I think I've written before that I really don't see how the WPS can survive as a professional league, and this has nothing to do with the current problem which revolves around US Soccer sanctioning.
I don't see how it can happen because I just can't do that math to figure out how teams break-even. I've tried to market WPS at soccer tournaments as an intern and it often fell on deaf ears. One time we went to an event and we basically had no one come up interested in our tent.
I don't think the WPS can financially survive. I can't emphasize enough how I don't see it.
The conflicting part is that I really want it to survive for the college players with pro aspirations. I hate it for them. The pro league gives these players something to aim for.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Salary Caps in NCAA?
I just read an article that Maryland is cutting 8 varsity sports to save money. 8?
8 Olympic Sports?
I can agree that some of those sports might not really be worth having. There are some obscure sports in the NCAA.
The problem though is that it's not in the spirit of college athletics to be dumping those eight sports, while spending millions of dollars to support football and basketball. No school will cut money to those programs because they won't for fear that it will hurt the competitiveness of their teams. They would only do it if everyone else cut costs.
I am beginning to think that a salary cap, or spending cap needs to be put on college athletics. It's beginning to get ridiculous when you read about schools cutting 8 sports, while spending huge sums of money (and more) on two or three programs. The amount of money being spent is also seemingly unsustainable. Schools can't afford a new facility every time a rival school builds something better.
8 Olympic Sports?
I can agree that some of those sports might not really be worth having. There are some obscure sports in the NCAA.
The problem though is that it's not in the spirit of college athletics to be dumping those eight sports, while spending millions of dollars to support football and basketball. No school will cut money to those programs because they won't for fear that it will hurt the competitiveness of their teams. They would only do it if everyone else cut costs.
I am beginning to think that a salary cap, or spending cap needs to be put on college athletics. It's beginning to get ridiculous when you read about schools cutting 8 sports, while spending huge sums of money (and more) on two or three programs. The amount of money being spent is also seemingly unsustainable. Schools can't afford a new facility every time a rival school builds something better.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Names of Stadium Songs
Here are the names of a few famous stadium songs without any lyrics or many lyrics...In case you or anyone else were wondering...
Sandstorm by Darude
300 Violin Orchestra by Jorge Quintero
Lux Aeterna Remix
Mind Heist by Zach Hemsey
Rock and Roll Part 2 by Gary Glitter
From Basketball
Get Ready for This by 2 Unlimited
Twilight Zone Remix by 2 Unlimited
Sandstorm by Darude
300 Violin Orchestra by Jorge Quintero
Lux Aeterna Remix
Mind Heist by Zach Hemsey
Rock and Roll Part 2 by Gary Glitter
From Basketball
Get Ready for This by 2 Unlimited
Twilight Zone Remix by 2 Unlimited
Warm Up Songs
It's sad that I know the warm-up songs of our team so well.
I even remember hearing Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" in 2008 along with the overtime song of "Hells Bells"
In 2009 I remember "Down" and "Shooting Star." Shooting Star was my first introduction to LMFAO. I also remember hearing Lil Wayne's "Hot Relolver" playing right before kickoff for one game. Michael Jackson's "Thriller" made a lot of appearances right before the second half kickoff too.
I know the 2010 playlist really well. Hall and Oates would always come on at the most random time. I think that this playlist was ordered very well. I felt like it matched up well with what the team was doing in warm-ups. I think my favorite song of all was the strangest one for me to like and it was something called "Good Times" by Roll Deep. It was some strange European Dance/Techno song and I have to admit that it was really catchy and probably my favorite warm up song of all my years of listening to the songs before games. Good Times would always come on as the team was shooting on goal and hearing that play made me realize how close we were to game-time. "I like it" seemed to always come up early in warm-ups when the goalies started to get going. I remember the back-up keeper from Jersey would always do a bit of a dance during that song. When I say bit, she would barely move, but you could tell she was moving to the beat. 1901 was a cool song and I really liked "Ali in the Jungle."
The 2011 playlist was not exactly my favorite. It grew on me, but nothing stood out. It's also possible that it's because I was busier this year before games. As a matter of fact I didn't have everything working for the Cincinnati game until six minutes before kickoff. I wasn't on the sideline, or even listening to music prior to the game at all. I had to tend to a video crisis. We also didn't have many home games this year either. So for some reason, possibly unrelated to song choice, I really don't remember that much about it.
Speaking of all of this, I think hearing the National Anthem is special. The moment I heard that song I got really excited because I knew it was truly game time.
I even remember hearing Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" in 2008 along with the overtime song of "Hells Bells"
In 2009 I remember "Down" and "Shooting Star." Shooting Star was my first introduction to LMFAO. I also remember hearing Lil Wayne's "Hot Relolver" playing right before kickoff for one game. Michael Jackson's "Thriller" made a lot of appearances right before the second half kickoff too.
I know the 2010 playlist really well. Hall and Oates would always come on at the most random time. I think that this playlist was ordered very well. I felt like it matched up well with what the team was doing in warm-ups. I think my favorite song of all was the strangest one for me to like and it was something called "Good Times" by Roll Deep. It was some strange European Dance/Techno song and I have to admit that it was really catchy and probably my favorite warm up song of all my years of listening to the songs before games. Good Times would always come on as the team was shooting on goal and hearing that play made me realize how close we were to game-time. "I like it" seemed to always come up early in warm-ups when the goalies started to get going. I remember the back-up keeper from Jersey would always do a bit of a dance during that song. When I say bit, she would barely move, but you could tell she was moving to the beat. 1901 was a cool song and I really liked "Ali in the Jungle."
The 2011 playlist was not exactly my favorite. It grew on me, but nothing stood out. It's also possible that it's because I was busier this year before games. As a matter of fact I didn't have everything working for the Cincinnati game until six minutes before kickoff. I wasn't on the sideline, or even listening to music prior to the game at all. I had to tend to a video crisis. We also didn't have many home games this year either. So for some reason, possibly unrelated to song choice, I really don't remember that much about it.
Speaking of all of this, I think hearing the National Anthem is special. The moment I heard that song I got really excited because I knew it was truly game time.
Some UCONN Basketball Observations
I don't know how you limit a team to five points in the half, so I am very impressed with the Women's Team. The Women's team is actually exceeding my expectations up to this point, especially Kaleena Mosqueda Lewis. I was so impressed with her performance in the Stanford game. She can shoot and score. People need to lower expectations for her though. She is still a freshman and will have natural ups and downs and things to learn. However, she's really really good and can carry the team at times.
I'd like to see a certain UCONN player cut to the rim and stop settling for three's.
The thing that I like best about the women is more depth in the front court. Last year they didn't have that. This year I think they do, or atleast they have more. Heather Buck, although I still haven't seen her play, scored 7 points in the box score vs Fairleigh Dickinson. Kiah Stokes almost had a double-double and you still have Dolson. Although it's early for UCONN it looks like UCONN has a good front court. It's important to have depth for when UCONN faces Baylor and Brittney Griner. I can't wait to watch that.
As for the men, I am concerned about them. In general I think it's really hard to repeat because to some degree I think complacency sets in naturally. By this time last year I knew UCONN had the best team that I had seen since 2006-07 and thought it had a better chance of winning a National Championship than the team that went to the final four in 2008-2009. There was something special about that team last year that I could just sense from watching them. This year I don't have that sense. I can't explain it, but something is just missing right now and I have thought this despite the loss yesterday. As a matter of fact I've been expecting the men to lose at anytime.
