Desensitized Sports

Since around the time I was a youngen, and could remember basic things, I have been a sports fan and fanatic. I started playing organized sports at the age of 10, all the way to my senior year. As a fan, I grew up on the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Oakland Raiders, and the Detroit Tigers. Any time I was able to watch these teams on tv I was almost overjoyed to have that viewing pleasure. In high school my emotional interest was at an all-time high by being able to watch my teams in their respective title games while consummating "uber" amounts of knowledge in NFL Football, where I knew just about anything you wanted to know about fantasy football. (NFL Sunday Ticket didn't help depress this interest any either.) But since my time after high school, after the last Buckeye title, and the dreadful performance of my beloved Oakland Raiders in the Super Bowl, I have found myself not nearly as immensed in sports.

I would assume you would wonder why this is so, and basically, there are a combination of factors at work here.

In no particular order:

1) I never play organized sports anymore, which is something I did in high school where I was a 3-sport athlete for Football, Basketball, and Baseball. Not being directly involved in the sports has somewhat lessened my interest for what I once knew so well.

2) Sports are covered by the media 24/7, and to me the amount of coverage sports topics get is insane. Granted it's ESPN's job to cover sports and all, but do they need 5 different shows to have everyone state their differing opinions? Seriously if my professional job was to gather information about sports all the time I could give some damn good opinions. In fact, I can give damn good opinions now, and I would probaly have more credibility than Skip "Clue"less. It seems as if 99% of time is spent talking about games, and 1% is actually the game itself. Essentially this has led me to watch much less ESPN and any other sports coverage to avoid burnout... but I digress.

3) I no longer live and die with my sports, because I have come to realize I use sports as a form of entertainment and simple recreation. It is now not usually a complete personal connection like it once was for me. I believe this realization came to fruition when I started officiating. Seeing some of the antics I have seen, and still see in sports, it makes me really wonder about the possibilities that could be created. If people were as passionate as they are in sports, maybe they would have better relationships, do more for humanity, or at least make more positive contributions to society. These feelings have increasingly developed as I "grow up" and realize what is really important. Proof that sports are just a game can be found in the sad story of Sean Taylor. It really puts things in perspective.

4) Fans sometimes become overly obsessed with sports and will sometimes resort to violence or dumb, illegal activities, and to me this is just stupid. However, this is not one of the bigger reasons for my "desensitization," rather just some seasoning to the dish.

Although I am sure I can come up with more reasons, I will stop with four for now. I'm sure there are others who have similar feelings as I, however, I'm also sure many feel a lot differently. Just thought I'd let you all know how I feel.

So, am I saying I no longer like sports and they have o interest to me? No, not at all. I still watch all my favorite sports teams very faithfully and enjoy the moments I am able to view my teams. Hell, I was almost crying when the Tigers made it to the World Series last year, and that was passion I never knew I had. I'm guessing that's what the Browns fans will feel when their team (if ever) gets to the Super Bowl. Yeah, I was a little disappointed in Ohio State's performance last year in both football and basketball, and of course saddened by the Tigers series loss in the World Series, but at the end of the day it was all "just a game."

On the flip side, sports can be an incredible tool. Look at the two men from Ireland (their names escape me) who bring together the Protestant and Catholics (a rivalry that would put OSU-UM to shame) in the form of youth basketball. Sports can save a kids life when it is in a downward spiral, and offer the opportunity of education to a student how is in a financially poor family. It can be a release from the everyday life, see: First game in the Super Dome since Katrina. And sports can be so much more...

So sports fans, know the importance, but keep it all in perspective. Keep taking pride in your teams, be respectful, and never forget the games are played with "child-like" simplicity. I strive to make sports a more positive experience every day, and I hope that never changes.

Driven

When bipeds began wondering about our wonderful Earth, they had to adapt through learning. They had to face predators like 12 foot gigantopithecus and the wooly mammoth, while adjusting to conditions such as blistering cold temperatures or red-hot droughts. These times were not easy and not every cousin survived. The Neanderthals, for instance, could not overcome the ice age that once covered much of the northern hemisphere, hence leading to their extinction. But the ones who survived took learning as a tool and used it as a way of survival.

Those survivors: Humans. Through their (or our) learning they figured ways to store water, food, and procession of societal ways to stay alive. Granted their tactics were more barbaric, but this was just the early stages of the homo sapien. So what separated this creature from the one before it? The answer is simple: creativity.

With the use of fire, humans were able to think, dream, and hope. Ultimately this quality has been passed along to us through the use of time and perseverance. Reflecting on those traits, (we) humans have organized societies, created organizations, influenced political agenda, and even pushed the limit of good vs. evil.

