Saturday, March 6, 2010
Student Manager Fulfills NCAA Dream
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Student-manager-fulfills-Division-I-dreams-as-pl?urn=ncaab,226180
Cyclops Got Game
I've been sniffling the last day or so, probably because of something I picked up from one of the NCHS players. I believe that one of the better remedies is to sweat off a cold, so the timing was good for Saturday morning hoops at Four Seasons. I always feel better psychologically too for having toughed it out rather than festering in bed.
Fate had an extra challenge in mind for me. Five minutes into the first game I caught an elbow in the eye. It was just hard enough to dislodge my $15 contact lens to God-knows-where. Shoved deeper into my eye? Onto the floor? Rather than having ten players scour the floor for it I just gave it up. I called in for a sub and spent some time in the locker room feeling all around my eye trying to find it in vain.
I wasn't about to let that stop me! Winners persevere. After shooting my way into a depth-perception-distorted rhythm, I actually won several half-blinded games over the next 90 minutes. Now, with my glasses on and my world re-oriented, there's one more reason to feel good.
Fate had an extra challenge in mind for me. Five minutes into the first game I caught an elbow in the eye. It was just hard enough to dislodge my $15 contact lens to God-knows-where. Shoved deeper into my eye? Onto the floor? Rather than having ten players scour the floor for it I just gave it up. I called in for a sub and spent some time in the locker room feeling all around my eye trying to find it in vain.
I wasn't about to let that stop me! Winners persevere. After shooting my way into a depth-perception-distorted rhythm, I actually won several half-blinded games over the next 90 minutes. Now, with my glasses on and my world re-oriented, there's one more reason to feel good.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Julius Peppers
So for the second consecutive off season the Bears have pulled off the largest free agent signing, this time defensive end Julius Peppers. Along with Jay Cutler and Brian Urlacher, that's a pretty good trio of famous NFL faces to put on the cover of your team's media guide.
I've got to say that Chicago teams have reversed their attitude from the stingy years of my youth. It used to be an issue that Chicago fans were so loyal that ownership didn't bother to spend big bucks on high-quality players - why bother when your financial statement's bottom line is golden? Now with the likes of $48 million given to platoon outfielder Kosuke Fukudome and $136 million to the dissolving Alfonso Soriano, more than $60 million Bulls salary to tweener spindly forward Luol Deng, and $72 million now by the Bears to a player in his thirties with a sometimes questionable work ethic, I find my teams finally spending the big bucks - just on unfortunate players.
Still, the word "potential" casts wild dreams in the preseason, and the Cubbies and Bears have the talent to go all the way!
I've got to say that Chicago teams have reversed their attitude from the stingy years of my youth. It used to be an issue that Chicago fans were so loyal that ownership didn't bother to spend big bucks on high-quality players - why bother when your financial statement's bottom line is golden? Now with the likes of $48 million given to platoon outfielder Kosuke Fukudome and $136 million to the dissolving Alfonso Soriano, more than $60 million Bulls salary to tweener spindly forward Luol Deng, and $72 million now by the Bears to a player in his thirties with a sometimes questionable work ethic, I find my teams finally spending the big bucks - just on unfortunate players.
Still, the word "potential" casts wild dreams in the preseason, and the Cubbies and Bears have the talent to go all the way!
Season Finale
We finished the season with a second-place finish in the Washington freshman tournament. Washington finished its season with an undefeated record, and justifiably so.
The final record was 15-6, including trophies in all three tournaments that we played. There were a host of signs of improvement as a team tonight, but perhaps my favorite highlight was before the game even started. Coach Goldman and I watched the last few minutes of the consolation game before heading into the locker room to rouse the team onto the floor. "Let's go get them fired up," Coach said.
Only, we didn't need to do that.
As we approached the door, we could hear the sounds of singing, whooping and banging from within. Inside, the team was loose, almost dancing, and ready to go. When we hit the floor, we stunned their home crowd into near silence in the first half with a series of clever interior passes that gave us the lead by mid game.
In basketball like other places, winners aren't truly measured by numbers, but by conduct. In that sense we were the champions here, overcoming hometown crowds and refereeing to support each other unfailingly in the locker room and on the court.
The final record was 15-6, including trophies in all three tournaments that we played. There were a host of signs of improvement as a team tonight, but perhaps my favorite highlight was before the game even started. Coach Goldman and I watched the last few minutes of the consolation game before heading into the locker room to rouse the team onto the floor. "Let's go get them fired up," Coach said.
Only, we didn't need to do that.
As we approached the door, we could hear the sounds of singing, whooping and banging from within. Inside, the team was loose, almost dancing, and ready to go. When we hit the floor, we stunned their home crowd into near silence in the first half with a series of clever interior passes that gave us the lead by mid game.
