July 2012
Take control of what you can
Don’t sweat the small stuff. I’m sure you’ve heard that expression before, and it really is sound advice. I’d like to take it a step further, though. Not only should you not sweat the small stuff, but you shouldn’t stress yourself out over things you can’t handle.
In all of my years of working with the general public, I’ve been given lots of advice. I’ll admit, some pieces of wisdom have been worth a lot more than others. The most memorable advice came about 8 years ago when I was working as a cashier for a pharmacy.
While ringing up an elderly gentleman, I noticed that he had six prescriptions being filled. He was in quite regularly, coming in at least once a week. I don’t remember how it came up, but we got to talk about him being so sick. It was what he said to me next that forever changed the way I look at life.
“I don’t worry about being sick, because there’s only two possible outcomes. I’m either going to get better, or I’m going to die. Too many people worry about things that they can’t control, and that’s not a healthy way to live.”
If you think about it, it really does make a lot of sense. Why do people spend so much time worrying about things that they can’t control? Take control of things you can control over life, and do your best to not stress about the rest.Don’t sweat the small stuff. I’m sure you’ve heard that expression before, and it really is sound advice. I’d like to take it a step further, though. Not only should you not sweat the small stuff, but you shouldn’t stress yourself out over things you can’t handle.
In all of my years of working with the general public, I’ve been given lots of advice. I’ll admit, some pieces of wisdom have been worth a lot more than others. The most memorable advice came about 8 years ago when I was working as a cashier for a pharmacy.
While ringing up an elderly gentleman, I noticed that he had six prescriptions being filled. He was in quite regularly, coming in at least once a week. I don’t remember how it came up, but we got to talk about him being so sick. It was what he said to me that forever changed the way I look at like.
“I don’t worry about being sick, because there’s only two possible outcomes. I’m either going to get better, or I’m going to die. Too many people worry about things that they can’t control, and that’s not a healthy way to live.”
If you think about it, it really does make a lot of sense. Why do people spend so much time worrying about things that they can’t control? So start focusing on the things in your life that you can control, and do your best to not stress about the rest.
Loving the Olympics
Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved watching the Olympics. It didn’t matter if it was the Summer or Winter Olympics. It was a chance to watch the greatest athletes in the world compete on the biggest stage. When I was a kid, I thought maybe I could be an Olympic athlete one day. Eventually I learned that you actually have to be a good athlete in order for that to happen.
Now that the Olympics are on, I’m doing my best to keep up with all of the action. Due to my schedule, I haven’t been able to keep up with everything that’s going on, but I’m still doing my best.
There’s plenty of great stories in the 2012 Olympics, such as will Michael Phelps be able to claim at least one more gold medal in his final Olympics? Will any team come close to defeating the U.S. Men’s basketball team?
But when it comes to watching the Olympics, I’ve always been a fan of the less mainstream events. I always try to watch some of the table tennis and badminton competitions. For being ‘recreational’ games, it’s amazing to watch people playing them at world class level.
The one thing that I do miss, is having baseball as an Olympic sport. Baseball made it’s official Olympic debut in 1992, and was last played in 2008. Not only was that the last year for baseball in the Olympics, but also for softball. The International Olympic Committee has also ruled that neither sport will be included in the 2016 Olympics.
On April 1, 2011, the International Baseball Federation did announce that they were preparing a new proposal for the IOC. If it’s approved, baseball and softball could return to the Olympics as soon as 2020.
In all seriousness, the Olympics should leave you feeling at least two things, and that’s inspired and motivated. How many other times can you root for a select group of people who represent your country. These athletes aren’t just competing for medals, accolades and sponsorships, they’re competing for their countries.
Falling from first
The Tigers lost again today, bringing them two and a half games back of first place in the American League Central. Despite losing the last three games, there’s no need for fans to panic just yet.
A week before the All-Star Game, I felt confident in saying that that the Tigers would win the AL Central, and I do still believe that will be the case. Not only has the team been playing a lot more consistent in the last two weeks, but they’ve also managed to upgrade their team.
When the Tigers traded Jacob Turner, Rob Brantly and Brian Flynn for Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante, it was another fine example of finding a way to improve this team in the short term. Long term, the Tigers may have been better off by holding onto Turner, but as of right now, he is not a better than Sanchez.
