Science Cheerleaders were featured on the Today Show….watch the clip, it’s really great!! And — one of my Sacramento Kings dancer “sisters” is featured in this segment, along with many of my fellow Pro NBA and NFL dancer and cheerleader counterparts from all over the country! I also work with Laura Eilers at Going Pro Entertainment, who is the choreographer for the Science Cheerleaders. Great segment, very good look!!
NO RAIN on the HEAT PARADE
What a wonderful way to start the week! Today I attended the Miami HEAT victory parade and celebration at the American Airlines Arena in downtown Miami. I’ve heard varying numbers on just how many folks descended along the parade route to be part of history, but supposedly in the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS!!! Okay, so I didn’t exactly stand along the parade route, but in my “condition” that’s not a good idea right now. I was able to take part in the experience though inside the arena where we watched the parade on the big screen and I partied alongside season ticket holders for the exclusive event! So much FUN..I mean where else can the DJ spin Rick Ross’ “BMF” and the entire arena sings along…and then go into Jackson 5 “I want you back” and the crowd keeps on keepin’ on!?!? LOL Check out some of my pictures from the “inside…”
KINGS!
Congratulations to the MIAMI HEAT for winning the 2012 NBA Championship!! Thank you for an unforgettable season of basketball and for bringing the trophy back to the 305!!! It’s party time!!! OH WHAT A FEELING!!!
CHAMPIONSHIP RING
Back in 2006 when I first moved to Miami, the HEAT were fresh off their 1st NBA Championship and one of my first stories that I did for Deco Drive was about the championship ring! They were raffling one off, to start the new season … 🙂 6 years later, tonight is Game 5 and the HEAT are up 3-1 in the best of seven series, and they are on the brink of winning another CHAMPIONSHIP RING for 2012!! So, let’s reminisce with my segment from 2006 because I see another one of these baby’s in the future for the MIAMI HEAT!!!
Like I’ve said in a previous post..I feel it in my bones!!! LET’S GO HEAT!!! AAA the place to be tonight….it will be WHITE HOT and rockin!!! 🙂
OKC is OKAY with me, BUT…
All eyes will be on OKC this evening, well, the eyeballs belonging to NBA fans who are tuned into the 2012 season FINALS that tip off tonight. This is MUST SEE TV peeps!! 🙂 Anyhoo, Oklahoma City isn’t exactly one of those top travel destinations that everyone flocks to..BUT I have actually been there twice and I like OKC. My first time visiting Oklahoma was when I was on ESPN’s Beg, Borrow and Deal, it was pretty much my “team’s” last stop before the other team beat us to the finish line – we were 2 teams racing across the country. The year was 2002, we had ended up by OU, and some friendly fraternity guys (who were ready to head home for the summer), helped us out and somehow we ended up at Mickey Mantle’s restaurant and then some nightclub! LOL
Then, last year I went back to OKC for a work assignment with Chesapeake Energy, the same company who has the naming rights for Arena where the OKC Thunder play…and where the NBA Finals begin tonight versus my “hometown” Miami HEAT! So, all this to say that I like OKC, the city, the team and the company it’s teamed up with, Chesapeake. The segment I did for them was shot on the Chesapeake campus at their state of the art gym…very cool..and the entire company campus has a distinct university feel, on purpose by design. Click play below to see the segment I did at Chesapeake!
And — if you happen to be in OKC for the series, head to the Bricktown area for some eats, I ate at a spot called Crabtown..and yeah, I’ll definitely have to go back one of these days, just to eat crab there!! I also loved downtown’s Hilton Hotel Skirvin, where I stayed. It’s the cutest boutique feeling hotel, and did I mention their grilled cheese!?!? LOL
Now, as random as this post is…even though I kinda sorta really like OKC… I’m going on the record to say this series, these NBA FINALS belong to MIAMI!! Yes, the HEAT will bring it home to the 305!!! 🙂 I’m wishing, hoping & praying to see the championship trophy in South Florida, with a HUGE parade and all the fanfare..BUT SERIOUSLY I FEEL it in my bones!!!! I have no doubt this will be a very competitive, exciting series… filled with drama, so as an NBA fan, thanks in advance. No offense Oklahoma, it’s just not your time, yet…
New OTF Segments
A few new segments have been posted On the Flipside in the past month or so… I haven’t filmed any new “full” episodes, but that doesn’t mean the content stops! You can watch below and visit http://ontheflipsidetv.com for more!!! 🙂
Red Bull shows us how they welcome NBA All-Star Point Guard Deron Williams to their family!
