Dear Diane,
Not sure if you read this blog anymore, but I just had to write something. This year I fell in love...again. Just like last year, I screwed it up, but it was totally my doing this time. Regan is amazing and someone I'd be happy to spend the rest of my life with. She's sweet, compassionate, smart, funny, beautiful inside and out. I had another one of my spontaneous brain farts and came to the conclusion that we couldn't work based on one little issue. By the time I'd realized how stupid I was being (which was literally minutes after it was over), it was too late.
I've grown up a bit over the past year, but not as much as I should have. I'm still the same guy who spends too much, studies too little, and doesn't think about the near future. I can tell you were I want to be 10 minutes and 10 years from now, but the middle ground is rough.
So here we are at a crossroads, a year later and not much wiser. I hope someday she'll be able to forgive me, because honestly, I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Even as the words were coming out of my mouth during the break up, I never wanted to be without her. Here's the 3 step plan to my success:
1) Be who I say I am. I'm a law student, and that means I go to class, I do my work on time, I get my studying done. Beyond that, I have bar exam prep, a paper, work, and a whole lot more to keep me busy. One step at a time.
2) Be mindful of how my decisions have big ramifications for my future. Every dollar I spend is another one I have to earn. If I want some semblance of the life that I picture, I have to recognize that ask whether I can afford the time and money that I put into socializing.
3) Understand that I have it pretty good. My life has been blessed with good friends, good family, and good health. But things don't always work out as I plan them. I can't beg and plead my way into something I don't earn, so I have to work for everything I get. If I put my best foot forward and don't succeed, I can't say that I didn't try.
Okay, back to work. Lots of love to everyone back home.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Monday, September 20, 2010
I'm back
Diane,
A friend reminded me that the last post I left on here was pretty dark, and it's time that I let everyone know that I'm still alive.
Since I last wrote, things have been good. I spent the summer working as a judicial intern and followed it up with a new position that I should keep quiet for the time being. Let's just say it's interesting.
Family is great. My Uncle, Rob Mazolleck and his wife Laura have just had their first son. This is important because the family name will now live on for another generation. Mazolleck is my mother's maiden name, which was adopted when her German grandparents moved to Canada in the early days of World War II. They had 3 daughters and 2 sons, with only one boy being born in the next generation. This essentially put the weight of the family on my Uncle to produce a son to carry on the name. This morning that happened with the birth of _______ Allan Mazolleck(first name still being decided): 21 inches, 7 lbs, 6 oz. This is a great day and I know my grandfather is smiling down right now.
Mom and Dad will be visiting this weekend, which will be great. Mom hasn't been here since they dropped me off at the beginning of 1L year. I can't wait to see them.
Look for more semi-regular posts from me, but not too much since I will be extremely busy this year. But just know I'm well.
A friend reminded me that the last post I left on here was pretty dark, and it's time that I let everyone know that I'm still alive.
Since I last wrote, things have been good. I spent the summer working as a judicial intern and followed it up with a new position that I should keep quiet for the time being. Let's just say it's interesting.
Family is great. My Uncle, Rob Mazolleck and his wife Laura have just had their first son. This is important because the family name will now live on for another generation. Mazolleck is my mother's maiden name, which was adopted when her German grandparents moved to Canada in the early days of World War II. They had 3 daughters and 2 sons, with only one boy being born in the next generation. This essentially put the weight of the family on my Uncle to produce a son to carry on the name. This morning that happened with the birth of _______ Allan Mazolleck(first name still being decided): 21 inches, 7 lbs, 6 oz. This is a great day and I know my grandfather is smiling down right now.
Mom and Dad will be visiting this weekend, which will be great. Mom hasn't been here since they dropped me off at the beginning of 1L year. I can't wait to see them.
Look for more semi-regular posts from me, but not too much since I will be extremely busy this year. But just know I'm well.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Worst Week
Diane,
I've been making a real ass of myself lately. I got dumped by a girl in one of the harshest ways possible, but that's not the real story here. What's happening here is the fact that I haven't grown up at all. I continue to make bad decisions based only on what I want and what I feel I need or deserve. My ex did some bad things to me, but my wallowing isn't about her, it's about me.
What I wanted was to be with her, even if it wasn't right. I tried to make the situation right with her by trying to change little things about her, or trying to change little things about myself to make it fit. It was never going to happen, but I was (and insanely, still am) convinced that her and I were right together. But it's about me and what I want all over again.
I have never been able to fully take responsibility for my actions and face the hard truths. I can say all the right things and then turn around and do the exact same thing over and over again. My argument style has always been to admit my shortcomings on the surface and move the conversation elsewhere, never dealing with the actual issues that plague me. I'm selfish, self-centered, unmotivated, entitled, whiny and narcissistic. Even now as I write this, I know it's partially for my own vanity and to show others that I'm thinking about things and reevaluating my life. Half the time I don't believe the things that come out of my mouth, not because they're not true, but because they ring hollow in my ears.
What happened in the past few weeks was horrible and I don't want to be with someone who would do that to me, but how I've reacted speaks more to why she lost respect for me in the first place. She was able to see past my B.S. and understand that I'm not the man that I project myself to be.
This past week I threw a temper tantrum of epic proportions. She told me it was over on Sunday and tried to be nice about it, but didn't give me a reason that I felt was valid enough so I dug around. I found out a bunch of things I didn't like and proceeded to talk about it AT LENGTH with anyone that would listen and even some who were sick of hearing about it. Other than read for class, I got very little accomplished and spent the week obsessing and replaying where things may have gone wrong, never considering the possibility that we just didn't work as a couple. All I knew is that it was my decision to make, not her's, on whether we should keep trying or not. It's so unhealthy and it's something that I've done before.
But nothing about this is a breaking story. It's stuff that I've realized over and over again. I am the living embodyment of a Government Report that is ordered to address a serious issue, develops recommendations, and then sits on the shelf collecting dust as we return to business as usual.
She wanted me to step up and show her that I was the guy that I said I was. I failed at that. And that's not to condone her actions or say that we would have been good if I followed through on my words, but it really shows me that I'm needing to work on stuff instead of just giving it lip service. She might be the first person I've ever known that completely blew my cover and walked away because of it. My initial reaction is to blame her and to play every angle that makes her look bad, but the bottom line is that when I was given the opportunity to be the best person I could be, I couldn't come through.
Admitting this here is going to throw some worry into the people that love me most. There is so much hard work that goes into changing a lifetime of bad habits, but I have to grow up...fast. I have to be done with all of this garbage and be the responsible person I think I can be.
So here you have it, more words to talk about how all I am is words. But this means absolutely nothing unless I put it into action.
Will this work out for the best? Stay Tuned.
I've been making a real ass of myself lately. I got dumped by a girl in one of the harshest ways possible, but that's not the real story here. What's happening here is the fact that I haven't grown up at all. I continue to make bad decisions based only on what I want and what I feel I need or deserve. My ex did some bad things to me, but my wallowing isn't about her, it's about me.
What I wanted was to be with her, even if it wasn't right. I tried to make the situation right with her by trying to change little things about her, or trying to change little things about myself to make it fit. It was never going to happen, but I was (and insanely, still am) convinced that her and I were right together. But it's about me and what I want all over again.
