Goodbye to the Quiet Man

I lost a basketball game today. No, not the team I coach. Neither was it a recreation or church league team with which I was playing. Nope, it was a one on one game. No lousy teammates to blame and no inept officials. Depressingly, there is simply no one to blame but myself. What is the big deal you may be asking? I lost to an 8th grader. Granted, he is a very gifted 8th grader but he is an 8th grader nonetheless. To understand why I’m so upset you will have to travel back with me quite a few years.

Competitive basketball has been part of my life since I was in 3rd grade. I started playing for a YMCA team and never looked back. I wasn’t particularly good that first year. I was tall and thin (ok, skinny and weak) and wasn’t exactly a scoring machine. My feet were big and didn’t seem to be proportional to the rest of my toothpick body. Try to imagine Shelley Duvall in clown shoes loping down the court and you get the general idea as to my appearance. I got better though. In 4th grade I made the Little Dribbler’s All-Star Team. I still didn’t score a lot but I had started to get some fundamentals like boxing out and using the backboard down. Our little All-Star team traveled to Livingston, Texas for a tournament one weekend. We played two games and, to be honest, I don’t remember if we won one of them or not. I do remember getting a nice hand from the crowd when I was taken out of the contest late in the fourth quarter of our second game. I hadn’t scored much but had played pretty well defensively and grabbed quite a few rebounds. I remember thinking it was pretty cool that those folks were clapping for me.

My first two years in junior high I played behind a big fat guy named Joey. He wasn’t very good but was tall and strong. I remember thinking I should be playing in front of that tub of goo. My coach didn’t see it that way, however. My game was sound and my skills probably were better than Joey’s. However, I was not an aggressive player and didn’t have a lot of confidence in myself. So, I lived the life of a second stringer for the mighty Bullpups my 7th and 8th grade year. Something changed my freshman year. I matured a good bit physically but it was more than that. Suddenly, I began to understand the game. I could anticipate when someone was going to break open or where a rebound was likely to carom after it hit the rim. The game slowed down for me. Big fat Joey would never play in front of me again.

As a sophomore I led our J.V. team in scoring and really started to come into my own as a player. Things only got better my junior year as I started for the varsity of my 5A high school. I will never forget my first varsity game. We played Bridge City at home. I scored 19 points and played really well. The next day this tall drink of water named Dana stopped me in the parking lot on my way into school. She asked, “Are you number 44?" I nodded. She smiled a big smile and said, “You’re really good.” She winked at me, spun around, and sashayed her pretty little self into the building. It was then I began to suspect that this basketball thing might have some fringe benefits I had not yet considered. My high school career turned out to be a very good one. We weren’t very good but I led our team in scoring, rebounding, free-throw percentage, and, unfortunately, technical fouls each year. I made All-District twice and got some attention from the local papers. One local reporter even gave me a nickname. He called me the "Quiet Man". He wrote that I didn't woof and trash talk like so many other players but, instead, just went about the business of playing hard quietly. It wasn't the best nickname but it was mine. I really had a lot of fun playing in high school.

I did manage to play a little in college but was hampered by injuries. I had never really been hurt before but once I injured my right knee in a pick up game during the summer between my senior year in high school and my freshman year of college I was never the same. Something always hurt and I just couldn’t stay healthy. I finally hung it up and worked as a student assistant for two years. Once out of school, I began coaching.

I’ve coached for years now and from time to time I will play a pick up game with one of the kids. They have always seemed to enjoy it and many is the time I would play 7-8 games in a row against kids who were lined up to take their best shot. Never in all my years of doing this had I lost to one of them. Not once. Then today it finally happened. As I’ve mentioned already, this young man is extremely gifted. He is a full inch taller than I am (I’m 6’3”) and probably twenty-five pounds lighter. He is quick as a cat and destined to be better than I ever even thought about being. Still, he is only an 8th grader. I had a chance to win but this time my last shot, launched from a base of two very heavy legs, came up short. He rebounded and scored for the win. It was a battle and he was breathing just as hard as I was when it was over but he had won. I had lost.

