A Silent Hell

Current events have hit home for me today. I know of someone close who deals with depression; I have never been diagnosed with depression, but I have been extremely sad and I have contemplated suicide.... many times.

I often look back to when I was in high school, becoming a teenager and what it took to survive that. Many of you who have known me for that long, may think that I have always been a happy-go-lucky person. The truth is, as a teenager I faced doubts and insecurities that I bet many teenagers face. I hated who I was, hated that I wasn't taller, smarter, stronger, better looking, funnier. I hated that I didn't have a steady girlfriend. I hated that I wasn't a star athlete. I hated that I wasn't part of the "popular kids." I cried myself to sleep. I looked in the mirror and wondered how come I was so worthless. I sat in darkness and thought of ways to just end it all....leave it behind me and end all the pain. I was mad because I had these thoughts over trivial things. Just typing these words make now me a little angry. It was my own silent hell because I couldn't fully express how I was feeling to anyone. I covered it up and hid it inside me. It was easy because I was friendly and fun to be around for the most part. I would also erupt in fits of rage or sadness at unexpected times. I took it out on myself, my friends and my family. At 15, I almost ended it all.

You know how you wish you could go back and tell your younger self something? I wish I could tell 15-year-old Huu, "Hey, it gets better." My teenage years were not great, but I got lucky. I got through it. I found people, whether they know it or not, that helped me get to where I am today. My parents: I always thought they knew nothing, they were too hard on me, they were from an older generation and different country, how could they possibly understand me. I found out everything they did (and do) for me is out of love. I still get frustrated with them, but I now feel the unconditional love they have for me and 15-year-old Huu didn't know that. My siblings: I was a selfish selfish brother growing up. I didn't play well and was definitely never in the running for best older brother. We grew up, and we grew closer. From them, I learned to care for more than myself. Your siblings are the ones who are with you from beginning to end. I wouldn't have it any other way. My friends: I always had great friends. I just didn't realize how much I would need them. I did not realize I had friends who would go to the ends of the world and back for me, like I would for them. Friends that cared deeply for me and wanted me to succeed. Fifteen-year-old Huu was looking for happiness in the wrong places, he had them much closer than he thought.

That's the problem with being sad or depressed. It's so hard to see the forest through all the trees. You focus on what is wrong and the stuff that is right is of no solace to you. This blog post is not a success story. Am I still awkward? Yes. Do I still have my insecurities? Very much so. Do I still repress my emotions? A little bit. This post is also not a "if I can do it, you can too." I was never diagnosed with depression, I might have just been extremely sad. Maybe this is normal for all people at that age. This post is a letter to those around me who may suffer from any form of depression. A letter stating that I do care about you. If you're reading this, I'm obviously a part of your life in some way and you are in mine in some way. I do care about you, I have a hard time articulating my thoughts and feelings sometimes and this is the easiest medium for me express it. This letter is also a thank you. A thank you to everyone in my life who has been there at one point or another. Even the simplest things have made a difference. Whether you've sat with me and let me rant because I just had my heart broken or you passed me and smiled at me, brightening up my day.

Finally, this letter is also a reminder. I wish I could say I am a success story. I wish I could say, I fought back against depression and found my cure, but the truth is, that 15-year-old teenager crying alone still lives inside me. I still have insecurities, I still judge myself and I still have a hard time expressing all my emotions-- but thirty-year-old Huu has more weapons at his disposal. I have blessings that I count. I have more patience and dedication to fight back against my sadness. I also have a belief. I know it's a long journey ahead, but I've surrounded myself with the right situations to give me faith that I can pull through. I got through the age of 15 after all.

MyGuy Miyagi: Brazil vs Colombia

Disclaimer: I do NOT know Futbol (Soccer) as well as I do basketball, not by a long shot. But I love the game, it is beautiful. I just looked at the stats and maybe I can figure something out for it.

A Prediction: 

Brazil 1 Colombia 0 (I stole this score from here... and they got the Germany/France score right.)

I went with a Brazil 3 Columbia 1 final score.... not sure why I think there isn't any defense in soccer.... I really think Columbia will win, but Brazil playing in Brazil. It's too much of a gamble to bet against them.

To Score First: 

Neymar is one of the best players in the world. But James (Ha-Mez) Rodriguez of Colombia has 5 goals in this tourney.

Jerseys:

Brazil

Colombia

Where: 

Estadio Castelao,Fortaleza 

Winner of this match plays Germany in the semis.