Not only that, but the Tigers have had no offensive contributions from their second baseman this year, making that a major focus for Detroit. Infante will not only provide stability at second, but he’s also under contract for the 2013 season. If Detroit didn’t trade for a second baseman, they would find themselves with very few (or great) options via free agency.
There’s plenty of time left for the Tigers, not to mention the fact they still have seven games against the White Sox this year. The formula for making it to the playoffs is simple, and that’s to find a way to keep beating teams in your division. If Detroit can’t do that, they don’t deserve to be playing in October.
When I grow up
Remember when you were a kid? When we’re young, there’s no limit as to what we think we can accomplish. A lot of kids dream of being doctors, lawyers, or even the President. My aspirations as a child were nowhere near as exciting.
When I was a kid, I thought the perfect job was to be the guy who made slushees at K-Mart. My logic was pretty solid, because I figured that would mean I’d get all the free slushees that my heart could ever desire. Much to my mother’s approval, I’ve now gone on to dreaming about accomplishing much more in my life. Besides, I can make as many slurpees as I’d like at 7-Eleven. It’s not quite the same, but it’s good enough.
It’s always fun to hear about what kids want to be when they grow up. At a recent family function, my mom asked a few of my little cousins what they wanted to be when they grow up. One of my cousins said that she wants to be a teacher, whereas the other wants to bake cakes.
The common theme seems to be that kids want to find careers that make them happy. Obviously, not everyone grows up to be what they want to be. Although it would be nice, it’s not always likely or realistic. As I’ve gotten older, my career path doesn’t matter as much to me.
Sure, I’d still like to get a job using my journalism degree (whether that’s working in radio or as a writer), but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I don’t. I’m at the point now that when I ‘grow up,’ I just want to be happy.
The Ernie Harwell Sports Collection
If you’re a Tigers fan or even just a baseball fan, there’s not that many places where you can find a true archive of baseball history. You may be surprised to find out that there’s one in Detroit, and the best part, is that it’s completely free.
In what I consider one of Detroit’s best kept secrets, you will find more baseball books and documents than you could ever imagine or hope to find. Amongst artifacts, pictures and books, you’ll also find such things as a signed glove of Ichiro Suzuki. Where is this collection of baseball history? On display inside of the Detroit Public Library.
The collection is part of the Ernie Harwell Sports Collection, and is operated by the Burton Historical Society. Although it’s found in a locked room, it’s always available to the public with an appointment (or you can stop there and ask nicely). You can find the “Lulu and Ernie Harwell Room” on the second floor in the Main Library.
One side of the book case inside of the “Lulu and Ernie Harwell Room”
Ernie was a major influence in my life, so it was a bit overwhelming to see much of his personal collection on display. Once the doors opened and the lights were turned on, you’re immediately surrounded in an almost endless supply of baseball information.
One of the two display cases inside of the room. In it, you’ll find programs, cards, pictures and a few autographed baseballs
Besides the two-sided book case which is packed full of books dating back to at least the 1950s, you’ll find other artifacts, pictures, signs and pieces of baseball lore. The crazy thing, is that there’s a lot more items in the collection, but there’s unfortunately not enough space to display all of it.
When I was talking to the lady who provided us our tour, I asked her how many people visit the collection during the average week. Sadly, it’s not a lot. Apparently, most people come in to take a few pictures, and they never seem to return.
The table isn’t from Tiger Stadium, but the broadcasting equipment is
So the next time you’re in Detroit, I encourage you to stop at the Detroit Public Library and check it out. For more information, you can go to http://www.detroit.lib.mi.us/content/harwell-collection or call them at (313)481-1401.
Looks can be deceiving
While at work today, a customer was talking to me about the pictures that surfaced of James Holmes, the suspected shooter from the theater shooting in Colorado. They told me that from just seeing the pictures, they absolutely knew he was crazy. I’d be lying if I said that didn’t upset me. As cliche as it sounds, you should never judge a book by its cover.
