For the last 6 weeks, I have been participating in a weight loss competition at work. Since I'm a number person, I felt it necessary to track my struggle to weight loss. Here it is for your viewing pleasure:
Competition Duration: 6 weeks Starting Weight 252
Packets of Tuna: 22 Cans of Soup: 25 Sobe Flavored Water: 34 Cases of Water: 2.5 Subway subs: 7
Fiber Bars Eaten: 62 Hours in Bathroom from Fiber Bars: 38
Fast Food Restaurants en route to work: 19 Number of times pulled into restaurant lots before turning back around: 3
Hours at the gym: 40 Hours after each session that I was still out of breath: 1.2
Cheat days: 0 End Weight: 235 lbs lost: 17
Location Chosen for Celebration: Dragon Buffet Plates used during sitting: 4 Chickens sacrificed before hunger diminished: 3 Hours laying in bed feeling I was going to die from MSG poisoning: 7
6 weeks of dieting/exercise followed by MSG overload: painful
Two men, both athletes, (Major League Baseball players to be exact) playing the sport they both love while dominating the competition.
One stands large and in charge at 6’4” 260lbs, build (Ford) tough, one of the most intimidating players to step foot in the batter’s box.
The other, small and can play ball, standing just over the kitchen counter at 5’8” 180lbs soaking wet with more pride than the rock that Simba roars off of.
These men are Ryan Howard the first baseman from the Philadelphia Phillies and Dustin Pedroia the second baseman from the Boston Red Sox.
Besides the obvious appearance difference between these two players, their athletic abilities and contributions to their respective teams are remarkably similar.
In the American League, Dustin has won an MVP (2008), Silver Slugger (2008), Rookie of the Year (2007), is a two time All Star, and has won a World Series (2007).
Meanwhile in the National League, Ryan Howard has won an MVP (2008), Silver Slugger (2008), Rookie of the Year (2005), is a two time All Star, and has won a World Series (2008).
These awards are huge honors for hold for baseball players and what's even better about these two guys, is that they are opposite sides of the appearance spectrum. It's amazing to look at Dustin and Howard and see even the slightest bit of similarity between the two, let alone a handful of awards and accomplishments.
Now I understand that their statistics are quite different, with Howard hitting more home runs in the minors (46) than Dustin has in his career as a major leaguer (42).
But with all that Dustin brings to the plate, he makes up with his ability in the field. Winning a Gold Glove to match his silver booties, in just his second year in the big leagues.
Ryan Howard may not be an defensive one man show but he is home run hitting machine. He's led the league twice in home runs and that's with the likes of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder breathing down his neck. He's also lead the National League in RBI's three times and the 2006 Home Run Derby Champion.
To compare these two athletes seems silly but they both have more in common than the normal fan might think.
With all the stats and awards that I've compared I leave you with one more similarity, which took me practically no time to conjure up:
Dustin Pedroia replaced Mark Loretta as second baseman for the Red Sox.
Mark Loretta played for Los Angeles Dodgers in 2009.
In 2009 the Dodgers played Ryan Howard’s Phillies in the NLCS.
The final game was decided in Philadelphia, the same setting for the movie Philadelphia starring Tom Hanks.
Tom Hanks co-starred in Apollo 13 with… Kevin Bacon.
As kids we don't really think much about the future. Sure we dream of being doctors, fire fighters, astronauts, or in my case a sports broadcaster, but we really don't think too much about it.
However, after recent talks with a few parents, it's come to my attention that children look at the future as dream, and a parent sees their child's future as either an investment or liability.
If we break this down even more lets separate two different kinds of parents. Wealthy parents and not so wealthy parents.