I'm thinking that the missing something is Kemba Walker, and I do believe that he can make that big of a difference. I still think UCONN has a very good team and that talent wise they will be one of the top four teams in conference and make the NCAA's. I just don't know how special this team is yet.
I'd like to see a certain UCONN player cut to the rim and stop settling for three's.
The thing that I like best about the women is more depth in the front court. Last year they didn't have that. This year I think they do, or atleast they have more. Heather Buck, although I still haven't seen her play, scored 7 points in the box score vs Fairleigh Dickinson. Kiah Stokes almost had a double-double and you still have Dolson. Although it's early for UCONN it looks like UCONN has a good front court. It's important to have depth for when UCONN faces Baylor and Brittney Griner. I can't wait to watch that.
As for the men, I am concerned about them. In general I think it's really hard to repeat because to some degree I think complacency sets in naturally. By this time last year I knew UCONN had the best team that I had seen since 2006-07 and thought it had a better chance of winning a National Championship than the team that went to the final four in 2008-2009. There was something special about that team last year that I could just sense from watching them. This year I don't have that sense. I can't explain it, but something is just missing right now and I have thought this despite the loss yesterday. As a matter of fact I've been expecting the men to lose at anytime.
I'm thinking that the missing something is Kemba Walker, and I do believe that he can make that big of a difference. I still think UCONN has a very good team and that talent wise they will be one of the top four teams in conference and make the NCAA's. I just don't know how special this team is yet.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
New York vs Boston and where I fit in
I am trying to figure out where I fall on the New York and Boston continuum. Being from Fairfield County in Connecticut, a suburb of New York City and recently spending more time at my parents summer house in a suburb of Boston (extreme suburb, but very Bostonian) can confuse a person's identity.
I identify myself as someone from Connecticut. That's very much true, and I am proud to be from Connecticut. Within that however are some differences. Are you a Boston fan or a New York fan? People in Connecticut generally associate with either Boston or New York.
As for favorite teams, the Connecticut in me makes me a UConn Huskies fan. I'd argue that UCONN Women's Basketball is the one team that unites the entire state of Connecticut behind one team. My favorite baseball team is the New York Mets. My favorite football team is the Dallas Cowboys. I hate the New York Giants, but the New York Jets are my AFC team, and a team I generally root for and have followed in the past. My NBA team are the Boston Celtics. Overall the advantage goes to New York.
My accent is not either a full blown New York or Boston accent. However, I do have atleast a slight New York accent. Some people say I have a New York accent. Advantage New York.
Family. My father's side of the family originally came from Massachusetts, but that was a long long long time ago. My dad's family (going way back) is from Fairfield County and relatives going way way back have been from places such as Greenwich/New Canaan/Stamford and Ridgefield. My mom's family is more from New York. My mom grew up in White Plains and Greenwich. Her family would often boat and water-ski on the Hudson (when they didn't know what was in the river). Her mother was from mostly Stamford and Danielson CT, although I believe she also spent sometime in New York. My mom's father is a full blown New Yorker. He refers to my mom as "ur muddah" and he was born and raised in New York to my knowledge. I believe his parents were buried in the city. My grandpa also owned a clothes cleaning business in the Bronx that dry cleaned clothes from Broadway. Advantage here is New York.
I'm giving New York the edge right now...I'm thinking I have a little bit more New York in me than Boston.
I identify myself as someone from Connecticut. That's very much true, and I am proud to be from Connecticut. Within that however are some differences. Are you a Boston fan or a New York fan? People in Connecticut generally associate with either Boston or New York.
As for favorite teams, the Connecticut in me makes me a UConn Huskies fan. I'd argue that UCONN Women's Basketball is the one team that unites the entire state of Connecticut behind one team. My favorite baseball team is the New York Mets. My favorite football team is the Dallas Cowboys. I hate the New York Giants, but the New York Jets are my AFC team, and a team I generally root for and have followed in the past. My NBA team are the Boston Celtics. Overall the advantage goes to New York.
My accent is not either a full blown New York or Boston accent. However, I do have atleast a slight New York accent. Some people say I have a New York accent. Advantage New York.
Family. My father's side of the family originally came from Massachusetts, but that was a long long long time ago. My dad's family (going way back) is from Fairfield County and relatives going way way back have been from places such as Greenwich/New Canaan/Stamford and Ridgefield. My mom's family is more from New York. My mom grew up in White Plains and Greenwich. Her family would often boat and water-ski on the Hudson (when they didn't know what was in the river). Her mother was from mostly Stamford and Danielson CT, although I believe she also spent sometime in New York. My mom's father is a full blown New Yorker. He refers to my mom as "ur muddah" and he was born and raised in New York to my knowledge. I believe his parents were buried in the city. My grandpa also owned a clothes cleaning business in the Bronx that dry cleaned clothes from Broadway. Advantage here is New York.
I'm giving New York the edge right now...I'm thinking I have a little bit more New York in me than Boston.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Getting Heckled
Part of wearing Connecticut Gear on the road means that you will get heckled, even when you are a staff member as unimportant as me.
I never dreamt I would ever be heckled but luckily I was. I really enjoyed every moment of being heckled.
The first time it happened was at St. John's this season. I walked by their student section at half-time and they were yelling at me.
Some kid went "Hey it's a guy in UConn gear, let's boo him!!" I was booed. Thought it was cool. I didn't look at them, I just moved forward. I listened, but didn't want to provoke anyone or get myself in trouble. I put my head down and pretended to ignore them. They also called me a coward. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe they wanted me to stare them down.
The second time it happened was at Marquette. There students saw me and asked "hey are you a coach or a manager?" I totally ignored them. "Hey we know you can hear us!" I continued walking and I think they asked if I was a manager or coach again. Then they said "Either way you suck at what you do!" I thought it was awesome.
The comments were so paper thin that they neither bothered me nor motivated me.
I don't think the Notre Dame students really heckled me. They were too busy heckling our goalie. I listened to what they said and left it there. My observation of those kids, were that unlike the Marquette and St. John's students I got the feeling that the Notre Dame kids were really some of the biggest losers on campus. I don't know why I thought that. I just did. I felt as if I had turned around and told them to go "bleep.... themselves" that they would have shut up and listened. I thought if I told that to the Marquette or St. John's fans that they would have really gotten after me.
I never dreamt I would ever be heckled but luckily I was. I really enjoyed every moment of being heckled.
The first time it happened was at St. John's this season. I walked by their student section at half-time and they were yelling at me.
Some kid went "Hey it's a guy in UConn gear, let's boo him!!" I was booed. Thought it was cool. I didn't look at them, I just moved forward. I listened, but didn't want to provoke anyone or get myself in trouble. I put my head down and pretended to ignore them. They also called me a coward. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe they wanted me to stare them down.
The second time it happened was at Marquette. There students saw me and asked "hey are you a coach or a manager?" I totally ignored them. "Hey we know you can hear us!" I continued walking and I think they asked if I was a manager or coach again. Then they said "Either way you suck at what you do!" I thought it was awesome.
The comments were so paper thin that they neither bothered me nor motivated me.
I don't think the Notre Dame students really heckled me. They were too busy heckling our goalie. I listened to what they said and left it there. My observation of those kids, were that unlike the Marquette and St. John's students I got the feeling that the Notre Dame kids were really some of the biggest losers on campus. I don't know why I thought that. I just did. I felt as if I had turned around and told them to go "bleep.... themselves" that they would have shut up and listened. I thought if I told that to the Marquette or St. John's fans that they would have really gotten after me.
