It's Personal: You Decide...

I've decided to try my hand at seeing how best you know me. I'll tell two separate stories. You determine which is real...

It was a cold day in February. Black ice dotted the streets in and around Hartford. But that wasn't going to keep me away from my first UCONN Huskies game. I walked towards the Hartford Civic Center with a few of my friends. The UCONN Huskies had sparked an interest just five years earlier when Scott Burrell made a picture-perfect toss to Tate George, who then made 'The Shot' and put UCONN into the Elite Eight for the first time. I anticipated the moment when I'd see Ray Allen and Donyell Marshall on the court. Watching them beat the Seton Hall Pirates to a pulp. At some point during our walk towards the Civic Center, I turned to talk to a friend. The next thing I know, I'm on the ground bleeding. You'd think it was the ice. But no. Well, not exclusively. I walked square into one of those very sharp metal signs catching the left side of my head close to my temple. The impact caused me to lose my footing on an icy patch; I just barely got my hand down to buffer the fall. Sprained my wrist too, of course. After my friends had a good chuckle, they got me up and back to the car. Well, just one of them. He brought me to the hospital to ensure I was okay. The others attended the game. Nice. And I've still not attended a UCONN Huskies game...

I attended my first NFL game in 2001. And it wasn't even a Giants game. Having lived in Boston at the time, it made more sense for me to attend a game in Foxborough. Not the new field, mind you, but the old one. The one with the aluminum benches. And the windchill during the autumn that rivals any windstorm that might pass through Seattle during the dead of winter. It was a night game. We were wrapped in blankets, though that didn't matter much. Hot chocolate became cold in short order. The game had an odd feel. My first time to a field since before 9/11. Flags waving. Reds, whites, and blues triumphantly flying in the frigid breeze. Made me feel both oddly patriotic and uneasy simultaneously. Tom Brady. Teddy Bruschi. Adam Vinatieri. It was an interesting game. A bit back and forth. Not to mention it's the last time the Pats lost that year. And it was against the St. Louis Rams. By the way, I've still never seen a Giants game in Giants Stadium. Just sayin...

Sunday Scribblings: The Now Dead Flowers

Howdy all...

I know I said I'd be writing stories more often. But Sunday Scribblings challenged me to write poetry this week. It's been a long time since I wrote anything resembling poetry - with the exception of American Sentences and a few haiku. I have therefore attempted to write some. I cheated only a little... For whatever reason, Williams' The Red Wheelbarrow was on my mind today. I therefore tried my own hand at a similar styled poem...

so little care
is shown
to now dead
flowers
once with pink
petals
beside the gray
tombstone

Sporting Rants and Raves: August 29, 2009

Happy 47th birthday to Mr. Carl Banks formerly of the New York Football Giants. Well, the Redskins and Browns too, but they're not as important. Banks helped the G-Men to wins in Super Bowls XXI and XXV as left outside linebacker. He now works as a broadcaster for those same Giants on WFAN.

Trivia of the Week
Name the other 3 Giants linebackers in Super Bowls XXI and XXV respectively.

Answer to August 15th's Trivia of the Week
How many matches did Kerry Walsh and Misty May lose in Athens? in Beijing?
They lost matches in neither Athens nor Beijing.

Minnesota Vikings sign Brett Favre
Rather than concentrate on the egomaniacal man now dressed in purple, I'd like to consider the signal the Vikings front office has sent to all of the team members. 'Preseason doesn't matter.' That's the first lesson. You don't need to practice with the team much prior to the season. Go ahead and do that in Mississippi or Maine or Missouri or wherever. 'We don't believe in our other quarterbacks.' Sage, Tarvaris, sorry. You're just not good enough. Unless, of course, Favre gets hurt. In that case, you're the main guys. 'Who needs to build? We'll buy the Super Bowl.' As a fan of the New York Yankees, let me tell you that buying a championship doesn't work. Yes, I know some of you non-Yankees fans will say that that's exactly what the Yanks did in the late 90's. But, really, they didn't. They had a team with chemistry, a team with people who played with each other day in and day out for a while. Will the Vikes have that chemistry? I'll bet they don't. I'll bet Favre wrecks the clubhouse in his own way. Minnesota, you've now done football wrong twice over. First when you moved into a dome. And now that you've decided to roll the dice on the underwhelming Favre.

