So today at the driving range I unleashed a 230-250 yard drive. I'm guessing it was closer to 250 if not more than that but it's really hard to tell when you hit it that far, when your hitting uphill etc. Mine landed left of the 250 marker, which was straight, perfectly straight. It was a dream shot.
I'm excited I can hit it that far.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Did You Know
Eating 14 hot dogs in 10 minutes would have gotten you last place in last years Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest.
After five hot dogs I would have thrown up, and I like hot dogs. A hot dog and bun is apparently 250 calories. Multiply that by 14 and you have 3500 calories in 10 minutes. All that you need for a day, maybe day and a half in hot dogs. YUMMY! You could add another 500 calories for me because of the ketch-up I would have put on it.
Can you imagine a horse jockey or gymnast taking part in a hot dog eating contest? That would be really entertaining. They would be as excited for the contest as a five year old is to get their finger pricked and get a round of shots.
Competitive eating must have started in college, a bar or by a bunch of bored high school kids in the middle of nowhere. This also just seems like such a drunk teenage guy thing.
"I bet I can eat 4 hot dogs in 5 minutes"
"Your a wuss, I raise you to 10 dogs in 10 minutes"
"Your just bluffing"
"Watch me not puke"
If I didn't love July 4th (and spending it in New Hampshire or my Lake House) so much I'd actually want to go travel to Coney Island to see this event take place. I would be one of 40,000 people to attend the event. That's more people than show up to Marlins games in June and July.
After five hot dogs I would have thrown up, and I like hot dogs. A hot dog and bun is apparently 250 calories. Multiply that by 14 and you have 3500 calories in 10 minutes. All that you need for a day, maybe day and a half in hot dogs. YUMMY! You could add another 500 calories for me because of the ketch-up I would have put on it.
Can you imagine a horse jockey or gymnast taking part in a hot dog eating contest? That would be really entertaining. They would be as excited for the contest as a five year old is to get their finger pricked and get a round of shots.
Competitive eating must have started in college, a bar or by a bunch of bored high school kids in the middle of nowhere. This also just seems like such a drunk teenage guy thing.
"I bet I can eat 4 hot dogs in 5 minutes"
"Your a wuss, I raise you to 10 dogs in 10 minutes"
"Your just bluffing"
"Watch me not puke"
If I didn't love July 4th (and spending it in New Hampshire or my Lake House) so much I'd actually want to go travel to Coney Island to see this event take place. I would be one of 40,000 people to attend the event. That's more people than show up to Marlins games in June and July.
Bicycle Kick
Ok I like it when people google something that was impressive and having it come up.
In case she thought no one saw it, Brooke Nasypany had a bicycle kick off of a cross that she blasted into the goal at Harvard Stadium.
I was impressed, but I would have saved it if I was in goal.
In case she thought no one saw it, Brooke Nasypany had a bicycle kick off of a cross that she blasted into the goal at Harvard Stadium.
I was impressed, but I would have saved it if I was in goal.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Athletes make sure you thank
Athletes should really thank the people who work at their games. I'm pretty sure that Breakers had little idea that people showed up to work their game at 9:00 and got home at 1:30 am. There are a lot of people who do that for athletes. I hope they realize how lucky they are and say thanks.
When you are a loser
Am I a loser? I guess that is debatable depending on who you are.
I know I am not one so you don't need to worry about my self esteem now!
I've never worked for a losing team until now. It's quite different that say reporting on the UConn Women's Basketball team or UConn Women's Soccer.
The team I am working for has gone 1-5-4 this season and is tied for last place. I can't tell you how much it sucks to work for a team that doesn't win. It sucks the energy out of you at work. It's so much harder to work when you are losing. I just can't explain to you how meaningless everything seems when the team you are working for is losing. It's so much more difficult to sell tickets when you can't say that the home team is going to win. It's so much harder to just wear your teams logo when they don't win. You almost want to hide the fact that you work for your team when they lose.
I always knew what it was like to win and it makes everything so easy and actually boring. Then when you lose everything seems meaningless. So be good, but not too good. Well be too good. That comes with perks too.
I know I am not one so you don't need to worry about my self esteem now!
I've never worked for a losing team until now. It's quite different that say reporting on the UConn Women's Basketball team or UConn Women's Soccer.
The team I am working for has gone 1-5-4 this season and is tied for last place. I can't tell you how much it sucks to work for a team that doesn't win. It sucks the energy out of you at work. It's so much harder to work when you are losing. I just can't explain to you how meaningless everything seems when the team you are working for is losing. It's so much more difficult to sell tickets when you can't say that the home team is going to win. It's so much harder to just wear your teams logo when they don't win. You almost want to hide the fact that you work for your team when they lose.
I always knew what it was like to win and it makes everything so easy and actually boring. Then when you lose everything seems meaningless. So be good, but not too good. Well be too good. That comes with perks too.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Big Day for New England Sports
For whatever reason the two biggest tour sports, NASCAR and the PGA Tour, come to New England the same weekend. It would actually be great if they were in seperate weeks so you could go to both.
I actually didn't go to either. I have taken part in the weeks festivities at NHMS twice and Travelers once. Never attended the main event, but smaller events like the celebrity pro-am and qualifying.
I followed both today on television. Both were entertaining. Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch battled at the end of the Lenox Tools 301 and in Cromwell there had to be a playoff to determine a winner.
I found both events captivating. I was dying to go do things outside in the nice weather but I couldn't leave the screen, especially with the golf because I saw all of the players choking. It felt good to know that I can play just as poorly as they did while coming down the stretch when I play.
In all seriousness though both events are in my opinion well run and fun to attend. I wish I had gone to either one. The golf today actually only featured two players choking. Three players played well at the end and made the tournament fun to watch. Had I been in the area I would have gone.
I actually did look to see how much it cost to have a membership to TPC River Highlands. Price was unlisted. I would have to request information to find out.
I actually didn't go to either. I have taken part in the weeks festivities at NHMS twice and Travelers once. Never attended the main event, but smaller events like the celebrity pro-am and qualifying.
I followed both today on television. Both were entertaining. Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch battled at the end of the Lenox Tools 301 and in Cromwell there had to be a playoff to determine a winner.
I found both events captivating. I was dying to go do things outside in the nice weather but I couldn't leave the screen, especially with the golf because I saw all of the players choking. It felt good to know that I can play just as poorly as they did while coming down the stretch when I play.
In all seriousness though both events are in my opinion well run and fun to attend. I wish I had gone to either one. The golf today actually only featured two players choking. Three players played well at the end and made the tournament fun to watch. Had I been in the area I would have gone.
I actually did look to see how much it cost to have a membership to TPC River Highlands. Price was unlisted. I would have to request information to find out.
Weekly Log line of week
"I had to pay as much attention to the game and twitter as Dustin Johnson did when hitting a golf ball in his final round of the U.S. Open."
"Erica is the one who I have to work hard to impress since her previous ex boyfriends are from two places I am from, Connecticut and Ashburnham. We actually talked about weddings while in the press box. I might be getting on her good side."
"It was at that moment that I knew why I didn’t find her camera. Being a guy I never would have assumed that a digital camera would be in a pink case. Oh the things you learn while on the job."
"Erica is the one who I have to work hard to impress since her previous ex boyfriends are from two places I am from, Connecticut and Ashburnham. We actually talked about weddings while in the press box. I might be getting on her good side."
"It was at that moment that I knew why I didn’t find her camera. Being a guy I never would have assumed that a digital camera would be in a pink case. Oh the things you learn while on the job."
Ironic that I am mentally tough in this sport
I can't tell you how strange it is that I feel like I grasp the mental game of golf pretty well...so far. I feel confident playing the game and I feel like golf is a game that is very tough on the mind. I find this strange in many ways because I feel like when I was younger that I couldn't mentally master sports. I think I lacked the mental ability to be really good at sports. I think a lot of that came from my father, who bless his heart means well, because he would be much more concerned about punishing you for a mistake than learning from a mistake. As a result I feared not making a mistake when I played. I tried too hard to be perfect. So far in golf I have been mentally sharp. By that I mean I was able to relax after I completely messed up a drive at the driving range. I regrouped, relaxed and unleashed a 200 yard drive. I remember the few shots that I hit really well much more than the shots that I didn't hit well. My confidence level for golf is really, strangely, high.
I think taking Sports Psychology with Dr. Burton helped me.
I think taking Sports Psychology with Dr. Burton helped me.
What Golf has taught be about life...so far
Here are a few things golf has taught me about life.
Power is ineffective unless you know how to use it right.
I am a fairly strong person. I can bench press my own weight, I have fairly strong arms and really strong legs. I can generate a lot of power. I can really TRY to hit the ball as hard as I can. When I tried to do that, and tried to force the ball 200 yards I hit it 95 yards and with a slice. When I relaxed and focused on my technique and how I used my power I was able to hit the ball well.
Just because you have power doesn't mean you will do good, or be good. You have to use your power correctly before you can do what you want. If you tell a person what they have to do, if you force them to do something they don't want to do then it won't happen. If you have power and can use it well you can get someone to do something because they want to.
Go OUTSIDE
Going outside into nature is really relaxing. Listening to the birds might help you get get more birdies and eagles.
Even when I was out at the driving range, and not on the course, I just marveled at how relaxing the whole experience was. I loved just listening to the birds chirp. I felt like I was in my element. It was so relaxing and it was such an escape from everyday life.
Getting off of the couch, and away from a computer screen or television screen and enjoying nature is a good and healthy thing to do every once in a while. I'm not saying you need to go hug trees, but enjoying nature is something that people should do more often. Walking through the woods beats reality television everyday of the week. Go visit a national park when you get the chance. Watch the leaves change in the fall. It's healthy to do that.
Focus on the GOOD and not the bad.
When I have been at the driving range lately I have taken a lot of bad shots. I have sliced shots so badly that they probably hit, or almost hit and startled people who were standing behind the driving range nets. However, I don't remember most of those shots. What I remember are the shots that I watched and looked so beautiful. Ones that went far and straight with my driver, or ones that went straight up in the air and right by the green, or marker I was aiming for when using my pitching wedge and sand wedge. Focusing on the good allows me to regroup from mistakes much more easily and makes me look forward to playing.
Leaving a situation thinking about the positives makes you much more confident and much happier. When you think about the negatives you won't persevere through problems. You will give up too easily. If you focus on the negatives you won't be as happy or as fun to be with. When you are positive people want to be around you and you are much more likely to have confidence, to relax and to do well. You will most importantly be happy and be more of a go-getter.
Be Patient
Everyone wants to go to a driving range or on to the course and be the best player right away. However, golf, and for that matter pretty much nothing else is that easy. It takes time and lots of practice before you will master the game and be anywhere close to the skill levels of those who have played for a long time.
Most things don't come easily, they take time and they take work. Having patience will also allow you to overcome obstacles. If you are impatient you give up too easily. If you are impatient and force things they don't usually work out.
It Forges Relationships
I have gotten to know Mr. Brooks (who is a family friend who is letting me live at his house while I work) so much better because he is teaching me golf. We are much closer then before. Golf gives us something in common that no one can take away from us. When I play golf in the future I will be reminded of him. I know that going to driving range is something that my long time friend Brian and I have been doing lately when I have been home. It allows us to catch-up and reminisce about old times.
Golf brings people together. Many relationships are built from going to a golf club regularly. It's a game you play with family and friends. Golf becomes more than just golf, it becomes about spending time with those that mean the most to you. Many of my friends play golf and that has certainly motivated me to learn the game. I have no problem if my friends don't invite me to play, or don't want to be around me or don't like me (then why would they be my friend? good question) or don't want me to play with them. That is fine, I don't mind those reasons. My inability to play is not a reason that is acceptable. I want to learn how to play so I have the ability to play and then since I can play hopefully spend more time with friends and family.
I can't say that I am the best at spending time with friends. I often like time to myself and I really like exercising when I'm not working. When I get free time the word exercise comes to my mind before anything else. I also like to get in to a routine and it can be difficult to break that. However, I am getting much better at just doing things on a whim and spending time with friends. Someone recently called me unpredictable which is a first. I liked that compliment because it was new and I've actually been trying to just be a little bit more unpredictable.
Spending time with friends is rewarding and is something I enjoy doing even when I occasionally wonder why exactly it is that I am traveling a few hours to do something I don't exactly want to do. I've realized the best part is the shared memory not the actual activity that you are taking part in.
P.S. This is probably my favorite thing that I have written for my blog, especially recently. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I don't have time to proofread right now, but I will because this post deserves to be perfect.
Power is ineffective unless you know how to use it right.
I am a fairly strong person. I can bench press my own weight, I have fairly strong arms and really strong legs. I can generate a lot of power. I can really TRY to hit the ball as hard as I can. When I tried to do that, and tried to force the ball 200 yards I hit it 95 yards and with a slice. When I relaxed and focused on my technique and how I used my power I was able to hit the ball well.
Just because you have power doesn't mean you will do good, or be good. You have to use your power correctly before you can do what you want. If you tell a person what they have to do, if you force them to do something they don't want to do then it won't happen. If you have power and can use it well you can get someone to do something because they want to.
Go OUTSIDE
Going outside into nature is really relaxing. Listening to the birds might help you get get more birdies and eagles.
Even when I was out at the driving range, and not on the course, I just marveled at how relaxing the whole experience was. I loved just listening to the birds chirp. I felt like I was in my element. It was so relaxing and it was such an escape from everyday life.
Getting off of the couch, and away from a computer screen or television screen and enjoying nature is a good and healthy thing to do every once in a while. I'm not saying you need to go hug trees, but enjoying nature is something that people should do more often. Walking through the woods beats reality television everyday of the week. Go visit a national park when you get the chance. Watch the leaves change in the fall. It's healthy to do that.
Focus on the GOOD and not the bad.
When I have been at the driving range lately I have taken a lot of bad shots. I have sliced shots so badly that they probably hit, or almost hit and startled people who were standing behind the driving range nets. However, I don't remember most of those shots. What I remember are the shots that I watched and looked so beautiful. Ones that went far and straight with my driver, or ones that went straight up in the air and right by the green, or marker I was aiming for when using my pitching wedge and sand wedge. Focusing on the good allows me to regroup from mistakes much more easily and makes me look forward to playing.
Leaving a situation thinking about the positives makes you much more confident and much happier. When you think about the negatives you won't persevere through problems. You will give up too easily. If you focus on the negatives you won't be as happy or as fun to be with. When you are positive people want to be around you and you are much more likely to have confidence, to relax and to do well. You will most importantly be happy and be more of a go-getter.
Be Patient
Everyone wants to go to a driving range or on to the course and be the best player right away. However, golf, and for that matter pretty much nothing else is that easy. It takes time and lots of practice before you will master the game and be anywhere close to the skill levels of those who have played for a long time.
Most things don't come easily, they take time and they take work. Having patience will also allow you to overcome obstacles. If you are impatient you give up too easily. If you are impatient and force things they don't usually work out.
It Forges Relationships
I have gotten to know Mr. Brooks (who is a family friend who is letting me live at his house while I work) so much better because he is teaching me golf. We are much closer then before. Golf gives us something in common that no one can take away from us. When I play golf in the future I will be reminded of him. I know that going to driving range is something that my long time friend Brian and I have been doing lately when I have been home. It allows us to catch-up and reminisce about old times.
Golf brings people together. Many relationships are built from going to a golf club regularly. It's a game you play with family and friends. Golf becomes more than just golf, it becomes about spending time with those that mean the most to you. Many of my friends play golf and that has certainly motivated me to learn the game. I have no problem if my friends don't invite me to play, or don't want to be around me or don't like me (then why would they be my friend? good question) or don't want me to play with them. That is fine, I don't mind those reasons. My inability to play is not a reason that is acceptable. I want to learn how to play so I have the ability to play and then since I can play hopefully spend more time with friends and family.
I can't say that I am the best at spending time with friends. I often like time to myself and I really like exercising when I'm not working. When I get free time the word exercise comes to my mind before anything else. I also like to get in to a routine and it can be difficult to break that. However, I am getting much better at just doing things on a whim and spending time with friends. Someone recently called me unpredictable which is a first. I liked that compliment because it was new and I've actually been trying to just be a little bit more unpredictable.
Spending time with friends is rewarding and is something I enjoy doing even when I occasionally wonder why exactly it is that I am traveling a few hours to do something I don't exactly want to do. I've realized the best part is the shared memory not the actual activity that you are taking part in.
P.S. This is probably my favorite thing that I have written for my blog, especially recently. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I don't have time to proofread right now, but I will because this post deserves to be perfect.
What I wonder about the Bradley's
I wonder how many people and soccer players have thought to themselves that Michael Bradley is only on the U.S. National Team, or was selected to a club team, high school all-star team etc. because his father is/was the coach.
For the record from what I have seen Michael Bradley got their on his own merit and skill.
However everyone always thinks about how they were cheated out of a spot on a team at a young age because of politics. Someone, or someone you know has used the excuse that they weren't selected for a team because the coaches son was. At some level their is always this idea that that player didn't make it because they were good, it's because they knew the right person.
I remember this occurring in my little league. A kid was selected for the all-star team and so many people I knew went nuts because they said he only made it because his father was the coach. As it turns out he was a solid starter on my high school's baseball team years later.
