About Brent

SUP BABBLERS. The name is Brent Lee. For those of you not familiar with the name, you best remember it now. I am born and raised and currently residing in San Francisco. My fellow West Portal Lutheran buddy, Justin Alvin Cheng, begged me on his knees to start writing for Bayless Babbles. After countless weeks of nagging and nudging, I've finally succumbed to help the brother out. In all seriousness, Justin and I have teamed up since the 4th grade for our WPL basketball team and Bronco League baseball team, so this little mini reunion has been our fate all along. Let's make it clear now: I pitched; he caught. So now that my grandpa body has broken down, I've been relegated to writing about sports rather than playing them.

For me, my love for sports was instilled in me at a very young age by my father. He taught me to respect the game, which ever it may be. He was my basketball coach, my baseball coach, my life coach. In his eyes and now mine, sports are a microcosm of life. Practice, persistence, execution, team work, just to name a few, are all necessities on AND off the field. The analogous relationship between sports and life is just so beautiful. If there's anything my dad taught me about sports, it's that you should always root for the underdog UNLESS the underdog is playing your team. Because of that piece of knowledge, I have always and will always root for the Angels in the Outfield, the Rudy's, the Tim Tebows, the Charlotte Bobcats, and most importantly, mine and his hometown teams: Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. Unpredictability. The miracles. The last second heaves. The comeback kids. Daniel Larusso and Mr. Miyagi taking down Johnny Lawrence and the Cobra Kai dojo. These are the things about sports that I've personally grown to love.

 Most recently, I became a season ticket holder for my favorite team of all-time, the Golden State Warriors! I am blessed to live in one of the greatest sports cities in the world and to be able to attend Warriors games at Roaracle. The beers and dirty dogs are also an added bonus. You already know most of my pieces will be centered on basketball.

I look forward to blogging with my brother from another mother, Justin Cheng a.k.a. Porkboii, a.k.a. Earthquake, a.k.a. Chengbang. Let the games begin. West Portal Lutheran Wildcats for life! As Zac Efron said in High School Musical 3, "Once a wildcat, always a wildcat."

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NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue: Seventh Grade

Fred Jacob as Rasheed Wallace

By Justin Cheng

Fred Jacob and Rasheed Wallace always had an agenda on their respective platforms. Whether it was on the hardwood or in German class, cries of the incompetency of George W. Bush or that the basketball, in fact, does not lie were rampant. If they didn't strike some fear or political sense into you, neither would be doing his job. 

Wallace's early playing days as a member of the famed Jail Blazers led Portland to five 49+ win seasons. Despite regular season successes, Sheed could not hold his temper, racking up a record 41 technical fouls in the 2000-01 season and earning multiple suspensions. One memorable incident involved Wallace threatening referee Tim Donaghy -- who is a disgraced referee, mind you -- by "kicking his ass." 

Although Mr. Jacob never used that type of force, learning politics from our German teacher felt like decoding the teacher from Peanuts. His fiery political tangents instilled a type of venue that could only be understood by himself. My directionless mind couldn't capture why the Iraqi war was unjustified when I was more worried about being surrounded by girls in plaid skirts and my junk popping out of my corduroys. With such pubescent thoughts running my mind, I would certainly never give any thought of advocating for Republican beliefs in fears of Herr Jacob wird stoßen mein hintern. 



Check out the rest of the NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue series.
Myself: Justin Cheng as The Birdman
Kindergarten: Melissa Faust as Kwame Brown
First Grade: Ruth Stressow as Jerry Sloan
Second Grade: Irene Jew as Cliff Paul
Third Grade: Edith Kvale as Gregg Popovich
Fourth Grade: Pamela Keiser as Don Nelson
Fifth Grade: Elaine Mills as Scott Skiles
Sixth Grade: Kari O'Connor as Mike D'Antoni
Coming soon: Les Morris as Craig Sager


The Bayless Babbles, along with being a sports blog, is a realization of why I have liberal political beliefs and is authored by UC Merced as USC alumni Justin Cheng.

For more about the author and the blog (Click Here)

Email: baylessbabbles@gmail.com

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NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue: Sixth Grade

Kari O'Connor as Mike D'Antoni
By Justin Cheng

So who becomes the next Laker coach that will fill the hearts of the purple & gold diehard after Mike Brown gets chopped? I faced a similar dilemma as I reached puberty. I was no longer satisfied at fantasizing about my peers, the five-year void left by Melissa Faust was almost unbearable at this point. I needed someone more mature and could run my triangle offense. For the Lakers, GM Mitch Kupchak believed that person to be Mike D'Antoni, formerly of the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks. As for myself, Kari O'Connor appeared to be that light at the end of the tunnel. 

