Rebound.

"Rebounding is defined as causing a second chance. Essentially, that's what I do, both on the court and off."

That's what I wrote for my blurb four years ago in my yearbook, and when I looked back today, I realized that even though appearances may change, my heart remains the same.

The best part of basketball is that there is always a chance to rebound. As a player, there will always be shots you don't make, but everyone knows that instead of letting the misses get the best of us, we should just get the misses ourselves. Plus, there's going to be nights where we just don't have it, but we rest assured that there will always be a next time where we can prove we're better than what we've shown. That's the beauty of basketball -- continuity.

I've written about rebounding extensively in the past -- my testimony, my Facebook notes, etc., and people might have the wrong impression that I'm trying to make it sound easier than it really is. I'm not. I fully admit that it is challenging, difficult and inconsistent, especially when you have nothing to drive you. You're plagued with thoughts of "why me?" and become complacent with clothing yourself in pity. But then again, how long are you going to stay down just because it's easier? I've never been that type to let something shackle me to the floor, and there's no reason for me to regress to that now. Like I've written before, this is my last summer off -- why waste it like this?

A few years ago, someone close gave me a couple of rubberbands. On them, she wrote "LUstrong" (to compensate for those livestrong bands that were all the rage). It's ironic for a variety of reasons now how I still look to them as inspiring reminders of who I am and the man I plan to be. But unsurprisingly, they're the ones to make that final push in the end for me to come to realize that it's time to;

get off my ass,
stop feeling sorry for myself,
and make something of my life.

...so here I come.

Kids at Heart.

It's funny how time passes by so quickly even when you have nothing to do. It's almost been 3 weeks since I came home from my trip, but I feel like I haven't really accomplished anything during that time. Everyday, I wake up unsure of what the day holds -- generally I guess it's a bad thing because I feel like I'm wasting my life away. But since I'm starting work in September, how many more chances am I going to get to just bum around?

One good thing that comes out of a lot of free time is that you get to spend it with the people you want to be with doing the things that you love -- no matter how stupid or dumb it may seem to others. In the end, we're still kids at heart and I hope we'll still be doing this when we're 50.

It Is What It Is.

What I love almost as much as basketball is music. It's such a big part of who I am -- from listening to my guitar to my writing, its influence permeates into every aspect of my life.

People tell me, "Vic, it's just a song", but sometimes when one really hits home, that's when you know that it's more than just pretty words and a catchy melody. It's those times that I truly appreciate what music means for me, and I share it because I hope it can do the same for someone else. There's just no feeling like it -- music is truth.

God's Plan

People plan, regardless of whether they like it or not. Even the most spontaneous person is forced by circumstance to plan ahead occasionally. We make plans about everything -- what to eat today, what we're doing next week, our clothes, our careers, our relationships.

But has anyone learned their lesson about planning yet? It's an optimistic activity; almost bordering on naive because there is an absence of guarantee to it. Yet when people start constructing their future goals and whatnot, almost all of them believe that everything will work out exactly as imagined -- as if the world revolved around them. And all too many times, when the plans are subject to change, almost everyone is surprised or taken aback. Don't get me wrong, I think planning is a necessary task. What is missing too often is the tempering of expectations that something may go awry.

Why should we think like that? Well, contrary to belief, it's not pessimism. As a Christian, I think it is important to recognize that sometimes, our plan is not God's plan. He has a greater purpose for us that has been precisely mapped out to an extent that is beyond our imagination. God sees the whole forest when all we see is the tree in front of us. That's why when our plans don't work out, it's because it does not coincide with God's will.

This is hard to take most of the time. People by nature are arrogant and self-consuming -- we believe that we, and only ourselves, know what's best for us. We then make our plans accordingly, but it is impossible for our plans to be foolproof when we are beings that are stuck with permanent nearsightness. To keep it simple, God knows best, and His plan is what drives us along a certain path. When we want something that causes us to stray, He will redirect us at the expense of our temporary desires. While we may not understand the reasoning or see the benefits right away, it is faith that should compel us not to be bitter, but to accept the fact that while everything may seem right and in place, it is often the timing that isn't.

God is all knowing, there is no justification in fighting His will. When our plans do not fall in line with His, we must realign ourselves. Let me use a personal example. All throughout high school, the only extracurricular activity I was involved in was our basketball team. I was always able to balance the practices and games with my grades, and while I loved the sport, I loved the status and the attention that came with it a little more. By the time my final year came around, I expected no different. I also believed I was entitled to a roster spot because I was always a part of it, even in the presence of a new coach. God showed me differently and taught me a hard lesson. At the time, I was so bitter that I could not see past the fact that I WAS CUT, and it almost consumed me. I felt the world had somehow wronged me because I overestimated myself. While I would love nothing more than to rag on Dougall and point fingers on why I didn't make the team in my last year, ultimately, it was me who let myself fall out of shape, gain weight and slack off. In hindsight, when God took away the only source of escape I had from my life, it was not to punish me. It was to show me that I did not deserve basketball until I made some changes to my lifestyle and my mindset.