If a non-wealthy parent has a child, the idea always seems to be that the child will be more successful than the parent and in turn can take care of the parents. While the parent usually has a steady career path in front of them, the child has a clean slate to be what ever he/she wants to be and can be quite successful doing so. If the child does something as simple as picking up a basketball and becomes part of a team, goes to college on scholarship, and gets drafted, momma and papa can kiss their debt goodbye and enjoy life til the end. In other words the child becomes an investment. Two parents subconsciously have a child in hopes that they will live their own dreams and become successful. It doesn't hurt if your stock goes up and you can sell sell sell once they hit the big bucks.
Now, if a wealthy person has a child, that child for the most part becomes a liability. A disgruntled or ill mannered child can ruin a family's reputation. You see a lot of this with government leaders. A president, governor, or congressman who is trying to win an election will usually try to keep his/her kids under control so that the people or campaign contributors know that they have the right person for the job. The common comment is usually "How can this person run a country or city if they can't even run their own household." You usually see the bad come out in a child after the person is either elected or hired. (i.e. the Bush Sisters)
The thing about wealthy parents is that they have a lot more to lose then gain because of their past success, while parents with non-wealthy background have more to gain than lose because they didn't have much to begin with.
And in some cases a non-wealthy family has a child that doesn't turn out the way they wanted. They then perform the action which is called a "do-over"
Or in my case... my family calls him Danny (my brother)
Even though Pitchers and Catchers don't officially report to spring training for two more days... many players for the Red Sox are already warming up down south.
I've been following one of the Red Sox beat reporters twitter site for all my hourly updates. It seems that many of the big name stars are already in Florida getting ready for upcoming season.
(On a side note... Buchholz said he started eating 3 meals a day instead of two, which in turn has caused him to gain a little more weight this off season. Hopefully it will also add some speed to his fastball.)
While I didn't watch most of the World Series (for the obvious reasons) and practically the whole post season after the Angels beat my Red Sox, I've practically been waiting for Sox Baseball since early October. Granted I've had football, basketball, and hockey to keep me satisfied, but baseball has so many elements that these other sports don't have.
Baseball isn't for everyone. Anyone can pick up a basketball and shoot around or grab a football and play catch. Not everyone can play baseball. In fact after conducting a recent walk around survey, not many people can play, talk or dare I say it (Dare! Dare!) WATCH baseball.
I'm a person that's completed the trifector. I can do all of these things. I don't play very well and I'm not trying out for a minor league team anytime soon but I still love to play. I can watch and talk about the sport until I'm as blue as the balls during the winter months. (BASEballs that is)
I once ran a radio segment with my friend from college for 3 hours just about baseball. For anyone who has ever worked in radio, you know how difficult it is to talk for 3 hours, no breaks, no music.
Watching baseball is the best, and I know what you're thinking. "It's boring." Well yea you're right. It's slow developing and takes over 3 hours to complete one game. An average baseball game is just as long as James Cameron's rendition of the Titanic. It's like watching the Titanic 162 times out of year, and possibly another 18 times if you really like it. It actually sounds kind of nuts when you think about it. But every game is practically similar... for the most part 9 innings, always a winner/loser, and the game never changes. And to clarify, by NO MEANS AM I COMPLAINING.
I just love baseball, It's in my blood and on my skin, quite literally (ask me some time because I love to explain it)
Anyway, we're are just a few short days from the start of baseball season, and I couldn't be more excited for the year, except maybe for the first game in Fenway against the evil empire.
I'm just glad we're not in New York to witness them receive their rings unlike when they had to watch us get ours at the beginning of the 2005 season. Oh the memories! Good Times Good Times!
With Tiger Woods in the news again, I thought this blog would be appropriate to post.
It's come to my attention that me and Tiger Woods are practically the same person. And no I don't mean I'm a world class golfer or a womanizer/mistressizer. It's easier to understand if I just explain.
Right now with my job, I work on a 4 day schedule from Friday to Monday. When Tiger works (on the course) he has a 4 day work week as well, usually Thursday to Sunday.
I produce news stories when I'm at the station. He produces Large Checks when he's on the course.
He wear's red on the final day of a tournament. I wear red on the final day of my work week.
