I just wrote a college essay for the application to Hope College. It's about my step-grandfather who passed away in 2007 and I just wanted to share it with anyone reading.
Throughout my life, I have come into contact with people who have had stories to tell me and advice to give me. My parents have instilled values and ethics into me, my friends have allowed me to keep a strong sense of humor, and my siblings have given me the ability to be responsible when watching over them and protecting them. However, through all of my years, it has been my step-grandfather, Peer Baekgaard, who has been the most inspirational to me. After countless stories of what he went through during his teen years, and what obstacles he had to overcome to be successful in this world, it was easy for me to conclude that Peer Baekgaard was no ordinary man, but an extraordinary man who had an amazing story to tell.
Peer was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1923. In 1944, Peer joined the Danish Underground army to help fight the German forces in the time leading up to World War II. However, he was captured by the Germans and taken to a Prisoner-of-War Camp where he was sentenced to be executed. After countless months of living on bread and small portions of soup, Peer’s execution was on the horizon. Yet, in a bizarre twist of fate, the British bombed the camp Peer was at, and destroyed all the paperwork which named Peer as someone up for execution.
A few more months passed in P.O.W. camp when, one morning, the gates were opened and no guards could be seen. Not knowing whether this was a cruel trick set up by the Germans, Peer and fellow inmates cautiously escaped the camp by night in hopes to return to Copenhagen. Hiding by day and travelling by night, Peer finally reached Copenhagen to find that the war was over.
A few years passed before Peer made possibly the biggest decision of his life. In the mid 1950’s, Peer decided to immigrate to the United States, where he could live in the free world. Upon arrival, Peer had no job and no means of salary. To make up for his lack of funds, Peer made a dozen wooden boats and went to F.A.O. Schwartz Toy Company in New York City and sold his boats to the store. This business deal would end up marking the start of something special. Peer decided to start a business called Baekgaard, Ltd., which sold men’s gifts and accessories.
Years passed and Peer’s business grew exponentially. In the late 1980’s, while acting as President of the Chicago Gift Mart at the annual Chicago Gift Show, Peer met a woman who had recently started a business of her own. Her name was Barbara Bradley, and her business was called Vera Bradley, named after her mother. The two had instant chemistry and, after a few years of dating, got married in 1990.
With both companies becoming internationally-known, multi-million dollar companies, the couple shared some great moments together. Vera Bradley and Baekgaard, Ltd. collaborated to make a few products and basically created a brother-sister relationship between the companies. On July 21, 2007, after a battle with a number of health issues, Peer Baekgaard passed away at the age of 83.
To me, Peer’s story is inspirational beyond measure. From almost being executed, to immigrating to America, to owning a business, and to finding love, Peer led an eventful life that many people could never dream of enduring. When he married my grandmother a year before my birth, he essentially became my grandfather.
His stories and life lessons were ones to be remembered, and he never had a problem telling me in his thick, Danish accent. He taught me that persistence was necessary in this world. His persistence brought him to America and made him successful.
He taught me to not take anything for granted in this world. I recall countless meals where he would say a normal hamburger was “fantastic” and that an everyday sunset was “outstanding.” In order to understand why Peer was so thrilled with everyday things, I had to remember that he was days away from being executed.
Peer showed me that a sense of humor can get you a long ways in life. His sense of humor was somewhat dry, but always effective, as he could brighten up a room with a witty joke or his bright smile. Because of Peer, I do my best everyday to keep situations light and add a bit of humor here and there. Nothing is better than to see someone smile, and Peer showed me that one can gain a lot of friends and acquaintances by having a good sense of humor.
Finally, Peer showed me that love can make a person the happiest they can possibly be. By spending time with my grandmother and Peer, I could see that there was a genuine love and affection towards each other that made me love them even more. Oftentimes, I would hear Peer tell my grandmother that he loved her “very, very much.” He wasn’t purely saying he loved her to say it. He indisputably loved her with all of his heart, and I could do nothing but give my full respect to him for treating her so well.
When Peer died, I could see how many people he affected throughout his lifetime. The viewing at the local funeral home was incredible, as the line was always out the door to see my grandmother and Peer for one last time. I shook more hands and met more people in that night alone than I had in the five years leading up to the viewing. Each person told me what kind of person Peer was and how he had affected them differently, whether it was business related or family related. Most importantly, I saw how much my grandmother loved him. Yes, she shed some tears, but her attitude was very positive, as people continuously told her all of the funny stories they had about Peer and how he completely affected their lives at one point or another.
Peer was inspirational to me in countless ways. By seeing what he did with his time on this planet, I know what it takes to be successful in this world. His life lessons will be essential to my future. Whether I go on to own a business, write for a newspaper, or simply sell wooden boats, I know Peer’s guidance will help me become a successful and an admirable person in anything I do in life.
12.28.2008
11.30.2008
I am somewhat dreading today...
So right now I am sitting in my bed because I just woke up approximately twenty minutes ago. Usually I would be enjoying the warmth and darkness of my room, which has no windows making it a fire hazard, but today is different because I just realized I have a crap-load of writing to do. I used a colloquialism and I don't care... Anyways, I have that 2,000 word court case essay due for composition, a 500 to 550 word column due for the newspaper, and my mom is counting on me to finish some essays for college applications. Some people will probably tell me that I should have planned my time better over this four day weekend and completed or worked on some of the essays earlier, but I did not feel like it. Instead, I went to basketball practices, watched football, ate turkey and cheesecake, and slept. I apologize to anyone who thinks I procrastinated, but I deeply needed the rest and relaxation. Although the court case essay will be extremely boring to write, especially because it is an extremely boring concept in the first place, the other things I need to write will not be as difficult because I actually enjoy writing about what the prompts are. For the essay, I am going to talk about the endurance, will-power, and mental strength needed to camp out all night in sub-freezing temperatures in order to get a computer, television, and printer from Best Buy. I know some friends who participated in the festivities and I think this would be an interesting article, even though it has little if anything to do with sports. However, I know I can find a way to tie the aspect of sports into the column, so it should turn out to be a pretty tubular piece. My college application essays (Hope College and Wittenberg University) should be fairly easy as well. Hope's essay asks me to write about someone who has affected my life in a positive manner. I did not have to think long about this before I thought of my step-grandfather, Peer Baekgaard. A Danish immigrant, Peer was part of a small Danish army called the Danish Underground in World War II. However, he was taken prisoner of war by the Nazis at the age of seventeen. On his way to the concentration camp, Peer was able to write a note to his mother and slip it through the floorboards of the boxcar he was riding in, hoping it would one day reach his mother. At the concentration camp, he met many friends while only living off bread, butter, and soup every day. During one point of his stay in the prisoner of war camp, he was sentenced to be executed. However, the shelter which was holding all the papers for the prisoners was bombed by the British, eliminating Peer's papers. The camp officials no longer knew if Peer was sentenced to live or die, so his life was spared. One day, he woke to find that the camp gates were open. Not knowing if this was a sick prank being pulled by the Nazis, Peer and some fellow inmates fled the camp during nightfall. As they tried to walk back to Danmark, Peer and his companions hid during the day and travelled on foot during the nights. Little did they know that the open gates signaled the end of World War II. They made it home safely and Peer found that his mother had received his letter from the boxcar after all. When Peer was older, he immigrated to the United States. In New York City, he walked into the toy store FAO Schwartz and sold the store a dozen wooden boats he had made, which effectively started his imported gifts business that he named Baekgaard, Ltd. To this day, Baekgaard, Ltd. still sells men's and women's gifts. My grandma, Barbara Baekgaard, is one of the primary shareholders in the company, along with being the primary shareholder in Vera Bradley. I think it is amazing to see Peer's legacy live on to this day, even though he passed away July 21, 2007.
11.24.2008
Whitko Scrimmage and the Upcoming Holiday
On Saturday, the basketball team had our first semi-official game of the 2008-2009 season. We scrimmaged Whitko at our home gym in front of a pretty good crowd. The starters were freshmen Zach Terrell at the point guard, junior Desmon Powers at the shooting guard, me at the small forward, sophomore Evan Rhoades at the power forward, and junior Jay Curry at the center. We started off somewhat slow, but by the third quarter, the team started to click and we pulled away from the Wildcats. The great thing about our team is that we have great depth when it comes to a bench. We have guys who can come off the bench and hit a three pointer, grab a rebound, make an assist, or defend someone from scoring. That gives some of the guys a sense of comfort when it comes to leads in big games.
I wanted to get a dunk in the game, but the chance never presented itself. I will dunk in a game before the season is over; it's a guarantee. A lot of people ask me why I don't dunk enough and what these don't realize is that it is very difficult. I can not just stand under the basket, jump straight up, and flush the ball through the hoop. Rather, I need to get some momentum so I can take off with a better velocity to get up above the rim to throw the ball down. I can tell my critics that if and when the opportunity arises, I will be dunking the ball like a cop dunks a donut into his or her coffee. It's that simple. So until it happens, get off my back.
We ended up winning the scrimmage by about twenty or twenty-two points. A pretty solid performance overall. I finished the game with around sixteen or eighteen points. The scoring was spread amongst the guys fairly well, showing the balance our team has which will help us in the long run against deep teams. So now that this scrimmage is in the rearview mirror, our next target is Harding, who beat us last year sixty-one to fifty-eight in overtime. I'm excited to get the regular season started, but I'm not excited for my senior season to end. This entire season will have a bittersweet feeling.