NFL picks
So I picked every NFL game on some ESPN playoff predictor.
My picks gave me these results.
AFC
1 Baltimore
2.New England
3. Oakland
4. Houston
5. Pittsburgh (13-3 and a 5 seed)
6. New York Jets
NFC
1. Green Bay (I have them losing to Detroit on Thanksgiving)
2. San Francisco
3. New Orleans
4. Dallas
5. Chicago
6. Detroit
Biggest Game for playoff implications will be the Jets and Giants. I think the loser of that game will be out. I picked the Jets to win that one.
The Giants are the team that I think are the hardest to predict and can mess up my picks more than any other team. I have the Giants losing to the Jets, Saints and Packers. I have them splitting with the Cowboys and beating the Redskins. I can see the Giants beating the Packers, or the Saints, because they always seem to play well against good teams. They also always seem to fall off the face of earth as the year goes on. I am biased against the Giants and it probably shows...
My picks gave me these results.
AFC
1 Baltimore
2.New England
3. Oakland
4. Houston
5. Pittsburgh (13-3 and a 5 seed)
6. New York Jets
NFC
1. Green Bay (I have them losing to Detroit on Thanksgiving)
2. San Francisco
3. New Orleans
4. Dallas
5. Chicago
6. Detroit
Biggest Game for playoff implications will be the Jets and Giants. I think the loser of that game will be out. I picked the Jets to win that one.
The Giants are the team that I think are the hardest to predict and can mess up my picks more than any other team. I have the Giants losing to the Jets, Saints and Packers. I have them splitting with the Cowboys and beating the Redskins. I can see the Giants beating the Packers, or the Saints, because they always seem to play well against good teams. They also always seem to fall off the face of earth as the year goes on. I am biased against the Giants and it probably shows...
A little soccer talk
I was reading something about statistics and which stats certain people find important.
Stats lie. They prove locomotives fly.
Anyway, there are a couple of things that I have observed in soccer as important stats that I would want to win every game.
Two that really matter to me (besides goals...duh the most important stat) are corner kicks and shots on goal.
Teams can take 30 shots in a game but it doesn't mean much if those shots come from 25 yards out and end up hitting buildings beyond the field. Shots on goal are legitimate scoring chances. If I was a coach I would want to win that battle. Shots on goal also challenge keepers. You have to atleast force them to make a save, or deflect the ball. To me rebounds are the easiest goals in the world to score. However, in order to score off a rebound you need to have a shot on goal first.
The other stat is corner kicks. Corner Kicks are an indication of several things. One is maintaining possession in your offensive third. It also indicates an ability to get endline, which is a dangerous area for a team to score from. It's also an indication that you are challenging the keeper and defense. If you force a keeper to deflect the ball over the bar than you are getting good shots on goal. If a defense is just kicking the ball out of the endline than you are making them really uncomfortable.
Stats lie. They prove locomotives fly.
Anyway, there are a couple of things that I have observed in soccer as important stats that I would want to win every game.
Two that really matter to me (besides goals...duh the most important stat) are corner kicks and shots on goal.
Teams can take 30 shots in a game but it doesn't mean much if those shots come from 25 yards out and end up hitting buildings beyond the field. Shots on goal are legitimate scoring chances. If I was a coach I would want to win that battle. Shots on goal also challenge keepers. You have to atleast force them to make a save, or deflect the ball. To me rebounds are the easiest goals in the world to score. However, in order to score off a rebound you need to have a shot on goal first.
The other stat is corner kicks. Corner Kicks are an indication of several things. One is maintaining possession in your offensive third. It also indicates an ability to get endline, which is a dangerous area for a team to score from. It's also an indication that you are challenging the keeper and defense. If you force a keeper to deflect the ball over the bar than you are getting good shots on goal. If a defense is just kicking the ball out of the endline than you are making them really uncomfortable.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Random Road Trip Moment
One random moment from this year was our players getting their laundry before the DePaul game. I worked out in the morning, than ran to breakfast and inhaled breakfast, as our sports information director Sagan, and Assistant Coach Zac pointed out. Then I ran back to my room to shower. I told coach that the players could get their jerseys in 15 minutes...exactly fifteen minutes.
I knew that I would have showered and changed within 15 minutes.
About ten minutes after leaving breakfast I hopped out of the shower and heard my phone ring. Shoey called me and asked if I was in room 605 (I don't know if that was the number or not, but close enough) and I said yes. Than I heard "oh great, were here" to which I said "uhhhh...hold on." I wasn't exactly ready for them yet.
I got dressed quickly and then opened my door to find half our team waiting for their jerseys. There was a reason I said fifteen minutes and not ten.
It's not the only time I've been contacted at strange times or awkward times. I remember getting a 1:30 am and 7 am text message about something.
I also called a player at around 9am expecting them to be awake, and man oh man I could tell she wasn't. I felt so bad.
I have another early morning phone call story to talk about later.
I knew that I would have showered and changed within 15 minutes.
About ten minutes after leaving breakfast I hopped out of the shower and heard my phone ring. Shoey called me and asked if I was in room 605 (I don't know if that was the number or not, but close enough) and I said yes. Than I heard "oh great, were here" to which I said "uhhhh...hold on." I wasn't exactly ready for them yet.
I got dressed quickly and then opened my door to find half our team waiting for their jerseys. There was a reason I said fifteen minutes and not ten.
It's not the only time I've been contacted at strange times or awkward times. I remember getting a 1:30 am and 7 am text message about something.
I also called a player at around 9am expecting them to be awake, and man oh man I could tell she wasn't. I felt so bad.
I have another early morning phone call story to talk about later.
What other things will I write about...
My least favorite road trip will also be written about.
Most Awkward moments deserve a place. A goalkeeper owns that one.
Favorite prank...happened this preseason all because someone left something at the field...we should write about that soon, especially since the player who I got doesn't quite remember the story the way she should.
Favorite lines I had or things I told players...
One was just recently when a player told me she had $650 on her in cash. She was afraid she was going to get jumped while walking around campus. I told her "well unless you write that you have $650 on your forehead no one will know." It was much better in person.
Another one was when I made fun of our volunteer assistant coach James and the goalkeepers heard me. Somehow we were talking about planets and I said something about James miss-hit (which he rarely does) by saying "well that one went to a different universe."
The last one was via text message. I believe Dulski asked me what our teams plans were for dinner on our road trip in Pittsburgh. Since we had lost the day before, and didn't want to tell them where we were really going I texted back "McDonalds, because we need some Happy Meals.) At the time I didn't think it was all that funny, but when I saw Dulski and her roommate Nela they told me how funny they thought it was.
Speaking of dinner and Pittsburgh, I vividly remember our team being fascinated by birds in the hotel lobby which made us leave later than we should have for dinner. I was relieved that our reservations were not given away. I was so antsy while the team stared at birds. I think I joined the circle and walked towards the bus three times with the hope that someone would catch on and realize it was time to go to dinner. No one did.
Favorite players...just kidding, they are all favorites, just some more than others? It's my belief that you click with some people better than others, but I can't honestly say I've had a favorite player, or top five favorite players or even a top 10. I can't really come up with a list. I like everyone for different reasons.
