Sometimes, its just the little things......

     Mr Mike Sorensen from the Deseret News wrote this article to preview the upcoming bowl game between Utah and Colorado St.   I have read Mike's articles at the Deseret News for years now and I have come to the conclusion that he is a BYU fan who hates the fact that he is often assigned to write about the Utes, but he tries his best anyway.   Some of his comments in that article are a bit silly, and I don't think anybody bothered to fact check, but I just had to get some thoughts down after reading this...........

    I spent 8 years as a kid in Texas.  I  spent each Saturday in the fall (and I'm about to gag here..........) watching the Texas Longhorns play football.  Occasionally, we would go to the church and catch the blue guys from Provo over the satellite feed.  

    One day, Dad came and turned the Longhorns game off and said that we would be watching a "real" team play that day.  For the first time, we were able to catch a University of Utah football game on ESPN!  This was 1994.  There were 4 or 5 games on TV all day, IF you had cable!  ESPN2 was a premium channel.  I didn't know anything about this red team, except that I had seen their logo on a few of Dad's shirts.

    For a game that I can barely remember, there was a play that I will never forget for as long as I live.  As Mike described, Harold Lusk picked off the Colorado St. QB and took off down the sideline.  As he ran for the game clinching touchdown, I remember Dad jumping up and down and yelling "GO! GO! GO!" and I got so excited, I jumped out of my seat and joined in!   

    That was that.  I was hooked.  We didn't go to the church on Saturdays for games anymore.  

     Ever since then, its been a lot of great memories.  I'll never forget tromping through the snow to see my first game at the Huntsman Center as Dad told me stories of Jerry Chambers, Mike Newlin, and Ticky Burden.  Or when the youth at my church got a bunch of free tickets and I saw Steve "Ice up, son!" Smith take a punt to the house.  

     Just this past year, I went to two different football games with a couple of my siblings, got soaking wet and felt like I was going to freeze over, only to see the team lose both times. Yet I can honestly say that I had a blast each game.  Last year, I took my son to his first game at the Huntsman Center and watched his face light up as he said "Dad, I like bas-et-baw!"

    And of course, I'll never forget taking my girlfriend to the football game against Louisville in 2009, and just praying for the whole three and a half hours because I was scared to death, knowing I had a ring back in my car and that was the night.  She said "yes", and five years later, I still don't know how she puts up with me!  

   I don't really know what I am trying to say here, other than this little trip down memory lane helped remind me today how lucky I am, and how much I love my family.   Sometimes, it's just the little things.  

Are Competition Reality Shows On Their Way Out?

                The 2000’s saw an explosion of competition shows.  From “American Idol” to “Last Comic Standing”, we have seen it all.

                As we begin the summer of 2014, what is the future of these shows?  Will we see another decade of the same familiar faces, or will the producers and networks have to make tweaks to keep up with audiences?

                While not outright struggling, many of these shows have seen a decline in viewership.  While each show is unique, the three biggest culprits for this decline are likely turnover among judges, declining talent, and a general sense of viewer exhaustion.

                Take the former summer sensation “So You Think You Can Dance?” for example.  When it debuted, I was hooked.  It was fun to watch the week to week competition as contestants were stretched and challenged. 

                A few seasons in, I got bored.  It felt like I had seen everything that the show had to offer.  About this same time, there was an uptick in another aspect that I think adds to viewer exhaustion: sob stories. 

                Everybody who comes before the judges has faced insurmountable odds to get there.  They have gone through horrors like catching a cold, being denied desert for bad behavior after dinner by their parents, or getting a B+ on their test instead of an A.  They have overcome these giant obstacles to now appear on this show.  Oh and by the way, this audition is their last shot.  It will make or break their lives.  If they don’t win it all here, they will be forced into the horrible pit of getting a real job.

                I tuned out.  And I was not the only one to do so.  In the years since, my tv has stopped on the show once or twice per year just to see how it is.  Nothing has changed.  And any time I stick there for a minute, it takes one Mary Murphy comment to get me to change the channel. 

                I read that recently the show has been condensed to once a week due to poor ratings.  Good grief.  This is a FOX show.  This is not one of the big three networks.  How bad must they be that Fox is not willing to run it twice a week in the summer?

                I tuned in to the latest edition of “Last Comic Standing” and I don’t think I am going to bother.  While there was some decent talent, the new host is dreadful, the Wayans brother (a judge) looks bored out of his mind.  A quick word to the producers: turn Roseanne’s mic off while the contestants are up there.  Her laugh makes my skin crawl.  She sounds like Salacious Crumb from Star Wars.  Quite frankly, if they got rid of that, I would come back and watch the rest of the season.

                When it first came on, I really enjoyed “The Voice”.  The new approach and celebrity judges with personality made it fun.  The more I watched, the more I realized that this show has everything that I despise about this genre.  Everyone’s got a sob story.  Every audition, battle, and performance is “the best” that the judges have ever seen.  Each person is told they have the potential to make a billion dollars in the business. 

                Has anyone from this show gone on to even be a regular on the radio?  It is just like American Idol.  No one knows who won, no one cares.

                The only show that has long term staying potential is “America’s Got Talent”. 

                AGT has success because it is not constrained to any one thing.  If you do something cool, you can be on.  You can watch that show and see something that you have never seen before.  The judges, for the most part, judge based on the level of entertainment.  Too many of these shows feature judges who are “professionals” who heap an over the top amount of praise on some folks who have good technique and will treat anyone inferior as though they had just personally insulted them.  AGT judges seem to (again, for the most part) realize that the show isn’t all about them and the world doesn’t revolve around them and they just try to have fun. 

                This declining brand of shows will only survive as they expand to be more inclusive and as the judges lighten up and make it more fun.  I predict that AGT will continue on successfully while these other shows will slowly troll out.  

Marvel Has The Winning Formula. Can Everyone Else Keep Up?

   When I was a kid, I looked forward to Saturday morning cartoons every week.  My earliest recollection is of "Garfield and Friends" with Garfield the lazy cat and that weird group of farm animals which included a duck who wore a floating tube wherever he went and a little chicken who had never hatched out of his shell conveniently named "Sheldon".

    Side note 1: What on earth was that show?

    Side note 2: I am convinced that there has been, for quite some time, a group of people who get together, get high as a kite, and then create kids shows.  That is the only explanation I can think of for shows from my childhood like Zoobilee Zoo and Today's Special.  In the modern era, Doodlebop fits this description.  I am going to toss the unknown farm animal show into this group.

    As I got older, my interests changed.  X-Men, Spider-Man, and the Batman-Superman Adventures were the best two hours of the week.  Super heroes battling seemingly unbeatable foes and at the end of the day, always finding a way to save the day.

    Sidenote 3: The exception here is Morph from X-Men.  Poor Morph..

    When the X-Men movies started coming out around the turn of the century, I was "too cool" for kids stuff like that, and didn't bother to see them.  It wasn't until "The Dark Knight" came out that I actually saw a comic book movie.

    I loved it.  I loved the message it sent; given the choice, people will generally do the right thing, even at a great cost.

   As the years went by, I started getting more into them.  My wife and I went back and watched all of the X-Men movies, the Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, etc. etc.

   Some of them, quite frankly, bored me to tears.

   Sidenote 4: Sorry DC diehards, you are about to get trolled!

   During "The Dark Knight Rises", I had to struggle to stay awake.  While watching last summer's "Man of Steel", I kept wishing that the Avengers would show up, mop the floor with all of these characters, and then the movie would end.

    Others were just all right, but I was still glad I'd watched them.  The Tobey Maguire Spider-Man series, Fantastic Four, and Thor movies fit here.  Even movies that have been generally accepted as trash like "Daredevil" and its spinoff "Elektra" were ok.

