Past two starts: 14 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 5 BB, 16 K - sounds like numbers from a guy who $11.5 million dollars. Get on a roll for God's sake - you are pretty good, contrary to what you might believe. Just because you're the Yankees #5 starter doesn't mean you can't pitch like a #2 or #3 starter, I'm sure they wouldn't mind. Keep doing it, queso!
Rave: Although a rave is often times thought of as a drug-induced party with fast-paced electronic music, the actual definition is this (according to dictionary.com):
–verb (used without object): 1.to talk wildly, as in delirium. 2.to talk or write with extravagant enthusiasm.
3.(of wind, water, storms, etc.) to make a wild or furious sound; rage.
–verb (used with object): 4.to utter as if in madness.
–noun: 5.an act of raving. 6.an extravagantly enthusiastic appraisal or review of something. 7.Chiefly British Slang. a boisterous party, esp. a dance.
–adjective: 8.extravagantly flattering or enthusiastic: rave reviews of a new play.
For this part of the post, I will refer to definition 2. There is a song out right now, "Magic" by B.o.B. ft. Rivers Cuomo. For those of you not familiar with music, have no access to a radio, and have no access to a television, this is probably a song you've never heard. Rivers Cuomo is the lead singer of Weezer, one of the greatest bands from the past 15+ years. 21-year-old rapper/songwriter/producer B.o.B. is coming on strong. "Magic" may be one of the lesser known songs, but it is hands down my favorite. "Airplanes" featuring Hayley Williams (Paramore) is #3 on the Billboard Top100. You might have heard that one, but here is the link: "Magic" - B.o.B. ft. Rivers Cuomo.
Ridicule: Parents, parents, parents. I was driving to CT today and was listening to WFAN radio, 660AM and there was a discussion on trophies in youth sports and callers were calling in for around 25 minutes. I wanted to dial the number and get on the radio, but 1. my terrible memory prevented me from memorizing the number, and 2. I don't have one of those blue tooth ear pieces (because I'm not a tool). I think trophies up until the age of 10 or 11 is fine, but eventually, enough is enough. Kids who get trophies for being on a team where they are a non-factors should not get trophies - trophies for everyone should stop in middle school. I mean the kid who wins 7 games gets the same trophy/varsity letter as the schmuck who kept the book all year? Kids (and parents) need to realize that there are kids better than them (or their kids) and accept the fact that there is no participation trophy for life. Kids feel a sense of entitlement because they've been desensitized to failure. There is more pats on the ass than there should be. "You made 3 errors, so what, you guys won" B.S. "You played well, went 4-4 with 2 doubles. The rest of the guys sucked, that's why you lost 10-1" B.S. If you show up to work every day and get nothing accomplished, what do you get? FIRED! If you show up to college and try to walk-on to a college baseball team and go 0-14 in tryouts, what do you get? CUT! There are no awards for participation, and I believe these awards/trophies should cease after the age of 12.
Parents who coach and play their kid over the rest of the kids because he's his own, take a good hard look in the mirror, and ask yourself this: is my kid better than the guy starting in front of him? If he is, then start him, because he's better, not because he's your kid.
The cream rises to the top, and those guys should be rewarded. That's why awards in the college and professional ranks are so elite, because only a handful of guys get them, and for good reason. They showed up and dominated. They didn't suck. Those guys tend to get released or traded. Take it or leave it. Let's hope kids get tougher. If my dad ever called a college coach asking why I wasn't pitching, I woulda asked him to stop coming to my games. And I'd be embarrassed as shit. Let the kids play, and earn whatever awards or accolades they may receive. Work hard, practice hard, play hard. Don't bitch if you don't get a trophy.
You shouldn't play a sport for a trophy, you should play it because you love it.
Riots: Just a joke i came across today - Lindsay, I wouldn't golf if this was me: A man and a friend are playing golf one day at their local golf course. One of the guys is about to chip onto the green when he sees a long funeral procession on the road next to the course. He stops in mid-swing, takes off his golf cap, closes his eyes, and bows down in prayer.
His friend says: “Wow, that is the most thoughtful and touching thing I have ever seen. You truly are a kind man.”
The man then replies: “Yeah, well we were married 35 years.”