SOMEONE on the team actually asked me on camera who my favorite player was. I really wonder who they expected me to say.
Other topics I will write about include
Favorite goals
Favorite moments
Favorite games
Least favorite moments
Favorite Bus Driver - Brian Boken. I'll treat this one like an award. He did such a great job at Pittsburgh/West Virginia last season. I actually called the bus company to tell them he did such a good job. He did whatever he could to help us out. Jesse and Tom Rotella have also done excellent jobs for our team as bus drivers. I do know some of their names, and I have to say that having good bus drivers makes me so much more relaxed.
Favorite post-game food
There are so many things to write about. I look forward to writing about them. Any ideas, or things you want me to write about, then just let me know.
When I am gone, so probably over the summer, I may go over each player and my memories specific to them.
I love history, and like typing up my memories, or making videos to help capture others memories. Reminiscing is fun.
Favorite Pre-Game video...
Favorite Warm-Up song...
Most Awkward moments deserve a place. A goalkeeper owns that one.
Favorite prank...happened this preseason all because someone left something at the field...we should write about that soon, especially since the player who I got doesn't quite remember the story the way she should.
Favorite lines I had or things I told players...
One was just recently when a player told me she had $650 on her in cash. She was afraid she was going to get jumped while walking around campus. I told her "well unless you write that you have $650 on your forehead no one will know." It was much better in person.
Another one was when I made fun of our volunteer assistant coach James and the goalkeepers heard me. Somehow we were talking about planets and I said something about James miss-hit (which he rarely does) by saying "well that one went to a different universe."
The last one was via text message. I believe Dulski asked me what our teams plans were for dinner on our road trip in Pittsburgh. Since we had lost the day before, and didn't want to tell them where we were really going I texted back "McDonalds, because we need some Happy Meals.) At the time I didn't think it was all that funny, but when I saw Dulski and her roommate Nela they told me how funny they thought it was.
Speaking of dinner and Pittsburgh, I vividly remember our team being fascinated by birds in the hotel lobby which made us leave later than we should have for dinner. I was relieved that our reservations were not given away. I was so antsy while the team stared at birds. I think I joined the circle and walked towards the bus three times with the hope that someone would catch on and realize it was time to go to dinner. No one did.
Favorite players...just kidding, they are all favorites, just some more than others? It's my belief that you click with some people better than others, but I can't honestly say I've had a favorite player, or top five favorite players or even a top 10. I can't really come up with a list. I like everyone for different reasons.
SOMEONE on the team actually asked me on camera who my favorite player was. I really wonder who they expected me to say.
Other topics I will write about include
Favorite goals
Favorite moments
Favorite games
Least favorite moments
Favorite Bus Driver - Brian Boken. I'll treat this one like an award. He did such a great job at Pittsburgh/West Virginia last season. I actually called the bus company to tell them he did such a good job. He did whatever he could to help us out. Jesse and Tom Rotella have also done excellent jobs for our team as bus drivers. I do know some of their names, and I have to say that having good bus drivers makes me so much more relaxed.
Favorite post-game food
There are so many things to write about. I look forward to writing about them. Any ideas, or things you want me to write about, then just let me know.
When I am gone, so probably over the summer, I may go over each player and my memories specific to them.
I love history, and like typing up my memories, or making videos to help capture others memories. Reminiscing is fun.
Favorite Pre-Game video...
Favorite Warm-Up song...
So Lets Start Re-living
So I guess now would be as good as time as any to start writing about my experiences with women's soccer.
I thought about writing a book about everything I've done in athletics but honestly, no one would buy it...it's not like anyone reads this anyway.
I sort of don't want to write about players yet, or using their names. Maybe I will, maybe I won't.
The first thing I will write about is my favorite road trip.
I've really had to think hard about this one. My first trip was to the NCAA's in 2009. I drove myself, so it wasn't a full fledged trip, but I did spend the night in the hotel. I remember breakfast being a learning experience. As a morning person I was extremely hungry when I woke up at 7:00am, but breakfast with the team wasn't supposed to be until around 10. I ended up eating a snack size bag or two of potato chips to hold me over. Then I felt so weird being at breakfast in the first place. I was so hesitant to actually go and sit with the team for breakfast. I finally did, but I waited until the last possible second before I went in to eat.
I've always felt really lucky and blessed to be able to travel with the team. I feel like I owe so much since the team, school and state is paying a plane ticket for me, a hotel room for me and food for me. I don't ever take a trip for granted, and really feel lucky the entire time. I also felt like I was representing my state and school at all times on the road. I tried to conduct myself in the best way possible, so that people in places like West Virginia, would have a good impression of people from Connecticut.
I also love flying. I LOVE FLYING and love taking off and landing. I don't remember our first plane trip to Pittsburgh all that much to be honest. The only thing I remember is arranging the baggage at the baggage claim in numerical order.
Usually I correlate winning with favorite road trips. There are three trips that stick out to me. One was to Notre Dame for the Big East Tournament. That one only sticks out for the winning. Another was our trip to Wake Forest this year. I loved seeing my Aunt, seeing us beat a ranked team at their place and getting to eat my first Krispy Kreme donuts. I also liked that we stayed in the same place for an entire weekend. However, I think this trip finishes a close second to our trip to South Florida.
South Florida was a really special trip to me. First of all it's Florida, and I love warm weather and the state. When I was a sophomore I paid my own way to take a trip to report on the Women's Final Four in Tampa, in which UConn lost to Stanford. I spent a lot of time with my Aunt, Uncle and Cousins, and 2nd cousins when I was there. It meant a lot to me to see them, since it's rare that I get too. It was also special because my Aunt was diagnosed with cancer so I really was glad to spend time with her. I vowed to work hard so that I could hopefully get the chance to return to South Florida while representing UCONN.
I had really hoped to see my Aunt again this year, but unfortunately she passed away about four months before our trip. Even though I missed her, I was able to see the rest of my family. My Uncle visited before the South Florida game, and saw my cousins and their families before the game. I was really glad to give away nine tickets for that game.
I made sure to bring gifts for the boys (my cousins each have two sons...Keaton, Caden, Will and Morgen) who went to the game. All of them play soccer, and Caden knows everything about the game for someone his age. He is also really good. He scored nine of his teams ten goals in a game, while playing a quarter in goal. I packed prize packs from athletic marketing full of promotional items for each of the boys and had our team sign posters for them. I even had a player personalize a team autographed photo for them. I got my uncle a t-shirt too. I've gotten so many gifts and it meant a lot that I could give something back.
When the boys got to the game I got some hugs and hellos and then I took them behind our goal during warm-ups to help collect the ball. The boys had so much fun chasing the balls kicked over in warm ups. (I have a list of players who are best known for making people chase after a ball that I will release later. Long Islander's are on it). The boys ran around like maniacs expending energy and making operations job easier. One of them even told Coach what they were doing, and they made coach smile. I was actually a little concerned about safety and their loudness during warm ups. They were screaming behind the goal and I wasn't sure if that would bother our team. Morgen, who is referred to as a dare devil, is the youngest one and I had to keep my eye on him and what was going on. Morgen seemed to want to climb on to the field and I was not about to let that happen.
Even though seeing my family was brief, it meant a lot to me. I said goodbye to the boys at halftime, as it was late and getting near their bed time. I spent longer than ever before in the bleachers before half. I was climbing up the ladder to film just seconds before the second half kickoff. It's the only time I haven't been ready to film three minutes before the half starts.
