Category: Sports & Entertainment

Enduring Conquest!

Well, that turned out as well it could have and USC is the 2017 Rose Bowl champion!

I have to admit that I wasn’t sure if they could come back after a crazy third quarter by Penn State. It seemed like SC was losing battles to the refs as well as the turf and all of the “bounces” were not going our way. And when we lost Adoree’ to injury and Cam Smith to a questionable targeting call, things were looking bad. But we still had Sam Darnold and because of him, we’re always in the fight.

I know this is a terrible, blurry picture but that’s also why I like it. When the winning field goal went through, it was incredible. Fans young and old were jumping in joy and strangers were hugging in the stands. I couldn’t count how many random people gave me a high five or said “Fight On!” on the way out.

It was one of the most fun and exciting games I’ve seen in person. The stadium itself has improved a little, but despite the great game, I still hate this place.

Lastly, I have to say that the Penn State players, coaches and fans were class acts. One of the best things I’ve ever read was from this fan and columnist:

http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2017/01/usc_band_conquest_psu_rose_bow.html

But you know what the very worst part is? You take in the whole scene in despondence, the USC fans mimicking the trumpet flourishes with their “Oh-oo-oh-ooooo” and the incomparable Song Girls in their white sweaters calmly punching the air with a V for victory in all their confident perfection. And you allow yourself the fleeting thought:

If you’d been born into their tribe and their golden land, you’d love being one of them.

January 7, 2017
Meaningless Accomplishments

I don’t get to play games too often anymore, but I bought Star Wars Battlefront the day it came out in November 2015. It looks amazing and the gameplay is very good. There’s not a whole lot of content, but it’s enough for me playing 30 minutes at a time here and there.

The only negative was that I was absolutely terrible at the game. I’ve never got used to playing first person shooters on consoles, so that was my excuse. But I was bad, really bad. Like 5 – 25 bad or maybe even worse. And I’d also let my 4 year old son play a bit and my brother rack up even worse scores.

But somehow, somewhere months later, I got really good and I was surprised as anyone. I’m almost always at the top now and I usually have a kill-death ratio of 3-1 on a good day and probably 2-1 on average.

I finally got my KDR to even recently and it felt like such a big accomplishment for doing something so meaningless. But I guess that’s the psychological part of game development. Interestingly, once I achieved my goal, I pretty much stopped playing but maybe they’ll add a new carrot to dangle and I’ll start again.

The other thing that happened is that my now 5 year old son got really good at the game too. I used to give him an extra controller that wasn’t connected and we’d “play” together. It was great until he caught on. So I let him play and all he could do was to spin around and look at the sky or snow. But he learned really quickly and now he’d probably beat me if we we’re starting over.

January 5, 2017
USC and the Rose Bowl

USC is headed to the Rose Bowl in a few days and I’m anxiously awaiting the game. I keep thinking I have to wake up early tonight and head up there, but it’s not until the 2nd this year.

I’ve gone to every Rose Bowl USC has been in since I was a student. I went my senior year in 1997 and it was such a fun experience.

We went pretty regularly during the Pete Carroll era when we weren’t going to the Orange Bowl. We went so often that a lot of our fans were complaining about it, but I definitely knew better.

I hate the stadium, but it’s always a special game. This was from both the best and worst of them all.

I hope it turns out better in a few days, but truthfully, I’m just so happy we made it this year after a horrendous start. We haven’t been in what feels like forever (8 years) and that’s when I know we really are spoiled at USC.

December 31, 2016
Annual Golf Trip(s)

I’ve played golf most of my life but it’s not something I’ve ever really been good at. My dad used to take my brother and I out when we were kids but I liked driving the cart more than hitting balls. I played throughout my childhood and I played on my freshman team in high school. The big disclaimer here is that this was pre Tiger Woods so golf wasn’t as cool. Actually, kids would make fun of you for playing so it was hard enough to get 6 guys on a team and I was the 6th guy.

Either way, it’s been something that I’ve mostly enjoyed despite the frustrations. And it’s been something that has always brought me together with others. I will always remember the days on the course with my dad and brother (and getting the cart stuck in the mud and driving it so hard until we’ve all fallen out). I played with my childhood friends and we’ve talked about trying to play again. I played in college a lot and we’ve recently started going on an annual trip, which is the one time I get to play all year. And lastly, I played with my mom and had some good times with her on the course.

But for as long as I’ve played, I’ve never really understood the mechanics of a golf swing until recently. I took lessons when I was a kid and I had a coach in high school, so I’m not sure if they didn’t teach me the fundamentals or if I wasn’t paying attention. I’m guessing it’s the later, but then again, it was really so hard to learn back then. You’d have to read books or magazines and recording your swing was a big deal.

Now, I can watch countless YouTube videos with great instructions and record my swing that I really don’t want to see on my phone. And maybe it’s my age, but I’m completely open to changing anything and everything I’m doing wrong, even if I can’t always do it.

I made huge improvements two years ago on our Palm Springs trip, but regressed a bit last year because I got cocky and only made it to the range a few times. I have 3 months until the next trip, so I say I’m going to get started now but the reality is I won’t make it to the range until a week before our trip. But either way, it’s really more about spending time with good friends.

Here’s a few courses we played at. They’re all really nice and they’re pretty cheap because smarter people don’t play in Palm Springs in September.

And here’s the type of houses we’ve been renting for the weekend:They’re so nice, it feels like we’re on a reality show!

September 13, 2016