If a man watches three football games in a row, he should be declared legally dead. | |
— Erma Bombeck | |
[This post was originally titled “six games in two days”. I didn’t realize one of the games was to be played on Monday night… — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | Limited Knowledge And No Control |
2021 | Gifts |
Look Inside Your Heart | |
2020 | A Strength Of Science |
2019 | A Higher Standard |
Make Two Calls | |
2018 | Irreplaceable Sparks |
2017 | Saving For April 15th |
2016 | First Wish |
2015 | Tracing Shadows |
2014 | One Thing |
2013 | More Is Less |
2012 | The Screw-Up Gene |
Posts Tagged ‘Sports’
NFL This Weekend: Six Games In Three Days!
Posted in Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, Sports, tagged Correction, Erma Bombeck, Humor, NFL Playoffs, NFL Wildcard Weekend, Philosophy, Quotes, Sports, Watching Football on January 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Be Careful What You Wish For
Posted in Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, Sports, tagged Baseball, Humor, LA Dodgers, MLB, Perfection, Philosophy, Quotes, SF Giants, Sports, Yogi Berra, Yogi-ism on August 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
If the world were perfect, it wouldn’t be. | |
— Yogi Berra | |
[But it sure would be nice if the Giants beat the Dodgers a little more frequently… — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Why Republicans Are Unhappy |
I Guess It’s True | |
2020 | A Tiny And Fragile World |
Your Lyin’ Eyes | |
2019 | Day 1: Done |
#IncompetentDonald Fails On All Three | |
2018 | I Put It Down To Bad Teachers |
Day 34: In And Out | |
2017 | And The Future Is Now |
2016 | I Am |
2015 | Positively Aiming Higher |
2014 | Suspicious Minds |
2013 | We Are Not Alone |
2012 | Lawyer, n. |
2011 | Each Day Remember… |
2010 | Impossible Dreams of Camelot |
A Direct Relationship
Posted in Boxing, Philosophy, Quotes, Sports, tagged Boxing, Discipline, Effort, Fran Sands, Hard Work, Information, Philosophy, Quotes, Results, Shortcuts, Sports, Techniques, The Beginner Boxer Toolkit, www.myboxingcoach.com on March 1, 2021| Leave a Comment »
I give you the information and techniques in a simple and straightforward way, and you put the information and techniques to good use by putting in the hard work. | |
There are no shortcuts. | |
There is a direct relationship between effort and results. If you are disciplined and you work hard at learning, then you will get there. | |
— Fran Sands | |
From his book: “The Beginner Boxer Toolkit“ | |
Online at: www.myboxingcoach.com | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | Where One Goes |
2021 | A Direct Relationship |
Another Night Train South | |
2020 | One Person’s Roses… |
2019 | In The Long-Run |
2018 | #NeverAgain |
Doss II | |
Doesn’t / Does | |
2017 | Talent Hates To Move |
2016 | Looking To November |
2015 | It Isn’t The End |
Prospero’s Precepts | |
2014 | Friends |
2013 | Learning Bitter |
2012 | Remembrance, Minstrels & Going Off To War |
May I Have More Happiness, Please? | |
2011 | There Is No God, But God |
2010 | Another Running Book… |
Boxing (Day: 3) – Double-End Target Setup
Posted in Boxing, Health, Sports, Workouts, tagged Boxing, Double-End Ball, Pull-up Stand, Sports, Targets on December 11, 2020| Leave a Comment »
After a couple of days off resting my knee, I got back out and tried to get in a little heavy breathing. | |
The first picture is of the pull-up stand I had built. It’s a fairly basic tri-pod (tri-pole?) stand with a solid steel bar running across the two front 4X6’s. At just about shoulder level, I put in two “eye-screws” to hook things to. In this shot, I’ve used a pair of bungees to suspend my punching target – a double-end ball. This is mostly on the “Do-It-Yourself” project list to save money. The basketball and black / orange nylon cord, I already owned. The two screws were about $3 each. The package of bungees was $10 for a pack of 14 assorted lengths. And the basketball net was another $3. So, all told, a functional double-end boxing target for under $20. One of my neighbors moved and he was tossing out three basketballs, so I still have two more to use to set up a “double-double-end” with basketballs (instead of tennis balls). (Reality check: a “cheap” double-end ball runs between $12 and $20 on Amazon. The “decent” ones between $25 and $40. The “pro” models upwards of $80.) | |
