Here is a good article for student-athletes who just graduated, or will graduate soon.
Probably not exactly what they want to read about, but it's reality.
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/04/14/college-athletes-struggle-find-new-identities/
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Nela update
Uh so apparently Nela scored a hat trick for her pro team in Sweden.
Her team is Dalsjöfors
I looked at the stats and she has six goals in six games.
http://women.soccerway.com/players/angelika-johansson/238869/
Steph Labbe is playing with KIF Örebro now. It looks like she is on loan from Pitea
You should get this app
I recently joined the 21st century and got a smartphone. Didn't really do so because I wanted to, but because I had too.
Anyway I love the Nike+ GPS app for running because it talks to you at every mile with your time and average pace. At the end of a run I can tell where I was my fastest and slowest on my actual route map.
I also find myself running faster with the application running because I know I am being evaluated, thoroughly.
You could even post your results to facebook, which I honestly have no interest in doing. Although I will say that I ran 4.12 miles in 27:48 today, for a pace of 6:44 a mile. Not bad for me.
To me it's cool that you can know that.
Psychologically I feel like I am being watched while I am performing and as most people know, when people are watched they tend to perform better.
If I was a coach I'd budget for it so that any interested player could buy the application.
It truly is amazing what technology can do.
Anyway I love the Nike+ GPS app for running because it talks to you at every mile with your time and average pace. At the end of a run I can tell where I was my fastest and slowest on my actual route map.
I also find myself running faster with the application running because I know I am being evaluated, thoroughly.
You could even post your results to facebook, which I honestly have no interest in doing. Although I will say that I ran 4.12 miles in 27:48 today, for a pace of 6:44 a mile. Not bad for me.
To me it's cool that you can know that.
Psychologically I feel like I am being watched while I am performing and as most people know, when people are watched they tend to perform better.
If I was a coach I'd budget for it so that any interested player could buy the application.
It truly is amazing what technology can do.
Alex
I loved Alex's goal against Syracuse.
I love that goal. Her reaction was priceless. She just shrugged her shoulders.
It was definitely my favorite goal of that game and one of my favorite goals of that season.
I thought she made a big difference in the South Florida game, as did my cousin's husband who attended the game.
My cousin's husband Charles knows soccer. He knows it. He is a huge Arsenal fan. In his house he has a 700 page, 80 pound, gold plated book, signed by Arsene Wegner
http://www.thisisopus.com/arsenal
I don't know how much 3,000 pounds is worth in dollars, but that has to be, um...a lot...I'm guessing about $4,500.
You could trade that book for a used car.
He showed me the book and he used gloves to turn the pages...no finger prints allowed. The book was amazing, so was his Thierry Henry used jersey he had hanging up on his wall.
He's even traveled to London to watch Premier League games.
He knows soccer.
At halftime of the USF game I ran into him and he goes "Man that number 28 made a huge difference." - From a man who owns an 80 pound book on Arsenal.
Alex worked really hard and improved a lot. I may not know much about soccer, but it showed pretty clearly to me.
Alex was probably the second or third player I ever interviewed. I interviewed her after her goal. I thought she would be really excited to talk about it. I anticipated that she would just be full of great quotes.
I asked her "What did it feel like to score your first goal?"
She said "It was great!"
It was great, but I thought she could say more so I asked "Would you like to elaborate?"
She went"No, that's good"
Alex had the longest interview ever this year on camera though. I don't even know why, but it just kept going and going and going. Part of that is my fault. A lot of it probably was. Our assistant coach also asked a few questions. She was really good, and funny. I'd say she might have had the best interview this year of all the seniors.
She was also awesome during Cory's prank. I realized it as I was watching the tape and editing it how much Alex was able to freak Cory out. My favorite was when she went "Cory, you don't have your bag? That's not very good." I'm sure that only helped freak Cory out. It was like Alex poured gasoline on a wildfire with that comment.
I don't know how to explain this, but I always got the impression that Alex was funny, but in a way that I just can't describe.
I watched her play basketball once and she got a rebound and then went "I got it" which I found funny. It was almost as if getting it surprised herself.
As was the time she made a mistake in volleyball and said that it was bad judgement, and that her team should leave her alone. Just thought that was funny.
I liked her passion for SAAC as well. She wanted to win the most points of all the programs.
Most of all with Alex I am just a little sad I didn't get to go to Birch Street Bistro in my time with the team. You should go.
I love that goal. Her reaction was priceless. She just shrugged her shoulders.
It was definitely my favorite goal of that game and one of my favorite goals of that season.
I thought she made a big difference in the South Florida game, as did my cousin's husband who attended the game.
My cousin's husband Charles knows soccer. He knows it. He is a huge Arsenal fan. In his house he has a 700 page, 80 pound, gold plated book, signed by Arsene Wegner
http://www.thisisopus.com/arsenal
I don't know how much 3,000 pounds is worth in dollars, but that has to be, um...a lot...I'm guessing about $4,500.
You could trade that book for a used car.
He showed me the book and he used gloves to turn the pages...no finger prints allowed. The book was amazing, so was his Thierry Henry used jersey he had hanging up on his wall.
He's even traveled to London to watch Premier League games.
He knows soccer.
At halftime of the USF game I ran into him and he goes "Man that number 28 made a huge difference." - From a man who owns an 80 pound book on Arsenal.
Alex worked really hard and improved a lot. I may not know much about soccer, but it showed pretty clearly to me.
Alex was probably the second or third player I ever interviewed. I interviewed her after her goal. I thought she would be really excited to talk about it. I anticipated that she would just be full of great quotes.
I asked her "What did it feel like to score your first goal?"
She said "It was great!"
It was great, but I thought she could say more so I asked "Would you like to elaborate?"
She went"No, that's good"
Alex had the longest interview ever this year on camera though. I don't even know why, but it just kept going and going and going. Part of that is my fault. A lot of it probably was. Our assistant coach also asked a few questions. She was really good, and funny. I'd say she might have had the best interview this year of all the seniors.
She was also awesome during Cory's prank. I realized it as I was watching the tape and editing it how much Alex was able to freak Cory out. My favorite was when she went "Cory, you don't have your bag? That's not very good." I'm sure that only helped freak Cory out. It was like Alex poured gasoline on a wildfire with that comment.
I don't know how to explain this, but I always got the impression that Alex was funny, but in a way that I just can't describe.
I watched her play basketball once and she got a rebound and then went "I got it" which I found funny. It was almost as if getting it surprised herself.
As was the time she made a mistake in volleyball and said that it was bad judgement, and that her team should leave her alone. Just thought that was funny.
I liked her passion for SAAC as well. She wanted to win the most points of all the programs.
Most of all with Alex I am just a little sad I didn't get to go to Birch Street Bistro in my time with the team. You should go.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Cross one off the list already
Actually I should just move this.
According to my friend Greg I am an expert in UCWS, and I would agree that I am one for the years of Spring 2010 to Spring 2012.
I don't know everything because I know the team well enough to understand I can't and don't know everything. But since I have watched most every game 3 or 4 times and have been to pretty much everything for the last two years I am one of the experts on the team for those years.
Now I should say, that I still want to be an expert on other things in life too. Knowledge is powerful and I will seek to keep learning new things.
Also one of the seven sacraments is Holy Orders, which I will never get because I won't become a priest. So I'll go for all the sacraments that normal Catholics get. All I have left is marriage and last rites. I heard those two go together.
Just kidding, I mean I hope I am.
According to my friend Greg I am an expert in UCWS, and I would agree that I am one for the years of Spring 2010 to Spring 2012.
I don't know everything because I know the team well enough to understand I can't and don't know everything. But since I have watched most every game 3 or 4 times and have been to pretty much everything for the last two years I am one of the experts on the team for those years.
Now I should say, that I still want to be an expert on other things in life too. Knowledge is powerful and I will seek to keep learning new things.
Also one of the seven sacraments is Holy Orders, which I will never get because I won't become a priest. So I'll go for all the sacraments that normal Catholics get. All I have left is marriage and last rites. I heard those two go together.
Just kidding, I mean I hope I am.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Things I have learned
I'm writing about myself which I hate to do, but too bad for you the reader. It's my show here and I can do what I want. Just kidding with the tone here. But I really also can write about whatever floats my boat.
But anyway transitions are also a good time to just sit back and think about things. Think about where you want to go. Maybe think back on lessons learned.
One thing I learned, that I talked to an Athletic Administrator about today was that you have to know how to prioritize things correctly and realize when your tasks are not important and shouldn't be brought to someone above you and when they should be. You need to be resourceful and see the big picture. In other words, when it's the spring, don't be bothering someone with stuff revolving around a fall sport.
You should be passionate about what you do, but also realize that it's important not to drive the people you work with crazy all the time. Balance is important, and if you really, really want to do something, learn how to do it yourself so you don't need to get someone's help, and just an OK approval instead.
Some coaches just have tunnel vision and all they think is that what is most important for them is what is most important for everyone, and that's rarely, if ever the case.
Another random thought is keeping in contact with people. It's hard to do, from experience. I know that there is a group that you stop hearing from right away. Another group that you hear from for a little bit and then a little less and then never.
It's important to stay in contact with people. I've learned that. I know that. It allows you to keep friendships which is most important. It's also how you get jobs and how you get things done too.
I try hard to keep in contact however I can. I will stay in contact with anyone and everyone. The ones I make sure I stay in contact with are the ones that make an effort too.
If I know someone has a positive influence on my life and makes an effort to stay in contact with me, there is no way I would ever let them fall out of contact, and neither should you.
It also amazes me who does stay in contact and who doesn't. It's often times people that you don't expect to remember you who do. Some of the ones you think you will hear from, you don't and vice-versa.
Communication and being easy to talk too and work with are very important because people often need to collaborate with other groups, especially in an athletic administration setting. Being able to have good relations with external stakeholders through good communication and networking makes your work that much better. You will have ideas and problems that other people can solve, and when you can form that link it makes you much more valuable. Strange experiences and connections have a weird way of being very useful.
Being organized and clean is also important. I need to work on those things. I need to work on being physically organized. I am detail oriented in my brain, but often not elsewhere. I think you need to know what is ok and not ok in terms of cleanliness and organization. There is a line. You can give people a bad impression if you aren't careful with how you dress and present yourself.
But anyway transitions are also a good time to just sit back and think about things. Think about where you want to go. Maybe think back on lessons learned.
One thing I learned, that I talked to an Athletic Administrator about today was that you have to know how to prioritize things correctly and realize when your tasks are not important and shouldn't be brought to someone above you and when they should be. You need to be resourceful and see the big picture. In other words, when it's the spring, don't be bothering someone with stuff revolving around a fall sport.
You should be passionate about what you do, but also realize that it's important not to drive the people you work with crazy all the time. Balance is important, and if you really, really want to do something, learn how to do it yourself so you don't need to get someone's help, and just an OK approval instead.
Some coaches just have tunnel vision and all they think is that what is most important for them is what is most important for everyone, and that's rarely, if ever the case.
Another random thought is keeping in contact with people. It's hard to do, from experience. I know that there is a group that you stop hearing from right away. Another group that you hear from for a little bit and then a little less and then never.
It's important to stay in contact with people. I've learned that. I know that. It allows you to keep friendships which is most important. It's also how you get jobs and how you get things done too.
I try hard to keep in contact however I can. I will stay in contact with anyone and everyone. The ones I make sure I stay in contact with are the ones that make an effort too.
If I know someone has a positive influence on my life and makes an effort to stay in contact with me, there is no way I would ever let them fall out of contact, and neither should you.
It also amazes me who does stay in contact and who doesn't. It's often times people that you don't expect to remember you who do. Some of the ones you think you will hear from, you don't and vice-versa.
Communication and being easy to talk too and work with are very important because people often need to collaborate with other groups, especially in an athletic administration setting. Being able to have good relations with external stakeholders through good communication and networking makes your work that much better. You will have ideas and problems that other people can solve, and when you can form that link it makes you much more valuable. Strange experiences and connections have a weird way of being very useful.
