What No Man Can Own, No Man Can Take

Congratulations to Mr. Jonathan Harvey Heintz for correctly naming "Follow Through" by Gavin DeGraw as the song of the day yesterday. Mary Beth, I tried to throw a Gavin DeGraw song out there so you could win the contest, but Jon was too quick on the draw. Oh well, there is always next year.

At this point in today's post, I want to issue a warning. For those who do not care about college football, you are welcome to skip the rest of today's post, but those who are infected with the disease like I am, please continue reading.

I realize that I am biased on the subject, but it seems that ESPN is not being very equitable in their coverage of the Rose Bowl. At times I almost wonder who the next victim for the Almighty Trojans is going to be from the way that The Worldwide Leader decides to arrange their programming. I realize that USC is on the verge of a potentially historic win, but ESPN's blatant favoritism in their coverage deserves to be noted.

In particular, I have a huge problem with ESPN's running series "History in the Making." I understand the value of such a program. Some of the most enjoyable parts of being a sports fan are the hypothetical arguments that go on about the past vs. the present. For instance, who was the better centerfielder in his prime: Dimaggio or Mays? Muhammad Ali vs. Mike Tyson. The 1927 Yankees against the Big Red Machine. All of these are interesting debates to have because no one really knows exactly how those matchups would play out. The problem that I have with the current debates is that the current USC team has not even played their final game.

I think it is incredibly hasty to already begin to enshrine the current Trojan team as one of college football's best before their season is done. If they go into the Rose Bowl, dominate Texas, and win their 3rd consecutive National Championship, then I do not have a problem with this entire debate, but until then I think ESPN is putting the cart in front of the horse.

Also, if I were Mack Brown and the Texas coaching staff, I would be using this program and all of the hype about USC to my advantage. I would tell my team that no one is worrying about us, everyone is already placing the Trojans in the pantheon, and all we are is the next bump in their path as they head to football immortality. This year's Rose Bowl coverage has all of the classic trappings of bulletin board material at its worst.

Whew, now that I can step down from my soapbox, I would like to know what all of you out there think. I know that I have some college football and sports media gurus who are reading this, so please weigh in with your thoughts. Until then, sayanora.

This Is the Start of Something Good, Don't You Agree?

Perhaps I should begin to have higher expectations in the Jon Daniel era, but the Rangers are really starting to surprise me. You can find the story here of the reported signing of Kevin Millwood.


I realize that he had a 9-11 record last year, but when you have the opportunity to pick up the pitcher who led the league in ERA that same year, with a 2.86, that is a deal that you cannot easily pass up. I also believe that Millwood's win-loss record last year can be attributed to the ever changing atmosphere of the Indians' lineup last year before they gelled in the second half of the season to make a playoff run. Next year, Millwood will not need to worry about run support.

Millwood is 31 years old now, with a lifetime record of 107-75 and an ERA of 3.76. I obviously do not want to put him into the same category as Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, or Curt Schilling, but I cite them to argue that a pitcher who is entering his early 30's is a pitcher who could be entering his prime.

I expected Daniel to be making moves from the moment that he took over as the Rangers GM, but his moves have been targeted towards exactly what doomed the Rangers last season and every season in recent memory:poor pitching. The addition of Adam Eaton, Vicente Padilla, and now Kevin Millwood has this Ranger fan looking forward to next season with something other than trepidation.

Get On Our Knees and Pray

I hope everyone out there had a very Merry Christmas and maybe this holiday season we can put all of our strife behind us and really try to practice this whole "Goodwill towards Men" thing. Just a thought.

In that spirit, be expecting a little awards announcement later in the week for the year that has been in 2005. There will be a myriad of categories, so don't forget to get dressed up and look your best for the ceremony. It could be your lucky day. Also, please keep your acceptance speeches under 3 minutes, just so you will not have to be embarrassed by the house band beginning to play the transition music for the next award while you are still speaking. It's just not fair to everyone else and I won't accept it.

As I was looking through the NY Times Magazine "Year in Review" edition, I did not see any mention of Missy Scott in the notable deaths of 2005. She was our family dog. We had to put her to sleep today. The long sleep if you get my drift, but I digress. Nonetheless, here is their feature on notable figures who left us in 2005.