In the end, what did I lose? A season? Social status? It all seems trivial now. What God gave me was the ability to appreciate the game at its purest. Look, I shouldn't have had to play with a school team to love basketball. That year opened my door to playing with my church team, where God gave me the opportunity to take on more responsibility basketball-wise and develop my leadership abilities, which was never necessary as a role player. It also forced me to realize I needed to take care of my body to appreciate what I love as long as I possibly could, and after losing all that weight I have never looked back since.

When I think back, I would be lying if I said I thought it was fair of Dougall to cut me, but sometimes, life isn't fair. But I'm satisfied with where I am now because I know if I didn't get cut, I would have never played for ZAC, never focused on my body, and would still have the mindset that I'm better than you just because I made the team. Now I think I'm better than you because I can prove it on the court.

The point is, everyone has those "wow I'm so much better off now that I think about it" stories and experiences. God blesses us all in the end, so it's best for us not to be caught up in the failures and shortcomings of our own plans in the moment, but to look ahead and know that God will reward us with something better when He wills it.

Look, I know it's a lot easier said than done. I dwell all the time, but we just need to accept the fact that people are people and sometimes it doesn't work out. For us Christians, when we say, "I'll leave it in God's hands", how many of us secretly go home and replan everything and try to take control again? I'm definitely guilty of that. I guess it's a constant struggle to have complete faith because we're all afraid of the uncertainty. Ultimately, that fear is misplaced because there is nothing more certain than God, and sometimes we just tend to lose sight of that. I didn't mean for this to become a rant -- it was more of the fact that I had to write it all down to remind myself. If anyone wants to discuss this issue, feel free to hit me up -- you guys know where to find me.

On the other hand, when our plan and God's plan coincide, it's a beautiful thing. Check it out, it's pure, unadulterated joy from one of my favourite players -- real recognize real.

That Should Be Me.

I thought I would give it a try -- maybe girls will get over their Bieber Fever and catch Lu Flu LOL get it? It actually makes sense (sort of), I look sickly pale in this one. Enjoy!

In the Studio.

Recently I've been listening to two of the best albums I've heard in recent memory:

Em's "Recovery" + Drake's "Thank Me Later"

Both are absolute killer work, and it has really inspired me to pick up the pen and make use of all the thoughts that distract me during the day and plague me at night. The point is, expect some new stuff to come out soon from me, I know I've been lazy recently with recording. I have tons of things down on paper but nothing tangible yet. It has been a long hiatus actually -- before I did "Fading" with Ambrose, I hadn't written any of substance for a few years, let alone record.

But now I'm emotionally charged and armed with motivation so I might as well take advantage. Keep your head up and your eyes open.

The Road to the NBA.

I've been playing NBA2k10 a lot recently, and the My Player mode is pretty addicting. You basically create your own player, play through summer league and training camp (if you get invited) trying to make an impression for a roster spot. Very realistic and thought provoking at the same time. Obviously, I made Victor Lu, #25, Point Guard. The only bad thing? This happened to my player.

--------

If you went to an NBA summer league hoping to make the team as an undrafted free agent, of course you would have to temper your expectations. After all, you've never been scouted, recruited or considered NBA-level before by any general managers, but you are willing to put in work regardless. You know you're good enough to catch on with a team, but you have to make everyone else believe it too.

Let's say you have a successful summer league and put up decent numbers -- enough to catch the attention of several lower-key scouts at the games. Your agent promotes you around to numerous teams and miraculously, you receive a training camp invite from your favourite team, the Toronto Raptors. You arrive at training camp in the best shape you've ever been, and you become so fixated with securing a roster spot that it consumes your life. It's the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning and the last thing you plan on dreaming of when you fall asleep. You invest so much time and effort into your game and your performance, but because you could see progress, the exhaustion and the drain become rewarding in the end.

The coach seems impressed with your effort, but does not show his hand regarding your position on the team. However, you start making cut after cut after cut, and on the last day of the camp he calls you into his office and you're being interviewed by him, the assistants and the GM. You answer all their questions as honestly and straightforwardly as possible because you know today is judgment day;

I want to make this team.
I will accept whatever role you need me in.
I will give all of me.