This target is a lot more substantial than hitting tennis balls and is fine for the “rough” motor skills of a rank amateur like me (reading between the lines: that means I miss a LOT). It’s a good target for jabs and straight punches from both a regular and southpaw stance. It’s particularly fun for practicing side-slipping and upper-cuts. I have also learned to use it to practice bobbing with following upper-cuts. That is how I “learned” about wearing a mouth-guard and the abrasiveness of the basketball hitting you in the forehead and side of the head. The image below shows the basketball in the net more clearly. | |
I’ve tried hitting the target with hooks (which are horizontal punches), but I’m not confident in the bungees ability to stay attached on the side the hook is going to. I think it may be best to wait on those punches until I have the “double-double” set up vertically. I’m also debating adding extra bungees to make the rebounding response stiffer. Finally, I’m a bit concerned the bungees might unhook or the cord simply snap off the metal hook at the end. I’m thinking of using duct-tape to secure the hooks to the eye-screws, but I haven’t yet thought of a way to ensure the cord doesn’t snap free from the metal end hook. If anyone can think of something, please let me know… | |
I’ve been trying to get in 45 minute sessions. Today’s was a bit shorter due to light rain / sprinkles. The two days off really helped with my shoulder stiffness. They still tire quickly, but they were definitely better than on day #2. If anything, it was my hips and hamstrings which were giving me the most issues. I felt like I was lead-legged and struggling to lift them in treacle. LoL! The price of being “mature” and trying to get a little fitter. | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Small Moments, Lived Well |
Shaking My Confidence | |
2020 | Two Happy |
Every Time I Look Around | |
Boxing (Day: 3) – Double-End Target Setup | |
2019 | Stand Up, Hook Up, Shuffle To The Door… |
2018 | Ridiculous Idea |
2017 | Waddle On! |
A Severe Challenge — When The President Is A Liar | |
2016 | The Best Of Circumstances |
2015 | Reverberating Silence |
2014 | Wrong Again? |
2013 | Improper Faith |
2012 | One More Rung |
2011 | Sunday Morning Earlies (Hugging trees and smiling…) |
Hurry | |
Updates On Life | |
2010 | It’s Gettin’ Deep In Here |
You Be The Judge
Posted in Boxing, Health, Pictures, Sports, Workouts, tagged AFib, Boxing, Health, Mid-Life Crisis, Pictures, RDX F12 Training Boxing Gloves, Second Childhood, Sports, Sweet Science, YouTube on December 7, 2020| Leave a Comment »
My wife isn’t sure if I’m having a mid-life crisis or just going into my second childhood… | ||||
This year I’ve been watching A LOT of YouTube. Well, okay… It started last year, but that’s just a detail. | ||||
I was viewing a bunch of videos on working out and I found myself going through reams of “30-Day Challenge” videos. Of course, I decided to give one a shot. My choice: the “30-Day / 100 pushup per day challenge”. | ||||
Day One (Test): Zero. That’s correct. I could not do a single pushup from the floor. I could get into a plank position, (with effort,) and lower myself to the floor, but not get back up off the floor. | ||||
Obviously, some modifications would be necessary… Inclined pushup from the back of the sofa. Five. Okay. It’s a start. First day: 20 sets of five, spread through-out the day (and evening). | ||||
Days 2 and 3 were more of the same. Day 4, I was able to do 10. So, 10 sets of 10, spread through-out the day. | ||||
To make a longer story shorter, about day 10 I was finally able to do ONE pushup from the floor. By then, I was doing five(5) sets of 20 inclined. At the end of 30 days, I could do 5 pushups from the floor. (And shorter again…) At the end of 60 days, I was able to do 15 pushups from the floor. By way of comparison, Google says an “average” 65 year old man should be able to do between 6 and 16. In other words, I went from abject failure to the top end of “average”. | ||||
And then I got hurt… (But that’s another story.) | ||||
While browsing YouTube, it started feeding me boxing and martial arts videos (over and over again). So, (of course) I started watching them… Because I wasn’t able to do much other than walk, I started shadow-boxing in front of a mirror… And then I bought gloves… And then I bought hand-wraps… And then I bought focus pads… And then I started making home-made (read: inexpensive) boxing targets. It turns out YouTube has videos on how to jury rig most of the expensive kit you need to practice boxing. | ||||
Here’s some pictures of my gloves… They are RDX F12 Training Boxing Gloves (16oz.) | ||||
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And, after trying them on a few times a week for the last month or so… Today I did my first “workout” with the gloves. | ||||