You will notice that the feature does not only focus on the most famous names, but instead chooses to spend its time looking into the lives of those who may not have spent as much time in the public eye, but made some sort of impact on the world that you and I live in today.

Fighting on Arrival, Fighting for Survival

Congratulations to Mr. Mason Orr for correctly naming "I Hope Tomorrow is Like Today" by Guster as the song of the day yesterday. Welcome to the summit Mr. Orr. I hope you enjoy the view.

After finishing David Halberstam's October 1964 last week, I began David James Duncan's The Brothers K on Monday. When I begin reading a book, I almost always know someone else that has read it or I probably know too much about the book before I begin reading, but The Brothers K is an exception. During my aforementioned book shopping-spree that occurred after I sold back my text books, I saw Duncan's book sitting on the bookshelf of the campus store.

Perhaps, I was drawn in by the title, due to its obvious attempt to connect with Dostoevsky's masterpiece. I'm not sure if that was my main motivating factor in purchasing the book, but if it was, I am very thankful for it. I have begun to notice that much of my reading falls into a non-fiction vein, but the enjoyment that I have gained from reading The Brothers K might just be enough to draw my interest back to the realm of fiction from time to time.

The main thrust of the book deals with the history of a family as they are affected by the landmark changes of the 1960's. As four brothers choose to deal with those changes in different ways, the family must work to decide whether their differences will be enough to tear them apart or whether that mysterious quality that bonds families together will ultimatlely keep them together.

Despite the fact that I did not experience the 60's, I have no doubt that their aftershocks continue to effect the world that we live in. Duncan's work accomplishes what writing is capable of when done well. It transports us to realm where our personal experience and understanding is enhanced without ever seeing that life with our own eyes.

I'm Awake, You're Still Sleeping

Congratulations to Mr. Jeff Giddens for correctly naming "Harry Hood" by Phish as the song of the day yesterday. I have always been jealous of the fact that Jeff had the good fortune to be at the Phish Halloween show in 1996, when they performed their Halloween costume cover of The Talking Heads' album "Remain in Light."

It seems that recently I have seen signs everywhere of what is a growing concern, not just among people my age, but among people of all ages. As our society has become more and more affluent, we have been able insulate ourselves. Through avenues such as television, movies, computer games, the internet, blogs, advertising, fantasy sports, and countless others, we are able to craft our world to our own liking. We are able to watch the shows that we want to watch, write what we want to say, and buy what we want to buy exactly when we want to buy it.

Some might look at my previous statement and argue that such a situation is exactly how a capitalist system should operate. Consumers should be able to buy whatever they wish with the money that they have or at least what that little piece of plastic in their back pocket will allow them to purchase. My point is that such a paradigm allows us to construct our own little kingdoms that exist to the exlcusion of those around us.

Such a situation has already created what I see as growing desire to fill the void of human contact that has already been created by our fast-paced, technology-driven, consumer-led culture. Deep down, people do not want to know about the latest designs from Dolce and Gabbana, the travails of Brad and Angelina, or what Brett Favre does in the offseason. People want to know that others care about them and that their life makes a difference in this world. It may be cliche, but as I have found that often makes it true.

This is why I believe that in the coming years, Christians have a tremendous opportunity. Even as the messages of Joel Osteen, Pat Robertson, and James Dobson meld into the countless other mass-media messages that people are bombarded with each day, Christians will be able to reach out through what may seem to be an antiquated method: face-to-face interactions that reach people on a personal level. In order for this to take place, we must start preparing now. So after reading this, get up from your computer, find someone around you and get into their life. Find out that people have their ups and downs just like you. Learn to use tools like the handshake, hug, and eye-contact instead of always settling for finding a bigger media market or audience. Learn to enjoy the audience of one.

Where Do You Go When the Lights Go Out?

Congratulations to Coleman Greer Griffith for correctly naming John Fogerty's "Centerfield" as the song of the day for the last post.

I'm not really sure why, but I always have a funny feeling when I come back to the blog after missing a few days. Perhaps that is only an expectation that I have created in my own mind since I usually attempt to post each day, but nevertheless, I notice a difference when I do not have the opportunity to write on a given day.