In basketball like other places, winners aren't truly measured by numbers, but by conduct. In that sense we were the champions here, overcoming hometown crowds and refereeing to support each other unfailingly in the locker room and on the court.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Field Lickers
That's what I thought my father-in-law said on Sunday night.
The scene: Six of us sitting around a dining room table enjoying a fabulous meal of soup and cake prepared by Jane. Dena and I, Jane and Darren, and Dena's mom and dad were stuffed and happy. In fact, we were having some innocent chatter before playing a fun game a lot like "Scattergories."
The idle conversation shifted topics over time like the tides that we're all looking forward to at Hatteras this summer. One of the topics was local establishments. My untrained ear heard someone ask "How many Yogis were there? One or two?" I took this to mean the Yogi Bear campground, a place that I've seen a sign for multiple times but never personally set foot in.
There were a few seconds of quiet clatter as dishes were moved about. Then suddenly, in my left ear...
"FIELD lickers!" Dad said.
My brain swiveled 360 degrees trying to process this term. My first instinct, fortunately, was to bite my tongue and suppress a snort. As the big-city boy in the family, it occasionally happens that foreign phrases find my ears. The fact that no one else in the room raised an eyebrow in the next microsecond was enough to convince me that something like that had just happened. In the next instant I concluded that this was not some kind of insult like "ditch digger" or "sonofabitch," but was actually "Field Liquors" - some local establishment. Dena confirmed this in the car on the way home.
Yet another memorable Goodfield history lesson!
The scene: Six of us sitting around a dining room table enjoying a fabulous meal of soup and cake prepared by Jane. Dena and I, Jane and Darren, and Dena's mom and dad were stuffed and happy. In fact, we were having some innocent chatter before playing a fun game a lot like "Scattergories."
The idle conversation shifted topics over time like the tides that we're all looking forward to at Hatteras this summer. One of the topics was local establishments. My untrained ear heard someone ask "How many Yogis were there? One or two?" I took this to mean the Yogi Bear campground, a place that I've seen a sign for multiple times but never personally set foot in.
There were a few seconds of quiet clatter as dishes were moved about. Then suddenly, in my left ear...
"FIELD lickers!" Dad said.
My brain swiveled 360 degrees trying to process this term. My first instinct, fortunately, was to bite my tongue and suppress a snort. As the big-city boy in the family, it occasionally happens that foreign phrases find my ears. The fact that no one else in the room raised an eyebrow in the next microsecond was enough to convince me that something like that had just happened. In the next instant I concluded that this was not some kind of insult like "ditch digger" or "sonofabitch," but was actually "Field Liquors" - some local establishment. Dena confirmed this in the car on the way home.
Yet another memorable Goodfield history lesson!
Inherit The Wind
Be sure to set forward-looking goals in order to succeed:
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/sow_experts/post/Strong-wind-scores-an-incredible-own-goal?urn=sow,225434
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/sow_experts/post/Strong-wind-scores-an-incredible-own-goal?urn=sow,225434
Monday, March 1, 2010
Rules That Warren Buffett Lives By
From Yahoo! Finance:
Warren Buffett is arguably the world's greatest stock investor. He's also a bit of a philosopher. He pares down his investment ideas into simple, memorable sound bites. Do you know what his homespun sayings really mean? Does his philosophy hold up in today's difficult environment? Find out below.
"Rule No. 1: Never Lose Money. Rule No. 2: Never Forget Rule No. 1."
Buffett personally lost about $23 billion in the financial crisis of 2008, and his company, Berkshire Hathaway, lost its revered AAA ratings. So how can he tell us to never lose money?
He's referring to the mindset of a sensible investor. Don't be frivolous. Don't gamble. Don't go into an investment with a cavalier attitude that it's OK to lose. Be informed. Do your homework. Buffett invests only in companies he thoroughly researches and understands. He doesn't go into an investment prepared to lose, and neither should you.
Buffett believes the most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. A successful investor doesn't focus on being with or against the crowd.
The stock market will swing up and down. But in good times and bad, Buffett stays focused on his goals. So should we. (This esteemed investor rarely changes his long-term investing strategy no matter what the market does.
More from Yahoo! Finance:
• Warren Buffett's Worst Mistakes
• 10 Things Millionaires Won't Tell You
• Watch Out for New Credit Card Traps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the Banking & Budgeting Center
"If The Business Does Well, the Stock Eventually Follows"
The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham convinced Buffett that investing in a stock equates to owning a piece of the business. So when he searches for a stock to invest in, Buffett seeks out businesses that exhibit favorable long-term prospects. Does the company have a consistent operating history? Does it have a dominant business franchise? Is the business generating high and sustainable profit margins? If the company's share price is trading below expectations for its future growth, then it's a stock Buffett may want to own.
Buffett never buys anything unless he can write down his reasons why he'll pay a specific price per share for a particular company. Do you do the same?
