Why You Should Never be a Sports Team Hater

"The fool doth think he is wise,
but the wise man knows
himself to be a fool."

-William Shakespeare


2004 was the year the Red Sox won the World Series.  I was also a Yankee fan.  With those first two sentences you can probably deduce (or induce?  I never knew the difference) that I was not a happy camper.  I wasn't. But when the World Series was over I actually was, very happy.   To get a clear picture of this story let's take a little trip back to 2004 shall we?

The Red Sox beat my Yankees in the ALCS and I was bummed.  Like most Yankee fans I refused to watch the World Series between the Sox and the Cards.  I bet this occurs often in sports - when a rival team advances, the beaten team's fans refuse to watch any further.  Now I rarely miss the fall-classic and being a big baseball fan I tore myself away from my busy day of turning oxygen into carbon dioxide and tuned in to the game. 

Now here's where it gets interesting. 

In 2004 I was 40 years old and I realized two things.  1. You're never too old to mature and 2. I need to stop hating sports teams - I'm missing out on a lot of good sports.

Seems that while watching the Sox/Cards series I developed a new appreciation for not only baseball, but for The Red Sox and sports in general.  The Red Sox won that series using many weapons - Power, speed, defense, pitching, strategy and tactics.  These are all the things that a true baseball fan appreciates and enjoys watching.  I really admired the Sox during that series.  This was an eye-opener for me.  I needed to change and I needed to change now!  No more hating.  No more not-watching because of the team that is playing.  I promised myself when I watched sports, it would be for the game itself - that's it!

After 2004 I really started to grow as a sports-fan (that sounded even stupider after I typed it).  I'm proud to say I'm probably the world's only Islander and Ranger fan (despite what my Ranger fan friends say and of course my wife who is a huge Islander fan).  I really don't have any strong allegiance to a team any more.  Honestly when it comes to baseball or hockey, I can watch any game, any time.

So, thank you Boston Red Sox (that was hard to say), for making me see the light!!

Thanks for reading
-Tom   

 

The Count of Monte Cristo

"Revenge is a dish best served cold"

What does that quote even mean? Does anyone really know?  I feel it refers to the process of revenge.  Drag it out.  Calculate.  Enjoy the sweet journey!  If that is in fact the definition of this oft-used quote, then it undoubtedly applies to the Count of Monte Cristo.

I took on this epic from the recommendation of an English teacher I know.  Out of respect for this persons privacy I won't mention her (darnit, just eliminated half the population) name.  But she's intelligent, affable and damn she knows how to suggest a book!!  I have to say this is the best classic I have ever read.  When I read a classic, lets face it, my mind tends to wander (hockey ... work ... Scarlett Johansson), but in this novel, there was little if any "wandering".

Before taking on "Count" I read some reviews and the synopsis on Goodreads.  Following this "pre-read" research, I mistakenly thought this book was solely a story of revenge.  The novel isn't entirely about retribution.  The Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure novel! It's a story of growth and remorse. It's historical, social, political, benevolent and psychological.  Dumas makes social and political statements throughout the novel.

Before we discuss the book, let's take a look at Alexandre Dumas.  Brief and concise, just the facts maam  - Dumas was born in 1802 and died in 1870 (68 for the mathematically-challenged).  Dumas started his career as a journalist and then a playwright producing dramas and comedies.  Another of Dumas's works is The Three Musketeers.  I'll be taking on that one very soon!!  Dumas and his father had a falling-out from which the two never reconciled.  His father was a general in Napoleon's army.   Dumas was a great admirer of Napoleon, and this is seen from time to time in the Count of Monte Cristo. Dumas made a pretty penny from all his works.  With his wealth he built the Chateaux de Monte Cristo just outside of Paris.  If I ever get around to seeing France, a visit to this museum will be on the itinerary for sure.   

