The title is actually a little deceiving. It would indicate that I actually had something previously in order for me to still have it. I don't know if I ever really had "it". No, I'm not referring to a Coke because believe you me, I wouldn't still have it because it would be long drank already. I'm talking about scoring goals.
Back in highschool soccer days in my grade 11 year I hit the high point of my goal scoring career. I believe I had 10 goals that season (I actually forget the exact number but as I get older I think that number will also keep inflating). I remember being extremely happy with all the goals I scored that year and that was also the first time in 14 years that our school beat Notre Dame to go to Provincials. Best soccer season ever! I've never scored that many goals in one season since.
This season I decided I wanted to get away from playing defense and start to play forward for indoor soccer. I had never played forward before but I figured it was time to start scoring goals again. But there is nothing more frustrating than having someone on the team playing forward who can't score goals. So I told another guy that if I wasn't scoring at least 1 goal every 3 games I should be kicked off the forward line. That goal really isn't all that high, but for someone who had scored maybe 2 goals total in the last four seasons it was pretty lofty.
Well, tonight in my first game ever as a 30 year old I managed to hit the back of the net twice to put my total goals for the season at 8. I played in a total of 18 games giving me an average of one goal every 2.25 games...my goal was reached!
With the outdoor season approaching in early May I realize I only have about 1 month to get into shape. Currently, I am not where I want to be. Outdoor soccer is a lot of running and I need to lose one, two or twenty pounds or so if I want to be competitive out there. Right now I'm looking in the mirror and I see a trim, lean and muscular man staring back at me...oh wait, that's the Men's Fitness magazine. In the mirror I look like...oh never mind, I don't want to give anyone nightmares. I've already been researching a soccer fitness training program and am looking forward to a much leaner, trimmer and more muscular physique come May. So stay tuned to this very blog to see how the training goes.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
March 22 - The Greatest Day Ever
I do enjoy a good birthday. This one is a big one for me...the big 30. I had always planned on making my first million by the time I was 30, but unfortunately it looks like I came up a few hundred dollars short. Guess you can't win them all.
The party already started yesterday with a lunch to Grainfields with my in-laws and then an outing to East Side Mario's and then back to our place for ice cream cake and a poker tournament. You'd think they would let the birthday boy win, but no and I just got second.
I actually have no real plans for on my birthday day. I'm just going to kick around and do what I want. Maybe go to Golftown...maybe watch some NCAA ball...maybe try to get that last couple hundred dollars to reach my million mark...who knows. What I do know is now I am old, I can see over the hill and I'm about to start cruising down the other side. The adventure is only beginning!
The party already started yesterday with a lunch to Grainfields with my in-laws and then an outing to East Side Mario's and then back to our place for ice cream cake and a poker tournament. You'd think they would let the birthday boy win, but no and I just got second.
I actually have no real plans for on my birthday day. I'm just going to kick around and do what I want. Maybe go to Golftown...maybe watch some NCAA ball...maybe try to get that last couple hundred dollars to reach my million mark...who knows. What I do know is now I am old, I can see over the hill and I'm about to start cruising down the other side. The adventure is only beginning!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Is Swimming Worth It?
I'm a big fan of sports. I love getting out onto the soccer pitch and kicking the ball, scoring goals and getting sweaty. I love basketball with the low hanging shorts and trash talking my opponent even if 9 times out of 10 he's better than me. But when it comes to swimming, I just don't get it.
The problem with swimming starts long before you actually get into the pool. For most sports you are part of a team and you sit around the locker room or field, strap on the equipment and protection and then after a group chant and a manly group hug you run onto the field/court. Swimming is just the opposite. Good chance if you are a swimmer you are an individual (yeah, I know they call them 'swim teams', but seriously, you are on your own). Then, instead of strapping on a uniform and protection, you strip down to the least amount of clothing possible without getting arrested for public nudity and once you have shaved your legs and probably head, you venture out in front of the large crowd of people more exposed than an underwear model. If they rated swim meets like they do movies it would have to be at least PG-13 due the uniform alone.
The second problem is that swimming is the only sport I know of where, aside from injury, just participating in the sport could kill you. You can venture out and play soccer, basketball or any other sport and even if you are really bad you won't die. With swimming, if you don't perform the technique correctly you will sink and drown. You never really hear of people getting together for a pick up game of swimming. That's because most people don't invite their friends out to enjoy a possible death activity. Yeah, I know you can just stay in the shallow end, but seriously how much fun is that? It's like playing slowpitch with someone and you just stick them way out in right field because you know the ball is never going to go there.
If you do manage to get through the humiliation of wearing nothing short of bikini briefs in front of all your friends and family and actually manage to survive while doing the 100 metre breast stroke, the worst part of swimming is still to come...changing. This is absolutely the worst part of swimming. You walk into the change room dripping wet and head to your locker. Hopefully you have a combination lock because if you have a key for the lock I have no idea where you put that on your uniform! Then you pull out your towel and head to the shower.