But I really don’t want to focus this blog on Holmes or the incident in Colorado, but it’s about people who are ignorant when it comes to stereotypes. Just because someone changes the color of their hair, it doesn’t mean they’re crazy. Just because someone has their arms covered in tattoos, it doesn’t mean they can’t be professional.
I wonder who or what is to blame for these stereotypes, because they really don’t make any sense. What happened to judging a person for their actions, and not just the way they look. I’m well aware that this isn’t necessarily the thought process for the majority of people, but the fact that anyone thinks this way, is really quite a shame.
It almost is like the days of high school, when people are more often than not judged based on their appearance. I would’ve hoped that as we grow older, we would’ve outgrown that thought process. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always seem to be the case. Perhaps one day we can finally put an end to all stereotypes.
Don’t judge a person until you’ve met them, talked to them and listened to them. You’ll soon realize that someone’s physical appearance is really the least important characteristic that they have. There’s more to someone than how they look, and looks can always be deceiving.
Good or bad: Bunting in baseball
There’s a tactic in baseball that drives fans wild. It can lead to one of the most exciting plays in baseball, or one of the most boring, depending on who you ask. For today’s blog, I’m going to talk about the bunt.
When a player or manager decides to bunt, it usually causes an immediate conversation and debate. Is bunting good for baseball? I’ll present you with some information so you can decide for yourself.
One of the more unique things about bunting, in comparison to other things in baseball, is that it’s executed in different ways and for different reasons. For instance, there’s a sacrifice bunt, a bunt for a hit, a suicide squeeze and also a safety squeeze. All of these plays focus exclusively around a bunt.
The main purpose of a bunt (at least in the vast majority of the time) is to give your team a significantly better chance to score a run. Bunting doesn’t always end up working out, and that’s often the main reason that some people are strongly against bunting under any circumstance.
First, let’s define a bunt. Simply put, it’s when a batter doesn’t attempt to swing at the ball in the usual sense, but rather they attempt to just stick the bat in front of the plate, ideally allowing the ball to travel no more than 15 feet past home plate. Here’s a picture of a standard bunting stance.
Photo courtesy of dummies.com
Usually when that happens, the batter is more or less sacrificing their at bat, and by that, meaning they’re gladly willing to trade an out in order to advance a runner to the next base. It’s very common to see a team attempt to sacrifice bunt when they’re tied late in the game. By advancing a runner to the next base, your odds of scoring on a base hit go up significantly.
If the sacrifice bunt doesn’t work, it usually results in the batter getting out without moving up the runner, or in very bad cases, both the batter and base runner manage to get out on the same play.
When a batter attempts to bunt for a base hit, they are essentially trying to catch the defense off guard, by forcing them to make a spectacular play in order to record an out. This is usually done with a very fast runner, with all kinds of mixed results. Here’s a video of an example of a batter bunting for a base hit.
The final category of bunts (at least as far as I’m discussing) is the squeeze play. This situation occurs with a runner on third base, and usually less than two outs (but teams who want to be extra adventurous will attempt a squeeze play with two outs). In a suicide squeeze, the runner on third base attempts to steal home, and the batter attempts to bunt the ball. If the batter can manage to bunt the ball into play without allowing the other team to catch it, the run will almost always score. If the batter misses his bunt attempt, the runner will be out at the plate and the rally will most likely be over. It would look a little something like this.
Similarly, a safety squeeze also occurs with a runner on third base and usually less than two outs. The difference between a suicide and a safety squeeze is the fact that the runner on third base will not run home until the batter has successfully bunted the ball. This way, if the batter misses the ball, there’s only minimal harm done.
You can find evidence that both supports and opposes the use of bunting in baseball. Much like anything else in baseball, fans seem to love it whenever it works, but hate it when it’s unsuccessful.
Tigers roar into first place
Entering today’s game, the Tigers found themselves a half-game back of first place in the AL Central. Leaving today, they now find themselves in first place.
It’s been a rocky road for the Tigers, full of ups and downs, twists and turns. Before the season began, people were panicked once they heard Victor Martinez was likely to be out for the season. Then they sign Prince Fielder to a 200-million dollar deal, and suddenly we expected them to win the division by at least 15 games.
