Wednesday

If it's Wednesday, it must be Sports Day.

The stat of the day is that the Little League World Series title game this past Summer outdrew (in TV ratings) Game Four of the National League Championship Series Sunday evening. Colorado and Arizona are not exactly megalopolises for any TV event, but does anybody remember who was in the LL World Series? Let's see. Every Little League player wants to grow up to be a Major Leaguer. And play before a smaller audience? How does that compute?

I had commented to an acquaintance earlier this week about how Rockies manager Clint Hurdle was a Sports Illustrated cover boy in the late 70's or early 80's as a "can't miss" phenom. Of course, he never made it very big. USA Today's hack columnist Jon Saraceno had a full column today on Hurdle's odyssey to championship manager. More people out there stealing my material.

The human interest side of Hurdle's story included a disabled child in his third (current) marriage. While the facts of this young child are worthy of a sympathetic ear, does our protagonist's Three-Time Loser designation reinforce the pathetically low morality bar of our athletes and entertainers? (Actually, is he really just a Two-Time Loser with a third act in process?) I do think that our society has become numb to the antics of many of these public figures. What's another kid by another woman in another town?

Uncle Phil and I have talked about how golfers display the most honor in competition. And I agree. (I actually like the Wild West, self-policing justice system that rules in NASCAR, but that's a different kettle of fish.) But the golf crowd has it's equitable share, if not more so, of lousy husbands and fathers. Maybe it's the travel. Certainly the money comes into play. And the idle time. And the Goldiggers looking for a little sugar.

Speaking of losers, anyone care to give Kelvin Sampson a primer on the rules for telephone contact with recruits? Talk about a low bar. How can Indiana not fire him?

My training for the TT is going along at a snail's pace. I've been doing the 2.2 miles along Devils Glen and it is just work.! If I break an hour on Thanksgiving, it will be a minor miracle.

One of the things that I do like about training is that it gives me "thinking time". Whether it is running or biking, the process allows the brain to work without distraction (except for the pain). I've never had the IPod or headphones. On the bike, while on the roads or streets, it's a safety thing. I know a lot of people are addicted to their music while moving along, but the "thinking time" is just as gratifying to me.

A final thought for the day: the hardest part of training is getting started.

Thanks for reading. Have a great evening/day.

BCOT