Well I saw this on twitter yesterday and found it interesting.
http://equalizersoccer.com/2012/06/29/new-womens-soccer-league-in-the-works-for-2013-following-meeting-in-chicago/
I don't know what a non-Division I league is. I get the impression that it isn't as professional as the WPS was.
Unfortunately I don't think it's really all that feasible to make a living as just a women's professional soccer player in the U.S., and I don't think this league really changes that.
I think the National Team is really the goal that a player should have if they want to just eat, breathe and sleep soccer and not do anything else.
The best opportunities will still probably be abroad, but I am happy that there are other opportunities for players to play the game after college if they want to, because I know so many do.
Hopefully the Olympic Games will ratchet up the interest for the game like last years world cup.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Germany - UEFA
I have to admit that I got into the German teams run in the UEFA Euro Tournament a lot more than I thought I would.
Especially yesterday, when during the Italy vs Germany game I threw a sandal at the door at one moment. I caught a lucky break when it bounced right back to me.
I know I cursed out loud. I mean yelled the F-Word on several occasions.
I also yelled at the television.
I rose out of my seat on many an occasion.
I was really excited about the German team and the tournament. As much as I am proud to be an American, I don't think I ever got as emotionally invested in the American men's team for a game, as I did for the German team this year.
As an American, I will root for the US first in the World Cup (assuming they make it) and Germany a close second.
But I just couldn't believe how into the game I got. I was a little hoarse afterwards, and I wasn't even there.
Especially yesterday, when during the Italy vs Germany game I threw a sandal at the door at one moment. I caught a lucky break when it bounced right back to me.
I know I cursed out loud. I mean yelled the F-Word on several occasions.
I also yelled at the television.
I rose out of my seat on many an occasion.
I was really excited about the German team and the tournament. As much as I am proud to be an American, I don't think I ever got as emotionally invested in the American men's team for a game, as I did for the German team this year.
As an American, I will root for the US first in the World Cup (assuming they make it) and Germany a close second.
But I just couldn't believe how into the game I got. I was a little hoarse afterwards, and I wasn't even there.
Stupid Story
I wore just my spandex bike shorts today. It's rare that I do that. I usually put on shorts on top for some reason. It's odd in the cyclist world to do that, but I do. I'm such a rebel, and not a trend setter.
I guess the spandex do my legs justice though. Several people in Miami said I had nice/strong calves/legs. So did someone in my high school... but still I'm not 100% used to rocking spandex.
Anyway, wearing them today made me think of short shorts.
Short Shorts is now reminding me of that stupid "Who wears short shorts?" commercial and the 1970's NBA.
However, before the ride today it reminded me of something Georgie said.
Somehow Georgie, I and another player were talking and somehow short shorts came up in conversation. I believe Georgie said something like, "Guys can wear short shorts, you know, like the ones Tim sometimes wears at practice."
I was too shocked to say anything.
My dad wore short shorts for the LONGEST TIME. It was so embarrassing, especially his motto "I don't follow trends, I set them." The ones he wore were even shorter than the ones NBA players wore in 1970. He was really late on following the new trend of not scaring people away by wearing longer shorts. Anyway, my dad's short shorts were just one of the reasons that I always tried to AVOID short shorts.
Here I am listening to Georgie tell someone that I wear short shorts. I said nothing but my mind was panicking.
"Someone thinks you wear short shorts? Holy $%&% we need to find those now. What shorts do I wear that are short? Which ones are she talking about? Are they the grey NIKE ones with a C? Those aren't short! Are they? She must mean the ones I got in 2009, the blue NIKE's. Those are sort of short I guess, but they are soccer ones. They aren't short, but I guess they are the shortest ones I have that I wear to practice."
'RTP, Regardless, when you get home later you need to find those short shorts and put them aside and never wear them again'
I put those two pairs of shorts aside and never wore them again to practice. I also went and bought two new pairs of NIKE shorts soon after. I'm sure my mom saw them and went "You, don't need new shorts, you have plenty of shorts."
"Mom, you just don't understand. I need these new shorts."
I was recently told that my legs are an "asset" by someone, so I guess if anyone would look good in shorts that aren't long (not short shorts, I will never wear those...more like medium shorts, like soccer shorts) it would be me.
Which brings me back to my biking, which I love so much. On a ride you get bored and think about random things. I thought about insuring my legs. Then I went "nah, that sounds stupid, win the lottery first."
And to end this post on something completely different than what I started. Completely different (now to all you English majors this is how you write a great ending). When I was cycling the 120 miles lots of things crossed my mind. Lots of people I'm sure. One thing happened that I didn't understand though. Around the 40 mile mark Eifel 65's "Blue ah ba dee" got stuck in my head. I have not heard, nor listened to that song since sixth grade, and for good reason. It's too bad I couldn't have been waterboarded instead of listening to that.
I guess the spandex do my legs justice though. Several people in Miami said I had nice/strong calves/legs. So did someone in my high school... but still I'm not 100% used to rocking spandex.
Anyway, wearing them today made me think of short shorts.
Short Shorts is now reminding me of that stupid "Who wears short shorts?" commercial and the 1970's NBA.
However, before the ride today it reminded me of something Georgie said.
Somehow Georgie, I and another player were talking and somehow short shorts came up in conversation. I believe Georgie said something like, "Guys can wear short shorts, you know, like the ones Tim sometimes wears at practice."
I was too shocked to say anything.
My dad wore short shorts for the LONGEST TIME. It was so embarrassing, especially his motto "I don't follow trends, I set them." The ones he wore were even shorter than the ones NBA players wore in 1970. He was really late on following the new trend of not scaring people away by wearing longer shorts. Anyway, my dad's short shorts were just one of the reasons that I always tried to AVOID short shorts.
Here I am listening to Georgie tell someone that I wear short shorts. I said nothing but my mind was panicking.
"Someone thinks you wear short shorts? Holy $%&% we need to find those now. What shorts do I wear that are short? Which ones are she talking about? Are they the grey NIKE ones with a C? Those aren't short! Are they? She must mean the ones I got in 2009, the blue NIKE's. Those are sort of short I guess, but they are soccer ones. They aren't short, but I guess they are the shortest ones I have that I wear to practice."
'RTP, Regardless, when you get home later you need to find those short shorts and put them aside and never wear them again'
I put those two pairs of shorts aside and never wore them again to practice. I also went and bought two new pairs of NIKE shorts soon after. I'm sure my mom saw them and went "You, don't need new shorts, you have plenty of shorts."
"Mom, you just don't understand. I need these new shorts."
I was recently told that my legs are an "asset" by someone, so I guess if anyone would look good in shorts that aren't long (not short shorts, I will never wear those...more like medium shorts, like soccer shorts) it would be me.
Which brings me back to my biking, which I love so much. On a ride you get bored and think about random things. I thought about insuring my legs. Then I went "nah, that sounds stupid, win the lottery first."
And to end this post on something completely different than what I started. Completely different (now to all you English majors this is how you write a great ending). When I was cycling the 120 miles lots of things crossed my mind. Lots of people I'm sure. One thing happened that I didn't understand though. Around the 40 mile mark Eifel 65's "Blue ah ba dee" got stuck in my head. I have not heard, nor listened to that song since sixth grade, and for good reason. It's too bad I couldn't have been waterboarded instead of listening to that.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
When is it time for a new job?
I think there are certain times when people need to get a new job because they have outgrown their current one. I have been through this, since anyone who has ever had a college degree and ever worked as a cashier/retailer has.
This thought process should be used by college student athletes as well.
I think it really boils down to two things. Are you being challenged and are you learning anything? I think these two things might actually be one thing, but whatever.
Are you being challenged?
If you have a job, but can do everything easily it becomes a lot less fun. Challenges make things fun and most people with brains and ambition need to be challenged.
Why did Michael Jordan retire for the first time?
About two and a half minutes in he starts talking, and early on in his talking he mentions something really important...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDekQ3T01Dc&feature=relmfu
"When I lose the sense of motivation, and the sense of having to prove something as a basketball player, it's time for me to walk away from the game of basketball"
What I get out of the quote, and maybe I'm wrong, but I hear him say that he no longer thinks he is being challenged.
Are you learning anything?
This ties into being challenged. If you are doing your job but aren't learning anything new than it's time you consider moving on and doing something else. Part of having a job is to gain new skills. Sometimes the job evolves into something more challenging and teaches new skills, but often times it does not. If you aren't gaining new skills then you aren't preparing yourself to move forward.
You can love the people you are working with and you can love what you do, but in the end if you aren't being challenged and being made a more skillful worker you will get bored and enjoy things less and less. You have to realize when it is in your best interest to move on and do something else. If you do a great job, you will be loved and missed by those you work with, but you can't let emotion get in the way of your ambition, if you have ambition. You need to do something more challenging.
I'm sure college basketball players don't enjoy having to upset fans by leaving early for the draft, but in the end they have an easy decision to make once they figure out what is best for them.
This is why I have no feelings of anger towards student-athletes who leave school early for professional sports. They enter the draft because they aren't being challenged and because they aren't still learning things. Plus they have lots of financial reasons to go pro. With the NBA Draft tonight, think about this for the one and done players. If college basketball was no longer challenging them and if they weren't learning new things, than why stay in college? They made the right decision by going pro.
Some jobs suck because of situations surrounding it's pay, it's boss, working conditions, work load, etc. You might want to move on for those reasons, but I think that's different than outgrowing it.
People also need to think that they are making a difference at work, because if not they lose lots of motivation. So if you aren't making a difference, you may also want to find something else to do when you can.
This thought process should be used by college student athletes as well.
I think it really boils down to two things. Are you being challenged and are you learning anything? I think these two things might actually be one thing, but whatever.
Are you being challenged?
If you have a job, but can do everything easily it becomes a lot less fun. Challenges make things fun and most people with brains and ambition need to be challenged.
Why did Michael Jordan retire for the first time?
About two and a half minutes in he starts talking, and early on in his talking he mentions something really important...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDekQ3T01Dc&feature=relmfu
"When I lose the sense of motivation, and the sense of having to prove something as a basketball player, it's time for me to walk away from the game of basketball"
What I get out of the quote, and maybe I'm wrong, but I hear him say that he no longer thinks he is being challenged.
Are you learning anything?
This ties into being challenged. If you are doing your job but aren't learning anything new than it's time you consider moving on and doing something else. Part of having a job is to gain new skills. Sometimes the job evolves into something more challenging and teaches new skills, but often times it does not. If you aren't gaining new skills then you aren't preparing yourself to move forward.
