Summer 2015

Where as the time gone?!?! I see I haven't written anything since 2013, well not much has changed.

Still looking for full-time work, have a boyfriend now, that alerted the press right away LOL. Things have been good though I can't complain.

When I started this blog I was in my mid-twenties just writing about sports and a little of my life lessons in school. I then stopped writing and just started doing social media work. Now a few years later it is blogging for a Highland Park community web site that will get me writing again.

It might be a little weird to explore new stories that aren't sports related, but to be doing something for my community should be exciting and fun!

Let's just see if I can get back to the swing of things :/

Bye school or is it?!?

Last week was my last class at Cal State Northridge. While all my skills have been put into full gear, I can't help but think in the back of my mind if I need more?

I think that's a simple question to answer, YES! but I also think that I can learn more from just listening to a professor or reading an academic book. I find myself learning so much from new people I have met outside of school.

There seems to be something interesting (hot at times) about listening to someone else's passions and goals in life. There are subjects I may have learned in school that is didn't care for. But once hearing a person talk more in depth on a subject, I didn't pay much attention to in class I have learned to appreciate it more and follow up on researching it after a talk.

I have always loved school and I am a big nerd at heart! That is why I know if things workout in the future I may go back for my masters.

For now though I will take a break, live life to the fullest and keep learning in different ways.

PS. Congrats to all my friends about to graduate this coming week! 

Bye 2012...

Again this year was GREAT.

In sports, well it had its up and downs, but the best part for me and what can compare to anything else was the Los Angeles Kings winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history!!!.

Kings fans waited 19 years since the last appearance in the finals by the team. It was long frustrating years, but WE WON the CUP. After firing the coach in late 2011 L.A. brought in Darryl Sutter. The Kings offense was the lowest in the league, but still managed to take the eighth seed in the playoffs.

Then the unthinkable happen..

The Kings could not be beat on the road winning 10 straight games, winning favored Vancouver, sweeping St. Luis and passing through the Coyotes. The eighth seeded Kings won the Devils in the championship to raise Lord Stanley for the first time in and in front of their fans at Staples Center.

This was so amazing I cried like many other fans did. I was able to attend the parade and go to the rally. As a hockey fan since I was little this was something I will always cherish and remember.

The Dodgers FINALLY received new owners and the face of the ownership being Magic Johnson. While the team struggled during the season, the new owners are making sure fans and other teams know they can spend money. Let's see if it works out this 2013 season.

The saddest part of the year though would be the trading of James Loney. I will definitely miss him this season :(

Lakers are doing terrible! :/ hmm wonder if they will turn it around in 2013....

Until next year everyone have a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

2012....

Well, it looks like it is almost time for a New Year, even though some are saying the world is ending in a few days. I am writing a little recap on my 2012 year in review. This probably be more about me and I can write another one later on sports in my life :) 

Positive note is having a few new opportunities too. 

hmmm where to begin, I can't even remember the beginning of this year (laughing) guess it was pretty boring for a while. Oh wait I took a trip to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo with my bff Amanda and it was FUN!!! 

Only cool thing about school is that I learned how to work in marketing with the Daily Sundial, the CSUN school newspaper I use to write for.

It was fun coming up with promotions for students to pick up the paper, read online or their mobile. I was also still working with the CSUN athletic department, which helped me grow in more ways in a field I like to get into one day. 

I stopped drinking in the summer, which did me good and now I don't drink as much as I use too! :) 

Met knew cool people that became friends and networking partners, which helped me a lot in the field of sports. I think that is it, that I can actually write down for you all to see ;) I will be back shortly to talk about my time in sports, which is definitely more excited since I have no life right now!

Maybe the end of May 2013 I will :) 

Oh and I went to Disneyland at some point during the year... maybe it was spring break, I can't remember..

Me and Lord Stanley..and other news

Hey friends and fellow bloggers

Yes I am still alive and well. :) I have been ridiculously busy with grad school. I know the story of my life right? I must admit though, while school is kicking my ass, I am enjoying life!