He has a his caddy to over look his work on the course. I have a senior producer who over looks my work.
I sometime sleep on the couch. As of last December, so does he.
I donated 10 Dollars to Haiti Relief. Tiger donated 300,000 times more than that. (Still... we both donated)
We both have yet to play in a PGA Tournament so far this year.
We are both the same height and he's the weight I was back in 8th grade.
He obviously loves women. I love a woman. :-)
So when you look at the facts, I guess you could say I got a little Tiger in me, which is something me and at least 10 other women have in common.
For 24 years, the NBA has hosted a 3 point contest for the All Stars throughout the league.
Two specific years stand out to me, mainly because they involve two home town heroes.
In 1988, Larry Bird won his third consecutive trophy as the 3 point champion. He beat out 7 other all stars... winning in the final round on the last ball.
Just a couple days ago Paul Pierce faced off against 5 other athletes in the 2010 3 point shootout in Dallas. Pierce was the first contestant to shoot and ended with 17 points. That was enough to advance him to the final round where he threw up and put down 20 points, beating out Stephen Curry and Chauncey Billups.
There a few occurrences during these two shootouts that make them so memorable. In Larry Birds contest he was so confident that he was going to win that he walked through the locker room before the event asking the other players, "So who's going to lose to me tonight?"
Not only did he talk the talk but he walked the walk... or shot the shot in this incident.
For Paul Pierce... NOBODY THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO WIN!! Every announcer was even saying how they weren't picking Pierce because he was more of a player than a shooter. Last time I checked Paul Pierce is number one in 3 point shots for the Celtics... with over 1400 made. I'd say he qualifies. This is saying a lot considering Bird had the three point line available to him throughout his entire NBA career. Pierce also made all 5 money balls which no one else seemed to do Saturday night.
The greatest thing about the two nights, which are seperated by 22 years, is the fact that BOTH players never took off their warm up suits. Paul and Larry didn't even find it necessary to take of their so called "coat and stay a while." It was more like "Here I am, why bother shooting, I'm going to win, where's my trophy?" It was just amazing to see Pierce do the exact same thing Bird did and finish with the exact same result.
Maybe next year everyone should keep their warm up stuff on, it could make for a very interesting or high scoring night.
Fun facts about the 3 point shootout:
Bird and Pierce are both in the top ten for highest scoring last round. (22 and 20)
Bird won the event 3 out of 4 times. (Pierce's number is 34)
Danny Ainge, Dale Ellis, Craig Hodges, Mark Price, Detlef Schrempf, Byron Scott, Trent Tucker, Chauncey Billups, Daequan Cook, Stephen Curry, Channing Frye, and Danilo Gallinari did not wear warm up suits for either of the contests.
Back in college there wasn't much to do on the week nights. Granted we had plenty to do on the weekdays since our college news station summed up most of our time... usually from 8-6 (It was like a full time job except we were paying the company) Anyway, night time was when it was time to relax. And we did so Beirut Style.
Many games were played at our location that will be known as The Estate. From the first person to show until the people just getting out of work at 2am... we played game after game of beirut or beer pong for those of you who are lost at this point.
A few of us rarely left the table and not because we liked the game, but because some nights a select few of us could not be beat. Myself included on some nights with the help of man friend Kyle.
I do miss the long nights of Beirut and hope to have many more in the future. I raise my cup to all of you who have either played with me or against me... and hope that you will raise them as well when I say... re-rack and balls back!
It happens all the time. You and a friend are witnessing the final moments of team playing for the year. Just as the last out is made or the final whistle is blown or the clock ticks down to zero, you look to your friend and those six words just fly out of each others mouths, with no thought to it. “Well they had a good season.”
Good Season?? How do you have a good season if it doesn’t involve winning in the post season? Isn’t that the point of playing 16 to 162 games every year, to make it to the championship and win?