The fact that we won cemented the South Florida trip as my favorite trip. Devin Prendergast netted the game winner and it made my day. That goal meant a lot to me because it allowed me to make the trip to South Florida an all around success.
There were other things I liked about our South Florida trip. It was my favorite hotel that I stayed in. I had a bedroom and living room with two TV's just for me. The television also had all of the sports channels imaginable, and had them at the top of their channel line-up. The free Chocolate Chip cookies was an added bonus. My only complaint is that the bike in the fitness center did not work. However, the awesome breakfast entirely made up for that. I got to eat yummy (yes using that word) waffles and french toast sticks, with syrup of course, for breakfast twice. SO GOOD. I really enjoyed sitting with the assistant volleyball coach at the bar the night before our game too. I don't shoot the breeze and hang out as often as I should, but I really enjoyed doing that. I also really loved the South Florida campus. It was beautiful and I enjoyed the run I went on around campus on the morning of our game day. It really made me wonder why I didn't go to Florida for college. I love getting up in the morning and going outside to find it's 70 degrees.
Oh and I really loved that our players cared enough about me to have the hotel send me two extra pillows without asking for them....The things you can do when you know people's room number.
I thought about writing a book about everything I've done in athletics but honestly, no one would buy it...it's not like anyone reads this anyway.
I sort of don't want to write about players yet, or using their names. Maybe I will, maybe I won't.
The first thing I will write about is my favorite road trip.
I've really had to think hard about this one. My first trip was to the NCAA's in 2009. I drove myself, so it wasn't a full fledged trip, but I did spend the night in the hotel. I remember breakfast being a learning experience. As a morning person I was extremely hungry when I woke up at 7:00am, but breakfast with the team wasn't supposed to be until around 10. I ended up eating a snack size bag or two of potato chips to hold me over. Then I felt so weird being at breakfast in the first place. I was so hesitant to actually go and sit with the team for breakfast. I finally did, but I waited until the last possible second before I went in to eat.
I've always felt really lucky and blessed to be able to travel with the team. I feel like I owe so much since the team, school and state is paying a plane ticket for me, a hotel room for me and food for me. I don't ever take a trip for granted, and really feel lucky the entire time. I also felt like I was representing my state and school at all times on the road. I tried to conduct myself in the best way possible, so that people in places like West Virginia, would have a good impression of people from Connecticut.
I also love flying. I LOVE FLYING and love taking off and landing. I don't remember our first plane trip to Pittsburgh all that much to be honest. The only thing I remember is arranging the baggage at the baggage claim in numerical order.
Usually I correlate winning with favorite road trips. There are three trips that stick out to me. One was to Notre Dame for the Big East Tournament. That one only sticks out for the winning. Another was our trip to Wake Forest this year. I loved seeing my Aunt, seeing us beat a ranked team at their place and getting to eat my first Krispy Kreme donuts. I also liked that we stayed in the same place for an entire weekend. However, I think this trip finishes a close second to our trip to South Florida.
South Florida was a really special trip to me. First of all it's Florida, and I love warm weather and the state. When I was a sophomore I paid my own way to take a trip to report on the Women's Final Four in Tampa, in which UConn lost to Stanford. I spent a lot of time with my Aunt, Uncle and Cousins, and 2nd cousins when I was there. It meant a lot to me to see them, since it's rare that I get too. It was also special because my Aunt was diagnosed with cancer so I really was glad to spend time with her. I vowed to work hard so that I could hopefully get the chance to return to South Florida while representing UCONN.
I had really hoped to see my Aunt again this year, but unfortunately she passed away about four months before our trip. Even though I missed her, I was able to see the rest of my family. My Uncle visited before the South Florida game, and saw my cousins and their families before the game. I was really glad to give away nine tickets for that game.
I made sure to bring gifts for the boys (my cousins each have two sons...Keaton, Caden, Will and Morgen) who went to the game. All of them play soccer, and Caden knows everything about the game for someone his age. He is also really good. He scored nine of his teams ten goals in a game, while playing a quarter in goal. I packed prize packs from athletic marketing full of promotional items for each of the boys and had our team sign posters for them. I even had a player personalize a team autographed photo for them. I got my uncle a t-shirt too. I've gotten so many gifts and it meant a lot that I could give something back.
When the boys got to the game I got some hugs and hellos and then I took them behind our goal during warm-ups to help collect the ball. The boys had so much fun chasing the balls kicked over in warm ups. (I have a list of players who are best known for making people chase after a ball that I will release later. Long Islander's are on it). The boys ran around like maniacs expending energy and making operations job easier. One of them even told Coach what they were doing, and they made coach smile. I was actually a little concerned about safety and their loudness during warm ups. They were screaming behind the goal and I wasn't sure if that would bother our team. Morgen, who is referred to as a dare devil, is the youngest one and I had to keep my eye on him and what was going on. Morgen seemed to want to climb on to the field and I was not about to let that happen.
Even though seeing my family was brief, it meant a lot to me. I said goodbye to the boys at halftime, as it was late and getting near their bed time. I spent longer than ever before in the bleachers before half. I was climbing up the ladder to film just seconds before the second half kickoff. It's the only time I haven't been ready to film three minutes before the half starts.
The fact that we won cemented the South Florida trip as my favorite trip. Devin Prendergast netted the game winner and it made my day. That goal meant a lot to me because it allowed me to make the trip to South Florida an all around success.
There were other things I liked about our South Florida trip. It was my favorite hotel that I stayed in. I had a bedroom and living room with two TV's just for me. The television also had all of the sports channels imaginable, and had them at the top of their channel line-up. The free Chocolate Chip cookies was an added bonus. My only complaint is that the bike in the fitness center did not work. However, the awesome breakfast entirely made up for that. I got to eat yummy (yes using that word) waffles and french toast sticks, with syrup of course, for breakfast twice. SO GOOD. I really enjoyed sitting with the assistant volleyball coach at the bar the night before our game too. I don't shoot the breeze and hang out as often as I should, but I really enjoyed doing that. I also really loved the South Florida campus. It was beautiful and I enjoyed the run I went on around campus on the morning of our game day. It really made me wonder why I didn't go to Florida for college. I love getting up in the morning and going outside to find it's 70 degrees.
Oh and I really loved that our players cared enough about me to have the hotel send me two extra pillows without asking for them....The things you can do when you know people's room number.
One of the Dumber NCAA Ideas
The NCAA has proposed cutting the non-championship segments of seasons for several college sports including lacrosse (the spring sports fall "exhibition" season) and soccer (the fall sports spring"exhibition" season). Reasons for this would seemingly include student-athlete welfare, more focus on academics and cost cutting.
This is one of the dumbest ideas to achieve this.
First of all 80% of all of the NCAA problems come from Division I Football and Basketball. Lots not focus on the 20% and pretend that's going to solve the problem.
One easy way to make academics more important would be to be much stricter on GPA's required to be eligible to compete. Raise it from a 2.0 to a 2.5 or a 2.7. Freshman are eligible right away, after their first semester they need to have that GPA or they are ineligible. That's a simple way to make academics important.
I also like the idea of banning teams from postseason competition for poor academic progress. That's fine. This incentive to study should help create good academic cultures on teams. Some teams do actually have a culture that finds academic excellence to be important. Coaches usually set that up.