Yanks' Mitre shakes off rust, shuts down White Sox
Sergio Mitre with Chad Gaudin one-hit the White Sox earlier today to put the Yanks at 81-48. Undeniably the best team in baseball. A Red Sox fan and friend recently asked me if the Yanks have peaked too early. Maybe, I said, but they're playing better than anytime in recent memory. That is, within the past 7-10 years. I have faith. Now I just need the Rangers and Rays to knock the Sox out of the Wild Card spot.

With no helmets, St. Paul’s cancels season opener
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9. Spoken by St. Paul himself, I wonder if he's trying to make a point with his football team in West Virginia. Funny...

Ryan Moore, the golfer who left $300,000 on the table
I watched, recently, as Mr. Ryan Moore took the Wyndham Championship. I listened to my uncle talk about Moore's hat, a hat for which he didn't particularly care. I too thought it an odd hat for a pro golfer. As well as the odd attire. And now, I understand that Moore chooses specifically not to wear logo'd clothing. A rather remarkable principle, especially when it means sacrificing $300K.

Belichick: Brady not removed for injury
Who else is tired of Belichick's seemingly constant deception? So, Brady getting flattened by Haynesworth was exactly the time Bill intended to take Brady out? I want that crystal ball. But we have to remember that this is the same guy who had Brady on the injury list with an injured shoulder from 2006 through last year's first game of the season...

Well, now I must go and study before a night on the town this evening. And so, until next I write, happy sporting...

Osric's Ascent

His knees buckled under the weight of the black bag. He wanted desperately to throw it off into the cloudy abyss on his left side, but he knew he couldn’t. Not if he wanted his wife to survive.

They had taken her from their village in the dark of night. And no one even knew. He tried desperately to remember the hijacking. A sound, a smell. The angry touch of some assailant. But the tiny dart that had been found in his neck had muddled his brain. Any attempt to recall anything prior to falling asleep or after being revived by the local medic caused him to slip into a delirium where he dreamt of swimming in an ocean of warm milk.

He shook his head wildly to bring himself out of the dream. And only just in time to steady himself against the sheer cliff to his right. He kicked a rock. He didn’t hear it land.

A note printed in rather archaic speech had been pinned to their front door. It ordered him to climb the cursed mountain overlooking the village. A mountain from which none returned. He took the note to the village elders upon a plateau at the base of the mountain. They in their purple robes accepted him into their midst and bade him sit whilst they engaged in contemplation. A long time they sat discussing the evil that had befallen their unfortunate comrade. At long last, the wisest of them stood and rang a small bell hanging from a corner of the hall; a decision had been made. The elder announced, ‘Your wife is beyond saving. She has entered the halls of her mothers and fathers. Go, take another wife and be fruitful in the shadow of the mountain.’ With that, they departed; the door closed soundly behind them.

‘But what of the child she bears?’ he spoke to the silent hall.

He needed to climb before the darkness entirely engulfed him. It was then that he felt the first drop. And another. And another. Large, wet drops of cold rain started to fall more rapidly. He needed to find an enclosure, a cave, something. He readjusted the black bag and walked as fast as he was able, praying all the while to his ancestors that he might find a place to rest. It was then that he saw on the side of this forsaken mountain a fire illuminating a not altogether human shape.

It's Personal: Homeward Bound

It was one week ago that I wrote about Whirlyball, that odd pastime that requires a scoop, a wiffleball, and a bumper car. The next day I half-listened to people contemplating Information Technology strategy until approximately 1 p.m. Central. I then said my goodbyes to the workers in the mother ship and ventured with a colleague into the scorching Dallas heat. We flagged a cab, journeyed to the airport, and said our goodbyes to each other.

I flew to Charlotte. Then to Hartford, arriving at midnight on Friday. [Note to self: Don't fly U.S. Airways if I can help it.]

My brother waited in the baggage area and took me back to his place. A good ride during which he explained the issues with his job and with coaching. We found his wife awake watching some Food Network show. The baby had just gone to sleep.

My brother, however, wanted to show me the baby. So, he brought me into her room. His wife had told him not to wake her up. Little good that did. At the first sign of movement, my brother picked the three-month old from her crib and showed me my niece and soon-to-be Goddaughter. What a proud papa he was. What a proud uncle I am.

The long weekend progressed. I saw my aunt and uncle. I saw my first Goddaughter. I saw my maternal grandparents, on the cusp of 90 years of life. I saw my mother and my father. My stepmother who has been as good to me as any mother. My stepsister and niece. My paternal grandmother to whom I haven't spoken in a ridiculously long time. And for no good reason...

