Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
I Need A Hero
Sports has been dealing us a depressing hand as of late. From Tiger Woods and his harem of women to the latest news of Chris Henry's death, at the hands of a pickup truck and a domestic dispute, professional athletics are starting to become more and more depressing and disappointing. Sportscenter was fun to watch back in the day, and it still might be, but I don't have cable and all the bad stories interfere with regular news these days, so it seems we're not safe anymore from millionaire misfits and tragic deaths.
I don't know where to turn for my inspiration anymore, since it's always been one person or the other. After reading a book about LeBron James, it seemed that he might be one to follow, but who knows what his confusing plans will be come 2010, when he's bound to make a gazillion dollars with a new team, and still remain ring-less. It's not that he isn't a great player, because he is. He's dubbed "The Chosen One," yet now he has to choose where to go in order to fulfill a destiny. MJ didn't have to go anywhere. They came to him. He made them better. He made them, and himself, champions...six times over.
There are things you take for granted, and one of them is that, as a kid, I rooted for the second-best basketball dynasty of all-time, with the first being the 1957-1969 Boston Celtics. Anyone that wins 11 of 13 titles, including eight in a row, should be considered just a step above MJ and his two runs of three-peats. Watching those games as a kid was great, but I would have loved to experience at least three of those titles as a high school or college student, to really appreciate what was going on. At the time, it was just flying around in the air, making shots and dunking occasionally. I had little to no knowledge of the human body and how it works, so I assumed I would be able to do similar things, as long as I tried my best. I now know it's purely genetics and determination, and an innate fear of failing, that fueled MJ and all the other greats. It might also have been the fact he was gambling like a mad man, but that's neither here nor there.
Times were simpler back then. There was no TMZ. There was no Internet. Sure, things are much more rapid-fire these days, so I am grateful for technology. I would never have been able to figure out how to write a web log, since it didn't exist in even the larvae stage of computing. Regardless of the times, I would rather have just an iota of the simplicity and privacy back on board, for times like these.
Imagine if TMZ or Dlisted were in existence when JFK and RFK were carousing with Marilyn Monroe. Would Wilt Chamberlain have been able to bed 20,000 women if Jim Rome were publicizing all of his conquests as they happened? All these talking heads make way too much money for reporting pure filth, and it's our own fault.
Teachers, nurses, fireman and police officers should be making six figures, but instead they toil around near the poverty line, depending on what city they work in. Novice photographers with a bit of attitude and a massive camera, can make hundred of thousands of dollars for harassing celebrities just for a two-page spread in Us Weekly.
Who should we turn to for our inspiration? Should we glamorize celebrities? Should we canonize our sports heroes? Should we look up to people making money but making nary a contribution to society? Turn to yourself for inspiration and everything will be just fine. Look inside and you'll find someone that can inspire you. All you have to do is let them.
I don't know where to turn for my inspiration anymore, since it's always been one person or the other. After reading a book about LeBron James, it seemed that he might be one to follow, but who knows what his confusing plans will be come 2010, when he's bound to make a gazillion dollars with a new team, and still remain ring-less. It's not that he isn't a great player, because he is. He's dubbed "The Chosen One," yet now he has to choose where to go in order to fulfill a destiny. MJ didn't have to go anywhere. They came to him. He made them better. He made them, and himself, champions...six times over.
There are things you take for granted, and one of them is that, as a kid, I rooted for the second-best basketball dynasty of all-time, with the first being the 1957-1969 Boston Celtics. Anyone that wins 11 of 13 titles, including eight in a row, should be considered just a step above MJ and his two runs of three-peats. Watching those games as a kid was great, but I would have loved to experience at least three of those titles as a high school or college student, to really appreciate what was going on. At the time, it was just flying around in the air, making shots and dunking occasionally. I had little to no knowledge of the human body and how it works, so I assumed I would be able to do similar things, as long as I tried my best. I now know it's purely genetics and determination, and an innate fear of failing, that fueled MJ and all the other greats. It might also have been the fact he was gambling like a mad man, but that's neither here nor there.
Times were simpler back then. There was no TMZ. There was no Internet. Sure, things are much more rapid-fire these days, so I am grateful for technology. I would never have been able to figure out how to write a web log, since it didn't exist in even the larvae stage of computing. Regardless of the times, I would rather have just an iota of the simplicity and privacy back on board, for times like these.
Imagine if TMZ or Dlisted were in existence when JFK and RFK were carousing with Marilyn Monroe. Would Wilt Chamberlain have been able to bed 20,000 women if Jim Rome were publicizing all of his conquests as they happened? All these talking heads make way too much money for reporting pure filth, and it's our own fault.
Teachers, nurses, fireman and police officers should be making six figures, but instead they toil around near the poverty line, depending on what city they work in. Novice photographers with a bit of attitude and a massive camera, can make hundred of thousands of dollars for harassing celebrities just for a two-page spread in Us Weekly.
Who should we turn to for our inspiration? Should we glamorize celebrities? Should we canonize our sports heroes? Should we look up to people making money but making nary a contribution to society? Turn to yourself for inspiration and everything will be just fine. Look inside and you'll find someone that can inspire you. All you have to do is let them.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Light It Up
That's three thus far, Shooter.
This one was front and center on the Life section in yesterday's actual paper.
This one was front and center on the Life section in yesterday's actual paper.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Ten Things That Are Awesome
Without further ado, here are ten cool things that are a part of my life that I thought I would share. Enjoy!
10) Pick-up basketball: It's strange to think that this would be a good workout, but there is no better test of all things physical. From setting a myriad of off-ball screens to being out-worked by someone twice your age, pick-up basketball is both the great equalizer and a massive slice of humble pie.
