Self Destruct

Posted on September 4, 2013 by tosabarbell

I had a chance to watch Lleyton Hewitt’s match yesterday at the US Open. Hewitt is an old man by tennis standards at 32 and has been on the circuit for over 12 years. I don’t know if it’s a tennis thing, a sun thing, or a genetics thing but dude looks like he’s in his early 40’s. Which is probably why I’ve always cheered for him. I kinda felt like I was cheering for the old guy. Anyway, having him still around in the fourth round of a grand slam tournament is a treat. He brought his Russian opponent all the way to the 5th set, was up 5-2 and practically had one foot in the quarterfinal round door when he seemingly completely self destructed. He lost the game and lost the match. Ugh.

Now, I say seemingly because my impressions of his tennis playing, of which I know nothing about until it’s Grand Slam TV time, seemed to me to take a big dump right around the time when he needed it most. But I don’t know. And that’s the crux of being a sports fan. We don’t know.  We can have opinions all day long about why our team or athlete self destructs, but we really don’t know.

At last weekend’s Wisconsin Highland Games, we competed on Sunday in the Irish Hibernian events. Basically, that means we threw some pretty heavy stuff in weird ways. When we went to the heavy Weight for Height, instead of tossing the weight over the bar we needed to hit a “shield” target hanging from it. Sounds easy enough. Until you’re under it. It was one of the most nerve wracking events I’ve done and was a complete blast. By the time this came around, our crowd had grown AND it seems many had spent some time in the beer tent. When Kerry Overfelt narrowly missed the target a rather boisterous fan yelled, “Come on Kerry, you have to at least try!” Heh. That was funny.

But he was serious. What?! Yup. He had an opinion that hitting a target high up in the air with a 56# weight should be easy, so we gotta at least try! And this is what I was saying to Lleyton Hewitt yesterday through the television, C’mon Aussie, at least try! But I don’t know. I don’t know if he was out of gas after the long match; or nerves got the best of him; or he was hungry; or the sun was in his eyes too long; or whatever else the fok went wrong that I don’t know about. In my eyes, he self destructed. But here’s the point sports fans of this post…

It doesn’t mean shit what I think. I don’t have an informed opinion.

Packer’s fans, you hear me? YOU DON’T HAVE AN INFORMED OPINION. Shut up. (I know they won’t, I just had to try.)

Screaming at athletes, whether at the field/court/whatev or watching on television is very, very different than staring in their eyes and trying to help them bounce back. That’s called a coach. See? Silly fan. Coach. Not the same.

At the end of the day, only he and his coach know  why Hewitt is now a spectator at this tournament. I’m sorry he lost. The Russian isn’t nearly as dashing as the Aussie.

Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility. 

Billie Jean King

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Friday Jams

Posted on August 30, 2013 by tosabarbell

The sound of Thunder is everywhere in Milwaukee this weekend as Harley Davidson celebrates it’s 110th Anniversary. We’ve been down to the Harley museum and even attended BaconFest there last winter, it was a blast. To step in it’s history and see a vision come to fruition is pretty awesome. After 110 years, they’ve still got it.

The music started last night and will go all weekend. We’ll be busy on the other side of town at the Wisconsin Scottish Games throwing and such and that’s what I love about my new town…there’s always a little something for everybody.

Enjoy your weekend.

If you don’t know about pain and trouble, you’re in sad shape. They make you appreciate life.

Evel Knievel

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Deservedly So

Posted on August 29, 2013 by tosabarbell

I remember the ONE time I told my mom that I should be able to do something because I DESERVED it, ya, it didn’t go over too well.

 

I got a quick lesson in the realities of life. See, you can work and work and work and STILL not get a break. Not fair? Group those two stupid words along with ‘I deserve.’ Harsh? Maybe if you grew up as a spoiled silly person believing the world owes you anything for just inhabiting it.

We see this all the time in work, life, sport…a feeling of entitlement because you’ve done something that although you yes, have worked hard at, is no different than hundreds or thousands of other folks around your field. You DESERVE PR’s in the gym cuz you’ve trained for a while? Ha! Good luck with that. The Iron doesn’t give one flying fok about how hard you’ve worked, it’s there to beat you.