I have never been able to fully take responsibility for my actions and face the hard truths. I can say all the right things and then turn around and do the exact same thing over and over again. My argument style has always been to admit my shortcomings on the surface and move the conversation elsewhere, never dealing with the actual issues that plague me. I'm selfish, self-centered, unmotivated, entitled, whiny and narcissistic. Even now as I write this, I know it's partially for my own vanity and to show others that I'm thinking about things and reevaluating my life. Half the time I don't believe the things that come out of my mouth, not because they're not true, but because they ring hollow in my ears.
What happened in the past few weeks was horrible and I don't want to be with someone who would do that to me, but how I've reacted speaks more to why she lost respect for me in the first place. She was able to see past my B.S. and understand that I'm not the man that I project myself to be.
This past week I threw a temper tantrum of epic proportions. She told me it was over on Sunday and tried to be nice about it, but didn't give me a reason that I felt was valid enough so I dug around. I found out a bunch of things I didn't like and proceeded to talk about it AT LENGTH with anyone that would listen and even some who were sick of hearing about it. Other than read for class, I got very little accomplished and spent the week obsessing and replaying where things may have gone wrong, never considering the possibility that we just didn't work as a couple. All I knew is that it was my decision to make, not her's, on whether we should keep trying or not. It's so unhealthy and it's something that I've done before.
But nothing about this is a breaking story. It's stuff that I've realized over and over again. I am the living embodyment of a Government Report that is ordered to address a serious issue, develops recommendations, and then sits on the shelf collecting dust as we return to business as usual.
She wanted me to step up and show her that I was the guy that I said I was. I failed at that. And that's not to condone her actions or say that we would have been good if I followed through on my words, but it really shows me that I'm needing to work on stuff instead of just giving it lip service. She might be the first person I've ever known that completely blew my cover and walked away because of it. My initial reaction is to blame her and to play every angle that makes her look bad, but the bottom line is that when I was given the opportunity to be the best person I could be, I couldn't come through.
Admitting this here is going to throw some worry into the people that love me most. There is so much hard work that goes into changing a lifetime of bad habits, but I have to grow up...fast. I have to be done with all of this garbage and be the responsible person I think I can be.
So here you have it, more words to talk about how all I am is words. But this means absolutely nothing unless I put it into action.
Will this work out for the best? Stay Tuned.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Ice Man Cometh
Diane,
It's 15 degrees Celcius, partly cloudy, no wind, and we're in the Midst of a state of emergency. Gov. Brad Henry declared a statewide state of emergency about an hour ago in anticipation of the big ice storm that is coming through tonight. It has probably hit in a few parts of the state, but here, it's still nice.
But the people here; WOW! Everyone is going nuts! I went to the grocery store to get a few things in case I'm stuck inside for the next couple of days, and the grocery store was packed. There wasn't one cart in the front of the store as I headed in. Tulsans were stocking up and bracing for a big winter storm. The gas stations are the same right now; there are lines out of the parking lot trying to get gas and it's infuriating.
But I guess the locals know better. 2 years ago, power was out for almost a week. Some of my 3L classmates had to take their finals in the dark. Last year, the town froze up for 4 days, with school being cancelled for 3. Tonight I feel like I did when I was little, hearing about the snow coming and hoping that I got to miss school and sit inside watching TV all day. Sadly, nothing has changed, haha.
UPDATE: I woke up this morning and ran to the window, looking for ice and snow....NOTHING. We've been in a "State of Emergency for about 15 hours now and we haven't seen any change in the weather, other than a drop in temprature. Well, I guess it's off to school for me.
It's 15 degrees Celcius, partly cloudy, no wind, and we're in the Midst of a state of emergency. Gov. Brad Henry declared a statewide state of emergency about an hour ago in anticipation of the big ice storm that is coming through tonight. It has probably hit in a few parts of the state, but here, it's still nice.
But the people here; WOW! Everyone is going nuts! I went to the grocery store to get a few things in case I'm stuck inside for the next couple of days, and the grocery store was packed. There wasn't one cart in the front of the store as I headed in. Tulsans were stocking up and bracing for a big winter storm. The gas stations are the same right now; there are lines out of the parking lot trying to get gas and it's infuriating.
But I guess the locals know better. 2 years ago, power was out for almost a week. Some of my 3L classmates had to take their finals in the dark. Last year, the town froze up for 4 days, with school being cancelled for 3. Tonight I feel like I did when I was little, hearing about the snow coming and hoping that I got to miss school and sit inside watching TV all day. Sadly, nothing has changed, haha.
UPDATE: I woke up this morning and ran to the window, looking for ice and snow....NOTHING. We've been in a "State of Emergency for about 15 hours now and we haven't seen any change in the weather, other than a drop in temprature. Well, I guess it's off to school for me.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
The NBC Late Night Debacle
Diane,
I just watched the final "Tonight Show with Conan O'Brian" online and I'm pretty depressed about the whole thing. I know, how sad is it that with all the other things I have to worry about and I'm following the situation at NBC so closely. But it's got contractual legal issues, so it's not all wasted time.
If you weren't watching, NBC promised 'The Tonight Show' to 'Late Night' host Conan O'Brian the tonight show way back in 2003, starting in 2009. When the time came to make the change, Jay Leno wasn't ready to retire and NBC didn't want to let him go, so they gave him a 10 PM EST talk show. It was a flop and was cancelled. NBC still didn't want to let Leno go, so they suggested moving Jay to 11:35 and moving 'The Tonight Show' back a half hour. No one was happy with that. Conan refused, so NBC bought him out and moved Leno back to his old gig.
NBC has been taking incredible heat for weeks over this, from all sides, all totally deserved. What they did is short sighted and indecisive. Conan O'Brian's ratings were weaker than Leno's, but the key demographic of young adults (18-49) was growing over the old 'Tonight Show' following. What does this mean? It means that advertisers pony up more cash for TV spots because that's the consumer demographic. The nielsen ratings had a 7 share for Conan's goodbye, and an 8.8 for Leno's back in the spring of last year, but only 3 shows (Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, and American Idol) did better with young adults last week.
But the numbers don't tell the whole story. Conan is hero to the college set. These people (myself included) are night hawks, out when the show is actually on, and are tech saavy enough to realize that they don't have to be on the couch at 11:30 to see the show. But it doesn't mean that Conan O'Brian isn't important, as has been shown by the outpouring of support these past weeks and the torching of Jay Leno, whether it's his fault or not. These are the people that are buying stuff and it's the group that advertisers fall over each other to reach through the media.
It doesn't seem to matter though. Jay Leno is a proven commodity and brings in bigger Nielsen Ratings, which is catnip for advertisers. It's the only hard numbers that matter and measuring stick for how much networks can charge for airtime. NBC is doing what they feel is best to make the most profit and it's going to work in the very short term. But it's a disaster for them long term. Conan is the future and isn't going to go away.
But where does he go? FOX is a possibility, but they might have a hard time selling affiliates, who see their biggest profits when they air cheap syndicated shows. Those pesky Nielsen numbers are going to continue to matter and weigh heavy on what will be a tough programming decision. Cable would provide a quality alternative, but there likely isn't a good fit that could pay Conan what he was making on NBC...and probably not likely to greenlight a 200 person staff.
So this is what I'm suggesting: Support companies that advertise on Conan's new show. We might not be able to provide a strong Nielsen number because of our flaky lifestyles, but we're really willing to get behind a consumer movement. Drink a soft drink; see a crappy movie; buy a pair of jeans. A boost in the quarterly numbers will scream good investment to these companies and will send a message that the world is changing.
And a final note for NBC: Sit on it and rotate. I will never watch 'The Tonight Show' again.