Stepping away from basketball, Thanksgiving is the upcoming holiday on Thursday. However, I will not be eating turkey and all those goodies with my family. No, they will be in Seaside, Florida for Thanksgiving. I, however, will be home alone because I need to attend basketball practice on Wednesday after school, Friday morning, and Saturday morning. I am used to this feeling of abandonment, as it has happened to me twice in the past and will happen again once more after Thanksgiving. Last year, I was home alone for Thanksgiving break and for eight days over Winter Break. Although I knew my family was in fun places such as New York City and Seaside, I did pretty well on my own. I found that the freedom to do whatever I wanted to was actually a pretty fun and relaxing time. I would of course love to be in Florida during these bitterly cold winter weeks, but I am excited to get some rest and relaxation in the comfort of my home. I have been invited to eat at my Aunt Kathy's house for Thanksgiving in town and I have also been invited to eat with my good friend Mac Finley and his family. I'm basically set. Also, as a parting gift, my mother ordered me two Junior's New York Cheesecakes straight from the city themselves. Junior's possibly makes THE greatest cheesecakes in the world. And because cheesecake is my favorite dessert, I will be in heaven during the break just chowing away at the luscious treat. I will also be delivering Arby's to my friends Kyle Beutler and Patrick Veerkamp as they endevour on a brave journey to the Best Buy parking lot on Thanksgiving night to participate in the Black Friday festivities. If it were not for basketball practice the next morning at 10 a.m., I would be right there next to them wrapped up in my sleeping bag, sitting next to the battery powered space heater, inside a tiny tent, eating the pizza provided by Mrs. Hirschy.
I wanted to get a dunk in the game, but the chance never presented itself. I will dunk in a game before the season is over; it's a guarantee. A lot of people ask me why I don't dunk enough and what these don't realize is that it is very difficult. I can not just stand under the basket, jump straight up, and flush the ball through the hoop. Rather, I need to get some momentum so I can take off with a better velocity to get up above the rim to throw the ball down. I can tell my critics that if and when the opportunity arises, I will be dunking the ball like a cop dunks a donut into his or her coffee. It's that simple. So until it happens, get off my back.
We ended up winning the scrimmage by about twenty or twenty-two points. A pretty solid performance overall. I finished the game with around sixteen or eighteen points. The scoring was spread amongst the guys fairly well, showing the balance our team has which will help us in the long run against deep teams. So now that this scrimmage is in the rearview mirror, our next target is Harding, who beat us last year sixty-one to fifty-eight in overtime. I'm excited to get the regular season started, but I'm not excited for my senior season to end. This entire season will have a bittersweet feeling.
Stepping away from basketball, Thanksgiving is the upcoming holiday on Thursday. However, I will not be eating turkey and all those goodies with my family. No, they will be in Seaside, Florida for Thanksgiving. I, however, will be home alone because I need to attend basketball practice on Wednesday after school, Friday morning, and Saturday morning. I am used to this feeling of abandonment, as it has happened to me twice in the past and will happen again once more after Thanksgiving. Last year, I was home alone for Thanksgiving break and for eight days over Winter Break. Although I knew my family was in fun places such as New York City and Seaside, I did pretty well on my own. I found that the freedom to do whatever I wanted to was actually a pretty fun and relaxing time. I would of course love to be in Florida during these bitterly cold winter weeks, but I am excited to get some rest and relaxation in the comfort of my home. I have been invited to eat at my Aunt Kathy's house for Thanksgiving in town and I have also been invited to eat with my good friend Mac Finley and his family. I'm basically set. Also, as a parting gift, my mother ordered me two Junior's New York Cheesecakes straight from the city themselves. Junior's possibly makes THE greatest cheesecakes in the world. And because cheesecake is my favorite dessert, I will be in heaven during the break just chowing away at the luscious treat. I will also be delivering Arby's to my friends Kyle Beutler and Patrick Veerkamp as they endevour on a brave journey to the Best Buy parking lot on Thanksgiving night to participate in the Black Friday festivities. If it were not for basketball practice the next morning at 10 a.m., I would be right there next to them wrapped up in my sleeping bag, sitting next to the battery powered space heater, inside a tiny tent, eating the pizza provided by Mrs. Hirschy.
11.09.2008
Oops...
Well I kind of forgot to keep this blog going over the past week and a half or so. Hopefully Mr. Jankowski doesn't count me off. I guess I will just have to double up over the next week or so to catch up.
I had a great weekend. We had three days off so it was a much needed break. Thursday night, my mom and I drove to Holland, Michigan because we were going to visit Hope College the next day. We stayed in an amazingly contemporary hotel called the City Flats Hotel. It was crazy. The room had extremely high ceilings, two queen sized beds facing each other, and a flat screen television for each bed. The bathroom was big too. I could actually stand underneath the shower head, which is a great accomplishment for me. The toilet had two different flushing settings. Overall, it was a hotel that I wouldn't mind visiting again.
Hope College was great as well. I got a tour of the campus and got to meet with the head coach and a player from the basketball team for lunch. Both of them were very nice and welcoming. They made me feel welcome to the campus. The visit definitely put the college up to the top of my list. I now look at Hope as my favorite.
My favorite part of the visit, however, was visiting the DeVos Fieldhouse. This is the home of the Hope Flying Dutchmen basketball program. Some interesting facts about the facility:
-It can hold approximately 3,000 fans.
-It has been sold out every game since it's opening in 2005.
-It has a 6,500 pound scoreboard hanging over the court.
-The floor is parquet.
-The student section which basically sits on top of the court is called the Dew Crew.
-The team has only lost one game there since its opening.
-The team has led the NCAA Division III in attendance over the past 5 years.
I had a great weekend. We had three days off so it was a much needed break. Thursday night, my mom and I drove to Holland, Michigan because we were going to visit Hope College the next day. We stayed in an amazingly contemporary hotel called the City Flats Hotel. It was crazy. The room had extremely high ceilings, two queen sized beds facing each other, and a flat screen television for each bed. The bathroom was big too. I could actually stand underneath the shower head, which is a great accomplishment for me. The toilet had two different flushing settings. Overall, it was a hotel that I wouldn't mind visiting again.
Hope College was great as well. I got a tour of the campus and got to meet with the head coach and a player from the basketball team for lunch. Both of them were very nice and welcoming. They made me feel welcome to the campus. The visit definitely put the college up to the top of my list. I now look at Hope as my favorite.
My favorite part of the visit, however, was visiting the DeVos Fieldhouse. This is the home of the Hope Flying Dutchmen basketball program. Some interesting facts about the facility:
-It can hold approximately 3,000 fans.
-It has been sold out every game since it's opening in 2005.
-It has a 6,500 pound scoreboard hanging over the court.
-The floor is parquet.
-The student section which basically sits on top of the court is called the Dew Crew.
-The team has only lost one game there since its opening.
-The team has led the NCAA Division III in attendance over the past 5 years.
Here is a picture of what the fieldhouse looks like with all the fans decked out in Orange and Navy, the school's team colors:
I hope to continue my basketball career at Hope College. The program amazing and the people in and around the program are friendly and welcoming.
Saturday, I went down to Huntington to watch and play football with some guys from Huntington North. It was a fun day. Nothing like watching football with the guys. We were able to see Iowa knock off third ranked Penn State with a last second field goal, Alabama win in overtime against LSU, Texas Tech pummel Oklahoma State, and sadly see Notre Dame get shut out by Boston College. I hope my Irish can get out of the rut they have been in over the past few weeks.
Anyways, today I slept in because I had some back pains. When I woke up, I watched some football and sat around the house some more. I had to get a physical for basketball practice by tomorrow, so I got that done. Then I watched the Colts hold off the Steelers for a huge victory.
Tomorrow, basketball tryouts begin so that will be exciting. It seems like time flew during football season compared to last year because basketball season came up in a hurry. Our team should be very good this year, and I am hoping to be the favorites to win the Northeast Hoosier Conference title. However, I hope even more that our student section is crazy beyond belief. Nothing is better than playing in front of a loud, raucous crowd. From what I have heard, the student section will be crazy, but we'll have to see at our scrimmage on November 22 against Whitko and at our first home game on December 5 against Wayne.
10.19.2008
R.I.P. Rodney Thompson
I do not know how to write something like this. Under the circumstances, I would rather use this space to show hope and prayer.
Rodney was a friend of mine, a teammate of mine for seven years, and an unbelievable person. His love for life was evident every single day. He used humor to brighten the days of everyone. His laugh and smile would warm anyone up. The team will miss him without question. A few members of the team went to the crash site and just prayed for a few hours. These events bring people together more than they ever thought they would. The words I am typing now cannot describe the hurt I feel and the pain I have seen in the eyes of my friends.
Instead of talking about Rod, I want to use this time to reemphasize the people in my life who I love and who I am thankful for.
Mom and Dad- You guys have been my heroes my whole life. You two have raised me to be who I am today. Because of you, I know what I need to do in life and I have become a leader because of the values you have taught me and instilled in me. Without you, I do not know what I would do. Thank you so much for being there for me always and forever. I love you.
Molly, Teddy, and John- You three don't know how much I enjoy being your big brother. I consider it a privilege to look out for you guys when things are tough. I hope you see me as a good influence. I have made my foot steps so you can all follow in them. The best thing about you three, though, is that you look out for me too. This weekend when my life took a major turn, you were all there to comfort me and help me through this tough time. I love you.