Being organized and clean is also important. I need to work on those things. I need to work on being physically organized. I am detail oriented in my brain, but often not elsewhere. I think you need to know what is ok and not ok in terms of cleanliness and organization. There is a line. You can give people a bad impression if you aren't careful with how you dress and present yourself.
My Bucket List
I know of a couple of people who have a bucket list and going skydiving recently makes me think of the one I had in 11th grade.
On bike rides I randomly think of things, and on this ride it was about my bucket list.
My 11th grade list was supposed to be 100 items long, so I am going to list 100 things or more that I want to do in life.
None of these are in any order whatsoever.
First of all some of the ones off of the list:
1. Skydiving (I remember writing this in 11th grade and going...yeah, but you will never do that)
2. Birdie a golf hole (I did mine on a short Par 3)
3. Be on Television (I saw myself in a suit on the nightly news once when I got home...they were interviewing Coach Auriemma and I was in the background. I was also interviewed for WTNH once...I literally turned on TV and saw myself on a suit)
4. Shoot a gun (I just did that)
5. Run a mile in under six minutes (accomplished that this spring)
6. Control/Drive the Goodyear Blimp
7. Learn how to waterski
8. Learn how to wakeboard
9. Make a three pointer in Gampel Pavilion (Thank You Greg)
10. Make a half court shot
11. Go in goal against a National Team Player for a PK (Thank You Taylor, and for the record I saved nothing)
12. Interview someone famous
13. Find out genealogical information on the Palmer side of the family (This is sort of never ending, but finding the grave of my great great grandfather was something I wanted to do)
14. Plant a vegetable or fruit, take care of it (or just pray it rains a lot), and then eat it. (I grew a green bean and ate it...yes 1 green bean out of 25 seeds)
15. Chop down a tree with an axe (Yes I really wanted to do that in my life. Sad, but true)
16. Bowl over a 200 (I got a 203 once...300 would be cool, but not sure I'm going to bowl my life away trying to do so)
17. Make a 30 minute movie all by myself (Thank You UCWS for allowing me to do that)
18. Eat Sushi (most people don't know I really don't like seafood, so eating sushi once was an accomplishment. My dad got me to eat it by not telling me what it was)
19. Touch a snake (I did that on a field trip because a kid said he wouldn't shake my hand ever again if I did)
20. Take an air boat tour through the everglades
21. Run the bases at a Major League Baseball Stadium (Shea Stadium, SkyDome and the Metrodome)
22. Go to top of a skyscraper (Went to The CN Tower in Toronto)
23. Go Whitewater Rafting (would like to go again, but I have done it)
24. Be able to play an instrument (I mean I guess you should do that before you die. I could play the Clarinet in Elementary School)
25. Write a press release (I'll admit it, it's cool to see something you wrote online, and even better when a news organization uses it and you see it there...thanks WMUR)
26. Start a blog so that I could share my ideas and experiences and maybe one day let family members who never got to know me, get to know me better. (I did that..almost 10,000 views and I intentionally never publicized it)
27. Community Service - (I've done some and this should be on going..leave world better place than I found it)
28. Be in four places/states at once (Hey it's cool to say I was in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah at once)
29. Go Para sailing (Did that in Hawaii)
30. Have a 4.0 for a semester (Did that for my last two semesters...I really did want to do that)
Now to things I want to accomplish, and have yet to do:
1. Become a father - seriously, I'm putting that on my list. It's a good accomplishment in life.
2. Owning a house on Lake Winnipesaukee with a boat, two jet-skis and two kayaks
3. Go to all 50 states (I have 34 down and 16 to go)
4. Go to every continent (why not, I've only been to one so far)
5. Fly in a fighter jet (I have no idea how to make that happen)
6. Complete a Marathon
7. Complete a Biathlon
8. Bench Press 225 pounds (The most I have ever done is 215, and I can't quite do that right now, so got some work to do)
9. Attend a Super Bowl
10. Play a round of golf overlooking the water or mountains
11. Catch a Tarpon while fishing
12. Go skydiving at an age older than my grandfather
13. Drive a race-car
14. Learn how to speak German (My grandpa speaks it, and we have some family things from my moms side written in German. My great grandpa was actually a POW in China in World War I for Germany)
15. Taking a spontaneous vacation for myself
16. Hike Mount Washington
17. Do the Mount Washington Hill Climb (I'm cringing writing that. It's a bike ride up the Mount Washington's auto-road..atleast try it...)
18. Drive a Harley Davidson motorcycle (I love the sound of them, so why not actually ride one)
19. Fly a plane
20. Learn how to snow-ski
21. Learn how to snowboard
22. Jump the wake on a wakeboard
23. Attend a Daytona 500
24. Complete a 120 mile bike ride
25. Hit a hole in one in real golf
26. Watch a certain player play in a UCONN jersey again (we will cross that off in 2013 or 2014)
27. Help out after a practice/or our own shooting practice with a certain athlete (Didn't get to happen this spring, but will another time)
28. Learn how to surf
29. Make a half court shot in a famous arena
30. Catch a fish with the new fishing rod I bought...because I haven't in three years...Other rods work, but not this one...this would feel like a life's accomplishment sadly.
31. Have a full time job (would be nice to have one, you know?)
32. Go clay disk shooting (Take a rifle and hit clay disks)
33. Hit a bulls-eye with a bow and arrow.
34. Complete my collection of license plates from all 50 states
35. Meet a U.S. President
36. Have my own library in my house, including a positive book on every U.S. President
37. Learn how to Ice Skate (I've done a little bit of Ice Skating, but not much)
38. Go bungee jumping (I think this is worse than skydiving because you see the ground coming at you fast)
39. Take a part a car engine and put it back together
40. Build a potato gun
41. Attend a Dallas Cowboys game in Dallas
42. Accomplish the Seven Sacraments minus the Holy Orders because I won't be a priest (Thank You Greg)
43. Attend the UCWS's first National Championship Win
44. Run for a position in which you have to receive votes (It would be cool to say you were elected)
45. Retire one day
46. Learn how to salsa dance (Don't ask...I just do)
47. Irish Dance (Don't ask...I just do)
48. Go to Germany, Ireland, and England...(the three main Nationalities that I am made up of)
49. Attend an Arsenal Premier League Game
50. Attend a World Cup game
51. Attend a Olympic track and field event
52. Write a book (I really enjoy boring all of the people who read this so why not continue to do so with a book...on what will I write it about??)
53. Karaoke (I have zero desire to do this, so someone will need to get me drunk. Honestly)
54. Host a Thanksgiving and Christmas for family (I hope I don't regret this one)
55. Start my own business.
56. Bake something without any help from anyone. I can't have any life lines.
57. Learn how to dive into a pool properly, including doing a backflip
58. Learn a trick shot in pool
59. Beat someone in Darts
60. Be able to do Yoga by myself (I have high blood pressure, good way to self medicate)
61. Go camping in the woods
62. Paint or draw a picture worthy of being displayed
63. I'm stealing this from someone else's list because it's a good idea, See the Seven Natural Wonders of the World (Grand Canyon is done...but want to go back)
64. Go to the top floor of a skyscraper in New York
65. Make my own Maple Syrup
66. Go on a European Vacation including Big Ben and Eifel Tower
67. Watching the Running of the Bulls (Not actually running, because that seems stupid)
68. Go to Hollywood (already been to California...and Hollywood, Florida, but not Hollywood California)
69. Be in a movie...being an extra is fine
70. Get a photograph published (Stole that from someone online)
71. Become a Millionaire (Lottery here I come...but I should be able to earn that one day if I work hard)
72. Drive a Tank
73. Stay awake for 24 straight hours (not sure if I have ever done that yet. Was close with red-eye flight once)
74. Eat Alligator Meat - Team manager gave me that one
75. Eat a meal that doesn't require me to go to the store to get anything
76. Go a week without having Candy, or Syrup
77. Build a dock or something complex out of wood
78. Grow and maintain a garden (I sort of have, but my grandma said I couldn't so I will now..yes I am a guy but I want to do this)
79. Catch a penalty kick with my hands
80. Learn how to play tennis without hitting the ball over the fence
81. Drive a golf ball 300 yards (I'm pretty sure I have hit them 270 or farther. I never know if the markers are accurate or not though...I can't believe I can hit them that far)
82. Become known among my family and friends as someone who can cook/grill amazing filet mignon/steak
83. Light a firework
84. Go snowmobiling
85. Be a known historian/expert in something...anything
86. Take a road trip across the country and only eat at local restaurants. (Including EATS Diner in Seekonk, MA and Birch Street Bistro in Boston...Free plugs are always good)
87. If I have a family, have all formal dinners end with a good story or something that makes people laugh.
88. Play a practical joke on my boss (but not my first boss of a paying job)
89. Buy a new car unannounced
90. Coach a team (coach anything, a youth team..I just want to coach something before I die)
91. Learn how to flip turn in a pool
92. Score a goal in a rec soccer game (11v11)
93. Score a header for a goal in soccer (could combine these two if lucky)
94. Bike across the country (my friend Meghan Nanfeldt has done this and I think my Aunt wants too)
Allow my list to go over 100 (it does now when you add what I have already done to what I want to do) especially when necessary. Never stop, even if I complete everything
Two final things.
Add to the list
Accomplish something from the list every year.
And two extras - If I learn to enjoy swimming - then going scuba diving and completing a triathlon
This bucket list makes me think about how I want to live my life. I want to live through the Jackie Robinson quote "A life is unimportant except for the impact it has on others." I want to have fun and accomplish things. I also want to teach people things and make others better.
I'll end this with a quote from my grandpa that I try to remember "Try everything legal once before you die."
On bike rides I randomly think of things, and on this ride it was about my bucket list.
My 11th grade list was supposed to be 100 items long, so I am going to list 100 things or more that I want to do in life.
None of these are in any order whatsoever.
First of all some of the ones off of the list:
1. Skydiving (I remember writing this in 11th grade and going...yeah, but you will never do that)
2. Birdie a golf hole (I did mine on a short Par 3)
3. Be on Television (I saw myself in a suit on the nightly news once when I got home...they were interviewing Coach Auriemma and I was in the background. I was also interviewed for WTNH once...I literally turned on TV and saw myself on a suit)
4. Shoot a gun (I just did that)
5. Run a mile in under six minutes (accomplished that this spring)
6. Control/Drive the Goodyear Blimp
7. Learn how to waterski
8. Learn how to wakeboard
9. Make a three pointer in Gampel Pavilion (Thank You Greg)
10. Make a half court shot
11. Go in goal against a National Team Player for a PK (Thank You Taylor, and for the record I saved nothing)
12. Interview someone famous
13. Find out genealogical information on the Palmer side of the family (This is sort of never ending, but finding the grave of my great great grandfather was something I wanted to do)
14. Plant a vegetable or fruit, take care of it (or just pray it rains a lot), and then eat it. (I grew a green bean and ate it...yes 1 green bean out of 25 seeds)
15. Chop down a tree with an axe (Yes I really wanted to do that in my life. Sad, but true)
16. Bowl over a 200 (I got a 203 once...300 would be cool, but not sure I'm going to bowl my life away trying to do so)
17. Make a 30 minute movie all by myself (Thank You UCWS for allowing me to do that)
18. Eat Sushi (most people don't know I really don't like seafood, so eating sushi once was an accomplishment. My dad got me to eat it by not telling me what it was)
19. Touch a snake (I did that on a field trip because a kid said he wouldn't shake my hand ever again if I did)
20. Take an air boat tour through the everglades
21. Run the bases at a Major League Baseball Stadium (Shea Stadium, SkyDome and the Metrodome)
22. Go to top of a skyscraper (Went to The CN Tower in Toronto)
23. Go Whitewater Rafting (would like to go again, but I have done it)
24. Be able to play an instrument (I mean I guess you should do that before you die. I could play the Clarinet in Elementary School)
25. Write a press release (I'll admit it, it's cool to see something you wrote online, and even better when a news organization uses it and you see it there...thanks WMUR)
26. Start a blog so that I could share my ideas and experiences and maybe one day let family members who never got to know me, get to know me better. (I did that..almost 10,000 views and I intentionally never publicized it)
27. Community Service - (I've done some and this should be on going..leave world better place than I found it)
28. Be in four places/states at once (Hey it's cool to say I was in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah at once)
29. Go Para sailing (Did that in Hawaii)
30. Have a 4.0 for a semester (Did that for my last two semesters...I really did want to do that)
Now to things I want to accomplish, and have yet to do:
1. Become a father - seriously, I'm putting that on my list. It's a good accomplishment in life.
2. Owning a house on Lake Winnipesaukee with a boat, two jet-skis and two kayaks
3. Go to all 50 states (I have 34 down and 16 to go)
4. Go to every continent (why not, I've only been to one so far)
5. Fly in a fighter jet (I have no idea how to make that happen)
6. Complete a Marathon
7. Complete a Biathlon
8. Bench Press 225 pounds (The most I have ever done is 215, and I can't quite do that right now, so got some work to do)
9. Attend a Super Bowl
10. Play a round of golf overlooking the water or mountains
11. Catch a Tarpon while fishing
12. Go skydiving at an age older than my grandfather
13. Drive a race-car
14. Learn how to speak German (My grandpa speaks it, and we have some family things from my moms side written in German. My great grandpa was actually a POW in China in World War I for Germany)
15. Taking a spontaneous vacation for myself
16. Hike Mount Washington
17. Do the Mount Washington Hill Climb (I'm cringing writing that. It's a bike ride up the Mount Washington's auto-road..atleast try it...)