Now to be fair, I did actually try them on and use them for a few minutes when I would set up a new target and once for a few minutes of shadow-boxing in front of a mirror, but until today, my wife had put it down to another one of my “phases”. When approached on the possible purchase, she did insist on a $50 limit on my gloves because she was convinced they’d be gathering dust by now. So, yes, they’re an inexpensive pair. Not “cheap”, just inexpensive. And, no, they are not leather. They are “engineered” leather. (LoL!) | ||||
Today’s workout was about 45 minutes long, sweaty and exhausting. But, it was loads of fun and I felt terrific after my hot shower. Tired and relaxed and starting to get sore in strange (and not so strange) places, but all things considered – terrific! | ||||
I’m really not sure if this is a “phase” or not, but I’m going to put up a post every now and then about this “journey”. I’ll try to come up with a way to let you know in the “post” title when I’m on this topic as I have no idea how many of my blog followers have the slightest interest in this side topic. | ||||
A final note (reality check): I am a 65 year old man, morbidly obese, with a heart condition (AFib) and on blood thinners. So, NO, I will NEVER be in a fight or EVER sparring. This is just a way to try to add some fun to my efforts to raise some sweat (and maybe learn a bit about the “sweet science” while I’m at it.) | ||||
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On This Day In: | ||||
2021 | A Tenacious Cycle | |||
Once Upon A Time… | ||||
2020 | Kinda Like Posting To A Blog About My Day | |||
Just A Different Point Of View | ||||
You Be The Judge | ||||
2019 | I Think I’m Repeating Myself | |||
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like X-mas! | ||||
2018 | No Reason To Turn | |||
2017 | Talking Knuth | |||
Seeing It Through | ||||
2016 | Hoping For The Best Come January | |||
2015 | Adaptive Security | |||
2014 | Wants | |||
2013 | Side Effects | |||
2012 | Just Trying To Earn A Living | |||
2011 | Productive Worry | |||
Growth Mindset
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, Sports, tagged Boxing, Challenges, Fran Sands, Learning, Philosophy, Quotes, Sports, The "Growth Mindset", The Beginner Boxer Toolkit, www.myboxingcoach.com on October 15, 2020| Leave a Comment »
The “growth mindset” in simple terms means that when students believe that they can get smarter, they understand that effort makes them stronger. | |
The student with a growth mindset put in extra time and extra effort and this leads to higher achievement. | |
The growth mindset student possesses the tendency to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, see effort as the path to mastery, learn from criticism and find lessons and inspiration in the success of others. | |
— Fran Sands | |
From his online book: “The Beginner Boxer Toolkit“ | |
Online at: www.myboxingcoach.com | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Bring The Void |
Home Cookin’, Anyone? | |
2020 | Growth Mindset |
I Wonder Where You Are | |
2019 | Steps To Impeach #45 |
Science Upgrade Needed | |
2018 | Come November 6th |
2017 | Hearts And Memories |
2016 | Tremendous Energy |
Beyond Trying | |
2015 | Tell Me… |
2014 | Live Forever (To Remember Me) |
Orange October (VI) – Giants Win Game 4 | |
2013 | More Than Just Words |
2012 | Egotist, n. |
2011 | Good And Bad |
Crowd Sourced Scouting Report
Posted in Quotes, Sports, tagged Branch Rickey, Concordia Open Source Software, Crowd Sourcing, Jackie Robinson, Kate Awaard, Major League Baseball, Quotes, Scouting Reports, Sports, Wired Magazine on April 13, 2020| Leave a Comment »
[Regarding volunteer crowd-sourcing transcriptions of hand-written (formerly) personal notes…] I do it a lot myself. Branch Rickey’s papers are just awesome. He is most famous for bringing Jackie Robinson into Major League Baseball, and through crowdsourcing we were able to transcribe 1,926 pages of his scouting reports on prospective players. I would never have guessed how fun baseball scouting reports could be! One of my favorite lines is “I doubt if he has any adventure in his soul.” | |
— Kate Zwaard | |
From a column: “Concordia open source software“ | |
Appearing in: Wired Magazine, May 2019 | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | This Dot – Our Home |
2021 | The Imposition Of Position |
Rainin’ Fire In The Sky | |
2020 | Stand Up! |
Crowd Sourced Scouting Report | |
2019 | Only One Direction |
2018 | Respect Is Long Gone |
2017 | Dream Of Dreamers |
2016 | Dear Automakers |
2015 | And Some Not So Brave Too |
2014 | In My Lifetime… |
2013 | Democracy |
2012 | Borrowed Expectations |
2011 | Not Necessarily True |
On To Superbowl LIV (54)!!