"It's Far Better to Buy a Wonderful Company at a Fair Price Than a Fair Company at a Wonderful Price"
Buffett is a value investor who likes to buy quality stocks at rock-bottom prices. His real goal is to build more and more operating power for Berkshire Hathaway by owning stocks that will generate solid profits and capital appreciation for years to come. When the markets reeled during the recent financial crisis, Buffett was stockpiling great long-term investments by investing billions in names like General Electric and Goldman Sachs.
To pick stocks well, investors must set down criteria for uncovering good businesses, and stick to their discipline. You might, for example, seek companies that offer a durable product or service and also have solid operating earnings and the germ for future profits. You might establish a minimum market capitalization you're willing to accept, and a maximum P/E ratio or debt level. Finding the right company at the right price -- with a margin for safety against unknown market risk -- is the ultimate goal.
Remember, the price you pay for a stock isn't the same as the value you get. Successful investors know the difference.
"Our Favorite Holding Period Is Forever"
How long should you hold a stock? Buffett says if you don't feel comfortable owning a stock for 10 years, you shouldn't own it for 10 minutes. Even during the period he called the "Financial Pearl Harbor," Buffett loyally held on to the bulk of his portfolio.
Unless a company has suffered a sea change in prospects, such as impossible labor problems or product obsolescence, a long holding period will keep an investor from acting too human. That is, being too fearful or too greedy can cause investors to sell stocks at the bottom or buy at the peak -- and destroy portfolio appreciation for the long run.
You may think the recent financial meltdown changed things, but don't be fooled: those unfussy sayings from the Oracle of Omaha still RULE!
Warren Buffett is arguably the world's greatest stock investor. He's also a bit of a philosopher. He pares down his investment ideas into simple, memorable sound bites. Do you know what his homespun sayings really mean? Does his philosophy hold up in today's difficult environment? Find out below.
"Rule No. 1: Never Lose Money. Rule No. 2: Never Forget Rule No. 1."
Buffett personally lost about $23 billion in the financial crisis of 2008, and his company, Berkshire Hathaway, lost its revered AAA ratings. So how can he tell us to never lose money?
He's referring to the mindset of a sensible investor. Don't be frivolous. Don't gamble. Don't go into an investment with a cavalier attitude that it's OK to lose. Be informed. Do your homework. Buffett invests only in companies he thoroughly researches and understands. He doesn't go into an investment prepared to lose, and neither should you.
Buffett believes the most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. A successful investor doesn't focus on being with or against the crowd.
The stock market will swing up and down. But in good times and bad, Buffett stays focused on his goals. So should we. (This esteemed investor rarely changes his long-term investing strategy no matter what the market does.
More from Yahoo! Finance:
• Warren Buffett's Worst Mistakes
• 10 Things Millionaires Won't Tell You
• Watch Out for New Credit Card Traps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the Banking & Budgeting Center
"If The Business Does Well, the Stock Eventually Follows"
The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham convinced Buffett that investing in a stock equates to owning a piece of the business. So when he searches for a stock to invest in, Buffett seeks out businesses that exhibit favorable long-term prospects. Does the company have a consistent operating history? Does it have a dominant business franchise? Is the business generating high and sustainable profit margins? If the company's share price is trading below expectations for its future growth, then it's a stock Buffett may want to own.
Buffett never buys anything unless he can write down his reasons why he'll pay a specific price per share for a particular company. Do you do the same?
"It's Far Better to Buy a Wonderful Company at a Fair Price Than a Fair Company at a Wonderful Price"
Buffett is a value investor who likes to buy quality stocks at rock-bottom prices. His real goal is to build more and more operating power for Berkshire Hathaway by owning stocks that will generate solid profits and capital appreciation for years to come. When the markets reeled during the recent financial crisis, Buffett was stockpiling great long-term investments by investing billions in names like General Electric and Goldman Sachs.
To pick stocks well, investors must set down criteria for uncovering good businesses, and stick to their discipline. You might, for example, seek companies that offer a durable product or service and also have solid operating earnings and the germ for future profits. You might establish a minimum market capitalization you're willing to accept, and a maximum P/E ratio or debt level. Finding the right company at the right price -- with a margin for safety against unknown market risk -- is the ultimate goal.
Remember, the price you pay for a stock isn't the same as the value you get. Successful investors know the difference.
"Our Favorite Holding Period Is Forever"
How long should you hold a stock? Buffett says if you don't feel comfortable owning a stock for 10 years, you shouldn't own it for 10 minutes. Even during the period he called the "Financial Pearl Harbor," Buffett loyally held on to the bulk of his portfolio.
Unless a company has suffered a sea change in prospects, such as impossible labor problems or product obsolescence, a long holding period will keep an investor from acting too human. That is, being too fearful or too greedy can cause investors to sell stocks at the bottom or buy at the peak -- and destroy portfolio appreciation for the long run.
You may think the recent financial meltdown changed things, but don't be fooled: those unfussy sayings from the Oracle of Omaha still RULE!
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