Instead of welcoming you into the team or politely declining your offers, the GM decides to postpone your status. Instead, he tells you all the things you've been doing right -- a real diamond in the rough.

You hustle.
You have terrific basketball IQ.
You're a good teammate and a consummate locker room leader.
There is definitely room for a player like you on this team.

A few days later, you receive a call from your agent. He tells you that the Raptors thought you would be a versatile asset to an NBA team and was extremely pleased with your performance throughout the summer league and training camp. However, the Raptors feel that the team is not ready to commit to your contractual needs moving forward -- it may prove to be detrimental to the salary cap this and next season. Hence, their decision has left you to opt for two choices;

1. Play for the NBDL affiliate until the GM clears enough salary off the books to potentially call you up and offer you a 10-day or a pro-rated contract for the rest of the season.

2. Have the Raptors release your rights so you can pursue an opportunity with another NBA team.

You are dumbfounded and you feel blindsided knowing that you definitely made a strong impression at camp. Your contract is a one-year entry level minimum deal with a team option for the second year. How could this handcuff a salary cap over $50 million a year? Why did the team not discuss this with you earlier during the camp so the contract could have had the chance to be restructured if needed? You call the GM, who doesn't pick up or return your calls for several days. When you finally reach him, he quickly tells you he is due for a meeting with Chris Bosh and can't speak for long. He does stay on the line long enough to tell you there are no guarantees that you may be called up -- "just a heads up," he says.

Well, nobody said business in the league was fair. You and your agent know you're absolutely capable of competing at the highest level in the NBA, and can definitely provide your ability to another team if necessary. To toil away uncertainly in the D-league when you promised yourself to never settle for less seems like a step backwards and a compromise to your integrity. However, this is the Raptors you're talking about, the hometown team you've become attached to, and the only team you've thought about playing for lately.

The real question here becomes: what is more important to you?

• Is playing for this team worth a stint in the D-league where you may never be called up?
• Or do you take the risk and try to find another team willing to offer you a roster spot?

What do you guys think?


p.s. Lake Show tonight!

Belated Birthday.

Sometimes, all it takes a little bit of thought and some good music (still up for debate) to remind me why the oldest friends are the best ones. I hope that never changes.

thanks.

An Old Favourite.

Had a rough night of sleep again (jetlag?), thoughts swirling around my head but not enough creative juices to put it into writing. Woke up to an old classic album -- not many people will know this song but it's pretty special to me since I got this CD way back from somebody meaningful, so I thought I might as well share it.

Introduction

My reasons for blogging are pretty simple:

1. Everyone is doing it (is this a xanga craze or what?)
2. I have stuff to complain/share/write about.
3. Oh and FYI -- YF are my middle initials so it's not VICTORY FLU (just saying).

It's not exactly rocket science, but it's been a while since I've decided to document the things that go on in my head. Don't worry if you have trouble understanding, sometimes I feel like I can't figure myself out either.

I've always wanted to be a writer, so I guess I'll experiment with some stuff here and see what everyone thinks. This is kind of a cop-out, but as a first post I'm just going to recycle an old Facebook note I wrote a few years back -- it's one of my favourites and one of the most meaningful ones to me. It's also kind of inspiring for myself right now because I just sprained my ankle tonight (again); rehab here I come. Enjoy.


Title: "One."

the clock is ticking down,

10.. 9.. 8..

the seconds are vanishing,
fleeting just as your presence did in the air of the night

i'm afraid.
the tension is thick,
dimming the shine of the lights,
dulling the shouts of teammates and of the crowd.

7.. 6.. 5..

one part of me pleads,
begging the ball not to come in this direction
sick of having to shoulder the burden of responsibility,
to have everyone's hopes and
expectations contingent upon a hurried jumpshot
that lacks as much strength as it does faith.

another is screaming for it,
the excitement that builds from within urges,
wills the ball to fit in the mold of my hands
because when it counts,
i want to take that shot
i want to be in control of whatever i'm given so that
i can be the cause, not the consequence.

i start believing that maybe;
i can do this.

no you can't
how can you?
you're fat
you're slow
you're ugly
you're unpolished

you're just not good enough.

4.. 3.. 2..

but how can i know if i don't try,
when i've never been a quitter by choice?
how can i live with the regrets that will surely tear me apart from the inside,
that destroys the utmost passion i have for this game.

i may not be good enough,
but this is the best i can give,
and i will give all that i have,
enough to ensure that regret will not seep into the cracks of my frailty
and define me.

so when time is running out,
and the odds are against me,

i will still believe.

1.