Grandma Sandy, Daddy Rock, Birdie, Pop-Pop, Aunts, Uncles, extended family, etc.- You all are the glue that keeps me together. Thank you so much for always being there when I need you most. All of you know how to cheer me up and that is what I appreciate most. Your love for me is unbelievable. I know you would all go amazing distances to make sure I am all right, and that is why I love you all so much. You are all major parts in my life and I thank God for all of you every single day. I cherish the time we have together. I love you.
Mac, Kyle, Patrick, and Zach- You guys have been my core group of friends for as long as I can remember. I never take for granted the time I have with you guys because I now see that it can be taken away so fast, just like Rodney. You all have the ability to make me laugh and keep me in that comfort zone. You guys mean everything to me and I think of you guys as family. I will always cherish the moments we will have or have had together, even when we go off to school next year. I can only hope our friendships last until we leave each other for good and join Him in the heavens. I love you.
Basketball Teammates- We have been drawn closer because of the recent events. Rodney's passing will give us the opportunity to come together and show everyone how much we love him and how much we enjoy the time we have with each other. All of you guys have been through the thick and thin with me and I thank God every day for each of you too. You guys make up a part of my heart and soul and I will carry you with me wherever I go in life. Someday, we will be reunited with Rodney, and it will be glorious. I love you.
Friends- You all keep me going every day. You're the reason I wake up in the morning, why I go to school, why I can deal with tragedies like Rodney's death. Thank you all for being there for me always. I know most, if not all, of you will read this, but I feel that these words will reach you somehow. We can all come together in light of Rodney's passing and we will all be fine. God has a strange way of working, but He knows what He is doing. We just have to trust Him. I love you.
Rodney- Man, the tears have been falling for you. Why did you have to leave us so soon? The memories have been flooding my mind all weekend. Like you said, "Ain't nothing faster than 'pium.'" If only you were still here. I could bring you some of my mom's brownies, the ones you loved so much. You were always able to make me laugh. Even when we played on the same Y-ball team in 4th grade. I remember going to your house and playing video games. Your love for life made me love life even more. You were a good teammate and an even better friend and person. No amount of words can sum up how much I and others will miss you. It just doesn't seem fair, but God knows what He is doing. You are in a beautiful place now. And trust me, I know you will be looking down on me for the rest of my life. You may be gone, Rod, but you will never, ever be forgotten. I love you so much.
Rest In Peace Rodney Thompson.
October 17, 2008. Forever.
Rodney was a friend of mine, a teammate of mine for seven years, and an unbelievable person. His love for life was evident every single day. He used humor to brighten the days of everyone. His laugh and smile would warm anyone up. The team will miss him without question. A few members of the team went to the crash site and just prayed for a few hours. These events bring people together more than they ever thought they would. The words I am typing now cannot describe the hurt I feel and the pain I have seen in the eyes of my friends.
Instead of talking about Rod, I want to use this time to reemphasize the people in my life who I love and who I am thankful for.
Mom and Dad- You guys have been my heroes my whole life. You two have raised me to be who I am today. Because of you, I know what I need to do in life and I have become a leader because of the values you have taught me and instilled in me. Without you, I do not know what I would do. Thank you so much for being there for me always and forever. I love you.
Molly, Teddy, and John- You three don't know how much I enjoy being your big brother. I consider it a privilege to look out for you guys when things are tough. I hope you see me as a good influence. I have made my foot steps so you can all follow in them. The best thing about you three, though, is that you look out for me too. This weekend when my life took a major turn, you were all there to comfort me and help me through this tough time. I love you.
Grandma Sandy, Daddy Rock, Birdie, Pop-Pop, Aunts, Uncles, extended family, etc.- You all are the glue that keeps me together. Thank you so much for always being there when I need you most. All of you know how to cheer me up and that is what I appreciate most. Your love for me is unbelievable. I know you would all go amazing distances to make sure I am all right, and that is why I love you all so much. You are all major parts in my life and I thank God for all of you every single day. I cherish the time we have together. I love you.
Mac, Kyle, Patrick, and Zach- You guys have been my core group of friends for as long as I can remember. I never take for granted the time I have with you guys because I now see that it can be taken away so fast, just like Rodney. You all have the ability to make me laugh and keep me in that comfort zone. You guys mean everything to me and I think of you guys as family. I will always cherish the moments we will have or have had together, even when we go off to school next year. I can only hope our friendships last until we leave each other for good and join Him in the heavens. I love you.
Basketball Teammates- We have been drawn closer because of the recent events. Rodney's passing will give us the opportunity to come together and show everyone how much we love him and how much we enjoy the time we have with each other. All of you guys have been through the thick and thin with me and I thank God every day for each of you too. You guys make up a part of my heart and soul and I will carry you with me wherever I go in life. Someday, we will be reunited with Rodney, and it will be glorious. I love you.
Friends- You all keep me going every day. You're the reason I wake up in the morning, why I go to school, why I can deal with tragedies like Rodney's death. Thank you all for being there for me always. I know most, if not all, of you will read this, but I feel that these words will reach you somehow. We can all come together in light of Rodney's passing and we will all be fine. God has a strange way of working, but He knows what He is doing. We just have to trust Him. I love you.
Rodney- Man, the tears have been falling for you. Why did you have to leave us so soon? The memories have been flooding my mind all weekend. Like you said, "Ain't nothing faster than 'pium.'" If only you were still here. I could bring you some of my mom's brownies, the ones you loved so much. You were always able to make me laugh. Even when we played on the same Y-ball team in 4th grade. I remember going to your house and playing video games. Your love for life made me love life even more. You were a good teammate and an even better friend and person. No amount of words can sum up how much I and others will miss you. It just doesn't seem fair, but God knows what He is doing. You are in a beautiful place now. And trust me, I know you will be looking down on me for the rest of my life. You may be gone, Rod, but you will never, ever be forgotten. I love you so much.
Rest In Peace Rodney Thompson.
October 17, 2008. Forever.
10.12.2008
College Stuff and All That Jazz
My least favorite thing to do lately has been to think about the future. College, basketball, majors, location, all that stuff that deals with the next four years. It's one of the biggest decisions we'll have to make in the upcoming months, yet I'm not excited at all. The whole process is overwhelming for me. I've realized that now I need to make the most of these last few months with my friends and family because I won't be seeing much of them over the next few years.
I know a few things about what I want in a college. I want to play basketball wherever I go, I want the school to be in a cool location, I want the school to have a unique campus, and I want to study business managment or marketing (some kind of business).
This weekend, I travelled with my mom to Schenectady and Saratoga Springs, New York to check out some schools out there where I may play basketball. We flew out of Fort Wayne on Friday morning around 6 a.m. After stopping in Cleveland, we flew into Albany around 9 a.m., making it a nice, short trip. Upon arrival, we drove about 10 miles to a small town called Schenectady, where Union College is located. My mom and I drove up to the campus and immediately noticed how beautiful the campus was. The campus buildings were amazing, greek houses lined the streets, and big areas of green grass were all over the place. It probably helped to have perfect weather, but the campus was without a doubt an amazing place. Even the girls were beautiful, which is always a plus. The only problem we found was that the school didn't have a set Business Marketing or Management degree, only Managerial Economics which may or may not be the same thing. We walked around, bought a Union College basketball shirt, and decided to head to Saratoga Springs where we were staying for the weekend. It was about a half hour away. As we pulled onto the main street of Saratoga Springs, which was Broadway, we immediately noticed how cool this upstated New York town was. It had the feel of a quaint little town, but had major shopping stores like GAP, Starbucks, and Borders. Home of a major horse racing track, the town gets busy in the early summer for about 5 months.
Skidmore College is right in town, and that is where I was visiting. The coaching staff had been in touch with me for a while and I was excited to meet the guys on the team and play with them. On Friday, I met the coaches for the first time in person and was able to get a tour of the campus. Although it wasn't as beautiful as Union College's campus, the school was still very cool. It didn't have a football team though. One former student said that Acapella was like football at this school, and that caused some red flags to go up. I met some of the guys on the team, and they took me around the campus which was cool. They took me and another recruit named Tucker from New Jersey to the food court, so to say. It was pretty awesome. Many different stations which served all kinds of food. I was able to get a great meal before going back to one of the guys' dorm to play video games. After a quick game of NBA 2k8, we went over to the gym to play some ball. My team was pretty good. One kid on our team named Melvis could jump out of the gym. He was about 6'2" but had possibly a 40'' vertical leap. It was incredible. We played a good amount of games and I held my own. I think some of the guys were impressed with my play, or at least I hope.
Overall, the trip was a great experience. It really opened my eyes to schools out in the east. I hope in the future I can take another trip out east to visit those type of schools.
I know a few things about what I want in a college. I want to play basketball wherever I go, I want the school to be in a cool location, I want the school to have a unique campus, and I want to study business managment or marketing (some kind of business).
This weekend, I travelled with my mom to Schenectady and Saratoga Springs, New York to check out some schools out there where I may play basketball. We flew out of Fort Wayne on Friday morning around 6 a.m. After stopping in Cleveland, we flew into Albany around 9 a.m., making it a nice, short trip. Upon arrival, we drove about 10 miles to a small town called Schenectady, where Union College is located. My mom and I drove up to the campus and immediately noticed how beautiful the campus was. The campus buildings were amazing, greek houses lined the streets, and big areas of green grass were all over the place. It probably helped to have perfect weather, but the campus was without a doubt an amazing place. Even the girls were beautiful, which is always a plus. The only problem we found was that the school didn't have a set Business Marketing or Management degree, only Managerial Economics which may or may not be the same thing. We walked around, bought a Union College basketball shirt, and decided to head to Saratoga Springs where we were staying for the weekend. It was about a half hour away. As we pulled onto the main street of Saratoga Springs, which was Broadway, we immediately noticed how cool this upstated New York town was. It had the feel of a quaint little town, but had major shopping stores like GAP, Starbucks, and Borders. Home of a major horse racing track, the town gets busy in the early summer for about 5 months.
