Let's give thanks

It's always around this time of year, when the wrap up another calendar year with the holidays.  Time spent with families, loved ones, children and friends.  These holidays even prompt us to finally pick up the phone and dial up a long-distance relative, perhaps for the first time this year.

However, no one person or one family is perfect. There are always issues to be dealt with and obstacles to overcome.  Every single day I give a small little thank you for all of the things I have, and by no means am I perfect. 

But sometimes it takes a particular instance to make you stop and realize how lucky we are.  A trip to the local hospital will reaffirm this thought.  No matter how big or important our situation is, there are always others worse off.  I offer a prayer to all of those who are struggling with things that can make my challenges seem really minimal.

Don't believe me?  Take a visit some day to the local Children's hospital and see some of the challenges these brave kids are battling every day.  Challenges they didn't ask for when they were born innocent and beautiful.  But challenges they aren't afraid to back down from and have such wonderful support from doctors, nurses, volunteers and community members.

So as the holiday's approach, and everyone becomes so focused on buying material items, just take a second to reflect on the good things blessed upon you and your family, and send a little prayer of support to those a little less fortunate.

College Hoops Heating Up For This Guy

I know college football season is still going, and quite frankly, there are some great storylines to come and games I'm looking forward to seeing as we approach rivalry weekend.  Especially with the possibility of mass chaos erupting with some well-deserving teams being left out of the BCS championship. I would like nothing more than to see the BCS blown up and follow the playoff system first introduced by Sports Illustrated a few years back.

However, to me, nothing is quite better than the college hoops season. I'll admit that some of the early games didn't really excite me as I've been tied up with football and as it does every year, the seasons seem to start earlier and earlier.

But here we are just before Thanksgiving and the last two nights have drawn me to the tv.  With remote in hand, I was in pure bliss with all of the incredible games going on:  UConn - Michigan State, Duke-Kansas State, UCLA- Villanova, Kentucky-Washington - which by the way was played at full tilt in a tiny, but packed to rafters, Lahaina Civic Center in Maui.

The problem that plagues most early season games is that you rarely see a good, quality matchup.  Teams will stack their pre-conference schedules with easy wins.  Wins are what matters most when it comes to deciding whether 20-win teams, or 19-win teams, get into the prestigious Super Bowl-like hype machine NCAA Tournament.  Much to the dismay of fans and ticket holders.

But flip on one of these games when you have a chance and you see games being played just as if they were trying to advance to the next round of the tournament or fighting for their playoff lives.  Pride is on the line with these guys and the result is incredible.

One thought that comes to mind while watching UConn-Kentucky being played in a small gym in Hawaii.  Both schools play in massive NBA arenas, but try to picture two historic programs meeting up in some gym, no refs (yes they are actually there), no coaches, basically shirts vs. skins.

Awesome stuff.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of Year

Yes, it may be November 7, but already Christmas music has hit the radio airwaves.  And I welcome it.  Sure we are a few weeks away from the Christmas onslaught of the shopping rush and deciding what to get people.  But I welcome the thought of what Christmas really means:  a time for sharing and being with loved ones.  This will be the second Christmas for our little Liam and I look forward to waking up and seeing him smile with all of the presents under the tree. 

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Random Acts of Kindness

Been a while since I last posted, but it's not without saying that a lot hasn't happened since we last met.  Many things swirl through my mind as the air turns a bit colder and the signs that winter is heading this way. 

But I got to thinking about how this world could use a little bit of kindness makeover.  Sure there are many nice folks out there, but there seems to be way too many with different views of what it means to be a good person. 

And it's not just the typical crazy driver who has to drive right on your tail, speed up when you are trying to turn a corner and blow his horn because you may have inconvenienced his drive because he may have had to slow down for quite possibly less than a second. 

But even kindness of saying hello or offering to hold a door open.  It doesn't take much and really can make you feel pretty good.

