I usually make a resolution every year, as most people do. But I don't know that I have ever stuck to one, as most people don't either. I'm notorious for making lists for just about everything and I find it more fitting to make a list of goals. Places I want to go, things I want to accomplish.
- Find my first full-time job
- Save up money for new camera lenses
- Eat healthier and take advantage of my free gym membership
- Read a minimum of 10 books that are leisure reading only
- Knock a few more ballparks off the list
- Move out!
- Get a new car
- Travel to a few hockey arenas
- Get back to NY
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Welcome to My Hood
I've said countless times that I fit the phrase perfectly when it comes to "what you see is what you get." I'm active all across the social media board. You know me from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, and Flickr. I talk to hundreds weekly that live anywhere from two to 2,000 miles from me. Social media gives me a pretty big reach, and through it, you get to know me exactly as I am. My "internet personality" is my personality. I don't tweet about being a fan to impress anyone, I don't only post model-type mirror pics on my Facebook, and I speak openly to everyone. If you know me from the web, in person, or both, you know that I'm a stat-junkie sports addict, knit collector, photographer, workaholic, down-to-earth college senior who watches way too much of the "Real Housewives" series and has a bucket list longer than Kate Gosselin's monthly grocery list. It's easy to get to know who I am, but not everyone knows where I come from. Come along with me.
I grew up in a little city called North College Hill. Although I'm west of the I-75 split, I'm not what most Cincinnatians would consider a "west-sider." The stigma of being a west-sider, I'll have you know, is only a reputation developed by Cincinnati east-siders who've never shopped in a mall outside the area near Amberley Village and most of the time live off of mommy and daddy or above their means. My little mile-by-a-mile city is directly north of downtown and two steps from the border of the city of Cincinnati. We're best known for having our own high school with graduating classes of about 100 students and producing two NBA stars.
I was born to a native of the Hoosier State and a born-and-raised Cincinnatian. I grew up in the same house my father lived in as a child. We've watched the area around it change and develop, but there's nothing wrong with the place. I have an older brother who lived under the same roof as me for about 19 years, and NCH (as we refer to it) has recently been dubbed a great place to live in the U.S. Are the houses worth $250,000? No. Is there a Starbucks within a mile? No. Do moms come to the grocery store with their Vuitton purses? Definitely not. But there's nothing wrong with that.
I was prompted to write after hearing recently that there had been a statement on Cincinnati.com that the only thing North College Hill produces are "thugs." I clearly and strongly disagree.
My father and his sisters are graduates of North College Hill High School. Two of them are college graduates and have made incredible lives for themselves. My father is a machinist and work leader at The Carlisle and Finch Co. where has has worked since he was 19 years old. He is successful enough to have provided for a family of four, without a college degree, while my mom stayed at home raising my brother and I for about 17 years. I didn't get a Lexus for my "Sweet 16" and my parents didn't pay to send me to Cancun for my senior spring break. However, they did pay for me to dance competitively for 15 years, bought me my French horn, and handed me down my first car, which I still drive. They've also paid for the majority of my college education and I've never gone without.
My brother is also a graduate of NCH. He obtained a degree as an engineer and now has a career he loves. He's lived on his own for quite a while, and spends his spare time working on a project car.
One of my closest friends Will is graduating in June with me from a five-year program at the University of Cincinnati as an urban planner. He has a bright future ahead of him, is working an incredible co-op right now, and is an active volunteer at his church and with youth groups. He's one of the best guys I know.
And for me? I've always been the good kid. I've never stolen anything, robbed anyone, or loitered on a street corner. I've had one detention in my life for something I didn't even do. I was active in just about every group you could imagine in high school. I was an AP student, a straight-A student, and graduated fifth in my class with a GPA around 4.6. I received multiple scholarship offers, and pursued a degree in journalism. I've been working a part-time job since I was 18, I pay for part of my college education, I pay all my own bills, and I'm set to graduate with a major in journalism and photojournalism, a minor in Spanish, a minor in public relations, and I'll have completed it all in exactly four years. I had reputable internships with the Cincinnati Reds and GoBearcats.com, I'm an active sports photographer, and I've been published numerous times including my most recent achievement of being published in a book about the 2010 Cincinnati Reds, where my photo appears on the cover.
If NCH has caused me to become anything, it's determined. I'm focused and driven and I owe a lot of that to my upbringing. People around me don't live in the best conditions and it instilled in me the drive to rise above. You make the best of what you have, and in this case I feel like I have gone above and beyond what's been expected of me. I didn't have the education provided for me that you'd get at the surrounding coveted private Catholic schools. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth, and that's a damn good thing. I work for what I have, I've worked hard to get where I am, and this is only the beginning. "Ain't" isn't in my every-day vocabulary, I've never smoked a day in my life, and I've never been in trouble with the law. I am a product of North College Hill, and I'm better off because of it.
I grew up in a little city called North College Hill. Although I'm west of the I-75 split, I'm not what most Cincinnatians would consider a "west-sider." The stigma of being a west-sider, I'll have you know, is only a reputation developed by Cincinnati east-siders who've never shopped in a mall outside the area near Amberley Village and most of the time live off of mommy and daddy or above their means. My little mile-by-a-mile city is directly north of downtown and two steps from the border of the city of Cincinnati. We're best known for having our own high school with graduating classes of about 100 students and producing two NBA stars.
I was born to a native of the Hoosier State and a born-and-raised Cincinnatian. I grew up in the same house my father lived in as a child. We've watched the area around it change and develop, but there's nothing wrong with the place. I have an older brother who lived under the same roof as me for about 19 years, and NCH (as we refer to it) has recently been dubbed a great place to live in the U.S. Are the houses worth $250,000? No. Is there a Starbucks within a mile? No. Do moms come to the grocery store with their Vuitton purses? Definitely not. But there's nothing wrong with that.
I was prompted to write after hearing recently that there had been a statement on Cincinnati.com that the only thing North College Hill produces are "thugs." I clearly and strongly disagree.