Skidmore College is right in town, and that is where I was visiting. The coaching staff had been in touch with me for a while and I was excited to meet the guys on the team and play with them. On Friday, I met the coaches for the first time in person and was able to get a tour of the campus. Although it wasn't as beautiful as Union College's campus, the school was still very cool. It didn't have a football team though. One former student said that Acapella was like football at this school, and that caused some red flags to go up. I met some of the guys on the team, and they took me around the campus which was cool. They took me and another recruit named Tucker from New Jersey to the food court, so to say. It was pretty awesome. Many different stations which served all kinds of food. I was able to get a great meal before going back to one of the guys' dorm to play video games. After a quick game of NBA 2k8, we went over to the gym to play some ball. My team was pretty good. One kid on our team named Melvis could jump out of the gym. He was about 6'2" but had possibly a 40'' vertical leap. It was incredible. We played a good amount of games and I held my own. I think some of the guys were impressed with my play, or at least I hope.
Overall, the trip was a great experience. It really opened my eyes to schools out in the east. I hope in the future I can take another trip out east to visit those type of schools.
10.05.2008
Weekend Update with Seth and A... er, Chris
This weekend was full of surprises, infatuation, and fun.
On Friday, I played football with the guys from basketball and a few more guys for fun. This has become a tradition of ours where we all play football after lifting, including Coach Johnson. Up until this week, the games have been pretty even, with CJ's team beating my team twice while losing to us once. However, this week our team was on our game and it was a lot of fun. We had multiple interceptions and came back from a three to one deficit. I usually play quarterback, but that day I was not playing well, so I went to my more natureal position of wide receiver. Being 6'6'' is helpful when playing wide receiver because you can go up and get some of the passes that are put up for grabs, and that is what I did. With Zach "Tim Tebow" Pense running the quarterback position, he threw up two passes to me in the end zone which I was able to go up for and come down with. With the game tied at three a piece, CJ's team had the ball on the six yard line with it being 4th down. Luckily, I was able to knock down the pass so we got the ball with a chance at winning the game. After a few plays that didn't work, Zach was able to throw the ball up to me and I caught it in the back of the endzone for the win. It was nice bringing in the winning catch, especially when CJ was trash-talking all week. I guess we showed him.
Friday night, Mac Finley, Kalyn Jorgensen, and I went to the Vera Bradley Tickled Pink event. The sole purpose of going to this event was to meet the entertainment. An Australian pop singer named Delta Goodrem was singing, and Mac and I knew she was absolutely gorgeous. When we got there, we were able to grab some food, talk to some people, and of course use the chocolate fountain, which was a pleasant surprise. Then, Delta finally showed up, and my goodness she was HOT! And her Australian accent? Even HOTTER! I couldn't contain myself. We got to hang out with her and talk to her all night. She was so friendly and genuine. Infatuation was the first word that came to mind when I tried to define my relationship with her. She signed a CD for me and said she would have gone bowling with us if she was in town longer. Do I believe this? Not necessarily, but I keep telling myself she would have. I am convinced she was diggin' me. However, I got a little upset when I found out she was engaged. She's only 23 years old, so I thought I had a chance.... I guess not. Oh well, maybe next time.
Yesterday, I went to my 4th Notre Dame game of the year. So far, every game I have attended this year has ended with an Irish victory and yesterday was no different. They played the Stanford Cardinal. I brought Derrick Bales, a friend from my travel basketball team who plays at Huntington North, and his friend Brett and Brett's brother Shay. Once again, we were able to drive up to South Bend in my uncle's RV. It was a fun trip both ways, as the guys were very funny and entertaining. Because the game was supposed to start an hour earlier than the past few home games, we left from Fort Wayne around 10am. We got to Notre Dame around noon and we were able to eat a few bratwursts and hot dogs. About a half hour before we left to go to the stadium, some guys challenged us to some touch football. Little did we know, most of these guys played college football at Stanford and three guys played for the New York Jets, New York Giants, and Seattle Seahawks respectively. We put up a fight, but they ended up beating us four to two. Then, we went to the game. We stopped by Touchdown Jesus for our pre-game luck and went into the stadium. After the fly-over, national anthem, etc., the game started. Jimmy Clausen played the game of his life, throwing for 347 yards and three touchdowns. The game itself was fun, as Derrick and I enjoyed yelling at the referees, opposing players, coaches, and sometimes fans. Although no profanities or inappropriateness (is that a word?) came from mouth, many people around us laughed at our witty comments. At halftime, Brett and Shay joined us, which made the game that much more enjoyable. Overall, the 28-21 victory was a great time.
On Friday, I played football with the guys from basketball and a few more guys for fun. This has become a tradition of ours where we all play football after lifting, including Coach Johnson. Up until this week, the games have been pretty even, with CJ's team beating my team twice while losing to us once. However, this week our team was on our game and it was a lot of fun. We had multiple interceptions and came back from a three to one deficit. I usually play quarterback, but that day I was not playing well, so I went to my more natureal position of wide receiver. Being 6'6'' is helpful when playing wide receiver because you can go up and get some of the passes that are put up for grabs, and that is what I did. With Zach "Tim Tebow" Pense running the quarterback position, he threw up two passes to me in the end zone which I was able to go up for and come down with. With the game tied at three a piece, CJ's team had the ball on the six yard line with it being 4th down. Luckily, I was able to knock down the pass so we got the ball with a chance at winning the game. After a few plays that didn't work, Zach was able to throw the ball up to me and I caught it in the back of the endzone for the win. It was nice bringing in the winning catch, especially when CJ was trash-talking all week. I guess we showed him.
Friday night, Mac Finley, Kalyn Jorgensen, and I went to the Vera Bradley Tickled Pink event. The sole purpose of going to this event was to meet the entertainment. An Australian pop singer named Delta Goodrem was singing, and Mac and I knew she was absolutely gorgeous. When we got there, we were able to grab some food, talk to some people, and of course use the chocolate fountain, which was a pleasant surprise. Then, Delta finally showed up, and my goodness she was HOT! And her Australian accent? Even HOTTER! I couldn't contain myself. We got to hang out with her and talk to her all night. She was so friendly and genuine. Infatuation was the first word that came to mind when I tried to define my relationship with her. She signed a CD for me and said she would have gone bowling with us if she was in town longer. Do I believe this? Not necessarily, but I keep telling myself she would have. I am convinced she was diggin' me. However, I got a little upset when I found out she was engaged. She's only 23 years old, so I thought I had a chance.... I guess not. Oh well, maybe next time.
Yesterday, I went to my 4th Notre Dame game of the year. So far, every game I have attended this year has ended with an Irish victory and yesterday was no different. They played the Stanford Cardinal. I brought Derrick Bales, a friend from my travel basketball team who plays at Huntington North, and his friend Brett and Brett's brother Shay. Once again, we were able to drive up to South Bend in my uncle's RV. It was a fun trip both ways, as the guys were very funny and entertaining. Because the game was supposed to start an hour earlier than the past few home games, we left from Fort Wayne around 10am. We got to Notre Dame around noon and we were able to eat a few bratwursts and hot dogs. About a half hour before we left to go to the stadium, some guys challenged us to some touch football. Little did we know, most of these guys played college football at Stanford and three guys played for the New York Jets, New York Giants, and Seattle Seahawks respectively. We put up a fight, but they ended up beating us four to two. Then, we went to the game. We stopped by Touchdown Jesus for our pre-game luck and went into the stadium. After the fly-over, national anthem, etc., the game started. Jimmy Clausen played the game of his life, throwing for 347 yards and three touchdowns. The game itself was fun, as Derrick and I enjoyed yelling at the referees, opposing players, coaches, and sometimes fans. Although no profanities or inappropriateness (is that a word?) came from mouth, many people around us laughed at our witty comments. At halftime, Brett and Shay joined us, which made the game that much more enjoyable. Overall, the 28-21 victory was a great time.
9.28.2008
ND Game
Yesterday I went to the Notre Dame Purdue game in South Bend. The entire day's experience was overall one of the most enjoyable days I have had this year.
