EDITOR’S NOTE: You don’t have to know the “Lost” storyline to follow this blog entry.

…I learned from the “Lost” finale.

There has been a lot of talk this week about the finale of “Lost.”  Regardless of your opinion of the episode, there is no denying that the producers created a show that often stirred emotion and always made people think.  In that vein, the show was a smashing success.  Furthermore, the scene pictured above might be my favorite television moment ever.

Almost everything you need to know about life can be learned from the finale of “Lost.”  Within the context of the dialogue, the writers left us with lessons that are applicable to both “Lost” viewers and non-viewers alike.

Without further adieu…

1- “There are no short cuts, no do-overs. What happened, happened. Trust me, I know. All of this matters.” (Jack)

I say it all the time, but can’t stress it enough.  Make the most of every day.

2- “There are rules, dude.” (Hurley)

For the most part, laws were not made to be broken.

3- “You can’t let other people tell you what you are, dude. You have to decide that for yourself.”  (Hurley)

People sometimes get wrapped up too much in what others think of them. Honestly, who cares?  You are the one that has to look yourself in the mirror.  All that matters is that when you do, you like what you see.

If you don’t…

4- “Nothing is irreversable.” (Kate)

It is never too late to change things.

5- “I don’t believe in a lot of things, but I do believe in duct tape.” (Miles)

Sometimes, non-conventional methods can be used to solve problems. There is never only one right answer.

6- “You are not alone. Let me help you.” (Kate)

6A- “Will you help me? I could use someone with experience, for a little while.” (Hurley)

Life is much easier if you ask for help when you need it.  This is one I struggle with sometimes.

7- “If it helps, Ben, I forgive you.” (Locke)

To truly live, is to forgive people who wrong you. Nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes. Let go.

8- “Everyone dies sometime, kiddo. Some of them before you, some long after you.” (Christian)

This one speaks for itself.

9- “I’ll see you in another life, brother.” (Jack)

Depending on your personal beliefs, your opinion on this one may differ.  I believe that after our “physical” life, there is an afterlife.

10- “I believe in you.” (Jack, Hurley)

10A- “The most important part of your life was the time that you spent with these people. That’s why all of you are here. You needed them and they needed you. Nobody does it alone, Jack.” (Christian)

The secret to life is finding people you can truly believe in and sharing as much of your life as possible with them. Without those type of people, you would be….

lost.

Today is the two year anniversary of Truth About Mike. My deepest and most sincere thanks to everyone who has visited the site over the past two years.

Even though the frequency of my writing has gone down, I still have been trying to post something on Mondays.  The “Lost” 5.5 hour extravaganza is tonight and I’m not sure I will be able to write afterwards, so I am writing now.

I have been struck by my emotional reaction I have had to “Lost” ending.  Admittedly, I am a maudlin sap, but even this is strange for me.  I didn’t even start watching the show until almost the end of the second season.  I heard people rave about it, but I always figured it wasn’t the type of show I would like.  Because so(!) many people recommended it, I grabbed the first season DVD’s and I have been hooked ever since.  The first episode has to be one of the best pilot episodes in the history of television.  I caught up on the second season by teaching myself how to torrent videos and flew through the first two seasons in record pace.

I’m not really into sci-fi, but the allure of “Lost” (for me, anyways) is that it is so character driven.  Every time I was turned off by the sci-fi aspect of the show, or the endless mysteries the writers have portrayed, the thing that always brought be back was the characters.  I’ve grown to love Jack, Sawyer, Hurley, Kate, Locke, Sayid, Desmond and the rest of the gang.  I kept tuning back in and I will tune in tonight because I want to know what happens to them.

Another reason I love “Lost” is the soundtrack, beautifully produced by Michael Giacchino.  My cousin Mel has raved up and down about the “Lost” soundtrack and I never fully realized how great it was until the past few days.  There is so much going on in every “Lost” episode that it is easy to look past the great music.  I think I’ve listened to this particular piece at least thirty times today.

One of the amazing aspects of the show is the buzz it has created, mostly on the internet.  It is probably the first show in the history of television that has had an impact both via the TV airwaves and the world wide web.  There are blogs, fan sites, message boards and even a Lostapedia.

So, I’m sad today.  It feels like a good friend is moving away.  I guess you never really know what you have in life until it is gone.  Tonight will be an iconic (not ionic, Mayor Menino) night in the history of American television.  For me, it is going to rank up there with the “Seinfeld” and “Cheers” finales.  Love it or hate it (or even if you’ve never watched it), “Lost” has woven its way into the fabric of American pop culture.

Thanks J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Carlton Cuse for creating such a great show.

It has been one heck of a ride.

“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.”

I have used that Dickens quote a bunch of times on this site, but it has never felt more appropriate than right now.

Sports-wise, Thursday night was the best of times.  I’ve often blogged about my disdain for the city of Cleveland.  Watching the Celtics eliminate the Cavs was the next best thing (for me) other than winning a championship.  All year, we heard about how this was their year and that the city of Cleveland was finally going to win a championship for the first time since 1964.  This was supposed to be the year in which the King finally got his crown.

A funny thing happened on the way to the coronation.  What mostly everyone (including me) forgot, is that basketball is a team sport.  While Cleveland had the best player in the series, they didn’t have the best team in the series.  Somehow, the 2010 Celtics found a way to “flip the switch” and take their game to another level in the playoffs.  It the best of times because I watched the game up in Maine with my brother.  We went to a sports bar and (despite my best efforts to stay toned down), he said I was the loudest guy in the place.  Along with my feelings for Cleveland, I’m blaming the Shipyard Summer Ale.

