For a long time now, the only loyalty in sports, existed purely in the minds & hearts of unsuspecting fans...but finding out the hard way, we should all know better now. This business, the media & most of these players, on and off the field, are tainted.
Enjoy your off season Yankee fans.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Sorting It All Out
"When you blame others, you give up your power to change."~ Dr. Robert Anthony~
As I get set to launch into the next chapter of my life, I can't help but ponder the circular motion of life and how we can run for thousands of miles in one direction only to end up exactly where we'd been before. For some of us it's family or friends…for others it's undeniable patterns with lovers or our careers but no matter the course, we all have lessons to learn and until we get it right, the Universe has a way of sending us the same challenges wrapped in different packages. The boundaries of self-respect, love, devotion, and compassion are universal truths to us all, yet it remains a near impossible task to sustain. Learning to become good judges of other people's character while strengthening our own resolve to remain faithful, honest and true can be a challenge in a world full of lies and deceit but the test remains the same for us all no matter our individual circumstances.
While packing and sorting the artifacts of my life, I started rummaging through old memories scrolled on the pages of a tattered journal. The words were undeniably mine but the person who had written them now seems like a stranger, like one of the main characters in the novels I am working on. Then it occurred to me, that somewhere along this great journey I had lost valuable parts of who I had once aspired to be. Broken hearts and shattered dreams we've certainly all suffered but where is that line, that moment in time when a woman loses herself in someone or something else? What causes one person to become more compassionate after a life altering event but turns another cold and icy and forces them to start building walls around a once open heart?
This year I certainly harbored anger towards others for spreading lies, having malicious intent, or just being downright ignorant to the truth. But this year alone is the result of all the years before. It's not one person or one thing but a massive culmination of choices, decisions, and moments in time that lead us to the peak of the mountain, afraid to fly. Afraid that one slip, one slight gust of wind will take us over the edge.
When the storm is raging all around us, we want to shout and proclaim our innocence. We want people to know our defense, our side of the story, our pain. But it doesn't matter in the end because no one but the individual must shoulder the load for the long haul. When people were trying to get me to open up…they played on my desire to set the record straight. Part of me can't help second guess and wonder if that would have made a difference but the other part of me knows better. Some things should be shouted from the mountain tops with unbridled passion…while others should be guarded and protected to preserve any ounce of integrity that might be misconstrued.
What's the choice for someone to make when those things are one in the same? What had been an incredible journey of self-discovery and blessings was suddenly reduced to tall tales of seedy debauchery by those who proclaimed class and preached the good word of the bubble above all else…how's that for irony?
In the end, they say it's the journey that matters most and as I continue on…I hold that close to my heart. We toil about how everything happens for a reason but sometimes….the reason is not meant specifically for you. Sometimes we get swept up in other people's lessons. Sometimes we become a part of someone else's journey and veer from our own path in the process.
I was writing a chapter in my book the other day where the main character had a moment of realization and as life and art so often parallel each other I paused to say a prayer of gratitude. In a few years, I hope that I can read my journal and not recognize the woman who wrote this either. That's what it means to grow…
Moving to Boston isn't about running away from anything. It isn't about hiding or forcing any one's hand. Moving to Boston is about resuming a journey I started long before any of this junk jumped into my personal driver seat. Moving to Boston is about realizing that while I can do this on my own…I am open to the possibility that I don't have to anymore.
As I get set to launch into the next chapter of my life, I can't help but ponder the circular motion of life and how we can run for thousands of miles in one direction only to end up exactly where we'd been before. For some of us it's family or friends…for others it's undeniable patterns with lovers or our careers but no matter the course, we all have lessons to learn and until we get it right, the Universe has a way of sending us the same challenges wrapped in different packages. The boundaries of self-respect, love, devotion, and compassion are universal truths to us all, yet it remains a near impossible task to sustain. Learning to become good judges of other people's character while strengthening our own resolve to remain faithful, honest and true can be a challenge in a world full of lies and deceit but the test remains the same for us all no matter our individual circumstances.
While packing and sorting the artifacts of my life, I started rummaging through old memories scrolled on the pages of a tattered journal. The words were undeniably mine but the person who had written them now seems like a stranger, like one of the main characters in the novels I am working on. Then it occurred to me, that somewhere along this great journey I had lost valuable parts of who I had once aspired to be. Broken hearts and shattered dreams we've certainly all suffered but where is that line, that moment in time when a woman loses herself in someone or something else? What causes one person to become more compassionate after a life altering event but turns another cold and icy and forces them to start building walls around a once open heart?
This year I certainly harbored anger towards others for spreading lies, having malicious intent, or just being downright ignorant to the truth. But this year alone is the result of all the years before. It's not one person or one thing but a massive culmination of choices, decisions, and moments in time that lead us to the peak of the mountain, afraid to fly. Afraid that one slip, one slight gust of wind will take us over the edge.
