I wrote no post last week. Not that I don't have anything to say. Sometimes I don't have the time to put the Blog into action. After all, I work full time in the medical field, trying to be a God honoring husband and father, plus do a little umpiring and announcing. It's a pretty full schedule.
Did that sound like an excuse? No, I'm not buying it either.
I've written on busier weeks. Sometimes, you have to have the heart to say something. Sometimes, I just have nothing.
-I umpired a couple of games. Wasn't outstanding, but didn't get run out of town. It's getting harder as I get older. Depth perception is going. My knees and back can't always get down to where I can see the top of the zone for small hitters. At 45 or 50 feet, the ball gets there quick. I'll get better, if I live that long. One confirmed thing is that I still love the game.
-I still love announcing, but may have to give it up. If we continue to home school, it will take more of my time. It has to come from somewhere. It will be a great disappointment to me. Maybe I can pick it up again in a few years. Not ready to make a decision yet. Either that or golf will actually come back to my life.
-Why is respect a dying value? I point to the fact that guns used to be in schools all the time. Boys brought them along so they could hunt after school. The guns haven't changed, but the boys carrying them have. Respect for life is less, respect for authority is less, and guns are used for power or protection, not provision. Respect changes how a gun is used, and the value has almost disappeared.
-I have set a goal to watch each Indianapolis 500 from my lifetime on YouTube. I'm currently in 1989, and I have a few observations. First, how much the cars have changed, almost all of it for the better. Guys driving in the 60's, 70's and early 80's had little to protect them. In fact, it was almost guaranteed that there would be two fatalities every year. Second, Gordon Johncock was underrated. He won two 500's and should have won two more: If he hadn't dropped out of the 1981 race, Bobby Unser's penalty would have handed the win to Johncock; Mario Andretti's penalty would have been pointless. He was also competetive in 1984, and could have won three in four years. Finally, Rick Mears was almost overrated. Mears was hugely talented, but Roger Penske, though he said he didn't, favored Mears, even when he had Al Unser, Sr. and Danny Sullivan driving for him. Penske had incredible resources and drive, who couldn't win with that backing? Mears might have won one 500 on talent alone, but four, with six pole positions? One does not win at Indy without a great car, so, to quote Mars Blackman, "It's gotta be the shoes."
So...am I off base?
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Rando Thoughts - April 12
Random thoughts while wondering why I didn't just play in my 20th Masters. After all, that was the plan.
-Jordan Spieth is a deserving Master's Champion. The first wire-to-wire winner since the Carter Administration, Spieth set 36 and 54 hole records on his way to the first of multiple Green Jackets. Barring a bad back or a bad marriage, he is the next heir to Golf's Throne. Tiger fell from that title after suffering through both.
-Speaking of Tiger Woods, he has lost control. A man who seemed to have everything under control for years, hiding his actions and carefully controlling his image. Now, he just doesn't seem to care. His lack of self control over the four days in Augusta: the thrown clubs, the angry swats, the face that looks like it just tasted mouse flavored sherbert. He is still acting like the teenager trying to bend the game to his will. It worked for a while, but the bottle of control is now empty.
-A wild day in New Orleans leads to James Hinchcliffe in Victory Lane. Considering he switched places with Simon Pagenaud, the victory is sweet. He started 16th, and parlayed pit strategy into an upset in a race dominated by Juan Pablo Montoya, who lead 31 of the 47 laps. Montoya is definitiely the man to beat when the series moved to Long Beach and Alabama over the next two weekends.
-So much for the Tigers seeing the window of opportunity close. They are 6-0 in their first week of the new season. Timely hitting, solid pitching and good defense. If it holds up for 162 games, it should land in the playoffs again. It is a LONG season.
-Finally, watch out for Notre Dame in College Softball. They have now won 18 in a row Easy to ignore when they played in the Big East, but they are playing ACC competition. Great pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting...wait a minute...didn't I just say this... They have had a strong program for years, but this may be Deanna Gumpf's best team.
-Umpiring debut is Tuesday. Lord help us all.
So...am I off base?
-Jordan Spieth is a deserving Master's Champion. The first wire-to-wire winner since the Carter Administration, Spieth set 36 and 54 hole records on his way to the first of multiple Green Jackets. Barring a bad back or a bad marriage, he is the next heir to Golf's Throne. Tiger fell from that title after suffering through both.
-Speaking of Tiger Woods, he has lost control. A man who seemed to have everything under control for years, hiding his actions and carefully controlling his image. Now, he just doesn't seem to care. His lack of self control over the four days in Augusta: the thrown clubs, the angry swats, the face that looks like it just tasted mouse flavored sherbert. He is still acting like the teenager trying to bend the game to his will. It worked for a while, but the bottle of control is now empty.
