2010 Black History Month: #24 Black Sports Moment - Malivai Washington

By: Luke Florence

2010 Black History Month: #24 Black Sports Moment

Malivai Washington reaches 1996 Wimbledon Finals

Who knew a kid could have so much fun with a tennis racquet, tennis ball, and a brick wall?

Chances are if one happened to drive down Lindsay Avenue during any decent day between 1991 and 2004 you would see a skinny kid hitting a tennis ball up against the side of his house.

As you could have guessed, that kid was me. What you might not have guessed was that I was playing a Wimbledon Finals match, or a French Open Quarter-Final, or even a Las Vegas Open 2nd Round battle. I had a rankings system, a highlight system for un-important contests, and the ability to mimic each person's serve and style of play.

For the first few years I put myself into the tournaments. Luke Florence vs. Andre Agassi happened. Luke Florence vs. Pete Sampras as well. And wouldn't you know, Luke Florence never lost. Undefeated. Won every match. But the person who gave me the closest battle ... Malivai Washington ... at Wimbledon.

In 1993 I was using ladies' rules, and only playing a best two-out-of-three. We split the first two with the last going to a tie-break. Of all the matches I've played using myself, I've never faced a match-point, until Washington. I ended up winning 12-10 in the last set tiebreak, and went on to defeat Tim Henman in the Finals. After that tournament I retired, partly because I wanted the tournaments to be fair, and partly because I felt bad for Malivai Washington.

Washington's real-life tennis career was never that great. He was an okay player with an okay game. He wasn't world-class anything. Wouldn't over-power you. Wouldn't get to every ball. He was just a solid tennis pro, with his highest career ranking being just outside the top ten.

So, when the 1996 Wimbledon came around, three full years after my experience battling Washington, there was little debate who I would root for after Andre lost in the 1st Round. Mal.

Unseeded, he dropped just one set en route to the quarter-finals. Defeating the likes of Richard Fromberg, Thomas Enqvist, and Paul Haarhuis. Then, in the round of eight, he rallied from two sets to one down to defeat Alex Radulescu. In the semi's he did the same thing against Todd Martin, including an incredible 10-8 5th set victory.

Wimbledon was made for people like Todd Martin, big serve and volleyers. It was not made for Mal, which made his run to the Finals even more inspiring. Not to mention he was the first African-American to reach the Finals at Wimbledon since Arthur Ashe in the mid 1970s.

Unfortunately, Washington lost to Richard Krajicek in straight sets to finish as the runner-up, but his moment of defeating Todd Martin and reaching a Grand Slam Final will never be forgotten.

My experience with Mal doesn't end there. In 2004 during the Cincinnati Masters, my good friend Kwame Christian and I made the trek to see the best of the best play. During our three-day visit, we sneaked our way up to the broadcast booth to get Cliff Drysdale's autograph. Cliff wasn't there, but our consolation prize was none other than Mal. We chatted for a bit (as Kwame and I were the only two fans up there) and even got our picture taken with him.

Then the very next day, we saw Mal doing an interview with Brad Gilbert (Andy Roddick's coach at the time) and again, we found ourselves being the only fans present. After getting Gilbert's autograph, we continued our talk with Mal. Maxine came over and we posed for another picture, and I asked who he liked in the Roddick-Agassi semi. He said Roddick in three, and then I promptly responded, "let me help you out, Agassi is winning this tournament." (Which he did)

So there you have it, my story of Maliviah Washington. From made-up, to afar, to up close and personal. Yes, maybe the Williams sisters should be here instead, but I'm not the biggest fan of women's tennis, and of all the titles they have amassed, is one really that more memorable than the other?