I wonder if anyone thought that about Michael Bradley. Off the top of my head I can't think of too many familial relationships between coaches and their children at the highest level of sport, like the National Teams. I wonder if Michael Bradley has had to endure any abuse or doubt of his skills because his father is a coach.
On the flip side I can't imagine how much pressure it must be to have your father be your head coach at such a high level of sport. I can see how conflicts could arise.
For the record from what I have seen Michael Bradley got their on his own merit and skill.
However everyone always thinks about how they were cheated out of a spot on a team at a young age because of politics. Someone, or someone you know has used the excuse that they weren't selected for a team because the coaches son was. At some level their is always this idea that that player didn't make it because they were good, it's because they knew the right person.
I remember this occurring in my little league. A kid was selected for the all-star team and so many people I knew went nuts because they said he only made it because his father was the coach. As it turns out he was a solid starter on my high school's baseball team years later.
I wonder if anyone thought that about Michael Bradley. Off the top of my head I can't think of too many familial relationships between coaches and their children at the highest level of sport, like the National Teams. I wonder if Michael Bradley has had to endure any abuse or doubt of his skills because his father is a coach.
On the flip side I can't imagine how much pressure it must be to have your father be your head coach at such a high level of sport. I can see how conflicts could arise.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
What I hate about soccer
The game between Ghana and the U.S. displayed the thing I HATE in soccer. It is POOR SPORTSMANSHIP to just lie down on the field and fake an injury. It's not part of any game and it doesn't belong on any field. Faking an injury is pathetic. Basically just lying down on your back to waste time is complete bull$%^#. I can live with subbing for the player who is farthest away, but not with injury faking.
RED CARD THEM.
You deserve a RED CARD if you lie down on the field and fake an injury. Get up and continue playing. If I was a referee I wouldn't hesitate to use it.
I don't tolerate it by any soccer player, one I root for or one I don't like.
It's poor sportsmanship.
Other things I can't stand are people who blame losses on the field surface, weather, that the coach got to see line-up cards two seconds early, or that a team took four extra shots in warms ups, or just other stupid excuses.
You played and you lost because you weren't better than the other team.
RED CARD THEM.
You deserve a RED CARD if you lie down on the field and fake an injury. Get up and continue playing. If I was a referee I wouldn't hesitate to use it.
I don't tolerate it by any soccer player, one I root for or one I don't like.
It's poor sportsmanship.
Other things I can't stand are people who blame losses on the field surface, weather, that the coach got to see line-up cards two seconds early, or that a team took four extra shots in warms ups, or just other stupid excuses.
You played and you lost because you weren't better than the other team.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Not surprised
I am not surprised that only Stanley Robinson was drafted from UConn this year in the NBA draft. Teams would have been stupid to have drafted the other big player from UConn who was a senior. Robinson is a great pick-up for the second to last pick in the draft. There I think he is a steal because for all he lacks in consistency he has in talent.
If someone can be patient with him and if he can learn to put things together the Magic could have selected a top 10 talent with the 59th pick.
Also Mike Rutt and Brian Gagnon of Men's Track and Field have advanced far into the USA Track and Field Championships. They are in the semi-final round and are the first Huskies to have advanced that far. Rutt was the fastest collegiate runner, and was seventh fastest overall.
Somehow another college runner placed higher than Rutt but had a slower time. I thought being the quickest was all that mattered in running! I hope they aren't trying to make things confusing for us.
If someone can be patient with him and if he can learn to put things together the Magic could have selected a top 10 talent with the 59th pick.
Also Mike Rutt and Brian Gagnon of Men's Track and Field have advanced far into the USA Track and Field Championships. They are in the semi-final round and are the first Huskies to have advanced that far. Rutt was the fastest collegiate runner, and was seventh fastest overall.
Somehow another college runner placed higher than Rutt but had a slower time. I thought being the quickest was all that mattered in running! I hope they aren't trying to make things confusing for us.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
here is a problem
I am spending too much time looking at golf clubs to buy and not enough time working to pay for them.
Wait, I'm an unpaid intern.
Shoot.
Wait, I'm an unpaid intern.
Shoot.
Very Musical, Very Italian and Very Good
Thought it would be worth mentioning that I actually paid some sort of attention to the World Cup in 2006. We went to an Italian restaurant, one of my favorite restaurants along with The Woodshed, named Giuseppes. It's slogan is Very Musical, Very Italian and Very Good.
I'm not Italian but Italians make good food and we thoroughly enjoy going to this place when in Meredith and the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, by far my favorite place in the world.
Anyway we went there during the World Cup final. I didn't know who was still playing and was unaware the game was going on at that time, but once we sat down to eat we knew exactly what was going on at the World Cup. The place erupted once Italy won.
Thought it was a good World Cup story. I wish I remembered more details than that, but that's all I know.
Well I know I had a Root Beer to drink because they don't have Pepsi, and I don't drink Coke, so I always get their special Root Beer. I had water and either Chicken Tenders or Garlic and Tomato Pizza.
I'm not Italian but Italians make good food and we thoroughly enjoy going to this place when in Meredith and the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, by far my favorite place in the world.
Anyway we went there during the World Cup final. I didn't know who was still playing and was unaware the game was going on at that time, but once we sat down to eat we knew exactly what was going on at the World Cup. The place erupted once Italy won.
Thought it was a good World Cup story. I wish I remembered more details than that, but that's all I know.
Well I know I had a Root Beer to drink because they don't have Pepsi, and I don't drink Coke, so I always get their special Root Beer. I had water and either Chicken Tenders or Garlic and Tomato Pizza.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
There are points in tennis?
Who knew there were points in Tennis? That 10 hour match has like 818 points between them or something. I'm really confused by this scoring system. As if 15- Love , 30 - Love, 40- Love, Deuce-Love or something like that. That is confusing enough as it is. How is it 59 to 59? I'm so confused by tennis scoring.
Is it just that you have to win by two?
I don't get it. I finally sort of understood that you somehow magically went from 15-30. Never quite understood why 40 was next. Maybe they went off the speed limits from my house to Route 137. 15 MPH on a street you don't need to know about. 30 on another one (trying to prevent stalkers here...just kidding) then 40 mph. Makes sense I guess.
Anyway I look forward to seeing how it ends, and the day my complete lack of understanding of tennis scoring ends. On the rare occasion that I have played (yes I took lessons in this sport too...and have long since forgot them) I never kept score because I didn't know how. Actually I'd keep track of all the times I hit it over the fence. If it landed in the pool I'd automatically get 30 points. If it hit someone I get 40, if it hit a girl in a bikini I'd get Love.
Totally made that last part up but it just came to me. It's me being creative again. Who knew I'd end up having creativity...maybe if you go back to my 8th grade writings you'd read my joking about Irish people and alcohol. Completely normal for a kid who doesn't really drink now and was 14 at the time.
Is it just that you have to win by two?
I don't get it. I finally sort of understood that you somehow magically went from 15-30. Never quite understood why 40 was next. Maybe they went off the speed limits from my house to Route 137. 15 MPH on a street you don't need to know about. 30 on another one (trying to prevent stalkers here...just kidding) then 40 mph. Makes sense I guess.
Anyway I look forward to seeing how it ends, and the day my complete lack of understanding of tennis scoring ends. On the rare occasion that I have played (yes I took lessons in this sport too...and have long since forgot them) I never kept score because I didn't know how. Actually I'd keep track of all the times I hit it over the fence. If it landed in the pool I'd automatically get 30 points. If it hit someone I get 40, if it hit a girl in a bikini I'd get Love.
Totally made that last part up but it just came to me. It's me being creative again. Who knew I'd end up having creativity...maybe if you go back to my 8th grade writings you'd read my joking about Irish people and alcohol. Completely normal for a kid who doesn't really drink now and was 14 at the time.
A goal of mine
The Connecticut Sports scene is defined by UCONN, and ESPN. The big sporting events are UCONN Games and The Travelers Championship/Greater Hartford Open/ whatever. I guess Pilot Penn is a big deal too. Maybe I'll venture to that since I've never been to a tennis match before. I'm not sure I look forward to shaking my head for three hours as I watch a ball go back and forth, but it should be an experience.
When I walked through Gampel Pavilion this week I realized that I think I was born to make Athletics in the State of Connecticut better. My play won't do much. I can't put the state on the map like hometown athletes such as Kristine Lilly could. However, I can do other things to make athletics in the state of Connecticut better. I want us to over shadow New York and New Jersey.
Anyway because my goal is to make our state better known and recognized for our athletic achievements I will set a personal goal of my own for me. As a matter of fact it's not a goal, it will happen. One day I will play in the celebrity Pro Am golf tournament. Mark my words on that one. I will play in it. Not in the near future per se, but I will play in it. Would I consider myself to ever be famous, no. However, having gone there to watch the Pro-Am last year I heard a lot of names that frankly I'd never heard of.
Now that I have seen success in golf for me, and I have a long ways to go, I know that I will be good at it with practice. I want to be good at it. I will be good at it and one day I will play in that Pro-Am, hopefully as the athletic director of UCONN or someone important at ESPN. It might be a long ways away, but it will happen. Mark my words. Anyone who knows me knows that when I say something wild and crazy, or off the cuff, that I often times make it come true.
When I walked through Gampel Pavilion this week I realized that I think I was born to make Athletics in the State of Connecticut better. My play won't do much. I can't put the state on the map like hometown athletes such as Kristine Lilly could. However, I can do other things to make athletics in the state of Connecticut better. I want us to over shadow New York and New Jersey.
Anyway because my goal is to make our state better known and recognized for our athletic achievements I will set a personal goal of my own for me. As a matter of fact it's not a goal, it will happen. One day I will play in the celebrity Pro Am golf tournament. Mark my words on that one. I will play in it. Not in the near future per se, but I will play in it. Would I consider myself to ever be famous, no. However, having gone there to watch the Pro-Am last year I heard a lot of names that frankly I'd never heard of.
Now that I have seen success in golf for me, and I have a long ways to go, I know that I will be good at it with practice. I want to be good at it. I will be good at it and one day I will play in that Pro-Am, hopefully as the athletic director of UCONN or someone important at ESPN. It might be a long ways away, but it will happen. Mark my words. Anyone who knows me knows that when I say something wild and crazy, or off the cuff, that I often times make it come true.
Don't give kids vuvuzelas
I had a tough day at work. I had to go watch the World Cup game with everyone at work at the CBS Scene Bar at Gillette Stadium.
First time to Gillette Stadium and it seems like an absolutely awesome place to watch a game. It seems amazing.
So I was at a bar at 10am, by far the earliest I've ever been to one. Then again I haven't been to too many bars and most people who know me know that. I was tempted to have a drink but it was on work time so I wasn't going to press my luck. Everyone at work waited to see what our general manager would do. If he had a drink then others could follow. If he didn't than no one could follow. He didn't so we didn't drink.
I experienced vuvuzelas live for the first time. A kid right behind me made me jump out of my seat and made me ear drums rattle. Thankfully he was socially aware enough to stop blowing that thing into my ear for the rest of the match.
Kids and vuvuzelas equals a bad idea because kids just have too much fun with them. They use them as swords or they just talk into them. You hear garbled mish mash from behind you that you can't help but try to decipher.
I can't believe the U.S. didn't win 10-0. There were so many opportunities to score and so many goals that referees took back...Ok it was one, but felt like more.
I was nervous at the end of the game and I wasn't sure that we could pull it off. I was so nervous, but hopeful. I spent the last 15 minutes texting Greg Mihailides to keep him updated. I just wanted to put GOAL in there and finally I did.
The Bar ERUPTED when we scored. It went nuts, it was a moment I will never forget. It was a great moment in sports that I will certainly never forget.
A minute or two after the goal was scored I texted Cory Bildstein to let her know her goal was still just as good as the one by Landon Donovan in my book.
After the game we got a free meal at a Mexican restaurant that sponsors our work. I had such a tough life today.
First time to Gillette Stadium and it seems like an absolutely awesome place to watch a game. It seems amazing.
So I was at a bar at 10am, by far the earliest I've ever been to one. Then again I haven't been to too many bars and most people who know me know that. I was tempted to have a drink but it was on work time so I wasn't going to press my luck. Everyone at work waited to see what our general manager would do. If he had a drink then others could follow. If he didn't than no one could follow. He didn't so we didn't drink.
I experienced vuvuzelas live for the first time. A kid right behind me made me jump out of my seat and made me ear drums rattle. Thankfully he was socially aware enough to stop blowing that thing into my ear for the rest of the match.
Kids and vuvuzelas equals a bad idea because kids just have too much fun with them. They use them as swords or they just talk into them. You hear garbled mish mash from behind you that you can't help but try to decipher.
I can't believe the U.S. didn't win 10-0. There were so many opportunities to score and so many goals that referees took back...Ok it was one, but felt like more.
I was nervous at the end of the game and I wasn't sure that we could pull it off. I was so nervous, but hopeful. I spent the last 15 minutes texting Greg Mihailides to keep him updated. I just wanted to put GOAL in there and finally I did.
The Bar ERUPTED when we scored. It went nuts, it was a moment I will never forget. It was a great moment in sports that I will certainly never forget.
A minute or two after the goal was scored I texted Cory Bildstein to let her know her goal was still just as good as the one by Landon Donovan in my book.
After the game we got a free meal at a Mexican restaurant that sponsors our work. I had such a tough life today.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Back in the natatorium
I think I have been back to campus more than any other recent college graduate ever. In my summer in between my last undergraduate semester and first graduate semester I have already been to campus four times. I've seen two of my three teachers and most people I work with. It's cool though. I like being in Storrs. There are already some freshman basketball players who past by me who I don't know. I've seen four soccer players since I've been back on campus. It's nice seeing them around because it's been awhile since we've had a practice.
Besides athletes and commuters there are a lot of orientation groups. I have wanted to jump in for fun but have resisted the temptation thus far.
There are really a lot of athletes around though. Other students often wonder why athletes tend to hang out with other athletes. I can think of a million reasons, from coincidence, to being teammates, to having similar schedules, classes, lifestyles etc. etc. Another one to add to the list is that they are on campus more often than anyone else. Many college athletes are on campus 11 months of the year. They simply have more time to hang out with each other. On top of that when there are less other people around you get to know those few who are around better.
I have gone to the Dairy Bar because it's too good not too. I have already gotten one Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake this summer and I am about to get another.
I also ran into Jacquie Fernandes today. I guess she remembered me because I got a hello from her and we made some small talk while she was walking by me. Nothing all that interesting, but she gets a shout out for atleast saying hello. I ran into some soccer players and we of course talked. Ran into a few people from marketing too. I saw my teachers too.
Everyone who I saw today knows I hit a golf ball 200 yards.
Everyone.
I must say I love Storrs when class isn't in session in the fall or spring. It's so nice outside. The weather is nice, not a lot of traffic. It's lovely here. It's the way college should be. Bright and sunny. Too bad most people remember it for cold, snowy and windy, or like this spring, muddy and rainy.
Besides athletes and commuters there are a lot of orientation groups. I have wanted to jump in for fun but have resisted the temptation thus far.
There are really a lot of athletes around though. Other students often wonder why athletes tend to hang out with other athletes. I can think of a million reasons, from coincidence, to being teammates, to having similar schedules, classes, lifestyles etc. etc. Another one to add to the list is that they are on campus more often than anyone else. Many college athletes are on campus 11 months of the year. They simply have more time to hang out with each other. On top of that when there are less other people around you get to know those few who are around better.
I have gone to the Dairy Bar because it's too good not too. I have already gotten one Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake this summer and I am about to get another.
I also ran into Jacquie Fernandes today. I guess she remembered me because I got a hello from her and we made some small talk while she was walking by me. Nothing all that interesting, but she gets a shout out for atleast saying hello. I ran into some soccer players and we of course talked. Ran into a few people from marketing too. I saw my teachers too.
Everyone who I saw today knows I hit a golf ball 200 yards.
Everyone.
I must say I love Storrs when class isn't in session in the fall or spring. It's so nice outside. The weather is nice, not a lot of traffic. It's lovely here. It's the way college should be. Bright and sunny. Too bad most people remember it for cold, snowy and windy, or like this spring, muddy and rainy.
By my birthday I should be able to
If I keep adding 25 yards to my golf drive everytime I go out than I think I should be able to hit one around the world.
I went to the driving range this morning and hit several straight and 200 yards. I am so THRILLED. I am so HAPPY.
I went to the driving range this morning and hit several straight and 200 yards. I am so THRILLED. I am so HAPPY.
Found this on facebook
I found this video on facebook. It's mocking the British Goalkeeper for his hands.
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1937620
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1937620
Monday, June 21, 2010
I just said everything happens for a reason
It does happen for a reason.
I've been stuck in Stamford for the day and I am glad I did. I finally heard that story that everyone is dying to hear from their parents.
The story about how your parents met.
This was especially awkward to bring up in my family because we don't talk about things like this all that often.
I admit I've wondered how it happened, but I wasn't sure I really wanted to know.
Apparently they met through some singles matching thing. Basically online dating without the online. To be fair, as cheesy as it might sound, it worked. My dad is two of four siblings (another is a priest) to be married and not divorced. My mom is one of six siblings to me married and not have divorced.
