Three years of work. Three years of sacrifice. Three years of focus on doing the job that I was hired to do. Taking what amounted to a program as bad as the "Bad News Bears," with recreational drugs, and working towards a standard set by Virginia, North Carolina, Gettysburg, Middlebury and Salisbury. Three years of trying to get players that wanted to play the game more than they wanted to...pick your own phrase for moronic, adolescent, irresponsible, college behavior.
Go from a roster of 17 players, 5 of whom could play the game, to a roster of 34, 30 of whom can really play the game. Go from everyone is at risk for academic probation to one or two are. Go from a team that is top heavy, and that does not care, to a team that is loaded with underclassman that can play the game and love to do so.
This did not happen by accident, and it happened in the exact amount of time planned for, discussed, and promised. The only problem is that somehow this is no longer my job to finish. Not because the results were not there, not because I did not do what I was hired to do, and not because the program was not on a path to continued success, but because I did what I said I was going to do and too many people were made to look at themselves in the mirror and did not like what they saw.
It is much easier to get rid of the mirror than it is to change.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Dead Man Walking
I am a 26 year old kid in a 46 year old body, with a 66 year old heart, or maybe a 46 year old heart with a 66 year old body, I am not sure. I have tried a number of things in my 46 years, some successful, some not, I guess, although everyone's definition of successful is different. More often than not these days I feel as though I am simply walking around in a shell, my passion, my intensity, my sole seemingly gone.
The simple answer is that I have let "them" win. How many times can you here tone it down, it is too much, you are too intense, too serious. These were all good things when I was on a field doing what I loved, or on snow, or in a classroom, or in a conference room on the other side of the world. What it comes down to is I have just always been too...
Now, as my body, which I asked way too much of for too long, is broken. From my toes to my head, literally. I watched a piece the other day with Harry Carson of the New York Giants speaking about the issues professional football players have to deal with related to post concussion syndrome. I knew far too well every bit of what they were discussing, I was never famous, but I was fearless for way too long. I did not realize just how much we pay for each thing we do to our bodies.
I can't ski now, I can't really run, I can jog a little, haven't played basketball or hockey in forever, and haven't played lacrosse or football in even longer.
You can't undo what you have done in life, nor can you go back and do the things you wish you had done. As it says at the top of the page, "it is what it is," and there ain't much one can do about it.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
The simple answer is that I have let "them" win. How many times can you here tone it down, it is too much, you are too intense, too serious. These were all good things when I was on a field doing what I loved, or on snow, or in a classroom, or in a conference room on the other side of the world. What it comes down to is I have just always been too...
Now, as my body, which I asked way too much of for too long, is broken. From my toes to my head, literally. I watched a piece the other day with Harry Carson of the New York Giants speaking about the issues professional football players have to deal with related to post concussion syndrome. I knew far too well every bit of what they were discussing, I was never famous, but I was fearless for way too long. I did not realize just how much we pay for each thing we do to our bodies.
I can't ski now, I can't really run, I can jog a little, haven't played basketball or hockey in forever, and haven't played lacrosse or football in even longer.
You can't undo what you have done in life, nor can you go back and do the things you wish you had done. As it says at the top of the page, "it is what it is," and there ain't much one can do about it.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
Walk A Mile
I am not famous. Quite the opposite. Nonetheless, I have had enough situations where the spotlight was bright enough for people to judge everything and anything I did to know that it is not fun.
On the other end of the spectrum is Tiger Woods, and Michael before him. There are two people, quite literally, on the planet, that have ever known what it is like to be in their shoes. People seem to lose sight of this, but it is an indisputable fact. No other athletes have ever been as dominate as they have, as early in their careers, or to such an extent, and no two athletes have ever made the kind of money they did for being as good as they were/are.
There are two facts about this money, one, they make these kinds of sums because of how good they are, and how recognizable they are for their success beyond their individual sports, and even beyond sport itself, and two, having that kind of money, while wonderful I am sure in many ways, brings a pressure, and responsibility, and "temptations" as Tiger said, that none of us mere mortals can possibly have any vague appreciation for.
If you cheat on your wife, you are wrong. If you gamble on any athlete that moves as a professional athlete you are wrong, even though lots of people have forgotten Michaels involuntary vacation from basketball, or at least the reason for it. But, both men knew they were wrong. Michael did what he could to make it up to the fans, the NBA, his family, his teammates, and three more championships later people sort of forgot. Tiger is trying to do the same.
My friends at ESPN are the ones that once again have me writing this, and although I thought Mike Tirico did a very professional job with his post "game" coverage of yesterdays speech by Tiger, there are still too many "journalists," most at ESPN, taking shots from the cheap seats.
As I said with the Bret Favre coverage of his interception against the Saints, two weeks later Americas Quarterback Payton did the same thing in the same situation to the same Saints Safety to lose the Super Bowl, I would challenge any of the so called "peanut gallery" to stand on the field and try to throw a pass to open space thirty yards down field with a New Orleans Saints linebacker or Defensive End running you over as you do it. We will have the Medivac waiting I promise.