It was very good this last weekend to go visit Heather before Christmas. Being the great girlfriend that she is, she of course found a Christmas gift that could not be beat. Ever since I read the book a few years ago, and due to the fact that we do not get HBO, I have always wanted the Band of Brothers DVD set. I'm not sure how many of you have seen this mini-series, but for my money, it is the best mini-series that I have ever seen, just ahead of Lonesome Dove (I'm sorry Cody, but it's just the way it is).

During my trip to and from Arlington this past weekend, I was reminded again of why I love music so much. I am sure that everyone has one band that always makes them remember why music is such a powerful force. For me, that band is Phish. All of the hippie jokes aside, I listen to Phish because they remind me of what music can be and what it can do. The best way to experience Phish is to listen to a live show, but listening to Phish live is often a maddening exercise.

As a "jam band", they begin a song in a usual manner, but from that point the song can take any given turn on any given night. On the same tour, a song may be played for 8 minutes, only to be extended for 20 minutes a few nights later. The tough part about this is that each of the members of the band have no idea what the other members of the band are about to play or where they are about to take the song. This paradigm is filled with songs that seem to be twisting and turning with no logical conclusion, but it also produces some of the most beautiful music that I have ever heard. Music is created during some of these jams that never would have existed if they had not pushed through some of the more muddy parts of the jam.

All of this may seem like the inane ramblings of someone who has listened to too much Phish, but as I said earlier, I think each of us has one of these bands. A band that makes you sing a long in the car even if the other people on the road think you are talking to yourself. A band that makes you turn your dashboard into a piano, your steering wheel into a drumset, and if they are good enough to pull out your air guitar. Basically, they make you feel alive. You hear their emotion even if it is being transmitted through a Telecaster.

Put Me in Coach, I'm Ready to Play

Congratulations to Ms. Sarah Carlson for correctly identifying "Oh My Sweet Carolina" by Ryan Adams as the song of the day yesterday. I can always count on correct answers from the Carlson family on the days when I choose songs from the alt-country genre.

A couple of days ago, I wrote about how the holiday break gives me a great opportunity to think. It also presents a wealth of time to engage in one of my other favorite pastimes, reading. I recently began David Halberstam's October 1964, which chronicles the epic World Series matchup between the Yankees and Cardinals. The most interesting part of the book is Halberstam's understanding that sports are only important in their relation to the culture that they take place within.

In the early 1960's, the tumult and change that was taking place across the United States was reflected in the dominant sport of the day, which was professional baseball. As the nation learned to adjust to changing concerns and reforms regarding civil rights, the locker rooms and clubhouses of sports franchises served as microcosm of what those changes looked like in practice.

This World Series also served as the beginning of the end for the Yankee dynasty, which had come to hold a place in the American mind as a powerful institution in the mold of General Motors or U.S. Steel. This is Halberstam's gift as a writer. Due to the fact that his writing is never solely focused on the subject of sports, he is able to bring a much wider perspective to his work than many writers who write on a much more limited scope. He paints a broad picture of how something as small as a baseball game can serve as an example of the changes that America was experiencing in the crucible of the 1960's.

I Bought a Borrowed Suit and Learned to Dance

I know that I might be behind the times on this, but I think I am becoming a big fan of the show "Lost." Last night, I watched the first 4 episodes with a few friends, and I really enjoyed the writing and concept of the show.

At first glance, the show seems to simply be another reincarnation of the "lost on a deserted island" tale, which has recieved treatment in various forms throughout the years in television and the movies, but "Lost" is so much more than that. Many of the elements that have been built into the show demonstrate an incredible level of attention to detail among the show's writers.

Another one of the most interesting parts of watching the show is how I mentally categorize people that I know into the characters on the show. Chuck Klosterman talks about this phenomenon in his book Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. Klosterman discovered that after he began watching MTV's Real World in the early 1990's, people that he met somehow reminded him of people that had appeared on the show. This type of media transferrence might be an indictment of the place that entertainment holds in our society, but it is interesting nonetheless.

Those of you who are familiar with the show probably all know someone who reminds you of Jack, Sawyer, or Kate. It is also interesting to think if that person were in a similar situation as the survivors, would they act in the same manner as they normally do, or would their behavior be altered significantly by being placed in such an incredibly stressful situation. I think that these kinds of questions are very easy to ask in hypothetical situations, but the true answers would only come with such an event becoming a reality.

