While the rest of the world is freaking out about World Cup Soccer, I'm on the edge of my seat over the NBA finals. I may vomit and pass out from the stress at any moment.

Background: When I was around 11, I discovered a Georgetown player named Alonzo Mourning. I don't remember much about his college days. But I do remember being excited that North Carolina got a basketball team, and being a native, I decided to make the Charlotte Hornets my team. Then this Alonzo Mourning character was drafted by the same Hornets. I started paying attention to him. Eventually that attention became full-blown fan girling, and at some point led to a bit of an obsession. Case in point: for my 13th birthday, my present was tickets to go see the Hornets play the Bullets at the USAir Arena.

They lost.

I continued to love Alonzo Mourning with all of my heart and soul. I lamented about him always being second best to Shaq. In fact, I hated Shaq with my very being. He went to Miami. I followed, making Miami my new favorite team. Same for his short stint on the Nets. Throughout the years, I continued to watch him play.

And every time I watched him play, his team lost.

Then he was out for kidney problems, and it made me so sad, I stopped watching NBA basketball full stop.

Then he was back, and going back to Miami and... playing backup for Shaq? Oh, torture my soul, why don't you!

And now he's here. Playing in his first finals. One game away from his first (and probably last) chance at a ring. *vomits from anxiety* I can hardly sleep at night. And I want nothing more to watch him play in what might be his only finals ever.

But I'm pretty sure if I do, it'll mean a sure victory for the Mavs. I'm not willing to take that chance. So I'm sitting this Finals out. For the good of the team. Thank goodness for TiVo.