2013's Finest: A Review of Sports and Pop Culture

Credit: Breaking Bad

Time flies fast. In a few days’ time, 2013 is about to end. This is the time of the year we look back on what happened in the year. It is also the time we appreciate how good it was. For me, it was an awesome year. It did have low points and it was not as adventurous as last year (when I got to venture to a world of unknown in the land of the brave and the free), but this year was interesting and charming in a lot of ways.

How was 2013 amazing for me? You have to talk to me personally (and frankly, it is not an assurance I will share you everything or even most of it). As for other things else like my appreciation for sports and pop culture, well you are in the right place. We celebrate the highlights of these in here.

SPOILER ALERT: I will avoid spoilers as much as possible so I am sorry if I will not be able to expound on some details here. I have placed the unavoidable spoiler topics in the last part for you, dear readers.

Halftime Break

The famous Hickory High Halftime Speech | Credit: Hoosiers

"I wanted a fresh start, okay? I'm entitled to that." -Betty
"There is no fresh start! Lives carry on." –Henry

From “Mad Men” Season 4 Episode 13 entitled “Tomorrowland”

Christmas Break 2013. Yes.

I heaved a huge sigh of relief when I finished my last conference call last Friday because I was about to experience some good break in the following days. (Technically, I am still working this week but at least it is not as intense as it was in the previous weeks.) Christmas break 2013 has arrived and I needed it more than ever.

No Music, No Life Pt. 8

Paramore returned this year. Are they back at the top of my yearly list? | Credit: Fanpop.com

I tweeted last week that I have not yet written about pop culture this year. Most of my blog stories this year - and I seldom write these days - have been about sports. This blog has always been about sports and pop culture so I think I am due to write about pop culture. It is not about the usual TV show/movie critique, but hey music is still pop culture.

I know that this seems like a cheat because I always write about my favorite songs every year anyway. OK, fine. I will try to write something about movies or TV series that is not about ranking them (something I do annually as well) before this year ends. But for now, let us tackle about my year in music.

This year has been unintentionally similar to 2007 for me. Three of my favorite bands (Paramore, Jimmy Eat World and Fall Out Boy) released albums in both 2007 and 2013. The Boston Red Sox won the World Series. In case you do not know, the last time they did was 2007. Same goes with the La Salle Green Archers (yuck!). Fall Out Boy performed in Manila in 2007 as well. Although I was not able to watch it this time around, they were still able to rock the house in the Philippines this year.

Thus, I am writing this in the same format as I did in 2007.