You can love the people you are working with and you can love what you do, but in the end if you aren't being challenged and being made a more skillful worker you will get bored and enjoy things less and less. You have to realize when it is in your best interest to move on and do something else. If you do a great job, you will be loved and missed by those you work with, but you can't let emotion get in the way of your ambition, if you have ambition. You need to do something more challenging.
I'm sure college basketball players don't enjoy having to upset fans by leaving early for the draft, but in the end they have an easy decision to make once they figure out what is best for them.
This is why I have no feelings of anger towards student-athletes who leave school early for professional sports. They enter the draft because they aren't being challenged and because they aren't still learning things. Plus they have lots of financial reasons to go pro. With the NBA Draft tonight, think about this for the one and done players. If college basketball was no longer challenging them and if they weren't learning new things, than why stay in college? They made the right decision by going pro.
Some jobs suck because of situations surrounding it's pay, it's boss, working conditions, work load, etc. You might want to move on for those reasons, but I think that's different than outgrowing it.
People also need to think that they are making a difference at work, because if not they lose lots of motivation. So if you aren't making a difference, you may also want to find something else to do when you can.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Mt. Washington Hill Climb
This looks insanely difficult and insanely painful. It is the Mount Washington Hill Climb. You ride your bike 7.6 miles uphill. Straight up the tallest mountain in New England...
The worlds fastest wind gust was recorded at 231 MPH on the mountain. I've heard of riders getting blown off the mountain from wind before.
I would love to try this and see how far I get. I will need lots of training on climbing and a new bike or bike with different gearing. Don't think this year is realistic for achieving this, but hopefully before long I will. I've been warned about the difficulty of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqXLvHv7FDs
There is a hill on a road behind the East Dorms at UCONN that I think is really quite steep. I don't know what the grade of the road is, but imagine cycling up that hill for 7.6 miles.
The worlds fastest wind gust was recorded at 231 MPH on the mountain. I've heard of riders getting blown off the mountain from wind before.
I would love to try this and see how far I get. I will need lots of training on climbing and a new bike or bike with different gearing. Don't think this year is realistic for achieving this, but hopefully before long I will. I've been warned about the difficulty of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqXLvHv7FDs
There is a hill on a road behind the East Dorms at UCONN that I think is really quite steep. I don't know what the grade of the road is, but imagine cycling up that hill for 7.6 miles.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Gabby
Oh how I felt robbed when Gabby got injured in the first game this year. I was looking forward to watching her play all year long. After watching her for the first time you just had to go "wow."
I've heard many great things about her. Some saying she is one of the best freshman they can remember watching.
She is so smooth. She is so relaxed and composed. I bet she could salsa dance with the ball at her feet and make it look easy and natural as she weaves in and out of the opposing team while bringing the ball up the field. She is also a leader. She is going to be really good. I'd be surprised if she wasn't an All-American by the time she graduates.
I have a lot of respect for her and was always impressed by how involved she remained while injured. You could always tell how much it mattered to her and how supportive she was of the team.
I wish I got to watch her play more. Thankfully I saw some of her playing in the spring at practice. She is someone who you trusted with the ball. If I was a goalkeeper, I'd find her.
Once Gabby tricked a goalkeeper (I wonder who...) into giving her the ball when she was actually not on the keepers team. A little bit of a street move. The keeper clearly had a big mental lapse when they gave her the ball. However, the keeper was really determined not to let her score after that and I remember that keeper taking a goal away from her after that, which got her a little mad.
I don't know how to explain this, and I have an example I won't share, but I think of Gabby as someone who is very "socially aware." I think she is skilled at dealing with people. She has social intelligence. I think this might be related to the cool, calm, and composed demeanor that she has on the field.
Gabby's parents gave me an awesome first impression. They came up to me and told me how much what I did was appreciated. They had great things to say and were nice to talk to.
The first time I ever saw Gabby was before she ever got here. She was on a tour and I was in the office. I have a habit of saying goodbye to people before I leave. Right as I was about to leave a player walked in and spoke to our assistant coach. I didn't want to bother them so I just waited patiently until they left. 10 minutes later they hadn't gotten out of coaches office, so I still patiently waited. Then Gabby and her parents came for a visit. I was waiting to say goodbye for the weekend and then got caught in the visit. I ended up staying in the office about an hour or two more than I was planning too all because I wanted to say goodbye to our coach for the weekend.
Gabby is a nice person and I think her parents are wonderful. She is a gifted player and athlete and I look forward to watching her play, as a fan, in the years to come.
I've heard many great things about her. Some saying she is one of the best freshman they can remember watching.
She is so smooth. She is so relaxed and composed. I bet she could salsa dance with the ball at her feet and make it look easy and natural as she weaves in and out of the opposing team while bringing the ball up the field. She is also a leader. She is going to be really good. I'd be surprised if she wasn't an All-American by the time she graduates.
I have a lot of respect for her and was always impressed by how involved she remained while injured. You could always tell how much it mattered to her and how supportive she was of the team.
I wish I got to watch her play more. Thankfully I saw some of her playing in the spring at practice. She is someone who you trusted with the ball. If I was a goalkeeper, I'd find her.
Once Gabby tricked a goalkeeper (I wonder who...) into giving her the ball when she was actually not on the keepers team. A little bit of a street move. The keeper clearly had a big mental lapse when they gave her the ball. However, the keeper was really determined not to let her score after that and I remember that keeper taking a goal away from her after that, which got her a little mad.
I don't know how to explain this, and I have an example I won't share, but I think of Gabby as someone who is very "socially aware." I think she is skilled at dealing with people. She has social intelligence. I think this might be related to the cool, calm, and composed demeanor that she has on the field.
Gabby's parents gave me an awesome first impression. They came up to me and told me how much what I did was appreciated. They had great things to say and were nice to talk to.
The first time I ever saw Gabby was before she ever got here. She was on a tour and I was in the office. I have a habit of saying goodbye to people before I leave. Right as I was about to leave a player walked in and spoke to our assistant coach. I didn't want to bother them so I just waited patiently until they left. 10 minutes later they hadn't gotten out of coaches office, so I still patiently waited. Then Gabby and her parents came for a visit. I was waiting to say goodbye for the weekend and then got caught in the visit. I ended up staying in the office about an hour or two more than I was planning too all because I wanted to say goodbye to our coach for the weekend.
Gabby is a nice person and I think her parents are wonderful. She is a gifted player and athlete and I look forward to watching her play, as a fan, in the years to come.
Monday, June 25, 2012
120 Miles
So yesterday I took the 120 mile bike ride off of my bucket list.
Now let's elaborate.
Coach Calhoun drove past us on the ride. That was cool.
The other part of the ride was the inevitable meeting of two mortal enemies, the biker and the driver. I had no run-ins but others did. One rider caught up to a driver and called them an asshole for getting to close to them on the road. Another guy gave an ice cream truck the finger for doing the same thing. That's a juicy part of the story I guess.
The other juicy part of the ride was the eating. I asked for advice about the ride and the only thing that others told me was the importance of eating. So I ATE. I had a bowl of oatmeal and a couple of bowls of cereal for breakfast. At our first stop I had a rice krispies treat, a few slices of oranges, gatorade and a power bar.
I had similar food at the next stop.
The last stop was the best though. The last stop had candy. I'll take six pieces of candy, thank you very much.
The ride was apparently one of the harder centuries that could be done. I agree. It was hilly for a lot of sections. One road, Joshuatown Road, was brutal. It had older pavement, up and down hills with lots of weird hairpin turns.
When you are unfamiliar with hills you have to be a lot more cautious because you don't know where potholes or uneven surfaces are. You don't know where driveways are, nor do you get a sense of the speed you can and cannot go through the turns until you actually go down those hills a couple of times. Once you have gone down the hills a couple of times they become comfortable. On roads I am familiar with, I know where ALL the potholes and drains are.
The ride was a lot of fun. It is quite an accomplishment, because a century is to a cyclist what a marathon is to a runner.
One thing about the ride was that I was constantly surprised by just how few miles we had gone. I felt like we were at mile 30 when we were at 24. I felt like we were at mile 85 when we were at mile 75. It's not that I felt like I was so tired. I felt like we had just gone so fast.
My legs were somewhat tired starting at about mile 75. Around 100 you stopped wanting to go up any hills.
I am in good shape, so the ride was, although not easy, very do able for me. I would love to do another ride.
We saw lots of pretty places. Riding down on the shore by the Connecticut River was really beautiful. We went over a causeway and it was so nice having the smell of the ocean and the scenery of the marshes, water and beaches.
This part of the ride was also really windy though. Headwinds make things really difficult, as I am sure you can imagine.
Riding on a bike path on an I-95 bridge going over the Connecticut River was a great view. It was amazing just to look over and see all of the boats in the water.
We rode to Gillete Castle State Park, which is a place that I have always seen signs for but have never been too.
Also rode past the road my grandma lives on.
Lastly, The ride started at 7am, which meant I got up at 5:30am. The nice thing about riding on a Sunday is that there is less traffic. The nice thing about the morning is that it's cooler and that the sun isn't out. The sun and traffic didn't begin to bother me until the last 35 miles.
I had a lot of fun. Glad I have gone on such a long ride and I hope to go again. Also happy to take something else off of the list.
Now let's elaborate.
Coach Calhoun drove past us on the ride. That was cool.
The other part of the ride was the inevitable meeting of two mortal enemies, the biker and the driver. I had no run-ins but others did. One rider caught up to a driver and called them an asshole for getting to close to them on the road. Another guy gave an ice cream truck the finger for doing the same thing. That's a juicy part of the story I guess.
The other juicy part of the ride was the eating. I asked for advice about the ride and the only thing that others told me was the importance of eating. So I ATE. I had a bowl of oatmeal and a couple of bowls of cereal for breakfast. At our first stop I had a rice krispies treat, a few slices of oranges, gatorade and a power bar.
I had similar food at the next stop.
The last stop was the best though. The last stop had candy. I'll take six pieces of candy, thank you very much.
The ride was apparently one of the harder centuries that could be done. I agree. It was hilly for a lot of sections. One road, Joshuatown Road, was brutal. It had older pavement, up and down hills with lots of weird hairpin turns.
When you are unfamiliar with hills you have to be a lot more cautious because you don't know where potholes or uneven surfaces are. You don't know where driveways are, nor do you get a sense of the speed you can and cannot go through the turns until you actually go down those hills a couple of times. Once you have gone down the hills a couple of times they become comfortable. On roads I am familiar with, I know where ALL the potholes and drains are.