Today guess what I did? well I finally seen Lord Stanley at L.A. Live today. I kept missing chances to go and see it and this time I wasn't going to let anything stop me. I had my homework done and was ready for my photo with it.

I was in complete awe when it was there, I am not going to lie I was even sweating like if some cute guy was waiting for me across the hall. My heart was racing and I just wanted to stay next to it. It was amazing to see all those names on the Cup and realize this life long sports symbol has so many stories that people will never know.

The reason I love the game of hockey is partly because of the Stanley Cup. There is nothing worth seeing
than a team, like my L.A. Kings, hoisting it up in celebration with teammates and family.

I can now say I touch and took a photo with Lord Stanley :)

Other news....

Since September life seems to be going good to me. I have good health, family and friends who are supporting me like crazy. I might have had too much fun on the weekends, but with three weeks of school left I am staying in doors to study and resting. I had some great opportunities too: interning with the Big West Conference, working with the athletic department at school and blogging for ESPN during the DIRECTV Classic. Pretty sweet uh? alright I better get going, my work is never done, but I hope to write a little more soon! 

We got the CUP!!!!

Photo by: Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times

The wait is now over, after 45 years of no championship, the Los Angeles Kings can now call themselves World Champions after they defeated the New Jersey Devils on Monday night at Staples Center.

What an amazing run this team had: The first eighth seed to win the Cup, 10-0 on the road and the only team to go up 3-0 in each series.

This truly was a Cinderella Story team and a season to always remember.

As I came home to watch the game Monday night I was nervous and stressed as to what was to come. Who could have foreseen a five minute major penalty that led to the Kings to score three goals? It was amazing if 

you ask me.

Being a fan for 18 years and a season ticket holder a few years back this was definitely worth the wait. I was able to watch the last period with my dad and the celebration. My father is the one who taught me sports and how to love them. While I might have not been at the game, I can at least say I was with my father to witnessing the Kings first every Stanley Cup.

Words cannot express how I felt the after seeing Dustin Brown hoisted the Cup over his head. I started to cry just a tad bit while goose bumps ran down my arm. I am proud of this team and what they were able to accomplish after some people didn’t think they would get this far.

…next blog is on the parade!

GO KINGS GO!!!!! 

How about them KINGS

Photo by Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times

Well out of three Los Angeles teams that were in the playoffs the Lakers and Clippers have drifted away as both teams lost in the second round of the playoffs.

Here we are the end of May and we still have L.A. hockey to cheer for. The Los Angeles Kings are the lone team that has a chance for bring home a championship to this great city. Of course, being the spoiled city we will see some people jump on the bandwagon for the Kings. This isn't to say that it all bad, but the team knows they will have new fans coming to support them.

I personally don't like those that jump on the bandwagon, but for the game of hockey in L.A. this can be a good thing for the sport and the city. We are consumed with the Dodgers and the Lakers, but now it is the Kings time to shine. Here they are after 19 years in the Stanley Cup Finals for only the second time in the teams history.

They have set an NHL record for most post-season road wins and knocked off the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 seed to reach the Finals.

L.A. will now face a tough New Jersey Devils team with a veteran goalie in Martin Brodeur, who has won three Stanley Cups. He is now 40 and we know he should be giving it his all in the crease, for this might be the last time he plays on the ice.

The Kings though, are a team that has played with determination and heart. The team is in the midst of winning its first Stanley Cup in 45 year and Kings fans have long waited for this opportunity again and hopefully this time it has a happy ending.

Whatever the case maybe, fans old and new, are sticking with this L.A. team in hopes of a Championship and a silver and black parade around downtown in June.

Graduation

It has been a whole year since my graduation from Cal State Northridge WOW! I went to the 2012 graduation ceremony yesterday and it was exciting to see a few friends ending one chapter in their lives to start another. 