    When the "Avengers" finally came out, it was incredible.  I left the theater just pumped for the sequel.  I had no idea why, but I was excited.

    This last Saturday, I went and saw the "Captain America: The Winter Solider".  I loved it.  For two hours, I was totally carefree.  Captain America saved the day and all was right with the world.  For those two hours, I was 10 again, watching Saturday morning cartoons and then pretending to be these heroes.

    It finally hit me.  That is why I love these movies.  They take me back to childhood.  They bring out the kid in me.  They make me forget that there are any other movies out there.

   What Marvel has done with their cinematic universe is unparalleled in the history of movies.  Sure, we have seen hundreds of movies that have sequels.  But to create a universe where many movies take place and then to have characters that we have come to know join forces to save the world?  Incredible.  Add to that a TV show that exists in this universe and upcoming Netflix series and you have something pretty cool.

    How cool is it?  Every other studio involved with making comic book movies is trying to follow suite.  I am really excited to see what Fox does with bringing the X-Men and the Fantastic Four reboot into the same universe.  There are a lot of interesting stories that could be told.  With Spider-Man and Sony pictures, there are many directions the stories could go.  I might even give DC comics another shot if they can successfully throw together a Justice League movie.

    Sidenote 5:  That last line is a lie.  I am done with them.  Just not my thing.  If you like it, cool.  No sense in me trying to argue my side, all of us like what we like and don't what we don't.  I just like to troll. :)

   I think that as time goes along, and the competition increases, we are going to see better and better movies made.  I can't wait to pop some popcorn and enjoy the ride!

 

   

Another chapter in the "Book of Fans"

    For as long as I can remember, Runnin' Utes basketball and (more recently) the Jazz have been a big part of my life.

    I had a family member who played for the Runnin' Utes.  He made the team by hard work as a walk on and had his best game ever against BYU.  

     As a kid, I was legally blind in my left eye.  This made learning how to read all but impossible.  I remember day after day of throwing books across the room in frustration as my poor parents tried to teach me.  Nothing worked.  One day, my Dad got the idea that maybe if I found something I was interested in, the reading would come easier.  He introduced me to box scores in the "Houston Chronicle" and a light bulb clicked on.

    Each morning, I got up early and was assigned to tell him about what had happened in the Jazz (his team), Rockets (my team), and Runnin' Utes (our team) games.  Even though they were a long way away, I learned to love players like Jimmy Soto and Josh Grant by reading the box scores.  Reading became fun, and it changed my life.

    When we moved to Utah, I jumped ship to the Jazz full time.  I loved going to the occasional game at the "Decibel Center" or walking across campus to see the Utes play up on the hill.  In my driveway at home, I shot baskets for hours on end and pretended to be right there along side Mike Doleac, Nick Jacobson, Alex Jensen, Andre Miller, Hanno Mottola, Ketih Van Horn, Jeff Hornacek, Karl Malone, John Stockton and my many other heroes.  

    Those were the glory days.  Though we came up just short of winning the big win, we were on top of the world.  

    These days, times are different.  But my love of those teams has not changed.  

    I enjoy social media.  I like reading what others see because I feel like 99% of people have something to offer that I can learn from.  I also like that I can control who I follow.  I don't follow any bozos.  I follow those who are passionate and bring something to the table, and I love it.  

    At the same time, it can be a terrible place.  I see people taking to it to run down kids who are trying their hardest and may not always have the results on the court or field.  When I see this, I picture in my mind this family member I mentioned earlier.  I picture him playing hard and having people run him down when things didn't go right and it gets me upset.  These are kids who work their tails off in school and on the court. 

   Why does anyone feel the need to run down a kid?  Or even worse, their family?  That is pathetic.  I get tired of Jazz fans who constantly want to blame all of the problems in the world on Ty Corbin, but Ty is a grown man who is paid quite well and taking over the top criticism from zealots is part of the job.  It is pitiful that he has to deal with it, but it is part of the job nonetheless.  Kids?  Moms and Dads who just love their kids? Absolutely disgusting that anyone would feel the need to call them names and harass them.  Would anyone say this same stuff to their face?  Not a chance.  So why do it over social media?  

    In no way, shape, or form, am I saying that athletes and coaches are beyond criticism.  There are criticisms of the Ute and Jazz players and coaches that are fair and appropriate.  Was I frustrated after last night's game?  You better believe it.  

    I was asked an interesting question last night.  I am known as someone who is optimistic about my teams and people wanted to know at what point will good efforts not be enough and when will I "demand" that my teams win games such as last night. 

     My answer?  Never.  We play in a difficult conference.  Losses like this are going to happen no matter how much talent we have.  Do I want more wins?  Absolutely.  Do I believe they will come?  Without a doubt!  But in the meantime, I will accept the reality that we are an up and coming team.  Twice this year, we have given Arizona a ball game despite being at a significant talent disadvantage.  If being content with that makes me a "lapdog" or "someone who pathetically accepts moral victories", so be it.  It is reality, even if I am disappointed that one got away.  

    Win, lose, or draw, I will always support my team, the players, and coaches, as long as I see a great effort being put forth.  When I see a lousy effort, even in wins, I will become more vocal.  (you should read my blogs about the 2012 Boston Red Sox).  I do not think for even one second that I am a better fan than someone who feels differently, it is just the way I approach it.  

   In anything in life, it helps to look at the big picture.  Two years ago, outside of people I can count on one hand, I couldn't have paid anyone to talk about Runnin' Ute hoops with me.  Last night, the Huntsman Center was darn near full.  Improvement is being made.  Larry K is doing things the right way.  Our time will come.  I have no doubt about it.  Someday soon, all of these frustrations will be distant memories.  

   

    

    

Does Shark Tank Need A Breath Of Fresh Air?

 

Shark Tank can be seen Friday night's on ABC

    Shark Tank has become a staple of Friday night for many Americans.  Seeing the products and innovations that people have made and how they plan on making it big has become addicting.

    What does this show have to do in order to stay on the cutting edge?  Here are my ideas, starting with the panel of sharks as a whole and then some general suggestions.

    Mark Cuban:
    I rolled my eyes when I saw that Mark Cuban was going to be added to this show as a guest a few years ago.  As a Utah Jazz fan, the only thing I knew about Cuban was that he was loud, obnoxious, and a whiner.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  He is honest, straight forward, and seems to sincerely care about each presenter as a person.  As the most wealthy shark, he is the most willing to invest.  He is a must have going forward.

     Barbara Corcoran:
     She lacks the personality of some of the others, but one thing that can't be argued is that when she invests, she usually helps the business grow tremendously.  To me, she seems clueless about a lot of things.  But if a presenter can convince her of a product, she is a great partner to have.  She should be on every episode.

      Kevin O'Leary:
      This guy is a buffoon.  His only valid contribution is that he keeps the conversation moving.  If someone has a large amount of sales AND are on the upward trend, he will offer to give them the amount of money they seek in exchange for no equity and a chunk of sales for the rest of their lives.  He then points out what a big risk he is taking and how generous he is (the complete opposite on both points is reality).  Otherwise, he dismisses the presenter as though they are a worthless person.  If I were a presenter, I would avoid him like the plague, even if he were my only offer.  As much as I don't like him though, the show would be boring without him.

       Lori Greiner:
       I don't see any value that she brings.  She tries to sell the idea that she can get a product on QVC.  To me, this is overrated.  Sure, you can be on there for two weeks maybe, and then what?  She values herself much more than she should.

       Daymond John:
       Daymond seems bored more often than not.  It is as if he considers himself to be "above" the people who come before him.  He usually responds with "I don't want to  be in this space, Im out." or "I already have a similar group I'm with, I'm out".  If he does make an offer, he demands that his offer be accepted immediately or he jacks up the equity he requires.  It's as if the only amusement he gets from being on the show is in toying with people.