The showering itself is a whole new thing. Many people treat these public showers like they are at home and just strip right down to nothing when they jump in (not that there is really much left to the imagination anyway). I want to be sure I fit in so I usually just follow suit. The problem is I don't think I know the rules for showering in these facilities. I mean, I know the main ones like if you drop the soap, just let it go man. But what are the other rules? First, what do you call this type of shower facility with many showers together in one open room? Group showers? Gang showers? No matter what you call it, when you try to describe for someone the type of shower it is they are going to start laughing and think you are a pervert. Second, are you suppose to face the wall or the middle of the room? I get tired staring at the wall while showering but turning around seems to be a little too wrong for me too. Third, which shower do you take? If there are a couple other people in there already how do you know which shower to go to? Do you take one right next to another guy or does there have to be at least one shower space between? And finally, are you allowed to talk to the other guys taking showers...and if you do talk to them do you actually look at them or just talk over your shoulder as you stare at the wall?
Once you survive the shower you now have to try to dry off and get dressed. This itself makes no logical sense. There is an inch of water all over the entire change room floor and somehow you are suppose to get out the front door without getting wet. Mission: Impossible. Getting dried off is not too hard and then the towel is wrapped around the waist. Although everyone was just showering together with nothing on, the rules seem to be that now for some reason you have to ensure that no one sees you naked. So with the towel around your waist you have to slip on your underwear without over exposing yourself. The shirt is easy and goes on no problem. Then it gets more difficult. Pulling on your pants is tough as they always seem to hit the floor at some point and are now wet. Then you have to put on your socks. Once the socks are on you have to hold them up in the air while you carefully put each foot into a shoe so you don't get your socks soaked. I don't think I've ever managed to do all those things without getting wet.
Now you have your final problem. Unlike most sports where you can just throw your uniform and equipment into the gym bag until next time, with swimming you must carry all this wet clothing home, hang it up in the bathroom to dry and then eventually pack it back up for another time. It just takes so...much...time. Finally, the ordeal is over and you can relax. As much "fun" as swimming is, it really isn't worth dying for.
The problem with swimming starts long before you actually get into the pool. For most sports you are part of a team and you sit around the locker room or field, strap on the equipment and protection and then after a group chant and a manly group hug you run onto the field/court. Swimming is just the opposite. Good chance if you are a swimmer you are an individual (yeah, I know they call them 'swim teams', but seriously, you are on your own). Then, instead of strapping on a uniform and protection, you strip down to the least amount of clothing possible without getting arrested for public nudity and once you have shaved your legs and probably head, you venture out in front of the large crowd of people more exposed than an underwear model. If they rated swim meets like they do movies it would have to be at least PG-13 due the uniform alone.
The second problem is that swimming is the only sport I know of where, aside from injury, just participating in the sport could kill you. You can venture out and play soccer, basketball or any other sport and even if you are really bad you won't die. With swimming, if you don't perform the technique correctly you will sink and drown. You never really hear of people getting together for a pick up game of swimming. That's because most people don't invite their friends out to enjoy a possible death activity. Yeah, I know you can just stay in the shallow end, but seriously how much fun is that? It's like playing slowpitch with someone and you just stick them way out in right field because you know the ball is never going to go there.
If you do manage to get through the humiliation of wearing nothing short of bikini briefs in front of all your friends and family and actually manage to survive while doing the 100 metre breast stroke, the worst part of swimming is still to come...changing. This is absolutely the worst part of swimming. You walk into the change room dripping wet and head to your locker. Hopefully you have a combination lock because if you have a key for the lock I have no idea where you put that on your uniform! Then you pull out your towel and head to the shower.
The showering itself is a whole new thing. Many people treat these public showers like they are at home and just strip right down to nothing when they jump in (not that there is really much left to the imagination anyway). I want to be sure I fit in so I usually just follow suit. The problem is I don't think I know the rules for showering in these facilities. I mean, I know the main ones like if you drop the soap, just let it go man. But what are the other rules? First, what do you call this type of shower facility with many showers together in one open room? Group showers? Gang showers? No matter what you call it, when you try to describe for someone the type of shower it is they are going to start laughing and think you are a pervert. Second, are you suppose to face the wall or the middle of the room? I get tired staring at the wall while showering but turning around seems to be a little too wrong for me too. Third, which shower do you take? If there are a couple other people in there already how do you know which shower to go to? Do you take one right next to another guy or does there have to be at least one shower space between? And finally, are you allowed to talk to the other guys taking showers...and if you do talk to them do you actually look at them or just talk over your shoulder as you stare at the wall?
Once you survive the shower you now have to try to dry off and get dressed. This itself makes no logical sense. There is an inch of water all over the entire change room floor and somehow you are suppose to get out the front door without getting wet. Mission: Impossible. Getting dried off is not too hard and then the towel is wrapped around the waist. Although everyone was just showering together with nothing on, the rules seem to be that now for some reason you have to ensure that no one sees you naked. So with the towel around your waist you have to slip on your underwear without over exposing yourself. The shirt is easy and goes on no problem. Then it gets more difficult. Pulling on your pants is tough as they always seem to hit the floor at some point and are now wet. Then you have to put on your socks. Once the socks are on you have to hold them up in the air while you carefully put each foot into a shoe so you don't get your socks soaked. I don't think I've ever managed to do all those things without getting wet.