If the NCAA claims that their student-athletes don't have enough time to study than maybe they should look at their countable hours system. Rehab doesn't count for hours, and a game day counts for three hours no matter how long the student athlete is busy. Why don't you count those "uncountable" hours and raise the limit for a countable week to 25 hours.
The idea that cutting spring competition will save lots of money is not accurate. Post-Game meals for five days and transportation for three events isn't back breaking for a BCS school's budget. If you want to cut costs you could start to look at ways for football and basketball to do so. The money that those sports have give them all the power, and idea that they need to skirt around the rules to keep that status quo. Cutting costs from the big programs would take some of the egos and problems out of college sports.
Cutting spring sports only hurts student-athletes. If student-athletes can't handle the demands of both athletics and academics than they probably don't care about one or the other. That's the honest truth. Spring seasons are vitally important for most student-athletes because it gives them a chance to work on their skills and to play in exhibition games that allow younger players, and hard working players a chance to show coaches what they can do. Spring season is so important for coaches and athletes alike.
Why the NCAA is focusing on something as stupid as this is mind boggling. Everyone knows where the problems lie. Basketball and Football.
If the NCAA doesn't focus on changing those sports, and doing drastic things such as providing spending limits on recruiting or salary caps on coaching salaries, than it might be a sign that the NCAA knows it has no power over Division I BCS programs. Maybe it knows that if it does real reform, than those schools will simply leave the NCAA and play under their own governing umbrella.
This is one of the dumbest ideas to achieve this.
First of all 80% of all of the NCAA problems come from Division I Football and Basketball. Lots not focus on the 20% and pretend that's going to solve the problem.
One easy way to make academics more important would be to be much stricter on GPA's required to be eligible to compete. Raise it from a 2.0 to a 2.5 or a 2.7. Freshman are eligible right away, after their first semester they need to have that GPA or they are ineligible. That's a simple way to make academics important.
I also like the idea of banning teams from postseason competition for poor academic progress. That's fine. This incentive to study should help create good academic cultures on teams. Some teams do actually have a culture that finds academic excellence to be important. Coaches usually set that up.
If the NCAA claims that their student-athletes don't have enough time to study than maybe they should look at their countable hours system. Rehab doesn't count for hours, and a game day counts for three hours no matter how long the student athlete is busy. Why don't you count those "uncountable" hours and raise the limit for a countable week to 25 hours.
The idea that cutting spring competition will save lots of money is not accurate. Post-Game meals for five days and transportation for three events isn't back breaking for a BCS school's budget. If you want to cut costs you could start to look at ways for football and basketball to do so. The money that those sports have give them all the power, and idea that they need to skirt around the rules to keep that status quo. Cutting costs from the big programs would take some of the egos and problems out of college sports.
Cutting spring sports only hurts student-athletes. If student-athletes can't handle the demands of both athletics and academics than they probably don't care about one or the other. That's the honest truth. Spring seasons are vitally important for most student-athletes because it gives them a chance to work on their skills and to play in exhibition games that allow younger players, and hard working players a chance to show coaches what they can do. Spring season is so important for coaches and athletes alike.
Why the NCAA is focusing on something as stupid as this is mind boggling. Everyone knows where the problems lie. Basketball and Football.
If the NCAA doesn't focus on changing those sports, and doing drastic things such as providing spending limits on recruiting or salary caps on coaching salaries, than it might be a sign that the NCAA knows it has no power over Division I BCS programs. Maybe it knows that if it does real reform, than those schools will simply leave the NCAA and play under their own governing umbrella.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
The Things You Learn
Today I learned that my dad's draft lottery day was one of the first numbers called for Vietnam. As it turns out he was the first in his dorm to have his birthday called. Had he been born a day later he would have had the last number.
My dad had to get a physical and he ended up joining the National Guard instead of potentially going to training and then being shipped off to Vietnam.
My dad was in the artillery unit of the National Guard. He would translate the field soldiers coordinates for where to shoot something to the angle and trajectory of the artillery gun used.
My dad had to get a physical and he ended up joining the National Guard instead of potentially going to training and then being shipped off to Vietnam.
My dad was in the artillery unit of the National Guard. He would translate the field soldiers coordinates for where to shoot something to the angle and trajectory of the artillery gun used.
Friday, November 18, 2011
The Jets and NFL
I almost never write about Tim Tebow. I didn't want the game yesterday, but I am going to make this comment. Maybe, honestly, Tim Tebow just knows how to win. Maybe he isn't the best quarterback in terms of his technical abilities, but maybe he can do the most important thing, win.
The Jets, well they are in such a bad position. They have a head to head loss to a team with the same record (Broncos), and two other teams competing for the playoffs, and would currently be in now (AFC West leader Raiders and Wild Card Baltimore Ravens). The Jets also have a losing conference record which is a tie breaker. The Jets still have the Dolphins, Bills and Kansas City left. The Jets MUST WIN those games.
The Jets basically have to win out for a chance to make the playoffs. I have my doubts that the Jets can get in with a 10-6 record. I think their tie breakers will hurt them. They need to be a game better than those other teams.
The Jets, well they are in such a bad position. They have a head to head loss to a team with the same record (Broncos), and two other teams competing for the playoffs, and would currently be in now (AFC West leader Raiders and Wild Card Baltimore Ravens). The Jets also have a losing conference record which is a tie breaker. The Jets still have the Dolphins, Bills and Kansas City left. The Jets MUST WIN those games.
The Jets basically have to win out for a chance to make the playoffs. I have my doubts that the Jets can get in with a 10-6 record. I think their tie breakers will hurt them. They need to be a game better than those other teams.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
UConn Baseball Former Player Notes
George Springer hit a homerun and knocked in three runs in eight games in low A ball last year. His batting average will improve...
Nick Ahmed hit .262 in rookie ball with four homeruns and 24 RBI's in 59 games.
Mike Nemeth had a homerun and 16 RBI's in 47 games in Rookie Ball in the Brewers organization...batting average will improve.....
Dusty Odenbach is in the Royals organization and had a 3.50 era in 2011 in High A Ball.
Greg Nappo had a 4.61 ERA in A ball.
Kevin Vance had a 4.54 ERA and save in Rookie Ball
Elliott Glynn had a 4.86 ERA in Rookie Ball
Nick Ahmed hit .262 in rookie ball with four homeruns and 24 RBI's in 59 games.
Mike Nemeth had a homerun and 16 RBI's in 47 games in Rookie Ball in the Brewers organization...batting average will improve.....
Dusty Odenbach is in the Royals organization and had a 3.50 era in 2011 in High A Ball.
Greg Nappo had a 4.61 ERA in A ball.
Kevin Vance had a 4.54 ERA and save in Rookie Ball
Elliott Glynn had a 4.86 ERA in Rookie Ball
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
UConn Football Former Player Notes
Jordan Todman has yet to play for the Chargers this season. No stats are available on him.
Lawrence Wilson was just cut by the Panthers...
Donald Brown has two touchdowns for the Colts this season, and just surpassed 1,000 career rushing yards.
Darius Butler now plays for the Panthers and has 21 tackles this season and has started four of the eight games he has played in.
Robert McClain played for the Panthers in 2010 and recorded 14 tackles by himself and assisted on two.
Will Beatty has started nine games for the Giants this season.
Anthony Sherman has five catches for 51 yards for the Cardinals this season.
Larry Taylor is playing with the Calgary Stampeders this season in the CFL. He has over 1,000 yards in kick returns this year. He has not returned a kick or a punt for a touchdown this year though. Taylor was also a 2011 West Division All-Star as a special teams player.