       Robert Herjavec:
       As soon as Mark came on the show, Robert became redundant at best and worthless at worst.  He is the least desirable partner of all the sharks, and he doesn't realize it. Before Cuban came on, Robert was the "tech guy".  With Mark on board, Robert is just a less interesting, less likely to invest shark with fewer connections.  Wrap your mind around this:  Robert's net worth is less than 5% of Cuban's.  His tactic of throwing a tantrum when someone doesn't immediately accept his offer has gotten old.

     If I were a producer, I would have Barbara, Kevin, and Mark on each episode and I would completely cut the other 3.  I would get replacements who can bring something unique to the table.

    As for other suggestions, I'd like to see more updates on how former presenters are doing.  The one per week is decent, but why not put some more up online?

    Finally, how about weeding out the trolls?  I enjoy the random oddball with his hack product (the guy who wanted to implant phones into people's heads or the guy who wanted to create tornadoes in the ocean or whatever come to mind), but I get tired of the "I have a cool app, no sales, and I'd like $650,000 in exchange for 6% of the business!" presentations.  They just want to be on the show for exposure and have no desire for a deal.  I want to see people who really want a deal working to get one.

    If done right, this show can have a long run.

 

   

A Change Of Pace........

     If you take a look around this little blog, you will see that this is the first update in quite a while.  For the past several months, I have been writing for tornbysports.com with an emphasis in Ute athletics.

     To be honest, I have grown a bit tired of sports writing.  With so many options for sports information, the market has become saturated.  To me, I don't know that there is much interesting insight I can offer that isn't already out there on one of these sites.

     So I am changing things up around here.  Instead of sports, this blog will now be devoted to anything I find interesting enough to write about and share.  Maybe it will be commentary on some recent events (don't worry; this is a politics free zone), or perhaps something that happened to me, or maybe something that just made me laugh.  I don't know how often i'll post, but I will try hard to make worth your while.

     With this, I am by no means announcing to the world that I am leaving tornbysports.com.  I will continue to write there whenever I feel I might have something interesting to say.  In the meantime, please visit there often.  They have great contributors who cover a wide variety of topics about sports here in Utah.

     Thanks for taking the time to read this little blog.  Always feel free to leave me a comment if you like/dislike or agree/disagree with something posted here.

 *********************************************************************************

     For the Runnin Utes fans who still visit this blog:  In addition to tornbysports, please check these sites out:

RunninU.com
tgojg.blogspot.com
http://www.sltrib.com/Blogs/utahsports

    Finally, please listen to my friends at the Taxi Squad Show (twitter @TaxiSquadShow), they do great work!

Thanks!

   

Life Lessons Learned From "Angels in the Outfield"

     From the time I was nine, I have watched the movie "Angels in the Outfield" nearly every summer at least once.  I love the movie because it's a story of the underdog never giving up and always looking on the bright side.  

     Tonight, as I sat down for the annual viewing, I was reminded of how profound the movie is.  Well, at least as profound as a Disney movie gets anyway.

     As the movie begins, two young boys are shown bicycling around in different areas of Los Angeles.  As they bike along, they talk about their struggles.  Instead of the usual visions of glory in professional sports, these two have a simple dream.  They just want a family.  They want their parents to come back and get them.  They want to feel loved again.  

     As they go, Roger, the older boy, remarks that they won't have to stay in foster care for long, because "something good is going to happen".  JP, his trusty sidekick responds, "yeah! something good!  Maybe today even! It could happen!"  

     What a motto to live by!  No matter how hard life gets, no matter what obstacles we face, we can ALWAYS remember that "something good is going to happen.  maybe today even! It could happen."  I really believe that. 

     As the story goes, Roger's father sarcastically remarks that they can be a family again when the Angels, a down on their luck bunch of losers led by a bitter manager named George Knox, win the pennant.  Roger takes him literally and prays that the team can win some games.  Real life Angels show up and before you know it, this team can't lose.  Roger is the only one who can see them, and so he tells the manager who to put in the game.  JP desperately wants to see the angels too, but he never can.  He responds to this the way he always responds to challenges...."hey, it could happen!"

     Right before the game that will determine if the Angels win the pennant or not, it is discovered that the Angels manager believes that these unseen angels are helping his team win.  Of course, he is laughed at and fired.  In a press conference where he is given the chance to renounce this "hogwash", he is saved by the courage of Maggie Nelson, the foster mother of JP and Roger.  She defends him by saying that maybe it's not so far-fetched......

      "The footprints of an angel are love.  And where there is love, miraculous things can happen."  

 

      I find that to be very profound.  What if we all had a little more love for each other?  Even for those who are difficult to love.  What if we were more patient with each other?  More willing to forgive each other?  More willing to embrace and befriend those who may not see eye to eye with us?  Where there is love, miraculous things can happen.

       My favorite passage of scripture reads like this (speaking of charity, or perfect love)........

      And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

       Wherefore.....if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth.  Wherefore cleave unto charity which is the greatest of all for all things must fail-

 

        But Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.  

      As always, I feel I am probably more in need of this reminder than anyone who is potentially reading this, but I hope it's something we can strive for.  The world could be such a better place if we just loved and looked out for each other a little more.  

      Well, I have already given enough spoilers, so I may as well tell you how it ends.  The angry manager has grown to love these two boys and decides to adopt them.  As the three of them hug and laugh together, JP looks toward the window and sees Al, the boss angel, smile and tip his cap.  To this JP says....

      "I KNEW it could happen!"

     How true your words are JP.  It could happen, and it does happen.  

Becoming Apathetic - a Die-Hard Fan's Struggles

    On Saturday night, I found myself making the long walk through the Wal-Mart parking lot when my phone buzzed.  Looking down, this is what I saw:

FINAL: Jazz lose 120-109 to Kings. Next up: OKC Thunder on Tuesday - http://bit.ly/14KLOMT  #UTAatSAC

     This came from the official twitter account of the Utah Jazz.

     I looked at that text message and my only thought was.......

    "Huh"

     That's it.  Nothing more, nothing less.

     As I thought about it, this was the worst thing in sports fan-dom.  Apathy.  Total and complete lack of care.  As I continued, I tried, I really tried to care or be upset about this loss.  But I wasn't.  And it scared me.  Was it not me who skewered apathetic fans last month?

     I am not writing this to give my opinion on what it will take to get me interested again or what the team needs to do for me to be happy.  That's just the point; I have watched so little of the team this season that I don't know what needs to change.  I am usually more than happy to enter a debate about my favorite teams and take/throw a few punches.  But with this Jazz team?  I don't know enough to do that.

     I don't want to be "that guy"; the guy who only cheers for his team when they win.  But I feel so disconnected.

    So, here is the time when I turn it over to you, the reader.  For those who are Jazz fans, are you feeling this way also?  Do you feel as strongly about the this team as you have in the past?  For those who are just sports fans in general, have you ever felt this apathy for one of your teams?  If so, how did you get out of it?

Will LeBron Ever be Considered "Elite"? (Part 1)

    We use the word "elite" to describe athletes all the time.  To me, there are only 6 players in the history of basketball that I consider to be truly elite.  I had the chance to watch LeBron James last night as he came to town with the Miami Heat to play the Jazz. This got me thinking about where he fits in the history of basketball.

     This blog will come in two parts.  First, I will explain my criteria and why the six members are in and why others are not.  Part two will look at what LeBron has done already and what he needs to do to move into this elite group.

    First the criteria.  Pretty simple.  You have to have the talent.  You had to have maximized that talent.  You had to be a guy who brought out the best in others, lifted them, and been a leader.  In other words, you had to be a great teammate.  You had to win, but that's not enough.  You had to continue to win.  There had to be a driving force that inspired you to win and win again.

