I listen to a lot of sports radio. I listen to it almost every morning on the way to the gym and work as well as on the way back from both of those places. So during the last couple of weeks I have been subjected to the popular dish that sports radio personalities love to serve up- the NCAA football postseason format. There is a huge split between proponents of the current BCS, bowl and computer ranking-based system and the establishment of some sort of playoff system. However, this afternoon's debate really got me fired up.
The hosts argued amongst each other and with callers about two distinct points- 1) how meaningful or meaningless the bowl games were because they have nothing to do with winning a championship and 2) that a playoff system needs to be put in place to determine a "true" champion. The commentators kept going on and on about how playoffs are used to determine champions "everywhere in the world of sport"...yadda, yadda, yadda. This was the statement that really grinded my gears.
After much thought, I have made peace with the BCS system. Sure, it has its flaws. Boise State, TCU and Cincinnati all won all of their games during the regular season and will not have the chance to play for the national championship. They were determined by the BCS rankings to not have an impressive enough resume to be deemed worthy of such renowned consideration. However, they all are playing in other BCS bowl games and the schools are raking in millions of dollars in revenue to improve their programs. I sincerely doubt that any of the three schools' athletic directors are unhappy about that fact. Furthermore, the two teams playing in the national championship, Texas and Alabama hail from two of the most challenging conferences in college football. Say what you will about the other undefeated teams, but strength of schedule should mean everything when it comes to determining who gets what in the world of college football- as it should.
As I continued further down the rabbit hole while internally debating the systems flaws and merits, something dawned on me. When Brock Huard noted that "everywhere in the world of sport" championships are determined via the playoff system, I said to myself, “Brock did not check his facts.”
The most popular sport in the world is soccer. It’s commonly known as the “world’s game”. The vast majority of its leagues have ZERO playoff system that determines its league championship. Leagues base their championship off a single table format which puts extreme relevance and importance on each and every game during the actual season. If you lose and the frontrunner wins, your team is that much further behind in the standings. Sucks to be you. Unlike the NBA, NFL, MLB or NHL where teams can barely make it to the playoffs, get hot at the right time and claim the right to be champions of their league despite probably not being the best overall team during that campaign.
When I first started following European soccer, I wasn't sure if I liked this single table idea. However, I noticed something as the season continued on...I was hanging on each week's results with tremendous interest. Why? Because every single match MATTERED.
As sports fans in America, we grow up knowing the playoffs are when games "matter the most". This works great for the casual sports fan. Essentially, no one really has to pay any attention to any sport's regular season. Because all a team has to do is get to the playoffs and be hot at the right time to raise silverware or claim the league championship. Take the New England Patriots of two years ago. They were undoubtedly the best team in the NFL that season. After the regular season, they stood unblemished at 16-0. They even won their first two playoff games to push their record to 18-0. However, the upstart NY Giants pulled out a last minute win in the Super Bowl to deny the Patriots from winning the overall NFL Championship. Did the Giants deserve to win Super Bowl XLII? Of course, they were the better team during that game. But did the Giants deserve to be the CHAMPIONS of the NFL that season? That is tremendously debatable.
Now take the example of last season's English Premier League champions, Manchester United. My beloved Liverpool only lost TWO matches during their 38 match campaign- only to finish second to United by four points. The Red Devils lost twice as many matches. So how could this be true? Liverpool didn't seize the opportunity to win enough games during the season while instead settling for a draw. That result certainly stings for Liverpool supporters, like myself, but Manchester United won when it mattered the most for the championship- during their actual season. This works so well for actual sports fans and if commonplace here, would draw more passion from the casual fan as well.
Naturally, European soccer league structure is far different than NCAA FBS football. However, the BCS is the closest thing that we have to a single table format in America. It pits all the teams against each other and whoever wins when it matters the most (considering the strength of opponent) is crowned champion. Sounds good to me.
Sure, there are plenty of holes that you can poke in my argument. Most leagues here have far too many teams to make a single table format relevant. Or the Patriots were the best team in the NFL that season they would have found a way to win during the Super Bowl. (Believe me, I despise defending the Patriots. Despite the fact that I cannot stand them, doesn't keep me from giving them their just respect for that season.) However, the phrase "any team can win on any given Sunday" bothers me a great deal. It definitely backs up the legitimacy of the Giants championship, George Mason's 2006 Final Four run and the Cardinals Super Bowl run last year. But doesn't it also mean that even the worst team could beat the best team to win any game? Those stories make great headlines. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that the right team won the game or in some cases....the championship.
