A Very Average Experience

The beauty of living in a big city means that there are so many options to choose from when deciding what bar to go to.  But for bars, that's a problem as being just ok isn't enough.  For example, Rumors.  A bar really close to me that should have become my neighborhood haunt.  I mean there is nothing wrong with it.  It's a solid Irish Pub.  I mean when I say Irish Pub, that picture that comes to your mind.  That's Rumors.  But...there isn't anything great about it either. 

A bar needs to have something to get me to go there more than once.  Whether its the crowd, a certain cool bar tender, great food or the fact its a sports bar that actually knows how to handle its TV's (believe me, this is a much bigger problem than you would think.  How many times have you walked into a sports bar assuming the featured nba/nhl/mlb game would be on, only to have the local news on? Annoying right?), in a city with 3-4 bars on every corner, there has to be a distinguishing feature that sets a bar apart.  And unfortunately for Rumors, it just doesn't have that.  It's average.  And average in NYC, just isn't good enough.

In some cities, Rumors would be a great choice.  For example, in San Francisco, the area I lived in had no real sports bars.  There were a lot of hole-in-the-wall watering holes that were dimly lit and attracted an interesting neighborhood crowd, but in terms of just a solid Irish pub that you could count on to be showing whatever sports game you wanted to watch, there wasn't any.  So if Rumors had been on my block there, you bet it would have become my go-to-spot.  In NYC? Not so much.  I've been 3 or 4 times, and every time I go with the intention of liking it, but I always leave feeling very indifferent.

Now, the only time I go into Rumors is when I'm walking by it and decide I want a quick beer with a friend.  I never make an active plan to go to Rumors.  It's always a spontaneous decision.  Versus other bars around me (Three Monkeys, HIMYM Bar, Gastropub, etc) where I make a conscious choice and tell people to meet me there.  So if you see Rumors, by all means go on in.  You'll have a decent time.  But then again...in a city that offers so many places that will give you a great time.  Why would you choice to have only a decent one?

Exploring Your City

An added benefit of training for a race is that the long runs on the weekend make it so you end up exploring the city you live in a way you otherwise might not have.  Yes, I often find myself doing the same run in Central Park every Sunday, but sometimes, like today, I decide to go exploring.  Because any run, even runs as interesting/pretty as Central park, get boring.  So some variety is called for.

Today I ran from my boyfriends place at 169th and Broadway to my place around Columbus Circle.  I needed to do a 7 mile run and it ended up basically be the perfect distance.  So at 7 am (which in east coast time, is the equivalent of 4am on the west coast as I swear no one is up) I found myself lacing up my running shoes and setting off.  New York City feels like a completely different place at that time in the morning.  There are few cars and fewer people around.  Finally, you get a chance to escape from the frantic pace that the city usually exudes and I revel in that hour of relative silence.  So if you can get yourself out of your nice warm bed I would recommend running early as you'll really get the chance to appreciate the view.

I'd never run along Riverside park but I have to say, it was beautiful.  The Hudson river was on my right side the entire time and by the end of the run it felt like we had truly bonded.  It didn't judge when I was huffing and puffing by the end of my run.  And the only people who were really out were the dog owners, who were distracted by the heavy breathing of their dogs and so had little time to pay attention to my labored breathing.  And there were TONS of dogs around.  If you aren't a dog lover, you might want to find a different path to run as you can't really escape from them.

All in all, it was a great way to start off the day.  I saw parts of the city I had never seen before and I felt like I was all alone in discovering them as the city was as silent as I have ever heard it.  Much more silent than at 4 am when people are still out drinking.  When you live in a place like NYC, it can get overwhelming at times as you are really in a concrete jungle.  Mornings like this though, show you that if you look for them, there are places in the city to escape to.  You just have to be willing to go outside of your comfort zone and look for them.

Can't wait to see where my half-marathon training takes me next.