     Without further delay, here are the 6 members of my Elite Club:

     1.  Michael Jordan
   
      A no-brainer.  The only criteria where MJ fell short was in the teammate department.  In his early days, MJ was absolutely belligerent toward his teammates.  He couldn't fathom why other people were not as driven as he was.  While he never became as good of a teammate as the others on this list, he became adequate.

     Here is what separates MJ (and Bill Russell) from everyone else:  They owned their era.  We look at Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Reggie Miller and we say "Those guys were good, never won a title, but they played in the Michael Jordan era" and we cut them a certain amount of slack.  Russell and Jordan are the only two in this category.

      2.  Bill Russell

      He was an outstanding teammate.  In fact, he is probably the best teammate of all time.  Easily the best defensive player ever.

     In a recent Bill Simmons article, Russell talks about watching film of new teammates and devising a plan to incorporate their strengths into the team goal.  He then made adjustments to his own game to ensure that his teammates strengths were amplified and their weaknesses minimized.  He did this every single year.  No one has ever done it better.

      3.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

      Kareem was a freak.  With his 7'4" height, long arms, and an extremely strong lower body, Kareem was able to develop the most unstoppable weapon in the history of sports: the sky hook.  The only way to stop him was to pound on him and pray that the officials were in a "lets them play" mood that night.

     4.  Larry Bird

     Nobody can touch his career 24-10-7 career averages.  More than anyone else in history, Bird milked every bit out of the talent he was given.  Technically, he played small forward.  But really, there isn't a position for him.  Larry Bird was just a basketball player.

    5.  Magic Johnson

     Another guy who grew from being a pest to a good teammate.  Magic's vision and play making were and are unparalleled.  You could take any team in NBA history and Magic would have fit in stylistically.  How many players can you honestly say that about?  Yeah, that's my point.

    6.  Tim Duncan

    Go ahead.  Call him boring.  Make fun of him for his wide-eyed "no way!!!!!!!!!!!" looks when he gets called for a foul.  Duncan got the job done.  He made everyone else around him better.  He could do anything, defense or offense.  Even now in the twilight of his career, he is still leading his team to title contention.

      I know there are some people reading this whose blood is boiling right now.  "How could you exclude player x? You're an idiot!"  Well yeah, but let me explain the big omissions.

    Kobe:

    Talented enough.  Has won enough.  But are we ever going to look back and say "Man, Kobe lifted his teammates to be the best that they could be!"?  Nope.  Final thought:  How many of the elite six had their coach write a 200+ page book that was meant to be a recap of a season that ended up being a cover to cover beat down of their character because they were such a pain in the butt to everyone?  None.  I rest my case.

     Wilt Chamberlain:

     Wilt's stats are eye-popping.  On numbers alone, he should be in any top group of players.  But he is not.  He led the league in assists because he thought it would be cool.  He passed up wide open layups to dish to teammates so that he could pad his assist numbers.  He often berated teammates for missing shots, but only when it would have given him another assist.  That's not unselfish, its idiotic.  For more reasons, I invite you to read Simmons' "The Book of Basketball".

    Shaq:

    It is difficult to look at Shaq's career and say that he underachieved.  But he did.  Shaq could have been so much better.

    As he got going, he ran up against players like Luc Longley and Arvydas Sabonis who had the size to withstand his powerful post up attacks.  Instead of changing his game to dominate these slow-footed counterparts, Shaq decided to just become bigger so that he could barrel through anyone.  The added weight was hard on his lower body, robbing him of his explosion. If he had kept reasonably close to the 300 pounds that he started his career at, and expanded his game to include more moves, Shaq would have passed Kareem in the pecking order.  Instead, he just gets to be considered among the best.

     If you don't maximize your talents, I have to leave you off my list.

    Jerry West:

    West worked as hard as anyone ever has at his game.  His long arms and extremely quick feet made him one of the best defensive guards ever.  In an era that didn't clearly establish the difference between point and shooting guard, West played both better than anyone in that era.

    His problem?  Russell.  He could never get past the guy.  A title or two in the sixties, and West is in the elite club.  Of those I have listed so far, West was the closest to making it in.

     Oscar Robertson:

     Great stats, a championship (to be fair, Kareem carried a shell of Oscar to a title), and the only guy to ever average a triple-double for an entire season.  Why is he excluded?  He was quite possibly the most horrendous teammate of all time.  No one (except Kareem) was ever good enough for him and he let them know.  His whining about teammates continues to this day.  Of all the people I have written about here, Oscar is the furthest from being included in the elite club.

     So there you have it, part 1.  Look for part 2 about where LeBron fits into this.
   

There Are a Lot of Dumb Ute Fans

    Someday, somebody needs to write the ultimate rule book on being a sports fan.  There would be a lot of things to cover, for sure.  But right up there at the top would be the rules about leaving your team.

    I can't think of many reasons that justify deserting your team.  A Penn State type scandal? Ok, yes, that qualifies.  A family member gets the opportunity to play at the collegiate level  for another school?  Fine.  That works too.

    Other than that, are there any justifiable reasons to abandon your team?  Not really, if you ask me.  And since you're reading this blog, you did just ask me!

    As most of you know, I am a die-hard fan of the Runnin' Utes.  More than any other team I cheer for, they are "my" team.  And as you can imagine, there hasn't been a whole lot of joy in Uteville over the past few years.  For a variety of reasons, the team has struggled to gain any traction.

    This year has been no different.  While it's clear that the team has improved from last year, there appears to be a considerable amount of growth that remains for this team to compete in the Pac-12.

    Yesterday, the team welcomed in the USC Trojans.  There was a buzz in the Huntsman Center that hadn't been felt in a long time.  After taking three of the better teams in the conference to the wire, the fans were hoping that it would be our turn to finally get a win.

     But it wasn't to be.  USC just had one of those nights.  It didn't matter how contested their shots were, the Trojans made them and the Utes were beaten.

    The post game reaction was brutal.  Fans on social media and post game shows were frustrated.  How could anyone not be?  A winnable game turned into yet another loss.  But this one was different.  Many said they were done with this team.  They wouldn't be coming back or watching this team until they figure out whats wrong and fix it.

     That drives me nuts and there's no other way to say it.

     Believe me, I get it.  I know how frustrating it is.  I want so badly for this team to succeed.  But to just pack up and leave your team when they are struggling?  Give me a break.  If that's you, then you aren't a true fan.

     I want to focus on two of our seniors: Jason Washburn and David Foster.  These two have been through a lot.  For Foster, he has played under 3 different head coaches in his time at Utah.  Both of them watched as teammates cut and ran when things got hard.  Instead of following suit, they stayed.  Foster even stayed after finding out his basketball career was over due to injury.  You can now find the 7'3" big man in a suit and tie encouraging his teammates from the bench each and every game.

     Folks, this is a kid who graduated last year and is so committed to this program that he has hung around to see it through.

    Look at Washburn.  He has some talent and ability.  I am not saying he is going to the NBA, but he can play.  He easily could have transferred to UNLV or New Mexico or anywhere else where they have a successful program and played big minutes there.  But you know what?  He didn't.  He believed in this Ute team and wanted to be a part of it.

     So you, Joe Schmoe, Ute "fan", are telling me that YOU are going to quit on those kids?  You have had enough and can't take it anymore?  Fine.  Don't let the door hit you on the way out.  If you can't tolerate losing, go cheer for someone else.  But on your way out, I want you to walk up to Foster and Washburn, or Cedric Martin or Jordan Loveridge or anyone else, look them in the eye, and tell them that you are tired of losing and that you won't come back until the "idiots" figure it out.

    I tell you one thing, these kids deserve a heck of a lot more than for a bunch of fans to quit on them.