MyGuy Miyagi: France vs Germany

Hey, I'm back from Vacation!!!! Good to see everyone again. World Cup fever is spreading faster than the bird flu! The only cure is more cowbell! I'm still getting used to Vigooaaaaaall. I just predicted the score for France V Germany.

Disclaimer: I do NOT know Futbol (Soccer) as well as I do basketball, not by a long shot. But I love the game, it is beautiful. I just looked at the stats and maybe I can figure something out for it.

A Prediction: 

Germany 1 France 0 (I stole this score from here)

NY Times says this should be a pretty even match. Germans defense was tested last round, and France has been more offensive than people gave them credit for before the tourny started.

I went with a German 2 France 1 final score, a 1-0 score is so boring and I think we'll see 3 goals.

Germany in their 4 matches: Vs Portugal (W 4-0), Vs Ghana (T 2-2), Vs USA (W 1-0), Vs Algeria (2-1)

France in their 4 matches: Vs Honduras (W3-0), Vs Switzerland (W 5-2), Vs Ecuador (T 0-0), Vs Nigeria (2-0)

To Score First: 

Well. Muller scored first twice (in the POR and USA game), even if he comes off the bench, I'd guess him.

Where: 

Estadio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

Winner of this match plays the winner of Brazil-Columbia

MyGuy Miyagi: Parting is such sweet sorrow

June 10, 2014

Finals Schedule:
Game 1: June 5, Thursday Spurs up 1-0
Game 2: June 8, Sunday Series tied 1-1
Game 3: June 10, Tuesday 9ET ABC (in Maimi)
Game 4: June 12, Thursday (in Miami)
Game 5: June 15, Sunday (if necessary) (In SA)
Game 6: June 17, Tuesday (if necessary) (in Miami)
Game 7: June 20, Friday (if necessary) (In SA)

My twitter is @HuuMyGuy. I will tweet out who I have in at the start of quarters, if any of the main stars go to the bench and if I make changes during the game. I also have this chat room for us to converse about the game in. (I will be out of commission from 8 MST-9 MST) tonight.

Well. I'm off on my vacation. Gone for 3 weeks. No NBA Finals for me, no NBA draft, no World up.

@KristenKKCook
@cdawn1962
@NCB116

@VIGGLERIFFIC

@Gdub_61

@LorijBest

@Jennifer1218

@ronneygirl 

@cuenre

PYP Player: Protect Your Points Player (When you hit 150 in a quarter): Kabongo (Spurs). What is the PYP Player?

What did we learn from Game 2? This is going to be one good series. Trust in Lebron, and let's not have any more "Lewis-Gate" problems, eh Viggle. +600 points is nice.... I would have gotten more w/out a glitch though. (End Rant)

The Miami Heat

Lebron. Lebron. Lebron. Lewis. (I think that's my last Lewis joke, maybe not). Lebron has had some "slow first quarters. So maybe try Duncan or someone else first. Just know that Lebron can go off WHENEVER he feels like it. Lebron is the safest option to get at least +50 each quarter.

The San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs need to win one game on the road now. Teams tend to play better on the road than at home. But for game 3 I'm starting with Duncan in quarter 1, and when Lebron comes back in quarter 2 (he usually sits for a couple minutes) I'll switch to James.

Rank:

1. Lebron James: (Points A, Rebounds B, Assists B, Blocks B-, Steals B-, Free Throw % B, Streak A-)  Lebron will be good this series. He will have a "down" game in game 3 (but his down game is still better than most people). I think he'll have a good game 4, and if the Heat have their backs against the wall...PICK JAMES :)
2. Tim Duncan: (Pts A-, Rebs A-, Blks A-, FT% B, Streak B) The OTHER consistent pick is Tim Duncan. He won't go bananas like James will...but he can sneakily get you the points you need. (If you stuck to Duncan/James the rest of the way, you'll be good.)
3. Dwyane Wade: (Pts B-, Rebs C, Asts B-. FT% B-, Streak B-) Dwyane looks healthy. If Lebron is out.
4. Tony Parker: (Pts A-, Asts A-, Stls B-, FT% B, Streak B-) *If he is healthy. Parker will have a bananas game here soon.
5. Chris Bosh: (Pts B, Rebs B+, Blks B, FT% B, Streak B) Bosh hasn't been bad. If James is out, I wouldn't mind Bosh.
6. Manu Ginobili: Ginobili looks good when the bench players are in.
7. Ray Allen: HE GOT GAME! He will probably retire next year so he's giving it all right now.
8. Kawhi Leonard: (Pts B-, Rebs B, Asts C, Steals B, FT% B, Streak B-) I feel like he's going to get better sooner than later.
9. Boris Diaw: He hasn't been bad actually, gets a lot of rebounds, and cheap points. I think I may like him better than Danny Green in the right situations.
10. Danny Green: Green put the game away for the Spurs in the 4th quarter (in game 1) but he had only 2 points in the first three quarters. When he's hot, he lights it up with shots but won't do much else... And HE HAS to get hot. I'm moving Green down because I just can't trust someone as streaky as him for MyGuy. Maybe Leonard should be 10 and Green should move to 8.
11. Splitter, Battier, Lewis, Andersen: These guys may have one good quarter.