18. Drive a Harley Davidson motorcycle (I love the sound of them, so why not actually ride one)
19. Fly a plane
20. Learn how to snow-ski
21. Learn how to snowboard
22. Jump the wake on a wakeboard
23. Attend a Daytona 500
24. Complete a 120 mile bike ride
25. Hit a hole in one in real golf
26. Watch a certain player play in a UCONN jersey again (we will cross that off in 2013 or 2014)
27. Help out after a practice/or our own shooting practice with a certain athlete (Didn't get to happen this spring, but will another time)
28. Learn how to surf
29. Make a half court shot in a famous arena
30. Catch a fish with the new fishing rod I bought...because I haven't in three years...Other rods work, but not this one...this would feel like a life's accomplishment sadly.
31. Have a full time job (would be nice to have one, you know?)
32. Go clay disk shooting (Take a rifle and hit clay disks)
33. Hit a bulls-eye with a bow and arrow.
34. Complete my collection of license plates from all 50 states
35. Meet a U.S. President
36. Have my own library in my house, including a positive book on every U.S. President
37. Learn how to Ice Skate (I've done a little bit of Ice Skating, but not much)
38. Go bungee jumping (I think this is worse than skydiving because you see the ground coming at you fast)
39. Take a part a car engine and put it back together
40. Build a potato gun
41. Attend a Dallas Cowboys game in Dallas
42. Accomplish the Seven Sacraments minus the Holy Orders because I won't be a priest (Thank You Greg)
43. Attend the UCWS's first National Championship Win
44. Run for a position in which you have to receive votes (It would be cool to say you were elected)
45. Retire one day
46. Learn how to salsa dance (Don't ask...I just do)
47. Irish Dance (Don't ask...I just do)
48. Go to Germany, Ireland, and England...(the three main Nationalities that I am made up of)
49. Attend an Arsenal Premier League Game
50. Attend a World Cup game
51. Attend a Olympic track and field event
52. Write a book (I really enjoy boring all of the people who read this so why not continue to do so with a book...on what will I write it about??)
53. Karaoke (I have zero desire to do this, so someone will need to get me drunk. Honestly)
54. Host a Thanksgiving and Christmas for family (I hope I don't regret this one)
55. Start my own business.
56. Bake something without any help from anyone. I can't have any life lines.
57. Learn how to dive into a pool properly, including doing a backflip
58. Learn a trick shot in pool
59. Beat someone in Darts
60. Be able to do Yoga by myself (I have high blood pressure, good way to self medicate)
61. Go camping in the woods
62. Paint or draw a picture worthy of being displayed
63. I'm stealing this from someone else's list because it's a good idea, See the Seven Natural Wonders of the World (Grand Canyon is done...but want to go back)
64. Go to the top floor of a skyscraper in New York
65. Make my own Maple Syrup
66. Go on a European Vacation including Big Ben and Eifel Tower
67. Watching the Running of the Bulls (Not actually running, because that seems stupid)
68. Go to Hollywood (already been to California...and Hollywood, Florida, but not Hollywood California)
69. Be in a movie...being an extra is fine
70. Get a photograph published (Stole that from someone online)
71. Become a Millionaire (Lottery here I come...but I should be able to earn that one day if I work hard)
72. Drive a Tank
73. Stay awake for 24 straight hours (not sure if I have ever done that yet. Was close with red-eye flight once)
74. Eat Alligator Meat - Team manager gave me that one
75. Eat a meal that doesn't require me to go to the store to get anything
76. Go a week without having Candy, or Syrup
77. Build a dock or something complex out of wood
78. Grow and maintain a garden (I sort of have, but my grandma said I couldn't so I will now..yes I am a guy but I want to do this)
79. Catch a penalty kick with my hands
80. Learn how to play tennis without hitting the ball over the fence
81. Drive a golf ball 300 yards (I'm pretty sure I have hit them 270 or farther. I never know if the markers are accurate or not though...I can't believe I can hit them that far)
82. Become known among my family and friends as someone who can cook/grill amazing filet mignon/steak
83. Light a firework
84. Go snowmobiling
85. Be a known historian/expert in something...anything
86. Take a road trip across the country and only eat at local restaurants. (Including EATS Diner in Seekonk, MA and Birch Street Bistro in Boston...Free plugs are always good)
87. If I have a family, have all formal dinners end with a good story or something that makes people laugh.
88. Play a practical joke on my boss (but not my first boss of a paying job)
89. Buy a new car unannounced
90. Coach a team (coach anything, a youth team..I just want to coach something before I die)
91. Learn how to flip turn in a pool
92. Score a goal in a rec soccer game (11v11)
93. Score a header for a goal in soccer (could combine these two if lucky)
94. Bike across the country (my friend Meghan Nanfeldt has done this and I think my Aunt wants too)
Allow my list to go over 100 (it does now when you add what I have already done to what I want to do) especially when necessary. Never stop, even if I complete everything
Two final things.
Add to the list
Accomplish something from the list every year.
And two extras - If I learn to enjoy swimming - then going scuba diving and completing a triathlon
This bucket list makes me think about how I want to live my life. I want to live through the Jackie Robinson quote "A life is unimportant except for the impact it has on others." I want to have fun and accomplish things. I also want to teach people things and make others better.
I'll end this with a quote from my grandpa that I try to remember "Try everything legal once before you die."
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Interesting
I was reading some fans talking about women's soccer in 2012. A fan complained that their team wasn't playing any good really good non-conference competition even though they have to come to Storrs...
We shall see about that.
We shall see about that.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Devin
I love Devin's accent. I seriously thought that she was recruited off of the set of Goodfellas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH-7he92XfI
(Karen Hill in the movie reminds me of Cory for some reason. Maybe it's her hair, or it's the fact that she is Jewish. I'm not quite sure. She just does)
She is one of the first Long Islander's that I knew. Not the first, but one of the first, and certainly the first one with a thick accent. During our trip to New Jersey I asked her just to pronounce things on the bus.
I remember walking past Devin and her class for the first few weeks and it was awkward. It took a little bit before I got some hellos.
Then we traveled and once we traveled I got to know Devin much better. She would usually sit behind me on the bus and we would keep each other entertained. She would watch what I did on the computer, or try to guess whose picture I was cutting out on facebook. She would tell stories about Long Island as well. Devin and Skoges were the best to have sitting behind you on the bus. They were fun.
Her interview was great. She really is an awesome interview because she is a great talker and talks with a lot of emotion. She isn't monotone at all. One of my favorite lines from an interview was when I asked her what the difference is between Queens and Long Island. She went "Queens is like the hood, and Long Island is just nice." I also loved her impersonations of other players. They were good.
She also told a great story about being a life guard over the summer. It was a very animated and funny story.
I remember her telling me that her father doesn't like soccer and doesn't usually watch her games. When he did watch her she told me that he said she wasn't any good.
He's not quite right on her talent level. Devin was a player who could somehow use her skills to get out of some of the most ridiculous situations. Sometimes it looked like she was cutting past people in slow motion. We could probably make a five minute video of just her breaking people's ankles. Her play made every highlight video look 10 times better than what it really was.
Devin could rip the ball too. She could get something on her shots, as evidenced by her unbelievable goal against Wake Forest. Her goal was so far out, that it might actually have looked best on game film. I couldn't believe that shot went in. I'm so glad it did though, and not just because I wanted to win, but also because my aunt was at the game and she hates Wake Forest.
Devin also scored the match winner at South Florida when my Uncle, Cousins and their families, were at the game. When extended family came to a game Devin scored the match winner. She sent them home happy. The other thing about Devin's goal against South Florida was that I captured it well on camera. I had a small camera from my sister I took to some games and I had it at just the right position to perfectly capture Devin's goal. I didn't follow her when she scored the goal, I just left the camera in a fixed position.
Devin's assist against DePaul on Danielle's game winner was amazing as well. She crossed the ball from Megan Rapinoe distance (Rapinoe to Wambach) and her assist was beautiful too watch.
Devin's first goal was memorable as well because it came against Penn State, and it was a big goal. It came off of a volley. I love the picture of her celebration in Clark's arms.
Devin also scored on my birthday in 2010 so that puts her in a class by herself. I want my teams to win on my birthday, and the players who help my favorite teams win give me the best gifts.
After Seton Hall Devin got me started on Cannoli's. They were really good. I think her mom got them for her and she passed them around the bus and she made sure I got to try one.
My two off the field things come from road trips in 2010. Devin couldn't figure out if we were in Pennsylvania or West Virginia when we were traveling from the airport in Pittsburgh to our game in West Virginia. She saw a trailer park so she instantly decided that we were in West Virginia.
She was correct.
The other occasion happened at the NCAA's when we got yelled at by a hotel guest for being too loud in the hallway. Devin was showing me pictures of her grandmothers house and telling me a story. It was fascinating as always. Then this guy, who was writing on a deadline, popped out of his room and complained that we were being too loud. He had a bad attitude and he pissed me off. He ended a Devin story prematurely and that made me mad.
More than anything I wish Devin wasn't injured and sick so she could have been around more!
Now if only I could convince her that the Giants and Yankees are no good.
As much as I like watching her play, what I will miss most about Devin is listening to her talk. She is just fun to talk to and listen to. I missed having her around in the 2011 spring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH-7he92XfI
(Karen Hill in the movie reminds me of Cory for some reason. Maybe it's her hair, or it's the fact that she is Jewish. I'm not quite sure. She just does)
She is one of the first Long Islander's that I knew. Not the first, but one of the first, and certainly the first one with a thick accent. During our trip to New Jersey I asked her just to pronounce things on the bus.
I remember walking past Devin and her class for the first few weeks and it was awkward. It took a little bit before I got some hellos.
Then we traveled and once we traveled I got to know Devin much better. She would usually sit behind me on the bus and we would keep each other entertained. She would watch what I did on the computer, or try to guess whose picture I was cutting out on facebook. She would tell stories about Long Island as well. Devin and Skoges were the best to have sitting behind you on the bus. They were fun.
Her interview was great. She really is an awesome interview because she is a great talker and talks with a lot of emotion. She isn't monotone at all. One of my favorite lines from an interview was when I asked her what the difference is between Queens and Long Island. She went "Queens is like the hood, and Long Island is just nice." I also loved her impersonations of other players. They were good.
She also told a great story about being a life guard over the summer. It was a very animated and funny story.
I remember her telling me that her father doesn't like soccer and doesn't usually watch her games. When he did watch her she told me that he said she wasn't any good.