DESERVE a promotion or a sports invite because you’ve been at it for a little bit? Uhhhh, good luck with that. Cuz the boss or the promoter may pick someone else for reasons that have nothing to do with you. But if you ARE one of the lucky folks who catch a break? You caught a break, that’s all. Not because you DESERVE it over someone else. To say that is Dick. Don’t be a dick. If you choose to be a dick, don’t be surprised when people treat you like a dick cuz guess what? You DESERVE to be treated like a dick.

I’m am so often amazed when adults utter those words. What kind of bullshit did your mommy feed you that you grew up with a sense of entitlement that you deserve anything other than a chance to wake up the next morning with a chance to fight the world? You DESERVE to be treated as ‘X’ by your partner? Really? And we wonder why the divorce rate is up to about, what, 80% by now? If you GET an opportunity to have success in life; sport; relationships; whatever, then  your JOB is to appreciate it and build on it. You get the opportunity to work harder and it is tragic that more people don’t understand that.

We haven’t “arrived” when our hard work catches a break and is successful, we’ve just happened along another step of life. Keep going up. To stay on that stair and say that’s all you want is a waste of opportunity and that is unacceptable.

Entitlement is the opposite of enchantment.

Guy Kawaski

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Nearing The End

Posted on August 27, 2013 by tosabarbell

kilt3

Nearly two years ago, I decided to compete in a Highlander (1/2 Strongman, 1/2 Highland Games) down in Wichita Falls, Tx. A very nice crew came up from the DFW area which included Elite thrower Brittany Boswell. She was quick to give us a view of what this Highland crowd was about. Fun, hard working, self deprecating, stylish, helpful (so helpful), and overall pretty bad ass. I had a great time, did ok, and thought maybe I’d like to do some more of these things.

And here we are today, nearing the end of my first Highland Games season.  I can honestly say in all of my years in competition, I’ve never had this much fun or met so many amazing people. Highland Games friendships are made fast and hold strong, it’s a pretty rare occurrence in adult life. Chalk it up to like minded folks; those who wish to compete hard, play hard, have fun, leave the silly game playing behind, and show respect to the field and it’s participants? I dunno. All I know is that this sport breeds some good people and I’m incredibly thankful for all of them and lessons learned on the field in one swift season.

I’ve had great games and some where I’ve struggled. I’ve had games where I’ve had absolutely nothing left in the tank at the end of the day and those where I”ve felt good enough to leave our dent in the beer tent afterwards.

beertent

I’ve thrown far…and not so far; I’ve fallen out of the trig; I’ve acquired some phenomenal tan lines; and have had so much dust fly up my nose I’m sure I’ll still find some this winter. I’ve gotten to mosey about with my Bigg man who has so much fun at some of these that I barely see him throughout the day. Heh. The Oz man has also acquired some much revered swords and has already picked up on good sword Games and not so good sword Games and will choose accordingly whether or not he wants to come.

I have been fortunate enough to throw at Games with top athletes in this game and am hoping to do even more next year.  I’ve been even MORE fortunate to get some great coaching from the likes of Jason Clevenger, Sara Hilgers, Katie Steingraeber, Brian Hare, Beth Burton, Mona Malec, and others that are no less important but my head is spinning a bit. I’ve had the opportunity to watch Matt and Andy Vincent go head to head; Kristi Scott throw the WOB over 20′; Adrian Wilson attack the trig with every throw; Jake Sullivan, Mark Valenti, Kerry Overfelt, and more greats do what they do best. And that’s just year one (I’ve included my first Games here in Waukesha last Labor Day weekend in this first year.)

I’ve had a chance to visit family and friends and even had my own Viking horn blowing crew at one of them. That. Was. Awesome.

My Crew

In short, it’s been a great season. To say it’s only the beginning is a bit mind blowing for me. Can it get better? I’ll believe yes but it has some large shoes to fill. I have the Wisconsin Scottish Games this weekend here in town that will officially mark my one year anniversary. Some great Pro’s come in for that one and I’m excited to watch them compete. I’ll remember to shut things down and just F’n throw! SRSLY.

September has been slated as no Games month since Oz has football games on Saturday’s and it’s time he has some “all about Oz” days. My last Games of the year will be in October in Indianapolis the weekend before we head to Lithuania for the World Loglift Championships for the Bigg guy. If you have a better way to end a sports season, bring it on. Heehee.

Thankfullness. I haz it.

When my time on Earth is gone, and my activities here are past, I want them to bury me upside down, and my critics can kiss my ass.

Bobby Knight

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