Hint for #23: The first black super-star of this winter sport.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2010 Black History Month: #25 Black Sports Moment - The Rooney Rule

By: Luke Florence

2010 Black History Month: #25 Black Sports Moment

NFL Implements The Rooney Rule

It's not uncommon for college friends to try and schedule classes together whenever possible. It helps lighten the burden of walking into a classroom full of students and not knowing a single one. It makes studying for tests easier, realizing you will have another mind looking at the same material. Skipping classes and not missing notes is a real possibility as well. And sometimes, it can create memorable moments.

Matt Barnes and myself took several classes together. Philosophy, Intro To Coaching, Youth and Sports, Information Gathering, two History of Baseball classes, and various others. Laughs were shared in most, but in only one did we actually get to do something we both love probably more than we should.

Argue.

Sophomore year we found ourselves sitting in Speech class, with our beloved teacher Rudy. Rudy was from 'out-of-town,' and had difficulty saying every day words. We immediately noted the irony of our Speech instructor having problems communicating, but at the very least we knew it would be an easy A. Barnes kept a running log of all the words Rudy mis-spoke, which kept us alive during those long and boring Powerpoints.

Nevertheless, we did have to give three speeches to the entire class. An argumentative speech was one of those three. So, as has been the norm for the past five years, Barnes and I wanted to do something different. We wanted to argue the same topic, but from two differing sides.

It took us about 3.2 seconds to decide which topic to present.

Affirmative action.

We each presented our case, and even though it was a real possibility our instructor was a benefactor of affirmative action, I thought we both "won" our debate.

With that back story in mind, it's easy to see why the Rooney Rule cracks this list.

In 2003 the NFL decided there were not enough minority head coaches in the league, so they implemented a rule which forced teams to interview a minority candidate for head coaching and senior management positions.

Some teams do a better job than others following this rule, but there would be little arguing that the Rooney Rule has in fact worked. More minorities are coaching in the NFL than seven years ago, and same goes for senior management jobs as well.

Here is my take.

The NFL doesn't have a rule in place saying you have to hire a minority, just simply interview one. Therefore, taking all biases out of the way, nothing but good things can come out of it. Maybe a minority will gain experience in a job interview that will translate to a hire down the road. Maybe, the minority will flat out win the job. It's a good rule when you consider the landscape prior to 2003 when they instituted it.

My one and only problem with this rule is that the NFL shouldn't penalize teams for not following it. They should be rewarding teams for abiding by it. Money, draft picks, etc.

The bigger issue, and has been for quite some time, is why the NCAA doesn't have anything similar. There are four times as many head coaching jobs available in Division I football, yet there are fewer minority head coaches than in the NFL. Doesn't make sense to me.

Hint for #24: It's not enough that most of the competitors are white, this event also makes you wear it. All the more reason why this accomplishment deserves to be remembered.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2010 Black History Month: #26 Black Sports Moment - Magic Johnson

By: Luke Florence

2010 Black History Month: #26 Black Sports Moment

Magic Johnson's Sky Hook Wins Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals

The phrase 'big players come up with big plays in big games' comes to mind almost immediately when you mention Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals. To be fair, just about everyone playing in the 1987 NBA Finals could be considered a 'big player.' Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin McHale, Larry Bird and Robert Parrish just to name a few.

When you think of the 1980s, the two premier teams were the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. One would have thought (including me) that they met up in the Finals for the entire decade. You would be wrong. In fact, they only faced each other three times for the NBA Championship.

The third, and final time (at least for the '80s) took place in 1987 and in some weird way marked the final conclusion of the Magic-Bird battle. Most, if not all of their meetings were memorable and Game Four of '87 was certainly not an exception to that rule.

With each team having one championship against the other, 1987 was the deciding series. The Lakers were up two games to one heading into Game Four, making it a must-win for Bird and the Celtics. Knowing that, the importance of what Magic did in the closing seconds was even more impressive.

Down by one with less than 15 seconds to go, Bird drained a three-pointer which probably should have been enough had not Magic pulled a rabbit out of the hat on the Lakers last possession.

I could tell you what he did, but in one of the greatest moments in NBA playoff history, images speak much louder, and in this case clearer than words could ever hope to accomplish.