I watched as small miracles occurred in a church hall. My mother and father speaking in a corner. My grandparents were awash in the baptism of the newest member of their family, their smiles removing any sadness that may have come from the passing of so many of their respective friends and family.

I find it interesting that I have found so much peace by going home these past two years. Last year to bring my father to Yankee Stadium for the last time. This year, to see my niece baptized.

Along with that peace, I discovered a few things.

Last year, I rediscovered that friends and family love me and that I hadn't been keeping up my end of the bargain. I tried to 'fix' that problem with this blog. Not to mention I wanted to increase my writing. Kill two birds with one stone, as it were. Ironically, I lost the stone and the two birds decided to set up a nest on top of my house. In other words, I really didn't accomplish what I wanted to accomplish.

The blog is a wonderful communication tool, but it doesn't reach everyone. And it's a wonderful way to write, but I rarely write what I strive to compose. Instead, I write American Sentences and introductions to Videos of the Week. Don't get me wrong... This has been an enormously gratifying commitment, and I'm glad to have made it. But it's time that my focus shift a tad...

And so, I make another commitment. Rather, I make two... First, I will attempt to contact family members and friends for at least a brief phone conversation on Sundays like I once did. And second, I will transform the blog - gradually - into a forum for mostly stories. I may keep the 'It's Personal' Monday entry and the 'Sporting Rants and Raves' entry since they seem to be the most popular. But I will be looking into writing more substantial entries on the other days, even if it means writing in the blog fewer times a week.

To my family and friends, I give you my sincerest thanks for reminding me who I am and what is most important in life. May God bless you all...

TD

Whirlyball

I've missed the past few days because of my work schedule. And I'll most likely miss the next few because I will have only occasional access to the internet. But tonight, you get something special. A three-in-one extravaganza about a topic I would have never imagined. The three-in-one? An 'It's Personal', a 'Video of the Week', and '3WW' all in one...

So, I'm in Dallas. And we're having strategic planning meetings this week with our owners. Hour after hour of PowerPoint presentations about all things technology. A rather fruitful experience for someone so inexperienced in all things regarding technology, i.e. me. Each day thus far, we have worked from approximately 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and then we have traveled to a dinner - one at Sullivan's and one at Cool River. Steakhouses, go figure.

Well, tonight we changed it up a bit and journeyed to play whirlyball.

When I saw the word, 'Whirlyball' on the agenda, I was completely clueless. Never heard of it. Couldn't imagine what it entailed. I did a little searching and found some information. But I still couldn't believe what I was reading. We'll get there.

We traveled from the office in Dallas along 75 to Plano. Lots of traffic. Lots of bumper stickers thanking George Bush. And lots of Longhorn symbols on the backs of cars. We finally arrived and stepped from the car into a heat that would cause any food to decay immediately. I would have jogged inside, but I don't think I could have made it. I slinked instead.

Much cooler inside. When I stepped in, I was immediately whacked with what looked to be an enlarged wiffleball. Not one of the real wiffleballs with slits on the top half - or bottom half if you like - of the ball. Instead it was one of those balls that has little holes in it at equal intervals. Anyway, I got whacked with one. Then another. And another. Those who had already arrived were holding what almost looked to be a cross between a lacrosse net and a jai alai basket called a scoop. They were 'scooping' these balls and flinging them - similarly to how jai alai players throw - at a target that was exceptionally well placed near the entrance. Of course, I joined in the fray. And I couldn't hit the target to save my life.

Easy enough, you might think. Scooping a ball. Throwing it at a target. Eh.

Then I looked into the plate glass enclosed court on which Whirlyball is played. The floor consisted of alternating conducting plates. The court itself seemed smaller than a basketball court, though not by much. And is set up similarly with backboards at either end of the court. Except those backboards are much lower and do not have baskets but holes only slightly larger than the balls by which I had been whacked. Those holes have heavy plastic behind them so the ball never actually goes through the hole but hits the plastic instead.

On the court? Bumper cars. Yes, bumper cars. Five yellow and five red.

Now combine everything I've told you thus far, and you have your game. People drive their bumper cars holding their scoops and try to hit the backboard - if beyond a certain point marked on the wall - for 1 point. Or you could hit the heavy plastic for 2 points if between the mark on the wall and the backboard and 3 points if behind that mark on the wall.