A championship title is what defines a “good” season. It’s what makes a season worth talking about, worth being a part of. A good season is rewarded. If a team does a good job they are given a trophy. When was the last time Kansas City was given a trophy for going 82-80. Hey You guys had an above par winning percentage… good season. Now if they went 95-67… swept the Yanks in round one, took 5 games to take down the Angels and went to town on St. Louis… they congrats… THAT’S A GOOD SEASON!
Without the sought after championship title, the season is just another season. Nobody looks back on a particular season and talks about how great it was… but they sure do talking about the championships that they won. Kobe doesn’t go around talking about all the years he didn’t win… he talks about the 4 seasons that he did win.
There’s that little, tiny, minuscule part of a season that makes it all worth while; the fact that at the end… you are the only one left. There’s no one else to defeat you because you have proven through a, say it with me now, a “good” season that your team is the best.
After a good season there is a feeling of accomplishment throughout the team and throughout the champagne drenched locker rooms. No team feels accomplished knowing they’ll be setting up tee times for next weekend instead of checking into the hotel across the stadium only to check out on Monday with a grin on their face. (and no it’s not from the hotels hospitality)
It’s nerve racking hearing someone call a season good after there’s nothing to show for it. If all you have at the end of a season is a silent crowd, a handful of free agents, disappointed owners, critical analysts, money in the toilet from heavy hitters and “million dollar arms” that never warmed up, wild card paraphernalia, a rival who’s moving on the playoffs, and no silver, bronze, or gold trophy to show for all the hard work, and someone calls that a “good” season… I never want to see an “ok” season.
For the last 3 weeks... I've been working out at Gold Gym, 5 days a week. I've noticed that Tuesday through Thursday I usually go to the gym from 10:30 in the morning until just about noon. I've wondered however why I've chosen these times.
I thought it was because of when I woke up. I get to sleep in on those days so when I wake up I usually grab a protein bar and head to the gym. Only recently have I noticed the real reason why I show up at this time. It's because of whats on T.V.
From 10:30 to 12 is Cash Cab, Deal or No Deal, and followed up by Who wants to be a Millionaire. It's unbelievable to me that this is just coming to me. It's no surprise but it is funny.
When I was in college my senior year... I use to watch countless hours of the Game Show Network with my girlfriend and suite mate. I've always grown up loving and watching game shows... what person my age didn't grow up on Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and the Price is Right.
I love trivia even though I'm not that good at it and I love to exercise... never thought I'd finally put two and two together and Four-fit a boring workout routine.
I'm a person that loves going out to eat. I love hanging out at the bar or in a restaurant and just relaxing with friends and family. The atmosphere of a restaurant just feels comfortable to me, because you can be as loud as you wants and if you go to the right place... the food is always delicious.
However, there's one thing that always makes me feel uneasy, uncomfortable, unhappy, and about 15 other un-words. The fact that my favorite places never have the best condiments.
It's either the wrong ketchup or there's no A1 Steak Sauce which is always necessary before chowing some cow.
Even Pizza Hut was without Ketchup until there recent menu change when they finally added french fries and onion rings. I know it's weird but I put ketchup on pizza... but that's another blog for another day.
But the greatest condiment of all time is always missing from practically 99% of all food joints... and that is (even better then A1)... Franks Red Hot Buffalo Sauce. There is nothing better then Franks...Nothing... only if its mixed with sour cream and even then it doesn't deserve to be swirled in the same spoon.
It's come to a point where I actually pack a small bottle of Franks in my glove compartment just in case I go to a Chinese Restaurant or any place that has chicken... which is everywhere.
I truly enjoy my meals at least 77.4% more than if I didn't use the condiment I wanted.
So my advice to you if you really have a passion for your own favorite condiment like my self then I highly suggest you pack it before you snack it.
Right now I'm living in my new hometown of Schenectady, NY... born and raised just south of Boston so this is a big change for me.
I've just started my new job as a producer and loving every minute of it.
When I'm not at work I'm either at home chillin, maxing, relaxing all cool... or at the gym.