Miami HEAT superstar Dwyane Wade talks about his latest kicks, the Fly Wade 2.
On The Flipside teams up with Bay Tiger Video Productions to film highlights of a rare, Bay Area appearance by Mike Tyson! The meet and greet took place at Undisputed Boxing Gym where Tyson personally autographed an exclusive lithograph for fans and posed for photos!
Food for Thought: Jeremy Lin
I have been following Jeremy Lin’s recent rise in popularity with great interest, as I’ve been consumed by #LINSANITY and I’m enjoying the #LINSPIRATION he’s providing to myself and others…BUT today I decided to “vent” a little on my FB page, with (part of) my take on his story.
I need to get something off my chest… I think Jeremy Lin is being “over-Asian-ed”… For me, I like him because he’s AMERICAN..born in CA & raised in the BAY!!! I love his underdog story of hard work and perseverance, and how it’s translating to inspire both die-hard basketball fans along with random people who usually don’t care about the NBA and beyond! His ethnicity plays a (small) role in the story, but at the end of the day (regardless of ethnicity, race, culture) it makes me feel good to see someone who followed his dreams & is getting his opportunity to make them his reality! That’s the AMERICAN DREAM..THAT’S #LINSANITY!!!
My post started a nice discussion….with plenty of insightful comments! Read here and feel free to chime in – http://www.facebook.com/aubreyaquino/posts/10150795715030968
I’m definitely not your casual basketball fan, especially when it comes to the NBA. I grew up on the game as far back as I can recall, watching whichever games were offered on TV with my parents, then the League Pass helped make it my family’s chosen everyday pastime when it was started (in the 90’s?!?), and we could tune in starting at 4/5 pm on weekdays on the west coast, viewing multiple games a night! Since then, I’ve worked for NBA teams and I’ve been known to schedule my life around the NBA schedule…so yeah, I’m fan and I love to watch good, fun, exciting pro bball!! 🙂 I absolutely love how Jeremy Lin and his “story” have brought new interest and energy into the current season and the game in general. I’ve been reading a steady stream of articles about him and I wanted to share a couple I like….
For instance, this article in GQ – What the GOP Can Learn From Jeremy Lin – http://www.gq.com/news-politics/blogs/death-race/2012/02/what-the-gop-can-learn-from-jeremy-lin.html
This line from the piece really stood out to me…
“…he is an American, pure and simple, even though Americans insist on seeing him as an Asian who happens to be an American.”
And — my good friend Brian Tong of CNET put in his 2 cents about the “racist” ESPN mobile headline and why he’s “glad it happened.”
http://briantong.blogspot.com/2012/02/call-me-crazy-im-glad-espn-headline.html
DANCE FEVER
The 2012 West Coast Pro Dance Convention in San Jose on Sunday, January 29th was a HUGE success!! The event drew a diverse group of dancers, from retired alumni of the Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush to Washington Redskins, as well as current dance teams members of semi-pro ABA teams & AFL Arena Football, along with aspiring pro team dancers gearing up for the 2012 audition “season!”
We also welcomed a trio of Japanese Cheerleaders who have danced for professional American sports teams, as well as pro teams in Japan!
Here’s a shot of me and Keiko, who has an impressive resume including all-star teams from Asia to the U.S.A…
This year’s West Coast Convention staff was jam packed with a super talented roster of Pro Team Alumni with credentials in the NBA, NFL, AFL and more!! WATCH the highlight video for a taste of what went down!! Press play…
Thanks to all our sponsors – Shakeology, PPN Solution, Go Wild! Wear and of course the San Jose Athletic Club for being our venue host!
For a complete list of all the Going Pro Entertainment Dance Conventions taking place all over the country, visit – http://procheerallstars.eventbrite.com/
I’ll be at the 2012 Miami Pro Dance Convention coming right up on Sunday, February 19 … REGISTER NOW >> http://miamiprodance2012.eventbrite.com/