The ride was a lot of fun. It is quite an accomplishment, because a century is to a cyclist what a marathon is to a runner.
One thing about the ride was that I was constantly surprised by just how few miles we had gone. I felt like we were at mile 30 when we were at 24. I felt like we were at mile 85 when we were at mile 75. It's not that I felt like I was so tired. I felt like we had just gone so fast.
My legs were somewhat tired starting at about mile 75. Around 100 you stopped wanting to go up any hills.
I am in good shape, so the ride was, although not easy, very do able for me. I would love to do another ride.
We saw lots of pretty places. Riding down on the shore by the Connecticut River was really beautiful. We went over a causeway and it was so nice having the smell of the ocean and the scenery of the marshes, water and beaches.
This part of the ride was also really windy though. Headwinds make things really difficult, as I am sure you can imagine.
Riding on a bike path on an I-95 bridge going over the Connecticut River was a great view. It was amazing just to look over and see all of the boats in the water.
We rode to Gillete Castle State Park, which is a place that I have always seen signs for but have never been too.
Also rode past the road my grandma lives on.
Lastly, The ride started at 7am, which meant I got up at 5:30am. The nice thing about riding on a Sunday is that there is less traffic. The nice thing about the morning is that it's cooler and that the sun isn't out. The sun and traffic didn't begin to bother me until the last 35 miles.
I had a lot of fun. Glad I have gone on such a long ride and I hope to go again. Also happy to take something else off of the list.
Friday, June 22, 2012
More Than A Game - Greece and Germany
Greece against Germany in soccer is more than just a game. It's also about two countries, with two very different ideas towards politics and economics.
I'm not all that informed about what is going on between the two countries, but from what I have heard I think it would be "right" or "just" if Germany won.
I'm not all that informed about what is going on between the two countries, but from what I have heard I think it would be "right" or "just" if Germany won.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Finally
I finally caught a fish with my new reel. Sadly that made my bucket list, but thankfully it's off of it now. Caught a good size bass underneath our neighbors pontoon boat. I decided I'd throw out one more cast before lunch and biking and I am glad I did.
Finally caught a fish what that rod.
Secondly, I find it funny that I was watching Cristiano Ronaldo play today and I went, "oh wow, he reminds me a lot of one of the UCWS players."
It's funny, because since my connection point to soccer are the teams in Storrs and most specifically UCWS, 90-95% of the soccer I have watched in my life are our games. When I see some international players playing for the first time, or first in a few times, I compare them to the UCWS players, and not the UCWS players to the international superstars.
Finally caught a fish what that rod.
Secondly, I find it funny that I was watching Cristiano Ronaldo play today and I went, "oh wow, he reminds me a lot of one of the UCWS players."
It's funny, because since my connection point to soccer are the teams in Storrs and most specifically UCWS, 90-95% of the soccer I have watched in my life are our games. When I see some international players playing for the first time, or first in a few times, I compare them to the UCWS players, and not the UCWS players to the international superstars.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
10,000 Disappointed People
Not talking about Royals fans. There are less than 10,000 of those.
This isn't really a significant number to me, other than I find it fascinating.
10,000 times this blog has been clicked on, and since I'm not a self promoter and have no interest in the whole world finding out that I write, it's all been through mostly word of mouth or google. Only a few friends have been given the link.
Smartly they never read a thing.
I have no idea who reads this. I can guess, but have no idea.
10,000 poor souls though. I feel bad for them in a way. They start googling things and this stupid blog pops up.
Imagine if one or two people learned something useful though?
43 people have googled Meghan Schnur and clicked on my blog. Guess she is popular. I wonder if she ever googled herself and went "Who the fuck is writing this?" Truthfully I don't even know what I wrote about her...and I don't know her at all.
She is not as popular as this blog is in Ukraine though. 66 Ukranian people must have let their dogs get control of their computers and wander to this page.
Russians have been to my page over 550 times. Please don't tell Senator McCarthy.
The Dutch must have taken my nonsensical ideas and applied it to their style of soccer play. I think the Netherlands has the fourth highest amount of hits.
The Germans have supported me of course. Must be some of my dead relatives. I guess they got bored.
I've had a couple of moments where I have been caught by people.
So there is this blog that talks about Meg Cunningham and how great she is. "Oh really"
You are that kid that writes about my roommate. -The first words spoken by Court to me. "excuse me...ME TURNING RED...what?" ...well this conversation will be awkward. I'd really like to go now...
I was looking for Stephanie Labbe stats and they were on some blog. "huh, that's strange"
You jerk, you wrote that my hair stuck up like a telephone pole. (Actually I should have just said she looked like Marge Simpson) "yes I did"
Yeah, the players asked who might be helping us this year and we mentioned your name and they said "he knows a lot about us" so we went up to marketing to ask about you.
I love Nanners who started talking to me about stuff I wrote on my blog even though I hadn't told her I wrote one. I remember thinking to myself, well I wrote about that, but never talked to you about that. Nanner's is partly inspiring my bike ride this weekend. Except she did my ride about 90 straight days, so I have nothing on her.
I found out an Arizona State football player read this. Once I heard that I picked them to win the Pac-12.
10,000 people. I have no idea who I have made laugh, laugh at me, embarrass, creep out or inspire. I like it like that. I don't like talking about this. I just do it. I'm just opening up my mind. It's like following my twitter, except I unfortunately can't be held to 140 characters here.
So to the 10,000 times people have clicked on this, hopefully I haven't wasted your time.
This isn't really a significant number to me, other than I find it fascinating.
10,000 times this blog has been clicked on, and since I'm not a self promoter and have no interest in the whole world finding out that I write, it's all been through mostly word of mouth or google. Only a few friends have been given the link.
Smartly they never read a thing.
I have no idea who reads this. I can guess, but have no idea.
10,000 poor souls though. I feel bad for them in a way. They start googling things and this stupid blog pops up.
Imagine if one or two people learned something useful though?
43 people have googled Meghan Schnur and clicked on my blog. Guess she is popular. I wonder if she ever googled herself and went "Who the fuck is writing this?" Truthfully I don't even know what I wrote about her...and I don't know her at all.
She is not as popular as this blog is in Ukraine though. 66 Ukranian people must have let their dogs get control of their computers and wander to this page.
Russians have been to my page over 550 times. Please don't tell Senator McCarthy.
The Dutch must have taken my nonsensical ideas and applied it to their style of soccer play. I think the Netherlands has the fourth highest amount of hits.
The Germans have supported me of course. Must be some of my dead relatives. I guess they got bored.
I've had a couple of moments where I have been caught by people.
So there is this blog that talks about Meg Cunningham and how great she is. "Oh really"
You are that kid that writes about my roommate. -The first words spoken by Court to me. "excuse me...ME TURNING RED...what?" ...well this conversation will be awkward. I'd really like to go now...
I was looking for Stephanie Labbe stats and they were on some blog. "huh, that's strange"
You jerk, you wrote that my hair stuck up like a telephone pole. (Actually I should have just said she looked like Marge Simpson) "yes I did"
Yeah, the players asked who might be helping us this year and we mentioned your name and they said "he knows a lot about us" so we went up to marketing to ask about you.
I love Nanners who started talking to me about stuff I wrote on my blog even though I hadn't told her I wrote one. I remember thinking to myself, well I wrote about that, but never talked to you about that. Nanner's is partly inspiring my bike ride this weekend. Except she did my ride about 90 straight days, so I have nothing on her.
I found out an Arizona State football player read this. Once I heard that I picked them to win the Pac-12.
10,000 people. I have no idea who I have made laugh, laugh at me, embarrass, creep out or inspire. I like it like that. I don't like talking about this. I just do it. I'm just opening up my mind. It's like following my twitter, except I unfortunately can't be held to 140 characters here.
So to the 10,000 times people have clicked on this, hopefully I haven't wasted your time.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Take it off the list
Can take something off the bucket list. I made a potato gun and it fired. Awesome.
Euro's and Soccer
I have loved being able to watch soccer everyday during the summer, and it's been nice that ESPN has had some elite soccer every year over the summer for the past three years. I'm getting quite used to watching big games in June and July on television.
I look forward to soccer more than baseball.
I can't believe I just admitted that.
I'm really amazed that Russia did not go through to the group stage, especially after their first 4-1 win. The Dutch were obviously extremely disappointing. A couple of good teams were going to be eliminated from their group no matter what, but to come away with zero points is embarrassing.
Germany is playing better than I thought they would. I expected a tie against either Portugal or Holland. At the same time I don't think they are playing well enough yet. They have glimpses of greatness, but I want to see it for an entire game.
I've also decided that Germany is my favorite National Team when the United States isn't playing in a tournament. It's much more exciting to watch a tournament when you have a team to root for. Before the 2010 World Cup, one reason I didn't really watch soccer is that I didn't care at all who would win. Now I have some attachments to players and teams.
I will admit to being relatively new to watching soccer. I'll admit to never seeing Messi play in a game. Haven't seen as much of Ronaldo either as many other soccer fans. I'll attribute that to caring more about the English Premier League than La Liga.
My favorite soccer player is probably Bacary Sagna, a defender for Arsenal. First time I ever watched a non UCONN soccer game I saw him bicycle kick a ball out of his goal on defense. Been my favorite ever since. He also made me an Arsenal fan with that play and gave me a reason to casually follow the league and root for things to go in Arsenal's benefit.
Drogba is a favorite player of mine. Mario Gomez is impressing me so far this tournament. Ozil is someone else I like watching.
I enjoy watching these games, and while I am a much bigger fan than I was before, I'll admit that I have a long way to go in terms of learning about international soccer. However, I am amazed that I enjoy the game of soccer so much that I haven't even thought about turning on a baseball game instead.
I look forward to soccer more than baseball.
I can't believe I just admitted that.
I'm really amazed that Russia did not go through to the group stage, especially after their first 4-1 win. The Dutch were obviously extremely disappointing. A couple of good teams were going to be eliminated from their group no matter what, but to come away with zero points is embarrassing.
Germany is playing better than I thought they would. I expected a tie against either Portugal or Holland. At the same time I don't think they are playing well enough yet. They have glimpses of greatness, but I want to see it for an entire game.
I've also decided that Germany is my favorite National Team when the United States isn't playing in a tournament. It's much more exciting to watch a tournament when you have a team to root for. Before the 2010 World Cup, one reason I didn't really watch soccer is that I didn't care at all who would win. Now I have some attachments to players and teams.
