If the slipper fits

Norfolk State head coach Anthony Evans

Norfolk State upset not only Missouri, but millions of people nationwide Friday evening. The Tigers have plenty of reason to be upset, of course. Their tournament dreams and a possible championship were crushed this season and they will live with the haunting memory of a game they were three points away from winning. They should be disappointed.

The millions, however, could be upset for all the wrong reasons. True, there are many Mizzou faithful out there that are probably not exactly feeling on top of the world right now. Their second-seeded Tigers just got dismantled by the 15th-seeded Spartans that nobody knows. But the other millions who are upset about Missouri’s loss ruining their bracket have no good reason to feel the way they do.

What is often lost in a crazy March Madness upset like many witnessed Friday in Omaha (or more likely in front of their televisions) is the team who did the upsetting and its fans. Part of the plague of filling out a bracket is unnecessary cursing of teams for simply winning, all because they ruined someone’s chance at 50 bucks.

Yeah, Norfolk State made for plenty of Sharpie marks on my bracket – I had Missouri going to the championship game. Although this game does not help my shot at a boost to my bank account, I’m happy for Norfolk State and their fans. Heck, I had only heard of Norfolk State because Kris Kross wore backwards NSU sweatsuits in my elementary school music textbook.

Now I have a reason to remember the Spartans other than for those ancient adolescent rappers (as oxymoronic as that sounds). Think of how exciting it is for those players, fans and students of Norfolk State. Be happy for them. This is the often forgotten beauty of the Cinderella.

2012
03/16
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On dedication

"Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda

I think it’s fitting that I return to you, my beloved audience, nine eight posts behind on my 365-day blogging challenge to discuss dedication.

It’s something we all have difficulty finding on a daily basis. As you can probably tell, I have trouble with it as well.

I do what I can to fully dedicate myself to all of my obligations: family, friend, school, work, triathlon training, organizations, blogging (fail) and the whole nine yards. Sometimes it gets difficult (i.e. now, finals week), but I’m a believer that the right focus and mindset can propel you to fulfill all obligations with complete dedication.

Michael Jordan said, “I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”

Never have truer words been spoken. Perhaps what they say is true that failure carves the path to success.

However, as Yoda said, “Do or do not. There is no try.”

The Jedi master is correct when discussing the end result. At the end of the day, either you did it or you didn’t. Whether or not you tried is tossed out the window.

I’m not telling you to not try. Try. Try your hardest. But let that trying lead you to success. Doing.

Peace be with you,

–BP

2012
03/14
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Back to the Diamond

Here is one post from yesterday, as a part of my catch-up effort. It’s a recap of the Ohio baseball game against West Virginia State.

To be honest, I’m a little excited for baseball. My Cardinals are defending World Series champions, we have been teased and teased by this warm weather and spring fever is starting to catch on.

Although I will be the first and maybe the only one to tell you that I miss winter, it’s time to move on and into spring. I like winter and snow more than the average person, but it is almost officially springtime, so bring on the warmth.

Yesterday was the first sign of spring: opening day at Bob Wren Stadium. It was euphoric. The mood was calm, there was not a cloud in the sky, it was warm. Yesterday was a perfect day for baseball. However, we were quickly reminded that it was not spring as soon as the sun went down and the temperature plunged into the 40s.

Ohio won in dominating fashion and it was a gorgeous day, at least for the first four innings. While I enjoyed the tastes of spring and I’m excited for the return of baseball season, don’t think I’ll be diving head-first into spring. There is still plenty of madness left in March and the final stretch of the NBA season is looking to be as compelling as ever.

The warm temperatures can stick around, but don’t make me give up my hoops.

Peace be with you,

–BP

2012
03/07
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Fishing for Fashion: Grey Tweed Blazer

Tweed

I lucked out on this jacket. It’s one of my favorite things in my closet and I didn’t pay a dime for it.

This is my grandpa’s old jacket, which my grandma was planning to get rid of a few years back. I needed a blazer for a play I was in and snatched this up before it became destined for Goodwill racks.

I wore it for the week of dress rehearsals and the feature presentations and put it up in the closet for every subsequent day after.

When I got to college and became more fashionably inclined (i.e. didn’t want to look like a grubby high school student), I rediscovered this blazer.

In my recent searches for the next best outfit, I came across a blazer eerily similar to this one on many of my favorite sites (here and here). Eureka.

So, who would have thought that my 5’9″ grandfather would end up contributing a staple piece to his 6’4″ grandson’s wardrobe?

A jacket like this is a great layer on days like today – cold, snowy, blustery. With a sweater, shirt and tie, this jacket adds a critical layer of warmth while not looking clunky and out of place; great for when I don’t want to wear my heavy duty work coat (that I haven’t done any type of manual labor in despite its true purpose).

Men, consult your grandfathers. You never know what fashion gems are hiding in their closets.

Hooray for fashion. Shout out Thread Magazine for making me the fashionable man I am today. Shout out Grandpa. Shout out awesome grey tweed blazer. Later, gators.

Peace be with you,

–BP

2012
03/05
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