Other incredible feats include the ancient Egyptians, who built pyramids in ways we have trouble understanding. One-hundred ton stones were shifted and re-located in unkown ways by ancient societies. Empires larger than continents were formed through force and will. So, what does this have to do with us?

We are extremely capable, but not beyond our imagination. I say this because our imagination has no limit. We can envision a world with nothing but fiction, a place where our dreams have no sense of time, a wonderful prospect of ideality. It is our imagination that has given us electricity, the wheel, motorized engines, computers, and endless possibilities.

We must remind ourselves at times that we have to expand our boundaries, go beyond the norm, and break the rules. Complacency is the easy way, but challenge will present the reward.

Think about your life, your story. Is it all that you imagined and everything you hoped? If not, why not start writing you best-selling novel? There is no better time than now. Eleanor Roosevelt puts it well when she says "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste the experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."

Always make time to dream, never lose sight on your potential, and dream the dream that connects us from our deepest roots of our ancestors. This is your life, live it!

Focus

Yes, I know it is a car I drive, but that's not what I'm talking about!

Focus, motivation, discipline...Where does it come from?

I happened to have a 5 page paper due in 3 hours that I had only halfway finished due to what else, procrastination. But when the clock was winding down and the gap narrowed, I seemed to hone in on my project, as if nothing else mattered.

Why is it that in crunch time we can block out everything else... our world around us ceases to exist, and it's nothing but us in the moment. Back when I played sports I can remember being "in the zone" so much that nothing but the game would effect me. Coaches, players, the crowd could be screaming; but if it was during live play I heard nothing. The human brain is a wonderful, most mysterious thing.

I think this speaks to the drive and determination of each one of us. Inside of us something clicks; and doesn't it feel good? I think sometimes I forget what it's like to accomplish a difficult goal and have an incredible feeling of satisfaction afterwards. That paper I wrote (in a mo-fo'in hurry yesterday)...best paper I've written in about 2 years (and the longest).

I guess I love a challenge, even though I tell myself otherwise. It's like I tell myself the easy way is the way to go, but my body says make it interesting, challenge yourself. Hell, I already challenge myself in video games. I get pissed off when I blow teams out in Madden, because I feel it is a wasted game. So what do I do; I play every game on the hardest level (All-Madden) and I am so much more satisfied when I win. It sucks to lose, but I take it in stride (and reset the game :-)).

What if everyone was incredibly motivated to do something...what kind of world would this be? Just a thought, but it is interesting to think about.

I constantly struggle to find what makes me tick, and that is part of my apathy, and if I let it, it will be my downfall. I think we all just need a niche (sorry no accent mark) that we can rely on. That's what is great about our society...our ability to pick and choose what's interesting and make that a part of our life.

Let me give you a "real world" example with a company called "Patagonia." Their turnover rate of employees is at an incredible 4%, an extremely low number for a major organization. When they hire employees, they hire people who believe in something, whether it's saving a mountain or rescuing kittens. Patagonia's employees are allowed to adjust their schedule when necessary, and they go out into the world and make a difference. At the actual store, where they sell adventure/outdoor clothing gear, the employees actually tell the truth and will recommend or not recommend certain gear for people. They are not out just for the mighty dollar. Employees are encouraged to take their beliefs in society and are even justified in extreme circumstances. One statement from their company policy is about supporting employees who get arrested in non-violent protests regarding a certain topic.

It's that kind of thinking, and that kind of family-like organizational setting that has made the company so successful. People there have found their niche.

So I guess the question is...What makes you focus? What makes me focus? We're all inspired by something, but what is it?

If you know answers to those questions, awesome. If you're like me and still unsure, I wish the best of luck to you. That niche is out there; just keep searching, you never know what may come up.

I made it...

You heard it from me...I made it. You are probably wondering just exactly where I made it to. The answer: Anywhere!

As I typed in 37 different combinations of my e-mail accounts, my e-mail names, and passwords to try and get to this particular blog I realized something: You have to be patient and persistent at the same time. I know the cliche': "You have to work hard to get what you want," or something similar to that saying. Well it is essentially true, although sometimes I just wish it wasn't that way.

In all actuality I came on here to get away from writing a paper that I have to finish by Tuesday (Yeah I felt that writing this would be better, you're not my boss). Now that I am here I wonder how I manage facing adversity. Hell 75% of the time I am just confused and the other 25% of the time I am just complacent. Maybe you are not like me and have all the pieces in place, which I can respect; but I am a Scattergories player...?

I think it's the confusion, the adversity, the unknown that keeps me on my toes, and has other people asking "wtf." Right now as you have read this you are already asking yourself "where the hell am I going with this blog?" and I am here to tell you that it doesn't matter. Sometimes you just have to be random; whether it's purposeful or not. Hold on to this verbal roller coaster there may never be another one quite like it.