12.31.2009
End of an era.
Today marks the end of another decade. To think, ten years ago, I was a freshman in college, is amazing to me. Simply put, it does not seem that long ago. And yet, I am now in a middle management job with my hair pondering the notion of thinning more and more with each passing day. There have been and will be countless articles focusing on how far we have come as a race in terms of technology, human rights, and as a race. I am not going to focus on that. I want to focus on personal memory. Nay, I want to focus on selective memory and why I have selected said memories.
On this day ten years ago, I had little to no idea that I was about 24 hours away from the worst hangover of my life thanks to Captain Morgan. To this day, I can barely watch a commercial advertising that devil rum without getting a little “green about the gills”.
I remember getting in a one of the only physical altercations of my relatively peaceful life nearly a year later. My opponent was a dude dubbed “Slasher” and apparently I offended him while parading around my college dorm with another buddy. It ended with his own friend punching him for being so out of line. Hilarious.
In the fall of 2003, I drove from Chicago to Tacoma, WA to Los Angeles, CA to Bison, SD to Newport News, VA and back to Tacoma, WA in a matter of eight months due to Army assignments.
I deployed for the first time in the summer of 2004 to Iraq. I liked watching “The O.C.” with my roommate in between convoys.
I deployed for the second time in the summer of 2006 to Kuwait. During which, I became the lead singer of the second band I have ever been a part of - Bobby and the Blowers. As the graffiti so boldly stated on a random bathroom wall, “Even the Pope has BATB on his iPod.”
Probably the second best highlight of the decade for me was my Euro-backpacking trip that my buddy Fred and I took in the fall of 2007. Nostrovia!
I started civilian life shortly thereafter.
I met the love of my life in January of 2008 and proceeded to travel to Mexico and Vancouver in the first several months with her. With her, each day is better than the previous.
I moved into my first house as an adult (a rental) in fall 2008 as well. We moved into another one almost exactly a year later.
All of these memories are imbedded into my mind because of the impact each one had on my life during the past ten years. These events shaped my life much like the events of the next ten years will influence and shape my life another ten years from today. On that note, I would like to propose a toast…here is to the next ten years- may they be filled with even more defining moments than I have experienced in the past ten. May the happy moments severely outnumber the sad and may I give back at least as much as I receive.
Happy New Decade to you and yours.
On this day ten years ago, I had little to no idea that I was about 24 hours away from the worst hangover of my life thanks to Captain Morgan. To this day, I can barely watch a commercial advertising that devil rum without getting a little “green about the gills”.
I remember getting in a one of the only physical altercations of my relatively peaceful life nearly a year later. My opponent was a dude dubbed “Slasher” and apparently I offended him while parading around my college dorm with another buddy. It ended with his own friend punching him for being so out of line. Hilarious.
In the fall of 2003, I drove from Chicago to Tacoma, WA to Los Angeles, CA to Bison, SD to Newport News, VA and back to Tacoma, WA in a matter of eight months due to Army assignments.
I deployed for the first time in the summer of 2004 to Iraq. I liked watching “The O.C.” with my roommate in between convoys.
I deployed for the second time in the summer of 2006 to Kuwait. During which, I became the lead singer of the second band I have ever been a part of - Bobby and the Blowers. As the graffiti so boldly stated on a random bathroom wall, “Even the Pope has BATB on his iPod.”
Probably the second best highlight of the decade for me was my Euro-backpacking trip that my buddy Fred and I took in the fall of 2007. Nostrovia!
I started civilian life shortly thereafter.
I met the love of my life in January of 2008 and proceeded to travel to Mexico and Vancouver in the first several months with her. With her, each day is better than the previous.
I moved into my first house as an adult (a rental) in fall 2008 as well. We moved into another one almost exactly a year later.
All of these memories are imbedded into my mind because of the impact each one had on my life during the past ten years. These events shaped my life much like the events of the next ten years will influence and shape my life another ten years from today. On that note, I would like to propose a toast…here is to the next ten years- may they be filled with even more defining moments than I have experienced in the past ten. May the happy moments severely outnumber the sad and may I give back at least as much as I receive.
Happy New Decade to you and yours.
12.29.2009
12.29.09 - Home for the holidays.
My girlfriend and I returned to the Pac NW last night after a tremendous 11-day vacation in my home state of South Dakota. I come from a very, very, very small town (less than 400 people live there). It was the first time my girlfriend had ever been to the residence of my youth and I am really glad we were afforded the opportunity.