I got to thinking of this while pumping gas the other day.  While the Ultra-91 was fueling up the Mini, a young kid parked his U-Haul and asked directions to a highway.  He mentioned one differently and was actually putoff that I told him he was heading in the right direction.

Do I feel bad that he is probably still driving around trying to find out where he is going? 

Guess I should answer that question truthfully.

Random thoughts as summer comes to a close

 It's been a long, hot summer and as we enter the end of September and welcome the fall season with open arms after several weeks of 90-plus degree temperatures, here's a few thoughts looking back at the Summer of 2010.

* Spending time with my beautiful wife and wonderful son was great.  We had a wonderful time spending a week on Block Island with Bill and Val and my dad and Jeanne, plus a short visit from Liam's Godparents Billy and Ryann.  Liam had a great time out there and really loved the beach.  

* Luck of the Irish:  After battling traffic over the Newport Bridge on Labor Day Weekend, we finally made it to the Newport Irish Festival and had a blast. Despite the crowds, Liam loved the music and danced in front of the stage, catching the attention of not only the patrons, but the friendly musicians as well.  Sipping an ice-cold Harp and taking it all in while watching my little guy run around with a smile on his face, certainly put one on me. 

* Finished a book, Accidental Billionaires, on the creation of Facebook.  Movie should be out in October and looks pretty good.

* Attended a wedding.  Got to see my former Marketing guru and now Big East multi-media expert Mark Hodgkin tie the knot on a gorgeous August evening in Tiverton, R.I.

* Ran a new personal-best at the Falmouth Road Race.  Managed to train a little over the summer but was focused and ran a smart race in my fifth (fourth official Gary Young Jr.), shaving a full minute off my previous best to cross the line in 1:03 over the 7.1 mile course.

THE WAY A VACATION SHOULD BE

Sun, sand, fried clams, lobster, cold beer and lots of fun.  That's the way a vacation should be.  Aside from a brief, but bothersome fever that has seemed to have passed onto Cheryl, Block Island 2010 is going great.  The weather has been cooperative so far. 

A nice sunny day to start with the water temps just perfect to cool off after sitting in the sun.  We had a nice thunder storm roll through on Tuesday and some overcast clouds Wednesday, but that's fine.

It was nice to curl up with a book in a nice comfy chair and listen to the wind and the foghorn in the distance.

We made the trip over with Liam and Brady and it has been fun. For Liam, it marked the first time he actually has made it to the beech and he really didn't know what to expect from the sand and water.  But in the end, he really liked it and peaked his curiosity. 

It was very nice to have my dad and Jeanne make it out for two days and it was great to visit with them on the island and have a nice dinner and coffee to cap off a busy day.

My Very First Father's Day

I didn't know quite what to expect come Sunday, June 20, 2010.  For me, it was my very first Father's Day and while I had hoped for what many Dad's wish for: a little late sleep in, nice breakfast, and a relaxing day to himself.  I was actually looking forward to savoring my special day with my beautiful wife and handsome little boy, Liam.

All of 10 months old, he has been such a joyful addition to our family and I couldn't be more happier and more excited waking up and looking over and seeing his smile, showcasing his new teeth.

I love being a father and it has been a great experience and rewarding to see such an innocent little boy begin to grow and learn with each passing day.  Sure there are some challenges and there'll be plenty more, but I look forward to taking the journey with him and be there for him whenever he needs me.

I look forward to many more Father's Day with Liam and Cheryl.  It's the best feeling in the world.

A Refreshing Sound to My Ears

Music can be so refreshing sometimes, especially when you discover something so beautiful and energizing as I have recently.

There comes a time when you need to break away from the norm; try to enjoy something different.

Rock music has always been the genre of my choice.  A little mix of heavy metal, 80's style,  is what I grew up with.  Then a switch to modern rock and onto alternative rock during my time in  college and a little after.

Mainstream U2 touched me in a different way as I enjoyed digging through the deeper meanings of their "B" sides and appreciating their talents as superb musicians and performers. And I still do.