It was a riot. If you had been a fly on the wall, you would have seen a group of adults trying desperately to manage to control the bumper car - which has only a gas pedal and a steering mechanism - while also maneuvering their respective scoops and flinging the ball at the backboard. Suffice it to say, most of the games were low scoring affairs. The ball ended up hitting just about everything except the backboards. The funny part? Everyone who hadn't tried it before thought it would be so easy to do. But it just isn't the case. There's just so much going on and you're constantly on the move.

Well, our group played for approximately 3 hours during which time the majority of us were sweating profusely. Partially because it gets hot in the court. And partially because we were expending significant effort. At 8 p.m. we stepped from the court and talked amongst each other. Meanwhile, another group took the court. People with headbands. And gloves. And scoops with cotton covers.

Yes, whirlyball is a competitive sport. Really. And in the competitive sport, you get 2 points for hitting the heavy plastic up close and 3 points from afar. There's no backboard hitting for a point in competitive play. The people - consisting of everyone from a 20-something young guy to a rather large 30-something woman to a very tall 40-something guy - got into their cars and then started playing the game as gracefully as you would expect any other professional to play a sport. Passes were spot on. They maneuvered the cars as if the machines were an extension of their bodies. And they hit that heavy plastic. The first game had a score of 20-16! I couldn't believe it. I stood in awe.

Then I looked the competitive sport up on the web. There's a whirlyball court in Edmonds, WA. And one in South Windsor, CT. Not to mention all the other courts all over the country. Unreal...

Well, as promised, I will also give you a brief look into Whirlyball:

Here's how we played it...


And here's how the 'pros' do it...

Sporting Rants and Raves: August 15, 2009

Happy 31st birthday to Ms. Kerri Walsh who with Ms. Misty May-Treanor compose what has been deemed the greatest beach volleyball team of all time. The team has twice won gold medals in the Olympics. The first came in Athens; the second in Beijing.

Trivia of the Week
How many matches did Walsh and May lose in Athens? in Beijing?

Answers to Last Week's Trivia of the Week
What happened for the first time at Wrigley Field on this date 21 years ago?
The Cubs tried to play the first night game at Wrigley Field. But they weren't successful. The game was rained out in the third inning and therefore had to be made up later in the season. The actual first night game took place on 8/9/1988.

Eagles' Vick back on NFL practice field
It was the 7th inning or so at Thursday night's Yankees-M's game. I took a quick look at my 'crackberry'. No email of import, so I went to the headlines. The first I saw was that Vick had signed... with the Eagles. I told the brothers, and they were surprised as well. The dam broke the next day with every sportscaster from every sport weighing in on the move. 'Vick will fit right in.' 'The Eagles made a big mistake.' et cetera, et cetera. What do I think? Well, I said he deserved his shot. If there weren't so much about egos in this entire thing, it could be entirely possible that Vick and McNabb could make a dangerous duo. Vick playing a Kordell Stewart kind of role (when Kordell actually played that kind of role) with McNabb having time bought for him with Vick's 'antics'. From that point of view, I'm concerned that a Spags-less Giants will have a hard time with the Iggles. But, there's a huge BUT to be overcome. If Vick wants to be the QB, there will be no end to the controversy in Philly, which will make life hell for all involved, especially McNabb. And then the Giants will wipe them off the face of the NFC East. I'm hoping, of course, for the latter...

Teixeira's HR lifts A-Rod-less Yanks
Andy Pettitte. Robinson Cano. Melky Cabrera. Jorge Posada. Mark Teixeira. A mix of old and new pushed the Yanks over the top last evening to take a 2-0 lead in the four-game series against the M's. And, better yet, they are still doing it without A-Roid. Okay, so I share something in common with M's fans.

3WW: The Only Solution
The team to which I was referring is the Chicago Cubs. The Cubbies haven't won a World Series since 1908. And they haven't been to one since 1945. It was during that year that the Cubbies went up 2-0 against Detroit and looked to be well on their way. But in the third game at Wrigley, a farmer brought his goat to the field, bought two tickets and tried to enter. When he was not allowed, he told the ushers that the Cubs wouldn't win again. The haven't. Since that time, the Cubs have brought goats in for publicity purposes, but it still hasn't worked. And it won't work, some say, until the Cubs actually let a goat come into Wrigley out of heartfelt virtue. Hysterical!

Woods up 4 at PGA as 3rd round begins
I commented on the fact that critics were calling the guy 'Terrible Tiger' in one of my more recent posts. I say to the critics: find something else about which to write because you have no clue. Looks like Woods will get another win.