More importantly though, for myself, it made me think that I can be walking the stage again next May with my master degree. I have now finished a year of my two-year grad program. It has been tough and this semester was truly a challenge for me. I received one grade, which was an A now waiting for one more.

While sitting there during the graduation, it got me pumped for the fact I can be finishing a this step in my life I never dreamed of pursing. After this summer it is grind time. I will try my best to accomplish something that my family hasn't and make them proud of me.

Again congrats to the class of 2012!! ;)

LA Kings!!!

Hey folks, I know I know it has been forever since I have touch the keypad to write on my blog. Goes to show obtaining a masters is a lot of work. Also when working three part-time jobs.

Anyway, I had to step in here for a quick second and say how proud and excited I am as a Kings fan that they made the second round. First time since 2001 to be exact. We, some fans, knew this team was special and going to get better as time went on. We went through tough times and the media stated how young the team was a few years ago. Most of us know that statement last only for about two years then its "okay where is this team going?"

With not much scoring the beginning of the season the team hired a new coach in Darryl Sutter. Now the team is in the second round after defeating the No.1 seed Vancouver Canucks. What a great feeling for it to be in  OT too when the team lost a few good ones in extra play this season.

Now it is on to the St Luis Blues.. Good Luck Boys.. We Love L.A.

Random

As a writer I have an opportunity to tell others stories. I can listen to someone for hours just to recieve the right inofrmation or even listen to a friend in need.

What some don't get is that is my job and when they start asking me questions they wonder why I'm quiet. I listen and only speak when there is something new to ask or know. It is harder for me to be open when I'm the seeker of stories.

Yes, there is those times I want to speak up an tell my stories and vent hours on end. I think social media has allowed this to happen more often then not, but I stop to think who wants to hear it? this isn't important for people/friends to know. I want to vent right now, but I hold back as much as I can to not post a status on FB or a tweet.

As a reporter I need to be more professional. I can't be like some of these young teens posting about everything they do and for safety reason I can't do that too!... As much as I want to write down and tell someone a story or two about me, I won't and stick to what I know how to do.

Grades are in..... -_-

I'm pretty disappointed in my grades this semester as a first year grad student. I received one A a B and B+, which many of you are probably saying that is damn good, not to me. I don't think I prepared myself as much as I should have.


Some of my friends are saying that I did well and I should look at it as those grades being all A's in a undergrad class. Well I guess that maybe true, grad school is a lot more work and at the time I was taking on three jobs.

I am a person that always has to be doing something and I have build my character in order to face anything around me. Next semester hopefully it will be different. I will still have three jobs while taking on two classes.

Wish me luck!

Their living with no goals

As I was driving in the bad part of where I live just now, I sat back in my car and thought "wow I'm glad I'm not like many of these people here that don't get out."


I am blessed to have the parents I have, who were lenient but had the right mix of being strict with me. If they weren't who knows what I may have become living next to a bad neighborhood. I am a college grad student and I feel bad for most of these people here, right next door that aren't going to get that opportunity because they choose to go a wrong path.

I'm thankful the Lord gave me the smarts to stay out of trouble and the ambition to want to make something of myself one day. I have worked so hard to where I am at now and have had so many great mentors to strengthen that path for me.

My only wish is I continue to grow and make right decisions while those in the hood get left behind for who knows what :(

Say it isn't so James!!!

Okay I am really surprised I didn't receive more text messages and facebook comments when the story of James Loney side swiping three cars and crashing came out last week. Now here I am, coming to terms with it. I still don't believe it happened.

Everyone knows how much I love this player. Even with him coming out of another bad season this year, I stuck by him with many of you saying he will  be gone this coming season.

This is a crazy situation, which I have to believe what Loney says and that is he wasn't under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Right now result have not been available to confirm this, but we all have to wait and see what happens.

Hitting three cars, falling asleep and then leaving to crash again though hmmmm I just don't know. I don't like what one of the women he hit said though. She was so frightened, yet she went to his car to see if he was okay. um dumb on her part for doing that is she was scared for her life. Come on really...

