Here I Come...

What's that on the side bar? A countdown? But, to what? To my triumphant return to New York City?

Yes, please.

I have a long and storied history with that town that kicked off with my recruiting trip my senior year of high school. But, the real highlights wouldn't start pouring in until I drove up with my dad in the the fall of 2003 with all my worldly possessions in a rented mini-van.

The city would soon become the place where we (this is the royal we; I am not claiming to have been involved in all of this, nor would I want to call out any friends) figured out how to beer-bong jager, smoked cigars on the steps as the sun rose over Low Library, sat in the dark and listened to the worst music ever, played duck duck goose at Barnard, continued a legacy at Cannon's, threw things out of the ninth floor window in Carmen, came to Sunday practice directly from the hospital, raced to make the late bus to practice, snuck over 140 cans of Country Club malt liquor into Carmen via luggage, enjoyed a delicious mix of protein shake and 151 at the Spring Concert, found giant sombreros, made fun of Bob Shoop, keg bowled late night, used the bus ride to share stories, played way too much NCAA 2003 in room 911, keg raced, enjoyed more than a few street fairs, went to the top of Rockefeller plaza, had the best recruitment event ever at the Times Square Hooters, IMed with people who lived down the hall, yelled at the Statue of Liberty, put a keg (and a couch, and a table, and a person) through the wall at ZBT, got to know the Manhattan College baseball team, tricked recruits into committing, enjoyed Delirious with Ward, watched the West End turn into whatever it is now, played Fifa all summer, invented SunBeams, fell down the steps after morning runs in the winter, sat on those same steps when it warmed up, loved 40s on 40, got thrown out of more places than we'd care to admit, beat Brown at Brown, closed out Cannon's with Parents Night...and survived.

I can't wait to get back up there.

Oh, and I really wanna see my little brother graduate too. That should be cool. If I live that long.

Throwback-ish

I wrote the following a year ago, the first thing that ever appeared on this stupid blog...it's still true now. Good luck to the Columbia Lions who started camp today.

For the first time in ten-odd years, my end of summer will not be punctuated by the coming of football training camp. For the first time, my August will not be defined by two-a-days, the odor of mildewed socks, and post-practice dips in the ice bath. For the first time, I won’t be surrounded by my friends, my teammates, my brothers, as we work towards the goals we set forth for ourselves.

On the one hand, I’m not under the punishing August sun, which beats down the same from New York City to College Station, Texas to Cocoa Beach, Florida. I’m not driving a sled across a field, or taking on rushing defensive tackles in one-on-one drills, or running sprints after practice. I’ll never ride a bus to Florida again, never spend all my time away from the field in a meeting room, or start fast and finish faster. I’ll never again wake up scared. On the one hand, I don’t have to do these things ever again.

On the other hand, I never get to.

We all miss playing (winning) games, clean out blocks, great throws and catches, amazing picks, and knock out hits. That’s universal; everyone mentions this stuff in what they miss from the game. But, I think it is more than just the good times former players miss. Gone is the grind of the weight room, the tedium of the meeting room, but a part of everyone who has ever put on pads, or laced up cleats, or picked up a ball misses the part of the game that goes unseen. In some sort of masochistic way, we all enjoyed the grind, the hardness, the sacrifice. It is one of those unique things in life that you detest as you are in the midst of it, but the second it’s gone, you feel like almost a part of yourself is missing. Today, I’ve traded my life as a student athlete for something else; something that, to be honest, doesn’t even feel like me. My cleats for dress shoes, my playbook for a laptop, I’m reminded of this shift every time I walk into my new apartment, as my helmet stares back at me. Some people call this growing up, entering the next phase of my life. I don’t yet know what to call it, all I have known is what came before. And I miss it.

CHAMPS

Congrats to the Columbia Lions Baseball team, 2008 Ivy League Champs!!!


Full Story

Seis De Mayo

Doesn't quite have that same ring to it, huh? Once upon a time, I had a blog, and on this blog, I would do entries called Mid-Range Jumpers, where I would wax faux philosophic about the going ons in the sporting world. I guess I'll try to bring it back.