To start the day, I drove with my dad, brother Teddy, and Teddy's friend William to Lake Gage, which is where our lake cottage is located. There, we met my Uncle Tom at the Marina, which he owns. Every Notre Dame home game, we drive up to the lake where we meet Uncle Tom because he drives his RV to each game. Driving up in the RV is like a traveller's heaven. We watched satellite television all the way up to South Bend. College Gameday was on all trip so we could get pumped for the game. The fridge was stocked with drinks and other goodies, and the cabinets were filled with chips and all that kind of stuff. Because I had to wake up pretty early to get up to the lake, I was able to take a nap on the comfortable couch. That was much needed. By the time we pulled into the parking lot on Notre Dame's campus, I was ready to tailgate. Patrick and his dad and brother were there for a visit so they came and hung out at our tailgate as well. Patrick and I played some football with random kids around the lot and I was able to absolutely dominate him three times for touchdowns. I let him know it, too. Later, Zach Stine, Kyle Beutler, Mallory, Missy, and Molly Harber showed up and we all hung out for a few hours before we headed onto campus. We got to the game about a half hour until kickoff. I sat with Kyle in our season ticket seats. The Notre Dame Marching Band played a few songs and finally things got kicked off with an amazing fly-over by one of the jets from the Air Force base. The game started and the Irish started slow. We gave up the first ten points to Purdue. Purdue got some help from the officials in the first half, as they called back an obvious touchdown and missed a very blatant holding call. Nevertheless, we came back and scored on some awesome plays. At halftime, we were tied at 14 and I was pretty optimistic about our chances. Our offensive line was blocking extremely well compared to last week's Michigan State game and our defense was stopping the run a bit better. After walking around at halftime, then getting some AMAZING nachos to eat and a Coke to drink, Kyle and I returned to our seats hoping for an awesome start in this 2nd half for the Fighting Irish. Armando Allen, the Irish running back, came out on fire. On the first drive, he ran for a touchdown to put the Irish up 21-14. We never looked back after that. The next drive, the Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen threw a playaction touchdown pass to our Tight End Kyle Rudolph. Even though the Boilermakers scored to bring the game within seven, the Irish never looked back. After one more touchdown and a field goal, the final score was 38-21, Notre Dame. After the game, Kyle and I met up with Nick Arnold, who graduated from Homestead last year. Now that he attends Notre Dame, he can tell me where everything on campus is located. I wanted to to buy a new Notre Dame sweatshirt, which I'll probably wear tomorrow to school, so he told us where to go and we went on our way. After I found the sweatshirt I wanted, I paid and we began our trek back to the RV. On our way back, we saw Michael Floyd, a freshman Wide Receiver who is absolutely amazing. Back at the RV, we had some burgers and some soda. Then, we packed up and drove home. We were able to watch the blowout that was the Alabama Georgia game on the satellite television. However, because the game was so boring, I fell asleep.
Overall, it was a great game and a great day.
To start the day, I drove with my dad, brother Teddy, and Teddy's friend William to Lake Gage, which is where our lake cottage is located. There, we met my Uncle Tom at the Marina, which he owns. Every Notre Dame home game, we drive up to the lake where we meet Uncle Tom because he drives his RV to each game. Driving up in the RV is like a traveller's heaven. We watched satellite television all the way up to South Bend. College Gameday was on all trip so we could get pumped for the game. The fridge was stocked with drinks and other goodies, and the cabinets were filled with chips and all that kind of stuff. Because I had to wake up pretty early to get up to the lake, I was able to take a nap on the comfortable couch. That was much needed. By the time we pulled into the parking lot on Notre Dame's campus, I was ready to tailgate. Patrick and his dad and brother were there for a visit so they came and hung out at our tailgate as well. Patrick and I played some football with random kids around the lot and I was able to absolutely dominate him three times for touchdowns. I let him know it, too. Later, Zach Stine, Kyle Beutler, Mallory, Missy, and Molly Harber showed up and we all hung out for a few hours before we headed onto campus. We got to the game about a half hour until kickoff. I sat with Kyle in our season ticket seats. The Notre Dame Marching Band played a few songs and finally things got kicked off with an amazing fly-over by one of the jets from the Air Force base. The game started and the Irish started slow. We gave up the first ten points to Purdue. Purdue got some help from the officials in the first half, as they called back an obvious touchdown and missed a very blatant holding call. Nevertheless, we came back and scored on some awesome plays. At halftime, we were tied at 14 and I was pretty optimistic about our chances. Our offensive line was blocking extremely well compared to last week's Michigan State game and our defense was stopping the run a bit better. After walking around at halftime, then getting some AMAZING nachos to eat and a Coke to drink, Kyle and I returned to our seats hoping for an awesome start in this 2nd half for the Fighting Irish. Armando Allen, the Irish running back, came out on fire. On the first drive, he ran for a touchdown to put the Irish up 21-14. We never looked back after that. The next drive, the Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen threw a playaction touchdown pass to our Tight End Kyle Rudolph. Even though the Boilermakers scored to bring the game within seven, the Irish never looked back. After one more touchdown and a field goal, the final score was 38-21, Notre Dame. After the game, Kyle and I met up with Nick Arnold, who graduated from Homestead last year. Now that he attends Notre Dame, he can tell me where everything on campus is located. I wanted to to buy a new Notre Dame sweatshirt, which I'll probably wear tomorrow to school, so he told us where to go and we went on our way. After I found the sweatshirt I wanted, I paid and we began our trek back to the RV. On our way back, we saw Michael Floyd, a freshman Wide Receiver who is absolutely amazing. Back at the RV, we had some burgers and some soda. Then, we packed up and drove home. We were able to watch the blowout that was the Alabama Georgia game on the satellite television. However, because the game was so boring, I fell asleep.
Overall, it was a great game and a great day.
9.21.2008
Wittenberg University Visit/Homecoming
Back again. Today I visited Wittenberg University with my family. It was my first college visit ever which made the experience that much more exciting. The coach sent me a letter a few days ago saying they would like me to come out and visit the school. My family unfortunately had to get up at 6:00 a.m. which was a real pain in the neck. I did, however, end up sleeping the entire ride to Springfield, OH, where the Wittenberg campus is located. We got to the school around 10:00 a.m. and met the assistant basketball coach, Travis Schwab. He was an extremely cool guy. Laid back, funny, and knowlegeable, which helped myself get comfortable quickly. The first thing he showed us was the basketball facilities. The team plays in the HPER Center on campus, which is much bigger than Homestead's gym. Coach Schwab took me to see the old gym from the 1920's, which was pretty amazing because I could tell there had been so much history in that place. After the small tour of the facilities, we met up with head basketball coach Bill Brown. He seemed like an old-school type of guy, but he had a good sense of humor and was easy to talk to. He took my family around campus and showed me the various halls and buildings. Some damaging winds left many trees down, but the campus was still a beautiful place. The student center and cafeteria seemed like the place to be. After about an hour tour of campus, Coach Brown brought me to the admissions office to sit down with a counselor about my interests and how I was academically. That went pretty well. Finally, we walked over near the football game and attended a cookout with some of the current players on the basketball team. They were named Lewis and Jeff. Both were sophomores and they were real funny guys. The lunch was pretty good as well. After lunch, my family hit the bookstore and bought a t-shirt and some shorts then said our goodbyes to the coaches. Overall, the experience was great for a first time college visit. I'm excited to compare schools and see where I end up in the future.
Homecoming was Friday night and the football team played a big game against the Bellmont Braves. As usual, I got painted up before the game. This week, I was the exclamation point (!), which is funny because that's the type of punctuation I thought best described me on the first day of composition (kind of a weird and stupid exercise, if I do say so myself). Anyways, I also painted stripes down my arms. It's kind of becoming my thing, trademark, etc. Additionally, I bought a cow bell earlier in the week to continuously drill with a drum stick for the duration of the game. Apparently the Homestead Drum Line was proud of me, as they presented me with a pair of drumsticks. That was a very cool gesture. At halftime, I, along with 15 other seniors, was recognized on the Homecoming Court. I wasn't exactly dressed for the part, but it was a fun time. I didn't win, unfortunately, but I was definitely happy for Alex DeFreeuw and Kelly Lehman, who won King and Queen, respectively. The game ended up being a blow out, as the football team beat Bellmont 34 to 14. It was definitely a fun night. Oh, and I think it's necessary to show that three members of period 3 Composition class TEAM . were on the Homecoming Court. We represented the winning team quite well, I might add.
Homecoming was Friday night and the football team played a big game against the Bellmont Braves. As usual, I got painted up before the game. This week, I was the exclamation point (!), which is funny because that's the type of punctuation I thought best described me on the first day of composition (kind of a weird and stupid exercise, if I do say so myself). Anyways, I also painted stripes down my arms. It's kind of becoming my thing, trademark, etc. Additionally, I bought a cow bell earlier in the week to continuously drill with a drum stick for the duration of the game. Apparently the Homestead Drum Line was proud of me, as they presented me with a pair of drumsticks. That was a very cool gesture. At halftime, I, along with 15 other seniors, was recognized on the Homecoming Court. I wasn't exactly dressed for the part, but it was a fun time. I didn't win, unfortunately, but I was definitely happy for Alex DeFreeuw and Kelly Lehman, who won King and Queen, respectively. The game ended up being a blow out, as the football team beat Bellmont 34 to 14. It was definitely a fun night. Oh, and I think it's necessary to show that three members of period 3 Composition class TEAM . were on the Homecoming Court. We represented the winning team quite well, I might add.
9.12.2008
Random Thoughts About Sports
Well I just got home from basketball conditioning and I knew I had to write 600 words for this week or else Mr. Jankowski would kill me. I decided to write my thoughts about professional sports vs. college sports. A lot of the examples were used from last year because not much has happened this season yet. Here it goes...
Are college sports better than professional sports? I’m not talking about skill-level, because the professionals are obviously top-of-the-line when it comes to athleticism and ability. No, I’m talking about the difference in excitement, passion, and intensity between the two tiers of the sporting world. What’s the difference between college athletics and professional sports teams? Which is more appealing to sports fans across the nation?
When it comes to football, I think the college level has the upper-hand on the NFL. College football has a different storyline, a different heartbeat each year. People try to predict which teams will win the national championship, but it’s almost an impossible thing to do. College football players come and go after about 3-4 years, so it is difficult for one team to stay on top of the mountain for very long. This results in unpredictable upsets and National Championship winners. This couldn’t be more evident than in the 2007 season. Appalachian State trumping Michigan, Pittsburgh surprising West Virginia, and Illinois conquering Ohio State were all upsets that turned this football season upside down.
