SAM = Sports & More
5/8/16 Writing Vs. Hitting: What Baseball Can Teach Writers
Most of the time, writing is a challenge. I’d estimate that 70% of the time it's a grind of self-discipline and trust. That means 30% of the time it’s a magical, easy, transcendent process. So, I’m batting .300, right?
Paul Daugherty is a sports writer and blogger for the Cincinnati Enquirer—I am a fan of his writing and his life outlook. In 5/2/16 blog entitled, “Doc’s Morning Line: Does Votto Care Too Much?” he writes about Joey Votto’s early season slump. Regular reads of this SAM blog already know my admiration for Votto. Daugherty writes, “Votto has hit before, he will hit again. He didn’t forget how. Hitters always talk about ‘trusting the process.’ Don’t allow the results to influence what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. Because if the process works, the results will follow.”
Good advice for hitters and writers alike.
4/5/16 Villanova 77 – NC Chapel Hill 74: What Did We Learn?
Should we expect to learn something from sports? Yes, especially if we’re participating in a sporting event. Teamwork, self-discipline, justice. What if we’re just watching sports? Shouldn’t we also learn something as observers? Villanova 77 – NC Chapel Hill 74.
What did we learn?
1. Already, many are suggesting it was the most exciting finish to any men’s NCAA college basketball championship game.
2. It’s not fair that a team had to loose. This was—to use a clichéd sports metaphor—a battle from the opening tip.
3. If you’re the losing team: heartbreak. As Roy Williams asked, “What do you say to your kids?”
4. Life is not always fair.
5. If you’re the winning team: exultation; validation; celebration. Your victory will be recorded in the annals of college sports history. You will be heroes. Always.
6. Sometimes life is inexpressibly sweet.
7. NC Chapel Hill had the more talented team.
8. Villanova demonstrated tremendous discipline and poise. You could see the discipline as they walked the ball up the court—even if they had the numbers on a fast break. The Wildcats slowed down the game to counter the talent of their opponent. Discipline.
9. Sometimes discipline and wisdom wins.
10. Villanova’s Ryan Arcidiacono was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding player. But he passed up (potential) further glory because Kris Jenkins had the better final shot. Wisdom.
11. NC's Marcus Paige’s acrobatic, double-pumped, spectacular three-pointer to tie the game with 4.7 seconds remaining could’ve been the headline, the history-maker, the winner.
12. Practice promotes success. Of Kris Jenkins’ game- winning shot, a teammate said, “Do you know how many times I've seen that kid take that shot in the summer? At least 1,000. I knew it was going in.''
Class dismissed.
4/1/16 Final 4 Picks & GTR
The fact that Syracuse has earned a trip to the Final Four is yet another example of my inability to predict March Madness. I tend to let the heart rule the mind. I do better if I complete two different brackets: one for the heart, one for the head. But I haven't done that in years. This year, I was proud of my Yale and Wichita State upsets, but my Final Four was Kansas, Oklahoma, Xavier, and Virginia. Most fans also thought Kansas would be here, and I really thought Xavier had the ability to make a long run. And excepting a last second shot of high difficulty by the guy from Wisconsin, maybe that would have come true. But that’s what March Madness is all about. Now, I sing, "O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A where the wind comes sweeping down the plains." But I won't do that to you.
A friend of mine, R, has a teen-aged son who couldn’t understand the band name “GTR.” Old guys like me know. When the Heart Rules the Mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y8beoRtUtk
3/19/16 March Madness: the Joy & the Anguish
NCAA March Madness: the joy of Paul Jesperson (Northern Iowa); the anguish of Ocatvius Ellis (Cincinati).
3/14/16 UNCW Seahawks Going to the Dance, Babeeeee
Congrats to the mighty University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks. They won the Colonial Athletic Association tourney in OT then were matched with Duke in the big dance. I said in late March 2014 when UNCW hired Kevin Keats that he would be a good college head coach. His time as assistant coach at Louisville served him well. I like UNCW's relentless 4 guard attack. They may be able to run down a Duke rotation that typically plays only 6 guys. The only question: can the UNCW big men contain the Duke big guys? It's what March Madness is all about.
Speaking of, how the #$#@ did Syracuse get in the tourney? I'd much rather have seen Monmouth. Or even South Carolina. And do away with the silly "play-in" games. Sixty-four teams is the limit. Stop it.
The only talking head I want to hear: Dickie V babeeeee. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6_QMII9wJ8
2/28/16 Tom Sawyer & Joey Votto's Jersey
My good friend, T, is very interested in jerseys: design, colors, names. I'm not so concerned with jerseys unless they're a distraction--like last season's red/green NFL game where I can remember the silly jersey colors but not the teams who played. Or those awful Steelers throwback jerseys that would've worked well in O Brother, Where Art Thou.
The next step is purchasing a jersey with a particular player's name on the back. Since I don't have a passion for jerseys, there is only one named jersey (full disclaimer: it's only a T-shirt) that I have purchased: Joey Votto's. The man is a student of the game. Votto's cerebral approach to hitting is matched by his overall passion for the game. His hitting research is reminiscent of Ted Williams, and Votto's passion is evident not only by his daily effort but also his occasional run-ins with umpires.
Some critics says that he walks too often. Well, it's Votto's job to get on base and the job of the guys behind him to get him home. Critics also say that his contract is too large and too long. In the incredibly unfair MLB world, the small market Reds team is always going to be at a disadvantage. Sometimes they will have to agree to one of those stupefying contracts that the Yankees and Dodgers bequeath on a regular basis. In the upcoming greenhorn of a Reds season, Joey Votto may be one of the few reasons to watch the proud Cincinnati nine.
So, if I can talk T into watching any baseball this year (he's more of a soccer fan--more on that in another blog), I will be sure to wear my Joey Votto black T-shirt.
(Yes, I know Votto's from originally from Canada, but so is Rush. The song fits.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auLBLk4ibAk
2/21/16 MLB: the Hopes of Spring (Training)
Hope spring eternal, even for a Cincinnati Reds fan. The heart of the team was ripped away when they traded Todd Frazier. And it didn’t appear they got much in that mid-December 2015 trade. But time will tell. On another note, the Reds should’ve made Chapman a starter a long time ago. At the very least, they should’ve traded Chapman last June when the returns might’ve been higher. That said, now that the emotions of the trades are gone, I am looking forward to spring training and the new season. As it is every year, opening day (4/4/16) is on my calendar. Because I live 600 miles away, I will be watching the game at Kick Back Jack’s sport bar instead of personally taking part in the festivities.
Tune of the Day: Let’s end with an upbeat note and honor Todd Frazier with some Frank Sinatra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmQq6yLe2ww