Fast forward to the end of my sixth grade year & June 5, 2013. I am peeved beyond belief at  my yearning for Ms. O'Connor to be the resident TILF of my dreams, just as the Laker front office should be kicking themselves for choosing a run-and-gun coach for a team whose best players could not get off the trainer's table last year.

Sure, the allure of having another teacher crush was tempting. But at what cost? Given numerous detentions for using mild expletives and other trivial offenses, I was left in a daze of confusion. While the sweet and gentle spirit of my kindergarten crush still loomed, but this sixth grade disciplinarian was not her.

For the Lakers, disappointment came in the form of a first-round sweep to the San Antonio Spurs. The allure of potentially scoring over 100+ points with an all-star lineup was much too appealing. Kupchak, Buss and company should've known that their cast wasn't even remotely the same as MVP Nash, Amar'e with healthy knees, Matrix Marion, and in-shape Diaw. 

Lesson learned. 
Me -- Don't trust blondes not named Kate Upton.
Lakers -- Don't trust white-haired coaches not named Phil Jackson.



Check out the rest of the NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue series.
Myself: Justin Cheng as The Birdman
Kindergarten: Melissa Faust as Kwame Brown
First Grade: Ruth Stressow as Jerry Sloan
Second Grade: Irene Jew as Cliff Paul
Third Grade: Edith Kvale as Gregg Popovich
Fourth Grade: Pamela Keiser as Don Nelson
Fifth Grade: Elaine Mills as Scott Skiles
Coming soon: Fred Jacob as Rasheed Wallace


The Bayless Babbles, along with being a sports blog, is a warning to never trust blondes and is authored by UC Merced as USC alumni Justin Cheng.

For more about the author and the blog (Click Here)

Email: baylessbabbles@gmail.com

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NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue: Fifth Grade

Elaine Mills as Scott Skiles
By Justin Cheng

If you have paid attention to any of my Facebook statuses in the past two years, you would know exactly what I think of Elaine Mills. To prove how worthy of a friend you are, I have made a popquiz to assess your Facebook attentiveness.

How would I characterize Elaine Mills?
	Favorite Teacher
	Dictator
	TILF
	Discourager
	All of the Above
pollcode.com free polls

If you guessed TILF, you have my permission to stop reading this blog forever and my blessing to do something more productive with your life.

As for Ms. Mills, I felt as if I was pigeonholed to serve as the perfect student much like how Scott Skiles, the grumpy perfectionist, formerly of the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks, expected mistake-free basketball from his players. Skiles' demise with his players seemed to come with his mismanagement of his lineups; Samuel Dalembert, John Henson, and Brandon Jennings all saw inconsistent minutes throughout the year and during crunch time-- a recipe for disaster throughout the season and upcoming free agency. For Ms. Mills, her mismanagement of me led me to become a grudge-holding 24-year old, venting about a single disciplinary action 14 years later.

What was this 'disciplinary action' that has kept me burning for so long? Well, the anticipation and wonder are over. As punishment for making a 'bathroom joke' involving taking a big poop, I was not allowed to go on our kite-flying field trip. I had already bought my Leonardo kite, and I no longer had use for it. I was heartbroken.

To make matters worse, I was told I wouldn't amount to anything if I continued to make bathroom jokes. In my defense, I was still traumatized from my obsession of dying from dysentary. I was merely trying to make light of a situation in which I lived in constant fear, instead I was berated for it.

With Brandon Jennings' looming free agency and myself having 14 years of not stepping foot in Ms. Mills' classroom, I believe that we both have something to look forward to. Jennings no longer has to deal with fourth quarter benchings, and I can still freely fly Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle kites while talking about my poops. (Really though, Google 'fourth quarter benching' and you'll see Brandon Jennings' name all over the search. LOL.)



Check out the rest of the NBA Life & Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue
Myself: Justin Cheng as The Birdman
Kindergarten: Melissa Faust as Kwame Brown
First Grade: Ruth Stressow as Jerry Sloan
Second Grade: Irene Jew as Cliff Paul
Third Grade: Edith Kvale as Gregg Popovich
Fourth Grade: Pamela Keiser as Don Nelson
Coming soon: Kari O'Connor as Mike D'Antoni



The Bayless Babbles, along with being a sports blog is a proclamation that kites and bathroom jokes are awesome and is authored by UC Merced and USC alumni Justin Cheng.