The NFL can’t boast that characteristic. Predominantly, the best team wins in this league. Sure there’s an occasional upset, but the media doesn’t blow NFL upsets out of proportion like NCAA upsets. Unlike college football, every game does not mean the end of the world. A team can lose the first four games of the season and still be in contention for the playoffs, such as this year’s New Orleans Saints. However, one loss in the college football season can ruin the chances of a National Championship. Just look at Michigan, Georgia, or Notre Dame. One less loss here or there could have resulted in a spot in the BCS Championship. Wait, did I say Notre Dame? Wishful thinking, I guess.
Basketball is a different story. College basketball and the NBA do not even compare when it comes to excitement, passion, and intensity seen in the games. College basketball is on a totally different level, with so many teams competing for one goal: a championship. With players only staying a few years, if that, it’s difficult for teams to win consistently, making the urgency level much higher for teams and coaches to win. This results in harder fought battles on the court. Players and coaches share the same desire to win the big game. And what in the wide world of sports can possibly beat March Madness, the greatest way to choose a national champion in all of sports? Like college football, March Madness, the 65 team, single-elimination tournament played to decide the National Champion, gives fans want they want to see. Upsets, ‘Cinderella Stories,’ and buzzer-beaters are always prevalent. In 2006, it was George Mason reaching the Final Four. In 2007, it was Virginia Commonwealth knocking off perennial power Duke in the first round.
The NBA can’t offer that excitement, no matter what part of the season. First off, the NBA season is too long, lasting 82 games over eight months. Second, one team can win year after year if they wanted to. Lately, the San Antonio Spurs have won consistently, winning four of the last nine NBA championships. Finally, the play of the NBA seems too lackadaisical. Sure, there’s the occasional windmill jam and no-look pass, but the game is based around the pick and roll. The superstars of the league also tend to take some nights off. At 6’8”, 245 pounds, LeBron James should be able to overpower his opponents every game. Instead, he settles for 25-footers that won’t tire him out.
The difference between the two levels of these sports comes down to one big difference. College athletes play for the love of the game; the professionals play for the money. College games are so much more intense because the athletes play with a passion. Most of these athletes will go into a profession outside of sports. They are playing their last years with a team with all their heart to give themselves awesome memories to carry for the rest of their lives. Professional athletes look at their games as a job. It doesn’t matter if their team wins or loses. They just care that their check is cut at the end of the night. That’s why the college game is that much better than the pros. They play for the love of the game, not for the love of money.
Are college sports better than professional sports? I’m not talking about skill-level, because the professionals are obviously top-of-the-line when it comes to athleticism and ability. No, I’m talking about the difference in excitement, passion, and intensity between the two tiers of the sporting world. What’s the difference between college athletics and professional sports teams? Which is more appealing to sports fans across the nation?
When it comes to football, I think the college level has the upper-hand on the NFL. College football has a different storyline, a different heartbeat each year. People try to predict which teams will win the national championship, but it’s almost an impossible thing to do. College football players come and go after about 3-4 years, so it is difficult for one team to stay on top of the mountain for very long. This results in unpredictable upsets and National Championship winners. This couldn’t be more evident than in the 2007 season. Appalachian State trumping Michigan, Pittsburgh surprising West Virginia, and Illinois conquering Ohio State were all upsets that turned this football season upside down.
The NFL can’t boast that characteristic. Predominantly, the best team wins in this league. Sure there’s an occasional upset, but the media doesn’t blow NFL upsets out of proportion like NCAA upsets. Unlike college football, every game does not mean the end of the world. A team can lose the first four games of the season and still be in contention for the playoffs, such as this year’s New Orleans Saints. However, one loss in the college football season can ruin the chances of a National Championship. Just look at Michigan, Georgia, or Notre Dame. One less loss here or there could have resulted in a spot in the BCS Championship. Wait, did I say Notre Dame? Wishful thinking, I guess.
Basketball is a different story. College basketball and the NBA do not even compare when it comes to excitement, passion, and intensity seen in the games. College basketball is on a totally different level, with so many teams competing for one goal: a championship. With players only staying a few years, if that, it’s difficult for teams to win consistently, making the urgency level much higher for teams and coaches to win. This results in harder fought battles on the court. Players and coaches share the same desire to win the big game. And what in the wide world of sports can possibly beat March Madness, the greatest way to choose a national champion in all of sports? Like college football, March Madness, the 65 team, single-elimination tournament played to decide the National Champion, gives fans want they want to see. Upsets, ‘Cinderella Stories,’ and buzzer-beaters are always prevalent. In 2006, it was George Mason reaching the Final Four. In 2007, it was Virginia Commonwealth knocking off perennial power Duke in the first round.
The NBA can’t offer that excitement, no matter what part of the season. First off, the NBA season is too long, lasting 82 games over eight months. Second, one team can win year after year if they wanted to. Lately, the San Antonio Spurs have won consistently, winning four of the last nine NBA championships. Finally, the play of the NBA seems too lackadaisical. Sure, there’s the occasional windmill jam and no-look pass, but the game is based around the pick and roll. The superstars of the league also tend to take some nights off. At 6’8”, 245 pounds, LeBron James should be able to overpower his opponents every game. Instead, he settles for 25-footers that won’t tire him out.
The difference between the two levels of these sports comes down to one big difference. College athletes play for the love of the game; the professionals play for the money. College games are so much more intense because the athletes play with a passion. Most of these athletes will go into a profession outside of sports. They are playing their last years with a team with all their heart to give themselves awesome memories to carry for the rest of their lives. Professional athletes look at their games as a job. It doesn’t matter if their team wins or loses. They just care that their check is cut at the end of the night. That’s why the college game is that much better than the pros. They play for the love of the game, not for the love of money.
9.03.2008
Three Day Weekend Cont.
As I was saying, Derrick and I met Kalyn, Mac, Patrick, and Chelsea up at the lake. We reached the lake around 1:30pm. With everyone trying to figure out what to do, we decided to buy a volleyball net and ball. Kalyn, Fletcher (my cousin), and I drove to a nearby Wal-Mart to see what they had in stock. Unfortunately, the employees were useless with the help they gave. After one lady told Fletcher-- a 5'10'' 165 lb 8th grader-- to get out of the cart, we asked her where we could find a volleyball and/or a net. She took us to the soccer section, which was not exactly what we were looking for. We left Wal-Mart and decided to try Meijer's. We found a volleyball net and ball packaged together right away, bought it, and returned to the lake house to set it up. We finished around sunset, so we really didn't get a great chance to play. Instead, our rebellious sides got to us as we decided to fill up water balloons and go out on the pontoon boat to launch them at bonfires and parties. Patrick brought his water balloon launcher, which could launch balloons hundreds of feet at approximately 75mph. It was a dangerous weapon, but we were having a blast. Although we were unsuccessful by sea, we decided to try shooting them from land. We found a party that was going on in a garage and hid behind a nearby treeline. We attempted to shoot the balloons over the trees in order to hit the party. The people were either too drunk to notice water ballons or we missed the party completely because no reaction was heard or seen. We decided to give up for the night and return home. There, we played some card games and watched tv. Then we went to bed for the night.
Sunday: Sunday was a much more active day overall. The day's activities included tubing, volleyball, water trampolining, jet skiing, pontoon boat riding, swimming, etc. It was also my brother John's birthday! He turned 10 years old. He had some of his friends up and they had a grand ole' time. ANYWAYS, tubing was a blast. At times it was painful, but overall, it was extreme. Wipeouts left and right were happening and some crazy barrel rolls from Mac as well. Later that day, Kyle Beutler, Kelly Lehman, Logan Robrock, and Reid Braun came over to hang out. Kyle ended up spending the night, while Kelly, Logan, and Reid all hung out for a good hour or two. As the day went on, more tubing occurred. Finally, the birthday festivities began. We got to eat cake and ice cream, which is always a treat. Some of us sat by the bonfire and talked about some funny relatives while others sat inside and laughed so loud, it could be heard from outside. To end the night, we decided to go on a late night pontoon ride. We brought water balloons, which turned into a fun game. First, we were throwing them at docks and sometimes at each other. At one point, Kyle yelled, "Oops!" and threw a water balloon, which hit Chelsea directly in the head. It was possibly the funniest thing I've ever seen. Kyle could not stop laughing. Then, we would throw the water balloons high into the air. Since it was so tough to see the balloons, it was surprise where they would hit. On the last throw, Kyle was drilled right in the shoulder and got soaked. I guess it was payback. For most of the ride, I just reclined on one of the seats on the boat, looked at the stars, and listened to music. It was very relaxing.
Monday: The same old stuff happened, really. Tubing, volleyball, hanging out. It was a laid back day. We ended up leaving the lake around 5:30pm. Made it home around 6:30 or 7pm, and that concluded an overall fantastic weekend.