The proposal was so bad it should go in a movie. It was the exact opposite of how I would plan it. Apparently my dad said "So how is it going? Would August work?" My mom didn't catch on right away but after a little bit of time she did. Apparently my dad didn't even have a ring. To his credit he did figure out how to have my mom's grandmother's stone to use.
My parents met like that and the proposal was as unromantic as possible.
I am lucky for all, or any, of the social skills that I might have.
They say that apples don't fall far from the tree. In this case, I hope it does. I hope that I have more social skills and a much better proposal for the person I would spend my life with.
Knowing myself I would probably go so far over the top on a proposal. So far over the top. It would probably be on a mountain, with rose pedals and candles and just so far over the top that two things would happen. It would only happen in a movie, and she would say no.
If I do something, I usually go over the top, because my aim is always to be the best ever in anything that I am passionate about.
Wasn't about sports, but too bad. It was too good of a topic to not write about.
I've been stuck in Stamford for the day and I am glad I did. I finally heard that story that everyone is dying to hear from their parents.
The story about how your parents met.
This was especially awkward to bring up in my family because we don't talk about things like this all that often.
I admit I've wondered how it happened, but I wasn't sure I really wanted to know.
Apparently they met through some singles matching thing. Basically online dating without the online. To be fair, as cheesy as it might sound, it worked. My dad is two of four siblings (another is a priest) to be married and not divorced. My mom is one of six siblings to me married and not have divorced.
The proposal was so bad it should go in a movie. It was the exact opposite of how I would plan it. Apparently my dad said "So how is it going? Would August work?" My mom didn't catch on right away but after a little bit of time she did. Apparently my dad didn't even have a ring. To his credit he did figure out how to have my mom's grandmother's stone to use.
My parents met like that and the proposal was as unromantic as possible.
I am lucky for all, or any, of the social skills that I might have.
They say that apples don't fall far from the tree. In this case, I hope it does. I hope that I have more social skills and a much better proposal for the person I would spend my life with.
Knowing myself I would probably go so far over the top on a proposal. So far over the top. It would probably be on a mountain, with rose pedals and candles and just so far over the top that two things would happen. It would only happen in a movie, and she would say no.
If I do something, I usually go over the top, because my aim is always to be the best ever in anything that I am passionate about.
Wasn't about sports, but too bad. It was too good of a topic to not write about.
Love and Hate
Excuse me for this but I went biking and when I go biking I have time to think and be philosophical.
I think that the two emotions of love and hate touch each other. I think it's so easy to hate something if you love it.
Like cycling. I LOVE cycling, but I absolutely hate it because of all the maintenance required.
or
Like the Mets. I love them, but I hate them because they always disappoint me. Even when they disappoint me and I hate them, I want to watch them again because I love them.
When I get philosophical I get confusing. Then again I remember that philosophy was a confusing class.
I think that the two emotions of love and hate touch each other. I think it's so easy to hate something if you love it.
Like cycling. I LOVE cycling, but I absolutely hate it because of all the maintenance required.
or
Like the Mets. I love them, but I hate them because they always disappoint me. Even when they disappoint me and I hate them, I want to watch them again because I love them.
When I get philosophical I get confusing. Then again I remember that philosophy was a confusing class.
B.S. answers
There are a lot of B.S. answers in sports and in general, life. It's hard to know what is true and what isn't and what people are saying and what they are really thinking.
My favorite recruit answer to why they chose to attend a school is the standard,
"It gave me the best place to excel academically and athletically."
I've read that or heard that so many times and I quite honestly don't believe it, especially in college basketball. The moment you hear academics and men's basketball your B.S. radar should go haywire.
My favorite recruit answer to why they chose to attend a school is the standard,
"It gave me the best place to excel academically and athletically."
I've read that or heard that so many times and I quite honestly don't believe it, especially in college basketball. The moment you hear academics and men's basketball your B.S. radar should go haywire.
I'm so happy I didn't see my friend and go to my Lake House
So I was home in Stamford this past weekend, and today and probably Tomorrow. Today and Tomorrow was unexpected. I’m not in Stamford all that often so I try to spend time with the few people I stay in contact with in the area. I was hoping to go cycling with a friend of mine but they couldn’t because it was Father’s Day. I also wanted to go up to my Lake House before work to enjoy the beautiful day.
As I was pulling out of my driveway about to head back towards Boston I realized that I had some sort of car problem. Had I driven on it any further my tire could have fallen off because I had a broken control arm. (My car drives well, it is just older and needs new parts. I am a safe driver and it is a safe car. I feel obliged to say this to a certain parent for certain reasons that I think we both know. I wouldn't want to worry anyone) I knew something felt weird after I hit a construction bump on the Merritt Parkway while coming home but I couldn’t quite diagnose it at the time. I thought it was either a minor break or spring problem but that wasn’t it.
I’m SO happy that I didn’t see my friend. I’ve never been so happy not to see someone. Glad they couldn't make it. It would not have been worth the drive. Having to tell my friend that my wheel fell off would be embarrassing. It is a very believable excuse though. I'm glad I didn't get stuck somewhere on the way to my Lake House either in the middle of nowhere, on the way to see a nice sunset and watch the U.S. Open in my game room.
I realize that as much as I wanted to see my friend, it was AWESOME that I didn’t. Same goes for not being at the Lake House when it's actually nice out. It was meant not to happen. Everything happens for a reason and I realize this more and more as life goes on. The difficult part is understanding those reasons at first, but over time they always seem to work out. I think a great example for me would be, why didn’t I keep in touch with people from high school. When I come home I realize why. They work at CVS, they live at home and the only cool things they have done since high school is go to high school parties, as 20 year olds. The “It will be $9.93. Yo, remember Sirade’s class. Remember when Keri threw a book out the window” is more than enough conversation to keep me satiated. (A GRE word right there) There is a reason I don't keep in contact with them. There is no reason too we have separate lives now.
This subject of everything happening for a reason also gets me thinking about sports. There have to be reasons that things happen and don’t happen. There is a reason you got cut from your freshman basketball team. It was gods way of telling you to study algebra and read Twain.
Seeing Cory Bildstein’s goal got me to work with women’s soccer. Going to a lacrosse game with Ryan Grace ended up getting me a meeting with the athletic director which lead me to marketing which lead me to sports management.
The Cubs losing makes people appreciate the Cubs winning a lot more. There is a reason why Armando Galarraga got a perfect game taken away from him on a bad call by Jim Joyce. It was so people could actually for once sympathize with an umpire rather than treat them as the scum of earth. Rather than telling them that they are fat, lazy, blind, old farts who couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel.
There is a reason why UConn and Tennessee don’t play. It’s probably going to be so UConn and Baylor or Stanford can play and create some buzz. There is a reason that Dale Earnhardt died at Daytona, it was so safety would be made a concern and so that other drivers wouldn’t die.
There is a reason you lost the game. You didn’t prepare enough and you shouldn’t be rewarded for your lack of preparation. Out of that loss you will learn what is necessary to win.
Something good comes out of something bad because you always learn or benefit from failure. It may not seem like that at first, or for a few months, or years, but after a while you always understand why it turned out the way it did.
So Cleveland, if Lebron James were to leave there might be a reason for it. Maybe it’s so the Cavaliers will win the Draft Lottery and get someone better than Lebron. Maybe it’s so you will stop following basketball and spend more time with your family and friends.
As I was pulling out of my driveway about to head back towards Boston I realized that I had some sort of car problem. Had I driven on it any further my tire could have fallen off because I had a broken control arm. (My car drives well, it is just older and needs new parts. I am a safe driver and it is a safe car. I feel obliged to say this to a certain parent for certain reasons that I think we both know. I wouldn't want to worry anyone) I knew something felt weird after I hit a construction bump on the Merritt Parkway while coming home but I couldn’t quite diagnose it at the time. I thought it was either a minor break or spring problem but that wasn’t it.
I’m SO happy that I didn’t see my friend. I’ve never been so happy not to see someone. Glad they couldn't make it. It would not have been worth the drive. Having to tell my friend that my wheel fell off would be embarrassing. It is a very believable excuse though. I'm glad I didn't get stuck somewhere on the way to my Lake House either in the middle of nowhere, on the way to see a nice sunset and watch the U.S. Open in my game room.
I realize that as much as I wanted to see my friend, it was AWESOME that I didn’t. Same goes for not being at the Lake House when it's actually nice out. It was meant not to happen. Everything happens for a reason and I realize this more and more as life goes on. The difficult part is understanding those reasons at first, but over time they always seem to work out. I think a great example for me would be, why didn’t I keep in touch with people from high school. When I come home I realize why. They work at CVS, they live at home and the only cool things they have done since high school is go to high school parties, as 20 year olds. The “It will be $9.93. Yo, remember Sirade’s class. Remember when Keri threw a book out the window” is more than enough conversation to keep me satiated. (A GRE word right there) There is a reason I don't keep in contact with them. There is no reason too we have separate lives now.
This subject of everything happening for a reason also gets me thinking about sports. There have to be reasons that things happen and don’t happen. There is a reason you got cut from your freshman basketball team. It was gods way of telling you to study algebra and read Twain.
Seeing Cory Bildstein’s goal got me to work with women’s soccer. Going to a lacrosse game with Ryan Grace ended up getting me a meeting with the athletic director which lead me to marketing which lead me to sports management.
The Cubs losing makes people appreciate the Cubs winning a lot more. There is a reason why Armando Galarraga got a perfect game taken away from him on a bad call by Jim Joyce. It was so people could actually for once sympathize with an umpire rather than treat them as the scum of earth. Rather than telling them that they are fat, lazy, blind, old farts who couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel.
There is a reason why UConn and Tennessee don’t play. It’s probably going to be so UConn and Baylor or Stanford can play and create some buzz. There is a reason that Dale Earnhardt died at Daytona, it was so safety would be made a concern and so that other drivers wouldn’t die.
There is a reason you lost the game. You didn’t prepare enough and you shouldn’t be rewarded for your lack of preparation. Out of that loss you will learn what is necessary to win.
Something good comes out of something bad because you always learn or benefit from failure. It may not seem like that at first, or for a few months, or years, but after a while you always understand why it turned out the way it did.
So Cleveland, if Lebron James were to leave there might be a reason for it. Maybe it’s so the Cavaliers will win the Draft Lottery and get someone better than Lebron. Maybe it’s so you will stop following basketball and spend more time with your family and friends.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
70 Books
So I've been cleaning out my house and I found more baseball books. I have 70 baseball books. That's the newest count. I found 15 more today so I think that puts me at 70.
I also found a Sam Cassell Houston Rockets jersey from the 1990's. A true throwback jersey.
I found a shirt from the 1998 All-Star game with Mark McGwire on it. I threw out some Yankees shirts that someone had given me.
I should have burned them.
I found little league programs, which I threw out. Fun to look through for a bit though.
I found a lot of magazines that needed to be thrown out. I keep Super Bowl ones and World Series covers but throw out the others, unless they have an interesting stories in them about sports.
I saw a Jamarcus Russell ESPN Cover about how he was the next big thing. I saw lots of interesting covers. One of my favorites I cut out and posted on my wall about T.O. and Donovan McNabb and how close they are. It really is funny to look through magazine covers to see what big things were going on in the world five years ago.
Then throw them out and move on.
I also found a Sam Cassell Houston Rockets jersey from the 1990's. A true throwback jersey.
I found a shirt from the 1998 All-Star game with Mark McGwire on it. I threw out some Yankees shirts that someone had given me.
I should have burned them.
I found little league programs, which I threw out. Fun to look through for a bit though.
I found a lot of magazines that needed to be thrown out. I keep Super Bowl ones and World Series covers but throw out the others, unless they have an interesting stories in them about sports.
I saw a Jamarcus Russell ESPN Cover about how he was the next big thing. I saw lots of interesting covers. One of my favorites I cut out and posted on my wall about T.O. and Donovan McNabb and how close they are. It really is funny to look through magazine covers to see what big things were going on in the world five years ago.
Then throw them out and move on.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
It hydrates twice as much as others
I could have sworn I read an advertisement for a bottled water that said it hydrates twice as much as other water.
How?
The person who decided to bottle water is a genius. I drink out of the tap. I am proud to just put a cup underneath the faucet, but I must say the person who bottled water is so smart.
How?
The person who decided to bottle water is a genius. I drink out of the tap. I am proud to just put a cup underneath the faucet, but I must say the person who bottled water is so smart.
Couldn't play here
So I'm actually doing work right now for my internship, but the game is at halftime so I have nothing to tweet about.
Pepsi is all that is keeping me awake right now.
So I started looking at some golf things. Mainly how expensive it is and how I so can't afford to play.
Sterling Farms is probably the closest place to me to play in Stamford. Another one that is really close by is Pound Ridge Country Club in New York. I've heard a few things about this place. Mainly that it is really expensive. I had to check out to see how expensive. How about you can never play a round for less than $105. You also can't use the driving range unless you pay a greens fee. You do get a complimentary water bottle for playing though. What a deal!
Ok so doesn't sound like place I would want to play at. That's WAY too expensive.
Does sound like a place I'd want to work though. If you'd pay $105 or more to play a round of golf you'd also probably pay me $100 for telling you random UConn Women's Soccer stats while playing. Plus if people actually pay that much to play there has to be some revenue being generated. Plus it's not all that far from my house. It would be a PAINLESS commute. A bike-able one. Possibly worth investigating. It would certainly be a temporary, one time thing for next summer though because I have heard that working at a golf course can only teach you so much. From what I heard there is a lot of brainless work at a golf course, like moving carts, signing people in, cleaning things blah, blah and blah. Not exactly resume building for what I want to do. I don't want to tell my next employer that I learned how to change tires on a golf cart in 3 minutes or less. Not sure how that would help me in college athletics. However, it's so different from what I have done that I would learn something from it, but I don't know what exactly it would be. I'd have to see if it was all in all worth it.
But I'd go for something at ESPN over this any day of the week.
Pepsi is all that is keeping me awake right now.
So I started looking at some golf things. Mainly how expensive it is and how I so can't afford to play.
Sterling Farms is probably the closest place to me to play in Stamford. Another one that is really close by is Pound Ridge Country Club in New York. I've heard a few things about this place. Mainly that it is really expensive. I had to check out to see how expensive. How about you can never play a round for less than $105. You also can't use the driving range unless you pay a greens fee. You do get a complimentary water bottle for playing though. What a deal!
Ok so doesn't sound like place I would want to play at. That's WAY too expensive.
Does sound like a place I'd want to work though. If you'd pay $105 or more to play a round of golf you'd also probably pay me $100 for telling you random UConn Women's Soccer stats while playing. Plus if people actually pay that much to play there has to be some revenue being generated. Plus it's not all that far from my house. It would be a PAINLESS commute. A bike-able one. Possibly worth investigating. It would certainly be a temporary, one time thing for next summer though because I have heard that working at a golf course can only teach you so much. From what I heard there is a lot of brainless work at a golf course, like moving carts, signing people in, cleaning things blah, blah and blah. Not exactly resume building for what I want to do. I don't want to tell my next employer that I learned how to change tires on a golf cart in 3 minutes or less. Not sure how that would help me in college athletics. However, it's so different from what I have done that I would learn something from it, but I don't know what exactly it would be. I'd have to see if it was all in all worth it.
But I'd go for something at ESPN over this any day of the week.
How about
How about Vuvuzelas in golf?
Can you imagine that? I think that would be awesome. Got to be honest though, if you are in your zone they shouldn't really bother you that much...I mean I think I'm pretty good at tuning out constant sounds.
Can you imagine that? I think that would be awesome. Got to be honest though, if you are in your zone they shouldn't really bother you that much...I mean I think I'm pretty good at tuning out constant sounds.
G, it changed the game
So on to a serious post about my time at the driving range yesterday.
I've been home for a couple of days and I've realized that home doesn't really feel like home anymore. I'm almost never in Stamford and therefore no food that I like seems to be around. On top of that nothing seems to be where it used to be.
I had to go to the grocery store to get some gatorade so I would have something to drink after working out. I did this on the way to the driving range. As I was in the aisle I saw G 1 "Prime." It's supposed to get you going and help give you some edge or whatever marketing slogan they came up with. I figured that with my golf game the way it is, why not try to see if "G 1" could "Change my GOLF game." I paid $1.69 for a whopping 4 ounces of this stuff. I thought that it BETTER work.
I can't definitively say that it did or didn't help me. Ok I'd say it probably didn't even though I love Gatorade, but I did do much better this time at the range. I did a lot of practice with a pitching wedge. I was able to get it on or close to the green, or in the direction of the green atleast 70-80% of the timem which is pretty good since I just learned how to swing a pitching wedge on Tuesday. I took out my driver and I still slice, although I did pull (maybe that's called draw in golf terms) a few over the netting, and hit a few more straight, but got underneath them. Then I had one drive that was so good. It was unbelievably good. It was 175 yards and it went straight. I was in absolute shock. I know it was me who hit it, but I still was in disbelief that I hit a shot that well with a driver. It was the only good one, but it was atleast a good one and I walked away from the range happy that I had improved. Happiness and Improvement are all I can ask for.
Did "G 1" change the game? I don't know, you can decide.
