It has been a bittersweet year for me. At least it ends, like every other year, with football.
I've had some bitter moments this year. My children have had issues at school. In our section of Indiana, we had a difficult winter which even included the words "Polar Vortex." My work in the medical field has been made more difficult by the new Healthcare Laws enacted this year. We will even be home schooling in the new year. By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.
However, we had some memorable events this year, too. We had two weddings in one weekend. We saw my son have a memorable debut in High School Baseball. My daughter has blossomed on stage, showing dancing skills that must have skipped a generation. My wife had a big work assignment and ushered in and electronic era. Sometimes the best things are the little things.
So I get to watch a little football. I've already registered my opinion on the College Football playoffs (see my post Playoff Scenario). I've seen or heard nothing to change my mind.
The NFL playoffs are a different story. Let's walk through, game by game:
Arizona at Carolina- Don't let Carolina's sub-.500 record throw you. They have a good defense, and the offense is capable. Down the stretch, when it counted, they didn't lose. Cam Newton needs to win, and show he is a top level quarterback.
Arizona is wounded at best. Ryan Lindley is a good quarterback, but playoff football is a whole new world that moves at a different speed. Third string quarterbacks don't have a good track record in playoff games. (Back ups can do something, see Frank Reich coming back from 32 down against Houston in 1993.)
It's hard to call a win at home an upset, but Arizona is a 6 1/2 point favorite. Take the Panthers and the points.
Baltimore at Pittsburgh- They split head to head during the regular season. The quarterback matchup is intriguing, as both have won a Super Bowl. If it comes down to quarterback play, give Pittsburgh a huge advantage. However, the past doesn't count for much.
The team that runs the football, wins the game. LaVeon Bell's injury is huge, and LaGarrette Blount will need to play above his head. Justin Forsett has quietly racked up over 1,200 yard rushing, and will be the key. Forsett goes for over 120 yards and the Ravens win a big game on the road in the playoffs.
Cincinnati at Indianapolis- Another playoff appearance for each team. Cincinnati has something to prove. With Andy Dalton at the helm, the Bengals are searching for their first playoff win. The Colts and Andrew Luck are searching for a big playoff win.
Jeremy Hill is a key. He is the only back in the game to rush for over 1,000 yards and the only back capable of dominating the game. If Cincinnati's line can dominate the line of scrimmage, it could be a long day for the Colts.
The Colts are a 3 1/2 point favorites. They may need every point.
Detroit at Dallas- Wait a minute: Dallas 4-4 at home? 8-0 on the road? What about home field advantage?
Detroit has a stronger defense than Dallas. Dallas has an experienced quarterback in Tony Romo, and Matthew Stafford prepares for his second playoff start. Dallas has DeMarco Murray, Detroit has Calvin Johnson. Detroit's defensive line got a boost when Suh was spared punishment because his feet were cold. Dallas has a solid team defense.
Look, I still think running the ball is King. Save a Murray, Ride a Cowboy.
So...am I off base?
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Sunday, December 28, 2014
He Ain't Heavy
He's my brother.
He was 16 when I was born. We were part of two different generations: his generation lived Woodstock, my Woodstock had Snoopy as a best friend. He loved the Beatles, while I lived in the technopop music wasteland that was the 80's. He drove a Slug Bug, the original Beetle: I lived when Hondas had more plastic than a middle aged actress.
Today is his seventh Angel Birthday. While it isn't officially recognized, he gave his life in service to his country.
Like 58,220 others his age, he gave his life in defense of the United States of America during he Vietnam War. He was drafted to the United States Army, and served two tours of duty. He eventually was involved in action in Cambodia. He earned the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for valor. He had a story of life and limb for every day he was in Southeast Asia. Two tours of duty means that was a LONG time.
He said he remembered being in the jungle when they dumped Agent Orange on him. He said this happened on many occasions. It was part of life of a soldier in Vietnam.
Fast forward through getting married, raising two daughters, and having a career as a management accountant. In his career, no one could close a factory like my brother. He knew exactly how the numbers worked, and exactly how to do it. His military training helped him immensely.
He started to have health problems, first associated with his heart. He had a stent placed. Then the nosebleeds started. The blood flowed freely, strongly and became harder to stop. He sought medical treatment. It was only the beginning.