I will admit to being relatively new to watching soccer. I'll admit to never seeing Messi play in a game. Haven't seen as much of Ronaldo either as many other soccer fans. I'll attribute that to caring more about the English Premier League than La Liga.
My favorite soccer player is probably Bacary Sagna, a defender for Arsenal. First time I ever watched a non UCONN soccer game I saw him bicycle kick a ball out of his goal on defense. Been my favorite ever since. He also made me an Arsenal fan with that play and gave me a reason to casually follow the league and root for things to go in Arsenal's benefit.
Drogba is a favorite player of mine. Mario Gomez is impressing me so far this tournament. Ozil is someone else I like watching.
I enjoy watching these games, and while I am a much bigger fan than I was before, I'll admit that I have a long way to go in terms of learning about international soccer. However, I am amazed that I enjoy the game of soccer so much that I haven't even thought about turning on a baseball game instead.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a Horse
I don't normally like to spout my opinions on subjects that I am really not overly well informed about, but for a rare time I will do so.
I have been thinking about three athletes recently and what they could mean to our country as a whole. Those athletes are Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong.
Lance represents a letdown. Lance is eventually going to break our countries heart when we most likely find out that he cheated his way to cycling championships. I love the good that Lance has done, and hope he keeps it up. I just think he cheated, and in the end that will further destroy our countries confidence in our leaders.
I thought about Tiger Woods being an athlete that could make people feel better about themselves. Maybe he will redeem himself. I think many are ready to forgive him (certainly not everyone though) and are hoping he can get back to the top of his game, the way many people want our country to get back on the top of its game. In thinking about it though, I'm not sure if Tiger Woods is an athlete that could transcend his sport in his future.
I think maybe the person with the best chance to transcend his sport and make our country feel good about itself again is...
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I think that to many Americans, Dale Earnhardt Jr. reminds them of themselves. They see this once great athlete and race car driver (I'm putting those in the same sentence...go drive go-carts for two hours and tell me how it feels) stumble in recent years, just like they have. They have seen Dale Jr. lose confidence and not live up to expectations. He is a figure that many, many unemployed, laid off or underemployed people can relate too.
They once too had it good and then all of a sudden no matter how hard they worked, or what they did, their luck wouldn't go their way. Dale Jr. was going through a 143 race winless streak until today. For The last 130 races they have probably been asking Dale Jr. about his elusive next win, just like many people have to answer questions posed by loved ones and friends about what their job situation is like.
In some ways Jr. has lived in the shadow of his father and his legacy and death and he has probably had to work at dealing with that. I am sure many people can relate to a situation in which they feel overshadowed.
Many people can relate to struggling and having to answer questions about struggling. They can see themselves get so close to succeeding, such as Jr.'s seven runner-up finishes, yet coming up just short constantly, like Jr.'s 143 race winless streak.
Jr. has had an amazing year and if he can keep finishing well and winning races he could do something that he has never done, win his sports championship, which is something his father did seven times.
Dale Jr. winning that Championship is something that I think could be Times Magazine Person of The Year worthy because I believe that Earnhardt Jr., like his father, represents so much too many people who are suffering without jobs, or struggling to make ends meat in many parts of this country, even if not in your part of the country. Seeing someone who was so clearly down and out before 2012, come back and win a championship is something that I think would bring hope to so many Americans who like Earnhardt, prior to 2008, seemed to have a lot going for them.
Many people pay NASCAR no attention, and laugh at the mention of it, but I think people will be surprised just what a Dale Jr. Championship would do for the mood of many people in this country.
Dale Jr. could transcend his sport if he keeps up his winning ways. He could bring hope to so many people in this country that maybe no one else could.
Maybe Dale Jr. is going to be to the Great Recession what Seabiscuit was to the Great Depression.
Jr. has a long way to go but maybe this season and this win today is part of something special.
I have been thinking about three athletes recently and what they could mean to our country as a whole. Those athletes are Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong.
Lance represents a letdown. Lance is eventually going to break our countries heart when we most likely find out that he cheated his way to cycling championships. I love the good that Lance has done, and hope he keeps it up. I just think he cheated, and in the end that will further destroy our countries confidence in our leaders.
I thought about Tiger Woods being an athlete that could make people feel better about themselves. Maybe he will redeem himself. I think many are ready to forgive him (certainly not everyone though) and are hoping he can get back to the top of his game, the way many people want our country to get back on the top of its game. In thinking about it though, I'm not sure if Tiger Woods is an athlete that could transcend his sport in his future.
I think maybe the person with the best chance to transcend his sport and make our country feel good about itself again is...
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I think that to many Americans, Dale Earnhardt Jr. reminds them of themselves. They see this once great athlete and race car driver (I'm putting those in the same sentence...go drive go-carts for two hours and tell me how it feels) stumble in recent years, just like they have. They have seen Dale Jr. lose confidence and not live up to expectations. He is a figure that many, many unemployed, laid off or underemployed people can relate too.
They once too had it good and then all of a sudden no matter how hard they worked, or what they did, their luck wouldn't go their way. Dale Jr. was going through a 143 race winless streak until today. For The last 130 races they have probably been asking Dale Jr. about his elusive next win, just like many people have to answer questions posed by loved ones and friends about what their job situation is like.
In some ways Jr. has lived in the shadow of his father and his legacy and death and he has probably had to work at dealing with that. I am sure many people can relate to a situation in which they feel overshadowed.
Many people can relate to struggling and having to answer questions about struggling. They can see themselves get so close to succeeding, such as Jr.'s seven runner-up finishes, yet coming up just short constantly, like Jr.'s 143 race winless streak.
Jr. has had an amazing year and if he can keep finishing well and winning races he could do something that he has never done, win his sports championship, which is something his father did seven times.
Dale Jr. winning that Championship is something that I think could be Times Magazine Person of The Year worthy because I believe that Earnhardt Jr., like his father, represents so much too many people who are suffering without jobs, or struggling to make ends meat in many parts of this country, even if not in your part of the country. Seeing someone who was so clearly down and out before 2012, come back and win a championship is something that I think would bring hope to so many Americans who like Earnhardt, prior to 2008, seemed to have a lot going for them.
Many people pay NASCAR no attention, and laugh at the mention of it, but I think people will be surprised just what a Dale Jr. Championship would do for the mood of many people in this country.
Dale Jr. could transcend his sport if he keeps up his winning ways. He could bring hope to so many people in this country that maybe no one else could.
Maybe Dale Jr. is going to be to the Great Recession what Seabiscuit was to the Great Depression.
Jr. has a long way to go but maybe this season and this win today is part of something special.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Before I forget
When I write about soccer, because it will happen, or other events, I do so not for myself but for a love of history.
History was always my favorite subject in school, especially U.S. History.
I write to share history and stories that I remember and for other people to potentially benefit from or enjoy. If no one reads them, that's fine as well, because they help me remember everything.
I probably reflect more than I should because my best days are ahead of me.
Still, I like sharing my memories and writing them down permanently so they can leave my brain and be recalled when necessary.
I also like writing now because it makes me practice writing. Writing is an important skill and hopefully the more I write, the better vocabulary and the more concise I get.
Well, I'll never be concise.
I also think that one of the greatest abilities that anyone can have is the ability to tell a great story. I can't do that yet, but I'm trying to learn.
History was always my favorite subject in school, especially U.S. History.
I write to share history and stories that I remember and for other people to potentially benefit from or enjoy. If no one reads them, that's fine as well, because they help me remember everything.
I probably reflect more than I should because my best days are ahead of me.
Still, I like sharing my memories and writing them down permanently so they can leave my brain and be recalled when necessary.
I also like writing now because it makes me practice writing. Writing is an important skill and hopefully the more I write, the better vocabulary and the more concise I get.
Well, I'll never be concise.
I also think that one of the greatest abilities that anyone can have is the ability to tell a great story. I can't do that yet, but I'm trying to learn.
Lucifer
I feel like writing about the devil now. I made that decision while on my bike in Rindge, NH today. I decided to write about Lucifer. The devil must have told me too.
I knew Lucifer was awesome even though she was evil. I knew that for quite sometime, I just didn't find out why until my last day on campus.
She's part German, Irish and English.
Only awesome people have that mix.
Like me.
I don't know of anyone else with that mix, other than my sister. I know of Irish and German but not all three.
Also Lew is the only player from Western Connecticut that I know of. Not Fairfield County like me, but at least Western Connecticut.
Had I known this before she would have gotten so much preferential treatment.
It would have gone something like "You have the ball bag today Lew?" "Put that down, I'll give it to Cory instead."
Ok I never did do that, (I'm sure some people felt like they were always carrying things but I really was careful to be fair. I spent time going over how many times each person got something during the week.) but I do remember making deals with the devil. Can't say I remember exactly what they were. Maybe I forgot candy somewhere.
Lew was one of those mysterious names that I knew nothing about when she came in. Half of the freshman class I had seen, or run into through their visits and the other half I had not. Lucifer was not one of them.
What I did know about the devil before she came in was that she scored five goals in a game in high school. I think it was tied for second best in the country for most goals in a high school game. That caught my attention and I showed it to one of the coaches.
I don't like to spend too much time writing about soccer stuff when I write about players, but in Lucifer's case I have to point out how much I love players who hustle and fight and push and pull and pinch and are around for rebounds. I like players from Connecticut as well. I like that they get a chance to play for their state school.
I'm convinced she is going to score some goals because she fights. I told her she would score in the final game I watched as a part of the program. I was sure of it and she almost scored exactly as I had envisioned it, off a rebound, which to me are the most important goals to score. Although she didn't score she put herself in the position to score. The ball took a bad bounce, but she was there and she will put that in next time. I was rooting for her so much that game and she played well. She was diving all over the place and helping to keep possession. Her hustle resulted in a goal for the team. She works her ass off and what more can you ask for, especially as a fan, which is what I am now.
Now back to Lucifer the person.
She is evil.
She is also awesome.
I want her to prank people. I want it on film and I want to see it. If I ever saw something that I thought was a good prank I thought of her and tried to tell her.
She didn't prank me, but I think she tried too. She tried to blame Mika and I don't know if I believe her or not, so I'll say that either Lucifer or Mika called the hotel desk in Florida for me on our trip. At first they decided that they were going to tell the desk that my toilet broke and to send help.
Maybe they decided that was going a little too far. Not sure, so they decided instead to call and have them leave pillows at my room.