My father and his sisters are graduates of North College Hill High School. Two of them are college graduates and have made incredible lives for themselves. My father is a machinist and work leader at The Carlisle and Finch Co. where has has worked since he was 19 years old. He is successful enough to have provided for a family of four, without a college degree, while my mom stayed at home raising my brother and I for about 17 years. I didn't get a Lexus for my "Sweet 16" and my parents didn't pay to send me to Cancun for my senior spring break. However, they did pay for me to dance competitively for 15 years, bought me my French horn, and handed me down my first car, which I still drive. They've also paid for the majority of my college education and I've never gone without.
My brother is also a graduate of NCH. He obtained a degree as an engineer and now has a career he loves. He's lived on his own for quite a while, and spends his spare time working on a project car.
One of my closest friends Will is graduating in June with me from a five-year program at the University of Cincinnati as an urban planner. He has a bright future ahead of him, is working an incredible co-op right now, and is an active volunteer at his church and with youth groups. He's one of the best guys I know.
And for me? I've always been the good kid. I've never stolen anything, robbed anyone, or loitered on a street corner. I've had one detention in my life for something I didn't even do. I was active in just about every group you could imagine in high school. I was an AP student, a straight-A student, and graduated fifth in my class with a GPA around 4.6. I received multiple scholarship offers, and pursued a degree in journalism. I've been working a part-time job since I was 18, I pay for part of my college education, I pay all my own bills, and I'm set to graduate with a major in journalism and photojournalism, a minor in Spanish, a minor in public relations, and I'll have completed it all in exactly four years. I had reputable internships with the Cincinnati Reds and GoBearcats.com, I'm an active sports photographer, and I've been published numerous times including my most recent achievement of being published in a book about the 2010 Cincinnati Reds, where my photo appears on the cover.
If NCH has caused me to become anything, it's determined. I'm focused and driven and I owe a lot of that to my upbringing. People around me don't live in the best conditions and it instilled in me the drive to rise above. You make the best of what you have, and in this case I feel like I have gone above and beyond what's been expected of me. I didn't have the education provided for me that you'd get at the surrounding coveted private Catholic schools. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth, and that's a damn good thing. I work for what I have, I've worked hard to get where I am, and this is only the beginning. "Ain't" isn't in my every-day vocabulary, I've never smoked a day in my life, and I've never been in trouble with the law. I am a product of North College Hill, and I'm better off because of it.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Arthur Rhodes Profile
Arthur Rhodes is one man who has not only been able to withstand the test of time in Major League Baseball, but has just gotten better throughout its course. At a ripe 40 years old, the Cincinnati Reds left-handed setup man may be having one of the best seasons of his career. Coming off of a streak of 33 consecutive appearances with scoreless innings, Rhodes has earned his first All-Star Game bid. After a career in the Majors playing for seven different teams, he has earned one of the highest honors in his election to appear in Anaheim for the annual midsummer classic.
The Waco, Texas native spent his first 12 years in the majors in Baltimore, after he was drafted by the Orioles in the second round of the 1988 amateur player draft. After being granted free agency, he headed west to the Oakland Athletics. In the following years, he bounced among five different ball clubs before landing with the Reds in December 2008. Rhodes had an impressive 2009 with the Reds, as he appeared in 66 games with 53.1 IP and a 2.53 ERA. He more than proved his worth and secured his spot in the Reds bullpen; he came back in 2010 with one of his most impressive seasons thus far.
Rhodes had tied the Major League record by going 33 appearances without allowing a run, also held by Mark Guthrie and Mike Myers. His ERA also stood at 0.28. On June 29, Rhodes’ streak was broken by Raul Ibanez of the Phillies. He exited the game with a tip of his hat, and a standing ovation by the fans at Great American Ball Park.
Shortly after, the Major League veteran and All-Star rookie spoke out about something close to heart that he kept behind closed doors for many years. In 2008, Rhodes suffered a loss in his family when his five-year-old son, Jordan passed away.
Rhodes considers his election to the All-Star Game the best thing that’s happened in his career, and he had only wished that his son could be there to share it with him. In a way, he was and always is with him on mound. After entering each game, before he pitches he scratches the initials “J.R.” into the dirt, just behind the pitching rubber.
Rhodes is typically a very stoic and serious player, and it is astonishing that he has been able to pitch through the pain. He has never spoken publicly about it until last month, and the rest of his family also will not share details surrounding the loss. Arthur Rhodes has acknowledged though, that he remains in baseball in part to honor his son, who also loved the sport.
As a seamlessly ageless man is taking the mound in Cincinnati, and is elected to his first All-Star roster, he looks as though he is all business. But the initials tattooed on his leg and in the dirt behind the rubber will let you know that he’s got something else on his mind, and he’s not out there alone.
The Waco, Texas native spent his first 12 years in the majors in Baltimore, after he was drafted by the Orioles in the second round of the 1988 amateur player draft. After being granted free agency, he headed west to the Oakland Athletics. In the following years, he bounced among five different ball clubs before landing with the Reds in December 2008. Rhodes had an impressive 2009 with the Reds, as he appeared in 66 games with 53.1 IP and a 2.53 ERA. He more than proved his worth and secured his spot in the Reds bullpen; he came back in 2010 with one of his most impressive seasons thus far.
Rhodes had tied the Major League record by going 33 appearances without allowing a run, also held by Mark Guthrie and Mike Myers. His ERA also stood at 0.28. On June 29, Rhodes’ streak was broken by Raul Ibanez of the Phillies. He exited the game with a tip of his hat, and a standing ovation by the fans at Great American Ball Park.
Shortly after, the Major League veteran and All-Star rookie spoke out about something close to heart that he kept behind closed doors for many years. In 2008, Rhodes suffered a loss in his family when his five-year-old son, Jordan passed away.
Rhodes considers his election to the All-Star Game the best thing that’s happened in his career, and he had only wished that his son could be there to share it with him. In a way, he was and always is with him on mound. After entering each game, before he pitches he scratches the initials “J.R.” into the dirt, just behind the pitching rubber.