I was talking with one of my friends last night whom I watched the show with, and we wondered how long the show will run. He said that believes it will last about 4 seasons, but that length might have to do with some issues that we discussed regarding viewer satisfaction. At first, it seems that viewers are very satisfied with the show. It is one of the most highly rated shows on television, and is also written and produced at a very high level. One of the most intriguing aspects of the show is the level of mystery and suspense that it works with. Such an element continues to draw viewers in week after week. What do the numbers mean?

We wondered if viewers will lose interest in the show if they are not given answers to questions that they have regarding the show. I think that there are some people who might not continue to watch the show if they do not think that the show does an adequate job of explaining some of the mysteries present on the show, but this should not cause the writers of "Lost" to alter their methods of storytelling.

As I said earlier, this is a large part of what makes the show so popular. If the writers had chosen to make the entire situation surrounding the numbers or the backgrounds of each character completely clear from day one, the appeal of the show would be diminished greatly. People would not be walking around wearing shirts listing the numbers or taping them to their desks if all was now clear.

The Songs are In Your Eyes

One of the aspects of Christmas break that I am always thankful for is the opportunity to simply think. It seems that while school is in session, my thoughts are focused on reading, projects, papers, and friends, but I do not feel as though I have the chance to simply let my mind wander across a myriad of subjects without a specific destination in mind.

I had a conversation with my parents last night that has been rolling around in my head today. It focuses on this question: Why do people today feel the need to be involved in things like Facebook, My Space, Blogs, and other avenues of e-community? If that is even a recognized term.

At first thought, my response is somewhat like George Mallory's when he was asked why anyone would ever want to climb Mount Everest, to which he simply replied, "Because it is there." Often, I think people jump onto these bandwagon events, fads, or social epidemics, as Malcolm Gladwell would describe them, simply because that is what others are doing. This is nothing different from putting your baseball cards in the spokes of your banana-seat Schwinn or buying a Chia-pet. Trends will always continue to take different shapes with different generations.

On the other hand, some would point to the rise of Facebook, My Space, and blogs as the continued separation of American society into tenchonologically autonomous units that connect with each other across the chasm of cyberspace. Such interactions do not seem to be interactions or encounters at all, at least in the traditional sense of the word. They take on a more voyeuristic air. This perception of how technology has affected social interaction is reflected in statements that I have heard from many of my friends describing Facebook as a new form of "online stalking."

To further explore this point, my next question would be this: do people use things like blogs, Facebook, and My Space in order to simply keep up with those whom they would normally never interact with in a typical day? I think that this could be the case to a certain extent. If a young man or woman develops feelings for a certain someone, they can begin to learn about this person in a more detached manner than face to face interaction. The problems and high-level of creepiness present in this type of situation are obviously not superior to more conventional forms of communication.

By in large, I believe that most people use these forms of online networking in order to further connect with those that they are already close to, and to maintain some sort of acquaintance with those that they were once close to. Through an innovation such as Facebook, I have been able to communicate with friends from high school that I would otherwise not be able to keep track of in such a efficient manner. This blog has allowed me an avenue to communicate with people who are both near and far from me while at the same time presenting me with a chance to do one of my favorite things in the world: write.

In conclusion, perhaps that is the answer to my question. People want another avenue to connect with those that they care about and to be heard at the same time. In one form or another, we all want our chance to stand with Walt Whitman and sound our barbaric YAWP over the roofs of the world.

Don't Forget the Flowers Someday, I Know You Will

Congratulations to Mr. Andrew Tuegel for correctly naming "Original of the Species" from U2 as the source for yesterday's post title. I'm not sure what it is about Andrew and bands from the English Isles, but the man loves U2 and Coldplay. I cannot say that I disagree.

Today's edition of the New York Times Magazine featured what the editors dubbed "The Year in Ideas." I thought that this idea "Sitcom Loyalty" was a fascinating one, especially in light of the pain that I know the recent events surrounding Arrested Development has caused to people like Heath Huston and Jenny Nofsinger.

It got me thinking, if fans of a certain show can declare their loyalty to their show of choice, can I declare my disloyalty to things that draw my ire? How about?