Bird had a chance to make another three, but he just missed giving Magic and the Lakers a commanding three games to one advantage. Two games later the Lakers would defeat the Celtics and win their ninth NBA championship, and second over the Celtics.

Looking back on Magic's career, you could argue it's his signature play. Either way, it is enough to get a spot on this list. It would have been much higher had I remembered it, but just like Keith Smart, I was still crapping my diapers when it actually went down.

Hint for #25: Not a person, a place, or an event. It's a guideline.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2010 Black History Month: #27 Black Sports Moment - Keith Smart

By: Luke Florence

2010 Black History Month: #27 Black Sports Moment

Keith Smart in the 1987 NCAA Championship Game

Don't think Matt Barnes remembers watching this one live, seeing as he was less than one year old when it took place. But, it was a shot ... and a moment, that Bobby Knight and Keith Smart both will never forget.

Indiana and Syracuse battled back and forth in the 1987 NCAA Championship, and with less than 30 seconds remaining, Jim Boeheim's squad had a one point lead and one free throw left to shoot. With no three-point line in play, it was crucial that the Orangemen converted their last freebie.

Historically Syracuse is a notoriously bad free-throw shooting team, and the 1987 Championship game continued that notion. As expected, the 'Cuse missed their last free throw, and Indiana held for the final shot.

Keith Smart found the ball, and from almost the same exact spot as Michael Jordan was when he hit the game-winner five years prior, Smart showed no hesitation in burying the jumper and giving the Indiana Hoosiers a 74-73 victory.

Indiana's All-American guard Steve Alford was being shut-down by Syracuse during the final four minutes, so Smart figured prominently in the scoring column down the stretch. He scored 12 of the team's final 15 points and was named the NCAA Men's Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Has there been a 1987 F'd Up Tournament, Keith Smart would have been a top four seed.

The NCAA tournament is known for buzzer beaters, but very rarely does it happen in the Championship game. The only reason this is so low on the list is because both Barnes and I were too young when it took place.

Hint for #26: He stole his teammates' signature shot to steal a victory.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2010 Black History Month: #28 Black Sports Moment - Shani Davis

By: Luke Florence

2010 Black History Month: #28 Black Sports Moment

Shani Davis in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games

Anyone who follows this blog knows about my love and passion for Cool Runnings. The rumors are true, I can quote any line of that movie verbatim. At one point, John Candy (their coach) is talking about how fast his guys are. A friend then asks Candy, "but can lightning run on ice?"

Shani Davis answers that question with a resounding YES.

FACT: Prior to 2006, no black athlete had won an individual gold medal in the Winter Olympics.

FACT: Shani Davis was the first.

If I had to choose between watching the Winter Olympics or the Summer Olympics, I wouldn't have a tough decision. It would be the Winter Games hands down. One of the reasons I enjoy it over the ones held in Summer is because besides figure skating, I love all of the competitions held on ice - including distance skating.

I'm not going to watch some Kenyan run 400 times around a track, but I will watch the 1500 Meter speed skating. It's just more entertaining.

In 2006, Shani Davis became the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal in the Winter Olympics thanks to the 1000 Meter speed skating event. Add a silver in the 1500 Meter race, and it's safe to say Davis was one of the bigger stories in the 2006 Torino Games.

If you were to look at Davis on the street, you would have no idea he was a speed skater. He's simply too tall. At six foot two, Davis is the tallest American speed skater, but once you learn his back story you begin to notice that ordinary and Davis do not go hand in hand.

At the age of three, Davis continued to get in trouble for roller skating too fast. The Chicago, Illinois native was then enrolled in a school for speed skating where he quickly shined. At the request of his mother, who wanted him to gain more endurance, Davis had to wake up in the morning and run a mile before school.

Add all of that up and you have a long-distance speed skater in the making.

