Balls Walls Dudes

Hey!

What’s up!?

How was your weekend!?

Mine was great, thanks for asking!

As I’ve stated before, a couple times, I’ve decided to join an in-line hockey team starting this September, despite my apparent lack of ability at the sport.  This is, of course, not going to stop me from busting my ass in order to learn all the fundamentals in the next month so I am passable by the time the season comes around.  I ordered my skates today, which is a big step, and come Thursday/Friday i should be beginning my training.

I know that I’m not going to be able compete unless I adopt the philosophy of playing all-out, all the time, which is very similar to the philosophy of a number of my favorite baseball players.  A number of these players may not have the talent of their peers, but they compete on the same level as them because of the effort they put in to every single play they’re involved in.  Whether it’s busting down the line on every hit, never giving up on a possibly catchable ball, or backing up a base if you’re not involved in a play, these players take every at-bat, pitch, or ball hit to them like it’s the last play they’ll ever be involved in.  Players like David Ekstein, Eric Byrnes, Aaron Rowand and Ryan Freel exemplify these traits to a tee.

It’s these types of players that I hold the most respect for – more than the players who put up the huge numbers or the ones who hold the records – because they view they’re sport (which is really their career) like I attempt to view my entire life.  They see they’re position in the Major Leagues as a blessing, something not to be taken for granted because it’s something that so few people have the opportunity to do.  I know that the abilities I’m given are nowhere near the best or the most numerous, but I try my hardest to use them to the fullest extent that my body will allow.

These players won’t go down in the history books, they’ll most likely be forgotten by most people, but they’ll feel personally fulfilled and truly happy because they know they put every ounce of their effort into what they did and as a result got a chance to do what a very small percentage of people get to do, which is play a fucking sport and get paid a significant amount of money for it.  I may not get that far, but if I put that kind of effort into all the other things I love to do, I will eventually become truly happy with what I’ve done and hey, maybe I can even make a living off of one of those things.

So I’ll play.  I’ll play for the love of the game.  I’ll play like it’s the last game of my life… the last period… the last play.  I’ll play so at the end of the day I’ll know that I could have done nothing more, regardless of the outcome.

Man I can’t wait to get my fucking skates.

Stay extreme,

tim!

Let’s throw our money away pt. 2

Ishraq made a very good point in his comment on yesterday’s post, saying “i think you know my stance on gambling and drunken revelry. you’re getting mad at the actors in a system for not smiling while taking away your $$, yet to me the bigger absurdity is that people find enjoyment in the very concept of gambling, of which the function is appropriately described in your title.”  I agree about the ridiculousness of the concept of gambling which taps into one of the most disgusting of human traits, greed.  The opportunity to win loads of easy money by playing a game is often times too overwhelming for most people, and the fact that casinos play off of that is appalling.  There are also definitely more fun games to play if you’re merely doing it for the enjoyment (I’m looking at you, Scrabble).

However, in my last post, I was more aiming at it being kinda sad on a person to person level as opposed to a blanket statement about all casinos and its dealers.  Whether they’re taught to act like people who are new to the game should be shunned by the higher-ups or not I don’t know, but I can’t think of a reason why they would, besides them just being dicks.  I’ll admit that in the post I didn’t explain my objective as well as I should have, but that’s the whole reason why I’m writing this thing, so I can get better at expressing myself.  I know it seems like I harp on this being nice to people thing and it may sound like I’m getting a bit whiny, but I find it so easy to treat others with respect that I see no reason for anyone else not to.

Will I go back to a casino?  Most likely.  Money is not super-important to me so I don’t mind if I lose it (there’s always plenty more to make), but if I DO win I’ll be slightly more comfortable that I was before.  Also, to me the enjoyment wasn’t in the gambling but in spending time with good friends of mine in a place I’ve never been before, which is always a great recipe for getting ones fun on.

Hockey seems like an almost definite thing as long as we can get enough people.  I’m super-excited because I’ve never played hockey before, but super-nervous because I’ve NEVER PLAYED HOCKEY BEFORE!  I’m by no means a great athlete, but I can pick up a game pretty quickly and be semi-decent at it, but this will be different.  I’ve skated before, but this requires a whole new skill level of skating that’s going to take some practice.  Still, I feel like I’m up to the task.  I’m buying new skates and probably a new stick on Friday, so if you’re available let me know!

The Album-a-Day date seems like it’s going to be sometime in mid-August, let me know if you want to play in it.  Seriously, everyone’s more than welcome.  We would LOVE to have an accordion and a string section!

I feel like this is my worst post so far.  I’m very upset with myself and I’m pretty sure my day is ruined.  I PROMISE tomorrow’s will be a new topic and something more interesting.  Even looking back on the quote I don’t know if I properly responded to Ishraq.  Whatever, it’s all part of the learning process.

Stay confusing,

tim!