Wednesday, June 30, 2010

I got the Power ....

I'm sure that's what LeBron James, Wade, Pierce are all going to say in about ten minutes when 'fee agent' starts to ring nicely in their ears.

I understand Doc Rivers is going to give it 'One more try with this team.'
They are free from July 1 - July 7th.


A week from now I'm sure the million $$ calls will come in.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

They Don't Complain

It's the season for some record-setting sports!!!
Who would have thought that we all would be glued to our TV sets and ESPN sites like we are this week...
The US football (soccer) team has overcome so many obstacles to still be in the World Games.
#10Landon Donovan has made us all proud in the 91st minute.
After two goals taken away.... We needed this.
ESPN is now saying, "This is why we love America - they didn't complain, they just went out to win"
Donovan's answer was, "If you control the things that you can control good things will come your way and there was no time to complain. We chose to just get on with it."
We have a big game on Saturday against Ghana !!
We need a win to take us to the quarterfinals..
It still amazes me to know that every second of the game can be watched on so many different venues - Facebook, twitter, Blackberries, and many offices now have TV sets.
We all want to stay connected in some way.
We have a Tennis Match going on since Tuesday - Isner has no skin on two of his toes. What would keep a player going for three days ?
Determination !!
People are skipping work to start the day watching the World Cup (and spending the evenings in D.C. watching Strasburg on the mound for the Nats)
...and Donovan had this to say,
"People want to be inspired and need a break away from daily activities." Donovon added.
I heard another good quote today from a
US Supreme Court Justice - "The sports page records people's accomplishments. The front page records nothing but man's failures and today we needed the sports page."

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Nothing!

What stands between you and your biggest dream ? Nothing. Not a thing - maybe just you and your thinking patterns ~
The inside flap of Michael Phelps' book 'No Limits' says ...
When I'm focused, there is not one single thing, person, anything that can stand in the way of my doing something. There is not. If I want something bad enough. I feel I'm going to get there.
Talk about determination !!
How determined are you as a person, an athlete to strive for what you want?
Your daily choices today can elevate you to the next level or you can force the wrong choice and start all over again.
Notice I said 'force'
Can you tell the difference between a smooth play, one executed with a fluid motion and it just 'happens' ..... and then there is a play that is 'forced' ... the player may get the same results, but the play has been forced and may cause the follow-up play or a rebound or reflect play to be just a bit 'off' and un-playable. You can see this very clearly in figure skating.
If a figure skater comes out of a triple-axel off balance, she/he can't go into the next move with ease.
How many times have we maybe attempted a sport that we really weren't suited for. I never competed in a swim event. I like to swim, I enjoy watching folks that are great at it. The meets are exciting - because its something I haven't mastered but have always wanted to learn. I'm just not a great swimmer. I can pitch a softball about 62 mph still, but I know I can't swim. Should I let my lack of confidence stop me?
or should I start at square one ? It's never too late to start, or change your plans, regroup with a new agenda.
Many times after an athlete has been injured they will try another sport that is a little easier on the body or they will become an expert announcer for that particular sport.
This past weekend the nation set aside a weekend for Relay for Life.
If it is Cancer that has kept you back from getting back into the game I hope that you would re-evaluate and surround yourself with a core group of people that are like-minded that recharge you. Whichever the case, I hope that nothing keeps you from your destiny. Don't force it, just let it happen!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

A Month of History

June is Black History Month so I wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the best athletes in our world ...
Track and Field star, Jesse Owens (1913 - 1980) broke many records at the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin, including becoming the first athlete to win four gold medals in one Olympiad.
Golfer, Tiger Woods (1975 - ) is the youngest person and the first African-American to win the Masters Tournament in 1997 and by a record breaking lead of 12 strokes.
Wilt Chamberlain (1936 - 1999) was the first basketball player to score 100 points in a single game during the 1961 season and the first player in the NBA to score 30,000 points.
Henry ("Hank") Aaron (1934 - ) broke Babe Ruth's home run record when he hit his 715th home run in 1974. He set a Major League record with 755 home runs in his career.
Wilma Rudolph (1940 -1994) a record breaking track star was born the 20th of 22 children, and stricken with polio as a child. She not only overcame polio but broke world records in three Olympic track events and was the first American woman to win three gold medals at the Olympics (1960).
Florence Griffith-Joyner "Flo Jo" (1959 -1998) a runner known for her stylish flair on the track, set the world record for the 100 and 200 meter dash at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea.
(I always enjoyed watching her... those pretty fingernails started a revolution)
Muhammad Ali (1942 – ) the self–proclaimed “greatest [boxer] of all time” was originally named after his father, who was named after the 19th century abolitionist and politician Cassius Marcellus Clay.
and a fun-fact not related to sports... but feeds the soul ~
Thomas Andrew Dorsey (1899 – 1993) was considered the “Father of Gospel Music” for combining sacred words with secular rhythms. His most famous composition, “Take My Hand Precious Lord” was recorded by the likes of Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson and many others.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

