So, I asked (referencing the Brett Favre recent news) what was your “Stay or Not To Stay” dilemma? I wanted to share my own as a testament that life really does go on (It really does!)!

Picture it… hair falling to the floor while being whirled around in the (then) torturous chair. As the snips continued, my neck experienced it’s first exposure to the really cold… it wasn’t prepared for the chill bumps that would be it’s new, constant (well, at least during the winter months) existence.

Yes, in an attempt to introduce myself to a new trend and defy my parents’ wishes (a two for one deal, huh??), I had my hair cut. Note to self, being used to long hair and then cutting it during the winter months may not be a good idea… oh, and uh, don’t defy your parents!

Okay, let’s go back in the day (some further back than others… go ahead and laugh)-more specifically, high school. I’d like to know if you played sports (I think cheerleading counts [smile]!). So, what sport did you play and at that time did you think you would still be participating in that sport in adulthood? I mean, you know that guy down the street who always knew he was going to the NFL, right?

Alright, you pulled it out of me… I’ll share! I ran track… the 100 and 4×4 (a little cross country for a while-that was a bit much!), and I was a cheerleader (hence the inclusion above)… B-E-A-GG-R-E-SS-IVE! And yeah (no), I didn’t think I’d be doing any of that today.

Your turn…

Yeah, it was pretty hard to think of a situation where all of those pitching qualities (especially the solid throwing fundamentals stories were concerned…) came into play. What I did remember was the actual development of this blog.

I knew I wanted to talk about sports and give it a positive approach, but all that leads up to being able to actually blog is a different story…

I had to keep in the forefront of my mind what my goal, indeed, was. I had to remember why I was staying up really late when I knew I had to get up really early for my other job. There are very small details that end up meaning a great deal when you want to deliver a wonderful package to your readers… I think that was the biggest thing… I wanted to give something that was visually relevant and worth reading.

I’m happy with the current stage of my sports blog (I realize that it’s still developing and I actually like that.). I want to be the source of assistance to understanding sports and an encouragement to making that relationship even better because of your new-found knowledge… Now, come on… you have to be accurate, dedicated, intelligent, and strong to make this happen (Smile!), right? And, well, if I have to throw something to make this happen then so be it (Smile… again.)!… You really should read the previous post so you can put my throwing stuff into context… Hilarious!

Tigers are considered to be the undisputed ruler of its domain (This is so going to be relevant later!). When hunger arises, they are extraordinary killers and their prey are left helpless to their undeniable prowess (Wait for it… Wait for it.). And, no matter the situation, they can almost always be found victorious.

These same characteristics are appropriately aligned with PGA’s very own Tiger Woods (See the name symbolism?… Work it. Own it. Love it.). Victor of the 2008 U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines, Woods defeated his opponent in a sudden death playoff after being tied at the end of the game.

Photo by Jim Epler. (CC)

Here’s the kicker!… he was hurt. Yep!

Woods had recently had surgery on his left knee, leaving him in an amazing amount of pain. Admitting that he pushed himself quite a bit, Woods (grimacing and limping all the way) found courage and pressed by his pain to achieve greatness, yet again… Definitely his most remarkable.

Where’s your symbolic Tiger? We all have one (I’ve had to pull it out a few times [smile])… and you know what? It’s okay! A little inner strength never hurts.

I’m sure you know someone (Who knows, maybe it’s you!) who just isn’t quite being themselves. You can’t put your finger on it (or maybe you can), but you wonder what it would take to help this person realize his or her true potential.

This thought came to me as we (me, Hubby, and Mom… love you Mom!!) watched the Belmont Stakes horse race on Saturday… more specifically, after the astonishing loss of Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown. Everyone had an opinion about why the stallion, seemingly, just wasn’t himself. His racing style was unusual. The way he responded to the jockey was unusual. And, his last place finishing was absolutely unusual.

Photo by Jim Wood. (CC)

In all this, I felt a sort of burden for the horse as he was expected to live up to this huge name and grandeur that was placed all around him. He, of course, was none the wiser and just probably figured it was another day out on the dirt, but others were stunned because of this overall expectation.

Very simply put, it is important to be who you are no matter what. It can be a daunting task at times especially in work or school (even relationship) dynamics, but how much satisfaction would you get in realizing at the end of the day that you were being true to who you are?

There is so much unending pressure to be so many things, but the truth of the matter is that it takes so much work to be something or someone that you’re not. Try to be the very best that you can be and although there will be continued expectation around you (that’s just the nature of things), the hype isn’t worth losing out on being the very special you.

Have there been times when you felt that being you just wasn’t good enough?… If so, let me know when and what happened next.