I am so happy I found out about that because I remember getting back to my room and saw the pillows out in the hall and I was really confused by that. I had gone to do laundry so I wasn't in my room from about 11:30pm-12:45am.
When I got back and saw the pillows I had to think to myself. I thought I had closed my door but then again I wasn't quite sure when I saw the pillows. I started to look around very carefully in my room. I looked behind every door, I looked in the bathroom and looked through my belongings to make sure I wasn't missing anything. I really wasn't sure if I left the door unlocked and if someone had gone in. I also wanted to see if my pillows were missing from my bed. They weren't.
So I realized that I wasn't missing anything, no one was in my room and I had all my pillows. I was confused but very tired so I just threw the pillows in front of the door of the person next to me.
I guess I confused them.
Lucifer also had fun with Cory at the hotel in Florida. Throwing the paper airplane to Cory was classic. I love what they captured on film. "Love Ya....bleep....dot, dot, dot, but not."
Ok, clearly I edited that too much
But I found it funny.
Someone also told me that Lucifer was me for Halloween. She denied that. I will believe her on that one, because she said someone misunderstood her, but I wouldn't put that past her if she was lying.
Lew also had the best impersonations by far. The best. I'm sure there were a lot of good impersonations on film but her Julie "yeaaa" and Devin impersonation were unbelievably good. She used "Doreen" in her impersonation of Devin. I was so impressed and that put her over the top. Lew was good in her interview with me. She was with Gabby and Mika as well though. I let her leave early, not because she was bad, but because I felt sorry for her.
I could tell that Gabby and Mika were happy to keep going and going and decided that Lew could go early if she really wanted too because I didn't want her staying until Charno and Mika stopped talking.
More on the 90 minute interview later. It was a hilarious interview, but it kept going and going. I had fun and enjoyed it as did I think Charno and Mika, but most sane people didn't want to sit there for 90 minutes.
I loved the film of Lucifer's proposal to the kid on campus. Also really amusing.
Lucifer's ball would also magically disappear during the season at practice and I never quite figured out why, but I played into it at the end of practice sometimes. I would take her ball and make her look around on purpose until she got mad at me once. I gave into her.
I had too though. I was afraid she'd do something evil to me, like give me a flat tire.
Lucifer is also the originator of Tim. In. Training. T.I.T.
I very much appreciated the card and gifts that Lew and G gave me as I left. They both wrote nice notes and gave me ADD and ADHD toys which I love. I'm going to put them out on my desk when I have my own desk. Seriously the toys they gave me are going to keep me so entertained. I also got a sticker that says "Here to save the day" and I've mentioned that in some job applications. It was a small thing, but I appreciated it and I was glad that I seemed to have been a positive part of their first year in college.
When you volunteer or work for low pay it's not really all about what materials you get out of it, it's more that you know the work you do is appreciated and making a difference. The team was always good about showing their appreciation and I appreciated it.
To me Lucifer is a hard worker, a fighter and someone who has some personality. She's evil and keeps things interesting. I wish I could have watched her for more than a year. I really do and I really want to see her score. I'm sure I'll be at some games, and a goal from Lew is a goal I really want to see.
I'll put Lew down for the goal of the game contest.
I hope she wins me a prize pack.
Because I need more UCONN Gear.
I knew Lucifer was awesome even though she was evil. I knew that for quite sometime, I just didn't find out why until my last day on campus.
She's part German, Irish and English.
Only awesome people have that mix.
Like me.
I don't know of anyone else with that mix, other than my sister. I know of Irish and German but not all three.
Also Lew is the only player from Western Connecticut that I know of. Not Fairfield County like me, but at least Western Connecticut.
Had I known this before she would have gotten so much preferential treatment.
It would have gone something like "You have the ball bag today Lew?" "Put that down, I'll give it to Cory instead."
Ok I never did do that, (I'm sure some people felt like they were always carrying things but I really was careful to be fair. I spent time going over how many times each person got something during the week.) but I do remember making deals with the devil. Can't say I remember exactly what they were. Maybe I forgot candy somewhere.
Lew was one of those mysterious names that I knew nothing about when she came in. Half of the freshman class I had seen, or run into through their visits and the other half I had not. Lucifer was not one of them.
What I did know about the devil before she came in was that she scored five goals in a game in high school. I think it was tied for second best in the country for most goals in a high school game. That caught my attention and I showed it to one of the coaches.
I don't like to spend too much time writing about soccer stuff when I write about players, but in Lucifer's case I have to point out how much I love players who hustle and fight and push and pull and pinch and are around for rebounds. I like players from Connecticut as well. I like that they get a chance to play for their state school.
I'm convinced she is going to score some goals because she fights. I told her she would score in the final game I watched as a part of the program. I was sure of it and she almost scored exactly as I had envisioned it, off a rebound, which to me are the most important goals to score. Although she didn't score she put herself in the position to score. The ball took a bad bounce, but she was there and she will put that in next time. I was rooting for her so much that game and she played well. She was diving all over the place and helping to keep possession. Her hustle resulted in a goal for the team. She works her ass off and what more can you ask for, especially as a fan, which is what I am now.
Now back to Lucifer the person.
She is evil.
She is also awesome.
I want her to prank people. I want it on film and I want to see it. If I ever saw something that I thought was a good prank I thought of her and tried to tell her.
She didn't prank me, but I think she tried too. She tried to blame Mika and I don't know if I believe her or not, so I'll say that either Lucifer or Mika called the hotel desk in Florida for me on our trip. At first they decided that they were going to tell the desk that my toilet broke and to send help.
Maybe they decided that was going a little too far. Not sure, so they decided instead to call and have them leave pillows at my room.
I am so happy I found out about that because I remember getting back to my room and saw the pillows out in the hall and I was really confused by that. I had gone to do laundry so I wasn't in my room from about 11:30pm-12:45am.
When I got back and saw the pillows I had to think to myself. I thought I had closed my door but then again I wasn't quite sure when I saw the pillows. I started to look around very carefully in my room. I looked behind every door, I looked in the bathroom and looked through my belongings to make sure I wasn't missing anything. I really wasn't sure if I left the door unlocked and if someone had gone in. I also wanted to see if my pillows were missing from my bed. They weren't.
So I realized that I wasn't missing anything, no one was in my room and I had all my pillows. I was confused but very tired so I just threw the pillows in front of the door of the person next to me.
I guess I confused them.
Lucifer also had fun with Cory at the hotel in Florida. Throwing the paper airplane to Cory was classic. I love what they captured on film. "Love Ya....bleep....dot, dot, dot, but not."
Ok, clearly I edited that too much
But I found it funny.
Someone also told me that Lucifer was me for Halloween. She denied that. I will believe her on that one, because she said someone misunderstood her, but I wouldn't put that past her if she was lying.
Lew also had the best impersonations by far. The best. I'm sure there were a lot of good impersonations on film but her Julie "yeaaa" and Devin impersonation were unbelievably good. She used "Doreen" in her impersonation of Devin. I was so impressed and that put her over the top. Lew was good in her interview with me. She was with Gabby and Mika as well though. I let her leave early, not because she was bad, but because I felt sorry for her.
I could tell that Gabby and Mika were happy to keep going and going and decided that Lew could go early if she really wanted too because I didn't want her staying until Charno and Mika stopped talking.
More on the 90 minute interview later. It was a hilarious interview, but it kept going and going. I had fun and enjoyed it as did I think Charno and Mika, but most sane people didn't want to sit there for 90 minutes.
I loved the film of Lucifer's proposal to the kid on campus. Also really amusing.
Lucifer's ball would also magically disappear during the season at practice and I never quite figured out why, but I played into it at the end of practice sometimes. I would take her ball and make her look around on purpose until she got mad at me once. I gave into her.
I had too though. I was afraid she'd do something evil to me, like give me a flat tire.
Lucifer is also the originator of Tim. In. Training. T.I.T.
I very much appreciated the card and gifts that Lew and G gave me as I left. They both wrote nice notes and gave me ADD and ADHD toys which I love. I'm going to put them out on my desk when I have my own desk. Seriously the toys they gave me are going to keep me so entertained. I also got a sticker that says "Here to save the day" and I've mentioned that in some job applications. It was a small thing, but I appreciated it and I was glad that I seemed to have been a positive part of their first year in college.
When you volunteer or work for low pay it's not really all about what materials you get out of it, it's more that you know the work you do is appreciated and making a difference. The team was always good about showing their appreciation and I appreciated it.
To me Lucifer is a hard worker, a fighter and someone who has some personality. She's evil and keeps things interesting. I wish I could have watched her for more than a year. I really do and I really want to see her score. I'm sure I'll be at some games, and a goal from Lew is a goal I really want to see.
I'll put Lew down for the goal of the game contest.
I hope she wins me a prize pack.
Because I need more UCONN Gear.
In case you are wondering
Well you probably weren't wondering but whatever...
I have Germany winning the Euro's. If you don't believe me I have proof from before the first games that I have Germany winning.
As for the NBA Finals I will be rooting for the Thunder. Big Time Thunder fan...
But I did predict the Heat would win the whole thing back in January so I will stick with them.
I also had Tiger winning one or two majors this year so I obviously have him winning the U.S. Open.
This part of the year HAS to be the BEST PART OF THE YEAR for a sports fan.
You have the College World Series still going on, the U.S. Open, NASCAR, NBA Finals, Major League Baseball and most importantly the UEFA European Cup all going on. It doesn't get much better than that. Plus you just had the French Open and NHL Stanley Cup Finals end.
If you love sports, you always have something to watch right now. That can be a good and bad thing.
Also, just randomly putting this in, but while cycling today I saw a car with the license plate of what I believe said "Dulski." If it wasn't that, it was something close to it.
I have Germany winning the Euro's. If you don't believe me I have proof from before the first games that I have Germany winning.
As for the NBA Finals I will be rooting for the Thunder. Big Time Thunder fan...
But I did predict the Heat would win the whole thing back in January so I will stick with them.
I also had Tiger winning one or two majors this year so I obviously have him winning the U.S. Open.
This part of the year HAS to be the BEST PART OF THE YEAR for a sports fan.
You have the College World Series still going on, the U.S. Open, NASCAR, NBA Finals, Major League Baseball and most importantly the UEFA European Cup all going on. It doesn't get much better than that. Plus you just had the French Open and NHL Stanley Cup Finals end.
If you love sports, you always have something to watch right now. That can be a good and bad thing.
Also, just randomly putting this in, but while cycling today I saw a car with the license plate of what I believe said "Dulski." If it wasn't that, it was something close to it.