Lawrence Wilson was just cut by the Panthers...
Donald Brown has two touchdowns for the Colts this season, and just surpassed 1,000 career rushing yards.
Darius Butler now plays for the Panthers and has 21 tackles this season and has started four of the eight games he has played in.
Robert McClain played for the Panthers in 2010 and recorded 14 tackles by himself and assisted on two.
Will Beatty has started nine games for the Giants this season.
Anthony Sherman has five catches for 51 yards for the Cardinals this season.
Larry Taylor is playing with the Calgary Stampeders this season in the CFL. He has over 1,000 yards in kick returns this year. He has not returned a kick or a punt for a touchdown this year though. Taylor was also a 2011 West Division All-Star as a special teams player.
Music To My Ears
The greatest thing ever said by a player on our team was said today.
Most impressive thing ever.
So profound.
With Nick Mangold at center the Jets average 123 yards rushing per game and without him average 80 yards a game.
Best thing ever said, and you know that I really believe that based on all of the wacky statistics that I have put on this before.
My jaw dropped with that statement. I learned something, some sports trivia, from one of our players.
Most impressive thing ever.
So profound.
With Nick Mangold at center the Jets average 123 yards rushing per game and without him average 80 yards a game.
Best thing ever said, and you know that I really believe that based on all of the wacky statistics that I have put on this before.
My jaw dropped with that statement. I learned something, some sports trivia, from one of our players.
A Thought on Coaching
I'm not a coach, but I can imagine what it is like to be one.
I think being a coach can really wear a person out. I takes so much energy to be a coach. One job of a coach is to get everyone on the same page and working together. Coaches need to get everyone to stay on the same track and make sure they are doing everything necessary at all times to reach their goals.
It's extremely draining when you think about it.
Think about all the players who constantly show up late to meetings. Every single time you have a problem you try to go over with them why it's important to be on time. You try being nice about it and explaining the consequences of being late. When that doesn't work you punish them and take away things. No luck there? You keep trying. You try to have all the players on the team work together to make sure everyone is on time.
You have to deal with players who have confidence issues. You know exactly how talented they are, yet you can't seem to get everything to click for them. You tell them how great they are. You show them examples of them doing things well and you give them opportunities, yet it just doesn't work out.
Then you have to deal with injuries and bad calls and just dumb luck. You have the perfect game plan but then the player who is supposed to execute that game plan is injured and can't play. When that call costs you a season you just have to deal with it and get ready for next year.
Coaches are constantly working on achieving success and the formula to do that is so complex and ever changing that it takes an enormous amount of energy to do the job. This is especially the case when you reiterate important points to players constantly and they still don't listen.
Coaching seems like it is a lot of fun, and it is. However, it's not for people who want an easy job. It's complex and requires repackaging some of the same information over and over until the person getting the package thinks it's attractive enough to open up.
The other reason coaching takes up a lot of energy is that it's hard not to think about all of the what ifs. If they weren't injured that game we would have won that. If that call had gone our way that would have been a win. If that player had cut to the left instead of the right they could have gotten open and scored. If we could have just converted that one play. If we were only stronger. If we only did more video sessions. What if this happened questions can consume you. Maybe that more than anything makes coaching mentally hard.
I think being a coach can really wear a person out. I takes so much energy to be a coach. One job of a coach is to get everyone on the same page and working together. Coaches need to get everyone to stay on the same track and make sure they are doing everything necessary at all times to reach their goals.
It's extremely draining when you think about it.
Think about all the players who constantly show up late to meetings. Every single time you have a problem you try to go over with them why it's important to be on time. You try being nice about it and explaining the consequences of being late. When that doesn't work you punish them and take away things. No luck there? You keep trying. You try to have all the players on the team work together to make sure everyone is on time.
You have to deal with players who have confidence issues. You know exactly how talented they are, yet you can't seem to get everything to click for them. You tell them how great they are. You show them examples of them doing things well and you give them opportunities, yet it just doesn't work out.
Then you have to deal with injuries and bad calls and just dumb luck. You have the perfect game plan but then the player who is supposed to execute that game plan is injured and can't play. When that call costs you a season you just have to deal with it and get ready for next year.
Coaches are constantly working on achieving success and the formula to do that is so complex and ever changing that it takes an enormous amount of energy to do the job. This is especially the case when you reiterate important points to players constantly and they still don't listen.
Coaching seems like it is a lot of fun, and it is. However, it's not for people who want an easy job. It's complex and requires repackaging some of the same information over and over until the person getting the package thinks it's attractive enough to open up.
The other reason coaching takes up a lot of energy is that it's hard not to think about all of the what ifs. If they weren't injured that game we would have won that. If that call had gone our way that would have been a win. If that player had cut to the left instead of the right they could have gotten open and scored. If we could have just converted that one play. If we were only stronger. If we only did more video sessions. What if this happened questions can consume you. Maybe that more than anything makes coaching mentally hard.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Writers Block
I have a story I want to tell about one of our players who has a Kevin Mawae jersey. I just don't know how to say it. I'm stuck.
What I want to say for now is that I find it to be ridiculously awesome that one of our players owns a Kevin Mawae jersey.
Seriously this is so amazing on so many different levels.
Seriously
I found this out in September and I still can't get over it. (Finally admitting to not being able to get over it) It's that awesome.
It's just like the ESPN commercials.
It's Not Crazy
It's Sports
Really, its all it is. It's Sports. It's so amazing how having a Kevin Mawae Jersey can totally blow my mind away, and make me think great of the person who has it. Sports are just so unique in that way.
Passion for sports and knowledge of it makes me truly appreciate what a person who has a Kevin Mawae jersey is like. To want to identify with an offensive lineman is unique. I can appreciate people for things like their favorite team or player, but I can't about their favorite toothpaste, investment firm or brand of tissues. This is one way sports are unique.
I seriously find this person fascinating because they own a Kevin Mawae jersey. It's really quite sad.
What I want to say for now is that I find it to be ridiculously awesome that one of our players owns a Kevin Mawae jersey.
Seriously this is so amazing on so many different levels.
Seriously
I found this out in September and I still can't get over it. (Finally admitting to not being able to get over it) It's that awesome.
It's just like the ESPN commercials.
It's Not Crazy
It's Sports
Really, its all it is. It's Sports. It's so amazing how having a Kevin Mawae Jersey can totally blow my mind away, and make me think great of the person who has it. Sports are just so unique in that way.
Passion for sports and knowledge of it makes me truly appreciate what a person who has a Kevin Mawae jersey is like. To want to identify with an offensive lineman is unique. I can appreciate people for things like their favorite team or player, but I can't about their favorite toothpaste, investment firm or brand of tissues. This is one way sports are unique.
I seriously find this person fascinating because they own a Kevin Mawae jersey. It's really quite sad.
Some Motivation
I think I finally got some motivation to write more often again. As a graduate student it's really begun to hit me how important it is that I start looking for jobs and a way up the career ladder. I decided that it would be a wise investment of my time to go to an ESPN meeting on campus today.
One thing that I took out of it was that blogging can be a good thing. It can be something you put on your resume. It improves my communication and shows the passion I have for sports. It keeps me active and keeps me learning new things.
Who knows what I will write about. I'm afraid it's not going to take the team to long to find this...if they don't already know.