Imagine you’re a professional athlete (Yes, you!) and you have everything you could ever imagine at your disposal… money, notoriety, cars (often phrased as endeared toys), and anything else your little heart desires. Now, with all of this fame and success you stumble across a rough patch in your life that you aren’t exactly expecting neither is it in your control (You know it happens all the time.).

In fact, it happens to the best of us. An uncontrollable situation is, indeed, the great equalizer between us all (the professional athlete and the everyday Joe… or wherever you fall in between).

Considering this (as yourself or as A.K.A. a professional athlete), how would you go about handling that uncontrollable situation? And, if you have experienced that seemingly out of control situation, how did you come through it?

It’s sharing time…

Can it be that you may not know your significant other’s favorite thing (Hmmm… think hard)? If so, what it is? Is it that cute, pink button up that just makes your mouth water (Pause. Think.)? Or is it that book about how to be a better you (Now, now… I agree that these can be handy items to have around)? I guess what I’m curious about are the small things.

I know sometimes, for me, well, it’s the small things that mean so much. I’m referring to times, for instance, when Hubby (I will give him a name one day.) makes me tea without my having to ask because he knows tea soothes me. Or when he takes the clothes out of the washer and puts them in the dryer because he knows I’m swamped with other stuff.

For Hubby’s birthday I tried to get floor tickets to a Lakers’ game. Well, that plan was meeting a dead end, so I decided to plan for a nice dinner with friends (He loves our friends.). At the last minute tickets came through and I presented him with his choices… dinner at a very nice restaurant with close friends or tickets to a game where we wouldn’t have the possibility of a GI-normous athlete falling on us. Well, after the game (LOL!) we decided what we wanted to do for the rest of his birthday weekend.

Point is we often times give based on our likes and wants (Don’t get me wrong. I’d be the first at a Lakers’ game… with pom poms!). But, I thought since we couldn’t get the floor seating that the night wouldn’t be eventful enough—and guess what?—it was an outstanding evening.

Hmmm, could you think of that favorite thing that your sports’ fan would be ecstatic over?… or at least thankful that it’s not having to wear that pink button up again (Hilarious!).

Do tell…

Very easy today… it’s important that with understanding your enthusiastic sports fan side of things that the same happens for you. With this in mind, one simple question today…

What would be that important thing that you’d love your sports lover to say or do that would help to make it more conducive for you to want to watch or participate in sports with them? And, why?

We all have something. What’s yours? I can’t wait to hear your important thing!

K, so from these entries on remotes I’ve learned some interesting things that I hope will be beneficial to you all as well. I’ve found that a lot of this has to do with perspective. Often times the remote may be viewed as just a simple electronic that turns the television on and off while it’s seen by others as much, much more.

For the sports lover, there is an experience that happens with each start of each game. The important thing here is that we share in that experience, too.

One earlier comment on my blog was from a guy who said he was excited about this site because through it he’ll be able to talk to his wife about more than just bills. Trust me when I tell you that your special person really does want to share with you about that ridiculous (ridiculous is very good here) play that happened in the Playoffs this weekend or the soccer move that was the best ever. That person just needs to feel that those plays are just as important as the person who jumped in front of you at the grocery store… perspective, right?

The multi-faceted remote was a jump start to get us into the mindset that sports is more than a past time for our significant other… there’s a love there, a passion, past dreams, hopes deferred, aspirations to come, seasons to remember. And what a friendship that can develop in just seeing someone else’s perspective.

So, how was the remote control question session? I actually hope it was insightful and relaxing. And, if you haven’t gotten around to it, just take some time to do it. It may not appear to be a big deal (Believe me, it is… try to change the channel with 11 seconds left in a game.), but understanding your sports fan means understanding the things that person love.

You know, part of my research is actually just asking my husband what he thinks about this, that, or the other. Well, remote clarification is no different… I wanted to know from his perspective why the remote was so important and what it would compare to for women. His answer came free flowing (LOL!)!

He said “everything”. That was it. I was like, I need more information, Babe (He was really satisfied with the answer he gave! That was amusing to me.). He continued with the clear and concise statement that when he holds the remote in his hands he’s in control and everything else, although I make him believe he’s in control of, I actually control (Why would you think that, Babe?… You’re getting sleepy, sleepy.). I really appreciated his candor of explanation (and he was really quick to answer, too!). He helped me learn something about his desire and at the same time, our relationship (I’m serious that while writing this I am wiping away tears from laughing so hard… We laughed hysterically while he held the remote up in such proclamation.).

See how just asking opened communication, and in our case, added to our chest of funny stories to share.