I've been home for a couple of days and I've realized that home doesn't really feel like home anymore. I'm almost never in Stamford and therefore no food that I like seems to be around. On top of that nothing seems to be where it used to be.
I had to go to the grocery store to get some gatorade so I would have something to drink after working out. I did this on the way to the driving range. As I was in the aisle I saw G 1 "Prime." It's supposed to get you going and help give you some edge or whatever marketing slogan they came up with. I figured that with my golf game the way it is, why not try to see if "G 1" could "Change my GOLF game." I paid $1.69 for a whopping 4 ounces of this stuff. I thought that it BETTER work.
I can't definitively say that it did or didn't help me. Ok I'd say it probably didn't even though I love Gatorade, but I did do much better this time at the range. I did a lot of practice with a pitching wedge. I was able to get it on or close to the green, or in the direction of the green atleast 70-80% of the timem which is pretty good since I just learned how to swing a pitching wedge on Tuesday. I took out my driver and I still slice, although I did pull (maybe that's called draw in golf terms) a few over the netting, and hit a few more straight, but got underneath them. Then I had one drive that was so good. It was unbelievably good. It was 175 yards and it went straight. I was in absolute shock. I know it was me who hit it, but I still was in disbelief that I hit a shot that well with a driver. It was the only good one, but it was atleast a good one and I walked away from the range happy that I had improved. Happiness and Improvement are all I can ask for.
Did "G 1" change the game? I don't know, you can decide.
Two athletes I could do with out
I don't like Pau Gasol. I can't give you an exact reason but I just don't care for him.
Francisco Cervelli really annoys me. The Yankees catcher tried to pretend that the ball got by him and went to the back stop twice. Clever if your on his team, annoying and to me bad sportsmanship if you aren't a fan of him or his team. The fact he is a Yankee makes me dislike him even more.
Francisco Cervelli really annoys me. The Yankees catcher tried to pretend that the ball got by him and went to the back stop twice. Clever if your on his team, annoying and to me bad sportsmanship if you aren't a fan of him or his team. The fact he is a Yankee makes me dislike him even more.
Friday, June 18, 2010
I Think...I am...Falling in Love
Who doesn't love juicy gossip. Tom Cruise jumped up and down on a couch on Oprah. It worked for him. I think I am going to profess my love on my blog.
I am afraid I might be falling in love.
After a lot of flirting and teasing on both our parts I think I am ready to take my relationship to the next level.
I've made eyes with golf clubs and courses for years but I've never really made a move. I always teased the clubs and game by saying I would play, and by taking lessons and by playing lots of mini golf, but I'd never think about doing anything more than that.
After being reintroduced to golf clubs by a family friend I have decided that I am going to be making my move now.
We, (my clubs and I) went out on a date to the driving range. We had fun and we went again. Then after the driving range for the second time we went and did something a little bit more private. I went to the putting green, which is so much more intimate then the driving range with all those people, those annoying ball picker-uppers and lots of flying golf balls.
My golf club and I shared a special moment while on that practice putting green. After sinking a chip shot on my 14th ever chip (this is what I call fate) my golf club and I shared our first kiss. When my lips touched my club I tasted dirt and I just began to blush. My clubs and I went home after that, both so excited and anticipating our next date.
Someone suggested that I play hard to get with my clubs but I just have an addictive personality. I knew that golf had a lot of fun with me and that I had a lot of fun with golf so I decided that we should go out on another date immediately.
I traveled two hours two days later and went to a putting green to do some more chipping. Things were going so well. I didn't hit one into the hole but I came close. It wasn't perfect, but it was challenging so I kept wanting to play. Golf and I spent another hour together that day. The challenge made it fun and I did well enough that we decided that we needed another date, immediately, so we went to the driving range the next day.
On the date to the driving range I got blisters, but like the cliche says, "No pain, No Love"...ok maybe gain. I also drove one ball 175 yards, a new personal best. My chipping was more consistent on this date. Golf and I have been on so many dates now and we've had so much fun. It's been five hours since I've seen my golf clubs but it feels like five years. I have been facebook stalking and googling them for the last three hours. This isn't healthy, but it feels so good.
It sucks that facebook stalking has lead me to see some problems but I think, somehow, our relationship will overcome these problems. Golf is so expensive and so high maintenance. Finding out prices of greens fees, driving range fees, golf balls, cost of a round and of new clubs is definitely throwing up some red flags but I don't know if that is enough to keep me away. I really think I am falling for golf. I think we are falling in love. We are not a bad romance, we are more than just friends.
P.S. Buy us a toaster for our wedding.
You have to admit this was different, but very creative.
I am afraid I might be falling in love.
After a lot of flirting and teasing on both our parts I think I am ready to take my relationship to the next level.
I've made eyes with golf clubs and courses for years but I've never really made a move. I always teased the clubs and game by saying I would play, and by taking lessons and by playing lots of mini golf, but I'd never think about doing anything more than that.
After being reintroduced to golf clubs by a family friend I have decided that I am going to be making my move now.
We, (my clubs and I) went out on a date to the driving range. We had fun and we went again. Then after the driving range for the second time we went and did something a little bit more private. I went to the putting green, which is so much more intimate then the driving range with all those people, those annoying ball picker-uppers and lots of flying golf balls.
My golf club and I shared a special moment while on that practice putting green. After sinking a chip shot on my 14th ever chip (this is what I call fate) my golf club and I shared our first kiss. When my lips touched my club I tasted dirt and I just began to blush. My clubs and I went home after that, both so excited and anticipating our next date.
Someone suggested that I play hard to get with my clubs but I just have an addictive personality. I knew that golf had a lot of fun with me and that I had a lot of fun with golf so I decided that we should go out on another date immediately.
I traveled two hours two days later and went to a putting green to do some more chipping. Things were going so well. I didn't hit one into the hole but I came close. It wasn't perfect, but it was challenging so I kept wanting to play. Golf and I spent another hour together that day. The challenge made it fun and I did well enough that we decided that we needed another date, immediately, so we went to the driving range the next day.
On the date to the driving range I got blisters, but like the cliche says, "No pain, No Love"...ok maybe gain. I also drove one ball 175 yards, a new personal best. My chipping was more consistent on this date. Golf and I have been on so many dates now and we've had so much fun. It's been five hours since I've seen my golf clubs but it feels like five years. I have been facebook stalking and googling them for the last three hours. This isn't healthy, but it feels so good.
It sucks that facebook stalking has lead me to see some problems but I think, somehow, our relationship will overcome these problems. Golf is so expensive and so high maintenance. Finding out prices of greens fees, driving range fees, golf balls, cost of a round and of new clubs is definitely throwing up some red flags but I don't know if that is enough to keep me away. I really think I am falling for golf. I think we are falling in love. We are not a bad romance, we are more than just friends.
P.S. Buy us a toaster for our wedding.
You have to admit this was different, but very creative.
This is new
Yes I watched the US win 3-2, I mean tie 2-2 against Slovenia.
I know nothing about soccer, but I think most Americans would have been fine with me as referee in South Africa today.
I don't want to dwell on the refereeing. I don't want that referee to be the next Kenny Wilcoxen.
(For those of you not aware of this story you should probably read it. You might change your mind about yelling at referees all the time)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1006129/index.htm
The most bizarre thing about the entire goal being disallowed to me is that after the match no one has any idea why the goal wasn't allowed. That's not a good thing. Explanations are always necessary and not having one is by far the strangest thing I've ever heard of in terms of refereeing. You must have a reason for a call. Even if you are know you are wrong a referee must confidently and definitively have a reason for making a call. He must be able to back up the call.
I know nothing about soccer, but I think most Americans would have been fine with me as referee in South Africa today.
I don't want to dwell on the refereeing. I don't want that referee to be the next Kenny Wilcoxen.
(For those of you not aware of this story you should probably read it. You might change your mind about yelling at referees all the time)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1006129/index.htm
The most bizarre thing about the entire goal being disallowed to me is that after the match no one has any idea why the goal wasn't allowed. That's not a good thing. Explanations are always necessary and not having one is by far the strangest thing I've ever heard of in terms of refereeing. You must have a reason for a call. Even if you are know you are wrong a referee must confidently and definitively have a reason for making a call. He must be able to back up the call.
Weekly Log Line of the Week
I have a couple of things that I will post from this week.
"A day after setting up the game my body feels like I took part in three triathlons, had my shoulders bitten into by four Mike Tyson’s and that I had been hit in my thighs by Ray Lewis until they went numb. I work out, as a matter of fact I received an award in high school for my commitment to physical education, but wow I felt sore afterwards."
"It’s so cool being able to be on facebook at work. It’s part of my job to go on facebook. I’ve had a facebook chat with a couple people from your sports marketing class while they were at work this summer. I feel bad for them because they have to hide being on facebook at work. I don’t. I guess that is why my mom always says I’m special."
"A day after setting up the game my body feels like I took part in three triathlons, had my shoulders bitten into by four Mike Tyson’s and that I had been hit in my thighs by Ray Lewis until they went numb. I work out, as a matter of fact I received an award in high school for my commitment to physical education, but wow I felt sore afterwards."
"It’s so cool being able to be on facebook at work. It’s part of my job to go on facebook. I’ve had a facebook chat with a couple people from your sports marketing class while they were at work this summer. I feel bad for them because they have to hide being on facebook at work. I don’t. I guess that is why my mom always says I’m special."
Gampel
I love being in Gampel and I am so used to it being quiet. So many people see arenas and stadiums when they are full, I feel like I almost only see them when they are empty, especially Gampel.
Gampel is a peaceful place to me, just like Lake Winnipesaukee, Mount Watatic, the Cathedral of the Pines and a whole host of other places. I don't think of it as some crazy place with loud and screaming fans. I think of it as a quiet place that always has a small buzz of the overhead lights in the background. When I am in Gampel I feel like I am home.
Home, by the way, is a strange concept to me. I don't know what to call home. Home could arguable be any of four places...maybe five. It could be Stamford, where I was born and raised and am right now. It's "Home Home" for me. It basically stores a lot of old crap that I will need to go through when my parents retire and move out...which is coming quicker than I think. Then there is Ashburnham which is "Home" and has most of the things that I use on a day to day basis. You could say Storrs is my home because I always feel so happy when I am there. You could say Coventry is my home because I will have an apartment there next year. You could say Sudbury is a temporary home for me because I stay there when I work in the office. Maybe Home is my car. I seem to be spending a lot of time in it. Maybe New Hampshire is home because I love that state and have gone for an 8 mile run just to say I ran to New Hampshire. I hiked a trail just to say I hiked to New Hampshire. I was worried about cycling on a flat tire, but rather than turn around I decided to keep going til I got to New Hampshire before I turned back.
Home is strange, but the fact that I even consider Gampel home to me is interesting I guess. I love that place, and I should because it is really the home to my University and my major. It represents the State of Connecticut in athletics. I don't know what I was born to do yet, but somehow putting Connecticut athletics on the world sports map wouldn't seem to far off. Maybe there is a reason why the buzz of those lights, those empty seats, and tons of banners make me feel like I am home.
Gampel is a peaceful place to me, just like Lake Winnipesaukee, Mount Watatic, the Cathedral of the Pines and a whole host of other places. I don't think of it as some crazy place with loud and screaming fans. I think of it as a quiet place that always has a small buzz of the overhead lights in the background. When I am in Gampel I feel like I am home.
Home, by the way, is a strange concept to me. I don't know what to call home. Home could arguable be any of four places...maybe five. It could be Stamford, where I was born and raised and am right now. It's "Home Home" for me. It basically stores a lot of old crap that I will need to go through when my parents retire and move out...which is coming quicker than I think. Then there is Ashburnham which is "Home" and has most of the things that I use on a day to day basis. You could say Storrs is my home because I always feel so happy when I am there. You could say Coventry is my home because I will have an apartment there next year. You could say Sudbury is a temporary home for me because I stay there when I work in the office. Maybe Home is my car. I seem to be spending a lot of time in it. Maybe New Hampshire is home because I love that state and have gone for an 8 mile run just to say I ran to New Hampshire. I hiked a trail just to say I hiked to New Hampshire. I was worried about cycling on a flat tire, but rather than turn around I decided to keep going til I got to New Hampshire before I turned back.
Home is strange, but the fact that I even consider Gampel home to me is interesting I guess. I love that place, and I should because it is really the home to my University and my major. It represents the State of Connecticut in athletics. I don't know what I was born to do yet, but somehow putting Connecticut athletics on the world sports map wouldn't seem to far off. Maybe there is a reason why the buzz of those lights, those empty seats, and tons of banners make me feel like I am home.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Boston fan
So I was sitting in traffic today and a Boston Red Sox fan took his Boston hat and waved it out of his car.
Another reason why Boston Red Sox fans are better than Yankees fans.
Another reason why Boston Red Sox fans are better than Yankees fans.
Orange Juice
I am going to write about O.J.
O.J.Simpson.
I like writing about less controversial subjects.
I don't know if people from my generation truly grasp just how big O.J. was. I had an understanding that he was more than a football player but the 30 for 30 documentary gave me a better appreciation for his status in American culture.
My generation knows that O.J. played football, but know him more for his White Ford Bronco and that if the glove didn't fit than that you must acquit. Most know he was sent to jail again later in his life.
Lets get a better understanding of just how big O.J. was.
Simpson was the first running back to have over 2,000 yards in a season and the only one to have done so in a 14 game season. He averaged 143.1 yards per game in one season. He had over 200 yards rushing in six games in his career and was a six time pro bowler. He had over 11,000 yards in his career. He was an obvious hall of famer. In college he won the Heisman and lead the country in rushing in both seasons he played at USC. He also won the Maxwell award and Walter Camp award and won the Heisman Trophy by 1,750 votes, the largest margin of victory ever.
That's not all though. Simpson was more than just a football player. Simpson did a lot of television advertisements and was an actor in numerous movies. He even was a commentator for games.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV8Nx1EOkIo
"How many times have you wanted to pack it in and take off" You will see the irony in this one...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkmsH4VW8Zk
Simpson even hosted Saturday Night Live in 1978.
He worked as a commentator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK3LmWI0CWc&feature=related
A public service announcement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PQJf47nMzw&feature=related
As an actor Simpson was in the "Naked Gun Series"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YembxTLnuzQ
I can't think of an athlete who is similar to Simpson in today's game. The closest seem to be Peyton Manning, or Lebron James. Imagine either of those two taking the fall of grace that Simpson did. It's unimaginable to us, probably how unimaginable it was to many people when they first heard about O.J.'s problems in 1994.
O.J.Simpson.
I like writing about less controversial subjects.
I don't know if people from my generation truly grasp just how big O.J. was. I had an understanding that he was more than a football player but the 30 for 30 documentary gave me a better appreciation for his status in American culture.
My generation knows that O.J. played football, but know him more for his White Ford Bronco and that if the glove didn't fit than that you must acquit. Most know he was sent to jail again later in his life.
Lets get a better understanding of just how big O.J. was.
Simpson was the first running back to have over 2,000 yards in a season and the only one to have done so in a 14 game season. He averaged 143.1 yards per game in one season. He had over 200 yards rushing in six games in his career and was a six time pro bowler. He had over 11,000 yards in his career. He was an obvious hall of famer. In college he won the Heisman and lead the country in rushing in both seasons he played at USC. He also won the Maxwell award and Walter Camp award and won the Heisman Trophy by 1,750 votes, the largest margin of victory ever.
That's not all though. Simpson was more than just a football player. Simpson did a lot of television advertisements and was an actor in numerous movies. He even was a commentator for games.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV8Nx1EOkIo
"How many times have you wanted to pack it in and take off" You will see the irony in this one...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkmsH4VW8Zk
Simpson even hosted Saturday Night Live in 1978.
He worked as a commentator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK3LmWI0CWc&feature=related
A public service announcement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PQJf47nMzw&feature=related
As an actor Simpson was in the "Naked Gun Series"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YembxTLnuzQ
I can't think of an athlete who is similar to Simpson in today's game. The closest seem to be Peyton Manning, or Lebron James. Imagine either of those two taking the fall of grace that Simpson did. It's unimaginable to us, probably how unimaginable it was to many people when they first heard about O.J.'s problems in 1994.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
I get lost in my work
I can't tell you how many times I lost track of time when I do some of the things that I work on. A lot of times when I work on a writing, sports information research, a graphic (which I'm not at all good at yet) or a highlight video I have a vision in my head of how I want it to turn out. I work, and have no concept of time, until I reach my goal. I've been up at some of the oddest times before working on these things. If I have something in my head that I want I can't just go to bed or stop what I am doing and come back to it.
For example I worked on a graphic last night. I wanted to watch the Lakers vs Celtics game and I was physically in front of the TV but I have no idea what happened. All I did was work on my graphic.
For example I worked on a graphic last night. I wanted to watch the Lakers vs Celtics game and I was physically in front of the TV but I have no idea what happened. All I did was work on my graphic.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Stow Acres Country Club
I said I was going to learn how to play golf.
People say they are going to do a lot of things. I've said I've been going to learn golf FOR YEARS. Finally I did something about it. Well I mean those lessons from 6 years ago are long since forgotten. Time I did something about it again.