He's not quite right on her talent level. Devin was a player who could somehow use her skills to get out of some of the most ridiculous situations. Sometimes it looked like she was cutting past people in slow motion. We could probably make a five minute video of just her breaking people's ankles. Her play made every highlight video look 10 times better than what it really was.
Devin could rip the ball too. She could get something on her shots, as evidenced by her unbelievable goal against Wake Forest. Her goal was so far out, that it might actually have looked best on game film. I couldn't believe that shot went in. I'm so glad it did though, and not just because I wanted to win, but also because my aunt was at the game and she hates Wake Forest.
Devin also scored the match winner at South Florida when my Uncle, Cousins and their families, were at the game. When extended family came to a game Devin scored the match winner. She sent them home happy. The other thing about Devin's goal against South Florida was that I captured it well on camera. I had a small camera from my sister I took to some games and I had it at just the right position to perfectly capture Devin's goal. I didn't follow her when she scored the goal, I just left the camera in a fixed position.
Devin's assist against DePaul on Danielle's game winner was amazing as well. She crossed the ball from Megan Rapinoe distance (Rapinoe to Wambach) and her assist was beautiful too watch.
Devin's first goal was memorable as well because it came against Penn State, and it was a big goal. It came off of a volley. I love the picture of her celebration in Clark's arms.
Devin also scored on my birthday in 2010 so that puts her in a class by herself. I want my teams to win on my birthday, and the players who help my favorite teams win give me the best gifts.
After Seton Hall Devin got me started on Cannoli's. They were really good. I think her mom got them for her and she passed them around the bus and she made sure I got to try one.
My two off the field things come from road trips in 2010. Devin couldn't figure out if we were in Pennsylvania or West Virginia when we were traveling from the airport in Pittsburgh to our game in West Virginia. She saw a trailer park so she instantly decided that we were in West Virginia.
She was correct.
The other occasion happened at the NCAA's when we got yelled at by a hotel guest for being too loud in the hallway. Devin was showing me pictures of her grandmothers house and telling me a story. It was fascinating as always. Then this guy, who was writing on a deadline, popped out of his room and complained that we were being too loud. He had a bad attitude and he pissed me off. He ended a Devin story prematurely and that made me mad.
More than anything I wish Devin wasn't injured and sick so she could have been around more!
Now if only I could convince her that the Giants and Yankees are no good.
As much as I like watching her play, what I will miss most about Devin is listening to her talk. She is just fun to talk to and listen to. I missed having her around in the 2011 spring.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Who is next
I can't figure out which player to write about next. I have a serious case of writers block right now.
There is always Cory.
But I don't have enough time to start that now.
There is always Cory.
But I don't have enough time to start that now.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Least Favorite Moments
There are moments that rank as least favorite moments and they all involve players crying. When the players cried I generally thought of that as a least favorite moment.
These moments were either one of two things. Either it was the last game of the season or someone got injured.
Very simple really. I can vividly remember Meg crawling up in a ball on the back of the bus crying after her career was over. I remember walking past Cory at the end of this year crying. Same goes for Alex, Court and Gurnon.
I remember Ebert crying with her parents after BC.
Those moments involving injuries and, or cyring sucked.
These moments were either one of two things. Either it was the last game of the season or someone got injured.
Very simple really. I can vividly remember Meg crawling up in a ball on the back of the bus crying after her career was over. I remember walking past Cory at the end of this year crying. Same goes for Alex, Court and Gurnon.
I remember Ebert crying with her parents after BC.
Those moments involving injuries and, or cyring sucked.
UF
So I visited Gainesville and saw the University of Florida, or should I say, just a small part of it.
I saw the outside of the Football Stadium and a tiny bit of the Athletic Offices in "The Swamp" aka Ben Hill Griffin Stadium aka the Football Stadium. The Football Stadium felt like a professional football stadium. It was huge. I also saw the Gator statue outside. I saw the exterior of a few athletic buildings as well, including the basketball arena. It appears to be a Pepsi campus which I like. I like both Pepsi and Gatorade 100 times as much as Coca-Cola and Powerade.
The posters for all of their teams were huge, like the size of the old UCONN Basketball and Football Posters.
What's nice about the Gators is that they really have good teams in all of their sports. It's rare for their to be Gator teams that aren't decent enough to atleast make the NCAA's. There are certain advantages to being able to recruit in-state athletes from Florida. Florida has great year round teams, not just good Fall and Winter Sports typically found up North.
The other thing that really got my attention was how clean everything appeared to be in the offices I was in. The set-up of the offices gave me a more professional feel and more of a business type of environment. It seemed very formal to me.
I also learned that all of the Heisman Trophy Winners at Florida were Quarterbacks with ministers for fathers. Tim Tebow, Danny Wuerffel and Steve Spurrier all were sons of ministers.
The University of Florida looked like it was a really beautiful campus, even though I only saw a small portion of it and it is certainly a place that I would love to work at one day if I get lucky enough to get an opportunity.
I saw the outside of the Football Stadium and a tiny bit of the Athletic Offices in "The Swamp" aka Ben Hill Griffin Stadium aka the Football Stadium. The Football Stadium felt like a professional football stadium. It was huge. I also saw the Gator statue outside. I saw the exterior of a few athletic buildings as well, including the basketball arena. It appears to be a Pepsi campus which I like. I like both Pepsi and Gatorade 100 times as much as Coca-Cola and Powerade.
The posters for all of their teams were huge, like the size of the old UCONN Basketball and Football Posters.
What's nice about the Gators is that they really have good teams in all of their sports. It's rare for their to be Gator teams that aren't decent enough to atleast make the NCAA's. There are certain advantages to being able to recruit in-state athletes from Florida. Florida has great year round teams, not just good Fall and Winter Sports typically found up North.
The other thing that really got my attention was how clean everything appeared to be in the offices I was in. The set-up of the offices gave me a more professional feel and more of a business type of environment. It seemed very formal to me.
I also learned that all of the Heisman Trophy Winners at Florida were Quarterbacks with ministers for fathers. Tim Tebow, Danny Wuerffel and Steve Spurrier all were sons of ministers.
The University of Florida looked like it was a really beautiful campus, even though I only saw a small portion of it and it is certainly a place that I would love to work at one day if I get lucky enough to get an opportunity.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Good bye Grandpa....
No, not that kind of goodbye.
A different kind of goodbye, a unique goodbye.
I watched my 88 year old grandfather skydive right in front of me. He went before I did. That's a sensation few people get to experience.
All of a sudden you just see your grandpa drop out of a plane.
My grandpa had this on his bucket list. Skydiving was his idea. We all went along with it and we are glad we did.
I was less nervous than I thought I would be. I think I was atleast. I never really backed down. I was determined to skydive, but naturally a little nervous too. You wouldn't be human if you weren't nervous the first time you jump out of a plane.
Thankfully I did no work, as I was a tandem jumper. I don't remember all that much from jumping out the plane. I remember going right after my grandpa did. Grandpa was in position, the door opened, and they rolled out.
Then I kneeled to the front of the cessna, put my foot out, and away we went. I don't know how we exited the plane, but it probably wasn't correct. It felt like we may have gone around and flipped or fallen backwards. I really have no idea, we will have to see what the video shows us.
The first few seconds of falling you go "whoa, what is going on." Then you begin to relax a little and go, wow I am really doing this!!!
I remember seeing the ground, and being a little bit cold at the start of the jump, during free fall.
After about 45 seconds the chute opens up and you get pulled up like a rag doll. It felt like you were really jerked up like a puppet. Once we regained our composure from the chute opening up, I got to help guide us down to the ground. The parachute part of the jump was much more exciting than I thought it would be, and went by quickly. I thought we would go down slowly with the chute, but it was a controlled, but fast way down.
Freefall was quick and in someways hard to remember. What I remember most is looking down at the ground and having the wind rushing past my ears. You couldn't hear a thing in freefall. I can still hear the air rushing by my ears.
The jump went by so quick. Before I knew it I was back on the ground and on my feet. It was awesome and a lot of fun. I recommend doing it, because how can you not have more confidence in yourself if you jumped out of a plane?
What made this extra special was that I got to go in the same plane as my grandpa, and watch him fall out. Who the hell can say they went skydiving with their grandfather? Seriously. I watched my 88 year old grandpa jump out of a plane before I did.
I can't believe I skydived and it was so much fun.
I enjoyed the scenic way down and the scenic ride up.
Can't wait to see the video and pictures and hope to relive everything and do it again someday.
A different kind of goodbye, a unique goodbye.
I watched my 88 year old grandfather skydive right in front of me. He went before I did. That's a sensation few people get to experience.
All of a sudden you just see your grandpa drop out of a plane.
My grandpa had this on his bucket list. Skydiving was his idea. We all went along with it and we are glad we did.
I was less nervous than I thought I would be. I think I was atleast. I never really backed down. I was determined to skydive, but naturally a little nervous too. You wouldn't be human if you weren't nervous the first time you jump out of a plane.
Thankfully I did no work, as I was a tandem jumper. I don't remember all that much from jumping out the plane. I remember going right after my grandpa did. Grandpa was in position, the door opened, and they rolled out.
Then I kneeled to the front of the cessna, put my foot out, and away we went. I don't know how we exited the plane, but it probably wasn't correct. It felt like we may have gone around and flipped or fallen backwards. I really have no idea, we will have to see what the video shows us.
The first few seconds of falling you go "whoa, what is going on." Then you begin to relax a little and go, wow I am really doing this!!!
I remember seeing the ground, and being a little bit cold at the start of the jump, during free fall.
After about 45 seconds the chute opens up and you get pulled up like a rag doll. It felt like you were really jerked up like a puppet. Once we regained our composure from the chute opening up, I got to help guide us down to the ground. The parachute part of the jump was much more exciting than I thought it would be, and went by quickly. I thought we would go down slowly with the chute, but it was a controlled, but fast way down.
Freefall was quick and in someways hard to remember. What I remember most is looking down at the ground and having the wind rushing past my ears. You couldn't hear a thing in freefall. I can still hear the air rushing by my ears.
The jump went by so quick. Before I knew it I was back on the ground and on my feet. It was awesome and a lot of fun. I recommend doing it, because how can you not have more confidence in yourself if you jumped out of a plane?
What made this extra special was that I got to go in the same plane as my grandpa, and watch him fall out. Who the hell can say they went skydiving with their grandfather? Seriously. I watched my 88 year old grandpa jump out of a plane before I did.
I can't believe I skydived and it was so much fun.
I enjoyed the scenic way down and the scenic ride up.
Can't wait to see the video and pictures and hope to relive everything and do it again someday.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
The First 24 Hours
I've been in Florida for 48 hours now.
I have to detail the first 24 though, because it was awesome and action packed.
We landed in Orlando at about 11:45 and met our Uncle and then drove two hours North to Gainesville. After that we went to the grocery store to get potatoes (more on that later), a couple of snacks and then to my Uncle's Power Plant, where he works at.
I like getting tours, and it means more when a family member is there. He works the night shift usually, which is from 7pm to 7am at the University of Florida. The people he usually works with were there. The power plant is a co-generation plant. It powers most of the Florida Campus by firing a jet engine inside a room and the exhaust hits water (exhaust at about 1500 degrees I believe) which creates steam which then gets converted into power. The room he works in is full of screens. Screens with so many important gauges and temperatures. All he does is sit and monitor them most of the time. A boring, but necessary job. It does take it's toll on him health wise though.
The tour was awesome, even at 2:30 in the morning.
After that we went to Krispy Kreme to get a dozen donuts at 3 in the morning. That's awesome.
After that we went to my Uncle's house in North Gainesville, in the middle of nowhere. I loved where his house is, but it's remote. His road is not paved, it is dirt and sand. I had never been to his house before even though he has lived there for 15 years. All I knew is that it was remote and that he caught snakes often in his yard. I was a little cautious when getting out of the car in the pitch black. On the way in we hit an animal and killed that by accident and passed by the Bacardi Rum (named something slightly different) but it had to do with the Bat Conservancy.