A sinus tumor was located, eventually diagnosed as an esthesioneuroblastoma. It is a rare cancer, and not officially a diagnosis related to Agent Orange. It was eventually treated with a surgical intervention, beginning with the face being moved out of the way to get at the sinus. Follow this with chemotherapy and radiation at Level 4. Providing a frame of reference for that: there is no Level 5.
His military training showed again. In those stories of life and limb, he said they all started with the decision that he was coming out the other side, no matter what. He approached his cancer with the same mindset. Winston Churchill once said, "When going through hell, make sure you go quickly."
He was eventually declared cancer free, and for 18 months, things were fine. If you consider having your vision altered and the loss of taste and smell fine. He was alive, and that is everything.
At that time, the tingling headaches started. The follow up MRI showed a mass inside the brain. Level 4 treatments were still too recent. Follow up treatment was not likely to be effective. He chose to live what he had left, as well as possible.
That Christmas Eve, when my family gathers, will live on in our memories, as we all piled into cars and drove to his house. His wife and daughters came out to hug, kiss, and cry. We had the news four days later. He was not officially killed by Agent Orange exposure, defending his country, but was just as gone at age 58. It is far too soon.
At his celebration of life, the DVD running pictures showed him in Vietnam, with the men he served. Someone asked if any of those men were here on that day. My sister in law said he was the only one who made it home. As the kid brother, I always knew I was lucky he made it home.
My relationship with him revolved around sports. We replayed baseball games in the backyard, pored over stats and talked about what the next scheduled game would be like. When I was diagnosed with my hip injury, he drove to Fort Wayne from Pennsylvania to come see me. As a coach, the awareness ribbon for Head and Neck Cancer, Maroon and White, are on my hat. He helped me learn the numbers that help me make the decisions. He's never far from my mind on a ballfield.
I call to mind another friend who is deploying to Afghanistan as I write. I pray for your safety, both mind and body.
I would be a lot to write about this week. NFL playoffs being set. College football playoffs on Thursday. College basketball starting the conference season. A whole new year starting. It's an exciting time. Sports fans come alive as they build towards an ultimate game.
They are just games. If you have a great coach, they teach you how to play the more important game, too.
So...am I off base?
He was 16 when I was born. We were part of two different generations: his generation lived Woodstock, my Woodstock had Snoopy as a best friend. He loved the Beatles, while I lived in the technopop music wasteland that was the 80's. He drove a Slug Bug, the original Beetle: I lived when Hondas had more plastic than a middle aged actress.
Today is his seventh Angel Birthday. While it isn't officially recognized, he gave his life in service to his country.
Like 58,220 others his age, he gave his life in defense of the United States of America during he Vietnam War. He was drafted to the United States Army, and served two tours of duty. He eventually was involved in action in Cambodia. He earned the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for valor. He had a story of life and limb for every day he was in Southeast Asia. Two tours of duty means that was a LONG time.
He said he remembered being in the jungle when they dumped Agent Orange on him. He said this happened on many occasions. It was part of life of a soldier in Vietnam.
Fast forward through getting married, raising two daughters, and having a career as a management accountant. In his career, no one could close a factory like my brother. He knew exactly how the numbers worked, and exactly how to do it. His military training helped him immensely.
He started to have health problems, first associated with his heart. He had a stent placed. Then the nosebleeds started. The blood flowed freely, strongly and became harder to stop. He sought medical treatment. It was only the beginning.
A sinus tumor was located, eventually diagnosed as an esthesioneuroblastoma. It is a rare cancer, and not officially a diagnosis related to Agent Orange. It was eventually treated with a surgical intervention, beginning with the face being moved out of the way to get at the sinus. Follow this with chemotherapy and radiation at Level 4. Providing a frame of reference for that: there is no Level 5.
His military training showed again. In those stories of life and limb, he said they all started with the decision that he was coming out the other side, no matter what. He approached his cancer with the same mindset. Winston Churchill once said, "When going through hell, make sure you go quickly."
He was eventually declared cancer free, and for 18 months, things were fine. If you consider having your vision altered and the loss of taste and smell fine. He was alive, and that is everything.