I don't know that there are any on the PGA tour that could walk a mile in Tigers shoes let alone in the press. Not to mention the most important part of all of this, Tiger as worked from the age of two to be mentally and physically tougher and more talented than every other golfer on tour and he succeeded, which is why all the sponsors want him, and why everyone else does as well. Can anyone out there imagine what it is like for most of the world to want a piece of you in one way or another, and what it is like to try and figure out how many of those millions are sincere. Not many I would guess, and I know I could not handle it, not for a minute, not that I wouldn't want to try mind you, but I am just simply not that mentally tough.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
On the other end of the spectrum is Tiger Woods, and Michael before him. There are two people, quite literally, on the planet, that have ever known what it is like to be in their shoes. People seem to lose sight of this, but it is an indisputable fact. No other athletes have ever been as dominate as they have, as early in their careers, or to such an extent, and no two athletes have ever made the kind of money they did for being as good as they were/are.
There are two facts about this money, one, they make these kinds of sums because of how good they are, and how recognizable they are for their success beyond their individual sports, and even beyond sport itself, and two, having that kind of money, while wonderful I am sure in many ways, brings a pressure, and responsibility, and "temptations" as Tiger said, that none of us mere mortals can possibly have any vague appreciation for.
If you cheat on your wife, you are wrong. If you gamble on any athlete that moves as a professional athlete you are wrong, even though lots of people have forgotten Michaels involuntary vacation from basketball, or at least the reason for it. But, both men knew they were wrong. Michael did what he could to make it up to the fans, the NBA, his family, his teammates, and three more championships later people sort of forgot. Tiger is trying to do the same.
My friends at ESPN are the ones that once again have me writing this, and although I thought Mike Tirico did a very professional job with his post "game" coverage of yesterdays speech by Tiger, there are still too many "journalists," most at ESPN, taking shots from the cheap seats.
As I said with the Bret Favre coverage of his interception against the Saints, two weeks later Americas Quarterback Payton did the same thing in the same situation to the same Saints Safety to lose the Super Bowl, I would challenge any of the so called "peanut gallery" to stand on the field and try to throw a pass to open space thirty yards down field with a New Orleans Saints linebacker or Defensive End running you over as you do it. We will have the Medivac waiting I promise.
I don't know that there are any on the PGA tour that could walk a mile in Tigers shoes let alone in the press. Not to mention the most important part of all of this, Tiger as worked from the age of two to be mentally and physically tougher and more talented than every other golfer on tour and he succeeded, which is why all the sponsors want him, and why everyone else does as well. Can anyone out there imagine what it is like for most of the world to want a piece of you in one way or another, and what it is like to try and figure out how many of those millions are sincere. Not many I would guess, and I know I could not handle it, not for a minute, not that I wouldn't want to try mind you, but I am just simply not that mentally tough.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Blinders
In response to a comment a heard on Mike and Mike this morning.
I am not putting the "blinders" on, nor is the American public, but thanks for insulting Americans. Tiger Woods has already apologized, and you guys, ESPN, have published his apology multiple times in multiple ways. If either of you had an affair, or two, or three, your own network wouldn't cover it daily for three months. How many stories has ESPN had in the past few days, since the time of Tigers announcement was released, with the headline "What Will Tiger Say?" You guys don't know so how about waiting until he actually says it and "report" on what was said, and the response from his peers and leave it alone. Your own ESPN poll shows every state in the country saying it is none of our business, but that does not feed the machine does it?
It is not just this story. I know I am not the only one that would like ESPN to go back to "reporting" on the events that happen in sports, instead of creating "stories" in the sports world.
Tiger Woods did some things that hurt a lot of people, but those people are family and friends and no one else. Accenture, a place I used to work, and all the other sponsors, can choose to stand by him or not, but they have made literally billions of dollars off of Tiger Woods hard work and success over the years, and so other than an apology he owes them nothing.
The PGA tour has made countless amounts of money over what they would have with a Tigerless tour. He has apologized to those that run the tour, and I am certain to those on the tour he is closet to and again owes the rest of us nothing. Not to mention the fact that all the guys on the tour during his rehab for his knee, and now in the past 3 months, have made more money with him not playing against them then they would have.
I realize that ESPN, like the rest of the news media today, has, by the nature of our society, been moved into the realm of Tabloid journalism, but if it were up to me you would all be required to view All the Presidents Men, Shattered Glass, and old video of Walter Cronkite.
Let's try reporting on what he says today, and then reporting on his golf and nothing more.
And yes, you can write this off as another nut lashing out at ESPN success, or you can actually take a look at what you as a "news" outlet put out every day.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
I am not putting the "blinders" on, nor is the American public, but thanks for insulting Americans. Tiger Woods has already apologized, and you guys, ESPN, have published his apology multiple times in multiple ways. If either of you had an affair, or two, or three, your own network wouldn't cover it daily for three months. How many stories has ESPN had in the past few days, since the time of Tigers announcement was released, with the headline "What Will Tiger Say?" You guys don't know so how about waiting until he actually says it and "report" on what was said, and the response from his peers and leave it alone. Your own ESPN poll shows every state in the country saying it is none of our business, but that does not feed the machine does it?
