend Michael Chan, the long time bartender at Bings wasn't there as much as he used to be.   

And really, this post is about Michael.  

Can I tell you something or let me tell you something.  That's what Michael says when he wants to tell you something that's important to him.  

I had lost track of Michael for at least a few years. I was worried he was sick and even worse, I thought he might have passed. 

The other night after having a few Irish Coffees at the World Famous Buena Vista Cafe- I was hungry and I walked toward Chinatown to get something to eat.  It was late, about 2am.  There isn't very many places open in San Francisco, let alone Chinatown that are open that late. 

I stumbled upon a Vietnamese restaurant on Broadway called My Canh which I remembered closed late.   It appeared to closed, thus I was about to walk a few doors down to Sam's which was open and serves burgers & crappy pizza.   Then I hear someone yelling "Norm!"   It was Michael Chan. 

Man, I was happy to see him!   I said to him, I was going to Sam's since My Canh is closed.  He said, "No, no, I'll get you in."   Michael knows the people who run My Canh. 

Michael proceeded to order me a large bowl of pho and a raw beef dish in some type of red sauce.  Both hit the spot.   

We caught up while I was noshing on my pho and raw beef.  Michael is a traveling man- Asia, Europe, you name it.  

Then he kept telling he'll never forget my generosity.  I never even thought about it.  I don't like tooting my own horn, then again,  maybe I do...  perhaps in the past, I expected something in return- but I believe I evolved to give from my heart and that's it.  Giving gives me pleasure.  

Michael was kind enough to pay for my meal and an Uber ride back to my apartment.   

Michael Chan was always a kind and generous man and I'm very happy I ran into him at My Canh the other night.  

I rarely am out after 10pm, more like 9pm.  I enjoy being safe in the comfort of my home.  However, life is too short and precious and I need to venture out sometimes to see what this life has in store for me...

Thanks Michael!