Certainly, now I can begin to start to talk about some of the stories from the past few years with UConn Women's Soccer. There are lots of them, and they need to be told.
One thing that I took out of it was that blogging can be a good thing. It can be something you put on your resume. It improves my communication and shows the passion I have for sports. It keeps me active and keeps me learning new things.
Who knows what I will write about. I'm afraid it's not going to take the team to long to find this...if they don't already know.
Certainly, now I can begin to start to talk about some of the stories from the past few years with UConn Women's Soccer. There are lots of them, and they need to be told.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
M&M's had too
NASCAR driver Kyle Busch intentionally wrecked another driver during caution laps in a truck race at Texas Motor Speedway last week.
Not surprisingly M&M's doesn't want to sponsor Busch right now and you can't blame them for not wanting too. A candy company can't really deal as well with someone as controversial as Busch to be a pitch person for their product right now. It's bad marketing to be associated with Busch as a candy company.
Other products would work. A candy that is marketed to families, moms and kids doesn't want much to do with a driver who wrecked someone.
Not surprisingly M&M's doesn't want to sponsor Busch right now and you can't blame them for not wanting too. A candy company can't really deal as well with someone as controversial as Busch to be a pitch person for their product right now. It's bad marketing to be associated with Busch as a candy company.
Other products would work. A candy that is marketed to families, moms and kids doesn't want much to do with a driver who wrecked someone.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Do different teams like each other?
Teams have to compete for resources in athletic departments and because of this there is inevitably some competition between teams.
Athletic Departments and their cultures vary from school to school but I think many programs within an athletic department, especially within the same sport, have their fair share of below the surface jealousy, envy and sometimes dislike.
Sometimes I wonder if they root against each other. No program would admit to rooting against another program at their school, but below the surface I think it happens.
When you compete to use the same fields, meeting rooms and budget money, clashes will happen. When one team starts to do really well then the whole department will divert attention and resources to the team that's doing well. All of a sudden decisions might not cut your way.
"With their recent success we think they should get the first choice for practice time."
Another reason for issues could stem in a way from the fact that programs get similar resources for the same sport played by different sexes. When teams get the same resources, it's only natural to hope that their isn't a large gap in output (winning). A large difference in output with the same resources means there is something wrong with the process, or the people or both that take the resources and make them into outputs.
I doubt coaches realize it, but to some degree, while they root for their school and their athletes, I think they also are a little relieved when other teams aren't doing significantly better then they are.
Athletic Departments and their cultures vary from school to school but I think many programs within an athletic department, especially within the same sport, have their fair share of below the surface jealousy, envy and sometimes dislike.
Sometimes I wonder if they root against each other. No program would admit to rooting against another program at their school, but below the surface I think it happens.
When you compete to use the same fields, meeting rooms and budget money, clashes will happen. When one team starts to do really well then the whole department will divert attention and resources to the team that's doing well. All of a sudden decisions might not cut your way.
"With their recent success we think they should get the first choice for practice time."
Another reason for issues could stem in a way from the fact that programs get similar resources for the same sport played by different sexes. When teams get the same resources, it's only natural to hope that their isn't a large gap in output (winning). A large difference in output with the same resources means there is something wrong with the process, or the people or both that take the resources and make them into outputs.
I doubt coaches realize it, but to some degree, while they root for their school and their athletes, I think they also are a little relieved when other teams aren't doing significantly better then they are.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Do you need to be a jerk?
Interesting thought that someone had about having to be a jerk in order to be really successful as a coach.
I think there is a lot of truth to that.
In order to be a good coach or a good leader you have to keep everyone's eye on the goal. Everything you do is about reaching that goal. Every decision from really important ones to the pictures on the wall all have to do with the goal you have in mind.
Part of this is demanding of others. You have to be able to demand from others in order to be a great leader. You have to be able to make a hard decision and cut an employee. You have to set demands on them for them to complete or face consequences.
It's the tough part of leadership for nice people. But I think it's necessary. You can't let your emotions get the best of you when it comes to achieving your goals.
I think there is a lot of truth to that.
In order to be a good coach or a good leader you have to keep everyone's eye on the goal. Everything you do is about reaching that goal. Every decision from really important ones to the pictures on the wall all have to do with the goal you have in mind.
Part of this is demanding of others. You have to be able to demand from others in order to be a great leader. You have to be able to make a hard decision and cut an employee. You have to set demands on them for them to complete or face consequences.
It's the tough part of leadership for nice people. But I think it's necessary. You can't let your emotions get the best of you when it comes to achieving your goals.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
July meet November
Guess it's been a while. I've been busy, what can I say?
I've been so far removed from the world lately with power outages that I am not sure what the heck to say or talk about.
No power has given me a lot of time to freeze and reflect on my life and what I want to do next with it. To be truthful, I still don't know.
But here are things I know about myself.
I want to be a leader. I want to be a transformational leader. I want the chance to do that somewhere sometime in my life because I think I would be good at it.
I want to help people reach goals that they don't think they can reach.
Sports will obviously be a part of my job.
I'm thinking about sports information, television/video, compliance, event management among other things.
While I am not all that interested in pro sports, I think the sport I would like to work in the most, most people would find this strange in the Northeast, but probably NASCAR. There is something about those loud race engines that just gets me going.
Anyway I have a lot of job searches and resume editing ahead of me...and hopefully interviews.
Where would I like to go?
Well I'd prefer New England, more specifically Connecticut or New Hampshire. Beyond that I'd prefer not to be in a city (unless it's Stamford because I know my hometown really well) and I'd prefer to be on the east coast. Other states that appeal to me are North Carolina and Florida. I'd feel comfortable in the Midwest as well. The West is not as appealing, although I have a feeling I would like Colorado and Wyoming.
The place I absolutely have no interest in is the Pacific Coast...All of the Pacific Coast. The exception of course is Hawaii and Alaska. Those places are fine...although Hawaii is much preferred over Alaska.
I'm taking the next BIG STEP in my life. I know I have to take it, just not sure in which direction to go yet.
I've been so far removed from the world lately with power outages that I am not sure what the heck to say or talk about.
No power has given me a lot of time to freeze and reflect on my life and what I want to do next with it. To be truthful, I still don't know.
But here are things I know about myself.
I want to be a leader. I want to be a transformational leader. I want the chance to do that somewhere sometime in my life because I think I would be good at it.
I want to help people reach goals that they don't think they can reach.
Sports will obviously be a part of my job.
I'm thinking about sports information, television/video, compliance, event management among other things.
While I am not all that interested in pro sports, I think the sport I would like to work in the most, most people would find this strange in the Northeast, but probably NASCAR. There is something about those loud race engines that just gets me going.
Anyway I have a lot of job searches and resume editing ahead of me...and hopefully interviews.
Where would I like to go?
Well I'd prefer New England, more specifically Connecticut or New Hampshire. Beyond that I'd prefer not to be in a city (unless it's Stamford because I know my hometown really well) and I'd prefer to be on the east coast. Other states that appeal to me are North Carolina and Florida. I'd feel comfortable in the Midwest as well. The West is not as appealing, although I have a feeling I would like Colorado and Wyoming.
The place I absolutely have no interest in is the Pacific Coast...All of the Pacific Coast. The exception of course is Hawaii and Alaska. Those places are fine...although Hawaii is much preferred over Alaska.
I'm taking the next BIG STEP in my life. I know I have to take it, just not sure in which direction to go yet.
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