I know in the grand scheme of things it isn’t a big deal. It was just a pick-up game of one on one. He probably won’t even remember this day a couple of years from now. Yet, as I think about how he was mobbed by his teammates, who had stayed after practice to watch us play, and the huge grin he had on his face, I wonder if I’m wrong about that. Please don't misunderstand me. I’m quite proud of the young man. He’s a great kid. Despite how all this may sound, I’m really not in some sort of huge funk. However, something did change today for me. Some sort of milestone in my life was reached. I’ve got a feeling my days as the best player on the floor whenever I play a pick-up game are over. It was inevitable, I suppose. As of today, I’m no longer a good player but, instead, a good player for my age. I’m now in good condition for a 42 year old instead of just being in good condition. I now come with a caveat. Will that young man remember today? Maybe. Will I? Yes, I will remember.

My best…

Classic Tune of the Week 8

I have chosen “Brilliant Disguise” by Bruce Springsteen for this week’s song.

“Brilliant Disguise” was the first single from the 1987 album “Tunnel of Love”. The song reached position #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song was recorded in Springsteen’s Thrill Hill East home studio. Despite the fact that several members of the E Street Band played on the recording, the song is much more understated than Springsteen’s typical sound.

The song’s lyrics tell the story of a man who suddenly discovers he has become a stranger to his wife. Springsteen covers many emotions including self-doubt, jealousy, anxiety, and confusion. Boiled down, the song is about the masks people wear as they play out their expected roles in life and how disturbing it can be to peek at the secrets that lie behind those masks.

“Brilliant Disguise” is one of my favorite Springsteen songs and, in my opinion, one of his most underrated efforts. While I think lyrically the entire song is terrific, the final line is one of my all time favorites. Springsteen finishes the tune by singing, “God have mercy on a man who doubts what he’s sure of.” Rarely do songwriters, or storytellers of any kind, manage to wrap up their efforts so well.

I really wanted to feature the original MTV video of the song. However, I can't find a version of it posted online that allows it to be embedded. I would highly recommend going to YouTube and watching it. The black and white shots of Springsteen on the video block are what to look for in order to see the original video. You can watch one of the live concert performances featured on the video block. I hope you enjoy it.

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The Presidential Election of 2008

The Presidential Election of 2008 has now come and gone. There are many very happy people out there now that Barack Obama has been elected and will become the 44th President of the United States. No doubt there are many very unhappy and disappointed John McCain supporters as well. This election, like the last three, has been very contentious and has underscored the deep divide in our country between the left and the right. I would like to take a moment to address those on both sides of the political spectrum.

First, congratulations to the Democrats. You worked hard, chose a candidate that excited the electorate and captured people’s imagination, and came out with the victory. I would urge all Democrats to resist the urge to gloat and, instead, try to start healing this great divide in our nation. With a Democratic controlled Congress and a Democrat in the Oval Office there will be little to stop your agenda. I hope all on the Democratic side of the spectrum truly realize that now is when the hard work starts. Now, if things don’t improve, there will be no George W. Bush, to blame. I hope it goes well and President-elect Obama turns out to be the right man at the right time.

Those identifying themselves as Republicans are feeling disappointed with the outcome of this election. I will say to you the same thing I said to the Democrats in 2000 and 2004. That is, don’t whine, complain, and cry that you lost. You were not cheated and the election was not fixed. The media did not brainwash the masses. You failed to choose a candidate that excited your own base much less one that could win over undecided voters. John McCain seems like a nice person. I have a lot of respect for him as a public servant, war hero, and patriot. However, charisma is not exactly oozing from his pores. There is little doubt that the difference in style and oratory ability played into this election to a large degree. Couple these things with the fact that the sitting Republican President is one of the least popular in history and you have a recipe for electoral disaster.

I believe many good things can come out of this election for all even if your candidate did not win. No longer do little girls have to assume they have no chance to reach the highest political offices in the land. Sarah Palin, already the Governor of Alaska, would have been the first female Vice-President. Like her or not, she represents the new reality that achieving political success on the highest level is no longer out of reach for women. Equally important is the fact that people of color, be they of African, Asian, or Hispanic heritage, now know that it is possible to achieve anything. Whites remain the majority in this country. So, for Obama to have been elected, it means that more than just minority voters cast their ballots for him. This, even if Obama was not your choice, shows that many viewpoints on racial stereotypes have changed in our nation. While racism remains a very real evil, I think it does show real progress for our nation that so many were willing to embrace and vote for a black candidate. This, too, is a good thing.