At that time, the tingling headaches started. The follow up MRI showed a mass inside the brain. Level 4 treatments were still too recent. Follow up treatment was not likely to be effective. He chose to live what he had left, as well as possible.
That Christmas Eve, when my family gathers, will live on in our memories, as we all piled into cars and drove to his house. His wife and daughters came out to hug, kiss, and cry. We had the news four days later. He was not officially killed by Agent Orange exposure, defending his country, but was just as gone at age 58. It is far too soon.
At his celebration of life, the DVD running pictures showed him in Vietnam, with the men he served. Someone asked if any of those men were here on that day. My sister in law said he was the only one who made it home. As the kid brother, I always knew I was lucky he made it home.
My relationship with him revolved around sports. We replayed baseball games in the backyard, pored over stats and talked about what the next scheduled game would be like. When I was diagnosed with my hip injury, he drove to Fort Wayne from Pennsylvania to come see me. As a coach, the awareness ribbon for Head and Neck Cancer, Maroon and White, are on my hat. He helped me learn the numbers that help me make the decisions. He's never far from my mind on a ballfield.
I call to mind another friend who is deploying to Afghanistan as I write. I pray for your safety, both mind and body.
I would be a lot to write about this week. NFL playoffs being set. College football playoffs on Thursday. College basketball starting the conference season. A whole new year starting. It's an exciting time. Sports fans come alive as they build towards an ultimate game.
They are just games. If you have a great coach, they teach you how to play the more important game, too.
So...am I off base?
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Perspective on Gifts
Christmas Day is Thursday. The preceding is brought to by the East Coast Syndicate that runs the Christmas Season.
Gifts are given and received in honor of The Greatest Gift Ever Given, whose birth is celebrated on Christmas. Linus spoke eloquently of this in Charlie Brown Christmas.
Everyone has gifts they were given and received without any conscious thought. Sometimes, it is great intellectual prowess, with limited physical ability. Sometimes, it is the body that can do anything with incredible ease, and the intellect of granite. The mixture is somewhere in between for almost all of us.
An intellectual person can develop their body, or the psychomotor natural can chisel the granite in their brain into something beautiful. How does this happen?
Teachers, sometimes in the form of a coach, are all about gifts. The gift they have, teaching the willing to improve something they don't have. Helping someone discover what they can do is the essence. Doing this while sacrificing self, sacrificing time, and keeping an objective eye on what needs to be taught. It's all a part of teaching.
A coach is a teacher. A teacher is a coach. Their jobs exist to develop gifts.
To all teachers and coaches everywhere, Merry Christmas. As you open your gifts, remember the gifts given to you to develop.
So...am I off base?
Gifts are given and received in honor of The Greatest Gift Ever Given, whose birth is celebrated on Christmas. Linus spoke eloquently of this in Charlie Brown Christmas.
Everyone has gifts they were given and received without any conscious thought. Sometimes, it is great intellectual prowess, with limited physical ability. Sometimes, it is the body that can do anything with incredible ease, and the intellect of granite. The mixture is somewhere in between for almost all of us.
An intellectual person can develop their body, or the psychomotor natural can chisel the granite in their brain into something beautiful. How does this happen?
Teachers, sometimes in the form of a coach, are all about gifts. The gift they have, teaching the willing to improve something they don't have. Helping someone discover what they can do is the essence. Doing this while sacrificing self, sacrificing time, and keeping an objective eye on what needs to be taught. It's all a part of teaching.
A coach is a teacher. A teacher is a coach. Their jobs exist to develop gifts.
To all teachers and coaches everywhere, Merry Christmas. As you open your gifts, remember the gifts given to you to develop.
So...am I off base?
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Playoff Scenario
I know I'm writing a bit late, but did TCU get screwed? Or did Ohio State take a greater opportunity and win more impressively? How will these games turn out? Is it still worthwhile?
What little I saw of TCU was not that impressive. On paper, they looked good, and it seems they got the short end. However, the Big 12 made a decision to do away with a Championship game and cost themselves a spotlight game. TCU posted a big win over a decent Iowa State team to close the regular season, but Ohio State demolished a strong Wisconsin team in a spotlight game for a Conference Championship. The style points moved Ohio State up and TCU down. Fair? Life isn't fair, you just make the best of the opportunities.