Fantasy Football Watch
Earlier this year, I said I'd be keeping you in the loop about fantasy baseball. Well, I never quite understood the scoring system. And there were only 5 people in the league. Suffice it to say, I haven't looked at my team in some time. My guess is that I'm at dead last. But fantasy football, I understand. The only catch? I am now in 3 leagues. The East Coast league with my friends from college. The Softball league - friends from softball. And the Friends league - you got it, my friends. How will I fare? My guess is I'll be in the fray, but with 3 separate leagues and all the other stuff in my life, I most likely won't win any of them. Still, I enjoy it.

Well, I must go ready myself for 10 days away from home. Shopping. Packing. The whole nine. I will try to keep my normal blog posting schedule, though it may be difficult during my travels. In any case, until next I write, happy sporting...

Thursday 13: What I'll Remember about Tonight's Game

I visited Safeco Field for the first time this year to see the Yankees game. And here's what struck me...

1. However uncomfortable bleacher seats are, the view from center was awesome.
2. C.C. throwing a mid-90s fastball well into the eighth inning.
3. Alas, Seattle fans didn't boo A-Rod, but only because he wasn't playing.
4. Hideki Matsui's 2 homeruns to right. I'll come back to one of them in a moment.
5. Derek Jeter's HR blast to left.
6. Fireworks at Safeco for Wilson the SS after his HR. Note to Safeconians... Fireworks with the roof closed causes fits of coughing and eye irritations for anyone within the stands. Does anyone else light fireworks indoors?
7. Every person in the Yanks' initial lineup was on base at least once. Even Melky.
8. I attended with 2 brothers with whom I play softball. We call them the brothers Grimm.
9. The wafting smell of garlic. How much garlic do they put on those fries?
10. The 2 fathers with their kids in front of us (3 girls and a boy). All of them were wearing Yankees hats.
11. Watching the Yanks finish it off in the 9th and waiting for New York, New York. It didn't come, but I'll tell ya that there were certainly enough Yankees fans in the house to give a rousing rendition.
12. 11-1
13. A Mariners fan ensuring that Matsui's second HR was, in fact, a HR by sticking his glove out over Ichiro's perfectly timed reach to snag said homer from behind the wall. It would have been one of the best catches I'd ever seen. Instead, it's just another HR that barely cleared the wall.
    

3WW (Capture, Jinx, Qualify): The Only Solution

I've decided to try something a tad different. This entry begins with an American Sentence using this week's words and continues into an embellished non-fiction in 58. Do you know this team? Enjoy...

He qualified the jinx that now captures the faithful fans’ fettered souls. ‘You need only show a sincere fondness for the poor billy goat. Allow him to roam freely within those ivied walls. Offer him a dog with the works, maybe even a frosty beer. Then you will have your first series since forty-five in The Friendly Confines.’

Video of the Week: The Return of Football

This year's first preseason NFL touchdown sees a rookie punter for the Tennessee Oilers (yeah, I know, but see for yourself) run a trick play against the Buffalo-Toronto Bills.

A few thoughts about this...

I'm not looking forward to Chris Collinsworth on Monday Night Football.

Why would you want to run a trick play in the Hall of Fame game? Won't teams now be expecting that all year? I suppose they will only if Hentrich isn't in the game...

If you've played football long enough - and I assume these professionals have - wouldn't you think it's a little strange that not one but two people came completely free from the right side of the defense? Might that clue you in?

I still can't believe Houston lost to Frank Reich and Buffalo all those years ago. One of the most unbelievable games I've ever witnessed. It lead to the demise of the Houston Oilers...

I'm just glad T.O. isn't in this highlight. And that he's not in the NFC East...

It's Personal: The Joys of Booking Flights

My brother had set the date. August 23rd would be the day of Madison's baptism. And so, I began my search for flights. Expedia. Priceline. Orbitz. I laughed at Shatner in his punching pose. I bought a ticket from Priceline for a Wednesday 8/19 flight to Connecticut. I would return on Tuesday 8/25. All was well.

I then received an email from someone at Hudson Advisors, the company that manages the companies owned by Lone Star. This person invited me to a strategic planning session in Dallas from 8/17-8/21. But, the email explained, Monday and Tuesday were most important. So, I figured I was fine. I would simply have to change the flight so that I flew to Hartford from Dallas. No big deal.

I received more information about the meeting in Dallas. And after speaking with the CEO of my company, I realized that it would be a better idea for me to attend more of the strategic planning meeting. I told the woman from Hudson Advisors that I would stay through Thursday and then be on my way to Hartford. Finally, figured out.

