I know that blogs are supposed to be a daily thing and it really is my goal to make that happen. I think that it will now that I've got a few things off of my plate. To that end, I'm done with School. I finished this week and to be honest, I can't believe I'm finally done. I am an MBA. I'm the first in my family to get a Master's degree which I'm pretty proud of. It was a lot of hard work, but I'm done and glad to be so. I'm not exactly sure how this will translate to my career, but it can only help and I'm looking forward to finding out where it might take me.
The band is getting ready to take off again. We are still called the band because we haven't been creative enough to find a name yet. I'm sure one will come to us at the appointed time. We start practicing next week a little more seriously and that should be good. Once we've polished some songs, we can start looking to play more often. That should come just about the time our new baby is due.
If you haven't heard, we are expecting a boy. We are very excited about it because it sort of rounds out our family. We've got a name that we're kicking around, but I'll wait to announce it until later. Want to be sure that it sticks.
Game 7 last night was interesting. I've discovered that there are a few things I am sure of regarding NBA basketball.
1. I have no earthly idea what a foul is anymore. I used to know. But somewhere between the 80's and now, I've completely lost all sense of what it is. I also don't know what travelling is, what carrying is, and why basketball is now a contact sport. I get so frustrated watching the hand-checking, mugging, etc. happen with no consequences and then when someone goes to the rim, they get breathed on wrong and it's a foul.... and the basket counts (after four steps...) I've just decided not to worry about it because I can't figure it out anyway.
2. Tim Duncan went from playoff goat to playoff MVP in 30 minutes. He played poorly in games 5 and 6. You simply have to make free throws when you go to the line in crunch time. And watching him beat himself up after missing them was even worse than watching him miss them. After game 6 I was ready to proclaim Tim as overrated. I still think that the "best power forward to ever play the game" finds a way around Ben Wallace without losing the ball every other time. I think the jury is out on him.
3. The NBA will always frustrate me because their labor impasse lasted -4 days. That would be negative four stinkin days. The NHL on the other hand is at a year and counting and while there is hope in sight, who knows with this cast of characters.
Speaking of the NHL, there was a great Terry Frei article on ESPN.com about how the NHL should completely start over. Check it out here. The only thing I would change is that each team should get to protect three players and that's it. For Dallas, I think that would be Mike Modano, Brenden Morrow, and Marty Turco. Everyone else is free game. (You know, it felt great just to type those names... I really miss hockey).
Well, I think that's it for now. Talk to you later.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
The NFL?
Just when you thought that pro sports players couldn't get any more selfish, here's a story about one who is looking like my new favorite TE. http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/8552747 Antonio Gates is in mini camp for the San Diego Chargers this week without a contract. It's not even a mandatory camp, but a voluntary one. You know the ones with contracts often skip. He's there because he wants to get better. Even though he set a record for TE's last year with TD receptions and is one of the best in the game today. There are other people around the NFL who are not in camp and they have contracts. I won't name any names... but well.. ok I will. Terrell Owens and Javon Walker. Each wants more money so they are holding out. What would happen if I went to my boss tomorrow and said.. "you know.. I think I'm worth more than I am being paid. I'm not coming back to work until you double my salary. " I would soooo be fired. It's frustrating that these athletes think that the rules do not apply to them. And it's not like they are not being paid well for what they are doing. I'm all for making the most money you can, but if you signed a contract, then you can ask for more, but if the other party says no, then you get no more. Just my opinion.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Hockey News
So, a couple items of note from the world of hockey. Hockey, you say? Like the sport? Do they still play hockey? Well, they are trying. I'll start with the two sides keep meeting and now, there are reports stating that the NHL and NHLPA have both agreed to a salary cap structure and salaries being tied to revenue. This is a major hurdle in getting these negotiations done. I'm not sure that it means that the next season will still start because there are still free agency concerns, arbitration concerns, and I'm sure that the playeys want to weigh in on all the proposed rule changes. But, more and more, it's looking like a deal will get done, and the NHL will play the 2005-2006 season. I'm really glad because I miss hockey. I know, I'm probably only one of three people in Texas who do, but I think that the game is still great and I know that it can be better in the years to come.
Some concerns I have for the upcoming season:
1. What will be the new rules that the NHL will be playing under? The last official report was that goaltender equipment would be limited, tag-up offsides, and shootouts to settle ties would all be implemented. Honestly, I used to be against the shootout, but the more I think about it, the better it is appealing to me. I've seen a few Dallas Stars games, and I rank the experiences like this: Wins - Best, Losses - Bad, Ties - um.. so.. why did we pay to see this? I hate not seeing a winner. I would rather that they just started eliminating players from each side in a continuous overtime, but shootouts are just as good. If it's good enough for a gold medal at the Olympics, it should be good enough for regular season hockey.
2. What will the league do to get people to come to games? They need to do something. MAny season ticket holders are out and will not come back. Every team will face a revenue shortage as compared to recent years and the fact that there is no major TV deal in place (NBC's doesn't count) is not going to be helpful.