I have lived away from home for almost ten and a half years now. I have had addresses in Chicago, Virginia, and now Tacoma (multiple) during this time. Regardless, I have not been a stranger to my hometown of Bison. I have visited at least once a year during this timeframe and luckily am very close with each member of my family (who all still reside near there). I always relish the opportunity to go "home" again and visit old friends and places of my teenage years- most people do. However, this latest trip back "home" was quite different (in a way). The laughs and great times spent with my family and friends (new and old) were very much intact. My brother, Billy (http://drownbilly.blogspot.com), made us a pot roast and we were treated to countless meals and treats by my saint of a mother. Delish. We also saw "Avatar". Maybe I will write about that soon...quite the "experience". Beyond all that though, the new feeling resided in how I felt being back in the old hometown and state.
Some may chuckle, but I place tremendous value on growing up in western South Dakota. I learned so much about myself and people. I appreciate what it was and what it now means to me. It will always be the home of my youth and my family. However, this was the first time I went back and honestly felt like somewhat of a "visitor". I do not mean that in a bad way, but in a very new and comfortable way. What I take away from this feeling is that I am actually carving out a new home in the Pacific Northwest. I am making a new life- independent from my youth. I guess that means that I'm getting older, but it means more than that to me. It feels really, really good. After ten years of college, moving, deployments and other adventures, I feel like I have my own home...again.
11.20.2009
11.20.09
It's been awhile since I wrote anything on here, but now I find myself with some time to share some thoughts on a couple of recent events.
THE GAME
THE Ohio State University Buckeyes travel to the state that the great Woody Hayes refused to pay for gas in (Michigan) to meet their arch rival- Wolverines in their annual college football contest. I have been reading and hearing a lot of sports journalists and radio show hosts play down this year's edition of THE GAME during this past week. I have an absolute affinity for all things related to Ohio State. However, I can definitely see where these so called "experts" are coming from here. On the surface, this matchup does not have the luster that typically accompanies an Ohio State v. Michigan slugfest. Is there a Big Ten Championship on the line? Not quite. Is there a BCS bowl game berth on the line? Sorry. Can the underdog knock the favorite out of national championship contention? Again- no.
First of all, this is actually a great compliment to the Ohio State and Michigan football programs. The fact that their immense past success has placed this GAME in such high regard that this year's edition (which can only bear the hype of a simple "rivalry game") does not even appear to be must see college football TV. Secondly, Buckeye fans who are going into this game with overconfidence need to stop lighting couches on fire and smell the already attained roses. Michigan needs this game to become bowl eligible. I fully expect Rich Rod is going to have his kids ready to play tomorrow morning in the Big House. And finally, this rivalry defines these player's careers in every sense of the word. Do you think Mike Hart and Chad Henne are hailed amongst the greatest Wolverines after an 0-4 career against the Scarlet and Gray? Doubtful. But Charles Woodson is....his record against the Buckeyes= 3-0.
If you filter the underwhelming hype that is preceding this game and tune in tomorrow morning, you are going to be in for a treat. I promise. Ohio State v. Michigan has rarely ever disappointed.
HENRY's HANDBALL
Barca great, Thierry Henry, placed himself amongst futbol legend, Diego Maradona, this past week and not for his skill. His blatant handball against a brave Irish national team on Wednesday sent Henry's underachieving French side (finally) into the World Cup finals next June in South Africa. This cheating move by Henry has instantly reminded soccer fans everywhere of Maradona's "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 World Cup.
I sincerely feel for the Irish. I have a sweet spot in my heart of the Emerald Isle, especially after my trip to Dublin in the fall of 2007. They are as passionate as sport fans get on this planet. Watching the Rugby World Cup of '07 in the Temple Bar district was stuff of legend for my buddy and I. However, do I think they deserve a spot in next year's finals? Maybe. Do I feel like the match should be replayed? Possibly. Could the Irish played better to nullify any controversy? Absolutely. I read a great article online today (cannot remember the source unfortunately) and could not have agreed more with its subject matter. The timing of Henry's handball is what has made it infamous. If it had happened in the 10th minute of the match, most would have said, "the Irish had time to make up for it." It's unfortunate, but if the Irish would have played a bit better, Henry's cheating ways would not have mattered.
However, do not expect me amongst the small contingent rooting for the French next June. They deserve nothing but an exit during the group stage. What goes around, comes around...Henry should have DTRT'd...