   I frequently argue with a group I will just call the "Larry haters".  On day 1, this group made up their mind that Larry Krystkowiak was the wrong man for the job and have since blasted his every move.  I consider this group to be the "Statler & Waldorf" of Uteville, minus the clever puns.  But, you know something.....at least those guys show up.  At least they care.  At least they follow the team and talk about them.

   I know that I am probably a more "extreme" Ute fan than most, so maybe that's part of it.  For me, it hasn't always been "just" about football and basketball.  I am just as interested in the Volleyball, Tennis, and Soccer teams.  If it's Ute-related, I follow it.  I get pumped every time I hear our fight song, doesn't matter if it's at a baseball game or Rice-Eccles in the fall.

    Speaking of our fight song........look at the lyrics to the chorus:

    Who am I, sir?
    A UTAH man am I!
    A UTAH man, sir,
    And will be 'til I die!

    That's funny.  It doesn't say "Who am I sir? A Utah man am I! (as long as we are winning on a regular basis!) A Utah man sir and will be 'til we lose!"

    Ki-Yi!

    To wrap this up, I don't mean to call out the whole fan base.  I have said it before, and i'll say it again.  Ute fans are the best fans!  No doubt about it!  But let's stick with this team through thick and thin.  I wish you could see this team as I do.  We are so close!  Our best days are ahead of us!  And when we get there, this will all be worth it.

    In the meantime, remember my rule and never quit your team!
 

   

A Change of Pace: Ben the TV Critic?

     There are three shows on TV that I absolutely have to watch each week.  The first (The Office) is one that I have followed for quite some time.  As it prepares to wrap up, I find myself intrigued by how it will all end.  The second (Shark Tank) has been a favorite for a couple of years now, and I feel like I learn a lot during each episode.  Finally, the third show (Go On) is new this season, and I am already hoping that it has a long run.

     I know, this blog is typically dedicated exclusively to sports but I thought I'd change it up today.  So, without further delay, here are the reasons these shows are "must see" TV for me:

     The Office:

    Like many of you, I have seen every episode of this show.  I love the writing and the style of this show.  Through 9 seasons, this show has kept me coming back and never getting bored.

    I know that a lot of people are disappointed in this ninth and final season.  In a way, I am too.  I am not a fan of how the Jim-Pam-Roy love triangle storyline is being repeated with Pete-Erin-Andy (at least that is how it looks).  I find that in each episode, I am laughing less than I used to.

    It still has its moments of course; Creed's subtle "thats what she said" comes to mind, but as a whole, it's just not as funny to me as it used to be.

    So why do I bother tuning in?  Because it's a classic.  As it winds down, there are just some things that I want to know.  Who is the Scranton Strangler?  What is the film crew really up to?  I just want to know.  I tune in each week hoping to see a surprise appearance by Michael Scott.  I cross my fingers as each episode goes by that I will not be subjected to another meaningless/obnoxious scene with Gabe in it.

     I'll see this one through to the end, even if it means less laughs than before.

     As a PS to this section, I want to address those who feel that "The Office" has crashed harder than any show in the history of television.  Try watching "Sabrina the Teenage Witch".  If you get through season 6 and continue to watch season 7, you will be thankful that "The Office" writers have only fallen so far.  Trust me.

     Shark Tank: 

     I believe that this show has some value to society as a whole.  I don't mean in a "Let's all get together and talk about our feelings, Full House" type of way.

     Watching this episode is a crash course in starting/growing/maintaining a business.  Those with an idea are often given advice or criticism in their path to success.  For people at home, this advice can be applied as the next generation of small-business owners.

     If you have never watched, here is how it works:  A person or group with an idea at various stages of production appear before a panel of investors "the sharks".  They explain/demonstrate their product or idea and give a presentation as to why a shark should invest in their product.

    Sometimes, the sharks dismiss the person quickly.  Other times, they get into intense battles over who can give this person the best offer.  Each has their own unique strengths.  Sometimes, they even work together to sweeten a deal.

    I believe that when we look back on American history years from now, it will be said that people with ideas for products saved the country, not politicians.  They put people back to work and as a result, America thrived again.

    I think that people are watching this show and taking notes.  I hope they are anyway.  If folks ask themselves the same questions that the Sharks ask of would-be business partners, they will save themselves a lot of trouble.

     This show is worth your time, every time.

     Go On:

     I saw previews for this show during the summer Olympics and didn't think much of it.  My wife is a big Matthew Perry fan and when it was announced that a special sneak peak would be aired, she convinced me to give it a try.

    I was hooked on the pilot episode.

    It follows Ryan King (Perry), a sports radio host who has just lost his wife.  He is sent to group counseling to deal with his grief (though he denies having any).  The show tells of the adventures of King and the fellow group members as they go through their daily life.

    I think the underlying thing about this show is that it shows that people who you might normally consider to be "weird" or "crazy" are really caring, loving people.  At any rate, the show makes me laugh.

    So there you have it, three shows that I have to catch each week.  You should to!

"You cant really smile until you shed some tears": The crazy, tragic, sometimes almost magic, awful, beautiful life of a sports fan, Part 1

    If you read this blog often, you know I like to talk about being a fan of sports and what that has taught me in my life.  Someday, I'd love to publish a book with all this stuff.  But in the meantime, this is what I have been thinking about lately...........

    This year has been a frustrating one for my sports teams.  I know, I know, insert the little "firstworldproblems" hashtag from twitter here.  From the Boston Red Sox to the Runnin' Utes, the ball just has not gone my way.  

     Sometimes, when things are like this, it gives you a perspective you couldn't gain anywhere else.  

     Back  in 2004, my teams were on top of the world.  The Utes football team busted the BCS, the Red Sox finally got rid of "the curse" and the Runnin' Utes were on their way to another sweet 16.  

     Now?  Well, the Red Sox are a joke.  The football team lost last night to Arizona, which ends a streak of 9 consecutive Bowl appearances.  The Jazz are extremely average.  And the Runnin' Utes, my favorite of all teams, across all sports?  They lost to an average Big Sky team at home after being up 13 in the second half.  

     I find myself at times wishing desperately that I could get back to the time when my teams were the talk of the town.  Those were the good old days.  

     But you know what?  It will happen again.  When it does, I will enjoy the heck out of it.  

    By nature, I'm an optimistic person.  The Jazz have some young talent that's going to explode.  The Football Utes will be great in 2014.  I truly believe that we are just a stone's throw away from getting our Runnin' Utes back.  (Wait a minute, when did this blog become a Morgan Philpot political commercial?  I thought we were past that!)  

     I have been fortunate to be in a position where I get to interact with athletes from a local college.  I have greatly enjoyed it over the last three years.  At first, I was star struck.  But as I have had a chance to get to know these kids, I have learned that that's just what they are; kids.  They like to do the same things that I do.  

They don't deserve heaps and heaps of criticism when they don't win.  Sometimes, its easy to forget that these are people with feelings, just like you and me.  

     So that's the lesson I have learned through this "trying" time.  When your team is having success, enjoy it! Treasure it!  It's not going to last, so celebrate!  And when your team is down, stick by them.  They need you to stick with them through the hard times, as well as the good.  Anyone would show up when their team is good.  A true fan shows up regardless.  

A change.........

     If you follow me on twitter, you know I am not a big fan of the local sports media in Utah.  At least mostly.  There are some guys that I really enjoy listening to.  Bill Riley, Hans Olsen, Jeremiah Jensen, Tom Kirkland, etc.  There are also a few journalists that I like, they are Jody Genessy, Tony Jones, and Brad Rock.

      One of my biggest complaints is the lack of coverage for the "small" schools in Utah.  It just doesn't exist.    As I mentioned today, SUU defeated the #1 ranked team in the FCS and they barely got a blurb in the DesNews.