I learned a lot of the basics from a family friend at Stow Acres Country Club, which at one time was a Top 50 U.S. Public Course. It was really pretty. A lot of the basics. I corrected so many things. Consistency isn't down yet, but it's getting there.
I was having fun and cracking a few jokes at my play. At one point I hit a clunker, than hit a great shot and then a clunker again. I said "Well I must be due for a great shot next."
At one point I hit the head of the club further than the ball. That's never a good thing.
So I broke one club...One of the Brook's clubs. Not really a good thing. However, it wasn't my fault. I've seen or heard about that happening, but only when you swing and actually hit the ground with the club. I hit the ball almost perfectly in the middle of the club and the head of the club just decided to go with the ball. Mr. Brooks said it was a great swing.
The good I took from it was that I hit it straight...both the ball and head of the club went straight.
The highlight for me came at the putting green. I learned chipping and pitching. Pitching took awhile to get used too. So did chipping. Other people were there and I swung a little too hard once or twice. I was conscious to try not to hit other people. Thankfully I didn't. I kept wanting to practice chipping. I hit 13 of them on to the green. Then I hit my 14th...out of the rough and on to the green and wouldn't you know it...INTO THE HOLE. YES THIS GUY TYPING RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY CHIPPED A BALL INTO THE HOLE ON THE PRACTICE GREEN ON MY 14th EVER CHIP SHOT.
I smartly called it quits at that because sadly I knew that from that high of highs that I could only disappoint myself.
I would also only disappoint you if I wrote more. Let's leave on that great note of me somehow chipping the ball into the hole. I certainly impressed myself and Mr. Brooks.
P.S. Mr Brooks had a lot of positives for me about my golf swing...The word NATURAL came out of his mouth for part of my swing. I don't know about that, but I can see myself getting better. Now I need to find time to practice.
People say they are going to do a lot of things. I've said I've been going to learn golf FOR YEARS. Finally I did something about it. Well I mean those lessons from 6 years ago are long since forgotten. Time I did something about it again.
I learned a lot of the basics from a family friend at Stow Acres Country Club, which at one time was a Top 50 U.S. Public Course. It was really pretty. A lot of the basics. I corrected so many things. Consistency isn't down yet, but it's getting there.
I was having fun and cracking a few jokes at my play. At one point I hit a clunker, than hit a great shot and then a clunker again. I said "Well I must be due for a great shot next."
At one point I hit the head of the club further than the ball. That's never a good thing.
So I broke one club...One of the Brook's clubs. Not really a good thing. However, it wasn't my fault. I've seen or heard about that happening, but only when you swing and actually hit the ground with the club. I hit the ball almost perfectly in the middle of the club and the head of the club just decided to go with the ball. Mr. Brooks said it was a great swing.
The good I took from it was that I hit it straight...both the ball and head of the club went straight.
The highlight for me came at the putting green. I learned chipping and pitching. Pitching took awhile to get used too. So did chipping. Other people were there and I swung a little too hard once or twice. I was conscious to try not to hit other people. Thankfully I didn't. I kept wanting to practice chipping. I hit 13 of them on to the green. Then I hit my 14th...out of the rough and on to the green and wouldn't you know it...INTO THE HOLE. YES THIS GUY TYPING RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY CHIPPED A BALL INTO THE HOLE ON THE PRACTICE GREEN ON MY 14th EVER CHIP SHOT.
I smartly called it quits at that because sadly I knew that from that high of highs that I could only disappoint myself.
I would also only disappoint you if I wrote more. Let's leave on that great note of me somehow chipping the ball into the hole. I certainly impressed myself and Mr. Brooks.
P.S. Mr Brooks had a lot of positives for me about my golf swing...The word NATURAL came out of his mouth for part of my swing. I don't know about that, but I can see myself getting better. Now I need to find time to practice.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Dumb Trivia
So I keep some of the other interns occupied with DUMB trivia, like really dumb trivia. An example of something I will use tomorrow will be what is the airport code for Westchester County Airport, (FYI, The best airport in the world)
106 years old
I will talk about Harvard Stadium at some point, but since I probably don't have the most flattering things to say I won't say them.
It is certainly full of history, but like an 106 year old person, It's not pretty and may not work right.
One unique thing that I did was ride around on those carts that they have at games. I was sitting on the back and I could just picture myself being an athlete being carted off the field. That must be one of the worst feelings ever. Getting pulled further and further away from the field was depressing and I didn't play.
It is certainly full of history, but like an 106 year old person, It's not pretty and may not work right.
One unique thing that I did was ride around on those carts that they have at games. I was sitting on the back and I could just picture myself being an athlete being carted off the field. That must be one of the worst feelings ever. Getting pulled further and further away from the field was depressing and I didn't play.
Tasha vs Rodman
Who has better tatoo's Tasha Kai or Dennis Rodman?
I wonder who does.
I for the record would never get a tatoo. I don't want my body marked with anything permanent. I really don't understand the people who got tatoos of Chinese symbols.
That last sentence was random.
So anyway I was thinking who has better tatoos, Dennis Rodman or Tasha Kai?
Than I started looking at the pictures and I tried to decide.
I decided I won't post the links because I don't want to scare anyone. Maybe I should make this a poll question soon.
I really have no idea who I would pick though. I don't even want to analyze this. It's just a question I will put out there for all of the sports world to think about.
I wonder who does.
I for the record would never get a tatoo. I don't want my body marked with anything permanent. I really don't understand the people who got tatoos of Chinese symbols.
That last sentence was random.
So anyway I was thinking who has better tatoos, Dennis Rodman or Tasha Kai?
Than I started looking at the pictures and I tried to decide.
I decided I won't post the links because I don't want to scare anyone. Maybe I should make this a poll question soon.
I really have no idea who I would pick though. I don't even want to analyze this. It's just a question I will put out there for all of the sports world to think about.
Well UConn does it, so should we
I heard a former women's soccer player complain that their coach always talks about how things are at UConn...How at UConn they would run more than that, or how at UConn they would do this or that.
They complained that their coach was trying to get them to be like a school that wins.
Complain that this is how they do it at UConn and you'll have a record that resembles the inverse of UConn's...or worse...
I wonder if a WPS team from the Northeast would watch and scout UConn games?
I wonder if I know the answer?
They complained that their coach was trying to get them to be like a school that wins.
Complain that this is how they do it at UConn and you'll have a record that resembles the inverse of UConn's...or worse...
I wonder if a WPS team from the Northeast would watch and scout UConn games?
I wonder if I know the answer?
A day later
A day after setting up a WPS game my body feels like I just entered into three world's strongest man competitions. I literally stepped out of my car this morning and almost pulled a calf muscle.
Borrowing the words of a great Goalkeeper I know "I feel old."
Borrowing the words of a great Goalkeeper I know "I feel old."
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Won't hear from me tomorrow
I will be at Harvard Stadium from about 9 am to probably 8 or 9 pm. So I won't be writing much. I will however be conflicted. You know I like my UConn players on Sky Blue FC, Meghan Schnur and Brittany Taylor...
An update
Nanners and Shauna are in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. They had a relatively easy ride there and have another relatively easy 50 or so mile ride into Maryland tomorrow. They were also able to watch the World Cup game between the U.S. and England.
Nanners felt bad for the English goalkeeper. I felt bad for him because I had one go off my hands like that once (and NEVER again) at some point in my life. I remember doing that but not sure when I did. However, I didn't root for England to win so that the goalkeeper would feel better for himself.
I thought Tim Howard was amazing and so did any other person who watched the game. I couldn't believe Jozy Altidore didn't score on that 1 on 1 opportunity. I was thrilled that we tied.
Nanners felt bad for the English goalkeeper. I felt bad for him because I had one go off my hands like that once (and NEVER again) at some point in my life. I remember doing that but not sure when I did. However, I didn't root for England to win so that the goalkeeper would feel better for himself.
I thought Tim Howard was amazing and so did any other person who watched the game. I couldn't believe Jozy Altidore didn't score on that 1 on 1 opportunity. I was thrilled that we tied.
Another Youth Soccer Day
I seem to be at too many youth soccer events lately.
A few things from today...
If I get married I'm sure I will really love my wife. However, I would not love her enough to be the guy who would carry around a PATIO umbrella over her during a LIGHT rain storm...or drizzle. Normal umbrella, it would be fine, dare I say normal for a man to hold an umbrella for his wife.
Patio umbrella? Never normal.
Yes a man carried a patio umbrella around so his wife would stay dry.
He seemed to be following her as if she was the leader of the free world. Not normal. If you walk together it's normal to hold a regular umbrella for your wife. If you are following someone around with an umbrella it's always weird, no matter if you use a regular umbrella or PATIO umbrella.
I'd be embarrassed to be the wife in that situation. You can't be THAT high maintenance.
They also charged "Admition" to the event. I didn't pay because I didn't know what that meant.
I actually didn't pay because I was working.
I really feel bad for young goalies. I feel like it has to be so much more traumatic to give up a goal as a six year old than as a 20 year old. I could be really wrong on that one but it just feels like that to me.
"When I say jump you say how high, this reminds me of UConn Field Hockey til the day I die."
I heard this song being played at the soccer field and it was also on UConn Field Hockey's pre game warm-up mix. (I changed the lyrics a bit) Whenever I hear the song I think of UConn Field Hockey.
A few things from today...
If I get married I'm sure I will really love my wife. However, I would not love her enough to be the guy who would carry around a PATIO umbrella over her during a LIGHT rain storm...or drizzle. Normal umbrella, it would be fine, dare I say normal for a man to hold an umbrella for his wife.
Patio umbrella? Never normal.
Yes a man carried a patio umbrella around so his wife would stay dry.
He seemed to be following her as if she was the leader of the free world. Not normal. If you walk together it's normal to hold a regular umbrella for your wife. If you are following someone around with an umbrella it's always weird, no matter if you use a regular umbrella or PATIO umbrella.
I'd be embarrassed to be the wife in that situation. You can't be THAT high maintenance.
They also charged "Admition" to the event. I didn't pay because I didn't know what that meant.
I actually didn't pay because I was working.
I really feel bad for young goalies. I feel like it has to be so much more traumatic to give up a goal as a six year old than as a 20 year old. I could be really wrong on that one but it just feels like that to me.
"When I say jump you say how high, this reminds me of UConn Field Hockey til the day I die."
I heard this song being played at the soccer field and it was also on UConn Field Hockey's pre game warm-up mix. (I changed the lyrics a bit) Whenever I hear the song I think of UConn Field Hockey.
Strange
This is so random. Maybe the most random thing I've ever written, but I thought it was sort of funny.
Someone once asked me what I would get my mom for mother's day.
I realized today that the best gift I could give my mom is nothing. A whole day of her not having to worry about me, a whole day of not taking care of me or giving me advice would probably be the best gift I could give her.
For fathers day? I have no idea.
If I waxed my car or cleaned the house for father's day my dad would be thrilled.
That's why I don't look forward to father's day.
Someone once asked me what I would get my mom for mother's day.
I realized today that the best gift I could give my mom is nothing. A whole day of her not having to worry about me, a whole day of not taking care of me or giving me advice would probably be the best gift I could give her.
For fathers day? I have no idea.
If I waxed my car or cleaned the house for father's day my dad would be thrilled.
That's why I don't look forward to father's day.
Communication
For someone who writes A LOT. I actually HATE EMAIL. I can't stand email. There are only a select few people I want to email. Usually it is for work.
I have two problems with email.
First of all its way too convenient to not read it or not respond, or for an email to be flagged as spam or for it to stick out from spam in an inbox. Responding is an essential part of communication. Without a response I don't know if a message was delivered. The ease of not responding is something I don't like about email. I discovered my distaste for email while working at RBS Greenwich Capital. I had to get stuff from all of these Investment Bankers and Traders. Getting THOSE type of self important people to respond to an email is like getting an engineer a date with a cheerleader. Less than half the people I emailed responded. I actually had to go and talk to the people in order to get anything done.
Actually that might have been a bad analogy, if less than half of all cheerleaders even looked at an engineer that would be a surprisingly high amount.
Once I actually went to the people I got things accomplished.
My biggest problem with written communication is simple. It's much more confusing than any other type of communication. Perfect history example of confusing communication is from the Civil War. Thankfully the confederates had a miscommunication. At Gettysburg General Ewell was supposed to "take Cemetery Hill if practicable"
He didn't take the hill because he didn't know what if practicable meant, so he had to guess at what it meant. If he had taken the hill the south could have won Gettysburg.
What does if practicable mean? If you have a conversation you can get down to the meaning. You can ask tons of questions so you are as sure of the definition of what is being asked of you as you are of the sum of 1 + 1.
Written communication is SO CONFUSING. In order to make it LESS CONFUSING I try REALLY hard to put EMPHASIS on words to help convey the TONE I am in.
I don't know the percentage but I do know that very little of communication is what is actually said. Instead it is HOW you say it. Body language and tone of voice are really important parts of communication. Am I great at decoding it? Not really. However, having clues from ones tone of voice and body language greatly helps me interpret the actual things that are said.
It's funny though, now with TV on the internet I wonder how often you read a story of a famous person being quoted and then click on a TV link to see HOW they said it. I bet you have done that. I know I have.
I enjoy writing, but it's also the hardest form of communication because it's the hardest one to get your message across.
I have two problems with email.
First of all its way too convenient to not read it or not respond, or for an email to be flagged as spam or for it to stick out from spam in an inbox. Responding is an essential part of communication. Without a response I don't know if a message was delivered. The ease of not responding is something I don't like about email. I discovered my distaste for email while working at RBS Greenwich Capital. I had to get stuff from all of these Investment Bankers and Traders. Getting THOSE type of self important people to respond to an email is like getting an engineer a date with a cheerleader. Less than half the people I emailed responded. I actually had to go and talk to the people in order to get anything done.
Actually that might have been a bad analogy, if less than half of all cheerleaders even looked at an engineer that would be a surprisingly high amount.
Once I actually went to the people I got things accomplished.
My biggest problem with written communication is simple. It's much more confusing than any other type of communication. Perfect history example of confusing communication is from the Civil War. Thankfully the confederates had a miscommunication. At Gettysburg General Ewell was supposed to "take Cemetery Hill if practicable"
He didn't take the hill because he didn't know what if practicable meant, so he had to guess at what it meant. If he had taken the hill the south could have won Gettysburg.
What does if practicable mean? If you have a conversation you can get down to the meaning. You can ask tons of questions so you are as sure of the definition of what is being asked of you as you are of the sum of 1 + 1.
Written communication is SO CONFUSING. In order to make it LESS CONFUSING I try REALLY hard to put EMPHASIS on words to help convey the TONE I am in.
I don't know the percentage but I do know that very little of communication is what is actually said. Instead it is HOW you say it. Body language and tone of voice are really important parts of communication. Am I great at decoding it? Not really. However, having clues from ones tone of voice and body language greatly helps me interpret the actual things that are said.
It's funny though, now with TV on the internet I wonder how often you read a story of a famous person being quoted and then click on a TV link to see HOW they said it. I bet you have done that. I know I have.
I enjoy writing, but it's also the hardest form of communication because it's the hardest one to get your message across.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Yikes
It feels so weird that one of my favorite all-time athletes, Emmitt Smith, is old enough to be in a Rogaine commercial now.
Weekly Log line of week
After Duxbury we took a drive to Harvard Stadium, except we also went to Chinatown, Brighton, and god knows where else before we finally got near the field. Driving in Boston must be really confusing because I seemed to have a better sense of direction than my passenger who is from right around Boston. We finally went over the river and through the woods and made it to Harvard Stadium.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Another Sports Management tip
Ok I feel so cocky saying this, but one reason that I feel that I am an asset to work in the WPS is that I don't have a women's soccer background.
Sounds strange right?
My diversity in sports has allowed me to apply things that I have experienced at college football, or basketball, or the NBA, or MLB or auto racing to things that the WPS is doing.
I wanted to find good promotions. I decided that minor league baseball might have some good ideas so I researched to see what they did. At work I am trying to get alumni groups to games, so I noticed that the Travelers Championship is selling ticket packages to alumni groups so I will try to emulate them.
I also feel that because I have some experience doing things in multiple parts of sports that I can better understand how all the different parts interact with each other. I don't want to be pigeon holed into a certain job. I want to be able to do various things. I don't want to specialize at all.
I think it would be good for me to get some experience in something completely different than soccer for my next internship. It's not to say I don't enjoy what I do, because I love working with the Breakers and YOU KNOW I LOVE UCONN WOMEN'S SOCCER (I'm there and in grad school through the 2011-2012 season). However, next summer it would be good for me to work at say the Traveler's Championship or at a NASCAR track or for a MLB, Minor League team, NFL or NBA team. It would be great experience to see how they operate. You would be surprised, you can take something from the operation of a NASCAR race and apply it to a Women's Soccer game.
I'm a firm believer that you learn something from every new thing you do and most especially every person you meet. I've learned something from every person I have met. Sometimes I learn about life, sometimes I learn about how I don't want to act, sometimes I see how I might be viewed by others, sometimes I learn a lesson. I always learn something. Sometimes it's a positive thing that I learn, sometimes it's not. Most people I have met lately have taught me good things.