Sunday: Sunday was a much more active day overall. The day's activities included tubing, volleyball, water trampolining, jet skiing, pontoon boat riding, swimming, etc. It was also my brother John's birthday! He turned 10 years old. He had some of his friends up and they had a grand ole' time. ANYWAYS, tubing was a blast. At times it was painful, but overall, it was extreme. Wipeouts left and right were happening and some crazy barrel rolls from Mac as well. Later that day, Kyle Beutler, Kelly Lehman, Logan Robrock, and Reid Braun came over to hang out. Kyle ended up spending the night, while Kelly, Logan, and Reid all hung out for a good hour or two. As the day went on, more tubing occurred. Finally, the birthday festivities began. We got to eat cake and ice cream, which is always a treat. Some of us sat by the bonfire and talked about some funny relatives while others sat inside and laughed so loud, it could be heard from outside. To end the night, we decided to go on a late night pontoon ride. We brought water balloons, which turned into a fun game. First, we were throwing them at docks and sometimes at each other. At one point, Kyle yelled, "Oops!" and threw a water balloon, which hit Chelsea directly in the head. It was possibly the funniest thing I've ever seen. Kyle could not stop laughing. Then, we would throw the water balloons high into the air. Since it was so tough to see the balloons, it was surprise where they would hit. On the last throw, Kyle was drilled right in the shoulder and got soaked. I guess it was payback. For most of the ride, I just reclined on one of the seats on the boat, looked at the stars, and listened to music. It was very relaxing.
Monday: The same old stuff happened, really. Tubing, volleyball, hanging out. It was a laid back day. We ended up leaving the lake around 5:30pm. Made it home around 6:30 or 7pm, and that concluded an overall fantastic weekend.
9.02.2008
Labor Day Weekend
Well, I'm back for my 600+ words for this week. Topic of conversation? The 3 day weekend of course.
Friday: Well school was as boring as it could possibly be. I honestly don't remember anything that happened. The fact I was either spacing out or asleep probably contributes to that. Anyways, after school, I basically just sat at home until 9pm. At that time, I drove to Huntington North to meet up with my friend Derrick. Then, we drove to his house in Hartford City. We stopped at McDonald's and then I spent the night at his house.
Saturday: Derrick and I woke up at about 7:30am to drive into a small town called Montpelier to sign up for a 3 on 3 basketball tournament. Our team name was Team Moist. It consisted of Derrick, Jason Doerhman (from Concordia), and myself. We all played together for our travel team over the summer, so we had a basic understanding of each other and good chemistry. It was an outdoor tournament, which made it pretty fun. We ended up placing 3rd. The team we lost to had three guys averaging six feet and three hundred pounds. The loss was questionable. Teams would play to twelve, and we would have to win by two. ANYWAYS, the score was tied up at thirteen a piece. The guy I was defending-- who smelled vaguely similar to a used toilet and a garbage can combined-- picked up his dribble, later to dribble once more. If you are not familiar with the rules of basketball, this is referred to as a double dribble and is illegal. However, he claimed he did not commit the crime, so to say, and the game went on. Approximately eighteen seconds later, one of his teammates-- who smelled the same with a rotten egg added on top-- hit a bank-in three pointer. It was bogus. He didn't even call it. It was a bitter ending to a fun tournament overall. After the tournament was over, Derrick and I drove about about an hour and a half north to my lake, Lake Gage. We met Mac, Patrick, Chelsea, and Kalyn up there.
Wow, hunger just punched me right in the face, gut, and man-region simultaneously, so I'm going to grab some food and continue my weekend journey on a later date. Peace out, home slices.
Friday: Well school was as boring as it could possibly be. I honestly don't remember anything that happened. The fact I was either spacing out or asleep probably contributes to that. Anyways, after school, I basically just sat at home until 9pm. At that time, I drove to Huntington North to meet up with my friend Derrick. Then, we drove to his house in Hartford City. We stopped at McDonald's and then I spent the night at his house.
Saturday: Derrick and I woke up at about 7:30am to drive into a small town called Montpelier to sign up for a 3 on 3 basketball tournament. Our team name was Team Moist. It consisted of Derrick, Jason Doerhman (from Concordia), and myself. We all played together for our travel team over the summer, so we had a basic understanding of each other and good chemistry. It was an outdoor tournament, which made it pretty fun. We ended up placing 3rd. The team we lost to had three guys averaging six feet and three hundred pounds. The loss was questionable. Teams would play to twelve, and we would have to win by two. ANYWAYS, the score was tied up at thirteen a piece. The guy I was defending-- who smelled vaguely similar to a used toilet and a garbage can combined-- picked up his dribble, later to dribble once more. If you are not familiar with the rules of basketball, this is referred to as a double dribble and is illegal. However, he claimed he did not commit the crime, so to say, and the game went on. Approximately eighteen seconds later, one of his teammates-- who smelled the same with a rotten egg added on top-- hit a bank-in three pointer. It was bogus. He didn't even call it. It was a bitter ending to a fun tournament overall. After the tournament was over, Derrick and I drove about about an hour and a half north to my lake, Lake Gage. We met Mac, Patrick, Chelsea, and Kalyn up there.
Wow, hunger just punched me right in the face, gut, and man-region simultaneously, so I'm going to grab some food and continue my weekend journey on a later date. Peace out, home slices.
8.27.2008
School Schedule Analysis
School has already been in session for a week. So far, I've been able to get some first impressions of each class. Because I'm absolutely bored out of my mind right now, I'm going to write my first impressions and expectations of each class. Without further ado...
1. AP Statistics with Nicholson- Mr. Nicholson is quite possibly the nicest guy on this planet. His personality just gives off that vibe that says he is sincere and really cares about each and every one of his students. The class itself has been somewhat rough to this point. Personally, math is the toughest subject for me to comprehend. The fact that I have math first period makes it even tougher due to the fact that I can't comprehend ANYTHING, let alone AP Statistics, at 7:50am. Luckily for me, the activities in class up to this point have included a class survey with multiple random questions (i.e. How tall are you in inches?, What kind of car do you drive?), checking our pulse rate, and then graphing different sets of data. The work has been fun as well as easy. Much of the work has been review from past years. I can only hope that the workload will be this simple, but that will most likely not be the case.
2. Sports and Entertainment Marketing with Hirschy- I really had high expectations for this class. Last year, Mr. McNeal, one of my favorite all-time teachers at Homestead, taught me the basics of Marketing in Marketing I and II. What I liked about McNeal was his laid back attitude and his ability to waste entire class periods with stories about his fishing adventures. Mrs. Hirschy is laid back as well, but she seems to think we actually need to do work everyday. The material we read in class has included the exact same concepts we were taught last year. One advantage we have in class is our assigned seat, which each have a computer. Usually, I spend the class period surfing the net, often reading different articles on ESPN.com and SI.com. Mrs. Hirschy is friendly beyond belief as well. Although she doesn't have the stories of McNeal, she is enjoyable to have as a teacher.
3. Composition with Jankowski- No comment.
Just kidding, I'll write something about this class. Because I enjoy creative writing, I feel this class will be a fun one for me, although it may not exactly be simple. The in-class activities have been fun, such as the punctuation contest, in which my team known as . won first place. Unfortunately, Mr. Jankowski did not allow us to be our original name of Balzac's Army. He said we meant wrong by the name, even though, in truth, we really enjoy his works. I especially enjoy La Peau de Chagrin and the idea of life having a serpentine motion with all its twists and turns. To be 100% honest, I can't think of ONE single inappropriate thing that can be associated with this great writer's last name. Maybe I'm missing something.
4. Advanced Speech and Communications with de Calonne- This is my third year having Mrs. D as a teacher, so I know what she's about. So far, the class has been quite easy. An impromptu speech, a direction/drawing activity, and some notes have summed up what we have done thus far. I'm excited to start speeches. I'm going to try harder than ever before to put my style into these speeches. I want to add more humor than usual. Basically, I want to have fun. Although Mrs. D probably has expectations for me already, I feel I will do fine in this class. As long as I find topics I enjoy speaking about, the speech writing and giving aspects will come easy to me.
5. Economics with Livensparger- I don't remember anything from this class. It's been difficult to pay attention to the lesson because I have either been staring at the white bricks in the wall while thinking about lunch, or I have been staring at the backs of my eyelids dreaming about lunch. Mr. Livensparger is a funny and friendly guy, but so far he has only lectured. Hopefully, things will pick up in the next week or so. Otherwise, I'm going to wake up in a puddle of drool with the whole class staring at me. That will be an epic day.
6. Assitantship with Doc- This most likely is and will be my favorite class for the semester. I sit in a cushioned, wheeled swivel chair and watch the class listen to Doc quote Seinfeld, The Simpsons, and listen to stories with his dry sense of humor sprinkled into his words. It helps to have Doc as my basketball coach. I can truly say I love Doc. He's had a large influence on my basketball career and he has made high school that much better. His quotes are classic and so are his rock cassettes.
7. Newspaper with Kuhn- This class is by far the most relaxed on my schedule. So far, we've listened to Mr. Kuhn tell us about his kittens, how bad of a city St. Louis is, and how frustrated he is with the administration. The last thing has been his been the topic of conversation the past few days and during this time, I've tried to avoid him, as he seems ticked off beyond belief. We will have staff positions figured out by the end of the week so we can begin writing stories and finally produce our first issue of this school year. Margaret Distler, the editor in chief, basically told me I am the Sports Editor, which excited me. I was a writer as a sophomore, co-sports editor as a junior, and now I have the position to myself. It's safe to say that I am excited about the upcoming school year.
There you have it. Now that I think about it, I probably should have waited to write this next week. It's not a big deal though. Sometimes boredom prevails.