Though I've always had a soft spot for the bands that don't get much mainstream airplay but really touch me with the music they produce.  From the San Diego based The Rugburns, to the Irish group The Orphans I caught at the Newport (RI) Irish Festival last summer.  Bands that just have fun but show their true talents with some excellent music. 

So what has been the latest sound that has drawn me in?

To me, a sound can be heard on some alternative rock stations, and continues to gain exposure.

A band that blends together the wide musical spectrum that I truly enjoy. 

A band that has been around for a few years (third album released in 2009): Silversun Pickups.
It's a refreshing sound that I feel separates itself from Muse, Metric, Nine Inch Nails, etc. 

From the deep base rhythms: think U2's Exit.
To the passionate singing by a front man: think Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgin. 

I ask you to try tuning into Panic Switch without testing the limits of your car stereo speakers.

They're band from Los Angeles labeled as an Indie Rock Band by many.  To me, it sounds like they are just having fun doing what they do with no glam and just enjoying the moment.  

And that's fine.

But if you want to break away from the routine of day to day top-40 radio repeats where you can nearly predict what will be played, where everything sounds the same.

Take a step back, close your eyes and give the Silversun Pickups a try.

Or stop by Lupos in Providence sometime and see for yourself. 

The Real Meaning of Mother's Day

Well, for perhaps the first time, I can say I saw what the true meaning behind the fantastic holiday of Mother's Day.  I've always cherished the love and care of my mother growing up and to this day, make sure I send along a gift of thanks that could never fully cover all that she did for me.

From birth, through grade school, through cold days during little league and driving me to UNH basketball games and basketball camp, and helping me get through college, my mom was always there for me and I owe her everything.

Every year I always remembered Mother's Day and have always sent flowers and cards.  This year is no exception. But there was something new to send along: a photo of my beautiful son Liam.

Born last August, every single day has been pure joy to see him grow and watch his mother, my wife Cheryl, take such great care of him. He is beautiful because I see the same care for him by Cheryl that my mom had for me.

While gifts for my wife; jewelry, breakfast; flowers and chocolate, are fun. They surely cannot cover just how much I appreciate all she does for taking care of Liam and how natural it is for her.

Some people have look up to professional athletes, musicians, generals as leaders and role models and heroes.  But the real heroes of this world are the ones we have know for all of our lives: our mothers.

It may be just one Sunday in May that we celebrate all they do, but for me, every day is a day to appreciate just how valuable they are.

Maybe that smile by Liam each morning is his way of saying "Thanks."

ONE WAY TO PICK THE BRACKET

For most of us, March means only one thing.  Sure, to me it means my birthday and St. Patrick's Day and of course the beginning of spring.  But for man, it's time to fill out your NCAA tournament bracket.

Everyone has a method to their madness.  Their own scientific theories about how to make the right pick, likely based on their belief that they know more about every team and which team is hot and which team has the best players.

Some go with the favorite, others like to pick the upset.  But for me, I like to look at it from a different angel.  Not studying statistics and box scores and seeing who's hot or which power-conference team will fall.

I like to picture what would happen if the mascots battled for 40 minutes, rather than the players. It's something that was brought up by Bobby Jezyk, a brilliant student assistant in our sports information office at Cal Poly in the late '90's and stuck with me every since.

The college sports landscape features some of the best mascot names in existence (well, maybe not quite as good as some minor league hockey or baseball teams, but close).  The Jumbos, Banana Slugs, Anteaters, Lord Jeffs, are some pretty good ones.

But what would happen if these mascots met in the NCAA tournament? Who would come out on top.

Sorry, but Owls (Temple), Volunteer (Tennessee), Terrapin a.k.a turtle (Maryland), Cardinal (Louisville), Saint (Siena), Gael (St. Mary's), Colonial (Robert Morris), Golden Eagle (Marquette), Spider (Richmond) you're not getting past the first round. Sorry Jayhawk (Kansas).  Not in this tourney.