I just watched the final "Tonight Show with Conan O'Brian" online and I'm pretty depressed about the whole thing. I know, how sad is it that with all the other things I have to worry about and I'm following the situation at NBC so closely. But it's got contractual legal issues, so it's not all wasted time.
If you weren't watching, NBC promised 'The Tonight Show' to 'Late Night' host Conan O'Brian the tonight show way back in 2003, starting in 2009. When the time came to make the change, Jay Leno wasn't ready to retire and NBC didn't want to let him go, so they gave him a 10 PM EST talk show. It was a flop and was cancelled. NBC still didn't want to let Leno go, so they suggested moving Jay to 11:35 and moving 'The Tonight Show' back a half hour. No one was happy with that. Conan refused, so NBC bought him out and moved Leno back to his old gig.
NBC has been taking incredible heat for weeks over this, from all sides, all totally deserved. What they did is short sighted and indecisive. Conan O'Brian's ratings were weaker than Leno's, but the key demographic of young adults (18-49) was growing over the old 'Tonight Show' following. What does this mean? It means that advertisers pony up more cash for TV spots because that's the consumer demographic. The nielsen ratings had a 7 share for Conan's goodbye, and an 8.8 for Leno's back in the spring of last year, but only 3 shows (Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, and American Idol) did better with young adults last week.
But the numbers don't tell the whole story. Conan is hero to the college set. These people (myself included) are night hawks, out when the show is actually on, and are tech saavy enough to realize that they don't have to be on the couch at 11:30 to see the show. But it doesn't mean that Conan O'Brian isn't important, as has been shown by the outpouring of support these past weeks and the torching of Jay Leno, whether it's his fault or not. These are the people that are buying stuff and it's the group that advertisers fall over each other to reach through the media.
It doesn't seem to matter though. Jay Leno is a proven commodity and brings in bigger Nielsen Ratings, which is catnip for advertisers. It's the only hard numbers that matter and measuring stick for how much networks can charge for airtime. NBC is doing what they feel is best to make the most profit and it's going to work in the very short term. But it's a disaster for them long term. Conan is the future and isn't going to go away.
But where does he go? FOX is a possibility, but they might have a hard time selling affiliates, who see their biggest profits when they air cheap syndicated shows. Those pesky Nielsen numbers are going to continue to matter and weigh heavy on what will be a tough programming decision. Cable would provide a quality alternative, but there likely isn't a good fit that could pay Conan what he was making on NBC...and probably not likely to greenlight a 200 person staff.
So this is what I'm suggesting: Support companies that advertise on Conan's new show. We might not be able to provide a strong Nielsen number because of our flaky lifestyles, but we're really willing to get behind a consumer movement. Drink a soft drink; see a crappy movie; buy a pair of jeans. A boost in the quarterly numbers will scream good investment to these companies and will send a message that the world is changing.
And a final note for NBC: Sit on it and rotate. I will never watch 'The Tonight Show' again.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The downward slide
Diane,
I'm halfway through! The rollercoaster has reached it's peak and now I am on the hard and fast slide towards my date with the bar exam. Last week, I realized exactly what I had in front of me, and just like that rollercoaster peak, the view is mighty fightening. This semester I'm enrolled in 4 courses, totalling 13 credit hours, plus my responsibilities to Phi Alpha Delta, the Federalist Society, and Student Bar Association, and to top it all off, I've joined the Energy Law Journal.
As I write this, I'm sitting in the ELJ office, doing my first subciting assignment for the journal. It basically consists of me looking over an article written by someone who is so further along in the legal profession that they've forgotten the basics. It is my job to go through this and look for errors in their citing and quoting and make sure everything is accurate. I'm beginning to figure out that either I don't know what I'm doing, or the guy who wrote it is waaaaaay off. 33 cites to check between now and friday morning, plus my reading, plus thinking about my topic for my 40 page paper that I owe the journal, plus attempting to be a good friend, boyfriend, son, citizen, and superhero under the alias of the Dark Baron(Patent Pending). It's going to be a long couple of months.
I'm halfway through! The rollercoaster has reached it's peak and now I am on the hard and fast slide towards my date with the bar exam. Last week, I realized exactly what I had in front of me, and just like that rollercoaster peak, the view is mighty fightening. This semester I'm enrolled in 4 courses, totalling 13 credit hours, plus my responsibilities to Phi Alpha Delta, the Federalist Society, and Student Bar Association, and to top it all off, I've joined the Energy Law Journal.
As I write this, I'm sitting in the ELJ office, doing my first subciting assignment for the journal. It basically consists of me looking over an article written by someone who is so further along in the legal profession that they've forgotten the basics. It is my job to go through this and look for errors in their citing and quoting and make sure everything is accurate. I'm beginning to figure out that either I don't know what I'm doing, or the guy who wrote it is waaaaaay off. 33 cites to check between now and friday morning, plus my reading, plus thinking about my topic for my 40 page paper that I owe the journal, plus attempting to be a good friend, boyfriend, son, citizen, and superhero under the alias of the Dark Baron(Patent Pending). It's going to be a long couple of months.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Mark McGwire
Diane,
I've been a Cardinals fan since I was little. In the '91 All Star game, Cardinals' Shortstop Ozzie Smith came out during the introductions and did his trademark backflip. I was sitting in my Uncle Bill's living room and took notice; The Cards were his favorite team, and now they were mine.
I've lived and died by the team for as long as I can remember. The agony of the '96 NLCS; The bitter playoff defeats in '04 and '05 when they were a great team, followed by the surprising World Series Championship in '06. I've loved players along the way; Ozzie Smith; Jim Edmonds; and like almost every other Cardinals' fan, Mark McGwire.
Yesterday was a tough one. McGwire went on TV and admitted to steroid use throughout his career, including during the magical 1998 HR record chase. I took him at face value when he said that he never took steroids, but I always wondered. I'm not surprised by this admission. There's alot of people calling him a cheater today, saying he's not a Hall of Famer, saying that he's one of the players that essentially started the steroids era in baseball. All of that may or may not be true, but after reading Jayson Stark's column on ESPN.com this morning, I had to weigh in.
Stark wrote:
... I found myself asking a question I'm sure millions of other Americans were asking:
Does this man really understand what he did?
Not just to himself. And not just to the people who cared about him and supported him.
To the sport.
To his sport.
To a sport that needed his magical summer of 1998 way more than McGwire now needs our forgiveness.
And to all the folks who got caught up in that special summer, let down their guard and basked in one of the most compelling sports stories of our lifetimes.
Does he really understand what he did to them?
I don't think he does. I don't think he gets it. He certainly gave us very little reason Monday to think he gets that part of this equation. Unfortunately for him, it's the most important part of all.
Reading this, I think it's a contradiction. Baseball was hurting. It needed a moment like this, and it needed it out of its biggest stars. Mark McGwire was one of them. The admission today does taint the summer of '98, but it doesn't change the feelings that people had at the time. Baseball was broken; the strike had killed the sport and it needed that resurgence. I remember every season articles would flood preseason previews about who might break Roger Maris' HR record; The pressure was constant and from all sides. McGwire was expected to be one of those chasing the record.
I can't help but thinking about Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men" and how his monologue fits here:
Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
Baseball needed the record broken and it needed to be done by a hero like Mark McGwire. You can look back now and say that it was cheating and the whole record is cheapened by steroids, but baseball needed the Summer of '98. This moment where we revise history and how we look upon the MLB record books can only happen because the sport is on solid footing in our culture. Like it or not, McGwire is a big reason for that.