Last Saturday, I woke up early and got on the phone to Priceline. I need to change my flight, I tell them. The person on the other end explained that I couldn't change the flight. Okay, I said, I want to cancel. You can't do that either, the person said. Huh? That doesn't make any sense. Sorry, that's our policy.

Damn you Shatner!

So, I called United, the airline on which I would be flying to Connecticut. A nine minute wait ensued. Then a foreign voice. I'm looking to change my flight. That'll be $150 up front plus whatever fees you incur for the new flight. Yeah, no thanks I told him.

What now?

I find a flight from Seattle to Dallas. And then from Dallas to Hartford. There's nothing I can do about that other flight from Seattle to Hartford. I just love throwing money at Priceline and the airlines. I'll just head back to Seattle on my original booking.

Lesson learned. Joseph told me of a trick he used when he booked flights as an executive assistant. Find the flight(s) you want on Expedia, Orbitz, or Priceline. Take down flight number(s) and price. Then, call the airline and book it directly with them. Right price and much more flexibility.

I'll remember this one.

Sporting Rants and Raves: August 8, 2009

Happy 28th Birthday to Mr. Roger Federer. There are more accolades to recommend for this Swiss tennis player than room I have in this post. I shall, however, say this - Mr. Federer is regarded by many to be the greatest male tennis player of all time. All by the ripe old age of 28. Wow!

Most of you know that I am a New York Yankees fan. I don't exactly keep it a secret. And many of you also know that until August 7, 2009 the New York Yankees had not won against the loathed Boston Red Sox. Well, that changed...

Red Sox designate Smoltz for assignment
I have nothing against Smoltz. In fact, I think he has been a great pitcher. More than 200 wins. More than 150 saves. Impressive statistics separately but together they're remarkable. One of the big three from Atlanta. Were the 3 1/3 innings he pitched against the Yanks his last? I don't think so. I even hope not. But boy did I enjoy that shellacking...

A-Rod HR in 15th lifts Yanks
As a fan, I don't particularly like A-Rod. Too much about the money. Too much about himself. At least that's the vibe I get. Then again, I've never met the guy. I know nothing about him. Well, he won that game last night - rather, this morning. His first homerun in 3 weeks sailed over the wall, and the Yanks came away with two straight wins and a four and a half game lead over the Sox. Awesome...

Trivia of the Week
What happened for the first time at Wrigley Field on this date 21 years ago?

Eli's deal with Giants being finalized
Eli will soon take his turn as the NFL's 'winner' of the highest annual salary. Does anyone feel as though this just feels like a huge jinx? Oy!

Hall induction turns into Buffalo bash
Bruce Smith and Ralph Wilson will be inducted today. Derrick Thomas, Rod Woodson, Randall McDaniel, and Bob Hayes too. Quite the class if I do say so. A defensive induction as well. With the exception of Bob Hayes.

And this means the start of football. Yes, I know. It's just the Hall of Fame game. Yes, I also know that it means watching the likes of T.O. and his antics. (At least he's not in the NFC East anymore.) But, it's time. I think I can honestly declare that this is the most wonderful time of the year. Well, maybe in another couple weeks when it's for real.

NBA and NHL take a back seat. Not at all upset about that...

Michael Crabtree Threatens to Sit Out Entire 2009 Season and Not Sign with San Francisco 49ers
Ri-friggin-diculous. Honestly. The whole draft thing is broken. Agents and players wait for people to sign to see how much they should request. And Crabtree doesn't think the 49ers have offered enough based on what has been offered to the 9th person in the draft. Look, Michael - and all the rest of you meatheads - you haven't even played in the NFL yet! Teams have no idea what you're worth. And it's been proven that those who sit out usually fizzle, at least in the first year. Yes, I understand that players can't let the teams take advantage of the situation. But, honestly, this whole negotiation is hogwash...

Fantasy baseball will soon conclude with me most likely in the middle of the pack. I still don't understand how the scoring works. And fantasy football - I've signed on for two separate leagues - is soon to begin. Alas, I won't be able to obsess as much as in years past.

That's the way it is on this day of piano keys. Until next I write, happy sporting...

Thursday 13: Leadership

I usually refrain from writing about work. And, as I think about it, this post isn't really about the work I do, per se. But it takes place at my workplace which I think qualifies.

Last week, the director of People and Training (Human Resources) approached me to find out if there might be anyone interested in attending a leadership training session. He explained that he was the only person who had signed up and that the session would not be as beneficial without a few more people in attendance. I knew that none of the IS managers could attend, so I volunteered myself. It soon slipped off my radar as I busied myself with other items.