Monday, June 11, 2012
I've actually met this guy
So if you have checked the news recently about Coach Auriemma, you have probably read some interesting things.
I am only going to offer a few of my thoughts from when I reported on the women's basketball team. I heard Geno talk a lot. I have hours of recordings of him talking.
He was funny and smart and I think I learned a lot from just listening to him so much. I would say he has made me a smarter and better person and leader. I feel like I was blessed to have been able to listen to him at press conferences. I think he is an effective teacher of concepts because he makes some great analogies.
I have nothing but great things to say about Coach Auriemma. As a matter of fact, I have never heard anyone say a bad thing about him from people who I have been in contact with in Athletics. Even Franklin Pierce and their coach had great things to say to me about how welcoming Geno and the program were to them when they played an exhibition game at Gampel in 2010.
I think Coach Auriemma is a confident person, maybe cocky, but he has every right to be in my mind. Arrogant is not a word I would use to describe him. He said hello to me when I ran into him in Gampel a year after I reported on the team and I had small talk with him. Not many high profile college coaches would initiate small talk with a former student reporter.
When I met him for the first time he offered to help me in any way he could.
He doesn't seem like the type of person to have tried to kiss a security guard. I can see him making fun of the security guard, or yanking their chain, but I can't see what he was accused of happening.
I have heard bad things about other coaches in college athletics, but never about Coach Auriemma. Having not been a witness and just hearing the story I would side with Geno.
You never do know, but for now I would give Coach Auriemma the benefit of the doubt.
I am only going to offer a few of my thoughts from when I reported on the women's basketball team. I heard Geno talk a lot. I have hours of recordings of him talking.
He was funny and smart and I think I learned a lot from just listening to him so much. I would say he has made me a smarter and better person and leader. I feel like I was blessed to have been able to listen to him at press conferences. I think he is an effective teacher of concepts because he makes some great analogies.
I have nothing but great things to say about Coach Auriemma. As a matter of fact, I have never heard anyone say a bad thing about him from people who I have been in contact with in Athletics. Even Franklin Pierce and their coach had great things to say to me about how welcoming Geno and the program were to them when they played an exhibition game at Gampel in 2010.
I think Coach Auriemma is a confident person, maybe cocky, but he has every right to be in my mind. Arrogant is not a word I would use to describe him. He said hello to me when I ran into him in Gampel a year after I reported on the team and I had small talk with him. Not many high profile college coaches would initiate small talk with a former student reporter.
When I met him for the first time he offered to help me in any way he could.
He doesn't seem like the type of person to have tried to kiss a security guard. I can see him making fun of the security guard, or yanking their chain, but I can't see what he was accused of happening.
I have heard bad things about other coaches in college athletics, but never about Coach Auriemma. Having not been a witness and just hearing the story I would side with Geno.
You never do know, but for now I would give Coach Auriemma the benefit of the doubt.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Browsing
I used to be a lot better at following summer teams. I haven't been as good lately. Here is what I found.
Mel scored two goals and Shoey had two assists in their teams win.
Court played 90 in a win.
Gabby played 90 in two straight shutout wins.
Danielle picked up an assist a couple of weeks ago
Mel scored two goals and Shoey had two assists in their teams win.
Court played 90 in a win.
Gabby played 90 in two straight shutout wins.
Danielle picked up an assist a couple of weeks ago
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Georgie
Georgie has always been a favorite player of mine. If I remember correctly, I think she was also the first player from her class that I got to know.
My overall memory of Georgie is that she simply has so many freaking friends. I think she knows everyone. Of course she was even the first player to have met my sister.
But, the best example I have of Georgie knowing everyone on campus is from this story.
After watching footage of Dulski interviewing me I saw how hideous my hair was looking. I hated when it was long, but I also hated paying for haircuts. My mom usually buzzes it for free, so I was waiting to see her next. Anyway, I just had to get a haircut before going to Florida. I went right after practice before the place closed and the women cutting my hair and I somehow got talking about athletics from my UCONN jacket. I told her what I did and then she said, "Oh do you know the Brit?" Something like that but I knew who she meant. She knew Georgie.
Everyone knows Georgie.
I also swear that without Georgie I'd know a lot less people. I remember all of a sudden having all of these people waving at me and saying Hi. I was totally clueless as to who these people were. I'm thinking to myself, "who are these people?" For the life of me I had no idea. After a little investigating it turns out they were Georgie's friends.
I love Georgie's accent. My first year all I wanted for a birthday gift was to have her say "Happy Birthday" to me.
I am such an egg.
To be fair one of my friends really liked her accent. Georgie was talking about not "fancying" something to me in front of my friend before class. I had no idea what "fancying" meant. I'm still sort of clueless. Anyway, my friend fell in love with her accent after listening to her speak.
My favorite story revolving Georgie and her accent was when she said someone asked her where she was from because of her accent and she replied "Texas" and the guy believed her.
As a side note, there is a chance the guy may have been a limo driver from Providence who was hoping to start a worm farm.
I remember walking with Georgie after a practice to get photos from communications when she was a freshman. I don't know why I remember that, but I do so there must be some significance to it.
Georgie's two goals were vital to the team making the NCAA's that year. Without her goals and the win over Wake Forest, I doubt that the team would have gotten to the NCAA's.
From what I saw behind the goal, Georgie and Julie have the most pace/weight (maybe I'm getting the soccer lingo right?) on their shots. (Others come close, but in my opinion, the opinion of someone who knows very little, those two can just rip it) Georgie's shot hurts. I caught one once that was headed right to me. Oh my goodness, I was so proud I caught it, but good lord did it hurt. Man, I felt like I got punched so hard in my stomach.
Both Georgie and Julie also have shots that do weird things. They dip and move around which means that even if it doesn't go in, there is a good chance that there will be a rebound that is scored because their shots are hard to catch. Anyway, both of Georgie's goals were laser beams vs Wake Forest.
Her goal this year was awesome, but it was hard to see that she scored. I didn't think she did until I heard it announced. I thought Court did. So I followed Court's celebration on camera.
When Georgie was a freshman she won the team Trivia Contest. I came up with questions based on players information and history of the team. Georgie was just the best at it. She won the only one ever done. She also showed up around 5:00 to finish something up for me, even though I told her she could come another day. It was at this point I realized that freshman will do whatever you tell them and try never to disappoint.
Georgie liked my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She said it was one of the best she had ever had. I made it for her for a spring game when she was just starting to eat after her jaw problems. She couldn't have the subs at Subway so she got something that I guess was pretty good.
I ran into Georgie at an Ice Hockey game one day and I tried to talk to her and she just sounded like she was making baby-talk. She was pointing at her mouth and I couldn't understand a word she was saying. Finally I saw a bandage or scar and picked up on the fact that something wasn't quite right.
Her jaw injury was so hard to think about because I just couldn't imagine only eating from a straw for six weeks or even more. It was also hard to communicate for her, which isn't surprising when someone's jaw is wired shut. She had a pad of paper to help her at a few practices that I remember.
Right after her injury Georgie decided to investigate my juggling skills. Unfortunately I think she assumed I could play. I can't juggle so when Georgie through the ball at my feet and it didn't go back to her she got mad. I tried to tell her to stop, but she threw the ball at my feet again, and this time I made decent contact and hit it too close to her jaw for her comfort. She got the message that I can't juggle at that point.
One of my favorite memories about Georgie are the trick videos she did. I had a lot of fun filming those for her. It was fun for two reasons. One reason was that I knew Georgie would be enjoying herself while she was showing off her skills. I think it's good for the players to show off and just have fun with the soccer ball. No parents, no referees, no coaches, no fans, no pressure, just have fun. The other reason is that it gave a great opportunity to come up with social media content and to market the team. I loved filming the stuff we did for the players and for the team, but I also loved when the filming would be used to promote the team.
The first trick stuff we did was when Georgie was in the field house and kicked the soccer ball into a garbage can. Coach was so impressed by this when I showed him. He really was. I believe he said "That's really good."
We filmed the garbage can part well before any of the other teams or athletes made trick shot videos. Georgie was the first to have stuff filmed. We weren't the first to post it online, nor were we ever going to get as much attention as a football player or women's basketball player, but Georgie was to my knowledge the first to actually have something filmed.
I also really liked the one when Georgie and Julie teamed up in Shenkman to receive the ball from the air, juggle 15-20 yards and then pass it off to the other player who kicks it through the uprights for a field goal. That was awesome.
I also loved the day that Georgie and I went through campus and filmed. There was snow on the ground and we were doing filming outside of the Wilbur Cross Building. I remember getting a camera angle that I liked that required me to be sitting in the snow. Then Georgie and I went and filmed inside a lecture hall. I don't think anyone has seen that video, but I really had so much fun filming it. We would bounce ideas off of each other for things to do, like juggling a soccer ball into class, or juggling on the desk in the front of lecture halls. I had so much fun doing this.
I think making videos like this is a great way to market a team, especially a women's soccer team. Too often the knock on female athletes is that they are boring, or that any guy could do what they do. By showing what they can do, that no one else can really do, you are attacking that stereotype in hopes that people will respect the athletes enough to actually consider going to a game. Atleast that was a theory I wanted to try. I also thought that unique videos online would create positive attention for the team and could get people to gain interest in following the team and attending games.
I will also say that I am not a fan of copying other people's ideas. I wanted everything we filmed to be unique somehow
In other words, I would not have been a fan of a "Call Me Maybe" video. There are too many of those. Now a "Starships" Video or something like that, I would be all for, because it's different. You don't want to copy great ideas, you want to come up with ones that are better. I was extremely impressed with the Freshman Talent show because the routine was unique.
I can't tell you how much more I wish we got to do with making videos, but I can't tell you how much I enjoyed making and filming those videos with Georgie.
We had a lot of ideas for videos that we never got to do. It's hard to do them when you have to worry about the players being tired, dealing with injuries, dealing with classes etc.
Now I mentioned the talent show earlier and when it came to the talent show, Georgie, didn't quite remember what to do at the end of it. The whole team was lying down at the end while Georgie was standing in the middle. Thankfully Georgie was in the middle, so it looked slightly less weird than if she had been somewhere else.
One year during our spring clinic Georgie also got disrespected by a participant. She could tell you what the camper told her, but I thought it was something like "You're Mother" or something else disrespectful. It was just something that was really wrong to say and that you wouldn't expect out of a clinic participant. What I do remember is that the player that disrespected Georgie was wearing yellow cleats.