• The Houston Texans,Houston Rockets, and Houston Astros.
• The entire state of Oklahoma.
• David Arquette
• The show Friends. There, I said it, now deal with it.
• Pat Robertson

What would receive your vote of disloyalty?

Everywhere You Go You Shout It

I just got back from Syriana with the mother. I'm pretty sure that I have not seen a movie so well written or constructed in a long while. That also might be a nice way of saying that some people, including some of you out there, might not enjoy this movie for exactly those reasons. In order to enjoy the film, the viewer must actively participate in a weaving together a number of seemingly disparate storylines into a relevant whole. It would also help to have a rudimentary understanding of the current political happenings in the Middle East, the growth of the Chinese economy, and the cozy relationship between Washington and the oil fields of the Middle East. All in all, one of the most intriguing and thought-provoking movies that I have ever seen.

The Road is a Pinstripe Watson Fan

I forgot to post earlier on a comment that I received on yesterday's post pertaining to the trade that the Rangers participated in involving Alfonso Soriano. Andrew's statement that the Rangers have signed more offense when they desperately needed more pitching could not be more true.

I hope that the Rangers management is cautious this offseason and does not place a huge burden on the franchise by overspending on a pitcher like I believe the Blue Jays did yesterday by dishing out $55 million to A.J. Burnett. If I were to be reasonable, dishing out $55 million dollars to anyone on earth for anything is way too much. If someone is receiving that much money they should probably be feeding the homeless, doing emergency surgery on small children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, hitting .460 each season with 89 homeruns, and pitching a perfect game on each outing, but maybe my expectations are too high.

If the Jon Daniel era is going to be much like the John Hart era with a seeming allergic reaction to any pitcher with a number below 4.00 in the ERA department, I think Ranger fans should settle in for a few more long years filled with long games and longer offseasons. But then again, maybe this is all the beginning of Daniel's masterplan and I have already succumbed to the cynicism that comes from supporting the boys in Arlington. Now I know what it once felt like to live in Boston.

The Sun Always Comes Up Much Too Soon

I do not anticipate that this will be lengthy post, but I wanted to write tonight to tell an interesting story. Perhaps it is not that interesting, but this is my space, and therefore, it will receive treatment here. Any references to another form of online journal writing in the previous sentence were completely unintended.

Anywho, today as I sold back my textbooks at the Campus Store, I completed a ritual that has become commonplace at the end of each semester. After I receive the money for re-selling my textbooks, I immediately take that money to look for books that I have been wanting to read that are being sold in the Campus Store. I know, some of you may find it sick, twisted, or simply sad that I would take money that I had just received from buying books to simply buy more books (Although it should be noted that the books I intend to buy are much more interesting than the books that I have just sold back. Otherwise, I would not have sold the books back in the first place, but I digress). I take immense joy in the process though.
A few days ago I was reading a segment on The Sports Guy's page where he talked about his interactions with some of his readers who have a desire to one day enter a career as sportswriters. Bill said that he will always ask these readers what their favorite sports book are or who their favorite sports writers are. More often than not, he will receive blank stares in response to these questions. He quickly reminds these readers that if they want to one day become great writers they have to often begin as great readers.

Otherwise, they will not develop a true sense of what it takes to draw readers into a story. I know that my writing in this space has been shaped and molded by each and every one of the authors that I have read despite the fact that I could probably not tell you which writer inspired each phrase or method that I use to communicate.

I do know that each and every book that I read does have an impact on the way that I write and hopefully the more books that I read, I will develop a deeper sense of what it takes to connect with an audience. A format such as this presents an interesting opening opportunity for my writing career. There is no editorial staff, no dictated agenda as to content, and no financial pitfalls in terms of losing advertisers for columns that do not connect with some members of my audience. It will be interesting to see how the rise of "Blogging" will affect the writers of my generation and what an audience made up of people raised in a world influenced by the New Media will look like. I do not have an answers in this column, but the questions are fun to ponder.

'Til They See Themselves in Telescopes

For those of you who were disappointed with the lack of photographic description regarding episcleral hemorrhages yesterday, I have provided the following picture to illustrate the current state of my left eye. If you lose your lunch, I am not responsible. You have been warned. Again this is an actual self-portrait of my left eye.