I loved his house. It is a single guys dream. He has an old phone booth in one of his rooms that came from a place just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He bought it on EBay and then went and got it and put it in his house. The thing could actually be used for calls. He also has a Slot Machine in that room. He had just built a bed that folds down out of the wall which I slept in. I finally got to bed around 4:30.
I was up again at 7 and then was on and off asleep until 10am. I had some doughnuts and then we got a tour of the outside of his property. He has a nice workshop with saws so he can do wood work and make things. He also took us on a walk on his 10 acres, down to his neighbors and their 30 year old horse.
The highlight of the day was shooting things. We spent most of our time shooting his homemade potato gun/launcher. It's a homemade device. You buy a few parts, get a spark plug/ignition switch and put in a flammable gas and a potato that is tight to the barrel for more power and you let it rip. These potatoes go absolutely flying. They could clear the big oak trees in his yard and would go well into the woods. It was a lot of fun.
Then we shot his shotgun. My mom and I had never shot a gun before so we did (my sister had on a previous trip to see my uncle) and it was awesome. I'll admit I was really aware of the power I was holding in my hand. I didn't treat firing it lightly. My uncle loaded the weapon and handed it to us and we aimed into the woods. When I went I decided not to hold it properly and tight to my shoulder because I didn't want to get a bruise from any kickback, because that had happened to my sister. Next time I shoot I will do it properly. I aimed towards the woods and I kept the shot pretty close to where I wanted it, but I wasn't as accurate as I could have been. I was surprised on this gun with just how little was needed to get the trigger to fire. It was fun shooting, and loud. I would like to shoot again, but this time at a target. Targets or clay discs would be fun.
So anyway in the first 12 hours I shot guns and potato cannons and went to Krispy Kreme at 3am. Off to a great start.
On the way out I stopped at the University of Florida Athletic Department in their football stadium, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida has a nice set-up. Their offices seemed clean and professional to me. I went there to meet a friend of our assistant coach and it was good to meet him because it was a new contact for me to use in sports.
I was told that networking is 50-70% of finding a job.
After shooting we drove to Tampa to see family, the same families that came to the USF game. The boys were full of energy as usual and with two of the boys I spent time with in the pool at their house. We got into a water fight and made water balloons, or atleast I tried too.
After they went to bed I saw my cousin in-laws game room again and this time I got to hold the old game used bats of Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Shoeless Joe Jackson and David Ortiz. I saw a game used Thierry Henry jersey from his Arsenal days as well. My cousin has game used jerseys and all of sorts of neat sports memorabilia, that I really appreciated it. All soccer fans could also appreciate my cousins in laws book on Arsenal. He is a huge fan so he bought a Opus book. It's an 80 pound book. It takes up most of a card table and is full of amazing photos. The book is covered in wood and once you open up the wood frame you can read the book. The book was signed by Wegner and maybe 700 or more pages long. Each page was turned using gloves provided by the book manufacturer and each page was plated in gold.
His room was amazing. Add Babe Ruth's bat to the shooting and it was an amazing day.
We got up early and I had a pool fight with my cousin at her house with my sister and mom and uncle. I tried to learn how to dive into a pool properly and head first. I'm getting it...slowly.
Then we came to a hotel to see more family. We tried to go deep sea fishing, but then it rained like I have never seen before so we couldn't go. We ended up going mini-golfing after everything cleared. I got two hole in ones on the last two holes to end up winning by a stroke.
Vacation has been great. It never needs to end.
So happy I was exposed to the potato gun and shotgun though. That was awesome!
I have to detail the first 24 though, because it was awesome and action packed.
We landed in Orlando at about 11:45 and met our Uncle and then drove two hours North to Gainesville. After that we went to the grocery store to get potatoes (more on that later), a couple of snacks and then to my Uncle's Power Plant, where he works at.
I like getting tours, and it means more when a family member is there. He works the night shift usually, which is from 7pm to 7am at the University of Florida. The people he usually works with were there. The power plant is a co-generation plant. It powers most of the Florida Campus by firing a jet engine inside a room and the exhaust hits water (exhaust at about 1500 degrees I believe) which creates steam which then gets converted into power. The room he works in is full of screens. Screens with so many important gauges and temperatures. All he does is sit and monitor them most of the time. A boring, but necessary job. It does take it's toll on him health wise though.
The tour was awesome, even at 2:30 in the morning.
After that we went to Krispy Kreme to get a dozen donuts at 3 in the morning. That's awesome.
After that we went to my Uncle's house in North Gainesville, in the middle of nowhere. I loved where his house is, but it's remote. His road is not paved, it is dirt and sand. I had never been to his house before even though he has lived there for 15 years. All I knew is that it was remote and that he caught snakes often in his yard. I was a little cautious when getting out of the car in the pitch black. On the way in we hit an animal and killed that by accident and passed by the Bacardi Rum (named something slightly different) but it had to do with the Bat Conservancy.
I loved his house. It is a single guys dream. He has an old phone booth in one of his rooms that came from a place just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He bought it on EBay and then went and got it and put it in his house. The thing could actually be used for calls. He also has a Slot Machine in that room. He had just built a bed that folds down out of the wall which I slept in. I finally got to bed around 4:30.
I was up again at 7 and then was on and off asleep until 10am. I had some doughnuts and then we got a tour of the outside of his property. He has a nice workshop with saws so he can do wood work and make things. He also took us on a walk on his 10 acres, down to his neighbors and their 30 year old horse.
The highlight of the day was shooting things. We spent most of our time shooting his homemade potato gun/launcher. It's a homemade device. You buy a few parts, get a spark plug/ignition switch and put in a flammable gas and a potato that is tight to the barrel for more power and you let it rip. These potatoes go absolutely flying. They could clear the big oak trees in his yard and would go well into the woods. It was a lot of fun.
Then we shot his shotgun. My mom and I had never shot a gun before so we did (my sister had on a previous trip to see my uncle) and it was awesome. I'll admit I was really aware of the power I was holding in my hand. I didn't treat firing it lightly. My uncle loaded the weapon and handed it to us and we aimed into the woods. When I went I decided not to hold it properly and tight to my shoulder because I didn't want to get a bruise from any kickback, because that had happened to my sister. Next time I shoot I will do it properly. I aimed towards the woods and I kept the shot pretty close to where I wanted it, but I wasn't as accurate as I could have been. I was surprised on this gun with just how little was needed to get the trigger to fire. It was fun shooting, and loud. I would like to shoot again, but this time at a target. Targets or clay discs would be fun.
So anyway in the first 12 hours I shot guns and potato cannons and went to Krispy Kreme at 3am. Off to a great start.
On the way out I stopped at the University of Florida Athletic Department in their football stadium, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida has a nice set-up. Their offices seemed clean and professional to me. I went there to meet a friend of our assistant coach and it was good to meet him because it was a new contact for me to use in sports.
I was told that networking is 50-70% of finding a job.
After shooting we drove to Tampa to see family, the same families that came to the USF game. The boys were full of energy as usual and with two of the boys I spent time with in the pool at their house. We got into a water fight and made water balloons, or atleast I tried too.
After they went to bed I saw my cousin in-laws game room again and this time I got to hold the old game used bats of Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Shoeless Joe Jackson and David Ortiz. I saw a game used Thierry Henry jersey from his Arsenal days as well. My cousin has game used jerseys and all of sorts of neat sports memorabilia, that I really appreciated it. All soccer fans could also appreciate my cousins in laws book on Arsenal. He is a huge fan so he bought a Opus book. It's an 80 pound book. It takes up most of a card table and is full of amazing photos. The book is covered in wood and once you open up the wood frame you can read the book. The book was signed by Wegner and maybe 700 or more pages long. Each page was turned using gloves provided by the book manufacturer and each page was plated in gold.
His room was amazing. Add Babe Ruth's bat to the shooting and it was an amazing day.
We got up early and I had a pool fight with my cousin at her house with my sister and mom and uncle. I tried to learn how to dive into a pool properly and head first. I'm getting it...slowly.
Then we came to a hotel to see more family. We tried to go deep sea fishing, but then it rained like I have never seen before so we couldn't go. We ended up going mini-golfing after everything cleared. I got two hole in ones on the last two holes to end up winning by a stroke.
Vacation has been great. It never needs to end.
So happy I was exposed to the potato gun and shotgun though. That was awesome!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Airport Memories
I am about to embark on my first trip to an airport without the team. Sad actually that I haven't been flying more often.
It will be less stressful since I have nothing to worry about beyond my own things. No bus will be contacted and I don't have to worry about any gear being left anywhere. Not worrying about whether we are going to the hotel first or to the practice field. Not worrying about where we are eating dinner, or food orders. Not worried about who has the camera either.
Can't imagine what our assistant coach must feel in terms of stress.
Anyway this brings me back to a few airport memories.
First of all, I need to thank Georgie for saving my ass in 2010 at Providence Airport before our flight to Chicago to play Notre Dame. I don't know what distracted me, but I almost walked on to the flight without our team laptop. Georgie gave it to our trainer who asked whose it was, and I went "uh me." No one saw that because if they did I never would have heard the end of that. Skoges would have reminded me for years, since when she was a freshman all I think I did was ask her if she remembered everything. I reminded the other freshman too, it's just that Skoges is the only one of them who would have held it over my head.
I also remember Dulski forgetting her ID in Tampa. I would have freaked out more than she did. I still think she is more responsible than she thinks she is, but she definitely does forget things. Coach also lost his ID before the USF trip. I heard about that after the fact.
One trip I heard that J.D. forgot her I.D. so they used the media guide to show who she was. That was before my time though.
I seem to remember before one trip in 2010 that Becky's car was broken into. Don't remember exactly what else happened, but know that did.
Cory. Enough said.
Then there was the trip in Pittsburgh where James told me that we didn't have time to organize all the bags by numerical order. Jessie had left the pinnies on the bus and I felt responsible for not double checking that we had everything so I decided I needed to make up for it by organizing bags.
Gurnon told me to relax and she was right, even though I didn't listen to her. I really wanted to organize them so I could proof James wrong and that the bags could be put in order. Catie's bag somehow was almost lost at Pitt as well.
One of the most awkward moments was when our assistant coach decided to tell Cory that I arranged to have us sit next to each other on a flight. If there was one player who might believe that it's Cory. There is more to this story, but we will save it for another time. She is the only player I ever sat right next to though.
One of my favorite moments was in Tampa when Hillary stepped on Mika's back to crack Mika's back. I'd never seen anyone else do that before, or request that other than myself of course. I felt slightly more normal because of Mika. Coach asked Hillary and Mika what they were doing and when they told him I think he rolled his eyes, or told them it was a bad idea.
Irish dancing at a baggage claim at 12:30 on a Monday morning was probably quite a unique sight for travelers at Bradley.
I actually really enjoyed being in the airports though and flying with the team. I love flying.
It will be less stressful since I have nothing to worry about beyond my own things. No bus will be contacted and I don't have to worry about any gear being left anywhere. Not worrying about whether we are going to the hotel first or to the practice field. Not worrying about where we are eating dinner, or food orders. Not worried about who has the camera either.
Can't imagine what our assistant coach must feel in terms of stress.
Anyway this brings me back to a few airport memories.
First of all, I need to thank Georgie for saving my ass in 2010 at Providence Airport before our flight to Chicago to play Notre Dame. I don't know what distracted me, but I almost walked on to the flight without our team laptop. Georgie gave it to our trainer who asked whose it was, and I went "uh me." No one saw that because if they did I never would have heard the end of that. Skoges would have reminded me for years, since when she was a freshman all I think I did was ask her if she remembered everything. I reminded the other freshman too, it's just that Skoges is the only one of them who would have held it over my head.
I also remember Dulski forgetting her ID in Tampa. I would have freaked out more than she did. I still think she is more responsible than she thinks she is, but she definitely does forget things. Coach also lost his ID before the USF trip. I heard about that after the fact.