THE GAME
THE Ohio State University Buckeyes travel to the state that the great Woody Hayes refused to pay for gas in (Michigan) to meet their arch rival- Wolverines in their annual college football contest. I have been reading and hearing a lot of sports journalists and radio show hosts play down this year's edition of THE GAME during this past week. I have an absolute affinity for all things related to Ohio State. However, I can definitely see where these so called "experts" are coming from here. On the surface, this matchup does not have the luster that typically accompanies an Ohio State v. Michigan slugfest. Is there a Big Ten Championship on the line? Not quite. Is there a BCS bowl game berth on the line? Sorry. Can the underdog knock the favorite out of national championship contention? Again- no.
First of all, this is actually a great compliment to the Ohio State and Michigan football programs. The fact that their immense past success has placed this GAME in such high regard that this year's edition (which can only bear the hype of a simple "rivalry game") does not even appear to be must see college football TV. Secondly, Buckeye fans who are going into this game with overconfidence need to stop lighting couches on fire and smell the already attained roses. Michigan needs this game to become bowl eligible. I fully expect Rich Rod is going to have his kids ready to play tomorrow morning in the Big House. And finally, this rivalry defines these player's careers in every sense of the word. Do you think Mike Hart and Chad Henne are hailed amongst the greatest Wolverines after an 0-4 career against the Scarlet and Gray? Doubtful. But Charles Woodson is....his record against the Buckeyes= 3-0.
If you filter the underwhelming hype that is preceding this game and tune in tomorrow morning, you are going to be in for a treat. I promise. Ohio State v. Michigan has rarely ever disappointed.
HENRY's HANDBALL
Barca great, Thierry Henry, placed himself amongst futbol legend, Diego Maradona, this past week and not for his skill. His blatant handball against a brave Irish national team on Wednesday sent Henry's underachieving French side (finally) into the World Cup finals next June in South Africa. This cheating move by Henry has instantly reminded soccer fans everywhere of Maradona's "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 World Cup.
I sincerely feel for the Irish. I have a sweet spot in my heart of the Emerald Isle, especially after my trip to Dublin in the fall of 2007. They are as passionate as sport fans get on this planet. Watching the Rugby World Cup of '07 in the Temple Bar district was stuff of legend for my buddy and I. However, do I think they deserve a spot in next year's finals? Maybe. Do I feel like the match should be replayed? Possibly. Could the Irish played better to nullify any controversy? Absolutely. I read a great article online today (cannot remember the source unfortunately) and could not have agreed more with its subject matter. The timing of Henry's handball is what has made it infamous. If it had happened in the 10th minute of the match, most would have said, "the Irish had time to make up for it." It's unfortunate, but if the Irish would have played a bit better, Henry's cheating ways would not have mattered.
However, do not expect me amongst the small contingent rooting for the French next June. They deserve nothing but an exit during the group stage. What goes around, comes around...Henry should have DTRT'd...
9.10.2009
Thursday, September 10
Well, 9/9/9, came and went without the apocalypse and whatnot. That's probably a good thing. Anyone buying the hype on this 2012/Mayan calendar "I know that the threat of nuclear war and Y2K didn't quite end the world, but this one is for real" rhetoric at this point? You know that all these scares were started by the makers of Campbell's soup and Aquafina so we would stock up "just in case", right?
Anyways, I am up and at 'em on what will be my "Friday" of this week. I am taking the gf out to a nice Italian dinner and "Wicked" tomorrow night so we thought we'd take the day off together. It should be fun...
However, before we get to that I believe the NFL season is starting tonight...Steelers and Titans. Lendale White told a reporter that he would repeat the literal stomp he performed on a Steelers' Terrible Towel last season, if given the chance. I love it when dudes shoot their mouths off before games like this and not in an appreciative way. I would be willing to put my lovely LCD TV on the line in a bet waging that in games preceded by a cocky player from the other team shooting his mouth off to provide his opponent with bulletin board fodder, that the opponent wins 95+% of the time. You think James Harrison and the Steelers defense aren't jacked for this game even more now? I have never understood why NFL players give their opponents MORE reason to hit them when hitting the offense is the defense's competitive duty to begin with. Ugh, I would hate to be that former USC back (White) tonight. He's going to get smoked.