But I always learn something from every person I meet. I learn something from every new thing that I do. I believe that one way to be successful in sports or any business is to have a understanding of the whole picture and how you fit in to that picture. I also think it's important to apply things you learned somewhere else to a problem now. Thinking out of the box is one of the most important things I learned from my entrepreneurial class in the school of business.
Sounds strange right?
My diversity in sports has allowed me to apply things that I have experienced at college football, or basketball, or the NBA, or MLB or auto racing to things that the WPS is doing.
I wanted to find good promotions. I decided that minor league baseball might have some good ideas so I researched to see what they did. At work I am trying to get alumni groups to games, so I noticed that the Travelers Championship is selling ticket packages to alumni groups so I will try to emulate them.
I also feel that because I have some experience doing things in multiple parts of sports that I can better understand how all the different parts interact with each other. I don't want to be pigeon holed into a certain job. I want to be able to do various things. I don't want to specialize at all.
I think it would be good for me to get some experience in something completely different than soccer for my next internship. It's not to say I don't enjoy what I do, because I love working with the Breakers and YOU KNOW I LOVE UCONN WOMEN'S SOCCER (I'm there and in grad school through the 2011-2012 season). However, next summer it would be good for me to work at say the Traveler's Championship or at a NASCAR track or for a MLB, Minor League team, NFL or NBA team. It would be great experience to see how they operate. You would be surprised, you can take something from the operation of a NASCAR race and apply it to a Women's Soccer game.
I'm a firm believer that you learn something from every new thing you do and most especially every person you meet. I've learned something from every person I have met. Sometimes I learn about life, sometimes I learn about how I don't want to act, sometimes I see how I might be viewed by others, sometimes I learn a lesson. I always learn something. Sometimes it's a positive thing that I learn, sometimes it's not. Most people I have met lately have taught me good things.
But I always learn something from every person I meet. I learn something from every new thing that I do. I believe that one way to be successful in sports or any business is to have a understanding of the whole picture and how you fit in to that picture. I also think it's important to apply things you learned somewhere else to a problem now. Thinking out of the box is one of the most important things I learned from my entrepreneurial class in the school of business.
I have a great story
I'm writing a really good story right now, but I will never be able to post it. It sucks that I can't. It actually has nothing to do with soccer either.
77 miles
Shauna and Nanners went 77 more miles. They are in Harrisburg, PA today. Apparently it was a tough ride because they went through tough winds and lots of hills.
Thankfully they have a day off tomorrow.
Thankfully they have a day off tomorrow.
How could I have known he was cheating
My favorite part of the USC mess is Pete Carroll and USC being dumbfounded as to how Reggie Bush could have had all these things. How was the school supposed to be aware of anything? They didn't know? How could they have known?
I mean that 1996 Black on Black Chevy Impala with expensive rims and a nice sound system wasn't a clue was it? You know all college students can afford that.
"Well no, we knew Reggie worked at McDonald's a lot over the summer. I mean when you flip burgers like Reggie can how could you even suspect that he wouldn't be able to afford a ride like that?"
I mean that 1996 Black on Black Chevy Impala with expensive rims and a nice sound system wasn't a clue was it? You know all college students can afford that.
"Well no, we knew Reggie worked at McDonald's a lot over the summer. I mean when you flip burgers like Reggie can how could you even suspect that he wouldn't be able to afford a ride like that?"
Who should join the Big East
I have to say that I have heard some crazy things that fans have been saying to save the Big East Conference or add to it...
They want to just throw out the schools like Marquette, Seton Hall, St. Johns, Providence, and DePaul. Not really going to just happen. Especially not Providence or St. John's which have too much history in the league.
The league headquarters are in Providence and St. John's Basketball has so much tradition in the league, although not lately. Games are played at Madison Square Garden in part because of St. John's.
Then I hear how Kansas, Kansas State, Baylor, Iowa State and Memphis make sense for the Big East...We could have East and WEST divisions of the BIG EAST.
I guess in theory it could work, but really how do people in Lawrence, Kansas write BIG EAST on their floor or field. Kansas was part of Manifest Destiny and "GO WEST MY FRIEND"
Suddenly in 2010's Kansas is East again? Now UConn Golf is going to have to travel to Kansas for the Big East golf tournament?
I always thought conferences had something to do with what region you were in.
At the rate it is going I think we will see Pacific University join the Atlantic Coast Conference in College Sports. Northeastern will probably join the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
I think the Big East has proved that it is already strange enough to have schools in it's conference be in Wisconsin and Illinois.
How many times has someone from a Big East school said they were taking a road trip to Marquette and DePaul and have people go "Where are those schools?"
"Wisconsin and Illinois"
"and they are in the Big East?..."
And if the Big 10 (which has 11 teams) adds Nebraska (of the Big 12) then the Big 10 will now have 12 teams. Then the Big 12 will lose another school (Colorado) to the Pac 10 so that the Pac 10 will have 11 teams and the Big 12 will have 10 teams. The Pac-10 looks like it could have 16 teams including teams in Texas and Oklahoma. (because nothing says the Pacific Ocean like the oil fields of Texas) The Big East could also have a WEST conference.
Are you confused? Again I want to say this...The Big 12 as of now has 10 teams. The Big 10 now has 12 teams. The Pac-10 has 11 teams. The Big East could have a West division
Strangely their are two conferences that actually make sense, the ACC and SEC. One of those two conferences would include Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, widely regarded in education circles as Stupid, Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest.
When they look smart was does that tell you?
College sports conference names are going to be as confusing as:
Rome, New York
Maine, New York
The University of Miami (Ohio)
Moscow, Maine
Norway, Maine
"Your going to Rome? That's awesome!! Your going to be so tan!"
"No It's probably going to snow"
They want to just throw out the schools like Marquette, Seton Hall, St. Johns, Providence, and DePaul. Not really going to just happen. Especially not Providence or St. John's which have too much history in the league.
The league headquarters are in Providence and St. John's Basketball has so much tradition in the league, although not lately. Games are played at Madison Square Garden in part because of St. John's.
Then I hear how Kansas, Kansas State, Baylor, Iowa State and Memphis make sense for the Big East...We could have East and WEST divisions of the BIG EAST.
I guess in theory it could work, but really how do people in Lawrence, Kansas write BIG EAST on their floor or field. Kansas was part of Manifest Destiny and "GO WEST MY FRIEND"
Suddenly in 2010's Kansas is East again? Now UConn Golf is going to have to travel to Kansas for the Big East golf tournament?
I always thought conferences had something to do with what region you were in.
At the rate it is going I think we will see Pacific University join the Atlantic Coast Conference in College Sports. Northeastern will probably join the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
I think the Big East has proved that it is already strange enough to have schools in it's conference be in Wisconsin and Illinois.
How many times has someone from a Big East school said they were taking a road trip to Marquette and DePaul and have people go "Where are those schools?"
"Wisconsin and Illinois"
"and they are in the Big East?..."
And if the Big 10 (which has 11 teams) adds Nebraska (of the Big 12) then the Big 10 will now have 12 teams. Then the Big 12 will lose another school (Colorado) to the Pac 10 so that the Pac 10 will have 11 teams and the Big 12 will have 10 teams. The Pac-10 looks like it could have 16 teams including teams in Texas and Oklahoma. (because nothing says the Pacific Ocean like the oil fields of Texas) The Big East could also have a WEST conference.
Are you confused? Again I want to say this...The Big 12 as of now has 10 teams. The Big 10 now has 12 teams. The Pac-10 has 11 teams. The Big East could have a West division
Strangely their are two conferences that actually make sense, the ACC and SEC. One of those two conferences would include Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, widely regarded in education circles as Stupid, Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest.
When they look smart was does that tell you?
College sports conference names are going to be as confusing as:
Rome, New York
Maine, New York
The University of Miami (Ohio)
Moscow, Maine
Norway, Maine
"Your going to Rome? That's awesome!! Your going to be so tan!"
"No It's probably going to snow"
Marion Jones
Remember Marion Jones, the Olympian who then went to jail because of involvement with PED's...she is now in the WNBA with the Tulsa Shock. She scored two points in a game recently.
Huh
I can't figure out why Pete Carrol would have left USC for the Seahawks this year. I'm sure it's because he really loved the Seahawks and not because his school can't go to a bowl for two years.
Great Friend Request
The Rochester Ravens added me on facebook. I am honored and can't figure out how they found me.
What does it mean? Part Two
So here come some issues that most people won't talk about when it comes to having four super conferences.
Does this mean that these four conferences will supercede the NCAA? Will it become Super Conference member, Division I, Division II, and Division III.
These big schools will have so much power in college athletics. They won't need to listen to the NCAA so much anymore. The NCAA loses a lot of power if there are less conferences. The Big Four Conferences could decide to hold their own championships and advertise them as being the best of the best.
My guess is that the BCS turns into the top two teams from each of the four new leagues and MAYBE two spots for teams from the WAC or Mountain West. Don't hold your breath on the second part.
Two things interest me right off the bat when it comes to the NCAA having less power.
How does the NCAA having less power influence two things, Female College Athletics and Academic Integrity?
If the super conferences are more powerful then the NCAA and can create their own championships than they also can create their own academic standards. Would it matter if kids passed class anymore? Could student athletes get away with taking golf, swimming, tennis and Mexican hat dancing for a semester's worth of classes?
Could Male college student athletes (because it's been CLEARLY found that female student athletes are smarter and try harder in school then male student athletes) in the major conferences become MUCH DUMBER then they already are? Could the next generation of male college athletes be SO DUMB that they think the color of George Washington's White Horse was Purple?
Would it be permissible for student athletes to receive gifts. Would this open the door for college athletes to get paid?
While Title IX prevents female sports from being ignored, I wonder how not having the NCAA around could effect female athletics. I feel like the NCAA tries to balance education, social good and financial success. They try to promote things like community service and respect for female athletics. I feel that the new conferences, if they were to happen, would be largely formed on the basis of making lots of money with little regard to what happens to anything other than football and men's basketball. I don't know if or how much of a positive or negative effect that could have on female college athletics.
Does this mean that these four conferences will supercede the NCAA? Will it become Super Conference member, Division I, Division II, and Division III.
These big schools will have so much power in college athletics. They won't need to listen to the NCAA so much anymore. The NCAA loses a lot of power if there are less conferences. The Big Four Conferences could decide to hold their own championships and advertise them as being the best of the best.
My guess is that the BCS turns into the top two teams from each of the four new leagues and MAYBE two spots for teams from the WAC or Mountain West. Don't hold your breath on the second part.
Two things interest me right off the bat when it comes to the NCAA having less power.
How does the NCAA having less power influence two things, Female College Athletics and Academic Integrity?
If the super conferences are more powerful then the NCAA and can create their own championships than they also can create their own academic standards. Would it matter if kids passed class anymore? Could student athletes get away with taking golf, swimming, tennis and Mexican hat dancing for a semester's worth of classes?
Could Male college student athletes (because it's been CLEARLY found that female student athletes are smarter and try harder in school then male student athletes) in the major conferences become MUCH DUMBER then they already are? Could the next generation of male college athletes be SO DUMB that they think the color of George Washington's White Horse was Purple?
Would it be permissible for student athletes to receive gifts. Would this open the door for college athletes to get paid?
While Title IX prevents female sports from being ignored, I wonder how not having the NCAA around could effect female athletics. I feel like the NCAA tries to balance education, social good and financial success. They try to promote things like community service and respect for female athletics. I feel that the new conferences, if they were to happen, would be largely formed on the basis of making lots of money with little regard to what happens to anything other than football and men's basketball. I don't know if or how much of a positive or negative effect that could have on female college athletics.
What does it mean?
What does conference expansion really mean?
So it is appearing more and more likely that the Pac-16 will exist. On top of that the Big 10 appears to be expanding with Nebraska and Missouri joining the mix.
With the Pac-16 happening I think Notre Dame sees the writing on the wall and joins the Big 10. Then I'd look to see if Kansas and Kansas State are offered a place in the Big 10, or Rutgers too.
The SEC won't sit and do nothing if the Pac-16 exists...and especially not if the Big 10 expands.
I could see the SEC looking to add teams like Miami, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Clemson. Slight chance I think Louisville and West Virginia would be considered too.
Then you would likely see the ACC and Big East merge to form whatever is left. Adding all the Big East football programs would be a possibility. If Rutgers joined the Big 10 then maybe Central Florida would make sense in the ACC. My suspicion is that the Big East and ACC could look like this
UNC, Duke, Maryland, BC, Wake Forest, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, UConn, Syracuse, South Florida, Louisville, Central Florida and Cincinnati (Who I don't think the Big 10 wants simply because it could elevate Cincinnati to a position in which it could compete with Ohio State. Ohio State has enough clout to not let that happen)
It would be the weakest of the four football conferences, but Virginia Tech, Pitt, and West Virginia is a solid start. It would also be the best basketball conference by far.
That my friends was just pure speculation as to what could happen. I admit I find this alignment stuff to be juicy gossip. I have no inside information and I could be totally wrong. As a matter of fact I probably am, because I am a nobody who knows nothing.
Still I think its sort of fun to speculate about what could happen to the conference that my school is in and I wonder how it will affect my schools athletic future.
So it is appearing more and more likely that the Pac-16 will exist. On top of that the Big 10 appears to be expanding with Nebraska and Missouri joining the mix.
With the Pac-16 happening I think Notre Dame sees the writing on the wall and joins the Big 10. Then I'd look to see if Kansas and Kansas State are offered a place in the Big 10, or Rutgers too.
The SEC won't sit and do nothing if the Pac-16 exists...and especially not if the Big 10 expands.
I could see the SEC looking to add teams like Miami, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Clemson. Slight chance I think Louisville and West Virginia would be considered too.
Then you would likely see the ACC and Big East merge to form whatever is left. Adding all the Big East football programs would be a possibility. If Rutgers joined the Big 10 then maybe Central Florida would make sense in the ACC. My suspicion is that the Big East and ACC could look like this
UNC, Duke, Maryland, BC, Wake Forest, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, UConn, Syracuse, South Florida, Louisville, Central Florida and Cincinnati (Who I don't think the Big 10 wants simply because it could elevate Cincinnati to a position in which it could compete with Ohio State. Ohio State has enough clout to not let that happen)
It would be the weakest of the four football conferences, but Virginia Tech, Pitt, and West Virginia is a solid start. It would also be the best basketball conference by far.
That my friends was just pure speculation as to what could happen. I admit I find this alignment stuff to be juicy gossip. I have no inside information and I could be totally wrong. As a matter of fact I probably am, because I am a nobody who knows nothing.
Still I think its sort of fun to speculate about what could happen to the conference that my school is in and I wonder how it will affect my schools athletic future.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Um didn't notice this
I didn't notice this but this is such an interesting fact. According to a UConn Press Release, Pierre LePage only struck out three times all season. He was just drafted by the Cubs yesterday in the 13th round.
Would you believe it?
Probably. You would probably believe this.
In 11 days I became an administrator of my work's facebook page.
In 11 days I became an administrator of my work's facebook page.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
A construction sign of a man
Remember when I said that Rickie Fowler looked like a construction sign on Sunday at the Memorial golf tournament?
http://www.thememorialtournament.com/gallery/index.php?Album=41#
(You need to scroll down until you find the picture of a guy in all orange...I like picture 43 or 44. They help you get the full picture of how ORANGE this guy was. That would also be Row 11 for those of you who want to count rows.)
Was I wrong about this one?
I love the commentator who came on and said something to this effect...
"Well he doesn't have to worry about a golf cart running into him today"
Is there anyone who you know who could pull this off? Can you imagine showing up to work like that? That would be...awesome I guess.
Personally though, I'd be wearing all light blue. It goes better with me. I'm not usually dressed to impress unless I am wearing blue.
http://www.thememorialtournament.com/gallery/index.php?Album=41#
(You need to scroll down until you find the picture of a guy in all orange...I like picture 43 or 44. They help you get the full picture of how ORANGE this guy was. That would also be Row 11 for those of you who want to count rows.)
Was I wrong about this one?
I love the commentator who came on and said something to this effect...
"Well he doesn't have to worry about a golf cart running into him today"
Is there anyone who you know who could pull this off? Can you imagine showing up to work like that? That would be...awesome I guess.
Personally though, I'd be wearing all light blue. It goes better with me. I'm not usually dressed to impress unless I am wearing blue.
Who invented the wave
As we go or have gone to sporting events this summer we probably ask ourselves the same question at every event.
Just why exactly do people get so excited to start a wave? Sometimes fans at baseball games start booing for apparently no reason at all. Then you notice some section didn't take part in the wave.
Shame on them.
Why do we do the wave? Why don't we do the wave in class? Wouldn't it be hilarious to just start the wave during a psychology lecture?
Do we do the wave because we are bored? Do we take part in it because we want to be like everyone else? (maybe this could be a psychology experiment on human behavior)
Is it for the exercise?
Does starting a successful wave make you feel like you have actually accomplished something in your life?
"So Bob did you finish your report for me yet?"
"No Sir, but I did start the wave at the game last night"
Sometimes at baseball games I think that the people sitting around me are so much more concerned about starting a wave than anything else. Like I wonder sometimes if people spend $40 on tickets just so they can spend 3 hours trying to start a successful wave.