Also, one of my favorite clips that I ever videoed was a zoomed in shot of a slide tackle by Georgie in a spring game at Oakwood. I zoomed in and got her tackle and the turf pellets coming up from her slide.
Georgie stopped by the office a lot, especially when she was a freshman. As she got older, like most players, they become more independent and aren't around quite as much, and her presence was missed. I would tell our secretary that it's been too long since Georgie has stopped by.
I felt like I spoke to Georgie more than most players, and that she was someone I knew better than others. I really want her to do well and have a great senior year.
My overall memory of Georgie is that she simply has so many freaking friends. I think she knows everyone. Of course she was even the first player to have met my sister.
But, the best example I have of Georgie knowing everyone on campus is from this story.
After watching footage of Dulski interviewing me I saw how hideous my hair was looking. I hated when it was long, but I also hated paying for haircuts. My mom usually buzzes it for free, so I was waiting to see her next. Anyway, I just had to get a haircut before going to Florida. I went right after practice before the place closed and the women cutting my hair and I somehow got talking about athletics from my UCONN jacket. I told her what I did and then she said, "Oh do you know the Brit?" Something like that but I knew who she meant. She knew Georgie.
Everyone knows Georgie.
I also swear that without Georgie I'd know a lot less people. I remember all of a sudden having all of these people waving at me and saying Hi. I was totally clueless as to who these people were. I'm thinking to myself, "who are these people?" For the life of me I had no idea. After a little investigating it turns out they were Georgie's friends.
I love Georgie's accent. My first year all I wanted for a birthday gift was to have her say "Happy Birthday" to me.
I am such an egg.
To be fair one of my friends really liked her accent. Georgie was talking about not "fancying" something to me in front of my friend before class. I had no idea what "fancying" meant. I'm still sort of clueless. Anyway, my friend fell in love with her accent after listening to her speak.
My favorite story revolving Georgie and her accent was when she said someone asked her where she was from because of her accent and she replied "Texas" and the guy believed her.
As a side note, there is a chance the guy may have been a limo driver from Providence who was hoping to start a worm farm.
I remember walking with Georgie after a practice to get photos from communications when she was a freshman. I don't know why I remember that, but I do so there must be some significance to it.
Georgie's two goals were vital to the team making the NCAA's that year. Without her goals and the win over Wake Forest, I doubt that the team would have gotten to the NCAA's.
From what I saw behind the goal, Georgie and Julie have the most pace/weight (maybe I'm getting the soccer lingo right?) on their shots. (Others come close, but in my opinion, the opinion of someone who knows very little, those two can just rip it) Georgie's shot hurts. I caught one once that was headed right to me. Oh my goodness, I was so proud I caught it, but good lord did it hurt. Man, I felt like I got punched so hard in my stomach.
Both Georgie and Julie also have shots that do weird things. They dip and move around which means that even if it doesn't go in, there is a good chance that there will be a rebound that is scored because their shots are hard to catch. Anyway, both of Georgie's goals were laser beams vs Wake Forest.
Her goal this year was awesome, but it was hard to see that she scored. I didn't think she did until I heard it announced. I thought Court did. So I followed Court's celebration on camera.
When Georgie was a freshman she won the team Trivia Contest. I came up with questions based on players information and history of the team. Georgie was just the best at it. She won the only one ever done. She also showed up around 5:00 to finish something up for me, even though I told her she could come another day. It was at this point I realized that freshman will do whatever you tell them and try never to disappoint.
Georgie liked my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She said it was one of the best she had ever had. I made it for her for a spring game when she was just starting to eat after her jaw problems. She couldn't have the subs at Subway so she got something that I guess was pretty good.
I ran into Georgie at an Ice Hockey game one day and I tried to talk to her and she just sounded like she was making baby-talk. She was pointing at her mouth and I couldn't understand a word she was saying. Finally I saw a bandage or scar and picked up on the fact that something wasn't quite right.
Her jaw injury was so hard to think about because I just couldn't imagine only eating from a straw for six weeks or even more. It was also hard to communicate for her, which isn't surprising when someone's jaw is wired shut. She had a pad of paper to help her at a few practices that I remember.
Right after her injury Georgie decided to investigate my juggling skills. Unfortunately I think she assumed I could play. I can't juggle so when Georgie through the ball at my feet and it didn't go back to her she got mad. I tried to tell her to stop, but she threw the ball at my feet again, and this time I made decent contact and hit it too close to her jaw for her comfort. She got the message that I can't juggle at that point.
One of my favorite memories about Georgie are the trick videos she did. I had a lot of fun filming those for her. It was fun for two reasons. One reason was that I knew Georgie would be enjoying herself while she was showing off her skills. I think it's good for the players to show off and just have fun with the soccer ball. No parents, no referees, no coaches, no fans, no pressure, just have fun. The other reason is that it gave a great opportunity to come up with social media content and to market the team. I loved filming the stuff we did for the players and for the team, but I also loved when the filming would be used to promote the team.
The first trick stuff we did was when Georgie was in the field house and kicked the soccer ball into a garbage can. Coach was so impressed by this when I showed him. He really was. I believe he said "That's really good."
We filmed the garbage can part well before any of the other teams or athletes made trick shot videos. Georgie was the first to have stuff filmed. We weren't the first to post it online, nor were we ever going to get as much attention as a football player or women's basketball player, but Georgie was to my knowledge the first to actually have something filmed.
I also really liked the one when Georgie and Julie teamed up in Shenkman to receive the ball from the air, juggle 15-20 yards and then pass it off to the other player who kicks it through the uprights for a field goal. That was awesome.
I also loved the day that Georgie and I went through campus and filmed. There was snow on the ground and we were doing filming outside of the Wilbur Cross Building. I remember getting a camera angle that I liked that required me to be sitting in the snow. Then Georgie and I went and filmed inside a lecture hall. I don't think anyone has seen that video, but I really had so much fun filming it. We would bounce ideas off of each other for things to do, like juggling a soccer ball into class, or juggling on the desk in the front of lecture halls. I had so much fun doing this.
I think making videos like this is a great way to market a team, especially a women's soccer team. Too often the knock on female athletes is that they are boring, or that any guy could do what they do. By showing what they can do, that no one else can really do, you are attacking that stereotype in hopes that people will respect the athletes enough to actually consider going to a game. Atleast that was a theory I wanted to try. I also thought that unique videos online would create positive attention for the team and could get people to gain interest in following the team and attending games.
I will also say that I am not a fan of copying other people's ideas. I wanted everything we filmed to be unique somehow
In other words, I would not have been a fan of a "Call Me Maybe" video. There are too many of those. Now a "Starships" Video or something like that, I would be all for, because it's different. You don't want to copy great ideas, you want to come up with ones that are better. I was extremely impressed with the Freshman Talent show because the routine was unique.
I can't tell you how much more I wish we got to do with making videos, but I can't tell you how much I enjoyed making and filming those videos with Georgie.
We had a lot of ideas for videos that we never got to do. It's hard to do them when you have to worry about the players being tired, dealing with injuries, dealing with classes etc.
Now I mentioned the talent show earlier and when it came to the talent show, Georgie, didn't quite remember what to do at the end of it. The whole team was lying down at the end while Georgie was standing in the middle. Thankfully Georgie was in the middle, so it looked slightly less weird than if she had been somewhere else.
One year during our spring clinic Georgie also got disrespected by a participant. She could tell you what the camper told her, but I thought it was something like "You're Mother" or something else disrespectful. It was just something that was really wrong to say and that you wouldn't expect out of a clinic participant. What I do remember is that the player that disrespected Georgie was wearing yellow cleats.
Also, one of my favorite clips that I ever videoed was a zoomed in shot of a slide tackle by Georgie in a spring game at Oakwood. I zoomed in and got her tackle and the turf pellets coming up from her slide.
Georgie stopped by the office a lot, especially when she was a freshman. As she got older, like most players, they become more independent and aren't around quite as much, and her presence was missed. I would tell our secretary that it's been too long since Georgie has stopped by.
I felt like I spoke to Georgie more than most players, and that she was someone I knew better than others. I really want her to do well and have a great senior year.
Monday, June 4, 2012
From The World of Tennis
I like to post interesting or strange videos when I find them on occasion. Here is one that is, well awkward, but very well played. Very well played.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYxlKbe0WZY
I will say that something similar happened during warm-ups before the Notre Dame game at Notre Dame this year.
I believe a few of the guys sitting behind our goal during warm ups were asking for Dulski's phone number, or if they could add her on facebook. I remember telling Leigh-Ann "Man those guys are REAL losers."
Although she is really good at focusing on warm-ups and being prepared mentally, I did see Dulski laugh and smile more than usual, so I am thinking she heard them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYxlKbe0WZY
I will say that something similar happened during warm-ups before the Notre Dame game at Notre Dame this year.
I believe a few of the guys sitting behind our goal during warm ups were asking for Dulski's phone number, or if they could add her on facebook. I remember telling Leigh-Ann "Man those guys are REAL losers."
Although she is really good at focusing on warm-ups and being prepared mentally, I did see Dulski laugh and smile more than usual, so I am thinking she heard them.
I think I am prepared
So I made plans to go on a 120 mile bike ride. When it's completed I could take that off my list.
I guess my preparations would be slightly different for these 120 miles if I was racing these 120 miles, which technically I am not.
However, I will say that if I am on my bike, competitive juices will be flowing. I will try not to race. Inevitably I will get impatient and go.
This is supposed to happen in about three weeks as long as the weather cooperates, which it better.
Now how should I train for this?
Thankfully I am in really good shape, and from the feedback I have gotten from a local bike mechanic, my aunt (who has done these and is going too), and my own self confidence, I should be fine for riding 120 miles.
I am confident my legs can handle it. Confident my lungs can as well.
I am not worried about my legs, I am worried about my neck, my a$$ hurting, and my back and my stomach.
Tylenol could very well become a friend of mine.
Sitting on a bike seat for 6+ hours is probably going to be painful. It's especially painful the first time you ride for the season. It's the definition of pain in the ass.
My neck can sometimes bother me as well on long rides, as can my back occasionally. I won't let that bother me, I will finish 120 miles, I just don't know what it will feel like in the process and how much those things could take away from the enjoyment of it. Although truthfully the real enjoyment will be getting off the bike and seeing the computer say, 120 miles. How many people can say they have gone on a 120 mile bike ride? Just accomplishing this is what is motivating me, plus I want to go 120 miles and see what it is like.