Rhodes is typically a very stoic and serious player, and it is astonishing that he has been able to pitch through the pain. He has never spoken publicly about it until last month, and the rest of his family also will not share details surrounding the loss. Arthur Rhodes has acknowledged though, that he remains in baseball in part to honor his son, who also loved the sport.
As a seamlessly ageless man is taking the mound in Cincinnati, and is elected to his first All-Star roster, he looks as though he is all business. But the initials tattooed on his leg and in the dirt behind the rubber will let you know that he’s got something else on his mind, and he’s not out there alone.
High Atop the Rockies
If Ubaldo Jimenez isn’t yet a household name, it soon will be. The Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher has become the punch in their rotation, and a threat to any batter. After making franchise history in the first month of play this year, there’s no place for this flamethrower to go than up. This season the whirlwind has surrounded upcoming players from the draft such as Strasburg, and the big name pitchers like Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, but it’s the guys that fly under the radar that seem to be making the big splash, Jimenez included.
Born in 1984 in Nagua, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Dominican Republic, Ubaldo Jimenez was signed by the Rockies as a free agent in 2001. The appeal of this right-hander lies in his velocity and arm strength. His four-seam fastball has been clocked as high as 100 mph, but normally sits around the mid-90s. He has the ability to reach top speeds so often that he is frequently the hardest throwing pitcher in the Major Leagues. His two-seam fastball reaches the low-to-mid-90s, and the pitch’s effectiveness can be shown in his high ground-ball percentage, a great advantage for fields conducive to extra-base hits. His pitch range is beyond impressive, as he uses a tricky slider and four-seam fastball most often, and a changeup that sinks so strongly that it is nearly indistinguishable from his split-finger fastball.
Jimenez rose quietly in the Colorado Rockies organization. He made his Major League debut with the Rockies on September 26, 2006. He began his career as a relief pitcher and entered the game in the eighth inning when the Rockies were trailing 11-4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He may not have appeared to have the “stuff” Hall of Famers are made of, but he got the job done. He allowed two hits and no runs, and on the last game of the regular season, October 1, he made his first Major League start. Although the Rockies lost, he allowed only three hits and three earned runs over a span of 6 2/3 innings.
His first win came in 2007, on July 29 when the Rockies hosted the L.A. Dodgers. The Rockies won 9-6 and Jimenez gave up four hits and only two earned runs. He also made his first postseason debut that year, in Game 3 of the 2007 NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. Jimenez pitched six innings allowing one earned run in the Rockies’ victory. Although Jimenez did not receive a decision for the game, the win secured the Rockies’ sweep of the Phillies. He received his second straight postseason no-decision in Game 2 of the 2007 NLCS against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies beat the D-Backs 3-2, and went on to sweep them, sending them to the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. Jimenez started Game 2 of the World Series, and although only giving up two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, the Rockies suffered a 2-1 loss, and were swept by the Red Sox.
In his 2008 season, Ubaldo Jimenez led the National League in starts with 34. He went 12-12 on the season with an ERA of 3.99. He also boasted the fastest fastball in the Major Leagues at 94.9 mph. No one threw more pitches over 95 mph than Jimenez, at 1,342. During the offseason, he signed a new four-year deal with the club, with an option up to 2013-2014.
Ubaldo Jimenez’s second full season as a starter in the Major Leagues in 2009 was a breakout season for the young pitcher. He improved from 2008, going 15-12 on the season with a 3.47 ERA. He set a franchise record for pitching at least six innings in 25 consecutive starts from May to September.
He also pitched for the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, during which he set a single-start strikeout record. On March 10, he struck out 10 of 13 batters in four innings and 65 pitches.
His record breaking didn’t end in 2009. On April 17, 2010 Ubaldo Jimenez threw the first no-hitter in Colorado Rockies franchise history. The Rockies won 4-0 against the Atlanta Braves. He struck out seven batters, and walked six, and threw a career-high 128 pitches, 72 of which were strikes. Throughout the course of the game, his fastball hit 100 mph three times. Jimenez was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for April, only the second Rockie to do so. He is the second pitcher in Major League history to throw a no-hitter and earn five wins in the month of April. He also set a franchise record in April for consecutive scoreless innings, which was snapped at 25 1/3 in early May. Shortly after, he had 33 consecutive scoreless innings from May to June, setting another franchise record for not only starting pitchers, but relievers as well. He became the first pitcher to have two streaks of at least 25 consecutive scoreless innings in once season since Jack Morris, in 1986. He was named National League Pitcher of the Month again in May, making him the first in Rockies history to win more than once, and the first pitcher since Pedro Martinez to win in April and May since 1999.
This season Ubaldo Jimenez became the third pitcher in Major League Baseball history to win their first 10 of 11 starts and maintain an ERA below 1.00, which his sat at .78. He currently leads the National League in wins, and is second in win-loss percentage.
The talent Jimenez exudes and the skill he possesses have fans and experts alike crying out to hand over the Cy Yound Award to this 26-year-old Dominican. The 2010 season is not even to the half-way point, and there’s no doubt that come September, we will have seen a few more record-breaking performances by Ubaldo Jimenez.
Born in 1984 in Nagua, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Dominican Republic, Ubaldo Jimenez was signed by the Rockies as a free agent in 2001. The appeal of this right-hander lies in his velocity and arm strength. His four-seam fastball has been clocked as high as 100 mph, but normally sits around the mid-90s. He has the ability to reach top speeds so often that he is frequently the hardest throwing pitcher in the Major Leagues. His two-seam fastball reaches the low-to-mid-90s, and the pitch’s effectiveness can be shown in his high ground-ball percentage, a great advantage for fields conducive to extra-base hits. His pitch range is beyond impressive, as he uses a tricky slider and four-seam fastball most often, and a changeup that sinks so strongly that it is nearly indistinguishable from his split-finger fastball.