Davis just cracks this list because I do remember watching him four years ago, and I do remember his historic victory. When you are the first to do anything, it usually adds to its' value.

The Vancouver Games are less than a week away, and expect Davis, who currently holds three world records to be in the mix for another gold medal.

Hint for #27: This "intelligent" basketball player was a big reason one of my favorite 40 sports personalities won it all.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2010 Black History Month: Black Sports Moments - An Intro

By: Luke Florence

Sometimes life gets in the way.

That's the only explanation for why we are six days into February and there hasn't been a single mention of Black History Month. Last year it was a bit easier to sit down for an hour each day and punch out my favorite black television characters. Didn't have a job. Didn't have a girlfriend. Didn't have a dog, let alone two (just happened three days ago). Didn't have a death in the family hit me.

Life just happens sometimes and when it does you have to prioritize. Unfortunately, this list fell by the way-side. However, it can still be salvaged. Here we are on the sixth day of February with the intro. By this time tomorrow, hopefully we are all caught up. It could happen, believe.

As our good friend and resident blacketologist (bracketology rip-off) Matt Barnes awaits, I present my tribute to him during his one month of the year. The best black sporting moments since July of 1986 (when Earth was first graced with the presence of Matt Barnes).
But first, some back story.

Barnes has already done most of that in his blog post HERE, but I felt it was important to provide a look into my mindset before we embark on this incredible journey together.

First, the question needs to be addressed, what exactly is a moment??

It's hard to define but impossible to forget. We all remember where we were when Barack Obama was elected because history deemed it a monumental moment. We all remember where we were when Syracuse and Georgetown battled for six over-times because we've never seen anything that crazy. We all remember where we were when the World Trade Centers collapsed because we all knew our lives would never be the same again.

It appears a moment can be a person, a game, an event, or even an entire day.

With that in mind, how will I determine what qualifies for this list?

Well, limiting my database to the past 23 years makes it a little bit easier because I should remember most of them. Sure, there might be something that takes place in the late 80's that I do not have a recollection of happening, but those will be few and far between.

Whenever I make a list, especially for Barnes, I try to implement a few things. First, I want to make him laugh. Secondly, I want to surprise him. Lastly, I want it to be accurate.

This specific list creates some challenges because the term "moment" (as we just discussed) is quite broad. My hope is to create a list that is full of variety. Unique sports, females, and firsts will all be given a preference.

But in the end, this is my list, so the order will be determined by my recollection of these moments. Whether it be a game, a day, an event, whatever, how well I remembered it, enjoyed it, and rooted for it, will all play a factor. Don't forget the black-white relationship and its' importance in my Black History Month (BHM) lists. It bumped Turk from Scrubs to #2 last year, and it just might do the same this year as well.

So there you have it, a long introduction to my BHM list this year. It's the least I can do for Barnes.

Enjoy February boys and girls. It's cold, it's short, but it's also important.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2009 F'd Up Tournament: 2nd Round

By: Luke Florence

Apologies for the bad audio on the 2nd video of the 1st round, still not quite sure what happened there. But, we powered onwards and now are done with the 2nd Round. Video of the proceedings can be found right here. Upsets took place.

So after all of that, we are down to just 32 teams.

The tournament will more than likely be finished up the day after the Super Bowl.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2009 F'd Up Tournament: 1st Round

By: Luke Florence

After months and months of planning, the 2009 F'd Up Tournament finally started yesterday. Saturday we rolled the 1st Round of the Top Half, and today we finished up the Bottom 64 1st Round matches. Tentatively, we are planning on doing the entire 2nd Round this evening.

Enjoy.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

LOST The Final Season: In Preparation

By: Luke Florence

It's often said that you never realize what you had until it's gone. For most things in life, this statement holds true. Maybe it's a girlfriend, a great night shared with friends, or your favorite athlete. Life has a way of taking things from us before we are ready - and/or willing - to let them go.