Now, on to the novel.  The Count of Monte Cristo was written in literature's Romantic period (1830 - 1870).  It was originally published in serial form for magazines.  Imagine how profitable that would have been for a magazine to publish little chunks (weekly/monthly) of this  great, epic piece of work!  The story takes place right after Napoleon's exile to Elba.  It begins with our protagonist - Edmond Dantes, arriving at Marseilles on board a ship called the Pharaon.  The Pharaon is owned by Dantes's amiable boss named Morrel.  Now Dantes is a great guy - he's kind, very smart and  hard-working.  He's got a great-looking girlfriend (Mercedes) who he is about to marry and is all set to receive a big promotion from Morrel to the position of Captain.  I'd even like to hang out with him for crying out loud, but he has his innocent-flaws ... to a fault!  He's a tad too trusting and credulous.  To quote Deadpool:

"Life is an endless series of trainwrecks with only brief commercial-like breaks of happiness"

OK Dantes - it's time to return to our regularly scheduled programming.  Unbeknownst to poor Dantes, there are people conspiring to do him in.  Firstly there is Danglars.  He's a shipmate of Dantes who wants the Captain spot.  He's cunning, nasty and a knave.  Then there is Fernand.  Fernand wants Mercedes and we all know how ugly jealousy can be.  There is also a drunken, cowardly imbecile named Caderousse who is, well - a drunken, cowardly imbecile.  Fernand and Danglars hatch a plan to frame Dantes for treason.  Their plan works and Dantes is sent to prison.  The prosecutor named Villefort has his own agenda and he has a hand in putting Dantes away for life.

Dantes is sent to a prison cell in the dungeon of Chateau d'If (pronounced like "beef" only with a D) where he is cold, alone and going basically nuts.  Eventually he meets a fellow prisoner name Abbe Faria.  He becomes good friends with Faria.  He teaches Dantes all sorts of worldly stuff.  He also shows Dantes how to find out who it was that double-crossed his sorry ass.  Faria then has a number of small strokes.  Finally (and sadly), Faria dies but not before he passes along some valuable info to Dantes - a treasure!  This treasure is located on, none other than - the island of Monte Cristo.  Dantes escapes and gets his hands on the loot. With his newfound knowledge and the treasure he begins to exact his revenge on the four men responsible for his misery.

Why I Workout

Why, on Gods green earth would anyone subject themselves to 30-60 minutes of sweaty torture in a room full of people enduring the same torture??!!

Cuz its fun!!

People workout for many reasons.  Some exercise to get big (aka bulk up).  Some use fitness to get skinny (shred).  Others for something functional (a sport for instance).  Why do I do it?  First and foremost, I love it!  Let's face it, you can't stick with anything unless you at least like it - right?  I love the feeling after a good strength or cardio session.  Coming back from the gym and hitting the hot shower - there's nothing like it. It sets me up for the day with a boatload of energy. There are also many other reasons why I do it.

First let me provide a basic overview of what I do.  Short and sweet.  Cardio three times a week.  Strength three times a week as well.  Now that's vague.  Allow me to be more specific. Cardio can range from a nice steady-state 30 minute bike or run to high intensity interval training (HIIT) for 20 mins.  I love HIIT.  It's only 20 minutes but wow what a workout.  The strength days consist of a complex circuit.  Huh?  I do two three-exercise circuits which consist of upper-body, lower-body and core exercises.  For example I'll do 3 rounds of say, pushups (upper), squats (lower) and crunches (core) for 9 sets.  Then I'll do 3 rounds of pullups, lunges and mountain climbers for 9 sets for a total of 18 sets. Takes me about 20 minutes.  Great workout!!  All this is capped off with 10-15 minutes of yoga.

Now back to the reasons for working out.  Other than the fact that its fun, physical activity allows me to be active (duh).  It's that simple.  Keep moving and you'll be able to do anything.  

Working out also keeps me away from the meds.  I lived my life watching my father take med after med, each one having a new side-effect on his body that required yet another med.  I vowed to never be like that.  Exercise and eating right is helping me down that path.

Then there is the longevity thing.  I'm not sure if hitting the gym will help you live longer.  If the Grim Reaper is going to tap you on the shoulder, he's going to tap you on the shoulder - no matter what the age.  But, when he gives me that tap, I want to be in good shape :-)

Thanks for reading
-Tom

Welcome

Yup, it's here.  The blog everyone has been waiting for.  This is the biggest thing to hit the internet since My Space.

All kinds of things will be written about.  Music, literature, fitness, games, sex (no no, not that.  This is family entertainment), art, sports and many other topics will be discussed.  All, of course, from my point of view (it is my blog after all).  

Why am I doing this?  Good question.  I basically like to toot my own horn and hear the sound of my own voice.  Seriously though.  It's been a long time since school and I really need to sharpen my grammar skills.  If anyone has any comments about my writing, keep it to your damn self.  Kidding really.  I consider myself a person who is amenable to suggestion.  I love feedback.  Go ahead, be nasty and hellish, I can take it.

Well that's it.  Without further adieu, read on....

-Tom