In conclusion, whether your candidate won or lost, remember you are an American first. Be a mature and responsible citizen and maintain your respect for the office of the President. Teach that respect to your children. There is no room, on either side, for bitterness and hatred. Be classy and respectful in victory and remain noble and honorable in defeat. Remember that, despite it’s problems, this is still the greatest country in the history of the world. May God continue to bless America.

My best…

Classic Tune of the Week 7

For this week’s classic song I have chosen “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon. The song was written by Simon and released in December of 1972. The song was an instant hit and became Simon’s first #1 single. “You’re So Vain” stayed atop Billboard’s Hot 100 for three weeks in early 1973. The song is listed at #72 on Billboard’s Greatest Songs of All Time.

“You’re So Vain” is a great song but part of it’s staying power is the ongoing mystery as to just who it is about. It is one of the great musical mysteries of its era and Carly Simon has been very coy as to the identity of the subject. This could be due to her very private nature, a desire to keep the mystery alive and, thus, keep interest in the song high, or a combination of both. While she has dropped cryptic hints from time to time, to my knowledge, she has never come out and acknowledged the name of this narcissistic gentleman. Popular guesses include Mick Jagger (who sings uncredited background vocals on the song), Cat Stevens, Kris Kristofferson, William Donaldson (Simon’s unfaithful ex-fiance), ex-husband James Taylor, and, most famously, Warren Beatty.

I have always liked “You’re So Vain”. Even as a kid I enjoyed listening to it though I never did understand the “clouds in my coffee” line. I get a chuckle these days whenever I hear the song played. You see, “You're So Vain” is one of two songs I had, very publicly, dedicated to me on a radio program while I was in college. I will save the title of the other song for another time. There are some pretty good stories behind each of these “loving” dedications. Needless to say, those two relationships didn’t work out. I just can’t imagine why anyone would dedicate “You’re So Vain” to me ☺.

Hit the video showing Simon at her piano leaning into her microphone at an outdoor concert (filmed at Martha's Vineyard, I believe) to hear the song. While there are several videos to choose from, this is my favorite as it is a very strong live performance. Who knows, maybe you will figure out who the song is about.

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Missing In Action

A couple of folks have asked me why I haven't posted much lately. Basically, the answer can be summed up in two words : football season. This is easily the busiest time of the year for me. I practice my kids on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. We play our games on Tuesday nights. I scout for the high school on Friday nights or go see my oldest daughter play saxophone in her high school band. On Saturday mornings after I scout, I present my scouting reports to the high school coaches. Sunday mornings I am in church and Sunday afternoons are reserved for yard work and naps (yes, I now take naps).

As you can see, my schedule is pretty full. However, relief is in sight. Football season is over in four weeks. I do coach basketball but that season is far less intense than football season. I should be able to pick up the pace at that point.

So, until football is over I will likely only be able to post the occasional song of the week. Hopefully, you guys won't forget all about me during this time of hiatus.

My best...

Classic Tune of the Week 6

And now for something completely different…

I have chosen a country /pop tune called “You Don’t Know Me” for this week’s classic song. The song has been recorded dozens of times by many different artists. The version I like best was recorded in the early 1980s by country star Mickey Gilley.

Gilley is best known as the owner of the world famous, for a time anyway, “Gilley’s” night club / honkytonk in Pasadena, Texas (just outside Houston). Gilley had long been a second tier country star when the film “Urban Cowboy” came out in 1980. “Gilley’s” was immortalized in the movie and mechanical bulls, boots, cowboy hats, and western shirts with pearled snaps became all the rage. The movie also gave a huge bump to the careers of Charlie Daniels, Johnny Lee, and, most notably, Mickey Gilley.

Gilley took advantage of his good fortune by recording numerous songs that cracked the Billboard Top 100 Country Chart. Several of these songs, including “You Don’t Know Me”, crossed over and made their mark on the Billboard Pop Chart as well.

Mickey Gilley has sometimes been dismissed as a light weight due to the fact that most of his biggest hits were covers of songs written and made well known by other artists. However, for a time during the early 1980s he was as big a star as there was in country music.

Hit the video bar (close up photo of Mickey Gilley in his cowboy hat) to hear the song. You may want to hold the cursor over the photo to make sure you get the right video as several songs are represented by the same photo. If this photo does not appear immediately just be patient as the videos will cycle through. The video consists of a photo of Mickey Gilley behind an old record player spinning a 33 rpm album. Not too high tech to be sure but this is about the song and not the production value, after all. As usual, ignore any extra videos that have tagged along.