When the storm is raging all around us, we want to shout and proclaim our innocence. We want people to know our defense, our side of the story, our pain. But it doesn't matter in the end because no one but the individual must shoulder the load for the long haul. When people were trying to get me to open up…they played on my desire to set the record straight. Part of me can't help second guess and wonder if that would have made a difference but the other part of me knows better. Some things should be shouted from the mountain tops with unbridled passion…while others should be guarded and protected to preserve any ounce of integrity that might be misconstrued.
What's the choice for someone to make when those things are one in the same? What had been an incredible journey of self-discovery and blessings was suddenly reduced to tall tales of seedy debauchery by those who proclaimed class and preached the good word of the bubble above all else…how's that for irony?
In the end, they say it's the journey that matters most and as I continue on…I hold that close to my heart. We toil about how everything happens for a reason but sometimes….the reason is not meant specifically for you. Sometimes we get swept up in other people's lessons. Sometimes we become a part of someone else's journey and veer from our own path in the process.
I was writing a chapter in my book the other day where the main character had a moment of realization and as life and art so often parallel each other I paused to say a prayer of gratitude. In a few years, I hope that I can read my journal and not recognize the woman who wrote this either. That's what it means to grow…
Moving to Boston isn't about running away from anything. It isn't about hiding or forcing any one's hand. Moving to Boston is about resuming a journey I started long before any of this junk jumped into my personal driver seat. Moving to Boston is about realizing that while I can do this on my own…I am open to the possibility that I don't have to anymore.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Be Nice To A Mets Fan Today
"Nothing ends nicely, that's why it ends." ~Tom Cruise~
Bryant Gumbel once said, "The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love." This quote has never been truer for more reasons than it is today all through out the tri-state area. As elated Yankee fans bask in the glow of a stellar second half and overflow with anticipation for what's to come…dejected Mets fans woke up this morning feeling like a jilted lover who'd been left at the altar.
As I was getting my morning coffee, I overheard one such Yankee fan bemusing that he'd have to wait until Thursday to watch the Bombers take on Cleveland in game one of the ALDS. "What am I going to do all week?" He whined!
Initially I shrugged in agreement. Four days of listening to ESPN and other talk radio types banter about the match-up against the Indians, juggle imaginary scenarios and preview…preview…preview! But my thought process was abruptly assaulted by the stinging words of a nearby Mets' fan. "At least you don't have to wait until April." Barked the heartbroken guy.
Then it hit me. I know exactly what us Yankee fans can do to spread some good vibes and kill the time between now and Thursday….and so I proclaim today in the greater NY/NJ area to be, "Help A Met's Fan Day"!!! The beauty of this is we can all do something to help, big or small…it's your call, Yankee fans. Let's show the world that we aren't all greedy money counting, self-absorbed snobs. Let's do something for our fellow fanatics!
If we look at it in terms of love, it all makes sense. Some love blossoms into a great affair that changes you, lasts a lifetime and yields more benefits than one life could imagine. Some love shatters your soul, breaks your spirit and forces you to question your allegiance.
Mets' fans understand what it means to put their whole selves into loving their team, believing in their team only to, for lack of a better analogy, be the lasts one's to know that love has died.
Think about your clueless friend whose husband is cheating on her with his secretary. You wouldn't turn your back on her. No. You'd dry her tears, help her plan a girl's night out, and even take a baseball bat to his supped up four-wheeling SUV. Right?
Well, that's what Yankee fans need to do today! Finding a Mets fan shouldn't be hard on this gray Monday. Most of us in the area might even have a Mets lover in our own family, perish the thought! If not…no worries, they'll be easy to spot today. Just look for an all-cried out face, slumping shoulders, Willie Randolph voodoo doll and an overall dismal demeanor.
We can't change the outcome of the season and 162 games is trial enough. But we can make a difference, if only for today. Tomorrow, we can go back to being the Evil Empire…but today, be nice to a Mets fan.
If you're like me and being nice to the enemy doesn't come easily to you, I've compiled a few suggestions to help you get started.
1. Hey, just watching some tv together could be a good way to get your heartbroken Mets fan to forget about things for a while. Why not get them to remember the good times? Bring over a DVD from the 2000 World Series with all the Yankee highlights edited out. (This won't take long as that Series was pretty much the Derek Jeter Show complied into a few games of Yankee bliss. But I digress.)
2. Offer to have Kyle Farnsworth tutor the Mets bullpen in the ways of sucking but managing to go under the radar. That or let Farnsy hunt down Omar. Hear the big reliever is killer with a bow and arrow
3. Burning things seems to be a good way for some ballplayers to let go of the past and forge ahead…this has got to work for fans too, right? Let your Mets fan use the family fireplace to destroy all his Glavine gear. Throw in any Lo Duca or Mota stuff too while you've got the fire going. Come to think of it, burn all but that snazzy John Maine apparel. On second thought, we're going to need an industrial sized pit. Yankee Stadium is always open for public fires….just check with the bullpen first to make sure you can reserve a spot.
4. Lend your baseball savvy and help your Mets fan deal with the disappointment by proposing a few trades. Pay roll has been no obstacle for the Queens crew either…
5. Charity always works…so offer to swap out the scheduled golf times of Rocket, Moose, and Joba and plug in Reyes, Wright, and Pretty Ricky Henderson. If we knew the turn around would happen we could have gotten in a fourth but Andy Phillips is still working on his swing.