Jimenez rose quietly in the Colorado Rockies organization. He made his Major League debut with the Rockies on September 26, 2006. He began his career as a relief pitcher and entered the game in the eighth inning when the Rockies were trailing 11-4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He may not have appeared to have the “stuff” Hall of Famers are made of, but he got the job done. He allowed two hits and no runs, and on the last game of the regular season, October 1, he made his first Major League start. Although the Rockies lost, he allowed only three hits and three earned runs over a span of 6 2/3 innings.
His first win came in 2007, on July 29 when the Rockies hosted the L.A. Dodgers. The Rockies won 9-6 and Jimenez gave up four hits and only two earned runs. He also made his first postseason debut that year, in Game 3 of the 2007 NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. Jimenez pitched six innings allowing one earned run in the Rockies’ victory. Although Jimenez did not receive a decision for the game, the win secured the Rockies’ sweep of the Phillies. He received his second straight postseason no-decision in Game 2 of the 2007 NLCS against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies beat the D-Backs 3-2, and went on to sweep them, sending them to the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. Jimenez started Game 2 of the World Series, and although only giving up two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, the Rockies suffered a 2-1 loss, and were swept by the Red Sox.
In his 2008 season, Ubaldo Jimenez led the National League in starts with 34. He went 12-12 on the season with an ERA of 3.99. He also boasted the fastest fastball in the Major Leagues at 94.9 mph. No one threw more pitches over 95 mph than Jimenez, at 1,342. During the offseason, he signed a new four-year deal with the club, with an option up to 2013-2014.
Ubaldo Jimenez’s second full season as a starter in the Major Leagues in 2009 was a breakout season for the young pitcher. He improved from 2008, going 15-12 on the season with a 3.47 ERA. He set a franchise record for pitching at least six innings in 25 consecutive starts from May to September.
He also pitched for the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, during which he set a single-start strikeout record. On March 10, he struck out 10 of 13 batters in four innings and 65 pitches.
His record breaking didn’t end in 2009. On April 17, 2010 Ubaldo Jimenez threw the first no-hitter in Colorado Rockies franchise history. The Rockies won 4-0 against the Atlanta Braves. He struck out seven batters, and walked six, and threw a career-high 128 pitches, 72 of which were strikes. Throughout the course of the game, his fastball hit 100 mph three times. Jimenez was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for April, only the second Rockie to do so. He is the second pitcher in Major League history to throw a no-hitter and earn five wins in the month of April. He also set a franchise record in April for consecutive scoreless innings, which was snapped at 25 1/3 in early May. Shortly after, he had 33 consecutive scoreless innings from May to June, setting another franchise record for not only starting pitchers, but relievers as well. He became the first pitcher to have two streaks of at least 25 consecutive scoreless innings in once season since Jack Morris, in 1986. He was named National League Pitcher of the Month again in May, making him the first in Rockies history to win more than once, and the first pitcher since Pedro Martinez to win in April and May since 1999.
This season Ubaldo Jimenez became the third pitcher in Major League Baseball history to win their first 10 of 11 starts and maintain an ERA below 1.00, which his sat at .78. He currently leads the National League in wins, and is second in win-loss percentage.
The talent Jimenez exudes and the skill he possesses have fans and experts alike crying out to hand over the Cy Yound Award to this 26-year-old Dominican. The 2010 season is not even to the half-way point, and there’s no doubt that come September, we will have seen a few more record-breaking performances by Ubaldo Jimenez.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Stacks of Sports Literature
This summer has been a whirlwind for me, and for as much as I thought I was going to have time to get some leisure reading in , I haven't had any. Now that the summer is winding down, I'm attempting to get some reading in before I bury my nose in photography and journalism textbooks.
I've had a piece of paper with a list of books on it for the longest time, all books of different sports. Biographies, rule books, inspirational stories, and compilations of short stories. Some have been bought, some I have yet to purchase. The list that follows is awfully long, but I'm determined to complete it sooner rather than later.
If you have a review on any of these books, any input you think I should know, or a book you think needs to be added to the list, feel free to send it my way!
Baseball
The Last Days of Shea - Dana Brand
The Complete Game - Ron Darling
Koufax - Edward Gruver
Game Six - Mark Frost *purchased
Joe Dimaggio: The Hero's Life - Richard Ben Cramer
The Boys of Summer - Roger Kahn
Watching Baseball Smarter - Zack Hample *currently reading
Faith and Fear in Flushing - Greg W. Prince, Jason C. Fry *currently reading
100 Things Mets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die - Matthew Silverman
Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero - David Maraniss
Summer of '49 - David Halberstam
Hustle: The Myth, Life, and Lies of Pete Rose - Michael Sokolove
Sports Illustrated: Great Baseball Writing
Wait Till Next Year - Doris Kearns Goodwin *purchased
Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend - James S. Hirsch *purchased
The Long Ball: The Summer of '75 - Tom Adelman *purchased
Throwing Heat - Nolan Ryan, Harvey Frommer
Summer in the City: New York Baseball 1947-1957 - Vic Ziegel
Joe: Rounding Third and Heading for Home - Greg Hoard *purchased
The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball - Tom M. Tango, Mitchel G. Lichtman, Andrew E. Dolphin
Nine Innings: The Anatomy of a Baseball Game - Daniel Okrent
Unwritten Rules of Baseball - Paul Dickson
Forever Blue - Michael D'Antonio
Moneyball - Michael Lewis *purchased
The Machine - Joe Posnanski *purchased
Tales from the Dugout - Mike Shannon
Amazing: The Miracle of the Mets - Joseph Durso
Ball Four - Jim Bouton
The Year the Mets Lost Last Place - Paul D. Zimmerman, Dick Schaap
Faithful - Stewart O'Nan, Stephen King
Screwball - Tug McGraw, Joseph Durso
Pure Baseball - Keith Hernandez, Mike Bryan
Sports Illustrated: 50 Years of Great Writing *purchased
Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards - Josh Wilker
Football
The Blind Side - Michael Lewis
Invincible: My Journey from Fan to NFL Team Captain - Vince Papale and Chad Millman
More Than a Game: The Glorious Present-and Uncertain Future- of the NFL - Brian Billick, Michael MacCambridge
Bloody Sundays: Inside the Rough-and-Tumble World of the NFL - Mike Freeman
The Legends: Cincinnati Bengals : The Men, The Deeds, The Consequences - Chick Ludwig
Paul Brown: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Football's Most Innovative Coach - Andrew O'Toole
Hockey
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly Philadelphia Flyers: Heart-pounding, Jaw-dropping, and Gut-wrenching Moments from Philadelphia Flyers History - Adam Kimelman and Keith Primeau
Walking Together Forever: The Broad Street Bullies, Then and Now - Jim Jackson
The Broad Street Bullies: The Incredible Story of the Philadelphia Flyers - Jack Chevalier
Birth of a Dynasty: The 1980 New York Islanders - Alan Hahn *purchased
Fish Sticks: The Fall and Rise of the New York Islanders - Peter Botte, Alan Hahn
Deceptions and Doublecross: How the NHL Conquered Hockey - Morey Holzman, Joseph Nieforth
The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team - Wayne R. Coffey, Jim Craig *purchased
The Game - Ken Dryden
The Official Illustrated NHL History: The Story of the Coolest Game - Arthur Pincus, David Rosner, Len Hockberg, Chris Malcolm
General
The Games Do Count: America's Best and Brightest on the Power of Sports - Brian Kilmeade *purchased
Bearcats Rising - Josh Katzowitz *purchased
I've had a piece of paper with a list of books on it for the longest time, all books of different sports. Biographies, rule books, inspirational stories, and compilations of short stories. Some have been bought, some I have yet to purchase. The list that follows is awfully long, but I'm determined to complete it sooner rather than later.