My best…

The House That Ruth Built

This weekend will mark the end of something special. Sunday, the New York Yankees will host the Baltimore Orioles in what will be the final game ever played in “The House That Ruth Built”. After the ballgame this Sunday, the lights will dim for the last time and the sun will set on an iconic sports cathedral.

Yankee Stadium was completed in 1923 and was something of a wonder. It was the first triple decked stadium in the country. The extra seats were necessary to accommodate the throngs that clamored to the park to see Babe Ruth hit. Fittingly, Mr. Ruth connected on that April 23 opening day to become the first player to homer in this soon to be historic venue. On hand that day were baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, New York Governor Al Smith, and thousands of fans decked out in topcoats and fedoras. Baseball history was made that day and would continue to be made over the next eight decades.

Yankee stadium hosted many major sporting events over the years. Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling here in 1938. Alan Ameche scored in overtime to lead the Baltimore Colts to an NFL championship over the New York Giants in 1958, in what many call the greatest football game ever, at Yankee Stadium. Chuck Bednarik of the Philadelphia Eagles nearly killed Frank Gifford there, knocking him out cold, in 1960. Ken Norton and Muhammad Ali battled there in 1976. Pele helped popularize soccer in 1977 when he came to play for the Cosmos, who called Yankee Stadium home.

However, it is the success of the Yankees and their many great players that have truly made Yankee Stadium unique among stadiums. This is where Ruth hit his 60th home run in 1927, Roger Maris his 61st in 1961, and Alex Rodriguez his 500th in 2007. This is where the legendary Mickey Mantle came within a foot of being the only player to hit a fair ball completely out of the stadium when his monster home run off of Kansas City’s Bill Fischer hit the right field façade, 110 feet above field level, in 1963. It was here, at Yankee Stadium, that Reggie Jackson hit three home runs on three consecutive Los Angeles Dodger pitches in the 1977 World Series. Don Larsen pitched a perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Yankee Stadium mound. Perhaps, the two most famous and bitter-sweet moments were Lou Gehrig’s “luckiest man on the face of the earth” speech in 1939 and Babe Ruth’s farewell address eight years later.

To think of the greats that called Yankee Stadium home is to take a trip down the Yankee wing of the baseball hall of fame. Tony Lazzeri, Joe DiMaggio, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Goose Gossage, Dave Winfield, and Wade Boggs come to mind along with personal favorites Thurman Munson, Ron Guidry, Don Mattingly, Bernie Williams, Graig Nettles, and Dave Righetti. Future hall of famers like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Roger Clemens, and Alex Rodriguez have graced the playing field in recent years. Twenty-six world championships were won in Yankee Stadium's eight decades of life.

It is true that the old Yankee Stadium has been gone for many years. The place has been extensively remodeled twice over the years. Yet despite changes in appearance, you could sit in the stands and look upon the very spot where Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, or Mickey Mantle stood. It was something special to gaze upon Monument Park and relive the memories of great Yankees players and managers past. True baseball royalty called this place home. Going to a game at Minute Maid Park or Bank One Park just isn’t the same sort of experience.

I was fortunate enough to get to see a game at Yankee Stadium a couple of years ago. To see a game there had been on my “to do before I die” list since I was a kid. I saw a great inter-league game between the Yankees and San Diego Padres. It was a very well played pitcher’s duel the Yankees won 3-2. The winning run was manufactured in classic fashion. Derek Jeter singled, stole second, was sacrificed to third, and driven home via a sacrifice fly. Ironically, no home runs were hit that afternoon. It didn’t matter. It was a glorious day for me. I grinned like an idiot the entire day. I did see, however, that Yankee Stadium was dying. Concrete was crumbling, some seats were in bad shape, and the concourses smelled bad. While I’m sad that Yankee Stadium will be gone soon, I saw that a new stadium was badly needed.

It is true that “The House That Ruth Built” will soon be gone but the franchise that Ruth led to relevancy will remain. It is sad that this year’s team will miss the playoffs. Yankee Stadium will not go out with a bang but with a whimper. It deserves better. Life doesn’t always serve up a fairy tale ending, however. Not even for twenty -six time world champions. Hopefully, the ghosts of Yankee Stadium are only in hibernation and not truly dead. Maybe, just maybe, they will find their way across 161st street to the new Yankee Stadium. I hope so.

My best…