The bell started tolling at 8 am from this  building, providing the perfect soundtrack to a crazily deserted NYC

Is there a better style of loss?

Well, it wasn't the best sports days for me that's for sure.  I had been forced to watch my Redskins lose after storming out to an insane lead, and then my Fighting Irish get blown out in their third straight BCS appearance.  But that raised the questions for me.  What's worse?  When you think you can win, but then are struck in the gut when your team collapses late?  Or, when you know after one minute that you have no chance?

Late Collapse:
Positives: At least at one point, you had something to cheer about.  In an important game, your team came through and gave you hope.  You proved you belonged on that stage.  The trip to the bar/price of the tickets was worth it. 

Negatives: Hope is cruel when it is turned against you.  When you have high expectations, its even worse when they come crumbling down.  Stunned silence at the end. 

Never In It:
Positives: You get over the loss quickly because you never had a chance to get into the game.  Can approach rest of game with moral victory framework.

Negatives: Everyone makes fun of you and tells you your team doesn't belong.  You never get to cheer.  You see how far your team really has to go until its competitive.

Now, after have experienced both, I know for me personally, I would rather be able to get into the game for at least awhile before having my heart broken.  At least that way the game is entertaining and I have something to argue about the next day when I see my friends.  Unlike what happened to ND, where after the first minute of the game I literally had no excitement.  Going to the championship happens almost never, and yet as a fan I didn't have one moment in the game where I thought that my team could be national champions.  Instead, I was forced to watch a multi-hour coronation and hear how ND just didn't show up.  How am I supposed to feel ok about next year?  Even if we go undefeated will we get a chance?  Or will the voters be scared of a repeat performance and not let the Irish back in the game?  And honestly, can I really blame them if they do hold the Irish accountable next year for this years performance? 

As a fan, its always better to have hope.  No hope, means no belief, means no reason to watch the game. 

Who have you played against?

Every athlete has that story of playing that one game against someone who was obviously way more talented/athletic than you could ever hope to be.  It sticks with you when you see someone who you know has a chance to make it the big leagues.  And then, low and behold, suddenly you turn on Sportscenter and that person is in the Top 10 plays.  At that moment, we all become that cliche person, who starts the story, "Back in my day of playing, you'll never guess who I played against."

For me, it was playing against AROD.  No, not the annoying Yankee.  The starting forward in the last world cup for the US women's soccer team.  She scored two goals against us and was the fastest person on the field by such an extent, it was laughable.  Even though you were losing, you couldn't help but be entertained watching her go at the defense. 

My college tutor must have told the story about playing against Chauncey Billups 100 times in the 3 years I knew him.  A friend of mine, Hector, told the story how Vince Young ran all over his team every time he made a play against USC in that championship game.  And trust me, that meant a lot of times hearing that story. 

And you know what, I love hearing those stories.  It's like glimpsing behind the curtain to peek at the lives of some of our most celebrated athletes.  Just like we did, they also played highschool/college sports.  They were just a little bit better at than we are.  Only a little though ;)

Combining Passions

Sports isn't the only thing that I love to do in my free time.  No, I must admit I am also a huge book nerd.  I will read almost anything you put in front of me.  From Fifty Shades of Gray to Anna Karenina, I enjoy it all.  But one of my favorite genres is the sports novel.  In fact, I even wrote my college application essay on my love of sports and history and how reading books on long lost season ago allows me to combine them both.
So, if you are looking for a fun book to pick up here are a few I would recommend:

1) Moneyball: The book that got me into Harvard! Ok, not really. But I did base my entire college entrance essay on it.  Any true baseball fan knows that to enjoy baseball, you have to be a bit of a stat geek.  If you don't know what OBP (on base percentage) and WHIP (walks + hits per innings pitched), this book will show you why those stats matter.  And, as Michael Lewis always does, he adds a human element so that you really get into the story.  