So the playoff boils down to Alabama vs. Ohio State and Oregon vs. Florida State. Alabama has looked so impressive lately that I wonder if Ohio State could keep up, especially with Alabama's team speed. Ohio State's coaching staff has a long time to prepare for Alabama, which could create some options for slowing down the Tide. However, few teams have played as many big games recently as Alabama. Talent should win out again.
Oregon brings Marcus Mariota current Heisman Trophy winner against Florida State and Jameis Winston, thug and last Heisman Trophy winner. One undeniable fact proven during this season is that Jameis Winston is a leader. The team responds to his leadership. Oregon lost against one of the stronger opponents they faced. Mariota has yet to see his leadership tested like Winston. Will be interesting to see how he responds. The champs stay the champs until someone beats them.
I have long wanted a playoff in College Football. I am glad to have one, even this one. I would still like to see 32 teams play their way through using the existing bowl schedule and sites as the playoff games. Sponsors still get their showcase game, while we get the on field champion we deserve. It's a bad idea, but the time may be right
So...am I off base?
Sunday, December 7, 2014
High School Sports in Trouble
It sounds unusual to most people, but I believe High School Varsity sports are in trouble.
High school sports have been on a gradual decline since the 70's, and now it is getting critical. Attendance is down, participation numbers are high, but because there are more sports than ever for athletes to participate.
Friday night in Elkhart, Central and Memorial staged a rivalry basketball game at North Side Gym, capacity 8,000. The reports talked about a great turnout being 4,000 fans. North Side used to be full every time they threw the doors open. Now they rarely pull the seats out in the upper deck.
Anderson, IN tore down the Wigwam a couple of years ago, capacity 9,000. They just couldn't fill the place.
Football attendance seems to have been steady, but it's football, America's Habit.
What's wrong?
High school varsity sports used to be the best players in your community. Some of the best never play high school sports. Their travel teams play year round and are not limited by geography. They can compete for National Championships and are not limited by the school season.
Two prime examples: a swimmer and a tennis player.
The swimmer is my nephew, who I will call Chris. Chris has always been big and strong for his age and lives in a city with no HS swim teams. You would be out of luck in years past. Today, he swims for a travel program, can go all over the eastern seaboard, and has swam in Nationals since he was 9. The Olympics are a possibility in his future. Missy Franklin, gold medalist, swims for her high school in Colorado, but it's hardly competition.
A local tennis player, I'll call Steve, is home schooled. First off, he doesn't go to school, so he would be excluded from varsity athletics. No future? His future looks brighter than if he was in school. Since he is home schooled, he completes his day early and is off to practice. Professional tennis could very well be in his future: the worst he could do is a college scholarship, provided he stays healthy.
Okay, those are individual sports. How long until team sports start taking the same approach? I know of several baseball players getting college scholarships who never played HS baseball. Coaches are scouting travel tournaments to see how kids play multiple positions, see their pitching ability, and they can talk to the player without restriction, even work them out between games.
Sometimes, the state High School Associations are their own worst enemies. Indiana has restrictions on the Public Address announcer at Varsity games. Don't make it exciting, don't incite the crowd. Be careful: if the fans enjoy it, they might be back! I feel it denies a kid who may be staying in school to play ball recognition which could keep him developing. If he happens to go to college and makes a better life because of some recognition he earned, give it to him!
Or the rule being debated in Minnesota: allow the player to pick what gender they want to play. Supposedly, a disenfranchised transgender potential teen boy can play on the girl's team if that is the gender identified by the player. Some doctors will sign anything if the bill gets paid, and it's a matter of time until a boy who's not good enough to make the basketball team suddenly feels gender confusion because he can own the girls.
How do high schools fight back? Maybe their best answer is to do away with summer vacation. Go to school year round, and allow the athletes to work as a team on an athletic schedule, not a school calendar. Keep your teams together and play tournaments in the off season. Play as a travel team, and don't worry about Public Address announcers. Promote your sports all the time and package the student. After all, isn't the student/athlete what it is supposed to be about anyway?
So...am I off base?
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