If you have a review on any of these books, any input you think I should know, or a book you think needs to be added to the list, feel free to send it my way!
Baseball
The Last Days of Shea - Dana Brand
The Complete Game - Ron Darling
Koufax - Edward Gruver
Game Six - Mark Frost *purchased
Joe Dimaggio: The Hero's Life - Richard Ben Cramer
The Boys of Summer - Roger Kahn
Watching Baseball Smarter - Zack Hample *currently reading
Faith and Fear in Flushing - Greg W. Prince, Jason C. Fry *currently reading
100 Things Mets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die - Matthew Silverman
Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero - David Maraniss
Summer of '49 - David Halberstam
Hustle: The Myth, Life, and Lies of Pete Rose - Michael Sokolove
Sports Illustrated: Great Baseball Writing
Wait Till Next Year - Doris Kearns Goodwin *purchased
Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend - James S. Hirsch *purchased
The Long Ball: The Summer of '75 - Tom Adelman *purchased
Throwing Heat - Nolan Ryan, Harvey Frommer
Summer in the City: New York Baseball 1947-1957 - Vic Ziegel
Joe: Rounding Third and Heading for Home - Greg Hoard *purchased
The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball - Tom M. Tango, Mitchel G. Lichtman, Andrew E. Dolphin
Nine Innings: The Anatomy of a Baseball Game - Daniel Okrent
Unwritten Rules of Baseball - Paul Dickson
Forever Blue - Michael D'Antonio
Moneyball - Michael Lewis *purchased
The Machine - Joe Posnanski *purchased
Tales from the Dugout - Mike Shannon
Amazing: The Miracle of the Mets - Joseph Durso
Ball Four - Jim Bouton
The Year the Mets Lost Last Place - Paul D. Zimmerman, Dick Schaap
Faithful - Stewart O'Nan, Stephen King
Screwball - Tug McGraw, Joseph Durso
Pure Baseball - Keith Hernandez, Mike Bryan
Sports Illustrated: 50 Years of Great Writing *purchased
Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards - Josh Wilker
Football
The Blind Side - Michael Lewis
Invincible: My Journey from Fan to NFL Team Captain - Vince Papale and Chad Millman
More Than a Game: The Glorious Present-and Uncertain Future- of the NFL - Brian Billick, Michael MacCambridge
Bloody Sundays: Inside the Rough-and-Tumble World of the NFL - Mike Freeman
The Legends: Cincinnati Bengals : The Men, The Deeds, The Consequences - Chick Ludwig
Paul Brown: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Football's Most Innovative Coach - Andrew O'Toole
Hockey
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly Philadelphia Flyers: Heart-pounding, Jaw-dropping, and Gut-wrenching Moments from Philadelphia Flyers History - Adam Kimelman and Keith Primeau
Walking Together Forever: The Broad Street Bullies, Then and Now - Jim Jackson
The Broad Street Bullies: The Incredible Story of the Philadelphia Flyers - Jack Chevalier
Birth of a Dynasty: The 1980 New York Islanders - Alan Hahn *purchased
Fish Sticks: The Fall and Rise of the New York Islanders - Peter Botte, Alan Hahn
Deceptions and Doublecross: How the NHL Conquered Hockey - Morey Holzman, Joseph Nieforth
The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team - Wayne R. Coffey, Jim Craig *purchased
The Game - Ken Dryden
The Official Illustrated NHL History: The Story of the Coolest Game - Arthur Pincus, David Rosner, Len Hockberg, Chris Malcolm
General
The Games Do Count: America's Best and Brightest on the Power of Sports - Brian Kilmeade *purchased
Bearcats Rising - Josh Katzowitz *purchased
Monday, August 23, 2010
Brandon Phillips Profile
Brandon Phillips is an integral piece of the Cincinnati Reds ballclub. On the field, off the field, in the dugout, in the community, he has more than enough character to go around. He’s a dependable performer and always dependable for a good laugh. He’s not the ballplayer you see on the field and can expect composure from at all times. He plays with his heart on his sleeve, and it’s just him being true to himself. What you see is what you get, and in Cincinnati, we love what we are getting from Brandon Phillips.