6. Show your sensitive side and wear your Chad Pennington jersey to show your Mets fan that you understand low expectations.
7. Cleaning usually makes me feel better. Organizing stuff and sorting out the mundane can sometimes lead to great moments of clarity. So let your Mets fan help you get your Yankee playoff gear down from the attic. Hey, 12 years worth of playoff sweatshirts are a lot heavier than you think they'd be!
8. If all else fails, buy them a Blue Moon minus the fruit and just let them cry on your shoulder. In love and in baseball…there's always next year!
Bryant Gumbel once said, "The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love." This quote has never been truer for more reasons than it is today all through out the tri-state area. As elated Yankee fans bask in the glow of a stellar second half and overflow with anticipation for what's to come…dejected Mets fans woke up this morning feeling like a jilted lover who'd been left at the altar.
As I was getting my morning coffee, I overheard one such Yankee fan bemusing that he'd have to wait until Thursday to watch the Bombers take on Cleveland in game one of the ALDS. "What am I going to do all week?" He whined!
Initially I shrugged in agreement. Four days of listening to ESPN and other talk radio types banter about the match-up against the Indians, juggle imaginary scenarios and preview…preview…preview! But my thought process was abruptly assaulted by the stinging words of a nearby Mets' fan. "At least you don't have to wait until April." Barked the heartbroken guy.
Then it hit me. I know exactly what us Yankee fans can do to spread some good vibes and kill the time between now and Thursday….and so I proclaim today in the greater NY/NJ area to be, "Help A Met's Fan Day"!!! The beauty of this is we can all do something to help, big or small…it's your call, Yankee fans. Let's show the world that we aren't all greedy money counting, self-absorbed snobs. Let's do something for our fellow fanatics!
If we look at it in terms of love, it all makes sense. Some love blossoms into a great affair that changes you, lasts a lifetime and yields more benefits than one life could imagine. Some love shatters your soul, breaks your spirit and forces you to question your allegiance.
Mets' fans understand what it means to put their whole selves into loving their team, believing in their team only to, for lack of a better analogy, be the lasts one's to know that love has died.
Think about your clueless friend whose husband is cheating on her with his secretary. You wouldn't turn your back on her. No. You'd dry her tears, help her plan a girl's night out, and even take a baseball bat to his supped up four-wheeling SUV. Right?
Well, that's what Yankee fans need to do today! Finding a Mets fan shouldn't be hard on this gray Monday. Most of us in the area might even have a Mets lover in our own family, perish the thought! If not…no worries, they'll be easy to spot today. Just look for an all-cried out face, slumping shoulders, Willie Randolph voodoo doll and an overall dismal demeanor.
We can't change the outcome of the season and 162 games is trial enough. But we can make a difference, if only for today. Tomorrow, we can go back to being the Evil Empire…but today, be nice to a Mets fan.
If you're like me and being nice to the enemy doesn't come easily to you, I've compiled a few suggestions to help you get started.
1. Hey, just watching some tv together could be a good way to get your heartbroken Mets fan to forget about things for a while. Why not get them to remember the good times? Bring over a DVD from the 2000 World Series with all the Yankee highlights edited out. (This won't take long as that Series was pretty much the Derek Jeter Show complied into a few games of Yankee bliss. But I digress.)
2. Offer to have Kyle Farnsworth tutor the Mets bullpen in the ways of sucking but managing to go under the radar. That or let Farnsy hunt down Omar. Hear the big reliever is killer with a bow and arrow
3. Burning things seems to be a good way for some ballplayers to let go of the past and forge ahead…this has got to work for fans too, right? Let your Mets fan use the family fireplace to destroy all his Glavine gear. Throw in any Lo Duca or Mota stuff too while you've got the fire going. Come to think of it, burn all but that snazzy John Maine apparel. On second thought, we're going to need an industrial sized pit. Yankee Stadium is always open for public fires….just check with the bullpen first to make sure you can reserve a spot.
4. Lend your baseball savvy and help your Mets fan deal with the disappointment by proposing a few trades. Pay roll has been no obstacle for the Queens crew either…
5. Charity always works…so offer to swap out the scheduled golf times of Rocket, Moose, and Joba and plug in Reyes, Wright, and Pretty Ricky Henderson. If we knew the turn around would happen we could have gotten in a fourth but Andy Phillips is still working on his swing.
6. Show your sensitive side and wear your Chad Pennington jersey to show your Mets fan that you understand low expectations.
7. Cleaning usually makes me feel better. Organizing stuff and sorting out the mundane can sometimes lead to great moments of clarity. So let your Mets fan help you get your Yankee playoff gear down from the attic. Hey, 12 years worth of playoff sweatshirts are a lot heavier than you think they'd be!
8. If all else fails, buy them a Blue Moon minus the fruit and just let them cry on your shoulder. In love and in baseball…there's always next year!
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