Speaking of USC, they have to deal with my Buckeyes who seemingly did not do their homework and/or were not focused on a pesky Navy team last week. I hate to say "I told you so", but I said last Saturday that this Ohio State did not warrant such a favorable ranking (#6) to start the season. That is not to say that I wasn't impressed with Terrelle Pryor in his season debut. I really disagreed with Jim Tressel's decision to insert tOSU's back-up QB in the fifth series (to get him some live action). I felt it messed with Pryor's and the offense's rhythm.
Let's be honest though, even as a blatantly biased Buckeye fan, the boys didn't finish off Navy last week when they should have. They were up 29-14 with around twelve minutes to go in the fourth quarter and should have showed some "killer instinct" and finished them. However, I'm sure that it's easy to let your next week opponent sneak into your head at that point, especially when they literally embarrassed you last year on national television. However, I think this is a telling sign of a young team early in a season. If Tressel would have had the team focused on Navy last week ALL DAY, I would be beaming with confidence going into this Saturday's contest. However, I think that tOSU has a couple X-factors here that will help them win on Saturday: playing at home and Pryor. On the other hand too, for all of you that are singing Matt Barkley's praises after his debut last Saturday, tOSU is definitely NOT San Jose State. He's coming into the HORSESHOE against a defense that, albeit, looked questionable last Saturday, but probably is going to show much more to a USC offense in terms of blitz packages than it did to a team like Navy. Now, I'm not discrediting the fact that USC is about 14 quality running backs deep and their secondary is among the best in the country, but I feel good about the Buckeyes' chances this Saturday in Columbus.
One parting comment: Nice job by the US Men's soccer team this past week. Despite playing lackluster at times in both matches, they got the six points they so desperately needed to move to the top of the qualifying table and move one win away from South Africa next summer. And I will also say, I wholeheartedly appreciated Landon Donovan's performances in both matches....three goals for the team this week- all assisted by LD. Like I said, he's the catalyst. Remember, DTRT...
Anyways, I am up and at 'em on what will be my "Friday" of this week. I am taking the gf out to a nice Italian dinner and "Wicked" tomorrow night so we thought we'd take the day off together. It should be fun...
However, before we get to that I believe the NFL season is starting tonight...Steelers and Titans. Lendale White told a reporter that he would repeat the literal stomp he performed on a Steelers' Terrible Towel last season, if given the chance. I love it when dudes shoot their mouths off before games like this and not in an appreciative way. I would be willing to put my lovely LCD TV on the line in a bet waging that in games preceded by a cocky player from the other team shooting his mouth off to provide his opponent with bulletin board fodder, that the opponent wins 95+% of the time. You think James Harrison and the Steelers defense aren't jacked for this game even more now? I have never understood why NFL players give their opponents MORE reason to hit them when hitting the offense is the defense's competitive duty to begin with. Ugh, I would hate to be that former USC back (White) tonight. He's going to get smoked.
Speaking of USC, they have to deal with my Buckeyes who seemingly did not do their homework and/or were not focused on a pesky Navy team last week. I hate to say "I told you so", but I said last Saturday that this Ohio State did not warrant such a favorable ranking (#6) to start the season. That is not to say that I wasn't impressed with Terrelle Pryor in his season debut. I really disagreed with Jim Tressel's decision to insert tOSU's back-up QB in the fifth series (to get him some live action). I felt it messed with Pryor's and the offense's rhythm.
Let's be honest though, even as a blatantly biased Buckeye fan, the boys didn't finish off Navy last week when they should have. They were up 29-14 with around twelve minutes to go in the fourth quarter and should have showed some "killer instinct" and finished them. However, I'm sure that it's easy to let your next week opponent sneak into your head at that point, especially when they literally embarrassed you last year on national television. However, I think this is a telling sign of a young team early in a season. If Tressel would have had the team focused on Navy last week ALL DAY, I would be beaming with confidence going into this Saturday's contest. However, I think that tOSU has a couple X-factors here that will help them win on Saturday: playing at home and Pryor. On the other hand too, for all of you that are singing Matt Barkley's praises after his debut last Saturday, tOSU is definitely NOT San Jose State. He's coming into the HORSESHOE against a defense that, albeit, looked questionable last Saturday, but probably is going to show much more to a USC offense in terms of blitz packages than it did to a team like Navy. Now, I'm not discrediting the fact that USC is about 14 quality running backs deep and their secondary is among the best in the country, but I feel good about the Buckeyes' chances this Saturday in Columbus.