       I think that the blogosphere for the "big" teams is overdone.  There are so many blogs out there for the Utes and Cougars.  But there aren't many for Utah State, Weber, SUU, etc.

      I have created a blog that aims to fill in the gap.  This will be a blog devoted to ALL sports in the state of Utah.  Are you a high school fan? We will have you covered.  Do you like the Dixie st. soccer team? We will have that as well.  We will also give coverage to the Utes, BYU, and the Jazz.  But it wont dominate.

     Needless to say, this is a big undertaking.  I cant do it alone ( I work full time now, thank goodness!).  So, I need some help.  I need people who want to write for fun and cover a beat.  I really feel like this site can get big with the right people.

     If you want to see it (its VERY basic, obviously, ill need some help on design), you can visit it here.  We are working on a twitter handle as well.

     So shoot me an email utahsportscentral@yahoo.com if you want to help.  Or tweet at me.  Any help appreciated!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the (Sports) Year!

     Tomorrow is the first day of October.  For the sports fan, that means one thing.........Sports Heaven!

     It doesn't matter what your sport is, there is something going on.  Seasons are wrapping up in some cases, and others are just getting under way in others.  For this month, they all seem to overlap and there is something for everybody.

      Do you like Major League Baseball? Good! Me too.  As we come up on the last few games of the season, there is some big time drama.  Who will win the wild cards in the AL?  Who will claim the title in the brutal AL East (Hint: It will not be my Red Sox.....I am petitioning to have this joke of a season erased from the record books).

      Throughout this month, we will get to see some great baseball as we get closer and closer to the world series.

     My prediction?  I'll take the Giants to beat the Yankees in a seven game thriller.

     How about College Football?  This is the time of year when things REALLY get interesting.  We are officially past the "let's see how good they are before we start talking" stage and into the "oh wow, we are really terrible/average/awesome this year!" portion of the season.  At this point, those who were overhyped in the preseason have gone by the wayside.  Over the next two months, we will witness some classics as teams try desperately to win their conference title.

     Locally, its going to be a fun week.  Utah will host the Trojans from USC on Thursday night.  I certainly don't expect the Utes to win, but I am hoping that they can come out and show some fight.

     The big match up this week will feature Utah State and BYU.  Five games in, and I am not sure what to make of either team.  I am looking forward to a close, low scoring game.

   There is a lot of football left to be played, so I won't make a prediction as to who will win.  I do have a good feeling about the Florida St. Seminoles, so we will see how that goes.

     I can't forget the Jazz!  I am intrigued by the makeup of this roster.  I feel that the team has depth at all positions.  But at the same time, this team is by no means a lock to get a playoff spot.  The competition will be fierce.

     How much has Gordon Hayward improved?  Is he finally ready to be the player we know he can be?  Will Alec Burks get more playing time this year?  As always, how do we find time for all of our worthy front court players?  Is Mo Williams an upgrade over Devin Harris?  How will we ever survive without CJ Miles? (sarcasm).

    I think the Jazz will take 6th place in the West this year.  I look forward to a fun season ahead!

    Is Hockey your favorite sport?  Well you are in luck!

    (this paragraph intentionally left blank)

     How about Real Salt Lake?  After winning the MLS cup in 2009, RSL has remained a force to be reckoned with in MLS play, but has yet to claim a second crown.  Could this be the year for RSL?  After a big win over the goats (Chivas USA) in LA last night, the team is playing with confidence.

     Getting past San Jose and Sporting KC will be difficult, but RSL has the talent, experience, and chemistry to do it if they can get/remain healthy.

     Whatever your favorite sport is, this is an exciting time of year.  If you are into all sports, then this is the most wonderful time of the (sports) year!

Some memories and thoughts on "The Battle of the Brothers"

    Tonight is the first time that Utah and Utah State have met on the gridiron since 2009.  I thought I'd give some of my favorite memories of this series.

1996:
This was right after my family moved to Utah from Texas.  It was the first game I watched as a real Ute fan (I had watched the 1994 Utah-CSU game in TX, and that remains one of my favorite all-time Ute moments).    Unfortunately, we lost, but that game is where I truly fell in love with Utah football.

2001:
2001 doesn't seem like that long ago, but it was back in the days when Utah football gave out tickets to anybody who would take them to fill the stadium.  As such, the kids in my ward (an LDS congregation) were all given tickets by the youth leaders.  We went and had a blast.  We sat in the North End Zone and I was in heaven, especially since we won.

2003:
My first game as a member of the MUSS (mighty utah student section).  My buddy and I were walking in and past a guy wearing a USU shirt.  My friend stopped, stared at him, started laughing hysterically, then kept walking.  I LOVED my time in the MUSS.

2007:
Fresh off our win over #11 UCLA, we had gone to UNLV and been blown out 27-0.  We were 1-3 on the season and things weren't looking good.  I came up from SUU where I was in school to go to this game with my Dad.  I remember converting a big 3rd down play and yelling "You just saved your job, Whittingham!"  A laughable thought now was amazingly spot on back then.  Strange, eh?

So that brings us to tonight.  Here are some of my thoughts:

-I LOVED Jake Murphy in last Thursday's game.  In that one game, he had more receptions and yards than in last year total.  However, Northern Colorado a) probably didn't game plan for him much and b) didn't have the personnel to contain him anyway.  Utah State will have both.  I'm anxious to see how Murphy does tonight.  Hopefully, he can show that he is a force to be reckoned with.

-I thought that John White would have a line more along the lines of 20 carries, 157 yards.  We also used him a lot more than I anticipated (he sat most of the fourth and still had 24 carries).  The backups had their moments, but they will need to get better.  John White is great, but we can't run him like we did last year.

-Keep your eyes on Seni Fauonuku, #98.  He is the backup to Star, but he can play either spot on the interior of the line.  He was extremely active during his limited reps last Thursday.  He has quite possibly the quickest jump off the snap on the team and remains active until the play is dead.  He is only about 6'0 but that can have its advantages.  The comparisons to Steve Fifita and Kenape Eliapo leap to mind.  Personally, I think he is going to be much closer to Fifita than Eliapo, which is a good thing.  Also, it helps ease my concerns over next year when Star is not here.  I'm not saying that there won't be a dropoff, but I think having Seni will be great for us.  Though I have no doubt that we will be endlessly bombarded with "The Utes are in trouble without Star!" from the media, but what else is new?

Prediction:

Utah 27-USU 17

The Best of the Rest

    The University of Utah football team has become the top dog in recent years up on the hill.  But that doesn't mean that the other sports are taking it easy.  Here is a rundown on how some other teams are doing this year.

    WOMENS SOCCER

    The Utes' are off to a great start to the season as they head into year 2 in the Pac-12.  So far, they have accumulated a 3-1-1 record.  Included in that record is a 1-0 victory over the Team Down South.  The victory was the first for the Utes over their rivals since 2007.

    Tomorrow at noon, the Utes face a tough test as the Texas Longhorns come into town.  First kick is set for noon at Ute field.  Next weekend, the team will head up to Boise to participate in the Boise St. Tournament.  The two games up there will be the final tuneup before the rigors of conference play start.

     WOMENS VOLLEYBALL

      The theme of this year's team has been a youth movement.  With only one senior, all conference candidate McKenzie Odale, the team is light on experience but high on talent.
 
     So far this season, the team is 6-2.  After a fast start, the team struggled a bit in last weekend's tournament at UC-Davis.

     The schedule does not get any easier as the team will be in Provo tonight to take on the Team Down South.  They will remain in Provo and take on Portland State and Bowling Green tomorrow.  It will be a grueling weekend, but they have the talent to win.

     Next weekend, they return to Crimson Court to host the Utah Classic.  On a personal note, if you have never been to Crimson Court, I STRONGLY recommend it.  GREAT environment.