3. Where will I get to watch the games? Local games should be OK because as far as I know Fox Sports and Channel 27 are still handling the Stars. But, ESPN is not currently under contract to show hockey this next season. This stinks because I love the way ESPN shows hockey. They've always done a great job with the presentation and the announcers they use are fantastic as well. I've seen some of the favorite games of my life on ESPN. Wayne Gretzky's 802nd goal... Dallas Stars winning the Stanley Cup... Wayne Gretzky's last game (ok, that was ABC, but it was the same people doing the game). If it does not come back, I will be very sad.
Since that was kinda a bummer, I thought I'd finish up this entry with a good note. It has been announced that Cam Neely, former player for the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins, will be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame! Cam is one of my favorite players of all time. He played with such energy and fire and was a lot of fun to watch. Unfortunately, his career was ended too early because of injuries. I'm very excited that he is being elected and I wishhim all the best in the future.
Some concerns I have for the upcoming season:
1. What will be the new rules that the NHL will be playing under? The last official report was that goaltender equipment would be limited, tag-up offsides, and shootouts to settle ties would all be implemented. Honestly, I used to be against the shootout, but the more I think about it, the better it is appealing to me. I've seen a few Dallas Stars games, and I rank the experiences like this: Wins - Best, Losses - Bad, Ties - um.. so.. why did we pay to see this? I hate not seeing a winner. I would rather that they just started eliminating players from each side in a continuous overtime, but shootouts are just as good. If it's good enough for a gold medal at the Olympics, it should be good enough for regular season hockey.
2. What will the league do to get people to come to games? They need to do something. MAny season ticket holders are out and will not come back. Every team will face a revenue shortage as compared to recent years and the fact that there is no major TV deal in place (NBC's doesn't count) is not going to be helpful.
3. Where will I get to watch the games? Local games should be OK because as far as I know Fox Sports and Channel 27 are still handling the Stars. But, ESPN is not currently under contract to show hockey this next season. This stinks because I love the way ESPN shows hockey. They've always done a great job with the presentation and the announcers they use are fantastic as well. I've seen some of the favorite games of my life on ESPN. Wayne Gretzky's 802nd goal... Dallas Stars winning the Stanley Cup... Wayne Gretzky's last game (ok, that was ABC, but it was the same people doing the game). If it does not come back, I will be very sad.
Since that was kinda a bummer, I thought I'd finish up this entry with a good note. It has been announced that Cam Neely, former player for the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins, will be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame! Cam is one of my favorite players of all time. He played with such energy and fire and was a lot of fun to watch. Unfortunately, his career was ended too early because of injuries. I'm very excited that he is being elected and I wishhim all the best in the future.
Friday, June 03, 2005
My First Entry
So, I'm assuming that all of these post begin with some sort of first entry. So, here goes. Things are crazy these days. Karen is a little more than halfway through her pregnancy which seems like it just started yesterday. Annabelle is getting more and more mobile as the days go by. She's about to start crawling which is just mind-blowing. I'm almost done with school which I'm ecstatic about. June 20th is my last day and it can't come quick enough. Our house is back on the market while we work out the details of the current contract. Hopefully, it will work itself out. I know it will. God has a plan, and I just need to be patient for it.
On another note, I just went to the golf range for the first time in about three years. I went with Zip and it was actually a lot better than I thought it would be. I hit my driver longer than I ever have (not that it was that long, but still...) and I hit a fairly long putt before we left. I think this is the first golfing experience I've ever had where I wasn't completely frustrated at the end of it. My major problem: All my iron shots went about the same distance. 7 iron, about 150 yds.. 5 iron, about 150 yds.. 3 iron, about 150 yds... OK, I might be exaggerating a little, but it sure seemed that way. I need to work on consistency with irons, but my driver still felt good which is something I never thought I would say.
So, I'm going on record and stating that I think we're having a boy this time. I don't have a clear reason for it, just a hunch. I think having a boy would be great, but it's still so hard to think that Annabelle won't be the baby.. Odd, odd I tell you.
Well, I think that's it for now.
Later,
PJ
On another note, I just went to the golf range for the first time in about three years. I went with Zip and it was actually a lot better than I thought it would be. I hit my driver longer than I ever have (not that it was that long, but still...) and I hit a fairly long putt before we left. I think this is the first golfing experience I've ever had where I wasn't completely frustrated at the end of it. My major problem: All my iron shots went about the same distance. 7 iron, about 150 yds.. 5 iron, about 150 yds.. 3 iron, about 150 yds... OK, I might be exaggerating a little, but it sure seemed that way. I need to work on consistency with irons, but my driver still felt good which is something I never thought I would say.
So, I'm going on record and stating that I think we're having a boy this time. I don't have a clear reason for it, just a hunch. I think having a boy would be great, but it's still so hard to think that Annabelle won't be the baby.. Odd, odd I tell you.
Well, I think that's it for now.
Later,
PJ
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