Don't worry,I have been checked by an optometrist, and he said that it would go away in about a week. The hard part is trying to come out with a cooler story than "My eye starting bothering me on Friday night during 25 Hours of Robin Williams." I need something like: "Somebody shot me in the eye with one of those laser pointers and it really did blow up my eye just like our parents said it would" or "knife fight in the slums of Manila." Either way, it is a good conversation piece.

In other news, I am officially sick of all the talk surrounding the Happy Holiday vs. Merry Christmas debate. Please try to not go out and choke the first member of the Religious Right that you find after you read this story. In case some people do not know, there are other people in America besides those that celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. Amazingly enough, there are millions who celebrate Hannukkah, Kwanzaa (well, maybe not millions), and other holidays around this time of year.

I don't have a problem with a store or card from a governmental source wishing me "Happy Holidays" due to the fact that there are multiple holidays being celebrated in our pluralistic nation. Would I have a problem with a store that refused to wish me a "Merry Christmas" if they also wished me a "Happy Hanukkah", "Merry Kwanzaa", and "Swell Boxing Day"? Yes. I do not agree with the purposeful neglect of some holidays, simply because some people who enter the store may not agree with them. Can all we not simply convert to the mega-Holiday that I have recently observed on commercials for Virgin Mobile Phones: Chrismahannukwanzaakah!!!!!
What about it folks? Just start using it in every interaction that you have this holiday season and it will spread like wildfire.

Suspended Clear in the Sky are the Words that We Sing In Our Dreams

Congratulations to Teresa Pecinovsky for correctly identifying "Some Might Say" by Oasis as the song of the day on Saturday.

Well, it seems that I have some sort of answer to what is going on with my eye. I have been told by a medical professional that I have an episclereal hemorrhage. It could come as a result of sneezing too hard, which I do frequently.

For your viewing pleasure, here's a little picture of the Ninjas after Christmas Social.

It may be a little less than a month away, but I wish the Rose Bowl would be played tomorrow. After talking with some people about the idea that this could be one of the best National Championship game matchups of all time, I am a bit cautious. I remember how much hype last year's game received, but I also remember how it turned out. This year seems to be a bit different though. It seems that all season UT and USC have been watching each other from afar and playing a not so subtle game of"Can You Top This?"

UT's comeback win vs. Ohio State was met with the Trojans last-second win in South Bend. Vince's 500 yards of total offense against Oklahoma State was countered Reggie Bush's 513 yards against Fresno State. Finally, UT's destruction of Colorado in the Big XII title game was followed by USC's domination of UCLA in what many thought would be a much closer game.

We will have to see if the game lives up to its billing, but whatever happens, it will be exactly what we have waited for all season.

Some Might Say that Sunshine Follows Thunder

Well, I am writing to you right now because I am not at 25 Hours of Robin Williams, which is currently taking place at Shady Acres. For some reason, yesterday was a good reason for my left eye to become inflamed with some sort of irritation, thus making the act of focusing on a TV screen for 25 hours a less than desirable one. I hate that I was not able to make it, but I think it will be nice to watch the 'Horns in the Big XII Championship game in a few minutes.

I am pretty sure that I will make it back over there for the Grand Finale, which is "Good Will Hunting." It is quite fitting that Williams' lone Oscar-winning role should be the last movie.

Congrats to Andrew Tuegel for correctly naming "Amsterdam" from Coldplay's Second Album A Rush of Blood to the Head as the source of yesterday's post title. I have come to the conclusion that any title involving Coldplay lyrics is probably going to be named by Andrew. If there are any other Coldplay fans out there who think they are quicker on the draw than Mr. Tuegel, I am sure he would welcome the battle, but right now his dominance is unquestioned.

You Came Along and You Cut Me Loose

Congratulations to Teresa Pecenovsky for correctly identifying "Far, Far Away" by Wilco as the song of the day yesterday.

I've thought about doing this in the Optimist, but it would never work. As a government agency operating in a post-Watergate world, one would think that the Pentagon would be more aware that a scheme involving "puppet journalism" in Iraq would be exposed eventually. In a public relations nightmare over the war that continues to worsen by the day, it would seem prudent for the Pentagon Brass to be aware of potential points of embarrassment or contention, but what do I know?

Story of My Life