You know, one very real reason why I love sports is because so much of it parallels real-life situations. And, within sports, you are most certain to find your story.
All day I was lamenting (Well, that’s a bit extra, but we’ll stick with it.) over the fact that the Chicago Cubs had been eliminated from the playoffs. Yet again, the Cubbies just couldn’t pull through. They couldn’t break the century-long drought of just not making it to the World Series (Hey, Troy over at Troy’s Thoughts on Sports has a, let’s say, “different” view of the Cubs’ blues in Knocking Down Chi-Town, but a great view all the same…). I took in all the commentators’ analysis and I was struck by a common saying, a common thread if you will… Wait ‘Til Next Year…
Although I know the players and the die-hard fans are foaming at the mouth over the phrase, I thought of how much that phrase has resounded in my own life of falling just a bit short-whether big or small-of that particular goal. Seriously, it may sound funny (in a sad way!), but I thought of when my dad was late picking me up so I could make it in time for my high-school senior ski trip and how miserable I was all weekend… thinking, “maybe next year”. But, there wasn’t a “next year” (Yes. I’m over it now… Let’s just not stay on the topic too long!). So many memories sprung up within me as I pondered on hopes deferred and dreams delayed. What I also realized was that patience was indeed working itself out within me and that I needed to allow it to happen.
Self analyzing is always the truest way of getting to know the real you… good and bad. And like with this process, the Cubs (in a real way) will need to do the same in order to figure out just what the deal is… You never know, Cubbies… next year!
This week we’ve seen sporting events, of sorts, and what I’m about to share is no different… We ventured into the lagoons of Mexico, where we saw men and women living and surviving. I thought to myself that this survival technique was indeed a severe sporting event (and, a humbling one for us), as the natives competed to be first to get fish and other scavenger-like foods for them and their families.
The people were so friendly and offered to share what they had… I don’t think we’ve ever experienced such kindness and sacrifice… They make you feel welcomed and all they want to do is make sure you’re enjoying yourselves. Our captain even let me man the boat for a while, which I was no good at (The picture shows my inadequacies!). People here really believe in the adage, you don’t work; you don’t eat.
We left the lagoons feeling grateful and fortunate for the smallest of the small…
So we know about the Hispanic culture in MLB, Football, Soccer, and other renowned popular sports (Wait for it… Wait for it…). But, I’m sure you weren’t aware of a certain pastime that is all the craze in Acapulco, Mexico (No, not bullfighting.). Today, Hubby and I and the in-laws ventured to the ends of the cliffs (I’m building excitement here.), yes the ends–to see what all the hype was about… it was diving going on (No, not the type of diving that occurs in the Olympic-sized pool.)! Yep! Men risking their lives in the sporting event of jumping off cliffs. We had to capture it because we knew no one would believe us when we said, “Men dived off of uneven cliffs into raging ocean waters.”
Mom-in-law and I couldn’t resist getting a photo with the diving celebs.
Warning: Hubby’s camera is older, but shows the action from beginning to end… so please excuse the poor quality.
Greetings from Acapulco, Mexico! Hubby and I invited ourselves on my in-laws trip (Thanks, Dad and Mom! Heehee!) and we’re having a blast!… What a beautiful country this is. And, with all of its beauty and culture I got to thinking (Uh, of course. I have to remind myself that I’m still blogging on vacation.) about the Hispanic culture and their role in sports.
And, it just so happened that this month is Hispanic Heritage Month (You learn something new everyday, huh? Okay, well it’s not exactly Mexico-specific, but you get the picture.)…
Anyway… there are a lot of Hispanics who play in the Major Leagues (baseball). And, like any other culture, there are those who came before and paved the way for the ones who benefit today. For this, it’s a great opportunity to celebrate Roberto Clemente and Hiram Bithorn. The former has been established as a pioneer, while the latter isn’t as celebrated-but is just as much a pioneer.
Now some will argue the technicalities of these guys nationality (Please don’t… I’m sensitive. Okay, I’m really not, but I am on vacation!!), but I am just here to bring honor and kudos to those who made it easier for different cultures to be great and lucrative (Let’s not forget “lucrativity”! I really had to make this word up here!]) in the world of professional sports.
Okay, I’m going back to vacation mode… ESPNdeportes Rock!
So, the New York Yankees didn’t make it to the playoffs (Wow, uh!) and there has been quite a lot of dialogue about the ends and outs of this team… You know, how they’re like the highest paid team ever or how the celebrity list of the team just goes on and on. My blogging counterpart over at That’s What I Think has a good grasp on the Yankees state of being with the Let’s Talk a Bit About the Yankees post… be sure to visit when you get a chance.
With all this Yankees talk, I was thinking about a profession that has also been in the news, but on the other spectrum of celebrity and income. It’s a profession that some consider to be most important and without it a lot of us would be loss (Any takers?)… Yep! I’m sure you guessed it! Teachers!
They give the most and for some reason aren’t rewarded with a reasonable salary… I wonder what the world would be like without them… those who care and spend time before and after school to make sure students get what they need.
So, I give a big “shout out” to teachers for all they install and sacrifice…
So, yesterday was the funeral for my Hubby’s grandfather (Yes, you’re at the right site!) and it was actually a wonderful day as Granddad’s children and grandchildren honored him and remembered his life. He lived a long life… serving in WWII and marrying in 1940, but what was also so surprising was that he involved himself with so many sports and activities.