"Look Alive"

Have you ever been told to "Look Alive"

That simple phrase was one my dad use to say to us on the ball field.
Two simple words, but they could snap you back to reality real quick.
June 20th is Father's Day !
One of my favorite days on the calendar.
Dad and I have always been close and that phrase, "Look Alive" was one he'd say when I was daydreaming on first base - (really smart kids get bored easy)...
He wanted to make sure I could handle the ball if it were hit to me and my teammates needed to know that they could trust me to handle their throws over to the base.
Dad is both spiritual and practical. Confident and humble. He has a way of breaking things down and explaining them. Dad doesn't have any strangers in his life. He talks to everyone. We'd send him out for milk. It would take him hours because he would be talking to everyone.
I love him for the man he is, he's not perfect, but he's my dad ~
Francis Allen Showalter
I know I'm truly blessed to have him in my life. I know a lot of people do not have their fathers or did not have a solid view of their fathers. I know I can call my dad at any time and he'll be there. He hasn't always given me what I wanted. He's shown tough-love when I needed it.
I know tonight the Celtics will try to not only "Look alive", but Stay Alive in this series. Dad always liked the Celtics. He was a big Larry Bird fan. The first time I ever saw dad cry was when Bird retired. That was a special moment. I remember sitting in the living room with dad like it was yesterday.
No matter what your relationship is like with your dad right now, I hope you will say a prayer for him and wish him well.... Celtic fan or not ~
I love you Dad,
Love,
Pee Dee
(don't ask how I got that nickname) ??

Thursday, June 3, 2010

I have the right team....

I know tonight's match-up is The Celtics vs. The Lakers, but I still want to see LeBron James ~ I was pulling for the Cavs ! I'm sure the Lakers will pull it off.

LeBron's story is such a humble one and one that I think speaks volumes to many people today-- In a day of 'instant everything'-- prosperity, luxury and 'give me' ..... nothing about his childhood was instant. In fourth grade he missed over 100 days of school because he and his mom moved around nearly 12 times and he didn't have a way of getting to school at times.

I just read a great story in WebMD about his relationship with his mom, who was 16 when she had him. He gives so much credit to his mom who worked hard to make ends meet. He also treasures his long-time girlfriend who is the mother of his two children.

His mother, Gloria knew LeBron needed stability so she sent him to live with one of his coaches. I can't imagine making that decision as a mother, she says she did it for him - she knew the influence a solid family and the strong manly mentality of a coach would have on him and says it forever changed his life. She's not sure if he would have developed into the basketball player he is today without the influence of coach Frank Walker. Walker coached the Summit Lake Community Center Hornets - LeBron's first basketball team. The rest is history as they say.

the article states...

Gloria James laughs when she ponders where her son got the hoops gene. She grew up in a sports-loving family, and she recalls sitting on her grandfather's lap as a little girl, watching … baseball. The Cleveland Indians were her team. "He picked up basketball on his own," she says. "I can't take credit for that one."
So the league MVP (2 years) and Rookie of the year in 2003 making 90 million that first year has a big decision to make this year as a free agent. James also represented the U.S. on the Olympic team in Beijing. President Obama went on record today saying (and he changed his mind) ...
"It would be a terrific story if the basketball superstar stayed with the Cleveland Cavaliers instead of switching teams as a free agent. That's a town that has had some tough times."
The president said it would be a wonderful statement to Cleveland if James said: "I'm going to make a commitment to this city."
A terrific story indeed. I'm all for him sticking it out myself and being a light there - he's such a hometown kinda guy. I like that in him.
We'll have to wait and see what choice James makes. I'm sure he's not thinking about it too much tonight... I'm sure his eyes are glued to ESPN tonight to watch the series.