Anyway I think I was asked at the Red Sox vs Yankees game about who started the wave, because I think that was the last event that I was at that I remember having a wave.
I think I said, "I'm pretty sure it was some weird guy from California." I don't know if I said Hippy, but that is what I pictured and remembered in my mind.
Now I will find out if I was right about that. Here is what I found after googling "Who invented the wave"
Well apparently it was this guy:
http://www.krazygeorge.com/
Krazy George Henderson. Apparently it was started in California at an A's game, although disputes have arisen about it's origin.
If you want to read about the controversy for some reason here is Crazy George's version...
http://www.krazygeorge.com/indexFS.html
...as for the hippy part...I have no idea, but he is a Professional Cheerleader, aka what Ryan Marciel Grace will be if he fails at broadcasting.
Just why exactly do people get so excited to start a wave? Sometimes fans at baseball games start booing for apparently no reason at all. Then you notice some section didn't take part in the wave.
Shame on them.
Why do we do the wave? Why don't we do the wave in class? Wouldn't it be hilarious to just start the wave during a psychology lecture?
Do we do the wave because we are bored? Do we take part in it because we want to be like everyone else? (maybe this could be a psychology experiment on human behavior)
Is it for the exercise?
Does starting a successful wave make you feel like you have actually accomplished something in your life?
"So Bob did you finish your report for me yet?"
"No Sir, but I did start the wave at the game last night"
Sometimes at baseball games I think that the people sitting around me are so much more concerned about starting a wave than anything else. Like I wonder sometimes if people spend $40 on tickets just so they can spend 3 hours trying to start a successful wave.
Anyway I think I was asked at the Red Sox vs Yankees game about who started the wave, because I think that was the last event that I was at that I remember having a wave.
I think I said, "I'm pretty sure it was some weird guy from California." I don't know if I said Hippy, but that is what I pictured and remembered in my mind.
Now I will find out if I was right about that. Here is what I found after googling "Who invented the wave"
Well apparently it was this guy:
http://www.krazygeorge.com/
Krazy George Henderson. Apparently it was started in California at an A's game, although disputes have arisen about it's origin.
If you want to read about the controversy for some reason here is Crazy George's version...
http://www.krazygeorge.com/indexFS.html
...as for the hippy part...I have no idea, but he is a Professional Cheerleader, aka what Ryan Marciel Grace will be if he fails at broadcasting.
Random Soccer stuff
Sometimes I can talk about UConn.
I am COUNTING down the days until I can hear a certain Goalkeeper screaming "COME ON, LET'S GO"
"LET'S GO"
You have no idea how much I miss hearing that.
Would it shock you to find out that the most played song on my itunes is a audio highlight clip of UConn Women's Soccer?
I also play everything on loop, so I actually think I stepped away to do something and accidentally left the song playing on mute. Still, it makes for a funny story.
I am COUNTING down the days until I can hear a certain Goalkeeper screaming "COME ON, LET'S GO"
"LET'S GO"
You have no idea how much I miss hearing that.
Would it shock you to find out that the most played song on my itunes is a audio highlight clip of UConn Women's Soccer?
I also play everything on loop, so I actually think I stepped away to do something and accidentally left the song playing on mute. Still, it makes for a funny story.
Random Random and more Random
So I was about to interview another player from William and Smith soccer named Brooke. All I know is that her greatest moment in soccer was making the Division III Final Four.
Mike Olt was drafted 49th in the MLB draft. Not bad for UConn Athletics...producing another high draft pick.
I listened to the radio today and heard a man say that Jacoby Ellsbury is a baby and that baseball players don't deal with real injuries the way football players do because of all the hitting involved...blah, blah, blah...
Why does Average Joe Schmo who never played in even college think that he understands how injured a baseball player is?
I laugh, I have to laugh at sports fans. Sports fans think that they know everything about sports because they have played them before..at some level...
Can you imagine if people did this for investment banking? I've done math so I know exactly how derivative trading works...
or imagine dental work
I've brushed and flossed before so I can perform a root canal on you.
Mike Olt was drafted 49th in the MLB draft. Not bad for UConn Athletics...producing another high draft pick.
I listened to the radio today and heard a man say that Jacoby Ellsbury is a baby and that baseball players don't deal with real injuries the way football players do because of all the hitting involved...blah, blah, blah...
Why does Average Joe Schmo who never played in even college think that he understands how injured a baseball player is?
I laugh, I have to laugh at sports fans. Sports fans think that they know everything about sports because they have played them before..at some level...
Can you imagine if people did this for investment banking? I've done math so I know exactly how derivative trading works...
or imagine dental work
I've brushed and flossed before so I can perform a root canal on you.
Monday, June 7, 2010
An update
So far so good for Meghan Nanfeldt and Shauna Musser on their bike ride across the country. I am happy to report that they have safely made it to New Jersey and are on their way to Stroudsburg, PA tomorrow. After an 83 mile ride today, they have about 55 miles to go tomorrow.
Funny Story
I feel like I have to tell this story.
When I was in 10th grade I was really quiet and shy. (I'm sure you can all believe that)
I guess to be fair I can still be shy at times, most likely in a group or unfamiliar situation. I think a lot of people are like that though.
Anyway I distinctly remember this cheerleader at my school who would always say hello in English class and try to make conversation finally get really frustrated with me. She actually asked me "Do you talk?!?"
I think about a billion people since then have thought to themselves "Do you shut up?!?"
Well I think you know the answer, I'm still posting.
When I was in 10th grade I was really quiet and shy. (I'm sure you can all believe that)
I guess to be fair I can still be shy at times, most likely in a group or unfamiliar situation. I think a lot of people are like that though.
Anyway I distinctly remember this cheerleader at my school who would always say hello in English class and try to make conversation finally get really frustrated with me. She actually asked me "Do you talk?!?"
I think about a billion people since then have thought to themselves "Do you shut up?!?"
Well I think you know the answer, I'm still posting.
All About Me
I love compliments. Who doesn't.
Today someone at work said "you're such a problem solver" I disagree though. I have problems in my life that I don't have a clue how to solve.
My sister's friends thought I was "hot", but unfortunately that also meant that they were going to go into my closet, try on my suit, photograph themselves and post it on facebook and think that I won't find out.
(I actually haven't worn that since...I WANT IT CLEANED...TWICE)
Someone called me a "Go Getter"
Someone else said "you've had an impact on my life in ways you will never know" That's probably my favorite.
"You're nice" I never know what to make of this compliment to be honest. Sometimes I worry I am too nice.
"You're smart"
"You are cute" That's one I just got
"You're really friendly"
"I've never met anyone who doesn't like you" (I have met people who don't like me, but that one also meant a lot to me)
"Thank you" That's one of the ones I hear most often and I take it as a compliment and I appreciate the simple Thank You.
"You have really nice calves." I heard this walking the streets of Miami twice and once by my high schools starting running back's girlfriend. I never know what to sat to that.
"You have really big calves." That's the one I heard in the gym. I'd piss off all the girls in my high school weightlifting class because I'd have 4 plates on the calf raise machine.
So what do I think I am best at?
Besides my looks obviously...(I can just imagine people shaking their heads right now)
I think my greatest skill, and it's probably the greatest skill that anyone can have, is a good memory, especially when it comes to people. I think I have a great ability to remember anyone I have a meaningful conversation with and can remember atleast one thing about them.
I seem to be able to hear a word and associate it with a person quickly in my head. I just did that today. Someone I worked with in a class project is working somewhere that is trying to market to alumni groups. I emailed him and hope that he can give me some advice.
One time the coaches made fun of me once because I stumbled on an answer about a friend of mine. They said, "If you know all about the 1982 UConn Women's Soccer team then you better know where your friend is from"
So anyway if there was one skill I had that I hope never goes away, it is my ability to remember and connect with people.
I actually take pride in the fact that I make a point of stopping by to see a man at the old family shop when I am in Stamford. I met him at a shop party (when we still were apart of the business) when I was in elementary school and probably spoke to him at two more of those summer parties that I don't think have occurred in over a decade now.
I have visited Storrs twice since I graduated...to be fair I am coming back. I've also visited Franklin Pierce, where I worked last summer, a couple times since then.
I would even, until recently, stop by my high school once a year to check in with teachers and my guidance counselor.
Today someone at work said "you're such a problem solver" I disagree though. I have problems in my life that I don't have a clue how to solve.
My sister's friends thought I was "hot", but unfortunately that also meant that they were going to go into my closet, try on my suit, photograph themselves and post it on facebook and think that I won't find out.
(I actually haven't worn that since...I WANT IT CLEANED...TWICE)
Someone called me a "Go Getter"
Someone else said "you've had an impact on my life in ways you will never know" That's probably my favorite.
"You're nice" I never know what to make of this compliment to be honest. Sometimes I worry I am too nice.
"You're smart"
"You are cute" That's one I just got
"You're really friendly"
"I've never met anyone who doesn't like you" (I have met people who don't like me, but that one also meant a lot to me)
"Thank you" That's one of the ones I hear most often and I take it as a compliment and I appreciate the simple Thank You.
"You have really nice calves." I heard this walking the streets of Miami twice and once by my high schools starting running back's girlfriend. I never know what to sat to that.
"You have really big calves." That's the one I heard in the gym. I'd piss off all the girls in my high school weightlifting class because I'd have 4 plates on the calf raise machine.
So what do I think I am best at?
Besides my looks obviously...(I can just imagine people shaking their heads right now)
I think my greatest skill, and it's probably the greatest skill that anyone can have, is a good memory, especially when it comes to people. I think I have a great ability to remember anyone I have a meaningful conversation with and can remember atleast one thing about them.
I seem to be able to hear a word and associate it with a person quickly in my head. I just did that today. Someone I worked with in a class project is working somewhere that is trying to market to alumni groups. I emailed him and hope that he can give me some advice.
One time the coaches made fun of me once because I stumbled on an answer about a friend of mine. They said, "If you know all about the 1982 UConn Women's Soccer team then you better know where your friend is from"
So anyway if there was one skill I had that I hope never goes away, it is my ability to remember and connect with people.
I actually take pride in the fact that I make a point of stopping by to see a man at the old family shop when I am in Stamford. I met him at a shop party (when we still were apart of the business) when I was in elementary school and probably spoke to him at two more of those summer parties that I don't think have occurred in over a decade now.
I have visited Storrs twice since I graduated...to be fair I am coming back. I've also visited Franklin Pierce, where I worked last summer, a couple times since then.
I would even, until recently, stop by my high school once a year to check in with teachers and my guidance counselor.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
NASCAR stuff
So I just felt like sharing how much goes into a race on raceday. I once toured the garages on raceday before the race. The engines were all being fired up and tested. All of the tires were being measured and weighed and tested for things that I couldn't even begin to explain to you. Being by the garage was LOUD, even bright and early in the morning.
Also, there was actually more ethnic diversity at NASCAR than you might think, or atleast at the race I was at. Granted it was Pocono, which is in the Northeast, but it wasn't as completely white as I thought it would be.
Also, there was actually more ethnic diversity at NASCAR than you might think, or atleast at the race I was at. Granted it was Pocono, which is in the Northeast, but it wasn't as completely white as I thought it would be.
Oompa Loompa
I couldn't pick a title for this.
RICKIE FOWLER IS A WALKING CONSTRUCTION SIGN.
He is a golfer. The moment I can find a picture of what he wore I will post the link to it. It is probably one of the most obnoxious outfits I've ever seen a man wear.
The only thing more orange was my high school's field hockey team. They were so tan that their skin was darker than their hair color. I truly thought they were Oompa Loompas when they walked down the hall.
But seriously though where can you buy bright orange pants? What section in a clothes store has that? I don't remember seeing any bright orange pants in Lord and Taylor. What about Lime Green? Where do you find pants like that? I've never seen a place where you can buy them.
I think part of learning how to golf this summer will be how to dress like a golfer. I may need to make my wardrobe much more outlandish. I think you can dress up so strangely at a golf course and no one will say anything. The more bright colors the better.
Here is a start:
http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3951728&cp=1760781.1760811.3302312&ab=ln_men_cs1_chinos&pg=2&parentPage=family
My mom made this jacket back in the 1970's. It looks hideous. I've never been able to think of a reason to bring it out of my closet. Golfing might just be the perfect excuse.
RICKIE FOWLER IS A WALKING CONSTRUCTION SIGN.
He is a golfer. The moment I can find a picture of what he wore I will post the link to it. It is probably one of the most obnoxious outfits I've ever seen a man wear.
The only thing more orange was my high school's field hockey team. They were so tan that their skin was darker than their hair color. I truly thought they were Oompa Loompas when they walked down the hall.
But seriously though where can you buy bright orange pants? What section in a clothes store has that? I don't remember seeing any bright orange pants in Lord and Taylor. What about Lime Green? Where do you find pants like that? I've never seen a place where you can buy them.
I think part of learning how to golf this summer will be how to dress like a golfer. I may need to make my wardrobe much more outlandish. I think you can dress up so strangely at a golf course and no one will say anything. The more bright colors the better.
Here is a start:
http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3951728&cp=1760781.1760811.3302312&ab=ln_men_cs1_chinos&pg=2&parentPage=family
My mom made this jacket back in the 1970's. It looks hideous. I've never been able to think of a reason to bring it out of my closet. Golfing might just be the perfect excuse.
Interviewing Twins
I spent a lot of time with twin Division III Women's Soccer players that I work with yesterday.
I figured why not interview them. It's not like they usually get interviewed. Plus these two went to the same High School as UConn great Jeff Adrien (Brookline) so they are just legends in my view.
They were Devon and Leah.
Devon was the better interview. She was also the first interview. (I dumbly didn't ask who was first) I interviewed her in the car. (Only one person that has been in my car has been lucky enough to have me completely silent throughout most of the ride)
Devon taught me the difference between a defensive mid and center back. Good ball winner needed both places, maybe more so at defensive mid. I learned that defensive mid can also help start attack. Very technical things for me to learn. (I bet anyone on the UConn team would be impressed to hear me speak using this lingo)
Lingo, what you should be watching TV if you are bored enough to be reading this.
Maybe you will continue if you have had enough with Chuck Woolery. (I googled the hosts name by the way. I did not know that off the top of my head. I might be a loser, but not that big of one)
Anyway, Devon seemed to be happy to be interviewed. She told me she had one story written about her in High School. Never in college, but to be fair she's only a sophomore and the school paper doesn't interview players, they just write about the game and talk to coaches. Of course I asked if it was a story on her and her sister and of course it was. They are twins, you can't do a story on one and not the other, so you do one big one on both of them.
I asked about where she was recruited to play. I was curious because so many people assume that Division III is for athletes who are no good. That's not necessarily the case. The best Division III teams can compete with average or worse Division I teams. Devon was mostly looking at Division III schools, but there were a few Division I schools she saw. I often hear about high school athletes who could play D II or D III in a sport, but decide to go support a DI school as a student NON athlete. Devon said she would have played Division I if she thought she belonged there.
Leah actually said that her team beat Division I foe Niagra. Both Devon and Leah said there are some really good D3 teams and some AWFUL ones.
Neither Devon nor Leah had any sponsors at their school and Devon said that her school has four athletic trainers.
Devon's best moment in soccer came when she scored her first career goal. That's all she told me and I decided to delve deeper into this subject sensing there could be more to it. Scoring your first career goal is usually more than just scoring a goal. You usually can remember a little more about it then that it hit the back of the net. I was correct with my assumption. Devon, who plays at St. Lawrence, scored her first goal, a match winner, in a game against a top five ranked opponent.
Devon and Leah shared one thing in common even though they go to different schools. Devon and Leah both show sort of contempt for the Division I programs at their school. All the sports are Division III at St. Lawrence except for Men's and Women's Ice Hockey. Those sports are Division I. So basically those athletes walk around campus thinking they are the greatest and coolest thing ever because they are DI athletes. I sensed some tension, and some seemed to be acknowledged, between Division III and Division I athletes at the same school even though Devon acknowledged that the Hockey programs deserved more money and support then the other programs because of their different status's.
What about crowds for Division III women's soccer. Occasionally Devon said she could count the amount on her hands, but usually the stands, which she thinks hold one to two hundred fans, were mostly full of family and friends showing support. She said that until this year there were fliers on campus with pictures of seniors promoting each home game.
Then I asked Devon a question that I had to ask. Do you have any creepy fans? (She probably thought to herself, "No, but I do have a creepy guy asking me all these questions") She said no. The reason I asked is that, well, I know that UConn Women's Basketball has quite a few creepy fans. Actually a lot of teams have fans that are so passionate that they are borderline creepy. Devon said that the handicapped cafeteria workers are probably their biggest supporters. I'm sure that the cafeteria workers really do look forward to games and really appreciate any time and attention that they athletes give them. I know the cafeteria staff at South Dining Hall really appreciated it when the UConn Football team would interact with them.
Leah was a pretty bad interview to be honest. She thought the question about where she was recruited was too personal. I don't know why. It wasn't like I asked her where she lived or for her genealogy. I had to spend a good couple of minutes trying to convince her to say something and then she got mad because she thought I was degrading her Division III team, which I wasn't. I was simply trying to figure why an athlete chooses Division III over another Division. Leah said she simply wanted to go to a small liberal arts college.