It is not just this story. I know I am not the only one that would like ESPN to go back to "reporting" on the events that happen in sports, instead of creating "stories" in the sports world.
Tiger Woods did some things that hurt a lot of people, but those people are family and friends and no one else. Accenture, a place I used to work, and all the other sponsors, can choose to stand by him or not, but they have made literally billions of dollars off of Tiger Woods hard work and success over the years, and so other than an apology he owes them nothing.
The PGA tour has made countless amounts of money over what they would have with a Tigerless tour. He has apologized to those that run the tour, and I am certain to those on the tour he is closet to and again owes the rest of us nothing. Not to mention the fact that all the guys on the tour during his rehab for his knee, and now in the past 3 months, have made more money with him not playing against them then they would have.
I realize that ESPN, like the rest of the news media today, has, by the nature of our society, been moved into the realm of Tabloid journalism, but if it were up to me you would all be required to view All the Presidents Men, Shattered Glass, and old video of Walter Cronkite.
Let's try reporting on what he says today, and then reporting on his golf and nothing more.
And yes, you can write this off as another nut lashing out at ESPN success, or you can actually take a look at what you as a "news" outlet put out every day.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Next
Well, you have your "figure head," someone that makes all the stakeholders "happy." Now what.
Anyone can make lemonade out of lemons. A trained chimp can make lemonade out of lemons, in fact I would venture to guess that a wild chimp could do so since all you have to do is squeeze. The more lemons you have the more lemonade you can make.
The real question is not one of lemonade from lemons, the real question is how many can make wine from grapes because that takes a bit more skill, knowledge, time, patience, effort, to make really good wine is that much harder, to make exquisite wine, well only a few can do that, and for that you have to add passion, commitment, and desire, and maybe even a bit of obsession.
What about starting from nothing but some rocky terrain up in the hills just North of Healdsburg,CA where Rockpile port comes from, they call their port Independence, boy is that appropriate. To be able to go there, start from nothing, get the vines to take, get fruit to come, bring the fruit along over years and to end up with Independence, well that is doing something.
A large number of people could move to Healdsburg, be given the property where Rockpile is now made, be given the wine maker, and the staff, and the budget, the website, the tasting room, and have a pretty good year selling the wine, but how many could have the same kind of year if all they had was the hill, the rocks, and a vague idea of what it takes. How many could do so before going bankrupt, or just plain giving up?
Everyone reading this, for that matter most everyone on the planet, at least anyone moderately reasonable in their thinking, would tell you that the latter is something very, very few could do, and the former is something most anyone would sign up for, and be more than willing to cash the check at the end of the year.
You are welcome.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
Anyone can make lemonade out of lemons. A trained chimp can make lemonade out of lemons, in fact I would venture to guess that a wild chimp could do so since all you have to do is squeeze. The more lemons you have the more lemonade you can make.
The real question is not one of lemonade from lemons, the real question is how many can make wine from grapes because that takes a bit more skill, knowledge, time, patience, effort, to make really good wine is that much harder, to make exquisite wine, well only a few can do that, and for that you have to add passion, commitment, and desire, and maybe even a bit of obsession.
What about starting from nothing but some rocky terrain up in the hills just North of Healdsburg,CA where Rockpile port comes from, they call their port Independence, boy is that appropriate. To be able to go there, start from nothing, get the vines to take, get fruit to come, bring the fruit along over years and to end up with Independence, well that is doing something.
A large number of people could move to Healdsburg, be given the property where Rockpile is now made, be given the wine maker, and the staff, and the budget, the website, the tasting room, and have a pretty good year selling the wine, but how many could have the same kind of year if all they had was the hill, the rocks, and a vague idea of what it takes. How many could do so before going bankrupt, or just plain giving up?
Everyone reading this, for that matter most everyone on the planet, at least anyone moderately reasonable in their thinking, would tell you that the latter is something very, very few could do, and the former is something most anyone would sign up for, and be more than willing to cash the check at the end of the year.
You are welcome.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
The Rookie
"It is ok to think about what you want to do until it is time to start doing what you were meant to do." I love this quote, and I think I believe it, however, I am not really sure what it means, and I am definitely not sure what I am meant to do.
I do have some ideas.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
I do have some ideas.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
Running Away
In 1993 I "ran away from home'" or at least that is what I told everyone. At the time it was funny to me. I headed off to Chicago to work for the "Big Bad Firm." I have been running ever since.
This is what I have learned thus far, no matter where you go...there you are. I am sure someone far smarter than me said that at one point, but I have no idea who.
Sage should be happy with the brevity of this one.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
This is what I have learned thus far, no matter where you go...there you are. I am sure someone far smarter than me said that at one point, but I have no idea who.
Sage should be happy with the brevity of this one.
Thank you again for getting this far with me.
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