Now you have your final problem. Unlike most sports where you can just throw your uniform and equipment into the gym bag until next time, with swimming you must carry all this wet clothing home, hang it up in the bathroom to dry and then eventually pack it back up for another time. It just takes so...much...time. Finally, the ordeal is over and you can relax. As much "fun" as swimming is, it really isn't worth dying for.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Competitor's Anonymous
"Hello, my name is Sheldon and I am a competitor."
"Hi Sheldon," the crowd replies with strained enthusiasm like they'd said it a thousand times to a thousand other people.
"I've been a competitor for as long as I can remember," I continue. " If there was ever a chance that someone could actually finish first in something, I was up for a little competition and was ready to claim that spot. It didn't matter what it was...getting the highest mark in school, winning a board game, or winning at any type of sporting event. I was always up for a competition."
"I remember back in my first year at Bethany College and I was playing basketball for the Bethany team and we ended up losing our first game. I went down to the lounge after to chat about the game and mentioned to someone that I couldn't believe we lost and how we needed to work harder to win next time. The person turned to me and said 'You play for Bethany...get used to it.' I got up and walked away because I couldn't believe there were people in the world that thought that way and were willing to go into a game expecting to lose. I always entered every single game with the thought that we could win if we played our best and I always emphasized that when I coached as well."
"When I play sports right now it is very hard for me to 'turn off' my competitive nature. When I'm playing men's soccer it is not a problem as everyone is out there to win and I blend right in for the most part, although sometimes I have done things I'm not proud of. The problem comes when I play slowpitch in the church league or play co-ed soccer. I try to focus on just having fun and playing carefree, but it is extremely hard for me and quite often I get caught up in the game and can get quite intense. I don't mean to, it's just that I have such a strong competitive nature that it's hard for me to sit back and just let things be."
"I feel it is important to be a competitor and I don't see anything wrong with that. The problem comes when my competitiveness ruins my witness for Jesus. As cliche as it sounds, I need to ask myself 'What would Jesus do?' when I'm in the midst of the competition. He wouldn't be yelling at the ref after a bad call, or getting mad at the other team when they injure me or another teammate. I want to be a competitor, but at the same time know how to be a good competitor, and also know when it is time to turn it off."
"So I'm continuing to work on this thing people call "recreation" where you just do things for fun and don't worry about strategy or doing certain things so that you will win. But instead, going out there and just playing with the gifts God has given me, not getting upset at referees or umpires, and just having a fun time playing with friends for enjoyment."
"Thanks for this group's support as I work on this aspect of my life."
"Hi Sheldon," the crowd replies with strained enthusiasm like they'd said it a thousand times to a thousand other people.
"I've been a competitor for as long as I can remember," I continue. " If there was ever a chance that someone could actually finish first in something, I was up for a little competition and was ready to claim that spot. It didn't matter what it was...getting the highest mark in school, winning a board game, or winning at any type of sporting event. I was always up for a competition."
"I remember back in my first year at Bethany College and I was playing basketball for the Bethany team and we ended up losing our first game. I went down to the lounge after to chat about the game and mentioned to someone that I couldn't believe we lost and how we needed to work harder to win next time. The person turned to me and said 'You play for Bethany...get used to it.' I got up and walked away because I couldn't believe there were people in the world that thought that way and were willing to go into a game expecting to lose. I always entered every single game with the thought that we could win if we played our best and I always emphasized that when I coached as well."
"When I play sports right now it is very hard for me to 'turn off' my competitive nature. When I'm playing men's soccer it is not a problem as everyone is out there to win and I blend right in for the most part, although sometimes I have done things I'm not proud of. The problem comes when I play slowpitch in the church league or play co-ed soccer. I try to focus on just having fun and playing carefree, but it is extremely hard for me and quite often I get caught up in the game and can get quite intense. I don't mean to, it's just that I have such a strong competitive nature that it's hard for me to sit back and just let things be."
"I feel it is important to be a competitor and I don't see anything wrong with that. The problem comes when my competitiveness ruins my witness for Jesus. As cliche as it sounds, I need to ask myself 'What would Jesus do?' when I'm in the midst of the competition. He wouldn't be yelling at the ref after a bad call, or getting mad at the other team when they injure me or another teammate. I want to be a competitor, but at the same time know how to be a good competitor, and also know when it is time to turn it off."
"So I'm continuing to work on this thing people call "recreation" where you just do things for fun and don't worry about strategy or doing certain things so that you will win. But instead, going out there and just playing with the gifts God has given me, not getting upset at referees or umpires, and just having a fun time playing with friends for enjoyment."
"Thanks for this group's support as I work on this aspect of my life."
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