Born in 1981, the Raleigh, North Carolina native Phillips attended Redan High School in Georgia, and was drafted by the former Montreal Expos in 1999. Just as many of the best in the game, he grew up idolizing famed Reds shortstop Barry Larkin. After being considered one of the top prospects in the Expos farm system, Phillips was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 2002. He spent much of his time with the Indians in the high Minor Leagues, and after the team found his progress not speedy enough, he was traded to the Reds in April 2006. He made an immediate impact with the Reds and became the starter at second base. Phillips earned NL Player of the Week the same month he was acquired by the Reds, during which time he also hit his first career grand slam.
Since joining the Reds, Brandon Phillips has become a well-known and idolized second baseman. In 2007, he became the first ever second baseman to earn 30-30 honors for the Reds, meaning he hit at least 30 or more home runs and stole at least 30 bases in one season. He also became just the second second baseman in history to receive the honor behind Alfonso Soriano. He makes the split-second catches, makes a few appearances on highlight reels, and is sure to entertain.
His character and emotion isn’t something you’ll only see expressed on the field. Brandon Phillips is the player you’ll find who makes time for the fans, for the children, the people who love him the most. Brandon Phillips is an example of a player who is one of the most active in the community, and one of the best performers the team has to offer. It’s no surprise you can find him during batting practice in Great American Ball Park signing for fans down the baselines or behind the cage.
In 2008, Brandon Phillips received the Roberto Clemente Award for community service. That same year, he paired up with the Reds Community Fund to begin work on what would be called “Brandon Phillips Field.” The location of the site was at Clark Montessori High School on Winton Road. It housed the high school’s varsity and junior varsity teams, as well as the Reds Community Fund’s RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program. Phillips donated the $7,500 he received from being nominated for the Roberto Clemente award, as well as $25,000 of his own to the construction of the new field. The field was dedicated on May 23, 2009.
If there’s a Reds event out in the community, you can almost count on Brandon Phillips to make an appearance, and making the best out of it. He’s taken part in many of the Reds Caravan tour stops; he’s made appearances at the famed Rubber Duck Regatta Auction, and in 2008 he befriended a 16-year-old cancer patient and housed her and her family at the ballpark for a game.
Brandon Phillips is the face of a team, and the face of a true athlete through and through. His generosity and kindheartedness off the field is a perfect match for his intensity on the field. He is a great ambassador for sportsmanship and athleticism alike.
Born in 1981, the Raleigh, North Carolina native Phillips attended Redan High School in Georgia, and was drafted by the former Montreal Expos in 1999. Just as many of the best in the game, he grew up idolizing famed Reds shortstop Barry Larkin. After being considered one of the top prospects in the Expos farm system, Phillips was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 2002. He spent much of his time with the Indians in the high Minor Leagues, and after the team found his progress not speedy enough, he was traded to the Reds in April 2006. He made an immediate impact with the Reds and became the starter at second base. Phillips earned NL Player of the Week the same month he was acquired by the Reds, during which time he also hit his first career grand slam.
Since joining the Reds, Brandon Phillips has become a well-known and idolized second baseman. In 2007, he became the first ever second baseman to earn 30-30 honors for the Reds, meaning he hit at least 30 or more home runs and stole at least 30 bases in one season. He also became just the second second baseman in history to receive the honor behind Alfonso Soriano. He makes the split-second catches, makes a few appearances on highlight reels, and is sure to entertain.
His character and emotion isn’t something you’ll only see expressed on the field. Brandon Phillips is the player you’ll find who makes time for the fans, for the children, the people who love him the most. Brandon Phillips is an example of a player who is one of the most active in the community, and one of the best performers the team has to offer. It’s no surprise you can find him during batting practice in Great American Ball Park signing for fans down the baselines or behind the cage.
In 2008, Brandon Phillips received the Roberto Clemente Award for community service. That same year, he paired up with the Reds Community Fund to begin work on what would be called “Brandon Phillips Field.” The location of the site was at Clark Montessori High School on Winton Road. It housed the high school’s varsity and junior varsity teams, as well as the Reds Community Fund’s RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program. Phillips donated the $7,500 he received from being nominated for the Roberto Clemente award, as well as $25,000 of his own to the construction of the new field. The field was dedicated on May 23, 2009.
If there’s a Reds event out in the community, you can almost count on Brandon Phillips to make an appearance, and making the best out of it. He’s taken part in many of the Reds Caravan tour stops; he’s made appearances at the famed Rubber Duck Regatta Auction, and in 2008 he befriended a 16-year-old cancer patient and housed her and her family at the ballpark for a game.
Brandon Phillips is the face of a team, and the face of a true athlete through and through. His generosity and kindheartedness off the field is a perfect match for his intensity on the field. He is a great ambassador for sportsmanship and athleticism alike.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Rounding Third and Heading Back Home
It’s 2007. I’m working my first job at Lids, being a reckless college freshman, making some of the worst decisions I have ever had the misfortune of making. I am a bad judge of character, and trying to figure out what to do with my life. Fast forward. I’m preparing to begin my senior year and finish my degree at the University of Cincinnati, I work at one of the best restaurants in the city, I’m a Cincinnati Reds intern, I have a great sense of self, and I’m with the one guy I have no idea how I ever lived without.
Talk about a 180 spin on your life. I didn’t even notice all of these things happened. All I know is I look back now, and have no idea who I was back then and I owe a lot of that to the experiences I’ve had in the last year. From getting compliments from professionals, to getting my first gig as a photographer for GoBearcats.com, to working alongside the professionals with a Major League Baseball team. The last year has been a whirlwind, and one of the busiest and most stressful years of my life, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that.
In the late winter, early spring of 2010, I received a direct message from Michael Anderson, an employee in the public relations department at the Cincinnati Reds. We had followed each other on Twitter for a few months, and he told me that they had an internship for an editorial intern open for 2010, and that I should check it out. There was no way I was going to let the offer pass by. I immediately updated my resume, popped out a cover letter, and emailed it over to both Michael Anderson and to John Hale, the head of the human resources department. I waited anxiously for a phone call for a number of weeks, nervous and praying that this opportunity would come my way. All the time that I endured between sending in the resume and the phone call I was hoping for, my boyfriend, Dylan, and one of my best friends, Marty Siry, kept my spirits up and reassured me that I’d be perfect for this and that there’s no way I don’t deserve it.