I've been a Cardinals fan since I was little. In the '91 All Star game, Cardinals' Shortstop Ozzie Smith came out during the introductions and did his trademark backflip. I was sitting in my Uncle Bill's living room and took notice; The Cards were his favorite team, and now they were mine.
I've lived and died by the team for as long as I can remember. The agony of the '96 NLCS; The bitter playoff defeats in '04 and '05 when they were a great team, followed by the surprising World Series Championship in '06. I've loved players along the way; Ozzie Smith; Jim Edmonds; and like almost every other Cardinals' fan, Mark McGwire.
Yesterday was a tough one. McGwire went on TV and admitted to steroid use throughout his career, including during the magical 1998 HR record chase. I took him at face value when he said that he never took steroids, but I always wondered. I'm not surprised by this admission. There's alot of people calling him a cheater today, saying he's not a Hall of Famer, saying that he's one of the players that essentially started the steroids era in baseball. All of that may or may not be true, but after reading Jayson Stark's column on ESPN.com this morning, I had to weigh in.
Stark wrote:
... I found myself asking a question I'm sure millions of other Americans were asking:
Does this man really understand what he did?
Not just to himself. And not just to the people who cared about him and supported him.
To the sport.
To his sport.
To a sport that needed his magical summer of 1998 way more than McGwire now needs our forgiveness.
And to all the folks who got caught up in that special summer, let down their guard and basked in one of the most compelling sports stories of our lifetimes.
Does he really understand what he did to them?
I don't think he does. I don't think he gets it. He certainly gave us very little reason Monday to think he gets that part of this equation. Unfortunately for him, it's the most important part of all.
Reading this, I think it's a contradiction. Baseball was hurting. It needed a moment like this, and it needed it out of its biggest stars. Mark McGwire was one of them. The admission today does taint the summer of '98, but it doesn't change the feelings that people had at the time. Baseball was broken; the strike had killed the sport and it needed that resurgence. I remember every season articles would flood preseason previews about who might break Roger Maris' HR record; The pressure was constant and from all sides. McGwire was expected to be one of those chasing the record.
I can't help but thinking about Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men" and how his monologue fits here:
Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
Baseball needed the record broken and it needed to be done by a hero like Mark McGwire. You can look back now and say that it was cheating and the whole record is cheapened by steroids, but baseball needed the Summer of '98. This moment where we revise history and how we look upon the MLB record books can only happen because the sport is on solid footing in our culture. Like it or not, McGwire is a big reason for that.
Monday, January 4, 2010
NFL Rant
Diane,
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all that jazz. There's more important things to discuss right now. Namely the lack of respect being given to my New York Jets and how they "Backed into" the playoffs.
Yes, the Jets beat two teams with nothing to play for in order to get into the playoffs. So what? For years the NFL has scheduled team's opponents years in advance on a system where a team plays every team from it's division twice, games against all the teams in another division of the team's conference and games against all the teams in one division of the opposing conference, and two games against teams that they haven't faced in a while, or are rivals from another division based on proximity or history. I don't hear anyone screaming about Cincinnati being in the playoffs after beating Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland(twice), Kansas City for 5 of their 10 wins. Those teams had a combined record of 17-47. How about Dallas, who beat Tampa Bay, Seattle, Washington(twice), Oakland, and Kansas City? Record: 21-59. Dallas also lost TWICE to a New York Giants team that gave up 40+ points five times in the last 11 games.
My point in this is simple: IT'S FOOTBALL! The season is long, you have plenty of opportunities to play your way in(or out) of the playoffs. The Jets caught a break by playing 2 teams with nothing much to play for, but it happens. Both teams were talented. I doubt we'd be hearing a peep if their schedule had them playing teams that weren't any good(Kansas City, St. Louis, Detroit) or were imploding (Denver, NY Giants). Give the unfair advantage talk a break and enjoy the playoff football. I know we're not going to see the Jets, or any team, roll over and die for an opponent.
EDIT: Just to continue on another rant, why is everyone all of a sudden so high on the Cowboys? Yes they did win the NFC East this year by beating an Eagles team that had just won 6 straight. Looking closer though, the Eagles best win all season was a win at Atlanta(9-7) 3 weeks ago. Of their other 9 wins they beat the New York Giants(8-8) twice, Carolina(8-8), Denver(8-8), San Francisco(8-8), Chicago(6-10), Washington(4-12) twice, Kansas City(4-12) and Tampa Bay(3-13). Combined record for ALL their wins: 50-80. Up until 3 weeks ago, Dallas was considered to be a major flop, the Division they're in to be overrated, and their QB to be garbage. An impressive win over New Orleans changed all that. But the Saints have fallen apart in the past 2 weeks, losing to at home to Tampa and at Carolina, so there's more questions about the Saints today than at the time of that win. After that, they beat up on 2 division opponents who were (say it with me now) OVERRATED on the whole. Will the Cowboys beat the Eagles on Saturday? Probably. Can they go to Minnesota and win in an ear-crushing Metrodome? About as likely as a gametime temp of 70 in the land of 10,000 lakes.
Whew, that felt good.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all that jazz. There's more important things to discuss right now. Namely the lack of respect being given to my New York Jets and how they "Backed into" the playoffs.
Yes, the Jets beat two teams with nothing to play for in order to get into the playoffs. So what? For years the NFL has scheduled team's opponents years in advance on a system where a team plays every team from it's division twice, games against all the teams in another division of the team's conference and games against all the teams in one division of the opposing conference, and two games against teams that they haven't faced in a while, or are rivals from another division based on proximity or history. I don't hear anyone screaming about Cincinnati being in the playoffs after beating Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland(twice), Kansas City for 5 of their 10 wins. Those teams had a combined record of 17-47. How about Dallas, who beat Tampa Bay, Seattle, Washington(twice), Oakland, and Kansas City? Record: 21-59. Dallas also lost TWICE to a New York Giants team that gave up 40+ points five times in the last 11 games.
My point in this is simple: IT'S FOOTBALL! The season is long, you have plenty of opportunities to play your way in(or out) of the playoffs. The Jets caught a break by playing 2 teams with nothing much to play for, but it happens. Both teams were talented. I doubt we'd be hearing a peep if their schedule had them playing teams that weren't any good(Kansas City, St. Louis, Detroit) or were imploding (Denver, NY Giants). Give the unfair advantage talk a break and enjoy the playoff football. I know we're not going to see the Jets, or any team, roll over and die for an opponent.
EDIT: Just to continue on another rant, why is everyone all of a sudden so high on the Cowboys? Yes they did win the NFC East this year by beating an Eagles team that had just won 6 straight. Looking closer though, the Eagles best win all season was a win at Atlanta(9-7) 3 weeks ago. Of their other 9 wins they beat the New York Giants(8-8) twice, Carolina(8-8), Denver(8-8), San Francisco(8-8), Chicago(6-10), Washington(4-12) twice, Kansas City(4-12) and Tampa Bay(3-13). Combined record for ALL their wins: 50-80. Up until 3 weeks ago, Dallas was considered to be a major flop, the Division they're in to be overrated, and their QB to be garbage. An impressive win over New Orleans changed all that. But the Saints have fallen apart in the past 2 weeks, losing to at home to Tampa and at Carolina, so there's more questions about the Saints today than at the time of that win. After that, they beat up on 2 division opponents who were (say it with me now) OVERRATED on the whole. Will the Cowboys beat the Eagles on Saturday? Probably. Can they go to Minnesota and win in an ear-crushing Metrodome? About as likely as a gametime temp of 70 in the land of 10,000 lakes.