Beasley, Chalmers, Hamilton, Haslem, Oden, Baynes, Daye, D. James will be inconsequential most likely.

(In case of blow out games. Names you should know.)

Spurs-- Out of five Blowout games against the Thunder, the Spurs played Ayeres, Baynes, Bellinelli, Bonner and Joseph a lot. I like Joseph out of the bunch, but really, it's like throwing a dart.
Heat-- Didn't have many blowout games lineups, But Andersen gets blocks and rebounds when he is in. Tony Douglas and James Jones can shoot 3s. It will be UGLY if this gets any blow out games.

Well, this is goodbye for now. I head off to Vietnam in a couple days (maybe I can watch and tweet over the Atlantic Ocean?) Good luck all. I know some of you are going to get the +25,000 bonus, and I have a feeling you all have learned enough to get the +250 bonus every game. You have all learned well young Padawans. Go out, use the force and MyGuy like nobody is watching! See ya in July! (And YES, I do play NFL MyGuy)

Now to the the MyGuy stuff:  New to MyGuy? Check out our tips and guideline section Here.

Lewis is James, James is Lewis. Einhorn is a MAN!

From the 2nd quarter of Spurs/Heat game 2. Lebron James TWICE gets a rebound and a layup; TWICE Rashard Lewis gets the credit.

Rashard Lewis get the credit? 

Lebron James does the work

Looks like Rashard Lewis is having a good game right?

But Lebron gets screwed again, and so DO WE!

But then Viggle crashed and we had and EVEN BIGGER debacle on our hands. But if you need to prove that Viggle screwed us. Here it is.

MyGuy Miyagi: The Heat are cramping my style.

June 8, 2014

Finals Schedule:
Game 1: June 5, Thursday
Game 2: June 8, Sunday 8ET ABC
Game 3: June 10, Tuesday
Game 4: June 12, Thursday
Game 5: June 15, Sunday (if necessary)
Game 6: June 17, Tuesday (if necessary)
Game 7: June 20, Friday (if necessary)

My twitter is @HuuMyGuy. I will tweet out who I have in at the start of quarters, if any of the main stars go to the bench and if I make changes during the game. I also have this chat room for us to converse about the game in.

This is possibly my last full game before I leave on my vacation. If you're wondering how the games are going, give these folks are follow.

@KristenKKCook
@cdawn1962
@NCB116

@VIGGLERIFFIC

@Gdub_61

@LorijBest

@Jennifer1218

@ronneygirl 

@cuenre

Cramps! Yeah, cramps....that's game 1 for ya. It's gonna be a good series! The A/C goes out, the best player goes out... crazy!

Ever wonder why Viggle gets the feed so much quicker than everyone else? I work at a broadcast station and we can ask for a true live feed which means no 10 second TV delay. Viggle does it a little differently:

So yeah...don't try to switch to the player after the play has happened.... it's going to be too late.

PYP Player: Protect Your Points Player (When you hit 150 in a quarter): Kabongo (Spurs). What is the PYP Player?

The Miami Heat

 Heat had control, and winning game 1 on the road would have really helped.

The San Antonio Spurs

Duncan has been so solid all playoffs long. Parker does not look too injured. The Spurs are trying to win another home game.