One trip I heard that J.D. forgot her I.D. so they used the media guide to show who she was. That was before my time though.
I seem to remember before one trip in 2010 that Becky's car was broken into. Don't remember exactly what else happened, but know that did.
Cory. Enough said.
Then there was the trip in Pittsburgh where James told me that we didn't have time to organize all the bags by numerical order. Jessie had left the pinnies on the bus and I felt responsible for not double checking that we had everything so I decided I needed to make up for it by organizing bags.
Gurnon told me to relax and she was right, even though I didn't listen to her. I really wanted to organize them so I could proof James wrong and that the bags could be put in order. Catie's bag somehow was almost lost at Pitt as well.
One of the most awkward moments was when our assistant coach decided to tell Cory that I arranged to have us sit next to each other on a flight. If there was one player who might believe that it's Cory. There is more to this story, but we will save it for another time. She is the only player I ever sat right next to though.
One of my favorite moments was in Tampa when Hillary stepped on Mika's back to crack Mika's back. I'd never seen anyone else do that before, or request that other than myself of course. I felt slightly more normal because of Mika. Coach asked Hillary and Mika what they were doing and when they told him I think he rolled his eyes, or told them it was a bad idea.
Irish dancing at a baggage claim at 12:30 on a Monday morning was probably quite a unique sight for travelers at Bradley.
I actually really enjoyed being in the airports though and flying with the team. I love flying.
Here is a story I like
Here is an interesting story about what you shouldn't do if there is a bad story written about you, or your team.
Doing this breeds to more bad stories.
http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-central-coach-shaun-green-trahses-newspapers-05-20120508,0,4937583.story
The best thing to do is to pre-empt bad stories, and when they come up admit to the mistakes and lay out a plan to move forward....I think...
I saved a paper that talks about how to deal with media controversies and the steps to take. I will find it and post it if I can. I know it's not with me though.
Doing this breeds to more bad stories.
http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-central-coach-shaun-green-trahses-newspapers-05-20120508,0,4937583.story
The best thing to do is to pre-empt bad stories, and when they come up admit to the mistakes and lay out a plan to move forward....I think...
I saved a paper that talks about how to deal with media controversies and the steps to take. I will find it and post it if I can. I know it's not with me though.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Here is a good interview
Sometimes athletes are funny and satirical. I like these athletes and when they make me laugh.
I am going to the sport of NASCAR to show you an example of a funny interview.
You may not quite understand everything he is talking about if you don't fully grasp NASCAR or auto-racing, but I think you can get the gist of things.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UjbugjIAxc
He's also lucky he didn't get fined.
And here is a funny women's basketball coach from years back and their post game press conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEuOTkTQ8h4&feature=related
I am going to the sport of NASCAR to show you an example of a funny interview.
You may not quite understand everything he is talking about if you don't fully grasp NASCAR or auto-racing, but I think you can get the gist of things.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UjbugjIAxc
He's also lucky he didn't get fined.
And here is a funny women's basketball coach from years back and their post game press conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEuOTkTQ8h4&feature=related
Drea
The first time I saw Drea was at one of our spring clinics. I think it was the 2010 one. She did something to stand out in my mind without playing, and I think it was because she was talking for awhile with our assistant coach. She was injured at the time, but must have made a good impression.
What I will remember most about her is her performance in the spring and then of course her talent show performance.
First to the talent show performance. I really had no idea what crumping was until Gurnon told me that she was getting lessons on how to do that from Drea. When I first saw Drea's performance in the talent show I didn't quite know what to make of it. I wasn't sure what the judges would say.
I also couldn't figure out who it was that was dancing. I swore it was Mika because I could only think of one person crazy enough to have done that. Then Eric pointed out to me that they had blonde hair.
I still don't know what to say about it, but I'll give her lots of credit for what was the best act of the entire night in Gampel.
Filming it was sort of funny too. I remember panning around and then all of a sudden in the corner of the screen I saw lots of movement and heard a crowd reaction. Thankfully I found Drea quickly. Not sure if she's thankful of that.
I think my first impression of her was that she was quiet. I thought I would have a hard time convincing her to Irish Dance on camera. She was actually the first person to Irish Dance on camera.
I came up with the idea for Irish Dancing in my head quickly, and I associated dancing with her because I was pretty sure that during her pre-season interview on her first day with the team that she said she was a dancing major. It turns out there was a misunderstanding on that - she is a speech language pathologist major, or on a path to becoming one.
Drea was someone who I was also constantly rooting for during the running tests. She always seemed to have a positive attitude. Everytime I watched her on Monday or Wednesday mornings I was hoping that she would cut off more and more time, especially as I saw her run after practice.
As a player, it's a bummer I didn't get to watch her play much. I will say, from someone who knows nothing about the game, that I thought she got stronger and more confident as time went on this year. She is someone who was very intimidating and was a constant scoring threat in practice. She even gave me a bloody nose in practice once. It's funny because one time I almost ran into her and she said "I don't want to get injured." I responded, "Me either." She did actually injure me though.
All Day Dre will be fun to watch in years to come.
And here she is being interviewed...sure she hates me for posting this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qgjdt16SA8
Way too serious of an interview for me. I'd rather listen to her talk about crumping, but any reporter who asked her about that would be really creepy.
I wish I actually did interview her for the facebook page. I wish I did that more with the freshman, but it never really happened this year.
It is weird listening to them talk about soccer though. I feel like the closer you get to working with the team the less you talk about soccer, if it all.
What I will remember most about her is her performance in the spring and then of course her talent show performance.
First to the talent show performance. I really had no idea what crumping was until Gurnon told me that she was getting lessons on how to do that from Drea. When I first saw Drea's performance in the talent show I didn't quite know what to make of it. I wasn't sure what the judges would say.
I also couldn't figure out who it was that was dancing. I swore it was Mika because I could only think of one person crazy enough to have done that. Then Eric pointed out to me that they had blonde hair.
I still don't know what to say about it, but I'll give her lots of credit for what was the best act of the entire night in Gampel.
Filming it was sort of funny too. I remember panning around and then all of a sudden in the corner of the screen I saw lots of movement and heard a crowd reaction. Thankfully I found Drea quickly. Not sure if she's thankful of that.
I think my first impression of her was that she was quiet. I thought I would have a hard time convincing her to Irish Dance on camera. She was actually the first person to Irish Dance on camera.
I came up with the idea for Irish Dancing in my head quickly, and I associated dancing with her because I was pretty sure that during her pre-season interview on her first day with the team that she said she was a dancing major. It turns out there was a misunderstanding on that - she is a speech language pathologist major, or on a path to becoming one.
Drea was someone who I was also constantly rooting for during the running tests. She always seemed to have a positive attitude. Everytime I watched her on Monday or Wednesday mornings I was hoping that she would cut off more and more time, especially as I saw her run after practice.
As a player, it's a bummer I didn't get to watch her play much. I will say, from someone who knows nothing about the game, that I thought she got stronger and more confident as time went on this year. She is someone who was very intimidating and was a constant scoring threat in practice. She even gave me a bloody nose in practice once. It's funny because one time I almost ran into her and she said "I don't want to get injured." I responded, "Me either." She did actually injure me though.
All Day Dre will be fun to watch in years to come.
And here she is being interviewed...sure she hates me for posting this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qgjdt16SA8
Way too serious of an interview for me. I'd rather listen to her talk about crumping, but any reporter who asked her about that would be really creepy.
I wish I actually did interview her for the facebook page. I wish I did that more with the freshman, but it never really happened this year.
It is weird listening to them talk about soccer though. I feel like the closer you get to working with the team the less you talk about soccer, if it all.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
The ND Pre-Game Video
So I think one of the favorite pre-game videos happened for the Notre Dame game. I knew I had to come up with something really good for an ESPNU game.
I personally liked the Muhammad Ali speech in the background to clips of the team. I love sports and history and I know that there is no one who can give a more entertaining, poetic (because of his rhyming) and motivational speech than Ali. I thought the one minute video to Ali would be motivational so I included it. Plus the year before at Notre Dame I did something similar with Michael Jordan, and we won, so being superstitious I tried to do something similar again.
I also picked out 300 Violin Orchestra for the highlight part of the video since I thought that would be a really great song to pump everyone up. It just is one of those pre-game songs.
I also saved the best Dulski saves for this video. I had several saves that I just was holding onto on my computer for the right moment. I made sure I lined up those saves with the beat of the song. I put a lot of effort into the highlight part of the Notre Dame video.
Now to the part that everyone cares about, the off the field stuff.
The off the field stuff was first requested by our assistant coach for the Colgate game and it was a great idea. The team requested off the field stuff for the rest of the games so I obliged. It was a lot of fun to make them.
The idea for Notre Dame came to me quickly.
The inspiration for the Irish Dancing came 100% from Jessie Frech. Jessie Irish Danced before the game at ND in 2010 during warm-ups. I knew that we were confident and loose and ready to go because of that. Her dancing just gave me good vibes.
I decided that we should have Irish Dancing be a part of our pre-game video.
I also wanted to have a lot of people who were important to the team show up in this important game. I wanted those who weren't traveling to be involved. I wanted Cuevas to say something on camera. (She will be a captain, and All-American one day) I also wanted Kacey to be involved since she was around. I also knew that making fun of Cory would really get everyone's attention so I had her wish Cory a happy holiday in Cory's adopted religion.
Drea also wasn't traveling so I wanted to have her talk. Another one of the reasons I interviewed players was to get to know them better, and Drea was someone that I felt I should get to know better, so I had to have her be a part of the video. I got her to come over and Irish dance on camera for me and get interviewed. I also thought of her and dancing because someone said she was majoring in it by accident during our pre-season interviews at our first team gathering.
Drea did her best to Irish Dance and I had to give her credit for actually going along with it. I wasn't sure she would actually do it.
I thought I was done with filming, but the stars aligned and I had more work left to do.
As I was leaving I ran into Mika and Charno. Not sure why they were still around. Maybe they stayed late? Anyway I stopped them and got them to take part in the video.
Mika was someone I wanted to say something because she is awesome. I also thought she would actually try to Irish Dance if I asked her too.
I was right, she did, but in the process of asking her that I found out something better. Charno volunteered the fact to me that she actually knew how to Irish Dance.
She put the nail in her own coffin. She was going to Irish Dance.
Without too much persuasion she started Irish Dancing. It wasn't awkward, it came pretty natural to her. Mika was going to dance with Charno, but after about a minute of filming both of them I decided that we could just focus on Charno because the whole Irish Dancing thing wasn't doing Mika's entertainment abilities any justice.
Once I saw how good Charno was at Irish Dancing I decided that not only would she dance for us, but she would also teach us. I had her instruct us how to Irish Dance. 1...2,3....4,5....6,7....
I was amazed by how good she was. I even zoomed in on her feet moving. I knew I had a great video coming together after her dancing.
Based on the response on the bus, which was people laughing pretty hard, it must have been memorable and well received.
I personally liked the Muhammad Ali speech in the background to clips of the team. I love sports and history and I know that there is no one who can give a more entertaining, poetic (because of his rhyming) and motivational speech than Ali. I thought the one minute video to Ali would be motivational so I included it. Plus the year before at Notre Dame I did something similar with Michael Jordan, and we won, so being superstitious I tried to do something similar again.
I also picked out 300 Violin Orchestra for the highlight part of the video since I thought that would be a really great song to pump everyone up. It just is one of those pre-game songs.
I also saved the best Dulski saves for this video. I had several saves that I just was holding onto on my computer for the right moment. I made sure I lined up those saves with the beat of the song. I put a lot of effort into the highlight part of the Notre Dame video.
Now to the part that everyone cares about, the off the field stuff.
The off the field stuff was first requested by our assistant coach for the Colgate game and it was a great idea. The team requested off the field stuff for the rest of the games so I obliged. It was a lot of fun to make them.
The idea for Notre Dame came to me quickly.
The inspiration for the Irish Dancing came 100% from Jessie Frech. Jessie Irish Danced before the game at ND in 2010 during warm-ups. I knew that we were confident and loose and ready to go because of that. Her dancing just gave me good vibes.