Whew, that felt good.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Back Home
Mrs. Cardinal,
Tried calling your new place last night to get ahold of that son of your's. Apparently he doesn't answer the phone if he doesn't know the number, and he doesn't know mine. Let him know I'm back in town and looking to hang out. I think he'll appreciate getting out of the house for an outing.
So I made it home safely. Exams were tough, but not impossible. I think I'm learning how to prepare for finals as I go along and it makes it easier to understand the materials. I'm hoping to continue the upward swing in my transcripts again this semester.
Went out to Tavern United with a couple of friends last night. Its one of the reasons I love coming home to Portage la Prairie so much; You go out with one or two people and you end up being around so many folks you haven't seen in forever.
But it has its downside too. Whenever you go out in a small town environment, there inevitably is someone that is sitting with you that you don't know. Since you know everyone else, it's assumed that you know EVERYONE. You can't introduce yourself, because there's that fear that you already know the person and you've forgotten. So you sit in silence, looking for clues; someone saying their name; talking about who they're dating/have dated; mentioning a drunken night that everyone was at that could jog your memory.
But if that never comes, it's time to confide to a friend. If you're lucky, that friend will know who the person is. If not, the best you can hope for is to compare the notes you've taken over the course of the night and try and figure out the mystery together.
Last night that happened 4 times to me at the same table of 12. I figured out two on my own, one I'm reasonably sure on, and one I'm still wondering about. As it is small town Manitoba, I'm sure I'll get another chance tonight.
Welcome home, Aaron!
Tried calling your new place last night to get ahold of that son of your's. Apparently he doesn't answer the phone if he doesn't know the number, and he doesn't know mine. Let him know I'm back in town and looking to hang out. I think he'll appreciate getting out of the house for an outing.
So I made it home safely. Exams were tough, but not impossible. I think I'm learning how to prepare for finals as I go along and it makes it easier to understand the materials. I'm hoping to continue the upward swing in my transcripts again this semester.
Went out to Tavern United with a couple of friends last night. Its one of the reasons I love coming home to Portage la Prairie so much; You go out with one or two people and you end up being around so many folks you haven't seen in forever.
But it has its downside too. Whenever you go out in a small town environment, there inevitably is someone that is sitting with you that you don't know. Since you know everyone else, it's assumed that you know EVERYONE. You can't introduce yourself, because there's that fear that you already know the person and you've forgotten. So you sit in silence, looking for clues; someone saying their name; talking about who they're dating/have dated; mentioning a drunken night that everyone was at that could jog your memory.
But if that never comes, it's time to confide to a friend. If you're lucky, that friend will know who the person is. If not, the best you can hope for is to compare the notes you've taken over the course of the night and try and figure out the mystery together.
Last night that happened 4 times to me at the same table of 12. I figured out two on my own, one I'm reasonably sure on, and one I'm still wondering about. As it is small town Manitoba, I'm sure I'll get another chance tonight.
Welcome home, Aaron!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Rounders
Dear Diane,
I love poker; Especially Texas Hold 'Em. So much fun to just sit at the table with a bunch of friends and spend a night talking, drinking and playing cards.
I'm sitting on my couch in my living room with a Professional Responsibility lesson on my computer and the movie 'Rounders' on the TV. The movie is one of my favorites. But the way Teddy KGB plays the final hand just caught my attention and it might ruin the movie for me.
Matt Damon's character is holding Suited 8/9 of Spades and flops 6 of Diamonds, 7 of Spades, 10 of Hearts, which gives him his Straight. He has everything that he needs to win and slowplays Teddy KGB to win the hand and all the money on the table. It's a perfect end to the movie, except there should be no way that a good player would have anything that would win that hand for them.
KGB calls out that Damon is 'chasing' cards, which means that KGB already has something on the flop. KGB obviously doesn't have the straight, flush, or anything the resembles a monster hand, so why is he so confident? The best I can guess at what KGB might have is pocket 6s, 7s, or 10s, but even then he shouldn't be as confident as he is.
Bottom line, the way KGB's character is set up in the movie, it's pretty unsatisfying to see such a great movie end without him showing the cards and revealing the bad beat, especially after the great beating KGB gave him at the beginning of the movie with the pocket Aces. But I'll always love the movie anyways.
P.S. 16 here and sunny. Went ice skating outdoors without a jacket yesterday at the arena. I'm guessing no one is doing that back home, lol.
I love poker; Especially Texas Hold 'Em. So much fun to just sit at the table with a bunch of friends and spend a night talking, drinking and playing cards.
I'm sitting on my couch in my living room with a Professional Responsibility lesson on my computer and the movie 'Rounders' on the TV. The movie is one of my favorites. But the way Teddy KGB plays the final hand just caught my attention and it might ruin the movie for me.
Matt Damon's character is holding Suited 8/9 of Spades and flops 6 of Diamonds, 7 of Spades, 10 of Hearts, which gives him his Straight. He has everything that he needs to win and slowplays Teddy KGB to win the hand and all the money on the table. It's a perfect end to the movie, except there should be no way that a good player would have anything that would win that hand for them.
KGB calls out that Damon is 'chasing' cards, which means that KGB already has something on the flop. KGB obviously doesn't have the straight, flush, or anything the resembles a monster hand, so why is he so confident? The best I can guess at what KGB might have is pocket 6s, 7s, or 10s, but even then he shouldn't be as confident as he is.
Bottom line, the way KGB's character is set up in the movie, it's pretty unsatisfying to see such a great movie end without him showing the cards and revealing the bad beat, especially after the great beating KGB gave him at the beginning of the movie with the pocket Aces. But I'll always love the movie anyways.
P.S. 16 here and sunny. Went ice skating outdoors without a jacket yesterday at the arena. I'm guessing no one is doing that back home, lol.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
End of the semester
Diane,
Few short hits:
-3 exams down, 2 to go. The big ones are out of the way, and now I've got 4 days to study for my last 2.
-Flying home for the holidays on Friday. Jenna is picking me up at the airport in Grand Forks. Cheaper that way.
- Watching 'It's a wonderful life' on TV. I think this might be my all-time favorite movie. George Bailey is the character that I aspire to be. He's got the ability to make the tough choices that I haven't had to make yet. Thinks about others more than himself, no matter how much he complains about what it costs him. And at the end of the day, the respect that he earns from those around him is exactly what I want. "No man is a failure who has friends" is the inscription left by Clarence the Angel in the book he leaves for George. It's one of the quotes that's always stuck with me.
I'm looking forward to being home for the holidays. It'll be great to see you and everyone else.
Few short hits:
-3 exams down, 2 to go. The big ones are out of the way, and now I've got 4 days to study for my last 2.
-Flying home for the holidays on Friday. Jenna is picking me up at the airport in Grand Forks. Cheaper that way.
- Watching 'It's a wonderful life' on TV. I think this might be my all-time favorite movie. George Bailey is the character that I aspire to be. He's got the ability to make the tough choices that I haven't had to make yet. Thinks about others more than himself, no matter how much he complains about what it costs him. And at the end of the day, the respect that he earns from those around him is exactly what I want. "No man is a failure who has friends" is the inscription left by Clarence the Angel in the book he leaves for George. It's one of the quotes that's always stuck with me.