2) Greatest Game Ever Played:  I'm not a big golf fan, but this is just a beautifully written story about how a very country club sport (which it still is, don't get me wrong, but its much more open to the public today than when this story was set) where pros were mocked and amateurs admired was on the cusp of a huge change.  Francis Quimet is an immigrant who qualifies for the open as an amateur and is facing the best to have ever played the game, Englishman Harry Vardon.  A perfect blend of history and story, you'll be on the edge of your seat wishing you had the ability to have seen this epic showdown live.

3) Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why the U.S., Japan, Australia, Turkey -- and even Iraq -- Are destined to Become the Kings of the World's Most Popular Sport:  If you can't tell, I really like books that find statistical ways to break down sports.  That way, when you know the statistics making it likely that one player/team will win, its even more exciting when the underdog finds away to defy expectations.  This is a little bit more dense and has less of a story feel, but I found it to be a great read.  The section on penalty kicks and game theory was easily my favorite. 
4) The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy: If you read Bill Simmons, you have to get this.  It's in his classic witty/sarcastic style, but don't be fooled by the jokester style of writing.  Simmons knows his basketball and you'll be thoroughly entertained while learning a lot about the history of the sport.

5) Let Me Tell You A Story: A Lifetime in the Game:  Feinstein is one of my favorite sports books writers out there and he does a great job showcasing one of the smartest basketball minds ever.  Auerbach created some of the most dominant and entertaining basketball teams of all time.  In this book, you'll get to see some of the most important basketball players ever (Bird and Russell to name a few) from a new perspective and see how the Celtics amassed all those championships.  

6) Caddy for Life:  Another Feinstein book, but this one is a real tear jerker.  I seriously cried the entire time.  Lou Gherig's disease is one of those that has had no progress.  And we see how it kills indiscriminately in this book.  But, it isn't all bad.  This is also a story of friendship and how you turn tragedy into something positive.  A read you don't have to be a sports fan to appreciate. 

7) Playing for Pizza: This is a fictional story unlike the others.  But its a great beach read.  Grisham branches out from his usual crime novel and tells the story of an unpopular football in Italy.  American football that is.  A great way to read about sports without having to really care about sports. 


Those are just a few of my favs!  If you pick any of them up, hope you enjoy!

The Grand Daddy of Them All

Is there a better way to start off the new sporting year than the best BCS Bowl Game, the Grand Daddy of them all, the seriously iconic Rose Bowl?  I think not. 

I've been to a lot of big-time events.  Superbowl, World Series, Triple Crown race, but the one that completely lived up to all my expectations was the Rose Bowl.  There's just something about that stadium.  I felt chills the first time I walked into the stadium. It's absolutely beautiful.  And, unlike many of the Bowl Games where it is an absolute crap-shoot, you know that both teams want to be in that game.  That doesn't mean you are guaranteed to get a good game.  But, you do know that both teams are going to give it their all to pull out the victory.  This isn't a consolation prize.  Other than the National Championship, there is no other game you would rather play in than the Rose Bowl.

If you are going to go to the game, you need to see the Rose Parade.  Just imagine seeing tons of these all around:  Fiesta Roses FIR24V Two Dozen Fire Roses (Google Affiliate Ad).  I know you've seen it on TV, but trust me, it is much better in person.  We got the reserved seating and it was for sure worth it as sitting on the stands allowed for a great view of all the different floats.  To get parking you have to get there super early (like 5 am at the latest), but they have plenty of coffee and donuts to fuel your hungover brain from what was probably a bit too fun of a new years eve.  And once those floats come out, trust me, you'll perk right back up. 

This year is a bit of a down year, what with the first 5 loss team ever playing in the game.  But it doesn't matter.  Viewing the Rose Bowl and the Parade is a tradition that I don't plan to give up any time soon.  So today at 4:30 eastern, you'll find me cuddled up on my couch sipping a hot chocolate rooting on Standford. 

Make Sure to Bundle Up! Even in sunny California, it's cold at 5 am