Schools with colors, Orange (Syracuse), Big Red (Cornell), Mean Green (North Texas), you're out too.  Same with you Golden Gopher (Minnesota).

As with the actual tournament year in and year out, it gets tougher with each round.

A Musketeer (Xavier), Gaucho (UCSB), Rebel (UNLV), Aggie (Utah State, Texas A&M), Cowboy (Okie State), Miner (UTEP), fine and dandy, but don't plan on staying too long.

So now that we've separated some of the pretenders, who would be some of the favorites to advance?

Wildcats (Kentucky, K-State, Villanova), Grizzly (Montana), Tigers (Missouri), and  Panthers (Northern Iowa) are pretty fierce, but I wouldn't put high odds on their success.

So who ... or what ... would be my Final Four?  Let's cut to the chase.

To me, nothing would be more entertaining than seeing a Blue Devil (Duke), Demon Deacon (Wake Forest), and while I would give some consideration for a Mountaineer (West Virginia) - ever see a Mascot carry a musket down 7th avenue in New York? -  I would like to think that a Spartan (Michigan State) would come out on top - perhaps in overtime.  My fourth, the Fighting Irish (Notre Dame).  By all accounts, you don't want to mess with one Fighting Irishman - but by all indications, it would appear you would be taking on more than one short-tempered angry fellow from The Old Country.  Good luck with that.

But in the end, I think a final would have pit a Blue Devil against a Demon Deacon.  What would top a Blue Devil.  Maybe a Red Storm, but St. John's didn't get invited.

Who do you think comes out on top?

Might be a tough one to officiate.

MIDNIGHT IN THE MARCH OF MADNESS

(AP Photo Elise Amendola)

I guess there is a reason for why it is called March Madness.  Based on just the opening day, I don't know where to begin.

Perhaps starting with the obvious: the Big East took a big blow today with three of four teams in action packing their bags and heading home. The next time they lace 'em up will be in October when "Midnight Madness" begins.  Well, midnight, in a way, sort of struck for Georgetown, Marquette, Notre Dame and if not for a missed free thrown, Villanova's bus would have been heading back to Philadelphia.

But the Wildcats pulled it out, just as good teams do when they have the opening and made some key shots in the overtime period and withstood a very, very strong effort by Robert Morris to advance to the next round.

Washington over Marquette was not as big as a surprise as the Huskies were the conference champs of the Pac-10, a conference that took some abuse nationally for poor teams this year.  But sometimes the "experts" have little facts seeing how most of the West Coast games are on after the midnight hour and mostly on regional television.

But Old Dominion over Notre Dame?  Ohio, not to be mistaken with Ohio State, downing Georgetown by putting up the most points against a Hoya team in the NCAA tournament in 70 GAMES !


Now I for one am a big fan of the Big East, and absolutely love the conference championship at Madison Square Garden. But has the tournament taken too much out of the sails of this behemoth of a conference?  Are teams tired of beating each other up and end up starting slow, playing down to their opponents?

Maybe.

But I don't want to take anything away from the Ohio's and Old Dominion's of the world. They played great, made the big shots, played tough defense, and deserved to win.  They wanted it more.

Call it an upset if you will.  I think most will call it Madness.

They Did It !

Finally.  The weight of the college basketball world is off their shoulders.  Out of 347 Division I programs in the country, Bryant was the last team remaining without a win under the belts.  Tonight, after 26 tries, the Bulldogs finally came through with a 53-51 win over Wagner College. t

To keep it in persepective, yes, Bryant is only in its second year competing at the Division I level, a major difference from the days of competing at the Division II level where the Bulldogs found success on a regular basis.

But in Division I, there is not sympathy for playing with the big boys,  To earn a win, you have to do just that - earn it.

So on this night in Staten Island, with 26-straight losses on the season coming the game, the Bulldogs finally put together a complete game from start to finish and were rewarded with their first W.  