     BASEBALL
 
      Utah has never been known as anything close to a "baseball school", but a couple of Utes have really done well this season.

     CJ Cron has been on a tear at High-A Inland Empire in "The Los Angeles Angels" (which can I remind you is "The the Angels Angels" when you translate it.).  He has far more RBIs than any other minor leaguer.  Look for CJ to start next season in Double-A and maybe even get some time.............at Triple-A Salt Lake!

    Less commonly known is former Ute pitcher Stephen Fife, who was drafted by my Boston Red Sox in 2008.  He has since been traded to the Dodgers and remains in their organization. He was able to get two starts at the Major League level this year, but has been in Triple-A with the Albuquerque Isotopes for most of the season.

     Last night, he recorded the win for the Isotopes as he went 7 innings, giving up three runs in the win over Omaha in the PCL playoffs.

    Check back in early next week as I update you on all that happened this weekend, and as always, GO UTES!

Digging Deeper-Utah versus Northern Colorado

    Thursday night marked the season opener for the Utah Utes.  With Northern Colorado coming into town, it was more of a chance for the Utes to try some things than to actually find out where they are as a team.  What can we learn from digging a little deeper? Let's find out!

    It's often said that a key to winning football games is to "keep the chains moving".  So it was with the Utes in this game.  Rather than big offensive plays that gained large chunks of yardage, the Utes seemed content (perhaps out of necessity?) to move the ball down the field methodically rather than with big hits. 

   One key to moving the chains is to convert on 3rd down.  In this particular game, the Utes were faced with 16 such opportunities.  They converted on nine of these, punted twice, went for it (and made it) on fourth down three times, tried a field goal, and simply let the clock expire on the last attempt.  

   Let's a look a little closer to see how they did and what we might be able to expect in coming games.....

   Of the 16 third downs faced by the Utes, eight of them could be considered "manageable" (4 yards to go or less).  Of these, they successfully picked up the first down seven times.  The only miscue was when Jordan Wynn missed a throw.  

   The team struggled a bit more on the longer downs, going 2-8.  Jake Murphy caught an 8 yard TD pass on 3rd and 8.  Kenneth Scott caught a pass from Travis Wilson is garbage time to pick up the other long conversion.  

    To me, its equally as telling to look at who was targeted on 3rd downs.  This gives us an idea of who has the trust of the QB and the offensive coordinator.  Not surprisingly, John White had the team lead for being targeted on 3rd down (tied).  He ran the ball twice, picking up the first down each time.  He also caught a six yard pass, which failed to move the chains.  Wolfman also picked up a fourth down conversion by scoring a five yard touchdown. 

   Tied with White, and this surprised me, was Jarrell Oliver.  He carried the ball 3 times on third down, and went 2/3.  That says a lot about what kind of trust Brian Johnson has in the freshman if his number is being called that many times in his first game.  

    Otherwise, Jake Murphy (2), Westlee Tonga, Dallin Rogers, Dave Rolf, Dres Anderson, Kenneth Scott, and Kelvin York were all targeted on third down.  

     Which players get the call on third down will be a fun thing to watch this year as we get into the meat of the schedule.  Having players who can make the big play when it matters most will be a big help to the Utes in their quest for a Pac-12 title.

     Other random notes:

     Where was VJ Fehoko?  I heard a LOT about him during camp and in the spring.  Didn't really hear his name called.  The stats show that he recorded one assisted tackle.  Seemed to me that Dave Fagergren was in on more of the action. He actually led the team in tackles.   

    I loved that we were getting our hands on the passes.  Six pass breakups in all.  Three were batted down at the line.  

    All in all, there were seven tackles for loss.  I have heard some who are upset that we only sacked the QB twice, and one of those was on a snap over the head.  Watching the tape, it looks to me like we were VERY vanilla on defense.  

    Next up: The Utah State Aggies! I am very excited for this matchup and look forward to a great game in one week.  

The Race-by DH Groberg

    I love to watch the Olympics.  I can watch just about all of the events (ok, well I struggle with Equestrian and that one where they ride their bikes as a team around and around and around.)

   Its fun to see people who have worked hard and reached the pinnacle of their sport.  Its amazing to see what people can train their bodies to do.  

    One of the things that it is hard to watch is when someone falls.  I feel so bad for them.  They worked so hard to get there and one little mistake ruins their chances to win.  

    As I see this, I am reminded of a poem that has inspired me and I think is a good metaphor for life.  Its attributed to DH Groberg..............

Whenever I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face,
    my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.
A children’s race, young boys, young men; how I remember well,
    excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race
    or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
Their parents watched from off the side, each cheering for their son,
    and each boy hoped to show his folks that he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they flew, like chariots of fire,
    to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy’s desire.
One boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd,
    was running in the lead and thought “My dad will be so proud.”
But as he speeded down the field and crossed a shallow dip,
    the little boy who thought he’d win, lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his arms flew everyplace,
    and midst the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face.
As he fell, his hope fell too; he couldn’t win it now.
    Humiliated, he just wished to disappear somehow.

But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
    which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win that race!”
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that’s all,
    and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
    his mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.
He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace.
    “I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.”

But through the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face
    with a steady look that said again, “Get up and win that race!”
So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last.
    “If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to run real fast!”
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight, then ten...
    but trying hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently. A tear dropped from his eye.
    “There’s no sense running anymore! Three strikes I’m out! Why try?
I’ve lost, so what’s the use?” he thought. “I’ll live with my disgrace.”
    But then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.

“Get up,” an echo sounded low, “you haven’t lost at all,
    for all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
Get up!” the echo urged him on, “Get up and take your place!
    You were not meant for failure here! Get up and win that race!”
So, up he rose to run once more, refusing to forfeit,
    and he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been,
    still he gave it all he had and ran like he could win.
Three times he’d fallen stumbling, three times he rose again.
    Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.

They cheered another boy who crossed the line and won first place,
    head high and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace.
But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place,
    the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud,
    you would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”
    “To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.”

And now when things seem dark and bleak and difficult to face,
    the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
    And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
And when depression and despair shout loudly in my face,
    another voice within me says, “Get up and win that race!”

Ben There, Trolled That

     I boldly claimed that my run-in with Gordon Monson was the best troll fest I had ever started.  As I got to thinking about it, I realized that there are a few more that deserve serious consideration for that honor.

"Caught with........."

       During my time at SUU, one of my favorite things was to go to the basketball games.  SUU was half decent, we had the Goose Man (legendary, he deserves his own blog entry, ill get to him at some point), and we had a student section that sat right on the court.  Harassing the opposing team was no problem at the Centrum Arena.  

       About halfway through the second half of each game, a promotion called "Caught with a Coke!" was run.  Some PR lady would pick some random person in the audience who had a coke to be the winner.  The cheerleaders would hold up this big sign that said "Caught with a Coke!".  When there was a timeout, the PA guy would say "Turn your attention to Section F, Row 13 where Jeremy has been CAUGHT WITH A COKE!".  Good old Jeremy then got a free drink at the next game.  Some promotion eh?

       So my friends and I started trying to win this little contest.  We'd go by a drink before the game and we'd try to be over the top in showing off that we had them so we could get picked.  Didn't work.  

      One night, we are sitting in the convenience store right by the arena and we got an idea.  One of the guys said:

       "Why is it just 'Caught with a coke'?  Why isn't 'Caught with a..................(im scanning around the store looking for something obscure and I finished his thought)....can of creamy tomato soup?"

      And thus it was born.

     We bought a poster board that we knew was at least double the size of the little "caught with a coke" sign.  We make it look all fancy (ok, not really).  We had someone bring it in.  Then we waited.  

     With 12 minutes left in the game, we saw the cheerleaders get ready with their sign and we got ready with ours.  When there was a timeout, as soon as the PA guy started his little speech, we jumped right up and started yelling at the top of our lungs.  I had the soup can, and my friends on either side of me held up the sign. I think we had about 10 guys there in on it, so we attracted quite a bit of attention.

