Rivalry Day on Memorial Day

What makes a good rivalry? Down right 'hate.'

With a pinch of respect and admiration. (To keep things from getting too crazy.)

It just so happens that rivalry day for two of my favorite teams falls on Memorial Day. Good old fashioned American competition will be at full froth this afternoon, but still kept in the proper perspective framework that none of this would be possible without the ultimate sacrifice made by the men and women of the armed forces. 

WIthout them, frat boys could not stagger off the 'White Sox' stop of the Red Line on the South Side of Chicago. A father could not drive in to U.S. Cellular Field from the Dan Ryan Expressway to take his son to his first game ... AMURICA!

The Cubbies start thing against the homestanding Pale Hosers (a.k.a. Chicago White Sox) at 5 p.m. MT. Jeff Samardzjia hopes to finally get some much-needed run support in the series opener. It's been too long since the Cubs took a Cross Town series so I hope they set the tone right tonight.  

In the rink, Game 6 for the Hawks against those squid throwers (Detroit Red Wings) at 6 p.m. MT in a do-or-die scenario tonight. Chicago hasn't been able to steal one at Joe Louis Arena yet so they obviously need to break that trend to force Game 7 back on the friendly ice of the United Center.

As the guys from Workaholics would say, S'Go!

The Good Land

Back in my home state for Memorial Day weekend and it feels good ... as Alice Cooper would say.

Although Milwaukee is an hour and a half away from where I grew up, there is just something about getting back home.

Anxiety As Kryptonite

I went as saw Iron Man 3 last weekend and thought it was interesting how (other than Aldrich Killian's enhanced genetic engineering) anxiety was Tony Stark's biggest obstacle.

He went through some horrific events in New York and any mention of the city and the events that happen there leave him short of breath, falling to the ground and panting for relief.

Of course, Tony is too proud to go see a therapist or seek any counsel about his problem. And it almost costs him (and the rest of the free world) in the end.

Stark refused to face his fear and discuss what happened in his past so his post. It's a problem that many people face and I thought it was nice touch --- an innovative yet simple method to engage the audience and enhance the human element in the story.

Too Late for D-Rose

I know I'm late to the party, but since I won't be as busy with my job, I will now have time to follow my teams the way that I like and the way that they deserve to be followed.

Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals is coming up for the Bulls on Monday at the United Center, a.k.a. the "Madhouse on Madison" (inspired the re-naming of this here blog) and "The House that Michael Jordan Built."

I find it funny how the Bulls were like the Heat back in their second three-peat from 1995-96 through 1997-98. Growing up 60 miles from Chicago, I loved that version of the big three - Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman. Of course I am biased, but that trio seemed a lot more likeable. Rodman added a splash of color to an otherwise business-like team that I'm sure fans of opposing teams hated, but as time passes I hope people come to appreciate his tenacity, outstanding effort on the boards, and innate ability to get into the head of the opponent's best player.

Since we live in a "what have you done for me lately" world, the 2012-13 edition of the Chicago Bulls has put together a pretty solid playoff run - defeating the Brooklyn Nets in seven games and giving the Heat a dog fight - despite being marred by injuries and the media whirlwind around those afflictions.

Point guard Derrick Rose has had one heck of a time recovering from an ACL injury in Game 1 of the 2011-12 playoffs. He tried to rush back too early and re-aggravated the injury so that's why I have opted to join the minority of the opinion that he shouldn't come back this season.

Long-term productivity has to outweigh the prospect of short-term success in this situation. Would you rather have five or six more MVP seasons from Rose and many more playoff runs OR a chance to win two or three games against the Heat? The Bulls are under-manned regardless with Luol Deng begin racked up in the hospital with a nasty flu. How successful can you expect them to be?

Even when Rose comes back, it's not like it's going to be an instant championships. It will take Rose at least a few games to work off the rust of being laid up for so long - there's only so much you can do in practice to simulate NBA playoff action - and he'll also have to jive with his teammates. It's a lot more complicated than Rose is being soft. Maybe he is, but a lot of fans fail to acknowledge these variables and a lot of people are over-reacting. That is why they call them fans (fanatics), I guess.

Anyway, Go Bulls! #seered    

Just Start Writing

I've decided to make a concerted effort to write a lot more. My goal is to post a blog entry every from now on. The image that sticks out in my mind is that scene in 'Finding Forester' when Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown) visits William Forrester's (Sean Connery) office ... Four quotes in this scene struck a chord.

"The first key to writing ... is to write, not to think."

I feel that I get too wrapped up in what people will think of me after reading what I write. And I think that gets in the way of my creativity. Hell, I have not sat down to write for fun for a while ... and that's a shame because I know I'm good. 

"Why is it that the words we write for ourselves are always so much better than the words we write for others."

While I enjoy my job, most of the time I write what others want me to write, whether it be a game recap, media guide, feature stories. Don't get me wrong --- that's what I'm supposed to do. The main purpose of this blog has evolved into a personal outlet for myself. I can write about whatever I want here --- except collegiate sports because that would be a conflict of interest --- but other than that, it's on (as the kids say).

"No thinking ... that comes later."

This further elaborates the first point so I know I have to work on just 'letting go' and let my thoughts come out on paper. Easier said than done, but the only way to get better at it is to practice.

You write your first draft with your heart. Then you re-write with your heart." 

Now comes the more conventional part of the 'writing process.' I actually enjoy going through it. My work becomes a puzzle and it's up to me to make all of the pieces fit together. Shuffling paragraphs, deleting adverbs, dissecting run-on sentences (I write those frequently), etc., is a rewarding aspect of writing.

As Marshall Henderson would say, "Y'all be easy."

- Mike

Don’t Take ANYTHING Personally

At the urging of my sister, I’ve been reading The Four Agreements: A PracticalGuide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz. There are a few concepts that seemed a little ‘out there,’ to me, but for the most part, it is an interesting book that offers a unique perspective and served as a reminder about the importance of keeping an open mind.

As you can tell by the title, there are four fundamentals that the reading is centered around. I admit that I’m only about a third of the way through, but easily the most intriguing concept I’ve read about is: Don’t Take Anything Personally.

It all makes sense to me. When someone tries to belittle or disrespect you, it is more of a reflection on something going on in their world or something wrong with how they view the world.

That is easier said than done and sounds difficult to practice because I feel like my instinct is to listen to my ego and go on the attack when I feel threatened. I know it’s something I have to improve upon in social situations and in the work place.

Like most people, I have a lot of pride so in social situations when I get rejected by a girl or  feel like I got ‘punked by some dude,’ my impulse is to fire back with disparaging words or actions of my own. The book describes that negative energy as poison and you’re merely passing it from one person to another when you internalize the initial remarks --- take them personally.

This will be even more difficult for me in the work place as my job is an extremely significant part of my identity. When my work is criticized or something does not go as I would like, there are times when I feel like my actions, and thus me personally, is being scrutinized. This, in turn, makes me feel uncomfortable so I feel attacked.

The only way I can improve on this and not take as much personally (I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to eliminate everything!) is to be mindful of this agreement.

And on that note .. Party on.

- Mike D.       

Workout for May 9, 2013

Bench                   3x10 135

Shoulder Press  3x10 30

Curls                       3x10 60

Walk                        30 min. at 3.5 MPH

Weight: 310.1 ... Yikes.