One parting comment: Nice job by the US Men's soccer team this past week. Despite playing lackluster at times in both matches, they got the six points they so desperately needed to move to the top of the qualifying table and move one win away from South Africa next summer. And I will also say, I wholeheartedly appreciated Landon Donovan's performances in both matches....three goals for the team this week- all assisted by LD. Like I said, he's the catalyst. Remember, DTRT...
9.05.2009
5:00 a.m.- Saturday morning
Leave it to me to be wide awake at 5am on a Saturday.
The thing of it is, is that I don't even have anything all that pressing on my mind. I had a nice evening at home with the gf after we completed some preliminary rental browsing in the neighborhood. I should be relaxed and sleeping right now.
So what could be keeping me up at this hour?
a) College football starts today
b) An uncontrollable craving for string cheese
c) Thoughts of soccer dancing in my head
or
d) The 10k I am attempting to run in 8 days
ANSWER: All of the above.
My beloved Ohio State Buckeyes open against Navy today in the Horseshoe (Ohio Stadium) in Columbus. I wouldn't necessarily say that the team deserves it's #6 slot in the current rankings due to it's overall inexperience and youth. However, I feel that it is one of those teams where the talent is there, but the question remains whether or not they can gel together as a TEAM. With that said, I'm cautiously optimistic.
My father served in the Navy and put his hard earned GI Bill dough towards a degree from THE Ohio State University. I typically give him a call a day prior to whenever I know that the Buckeyes are being broadcast on TV because even though he's a Buckeye at heart, doesn't waste hours on end toiling over the latest Ivan Maisel article on ESPN.com like his offspring does. So, I give him a call yesterday to give him a heads up on the game being shown via the Bristol, CT station today and he jokingly says that his loyalty "may be split." ----- I'm not even sure what the means...loyalty "split"...in regards to the Buckeyes? I have veered off the beat up path of my sports beloved to cheer for other teams before (i.e. cheered with my buddy, Fred, for his Steelers earlier this year in the Super Bowl even though I'm a Browns fan), but it's always been after the fact that my team has been completely eliminated from said competition contention. Even though my dad was joking around (I hope), it got me thinking about this "split loyalty" concept.
First of all, I do not understand it. The rules (as I understand them) are as follows: for each sport and league within said sport, a fan is to have one team to whom they are loyal to forever and ever. That's science! However, I have come across and/or am friends with this "mulit-team" fans and it boggles my mind. Ambivalence is not something I have split loyalty on whatsoever. And yet, I hear the casual fan walking down the street saying something like-
"Gee, I hope that the Seahawks and Cowboys don't play each other this year...I wouldn't know who to root for."
I love my sports and have undying loyalty. I'm the fan that throws his house slipper in disgust when Lebron and the Cavs blow a 13-point lead in the playoffs. I'm the fan that is so passionate that when I purchase the latest copy of NCAA Football for the Wii, I immediately sit down and use Ohio State to beat Michigan just to tell that Wii disc where I stand. I'm the fan that keeps hitting refresh on my phone at 10:00pm while I'm laying in bed trying to find out that my Sounders FC scored an equalizing goal in the 89th minute to tie in a U.S. Open Cup qualifier even though I will get up at 3:45am the next morning. That's the kind of fan I am.
And even though I wouldn't have it any other way in terms of my undying loyalty and will never understand "split loyalty" or sports ambivalence...I can say that I have come to appreciate its relevance in this world. If it wasn't for people like my pops, this world would literally come to a halt during times like March Madness. While I'm filling out my bracket on Yahoo for no reason other than to see if I can do better than last year when I got 56% of my picks right, people like my dad are doing grown-up things like making this world a better place. So even though I will never be wired that way, I love my dad and appreciate his sports ambivalence.
Moving on to more sports obsession- today is a HUGE World Cup qualifier for the Yanks against El Salvador in Sandy, Utah. Two things have been getting a lot of press leading up to this match, the relative struggle it has been to sell the match out in Utah and Landon Donovan. It's a shame that this match only recently sold out, but it also is not a secret that despite this past summer's Confed Cup run by the U.S. men's national team, soccer still hasn't arrived here in the States yet. It is my wholehearted belief that soccer will not hit mainstream in this nation of frontrunners until the USMNT puts together a significant run in a World Cup.