1. AP Statistics with Nicholson- Mr. Nicholson is quite possibly the nicest guy on this planet. His personality just gives off that vibe that says he is sincere and really cares about each and every one of his students. The class itself has been somewhat rough to this point. Personally, math is the toughest subject for me to comprehend. The fact that I have math first period makes it even tougher due to the fact that I can't comprehend ANYTHING, let alone AP Statistics, at 7:50am. Luckily for me, the activities in class up to this point have included a class survey with multiple random questions (i.e. How tall are you in inches?, What kind of car do you drive?), checking our pulse rate, and then graphing different sets of data. The work has been fun as well as easy. Much of the work has been review from past years. I can only hope that the workload will be this simple, but that will most likely not be the case.
2. Sports and Entertainment Marketing with Hirschy- I really had high expectations for this class. Last year, Mr. McNeal, one of my favorite all-time teachers at Homestead, taught me the basics of Marketing in Marketing I and II. What I liked about McNeal was his laid back attitude and his ability to waste entire class periods with stories about his fishing adventures. Mrs. Hirschy is laid back as well, but she seems to think we actually need to do work everyday. The material we read in class has included the exact same concepts we were taught last year. One advantage we have in class is our assigned seat, which each have a computer. Usually, I spend the class period surfing the net, often reading different articles on ESPN.com and SI.com. Mrs. Hirschy is friendly beyond belief as well. Although she doesn't have the stories of McNeal, she is enjoyable to have as a teacher.
3. Composition with Jankowski- No comment.
Just kidding, I'll write something about this class. Because I enjoy creative writing, I feel this class will be a fun one for me, although it may not exactly be simple. The in-class activities have been fun, such as the punctuation contest, in which my team known as . won first place. Unfortunately, Mr. Jankowski did not allow us to be our original name of Balzac's Army. He said we meant wrong by the name, even though, in truth, we really enjoy his works. I especially enjoy La Peau de Chagrin and the idea of life having a serpentine motion with all its twists and turns. To be 100% honest, I can't think of ONE single inappropriate thing that can be associated with this great writer's last name. Maybe I'm missing something.
4. Advanced Speech and Communications with de Calonne- This is my third year having Mrs. D as a teacher, so I know what she's about. So far, the class has been quite easy. An impromptu speech, a direction/drawing activity, and some notes have summed up what we have done thus far. I'm excited to start speeches. I'm going to try harder than ever before to put my style into these speeches. I want to add more humor than usual. Basically, I want to have fun. Although Mrs. D probably has expectations for me already, I feel I will do fine in this class. As long as I find topics I enjoy speaking about, the speech writing and giving aspects will come easy to me.
5. Economics with Livensparger- I don't remember anything from this class. It's been difficult to pay attention to the lesson because I have either been staring at the white bricks in the wall while thinking about lunch, or I have been staring at the backs of my eyelids dreaming about lunch. Mr. Livensparger is a funny and friendly guy, but so far he has only lectured. Hopefully, things will pick up in the next week or so. Otherwise, I'm going to wake up in a puddle of drool with the whole class staring at me. That will be an epic day.
6. Assitantship with Doc- This most likely is and will be my favorite class for the semester. I sit in a cushioned, wheeled swivel chair and watch the class listen to Doc quote Seinfeld, The Simpsons, and listen to stories with his dry sense of humor sprinkled into his words. It helps to have Doc as my basketball coach. I can truly say I love Doc. He's had a large influence on my basketball career and he has made high school that much better. His quotes are classic and so are his rock cassettes.
7. Newspaper with Kuhn- This class is by far the most relaxed on my schedule. So far, we've listened to Mr. Kuhn tell us about his kittens, how bad of a city St. Louis is, and how frustrated he is with the administration. The last thing has been his been the topic of conversation the past few days and during this time, I've tried to avoid him, as he seems ticked off beyond belief. We will have staff positions figured out by the end of the week so we can begin writing stories and finally produce our first issue of this school year. Margaret Distler, the editor in chief, basically told me I am the Sports Editor, which excited me. I was a writer as a sophomore, co-sports editor as a junior, and now I have the position to myself. It's safe to say that I am excited about the upcoming school year.
There you have it. Now that I think about it, I probably should have waited to write this next week. It's not a big deal though. Sometimes boredom prevails.
8.24.2008
What Can I Say?
Six hundred words per week about anything you want. At first sight, it seems like a lot. On second thought, it is a lot. But hey, when you love to inject your own style into your writing, how hard could it possibly be? I have always wondered how people can stay so committed to writing in a journal or blog. Oftentimes, it's a daily process that takes some time out of your schedule. So now that I begin my journey into the blogging world, I wonder how it will affect my schedule. Today, I attended church and slept. I almost put this blog off for one more day to sleep some more, because I value my slumber. I didn't want to start the blog because I had no idea what I was going to write in here week in and week out. What can I say?
My life is nothing special to write about. I am normally a kid who keeps to myself around people I am unfamiliar with. When it comes to spilling out my inner thoughts and emotions, I suppose it's much easier to do so behind the screen of my laptop in my basement bedroom with the lights out and Strip My Mind by Red Hot Chili Peppers playing in the background. Maybe that's a sign for what this blog is to become. Maybe this blog will become an extension of my mind and strip all the thoughts and emotions from my it. Or maybe I'm still a little out of it from my 4 hour nap.
So far, senior year has been great. I feel confident. There seems to be a swagger to my walk that I never felt during freshmen, sophomore, and junior year. Being a senior just makes me feel bigger. Of course, that could be attributed to my 6'7" frame, but hey, what can I say? I've been chosen to be apart of the elite gathering of guys known as the Painter Boys, who paint their bodies and shout battle cries under the Friday night Llghts during Homestead football games. I did (or attempted to do) 248 pushups after the Spartans scored 55 points against Huntington North. I carried the flag after each touchdown and led the Painter Boys. Random guys patted me on the back and random girls winked at me. Cheerleaders even talked to me. When that happens, I know I'm doing something right. What can I say? Maybe I'm starting to get some 'game.' Or maybe I'm just a wishful thinker.
Goodness, six hundred words is a lot. What else can I say? How about some talk about the future. Usually, I hate thinking about what's to come after today, but sometimes I have to write six hundred words in a blog and I can't think of content. One thing I know for sure is that I want to get out of Indiana. Don't get me wrong, I love living here. My family is great and my friends are amazing, but I want to have a great college experience. I want to experience something new, and by going out of state to college, I feel that goal will be reached. My mom tries to get me to read those big college resource books that explain what each college is about and why I should attend that school. As of now, my short list includes Villanova University in Philadelphia, Boston University, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Florida, or maybe Emory.
Basketball, however, has potentially opened doors for me and could make my college decision easier. I have received letters from Cornell College in Iowa, Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, Earlham in Richmond, IN, Kalamazoo College in Michigan, and University of Rochester in New York. If I were to decide to play basketball in college, University of Rochester would be my choice, assuming they wanted me to come and play for them. The qualities I am looking for in a college include being located near a pretty big city, medium sized population, business or journalism school, and far away enough from Indiana to feel like I'm living my own life. The University of Rochester is the most qualified under my expectations. If the coaching staff at this school told me they wanted me to play for them, I would have a hard time turning them down.
My life is nothing special to write about. I am normally a kid who keeps to myself around people I am unfamiliar with. When it comes to spilling out my inner thoughts and emotions, I suppose it's much easier to do so behind the screen of my laptop in my basement bedroom with the lights out and Strip My Mind by Red Hot Chili Peppers playing in the background. Maybe that's a sign for what this blog is to become. Maybe this blog will become an extension of my mind and strip all the thoughts and emotions from my it. Or maybe I'm still a little out of it from my 4 hour nap.
So far, senior year has been great. I feel confident. There seems to be a swagger to my walk that I never felt during freshmen, sophomore, and junior year. Being a senior just makes me feel bigger. Of course, that could be attributed to my 6'7" frame, but hey, what can I say? I've been chosen to be apart of the elite gathering of guys known as the Painter Boys, who paint their bodies and shout battle cries under the Friday night Llghts during Homestead football games. I did (or attempted to do) 248 pushups after the Spartans scored 55 points against Huntington North. I carried the flag after each touchdown and led the Painter Boys. Random guys patted me on the back and random girls winked at me. Cheerleaders even talked to me. When that happens, I know I'm doing something right. What can I say? Maybe I'm starting to get some 'game.' Or maybe I'm just a wishful thinker.
Goodness, six hundred words is a lot. What else can I say? How about some talk about the future. Usually, I hate thinking about what's to come after today, but sometimes I have to write six hundred words in a blog and I can't think of content. One thing I know for sure is that I want to get out of Indiana. Don't get me wrong, I love living here. My family is great and my friends are amazing, but I want to have a great college experience. I want to experience something new, and by going out of state to college, I feel that goal will be reached. My mom tries to get me to read those big college resource books that explain what each college is about and why I should attend that school. As of now, my short list includes Villanova University in Philadelphia, Boston University, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Florida, or maybe Emory.
Basketball, however, has potentially opened doors for me and could make my college decision easier. I have received letters from Cornell College in Iowa, Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, Earlham in Richmond, IN, Kalamazoo College in Michigan, and University of Rochester in New York. If I were to decide to play basketball in college, University of Rochester would be my choice, assuming they wanted me to come and play for them. The qualities I am looking for in a college include being located near a pretty big city, medium sized population, business or journalism school, and far away enough from Indiana to feel like I'm living my own life. The University of Rochester is the most qualified under my expectations. If the coaching staff at this school told me they wanted me to play for them, I would have a hard time turning them down.
Wow, I just got carried away with that last paragraph and I see that my word count is now over 700 words. Like I said, I love to write about things and events when I can inject my own style and opinion into my words. Maybe six hundred words isn't so bad. What can I say?
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