-A wild day in New Orleans leads to James Hinchcliffe in Victory Lane. Considering he switched places with Simon Pagenaud, the victory is sweet. He started 16th, and parlayed pit strategy into an upset in a race dominated by Juan Pablo Montoya, who lead 31 of the 47 laps. Montoya is definitiely the man to beat when the series moved to Long Beach and Alabama over the next two weekends.
-So much for the Tigers seeing the window of opportunity close. They are 6-0 in their first week of the new season. Timely hitting, solid pitching and good defense. If it holds up for 162 games, it should land in the playoffs again. It is a LONG season.
-Finally, watch out for Notre Dame in College Softball. They have now won 18 in a row Easy to ignore when they played in the Big East, but they are playing ACC competition. Great pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting...wait a minute...didn't I just say this... They have had a strong program for years, but this may be Deanna Gumpf's best team.
-Umpiring debut is Tuesday. Lord help us all.
So...am I off base?
Monday, April 6, 2015
Random Thoughts- April 6
Some random thoughts while trying to figure out why I'm a day late with this week's post.
- A lot of eyes on tonight's NCAA Championship Game. I had Duke, but not Wisconsin. Maybe could have seen it coming based on Wisconsin's continued improvement through the tournament, especially at the defensive end. Gotta wonder if Kentucky actually started to believe their press clippings as the tournament continued. Their performance definitely declined as they got tested, especially by a Notre Dame team that should have beat them. John Calipari knows how to work the system, so the Wildcats will be back. Provided he doesn't end up coaching somewhere in the NBA.
-Not sure how I want to pick tonight's game. I have seen precious little of the tournament, but gotta lean to Duke. Wisconsin's staff can prepare for a game as good as anyone, but there is a subtle (or not so subtle difference) in having done it as often as Mike Krzezewski has. When all else is equal, go with experience.
-Major League baseball is alive and kicking. Might be worth waking up for in late July, early August. Roughly the time the Cubs and the Astros are eliminated from post season contention.
-My season of announcing with Elkhart Christian Academy continues this weekend when baseball opens it's home schedule with a doubleheader against the Fort Wayne Crusaders. Nothing like facing home schooled kids who can start practice pretty much anytime they want. I also have the home softball games on my announcing docket. By the way, I make a baseball umpiring debut at Bristol Little League on April 14 and 15. I've done more softball than baseball lately, but it's always good behind the plate.
-Finally get to be the object of my own statement which I've made to every team I've ever coached: "The umpires/referees are going to be bad. Just expect it. When a call doesn't go your way, just play a little harder." Me and my big mouth.
-Finally, a local note: Notre Dame Women's Basketball plays for a National Championship tomorrow night. Five straight trips to the Final Four, but I think it will be a VW Beetle chasing a Ferrari when they face Connecticut. UConn has so much talent and depth that it could be over early. ND's best hope is great defense and a healthy dose of three point baskets.
So...am I off base?
- A lot of eyes on tonight's NCAA Championship Game. I had Duke, but not Wisconsin. Maybe could have seen it coming based on Wisconsin's continued improvement through the tournament, especially at the defensive end. Gotta wonder if Kentucky actually started to believe their press clippings as the tournament continued. Their performance definitely declined as they got tested, especially by a Notre Dame team that should have beat them. John Calipari knows how to work the system, so the Wildcats will be back. Provided he doesn't end up coaching somewhere in the NBA.
-Not sure how I want to pick tonight's game. I have seen precious little of the tournament, but gotta lean to Duke. Wisconsin's staff can prepare for a game as good as anyone, but there is a subtle (or not so subtle difference) in having done it as often as Mike Krzezewski has. When all else is equal, go with experience.
-Major League baseball is alive and kicking. Might be worth waking up for in late July, early August. Roughly the time the Cubs and the Astros are eliminated from post season contention.
-My season of announcing with Elkhart Christian Academy continues this weekend when baseball opens it's home schedule with a doubleheader against the Fort Wayne Crusaders. Nothing like facing home schooled kids who can start practice pretty much anytime they want. I also have the home softball games on my announcing docket. By the way, I make a baseball umpiring debut at Bristol Little League on April 14 and 15. I've done more softball than baseball lately, but it's always good behind the plate.
-Finally get to be the object of my own statement which I've made to every team I've ever coached: "The umpires/referees are going to be bad. Just expect it. When a call doesn't go your way, just play a little harder." Me and my big mouth.
-Finally, a local note: Notre Dame Women's Basketball plays for a National Championship tomorrow night. Five straight trips to the Final Four, but I think it will be a VW Beetle chasing a Ferrari when they face Connecticut. UConn has so much talent and depth that it could be over early. ND's best hope is great defense and a healthy dose of three point baskets.
So...am I off base?
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