The Indianapolis 500 completed it's hundredth run with something unexpected. A rookie winner crowned by an age old strategy: milk the gas tank for all it is worth. Alexander Rossi was the beneficiary of Bryan Herta's strategy to get his face on the Borg Warner Trophy.
The Indianapolis 500 brought out an overlooked part of racing that casual watchers miss. The number of people who have to perform to win a race is phenomenal. We talk about the drivers and the cars, but the people that prepare them, the strategists that make the decisions, the people that put together the financial deals to get the cars on the track all had to perform. One mistake in any area can be enough to end the dream of winning.
An interview with the three drivers who have won four Indy 500's underscored this point. A.J. Foyt said all the preparation and execution is just as important as having everything go right on a given day. Rick Mears said any of them could have won 10 and reminisced about his first win when a car left the pit lane and lost it's right rear tire. It missed his car by inches.
All three drivers named at least one other time they should have won and didn't. Another thing they all agreed on was there were more drivers who should have won one 500 and didn't than had actually won the race. It took every bit of preparation, execution, strategy and luck. One part of the team that failed to perform is enough to make the difference.
Maybe it is overemphasizing winning when there is one winner and, in the words of Dale Earnhardt, "Second place is just the first loser." Only one face goes on the trophy, and it's not for finishing second.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Monday, May 23, 2016
Wow, What a Change!
It has been a huge change in my life lately. I can't believe how much it has changed in the last three months.
In February, I was completing the vast majority of sixteen years supporting the Radiology Department with no end in sight. I was satisfied, but not happy with my work, but I did it very well. I had learned to be content doing my job. It was okay.
I had an opportunity to change employers, but chose not to, primarily because of pension considerations. However, I was presented with the opportunity to change departments and use my business degree. After all, I have been using my psychology degree every day, i.e.-"What the heck were they thinking?"
Now, I am a department lead in another hospital in the same system. It is a little daunting, but I am looking forward to the opportunity. Now that I am over my brief illness, thanks to something I ate. Just hope I am up to the challenge.
Even so, I am oddly dissatisfied. I believe it is with my own desires. I want so much more, but live with the uncertainty that I can complete the task. Not sure why. I have the ability. Maybe my heart is somewhere else.
-James Hinchcliffe has authored a wonderful story, going from the edge of death to the pole position in a year's time. He was brought into Andretti Motorsports as Danica Patrick's replacement. The expectations were high, and he didn't produce. He is a good driver, just hasn't been the driver expected. After all, he couldn't just wow people by pulling off his helmet like his predecessor.
I think Hinch's perspective has changed. He was almost on the wrong side of the grass, and that can make a man introspective when he has time to think about it. Most of the time, they back off and cling to life. The great ones decide, in the words of Cole Trickle, "They're more afraid of being nothing than they are of being hurt."
Johnny Rutherford lost an entire season to injury in the summer of 1966, lost a year recuperating, and eventually won three Indianapolis 500 mile races. Nikki Lauda had already won a World Driving Championship when he had his horrific crash at Nurburgring, but won two more after recovery.
Hinch may be on the edge of something great, just like the expectations were when he broke into IndyCar. Maybe the gentle reminder that you have an expiration date has focused his effort.
-As for officiating and umpiring, my school year activities are winding down. I will have a few games to work during the summer, thanks to Harris Little League, Fairfield14U, and the Elkhart Titans. I have a couple of observations at the end of a full year of education based officiating.
First, the games have indeed become faster. The kids are more skilled and game savvy than they were in my day. However, they also more likely to give up when behind. Both are the product of extended seasons because of travel or club sports. The more they practice and play the higher the skill level, even though they are less fundamentally sound because they make a higher level play without relying on fundamentals. It makes the play more erratic. Also born from this is the attitude, it's just a game: I've got another one tomorrow. If I'm behind, it doesn't matter if I pull it out or try harder. Another game is around the corner.
Second, parental expectation is off the charts. Spending a fair amount of money on travel ball, the expectation is that scholarships are in the offing. Hate to say it, but he freakishly talented with get the opportunity before the hard worker. Anyone can work hard and get better, but if they can do physically do something without working hard, the next level can be taught and achieved more quickly.
That said, I still say work hard. The coaches with appreciate the effort and the athlete will be better prepared for real life. After all, the point of the games is to prepare kids for the game that starts at age 18.
In February, I was completing the vast majority of sixteen years supporting the Radiology Department with no end in sight. I was satisfied, but not happy with my work, but I did it very well. I had learned to be content doing my job. It was okay.
I had an opportunity to change employers, but chose not to, primarily because of pension considerations. However, I was presented with the opportunity to change departments and use my business degree. After all, I have been using my psychology degree every day, i.e.-"What the heck were they thinking?"
Now, I am a department lead in another hospital in the same system. It is a little daunting, but I am looking forward to the opportunity. Now that I am over my brief illness, thanks to something I ate. Just hope I am up to the challenge.
Even so, I am oddly dissatisfied. I believe it is with my own desires. I want so much more, but live with the uncertainty that I can complete the task. Not sure why. I have the ability. Maybe my heart is somewhere else.
-James Hinchcliffe has authored a wonderful story, going from the edge of death to the pole position in a year's time. He was brought into Andretti Motorsports as Danica Patrick's replacement. The expectations were high, and he didn't produce. He is a good driver, just hasn't been the driver expected. After all, he couldn't just wow people by pulling off his helmet like his predecessor.
I think Hinch's perspective has changed. He was almost on the wrong side of the grass, and that can make a man introspective when he has time to think about it. Most of the time, they back off and cling to life. The great ones decide, in the words of Cole Trickle, "They're more afraid of being nothing than they are of being hurt."
Johnny Rutherford lost an entire season to injury in the summer of 1966, lost a year recuperating, and eventually won three Indianapolis 500 mile races. Nikki Lauda had already won a World Driving Championship when he had his horrific crash at Nurburgring, but won two more after recovery.
Hinch may be on the edge of something great, just like the expectations were when he broke into IndyCar. Maybe the gentle reminder that you have an expiration date has focused his effort.
-As for officiating and umpiring, my school year activities are winding down. I will have a few games to work during the summer, thanks to Harris Little League, Fairfield14U, and the Elkhart Titans. I have a couple of observations at the end of a full year of education based officiating.
First, the games have indeed become faster. The kids are more skilled and game savvy than they were in my day. However, they also more likely to give up when behind. Both are the product of extended seasons because of travel or club sports. The more they practice and play the higher the skill level, even though they are less fundamentally sound because they make a higher level play without relying on fundamentals. It makes the play more erratic. Also born from this is the attitude, it's just a game: I've got another one tomorrow. If I'm behind, it doesn't matter if I pull it out or try harder. Another game is around the corner.
Second, parental expectation is off the charts. Spending a fair amount of money on travel ball, the expectation is that scholarships are in the offing. Hate to say it, but he freakishly talented with get the opportunity before the hard worker. Anyone can work hard and get better, but if they can do physically do something without working hard, the next level can be taught and achieved more quickly.
That said, I still say work hard. The coaches with appreciate the effort and the athlete will be better prepared for real life. After all, the point of the games is to prepare kids for the game that starts at age 18.
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