I'm looking forward to being home for the holidays. It'll be great to see you and everyone else.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Roommate blues
Dear Diane,
I don't think I've ever written you about my roommate Jason. He can be a nice guy, but I feel like I'm living with Oscar Madison from 'The Odd Couple'.
When I moved to Tulsa a year and a half ago, I was looking for a place on campus to live, and my only option was to live with someone. Jason seemed okay through the computer, so I agreed to move in with him. Over the course of the next year I learned that Jason is an abrasive, alcoholic shut in that has bouts of depression and a mouth that would make a sailor blush (seriously, I've looked around the room sometimes in his presence and seen the eyes go to the floor when he goes on one of his rants). His hygene sucks too, but I steer clear or his room.
People asked me how I could live with him, but it was surprisingly easy. We know we're not friends(but we're friendly), and he stays in his room alot. I get my room, plus the common areas, pretty much to myelf. When I weighed it against the posibility of living with a friend that I would probably end up being with 24/7, the choice was simple. We would have exposed each other to our qwirks and probably ruined the friendship. That would have made this year so much harder.
But recently I've been rethinking that decision. More than anything, I hate people who are dishonest and he is one of the sketchiest people I know. The electrical bill has been a real problem. Last month our power almost was cut off because he didn't pay the bill(it is my contention that since the bill is in his name he pays it and I pay him as soon as I see a receipt). He claimed he didn't have the money and it was my fault he didn't pay the bill. He went so far as to have his mother call the housing office and have me called to the carpet for it. I gave him the money and thought that would be the end of it.
Imagine my surprise when I opened the bill this month and saw another disconnect notice. Apparently he'd taken my money and paid it to the electric company, but failed to pay any himself. That sketch-bag left over $80 left on the bill after he cried to his mommy about not being able to pay the bill because of me! I was furious then, and I'm still seething about it.
Finding some of my beer missing from the fridge tonight and him claiming he must have been drunk when he did it because he doesn't remember just reminded me of the whole ordeal. I'll be glad when he graduates or flunks out.
I don't think I've ever written you about my roommate Jason. He can be a nice guy, but I feel like I'm living with Oscar Madison from 'The Odd Couple'.
When I moved to Tulsa a year and a half ago, I was looking for a place on campus to live, and my only option was to live with someone. Jason seemed okay through the computer, so I agreed to move in with him. Over the course of the next year I learned that Jason is an abrasive, alcoholic shut in that has bouts of depression and a mouth that would make a sailor blush (seriously, I've looked around the room sometimes in his presence and seen the eyes go to the floor when he goes on one of his rants). His hygene sucks too, but I steer clear or his room.
People asked me how I could live with him, but it was surprisingly easy. We know we're not friends(but we're friendly), and he stays in his room alot. I get my room, plus the common areas, pretty much to myelf. When I weighed it against the posibility of living with a friend that I would probably end up being with 24/7, the choice was simple. We would have exposed each other to our qwirks and probably ruined the friendship. That would have made this year so much harder.
But recently I've been rethinking that decision. More than anything, I hate people who are dishonest and he is one of the sketchiest people I know. The electrical bill has been a real problem. Last month our power almost was cut off because he didn't pay the bill(it is my contention that since the bill is in his name he pays it and I pay him as soon as I see a receipt). He claimed he didn't have the money and it was my fault he didn't pay the bill. He went so far as to have his mother call the housing office and have me called to the carpet for it. I gave him the money and thought that would be the end of it.
Imagine my surprise when I opened the bill this month and saw another disconnect notice. Apparently he'd taken my money and paid it to the electric company, but failed to pay any himself. That sketch-bag left over $80 left on the bill after he cried to his mommy about not being able to pay the bill because of me! I was furious then, and I'm still seething about it.
Finding some of my beer missing from the fridge tonight and him claiming he must have been drunk when he did it because he doesn't remember just reminded me of the whole ordeal. I'll be glad when he graduates or flunks out.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
BCS Thoughts
Diane,
Alabama vs Texas in the Championship. I was rooting for TCU to make it into the Championship game, but it wasn't going to happen, even though they were better than Texas, in my opinion. It wasn't because they weren't one of the two best teams in the country, it was because you couldn't make a definitive argument that they were THE BEST team in the country.
TCU plays in a non-BCS conference and their competition isn't as tough as other conferences. For TCU to have played for the National Title, they would have had to have been considered a better than 50/50 shot to win. Why? Because while those making the matchups can stomach a blowout between teams from the SEC and Big 12, there's no way they will chance the second guessing that would take place if TCU got blown out and a BCS conference school finished the season undefeated, but didn't play for the national title. Evidenced by voters letting Cincinnati leapfrog TCU into 3rd in the BCS standings as a "just-in-case".
Until they play a tougher pre-season sechedule, no non-BCS school will crack the Championship. Sad, but true.
Alabama vs Texas in the Championship. I was rooting for TCU to make it into the Championship game, but it wasn't going to happen, even though they were better than Texas, in my opinion. It wasn't because they weren't one of the two best teams in the country, it was because you couldn't make a definitive argument that they were THE BEST team in the country.
TCU plays in a non-BCS conference and their competition isn't as tough as other conferences. For TCU to have played for the National Title, they would have had to have been considered a better than 50/50 shot to win. Why? Because while those making the matchups can stomach a blowout between teams from the SEC and Big 12, there's no way they will chance the second guessing that would take place if TCU got blown out and a BCS conference school finished the season undefeated, but didn't play for the national title. Evidenced by voters letting Cincinnati leapfrog TCU into 3rd in the BCS standings as a "just-in-case".
Until they play a tougher pre-season sechedule, no non-BCS school will crack the Championship. Sad, but true.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The pressure's on
Diane,
I just heard from my mother that my cousin Alyson is getting married. I'm really happy for her and I can't wait to meet the guy, but the ego-centric question I ask myself is: What does this mean for me?
Alyson is the only cousin on my mother's side that is older than I am. In our family, it's very close in ages, with all 9 cousins ranging from Alyson(28) to Katelyn(21). With Alyson now getting married in the Spring, Barrett(turning 27) getting married in the summer, Kristen(26) already married, Jenna(25) being practically engaged, and Jordan(turning 25) and Brett(23) seemingly headed for the alter, it leaves me as the odd man out.
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with where I am right now. I have a great new relationship and Holly is amazing. But I'm nowhere near ready to settle down yet. I think I'm bound to be the non-married one for a while.
Let the badgering begin!
I just heard from my mother that my cousin Alyson is getting married. I'm really happy for her and I can't wait to meet the guy, but the ego-centric question I ask myself is: What does this mean for me?
Alyson is the only cousin on my mother's side that is older than I am. In our family, it's very close in ages, with all 9 cousins ranging from Alyson(28) to Katelyn(21). With Alyson now getting married in the Spring, Barrett(turning 27) getting married in the summer, Kristen(26) already married, Jenna(25) being practically engaged, and Jordan(turning 25) and Brett(23) seemingly headed for the alter, it leaves me as the odd man out.
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with where I am right now. I have a great new relationship and Holly is amazing. But I'm nowhere near ready to settle down yet. I think I'm bound to be the non-married one for a while.
Let the badgering begin!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thanksgiving Weekend Recap
Dear Diane,
I had alot of fun this weekend, and I return to Tulsa 10 pounds heavier. The family dinner was great and I found Holly's family is no crazier than mine. I felt right at home with the little bit of gossip and backbiting, but the overwhelming sense of love and in-it-togetherness that I get when I'm with my family. It was a relief.