Very rarely is the end-date set in advance. But when it does, it allows us to experience the ride as it was fully intended. We get to enjoy the final dance, the final hour, or the final game, and truly appreciate it for what it is ... the final go-around.

Andre Agassi did this two years ago, and now LOST is doing the same. In both instances, I couldn't be happier and sadder at the same time.

It's a mixed bag of emotions because something you have loved for so long will be over soon, but enjoying the last match - or season - creates memories never forgotten. And that always brings a tremendous smile to my face.

So here we are. One day from LOST: The Final Season. In order to prepare for this monumental occasion, I elicited the help of my favorite LOST fans and asked them six questions. What follows is their answers/theories/etc.

Enjoy.

Question #1: What are your expectations for season six?

Luke: I expect it to be the greatest season of all. I expect the unexpected. I expect Tuesdays to be the best day of the week for the next four months. I expect death from multiple characters who have been with us from the beginning. I expect Season Six to be told from the Island's point-of-view. I expect to experience a full-range of emotions, culminating in a finale I will never forget.

Kris Frank: I have no expectations for this upcoming season, but I don't suspect that this will be the craziest season yet (tons of plot twist) and I am not expecting everything to get answered. I agree with Kris that we won't get everything answered, and actually don't want the answers spoon-fed to me either. LOST is great because of the debate and discussion that happens after each episode.

Kylene Solomon: I would like all the loose ends to be tied up in this season. I would like to know why everyone with father issues, and whose pasts have crossed before, ended up together on that plane. I've held on to the notion for a long time, that the plane crash was no accident. Those people were supposed to crash there, despite the popular belief that Desmond caused it.

Ryan Polito: I expect chaos. Touche.

Matt Barnes: What do I expect? I expect to be confused after every episode. By the end of the series, I expect about 75% of all the mysteries to be explained leaving 25% to be argued about for years. I also expect that the only prominent Black person in the show will be Rose, which is sad since the premiere is in Black History Month. What about the black smoke monster?? Could be the MOST important character in this whole crazy show.

Question #2: Where do you think the show will begin on Feb. 2?

Luke: I've thought about this moment more than any human being probably should. I've had crazy dreams that involved Jerry Seinfeld having all the answers. It's probably not healthy. The most epic dream I had involved Aaron being all grown up, talking to Sun's grown-up daughter and Desmond's grown-up kid Charlie. The scene ended with Aaron saying, "Well, I guess we need to go back."

In all honesty, three things can happen. One, we pick up right were Season Five left off, although I really doubt that takes place. Two, they show a glimpse of what the finale will look like (which should be a great war battle). Or three, they take us back to Season One.

Kris: 2) I have absolutely no idea where the show will start, but if I had to guess....maybe a scene from when they first landed on the island...no clue why I think that, but that's my guess.

Kylene: After the explosion, I think we'll find the explosion never happened and that Juliette prevented the plane crash in the future. With that, I feel that the creators will start out the season confusing the crap out of all of us. I think we'll be 20 minutes into the episode before we have any idea what's going on. Wouldn't doubt that at all. It appears that Kylene is in the camp that Jack and Juliet changed the future. I'm in the camp that whatever happened, happened. This whole thing is a crazy time-loop that has been happening for a long, long time.

Ryan: I have a feeling they are going to do an alternate timeline thing to start Season 6. Like maybe the bomb changed everything and a whole bunch of stuff is going to be different. Maybe the plane wont even crash.. Crazy !! The alternate time-line theory just might be what the producers were talking about when they said they would tell their story differently than they have in the past.

Sara Normand: It seems obvious that things would start off with the explosion, Sawyer’s reaction to Juliette’s death. But I don’t think it’s going to begin there. It’ll be at some point way before the crash or some point way in the future. Seems like Sara and I are sharing the same thought process on this one.