Rank:

1. Lebron James: (Points A, Rebounds B, Assists B, Blocks B-, Steals B-, Free Throw % B, Streak A-)  This is why Lebron is USUALLY the choice. He is the best player on either team. The Heat have Wade and Bosh...and that's it. Lebron can get a bunch of stats and quick. Lebron had a "bad" first quarter, but a "bad" quarter for Lebron usually nets 50-100 points regardless. Lebron was fine the rest of the game and if you want a "safe" bet to start a quarter, choose Lebron. He's probably had some bananas since game 1. I doubt he'll cramp again.
2. Tim Duncan: (Pts A-, Rebs A-, Blks A-, FT% B, Streak B) Duncan is just being Duncan. He had a MUCH better first quarter than Lebron, but at the end of the day, Lebron and him were neck and neck. Lebron missed the last 4 minutes of the game and he still played more than Duncan then. Duncan is going to miss about 13 minutes of game time while Lebron will usually miss 5-6. That's why Duncan is still at two.
3. Dwyane Wade: (Pts B-, Rebs C, Asts B-. FT% B-, Streak B-) Dwyane looks healthy. He had to shoulder more of the load, and he had a good game..but it's unlikely he'll score more than Duncan or Lebron. Lack of three point shooting hurts.
4. Tony Parker: (Pts A-, Asts A-, Stls B-, FT% B, Streak B-) *If he is healthy. Was Parker injured? Didn't show.
5. Chris Bosh: (Pts B, Rebs B+, Blks B, FT% B, Streak B) Bosh looked very efficient.
6. Manu Ginobili: Ginobili turned it on last series and he's moving up the ranks because of it. He has been better offensively than Leonard. So he moves from 7 to 6.
7. Kawhi Leonard: (Pts B-, Rebs B, Asts C, Steals B, FT% B, Streak B-) Leonard slips to 7 this week....and he might slip to 8 if he's just limited to playing defense. 
8. Ray Allen: Ray is moving up from 10 to 8. He is the best player off the bench for the Heat. He can shoot 3s, he rarely misses FTs. And...well this DUNK!!!! Yeah. He STILL Got Game
    
   
9. Danny Green: Green put the game away for the Spurs in the 4th quarter but he still SLIPS in the rank? Why? Because he had only 2 points in the first three quarters. When he's hot, he lights it up with shots but won't do much else... And HE HAS to get hot.
10. Boris Diaw: He only had 2 points last game, but grabbed a bunch of rebounds. He had a great game 6 against the Thunder, and there is a chance that if he hits a couple shots he can help get you going. So he went from being inconsequential to in the top 10.
11. Splitter, Battier, Lewis, Andersen: These guys may have one good quarter.

Beasley, Chalmers, Hamilton, Haslem, Oden, Baynes, Daye, D. James will be inconsequential most likely.

(In case of blow out games. Names you should know.)

Spurs-- Out of five Blowout games against the Thunder, the Spurs played Ayeres, Baynes, Bellinelli, Bonner and Joseph a lot. I like Joseph out of the bunch, but really, it's like throwing a dart.
Heat-- Didn't have many blowout games lineups, But Andersen gets blocks and rebounds when he is in. Tony Douglas and James Jones can shoot 3s. It will be UGLY if this gets any blow out games.

Now to the the MyGuy stuff:  New to MyGuy? Check out our tips and guideline section Here.

Viggled Again: DVR, DTV and the "4 Hour Window"

Viggle is going through some problems right now. I'm blocked by Viggle Support, but that doesn't mean I don't have my ways to share this with the masses :)

DTV

SOME DirecTV customers found their accounts unlinked (missing bonuses for Big Ballet, Gang Related, the DTV movie, and missing out on the 24 Streak). Jamie, a member of Viggle Nation received this email:

Viggle is still investigating the issue. If you've had this happen to you, EMAIL Support@viggle.com and get the points you've missed. You should be able to relink your DirecTV account.

DVR issues

As of Thursday, June 5th, DVR'ed programs were NOT working.

Here is my theory of the infamous "4-hour window." You can still check into shows OUTSIDE your time zone, as long as that show is airing somewhere else in the nation. The "4-hour window" would then be if a show aired at 8ET, the show would also then air at 9ET (central time), 10ET (mountain time) and 11 ET (pacific time). So your window to check-in would be in those hours. 

Network shows (CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, CW) would then have a short period of time after the first Eastern Time airing to check into. Cable shows on the other hand, are rerun multiple times after the first airing that same night. My advice to maximize points is to check local listings, if a cable show had an airing later (usually 2 hours) you can save those for later. Check into the network shows first and save the cable shows for later. If there is a streak you are worried about, you can do a quick check-in to the program and check in to a network show after. 

Do you have any tips to get Vigglers through this process? Tweet and let me know.