Hubby and I were surprised when we realized all these things about his grandfather… You know, just how active he was. He lived quite a full and interesting life!
There are so many things we don’t know about our loved ones… What is something interesting you recently found out about a loved one? And if not recent, what is something you were surprised to learn about a particular loved one (whenever you found out)?
By the way, Hubby spoke on behalf of the grandchildren and he just blew me away as he so eloquently recalled the memories of him and his granddad. It was a day of great reflections.
Monday nights for Hubby and I are usually common evenings, with conversations about the week ahead and reflections of the all-too-short weekend that just flew by. It’s not until this time of year that Mondays take on a whole new meaning…
It means staying up way pass the time we should in order to watch Monday Night Football… This night will be no different as we get everything ready (All the remotes, cells, cordless telephone, snacks… all within arms’ length!) for the potential smash-mouth competition between the New York Jets and the San Diego Chargers. But, like with anything, you want to have good time management when committing to such a time stealer as football (and it is that)… so we multi task (folding clothes, cleaning during half time, a little this, a little that). We’ve even settled into the fact that, if it’s a good game and we stay up for it’s entirety, we’ll introduce ourselves to Tuesday mornings without being grumpy.
So, yes, I agree that time management is important… Especially if you’re weighing a spouse and children or other priorities. I also remind myself that we usually do exactly what we want to do and find a way to make whatever we want happen. This’ll be a great game tonight so it’s cool to be cool with your significant other tuning in… And, you can be that balance in the evening, clarifying what multitasking is all about… (Uh, be sure to wait ’til a commercial [Yes. Hence the name!] before rambling off the to dos! Hilarious!).
I thought talking about this story, although the NBA isn’t up and running yet, would be a great one for today…
Charlie Villanueva, a power forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, has an organization (the Charlie Villanueva Foundation) focused on helping kids with similar backgrounds as his. Villanueva grew up in New York and was often teased because of his condition, alopecia areata, which caused him to lose all his body hair. It saddened me to know that he, like so many other children growing up with various diseases, had to endure their illness and the criticism (…more like malice, but I’m giving the kids the benefit of the doubt! Can they even possess such a thing at such a young age? Oh well.) of their peers. Basketball was his oasis to escape his reality. Now he wants to use his voice to help others, proclaiming that he has never forgotten where he’s come from.
With all that goes on in the world, sometimes it’s just so nice (hmmm… like a chocolate malt from that place with 31 flavors!… I’m back, I’m back!) to hear of someone doing something nice for someone else. I’m in a good mood… I’m going to go do something nice for Hubby today (Hint, hint! Let this be a contagious effort!).
Imagine this… you’ve already bought your plane tickets. You had the time squared away at work, so you made sure you added it to the vacation calendar. The family is excited and ready to go and then you get a call (email, text, you get where I’m going) saying you won’t be able to take your vacation time from work. Hmm… what is an angry employee to do now? Go, and potentially lose a job or have to deal with pending consequences or don’t go, and disappoint your family-and yourself? Okay, close your collective mouths… this didn’t happen to me, but it did happen to the Baltimore Ravens.
Because of the devastation that Hurricane Ike caused in Texas, the Ravens were unable to travel to Texas to play their opponent, the Houston Texans. For this reason, the Ravens’ “bye week” (Yes, you got it… their vacation week) was the chosen week to re-visit this competition. Now, of course, you can never predict what a natural disaster is going to do; however, there has been a lot of chatter about the Ravens being complainers and whining over nothing-that it’s their job to play. Well, it’s our job to be a lawyer, a surfer, a podiatrist, a blogger… but, when it’s time to go, Baby! (Yes, I needed the exclamation point there for impact.) It’s time to go. The other part of this is that while all the other teams are getting their rest and relaxation, the Ravens won’t be getting a break at all.
I’d just like to see folks taking it a bit easier on the Ravens since they are human and they have families like the rest of us. And although they’re making a lot of money doing what they do, they like time off, too.
And, this is an example for us all… put your time in early and buy those plane tickets in advance. (That’s always a good excuse for the boss as to why you must go!)
Well, it appears that the Green Bay Packers’ choice to go with quarterback Aaron Rodgers has paid off. The whole world stopped (Okay, maybe just the hardcore football fans who had nothing else better to do!…) and waited to see what the final decision would be: Let Brett Favre come back and continue his 17th year in the league or go with Rodgers, who had been Favre’s understudy for some time. The latter choice has proven beneficial for the organization.
With the new season underway, the Packers are 2 and 0 (Note: The Win column is always first!) and really don’t show signs of slowing down…
I guess that’s the dry knot that’s sitting in the back of my throat (Wait for it. Wait for it… I am drinking something for the dry knot.). (Okay, I’m back.) Change can be a good thing or a scary thing. Either way, none of us tend to like it very much. Sometimes I cringe at the thought of it… Why change how I line up stuff in the refrigerator or how I sometimes throw my clothes onto the bench and leave them there (until Hubby raises that eyebrow just so… heehee!)? But, then it hits you that change is imminent-and-not so bad if you accept that it will always be there.
Acceptance is key… The Packers accepted that it was time to utilize Rodgers. I’ve accepted that clothes aren’t attractive hanging over the bench in my bedroom. That’s 2 and 0 (Remember the columns.). Got something to add to widen the margin?