Barnes: No doubt, it begins in the future, to confuse us all. That or a flashback involving Jacob. Or maybe even with Desmond, who has really been missed by yours truly. No way they begin with the bomb or Jacob in flames. That'd actually be a disappointment. Agreed. Also sad to hear that Desmond is not a series regular this season. So either he dies early, or doesn't come into play until late in the season.

Question #3: In order, what are the three biggest mysteries you HAVE to have answered by seasons' end?

Luke: 1) Who is good and who is evil? 2) Who is Adam and Eve from Season One? 3) What are the whispers?

Kris: 3) Who/what is Jacob, the smoke monster, what is the real story with Libby & her connection with the island (I heard she is coming back). Surprised to see Kris mention Libby. I hope we are too late in the game to care about what role she played. My best guess is that she served as a "Matthew Abbadon" type, making sure people were where they needed to be.

Kylene: I need to know about: Jacob, Claire and how those people all wound up together on the same plane. Same as Libby, I really don't need to know about Claire. Unless she gets back with Charlie somehow. That's be cool.

Ryan: I want the rivalries to heat up (Jacob-Smokey... Ben-Widmore... Locke-Jack) and find out more about the mysterious past of Richard Alpert. Richard Alpert would have been #4 on my list.

Sara: Who is Kate going to end up with? Why is Christian Shepherd so important? Will there be a movie made eventually? I have firm answers (I think) to the latter two questions, but I have no idea (and actually don't care) who Kate ends up with. But I know I'm in the minority on that.

Barnes: I gotta know who/what this smoke monster is, what the damn numbers mean if anything, and the anti-aging from Jacob/Alpert/Christian. Those are just three of the many though. We've gone so far without getting any information on the numbers that I have given up caring about them.

Question #4: In a perfect world, how does the series end?

Luke: I want the ending to involve the battle between good and evil. I want it to be something that was right there in front of us the entire time, but we never saw. I want my very first thought to be the one Locke had after watching the Orientation video, "We're going to have to watch that again." Only it will be the ENTIRE series, not just the last episode.

Kris: 4) It ends with everyone staying on the island. Jack and (the main girl, cant think of her name) and Sawyer with the blond girl (but she might be dead)....and penny with Desmond. As long as the characters' ending are complete and without any loop-holes, I'll be satisfied.

Kylene: I would like the series to end as if the plane crash never happened. I would like to see how their lives would have continued if that plane landed in L.A. And, I would like there to be some sort of twist - like even though they weren't on the same plane together, they all end up together, someway, somehow. Very cool theory, and never even considered that as an option.

Barnes: In a perfect world, everyone ends up on the island. Claire is somehow reunited with Aaron as well as Jin and Sun. Jack gets killed (really not a fan) and Kate and Sawyer have more sex, but this time no bars. Hurley loses some lbs, Lapidus gets as much press coverage as Sully for landing that plane, and Sayid gets his own spin-off. If this happened, I die a happy man.

Question #5: Every LOST fan has some sort of prediction on what's going on. Do you have any over-arching theories on Jacob, Smokey, Locke, The Incident, the Island, etc. that you would like to share?

Luke: Well, after Season Five, it appears obvious to me that the Smoke Monster can re-incarnate dead bodies. Which is probably why everyone ends up being buried on the island. It appears that Jacob and the Smoke Monster disagree on destiny. Jacob believes in free-will (having a choice), while the Smoke Monster thinks things always end the same (pre-determined, whatever happened happened.

It is my opinion that everything is in a big time-loop, John Locke has been to the island before (which is why he knows when it's going to rain), and believes that Jacob has it wrong. I don't think Locke is actually dead though.

Kylene: My theory is that Jacob is future Jack. Whoa.

Ryan: I think Smokey has the ability to turn himself into dead people, which is why he needed Locke to leave the island and die. He took the form of Christian Shepard and told Locke he needed to move the island, knowing time skipping would start and knowing Locke would leave the island. Then when Locke returned dead in the casket Smokey took his body over (which is why there is another/ the real John Locke in the crate).