What I found interesting is that her Coach at William and Smith is one of just four coaches in Women's Soccer, across all Divisions, to have recorded 400 or more wins. She forgot to mention the coach that matters most to me. She learned.
It's also funny to me that Niki Cross, former UConn player, drove past us. She has no idea who I am and her sentence being in here is about as random as her driving past us.
Leah also played in the back and her best moment in soccer was when her team made it to the Division III Final Four.
Leah didn't know what position her father played at BU, so I think I will inspire a dinner table talk one day. Devon mentioned that her father would sometimes get too loud at games. He would start coaching her and she would have to get him to shut up. However, Devon would always ask for her dad's opinion after the game.
Leah also showed contempt for the Division I program at her Division III school, the Men's Lacrosse team. She called them "jerks" except she didn't quite use a word as nice as jerk. I can't imagine how much tension there could be between the Division III programs and Division I program. You know that the Division I program thinks it deserves the attention of the entire athletic department 24/7.
Leah and I got off of track easily and I wouldn't say she was the best interview. I will also say that just because she got irritated at a question or two doesn't mean that she hates me. Quite the contrary actually, I got a nice good bye as we were leaving work.
I did these interviews with some intent too. More of a marketing strategy. I did say I think it would be funny if I wrote a book about all the different athletes that I had met. Then I realized that 90% of the book would be on UConn players that 5% of the UConn population may have heard of. Talk about a small market. Thought having athletes from a different Division, and state other than Connecticut would be good. Variety would be good IF I were to write a book. Don't expect one though. Especially now because the economy can't take another economic disaster, like someone publishing a book I write.
I figured why not interview them. It's not like they usually get interviewed. Plus these two went to the same High School as UConn great Jeff Adrien (Brookline) so they are just legends in my view.
They were Devon and Leah.
Devon was the better interview. She was also the first interview. (I dumbly didn't ask who was first) I interviewed her in the car. (Only one person that has been in my car has been lucky enough to have me completely silent throughout most of the ride)
Devon taught me the difference between a defensive mid and center back. Good ball winner needed both places, maybe more so at defensive mid. I learned that defensive mid can also help start attack. Very technical things for me to learn. (I bet anyone on the UConn team would be impressed to hear me speak using this lingo)
Lingo, what you should be watching TV if you are bored enough to be reading this.
Maybe you will continue if you have had enough with Chuck Woolery. (I googled the hosts name by the way. I did not know that off the top of my head. I might be a loser, but not that big of one)
Anyway, Devon seemed to be happy to be interviewed. She told me she had one story written about her in High School. Never in college, but to be fair she's only a sophomore and the school paper doesn't interview players, they just write about the game and talk to coaches. Of course I asked if it was a story on her and her sister and of course it was. They are twins, you can't do a story on one and not the other, so you do one big one on both of them.
I asked about where she was recruited to play. I was curious because so many people assume that Division III is for athletes who are no good. That's not necessarily the case. The best Division III teams can compete with average or worse Division I teams. Devon was mostly looking at Division III schools, but there were a few Division I schools she saw. I often hear about high school athletes who could play D II or D III in a sport, but decide to go support a DI school as a student NON athlete. Devon said she would have played Division I if she thought she belonged there.
Leah actually said that her team beat Division I foe Niagra. Both Devon and Leah said there are some really good D3 teams and some AWFUL ones.
Neither Devon nor Leah had any sponsors at their school and Devon said that her school has four athletic trainers.
Devon's best moment in soccer came when she scored her first career goal. That's all she told me and I decided to delve deeper into this subject sensing there could be more to it. Scoring your first career goal is usually more than just scoring a goal. You usually can remember a little more about it then that it hit the back of the net. I was correct with my assumption. Devon, who plays at St. Lawrence, scored her first goal, a match winner, in a game against a top five ranked opponent.
Devon and Leah shared one thing in common even though they go to different schools. Devon and Leah both show sort of contempt for the Division I programs at their school. All the sports are Division III at St. Lawrence except for Men's and Women's Ice Hockey. Those sports are Division I. So basically those athletes walk around campus thinking they are the greatest and coolest thing ever because they are DI athletes. I sensed some tension, and some seemed to be acknowledged, between Division III and Division I athletes at the same school even though Devon acknowledged that the Hockey programs deserved more money and support then the other programs because of their different status's.
What about crowds for Division III women's soccer. Occasionally Devon said she could count the amount on her hands, but usually the stands, which she thinks hold one to two hundred fans, were mostly full of family and friends showing support. She said that until this year there were fliers on campus with pictures of seniors promoting each home game.
Then I asked Devon a question that I had to ask. Do you have any creepy fans? (She probably thought to herself, "No, but I do have a creepy guy asking me all these questions") She said no. The reason I asked is that, well, I know that UConn Women's Basketball has quite a few creepy fans. Actually a lot of teams have fans that are so passionate that they are borderline creepy. Devon said that the handicapped cafeteria workers are probably their biggest supporters. I'm sure that the cafeteria workers really do look forward to games and really appreciate any time and attention that they athletes give them. I know the cafeteria staff at South Dining Hall really appreciated it when the UConn Football team would interact with them.
Leah was a pretty bad interview to be honest. She thought the question about where she was recruited was too personal. I don't know why. It wasn't like I asked her where she lived or for her genealogy. I had to spend a good couple of minutes trying to convince her to say something and then she got mad because she thought I was degrading her Division III team, which I wasn't. I was simply trying to figure why an athlete chooses Division III over another Division. Leah said she simply wanted to go to a small liberal arts college.
What I found interesting is that her Coach at William and Smith is one of just four coaches in Women's Soccer, across all Divisions, to have recorded 400 or more wins. She forgot to mention the coach that matters most to me. She learned.
It's also funny to me that Niki Cross, former UConn player, drove past us. She has no idea who I am and her sentence being in here is about as random as her driving past us.
Leah also played in the back and her best moment in soccer was when her team made it to the Division III Final Four.
Leah didn't know what position her father played at BU, so I think I will inspire a dinner table talk one day. Devon mentioned that her father would sometimes get too loud at games. He would start coaching her and she would have to get him to shut up. However, Devon would always ask for her dad's opinion after the game.
Leah also showed contempt for the Division I program at her Division III school, the Men's Lacrosse team. She called them "jerks" except she didn't quite use a word as nice as jerk. I can't imagine how much tension there could be between the Division III programs and Division I program. You know that the Division I program thinks it deserves the attention of the entire athletic department 24/7.
Leah and I got off of track easily and I wouldn't say she was the best interview. I will also say that just because she got irritated at a question or two doesn't mean that she hates me. Quite the contrary actually, I got a nice good bye as we were leaving work.
I did these interviews with some intent too. More of a marketing strategy. I did say I think it would be funny if I wrote a book about all the different athletes that I had met. Then I realized that 90% of the book would be on UConn players that 5% of the UConn population may have heard of. Talk about a small market. Thought having athletes from a different Division, and state other than Connecticut would be good. Variety would be good IF I were to write a book. Don't expect one though. Especially now because the economy can't take another economic disaster, like someone publishing a book I write.
It got canceled
So yesterday I had to help inform people that the soccer game that was supposed to be played got canceled because the opposing team folded. Most people knew what had happened, but a few didn't.
We didn't say that a team folded when we were first talking to people, we just said the game got canceled.
Everyone asked why.
I wanted to just point to the sky and say "rain"
However, it was sunny out and didn't think people who drove from New Hampshire to Boston would appreciate my sense of humor.
We didn't say that a team folded when we were first talking to people, we just said the game got canceled.
Everyone asked why.
I wanted to just point to the sky and say "rain"
However, it was sunny out and didn't think people who drove from New Hampshire to Boston would appreciate my sense of humor.
Why does it rain at the most inconvienent times..
Yankees vs Red Sox.......RAIN RAIN RAIN and MORE RAIN
Supposed to go biking with Nanners today. RAIN RAIN RAIN and MORE RAIN.
Is it possible to bike in the rain. Yes. I've done so, actually I've done so in the snow, but not on my road bike. That bike hasn't seen mist, and if you had my bike, or hmm should we say bought it, you wouldn't either. (You also wouldn't bring it to school and would make the security system around your bike tighter than it is at Fort Knox) I'm really mad I can't make it. I just don't think the threat of thunder, lightning, hail and slight chance of tornadoes makes for fun cycling...Although it might make you pedal faster...I went for a run last year in a thunderstorm. Wasn't the brightest idea. Cycling isn't either, especially since the bike is made of METAL.
I hope Nanners has a safe ride. I wish it would only rain at night, or when I am working in an office...(aka not raining when I am working at an athletics event)
I can't tell you how sad and mad I am that it didn't work out, but we atleast got to enjoy a few rides around campus. It was fun, and hopefully it was for her even if I occasionally went Evel Knievel through traffic on her. I'll admit it takes some time before you are comfortable riding a few feet from cars. I never ride on sidewalks. Always in the road.
Supposed to go biking with Nanners today. RAIN RAIN RAIN and MORE RAIN.
Is it possible to bike in the rain. Yes. I've done so, actually I've done so in the snow, but not on my road bike. That bike hasn't seen mist, and if you had my bike, or hmm should we say bought it, you wouldn't either. (You also wouldn't bring it to school and would make the security system around your bike tighter than it is at Fort Knox) I'm really mad I can't make it. I just don't think the threat of thunder, lightning, hail and slight chance of tornadoes makes for fun cycling...Although it might make you pedal faster...I went for a run last year in a thunderstorm. Wasn't the brightest idea. Cycling isn't either, especially since the bike is made of METAL.
I hope Nanners has a safe ride. I wish it would only rain at night, or when I am working in an office...(aka not raining when I am working at an athletics event)
I can't tell you how sad and mad I am that it didn't work out, but we atleast got to enjoy a few rides around campus. It was fun, and hopefully it was for her even if I occasionally went Evel Knievel through traffic on her. I'll admit it takes some time before you are comfortable riding a few feet from cars. I never ride on sidewalks. Always in the road.
Random Athletes
Sometimes you just need to hear their names again. I'm just going to sit and list random athletes for memories sake. Maybe you will laugh, cry or most likely go "Who the heck is that!?"
Albert Belle (Where to start? He apparently stalked a women and went to jail for 90 days) His Wikipedia page is mildly amusing.
Eric Crouch
Ben Coates
Vin Baker (Sadly was arrested for drunk driving after being at Foxwoods. Old Saybrook home was foreclosed on..currently works with Texas Southern University Men's Basketball...where Nick Van Exel is an assistant coach)
Carl Everett
Jud Buechler
Bartolo Colon
Neil O'Donnell
Luc Longley
Kent Graham
Ray Lucas
Chris Calloway
Toni Kukoc
Dante Hall
Clyde Drexler
John Rocker (according to Wikipedia (don't know accuracy of this) when he came back to NY after his comments beer sales were limited at game and he left 30 minutes after the team in a black van with three security vehicles) I was at that game...
Ricky Watters (He seems to be doing well with motivational speaking and good things)
Chris Warren (The former Seahawk RB had a court case involving child support in news) An NFL player involved in child support case. Now that is breaking news!! It's about as unoriginal news as an armed robbery at a convenience store.
Arvydas Sabonis
Kevin Johnson (The former Phoenix Sun is now actually the Mayor of Sacramento)
Why did I do this? Not a clue.
Albert Belle (Where to start? He apparently stalked a women and went to jail for 90 days) His Wikipedia page is mildly amusing.
Eric Crouch
Ben Coates
Vin Baker (Sadly was arrested for drunk driving after being at Foxwoods. Old Saybrook home was foreclosed on..currently works with Texas Southern University Men's Basketball...where Nick Van Exel is an assistant coach)
Carl Everett
Jud Buechler
Bartolo Colon
Neil O'Donnell
Luc Longley
Kent Graham
Ray Lucas
Chris Calloway
Toni Kukoc
Dante Hall
Clyde Drexler
John Rocker (according to Wikipedia (don't know accuracy of this) when he came back to NY after his comments beer sales were limited at game and he left 30 minutes after the team in a black van with three security vehicles) I was at that game...
Ricky Watters (He seems to be doing well with motivational speaking and good things)
Chris Warren (The former Seahawk RB had a court case involving child support in news) An NFL player involved in child support case. Now that is breaking news!! It's about as unoriginal news as an armed robbery at a convenience store.
Arvydas Sabonis
Kevin Johnson (The former Phoenix Sun is now actually the Mayor of Sacramento)
Why did I do this? Not a clue.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Sign your an over involved parent
How about the top ten signs that your an over involved parent at a sporting event.
If I can think of a list I will come up with it.
Lets stick to a basic one that will definitely be on that list. I noticed it today at a soccer tournament I was working at.
I saw a father of 7 or 8 year old girls wearing matching pants with his teams uniforms. Nothing says important quite like that. Matching the uniform color (maroon) with maroon pants.
Isn't that a little too over the top? Isn't that a little too highly identified with your daughters team?
Maybe not. I mean when the TV crews show up for the post game interview he wants to look like he belongs.
If its a coincidence that you are wearing maroon pants and your 7 year old youth team wears maroon jerseys then fine. If that is planned, that's a little unnecessary as far as I am concerned. Matching clothes is important for branding purposes, not teaching kids youth soccer.
I sort of laugh when I see coaches of 7 year old youth teams with clipboards and matching adidas track suits. Isn't it a little over the top? Do you really feel important when you walk around with "South Salem Youth Soccer" official team gear? Again, maybe nice, but it looks so unnecessary and over the top.
This reminds me I got talking about my little league with a friend of mine. We spoke about the overcompetitive coaches in our little league. In my league it was the O'Leary's. They were a little over the top. Every little league has someone in it takes it too seriously. Although I must admit too seriously in little league is so much better than the kid who just wanted his parent to buy bubble gum and a soda for them. They usually played in left field every other inning and would compete with their counter parts in the dugout to see who could build the bigger pile of dirt.
Which brings me to an interesting thing about baseball. In what other sport do you see people spitting and moving around dirt so much during a game? It's like a hobby and tradition to move dirt in baseball. The pitcher digs into the mound. I always did that. At first base I would always kick dirt around while the pitcher couldn't find the strike zone. In the batters box, I'd also dig in. Then the umpire would move dirt off the plate. There is a lot of dirt moving in baseball. I bet if we put all the baseball players in the world in Central America we could construct another Panama Canal for free within a few months.
If I can think of a list I will come up with it.
Lets stick to a basic one that will definitely be on that list. I noticed it today at a soccer tournament I was working at.
I saw a father of 7 or 8 year old girls wearing matching pants with his teams uniforms. Nothing says important quite like that. Matching the uniform color (maroon) with maroon pants.
Isn't that a little too over the top? Isn't that a little too highly identified with your daughters team?
Maybe not. I mean when the TV crews show up for the post game interview he wants to look like he belongs.
If its a coincidence that you are wearing maroon pants and your 7 year old youth team wears maroon jerseys then fine. If that is planned, that's a little unnecessary as far as I am concerned. Matching clothes is important for branding purposes, not teaching kids youth soccer.
I sort of laugh when I see coaches of 7 year old youth teams with clipboards and matching adidas track suits. Isn't it a little over the top? Do you really feel important when you walk around with "South Salem Youth Soccer" official team gear? Again, maybe nice, but it looks so unnecessary and over the top.
This reminds me I got talking about my little league with a friend of mine. We spoke about the overcompetitive coaches in our little league. In my league it was the O'Leary's. They were a little over the top. Every little league has someone in it takes it too seriously. Although I must admit too seriously in little league is so much better than the kid who just wanted his parent to buy bubble gum and a soda for them. They usually played in left field every other inning and would compete with their counter parts in the dugout to see who could build the bigger pile of dirt.
Which brings me to an interesting thing about baseball. In what other sport do you see people spitting and moving around dirt so much during a game? It's like a hobby and tradition to move dirt in baseball. The pitcher digs into the mound. I always did that. At first base I would always kick dirt around while the pitcher couldn't find the strike zone. In the batters box, I'd also dig in. Then the umpire would move dirt off the plate. There is a lot of dirt moving in baseball. I bet if we put all the baseball players in the world in Central America we could construct another Panama Canal for free within a few months.
Down goes Frazier
Down Goes Frazier...Down Goes Frazier...
I'd love to go to a boxing match at Mohegan.
I'd love to go to a boxing match at Mohegan.
Friday, June 4, 2010
The best interviews
Who were my favorite athletes to interview?
I mean I've interviewed so many that I should be able to come up with a list.
For Football I only did a couple of interviews. My favorite was by far Dan Davis, the former UConn Defensive Tackle. He gave good answers.
For Women's Basketball I'd probably go with Tahirah Williams. She was a communications major who was just good to interview. She spoke clearly. Most of the players were good. Kaili McLaren and Maya Moore were also favorites of mine.
I'll talk about women's soccer players separately.
I mean I've interviewed so many that I should be able to come up with a list.
For Football I only did a couple of interviews. My favorite was by far Dan Davis, the former UConn Defensive Tackle. He gave good answers.
For Women's Basketball I'd probably go with Tahirah Williams. She was a communications major who was just good to interview. She spoke clearly. Most of the players were good. Kaili McLaren and Maya Moore were also favorites of mine.
I'll talk about women's soccer players separately.
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