For more about the author and the blog (Click Here)

Email: baylessbabbles@gmail.com

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NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue: Fourth Grade

Pamela Keiser as Don Nelson

By Justin Cheng

There are two things I can think of that are more frightening than realizing your dream job will never be achieved: 1) the fourth quarters of a Don Nelson-coached team 2) Pamela Keiser's fourth grade class. The 2006-10 Golden State Warriors were consistently in danger of blowing 20-point leads in the final quarter, which instilled bone-chilling fears in the Golden State faithful. This fear can only be compared to my worst nightmare-- pretending that we were on the Oregon Trail. Typical of myself, I had to make up for my lack of attentiveness in class and played the PC game instead. If I learned anything from my Western Expansion study sessions, it was that you could die of dysentery. While the Golden State contingent was fed up with blown leads and D-League lineups (see 2009-10 Golden State Warriors), I was fed up with living in constant fear about my bowels coming out in a blooded heap. Mentally, I was over fourth grade. Sorry, Ms. Keiser. This post isn't blaming you, but I just couldn't envision crossing the Missouri River without worrying where the next porta potty was. 

Check out the rest of the NBA Life & Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue
Myself: Justin Cheng as The Birdman
Kindergarten: Melissa Faust as Kwame Brown
First Grade: Ruth Stressow as Jerry Sloan
Second Grade: Irene Jew as Cliff Paul
Third Grade: Edith Kvale as Gregg Popovich 
Coming Soon: Elaine Mills as Scott Skiles




The Bayless Babbles, along with being a sports blog, is a revelation that computer games do not provide adequate study material and is authored by UC Merced and USC alumni Justin Cheng

For more about the author and the blog (Click Here)

Email: baylessbabbles@gmail.com

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NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue: Third Grade

Edith Kvale as Gregg Popovich
By Justin Cheng

By this point in my life, my life goals were shattered (See Second Grade), and I was confronted with the idea of having to learn something in school rather than fantasizing about a blonde-haired Kwame Brown (See Kindergarten). Edith Kvale had the unfortunate responsibility of bringing me back down to earth, a task which she tried to fill as the Norwegian Gregg Popvich. Our third-grade United States project provided as much excitement as the prospect of watching the San Antonio Spurs for the fourth time in 10 years. Let's face it, you can't screw up this assignment, the United States is the best country in the world (See Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest). But yes, Ms. Kvale, yes you did. While Gregg uses yawn-worthy half-court offense, Ms. Kvale assigned a yawn-worthy state, Colorado, USA. To eight year-old Justin Cheng, Colorado was nothing but Antonio McDyess and JonBenét Ramsey. I guess you can't say that Popovich has incorporated the most exciting brand of basketball, but you can't deny its effectiveness as the Spurs have won 11 division titles, four conference titles and are on the brink of a fifth championship. Similarly, Ms. Kvale's assignment branded two pieces of information that I will never forget: 1) Lark Bunting is the state bird 2) the state flag has a C. I have yet to find myself having to ever use such pertinent information, just as I will never consciously tune my television to watch a Spurs game. Popovich and Ms. Kvale sure have a knack for ruining basketball and academics. 




Check out the rest of the NBA Life & Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue

Myself: Justin Cheng as The Birdman
Kindergarten: Melissa Faust as Kwame Brown
First Grade: Ruth Stressow as Jerry Sloan
Second Grade: Irene Jew as Cliff Paul
Coming Soon: Pamela Keiser as Don Nelson


The Bayless Babbles, along with being a sports blog, is a confession of resentment for Colorado and half-court offenses and is authored by UC Merced and USC alumni Justin Cheng.

For more about the author and the blog (Click Here)

Email: baylessbabbles@gmail.com

Follow The Bayless Babbles on Twitter (@BaylessBabbles)

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NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue: Second Grade

Irene Jew as Cliff Paul

By Justin Cheng

Learning the dying art of cursive was the main theme of the second grade and can describe my winding journey to find what field of work I should pursue.  My eight year-old, lifelong goals up to that point were to become an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants or a wide receiver for the 49ers. Give me a break, I was colorblind at eight years-old. I didn't know I would turn out to be Chinese, 24 and the size of Shaq's sneaker telephone. Lucky for me, Irene Jew and Cliff Paul were born to assist. While Cliff Paul helped little asian girls find goldfish in basements, Ms. Jew aided us in our search for our potential craft by holding the most horrific event an eight year-old could take part of, CAREER DAY. To this day, the slew of doctors, engineers, and accountants that filled our classroom was the #2 most sobering experience I've had. No longer could we be the red Power Ranger, President of the United States, an astronaut, or an outfielder/wide receiver for the Bay Area beloved. I cannot say that I have fully recovered from that somber experience, which may explain why I am unemployed and writing a blog that receives less likes than my Instagrams of my foot blisters. This post is for you, Cliff and Irene.  