And is also why Richard kept saying "there is something different about you John."

Another example would be when Ben goes to get judged by the Smoke Monster, Locke goes with him then disappears after Ben falls down the hole. Smokey then shows Ben his daughter, and Alex tells Ben he must listen to everything John Locke says. So now Smokey(Locke) has the ability to manipulate Ben into going to see Jacob with him and eventually gets Ben to kill Jacob.

Locke was never special, he was just a pawn in Smokey/Jacob feud the whole time.

Locke was never suppose to lead the Others, which is why he failed Richard's test when he was 10 yrs old. Yeah, that sounds about right. But, I'm still expecting a huge twist in this theory. Like Locke and Sun are already in an alternate time-line. Something.

Barnes: I don't think Jacob is dead. He and Christian Shepherd are connected somehow I feel. Other than that, I really have no idea what's going on and instead of trying to figure it out, I'll just let them tell me. That's why I don't go to school anymore. I actually think Christian has been under the influence of Smokey. But, the thing no one is talking about is that Christian's body was never found. We've seen Locke's body on the island. What does this mean?

Question #6: Lastly, a two-parter. One, what has been your favorite Season thus far ... and why? Two, what has been your favorite individual episode thus far ... and why?

Luke: My favorite season has been Season One, no question. In order, Season One, Season Four, Season Two, Season Five, and Season Three. Although the two best finales have been Season Five and Season Three.

My favorite episode is The Constant from Season Four. Just brilliant. My others are Walkabout from Season One and the Season Three finale, Through the Looking Glass.

Kris: I think my favorite season was season two with the hatch because things were crazy but yet, almost realistic still...now its still entertaining but its totally insane. If I had to pick a favorite episode it is either the season 3 finale when you first discover jack and kate are off the island and they will now begin to show flash-forwards instead of flashbacks or the one with penny and desmond where desmond calls her up. Both were great episodes. I agree with Kris, that Season One and Two were still realistic, and the recent time-travels have almost de-railed that feeling.

Kylene: My favorite season was season 4 when the flash-forwards started. I especially enjoyed the episode where Sun's baby was born and how the creators introduced us to the first flash-forward and we thought the whole time that Jin was going to meet Sun having her baby, and in actuality, he was having the flash-back and was really "dead" in the future. Loved that episode and I hope the series as a whole takes that approach. Showing us one thing, but revealing one big thing that makes us watch it all over again.

Ryan: Favorite season was by far Season 5, every scene was intense and made you think. I love following time travel and the writing in those episodes were brilliant. My favorite episode was probably the Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham, so many twists and turns that I could not handle it. As for me, Season Five jumped around too much for my liking. Season One introduces us to everything, and the flash-backs all helped develop the characters we see today.

Sara: Favorite season = season 3. All of my favorite characters were still alive and I feel like this was LOST at its peak. I could still understand and pick up on things myself before it got out of control.

Favorite episode = Season 3 finale, even though Charlie died. “NOT PENNY’S BOAT” is still one of the most eerie images. I seriously cried forever. But any episode featuring Kate making out with Jack is my next favorite. Season 3 was awful. The first half of that series were thrown in there because the producers and writers didn't know when the show was going to end.

Barnes: I'll say Season 3 was the favorite, though seasons 4 and 2 were strong as well. Season 5 was by far the worst for me. The time travel was too much, though I understand they needed to do it to further story-lines and fill in some holes in some stories.

Any Locke flashback episode was great. The Season 5 finale was also really, really good. Actually, every finale has been impressive. Another Season 3. I'm shocked. The finale, and the two episodes leading into it were great, but besides that, it was not that good.

Big thanks to my panel (Kylene, Kris, Barnes, Polito, and Sara) for taking some time and talking LOST to me. Much appreciated.

Season Six starts tomorrow. It ends soon thereafter. Giddy up.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."