As for Donovan, I appreciate his talent and the fact that he stays in the MLS to help promote the world's game here at home. However, I still have a hard time getting over him always coming off as soft. Granted I do not have a detailed archive of LD highlights and/or lowlights, but literally the only time I have seen him step up and make a HUGE impact on the world stage was during the Confed Cup run this past summer. It's no coincidence that his performance (and wonderfully sick goal v. Brazil) spurred the USMNT onto national headlines at home. He's the catalyst. He's the key in today's match. He's also the key to that significant run in next summer's World Cup. But you know what I would like to see more than anything from LD? When excerpts from the "Beckham Experiment" book leaked about him ripping into David Beckham's lack of leadership and passion as apart of the L.A. Galaxy, after Beckham called him out for being "unprofessional"- LD backed off and apologized. Now, I agree with Beckham about LD's lack of professionalism, but I would have liked to see LD, at the very least, give a harder edged apology and show some backbone to Golden Balls and the world for that matter. I would have LOVED to see LD shoot back stating that, yes, he should have told Beckham about his opinion face to face, but that it doesn't take away from the fact that Beckham really isn't committed to the Galaxy or MLS. That if Beckham really was committed to the MLS, he wouldn't have spent his winter in Italy playing 12th man with AC Milan. As a casual fan or just an observer of that story, if I hear Donovan shoot back to Beckham like that, I would think it would have stirred up some national pride. I also think it would have shown the rest of the world that U.S. soccer isn't afraid to stand up for itself. We're a second tier nation when it comes to soccer because we don't have a passionate following from our country (i.e. this weekend's qualifier's ticket sales) and because that is the perception of the rest of the world. If the USMNT team captain would have stepped up to the world's most recognizable athlete- that would have sent a message. THAT also would have generated some passion for the USMNT and ipso facto, for soccer in the States.
So my gf and I decided we are going to run a 10k next Sunday. It's the Bank to Bay 10k in Tacoma and I am more than a little scared. I am in decent shape, but not due to running...I do other cardio to keep my girlish figure. However, when I went out for a run the other day to "gauge" where my running ability was in preparation for this run, I was given a wake up call. I got about two miles down the road and my shins were aching so much that I needed to walk a little bit. I really hope that I was just sore or tired or something other than a guy who struggles to run more than two miles. I mean, I think I'll be fine, but it does something to your psyche when stuff like that happens to you. We'll see how the 10k goes and then I'll be able to tell if I'm on the verge of being a strong 30 year old man or a...30 year old man.
Oh, I almost forgot about choice B...I just really love string cheese. My coffee is cold, my string cheese is consumed and the Buckeyes kick off in about a hour and a half. Until next time, remember....always Do The Right Thing (DTRT).
The thing of it is, is that I don't even have anything all that pressing on my mind. I had a nice evening at home with the gf after we completed some preliminary rental browsing in the neighborhood. I should be relaxed and sleeping right now.
So what could be keeping me up at this hour?
a) College football starts today
b) An uncontrollable craving for string cheese
c) Thoughts of soccer dancing in my head
or
d) The 10k I am attempting to run in 8 days
ANSWER: All of the above.
My beloved Ohio State Buckeyes open against Navy today in the Horseshoe (Ohio Stadium) in Columbus. I wouldn't necessarily say that the team deserves it's #6 slot in the current rankings due to it's overall inexperience and youth. However, I feel that it is one of those teams where the talent is there, but the question remains whether or not they can gel together as a TEAM. With that said, I'm cautiously optimistic.
My father served in the Navy and put his hard earned GI Bill dough towards a degree from THE Ohio State University. I typically give him a call a day prior to whenever I know that the Buckeyes are being broadcast on TV because even though he's a Buckeye at heart, doesn't waste hours on end toiling over the latest Ivan Maisel article on ESPN.com like his offspring does. So, I give him a call yesterday to give him a heads up on the game being shown via the Bristol, CT station today and he jokingly says that his loyalty "may be split." ----- I'm not even sure what the means...loyalty "split"...in regards to the Buckeyes? I have veered off the beat up path of my sports beloved to cheer for other teams before (i.e. cheered with my buddy, Fred, for his Steelers earlier this year in the Super Bowl even though I'm a Browns fan), but it's always been after the fact that my team has been completely eliminated from said competition contention. Even though my dad was joking around (I hope), it got me thinking about this "split loyalty" concept.
First of all, I do not understand it. The rules (as I understand them) are as follows: for each sport and league within said sport, a fan is to have one team to whom they are loyal to forever and ever. That's science! However, I have come across and/or am friends with this "mulit-team" fans and it boggles my mind. Ambivalence is not something I have split loyalty on whatsoever. And yet, I hear the casual fan walking down the street saying something like-
"Gee, I hope that the Seahawks and Cowboys don't play each other this year...I wouldn't know who to root for."