Posted in Pictures, Sports, tagged AFC, American Football Conference, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Florida, National Football Conference, National Football League, NFC, NFL, Picture of Me, San Francisco 49ers, Sports, Superbowl LIV on January 19, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Yes!!! Today, my “local” American Football team, the San Francisco 49ers (who are actually based in the San Jose / Santa Clara area) defeated the Green Bay Packers by the score of 37 to 20 (and it really wasn’t that close) in the NFL National Conference championship game. Now, on we move on to face the Kansas City Chiefs in two weeks at a neutral location (Miami, Florida) for Superbowl LIV (that’s 54 for those of you who don’t know your Roman numerals). | |
This is a hard game for me because although I’m a lifetime supporter of the “Niners”, but I was born in Kansas City and, until the 1990’s, supported the Chiefs as my “AFC” (American Football Conference) team. The 49ers are in the Western Division of the National Football Conference (“NFC”). So, either way, I can’t “lose” the game, but I sure will be rooting for the Red and Gold. Go Niners!!! | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | Pass A Voting Rights Act For Democracy’s Sake |
2021 | Tomorrow President Biden Starts Wrestling |
Good-Bye #45 | |
2020 | The Burden Of Faith |
On To Superbowl LIV (54)!! | |
2019 | Are Your Dogs Barking? |
Dangerous Waistcoats | |
2018 | And 40+ Years Later? |
2017 | He Is Alone |
2016 | Compensation |
2015 | Charlie Redux |
2014 | The Crux |
2013 | Erosion And Rechannelling |
Alliance, n. | |
2012 | How Many Thought… (One I Know Of) |
Choices And Decisions | |
2011 | Speed Spoils |
Simply Intended | |
2010 | A Second 4 Hour Jog |
2019 49ers Season Starts 5-0!!
Posted in Philosophy, Sports, tagged 49ers Are 5-0!, Dallas Cowboys, Go 49ers, Go Niners, Los Angeles Rams, National Football League, NFL, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Sports, Super Bowl on October 13, 2019| 2 Comments »
EVERY year I say the same thing in August: “There are only two valid tests for a successful San Francisco Forty-Niner season – Did we win the Super Bowl or did we beat the Rams twice?“ | |
You see I grew up watching the Niners win one(1!!!) game against the Los Angeles Rams in ten years. In the 1980s-90s, when we went on to win five Super Bowls in fourteen years, I still had the same question? I don’t care about anything else if we don’t win the Super Bowl that year except: “Did we beat the Rams twice?” If the answer to either question is “yes”, then we had a good year. Otherwise, I don’t want to hear about appearing in the Super Bowl, winning the NFC, winning the Western Division, having a winning record – or ANYTHING else. Win the Super Bowl or beat the Rams twice… | |
Of course, anybody will tell you it’s also nice to beat the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders in the same season as either of the two above, but they are DISTANT seconds to the two defining conditions mentioned above. | |
Anyway, my point is we (the Forty-Niners) are halfway there… Today, we went down to LA and put a whipping on the Rams (27-7). We are now halfway to a successful season without even having to play in the Super Bowl. Traditionally, NFL teams which finish with 10 wins in a season, make the playoffs. We now have 5 wins with 11 games to go. In theory, we only have to play .500 ball to make the playoffs. Bottom Line: our next game against the Rams is on 22 December. Go Niners!!! | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | What Matters To Me |
With The Slamming Of The Door | |
2020 | Make Voting A Habit |
You Ought To Hear Him Tell His Stories | |
2019 | 2019 49ers Season Starts 5-0!! |
Will Any Republican Senator Vote For Impeachment? | |
2018 | VOTE – We Need A Wave |
2017 | Soothe, Inspire And Recharge |
2016 | Aren’t We? |
2015 | Cold Embrace |
2014 | Delightful |