The Dodgers Ned Coletti said this hasn't changed his decision of making a deal for Loney to stay here in L.A. Loney and two other players are eligible for arbitration.

I can't see Loney wanting to do anything crazy though. I really don't know what to say to it until more about it comes out.

Kemp should have won in the first place

Catching up on reading (the sports page) and I came across the recent story on Matt Kemp perhaps winning the MVP if Ryan Braun appeal of failing a drug test doesn't go in his favor. Now I like Braun and think he is a great MLB player, but if this is true I got to admit it's sad.

Voters though say they don't want to vote if the appeal is upheld. Which I understand because with all this mess on who is taking what in the MLB no records have been taken away, so why should this one?

Players win awards all the time and records if the MLB were to take those back then that be a total mess in the record books. I have to agree with them on this one and they shouldn't take it away since they can't take any others back. It would be nice if they could, but it won't happen.

This could have been avoided if the just gave it to Kemp in the first place!!

It's done

I'm here at Matdor Hall wating for my last meeting in class to end my first semester as a grad student!! It will be done, but won't know what I received as far as grades until probably two weeks.

I have to admit with so much work it was fun to meet the people that I did. My fellow classmates are amazing and really fun to be around. During this time I took on three jobs too, believe me I have no idea how I did it.

Here at CSUN I had a great experience working along side the Athletic Media Relations Department that I have decided to stay and help out and gain more experience next semester. I am also happy that I am able to take photos at games, which you see a few here.

I have been really busy with work as you can see, since I have't been writing anything on here, but I am sure these five weeks off of school I will be bored and have things to write about. Especially with so much that is going on in sports right now gees.

Well I am tired and probably go sleep in my car a few hours lol... until next time, which I hope will be soon

Needs a new begining to end this one....

Those that know me, know I get bored easily. Not to say I'm not blessed with what I received this past summer, such as getting into grad school. Its just time for me to want change, meet new people. I'm always intrigued by people's stories, hence being a journalist. I know, I don't know everyone's story in my current surroundings, but I need fresh people to interest me.


What better way to get that then to exploring a new place, but where??


I've been applying to jobs trying to get out of the Valley area. At this point, I'm searching other Universities so I can hopefully transfer my credits to continue my masters somewhere else and most importantly for free. Really tough when money is hard to come by and trying finish school when you have bills to pay.


Taking care of my family is my goal, but right now I just feel my break isn't coming as soon as I thought. My emotions are going crazy right now with failure, negativity and loss. It sad to be thinking this way, I know, but how else can I stopped this reckless rollercoaster.


There is a time to feel obstacles in life and right now I have many. This isn't something I only go through. I don't know how the other express themselves so I can't speak for them.


In the long run though its moments like these though that make a person stronger as long as they are willing to fight and not let the discouragement win. I know that's what I want to do and I can be stronger than people think .


One thing I have learned though, is you can't be patiently thinking your dreams are just going to come. You need to step up your game and go grab it before someone else does.


My rant can go one but I might say things that I shouldn't so I'm going to end it here for you all.

Learning and keep on grinding

Hey guys, well I'm a month and a week done with grad school and the learning and reading keep on coming. My classes are very small with the same great people. I have been fortunate in getting to know these fellow students and where they came from.

My internship with the CSUN athletic department is going well. I am learning a lot and already had a story published on the site gomatadors.com Check out the story on CSUN women's soccer player Brielle Slepicoff. I am also currently working on three other stories, wow talk about being busy. But with the tiresome workload I am enjoying it.  I sometimes feel like I am in a CSUN sports library with all the information on teams the school has or had. Because of that I am learning about players, sports, division, conferences and much more on the Matadors I didn't know. And I love it. Yes some of the work is never ending, but when isn't work done when you are on top of your game?