Sports-wise, Friday night was the worst of times.  Watching the Bruins blow a 3-0 series lead to the Flyers was the worst feeling I’ve had watching sports since Super Bowl XLII.  This one hurt and it was 2003 ALCS level hurt.  It hurt even considering the Bruins have always been an afterthought for me when it came to Boston sports.  There simply isn’t enough time in the day to follow all four teams as closely as I would like.  To me, the Bruins became a victim of this time constraint.  After the Olympics, however, things changed.  For the first time since high school, I followed the Bruins closer than I followed the Celtics.

Ever since the NBA referee scandal, I’ve watched less and less of NBA basketball.  Even in 2008, I almost stopped watching because the officiating was so bad.  I lost my faith in the game.  Seeing the Celtics go on that magical run that year put my concerns on the backburner.  The great hockey during the Olympic games reminded me of how much I loved the sport.  It reminded me of high school, when I watched almost every Bruins game.  The Bruins are the only team I have ever skipped school for.

Even though the Bruins won the first three games of the Flyers series, I don’t see it as a choke (like the 2004 Yankees).  The 2010 Flyers and the 2010 Bruins are two very evenly matched teams.  The Bruins won Game 1 on an overtime goal.  They won Game 2 on a Milan Lucic goal with three minutes left in the game.  The Bruins were very fortunate to be up 3-0 in the series.  In 2004 ALCS, the Yankees thoroughly outplayed the Red Sox during the first three games.  There was no 19-8 blowout in the Bruins/Flyers series.

If you asked me before the Celtics and Bruins series which one I wanted more, without hesitation my answer would have been shaded green.  Even with the immense enjoyment I got out of seeing Cleveland lose, I’m still pretty bummed out over the Bruins loss.  Yesterday, the Celtics continued their inspired play by beating the Magic in Orlando.  Even as the Celtics sit seven wins away from the NBA Championship, I still can’t get over the Bruins loss.  It will probably take me a while before I do.

A few minutes ago, I begun the healing process.  I logged on to the Bruins website and bought a brand new Bruins shirt.  As soon as it arrives, I am going to wear the hell out of that shirt until September.  It is going to be my reminder that the future is bright for the Bruins.  In a little over a month, they will be selecting second in the NHL draft.  With that pick, the Bruins will either select Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin.

Tuukka (along with Taylor or Tyler) and the rest of the Bruins will be back.

And I love it!!!!!!

Cleveland sucks.

Last summer, I auctioned off the right for someone to write an entry on my blog.  The winner of that auction has asked that instead of writing something, that I link this column.

After reading it, I couldn’t get it posted fast enough.  I really can’t figure out this series.  Both teams have been so Jekyll and Hyde. I predicted “Cavs in 7″ at the start of the series, but at this point nothing would surprise me.  Also, while it sucks to admit this, the officiating during these NBA playoffs has really left a bad taste in my mouth regarding NBA basketball.  If the Celtics aren’t playing, I’m not watching.  This isn’t the case for the NHL playoffs.

While I dislike the city of Cleveland with the intensity of 1,000 (los) suns, I have always respected LeBron.  I thought he was the best player in the NBA.  Last night, I lost some respect for him.  He quit on his team and looked like he would have rather been anywhere else but in Quicken Loans Arena last night.

Even with that awesome win last night, I still think this series goes seven games.  I really, really, really, hope I am wrong.  Every series this round was a sweep.  The NBA needs a game seven on Sunday and my fear is that they will make sure they get it.

We’ll see.

Happy Birthday to my puppy who is two years old today.

To celebrate Miley’s birthday, I will watch this clip of Boston mayor Tom Menino about 99 times.  I cannot stop laughing at this.

From today’s Boston Globe:

“Sometimes when I’m watching “Friday Night Lights,’’ and I’ve got a big fat lump in my throat, I think, This is the best TV show ever. Ever. “Friday Night Lights’’ brings on the kind of viewing experience that heightens your emotional responses, makes you feel things more strongly as you watch. A rousing mix of grim small-town realism, Texas romanticism, moments of heroism, and the inspiring power of dreams, the show has a way of making your heart swell.”

1) Happy “Friday Night Lights” Day!  Season Four premieres at 8pm tonight on NBC.  I’ve written about it before, so I’m not going to go on too long about the show.  However, I will say this: Episode 5 of this season is the best episode of any TV show I’ve ever seen.  Even if you’ve never watched the show before, check it out (or DVR it) for the first five episodes.  I guarantee you will like it.  If you watch the first five episodes of Season Four and don’t like the show, I’ll buy you lunch.

2) Just like two weeks ago, tonight is an epic night of Boston sports.  The Sox host the Yankees, the C’s host the Cavs and the B’s play in Philly.  The Celtics win on Monday night was their best win of the year.  In one night, they stole home court advantage from the team that worked all season to earn it.  If they don’t win tonight, that game becomes meaningless.  They need to hold serve this weekend.

There is nothing that brings me more joy in sports than beating a team from Cleveland.  I dislike the Cleveland teams more than the Yankees and Lakers and I cannot wait for LeBron to leave that cesspool of a city.

3) As for the Bruins: If you aren’t watching these games, you are really missing out.  I’d have to think it over a little more, but playoff hockey is probably the most exciting sport one can watch.

Wednesday night, the B’s were hit with another injury (David Krejci’s wrist).  This is one of the biggest blows they will have to deal with this season.  All year they have absorbed these blows and kept fighting.  They are one win away from their first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals since 1992 and nine wins away from their first Stanley Cup since 1972.

The Force is quite strong with this team.