I decided that we should have Irish Dancing be a part of our pre-game video.
I also wanted to have a lot of people who were important to the team show up in this important game. I wanted those who weren't traveling to be involved. I wanted Cuevas to say something on camera. (She will be a captain, and All-American one day) I also wanted Kacey to be involved since she was around. I also knew that making fun of Cory would really get everyone's attention so I had her wish Cory a happy holiday in Cory's adopted religion.
Drea also wasn't traveling so I wanted to have her talk. Another one of the reasons I interviewed players was to get to know them better, and Drea was someone that I felt I should get to know better, so I had to have her be a part of the video. I got her to come over and Irish dance on camera for me and get interviewed. I also thought of her and dancing because someone said she was majoring in it by accident during our pre-season interviews at our first team gathering.
Drea did her best to Irish Dance and I had to give her credit for actually going along with it. I wasn't sure she would actually do it.
I thought I was done with filming, but the stars aligned and I had more work left to do.
As I was leaving I ran into Mika and Charno. Not sure why they were still around. Maybe they stayed late? Anyway I stopped them and got them to take part in the video.
Mika was someone I wanted to say something because she is awesome. I also thought she would actually try to Irish Dance if I asked her too.
I was right, she did, but in the process of asking her that I found out something better. Charno volunteered the fact to me that she actually knew how to Irish Dance.
She put the nail in her own coffin. She was going to Irish Dance.
Without too much persuasion she started Irish Dancing. It wasn't awkward, it came pretty natural to her. Mika was going to dance with Charno, but after about a minute of filming both of them I decided that we could just focus on Charno because the whole Irish Dancing thing wasn't doing Mika's entertainment abilities any justice.
Once I saw how good Charno was at Irish Dancing I decided that not only would she dance for us, but she would also teach us. I had her instruct us how to Irish Dance. 1...2,3....4,5....6,7....
I was amazed by how good she was. I even zoomed in on her feet moving. I knew I had a great video coming together after her dancing.
Based on the response on the bus, which was people laughing pretty hard, it must have been memorable and well received.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Officially Have No Reason To Be In Storrs
I officially have no reason to be in Storrs, Connecticut anymore.
Well sort of. I have to go visit one day to get commuter food swipes exchanged for money, but basically I have no reason to be in Storrs, unless it's to watch an athletic event, or my favorite team.
Today was graduation. It was different than undergraduate for me. This was more real, and in a weird way less emotional. I think this time around I knew I was done in May of 2012. I haven't really considered staying in Storrs, unless to be paid to work of course. Over the past few years some of the people I knew best in college left. I knew less and less people as time went on and felt older and older. I felt like it was time to move on.
When I was an undergrad, I just wanted things to continue the way they were forever.
I have nothing but fond memories of the last six years (That includes Two Degrees, no Van Wilder stuff here). What I will remember most, and have the best memories of are my times with soccer. If you ask me about college that is what I will talk about. I'd follow that up with my time in athletics in general. Part of that means the people I knew from athletics and soccer and the memories that are associated with them.
I leave UCONN knowing that I am more confident in myself. I know what dreams I want to achieve. I know I learned a lot in my six years, both in the classroom and outside of it. I met lots of fascinating and wonderful people. I know I got to experience things that I only dreamed I would be able too. In some ways UCONN was a dream come true, and it is a place that I will forever care for. It has given a lot to me.
It's funny, growing up in Connecticut, especially Fairfield County, there was no big push to go to UCONN. The popular thing to say was that you were going to some private school. I always liked UCONN, but it wasn't an instant, love at first site kind of thing.
I knew I liked Storrs from the moment I got off of the interstate. My first reaction was, wow, this one lane road (195) reminds me a lot of New Hampshire. That's was a good start in my book.
Still though, I sort of felt that I should go somewhere else while looking at colleges. Back in high school it wasn't cool to say you were going to UCONN. Everyone was, you weren't special for going.
UCONN grew on me, and grew on me quickly and for the last couple of years I've really considered it to be my home. I feel blessed to have called it home.
All of the people in Athletics have meant a lot to me, especially people involved in the soccer program, and especially the players and coaches.
Other people I can't thank enough is my adviser Dr. Fink. She has been a great resource and help to me. She's also been wonderful to talk too. Dr. Burton and Dr. Bruening also deserve a shout out for their help.
My FYE teacher, Ms. Douglas also meant a lot to me. My first semester wasn't all that swift. She helped me with that. She also helped me immensely in my major change and was always there to help me out.
My Allergist also helped me. She was someone who I could talk too. She gave me advice and helped me out.
My cousin Chip and sister have been in Storrs for a lot of my time. Chip at the beginning and sister lately and it was also good to have family around.
Well sort of. I have to go visit one day to get commuter food swipes exchanged for money, but basically I have no reason to be in Storrs, unless it's to watch an athletic event, or my favorite team.
Today was graduation. It was different than undergraduate for me. This was more real, and in a weird way less emotional. I think this time around I knew I was done in May of 2012. I haven't really considered staying in Storrs, unless to be paid to work of course. Over the past few years some of the people I knew best in college left. I knew less and less people as time went on and felt older and older. I felt like it was time to move on.
When I was an undergrad, I just wanted things to continue the way they were forever.
I have nothing but fond memories of the last six years (That includes Two Degrees, no Van Wilder stuff here). What I will remember most, and have the best memories of are my times with soccer. If you ask me about college that is what I will talk about. I'd follow that up with my time in athletics in general. Part of that means the people I knew from athletics and soccer and the memories that are associated with them.
I leave UCONN knowing that I am more confident in myself. I know what dreams I want to achieve. I know I learned a lot in my six years, both in the classroom and outside of it. I met lots of fascinating and wonderful people. I know I got to experience things that I only dreamed I would be able too. In some ways UCONN was a dream come true, and it is a place that I will forever care for. It has given a lot to me.
It's funny, growing up in Connecticut, especially Fairfield County, there was no big push to go to UCONN. The popular thing to say was that you were going to some private school. I always liked UCONN, but it wasn't an instant, love at first site kind of thing.
I knew I liked Storrs from the moment I got off of the interstate. My first reaction was, wow, this one lane road (195) reminds me a lot of New Hampshire. That's was a good start in my book.
Still though, I sort of felt that I should go somewhere else while looking at colleges. Back in high school it wasn't cool to say you were going to UCONN. Everyone was, you weren't special for going.
UCONN grew on me, and grew on me quickly and for the last couple of years I've really considered it to be my home. I feel blessed to have called it home.
All of the people in Athletics have meant a lot to me, especially people involved in the soccer program, and especially the players and coaches.
Other people I can't thank enough is my adviser Dr. Fink. She has been a great resource and help to me. She's also been wonderful to talk too. Dr. Burton and Dr. Bruening also deserve a shout out for their help.
My FYE teacher, Ms. Douglas also meant a lot to me. My first semester wasn't all that swift. She helped me with that. She also helped me immensely in my major change and was always there to help me out.
My Allergist also helped me. She was someone who I could talk too. She gave me advice and helped me out.
My cousin Chip and sister have been in Storrs for a lot of my time. Chip at the beginning and sister lately and it was also good to have family around.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Old Story - Meant To Be
I wrote this as an intern for the Boston Breakers on a Professional Player, Jordan Angeli. I guess the article was never published but here it is. I recently sent the article to Angeli and she liked it, so I feel even better about posting it.
Jordan Angeli: Meant To Be.
Jordan Angeli had always planned on playing soccer after
college. However, if everything had gone
to plan right after the end of her junior season at Santa Clara University it
just might not have been with the Boston Breakers.
Growing up in Colorado, Angeli played many different sports
from soccer to softball to basketball to snowboarding and skiing. Even with all that activity she had never
broken a bone, had a sprain or even stitches.
After three seasons of collegiate soccer Angeli seemed impervious to
injury. Unfortunately in the spring
season before her senior year the inconceivable happened.
It happened during an excellent spring practice in 2007. “Choima Igwe was on my team at the time and
she was dribbling at me. She cut with
her left foot, so I was going to my right, and as I pushed off my left leg I
looked down and my knee was in between my legs,” said Jordan of the day she tore
her ACL. “I screamed really loud.”
That injury forced Angeli to redshirt what would have been
her senior season in 2007. After an
operation to remove scar tissue, Jordan finally got back on the field in the
spring of 2008. She was getting ready
for her second chance at a senior year.
Then, during a spring game, she tore her ACL again.
“I went up for a
defensive header five minutes into the game and I just landed and felt my knee
shift. I just bent over and went ‘Oh
no!, what just happened?’ But I played for a while after that, just not really
cutting very hard. Afterwards I just
broke down,” said Angeli.
She didn’t know what exactly was wrong with her. She had an MRI and a few days later heard the
bad news. “I went in to the doctors
office the Monday after having a pretty normal weekend and he was like ‘well
you tore your ACL again,’ and I just lost it.”
Tearing your ACL, not just once, but twice, is without a
doubt, both unlucky and hard for a person to come to grips with. When Angeli tore her ACL for the second time
she asked herself “Why me?,” but over time she found out why it was meant to
be.
Angeli relied on her spirituality along with family,
friends, teammates and college coaches at Santa Clara to help her get through
the tough times. They were indispensable
to her. She recalled how her roommates
supported her the day after she found out she had re-injured her knee and would
have to sit out another season.
“That day it happened, I remember just laying in my
roommates bed for hours with her and I was just crying and crying. I remember my other roommates didn’t go to
class because they had heard [about the injury] and they just came home. It was an emotional day, but I knew that it
had happened for a reason.” She knew something great would come from her
troubles.
She was right.
While recovering from her injury Jordan also got to know
Santa Clara alum Leslie Osborne. Like
Angeli, Osborne was rehabbing from a knee injury. The two of them would rehab together when
Leslie came up from Los Angeles for therapy.
“We just grew really close and became really great friends,” she said. She added that “It was always exciting when
Leslie was in town because we would each have a buddy to get through our
workouts.”
Being selected by the Breakers with the 16th overall pick
this year meant that Jordan would be playing with Osborne, the person she
rehabbed with. “When my name got called when I got drafted we kind of just
looked at each other and knew that this is why that had happened.”
Angeli’s injury also gave her more time to learn the game in
college where she would watch practice from the sidelines. “I watched practice every
day. I learned from other people’s
mistakes, I learned from what they were doing good,” said Angeli.
What she learned from the sidelines has helped her on the
field with the Breakers. “I feel like I
am more mature in my play and I think I see things better than I used to,” she
said. “My vision on the field has always
been one of my strong points but I think I am seeing even more.”
It wasn’t long before Angeli found success in WPS. She scored her first career WPS goal on June
13 against Sky Blue FC.
“It was just cool to have everyone coming at you,” she said. “As they were running towards me they all
just had the biggest smiles on their faces and I was like, ‘This feels so
awesome.’”
Since her first, she has added four more goals and two
assists to her stat sheet in the month of July en route to a WPS Player of the
Month award.
Angeli gives as much credit to her teammates as she possibly
can because she said they put the ball in the right place and at the right
time.
“I think my teammates make it easy for me to score
goals. Alex Scott plays me a perfect
ball across the box and all I have to do is hit it on frame and it’s going to
go in. I think all my teammates do the
hard work”
Angeli had to overcome two difficult knee injuries to get
back on the field but she says that they were actually a good thing for
her. “I think it has made me a better
player and a better person.” With the
success she had in the last month, it’s hard to argue with her.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Filters
I thought about writing about this subject today and then someone gave me a title.
When writing publicly, on social media or in a setting like this you need to have your own filter. There is nothing dumber than writing something online that will get you in trouble in your career or personal life. It is amazing how bad some people are at having filters.
You should never make a claim on social media that you can't back up. Imagine you boasted to people that you are free for the day, but then when they contact you, you say that you have a lot going on. You can put yourself in some sticky situations when you say too much and give up too much information.