The day before, the director of People and Training sent me the biography of the person who would be leading the two-day session. A former nun. Interestingly, this excited me since I had found most nuns I knew to be down-to-earth and fun to be around. And the next day, I discovered that Laurie was no exception. Boisterous and perhaps a bit loud, she engaged the four 'students' with her understanding of and excitement about the material she presented. I thoroughly enjoyed her.

As stated, the topic was leadership. How to, essentially. And the training hit a chord. What I was taught seemed at once both obvious and inspiringly foreign. I began to understand what it was leadership actually entails.

I give to you now material extracted directly from the material presented within the class:

13 Behaviors of High-Trust Leaders

1. Talk straight
2. Demonstrate respect
3. Create transparency
4. Right wrongs
5. Show loyalty
6. Deliver results
7. Get better
8. Confront reality
9. Clarify expectations
10. Practice accountability
11. Listen first
12. Keep commitments
13. Extend trust

3WW (Accentuate, Glamour, Pitch): American Sentences

American Sentences: They are haiku-length poems that Allen Ginsburg suggested be limited to 17 syllables, like haiku in Japanese and like the Heart Sutra in Buddhism. The following sentences are such American Sentences of 17 syllables.

The glamour of a pitched knuckleball accentuates baseball’s beauty.

Her glamour as a diva was not accentuated by her pitch.

His pitchy pants accentuate the fact that he cares not for glamour.

Video of the Week: Failblog

Honestly, these never get old. And after two twelve-hour days, this was enough to put a smile on my face...

Fore!... Fore!... FORE!... Ah, forget it...


As Uncle Mark used to say... Down in the heap...


Hold me close, young Tony Danza...


There's much what???


Introducing a New Washington Nationals Pitcher...


Run Forrest... Oh, Wait... Wait... WAIT! Eh, never mind...

It's Personal: Harry Potter

I took a Facebook quiz the other day to discover which Harry Potter character it says I am. It said Luna Lovegood. And I was almost in agreement.

Harry Potter did not immediately capture me. I was, after all, a cynical college man who had expelled as much multi-media from my life as possible at the time of its publishing. Well, with the exception of the internet, which in 1997 was still in a somewhat nascent - perhaps pubescent - form. I saw the bulky children's book in countless Borders and Barnes & Noble stores, and I scoffed and scowled at the parents and children. This persisted for the duration of my college career.

When I entered the seminary in 2000, I broke down and bought the first four books. And I began to read. I couldn't help but enjoy the wonderful blend of fantasy and childhood. The movies soon followed and offered to the reading and non-reading public alike a good interpretation of the books.

I was saddened to hear about Richard Harris. I don't think Michael Gambon is nearly the actor. But who can be?

And I continued to anticipate the books. No, I didn't purchase them as soon as they were released. I waited until I couldn't wait any longer. And then swallowed each book whole.

The movies came now and again. Becoming darker. But still doing justice.

The seventh book was finally released on the old man's 54th birthday, not that there's any connection there. He has no interest in the Harry Potter series. I waited two days, but couldn't resist. I wasn't going to let anyone ruin that one for me. So, I read for approximately a week and was able to tell if Harry died or not. An awesome ending. A great series.

But I still had to wait for the movies. The fifth one did well enough. Then came the sixth one which I finally saw this past weekend. What say ye, I hear you asking. And I say eh. Okay, so I who was once the anti-Harry snob have become the they-didn't-do-justice-to-the-book snob. For those of you who haven't read the book, you'll be fine. And from my objective non-reading point of view, it was good. Not as good as the fourth. Or the fifth. Probably better than the first three. But they were such different movies that I can't even compare them effectively.

I understand why. They couldn't end the movie in the same way as the book. I understand why Rowling gave the movie her blessing. But I wonder if she felt a tad let down. Just a tad. Then again, I have no idea what any author thinks of his / her work on screen. It must be such a bittersweet thrill.

So, here you have my critique. Should I see it, you ask me. And I say yes. Because you must. Especially if you haven't read the books. Because you must understand what is happening for the next two movies - split because they just couldn't do justice to a seventh book in only one movie. I await those two movies, though fear the first might be anticlimactic like the sixth.

I feel myself falling into stream of consciousness. Luna Lovegood style.

Sunday Scribblings: A Mother's Love?