I'm apparently "Adorable" and welcome back any time. I guess my ability to make a good first impression hasn't left me. Neither has my massive ego. But I feel like this girl is something special and I'm glad that I passed the family test.
But now comes the tough part: FINALS! I'll be stressed for the next 3 weeks about the five exams in ten days that start a week from tomorrow. We'll see how I do, but that's all that is on my mind until I get to jump in the car and take off for home in 3 weeks.
I'll keep you updated on my mini-breakdowns
I had alot of fun this weekend, and I return to Tulsa 10 pounds heavier. The family dinner was great and I found Holly's family is no crazier than mine. I felt right at home with the little bit of gossip and backbiting, but the overwhelming sense of love and in-it-togetherness that I get when I'm with my family. It was a relief.
I'm apparently "Adorable" and welcome back any time. I guess my ability to make a good first impression hasn't left me. Neither has my massive ego. But I feel like this girl is something special and I'm glad that I passed the family test.
But now comes the tough part: FINALS! I'll be stressed for the next 3 weeks about the five exams in ten days that start a week from tomorrow. We'll see how I do, but that's all that is on my mind until I get to jump in the car and take off for home in 3 weeks.
I'll keep you updated on my mini-breakdowns
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy American Thanksgiving!
Diane,
This is the first year I will be celebrating a real American Thanksgiving. Last year I spent the break at my apartment, just hanging out and reading for finals. This year, I made the trip to Long View, Texas, to meet my new girlfriend's family. Scary? Surprisingly not. Her mother, step father, and brother have been great since we got here yesterday and I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of the family this morning when we travel to Tenaha, Texas for the big family dinner. Hope I make a good impression!
Right now I'm sitting in front of the TV with my laptop, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. What I'm really excited for is the Turkey, Stuffing, Pumpkin pie, and the 3 NFL Games on TV today. Should be great.
But I want to let you know how thankful I am for you and all my family and friends back home. I have a mother and a father that believe in me and support me fully in what I'm doing here in the United States. I have two incredible sisters that I'm incredibly proud of. My friends keep me humble and laughing every day. I have my health, my well being, and my sanity because of the tremendous support system I've been blessed with. Everyday I thank God for the gifts that he has given me and I try my best to not take this for granted.
So pass along my best to all back home on this run-of-the-mill Thursday; I love and miss you all. I'll see you in 4 weeks!
This is the first year I will be celebrating a real American Thanksgiving. Last year I spent the break at my apartment, just hanging out and reading for finals. This year, I made the trip to Long View, Texas, to meet my new girlfriend's family. Scary? Surprisingly not. Her mother, step father, and brother have been great since we got here yesterday and I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of the family this morning when we travel to Tenaha, Texas for the big family dinner. Hope I make a good impression!
Right now I'm sitting in front of the TV with my laptop, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. What I'm really excited for is the Turkey, Stuffing, Pumpkin pie, and the 3 NFL Games on TV today. Should be great.
But I want to let you know how thankful I am for you and all my family and friends back home. I have a mother and a father that believe in me and support me fully in what I'm doing here in the United States. I have two incredible sisters that I'm incredibly proud of. My friends keep me humble and laughing every day. I have my health, my well being, and my sanity because of the tremendous support system I've been blessed with. Everyday I thank God for the gifts that he has given me and I try my best to not take this for granted.
So pass along my best to all back home on this run-of-the-mill Thursday; I love and miss you all. I'll see you in 4 weeks!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Hail Flutie
Diane,
Tonight marked the 25th Anniversary of Boston College's 47-45 win over the defending national Champion Miami Hurricanes. Doug Flutie was the Quarterback and threw a 60 yard hail mary pass at the end of the game to win it for the Eagles. It has been considered one of the greatest plays in sports history.
It just got me thinking about all the memorable games I'd seen Doug Flutie play over the years, either on TV or in person. His time in the CFL was historic and he re-wrote the record books several times over before heading back to the NFL in 1997. Once he got there, he still had to fight for playing time, but never for recognition. He has always been, and always will be, and iconic figure in football.
I took a look for some articles on the possibility that Doug Flutie might ever get into the pro football hall of fame in Canton, Ohio. Other than baseball, it is the most difficult HoF to get into. His combined numbers are impressive - 58,179 total passing yards, 369 passing touchdowns, 6,759 rushing yards and another 82 rushing touchdowns - enough to make some experts consider him for admission.
But the argument seems to focus too much on his statistics. His supporters point to the name on the door in Canton and say "It's not the NFL hall of fame, It's the PRO FOOTBALL Hall of Fame!". I suggest the inflection should be elsewhere, namely, the Pro Football Hall of FAME.
Doug Flutie is a legend. From his days winning football games and Heisman Trophies at Boston College, to his drop kick extra point in his final NFL game(something that had not happened since 1941), Doug Flutie was a star. The numbers may not back it up in terms of general NFL statistics, but it has more to do with a lack of opportunity than a lack of skill. But regardless, you ask any football fan over the age of 10 who Doug Flutie is, I guarentee you 80% will know who you're talking about.
More than Doug Flutie deserves the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame deserves Doug Flutie. It would feel empty without him.
Tonight marked the 25th Anniversary of Boston College's 47-45 win over the defending national Champion Miami Hurricanes. Doug Flutie was the Quarterback and threw a 60 yard hail mary pass at the end of the game to win it for the Eagles. It has been considered one of the greatest plays in sports history.
It just got me thinking about all the memorable games I'd seen Doug Flutie play over the years, either on TV or in person. His time in the CFL was historic and he re-wrote the record books several times over before heading back to the NFL in 1997. Once he got there, he still had to fight for playing time, but never for recognition. He has always been, and always will be, and iconic figure in football.
I took a look for some articles on the possibility that Doug Flutie might ever get into the pro football hall of fame in Canton, Ohio. Other than baseball, it is the most difficult HoF to get into. His combined numbers are impressive - 58,179 total passing yards, 369 passing touchdowns, 6,759 rushing yards and another 82 rushing touchdowns - enough to make some experts consider him for admission.
But the argument seems to focus too much on his statistics. His supporters point to the name on the door in Canton and say "It's not the NFL hall of fame, It's the PRO FOOTBALL Hall of Fame!". I suggest the inflection should be elsewhere, namely, the Pro Football Hall of FAME.
Doug Flutie is a legend. From his days winning football games and Heisman Trophies at Boston College, to his drop kick extra point in his final NFL game(something that had not happened since 1941), Doug Flutie was a star. The numbers may not back it up in terms of general NFL statistics, but it has more to do with a lack of opportunity than a lack of skill. But regardless, you ask any football fan over the age of 10 who Doug Flutie is, I guarentee you 80% will know who you're talking about.
More than Doug Flutie deserves the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame deserves Doug Flutie. It would feel empty without him.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
24 hours of basketball
Diane,
Today was the official kickoff to the NCAA basketball season. It began last night at midnight and had continuous games across the country televised nationally on ESPN for the full 24 hours. The University of Tulsa was a part of it and we had a game against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. The Golden Hurricane is expected to win Conference USA and make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a few years. Needless to say, this was a mis-match.
The interesting part was how the game played out. I convinced a friend to come with me, but only after he put $50 on Tulsa against the spread...which was 16 points. As the game neared the end, Tulsa was flirting with that number, leading by between 14 and 19 points in the final 3 minutes. But even though the game was out of reach, the final minutes played out like it was a 3 point game. The UALR Trojans were playing a full court press the whole time, even though there was no way they could win. In the end the Trojans ended on a 5-0 run and lost the game by 14, but won against the Las Vegas spread, costing my friend his $50 bet.