I auto-filter so much that I write. I re-read things CONSTANTLY. I re-read emails to make sure tone is right. I try to get grammar right. I try to get rid of any sentence or word that could be taken the wrong way. I literally spend half an hour to an hour re-reading a lot of things I write. I did this today on social media. Rather than expand on something, I just wrote a few words, because what I would have written could have at least given someone a bad first impression. No need for taking that chance now.
Some things slip through my auto-filter. It happens from time to time, but I think and hope I am good at doing it.
Another thing I would add
When you know information that others want to know, but you have it and aren't supposed to tell them you can be coy.
I think there is an art to having a conversation, especially if you know information, and being able to tell someone nothing important, while making them think you are telling them something important. If I know something, but know I shouldn't tell anyone, I will tell you, but will do so in a way that will be totally impossible for you to infer it, without me being able to claim that I didn't say anything as a defense. It will be as confusing for you as that last sentence.
Sometimes it is good to say nothing. Actually, that is in many times the best thing to do, unless you are put on the spot, or stand.
Most of the time when I post here, I am telling you what I really think. I have nothing to hide, and have nothing really bad to say either.
I do filter out subjects that I might want to talk about, but know I shouldn't.
When writing publicly, on social media or in a setting like this you need to have your own filter. There is nothing dumber than writing something online that will get you in trouble in your career or personal life. It is amazing how bad some people are at having filters.
You should never make a claim on social media that you can't back up. Imagine you boasted to people that you are free for the day, but then when they contact you, you say that you have a lot going on. You can put yourself in some sticky situations when you say too much and give up too much information.
I auto-filter so much that I write. I re-read things CONSTANTLY. I re-read emails to make sure tone is right. I try to get grammar right. I try to get rid of any sentence or word that could be taken the wrong way. I literally spend half an hour to an hour re-reading a lot of things I write. I did this today on social media. Rather than expand on something, I just wrote a few words, because what I would have written could have at least given someone a bad first impression. No need for taking that chance now.
Some things slip through my auto-filter. It happens from time to time, but I think and hope I am good at doing it.
Another thing I would add
When you know information that others want to know, but you have it and aren't supposed to tell them you can be coy.
I think there is an art to having a conversation, especially if you know information, and being able to tell someone nothing important, while making them think you are telling them something important. If I know something, but know I shouldn't tell anyone, I will tell you, but will do so in a way that will be totally impossible for you to infer it, without me being able to claim that I didn't say anything as a defense. It will be as confusing for you as that last sentence.
Sometimes it is good to say nothing. Actually, that is in many times the best thing to do, unless you are put on the spot, or stand.
Most of the time when I post here, I am telling you what I really think. I have nothing to hide, and have nothing really bad to say either.
I do filter out subjects that I might want to talk about, but know I shouldn't.
Thoughts on League Drafts
When you really love sports you watch drafts. The only time I will actually take time out of my day to watch a draft, and people try to project the future is for the NFL Draft and I think I've start to realize why.
The NFL is seen as a league of parity, where one or a few players can make a difference immediately. (not including quarterbacks, who rarely make a difference early on)
A similar thing can be said for the NBA to a certain extent, but only a certain extent because not as many people care about the NBA and I don't think there is as much parity in the NBA as the NFL.
Unlike baseball, the NFL draft has players who will play right away. No one really pays attention to college or high school baseball. Few people care about the draft for two reasons. Players still have to work their way through minor league teams and there are no trades.
Draft Day trades make the NFL Draft so exciting. The NBA tries to replicate it, but the trades are too complicated. A team receives a pick in next years draft but that pick is protected by a top 5 clause so it could turn into a deferred payment and two second round picks, including the second round pick from someone else.
I'd argue that the most exciting part about about the NBA Draft is the Draft Lottery. That's like winning the lottery when a player like LeBron James is in the draft.
I think the fans make the NFL Draft great as well. They are rowdy at Radio City Music Hall. They cheer for draft picks like they are games. Additionally the NFL got it right by getting former players to introduce picks this year. People miss Barry Sanders, and watching him say the Lions pick makes Lions fans tune in.
Not enough people care about the NHL or MLS to make those drafts exciting. I've tuned in to the MLS drafts before, but that's usually to see where a UCONN player ends up.
Just some random thoughts on Drafts. I'll watch the NFL Draft if I can, or will sometimes have it on in the background if I am busy. Somehow the NFL has made it more exciting than many leagues regular season games.
The NFL is seen as a league of parity, where one or a few players can make a difference immediately. (not including quarterbacks, who rarely make a difference early on)
A similar thing can be said for the NBA to a certain extent, but only a certain extent because not as many people care about the NBA and I don't think there is as much parity in the NBA as the NFL.
Unlike baseball, the NFL draft has players who will play right away. No one really pays attention to college or high school baseball. Few people care about the draft for two reasons. Players still have to work their way through minor league teams and there are no trades.
Draft Day trades make the NFL Draft so exciting. The NBA tries to replicate it, but the trades are too complicated. A team receives a pick in next years draft but that pick is protected by a top 5 clause so it could turn into a deferred payment and two second round picks, including the second round pick from someone else.
I'd argue that the most exciting part about about the NBA Draft is the Draft Lottery. That's like winning the lottery when a player like LeBron James is in the draft.
I think the fans make the NFL Draft great as well. They are rowdy at Radio City Music Hall. They cheer for draft picks like they are games. Additionally the NFL got it right by getting former players to introduce picks this year. People miss Barry Sanders, and watching him say the Lions pick makes Lions fans tune in.
Not enough people care about the NHL or MLS to make those drafts exciting. I've tuned in to the MLS drafts before, but that's usually to see where a UCONN player ends up.
Just some random thoughts on Drafts. I'll watch the NFL Draft if I can, or will sometimes have it on in the background if I am busy. Somehow the NFL has made it more exciting than many leagues regular season games.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Jessie
I miss Jessie.
Jessie was quite a character on bus rides. She would drive people crazy by singing and sometimes dancing. I remember Nela joking with her that she didn't know if she would be able to take it for a whole season of bus rides.
One of my biggest memories when it comes to Jessie is how she forgot everything on her first road trip, which also happened to be my first road trip.
After every trip I would go up and down the aisles of the bus and look in bins to make sure that no one had forgotten everything. I figured that I would find something every once in awhile, but it turns out I hit the jackpot on our way back from our first trip. I looked into a bin and found her #26 jersey. I wasn't surprised she forgot something, but I was surprised it was her jersey.
After we got back I heard from a couple of players that Jessie had forgot something and I let them know that I had indeed found her jersey.
The jersey wasn't really the important part.
The ID and I believe wallet she left was more important to her. I called the hotel that night and they were able to find it and mailed it back to her.
Speaking of that PSU trip in 2010, our team left our team goals at Penn State's field. But we beat them anyway a week later.
Jessie was always thrilled to get back from trips. She loved knowing that we were almost home so whenever she wondered how far we were I lied and added an hour to see how she would react.
Jessie's goals was one of my favorite goals that I have ever seen simply because her reaction to it was priceless. Scoring your first career Division I goal should be a special moment. As a freshman she was able to score and she was so excited. She jumped up and down forever. I was so happy for her. She's a great person and she deserved to score.
Jessie is smart. Really smart, and I witnessed that first hand when I went to study hall my first semester of grad school.
I also see her as someone who is really well rounded, and also helpful and reliable.
Jessie was also famous for her awkward dance. Not sure what it was called by the team, but she displayed it well during the talent show. She also did a great job whipping her hair back and forth.
One other memory worth noting was a question she asked about fields at Penn State. It was one of those dumb questions and dumb answers that was given to her by our assistant coach at the time. I think she asked about whether the fields in the parking lot at Penn State were field turf or real grass. She believed our coach when she said, field turf.
Lastly, Jessie is a huge hockey fan, and I always remembered that about her because I don't know of many hockey fans. She is a big Caps fan. As a sports management major you have to be able to remember things like that. Never know when I might need the opinion of a hockey fan.
Jessie was quite a character on bus rides. She would drive people crazy by singing and sometimes dancing. I remember Nela joking with her that she didn't know if she would be able to take it for a whole season of bus rides.
One of my biggest memories when it comes to Jessie is how she forgot everything on her first road trip, which also happened to be my first road trip.
After every trip I would go up and down the aisles of the bus and look in bins to make sure that no one had forgotten everything. I figured that I would find something every once in awhile, but it turns out I hit the jackpot on our way back from our first trip. I looked into a bin and found her #26 jersey. I wasn't surprised she forgot something, but I was surprised it was her jersey.
After we got back I heard from a couple of players that Jessie had forgot something and I let them know that I had indeed found her jersey.
The jersey wasn't really the important part.
The ID and I believe wallet she left was more important to her. I called the hotel that night and they were able to find it and mailed it back to her.
Speaking of that PSU trip in 2010, our team left our team goals at Penn State's field. But we beat them anyway a week later.
Jessie was always thrilled to get back from trips. She loved knowing that we were almost home so whenever she wondered how far we were I lied and added an hour to see how she would react.
Jessie's goals was one of my favorite goals that I have ever seen simply because her reaction to it was priceless. Scoring your first career Division I goal should be a special moment. As a freshman she was able to score and she was so excited. She jumped up and down forever. I was so happy for her. She's a great person and she deserved to score.
Jessie is smart. Really smart, and I witnessed that first hand when I went to study hall my first semester of grad school.
I also see her as someone who is really well rounded, and also helpful and reliable.
Jessie was also famous for her awkward dance. Not sure what it was called by the team, but she displayed it well during the talent show. She also did a great job whipping her hair back and forth.
One other memory worth noting was a question she asked about fields at Penn State. It was one of those dumb questions and dumb answers that was given to her by our assistant coach at the time. I think she asked about whether the fields in the parking lot at Penn State were field turf or real grass. She believed our coach when she said, field turf.
Lastly, Jessie is a huge hockey fan, and I always remembered that about her because I don't know of many hockey fans. She is a big Caps fan. As a sports management major you have to be able to remember things like that. Never know when I might need the opinion of a hockey fan.
If Lloyd Christmas Had Tried This
You could specialize in selling Worm Farms if you took part in this English Sport?
I don't know if Sport is the right thing...
If you don't like the site of worms, don't watch. This is the sport of Worm Charming.
It really exists, and I am glad I can bring it to people's attention
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjRxUVLxdYI
I don't know if Sport is the right thing...
If you don't like the site of worms, don't watch. This is the sport of Worm Charming.
It really exists, and I am glad I can bring it to people's attention
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjRxUVLxdYI
But I love Kenny Mayne and Weird Sports
I feel like it is my duty to not focus too much on spouting off my useless opinion on sports like most bloggers.
Seriously, who cares?
Unless I am an expert on something, than why bother reading my opinion?
So here is a video on Irish Road Bowling. Good Job ESPN on this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h06kvulsT8
Seriously, who cares?
Unless I am an expert on something, than why bother reading my opinion?
So here is a video on Irish Road Bowling. Good Job ESPN on this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h06kvulsT8
What is with Sportscenter
I don't know what it is about Sportscenter now, but I find myself being unable to watch it.
I feel like I used to actually get sports news, now I feel like I get the opinions of the 2012 NFL Season in the middle of the spring.
Sportscenter seems to be the place to go to find out what people are saying on Twitter, but sometimes I think that is about it.
I just feel like Sportscenter isn't what it used to be. I can't explain it, but it just feels different to me. I'd really love to see more news and highlights.
I will say that I think ESPN has gotten better at bringing international soccer highlights into sportscenter. I like that I have been able to watch EPL games the last two days as well.
I feel like I used to actually get sports news, now I feel like I get the opinions of the 2012 NFL Season in the middle of the spring.
Sportscenter seems to be the place to go to find out what people are saying on Twitter, but sometimes I think that is about it.
I just feel like Sportscenter isn't what it used to be. I can't explain it, but it just feels different to me. I'd really love to see more news and highlights.
I will say that I think ESPN has gotten better at bringing international soccer highlights into sportscenter. I like that I have been able to watch EPL games the last two days as well.