Category Archives: Sports

Why the Olympics Bring the World Together

Often in the course of life we are brought together due to a single event in tragedy or celebration. One pivotal moment that unifies the world for a moment in time. Often these events remain in our memory bank for generations to come. The significance of these events may not be felt to its full impact right away, but over time they take on a whole new meaning that is personalized and manifested into some life changing path.

Every four years (now every two if you count the Winter and Summer games as one) the world unites with the best athletes in the world representing the flag, culture, history, and beliefs of their motherland. Regardless of sport or finish, they stand in the forefront of an entire nation whether it is 3 million or 1 billion citizens. It is a burden that many spend their entire lives preparing for. The thought of spending most of your upright life practicing for a chance to show the world in just a few minutes or seconds that you are the best this planet has to offer is amazing. This is an overwhelming thought to have running through your head.

Nerves racing, expectations from all directions.

Now that this has officially become the Twitter Olympics, even criticism is thrown into the mix.

What I can say is this, the Olympics are important to this planet for several reasons:

1. For three weeks every two years, we have a reason to believe. No matter what our economic conditions are, war, terrorism, poverty, fear or illness, we are glued to our smartphones, tablets and televisions to witness history.

2. It is motivational bliss. Millions of children and adults will pick up a racket again, get in the pool, play basketball or try a new sport and remind themselves of the importance of sport and fitness

3. Family – The Olympics brings family closer together sharing in the happiness and saddness of our fellow countryman and countrywomen.

4. Emotional roller coaster – We all have our own personal emotional ride we take on each and every day. For a few moments, we can put that aside and put our energies into becoming a fan of the world.

5. Peace – Does all global conflict stop during the Olympics? Of course not, but I like to think we try a little harder to fathom the idea of a world living together in harmony.

6. Memories – Whether you are a participant, coach, volunteer, host city or fan at the local pub, we will all take memories away from these games.

In the end, we will see who won the medal count, but we will have a lot of stories to share and memories made. I don’t now how many times I have been asked “what is the point of sports?” and the answer is simple…Everything!

Sports are about teamwork, competition, victory, defeat, growth, endurance, strength, intelligence, drive, passion, inspiration, desire, motivation and honor. They stand for all the qualities we can ever dream of having. To feel a little more; to work a little harder; to taste the blood of victory; to agonize in a moment of defeat is something you can’t effectively put into words.

If you ever meet an athlete, look deep into their eyes and you will know.

Enjoy some of the great moments from the 2012 Summer Olympic Games!


The Super Bowl is over…Thanks to the cultural shift of immediacy provided by social media

It is official, the New York Giants have won Super Bowl XLVI. This comes as devestating news to the New England Patriots as well as Las Vegas and off shore gambling platforms who stand to lose billions of dollars over the next 12 hours. Now what do we do? The beer and wine are purchased, dips are being stirred, wings are being defrosted, corn hole and horses shoes are set up and jerseys are being ironed. The good news is that most of the commercials (Thank you Jerry Seinfeld and Matthew Broderick) have not yet been aired and we do not know the final score of the match up.

Early indication from analysts is that the commercials may very well disappoint lacking in creativity and originality but aside from Budweiser, Doritos and Go Daddy, we may see the next great commercial (aka Apple circa 1984). We hope the analysts are wrong given that there is not much other reason to watch the game. There is a possibility, the coin toss has not been decided and what type of polo shirt Peyton Manning will be wearing as well.

We look at the New York Giants premature declaration of victory (Website Mishap) and think back to some of the premature announcements of death by Twitter of Michael Jackson and Joe Paterno as well as the false deaths of Chuck Norris, Jon Bon Jovi and the great Rick Astley.

So, is this an issue that must be addressed or do we need to accept that with the instant tools of communication with social media platforms and smart phones these errors of judgement will occur because we want to be the first to break major news? We have all been inaugurated as junior newscasters to the world. As part of that duty, we must take the role of paparazzi and fight to break the news to the masses.

This is quite a cultural shift, almost to the point where it has numbed our ability to feel any longer. I recall several months back, I was at a pub enjoying some nice banter with a few friends and the television announced a surprise press conference from President Obama at midnight. A student two seats down turned to me and said “We killed Bin Laden”. I asked how he knew. He informed me that a friend of his was interning at the Capital and leaked him the information. Not entirely to my surprise, he was right, but more important was the reaction of the crowd. The bar cheered and then a full round of shots was bought for us and within 5 minutes, we were back to talking about the banter we were engaging in prior to the press conference. There was truly no time to allow the emotions to sing in and react to this monumental event. I can still recall the importance and length of my memories of some of the most life altering events in my life time. I can still remember every minute of the events before, during and after the Challenger Disaster and September 11.

When hundreds of thousands write RIP/R.I.P. on Twitter and Facebook without really knowing anything about the celebrities that pass, is it really a sign of remorse or a narcissistic attempt to be part of something? It is almost to a state of emotional void that our society has become. Have we lost the ability to feel? If we share a cause or express a comment of remorse, are we off the hook?

If you have not yet, put your money on the New York Giants while you can. History has been determined and for the second time since the 2007 season, the New York Giants have defeated the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl. Enjoy the game, the commercials and the half time show.

When events happen in our lifetime that alter the way we think and the impact on our lives, give yourself some time to let it sink in and let yourself feel. Try not to break the news BEFORE it actually happens.

In the end, life is not about reporting it; its about living it.


The Will Of Human Compassion is So Strong: How high school lacrosse gave a dying man one last smile

As reported by sports columnist George Diaz at OrlandoSentinel.com

It’s not lacrosse season, but last week Winter Springs (Fla.) High School played one of the most significant girls lacrosse games in memory. The score didn’t matter in the least. The significance came from the game’s sheer existence.

The Winter Springs girls lacrosse team played a special scrimmage at halftime of the Winter Springs junior varsity football game on Wednesday night. The Bears varsity squad squared up against their JV counterparts, the only way the school could logistically hold a scrimmage months out of season on short notice. And the most important spectator at the game was Carl Defoe, a middle-aged man devoid of body hair after five rounds of chemotherapy, cheering on his daughter for the first — and in all likelihood, the last — time in his life.

Defoe is dying of lung cancer, and he knows that he doesn’t have much time left — six weeks, eight weeks, maybe more. The cancer has spread from his one remaining lung to his brain stem and spinal cord. While Defoe insists that he isn’t done fighting the disease yet, the one thing that left him most anguished was knowing he’d never get to see his daughter, Heather, play in a high school lacrosse game.

Somehow the Winter Springs High School administration heard about Defoe’s last wish. The school quickly sprung into action, contacting the notoriously rigid Florida High School Activities Association to ask for special approval to hold a one-time, out-of-season lacrosse scrimmage. Amazingly, the FHSAA approved the request almost instantly, with one condition: They wanted a photo from the game.

So, on Wednesday, at halftime of the Winter Springs junior varsity football game against Oviedo High School, the two girls lacrosse squads faced off in a brisk, seven-minute scrimmage. Heather Defoe played for the varsity squad instead of the junior varsity team she’s scheduled to play with this spring … and she scored three goals.

Then, when it was all over, the two teams gathered around a happy man in a wheelchair, posed for cameras and the whole special event was gone, over as quickly as it had come.

Gone, but not forgotten by anyone there, not least of all Carl himself. If there were ever questions of whether sports can change a person’s outlook on life, they should be quieted by what Carl Defoe told Diaz just after the scrimmage wrapped up.

“I feel lucky,” Defoe said.


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