9) Making coffee with a French press: Thought you had strong and tasty coffee from Starbucks? Get a French press and prepare to get your mind (as well as your taste buds and possibly your gastrointestinal tract) blown. You can chug a few cups of this in the same time it would take your big pot to brew up four cups, with more of a caffeine jolt.
8) Working part-time: Want to light a fire under your own ass? Work part-time and get paid very little. There's nothing that makes you want to work harder and better yourself than having semi-employment. I guess that's why the blogging has been a bit lax as of late, but I digress.
7) The Biggest Loser: Watch this show. Try not to cry. Watch this show. Try to not be compelled to work out when the credits roll. Watch this show. Feel compassion for the contestants, as they represent the majority of the United States these days, what with the high obesity rates and all.
6) Krups Rice Cooker: Buy one of these suckers and eliminate about 30 minutes from dinner-making festivities. Dump some rice and the appropriate amount of water, hit two buttons and go on with your business. When it's done, empty some vegetables or beans inside, stir and eat. It's like an infomercial product that's actually legitimate.
5) Fresh packs of socks: I hadn't purchased a fresh pack of socks in a long time, and I just did so recently. New socks are amazing. They fit, they're not all blown out, and every pair looks new still. If your feet blister and bleed like mine, then your socks will be yellow near the pinky toe region.
4) Archer Farms Trail Mix: I always jog past the aisle that houses a variety of trail mix at Target, just to see if it's on sale. When it is, look out Cincinnati. I can't buy two bags fast enough. One bag for the ride home and one bag for oatmeal for the next two or three days.
3) Farmer's Tan: It's a point of pride for cyclists, and it's a tangible measure of how much saddle time you've put in. Now, in the gym, it's a frequent source of questioning. From "where did you get that" to "you must work outside," the questions are inane and endless. How did I get that tan? Just ask.
2) Trying something new that you've always wanted to try: I recently took up swimming. It was hard at first, but my endurance has built up considerably over the past month to where I can swim 1000 yards comfortably and continuously. Another bonus? You're super hungry when you finish a good swimming workout.
1) A good support system: I would never have kept trying as hard as I do every day to better myself without the support system that I have. From my girlfriend to my friends, down to my parents and sisters (who have been there since day one), there's not a day that goes by where I'm not thinking about what advice they would all give me, and how I never want to let them down.
10) Pick-up basketball: It's strange to think that this would be a good workout, but there is no better test of all things physical. From setting a myriad of off-ball screens to being out-worked by someone twice your age, pick-up basketball is both the great equalizer and a massive slice of humble pie.
9) Making coffee with a French press: Thought you had strong and tasty coffee from Starbucks? Get a French press and prepare to get your mind (as well as your taste buds and possibly your gastrointestinal tract) blown. You can chug a few cups of this in the same time it would take your big pot to brew up four cups, with more of a caffeine jolt.
8) Working part-time: Want to light a fire under your own ass? Work part-time and get paid very little. There's nothing that makes you want to work harder and better yourself than having semi-employment. I guess that's why the blogging has been a bit lax as of late, but I digress.
7) The Biggest Loser: Watch this show. Try not to cry. Watch this show. Try to not be compelled to work out when the credits roll. Watch this show. Feel compassion for the contestants, as they represent the majority of the United States these days, what with the high obesity rates and all.
6) Krups Rice Cooker: Buy one of these suckers and eliminate about 30 minutes from dinner-making festivities. Dump some rice and the appropriate amount of water, hit two buttons and go on with your business. When it's done, empty some vegetables or beans inside, stir and eat. It's like an infomercial product that's actually legitimate.
5) Fresh packs of socks: I hadn't purchased a fresh pack of socks in a long time, and I just did so recently. New socks are amazing. They fit, they're not all blown out, and every pair looks new still. If your feet blister and bleed like mine, then your socks will be yellow near the pinky toe region.
4) Archer Farms Trail Mix: I always jog past the aisle that houses a variety of trail mix at Target, just to see if it's on sale. When it is, look out Cincinnati. I can't buy two bags fast enough. One bag for the ride home and one bag for oatmeal for the next two or three days.
3) Farmer's Tan: It's a point of pride for cyclists, and it's a tangible measure of how much saddle time you've put in. Now, in the gym, it's a frequent source of questioning. From "where did you get that" to "you must work outside," the questions are inane and endless. How did I get that tan? Just ask.
2) Trying something new that you've always wanted to try: I recently took up swimming. It was hard at first, but my endurance has built up considerably over the past month to where I can swim 1000 yards comfortably and continuously. Another bonus? You're super hungry when you finish a good swimming workout.
1) A good support system: I would never have kept trying as hard as I do every day to better myself without the support system that I have. From my girlfriend to my friends, down to my parents and sisters (who have been there since day one), there's not a day that goes by where I'm not thinking about what advice they would all give me, and how I never want to let them down.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
I Wouldn't Mind a Free iPod
So...Steve Dahl is back. If you've never listened, you might want to give him a try. He's got an hour podcast every day, and it's usually up by 1:00 PM. He's also giving away a free iPod if you refer 10 friends to sign up for his mailing list. If you'd like to see me become a champion, how about signing up and telling 'em Dan sent ya.
Check out his podcast here: Dahlcast
If you want to help me get a free iPod, go ahead and sign up for his mailing list here: Mailing List
Use my e-mail address (danielgaz @ gmail . com) for the referral and all should be awesome in iPod land.
Check out his podcast here: Dahlcast
If you want to help me get a free iPod, go ahead and sign up for his mailing list here: Mailing List
Use my e-mail address (danielgaz @ gmail . com) for the referral and all should be awesome in iPod land.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