      Our timing was so perfect that the vast majority of the arena looked at us, and not at the Coke person.  Thus, the promotion was completely ruined that night.

     Here is what it looked like:

   
"Je-rry! Je-rry! Je-rry!"


        If you have never been to a baseball game at Spring Mobile Ballpark in SLC, I strongly recommend it. One of the neat features of the park is that there is grass all around behind the outfield to sit and enjoy the game.  This is my favorite place to watch a game from.

       On July 4, the team always has a fireworks show after the game.  In 2009, I took my girlfriend there.  I intended it to be a double date, but my buddies showed up alone.  Oh well.

       Anyway, and this will come as a surprise to exactly no one, but I like to heckle the opposing team at whatever sporting event I attend.  So, I made plans to get to this game very early so that we could get a spot right behind one of the outfielders, so we could heckle him.

       I discovered that the center fielder for the Tacoma Rainers was named Jerry Owens.  (For an in-depth analysis of this baseball legend, click here.)  Every time Tacoma came out into the field, we heckled this poor guy.  "You're the man, Jerry!", "How's Ichiro, Jerry?" "You were adopted Jerry!"  (I still cant figure out why that last one is insulting, theres nothing wrong with being adopted. but my buddy yelled it out!)

     Anyway, this spread like wildfire.  Soon, we had all the people around us heckling this guy.  It got to be a mob!  I felt bad when it got to the point that kids started hurling profanity in his direction.

     When the game was over, and Tacoma had won, Jerry came right over to us, pumped his fist a few times, and yelled "yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!" before pointing at us and running away.  Still, the fact that we led a mob that grew and grew throughout the game, was awesome.

     And by the way, despite this display of maturity, my girlfriend still agreed to marry me three months later!


"Hey!"


      My athletic career in high school was remarkably unremarkable.  And by that I mean non-existent.  Lots of reasons for that.  But I always loved to go to the games.  One night, we were playing Fremont in basketball.  Some buddies and I got together and decided to paint our faces to show school spirit.  While we are using the bathroom mirror to do that, some little kid walks up and asks for some face paint.

     Being the nice guy I am, I painted this kid's face all up  I put "VHS" on both of his cheeks and just did an outstanding job of making him look like a Viking.

     I forgot about it, I enjoyed the game.  We won.  As I'm walking out, joking around and talking with my buddies about the game, I feel this sharp, sharp pain in my leg.  I look down in time to see this kid launch another vicious kick that hits me right in the shin.

    "YOU PAINTED ME THE WRONG COLORS! GO FREMONT!"

    Whoops! My bad!

    All in a day's work for a troll like myself............
      

A Sweat Band and a Baseball Glove; The Journey to Find Out What it Means to be a Sports Fan

             If you follow me on twitter, you know I can be best described as all over the map.  Sometimes, I am dead serious as I share my feelings on a serious topic.  Other times, I couldn’t be less serious if I tried.  I’m usually trolling someone though, but you already knew that.

              Another thing that is all over the map is the way I “support” my teams.  For the Utes, I despise fair-weather, cynical fans.  For the Red Sox, I am a fair-weather, cynical fan.  For the Jazz I’m somewhere in between.  

              I got to thinking about why that is so.  I’m a Utes fan because my Dad played for the Runnin’ Utes and we just grew up cheering for them.  I’m a Red Sox fan because of the Carl Yastrzemski glove that my Dad got for his1 2th birthday in Bountiful, UT in 1968.  Dad cheers for the Sox, and he passed it on to me. 

              I have never been to Boston.  I don’t know if I’ll ever make it to Fenway.  I have always cheered for the Red Sox and always will because now, as I get into my late 20’s my Dad is still my hero and my role model.  

              The funniest thing about it is, through all of the frustrations that came as I grew up a Sox fan, I really have never had the chance to celebrate.  

              In 2004, when the Red Sox finally broke through and won the series, I was an LDS missionary in a tiny Midwestern town.  I didn’t hear about it until a week later and even then didn’t really think much of it because I was so deep into my time as a missionary.  In 2007, I was away at school.  I wanted so badly to be in my parents’ living room, to jump up and down and hug my Dad.  But there I sat watching it alone on a TV in Cedar City with people looking at me strangely as I pumped my fists.  

              Of course, Dad and I did get to watch Aaron Freaking Boone hit the Tim Wakefield  meatball out of the park in 2003.  Of course, the Sox have had one epic collapse after another whenever my Dad and I can watch games together.  So during the time of my Sox fanhood, I have enjoyed all of the bad and only a little of the good.  

              So, logically, why do I even bother now?  Why don’t I just write them off if I hate them so bad?  To me, my Sox fanhood is about the bond I share with my Dad.  It’s bigger than a trivial game.  I’m a Sox fan because it’s something that my Dad and I can laugh at together.  It reminds me that I’m so lucky to have such a Dad, and to not take him for granted.  

              In the meantime, I’ll probably troll them on twitter until the day that they block me!  

              What does it mean to be a fan anyway?  Is it being loyal to something your whole life? If that’s the case, I’m not a Jazz fan.  I was a die-hard Rockets fan until I was 10.  Tree Rawlins threw me his sweatbands at a game once!  To this day, Hakeem Olajuwon is my favorite player.  

              I think twitter has changed my view of what it means to be a fan.  

              For instance, I know that @davidwilbur and many others cheer for the Angels.  So, when I look at the box scores, I am always looking to see how the Angels are doing.   I always hope they are doing well, for the sake of my twitter pals.  

              I know that @clayjondavis and @utesfan89 are big Pirate fans.  So when I look at the scores, and see the Pirates doing well, I feel good for them.  

              Occasionally, I find someone like @crackalacka22, who cheers for the same teams I do, straight down the line.  I know I can tweet anything at him to get his take on it.  

              As another one, I know that @schumacherf2006 likes Formula 1 racing.  It was on TV the other day, and I gave it a try, simply because I knew that he was into it.  It was cool.  

              Heck, I am even starting to not be so bitter about the Yankees!  With people out there like @ChelleFC and @sublimed19, it’s so hard to remain bitter……thanks a lot guys! Why did you have to be so nice?!?!? 

              On Friday night, you may have noticed me talking about my little brother.  As I had the chance to kick back and chat with him about it, I had a wave of memories.  There we were as kids, pretending to be Ute football players kicking the football to each other.  He kicked the ball towards me and it sailed up and up and up and……………right into our sister’s window!  That cost a lot to replace…..  Or there were all the times we would make a snow man in the backyard, draw a big “Y” on it, line up next to each other in our three-point stances, and I’d yell “Hike!” and we’d run as fast as we could and hit that snow man with everything we had.  Then we would holler and yell like we had just won the Holy War!  

              Now he has worked hard to earn a walk-on spot at SUU.  And with him goes the spot as my favorite college football team.

              As I think about it, yeah, it’s possible to be a “fan” of multiple teams in sports because of the people you interact with.  I have a long-time friend named Brandon, aka @jazznmagic.  He invites me over every year for the first BYU game.  I always go, and I always want BYU to win because he and the other friends he invites have been a big part of my life, and I’m happy for them when their team wins.  

              I’m not trying to say I’m perfect (oh goodness no, not even close), but I just think that we get so bogged down with “I’m a fan of this team and to heck with everyone else”  It doesn’t have to be like that at all.  

              So what it does it mean to you to be a sports fan?  As you can tell here, I don’t have anything close to a finished product.  These are just some thoughts and anecdotes that have helped make me, me.  I’d love to get thoughts on what it means to you to be a sports fan.  Anything at all, it doesn’t have to be related to this, just tell me!