To explain the picture on top, this past Sunday at the CSUN women's soccer game they didn't have a co-anchor for the radio. So I was asked to put on the headphones. I didn't say too much because soccer is still new to me. I just went by what I saw and what little I knew about the game. I definitely want to do it again, next time though more prepared =)

I also had a long day last week following Reader Digest around campus. What an experience that was. I know now how much PR professional don't get their office work done when they have to stay with a major media outlet. The day was noon to 6:30 p.m. just in time for me to get to class. I was drained, but I'm thankful for the experience.

Bringing it back to class, I have a ton of reading do every week. I never read so much in my life, but hey it comes with the territory now. I haven't had to do much writing, but I expect that to pick up within these last two and half months of school. Pretty crazy to think my first semester of grad school will be done in ten weeks.

Now what should my thesis be????

And so it begins

I have one week under my belt as a grad student and well it is going to be a lot of work. I started reading one book out eight just for one class. The other is not so bad with just one, but I will be writing three papers for it.

I also will be interning with the CSUN athletic department this week and I'm pretty excited for a new experience. I'll do some of the same things I did with the Los Angeles Sparks, but more writing.

As for the Sparks, they finish up their season next Saturday, they had some highlight this season, but with Candace Parker out to long with her knee injury LA couldn't get enough wins to make the playoffs.

With that being said, and as much work I'm sure my blogging will take a set back again while I go MIA again and try my best at grad school.

Sports Notes:

Dodgers are now on a five game winning streak and there is talk on whether Matt Kemp should win the MVP of the National league and Clayton Kershaw the Cy Young since their both on a team that isn't a contender for the playoffs. Still the debate will stand until the end of this month.

College football starts today, excited about that and of course the NFL will have its season start soon. Unfortunately for the NBA its still in a lockout and I honestly think there will not be a season this year, but we will see what happens.

Random

I am two weeks from starting my masters and all the emotions are running wild inside me. I can't wait, but I am also scared about what to expected. This week I ordered some of my books, can you believe one class requires eight books? wow. I want to get started on the right foot though and hopefully bring up my GPA as well as gain more experience in the journalism field. As summer ends I have been working a lot, but got to say it has been okay.

My internship with the Los Angeles Sparks is coming to an end and I have learned about the other side of being a reporter in working with public relations. I have been fortunate to write a few stories for them, but hope to write more in the last few weeks. With this internship though, I hope continue the same thing with the Cal State Northridge Athletic Media Relations department. It might be easier knowing that I know the teams there and some of the players. I am looking forward to it.

As far as things in the sports world, well football pre-season games start tomorrow after they were in a lock out, I don't know why I am excited about the season, why is this a a shock for me, well because I really don't care for football. Anyone that knows me knows how much hockey and baseball are my sports, but I think I will take on some football games this season too, it won't hurt right?

well blogging family that is all I got today, hopefully I will be back at the of the week.

ps. if you got twitter come follow me @moniquemuniz1

Writers Block

Me at work in Sundial..photo by Brian De Los Santos

As the summer is ending I can't help but feel I have lost contact with my writing. I haven't had much an opportunity to cover games and I was feeling a little worried about the outcome. I know it's just me because once I get in the writing mode and have my material I CAN WRITE.


Today I started a player feature that I'm actually feeling good about. Learning to talk to players and coaches and getting to know them a bit helps when you need to get your story done. It is when you don't know them or don't even get to interview them that you feel lost and not a complete reporter.

I was just thinking the other day I haven't been doing interviews and that's on my mind now, getting that great quote or antidote to grab readers into the story. That needs to be my next step, just so I don't lose that confidence of what I know.

I have had a lot on the mind about other things other than sports so it has been a little tricky for me to concentrate on my sports writing, but I am watching games when I can. I have also come up with some ideas for the Los Angeles Sparks website, since it lacks a few things that other sites have. Hopefully they take into consideration some of the ideas to draw more fans in.

Well that is all for today got to go into the office soon and get ready for tonight's game.