His mother sat at the patio table, listening to her son’s friends tell her about his exploits. A big shebang for his 30th birthday. Her half-full Mai Tai sweating in Portland’s unseasonably warm summer sun. The story of her son singing Like a Virgin in suicide karaoke. The story of how he met his remarkably beautiful wife at a baseball game by snagging a foul ball out of his future wife’s hands. But anyone who knew his mother – these friends did not – knew that she enjoyed being the center of attention at the expense of all else. And so she started in on a story.

‘There was a time I remember when little Danny was turning seven. He was so excited about the party that we were to have at our house. A pool party. Baseball in the backyard. Pool. His father and I were exhausted from the planning. All the goody bags. The cake. Even a clown. But a strange thing happened. His friends’ parents began calling one by one. Henry couldn’t come because he was going to his grandparents’. Mike had a doctor’s appointment. Sarah had gotten into trouble. And then there was no one left. Little Danny started crying. No, sobbing. He broke a few of his gifts – and I told him we weren’t replacing them. Locked himself in his room after the clown showed up. He never seemed the same after that. Just a little lost for the rest of elementary school. All the way up to high school. It was a shame.’

She ended the story having won her victory. Her son had vanished into the house with his wife. And she had his friends’ undivided attention. She told stories well into the night.

Sporting Rants and Raves: August 1, 2009

Happy 31st Birthday to Mr. Edgerrin James, a free agent running back in the National Football League. Mr. James played for both the Indianapolis Colts and the Arizona Cardinals. Although he was not with the Colts for their 2006 win in the Super Bowl, the Colts still gave him a ring. And this past year he had the chance to be a part of the big game, even if his team did lose by a very small margin (27-23).

Ravens' Mason ends retirement
What is it to retire? According to dictionary.com, the word means to withdraw from something for the sake of rest or seclusion. Derrick Mason withdrew from the Ravens on July 14, 2009. He then returned on August 1, 2009. What, I wonder, is the shortest retirement of all time? And why can't people make up their minds? Is it a Favre thing about being in the spotlight? Or is it a really a question of desire after such a long, grueling career?

Phelps first under 50 seconds in 100 fly
I guess it doesn't really matter that Milorad Cavic was second under 50 seconds in 100 fly. In fact, they both broke that record. Unfortunately, it's only the first one there that actually breaks the record. Perhaps now Mr. Cavic can go season his foot and stick it - and his swimsuit - in his mouth.

Tiger cards 65, surges into Buick lead
On Friday, I read a headline I never thought I'd see. It was a not-too-kind reference to 'Terrible Tiger' and his horrific showing at the Buick. Critics have consistently wondered if Woods could possibly return to form after the knee surgery. Does a 63, a 65, and the lead help?

ChiSox introduce Cy Young winner Peavy
I haven't been following baseball all too closely this year. I haven't really followed baseball closely since the strike year of 1995, except of course for the playoffs and World Series. So, you can take my thoughts here with a grain of salt. I think it's a HUGE risk. But the upside is better. Imagine a good pitcher in the White Sox's rotation. It could get them deep into the playoffs. If they can catch the Tigers with their own newly acquired pitcher, Jarrod Washburn. (And I gotta tell ya most M's fans aren't weeping over that trade.)

Documents cast doubt on Coyotes sale
Here's a thought. Don't put a hockey team in a city that doesn't get below 50 degrees Fahrenheit as the average temperature on any given day. Yes, that goes for you too Panthers and Lightning.

Hawaii coach McMackin suspended 30 days
I personally think this happened to be a football coach being a football coach. Anyone who's ever played on a football team has heard a coach use any possible technique to rile his players. Whether by hating or laughing at the other team. This was an example of the latter. Should he have said it? No. He should have had better judgment. Do I understand why he said it? Yeah, he was bringing the lockerroom to the podium. Is this a slur against gay people? I'm inclined to think not, which still does not excuse the poor judgment.

Ortiz and Manny aware of positive test in Sept. '04
Once upon a time, I contemplated what might have happened had Roger Clemens not played for the New York Yankees. I gave away a World Series as a result. I wonder what would happen if some purist Red Sox fan were to contemplate Manny and Big Papi being PED free. Sure, their then teammate, Pedro, seems to think that nothing would have been different. But I sincerely wonder. And yet, as I've said before, this doesn't linger with the players. Instead, it points directly to the top of the league. These are the Dark Ages of baseball, ladies and gentleman. A bold and unfortunate combination of ignorance and stupidity.

And with that, I leave you to work out and do a bit of reading. Until next I write, happy sporting...