The phone finally rang.
“Hi Elise, this is John Hale with the Cincinnati Reds. I wanted to let you know that I received your resume, and I wanted to know when you may be available for an interview.”
My dad was the only person home at the time, and I was jumping around my living room like I had won the lottery. He stared at me like I was absolutely insane, but he knew who was on the other end of the phone.
I accepted, and a week later I showed up for the interview. I felt confident in my abilities, and I’ve never been a nervous interviewee. (This was my first real interview, in relation to a job. I wouldn’t say my interview at Lids actually counted.)
About a week later, I received another call from Mr. John Hale, this time to offer me the position. I was relieved, I was elated, and I had no idea what to do with myself. I went out that night with some of my closest friends to celebrate and have a few drinks. I was on cloud nine.
I remember the first day I came to work at the Reds front office. I was so nervous and I had no idea what to expect. My supervisor, and managing editor, Jarrod Rollins, took me under his wing and made me feel comfortable. I was given my own cubicle, and I got down to work. Before I go on, I’ll tell you this; the image you have engrained in your head as to what an intern does, was nothing like my experience. I wasn’t getting anyone’s coffee, I wasn’t running errands, and I wasn’t treated as an “intern.” I immediately became a member of the Creative Services department. Within a week, I was working to complete my first feature story for Reds Magazine on Nick Masset and Arthur Rhodes. The great thing about writing these pieces was that I had free creative reign over everything I did. There was no, “This is the piece. This is who I want you to do it on. This is how I want you to do it.” They put their trust in me and had enough confidence in my writing abilities, that they could give me a player and a slight direction, and I could whip something up worthy of publishing for thousands of people to read.
Before I knew it, I was writing promotional pieces, calling players’ agents, and taking photographs at the open batting practice before Opening Day. I was really doing it. I was exactly where I had always wanted to be, doing exactly what I had dreamt of doing, and my hard work got me there.
Over time, I was assigned to photograph events in the Fan Zone, player meet and greets in the Reds Hall of Fame and on the field, I took the photos for the group brochures, first pitches, on-field ceremonies, the works. This experience definitely put my photographic skills to the test. I had never done event photography before, and I am very proud at how all of it turned out.
I was fully prepared to begin writing for the second edition of Reds Magazine and they assigned me my favorite piece of the entire 2010 season; a profile on the very talented, Mike Leake. Not only was I to write a story about him, I was to interview him. (Yes, I still have the audio from the interview on my recorder and my laptop.) I had the pleasure of not only figuring out what he’s about during this interview, but this opened the doors for the rest of the season for me to truly get to know who he is. This was the most easy-going interview I have ever done. We’re two months into the season, he’s the new kid on the block, I’m fairly new to interviewing professional athletes, and I was completely at ease. (Interviewing someone the same age as me, born and raised on the west coast makes for a good atmosphere.)
Needless to say, I was very happy with the story that came out, and with the second piece I wrote for that issue, an opposing player spotlight on Lance Berkman. I began writing more pieces for the Reds after that. I wrote player profiles for the Cincinnati Herald, our African-American newspaper. I wrote event pieces and e-newsletters.
For the third installment of Reds Magazine, I was assigned the cover feature, a piece on Brandon Phillips and how he plays the game his way. I think everyone knows this has a bit more meaning now than it did then, but this was after the events of the series in D.C., with his chest pounding “controversy.” I was beyond excited to have the cover story, and to write my first piece that had more of a personal touch to it, rather than just a profile. I was always giddy when they’d place a new edition on my desk. To see it finished, in print, with photos and my name underneath was more than I could have ever imagined. I made sure to always send my grandmother in North Carolina a copy, which she would then take around the town to show everyone what her granddaughter did, bless her heart.
I have just finished my final piece for the last issue of Reds Magazine, which focuses on the strength of the club’s young pitching, and an opposing player spotlight on Corey Hart. The issue will be out soon, so keep on the lookout for my feature titled “Armed and Dangerous.”
This experience has exceeded my expectations. I never in a million years imagined I would be sitting at my own cubicle in the Cincinnati Reds front office. I never thought any of this would happen for me, and it has. I’ve met some of the best people and made some great contacts: my supervisor Jarrod Rollins, Michael Anderson, Jamie Ramsey, the current players, various employees of local news stations, and some of the greatest Reds to have ever played the game.
I’ve endured mocking and teasing by Brandon Phillips and Tom Browning, I’ve personally been given Eric Davis’ email address so I could send the photos I’ve taken of him, I’ve photographed a kid’s dream coming true as he met Jay Bruce and played toss with him on the field, I’ve had Billy Hatcher teach me how to stay cool in 95 degree heat (it’s all in your head,) and I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing and getting to know Mike Leake multiple times. I’ve had a Cincinnati Enquirer photographer talk to me about job experiences and opportunities, and even use his camera for a bit. I’ve seen my name published by a Major League organization, spent time in the dugout with the New York Mets and various other teams and interacted with their players, and I have spent my summer working with the Reds during one of the best seasons the club has had in a decade.
This was much more than a resume builder for me. This was an experience of a lifetime. I can say, if I never get to do this again, that for a period of my life I was doing everything I had ever dreamt of doing. I was taking photos of and writing pieces on America’s pastime and the best game to have ever been played. Where do I go from here? I told myself to dream big, I did, and this is where it has gotten me. I guess it’s time to dream bigger.
Talk about a 180 spin on your life. I didn’t even notice all of these things happened. All I know is I look back now, and have no idea who I was back then and I owe a lot of that to the experiences I’ve had in the last year. From getting compliments from professionals, to getting my first gig as a photographer for GoBearcats.com, to working alongside the professionals with a Major League Baseball team. The last year has been a whirlwind, and one of the busiest and most stressful years of my life, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that.