Check out the rest of the NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue

5/23/13: Justin Cheng as The Birdman

5/24/13: Melissa Faust as Kwame Brown

5/25/13: Ruth Stressow as Jerry Sloan

Coming soon: Edith Kvale as Gregg Popovich. 

The Bayless Babbles, along with being a sports blog, is a misguided projection of blame for not fulfilling athletic potential and is authored by UC Merced and USC alumni Justin Cheng.

For more about the author and blog (Click Here)

Email: baylessbabbles@gmail.com

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NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue: First Grade

Ruth Stressow as Jerry Sloan

By Justin Cheng

Ruth Stressow, the model of consistency, was the bastion of WPL's first grade youth for what seemed like ages, as was Jerry Sloan's tenure as the Utah Jazz head man. You don't win 50+ games for ten seasons or teach a classroom full of kids who learned how to read from Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge, the blind engineer, without a solidified plan. Sloan and Stressow's Hall of Fame reigns took a simple approach and brought the Jazz to two NBA Finals and created one author of a blog who lacks credentials and breathes on ill-fated satire. Sloan's use of the pick & roll offense was championed by Stockton & Malone but was later adapted to Deron Williams & Carlos Boozer. The most impressive thing about Ms. Stressow is her use of one player in her classroom, Angela Huang. Boasting the most expressive reading styles our six year-old ears have heard, Angela's oration was seamless and wasn't filled with um's or uh's. We tried sound, speak, even look like Angela, which if anything, was to please Ms. Stressow. Two NBA Finals losses and 17 years later, my narrative skills are still not on par with Angela's first grade level. Such a disappointment for two Hall of Fame careers. Sorry, don't put me in coach.

Check out the rest of the NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue series.

5/24/13: Justin Cheng as The Birdman

5/25/13: Melissa Faust as Kwame Brown

Coming soon: Irene Jew as Cliff Paul

The Bayless Babbles, along with being a sports blog, is an honest admission of jealousy for good public speaking skills and is authored by UC Merced and USC alumni Justin Cheng.

For more about the author and the blog (Click Here)

Email: baylessbabbles@gmail.com

Follow The Bayless Babbles on Twitter (@BaylessBabbles)

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NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue: Kindergarten

Melissa Faust as Kwame Brown. 
by Justin Cheng

Before Taylor Swift and Kate Upton, there was only one blonde-haired goddess that had my heart. Melissa Faust was my dream, my fantasy, my number one overall pick. I had great expectations for her, for us. This flawless light-skinned, kindergarten teacher had me giddy like Michael Jordan's belief that Kwame Brown was the future of the Washington Wizards. I suppose going for the homerun shot in this case wasn't the brightest of moves, especially considering I had other kindergarten hotties to choose from. While the Wizards passed on NBA big men such as Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, and Zach Randolph, my kindergarten mind severely miscalculated, and Ms. Faust never lived up to those dreams. Granted, Kwame's five putrid seasons in Washington lasted longer than Ms. Faust's two years at WPL, but the pain of seeing her go was not nearly as frightening as Brown's signing with the Warriors in 2011. I realize now that I should have cut my losses, but I would not trade those times we shared at lunch together when I taught her how to count in Chinese for the sight of Kwame attempting to develop a post-up game.

Check out the rest of the NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue series.
5/24/13: Justin Cheng as The Birdman
Coming soon: Ruth Stressow as Jerry Sloan

The Bayless Babbles, along with being a sports blog, is a kindergarten manifesto authored by UC Merced & USC alumni Justin Cheng

Email: baylessbabbles@gmail.com

Follow The Bayless Babbles on Twitter @BaylessBabbles

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NBA Life at Sloat Blvd. & 19th Avenue

Nine years is more than enough for anybody to feel nauseated at the sight of blue sweatshirts, white polos, and grey corduroys. West Portal Lutheran has provided San Francisco's privileged youth with parochial education for over 60 years. How does a school that started off with 59 students cement themselves as a mainstay of 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard? NBA-like quality-like leaders, that's how. Over the next nine days, my experiences as a young blood will be chronicled by my teachers who constantly reminded of people in the NBA.

As for myself, I'd like to characterize my elementary and middle school life to Chris Anderson's journey through the League. Despite our similarities in great hairstyles, one may not think that we have very much in common. Ridden out of New Orleans because of a positive drug test, Birdman's return to prominence as a member of the Miami Heat is like my experiences with the opposite sex for nine years. Sure, I felt like I was good looking, but I was an awkward pre-adolescent, popping random boners, and had a taste for bad jokes. Let's face it everybody, girls don't like that till you're in your 20's. Now that we've found our niche, we can be free birds.

Check out the next post: Melissa Faust as Kwame Brown.