All my pants are different; but each one makes for a great leg pocket, however the length is always an issue. I always thought pants were more fun in the dark, maybe you don't like them. But if you don't like your pants, what do you think about your shoes? your shirt? my fragmented sentences?

What is more to you grasshopper is a language of poetic injustice served amongst the froth that shines forth like an imbred fairytale.

Okay now I am just getting weird...but this randomness must continue.

Pajama pants are for living in; why must we only wear them at night. If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it of course you are dumb for asking that question...honestly who thought of something that stupid. Guess what? The sun doesn't rise and it doesn't go under a cloud...the Earth's axis is of course rotating around the sun (which never moves; just burns like a kindling flame of external love like all things that must extinguish but fear not for that is far). I guess the cloud went under the sun and the Earth sets in the morning and it rises in the evening, so suck it moon.

Sure we are locked down by gravity but not sucked in by it...why did I think of that sentence. You're never too old and you're never too young for eventually we will be cyborgs and you will be invisible to guns.

Guns don't kill people...stupid people eat worms. It's not my fault I was born this way it's your fault you eat lima beans. I would like to declare my own country and invite my friends over for treats. I would have my own holiday and be in charge of tiny ants.

I am amazed you have read this far, it's a testiment to your persistence and your patience, I certainly hope you are not confused.

It's all culminating into one, it's time to defuse.


You made it. I am guessing you were confused, and I am guessing you are still confused. Well my friends that is just life. Even if your entertainment is askew, and things make no sense, hopefully you can see things to the end, it's life my friends, and it is nothing more than crazy fun nonsense;-).

Back to school...

Familiar Faces

People find comfort in familiarity, especially when they are in unfamiliar situations. It is no wonder that when tragedy strikes, stores like Wal-Mart and Kroger will put Pop Tarts at the front of the store. It is the understanding of people to associate certain items during different times. Crazy huh? The smell coming from Bath & Body Works, that's not an accident ladies. Even though those examples are random facts of life, it is just a preliminary example of what I really want to focus on. My thoughts lie with an indvidual's own life and own personal familiarities.

In your time somewhere else, such as another city or in a college setting, have you ever walked by someone and thought: "I know you from somewhere" or "Wow that looks like so & so." I would find it hard to believe that you didn't. For me this is a nearly every day experience when I am walking around campus. Maybe you think I am crazy for thinking so much about this but I have my reasons, no matter how far out there they may be.

Every time I see a familiar face I think of the person I know back home, or wherever they are from. I see their story, recall their relationship to me, even think of things to come from time to time. You didn't know I could predict the future, did you? Haha... seriously though I absolutely love these moments. Every time something like this happens it brings me a positive reminder of my friends, our experiences, our trials and our tribulations. The reminders to me are a nice way of knowing that there were people in my life (maybe still are) who will always hold a memory, whether they know it or not.

Although I love my situation now and I look forward to the future, it always fun to reminisce about the past. Thanks to all those people who have provided those memories, and thanks to all the people who are making memories now.

Untitled

With every new person that comes in to your life, there is a new story that comes with them. The story of each individual is vastly different than the one before it. These stories allow us to think creatively, to question issues, and hopefully learn something new.

I believe that every person you meet brings their own tale. Whether you briefly meet someone once, a few times, or are long-time acquaintances, there is always something to share. Even though we know this to be true, our comprehension is often times lacking because of our human nature. It seems like there is too much to understand and that we have to selectively choose the information that we obtain.

When I think of other people's stories, I can't help but to think of my own. I think about the book that has already been written thus far. Memories of my past sparkle in my eye when I think of the shining moments, ones which I hope to never forget. Other moments may not be as shiny, but they are part of my story and they are important.

The older and wiser we become the more we will understand the "book" we have written. It is truly amazing to read about others and to hear of their accomplishments, even of those personas who do not fully understand everything of themselves.

If there is something else I believe, it is that people who come into your life for more than a few seconds have an effect on your individual self. They are truly authors to your book, and you to their's. It is amazing the influence one person can have; their pull; their push. It is something comparable in nature like gravity.

The people with just a few seconds have a small but sometimes noticeable effect too, and should not be discarded off as nothing. Even in a few seconds you will be reminded of something they or someone you know did, good or bad. It is through these people that we get to watch our own story and understand it a little better.

The goal I have set is to start understanding each chapter, each page, each person and what effect they have on my life. Interesting stories are all around us, they surround us each and every day. Although not everything can be read, there should be an effort to understand, intrerpret, and certainly enjoy it all. If one thing is definitely true, it is that our time here is short and time should be our incentive to go and do things we love, whether we understand it or not.