2013 | Apprenticeship |
2012 | Curtain Rods |
2011 | A Living Force |
2010 | BART Rides – A Tipping Point |
Dodgers Choke AGAIN
Posted in Sports, tagged Baseball Playoffs, Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers Choke Again, Madison Bumgarner, MLB, Sports, Washington Nationals Defeat Los Angeles Dodgers on October 10, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Let’s just get it out there… I am a Giants fan; ergo: I HATE the Dodgers! I MAY have to grant a grudging respect to one or two of their players, but it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Especially if it’s a current player… | |
There has been little sweeter for this Giants fan than watching the Dodgers lose the last two World Series at home, but this year’s playoff elimination is pretty close… (Yes, I am a small enough person to gloat about this!) | |
The Dodgers won 13 more regular season games than the Washington Nationals (their opponents). | |
The Dodgers had a regular season run differential of +273 compared to +149 for the Nats! | |
Game 5 (the “deciding” game) was played in Dodger Stadium. | |
Clayton Kershaw has been one of – if not THE – most dominant pitcher of the last decade. (Please recall: I LOVE me some Madison Bumgarner!!) | |
The Dodgers were leading in game 5 by two(2) runs going into the 8th inning. | |
And, then, the collapse… Kershaw surrenders two home runs and the game is tied. Two innings later (in the 10th), the Nats get a grand-slam and go on to with the game 7-3. The Dodgers are eliminated from the 2018 playoffs! | |
Now, Kershaw has always seemed to me to be a decent person: In victory, he shares the credit. In defeat, he claims ownership and responsibility for the loss. So, I have one request for the Dodgers: PLEASE trade Kershaw to some other team so I can root for him to win a World Series before he ends his illustrious career. I saw his post-game (series) interview and I really want to support him. But, I can’t!!! I can’t!!!! If Kershaw gets enough post-season appearances, eventually he will win a World Series… Please (Baseball Gods) let it be for anyone but the Dodgers! | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Chaos Theory |
Too Few | |
2020 | What About Blog Posts? |
Listenin’ By Myself | |
A Short History | |
2019 | Dodgers Choke AGAIN |
He Wasn’t “Just Kidding The Press” | |
2018 | Thinking About My Hil |
Remember Your Duty In November | |
2017 | Play Well With Others |
2016 | Surviving And Challenging |
2015 | On Destroying Historic / Archaeological Sites |
2014 | Magical Power |
2013 | How Awesome Would That Be |
2012 | Two Views |
2011 | Still Looking For Examples |
2010 | Giants Win Away 3 – 2!! |
Missing Failure
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Sports, tagged Basketball, Failure, Michael Jordan, Philosophy, Quotes, Sports, Success, Winning on February 18, 2019| Leave a Comment »
I have missed more than 9,000 shots, lost almost 300 games, on 26 occasions been entrusted to take the game winning shot — and missed. I have failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. | |
— Michael Jordan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | First, To Understand |
2021 | So How Should We Persuade The Dangerous? |
Can A Loser Ever Win? | |
2020 | Maybe More Than A Very Few |
2019 | Missing Failure |
2018 | Praise God |
2017 | Necessary Gaps |
2016 | Nor My Dogs |
2015 | Say What? |
I’m A Dog, Too! | |
Beginnings | |
2014 | Astonishing Choices |
2013 | Three Hard Tasks |
2012 | The Only Remains |
2011 | Personal Capability |
What Price Failure? | |
Both Of W’s Elections | |
Tea (Baggers) Anyone? | |
It Was A Very Good Year
Posted in General Comments, Sports, tagged 2023 NFC Championship, A Good Season, American Football, Dallas Cowboys, General Comments, LA Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Sports on January 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »
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