It really got me wondering; Why was the team playing so hard? I know there's pride on the line, but have we really reached the point in college sports where teams know the spread and play to beat Vegas expectations, but not necessarily the team they're facing? The Trojans played flat most of the game and only came to life in the final seconds to just cover the spread. Had they played that frantic, up tempo-style all game long, they probably could have won. I guess it's more important to set the bar low and just get over it.
So to the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans...Congratulations! You made a few more people losers with you today.
Today was the official kickoff to the NCAA basketball season. It began last night at midnight and had continuous games across the country televised nationally on ESPN for the full 24 hours. The University of Tulsa was a part of it and we had a game against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. The Golden Hurricane is expected to win Conference USA and make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a few years. Needless to say, this was a mis-match.
The interesting part was how the game played out. I convinced a friend to come with me, but only after he put $50 on Tulsa against the spread...which was 16 points. As the game neared the end, Tulsa was flirting with that number, leading by between 14 and 19 points in the final 3 minutes. But even though the game was out of reach, the final minutes played out like it was a 3 point game. The UALR Trojans were playing a full court press the whole time, even though there was no way they could win. In the end the Trojans ended on a 5-0 run and lost the game by 14, but won against the Las Vegas spread, costing my friend his $50 bet.
It really got me wondering; Why was the team playing so hard? I know there's pride on the line, but have we really reached the point in college sports where teams know the spread and play to beat Vegas expectations, but not necessarily the team they're facing? The Trojans played flat most of the game and only came to life in the final seconds to just cover the spread. Had they played that frantic, up tempo-style all game long, they probably could have won. I guess it's more important to set the bar low and just get over it.
So to the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans...Congratulations! You made a few more people losers with you today.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Lest we forget.
Dear Diane,
Today is Remembrance Day...Vererans Day here in the US. I'm at school, in classes, because it isn't a holiday that is held in the same regard as it is back in Canada. I'm very disappointed in the response and the respect that is shown to veterans here.
I've always heard the jokes about the Canadian Military and how if it wasn't for the US and their mighty armed forces, we would have been taken over years ago. True or not, it really makes me proud to be a Canadian when I think about the pride and support we give to those who serve our nation, not only when they put on the uniform, but after they take it off. I don't see that here.
I wish I could have attended a service today, but it's just not possible. I did sit on my couch at 11 in my apartment, turned off the TV, pulled up the Last Post on YouTube and had my own moment of silence. It was nice, but it still didn't feel like home. Kudos Canada, on instilling the sense of pride and tradition in everyone that makes them want to show their respect even when no one else is.
Today is Remembrance Day...Vererans Day here in the US. I'm at school, in classes, because it isn't a holiday that is held in the same regard as it is back in Canada. I'm very disappointed in the response and the respect that is shown to veterans here.
I've always heard the jokes about the Canadian Military and how if it wasn't for the US and their mighty armed forces, we would have been taken over years ago. True or not, it really makes me proud to be a Canadian when I think about the pride and support we give to those who serve our nation, not only when they put on the uniform, but after they take it off. I don't see that here.
I wish I could have attended a service today, but it's just not possible. I did sit on my couch at 11 in my apartment, turned off the TV, pulled up the Last Post on YouTube and had my own moment of silence. It was nice, but it still didn't feel like home. Kudos Canada, on instilling the sense of pride and tradition in everyone that makes them want to show their respect even when no one else is.
Monday, November 9, 2009
A visit to Geekdom
Diane,
Not sure if you're interested in what makes me a geek, but I've always read comic books. Started with Archie when I was 8, moved on to Superheroes when I was 12. It's always brought me happiness to pick up a new issue and escape for 15 minutes or so.
I pretty much had stopped collecting comics(other than Spiderman) when I got to University, but about 4 years back a friend suggested I check out a Zombie comic called "The Walking Dead". It's an ongoing black and white graphic novel that starts out alot like the beginning of the movie "28 Days later" with a guy waking up in the hospital after a zombie apocalypse. His original goal is to find his wife and young son to see if they're still alive...and he finds them in issue 3.
The difference between the movie and the comic is that the story never ends. It is more about the interaction between characters; the development of civilized characters living in an uncivilized world. The most interesting stories in the book are the relationships between the characters and how there is a underlying distrust of other humans. At the heart of the story is that what the survivors have to fear the most is other survivors.
The latest story arc dealt with the survivors being stalked by a group called "The Hunters". We find out that these "hunters" are desperate people that love meat- but can't catch animals- so they've turned to hunting and eating human beings, who are much easier to catch. Our survivors are able to turn the tables on the hunters in a kill-or-be-killed moment, doing what they need to to survive and protect the weaker members of their group. When they finish, the leader, Rick, who has changed more than any character in the book, realizes exactly how far he's strayed from his humanity, but concludes that if he had to do it again, he'd still act the same way. Desperate times...
Why bring this up? AMC has optioned the comic to become a TV series. This is incredible news because I have always thought that this book would make a great television series; one that everyone would get excited over and want to watch. It's going to be directed and produced by Frank Darabont, the same guy who directed "Shawshank Redemption". I think this project is in very good hands.
Lots of hurdles to get over, but I'm hoping to see this show up sometime in 2010. I think it's going to be a HUGE hit.
And tell Jeff Spriggs to finish reading issues 1-50 so I can let someone else borrow them. Thanks.
Not sure if you're interested in what makes me a geek, but I've always read comic books. Started with Archie when I was 8, moved on to Superheroes when I was 12. It's always brought me happiness to pick up a new issue and escape for 15 minutes or so.
I pretty much had stopped collecting comics(other than Spiderman) when I got to University, but about 4 years back a friend suggested I check out a Zombie comic called "The Walking Dead". It's an ongoing black and white graphic novel that starts out alot like the beginning of the movie "28 Days later" with a guy waking up in the hospital after a zombie apocalypse. His original goal is to find his wife and young son to see if they're still alive...and he finds them in issue 3.
The difference between the movie and the comic is that the story never ends. It is more about the interaction between characters; the development of civilized characters living in an uncivilized world. The most interesting stories in the book are the relationships between the characters and how there is a underlying distrust of other humans. At the heart of the story is that what the survivors have to fear the most is other survivors.
The latest story arc dealt with the survivors being stalked by a group called "The Hunters". We find out that these "hunters" are desperate people that love meat- but can't catch animals- so they've turned to hunting and eating human beings, who are much easier to catch. Our survivors are able to turn the tables on the hunters in a kill-or-be-killed moment, doing what they need to to survive and protect the weaker members of their group. When they finish, the leader, Rick, who has changed more than any character in the book, realizes exactly how far he's strayed from his humanity, but concludes that if he had to do it again, he'd still act the same way. Desperate times...
Why bring this up? AMC has optioned the comic to become a TV series. This is incredible news because I have always thought that this book would make a great television series; one that everyone would get excited over and want to watch. It's going to be directed and produced by Frank Darabont, the same guy who directed "Shawshank Redemption". I think this project is in very good hands.
Lots of hurdles to get over, but I'm hoping to see this show up sometime in 2010. I think it's going to be a HUGE hit.
And tell Jeff Spriggs to finish reading issues 1-50 so I can let someone else borrow them. Thanks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)