In the late winter, early spring of 2010, I received a direct message from Michael Anderson, an employee in the public relations department at the Cincinnati Reds. We had followed each other on Twitter for a few months, and he told me that they had an internship for an editorial intern open for 2010, and that I should check it out. There was no way I was going to let the offer pass by. I immediately updated my resume, popped out a cover letter, and emailed it over to both Michael Anderson and to John Hale, the head of the human resources department. I waited anxiously for a phone call for a number of weeks, nervous and praying that this opportunity would come my way. All the time that I endured between sending in the resume and the phone call I was hoping for, my boyfriend, Dylan, and one of my best friends, Marty Siry, kept my spirits up and reassured me that I’d be perfect for this and that there’s no way I don’t deserve it.
The phone finally rang.
“Hi Elise, this is John Hale with the Cincinnati Reds. I wanted to let you know that I received your resume, and I wanted to know when you may be available for an interview.”
My dad was the only person home at the time, and I was jumping around my living room like I had won the lottery. He stared at me like I was absolutely insane, but he knew who was on the other end of the phone.
I accepted, and a week later I showed up for the interview. I felt confident in my abilities, and I’ve never been a nervous interviewee. (This was my first real interview, in relation to a job. I wouldn’t say my interview at Lids actually counted.)
About a week later, I received another call from Mr. John Hale, this time to offer me the position. I was relieved, I was elated, and I had no idea what to do with myself. I went out that night with some of my closest friends to celebrate and have a few drinks. I was on cloud nine.
I remember the first day I came to work at the Reds front office. I was so nervous and I had no idea what to expect. My supervisor, and managing editor, Jarrod Rollins, took me under his wing and made me feel comfortable. I was given my own cubicle, and I got down to work. Before I go on, I’ll tell you this; the image you have engrained in your head as to what an intern does, was nothing like my experience. I wasn’t getting anyone’s coffee, I wasn’t running errands, and I wasn’t treated as an “intern.” I immediately became a member of the Creative Services department. Within a week, I was working to complete my first feature story for Reds Magazine on Nick Masset and Arthur Rhodes. The great thing about writing these pieces was that I had free creative reign over everything I did. There was no, “This is the piece. This is who I want you to do it on. This is how I want you to do it.” They put their trust in me and had enough confidence in my writing abilities, that they could give me a player and a slight direction, and I could whip something up worthy of publishing for thousands of people to read.
Before I knew it, I was writing promotional pieces, calling players’ agents, and taking photographs at the open batting practice before Opening Day. I was really doing it. I was exactly where I had always wanted to be, doing exactly what I had dreamt of doing, and my hard work got me there.
Over time, I was assigned to photograph events in the Fan Zone, player meet and greets in the Reds Hall of Fame and on the field, I took the photos for the group brochures, first pitches, on-field ceremonies, the works. This experience definitely put my photographic skills to the test. I had never done event photography before, and I am very proud at how all of it turned out.
I was fully prepared to begin writing for the second edition of Reds Magazine and they assigned me my favorite piece of the entire 2010 season; a profile on the very talented, Mike Leake. Not only was I to write a story about him, I was to interview him. (Yes, I still have the audio from the interview on my recorder and my laptop.) I had the pleasure of not only figuring out what he’s about during this interview, but this opened the doors for the rest of the season for me to truly get to know who he is. This was the most easy-going interview I have ever done. We’re two months into the season, he’s the new kid on the block, I’m fairly new to interviewing professional athletes, and I was completely at ease. (Interviewing someone the same age as me, born and raised on the west coast makes for a good atmosphere.)
Needless to say, I was very happy with the story that came out, and with the second piece I wrote for that issue, an opposing player spotlight on Lance Berkman. I began writing more pieces for the Reds after that. I wrote player profiles for the Cincinnati Herald, our African-American newspaper. I wrote event pieces and e-newsletters.
For the third installment of Reds Magazine, I was assigned the cover feature, a piece on Brandon Phillips and how he plays the game his way. I think everyone knows this has a bit more meaning now than it did then, but this was after the events of the series in D.C., with his chest pounding “controversy.” I was beyond excited to have the cover story, and to write my first piece that had more of a personal touch to it, rather than just a profile. I was always giddy when they’d place a new edition on my desk. To see it finished, in print, with photos and my name underneath was more than I could have ever imagined. I made sure to always send my grandmother in North Carolina a copy, which she would then take around the town to show everyone what her granddaughter did, bless her heart.
I have just finished my final piece for the last issue of Reds Magazine, which focuses on the strength of the club’s young pitching, and an opposing player spotlight on Corey Hart. The issue will be out soon, so keep on the lookout for my feature titled “Armed and Dangerous.”
This experience has exceeded my expectations. I never in a million years imagined I would be sitting at my own cubicle in the Cincinnati Reds front office. I never thought any of this would happen for me, and it has. I’ve met some of the best people and made some great contacts: my supervisor Jarrod Rollins, Michael Anderson, Jamie Ramsey, the current players, various employees of local news stations, and some of the greatest Reds to have ever played the game.
I’ve endured mocking and teasing by Brandon Phillips and Tom Browning, I’ve personally been given Eric Davis’ email address so I could send the photos I’ve taken of him, I’ve photographed a kid’s dream coming true as he met Jay Bruce and played toss with him on the field, I’ve had Billy Hatcher teach me how to stay cool in 95 degree heat (it’s all in your head,) and I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing and getting to know Mike Leake multiple times. I’ve had a Cincinnati Enquirer photographer talk to me about job experiences and opportunities, and even use his camera for a bit. I’ve seen my name published by a Major League organization, spent time in the dugout with the New York Mets and various other teams and interacted with their players, and I have spent my summer working with the Reds during one of the best seasons the club has had in a decade.
This was much more than a resume builder for me. This was an experience of a lifetime. I can say, if I never get to do this again, that for a period of my life I was doing everything I had ever dreamt of doing. I was taking photos of and writing pieces on America’s pastime and the best game to have ever been played. Where do I go from here? I told myself to dream big, I did, and this is where it has gotten me. I guess it’s time to dream bigger.
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