Recently, Bryant struggled mightly on offense, particularly in the second half. After a loss to Saint Francis (PA) at home on regional television in which the team could muster just 34 points, the team put together a valiant effort against Robert Morris, the top team in the league this season.  A 10-minute scoreless drought in the second half resulted in a 10-point loss.

But against Wagner, the Bulldogs distributed the ball well, hustled for the loose balls, hit the wide open jumpers, and took advantage of coming through with some key free throws down the stretch.

None more important than what transpired in the final seconds.  With the game tied at 51-51, the Bulldogs had the ball with about a four-second differential from the game clock.  Looking to eat up the clock, the Bulldogs worked it down inside 10 seconds, but could not get a shot off in time.

But you knew the basketball gods were on the side of Bryant on this night.  Wagner picked up the loose ball but fired up a halfcourt shot that went out of bounds and was awarded back to the Bulldogs with approximately four ticks on the clock.

Sam Leclerc inbounded from mid-court to Raphael Jordan who drove the lane quickly and was fouled with just 0.8 seconds remaining.

A former coach used to say that a freshmen may be a freshman at the beginning of the year, but by the 27th game of the season, they're no longer freshman.

Jordan, a rookie from Bel Air, Maryland enjoying an excellent first season, calmly sank both free throws and watched as Wagner's desperation heave fell short as the final buzzer sounded.

Sure, 1-26, may not be much reason to celebrate for college basketball teams, but these Bulldogs receive a pass for a job well done for not giving up and showing a little pride.


Go Bulldogs !

Still Dreaming Of A Playoff

I'll admit, the 2010 BCS Championship game between Alabama and Texas at the Rose Bowl was pretty entertaining.  Alabama's defense was so impressive it almost looked like they had too many men on the field - they were that fast and quick.

Texas, unlucky with star quarterback Colt McCoy going down with an injury early in the first, made quite a valiant comeback with a little used backup quarterback.  Pretty daunting task for a freshman not expected to play though prepared all week in practice to be ready, to be thrown into a national championship game before close to 100,000 people and national audience. But I have to hand it to the Longhorns, they made a game of it and battled back and had a chance to tie it or even win it in the final minutes but a key turnover, again by the excellent Alabama defense, won it.

After all this, I still would like to see a playoff.  Of course, utilize the bowl facilities, etc.  But there are way too many bowl games and teams with 6-5 records qualifying.  It gets very watered down.

I'm not thinking about a 64-team tourney like basketball, but even just an eight-team playoff.  Who wouldn't like to see the winner of the Boise-TCU game take on last night's winner.  One of the arguments of the old guard and supporter of the bowls is that it would take time away from the student-athletes.  Really?  Aren't there already bowl games all month long in December?  Aren't teams playing on Saturday?  I do like the big games and understand the money involved, but tell me the ratings wouldn't be through the roof? I get tired of having a champion determined by a computer as the BCS does.

It works for every other sport - even Division I-AA.

In closing, in 1999, UMass was the 12th seed of the I-AA playoffs.  If a champion was determined as it is by the BCS, the Minutemen wouldn't have a shot at a title.  Instead, they proceeded to knock off the higher seeds and beat the top-seed and No. 1 team in the tournament for the championship.

Just a thought. 

Happy New Year

With all of the joy and the feeling of starting fresh with a new year upon us, 2009 will remembered by those we have lost and those we welcomed.  The full circle of life was never more evident as we lost a dear member of our family, Nana Bonnie, last January. She lived a wonderful life and was an inspiration to all of us.  There isn't a day that goes by that we all think of her and smile.  She will always be in our hearts. 

Though with the loss of Nana, we welcomed to the world Liam Dennis Sullivan in August.  Upon immediately seeing Liam at 7:40 a.m. on August 4, 2009, a vision of Nana Bonnie instantly came to mind.  He is an angel and a most wonderful gift for us all. 

Here's to a happy and healthy 2010 for all.