I love my sports and have undying loyalty. I'm the fan that throws his house slipper in disgust when Lebron and the Cavs blow a 13-point lead in the playoffs. I'm the fan that is so passionate that when I purchase the latest copy of NCAA Football for the Wii, I immediately sit down and use Ohio State to beat Michigan just to tell that Wii disc where I stand. I'm the fan that keeps hitting refresh on my phone at 10:00pm while I'm laying in bed trying to find out that my Sounders FC scored an equalizing goal in the 89th minute to tie in a U.S. Open Cup qualifier even though I will get up at 3:45am the next morning. That's the kind of fan I am.
And even though I wouldn't have it any other way in terms of my undying loyalty and will never understand "split loyalty" or sports ambivalence...I can say that I have come to appreciate its relevance in this world. If it wasn't for people like my pops, this world would literally come to a halt during times like March Madness. While I'm filling out my bracket on Yahoo for no reason other than to see if I can do better than last year when I got 56% of my picks right, people like my dad are doing grown-up things like making this world a better place. So even though I will never be wired that way, I love my dad and appreciate his sports ambivalence.
Moving on to more sports obsession- today is a HUGE World Cup qualifier for the Yanks against El Salvador in Sandy, Utah. Two things have been getting a lot of press leading up to this match, the relative struggle it has been to sell the match out in Utah and Landon Donovan. It's a shame that this match only recently sold out, but it also is not a secret that despite this past summer's Confed Cup run by the U.S. men's national team, soccer still hasn't arrived here in the States yet. It is my wholehearted belief that soccer will not hit mainstream in this nation of frontrunners until the USMNT puts together a significant run in a World Cup.
As for Donovan, I appreciate his talent and the fact that he stays in the MLS to help promote the world's game here at home. However, I still have a hard time getting over him always coming off as soft. Granted I do not have a detailed archive of LD highlights and/or lowlights, but literally the only time I have seen him step up and make a HUGE impact on the world stage was during the Confed Cup run this past summer. It's no coincidence that his performance (and wonderfully sick goal v. Brazil) spurred the USMNT onto national headlines at home. He's the catalyst. He's the key in today's match. He's also the key to that significant run in next summer's World Cup. But you know what I would like to see more than anything from LD? When excerpts from the "Beckham Experiment" book leaked about him ripping into David Beckham's lack of leadership and passion as apart of the L.A. Galaxy, after Beckham called him out for being "unprofessional"- LD backed off and apologized. Now, I agree with Beckham about LD's lack of professionalism, but I would have liked to see LD, at the very least, give a harder edged apology and show some backbone to Golden Balls and the world for that matter. I would have LOVED to see LD shoot back stating that, yes, he should have told Beckham about his opinion face to face, but that it doesn't take away from the fact that Beckham really isn't committed to the Galaxy or MLS. That if Beckham really was committed to the MLS, he wouldn't have spent his winter in Italy playing 12th man with AC Milan. As a casual fan or just an observer of that story, if I hear Donovan shoot back to Beckham like that, I would think it would have stirred up some national pride. I also think it would have shown the rest of the world that U.S. soccer isn't afraid to stand up for itself. We're a second tier nation when it comes to soccer because we don't have a passionate following from our country (i.e. this weekend's qualifier's ticket sales) and because that is the perception of the rest of the world. If the USMNT team captain would have stepped up to the world's most recognizable athlete- that would have sent a message. THAT also would have generated some passion for the USMNT and ipso facto, for soccer in the States.
So my gf and I decided we are going to run a 10k next Sunday. It's the Bank to Bay 10k in Tacoma and I am more than a little scared. I am in decent shape, but not due to running...I do other cardio to keep my girlish figure. However, when I went out for a run the other day to "gauge" where my running ability was in preparation for this run, I was given a wake up call. I got about two miles down the road and my shins were aching so much that I needed to walk a little bit. I really hope that I was just sore or tired or something other than a guy who struggles to run more than two miles. I mean, I think I'll be fine, but it does something to your psyche when stuff like that happens to you. We'll see how the 10k goes and then I'll be able to tell if I'm on the verge of being a strong 30 year old man or a...30 year old man.
Oh, I almost forgot about choice B...I just really love string cheese. My coffee is cold, my string cheese is consumed and the Buckeyes kick off in about a hour and a half. Until next time, remember....always Do The Right Thing (DTRT).
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