I might really enjoy 120 mile bike rides. That's a scary thought. Centuries are the ultimate accomplishment for a cyclist too.
Now for me the part of the bike ride that I really find interesting is the bathroom and eating situation. This event is not a race, it's just being able to say you went on this absurdly long ride.
There will be places to stop and eat, which is different from racing, when you have to eat and ride at the same time. Eating and riding a bike at the same time is a skill I need to learn.
For the first time I tried to eat on my bike yesterday. I chose one thing to bring and stick in my pocket. It was not exactly healthy, but the point of bringing the York Peppermint Patty was to determine how I could unwrap and eat something while going at a moderately easy pace. (The eating slowed me down in other words)
I decided that I should eat when I was on a flat part of the road, and when I could comfortably take a hand off the handlebars (aka not when an 18 wheeler passes you by, or in the middle of a turn). My initial thought was that I would use both my hands quickly to open the wrapper. I didn't love the feeling of that. Maybe more seasoned cyclists who go on really long rides and are used to eating can do that. I would say I cycle a lot but since I go on relatively short 20-30 mile rides I don't usually need to eat in the middle of the ride, so I am a rookie at eating.
So I tried to figure out the best way to have this candy. I decided that I would just use my teeth to break open the wrapper and I just popped the peppermint patty into my mouth. I really didn't savor the taste either. It just went in my mouth and I swallowed it and kept on going.
I don't think that really gave me an energy boost, but to be fair, in case you want an excuse to eat a peppermint patty while riding, I did have the quickest ride on this terrain ever. I went 17.3 MPH (don't let gym bikes fool you by the way. While they are good for tracking progress, I have not found their miles to be accurate) which included having to stop in the middle of a hill because the chain came off the bike, is apparently "really moving" according to the bike mechanic because of the hills and because I was riding by myself.
Riding by yourself makes a big difference as well. You can go much faster if someone is in front of you poking a hole in the air in front of you, especially when it's windy. Wind, not surprisingly, makes it hard.
So eating and riding is something I need to practice for long rides, especially if I decide to do a long ride that is also a race. Who wouldn't want to have to incorporate eating into a practice session?
Maybe cross country runners and gymnasts wouldn't like that, but I do.
Now, for the bathroom part, I thankfully won't need to worry at all. It's not a race, just a long ride that I will probably make into a race.
I know NASCAR drivers employ that strategy of just going in their clothes, as must other auto racers.
I found an article on this in the New York Times, and I guess there are methods for cyclists to use the bathroom that are different from just going in their shorts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/sports/sportsspecial1/22bike.html
Now if these 120 miles were a race, I'd also need to train more. I would need to be doing rides that are approaching that 120 mile mark, at decent speeds.
To summarize all of this drivel, if you go biking, or workout/exert yourself for a while you can bring a peppermint patty and see if it works makes you do better.
I guess my preparations would be slightly different for these 120 miles if I was racing these 120 miles, which technically I am not.
However, I will say that if I am on my bike, competitive juices will be flowing. I will try not to race. Inevitably I will get impatient and go.
This is supposed to happen in about three weeks as long as the weather cooperates, which it better.
Now how should I train for this?
Thankfully I am in really good shape, and from the feedback I have gotten from a local bike mechanic, my aunt (who has done these and is going too), and my own self confidence, I should be fine for riding 120 miles.
I am confident my legs can handle it. Confident my lungs can as well.
I am not worried about my legs, I am worried about my neck, my a$$ hurting, and my back and my stomach.
Tylenol could very well become a friend of mine.
Sitting on a bike seat for 6+ hours is probably going to be painful. It's especially painful the first time you ride for the season. It's the definition of pain in the ass.
My neck can sometimes bother me as well on long rides, as can my back occasionally. I won't let that bother me, I will finish 120 miles, I just don't know what it will feel like in the process and how much those things could take away from the enjoyment of it. Although truthfully the real enjoyment will be getting off the bike and seeing the computer say, 120 miles. How many people can say they have gone on a 120 mile bike ride? Just accomplishing this is what is motivating me, plus I want to go 120 miles and see what it is like.
I might really enjoy 120 mile bike rides. That's a scary thought. Centuries are the ultimate accomplishment for a cyclist too.
Now for me the part of the bike ride that I really find interesting is the bathroom and eating situation. This event is not a race, it's just being able to say you went on this absurdly long ride.
There will be places to stop and eat, which is different from racing, when you have to eat and ride at the same time. Eating and riding a bike at the same time is a skill I need to learn.
For the first time I tried to eat on my bike yesterday. I chose one thing to bring and stick in my pocket. It was not exactly healthy, but the point of bringing the York Peppermint Patty was to determine how I could unwrap and eat something while going at a moderately easy pace. (The eating slowed me down in other words)
I decided that I should eat when I was on a flat part of the road, and when I could comfortably take a hand off the handlebars (aka not when an 18 wheeler passes you by, or in the middle of a turn). My initial thought was that I would use both my hands quickly to open the wrapper. I didn't love the feeling of that. Maybe more seasoned cyclists who go on really long rides and are used to eating can do that. I would say I cycle a lot but since I go on relatively short 20-30 mile rides I don't usually need to eat in the middle of the ride, so I am a rookie at eating.
So I tried to figure out the best way to have this candy. I decided that I would just use my teeth to break open the wrapper and I just popped the peppermint patty into my mouth. I really didn't savor the taste either. It just went in my mouth and I swallowed it and kept on going.
I don't think that really gave me an energy boost, but to be fair, in case you want an excuse to eat a peppermint patty while riding, I did have the quickest ride on this terrain ever. I went 17.3 MPH (don't let gym bikes fool you by the way. While they are good for tracking progress, I have not found their miles to be accurate) which included having to stop in the middle of a hill because the chain came off the bike, is apparently "really moving" according to the bike mechanic because of the hills and because I was riding by myself.
Riding by yourself makes a big difference as well. You can go much faster if someone is in front of you poking a hole in the air in front of you, especially when it's windy. Wind, not surprisingly, makes it hard.
So eating and riding is something I need to practice for long rides, especially if I decide to do a long ride that is also a race. Who wouldn't want to have to incorporate eating into a practice session?
Maybe cross country runners and gymnasts wouldn't like that, but I do.
Now, for the bathroom part, I thankfully won't need to worry at all. It's not a race, just a long ride that I will probably make into a race.
I know NASCAR drivers employ that strategy of just going in their clothes, as must other auto racers.
I found an article on this in the New York Times, and I guess there are methods for cyclists to use the bathroom that are different from just going in their shorts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/sports/sportsspecial1/22bike.html
Now if these 120 miles were a race, I'd also need to train more. I would need to be doing rides that are approaching that 120 mile mark, at decent speeds.
To summarize all of this drivel, if you go biking, or workout/exert yourself for a while you can bring a peppermint patty and see if it works makes you do better.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Lucky 7's
Weird information here...
7's in a Jersey number have been good for UCWS lately.
Four of the past five seasons the leading goal scorer has worn a number with a 7 in it
2007 and 2008 - Annie #7
(In 2007 on the UCONN Men's side O'Brian White lead all of Division I in goals wearing number 7)
(In 2008 Nela lead Division II in goals wearing number 7)
2010 Nela #77
2011 Danielle #7
The last four times UCONN beat a team from the ACC a player wearing a number with a 7 in it scored first. Sarah Stanczyk #77 vs BC (Exhibition 2008) Meg #17 vs Wake in 2009, Danielle #7 vs BC (Exhibition 2011) Danielle#7 vs Wake in 2011
In 2010 and 2011 the first goal and regular season goals were scored by a player with a 7 in it. 2010 (No exhibition goals) Regular Season Siena Meg #17, 2011 Exhibition BC Danielle #7, 2011 Regular Season Northeastern Julie #17
The last time UCONN beat a Number 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament players with 7's scored (Meg #17 and Annie #7 at Stanford)
The last two times UCONN advanced on PK's the winning kick was struck by a player with a 7 in their jersey number (Meg #17 vs BC in 07 and vs WVU in 08)
And I'd say that there is a very good chance that a number with a 7 in it leads the team in goals for the next three years...
The all-time leading goal scorer at UCONN wore #17...I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing she lead the team in goals scored for several years.
Britton Arico wore #7 and with 41 goals is 10th all-time in UCWS goals.
Just saying, jersey numbers with a 7 in it appear to be a good idea.
Plus Annie #7, Julie #17, Sam #27, Nela #77 have also all had 4.0 GPA's at one point, if not multiple times.
Just saying, numbers with 7's are a good idea.
Can't wait for someone to request #57. Maybe they can have a multi-polar personality and come in 57 Varieties, or could be a ketch-up lover...or Johan Santana lover.
7's in a Jersey number have been good for UCWS lately.
Four of the past five seasons the leading goal scorer has worn a number with a 7 in it
2007 and 2008 - Annie #7
(In 2007 on the UCONN Men's side O'Brian White lead all of Division I in goals wearing number 7)
(In 2008 Nela lead Division II in goals wearing number 7)
2010 Nela #77
2011 Danielle #7
The last four times UCONN beat a team from the ACC a player wearing a number with a 7 in it scored first. Sarah Stanczyk #77 vs BC (Exhibition 2008) Meg #17 vs Wake in 2009, Danielle #7 vs BC (Exhibition 2011) Danielle#7 vs Wake in 2011
In 2010 and 2011 the first goal and regular season goals were scored by a player with a 7 in it. 2010 (No exhibition goals) Regular Season Siena Meg #17, 2011 Exhibition BC Danielle #7, 2011 Regular Season Northeastern Julie #17
The last time UCONN beat a Number 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament players with 7's scored (Meg #17 and Annie #7 at Stanford)
The last two times UCONN advanced on PK's the winning kick was struck by a player with a 7 in their jersey number (Meg #17 vs BC in 07 and vs WVU in 08)
And I'd say that there is a very good chance that a number with a 7 in it leads the team in goals for the next three years...
The all-time leading goal scorer at UCONN wore #17...I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing she lead the team in goals scored for several years.
Britton Arico wore #7 and with 41 goals is 10th all-time in UCWS goals.
Just saying, jersey numbers with a 7 in it appear to be a good idea.
Plus Annie #7, Julie #17, Sam #27, Nela #77 have also all had 4.0 GPA's at one point, if not multiple times.
Just saying, numbers with 7's are a good idea.
Can't wait for someone to request #57. Maybe they can have a multi-polar personality and come in 57 Varieties, or could be a ketch-up lover...or Johan Santana lover.
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