In the perfect world, the Tigers would have led the division from wire-to-wire, but that’s not exactly realistic. In fact, it wasn’t until this day last year, when the Tigers took over the division lead and never looked back. I’ve said all along that the Tigers would win this division, and I still stand by that.
Rick Porcello easily pitched the best game of his career today (maybe second best if you count game 163 from a few years ago) as he held the White Sox to just one run in eight innings. It was a much needed boost for Porcello, who has been working hard to turn himself into a more consistent pitcher. Even more impressive, was the fact that the Tigers managed to score five runs of Chris Sale, who has arguably having as good of a year (if not better) than Detroit’s own Justin Verlander.
This team is starting to show its true colors, and fans should be getting excited. With the Tigers leading their division for the first time since the opening month of the season, it’ll be interesting to see how things will go from here on out. If Detroit can keep playing like they have in the last two weeks (which they certainly have the talent and ability to do), there’s no one in baseball who they can’t beat.
Tigers look to take control
Today marks a pivotal point for the Detroit Tigers, as they begin a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. Entering tonight’s game, the White Sox lead the Tigers by a game and a half in the American League Central division. If the Tigers can manage to win all three games, they’ll find themselves alone in first place.
I’d be lying if I said that this series will make or break the 2012 season for Detroit, but it’s certainly a good time for them to prove whether or not they belong in the playoffs, as well as determining if and what trades we should make before the July 31st deadline.
There’s been a lot of speculation that the Tigers are looking to acquire a starting pitcher like James Shields or Ryan Dempster, but I think the asking price for both might be a little more than I’d be comfortable with giving up. If Detroit wants to add someone to the rotation, a guy like Jason Vargas would make a lot more sense to me.
It’s a lot more likely that they’ll end up trading for a middle infielder, such as Willie Bloomquist, Jose Altuve or Aaron Hill. Overall, the rotation has been good enough for us to win the division, but the Tigers have yet to get any sort of offensive production from anyone they’ve had playing second. Does this mean the end for Ryan Raburn? Although it’s far from a certainty, I’d imagine the Tigers would look into releasing him if they need to create room for their 25-man roster.
Tonight, Justin Verlander will square off against Jake Peavy in what should be a very well pitched ballgame. The Tigers have played well as of late, winning eight of their last ten games. The White Sox will look to rebound after their last two games against the Boston Red Sox.
A late night with the Dark Knight
Earlier in the week, my friends and I decided it would be a fun idea to catch the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. It’s always an experience when you see a movie at midnight, and this was certainly no exception.
First of all, don’t worry. This isn’t really meant to be a review and there certainly won’t be any spoilers, so if you’re worried about that, don’t be. If you’re disappointed that this isn’t a review, well, that’s too bad. Instead, this is merely an observation of the night that was.
If you’ve never gone to a midnight showing at the movie theaters, you’ve certainly missed out on a lot of people embracing their true love of the movie. I’ve yet to go to a midnight showing where there wasn’t countless amounts of people dressing up in costumes. Sorry to disappoint you, but no, I’ve never dressed up for a midnight movie (at least not yet, I guess you can never say never).
When I went to see The Avengers at midnight, it was hands down the busiest I’ve ever seen for a midnight release. Much to my surprise, The Dark Knight Rises was significantly busier. For all of the records The Avengers broke, I have to think that The Dark Knight Rises will certainly give it a run for it’s money. Why? Because The Dark Knight movies have been that good. The finale was no exception to that.
My general thoughts of the movie was that it was enjoyable, some parts ran a bit long (which I guess is to be expected from a movie that’s almost three hours long), but there was enough action, plot and character development to not make it drag on. The movie didn’t feel as long as it was, and seeing as it didn’t start until about 12:30, I was thankful for that.
On a completely different note, it wouldn’t be fair to talk about a The Dark Knight Rises midnight movie, without giving some mention to the victims of the terrible tragedy in Colorado. For those who aren’t aware of what happened, a man entered a theater, used tear gas, an automatic rifle of some sort and two handguns, opening fire on patrons of the theater. From what I’ve been able to read, the death tally was between 12 and 15, with upwards of 50 being injured. The gunman is in custody, and I sincerely hope justice is served for all of those effected by this terrible incident. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those effected.
Brad Jeffers
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