• Who says the public flogging is out of style? The Hawks put up a valiant effort, but they just couldn't stand in the face of the Celtics in Boston. But, they gave us hope for next year...as long as we get a new GM and a new coach.
• I love the NFL off-season. Cedric Benson and people who act even REMOTELY like him are the reason why.
• PETA is again proving to be my least favorite interest group. It was just a horse. Go away.
• No problem with KB24 getting the MVP, but I hope CP3 made it close. His dismantling of the Mavs, and his current show against the Spurs is an interesting case.
• Roger Clemens. Ew. Led to the funniest line of Bill Simmons' chat last week though:

Brad (Detroit, MI): Clemens 20K game on ESPN Classic right now.
Bill Simmons: Mindy McCready was five during this game.

• Recent Steelers draft pick Rashad Mendenhall was robbed at gunpoint recently. Welcome to the NFL, where you will be paid a ridiculous salary, but there is no set protection for you. Screw up, and we'll penalize you before a trial, but you better hope that new bullseye is unseen by most.
  
• Maybe D'Antoni would like to coach a bunch of young, super-athletic overachievers? Huh?
• Or Avery Johnson? Or Lenny Wilkens? Okay, maybe not Lenny again.
• Best of luck to the Gehrig Division winning Columbia Lions baseball team as they vie for the Ivy League Title today and tomorrow at Dartmouth.
• What the hell Marvin Harrison? Has Peyton Manning gotten to you that bad?
• REVISED NBA playoff predictions: Celtics in 6, Pistons in 5, Lakers in 5, Hornets in 6. These don't replace my original guesses, just wanted to give my input since I am usually wrong.
• How do I reeeeeach these kids?
• ZAZA FREAKING PACHULIA...ZAZA FREAKING PACHULIA...ZAZA FREAKING PACHULIA

Well, that's it for now. I've been working hard, and will be rewarding myself with my first ever Vegas trip this summer. Never have I been in one place that so caters to all my vices at once. Plus, I'm going with my degenerate friends who do nothing but egg me on to do stupid things. Plus, a bar owner I know will be staying at the same hotel as me...in town for a friend of HIS bachelor's party. Plus, we're flying in on Friday the 13th. Looking at all these factors, the following exchange said it best.

Me: Is this just a perfect storm?

Jolson: It's already a N'oreaster.

The Browns Get a Lion

Congratulations to Columbia Lions quarterback Craig Hormann, who was signed to a contract by the Cleveland Browns following the NFL draft this past weekend. He's off now to the Browns' rookie mini-camp from Thursday to Sunday, along with all other drafted and undrafted rookies. Best of luck to you Quarterback Hormann, and congratulations again.

Send Lawyers, Guns, and Money

Well, I did it. I survived my first Homecoming as an alumni, and apperntly with sound mind and body. At least, I am breathing and able to move. I think I may have permemantly wounded my soul though. It was good to visit NY again and see all my friends, and I have attempted to jot down some thank yous, so that while the effects of this weekend fade, the memories will not.

Thank you Todd and Ward for letting me keep my stuff in your apartment. Thank you Brekke for dragging me to Nike Town, and making us miss practice. Thank you Snake for the open bar, and thank you SeeBass for getting me thrown out for wearing the wrong shoes. Thank you Smorz for taking us to see an awesome funk band. Thank you Timmy for the funniest cab ride ever (Cash Cab/Abraham). Thank you Jake for being great. Thank you Scotty/Jens for buying meat, and forgetting the grill, and thank you Snake for letting us run out of beer before kick off. Thank you Rettke for the greatest shirts ever. Thank you ZBT for nothing. Thank you Bars for cutting your face open, and thank you Mr. Barsamian for the Mission Impossible run. Thank you Uzo for refusing to accept defeat. Thank you B for looking way up. Thank you Magazu for running up the stairs. Thank y0u Adrian for wearing the Varsity C sweater. Thank you Nu-Nu, Gamer, Schmidt, and SeeBass for 4th Quarter. Thank you Foz, cause I Got Got. Thank you Big Buck Hunter for the greatest game ever.

Thanks to everyone who accomodated the New York Nomad during his world tour.

Thank you Cannon's for everything.